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gillianw's review
4.0
I needed this book. It was super sweet, sexy and featured two older MC's who enjoyed an angst free relationship. No deliberate miscommunications, stupid fights over nothing, walking away when things got tough - it was a breath of fresh air. Plus, the hockey aspect was stellar as usual. It's blatantly obvious that Avon Gale writes as a fan of the game and her love for the sport shines through. All in all, a solidly entertaining read. 4 stars
zaza_bdp's review against another edition
4.0
Avec 'Power play', Avon Gale signe une nouvelle fois une romance sportive très agréable à lire !
Comme dans le tome précédent, le contraste entre les personnalités des deux héros est rafraîchissant et amusant. En fait c'est surtout Max qui est drôle, avec ce côté pataud, le mec un peu crétin et balourd, mais très attachant. Max est un homme qui ne se prend pas la tête, il a beau tomber raide amoureux d'un homme, alors que par le passé il était fiancé à une femme, ne le perturbe pas outre mesure, ni ne l'entraîne dans une introspection douloureuse. Max est le genre de personne à voir le côté positif des choses, il ne s'appesantit pas sur le passé, les 'et si'.
À l'opposé, il y a Misha, le Russe ombrageux dans toute sa splendeur, le genre de mec froid et distant qui ne sait pas sourire. Max va lui apprendre à (se) pardonner, à se détendre, et à être plus ouvert. Misha m'a beaucoup touchée, j'ai aimé voir cette froideur et cette distance se fissurer au contact de Max.
Leur couple fonctionne à merveille et la romance est très sympa, cependant celle-ci manque d'enjeux, les choses sont finalement assez simples concernant leur histoire, et je regrette que la romance soit reléguée à l'arrière-plan dans la dernière partie. J'ai surtout aimé les échanges verbaux entre les deux hommes, entre les répliques parfois crétines de Max et le verbe précis et succinct de Misha, le mélange est top !
J'ai adoré le fil narratif sur l'équipe des Spitfires. On assiste à la reconstruction d'une équipe de bras cassés, on voit l'équipe la plus nulle de toute la ligue trébucher, tomber, se relever, s'entraîner encore et encore. Les scènes sportives sont très réussies, il y a l'action, le suspense, les petits éléments de drame inhérents aux enjeux du championnat et l'esprit d'équipe ... Bref, tous les ingrédients sont là, et c'est une pour moi une franche réussite !
L'autre gros point positif de ce roman est pour la très belle relation qui se noue entre Misha et Drake, le goalie que notre couple va prendre sous son aile. Un lien quasi filial se tisse entre eux, et c'est très beau à lire !
Une histoire très sympa donc, surtout pour ses scènes sportives et son russe de coach sexy dans le genre ombrageux !
jodin's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
zoey_blk's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
tenou0's review
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
bitchie's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this! Loved Max and Misha, and getting to know a whole new team. For those of you readers out there who are worried about this being a book 3, it can totally stand on it's own. The MCs from book 2 make a very quick appearance near the end of the book, otherwise, it's a whole new team, whole new state, and all new characters.
I'm not gonna recap the story, that's what the blurb is for. Misha has felt guilty for years about what happened, even though it wasn't really his fault, it's just something that happens in sports. Max never blamed Misha, which I thought was great. Max was adorable, so happy and positive, considering what happened to him. I also loved his family, they were great. Misha has much more of a dark past, growing up in Russia with a pretty hardcore gangster father, and Misha did what he had to do to get away from that life.
I do have some nitpicks, but that's only because I'm actually from the area where this book takes place, so I had a few issues with the logistics. I've actually gone to some shows at the Bon Secours arena, it's around 30 minutes from my house, and I'm in the area all the time. So my nitpicks are as follows(spoiler tagged, so you don't have to see it if you don't wanna, but it doesn't spoil the story at all):
Second was the alcohol. I might have read it wrong, but it was implied that Max bought the vodka in a gas station, and that Max's dad bought vodka in a grocery store. In South Carolina, hard liquor is ONLY sold in "package stores", not gas stations or grocery stores. You can get beer and cheap wine, but that's it. You also can't buy liquor after 7 p.m. Gotta love those Blue Laws!
There actually IS a hockey team that plays out of Bon Secours. It's called the Swamp Rabbits, which I don't understand, we're inland, not many swamps around here. Not surprised the author went with a fictional team.
But other than those nitpicks, that NO ONE that isn't from the area will ever even notice, I loved this book, and can't wait for the next one. Although would it be terrible of me to offer my knowledge of the area to the author?
I'm not gonna recap the story, that's what the blurb is for. Misha has felt guilty for years about what happened, even though it wasn't really his fault, it's just something that happens in sports. Max never blamed Misha, which I thought was great. Max was adorable, so happy and positive, considering what happened to him. I also loved his family, they were great. Misha has much more of a dark past, growing up in Russia with a pretty hardcore gangster father, and Misha did what he had to do to get away from that life.
I do have some nitpicks, but that's only because I'm actually from the area where this book takes place, so I had a few issues with the logistics. I've actually gone to some shows at the Bon Secours arena, it's around 30 minutes from my house, and I'm in the area all the time. So my nitpicks are as follows(spoiler tagged, so you don't have to see it if you don't wanna, but it doesn't spoil the story at all):
Spoiler
Bon Secours arena is in Greenville, not Spartanburg. Different counties, right next to each other, that share an airport, called Greenville Spartanburg Airport, or GSP. Spartanburg has Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium, which is a much smaller arena. Oh, and Columbia is downstate, so you'd say you lived/played "down in Columbia", not "up in Columbia".Second was the alcohol. I might have read it wrong, but it was implied that Max bought the vodka in a gas station, and that Max's dad bought vodka in a grocery store. In South Carolina, hard liquor is ONLY sold in "package stores", not gas stations or grocery stores. You can get beer and cheap wine, but that's it. You also can't buy liquor after 7 p.m. Gotta love those Blue Laws!
There actually IS a hockey team that plays out of Bon Secours. It's called the Swamp Rabbits, which I don't understand, we're inland, not many swamps around here. Not surprised the author went with a fictional team.
But other than those nitpicks, that NO ONE that isn't from the area will ever even notice, I loved this book, and can't wait for the next one. Although would it be terrible of me to offer my knowledge of the area to the author?
dpit's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
emilyreadstoomuch's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
vickyramirezy's review
3.0
3.5 stars
All the books in this series have been super cute. They have a weird vibe but also they make me smile. I also like that they are short.
All the books in this series have been super cute. They have a weird vibe but also they make me smile. I also like that they are short.