Rachel Reid hooked me with Heated Rivalry, the first book I was ever awarded for review through NetGalley, and I’ve stayed on her hook ever since. To say I was looking forward to this story is an understatement, and my excitement when chosen as a reviewer was over the moon. Happy birthday month to me! Was I disappointed in this new story that didn’t have my favorite Canadian hockey players? Absolutely not! This story is totally different and yet is crafted with the same talent and care that’s been a hallmark of Ms. Reid’s work.

Two middle-aged men, best friends through childhood and into their professional hockey careers, become sexually involved but are eventually separated by one’s deep and dark closet—filled with shame and denial and all things one hates about homophobia.

All the ingredients for an intense emotional read are included here — two richly developed characters, angst for both personal and professional reasons, heartache, heartbreak, family tragedy, and its resulting numbing grief. However, Adam and Riley are destined to be together and are finally reunited, Adam now ready to admit he’s gay — twenty years after losing Riley, the love of his life, and after having been married, divorced, and fathered two children, now teens.

The author takes readers on an emotional roller coaster ride, through the depths of despair over lost love, the destruction of a career due to depression, alcoholism, and unmanageable anger, and then through grief over loss of a family member, before climbing the emotion-coaster to the top of the slope where lies a second chance at love, hope for the future, remorse and redemption for past mistakes, and more. But wait — there’s still time to plummet downward on a few more loops as we get glimpses of those past mistakes, feel the pain of denial, and of loss. Finally, one more climb, where we readers bear witness to Adam’s final decision about his commitment to Riley and their future.

Was Adam my favorite character? No. Nope. I was not a fan of his failure to return Riley’s love wholeheartedly in the past. But I did come to care for him as he found a way to be worthy of Riley in the present. Riley, on the other hand, was my favorite from the moment the book started. Who couldn’t love this emotionally damaged character? He had survived so much before we even met him. What a beautiful example of how finely honed an author can make a character!

This bundle of words, crafted into a book, is all things wonderful—a true gift to those like me who love a good Romance with a capital R. Get ready to feel the feels. I couldn’t ask for a more romantic saga or for a better outcome for a couple I came to love.

I have never read a book that made me sob and swoon as hard as The Shots You Take. If you have ever read any of Rachel Reid's other books, you will know how emotional and amazing her characters are! I loved every moment of Riley and Adam's story. There is so much heartache and lost time between them, that it's hard not to root for them. I can't wait for this one to be on my shelf!
Thank you for allowing me to ARC read this amazing story!

It was solidly okay, regarding the prose and the story itself. I ended up stopping after chapter 4 (8%).

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC.

*4.25 stars*

This was my first Rachel Reid book, and I'm definitely going to pick up more of her works, because that book was great.

The longing, the guilt, the love they have for each other, all of it was beautifully described. I had such a good time reading this book, I grew attached to the character, I got invested in their backstory.
I really liked that the main characters were in their 40's, it always hit harder when they have history with each other, the angst is angsting!
The way they cared for each other, the tenderness, all of that in a small town running a family business (and a cute dog), this was such a good read!

This was a very heartbreaking and hopeful second chance romance/friendship. I absolutely loved them. I couldn’t help but root for them the entire time.

The Shots You Take is an incredibly moving second chance story of both friendship and love. Rachel Reid doesn’t shy away from difficult topics such as parental loss, grief, and mental health struggles. Riley and Avery’s story is heartbreaking, tender and honest. I love everything Reid writes and this is a wonderful addition to her catalog.

Oh ok, so Rachel Reid has simply done it again!!! I'm a complete sucker for this author, having read all of her books in a week earlier this year (a re-read for some of them). And this book?? One of her best! I appreciate the ways in which she writes about mental health, respect, and the real difficulties and complications regarding intimacy and romance. But more than that, she makes me feel optimistic about love! And I LOVED this one!

The shots we take
By: Rachel Reid

📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚

Oh so many mixed messages!

This book was so amazing but it tore me to shreds over and over. The was the author writes Riley’s paid was heartbreaking but also very believable. She gives a full history of Riley and Adam’s past and the full pain that was heartbreaking. But you definitely want to root for these two. The authors writing is flawless and the words are so captivating, the plot had so many twists and turns and none that I was expecting, and many shockingly intimate I have become a huge fan of this author. The author writes with so much intensity and emotion pulled from each book it’s felt page after page. Some are quick witted story lines are so perfect and lets you believe you have a front row seat. So being able to read this love story didn’t disappoint. The authors ability to have two separate individuals struggling in their everyday life and try to navigate someone else’s thoughts, needs and desires was intense and gives all the fills.

Authors Blurb: After moving back to his hometown ten years ago, Riley Tuck thought he had left his major league hockey career and his broken heart far behind. But when an unexpected tragedy strikes, it brings ex-teammate and former best friend with benefits Adam Sheppard back into his life.

Coming to the small town of Avery River, Nova Scotia, might have been a mistake. Adam’s not sure he’ll ever win back Riley’s trust after the way they left things, and the attention he’s getting as a huge hockey star isn’t exactly helping. Yet the chemistry that crackles between them is undeniable, even now.

As Adam helps Riley navigate his grief, long-buried feelings start to resurface. But they’ll have to square off with their complicated past if they’re going to have a real shot at a new beginning.

This book has everything I love in a book. Then you add that it's beautifully written and believable. It is easily a five star read. Written in single POV this story flows so incredibly well that the next thing you know your 80% into the book and loving every second of it. The believable way the characters interact is perfect. Run, Hop, Jump or use your (1 click) finger to do whatever you have to do and get this amazing book. It'll break your heart, you'll want to scream with frustration and it'll let you discover that love just might conquer all. The chemistry is steamy and sweet and oh so romantic.

Thanks Netgally for letting me read and review.📚💕

I am not normally a big hocky romance fan, but I have read my share of these stories over the years. Most of them tend to include male/male connections, but not all of them.

This one became such a great story for a few reasons. One, the main characters are older than the typical hockey romance. I love their stability and outlook. They are looking for forever as the deep-seated love never faded over the years.

Two, Reid treats us to a great love affair that is tender and touching, but hesitant, with conversations about mental health, becoming who you are, and other real-life issues. She doesn’t load it down with a lot of steam, but rather a deep love that is beautiful and caring.

The Shots You Take is a great story that begs you to keep turning the pages to see how they figure it all out. And the ending is awesome! Such a treat!

CW: grief, all the grief, death of a parent (off page)

Oh my god, is this my new favourite Rachel Reid book??? Seriously, I read the entire thing in just over 24 hours from the time I got the ARC and it was everything. OMG.

I have read every one of Rachel Reid's books, starting with the Game Changers series (which I've read a ridiculous number of times) and the stand alone Time to Shine. And I have to say that I love how her writing has evolved over the course of her career. I think we started to see it in The Long Game, that added level of emotional depth, where it's not just two hot hockey players (or hockey adjacent guys) getting together (obvs the Game Changers books are more than that, but there isn't a ton of emotional depth, imo), but she completely blows it out of the water with The Shots You Take. Seriously, I was near tears several times.

I usually don't like friends to lovers or second chances as tropes, so the fact that this worked so well for me is really saying something. The story is about Riley and Adam, who were teammates, they were rookies together, and then Riley fell in love with Adam, who was straight and through a series of events they end up not speaking to each other for twelve years. Then Riley's dad dies and Adam comes to the funeral to try and make things right.

The first half, at least, of the book is just so very melancholy and drenched in grief, both for the loss of Riley's dad, but also for the friendship that was lost between Riley and Adam. For the first part of the book the timeline jumps between present day and the past when they were playing together and not going to lie, it was tough to read. Riley's unrequited love, Adam treating him poorly; it was rough. But throughout the book Riley and Adam talk, which they didn't do before, and they figure their shit out.

Both men are retired now, so there is very little actual hockey content in the book, other than when they are reminiscing or watching a game on TV. I really loved reading a romance about two 40-somethings. As a 40-something myself, it's so nice to see a story with characters who more or less have their shit figured out, maybe they have kids, maybe they're divorced, but they're still finding love. SO GOOD. It was just really nice to read a story about adults who behave like adults and make decisions like adults.

While this book is very emotional and angsty in a way, there also was very little drama. It's just this lovely, slow burn with two adults making the decisions they think are best for them.

I also appreciated the discussions on mental health and addiction, as well as the ones about homophobia in hockey. And it felt like more of a real discussion about those things, not just *homophobia in hockey sure sucks!*, but actually looking at how that impacts on the players, either having to hide who they are or not even realizing who they are. I just loved it all so much, give me all the books that are calling out homophobia in pro sports and not recognizing mental health struggles in pro sports.

Ugh, THIS BOOK.

Okay, one last thing that I loved, was reading a book set in Nova Scotia, set in current day Nova Scotia, and I may have done a little squee and kicking of feet when Adam was cooking out of the Out of Old Nova Scotia Kitchens cook book, because that is a treasure, if completely dated (there is definitely a copy sitting on my cook book shelf).

Okay, okay, this review is practically an essay, so I'll end here. I loved this book so much and I absolutely cannot wait until it's out in the world for everyone else to love, too.

This story is beautifully written and I was so invested in Riley and Adam getting a second chance. At the same time, I found their history and the lack of acceptance of mental health issues and queer relationships in sports heartbreaking. That one combined with Riley's recent loss of his father made this one a really emotional read.

I tend to be a bit more of a low angst romance reader so this wasn't a perfect fit for me but i did love the story and am glad I read it. I think if you like an emotional romance and are a fan of MM this is a must read! While both main characters are ex hockey players we don't see a lot of hockey except in some flashbacks. I know many people (like me) don't read sports romance for the actual sports though!

This is the second-chance romance that my romance loving heart needed!

Riley Tuck is a retired NHL player who moved back to Nova Scotia to live an easy and beautiful life. That is until he has the worst week ever. His father passes away unexpectedly, leaving an entire town mourning a great man, a family without their rock. And Adam Sheppard just walked into his dad's funeral after having no contact with him for over a decade. Just who is Adam Sheppard? He is Riley's former NHL teammate, roommate, and friends-with-benefits who was also the love of his life. WORST.WEEK.EVER. Why is Adam here? And why has he aged like fine wine? Will Riley's grief and anger be able to subside enough to let Adam in?

Wow this book just blew me away. I felt so much empathy for Riley and his grief mixing with his mental health. Losing a parent unexpectedly is a terrible type of pain that only a few of us can understand. I thought his struggles were perfectly depicted. And although the book is very grief focused and a bit heavy at times, I loved the relationship that was able to form between Riley and Adam. They're both learning to trust each other again, and trust themselves. Their relationship was soft, slow, and sweet, and it was perfect for our main characters.
I also really enjoyed the side characters and the scenery in this book. Riley has a great group of friends and a wonderful family who welcome Adam with open arms. Plus his dog Lucky. And the town, Avery River, Nova Scotia, sounds like an idyllic coastal town. The perfect setting for our main characters to reconnect.

~Thank you to Harlequin, Carina Adores, Rachel Reid and NetGalley for this complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own~

I absolutely adored this book. It was raw and real. This author is one of my favorites and I already purchased her audiobook. This story is not glossed over and shows the authentic struggles of two pro hockey players that have stopped being best friends.

Ms. Reid wrote with great empathy on Riley's mental health struggles and made him a suvivor. Adam was his best friend he loved for decades. Adam refused to acknowledge he was gay and the rift grew so large between them. Now Adam is divorced and he is determined to win Riley over. There were some back history sections and even though Adam is a decent man he was awful to Riley.

I liked that Riley didn't make it easy for Adam. Refusing to give up on his quest we are able to see the genuinely great guy that made some seriously stupid mistakes when he was young. Hockey can be a toxic environment and it becomes clearer why the chain of events played out the way they did.

I urge you to try this beautiful story of new chances and destined love. Thank you Ms. Reid.

Thanks to Netgalley abd the publisher for a copy of this book for my reading pleasure.

Rachel Reid writes the best MM hockey romances!!

TW: homophobia, past addiction/alcoholism, death of a parent (off-page)

This book was a rollercoaster of emotions-- I laughed, I cried, I swooned! There are flashbacks to the past in this heartbreaking second chance romance that will tug at all of your heartstrings.

I am 100% in love with Riley & Adam! This sweet second chance story was everything my heart needed. Love them both so much. Everyone needs to read this book!!

I love a good hockey romance and Reid wrote such a fun and cute romance between these two. I really enjoyed it and I found their rekindled relationship and memories of first love to be so beautiful. This was a book that really balanced a lot of feelings well and became a well rounded romance read.

Thank you NetGalley and Carina Adores for early access to this book. I enjoy Reid's books immensely and was very excited to jump into another story of hers. While I enjoyed this book, it did seem like the time spent with the characters actually being together was a bit quick and the ending wasn't as satisfying as some of her previous works. Overall this was a more tame Rachel Reid hockey romance, but cozy and filled with loving characters. I appreciate the older characters and hope she writes more soon!

this book made me feel alllll the warm fuzzies. it’s such a gentle story about grief, and regret, and repairing relationships, and also about hockey but really not that much. our main couple has a long history, and you can see all the ways they’ve protected and hurt each other over the years. their romance and struggle to repair it is believable, compelling, and sweet.

the setting is cute, and refreshingly unhomophobic, especially for a prototypical small town. we get other queer characters, supportive family, and multiple cute local haunts with signature food.

overall, this book is just gently heartbreaking and then heart-repairing, with small-town hijinks and flashbacks that are worked on in a way that didn’t make me hate them. a great read!

Wow I really liked this. For a "hockey romance" this was waaaay more focused on the romance than the hockey. I loved that the main characters were older and had gone through some stuff and had their struggles and how front and center those struggles were, at least on Riley's end. Lots of discussions around mental health and therapy. Love that that's being normalized!

If Rachel Reid writes it, I am reading it. Her latest offering, The Shots You Take, is one of my favorite MM romance reads this year.

The hurt/comfort, the yearning/pining, the second chance story arc of these two men kept me turning page after page. Riley and Adam's hard conversations, their sweet moments, and their intimate encounters all bear the hallmark of a Rachel Reid romance.

Glimpses into small town life in Nova Scotia, family dynamics of both the MCs, the treatment of grief and loss and forgiveness and redemption all perfectly served the story and made the HEA that much more poignant and satisfying.

I also very much appreciate the mental health rep, as well as the frank discussion of the way that professional sports organizations often fail to support and affirm their players in the areas of mental health and gender identity and sexual orientation. Reid has routinely included these topics in her books and they have been eye-opening and thought-provoking.

The Shots You Take is a must read. Thanks to Harlequin Carina and NetGalley for the advanced review copy. This is my honest review.