Blurb:

Tampa Sentinels Captain Hayes Montgomery has hero-worshipped Morgan Reynolds his entire career, watching as the larger-than-life hockey star has racked up stats that always seemed unreal. Unattainable. Unreachable.

Until Hayes himself is labeled “the next one” and to his surprise, he and Morgan end up on the same team together, playing for Team USA in a nation versus nation tournament.

Now Hayes’ hero isn’t just his teammate, but his linemate. They’re hot on the ice, and despite Morgan’s straight reputation, off it too.

It’s only ten days, but it’s the best ten days of his life. That shouldn’t be long enough for a hockey crush to morph into a real crush, but Hayes falls head over heels, launch-himself-off-a-cliff, wildly in love with Morgan, anyway.

They don’t play on the same team or even on the same coast. Normally, they’re never in the same zip code, but that doesn’t change Hayes’ feelings—or his regret when the fling ends.

Fast forward six years. Morgan’s retired, Hayes is writing his own name in the record books, and he’s sure he’s over it. Over him.

But then Morgan arrives in Tampa to watch his rookie son play for the Sentinels.

He doesn’t want to be hung up on his teammate’s dad, but it doesn’t matter how long it’s been or what he’s tried. Morgan still makes Hayes’ knees weak.

And when it turns out Morgan has his own Hayes’ shaped regret?

Maybe they can finally find their way back to each other again.

Tropes: second chance, age gap, he fell first/he fell harder, son’s captain, player x ex-player, pining, groveling

Available on: Amazon, Kindle Unlimited, paperback, and audio narrated by Darcy Stark (est September)

Preorder: https://readerlinks.com/l/4898260

*****

Review:

I haven’t read the other stories in the Evergreens universe, and I get the idea that we were teased a bit about Hayes and Morgan, but oh goodness this one stood up well on its own. Maybe it would have given me even more of the feels, IDK, but it definitely was a heart-wrencher.

Pretty much the first half is Hayes and Morgan falling in love. I liked how Bolden handled Morgan’s bi-awakening – with his acceptance of his son’s sexuality, I felt like it was a little easier for him to accept his own. It’s hot and sweet and fabulously perfect … until it isn’t.

The next quarter or so was definitely all the angst, with neither of them handling things well but it’s not really surprising. I mean, they are both carrying so much and there are so many things standing in their way. Would a clearing the air conversation have helped? Sure, but I feel like this was much more realistic for the kind of people they are. And I feel like they definitely came back into each other’s lives at the right time to get the HEA they deserve.

Are you looking for a rollercoaster of a read? Hope so because Bolden brings it ALL, both good and bad, and doesn’t let up until the end.

~