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Chicago Storm #2
Cross Check
A disgraced NHL forward with nothing left to lose. A goalie who sees everything. And one apartment, one investigation, and a season neither of them expected to survive.
Nico Varis lost everything — his team, his name, his reputation — when a gambling investigation he had nothing to do with destroyed his career overnight. Traded to the Chicago Storm under a cloud of suspicion, he's assigned to live with starting goalie Kieran Walsh, who's been ordered to monitor him and report back to management. Walsh is controlled, private, and impossible to read. Nico doesn't trust him. He doesn't trust anyone. He sleeps on the floor because floors can't be taken away.
But Kieran Walsh pays attention the way goalies do — constant, precise, and unrelenting. He notices the nightmares. He notices the 3 AM tea ritual. He notices that Nico rearranges his mugs at four in the morning like a man trying to impose order on a world that keeps pulling the rug. And when the media comes for Nico again, Walsh doesn't step aside. He steps in front. And Nico is terrified — not of the investigation, not of the press, but of what it means to let someone stay.
✓ Roommates / forced proximity
✓ Hurt/comfort
✓ Goalie leaves his crease
✓ He fell first
✓ Found family
✓ Touch-starved
✓ Dual first-person POV
Heat Explicit
Intense, tender, earned
Chicago, NHL
HEA.
Chicago Storm Series, Book 2. Can be read as a standalone.
Some saves happen off the ice.
Nico Varis lost everything — his team, his name, his reputation — when a gambling investigation he had nothing to do with destroyed his career overnight. Traded to the Chicago Storm under a cloud of suspicion, he's assigned to live with starting goalie Kieran Walsh, who's been ordered to monitor him and report back to management. Walsh is controlled, private, and impossible to read. Nico doesn't trust him. He doesn't trust anyone. He sleeps on the floor because floors can't be taken away.
But Kieran Walsh pays attention the way goalies do — constant, precise, and unrelenting. He notices the nightmares. He notices the 3 AM tea ritual. He notices that Nico rearranges his mugs at four in the morning like a man trying to impose order on a world that keeps pulling the rug. And when the media comes for Nico again, Walsh doesn't step aside. He steps in front. And Nico is terrified — not of the investigation, not of the press, but of what it means to let someone stay.
✓ Roommates / forced proximity
✓ Hurt/comfort
✓ Goalie leaves his crease
✓ He fell first
✓ Found family
✓ Touch-starved
✓ Dual first-person POV
Heat Explicit
Intense, tender, earned
Chicago, NHL
HEA.
Chicago Storm Series, Book 2. Can be read as a standalone.
Some saves happen off the ice.
161 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 18, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
April 27, 2026
I don’t read books for the “steaminess” but this book was not steamy at all which would be perfectly fine if it wasn’t in the title description. lol. That’s not why it only gets 2 stars. It only gets 2 stars because there was a lack of depth to the story and plot holes. The book definitely needed to be longer to flesh out the story. I ended up skimming the last few chapters.
September 28, 2026
2.5⭐️
Lots of repetitive phrases and scenes, and the story was not fully fleshed out. Needed more depth? Character development? Not sure, but it felt lacking.
Also, the book description literally says “Heat explicit intense” and there was absolutely no heat. There were a couple of intimate scenes, but they were anything but spicy. More of a hinting at intimacy than explicitly showing it. No clue why the description would have said there was heat at all, let alone explicit or intense. 🤷🏻♀️
Not a definitive thing, but it feels Ai to me.
Lots of repetitive phrases and scenes, and the story was not fully fleshed out. Needed more depth? Character development? Not sure, but it felt lacking.
Also, the book description literally says “Heat explicit intense” and there was absolutely no heat. There were a couple of intimate scenes, but they were anything but spicy. More of a hinting at intimacy than explicitly showing it. No clue why the description would have said there was heat at all, let alone explicit or intense. 🤷🏻♀️
Not a definitive thing, but it feels Ai to me.
March 27, 2026
Not steamy at all
KU Read
161 Pages
Chicago Storm: Book 2
MM Hockey Romance
Forced Proximity
Roommates
Teammates
Hurt/Comfort
Not a bad Read but not steamy at all. The intimate scenes are more 'fade to black' or implied but it fits the style of the book. It's a short read and easy to fly through with a good plot but it's not too deep and stays quite light hearted.
KU Read
161 Pages
Chicago Storm: Book 2
MM Hockey Romance
Forced Proximity
Roommates
Teammates
Hurt/Comfort
Not a bad Read but not steamy at all. The intimate scenes are more 'fade to black' or implied but it fits the style of the book. It's a short read and easy to fly through with a good plot but it's not too deep and stays quite light hearted.
May 2, 2026
Me gustó mucho más que el primero. En este no hay el típico conflicto de salida del armario (aunque si de la naturaleza secreta de la relación de los protas) sino sobre la redención de un Nico, quien fue acusado de arreglar partidos para apuestas.
La pareja de Nico y Kierran me gustó bastante, se enamoran de manera lenta y silenciosa, ambos necesitan alguien que simplemente esté ahí y eso consiguen. Su química y la forma en que forjan su lazo se siente real.
Me pareció muy original que la escena extra sea la transcripción de un podcast de deporte donde se termina de zanjar el caso de Nico.
La pareja de Nico y Kierran me gustó bastante, se enamoran de manera lenta y silenciosa, ambos necesitan alguien que simplemente esté ahí y eso consiguen. Su química y la forma en que forjan su lazo se siente real.
Me pareció muy original que la escena extra sea la transcripción de un podcast de deporte donde se termina de zanjar el caso de Nico.
May 9, 2026
I saw this book on Booktok and immediately downloaded it. I went into this book knowing I was going to cry and then was still shocked when I cried. I absolutely love these characters. I love Nico and Kieran together. I already know that I will be going back to read book 1 as I know I am going to love it. I was not expecting all these emotions especially since the book was only 160 pages.
June 7, 2026
I thought this was a really cute story. I really enjoyed both Kieran and Nico. This story was not spicy though and as steamy is in the description, that was incredibly disappointing. I'm not against closed door romances (which is really what this would qualify as), but don't advertise as something you aren't.
May 17, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
An enormously satisfying read.
The majority of this book was fast paced and straight to the point. I enjoyed reading about Nico and Kieran; their quiet stoicism and quiet pining was just delicious. The growth - seeing the way Nico starts as an outsider on his own to slowly being accepted by the team was very well written.
Some things were very on the nose - like his unpacked bag as some form of metaphor.
I think the second half of the book was a little too cliche and repetitive. Like the way Nico thought Kieran was “ashamed of him” and then Theo comes along and says that same thing word for word (!). It might be uncanny coincidence but I found it to be a bit lazy, especially since Kieran after a few pages uses that same terminology again.
Overall the book started out strong and the relationship was beautifully written.
An enormously satisfying read.
The majority of this book was fast paced and straight to the point. I enjoyed reading about Nico and Kieran; their quiet stoicism and quiet pining was just delicious. The growth - seeing the way Nico starts as an outsider on his own to slowly being accepted by the team was very well written.
Some things were very on the nose - like his unpacked bag as some form of metaphor.
I think the second half of the book was a little too cliche and repetitive. Like the way Nico thought Kieran was “ashamed of him” and then Theo comes along and says that same thing word for word (!). It might be uncanny coincidence but I found it to be a bit lazy, especially since Kieran after a few pages uses that same terminology again.
Overall the book started out strong and the relationship was beautifully written.
May 18, 2026
2,5 ⭐️
The story isn't bad, but it needs to be edited. There are some inconsistencies that need to be checked and corrected. The book could use about 100 more pages to add more depth.
The story isn't bad, but it needs to be edited. There are some inconsistencies that need to be checked and corrected. The book could use about 100 more pages to add more depth.
July 18, 2026
Check this out…please
Kieran and Nico are not only excellent hockey players but strong in all the important ways. Kieran has to monitor Nico, who is involved in a gambling scandal and had to be traded. Monitoring involves living together (forced proximity), and Nico is not in good shape, given all his issues and getting the cold shoulder from most of his new team.
I found this story to be well written, perhaps a little low on steam, well edited and full of hockey. Kieran is wonderful as he moves from watching to falling in love with Nico, whose Finnish grandmother is the only one holding him up. The “villain” is pathetic but even worse is the major hockey league, which drags Nico through the mud.
An absorbing and interesting read.
Kieran and Nico are not only excellent hockey players but strong in all the important ways. Kieran has to monitor Nico, who is involved in a gambling scandal and had to be traded. Monitoring involves living together (forced proximity), and Nico is not in good shape, given all his issues and getting the cold shoulder from most of his new team.
I found this story to be well written, perhaps a little low on steam, well edited and full of hockey. Kieran is wonderful as he moves from watching to falling in love with Nico, whose Finnish grandmother is the only one holding him up. The “villain” is pathetic but even worse is the major hockey league, which drags Nico through the mud.
An absorbing and interesting read.
August 11, 2026
I liked this book very much. The plot was excellent and the characters were written very well.
Nico arrives in Chicago, traded to a new hockey team, under a cloud of suspicion of breaking the law and distrust by his new teammates.
He is assigned to live with Kieran who is instructed to observe Nico closely and advise the team ownership of any missteps Nico may make.
What I liked the most about this book was the love story between Nico and Kieran. It was slow growing and the level of maturity exhibited by both of them was refreshing. It wasn't one of those "I lost control and smashed by lips on his" kind of book.
Kieran noticed everything about Nico and even more important, he respected Nico eccentricities as well as Nico's background (Icelandic).
I recommend this book.
Nico arrives in Chicago, traded to a new hockey team, under a cloud of suspicion of breaking the law and distrust by his new teammates.
He is assigned to live with Kieran who is instructed to observe Nico closely and advise the team ownership of any missteps Nico may make.
What I liked the most about this book was the love story between Nico and Kieran. It was slow growing and the level of maturity exhibited by both of them was refreshing. It wasn't one of those "I lost control and smashed by lips on his" kind of book.
Kieran noticed everything about Nico and even more important, he respected Nico eccentricities as well as Nico's background (Icelandic).
I recommend this book.
September 19, 2026
Even though this is part of a series, I jumped in with book 2 and the world building was so good that it still made perfect sense. Nico and Kieran were fantastic together and I thoroughly enjoyed the slow build of chemistry between them. It was a proper romance story; I found it really emotional, especially all that Nico went through in silence. I was hooked from beginning to end and couldn't put it down. There isn't a huge amount of steamy scenes but the book doesn't feel like it's missing them because everything is so well-written and well-paced. I'm glad they got their HEA together and I'll certainly be jumping into the other books set in this world!
June 8, 2026
There’s a lot to unpack with this series. The characters and the plots are great but they need more depth. The writing of the books are getting better as the series goes on but the writing is confusing at times and repetitive. It’s hard to work out who’s actually talking. This book needs to be about 100 pages longer and these characters deserved better so much happens off page that the reader really needs to read and I don’t read for spice but these books are far from the spicy they claim to be.
August 29, 2026
The book description suggests this is a steamy and explicit read. It is not. I think it actually would have benefited from at least one spicy scene to demonstrate the intensity of the MMC’s developing relationship.
The story was quite slight but I warmed to the characters and was invested in their story. Nicely written with a gentle flow.
The story was quite slight but I warmed to the characters and was invested in their story. Nicely written with a gentle flow.
May 10, 2026
wow
Omg. Goalie Kiernan is precise on the ice and in life. He’s been tasked to watch Nico who’s been accused of gambling. Nico is barely holding it together and falling for Kiernan is not helping. I’ll definitely read more from this author.
Omg. Goalie Kiernan is precise on the ice and in life. He’s been tasked to watch Nico who’s been accused of gambling. Nico is barely holding it together and falling for Kiernan is not helping. I’ll definitely read more from this author.
July 31, 2026
So beautiful
There is nothing as good for thr soul as having someone witness your inner joy, longing, and deepest pain. Everyone needs someone who will sit quietly by their side. This book sat with me. And I loved the epilog. So beautiful.
There is nothing as good for thr soul as having someone witness your inner joy, longing, and deepest pain. Everyone needs someone who will sit quietly by their side. This book sat with me. And I loved the epilog. So beautiful.
August 5, 2026
It's very good, profound and artful the way it's written and don't be put off by anything saying there is spice. The sex is described more emotionally there is nothing explicit and no descriptions of anything anatomical.
April 14, 2026
Molto bello e molto ben scritto. Davvero questo è da cinque stelline.
April 23, 2026
I really enjoyed this simple to the point romance. Barely any spice which is okay. Romance is about being tender. The simplicity made me love the characters more.
May 8, 2026
4.5 stars
May 17, 2026
Legal! 2.5✨
May 20, 2026
A lit of build up for crappy sex. Disappointing. Cut my losses and DNF.
May 21, 2026
i liked this. it brought comfort to my heart, a little reminder that everything ends up being okay in the end.
May 21, 2026
I loved this one more than the first one.
May 22, 2026
they had no chemistry lowkey.....
May 22, 2026
not spicy like the blurb says but this book was to sweet for me to give it a low rating for that. I loved it.
May 31, 2026
I accidentally read this series out of order and ended up reading this book first. It was only after reading Body Check that I saw reviews accusing this author of heavily using AI in the creation of their work. If true, that is not cute, and definitely dims my enjoyment of this one.
June 3, 2026
Angsty and sad. But it has HEA. The main characters don’t talk much . They communicate with looks.
June 5, 2026
Much better than book 1. This one has more heart and development was solid.
June 12, 2026
Me ha gustado mas este como está contado y como Nico no quiere pensar que es el indicado me encantó
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews