I really loved this book! One of the best sports romances of the year, this book is so unique because of the main characters roles as teammates! I can't wait to read what Rachel writes next!

THIS BOOK!!!!!! AHHH, I loved it so much, I still have such a goofy grin on my face when I think about it. I loved Casey and Landon and sb dhas d fk f it was WONDROUS. Thanks Gretal for reccing, I will be reading more Rachel Reid.

This book was SO SWEET and I loved it so much!! I listened to the audiobook and really liked the narrator. I've never been a fan of sports romances, but I'll always give them a shot (pun not intended lol), and I'm glad I tried this hockey romance out because it was so so good. I listened to it in two days and didn't want to put it down!

It is set around the winter holidays but it isn't really a holiday book. I loved the two main characters, one was super shy/anxious/awkward, and the other was extroverted/talkative/lonely, so it was a great mix. Plus there are some lovely conversations in here about family and grief. And no homophobia from teammates and stuff too which I loved to see! And the spice was A+!!

🌈Queer rep: MM main relationship, bi/pan main male character, gay/questioning male main character

I loved this book! It was the perfect blend of romantic comedy with characters working through their emotions and flaws. Landon took a minute to warm up too but I loved Casey right from the get-go. I really appreciated the exploration of sex in this book and the boundaries associated with sex. This is one I would read again and again. I definitely need a physical copy.

4.5 stars

I really do love myself a hockey romance. I’ve been inhaling hockey romances ever since I started reading them 6 years ago now. This was such a sweet story and I loved it so much! And this has definitely become one of the cutest queer sports romance stories I’ve ever read (and I’ve read my fair share of them).

This story was so moving and my heart was touched through this entire story. Rachel delved into series topics and I feel like she handled every topic with the gentleness, care, and love it deserved. I finished this book with this overwhelming sense of joy and hope. This book truly was so sweet and beautifully written.

This actually was my very first Rachel Reid book (even though I’ve had one of her other MM romances on my tbr shelf for soooooo long now) and this has totally made me a fan and I’ll be reaching for more of her books in the future.

*Thank you Carina Press and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

This was a fun hockey romance to read, but I didn’t find any of the main characters likable. There were so many things that feel like they weren’t addressed or that got dropped by the end of the book.

Time to Shine by Rachel Reid was such a sweet romance with Landon and Casey in this MM opposites attract sports romance. Casey was all sunshine with kind nature while Landon is more reserved. As roommates, Landon is more of a loner, but Casey slowly brings him out of his shell as they get to know each other. This was a slow-burn romance with amazing chemistry and two characters I loved. I loved watching them get to know each other, fall and see their journey from start to finish.

Happy reading!

This was really sweet! It was refreshing to read a sports romance where the characters are out to the team, and the team is supportive. The focus was on the romance and the relationships instead of external homophobia. Unfortunately, I don't know if this is realistic, but I appreciated the positive portrayal in this story.

A couple of character highlights for me:
I love that Casey had strong emotional intelligence and was very careful with people and their feelings. I also like that other characters stepped up to defend Casey against teasing about being stupid.
There was also excellent portrayal of Landon's inexperience with relationships and intimacy. I liked that he had the support to explore at his own pace and was confident in his boundaries.

One thing I did not like was the casual inclusion of vaping. It was unnecessary, and I think the positive portrayal of vaping is unfortunate.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

As an Alberta girl, I LOVED that this book was set almost entirely in my province. That was such a fun aspect that I didn't expect when I started reading.

As for the book itself, I thought it was so cute! The opposites attract roomance was delightfully executed and I loved being a part of Landon and Casey's relationship as it blossomed and grew. I will definitely check out more of Rachel Reid's books.

As always, Rachel Reid never disappoints. I was sucked right into this story and found myself rooting for these characters from the very beginning!

This was such a cute and wholesome book! I absolutely adored the characters, the story, the spice!! It was perfect and tied for my favorite holiday read this year. (Not first cause it wasn’t actually centered around the holiday at all.

“𝑺𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”

A holiday romance written by a Nova Scotian? Yes please!

I absolutely loved this inclusive, sweet (and spicy) hockey romance between two loveable characters. Casey is pure sunshine, but behind his kindness and sociability, he hides his insecurities of doubting his intelligence and fear of being alone. Landon is more reserved, partly from carrying pain from his sister’s death and the fracture in his relationship with his parents. I related a lot to Landon who is from Nova Scotia, loves to cook and watch cooking shows, develops crushes on unattainable people because it’s safe, is an insomniac at times, and gets too in his head. I loved the joy that Casey and Landon brought out in each other, as they found people they were truly comfortable with - each other, their teammates and their family. The glimpses we got of Casey and his sister, Brooke’s relationship was awesome and I could’ve used more of them! I also really liked the Outlaw teammates, and the fact that homophobia didn’t exist on the team. Rachel Reid used the “one bed trope” with a twist, as Casey and Landon choose to sleep in the same bed more-so for company, insomnia and anxiety (at least at first), which I thought was a nice variation. The spicy scenes do not disappoint with their steam; I applaud the different routes Reid chose to go with them, with the emotional connection being just as important as the physical one. Some of the dialogue is a little corny (I don’t know any guy who uses the term ‘a sexy club outfit!), but it’s also part of the charm.

Time To Shine is a story of loneliness, guilt, trust, self-discovery, and courage. It is a sweet festive LGBTQ+ romance that will put a smile on your face. Thank you to Carina Press & NetGalley for the ARC!

The thing I loved most about this book: the ~vibes~ that made me feel so warm & cozy while reading it. There was plenty of humor and great romance scenes with this adorable slow burn, but the character development, mutual respect, and exploration of identity & mental health added so much depth to the story (demisexual rep!!). The arc of Landon and Casey's relationship was so lovely. There were struggles to deal with for both of them, and I really liked seeing them open up and accept help from each other as they grew closer. Their teammates were great supporting characters, I loved all the Canadian rep, and the hockey scenes were well-written. I definitely recommend this for anyone who likes a sports romance with the "extra" things that make a story more special.

I didn't know pessimist/optimist romance was a thing, but this book made me see the light.

Landon is the new reserve goalie on superstar Casey's hockey team, moving by himself to a strange city right before Christmas. Landon thought he was doomed to spending his limited time in a sterile hotel room or cheap apartment. Thankfully, Casey has a big mansion and he would like nothing more than to have Landon as his housemate and maybe also lure him into bed.

There were a lot of touching scenes, especially because Landon is dealing with a lot of grief and anxiety. But there was also a lot of joy and warmth in this story. Characters' identity or sexuality weren't a cause for drama, but fully embraced. Casey and Landon support each other through every hurdle life throws into their path.

Time flew while reading this book. The writing sucks you in and doesn't let you go until you've read the last word and turned that last page.

I loved this story! Having been a big fan of the Game Changers series, I was excited to see another LGBTQ offering in a new hockey world by this author. This time around it's more of a New Adult book, with young men in their early twenties finding their footing in the professional hockey world. The characters, setting and story really resonated with me and it was a treat to read!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ebook!

WOW this is steamy! It’s also SO sweet. First experience (for one of the characters) as well as a hockey romance? Sign me up. I really enjoyed this book.

I feel like it would be a ton of fun on audio, too, so definitely check it out!

A lovely grumpy/sunshine novel for winter! This follows Landon and Casey as they become teammates. Casey lets Landon crash with him but Landon seems hesitant.

This was super fun and I breezed through it! This is my first Rachel Reid book and I can’t wait to read some of her other works. This had me entertained from the start.

Phenomenal Christmas book, a million heart eye emojis. Landon and Casey are the epitome of black cat/golden retriever energy. This book will absolutely make you swoon!

This queer hockey romance where two teammates fall for each other is perfect for those obsessed with the genre. It's got plenty of tropes (such as 'omg they were roommates' and the non-experienced x super-experienced) as well as some great representation (asexual/demisexual rep!! as well as confronting trauma & grief).

Landon's journey as a reserve goalie dealing with social anxiety, his sexuality, the grief of losing his sister, and his lack of confidence on a NHL team was so well written. I found myself identifying with him so much, especially in relation to his asexuality/lack of sexual attraction. His plot line was super well developed, and I really loved his chapters, especially in relation to his conversations with his teammates/mentors and parents.

As for the other main character Casey... let's just say I didn't care for him. Babes basically had no development or plot line (his story seemed underdeveloped compared to Landon). This is a dual POV novel, and some of his lines and internal dialogue made me physically cringe. There were some really bad, uncomfortable lines in this book (why are we talking about dick size so much?? please just stop). There's also a good amount of smut, which makes this book more new adult and gives it a bit of a fanfiction feel.

Overall it was cute — a very fluffy romance and some great hockey team & game moments. You definitely need to have a bit of an understanding of hockey terminology and organization (like farm teams & reserves), but it's pretty easy to get into. The only reason I brought down my rating is that I found Casey to be a bit of an annoying character and there were some really garish, weird lines and scenes. Just my opinion!

2.5/5
this book was cute!! a nice little winter (can we call it a christmas) romance!

this is perfect for fans of:
- mlm romance
- hockey romance
- opposites attract
- one bed trope (but he lives in a mansion with about six other beds)
- he falls first (but who?)

i really enjoyed the beginning of this book but as it progressed i felt myself struggling with the pacing of it so it took away from my overall enjoyment of it.

i did appreciate how both mcs really respected the other and the support they showed towards each other and their teammates. i do wish more had been said about casey feeling/calling himself “stupid” as well as his parents putting him down!

thank you so much to netgalley, carina adores and harpercollins for both an e-arc and physical arc of this book!