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sbbarnes · 6 months

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Hockey Romances. Why?

So I was taken out of work a couple weeks ago due to ~pregnancy stuff~ (mostly just stress, the baby and I are fine) which has left me with a lot of spare time on my hands. And as one does, I have been filling my time reading lgbtq+ romance novels. Because I can.

In this time, I have fallen headfirst into the hockey romance novel subgenre, and I ask myself, as I have done every time I see these books advertised, why? I am not a sports fan. One time, my husband was watching football (European), and a team in red kits was playing against yellow kits, and I started laughing because "it looks like ketchup is playing against mustard". His expression was great, but he hasn't taken me seriously since.

So why is hockey of all things such a draw for the mlm romance subgenre? Especially given the NHL's apparent fear of rainbow tape? Why do I now know what the word "celly" refers to and what an "enforcer" is? Why why why?

Here are my answers:

Extremely organic way to set up some of the most classic romance tropes. Forced proximity? Being on the same team takes care of that. There was only one bed? Shared hotel rooms during away games. Enemies to lovers? Rival teams.

Lots of potential for drama given that players lead very transient lives in terms of the constant possibility of trades. In mlm love stories, even more so given that the NHL is so blatantly homophobic.

Perfect level of fame. Fame and wealth as a draw for a love interest are kind of staples of the genre, and NHL players are famous, sure, but not all of them, and they aren't as famous as football stars (either kind of football). They are still filthy rich, which makes great wish fulfillment. You can have the sexy penthouse and the anonymity.

I would go on to talk about how different roles on the team lend themselves to different tropes (goalie = tightly controlled dude who needs someone to help him cut loose; enforcer = misunderstood fighter with a heart of gold; coach for all your forbidden love/sleeping with the boss desires) but that would very quickly reveal my utter lack of hockey knowledge, so let's not. Instead, here's a quick reclist.

Rachel Reid's Game Changers series. It's a classic in the genre for a reason and it has everything. Forbidden love? Got that, maybe the definitive example. Redemption arc? Got that. Misunderstood bruiser with a heart of gold? Got that. Age difference? Got that. Also really excellent sex scenes, not gonna lie, and satisfying endings throughout - sometimes a happy end will come a little suddenly for me, but these books really delivered, and the nice thing about how romance series are structured is that you get a little peek at what comes after for the couples in the other books.

2. Him, Us and Epic by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy. This one surprised me, I don't generally go for first person POVs, but I did enjoy this! Coming-of-age story turned coming out story featuring a budding hockey star and his best friend. Lots of fun.

3. Scoring Chances series by Avon Gale. This series is fun in that it doesn't focus on the NHL, it actually focuses on the minor leagues in the southeast of the US, a place almost no one associates with ice hockey. As such, there's a chance to tell different stories about professional athletes who aren't super rich and famous, which I appreciate a lot. TBH the first pairing wasn't entirely my cup of tea, but I'm glad I kept going because I especially enjoyed the later books, which tackle tough topics (including eating disorders, abuse etc., so content warning for that). These are still romance novels though, so rest assured that there's a light at the end of the tunnel. What I especially appreciate is that these books don't have relationship drama, in that the main couples communicate and work together instead of a third act break-up-make-up!

4. Hockey Ever After series by Ashlyn Kane and Morgan James. These are just great. Lots of fun to read, lots of cameos from character in later books, just excellent mood all around. Also features my favorite ever trope (secret relationship, sorry, anyone who knows me knows I am a sucker for it I just can't help myself) heavily, which is a win in my book. I especially enjoyed book two, "Scoring Position". Is that because Nico is German and I loved him? Is that because Ryan is my new blorbo? We may never know.

Happy reading and please give me recommendations for more books like these, I'm lowkey obsessed.

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qbdatabase · 7 months

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The Inside Edge by Ashlyn Kane What does a work-life balance look like to recently retired professional athletes? Ex-hockey player Nate Overton is trying to find out, but dipping his toes in the gay dating scene post-divorce is a daunting prospect even without the news that his show is on thin ice. Before he can tackle either issue, he skates headfirst into another problem—his new cohost. Former figure skater Aubrey Chase is the embodiment of a spoiled rich playboy. He’s also flamboyant, sharp, and hot as sin.

#daily book #gay #MM romance #mental illness #mental health rep #mlm #queer rep #adult books #hockey #lgbtqia #male protagonist #queer books #romance #sports #The Inside Edge #Ashlyn Kane #bookblr

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elenajohansenreads · 11 months

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Books I Read in 2023

#22 - Winging It, by Ashlyn Kane and Morgan James

Rating: 5/5 stars

I never set out to read so many m/m hockey romances when I don't even follow the sport, but various authors keep writing good ones for me to stumble across on Hoopla when browsing, and here I am.

Whatever minor flaws this has, I am actively ignoring them, because I adore the characters and the tone so completely. I loved this book from start to finish, zero complaints, I borrowed this from the library but I should probably consider buying it because it could easily become one of my "I'm in a bad mood and need a comfort read" books.

Also, hurray for bi men, who need all the good rep they can get. Dante's "Oh, wow, I am super bi," was hilarious in context, but is going to stick with me in a serious way, because once he realizes that aspect of himself, he revels in it, and I rarely see bisexuality celebrated in fiction in that way.

10/10, went straight on to borrow the next in the series.

#booklr #book review #romance novels #mlm novels #winging it #ashlyn kane #morgan james

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ashlynkane · 1 year

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[Alt text: Left side of square reads “Don’t tell me you’ve never thought about it. Don’t you want to know what’s better? Your imagination... or my reality?” Right side of square shows book cover for Hockey Ever After Book Three: Unrivaled, by Ashlyn Kane and Morgan James. Two opposing hockey players battle for the puck. Tagline reads “Love doesn’t pull its punches.”]

UNRIVALED will release February 21. I’m feeling totally normal about this.

Amazon | Apple | B&N | Google Books | Kobo

#my books #mm romance #hockey romance #ashlyn kane #morgan james

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slipperymeteor · 1 year

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Unrivaled - Ashlyn Kane & Morgan James (Hockey Ever After #3)

Read March 2023, after finishing Scoring Position, the second book in the series. M/M.

Unrivaled follows Max Lockhart and Grady Armstrong, hockey players for fictitious NHL teams NJ Monsters and Philly Firebirds (later Piranha and Condors). They are rivals—Max is particularly successful in goading Grady on the ice, costing Grady awards in fair play. Rivalries led to a Grindr hookup led to fake dates led to feelings™️ to working on a relationship.

This is a cozy read (🌶️) and not much angst. Grady thought Max spilled their hookup to his teammate which led to Grady blocking Max’s text messages and Max blocking Grady on Instagram. One of their teams was eliminated earlier in contention of the Stanley Cup and they had to navigate dealing with their team losing in the league. Cameos from earlier characters in the series, particularly Dante Baltierra/Baller from book one and passing mentions of Nico Kirschbaum from book two.

A Goodreads reviewer for book two mentions how she didn’t like that the NHL teams were fictitious because why would she root for a losing fictitious team but because I know zilch about pro hockey it makes no difference to me. Now that this is my sixth? seventh? m/m hockey book that I read I am starting to see how mid-season trades are used for plot points (sounds exhausting and players are expected to uproot their entire lives to a wholly new team in a different city at mere moments’ notice?). If I actually cared about hockey leagues the Stanley Cup thing would’ve upped the ante for me but because I don’t, I get it’s an important thing but had no particular significance for me. In one of the fake dates they went to an American Ninja Warrior gym and I thought it’s interesting that the authors went to describe the details at length and I wonder how well it will age if/when ANW fell out of popularity. Matching tattoos: a 🦞 and a lobster cracker.

Rep: Dante is bisexual. Max also says he is bisexual. Grady’s sister Jess is a lesbian, also a pro hockey player, entangled in an f/f/f situation.

#hockey ever after #Ashlyn Kane #Morgan James #unrivaled #Max Lockhart #Grady Armstrong #m/m books #m/m hockey #bisexual men rep

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white-cat-of-doom · 10 days

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Photos from Noah Lindquist as Rum Tum Tugger of opening night in Cast 15 of the Oasis of the Seas.

With Sarah Moore as Jellylorum, Eleanor Monaghan as Jennyanydots, and Callum Portugal as Tumblebrutus.

With Ashlyn Fenn as Rumpleteazer, Nick Woodford as Munkustrap, and Kane Verrall as Skimbleshanks.

With Yardén Barr as Grizabella, Nick as Munkustrap, and Traven Harrington as Old Deuteronomy.

19 April 2024.

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cryptidvoidwritings · 9 days

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Noah Lindquist as Rum Tum Tugger, Oasis of the Seas cast 15

source

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gaybookpromotions · 29 days

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An Unrivaled Off-Season by Ashlyn Kane & Morgan James

NEW RELEASE Book Title: An Unrivaled Off-Season (Hockey Ever After, #3.5) Author: Ashlyn Kane & Morgan James Publisher: Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: L.C. Chase Release Date: April 2, 2024 Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance, M/M sports romance Tropes: Rivals to lovers, established relationship Themes: Meeting the family, starting a life together, Heat Rating: 3.5 flames Length: 27…

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#Ashlyn Kane & Morgan James #Contemporary M/M hockey romance #Hockey Ever After #new release

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battyaboutbooksreviews · 2 months

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🌈 Queer Books Coming Out in February 2024

🌈 Good afternoon, my bookish bats! Struggling to keep up with all the amazing queer books coming out this month? Here are a FEW of the stunning, diverse queer books you can add to your TBR before the year is over. Remember to #readqueerallyear! Happy reading!

❤️ We Ate the Dark by Mallory Pearson 🧡 The Paper Boys by D.P. Clarence 💛 Skater Boy by Anthony Nerada 💚 Your Shadow Half Remains by Sunny Moraine 💙 A Vicious Game by Melissa Blair 💜 Clarion Call by Cayla Fay ❤️ Relit: 16 Latinx Remixes of Classic Stories edited by Sandra Proudman 🧡 The Absinthe Underground by Jamie Pacton 💛 Truthfully, Yours by Caden Armstrong 💙 Outsider by Jade du Preez 💜 Cross My Candy Heart by A.C. Thomas 🌈 The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

❤️ An Education in Malice by S. T. Gibson 🧡 The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Ann Older 💛 Never a Bridesmaid by Spencer Greene 💚 The Rewind by Nicole Stiling 💙 Good Christian Girls by Elizabeth Bradshaw 💜 The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha ❤️ The Terrible by Tessa Crowley 🧡 Blood Rage by Ileandra Young 💛 Call of the Sea by Emily B. Rose 💙 Sign Me Up by C.H. Williams 💜 Ways and Means by Daniel Lefferts 🌈 Peaceful in the Dark by A.A. Fairview

❤️ We Are Only Ghosts by Jeffrey L. Richards 🧡 Dead Ringer by Robyn Nyx 💛 Somacultural Liberation by Dr. Roger Kuhn 💚 Stormbringer by Erinn Harper 💙 A Saga of Shields & Shadows by A.J. Shirley 💜 Ghost Town by R.E. Ward ❤️ I Heard Her Call My Name by Lucy Sante 🧡 The Night Alphabet by Joelle Taylor 💛 Remedial Magic by Melissa Marr 💙 Bloom by N.R. Walker 💜 Entwined by Alex Alberto 🌈 Queer Newark edited by Whitney Strub

❤️ Tristan by Jesse Roman 🧡 How to Live Free in a Dangerous World by Shayla Lawson 💛 Daniel, Deconstructed by James Ramos 💚 Of Socialites & Prizefights by Arden Powell 💙 Lost Harbor by Kimberly Cooper Griffin 💜 Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair by Laura Piper Lee ❤️ Bunt! Striking Out on Financial Aid by Ngozi Ukazu & Mad Rupert 🧡 How You Get the Girl by Anita Kelly 💛 Blackmailer’s Delight by David Lawrence 💙 Tile M for Murder by Felicia Carparelli 💜 Impulse Buy by Jae 🌈 Live for You, Die With You by Kalob Dàniel

❤️ Fairest of All by A.D. Ellis 🧡 Goddess of the Sea by Britney Jackson 💛 A Taste of Earth by Nico Silver 💚 The Moorings of Mackerel Sky by M.Z. Emily Zack 💙 How the Boogeyman Became a Poet by Tony Keith 💜 V is for Valentine by Thomas Grant Bruso ❤️ Crushed Ice by Ashlyn Kane & Morgan James 🧡 When Tomorrow Comes by D. Jackson Leigh 💛 Bugsy & Other Stories by Rafael Frumkin 💙 The White and Blue Between Us by Kiyuhiko 💜 Guide Us Home by CF Frizzell & Jesse J. Thoma 🌈 The Friendship Study by Ruby Barrett

❤️ Infinity Alchemist by Kacen Callender 🧡 Heart2Heart edited by Annabeth Albert 💛 No Time Like Now by Naz Kutub 💚 Bless the Blood by Walela Nehanda 💙 Vengeance Planning for Amateurs by Lee Winter 💜 Who We Are in Real Life by Victoria Koops ❤️ Prove It by Stephanie Hoyt 🧡 Mewing by Chloe Spencer 💛 Awakenings by Claudie Arseneault 💙 Born of Scourge by S. Jean 💜 Disciples of Chaos by M.K. Lobb 🌈 To Cage a God by Elizabeth May

❤️ Greta & Valdin by Rebecca K Reilly 🧡 What Feasts At Night by T. Kingfisher 💛 You Had Me at Merlot by Melissa Brayden 💚 Turning Point by Cathy Dunnell 💙 For the Stolen Fates by Gwendolyn Clare 💜 Season of Eclipse by Terry Wolverton ❤️ These Haunted Hills by Jana Denardo 🧡 Samson & Domingo by Gume Laurel III 💛 Lies that Bind by Rae Knowles & April Yates 💙 We Got the Beat by Jenna Miller 💜 The Diablo's Curse by Gabe Cole Novoa 🌈 Blessings by Chukwuebuka Ibeh

❤️ Out There by Iris Eliot 🧡 At Her Service by Amy Spalding 💛 Green Dot by Madeleine Gray

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andrewblurmoved · 3 months

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last song: xo by fall out boy

last film: poor things

currently reading: winging it by ashlyn kane & morgan james

currently watching: how to train your dragon

currently consuming: my own desire

currently craving: to bite someone

three ships: merthur, andreil, andrew blur/sam halse

first ship: soriku <3

favorite color: dark green !! <3

currently working on: crocheting a circle lmao

tagged by: @arthursdent & @bichimney <3

tagging: @ghostscowboys @eddiebabygirldiaz @llovely @stvaltiel @disasterbuckdiaz @911onabc @joebennet @miserykites @deklo @lucydonato

x x

#tag games #andrew.txt

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sophsicle · 7 months

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have you read the hockey ever after series by ashlyn kane and morgan james? I just binge read them all and it’s got my ass watching hockey now 🙌🤭

WAIT wait wait wait i did not know this was a series !!!!!! i read Winging it! by them and it's v cute! i will 100% be checking out the rest of them!

#soph rambles

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erisenyo · 3 months

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Tagged by @twin-azure-dragon-wave for the nine people I'd like to get to know better game!

Last Song: Bad Idea by GUNNAR

Favorite Color: Been seeing a lot of posts lately making a compelling case for dark green

Last Movie/TV Show: Shark Tank!

Sweet/Spicey/Savory: Currently on the savory train! Give me that umami

Relationship Status: Eyeing how many good recent pics I have for that dating app

Last thing I googled: Calories in dry cat food - the little dude is apparently a bit of a chonk but "224 kcal per day" is uh, less than helpful when the catfood bag provides "cups" as the only unit

Current obsession: Time travel/loops

Last book: Crushed Ice by Ashlyn Kane and Morgan James

Looking forward to: The Fandom Trumps Hate (@fandomtrumpshate - go check it out!) charity auction and getting prompts from my (to be determined) high bidder and bidding on some of the amazing offerings!!

Tagging @missmists @3cosmicfrogs @outpastthemoat @thetruthof @demondarakna @mafaldinablabla @callmesinpai @tofu-pofu @bearsandbeansart - and anyone else who wants to play!

#tag games #I have been on a bit of a hockey romance kick...chasing that high of seeing high level athletics accurately represented

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titlefightpens · 10 months

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Speaking into the void…but if you have kindle unlimited and have not read unrivaled by ashlyn kane and morgan james …it gives such mattdrai vibes like off the charts. I’m pretty sure I saw someone say that it may or may not be loosely based on them? It’s so worth the read, ive finished it three times already 🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️

#mattdrai #matthew tkachuk #leon draisaitl

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elenajohansenreads · 10 months

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Books I Read in 2023

#28 - Unrivaled, by Ashlyn Kane and Morgan James

Rating: 5/5 stars

Six stars, eighty stars, a thousand stars. Book #2 did not prepare me for what an actual enemies-to-lovers pairing would look like from this author team, and it is stellar. I love these two precious idiots and their hilarious dynamic. Grady is the grumpiest of grumps who doesn't realize he's even friends with Max until he's already deeply in love, he's just too invested in maintaining his prickly exterior to realize what's going on underneath. Max is a silly, adorable pest who realizes much earlier on that he's wildly in love with Grady and must keep that fact from Grady at all costs so he doesn't get his heart smashed to pieces when his feelings are inevitably not returned. Watching them fumble their way through the complications that come not only from playing on rival teams, but being regarded as personal rivals (the terms "nemesis" and "archnemesis" get thrown around occasionally, though both parties insist it's not that serious) means they not only have to mesh their lives together, but their public personas. When the twists and turns of the plot finally get us all to that happy ending, I really was happy with how it all turned out, and I immediately started a reread because I wasn't ready to leave this happy place where queer hockey players (including some side characters this time!) get to fall in love and be better people in the process. I'm caught up with this series now aside from the holiday novella I need to go back for, but I dearly, dearly hope there are more stories coming, because I will absolutely read them all.

#booklr #book review #romance novels #unrivaled #hockey ever after #ashlyn kane #morgan james #lgbtq books

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ashlynkane · 1 year

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I will continue to make dumb graphics until I learn to make less dumb graphics

[ALT: Infographic for UNRIVALED, Hockey Ever After - Book Three, by Ashlyn Kane and Morgan James. Graphic shows the book cover, with two hockey players battling for the puck and tagline “Love doesn’t pull its punches.” Cover is surrounded by text indicating tropes from the book, clockwise from top left: Grumpy/Sunshine; Rivals to Lovers; Enemies with Benefits; Accidental Feelings; Nasty, Disrespectful Sex]

#is tumblr gonna add an alt text function though #my books #mm romance #ashlyn kane #hockey romance #morgan james

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oldfangirl81 · 3 months

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I have an actual library card again. My goal is to read more this year.

I need recommendations please!

Some mix of these would be great.

• Queer romance

• Asexual romance

• Urban Fantasy

• Paranormal Romance

• Fake Dating to Real Dating

• Anything with dragons or kitsune

Below the cut are ones on the TBR list I'm creating if you also need ideas. I'll add as I get more recs. And I'll link eventually to a review post as I read them.

Conventionally Yours by Annabeth Albert

Fake Dating The Prince by Ashlyn Kane

She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen

Alice Austen Lived Here by Alex Gino

The Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron

Melissa by Alex Gino

Your Lonely Nights Are Over by Adam Sass

Just Your Local Bisexual Disaster by Andrea Mosqueda

If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved A Demon by Kimberly Lemming

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

The Last Sun by KD Edwards

Ace of Hearts by Lucy Mason

The Romance Recipe by Ruby Barrett

Jay's Gay Agenda by Jason June

A Dash of Salt and Pepper by Kosoko Jackson

The Engineer by CS Poe

After the Dragons by Cynthia Zhang

Runebinder by Alex R Kahler

Rare Vigilance by MA Grant

The Witch King by HE Edgmon

Robin Hood Vol 1 by Pat Strand

Dreidel Date by Eliana West

#queer lit #lgbtq books

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