Cross Check

Chicago Storm #2

by Piper Cross

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.

Genres: M M Romance, Sports, Hockey, Romance, Contemporary Romance, LGBT

161 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 18, 2026

Reviews

[Veronica · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Toni · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Majo · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Tris · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Hannah May · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Nicole M · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Oksana · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Amneris Cesare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Molto bello e molto ben scritto. Davvero questo è da cinque stelline.

[Joshua Bosley · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Jenna Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75

[Raven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Legal! 2.5✨

[Theresa · Rating 1 out of 5]

A lit of build up for crappy sex. Disappointing. Cut my losses and DNF.

[🌼 · Rating 5 out of 5]

i liked this. it brought comfort to my heart, a little reminder that everything ends up being okay in the end.

[Leah Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one more than the first one.

[Caleigh Evans · Rating 1 out of 5]

they had no chemistry lowkey.....

[Davina · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

Angsty and sad. But it has HEA. The main characters don’t talk much . They communicate with looks.

[Shelle Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better than book 1. This one has more heart and development was solid.

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me ha gustado mas este como está contado y como Nico no quiere pensar que es el indicado me encantó

[Ilaria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non entra nei dettagli, sarebbe potuto essere più lungo, ma loro sono due: tatoni🥹

[Beary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insta-love, a bit back & forth, insta-relationship. Everyone is supportive. I don't see the steamy romance, and not much forced proximity either for me.

[Puckky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jolie petite romance simple , efficace, j’ai passé un bon moment même c’était pas the coup de cœur

[NycolMarion · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,8⭐️ Nico merece tener un final feliz y que mejor que Kieran para eso. Pero no tiene el ritmo del primero, y es que Theo es lo máximo como personaje, le da color a toda la historia aunque no sea el prota