Really good story! I am not a fan of second chance romances, but this is how they should be done. I hesitated at the beginning when Riley thought Adam was still married, but that was cleared up right away. The ending felt a bit rushed to me however I LOVED the epilogue!!!!

5 stars

Is a queer hockey romance by Rachel Reid…of course I was going to love this! But it’s actually less hockey focused since both players are retired and older MCs for the majority of the book with the exception of some flashback scenes. And speaking of, in a second chance romance I love having flashback scenes vs only alluding to the past. It makes it clear what happened previously vs only hearing memories that maybe aren’t the full picture. This second chance is also FULL of angst about how things happened previously and they definitely duke it out a bit. There’s very little tiptoeing around or ignoring the past which felt real. Along with that is also struggles with grief, mental illness, accepting their sexuality, forgiveness, and growth. This is a very deep book but also incredibly romantic.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

*2.5 stars rounded down
fool me once shame on you,
fool me twice shame on me,
fool me three times… wait now why did with fall for this a third time

I have some mixed feelings about this book because I absolutely live for the angst that comes with second chance romances but the reason for this being the second chance had me a bit ehhhhhhh.

A big part of the second chance trope is the reveal of why they had their falling out. Most of the time I’m left underwhelmed because it’s usually some stupid miscommunication but the reasoning in this book put me into next level anger. Personally if I was Riley I would not forgive Adam at all. Adam is the main reason that Riley struggled for so long and what he did to him genuinely wrecked him emotionally so him coming around in the end just couldn’t be me.

I mean, although I couldn’t stand what Adam did to Riley it still set up for some delicious angst. I respect that Riley stood his ground and expressed his frustrations with Adam through the book. The dialogue was packed with so much raw emotion that I really appreciated and the inclusion of a couple chapters showing their past added points for extra hurt.

The epilogue lowkey took me out though because it was giving one of those “where are they now?” scenes at the end of movies.

This could be hit or miss with folks and I think it really comes down to how much you project yourself into stories.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Harlequin for providing me with this ARC.

It blows my mind how Reid consistently writes stories where the pacing and tension ratchet up in perfect sync with the emotional beats of the story she is telling. When I realized she was writing a book with MCs in their 40s, I was curious how she was going to make it work (and it still be a "sports" romance), but I was on board because I love reading books with older protagonists. CW: the book starts in a pretty dark place, emotionally, and I wasn't sure I was going to be able to hang given the state of the world writ large. However, she pulled it back fairly quickly and it is a truly lovely (and hot!) second chance tale with characters who made me swoon and sob (just a little bit!). Loved, loved, loved it. 💗

Review: 3.75 stars

Dang, the angst and emotions just hit you with a whammy on this one. I was forewarned this would be an emotional read and was so glad I went in prepared. I find Time to Shine a more romcom version compared to her earlier works and was wondering if she would take us back to those feelings and was glad she did!

This one is unflinching raw and provoking, hitting just the perfect notes for a second chance romance. I’m all for older and mature MCs and the start of the story begins at such a sad note where Adam and Riley are reunited during the funeral rites of RIley’s dad. Given the interesting history between them, Riley reacts very negatively to Adam’s presence…

I love the small town dynamics and the author captures the essence of Nova Scotia. The supporting characters are great. The strong emotions of grief and angst are reflected in the first half of the book and once Adam and Riley get over their painful history and choose to forgive, the plot takes on tender and sweet moments and they work towards their future. The author captures the feels and the characters dynamics and complex perfectly for this book and showcasing the importance of mental health in this book.

My issue boils down to the characters itself…I had no love for either of them. Adam got the life he wanted while he was denying his feelings for Riley. So much so, he married a woman and also ended up cheating on her with him and started a family. And he finally showed up in Riley’s life after 20 odd years to apologize and try to fix their relationship? I don’t really buy it…Riley on the other hand, chooses to be traded to another hockey team to avoid Adam. He eventually quits hockey for good when his mental health spirals. His reaction upon seeing Adam was so negative due to his mental inability to process strong emotions can be seen as violent and I struggled with that at moments in the first half of the book.

Thank you, Harlequin Romance and NetGalley for the eARC. It was quintessentially a Rachel Reid book!

3 stars and my thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the eARC!

Riley, you deserved better.

I'm going to start with what I liked first. I really loved Riley and showing his depression and mental health struggles. I loved that he knew his limits, especially when it came to alcohol and therapy, and that he knew he had a safety net of people who loved him. I loved the portrayal of grief in this as well. Losing someone with such a big personality is so damn hard because nothing will be good enough to take their place.

But really, that's where the book and I start to not get along so well.

I agree with a bunch of other reviewers who said that Adam didn't grovel enough. He strung Riley along for so long, even cheating on his own wife with Riley, and then just waltzes back into his life when Riley is most vulnerable. I get that it's supposed to be a HEA, but I would have told Riley to run if I was in this story.
The casual bi erasure in this also kind of irked me. Adam being bi wouldn't have taken away anything from the story, but I guess in this world, you can only be straight or gay. Nothing else. Him loving his wife and having kids would do nothing to change the story.

Rachel Reid has been a must-read author for me for some years now, and in her latest standalone romance, proves once again just how strong and versatile a writer she has become. The Shots You Take is very different in tone from last year’s Time to Shine; that was a funny, warm and joyful story about two young men in the early stage of their careers, while this book is quieter and more introspective, an angsty, character-driven second-chance romance between two former hockey players whose lives took very different trajectories and who have a lot of baggage to unpack if they’re to get their HEA at last.

When the book begins, Riley Tuck has been hit very hard by the sudden death of his father, a wonderful man and fantastic dad who was a role model to Riley and very much loved by family, friends and everyone in their small-town community. The rawness of his grief is palpable and intense, and just as he thinks life can’t get any worse he’s proved wrong when, on the day of the funeral, he sees a very familiar figure entering the church, one he’d never thought to see again. Adam Sheppard ripped his heart out and stomped on it many years earlier, and the last thing Riley needs now is for him to show up looking for… what? Riley doesn’t know and he doesn’t care.

Riley and Adam met when they were rookies for the Toronto Northmen and quickly developed a strong friendship which, on Riley’s part, turned into a huge crush. For three years, Riley pined for his straight bestie until one night when they were both a bit drunk, Adam kissed him. After this they started hooking up regularly and Riley, almost dizzy with the knowledge thatAdamcould actually want him in the same way Riley had wanted Adam for so long, didn’t immediately notice Adam’s skittishness after they had sex; the way Adam would get up and leave almost as soon as it was over, or that he would never sleep in Riley’s bed, even though they didn’t have roommates who might walk in on them. Adam always brushed off Riley’s attempts to talk about what they were doing and insisted they were just two guys having fun. But when, some years later,Riley couldn’t help telling Adam how he felt about him and Adam basically laughed it off, Riley finally realised that Adam was never going to give him the things he wanted.Not long after this, Adam got married and had two children, and eventually, and for his own good, Riley requested a trade, moved to Dallas and told Adam never to contact him again.

That was twelve years ago, and Riley doesn’t know what to make of Adam showing up at his dad’s funeral. His main reaction is one of anger – after everything that happened between them, there’s nothing Adam can possibly say or do that will make up for what he did and Riley doesn’t want him around. Adam can see how badly Riley is hurting and wants, desperately to do something to help, but when Adam tries to talk to him, Riley makes his feelings very clear and tells Adam, in no uncertain terms, to leave.

But Adam has changed. After his divorce a couple of years earlier – which followed hard on the heels of his finally admitting he was gay – Adam is adrift and struggling to adapt to life after retirement from the sport that has dominated his life for so many years, as a largely unnecessary father (his kids are older teens), and is facing a future that’s very different from the one he’d tried so hard to want. Life had been good for a while – he’d had an impressive hockey career, has two kids he adores and was married to a woman he’d liked a lot – but he’d always felt the Riley-shaped hole in his life and can admit now that he was – still is - in love with him, that he was selfish and insensitive and hurt Riley very badly. Adam knows he doesn’t deserve a second chance with Riley, but he wants one, more than anything - even if friendship is all Riley is prepared to offer.

The Shots You Take is a deeply emotional story that deals with some heavy subjects but which is never bogged down in misery. The anger, the grief, and the longing are sharp and hit hard, but they are tempered by the author’s trademark gentle humour, which serves to balance out the more melancholic elements of the novel. Riley and Adam’s backstory is skilfully woven into the narrative alongside the present day story of their reunion, so we get to see, in well-placed flashbacks, vignettes of their previous relationship, and we learn why Riley decided to quit his career with the NHL before he was thirty and how hard he’s worked to make a new life for himself. He still struggles with anxiety and emotional dysregulation but he’s on an even keel now and is settled and content with the quiet life he’s built for himself in his small home town.

While it’s not difficult to understand why Adam acted as he did, the way he treated Riley, his persistent denial of who he (Adam) was and what Riley meant to him, and his wilful ignorance and cheerful bulldozing of Riley’s feelings make it hard to like him or want to root for him and Riley to get back together. (And I suspect there will be readers who won’t be as forgiving as Riley is.) But Ms. Reid does such a great job of showing that Adam really is a different man, one who understands exactly what he did and is genuinely remorseful; one who is ready to move forward and live as his true self and who knows that he’ll have to work hard to earn Riley’s forgiveness – if Riley is even prepared to offer any. But I came to like him as he finds a way to be worthy of Riley; he’s so quietly caring and tender, doing little things like bringing Riley breakfast, or just being there for him when Riley needs it. I was pleased that Riley gets to be prickly and snotty and petulant with Adam and that he doesn’t shy away from telling him some brutal truths; it feels right that he should get to do that, and that Adam should finally hear them. And I liked that Riley comes to see that things haven’t exactly been a bed of roses for Adam either; even though he’s retired he hasn’t come out publicly yet, fearing the reaction of his friends and former colleagues, and is stumbling his way through life as a gay man with no idea what he’s doing and no-one to talk to about it.

All Rachel Reid’s books have underlying themes about the toxicity of hockey/sports culture, and this book is no exception, containing probably the most hard-hitting depiction of exactly what that culture has cost her characters, both physically and mentally, and touching on physical injury, addiction and mental health issues, which are, as always, approached with care and sensitivity.

There’s a terrific secondary cast of friends and family in the story; I really liked how Riley’s family embraces Adam even without knowing exactly what happened between them, perhaps realising how much Riley and Adam need each other. And Riley’s small circle of friends are a charming, warm and funny bunch who all have his back, but can also see how much he and Adam love each other and just want Riley to be happy. Adam’s kids are kinda shitty to him when we finally meet them, but eh, they’re teenagers.

This is a real emotional rollercoaster of a read, pulling readers through the depths of despair over lost love, a career lost due to depression and addiction and soul-deep grief in the troughs before pulling us up to the highs and the possibility of a second chance at love, hope for the future and redemption for past mistakes. Through all the pain and the harsh words, there’s never any doubt that Adam and Riley never stopped loving each other and are the loves of each other’s lives, and I really liked the way they slowly warm up to each other again, that they actually talk to each other and how clear it is that they’re both scared of getting it wrong this time around.

The Shots You Take is a tender, angsty and lovely story of second chances, enduring love and forgiveness and is highly recommended. It might not always an easy read, but it’s a deeply satisfying one.

I love Rachel Reid’s books, and this one is no different.

Honestly, as much as I enjoyed the romance, I think my favorite part of this book was how Reid depicted and dealt with grief of varying kinds during this story.

Reid’s writing style is simple but emotional, and it really hit in this one for me.

The romance itself was solid, though heart wrenching at times. I just wanted to give Riley a hug and tell him it was going to be okay. I enjoyed her character work with Adam, and how she depicted his journey back to Riley.

Shout out to Carina Adores for the eARC

Another heartwarming hockey romance from Rachel Reid. I'd rate it 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. This time it's between teammates Riley Tuck and Adam Sheppard. It's not my absolute favorite of Reid's work (that would be most of the books in her Game Changers series/universe), but that's likely just because neither Riley's journey of grief nor the "exes reunite" dynamic is quite my cup of tea, Still a good read.

Rachel Reid delivers an emotionally charged, heartwarming, and beautifully written second-chance romance in The Shots You Take. Set against the backdrop of a picturesque small town in Nova Scotia, this story brings together Riley Tuck and Adam Sheppard—two men who were once best friends and lovers, now trying to rebuild a relationship after years of heartbreak and distance.

After moving back to his hometown of Avery River, Riley thought his past, particularly his broken hockey career and even more fractured heart, were far behind him. But when an unexpected tragedy strikes, Adam, his ex-teammate and former lover, reappears in his life. Adam's return isn't easy. With his new-found fame as a hockey star, Adam struggles to regain Riley’s trust, which was shattered by the way they ended things years ago.

The chemistry between Adam and Riley is palpable from the first moment they reconnect. Yet, their journey is not without its bumps. As Adam helps Riley navigate the grief of his loss, long-buried emotions come to the surface. This is a love story about confronting the past and working through it, no matter how messy it might be. Adam has a lot to atone for, and while Riley does find it in his heart to forgive him, he makes Adam earn it every step of the way.

The setting of Nova Scotia is perfectly woven into the narrative, providing a beautiful and authentic backdrop that enhances the intimacy of their story. The small-town vibe brings with it a strong sense of community, and the side characters—who serve as amazing support for both Riley and Adam—add even more warmth to the overall experience.

Rachel Reid’s gift for writing deeply developed characters shines through once again. Each character feels real, relatable, and genuine, making it impossible not to fall in love with them. The Shots You Take is a beautiful exploration of second chances, healing, and the power of love.

If you’re a fan of heartfelt, emotional romances with complex characters and a setting that you can almost feel, this is a must-read. Rachel Reid has once again crafted an unforgettable story that will stay with you long after the last page.

Interesting in premise, I found the writing to be hard to follow and I was not a fan of the main character. there were one or two supporting characters that stood out to me but all in all, one that I will not revisit.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I'm not a fan of Adam in basically the whole book. I understand not wanting to accept you are gay or not being able to accept it but to laugh in someones face when they tell you they love you is not okay. Especially given that you had just been inside him. Like that's not okay. I felt so much for Riley. He went through so much in the book and had to overcome so much while it seemed that Adam just had everything good. Ultimately Adam did not redeem himself and was not a very likeable character. I was happy for Riley to be happy though.

A somber, painful second chance romance. While the story was very powerful, I'm uncertain if [two people really can overcome that sort of pain, especially when it's tangled up with substance abuse and mental health issues. Riley was still so raw about their past, even after all that time. Adam really fucked him up. I wonder if they wouldn't each have been better off with someone new (end spoiler)].

This book was wonderful. Beautiful. Consumed me. I read it in a weekend and basically did nothing else but read this book because it was so all-consuming. Deep, raw emotions make the happily ever after that much sweeter. It's a book about grief and a book about ex-best friends falling in love after years of not talking which sounds like it could be a sad book. And there are sad emotions! But it's also not? I don't know how to explain it. Rachel Reid is a magician, that's clearly the answer. The love interest is so patient and kind and willing to put in work to repair the relationship with the MC and give him space to grieve his father. It's got lots of pining and family interactions. Features my all-time favorite trope of "in love the whole time".

This is a book I know I will buy both the audiobook and the paperback of, so I can listen to it and also annotate a physical copy of it.

Another absolute win by Rachel Reid. This woman can write romance like no other. This one is second chance and deals characters in their 40’s (yay!) with a lot of big feels.
I am really enjoying this new series of hers!

Riley Tuck and Adam Sheppard used to be team mates and best friends, who just happened to fool around every once in a while. Until Riley admitted how much it all actually meant to him and it scared Adam, driving them apart. Now it's been 12 years since they last saw each other and Riley's dad has just passed away and Adam shows up at the funeral out of the blue. And he won't go away, he's bringing Riley breakfast and sticking around even when Riley tells him not to.
This book is, I think, Rachel Reid at her best. There's the signature swoony hockey romance with characters who have deep emotional lives but I think this book balances those things in a way that really shines. Second chance romances can be hit or miss for me and I really loved this one, I liked the time jumps we saw into the Riley and Adam's past - but i also like that we got just enough to really understand what their past was, the flashbacks didn't bog down the story at all.
Riley's journey through his grief over his dad was really poignant and giving Adam the opportunity to re-earn his trust by sticking with him through that really made me root for them.
I loved that this story was between 2 men in their 40s, bringing that maturity to the story i think also really helped me root for this relationship.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin-Romance for access to this eARC. I was so excited to receive this book and it did not disappoint. Perfect angst, perfect spice, great characters.

Adam and Riley are former hockey teammates and friends (whose friendship has often been more). After a disastrous end to his career, and their friendship, Riley has returned to his hometown. Adam shows up at his father's funeral, having spent their years apart having a Hall of Fame career (and being married with two kids). He's now divorced, admitting his true identity, and trying to show Riley his heart is his.

It was so enjoyable watching Adam show up and put in the effort. Riley trying to manage his grief compounded by all of these other emotions was very relatable. His anger and disappointment and unwillingness to settle were so well-written I was in all of those feelings with him. I did wish we saw more of the official relationship once they re-committed, instead of a large skip to an epilogue. But overall a great read. 4.5 stars

Rachel Reid has the best mix of plot, compelling characters, emotional depth and spice! I have not read many books by her, but am quickly discovering she’s a new favourite author for me.

I adored The Shots You Take! It has a little bit of a past/present storytelling that gives some insight into Adam and Riley’s past together. This is not *quite* a second chance romance, because they were only in secret and just fooling around the first time. This almost felt like a right person/wrong time type book. When they were young and playing hockey Adam just wasn’t ready to admit to himself he was gay.

Older MMCs. Love that they’re in their 40s, hockey careers are over, and they’re established. They have a lot of life experiences behind them and any time Adam was presented with his past behavior he confronted it, admitted it, accepted blame. I liked him for that. He was trying so hard. I loved this new life for him and felt so happy for him.

Grief is ever present in this book. It centers around Adam coming to Avery River to attend the funeral of Riley’s dad. What a lovely family Riley has. The community he lives in is so vivid and real in my mind. Adam coming to Riley right after his dad died felt like a LOT, but it works. There was a lot of care and comfort and it felt like they were becoming friends all over again at the same as falling in love again.

I’ll definitely be reading more by this author!

A second chance at romance between two ex-teammate hockey players/best friends with benefits! Riley and Adam were best friends and team mates... and something more, friends with benefits.... but it all blew up in their face and ended with Riley telling Adam he loved him only for Adam to laugh in his face and run back to his wife and with Riley leaving the sport completely. Now 10 years after Riley has moved back into his hometown to mend his broken heart and the trauma that Avery left him.... he's getting through day by day. Yet when Riley's father passes away suddenly Adam is attending the funeral and is staying in town. Adam has had time to address his feelings for Riley, has finally divorced his wife and come out of the closet.... and he now knows and realizes that he has been in love with Riley this entire time and that he'll do anything to show Riley that he still loves him and to make up for hurting him all those years ago. Adam knows that Riley is severely hurt and that he is grieving and he'll do anything to just help, be it stay in a motel in town, help Riley restore his father's store, or just bring him meals... Adam just wants to prove to Riley that he's serious. Riley isn't ready to forgive and forget... but something about Adam really trying and staying despite everything Riley says is slowly wearing his guard down. Can Adam prove to Riley that he's serious about wanting another shot at romance or is it too late for them after all the pain? Oh I love a Rachel Reid Romance. This was such a fantastic second chance romance featuring two older characters. They're both in their 40s and both working on themselves and their communication. I love the way that they took the time to talk and to discuss their relationship. I just had such a lovely time reading this and can't wait to read what Rachel writes next.

Release Date: March 4, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Harlequin - Romance | Carina Adores for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

5 stars!!!

This was the second chance romance of my dreams!

Rachel Reid is so good at flushing out characters and making you fall in love with them and this book is not an exception. I loved everything about Avery River, Riley’s family and friends. The community that surrounds them is so special and can I just say I want to buy Riley’s house!

Adam and Riley are clearly meant to be together so watching them reconnect was so special. Adam really proved to Riley he wouldn't run away again.

I enjoyed my time with this book and would absolutely recommend it to other readers especially those that love a small town, second chance, hallmark esque, romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Carina Adores for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!