My first 5* MM tale of 2019. And, possibly one of the most romantic books I've read in the last 46 years.

I discovered Rachel Reid last year when I was having a book drought, and ended up knowing that she was one of the best discoveries I'd made all year. I'd ignored Game Changer for a while because the blurb wasn't the most exciting, but ended up loving the tale - and suspecting that Ilya would be getting his tale next. I'm so glad that he and Shane did. This has ended up being one of the most romantic books that I've read since I first started reading 46 years ago.

I expected there to be rivalry. I expected there to be snark. I expected there to be hot sex, possibly hate-sex. I expected clandestine encounters. I expected lies and subterfuge and secret-keeping. I got all of the former, in spades. I. Did. Not. Expect. The. Utterly. Brilliant. Romantic. Sweet. Sexy. Heartwarming.Tale. That. Rachel. Reid. Delivered. This has gone on to cement her as an autobuy, and yes, there are hints of whose book we can expect next, and I am so glad that there will be at least one more after that, as the way this tale ends? I need to see how Ilya and Shane's lives pan out, with their plans, their hopes, their dreams.

I can't detail this book, or I'd spoiler it, and it's far too good for that. But, let's just say that when it starts, around the time that Game Changer ends, the guys have already been in it for the long game. And, as time goes on, it's clear that they're both feeling more than just being f-buds, and I for one totally believed in them. I loved the way that RR told their tale, how their relationship changed over time, and what they began to mean to each other. I loved how we got both guys' thoughts and saw their feelings. Yes, their professions and the sport, and the country in which Ilya lived and played, meant that they had to be hidden and under everyone's radar, friends, family, press and teammates. And, RR told their love story in such a believable, romantic, sweet and yet non-sappy way, that I adored it. I totally did not expect the romantic element and I didn't expect that both guys would be such decent, sweet types with dreams of a future consisting of love, happiness and a family.

This is my first 5* read of 2019, and I expect that I'll have at least one more from RR before the year's out. Let's hope that there's a lot more of these guys as the series goes on, as I haven't had enough of them.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Carina Press, for my reading pleasure.

OMG THIS WAS SO AWESOME! Totally loved this enemies to lovers, "we're just fuck-buddies" - "OMG noo we caught feelings" romance! Funny and cute and too much for my heart to handle.

Review to follow soon!