Lost in Overtime: An Angsty Why-Choose Hockey Romance

by Claudia Y. Burgoa

Two Rivals. One Woman. No Choosing.

Alberto Wade and Callaway Winthrop were my best friends first—until one night broke us, and the three of us stopped being an us.

Now they’re enemies in the league, an “infamous rivalry” splashed across headlines like it’s just hockey.

It isn’t.

It’s me.

It’s what they’ve always wanted and have never been able to agree on.

It’s the way their hate on the ice has always sounded too much like longing off it.

Now, a shocking trade and an emergency back home drag us back into the same orbit. Older. harder. Still dangerous. Still looking at me like I’m the only thing they’ve ever wanted.

They still want to win.

They still want me.

I still refuse to choose.

But second chances come with scars, secrets, and promises we never got to finish—until a single mistake turns into two pink lines . . .

I’m pregnant—with a baby that isn’t theirs.

The timing is brutal. The fallout is inevitable. And the only way we survive what comes next is if they stop making me choose—stop pretending their rivalry is the only fire between them—and finally admit what’s been burning between all three of us all along.

Because this time . . .

They’re not just fighting for a season.

They’re fighting for us.

USA Today Bestselling Author Claudia Burgoa delivers a deeply angsty MMF why-choose hockey romance featuring two pro-hockey rivals, the woman they can’t stop loving, hurt/comfort, found family, and a love that risks careers, reputations, and the one thing they never meant to want—each other.

Featuring:

🏒 Why choose romance
🏒 MMF romance
🏒 Hockey romance
🏒 Second chance romance
🏒 Rivals to lovers
🏒 Best friends to lovers
🏒 Public rivalry, private longing
🏒 Pregnancy twist (Not Theirs)
🏒 Found family
🏒 Hurt/comfort
🏒 Emotional / angsty romance
🏒 Forced reunion

Genres: Hockey, Audiobook, Hockey Romance, Friends To Lovers, Why Choose, Enemies To Lovers, Sports

538 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 15, 2026

About the author

Claudia is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author.
She writes alluring, thrilling stories about complicated women and the men who take their breath away.
She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband and her youngest two children. She has a sweet Bichon, Macey, who thinks she's the ruler of the house. She's only partially right.
When Claudia is not writing, you can find her reading, knitting, or just hanging out with her family.
At night, she likes to binge watch shows with her equally geeky husband.

Instagram: http://bit.ly/ClaudiasIG
TikTok: https://bit.ly/CBstiktok
Bloggers/Influencers: https://geni.us/CBBloggers
Newsletter: https://geni.us/CBNewsletter

Reviews

[Kayla.bookish26 · Rating 4 out of 5]

ALC Review
Lost in Overtime by Claudia Burgoa
Narrated by Erin Mallon as Vesper, Robert Hatchet as Callaway and Gomez Pugh as Alberto (Monty)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️

Tropes:
🔥MMF / Why Choose / No Choosing
🔥Hockey Romance
🔥Second Chance Romance
🔥Rivals-to-Lovers (between the two heroes)
🔥Best Friends to Lovers (history with the heroine)
🔥Forced Proximity (same team / same orbit / living together)
🔥Found Family
🔥Possesive / Protective Heroes
🔥No Third Act Breakup
🔥Pregnancy (Not Thiers)

This story was so beautiful. Monty (Alberto), Calloway, and Vesper all went to summer camp together. This book has so many nostalgic flashbacks to that summer camp. Friendships were built over many years and with one night breaking their friendship forever. The messiness caused from that night has Vesper running from feelings, but never fully moving on from the boys. The boys are downplaying what happened between them that night. Both separating and having their own lives, they become infamous rivals on the ice. They want Vesper to choose but she will not. If she cannot have them both then she will keep on running and avoiding confrontation over it.

Fast forward years later and Vesper must return to the camp where it all began. The camp is her families and is ran by her father, but illness and regulations for the rink have him needing permanent help. The boys are both traded to the same hockey team and must work together instead of against each other now. They must confront their feelings for each other and stop pretending and fearing of what others will think. Vesper makes one mistake and two pink lines later everything changes. Will the boys fix their relationship and finally admit what has been there all along or will they fight each other and destroy the one good thing they once had?

I absolutely adored this book, it is filled with angst, undying love, longing and growth. You will be H-O-T Hot, with this narration. The spicy scenes were oh so delicious. The full cast narration was superb. They portrayed the story and every emotion perfectly.

I would like to thank The Author Agency and Claudia Burgoa for another beautiful ALC. I genuinely enjoyed this second chance, why choose, hockey romance.

[Sim-fully Ever After · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5🌟, 3🌶️

ARC Review 📖

This book had me hooked in my feelings from the very first chapter.

Lost in Overtime by Claudia Burgoa completely pulled me in with its messy, emotional, second-chance magic. Vesper, Alberto, and Callaway have this beautifully complicated friends-to-rivals-to-lovers dynamic that just aches in the best way. Their shared history at summer camp, the one night that changed everything, and years of unresolved feelings made every moment of their reunion feel heavier and more meaningful. It’s not about falling in love, it’s about finally choosing it and holding onto it.

What really stood out to me was how raw and human their fears felt. Alberto’s push-and-pull, Callaway’s hurt hidden behind charm, and Vesper caught in the middle but refusing to settle made their journey feel honest and grounded. It’s a slower build because there’s so much history to work through, but watching them slowly lower their guards and find their way back to each other made it all worth it. Their connection feels intense, emotional, and completely consuming in a way that pulls you right into their world.

The chemistry, the tension, the quiet moments, the big declarations… it all comes together into something that feels full of heart. Add in the found family elements, the hockey rivalry, and that emotional payoff at the end, and I was completely sold.

Honestly, I’d go through all that angst again just for that ending.

~~~~

ALC Review (Audiobook) 🎧

The audiobook made this story even more immersive. Erin Mallon, Gomez Pugh, and Robert Hatchet did such a great job bringing these characters to life, and the duet-style narration added so much depth to the experience.

Erin captured Vesper’s softness and quiet strength perfectly, Gomez brought out Alberto’s emotional depth and hesitation in a way that really hit, and Robert gave Callaway that easy charm and warmth that made him impossible not to love. Together, their performances made the tension, longing, and emotional moments land even harder, and I genuinely didn’t want to stop listening.

~~~~

I was lucky enough to receive both an ARC and an ALC, and being able to immersive read and listen to this story made the whole experience even more special.

~~~~

Huge thank you to Claudia Burgoa & The Author Agency for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok - this was fantastic! I litterally read it in 24 hours - and it's not a short book. I love a why choose but this was so much more. This is a beautiful childhood friends to lovers to semi enemies back to friends and lovers. It was truly a book that showcased second chances - both in love and in life. I LOVED Cally and Monty - their tension and angst was so real, it seemed to jump off the page. Vesper is flawed but loves hard and I loved seeing her transition from the frightened woman who joked to feel better to the one who loved and was loved by her men. OF course there is a hockey subplot - but other than the catylst to bring Monty and Cally back together - it wasn't the star of the show. I laughed and got teary and was so happy with the way this book left off. Truly loved every second of this book.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

[Randi (randi_reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rivals to lovers hockey MMF romance between once friends Alberto (Monty), Calloway (Cally) and Vesper. She is the girl that both Monty and Cally love, but she refused to choose between them that one summer when an intimate moment between all of them ruined their friendship. She ran from them and her feelings but never stopped loving them both.

Since then, Monty and Cally have turned to rivals on opposing hockey teams. Now, they are both traded to the same team and reunite with Vesper. All of their feelings for each other are the same and she won't choose. I love that they made it so she didn't have to.

This is an emotional story for all of the characters, but especially for Monty and Cally. I really felt that this story was heavily focused on them and their relationship. (and I am so okay with that.) Yes, they love Vesper, but they also love each other. Monty has to work through his feelings and come to terms with his sexuality and being a hockey player, though. Cally was sweet enough to wait and not push him. I really felt the most for their tender relationship.

The audio...narrated in duet by Erin Mallon, Robert Hatchet and Gomez Pugh. Wonderful voice acting by all three. I really felt the emotions from each of them.

Thank you to the author for the gifted Audible code.
Thank you to the author and Kate Rock Literary Services for the gifted physical copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jonesy.Reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

After all the 51st state jokes and US talks of annexing Canada I am really annoyed that the author took my favourite Canadian hockey team and moved them to the US. There are already 25 US hockey teams she could have used or moved where she wanted, or even just made up a new team, but instead she chose to steal one of 7 Canadian teams and move them to Oregon. In fact she chose a team whose name literally means 'canadian'. I feel like this is extremely tone deaf to what is happening globally right now and I really don't appreciate it.

Canada is not for sale and neither are our hockey teams. This was the last straw for me and I won't be reading this author again after she made such a shitty choice. She obviously doesn't want Canadian readers if she's willing to perpetuate the idea that the USA can just take whatever they want from other countries and make it theirs.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spending summers together as teenagers at her parent’s hockey camp built a friendship between the three of them that developed into so much more until one night when they crossed the line and it all blew up.
As adults, Calloway and Monty have successful hockey careers, Calloway on the Colorado team since his rookie year, whereas Monty, one of the league’s best goalies keeps getting traded; and Vesper, well she runs away on the regular with her documentary filming career.
Vesper maintains a close friendship with both men but nothing more as she will never choose between them, they on the other hand have a rivalry that’s famous.
Life gives them a second chance when both Calloway and Monty are traded to Portland together at the same time Vesper comes home to deal with both her father’s failing health and the camp, her late mother’s legacy, under threat of being shut down. Soon after arriving they discover Ves is pregnant, kicking their protectiveness into overdrive, pulling them all together, and creating the proximity to force them into finally facing the past and addressing their feelings.
Ms. Burgoa writes high angst stories to perfection and nails it with this one. Vesper, Monty and Calloway are all complex characters that I learned to love as I experienced them dealing with their past, their baggage, and issues that spill into their current lives forming who they are when we meet them and explore the dynamic and love between them that lingers beyond past grievances.
It’s an emotional read as they work through their problems, deal with the pregnancy, and a situation that threatens to out them all. The chemistry between them is undeniable from the start, even as they hold back exploring what could be, but the heat ramps up to scorching levels when they knit themselves back together sufficiently to take their relationship to the next level, right back to what broke them as teenagers.
I loved it. I was so invested in seeing them make it, their story had me engrossed from start to finish.
I love a good MMF romance and this is the best I’ve read since… well since Ms. Burgoa’s last one!

[Amber Crook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Calling all the MMF why choose fans! This hockey romance is for you!

Tropes:
🏒 MMF
🏒 Second Chance Romance
🏒 Accidental Pregnancy (not theirs)
🏒 Secret Romance
🏒 Forced Proximity
🏒 Hurt/Comfort
🏒 Bi Awakening

Vesper, Monty, and Callaway grew close growing up. But one night, they took it to the next level and everything broke. Vesper is now traveling the world doing film for documentaries, and Monty and Callaway play for different hockey teams. Fate brings them together again, and they have to decide if they’re going to accept and fight for the love that they have for each other.

I really enjoy how emotionally charged Claudia’s books are, and this one was no different. There is a lot of hurt and looking at how men in sports are treated that may not be straight. Everyone in this story is having to choose is they are willing to risk their hearts again for different reasons, and I liked the dive into those emotions and feelings.

🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you, Claudia and The Author Agency, for sending me a copy of this book!

[Lyn Brownlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my! So good!
Wow! I absolutely loved this book.
This gorgeous story follows childhood friends Monty, Callaway and Vesper as they try to navigate their complicated feelings for each other.
Meeting as teenagers at Vesper’s parents family run hockey camp the three became fast best friends that one night turned into more.
Unsure of how to handle their feelings the boys relationship fractured, with Vesper being always in the middle of their rivalry, unable to choose between them.
Years later circumstances have changed and they find themselves all together in the same place at the same time trying to help Vesper get through a difficult time.
I loved the angst, the undenied love, the sense of family, and the idea of them finally becoming a throuple if they only let down their guards.
With acceptance and also threats along the way the journey that they all take is beautifully done with some pretty steamy moments.
Finding myself adoring this story from start to finish and absolutely loving all the characters.
I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook which was narrated by Erin Mallon, Gomez Pugh & Robert Hatchet and I must say they did an excellent job of performing each of the characters roles.
Making this story so believable, I loved every moment listening along to their voices.

[Karen B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet and tender why choose romance full of angst, emotion, vulnerability, honesty, and most of all, love. Vesper, Alberto, and Callaway find their way back to each other after a past broken friendship. With the ability and confidence to confront their feelings, they came together to support each other, conquering the stigmas placed on their relationship. Their romance was intimate and spicy, gentle and heartfelt, consenting and trusting. I felt for Vesper, Monty and Cally—the complex situations they worked to overcome, their full spectrum of emotions, the true love, affection, and support they showed from the bond they formed.
The duet narration from Erin Mallon, Robert Hatchet, and Gomez Pugh was fantastic! They portrayed all the emotions and passion worthy of the story, their dynamic believable and created such an enjoyable listening experience.
4.25 stars
Thanks to the author for the eARC and ALC

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this bookkk. Such a beautiful and emotional story 🫂

Vesper, alberto and callaway were best friends first until one night changed everything and their relationship fractured. Years later they are brought back together and have to navigate their complicated feelings and unresolved history.

I loved the angst, tension and the connection between them. It feels intense, emotional and all consuming, especially with everything they have been through together 😭

Vesper being in the middle and refusing to choose adds so much to their dynamic and you can really feel the hurt, fear and expectations each of them carries.

I also really loved the found family and friendships in this. it made everything feel so muchhh more real and added so much to the story

This is such an emotional, angsty romance full of heart 💜

🏒 why choose romance
🏒 mmf romance
🏒 rivals to lovers
🏒 best friends to lovers
🏒 second chance romance
🏒 hockey romance
🏒 found family
🏒 hurt/comfort
🏒 emotional/angsty romance

[Demi · Rating 5 out of 5]

 Alberto, Callaway and Vesper spent summers of their youth wrapped in one another. Best friends forever! Yet the last summer is what tore them apart. Lines were crossed and they couldn’t see their way back from it.  Years later though Alberto and Callaway are both in touch with Vesper things just aren’t the same. When Vesper gets a call that her dad needs her in Oregon.  Then Alberto is traded to a Portland NHL team. Callaway is searching for a home for the three of them and Vesper is too scared to trust the love they have for her. So many things get resolved when they are living together. Beautiful story of love and trust and faith!

[adeeya · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love love love this book sooo much. the dynamic between cally, monty, and vesper was so beautiful — especially the love that monty and cally shared. i have such a soft spot for them, and seeing how deeply they cared for each other, as well as for vesper, was just breathtaking. even as they overcame their inner struggles, their love felt so real and steady. and though im not usually a fan of the pregnancy trope, here it was handled with such care and tenderness. this book was a love letter to second chance, to healing, and the quiet courage it takes to choose love.

[Reading with 2 book lovers Sarah P - · Rating 4 out of 5]

I imersively read and listened to this story at the same time. These narrators really brought this MMF, why choose story to life. I devoured this story

[Hossein Dgr · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hi, how are you?

A short introduction (and disclaimer) about me

I'm a bi man, so my review is from a bi male perspective
English is my 2nd language and i learned it all by myself, so it's not perfect by no means
Expect mistakes
I might come off as mean, picky and a little rude at times
I'll just put my notes here.

My notes are written simultaneously as i was reading and going deeper into the story.
So they mostly read like rants and think pieces.
And by the end, there's a "conclusion" section.

Anyways, let's get into it.


_____

Last one was so good, i can't wait to get into this one

Apparently it has double bi awakening which is a favorite trope of mine

So, i expect the bi awakenings to be treated like valid and real things and i want the guys to fully experiment and explore their connection.. not to don't do anything about their connection till the 70% into the book and when they finally do something, their focus not being on each other for their their first time, but to focus on taping it for the FMC cause she'll think "it's hot", while also constantly telling us they drifted apart cause they loved each other but couldn't be together back then (not naming the book in my review, i hate that book with a passion) (also note from the future, they loved each other sooooo much, that their love working was very much dependent on her not choosing, which i found very insulting)

Or telling me one of the guys loved the other one for over a decade, only to forget about it the moment the FMC comes in and their whole "attraction" to each other turning into a scoring board on "how wet she can get seeing us together" and not even have the decency to let them confess their love to each other in a solo scene (something they gladly did for the FMC, cause she deserves devotion like that), they had to say it when the FMC is riding one of them. (Not naming this shit either) (ironically enough, it happened here again, they were so in love with each other, that when the opportunity came again, they still had to make it about the FMC not making a choice instead of actually trying to build back a relationship cause they actually love each other)

Anyways.

Monty has abandonment issues andi want both Cally and V to be there for him

I want him to find an anchor in both of them
And i don't want his connection to Cally being watered down or cheapen down by any rate. (...well)

From the first 5 chapters, I'm seeing some paterns, but i don't wanna judge early. (But it was sound judgement tho)

Ms claudia, please, I'm begging you, don't disappoint me after the truly experience you gave me. (Like how Ann Gerch did)

(Well, this is awkward)
_______

(I focus on Vesper instead because she’s safer. Because loving her has always been allowed, even when it hurt. Even when it cost me sleep and sanity and seasons of my life I won’t get back.)

Jesus, poor guy.
I hope his journey heals him, i hope V and Call help him heal.

_____


She's annoying me.

Like sure, we get it, deflecting with humour is your coping mechanism, but ffs you're overdoing it.
At some point it becomes a character flaw.

Be a big girl and be serious for once.

Her and cally are gonna take hikes on my every last nerve endings.

_____

It's weird to me how they're treating her like she's made of porcelain

It's suffocating to read

And the way they discuss her safety is like royal guards discussing the queen's safety

Like mama, slow down, take a breath, she's fine, no wonder the woman is as stubborn as a bull, you're literally making decisions for her left and right

Jesus christ.

______

Good lord, no wonder they're messed up.

The guys ended it before it even started.

Monty rejected Cally after they had sex on their own.
Literally hurt him before he could even actually love him, and personally? If i was Cally, I'd never look at Monty ever again.

Cause tf you mean I'd let you inside me and give you my first time just for you leave me immediately after you're done with my body?

Like damn!!!

And their povs in the car ride, specially Call's was actually sad.

Like look at this, this is what monty had to say about why he keeps fighting it:

(That’s the cruel math of it: if I reach for him, I risk losing her. If I reach for her, I keep breaking him.)

And he's right.
We usually say how male sport world toxicly encourages homophobia, but i think some of us don't grasp how isolating and hurtful it can be to all the sides that are involved.

Just a thought, i really need to see them wanting to work it out cause they love each other, I'm seeing the sentence "we can't love each other without her" or "we can't be together without making her choose" or "we have to make it work to make it easier for her so she doesn't have to choose" or some other things that insuate that their seperate relationship depends on how she feels about it.
And personally i find this very weird and lowkey offensive.

(Future not: i.. was spot on)
______

Currently on chapter 39

I'm a bit miffed

It's a whole bunch "she's a superhero, she's perfect, she's irresistible, she's strong, she's the one, she's been through grief and she's still standing, she's this, she's that" and her every move being analysed to the smallest details by the dudes cause they're THAT obsessed and in love with her

And if we don't count the car scene,
It's crickets when it comes to the dudes talking about each other

Idk why, but i expected a more present yearning between them rather wtv tf this is

They're fully focused on her when the 3 are together
And kinda focus on each other when she's not there

Like can we at least try?
I'm really getting tired of this

Also, the girl literally fights them in every step

She's exausted, yawning, literally one blink away from collapsing of exaustion

And when monty tells her to change into pajamas, she wants to fight against the sleep just prove that he's wrong

Like girl.. give me a break

She's exausting, he's exausting, the other he is also exausting

________

This whole thing could've been better if there wasn't a pregnancy going on, it's literally so unnecessary

That's why i don't like pregnancy tropes
It's just an annoying inconvenience that creates complications, just because!!

They could've focused on navigating their way back together
Instead of making everything about the damn pregnancy
Then, to make it more annoying, her ass fights them in every step


I don't get her (girly literally fights against invisible obstacles when it comes to people caring for her. She's also over doing the sracasm to the point it loses its charm, coming from a saracastic dude, like time and place, mama.)

I don't get him (call) - cause why would you link your individual relationship with monty to "we should make it work between us so we don't make her choose"??? Like are we fr??? Like girl.. can we maybe.. idk.. do it cause we actually want each other and maybe love each other outside of our relationship with her? Idk.. just a thought?

I only get monty... to some degree
His fear about him being with call might ruin their careers is valid
But i still think he's a coward and he stays being a coward
For not even trying and later convincing himself that he actually gave them both the chance to have a career an did something noble
And for not even being willing to give them a chance
He also has the same mentality as cally when it comes to his relationship with cally
They should make it work so they can have her
Like guys.. can we at least try?
And this thing was not mentioned once or twice, they say it all the time, both of them

I just feel like I'm reading about that one exausting couple that argues over the smallest things cause they get bored with the smallest hint of stability

Like how did we go from barret and eddie who were literally worshiping the ground each of them walked on.. to this?
These two can't even talk about wanting each other without circling it back to "not making her choose"?

*sigh* please get better, I'm begging you (.. it didn't)

There's still 27 chapters left (including the epilogue)

So, maybe they'll fix it
But please, stop irritating me, stop making the guys connection about not wanting to make her choose, she would never choose, she literally said it herself to both of you, multiples times at that
God, they're exausting
It's like they're not listening to her


_______


Jesus christ!!!
He finally is talking about his love for monty to himself!!!
Finally!!!
Now tell all of these to Monty

______

(Because I know what I want.
I know what Vesper deserves.
I just don’t know if Monty and I can stop hurting each other long enough to give it to her.)

This is really bothering me.

Why you two always reduce your connection and minimise it to something that should happen to make her comfortable and happy?

Like can't we just actually be like "i want us to stop hurting each other cause it's killing me to not to be loved by him"???

Instead you gotta make it about her?

God.. I'm losing my mind



And if i read "this is her defence system, sarcasm" one more time again, after every single mediocrely semi sassy response from this woman, I'm gonna bite all 3 of them like a rabid hyena, literally ENOUGH!!!

We get it, she can't talk without a bite and like a grown up, she has trauma, she has to be "sarcastic", i don't need a reminder after every single line, "sunshine with bite" has been mentioned over 20 times as well, like we get it, give us something new

Only if they were this detailed and obsessed with the male partner, only if.

This is exausting me atp.

______

"The fact that she’s trying to build a future while she’s also growing a human makes me want to break something and also kneel."


Girl-

These men are so dramatic about her that it's grossing me out.

And no, I'm not talking about her pregnancy, that's the only valid thing they can be concerned about.

They're suffocating.
They're always orbiting her, they're all about her, like irdgaf if she's being sracastic as a defense after you've reminded me of the fact for the 256th time and you can't even bother to focus a second on your male partner.

And they act like she's the first ever person to ever do something.

You're literally forcing her into every narrative, not everything has to be about her, in praise of her or for her, let me breathe, jesus.

Get your act together omfg.

_______

(Before I can say something, he adds, “You want to trend on social media because someone found a sex tape of you with your girlfriend and the goalie on your team?”

“Is that what you want to be?” I try not to increase the volume of my voice, and fail. “Just the goalie? I thought we were working to⁠—”

“Then why act like I’m a notch in your bedpost?” he shoots back)

I'm so tired of these MFs either talking in circles about each other or just simply exist to be in her orbit.

They're all fucking exausting, doesn't matter if it's a him or her, just simply exausting.

Almost into ¾ of the book rn and they can't have a civil conversation that doesn't include them going all macho about "not wanting to make her choose between them" or Monty pushing Cally away cause god knows why atp.

The only thing that is progressing in their relationship as a throuple is the fact that the guys are doing their damn hardest to be with her and be all about her.

They're literally doing everything in their power on that front

Yet, the same can't be said about their own relationship. Patrick the star literally puts more effort into being smart than these two put int makuing their own relationship.

It's tiring, exausting, unbalanced, a very weird cycle.

I thought they were making some progress after that kiss when Call stayed in the room with Ves, but nope.

Nothing has changed.

And to keep telling Monty how you want to be burried in her while he's burried in you when you want to get a reaction out of him? Lord give me patience

Using her to bait him is weird, not fair to her and not fair to him.

Work on your damn relationship with only him and you, stop getting her involved.

_________

The emotional stuff feel very over dramatic, out of place and very much forced

Like they literally go from 0 to 100 in the middle doing something normal

Like she's swimming and suddenly is tearing up and goes on a tangent about not bring a crystal and not needing protection and being in this cause she loves them and la di la di da

Like huh? And i can't even blame the pregnancy hormones cause the dudes are like this too.

Like there's literally nothing happening to be warrant them talking like this

Is this the same claudia that wrote Lyrics Remain Unchanged????

Cause wtf is this book?

______

The closest this came to being as balanced as the last book, was chapter 54

And it was a text exchange in their grou0 chat.. nice

_______

Conclusion:

I'm... not happy.
Not really.

This had the potential to be as good as LRU, but unfortunately it had so much filler moments, repeated phrases

Like the guys had mad chemistry, their connection was really there, they could've literally be like Eddie and Barret, Circling each other just as much as they could circle Vesper without turning the whole story into a "who loves and thinks about Vesper more?" Competition between the dudes.

Also, the narration LOVED to over analyse the smallest thing she did like it was poetry and she was a muse.

It literally felt like if the 3 wete in a room, the guys would choose to be around Vesper in any chance they'd get, no second thoughts and with not a second thought about maybe choosing to be around each other.

And i despise that
It's not selfish to want them pick each other, too
By their own choice
Not to center her and be each other's 2nd choice by default
Claudia tried, and it was obvious she was trying to keep it balanced (well, i was beinh nice, she set the system up)
Unfortunately it didn't work

For some reason, everything in their mind and connection was going back to "not making vesper choose"

They centered her "should not choose" in their own relationship, to the point it felt like they actually wouldn't have chosen to be together if she didn't happen

Claudia had gold in her hand with the "we did it in the camp, with each other, on our own" and wasted its potential on turning it into "vesper should not choose" propaganda

The guys had mad chemistry, their connection was really there, they could've literally be like Eddie and Barret, Circling each other just as much as they could circle Vesper it was only used as a small part of it
The thing that broke them was cally smiling too much and monty leaving and being cold

Them being together was dependent on if it was going to help their case with her
And frankly, i despise that mindset
So, no
It wasn't as much as a delight to read as LRU, it was actually hardly a delight

It was longer, and frankly? I skipped any moment with Vesper after chapter 37
I was looking for any crumb when the guys actually chose each other on their own

And it might be cruel
But i asked myself multiple times "why is she the center? What's so special about her?".. well, i came out always empty handed out of that thought every single time.

Their unwavering focus on her made me gradually less and less interested in all of them

LRU was full of love, affection, attention, sweet words between the guys, the guys and their woman, and a throuple as a whole. Their loved helped Cleo to finally take a step to geal herself.

Here, it was like pulling teeth to have an affectionate moment between the guys, without it turning into some paragraph about ms Vesper and "that's her defence, sarcasm"

Oh and one more thing that bothered me
They were going into smallest of the small details about her to say why they wanted her
Literally page length think pieces about her

And hardly 2 fully paragraphs about each other without mentioning her

The longest was a few paragraphs and simultaneously more than half of those was about how he also loves Vesper 🙄 yeah.. love that for them

If you've already read my review of LRU, you already know i hate bisexual romances where the bisexuality is focused and dependent on the FMC, it makes me nitpick and resent the FMC for hogging all the love and affection and leaving the scraps between the men

And by chapter 37, i was numb to any of their "i love you"s, any vulnerable moments, any smuts
Hell, i didn't even care about the MM chapter, i didn't believe it
I was just ready to get it over with and move on

The 2nd threesome was also a moment i skimmed through
I'm not interest in MFM threesomes in bi books if i already know the guys won't even touch each other
And i was right

The chapter were their daughter also kicked for the 1st was also very... dry

I'm not gonna be weird here
Cause i have a few standards when it comes to pregnancy and MMF

Kelly Jamison did it beautifully right imo
I was beaming at every step in her "Rule of three trilogy"
The guys shared their happiness together, the lady was also sharing her own happiness with her men, the affection was buzzing through all of them

Yes, the moment should be about her, not denying that
But it doesn't mean the guys can't share the happiness with each other?
Like not even a shoulder squeeze and an eye contact or a smile to convey how happy they are to each other?

The epilogue was also lackluster, i expected it to be way far further down their journey
And ofc, it was MM free
Not even pinkies grazing

Tho, Claudia said there might be a 2nd book coming, but she's not sure
In that case, i can understand the epilogue being.. like that.

Also i expected a little bit more background on all the MCs

We just "he has 2 brothers, her mom died, her dad is managing a camp" and that's it

"He comes from money, parents controled him" and that's it

"His parents died in a car crash, foster care, his uncle took him" and the end

Like i expected a bit more depth
Flashbacks, memories, something that gives a bit more of their history and background

Also, at least in LRU we got 1 or 2 flashbacks to their first moments

Here, it's just a shallow reminiscing

"I was inside him, and he was arching under me" is not enough



On the positive, despite it being "vesper and her love interests" rather than a balanced poly relationship, Ms Claudia actually did give the guys a solo chapter

They also had at least 2-3 vulnerable moments

The setup was good

The side characters were very likeable, i certainly want a book for harvey, doesn't matter if it'll be MF and i wouldn't read it, he still deserves to find love and the HEA he deserves with the woman he'll love and i want other people to enjoy his happiness

Loved to see Cally taking the control of his life back and protect his spouses

But god...

[Kai Esp · Rating 3 out of 5]

not everything is a metaphor.

DNF around 30% (and I skimmed most of that). I love a why choose and not-his-baby so I thought I’d love this based on an ad I saw, but it is tiring to read. The whole narration is written like everything is a metaphor. Didn’t feel like I was getting to know characters at all. It just all felt the same, same metaphors, same arguments, couldn’t imagine reading the rest of the book like that.

[ZoeLouKnits · Rating 4 out of 5]

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) read via Audio Book

Narrators:
Erin Mallon
Gomez Pugh
Robert Hatch

I was nervous about my first ARC read, so because I’m thorough I read it twice to make sure and it definitely wasn’t a chore to do so. Claudia Burgoa certainly knows how to write the spice and this book is no exception, starting out strong.

I’m a big fan of second chance romance tropes and I I’ve that this book shows the history up front without the constant guessing and each character’s point of view is clearly laid out.

[Laura Fabian · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC kindly provided for the author in exchange for an honest review

Ranking: 4.5⭐

Lost in Overtime is one of the books on my most-anticipated list for the month, and I enjoyed it so much: I loved the relationship between Vesper, Alberto & Callaway from the way they meet, how everything "falls apart," and EVERYTHING that happens after they reunite. All three have wonderful backstories and are complex and endearing characters. Also, I think Claudia gave me my favorite secondary character with Harvey, and now I need him to have his own story.

I think Vesper is the most complicated of these three characters. She seemed like a woman who is just passing through life because of all the pain she has accumulated over the years, and that broke my heart, especially when Claudia reveals her reason for returning to Juniper Ridge, because it could mean more suffering for her. Her personality is quite peculiar, because she tends to be dramatic in the best way, masking her pain behind humor, and despite being at a difficult time in her life when she discovers her pregnancy, she always thinks about protecting Alberto and Callaway. I think the only thing I lacked to completely love this character was knowing more about her place in her family, because the author mentions some very interesting things but only superficially, and I would have loved to know more about them.

Alberto was the character I wanted to hug and never let go of from the moment the book started. A man who has never had a family or a home, he was orphaned at a young age and since then has learned not to show his feelings and not to let anyone into his life for fear of losing them. He's also at a difficult point in his career when he's transferred again, and it broke my heart to read the analogy he makes between his career as a goalie and his personal life. I also really enjoyed reading about him being the grumpiest of the three, and although it was painful to see him struggle with his feelings for Callaway, I fell in love with his interactions, with the way Alberto tries to stop the flirting and always fails, with the way he loves and protects Ves, and I LOVED reading him grow to the point where he's the one who initiates many of the complicated conversations in the second half of the book.

Callaway was my favorite character, which was unexpected, but his flirtatious, funny, and playful personality stole my heart. I especially loved his backstory because of the ending Claudia gave to their family relationship. I LOVED reading about him with Harvey: the way they met, how he's the one he always turns to when he needs to figure something out, and how funny their interactions are because of their opposite personalities. Another thing I loved about this character was seeing him fight so hard for his love for Alberto and Vesper, being the one to take the first step when everyone is a little lost, but always giving them both the space and understanding they need. Also, I loved that with the whole team transfer thing, Alberto and Callaway find themselves in the same professional situation and with very similar feelings without even knowing it; it was a part of the plot that I really enjoyed.

🎧Audiobook Review🎧

🏒Narrators: Erin Mallon, Gomez Pugh & Robert Hatchet
🏒Narration: 5/5
💜Duet Narration

The audiobook is fantastic! And the narrators made me enjoy the story of these characters a little more.

I loved Erin Mallon; I think she captured perfectly Vesper's peculiar, vulnerable, and protective personality! I especially enjoyed listening to her in those moments when Ves tries to use humor to cope with the complications of her life, when she confronts the guys about their shared past, and when she announces they're teammates.

Gomez Pugh was the best Alberto that Claudia Burgoa could have chosen! His narration made me suffer a little more with this character's heartbreak, and also made me love even more the way he grows, confronts his feelings, and finally finds the family he always wanted. Furthermore, this narrator gave me the most grumpy, complicated, and also adorable character, so I loved him.

Robert Hatchet stole my heart as Callaway. He gave me that flirty, funny, and charming personality that characterizes this man. I LOVED hearing him flirt with Alberto and finally confront his family.

🏒Alberto: 5/5
🏒Vesper: 4/5
🏒Callaway: 5/5
🏒Plot: 4.5/5
🏒Love story: 5/5
🏒Universe: 5/5
🏒Cover: 5/5
🥵: 2/5

ARC & ALC amablemente proporcionada por la autora a cambio de una reseña honesta

Puntuación: 4.5⭐

Lost in Overtime es uno de los libros en mi lista de más esperados del mes, y lo disfruté mucho: me encantó la relación de Vesper, Alberto & Callaway desde la manera en la que se conocen, como todo "se arruina" y TODO lo que pasa a partir de que se reencuentran, los tres tienen historias personales muy buenas y son personajes complejos y encantadores. Además, creo que Claudia me dio con este libro a mi personaje secundario favorito con Harvey y ahora necesito que tenga su propia historia.

Creo que Vesper es el personaje más complicado de estos tres, me pareció una mujer que solo va de paso en la vida debido a todo el dolor que ha acumulado con los años y eso me rompió el corazón, especialmente cuando Claudia me muestra su razón para volver a Juniper Ridge porque eso podría significar más sufrimiento para ella. Su personalidad es bastante peculiar, porque tiende a ser dramática de la mejor manera, enmascara su dolor detrás del humor y a pesar de estar en un momento complicado de su vida cuando descubre su embarazo, siempre piensa en proteger a Alberto & Callaway. Creo que lo único que me falto para amar completamente a este personaje fue conocer más de su lugar en su familia, porque la autora menciona algunas cosas que son muy interesantes pero solo lo hace de manera superficial y me hubiera encantado conocer más al respecto.

Alberto fue el personaje al que quise abrazar y no soltar desde que empezó el libro, un hombre que nunca ha tenido una familia ni un hogar, quedo huérfano desde pequeño y desde entonces aprendió a no mostrar sus sentimientos y no dejar entrar a nadie en su vida por miedo a perderlos, también se encuentra en un momento complicado de su carrera cuando es transferido o una vez más y me rompió el corazón leer la analogía que este personaje hace entre su carrera como goalie y su vida personal. También me gustó mucho leerlo siendo el más gruñón de los tres, y aunque fue doloroso verlo luchar contra sus sentimientos por Callaway, me enamoré mucho de sus interacciones, de la manera en la que Alberto intenta frenar el coqueteo y siempre falla, de la manera en la que ama y protege a Ves y AMÉ leerlo crecer al punto de ser el quien inicia muchas de las conversaciones complicadas en la segunda mitad del libro.

Callaway fue mi personaje favorito, lo cual fue inesperado, pero su personalidad coqueta, divertida y juguetona se robó mi corazón, su historia personal me encantó especialmente por el final que Claudia le dio a su relación familiar, AMÉ leerlo con Harvey: la manera en la que se conocieron, como él es a quien recurre siempre que necesita resolver algo en su vida, y lo divertidas que son sus interacciones debido a lo diferente de sus personalidades. Otra cosa que amé mucho de este personaje fue leerlo pelear con tanta fuerza por su amor hacia Alberto & Vesper, ser quien da el primer paso cuando todos están un poco perdidos pero siempre dándoles a ambos el espacio y comprensión que necesitan. Además, me encantó que con todo el asunto de la transferencia de quipos, Alberto & Callaway se encuentren en la misma situación profesional y con sentimientos muy similares sin saberlos, fue una parte de su trama que me gustó mucho.

🎧Reseña del audiolibro🎧

🏒Narradores: Erin Mallon, Gomez Pugh & Robert Hatchet
🏒Narración: 5/5
💜Narración en dueto

El audiolibro es buenísimo! y los narradores me hicieron disfrutar muchísimo la historia de estos personajes.

Erin Mallon me encantó, creo que retrató perfectamente la personalidad peculiar, vulnerable y protectora de Vesper! Me gustó mucho escucharla especialmente en esos momentos en los que Ves intenta usar el humor para sobrevivir a lo complicado de su vida, cuando confronta a los chicos por su pasado juntos y cuando les anuncia que son compañeros de equipo.

Gomez Pugh fue el mejor Alberto que Claudia Burgoa pudo elegir! su narración me hizo sufrir un poco más con el corazón roto de este personaje y también amar mucho más la manera en la que crece, enfrenta lo que siente y como por fin encuentra la familia que siempre quiso. Además, este narrador me dio al personaje más gruñón complicado y también adorable, así que lo amé.

Robert Hatchet se robó mi corazón como Callaway, me dio esa personalidad coqueta, divertida y encantadora que caracteriza a este personaje, AMÉ escucharlo coquetear con Alberto y por fin enfrentar a su familia.

🏒Alberto: 5/5
🏒Vesper: 4/5
🏒Callaway: 5/5
🏒Trama: 4.5/5
🏒Historia de amor: 5/5
🏒Universo: 5/5
🏒Portada: 5/5
🥵: 2/5

[Kim Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so happy I have Kobo or else I would have had to wait until Wednesday to read this. After being a fan of Claudia’s MMF books thus far, I was excited and looking forward to reading this one. It was a very slow start, there were issues Vesper, Cally and Alberto had to overcome in order to become a unit. This book was all about bringing their relationship back to what it was before everyone ran away scared. It seemed like all of them left each other in a weird position. Cally and Alberto panicked and couldn’t deal with the exposure of the attraction and desire they felt for each other so they felt like they had to make Vesper choose and a rivalry was born between Alberto and Cally. Vesper couldn’t choose, so they parted ways but always had that longing for each other and love they felt for each other but didn’t know how to carry or deal with it. This book thrived with the longing and belief that if things were different there would be a possibility. After thinking about it though, the issue wasn’t whether or not they loved each other, it was the fear of survival and whether their relationship will make it. All of them were left with the impression that good things don’t last and everyone leaves, that nothing is permanent so why make a home? Why set roots when everything gets uprooted anyway. Alberto lived with this state of mind based on his childhood and the way he was traded constantly from team to team. He had this bitterness that ate him up inside, causing him to take it out on Cally because in his mind, he didn’t deserve him and it was easier to hate something he didn’t think he can have or deserve. Then there was Cally’s fear, that he will never be good enough for someone to want him to stay. He believed loyalty isn’t a thing anymore because after giving years to his last team and building a fan base while giving everything he had, he still wasn’t good enough to keep on. He carries this expectation with him and bases it on the way Alberto tossed him aside and rejected him. He was hurt from that and he used this hurt and anger about what happened between them and turned it into hate and a rivalry. While I was expecting angst, trauma and other drama with this book, I found there really wasn’t any. It was just about whether or not you are willing to put your heart on the line for love of the deepest variety. It’s about setting aside your fears and expectations and just giving into the feeling of being cherished and never letting go. It’s also about opening your heart and trusting the others won’t leave and will never let go which was what their biggest fears were. It was slow moving because they essentially had to learn to trust each other again and let go of grudges or any hurt that happened between them. I wouldn’t say learn to fall in love again, only because it was already there, they just didn’t know how or if they wanted to express it. If I had to sum up this book, I would say it was emotional and tender. There were moments that would light you up and make you want to grab the person you love and hold on tight with some passionate and intense love making. There was straight chapters of just sex that made you blush and think about what you were reading but you still loved it anyway and felt the intensity and love between the three of them. The connection itself was amazing and you could feel it with all of them, even when it was either Cally and Alberto, Alberto and Vesper or Vesper and Cally. It really felt all consuming and big. The way Claudia captures love between three people is seamless and emotional. You feel immersed in it and never want to leave. You don’t just see it from a distance as a reader, you experience it and that’s what I loved most about this book. I felt a part of it and got lost. Sure in the beginning I didn’t like the digs, sarcastic comments, arms length they all were doing towards each other and I didn’t like the fighting. There was too much history and hurt between them. There was even some repetitive comments Vesper made that bothered me because I felt like that’s all she would say when everything was complex and like walking on eggshells. Then there was the parts where you couldn’t get inside their heads, everything felt cryptic and like they didn’t know how to act so they retreated in themselves and pushed each other away with their own defense mechanisms. In these parts of the book, it was hardest to keep going because the feelings were deep and heavy. I had to take a break, so this took me 4 days to read rather than my usual 2-3 days. It felt like no progress but all of this becomes worth it in the end. As I got closer to the middle and the end, it felt like they were lowering their guards even further but it definitely took time. I felt the book wasn’t rushed but some parts I wish they were. Overall, a much deserved 5 rating, Claudia hasn’t disappointed me yet.

[Donna reads Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lost in Overtime — A Hat Trick of Emotion, Spice, and Soul-Crushing Devotion.

This book didn’t just tell a story…it hit like a blindside check, shattered me on impact, then stitched me back together just to do it all over again.

We all know Vesper, Monty, and Calloway were once inseparable, until one night turned friendship into something heavier, messier… impossible to bench. Now they move like they’re trapped in endless overtime, every glance a pass, every touch a risk…and her? She’s center ice.

The tension is relentless. Suffocating.
The kind that builds shift after shift until something has to snap. Vesper wants to run. Monty wants control. Calloway just wants to be free.
Their story isn’t just a hockey romance, it’s need at full speed. Longing that never faded. And two men who never stopped loving her… or each other.
And that alone…emotional assault in the best way.
The spice isn’t just heat, it’s pressure, memory and restraint wound tight until it finally breaks.
Every moment between them is layered with history and need that refuses to stay buried.
Their connection hits hard! Loyalty , desire and pain…all colliding like bodies against the boards.
Together?Explosive. Tangled. Addictive.
And then…two pink lines.
Game changer.
This isn’t just about love anymore. It’s about building something real… something that lasts beyond the final buzzer.

Vesper…I loved her. Sharp, witty, and effortlessly funny—even in heartbreak, she made it hit harder. Her humor amplifies every emotion. Chaos, heart, intelligence and fire, she keeps the story breathing when it feels like it’s about to score.
The way Vesper and Monty protect Calloway like enforcers, because his family treats him like business , not a person…is both infuriating and deeply satisfying, like watching someone finally step in and say, “not anymore’’.

And when Calloway finally stands up ( more like sticks it) to his parents? That’s the moment.
The game winning goal!
But he doesn’t do it alone…Harvey is right there beside him, the kind of friend everyone wishes they had.
Loyal, steady, and done watching Calloway take the hits, Harvey helps him break free from that toxic control.
Together, they flip the power play—his parents’ grip gets slammed into the boards and Calloway takes it all back.
Raw, defiant and liberating.
You feel every ounce of that victory.

And these men? Absolute book boyfriend energy…the kind that burns your standards down to the ice.
Each one hits like a dirty, heat-soaked board check you feel everywhere, all low-voiced temptation and “say my name” tension in the dying seconds of overtime.
No escape, no cooling off…just relentless pressure, close contact heat and the kind of chemistry that leaves the rink (and your thoughts) completely melted.

🎧 Audiobook? Next level.
Erin Mallon is Vesper—every edge, every crack, every fire-lit moment.
Gomez Pugh delivers Monty with controlled intensity and quiet ache.
Robert Hatchet gives Calloway a soft devastation that lingers long after each scene ends.
Together, they don’t just narrate this story…they ignite it.

The chemistry is sharper in audio, the emotion deeper and the tension completely consuming…like overtime where everything is on the line.

And in audio? Gomez and Robert amplify that book boyfriend energy, turn it up even hotter, translating that slow-burn tension and raw, filthy undercurrent into every breath, pause and growl, making it feel like it’s happening right in your ear.

As for author Claudia Burgoa…she heroically claims our hearts while twisting every last heartstring with devastating tenderness, her characters anchoring themselves to us long after the final word…the final whistle.

This book is consuming. Emotional. Unforgettable.
A love triangle that refuses to play fair…and a bond that refuses to break.
Do yourself a favor: don’t just read it—feel it. 📕🎧🏒

[S.M. Stryker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Lost in Overtime! I listened to the audiobook, and it completely pulled me in. I’m not usually an MMF reader, but these three characters were incredible.

This is another story by Claudia Burgoa that will have you reading (or listening) late into the night, long past your bedtime. Lost in Overtime will renew your faith in young love, second chances, and fiercely loyal characters who show up for each other—even when they’re angry. And let’s not forget the dream personal assistant who truly goes above and beyond. I loved this story so much I’m still thinking about it and the characters.

Three teenagers became best friends over three summers… until one night changed everything. Once that line was crossed, there was no going back. Fear and unspoken feelings created a wedge that tore them apart. Fourteen years later, life brings them back to the same city, forcing them to confront everything they left behind. They never forgot what they had—or what they wanted—but their past keeps threatening their future.

Claudia never disappoints. Every time I pick up one of her books, I know I’m going to fall in love. Her characters go through emotional, angsty, and sometimes messy moments, but at their core, they are full of heart. This story takes you on an emotional ride—you’ll feel everything—and by the end, you’ll be left smiling with your heart completely melted.

The narration was phenomenal. Erin Mallon is my go-to female narrator, so I was thrilled she was part of this project. Gomez Pugh was new to me, but I loved the way he brought Alberto’s story to life. And Robert Hatchet is always a must-listen—he was perfect as Calloway. Together, they kept me fully engaged and made me feel deeply connected to the characters.

Alberto (Monty) and Calloway were once best friends, but now they’re enemies on the ice. When they’re traded to the same team, they’re forced to figure out how to coexist.

Vesper spent her summers at her family’s camp, where she formed an unbreakable bond with both men—until that one night changed everything. When she returns years later to help her father, she finds both Monty and Calloway there. Now, she’s trying to rebuild what they lost… only to discover she’s pregnant. And while they aren’t the father, these men step up in every way that matters.

As secrets unravel and emotions run high, walls begin to crumble. The question is—can they finally see that what they’ve always needed has been right in front of them all along? Calloway also has to confront his past and protect the family he’s building, no matter the cost. Sparks fly, tension builds, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

I loved everything about this story—it gave me everything I wanted and more. These characters completely stole my heart.

You’ll laugh, swoon, ache, blush 🥵, and feel it all. And by the end, your heart will be so full.

If you love why choose, hockey romance, and second chances—grab this book NOW.

[ana lopes · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC & ALC Review

Lost in Overtime
By: Claudia Burgoa
Narrated by: Erin Mallon, Robert Hatchet, Gomez Pugh

Claudia Burgoa is, without a doubt, one of my favorite authors right now. Anyone who hasn’t read her doesn’t know what they’re missing, because the intensity and soul she pours into every word she writes completely sweeps you away, into her writing, her stories, and especially her characters.

Her writing is deeply emotional, with words that clearly come straight from the heart. You can feel that she puts her soul into them. And this is just another book that completely captivated me, for all the reasons I’ve already mentioned, but even more so because it’s, once again, a second-chance romance where we clearly see the characters constantly struggling against their feelings, believing they can’t love more than one person at the same time. This is definitely my favorite of the three books I’ve read by her so far!

As for Lost in Overtime, it’s basically a Heated Rivalry “why choose” version! Yes, we get all the tension between two amazing hockey players (hockey romance!), along with a wonderful Vesper, who struggles with having to choose between two of her childhood loves... because she can’t, and doesn’t want to, choose between two parts of her own heart.

Without going too much into the plot, I’ll just say that this is a beautiful book from beginning to end. It tells the story of three young people who fall in love as teenagers, and despite the distance that comes between them, that love doesn’t fade. In fact, it only grows stronger. What remains constant is the incredible way love is portrayed as the driving force behind happiness, capable of overcoming everything when we accept that we love someone, or several people, and allow ourselves to feel worthy of that love in return.

What I loved most in this book was the relationship between the two hockey players, who fight their feelings for so long (especially Monty) but eventually give in when they need to come together. These two meant everything to me, and the author’s “why choose” approach is handled in such a special way, one I absolutely adore, truly exploring what it means to love multiple people at the same time, regardless of gender.

The chemistry between the three of them is explosive, especially between Monty and Callaway, and it’s always written in a deeply emotional and sensual way. Beautiful!

I loved all the layers of the story and how everything unfolded, with the perfect balance of drama, angst, deep emotions, heartwarming moments, and steamy romance. The complexity of the characters, their development and growth are incredible, as are the writing, plot, and world-building.

🎧📚🎧 And for the fantastic multi-cast audio production performed by the incredibly talented Erin Mallon as Vesper, Robert Hatchet as Callaway, and Gomez Pugh as Alberto (Monty, my favorite!), who did an amazing job bringing the characters and their story to life. The voices were perfect for the characters and conveyed all the intensity of the story, making us feel everything the characters experienced on the page. Besides absolutely nailing the three main roles, they were just as impressive in their performances of the side and secondary characters. These three make a fantastic narration team, and I definitely want more from them. Their voices complement each other beautifully and help build the characters’ personalities perfectly.

I absolutely loved this fully immersive reading experience, and now I’m just waiting for the next book.

Claudia, once again, thank you for the ARC & ALC, and congratulations on writing something that completely swept me away.

Thanks also to The Author Agency for trusting me with this read.

[Books, Booze & Bon Voyage (Krista Webster) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lost in Overtime by Claudia Burgoa is a why-choose, second chance hockey romance between Vesper Lafontaine, Callaway (Cally) Livingston Harrington Winthrop, and Alberto Montoya (Monty) Navarro Wade. They were childhood best friends but one night it all fell apart. This story is layered with emotions, undeniable chemistry and a palpable intensity between the three of them. There is angst and anger, passion and jealousy, hurt and lots of longing.

The past won’t stay there when their story comes full circle and they find themselves back where it all started.Their love for one another has never died, it is unconventional and not socially acceptable but it is a love that is true. Two professional hockey players who are rivals not only on the ice but also rivals for the woman they both love. As their story unfolds, you will immediately realise that these three are meant to be together so enjoy the journey they go on to finally be together.

Vesper met Cally and Monty at her parents summer hockey camp in Juniper Ridge. She was fifteen and they were sixteen. Vesper is sweet until provoked, quick to talk back and loves skating. Cally is all charm and swagger, loud and magnetic. Monty has a sad past that really affects him so he’s quiet and wary but observant. They quickly become best friends and fall in love. Their love for one another is complicated as the guys both want her but also have feelings for each other and she loves them both. Then one night everything changes, Vesper refuses to choose between them and their friendship is never the same again.

We fast forward to find Cally and Monty playing professional hockey and bitter rivals. We find Vesper having to return home to look after her father and help with the camp. This obviously which brings back the memories of her teenage years. In a strange twist, the guys find themselves traded to the same team back in Portland. Could they play together and how will they cope seeing Vesper again. The guys have never forgotten about her so when they find themselves together again, all their feelings for one another come flooding back.The connection between them is still there so the tension rises and everything they had hidden away returns. This brings challenges for all three of them.

When she gets some very unexpected news after a one-night stand, she worries how it will affect their new relationship. They surprise her by offering to help her but will it break them again or show them all what they have been missing. The guys also have to confront what they have been denying. Will they risk everything for their love. Can they forgive one another and have the second chance they all deserve.

All three are totally different characters and I found their interactions intriguing. A beautifully told romance, their love story is captivating and there were times my heart broke for them. Monty was so full of angst and struggles the most. Cally has a great sense of humour and just wants to protect everyone. Vesper just loves them both. I was so happy they found their way back to each other.

[Alicia Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is a quietly intense exploration of love that refuses to fit into neat, conventional boundaries. Centered on Callaway, Alberto, and Vesper, the story traces a relationship that begins with the easy innocence of teenage friendship and gradually evolves into something far more complicated—and far more honest.

The early chapters, set at summer camp, are warm and nostalgic, but emotions feel both overwhelming and undefined. As the trio grows older, that emotional undercurrent becomes harder to ignore, culminating in the pivotal night when everything shifts; tender, awkward, and charged with the confusion of first real desire.

What sets this story apart is how it handles the aftermath. Rather than romanticizing the transition from friendship to romance, it leans into the messiness. Callaway and Alberto’s decision to downplay what happened feels painfully realistic, as does their inability to process feelings that don’t align with what they think relationships are “supposed” to look like. Asking Vesper to choose between them is both heartbreaking and frustrating, a moment that underscores their emotional immaturity and fear.

Vesper emerges as the emotional anchor of the novel. Her refusal or inability to choose isn’t portrayed as indecision, but as honesty. She loves them both, and the narrative respects that truth even when the characters themselves can’t. She maintains separate connections with Callaway and Alberto while they spiral into rivalry.

The “enemies on the ice” dynamic between Callaway and Alberto is a compelling externalization of their internal conflict. Their shared history simmers beneath every interaction, turning competition into something deeply personal. When they’re eventually forced back into proximity both through Vesper’s return home and their trade to the same team the story shifts into a more introspective gear.

The final act is where the novel truly shines. Stripped of distance and denial, the characters are forced to confront what they’ve been avoiding for years. Their realization that love doesn’t have to be a choice between people, but can instead be something shared; is handled with surprising tenderness. The resolution doesn’t feel like a dramatic twist, but rather an inevitable truth they’ve been circling all along.

Overall, this is a story about timing, emotional growth, and the courage it takes to redefine love on your own terms. It’s messy in the best way and full of missteps, longing, and hard-earned understanding. Readers looking for a romance that challenges traditional dynamics while still delivering emotional payoff will find this one especially rewarding.

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lost in Overtime is a spicy, why choose, hockey romance featuring Vesper Lafontaine, Callaway (Cally) Livingston Harrington Winthrop, and Alberto Montoya (Monty) Navarro Wade.

Vesper met Cally and Monty at camp in Juniper Ridge when she was 15, and they were 16. They quickly connected and became best friends. The three shared a night together that changed the dynamic between Cally and Monty, and their inability to handle their feelings, ruined their friendship. Neither wanted to give up Vesper, and wanted her to choose, but she never could; she loved them both.

Years later, Vesper gets a call from her father. She needs to go home for an extended period to care for her father and assist with the camp. Home holds too many memories that she would prefer to avoid. As it turns out, at the same time, both Cally and Monty get traded by their respective teams to the Portland Orcas.

When Vesper lands in Portland, she is surprised by both men at the airport and gets to be the one to tell these now rivals that they will be playing for the same team. Both know what is going on with her father and the camp, and insist on being there for her - a challenging dynamic to navigate.

Much like her father, Vesper has not been taking care of herself. When her best friends insist on her being seen by a doctor, they find out that all is not quite as it seems. Fortunately (or not?) her best friends won't let her navigate the news on her own and stick by her side. A house is procured for the three of them and the forced proximity leads to Cally and Monty confronting their past.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. While Vesper tried to protect herself using sarcasm, and Cally and Monty took to using anger, underneath it all are three interwoven, highly sensitive and loving hearts. There is no denying the chemistry between the characters. I appreciated how they found their way back to one another, healing their hearts and souls.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Erin Mallon, Gomez Pugh, and Robert Hatchet. All three are wonderful voice actors who did a phenomenal job of bringing the characters to life. I especially enjoy Mallon's work. This is not the first time I've heard her narration skills and each time I find myself impressed by her skills. All three had impeccable pacing, tone and delivery. Between Burgoa's writing and the narrators' superb execution, I was quickly captivated by the characters and became highly invested in their love story.

I am a fan of Burgoa's work and definitely recommend checking out this book along with her many others.

[The Book Junkie Reads . . . · Rating 5 out of 5]

🏒 Lost in Overtime: A 5-Star Why-Choose Masterpiece!

Claudia Burgoa has delivered an MMF romance that doesn't just push boundaries—it shatters them. This second-chance hockey romance between Vesper, Monty, and Callaway is the definition of "intense." While the ebook was a solid, gripping experience, the audio took it to a whole new level. 🏒💖✨

🥅 The Trio: Rivals, Friends, and the "Why Choose" Dream
The "Why Choose" trope is your personal brand of "fairytale in real life," and this book executes it to perfection. Vesper is a heroine after my own heart—fiercely independent, sharp-tongued, and wielding sarcasm like a shield. She’s the anchor for two men who have been at each other’s throats in the league for years. 🛡️🔥

Monty (The Stoic Goalie): The strong, protective hero with a "tender underbelly" that only Vesper truly sees.

Callaway (The Golden Boy): The man who just wants the people he loves to love him back with "no reservations."

The added stakes of the "two pink lines"—a pregnancy that complicates an already messy, yearning-filled past—raised the angst to a fever pitch. It forced them to stop playing the "rivalry" game and finally address the fire burning between all three of them. 👶📈

🎙️ The Narration: Erin Mallon, Robert Hatchet, & Gomez Pugh
The audio was "amazing," and that’s down to this trio of narrators who really understood the assignment:

Erin Mallon: You already know she’s a favorite, and she nails Vesper’s sharp, sarcastic edge while making her vulnerability feel earned. 🎙️✨

Robert Hatchet & Gomez Pugh: These two were new to you, but they brought incredible "sauce" to the roles of Monty and Callaway. They captured the raw yearning, the stubbornness, and the deep-seated history between the two hockey rivals perfectly. 🎙️🔥

✨ Why This Hockey MMF Wins:
The "Real Life" Fantasy: Burgoa handles the MMF dynamic with such care, showing that "Why Choose" isn't just about the heat—it’s about the emotional connection that creates a true "us."

Heart-Wrenching Angst: The friends-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers arc is a rollercoaster, but the "heartfelt" resolution makes the pain worth it. 🎢❤️

The "Added Factor": Pregnancy tropes in a Why Choose romance are risky, but here it acted as the ultimate catalyst for them to finally drop the act and fight for the family they could be.

My Final Verdict
Lost in Overtime is a triumph of the Why Choose genre. It’s a "passion-filled" dive into a second-chance romance that proves when you find the people who fit your soul, you never have to choose—you just have to grow together. A 5-star standout that confirms Burgoa’s status as a master of the hockey romance! 🏒👶💖

[Bette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully Heartfelt & Amazing➞Story & Narration🎧

Lost in Overtime
By: Claudia Burgoa
Narrated by: Erin Mallon, Robert Hatchet, Gomez Pugh

Claudia Burgoa pens another beautifully amazing novel, a second-chance romance that will captivate your attention and tug at your heartstrings the entire time. A story of three young adults who fell in love, a love that was too complicated to handle then, but a love that never faded or went away. Vesper’s family ran a hockey camp, and she became best friends with two boys who came for the summer, Callaway and Alberto “Monty”. What began as friendship blossomed into something more profound, with both guys drawn to Vesper and Vesper to them, and an undeniable chemistry between them. But Calloway also desired Monty, and that chemistry was palpable too, except Monty was not ready for that. They all go their separate ways, with Monty and Callaway becoming professional hockey players, rivals on the ice and basically a non-existent relationship off the ice, and Vesper, a journalist who travels the world. Vesper could never choose one over the other, yet both men still gravitated to her, and circumstances in life brought them full circle, back to where it all began for them, in Oregon. You can feel how much heart Burgoa put into this story as the emotions pour off the pages and into your own heart. I loved all the layers of the story and how it all played out, with the perfect balance of drama, angst, profound emotions, heartwarming moments, and steamy romance. The complexity of the characters, their development and growth are incredible, as are her writing, plot and world-building. Claudia Burgoa, thank you for another amazing story, a love story trifecta and an emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧 And for the fantastic multi-cast listen and production performed by the wonderfully talented Erin Mallon as Vesper, Robert Hatchet as Callaway, and Gomez Pugh as Alberto, who did an incredible job bringing the characters and their story to life. Their character voices are fitting, and they were believable in every role, perfecting each of their personalities and demeanor, as well as conveying all of their emotions into their performance too. Besides nailing it in the roles of the three lead characters, they were just as amazing performing the roles of the side/secondary characters too. These three are a fabulous narration team, with voices that complement each other and an enthralling performance that keeps you glued to the story. They are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having spent summers together for years at her parents’ hockey camp, Vesper fell in love with her two best friends, but after they finally gave in to temptation and spent a night together when she was eighteen, everything fell apart. She spent over a decade after that refusing to choose between the two, and running anytime they got too close. When timing and circumstances force her to go home, she finds herself there with the only two men capable of breaking her, or putting her back together, and somehow they need to find a way to start over.

As the son of high society parents, Callaway was raised by nannies and boarding schools, used to throwing money at problems to make them going away, but Vesper is the one problem that can’t be solved. While he has loved her for years, he knows she will never be able to choose him, and so he has spent his life and career pretending he doesn’t need her. Being traded to Portland after spending his entire career in Colorado means more than being close to the place where it all began, it means a chance at a life with Vesper, if only he can get over his former best friend.

Monty is used to being left behind, first by his parents who died when he was 6, then by his uncle who tried but failed to take their place, and finally by every team that has traded him since he started his NHL career. Now he’s back in Portland, where everything began, and though he comes prepared to fight Callaway for his place at Vesper’s side, a positive pregnancy test changes everything, and suddenly he finds himself wondering if he could really have something he doesn’t remember ever having, a family.

I received an early copy of this ebook and audiobook from the author and absolutely loved them! This story was so full of pain, but also love, with each character having to overcome their own trauma in order to find their way back to each other. I loved that it touched on the internalized and externalized homophobia in professional sports, but didn’t make it a central point of the story, focusing more on the fact that as strong as the love these three felt for each other at 18 and 19, they perhaps weren’t ready to deal with everything that would come of them being together. The timing of their reunion couldn’t have been more perfect, as they were finally in a place where they refused to be controlled by outside forces, and able to truly allow themselves to be happy.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

MMF/Why Choose
Hockey Romance
Second Chance Romance
Rivals to Lovers
Surprise Pregnancy
Bi Awakening
Forced Proximity
Possessive Protective Hero
Angst/Hurt/Comfort

🎧 Narrated in full cast by Erin Mallon as Vesper, Robert Hatchet as Callaway, and Gomez Pugh as Alberto! What a cast of all stars! They did absolutely fantastic I couldn’t stop listening to this! Listened in a few days! Took this in the shower, the car rides, at work, at football practice, visiting the sister in the hospital! Cooking dinner! I couldn’t stop!! I was hooked! Their performance completely pulled me in and I got to read along and I was stuck! Such a fantastic read! Written with such emotional depth I could feel the emotions the characters were feeling. What a ride!
And I loved when they revealed to her father the relationship they’re in and her pregnancy that whole interaction was beautiful 😍

Quotes:
I'D CRAWL THROUGH GLASS JUST TO HAVE ONE MORE NIGHT OF HIS BREATH ON MY NECK AND HER NAILS IN MY BACK, JUST TO FEEL US ALL GIVE IN AT THE SAME TIME.
I WANT THEM BOTH. STILL ALWAYS.

THEY'RE GOING TO TIGHTEN THEIR GRIP. THEY'RE GOING TO CALL IT LOVE. THEY'RE GOING TO MEAN IT.
AND I'M GOING TO WANT IT- WANT THEM, SO BADLY
IT SCARES ME. BECAUSE WANTING THEM HAS ALWAYS COME WITH CONSEQUENCES, AND NOW THE CONSEQUENCES HAVE A HEARTBEAT.

“You worried about me, Monty?”

“We’re becoming a family.”

“Vesper with her eternal sunshine and the way she jokes like it’s a shield, as if she can laugh her way out of fear. Vesper who is carrying a baby and pretending she’s fine because that’s what she does—she turns panic into punchlines and hopes nobody notices her hands shaking. And the baby. A baby I already said I’d be there for, because I meant it, because I can’t stand the thought of her doing this alone, because I can’t stand the thought of anyone touching her life with dirty hands. Because I love her and the baby being a part of her makes me already love them.”

“This will change me for the rest of my life,”

They just look at me, both unreadable in different ways—Cally with that bright, stubborn devotion, Monty with that quiet, controlled intensity that makes it hard to breathe sometimes.

“Ours,” I say. “And the beginning of our family.”

“You two are going to ruin me.”
“Already did, But we plan to be here for always and forever.” “Forever and always.”

[BookishMarineMama03 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book. I can’t fully describe how good it was. A new author to me. Lost In Overtime by Claudia Y. Burgoa. The writing was so deeply beautiful, the words just flowed so raw. My favorite why choose hockey romance, so full of angst, found family and a soul deep love that goes against what the world says is “right.”

Vesper, Alberto, and Callaway. Three souls that are inevitable to end up together! They met at summer camp and became inseparable. Every summer they lived for. And it grew more every year. One night between them changed everything, and years later, feelings are still pushed down deep, love is avoided because she will never choose and they can't let her go. Vesper, this girl has run from it all, fear of being loved and losing it and most of all fear of being made to choose the only two men she's ever loved. She’s lost and alone and one phone call brings her back to where it all started. These two men, Callaway and Alberto, from best friends to complete enemies and rivals on ice have loved this woman since they were young. But also fight the love they have for each other. Such different personalities they bring to it all. One call, a change to joining the same hockey team and now the three come back together again. What ensues is such a beautiful story of redemption, forgiveness, giving into the fear of being left alone, taking a chance regardless of all you could lose. Each one of them has so many soul deep hurts and traumas and only the love they have can heal all the time that has passed. Their connection, the slow burn and angst is pure fire.

This book was what I truly love, when it feels so raw and real, so messy and vulnerable as life really is. So many secrets, so many truths that need to come to the light to heal forever. You just need to read this book, it’s one that won’t leave you!

“Men like us don’t get that. Hockey players don’t love men. We survive. We shut it down.”

“I want you to make me forget how to hold myself together.”

“Happy isn’t a lightning strike. It’s the afterglow. It’s the moment the storm breaks and the world smells like wet pavement and something new. It’s this.”

Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

🏒 Why choose romance
🏒 MMF romance
🏒 Hockey romance
🏒 Second chance romance
🏒 Rivals to lovers
🏒 Best friends to lovers
🏒 Public rivalry, private longing
🏒 Pregnancy twist (Not Theirs)
🏒 Found family
🏒 Hurt/comfort
🏒 Emotional / angsty romance
🏒 Forced reunion