Power Play (Gigi’s Review)

Title: Power Play (Scoring Chances #3)
Author: Avon Gale
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: May 9, 2016
Genre(s): Contemporary/Hockey
Page Count: 201 pages
Reviewed by: Gigi
Heat Level: 4 flames out of 5
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Blurb:

A freak accident during the Stanley Cup Playoffs put an end to Max Ashford’s hockey career. Despite everything, Max gets back into the game he loves—only this time, behind the bench as an assistant coach of the Spartanburg Spitfires, the worst team in the entire league. But nothing prepares him for the shock when he learns the new head coach is Misha Samarin, the man who caused Max’s accident.

After spending guilt-ridden years for his part in Max’s accident, Russian native Misha Samarin has no idea what to do when he’s confronted with Max’s presence. Max’s optimism plays havoc with Misha’s equilibrium—as does the fierce attraction that springs up between them.

Not only must they navigate Misha’s remorse and a past he’s spent a lifetime to forget, but also a sleazy GM determined to use their history as a marketing hook. But when an unwelcome visitor targets the team, Misha revisits his darkest days, which might cost him and Max the beginning they’ve worked so hard to build.

How much did I like this book? Enough for CORGI GIFS!

This is the third book in Avon Gale’s Scoring Chances series and while I loved the first two books, I believe this is now my favorite.

Power Play is a bit different from the first two books because the two heroes are former hockey players and now coaches for the same team, the Spartanburg Spitfires. Don’t worry, there is still lots of hockey action! But the relationship between Max, a former player who retired from the game because of an injury and Misha, a former player who just-so-happens to be the one who caused Max’s injury, are the focus.

Max is a sweet, fun-loving, remarkably centered and well-adjusted man with a loving, supportive family. After a hot blow job from a male bartender during a vacation in Mexico, he realizes he is bisexual. He is not one to hold a grudge and harbors no ill-will for Misha for being involved in his injury. Accidents happen. No one is to blame.

Misha is a native of Russia where being homosexual is against the law. His family is terrible to him and the Russian laws have left him feeling ashamed about his homosexuality. He also carries a great deal of shame, guilt and regret at having caused Max’s career-ending injury.

The two men are paired up as the new coaching team for the last place Spartanburg Spitfires hockey team and quickly become great friends. And then the lovely romance, with big doses of hot sex, starts. I loved these boys and their every interaction took be right smack dab into my happy place.

If you like M/M romance, you will love this one. If you are a hockey fan, you will love this one. If you are a hurt/healing/comfort fan, you will love this one. I can’t think of a single group of M/M fiction readers I wouldn’t be able to recommend this one to.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!