It’s goalie vs. goalie in this brand-new enemies-to-lovers hockey romance from Avon Gale and Piper Vaughn… compete for his spot.
Not everyone gets to play in the best league in the world. Emmitt Armstrong knows that, and he’s not about to waste the opportunity after grinding his way from the bottom to the top. If the Venom are looking for a meek, mild-mannered pushover, they’ve got the wrong guy.
Ryu doesn’t want to admit the other goalie’s smart mouth turns him on. Beating Armstrong at practice feels good, sure, but there are other, more fun ways to shut his rival up.
In this league, it’s winner takes all. But there’s more to life than winning, and if Emmitt and Ryu can get past their egos and competitive natures, they might just discover they work better as partners than they ever imagined possible.
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
This book is approximately 68,000 words
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This is book #2, from the series Hat Trick. This book can be read as a standalone novel. To avoid spoilers, and to better understand the series I recommend reading this series in order intended by the authors. You can catch the review for Off The Ice, the first book in this series, by clicking here: OFF THE ICE REVIEW.
Emmitt has the opportunity to move up to the NHL, when a trade gives him the ultimate chance. Not having as much family support as he would have liked – he still gives it his all. Then he finds out there is a catch.
Ryu is already a successful goalie who gives his team everything he has. Then the challenge is given to work harder or lose your place. This is normal for the NHL, but what he does not expect is to be attracted to his nemesis. If only he could make the feelings go away…..
Such an exciting and well paced story. I love the banter, the humor, and so much more. The heat starts out sizzling and grows till it is almost a complete bonfire. I was not able to put the book down, and eagerly read this in one sitting.
***This ARC copy was given in exchange for an honest review, by Netgalley and its publisher.
Not being a hockey fan – at all – should probably have me bored to tears by the story setting, but instead it’s quite the opposite. But, on the other hand, which straight woman wouldn’t enjoy a sexy read with lots of super-fit male athletes in a testosterone-filled environment?
Goalie Interference is of the classic enemies-to-lovers variety, but other than the trope, there is nothing regular or typical about it. On the surface, Emmit and Ryu couldn’t be more different if they tried. Only, when giving in to their attraction and agreeing to keep it solely physical, they start to realize they might actually make a good team. Both on and off the ice.
This read gave me all the feels. The development of adversaries to genuine teammates to more, it’s expertly written. Also, Emmit being African American and Ryu being of Japanese origin gave the story a different depth than if both MC’s had been white. Hockey is undeniably a very white sport, which I hadn’t ever reflected upon until now.
Another thing. Goalie Interference have some great secondary characters. And it’s sometimes hilarious. I loved their teammate Morley, he was simply awesome. I sincerely hope that the last installment in the series, Trade Deadline, is his story.
I have only two objections to this book. First, I like smut. Without it, I find any romance just… lacking. And the shenanigans in Goalie Interference were more of a sidenote than anything. Since Emmit’s and Ryu’s relationship started out as a purely physical one, some highly explicit sizzle in the sack would have been appreciated. Second – and this is a spoiler – I was really disappointed that they didn’t come out to their team in the end. I want and crave HEAs. And apparently, I also want and crave any sneaking around to stop.
Despite that though, in the end it was a great read. And I will most likely read the first installment, Off the Ice, the story about Emmit’s and Ruy’s teammate Tristan, while waiting for Trade Deadline.
Full review at: https://reflectionsofaswedishgirl.blog.se/
I have totally enjoyed reading Goalie Interference. I love hockey stories and this one I found even a bit more special. Ryu and Emmett were so good together. I really love enemies to lovers and this was a great version. They were hot and interesting and I loved the keeping it a secret bit too.
What made it special to me was the mention, not once, but 3 times of Grant Fuhr. I am from and live in the city he’s from, Spruce Grove, Alberta. It was so cool to read about him in the book. He’s the best goalie after all, and I am super proud to be from his city. I really thank the authors for including him.
I loved this book and am loving the series and look forward to reading more about them in the Hat Trick series. I recommend this book.
The second novel in Avon Gale and Piper Vaughn’s Hat Trick series Goalie Interference is an enemies-to-lovers story about rival goalies… on the same team! This is the same hockey team from the first book in the series, Off the Ice, but you don’t need to read it first to fully enjoy this one.
Taking resentment and hostility to a new level, the chemistry between these two athletes is palpable. It’s no surprise that these two talented authors are able to bring it around full circle and turn that animosity into smokin’ hot lust.
When minor league goalie Emmitt Armstrong gets traded to an NHL team, he’s thrilled to find out he’s in direct competition with the current goalie Ryu Mori. Well this arrangement is completely infuriating to Ryu who firmly believes the starting spot should be his.
Gale and Vaughn do a marvelous job creating a situation where the tension between the two men is honest and real. Intense sparks fly between these guys right off the bat, and it’s only natural when they jump into the sack to give each other a little “stress relief”.
The authors’ real skill comes through as we watch their grudging attraction turn to real affection. Keeping it believable throughout an enemies-to-lovers romance is the only way it’s going to work for me, and Goalie Interference works the whole way through.
Fans of sports romances are going to be very happy with the amount of hockey scenes we get in this one. It’s still more romance than sport, but we get some extremely exciting moments! The authors keep the descriptions of the sport scenes easy to understand and it adds to the development of the relationship between characters.
Goalie Interference has a very different flavor from the first book in this series, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed both of them. I’m looking forward to the third and final installment in this Hat Trick series.
a copy of Goalie Interference (Hat Trick #2) was provided by NetGalley for the purpose of my review