Review of Coach’s Challenge (Scoring Chances #5) by Avon Gale

 by Avon Gale

4.5 stars

It’s been decades since blackmail forced Troy Callahan to retire from playing professional hockey, and he’s built a successful career behind the bench. When he’s offered the opportunity to coach the Asheville Ravens—the most hated team in the ECHL—he’s convinced that his no-nonsense attitude is just what the team needs to put their focus back on hockey. But Troy is disheartened when he finds out the Ravens have signed Shane North, a player known for his aggression—especially when Shane’s rough good looks have Troy thinking inappropriate thoughts about a player, even if he’s set to retire at the end of the season.

Shane’s career in the majors never quite took off. Wanting to quit on his own terms, Shane agrees to a one-year contract with the Ravens and finds himself playing for a coach who thinks he’s an aging goon, and with a team that doesn’t trust him, Troy, or each other. Despite his determination not to get involved, Shane unwillingly becomes part of the team… and is just as unwillingly drawn to the gruff, out-and-proud coach. As the Ravens struggle to build a new identity, Shane and Troy succumb to the passion that might cost them everything.

We love us some sports romances, and this much anticipated #5 in the Scoring Chances series does NOT disappoint, sexy hockey players make for sexy times.

Coach Troy Callahan is taking a chance and accepted a coaching position with the much maligned Asheville Ravens.  The team is reeling from the abuse of their last coach, and he needs a new start as well.  But when the GM offers a 1-year contract to an aging hockey player the attraction between the two of them is a distraction that Troy doesn’t need. But Shane is still in the closet, and is looking for a quiet place to retire from hockey.

This is book #5 in the Scoring Chances series, and although we get to see some our favorite hockey players and coaches, this is not a continuation of a story.  But what it does share with the other books in the series is the sexy, hot delicious hockey players.  The chemistry that Avon Gale creates between her characters is hot, and Troy and Shane are molten fire.  You can feel the chemistry between these two men, and when they finally come together, it is molten! And as they are a bit older men, the angst is low low low, thank goodness.  They both know what they want and don’t make excuses for the pull between them.

There is lots happening in Coach’s Challenge, the sport-romance aside, it is a bit of a May-December, with a forbidden coach-player love affair, yet it all works so well.  Avon Gale is a master story-teller, her words flow and spectacular writing adds so much to this story.  We didn’t roll our eyes, skim or guffaw even once.  It is an easy story to read, and that is not always an easy feat to accomplish.

So let’s talk about Shane and Troy.  They are fun, flirty, and sexy.  There is an easy banter between the men that adds a layer of humor to their relationship; it isn’t just about the forbidden sex, but you see their relationship developing.  But woohoo, the between-the-sheets action is red-hot, and the sexual tension is scorching, they can’t keep their hands off each other.  One thing we did miss was a bit more intimacy, they are playful and sexy, but we wished we had a few more tender words between these men.

Yes, Coach’s Challenge is #5 in the series that keep s getting better and better.  This is a sport-romance that works on so many levels and is a MUST read!

Review of A Forbidden Rumspringa by Keira Andrews

 by Keira Andrews

4.5 Stars

When two young Amish men find love, will they risk losing everything?

In a world where every detail of life—down to the width of a hat brim—is dictated by God and the all-powerful rules of the community, two men dare to imagine a different way. At 18, Isaac Byler knows little outside the strict Amish settlement of Zebulon, Minnesota, where there is no rumspringa for exploration beyond the boundaries of their insular world. Isaac knows he’ll have to officially join the church and find a wife before too long, but he yearns for something else—something he can’t name.

Dark tragedy has left carpenter David Lantz alone to support his mother and sisters, and he can’t put off joining the church any longer. But when he takes on Isaac as an apprentice, their attraction grows amid the sweat and sawdust. David shares his sinful secrets, and he and Isaac struggle to reconcile their shocking desires with their commitment to faith, family and community.

Now that they’ve found each other, are they willing to lose it all?

We are completely fascinated by this interesting forbidden love-story and couldn’t get enough!   Keira Andrews has a remarkable way of creating a story that grabs us, captivates us and keeps us wanting more, and A Forbidden Rumspringa is a heart achingly lovely story that enchanted us form the first words.  But forbidden love is always so steamy….

We start by being introduced to a closed Amish settlement in Zebulon, introducing us to this secret group of people who shun almost everything for the outside world.  Isaac Byler has know he is different and struggles that he will soon have to join the church and get married, but he knows that his feelings for other men keep him from making the leap.  He finds himself drawn to David Lantz, but through the church’s teachings knows that that kind of love is forbidden.  Through tragedy David has been left for support his mother and sisters, and now is resigned to accept the life that he doesn’t want.  But when Isaac starts as David’s apprentice, they find that their connection is mutual and sparks fly.

Keira Andrews brings us into this secret Amish world, where the leaders make the rules and people just follow because that is the way.  It is completely fascinating.  Although this is a love story it is set in this closed-off settlement and religion plays a big part in this story.  The story isn’t preachy, instead it is just a layer to add to the forbidden love between Isaac and David. 

Sign, Isaac and David are swoon worthy.  They are sweet, sexy and oh so lovely together.  And hot, hot hot - the chemistry between the 2 is off the charts sizzling.  But there is so much more than just their physical reaction to each other.  They have both been raised to find a wife as a helpmate, and they are desperate to create that life together for themselves.   There is some serious angst in this story, but really essentially a forbidden love, how could there not be?  They so want to be together but the rules they are taught to follow tell them it is wrong.  And if they do choose to leave the settlement to the ‘english’ world and be together they are essentially cut off from their families.  What a choice to make.

We so enjoyed A Forbidden Rumspringa, but shouldn’t be surprised as we adore everything by Keira Andrews, there are 2 other books in the series and SPOILER – we gobbled them up already!  So So SO SO Good!