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Colors of Love #1
Lost in Indigo
Mathieu Beresford was so close to seeing his dream come true.
The thirty-eight-year-old captain of the Buffalo Surge had led his team to the final round of the playoffs with his aggressive defensive play and leadership. During the first game of the championship series, he was taken down, and his leg snapped upon impact with the boards. From his hospital bed, Mathieu watched his team go on to win it all.
Adrift in anger, resentment, and the new direction of his life, he returns to his mansion along the St. Lawrence River. Alone and sulking, Mathieu is not prepared for Indigo Neu to enter his life. The genderflux twenty-year-old botany major signs on to play nursemaid, confidant, and groundskeeper over the summer and slowly leads Mathieu out of his confusion––one tender smile and touch at a time.
The deeper Mathieu falls, the more he wonders if being lost might not be so bad after all.
The thirty-eight-year-old captain of the Buffalo Surge had led his team to the final round of the playoffs with his aggressive defensive play and leadership. During the first game of the championship series, he was taken down, and his leg snapped upon impact with the boards. From his hospital bed, Mathieu watched his team go on to win it all.
Adrift in anger, resentment, and the new direction of his life, he returns to his mansion along the St. Lawrence River. Alone and sulking, Mathieu is not prepared for Indigo Neu to enter his life. The genderflux twenty-year-old botany major signs on to play nursemaid, confidant, and groundskeeper over the summer and slowly leads Mathieu out of his confusion––one tender smile and touch at a time.
The deeper Mathieu falls, the more he wonders if being lost might not be so bad after all.
264 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 8, 2018
115 people are currently reading
459 people want to read
About the author
V.L. Locey
212 books728 followersV.L. Locey loves worn jeans, Dr. Who, Torchwood, belly laughs, yoga, reading and writing lusty tales, walking, Greek mythology, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.)
She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, and a flock of assorted domestic fowl.
When not writing lusty tales, she can be found enjoying her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, fresh cup of java in hand.
Sign up for my newsletter here: http://vllocey.com/Newsletter
She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, and a flock of assorted domestic fowl.
When not writing lusty tales, she can be found enjoying her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, fresh cup of java in hand.
Sign up for my newsletter here: http://vllocey.com/Newsletter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
August 3, 2018
I liked many things about this story:
- Canada (because Reasons, and also Justin Trudeau)
- Hockey players (I can never get enough, and Mat was delicious.)
- Genderflux character (I adored Indigo, and the word "genderflux" should be self-explanatory: it's gender in flux, meaning depending on the day, the person may feel more masculine or feminine or neither. Indigo tends to go for brighter, flowy clothes and makeup, and he smells like a tropical garden.)
- Hurt/comfort at its finest (Mat is down for the count with a busted leg, and Indigo is there to cheer him up. Indigo wants to do more, but Evil Nurse keeps him away.)
- SCORCHING SEX (Just. S0. Much. Hotness.)
- HEA! *swoons* because OMFG, that epilogue was everything.
I would have preferred a dual POV, but only Mat narrates the story. I feel like I got to know Indigo well through Mat's musings, but I wish I could have seen Mat the way Indigo sees him.
There were a few typos (mostly missing letters), but overall, the writing was accessible .
My biggest complaint is the Evil Nurse. That woman was fucking vicious: cruel, judgey, self-righteous. And, yeah, people like that exist. What annoyed me was Mat's reaction, or rather lack thereof, to the nurse's savageness. I mean, the woman had it out for Indigo and caused conflict and drama from day one. She kept Mat locked up and tried to subdue him by drugging him, yet Mat put up with it for weeks.
Here's this big, tough hockey player, team captain nonetheless, and he just allowed the abuse. He finally stood up to her, but the craziness went on way too long.
I'm glad Indigo refused to be a doormat, and Mat did do right by him in the end, after being a colossal dickwad first though. I loved Mat's big gesture.
Gimme more books in this series, please!
- Canada (because Reasons, and also Justin Trudeau)
- Hockey players (I can never get enough, and Mat was delicious.)
- Genderflux character (I adored Indigo, and the word "genderflux" should be self-explanatory: it's gender in flux, meaning depending on the day, the person may feel more masculine or feminine or neither. Indigo tends to go for brighter, flowy clothes and makeup, and he smells like a tropical garden.)
- Hurt/comfort at its finest (Mat is down for the count with a busted leg, and Indigo is there to cheer him up. Indigo wants to do more, but Evil Nurse keeps him away.)
- SCORCHING SEX (Just. S0. Much. Hotness.)
- HEA! *swoons* because OMFG, that epilogue was everything.
I would have preferred a dual POV, but only Mat narrates the story. I feel like I got to know Indigo well through Mat's musings, but I wish I could have seen Mat the way Indigo sees him.
There were a few typos (mostly missing letters), but overall, the writing was accessible .
My biggest complaint is the Evil Nurse. That woman was fucking vicious: cruel, judgey, self-righteous. And, yeah, people like that exist. What annoyed me was Mat's reaction, or rather lack thereof, to the nurse's savageness. I mean, the woman had it out for Indigo and caused conflict and drama from day one. She kept Mat locked up and tried to subdue him by drugging him, yet Mat put up with it for weeks.
Here's this big, tough hockey player, team captain nonetheless, and he just allowed the abuse. He finally stood up to her, but the craziness went on way too long.
I'm glad Indigo refused to be a doormat, and Mat did do right by him in the end, after being a colossal dickwad first though. I loved Mat's big gesture.
Gimme more books in this series, please!
i-m-a-quitter
August 6, 2018DNF @ 24%
This one didn't work for me.
Sadly, I felt zero connection with the MCs.
And that nurse. Don't even get me started on nurse Rampette *insert eye roll*
This one didn't work for me.
Sadly, I felt zero connection with the MCs.
And that nurse. Don't even get me started on nurse Rampette *insert eye roll*
![Profile Image for annob [on hiatus].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1674812294i%2F68231680._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
dnf
July 30, 2023Dnf @19%
Good heavens, the plot was so unbelievable. In my view, a pro athlete with a broken leg would get a skilled physiotherapist with a physical training program to get him back in the hockey rink asap. In this book he gets an extremist Christian old school nurse who keep him sedated into unconsciousness, laying immobile in his bed for weeks. Physically harming the athlete more than helping him, yet she's described as "very professional". I just couldn't continue.
The only bright spot in the story was the genderfluid character Indigo.
Good heavens, the plot was so unbelievable. In my view, a pro athlete with a broken leg would get a skilled physiotherapist with a physical training program to get him back in the hockey rink asap. In this book he gets an extremist Christian old school nurse who keep him sedated into unconsciousness, laying immobile in his bed for weeks. Physically harming the athlete more than helping him, yet she's described as "very professional". I just couldn't continue.
The only bright spot in the story was the genderfluid character Indigo.
July 18, 2018
4.5*
This is a great opener for this new series from V.L. Locey which are all going to be stand-alone romances.
Indigo is fabulous, such an intriguingly drawn character, self-assured but also vulnerable, a dirty talker but also loving to snuggle up and just talk. I fell for him big time.
Mat, on the other hand, was a bit harder to build up feelings for. He's quite reserved and he's in the closet, he's almost 20 years older than Indigo and I spent quite a bit of the time wanting to knock some sense into him.
There's a great bunch of secondary characters and I loved the setting up on the St Lawrence River where Mat goes home to his island, licking his ice hockey wounds and unexpectedly falls in love.
I liked that this book felt grounded in the reality of how a gay ice hockey player would be such a huge deal and how Mat didn't want to be the trail blazer.
Obviously I'd love it even more if being a gay sportsman wasn't a huge deal in the first place but I think V.L. handles this perfectly in the narrative and shows the bone deep fears Mat harbours.
Altogether a truly hot read, this book is also an emotionally connected love story between men who shouldn't work on paper but who are perfect for each other.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
This is a great opener for this new series from V.L. Locey which are all going to be stand-alone romances.
Indigo is fabulous, such an intriguingly drawn character, self-assured but also vulnerable, a dirty talker but also loving to snuggle up and just talk. I fell for him big time.
Mat, on the other hand, was a bit harder to build up feelings for. He's quite reserved and he's in the closet, he's almost 20 years older than Indigo and I spent quite a bit of the time wanting to knock some sense into him.
There's a great bunch of secondary characters and I loved the setting up on the St Lawrence River where Mat goes home to his island, licking his ice hockey wounds and unexpectedly falls in love.
I liked that this book felt grounded in the reality of how a gay ice hockey player would be such a huge deal and how Mat didn't want to be the trail blazer.
Obviously I'd love it even more if being a gay sportsman wasn't a huge deal in the first place but I think V.L. handles this perfectly in the narrative and shows the bone deep fears Mat harbours.
Altogether a truly hot read, this book is also an emotionally connected love story between men who shouldn't work on paper but who are perfect for each other.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
September 13, 2018
It seems that my Canadianism is showing again, because...
right off the setting for this one had me wanting to read it…you guessed it…CANADA!!! And to boot one of the most beautiful places in Canada the Thousand Islands located on the St. Lawrence River.
So we’re off to a lovely start with this setting and then I got to meet Indigo…I loved Indigo for so very many reasons. I loved that he was unapologetically who he was. Indigo refers to himself as ‘genderflux’ and rather than take a bunch of space up here in my review explaining this I’m going to suggest that you do as I did and go ask google. I admit I had a general idea of what this term was but being curious I wanted to know why ‘genderflux’ wasn’t quite ‘genderfluid’.
So back to Indigo who is a young, gay man who also identifies as ‘genderflux’ and well…he’s just special. He’s one of those people who has that something extra special and knowing him makes a person’s life that little bit better and while he’s confident, he’s not conceited or arrogant. Indigo’s come to ‘Bere’s Den’ for the summer to earn money for school, he’s a botany major, taking care of the grounds and helping out with Mathieu Beresford’s care.
Following some pretty serious surgery on his leg after being taken down during a game in the play-offs that resulted in a broken leg…a very complicated broken leg. Mathieu’s the captain of the ‘Buffalo Surge’ and at 38 years old he’s had a solid and successful hockey career and all he really needs to make it perfect is a Stanley Cup win to his name…sadly his team goes on to achieve this while Mat’s in a hospital bed.
As Mat and Indigo spend time together and get to know each other Mat begins to question his life and the choices that have led to him being so deep in the closet that finding the door is more akin to trying to follow a maze without a map.
Along with the MCs we were given an interesting cast of supporting characters from Mat’s friend and beard, Fran. I loved Fran, she was confident and outspoken the kind of friend everyone needs…she gave Mat the truth rather than what he wanted to hear when he sought out her counsel. I also liked Indigo’s father who was Mat’s caretaker as well as his friend and then there was Mat’s agent Arn…while he wasn’t perfect, he was Mat’s friend and what came out of his mouth wasn’t always the right thing to say it was truly never said with malice but with Mat’s best interest at heart…albeit misguided at times, but still he wasn’t a bad person by any means. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the owner of the ‘Buffalo Surge’ that man was a bag ‘o’ dicks! and last but not least there was Mat’s nurse. Sorry I honestly can’t remember her name and can’t be bothered to look it up but she was definitely an interesting character. Even though I felt sorry for her, this didn’t stop me from disliking her immensely as well.
There was so much about this story that I enjoyed and top of the list is the dynamics between Indigo and Mat. While Indigo is the younger partner in this May/December romance. He’s also in many ways the person who truly knows himself the best. He knows who he is and what he wants and most importantly of all he knows that as much as he loves Mat, he needs to love himself as well. Mat knows that he loves Indigo and that what they have is something special. What he doesn’t know is if he can be the man that Indigo deserves but he really wants to try.
This wasn’t necessarily a perfect representation of how the sports world is…specifically the world of professional hockey, I liked that this story gave a more realistic representation of the challenges that a gay man would face as a professional hockey player. For Mat being out and a professional hockey player was never really an option, so his world was about choices…out and proud, personal happiness or professional success, hockey or Indigo…maybe, one day these won’t be choices that a person has to make. But for Mat that day hasn’t arrived.
This wasn’t just a story about falling in love, for Mat it was also a story about finding yourself and being true to who you are, I admit that while I loved Indigo from the start it took me a while to warm up to the character of Mat. Not that he didn’t evoke any emotion in me…nope, I can honestly say that Mat made me angry, annoyed and frustrated on more than one occasion because amongst other things he sometimes felt like the king of the pity party, but he also had me cheering for him and smiling as he traveled his own path of self awareness and personal growth.
‘Lost in Indigo’ is the first book in V. L. Locey’s new series ‘Colors of Love’ and it’s definitely a strong enough start to have me wanting to see what comes next…and maybe I read the blurb at the end of this one but either way sign me up for the journey.
************************
A copy of ‘Lost in Indigo’ was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
right off the setting for this one had me wanting to read it…you guessed it…CANADA!!! And to boot one of the most beautiful places in Canada the Thousand Islands located on the St. Lawrence River.
So we’re off to a lovely start with this setting and then I got to meet Indigo…I loved Indigo for so very many reasons. I loved that he was unapologetically who he was. Indigo refers to himself as ‘genderflux’ and rather than take a bunch of space up here in my review explaining this I’m going to suggest that you do as I did and go ask google. I admit I had a general idea of what this term was but being curious I wanted to know why ‘genderflux’ wasn’t quite ‘genderfluid’.
So back to Indigo who is a young, gay man who also identifies as ‘genderflux’ and well…he’s just special. He’s one of those people who has that something extra special and knowing him makes a person’s life that little bit better and while he’s confident, he’s not conceited or arrogant. Indigo’s come to ‘Bere’s Den’ for the summer to earn money for school, he’s a botany major, taking care of the grounds and helping out with Mathieu Beresford’s care.
Following some pretty serious surgery on his leg after being taken down during a game in the play-offs that resulted in a broken leg…a very complicated broken leg. Mathieu’s the captain of the ‘Buffalo Surge’ and at 38 years old he’s had a solid and successful hockey career and all he really needs to make it perfect is a Stanley Cup win to his name…sadly his team goes on to achieve this while Mat’s in a hospital bed.
As Mat and Indigo spend time together and get to know each other Mat begins to question his life and the choices that have led to him being so deep in the closet that finding the door is more akin to trying to follow a maze without a map.
Along with the MCs we were given an interesting cast of supporting characters from Mat’s friend and beard, Fran. I loved Fran, she was confident and outspoken the kind of friend everyone needs…she gave Mat the truth rather than what he wanted to hear when he sought out her counsel. I also liked Indigo’s father who was Mat’s caretaker as well as his friend and then there was Mat’s agent Arn…while he wasn’t perfect, he was Mat’s friend and what came out of his mouth wasn’t always the right thing to say it was truly never said with malice but with Mat’s best interest at heart…albeit misguided at times, but still he wasn’t a bad person by any means. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the owner of the ‘Buffalo Surge’ that man was a bag ‘o’ dicks! and last but not least there was Mat’s nurse. Sorry I honestly can’t remember her name and can’t be bothered to look it up but she was definitely an interesting character. Even though I felt sorry for her, this didn’t stop me from disliking her immensely as well.
There was so much about this story that I enjoyed and top of the list is the dynamics between Indigo and Mat. While Indigo is the younger partner in this May/December romance. He’s also in many ways the person who truly knows himself the best. He knows who he is and what he wants and most importantly of all he knows that as much as he loves Mat, he needs to love himself as well. Mat knows that he loves Indigo and that what they have is something special. What he doesn’t know is if he can be the man that Indigo deserves but he really wants to try.
This wasn’t necessarily a perfect representation of how the sports world is…specifically the world of professional hockey, I liked that this story gave a more realistic representation of the challenges that a gay man would face as a professional hockey player. For Mat being out and a professional hockey player was never really an option, so his world was about choices…out and proud, personal happiness or professional success, hockey or Indigo…maybe, one day these won’t be choices that a person has to make. But for Mat that day hasn’t arrived.
This wasn’t just a story about falling in love, for Mat it was also a story about finding yourself and being true to who you are, I admit that while I loved Indigo from the start it took me a while to warm up to the character of Mat. Not that he didn’t evoke any emotion in me…nope, I can honestly say that Mat made me angry, annoyed and frustrated on more than one occasion because amongst other things he sometimes felt like the king of the pity party, but he also had me cheering for him and smiling as he traveled his own path of self awareness and personal growth.
‘Lost in Indigo’ is the first book in V. L. Locey’s new series ‘Colors of Love’ and it’s definitely a strong enough start to have me wanting to see what comes next…and maybe I read the blurb at the end of this one but either way sign me up for the journey.
************************
A copy of ‘Lost in Indigo’ was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2018
Lost in Indigo make me rage for almost half the book. Let me just say 'Closet case alert!' We have hockey star, Mat who is late 30s, on the brink of his retirement. He is suffering a career ending injury, but even without the injury, we know his time will come to an end sooner of later. Mat returned to his island to recuperate. An island!
Indigo is his ground-keeper's son, who is almost 20 years his junior, who was at the island during his summer break. Indigo is a gender fluid, who loves to embrace his feminine side, much to the ire of Mat's nurse. Yeah, we have a homophobic nurse who doesn't refrain from telling Indigo she loathe him and she keep telling Mat that she's praying for his soul. OMG! I hate her so much. Mat also got a homophobic agent, Arn. But the thing that make my blood boil was how Mat enable these bigots. Yeah, once awhile, Mat might take an effort to correct them, but mostly he just roll with it. To be honest, I don't know why did Indigo even like his grumpy ass. Mat is a coward for like 80% of the book. I want to be understanding of his plight, he is not the first nor the last athlete to be in the closet, but I'm just so mad about his action. Indigo deserves better than his sorry ass.
Did Mat redeem himself in the end? Sorta. I thought it was kinda too late in the book. I'm not happy with the way Indigo deliver the ultimatum either. We don't get Indigo's POV, so I'm not sure how serious is he about the ultimatum or he just wanted to get rid of Mat. It was never explained, but Mat did it and they get their HEA. I'm still mad though.
Indigo is his ground-keeper's son, who is almost 20 years his junior, who was at the island during his summer break. Indigo is a gender fluid, who loves to embrace his feminine side, much to the ire of Mat's nurse. Yeah, we have a homophobic nurse who doesn't refrain from telling Indigo she loathe him and she keep telling Mat that she's praying for his soul. OMG! I hate her so much. Mat also got a homophobic agent, Arn. But the thing that make my blood boil was how Mat enable these bigots. Yeah, once awhile, Mat might take an effort to correct them, but mostly he just roll with it. To be honest, I don't know why did Indigo even like his grumpy ass. Mat is a coward for like 80% of the book. I want to be understanding of his plight, he is not the first nor the last athlete to be in the closet, but I'm just so mad about his action. Indigo deserves better than his sorry ass.
Did Mat redeem himself in the end? Sorta. I thought it was kinda too late in the book. I'm not happy with the way Indigo deliver the ultimatum either. We don't get Indigo's POV, so I'm not sure how serious is he about the ultimatum or he just wanted to get rid of Mat. It was never explained, but Mat did it and they get their HEA. I'm still mad though.
July 29, 2018
I appreciated seeing a story with a non-cis-gender MC (Indigo prefers genderflux, feeling it fits him better then genderfluid, and he uses male pronouns.)
Mat is a veteran hockey player in the final years of his career who is sidelined by a really bad leg fracture. Indigo is the son of his island caretaker, a college student who is willing to earn some extra summer cash by helping Mat out while he's laid up. And from the first moment a pain-pill-addled Mat sees Indigo in his flamboyant style and says "You're cute", Mat's heart and his closet are on a collision course.
Mat has never told anyone he's gay, although he's had a few sexual encounters over the years. He kept those as short and simple and anonymous as possible, because coming out as gay was a career-killer when he began playing hockey. He's afraid it might still be. And with his leg injury possibly too severe to come back from, Mat doesn't want to risk anything else at all that might influence his team into wanting him gone. He's not coming out, as long as there's any chance he can still play.
As the guys become closer, Indigo at first says he's willing to keep Mat's secret. But it's one thing to keep the secret of "he's gay" and something else to hide the fact that "I mean something to him." In a world of paparazzi and agents and religious nurses and best-friend beards, Indigo hits limits on what he will put up with to be with Matt in private. Hockey players have to be tough, but Mat is going to have to figure out where his courage should be applied, to get the life he truly needs.
I enjoyed watching Mat deal with his attraction to the flamboyant guy, and the bone-deep fear of having nothing left if he doesn't have hockey. He's not always admirable, but it is understandable. I was a bit sorry that after a long slow build, the ending skipped some of the stuff I really wanted to see. The epilogue also goes a little bit deep into eloquent sweetness, for who Mat is. Even so, I liked this tale of the hockey player finding courage, and the genderflux guy finding someone who could love him in all his colors.
Mat is a veteran hockey player in the final years of his career who is sidelined by a really bad leg fracture. Indigo is the son of his island caretaker, a college student who is willing to earn some extra summer cash by helping Mat out while he's laid up. And from the first moment a pain-pill-addled Mat sees Indigo in his flamboyant style and says "You're cute", Mat's heart and his closet are on a collision course.
Mat has never told anyone he's gay, although he's had a few sexual encounters over the years. He kept those as short and simple and anonymous as possible, because coming out as gay was a career-killer when he began playing hockey. He's afraid it might still be. And with his leg injury possibly too severe to come back from, Mat doesn't want to risk anything else at all that might influence his team into wanting him gone. He's not coming out, as long as there's any chance he can still play.
As the guys become closer, Indigo at first says he's willing to keep Mat's secret. But it's one thing to keep the secret of "he's gay" and something else to hide the fact that "I mean something to him." In a world of paparazzi and agents and religious nurses and best-friend beards, Indigo hits limits on what he will put up with to be with Matt in private. Hockey players have to be tough, but Mat is going to have to figure out where his courage should be applied, to get the life he truly needs.
I enjoyed watching Mat deal with his attraction to the flamboyant guy, and the bone-deep fear of having nothing left if he doesn't have hockey. He's not always admirable, but it is understandable. I was a bit sorry that after a long slow build, the ending skipped some of the stuff I really wanted to see. The epilogue also goes a little bit deep into eloquent sweetness, for who Mat is. Even so, I liked this tale of the hockey player finding courage, and the genderflux guy finding someone who could love him in all his colors.
February 21, 2019
3.5 stars, rounded up
I actually finished a book. O.O
That in itself should tell you I liked it.
This book is not without faults or annoyances, there's a few, but I chose to ignore most of them.
I probably fell in love with this book the same time when Mathieu (not Matthew) first laid eyes on Indigo, and that was the very beginning. The joy and freedom that boy showed was contagious. Mat's feelings for Indigo ran very deep and I loved how he described his emotions. It was an instantaneous attraction on both sides and I wouldn't say it was a slow burning romance, but they certainly took their time. There's plenty of meaningful looks and touches, and aw the cuddles and tiny kisses on each others cheeks. *happy sigh*
I don't think this was the first time I read about a genderflux person, though I can't recall where I might have come across such a representation, but I'm pretty sure the label itself wasn't mentioned. Indigo Neu is such a beautiful person inside and out, according to Mathieu of course. :) Oh and I just love their names, great choice.
There's a 20-year age gap between them, and Indigo's father is also Mat's friend and caretaker. I don't think Dad was upset enough when the cat got out of the bag. He was hurt by the revelation that his friend was hooking up with his son all along, but if I were him, I would've been way more angry. I didn't like the conversation between Mat and Dad.
Mat's nurse was annoying. I believe that there are people who would take it upon themselves to try and show others the 'right path', you know... pray the gay away, and all that shit. Nurse was tasked to help Mat while his leg was healing, but she took it waaay too seriously.
I didn't like contrast between the lovey-dovey romance that was going on and this negative bullshit. Mat and Indigo's growing relationship was so sweet and tender, and then this woman just had to ruin it with her God-speech. Ugh!
Fortunately the story didn't focus on her hatred much.
I love reading about Canada, that's one of my dream destination. And thanks to Vicky Locey, I discovered a new area, The Thousand Islands, on the Canada/US border in the Saint Lawrence River near Lake Ontario. It sounds so picturesque and lovely based on the author's illustration. *happy sigh no.2.*
All in all, even with the faults, I really liked it.
I actually finished a book. O.O
That in itself should tell you I liked it.
This book is not without faults or annoyances, there's a few, but I chose to ignore most of them.
I probably fell in love with this book the same time when Mathieu (not Matthew) first laid eyes on Indigo, and that was the very beginning. The joy and freedom that boy showed was contagious. Mat's feelings for Indigo ran very deep and I loved how he described his emotions. It was an instantaneous attraction on both sides and I wouldn't say it was a slow burning romance, but they certainly took their time. There's plenty of meaningful looks and touches, and aw the cuddles and tiny kisses on each others cheeks. *happy sigh*
I don't think this was the first time I read about a genderflux person, though I can't recall where I might have come across such a representation, but I'm pretty sure the label itself wasn't mentioned. Indigo Neu is such a beautiful person inside and out, according to Mathieu of course. :) Oh and I just love their names, great choice.
There's a 20-year age gap between them, and Indigo's father is also Mat's friend and caretaker. I don't think Dad was upset enough when the cat got out of the bag. He was hurt by the revelation that his friend was hooking up with his son all along, but if I were him, I would've been way more angry. I didn't like the conversation between Mat and Dad.
Mat's nurse was annoying. I believe that there are people who would take it upon themselves to try and show others the 'right path', you know... pray the gay away, and all that shit. Nurse was tasked to help Mat while his leg was healing, but she took it waaay too seriously.
I didn't like contrast between the lovey-dovey romance that was going on and this negative bullshit. Mat and Indigo's growing relationship was so sweet and tender, and then this woman just had to ruin it with her God-speech. Ugh!
Fortunately the story didn't focus on her hatred much.
I love reading about Canada, that's one of my dream destination. And thanks to Vicky Locey, I discovered a new area, The Thousand Islands, on the Canada/US border in the Saint Lawrence River near Lake Ontario. It sounds so picturesque and lovely based on the author's illustration. *happy sigh no.2.*
All in all, even with the faults, I really liked it.
February 28, 2019
2.5 Stars. I think this book was probably sadly realistic so it was heartbreaking in its scope of those deep in the closet and those that just can't be closeted. Well written but the whole Nurse thing was overdone and her outright homophobia should have been dealt with immediately. Could anyone have a backbone besides Fran and Indigo in this book? Anyone?
I wonder what Mat would have done if he had met Indigo when he was healthy and not facing the potential end of his 20 year hockey career. Because I don't think Mat would have made the same decisions, it was really hard to believe in the strength of his love now.
This book explores the difficulty of having any true long term relationship while closeted, not just finding love. The amount of hurt and indignity Mat dumps on Indigo was just too hard to swallow and made me dislike Mat. Indigo deserved better.
That cover boy is beautiful.
I wonder what Mat would have done if he had met Indigo when he was healthy and not facing the potential end of his 20 year hockey career. Because I don't think Mat would have made the same decisions, it was really hard to believe in the strength of his love now.
This book explores the difficulty of having any true long term relationship while closeted, not just finding love. The amount of hurt and indignity Mat dumps on Indigo was just too hard to swallow and made me dislike Mat. Indigo deserved better.
That cover boy is beautiful.
April 26, 2025
Entretenido
Mat ha sido jugador de hockey profesional durante toda su vida, pero una lesión en la pierna lo deja incapacitado y requiriendo un descanso total para su recuperación. Para ello, se va a su casa de verano, en Canadá, cerca de la frontera con EEUU, y allí junto con el "cuidador" y su hijo intenta recuperarse. Pero Mat tiene un secreto y el joven hijo del cuidador puede hacerle perder todo si se descubre. Pero será capaz de mantener el secreto? O preferirá dejarse llevar por su corazón?
Cuando comencé la lectura sabía que ibas a ser una trama sencilla, y que el romance iba a ser normalito. No me esperaba que hubieran tantas descripciones de jugadas de hockey, ni descripciones tan detalladas de plantas o flores, por eso la lectura me resultó un poco aburrida. Sin embargo, el pequeño drama del prota por salir del closet resultó suficientemente entretenido como para terminar la lectura, y querer leer otras cosas del autor, más adelante.
Mat ha sido jugador de hockey profesional durante toda su vida, pero una lesión en la pierna lo deja incapacitado y requiriendo un descanso total para su recuperación. Para ello, se va a su casa de verano, en Canadá, cerca de la frontera con EEUU, y allí junto con el "cuidador" y su hijo intenta recuperarse. Pero Mat tiene un secreto y el joven hijo del cuidador puede hacerle perder todo si se descubre. Pero será capaz de mantener el secreto? O preferirá dejarse llevar por su corazón?
Cuando comencé la lectura sabía que ibas a ser una trama sencilla, y que el romance iba a ser normalito. No me esperaba que hubieran tantas descripciones de jugadas de hockey, ni descripciones tan detalladas de plantas o flores, por eso la lectura me resultó un poco aburrida. Sin embargo, el pequeño drama del prota por salir del closet resultó suficientemente entretenido como para terminar la lectura, y querer leer otras cosas del autor, más adelante.
April 4, 2023
For a five year old book, I can give some passes for outdated language… but this was… something. Literally every single character was homophobic except for one of the MC’s and the closeted MC’s beard. Like, blatantly gross language. This should have just been titled “Where Everyone Is Over The Top Homophobic Including An MC Just to Be Shocking.” 🙄 I hated the closeted MC so much that by the end I just didn’t care. Indigo deserved better.
July 20, 2018
I really enjoyed this one. You have a hockey star who is injured and angry about it and having to face a life without hockey. He is also deeply closeted. While recovering at his river island home, his world is turned upside down when he meets Indigo Neu, his caretaker’s son who is working with his dad for the summer. Indigo identifies as genderflux. He’s out and proud and embraces who he is. Matieu, not Matthew, is bowled over by the stunning young man, and they have some pretty crazy instant chemistry.
But, there is the major issue of Mat not believing coming out is a possibility due to his career, which is his sole focus in life. Mat and Indigo become fast friends – Indigo isn’t intimidated by Mat, and doesn’t hesitate to take care of him. He is a ray of sunshine in Mat’s otherwise now dull life, and it was easy to see. Mat was intrigued to say the least, whether by Indigo’s outfits and makeup or wearing next to nothing down and dirty working in the flowerbeds.
I should mention Nurse Rachett, the woman hired by Mats agent to take care of him for the summer. She was horrible and extremely homophobic. She was awful to Indigo and constantly praying for Mat’s soul. She was truly unbelievable, but Mat finally stands up to her, eventually. On the flip side, Indigo’s father is wonderfully supportive and loving.
As expected, there is trouble throughout with Mats sexuality. He and Indigo were amazing together by themselves. But, any outside activity where other people were involved and Mat’s cowardice was front and center with Indigo suffering the fallout. Thankfully, Mat comes to his senses, realizes what’s most important and works to set things right. Indigo doesn’t make it too easy for him, and rightfully so, but I really was rooting for them to pull through.
I thought this was a great series opener. I fell in love with Indigo and Mat ended up winning my heart as well. I’m really looking forward to seeing what else is in store for this colorful series!
Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
July 19, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
Lost in Indigo is my first book by V.L. Locey and I must say, I was really impressed. Locey manages to take some familiar tropes — closeted athlete; an injury causing the potential end of a career — and make them feel fresh and really engaging. She nicely combines some sweet and sexy characters with a really interesting setting for a book that definitely captured my attention.
First off, I really loved Mat and Indigo. If you like super mushy and romantic, combined with hot and sexy, this story is going to be for you. I’ll be honest, I’m not always a mushy romance kind of girl, but this one totally worked for me. Mat and Indigo are just so sweet with one another as they share their feelings and I got totally swept up in their relationship. Indigo is pretty much impossible not to like, with his enthusiasm and sunny personality. I appreciated so much that this guy may be young, but he is not a pushover and he won’t settle for anything less that he deserves. I also liked that Indigo being genderflux is given proper attention, but also not made into an enormous deal either. Mathieu is totally attracted to Indigo in all his forms and I enjoyed seeing the different ways Indigo expresses himself over the course of the book.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
Lost in Indigo is my first book by V.L. Locey and I must say, I was really impressed. Locey manages to take some familiar tropes — closeted athlete; an injury causing the potential end of a career — and make them feel fresh and really engaging. She nicely combines some sweet and sexy characters with a really interesting setting for a book that definitely captured my attention.
First off, I really loved Mat and Indigo. If you like super mushy and romantic, combined with hot and sexy, this story is going to be for you. I’ll be honest, I’m not always a mushy romance kind of girl, but this one totally worked for me. Mat and Indigo are just so sweet with one another as they share their feelings and I got totally swept up in their relationship. Indigo is pretty much impossible not to like, with his enthusiasm and sunny personality. I appreciated so much that this guy may be young, but he is not a pushover and he won’t settle for anything less that he deserves. I also liked that Indigo being genderflux is given proper attention, but also not made into an enormous deal either. Mathieu is totally attracted to Indigo in all his forms and I enjoyed seeing the different ways Indigo expresses himself over the course of the book.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
July 11, 2018
I am excited about the start of V.L Locey new series Colors of Love.
This first book in series gives us an age gap romance set on the stunning St. Lawerence River between a pro hockey player and a college student doing gardening for the summer.
There are a great deal of common tropes here but I think what the book does really well as look at the costs of being closeted as Mat is. It also takes seriously the struggle of coming out in a religous culture (in this case French Canadian Catholic) and when you are from the generation of men just after the highest point of the AIDS epidemic.
I was a young adult during these time period and newly out as bisexual and going to my first Prides and much of my activism intersected with what was happening in the community around AIDS so I think I have a special infinity for stories that blend the arc of recent LGBTQA history into the characters.
Mat and Indigo are instantly attracted. The love that builds between them is that young tender first love through they both are far from virgins. Indigo's identity as genderflux layers into the plot.
Indigo does think he can handle a relationship on the down low. But he cant's and Mat is confronting the end of his career and coming out.
Despite the high drama of some of the plot points the overall tone of book is sweet and reflective.
We get a lovely HEA.
This first book in series gives us an age gap romance set on the stunning St. Lawerence River between a pro hockey player and a college student doing gardening for the summer.
There are a great deal of common tropes here but I think what the book does really well as look at the costs of being closeted as Mat is. It also takes seriously the struggle of coming out in a religous culture (in this case French Canadian Catholic) and when you are from the generation of men just after the highest point of the AIDS epidemic.
I was a young adult during these time period and newly out as bisexual and going to my first Prides and much of my activism intersected with what was happening in the community around AIDS so I think I have a special infinity for stories that blend the arc of recent LGBTQA history into the characters.
Mat and Indigo are instantly attracted. The love that builds between them is that young tender first love through they both are far from virgins. Indigo's identity as genderflux layers into the plot.
Indigo does think he can handle a relationship on the down low. But he cant's and Mat is confronting the end of his career and coming out.
Despite the high drama of some of the plot points the overall tone of book is sweet and reflective.
We get a lovely HEA.
May 22, 2019
This was such a frustrating read. The overall idea was good, and it had the pieces there to create a compelling story, but this seems to have lost the thread somewhere between the idea and the execution.
Mat wasn't a very likable character, and although I had some sympathy for him, it wasn't enough to redeem him for his actions and his inactions. Indigo was amazing, but I would have loved to learn more about him. We get this entire story from Mat's point of view, and it was a great deal of "wah wah look at me," and not enough of anything else.
I felt the romance took a back seat to the drama of Mat and his (ridiculous) nurse, and we were told that they loved each other, but I didn't really feel it.
Mat wasn't a very likable character, and although I had some sympathy for him, it wasn't enough to redeem him for his actions and his inactions. Indigo was amazing, but I would have loved to learn more about him. We get this entire story from Mat's point of view, and it was a great deal of "wah wah look at me," and not enough of anything else.
I felt the romance took a back seat to the drama of Mat and his (ridiculous) nurse, and we were told that they loved each other, but I didn't really feel it.
July 12, 2018
Dear V.L. Locey,
Genderflux: I do not think this word means what you think it means.
Sincerely,
NeverTooManyBooks
Seriously, this whole book reads like someone out of the loop trying way too hard to hang with the cool kids.
It oscillates between cringe-worthy and flat out insensitive and insulting.
I have no more time for it but to say: zero stars.
Save yourself some pain, read elsewhere.
Genderflux: I do not think this word means what you think it means.
Sincerely,
NeverTooManyBooks
Seriously, this whole book reads like someone out of the loop trying way too hard to hang with the cool kids.
It oscillates between cringe-worthy and flat out insensitive and insulting.
I have no more time for it but to say: zero stars.
Save yourself some pain, read elsewhere.
Read
July 29, 2018Calling time of death at 45%. Mathieu is a big wuss and Nurse Ratchet?? She needs shooting. Shame, cos I usually really like Vicki's hockey stories, especially Point Shot Trilogy Boxed Set, but not this time around unfortunately ☹.
January 24, 2019
Color me somewhat conflicted about this first book in V.L. Locey's new "Colors of Love" series. On one hand, I love the premise - Mat is a hot older hockey player who falls madly in lust / love with genderflux Indigo, a college student. Afer Mat badly injures his leg during a playoff game, he decides to spend the summer at his off-season home on one of The Thousand Islands in the St. Lawrence River. Indigo ("Born the year [Mat] played [his] rookie season with the Surge") is the caretaker's son and is hired to spend the summer as Mat's gardener / nursemaid.
Mat is completely blindsided by Indigo and although he wishes he could "....grow a pair and be honest. With yourself and those around you" about the feelings that Indigo arouses in him, Mat has a lifetime of experience in hiding "so deep in the closet I'm finding Christmas presents." Their relationship is intense and very sexually charged, but outside of the bedroom difficulties arise.
While I adore contemporary hockey M/M romance, I do not admire Mat and his inability to deal with reality. He's 38 and hasn't made any future plans other than playing hockey forever, if possible. He's unwilling to deal with the strong possibility that his leg will not heal enough to return to hockey, he's unwilling to even consider coming out while he's playing, he's willing to shove Indigo away and bring out his beard (longtime friend Fran) to stifle any rumors, and while he is supposedly an LGBTQ rights supporter in the hockey world, he allows his agent, friends and teammates to spew homophobic language without saying anything. We get a HEA eventually, yet Mat never deals on-page in any meaningful way with the public at large.
I like many things about "Lost in Indigo" - the premise of the love story between Mat and Indigo, the rich hockey background V.L. Locey brings, the way Indigo lives his life out and proud and genderflux as f@ck, the island setting on the St. Lawrence. But Mat is not a worthy partner for Indigo and personally I find it difficult to embrace his personality. And on a side note, I think Nurse Ratched, oops Nurse Rampette, is a strange and unsettling character. Finally, I don't generally include the "Editing" rating (in my Gay Book Reviews posts) because most of what I read is in ARC format, but there were spelling errors and missing words here and there.
I'm giving "Lost in Indigo" 3.5 stars and look forward to reading the next book in the series - Touch Of A Yellow Sun - because V.L. Locey generally does hockey-based romance so well.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Review posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
Mat is completely blindsided by Indigo and although he wishes he could "....grow a pair and be honest. With yourself and those around you" about the feelings that Indigo arouses in him, Mat has a lifetime of experience in hiding "so deep in the closet I'm finding Christmas presents." Their relationship is intense and very sexually charged, but outside of the bedroom difficulties arise.
While I adore contemporary hockey M/M romance, I do not admire Mat and his inability to deal with reality. He's 38 and hasn't made any future plans other than playing hockey forever, if possible. He's unwilling to deal with the strong possibility that his leg will not heal enough to return to hockey, he's unwilling to even consider coming out while he's playing, he's willing to shove Indigo away and bring out his beard (longtime friend Fran) to stifle any rumors, and while he is supposedly an LGBTQ rights supporter in the hockey world, he allows his agent, friends and teammates to spew homophobic language without saying anything. We get a HEA eventually, yet Mat never deals on-page in any meaningful way with the public at large.
I like many things about "Lost in Indigo" - the premise of the love story between Mat and Indigo, the rich hockey background V.L. Locey brings, the way Indigo lives his life out and proud and genderflux as f@ck, the island setting on the St. Lawrence. But Mat is not a worthy partner for Indigo and personally I find it difficult to embrace his personality. And on a side note, I think Nurse Ratched, oops Nurse Rampette, is a strange and unsettling character. Finally, I don't generally include the "Editing" rating (in my Gay Book Reviews posts) because most of what I read is in ARC format, but there were spelling errors and missing words here and there.
I'm giving "Lost in Indigo" 3.5 stars and look forward to reading the next book in the series - Touch Of A Yellow Sun - because V.L. Locey generally does hockey-based romance so well.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Review posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
October 7, 2020
3 stars
I always thought I’d read this book. Turns out I hadn’t! 😅 this was alright. Didn’t particularly stand out. What with the career-ending plot lines in this series tho? Hopefully it’s just book 5 and this 🤞
And yes, I read the latest book first before cowering and coming back to reading the first book onwards like all sane and rational human beings reading a series typically do 😆
I always thought I’d read this book. Turns out I hadn’t! 😅 this was alright. Didn’t particularly stand out. What with the career-ending plot lines in this series tho? Hopefully it’s just book 5 and this 🤞
And yes, I read the latest book first before cowering and coming back to reading the first book onwards like all sane and rational human beings reading a series typically do 😆
August 3, 2018
What a great start to this new series by Locey! Loved this book. Indigo was the sweetest thing. His gender fluidity pushing all of Mat’s closeted buttons. And he was nobody doormat! Good for him!
I really liked both characters and the story development. Their sexy times were haaawwtt! These two had a great chemistry in the bedroom.
Only bad thing is that I now have to wait till Feb 2019 for the next book.
Recommend!
I really liked both characters and the story development. Their sexy times were haaawwtt! These two had a great chemistry in the bedroom.
Only bad thing is that I now have to wait till Feb 2019 for the next book.
Recommend!
April 2, 2022
We open with a hockey injury, told uniquely.
Mathieu, 38, Captain of the Surge Hockey team,
nickname Golden Bear, his hair is sandy blonde with a few grays, twenty years in the league, he lives in a mansion on the St. Lawrence River.
Indigo Neu (Nigh), 20, is gender fluid, a gardener,
college student and Mat's nursemaid for the summer. His father has worked for Mat for years.
Mathieu is unhappy, in pain and angry, because the team won the trophy and he missed it. Arn is his agent.
Now, for the summer he's healing, has a caustic nurse, meets his caretaker's son, Indigo, a delightful, sunny man. Mathieu is closeted, denying himself his yearnings, but he'll not be able to resist Indigo. The pretty man brings light to his world.
It's a slow burn of friends with benefits to supper hot kisses and touching. Mat thinks he must remain closeted to keep his career. Their sexy times are sizzling hot.
This romance is marred by Mat's inability to come out, the way he keeps Indigo hidden and suppressed. They break up, but only then does Mat see the error of his ways. He must crawl to see if he can get a second chance.
We get an HEA.
ENJOY !
=====
Mathieu, 38, Captain of the Surge Hockey team,
nickname Golden Bear, his hair is sandy blonde with a few grays, twenty years in the league, he lives in a mansion on the St. Lawrence River.
Indigo Neu (Nigh), 20, is gender fluid, a gardener,
college student and Mat's nursemaid for the summer. His father has worked for Mat for years.
Mathieu is unhappy, in pain and angry, because the team won the trophy and he missed it. Arn is his agent.
Now, for the summer he's healing, has a caustic nurse, meets his caretaker's son, Indigo, a delightful, sunny man. Mathieu is closeted, denying himself his yearnings, but he'll not be able to resist Indigo. The pretty man brings light to his world.
It's a slow burn of friends with benefits to supper hot kisses and touching. Mat thinks he must remain closeted to keep his career. Their sexy times are sizzling hot.
This romance is marred by Mat's inability to come out, the way he keeps Indigo hidden and suppressed. They break up, but only then does Mat see the error of his ways. He must crawl to see if he can get a second chance.
We get an HEA.
ENJOY !
=====
March 8, 2019
It's hard to enjoy a book when you don't like one of the MC's. I really disliked Mathieu and that really never changed much. He was whiny. He was self involved. He treated Indigo like crap and although he would say he wanted to stand up to people who treated people badly he never did. He let his nurse drug him into oblivion and treat Indigo like crap. He didn't stand up for himself or Indigo. I had no respect for him and by the time he finally changed his mind it was too little too late.
July 10, 2018
4.5 stars! Excellent start to a new series!! I loved it!! I am such a fan of Vicki’s writing and the way in which she weaves a story. Lost In Indigo ticks all of my boxes!! This slow burn, May/December romance is loaded with sizzling sexual tension, seriously hot dirty talk, fabulous banter and sweetness abound. Indigo is such a great character. I’m in love with his gender fluid fabulousness. You can not help but fall in love with him. He is seemingly innocent, but is really a fierce old soul. The way he handles the gruff, much older, deeply closeted, sexy, angry at life Mathieu is just beautiful. I loved their journey together, albeit not an easy one. Yes, I admit there were a few tears along the way as well. The secondary characters, as always when reading Vicki’s books, were fantastic. Just read it!! LOL
dnf
January 6, 2023DNF @50%
No chemistry between the MCs
The nurse is a c#nt but the passiveness of Mathieu with her is worse.
No chemistry between the MCs
The nurse is a c#nt but the passiveness of Mathieu with her is worse.
September 1, 2018
To truly appreciate others you have to accept yourself. Mathieu Beresford is hurt at a pivotal moment in his hockey career and all he wants to do is hide away from the world. That's not the only thing he wants to keep hidden though. But one look at the vibrant Indigo has him taking a hard look at who he is and what he wants. Except he'll have to dig deep, really deep, to find the courage to accept every piece of himself if he wants to give Indigo everything they deserve.
Indigo is fierce, sweet, and definitely not a pushover. I do think he was young and his immaturity showed at times. The one issue I have with him is his willingness to be a secret and then when that's tested he not only shows his hurt, but he acts as if it wasn't something he was prepared for. His youth and hurt made him react on a grand scale. I won't say I disagree with what he did, because I don't, I just think that there was some perspective and empathy that was missing. Coming out should always be done by and for the individual and I don't think it should be forced. Indigo gave Mat quite a large push in that direction, but one that was sorely needed.
Mat wasn't exactly what I expected. I anticipated getting a bear in temperament and a damaged man that needed to sort through a myriad of issues, but what I wasn't expecting was his acquiescence to the harpy of a nurse. To laugh at her ridiculousness and be understanding of her views didn't show emotional maturity to me, it showed cowardice and weakness. He eventually made it right but it shocked me that he would put up with it for so long. He was also a colossal a-hole regarding Indigo when the pressure was on.
I would have loved to have an alternating POV but we only get Mat's thoughts. It became a bit depressing and a little annoying at times to be constantly brought back to his weakness over and over again but he was the one who needed to make the most changes so I can understand focusing on him and his experiences instead. Overall, though, the story was so very good. There was incredible passion and the steam was hot, hot, hot! Mat's grand gesture was so great; it really worked beautifully to lead us to the best epilogue ever. Such a fantastic story!
Indigo is fierce, sweet, and definitely not a pushover. I do think he was young and his immaturity showed at times. The one issue I have with him is his willingness to be a secret and then when that's tested he not only shows his hurt, but he acts as if it wasn't something he was prepared for. His youth and hurt made him react on a grand scale. I won't say I disagree with what he did, because I don't, I just think that there was some perspective and empathy that was missing. Coming out should always be done by and for the individual and I don't think it should be forced. Indigo gave Mat quite a large push in that direction, but one that was sorely needed.
Mat wasn't exactly what I expected. I anticipated getting a bear in temperament and a damaged man that needed to sort through a myriad of issues, but what I wasn't expecting was his acquiescence to the harpy of a nurse. To laugh at her ridiculousness and be understanding of her views didn't show emotional maturity to me, it showed cowardice and weakness. He eventually made it right but it shocked me that he would put up with it for so long. He was also a colossal a-hole regarding Indigo when the pressure was on.
I would have loved to have an alternating POV but we only get Mat's thoughts. It became a bit depressing and a little annoying at times to be constantly brought back to his weakness over and over again but he was the one who needed to make the most changes so I can understand focusing on him and his experiences instead. Overall, though, the story was so very good. There was incredible passion and the steam was hot, hot, hot! Mat's grand gesture was so great; it really worked beautifully to lead us to the best epilogue ever. Such a fantastic story!
July 11, 2018
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
This is the first in a new series - and I am looking forward to future installments.
The story of a closeted hockey player is not unheard of, but we do get some interesting issues being raised about how far Mat can cope with homophobia when it is not addressed directly at him - and it would seem that he has no ability to defend the very man he cares about the most. Something which may just cost him a happy future.
As the author throws tests at him, in the form of both his agent, and most definitely his nurse, it is the lying to a very loyal friend which made me sit up and really question his moral code and just how deep this cave is that he created for himself. It is sad, and yet, I am sure based on fact, as perceptions are going to take still longer to adjust.
I wish that Indigo had been able to give us his viewpoint, as I have no doubt he had some interesting thoughts at times, which may have swayed our view of why he was so patient and forgiving.
There is no doubt, a loving romance here, but behind a door which Mat needed to be opened much sooner. I hope that we get to see how life progresses for them in the future.
This is the first in a new series - and I am looking forward to future installments.
The story of a closeted hockey player is not unheard of, but we do get some interesting issues being raised about how far Mat can cope with homophobia when it is not addressed directly at him - and it would seem that he has no ability to defend the very man he cares about the most. Something which may just cost him a happy future.
As the author throws tests at him, in the form of both his agent, and most definitely his nurse, it is the lying to a very loyal friend which made me sit up and really question his moral code and just how deep this cave is that he created for himself. It is sad, and yet, I am sure based on fact, as perceptions are going to take still longer to adjust.
I wish that Indigo had been able to give us his viewpoint, as I have no doubt he had some interesting thoughts at times, which may have swayed our view of why he was so patient and forgiving.
There is no doubt, a loving romance here, but behind a door which Mat needed to be opened much sooner. I hope that we get to see how life progresses for them in the future.
May 8, 2024
Boy, did Mathieu need Indigo in his life.
The emotion that seemed to govern Mathieu's life was fear. After his major injury, that fear was centered around never being able to play his beloved hockey ever again. It drove him, blinding him to the reality of what the doctor was telling him.
But fear was in Mathieu's life before the injury, and that particular fear made Mathieu pull away from meaningful connections in his life. Made him lie to the limited few he allowed around him. The fear that people would discover that he was gay.
No wonder seeing Indigo that first time, in all of his gender flux fashion glory, threw Mathieu for a loop. He wasn't prepared for the connection that quickly developed between the two of them, but Indigo was exactly what his walled-off heart needed.
I loved seeing the effect Indigo had on Mathieu. I appreciated Mathieu's support when others tried to disparage Indigo's choice of outfits or made comments on Indigo's gender orientation. However, that support would run away and hide in the face of Mathieu's fear of being outed. I'm glad that Indigo could stand up for himself and not be ashamed of who he was.
It was an important lesson for Mathieu to learn, even though there was definitely heartache during the process. (Man, my heart ached for both of them, even though I was angry at some of Mathieu's behavior.) The book leaves these two in a wonderful, committed, and loving place for both of them, for which I am glad.
The emotion that seemed to govern Mathieu's life was fear. After his major injury, that fear was centered around never being able to play his beloved hockey ever again. It drove him, blinding him to the reality of what the doctor was telling him.
But fear was in Mathieu's life before the injury, and that particular fear made Mathieu pull away from meaningful connections in his life. Made him lie to the limited few he allowed around him. The fear that people would discover that he was gay.
No wonder seeing Indigo that first time, in all of his gender flux fashion glory, threw Mathieu for a loop. He wasn't prepared for the connection that quickly developed between the two of them, but Indigo was exactly what his walled-off heart needed.
I loved seeing the effect Indigo had on Mathieu. I appreciated Mathieu's support when others tried to disparage Indigo's choice of outfits or made comments on Indigo's gender orientation. However, that support would run away and hide in the face of Mathieu's fear of being outed. I'm glad that Indigo could stand up for himself and not be ashamed of who he was.
It was an important lesson for Mathieu to learn, even though there was definitely heartache during the process. (Man, my heart ached for both of them, even though I was angry at some of Mathieu's behavior.) The book leaves these two in a wonderful, committed, and loving place for both of them, for which I am glad.
July 8, 2018
3.5 stars - I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
I think I may have hit saturation point this year with m/m hockey romances. And this was another story I could quite easily play tired trope bingo with. Aging NHL player. Tick. Handsome and wealthy. Tick Closeted and unhappy. Tick. Career threatening injury. Tick. Honestly, there isn’t much that separates Mat and Indigo’s book from so many others.
Told entirely from Mathieu’s perspective, this is the story of an aging hockey player falling for a much younger man as he recovers from a potentially career ending injury. If Mat is a hockey cliche, Indigo is at least a more original character. The genderfluid young man is fascinating, honest and real. I kept wishing for a dual narrative where we heard his voice because I did grow tired of Mat’s self pity after a while.
Off the ice, Mat is a broody and reflective introvert. There are moments when this is charming, but especially after he starts to recover, there are too many moments where he just needed to get over himself.
This is an entertaining read but as it focuses on Mat’s off season recovery, some of the banter and playfulness I usually enjoy in sports romance is missing. This story stays series and there are times it does get a little bit sentimental and soppy
I think I may have hit saturation point this year with m/m hockey romances. And this was another story I could quite easily play tired trope bingo with. Aging NHL player. Tick. Handsome and wealthy. Tick Closeted and unhappy. Tick. Career threatening injury. Tick. Honestly, there isn’t much that separates Mat and Indigo’s book from so many others.
Told entirely from Mathieu’s perspective, this is the story of an aging hockey player falling for a much younger man as he recovers from a potentially career ending injury. If Mat is a hockey cliche, Indigo is at least a more original character. The genderfluid young man is fascinating, honest and real. I kept wishing for a dual narrative where we heard his voice because I did grow tired of Mat’s self pity after a while.
Off the ice, Mat is a broody and reflective introvert. There are moments when this is charming, but especially after he starts to recover, there are too many moments where he just needed to get over himself.
This is an entertaining read but as it focuses on Mat’s off season recovery, some of the banter and playfulness I usually enjoy in sports romance is missing. This story stays series and there are times it does get a little bit sentimental and soppy
February 22, 2025
That one didn't work for me at all. Mat was an awful character. Indigo shouldn't end up with him. I never saw why Indigo fell in love with Mat. There's no chemistry whatsoever. And almost everyone is hateful. So frustrating. And the HEA just felt forced and not believable. So no what I hoped for.
July 15, 2018
Ok just gotta throw out there how often Mathieu pissed me off lmao. Seriously he would be of one mind only to get scared and hurt poor Indigo. I really enjoyed the storyline though, but I wanted to know more about the ghost! I was really excited to read this book because it sounded so good, and I'm happy to report that it was a good as it sounded. The characters are brilliant! I really admire Indigo for being who he is and his father is my hero. Overall the story was great, characters loveable...minus one lol... and I'm curious to see if there may be a glimpse of them in the future.
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