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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
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
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.
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.
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.
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
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews