Best friends forever…Rookies Kevin “Mikey” Michaelson and Anatoly “Tolly” Petrov are taking the Continental Hockey League by storm. The junior d-partners, roommates, and best friends have racked up point after point in their debut season with the Alberta Abominables. They may have only met a few months ago for training camp, but they’re already inseparable on and off the ice–until one fateful … the ice–until one fateful second, when Mikey is injured during a game.
Something they never expected…
Sidelined with a concussion and a broken risk, Mikey has a hard time with even basic tasks when he first comes home from the hospital. Thankfully Tolly is there to help with food, getting dressed, and whatever else he needs. Before too long, the aftermath of a late-night confession brings them even closer than before, and has Tolly feeling things he’s not quite ready to share.
A future they can’t control…
But while Mikey’s been recovering, the rumors are flying fast and furious in the CHL world. With the league trade deadline looming, this new thing between him and Tolly might just come with an expiration date–and there’s nothing he can do to stop it.
Will the Abs trade Mikey away? Will Tolly ever find the nerve to tell Mikey about his feelings? Or will they stay friends and let the rest slip away?
Find out in this steamy sports romance novel with a stubborn defenseman who thinks he can do everything himself, his best friend who just wants to take care of him, and the team that’s rooting for them.
HOLDING is a stand-alone romance with no cliffhangers! Each book in the Tripping series can be read on its own in any order.
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Holding is book number three in the Tripping series by Ariel Bishop. This book can be read as a standalone. This is Kevin “Mikey” or “Misha’ Michaelson and Anatoly “Tolly” or “Tolya” Petrov’s story.
I have mixed emotions about this book. I really liked the characters and the chemistry between them. At times I felt that some of the scenes didn’t flow with the story plus the ending was too abrupt.
FYI, contains mature content. This is a M/M gay romance. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
The first third of the book was slow and boring to me. About 1/3 through the MCs start having sex and it heats up. There is a lot of sex after that point, and although they are stated to be long-time friends, there seemed to me a lack of communication and connection beyond the sex. They rarely seem to talk about things that are important, like the potential trade or their relationship. Although there is a lot of angst in the story, there is very little action and really no personal development. The story begins with an injury to one of the main characters and the rest of the story is about his recovery and fears about how his career will be affected. There is very little joy or happy times in the story and it was a real downer to me. Also, the flashbacks didn’t really add a lot to the story for me. There were some editing errors, misspellings, etc., but not too bad.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
They became friends when they became rookies together. They play well together they even live together. Then one gets hurt and the other must help. Now things begin to change between them. Feelings get mixed up. What will they do? Will they become more? See how this is going to go
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a very good book. Tolya and Mikey start off as friends and then end up as lovers. They got closers to each other after Mikey’s accident. There was a great chemistry between the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Mikey and Tolly are roommates, d-partners, and besties. From their first moment on ice they had flow and chemistry, but when Mikey is injured it throws them both for a loop. Recovery is never quick and with Tolly always around to help it opens up feelings in both men they each thought they’d properly buried. With tenderness and passion it’s clear they have chemistry off the ice as well as on. But when trade rumors start floating around there might be nothing either of them can do to stay together.
I’ve always got a soft spot for a “mother hen” personality from a tough guy. When the marshmallow center starts oozing out I’m a goner. This is definitely true in the case of Tolly. He’s got such a big heart and it shows in everything he does. His care and concern are allowed to deepen to something wonderful when he and Mikey move to a more intimate arrangement with their friendship. From there it’s pretty much game over. There’s nothing that will stop his feelings or hopes for more.
Mikey, on the other hand, is more of a goof as well as a sullen, stubborn child when faced with interminable couch time. It’s understandable for sure, but his attitude lasts for most of the story and kind of grates on me after a while. I do love his humor though, and it helps to loosen Tolly up considerably when he’s in his more serious moments.
There’s pretty much no angst in the story at all. But I will say that it felt a bit juvenile. It could have been their ages, but mostly it just came across as kind of a sexy YA story the way their thoughts and concerns were written. Same for the interactions with the other players.
With “coming out” completely taken off the table with off-the-cuff remarks by both of them, the story was allowed to focus on the relationship moving from friends to lovers to more as well as the career aspect of Mikey’s recovery. Except it didn’t really focus heavily on either of them. Well, I guess that’s not completely true. Both of those things were the focus, but it felt mushed together and a bit scattered so neither aspect felt like it had a complete evolution. Something in the beginning/middle was missing to make them stand out as something to draw and keep attention. There was more focus given to the avoidance of trade talk and not enough depth regarding choices and consequences.
The flow of the story was actually quite nice. I liked the parallel “flashbacks” that gave greater foundation, understanding, importance, and meaning to the more current events. It gave the story a feeling of resolution despite being a shorter story. Overall the characters were likable, their chemistry was great, and the sweetness of their interactions made it an enjoyable read.
This is the first book I’ve read by Ariel Bishop and while I loved the complexity and depth to her MC’s Mikey and Tolly, I found the story a bit disjointed. The story is told in both real-time and a series of flashbacks that I found weren’t really necessary. It’s centered on the growing feelings of both men after Mikey his hurt during a hockey game with a concussion and a broken arm. On top of their growing relationship, they are worried Mikey will be traded because he’s on IR. And while I loved each time Mikey and Tolly interacted, there was a lot of other things that were added to the story that drew my attention away from the book. The book brings up issues with their captain, Sunshine, but that’s never resolved and while Mikey is out, the man Tolly is partnered with isn’t mentioned after he brings up the possible trade of Mikey. While the relationship between Mikey and Tolley is wonderful, it’s the added information that wasn’t really necessary and it ultimately prevented me from truly loving the story. The end was a bit abrupt, but maybe there will be more information in the next book.
Just the absolute best story. Everything I like to read about and more. Such a great story I will read again and again. A keeper!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.