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On Thin Ice #2
The Call-Up
Not yet published
Expected 12 Jun 26I’ve been in love with Ryan Christianson since I was fourteen.
Eight years ago, he was my brother’s teammate, billeted in our home, and completely off-limits. Now, as I’m called up to the NHL for the first time, the moment I discover Ryan is my new linemate is also when I realize I’m still hopelessly gone for the man who calls me Baby Bouchard.
As rookies go, I’m doing well; hat-trick-in-my-third-game, heading-to-the-playoffs well. But I’ll always be just a kid to Ryan, who makes it clear there’s a line we’re not crossing. He says I’m too young, too new to the league, that getting involved would be a disaster. He’s probably right. But he’s also the one fixing my hair before media interviews, teaching me his signature backhand shot, and looking at me like he’s one second away from forgetting every reason we shouldn’t do this.
The smart thing? Finish the season, keep things professional, protect our careers.
But I didn’t make it to the NHL by playing it safe.
A sexy, forbidden love, MM hockey romance featuring rookie dreams, found family, and the courage to risk everything for love on and off the ice. Perfect for fans of Heated Rivalry, Tal Bauer, and Sarina Bowen.
Eight years ago, he was my brother’s teammate, billeted in our home, and completely off-limits. Now, as I’m called up to the NHL for the first time, the moment I discover Ryan is my new linemate is also when I realize I’m still hopelessly gone for the man who calls me Baby Bouchard.
As rookies go, I’m doing well; hat-trick-in-my-third-game, heading-to-the-playoffs well. But I’ll always be just a kid to Ryan, who makes it clear there’s a line we’re not crossing. He says I’m too young, too new to the league, that getting involved would be a disaster. He’s probably right. But he’s also the one fixing my hair before media interviews, teaching me his signature backhand shot, and looking at me like he’s one second away from forgetting every reason we shouldn’t do this.
The smart thing? Finish the season, keep things professional, protect our careers.
But I didn’t make it to the NHL by playing it safe.
A sexy, forbidden love, MM hockey romance featuring rookie dreams, found family, and the courage to risk everything for love on and off the ice. Perfect for fans of Heated Rivalry, Tal Bauer, and Sarina Bowen.
363 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 12, 2026
28 people are currently reading
983 people want to read
About the author
K.C. Carmichael
4 books115 followersK. C. Carmichael is an American author who writes romantic comedies. She is an ex hairstylist who spent her time behind the chair not only styling her clients' hair but also listening to their stories and sharing her own observations about the beauty and hilarity of life and love. She lives in Chicago where she holds two controversial opinions about her beloved city; that winter is the superior season, and the actual Chicago style pizza is pan pizza cut into squares for easy sharing. When not writing, she can be found enjoying some ice time at her local rink.
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May 1, 2026
Thank you to Storm Publishing for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
Eight years ago, he was my brother’s teammate, billeted in our home, and completely off-limits. Now, as I’m called up to the NHL for the first time, the moment I discover Ryan is my new linemate is also when I realize I’m still hopelessly gone for the man who calls me Baby Bouchard.
As rookies go, I’m doing well; hat-trick-in-my-third-game, heading-to-the-playoffs well. But I’ll always be just a kid to Ryan, who makes it clear there’s a line we’re not crossing. He says I’m too young, too new to the league, that getting involved would be a disaster. He’s probably right. But he’s also the one fixing my hair before media interviews, teaching me his signature backhand shot, and looking at me like he’s one second away from forgetting every reason we shouldn’t do this. The smart thing? Finish the season, keep things professional, protect our careers. But I didn’t make it to the NHL by playing it safe.
Ryan is used to the big leagues now, and despite his tremulous past, easily takes Brandon in under his wing. It was nice to see him be so open with Brandon, welcoming him into the fold and supporting him in his transition. We get a glimpse at his past and, frustratingly, that is all it is. We see him have a massive emotional response to what’s happened previously and yet we still don’t get to truly know the impact or understand how things went down. This was a big missed opportunity for further character growth because seeing him truly connect to his emotions would have endeared him to me more!
Brandon is a great guy but lacks so much confidence in himself. We are constantly barraged by his self-doubt, which despite numerous reminders and support from those around him, he almost refuses to accept it. He is a sweetheart, overwhelmed by everything happening but it felt as if there was almost this lack of trust, something holding him back from being great so we didn’t get to see his full potential. It’s such a shame because he could have been amazing.
Having read the first book and liking the plot, I definitely took the opportunity to read the sequel and see what was going on in this world of ice hockey. Like the first, the plot was pretty good and addressed some important issues. However, I found I still had an issue with the pacing and just the general writing of the book. Having multiple POVs is something I enjoy in a book. I love seeing the different perspectives of an event taking place. But when the POV is switched multiple times in a single chapter, my brain struggles to keep up. With there not being enough differentiation between the two leads, I constantly found myself confused about whose POV I was currently reading from. If a perspective needs to be changed during a chapter, I’m on board with that but I cannot cope with multiple changes practically every chapter. It just makes for more of a confusing experience for the reader. Character wise, it was great getting to see many new faces and personalities whilst still getting glimpses of characters from the first book. The joys of an interconnected series is getting to see the future of the outcome of the previous book! Romance wise, it was sweet but a bit like with the POVs, there didn’t feel to be much difference between the leads. Sure, being in love and falling for someone can make you feel similar, but even their thoughts were too much the same for me to fully enjoy their romance. And, unfortunately, the spice felt the same too. It seemed to be losing a spark for me. The ending was nice, though a bit rushed. I liked that it wasn’t the perfect happy ever after, but it worked for this story.
Overall, The Call-Up is a quick read perfect for ice hockey fans.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you again to Storm Publishing for an advanced copy of this book.
Eight years ago, he was my brother’s teammate, billeted in our home, and completely off-limits. Now, as I’m called up to the NHL for the first time, the moment I discover Ryan is my new linemate is also when I realize I’m still hopelessly gone for the man who calls me Baby Bouchard.
As rookies go, I’m doing well; hat-trick-in-my-third-game, heading-to-the-playoffs well. But I’ll always be just a kid to Ryan, who makes it clear there’s a line we’re not crossing. He says I’m too young, too new to the league, that getting involved would be a disaster. He’s probably right. But he’s also the one fixing my hair before media interviews, teaching me his signature backhand shot, and looking at me like he’s one second away from forgetting every reason we shouldn’t do this. The smart thing? Finish the season, keep things professional, protect our careers. But I didn’t make it to the NHL by playing it safe.
Ryan is used to the big leagues now, and despite his tremulous past, easily takes Brandon in under his wing. It was nice to see him be so open with Brandon, welcoming him into the fold and supporting him in his transition. We get a glimpse at his past and, frustratingly, that is all it is. We see him have a massive emotional response to what’s happened previously and yet we still don’t get to truly know the impact or understand how things went down. This was a big missed opportunity for further character growth because seeing him truly connect to his emotions would have endeared him to me more!
Brandon is a great guy but lacks so much confidence in himself. We are constantly barraged by his self-doubt, which despite numerous reminders and support from those around him, he almost refuses to accept it. He is a sweetheart, overwhelmed by everything happening but it felt as if there was almost this lack of trust, something holding him back from being great so we didn’t get to see his full potential. It’s such a shame because he could have been amazing.
Having read the first book and liking the plot, I definitely took the opportunity to read the sequel and see what was going on in this world of ice hockey. Like the first, the plot was pretty good and addressed some important issues. However, I found I still had an issue with the pacing and just the general writing of the book. Having multiple POVs is something I enjoy in a book. I love seeing the different perspectives of an event taking place. But when the POV is switched multiple times in a single chapter, my brain struggles to keep up. With there not being enough differentiation between the two leads, I constantly found myself confused about whose POV I was currently reading from. If a perspective needs to be changed during a chapter, I’m on board with that but I cannot cope with multiple changes practically every chapter. It just makes for more of a confusing experience for the reader. Character wise, it was great getting to see many new faces and personalities whilst still getting glimpses of characters from the first book. The joys of an interconnected series is getting to see the future of the outcome of the previous book! Romance wise, it was sweet but a bit like with the POVs, there didn’t feel to be much difference between the leads. Sure, being in love and falling for someone can make you feel similar, but even their thoughts were too much the same for me to fully enjoy their romance. And, unfortunately, the spice felt the same too. It seemed to be losing a spark for me. The ending was nice, though a bit rushed. I liked that it wasn’t the perfect happy ever after, but it worked for this story.
Overall, The Call-Up is a quick read perfect for ice hockey fans.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you again to Storm Publishing for an advanced copy of this book.
April 29, 2026
Thank you to Storm Publishing, the author, and NetGalley for the arc!!
Rtc
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April 24, 2026
So I will be honest and admit I 100% requested this book because of the big gold “For Fans of Heated Rivalry” sticker on the front cover. Like most we are all still getting over our Heated Rivalry hangover and looking for similar books to fill that void. I saw this on NetGalley and immediately was drawn to it. So right off the bat big thank you NetGalley & Storm Publishing for providing me a ARC. Little did I know that requesting this book would make me a KC Carmichael fan for life!
Also should mention that when I requested this I didn’t realize this was the first book in an interconnected series. But even though I didn’t read the first one that didn’t hinder my reading experience of The Call-Up. Plus now I’m more excited to go out and read the first book because I loved The Call-Up so much!
However, back to the book at hand. The Call-Up follows former friends Ryan and Brandon. Brandon has crushed on Ryan in secret for years. The two finally have a chance to reconnect when Brandon is called up to the NHL to play on Ryan’s team. Forced proximity finally pushes both over the edge and allows both of them to finally have the relationship they’ve been dreaming of.
I had an absolute blast reading this. I loved how adorkable Brandon is and how oozing confidence Ryan is. They brought out the best in each other not just from a relationship aspect but also in hockey as well. The tension and chemistry was off the charts. My only complaint was the ending. I feel like their story wasn’t quite finished. It felt a bit rushed and in need of an epilogue. But I have a feeling we’ll see more of them in book 3.
Another aspect of this book that I loved was the entires Mules team. The found family/brotherhood between the group was so wholesome and uplifting.
Overall, I had a blast reading this and I can’t wait to go back and read book 1. And of course I 100% recommend this!
Also should mention that when I requested this I didn’t realize this was the first book in an interconnected series. But even though I didn’t read the first one that didn’t hinder my reading experience of The Call-Up. Plus now I’m more excited to go out and read the first book because I loved The Call-Up so much!
However, back to the book at hand. The Call-Up follows former friends Ryan and Brandon. Brandon has crushed on Ryan in secret for years. The two finally have a chance to reconnect when Brandon is called up to the NHL to play on Ryan’s team. Forced proximity finally pushes both over the edge and allows both of them to finally have the relationship they’ve been dreaming of.
I had an absolute blast reading this. I loved how adorkable Brandon is and how oozing confidence Ryan is. They brought out the best in each other not just from a relationship aspect but also in hockey as well. The tension and chemistry was off the charts. My only complaint was the ending. I feel like their story wasn’t quite finished. It felt a bit rushed and in need of an epilogue. But I have a feeling we’ll see more of them in book 3.
Another aspect of this book that I loved was the entires Mules team. The found family/brotherhood between the group was so wholesome and uplifting.
Overall, I had a blast reading this and I can’t wait to go back and read book 1. And of course I 100% recommend this!
April 28, 2026
ARC REVIEW FROM NET GALLERY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN ADVANCED REVIEW
This book would have a 2.5 stars if I were able to do it, 2 feels too little but 3 feels too much. If it weren’t for the final two chapters, then it would have got at least a 4.5 from me.
I loved The Kennedy Rule, so being able to read an ARC copy of its follow-up was incredibly exciting for me.
One issue I had with The Kennedy Rule was how many plotlines felt similar to characters in Heated Rivalry, and I worried that would be the case here as well, especially with a hockey player who had been billeted with the love interest’s family years ago being called Ryan, the same as in the Game Changers series. I was concerned it would mirror those stories again, but I am very glad to say it was a strong and original story.
I really loved Ryan and Brandon. Their story of allowing each other to feel their emotions was beautifully done, and their progression into the playoffs felt like a physical representation of how well their relationship was developing.
However, I felt incredibly betrayed and as though the “happy ending rule” had been broken when they lost the Stanley Cup final to the characters from the previous book. Especially since there was no real character plot in this book, no real internal conflict other than will they win the cup.
To me, while Gavin and Connor’s characters needed to win the Stanley Cup as a form of external therapy for Connor after the horrific events caused by his father, it still felt like a cardinal rule of romance had been broken. Although Ryan and Brandon remain together at the end of the book, they officially got together earlier in the story, and there was no major relationship turmoil to overcome. As a result, the win effectively becomes the story’s happy ending. Not having them win the Stanley Cup, only mere pages before the end, felt like that ending was shattered, which is not what we typically read romance novels for.
While other MM hockey romances have had a big game loss at the end of the book, there is always a chapter or two afterwards to settle the characters into realising that winning was not their happy ending, and to show what their new happy ending is.
It almost felt as though Connor’s team winning should have happened in a second Gavin and Connor book, rather than taking precedence in a story centred on two other characters.
At first, I thought there was a decent amount of the book left, as my Kindle showed we were at 90%. However, the next chapter was the final one and only a few pages long, with the rest being a snippet of The Kennedy Rule. With the final chapter acting as something of a humiliation ritual for the players, seemingly to introduce characters for the next book, it meant there was no real sense of a happy ending for Ryan and Brandon. This left me feeling annoyed on their behalf and let down by the author.
If I ignore the final two chapters, I loved this book, and its characters, far more than The Kennedy Rule. However, the ending diminished the overall experience, making the conclusion feel far less rewarding and leaving me genuinely disappointed.
Normally, I would mention issues with formatting in my reviews, but as this was an ARC copy, I expected there to be some problems and have not taken them into account in my rating.
This book would have a 2.5 stars if I were able to do it, 2 feels too little but 3 feels too much. If it weren’t for the final two chapters, then it would have got at least a 4.5 from me.
I loved The Kennedy Rule, so being able to read an ARC copy of its follow-up was incredibly exciting for me.
One issue I had with The Kennedy Rule was how many plotlines felt similar to characters in Heated Rivalry, and I worried that would be the case here as well, especially with a hockey player who had been billeted with the love interest’s family years ago being called Ryan, the same as in the Game Changers series. I was concerned it would mirror those stories again, but I am very glad to say it was a strong and original story.
I really loved Ryan and Brandon. Their story of allowing each other to feel their emotions was beautifully done, and their progression into the playoffs felt like a physical representation of how well their relationship was developing.
However, I felt incredibly betrayed and as though the “happy ending rule” had been broken when they lost the Stanley Cup final to the characters from the previous book. Especially since there was no real character plot in this book, no real internal conflict other than will they win the cup.
To me, while Gavin and Connor’s characters needed to win the Stanley Cup as a form of external therapy for Connor after the horrific events caused by his father, it still felt like a cardinal rule of romance had been broken. Although Ryan and Brandon remain together at the end of the book, they officially got together earlier in the story, and there was no major relationship turmoil to overcome. As a result, the win effectively becomes the story’s happy ending. Not having them win the Stanley Cup, only mere pages before the end, felt like that ending was shattered, which is not what we typically read romance novels for.
While other MM hockey romances have had a big game loss at the end of the book, there is always a chapter or two afterwards to settle the characters into realising that winning was not their happy ending, and to show what their new happy ending is.
It almost felt as though Connor’s team winning should have happened in a second Gavin and Connor book, rather than taking precedence in a story centred on two other characters.
At first, I thought there was a decent amount of the book left, as my Kindle showed we were at 90%. However, the next chapter was the final one and only a few pages long, with the rest being a snippet of The Kennedy Rule. With the final chapter acting as something of a humiliation ritual for the players, seemingly to introduce characters for the next book, it meant there was no real sense of a happy ending for Ryan and Brandon. This left me feeling annoyed on their behalf and let down by the author.
If I ignore the final two chapters, I loved this book, and its characters, far more than The Kennedy Rule. However, the ending diminished the overall experience, making the conclusion feel far less rewarding and leaving me genuinely disappointed.
Normally, I would mention issues with formatting in my reviews, but as this was an ARC copy, I expected there to be some problems and have not taken them into account in my rating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2026
Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is your vibe if you like
Hockey
Found family
Character driven
Banter
The Call Up was one of those books I wanted to read the second I saw it pop up on NetGalley. I loved the first book when I read it back in January, so I was really excited to jump back into KC Carmichael’s writing again.
Ryan and Brandon just work. The chemistry between them is immediate and effortless in a way that made this ridiculously easy to sink into. Their connection feels natural from the start and the emotional side of the story builds really well around that.
What I loved most though was the overall theme running through the book about acceptance, belonging, and finding home in people rather than a place. There’s a warmth underneath the romance that really carried the story for me.
I did find myself wishing some of the POV moments lasted a little longer before switching because there were scenes I wanted to stay in a bit more, but it didn’t stop me from flying through the book.
If you love hockey romance with strong chemistry, emotional connection, found family elements, and characters figuring out where they belong, this is definitely worth picking up.
This is your vibe if you like
Hockey
Found family
Character driven
Banter
The Call Up was one of those books I wanted to read the second I saw it pop up on NetGalley. I loved the first book when I read it back in January, so I was really excited to jump back into KC Carmichael’s writing again.
Ryan and Brandon just work. The chemistry between them is immediate and effortless in a way that made this ridiculously easy to sink into. Their connection feels natural from the start and the emotional side of the story builds really well around that.
What I loved most though was the overall theme running through the book about acceptance, belonging, and finding home in people rather than a place. There’s a warmth underneath the romance that really carried the story for me.
I did find myself wishing some of the POV moments lasted a little longer before switching because there were scenes I wanted to stay in a bit more, but it didn’t stop me from flying through the book.
If you love hockey romance with strong chemistry, emotional connection, found family elements, and characters figuring out where they belong, this is definitely worth picking up.
April 26, 2026
this was a solid 3 star read for me, a nice and easy romance with characters that are genuinely likeable and easy to root for. the call up leans into a familiar but effective trope with the whole childhood crush to teammates dynamic, and i did enjoy how that emotional history shaped the relationship between brandon and ryan. there’s a softness to their connection that makes the story feel comforting rather than overly dramatic, and i appreciated that the romance unfolds in a more grounded, steady way instead of relying on unnecessary conflict.
the writing is smooth and accessible, and the hockey setting adds a nice layer to the story without completely overshadowing the romance. i also liked the sense of found family within the team, those moments helped build a warm atmosphere around the main characters and made the world feel a bit more lived in. brandon, in particular, stands out as a character, especially in how his vulnerability and self-doubt are handled alongside his growth as a player and as a person.
that said, i did feel like the book could have gone a bit deeper in certain areas, especially emotionally. while the chemistry is there, parts of the romance felt a little too straightforward or told rather than fully explored, and i wanted just a bit more tension or complexity to make it really hit. overall though, this is a nice, enjoyable read, especially for readers who like low-angst mm romance, sports settings, and character-driven stories with a softer tone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2026
This book was so cute! It’s a friends to lovers romance with found family and lots of spice. Best of all, no third act break up! My only wish was that their love story went a little deeper, the story was fast paced and I feel like it brushed over a lot of the times when they could have shown deep talks and how their feelings grew for each other. I definitely need to go back and read the first book in the series and I can’t wait to read the next one!
Thank you NetGalley, K.C. Carmichael, and Storm publishing for letting me read this early in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you NetGalley, K.C. Carmichael, and Storm publishing for letting me read this early in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was an easy, fluffy, and heartwarming read that scratches the sports romance itch! The characters were all quite wholesome and I particularly adored the entire Bouchard family—Ander is the dream supportive older brother and Momma B is a warm and welcoming mother. The character interactions were also quite enjoyable—some fun banter, bets, and heaps of tooth-rooting sweetness. Some of my favourite moments: Momma B just straight-up hugging Ivanov (and converting him into becoming more physically affectionate), Ivanov telling Brandon he should throw up in the opponent's bin, Ryan and Brandon's walks, the bikini bet, Ryan's found family, and many more!
What held this book back from upgrading from being a good but forgettable read to a truly great/standout one though, was its lack of real tension, suspense and conflict. Although there were many potential sources of tension created—the hockey (Stanley Cup tournament), the development of a romantic relationship, Ryan's family drama, being gay in a sport filled with homophobic individuals—these points of tension were not properly delivered on. The journey, the overcoming challenges and development for each of these points felt like it was missing, and as all the tension was sucked out, the engagement and effectiveness of the story was reduced. For example, the Mules were a team that had never made playoffs and Brandon was a player who is talented, but is ultimately a rookie and has no real professional experience. I love underdog stories, but the progress needs to feel authentic and illustrating the steps that have led to their progress is really important for the pay-off. I would have liked to see the team struggle a little more and have to work to get to the point that they did or otherwise it does not feel believable or earned. For instance, the team could have suffered some early losses, we could have delved into training arcs or gone into what new skills and strategies were being implemented, and more. I understand the point at which Brandon came into the team meant they could not face many more losses or their season would be over, so perhaps his addition could have been shifted earlier to allow for the team to suffer some losses they could grow from, and if not, to really go through what they were doing between matches to level-up so quickly. Slight spoiler: I just could not get behind new player comes into an almost-bottom team and they just begin blitzing their way through games and winning everything. I like reading sports matches, but it was harder to get into when from the moment they mentioned it would be nice to have a Blizzards vs Mules finals, I knew the team was going to make it there. Even where the audience knows the outcome from a trope, it can still be engaging to see the journey there - i.e. HOW they get that win (again: through hard training to level-up, through implementing new techniques or strategies, etc.). Instead, there was no real tension throughout the games, until the finals (but at which point it is already too late in the story). The saving grace is I am so glad for the ending—I like that as it feels far more realistic than the perfect Cinderella run and also sets up for their future growth. Tl;dr: the team or Brandon as a player should not have gone from point A to point B without interim development and there was no tension in the hockey matches because the team/Brandon never really had to struggle or work on things for a win.
Overall, I had a good time with the story and recommend it to people who want a low-angst, fluffy, and heartwarming story filled with wholesome characters, found family, and witty interactions. Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!
What held this book back from upgrading from being a good but forgettable read to a truly great/standout one though, was its lack of real tension, suspense and conflict. Although there were many potential sources of tension created—the hockey (Stanley Cup tournament), the development of a romantic relationship, Ryan's family drama, being gay in a sport filled with homophobic individuals—these points of tension were not properly delivered on. The journey, the overcoming challenges and development for each of these points felt like it was missing, and as all the tension was sucked out, the engagement and effectiveness of the story was reduced. For example, the Mules were a team that had never made playoffs and Brandon was a player who is talented, but is ultimately a rookie and has no real professional experience. I love underdog stories, but the progress needs to feel authentic and illustrating the steps that have led to their progress is really important for the pay-off. I would have liked to see the team struggle a little more and have to work to get to the point that they did or otherwise it does not feel believable or earned. For instance, the team could have suffered some early losses, we could have delved into training arcs or gone into what new skills and strategies were being implemented, and more. I understand the point at which Brandon came into the team meant they could not face many more losses or their season would be over, so perhaps his addition could have been shifted earlier to allow for the team to suffer some losses they could grow from, and if not, to really go through what they were doing between matches to level-up so quickly. Slight spoiler: I just could not get behind new player comes into an almost-bottom team and they just begin blitzing their way through games and winning everything. I like reading sports matches, but it was harder to get into when from the moment they mentioned it would be nice to have a Blizzards vs Mules finals, I knew the team was going to make it there. Even where the audience knows the outcome from a trope, it can still be engaging to see the journey there - i.e. HOW they get that win (again: through hard training to level-up, through implementing new techniques or strategies, etc.). Instead, there was no real tension throughout the games, until the finals (but at which point it is already too late in the story). The saving grace is I am so glad for the ending—I like that as it feels far more realistic than the perfect Cinderella run and also sets up for their future growth. Tl;dr: the team or Brandon as a player should not have gone from point A to point B without interim development and there was no tension in the hockey matches because the team/Brandon never really had to struggle or work on things for a win.
Overall, I had a good time with the story and recommend it to people who want a low-angst, fluffy, and heartwarming story filled with wholesome characters, found family, and witty interactions. Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
After not being a big fan of Carmichael’s first hockey romance, the Kennedy Rule, I was pleasantly surprised with the Call-Up as a companion and expansion on the universe. The dynamic between the leads was charming and organic, the side characters felt more developed, and after how high-profile everything ended up being in the Kennedy Rule, I’m glad that this story didn’t deal with the press or league so much as the characters.
The Call-Up follows Brandon Bouchard, a young forward stuck on a toxic college team, who gets the opportunity to play in the NHL when he’s called up to St. Louis. On the team, and on his line, is Ryan, a player who billeted with the Bouchard family when Brandon was in middle school and was the object of Brandon’s desire as he dealt with his burgeoning sexuality. Now as adults, the crush hasn’t waned at all, and becomes harder to deny as they’re stuck rooming together on the road.
Brandon and Ryan have a much more realistic dynamic compared to the couple in Carmichael’s first book. I really liked that even though their feelings become obvious pretty early on in the book, the relationship continues developing until basically the last page. I was also worried that the “Baby Bouchard” nickname and little brother elements would lead to Brandon being consistently infantalized, but luckily that didn’t happen. Also, because the book takes place over the course of several months, the character growth feels more earned because of the amount of time invested into the relationship.
My principal issue with this book is the lack of tension. I don’t mind split perspective at all, but Carmichael switches perspectives so frequently that the reader doesn’t spend any time in uncertainty, wondering what the other character is thinking. I’m not trying to offer advice, but if we’d spent more time with Brandon in the unrequited phase of his crush, not realizing that Ryan was reciprocating, I feel like there would’ve been more catharsis when that revelation came for Brandon, because it would’ve also been a revelation for the reader. As it stands, the book is so dependent on telling the reader every thought the characters have without any room for doubt or mystery that it telegraphs its moves and undermines any potential surprises.
Another thing that diminished the reading experience of this book for me is the continual casual stereotyping about women. There are more female characters in this book than there were in the Kennedy Rule and while they’re all mostly good influences, they’re all wives and girlfriends (WAGS) (with the exception of Brandon’s mom), and they all slot cleanly into stark gender roles, relegated to cooking and mothering both the children and adult men in their lives. One side character, a bartender friend of Ryan’s named Nicole, is the exception to this, but the only reason she’s in the story is because she was previously attracted to Ryan. I don’t expect hockey romances to have strong female characters all the time, I know what we’re all here for, but especially as a female reader it’s frustrating to be taken out of the story with the reductive stereotypes.
All in all, it’s a fun and sweet read. Ryan described Brandon as “wholesome” and that is a great way of describing the book on the whole. I’m hopeful that Carmichael’s writing continues to improve as she puts out more work.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.
The Call-Up follows Brandon Bouchard, a young forward stuck on a toxic college team, who gets the opportunity to play in the NHL when he’s called up to St. Louis. On the team, and on his line, is Ryan, a player who billeted with the Bouchard family when Brandon was in middle school and was the object of Brandon’s desire as he dealt with his burgeoning sexuality. Now as adults, the crush hasn’t waned at all, and becomes harder to deny as they’re stuck rooming together on the road.
Brandon and Ryan have a much more realistic dynamic compared to the couple in Carmichael’s first book. I really liked that even though their feelings become obvious pretty early on in the book, the relationship continues developing until basically the last page. I was also worried that the “Baby Bouchard” nickname and little brother elements would lead to Brandon being consistently infantalized, but luckily that didn’t happen. Also, because the book takes place over the course of several months, the character growth feels more earned because of the amount of time invested into the relationship.
My principal issue with this book is the lack of tension. I don’t mind split perspective at all, but Carmichael switches perspectives so frequently that the reader doesn’t spend any time in uncertainty, wondering what the other character is thinking. I’m not trying to offer advice, but if we’d spent more time with Brandon in the unrequited phase of his crush, not realizing that Ryan was reciprocating, I feel like there would’ve been more catharsis when that revelation came for Brandon, because it would’ve also been a revelation for the reader. As it stands, the book is so dependent on telling the reader every thought the characters have without any room for doubt or mystery that it telegraphs its moves and undermines any potential surprises.
Another thing that diminished the reading experience of this book for me is the continual casual stereotyping about women. There are more female characters in this book than there were in the Kennedy Rule and while they’re all mostly good influences, they’re all wives and girlfriends (WAGS) (with the exception of Brandon’s mom), and they all slot cleanly into stark gender roles, relegated to cooking and mothering both the children and adult men in their lives. One side character, a bartender friend of Ryan’s named Nicole, is the exception to this, but the only reason she’s in the story is because she was previously attracted to Ryan. I don’t expect hockey romances to have strong female characters all the time, I know what we’re all here for, but especially as a female reader it’s frustrating to be taken out of the story with the reductive stereotypes.
All in all, it’s a fun and sweet read. Ryan described Brandon as “wholesome” and that is a great way of describing the book on the whole. I’m hopeful that Carmichael’s writing continues to improve as she puts out more work.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.
Review of advance copy
At this rate, it’s not a question how much I love KC Carmichael’s On Thin Ice series. The Kennedy Rule continues to live rent free in my head. BUT THE CALL UP, I literally read this, crackled inappropriately loud, and instantly started rereading it.
How can you not immediately want to hit the ground running when Brandon Bouchard comes tearing into the Mules locker room in a whirlwind of gear? Nevermind that he is instantly greeted with an old nickname from the endearingly charming Ryan Christianson. You just know that there is something magical brewing in St. Louis.
The pain of first unrequited love into mature steady love is just chef kiss. The romance of starts off slow and naturally falls into a rhythm that feels like lazy summer days. But it’s hockey so it’s cozy fall days. 😜 Don’t forget your pregame naps, folks!!
Ryan’s unshakable confidence is electrifying and gives Brandon space to stand. Brandon’s anxiety to not let down the team mirrors Ryan’e desire to carry the entire team to the Stanley cup. But time and time again, they’re reminded that they’re not alone. I could not with how this book captures the wholesomeness that hockey could be.
The Mules has all the marking of a relentless team. Team captain, Danton Foley, continues the tradition of taking in all new players, introducing Brandon to his family. (Has Baby Bouchard finally turned the baby brother title to big brother?) Don’t think that Ryan and Danton are the only ones welcoming Brandon; Rosys, Clammers, and Ivanov is more than happy to help relieve his nerves with some “kind words” that is honestly a lucky spell at this point.
The superstition is sacred, there’s a reason the cup is mildly cursed and highly sought after. And Mules aren’t going to rollover this year, kids, they’re here for THE CUP, gloves off and all! 😈 Coach Chris returns in this book just to remind us: Nothing heals injuries like the Stanley Cup.
Carmichael really captures the joy of the NHL playoff season in this book. I cannot stress how much I laughed through the entire playoff run. The chirping, the absolute payback if anyone takes down a Mule, and the audacity to score not just once but twice on the same play. I AM GRINNING WILDLY JUST THINKING OF RYAN “Imma do it again” CHRISTIANSON.
Seriously, if anyone is enjoying the absolute chaos that is the current 2026 playoffs, the Mules energy is matching the Buffalo Sabres: unexpectedly breaking into the playoff, town absolutely exploding into chaotic support, fans are losing their mind, and the underdog is absolutely surprising the entire league.
No matter what happens, I’m going to love every freaking second of the playoffs. Win or lose, everyone is coming for the cup again next year so strap up. I’m ready for book three, folks.
There is definitely going to be another stunner of a romance to shake up the hockey world. 💪😘
FYI, Carmichael’s acknowledgement in the first book, she has hope to give Buffalo a winning hockey team and now the Sabres are in the playoffs for the first time in 15 years. It would not surprise me if this book mark the STL Blues comeback. Placing my bets now!
How can you not immediately want to hit the ground running when Brandon Bouchard comes tearing into the Mules locker room in a whirlwind of gear? Nevermind that he is instantly greeted with an old nickname from the endearingly charming Ryan Christianson. You just know that there is something magical brewing in St. Louis.
The pain of first unrequited love into mature steady love is just chef kiss. The romance of starts off slow and naturally falls into a rhythm that feels like lazy summer days. But it’s hockey so it’s cozy fall days. 😜 Don’t forget your pregame naps, folks!!
Ryan’s unshakable confidence is electrifying and gives Brandon space to stand. Brandon’s anxiety to not let down the team mirrors Ryan’e desire to carry the entire team to the Stanley cup. But time and time again, they’re reminded that they’re not alone. I could not with how this book captures the wholesomeness that hockey could be.
The Mules has all the marking of a relentless team. Team captain, Danton Foley, continues the tradition of taking in all new players, introducing Brandon to his family. (Has Baby Bouchard finally turned the baby brother title to big brother?) Don’t think that Ryan and Danton are the only ones welcoming Brandon; Rosys, Clammers, and Ivanov is more than happy to help relieve his nerves with some “kind words” that is honestly a lucky spell at this point.
The superstition is sacred, there’s a reason the cup is mildly cursed and highly sought after. And Mules aren’t going to rollover this year, kids, they’re here for THE CUP, gloves off and all! 😈 Coach Chris returns in this book just to remind us: Nothing heals injuries like the Stanley Cup.
Carmichael really captures the joy of the NHL playoff season in this book. I cannot stress how much I laughed through the entire playoff run. The chirping, the absolute payback if anyone takes down a Mule, and the audacity to score not just once but twice on the same play. I AM GRINNING WILDLY JUST THINKING OF RYAN “Imma do it again” CHRISTIANSON.
Seriously, if anyone is enjoying the absolute chaos that is the current 2026 playoffs, the Mules energy is matching the Buffalo Sabres: unexpectedly breaking into the playoff, town absolutely exploding into chaotic support, fans are losing their mind, and the underdog is absolutely surprising the entire league.
No matter what happens, I’m going to love every freaking second of the playoffs. Win or lose, everyone is coming for the cup again next year so strap up. I’m ready for book three, folks.
There is definitely going to be another stunner of a romance to shake up the hockey world. 💪😘
FYI, Carmichael’s acknowledgement in the first book, she has hope to give Buffalo a winning hockey team and now the Sabres are in the playoffs for the first time in 15 years. It would not surprise me if this book mark the STL Blues comeback. Placing my bets now!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Brandon Bouchard (or better hilariously dubbed as Baby Bouchard) finally joins the team where his teenage crush plays and after eight years, it isn’t so much of an embarrassing infatuation anymore because he’s all grown up. And if he’s still flustered or a little starstruck that he’s made it with the big boys, he’s superstitious enough to know that he’ll stay cautious about his own personal standing, refusing to do anything remotely that will jeopardise his position.
What’s hard to ignore however, is seeing Ryan Christiansen as a teammate, whose constant presence just makes those feelings come roaring back. And the best part of the tale is that Ryan is slowly starting to see him more than just the younger brother in a family he once billeted with.
'The Call-Up’ is essentially a fun, low-angst read with lots of hockey action (and I mean a fair bit of play-by-play game descriptions) quite liberally interspersed with smexy times. It spans the entire hockey season with the team that is enjoying a fairytale run of wins and progression, with Baby’s sudden entrance seemingly acting as the catalyst for the Mules’ good form. It feels natural somehow that they’d both slide into a relationship, like a smooth steady climb of friends to lovers with some humour thrown in as the year progresses.
There isn’t too much drama or angst like in K.C. Carmichael’s first book which I loved, and there’s something to be said about a more lowkey build-up for Baby and Ryan along with their team support in contrast to the high-stakes hockey matches. In fact, their romance builds quietly alongside the intensity of the games, and the strong sense of team camaraderie never tips into heavy drama.
In fact, I actually thought it was the elder Bouchard’s story after Gavin Marshal’s and Connor Kennedy’s very dramatic arc until I realised that it was actually Ander’s younger brother who was next in line for his HEA. Still, it’s great to see Gavin/Connor make a cameo towards the end and the cute off-season ending that topped the cake, with a hint of what might happen next.
Carmichael’s hockey series hasn’t disappointed me yet and fingers-crossed that this keeps on keeping on.
*ARC by the publisher via Netgallley
What’s hard to ignore however, is seeing Ryan Christiansen as a teammate, whose constant presence just makes those feelings come roaring back. And the best part of the tale is that Ryan is slowly starting to see him more than just the younger brother in a family he once billeted with.
'The Call-Up’ is essentially a fun, low-angst read with lots of hockey action (and I mean a fair bit of play-by-play game descriptions) quite liberally interspersed with smexy times. It spans the entire hockey season with the team that is enjoying a fairytale run of wins and progression, with Baby’s sudden entrance seemingly acting as the catalyst for the Mules’ good form. It feels natural somehow that they’d both slide into a relationship, like a smooth steady climb of friends to lovers with some humour thrown in as the year progresses.
There isn’t too much drama or angst like in K.C. Carmichael’s first book which I loved, and there’s something to be said about a more lowkey build-up for Baby and Ryan along with their team support in contrast to the high-stakes hockey matches. In fact, their romance builds quietly alongside the intensity of the games, and the strong sense of team camaraderie never tips into heavy drama.
In fact, I actually thought it was the elder Bouchard’s story after Gavin Marshal’s and Connor Kennedy’s very dramatic arc until I realised that it was actually Ander’s younger brother who was next in line for his HEA. Still, it’s great to see Gavin/Connor make a cameo towards the end and the cute off-season ending that topped the cake, with a hint of what might happen next.
Carmichael’s hockey series hasn’t disappointed me yet and fingers-crossed that this keeps on keeping on.
*ARC by the publisher via Netgallley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'm so thankful for being given the opportunity to read this amazing story before its release, thanks to NetGalley and the author!
This book follows Brandon Bouchard, younger brother of Ander Bouchard who we met in the first volume. Brandon is such a sweet character and we read his debut in the NHL with the Mules, not only he is anxious because he doesn't want to fail this big opportunity, but also because he's gay and so it happens that the Mules is the team where is longtime crush Ryan Christianson plays.
Brandon is super excited to meet Ryan again and to show him that he grew up into a man, and is not "the baby brother" he knew anymore.
Brandon and Ryan go wayyy back because Ryan used to be one of the hockey players billeted by his family when he was younger. His crush has been going on since then, but he always thought to be the only one with these strong feelings and never said anything to Ryan.
But everything changes when he finds out he's actually not.
I loved the Mules, they felt so welcoming and caring of Brandon, they joked with him, putting him at ease and tried their best to make him realize how good he is. Brandon is so cute and I love that we have this mmc who can be vulnerable and anxious, but that doesn't take away the fact that he's good at what he does. Ryan, at first, seems a bit cold, but he's just surfing through the strong emotions that seeing Brandon again after 8 years has brought back... and through the novel we can see his great evolution has a person. I loved the fact that there was no drama in this novel, you know just a couple who wants to be together, no outings or else, pretty much everything was decided by themselves and they moved at their own pace.
I enjoyed this second volume as much as I did with "The Kennedy Rule", I gave 4 stars just because I felt like the ending was a bit rushed, I would've love to read more about Ryan and Brandon's summer or just life in general without the pressure of the games... but I do think we're gonna get more of this couple in the next book, which I'm sooo thrilled for because of the little hints that were given us here and there AND at the end I WAS SCREAMING JUST LIKE RYAN SO I CAN'T WAIT!
*ARC by the publisher via Netgallley
This book follows Brandon Bouchard, younger brother of Ander Bouchard who we met in the first volume. Brandon is such a sweet character and we read his debut in the NHL with the Mules, not only he is anxious because he doesn't want to fail this big opportunity, but also because he's gay and so it happens that the Mules is the team where is longtime crush Ryan Christianson plays.
Brandon is super excited to meet Ryan again and to show him that he grew up into a man, and is not "the baby brother" he knew anymore.
Brandon and Ryan go wayyy back because Ryan used to be one of the hockey players billeted by his family when he was younger. His crush has been going on since then, but he always thought to be the only one with these strong feelings and never said anything to Ryan.
But everything changes when he finds out he's actually not.
I loved the Mules, they felt so welcoming and caring of Brandon, they joked with him, putting him at ease and tried their best to make him realize how good he is. Brandon is so cute and I love that we have this mmc who can be vulnerable and anxious, but that doesn't take away the fact that he's good at what he does. Ryan, at first, seems a bit cold, but he's just surfing through the strong emotions that seeing Brandon again after 8 years has brought back... and through the novel we can see his great evolution has a person. I loved the fact that there was no drama in this novel, you know just a couple who wants to be together, no outings or else, pretty much everything was decided by themselves and they moved at their own pace.
I enjoyed this second volume as much as I did with "The Kennedy Rule", I gave 4 stars just because I felt like the ending was a bit rushed, I would've love to read more about Ryan and Brandon's summer or just life in general without the pressure of the games... but I do think we're gonna get more of this couple in the next book, which I'm sooo thrilled for because of the little hints that were given us here and there AND at the end I WAS SCREAMING JUST LIKE RYAN SO I CAN'T WAIT!
*ARC by the publisher via Netgallley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I would like to thank NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Reading The Call-Up while watching the Habs take on the Bolts in the first round of the playoffs this year (2026) was the most stunning pairing I didn't realize I needed in my life! This was such an immersive and expansive experience via a closed circuit of majestic hockey in my face (eyes+ears) AND in my face (eyes+imagination) that I've already lined up another read+watch ARC that will hopefully hit just as big!
K.C. Carmichael has officially entered into MY HIGHEST TIER of sports romance, which is reserved for romance writers who actually engage with the sport while navigating relationship dynamics that's more than just the spice off the ice. Carmichael writes hockey romance for hockey fans, and understands both hockey AND hockey players! So this was an easy 5✨ that I hope will continue the longer this series goes on.
Carmichael continues to impress me with narrative that's smooth and compelling to read. This had tons of the kind of dynamic hockey action I live for, and magnetic characters who were practically panting (sport/spice ;p) on page.
There was the VERY believable "rookie's first playoffs" tension energy, the nail-biting run for the Cup, and the team's immaculate characterizations that really fleshed out this story beyond Ryan and Brandon's sweet romance! And yessssssssssss I loved the nickname "Baby" and I felt my heart swell a thousand sizes every time Brandon's teammates showed him love, boosted him, teased him, and were all genuine green flags in a league comprised of mostly red!
Everything about The Call-Up worked for me, and I'm happy to add the On Thin Ice series to my list of all-time favourite MM Hockey romances, because I'm A HUGE FAN OF THIS series and I'm looking forward to rereading the Kennedy+Bouchard (Baby)+Bouchard (Ander) rivalry forever!
Screaming at the ending and I CANNOT WAIT for the next installment in the series, which will probably take me tf out if it's Ander and Ivanov, BECAUSE GOALIES OMG!
GIVE IT TO ME NOWWWWW!!!
Reading The Call-Up while watching the Habs take on the Bolts in the first round of the playoffs this year (2026) was the most stunning pairing I didn't realize I needed in my life! This was such an immersive and expansive experience via a closed circuit of majestic hockey in my face (eyes+ears) AND in my face (eyes+imagination) that I've already lined up another read+watch ARC that will hopefully hit just as big!
K.C. Carmichael has officially entered into MY HIGHEST TIER of sports romance, which is reserved for romance writers who actually engage with the sport while navigating relationship dynamics that's more than just the spice off the ice. Carmichael writes hockey romance for hockey fans, and understands both hockey AND hockey players! So this was an easy 5✨ that I hope will continue the longer this series goes on.
Carmichael continues to impress me with narrative that's smooth and compelling to read. This had tons of the kind of dynamic hockey action I live for, and magnetic characters who were practically panting (sport/spice ;p) on page.
There was the VERY believable "rookie's first playoffs" tension energy, the nail-biting run for the Cup, and the team's immaculate characterizations that really fleshed out this story beyond Ryan and Brandon's sweet romance! And yessssssssssss I loved the nickname "Baby" and I felt my heart swell a thousand sizes every time Brandon's teammates showed him love, boosted him, teased him, and were all genuine green flags in a league comprised of mostly red!
Everything about The Call-Up worked for me, and I'm happy to add the On Thin Ice series to my list of all-time favourite MM Hockey romances, because I'm A HUGE FAN OF THIS series and I'm looking forward to rereading the Kennedy+Bouchard (Baby)+Bouchard (Ander) rivalry forever!
Screaming at the ending and I CANNOT WAIT for the next installment in the series, which will probably take me tf out if it's Ander and Ivanov, BECAUSE GOALIES OMG!
GIVE IT TO ME NOWWWWW!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5⭐️
I have to preface that I did not realize that this was the second book in the series but I was still able to get through it with no issues.
This book was really fun and had its moments. I laughed a bit and giggled and kicked my feet too!
A few things I liked:
It was funny how Ryan was basically thinking Roysy wasn’t up to snuff just for Roysy to say that jokingly about Ryan to his face shortly after. And then Roysy self deprecatingly confirming saying he can finally go back to the third line.
I also liked the juxtaposition of Ryan loving the mules because he can sit back and Brandon being so excited to finally be called up and play seriously in the majors. Although this dynamic didn’t last.
How he got his nickname felt more organic than I’m used to and I really enjoyed that. In many other romances the nicknames seem forced and/or corny.
Ander and Brandon were the best thing. Best dynamic and I wish there could have been more of them.
Loved the dynamic of Danton’s family as well, although we only get to know him, Vicky, and Danny.
A few things that didn’t work for me:
I was not a fan of how quickly it changes POV. I actually found it to be quite jarring.
I don’t mind when two characters like each other off the bat but I dislike when it’s over explained/forced down my throat.
Certain scenes could’ve used more buildup or fanfare to make them feel as impactful as it should’ve been. Like their first kiss, nothing happened. It wasn’t even really described.
There were a few cases of syntax issues that had me rereading lines multiple times.
I felt like with a few themes, we were being hit over the head with them. Mostly because there was more telling vs. showing.
But overall I thought it was a cute, fun, and easy read. I got excited and I smiled a lot while reading. It’s was an enjoyable experience, just not without its flaws, as any good thing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I have to preface that I did not realize that this was the second book in the series but I was still able to get through it with no issues.
This book was really fun and had its moments. I laughed a bit and giggled and kicked my feet too!
A few things I liked:
It was funny how Ryan was basically thinking Roysy wasn’t up to snuff just for Roysy to say that jokingly about Ryan to his face shortly after. And then Roysy self deprecatingly confirming saying he can finally go back to the third line.
I also liked the juxtaposition of Ryan loving the mules because he can sit back and Brandon being so excited to finally be called up and play seriously in the majors. Although this dynamic didn’t last.
How he got his nickname felt more organic than I’m used to and I really enjoyed that. In many other romances the nicknames seem forced and/or corny.
Ander and Brandon were the best thing. Best dynamic and I wish there could have been more of them.
Loved the dynamic of Danton’s family as well, although we only get to know him, Vicky, and Danny.
A few things that didn’t work for me:
I was not a fan of how quickly it changes POV. I actually found it to be quite jarring.
I don’t mind when two characters like each other off the bat but I dislike when it’s over explained/forced down my throat.
Certain scenes could’ve used more buildup or fanfare to make them feel as impactful as it should’ve been. Like their first kiss, nothing happened. It wasn’t even really described.
There were a few cases of syntax issues that had me rereading lines multiple times.
I felt like with a few themes, we were being hit over the head with them. Mostly because there was more telling vs. showing.
But overall I thought it was a cute, fun, and easy read. I got excited and I smiled a lot while reading. It’s was an enjoyable experience, just not without its flaws, as any good thing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First of all, thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was a joy to read so much so that I found it really hard to put down once I’d started. I ended up finishing the entire book in one sitting I was that engrossed in the characters and the story.
“The Call Up” is the second in this series of books. I have not personally read the first book, however you can definitely read this as a standalone. Obviously there will be some missing context surrounding a few characters but it didn’t affect the story or my enjoyment.
I will say, this book is very hockey heavy. I know that probably sounds silly as this IS a hockey romance, but what I mean is that the book goes into details and play by plays of each game throughout the entire hockey season. This is not necessarily a bad thing if you’re a big fan of the sport like me. However, if you’re not then this one might not be for you as the hockey storyline definitely takes center stage over the romance at some points.
The characters in this book are lovable, not just the main characters but the side characters too! Each of the characters were well written, and I loved the dynamics between the team. Brandon and Ryan’s chemistry didn’t feel forced and I enjoyed the scenes of them together although I felt some more depth was needed in some parts especially in the build up to their first kiss.
My only real complaints with this book were that the POV changes happened a little too frequently in the middle of chapters. This made it a little confusing to remember which character was narrating and resulted in me having to go back and re-read again.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
There is a lot of hockey romance out there, especially mm after the success of heated rivalry- however this book is not it, i love a good hockey romance with any gender MM/FM/FF/MMF/FMF- you get the picture although this book just felt very quick to the jaw like I didn't feel like there was enough background or fleshed out of the character, there is a book one. However, this does read as a standalone. They said, and I don't think you do need to read it. Because I got the gist of what happened in the first book, but maybe, this one would have ebbed a little bit better if I had read it. The 2 main characters, Ryan and Brandon had met when they were teenagers. When Ryan stayed at Brandon's parents' house for junior hockey- they meet up again when Ryan is playing for St Louis and brandon is called up to the majors to play on their team as they get into play off contention- like I said, the basis for the story is there. But I feel like the characters weren't fleshed out enough and they didn't really get to know each other if that makes sense or have any will they or won't they? And maybe I needed that, and Ryan was a 100% al in where brandon wasn't as ready - and to me that didn't make any sense, cause there wasn't really enough talk about it.And I loved that, the team was so positive and accepting- thats heartwarming and we all live for that day when you get acceptance- the scene of what the team did for Ryan in Dallas was chefs kiss- and as a minnesota hockey fan anytime, dallas can look bad.I'm all in, it's a very quick read. I feel like a hockey romance. You'll be into it. I just wish the book had more depth. And the characters were, fleshed out a little bit more in the beginning-
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an ARC of The Call-Up via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
I give The Call-Up 5 stars for sweet, genuine characters who are so in love, a heartwarming team and family-by-choice, and a familiar but still welcoming world. For those already in the sports romance world, if you read Heated Rivalry and enjoyed it (particularly Game Changers or Role Model), you'll enjoy The Call-Up as well.
I read this book in about two sittings, racing through it without hesitation. Brandon was so compelling and sweet, and I enjoyed seeing someone who had their dream withheld for a while getting to actually chase it and make a fantastic effort. Ryan was a calm contrast to Brandon's worries, and they worked so well together as both a couple and as linemates. I was cheering for them the whole way. I very much enjoyed the twist on Ryan's background - it was refreshing while still being an authentic situation.
The Mules and the Bouchards were stand-out supporting cast (in more ways than one), and I loved seeing the families behind the players, especially seeing a billet family keeping up those found family connections. The work that the families involved in hockey have to do felt highlighted and respected in a fantastic way, and it all supported the story and the main romance through it all.
I highly recommend The Call-Up for anyone looking for a good sports romance, and double recommend for anyone waiting on more Game Changers, or just looking to explore the world of hockey from a fictionalized (but not unrealistic) perspective. I haven't read the previous book, but it wasn't necessary to understand what was going on, but I hope to get to that one soon as well.
Looking forward to more from K.C. Carmichael in the future!
I give The Call-Up 5 stars for sweet, genuine characters who are so in love, a heartwarming team and family-by-choice, and a familiar but still welcoming world. For those already in the sports romance world, if you read Heated Rivalry and enjoyed it (particularly Game Changers or Role Model), you'll enjoy The Call-Up as well.
I read this book in about two sittings, racing through it without hesitation. Brandon was so compelling and sweet, and I enjoyed seeing someone who had their dream withheld for a while getting to actually chase it and make a fantastic effort. Ryan was a calm contrast to Brandon's worries, and they worked so well together as both a couple and as linemates. I was cheering for them the whole way. I very much enjoyed the twist on Ryan's background - it was refreshing while still being an authentic situation.
The Mules and the Bouchards were stand-out supporting cast (in more ways than one), and I loved seeing the families behind the players, especially seeing a billet family keeping up those found family connections. The work that the families involved in hockey have to do felt highlighted and respected in a fantastic way, and it all supported the story and the main romance through it all.
I highly recommend The Call-Up for anyone looking for a good sports romance, and double recommend for anyone waiting on more Game Changers, or just looking to explore the world of hockey from a fictionalized (but not unrealistic) perspective. I haven't read the previous book, but it wasn't necessary to understand what was going on, but I hope to get to that one soon as well.
Looking forward to more from K.C. Carmichael in the future!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks Storm Publishing and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. A sweet sports romance that gave me all the feelings! Brandon Bouchard just got called up to play for the NHL. He was drafted a while ago but wasn’t sure he would ever get the call up. It doesn’t help that he doesn’t feel remotely worthy of it. To add to that Ryan Christianson is on the team. Brandon, or Baby as the team calls him, has been in love with Ryan for the last eight years. Ryan was billeted with the Bouchard’s for a year to play hockey. Brandon has never gotten over his crush but it’s pointless to crush on a straight guy let alone is own teammate. Though the more time they spend together the more it becomes clear that Ryan may not be so straight after all. But being with a teammate is still a terrible idea. Not to mention that Brandon doesn’t want anyone to know he’s gay. As the Mules make it into the playoffs for the first time in like ever things between Ryan and Brandon heat up off the ice as well. Will they get everything they’ve ever wanted or will their love be what destroys their chances? I adored both Brandon and Ryan and how sweet their relationship is, but I also loved all the Mules and how supportive they are to one another! The team and coach were absolutely fantastic! Also loved Brandon and Danny’s relationship! I haven’t read the first book and I would recommend reading it before this one, they’re standalone but there are references to the first book that seem slightly confusing without having read that book. K.C. Carmichael writes a sweet, swoony, spicy, romance that I couldn’t put down!
April 27, 2026
Another day being saved by gay hockey and the world finally makes sense again!!!
I know the "perfect for fans of Heated Rivalry" is right there on the cover, but seriously, it’s not a bluff. If you’re a Hollanov fan, you’ll feel right at home here, I promise!! The story captures that same essence we love, but the details are so original that it never felt repetitive. It just flowed perfectly.
As for the characters, Brandon "Baby" Bouchard won me over immediately. There’s nothing I love more than introverted characters (maybe because I relate to them so much) and Brandon has this quiet charm that’s impossible not to love. And Ryan didn’t stay behind; he won me over bit by bit, especially in those scenes where he was alone with Brandon and could finally be himself. Seeing that vulnerability with "Baby" was the most beautiful thing to watch.
The two of them together are, no exaggeration, the sweetest thing in the world. It’s that combo that makes me swoon: forced proximity (living together), caretaker trope, found family, and that secret locker room romance that adds so much flavor. It’s that "you’re my safe place in the chaos" kind of love that soothes the soul. I loved noticing how physical touch is their love language; those details make the couple feel so much more real and interesting to me.
* Spice level: 4/5. The tension is incredibly well-built and the scenes are great.
* TW: Family issues and mild implied homophobia (environmental context).
* Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I’ll be screaming about this book for a long time!!
Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own
I know the "perfect for fans of Heated Rivalry" is right there on the cover, but seriously, it’s not a bluff. If you’re a Hollanov fan, you’ll feel right at home here, I promise!! The story captures that same essence we love, but the details are so original that it never felt repetitive. It just flowed perfectly.
As for the characters, Brandon "Baby" Bouchard won me over immediately. There’s nothing I love more than introverted characters (maybe because I relate to them so much) and Brandon has this quiet charm that’s impossible not to love. And Ryan didn’t stay behind; he won me over bit by bit, especially in those scenes where he was alone with Brandon and could finally be himself. Seeing that vulnerability with "Baby" was the most beautiful thing to watch.
The two of them together are, no exaggeration, the sweetest thing in the world. It’s that combo that makes me swoon: forced proximity (living together), caretaker trope, found family, and that secret locker room romance that adds so much flavor. It’s that "you’re my safe place in the chaos" kind of love that soothes the soul. I loved noticing how physical touch is their love language; those details make the couple feel so much more real and interesting to me.
* Spice level: 4/5. The tension is incredibly well-built and the scenes are great.
* TW: Family issues and mild implied homophobia (environmental context).
* Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I’ll be screaming about this book for a long time!!
Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own
April 28, 2026
ARC Review for On Thin Ice #2: The Call-Up by K.C. Carmichael
Publish Date 6/12//2026
4 Stars
If you like your romance spicy and your sports sporty, this is the book for you. Hockey romance fans of Rachel Reid and Emily Rath, add this to your TBR immediately!! 5 chili peppers for spice.
The Call-Up is the second book in a series (though could be easily be read as a stand alone) where we follow our main boys Brandon and Ryan who have history together. Brandon’s family billeted (housed) Ryan 8 years prior back in Green Bay. When the story opens Brandon has been called-up to play for the St. Louis Mules, the same team in which his childhood crush, Ryan, also plays. Brandon is instantly re-saddled with his old nickname “Baby Bouchard” or “Baby” during his reunion with Ryan much to Brandon’s dismay. It doesn’t take long for their romance to heat up however. It was sweet to see how supportive their teammates, coach, and Brandon’s family (Momma B, Big Mike, and fellow hockey super-star brother, Ander) were of their relationship, some even making bets when they would admit their relationship already. This acceptance by the team and fans are reasons why Ryan insists the Mules are the best team to play for.
Something different and very enjoyable about this book was that it didn’t get dragged out with too much of the will-they-won’t-they trope and no big scandal or break up to resolve. My poor nervous system was relieved not to have to white-knucle it to the HEA. The story primarily focuses on Brandon’s star rookie season and how he and Ryan click on and off the ice.
Thank you to NetGalley and K.C. Carmichael for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy.
Publish Date 6/12//2026
4 Stars
If you like your romance spicy and your sports sporty, this is the book for you. Hockey romance fans of Rachel Reid and Emily Rath, add this to your TBR immediately!! 5 chili peppers for spice.
The Call-Up is the second book in a series (though could be easily be read as a stand alone) where we follow our main boys Brandon and Ryan who have history together. Brandon’s family billeted (housed) Ryan 8 years prior back in Green Bay. When the story opens Brandon has been called-up to play for the St. Louis Mules, the same team in which his childhood crush, Ryan, also plays. Brandon is instantly re-saddled with his old nickname “Baby Bouchard” or “Baby” during his reunion with Ryan much to Brandon’s dismay. It doesn’t take long for their romance to heat up however. It was sweet to see how supportive their teammates, coach, and Brandon’s family (Momma B, Big Mike, and fellow hockey super-star brother, Ander) were of their relationship, some even making bets when they would admit their relationship already. This acceptance by the team and fans are reasons why Ryan insists the Mules are the best team to play for.
Something different and very enjoyable about this book was that it didn’t get dragged out with too much of the will-they-won’t-they trope and no big scandal or break up to resolve. My poor nervous system was relieved not to have to white-knucle it to the HEA. The story primarily focuses on Brandon’s star rookie season and how he and Ryan click on and off the ice.
Thank you to NetGalley and K.C. Carmichael for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I really enjoyed this MM hockey romance! One of my favorite things about this series is how connected the books feel. I loved getting to see familiar characters again while also falling in love with Brandon and Ryan’s story.
The side characters in this book were honestly so much fun. Coach Chris and Michelle, the teammates, Danton, and Vicky all added so much personality to the story and made the world feel very real and lived in. I also loved getting little glimpses of Gavin and Connor again from the first book.
Brandon’s character growth throughout the book was probably my favorite part. Seeing his confidence slowly grow as he worked toward his NHL dreams was really satisfying to read. Ryan and Brandon already knowing each other from childhood added so much history and emotion to their relationship, which made the slow burn feel worth it.
I’m always a sucker for dual POV, and this book balanced both perspectives really well. Another thing I loved is that this series actually gives us a lot of hockey. Sometimes hockey romances barely include the sport, but this series really makes you feel involved with the team, the games, and the overall hockey atmosphere.
I did wish we got a little more depth in a few emotional moments and some additional family background, but overall I still had a great time reading this. The ending especially had me fully invested emotionally.
And now I need to know… are we getting an Ivanov and Ander book next?! Because I would absolutely read it immediately.
I really enjoyed this MM hockey romance! One of my favorite things about this series is how connected the books feel. I loved getting to see familiar characters again while also falling in love with Brandon and Ryan’s story.
The side characters in this book were honestly so much fun. Coach Chris and Michelle, the teammates, Danton, and Vicky all added so much personality to the story and made the world feel very real and lived in. I also loved getting little glimpses of Gavin and Connor again from the first book.
Brandon’s character growth throughout the book was probably my favorite part. Seeing his confidence slowly grow as he worked toward his NHL dreams was really satisfying to read. Ryan and Brandon already knowing each other from childhood added so much history and emotion to their relationship, which made the slow burn feel worth it.
I’m always a sucker for dual POV, and this book balanced both perspectives really well. Another thing I loved is that this series actually gives us a lot of hockey. Sometimes hockey romances barely include the sport, but this series really makes you feel involved with the team, the games, and the overall hockey atmosphere.
I did wish we got a little more depth in a few emotional moments and some additional family background, but overall I still had a great time reading this. The ending especially had me fully invested emotionally.
And now I need to know… are we getting an Ivanov and Ander book next?! Because I would absolutely read it immediately.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the Advanced copy
This is the second instalment of the "On Thin Ice" series. Rookie Brandon "Baby" Bouchard is called up to the NHL, coming face-to-face with his teenage crush and now teammate Ryan Christiansen. Ryan wants this to be his team's year, and hopes his new linemate will help make that happen. Both are determined to keep things professional, but it's easier said than done :)
I've not read many sports romances. I haven't read the previous instalment or really any other popular books in the hockey subgenre (including heated rivalry ;) ) I actually asked for the ARC because the description sounded cute :) All's this is to say, I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed a lot of the writing. I read this really quickly. It's a 300ish page book, so easy read, not too much heartache. I feel like the book could have been a bit longer, but I definitely was invested in what was there.
There are a couple of aspects of this subgenre that I get are part of it, but that I can take or leave (e.g. a lot of spicy scenes and lots of hockey obviously :D). They didn't really impact my love of the MMC and supporting characters.
I like that coming out publicly wasn't their journey, and the stakes felt smaller, more personal. Less strife than I assume was in the first book, given what is discussed about it in this instalment. Their romance slowly builds over the course of the book, and they are such good friends. I really loved that.
Anyway, I had a good time, and I will be reading the previous instalment :)
TW: homophobia, familial abandonment
This is the second instalment of the "On Thin Ice" series. Rookie Brandon "Baby" Bouchard is called up to the NHL, coming face-to-face with his teenage crush and now teammate Ryan Christiansen. Ryan wants this to be his team's year, and hopes his new linemate will help make that happen. Both are determined to keep things professional, but it's easier said than done :)
I've not read many sports romances. I haven't read the previous instalment or really any other popular books in the hockey subgenre (including heated rivalry ;) ) I actually asked for the ARC because the description sounded cute :) All's this is to say, I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed a lot of the writing. I read this really quickly. It's a 300ish page book, so easy read, not too much heartache. I feel like the book could have been a bit longer, but I definitely was invested in what was there.
There are a couple of aspects of this subgenre that I get are part of it, but that I can take or leave (e.g. a lot of spicy scenes and lots of hockey obviously :D). They didn't really impact my love of the MMC and supporting characters.
I like that coming out publicly wasn't their journey, and the stakes felt smaller, more personal. Less strife than I assume was in the first book, given what is discussed about it in this instalment. Their romance slowly builds over the course of the book, and they are such good friends. I really loved that.
Anyway, I had a good time, and I will be reading the previous instalment :)
TW: homophobia, familial abandonment
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC Review
This is the second book in the *On Thin Ice* series, and while you *can* read it as a standalone, there’s a lot of crossover with characters from book one (*The Kennedy Rule*)—so I’d definitely recommend reading both for the full experience.
This story gives you **second chance + found family + MM hockey romance**, and it delivers on all of it.
Brandon first met Ryan as a teenager when Ryan was billeting with his family. Back then, Brandon didn’t fully understand what he was feeling—but when Ryan left, the heartbreak stuck with him. Fast forward eight years, and Brandon gets called up to the St. Louis Mules… only to find Ryan there too.
The tension? Immediate.
The history? Complicated.
The feelings? Never actually went away.
Neither of them is out, and with being teammates, there’s this constant push and pull—quiet moments, subtle hints, lingering looks—while they both try (and fail) to ignore what’s been there all along. It’s a **slow burn with just the right amount of angst**, and when things finally start to shift… it’s worth the wait.
If you love:
slow burn that actually *hurts a little*
second chance romance done right
found family vibes
hockey + teammates-to-lovers tension
and a bit of spice
—this one is absolutely worth picking up.
The writing flows so effortlessly, pulling you in and keeping you hooked the entire time. It’s emotional, engaging, and one of those reads where you keep saying “just one more chapter.”
Definitely one of my favorites—add this to your list!
This is the second book in the *On Thin Ice* series, and while you *can* read it as a standalone, there’s a lot of crossover with characters from book one (*The Kennedy Rule*)—so I’d definitely recommend reading both for the full experience.
This story gives you **second chance + found family + MM hockey romance**, and it delivers on all of it.
Brandon first met Ryan as a teenager when Ryan was billeting with his family. Back then, Brandon didn’t fully understand what he was feeling—but when Ryan left, the heartbreak stuck with him. Fast forward eight years, and Brandon gets called up to the St. Louis Mules… only to find Ryan there too.
The tension? Immediate.
The history? Complicated.
The feelings? Never actually went away.
Neither of them is out, and with being teammates, there’s this constant push and pull—quiet moments, subtle hints, lingering looks—while they both try (and fail) to ignore what’s been there all along. It’s a **slow burn with just the right amount of angst**, and when things finally start to shift… it’s worth the wait.
If you love:
slow burn that actually *hurts a little*
second chance romance done right
found family vibes
hockey + teammates-to-lovers tension
and a bit of spice
—this one is absolutely worth picking up.
The writing flows so effortlessly, pulling you in and keeping you hooked the entire time. It’s emotional, engaging, and one of those reads where you keep saying “just one more chapter.”
Definitely one of my favorites—add this to your list!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I wanted to love this book, based on the fact that I love the Game Changers series and my main genre is spicy queer sports romance. This fell so flat for me in a few different ways.
I love a sports romance, but it has to be like, 80% romance and 20% sports. This was the other way around- it felt like I was listening to a hockey sportscaster giving me the play by play of games. If you really like hockey you will probably like this more than I did. I found myself skimming a LOT of pages just because it was all hockey, nothing else.
Another thing that made it hard to follow was the constant switching of POVs between characters. There were multiple POV changes per chapter and it was just a little too much. There were a lot of characters and I found it just set a tad confusing to keep track of all of the players.
I didn’t love the fact that the cover literally calls to fans of Heated Rivalry, and in the second chapter we’re introduced to a character named Ivanov, who speaks in broken English with a Russian accent. It was honestly too close of a parallel to Ilya Rozanov especially once you acknowledge that this book is geared towards fans of HR. Just kind of cringe.
The spice was decent which is why I’m giving this 2 stars instead of 1, truly. It was a little repetitive and didn’t really give me feels but it was fairly well written and I liked it well enough.
Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I always give my honest opinion of books that I read :-)
I love a sports romance, but it has to be like, 80% romance and 20% sports. This was the other way around- it felt like I was listening to a hockey sportscaster giving me the play by play of games. If you really like hockey you will probably like this more than I did. I found myself skimming a LOT of pages just because it was all hockey, nothing else.
Another thing that made it hard to follow was the constant switching of POVs between characters. There were multiple POV changes per chapter and it was just a little too much. There were a lot of characters and I found it just set a tad confusing to keep track of all of the players.
I didn’t love the fact that the cover literally calls to fans of Heated Rivalry, and in the second chapter we’re introduced to a character named Ivanov, who speaks in broken English with a Russian accent. It was honestly too close of a parallel to Ilya Rozanov especially once you acknowledge that this book is geared towards fans of HR. Just kind of cringe.
The spice was decent which is why I’m giving this 2 stars instead of 1, truly. It was a little repetitive and didn’t really give me feels but it was fairly well written and I liked it well enough.
Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I always give my honest opinion of books that I read :-)
April 28, 2026
I really really enjoyed this! I read the Kennedy rule first and absolutely fell in love with Connor and Gavin so I was kinda wary when I went into this thinking I wouldn’t love Ryan and Brandon as much but boy was I wrong! First I thought it was elder Bouchard but quite happy it was baby Bouchard in this book although with the looks Asher was giving Ivanov at the end I feel like we’re gonna get his story soon! Ryan’s family suck just no way around it they are brutal and boy did I love his hockey family with that pick scene at his family
Home! I love how Brandon was basically in love with Ryan since he was 14 and didn’t think he had a shot so when Brandon was called up he collided with Ryan in the best way! I hate that Ryan didn’t have the supportive family like Brandon did but when they came out to his family as a couple and unloaded all his baggage and they accepted him it was such a sweet moment!
This book didn’t have a lot of angst like book 1 but I feel like it lived up too it; we got to seem them explore a relationship and not worry and we got to see them bring their team so so close to the end goal!
I love this little hockey universe and I really hope we get to see more in it I love the side characters so much so I hope we do get to see more
Overall very enjoyable like book 1 it made me cry like book 1 and I loved Brandon and Ryan’s relationship just as much as Connor and Gavin
Also baby Bouchard was hilarious as a nickname and the taunts about him throwing up every NHL game to only do it in the final game 7 was hilarious
Home! I love how Brandon was basically in love with Ryan since he was 14 and didn’t think he had a shot so when Brandon was called up he collided with Ryan in the best way! I hate that Ryan didn’t have the supportive family like Brandon did but when they came out to his family as a couple and unloaded all his baggage and they accepted him it was such a sweet moment!
This book didn’t have a lot of angst like book 1 but I feel like it lived up too it; we got to seem them explore a relationship and not worry and we got to see them bring their team so so close to the end goal!
I love this little hockey universe and I really hope we get to see more in it I love the side characters so much so I hope we do get to see more
Overall very enjoyable like book 1 it made me cry like book 1 and I loved Brandon and Ryan’s relationship just as much as Connor and Gavin
Also baby Bouchard was hilarious as a nickname and the taunts about him throwing up every NHL game to only do it in the final game 7 was hilarious
April 29, 2026
Rating: 3.5⭐️
This was a very cute, low angst MM hockey romance. Brandon (aka Baby Brouchard) and Ryan were really cute together and I enjoyed seeing their relationship throughout the book.
The book essentially spans the entirety of the ramaining hockey season after Brandon gets the call-up from the minors. We get to see his journey with the team, seeing him getting to know Ryan again and how their relationship changes.
I know not everyone who reads hockey romance would appreciate a heavy focus on the actually hockey part. But I’ve been born and raised as a hockey fan, and I absolutely loved the heavy play-by-play of games that we got to see in this book. There was also a bit of found family in here with the players on the team and their families, which was sooo cute. I loved all the side characters and how much they brought to the story.
The story and plot itself didn’t give me much to be excited about, but had an easy and steady pace and flow to it. The romance was cute and I loved the contrast between Brandon’s cute and quirky tendencies, and Ryans easygoing, playful and slightly stoic personality. However, I felt like the story could have been developed a bit more to offer more depth. I would have loved to see more of Ryans family history being unpacked and more opportunities for deeper connections between Brandon and Ryan.
In general, The Call-Up was an easy to read and simple story, with nothing too exciting or complicated about it. It was really just a very enjoyable read.
Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
This was a very cute, low angst MM hockey romance. Brandon (aka Baby Brouchard) and Ryan were really cute together and I enjoyed seeing their relationship throughout the book.
The book essentially spans the entirety of the ramaining hockey season after Brandon gets the call-up from the minors. We get to see his journey with the team, seeing him getting to know Ryan again and how their relationship changes.
I know not everyone who reads hockey romance would appreciate a heavy focus on the actually hockey part. But I’ve been born and raised as a hockey fan, and I absolutely loved the heavy play-by-play of games that we got to see in this book. There was also a bit of found family in here with the players on the team and their families, which was sooo cute. I loved all the side characters and how much they brought to the story.
The story and plot itself didn’t give me much to be excited about, but had an easy and steady pace and flow to it. The romance was cute and I loved the contrast between Brandon’s cute and quirky tendencies, and Ryans easygoing, playful and slightly stoic personality. However, I felt like the story could have been developed a bit more to offer more depth. I would have loved to see more of Ryans family history being unpacked and more opportunities for deeper connections between Brandon and Ryan.
In general, The Call-Up was an easy to read and simple story, with nothing too exciting or complicated about it. It was really just a very enjoyable read.
Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was really excited to get the chance to read and review K.C. Carmichael’s follow-up to The Kennedy Rule, and it absolutely delivered for me. Brandon and Ryan were teenage friends when Ryan billeted with Brandon’s family in Juniors, and now they’re reunited when Brandon gets a late-season call-up to the St. Louis Mules. I immediately adored that the first thing out of Ryan’s mouth when he sees Brandon again is the old nickname “Baby” Bouchard. Even though Brandon kind of hates it, he mostly takes it in stride, and it adds such a sweet and silly quality to the team dynamics throughout the book.
What I loved most about these two is that they genuinely just want to be around each other. The secrecy in their relationship isn’t from shame or fear of rejection from those close to them. They simply aren’t ready to share this part of themselves yet, which felt realistic and refreshing. Their insecurities also felt authentic. Brandon struggles with imposter syndrome after being called up, while Ryan is slowly realizing he’s already found the sense of family and belonging he’s been searching for. I appreciated that these internal conflicts allowed both characters to grow without relying on unnecessary third-act drama. The banter across the entire cast was genuinely fun, and the team’s chemistry felt effortless both on and off the ice.
The callbacks to characters from the previous book were fun, but you definitely don’t need to have read the first book to enjoy this one. I loved getting more glimpses into those characters’ lives, and that final hint about the next book absolutely has me ready for whatever comes next.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.
What I loved most about these two is that they genuinely just want to be around each other. The secrecy in their relationship isn’t from shame or fear of rejection from those close to them. They simply aren’t ready to share this part of themselves yet, which felt realistic and refreshing. Their insecurities also felt authentic. Brandon struggles with imposter syndrome after being called up, while Ryan is slowly realizing he’s already found the sense of family and belonging he’s been searching for. I appreciated that these internal conflicts allowed both characters to grow without relying on unnecessary third-act drama. The banter across the entire cast was genuinely fun, and the team’s chemistry felt effortless both on and off the ice.
The callbacks to characters from the previous book were fun, but you definitely don’t need to have read the first book to enjoy this one. I loved getting more glimpses into those characters’ lives, and that final hint about the next book absolutely has me ready for whatever comes next.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.
April 28, 2026
Thank you to Storm Publishing and K.C. Carmichael for the ARC!
I think the thing everyone needs to know about this book going in is: it’s actually about hockey. The only plot point in this book is will they or won’t they win the cup. There’s no conflict between the characters, no will-they-or-won’t-they get together. The only plot is literally will this hockey team win.
And that might be for someone out there, but it wasn’t for me. It was like listening to the radio during a hockey game and having an announcer give you a play by play. For at least 30+ percent of the book.
I’m not offended by multiple POV books, but this switched back and forth way too much for my liking. Within a 7 page chapter I would have 3 different POVs. It made it hard to follow, especially since the characters inner monologues were so similar: they are both playing hockey. I found myself having to scroll back constantly to remember if I was in Brandon or Ryan’s POV.
Ultimately, marketing this as “for fans of Heated Rivalry” is a fallacy. Heated Rivalry does not actually have long scenes of the characters playing hockey the way this book does, and is much more about the character growth Shane and Ilya go through to be together. These characters get together quickly and painlessly, and then play hockey the rest of the book.
TLDR: if you are a genuine hockey fan and just wanting to read some fluffy smut, I’m sure you’ll like this book. But it unfortunately wasn’t for me.
I think the thing everyone needs to know about this book going in is: it’s actually about hockey. The only plot point in this book is will they or won’t they win the cup. There’s no conflict between the characters, no will-they-or-won’t-they get together. The only plot is literally will this hockey team win.
And that might be for someone out there, but it wasn’t for me. It was like listening to the radio during a hockey game and having an announcer give you a play by play. For at least 30+ percent of the book.
I’m not offended by multiple POV books, but this switched back and forth way too much for my liking. Within a 7 page chapter I would have 3 different POVs. It made it hard to follow, especially since the characters inner monologues were so similar: they are both playing hockey. I found myself having to scroll back constantly to remember if I was in Brandon or Ryan’s POV.
Ultimately, marketing this as “for fans of Heated Rivalry” is a fallacy. Heated Rivalry does not actually have long scenes of the characters playing hockey the way this book does, and is much more about the character growth Shane and Ilya go through to be together. These characters get together quickly and painlessly, and then play hockey the rest of the book.
TLDR: if you are a genuine hockey fan and just wanting to read some fluffy smut, I’m sure you’ll like this book. But it unfortunately wasn’t for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a cute, fun and easy to read story. It's low angst, no third act breakup and the kind of book where you can just relax with it and not have to think too hard.
Brandon and Ryan were both strong main characters, but I also really loved the side characters and the friendships within the team. Everyone felt well written and added something to the story, especially the bond between the teammates. It was great to see the characters from the first book too, especially with this following Coach Chris's new team. Brandon and Ryan’s chemistry felt genuine and natural, which made their relationship enjoyable to read. I love seeing Ryan bring Brandon out of his shell but was still playful and teasing towards him.
One thing I’d mention is that this book is very hockey focused. That might sound obvious since it’s a hockey romance, but it really goes into detailed game play and follows the full hockey season closely. I did enjoy that aspect, but I know that it isn't for everyone.
My one issue was how often the POV changed in the middle of chapters. It sometimes got confusing trying to remember who was speaking, and I had to go back and reread parts a few times.
Overall, I’d definitely recommend this book, especially for anyone who enjoys sports romances and doesn’t mind the hockey side of the story taking a bigger focus at times.
Brandon and Ryan were both strong main characters, but I also really loved the side characters and the friendships within the team. Everyone felt well written and added something to the story, especially the bond between the teammates. It was great to see the characters from the first book too, especially with this following Coach Chris's new team. Brandon and Ryan’s chemistry felt genuine and natural, which made their relationship enjoyable to read. I love seeing Ryan bring Brandon out of his shell but was still playful and teasing towards him.
One thing I’d mention is that this book is very hockey focused. That might sound obvious since it’s a hockey romance, but it really goes into detailed game play and follows the full hockey season closely. I did enjoy that aspect, but I know that it isn't for everyone.
My one issue was how often the POV changed in the middle of chapters. It sometimes got confusing trying to remember who was speaking, and I had to go back and reread parts a few times.
Overall, I’d definitely recommend this book, especially for anyone who enjoys sports romances and doesn’t mind the hockey side of the story taking a bigger focus at times.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The first book in the On Thin Ice series, The Kennedy Rule, is what finally broke my Heated Rivalry reading slump, so you can bet I’ve been waiting with baited breath for any sign I can get my eyes on The Call-Up. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to read it early because I had a feeling I wouldn’t be let down.
This book has a great sense of playfulness that’s far more in line with Rachel Reid’s writing, along with a lot of great hockey scenes and team dynamics. That’s all a plus in my book because it keeps the story moving and the pacing never lags when our protagonists need to spend time apart. The positivity and fluffiness left me feeling warm inside.
A con is the relative lack of an antagonist or any real conflict. Look, I love low-angst as much as the next person, but without much friction in the plot you kind of wonder what the point was. There never seems to be any direct obstacle or threat to Ryan and Brandon getting or staying together. That bothered me a bit.
It’s a great read and a really solid hockey romance. If you’re looking for something with some solid spice, genuine emotion, found family, and heartfelt friendship then you’ll love it. 4⭐️
I was provided a copy of this title by the publisher and author via NetGalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
This book has a great sense of playfulness that’s far more in line with Rachel Reid’s writing, along with a lot of great hockey scenes and team dynamics. That’s all a plus in my book because it keeps the story moving and the pacing never lags when our protagonists need to spend time apart. The positivity and fluffiness left me feeling warm inside.
A con is the relative lack of an antagonist or any real conflict. Look, I love low-angst as much as the next person, but without much friction in the plot you kind of wonder what the point was. There never seems to be any direct obstacle or threat to Ryan and Brandon getting or staying together. That bothered me a bit.
It’s a great read and a really solid hockey romance. If you’re looking for something with some solid spice, genuine emotion, found family, and heartfelt friendship then you’ll love it. 4⭐️
I was provided a copy of this title by the publisher and author via NetGalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
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