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The Boys of Winter
When The Lady Of His Life Leaves... The Gentleman Of His Dreams Walks In
Dan is a professional hockey player at the top of his game – but when his wife up and leaves him out of nowhere, it feels like game, set and match. How is he supposed to get through his upcoming games with an apartment empty of furniture, and his wife off sleeping with some baseball player she's supposedly been seeing for a while now?
Turns out, however, that Dan's life isn't finished loading things onto him yet. When Dan's college flame Jeremy walks back onto the scene, after years of Dan convincing himself that he's not gay, and that his father was right about everything? Well, it completely screws his head up. The ghost of something special and more intimate is definitely hanging around him, but he thought his days of wanting men were long behind him.
No question about it, Dan's life is a mess – but maybe if he follows his instincts, they'll take him where he needs to go. After all, they've never failed him in a hockey game. They should know what to do. Right?
The only problem is, Jeremy isn't the only obstacle walking around Dan's life right now – and at least Jeremy is harmless. Dan's wife may have unceremoniously left him, but she's definitely not done screwing with him yet…
Dan is a professional hockey player at the top of his game – but when his wife up and leaves him out of nowhere, it feels like game, set and match. How is he supposed to get through his upcoming games with an apartment empty of furniture, and his wife off sleeping with some baseball player she's supposedly been seeing for a while now?
Turns out, however, that Dan's life isn't finished loading things onto him yet. When Dan's college flame Jeremy walks back onto the scene, after years of Dan convincing himself that he's not gay, and that his father was right about everything? Well, it completely screws his head up. The ghost of something special and more intimate is definitely hanging around him, but he thought his days of wanting men were long behind him.
No question about it, Dan's life is a mess – but maybe if he follows his instincts, they'll take him where he needs to go. After all, they've never failed him in a hockey game. They should know what to do. Right?
The only problem is, Jeremy isn't the only obstacle walking around Dan's life right now – and at least Jeremy is harmless. Dan's wife may have unceremoniously left him, but she's definitely not done screwing with him yet…
1731 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
48 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 11, 2020
I really tried to like this and gave it every chance because I really liked the plot premise. But in the end this was just very disappointing. The characters are so one-dimensional and there's never any tension of any kind developed between them at all.
Even the breakup between Dan and his wife, Sarah, was flat. Then Dan goes to this party and meets the former love of his life. All of this should be exciting but it was boring for this reader.
For this type of story there has got to be angst, tension, passion or it doesn't have a chance of succeeding. The concept was great and there was great potential, but I can't recommend this one.
Even the breakup between Dan and his wife, Sarah, was flat. Then Dan goes to this party and meets the former love of his life. All of this should be exciting but it was boring for this reader.
For this type of story there has got to be angst, tension, passion or it doesn't have a chance of succeeding. The concept was great and there was great potential, but I can't recommend this one.
March 10, 2019
I gave this second chance hockey story 4.5*! It was a very good (inspiring?) story that tugged at the heartstrings and made me want to hug each man and sniffle a teary "Aww!" It began with an ex-wife (who was cheating with a ball player: who's the bitch now, lady??) but it really began yrs. earlier with dear ("cough, cough") 'ol dad and his $. It's a toss up who to despise more but then they reconnect, no hard feelings & they grow old together. (While I fantasize about the HUGE, MEGA fisticuffs these two big, brawny hockey aficianados are going to have in their future. YEY!)
April 10, 2018
It is an okay book. Akthough Dan and Jeremy are cute, and the romance is believable, the events happen way too fast. That, and the sudden hate Sarah develops for Dan, are my only conplaints. It isn't much, and I truly like the way the story unfolded
August 27, 2020
It was so so
Want to read
January 17, 2021Page 1 annoyed me with hockey being played on a “pitch”. Had trouble getting into from there and didn’t finish.
October 14, 2020
If you don't know anything about hockey don't write a hockey romance. How hard is that? There are many many many other sports. The story itself had a few moments here and there that weren't completely terrible but then the absolute lack of hockey knowledge would rear its head and take me right back out of the story.
I second one of the other reviewers: go to Archive of Our Own and read hockey fiction written by hockey fans. (Just to be clear, there is no such thing as a "pitch" in hockey. Literally nowhere in the world is the ice/rink called a "pitch". It's not cricket, people.)
I second one of the other reviewers: go to Archive of Our Own and read hockey fiction written by hockey fans. (Just to be clear, there is no such thing as a "pitch" in hockey. Literally nowhere in the world is the ice/rink called a "pitch". It's not cricket, people.)
June 26, 2019
Beautifully told story with believable situations and likable characters that evolve. So much in a short story, yet it didn't feel rushed.
And keep this editor! The POV remained on point, the character names and sexes didn't flip flop, and the sentences flowed; all in all, very well edited.
And keep this editor! The POV remained on point, the character names and sexes didn't flip flop, and the sentences flowed; all in all, very well edited.
February 12, 2020
A Life Worth Living:
By Korkoi -
This book is about more than romance. It deals with heartache, family expectations, betrayal, blackmail, personal growth, truth and happiness. It is a book you will definitely enjoy reading and teaches us a lesson about strength and conviction.
By Korkoi -
This book is about more than romance. It deals with heartache, family expectations, betrayal, blackmail, personal growth, truth and happiness. It is a book you will definitely enjoy reading and teaches us a lesson about strength and conviction.
April 24, 2023
Two gay hockey players in college, but one has a religious, demanding, and bullying father that forces him to go straight. Years later those two young men meet again and so we get this lovely little tale and they get closure.
October 23, 2019
Simple story of a
March 18, 2021
Breaking Away by Van Cole. Good m/m romance short story!
July 19, 2021
I had a hard time with the POV of this book. I felt like I was listening to a documentary narrator, people and situations described at a distance.
Read
August 4, 2024DNF at 26%
January 2, 2025
This should’ve gone through one more editing and proofreading.
January 11, 2023
What a mess! This story needs a complete re-edit...
Wrong sporting (ice hockey) terminology used - was this sport even researched by the author??
Missed opportunity, as there was the makings of a good story here, especially Dan's college back story involving his homophobic father.
Wrong sporting (ice hockey) terminology used - was this sport even researched by the author??
Missed opportunity, as there was the makings of a good story here, especially Dan's college back story involving his homophobic father.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2016
Waterdown
Couldn't even get through thus book its that terrible. The charters have no emotion what so ever. They are also one dimensional and stereotypical. Plus there is no sex like any at all Nada, zip,zilch and elementary school kissing will not be reading anymore books by this author
Couldn't even get through thus book its that terrible. The charters have no emotion what so ever. They are also one dimensional and stereotypical. Plus there is no sex like any at all Nada, zip,zilch and elementary school kissing will not be reading anymore books by this author
October 20, 2016
This rating is only for The Boys in Winter by Van Cole, which I enjoyed a lot. For all M/M fans the rest of the book is turning out to be M/F while I also like that genre it annoys me when I'm not aware of what the rest of the bundle entails.
March 22, 2016
A Good Read
I liked the story about Dan and Jeremy and their journey through life after their breakup in college. A Good read.
I liked the story about Dan and Jeremy and their journey through life after their breakup in college. A Good read.
July 20, 2016
Potentially interesting but too short and underdeveloped.
Want to read
July 26, 2019amazon 2077 pages
https://www.amazon.com/Gay-Romance-Sp...
https://www.amazon.com/Gay-Romance-Sp...
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews