I have waited far too long for a heated rivalry HEA. I have read every other book in the series just for snippets of Shane and Ilya. These first 3 chapters were such a tease. I don't think I will survive a wait until April!
#boyswholoveboys
#favoritemm

What can I say that hasn’t been said about “The long game” excerpt? Ilya and Shane are everything. Very few sequels manage to be as good as the first book but this one will be one of them. Can’t wait for the book. And April is sooo far aaawayy. 😭
“Season’s change” by Cait Nary is good. I’ve read the whole book. I don’t know if it’s a debut -it’s a new-to -me author but I liked it . I liked Olly and Benji and I loved the slow burn. I’ll leave the rest of the review on the book’s page.

Been waiting for the Long Game for so long and it's almost here!! This sample was EVERYTHING and such a small taste of whats to come and I honestly don't think I can wait any longer. APRILLLL hurry up!!

Definitely left me wanting more. This has been one of the best M/M series I’ve ever read. I love the writing style and how we also get to tap into other characters and see where we left off with them as well. Cannot wait to read the whole book

The Long Game teaser chapters are perfection!!! I cannot wait for April and will be re-reading Heated Rivalry immediately.

Cait Nary is new to me but I enjoyed the first few chapters of Season’s Change. They didn’t grab me in the same way (which would be impossible as I’ve been counting down the days for The Long Game!) but I’m curious to see how the rest of the story builds.

Ooooh Boy. This sampler is a teaser for The Long Game by Rachel Reid (pub 4/26/22) and Season's Change by Cait Nary (pub 2/1/22). I downloaded this sampler on a Sunday and I reread The Long Game chapters (no joke) every day for the following week. I am like a mouse grabbing at every crumb I can get. The Long Game is the sequel to Heated Rivalry where we meet professional hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. I cannot get enough of Shane and Ilya. If these first three chapters of the Long Game are any indication of what the book will be like, then hats off to Rachel Reid. The book opens 2 years after the end of Heated Rivalry. They are still at the top of their game. Its summer and their charity hockey camps are successfully running for the second year. What I am loving so far is the banter, the good natured teasing, and the glimpse of these two navigating their relationship like any normal couple (except they are not normal b/c you know, professional hockey players). I can't help but LOVE Ilya and his cocky responses to Shane's generally uptight personality. What I am especially so happy about is Rachel isn't making this be over the top sappy. These two guys love each other a lot (they have been together in secret for 10 years - clearly they are committed) but they definitely have some big issues to overcome - coming out to the NHL for one - and I can't wait to see how it all plays out. This is absolutely my most anticipated book of 2022.

These are two very much anticipated books I've been keeping an eye on for some time- so to get to preview both? I could hardly contain my excitement.

The Long Game- swoon! As a huge fan of all things Rachel Reid, ESPECIALLY Shane and Ilya's story from Rachel's book, "Heated Rivalry", I was ecstatic to preview "The Long Game". Needless to say, Rachel did not disappoint. Rachel not only captured the playful and flirtatious banter that we all know and love from Heated Rivalry, but dove into the deeper side of Shane and Ilya's relationship to give the reader a glimpse of the struggle the two characters face in the pressure they face in keeping their relationship, and love, in the dark. I think it's safe to say that April's release date cannot come soon enough.

Similarly, I absolutely fell in love with the characters in Cait Nary's book, Season's Change. totally on the opposite end of the spectrum, Olly and Benji's quiet attraction and love for each other left me wanting more of their story. While Olly struggles with anxiety, Benji grounds him beautifully and with a sweet simplicity that made me fall in love with his character. The is a slow-burn romance that the author nailed perfectly- just enough flirtation and heat throughout the story to leave the reader cheering for the characters when they finally do take that next step (the first kiss....ahh!).

This sampler was fantastic. I ended up seeking out Season’s Change for purchase after reading the chapters provided here. A wonderful debut.

As for The Long Game, I can already tell the highly anticipated sequel to Heated Rivalry is going to exceed fan expectations. I can’t wait to read it in its entirety. Heated Rivalry has been my go-to recommendation for MM reads. Hopefully it gets a paperback edition to accompany The Long Game!

honestly so excited for this book, because i adored hr. while i hate to see my babies in pain, i am confident that rachel will give us the hea they deserve. although, i am a bit worried about the ending, because i cant stand to see any strings not-tied-up, and i also can't stand to see shane unable to empathize with ilya in some ways. for me, i am so worried about this book tainting their love story for me. for some days now i have just been obsessively reading the reviews on goodreads, netgalley, etc to make sure i won't bawl my eyes out at this. things are looking promising!!! so excited to finally be able to read this good god have mercy on my heart.

Absolutely adored the first three chapters of The Long Game. There's plenty of fuel left to keep the Shane and Ilya train going for at least another book, and Rachel Reid seems off to a good start with this one. It seems like it'll be more from Ilya's perspective/about Ilya's struggles, which is something I wanted more of in Heated Rivalry. I like that we are already seeing Shane turn into a bit of a paranoid mess -- I'm interested to see how this will play out for an entire book. The conflict and steam are both set up nicely so far.

Season's Change seems like it will be a cute read. I'm not sure if this is Cait Nary's debut, but these first few chapters feel a bit novice. However, that's not to say I didn't enjoy it -- I think Nary has a knack for perspective based on this sample, and I think she captures the feeling of being on a team well. The sample is well-written but has some editing issues that I'm sure will be worked out. I'm not really sure what the NAHA is -- is this supposed to be a fictional version of the NHL, or is this a minor league? I'm not super familiar with IRL hockey, so I wasn't sure if this was a choice or if she was talking about a different league. However, I'll be picking this up when it's out! I like the two main characters and the relationship seems like it will be interesting.

This is my most anticipated release and cannot wait for Shane and Ilya to get their HEA. I’ve read the whole series by Rachel Reid and loving every little mention of Shane and Ilya since Heated Rivalry. This 3 chapter sampler was just enough to hype up the release but leaving me wanting more!

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this preview!

I cannot wait to read TLG! These first three chapters were amazing and only kept me wishing for more!

I read the sample for Rachel Reid’s The Long Game and what can I say? Heated Rivalry is one of my favorites in the sports MM romance space and this sequel feels like a guilty pleasure that regardless of content I will thoroughly enjoy because I get to visit with my boys again. Fingers crossed the author does this beautiful couple justice! I will write a more in depth review once I read and finish the full length book.

Can’t wait for “The long game” - What a lovely snippet. Rachel Reid does it again, Shane and Ilya are my absolute favorite couple. Thank you for the snippet NetGalley!

I have never in my life downloaded a file so fast.
I'm so excited to continuing to read about this two, in heated rivalry we don't have many scenes after they decided they were going to be together and i just want more of them. i miss ilya so much.
And after role model? I was just even more anxious to know where the story of these two was going.

I'm sure much doesn't need to be said about the highly anticipated sequel to Heated Rivalry. The first few chapters were great and full of all the things that made the first book beloved. Can't wait for the full-length book!

Season's Change by Cait Nary is very different in tone even if it's another MM hockey book and looks to be the start of a new series. The first few chapters were enough to hook me and I quickly went ahead and read the whole book. It is full of angst and a very satisfying slowest of slow burns. You have two idiots who are fully in love and yet need to do a lot of work to be able to see it. This overall felt very different from other hockey romances and I look forward to what comes next in the series.

I read Heated Rivarly in 2000 and was completely fascinated.

Now, two years later, we finally get to see the end of Ilya and Shane's story.

Rachel gave us a wonderful first look at their life as a couple, how they relate to their surroundings, as well as the fears of each of them having to keep their relationship a secret.

I thought it was a terrific preview. I can't wait to read the full book and learn how they get their happily ever after.

Well. I read this, and then promptly sent an email to Harlequin begging for an ARC of The Long Game, and just devoured Season's Change in like 48 hours. These are such different books in terms of pacing topic, but given that hockey romances are my favorite subgenre, this sampler was fantastic. Now hopefully I can get my hands on The Long Game before March--I can't wait to hear more about Ilya and Shane's story, and how they navigate their relationship many years in the future.

Both of these excerpts absolutely blew me away! I already knew that The Long Game was going to be incredible. I cannot wait to read the whole thing!! Ilya and Shane are amazing and I love the cameos we're getting to see from previous books. Reading about Shane's nerves and Ilya's confidence is like visiting old friends. It will be worth every second of the wait, I can just tell.

The start to Olly and Benji's journey was amazing. There's some definite grumpy/sunshine going on and I am so here for it. It sucked me in immediately. Cait Nary did an incredible job giving tidbits of history without oversharing or becoming confusing. All of the side characters so far have been interesting and I cannot wait to read it all. I already went and purchased it on Amazon so I know I won't be getting any sleep tonight.

Both books are perfect for anyone who loves a solid hockey romance with just enough hockey to make it exciting and MCs who make you feel all the things.

I still haven't decided whether it was good choice to read the three chapters given that I have to wait 3 more months for book. Thus it's a bitter sweet experience.

Ilya and shane are my favorite couples in book land. I'm not one for the tropes where relationship starts with benefits type..here it was rivals with benefits. I still thank all spirits of nature for the moment I decided to be adventurous.

These chapters from long game rocked me , made me laugh , made me emotional especially Ilya 's dream of his mother . His longing in the dream to introduce shane to his mother and frusteration in being not able to projected his sadness to the dreams . It gutted me . Then those intimate soft moments with shane, his mother . Ilya is set to break my heart . Shane seemed a bit more uptight but his love for Ilya can't be hidden .

I'm eagerly waiting for the book ..right now I'll daydream and imagine them . Re-read heated rivalry and wishing for some magic to get to read the book early. Ilya and Shane will always be in my heart ...the love story to live through.