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Pucks & Rainbows #1
Rebound
A forty-something single dad, a twenty-something hockey star, and a whole lot of baggage. No, this couldn’t possibly blow up in their faces.
Officer Geoff Logan has his plate full. His cop’s salary and Marine retirement aren’t enough to make ends meet. He’s got war wounds and demons that are in it for the long haul. His teenagers are, well, teenagers, plus they’re pissed that he left the boyfriend they loved. Can’t a guy catch a break?
Seattle Snowhawks center Asher Crowe has it all. A seven figure salary. A literal house on a hill. A stable, loving relationship with an amazing boyfriend. At least, that’s what the world sees. Behind closed doors, he’s been living in a private hell, and when he finally works up the courage to end things, his boyfriend refuses to go quietly.
One call to the cops, and suddenly Geoff and Asher’s paths cross. But is the connection between them simple chemistry? Kindred spirits? Or just a pair of lonely hearts looking for a hot distraction?
And even if it’s more than physical, is there really a future for two men from such vastly different worlds? Especially when the past comes knocking?
This novel is approximately 89,000 words long.
TW: abuse, combat PTSD
Officer Geoff Logan has his plate full. His cop’s salary and Marine retirement aren’t enough to make ends meet. He’s got war wounds and demons that are in it for the long haul. His teenagers are, well, teenagers, plus they’re pissed that he left the boyfriend they loved. Can’t a guy catch a break?
Seattle Snowhawks center Asher Crowe has it all. A seven figure salary. A literal house on a hill. A stable, loving relationship with an amazing boyfriend. At least, that’s what the world sees. Behind closed doors, he’s been living in a private hell, and when he finally works up the courage to end things, his boyfriend refuses to go quietly.
One call to the cops, and suddenly Geoff and Asher’s paths cross. But is the connection between them simple chemistry? Kindred spirits? Or just a pair of lonely hearts looking for a hot distraction?
And even if it’s more than physical, is there really a future for two men from such vastly different worlds? Especially when the past comes knocking?
This novel is approximately 89,000 words long.
TW: abuse, combat PTSD
429 pages, ebook
First published March 27, 2019
411 people are currently reading
1671 people want to read
About the author
L.A. Witt
218 books2,725 followersL.A. Witt and her husband have been exiled from Spain and sent to live in Maine because rhymes are fun. She now divides her time between writing, assuring people she is aware that Maine is cold, wondering where to put her next tattoo, and trying to reason with a surly Maine coon. Rumor has it her arch nemesis, Lauren Gallagher, is also somewhere in the wilds of New England, which is why L.A. is also spending a portion of her time training a team of spec ops lobsters.
Authors Ann Gallagher and Lori A. Witt have been asked to assist in lobster training, but they "have books to write" and "need to focus on our careers" and "don't you think this rivalry has gotten a little out of hand?" They're probably just helping Lauren raise her army of squirrels trained to ride moose into battle.
Visit her website at http://www.gallagherwitt.com/.
Authors Ann Gallagher and Lori A. Witt have been asked to assist in lobster training, but they "have books to write" and "need to focus on our careers" and "don't you think this rivalry has gotten a little out of hand?" They're probably just helping Lauren raise her army of squirrels trained to ride moose into battle.
Visit her website at http://www.gallagherwitt.com/.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 389 reviews
April 27, 2019
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Cute, Easy, But Nothing Special*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
The book centers around officer Geoff Logan (44) and Asher Crowe (25), Seattle Steelheads center. They meet when the cops were called in to check out on a fight at a restaurant, where they quickly find out that Asher's been in a abusive relationship. Geoff recognize himself in Asher. This is the start of Geoff and Asher's friendship. Geoff makes Asher feel save and Asher makes Geoff feel good. Can they be more? Overall, I started this book on April the 18th when I was on a plane and reached 70% into the book. After that I didn't get back to the story until today (27th) so I kinda 'lost' the feeling of it. I do remember though that I enjoyed the 70% quite well. It made the time past really fast and I liked the characters. They weren't anything special, but they were likable and cute. Just as the story was. It was fast forward story about finding love and safety.
PS:
Other Characters:
→ Laura, Geoff's work partner.
→ Claire (17) and David (15), Geoff's kids.
→ Marcus (49), Geoff's ex of six years; mentally abused Geoff.
→ Nathan Warner, Asher's ex-boyfriend; physically abused Asher.
→ Morris, Coach of the Seattle Steelheads.
→ Valerie ‘Val’, Geoff's ex-wife (was married for 13 years.) and mother to his kids. Mahmoud, her husband.
→ Grady, Bruiser, Dane, Kelleher, Wilson, and Dewey, players on Seattle Steelheads.
I still felt like I had nothing else to offer. I was still convinced Geoff was going to get tired of me and decide I wasn’t worth it. Whether any or all of that came from Nathan, it felt real, and it was keeping me awake and keeping my heart pounding with fear that the man sleeping peacefully against me wasn’t going to be there for long.
How do I show you that I’m worth keeping?
Clasping his hand a little tighter, I swallowed.
Am I worth keeping?
Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (Adult) Contemporary Romance (M/M).
Series: - Series, Book One.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Favorite character? - Both, I guess.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Uncertain.
Would I recommend this book/series? -Sure.
Will I read this again in the future? - Probably not.
Rating - 3.5 (at least the 70% part of the book)/3 stars.
March 30, 2019
3.5 stars
Probably in the top 5 for best HEA ever. It's worth reading for that alone!
Full review shortly.
Probably in the top 5 for best HEA ever. It's worth reading for that alone!
Full review shortly.
June 27, 2020
3.5 Stars
Rebound is an age-gap M/M romance between a cop and a hockey star, both of whom are struggling emotionally in the aftermath of abusive relationships.
Geoff Logan is a forty-something Seattle police officer, a veteran, and a divorced father with two teenaged kids; he is bisexual and recently out of a long-term relationship with a wealthy man who was emotionally manipulating Geoff for six long years.
Asher Crowe is a gay hockey sensation in his mid-twenties, breaking out of a relationship with a physically abusive boyfriend who has been making his life secretly miserable for years.
When Asher and Geoff meet—during Asher and his boyfriend’s final and very public blowup—Geoff can’t help but feel extra protective of Asher, seeing himself in the younger, emotionally exhausted man. At first, the two men strike up a friendship, talking out their pasts and their issues, and supporting one another when times get particularly tough. But a serious attraction leads to an intense affair, one neither man is quite emotionally ready for, but which both refuse to deny.
Geoff and Asher’s love story was one of mutual respect, longing and emotional healing, but I couldn’t help but feel like more could/should have been done in terms of both men sorting through their long-standing issues, potentially seeking professional help that could have made some of the things they went through a lot easier or at least more manageable.
I liked both of these guys well enough, and as a couple I bought their chemistry and eventual love without too much persuasion, but I felt overwhelmed and frustrated by how they handled some of the delicate situations they found themselves in, and I certainly had some issues with a few of the choices they made.
Also, like with some of my other Witt reading experiences, I felt that a lot of the story became repetitive, with the characters having the same discussions and internal monologues over and over, to the point of annoyance and forced boredom. I truly believe that had all the repetitiveness been cut down, this story would have moved at a smoother and more steadily engaging pace, and been a good hundred pages shorter while still having the same intended affect.
This may not have been my favourite from this author but it was still a decent read. I may even come back for the sequels, mostly because I do love me some hockey playing MCs.
Rebound is an age-gap M/M romance between a cop and a hockey star, both of whom are struggling emotionally in the aftermath of abusive relationships.
Geoff Logan is a forty-something Seattle police officer, a veteran, and a divorced father with two teenaged kids; he is bisexual and recently out of a long-term relationship with a wealthy man who was emotionally manipulating Geoff for six long years.
Asher Crowe is a gay hockey sensation in his mid-twenties, breaking out of a relationship with a physically abusive boyfriend who has been making his life secretly miserable for years.
When Asher and Geoff meet—during Asher and his boyfriend’s final and very public blowup—Geoff can’t help but feel extra protective of Asher, seeing himself in the younger, emotionally exhausted man. At first, the two men strike up a friendship, talking out their pasts and their issues, and supporting one another when times get particularly tough. But a serious attraction leads to an intense affair, one neither man is quite emotionally ready for, but which both refuse to deny.
Geoff and Asher’s love story was one of mutual respect, longing and emotional healing, but I couldn’t help but feel like more could/should have been done in terms of both men sorting through their long-standing issues, potentially seeking professional help that could have made some of the things they went through a lot easier or at least more manageable.
I liked both of these guys well enough, and as a couple I bought their chemistry and eventual love without too much persuasion, but I felt overwhelmed and frustrated by how they handled some of the delicate situations they found themselves in, and I certainly had some issues with a few of the choices they made.
Also, like with some of my other Witt reading experiences, I felt that a lot of the story became repetitive, with the characters having the same discussions and internal monologues over and over, to the point of annoyance and forced boredom. I truly believe that had all the repetitiveness been cut down, this story would have moved at a smoother and more steadily engaging pace, and been a good hundred pages shorter while still having the same intended affect.
This may not have been my favourite from this author but it was still a decent read. I may even come back for the sequels, mostly because I do love me some hockey playing MCs.
June 6, 2019
There are a lot of ways a relationship can be based in abuse. Officer Geoff Logan has seen many of them on the job with the Seattle police department. On this particular night, he and his partner are called to a violent argument between two men that turns out to be an abused man trying for a safe public break-up from his physically abusive boyfriend.
Geoff's sympathy is engaged, and not just because the survivor is Asher Crowe, the hottest local hockey player and only out gay player in the league. Geoff also knows where Asher is coming from, from the inside, after finally dumping his emotionally-manipulative boyfriend of six years. Geoff's instinct is to make sure Asher is safe, and stays that way. It wrings his heart to see a big, strong man jumping at the thought of being trapped again, and the heat that sizzles between them is partly relief at meeting a man they're attracted to that they can be pretty sure isn't going to treat them that way ever again.
Of course, Asher just broke up, and Geoff's teen kids are still sullen over losing the man they considered a step-dad. Logically, they're not ready for another relationship. But logic loses out to the way a hug feels like a perfect refuge in a hard world, and a kiss feels like perfect desire. And once they sleep together, neither wants to let go.
These guys have a lot to work through, from Asher's life in the public eye, to their age gap, to the kids, to their exes, to Geoff's PTSD from his military service. All of those get a slightly thin treatment, because there's just not enough room in the book to really address them. (For example, the issue of a guy with violent PTSD nightmares sleeping with a man who was physically abused IMO could have been a far bigger stumbling block.) They all do get addressed, but I was looking for each one to come up as more of a problem. The resolution with Asher's ex was also far too neat.
Putting that aside, though, I did really like both characters, and their relationship. The one moment of misunderstanding didn't last too long, and I was pulling for both of them to reach their HEA. The women in this book were supportive, and the casual inclusion of a trans character without angst was appreciated. I'll be looking forward to another book in this series.
Geoff's sympathy is engaged, and not just because the survivor is Asher Crowe, the hottest local hockey player and only out gay player in the league. Geoff also knows where Asher is coming from, from the inside, after finally dumping his emotionally-manipulative boyfriend of six years. Geoff's instinct is to make sure Asher is safe, and stays that way. It wrings his heart to see a big, strong man jumping at the thought of being trapped again, and the heat that sizzles between them is partly relief at meeting a man they're attracted to that they can be pretty sure isn't going to treat them that way ever again.
Of course, Asher just broke up, and Geoff's teen kids are still sullen over losing the man they considered a step-dad. Logically, they're not ready for another relationship. But logic loses out to the way a hug feels like a perfect refuge in a hard world, and a kiss feels like perfect desire. And once they sleep together, neither wants to let go.
These guys have a lot to work through, from Asher's life in the public eye, to their age gap, to the kids, to their exes, to Geoff's PTSD from his military service. All of those get a slightly thin treatment, because there's just not enough room in the book to really address them. (For example, the issue of a guy with violent PTSD nightmares sleeping with a man who was physically abused IMO could have been a far bigger stumbling block.) They all do get addressed, but I was looking for each one to come up as more of a problem. The resolution with Asher's ex was also far too neat.
Putting that aside, though, I did really like both characters, and their relationship. The one moment of misunderstanding didn't last too long, and I was pulling for both of them to reach their HEA. The women in this book were supportive, and the casual inclusion of a trans character without angst was appreciated. I'll be looking forward to another book in this series.
March 30, 2019
I very much enjoyed this first book in Witt's new sports series. Although I had to suspend disbelief at times, I found all the characters endearing. I was also pleasantly surprised at the casual diversity. It warms my heart to read about inclusion that is the norm instead of the plot arc.
This book has a lot to recommend it. If you like any/all of these you'll likely enjoy the story.
* Sports romance
* Rebuilding after abusive relationships
* Age gap romance
* Bisexual MC
* Ex-military PTSD
* Inclusive and well adapted non-traditional families
* Cop theme
There's probably more but those are the ones that mostly jumped out at me while reading. I didn't think it was overly angsty. But it had enough going on to keep my interest throughout.
I'm looking forward to the next one in this series.
This book has a lot to recommend it. If you like any/all of these you'll likely enjoy the story.
* Sports romance
* Rebuilding after abusive relationships
* Age gap romance
* Bisexual MC
* Ex-military PTSD
* Inclusive and well adapted non-traditional families
* Cop theme
There's probably more but those are the ones that mostly jumped out at me while reading. I didn't think it was overly angsty. But it had enough going on to keep my interest throughout.
I'm looking forward to the next one in this series.
May 31, 2019
3.5 Stars!
Good but not great.
It was an easy read, but I got a bit bored of the same internal monologues.
A bit predictable. Some nice steam.
No big complaints, just didn’t wow me.
Good but not great.
It was an easy read, but I got a bit bored of the same internal monologues.
A bit predictable. Some nice steam.
No big complaints, just didn’t wow me.
October 30, 2022
I'm not especially a hockey fan but I'm diffidently a LA Witt fan...so I was willing to see what this one had to offer. I loved the two main characters, but I hated what they went through with their individual ex's. Geoff is a cop, and he's just left a long-term relationship where he was emotionally bullied and manipulated. He was so strong in the face of everything else that I just couldn't picture this happening...but it did and I'm sure in reality, it does. His teenage children had no idea what was going on behind the scenes and resented their father for leaving the "stepdad" who had treated them so well. Actually, he was the stepdad that bought them everything and anything that his money could buy that their little hearts desired. Expensive things that their father couldn't afford on a cop's salary and then he emotionally blackmailed Geoff all the many times that Geoff tried to end the relationship. Then we have Asher the ice hockey star. When he tries to break up with his physically abusive boyfriend in a "safe, public place", the cops end up being called and that's how Geoff and Asher meet. Geoff goes seriously out of his way to help Asher after the scene at the breakup scene at a restaurant between Asher and his mentally and physically abusive boyfriend. Overall, throughout the majority of the book both men were dealing with the aftermath from their ending relationships that they had been in as well as the way they'd been treated by their respective partners, but between them, they managed to make it a sweet and steamy story.
April 7, 2019
4.5 stars!
I really enjoyed this one, it was really good.
Both Geoff and Asher have recently gotten out of abusive relationships - one emotional and mental, and another physical (as well as emotional and mental, of course) - when they meet. In fact, Asher is literally just breaking up with his abusive boyfriend when he and Geoff meet, as Geoff is a cop who is called to take care of the disturbance - because Asher broke up with his ex in public so he couldn't do anything in private - well, he does things, just not physically hurting Asher as he does behind closed doors.
But even after that altercation, Nathan (the ex) won't go away, and after Asher and Geoff developed a connection and Geoff offered to check on Asher to make sure he was safe or if he needed anything, Asher takes him up on the offer when Nathan won't leave him alone, more than once.
And as Asher and Geoff get to know each other, they give into their attraction pretty quickly and pretend that it's just sex and hooking up. A rebound, as they've only really just ended things with their abusive exes. But as time goes on, they fall for each other, but still obviously have problems from their previous relationships that are impeding their own relationship.
I liked their chemistry and I liked them together, they worked so well together. I think the only thing that really bothered me was how much they compared each other to their exes - not actually thinking they were similar, but they both weren't able to be scared the other was going to eventually do something their ex had done, all because their exes had seemed normal at first, too. And I totally get it and understand it, but it got a little frustrating after awhile. Also the fact that they both weren't immediately in therapy when they should have been.
They thankfully get a counselor in the epilogue, which I was happy about, but they seriously should have been seeing therapists as they were dating. It just never seemed like they could have a happen moment together - even when they did - and it got frustrating, yeah, even as I understood completely why, ya know? Can't help the frustration I felt though.
But both their actions made sense in this book, and when there was drama, as there inevitably was, it made sense with all they'd been through, and thankfully it didn't last too long.
I very much enjoyed this and I recommend it if you're a fan of L.A. Witt's books. Also
Two thumbs up from me!
I really enjoyed this one, it was really good.
Both Geoff and Asher have recently gotten out of abusive relationships - one emotional and mental, and another physical (as well as emotional and mental, of course) - when they meet. In fact, Asher is literally just breaking up with his abusive boyfriend when he and Geoff meet, as Geoff is a cop who is called to take care of the disturbance - because Asher broke up with his ex in public so he couldn't do anything in private - well, he does things, just not physically hurting Asher as he does behind closed doors.
But even after that altercation, Nathan (the ex) won't go away, and after Asher and Geoff developed a connection and Geoff offered to check on Asher to make sure he was safe or if he needed anything, Asher takes him up on the offer when Nathan won't leave him alone, more than once.
And as Asher and Geoff get to know each other, they give into their attraction pretty quickly and pretend that it's just sex and hooking up. A rebound, as they've only really just ended things with their abusive exes. But as time goes on, they fall for each other, but still obviously have problems from their previous relationships that are impeding their own relationship.
I liked their chemistry and I liked them together, they worked so well together. I think the only thing that really bothered me was how much they compared each other to their exes - not actually thinking they were similar, but they both weren't able to be scared the other was going to eventually do something their ex had done, all because their exes had seemed normal at first, too. And I totally get it and understand it, but it got a little frustrating after awhile. Also the fact that they both weren't immediately in therapy when they should have been.
They thankfully get a counselor in the epilogue, which I was happy about, but they seriously should have been seeing therapists as they were dating. It just never seemed like they could have a happen moment together - even when they did - and it got frustrating, yeah, even as I understood completely why, ya know? Can't help the frustration I felt though.
But both their actions made sense in this book, and when there was drama, as there inevitably was, it made sense with all they'd been through, and thankfully it didn't last too long.
I very much enjoyed this and I recommend it if you're a fan of L.A. Witt's books. Also
Two thumbs up from me!
December 3, 2023
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes & tags down below.
Wait, do I actually like hockey books? I think I’ve read and enjoyed too many to say I don’t like them anymore, lol. It’s certainly not my favorite trope, but it’s obvious that L.A Witt knows what she’s writing about. I haven’t had any problems with the technical/hockey stuff in her books at least.
When it comes to this book specifically, I enjoyed it. There’s something about characters that have been abused (in any form) that really tugs at my heartstrings, and I enjoy reading their stories and seeing them get their happy ever afters. In this book, both MCs have suffered abuse, just in different ways, and they are both extremely wary of starting anything new, which is understandable. They basically start a hookup/friends with benefits situation, which is definitely not my favorite way to start a romance book. However, it does make sense for these characters, and it would’ve been strange if either man was excited about dating at all. They do quickly blur the lines as they get emotionally invested as well.
Asher was my favorite MC in this book by far. There’s nothing wrong with the other MC (Jeff? Geoff? I listened to the audiobook lol), but I didn’t really connect with him much either. He was just kinda there, and I’m not left with a lot of thoughts about him.
I’ve read a ton of MM books this year, and even though characters often mention how anal sex isn’t a dealbreaker or *that* important to them, this is the first time I’ve read a book where they actually don’t have penetrative sex at all, and it’s not because of trauma. It’s just something one of the MCs doesn’t enjoy, so they don’t do it. I like how L.A Witt included that. It’s important to show how sex can look different for every couple.
As mentioned I listened to the audiobook, and it was narrated by Michael Ferrawhatsit AND Nick J. Russo (my voice crush), so it was like finding the Holy Grail. God, they are both perfect.
Way off topic:
You ever feel like Michael shouldn’t ever swear? His voice is too classy to say filthy things, lmao.
Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Hockey player
Police officer
Abusive ex
Single dad
Friends with benefits
⚠️⚠️ Content warning ⚠️⚠️
Explicit sexual content
Domestic abuse
Combat PTSD
Manipulative ex
Mentions of homophobia
Gaslighting ex
⚠️⚠️⚠️ Book safety ⚠️⚠️⚠️
Cheating: No
OM/OW drama: No
Third-act breakup: Yes
POV: 1st person, dual POV
Genre: Contemporary romance, M/M
Strict roles or versatile: N/A
MCs age: 25 and 44
Wait, do I actually like hockey books? I think I’ve read and enjoyed too many to say I don’t like them anymore, lol. It’s certainly not my favorite trope, but it’s obvious that L.A Witt knows what she’s writing about. I haven’t had any problems with the technical/hockey stuff in her books at least.
When it comes to this book specifically, I enjoyed it. There’s something about characters that have been abused (in any form) that really tugs at my heartstrings, and I enjoy reading their stories and seeing them get their happy ever afters. In this book, both MCs have suffered abuse, just in different ways, and they are both extremely wary of starting anything new, which is understandable. They basically start a hookup/friends with benefits situation, which is definitely not my favorite way to start a romance book. However, it does make sense for these characters, and it would’ve been strange if either man was excited about dating at all. They do quickly blur the lines as they get emotionally invested as well.
Asher was my favorite MC in this book by far. There’s nothing wrong with the other MC (Jeff? Geoff? I listened to the audiobook lol), but I didn’t really connect with him much either. He was just kinda there, and I’m not left with a lot of thoughts about him.
I’ve read a ton of MM books this year, and even though characters often mention how anal sex isn’t a dealbreaker or *that* important to them, this is the first time I’ve read a book where they actually don’t have penetrative sex at all, and it’s not because of trauma. It’s just something one of the MCs doesn’t enjoy, so they don’t do it. I like how L.A Witt included that. It’s important to show how sex can look different for every couple.
As mentioned I listened to the audiobook, and it was narrated by Michael Ferrawhatsit AND Nick J. Russo (my voice crush), so it was like finding the Holy Grail. God, they are both perfect.
Way off topic:
You ever feel like Michael shouldn’t ever swear? His voice is too classy to say filthy things, lmao.
Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Hockey player
Police officer
Abusive ex
Single dad
Friends with benefits
⚠️⚠️ Content warning ⚠️⚠️
Explicit sexual content
Domestic abuse
Combat PTSD
Manipulative ex
Mentions of homophobia
Gaslighting ex
⚠️⚠️⚠️ Book safety ⚠️⚠️⚠️
Cheating: No
OM/OW drama: No
Third-act breakup: Yes
POV: 1st person, dual POV
Genre: Contemporary romance, M/M
Strict roles or versatile: N/A
MCs age: 25 and 44
October 22, 2021
DNF @ 17%.
Not that this is horrible, but there is one thing that is driving me nuts and I know it's only going to bother me more the longer I read, and I'll end up being annoyed that I kept reading.
In Chapter 1, Geoff has his first encounter with Asher:
Four pages later, it's reiterated that Geoff can't place the guy:
So Geoff can't place him, but is sure he knows him from somewhere... got it.
But then in Chapter 3:
and
and
So, let me get this straight... You're a huge fan of Asher's team. You're a huge fan of Asher. You have a crush on Asher. You drive past banners plastered with his face multiple times per day. You think he is the hottest player in the league. You go to some of his games.... but you can't place him?
I'm not a hockey fan, but if I ran into Sydney Crosby, I'd recognize our local hockey hero. So I'm at a loss as to how Geoff couldn't place the hottest player in the league, who he is a hardcore fan of and has a crush on.
Not that this is horrible, but there is one thing that is driving me nuts and I know it's only going to bother me more the longer I read, and I'll end up being annoyed that I kept reading.
In Chapter 1, Geoff has his first encounter with Asher:
As he walked paste me and I got a good look at his angular, freckled face, I had a flicker of recognition, but I couldn't place him. A repeat offender, maybe? There was something familiar about him, anyway.
Four pages later, it's reiterated that Geoff can't place the guy:
There really was something familiar about him, too. About his reddish-brown hair and the freckle sprinkled across his nose that had obviously been broken at least once or twice in the past. I was sure I'd seen those crystal blue eyes before. Maybe he was a repeat offender, but I had the distinct feeling of looking at someone I'd ogled in the past, and that wasn't something I was prone to doing on the job. Maybe we went to the same gym. Well, whatever. That wasn't what I was here for.
So Geoff can't place him, but is sure he knows him from somewhere... got it.
But then in Chapter 3:
My kids and I were hardcore Snowhawks fans. My ex had even gotten his nose out of joint a few times when I'd apparently worn my Crowe crush on my sleeve. I didn't see why it was a problem for me to check out the hottest player in the league.
and
[...] since Asher was local and I sometimes went to hockey games [...]
and
Even if I hadn't been a Snowhawks fan or a Crowe fan, I drove past the stadium a million times a day, and he was one of a half dozen players whose faces were prominently displayed on huge banners outside.
So, let me get this straight... You're a huge fan of Asher's team. You're a huge fan of Asher. You have a crush on Asher. You drive past banners plastered with his face multiple times per day. You think he is the hottest player in the league. You go to some of his games.... but you can't place him?
I'm not a hockey fan, but if I ran into Sydney Crosby, I'd recognize our local hockey hero. So I'm at a loss as to how Geoff couldn't place the hottest player in the league, who he is a hardcore fan of and has a crush on.
May 3, 2023
- hockey player
- age gap (40s/20s)
- hurt x comfort
- police officer
- single dad
TW: domestic violence, mentions of physical, verbal and mental abuse, combat PTSD
Overall, not bad. A bit on the slower side for me though!
- age gap (40s/20s)
- hurt x comfort
- police officer
- single dad
TW: domestic violence, mentions of physical, verbal and mental abuse, combat PTSD
Overall, not bad. A bit on the slower side for me though!
March 30, 2019
3 stars
I wanted to love this so much but argh...they were like teenage girls sometimes. I don’t mean to downplay abuse, both physical and mental, but I don’t get the feeling that this book was tackling abuse as a topic but rather more of a plot point and both Asher and Geoff flip flopping and using past abuse experiences just feels pointless so I’m not too cut up about complaining about it.
The epilogue did make me smile so that did bump up the ratings and the fact that it is a hockey romance had me biased to begin with. But....yeah, this was a lot of insecure, flip floppity guys. It started off strong so I am rather bummed that it just took a downhill slide for me. Or maybe I’m just really particular about the characters. Who knows?
I bet there are people who loved this though. Go read their reviews to give you a different perspective. You might agree that I’m an odd duck. Lol
I wanted to love this so much but argh...they were like teenage girls sometimes. I don’t mean to downplay abuse, both physical and mental, but I don’t get the feeling that this book was tackling abuse as a topic but rather more of a plot point and both Asher and Geoff flip flopping and using past abuse experiences just feels pointless so I’m not too cut up about complaining about it.
The epilogue did make me smile so that did bump up the ratings and the fact that it is a hockey romance had me biased to begin with. But....yeah, this was a lot of insecure, flip floppity guys. It started off strong so I am rather bummed that it just took a downhill slide for me. Or maybe I’m just really particular about the characters. Who knows?
I bet there are people who loved this though. Go read their reviews to give you a different perspective. You might agree that I’m an odd duck. Lol
March 30, 2019
This was a good book. Both the characters were likable and the problems understandable. The book was emotional and sexy and well written. I liked that some of the characters were diverse without making it a big deal and that the type of sex they had wasn't "typical" for regular m/m books. I also liked that it looked fairly realistically at the issue of gay domestic partner abuse and the perceptions that come with it, both external and internal. Also, that there is more than one kind of abuse and it's all abuse, regardless.
I got bogged down in all of the self esteem issues, second guessing and the sheer feeling of rockiness to the relationship. There is A LOT of time spent in both Ash and Geoff's head and it gets really, really tedious even if it's all legitimate concerns. They both go round and round in their head about the same things, over and over and over again. I also had some issues with a key aspect of the plot* that took me out of the story because I didn't get it.
I did enjoy this story though and I'm looking forward to the next one.
*Plot hole spoiler. Totally not important to the review really so skip it if you haven't read the book yet.
I got bogged down in all of the self esteem issues, second guessing and the sheer feeling of rockiness to the relationship. There is A LOT of time spent in both Ash and Geoff's head and it gets really, really tedious even if it's all legitimate concerns. They both go round and round in their head about the same things, over and over and over again. I also had some issues with a key aspect of the plot* that took me out of the story because I didn't get it.
I did enjoy this story though and I'm looking forward to the next one.
*Plot hole spoiler. Totally not important to the review really so skip it if you haven't read the book yet.
May 31, 2021
3.5 good not great
a fun and entertaining romp but nothing too remarkable imo
a fun and entertaining romp but nothing too remarkable imo
April 1, 2019
This was a miss for me. As others have said, it wasn’t so much as a hockey book as a relationship driven story which is fine, but most of the relationship evolution happened separately which is not satisfying to read. So with no notable hockey action and most of the relationship development happening through individual woolgathering, something was missing.
Have you ever tried to grab a thought, one you just knew would make everything make sense, but it’s just out of your reach, so you get more frustrated? That was my sense with this book. It could have been amazing but it just didn’t come together, so it felt like the frustrating sum of many parts. There were so many missed opportunities for a genuine connection among many characters. Additionally, there was a sense that the author had a checklist, a cornucopia of topics that she wanted to include (like MM book bingo) and she threw in as many as possible so it read as gratuitous and maybe a little tokenism?
There were several storylines going and they whimpered to a close. I don’t want to give specific examples because it might be spoilery, but I can think of four right now that would have benefited from a direct and satisfying interaction.
P.S. I also want to audit Geoff’s finances because so much was made of his poverty but it legit didn’t make sense with a 20 year military retirement and full-time policeman salary on top of that (after having lived in Marcus’ house with Marcus picking up all those expenses for five years, he should have had some money!). What was he doing with his money?
P.P.S. His kids were ungrateful, entitled brats.
Have you ever tried to grab a thought, one you just knew would make everything make sense, but it’s just out of your reach, so you get more frustrated? That was my sense with this book. It could have been amazing but it just didn’t come together, so it felt like the frustrating sum of many parts. There were so many missed opportunities for a genuine connection among many characters. Additionally, there was a sense that the author had a checklist, a cornucopia of topics that she wanted to include (like MM book bingo) and she threw in as many as possible so it read as gratuitous and maybe a little tokenism?
There were several storylines going and they whimpered to a close. I don’t want to give specific examples because it might be spoilery, but I can think of four right now that would have benefited from a direct and satisfying interaction.
P.S. I also want to audit Geoff’s finances because so much was made of his poverty but it legit didn’t make sense with a 20 year military retirement and full-time policeman salary on top of that (after having lived in Marcus’ house with Marcus picking up all those expenses for five years, he should have had some money!). What was he doing with his money?
P.P.S. His kids were ungrateful, entitled brats.
March 31, 2019
This book had my feelings rebounding all over the place! Lol!
I liked it well enough, the writing was great and I loved the pacing and characterisations for the most part. What I didn't like however was Geoff's back and forth actions regarding Asher. He was a great guy and all but he knowing he was being manipulated and STILL behaving the way he did annoyed me to no end. Asher had been through hell and back so did not deserve any of that.
I get that this book dealt with abuse but after a point it got repetitive. I know it couldn't have just been ignored but there certainly could've been other ways to handle it without it getting tiring for the reader(at least it did for me).
Also, I felt Geoff's kids were selfish and contrary to what Geoff was saying, spoiled. The author tried to make them likeable in the later parts of the book but for me, the damage had already been done. To have to be told your father was abused(after he had previously told you he had been unhappy) before you stopped acting up after a breakup was very telling. And what it told was that, those two were selfish. End of.
Overall, I felt Asher gave in too easily, Geoff(and his kids) needed attitude adjustments and that the book was great! Lol!
Can't wait for book 2!
I liked it well enough, the writing was great and I loved the pacing and characterisations for the most part. What I didn't like however was Geoff's back and forth actions regarding Asher. He was a great guy and all but he knowing he was being manipulated and STILL behaving the way he did annoyed me to no end. Asher had been through hell and back so did not deserve any of that.
I get that this book dealt with abuse but after a point it got repetitive. I know it couldn't have just been ignored but there certainly could've been other ways to handle it without it getting tiring for the reader(at least it did for me).
Also, I felt Geoff's kids were selfish and contrary to what Geoff was saying, spoiled. The author tried to make them likeable in the later parts of the book but for me, the damage had already been done. To have to be told your father was abused(after he had previously told you he had been unhappy) before you stopped acting up after a breakup was very telling. And what it told was that, those two were selfish. End of.
Overall, I felt Asher gave in too easily, Geoff(and his kids) needed attitude adjustments and that the book was great! Lol!
Can't wait for book 2!
April 12, 2019
3.5 stars
I liked the set-up. I liked that the two ex-es were both abusive but coming from different side (physical and emotional) so Geoff and Asher had their own personal issues to deal with. I especially LOVED the two women in Geoff's life: his partner, Laura, and his ex-wife, Valerie... because they ROCKED.
BUT, all the sex scenes distracted me from the story -- because I kept skimming/skipping over them, I just didn't feel like reading any of the scenes *shrugs*. And I wish those scenes are replaced instead with Asher connecting with Geoff's kids, or Geoff meeting Asher's hockey team mates, or heck, even more hockey times.
My own personal issues of course ^^
I liked the set-up. I liked that the two ex-es were both abusive but coming from different side (physical and emotional) so Geoff and Asher had their own personal issues to deal with. I especially LOVED the two women in Geoff's life: his partner, Laura, and his ex-wife, Valerie... because they ROCKED.
BUT, all the sex scenes distracted me from the story -- because I kept skimming/skipping over them, I just didn't feel like reading any of the scenes *shrugs*. And I wish those scenes are replaced instead with Asher connecting with Geoff's kids, or Geoff meeting Asher's hockey team mates, or heck, even more hockey times.
My own personal issues of course ^^
July 17, 2019
Enjoyable :)
For the most part it was an enjoyable read and pretty quick too. Only thing that bothered me was the too redundant inner musings.
For the most part it was an enjoyable read and pretty quick too. Only thing that bothered me was the too redundant inner musings.
March 30, 2020
Loved it!
Great story, perfectly narrated by Nick J. Russo and Michael Ferraiuolo!
4.5 stars
Great story, perfectly narrated by Nick J. Russo and Michael Ferraiuolo!
4.5 stars
March 28, 2019
I read this romance in one happy sitting. While Ashe is a hockey player and the sport and fame are vital to this story, the really plot is about two heroes recovering from abusive relationships.
Geoff, older and a father of teenagers is so lovely and Ashe, our ginger hero is just as kind.
They both hurt. I really love how human they are and how complex their lives are. The dating is nice.
My favorite besides the healing love and self acceptance and compassion is all the subtle work with with power dynamics. Geoff is older. Ashe has more money. Then, there is honoring each others as equals and the deep respect which carried over to the bedroom.
A lovely romance.
Geoff, older and a father of teenagers is so lovely and Ashe, our ginger hero is just as kind.
They both hurt. I really love how human they are and how complex their lives are. The dating is nice.
My favorite besides the healing love and self acceptance and compassion is all the subtle work with with power dynamics. Geoff is older. Ashe has more money. Then, there is honoring each others as equals and the deep respect which carried over to the bedroom.
A lovely romance.
February 16, 2025
LA Witt is unpredictable for me. This one had all the settings correct. It was the sort of May/December I love, where the age difference is part of who they are and something to be negotiated, not where the younger ones goes juvenile, and the older one plays an authority figure role. Also hockey players which I like for no logical reason, as well as cops, and ex military!
Witt does a great job of deconstructing the aftermath of abusive relationships. In fact, this is the focus of the story. There is less focus on the team dynamics or the issues of dating a celebrity, or the older one’s day job. If she had included all that and made the book 3 times as long, I would still have enjoyed it.
I am really looking forward to the next book in this series.
Witt does a great job of deconstructing the aftermath of abusive relationships. In fact, this is the focus of the story. There is less focus on the team dynamics or the issues of dating a celebrity, or the older one’s day job. If she had included all that and made the book 3 times as long, I would still have enjoyed it.
I am really looking forward to the next book in this series.
April 4, 2019
This was an alright read if you don’t mind a fair bit of repetitive dialogue and internal musings. I liked the two MC and the basic plot but found it dragged quite a lot in places because these guys have been through a lot of previous relationship trauma and are “stuck” in it for most of this. But I will say it’s not very often I read a book where a MC has an aversion to anal sex. Especially where it’s not a case of “top or bottom”, the character just doesn’t like any of it. And the how and why isn’t really discussed too deeply, which left me with questions. Nice HEA though.
August 18, 2024
After several rereads I bump it up one star because these people grow on you. Really well developed. The story was ok. Both men were nice and liked each other so all the drama came from both ex-boyfriends. I am always disappointed by the way Witt handles the mandatory trouble in the relationship. It is always an afterthought with her, and as easily solved as someone just changing his mind.
Narration was good.
Narration was good.
Read
May 27, 2019As of May 26, 2019, the series name has been changed to Pucks & Rainbows, and the hockey team has been changed to the Seattle Snowhawks. Reviews may still reflect the original names.
April 18, 2023
3.5
Well, this was cute!
Geoff and Asher were absolutely wonderful protagonists: sweet as hell, respectful and lovable, and I loved seeing their relationship progress and flourish, despite all the trauma and baggage they both have.
I loved the first half of the book a lot more than the second, because I kinda got bored after a bit and started skimming. I'm afraid this wasn't the book's fault: the dreaded reading slump has finally caught up with me *stomps feet* ugh, they're the worst.
Anyway, I really liked this book: L.A. Witt is a fantastic writer, as usual, and I love how she manages to masterfully blend angst and sweetness in every single one of her books.
I also loved that, although there's a significant age-gap between both protagonists, nobody made a big deal of it, least of all Geoff and Asher.
I wished we had gotten more of Asher's team though, and although it's much more realistic this way, my masochistic heart kept hoping for a stronger resolution of the Nathan situation.
All in all, this was a really enjoyable read.
TW: domestic abuse, emotional abuse.
Well, this was cute!
Geoff and Asher were absolutely wonderful protagonists: sweet as hell, respectful and lovable, and I loved seeing their relationship progress and flourish, despite all the trauma and baggage they both have.
I loved the first half of the book a lot more than the second, because I kinda got bored after a bit and started skimming. I'm afraid this wasn't the book's fault: the dreaded reading slump has finally caught up with me *stomps feet* ugh, they're the worst.
Anyway, I really liked this book: L.A. Witt is a fantastic writer, as usual, and I love how she manages to masterfully blend angst and sweetness in every single one of her books.
I also loved that, although there's a significant age-gap between both protagonists, nobody made a big deal of it, least of all Geoff and Asher.
I wished we had gotten more of Asher's team though, and although it's much more realistic this way, my masochistic heart kept hoping for a stronger resolution of the Nathan situation.
All in all, this was a really enjoyable read.
TW: domestic abuse, emotional abuse.
April 14, 2019
Hockey and angst and hot sex = winning
I'm a fan of LA Witt so I figured that a hockey book would be a good bet and I was right. There's plenty of angst, hot sex, and just enough hockey to keep it as realistic as a mm romance gets. It would have been easy to get bogged down in the internal dialogue of two survivors of domestic abuse, but this story doesn't do that.
Highly recommend.
I'm a fan of LA Witt so I figured that a hockey book would be a good bet and I was right. There's plenty of angst, hot sex, and just enough hockey to keep it as realistic as a mm romance gets. It would have been easy to get bogged down in the internal dialogue of two survivors of domestic abuse, but this story doesn't do that.
Highly recommend.
June 14, 2024
No.
Wtaf.
After a few tries I just don't think I'm a Witt fan. Which sucks because so many of my friends are fans.
Let me try and organize some of myhatred. I mean, thoughts..
At first I was like "ooooh look a book about domestic abuse. How brave."
Then "Oooh! And emotional and financial abuse too! Extra Brave."
I felt like it was showing a careful examination of internal monologue that abused parties can have when working through emotions. Like when Asher talks about needing someone to see through his lies and see the real him and when he's hiding his feelings. How he desperately wanted someone to make him talk about it instead of letting him keep covering up.
Okay, so strong start right?
Then there's a faltering in both storyline and writing. Opportunities to show how the abuser torments the abused were not pursued. Sure he texted, called, showed up a few times but it never culminated in the sense of utter dread, terror, fear etc that I felt it could have. A missed opportunity.
Then you have the kids. Those little shits. They are dislikable to the nth degree and don't really do any great job at redeeming themselves. I hated them at the beginning and hated them at the end. They were little shits who walked all over their doormat dad who never stood up to them. He instead hid his love life. Hid his abusive ex. Hid everything. Never stood up to them.
Also, the representation of financial abuse was pretty shallowly written. It could have been explored more in depth. There's a wealth of abuse that could be explored to educate the reader. I've seen moms going through divorce try to deal with this and with emotional abuse and it's almost an insult to any woman (or man) who's lived through it that the author didn't give it the attention to detail it deserved.
Then there's Asher. You know, sorry Asher sir but fuck you too for not confiding in your team, management, staff, coaching staff. Not even the PR department? What the hell kind of professional team is this? Not even once could you talk to anyone? It would have been HELLA more interesting and deep if he had instead of the constant whining fucking inner turmoil from both these MCs. Ugh. So I guess I didn't like Witt's lack of detail in how the interpersonal relationships were explored at all.
By the end of the book all of their problems seemed to be boiling down to: You both need therapy and psychiatrists, you both need to SAY WHAT THE FUCK IS ON YOUR MIND. This book was a waste of my time. There's so much other good hockey out there. Oh, and don't read this for the hockey. This is the most non hockey hockey book I've ever read.
Last thing. The sudden and ridiculous over usage of the word pussy by the MC suddenly in a scene close to the end of the book seemed so out of place and made me want to quit right then. Fuuuuck that noise.
Wtaf.
After a few tries I just don't think I'm a Witt fan. Which sucks because so many of my friends are fans.
Let me try and organize some of my
At first I was like "ooooh look a book about domestic abuse. How brave."
Then "Oooh! And emotional and financial abuse too! Extra Brave."
I felt like it was showing a careful examination of internal monologue that abused parties can have when working through emotions. Like when Asher talks about needing someone to see through his lies and see the real him and when he's hiding his feelings. How he desperately wanted someone to make him talk about it instead of letting him keep covering up.
Okay, so strong start right?
Then there's a faltering in both storyline and writing. Opportunities to show how the abuser torments the abused were not pursued. Sure he texted, called, showed up a few times but it never culminated in the sense of utter dread, terror, fear etc that I felt it could have. A missed opportunity.
Then you have the kids. Those little shits. They are dislikable to the nth degree and don't really do any great job at redeeming themselves. I hated them at the beginning and hated them at the end. They were little shits who walked all over their doormat dad who never stood up to them. He instead hid his love life. Hid his abusive ex. Hid everything. Never stood up to them.
Also, the representation of financial abuse was pretty shallowly written. It could have been explored more in depth. There's a wealth of abuse that could be explored to educate the reader. I've seen moms going through divorce try to deal with this and with emotional abuse and it's almost an insult to any woman (or man) who's lived through it that the author didn't give it the attention to detail it deserved.
Then there's Asher. You know, sorry Asher sir but fuck you too for not confiding in your team, management, staff, coaching staff. Not even the PR department? What the hell kind of professional team is this? Not even once could you talk to anyone? It would have been HELLA more interesting and deep if he had instead of the constant whining fucking inner turmoil from both these MCs. Ugh. So I guess I didn't like Witt's lack of detail in how the interpersonal relationships were explored at all.
By the end of the book all of their problems seemed to be boiling down to: You both need therapy and psychiatrists, you both need to SAY WHAT THE FUCK IS ON YOUR MIND. This book was a waste of my time. There's so much other good hockey out there. Oh, and don't read this for the hockey. This is the most non hockey hockey book I've ever read.
Last thing. The sudden and ridiculous over usage of the word pussy by the MC suddenly in a scene close to the end of the book seemed so out of place and made me want to quit right then. Fuuuuck that noise.
June 1, 2024
I've given this an A for narration and a B+ for content, so that pushes this up into the 5 star bracket.
Rebound, book one in L.A. Witt’s Pucks & Rainbows series, pairs a twenty-something hockey star with a forty-something cop and ex-marine, both of whom have recently ended long-term relationships with abusive partners. Naturally, both men bring a lot of emotional baggage to the table, so maybe a no-strings rebound fling is what they both need, a simple distraction while they deal with all the other stuff going on in their lives and sort themselves out. It’s a well-written – if slightly predictable – story featuring two engaging leads that takes a realistic look at the issue of domestic abuse in gay relationships and the perceptions – personal and public – that come with it.
When Officer Geoff Logan and his partner Laura are called to a disturbance at a local restaurant, Geoff is surprised to recognise one of the parties involved as up-and-coming hockey star, Asher Crowe, centre for the Seattle Snowhawks. While Geoff and Laura wait for back-up, Geoff talks to Asher about the fight and learns Asher had just broken things off with Nathan – his long-term , physically abusive boyfriend – having deliberately chosen to do so in a public place in the hope that Nathan wouldn’t make a scene… which obviously didn’t turn out as Asher had hoped. Geoff, who has very recently ended a six-year relationship with a man who manipulated him emotionally for years, sees something of himself and his own situation in Asher, and after seeing him safely home, tells the younger man to call him if Nathan ignores the warnings he’s been given to stay away and offers to check up on him at the end of his shift – an offer Asher gratefully accepts.
As a hockey fan, Geoff is well aware of who Asher is and, if he’s honest, has had a little bit of a crush on him for a while. Okay, so Asher is a lot younger (there’s an age gap of around nineteen years), but he’s smoking hot – and a guy can look, right? Yet there’s more than attraction propelling Geoff’s instinct to make sure Asher is safe; it twists something inside to think of this physically strong man so rattled that he flinches at an unexpected noise or touch, and he finds himself opening up to Asher and telling him something of his own experience with an abusive partner. The abuse was never physical, but Marcus, who was very well off, used money to control Geoff – even using his children as a way to get what he wanted, both in and out of the bedroom. In fact, since Geoff left Marcus, Geoff’s kids have been in something of a sulk; completely unaware of what Marcus was doing, they were very attached to him and haven’t forgiven their dad for the split and the huge difference it’s made in their lives.
The frisson of attraction running between Geoff and Asher is apparent very early on, but both are cautious, believing they’re not ready for another relationship so hot on the heels of the ones they’ve just got out of. But as they start to hang out together and get to know each other better, the chemistry between them heats up and they give into their mutual attraction, telling themselves they’re just two guys blowing off steam and celebrating their new-found freedom.
This is a relatively ‘quiet’ story where nothing bonkers happens and the focus is firmly on the romance and the characters working through all their issues and figuring out how – and if – they can make a future together. And those issues aren’t trivial. Aside from the fallout from the abuse they’ve suffered, Geoff’s relationship with his kids is shaky and although he knows he’ll have to tell them the truth about Marcus sometime, he just can’t find a way to tell them that the man they’d thought of as a second father never loved them and was just using them as a way of exerting control. He also suffers from PTSD from his time in the military, which sometimes manifests in restless nightmares, and worries about how sharing a bed with him when he starts flailing around could affect a man who has been repeatedly knocked around. And Asher, who lives his life under the media spotlight, has to contend with the hyper-masculinity of the sporting world and having everything he says and does doubly scrutinised because he’s the only out gay player in the league.
I did wonder if perhaps the author had given these two just a little too much to contend with, and I felt that a couple of things were wrapped up perhaps a bit too neatly, but otherwise, I enjoyed the story a lot. Geoff and Asher are really good together and good for each other; they generally communicate well and I liked the way the author subtly plays with the power dynamic – Geoff has age and experience on his side, Asher is younger but has more money – and how the age gap just isn’t an issue. She develops their relationship well, showing their growing affection and respect, and their love and support for one another, even when they’re still struggling with leftover deep-seated insecurities. There are some fabulous secondary characters, particularly Geoff’s partner, Laura, and Valerie, his ex-wife (with whom he’s still on good terms), and I appreciated the ‘no big deal’- ness of the diversity in the story. I wasn’t wild about the Eleventh-Hour crisis, but it made sense in context, and ultimately made the HEA that much sweeter.
If I’m completely honest, Rebound isn’t a book that needs two narrators. Michael Ferraiuolo and Nick J. Russo have both recorded a lot of L.A. Witt’s work, and are extremely skilled performers who are more than capable of creating two different voices for the leads, effectively portraying the secondary cast and differentiating expertly between all of them. But hey – who am I to turn down the chance to listen to them both in the same audiobook? (I’m not that stupid!) Mr. Ferraiuolo performs the chapters from Geoff’s PoV and I honestly can’t think of a single thing he could have done differently or better. His female voices are good, I liked the way he found and conveyed Asher’s strength and vulnerability, but best of all, his interpretation of Geoff was just wonderful, bringing out his humour, his warmth and his big-heartedness. Nick J. Russo narrates the chapters from Asher’s PoV, and like his co-narrator, pitches Asher’s voice a little higher than Geoff’s and also performs the secondary characters well, giving all of them distinct characterisations so there’s never any confusion as to who is speaking in any given scene.
I wrote this review back in August after listening to an early review copy provided by the publisher, which had some very significant production issues in Mr. Russo’s portion of the narration – namely very frequent and very long pauses in both narrative and dialogue that made it hard to listen to. I mention this now because Rebound was temporarily withdrawn from sale while the issue was fixed, and as of 22nd October, has been re-released. So if you purchased it when it was released in August, you should now be able to go back and re-download it to get the corrected and republished version.
Both narrators deliver excellent performances that delve into the emotional heart of the story and pull listeners right along with them. Rebound is a lovely story about two people regaining their lives and finding their true selves again, and is highly recommended.
Rebound, book one in L.A. Witt’s Pucks & Rainbows series, pairs a twenty-something hockey star with a forty-something cop and ex-marine, both of whom have recently ended long-term relationships with abusive partners. Naturally, both men bring a lot of emotional baggage to the table, so maybe a no-strings rebound fling is what they both need, a simple distraction while they deal with all the other stuff going on in their lives and sort themselves out. It’s a well-written – if slightly predictable – story featuring two engaging leads that takes a realistic look at the issue of domestic abuse in gay relationships and the perceptions – personal and public – that come with it.
When Officer Geoff Logan and his partner Laura are called to a disturbance at a local restaurant, Geoff is surprised to recognise one of the parties involved as up-and-coming hockey star, Asher Crowe, centre for the Seattle Snowhawks. While Geoff and Laura wait for back-up, Geoff talks to Asher about the fight and learns Asher had just broken things off with Nathan – his long-term , physically abusive boyfriend – having deliberately chosen to do so in a public place in the hope that Nathan wouldn’t make a scene… which obviously didn’t turn out as Asher had hoped. Geoff, who has very recently ended a six-year relationship with a man who manipulated him emotionally for years, sees something of himself and his own situation in Asher, and after seeing him safely home, tells the younger man to call him if Nathan ignores the warnings he’s been given to stay away and offers to check up on him at the end of his shift – an offer Asher gratefully accepts.
As a hockey fan, Geoff is well aware of who Asher is and, if he’s honest, has had a little bit of a crush on him for a while. Okay, so Asher is a lot younger (there’s an age gap of around nineteen years), but he’s smoking hot – and a guy can look, right? Yet there’s more than attraction propelling Geoff’s instinct to make sure Asher is safe; it twists something inside to think of this physically strong man so rattled that he flinches at an unexpected noise or touch, and he finds himself opening up to Asher and telling him something of his own experience with an abusive partner. The abuse was never physical, but Marcus, who was very well off, used money to control Geoff – even using his children as a way to get what he wanted, both in and out of the bedroom. In fact, since Geoff left Marcus, Geoff’s kids have been in something of a sulk; completely unaware of what Marcus was doing, they were very attached to him and haven’t forgiven their dad for the split and the huge difference it’s made in their lives.
The frisson of attraction running between Geoff and Asher is apparent very early on, but both are cautious, believing they’re not ready for another relationship so hot on the heels of the ones they’ve just got out of. But as they start to hang out together and get to know each other better, the chemistry between them heats up and they give into their mutual attraction, telling themselves they’re just two guys blowing off steam and celebrating their new-found freedom.
This is a relatively ‘quiet’ story where nothing bonkers happens and the focus is firmly on the romance and the characters working through all their issues and figuring out how – and if – they can make a future together. And those issues aren’t trivial. Aside from the fallout from the abuse they’ve suffered, Geoff’s relationship with his kids is shaky and although he knows he’ll have to tell them the truth about Marcus sometime, he just can’t find a way to tell them that the man they’d thought of as a second father never loved them and was just using them as a way of exerting control. He also suffers from PTSD from his time in the military, which sometimes manifests in restless nightmares, and worries about how sharing a bed with him when he starts flailing around could affect a man who has been repeatedly knocked around. And Asher, who lives his life under the media spotlight, has to contend with the hyper-masculinity of the sporting world and having everything he says and does doubly scrutinised because he’s the only out gay player in the league.
I did wonder if perhaps the author had given these two just a little too much to contend with, and I felt that a couple of things were wrapped up perhaps a bit too neatly, but otherwise, I enjoyed the story a lot. Geoff and Asher are really good together and good for each other; they generally communicate well and I liked the way the author subtly plays with the power dynamic – Geoff has age and experience on his side, Asher is younger but has more money – and how the age gap just isn’t an issue. She develops their relationship well, showing their growing affection and respect, and their love and support for one another, even when they’re still struggling with leftover deep-seated insecurities. There are some fabulous secondary characters, particularly Geoff’s partner, Laura, and Valerie, his ex-wife (with whom he’s still on good terms), and I appreciated the ‘no big deal’- ness of the diversity in the story. I wasn’t wild about the Eleventh-Hour crisis, but it made sense in context, and ultimately made the HEA that much sweeter.
If I’m completely honest, Rebound isn’t a book that needs two narrators. Michael Ferraiuolo and Nick J. Russo have both recorded a lot of L.A. Witt’s work, and are extremely skilled performers who are more than capable of creating two different voices for the leads, effectively portraying the secondary cast and differentiating expertly between all of them. But hey – who am I to turn down the chance to listen to them both in the same audiobook? (I’m not that stupid!) Mr. Ferraiuolo performs the chapters from Geoff’s PoV and I honestly can’t think of a single thing he could have done differently or better. His female voices are good, I liked the way he found and conveyed Asher’s strength and vulnerability, but best of all, his interpretation of Geoff was just wonderful, bringing out his humour, his warmth and his big-heartedness. Nick J. Russo narrates the chapters from Asher’s PoV, and like his co-narrator, pitches Asher’s voice a little higher than Geoff’s and also performs the secondary characters well, giving all of them distinct characterisations so there’s never any confusion as to who is speaking in any given scene.
I wrote this review back in August after listening to an early review copy provided by the publisher, which had some very significant production issues in Mr. Russo’s portion of the narration – namely very frequent and very long pauses in both narrative and dialogue that made it hard to listen to. I mention this now because Rebound was temporarily withdrawn from sale while the issue was fixed, and as of 22nd October, has been re-released. So if you purchased it when it was released in August, you should now be able to go back and re-download it to get the corrected and republished version.
Both narrators deliver excellent performances that delve into the emotional heart of the story and pull listeners right along with them. Rebound is a lovely story about two people regaining their lives and finding their true selves again, and is highly recommended.
February 3, 2020
Rating is probably actually a 3.75 stars but I'm rounding up because I thought this book was sweet and I had a good time with it.
This is not a particularly unique romance plot and didn't blow me out of the water by any means but I definitely enjoyed myself while reading this. Obviously, I liked it enough to finish it in less that a day. I thought the characters were good, though I do wish they had been a little more fleshed out, and I liked them together.
Both side of the relationship Asher and Geoff had suffered from some sort of abusive relationship with their previous partners and were working through that. Though I would say I like a little protectiveness in my romance and a horrible past partner can definitely lead to that, romance plots centered around past abuse can be a little dicey if not handled appropriately or with care. I do think the author did a good job on that front and made it clear that it would take a lot of work to heal from that sort of relationship and getting into a new relationship isn't enough to fix the problem. This is a pretty quick story and a longer one may have been able to flesh out those ideas more, but I thought the author did a good job.
I liked how respectful both Asher and Geoff were of each others boundaries and how willing they were for the most part to speak openly with each other when they were nervous about something or when they were simply unclear about an issue. I hate it when people in books just refuse to talk to each other for no good reason. There were a couple of things about fears about the relationship that I did wish they had just talked out but for the most part it was good.
This was just a really sweet romance and I would have rated it higher if it had stood out a bit more but overall I did really like it and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet relationship where there is still some tension.
This is not a particularly unique romance plot and didn't blow me out of the water by any means but I definitely enjoyed myself while reading this. Obviously, I liked it enough to finish it in less that a day. I thought the characters were good, though I do wish they had been a little more fleshed out, and I liked them together.
Both side of the relationship Asher and Geoff had suffered from some sort of abusive relationship with their previous partners and were working through that. Though I would say I like a little protectiveness in my romance and a horrible past partner can definitely lead to that, romance plots centered around past abuse can be a little dicey if not handled appropriately or with care. I do think the author did a good job on that front and made it clear that it would take a lot of work to heal from that sort of relationship and getting into a new relationship isn't enough to fix the problem. This is a pretty quick story and a longer one may have been able to flesh out those ideas more, but I thought the author did a good job.
I liked how respectful both Asher and Geoff were of each others boundaries and how willing they were for the most part to speak openly with each other when they were nervous about something or when they were simply unclear about an issue. I hate it when people in books just refuse to talk to each other for no good reason. There were a couple of things about fears about the relationship that I did wish they had just talked out but for the most part it was good.
This was just a really sweet romance and I would have rated it higher if it had stood out a bit more but overall I did really like it and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet relationship where there is still some tension.
September 17, 2019
Audiobook reviewCan two wrongs make a right?
Well, no. But in this case two epically wrong relationships and a public break-up is the starting point for Ash and Geoff and their road to something better.
Geoff and his partner are called out on a disturbance at a restaurant where a couple braking up have turned violent. It’s not long until they realise that one; one of them is the famous hockey player Asher Crowe, and two; said player was trying to leave an abusive relationship. Knowing from experience how an abusive relationship breaks you down, Geoff goes out of his way to make Ash feel safe and support him where he can. It’s not long before they both realise they have more in common than they thought. What might have started as a simple check-up quickly grew into a supportive friendship, and later something more.
Their relationship might have developed fast – at least going by how gun shy they both were after having left their long-term abusive partners and how recent the splits were. However, it never felt that way. It grew slowly and organically and they both were what the other needed, were there for each other. It wasn’t always perfect, but they worked. They had a genuine understanding of each other, and how their past relationships messed them both up. They felt genuine and so did their relationship.
Rebound was narrated by Nick J. Russo and Michael Ferraiuolo. Both are widely talented narrators that I’ve listened to and loved in the past. Ferraiuolo’s narration was the one I preferred the most – I love his voice for one and he really made the characters come alive. There was one line, delivered by Geoff’s ex-wife that particularly hit the mark for me. It was just so spot on and perfect in every way, the timing, the feel of it; it had me snorting – and I very rarely have any kind of verbal reaction while listening, smiling and tearing up sure – sounds no. Those are few and far between.
The narration on Nick J. Russo’s part had some issues. There were a lot of awkward and long pauses between sentences. They became especially noticeable when there was a dialogue. There was no natural flow of the sentences and the conversations felt stilted and off. It almost felt like he had to stop and think about the voice and tone to use for that particular character. To find the emotion of the moment. This is new to me with Russo’s narration, I’ve never experienced this hesitation from him before and can only hope he had an off week (or however long it takes to record a book) when he recorded Rebound.
With dual narrations I find that more and more there are differences in volume and sound quality when narrators switch off. Maybe there have always been differences and I just haven’t noticed or paid enough attention to it in the past, but for whatever reason it seems to be a more common phenomenon recently. I can’t imagine that it’s easy to get the different narrations to match, but some things are more noticeable than others. There weren’t any huge differences in volume or sound quality in Rebound, but it was definitely there and it was noticeable.
But as a whole I enjoyed listening to this book, and watching these men falling in love, daring to love, and I will definitely look for more titles in this series in the future.
A copy of this book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
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