Common Goal--A Gay Sports Romance

Starred review from August 3, 2020
Reid’s hockey-themed Game Changer series continues on its red-hot winning streak with this excellent fourth installment (after Tough Guy). When lonely New York Admirals goalie Eric Bennett meets the flirty, 15-years-younger Kyle Swift, he considers acting on his same-sex desires for the first time. Kyle, a grad student and bartender with a habit of falling for inappropriate guys, offers to help Eric embrace his bisexuality, accompanying Eric first to gay bars, and then to his bedroom, where they have steamy sex that they promise to keep platonic and educational. Inevitably, they fall deeply, hopelessly in love—only neither will admit it. The age difference is a big concern for 41-year-old Eric, while Kyle is wary of leaving the “no-strings sex zone.” The connection between the men is palpable, and their sizzling chemistry will have readers rapt. The hockey scenes are almost equally exciting, and series regulars Scott Hunter and Ilya Rozanov lend welcome comic relief. With this irresistible mix of sports, sex, and romance, Reid has scored another hat trick.