BROKEN ICE, MENDED HEARTS
Bethesda Barracudas Hockey #6
by Ryan Taylor & Joshua Harwood
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Release Date: March 20, 2024
Cover Design: Story Styling Cover Designs
Photo: Wander Aguiar Photography
Model: Tristan
Genre: M/M Hockey Romance Standalone
Trope: Second chance, age-gap, found family, college professor/student, HEA
Synopsis
PIERRE (“GAGS”)
My life is complicated.
Hell, I’m complicated.
I don’t know a life beyond how I’m perceived. After a devastating divorce, it looked like I never would.
Can a hockey fight change your life?
I may not understand my attraction to Sven Holmer, but I can tell you my obsession with kissing him started in the middle of a fight. When we met again, the conversation was easy, the banter effortless. Once stolen glances gave way to secret touches, I was more confused than ever. How the hell am I supposed to handle it when everything I’ve always believed about myself no longer fits?
Things are great… until they aren’t.
Our connection deepens with every minute we spend together, but like me, Sven is no stranger to betrayal and heartache. Between my stubbornness, his reservations, and the start of a new season, how can we survive months apart?
When tragedy strikes, all bets are off. I just hope it’s not too late.
Broken Ice, Mended Hearts features two thirty-something hockey players hardened by heartbreak. This compelling, angsty book includes a bisexual awakening, hurt/comfort, found family, first times, high heat, and a hard-earned HEA. Though it is part of the Bethesda Barracudas Hockey series, it can be read as a standalone.
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4 Stars
I enjoyed this book, especially how these two meet and the chemistry that is there right from the start, it definitely sets the tone for their story. I really liked Gags and Sven together, I was really rooting for these two and wanting to see them figure it out and find happiness, especially together since they both so deserved it.
Both Gags and Sven are hockey players, not for the same team but in the same area and despite that their first meeting was in a fight on the ice, the two becomes friends. Gags is recently divorced, turns out his wife was only with him for the money and cheated on him, and with his friends traveling he’s pretty much on his own. Sven too experienced a rough break up and has just moved to DC and doesn’t really know the area so it’s the perfect opportunity for Gags to step up and show him around. Again, these two form a solid friendship but there’s also no denying the attraction between them. Sven is gay and comfortable with his sexuality, Gags has always thought he was straight and pictured his life with a woman, so his attraction to Sven definitely confuses him.
I did like how things developed between them, it feels natural and genuine, even the difficult moments. Gags is trying to come to terms with how he feels and Sven is patient and caring with him. They seem to figure it out though and they are so sweet together but then their hockey season starts and the brutal travel schedule threatens to destroy everything they’ve built. I really felt for them, you can really feel them struggling but then there’s some more drama for them, that truly threatens everything. That type that makes the real feelings come out and make themselves known.
Again, I really liked these two together, you can genuinely feel the passion and love they have for each other. Sven has such a sweet heart and I felt like he was the perfect match for Gags. I really loved how their story comes together, it was so fitting for them and made my heart happy. It’s definitely an emotional journey with these two but completely worth all the feels!
Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card
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About the Authors
Ryan Taylor met his husband and co-author, Joshua Harwood, in law school. They live in a suburb of Washington, DC, and share their home with a big, cuddly German shepherd. Ryan and Josh love to travel. In addition, Ryan also enjoys swimming, and Josh likes to putter in the garden whenever he can. They began writing to celebrate the romance they were so lucky to find with each other, and the sharing soon developed into a passion for telling stories about love between out and proud men.
Connect with Ryan & Joshua
Website: https://www.ryanandjoshth.com/
Facebook Author Page: https://bit.ly/3vSo7Xe
Facebook Reader Group: https://bit.ly/3dkRpr5
Ryan’s Goodreads Author Page: https://bit.ly/3bGFAuV
Joshua’s Goodreads Author Page: https://bit.ly/3BQtHNH
Twitter: https://bit.ly/3dd55nT
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3AaHZHA
TikTok: https://bit.ly/3zK1TYz
Ryan’s Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3BTIoiL
Joshua’s Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3p4XBWM
Ryan’s Bookbub Page: https://bit.ly/3bIPVGE
Joshua’s Bookbub Page: https://bit.ly/3dl2f03
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