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Off The Ice: Gay First Time Romance
This story was formerly titled Soft Hands by Van Cole.
Chris Knoll is one of the top players for the New York Rangers.
Anybody who knows anything about hockey is impressed with his performance – and that includes noted sports journalist Matt Tucker.
Trouble is, not everybody in the industry takes Matt too seriously because he’s openly gay.
When he arrives to conduct a profile of Chris for Sports Illustrated, Chris’s homophobic teammates are quick to warn him to be careful.
As the two get to know each other, however, Chris’s guard goes down and his interest kicks in.
Despite the backlash against him, Matt is tenacious and bold.
He defies all the negative stereotypes Chris has ever had about gay people – and he’s awakening an attraction in Chris that’s never come to the surface before.
But for a top-league sports player at the height of his career, swarmed by girls every time he leaves the house, hooking up with a writer is not really an option.
After all, this is the kind of secret you try to hide from journalists.
What are you supposed to do when a journalist is the secret?
What’s more, how are you supposed to square that with your intensely judgmental best friend?
Only one thing’s for sure.
Chris doesn’t have a choice.
Whatever happens, he’s just going to have to run with it.
Chris Knoll is one of the top players for the New York Rangers.
Anybody who knows anything about hockey is impressed with his performance – and that includes noted sports journalist Matt Tucker.
Trouble is, not everybody in the industry takes Matt too seriously because he’s openly gay.
When he arrives to conduct a profile of Chris for Sports Illustrated, Chris’s homophobic teammates are quick to warn him to be careful.
As the two get to know each other, however, Chris’s guard goes down and his interest kicks in.
Despite the backlash against him, Matt is tenacious and bold.
He defies all the negative stereotypes Chris has ever had about gay people – and he’s awakening an attraction in Chris that’s never come to the surface before.
But for a top-league sports player at the height of his career, swarmed by girls every time he leaves the house, hooking up with a writer is not really an option.
After all, this is the kind of secret you try to hide from journalists.
What are you supposed to do when a journalist is the secret?
What’s more, how are you supposed to square that with your intensely judgmental best friend?
Only one thing’s for sure.
Chris doesn’t have a choice.
Whatever happens, he’s just going to have to run with it.
- GenresSportsM M Romance
Kindle Edition
First published March 20, 2022
36 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 22, 2021
**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review**
I've read other books by this author and enjoyed them, but overall this book was just okay. I liked the concept in the blurb, enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, but I felt like there wasn't enough backstory for me to believe they were enemies. Josh is a sweet character who is just trying to help the hometown hero stay fit for the off-season, but he's foiled at every turn by Rudy's attitude. Rudy is not a very likeable character (verbally abusive) so that made it difficult for me to really get into the story and root for the two MCs to get together. I did finish but felt the ending was abrupt and didn't really allow for Rudy to be redeemed, at least in my eyes.
I've read other books by this author and enjoyed them, but overall this book was just okay. I liked the concept in the blurb, enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, but I felt like there wasn't enough backstory for me to believe they were enemies. Josh is a sweet character who is just trying to help the hometown hero stay fit for the off-season, but he's foiled at every turn by Rudy's attitude. Rudy is not a very likeable character (verbally abusive) so that made it difficult for me to really get into the story and root for the two MCs to get together. I did finish but felt the ending was abrupt and didn't really allow for Rudy to be redeemed, at least in my eyes.
January 11, 2022
hard to even finish
This one made no sense as it said one thing in a chapter then something different in the same chapter. Wasn’t even curious enough to actually read this just skimmed it.
This one made no sense as it said one thing in a chapter then something different in the same chapter. Wasn’t even curious enough to actually read this just skimmed it.
March 28, 2022
Someone needs to fire their editor. The errors in this book made it hard so hard to read I couldn’t finish it. Only got to 48% before I couldn’t take it anymore.
January 8, 2024
Let's Talk Hockey
A player discovers more about himself when he's scheduled to be interviewed.
The interviewer gets an in-depth look at a sport.
And they both fall in love.
Such a sweet spots story.
A player discovers more about himself when he's scheduled to be interviewed.
The interviewer gets an in-depth look at a sport.
And they both fall in love.
Such a sweet spots story.
February 22, 2022
Loved this story so much!
March 27, 2022
Great read
This is a good book but it could have used another 2 chapters to indicate what happened to Darren and the team mates reactions.
This is a good book but it could have used another 2 chapters to indicate what happened to Darren and the team mates reactions.
April 16, 2023
Skip it!
This read like a first draft. SO many mistakes of wrong words used or words left out or awkward phrasing. It was like an outline of a story instead of the finished product.
This read like a first draft. SO many mistakes of wrong words used or words left out or awkward phrasing. It was like an outline of a story instead of the finished product.
April 23, 2022
3,5⭐
It was quite nice. Though, had some spelling mistakes, and could use more editing, but it was definitely an enjoyable read. Wish it had a chapter or two more tbh.
It was quite nice. Though, had some spelling mistakes, and could use more editing, but it was definitely an enjoyable read. Wish it had a chapter or two more tbh.
November 26, 2021
I was hesitant at first reading this story.
One of the main characters, Rudy, a jockey player who risks losing his job, is unbearable, his behavior often brings disgust. As for the second character, Josh, he's newly a sports coach for this star who crushes and humiliates him as his first client.
Both are at a crossroads in their careers and the pressure and the past, work against them, especially when they develop a rather unhealthy relationship in their professional relationship.
I found it hard to read because of this immediate empathy for Josh and this behavior from Rudy. However, where the author is good is that he manages to draw a romance from it, certainly with dark sides, but also addictive, with a real hard way for the two characters in order to achieve their love story. From this point of view, it’s quite surprising, but not for every reader
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
One of the main characters, Rudy, a jockey player who risks losing his job, is unbearable, his behavior often brings disgust. As for the second character, Josh, he's newly a sports coach for this star who crushes and humiliates him as his first client.
Both are at a crossroads in their careers and the pressure and the past, work against them, especially when they develop a rather unhealthy relationship in their professional relationship.
I found it hard to read because of this immediate empathy for Josh and this behavior from Rudy. However, where the author is good is that he manages to draw a romance from it, certainly with dark sides, but also addictive, with a real hard way for the two characters in order to achieve their love story. From this point of view, it’s quite surprising, but not for every reader
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
November 30, 2021
This is a story about a bully who terrorizes a young man who puts up with it because he is trying to start his own business. Rudy is the bully hockey player, he treats everyone badly. Josh is a personal trainer who is trying to get his business going, and thinks that with Rudy's formal endorsement he'll have people lining up at his door. He puts up with a lot from Rudy, a condescending attitude, cruel and crude remarks and making him Rudy's errand boy. I didn't like Rudy at all, nit even at the end. Josi is such a sweet, outgoing and kind man, he didn't deserve the hassle that was Rudy. After everything blows up, Rudy does try to tell Josh why he is the way he is. Overall, the storyline is interesting, and it does have a happy ending.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews