King of the Crease

The Comebacks #3

by A.J. Truman

Hank's new teammate is a secret prince. Red, white, and royal WTF?!

Crown Prince Nicholas of Ardenia has everything—except the freedom to be himself. Trapped by tradition and suffocating expectations, he secretly longs for a simple life…one where he can make real friends, chase real passions, and maybe even fall in love. So when a diplomatic trip to the U.S. offers him a rare chance to slip away from his royal identity, he seizes it. Disguised as just another guy, he spends December in a cozy small town and signs on as the local beer league’s backup goalie.

Hank, the team’s main goalie, is a charming, big-hearted plumber still piecing together his confidence after a brutal divorce. He’s spent most of his life playing the comic relief, never the romantic lead—but something about the shy newcomer on the ice makes him wonder if he might deserve a happily ever after after all. As Hank teaches Nicholas the finer points of goaltending, their easy camaraderie deepens into crackling chemistry, with more than a few stolen moments under the mistletoe.

But Nicholas’s growing feelings come with a painful he can’t stay hidden forever. Will the crown cost him his shot at true love?

KING OF THE CREASE is a warm, funny, and swoony holiday MM romance featuring secret royalty, teammates-to-lovers magic, and lots of Christmas charm. It’s book 3 in the Comebacks series but can be read as a standalone.

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

300 pages, Paperback

Published August 21, 2026

About the author

Welcome! I’m a gay male author who writes MM romance filled with humor, heart, and hot guys. My characters fall into bed and fall in love, usually in that order. Think LOL meets DTF.

I live in central Indiana, surrounded by churches and Olive Gardens, with my husband, kids, and cats. When I’m not writing, I’m chasing around a toddler or sneaking off to a movie.

Make sure to sign up for my newsletter The Outsiders to get the latest updates on my books and to start reading free stories.

http://www.ajtruman.com/outsiders/

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict]]

King of the Crease is book three in The Comebacks series by A.J. Truman. I have only read three other books by this author, none being connected to each other. I picked this up, even though I have not read any others in the series, because I am still in my “royal” phase. Plus it sounded adorable. Well...it was! I fell so in love with these characters, with this book. I swooned all the way through. I messaged my friend often who has read the series about how much I loved them. So of course, now, after writing this, I am going back to the beginning and reading the others.



Crown Prince Nicholas of Ardenia, “Nick,” is thirty six years old. As the only heir to the crown of his country, his father has kept a strict thumb on him. He spends every waking hour of his time in meetings, and representing his country. He is gay but has been forced to keep that part of himself completely in the closet. His father reminds him often that he is expected to marry and produce heirs. On a trip to the states for some diplomatic meetings, Nick goes to Sourwood, New York to visit his long time best friend, Millie. It’s then that they come up with the plan that Nick will stay with her for the month of December, keeping his identity hidden, just being a regular guy and experiencing Christmas.



Hank Rush is forty three years old. He is a self employed plumber in Sourwood. He has been divorced for nine years from a terrible ex-wife who has made a career of making him feel small. Which is something because Hank is a large man, some would call him a bear! He’s got a big belly and lots of extra hair on his body! He is also the single dad to his seventeen year old son, Brody, who I adored. Hank keeps in shape, though, and is the goalie for a recreational league hockey team called The Comebacks. The members all played together in high school and came back together to form their team and are also all close friends.



When these two first meet, there is definite attraction. Nick gets talked into joining their hockey team as a back up goalie. He barely has any skills but Hank vows to help him get up to speed which means spending more time together! The closer these two get, the more they are aware that this is only temporary. Even though Hank doesn’t know who Nick really is, he knows he has to leave Sourwood after Christmas. But their hearts have ideas of their own and they get much more attached than they planned. All the while, Nick’s secret identity hanging between them.



This whole book was so sweet, so swoony. Hank has such a sunshine personality, always looking on the bright side of things. He does struggle, though, with his opinion of his self worth after what his ex has said to him. And all Nick wants is to be normal, to live his life out in the open, to be able to love Hank publicly. But he knows his heritage says otherwise.



I loved every single thing about this book, adored Hank and Nick, as well as the rest of the gang. So, as I said, I now have to go back and get their stories. You can also get the prequel to the series by joining the author’s newsletter, which I did. So that is my next book, Cherry Picker, book #0.5, which is Bill’s story who is the team leader. Loving this book as much as I did definitely makes me want to go through everything he’s written to see what else I’m missing.

[Julia Toth]

This was such a fun read! I've loved this series a lot and this book did not disappoint. I love the cameos by characters from other books and how great of a found family these men have in Sourwood.
Hank and Nick's meet cute was funny and sweet. I loved how quickly they hit it off and were on the same wavelength, joking and talking. I loved the Christmas vibes and the fun seasonal dates they had. They were sweet and cute and I loved reading their story and seeing how they will handle Nick being a royal and working through that.
I was laughing, giggling, kicking my feet but also swooning over these two. I loved seeing Hank finally feel like a main character in his story and be more self assured. I was so mad at his ex wife for the way she treated him and for the unnecessary jabs even after 9 years post divorce. On the other hand, I loved Hank's relationship with his son Brody! He was a model parent and I loved the fact the he always showed up for his son.

This was a very fun, lighthearted story about a prince and a plumber finding their happily ever after via Christmas tree mishap.

[laureneliza]

Secret royalty is an absolutely absurd trope to begin with so you just gotta buckle in, but these characters make it oddly believable! Throw in a ragtag hockey team, single dads, heaps of body positivity, later in life coming out, creating your own main character energy, and oh, also it's Christmas? There's a lot going on but it works surprisingly well. I had a big grin on my face reading almost all of this.

[Showarst]

King of the Crease by A.J. Truman is book 3 in The Comebacks series. I have not read the previous books in this series, but I definitely will be checking them out after reading this one. Nick is trying to be the person he truly wants to be rather than who he is expected to be. He joins the hockey team under an alias. He soon meets Hank and the two have a surprisingly sweet romance. I love holiday romances and this one hit all of the right notes for me. I cannot wait to read the other books in this series.

I received an ARC from the author and Neon Rainbow ARC Reviews for my honest review.

[Heather MMRomanceReviewed]

I loved this book! It's my first holiday read of 2026 and it didn't disappoint! All the Hallmark quality holiday shenanigans spiced up way beyond the Hallmark realm! Armed with a fake identity, Nick is trying to live the life he actually wants... and Hank is the man that he truly desires! I love the family, found family and slow burn nature of this story, that lets us explore what each character really wants and how they can both get their HEA!

[Rod Lujano]

I have read everything AJ Truman has written and let me tell you this might just be my favorite book of his.

The funny chubby sidekick getting his happy ending and with a Prince was just so sweet and special.

Also, the ending could have been gone so many different ways but AJ did something specially clever with how Hank fits in Nicks life.

All the stars

[Marcos “MSMDragon”]

Another fantastic book by A.J. Truman! King of the Crease was a brilliant story. It was sweet and romantic and full of sexy, beefy men.

Both of the main characters, Hank and Nick, were a joy to read about. Hank is a great father and was my favorite character. I loved Nick’s secret prince story line. It made the whole thing feel like a Hallmark movie. I also loved all the throwbacks to previous characters from the other series by Truman. The friend group in this little town is just the best!

King of the Crease also had a great message about finding your strength and unleashing your inner main character, which I think we all could use.

[Betty Loves Books Galore]

This is a friends / teammates to more sportsish romance, featuring Hank and Nick, and is book three in the Comebacks series.

Prince Nicholas escapes his royal life and falls for Hank, a plumber he befriends and agrees to play hockey while he is in America. When his true identity is revealed, Nick must choose between his crown and the man he has fallen for.

I loved this one, Hank is the larger than life sunshine teddy bear - he is such a sweetheart and is totally a main character (his ex can suck it). Nick and Hank together were so frigging adorable. Loved watching them fall in love and choose happiness.

I also loved the cameos from this universe. Makes me want to reread all the books.

Things to expect in this book are:
Book 3 in series
MM romance
Christmas time
Meet-cute disaster
Strangers to friends to more
Rec hockey league teammates
Single dad
Small age gap (43 / 36)
Prince x Plumber
Rich boy x poor boy
Secret identity
Spicy times
First times
Facial
Calls him teddy bear
Secrets revealed
3rd act breakup
Love v’s Duty
Found family
HEA

[Marie-Pierre]

I came for the laughs and stayed for the wide range of emotions these characters brought.

Because wdym I cried reading an AJ Truman book? Like, legit had huge feelings for both these men.

I think this book hit home mostly because I once dated a secret prince myself.

Just kidding. It hit home because of the body representation. Hank is one of my favourite character to ever exist. He felt extra to me. Extra handsome, extra silly, extra caring, extra extra extra. I swear, the way he felt about his son made me reevaluate the attention I give mine.

Can we also talk about that group of friends? I wish I was a mifdle age hockey player just to be part of that group.

Cameo from my faves Mitch and Charlie, and Reverrett... I'm in total heaven.

Great book. Loved it.

[Dyl’s Library]

I absolutely l loved this book and could not put it down! Dare I say this is the best in the series so far…I’m not sure how they keep getting better each book but they do.

Hank and Nick were so endearing and their love story truly feels like a fairytale. These two take being from completely opposite sides of life, a single dad plumber and a literal prince, and shows that love (real love) truly transcends every bad thought, self doubt, and label.

Now can’t forget the spice…it was spicy and oh so good. Personally, I could’ve used way more spice solely because Hank and Nick are so beautiful inside and out. Big boys to the front!!!

[Lizva]

I love this author and this book definitely did make me laugh several times. Royalty in romance is pretty much anathema to me, so once I realized this book was about that particular trope (after I had already preordered) my hopes were low. This was about as good as you can get for me with this trope. Fleshed out characters, funny, engaging-didn’t like the ex-wife parts though. That always feels a little misogynistic. But s fun, light read.

[Sarah]

This was a very cute & light-hearted entry to The Comebacks series! I received an ARC copy of this ebook, but ended up listening to the audiobook as well, and it was a fun & easy listen with Nick J. Russo and Alexander Cendese in dual narration.

It's a classic holiday rom-com setup: Hank is the classic small-town, single dad (of a 17-year-old teenager), and Nick is a prince pretending to be a commoner (aka an accountant from Baltimore lol). Nick longs to experience just a glimpse of what it's like to be "normal" in a small town where no one knows who he is, and he very quickly falls in with The Comebacks crew.

I actually wish this story had been even longer, as I would've loved to see them spend more time as a couple in Sourwood & interactions between Hank and Nick's local bestie, Millie. But what we do get on page is their amazing communication (Nick is only visiting for a few weeks after all) and some very spicy scenes.

Hank was a such a great dad as well, I hope we get to see bit of them in the future with more kids (as this is something they both say they want!)

[Julie Underhill]

King of the Crease by A. J. Truman is the 3rd book in his The Comebacks series. It is the story of a prince and a plumber who both feel like they are the sidekicks in their lives, how they find each other and fall in love, and finally become the main characters they were always meant to be. Prince Nicholas is the crown prince of Ardenia. He is the only heir so has been brought up expecting to follow protocol in every way and not cause any scandals. He has always tried his best to do his duty but he also likes men and is terrified of the day he will have to marry a woman and produce an heir and has put it off as much as he could. But at 36, the king is starting to put pressure on him. He has traveled to New York City for some royal assignments with Agnes his personal assistant and Alfred his body guard. After they complete them they go to see Millie, his best friend from boarding school, in Sourwood. When they talk, he tells her how lonely he is and that he wants to go places where he can just be himself. She encourages him to take a royal Rumspringa for a month before Christmas without Agnes or Alfred and with as little contact with the palace as possible. Agnes is all for this so he is excited to start his adventure of being just plain Nick, an accountant from Baltimore. When wandering the streets of town he is suddenly run into by the trunk end of a Christmas tree that was dropped by Hank Rush. Hank is a jelly roll of a man who is a plumber. He’s kind, funny, and a social butterfly but his ex also told him he’s not a lead character but a sidekick to everyone which he sees but also hurts him. He and all his good friends played hockey in high school and won the championship and now, 25 years later, they formed The Comebacks in a recreational beer league and are doing pretty well. He was married to an awful woman for a while but he got his 17 year old son, Brody, who is very smart and one of the best things that happened to him. Once he hits Nick and apologizes, they introduce each other and start talking and both feel an attraction. When Hank finds out Nick played hockey in school and was a goalie like him, he asks him to join the Comebacks and Nick is very excited about it. He meets the other guys at practice and it’s pretty obvious that he isn’t very good but Hank works with him and he ends up being the MVP at one of their games. The continue seeing each other and go to a bar crawl with some very funny consequences and Nick does some things that could give away his secret but Hank isn’t buy them. Eventually they kiss and have some very hot love scenes but they both think they can’t have anything real together – Nick because he lied to Hank about who he is and Hank because he knows that Nick is leaving at Christmas. But they say they are boyfriends and feel a deep connection anyway with Hank hoping they can figure things out so they can be together. Brody has some worries about college and what he has to do to get there and Hank is supportive and helpful as he always is. But then Agnes calls and says a picture of them dancing at the pub crawl is all over social media so Nick’s real story comes out. Hank is understanding but doesn’t see how he can be with a prince. Nick returns to Ardenia to confront his father who is having some difficulties of his own. When a public relations firm specializing in crisis management is called in, Nick finally cracks and tells his father that he can’t do what he is asking him to do any more and will renounce his succession. But a trip to the children’s hospital helps him formulate a plan where maybe he can choose who he will be in the monarchy. He talks to his father who is now seeing him for the man he is and tells him he loves Hank and when he goes back to Sourwood they meet again in a very funny scene, say they love each other and will work it out. When Hank goes to Ardenia with Nick there are more funny scenes but he is accepted and they realize they have become the main characters in their lives. I really enjoyed this story. Hank is a truly wonderful man although he had a bad marriage and hasn’t been able to find someone to be with since. He also just discovered he liked men but hadn’t dated much because he was afraid it would turn out like when he dated women. His son was wonderful and so were all his friends, especially the Comebacks. Nick had always followed all the rules that were placed on him but he wasn’t being his true self which made him lonely and unhappy. Being able to be anonymous in Sourwood was the best thing that happened to him, especially when he met Hank who in turn led him to become friends with lots of people. Being caught out was always in the back of his mind so he enjoyed the time he had but inevitably it finally came out which almost ended his relationship with Hank. Luckily both men found the strength within themselves to be who they wanted to be and to be together since they had fallen in love. The Comebacks, Brody, Millie, and all the others in Sourwood played a big part in the story and in helping them become who they wanted to be. There were also some very hilarious moments in the story where I was laughing out loud! I highly recommend this book, especially if you like stories involving a prince who just wants to be a normal man, a plumber who wants to be the star in his life, some fun moments in a small town where they meet each other and fall in love, and finding out who they were meant to be and a way to be together so they can be happy.

[nina]

— 2 stars ☆

I’m drunk on holiday-themed beverages and main character energy.

a cute little festive cozy low stakes holiday romcom. i don't care about holidays so this didn't hold as much charm for me but if you like insta love, christmas vibes, chaotic unserious shenanigans, over the top humor, and lots of pop culture references, you might love this!

the concept of this book sounded so cute and i was very excited for it, and while it is a fun and silly time, the execution fell flat and this was just not my cup of tea. it's my first book by this author and i won't be in a rush to read another.

between the writing style, the characters, and the humor, this kinda felt more like a college aged romance than a middle aged one (derogatory)

Like me, he isn’t a natural seducer. We’re not suave guys. But damn if it’s not working on me.

i love that there is genuine plus size rep here and it's not involving a plot around weight loss or deep insecurities. it's just part of the character and his love interest loves and desires him as he is. that's wonderful! i do think some of the descriptions were repetitive and unnecessary and it didn't need to be mentioned as frequently as it was, but if other books can wax poetic about a guy's abs and muscles a hundred times, i suppose this isn't all that different and i just haven't experienced a plus size body written in this way before.

His midsection deserves to be touched. I luxuriate in running my hands over him, obsessed with the muchness of Hank. His lumps and curves. I’m getting to make out and touch the guy I’m hot for. No wonder gay is a synonym for happy, because nothing else has ever brought me so much joy.

there are countless pop culture references sprinkled throughout this; think gilmore girls but make it gay and questionably executed. i'm not considering this a good or bad thing necessarily, but it got so frequent that it was hard to ignore and felt unnatural. heated rivalry (2025, tv show) being mentioned threw me off so bad since it's not even a year old yet! the schtick of mentioning the tv show 'friends' often was silly and i didn't mind it too much since that's my comfort show, but it was OFTEN. near the beginning, i expected this would be a cute mix of 'red white & royal blue', 'heated rivalry:, and idk, 'hannah montana'??? and then sprinkle in 'friends' and it's so my niche and i'm seated? but this was decidedly none of that.

this is definitely more of a romcom, with emphasis on the com, and books that intentionally try to be funny rarely do it for me. this was no exception! the 'humor' is constant, pretty silly and over the top, and more unfunny than not, for me. i had a few laughs, but i had far more eye rolls and sighs. this is a very unserious time and that's okay on occasion but it missed the mark for me here. even the things that were perhaps meant to be more emotional or taken more seriously (like the constant "main character energy"/"funny best friend" mentions & the villains of the story being diabolical) just felt ridiculous, though i understand what they were going for.

Is this what falling in love feels like? Is it merely a low-grade obsession with every mundane detail of someone else’s life?

it's not marketed as insta love, but it felt very insta lovey to me. they only cross paths briefly and are both interested immediately, then dating and exchanging love confessions within a couple weeks. i know they were on borrowed time, but it felt unbelievable with how surface level things felt overall. even by the end of the book when they're seriously discussing the future, they've known each other less than 3 months! and the fact that multiple of their biggest relationship milestones happened while they were drunk???? cmon now...

there are so many side characters i couldn't even tell them apart or attempt to keep up. it's fun that characters from previous books are included, but when you haven't read any of them it just gets messy having this many people involved.

as spoilery as my reviews might seem sometimes with lots of quotes and all my yapping, i don't usually like to include explicit spoilers with plot points and endings and whatnot, so i won't be specific now, but i do need to say that the ending of this was also extremely unserious!!!

“I’m the only person crying next to an inflatable Prancer.”
“Christmas isn’t just for joy. It’s for sadness, too."

[Grady]

‘Exposing yourself is a potential security hazard’ – Welcome to a royal goalie!

Indiana author A.J. Truman relived his university days – enhanced in his series Browerton University. Continuing the ‘school stage,’ he added high school – the South Rock High series, which revolves around a found family of nerdy gay high school teacher, the Single Dads Club Series, a very popular series, and now he enters the hockey rink with The Comebacks Series, a series about a friend group of single dads who were hockey all-stars in high school and looking to recapture the magic in their forties. Whether they win or lose, there's always a post-game beer. KING OF THE CREASE is the third volume, again proving his powers to write with a lilting humor and sensitivity while creating very fine erotica in his stories about gay romances.

AJ hints at the comedy to come as he condenses the plot for us, beginning with the team's new goalie is a secret prince: ‘As the Prince of Ardenia, I don’t want for anything – except freedom. Freedom from bodyguards and media scrutiny. Freedom to love who I want without bringing shame to the throne. So when I get a chance to live incognito while on a trip to America, I take it. It’ll be my royal rumspringa. I can be Nick, not Prince Nicholas. Then I meet a plumber named Hank. I’m instantly attracted – my kink for big-gutted American guys who drink beer fully activated. I join his local hockey team as their backup goalie…and secretly hope Hank and I can get freaky off the ice, too. Yet in between one-on-one practices, wild bar crawls, and lazy afternoons texting about Christmas movies, our easy camaraderie deepens into crackling chemistry. The only thing standing in our way is the tiny matter of my true identity. I’m due back in Ardenia on Christmas Eve, but the thought of getting on the palace jet without Hank makes me royally blue. I’m not sure if the king — or the entire world — will get on board with the prince and the plumber. Can I get the crown and the guy? I’m hoping for a Christmas miracle here.’

Introducing Nick with the opening lines is wise: ‘Despite being someone who’s spent his whole life being looked at, there’s nothing I love more than people watching. People think because I’m a literal prince, my life is inherently more fascinating. Not true. Unlike a Disney prince, I can’t even carry a tune. I believe everyone lives an interesting life, chock full of tiny details weaving together to form a mosaic of humanity…’ The flow of this humorous ‘romance’ keeps attention (and entertainment!) to the final page. This is a fine series – entertaining and thoughtful.

[Sunshine]

KING OF THE CREASE - AJ TRUMAN

This is book three in The Comebacks series, and a great continuation of the friends who played high school hockey together and meet up to play over 20 years later just because they enjoy hanging out and still love the game.

Hank is one of the sweetest guys around and doesn’t think being a plumber is anything to be ashamed of. It’s a skill that has helped him raise his son Brody and while it’s not the most glamorous job, it’s still paying the bills and occasionally brings welcome relief to those that unexpectedly need his help (like rescuing an engagement ring that went down the drain by accident).

Nicholas is a royal Prince who has to hide his true self because it’s not acceptable to be gay and his father, the King, would never understand why he couldn’t put his country first and marry a woman and produce heirs like every royal before him.

On a business trip to New York, Nicholas takes time to go and visit his college bestie, Millie, who convinces him to spend a few weeks with her family in Sourwood enjoying life in a small town for the holidays as a ‘normie’. Once his secret Agnes is able to convince the King he should have this time away from royal duties, Millie comes up with the back story Nick is her cousin visiting from Baltimore and tells him to channel his inner Chandler Bing from ‘Friends’ to pull off an American accent.

While Christmas tree shopping with Griff, Hank literally runs into Nick while carrying his purchase to his truck. Chaos ensues and the lust at first sight begins for them. Hearing that Hank belongs to a beer league hockey team called The Comebacks, Nick can’t help but want to hang out with him and says he used to play the game himself.

Great side characters and many references to make the readers laugh out loud from their adventures on the team and enjoying the local Christmas atmosphere in Sourwood. Hank even introduces Nick to his son Brody and loves when they totally get along.

When the truth eventually comes out, Nick must decide if he can live without Hank in his world or if there is a way to bring his kingdom and his father into this century and accept the fact the next King of Ardenia is in love with a commoner who happens to be a single dad, out of shape, but with a heart of gold.

AJ Truman always writes realistic characters the readers are immediately drawn to, and this book is no different. Must read Hallmark Christmas vibe story you won’t be able to put down!

[Harlee]

⭐️4.25

King of the Crease by AJ Truman is a warm and well grounded MM romance that pairs a burned out prince with a small town plumber after a genuinely charming accident with a Christmas tree. Prince Nick steps away from royal duty in search of an ordinary stretch of life in Upstate New York, and he finds it when Hank, a single father hauling a tree down the sidewalk, clips him with it. The conversation that follows ends with an invitation to join Hank's beer league hockey team, and their connection develops quickly but honestly from there, which is what gives the eventual reveal of Nick's identity its weight.

The ages of the leads are a significant part of why this book worked for me. Both men are in their late 30s and early 40s, with established lives and real histories behind them, and it is refreshing to see that demographic given a full romance rather than a supporting role. They communicate like adults, they make adult mistakes, and their growth reads as earned rather than convenient.

Hank is the emotional center of the novel. He has a golden retriever warmth to him, steady and open and generous with his affection, and the bear representation is a welcome and well drawn element of the story. His bisexual awakening is handled with care, framed through curiosity and desire rather than crisis, and Truman allows him to arrive at it in his own time instead of rushing him toward a label.

The heat level is steamy and firmly on the page, and it serves the relationship rather than interrupting it. The intimate scenes consistently move the two of them forward, and the physical arc tracks alongside the emotional one, which is my preferred version of spice in a romance.

The setting also deserves credit. The Upstate New York references are specific enough to carry a nostalgic charge for me, and the beer league hockey lends the book a grounded, unglamorous charm that plays well against the formality of Nick's public life.

Recommended for readers who want a hockey romance with older leads, thoughtful bear representation, a bisexual awakening handled with warmth, and a small town that feels genuinely lived in.

ARC received in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much to the author for the opportunity to read this early.

[Bill Bottomley]

I received a free copy. This review is submitted voluntarily.

Prince Nicholas of Ardenia is a lonely guy. After a scandal in high school where he kissed a guy who then sold him out to a scandal sheet. Occasionally he sees a sex worker to deal with his itches, but no emotion is involved. Hank is a plumber with a bit of a paunch and who lives in Sourdough, NY. He’s been divorced for a number of years from a woman who cheated on him regularly and is raising his son, Brody, who in Hank’s eyes is a genius. The two meet when Hank and his friend Griffin have bought a Christmas tree. Hank hits Nick in the head with the butt end of the tree, and after a conversation, invites Nick to his next hockey practice (both are goalies). They progressively see more of each other and fall in love. Nick keeps the fact that he’s a prince a secret until it blows up.

This my first time reading a book by the author, and I must say I quite enjoyed it. Secret princes are among my favourite tropes. Add in the fact that one of the MCs is like me, tapered in the wrong direction for those stylish shirts, and I loved reading it. Hank is also Nick’s exact type. Nick and his close friend have worked out his backstory, with him coming from Baltimore where Nick has actually never been. Under questioning, he says he played hockey for George Washington HS, figuring that since Americans admired the first President, he was sure every municipality has one. There’s quite a bit of humour throughout the book, but my favourite scene was the one where they tried to play a hockey game the day after members of both teams had been in a pub crawl. It was definitely guffaw-inducing. Hank is a total sweety who would do anything for a friend. Both know that there is a deadline on their love with Nick due to return to Ardenia Christmas Eve, but they avoid talking about it. They are eagerly assisted by members of their hockey team, the Comebacks, and Nick’s friend Millie.

This was a fun book, and I would like to read others by the author.

[Ana Silva]

I loved this so much! I’m a sucker for the prince and the pauper types of tropes. Especially when one of our MCs isn’t the typical drop dead gorgeous, abs of steel hunk.

I seriously disliked Hank’s ex. The way she always looked down on him and made him feel insecure, really grated on my nerves. She failed to see what an amazing human Hank was and an even more amazing father.

She might not have seen it, but Nick definitely did. He saw the wonderful man Hank was and basically fell in love with him at first sight. Hank was everything Nick wanted in a partner and more.

Spending a month in America to forget about his royal duties wasn’t supposed to turn into a life changing experience. He was supposed to just have fun and go back home. Instead, he found the love of his life and going back home was the last thing he wanted.

Hank had never felt such a strong connection with someone the way he felt with Nick. Nick made him feel cherished and appreciated. He made him believe that he was the lead not a side character in his own story. Having Nick look at him with desire despite his imperfect body, made Hank finally see himself in a better light.

I really loved that Hank had such strong support system. His friends were his biggest supporters and always encouraged him to be himself.

Nick had a taste of what it was like to have such an amazing group of friends as well. His time as a regular guy really made him see how much he was missing. Having Hank in his life brought him a joy he never thought he never expected.

Hank might have been just a regular man not fit to be royal, but he was the man who made Nick the happiest man alive. And at the end of the day, that was all that mattered.

“𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐤. 𝐈 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞. 𝐈 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐈 𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐈 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐭.”

I really enjoyed this story. This whole series just keeps getting better and better 🥰

[Harrison Hicks]

This is one series that I've definitely enjoyed a lot, with this latest entry from Truman continuing that winning streak.

in this one, Truman tackles the undercover royal trope as Prince Nicholas from Ardenia poses as Nick from Baltimore and ends up staying in Sourwood with an old friend of his. Once there he meets Hank, the goalie for a rec league hockey team called the Comebacks, and is invited by Hank to play with them while he's visiting Sourwood. From there, Nick and Hank find themselves attracted to one another, with Nick in particular finding Hank to particularly scrumptious.

I felt that the royal trope was dealt with fairly well, with the relationship between Nick and Hank being handled fairly well and in a believable manner. After all, there is a certain suspension of disbelief to be given in these types of books but Truman handles it well, including several of the supporting characters, including Nick's assistant, Agnes, and Hank's son, who turns out to be more observant than Hank realizes.

I felt that the ending was rushed a bit and relied a bit too much on miscommunication between the two men, with the two of them each thinking that they weren't worthy of the other, a trope that can be tiresome at times. However, the goodwill of the rest of the book and the characters themselves overcame my reservations to form quite the enjoyable novel.

One thing I've appreciated with this series is the reason for this group of men getting together, their recreational hockey league. Having been in a recreational league myself (a different sport), I've been impressed with Truman's depiction of the team members, including their comaraderie and competitive spirits even if it's not at a professional level. I'm definitely hoping for more entries in this series.

[Tara Bennett]

MY OPINION: The third book in this series, I was excited to see what the guys in this small town got up to. We are introduced to a new character as Hank’s love interest.

Hank is the goalie and is another of the original high school hockey team that we’ve seen before. To begin with, there are plenty of moments with the previous couples, and the overall friend group makes up The Comebacks Beer League. Hank has never left Sourwood, and he is happy about that. He went to trade school, became a plumber, got married, divorced, and has a brilliant son. Overall, he lives a life that satisfies him. He has a dad bod, but that’s okay because those friends and his kid (17-year-old) are filling in those gaps.

When a new guy comes to town and Hank accidentally hits him in the head with a tree, there is an instant connection. Hank invites him to be part of his friend group and, come to find out, Nick really likes Hank. Anything about his body that Hank sees as a problem is attractive and wanted by Nick.

There are a few problems that the two of them have to work out, though. Nick is only there temporarily and has a huge secret that he is keeping. They are falling for each other and want to be together, but it’s not that easy.

There are some wonderful open-door spice scenes. These two men have different things to work through. Hank feels like he has never become much of anything; his ex-wife lied and cheated, and he thinks his physique isn’t all that. Nick is tired of the life he is living and can’t anymore. Things need to change.

As these two find their way, we catch up with the hockey team and see what they are up to. I really enjoyed the book and returning to Sourwood. This is a great story about men who don’t fit into the box. It certainly can be read on its own, but I recommend that you read all three.

[MarcoPoloReads]

King of the Crease is book three in AJ Truman’s Comebacks series, and OMG… Hank and Nick completely stole my heart!
Hank is a single dad dealing with life, his son growing up, and the absolute WORST ex (AJ, I loathed her AJ lol). Nick is the crown prince of Ardenia, desperate for a little escape from royal life and just wanting to experience something real without the pressures of royal life. While Nick visits Sourwood, these two have an unexpected meet-cute, and the chemistry is undeniable.
I loved how supportive and thoughtful they were with each other, they both needed someone to simply be there for them and that’s who they turned out to be for each other. So much tender, sweet and vulnerable moments in the book but let’s be honest…the spice was so good! Their steamy scenes had plenty of heat and tension, and they felt like such a natural part of their relationship. I really loved seeing familiar faces make cameos in this story, it was good getting glimpses of where they are now.
Listen, this book is basically a Hallmark holiday movie with royalty, single dad feels, festive chaos, Friends references, a Love Actually-esque moment, familiar faces, tons of laughs, and way more spice than your average Hallmark movie could ever get away with.
Honestly, this might be one of my new favorites from AJ!
King of the Crease releases 8/26, get those preorders in, friends!
Thank you again AJ for sending me this finished copy, it’s such a great addition to the series and my shelves!

[Marion]

This is the third book in The Comebacks series and it can be enjoyed as a standalone read. This is the story of Hank and Nicholas. Hank is plumber and divorced dad. He loves his son and enjoys his job. His ex is a miserable person and enjoys taking the joy out of Hank's life. But he has one thing that is his alone. The Comebacks. They are parts of the winning hockey team from years earlier who have gotten together to play in a local league for fun. Hank is the goalie. While getting his Christmas tree he accidentally runs into Nicholas. Nicholas is the Crown Prince of Ardenia. he is in Sourwood visiting his best friend. Nicholas is also being crushed under the demands of being the Crown Prince and all the duties that come along with it. His bestie convinces him to spend time with her in Sourwood until the holidays. Amazingly, he agrees. With an interesting first meet, Hank invites Nicholas to join their hockey league. He can load equipment and give him a few pointers if needed. This is their story. The book is well written and easy to read. I received a complementary advanced review copy of this book from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review. I really enjoyed this book. There is instant chemistry between Hank and Nicholas. I loved seeing Nicholas being able to relax and enjoy life as just a regular man on the street. There is a lot of humor in this book. You will be smiling as you read it. This is like a Hallmark Christmas story that you will sure to enjoy. A sweet and funny holiday read.

[Lia]

MM
Dual POV
Hockey romance
Beer league
Holiday season
Single dad
Secret identity
Insta-love

Rating: 3.5/5 - this isn't a book I see myself re-reading but I had a good time and really enjoyed it
🌶️: 3/5 - there were a hefty handful of explicit intimate scenes
🏒: 4/5 - there were a good amount of hockey related scenes
🎄: 4/5 - solid Christmas season activities represented

TLDR: Put this on your holiday TBR

This was a very cute holiday rom-com. It really hit the christmasy vibe for me. It also had a really good amount of hockey and I was impressed by that. I have said this so many times but I love the way that AJ Truman writes Parenthood. If he writes a book with parents in it, I'm reading it. The way the ex-wife was handled was not my favorite. Didn't really bother me until the very end. But I think that's a me thing and the character isn't completely unrealistic unfortunately. The characters were super sweet. I really enjoyed the prince's self-discovery and the plumbers coming into his own and recognizing that he's always had his s*** on lock. Overall, this is an adorable rom-com and I would probably consider it a holiday romance versus a hockey romance. A holiday romance with a good dash of hockey.

Ultimately, I'd recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a Christmas romcom.

Thank you to the author and Neon Rainbow Reviews for the advanced review copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

[DeniReadsMostlyMM]

***ARC Review***

This is my honest and voluntary review.

This is the third book in A.J. Truman’s series The Comebacks. It’s festive, sweet, sexy, and reminiscent of a Hallmark movie. I absolutely adored it. I love how authentic Truman’s characters come across. It’s a real talent.

Nick and Hank are a top tier pairing. Nick is trying to have something for himself in a life beholden to his princely duty. Hank is sincere and supportive. He’s a fantastic dad to Brody and friend to many. Hank has been wronged in the past by his ex-wife and absolutely deserves someone who accepts him as he is and treats him kindly. His exuberant energy is infectious and I love how he shows up for the people he cares about.

Nick is polished and compassionate. He is in desperate need of a break from his regal life and wants to be real with someone. It was amazing watching him blossom as a “normie.” The is a heartfelt connection between Hank and Nick and I loved their meet cute. Both Hank and Nick have some insecurities that they are dealing with, but they manage to overcome them and help one another achieve the HEA they both deserve. It was great seeing other characters from this series (and others) in Nick and Hank’s story. It was also great meeting Agnes and Alfred.

This story will make you smile, laugh, and swoon. There are so genuinely heartwarming moments. This book will also make you want to watch a boatload of Christmas movies. Enjoy. I sure did!

[Sabrina]

Being the prince of a small country is not an easy life. Nick has spent his life following the rules and never truly being himself. He’s tired. He’s lonely. And he needs a desperate break. So when his friend Millie tells him to stay with her and her family for the holiday season, he finds himself agreeing. He’ll spend the next few weeks pretending to be normal. For once, he can just be Nick. He just never expects to fall in love. Hank is used to never being the main character of someone’s story. Always the comic relief. His divorce years ago may have been messy, but he is so past it and made sure to be the best dad he can be to his son. He is the sweetest guy and when he meets Nick, he doesn’t hesitate to invite him to play with his hockey team. The chemistry between them is insane from the moment they meet and it doesn’t take long for them act on it. But Nick knows it is only a matter of time until he must reveal the truth to Hank about who he is. He can only hope that Hank won’t hate him for it. These two were so adorable! They were perfect for one another. Being truly themselves with one another with zero regrets. Minus the hidden true identity of Nick, but for once Nick could be himself without hiding such important parts of himself for the sake of duty. This was sweet and funny and a perfect holiday romance!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Janet]

Side characters for the win!

I enjoy most of the books I read for different reasons each time, obviously, but this story completely pulled me in and wrapped me in a warm blanket of love and affection. It's a feel-good book, a read that I didn't see coming, because A.J. pulled out all the stops for Hank and created a memorable character who felt so real, I wouldn't be surprised if he was standing behind me, reading over my shoulder and laughing at his own jokes.
I adore Hank. He's a truly sweet man, a wonderful father, a great friend, a diamond that shines brightly, a man to count on, self-deprecating and, thanks to his viciously awful ex-shrew, thinks he's a side character but he's absolutely not. He's good to everybody, always ready with a smile and a joke, his heart as big as his stature, and he loves fiercely. His relationship with his son, Brody, is wonderful. He's just the best dad.
Nick is a sweetheart too, running away from his royal duties for a short while but actually, unknowingly, running towards his happiness when Hank literally runs into him.
Their love story is so beautiful. Instant attraction, quiet moments together, lots of laughter, tenderness, Christmas films, romance, and completely believable that a prince could fall for a plumber (or, more accurately, THIS plumber).
Hank is the king of Nick's heart but he may just be the king of mine too.

[Jay]

You’re never too old to change your life!

The only remaining single member and goalie of the Comebacks team, Hank is a ray of sunshine even as he sees the clouds of an empty nest on the horizon when his son heads off to college on the other side of the country. A true blue collar man with a heart of gold, Hank loves his son, his friends, his clients, his town, and tries really hard not to hate his cheating, emotionally abusive, ex-wife.

Nick needs to escape the prison of his life and the gloom of a loveless future in the closet. He may be royalty, but he has no power and no freedom to be anything but what tradition, and his father, demands. Throwing caution to the wind while visiting his best friend in Sourwood, Prince Nicholas becomes Nick the accountant from Baltimore, and almost immediately gets knocked on his ass by a rogue christmas tree carried by Hank.

It may be a slushy, cold, painful meet-cute, but the connection between the closeted prince and the bi-curious plumber is instantaneous. Through discussions of food, goalie training, movie nights, and unwise pub crawls, the commoner and the royal stumble their way into true love. This royal/commoner, small town, fake identity, mm sports romance is sweet and spicy and may be the recipe to fill the emptiness in two wounded men’s lives.

[Anthony Exum]

I have read almost all of Truman's Sourwood stories and they are all peak MM romance. I was lucky enough to enough to receive an ARC of his newest edition to his Comebacks series. This book is a solidly good story with the wonderful characters we have come to know and love. What I like most is Truman's unapologetic look at size not being an issue when it relates to attraction. Nick knows what he likes and what he wants. I always appreciate the inclusion of single dads that run the spectrum of sexuality. His portrayal of different sexualities through his works is something that is missing from other romance. Another component missing from most MM romance, that Truman is so good at, is the male gaze. A lot of promoted MM romance is written by and, it seems, for the female reader. However, it is in the spicier scenes that you can tell the difference. Describing MM intimacy is something that has to be experienced in order to faithfully portray it in print. Truman is great at describing the sex amongst men, and this book is no different. He is somehow able to describe the insecurity and trepidation that comes with meeting someone, and in Nick's case, finding AND ACCEPTING your true self no matter your position in life.

[SNik]

Third in series (The Comebacks), but can be read as a standalone. Secret royalty. Single dad. Teammates. Found family. Slow burn. Dual POV.

Trying to experience a quick moment of freedom from his stifling life and royal duties, Nick is literally knocked over by the local small town’s super friendly plumber. Inviting the visiting Nick to join his rec hockey team seems like a nice thing to do, and Hank can’t deny his building attraction to the man who says he’s an accountant from Baltimore.

What a fun and sweet story! Hank is the ultimate golden retriever character and Nick blossoms from his friendship and then romantic attention. Both these characters were likable, one not feeling worthy and the other forced by duty to live an unauthentic life. Hank may not feel like a main character but he was so fun to root for and he’s everything Nick could ever want. I really appreciated that Nick finds strength and sticks to his convictions risking everything and that Hank is willing to do anything to stay by his side. If this is the finale to the series it was a really entertaining read, the found family of characters were loyal and supportive and what better way than to have one of the character’s have their HEA by being whisked away to live in a castle. 4.5 rounded up