Undone By You by Kate Meader is a great fit for readers looking for a heartfelt and passionate romance between two men in the world of professional hockey, while also exploring themes of career challenges and personal growth.

I love a good M/M book and if it's in the sports world it's even better... Ms. Meader did a phenomenal job with Dante and Cade's story. There's so much that's going on in this story in addition to Cade being the new manager for the Rebels and wanting to take them from last place to first place. This book addresses social norms, the acceptance of two men being in love in this uber alpha hockey world. There's also an age gap going on between Cade and Dante.

I fell in love with both of these men and Ms. Meader has gained a fan for life!

Sometimes you read a book that is just so amazing that it is hard to put into words how much you love it and that is exactly how I feel about Kate Meader’s Undone By You. I will say I had my suspicions in the previous two books about Cade “Alamo” Burnett and his possible love match and I’m so pleased I was right. A bit of a May-December gay romance between a star defenseman for the Chicago Rebels and the team’s General Manager made this an exciting, intoxicating, and sexy story. I loved every minute of this book!

I do love a man on a mission and Cade Burnett did exactly what he needed to do to get Dante Moretti to not only notice him, but be aware that Cade was very much playing for the same team. The determination, the want, the need…whew, just thinking about them together makes me want to grab a fan to cool myself off.

One man out of the closet, one man in but thinking about coming out, twelve years age difference, a world of difference in experience, but attraction and a bit of hero worship have them throwing caution to the wind despite the potential risk to their careers. I loved watching them navigate their secret affair and even the time they spent apart because it helped them to see that what they had was special. I have to give Dante a lot of credit for understanding what Cade needed and making it happen for him. I also appreciated that Cade let Dante’s bit of poor judgment go so there wasn’t a bunch of unnecessary drama.

While there is no doubt this book has a fairy tale feel with everything working out pretty easily, that just made me love it more. Undone by You was a perfect title for this book because there was no doubt these two men were completely undone by each other.

Dante and Cade have hot chemistry. I absolutely loved this book. The writing is great and sucks into the Rebel world. The characters will leave you wanting more of their world.
Told in both Dante and Cade's POV. I highly recommend this fantastic M/M romance.

I received this arc from Netgalley for an honest review. I was thrilled to receive another book from the Chicago Rebel’s series. Cade and Dante has so much chemistry from the start and I loved seeing characters from other books.

If there's one thing Cade and I have in common it's that neither one of us can resist a hot Italian in a suit. Except Cade is the lucky guy (jerk, I mean...what? ... he's a sweetheart) who gets to have that fantasy come true in this tension-filled and steamy romance set in the world of high testosterone and homophobia.


If you've been reading along in the Chicago Rebels Series, you'll already know the backstory but quick synopsis for those who are new: the Rebels are owned by three half-sisters who inherited it from their misogynistic and furiously ambitious father who stipulated in his will that if the team did not have a successful season then they would lose ownership of it. Some are all for the idea of three women owners, some are indifference and the remainder are hostile and rooting for them to fail. Dante is hired on, impressed by the organization and its leadership. He also knows a thing or two about shaking things up as the first openly gay hockey player. Being older and wiser has its benefits and he ignores the naysayers, proving that his knowledge and experience are the perfect fit for a team that needs to win. Cade hasn't come out of the closet yet but his attraction to Dante has him making some careless decisions about his own personal safety.


This is where I completely lost it for Dante. Rather than taking advantage of the inexperienced Cade and just going for it, he's more mentor-like at the beginning. He's been where Cade has been and understands the perils of being gay in the sports world. He also knows how much one can lose in their private life from coming out. The fact that he's older lends the story maturity and a contrast to Cade's eager-eyed, puppy dog swooning. He's also sensual in the way he speaks, moves and behaves. But even this gorgeous man can't resist Cade's genuine soul and good looks. These two together are on fire and I wanted more of them.


The great mystery of my life is how many sports romances I read, particularly hockey yet I don't watch the sport. I don't think it's diminished any joy I find in reading them but it does strike me as funny. I love how Kate Meader builds on this tension here then levels it cautiously because there is that potential for so much pain should things go south when there's so much at stake. I also loved all the little gaps she fills in that were brief mentions in the previous books. It's nice to be able to put particular scenes together from different angles now that I have the additional POVs. Undone By You is a quick, happy read with plenty of emotion, sexiness and laughs. My heart swelled with this one and so far it's my favourite of the series. The image of Dante in a suit certainly helps ;)


~ Bel

This was a great continuation of the main characters in the series. I absolutely loved the heroine and the hero was just as fun. Their story was intriguing and relatable. I can't wait for more by this author in this series.

I usually don't read m/m books but bc this is part of a series that I totally love I had to read it. This is actually a pretty good book and I did enjoy the story. I look forward to reading more books by Meader.

*I received this book free from Simon & Schuster – Gallery Books in exchange for an honest review*

First of all let me say that this book takes place behind the scenes of books one and two. If you were curious about things Harper or Violet saw…you’ll discover what actually happened when you read Undone By You.

The Chicago Rebels got a new GM…a new gay GM. A sexy, suit wearing Italian that makes Cade’s mouth water. No one knows that Cade is gay or that his hockey hero is none other than their new GM, Dante Moretti, or how his spank bank fantasy just walked into his daily life, and boy does he do a good job at hiding it. Not even Dante knew. That is until Cade shows up in the one place he never expected to see him or any of his other players.

Cade is a Texas boy who doesn’t want to disappoint his dad. Dante is a man who gave up a lot so that he could be true to himself. One’s afraid he isn’t good enough. The other afraid he’ll lose everything. Not to mention the whole GM and player thing that completely goes against certain ethics and policies. But when Cade and Dante are together nothing else matters.

Undone By You is sexy with a lot of heart. It was the perfect ‘short’ book to give the series a little something extra.

Sports romances are hit and miss for me. But I was intrigued about this story about an openly gay GM in the very macho world of hockey. The love story between the two lead characters was sexy, seductive and sensitive. The slightly taboo nature of a boss messing around with his player added another layer of tension. I loved the story and the characters and will definitely be reading more by Kate Meader.

I thought the book was pretty sweet. A bit unrealistic in some ways, especially considering the trend of the whole series. But I appreciated the mentor-mentee dynamic in the context of a romantic relationship. Meader shows how it can be done well.

Heart squeezing, sexy romance…

Cue the gushing, as it’s going to continue! This hockey romance series has offered family, passion, desire and sheer humanity all the way along and Dante and Cade provide more. Their characters have been intertwined in the Chase family stories and I couldn’t wait to finally, finally, hear theirs….

“No-holds-barred, pure, unadulterated pleasure.”

Dante is the new-ish GM of the Chicago Rebels hockey team and he is helping to make this last in the standings a playoff contender. He is the first openly gay executive in the league and he does everything properly – there will be no tabloid headlines or hints of impropriety. Getting involved with a team player isn’t going to happen. Until it does… Cade is firmly in the closet, determined to keep the remainder of his family close. Admitting his sexuality would do just that so he doesn’t rock the boat. Until Dante…

Their courtship was hot and sweet, slow and fast. Their passionate side glances and intense conversations peppered secret dates and public encounters. What was between these two? I felt it. It felt real and deep, in bed and out of it. They laughed and joked but also opened up in ways they hadn’t to anyone else. Their caring, their support of each other – both personally and professionally – was easy to see and, most of all, feel. This author let me feel every nuance, every high and low, and I savoured each moment…

Swoon…
“I’m not looking for a prize. I’m looking for forever.”

There is one more story to tell and Violet and Bren’s, I think, is going to tug at my heart the most. I can’t wait!

*5 Polpetto Stars*

I was looking forward to this title, and Dante's story. But, for some reason, I didn't like him in this book although I did like him a lot in the stories where he was a secondary character.

I appreciate the opportunity and look forward to the next title by this author.

Undone by You is the latest installment in Kate Meader’s Chicago Rebels series and Ms. Meader has done it again. This story knocked by socks off!

I have to ask…is there anything Ms. Meader can’t write? The answer is nope! She can write the most fierce of heroines, the most alpha of heroes, all while adding a layer of emotion to each character that has me swooning with every page I read. This was just another shining example of that, but slightly more difficult to accomplish being that it’s a M/M story. I have read my fair share of M/M romances and when they’re done well, they are sublime. When they aren’t done well they can be downright cringeworthy. This story definitely fits into the sublime category…

Dante and Cade are both dynamic characters. Dante, the smart, successful, openly gay GM of the hockey team. Cade the charming, funny, closeted defensive player on the very team Dante manages. I’m sure after reading those two sentences you can gather just a few reasons a relationship shouldn’t happen between them…but alas, that’s what makes it all so fun. The sexual tension and the forbidden fruit aspect of their relationship is totally delectable and had me devouring this book in no time.

And I have to mention how much I adore seeing all the other characters form this series pop in and out in each book. It’s become this fun book family I can’t get enough of.

Once again, I have to say that here is nothing Ms. Meader can’t write. I simply loved this book!

Such a sweet romance. Loved everything about it. Dante and Cade made a very sexy couple. And, I love when a author is secure enough in their writing that they are can write a fantastic book and it's only a novella. There was so much goodness packed into this book! I need more!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I have been loving this Chicago Rebels series so far, and I was happy to see that the super hot new GM Dante (who also happens to be the first openly gay GM in the league) was going to get his own turn in the spotlight!

Cade, the laid back Texan nicknamed Alamo, is always the first one to crack a joke to ease tension or keep everyone around him happy. Violet, one of the Chase sisters who co-owns the team, is the only one who knows his secret and who helps him keep it. Once Dante comes to the team, keeping his preferences under wraps becomes a whole lot harder- pun intended! The man is sex in a suit, and it doesn't help that the older man fueled more than a few of Cade's teenaged fantasies when Dante was playing in the NHL himself. When Cade decides to make a move, it doesn't go exactly as he hoped but it doesn't take long before he wears down Dante's defenses.

Nothing will be easy though. As Cade's boss, Dante's job could be on the line if anyone finds out about what happens behind closed doors with one of his players. Dante knows all too well the cost of being honest with the world and he stills feels the loss of his parents from his life after his decision to come out. Cade faces similar issues when he makes the decision to reveal himself to the world, and Dante does not want to be his reason for making the choice; he has to do it for himself and no one else. Cade's father is going to be a challenge, and facing other players along with the media circus and rampant homophobes is going to be daunting. Dante also doesn't want to live his life in the shadows so he knows this bit of fun has to have an expiration date.

I will admit it took me a little bit to buy into these two together, but by the halfway point in the story I was completely on board! The author infuses the story with a great combination of heat and humor among the realities of the decisions Cade and Dante must make. I loved the little nod to Brady and Gage from the Hot in Chicago series when Harper was trying to fix Dante up with some of her friends and acquaintances. And I definitely fell a little more in girl-love with the protective side of Violet as she stood by Cade's side through it all. I can't wait for her story - and I need to know if the Rebels win the Cup too of course!

i thought this was a really sweet book. meader is one of my favorite discoveries since joining netgalley. usually i hate age gap romances but these two were just so adorable. i loved how vulnerable they both were. i did feel it was a bit rushed at the end and big events were just discussed after they happened but i love the team spirit of this series (and the shot out to the Chicago Fire series)

I haven’t read any of the previous books in this series, but jumped on this one when I saw it, and absolutely loved it. Cade and Dante really hit the spot for me.

Dante, being openly gay, and GM of an NHL hockey team can’t have been easy for him, but he moved forward, and didn’t let being gay define him. It didn’t define his work with the players either. It was clear he was respected, but Dante also was careful not to put anyone into a difficult situation. Not the owners, not the players, and (he tried very hard at least!) not himself.

Cade, I loved. He went after what he wanted. He walked into an exclusive gay club looking for what he wanted…Dante…and didn’t take no for an answer. He wasn’t worried about being too young for Dante, or even that he wasn’t out. He wanted the sexy GM, and was willing to step up and let him know.

This novella was sexy, seriously sexy. These two, once they found their middle ground, found themselves hitting the sheets whenever they could. However, it wasn’t just that. It was so obvious that they enjoyed each other’s company as well. Cooking together, hanging out, not just hitting the sheets. They found ways to connect that didn’t involve just sex.

The struggle to come out for Cade was heartbreaking. He knew what he was up against with choosing it, and Dante tried to impress upon him what coming out in the NHL could mean. And with Dante feeling like his job depended on not showing he was involved with a player, the feels were definitely there.

I just loved this one, and I hope that this author will continue to write m/m. She has really captured what is a difficult sometimes for authors that make the transition from m/m to capture. Keeping the strength and passion of the two men, while still showing their vulnerability. I cried a little during this one, laughed a little, and overall just wanted to read it again right after I put it down. 🙂

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Undone by You is a novella in the Chicago Rebels series. Cade is a player for the team, and very in the closet. He has no intention of changing that out of fear for what it may do to his and his father's relationship. But, that is all put to the test when the new GM for the Rebel's shows up. Ex hockey player and Cade's adolescent crush, Dante is literally the poster boy for everything Cade wants.
It was a beautifully written story about two men in different stages of their lives, who come to care deeply for one another. I liked that this even though this was a m/m story that heavily revolved around the subject of the sexuality of people, fear of homophobia, and the difficulties all those encompass, it was at it's heart just a really great love story.