3.75 ( )

First read review:
This book has taken me so long -for my usual pace when I'm reading MM Fiction- not only due to my current short time available to read and it's relatively long, but because there are parts upon which I have come back over and over merely for pleasure.

Also, I understood some things better about [b:Checking It Twice|28206046|Checking It Twice (Crashing, #2)|Samantha Wayland|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1450152605l/28206046._SY75_.jpg|48233181], which I had read before [b:Home and Away|25690047|Home & Away|Samantha Wayland|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1433796465l/25690047._SY75_.jpg|45518458], and which I'm going to reread tonight even though I remember every detail, also for mere pleasure.

I've detected four MM stories related to Ice Cats: [b:Crashing the Net|22797434|Crashing the Net (Crashing, #1)|Samantha Wayland|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1406150264l/22797434._SY75_.jpg|42345153], [b:Home and Away|25690047|Home & Away|Samantha Wayland|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1433796465l/25690047._SY75_.jpg|45518458], [b:Checking It Twice|28206046|Checking It Twice (Crashing, #2)|Samantha Wayland|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1450152605l/28206046._SY75_.jpg|48233181], and Take a Shot (part of [b:Changing on the Fly: A Hockey Charity Anthology|31343238|Changing on the Fly A Hockey Charity Anthology|Cherylanne Corneille|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1474989938l/31343238._SY75_.jpg|52018825]). All of them are heartwarming, I surely will return to these stories when I need something that gives hope and happiness vibes to me.

I want more stories from this bunch so bad, especially more from Tim and Chris, Jack and Grady? And I'll always love to read more about Callum, Rupert, Mike, and particularly Alexei, my favorite character so far. ( )

Pretty good up to the ridiculous amount of angsting over halfway through the book. The end felt like a last minute attempt to get out of the angst loop the author wrote herself into. The decision and proposal seemed come out left field (wrong sports metaphor, I know). ( )

Dealing with reconstruction at the hockey arena as well as managing the Ice Cats, Rupert needs to find his little brother in England. He is not prepared to handle everything in addition to Callum Morrison, part owner of the team and NHL goalie. Callum has his own problems to deal with but he becomes a source of strength of Rupert as his life changes.

I liked all the characters in this book. I wish I would have bought the whole series at once because I want to know more about all these people. This was not a typical m/m sports story. There was so much packed in this book. I loved how these characters became a family though few of them were related by blood. It was a good portrayal of how regular life impacts careers and how what you think you want is not what you really want or is good for you.

There are pasts that come to light. There are issues within each person's life that must be dealt with. Watching Rupert and Callum open up to each other was wonderful. Watching them present a united front when dealing with Oliver, Rupert's young brother, and Christian, a pre-teen boy who may be gay is amazing. I could feel the love these guys had for each other, the children, and their friends.

I am getting the rest of this series. This book was so amazing. ( )