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On Thin Ice #2
The Call-Up
I’ve been in love with Ryan Christianson since I was fourteen.
Eight years ago, he was my brother’s teammate, billeted in our home, and completely off-limits. Now, as I’m called up to the NHL for the first time, the moment I discover Ryan is my new linemate is also when I realize I’m still hopelessly gone for the man who calls me Baby Bouchard.
As rookies go, I’m doing well; hat-trick-in-my-third-game, heading-to-the-playoffs well. But I’ll always be just a kid to Ryan, who makes it clear there’s a line we’re not crossing. He says I’m too young, too new to the league, that getting involved would be a disaster. He’s probably right. But he’s also the one fixing my hair before media interviews, teaching me his signature backhand shot, and looking at me like he’s one second away from forgetting every reason we shouldn’t do this.
The smart thing? Finish the season, keep things professional, protect our careers.
But I didn’t make it to the NHL by playing it safe.
A sexy, forbidden love, MM hockey romance featuring rookie dreams, found family, and the courage to risk everything for love on and off the ice. Perfect for fans of Heated Rivalry, Tal Bauer, and Sarina Bowen.
Eight years ago, he was my brother’s teammate, billeted in our home, and completely off-limits. Now, as I’m called up to the NHL for the first time, the moment I discover Ryan is my new linemate is also when I realize I’m still hopelessly gone for the man who calls me Baby Bouchard.
As rookies go, I’m doing well; hat-trick-in-my-third-game, heading-to-the-playoffs well. But I’ll always be just a kid to Ryan, who makes it clear there’s a line we’re not crossing. He says I’m too young, too new to the league, that getting involved would be a disaster. He’s probably right. But he’s also the one fixing my hair before media interviews, teaching me his signature backhand shot, and looking at me like he’s one second away from forgetting every reason we shouldn’t do this.
The smart thing? Finish the season, keep things professional, protect our careers.
But I didn’t make it to the NHL by playing it safe.
A sexy, forbidden love, MM hockey romance featuring rookie dreams, found family, and the courage to risk everything for love on and off the ice. Perfect for fans of Heated Rivalry, Tal Bauer, and Sarina Bowen.
318 pages, Paperback
Published April 27, 2026
About the author
K.C. Carmichael
5 books165 followersK. C. Carmichael is an American author who writes romantic comedies. She is an ex hairstylist who spent her time behind the chair not only styling her clients' hair but also listening to their stories and sharing her own observations about the beauty and hilarity of life and love. She lives in Chicago where she holds two controversial opinions about her beloved city; that winter is the superior season, and the actual Chicago style pizza is pan pizza cut into squares for easy sharing. When not writing, she can be found enjoying some ice time at her local rink.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 437 reviews
July 8, 2026
3.5 Stars
A decent follow-up to last year’s The Kennedy Rule, book two follows college hockey player Brandon Bouchard as he unexpectedly gets called up to play in the NHL for the first time, where he reunites with his first crush and new teammate Ryan Christianson, who billeted with Brandon’s family when they were teenagers.
Brandon and Ryan have a very sweet and endearing friends-to-lovers romance unfolding here, that has a touch of second chance vibes (although, they were never a couple when they were younger, Brandon was in unrequited love with slightly older Ryan, until Ryan moved away and they didn’t see one another again until Brandon gets call-up to Ryan’s NHL team some eight years later).
Their relationship progression has little angst or relationship conflict—they simply reconnect their teenage friendship, bond as new teammates, and then, once they acknowledge their mutual attraction, effortlessly slide into a healthy romantic relationship, that translates to good chemistry on and off the ice.
Although I found them to be likeable characters and enjoyed their relationship, especially enhanced by the heartwarming and well-placed flashbacks, I fear Brandon and Ryan ultimately weren’t a very memorable book couple for me. Where I ate up the palpable dynamic between book one couple Gavin and Connor, Brandon and Ryan were perhaps a bit too sweet, with little distinguishing them from one another—which was particularly notable due to the rapid POV changes, that sometimes-occurred multiple times each chapter (where I preferred the one chapter/one MC switcheroo style of book one).
I will say that this hockey romance had the most on-page hockey play I’ve read in years too, but I can’t decide whether I think this was a good thing or one of the elements that slowed the story down for me. I’m undecided.
For the most part, this was a mid-range M/M romance read for me, but the exceptional support cast took it up a notch and demanded a rounded-up rating, with the return of some much-loved faces, like Coach Chris (legend!), Gavin and Connor (still awesome), and especially Brandon’s older, more awesome brother and series MVP, Ander Bouchard!
Plus, the introduction of some memorable new faces went a long way too, including the eternally supportive and sunshiney Bouchard parentals, as well as the team captain Danton (along with his wife and kids—with a special shoutout to little Danny, who delighted and charmed with every single page he graced). And an extra special moment of appreciation for the introduction of Russian goaltender Ivanov, who better be getting a story with Ander next-up, is all I’m saying.
***A special thanks to Storm Publishing and K.C. Carmichael (via Netgalley) for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A decent follow-up to last year’s The Kennedy Rule, book two follows college hockey player Brandon Bouchard as he unexpectedly gets called up to play in the NHL for the first time, where he reunites with his first crush and new teammate Ryan Christianson, who billeted with Brandon’s family when they were teenagers.
Brandon and Ryan have a very sweet and endearing friends-to-lovers romance unfolding here, that has a touch of second chance vibes (although, they were never a couple when they were younger, Brandon was in unrequited love with slightly older Ryan, until Ryan moved away and they didn’t see one another again until Brandon gets call-up to Ryan’s NHL team some eight years later).
Their relationship progression has little angst or relationship conflict—they simply reconnect their teenage friendship, bond as new teammates, and then, once they acknowledge their mutual attraction, effortlessly slide into a healthy romantic relationship, that translates to good chemistry on and off the ice.
Although I found them to be likeable characters and enjoyed their relationship, especially enhanced by the heartwarming and well-placed flashbacks, I fear Brandon and Ryan ultimately weren’t a very memorable book couple for me. Where I ate up the palpable dynamic between book one couple Gavin and Connor, Brandon and Ryan were perhaps a bit too sweet, with little distinguishing them from one another—which was particularly notable due to the rapid POV changes, that sometimes-occurred multiple times each chapter (where I preferred the one chapter/one MC switcheroo style of book one).
I will say that this hockey romance had the most on-page hockey play I’ve read in years too, but I can’t decide whether I think this was a good thing or one of the elements that slowed the story down for me. I’m undecided.
For the most part, this was a mid-range M/M romance read for me, but the exceptional support cast took it up a notch and demanded a rounded-up rating, with the return of some much-loved faces, like Coach Chris (legend!), Gavin and Connor (still awesome), and especially Brandon’s older, more awesome brother and series MVP, Ander Bouchard!
Plus, the introduction of some memorable new faces went a long way too, including the eternally supportive and sunshiney Bouchard parentals, as well as the team captain Danton (along with his wife and kids—with a special shoutout to little Danny, who delighted and charmed with every single page he graced). And an extra special moment of appreciation for the introduction of Russian goaltender Ivanov, who better be getting a story with Ander next-up, is all I’m saying.
***A special thanks to Storm Publishing and K.C. Carmichael (via Netgalley) for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 13, 2026
I'm not exactly sure on calling this a second chance romance but it was definitely a cute read!
Brandon and Ryan met when they were 14 and 16, and Brandon was head over heels, but Ryan had no clue until they meet again in their early twenties... For me a second chance romance implies that they had a first try?! Either way, it was really sweet seeing their relationship progress from friends to teammates to boyfriends.
I loved that Gavin and Connor were part of the story too, and Ander as Brandon's older brother and Ryan's friend was fun to see also. The best side character for me though was Danton! He was a great example of healthy masculinity and the way he supported Brandon and Ryan was really nice to see.
I'm very excited to see what happens between Ander and Ivanov though!!
Brandon and Ryan met when they were 14 and 16, and Brandon was head over heels, but Ryan had no clue until they meet again in their early twenties... For me a second chance romance implies that they had a first try?! Either way, it was really sweet seeing their relationship progress from friends to teammates to boyfriends.
I loved that Gavin and Connor were part of the story too, and Ander as Brandon's older brother and Ryan's friend was fun to see also. The best side character for me though was Danton! He was a great example of healthy masculinity and the way he supported Brandon and Ryan was really nice to see.
I'm very excited to see what happens between Ander and Ivanov though!!
June 17, 2026
The Call-Up was... hard for me to get through. Maybe I'm burnt out from hockey romances??? I'm giving this 2.5 stars, rounded up.
I hadn't read the first in the series, and while I think it would have helped for some context, it was easy to get the idea of what was happening and who the characters are without it. The story is more of a reunited friends-to-lovers than a second chance romance, and friends-to-lovers isn't a trope that I'm particularly drawn to. These guys sort of just... fall into being with each other. There is a nice rapport, they become friends again, and that's it. It's an incredibly low angst, (*cough, cough, boring*) plot.
There was one itsy bitsy bit of intrigue with one of the MC's background, but I wasn't very invested in these two, as individuals or as a couple. I did like a few things, though.
I enjoyed:
Brandon's cute parent's and brother- all so sweet!
The other hockey players- supportive bros!
Some live hockey content that felt more exciting than the rest of the story
This book felt like the definition of fine for me. It wasn't terrible, I got through it (though it took me almost two weeks!), but it was in no way, shape, or form related to Heated Rivalry (like the cover of The Call-Up says) other than being about gay hockey players.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram
I hadn't read the first in the series, and while I think it would have helped for some context, it was easy to get the idea of what was happening and who the characters are without it. The story is more of a reunited friends-to-lovers than a second chance romance, and friends-to-lovers isn't a trope that I'm particularly drawn to. These guys sort of just... fall into being with each other. There is a nice rapport, they become friends again, and that's it. It's an incredibly low angst, (*cough, cough, boring*) plot.
There was one itsy bitsy bit of intrigue with one of the MC's background, but I wasn't very invested in these two, as individuals or as a couple. I did like a few things, though.
I enjoyed:
Brandon's cute parent's and brother- all so sweet!
The other hockey players- supportive bros!
Some live hockey content that felt more exciting than the rest of the story
This book felt like the definition of fine for me. It wasn't terrible, I got through it (though it took me almost two weeks!), but it was in no way, shape, or form related to Heated Rivalry (like the cover of The Call-Up says) other than being about gay hockey players.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram
June 12, 2026
Thank you to Storm Publishing, the author, and NetGalley for the arc!!
This was cute! I really liked The Kennedy Rule by KC Carmichael, and I'd say I liked this one just as much. Ryan and Brandon were both good main characters, and I really liked both of them! I liked that they had a backstory to their relationship as well, and the few flashbacks really added to the story and their relationship. The side characters in this were fun as well, and, again, the author managed to get me to actually care about the hockey, which is a bonus. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and can't wait to read more from KC Carmichael in the future :)
This was cute! I really liked The Kennedy Rule by KC Carmichael, and I'd say I liked this one just as much. Ryan and Brandon were both good main characters, and I really liked both of them! I liked that they had a backstory to their relationship as well, and the few flashbacks really added to the story and their relationship. The side characters in this were fun as well, and, again, the author managed to get me to actually care about the hockey, which is a bonus. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and can't wait to read more from KC Carmichael in the future :)
June 19, 2026
4.5 stars
Another great addition to this great hockey romance series. A beautiful, fun, homey read. Very much a hockey romance, be warned😉
Very sexy and low angst
I'm really enjoying these books a lot.
Cannot wait for the weird goalies in the next one🙃😊😉😎🥅🏒
Another great addition to this great hockey romance series. A beautiful, fun, homey read. Very much a hockey romance, be warned😉
Very sexy and low angst
I'm really enjoying these books a lot.
Cannot wait for the weird goalies in the next one🙃😊😉😎🥅🏒
May 1, 2026
Thank you to Storm Publishing for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
Eight years ago, he was my brother’s teammate, billeted in our home, and completely off-limits. Now, as I’m called up to the NHL for the first time, the moment I discover Ryan is my new linemate is also when I realize I’m still hopelessly gone for the man who calls me Baby Bouchard.
As rookies go, I’m doing well; hat-trick-in-my-third-game, heading-to-the-playoffs well. But I’ll always be just a kid to Ryan, who makes it clear there’s a line we’re not crossing. He says I’m too young, too new to the league, that getting involved would be a disaster. He’s probably right. But he’s also the one fixing my hair before media interviews, teaching me his signature backhand shot, and looking at me like he’s one second away from forgetting every reason we shouldn’t do this. The smart thing? Finish the season, keep things professional, protect our careers. But I didn’t make it to the NHL by playing it safe.
Ryan is used to the big leagues now, and despite his tremulous past, easily takes Brandon in under his wing. It was nice to see him be so open with Brandon, welcoming him into the fold and supporting him in his transition. We get a glimpse at his past and, frustratingly, that is all it is. We see him have a massive emotional response to what’s happened previously and yet we still don’t get to truly know the impact or understand how things went down. This was a big missed opportunity for further character growth because seeing him truly connect to his emotions would have endeared him to me more!
Brandon is a great guy but lacks so much confidence in himself. We are constantly barraged by his self-doubt, which despite numerous reminders and support from those around him, he almost refuses to accept it. He is a sweetheart, overwhelmed by everything happening but it felt as if there was almost this lack of trust, something holding him back from being great so we didn’t get to see his full potential. It’s such a shame because he could have been amazing.
Having read the first book and liking the plot, I definitely took the opportunity to read the sequel and see what was going on in this world of ice hockey. Like the first, the plot was pretty good and addressed some important issues. However, I found I still had an issue with the pacing and just the general writing of the book. Having multiple POVs is something I enjoy in a book. I love seeing the different perspectives of an event taking place. But when the POV is switched multiple times in a single chapter, my brain struggles to keep up. With there not being enough differentiation between the two leads, I constantly found myself confused about whose POV I was currently reading from. If a perspective needs to be changed during a chapter, I’m on board with that but I cannot cope with multiple changes practically every chapter. It just makes for more of a confusing experience for the reader. Character wise, it was great getting to see many new faces and personalities whilst still getting glimpses of characters from the first book. The joys of an interconnected series is getting to see the future of the outcome of the previous book! Romance wise, it was sweet but a bit like with the POVs, there didn’t feel to be much difference between the leads. Sure, being in love and falling for someone can make you feel similar, but even their thoughts were too much the same for me to fully enjoy their romance. And, unfortunately, the spice felt the same too. It seemed to be losing a spark for me. The ending was nice, though a bit rushed. I liked that it wasn’t the perfect happy ever after, but it worked for this story.
Overall, The Call-Up is a quick read perfect for ice hockey fans.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you again to Storm Publishing for an advanced copy of this book.
Eight years ago, he was my brother’s teammate, billeted in our home, and completely off-limits. Now, as I’m called up to the NHL for the first time, the moment I discover Ryan is my new linemate is also when I realize I’m still hopelessly gone for the man who calls me Baby Bouchard.
As rookies go, I’m doing well; hat-trick-in-my-third-game, heading-to-the-playoffs well. But I’ll always be just a kid to Ryan, who makes it clear there’s a line we’re not crossing. He says I’m too young, too new to the league, that getting involved would be a disaster. He’s probably right. But he’s also the one fixing my hair before media interviews, teaching me his signature backhand shot, and looking at me like he’s one second away from forgetting every reason we shouldn’t do this. The smart thing? Finish the season, keep things professional, protect our careers. But I didn’t make it to the NHL by playing it safe.
Ryan is used to the big leagues now, and despite his tremulous past, easily takes Brandon in under his wing. It was nice to see him be so open with Brandon, welcoming him into the fold and supporting him in his transition. We get a glimpse at his past and, frustratingly, that is all it is. We see him have a massive emotional response to what’s happened previously and yet we still don’t get to truly know the impact or understand how things went down. This was a big missed opportunity for further character growth because seeing him truly connect to his emotions would have endeared him to me more!
Brandon is a great guy but lacks so much confidence in himself. We are constantly barraged by his self-doubt, which despite numerous reminders and support from those around him, he almost refuses to accept it. He is a sweetheart, overwhelmed by everything happening but it felt as if there was almost this lack of trust, something holding him back from being great so we didn’t get to see his full potential. It’s such a shame because he could have been amazing.
Having read the first book and liking the plot, I definitely took the opportunity to read the sequel and see what was going on in this world of ice hockey. Like the first, the plot was pretty good and addressed some important issues. However, I found I still had an issue with the pacing and just the general writing of the book. Having multiple POVs is something I enjoy in a book. I love seeing the different perspectives of an event taking place. But when the POV is switched multiple times in a single chapter, my brain struggles to keep up. With there not being enough differentiation between the two leads, I constantly found myself confused about whose POV I was currently reading from. If a perspective needs to be changed during a chapter, I’m on board with that but I cannot cope with multiple changes practically every chapter. It just makes for more of a confusing experience for the reader. Character wise, it was great getting to see many new faces and personalities whilst still getting glimpses of characters from the first book. The joys of an interconnected series is getting to see the future of the outcome of the previous book! Romance wise, it was sweet but a bit like with the POVs, there didn’t feel to be much difference between the leads. Sure, being in love and falling for someone can make you feel similar, but even their thoughts were too much the same for me to fully enjoy their romance. And, unfortunately, the spice felt the same too. It seemed to be losing a spark for me. The ending was nice, though a bit rushed. I liked that it wasn’t the perfect happy ever after, but it worked for this story.
Overall, The Call-Up is a quick read perfect for ice hockey fans.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you again to Storm Publishing for an advanced copy of this book.
June 21, 2026
Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley; thank you!
This was a cute story, but it didn't have the emotional tension or yearning that I enjoy in my romances. The characters fell in love pretty quickly, which made their romantic relationship feel a little underdeveloped, so I never really felt the buildup or yearning I look for in a romance. I also found there was more hockey than romance at times. Although I know this is a hockey romance, the extensive hockey scenes didn't keep my interest, and I often found myself skimming through them. Overall, it was a sweet story, but it wasn't a standout for me.
-"You remember..." I say with my eyes wide as I look into his. "I remember everything," he says. "Every moment I ever spent with you even before we became what we are."
This was a cute story, but it didn't have the emotional tension or yearning that I enjoy in my romances. The characters fell in love pretty quickly, which made their romantic relationship feel a little underdeveloped, so I never really felt the buildup or yearning I look for in a romance. I also found there was more hockey than romance at times. Although I know this is a hockey romance, the extensive hockey scenes didn't keep my interest, and I often found myself skimming through them. Overall, it was a sweet story, but it wasn't a standout for me.
-"You remember..." I say with my eyes wide as I look into his. "I remember everything," he says. "Every moment I ever spent with you even before we became what we are."
July 16, 2026
4.5⭐️
I really enjoyed this. I love the way they come together again and how it’s Ryan that ends up making the first move even though Brandon has been besotted with him for the last eight years.
I love the side characters and the way the author creates this camaraderie and family. I love that all the women are supportive and super in their own right, with the exception of Ryan’s mother.
I love that little ending and I can’t wait to read how Ander falls for Ivanov!
I really enjoyed this. I love the way they come together again and how it’s Ryan that ends up making the first move even though Brandon has been besotted with him for the last eight years.
I love the side characters and the way the author creates this camaraderie and family. I love that all the women are supportive and super in their own right, with the exception of Ryan’s mother.
I love that little ending and I can’t wait to read how Ander falls for Ivanov!
June 25, 2026
Carmichael is on my list of fav hockey / sports MM writers from here on out. I enjoyed this one just as much as the first one.
I wouldn’t necessary call this second chance but nonetheless, I love Brandon and Ryan.
I cannot wait for Ander & Ivanov. Nothing better than goalies and two of them?! Yes plz 🙂↕️🙂↕️🙂↕️
I wouldn’t necessary call this second chance but nonetheless, I love Brandon and Ryan.
I cannot wait for Ander & Ivanov. Nothing better than goalies and two of them?! Yes plz 🙂↕️🙂↕️🙂↕️
June 16, 2026
Discount Heated Rivalry round 2 ✌🏼 this time we even got a Russian named Ivanov 😏 (probably Ilya’s long lost twin), which the audiobook narrator did a very decent accent for. The epilogue implied he might be in a possible next instalment, so you better believe I will be front row for that 😂
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
June 14, 2026
This was cute. It's definitely not a classical second-chance romance; it's more of an "I missed my chance, let me get it now" kind of thing. But hey, it works and delivers exactly what it promises.
I equally enjoyed seeing Brandon and Ryan come to terms with their feelings for each other, while at the same time overcoming their own issues. At times, I was really afraid Brandon's brain might explode from all that anxiety and overthinking, while—let's be honest—Ryan was a ticking time bomb all on his own. The book tackles sensitive family issues really well, with raw emotions, and, realistically, not every plot point needs a happy ending.
The hockey aspect was done beautifully; it really feels like you're watching the games, with rising stakes making it all the more serious as we progress through the story. The team dynamic makes it more comedic than I expected, and it works quite well. I'd gladly come back for more!
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
I equally enjoyed seeing Brandon and Ryan come to terms with their feelings for each other, while at the same time overcoming their own issues. At times, I was really afraid Brandon's brain might explode from all that anxiety and overthinking, while—let's be honest—Ryan was a ticking time bomb all on his own. The book tackles sensitive family issues really well, with raw emotions, and, realistically, not every plot point needs a happy ending.
The hockey aspect was done beautifully; it really feels like you're watching the games, with rising stakes making it all the more serious as we progress through the story. The team dynamic makes it more comedic than I expected, and it works quite well. I'd gladly come back for more!
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
April 24, 2026
So I will be honest and admit I 100% requested this book because of the big gold “For Fans of Heated Rivalry” sticker on the front cover. Like most we are all still getting over our Heated Rivalry hangover and looking for similar books to fill that void. I saw this on NetGalley and immediately was drawn to it. So right off the bat big thank you NetGalley & Storm Publishing for providing me a ARC. Little did I know that requesting this book would make me a KC Carmichael fan for life!
Also should mention that when I requested this I didn’t realize this was the first book in an interconnected series. But even though I didn’t read the first one that didn’t hinder my reading experience of The Call-Up. Plus now I’m more excited to go out and read the first book because I loved The Call-Up so much!
However, back to the book at hand. The Call-Up follows former friends Ryan and Brandon. Brandon has crushed on Ryan in secret for years. The two finally have a chance to reconnect when Brandon is called up to the NHL to play on Ryan’s team. Forced proximity finally pushes both over the edge and allows both of them to finally have the relationship they’ve been dreaming of.
I had an absolute blast reading this. I loved how adorkable Brandon is and how oozing confidence Ryan is. They brought out the best in each other not just from a relationship aspect but also in hockey as well. The tension and chemistry was off the charts. My only complaint was the ending. I feel like their story wasn’t quite finished. It felt a bit rushed and in need of an epilogue. But I have a feeling we’ll see more of them in book 3.
Another aspect of this book that I loved was the entires Mules team. The found family/brotherhood between the group was so wholesome and uplifting.
Overall, I had a blast reading this and I can’t wait to go back and read book 1. And of course I 100% recommend this!
Also should mention that when I requested this I didn’t realize this was the first book in an interconnected series. But even though I didn’t read the first one that didn’t hinder my reading experience of The Call-Up. Plus now I’m more excited to go out and read the first book because I loved The Call-Up so much!
However, back to the book at hand. The Call-Up follows former friends Ryan and Brandon. Brandon has crushed on Ryan in secret for years. The two finally have a chance to reconnect when Brandon is called up to the NHL to play on Ryan’s team. Forced proximity finally pushes both over the edge and allows both of them to finally have the relationship they’ve been dreaming of.
I had an absolute blast reading this. I loved how adorkable Brandon is and how oozing confidence Ryan is. They brought out the best in each other not just from a relationship aspect but also in hockey as well. The tension and chemistry was off the charts. My only complaint was the ending. I feel like their story wasn’t quite finished. It felt a bit rushed and in need of an epilogue. But I have a feeling we’ll see more of them in book 3.
Another aspect of this book that I loved was the entires Mules team. The found family/brotherhood between the group was so wholesome and uplifting.
Overall, I had a blast reading this and I can’t wait to go back and read book 1. And of course I 100% recommend this!
Did Not Finish
June 6, 2026DNF
I am once again here to report that I have been personally victimized by a hockey romance.
Now, to be fair, I did not read enough of The Call-Up to tell you whether it's objectively good or bad. Maybe somewhere beyond the horizon, hidden deep within the pages I never reached, there's a beautiful love story waiting for readers. Maybe it all comes together brilliantly. Maybe chapter 17 cures world hunger.
Unfortunately, chapter 2 happened.
And chapter 2 and I became mortal enemies.
The truly tragic part is that the first chapter actually got me. I was interested. I was seated. I was prepared to invest my time. I thought we were about to embark on a nice little hockey romance journey together.
Then the book looked me directly in the eyes and said, "What if instead of a coherent narrative, we did a scavenger hunt?"
The POV structure in this thing is genuinely one of the most baffling choices I have ever encountered.
The chapter starts in Ryan's POV. Nothing particularly important happens there, but okay. Then we switch to Brandon's POV, which at least made sense. And then, for reasons known only to the author and perhaps several confused editors, we are suddenly transported EIGHT YEARS INTO THE PAST.
Not in a new chapter.
Not with any meaningful setup.
Just vibes.
Now we're in Brandon's childhood watching him practice hockey with his brother. Why? Excellent question. I would also like to know.
Before I can even begin processing why I've been transported through time, the book switches POV again. Now we're in Ryan's head. Then we switch AGAIN to Brandon's present-day POV.
All of this happens within the same chapter. I felt like I was being passed around a relay race by the narrative.
And the thing is, none of these scenes felt important enough to justify this level of chaos. If you're going to fling me through multiple perspectives and multiple timelines within the same chapter, I need there to be a reason. I need revelations. I need emotional devastation. I need secrets. I need information that fundamentally changes how I understand the story. Instead I got what felt like a series of completely random pit stops.
And because the narrative is moving around like it's trying to evade taxes, I never got a chance to connect with the characters.
Maybe Ryan and Brandon have distinct voices. Maybe they become memorable later. Maybe they each have rich internal worlds. I wouldn't know because everyone sounded vaguely the same to me.
The lack of character distinction combined with the constant perspective changes created the reading equivalent of trying to identify identical twins during a power outage.
I spent less time getting invested in the story and more time trying to figure out who was currently narrating. Which is generally not ideal.
After chapter two, I told myself maybe it was just an unfortunate one-off. Maybe the book would calm down. Maybe chapter three would show some restraint. Maybe chapter three would know peace.
It did not.
I started the next chapter. Five paragraphs. FIVE. And we're switching POVs again. At that point I felt the last remaining fragments of my sanity quietly pack their bags and leave.
And look, multiple POVs absolutely work. I love getting multiple POVs, but there is a difference between multiple POVs and whatever narrative speed-dating exercise was happening here.
Also, comparing this to Heated Rivalry feels wildly misleading. It reads less like a genuine recommendation and more like someone desperately hoping that mentioning a beloved hockey romance will trick readers into picking this up. "For fans of Heated Rivalry" only works when the book actually delivers something remotely similar in terms of character work, chemistry, emotional investment, or storytelling quality.
It honestly felt less like a recommendation and more like someone throwing Heated Rivalry's name into the marketing materials and hoping readers wouldn't ask questions.
And unfortunately I am nothing if not a professional question asker.
So while I can't confidently say this book is bad, I can confidently say it was not for me. The first chapter invited me into the building. The second chapter threw me down five flights of stairs. And chapter three was waiting at the bottom with another POV switch.
I am once again here to report that I have been personally victimized by a hockey romance.
Now, to be fair, I did not read enough of The Call-Up to tell you whether it's objectively good or bad. Maybe somewhere beyond the horizon, hidden deep within the pages I never reached, there's a beautiful love story waiting for readers. Maybe it all comes together brilliantly. Maybe chapter 17 cures world hunger.
Unfortunately, chapter 2 happened.
And chapter 2 and I became mortal enemies.
The truly tragic part is that the first chapter actually got me. I was interested. I was seated. I was prepared to invest my time. I thought we were about to embark on a nice little hockey romance journey together.
Then the book looked me directly in the eyes and said, "What if instead of a coherent narrative, we did a scavenger hunt?"
The POV structure in this thing is genuinely one of the most baffling choices I have ever encountered.
The chapter starts in Ryan's POV. Nothing particularly important happens there, but okay. Then we switch to Brandon's POV, which at least made sense. And then, for reasons known only to the author and perhaps several confused editors, we are suddenly transported EIGHT YEARS INTO THE PAST.
Not in a new chapter.
Not with any meaningful setup.
Just vibes.
Now we're in Brandon's childhood watching him practice hockey with his brother. Why? Excellent question. I would also like to know.
Before I can even begin processing why I've been transported through time, the book switches POV again. Now we're in Ryan's head. Then we switch AGAIN to Brandon's present-day POV.
All of this happens within the same chapter. I felt like I was being passed around a relay race by the narrative.
And the thing is, none of these scenes felt important enough to justify this level of chaos. If you're going to fling me through multiple perspectives and multiple timelines within the same chapter, I need there to be a reason. I need revelations. I need emotional devastation. I need secrets. I need information that fundamentally changes how I understand the story. Instead I got what felt like a series of completely random pit stops.
And because the narrative is moving around like it's trying to evade taxes, I never got a chance to connect with the characters.
Maybe Ryan and Brandon have distinct voices. Maybe they become memorable later. Maybe they each have rich internal worlds. I wouldn't know because everyone sounded vaguely the same to me.
The lack of character distinction combined with the constant perspective changes created the reading equivalent of trying to identify identical twins during a power outage.
I spent less time getting invested in the story and more time trying to figure out who was currently narrating. Which is generally not ideal.
After chapter two, I told myself maybe it was just an unfortunate one-off. Maybe the book would calm down. Maybe chapter three would show some restraint. Maybe chapter three would know peace.
It did not.
I started the next chapter. Five paragraphs. FIVE. And we're switching POVs again. At that point I felt the last remaining fragments of my sanity quietly pack their bags and leave.
And look, multiple POVs absolutely work. I love getting multiple POVs, but there is a difference between multiple POVs and whatever narrative speed-dating exercise was happening here.
Also, comparing this to Heated Rivalry feels wildly misleading. It reads less like a genuine recommendation and more like someone desperately hoping that mentioning a beloved hockey romance will trick readers into picking this up. "For fans of Heated Rivalry" only works when the book actually delivers something remotely similar in terms of character work, chemistry, emotional investment, or storytelling quality.
It honestly felt less like a recommendation and more like someone throwing Heated Rivalry's name into the marketing materials and hoping readers wouldn't ask questions.
And unfortunately I am nothing if not a professional question asker.
So while I can't confidently say this book is bad, I can confidently say it was not for me. The first chapter invited me into the building. The second chapter threw me down five flights of stairs. And chapter three was waiting at the bottom with another POV switch.
May 25, 2026
Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
The Call Up was a fun and easy MM hockey romance that definitely delivered on the sports atmosphere. One of the strongest aspects of this book was how much actual hockey content it included. The NHL setting felt genuinely important to the story and the characters. The writing was solid overall, the pacing worked well, and both Brandon and Ryan were very likable main characters that made it easy to stay invested.
That said, there were a few things that held the book back for me. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of insta-love, and even though the story tries to ground the relationship in Brandon’s long-time crush, some emotional developments still felt a little too fast for my personal liking. The POV switching also became distracting at times. The story jumps between perspectives very quickly, and I think it would’ve benefited from spending more time with one character before switching again. I think it would be more cohesive for the story if we stayed with one character a little bit longer, explored their POV a bit more.
There were also some minor grammar and language issues throughout the book, which weren't a major issue just something to note. And while I enjoyed the hockey focus, many of the game scenes started to feel repetitive after a while. The constant cycle of “Brandon thinks he doesn’t belong here, then proves himself anyway” gets old fairly quickly because the same emotional beat repeats multiple times.
Overall, though, this was still an enjoyable read with strong chemistry, a good sports setting, and enough emotional moments to keep me turning the pages, I finished this very fast (two days) so it's a nice easy read. If you enjoy MM hockey romances with forbidden tension, rookie NHL storylines, and found family vibes, this is still worth checking out. I also did not realize this was part of a series, and I feel like you would like this a lot more if you read The Kennedy Rule first! I'll definitely keep an eye out for the next release.
3 stars.
MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
The Call Up was a fun and easy MM hockey romance that definitely delivered on the sports atmosphere. One of the strongest aspects of this book was how much actual hockey content it included. The NHL setting felt genuinely important to the story and the characters. The writing was solid overall, the pacing worked well, and both Brandon and Ryan were very likable main characters that made it easy to stay invested.
That said, there were a few things that held the book back for me. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of insta-love, and even though the story tries to ground the relationship in Brandon’s long-time crush, some emotional developments still felt a little too fast for my personal liking. The POV switching also became distracting at times. The story jumps between perspectives very quickly, and I think it would’ve benefited from spending more time with one character before switching again. I think it would be more cohesive for the story if we stayed with one character a little bit longer, explored their POV a bit more.
There were also some minor grammar and language issues throughout the book, which weren't a major issue just something to note. And while I enjoyed the hockey focus, many of the game scenes started to feel repetitive after a while. The constant cycle of “Brandon thinks he doesn’t belong here, then proves himself anyway” gets old fairly quickly because the same emotional beat repeats multiple times.
Overall, though, this was still an enjoyable read with strong chemistry, a good sports setting, and enough emotional moments to keep me turning the pages, I finished this very fast (two days) so it's a nice easy read. If you enjoy MM hockey romances with forbidden tension, rookie NHL storylines, and found family vibes, this is still worth checking out. I also did not realize this was part of a series, and I feel like you would like this a lot more if you read The Kennedy Rule first! I'll definitely keep an eye out for the next release.
3 stars.
June 11, 2026
Just finished but thoughts before I write a review: PLEASE LET THE NEXT BOOK BE IVANOV AND ANDER!!!!
A goalie rivals to lovers story 😍😍
——
Okay review time! First, thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
I loved The Kennedy Rule so I was excited to read this one early.
Brandon is the younger Bouchard brother and he’s had a secret crush on Ryan Christianson since he was 14 years old. He has gone so far to style his hockey skills after him.
After the fallout in The Kennedy Rule Coach Chris transfers from the Chicago team to The Mules and decides the team is missing a key player for the first line, so he calls up Brandon from the waiting pool.
This is a dream come true, and a nightmare, for Brandon. He’s always wanted to play in the NHL, BUT now he’s up close and personal with his crush.
I am not really a fan of second chance romance and that’s why this is rated 4 stars. I feel like it’s harder to sell to the reader as realistic without serious yearning.
That said, I enjoyed this book because I really like the series.
I wasn’t a fan of Ryan’s trauma bonding, and I feel like their relationship was less believable than Connor and Gavin’s.
There are hilarious parts in this book that you will have to read The Kennedy Rule to fully appreciate.
I cannot wait for the next in this series and 🤞 its Ander and Ivanov!
A goalie rivals to lovers story 😍😍
——
Okay review time! First, thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
I loved The Kennedy Rule so I was excited to read this one early.
Brandon is the younger Bouchard brother and he’s had a secret crush on Ryan Christianson since he was 14 years old. He has gone so far to style his hockey skills after him.
After the fallout in The Kennedy Rule Coach Chris transfers from the Chicago team to The Mules and decides the team is missing a key player for the first line, so he calls up Brandon from the waiting pool.
This is a dream come true, and a nightmare, for Brandon. He’s always wanted to play in the NHL, BUT now he’s up close and personal with his crush.
I am not really a fan of second chance romance and that’s why this is rated 4 stars. I feel like it’s harder to sell to the reader as realistic without serious yearning.
That said, I enjoyed this book because I really like the series.
I wasn’t a fan of Ryan’s trauma bonding, and I feel like their relationship was less believable than Connor and Gavin’s.
There are hilarious parts in this book that you will have to read The Kennedy Rule to fully appreciate.
I cannot wait for the next in this series and 🤞 its Ander and Ivanov!
June 12, 2026
Thank you to Storm Publishing and author K.C. Carmichael, for providing me with the eARC of “The Call-Up”.
💭My Thoughts💭
Ryan and Brandon just had that instant chemistry when they got to play with each other again. I liked the small build up before they figured it out. And them being roommates on the road is so good! And the way Ryan changed his pregame routine to fit Brandon was so sweet!
This book is filled with a lot of play and I LOVE that. It's been a minute since I've read a lot of on page hockey play and it reminded me how much I enjoy that aspect in books when it comes to sports. It also didn't hurt to get a lot of Brandon's thoughts and nerves for being called up to the NHL and going straight to the cup.
Definitely a must read for anyone who enjoys hockey romances.
❣️Tropes❣️
MM Romance
Hockey
Teammates x Lovers
Childhood Crush
Found Family
Secret Relationship
TW: Homophobic talk/slurs
🩵RATING🩵
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice Level: 🌶️
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Length: 309 Pages
Dual 1st POV
💭My Thoughts💭
Ryan and Brandon just had that instant chemistry when they got to play with each other again. I liked the small build up before they figured it out. And them being roommates on the road is so good! And the way Ryan changed his pregame routine to fit Brandon was so sweet!
This book is filled with a lot of play and I LOVE that. It's been a minute since I've read a lot of on page hockey play and it reminded me how much I enjoy that aspect in books when it comes to sports. It also didn't hurt to get a lot of Brandon's thoughts and nerves for being called up to the NHL and going straight to the cup.
Definitely a must read for anyone who enjoys hockey romances.
❣️Tropes❣️
MM Romance
Hockey
Teammates x Lovers
Childhood Crush
Found Family
Secret Relationship
TW: Homophobic talk/slurs
🩵RATING🩵
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice Level: 🌶️
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Length: 309 Pages
Dual 1st POV
July 17, 2026
3.5⭐
The Call-up is the second book in the On Thin Ice series by K.C. Carmichael in which we follow Ryan and Brandon. Their story was cute and I really enjoyed that this managed to discuss and explore heavier topics in a caring way. Ryan's relationship with his family was tough to read but was handled so well. While the dynamic between Ryan and Brandon was really sweet and endearing, I wish we dug just a little deeper to be able to connect with them more but I still had a good time with this. The hockey team and the family they create has been one of my favorite parts of the series! I already know book 3, Goalie Interference, will be a favorite. I LOVED Ivanov and all his side remarks in this one and the tension between him and Ander is already reaching its peak. I can't wait to continue the series!
The Call-up is the second book in the On Thin Ice series by K.C. Carmichael in which we follow Ryan and Brandon. Their story was cute and I really enjoyed that this managed to discuss and explore heavier topics in a caring way. Ryan's relationship with his family was tough to read but was handled so well. While the dynamic between Ryan and Brandon was really sweet and endearing, I wish we dug just a little deeper to be able to connect with them more but I still had a good time with this. The hockey team and the family they create has been one of my favorite parts of the series! I already know book 3, Goalie Interference, will be a favorite. I LOVED Ivanov and all his side remarks in this one and the tension between him and Ander is already reaching its peak. I can't wait to continue the series!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"The urge to stroll hand in hand with Brandon while looking at paintings, sculptures, and ancient artifacts. Like I said, weird. I barely know him. He’s practically a stranger and yet I’m feeling myself drawn to him more and more each day we spend together. Which is every day. Because hockey is a fulltime, 24/ 7 job. A non-stop endeavor with rare days off, that we almost always spend with, you guessed it, more hockey players. But not once in all these years, not even before I made it to the NHL, have I ever wanted to hold one of their hands. I put my own hands back into my pockets. Better to be safe than sorry."
"
The Call-Up is book 2 in K.C. Carmichael's llinked standalone MM hockey romance series On Thin Ice, which began in The Kennedy Rule (which I loved!)
This is Brandon and Ryan's book.
What To Expect:
🏒MM hockey romance
🏒Team-mates to lovers
🏒Forced proximity
🏒Found family
🏒Slow burn
🏒Steamy times
🏒Low angst
🏒HEA
If you like your MM hockey romance cute and low angst, The Call-Up will hit the spot!
3.5 stars
The Call-Up is book 2 in K.C. Carmichael's llinked standalone MM hockey romance series On Thin Ice, which began in The Kennedy Rule (which I loved!)
This is Brandon and Ryan's book.
What To Expect:
🏒MM hockey romance
🏒Team-mates to lovers
🏒Forced proximity
🏒Found family
🏒Slow burn
🏒Steamy times
🏒Low angst
🏒HEA
If you like your MM hockey romance cute and low angst, The Call-Up will hit the spot!
3.5 stars
Read
June 29, 2026The tag line makes this seem like a second chance romance when it's FAR from it. I didn't love the references to the past where terms such as "little brother" and "kid" were used. I found it VERY hard to see how these two could fall in love and as such I was thrown out of the story multiple times.
July 8, 2026
- Buddy read with Charlotte -
I loved reading more in this universe and I loved this one even more than the first one!
I loved reading more in this universe and I loved this one even more than the first one!
April 28, 2026
ARC REVIEW FROM NET GALLERY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN ADVANCED REVIEW
This book would have a 2.5 stars if I were able to do it, 2 feels too little but 3 feels too much. If it weren’t for the final two chapters, then it would have got at least a 4.5 from me.
I loved The Kennedy Rule, so being able to read an ARC copy of its follow-up was incredibly exciting for me.
One issue I had with The Kennedy Rule was how many plotlines felt similar to characters in Heated Rivalry, and I worried that would be the case here as well, especially with a hockey player who had been billeted with the love interest’s family years ago being called Ryan, the same as in the Game Changers series. I was concerned it would mirror those stories again, but I am very glad to say it was a strong and original story.
I really loved Ryan and Brandon. Their story of allowing each other to feel their emotions was beautifully done, and their progression into the playoffs felt like a physical representation of how well their relationship was developing.
However, I felt incredibly betrayed and as though the “happy ending rule” had been broken when they lost the Stanley Cup final to the characters from the previous book. Especially since there was no real character plot in this book, no real internal conflict other than will they win the cup.
To me, while Gavin and Connor’s characters needed to win the Stanley Cup as a form of external therapy for Connor after the horrific events caused by his father, it still felt like a cardinal rule of romance had been broken. Although Ryan and Brandon remain together at the end of the book, they officially got together earlier in the story, and there was no major relationship turmoil to overcome. As a result, the win effectively becomes the story’s happy ending. Not having them win the Stanley Cup, only mere pages before the end, felt like that ending was shattered, which is not what we typically read romance novels for.
While other MM hockey romances have had a big game loss at the end of the book, there is always a chapter or two afterwards to settle the characters into realising that winning was not their happy ending, and to show what their new happy ending is.
It almost felt as though Connor’s team winning should have happened in a second Gavin and Connor book, rather than taking precedence in a story centred on two other characters.
At first, I thought there was a decent amount of the book left, as my Kindle showed we were at 90%. However, the next chapter was the final one and only a few pages long, with the rest being a snippet of The Kennedy Rule. With the final chapter acting as something of a humiliation ritual for the players, seemingly to introduce characters for the next book, it meant there was no real sense of a happy ending for Ryan and Brandon. This left me feeling annoyed on their behalf and let down by the author.
If I ignore the final two chapters, I loved this book, and its characters, far more than The Kennedy Rule. However, the ending diminished the overall experience, making the conclusion feel far less rewarding and leaving me genuinely disappointed.
Normally, I would mention issues with formatting in my reviews, but as this was an ARC copy, I expected there to be some problems and have not taken them into account in my rating.
This book would have a 2.5 stars if I were able to do it, 2 feels too little but 3 feels too much. If it weren’t for the final two chapters, then it would have got at least a 4.5 from me.
I loved The Kennedy Rule, so being able to read an ARC copy of its follow-up was incredibly exciting for me.
One issue I had with The Kennedy Rule was how many plotlines felt similar to characters in Heated Rivalry, and I worried that would be the case here as well, especially with a hockey player who had been billeted with the love interest’s family years ago being called Ryan, the same as in the Game Changers series. I was concerned it would mirror those stories again, but I am very glad to say it was a strong and original story.
I really loved Ryan and Brandon. Their story of allowing each other to feel their emotions was beautifully done, and their progression into the playoffs felt like a physical representation of how well their relationship was developing.
However, I felt incredibly betrayed and as though the “happy ending rule” had been broken when they lost the Stanley Cup final to the characters from the previous book. Especially since there was no real character plot in this book, no real internal conflict other than will they win the cup.
To me, while Gavin and Connor’s characters needed to win the Stanley Cup as a form of external therapy for Connor after the horrific events caused by his father, it still felt like a cardinal rule of romance had been broken. Although Ryan and Brandon remain together at the end of the book, they officially got together earlier in the story, and there was no major relationship turmoil to overcome. As a result, the win effectively becomes the story’s happy ending. Not having them win the Stanley Cup, only mere pages before the end, felt like that ending was shattered, which is not what we typically read romance novels for.
While other MM hockey romances have had a big game loss at the end of the book, there is always a chapter or two afterwards to settle the characters into realising that winning was not their happy ending, and to show what their new happy ending is.
It almost felt as though Connor’s team winning should have happened in a second Gavin and Connor book, rather than taking precedence in a story centred on two other characters.
At first, I thought there was a decent amount of the book left, as my Kindle showed we were at 90%. However, the next chapter was the final one and only a few pages long, with the rest being a snippet of The Kennedy Rule. With the final chapter acting as something of a humiliation ritual for the players, seemingly to introduce characters for the next book, it meant there was no real sense of a happy ending for Ryan and Brandon. This left me feeling annoyed on their behalf and let down by the author.
If I ignore the final two chapters, I loved this book, and its characters, far more than The Kennedy Rule. However, the ending diminished the overall experience, making the conclusion feel far less rewarding and leaving me genuinely disappointed.
Normally, I would mention issues with formatting in my reviews, but as this was an ARC copy, I expected there to be some problems and have not taken them into account in my rating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2026
Despite rating The Kennedy Rule 2 stars when I read an ARC last year, I wanted to give this series—and this author—a second chance. While I did like this book more than the first, it may be time to concede that K.C. Carmichael's writing just isn't for me.
As a huge St. Louis Blues fan, I'll admit to really enjoying that this book featured a fictionalized version of my favorite hockey team, and I definitely found myself charmed by the way the Mules repeatedly talked about how great their fanbase is and how St. Louis is, at its core, a big hockey city that loves its team regardless of how well they're playing. That really rang true to my experience as a Blues fan and to the sentiments expressed by Blues players about the city, and it felt a bit like we were getting a fun little cameo in this book.
Beyond that, however... One of my biggest issues with The Kennedy Rule was that Gavin and Connor's relationship felt like a speedrun devoid of actual emotional development, and it seemed like The Call-Up had the same problem. From the jump, you're told that Brandon has been in love with Ryan since he was 14 and Ryan was billeting with his family in Grand Rapids. When Brandon is called up to play for the St. Louis Mules, the same NHL team Ryan now plays for as an adult, his feelings are once again brought to the surface, and he's torn between wanting to spend time with Ryan and knowing he needs to maintain some distance so he can keep his feelings in check. Meanwhile, Ryan is realizing that he's developed an attraction to Brandon, who he suspects might also be gay. Unable to stave off their desires for too long, the two of them end up giving in to their mutual attraction and begin a sexual relationship. The problem lies in the fact that their on-page relationship is only ever really shown as being sexual or directly related to them playing on the Mules top line together. Even in the flashbacks to their time together as teenagers, there's no real insight into the emotional, romantic nature of their feelings, and therefore I struggled to believe in the love I was being told was forming. If you're going to write a romance novel, I need you to give me at least a modicum of the sappy, gooey romantic stuff.
The primary plot of this book was the Mules' playoff run rather than the romance between Brandon and Ryan. While I love hockey and am someone who generally enjoys when hockey romances include a generous helping of it, I think the amount of hockey in this book worked against its overall effectiveness. There's certainly an audience for books that are predominantly about sports, but that isn't necessarily the same audience of people interested in reading a sports romance, and I think readers who pick this up looking for the latter will be disappointed—especially if they're not very knowledgeable about hockey. If the hockey scenes had added more depth to Brandon and Ryan's off-ice relationship, perhaps I could see why so many of them were necessary, but by the end it felt like I'd read the same game play-by-plays over and over without them having served any meaningful purpose.
While I would say the writing in this book felt a bit more polished than in The Kennedy Rule, the author still relied heavily on regular shifts between Brandon and Ryan's POVs, often switching between the two multiple times in one chapter. Although I enjoy and often even prefer dual POV romance novels, I wish K.C. Carmichael would refrain from bouncing between POVs so often, especially considering how similar her characters often are. Admittedly, I found it a bit easier to differentiate between Brandon and Ryan's narrative voices than I did Gavin and Connor's, but there were still several occasions where I had to go back and double-check whose POV I was in because they weren't distinct enough for me to be able to tell 100% of the time.
Overall, I think The Call-Up is a decent book about a hockey team but a subpar hockey romance. If you're looking for something focused primarily on sports and team dynamics with something of a romance side plot, this might be for you! If you're looking for a satisfying hockey romance, I would point you to one of the other numerous options out there.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
As a huge St. Louis Blues fan, I'll admit to really enjoying that this book featured a fictionalized version of my favorite hockey team, and I definitely found myself charmed by the way the Mules repeatedly talked about how great their fanbase is and how St. Louis is, at its core, a big hockey city that loves its team regardless of how well they're playing. That really rang true to my experience as a Blues fan and to the sentiments expressed by Blues players about the city, and it felt a bit like we were getting a fun little cameo in this book.
Beyond that, however... One of my biggest issues with The Kennedy Rule was that Gavin and Connor's relationship felt like a speedrun devoid of actual emotional development, and it seemed like The Call-Up had the same problem. From the jump, you're told that Brandon has been in love with Ryan since he was 14 and Ryan was billeting with his family in Grand Rapids. When Brandon is called up to play for the St. Louis Mules, the same NHL team Ryan now plays for as an adult, his feelings are once again brought to the surface, and he's torn between wanting to spend time with Ryan and knowing he needs to maintain some distance so he can keep his feelings in check. Meanwhile, Ryan is realizing that he's developed an attraction to Brandon, who he suspects might also be gay. Unable to stave off their desires for too long, the two of them end up giving in to their mutual attraction and begin a sexual relationship. The problem lies in the fact that their on-page relationship is only ever really shown as being sexual or directly related to them playing on the Mules top line together. Even in the flashbacks to their time together as teenagers, there's no real insight into the emotional, romantic nature of their feelings, and therefore I struggled to believe in the love I was being told was forming. If you're going to write a romance novel, I need you to give me at least a modicum of the sappy, gooey romantic stuff.
The primary plot of this book was the Mules' playoff run rather than the romance between Brandon and Ryan. While I love hockey and am someone who generally enjoys when hockey romances include a generous helping of it, I think the amount of hockey in this book worked against its overall effectiveness. There's certainly an audience for books that are predominantly about sports, but that isn't necessarily the same audience of people interested in reading a sports romance, and I think readers who pick this up looking for the latter will be disappointed—especially if they're not very knowledgeable about hockey. If the hockey scenes had added more depth to Brandon and Ryan's off-ice relationship, perhaps I could see why so many of them were necessary, but by the end it felt like I'd read the same game play-by-plays over and over without them having served any meaningful purpose.
While I would say the writing in this book felt a bit more polished than in The Kennedy Rule, the author still relied heavily on regular shifts between Brandon and Ryan's POVs, often switching between the two multiple times in one chapter. Although I enjoy and often even prefer dual POV romance novels, I wish K.C. Carmichael would refrain from bouncing between POVs so often, especially considering how similar her characters often are. Admittedly, I found it a bit easier to differentiate between Brandon and Ryan's narrative voices than I did Gavin and Connor's, but there were still several occasions where I had to go back and double-check whose POV I was in because they weren't distinct enough for me to be able to tell 100% of the time.
Overall, I think The Call-Up is a decent book about a hockey team but a subpar hockey romance. If you're looking for something focused primarily on sports and team dynamics with something of a romance side plot, this might be for you! If you're looking for a satisfying hockey romance, I would point you to one of the other numerous options out there.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2026
I can't believe this sequel is just as good as the first book—maybe even better! All of the characters are likeable, and the romance was sweet without feeling rushed. Despite many steamy scenes, the focus remained on the relationships—between lovers, friends, family members, and teammates.
The Bouchards are probably one of my favourite fictional families. Ander was my favourite character in the first book, so I was excited to meet his entire family in this one. Honestly, I can't find a single reason to dislike this novel. There's also enough hockey in the second half of the book to satisfy any fan (the playoffs). Hockey, romance and the overall adorableness made this quite an enjoyable read.
I hope the author writes a story featuring goalies as the main characters. Ivanov and Bouchard were too cute for words. I don't necessarily see them in a romantic relationship, but an epic friendship would be fantastic.
Almost perfect. 4.5/5.
The Bouchards are probably one of my favourite fictional families. Ander was my favourite character in the first book, so I was excited to meet his entire family in this one. Honestly, I can't find a single reason to dislike this novel. There's also enough hockey in the second half of the book to satisfy any fan (the playoffs). Hockey, romance and the overall adorableness made this quite an enjoyable read.
I hope the author writes a story featuring goalies as the main characters. Ivanov and Bouchard were too cute for words. I don't necessarily see them in a romantic relationship, but an epic friendship would be fantastic.
Almost perfect. 4.5/5.
July 20, 2026
Lovely second book in the series. Ryan and Brandon were not as memorable as Connor and Gavin or as easy to distinguish from each other. Nevertheless, still a cute book.
I found the passages where Ryan talked about how much he loved Brandon’s family to be the more significant and heartfelt depiction of love in the book. Even the way that they appreciated Denton’s family felt stronger than their own connection.
I found the passages where Ryan talked about how much he loved Brandon’s family to be the more significant and heartfelt depiction of love in the book. Even the way that they appreciated Denton’s family felt stronger than their own connection.
June 18, 2026
Sweet, predictable and an easy read. Brandon + Ryan were cuties but this was just okay to me.
July 24, 2026
Eh. Sure. I mean, why have anything interesting happen, right?
May 18, 2026
I loved this book so much!
I was lucky enough to get an ARC for this book right after finishing The Kennedy rule, which means that I have dived straight into this one after finishing the first book.
And what an experience that was! I think one of my favorite thing about this book is the amount of hockey there is in it. After reading a good chunk of hockey romances in the last few months, I can safely say that this book is probably the one that contained the most descriptions of hockey, and I loved it!! It definitely makes the experience much more enjoyable, and as someone who doesn’t know much about the sport, makes it even more interesting.
Now, onto the characters! I feel like I connected a little more with Connor and Gavin from the Kennedy Rule, but I genuinely loved Ryan and Brandon so much. I love the friends to lovers trope and the idea of developing a relationship that was already there, and this book certainly delivered. I loved the familiarity of the characters, the proximity with the supporting characters as well as the found family that hit just the right side of perfect.
I found the story itself very easy to connect to and the writing just as delightful as in the first book of this series, I just wish the story itself could have had a ‘bigger’ plot twist—but otherwise, it’s a perfect read, and I would totally recommend this book to any hockey lovers out there!
Thank you again Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. 4 ⭐️
I was lucky enough to get an ARC for this book right after finishing The Kennedy rule, which means that I have dived straight into this one after finishing the first book.
And what an experience that was! I think one of my favorite thing about this book is the amount of hockey there is in it. After reading a good chunk of hockey romances in the last few months, I can safely say that this book is probably the one that contained the most descriptions of hockey, and I loved it!! It definitely makes the experience much more enjoyable, and as someone who doesn’t know much about the sport, makes it even more interesting.
Now, onto the characters! I feel like I connected a little more with Connor and Gavin from the Kennedy Rule, but I genuinely loved Ryan and Brandon so much. I love the friends to lovers trope and the idea of developing a relationship that was already there, and this book certainly delivered. I loved the familiarity of the characters, the proximity with the supporting characters as well as the found family that hit just the right side of perfect.
I found the story itself very easy to connect to and the writing just as delightful as in the first book of this series, I just wish the story itself could have had a ‘bigger’ plot twist—but otherwise, it’s a perfect read, and I would totally recommend this book to any hockey lovers out there!
Thank you again Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. 4 ⭐️
July 1, 2026
Good way to wrap up my pride month reads!! This one was slightly better than the first book. Loved the childhood gay awakening to team mate pipeline! Interested to see the relationship that happens in the 3rd book, so I will be tuning in for more!
July 13, 2026
Cutesy
June 5, 2026
I loved book one and was super excited to be given the arc for book 2. This was great. I devoured it in 24hrs. Ryan and Brandon were perfect together. No third act break up. The side characters were amazing as well. This was entertaining. Sweet, a little angsty the perfect about of spice and a great plot. Ryan’s family is shitty but Brandon’s makes up for that in spades. There is a lot of hockey in this book. As a Canadian who loves her hockey I was totally here for it! But along with the romance there is a lot of hockey talk in this. I enjoyed this so much and can’t wait to see what’s next from KC Carmichael.
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