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Frostbitten #1
Beauty and the Basher
10% of the profits from this paperback goes to support LGBTQ+ charities.
A hockey star and an elite figure skater form a romantic, sensual connection in this queer campus romance novel by indie author Kent Holland.
Adonis Costa is Figure Skating gold. A rising senior at Bellford University, he is a hopeful for the 2026 Olympics, and chafing under the management of his overbearing mother.
Sebastiaan “Bash” Koning is the captain of the Bellford University Hockey Team, but is going into his senior season worried about his ability to play after an injury in last year’s NCAA Championship.
After their paths cross during the summer, Adonis and Bash find in each other surprisingly kindred spirits, at least in terms of what they want physically.
They strike an agreement: a mutually satisfying physical arrangement with no strings attached. After all, neither of them has time for a real relationship. But will that agreement be enough?
The two young athletes must navigate their new situation through the pressure of class, championships, and competitions. They face campus intrigue, sports politics, and familial expectations as they must ask themselves, and each other, the hardest question: who do they want to be?
A hockey star and an elite figure skater form a romantic, sensual connection in this queer campus romance novel by indie author Kent Holland.
Adonis Costa is Figure Skating gold. A rising senior at Bellford University, he is a hopeful for the 2026 Olympics, and chafing under the management of his overbearing mother.
Sebastiaan “Bash” Koning is the captain of the Bellford University Hockey Team, but is going into his senior season worried about his ability to play after an injury in last year’s NCAA Championship.
After their paths cross during the summer, Adonis and Bash find in each other surprisingly kindred spirits, at least in terms of what they want physically.
They strike an agreement: a mutually satisfying physical arrangement with no strings attached. After all, neither of them has time for a real relationship. But will that agreement be enough?
The two young athletes must navigate their new situation through the pressure of class, championships, and competitions. They face campus intrigue, sports politics, and familial expectations as they must ask themselves, and each other, the hardest question: who do they want to be?
264 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 27, 2026
13 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
About the author
Kent Holland
11 books27 followersKent Holland is an openly Queer writer of gay and queer romance novels that have a lot of heart and a healthy amount of spice. He is based in Tennessee. When he is not writing, he enjoys listening to music, running marathons, spending time with his friends, and reading books in any number of genres. A percentage of the profits of all of his book sales goes to support various LGBTQ+ charities, and you can explore various resources to support the LGBTQ+ community on his website, or through the QR code linked in each book. You can connect with him on Instagram at kenthollandwrites.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 29, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. It had a bit of everything and was very well written. I also loved that it was contemporary, well in time for the Olympics. A sexy slow burn that didn't hide away from sexuality and needs, yet also hit on serious issues like enhancement drug abuse and sexual assault in sports.
The first book I've read by this author and I will be looking out for other of his books.
The first book I've read by this author and I will be looking out for other of his books.
January 23, 2026
Thank you @kenthollandwrites for the digital copy to review!
Kent and I became mutuals late last year and I was very very excited to get an advanced copy of his new novel. I loved how this one started with a bang and did not hold back.
Adonis and Bash were such great characters to watch. Separately, they both have so much going on. Adonis is an accomplished figure skater and Bash is recovering from an injury and playing his final year of college hockey. They are busy but also wanna hook up so…they do. And it’s hot. And spicy! 👀👀
Their dynamic was intense from the get-go and their no-strings-attached worked til it didn’t…. Catching feelings is a bit scary for both of them, but my gosh how romantic were they?? And that ending!????
I absolutely LOVED our subplots and I jumped into Kent’s DMs immediately after finishing asking for more. I loved Bash as a mentor. Cort!! They can’t make me hate you!!! Adonis’ conflict with his mother and coach was great. And that final skate from Adonis!!!!
Anyway I need more. Out next week on 1/27 so you know what to do!!
Kent and I became mutuals late last year and I was very very excited to get an advanced copy of his new novel. I loved how this one started with a bang and did not hold back.
Adonis and Bash were such great characters to watch. Separately, they both have so much going on. Adonis is an accomplished figure skater and Bash is recovering from an injury and playing his final year of college hockey. They are busy but also wanna hook up so…they do. And it’s hot. And spicy! 👀👀
Their dynamic was intense from the get-go and their no-strings-attached worked til it didn’t…. Catching feelings is a bit scary for both of them, but my gosh how romantic were they?? And that ending!????
I absolutely LOVED our subplots and I jumped into Kent’s DMs immediately after finishing asking for more. I loved Bash as a mentor. Cort!! They can’t make me hate you!!! Adonis’ conflict with his mother and coach was great. And that final skate from Adonis!!!!
Anyway I need more. Out next week on 1/27 so you know what to do!!
February 10, 2026
Reading Beauty and the Basher while simultaneously watching the Winter Olympics was a great idea! Reading about hockey and figure skating, while actually watching it on tv, really set the mood.
The connection between Adonis and Bash was very spicy, but also really romantic. Even though it was a quick read, I loved the way their relationship slowly changed from just physical to emotional as well. The communication skills, the best friends, and the support they gave to each other all made for a great story.
Kent Holland always does a phenomenal job writing queer romances. His stories are unapologetically queer, very sex positive, and radiate joy.
The connection between Adonis and Bash was very spicy, but also really romantic. Even though it was a quick read, I loved the way their relationship slowly changed from just physical to emotional as well. The communication skills, the best friends, and the support they gave to each other all made for a great story.
Kent Holland always does a phenomenal job writing queer romances. His stories are unapologetically queer, very sex positive, and radiate joy.
February 18, 2026
HOLY MOLY!!
This was my first book by Kent Holland and it was good!! I really loved bash and Adonis their relationship throughout the book was so well crafted and it was so hot like I love themmmmmm!!!
And this book being a skater and hockey player like who knew I loved this type of trope like sign me up for more please because this was everything!!
I think a point in the book that was shocking was the Minnesota aspect I wasn’t expecting that at all and someone from Minnesota this made my heart feel so good and it made the connection to this book a little better even if it was just for a moment in the book but still!!
And thank you to Kent Holland for requesting me to sign up for the arc and then sending me a physical copy and I really feel grateful and thank you for everything you do especially within the lgbtqia+ community!
Overall this was a new experience for me and it was different from what I usually read and I thought it was good and hot and spicy, and just amazing so if you love books like this I highly recommend!
Need to go read his other books now cause I just love the vibe and I gonna go devour his other books !!!
Tropes:
College/ new adult
Queer (mm) romance by a queer author
Straight romance side plot
No strings attached
Dom/sub dynamics
HOTTTTT
Figure skater x hockey player
Olympics
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 stars
The chokehold this book had on me…
The prologue grabbed me by the neck. The mystery completely surprised me, and I couldn’t stop reading until I’d figured it out.
But don’t be fooled, after the prologue, the mystery stays subtle. The world of hockey and figure skating takes over until you almost forget what you read at the beginning. And then it hits you.
Bash and Adonis are such great characters. They both have a lot of depth, and the book really shows how hard the world of sports can be, all the plates they have to keep spinning and the pressure that comes with it.
The romance was done so well. The pacing was perfect for them, and I loved following their journey toward each other and their happy ending. Nothing felt forced, overly dramatic, or “done for the plot.” Just a genuinely beautiful romance.
Tropes:
hockey player x ice skater
college romance
friends with benefits
D/s vibes
The chokehold this book had on me…
The prologue grabbed me by the neck. The mystery completely surprised me, and I couldn’t stop reading until I’d figured it out.
But don’t be fooled, after the prologue, the mystery stays subtle. The world of hockey and figure skating takes over until you almost forget what you read at the beginning. And then it hits you.
Bash and Adonis are such great characters. They both have a lot of depth, and the book really shows how hard the world of sports can be, all the plates they have to keep spinning and the pressure that comes with it.
The romance was done so well. The pacing was perfect for them, and I loved following their journey toward each other and their happy ending. Nothing felt forced, overly dramatic, or “done for the plot.” Just a genuinely beautiful romance.
Tropes:
hockey player x ice skater
college romance
friends with benefits
D/s vibes
February 16, 2026
3.75 ✨ Uniquely written sports romance, the way only Kent can do it.
I truly love when you can sense an author’s writing from the first page, and Kent definitely brings a stylistically unique take on contemporary romance.
I was definitely intrigued by the hard hitting prologue, leaving me immediately invested and searching for answers. I didn’t expect mystery lite, so that was a fun twist. The pacing of this story was also very interesting. This was a macro look at a romance with large periods of time covered, and a relationship developed over months not days. Admittedly, I’m usually drawn to nitty gritty details and emotions within a love story, but this was refreshing in its approach.
Adonis and Bash were characters I enjoyed and the back drop of the Olympics made this the perfect mood read.
Kent continues to write stories that challenge my typical preferences and leave me excited to pick up what he writes next.
I truly love when you can sense an author’s writing from the first page, and Kent definitely brings a stylistically unique take on contemporary romance.
I was definitely intrigued by the hard hitting prologue, leaving me immediately invested and searching for answers. I didn’t expect mystery lite, so that was a fun twist. The pacing of this story was also very interesting. This was a macro look at a romance with large periods of time covered, and a relationship developed over months not days. Admittedly, I’m usually drawn to nitty gritty details and emotions within a love story, but this was refreshing in its approach.
Adonis and Bash were characters I enjoyed and the back drop of the Olympics made this the perfect mood read.
Kent continues to write stories that challenge my typical preferences and leave me excited to pick up what he writes next.
February 25, 2026
I JUST HAD MY FIRST 6 STAR READ OF THE YEAR!
I was immediately sucked into this book. The opening line is a work of art. A mystery… in a gay hockey romance… with a dom top… Olympic references… a powerful bitch of a mother… need I go on. I have no complaints. Kent’s writing is PHENOMENAL, the characters were so beautiful, the plot was always on point, and it contained some of the HOTTEST spice I’ve ever read. I’m so excited for book 2 and to see what happens to my little baby Cort 🥹
I was immediately sucked into this book. The opening line is a work of art. A mystery… in a gay hockey romance… with a dom top… Olympic references… a powerful bitch of a mother… need I go on. I have no complaints. Kent’s writing is PHENOMENAL, the characters were so beautiful, the plot was always on point, and it contained some of the HOTTEST spice I’ve ever read. I’m so excited for book 2 and to see what happens to my little baby Cort 🥹
January 29, 2026
Any romance featuring hockey will be invariably compared to Heated Rivalry in the shadow of the TV adaptation’s phenomenal success. Moreover, as a queer hockey romance fan, I acknowledge that the genre is saturated with books that lean heavily on formulaic tropes. Therefore, it is not surprisingly that Holland’s latest release contains familiar elements. However, as with his earlier work, the author manages to deliver a unique intervention into the M/M romance space informed by his passion for telling unapologetically authentic and joyful queer stories.
Beauty and the Basher is the story of Sebastiaan (Bash) Koning and Adonis Costa. Bash is a star hockey player recovering from injury and Adonis an elite figure skater with Olympic potential. They attend the prestigious Bellford University, renowned for its ice sports teams, and meet through mutual friends. Their chemistry and attraction are immediate and smouldering but hectic schedules, vomiting rookies, and demanding family members initially conspire to keep them apart. Eventually, by utilising calendar appointments and emails that are definitely being monitored by their university administration, they carve out a time to act on their desires. Both start their encounters with a declaration of casual intent but at their times together become increasingly intimate and weighty, each begins to wonder if they want more.
On the surface, Beauty and the Basher does resemble that book/show – Bash is a surly European hockey player with a mixed-race love interest and they both come to look at each other with “heart eyes”. Their relationship is sex forward and slow burn on the emotions. And while Adonis and Bash are both out to their families, their relationships are complicated and difficult in other ways. Beyond these similarities, Beauty and the Basher reminds me more of something Tal Bauer would write rather than Rachel Reid. This is because Holland’s book contains darker and more violent plot lines that read more like elements of a thriller than a romance. I make this comparison not because I think this detracted from the story or to insinuate it is a derivative book, far from it, but because I think it could help readers better understand what to expect.
If I was to classify this book, I probably wouldn’t call it a hockey romance. To me, choices made about the plot and the setting meant hockey wasn’t the central element and Adonis’s figure skating experiences felt more important to the story overall, especially in the later part of the book. As an older reader, Bash and Adonis are not my favourite Holland-verse couple. Their interactions are certainly age appropriate and realistic but I missed the emotional maturity and thematic depths from previous books. On the whole though, this was an engaging and enjoyable read. Holland infuses his latest offering with his distinctly queer perspective, sex positivity, radical inclusivity, and an affirmation of the beauty and gift of queer community and friendship.
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Beauty and the Basher is the story of Sebastiaan (Bash) Koning and Adonis Costa. Bash is a star hockey player recovering from injury and Adonis an elite figure skater with Olympic potential. They attend the prestigious Bellford University, renowned for its ice sports teams, and meet through mutual friends. Their chemistry and attraction are immediate and smouldering but hectic schedules, vomiting rookies, and demanding family members initially conspire to keep them apart. Eventually, by utilising calendar appointments and emails that are definitely being monitored by their university administration, they carve out a time to act on their desires. Both start their encounters with a declaration of casual intent but at their times together become increasingly intimate and weighty, each begins to wonder if they want more.
On the surface, Beauty and the Basher does resemble that book/show – Bash is a surly European hockey player with a mixed-race love interest and they both come to look at each other with “heart eyes”. Their relationship is sex forward and slow burn on the emotions. And while Adonis and Bash are both out to their families, their relationships are complicated and difficult in other ways. Beyond these similarities, Beauty and the Basher reminds me more of something Tal Bauer would write rather than Rachel Reid. This is because Holland’s book contains darker and more violent plot lines that read more like elements of a thriller than a romance. I make this comparison not because I think this detracted from the story or to insinuate it is a derivative book, far from it, but because I think it could help readers better understand what to expect.
If I was to classify this book, I probably wouldn’t call it a hockey romance. To me, choices made about the plot and the setting meant hockey wasn’t the central element and Adonis’s figure skating experiences felt more important to the story overall, especially in the later part of the book. As an older reader, Bash and Adonis are not my favourite Holland-verse couple. Their interactions are certainly age appropriate and realistic but I missed the emotional maturity and thematic depths from previous books. On the whole though, this was an engaging and enjoyable read. Holland infuses his latest offering with his distinctly queer perspective, sex positivity, radical inclusivity, and an affirmation of the beauty and gift of queer community and friendship.
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A sweet and swoony romance about two college athletes finding themselves, their futures, and love over the coarse of their senior year.
Adonis is training for a place in the winter Olympics, trying to graduate, and navigating his overbearing coach/manager/mother. Bash has just healed from a shoulder injury, is trying to secure his spot in the NHL, all while being pulled in the opposite direction by family in Amsterdam wanting him to take over the family business. And in the midst of the chaos what was supposed to be no strings attached fun turns out to be what grounds them both.
I loved Adonis and Bash and was invested in their pasts, futures, and turmoil from the first page. Each friend, sibling, and teammate added so much to the story and was such a beautiful found family in the end. I was rooting for our couple but also for their best friends, their teams, and their families.
This story was bursting with heart and was a beautiful journey of choosing happiness and standing up for who you want to be.
Why you’ll get:
•Hockey Player/Figure Skater
•College (senior year to graduating)
•Dutch MC
•Hook Up to More
•Hurt/Comfort
•Olympics
•Difficult Family Dynamics
•Mild D/s vibes
•Found Family
•Amazing sister and best female friend
•Both MCs are Out
Adonis is training for a place in the winter Olympics, trying to graduate, and navigating his overbearing coach/manager/mother. Bash has just healed from a shoulder injury, is trying to secure his spot in the NHL, all while being pulled in the opposite direction by family in Amsterdam wanting him to take over the family business. And in the midst of the chaos what was supposed to be no strings attached fun turns out to be what grounds them both.
I loved Adonis and Bash and was invested in their pasts, futures, and turmoil from the first page. Each friend, sibling, and teammate added so much to the story and was such a beautiful found family in the end. I was rooting for our couple but also for their best friends, their teams, and their families.
This story was bursting with heart and was a beautiful journey of choosing happiness and standing up for who you want to be.
Why you’ll get:
•Hockey Player/Figure Skater
•College (senior year to graduating)
•Dutch MC
•Hook Up to More
•Hurt/Comfort
•Olympics
•Difficult Family Dynamics
•Mild D/s vibes
•Found Family
•Amazing sister and best female friend
•Both MCs are Out
Review of advance copy received from Author
There is something extremely inviting about Kent Holland’s writing. The forthright style sort of makes you feel like you’re being told a story about people you’re already close to, invested in. Holland is quick to build his characters, almost seeming effortless in the depth he imbues in them. I was hooked from the get go
The prologue had me in a chokehold. I kept looking for clues to what happened through my reading. Holland paces the story very well, this is oddly enough a slow burn but high heat story with layers of intimacy building and strong sports plot.
Holland gives us distinct fully formed complex characters on their own journey. Bash and Adonis have an attraction right from the start but this physical pull morphs into something deeper over time. It was swoony in such a different way, an intimate peek into developing feeling and the sweet humour underlying the low angst telling of it.
I think aside from the sports romance, the power exchange and the building of intimacy, there is a very interesting commentary on mentoring and coaching, what enables, encourages, wears down and discourages. I enjoyed these parallels in Bash’s mentoring, Robbie’s take and Anamaria’s style of coaching.
Also I need to say I ADORE LOTTE! What a sensational character.
The prologue had me in a chokehold. I kept looking for clues to what happened through my reading. Holland paces the story very well, this is oddly enough a slow burn but high heat story with layers of intimacy building and strong sports plot.
Holland gives us distinct fully formed complex characters on their own journey. Bash and Adonis have an attraction right from the start but this physical pull morphs into something deeper over time. It was swoony in such a different way, an intimate peek into developing feeling and the sweet humour underlying the low angst telling of it.
I think aside from the sports romance, the power exchange and the building of intimacy, there is a very interesting commentary on mentoring and coaching, what enables, encourages, wears down and discourages. I enjoyed these parallels in Bash’s mentoring, Robbie’s take and Anamaria’s style of coaching.
Also I need to say I ADORE LOTTE! What a sensational character.
Review of advance copy received from Author
KENT DOES IT AGAIN!!
Per usual, Kent has a way of making me fall in love with his characters so quickly. By chapter 3 I was completely invested in rooting for their happiness and not just the MCs but also the others--um, Clarisse and Robbie!?--the sweetest friends/allies!!!
Beauty and the Basher follows the story of Sebastian "Bash" and Adonis as they navigate hookups, hardships, feelings, and their shared love for ice (the hockey and figure skating kind! ⛸️🏒🥅) & eventually each other. Sprinkle in a little mystery, heartache, frustration, and humor!
One of my favorite parts of Kent's books is when the writing fades into poetry:
"I am so deeply in love with you that if getting to love you meant giving up the NHL, I would do it. If it meant never touching a hockey stick again, i'd build a bonfire and throw every stick into it."
"...& I will do anything, give up anything, build anything, I must, so that you never, ever, ever, have to spend one more moment doubting how deeply, eternally, and irrevocably I love you."
SHEEEEESH!!! Love them so much!
I love these two and I am so excited that this is the start of a series!
5 ⭐️
4 🌶️
Per usual, Kent has a way of making me fall in love with his characters so quickly. By chapter 3 I was completely invested in rooting for their happiness and not just the MCs but also the others--um, Clarisse and Robbie!?--the sweetest friends/allies!!!
Beauty and the Basher follows the story of Sebastian "Bash" and Adonis as they navigate hookups, hardships, feelings, and their shared love for ice (the hockey and figure skating kind! ⛸️🏒🥅) & eventually each other. Sprinkle in a little mystery, heartache, frustration, and humor!
One of my favorite parts of Kent's books is when the writing fades into poetry:
"I am so deeply in love with you that if getting to love you meant giving up the NHL, I would do it. If it meant never touching a hockey stick again, i'd build a bonfire and throw every stick into it."
"...& I will do anything, give up anything, build anything, I must, so that you never, ever, ever, have to spend one more moment doubting how deeply, eternally, and irrevocably I love you."
SHEEEEESH!!! Love them so much!
I love these two and I am so excited that this is the start of a series!
5 ⭐️
4 🌶️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2026
Beauty and the Basher is a queer romance that completely hooked me and turned out to be way more intense than I expected.
At first it feels like a classic sports romance, ice hockey player meets figure skater, but very quickly it becomes a story about vulnerability, ambition and letting someone see you when everything else in your life is under pressure. The chemistry between Bash and Adonis is undeniable from the start and yes, this book is definitely spicy, but the emotional connection is what really made it work for me.
I loved how both characters are so focused on their careers, carrying expectations, injuries and fears, and how their relationship slowly forces them to confront what they actually want. It’s sexy, tender and surprisingly heartfelt, with that found-family vibe that makes everything feel warmer and more real.
Beauty and the Basher is fun, emotional and unapologetically hot, a perfect pick if you’re in the mood for a queer romance with heat, depth and characters you end up rooting for hard. (pun intended)
At first it feels like a classic sports romance, ice hockey player meets figure skater, but very quickly it becomes a story about vulnerability, ambition and letting someone see you when everything else in your life is under pressure. The chemistry between Bash and Adonis is undeniable from the start and yes, this book is definitely spicy, but the emotional connection is what really made it work for me.
I loved how both characters are so focused on their careers, carrying expectations, injuries and fears, and how their relationship slowly forces them to confront what they actually want. It’s sexy, tender and surprisingly heartfelt, with that found-family vibe that makes everything feel warmer and more real.
Beauty and the Basher is fun, emotional and unapologetically hot, a perfect pick if you’re in the mood for a queer romance with heat, depth and characters you end up rooting for hard. (pun intended)
January 22, 2026
I'm so glad that I got this shortly after I read "Heated Rivalry" and "Long Game" because it really helped me with the Ilya and Shane withdrawals.
There are so many things I love about Kent Holland's novels. He properly represents the LGBTQ+ community, shows that there are happy endings and not all queer novels have to be depressing and misrepresented, and he gives such complexities to all his characters, both queer and heterosexual.
"Beauty and the Basher" is such a great contemporary romance that hits all the feels, the frustrations of acceptance and living up to expectations, and finding one's happiness. So many queer novels are structured around pain and trauma leading to happiness. Although Bash and Adonis have their own struggles and issues, happiness was never too far out of reach.
Holland delivers a heartfelt sports romance that doesn't hold back on queer joy.
There are so many things I love about Kent Holland's novels. He properly represents the LGBTQ+ community, shows that there are happy endings and not all queer novels have to be depressing and misrepresented, and he gives such complexities to all his characters, both queer and heterosexual.
"Beauty and the Basher" is such a great contemporary romance that hits all the feels, the frustrations of acceptance and living up to expectations, and finding one's happiness. So many queer novels are structured around pain and trauma leading to happiness. Although Bash and Adonis have their own struggles and issues, happiness was never too far out of reach.
Holland delivers a heartfelt sports romance that doesn't hold back on queer joy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Received an ARC copy.
This was a really cute story featuring a friends with benefits slow yearn, a consent king, no third act breakup, and pretty much all the good feels.
I really liked the use of email interludes to progress the story while the characters were apart from each other.
Adonis and Bash are very different people facing very similar fates if they let their parents control their lives. It helps bring them closer together. Their banter is wonderful. I love how dominant and to the point Bash is, and how Adonis feels powerful in his submission to him. The way they set boundaries and respect them. It's really lovely.
This was a really cute story featuring a friends with benefits slow yearn, a consent king, no third act breakup, and pretty much all the good feels.
I really liked the use of email interludes to progress the story while the characters were apart from each other.
Adonis and Bash are very different people facing very similar fates if they let their parents control their lives. It helps bring them closer together. Their banter is wonderful. I love how dominant and to the point Bash is, and how Adonis feels powerful in his submission to him. The way they set boundaries and respect them. It's really lovely.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Beauty and the Basher was such a fun read!
From the start, it was a blast getting to know Bash, a hockey player, and Adonis, a passionate figure skater. What starts in the book as a no strings attached situation through mutual friends quickly turns into something much deeper.
As the story went on, I found myself genuinely invested not just in their relationship, but in who Bash and Adonis were as people, watching them navigate love alongside high pressure sports. By the end, I was fully rooting for them both on and off the ice. I hope we get to see more of them in the future!
This book is perfect for lovers of MLM romance, sports romance fans, or anyone who finished Heated Rivalry and immediately needed more gay athletes to fall in love with!
From the start, it was a blast getting to know Bash, a hockey player, and Adonis, a passionate figure skater. What starts in the book as a no strings attached situation through mutual friends quickly turns into something much deeper.
As the story went on, I found myself genuinely invested not just in their relationship, but in who Bash and Adonis were as people, watching them navigate love alongside high pressure sports. By the end, I was fully rooting for them both on and off the ice. I hope we get to see more of them in the future!
This book is perfect for lovers of MLM romance, sports romance fans, or anyone who finished Heated Rivalry and immediately needed more gay athletes to fall in love with!
February 3, 2026
This is one of the books that shows that young queer love is possible, and it’s out there. Both characters have their own struggles with their families, and this time is different because it’s not about being gay. As a gay man, I know that a lot of people in our community have problems with their families, and sometimes it is all about sexuality and gender. In this book, Kent brings together themes of sports, family dynamics, and love. The other parallel stories in the book are also very interesting, especially the one involving secrets, but I don’t want to spoil it.
February 28, 2026
I really enjoyed this one! It had a little bit of everything in it and the characters seemed relatable. I also was rooting for them the entire time and was hopeful that things would work out for them in the end. I do hope that more gets written about them because I think their story has much further to go! I think Kent did a great job with his writing style and keeping this novel moving without any real dead spots!
January 30, 2026
Kent Holland’s steam in Beauty and the Basher melted all the ice in the Rink at Bellford University, turning it into glittering puddles of happy tears. Dank u, Kent, ook omdat je me zo aan het huilen hebt gemaakt.
February 2, 2026
3/5
It was okay , the love story felt a little bit too superficial
It was okay , the love story felt a little bit too superficial
February 14, 2026
That’s some wattpad HR x FTF fan fic if I’ve ever read it yikes
February 5, 2026
Somehow a lot and nothing like other mm hockey romances I’ve read.
I love Kent Holland‘s writing and this one is again a good one. Great characters, solid story and shameless privat encounters.
I love Kent Holland‘s writing and this one is again a good one. Great characters, solid story and shameless privat encounters.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5⭐️s
MM Romance
Hockey Player X Figure Skater
Mystery sub-plot
Olympics!
Kent builds great side characters who are able to hold their own alongside the MCS.
This is the perfect blend of romance, spicy, and just enough sub plot to keep you hooked for the next book.
Another thing i loved about this story is that the main conflict isn’t that they’re trying to navigate their queerness in a straight world—and although it is so often true, it is also very overdone. They are just themselves, getting their happy ending, and it is such a refreshing break from the typical angst.
I literally haven’t stopped thinking about Bash and Adonis!
I was gifted an ARC and I am leaving an honest review.
MM Romance
Hockey Player X Figure Skater
Mystery sub-plot
Olympics!
Kent builds great side characters who are able to hold their own alongside the MCS.
This is the perfect blend of romance, spicy, and just enough sub plot to keep you hooked for the next book.
Another thing i loved about this story is that the main conflict isn’t that they’re trying to navigate their queerness in a straight world—and although it is so often true, it is also very overdone. They are just themselves, getting their happy ending, and it is such a refreshing break from the typical angst.
I literally haven’t stopped thinking about Bash and Adonis!
I was gifted an ARC and I am leaving an honest review.
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