Hockey Romance - SAMPLER

I have never raced to NetGalley faster to download this sampler of the first three chapters of The Long Game - and they did not disappoint!! Only issue is having to wait for the rest of the book - April cannot come soon enough! The seeds of tension that was placed in Role Model are there front and center in these chapters, so deftly blended with deep abiding love Ilya and Shane have. I, for one, cannot wait to continue to see Ilya and Shane's relationship evolve, and it was wonderful to see/hear about other characters so early in the book.

The first few chapters of Season Change have me hooked - and it will be interesting to see how Olly and Benji's relationship develops. Olly's struggle is immediately well-crafted, and I'm looking forward to learning more about Olly. I know this is a book that I will be reading the day it comes out.

I'm so excited for both of these! I love both these authors and the first few chapters lived up to expectations. Can't wait to read the full books.

One debut author (Cait Nary), one consistent favorite author (Rachel Reid), and two absolute bangers!

Rachel Reid's books have never let me down and it looks like this one is shaping up to be just as incredible as the rest. I find samplers to be a really indicator of the potential of a book - if something hooks me within a mere couple of chapters, it's probably going to be a great read and this was absolutely the case here.

As for Season's Change by Cait Nary, I was fortunate enough to receive an arc of this and was surprised by how incredible it was. My favorite types of books are those that you go in thinking "oh is going to be a fun read" and then by the end it absolutely knocks it out of the park and you go "oh, I don't just like this, I love it. This is everything." Season's Change is one of those books. This was the most gorgeously written slow burn with one of the best portrayals of mental health that I've seen in a sports book. Season's Change was a delight and a shocker, and I say this very affectionately. I'll be thinking of this one for a long time.

RACHEL REID:
ILYA AND SHANE!!!!!!!!!! Swoon. Sigh. Snort laugh. I love these two characters so deeply. I flew through their teaser chapters. I cannot wait for their book. I so enjoyed seeing Ryan and Fabian. The glimpse into the youth hockey camp. A few short chapters and I am even more thrilled and high anticipating this book than before reading the teaser.

CAIT NARY:
I have already had the pleasure of reading this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. This is slowburn sports romance goodness that embraces the sport. I am very much looking forward to the next book in this series.

I loved both these previews.
I have read the whole Game Changers series (a few times over now), and am excited for The Long Game. Getting a little taste was both exquisite and torture. I want more! It sets up the story so well. It is the perfect amount of information/set up and still feels like we are moving along and getting a distinct feel for how this story will might be (not in an obvious plot points way, but rather the tone and feelings. All the good stuff!). I cannot wait to read the rest!
Cait's story was completely new to me and I immediately pre-ordered it after reading the synopsis. Absolutely sold!! And then I read those first 4 chapters and am in love with these characters and already feel invested in their story and well being and I love that this doesn't feel like it'll be a "brush things under a rug" type of book. Based on just these first few pieces, I am excited to see if my suspicions are correct and cannot wait to read the rest!

The Long Game by Rachel Reid

It is no exaggeration when I say this is my most anticipated read of 2022. Shane and Ilya have never strayed far for my thoughts since I first read Heated Rivalry in 2019 - nor the 4 times I’ve reread it since then.

The first three chapters of this much awaited sequel are packed with all the humor and character I expect from Reid and the Game Changers series, as especially Shane and Ilya.

I can’t wait for the full book.

Season’s Change by Cait Nary

There is very little I enjoy more than a good mm hockey romance, throw in veteran x rookie and opposites attract AND forced proximity and I. Am. Sold.

This first taste of Nary’s writing had a bit of everything I enjoy.

Opening with Olly’s POV, it was easy to get invested in his drive and passion for hockey, and to root for his success in his new team.

Benji’s fresh and wide-eyed wonder and desire to prove himself is so infectious and heartfelt.

I can easily see myself falling for these two and their story, and can’t wait to see how their relationship develops.

Loved the sampler from both of these books!

I'm so excited for The Long Game, it's my most anticipated novel of 2022. Already in these three chapters, there's so much angst and plenty of foreshadowing for the remainder of the novel. I can already see the differences Ilya and Shane have in outing their relationship to the world. This book is going to hurt and I'm SO ready for it!

Season's Change has me so intrigued ! From just these three chapters, I feel like this is the type of book that you want to read in one sitting because you can't help yourself. I'm already so invested in Olly and Benji! I'm very excited to continue reading this book, now that I have a full arc of it!

I am pretty much salivating to get my hands on both of these books after reading these samples. I'm already a huge Rachel Reid fan and love the Game Changers series. The Long Game is my most anticipated book of 2022. Cait Nary is a new author to me and after reading the sample I very much want to read the rest of Olly and Benji's story.

The Long Game by Rachel Reid sample reaction review

Jan 19th 2022 - Holy wow I just read the first 3 chapters (thank you Rachel and Netgalley for the sampler). Based on these 3 chapters, I think the wait for the rest will have me dying and the angst I'm sensing will be the final nail in my coffin. I NEED THE REST OF THIS BOOK!!!

Phenomenal start to a hockey romance. The sample of Season’s Change by Cait Nary has me absolutely hooked. The first few chapters of a book aren’t make or break for whether I’ll continue reading, but they are usually the difference between a 3 and 5 star book.

From the first few sentences, there is a tension and almost an air of mystery that is incredibly compelling. The pain and frustration coming from Olly is palpable and I need to know where it’s coming from. The end of the sample gives you the beginning of the story and leaves you wanting the whole picture.

I’m going to immediately pick this book up and I can’t wait to read it.

Review of the full text of The Long Game submitted separately.

I was so excited to learn that a preview of The Long Game was available and it did not disappoint, especially getting to read from Ilya’s perspective. The beginning chapters were seamless and we picked right back up with Ilya and Shane’s journey. They are completely in love but it is also clear that Ilya and Shane will have to work for their happily ever after. April cannot come soon enough!

I was very intrigued by the opening chapters of Cait Nary’s Season’s Change. Olly and Benji were well developed characters and Cait drew the reader in immediately. I want to learn more about Olly’s struggles and am definitely rooting for his and Benji’s happily ever after.