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The Long Game
You can't change the past but you can choose your future.
Jack Chevalier is determined not to let his past define him. He keeps his head down and works hard. He’s not sure how he’s ended up with such great friends, but he’s grateful. Especially for the one man who’s always defied his expectations.
Grady McDonnough has been on his own his entire adult life. He’s got acquaintances and colleagues and a bachelor pad where he can order take-out to his heart’s content, and that’s enough. Sure there are things he misses, but he wouldn’t trade being his true self for anything.
Trust has never come easy for Jack, but Grady's been the exception from the moment they met. Now they're close. Hold-your-hand-when-you're-upset kind of close. All-their-mutuals-think-they-should-be-a-couple kind of close. But both men have pasts coming back to haunt them.
Can they let their guards down and allow their relationship to blossom? Or will they keep one another at arm's length and lose the one thing they both desperately want---love?
The Long Game is a stand-alone 100k word MM friends-to-lovers romance full of familiar faces helping two clueless friends build their family-of-choice and reach their HEA. While all of Sam's books take place in the same universe and many characters appear in more than one book, The Long Game can be read as a standalone.
Jack Chevalier is determined not to let his past define him. He keeps his head down and works hard. He’s not sure how he’s ended up with such great friends, but he’s grateful. Especially for the one man who’s always defied his expectations.
Grady McDonnough has been on his own his entire adult life. He’s got acquaintances and colleagues and a bachelor pad where he can order take-out to his heart’s content, and that’s enough. Sure there are things he misses, but he wouldn’t trade being his true self for anything.
Trust has never come easy for Jack, but Grady's been the exception from the moment they met. Now they're close. Hold-your-hand-when-you're-upset kind of close. All-their-mutuals-think-they-should-be-a-couple kind of close. But both men have pasts coming back to haunt them.
Can they let their guards down and allow their relationship to blossom? Or will they keep one another at arm's length and lose the one thing they both desperately want---love?
The Long Game is a stand-alone 100k word MM friends-to-lovers romance full of familiar faces helping two clueless friends build their family-of-choice and reach their HEA. While all of Sam's books take place in the same universe and many characters appear in more than one book, The Long Game can be read as a standalone.
365 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 15, 2023
73 people are currently reading
432 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Wayland
24 books697 followersSamantha Wayland has three great loves in life; her family, writing books, and hockey. She is often found apologizing to the first for how much time and attention is taken up by the latter two, but they forgive her because they are awesome and she clearly doesn’t deserve them.
Sam lives with her family -- of both the two and four-legged variety -- outside of Boston. She is a wicked passionate New Englander (born and raised) who has been known to wax rhapsodic about the Maine Coast, the mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont, and the sensible way in which her local brethren don’t see a need for directional signals (blinkahs!).
Her favorite things include mango martinis, tiny Chihuahuas with big attitude problems, and the Oxford comma.
Sam lives with her family -- of both the two and four-legged variety -- outside of Boston. She is a wicked passionate New Englander (born and raised) who has been known to wax rhapsodic about the Maine Coast, the mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont, and the sensible way in which her local brethren don’t see a need for directional signals (blinkahs!).
Her favorite things include mango martinis, tiny Chihuahuas with big attitude problems, and the Oxford comma.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
dnf
March 26, 2023dnf @17%
The writing isn't working for me. Too much narrative and not enough dialogues, with nothing much happening. It's dragging right from the start and I'm bored, to be honest.
I reread Poetry In Motion and I still feel like I'm dropped in the middle of the storyline. Should I know who Garrick is? And his women? Well, I don't and I don't care.
Also, I've learned some things about Jack that I don't feel like reading about. I definitely liked Grady and Jack more in Poetry In Motion.
The writing isn't working for me. Too much narrative and not enough dialogues, with nothing much happening. It's dragging right from the start and I'm bored, to be honest.
I reread Poetry In Motion and I still feel like I'm dropped in the middle of the storyline. Should I know who Garrick is? And his women? Well, I don't and I don't care.
Also, I've learned some things about Jack that I don't feel like reading about. I definitely liked Grady and Jack more in Poetry In Motion.
February 20, 2023
When I found out about this book I had no idea it was Jack’s story. THE JACK’s story!! I knew it was in the same universe as her previous books but I didn’t know who the MC’s were. And of course I absolutely loved it because, you see, going back to Samantha Wayland’s hockey universe is like visiting family, it’s comfort.I completely understand my friends here who complained that it didn’t feel as a standalone because it wasn’t. Only those who read the previous books can understand the big family vibe going on here . Only those would be happy to see Rupert and his gang, or Jack and his stoic officer BFF Grady or Mike and Aleksei , our crazy, real estate gurus 🤣. I wish we had more time with them, I missed them so much.
I met Jack in Home & Away and I loved him at first sight and I wanted his story so much but that was a while ago (too long) hence the complete surprise when I realized who he was. I loved him here too, and I loved Grady immensely but I’m also mad at them because they lost 4 years of being together for a rather weak reason , if you ask me. I loved the pining though, and the hand holding and the sleep in the same bed thingy and I love their love and how they supported each other even though they both carried scars on their souls. I confess, I cried a bit..
I know some parts of the book were slightly OTT and I did roll my eyes a few times -the abundance of strays they took in was ridiculous, the one dimensional villains (Grady’sfamily) and the confrontation were OTT, the criminal with the heart of gold 🙄 or the superhero badass lawyer (again 🙄) but to be frank it didn’t take away from my enjoyment because to tell you the truth I love seeing queer ppl happy. I love to see them in love , accepted, married and with lots of kids . I know , I know…it’s looking through rose-tinted glasses but it makes me happy. Samantha Wayland’s characters make me happy, there’s no two ways about it. I recommend to read the previous books before this one .. at least Home&away and Poetry in motion…they’re wonderful.
PD. I so wish this was a graphic novel so I can see Jack’s tattoo. All of it. And I do mean ALL of it. Even the parts hidden in …….the nooks and crannies ..😁😉
I met Jack in Home & Away and I loved him at first sight and I wanted his story so much but that was a while ago (too long) hence the complete surprise when I realized who he was. I loved him here too, and I loved Grady immensely but I’m also mad at them because they lost 4 years of being together for a rather weak reason , if you ask me. I loved the pining though, and the hand holding and the sleep in the same bed thingy and I love their love and how they supported each other even though they both carried scars on their souls. I confess, I cried a bit..
I know some parts of the book were slightly OTT and I did roll my eyes a few times -the abundance of strays they took in was ridiculous, the one dimensional villains (Grady’sfamily) and the confrontation were OTT, the criminal with the heart of gold 🙄 or the superhero badass lawyer (again 🙄) but to be frank it didn’t take away from my enjoyment because to tell you the truth I love seeing queer ppl happy. I love to see them in love , accepted, married and with lots of kids . I know , I know…it’s looking through rose-tinted glasses but it makes me happy. Samantha Wayland’s characters make me happy, there’s no two ways about it. I recommend to read the previous books before this one .. at least Home&away and Poetry in motion…they’re wonderful.
PD. I so wish this was a graphic novel so I can see Jack’s tattoo. All of it. And I do mean ALL of it. Even the parts hidden in …….the nooks and crannies ..😁😉
February 13, 2023
***3.5 rating***
"Jack slid his hand onto Grady's knee and Grady grasped hold because, fuck it all and anyone who had a problem with it, they were the kind of friends who held hands now."
The Long Game is a standalone book by Samantha Wayland. The story centers around two friends, Jack Chevalier (ex-con) and Grady McDonnough (RCMP-Canadian federal police), who live in Moncton, New Brunswick. Jack has a past, and so does Grady, but who doesn't have a past? Our MCs are initially reluctant to share their past with one another, and even though Grady has a romantic interest in Jack, the two do not start a relationship immediately. No, Jack and Grady begin as friends, and it is somewhat of a slow burn for these two, but their connection, in the beginning, is lovely and cute. Grady is always there for Jack, no doubt about it. In the four years, they have been friends, they have managed to establish a strong friendship and bond until a circumstance occurs and brings them closer. The hold-your-hand-when-you're-upset kind of close and all-their-mutuals-think-they-should-be-a-couple kind of close. But can these two overcome their past and be still in a relationship that isn't haunted by their past demons? One can only hope.
My thoughts on this book are mixed. I have never read a book by SW, so this was a first. I liked Jack and Grady in the beginning, their friendship, and the moments where they would hold hands and cuddle together as "friends." I thought that was very sweet and endearing. However, SW's former characters from her other books made an appearance, and so did many different characters. It became too much. I didn't think that did justice to the MCs or the plot. All these characters took the focus away from our MCs' romance and relationship development. I could care less about Grady's many cousins who came out of nowhere. This book became less about Jack and Grady and more about Grady's many family members. Hence, the 3.5 rating. This book started very promisingly, but then it all went downhill. However, this might interest you if you have previously enjoyed books by SW.
Thank you GRR for providing the ARC, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
"Jack slid his hand onto Grady's knee and Grady grasped hold because, fuck it all and anyone who had a problem with it, they were the kind of friends who held hands now."
The Long Game is a standalone book by Samantha Wayland. The story centers around two friends, Jack Chevalier (ex-con) and Grady McDonnough (RCMP-Canadian federal police), who live in Moncton, New Brunswick. Jack has a past, and so does Grady, but who doesn't have a past? Our MCs are initially reluctant to share their past with one another, and even though Grady has a romantic interest in Jack, the two do not start a relationship immediately. No, Jack and Grady begin as friends, and it is somewhat of a slow burn for these two, but their connection, in the beginning, is lovely and cute. Grady is always there for Jack, no doubt about it. In the four years, they have been friends, they have managed to establish a strong friendship and bond until a circumstance occurs and brings them closer. The hold-your-hand-when-you're-upset kind of close and all-their-mutuals-think-they-should-be-a-couple kind of close. But can these two overcome their past and be still in a relationship that isn't haunted by their past demons? One can only hope.
My thoughts on this book are mixed. I have never read a book by SW, so this was a first. I liked Jack and Grady in the beginning, their friendship, and the moments where they would hold hands and cuddle together as "friends." I thought that was very sweet and endearing. However, SW's former characters from her other books made an appearance, and so did many different characters. It became too much. I didn't think that did justice to the MCs or the plot. All these characters took the focus away from our MCs' romance and relationship development. I could care less about Grady's many cousins who came out of nowhere. This book became less about Jack and Grady and more about Grady's many family members. Hence, the 3.5 rating. This book started very promisingly, but then it all went downhill. However, this might interest you if you have previously enjoyed books by SW.
Thank you GRR for providing the ARC, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 26, 2023
Ughhhhhhhh
I have read everything else in this world by this author and absolutely loved it. Home & Away is one of the only books with children heavily featured that I not only rated five stars, but have gone back multiple times and reread. I was so incredibly excited for this book because Jack and Grady’s story had such a fantastic buildup and we’ve been waiting so long! I’m happy to wait if it means a great story.
I will start by saying the first 50% ish of the book was fucking fantastic. Watching Jack and Grady start touching each other more, holding hands, cuddle to sleep, and essentially date without realising they were dating was delightful. They have crazy chemistry and a warm relationship with each other whether it was friendship or later in the book, much more. They were both so supportive of each other and truly there for one another like a couple should be.
I didn’t even blink an eye when Grady’s young family member shows up needing help. It seemed pretty true to Samantha Wayland’s style. And while the author does a good job of giving us enough romance between Jack and Grady, the addition of five hundred million family members and no time for Jack and Grady to truly get to know one another as boyfriends rather than friends made most of the second half quite annoying and frustrating. The further the story progressed, especially once a pregnant fucking child shows up, (with no mention of abortion or adoption of course!) I was done. The last chunk of the story was awful, ridiculous, contrived, etc. The addition of the religious family from hell (I fully support the hate for religion in this, trust me) showing up plus the arrival of Canada’s “most notorious criminal” (?!) made me stop and literally say what the fuck is happening out loud. It was so out of tune with the rest of the book. Also, every single girl/woman in this book of childbearing age is pregnant, which I haaaate. I know I sound like an asshole cuz of course queer people taking care of younger queer people is an incredible thing but maybe not in romance novels?
Anyway, 5 stars for Jack and Grady’s romance. One star for the rest of the story I guess since the writing was still good. Also, I do not think this can be read as a standalone. Mike and Alexei, Rupert and Callum, Barnaby and Travis, and even Garrick, Savannah, and Rhian show up quite a bit and the relationships are complex enough (thanks to the author’s talent) that reading this as a standalone just won’t work.
I have read everything else in this world by this author and absolutely loved it. Home & Away is one of the only books with children heavily featured that I not only rated five stars, but have gone back multiple times and reread. I was so incredibly excited for this book because Jack and Grady’s story had such a fantastic buildup and we’ve been waiting so long! I’m happy to wait if it means a great story.
I will start by saying the first 50% ish of the book was fucking fantastic. Watching Jack and Grady start touching each other more, holding hands, cuddle to sleep, and essentially date without realising they were dating was delightful. They have crazy chemistry and a warm relationship with each other whether it was friendship or later in the book, much more. They were both so supportive of each other and truly there for one another like a couple should be.
I didn’t even blink an eye when Grady’s young family member shows up needing help. It seemed pretty true to Samantha Wayland’s style. And while the author does a good job of giving us enough romance between Jack and Grady, the addition of five hundred million family members and no time for Jack and Grady to truly get to know one another as boyfriends rather than friends made most of the second half quite annoying and frustrating. The further the story progressed, especially once a pregnant fucking child shows up, (with no mention of abortion or adoption of course!) I was done. The last chunk of the story was awful, ridiculous, contrived, etc. The addition of the religious family from hell (I fully support the hate for religion in this, trust me) showing up plus the arrival of Canada’s “most notorious criminal” (?!) made me stop and literally say what the fuck is happening out loud. It was so out of tune with the rest of the book. Also, every single girl/woman in this book of childbearing age is pregnant, which I haaaate. I know I sound like an asshole cuz of course queer people taking care of younger queer people is an incredible thing but maybe not in romance novels?
Anyway, 5 stars for Jack and Grady’s romance. One star for the rest of the story I guess since the writing was still good. Also, I do not think this can be read as a standalone. Mike and Alexei, Rupert and Callum, Barnaby and Travis, and even Garrick, Savannah, and Rhian show up quite a bit and the relationships are complex enough (thanks to the author’s talent) that reading this as a standalone just won’t work.
March 14, 2023
Updated 3/14: I've been thinking about this book on/off and have decreased my rating down to 4 due to some lingering annoyances.
Relationship: 5 stars 😍
Some of the peripheral extras are what brought this down.
Proper review still to come
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mini review upon finishing:
WOW. Damn damn double damn 🥹❤️🔥🥂🍾😍
Rating: 4.5 stars rounded to 5 for the way this made me FEEL, holy shizzle sticks,
It’s 1AM so… RTC❤️
Relationship: 5 stars 😍
Some of the peripheral extras are what brought this down.
Proper review still to come
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mini review upon finishing:
WOW. Damn damn double damn 🥹❤️🔥🥂🍾😍
Rating: 4.5 stars rounded to 5 for the way this made me FEEL, holy shizzle sticks,
It’s 1AM so… RTC❤️
March 9, 2023
ETA
Finished, was lovely to get to know these characters deeper.I like them and their found family!
=======================
Not sure why no synopsis. But this is it.
“Jack Chevalier is determined not to let his past define him. He keeps his head down and works hard. He’s not sure how he’s ended up with such great friends, but he’s grateful. Especially for the one man who’s always defied his expectations.
Grady McDonnough has been on his own his entire adult life. He’s got acquaintances and colleagues and a bachelor pad where he can order take-out to his heart’s content, and that’s enough. Sure there are things he misses, but he wouldn’t trade being his true self for anything.
Trust has never come easy for Jack, but Grady's been the exception from the moment they met. Now they're close. Hold-your-hand-when-you're-upset kind of close. All-their-mutuals-think-they-should-be-a-couple kind of close. But both men have pasts coming back to haunt them.
Can they let their guards down and allow their relationship to blossom? Or will they keep one another at arm's length and lose the one thing they both desperately want---love?
The Long Game is a stand-alone 100k word MM friends-to-lovers romance full of familiar faces helping two clueless friends build their family-of-choice and reach their HEA.”
Finished, was lovely to get to know these characters deeper.I like them and their found family!
=======================
Not sure why no synopsis. But this is it.
“Jack Chevalier is determined not to let his past define him. He keeps his head down and works hard. He’s not sure how he’s ended up with such great friends, but he’s grateful. Especially for the one man who’s always defied his expectations.
Grady McDonnough has been on his own his entire adult life. He’s got acquaintances and colleagues and a bachelor pad where he can order take-out to his heart’s content, and that’s enough. Sure there are things he misses, but he wouldn’t trade being his true self for anything.
Trust has never come easy for Jack, but Grady's been the exception from the moment they met. Now they're close. Hold-your-hand-when-you're-upset kind of close. All-their-mutuals-think-they-should-be-a-couple kind of close. But both men have pasts coming back to haunt them.
Can they let their guards down and allow their relationship to blossom? Or will they keep one another at arm's length and lose the one thing they both desperately want---love?
The Long Game is a stand-alone 100k word MM friends-to-lovers romance full of familiar faces helping two clueless friends build their family-of-choice and reach their HEA.”
March 6, 2023
I generally quite enjoy this author's work, and I did think the quality of the writing here was great, as usual, but man this story was a slog. By the end I was just skimming, and even that felt like work.
It's clear that this takes place in a greater universe of stories, which I find frustrating as a general rule, particularly when author's love to classify these books as "stand-alones". While yes, I could technically follow what was happening in this story, the sheer amount of characters and backstory involving the MCs that were clearly in other books was super distracting and frustrating. The author has followed the letter of the law when it comes to labeling this a standalone, but not the spirit of it.
The story here was... well to be honest, there wasn't a story. There was no real tension or conflict other than sort of dealing with the past and caring for a ton of relatives?? But all of that was so easily done--there just wasn't anything at all interesting about these characters, their relationship, or even some greater external plot. Slice of life stuff is fine, but I don't want to read 300 pages of nothing interesting at all happening while a bunch of characters I'm supposed to care about from other books traipse around.
The smut was fine--maybe it would have been hotter if I cared at all about the characters of their relationship?
IDK this was all over the place and left me annoyed, confused, and frustrated. If you haven't read this author before, I beg of you, don't start here--if I had, I probably wouldn't pick up more of her books...
It's clear that this takes place in a greater universe of stories, which I find frustrating as a general rule, particularly when author's love to classify these books as "stand-alones". While yes, I could technically follow what was happening in this story, the sheer amount of characters and backstory involving the MCs that were clearly in other books was super distracting and frustrating. The author has followed the letter of the law when it comes to labeling this a standalone, but not the spirit of it.
The story here was... well to be honest, there wasn't a story. There was no real tension or conflict other than sort of dealing with the past and caring for a ton of relatives?? But all of that was so easily done--there just wasn't anything at all interesting about these characters, their relationship, or even some greater external plot. Slice of life stuff is fine, but I don't want to read 300 pages of nothing interesting at all happening while a bunch of characters I'm supposed to care about from other books traipse around.
The smut was fine--maybe it would have been hotter if I cared at all about the characters of their relationship?
IDK this was all over the place and left me annoyed, confused, and frustrated. If you haven't read this author before, I beg of you, don't start here--if I had, I probably wouldn't pick up more of her books...
February 18, 2023
Can’t enjoy.
February 26, 2023
The writing felt a little repetitive at times (how many times did the author have to draw our attention to the main characters' hand holding or the pointed looks of EVERYONE around them that understood they were meant to be before they did?!), but overall, I quite liked this book.
Read
February 18, 2023DNF 38%
I've been trying to read this book for close to a week. I didn't vibe with it or click. I started forcing myself to try to read it and started skimming to get through. That's when I knew it was time to throw in the towel. It was boring.
No rating since I DNFed
I've been trying to read this book for close to a week. I didn't vibe with it or click. I started forcing myself to try to read it and started skimming to get through. That's when I knew it was time to throw in the towel. It was boring.
No rating since I DNFed
August 27, 2024
I just adored this audio.
Everyone is sleeping on Samantha Wayland and her Icecats universe, I wish more people read and talked about this series. It has amazing characters, relationships, great humor mixed in with the feels, and some of the absolute best found family across any series. I adore this entire hockey team and their friends and partners and kids and how much they love each other.
I'd been looking forward to Jack and Grady's story for a while and why they were the way they were with each other lol. I loved how sweet their friendship turning into more was, and also how humorous it was along the way!
And also? Colton is a total scene stealer! Adore him and his caffeine addiction and bluntness haha. I don't know if she'd ever do a bit of a time jump to age Colton up to after college for him to have a story of his own, but I'd for sure read it.
Seriously, if you love hockey romance this series is a must read. I definitely recommend reading in order because there is a lot of overlap with previous couples and throuples. I think Sam has a reading universe order list on her website!
GIVE ME ERIK'S STORYYYYYYY lol
Everyone is sleeping on Samantha Wayland and her Icecats universe, I wish more people read and talked about this series. It has amazing characters, relationships, great humor mixed in with the feels, and some of the absolute best found family across any series. I adore this entire hockey team and their friends and partners and kids and how much they love each other.
I'd been looking forward to Jack and Grady's story for a while and why they were the way they were with each other lol. I loved how sweet their friendship turning into more was, and also how humorous it was along the way!
And also? Colton is a total scene stealer! Adore him and his caffeine addiction and bluntness haha. I don't know if she'd ever do a bit of a time jump to age Colton up to after college for him to have a story of his own, but I'd for sure read it.
Seriously, if you love hockey romance this series is a must read. I definitely recommend reading in order because there is a lot of overlap with previous couples and throuples. I think Sam has a reading universe order list on her website!
GIVE ME ERIK'S STORYYYYYYY lol
March 15, 2023
Well shit I don’t even wanna review this because it’s been like 5 days and the whole time I read this I was very much preoccupied since I was home but also sick. So despite skipping college I was in so state to read.
A case of it’s me, not the book. Probably.
I love Samantha Wayland so much that she’s ones of the two authors I regularly check up on to see if they’ve put out a new book. And one of the only author where I thoroughly enjoy seeing my old favs in new books because I’m THAT invested.
SO THANK YOU NICOLE FOR LETTING ME KNOW THIS WAS OUT!!?!!
I loved all the cameos soooo much. Missed my babies😩 though I will admit I barely remember Poetry In Motion so maybe it’s time for a reread of that.
I’d been looking forward so much to Jack’s book since I was expecting a lot of pining and a ton of just obliviousness on their parts but I think it fell flat for me.
The pining just felt very superfluous and the book dove right into the subplot and the romance took a backseat. Which I think was done because there really was nothing keeping them apart except the fact that the book started a few years into their friendship and they haven’t been together this whole time.
The sa aspect was introduced and then just pushed aside to make way for the SECOND subplot.
I think the author just forgot to make them a real character and unfortunately as much as I loved the cameos… they took away from the actual couple this time.
Grady was just a goody two shoes. That’s all there was to him. So very boring and even the sex wasn’t as steamy as usual.
The pining never hit a satisfying peak. I never enjoy it when one character has been aware of the other’s constant pining. It’s not FUN. and that’s what this felt like.
I LOVED SAM. And Colton too, even though he felt very OTT and unrealistic at times. Especially with how he was with Jack’s mom. It all felt very fake to me because honestly I’ve never seen anyone act like that and it just felt a bit overbearing to me. Anything to push Jack into a father figure ig.
I really wish they’d actually explored their relationship more. I wanted more one-on-one conversation between them and the kids. They really needed to build more of a bond to convince me. I love one on one heart to heart convos in between parental figures and children. Makes me cry and it’s my kryptonite. Especially when the child is seeking reassurance. They’re so much possibility, so much pain to be explored. And we see it in Home and Away so I know she writes it spectacularly. A missed opportunity:(
This was just all over the place, sorry.
Still glad I read it though! Solid 3 stars :D
Extremely interested in seeing if René is gonna get a story👁️👁️
A case of it’s me, not the book. Probably.
I love Samantha Wayland so much that she’s ones of the two authors I regularly check up on to see if they’ve put out a new book. And one of the only author where I thoroughly enjoy seeing my old favs in new books because I’m THAT invested.
SO THANK YOU NICOLE FOR LETTING ME KNOW THIS WAS OUT!!?!!
I loved all the cameos soooo much. Missed my babies😩 though I will admit I barely remember Poetry In Motion so maybe it’s time for a reread of that.
I’d been looking forward so much to Jack’s book since I was expecting a lot of pining and a ton of just obliviousness on their parts but I think it fell flat for me.
The pining just felt very superfluous and the book dove right into the subplot and the romance took a backseat. Which I think was done because there really was nothing keeping them apart except the fact that the book started a few years into their friendship and they haven’t been together this whole time.
The sa aspect was introduced and then just pushed aside to make way for the SECOND subplot.
I think the author just forgot to make them a real character and unfortunately as much as I loved the cameos… they took away from the actual couple this time.
Grady was just a goody two shoes. That’s all there was to him. So very boring and even the sex wasn’t as steamy as usual.
The pining never hit a satisfying peak. I never enjoy it when one character has been aware of the other’s constant pining. It’s not FUN. and that’s what this felt like.
I LOVED SAM. And Colton too, even though he felt very OTT and unrealistic at times. Especially with how he was with Jack’s mom. It all felt very fake to me because honestly I’ve never seen anyone act like that and it just felt a bit overbearing to me. Anything to push Jack into a father figure ig.
I really wish they’d actually explored their relationship more. I wanted more one-on-one conversation between them and the kids. They really needed to build more of a bond to convince me. I love one on one heart to heart convos in between parental figures and children. Makes me cry and it’s my kryptonite. Especially when the child is seeking reassurance. They’re so much possibility, so much pain to be explored. And we see it in Home and Away so I know she writes it spectacularly. A missed opportunity:(
This was just all over the place, sorry.
Still glad I read it though! Solid 3 stars :D
Extremely interested in seeing if René is gonna get a story👁️👁️
March 7, 2023
Been waiting for Jack.
Didn’t disappoint. Secrets,
friends, sugar, home, hot.
Didn’t disappoint. Secrets,
friends, sugar, home, hot.
March 23, 2024
3+
Pomimo, iż miejscami ilość wydarzeń i wątków, zwłaszcza w drugiej połowie, była miejscami niedorzeczna 😂, to jednak naprawdę lubię zarówno świat, który stworzyła Samantha Wayland (choć niestety jest życzeniowy), jak i jego bohaterów, zatem zaokrąglam w górę 😁
Pomimo, iż miejscami ilość wydarzeń i wątków, zwłaszcza w drugiej połowie, była miejscami niedorzeczna 😂, to jednak naprawdę lubię zarówno świat, który stworzyła Samantha Wayland (choć niestety jest życzeniowy), jak i jego bohaterów, zatem zaokrąglam w górę 😁
February 17, 2023
The first time I read a Samantha Wayland book, it was one of my first excursions into MMF territory, and I loved it.
Since then, nearly all of her books have been great reads, and I think I never rated one below 4 stars ... and thankfully, this is not different.
We are back on Ice Cats territory, and I have to confess, it took me some time to remember Jack and Gady (which reminds me, I have to re-read the books). But I am so happy to see their HEA ... and what a great story that was.
Jack and Gady are both at the heart of the big Ice cats group but somehow nevertheless on the fringes.
Both had it not easy in life but remained good people, and I loved them for that.
I loved how naturally their relationship developed once they let themselves lean on each other
I loved that they communicated with each other and also asked their friends for help.
This is a great book in this series and I think there is now new potential for more.
I loved this book and will revisit them often.
An ARC was provided by GRR and I am happy to give my honest opinion
Since then, nearly all of her books have been great reads, and I think I never rated one below 4 stars ... and thankfully, this is not different.
We are back on Ice Cats territory, and I have to confess, it took me some time to remember Jack and Gady (which reminds me, I have to re-read the books). But I am so happy to see their HEA ... and what a great story that was.
Jack and Gady are both at the heart of the big Ice cats group but somehow nevertheless on the fringes.
Both had it not easy in life but remained good people, and I loved them for that.
I loved how naturally their relationship developed once they let themselves lean on each other
I loved that they communicated with each other and also asked their friends for help.
This is a great book in this series and I think there is now new potential for more.
I loved this book and will revisit them often.
An ARC was provided by GRR and I am happy to give my honest opinion
March 4, 2023
3.5/5 stars. This was enjoyable but didn’t really deliver on the pining promised by Jack and Grady’s previous appearances in Wayland’s books. I think it was a mistake to show only how they met and then skip directly to the present day, without showing any part of the many years they were friends who wanted a relationship they felt they couldn’t have. While that backstory is established in Wayland’s other books, especially Poetry in Motion, I think the whole story should have been offered here as well. If I hadn’t just re-read Poetry in Motion, much of the impact of this book would have been lost.
Wayland has always interwoven her books by having everyone be a side character in everyone else’s books. This has mostly worked in the past, because the information from past books hasn’t really been necessary to understand whichever one you’re reading. But here, the side characters take up so much space that I don’t know how much this works as a standalone. It was also frustrating that the characters from the MMF trilogy were so prominent because I haven’t read those and don’t care about those characters at all.
I was hoping this would be a story like Poetry in Motion, where Jack and Grady’s characters were slowly explored as their relationship developed. Unfortunately, the main plot in this book is yet more of the family/found family stuff that Wayland likes so much. It felt somewhat repetitive of Home & Away, and combined with all the side character stuff really took away most of the space that should have been used to develop Jack and Grady as characters. They felt more like archetypes than people, which was disappointing given how well-developed Wayland’s other characters are.
Wayland writes family/found family stories well, and I did enjoy that part of the book. It just wasn’t what I was hoping for or expecting here, and I’m not sure the story of a long-pined-for relationship was the right vehicle for the other elements this book had.
Wayland has always interwoven her books by having everyone be a side character in everyone else’s books. This has mostly worked in the past, because the information from past books hasn’t really been necessary to understand whichever one you’re reading. But here, the side characters take up so much space that I don’t know how much this works as a standalone. It was also frustrating that the characters from the MMF trilogy were so prominent because I haven’t read those and don’t care about those characters at all.
I was hoping this would be a story like Poetry in Motion, where Jack and Grady’s characters were slowly explored as their relationship developed. Unfortunately, the main plot in this book is yet more of the family/found family stuff that Wayland likes so much. It felt somewhat repetitive of Home & Away, and combined with all the side character stuff really took away most of the space that should have been used to develop Jack and Grady as characters. They felt more like archetypes than people, which was disappointing given how well-developed Wayland’s other characters are.
Wayland writes family/found family stories well, and I did enjoy that part of the book. It just wasn’t what I was hoping for or expecting here, and I’m not sure the story of a long-pined-for relationship was the right vehicle for the other elements this book had.
February 19, 2023
The good
+ The hand-holding and the cuddling
+ Their friendship, even after the initial rejection
+ Grady's understanding for everything Jack told him
+ Getting each other toothbrushes, and Grady setting up a charger on Jack's side of the bed
+ Grady getting aroused by every new kitchen appliance Jack brings
+ Grady and Jack being there for all
+ How open they were in their communication towards . They felt safe enough to say anything, and it was lovely
+ Jack's friend. I hope the next book is about him
+ No jealousy from Grady
+ No 80% breakup!
The neutral
o I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased
o They needed an even bigger home!
o I think this book would be much less enjoyable as a standalone. At the very least, I would recommend reading Barnaby and Travis' book (Poetry in Motion) and Callum and Rupert's book (Home and Away) first
The bad
- Grady 'made' himself date Sean, even though he was still completely in love with Jack. This was very unfair to Sean, who didn't know any better than his assumption that Grady liked him just as much as he liked Grady. Nobody deserves to have their feelings played with like that
- Friends can hold hands and cuddle without it being romantic or sexual
Quotes
x His therapist would probably call this a breakthrough. Mostly it felt like the time he got salmonella poisoning.
x
x "Frankly, my biggest kink these days is how turned on I get seeing all your kitchen appliances on my counters." "Just you wait. I'm going to bring the waffle iron home with me later."
x The best part was that, at the heart of it all, Jack was still his best friend.
I've been waiting for Jack's book for a long time, and it definitely delivered. I'm so happy Jack and Grady now have the family they always wanted. I hope the next book is about René. I'd recommend this book for sure, especially if you've already read other books by this author.
+ The hand-holding and the cuddling
+ Their friendship, even after the initial rejection
+ Grady's understanding for everything Jack told him
+ Getting each other toothbrushes, and Grady setting up a charger on Jack's side of the bed
+ Grady getting aroused by every new kitchen appliance Jack brings
+ Grady and Jack being there for all
+ How open they were in their communication towards . They felt safe enough to say anything, and it was lovely
+ Jack's friend. I hope the next book is about him
+ No jealousy from Grady
+ No 80% breakup!
The neutral
o I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased
o They needed an even bigger home!
o I think this book would be much less enjoyable as a standalone. At the very least, I would recommend reading Barnaby and Travis' book (Poetry in Motion) and Callum and Rupert's book (Home and Away) first
The bad
- Grady 'made' himself date Sean, even though he was still completely in love with Jack. This was very unfair to Sean, who didn't know any better than his assumption that Grady liked him just as much as he liked Grady. Nobody deserves to have their feelings played with like that
- Friends can hold hands and cuddle without it being romantic or sexual
Quotes
x His therapist would probably call this a breakthrough. Mostly it felt like the time he got salmonella poisoning.
x
x "Frankly, my biggest kink these days is how turned on I get seeing all your kitchen appliances on my counters." "Just you wait. I'm going to bring the waffle iron home with me later."
x The best part was that, at the heart of it all, Jack was still his best friend.
I've been waiting for Jack's book for a long time, and it definitely delivered. I'm so happy Jack and Grady now have the family they always wanted. I hope the next book is about René. I'd recommend this book for sure, especially if you've already read other books by this author.
February 16, 2023
Been waiting for Grady and Jack's story for quite some time [since 2019 in fact], and although I suppose it could technically be classed as a standalone read, most of the featured characters appear in other stories of Samantha's, and as they are so damn good, why the heck would you bother reading this particular one on its own?
We had quick visits from the Smythe-Morrison clan Home & Away, Garrick, Rhian and Savannah from the Hat Trick series, and of course Barnaby and Travis from Poetry in Motion. We don't know a lot about Grady's past from previous stories although he is supposedly pretty much a loner. We also know Jack is wary of committing to any sort of relationship due to something in his past, so I'm not going to give anything away, but I loved 💜 the FOUND FAMILY that the two of them made together even though things were pretty hectic 🙄, and all I can say about Grady's extremely religious, bigoted, 'keep the little woman in the kitchen' family is 🤬🤬🤬...the leavers are better off without you!!
We had quick visits from the Smythe-Morrison clan Home & Away, Garrick, Rhian and Savannah from the Hat Trick series, and of course Barnaby and Travis from Poetry in Motion. We don't know a lot about Grady's past from previous stories although he is supposedly pretty much a loner. We also know Jack is wary of committing to any sort of relationship due to something in his past, so I'm not going to give anything away, but I loved 💜 the FOUND FAMILY that the two of them made together even though things were pretty hectic 🙄, and all I can say about Grady's extremely religious, bigoted, 'keep the little woman in the kitchen' family is 🤬🤬🤬...the leavers are better off without you!!
March 2, 2023
4.5 stars — I have been a fan of Samantha Wayland’s since I read Destiny Calls back in 2013 and I own most of her books. If I could live in any fictional universe, SW’s world of her Moncton Ice Cats 🏒 would be at the top of my list. Ms. Wayland’s love of the Boston Bruins rivals my own, and while all of her books don’t center around hockey, there are usually some hockey players who are characters (even if they’re minor characters). This is said to be a stand-alone story, but I believe it’s much more enjoyable if you’re familiar with the SW Moncton world.
This is finally Jack and Grady’s book. They played pretty prominently in the lives of Travis and Barnaby in Poetry in Motion. Honestly, I read that book back in 2019 and don’t remember much more than the fact that I really enjoyed it. But that’s okay! We get reacquainted with them in this book. I’ve seen some reviews mention confusion over past characters making appearances, but I think everything was explained really well and that shouldn’t be a deterrent to pick this up. It’s such an engaging story.
I loved Grady and Jack. They’re flawed and realistic. My only complaint would be that I don’t know how old Grady is. That might be minor for some readers, but I like to know these things about the MCs. Jack is 37, but I couldn’t figure out if he and Grady were the same age or if one is older. We do know that Grady has been a Mountie with the RMCP for twelve years, so I think he may be in his mid 30s. I thought Jack’s mother and Colton were a hoot and they kept me laughing. There were some emotional parts too.
I appreciate how Samantha Wayland keeps her Moncton Universe stories moving forward. It may have been years since the last book came out, but the timeline is continuous. There is never a sense that you’ve missed years of being with this crew. Their family keeps growing and I can’t wait until there’s another addition to these books. Hopefully we won’t have to wait so long for the next one.
*There is a link at the end of the book to receive a bonus scene. I really wish authors would stop doing this and just include it as an epilogue or something. While it was interesting, I found it confusing because there were errors about which character was where and I had to keep going back to check. Also, it says it’s “6 months later” and it’s Christmas. This is wrong since the main book takes place over a few weeks in July. That would put the bonus short solidly into January, if not almost February.
This is finally Jack and Grady’s book. They played pretty prominently in the lives of Travis and Barnaby in Poetry in Motion. Honestly, I read that book back in 2019 and don’t remember much more than the fact that I really enjoyed it. But that’s okay! We get reacquainted with them in this book. I’ve seen some reviews mention confusion over past characters making appearances, but I think everything was explained really well and that shouldn’t be a deterrent to pick this up. It’s such an engaging story.
I loved Grady and Jack. They’re flawed and realistic. My only complaint would be that I don’t know how old Grady is. That might be minor for some readers, but I like to know these things about the MCs. Jack is 37, but I couldn’t figure out if he and Grady were the same age or if one is older. We do know that Grady has been a Mountie with the RMCP for twelve years, so I think he may be in his mid 30s. I thought Jack’s mother and Colton were a hoot and they kept me laughing. There were some emotional parts too.
I appreciate how Samantha Wayland keeps her Moncton Universe stories moving forward. It may have been years since the last book came out, but the timeline is continuous. There is never a sense that you’ve missed years of being with this crew. Their family keeps growing and I can’t wait until there’s another addition to these books. Hopefully we won’t have to wait so long for the next one.
*There is a link at the end of the book to receive a bonus scene. I really wish authors would stop doing this and just include it as an epilogue or something. While it was interesting, I found it confusing because there were errors about which character was where and I had to keep going back to check. Also, it says it’s “6 months later” and it’s Christmas. This is wrong since the main book takes place over a few weeks in July. That would put the bonus short solidly into January, if not almost February.
February 20, 2023
Rating: 3.5 ♥️
Steam: 3 🔥
PoV: dual, 3rd person
MM | friends to lovers | slow burn | past trauma / abuse
This was a new author for me and I really liked the characters, the way they were with each other was so sweet and swoony!
I completely adored Grady and Jack’s friendship; all the small touches, the handholding, how they were there for each other. I didn’t have any other choice than rooting for them from the start, and I loved seeing them slowly go from friends to more. So much pining and feelings between these two!
There were some unexpected turns happening, Grady’s past caught up with him and the second half of the story heavily focused on him and his family instead of his relationship with Jack. I felt like it left the relationship between Jack and Grady a bit unfulfilled, but it also seemed a little rushed towards the end.
I think that while The Long Game technically works by itself, it would have been good to have some background knowledge and understanding of the connections between the different characters that kept being introduced. So many characters also appeared seemingly out of nowhere and it was just a little too much in my opinion.
It was definitely a well written story that had potential, sadly it didn’t manage to hold my interest the whole way as I had some struggles with the second half of the book.
Steam: 3 🔥
PoV: dual, 3rd person
MM | friends to lovers | slow burn | past trauma / abuse
This was a new author for me and I really liked the characters, the way they were with each other was so sweet and swoony!
I completely adored Grady and Jack’s friendship; all the small touches, the handholding, how they were there for each other. I didn’t have any other choice than rooting for them from the start, and I loved seeing them slowly go from friends to more. So much pining and feelings between these two!
There were some unexpected turns happening, Grady’s past caught up with him and the second half of the story heavily focused on him and his family instead of his relationship with Jack. I felt like it left the relationship between Jack and Grady a bit unfulfilled, but it also seemed a little rushed towards the end.
I think that while The Long Game technically works by itself, it would have been good to have some background knowledge and understanding of the connections between the different characters that kept being introduced. So many characters also appeared seemingly out of nowhere and it was just a little too much in my opinion.
It was definitely a well written story that had potential, sadly it didn’t manage to hold my interest the whole way as I had some struggles with the second half of the book.
March 1, 2023
This long awaited book about Jack and Grady sadly wasn't my favourite. The romance in itself was lovely and hot, but completely buried under all the family drama. The family stuff was heartwarming in itself, but it just didn't really feel like a romance novel.
February 6, 2023
Fantastic! This story grabbed me from the start; the characters are immediately likeable and the story flowed well. The sexual chemistry between Jack and Grady is palpable all the way through, like a constant beating heart. Lots of windy roads to navigate before their happy ending. They take their time before things happen so it is a slow burn in regards to reaching the sex scenes, but when they do start they are hot. The moment Grady sees all of Jack is the most incredibe part of the book; intimate, sexy and Jack allows his vulnerability to be truly seen. There are lots of deep issues raised, that brings a lot of emotion to the surface but intertwined with a strong bond of family values bringing strength, love and even humour, which keeps the narrative lighter. I absolutely adored Colton and the rapport he has with Jack's mother. By the end of the story and indeed, the bonus scene, there are so many characters it is hard to keep up; but it provided a happy ever after that was so deserved. I wanted to carry on reading their adventure and I'm not sure I will ever forget the tattoo unveiling. Absolutely worthy of 5 stars. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 19, 2023
Jack and Grady ❤️
5 Stars ⭐️
I have to say, the I didn't know what to expect from this book because this was a first for me from this author....I was blown away by this story. When you hear the saying " the whole package " ....that's what comes to mind when I think back on this read. The long game was the perfect title for this truly delightful story. It had just about everything wrapped in a neat and tidy little bow, it had friends to lovers, opposites, hurt/comfort, some pining, lots of heartfelt moments, love and enough heat to melt your panties off. Like I said the complete package and I absolutely adored it!!!!! This has been one of the best all around stories that I have ever had the pleasure of reading so I chose not to spoil with too many details, so trust me...this is a must read. I would give this book 1000 stars if I could.
* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *
5 Stars ⭐️
I have to say, the I didn't know what to expect from this book because this was a first for me from this author....I was blown away by this story. When you hear the saying " the whole package " ....that's what comes to mind when I think back on this read. The long game was the perfect title for this truly delightful story. It had just about everything wrapped in a neat and tidy little bow, it had friends to lovers, opposites, hurt/comfort, some pining, lots of heartfelt moments, love and enough heat to melt your panties off. Like I said the complete package and I absolutely adored it!!!!! This has been one of the best all around stories that I have ever had the pleasure of reading so I chose not to spoil with too many details, so trust me...this is a must read. I would give this book 1000 stars if I could.
* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *
February 14, 2023
Just like Jack and Grady with their friendship, it took me a little bit to realise how special this book is. It's such a slow build for these guys, with some obliviousness and a bit of angsting (but just a touch).
The way Jack and Grady love and care for each other without expectation is one of my favourite things about the friends to lovers trope.
It's also sweet to see MCs from previous books about the Ice Cats, all living their best lives. Such a gorgeous found family.
There's some heavier topics in this one, so please check the content warning (listed in the book index) before reading.
The Long Game is medium to high heat written in third person and can be read as a standalone, although after you read it, you'll probably want to learn more about Garrick, Rhian and Savannah (Hat Trick trilogy), Tanner and Rupert (Home and Away), Alexei and Mike (Crashing The Net), and Travis and Barnaby (Poetry In Motion).
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and I have chosen to leave an honest review.
The way Jack and Grady love and care for each other without expectation is one of my favourite things about the friends to lovers trope.
It's also sweet to see MCs from previous books about the Ice Cats, all living their best lives. Such a gorgeous found family.
There's some heavier topics in this one, so please check the content warning (listed in the book index) before reading.
The Long Game is medium to high heat written in third person and can be read as a standalone, although after you read it, you'll probably want to learn more about Garrick, Rhian and Savannah (Hat Trick trilogy), Tanner and Rupert (Home and Away), Alexei and Mike (Crashing The Net), and Travis and Barnaby (Poetry In Motion).
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and I have chosen to leave an honest review.
February 17, 2023
I do not have words to convey my love for this
Where do I even begin?
Firstly if you’ve never read Samantha Wayland… clearly you live under a rock.
And Sam… Sam… thank you for not having the southern Alberta boys be Flames fans. (Not that the Leafs are any better)
I loved getting to see all of the people, minus a few, interwoven into this story. And even meeting all the new family members.
I didn’t think there would be a better set of accidental parents than Rupert and Callum, but some how Sam made it better with Grady and Jack!
I bow down to the extreme perfection you have created in this story. Now write me more!
Where do I even begin?
Firstly if you’ve never read Samantha Wayland… clearly you live under a rock.
And Sam… Sam… thank you for not having the southern Alberta boys be Flames fans. (Not that the Leafs are any better)
I loved getting to see all of the people, minus a few, interwoven into this story. And even meeting all the new family members.
I didn’t think there would be a better set of accidental parents than Rupert and Callum, but some how Sam made it better with Grady and Jack!
I bow down to the extreme perfection you have created in this story. Now write me more!
February 14, 2023
This book was so damn sweet. This is the first book I’ve read by the author and I will definitely be reading more. Jack and Grady’s story was quite the slow burn, but their love was so pure. I adored the found family/reunited family theme throughout the book.
I read this as a stand-alone, but I definitely want to go back and read the first books in the series. All of the characters were great, so anxious to get their stories as well.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat: 🔥🔥
I read this as a stand-alone, but I definitely want to go back and read the first books in the series. All of the characters were great, so anxious to get their stories as well.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat: 🔥🔥
March 1, 2023
Loved it
I'm so happy Jack and Grady got their HEA! This was such a sweet story with lots of inclusion and representation, found family, and living past trauma. Very hot m/m sex scenes, but the love story four years in the making was the best part.
I'm so happy Jack and Grady got their HEA! This was such a sweet story with lots of inclusion and representation, found family, and living past trauma. Very hot m/m sex scenes, but the love story four years in the making was the best part.
February 28, 2023
I had difficulties getting into the writing style of this author before but I actually liked this one.
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