by Rachel Reid
First published 2024
Eric Bennett hangs up his goalie pads after years in the NHL and decides to explore dating men for the first time. He meets Kyle Swift, a graduate student recovering from heartbreak who wants to keep things casual. Their friends-with-benefits arrangement grows complicated when real feelings emerge. Troy Barrett gets traded to the league's worst team after a public scandal. He clashes with Harris Drover, the team's enthusiastic social media manager, until Harris breaks through Troy's defensive walls. Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov have hidden their ten-year relationship from everyone in professional hockey. Shane fears that going public will destroy his career, while Ilya grows tired of living in the shadows. Each couple faces the choice between protecting their careers and embracing love openly. The stories explore how professional athletes balance personal authenticity with public expectations in a sport where being gay remains largely hidden.
Genres: romance, contemporary-romance, gay-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
1098 pages · Kindle Edition · Carina Press
Content warnings: homophobia