Anyone who has talked to me about books for at least five minutes knows that sports romances are my jam. My lady jam. And with hockey being my favorite sport to watch, obviously that’s at the top of my list when it comes to this particular subgenre. There’s just something about it that gets me all worked up. It’s fast. It’s aggressive. I should probably stop myself there before things get a little awkward for everyone.
The book started off wonderfully. I immediately took a shining to Sam, our heroine. Samantha Yates is the only child to a hockey-loving family. She’s played for most of her life – childhood, college, even for the women’s team at the Olympics. The woman has a damn silver medal, and makes me feel totally guilty for eating Haagen Das for dinner. Used to operating in a boy’s club sport, Sam is a tomboy, and I found it refreshing.
Dylan Rylie is a young member of the Minnesota Glaciers with dreams of nailing a big contract. He’s carefully crafted a Southern playboy image, complete with Texan drawl and cowboy hat. Hockey is his end all and be all.
Their first meeting is playful and just slightly antagonistic. Both are helping out with a community function, playing with kids on the ice and signing gear. Sam challenges Dylan that she can score on him in less than thirty seconds, and she does. With time to spare. From there, the sexy banter flies until they wind up in an office at the back of a bar. Things of an adult nature ensue, but not before Sam tells Dylan this is a one time deal.
I related with Sam in a way. Her hockey career is essentially over because there aren’t as many professional opportunities for women players. She’s trying to reconcile having to give up her dream and find a new way to incorporate that love of the sport into her life. Being with Dylan is not only a painful reminder, but a distraction to both of them. She’s leaving for a master’s program and Dylan has his upcoming contract to think about. It makes sense.
But of course, these two just can’t stay away.
What follows next is a series of circumstances (injuries, training sessions, etc.) that all lead back to the same argument. Sam doesn’t want anything serious because of the above reasons, but Dylan can’t ignore their chemistry.
Over and over and over again. For me, it really bogged the book down. They’d play house while Dylan is healing and they’d have this argument. They’d go out on a date and they’d have this argument. They’d have sex, then have this argument.
I should have turned it into a drinking game. But if I did, I’d wind up sending Sarah my hospital bill for getting alcohol poisoning.
Instead of stalling the action with having the same disagreement, I would have much preferred to have Sam leave for her program and then come back. Turn it into a second chance romance. She’s getting a degree in sports psychology. Maybe she signs on to help the Glaciers. Maybe Dylan is no longer that carefree rookie player she first knew. MAYBE THEY FIND THEY STILL HAVE SOME SIZZLING SEXUAL TENSION YEARS LATER.
Do you see what could have been?!
Sam does wind up enrolling in her MA program, but that is handled in a matter of a chapter. For all the fight she put up about going, it gets resolved rather easily. But I will say that Game Play has one of the cutest endings I’ve read in a while, even if getting there drove me bananas. It was fit for a romantic comedy, complete with Sixpence None the Richer’s “Kiss Me” playing in the background.
The next book in the series, Back in Play, involves a rather enigmatic veteran player, who has a pill addiction due to trying to manage his pain from playing. I tend to prefer my romances on the angsty side, so I definitely plan on continuing the Power Play series.
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OMGSQUEE. Another fan of hockey romance. There’s a lot of it, but I still haven’t found anything I like as much as Deirdre Martin, who Sarah gave me the heads up about 3 years ago.
@Ellie: You need any recs, let me know! : )
I cut my teeth on Rachel Gibson’s Chinooks Hockey Team series. Lynda Aicher also has an erotica series and I believe one of her hockey characters is the hero in one of those books (book six?). I also just started The Deal by Elle Kennedy now. It was highly recommended to me at RT, but I have a love/hate relationship with New Adult, so we’ll see how it goes.
Mmmmmmm hockey romance. Seconding Rachel Gibson. She is wonderful. Really disappointed I didn’t have a new one to read during the playoffs.
I love Sawyer Bennett’s Carolina Cold Fury Series, and I liked the Female Main Characters too. They are competent but complex without being unrealistic.
@Jayne: Some of those books have been featured in the SBTB/DA bestseller list and in our Books on Sale posts. Maybe I should take the hint and give them a try!
Hockey romance- tons of fun, Crista McHugh has a fun second chance romance hockey, in her Kelley Brothers Series Breakaway Hearts!!! Also set in Canada, and with a Canadian
@Amanda – Alex – The first book in the series is on sale for 99cents right now Carolina Cold Fury Hockey Book 1 A cheap way to test the waters 😀
@Jayne: One-clicked!
I love Lynda Aicher’s hockey series – and Back in Play, with the pain pill addicted hero, was so incredibly emotional I couldn’t stop reading. Completely different from anything I think I’ve ever read.
One of her “Bonds Of” series includes a hockey player and the team’s marketing/PR person, so that’s where I think this series spins off. I highly recommend them – Back in Play especially.
Amanda, have you heard about the new National Women’s Hockey League? It just started up this year, and held it’s first draft two days ago. Unlike the Canadian Women’s Hockey League the goal of the NWHL is to be able to pay the players, including paying for equipment, it’s a part time job now at the start with only about $15,000 a year at the moment for an individual player’s salary but it’s a good start!
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/nwhl–new-women-s-hockey-league–promises-to-pay-players-145034940.html
So, took Jayne’s advice and one clicked. Guess what, bought it in JANUARY!! So apparently I had a hockey romance to read while the ‘Hawks kicked ass and didn’t remember it. Too many books on the kindle.
Thirding Rachel Gibson’s Chinooks series. Another great hockey series is Catherine Gayle’s Portland Storm series – though I’m a sucker for anything set in a region I’m living in or have lived in.
With all this talk of hockey romance, I’m curious what everyone’s thought are on the playoff beard debate. (I’m a fan of the tradition myself).
@DonnaMarie – happens to me all the time, especially with Preorders! Hope you enjoy!
@Lainey, there’s a controversy? I like traditions, hockey players like this one, so I’m thumbs up. Even though Jonathan Toews STILL can’t grow a decent beard.
@Jayne, I’m sure I will, but now I have to debate whether to read it now, when it’s 80+ degrees out, or save it for next year, since the Blackhawks will surely be back in the play offs which makes it easier to picture Patrick Sharp or Duncan Keith while I’m reading.
@DonnaMarie
The head of NBC wanted the NHL to put a stop to the tradition whereby players stop shaving for as long as their team stay alive in the playoffs. Apparently it made it difficult for fans to recognise players (cuz the big numbers and their names on the jerseys wasn’t good enuf?)…and perhaps NBC was worried about losing the demographic that might not find them as attractive with the facial hair? LOL.
Ooops…somehow I didn’t type my full name on my last comment re NBC vs playoffs beards
@Mara B: No, I hadn’t heard. But that sounds awesome!
@LaineyT: Admittedly, I like my men with a little scruff. And I like to think of the beard shaving as big grand unveiling of their chiseled jaws and hockey scars.
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