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Legends and Fury #1
Stick Around: A Punk as Puck Novel
"Would you slap a teammate for twenty-five grand?"
"Uh, yeah. There are a few I'd slap for free. Just point me in the right direction."
Problem number one: My personal life is falling apart.
Problem number two: My public life is also on thin freaking ice.
Problem number three: The ridiculously hot NHL D-man with the inability to remove his head from his ass has decided I’m his number one target.
And that last one is a bit of an issue since his idea of targeting me is to have absurdly hot hate-hookups with me in the locker room. Which I don’t necessarily mind…
Except there’s one tiny snag in his plan: I don’t like guys.
Or, well, I didn’t think I liked guys.
But when Alexio Zeki drops to his knees and, uh, gets to business, I realize my very narrow view of my own sexuality needs some adjustment.
And that’s ironic coming from a blind man.
Admitting I’m bisexual is the easy part.
Admitting I’m kind of, sort of, ridiculously into the man I claimed to hate is something else entirely. But the more he insists that I’m worth keeping, the more I start wanting to believe him.
Stick Around is the first book in the Punk as Puck spin-off series, Legends and Fury. It’s a high heat, enemies to lovers rom-com with a snarky NHL D-man who has a lot of big opinions and doesn’t care if they’re unsolicited, a PPHL goalie with a mountain of problems and no way to reach the top, locker room hookups, praise, swoony romance, a low-stakes bi-awakening, hockey bro banter, tons of chirping, and the swooniest happily ever after.
"Uh, yeah. There are a few I'd slap for free. Just point me in the right direction."
Problem number one: My personal life is falling apart.
Problem number two: My public life is also on thin freaking ice.
Problem number three: The ridiculously hot NHL D-man with the inability to remove his head from his ass has decided I’m his number one target.
And that last one is a bit of an issue since his idea of targeting me is to have absurdly hot hate-hookups with me in the locker room. Which I don’t necessarily mind…
Except there’s one tiny snag in his plan: I don’t like guys.
Or, well, I didn’t think I liked guys.
But when Alexio Zeki drops to his knees and, uh, gets to business, I realize my very narrow view of my own sexuality needs some adjustment.
And that’s ironic coming from a blind man.
Admitting I’m bisexual is the easy part.
Admitting I’m kind of, sort of, ridiculously into the man I claimed to hate is something else entirely. But the more he insists that I’m worth keeping, the more I start wanting to believe him.
Stick Around is the first book in the Punk as Puck spin-off series, Legends and Fury. It’s a high heat, enemies to lovers rom-com with a snarky NHL D-man who has a lot of big opinions and doesn’t care if they’re unsolicited, a PPHL goalie with a mountain of problems and no way to reach the top, locker room hookups, praise, swoony romance, a low-stakes bi-awakening, hockey bro banter, tons of chirping, and the swooniest happily ever after.
356 pages, Paperback
Published March 27, 2026
About the author
E.M. Lindsey
153 books1,618 followersE.M. Lindsey is the author of MM contemporary romance. She presently lives and works in the southeastern United States.
EM Lindsey also writes MM Paranormal Romance under the pseudonym Ariel Millar.
EM Lindsey also writes MM Paranormal Romance under the pseudonym Ariel Millar.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 298 reviews
August 5, 2026
This book had me hooked immediately . It is such a unique take on sports romance, and I loved every moment of it. The way the authors navigated a mix-ability relationship between Jonah, who is blind, and Alexio, who is sighted, felt authentic. Both characters made mistakes that felt real and true to their circumstances, which made their journey feel genuine.
Jonah stole my heart. He carries so much on his shoulders, and I related to his complicated family dynamics, the awful mom, the absent dad who still somehow becomes his responsibility, and siblings who leave him to handle it all. The conflicting emotions Jonah feels about still caring for a parent who doesn't deserve it were so well-portrayed and hit close to home for me.
I wasn't sold on Alexio at first, but he quickly won me over. His growth and the way he treats Jonah with such love, patience, and kindness made him impossible not to love. Their relationship development was smooth and so satisfying to watch unfold.
On top of the romance, the found family aspect was excellent. The side characters added so much warmth and depth to the story.
Overall, this was such a fun, light, heartfelt read that I couldn't put down.
Jonah stole my heart. He carries so much on his shoulders, and I related to his complicated family dynamics, the awful mom, the absent dad who still somehow becomes his responsibility, and siblings who leave him to handle it all. The conflicting emotions Jonah feels about still caring for a parent who doesn't deserve it were so well-portrayed and hit close to home for me.
I wasn't sold on Alexio at first, but he quickly won me over. His growth and the way he treats Jonah with such love, patience, and kindness made him impossible not to love. Their relationship development was smooth and so satisfying to watch unfold.
On top of the romance, the found family aspect was excellent. The side characters added so much warmth and depth to the story.
Overall, this was such a fun, light, heartfelt read that I couldn't put down.
May 12, 2026
I think that the most powerful and beautiful thing in this book was not even romance, but the found family aspect. I honestly felt so warm inside, I really hope that such relationships exist IRL, friends who not only never let you fall, but who care how you handle life issues, who notice it when you push yourself too hard.. Who genuinely love you.
Family in this book is represented by friends, teammates, brothers, and it is beautiful. E.M. Lindsey writes her books in a way that makes you fall in love with literally all the characters (scratch Jonah's parents in this case obviously).
That said, the relationship between Jonah and Alexio progressed very naturally. There were no random 180-changes in the attitude, they were careful with their feelings and admissions of them. And that made the eventual get-together and HEA feel really earned. I loved their dynamics, the shift from animosity to care and love ❤️🩹
The disability representation deserves a separate mention, it is obviously one of the central tropes, and it was written in an exceptionally real, thoughtful, and gentle way.
Also, I love it so much how E.M. Lindsey writes people’s weaknesses, flaws, specific traits and features. It really is something. The characters actually make mistakes, poor judgements and reactions, they lose games, feel insecure in future careers, their knees pop and joints ache, they don’t have all perfect body parts 🫢 They actually feel exceptionally human and real 💜
This was a heartwarming, a little heartbreaking, but beautiful story 💜
And I am really excited to see what’s going on with Vanya and Micah now!
Family in this book is represented by friends, teammates, brothers, and it is beautiful. E.M. Lindsey writes her books in a way that makes you fall in love with literally all the characters (scratch Jonah's parents in this case obviously).
That said, the relationship between Jonah and Alexio progressed very naturally. There were no random 180-changes in the attitude, they were careful with their feelings and admissions of them. And that made the eventual get-together and HEA feel really earned. I loved their dynamics, the shift from animosity to care and love ❤️🩹
The disability representation deserves a separate mention, it is obviously one of the central tropes, and it was written in an exceptionally real, thoughtful, and gentle way.
Also, I love it so much how E.M. Lindsey writes people’s weaknesses, flaws, specific traits and features. It really is something. The characters actually make mistakes, poor judgements and reactions, they lose games, feel insecure in future careers, their knees pop and joints ache, they don’t have all perfect body parts 🫢 They actually feel exceptionally human and real 💜
This was a heartwarming, a little heartbreaking, but beautiful story 💜
And I am really excited to see what’s going on with Vanya and Micah now!
July 5, 2026
Queer Disabled Joy
These books have been such a source of joy for me. I loved the original punk as puck books, I devoured them on audio. And I wanted to read these that way too but I was way too impatient and desperate to keep reading them to wait. And I’m both really glad and really mad I didn’t 😂 the lines in this one would’ve been SO good heard out loud, I was laughing so hard. I grinned during this book more than most and that is saying something. I loved Jonah in the other books but I loved him even more in this one. And while Alexio was an ableist jerk at first, Lindsey brought me around and made me want to protect him just as much as I wanted to protect Jonah. I love all these puckheads so much and I cannot wait to read the next one!! ((Vanya is my sweet little giant babyboi and I need his story so badly.))
These books have been such a source of joy for me. I loved the original punk as puck books, I devoured them on audio. And I wanted to read these that way too but I was way too impatient and desperate to keep reading them to wait. And I’m both really glad and really mad I didn’t 😂 the lines in this one would’ve been SO good heard out loud, I was laughing so hard. I grinned during this book more than most and that is saying something. I loved Jonah in the other books but I loved him even more in this one. And while Alexio was an ableist jerk at first, Lindsey brought me around and made me want to protect him just as much as I wanted to protect Jonah. I love all these puckheads so much and I cannot wait to read the next one!! ((Vanya is my sweet little giant babyboi and I need his story so badly.))
Review of advance copy received from Author
Sadly , this one did not worked as expected for me . But first , I want to start with the positive :
I totally, absolutely loved Jonah and my heart felt so bad for him for giving the feeling of carrying all the world on his shoulders .
And I’m totally in love with the numerous side characters and the found family and warmth this book gives overall.
Unfortunately, I really struggled to like Alexio, and trust me , I did put in the effort on my part. I understand that, at first, he had his reasons for judging Jonah’s behavior, but overall he came across as entitled. He was called out multiple times for his lack of understanding and awareness when it comes to disabilities, which made it even harder for me to warm up to him.
In addition, their connection didn’t felt like a love story to me , but more like out of nowhere attraction and “let’s be together eventually.”
I still recommend this book for all the aspects I highlighted as positives, and I do think the other elements might work better for other readers. Excited to read more in the series 🫶
I totally, absolutely loved Jonah and my heart felt so bad for him for giving the feeling of carrying all the world on his shoulders .
And I’m totally in love with the numerous side characters and the found family and warmth this book gives overall.
Unfortunately, I really struggled to like Alexio, and trust me , I did put in the effort on my part. I understand that, at first, he had his reasons for judging Jonah’s behavior, but overall he came across as entitled. He was called out multiple times for his lack of understanding and awareness when it comes to disabilities, which made it even harder for me to warm up to him.
In addition, their connection didn’t felt like a love story to me , but more like out of nowhere attraction and “let’s be together eventually.”
I still recommend this book for all the aspects I highlighted as positives, and I do think the other elements might work better for other readers. Excited to read more in the series 🫶
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2026
I'm a big fan of all of this author's books, and that definitely includes this hockey-based series where sled-hockey and blind hockey are professional sports, albeit the disdained less-lucrative cousins of NHL-version pro hockey. The MCs in this series tend to be grumpy, touchy, and fiercely independent, in keeping with the sports they play. Jonah is no exception.
Growing up as one of three brothers whom his dad ignored, and his mom used for pathos-money-making, has made Jonah suspicious of everyone's intentions. As the oldest, he's also been the protector and sometimes peacemaker, so when his mom announces that their father has dementia, and by the way, she's leaving the country and Dad is their problem now, it is only Jonah who feels some responsibility for the man who never helped them.
Alexio is a sighted pro player who has a grudge against Jonah, both because the blind team has been shoehorned into the same ice rink, cutting practice availability and impacting Alexio's team schedule. And because Jonah's father has wandered into Alexio's family cafe more than once, and Alexio thinks the old man is being neglected.
They start out antagonistically, each assuming the worst of each other, and unhappy about the sparks they also strike off one another. This attraction is even harder for Jonah to come to terms with, because he has assumed he was straight (or at least, 99% tilted towards women) and finding out that's not true shakes his self-perception. Fortunately he has a community of queer people around him, so he isn't afraid of that part of himself.
onah is easy to empathize with from the start. The dilemma he finds himself in, trying to find care for a parent with early Alzheimers, is very relatable. Alexio is harder to like at first, because he has more arrogance and makes more assumptions. But he also makes a journey to become a better person through this story.
I loved some of the secondary characters, notably Alexio's brother and Vanya, Alexio's teammate. Their innate kindness helped soften a story of two very prickly MCs.
As always, the disability rep is both intriguing and nicely-balanced. The happy ending works well. And I am very much looking forward to the next book, with two MCs who intrigued me in this one.
Growing up as one of three brothers whom his dad ignored, and his mom used for pathos-money-making, has made Jonah suspicious of everyone's intentions. As the oldest, he's also been the protector and sometimes peacemaker, so when his mom announces that their father has dementia, and by the way, she's leaving the country and Dad is their problem now, it is only Jonah who feels some responsibility for the man who never helped them.
Alexio is a sighted pro player who has a grudge against Jonah, both because the blind team has been shoehorned into the same ice rink, cutting practice availability and impacting Alexio's team schedule. And because Jonah's father has wandered into Alexio's family cafe more than once, and Alexio thinks the old man is being neglected.
They start out antagonistically, each assuming the worst of each other, and unhappy about the sparks they also strike off one another. This attraction is even harder for Jonah to come to terms with, because he has assumed he was straight (or at least, 99% tilted towards women) and finding out that's not true shakes his self-perception. Fortunately he has a community of queer people around him, so he isn't afraid of that part of himself.
onah is easy to empathize with from the start. The dilemma he finds himself in, trying to find care for a parent with early Alzheimers, is very relatable. Alexio is harder to like at first, because he has more arrogance and makes more assumptions. But he also makes a journey to become a better person through this story.
I loved some of the secondary characters, notably Alexio's brother and Vanya, Alexio's teammate. Their innate kindness helped soften a story of two very prickly MCs.
As always, the disability rep is both intriguing and nicely-balanced. The happy ending works well. And I am very much looking forward to the next book, with two MCs who intrigued me in this one.
April 19, 2026
Loved this book❤️ Loved how Jonah finally got his HEA❤️ The book is sweet, a little enemies to lovers and just sweet falling in love❤️
April 20, 2026
Okay, I loved the original series this book is part of. I loved learning more about this fictional world and the world of the PPHL, which would be really cool to see in real life. It was nice to catch up with the characters from those books and see where they were at after their book.
However, a few things...
First, it's more than okay for a book not to be a standalone romance. I know those are pretty common which, again, there's nothing wrong with. I hesitate to call this book a standalone because of how crucial the side characters are in this book's plot. I feel like we see more of them than Alexio, if I'm being honest. And it's hard to understand the plot without at least reading the first book in the original series.
Second, I just did not feel like I learned anything about Alexio's character, other than he was a bit of a d*ck to everyone, especially Jonah. Again, the side characters are great, but the plot is VERY heavy on Jonah's character and the struggles with his dad. I wish we got more of a character arc with Alexio. Like, his brother was great, I loved him, but Alexio just came across very rude.
Third, the logistics of a micro 🍆. I love that the author is switching things up by not having both MMCs be well endowed. However, and maybe this is me just being ignorant, but there were quite a few references of him being 'hard and throbbing' and then how during puberty he found out how 'easy it was for people to see if he had an ere*tion or not'. But like, the math isn't mathing.
Fourth, speaking of the math, Jonah is by my guess like late 20s? His dad is in his late 50s, so that's just my guess. But it was randomly mentioned how his mom filmed him and his other blind siblings as toddlers eating and posted them on YouTube? Or something YouTube adjacent? But YouTube wasn't a thing until 2005. So, did I read something wrong?
However, a few things...
First, it's more than okay for a book not to be a standalone romance. I know those are pretty common which, again, there's nothing wrong with. I hesitate to call this book a standalone because of how crucial the side characters are in this book's plot. I feel like we see more of them than Alexio, if I'm being honest. And it's hard to understand the plot without at least reading the first book in the original series.
Second, I just did not feel like I learned anything about Alexio's character, other than he was a bit of a d*ck to everyone, especially Jonah. Again, the side characters are great, but the plot is VERY heavy on Jonah's character and the struggles with his dad. I wish we got more of a character arc with Alexio. Like, his brother was great, I loved him, but Alexio just came across very rude.
Third, the logistics of a micro 🍆. I love that the author is switching things up by not having both MMCs be well endowed. However, and maybe this is me just being ignorant, but there were quite a few references of him being 'hard and throbbing' and then how during puberty he found out how 'easy it was for people to see if he had an ere*tion or not'. But like, the math isn't mathing.
Fourth, speaking of the math, Jonah is by my guess like late 20s? His dad is in his late 50s, so that's just my guess. But it was randomly mentioned how his mom filmed him and his other blind siblings as toddlers eating and posted them on YouTube? Or something YouTube adjacent? But YouTube wasn't a thing until 2005. So, did I read something wrong?
Read
April 1, 2026Unfortunately I did not remember all the characters/couples/backstories from the original series well enough and this didn't feel like it fully stood alone. I also thought the hate to love dynamic flipped a bit too quickly and abruptly for me to really enjoy the journey.
However I adore Vanya and am looking forward to his book next!
However I adore Vanya and am looking forward to his book next!
April 2, 2026
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
Stick Around is the first book in E.M. Lindsey’s new Legends and Fury series, which is a spinoff of the Punk as Punk series. Both series focus on players in the PPHL, a para-hockey league on par with the NHL. Punk as Puck features sled hockey players, and Legends and Fury focuses on two blind hockey teams. We met Jonah as a regular side character in the Punk as Puck books and I totally loved him, so I was really glad to see him as an MC in the new spin-off series. His brother, Micah, also appears in those books, and most of the guys from the original series show up here, as they are all close friends of Jonah’s. So while the relationship is new here, I do think folks who are familiar with the other books might find this one a little more rewarding, but I think you can start here if desired.
This one is a good old enemies-to-lovers, as Alexio is full of animosity toward Jonah, and Jonah hates him right back. At the end of the story, Lindsey has a teaser for the next book and I am SUPER excited about this one and I think it has a lot of interesting potential.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
Stick Around is the first book in E.M. Lindsey’s new Legends and Fury series, which is a spinoff of the Punk as Punk series. Both series focus on players in the PPHL, a para-hockey league on par with the NHL. Punk as Puck features sled hockey players, and Legends and Fury focuses on two blind hockey teams. We met Jonah as a regular side character in the Punk as Puck books and I totally loved him, so I was really glad to see him as an MC in the new spin-off series. His brother, Micah, also appears in those books, and most of the guys from the original series show up here, as they are all close friends of Jonah’s. So while the relationship is new here, I do think folks who are familiar with the other books might find this one a little more rewarding, but I think you can start here if desired.
This one is a good old enemies-to-lovers, as Alexio is full of animosity toward Jonah, and Jonah hates him right back. At the end of the story, Lindsey has a teaser for the next book and I am SUPER excited about this one and I think it has a lot of interesting potential.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
March 31, 2026
ARC read
4⭐️ 3 🌶️
Read this if you like: M/M hockey romance, enemies to lovers, bi-awakening, and incredibly well-done disability representation (blind/visually impaired athletes).
Fav part/scene: The praise elements and the intense locker room encounters. The chemistry between Jonah and Alexio is SO explosive! Especially as they transition from genuine animosity to a care and protective obsession with one another.
Unique factor: The deep dive into the world of blind hockey and the disability representation shown in this series. It provides an immersive look at how these athletes play the game, paired with a raw look at the realities of navigating the world with a disability and surviving a traumatic upbringing.
Unforgettable moment: The moments where Alexio, who starts off quite arrogant and ignorant opens himself up to Jonah’s reality. Theb steps up to help care for Jonah’s father. Seeing the grumpy NHL player become a soft, dedicated is a major highlight.
Recommend it? Definitely, especially if you want a sports romance with real emotional weight and some amazing spice.
Part of a series: Yes - Punk as Puck (Book #4) / Legends and Fury (Book #1)
On Kindle Unlimited: Yes
4⭐️ 3 🌶️
Read this if you like: M/M hockey romance, enemies to lovers, bi-awakening, and incredibly well-done disability representation (blind/visually impaired athletes).
Fav part/scene: The praise elements and the intense locker room encounters. The chemistry between Jonah and Alexio is SO explosive! Especially as they transition from genuine animosity to a care and protective obsession with one another.
Unique factor: The deep dive into the world of blind hockey and the disability representation shown in this series. It provides an immersive look at how these athletes play the game, paired with a raw look at the realities of navigating the world with a disability and surviving a traumatic upbringing.
Unforgettable moment: The moments where Alexio, who starts off quite arrogant and ignorant opens himself up to Jonah’s reality. Theb steps up to help care for Jonah’s father. Seeing the grumpy NHL player become a soft, dedicated is a major highlight.
Recommend it? Definitely, especially if you want a sports romance with real emotional weight and some amazing spice.
Part of a series: Yes - Punk as Puck (Book #4) / Legends and Fury (Book #1)
On Kindle Unlimited: Yes
April 6, 2026
This was an absolutely amazing read. I adored Jonah and Alexio. This had so many awesome representations in it, weaved together so beautifully. The disability rep, gorgeously done. Jonah being blind, a hockey team with disabilities. I loved this so much. Bi-awakening, Jonah and Alexio were perfect for one another. From beginning to end, I was in love with this book. An absolutely fabulous read.
July 30, 2026
Genuinely surprised how much I enjoyed this story!! And the micro penis I never saw coming 😂😂. I loved the MMCs, the small amount of angst, the smut and the trauma and emotion weaved through the story. I’ve never read a book quite like this with all these little micro tropes in it. I’m looking forward to reading more in this series and by this author.
April 10, 2026
a little traumatic (check TWs) but I do love EM Lindsey!
May 9, 2026
I knew I'd enjoy this book because I loved the first three and I love E.M. Lindsey's work but why was Jonah so sweet 🥹
April 7, 2026
A nice read but it's the same as most books from this author: it ends overly sweet. The sweetness does not always match how the character is portrayed throughout the book, so it feels disjointed.
April 1, 2026
I enjoyed this one.
It did take me some time to warm up to Alexio though whose ignorance was pretty infuriating at the beginning at times, exaggerated even more by his long-term bitterness towards the PPHL team and his incorrect assumption about Jonah’s treatment towards his father.
However, while Alexio was a bit of an asshole at the start, to his credit he does go out of his way to help Peter, which shows what a good heart he has, and that gave me hope for the future. Alexio was very good at putting his foot in it sometimes, but as he had his eyes opened to the truth and became more accepting, there was a lot more consideration behind his comments as he genuinely tries to do better.
And Jonah, my gosh. That man! The more I read about Jonah’s childhood, the more my heart hurt for him and his brothers for what they went through in their evil mother’s clutches while their waste of space father looked on. Growl! Seeing Jonah deal with so much on his own that’s been dumped on his plate, wasn’t easy, especially when he’s not looking after himself. But this paved the way for Alexio to make up for things, and his caretaking ensured that he began to worm his way into my affections.
The enemies to lovers trope is strong in this one, and there was plenty of animosity between these two for a while leading to a very turbulent beginning of their relationship. This hostility leads to some highly emotive moments and sexually-charged tension-filled scenes as these two strong characters go head-to-head. Their relationship isn’t boring, you can be sure of that!
I definitely was not expecting Jonah to be a total sucker for a “good boy”, but I absolutely loved that little kink weakness.
The found family brought so much to this book. The support Jonah had from his friends. Urgh, so good! Add in how awesome Alexio’s brother, Nikos, is, and this genuinely is one of my favourite aspects of this story.
It has to be said that Vanya did totally win my heart, and I adored seeing his and Jonah’s friendship grow with the latter absolutely needing the other goalie’s good vibes in his life. I’m very excited for Vanya’s book!
I’ll admit I haven’t read many books from this author yet, but after this one, and loving their cowrites of the Deaf Hearts series with Cora Rose, that will definitely be changing, because I’m loving the vibes and the exceptional disability rep. It’s looking as though the Punk as Puck series will be next after meeting the characters here.
-----
Some of the favourite quotes
“Kindness isn’t a burden, Jonah. I’m sorry if someone ever told you it was.”
God, I wanted him with every fiber of my being. With the same ferocity I hated him.
“At the risk of sounding like some prepubescent teenager passing notes in school, uh, I think I like you. And I’d like to think about what we are. What this is.”
Fuck, he was so...everything. He was everything.
“Alexio— do you really want to kiss me?” “More than anything. I know what I said before. I regret all of that. I could have been kissing you this whole time if I wasn’t such an asshole, and—”
Fuck, he kissed like a god. Like a desperate, wanton god. Like a man fucking possessed, and I realized that I was the same.
“You were the first person I ever wanted like this. My first kiss that felt like my entire world was on fire. The first person who ever made me ache to be home in bed with you.”
Maybe perfection existed, and it was right here in my arms.
“You are so fucking good, Jonah. You are everything you need to be.”
“Stop apologizing for being yourself. I like you exactly the way you are.”
“Even when I was telling myself to hate you. Even when I was saying it was just for fun. I kept looking at you and seeing a man I wanted to get on my knees for, Jonah. You were there, and you were everything I hadn’t realized I wanted until you let me touch you. And once I did, I was addicted. Obsessed.”
“Just you. That’s all I want. All I need.”
It did take me some time to warm up to Alexio though whose ignorance was pretty infuriating at the beginning at times, exaggerated even more by his long-term bitterness towards the PPHL team and his incorrect assumption about Jonah’s treatment towards his father.
However, while Alexio was a bit of an asshole at the start, to his credit he does go out of his way to help Peter, which shows what a good heart he has, and that gave me hope for the future. Alexio was very good at putting his foot in it sometimes, but as he had his eyes opened to the truth and became more accepting, there was a lot more consideration behind his comments as he genuinely tries to do better.
And Jonah, my gosh. That man! The more I read about Jonah’s childhood, the more my heart hurt for him and his brothers for what they went through in their evil mother’s clutches while their waste of space father looked on. Growl! Seeing Jonah deal with so much on his own that’s been dumped on his plate, wasn’t easy, especially when he’s not looking after himself. But this paved the way for Alexio to make up for things, and his caretaking ensured that he began to worm his way into my affections.
The enemies to lovers trope is strong in this one, and there was plenty of animosity between these two for a while leading to a very turbulent beginning of their relationship. This hostility leads to some highly emotive moments and sexually-charged tension-filled scenes as these two strong characters go head-to-head. Their relationship isn’t boring, you can be sure of that!
I definitely was not expecting Jonah to be a total sucker for a “good boy”, but I absolutely loved that little kink weakness.
The found family brought so much to this book. The support Jonah had from his friends. Urgh, so good! Add in how awesome Alexio’s brother, Nikos, is, and this genuinely is one of my favourite aspects of this story.
It has to be said that Vanya did totally win my heart, and I adored seeing his and Jonah’s friendship grow with the latter absolutely needing the other goalie’s good vibes in his life. I’m very excited for Vanya’s book!
I’ll admit I haven’t read many books from this author yet, but after this one, and loving their cowrites of the Deaf Hearts series with Cora Rose, that will definitely be changing, because I’m loving the vibes and the exceptional disability rep. It’s looking as though the Punk as Puck series will be next after meeting the characters here.
-----
Some of the favourite quotes
“Kindness isn’t a burden, Jonah. I’m sorry if someone ever told you it was.”
God, I wanted him with every fiber of my being. With the same ferocity I hated him.
“At the risk of sounding like some prepubescent teenager passing notes in school, uh, I think I like you. And I’d like to think about what we are. What this is.”
Fuck, he was so...everything. He was everything.
“Alexio— do you really want to kiss me?” “More than anything. I know what I said before. I regret all of that. I could have been kissing you this whole time if I wasn’t such an asshole, and—”
Fuck, he kissed like a god. Like a desperate, wanton god. Like a man fucking possessed, and I realized that I was the same.
“You were the first person I ever wanted like this. My first kiss that felt like my entire world was on fire. The first person who ever made me ache to be home in bed with you.”
Maybe perfection existed, and it was right here in my arms.
“You are so fucking good, Jonah. You are everything you need to be.”
“Stop apologizing for being yourself. I like you exactly the way you are.”
“Even when I was telling myself to hate you. Even when I was saying it was just for fun. I kept looking at you and seeing a man I wanted to get on my knees for, Jonah. You were there, and you were everything I hadn’t realized I wanted until you let me touch you. And once I did, I was addicted. Obsessed.”
“Just you. That’s all I want. All I need.”
April 3, 2026
Rating: 4
Steam: 3
PoV: dual, 1st person
Genre: contemporary romance, MM
Tropes / tags: dislike to love, hurt / comfort, found family
Stick Around was a promising start to the Punk as Puck spin-off, and Jonah's story was full of emotions, hurt / comfort, found family and intense tension!
To say that Alexio didn't start out showing his best sides might be an understatement, but he managed to redeem himself throughout the story. It took a bit for me to warm up to him, he was infuriatingly ignorant at first, but it got better once he started to actually listen and tried to understand. He and Jonah clashed in pretty much every way possible, and there were a lot of assumptions made - especially by Alexio.
It was easy to feel for Jonah, his life got heavy with family drama right from the beginning and he was going through a lot. The more I learnt about his childhood, the more my heart ached for him. He was alone with his struggles, and he didn't know how to deal or ask for help, even if he had a supportive found family that would drop anything for him.
The tension between Jonah and Alexio was intense, and at first every interaction was filled with animosity and assumptions, but it didn't take long for the tension to turn into steam. Hooking up with Alexio was a complication, but also a welcomed distraction, and while their progression from hostility to hooking up was kind of sudden, it also felt inevitable. I really enjoyed their back and forth, and I could almost see the sparks between them as soon as they were in the same room together.
Stick Around was a messy, entertaining and heartbreaking read, with some wonderful hurt / comfort and found family! I was so emotionally invested in these characters, and I loved to see their development throughout the story. It was also great seeing some of the guys from the Punk as Puck series again, and I'm totally hyped up and ready for Vanya's story!
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I received a complimentary copy of this book, and these are my honest thoughts and opinions.
Steam: 3
PoV: dual, 1st person
Genre: contemporary romance, MM
Tropes / tags: dislike to love, hurt / comfort, found family
Stick Around was a promising start to the Punk as Puck spin-off, and Jonah's story was full of emotions, hurt / comfort, found family and intense tension!
To say that Alexio didn't start out showing his best sides might be an understatement, but he managed to redeem himself throughout the story. It took a bit for me to warm up to him, he was infuriatingly ignorant at first, but it got better once he started to actually listen and tried to understand. He and Jonah clashed in pretty much every way possible, and there were a lot of assumptions made - especially by Alexio.
It was easy to feel for Jonah, his life got heavy with family drama right from the beginning and he was going through a lot. The more I learnt about his childhood, the more my heart ached for him. He was alone with his struggles, and he didn't know how to deal or ask for help, even if he had a supportive found family that would drop anything for him.
The tension between Jonah and Alexio was intense, and at first every interaction was filled with animosity and assumptions, but it didn't take long for the tension to turn into steam. Hooking up with Alexio was a complication, but also a welcomed distraction, and while their progression from hostility to hooking up was kind of sudden, it also felt inevitable. I really enjoyed their back and forth, and I could almost see the sparks between them as soon as they were in the same room together.
Stick Around was a messy, entertaining and heartbreaking read, with some wonderful hurt / comfort and found family! I was so emotionally invested in these characters, and I loved to see their development throughout the story. It was also great seeing some of the guys from the Punk as Puck series again, and I'm totally hyped up and ready for Vanya's story!
-
I received a complimentary copy of this book, and these are my honest thoughts and opinions.
April 2, 2026
Stick around is book one in the Legends and Fury series. I have not read any of the previous books from the previous series but after reading this one, I will definitely be reading them ASAP! I do think it would be beneficial to read all books before reading the story so you have a better understanding of the characters and the world you're jumping into, but I wouldn't say it's necessary because I had no issues following the storyline without having done so myself.
Jonas is one of three brothers that was born totally blind/vision impaired. He is the goalie on the PPHL hockey team, The Legends. He and his brothers had a traumatic past due to their parents. When his mom decides to up and leave the country while dropping the news that their dad was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's and he's their responsibility now, Jonas begrudgingly takes on trying to set up his dad with proper care. But before that can happen his dad wanders into a shop while sundowning. After a call from the shops owner he meets Alexio, the shop owner's brother. Alexio is a player on the NHL team, The Fury. He's quite a brute as far as his personality and mannerisms go. He and Jonas have an instant hate relationship from the beginning. But, when Alexio learns more about Jonas and his past, he softens for him and hate becomes something else altogether.
This story has a bow awakening, mm romance omance, enemies to lovers, age gap, praise kink, found family, hockey bro banter, disability rep, and hurt comfort. If you enjoy reading any or all of these trips don't wait to read this! It's definitely a story worth reading!
Thank you, E.M. Lindsey and The Author Agency for allowing me to ARC read this wonderful story!
Jonas is one of three brothers that was born totally blind/vision impaired. He is the goalie on the PPHL hockey team, The Legends. He and his brothers had a traumatic past due to their parents. When his mom decides to up and leave the country while dropping the news that their dad was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's and he's their responsibility now, Jonas begrudgingly takes on trying to set up his dad with proper care. But before that can happen his dad wanders into a shop while sundowning. After a call from the shops owner he meets Alexio, the shop owner's brother. Alexio is a player on the NHL team, The Fury. He's quite a brute as far as his personality and mannerisms go. He and Jonas have an instant hate relationship from the beginning. But, when Alexio learns more about Jonas and his past, he softens for him and hate becomes something else altogether.
This story has a bow awakening, mm romance omance, enemies to lovers, age gap, praise kink, found family, hockey bro banter, disability rep, and hurt comfort. If you enjoy reading any or all of these trips don't wait to read this! It's definitely a story worth reading!
Thank you, E.M. Lindsey and The Author Agency for allowing me to ARC read this wonderful story!
March 31, 2026
This series is just so good!! I’ve always been an E.M. fan but I’m and even bigger one now with this series (and her collabs with Cora Rose!!)
Jonah was born without eyes due to a genetic condition and is a pro hockey goalie with Boston’s PPHL. He’s really going through it too. His toxic mother effed off to the UK to find herself and left his estranged dad (who has dementia) alone in his apartment and his brother’s refuse to (understandably) help him with his care.
Queue the not so meet-cute with Alexio Zeki, Boston Glaciers D-man and all around a-hole 😂 and a bunch of smoking hot “hate” fueled encounters. Soon they realize that they aren’t just hooking up, they are so gone for each other. Alexio is so sweet and helpful to Jonah, without being ableist, once he figures himself out.
I just loved book. I wanted Jonah’s story since meeting him in book 1. We get to see all of the amazing guys from the first few books too! Also, I want it known how much I loved Vanya and I’m so happy his book is next!
Jonah was born without eyes due to a genetic condition and is a pro hockey goalie with Boston’s PPHL. He’s really going through it too. His toxic mother effed off to the UK to find herself and left his estranged dad (who has dementia) alone in his apartment and his brother’s refuse to (understandably) help him with his care.
Queue the not so meet-cute with Alexio Zeki, Boston Glaciers D-man and all around a-hole 😂 and a bunch of smoking hot “hate” fueled encounters. Soon they realize that they aren’t just hooking up, they are so gone for each other. Alexio is so sweet and helpful to Jonah, without being ableist, once he figures himself out.
I just loved book. I wanted Jonah’s story since meeting him in book 1. We get to see all of the amazing guys from the first few books too! Also, I want it known how much I loved Vanya and I’m so happy his book is next!
March 28, 2026
I love Jonah so much! He and Alexio had great chemistry, but I just wish it had been fleshed out a bit more. But still probably one of my favorite EM Lindsey reads to date.
*I received an arc copy of this book, all opinions are my own*
This book has a lot of story threads going on. We get a much deeper look into Jonah’s (and Micah’s & Caleb’s) pasta, the horrible bs they went thru as kids, and how that is now coming back to affect their adult lives. This could’ve felt even more dark than it does, but it was balanced out really well with the wider friendship group & characters from the 3 previous books in this series.
I don’t want to give away too much via spoilers, but I felt like we were getting some really great romantic development in Jonah & Alexio’s relationship & then the plot thing happened and it threw off the whole momentum of the last act of the book. I would have preferred that either this didn’t happen & we got more on page moments of them growing into a couple OR that it did happen but we got a much better grovel from Alexio.
That being said I am now OBSESSED with Vanya & can’t wait for the next book.
*I received an arc copy of this book, all opinions are my own*
This book has a lot of story threads going on. We get a much deeper look into Jonah’s (and Micah’s & Caleb’s) pasta, the horrible bs they went thru as kids, and how that is now coming back to affect their adult lives. This could’ve felt even more dark than it does, but it was balanced out really well with the wider friendship group & characters from the 3 previous books in this series.
I don’t want to give away too much via spoilers, but I felt like we were getting some really great romantic development in Jonah & Alexio’s relationship & then the plot thing happened and it threw off the whole momentum of the last act of the book. I would have preferred that either this didn’t happen & we got more on page moments of them growing into a couple OR that it did happen but we got a much better grovel from Alexio.
That being said I am now OBSESSED with Vanya & can’t wait for the next book.
July 19, 2026
If you are visually impaired and interested in hockey romance with visual impairments this is where you should go. I am "illegally blind" and I felt very seen? Validated? Accepted?
This author took the time to understand visual impairment. And even though I am low vision, I am friends and coworker with many other levels of vision. I am very, very happy and can't wait for the next book. Tiago sounds closer to my vision level.
This author took the time to understand visual impairment. And even though I am low vision, I am friends and coworker with many other levels of vision. I am very, very happy and can't wait for the next book. Tiago sounds closer to my vision level.
September 1, 2026
I’m unfortunately really not into this book at all. I think this is simply one of those books that just wasn’t for me.
I didn’t like the characters or their relationship. I absolutely hated Alexio. He’s incredibly unlikeable from the very beginning: extremely judgmental, lacking in understanding and empathy, and honestly just immature. The way he constantly puts Jonah down because of his father without even knowing what he’s talking about, as well as the way he acts so condescending and judgmental about Jonah’s blindness in general and his relationship with hockey, annoyed me to no end. I genuinely couldn’t find a single moment where I liked him. He’s just awful.
I also didn’t particularly enjoy their relationship. They go from hating each other for seemingly no real reason to suddenly liking and loving each other, and I just didn’t buy it. Their relationship never felt particularly deep to me, and I didn’t feel much emotional connection between them.
Another thing that really bothered me is that so many things are brought up, touched upon, and then barely explored. There are so many topics, issues, and potentially interesting aspects that are mentioned, but the book never really takes the time to dig into any of them. It’s very much “we mention it, and that’s it.” Everything stays on the surface, and I was constantly left feeling like there could have been so much more depth. Nothing really gets explored deeply enough, which made the whole story feel quite shallow to me.
And I absolutely hated that we’re given basically no description of what the characters look like. How am I supposed to feel immersed in a book when I don’t even know what the characters look like? I understand that Jonah is blind, but did we really have to be left completely in the dark too? For me, that’s pretty much the perfect recipe for making a book completely forgettable…
The only thing I really appreciated was reading a book with a blind MMC for the first time, which I found genuinely interesting and refreshing.
Unfortunately, this book was just not my thing at all and definitely wasn’t for me. Completely forgettable—except, of course, for the micro-penis, which I have a feeling will be permanently engraved in my memory
I didn’t like the characters or their relationship. I absolutely hated Alexio. He’s incredibly unlikeable from the very beginning: extremely judgmental, lacking in understanding and empathy, and honestly just immature. The way he constantly puts Jonah down because of his father without even knowing what he’s talking about, as well as the way he acts so condescending and judgmental about Jonah’s blindness in general and his relationship with hockey, annoyed me to no end. I genuinely couldn’t find a single moment where I liked him. He’s just awful.
I also didn’t particularly enjoy their relationship. They go from hating each other for seemingly no real reason to suddenly liking and loving each other, and I just didn’t buy it. Their relationship never felt particularly deep to me, and I didn’t feel much emotional connection between them.
Another thing that really bothered me is that so many things are brought up, touched upon, and then barely explored. There are so many topics, issues, and potentially interesting aspects that are mentioned, but the book never really takes the time to dig into any of them. It’s very much “we mention it, and that’s it.” Everything stays on the surface, and I was constantly left feeling like there could have been so much more depth. Nothing really gets explored deeply enough, which made the whole story feel quite shallow to me.
And I absolutely hated that we’re given basically no description of what the characters look like. How am I supposed to feel immersed in a book when I don’t even know what the characters look like? I understand that Jonah is blind, but did we really have to be left completely in the dark too? For me, that’s pretty much the perfect recipe for making a book completely forgettable…
The only thing I really appreciated was reading a book with a blind MMC for the first time, which I found genuinely interesting and refreshing.
Unfortunately, this book was just not my thing at all and definitely wasn’t for me. Completely forgettable—except, of course, for the micro-penis, which I have a feeling will be permanently engraved in my memory
September 20, 2026
I found the actual romance of this book not interesting at all, but the whole team being a huge close-knit family was very sweet.
Also it's very rare for us to see the actual dynamics of a blind person and someone who isn't blind inside a relationship so that got me really curious and invested
I had more problems with the ending however because between the accident and the epilogue we got pretty much nothing and i definitely didn't enjoy that
Also it's very rare for us to see the actual dynamics of a blind person and someone who isn't blind inside a relationship so that got me really curious and invested
I had more problems with the ending however because between the accident and the epilogue we got pretty much nothing and i definitely didn't enjoy that
April 14, 2026
I love Alexio and Jonah together and that Jonah’s blindness didn’t stop someone from loving him. I felt bad for Jonah and his brothers for their childhood and why they went through. But Alexio made it all better. Love these books.
May 19, 2026
E.M. Lindsey can do no wrong.
Low angst
I love the universe that’s been created!
Practices and games included, locker room scenes - hockey was t really part of this story but they are definitely hockey players. 🏒🏒
Low angst
I love the universe that’s been created!
Practices and games included, locker room scenes - hockey was t really part of this story but they are definitely hockey players. 🏒🏒
May 8, 2026
This was fun! Needed it fr fr
September 24, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
March 24, 2026
• MM • Hockey Romance • Enemies to Lovers • Bi-Awakening • Visually Impaired Rep •
This book was a little different than my usual go-to, but I’m so glad I gave it a try! The intensity of the two MMC was 🔥 from the start.
I absolutely enjoyed the deep dive into “blind hockey” and that it was such a huge part of the book. It truly showed such a raw side of athletes with disabilities. Not just their athletic world, but every aspect surrounding it.
This was my first book by this author, and the fourth in this series. It can definitely be read as a standalone, as it is also the start of a spin-off series.
Thank you to The Author Agency & E.M Lindsey for the ARC opportunity.
This book was a little different than my usual go-to, but I’m so glad I gave it a try! The intensity of the two MMC was 🔥 from the start.
I absolutely enjoyed the deep dive into “blind hockey” and that it was such a huge part of the book. It truly showed such a raw side of athletes with disabilities. Not just their athletic world, but every aspect surrounding it.
This was my first book by this author, and the fourth in this series. It can definitely be read as a standalone, as it is also the start of a spin-off series.
Thank you to The Author Agency & E.M Lindsey for the ARC opportunity.
April 1, 2026
I loved this! This was the first one that I’ve read in the series. But since then, I’ve gone back and read the rest, which actually makes me love Jonah more! So excited he got his HEA.
Jonah is blind and pleased for the professional blind hockey league. Coming from a dysfunctional background with neglectful parents, he finds that his mom up and left town and left his dad struggling with Alzheimer’s all alone. As his dad wanders off, he meets Alexio, an NHL player that has been helping take care of his dad as well. They start off his enemies and quickly realize that they have an attraction for each other.
I love this whole series! Excited for Micah’s book next.
🥅 MM Romance | bi awakening | enemies to lovers | disability rep | hockey romance
Jonah is blind and pleased for the professional blind hockey league. Coming from a dysfunctional background with neglectful parents, he finds that his mom up and left town and left his dad struggling with Alzheimer’s all alone. As his dad wanders off, he meets Alexio, an NHL player that has been helping take care of his dad as well. They start off his enemies and quickly realize that they have an attraction for each other.
I love this whole series! Excited for Micah’s book next.
🥅 MM Romance | bi awakening | enemies to lovers | disability rep | hockey romance
April 1, 2026
Amazon
Jonah's always thought of himself as straight until Alexio comes into his life. He may not like him, but he's definitely attracted to him. Before long, though, more seems to be developing than just an enemies with benefits situation. Is it possible they can be together, even though their start was less than ideal?
The last thing Alexio wanted to do was fall for the guy he disliked before he even met him, but there's something about Jonah that he simply cannot resist. He's also finding he may have misjudged Jonah, because he's really not who Jonah's father had said he was. Who Jonah is, is someone worth everything, and he wants Jonah to see himself for the beautiful man he is.
Jonah is everything! I love his character - he'd been through so much, had the worst parents and a hard childhood, but had become the most amazing person who deserved a beautiful future. Unfortunately for me, I didn't like Alexio nearly as much as I did Jonah. He didn't deserve Jonah quite frankly, and I had a really hard time feeling any connection with him. He only got a pass because Jonah loved him. But aside from Alexio, I liked everything else (aside from said terrible parents) about this story. Jonah's friends and teammates are pretty great too, and I hope their stories will be coming next.
ARC provided by The Author Agency for an honest review.
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