Off the Ice gives you love, friendship, and sexiness all wrapped up in one package. I read this book previously when it was formerly published and I was so wonderfully surprised and happy to find it republished now! I absolutely adored it the second time around.

There is something so inherently pure about the way Tristan was given so much support by both his teammates and his family; how Sebastian gained a family of his own. It made me tear up so badly!

I enjoyed this M/M romance written by two authors I have not previously read. When sparks fly between a professional hockey player, who has returned to college in his free time to complete his degree, and the sociology professor teaching the course, each must decide what exactly they are going to do about it. Especially since Tristan, the NHL player, is firmly in the closet while Sebastian is assuredly not, although he also has something to lose since he does not yet have tenure at the university. While Tristan seems the more likable and sympathetic character, I slowly warmed up to the developing relationship. I look forward to the continuation of this series.

I really enjoyed this! It's my first book by these authors, but it won't be my last. I loved the sports aspect, and I loved Tristan. I wasn't as fond of Sebastian, but that's mainly because he seemed a little rigid (especially in the ways he was pushing Tristan). Still, I think the chemistry between them was portrayed nicely, and although there's a fair amount of sex in this (and I ended up skimming many of those scenes), I think the romance was solid.

I also loved the dual POV, and I'm glad I got to see into Sebastian's head now and then, as it did help make him more sympathetic. Tristan was likable from beginning to end, but I have hope that Sebastian will loosen up a bit after time. :)

No matter how many times I read Off the Ice I just always fall in love with it and the characters all over again and even more than the last time I read it. Super excited this will be out soon again with Carina Press.

Full review to come.

Note: Carina Press is re-issuing "Hat Trick" on March 25, 2019 with a great new cover and it has been "newly refreshed by the authors."

My initial review of "Hat Trick" from 2017 is shown below with a rating of 4 stars. Upon re-reading the book, I realized just how much I enjoyed this story of two men who has an incredibly steamy kinky relationship coupled with a deep connection of love and respect. I appreciated once again their careful negotiations on coming out.

While I'm not sure exactly how the story was "refreshed," the secondary characters seem more integrated and the flow and pacing of the story feels more crisp. I'm revising my rating to 4.5 stars and giving "Hat Trick" a Recommended Read AND I'm looking forward to the second book in the series - "Goalie Interference" - featuring the Venom goalie, Ryu Mori.

Original Review: Tristan, a defenseman with the Atlanta Venom, knows hockey is not forever and is working on finishing his business degree. Taking Sociology 3201: Wealth, Power, and Inequality from Professor Sebastian Cruz. Tristan - tall, blonde, Wisconsin farm boy, rocking sweatpants and a Grateful Dead t-shirt - doesn't exactly fit into the hipster vibe of the other students. But then Professor Cruz - "tall and whipcord lean with warm golden-brown skin and wavy raven-black hair" - isn't what Tristan expected either.

Sebastian is out and proud while Tristan remains closeted, but they soon navigate a relationship that is hot, dirty and sexy with a side of dominance / humiliation kink that totally works for both men:
Tristan learned what it meant when someone like Sebastian Cruz said, Your ass is mine. He spent almost as much time nude—in bed, or bent over tables, or down on all fours—as he did dressed.[...] They couldn’t stay away from each other, or keep their hands and mouths off each other. Tristan was so obsessed with how amazing Sebastian made him feel, it might have scared him if Sebastian didn’t seem equally enthralled.

We get both POVs throughout and I loved how Tris and Sebastian's relationship is free of manufactured angst and strong on conflict resolution as they work their way through Tris coming out to his parents and his team. My only niggles were that at times the pace of the story felt slow, and the abrupt and somehow ....clumsy ... introduction of potential MCs for additional books in the series [In the matter of a few pages, we abruptly learn that SPOILER:

team captain Bellize is getting a divorce and goalie Ryu is gay and looking for someone like Tristan.

END SPOILER

I give Off the Ice 4.25 stars, rounded to 4 stars