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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.
laurenkohout's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-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
So good! Max's NHL career ended when a hit in a game led to a career-ending injury. He's just been signed as the new assistant coach to the Spitfires, the worst team in the ECHL. To make matters worse, the head coach is none other than Misha, the player responsible for the accident that cost him his career. Max doesn't hold a grudge because he knows it was an accident and he's a pretty carefree and laid back guy, despite losing not only his job but his female fiancée. She apparently was only with him for his pro athlete status. Gross.
Misha holds so much internalized shame for ending Max's career, and a bit more for being attracted to him. He has a traumatic background with a Russian gangster for a father, so he isn't quite ready to accept how easily Max is ready for a relationship with him. No bi-awakening freakout for Max! They start a secret romance as they deal with their team and their sleazy team owner who wants to capitalize on their history. It sure makes things interesting!
🔥: So much spice! These two are pretty steamy and enthusiastic together. We get most of the details and scenes are medium paced.
😆: There are some good funny moments, especially as Misha tries to understand American slang.
😭: At points, this book gets dark. Nothing happens on the page, but it turns out Misha and one of his players share a traumatic past. It's not a tearjerker, but it's scary to hear about.
This series is so entertaining! It's so intense at times and the characters are all so lovable. The problem is it jumps between teams so I don't know who to root for anymore!😂
CW: homophobia with slurs, discussion of prostitution
Misha holds so much internalized shame for ending Max's career, and a bit more for being attracted to him. He has a traumatic background with a Russian gangster for a father, so he isn't quite ready to accept how easily Max is ready for a relationship with him. No bi-awakening freakout for Max! They start a secret romance as they deal with their team and their sleazy team owner who wants to capitalize on their history. It sure makes things interesting!
🔥: So much spice! These two are pretty steamy and enthusiastic together. We get most of the details and scenes are medium paced.
😆: There are some good funny moments, especially as Misha tries to understand American slang.
😭: At points, this book gets dark. Nothing happens on the page, but it turns out Misha and one of his players share a traumatic past. It's not a tearjerker, but it's scary to hear about.
This series is so entertaining! It's so intense at times and the characters are all so lovable. The problem is it jumps between teams so I don't know who to root for anymore!😂
CW: homophobia with slurs, discussion of prostitution