Name From a Hat Trick

The last couple of LAW hockey tales have been more about the tons of sex than the storyline, and I'd been in two minds about reading this one, and tbh, the 80p promo price is what made me go for it, and I was pleasantly surprised.Both leads are decent guys and the tale focuses more on one's daughter and her (kind of chronic) health issues, almost as equally as the romance. It was interesting and sad to learn about her issues, as no child that young should suffer from migraines that badly or that often, and it turned out that she hadn't gotten better meds because they couldn't afford better healthcare than what seemed to be described as bottom-rung stuff. It made me thankful that we Brits have our NHS (hands off Wotsit#45!) and that everyone gets the same treatment, irrespective of who they are or where they are on the social ladder.The romance kind of took a bit of a back seat but that worked for me, and it made the actual growth of what the leads had, more believable. I was pleased that this was far lighter on the sex than the author's previous books, as I'd taken to skipping most of those scenes. It was a tender tale, too, because of both leads' relationships with their brothers, and with the rather unique family set-up that one had with his ex and her husband. LAW has written several books with bi leads recently, with a slight inorganic feel (we're told, not shown, they're bi, neither now or in the backstory), and for me, with respect, that's getting a little bit too much. A bit more show and a bit more weight would have added authenticity, but here, it feels like a token bi guy. Not that I have anything against bi leads, but it seems as if it's the new pop thing (again) and that authors are trying to un-erase bi people and tales have a bit of deja vu, and lack authenticity because of the forced/inorganic feeling.This ends some 2 years after the leads first meet, in something that felt believable and was the icing on the cake for more than one. Add in a cat called Tony (I didn't think he was that judgy, and I'd have liked for him to have more page time) and this was a sweet read for this Brit and animal lover.

If you love hockey and mm relationships, then this is the best book out there. I've read a lot of hockey based mm books and this just stands out. It's just the right amount of everything, though I did cry several times! One thing I am very grateful for, and this book really highlights it, is the fact that I am British, and have access to our amazing NHS. I never take it for granted the fact that we have national free health care ❤

I stuggled with this book, I understand how hard living with anxiety can be, how all consuming and irrational but reading about it the way this author wrote it was exhausting. The constant worrying about every little thing. The over thinking every little thing. Its one hundred percent true to life but it made the story drag so much that unfortunately i got bored and lost interest. The whole book was predictable and in the end i was glad it was over.

The characters lack depth and there isn't a believable male amongst them. They witter and second guess everything all the way through the story; even sharing pictures of the cat!