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Rules of the Game #3
Unwritten Rules
Rule #1: Don't fall in love with your family's sworn enemy
Taylor Hollis brought home gold at the Olympics, then quit competitive skating at the height of his career.
Four years later, he lives a quiet life teaching figuring skating classes and looking for the perfect guy to settle down and build a family with.
When the Evanston River Otters hire Taylor to take part in a feel-good media piece, he’ll have to defy his father and work with the son of the man he detests.
And his one weakness is a hot older guy who’s good with kids.
Rule #2: Choose your loyalties wisely
Last season, Jamie Walsh left the Chicago Windstorm after a nasty divorce and falling out with his linemate.
Now he’s getting settled as a new forward for the Otters.
His biggest priority is his five-year-old daughter, Ava, but he can’t ignore how attractive he finds her skating teacher.
The only man he’s ever been interested in.
The more time they spend together, the harder it is for Jamie to ignore his feelings.
Too bad Taylor’s father has always blamed Jamie’s dad for ruining his hockey career.
Jamie and Taylor are perfect for one another but they’ll have to ignore both of their families’ unwritten rules if they let themselves fall in love with the enemy.
Taylor Hollis brought home gold at the Olympics, then quit competitive skating at the height of his career.
Four years later, he lives a quiet life teaching figuring skating classes and looking for the perfect guy to settle down and build a family with.
When the Evanston River Otters hire Taylor to take part in a feel-good media piece, he’ll have to defy his father and work with the son of the man he detests.
And his one weakness is a hot older guy who’s good with kids.
Rule #2: Choose your loyalties wisely
Last season, Jamie Walsh left the Chicago Windstorm after a nasty divorce and falling out with his linemate.
Now he’s getting settled as a new forward for the Otters.
His biggest priority is his five-year-old daughter, Ava, but he can’t ignore how attractive he finds her skating teacher.
The only man he’s ever been interested in.
The more time they spend together, the harder it is for Jamie to ignore his feelings.
Too bad Taylor’s father has always blamed Jamie’s dad for ruining his hockey career.
Jamie and Taylor are perfect for one another but they’ll have to ignore both of their families’ unwritten rules if they let themselves fall in love with the enemy.
464 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 14, 2022
About the author
Brigham Vaughn
65 books524 followersBrigham Vaughn is on the adventure of a lifetime as a full-time writer. She devours books at an alarming rate and hasn’t let her short arms and long torso stop her from doing yoga. She makes a killer key lime pie, hates green peppers, and loves wine tasting tours. A collector of vintage Nancy Drew books and green glassware, she enjoys poking around in antique shops and refinishing thrift store furniture. An avid photographer, she dreams of traveling the world and she can’t wait to discover everything else life has to offer her.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
October 8, 2022
They say fuck a lot.
When fucking, working, falling
in love. “Fuck! F-ffuck… Fuuuhuck.”
When fucking, working, falling
in love. “Fuck! F-ffuck… Fuuuhuck.”
February 6, 2024
I loved UNWRITTEN RULES so much and this series has quickly become a favorite! I especially liked how much Jamie and Taylor communicated with each other and worked through their concerns and problems. They never let things go unresolved or jumped to conclusions and I always find that so refreshing in romance books. Together they made a fun and sexy couple and I loved Taylor's fire and Jamie's genuineness. Add in an adorable kid, the best hockey team to ever exist, and just a touch of drama surrounding their families, and this was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Content Warning: side character with an eating disorder
Content Warning: side character with an eating disorder
September 25, 2023
Read this to get Charlie’s backstory after enjoying the depiction of his eating disorder in Husband Game. This was pretty flat and underwhelming. The characters were sweet and their arc worked well but the writing just felt rather monotonous. There was definitely some good elements but nothing in this compels me to read the other books of the series.
Read
October 4, 2023DNF 22%. This is feeling like a very standard, been-there-done-that MM romance and I am lacking in interest and attention span to muscle through.
January 14, 2023
(2,5 stars) Jamie Walsh, recently acquired Evanston River Otters winger, is slowly adapting to his new life playing on a new team and sharing a custody of his five year old daughter Ava with his ex wife. Taylor Hollis, openly gay retired Olympic figure skater and figure skating teacher, is newly hired by the Otters in order to help the team improve their skating and film a series of entertaining videos while doing it.
Jamie and Taylor's fathers, both former professional hockey players, were rivals on ice and with Jamie's father being involved in an accident that ended Taylor's father's career there is some bad blood between the two families. While the best case scenario for Jamie and Taylor would be to keep professional distance the two can't help the mutual attraction between them. Flirting leads to kissing which leads to a casual no strings arrangement between the two as both are carrying some personal baggage. Taylor is trying to stay afloat financially between a debt and figure skating teacher's income, worrying about his best friend and roommate Charlie, former figure skater recovering from anorexia. Jamie is still struggling with his wife and former linemate/best friend's betrayal, exploring his bisexuality and trying to provide his daughter with a loving and stable environment after a divorce.
I appreciated that both Jamie and Taylor had their own struggles for the most part unrelated to their developing relationship. They were well rounded characters but unfortunately I did not feel particular connection to either of them. Their relationship was described as a relationship between two grown men with a healthy communication and support. Except I found myself bored both with their characters and the romance and could not wait to be done with their story. There were also plenty of sex scenes which made the plot drag even more for me. I was honestly more interested in Charlie and what was going on with him than anything happening on screen between Jamie and Taylor. I also found myself excited about the potential of a future story involving Charlie .
And at this point I have to ask myself why am I so intent on setting myself up for another disappointment? Because I keep following thi(e)s(e) series and putting every subsequent book on my Want to Read list as soon as I'm finished with the latest one but at this point it is safe to say I keep wanting to like thi(e)s(e) series more than I actually do.
After reading Road Rules I was really excited with the possibility of having two new hockey m/m series to follow, then I read Bending the Rules and I wasn't all that impressed with it, still I held out for the possibility of Changing the Rules being more up my speed. I gave that one a shot after it was published and gave up less than half way through. As the book is still on my Want to Read list I ended up completely forgetting I even started reading it before I decided to read Unwritten Rules.
With Zane and Ryan, from Road Rules, being one notable exception I have to admit that for some reason neither characters nor romances in Brigham Vaughn's hockey universe ever actually work for me. Still I keep hoping optimistically that the next pairing will be more to my liking.
Themes: dual POV, instant attraction, age difference, figure skater/hockey player, bi-awakening, casual relationship, children, NHL
Jamie and Taylor's fathers, both former professional hockey players, were rivals on ice and with Jamie's father being involved in an accident that ended Taylor's father's career there is some bad blood between the two families. While the best case scenario for Jamie and Taylor would be to keep professional distance the two can't help the mutual attraction between them. Flirting leads to kissing which leads to a casual no strings arrangement between the two as both are carrying some personal baggage. Taylor is trying to stay afloat financially between a debt and figure skating teacher's income, worrying about his best friend and roommate Charlie, former figure skater recovering from anorexia. Jamie is still struggling with his wife and former linemate/best friend's betrayal, exploring his bisexuality and trying to provide his daughter with a loving and stable environment after a divorce.
I appreciated that both Jamie and Taylor had their own struggles for the most part unrelated to their developing relationship. They were well rounded characters but unfortunately I did not feel particular connection to either of them. Their relationship was described as a relationship between two grown men with a healthy communication and support. Except I found myself bored both with their characters and the romance and could not wait to be done with their story. There were also plenty of sex scenes which made the plot drag even more for me. I was honestly more interested in Charlie and what was going on with him than anything happening on screen between Jamie and Taylor. I also found myself excited about the potential of a future story involving Charlie .
And at this point I have to ask myself why am I so intent on setting myself up for another disappointment? Because I keep following thi(e)s(e) series and putting every subsequent book on my Want to Read list as soon as I'm finished with the latest one but at this point it is safe to say I keep wanting to like thi(e)s(e) series more than I actually do.
After reading Road Rules I was really excited with the possibility of having two new hockey m/m series to follow, then I read Bending the Rules and I wasn't all that impressed with it, still I held out for the possibility of Changing the Rules being more up my speed. I gave that one a shot after it was published and gave up less than half way through. As the book is still on my Want to Read list I ended up completely forgetting I even started reading it before I decided to read Unwritten Rules.
With Zane and Ryan, from Road Rules, being one notable exception I have to admit that for some reason neither characters nor romances in Brigham Vaughn's hockey universe ever actually work for me. Still I keep hoping optimistically that the next pairing will be more to my liking.
Themes: dual POV, instant attraction, age difference, figure skater/hockey player, bi-awakening, casual relationship, children, NHL
May 9, 2023
I absolutely loved this book. Jamie is a wonderful single father and his daughter, Ava, was an adorable scene stealer.
Jamie and Taylor are stuck between a rock and a hard place with their relationship thanks to their fathers’ contentious history and the team already taking hits in the media after Gabriel and Lance’s relationship was outed. Watching Taylor learn to trust Jamie was done well. I would love a story about his bestie too. I know it would be amazingly heartfelt. My favourite of the series so far and by far. This book is just pure sweetness with a dash of angst in the way of a side character dealing with an eating disorder. Please proceed with caution if this is a trigger for you as it is discussed throughout the entire book.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this audiobook.
Jamie and Taylor are stuck between a rock and a hard place with their relationship thanks to their fathers’ contentious history and the team already taking hits in the media after Gabriel and Lance’s relationship was outed. Watching Taylor learn to trust Jamie was done well. I would love a story about his bestie too. I know it would be amazingly heartfelt. My favourite of the series so far and by far. This book is just pure sweetness with a dash of angst in the way of a side character dealing with an eating disorder. Please proceed with caution if this is a trigger for you as it is discussed throughout the entire book.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this audiobook.
December 31, 2022
It's giving me a toothache. It's giving sweet tooth. It's giving sundae with a cherry on the type.
Baby, when I say this book was so fucking sweet, it made my teeth hurt, it was so sweet. Jamie and Taylor are that couples. They are the moment. I instantly fell in love with both as characters and as a couple. They just wanted to find their person and found it in each other. Now I said that Gabriel and Lance were the number two couple for me, but Jamie and Taylor came in and just swept them to number three. This is such a feel-good book, and I just grinned so much throughout.
Baby, when I say this book was so fucking sweet, it made my teeth hurt, it was so sweet. Jamie and Taylor are that couples. They are the moment. I instantly fell in love with both as characters and as a couple. They just wanted to find their person and found it in each other. Now I said that Gabriel and Lance were the number two couple for me, but Jamie and Taylor came in and just swept them to number three. This is such a feel-good book, and I just grinned so much throughout.
July 13, 2022
I’m sucker for a sports romance and this was between a hockey player and figure skater. I really liked the open communication between Jamie and Taylor. It seemed like from the start they were on the same page which left no room for any hurt feelings or miscommunications. Most of the angst in the story was from secondary characters. All in all, this was a sweet and steamy read with some laughs brought on by Jamie’s adorable 5 year old daughter.
July 14, 2022
Wow. What a great book! I liked this one even better than book 1, which was really good as well.
I love single dad stories, and little Ava steals the show! As with book 1, I love how real life health issues are included and discussed. I'm so in love with the Evanston Otters, and can't wait for the next book.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily gave my honest review.
I love single dad stories, and little Ava steals the show! As with book 1, I love how real life health issues are included and discussed. I'm so in love with the Evanston Otters, and can't wait for the next book.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily gave my honest review.
July 17, 2022
Another great book by Brigham Vaughan and for the Rules of the Game series. Jamie and Taylor are perfect together. Their book is romantic, sweet, funny, enemies to lovers, with great characters and their sexy times are hot. Ava stole the show for me and she is a real sweetheart. The book had my attention from start to finish and I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.
July 19, 2022
I absolutely loved this book. I love hockey books and this story is very sweet.
Taylor's father has hated Jamie's father since an accident during a hockey game that ended Taylor's father's career. But that doesn't stop the attraction between Taylor and Jamie from happening.
When the hockey hires Taylor to take part in a feel-good media job, Jamie’ll have to defy his father and work with the son of the man he hates.
For Taylor, a man with an adorable daughter is a magnet.
You can read this as a standalone romance, but I recommend the whole series as cameos are made and you can check up this these guys
I was given an ARC but the words are from the heart
Taylor's father has hated Jamie's father since an accident during a hockey game that ended Taylor's father's career. But that doesn't stop the attraction between Taylor and Jamie from happening.
When the hockey hires Taylor to take part in a feel-good media job, Jamie’ll have to defy his father and work with the son of the man he hates.
For Taylor, a man with an adorable daughter is a magnet.
You can read this as a standalone romance, but I recommend the whole series as cameos are made and you can check up this these guys
I was given an ARC but the words are from the heart
July 14, 2022
When you meet someone who raises your interest only to be thrown for a loop when you find out that your dad and his are sworn enemies. We skip ahead and both guys are trying to find their own balance to make it.
I did receive an Arc for a review.
I did receive an Arc for a review.
September 25, 2022
Jamie is such a good dad and a good partner. He's so considerate and thoughtful and it's super swoony to see how he takes care of the people he cares about. Taylor is the first guy he has ever looked at that way, but that's not the biggest issue. That's the fact their dads have a rivalry. But this wasn't super angsty or anything. I enjoyed every minute of watching these two fall for each other, while Taylor also fell in love with Jamie's little girl, who was adorable.
September 14, 2022
This was really lovely and sweet. Once you just accept that the main reason they "can't be together" is tissue thin.
April 8, 2023
4.5⭐️
Unwritten Rules by Brigham Vaughn is book 4 in the Rules of the Game series.
Another book in this series that I loved. It was so easy to fall in love with Jamie and Taylor. They were both good people who cared deeply about their loved ones and sometimes even at the expense of their own well-being.
Their Romeo and Juliet story, minus all the tragedy, was really interesting to follow. Having fathers who had such a deep-seated conflict was a huge obstacle to their relationship and I loved seeing how they dealt with it. I really appreciate that Brigham Vaughn's characters always have excellent communication. For me it is something really refreshing.
With Jamie being a father, I was wondering if I would appreciate the larger presence of a child in the story. Maybe because I don't have kids myself, I tend not to gravitate towards books with kids in them. Like all the characters in the book, I myself fell under Ava's spell. She was so cute and every scene she was in made me smile.
I think the Evanston River Otters are becoming my favorite team out of all the sports books I've read so far. Every time I dive into another book in the series I am always excited to come back to Zane, Ryan, Gabriel, Anders and all the others. I can't wait to see what Anders and Kelly's story will be like.
Unwritten Rules by Brigham Vaughn is book 4 in the Rules of the Game series.
Another book in this series that I loved. It was so easy to fall in love with Jamie and Taylor. They were both good people who cared deeply about their loved ones and sometimes even at the expense of their own well-being.
Their Romeo and Juliet story, minus all the tragedy, was really interesting to follow. Having fathers who had such a deep-seated conflict was a huge obstacle to their relationship and I loved seeing how they dealt with it. I really appreciate that Brigham Vaughn's characters always have excellent communication. For me it is something really refreshing.
With Jamie being a father, I was wondering if I would appreciate the larger presence of a child in the story. Maybe because I don't have kids myself, I tend not to gravitate towards books with kids in them. Like all the characters in the book, I myself fell under Ava's spell. She was so cute and every scene she was in made me smile.
I think the Evanston River Otters are becoming my favorite team out of all the sports books I've read so far. Every time I dive into another book in the series I am always excited to come back to Zane, Ryan, Gabriel, Anders and all the others. I can't wait to see what Anders and Kelly's story will be like.
May 9, 2023
Taylor and Jamie were such a great couple! I loved everything about their story and they are definitely among my Brigham's favorites! Taylor's personality and prickly edges made me love him from the get go and he was a perfect match for a slightly flailing Jamie and his newfound attraction. The chemistry was visible from the get go and the story kept me hooked from the start. Loved it!
Narration in audio: Great performance. Elevated the story without overshadowing it in any way.
Narration in audio: Great performance. Elevated the story without overshadowing it in any way.
July 8, 2023
excellent romance, now I want the whole series
Rating: 4.5🌈
I backtracked to pick up this book after reading the wonderful new romance, The Husband Game : An M/M Hockey Romance (Relationship Goals Book 1). Those characters got together here first in Unwritten Rules and I needed that scene and first meeting.
But in Unwritten Rules, I got not only that first time sparking between Austin and his kitten, Charlie, (who’s an impactful character here), but the other characters in that novel. The ones that formed the foundation of Charlie’s and Austin’s found family.
And that special romance referred to is the one between former Olympic Gold Medalist figure skater Taylor Hollis and NHL Evanston River Otters hockey player Jamie Walsh. It’s a very heartwarming story, containing plot lines that weave together a multitude of issues . Vaughn’s characters deal, realistically, with late sexual awakening, being a single parent, complex family dynamics, and sports induced trauma.
Here it’s shown in two different aspects of how sports can injure its athletes. The outwardly inflicted injuries, the hits and physical damage taken from playing the game that lingers long after the players have quit. Then there’s the hidden damage, the quiet, yet equally devastating injuries that sometimes manifest itself throughout a lifetime of an athlete’s career. The author uses both Taylor and Charlie to illustrate different aspects of how each man internalized the pain and incredible stress that the international world of competitive figure ice skating puts an athlete through. Taylor chose to make poor relationship choices and let others treat him badly. But Charlie, due to a complicated adolescence and parental issues, developed anorexia, an eating disorder. One so severe he’s been hospitalized in critical condition.
There’s also homophobia in the locker room, broken marriage, and other serious topics. All of which are treated with respect and care by the author within the storylines of Unwritten Rules.
That’s a lot to think about and take in. But these characters, via an excellent narrative and great dialogue, fold them into their journey towards a new relationship and eventual family.
One thing I really appreciate in a romance is having a couple that communicates. There’s nothing more frustrating than having to write a review that says if they had just talked about whatever the issue was, then the book would have been better.
Luckily, that wasn’t the case. Both Taylor and Jamie are adults who talk about potential issues and figure out how they want to handle them together. Are there some moments where they face real challenges? Personal crises? Yes. But it makes for a great story and believable relationship.
We root for them harder.
And it was really interesting to get a different perspective on Charlie here. It’s a younger man we see ,who is still very much grappling with his anorexia, struggling with his therapy. It makes meeting the older man all the more special and satisfying in the other book.
The characters and players from the team are extremely well written and engaging. That goes for that adorable daughter, Asa Bear, too. I so enjoyed reading this book and getting to know all the surrounding cast of characters that I’ll be picking up the rest of the series while I wait for the release of the next Relationship Goals story.
I highly recommend you do the same!
Rules of the Game:
- [ ] Road Rules #1
- [ ] Bending the Rules #2
- [ ] Changing the Rules #3
- [x] Unwritten Rules #4
- [ ] Rules of Engagement #5
- [ ] Breaking the Rules #6
Connected to new series Relationship Goals.
Rating: 4.5🌈
I backtracked to pick up this book after reading the wonderful new romance, The Husband Game : An M/M Hockey Romance (Relationship Goals Book 1). Those characters got together here first in Unwritten Rules and I needed that scene and first meeting.
But in Unwritten Rules, I got not only that first time sparking between Austin and his kitten, Charlie, (who’s an impactful character here), but the other characters in that novel. The ones that formed the foundation of Charlie’s and Austin’s found family.
And that special romance referred to is the one between former Olympic Gold Medalist figure skater Taylor Hollis and NHL Evanston River Otters hockey player Jamie Walsh. It’s a very heartwarming story, containing plot lines that weave together a multitude of issues . Vaughn’s characters deal, realistically, with late sexual awakening, being a single parent, complex family dynamics, and sports induced trauma.
Here it’s shown in two different aspects of how sports can injure its athletes. The outwardly inflicted injuries, the hits and physical damage taken from playing the game that lingers long after the players have quit. Then there’s the hidden damage, the quiet, yet equally devastating injuries that sometimes manifest itself throughout a lifetime of an athlete’s career. The author uses both Taylor and Charlie to illustrate different aspects of how each man internalized the pain and incredible stress that the international world of competitive figure ice skating puts an athlete through. Taylor chose to make poor relationship choices and let others treat him badly. But Charlie, due to a complicated adolescence and parental issues, developed anorexia, an eating disorder. One so severe he’s been hospitalized in critical condition.
There’s also homophobia in the locker room, broken marriage, and other serious topics. All of which are treated with respect and care by the author within the storylines of Unwritten Rules.
That’s a lot to think about and take in. But these characters, via an excellent narrative and great dialogue, fold them into their journey towards a new relationship and eventual family.
One thing I really appreciate in a romance is having a couple that communicates. There’s nothing more frustrating than having to write a review that says if they had just talked about whatever the issue was, then the book would have been better.
Luckily, that wasn’t the case. Both Taylor and Jamie are adults who talk about potential issues and figure out how they want to handle them together. Are there some moments where they face real challenges? Personal crises? Yes. But it makes for a great story and believable relationship.
We root for them harder.
And it was really interesting to get a different perspective on Charlie here. It’s a younger man we see ,who is still very much grappling with his anorexia, struggling with his therapy. It makes meeting the older man all the more special and satisfying in the other book.
The characters and players from the team are extremely well written and engaging. That goes for that adorable daughter, Asa Bear, too. I so enjoyed reading this book and getting to know all the surrounding cast of characters that I’ll be picking up the rest of the series while I wait for the release of the next Relationship Goals story.
I highly recommend you do the same!
Rules of the Game:
- [ ] Road Rules #1
- [ ] Bending the Rules #2
- [ ] Changing the Rules #3
- [x] Unwritten Rules #4
- [ ] Rules of Engagement #5
- [ ] Breaking the Rules #6
Connected to new series Relationship Goals.
July 13, 2022
Unwritten Rules by Brigham Vaughn is the 3rd book in her Rules of the Game series. It is the story of Jamie and Taylor. Jamie plays professional hockey and has just been traded to the Evanston River Otters. He asked for the trade because his wife cheated on him with another player from his team and he just couldn’t play for them anymore. They had a daughter and luckily he was able to still stay near her when he went to his new team. Taylor was a professional ice skater and had won gold at the Olympics. He then quit competing and worked with students and also performed with traveling shows. They had something in common from the outset. Their fathers hated each other because they had both played professional hockey and had an accident that almost caused Taylor’s father his life, which he blamed on Jamie’s father. They first met at the Olympics and Jamie felt a spark for Taylor but he was still married. The story picks up 4 years later, after his divorce. Taylor has been hired by the River Otters to teach figure skating to the hockey players to help them with their footwork. They are both wary and don’t want to cause any problems for the team so they do well working together. Taylor has always wanted a family and someone who loves him but he has been hurt before. Jamie is wary of a new relationship because of his divorce, his daughter, and that he always thought he was straight. That is until he met Taylor. Their relationship continues from there, first as just getting together, but then as they develop deeper feelings, Jamie realizes he has to prove to Taylor that this is real so he starts coming out to his family and team. There is lots of angst involved as they work through their needs and what is happening, especially with their families and working to bring them together. I have really enjoyed this series. The main characters are very realistic and both are sweet as well as their love scenes are very hot. Jamie’s daughter is wonderful and as well as part of what brings them together. Their friends and what they are going through also added to the story as well as the family drama. I continue to learn about hockey and this one added some details about figure skating which I am more familiar with. All in all it was a great story and I highly recommend it. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series as well as more from Ms. Vaughn.
May 18, 2023
Performance: 5 Stars
Story: 4 Stars
This sports romance (hockey with a dash of figure skating) has all manner of family drama, but it's also not too heavy or overly angsty. At the top of that list is a sort of quasi-feud between the fathers of hockey player Jamie and retired figure skater (now coach) Taylor. The former hockey player fathers had an unfortunate on-ice run-in while competing years ago, and their sons internalized much of the fallout.
That's the premise of what makes this an enemies-to-lovers story - the fathers hating/resenting/being wary of each other and expecting the MCs to do the same - and honestly, it felt a little flimsy. (In an alternate universe, the fathers would make perfect MCs for their own HEA romance together!) But packed on top of that is Jamie's own unpacked drama of an ex-wife who had cheated with his best friend/teammate, and trying to raise his young daughter - who Taylor coaches in figure skating - amid that turmoil. So, no shortage of family drama.
Jamie and Taylor have considerable chemistry and, after fooling themselves into thinking they can keep things casual, do make a sweet couple. They share a whole lot of steamy times, which is a bit of sexual discovery for Jamie but not a huge focal point, and most of their relationship angst comes from their own baggage and feeling like their romance is forbidden, at least in the eyes of their fathers. The single father aspect is also crucial to the story, and credit to the author for making Jamie's daughter Ava so adorable and a fully developed character rather than a mere plot device.
One of the aspects of this story I enjoyed most was seeing MCs from the previous books popping up, since they all remain in each other's orbit being on the same hockey team. It made me want to go back and listen to player Gabriel and coach Lance's story again ("Changing the Rules"), which remains my favorite of the series.
Narrator James Edward Jones delivers another solid performance here, as he's been doing this whole series, and his voice makes for an easy, smooth listen. He provides each character with a distinct voice, does an especially great job voicing Ava, and his delicious French-Canadian accent for Gabriel remains on-point. I received a free review copy of this audio book and have left this honest review voluntarily.
Story: 4 Stars
This sports romance (hockey with a dash of figure skating) has all manner of family drama, but it's also not too heavy or overly angsty. At the top of that list is a sort of quasi-feud between the fathers of hockey player Jamie and retired figure skater (now coach) Taylor. The former hockey player fathers had an unfortunate on-ice run-in while competing years ago, and their sons internalized much of the fallout.
That's the premise of what makes this an enemies-to-lovers story - the fathers hating/resenting/being wary of each other and expecting the MCs to do the same - and honestly, it felt a little flimsy. (In an alternate universe, the fathers would make perfect MCs for their own HEA romance together!) But packed on top of that is Jamie's own unpacked drama of an ex-wife who had cheated with his best friend/teammate, and trying to raise his young daughter - who Taylor coaches in figure skating - amid that turmoil. So, no shortage of family drama.
Jamie and Taylor have considerable chemistry and, after fooling themselves into thinking they can keep things casual, do make a sweet couple. They share a whole lot of steamy times, which is a bit of sexual discovery for Jamie but not a huge focal point, and most of their relationship angst comes from their own baggage and feeling like their romance is forbidden, at least in the eyes of their fathers. The single father aspect is also crucial to the story, and credit to the author for making Jamie's daughter Ava so adorable and a fully developed character rather than a mere plot device.
One of the aspects of this story I enjoyed most was seeing MCs from the previous books popping up, since they all remain in each other's orbit being on the same hockey team. It made me want to go back and listen to player Gabriel and coach Lance's story again ("Changing the Rules"), which remains my favorite of the series.
Narrator James Edward Jones delivers another solid performance here, as he's been doing this whole series, and his voice makes for an easy, smooth listen. He provides each character with a distinct voice, does an especially great job voicing Ava, and his delicious French-Canadian accent for Gabriel remains on-point. I received a free review copy of this audio book and have left this honest review voluntarily.
July 11, 2022
*I kindly received an ARC from the author via Bookfunnel*
Unwritten Rules is the second book in this great series by Brigham Vaughn. I was really happy to have been given the chance to read an ARC of this book. I absolutely love her hockey books and this was another great one.
Jamie is a forward who has just been traded at his own request to the Evanston River Otters. He's been in a rather difficult divorce from his wife because she cheated on him with his best friend, who was also his teammate. It broke his heart to have to leave the team but he couldn't keep on playing next to the guy who broke his trust and friendship. He's got a very sweet daughter Ava, a bright 5-year old who means the world to him. She's taking figure skating classes taught by Taylor, ex-gold olympic medalist who has retired from the sport because it was taking to much out of him.
Jamie met Taylor 4 years ago at those same Olympic Games and had an immediate crush, but since he was still married at the time, he didn't do anything about it. Plus there was this huge problem being both their dads had a nasty past. Taylor's father still blames Jamie's for the accident that ended his hockey career.
When Taylor is hired by the management of the Otters to improve the guys' skills on the ice with figure skating, Jamie and Taylor get thrown together again. They start out on the wrong foot, but soon work things out between them and start a friendship that evolves in a sort of friends-with-benefits, but quickly turns into a lot more.
They decide to see where things go and give the relationship a chance.
What I loved most about this book is that there is no necessary drama. When there's a problem they talk about it. Of course there were some small hick-ups and hurdles along the way especially the main one being the feud between their fathers. But everything was handled in a mature way.
There are some really great side characters, like Taylors roommate Charlie, whom I hope will get his own book(hint,hint)😉 There's also Jake Malone, who's a real homophobe and I sooo hope he's secretly gay and gets a book too.
But it seems my favorite of the Otters will be next: Lindy! I've been waiting for his book since he was introduced. Can't wait to get my hands on that one!!!
Unwritten Rules is the second book in this great series by Brigham Vaughn. I was really happy to have been given the chance to read an ARC of this book. I absolutely love her hockey books and this was another great one.
Jamie is a forward who has just been traded at his own request to the Evanston River Otters. He's been in a rather difficult divorce from his wife because she cheated on him with his best friend, who was also his teammate. It broke his heart to have to leave the team but he couldn't keep on playing next to the guy who broke his trust and friendship. He's got a very sweet daughter Ava, a bright 5-year old who means the world to him. She's taking figure skating classes taught by Taylor, ex-gold olympic medalist who has retired from the sport because it was taking to much out of him.
Jamie met Taylor 4 years ago at those same Olympic Games and had an immediate crush, but since he was still married at the time, he didn't do anything about it. Plus there was this huge problem being both their dads had a nasty past. Taylor's father still blames Jamie's for the accident that ended his hockey career.
When Taylor is hired by the management of the Otters to improve the guys' skills on the ice with figure skating, Jamie and Taylor get thrown together again. They start out on the wrong foot, but soon work things out between them and start a friendship that evolves in a sort of friends-with-benefits, but quickly turns into a lot more.
They decide to see where things go and give the relationship a chance.
What I loved most about this book is that there is no necessary drama. When there's a problem they talk about it. Of course there were some small hick-ups and hurdles along the way especially the main one being the feud between their fathers. But everything was handled in a mature way.
There are some really great side characters, like Taylors roommate Charlie, whom I hope will get his own book(hint,hint)😉 There's also Jake Malone, who's a real homophobe and I sooo hope he's secretly gay and gets a book too.
But it seems my favorite of the Otters will be next: Lindy! I've been waiting for his book since he was introduced. Can't wait to get my hands on that one!!!
July 17, 2022
Two men from different worlds on the ice end up realizing that they have a connection despite the feud between their families. Their bond begins to form when Taylor is hired to teach the Evanston River Otters to skate as a way of sharpening their hockey skills. There are some complications for both men not the least of which is the fact that their fathers have ongoing hostility towards one another.
Taylor is lovely. He was an Olympic figure skater... then retired. He's been assisting his friend to recover from an eating disorder. He is sweet, caring, loves teaching skating... and really wants a family. Hell, he wants it all but has trouble believing that's in the cards for him.
Jamie Walsh is playing hockey and trying to take care of his daughter after a divorce sparked by his wife and friend cheating. Jamie was a lovely character. He always puts his daughter first and I really liked the way that he saw his sexual self-discovery just as part of his life. Sure, he had moments of insecurity about it - but I liked the way he and Taylor spoke about their futures and worked through problems rather than just building the drama
This book is really well written, and I greatly enjoyed getting to know the characters. Jamie’s progression was really great. It felt authentic to me. He didn't panic or over-react to the roadblocks that were thrown up in front of him.
The dynamics of the hockey team were interesting. There are a few players on the team who are in relationships with men. I thought it was great that the author explored what would happen in that kind of situation. It wasn't a sort of "gay Disneyland" approach...rather, the author explored some real-world consequences in terms of homophobia, media etc. I found the whole idea of a social media expert to be quite believable and I liked that there were real world consequences to the coming out of players.
Overall, the story was sweet and relatively low angst which I like a lot. The romance was believable and sweet, and the friendships were realistic.
Taylor is lovely. He was an Olympic figure skater... then retired. He's been assisting his friend to recover from an eating disorder. He is sweet, caring, loves teaching skating... and really wants a family. Hell, he wants it all but has trouble believing that's in the cards for him.
Jamie Walsh is playing hockey and trying to take care of his daughter after a divorce sparked by his wife and friend cheating. Jamie was a lovely character. He always puts his daughter first and I really liked the way that he saw his sexual self-discovery just as part of his life. Sure, he had moments of insecurity about it - but I liked the way he and Taylor spoke about their futures and worked through problems rather than just building the drama
This book is really well written, and I greatly enjoyed getting to know the characters. Jamie’s progression was really great. It felt authentic to me. He didn't panic or over-react to the roadblocks that were thrown up in front of him.
The dynamics of the hockey team were interesting. There are a few players on the team who are in relationships with men. I thought it was great that the author explored what would happen in that kind of situation. It wasn't a sort of "gay Disneyland" approach...rather, the author explored some real-world consequences in terms of homophobia, media etc. I found the whole idea of a social media expert to be quite believable and I liked that there were real world consequences to the coming out of players.
Overall, the story was sweet and relatively low angst which I like a lot. The romance was believable and sweet, and the friendships were realistic.
October 7, 2022
Four years ago, a young, married Jamie Walsh is on his way to join the Olympic hockey team and chances upon seeing Jamie Hollis perform and is blown away by his presence and the fact that he is inexplicably attracted to this young figure skater. They get a chance to speak and after a little obvious flirting on both of their parts, they realize they are the sons of bitter hockey rivals, Jamie's dad allegedly causing the end of Taylor's dad's career. They part ways, with Jamie stunned to realize his attraction to men, or rather, one man.
In this third book of the Rules of the Game series, we get to know Jamie, a newcomer to the Evanston Otters, who gets picked up by the team after his person life implodes. Taking the opportunity to run with this fresh start, he joins in with other members of his team to enhance his skating skills and practice becoming more graceful with lessons from a former Olympic medal-winning figure skater. As a young twenty-something, Taylor is using his skills as a figure skater to show some big, beefy hockey players how to augment their skating proficiency by teaching them to glide across the ice.
After some angst and fire, and a little forgiveness, Jamie and Taylor hook up. It does not take long to realize they could not fight the inevitable feelings for each other. How could they with Jamie being all that Taylor has ever wanted and with Jamie being so smitten with Taylor ever since that fateful day at the Olympics.
I really liked this book. I loved how the MC's were with each other. Taylor was so sweet with Jamie's daughter and Jamie was so endearing to Taylor. I was rooting for them from the beginning. I am so glad that in the end, Jamie and his ex buried the hatchet, and everyone all showed up for little Ava's party. It is awesome that so many people can get along peacefully for the children. Life is too short to hang onto grudges and resentments. I am looking forward to what else is in store for the other members of this team.
In this third book of the Rules of the Game series, we get to know Jamie, a newcomer to the Evanston Otters, who gets picked up by the team after his person life implodes. Taking the opportunity to run with this fresh start, he joins in with other members of his team to enhance his skating skills and practice becoming more graceful with lessons from a former Olympic medal-winning figure skater. As a young twenty-something, Taylor is using his skills as a figure skater to show some big, beefy hockey players how to augment their skating proficiency by teaching them to glide across the ice.
After some angst and fire, and a little forgiveness, Jamie and Taylor hook up. It does not take long to realize they could not fight the inevitable feelings for each other. How could they with Jamie being all that Taylor has ever wanted and with Jamie being so smitten with Taylor ever since that fateful day at the Olympics.
I really liked this book. I loved how the MC's were with each other. Taylor was so sweet with Jamie's daughter and Jamie was so endearing to Taylor. I was rooting for them from the beginning. I am so glad that in the end, Jamie and his ex buried the hatchet, and everyone all showed up for little Ava's party. It is awesome that so many people can get along peacefully for the children. Life is too short to hang onto grudges and resentments. I am looking forward to what else is in store for the other members of this team.
July 14, 2022
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It's not a hardship giving this book 5 stars, like the previous hockey books, it's a great written story with depth and very low drama. Even if you have no idea of hockey it's easy to read as the terminology is not overwhelming and taking away from the story.
Jamie and Taylor have on the first look all the necessary ingredients for your typical "enemies to lovers" thrope. Family who hate each other, bad run in at a previous Olympic, lots of stereotype misunderstandings.
But, the book is so much more. Jamie is still learning to trust his new teammates after the trade and the betrayal by his former best friend. He has joined custody of his daughter, tries to sort out his live and is thrown into a close proximity situation with Taylor, not knowing how to react.
Taylor is learning that not everything is black and white, finds that the one guy who could give him his dreams is the one he is not supposed to like, never the less develop deeper feelings for.
Both guys have chemistry, their road to the HEA is not too smooth but I like that the drama is on the low key side but still enough to feel with them. Nothing is happening miracilously but sorted out like you hope it happens in real life. They are acting like grown ups, not jocks fresh from college.
The book has also decent sub-plots, Taylor's friend Charlie who I do hope will get his story, a hint of things to come with the next couple and the always homophobe teammate. I know some people hope that he is just closeted but I hope the author is not falling into a cliche here, I want a full blown bust-up and him gone and never seen again.
It's not a hardship giving this book 5 stars, like the previous hockey books, it's a great written story with depth and very low drama. Even if you have no idea of hockey it's easy to read as the terminology is not overwhelming and taking away from the story.
Jamie and Taylor have on the first look all the necessary ingredients for your typical "enemies to lovers" thrope. Family who hate each other, bad run in at a previous Olympic, lots of stereotype misunderstandings.
But, the book is so much more. Jamie is still learning to trust his new teammates after the trade and the betrayal by his former best friend. He has joined custody of his daughter, tries to sort out his live and is thrown into a close proximity situation with Taylor, not knowing how to react.
Taylor is learning that not everything is black and white, finds that the one guy who could give him his dreams is the one he is not supposed to like, never the less develop deeper feelings for.
Both guys have chemistry, their road to the HEA is not too smooth but I like that the drama is on the low key side but still enough to feel with them. Nothing is happening miracilously but sorted out like you hope it happens in real life. They are acting like grown ups, not jocks fresh from college.
The book has also decent sub-plots, Taylor's friend Charlie who I do hope will get his story, a hint of things to come with the next couple and the always homophobe teammate. I know some people hope that he is just closeted but I hope the author is not falling into a cliche here, I want a full blown bust-up and him gone and never seen again.
May 14, 2023
I adored Taylor and Jamie and of course, Jamie's daughter Ava who was the most adorable 5-year-old.
Taylor was a great character to get to know, I really liked how he knew who he was and made no apologies for it, I was sad about how he'd been treated by past boyfriends and thought he was brave to take a chance on being with Jamie who wasn't ready to be out about his relationship with him. I liked how Jamie was completely happy to GOP with his feelings and not question his attraction to Taylor, he just accepted it and went with it, more than happy to try any new experiences that Taylor was willing to help him explore.
What starts off as a friends-with-benefits arrangement when neither Jamie nor Taylor can ignore the sexual tension between them soon becomes something neither of them expected. I really enjoyed seeing these two get together, I think they are definitely one of my favourite couples in this series.
The way the feud between their fathers tried to bleed into their relationship, especially at the start was annoying for me, I thought the way their fathers kept trying to get them to feel animosity towards each other because of their history in the ice was pretty selfish, especially for two grown men to want to keep that grudge going through their adult children. I'm glad Taylor and Jamie were bigger people than their parents and realised it wasn't their place to hold a grudge on their father's behalf.
I had the same issues with this narrator but I loved the story so much that it didn't annoy me as much as it did the first couple of books. I think this might be the best I've listened to so far of his narrations, so I'm either getting used to him or he's improving, or the story just overwrites the monotone.
Taylor was a great character to get to know, I really liked how he knew who he was and made no apologies for it, I was sad about how he'd been treated by past boyfriends and thought he was brave to take a chance on being with Jamie who wasn't ready to be out about his relationship with him. I liked how Jamie was completely happy to GOP with his feelings and not question his attraction to Taylor, he just accepted it and went with it, more than happy to try any new experiences that Taylor was willing to help him explore.
What starts off as a friends-with-benefits arrangement when neither Jamie nor Taylor can ignore the sexual tension between them soon becomes something neither of them expected. I really enjoyed seeing these two get together, I think they are definitely one of my favourite couples in this series.
The way the feud between their fathers tried to bleed into their relationship, especially at the start was annoying for me, I thought the way their fathers kept trying to get them to feel animosity towards each other because of their history in the ice was pretty selfish, especially for two grown men to want to keep that grudge going through their adult children. I'm glad Taylor and Jamie were bigger people than their parents and realised it wasn't their place to hold a grudge on their father's behalf.
I had the same issues with this narrator but I loved the story so much that it didn't annoy me as much as it did the first couple of books. I think this might be the best I've listened to so far of his narrations, so I'm either getting used to him or he's improving, or the story just overwrites the monotone.
July 11, 2022
Love this very queer Hockey team! I can only imagine how the real NHL would handle someone coming out at these rates…I suspect a lot of heads would explode. But stories like this give us a chance to dream.
Evanston is the team for second chances. And that was what Jamie really needed after his marriage and his relationship with his best friend blew up. Now he’s focusing on his game and his daughter.
Until Taylor comes on the scene. A figure skater who was hired to help the players with their skills, and one that turned Jamie’s head years ago. One problem, their fathers have been embroiled in a feud for years. The second problem, Jamie isn’t out.
It takes a beat for these two to make peace over their family feud for the sake of their jobs, and the fact that they find it hard to deny their attraction doesn’t make things easier. But thanks to a pretty adorable 5-year-old, they find themselves together more and more. Now to figure out how to make it work with some pretty big hurdles staring them down.
These two are super sweet as a couple. There are hiccups along the way, but there’s no denying that they’ve found the exact partner and family they’ve always wanted in the other. A hot DILF and perfect Stepdad material, can’t ask for anything better.
I loved the progression of this story, it wasn’t too angsty (most of the angst came from anticipation that there would be angst).
4.5 cozy stars
< ARC provided by Neon Rainbow and this is my honest review >
Evanston is the team for second chances. And that was what Jamie really needed after his marriage and his relationship with his best friend blew up. Now he’s focusing on his game and his daughter.
Until Taylor comes on the scene. A figure skater who was hired to help the players with their skills, and one that turned Jamie’s head years ago. One problem, their fathers have been embroiled in a feud for years. The second problem, Jamie isn’t out.
It takes a beat for these two to make peace over their family feud for the sake of their jobs, and the fact that they find it hard to deny their attraction doesn’t make things easier. But thanks to a pretty adorable 5-year-old, they find themselves together more and more. Now to figure out how to make it work with some pretty big hurdles staring them down.
These two are super sweet as a couple. There are hiccups along the way, but there’s no denying that they’ve found the exact partner and family they’ve always wanted in the other. A hot DILF and perfect Stepdad material, can’t ask for anything better.
I loved the progression of this story, it wasn’t too angsty (most of the angst came from anticipation that there would be angst).
4.5 cozy stars
< ARC provided by Neon Rainbow and this is my honest review >
July 15, 2022
I love love stories where the main characters are normal men with everyday issues to deal with like all normal people, who have to juggle family friction, work pressures, but who manage to turn moments of everyday normality into moments of pure love, deep respect and mutual support.
Taylor may have won a gold medal in the Olympics, but at what cost; Jamie may have a full bank account and a big house, but he has had to sacrifice his marriage. Yet they both dream of nothing more than a quiet corner around the breakfast table, possibly with two or more children. And that is the beauty of this story: love means sharing your life with the person you want to return to at night, who holds your hand when you feel you are unable to cope with adversity, not eliminating it but giving you the tools to overcome it.
Of course, little Anna makes the whole plot even sweeter, and in front of the innocence and simplicity of the little girl's worldview, no adult can resist.
Pay attention to some of the themes covered: marital betrayal, eating disorders. The author deals with these issues without hiding them but also without going into morbid details. Unfortunately, these are events that can happen in real life, and Taylor and Jamie show all their vulnerability and humanity precisely when they come up against these trials.
I could go on and on about this book, which I received a courtesy copy of and enjoyed very much. But I invite you to read it. I feel I can recommend it.
Taylor may have won a gold medal in the Olympics, but at what cost; Jamie may have a full bank account and a big house, but he has had to sacrifice his marriage. Yet they both dream of nothing more than a quiet corner around the breakfast table, possibly with two or more children. And that is the beauty of this story: love means sharing your life with the person you want to return to at night, who holds your hand when you feel you are unable to cope with adversity, not eliminating it but giving you the tools to overcome it.
Of course, little Anna makes the whole plot even sweeter, and in front of the innocence and simplicity of the little girl's worldview, no adult can resist.
Pay attention to some of the themes covered: marital betrayal, eating disorders. The author deals with these issues without hiding them but also without going into morbid details. Unfortunately, these are events that can happen in real life, and Taylor and Jamie show all their vulnerability and humanity precisely when they come up against these trials.
I could go on and on about this book, which I received a courtesy copy of and enjoyed very much. But I invite you to read it. I feel I can recommend it.
July 17, 2022
This a very well written story with depth and low drama. From the teaser and the first few chapters there were all of the necessary ingredients for a typical "enemies to lovers" story, which is what I expected with families who hate each other, a previous run in that did not go well, and lots of stereotype misunderstandings. This book is all of this but also so much more. So many aspects of the story line that felt like “real life”; it was disordered, messy and beautiful as life tends to be. The characters in this story have a lot of emotional baggage that is worked through during the course of the book. The way the issues were handled is amazing, and makes you really like and respect the characters. Jamie has betrayals from his previous relationship he has buried; Taylor has self-worth and insecurities from his previous relationships that haven’t been delt with. Jamie and Taylor bring their emotional baggage to the surface, and confront the issues so that they can move on and find the happiness they want. They each grow as the story develops. The sub-plots of a precocious child, a roommate with health issues, fathers with a previous “history” who hate each other, and the “enemies to lovers” elements round out the entire book. This book is very well written and a pleasure to read! Can’t wait to read more by this author. I was provided a copy of this book by the author, and am leaving this review that reflects my opinion of the book voluntarily.
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