Connection From Chicago

by Wendy Hawthorne

The NHL’s All-Star Weekend is my chance to play alongside the best of the best. For the first time in my goaltending career, I’ve not only been selected to participate, I’ve also been hand chosen to play on Eric Sinclair’s team.

Larger than life, Eric is the kind of goalie I aspire to become: a stalwart defender of the crease and a legend in the league who’s beloved by his team and fans. He’s my idol, my hero, and I can’t believe he wants to get to know me.

When Eric and I return to the regular season, we keep in touch, growing closer over texting. The man behind the helmet emerges. Even though I shouldn’t, I can’t help myself from falling in love with him, but I’m completely out of my depth. I’ve never even had a boyfriend before, and more than just physical distance separates us. Our two teams are on a collision course to meet in the playoffs. More than our postseason futures are on the line.

Funny how one weekend can change everything.

Connection From Chicago is an MM hockey romance which follows two NHL goaltenders. This slow burn, epistolary romance shows love is worth fighting for in the face of adversity and distance.

Genres: M M Romance, Hockey, Sports, Sports Romance, Romance, Hockey Romance

372 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 9, 2026

About the author

Wendy Hawthorne is an MM romance author who enjoys writing spice and everything nice! She specializes in angst, forbidden love, and earned happy endings. She has been writing ever since she could hold a pencil. She enjoys writing stories which make others feel something deeply emotional—whether it’s belly-aching laughter or being on the edge of your seat, wondering how the beloved protagonists will overcome adversity. Wendy is proud to write heartfelt, nuanced queer romance.

She writes from sunny California with her cat Penny who tries (and fails) to serve as her editor.

Reviews

[Aleja · Rating 4 out of 5]

MM romance | Pro-Hockey Romance | Goalie x Goalie | Strangers to Friends to Lovers | Texting romance | Hurt comfort | Very Slow Burn | Yearning and Longing | Virgin MMC | No 3rd breakup | Light Dom/sub dynamic | Blow jobs


Ohmygod! La cantidad de veces que lloré con este libro... ¡no lo puedo ni explicar! Me encantó por completo😍

Tengo que admitir que juzgué mucho este libro antes de empezarlo jaja. Partiendo del hecho de que estoy rozando un bloqueo lector descomunal, al ver sus más de 300 páginas automáticamente pensé que no podría terminarlo; y no porque fuera a ser un mal libro, sino porque creía que no podría concentrarme lo suficiente. Pero me alegra muchísimo decir que no fue así para nada y que disfruté cada segundo que invertí leyendo esta maravillosa historia✨✨✨

James y Eric me encantaron demasiado. Fueron una pareja que se fue dando poco a poco (MUY poco a poco!), pero de la cual vale completamente la pena cada segundo invertido. James... Dios mío, cómo me hizo llorar este hombre! Conecté tanto con él y con su historia que no podía dejar de llorar y de empatizar con él cada vez que tenía un episodio de ansiedad 😭

La única queja que podría tener es que no tuvimos el punto de vista de Eric. Estoy tan acostumbrada a leer a ambos protagonistas que me costó conectar con él durante la primera mitad del libro; pero ya cuando pasan más tiempo juntos y empezamos a conocerlo un poquito más, es cuando se ve su verdadera esencia y te enamora por completo.

Sinceramente, es un libro muy bueno y entretenido. Sumamente recomendable!

〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️

Oh my God, I cannot even begin to explain how many times I cried reading this book! I absolutely loved it😍

I have to admit I judged this book hard before starting ithaha. Since I’ve been on the verge of a massive reading slump, seeing that it was over 300 pages instantly made me think I wouldn’t be able to finish it—not because it would be a bad book, but because I didn't think I’d be able to focus enough. But I am so happy to say that wasn't the case at all, and I enjoyed every single second I spent reading this wonderful story✨✨✨

I completely adored James and Eric. They were a total slow-burn couple (like, VERY slow-burn!), but every second spent reading about them was 100% worth it. James... my God, how this man made me cry! I connected so deeply with him and his story that I couldn't stop crying and empathizing with him every time he had an anxiety episode😭

The only complaint I could possibly have is that we didn't get Eric's POV. I'm so used to reading from both protagonists' perspectives that it was hard for me to connect with Eric during the first half of the book. However, once they start spending more time together and we get to know him a bit better, that's when he truly shines and you fall head over heels for him.

Honestly, it's a very good and entertaining book. Highly recommended!

[Betty · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, I have to say that I truly don’t understand the 4 and 5 star reviews this book is getting. The premise is okay - younger hockey player falls in love w his idol - but the writing is both overly detailed and simplistic. I’ve seen this similar storyline written better by another author.

James 🏒 Eric

James (27) and Eric (31) are NHL goalies (on different teams) and James has idolized Eric since college. They meet at the All Star conference and become friends. Texting, chatting, etc until James has a disastrous end to his season and Eric asks him to spend the summer w him in Seattle.

So here are my gripes:
- It’s written as part 1 of a duet. I didn’t realize this when I started reading and the ending is abrupt.
- James insecurity and anxiety was annoying to me. I understand what he was going thru (death of mom, terrible team, etc) but it was soooo much. It wouldn’t have bothered me if he opened up more to Eric in smaller bits. Instead, he just sort of trauma dumps on him periodically.
- Family - James had a very loving dad who was supportive growing up but wasn’t as invested in his hockey career as his mom, who was also a goalie, Since the death of his mom, they’re struggling to find their connection again. This conflict felt forced to me; the dad was trying so hard and, honestly, James just came across as immature.
- Anxiety Rep. - So, I love it when an author tackles real anxiety and creates a true hurt/comfort dynamic. This just felt like James struggled without therapy or help and then ran to Eric and… then continued to be anxious. It wasn’t dealt w in a satisfying way, for me. Maybe that’s for part 2?? Idk. I won’t be reading it.
- I have zero idea what Eric sees in James. We only have James point of view and we really needed Eric’s.
- The writing was beyond tedious and I started skimming at 50 %.

Overall:
- No third act breakup
- No miscommunication but also not great communication
- slow burn. - spice starts at 80% and then literally all they do is have sex.
- MM - James is gay and Eric is bi. Both closeted.
- No OM/OW
- James is a virgin; never even kissed another guy; Eric is experienced but we don’t have any details other than he had a serious girlfriend a few years ago.
- Strangers to friends to love
- Single POV (James). HFN. I love you’s and they’ll be playing on the same team.

I was excited for this story and kept hoping it would get better, but the writing was tedious and repetitive and I just couldn’t deal w James’ lack of a spine. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Uriel · Rating 3 out of 5]

❌️ **Level of Infodumping: ⭐️⭐️** I can't say this was brilliantly written, in the sense of form, because there's several moments of chunks of explanatory things that were boring. But I could endure it sometimes when I didn't have another better book to read. So, that's a 7 out of 10. Usually, I just skim boring stuff. I just tried to not do that here. So... it could be worse.

🆗️ 🆒️ **Originality:** Someone said that they have seen this same premise done better by another author. But I'm not that used to this genre. This is the first novel I read about hockey players (or at least, the first I remember reading in a long time), so... I might not be that aware of the obvious common clichés in the genre. That said, I liked the goalie X goalie dynamic very much, thanks. 4 stars to that ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

🤮 **Tropes: Fan X Idol: ** I absolutely hate this trope, I find it very cringe. I mean, famous and talented people might be great on their crafts, but how that tells me about them as people? They could be terrible human beings and still be wonderful on what they do. They could appear to be angels on interviews and in their public appearances and be real monsters in their private life... But as I rolled my eyes at James and his fanboy cringeness, I was expecting this story to surprise me somehow and not show Eric as someone that was just like James thought he was in his fantasies. But... Eric was just what James expected. Surprise, surprise. And as the reviewer said, I couldn't see what Eric saw in James. And... I don't know. The thing James had for Eric was a little shallow, too? So let's me see, I'd remove 1 star just because of it being fan x idol, ⏬️ I'd happily give it back if it was... well done but the fact that the Eric was so neatly what James thought he was and seemed to have no other purpose on the novel beyond loving James... that makes me remove another star ⏬️ I mean, who was Eric beyond this perfect guy? The fact that Eric seemed to have no good reason to like James makes me wanna remove more one star ⏬️. Although, I think that it makes a little better when James is not any other fan, but another player in high level. So... in the end we have for this category, 2 stars. Actually, let's downgrade it to 1, because I just hate the trope and the story wasn't well built enough to make me review my convictions. So, 1 star. ⭐️

**The romance. ** well, I liked it in general. Although the progression was a little off. ⏬️ I kind of liked the "almost something happened" moments. ⏫️ Even when they made me wonder if the amount of time of nothing happening would make Eric lose interest. It felt like Eric's interest was shallow when he told James he wanted to keep texting. I mean, what James could have done that was so special to bring Eric's attention? ⏬️ so, I felt as if that were little jumps to the points where they got more physical intimate (James masturbating on a phone call, the almost kiss). I don't know, I think it was not clear how whatever was holding them back was not there anymore. I think that whatever it was, it was jot solved? I don't know. ⏬️ this give me 3 stars for this category. Do I want to change my mind and go for a more passionate grading? I think if I forget how their love for each other feels shallow because of why it began... I can feel it was actually enjoyable. And the lack of a better steady progression botheres me too. But I was happy when they finally got together and Eric was gentle. So there was no coercion, no forcing the other do things they're not prepared for and that's a plus in the genre for me. So it was not a mind-blowing romance, so I can't give it 5 stars. and it was not well executed either because of the progression feeling off, so I can't give it 4 stars. But it wasn't awful either with disrespecting each other's boundaries, so I can't give it 1 or 2 stars. So 3 stars it is ⭐️⭐️⭐️.

**Plot.** well, it felt like the story was very slow until 50%⏬️, and then when James went to Eric's house, the story seemed to finally get some traction. Once I got to 50% mark, I struggled so little to keep reading that I was startled that few moments after I was nearing the end of the book. It felt to me that so much of what came earlier could be deleted or having less details. James going to Eric's house could have come at the 25% of the novel. And the ending felt a little rushed? Or was it the middle?⏬️ (The real middle of the story for me is somewhere between the moment they started fucking until the sex descriptions stopped and James became very anxious with his future in his carrer again). Whatever. The thing about novels that doesn't follow a mainstream way to plot is that you never know what actually expect from it. So the unpredictability is a plus for me ⏫️. Hm... now this gives 4 stars. Am I satisfied with this ranking for this category? Hm.... the story were overall enjoyable, so 4 stars. It was not mind blowing enough to give 5 stars. Would 3 stars suffice? In terms of plot? 2 stars? 1 star? It wasn't that terrible for 1 star. And 4 stars would be for a good story that wasn't that grandiose but still did a good job. This novel wasn't it. It didn't made this good of a job. But it wasn't terrible and I enjoyed it. So, it was something between 2 and 3 stars. Hm... Let's give it 3 stars, just because I enjoyed it at some points even if the progression was off in several moments. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Overwall. Now for an an overall ranking... It was technically 3 stars... But emotionally?Hmm... It wasn't a mind-blowing novel, so I can't give it 5 stars. It didn't make a good job too, so 4 stars are out of question. So is it a 3, 2 or 1 star? What is even a 1 star reading? When I hate a book, I don't even finish it. And I won't grade a book I didn't finish. So 1 star could be reserved for that trashy books very problematic that I should stop reading but I can't bring myself to do it... Hm... this book wasn't it. And although I couldn't buy why Eric loved James, he was so respectful. Always checking for consent even for a hug. I just found that very... lovely. So, we are between 2 and 3 stars... ok, I will round it up because I actually enjoyed the story in some points even when it wasn't perfect. I do feel some affection towards it.

[Nanyreads_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed my time with this book. It’s a sweet, heartfelt hockey romance with a strong emotional core and a relationship that develops in a way that feels natural and genuine.

One of my favorite aspects was the connection between the main characters. Their friendship was lovely to watch unfold, and I appreciated how much care, support, and understanding existed between them. The chemistry felt authentic, and the slower pace allowed their bond to grow in a believable way.

I also loved the hockey setting. It added depth to the story without overshadowing the romance, and it was clear that the author has a great understanding of the sport and the world surrounding it.

The writing was easy to get lost in, and there were plenty of moments that made me smile. Overall, this was a warm, comforting read with memorable characters and a romance worth rooting for.

Thank you to the author and BookSirens for the ARC. 🫂

[Kaylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*** VERYYYYYY slow burn but GODDAMN IT I WISH THIS WAS DUAL POV. Wanted to see what Eric was thinking so bad. My poor baby James was going through it and I thought his character was really well done. But idk sometimes I felt like Eric was just … there. I think it’s bc we didn’t get to see his internal monologue like we did James’. But still this was GOOD

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book with a perfect slow burn and good chemistry between James and Eric. I loved how they were both oblivious to each other‘s feelings, but we’re so organic with each other. I hope we’ll see them more in another book. I wanted a little bit more!

[Maria · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought I had here the next Gravity and ended up with The Kennedy Rule. Considering how much I shit talk that book, this is not something I want another story to be associated with...

The entire time I was either underwhelmed, overwhelmed or frustrated to the point of rage with this book.


We have James Harrison (27) and Eric Sinclair (32), both goalies, who meet at the All-Star Weekend and become friends.
The story is presented from James' pov. He has been a huge fan of Eric's for a long time. (Unfortunately, Tal Bauer and J.J. Mulder broke me and my expectations for love stories are too high).
The story starts sweetly, with the more experienced Eric keeping in contact with James. There are discussions about books, and music, and very light flirting. And then... all goes to shit...


While James' voice feels younger than of someone who is 27, I could have accepted it if it didn't start to sound more and more like a shitty teenager. His mother died a year before and all his interactions with his dad come from a point of "I am so misunderstood, my dad will never understand me, he knows nothing about my life and hockey".
By the end I was very fed up with this. There is a moment where he sends a picture of himself and Eric, knowing his dad with recognize that the 2 of them are together, and acts surprised and offended when his dad comments on their relationship. I hated that a freaking 27 year old acted all "Dad! Stop embarrassing me!" when his father just wanted to be supportive.

There is a phone call that made me cringe and feel uncomfortable to the bones. What the author thinks is sexy is nothing more than a horny teenager acting very inappropriate and lacking respect towards another person.

Along the way, we barely get a glimpse into Eric's feelings towards James. He does realize James has feelings for him during the cringe phone call, but still acts as nonchalant as ever afterwards. By the time they get together and things get spicy, I felt nothing for their relation. I felt more uncomfortable than excited to see them together.

And let's talk about the relationship.
James has never been with anyone before... cause reasons. Good reasons? Nope. At some point James says it's because of his mother's illness. That puts him at 23 when his mom was firstly diagnosed. While I am not judging his life before his mom's cancer, I just don't get the reason the author chose this and the impact it has on his life...
I do have a problem with a 27 year old who goes from virgin to a sex bunny and feels experienced at the beginning of the relationship because... of the porn he consumed. (Heard that? It was me raging reading this!) And I heard longer songs than the length of time the story went from first kiss to penetration.
For the last maybe more than 20% I just felt uncomfortable. Eric is apparently a sex god, James is more pliable than I wanted to hear about and I am just here, fighting for my life hoping to get the sweet story I was promised in the beginning... Spoilers, I didn't...


I am sure I missed some things. Rest assured, my poor innocent boyfriend heard all my complains and felt annoyed with this story too...



If you want good friends to lovers MM books, I recommend going for Tal Bauer's or J.J. Mulder's books., especially Gravity and A Siren's Point Story series. The books are sweet and the authors threat the characters with the respect they deserve.
If you want a younger character (as James feels at times), and a story that deals with anxiety, check The Open Era. The entire time I read this I compared James to Austin's story and the 21 year old won easily the battle of "don't be a shit".

[Nathalie Mariaud · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚✨ ARC REVIEW ✨📚

James is a 27-year-old goalie for the Chicago Comets. Socially awkward and struggling with chronic anxiety, he’s still grieving the loss of his biggest support system: his mother, herself a former hockey goalie 🥅💔

So when he’s invited to the All-Star Weekend and discovers he’ll be playing on the same team as his idol, he can hardly believe it.

Eric Sinclair — Seattle Seadogs goalie, two-time Stanley Cup winner, and the man James has admired for years — actually chooses him as his teammate.

And somehow… Eric genuinely seems to enjoy his company.

They share meals, exchange messages, and Eric even listens patiently while James rambles about his obsession with a gay fantasy book 😅

Back in Chicago, James returns to his lonely routine: practices, games, flights, silence. His team feels cold and distant, with little support beyond criticism after losses.

But Eric keeps reaching out.

Texts. Pictures. Check-ins. Quiet support during James’s worst days.

Little by little, admiration turns into something deeper ❤️

What I really loved about this book is how layered and human the characters feel. Their dreams, fears, flaws, and emotional struggles make them incredibly easy to care about.

The hockey aspect is important, but more than anything, this story explores the mental pressure goalies carry and the importance of support systems in professional sports. After all, who could understand a goalie better than another goalie?

The slow burn between James and Eric is absolutely wonderful. Their relationship develops with so much patience, tenderness, and mutual respect that it genuinely warmed my heart.

✨ A beautiful MM hockey romance about anxiety, healing, support, and finding someone who truly understands you.

🌶️ Some spice here.

#ARCReview #Bookstagram #MMRomance #HockeyRomance #SlowBurn #SportsRomance #QueerBooks

📚✨ AVIS ARC ✨📚

James est un gardien de hockey de 27 ans jouant pour les Chicago Comets. Socialement maladroit et souffrant d’anxiété chronique, il traverse aussi le deuil de sa mère, son plus grand soutien, elle-même ancienne gardienne de hockey 🥅💔

Alors lorsqu’il est invité au All-Star Weekend et découvre qu’il jouera dans la même équipe que son idole, il n’en revient pas.

Eric Sinclair — gardien des Seattle Seadogs, double vainqueur de la Stanley Cup et joueur qu’il admire depuis des années — l’a personnellement choisi comme coéquipier.

Et contre toute attente… Eric semble réellement apprécier sa compagnie.

Ils partagent des repas, échangent des messages, et Eric écoute même avec attention James parler de son obsession pour une saga de fantasy gay 😅

De retour à Chicago, James retrouve pourtant sa routine solitaire : entraînements, matchs, avions, silence. Son équipe manque cruellement de soutien humain et les défaites ne font qu’ajouter de la pression.

Mais Eric continue de lui écrire.

Des messages. Des photos. Une présence discrète mais constante pendant les mauvais jours.

Et peu à peu, l’admiration de James évolue vers quelque chose de plus profond ❤️

Ce que j’ai particulièrement aimé dans ce livre, c’est la complexité des personnages. Leurs rêves, leurs failles et leurs difficultés les rendent extrêmement touchants.

Le hockey est important ici, mais surtout à travers la pression mentale que subissent les gardiens et l’importance du soutien autour d’eux. Après tout, qui pourrait mieux comprendre un gardien… qu’un autre gardien ?

La construction de la relation entre James et Eric est vraiment magnifique. Le slow burn est maîtrisé à la perfection, avec énormément de respect, de douceur et d’écoute entre eux.

✨ Une très belle romance MM sur l’anxiété, le soutien émotionnel et le fait de trouver enfin quelqu’un qui vous comprend réellement.

🌶️ Un peu de spice ici.

#AvisLecture #ARCReview #BookstagramFR #RomanceMM #HockeyRomance #SlowBurn #LectureRomance

[Sandy Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this. What a warm and wonderful, low-angst slow burn story about two NHL hockey goalies who meet during All Star week. It was a gorgeous comfort hug all the way through, with some truly hot intimacy. It’s told solely in one POV, but I felt I got to know the other MC equally well. Great hockey playing in it too! This author Knows hockey.

James Harrison is in his third year in the NHL, on the Comets as their starting goalie. He’s beside himself with awkward joy to be chosen for the All-Star team of his career idol, the 6 years older Eric Sinclair. At first James is so awkward he can barely speak, but the kind and charming Eric takes him under his wing and they form a friendship over the week. It’s adorable and authentic. I was charmed.

James’s crush turns to love as he gets to know his idol as a person, but James thinks nothing will ever happen. Eric broke up with a partner, a woman, years ago, and James assumes he’s straight. He is so grateful for the friendship and that Eric actually stays in touch after the wonderful All Star experience, encouraging James via text when his confidence falters and being there for him even though they’re rivals in the playoffs. Eric sees the genius in James and supports him fully, no qualms. Eric is an adult and a pro and appreciates true talent without envy, and he was fabulous.

They are apart for much of the book, supporting their teams in the playoffs, and even having to play against each other (which is handled so well and maturely! Loved it!). There are text threads, and we see a lot of what James’s living situation and dynamics with his team and family are like. His hockey goalie mom who supported his love of hockey all his life and career passed away recently, and he and his father have struggled with grief and finding new footing with each other. I LOVED his father, trying so hard to get to know hockey and support his son. James’s reactions to it were authentic and painful, and the way they come together again is poignan and heartwarming.

Things turn toxic on James’s team as things go awry, and the lack of leadership, even from the coach, makes for an emotionally devastating situation for James.

What does Eric do? Invites him to visit. For the entire summer. And it. Was. Enchanting!!! Seeing these two grow a deep and meaningful friendship and then realize they’re both pining and want each other…this is the best kind of slow burn. Eric shows James the beauty and wonders around Seattle, WA, and James blooms under that attention. They’re so real with each other. And when they finally kiss…and more…! Sigh. 🥰🥰🥰 James is a virgin, and Eric is so thoughtful, and no info on past lovers mucks up the works (apart from knowing there were some), it stays focused on them. The intimacy is lovely.

Their relationship is #romancegoals, and the main conflict is around James’s future. Don’t worry…it’s an ideal romance and the resolution is as ideal as possible. And I was here for it. I smiled all the way through the book (apart from when I was indignant AF on James’s behalf!). Two more worthy heroes finding love I cannot imagine.

My only wish is that we got to see his team get what they deserved, and that his coach would be humiliated for his ridiculous decision and comments. I got no justice on that front. I needed a little more to the ending to be fully satisfied.

HEA. Slow burn, new friends to lovers. Hockey goalies. No OM action or drama, totally safe for me and beautifully focused on the heroes. Well done. Highly recommended. More please!

My thanks to the author and BookSirens for the ARC; this is my free and impartial opinion.

[Shanice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by saying that I love everything about goalies, and hockey books are always an easy sell for me. This one was no exception. While it gave me similar vibes to another favorite of mine, I'm not comparing the two—just appreciating the incredible chemistry and emotional connection that made this story such a standout. James and Eric were absolutely everything. Their journey from friends, to best friends, to lovers felt natural, heartfelt, and completely believable from beginning to end.

One thing I really appreciated was that the book is written in first POV. It felt like a breath of fresh air and allowed me to connect with James on a much deeper level. We follow James Harrison, a socially awkward, hardcore introvert whose personality is basically goalie-coded in every possible way. His quirks, insecurities, and inner thoughts made him incredibly endearing. At the same time, he's navigating the devastating loss of his mother, and some of the most emotional moments in the book come from watching him and his father struggle through their grief and slowly learn how to communicate with one another.

Then there's Eric Sinclair, an NHL legend who enters James's life during All-Star Weekend. What starts as a friendship gradually grows into something much deeper. Watching Eric support James, encourage him, and become a safe place for him was honestly one of my favorite parts of the story. As we learn more about Eric's feelings and witness James's hilariously adorable crush developing, their relationship blossoms into something beautiful. They become each other's anchor during the darkest moments, and the emotional payoff is worth every page.

Of course, no romance would be complete without a few characters who make you want to throw your book across the room. There were definitely moments where I was furious on James's behalf because some people treated this precious, sweet baby terribly. But those struggles only made the eventual happy ending that much better and worth it.

And that ending? I cried through most of it. Not because it was sad, but because I was so genuinely happy for them. By that point, the love, trust, intimacy, and emotional connection between James and Eric had been built so carefully that every moment felt earned. You don't just read about their relationship; you feel it. Also, let me be clear and talk about the communication between these guys!! 10/10

I absolutely loved this book. The romance, the friendship, the grief, the healing, the hockey, it all worked for me. This is the kind of book that earns a permanent spot on my shelves, and as soon as it's released, I'll be adding a copy to my collection. Without a doubt, this is a trophy-book read for me. I will say, there was spice in this book, but it was NOT the focus; there was a lot more intimacy and relationship building versus high spice.

[Anisha Choudhury | A Literary Autopsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Earth-Shattering, Masterful Slow-Burn That I Would Give a Limb to Re-Read For the First Time.

5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 5/5 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

Disclosure: I received a complimentary ARC of Connection from Chicago from the author via Booksirens in exchange for an honest review.

Every once in a while, you read a book that leaves an permanent mark on your soul. Connection from Chicago by Wendy Hawthorne is not just an excellent sports romance; it is an absolute masterpiece.

I am a fast, high-volume reader with a very busy schedule, and I can say with total honesty that I have never in my life sobbed simply because a story ended—until now. I would gladly give a limb just to experience the first-read feeling of this book all over again.


The narrative follows a rising NHL goaltender who gets the chance of a lifetime during All-Star Weekend: playing on a team captained by his lifelong hero and idol, the legendary goalie Eric Sinclair.
When the weekend concludes and they return to their regular seasons, the two men keep in touch. Through a beautifully executed epistolary format, their connection deepens over text messages, revealing the real, vulnerable men behind the helmets.

But falling in love brings immense stakes. Not only has our protagonist never had a boyfriend before, but their respective teams are on a grueling, unavoidable collision course to meet in the Stanley Cup playoffs.


While epistolary, text-based formatting isn't every reader's cup of tea, Hawthorne utilizes it flawlessly to build a brilliant, agonizing slow-burn romance that I prayed would never end.
The prose brilliantly balances the physical distance and high-stakes athletic pressure with profound real-world themes: deep familial grief, an unsatisfying and toxic workplace culture, and the brutal physical demands of professional hockey.

What elevates this book into a league of its own is the masterful emotional payoff between the protagonists. When the spice finally hits, it isn't just mindless, animalistic physical release. Instead, it is an extension of the out-of-this-world emotional support, tenderness, and grounding presence that Eric provides for James. Their intimacy is deeply mature, entirely unhurried, and built on a foundation of genuine mutual respect and care.


This is the type of writing that forces a reader to truly feel. It is a brilliant, beautiful, and emotionally raw journey that culminates in a summer of surprises and incredible adventures. Wendy Hawthorne has earned a fiercely loyal reader in me. I will champion this book with my blood, sweat, and tears.

Do not just add this to your reading list, buy it the exact second it launches.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

”As much as I love hockey, as much as I enjoy being a goaltender, I love Eric and I never want to betray his trust. Eric reached out to me at the lowest point in my career, and he saved my life. Eric didn’t turn away from the ugliness; he didn’t diminish or dismiss my feelings. He didn’t tell me to cut out my grief and man up. He didn’t make me feel ashamed for losing, and he didn’t criticize my mistakes even though he’s capable of dissecting my performance as a goalie. Instead, Eric offered a hand, a light in the darkness so I could find my way out.”

Happy release day!

I LOVED THEM 🥹🥹🥹🥹
James and Eric were so sweet! Strangers to friends to lovers is one of my favorite book setups. While Eric and James knew of each other before (James more so then Eric), I’d still call this strangers to friends to lovers.
James was such a lonely guy, my heart broke for him since he didn’t have the support he needed as a man in such a high pressure position. Eric being there for James in any way he could, and James accepting his care was so sweet.
At first I thought James was being a little hard on his dad, I soon realized he was coming from a place of grief rather than just being a brat. I was so happy to see the progress in the relationship with his dad.
I loved that this book focused mainly on Eric and James rather than a multitude of side characters, as I’m nottt a fan of side characters taking over books.
I just adored these two. It was a slow burnnnnn FOR SURE! But it was worth it imo because I loved the friendship they built before getting together.
I do wish there had been at least one more chapter along with an epilogue because the ending felt kind of abrupt, but I still loved it nonetheless!!
ARC provided for review

[Sarah☀️ Somerville · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the ideas and themes in this book, but the execution wasn't great.

I didn't enjoy the writing style. It was very formal and stilted, wasn't engaging, and didn't give me a good sense of the main characters. I nearly gave up at 8% because it just wasn't drawing me in. It got a little better... or maybe I kind of got used to it... but I never really liked or enjoyed it. (And despite the very formal language used, it still had three of my grammatical/spelling error pet hates. Seriously?!)

I liked that it was sports-heavy and the themes were interesting - the challenges of being socially awkward in a team sport, the pressure of the playoffs, all the issues with James's team. However, I didn't feel like any of these themes were explored in a meaningful way, and the resolution was essentially for James to meet Eric and have a magical connection and to switch teams. Not exactly satisfying.

I liked the theme of James's dad trying to find that connection with James through hockey, but I was confused by the fact that they had a major shared interest (fantasy books) and that just didn't come up in conversation. At all. Instead, they struggled through awkward conversations about each other's work, and they never did seem to build any kind of connection.

And the relationship... on one hand it was slow burn, which would be great, except it was also pretty much instalove, which was not.

[Zath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about two goalies that highlights the pressures of being a professional athlete, dealing with grief, and how meeting the one person who understands you can make all the difference.

Slow burns are meant to be savored, and I enjoyed every second spent watching James and Eric fall in love. The pace of their romance feels believable and never rushed. It was nice to follow the buildup instead of being told how in love these characters were, we got to see them fall in love over time so it meant something when their sparks finally ignited. And boy did they ever ignite! Their passion towards one another made for some very steamy scenes.

Despite being a romance novel, we see the impact of James and Eric’s career, which isn’t always the case especially in the MM genre. It's clear Hawthorne is a fan of the sport and has done research on how to effectively write hockey within her romance narrative. Even someone who has never watched the sport will be able to understand the importance of hockey in correlation to James and Eric’s life and not feel overwhelmed.

There were moments where James’ personality irritated me, and I would have liked to see more of James and Eric together. However, I’m still looking forward to whatever comes next in this series.

Read my full review at nostalgiadepartment.com

[Jine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much! I’m not normally a fan of a slow burn but damn when it’s done good the payoff is chefs kiss and this truly was it! Don’t expect the physical connection until late but phew was that made up for just keep ceremonial jersey in mind LOL
This is the story of two hockey goalies Eric is the veteran and James is a fan they meet at the all star hockey weekend where Eric picks James for his team
James fangirling was adorable and he was attracted to him but what they got out of that weekend was friendship and for James that’s very important especially when his team treats him awful after a bad game
When Eric invites James to Seattle for the summer to take away from the pressure and grief from his team and losing his mom he jumps at the chance
I think what made me laugh was James reaction to Eric saying he’s been trying to kiss him I literally laughed so loud
I loved the building of their relationship their texting was freaking adorable and it really made the foundation of their relationship so strong SO when James gets a chance to go to a new team their get their dream of being together in the same place
I think this is perfect for James because he’s going to end up with his boyfriend a newfound family in his team and finally a team that will support him!

[Stacey T · Rating 4 out of 5]

This slow-burning MM hockey romance follows James, who is living his dream at the NHL All-Star Games while dealing with the loss of his fellow goalie enthusiast mother and a father trying his best to fill the void. He gets picked for the team by his idol and longtime crush, veteran goalie Eric Sinclair. Their friendship deepens through texts and calls during the season, and Eric invites James to spend the summer with him when both of their teams' hopes end in the playoffs. When they finally admit their feelings and start a relationship, James’s career becomes uncertain after his team decides not to renew his contract. Will James land a new NHL contract, and can their relationship survive long distance if necessary?
This was my first time reading this author, and I enjoyed the book. It did a good job showing the anxiety that professional athletes can feel. The story started off a bit slow, and the ending felt abrupt—I wanted to see more of what happened next. The characters had great chemistry, and I liked how Eric’s calm and experienced nature helped James with his anxiety and grief. Overall, it’s a solid addition to the genre, and I look forward to reading more from this author. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review

I absolutely loved this story. It was told via single first POV. This is a slow burn, nothing happens until 79%. But it was so necessary for the story. I loved the texting as pen pals. I've never read a story about two goalies before and I absolutely adored it. I need more of that!

I related to James so hard on his anxiety, depression, and self doubt. I was slightly frustrated at times with him in relation to his father, but I had to keep reminding myself that grief makes people do odd things.

I really appreciated that falling in love didn't automatically fix everything for James. This story felt raw and real. Not everything working out for our MCS tied with a perfect bow, but real.

Eric is a knight in shining armor and I adore him.

This book has a microtrope I love - feral for him in my jersey 😍

I loved that neither team went into competition for the Stanley cup. And I liked that we didn't get to see their future, we just get to imagine it.

I'm also biased, but having lived and been in love with Seattle, reading a story set there gave me all of the happy feels.

[Amie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read-I really like the characters of James and Eric and the slow rollout of how their relationship develops.
Eric proves to be the exception to-you should never meet your heroes. He is everything that James thought he would be and more.
Eric is the perfect person for James and just what James needs to help him along in his career and personal life.
I felt like, in a good way, James was just a little puppy following along with Eric, and Eric was willing to be patient and help James.
My rating is more 4.5 out of 5; it loses half a point, as I thought the ending left me hanging too much. I am hoping that there will be a next book featuring these two, as I need to know what happens to them!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Angel_2822 · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You… You’ve been trying to kiss me?”

Connection from Chicago by Wendy Hawthorne is the first book in the Hearts in Play series and the book completely sold me. I’m a sucker for goalies, and in this book I have two of them!

This is a story with characters that felt so real that you think you may meet them in the café around the corner. They aren’t perfect, they have these messy anxieties, insecurities and heavy emotional stuff going on that makes you just want to give them a huge hug.

The hockey backdrop is cool, but the book is really about the crazy mind games and pressure these guys face, and how brutal it is if you don’t have anyone in your corner. They understand each other as no one else could. I mean, who else actually gets how stressful and isolating it is to be a goalie better than another goalie?

And the slow-burn? Loved it. They build their romance with so much patience and respect for each other that my heart was basically a puddle the whole way through. Watching them go from this mentor-idol dynamic, to best friends, to actually falling in love felt so smooth and natural.

“Our eyes meet as we skate to one another. There’s a small smile beneath his helmet, and my heart skips, stutters, short-circuits. He pulls me close for a tight hug. Our helmets press together, the cages the only barriers keeping us apart. This is as close to a kiss as Eric and I will ever be.”

If I’m being picky, the only downside is that it’s written only from James POV and I would’ve loved to get Eric’s side of things throughout the book. Being in James’s head lets you feel his social awkwardness and the heavy grief he’s carrying over losing his mom and everything what happens to him in his team.

This book is a beautiful comforting read about healing and finding that one person who completely gets you. I totally recommend it.

Thank you, BookSirens and Wendy Hawthorne for this free eARC. This is my honest review and recommendation.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's All Stars weekend for hockey. James is a goalie & there as an All Star for the first time as a player. He's excited to get to know the players. He sees & is picked to play on Eric's team. Eric is a well known & loved goalie and James' secret crush. James being younger & new to the big leagues, Eric takes him under his wing & helps him along the way. When All Star weekend the help continues through text till the season is over. James' team has loses in the playoffs & the team puts the blame on him. Eric invites him to come vacation for the summer & things progress to a relationship. Low Angst, low self esteem, HEA. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rachel Harrod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wanna know how to make s*x in a hockey jersey hot? Just ask Wendy Hawthorne!

Chicago Comets goalie James has admired (and low key been obsessed with) Seattle Seadogs goalie Eric for years. A chance teaming up at the All Stars game sets the gears in motion for James and Eric to become so much more than temporary teammates.

Connection from Chicago was a deliciously slow burn, but the last 20% went off like a rocket. Eric and James spend the majority of the book laying the foundations of their friendship before anything remotely intimate occurs. But it’s oh so wonderful to read, and the whole book flowed beautifully.

✨MM
✨Hockey romance
✨V*rgin MC
✨Hurt comfort
✨Slow burn

Who is it for:
If you love a romance with a heavy emphasis on the emotional before the physical kicks in.

I generously received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Shannon Janssen · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Connection from Chicago" is the first one of Hearts in Play by Wendy Hawthorne. It was my first book by this author but it will not be my last. I absolutely loved the characters. The journey to their HEA is a sloooowwww burn but worth every minute. The chemistry and connection between Eric and James is solid and watching their relationship evolve was fabulous. Both characters are relatable and some of their experiences are heartbreaking but there are so many wonderful moments too. I am looking forward to the next book.

[Claire Groenveld · Rating 5 out of 5]

i absolutely loved this book so so much.

I loved James as a character and him fanboying over Eric was so adorable and relatable to read.

The relationship between Eric and James was everything and so fun to read

I had a big smile on my face the entire time and finished the book in one day

I hope to see a glims of them again in another book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Shelba · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 2%

Admittedly, I got hung up on the fact that James’ lifelong dream had been to play in the NHL, and yet up until college, he only followed the Eastern Conference.

Like, you are a goalie, and you want to play with the best goalies in the world, but you only know half of them? I’m sorry, that’s just dumb. I would hardly buy that of a superfan, let alone a goalie aspiring to be in the NHL.

[Kristina Buhay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Tropes:

MM Hockey Romance 🏒
Strangers to Friends to Lovers 💕
Slow Burn 🔥❤️‍🔥

Eric is a goalie for the Seattle Seadogs and James is a goalie for the Chicago Comets. James has been a big fan of Eric’s since his rookie season and finally gets a chance to meet him at the NHL’s All Star Weekend where they play on the same team. They quickly become friends and after the weekend concludes, they stay in contact as texting pen pals. After a super rough end to the season, Eric invites James to stay with him in Seattle for the summer.

The first half of the book follows James’s journey through the rest of the hockey season and the playoffs where his team loses in the conference finals. I truly loved that hockey and team dynamics were the main focus.

The second half of the book, we get to follow both James and Eric in Seattle and when things finally get spicy, whooo, they get spicy! 🔥🔥 I’m not a big fan of a slow burn but this book had me questioning why.

Watching the relationship between James and Eric develop was a thing of beauty. Eric disproves the adage “don’t meet your heroes.”

This book was sweet and spicy and I loved it. I only wish there was an epilogue. Like a 6 month or 2 years later where are they now. That ending left me yearning for more.

[Amanda Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Connection From Chicago is the first book in the Hearts in Play series by Wendy Hawthorne. This is a hurt/comfort, slow burn, friends to lovers read about Eric and James. I just loved this low angst story and after that ending, I really need the second in the series.