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Pressure Play
Must be nice. Wanting this.
Heathcliff Donnelly does—and the wanting hurts.
An unexpected call-up rockets him from Thunder Bay to the Chicago Ironhawks with one shot to prove he belongs. At twenty-one, with his family's mortgage tied to his signing bonus, failure isn't an option.
Chicago is bigger. Faster. Colder. And Heath is alone—except for the voice back home reminding him he doesn't have to shrink to survive. Pickle knows what it costs to be underestimated, and his advice is take up space, or be erased.
Then Heath meets Kieran Mathers.
Second-generation NHL talent. Effortlessly brilliant. And the first person in Chicago who doesn't treat Heath like a lucky story. Kieran treats him like a reminder—of everything Kieran never got to choose. Hockey wasn't a dream for Kieran; it was obligation. Survival. A future decided long before he had a say.
They're both wingers chasing the same ice time, and hockey is the fault line between them.
Film sessions turn competitive. On-ice collisions linger. And when Kieran watches Heath play—hungry, fearless, alive—something behind his composure cracks.
It breaks at a team charity reception. Too many cameras, too much champagne, and words that cut too deep. When Kieran storms out, Heath follows—into an elevator that stalls between floors.
Anger snaps into heat. The kiss is desperate. Furious. Unavoidable.
"I hate this," Kieran says against Heath's mouth.
"Liar," Heath breathes.
They can't stop. Road trips where hotel walls are too thin. Film room doors that lock. Late-night texts that say everything neither can risk saying in daylight. What begins as friction becomes recognition—two men wanting opposite things from the same game, and more from each other than either expected.
As Kieran's contract negotiations close in and Heath's provisional call-up window narrows, the truth lands Heath needs Chicago to last. Kieran needs out.
To stay in the NHL, Heath has to prove he's permanent. To escape it, Kieran has to prove he's expendable. Falling in love might cost them everything—including each other.
Heathcliff Donnelly does—and the wanting hurts.
An unexpected call-up rockets him from Thunder Bay to the Chicago Ironhawks with one shot to prove he belongs. At twenty-one, with his family's mortgage tied to his signing bonus, failure isn't an option.
Chicago is bigger. Faster. Colder. And Heath is alone—except for the voice back home reminding him he doesn't have to shrink to survive. Pickle knows what it costs to be underestimated, and his advice is take up space, or be erased.
Then Heath meets Kieran Mathers.
Second-generation NHL talent. Effortlessly brilliant. And the first person in Chicago who doesn't treat Heath like a lucky story. Kieran treats him like a reminder—of everything Kieran never got to choose. Hockey wasn't a dream for Kieran; it was obligation. Survival. A future decided long before he had a say.
They're both wingers chasing the same ice time, and hockey is the fault line between them.
Film sessions turn competitive. On-ice collisions linger. And when Kieran watches Heath play—hungry, fearless, alive—something behind his composure cracks.
It breaks at a team charity reception. Too many cameras, too much champagne, and words that cut too deep. When Kieran storms out, Heath follows—into an elevator that stalls between floors.
Anger snaps into heat. The kiss is desperate. Furious. Unavoidable.
"I hate this," Kieran says against Heath's mouth.
"Liar," Heath breathes.
They can't stop. Road trips where hotel walls are too thin. Film room doors that lock. Late-night texts that say everything neither can risk saying in daylight. What begins as friction becomes recognition—two men wanting opposite things from the same game, and more from each other than either expected.
As Kieran's contract negotiations close in and Heath's provisional call-up window narrows, the truth lands Heath needs Chicago to last. Kieran needs out.
To stay in the NHL, Heath has to prove he's permanent. To escape it, Kieran has to prove he's expendable. Falling in love might cost them everything—including each other.
- GenresM M RomanceHockey
293 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 18, 2026
23 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 21, 2026
4.5 stars
Subtle, quiet, melancholy writing. But equally strong and powerful. We're told the events one at a time, one look, one touch. All the little things of being together, yet apart.
Their back and forth banter is intelligent and smile evoking. Hiding behind words and yet conveying entire conversations with minimum words. Afraid to speak truths that may tie them together.
They come together almost delicately and then the break happens, stubbornness wins for a while until the balance recovers.
I loved this book and the way it felt reading it.
But I have to mention that in the end it felt like a few important things were edited out. What happened to Heath's dad's surgery?
And where were the true face to face declarations?
Hockey is very much a main character in this book and the side characters make for delightful breaks in all the seriousness.
I really liked this book.
Subtle, quiet, melancholy writing. But equally strong and powerful. We're told the events one at a time, one look, one touch. All the little things of being together, yet apart.
Their back and forth banter is intelligent and smile evoking. Hiding behind words and yet conveying entire conversations with minimum words. Afraid to speak truths that may tie them together.
They come together almost delicately and then the break happens, stubbornness wins for a while until the balance recovers.
I loved this book and the way it felt reading it.
But I have to mention that in the end it felt like a few important things were edited out. What happened to Heath's dad's surgery?
And where were the true face to face declarations?
Hockey is very much a main character in this book and the side characters make for delightful breaks in all the seriousness.
I really liked this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Two Elite Hockey Players Fall in love against high odds, and secretly
This book continues the narrative established by Declan Rhodes in the Thunder Bay series, where the characters' lives are deeply intertwined with one another and with the supportive community around them. (It's fun with the touchbacks for Heath Donnelly.) He is promoted from that team to Chicago, where the environment is markedly more dynamic. There, he encounters Kieran Mathers, whose father achieved fame as an NHL player.
Donnelly is often alone in his landlord-ignored apartment and faces the challenge of helping his family secure funds for his father's essential surgery, while Kieran lives in a spacious apartment with a doorkeeper.
The characters share palpable chemistry that extends beyond the immediate context of the game into a nascent relationship founded on mutual dependence, with both cautiously optimistic about the future. For Kieran, this means holding off until he can attend graduate school to study marine biology. For Heath, it involves supporting his family's survival and his own well-being.
Rhodes eloquently narrates the story in prose reminiscent of historical novels adapted into black-and-white films, offering readers vivid, old-fashioned detective-style descriptions that bring the characters' internal struggles to life. This same wonderful writing marks most of Declan Rhodes' books, often evoking the feel of a fire or crime scene, with rich undertones of the circumstances, the unknown of what happened there, and the meaningful exchange of powerfully described interchanges between characters.
Rhodes employs concise, declarative sentences that evoke a sense of timelessness, focusing on the two men's internal worlds while also offering an external view of their perceptions and interactions. They serve as each other's emotional anchors. For Kieran, the relationship represents an escape from the predetermined future his father envisioned and a pursuit of his genuine desires.
Language and observation are at the heart of the success of the pair on the ice. It extends to the shared moments alone for the two men, and in their exploration of their compatibility.
For Heath, the relationship is a means to reduce his expenses so he can send more support to his family. His experience of navigating a world he did not anticipate is characterized by resilience and necessity. Finding a soulmate was unexpected, yet they discovered a shared language that made them resilient on the ice. Additionally, directives from their coach—short, precise orders—foster a team approach that enhances their gameplay, leveraging their strengths for collective success.
The language crafted by Mr. Rhodes broadens the narrative's scope, offering glimpses into future possibilities in the initial chapters, advanced tactics on the ice in subsequent sections, and ultimately, victories and recognition achieved through straightforward communication and strategic execution.
Kieran grows weary of his father's directives, which rely on old networks and assumptions about what is best for him. His father's ambitions for his hockey career clash with Kieran's interests in marine biology and his relationship with Heath. Kieran's efforts to carve his own path lead to internal conflict, especially when his father's plans threaten Heath's ability to care for his family and continue his hockey career—a realization that emerges too late.
Rhodes' storytelling culminates in a happily-ever-after that is both satisfying and optimistic, reflecting the fulfillment and acceptance achieved by both families in their unique, yet equally rewarding, resolutions.
This book continues the narrative established by Declan Rhodes in the Thunder Bay series, where the characters' lives are deeply intertwined with one another and with the supportive community around them. (It's fun with the touchbacks for Heath Donnelly.) He is promoted from that team to Chicago, where the environment is markedly more dynamic. There, he encounters Kieran Mathers, whose father achieved fame as an NHL player.
Donnelly is often alone in his landlord-ignored apartment and faces the challenge of helping his family secure funds for his father's essential surgery, while Kieran lives in a spacious apartment with a doorkeeper.
The characters share palpable chemistry that extends beyond the immediate context of the game into a nascent relationship founded on mutual dependence, with both cautiously optimistic about the future. For Kieran, this means holding off until he can attend graduate school to study marine biology. For Heath, it involves supporting his family's survival and his own well-being.
Rhodes eloquently narrates the story in prose reminiscent of historical novels adapted into black-and-white films, offering readers vivid, old-fashioned detective-style descriptions that bring the characters' internal struggles to life. This same wonderful writing marks most of Declan Rhodes' books, often evoking the feel of a fire or crime scene, with rich undertones of the circumstances, the unknown of what happened there, and the meaningful exchange of powerfully described interchanges between characters.
Rhodes employs concise, declarative sentences that evoke a sense of timelessness, focusing on the two men's internal worlds while also offering an external view of their perceptions and interactions. They serve as each other's emotional anchors. For Kieran, the relationship represents an escape from the predetermined future his father envisioned and a pursuit of his genuine desires.
Language and observation are at the heart of the success of the pair on the ice. It extends to the shared moments alone for the two men, and in their exploration of their compatibility.
For Heath, the relationship is a means to reduce his expenses so he can send more support to his family. His experience of navigating a world he did not anticipate is characterized by resilience and necessity. Finding a soulmate was unexpected, yet they discovered a shared language that made them resilient on the ice. Additionally, directives from their coach—short, precise orders—foster a team approach that enhances their gameplay, leveraging their strengths for collective success.
The language crafted by Mr. Rhodes broadens the narrative's scope, offering glimpses into future possibilities in the initial chapters, advanced tactics on the ice in subsequent sections, and ultimately, victories and recognition achieved through straightforward communication and strategic execution.
Kieran grows weary of his father's directives, which rely on old networks and assumptions about what is best for him. His father's ambitions for his hockey career clash with Kieran's interests in marine biology and his relationship with Heath. Kieran's efforts to carve his own path lead to internal conflict, especially when his father's plans threaten Heath's ability to care for his family and continue his hockey career—a realization that emerges too late.
Rhodes' storytelling culminates in a happily-ever-after that is both satisfying and optimistic, reflecting the fulfillment and acceptance achieved by both families in their unique, yet equally rewarding, resolutions.
February 18, 2026
Oh, the secrets!🏒🏙
This is the story of Kieran and Heath, two guys who instantly see and feel something special in each other but are forced to hold it close because of their professional hockey commitments. Kieran also has a former NHL player father who wants to mold Kieran into a longer-term career hockey player while he has academic dreams well away from the ice. He's got a major life crossroads dilemma and Heath is a big part of that. And Heath has to weigh every decision, every hit or miss he makes, against his family's need for him to bring home the bacon to support them due to his father's long-term illness.
The relationship itself and the trials they go through made it a good story; lots of emotional connection, shorter steamy scenes and a peek at how they navigate everyday life as a couple when they can't be open about it. I have to add that there is ALOT of play by play hockey here; after all, it's their daily grind, their work, their obsession. If you are a hockey enthusiast, especially if you've played the game yourself, you'll probably be able to envision each play and follow the moves as if you were there. As for me, I could have gone for less, but I will concede that a big part of the hockey play serves to illustrate just how close (or distant and conflicted) Kieran and Heath have become as their relationship changes.
As for teammates, there are a few who stand out and I don't doubt the author will be featuring them in future additions to the series.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
This is the story of Kieran and Heath, two guys who instantly see and feel something special in each other but are forced to hold it close because of their professional hockey commitments. Kieran also has a former NHL player father who wants to mold Kieran into a longer-term career hockey player while he has academic dreams well away from the ice. He's got a major life crossroads dilemma and Heath is a big part of that. And Heath has to weigh every decision, every hit or miss he makes, against his family's need for him to bring home the bacon to support them due to his father's long-term illness.
The relationship itself and the trials they go through made it a good story; lots of emotional connection, shorter steamy scenes and a peek at how they navigate everyday life as a couple when they can't be open about it. I have to add that there is ALOT of play by play hockey here; after all, it's their daily grind, their work, their obsession. If you are a hockey enthusiast, especially if you've played the game yourself, you'll probably be able to envision each play and follow the moves as if you were there. As for me, I could have gone for less, but I will concede that a big part of the hockey play serves to illustrate just how close (or distant and conflicted) Kieran and Heath have become as their relationship changes.
As for teammates, there are a few who stand out and I don't doubt the author will be featuring them in future additions to the series.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
February 18, 2026
Amazing
I love Declan Rhodes, and any book that has Pickle in it it’s at least 5 stars already, so there. I’m not a big fan of hockey, or sports in general, but this book isn’t about hockey, or sports, or teamwork. It’s about imperfect people, trying their best, getting together, and being better together. That’s it in a nutshell. It isn’t about plays, or how great their team is, or what amazing hockey players they are, it’s about men finding love in an unexpected place, and making it work. It’s about men, living in a complicated situation, making it work, by showing up, by being there for the other, by trying, by finding that they belong. And they don’t do it on their own, or just with each other, their friends, their team, are an integral part of their journey. And Pickle is a vital part in helping them, and I love him for it. The best thing about these books? Precious characters show up, and they’re still who they were before. Declan Rhodes knows his characters inside and out, and remembers them well, so when they show up again, you can recognize their behavior, you can visualize what they’d say and o, because that’s who they’ve always been, and that’s something I love to see, because I adored Pickle, and it made me happy to see him being Pickle once again in this book.
I love Declan Rhodes, and any book that has Pickle in it it’s at least 5 stars already, so there. I’m not a big fan of hockey, or sports in general, but this book isn’t about hockey, or sports, or teamwork. It’s about imperfect people, trying their best, getting together, and being better together. That’s it in a nutshell. It isn’t about plays, or how great their team is, or what amazing hockey players they are, it’s about men finding love in an unexpected place, and making it work. It’s about men, living in a complicated situation, making it work, by showing up, by being there for the other, by trying, by finding that they belong. And they don’t do it on their own, or just with each other, their friends, their team, are an integral part of their journey. And Pickle is a vital part in helping them, and I love him for it. The best thing about these books? Precious characters show up, and they’re still who they were before. Declan Rhodes knows his characters inside and out, and remembers them well, so when they show up again, you can recognize their behavior, you can visualize what they’d say and o, because that’s who they’ve always been, and that’s something I love to see, because I adored Pickle, and it made me happy to see him being Pickle once again in this book.
February 19, 2026
You all know me - not a sports lover but it's by Declan so of course i had to read! So glad I did as it was such an intense, character-driven romance. Heath’s sudden call-up to Chicago immediately raises the stakes, he’s not just fighting for ice time, he’s carrying his family’s financial future on his back. That pressure seeps into everything he does, making his hunger on the ice feel sharp and urgent.
Kieran is a brilliant contrast. Hockey may be in his blood, but it’s never truly been his dream. The weight of legacy and expectation hangs over him, and meeting Heath, who plays like every shift matters, forces him to confront what he actually wants. Their rivalry for the same position adds a delicious tension that spills seamlessly into something far more charged off the ice.
The chemistry is undeniable from the start. The shift from competitive friction to secret, stolen moments feels natural, and the push-pull between staying in the league and walking away from it gives the romance real emotional depth. They’re not just risking their hearts, they’re risking their futures. I loved how Declan really dug into both men’s internal conflicts. By the time they reach their hard-won resolution, it feels earned. Highly recommend
I received a free arc copy and this is my honest review
Kieran is a brilliant contrast. Hockey may be in his blood, but it’s never truly been his dream. The weight of legacy and expectation hangs over him, and meeting Heath, who plays like every shift matters, forces him to confront what he actually wants. Their rivalry for the same position adds a delicious tension that spills seamlessly into something far more charged off the ice.
The chemistry is undeniable from the start. The shift from competitive friction to secret, stolen moments feels natural, and the push-pull between staying in the league and walking away from it gives the romance real emotional depth. They’re not just risking their hearts, they’re risking their futures. I loved how Declan really dug into both men’s internal conflicts. By the time they reach their hard-won resolution, it feels earned. Highly recommend
I received a free arc copy and this is my honest review
February 18, 2026
I have rapidly become a fan of Rhode's books. He has shown amazing breadth in the atmosphere within his books and even though I am not usually a sports fan, many of his books relate to different sports - even one series about a small town where the arena draws the town together.
te
In this book, the first in a new series, he draws on a prior series on Thunder Bay hockey. Heath, whom I find quite interesting, has been called up to Chicago and while he worries about the medical bills back home and having enough to eat and sleep himself, he remains solid as a winger who knows position and know how to take the knocks that come, including one by his team mate Kieran.
I was less drawn to Kieran but I recognize what he had learned is not uncommon. He was brought up privileged, but had a domineering father who made Kieran's decisions for him so Kieran made that same mistake with Heath. Heath got Kieran to recognize that no matter how much you love someone making decisions for them is wrong and for Kieran, it made him realize he could stand up to his father and make his won decisions. Perhaps, it is because I feel I have often had decisions made for me, that I admire Heath.
This book is an excellent and thoughtful MM romance with much emphasis on human behaviour.
te
In this book, the first in a new series, he draws on a prior series on Thunder Bay hockey. Heath, whom I find quite interesting, has been called up to Chicago and while he worries about the medical bills back home and having enough to eat and sleep himself, he remains solid as a winger who knows position and know how to take the knocks that come, including one by his team mate Kieran.
I was less drawn to Kieran but I recognize what he had learned is not uncommon. He was brought up privileged, but had a domineering father who made Kieran's decisions for him so Kieran made that same mistake with Heath. Heath got Kieran to recognize that no matter how much you love someone making decisions for them is wrong and for Kieran, it made him realize he could stand up to his father and make his won decisions. Perhaps, it is because I feel I have often had decisions made for me, that I admire Heath.
This book is an excellent and thoughtful MM romance with much emphasis on human behaviour.
February 21, 2026
No one writes better MM romance than Declan Rhodes. A captivating story, with characters you root for, make it a winner. For those who love hockey this is right up your alley and for those who do not read sports romance, read this one as hockey is second to the slow burn relationship between Heath and Kieran. Heath, a young hockey star, trying to hold it all together so he can financially help his family, whereas Kieran is hockey royalty and he never had a choice but to play hockey.I loved that he had a plan to stop playing an go back to graduate school. These teammates share an elevator "encounter" and thus starts a secret relationship. Both men has issues they must confront to find love and and in doing so become stronger individuals and a couple. I love how this shows the struggles of how we present publicly vs privately and how they get resolved. From the reoccurring characters that drop by (and oh Pickle), these feel like real life friends you want to hang out with. Per usual it was read in one sitting and ended with a big smile on my and warm heart. Cannot wait for next book the the series.
February 20, 2026
Heath Donnelly and Kieran Mathers, whilst so different, also have a lot in common, mainly pressure put on them from their families.
Throughout this book I felt so sorry for Heath, the pressure to play, cause failure will financially ruin his family, it is a lot for a 21yr old on his first call up. Kieran has other pressures, he has a plan.
Whilst everyone else thinks they are rivals, they see each other and there is a connection between them on and off the ice.
This was slow paced and I found myself savouring every minute. I loved knowing their dreams and plans. They were not perfect, there was mistakes but I enjoyed it all.
To top it all, one of my favourite characters played a big part. I love Pickles and he had me laughing with his thoughts, although Pickles may have some competition after being introduced to Varga
Throughout this book I felt so sorry for Heath, the pressure to play, cause failure will financially ruin his family, it is a lot for a 21yr old on his first call up. Kieran has other pressures, he has a plan.
Whilst everyone else thinks they are rivals, they see each other and there is a connection between them on and off the ice.
This was slow paced and I found myself savouring every minute. I loved knowing their dreams and plans. They were not perfect, there was mistakes but I enjoyed it all.
To top it all, one of my favourite characters played a big part. I love Pickles and he had me laughing with his thoughts, although Pickles may have some competition after being introduced to Varga
February 21, 2026
Very surprised by this book. It was very emotional to me. Both players fighting different battles off the ice. Much more of a drama than a romance. Mild spice for sure.
Heath and Kieran seem to grow up together thru the story. Learning so much about themselves and each other. I would like to see a little more of their HEA, and more of the team response to their relationship.
Overall, I’m looking forward to this series. A good start for sure!
Heath and Kieran seem to grow up together thru the story. Learning so much about themselves and each other. I would like to see a little more of their HEA, and more of the team response to their relationship.
Overall, I’m looking forward to this series. A good start for sure!
February 21, 2026
2.5 rounded up
Parts of this are good, other sections seem a bit lazy. There is both attention to detail and then later complex aspects are either slurred over or swept under the carpet in a time jump.
Rounded up to 3 stars for the character development and overall immersive feel even if the execution is dodgy.
Parts of this are good, other sections seem a bit lazy. There is both attention to detail and then later complex aspects are either slurred over or swept under the carpet in a time jump.
Rounded up to 3 stars for the character development and overall immersive feel even if the execution is dodgy.
February 18, 2026
Pressure Play is the first book in the new Top Tier series and is a spinoff from his Thunder Bay series. I absolutely loved seeing Heath get his story and it was such a good one, one of Declan's best books that I've read. Loved this book and I can't wait for the next in the series to get here.
February 19, 2026
Amazing start to a new series! This is Kieran and Kip's story and it's a great one! Engaging story and wonderful characters! This one is a keeper! I loved it! I read an advanced copy of this story and this is my unbiased review!
February 20, 2026
3.5 stars
February 21, 2026
Kieran and Heath, two hockey players, have a connection that slowly blossoms. Another lovely book by Declan Rhodes.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews