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Want some fun, awesomely written rivals-to-lovers romance? Avon Gale and Piper Vaughn serve up some delicious hockey-based sexual tension with Goalie Interference, a story where competition moves from the ice to the bedroom to the battlefield of the heart.
Emmitt Armstrong wakes up from a Cabo San Lucas–based tequila coma to some bad news – he’s being traded. Enraged because he led the Chattanooga Raiders to the Calder Cup, he’s somewhat mollified to learn that the best offer has come from the Atlanta Venom, an NHL team that apparently needs a new lead goalie, which will bump him up to the best league in the world.
Striding into the Venom’s locker room like he owns the place, Emmitt attracts the attention of Ryu Mori, who goal-tended for the Venom the previous season, helping them to stellar scoreboard numbers. Ryu is turned off by Emmitt’s arrogance and attracted to his handsome face, but both men have to put their lust aside – the coach hasn’t decided who’s going to be the starting goalie for the Venom this year. Battling on the ice for the plum position, Ryu and Emmitt fall into respect, then lust, then love with one another. But who will be the Venom’s goalie? And will the decisions tear these two new lovers apart? Well, may the best man win!
Goalie Interference is a fun love story with plenty of heat and chemistry between its leads. Ryu and Emmitt are two different kinds of people; Ryu is more thoughtful and considerate of others, while Emmitt is the cockiest jock to walk the block. Together they balance each other out. On ice, they’re magic. But naturally there’s a ton of push and pull that gets them there.
This is a book about learning both how to be part of a team and how to love others. Emmitt has a lot to learn after his divo-ish behavior led to his trade, and sometimes you’ll want to slap your forehead as he learns to support Ryu on the ice. But he’s well-rounded, and eventually he leaves arrogance behind (well, most of it) in favor of teamwork.
Ryu, meanwhile, is a kinder, more methodical guy, he’s already a team player who fits well into his team, and understandably doesn’t want to risk his heart on a heartbreaker like Emmitt. Watching them grow together is pretty delightful.
The book’s only real problem is the hefty size of its supporting cast. Of course, it’s natural that there are many Venom players to introduce – both to establish the team and because hockey teams have many players. But there are quite a few people who act as support to the guys here, and that may be a lot for readers to get used to.
But that’s a minor quibble. Goalie Interference is a good hockey romance – a great skate that’s a lot sexy, a little funny, a bit heartbreaking, and all hard-nosed action.
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Grade: B+
Book Type: Contemporary Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 30/09/19
Publication Date: 09/2019
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.
Lisa Fernandes is a writer, reviewer and recapper who lives somewhere on the East Coast. Formerly employed by Firefox.org and Next Projection, she also currently contributes to Women Write About Comics. Read her blog at http://thatbouviergirl.blogspot.com/, follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/thatbouviergirl or contribute to her Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/MissyvsEvilDead or her Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com/missmelbouvier
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I’m with you Lisa. I liked this one quite a lot. I won’t compare it to Heated Rivalry because that’s probably my favourite in the past year and it stands in a category of its own. But this was a lovely read about two fundamentally good people and I enjoyed it. Also, all the Avon Gale hockey books are worth the read.
I’m glad you liked it as well!
I’ve not read this one, but Breakaway, a solo book by Avon Gale, is truly hilarious. It’s about third tier hockey franchises in the south, a talented rookie with no filter (None. At all.) and an older, seasoned player on another team who just cannot resist the trainwreck than is Lane Courtnall. It’s the first in the Scoring Chances series. If you need a laugh, I highly recommend it! It’s also very charming and the side characters are interesting and colorful, too.
I love hockey romance and will very likely read Goalie Interference, the first book in the series is really good. I also love this cover; it’s so dynamic!
I love that series too! Have you read any more books from it? I glommed it a few years ago & enjoyed all the stories.
I’ve only read Breakaway, but I have the next one. I only do audio, and I thought the narration was quite good. But mostly it’s just a riot. A friend who’s opinion I trust says this is the best book in the series. What did you think? Lane would be a hard character to top.
I’ve still got book one of this series on my TBL (I generally like Kirt Graves, so fingers crossed). Do I need to listen to it first? (I’ve requested a review copy of the audio of this one!)
I look forward to that review, Caz!
They’re all linked to each other. Teammates/coaches kind of thing – like the Samantha Wayland books I just rec’d to you. I was sucked in because Avon is from Jacksonville & the team was based here (where I live). She incorporates a lot of local spots into the novels & they were familiar to me. I think Breakaway was my favorite in the series – but they’re all good. Are you talking about listening to Goalie Interference? It definitely works on its own…but the first book in the series is definitely the stronger of the two.
Yes, I will be listening. I liked the first book, though it’s been a while so I don’t recall details much. But I did like that the MCs were presented as intelligent people who had lives involving things other than professional sports.
I think they all work pretty well as standalones; there’s a lot of Establishment of Character here, but I could read this and the first volume without issue.
Gale does have a good nose for humor, you’re right!
Thank you for your assessments. I’ll probably put this book on the “read if it’s free or on KU” part of my tbr. Em—I rarely look at GR or reader reviews on Amazon—too many spoilers, too many grammatical errors and sloppy construction, too many reviews that read like they’re written by the authors’ friends (although I’m sure yours are the exception to all that!).
Hope you enjoy them!
The synopsis makes the book sound like Rachel Reid’s HEATED RIVALRY, one of my favorite books of the year so far. Has anyone read both books? Are they similar? If I found HEATED RIVALRY the ne plus ultra of m/m hockey romances (which I did), will I like GOALIE INTERFERENCE or simply be irritated by comparisons?
I’d put this below the Reid (Which I’d give an A), but I don’t think the comparisons will irritate!
I’ve read both. The Reid tops this one IMO; I didn’t like this nearly as much as Lisa did, and I would grade it closer to a C+. It’s nice to see this reviewed on our site though! I think the first book in the series is the stronger of the two & the opposite is true for the Reid books.
DDD – are you on GR? I reviewed this one there if you’re looking for a second opinion.
Lisa and I usually feel the same about books; if we feel differently, it’s usually on the contemporary titles we’re both reading.
I’ve always noticed that; it’s interesting, isn’t it?
I agree that the Reid does outdo this one though; the Reid books are unquestioned DIK status for me.
Having read your review, though, I’m disappointed I didn’t reference how easy the conclusion was – it really was.