Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

About The Book

Title: Heated Rivalry

Author: Rachel Reid

Series: Game Changers #2

Pages: 371

Genre: Sports Romance

Rating: ★★★★★

Links

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Kindle ~ Audiobook

Nothing interferes with Shane Hollander’s game—definitely not the sexy rival he loves to hate.

Pro hockey star Shane Hollander isn’t just crazy talented, he’s got a spotless reputation. Hockey is his life. Now that he’s captain of the Montreal Voyageurs, he won’t let anything jeopardize that, especially the sexy Russian whose hard body keeps him awake at night.

Boston Bears captain Ilya Rozanov is everything Shane’s not. The self-proclaimed king of the ice, he’s as cocky as he is talented. No one can beat him—except Shane. They’ve made a career on their legendary rivalry, but when the skates come off, the heat between them is undeniable. When Ilya realizes he wants more than a few secret hookups, he knows he must walk away. The risk is too great.

As their attraction intensifies, they struggle to keep their relationship out of the public eye. If the truth comes out, it could ruin them both. But when their need for each other rivals their ambition on the ice, secrecy is no longer an option…

My Review

I finally had to give in to the hype. I ended up reading this on Kindle because you genuinely cannot find a physical copy anywhere right now. I did track one down online and it is supposedly on the way, but we will see if it ever actually shows up. I am also watching the show, and I love how closely it follows the book so far.

This is my first MM hockey romance, I think, and honestly Rachel Reid must put something addictive in her writing. There is no other explanation for why I could not put this book down. I was hesitant at first because it is written in third person, which is not usually my preference, but once you are pulled into the story, you barely even notice.

For anyone unfamiliar, Heated Rivalry follows Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, two elite NHL players who are fierce rivals on the ice. Over the course of several years, their competitive hatred slowly turns into a secret, complicated relationship that neither of them knows how to handle. The story balances intense hockey competition with emotional growth as Shane and Ilya struggle with fame, expectations, and what it would mean to be honest about who they are and what they want.

You should definitely go into this book knowing it is very much smut with plot, but the plot is genuinely good. Ilya completely stole the show for me. He was absolutely the standout character. Shane was adorable and sincere, and I loved how strongly they contrasted each other. Shane is soft and earnest, while Ilya is sharp, arrogant, and kind of a jerk in the best way.

Now I am fully invested and desperately want to read the rest of the series. Here is hoping Rachel Reid put that same addictive magic into all of her books.

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Disclosures:
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All reviews are always my opinion. I do not get paid to review books or give good reviews. There will be times where books are provided for my honest review. I will always indicate whether a book was provided to me for review.