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Skate to Love #1
He Shoots, He Scores
When superstar winger Neil Shannon is injured in the Stanley Cup Finals, he loses more than the hockey championships. With his confidence shot, his career begins to fall apart and an early retirement seems inevitable. Unwanted by his former team, Neil is traded to one that's starting over. Even worse, he's joined there by his biggest rival, the sexy Swede Adrian Magnusson. Adrian feels responsible for Neil's fall from grace and is determined to revive his career, but Neil wants to stay far away from this Swedish temptation, or else he'll lose the last thing of value he owns: his reputation.
398 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 16, 2020
51 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
About the author
Tricia Owens
97 books540 followersI write urban fantasy, paranormal romance, m/m fiction and menage fiction, with probably more genres to come! Please visit my website and sign up for my newsletter so you'll be kept apprised of my frequent new releases:
Website: http://www.triciaowensbooks.com/
Website: http://www.triciaowensbooks.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
December 6, 2020
I was definitely hoping for more with this. I was bored for a good part of it waiting for that enemies to lovers angst but it never came. Adrian is too nice and Neil was too moody. By the end of it it was clear that nothing was going to happen, it ends with no suspense or cliffhanger and also with no resolution because there will be a second book. I would’ve liked something, anything to happen but it all fell flat.
June 13, 2020
*3.5 stars*
Damned, that was a good and promising start. Of course, I like sport MM romances, there is that.
Neil and Adrian are the best Hockey players of the moment. They are rivals, they have opposite characters, and they are both gays and in the closet. During the Stanley cup Finals, Neil is injured and there goes the cup, putting Neil in a rough spot. And he finds an unexpected and let’s say it not really wanted support from Adrian. Yes, Adrian is competitive but he also wants emulation from Neil and why not, spend some sexy time with Neil and being with a teammate is the perfect cover. Adrian is focused on his career but Neil is so tempting.
I enjoyed the pace, these opposite characters well fleshed-out, the mild angst, the team spirit, the chemistry and banter, well at least Adrian’s banter. This part was a slow burn and a hot chase.
Beware, though, it’s a series, so no HEA yet, but this is a satisfying start for a good, sexy and hot sport romance. Bring it on, dear author, you launched an interesting shot : I’m engaged and want to see a winning score.
ARC of “He Shoots, He Scores” was generously provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Damned, that was a good and promising start. Of course, I like sport MM romances, there is that.
Neil and Adrian are the best Hockey players of the moment. They are rivals, they have opposite characters, and they are both gays and in the closet. During the Stanley cup Finals, Neil is injured and there goes the cup, putting Neil in a rough spot. And he finds an unexpected and let’s say it not really wanted support from Adrian. Yes, Adrian is competitive but he also wants emulation from Neil and why not, spend some sexy time with Neil and being with a teammate is the perfect cover. Adrian is focused on his career but Neil is so tempting.
I enjoyed the pace, these opposite characters well fleshed-out, the mild angst, the team spirit, the chemistry and banter, well at least Adrian’s banter. This part was a slow burn and a hot chase.
Beware, though, it’s a series, so no HEA yet, but this is a satisfying start for a good, sexy and hot sport romance. Bring it on, dear author, you launched an interesting shot : I’m engaged and want to see a winning score.
ARC of “He Shoots, He Scores” was generously provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 6, 2020
This is a solid start to a new series by one of my favorite authors. I love a good hockey story, and Ms. Owens has a habit of creating some solid characters that can go the distance. Neil and Adrian are not quite as strong from the get go as some of her previous characters, but they definitely have the potential.
Here, Neil and Adrian are both star players in their positions but on different teams. In one of the final games for the Stanley Cup, Neil is hit hard and suffers some serious injuries. He heals, but finds his mental scars are a bit more difficult to ignore. Unfortunately, his team is not strong enough to back or support him through his confidence issues.
Adrian, however, is at the top of his game and when seeing the issues Neil is facing, jumps on the chance to get him on his team. It doesn’t go over very well with Neil, as they have some communication issues that get in the way of things, and their heretofore rivalry to deal with, among other things.
Adrian’s faith in Neil never wavers, and his patience pays off in more ways than one when Neil works through his insecurities and pulls through for the team. He also gives in to Adrian where their relationship is concerned, but just when things start rolling in the right direction, the story ends and we are left longing to see how everything works out. Sure hope Ms. Owens doesn’t make us wait too long to find out. There is also a hint of something brewing with some of the teammates, so I’m looking forward to seeing that play out as well.
Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
November 25, 2020
HEA?
Erm... this feels like half the book. It wasn’t even a HEA... I don’t think? I’m kinda confused. I think this is a series. But I don’t know if this series will be of the same couple or a different couple. All clues kinda point to a different couple. If so, this definitely is NOT a HEA! 🤭
I’m...kinda speechless 😧
Erm... this feels like half the book. It wasn’t even a HEA... I don’t think? I’m kinda confused. I think this is a series. But I don’t know if this series will be of the same couple or a different couple. All clues kinda point to a different couple. If so, this definitely is NOT a HEA! 🤭
I’m...kinda speechless 😧
August 26, 2021
It was good. Kinda abrupt ending though.
July 20, 2021
Every time I start one of these books that are almost 400 pages long, I just know there's going to be absolutely no reason that it needs to be that long and I'm always right. Like, fifty pages of this was epithets, and it kills me because this was actually pretty fun and overall fine to solid-ish. Would have been three stars easy, but then it had the most inexplicably miserable epilogue? I thought the ending was vague but pleasant and then tapped and was like, "Oh nice, epilogue to wrap it up," except it undid the vague pleasantness and made the whole universe feel very sad and hopeless.
Also, there was a very weird connection drawn in this between eating food and somehow failing a drug test? I kept waiting for some kind of backstory there, but nope, just... an incredibly weird repeated paranoia.
ETA: Coming back to say that I did enjoy the actual hockey in this one quite a bit!
Also, there was a very weird connection drawn in this between eating food and somehow failing a drug test? I kept waiting for some kind of backstory there, but nope, just... an incredibly weird repeated paranoia.
ETA: Coming back to say that I did enjoy the actual hockey in this one quite a bit!
July 21, 2022
“We should be a secret.” Magnusson’s face normally animated, became still. “You and me.”
You’re already mine, Neil thought.
So this was a grumpy/sunshine hockey romance. Neil was super moody and took too much out on Adrian in my opinion. Adrian was “just as much a human golden retriever” as he could be.
I got the vibe that Adrian was fairly lonely and we didn’t really explore that too much. Neil had all the room to feel his emotions (good or bad) and Adrian only had room to be friendly. I wanted more development out of him.
I wanted to read more about Elias and the rookie but it looks like the series isn’t being continued at the moment. If this changes, I’ll probably slip back in because they had the chance for a fun book.
You’re already mine, Neil thought.
So this was a grumpy/sunshine hockey romance. Neil was super moody and took too much out on Adrian in my opinion. Adrian was “just as much a human golden retriever” as he could be.
I got the vibe that Adrian was fairly lonely and we didn’t really explore that too much. Neil had all the room to feel his emotions (good or bad) and Adrian only had room to be friendly. I wanted more development out of him.
I wanted to read more about Elias and the rookie but it looks like the series isn’t being continued at the moment. If this changes, I’ll probably slip back in because they had the chance for a fun book.
June 14, 2020
Holy wow...I'm in love...there is no other words to use...but I don't know who I love more; the controlled Neil or easy going Adrian!
I'll come out and say it; hockey is my favorite sport romance. These two men had so much chemistry I was afraid my Kindle would explode. This story had me laughing and biting my nails with everything going on around them and I'm excited to see what this series will bring to the table.
Once again a new to me author and I'm an instant fan. To say I'm highly recommending this story is an understatement!!! You NEED to read this book!!
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
I'll come out and say it; hockey is my favorite sport romance. These two men had so much chemistry I was afraid my Kindle would explode. This story had me laughing and biting my nails with everything going on around them and I'm excited to see what this series will bring to the table.
Once again a new to me author and I'm an instant fan. To say I'm highly recommending this story is an understatement!!! You NEED to read this book!!
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
June 16, 2020
He Shoots, He Scores is the first book in the Skate to Love series by Tricia Owens. This book is about hockey stars Neil and Adrian, rivals until they become part of the same team. It's well written but I gave it 3 stars because it doesn't have a satisfying ending for me. I think the next book is about the same men but this book doesn't even have a satisfying HFN so 3 stars it is.
June 13, 2020
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
There is so much to love about this hockey romance. It’s the story of a player attempting a comeback after a serious injury. And it’s also the story of two hockey rivals who start as enemies and slowly become something more.
The sexual tension between Neil and Adrian is electric and I loved the way the feelings between them build slowly and painfully. With constantly fluctuating dynamics between them as players, it is a challenge for them to establish any sort of connection off the ice.
I really enjoyed the Seattle setting and the teammates are brilliant. There is more on-ice action in this book than in many of the recent hockey romances I’ve read and I love the hockey scenes. Closeted romances are always a little bit disappointing but I feel like the connection between Neil and Adrian works.
I have to say that while I loved most of the book, I was really disappointed that it feels like there really isn’t a satisfying ending to the story. I’m not sure if the story will be continued but for me, a romance lacking a solid HEA or HFN feels really incomplete.
There is so much to love about this hockey romance. It’s the story of a player attempting a comeback after a serious injury. And it’s also the story of two hockey rivals who start as enemies and slowly become something more.
The sexual tension between Neil and Adrian is electric and I loved the way the feelings between them build slowly and painfully. With constantly fluctuating dynamics between them as players, it is a challenge for them to establish any sort of connection off the ice.
I really enjoyed the Seattle setting and the teammates are brilliant. There is more on-ice action in this book than in many of the recent hockey romances I’ve read and I love the hockey scenes. Closeted romances are always a little bit disappointing but I feel like the connection between Neil and Adrian works.
I have to say that while I loved most of the book, I was really disappointed that it feels like there really isn’t a satisfying ending to the story. I’m not sure if the story will be continued but for me, a romance lacking a solid HEA or HFN feels really incomplete.
November 24, 2020
There’s nothing more disappointing than an enemies to lovers romance where they just argue and tiptoe around each other the entire time. I wanted to smack Neil basically the entire book, and everyone on the Kraken can fuck off with their negative thoughts on Maggy’s decor.
June 20, 2020
Just Okay
The story line was okay. It seemed incomplete. As well as not knowing what an average size hockey player is. A quick google search would show you the size of Neil would be like a high school player.
The story line was okay. It seemed incomplete. As well as not knowing what an average size hockey player is. A quick google search would show you the size of Neil would be like a high school player.
July 1, 2020
🏒 I'm hooked
Ever read a story and it just makes sense?
Beyond the words?
The characters just clicked for you?
This was that for me 😍
I might even start watching hockey now
But seriously,
Whether you enjoy sports or not this is one you don't want to pass up
Adrian comes across to the world as the golden boy who has the world in the palm of his hand. All ego. He isn't really though. Yeah he's cocky and a touch confident but he's also caring ❤and very observant. He brought laughter with him wherever he went. I know sounds corny but he was so much more than what fans see on the ice.
Neil is dedicated to the game. He is a touch overly cautious- okay he has slight OCD when it comes to rules. But it may be just a layer of protection for him, a form of security if you will? He loves the game but he knows the world is not ready for a gay hockey player.
Both seem to be on top of the world
Both at first glance appear to have it all
Both are hiding secrets
The way this unfolded? To die for!
The back and forth between them. The emotional chemistry.
It bled off the pages.
The laughter - The desire - The fear - The love
I was hooked.
I did not want to close the pages when their story kind of came to an end...
I want more of this cast
Ever read a story and it just makes sense?
Beyond the words?
The characters just clicked for you?
This was that for me 😍
I might even start watching hockey now
But seriously,
Whether you enjoy sports or not this is one you don't want to pass up
Adrian comes across to the world as the golden boy who has the world in the palm of his hand. All ego. He isn't really though. Yeah he's cocky and a touch confident but he's also caring ❤and very observant. He brought laughter with him wherever he went. I know sounds corny but he was so much more than what fans see on the ice.
Neil is dedicated to the game. He is a touch overly cautious- okay he has slight OCD when it comes to rules. But it may be just a layer of protection for him, a form of security if you will? He loves the game but he knows the world is not ready for a gay hockey player.
Both seem to be on top of the world
Both at first glance appear to have it all
Both are hiding secrets
The way this unfolded? To die for!
The back and forth between them. The emotional chemistry.
It bled off the pages.
The laughter - The desire - The fear - The love
I was hooked.
I did not want to close the pages when their story kind of came to an end...
I want more of this cast
June 2, 2020
Hockey is a game. Real men play it. They can either win or lose. But when a hockey player loses the Stanley Cup it’s devastating. Specially if he comes out of with with a broken arm and a concussion. Neil is such a man and he’s not handling it very well.
Adrian plays hockey. He didn’t lose the Stanley Cup and he is handling it great. Circumstances have Neil and Adrian at the same place, at the same time and Neil’s concussion leads to both men revealing they are gay and hot for each other. Then suddenly they are on the same team. Let the games begin.
I loved this book. Hot times, hockey, and great characters. It ended way to soon. Liked the instant attraction and the wait to act on it. I read several of the authors books (she has an extensive catalog) and like her writing style. I’m really looking forward to more of this series.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
Adrian plays hockey. He didn’t lose the Stanley Cup and he is handling it great. Circumstances have Neil and Adrian at the same place, at the same time and Neil’s concussion leads to both men revealing they are gay and hot for each other. Then suddenly they are on the same team. Let the games begin.
I loved this book. Hot times, hockey, and great characters. It ended way to soon. Liked the instant attraction and the wait to act on it. I read several of the authors books (she has an extensive catalog) and like her writing style. I’m really looking forward to more of this series.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
June 24, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
The story is fairly strong and both Neil and Adrian are compelling characters. And while the title is a tad silly, the story deals with the mental impact of injury and stress in a believable way.
Neil’s injuries manage to shake up his well-ordered world. He struggles to regain his sense of self-worth on and off the ice and the author does a good job making this struggle relatable. His depression and lack of confidence feel real and it makes his character easy to champion. The relationship between Adrian and Neil, aside from the occasional sports references during sex, is intense and, while we don’t get much development of their rivalry before Neil’s injury, it’s easy to see why they fit so well together.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
The story is fairly strong and both Neil and Adrian are compelling characters. And while the title is a tad silly, the story deals with the mental impact of injury and stress in a believable way.
Neil’s injuries manage to shake up his well-ordered world. He struggles to regain his sense of self-worth on and off the ice and the author does a good job making this struggle relatable. His depression and lack of confidence feel real and it makes his character easy to champion. The relationship between Adrian and Neil, aside from the occasional sports references during sex, is intense and, while we don’t get much development of their rivalry before Neil’s injury, it’s easy to see why they fit so well together.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
May 30, 2020
Loved the slow burn here! Neil was such a tough nut for Maggy to crack and it was good to see that this was a real journey and there was no insta-love—plenty of instant attraction—and any lustful thoughts and feelings had to be kept on the downlow. This really was a love hard fought, I felt sorry for Maggy at times because he’s like some big bouncy, happy puppy and he’s always looked out for Neil, whether Neil realised it or not, but Neil was so reluctant to let go and was fighting against himself almost for the majority of the story. He’s so complex and it’s this depth of character here that rewards you with such a rich, honest and believable romance. There’s plenty of hockey talk that was interesting and insightful, even if you know very little about the sport and a great selection of supporting characters. How will these two work it out? Looking forward to the next instalment to find out.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMG Reads.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMG Reads.
June 16, 2020
4.5 Stars
He Shoots, He Scores is a riveting hockey romance. This Tricia Owens book had me gripped from the start.
When we meet Neil, he is injured during an important hockey game by his rival Adrian. As time goes on, the two men find one another on the same team. There's animosity, intrigue, awkwardness, tension, and more.
This is a story that's driven by the fear of coming out in sports. Both Neil and Adrian are closeted NHL players. Despite being rivals, the attraction and chemistry are there in full force from the start.
Neil and Adrian make a fascinating couple. They are complete opposites, who have a long journey to get past their natural conflict. Their journey is well developed, with some light angst. Their relationship is a slow burn one with some sizzling heat. The injury factor is intriguing, and the enemies aspect is fabulous.
The writing is wonderful, with some fun banter, two well rounded characters, and some interesting obstacles in their way. There are plenty of side characters and game action to round out this story. The author definitely impresses with the entertaining dialogue. The one problem is that this story falls flat with the ending. No definitive ending. There damn well better be more of this couple in my future. I need it! And they need their happy ending.
Overall, He Shoots, He Scores is an exciting sports romance. If you enjoy closeted athletes finding their way to love, you will enjoy this Tricia Owens read.
He Shoots, He Scores is a riveting hockey romance. This Tricia Owens book had me gripped from the start.
When we meet Neil, he is injured during an important hockey game by his rival Adrian. As time goes on, the two men find one another on the same team. There's animosity, intrigue, awkwardness, tension, and more.
This is a story that's driven by the fear of coming out in sports. Both Neil and Adrian are closeted NHL players. Despite being rivals, the attraction and chemistry are there in full force from the start.
Neil and Adrian make a fascinating couple. They are complete opposites, who have a long journey to get past their natural conflict. Their journey is well developed, with some light angst. Their relationship is a slow burn one with some sizzling heat. The injury factor is intriguing, and the enemies aspect is fabulous.
The writing is wonderful, with some fun banter, two well rounded characters, and some interesting obstacles in their way. There are plenty of side characters and game action to round out this story. The author definitely impresses with the entertaining dialogue. The one problem is that this story falls flat with the ending. No definitive ending. There damn well better be more of this couple in my future. I need it! And they need their happy ending.
Overall, He Shoots, He Scores is an exciting sports romance. If you enjoy closeted athletes finding their way to love, you will enjoy this Tricia Owens read.
June 18, 2020
I’m a sucker for hockey romances so picking this one up was an obvious choice for me, made more tempting by the fact that I haven’t read any of this author’s other books. This turned out to be a solid story with interesting characters, and I’m already looking forward to more in the series.
Adrian is definitely the more self-assured one of the two overall, and has a better handle on his personal life. Both he and Neil are closeted (because of course since they’re hockey players), but Adrian seems to handle it more easily…Neil can be more high-strung and wary. One thing’s for sure though—together they have that off-the-charts chemistry physically, which by the end of the story starts to spill over onto the emotional side as well. But you will be waiting quite a while for that emotional aspect, and even by the end it’s just a hint that’s starting out.
This means that while Adrian and Neil do seem to have come to an understanding by the end of this book, it’s obvious there’s a longer road ahead of them so you’re going to get a tentative happy-for-now once you finish. Just know this going into your reading and you’ll be anticipating the next book in the series to see how things will progress. There are also some conspicuous hints regarding another possible couple, so it will be interesting to see where that may lead too.
For those of you who look forward to the hockey scenes, you won’t be disappointed. There’s enough to make fans of the sport happy without being too much for anyone whose eyes glaze over with the first mention of “offsides” ;-)
Overall, this was somewhere between 3.5 and 4 star for me, leaning more towards the 4. Let’s see where things go from here. The adult language and heated sexual content make this book one for readers 18+.
Adrian is definitely the more self-assured one of the two overall, and has a better handle on his personal life. Both he and Neil are closeted (because of course since they’re hockey players), but Adrian seems to handle it more easily…Neil can be more high-strung and wary. One thing’s for sure though—together they have that off-the-charts chemistry physically, which by the end of the story starts to spill over onto the emotional side as well. But you will be waiting quite a while for that emotional aspect, and even by the end it’s just a hint that’s starting out.
This means that while Adrian and Neil do seem to have come to an understanding by the end of this book, it’s obvious there’s a longer road ahead of them so you’re going to get a tentative happy-for-now once you finish. Just know this going into your reading and you’ll be anticipating the next book in the series to see how things will progress. There are also some conspicuous hints regarding another possible couple, so it will be interesting to see where that may lead too.
For those of you who look forward to the hockey scenes, you won’t be disappointed. There’s enough to make fans of the sport happy without being too much for anyone whose eyes glaze over with the first mention of “offsides” ;-)
Overall, this was somewhere between 3.5 and 4 star for me, leaning more towards the 4. Let’s see where things go from here. The adult language and heated sexual content make this book one for readers 18+.
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April 27, 2023I'm not going to rate atm.
In my opinion this book is not finished.
After that epilogue I'd say this isn't even a HFN. The Skate to Love #1 following this title implies there will be more books but they aren't available as yet. If you like your romance where the relationship is in a solid place at the end of a book then I would suggest holding off until the next book is out.
In my opinion this book is not finished.
After that epilogue I'd say this isn't even a HFN. The Skate to Love #1 following this title implies there will be more books but they aren't available as yet. If you like your romance where the relationship is in a solid place at the end of a book then I would suggest holding off until the next book is out.
March 1, 2021
Left hanging.....
While I enjoyed the story I wish I knew it just ended without a conclusion. I was starting to enjoy the story then the end came with absolutely no closure or ending! It released in June and I have yet to find the second book, so not sure if there are plans or not for one.
While I enjoyed the story I wish I knew it just ended without a conclusion. I was starting to enjoy the story then the end came with absolutely no closure or ending! It released in June and I have yet to find the second book, so not sure if there are plans or not for one.
June 23, 2020
3.5 Stars!
Neil Shannon is the captain of his hockey team leading them in one of the last games of the Stanley Cup Finals when he gets hurt for the first time in his career. Worse is that without him, his team loses the series and all because he was distracted by one of the other team's players, Adrian Magnusson. The concussion and broken arm he's recovering from really mess with Neil's head and he has a hard time dealing with everything. When he gets traded to an expansion team to play with Adrian, he's furious and it's not the reaction that Adrian expected. These two need to learn to work with each other, and Neil needs to find his confidence again.
It was easy to like both Neil and Adrian, but I didn't really understand all the animosity that Neil had for Adrian. Yes, they were on rival teams and Neil didn't want to be attracted to Adrian, but it still seemed out of proportion. Adrian is the most positive guy and knows what he wants, a player that can help his team get to the Stanley Cup finals, who also happens to be a guy he has the hots for. I loved that even with all the animosity that Neil throws at Adrian, Adrian does the right things and helps Neil when he needs it most. I loved Neil's sister and how she is always straightforward with Neil about everything; Neil really needs someone in his corner, and I was happy she was always there for him. These two clearly have chemistry, but Neil is constantly conflicted about even being around Adrian, which made things difficult.
Honestly, I had a really hard time rating this story. I am a hockey fan and certain things stuck out to me that don't jive with current hockey play; however, I had no problems letting those issues go for the most part especially since they are things I miss. What really bothered me was realizing that just as Neil seemed to maybe opening himself up to what Adrian was offering, the story ended. It also happened to be right at the point that Neil seemed to have gotten his hockey game back on track. I'm assuming that this is going to be split up into a series, and I wouldn't say it's even a HFN at this point. I got to the last page and went, wait. There has to be more, but there wasn't. I want the rest of their story, hopefully, we don't have to wait too long for it.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Neil Shannon is the captain of his hockey team leading them in one of the last games of the Stanley Cup Finals when he gets hurt for the first time in his career. Worse is that without him, his team loses the series and all because he was distracted by one of the other team's players, Adrian Magnusson. The concussion and broken arm he's recovering from really mess with Neil's head and he has a hard time dealing with everything. When he gets traded to an expansion team to play with Adrian, he's furious and it's not the reaction that Adrian expected. These two need to learn to work with each other, and Neil needs to find his confidence again.
It was easy to like both Neil and Adrian, but I didn't really understand all the animosity that Neil had for Adrian. Yes, they were on rival teams and Neil didn't want to be attracted to Adrian, but it still seemed out of proportion. Adrian is the most positive guy and knows what he wants, a player that can help his team get to the Stanley Cup finals, who also happens to be a guy he has the hots for. I loved that even with all the animosity that Neil throws at Adrian, Adrian does the right things and helps Neil when he needs it most. I loved Neil's sister and how she is always straightforward with Neil about everything; Neil really needs someone in his corner, and I was happy she was always there for him. These two clearly have chemistry, but Neil is constantly conflicted about even being around Adrian, which made things difficult.
Honestly, I had a really hard time rating this story. I am a hockey fan and certain things stuck out to me that don't jive with current hockey play; however, I had no problems letting those issues go for the most part especially since they are things I miss. What really bothered me was realizing that just as Neil seemed to maybe opening himself up to what Adrian was offering, the story ended. It also happened to be right at the point that Neil seemed to have gotten his hockey game back on track. I'm assuming that this is going to be split up into a series, and I wouldn't say it's even a HFN at this point. I got to the last page and went, wait. There has to be more, but there wasn't. I want the rest of their story, hopefully, we don't have to wait too long for it.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
August 5, 2020
He Shoots He Scores by Tricia Owens
Reviewed by Shee Reader for Boy Meets Boy Reviews
Find us on the web at www.boymeetsboyreviews.com
Rating 3.5 Hearts
Blurb:
When superstar winger Neil Shannon is injured in the Stanley Cup Finals, he loses more than the hockey championships. With his confidence shot, his career begins to fall apart and an early retirement seems inevitable. Unwanted by his former team, Neil is traded to one that's starting over. Even worse, he's joined there by his biggest rival, the sexy Swede Adrian Magnusson. Adrian feels responsible for Neil's fall from grace and is determined to revive his career, but Neil wants to stay far away from this Swedish temptation, or else he'll lose the last thing of value he owns: his reputation.
I adore a good sports romance, and hockey is a real joy for me, but even I found this book a little slow to get going. Early on in the story, Neil gets injured and he is a genuinely likeable tortured hero who I was rooting for from the outset. I found Adrian much harder to care about but I’m not sure why.Maybe the global meltdown in real life has damaged my reading mojo?
The little hotel-room-shower scene was delightful but could have got much more of an emotional engagement.
Once Neil’s playing goes downhill and Adrian uses his influence to get Neil to Seattle with him, I was hopeful for sparks, and there were, but somehow this missed the spot for me. It was a nicely written story and there was nothing wrong with it, I just struggled to get all the way invested in the relationship development.
One high spot for me was Neil’s sister. She was a terrific character, and I loved the relationship between the siblings. I also really liked Adrian’s awkward European-ness. Very true to life!
I’ll definitely try this book again.
I was given a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Shee Reader for Boy Meets Boy Reviews
Find us on the web at www.boymeetsboyreviews.com
Rating 3.5 Hearts
Blurb:
When superstar winger Neil Shannon is injured in the Stanley Cup Finals, he loses more than the hockey championships. With his confidence shot, his career begins to fall apart and an early retirement seems inevitable. Unwanted by his former team, Neil is traded to one that's starting over. Even worse, he's joined there by his biggest rival, the sexy Swede Adrian Magnusson. Adrian feels responsible for Neil's fall from grace and is determined to revive his career, but Neil wants to stay far away from this Swedish temptation, or else he'll lose the last thing of value he owns: his reputation.
I adore a good sports romance, and hockey is a real joy for me, but even I found this book a little slow to get going. Early on in the story, Neil gets injured and he is a genuinely likeable tortured hero who I was rooting for from the outset. I found Adrian much harder to care about but I’m not sure why.Maybe the global meltdown in real life has damaged my reading mojo?
The little hotel-room-shower scene was delightful but could have got much more of an emotional engagement.
Once Neil’s playing goes downhill and Adrian uses his influence to get Neil to Seattle with him, I was hopeful for sparks, and there were, but somehow this missed the spot for me. It was a nicely written story and there was nothing wrong with it, I just struggled to get all the way invested in the relationship development.
One high spot for me was Neil’s sister. She was a terrific character, and I loved the relationship between the siblings. I also really liked Adrian’s awkward European-ness. Very true to life!
I’ll definitely try this book again.
I was given a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
May 26, 2020
While I wouldn't put this book in my "favorites of all time" list, I enjoyed this rivals-to-lovers hockey romance. The storyline was very engaging, the characters were believable and interesting, and the sex was very hot. I wish there had been more backstory for Neil and Adrian because at the end of the book I still barely knew anything about them that wasn't hockey-related. Adrian seemed like such a sweetheart under all that swagger, and I wanted to delve more into how he became the player he is today. It was seriously adorable how much he cared about Neil even when he was being prickly and trying to push Adrian away. The irresistible attraction and sexual tension between Neil and Adrian was so tantalizing, and when they finally came together it was explosive!
My main complaint is that I didn't see much of an emotional connection between them, even after they admitted their hookups weren't as casual as planned. The book ended just after they finally took the next steps to making their relationship real. I wanted to know more about how they navigated a relationship while playing on the same hockey team and hiding their sexualities. I really hope there are additional books planned for this series, and not just for Neil and Adrian. I'm also very curious about whatever is going on between Elias and Bastion.
**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My main complaint is that I didn't see much of an emotional connection between them, even after they admitted their hookups weren't as casual as planned. The book ended just after they finally took the next steps to making their relationship real. I wanted to know more about how they navigated a relationship while playing on the same hockey team and hiding their sexualities. I really hope there are additional books planned for this series, and not just for Neil and Adrian. I'm also very curious about whatever is going on between Elias and Bastion.
**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Read
June 22, 2020This would be a 1 star or 1.5, but I'd usually round up to 2 because it's the lowest I've gone so far. Found out about this one randomly from some Goodreads list, and tried it out- because M/M romance and hockey. This specific genre combination is my kryptonite, so this book was very fine to very meh for me; otherwise the writing, the characterizations of pairing Adrian Magnusson and Neil Shannon, aren't great, including the events occurring, premise/ plausibility of the play and motivations and all. Also did not realize going in that this would either continue their story in further books and this isn't self-contained, OR that this story is the ending and the next book is of a different pairing all while having a completely halting ending. The story just stopped, extremely did not resolve any story arc and seemed to just end there suspended in the middle of nothing much- not even a conclusive Happy For Now situation, but they're just hooking up and do not/ have not even developed feelings for each other. Just annoying that this seems incomplete, and if the story continues, I feel obligated to read on to get an actual ending, but I also begrudge that and feel like this didn't feel worth it enough for me to continue with this. I suppose the statuses of Adrian and Neil's personal and professional lives can be good enough to project from here. At least this was breezy and short and semi immersive.
June 16, 2020
This is a good start to a new series with interesting characters and an intriguing storyline. Neil has lost confidence in his ability to play hockey after a nearly debilitating injury but he is determined to get better and ensure that his team wins the cup. When the unthinkable happens and he is traded to a new team that his nemesis is the star of he struggles to deal with his anger and his incredible attraction to Adrian. All Adrian wants is the best team possible and he knows with Neil on their side they will be able to accomplish greatness together. He also wants to explore his intense connection and attraction to Neil even though Neil is fighting him every step of the way. Their chemistry is off the charts, they are both very likeable and I found myself rooting for them in spite of all of the nearly insurmountable obstacles they are facing. I like them as a couple but the lack of background information about both of them made it difficult for me to connect with them and I wish that there had been more interaction between them that wasn't about hockey. The secondary characters are great and I love Neil's sister. This story has a HFN ending and I look forward to getting to know more about Neil and Adrian as the series continues.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
June 15, 2020
Thank you for the ARC read, I voluntarily give this book an honest review. For a rival Adrian is dead set on winning any type of favour from his long time hockey crush, but will he push too far? Is bad to have a crush on your rival? In NHL it very well was frowned upon. When Neil took a hit that leaves him with unspoken confidence issue's the team he has been with trades him all thanks to a push and nudge Magnusson. The time spent in Vegas with what if's run around inside their brains at a chance encounter at a gay bar can they be their own perfect secret with no strings? Getting Neil on his team (in-all-ways) was going to be a challenge Adrian was looking forward to. Can I just say the chemistry with these two are of the charts, both bring humor as weapon while fighting to be the one that ups the other. Neil is fighting so hard not to given in to his needs and play the all American hockey star that his fans needs but a guy does have needs after all and Adrian is his Kryptonite. One hit is not enough for Adrian, Neil has always been his weakness. Oh I need more, what a cruel and unusual punishment please may I have some more. And hopeful Eli and Bastion coming in near future?
June 16, 2020
4.5 Stars
Neil hated Adrian with a passion, because he felt like everything bad that's been happening to him lately was somehow caused by the Finn player...but what Neil hated most was how attractive he found Adrian.
These two, apart from being athletes and having the same passion for their sport, couldn't have been more different or with more opposite personalities. Adrian was mischievous, gregarious and always smiling, all of these traits managing to irritate Neil, who was serious, private and rather reserved. And when they were in close quarters, talk about sparks flying! It was such an amazingly written sexual charge that I could feel the tension and chemistry between Adrian and Neil fizz from the pages.
This was the best hockey enemies to lovers I've had had the pleasure of reading lately. Adrian and Neil are only just starting to get along, so I can't call it a romance yet. It's just the first book in the series, and who knows if the MC are even going to allow themselves to fall in love. BUT, I'm gonna love the heck out of watching the process, because I can't get enough of these two together and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next between them.
Neil hated Adrian with a passion, because he felt like everything bad that's been happening to him lately was somehow caused by the Finn player...but what Neil hated most was how attractive he found Adrian.
These two, apart from being athletes and having the same passion for their sport, couldn't have been more different or with more opposite personalities. Adrian was mischievous, gregarious and always smiling, all of these traits managing to irritate Neil, who was serious, private and rather reserved. And when they were in close quarters, talk about sparks flying! It was such an amazingly written sexual charge that I could feel the tension and chemistry between Adrian and Neil fizz from the pages.
This was the best hockey enemies to lovers I've had had the pleasure of reading lately. Adrian and Neil are only just starting to get along, so I can't call it a romance yet. It's just the first book in the series, and who knows if the MC are even going to allow themselves to fall in love. BUT, I'm gonna love the heck out of watching the process, because I can't get enough of these two together and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next between them.
June 16, 2020
Neil and Adrian know each other from facing off on opposite sides of the puck. When Neil takes a hard hit and ends up hurt, Adrian wants to help him. Neil and Adrian are attracted to each other, but neither men have come out yet. When Neil is struggling to bounce back after his injury, Adrian decides he wants Neil to join his team. Everyone is excited and happy about this news, except Neil. I honestly felt bad for Adrian, he only wanted what was best for Neil, you could tell he really cared. I feel like Neil didn't really deserve Adrian. While yes, I'm hoping for these guys to have an amazing love story, I can't help but want to smack Neil upside his head at times. This is book one, so my fingers are crossed that book two will have these two becoming an actual couple, and Neil showing Adrian some much deserved love. I am also really curious about what is happening with a couple teammates of theirs. Hope we get more on that too.
June 13, 2021
Am I missing something?
I passed on this book so many times. Then I finally decided to go ahead and read it hoping that the closeted character would not remain in angst too long. I should have kept on passing it by. This was the most frustrating book I’ve ever read. Did it even have an ending? If so what was it? I am thoroughly confused. Unless there is a part two that I am missing…… I looked for one I didn’t find it. If there is a part two to this book then someone please please tell me and I am willing to finish the story. I just feel like the story is unfinished. What was the point of this whole story anyway? There’s no resolution. I’m dumbfounded.It’s bad enough I kept getting bored and falling asleep but then to have no ending!? I wish I would’ve never read this book.
I passed on this book so many times. Then I finally decided to go ahead and read it hoping that the closeted character would not remain in angst too long. I should have kept on passing it by. This was the most frustrating book I’ve ever read. Did it even have an ending? If so what was it? I am thoroughly confused. Unless there is a part two that I am missing…… I looked for one I didn’t find it. If there is a part two to this book then someone please please tell me and I am willing to finish the story. I just feel like the story is unfinished. What was the point of this whole story anyway? There’s no resolution. I’m dumbfounded.It’s bad enough I kept getting bored and falling asleep but then to have no ending!? I wish I would’ve never read this book.
October 14, 2020
This book had the potential to be a really great m/m hockey book. But it fell short for me when there was no happy ending. In fact, it kind of left you hanging. I loved Adrian, a superstar hockey player, who may have had an big ego, but was all heart. I loved the teammates and the writing too. But the constant angst with Neil after his major injury got to be annoying. It just dragged on. Too much game details too. A full book and neither of the main characters still knew that they had each had been crushing on the other forever?? Ultimately, I'm looking for the love story. When my kindle was getting down to 90% of the book being done, and there was STILL no resolution, I wanted to check out.
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