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Rules of the Game #5
Breaking the Rules
Rule #1: Don't fall in love with your agent.
Trevor Underhill is a bottom D-pair grinder. A pest. The kind of player who makes it possible for the talent to score.
Off the ice, he looks out for himself and never trusts anyone but his sister to have his back.
Fresh off an ankle injury and annoyed that his endorsement deals keep falling through, he’s tired of his stuffy, boring agent telling him to clean up his act and grow up.
Love is the last thing he’s looking for with anyone.
Rule #2: Don’t give up on second chances.
Former player Wade Cannon spent years in the closet until his retirement.
Now with a successful career as an agent and an eleven-year-old son, his priorities are work and his kid.
After the guy he was supposed to spend the rest of his life with bailed on them, he doesn’t trust anyone to stick around.
When members of the Evanston Otters team come to him for help, he and Trevor wind up working closely together.
Frustration leads to sizzling chemistry and an unexpected connection.
Falling in love with a client could jeopardize Wade’s career just as an explosive discovery threatens not only the Otters’ Cup win, but the very foundation of the team.
TRIGGER WARNING:
Contains on page scenes of domestic violence.
Trevor Underhill is a bottom D-pair grinder. A pest. The kind of player who makes it possible for the talent to score.
Off the ice, he looks out for himself and never trusts anyone but his sister to have his back.
Fresh off an ankle injury and annoyed that his endorsement deals keep falling through, he’s tired of his stuffy, boring agent telling him to clean up his act and grow up.
Love is the last thing he’s looking for with anyone.
Rule #2: Don’t give up on second chances.
Former player Wade Cannon spent years in the closet until his retirement.
Now with a successful career as an agent and an eleven-year-old son, his priorities are work and his kid.
After the guy he was supposed to spend the rest of his life with bailed on them, he doesn’t trust anyone to stick around.
When members of the Evanston Otters team come to him for help, he and Trevor wind up working closely together.
Frustration leads to sizzling chemistry and an unexpected connection.
Falling in love with a client could jeopardize Wade’s career just as an explosive discovery threatens not only the Otters’ Cup win, but the very foundation of the team.
TRIGGER WARNING:
Contains on page scenes of domestic violence.
533 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 27, 2022
About the author
Brigham Vaughn
62 books526 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 134 reviews
April 7, 2023
4.5
I have absolutely LOVED this series!
It was so good to see Jack Malone get what he deserved but I would have liked more details about exactly what came of everything.
Every character and couple in this series has been great and every story has been so enjoyable, especially how they're all interlinked and built on each other so you really get a good feel for the characters and community.
Very excited for The Husband Game to come out for Charlie's story.
I have absolutely LOVED this series!
It was so good to see Jack Malone get what he deserved but I would have liked more details about exactly what came of everything.
Every character and couple in this series has been great and every story has been so enjoyable, especially how they're all interlinked and built on each other so you really get a good feel for the characters and community.
Very excited for The Husband Game to come out for Charlie's story.
July 26, 2023
Rote but pleasant
age-gap/hurt-comfort/fathers
hot hockey romance.
age-gap/hurt-comfort/fathers
hot hockey romance.
July 8, 2023
This can be summarized as a gay Jerry Maguire dating his client. 🫤
December 24, 2022
Breaking The Rules is the 5th and final book of the Rules of The Game series by Brigham Vaughn. Although this could be readcas a standalone, I strongly recommend reading all the books for more context.
I feel like Brigham's books are always as much about the plot as it is about the love story, and it is so enjoyable! With Breaking The Rules, we are diving in a very emotional and possibly dangerous situation (please see trigger warning). The aweful things athetes can get away with just because they are public figures and make milions is very troubling. I'm so happy Brigham decided to tackle that subject and I hope it can help people realise what's wrong with the sports industry.
Trevor's image has not always been the "cleanest". His past is haunting him and he's seen as a little bit reckless, and therefore his agent, Wade, and he butt heads quite a bit in the beginning. But once the trust is established, both men discover that they are not that different from one another. They both had to work hard to get where they are and the respect they develop for each other eventually leads to more than player/agent relationship.
Wade being a single dad has a lot on his plate and feels like he's not often enough at home with his kid. It really warmed my heart seeing Trevor connect with Braden the way he did. And what a great dad Wade is! Having to deal with a career while being a single parent to a kid with special needs must be very hard. He deserve his HEA and Trevor is the perfect guy to complete his family.
What a great conclusion to this wonderful series. Lots of humour, good hockey (Brigham has great hockey scenes in her books), a beautiful relationship built on trust and great heat. Brigham has such a way with words and I'm looking forward to what's next for her! Also, little shout out to Coach Daniels. What a man!!!
I feel like Brigham's books are always as much about the plot as it is about the love story, and it is so enjoyable! With Breaking The Rules, we are diving in a very emotional and possibly dangerous situation (please see trigger warning). The aweful things athetes can get away with just because they are public figures and make milions is very troubling. I'm so happy Brigham decided to tackle that subject and I hope it can help people realise what's wrong with the sports industry.
Trevor's image has not always been the "cleanest". His past is haunting him and he's seen as a little bit reckless, and therefore his agent, Wade, and he butt heads quite a bit in the beginning. But once the trust is established, both men discover that they are not that different from one another. They both had to work hard to get where they are and the respect they develop for each other eventually leads to more than player/agent relationship.
Wade being a single dad has a lot on his plate and feels like he's not often enough at home with his kid. It really warmed my heart seeing Trevor connect with Braden the way he did. And what a great dad Wade is! Having to deal with a career while being a single parent to a kid with special needs must be very hard. He deserve his HEA and Trevor is the perfect guy to complete his family.
What a great conclusion to this wonderful series. Lots of humour, good hockey (Brigham has great hockey scenes in her books), a beautiful relationship built on trust and great heat. Brigham has such a way with words and I'm looking forward to what's next for her! Also, little shout out to Coach Daniels. What a man!!!
March 14, 2024
BREAKING THE RULES concludes the RULES OF THE GAME series and I loved it just as much as the rest of the series! Trevor has been a bit of a question mark so far so I really enjoyed seeing more of him and getting to know the person under the cocky, easy going persona.
Wade was a great partner for Trevor because he saw his potential, always supported and believed in him, and he became a safe place for Trevor to lean into. I also loved Wade's gentle parenting of his 11 year old son and how he always communicated with him. They had a really sweet relationship and I liked seeing how Trevor slowly started to connect with Braden as well.
I'm sad to see this series ending, but thankfully there's a new spin off series with the Toronto team that I'll be jumping right into.
Content Warning: domestic violence (not between MCs)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Favorite Quotes:
There was something luxurious about being around Wade, like he rounded off the sharp edges of the world that Trevor usually bumped into.
Wade was a great partner for Trevor because he saw his potential, always supported and believed in him, and he became a safe place for Trevor to lean into. I also loved Wade's gentle parenting of his 11 year old son and how he always communicated with him. They had a really sweet relationship and I liked seeing how Trevor slowly started to connect with Braden as well.
I'm sad to see this series ending, but thankfully there's a new spin off series with the Toronto team that I'll be jumping right into.
Content Warning: domestic violence (not between MCs)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Favorite Quotes:
There was something luxurious about being around Wade, like he rounded off the sharp edges of the world that Trevor usually bumped into.
December 27, 2022
What I loved about this book, especially in the first bit, was the way Trevor and Wade would come together. They weren't enemies, but they butted heads and fought, and their first kiss and their first "more than a kiss" were angry and explosive!
I was so pulled into their love story. Wade is a single dad, and Trevor's agent. And neither of them have had a relationship in a long time, if ever. But they didn't really fight it as they fell in love. And I enjoyed every minute- also Trevor was good with Wade's kid.
Another big part of this story is everyone trying to get rid of a menace on their team. If you've read the rest of the series, you'll know what I'm talking about. If not, I think you could still read this on it's own. The subject matter coming up around this situation is very serious and made me cry. Don't worry though- everything turns out okay and we get a happy ending, a very good one.
I was so pulled into their love story. Wade is a single dad, and Trevor's agent. And neither of them have had a relationship in a long time, if ever. But they didn't really fight it as they fell in love. And I enjoyed every minute- also Trevor was good with Wade's kid.
Another big part of this story is everyone trying to get rid of a menace on their team. If you've read the rest of the series, you'll know what I'm talking about. If not, I think you could still read this on it's own. The subject matter coming up around this situation is very serious and made me cry. Don't worry though- everything turns out okay and we get a happy ending, a very good one.
December 22, 2022
This is part of a series and while it can stand alone, the characters and world will be familiar to readers of previous books, and it definitely adds to the experience to have that familiarity. This one has tropes: an age gap, enemies to lovers, a player & his agent forbidden romance angle. It’s also a fraught and ultimately highly idealized story about the kind of hockey culture the world deserves but does not yet have, beyond these pages. That narrative really felt, to me, like the heart of the story, and seeing it through Trevor’s eyes was rewarding. As far as the central couple of this story goes, Trevor won me over almost immediately: his bluster and snark barely cover a heart of gold and his “bad” behavior is … not actually anything bad. It was much harder initially for me to like Wade, who starts off as a judgmental, self-righteous stick-in-the-mud and… gets better, to be fair to him. He’s better at being a supportive partner than he ever was at being Trevor’s agent. To be honest, my favorite thing about him is his awesome relationship with his teenage son (a compelling character in his own right). The physical chemistry between Trevor and Wade is super hot as well, and the initial enemies-to-lovers vibe is solid. They end up working well together, but tbh my favorite part of the story is seeing Trevor come into his own, not just with a romantic partner, but also in getting the chance to see how his team values him and confront some traumas from his past.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book
December 27, 2022
This series improves from book to book.
When I thought it wasn't possible to improve, Brigham Vaughn shows that it's possible
Trevor is one of the bad boys on the team until he is confronted with his agent, Wade Cannon.
Gradually they are getting close to each other, and the erratic behavior of a teammate brings them even closer to get proof against him.
The chemistry between the two is wonderful and little by little Trevor starts to believe in himself and in the possibility to be happy
I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book
When I thought it wasn't possible to improve, Brigham Vaughn shows that it's possible
Trevor is one of the bad boys on the team until he is confronted with his agent, Wade Cannon.
Gradually they are getting close to each other, and the erratic behavior of a teammate brings them even closer to get proof against him.
The chemistry between the two is wonderful and little by little Trevor starts to believe in himself and in the possibility to be happy
I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book
December 5, 2023
Excellent Addition to the Series.
What a great addition to the series. The rest of the books are just as fantastic... all emotional roller coasters... with some hot and steamy twists and turns. This one has everything in it. There's forbidden love, intrigue, romance and it's pretty hot to boot! The emotions written into the book are so beautifully real and well described. Neither Trevor or Wade are looking for love but that’s what they find, it was lovely to see the chemistry develop between them. It’s almost a book of two halves, what happens before they get together and what happens after. On one hand it's the perfect story of two unexpected people falling in love and just enjoying each other. However, there's also a darker side to the story, one involving domestic abuse. I loved Wade's and Trevor's resilience, in exposing the matter. Trevor's so brave, willing to put his reputation at stake, for the sake of others, he's a pretty strong character. I loved how confident he was and not particularly worried about other people's perception of him. He walked his own path, spoke his mind, and wasn't bothered about conforming or being popular. The ending was first class, probably unrealistic, as the author admits, but it would be nice if incidents like this could be solved like they were in the story. I've just listened to the audible version of this, and James Edward Jones does a fantastic job in his narration. He truly brings all of the tension, emotions and feelings to life. He portrays Wade and Trevor beautifully. Loved it. 5*s across the board.
What a great addition to the series. The rest of the books are just as fantastic... all emotional roller coasters... with some hot and steamy twists and turns. This one has everything in it. There's forbidden love, intrigue, romance and it's pretty hot to boot! The emotions written into the book are so beautifully real and well described. Neither Trevor or Wade are looking for love but that’s what they find, it was lovely to see the chemistry develop between them. It’s almost a book of two halves, what happens before they get together and what happens after. On one hand it's the perfect story of two unexpected people falling in love and just enjoying each other. However, there's also a darker side to the story, one involving domestic abuse. I loved Wade's and Trevor's resilience, in exposing the matter. Trevor's so brave, willing to put his reputation at stake, for the sake of others, he's a pretty strong character. I loved how confident he was and not particularly worried about other people's perception of him. He walked his own path, spoke his mind, and wasn't bothered about conforming or being popular. The ending was first class, probably unrealistic, as the author admits, but it would be nice if incidents like this could be solved like they were in the story. I've just listened to the audible version of this, and James Edward Jones does a fantastic job in his narration. He truly brings all of the tension, emotions and feelings to life. He portrays Wade and Trevor beautifully. Loved it. 5*s across the board.
December 24, 2022
This is a great finale for the series. This is a bit of an age gap romance and deals with the serious issue of domestic violence and how organizations will cover for a well known athlete. I really enjoyed Trevor and Noah's dynamic and how they slowly get to know to each other and realize that some of their preconceived ideas about each other were wrong. Noah is D-man for the Otters and is a bit of a rebel who wants to enjoy life after helping to raise his sister, and Wade is a former hockey player who is now an agent and single father of a son with ADHD. Trevor at first thinks that Wade is not working hard enough to get him endorsements and Wade thinks that Trevor needs to make better choices and project a better image. They get to know each other better when trying to find incriminating evidence of sexual harassment against Malone, another Otters player. The sexual tension between them ramps up until it blows up in Wade's office one night. This reduces some of the tension between them and they get to know each other better. Wade opens up about the difficulties of being a single parent with his job, and Trevor opens up about his difficult childhood. Trevor gets to know Wade's son and soon forms a bond with him and Wade is impressed with how well Trevor relates to his son. Things will soon come to a head with Malone and the team is in the playoffs. Will Trevor and Wade's relationship bear up under the pressure?
December 19, 2022
I'm always so happy to read a Brigham Vaughn book and to say I was thrilled to get the opportunity to review her latest, is putting it mildly. I love reading about the strong bond between the members of the Evanston Otters hockey team. To see them fall in love one by one and find their HEA.
When Trevor and Wade met for the first time they immediately butt heads. Wade, an agent has taken Trevor on as a client to help him with endorsements and other things. Which is not an easy task as Trevor tends to get into trouble more than he needs. He's a single dad to Braden, having been left by his ex-boyfriend on the day of Bradens birth 11 years ago. He hasn't dated since, just had hook-ups when the need was there.
Trevor, a D-man for his team, also had a lot of grief in his past that he keeps hidden. He worked really hard to come back in the team after being injured and is ready to get back out there and win a Cup. He's never been in a relationship either and thinks of himself as not being the person for something permanent.
When Trevor and his team come to Wade for help with a teammate who turns out to be a real horrible person, it's Trevor who puts his career on the line to get information on him. Wade and Trevor start working together and while at the beginning they butt heads, their relationship changes and turns into something deep and loving. Neither expected this to happen, but they didn't fight it.
All the books are stand alone's but in my opinion it's better to read the books in order as this one is the conclusion to finally getting rid of a hateful teammate.
*I kindly received a copy of this book by the author via Bookfunnel. This is my honest review.*
When Trevor and Wade met for the first time they immediately butt heads. Wade, an agent has taken Trevor on as a client to help him with endorsements and other things. Which is not an easy task as Trevor tends to get into trouble more than he needs. He's a single dad to Braden, having been left by his ex-boyfriend on the day of Bradens birth 11 years ago. He hasn't dated since, just had hook-ups when the need was there.
Trevor, a D-man for his team, also had a lot of grief in his past that he keeps hidden. He worked really hard to come back in the team after being injured and is ready to get back out there and win a Cup. He's never been in a relationship either and thinks of himself as not being the person for something permanent.
When Trevor and his team come to Wade for help with a teammate who turns out to be a real horrible person, it's Trevor who puts his career on the line to get information on him. Wade and Trevor start working together and while at the beginning they butt heads, their relationship changes and turns into something deep and loving. Neither expected this to happen, but they didn't fight it.
All the books are stand alone's but in my opinion it's better to read the books in order as this one is the conclusion to finally getting rid of a hateful teammate.
*I kindly received a copy of this book by the author via Bookfunnel. This is my honest review.*
December 27, 2022
Breaking the Rules is the fifth book in the Rules of the Game series. It read well as a standalone but you’ll get more enjoyment reading the series in order. We had met both of them before in previous books. Trevor needs to clean up his reputation. Wade is the person to do that but these two are at each other in the beginning. Wade is a single dad but feels like he’s never there for his kid. The character building and relationship dynamic was fantastic. Loved, loved, loved Wade and Trevor together. Overall, a fantastic read, well written with pacing that hooked me and kept me flipping the pages.
December 27, 2022
I must admit it took me awhile to warm up to both Wade and Trevor. These two men had strong opinions, big attitudes, and lots of experience pushing people away. They also had an electric dislike for one another which made the steamy scenes so much hotter. I loved how their love story played out and I wish the "issue" was always resolved like it was in this book. You absolutely have to read this series in order because the overlapping "issue" starts in book one really.
December 18, 2022
Breaking the Rules by Brigham Vaughn is the fifth and final book in the Rules of the Game m/m hockey series, and wow, this is the way to wrap up an amazing set of stories.
Defenseman Trevor Underhill, aka the Undertaker, has always held himself a bit in reserve from his teammates and his few friends. When he gets looped into taking action against a guy who should, by all accounts, have been a friend, he realizes how much he’s been missing.
Trevor’s agent, Wade Cannon, has rubbed him the wrong way, seeming to rain on his partying and life style. But when the two start to work together, they discover the other isn’t really what they’d originally seemed.
Brigham Vaughn’s story is completely engrossing, and the characters are all well-drawn and engaging. I couldn’t put Breaking the Rules down, and love this universe Ms Vaughn has created. She writes her characters warmly and movingly, and the challenges they face feel real and meaningful. Their successes give readers vicarious satisfaction as well as real hope for a better future. I eagerly await more from Ms Vaughn.
January 10, 2023
While I'm sad this series is over I'm pleased with how it all turned out. The author handled the tying up of loose ends masterfully. And I'm super excited that we will be getting Ryan and Zane's story, in full, and that a character I've been hoping would show up again is getting a book in a new series. I can't wait to devour these additions to the story!
November 19, 2023
3.5 for Trevor and Wade, 4 stars as we close out a series long storyline.
I’m sad we’ve come to the end of our time with the awesome and fun team that is the Evanston River Otters but I am so happy that the secondary story involving Jack Malone is finally wrapped up as it has been a long time since I’ve hated an imaginary person that much.
Trevor and Wade are agent/client with a contentious relationship at the start of the book before a late night working together takes a turn. While they were sweet together, Wade’s son is a scene stealer whenever he was around and I found myself like Wade more because of his son. I enjoyed getting to know more about Underhill as much of the series he was talked about but hardly seen as he recovered from an ankle injury. My favourite part of this book was finally seeing Malone get what he deserves. I am excited for Charlie’s spinoff book after a little teaser near the end as we jump back to the Toronto Fisher Cats.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this audiobook.
I’m sad we’ve come to the end of our time with the awesome and fun team that is the Evanston River Otters but I am so happy that the secondary story involving Jack Malone is finally wrapped up as it has been a long time since I’ve hated an imaginary person that much.
Trevor and Wade are agent/client with a contentious relationship at the start of the book before a late night working together takes a turn. While they were sweet together, Wade’s son is a scene stealer whenever he was around and I found myself like Wade more because of his son. I enjoyed getting to know more about Underhill as much of the series he was talked about but hardly seen as he recovered from an ankle injury. My favourite part of this book was finally seeing Malone get what he deserves. I am excited for Charlie’s spinoff book after a little teaser near the end as we jump back to the Toronto Fisher Cats.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this audiobook.
December 23, 2022
Breaking the Rules by Brigham Vaughn is the 5th and final book in her Rules of the Game series. I would suggest that you read the others in the series first as all of the characters in the previous books appear in this one as well as there is a continuing plot line. This is the story of two men, Trevor and Wade, who have had some heartbreak in their pasts but over a season of professional hockey find trust and love in each other. Trevor is a defenseman for the Evanston Otters and has had some trauma when he was growing up. He’s a good player but doesn’t seem to have a lot of confidence in his abilities, even though he keeps proving that he fits with the team. Wade is his agent and has a son that means everything to him but he also has some angst in his life because of what his partner did to him when the adoption went through. At the beginning of the story the two men clash because Trevor doesn’t believe that Wade is finding him endorsement deals and Wade thinks the ones Trevor wants don’t fit him. This leads to a confrontation where the love/hate finally wins out and they kiss and that leads to other things. Trevor has never been in a relationship and he’s not sure he could be in a long term one. Wade has so many commitments between his job and his son that he hasn’t had time for one and also knows he shouldn’t start one with a client. Both agree that this is a one time occurrence, but of course, it doesn’t end up that way because they both can’t seem to stay away from each other. As time goes by they realize they want to be together and decide to give the relationship a try. Luckily it works out and they both fall in love. I have really enjoyed all of the books in this series. The characters are well developed and you can feel their angst which makes it even sweeter when they finally find a way to be together. Having met most of the Otters in previous books is great because you know their personalities and that they are good people and are willing to help Trevor and Wade when they can. It was also fun that so many of the players are LGBTQ+ and as they got together the team became the gayest one in the league. I also like that Ms. Vaughn put a lot of hockey terms in a glossary before the book starts so for those that aren’t familiar with the game, like me, can understand what is happening since she puts a lot of play by play of the games she writes about as the story develops. In addition to these, there is the ongoing story line about Jack Malone, a hockey player that isn’t a very nice person, and he finally gets what is coming to him in a somewhat unexpected way. Finally I really like the message that this books bring across which is that people with integrity will come out as winners, even if the battle is hard, and that it doesn’t matter if you are straight or gay as long as you do the right thing. I highly recommend this book and I am glad that the author is going to start a spin off series because I really enjoyed this one.
February 9, 2023
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Phenomenal. My favorite of the series so far. This one just blew me away!!
If you love a character that has as many layers as an onion, is wildly misunderstood, and desperately needs to be loved, Trevor is it. Wade is perfect for him and is exactly who Trevor needs in a stable mature lover who SEES him for who he really is... Oh, and dicks him down thoroughly in the process 😂🔥🥵 They didn't like each other very much in the beginning but it was a tangle of miscommunication built on assumptions and appearances. Both of them quickly realized they were underestimating and misunderstanding each other and once they got on the same page, HOO BOY.
As sometimes happens I think I started with the best of the bunch (Book 6) but I will say, not only is the writing very good throughout the series, the sex is 🔥 in all of them, AND the hockey writing is really good too 🥳 #yay But most importantly this author is touching on some really hard topics with these stories - CTE/TBI, domestic abuse, family tragedy, etc - with a deft and tactful touch.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Series Summary/Thoughts:
⚪️ Road Rules - Not yet released, coming March 2023 after revision from the original Prolific Works version
~ Zane & Ryan's Story (Best friends/teammates to lovers; team captain/teammate relationship)
Can't wait for this one, these two are a goddamn delight in the other books and really want their story!!
⚪️ Bending the Rules
~ Noah & Simon (Second chance romance/college crush/coming out)
Least excited about this but will read to complete the series. Noah seems lovely I just don't usually enjoy the second chance trope.
✅ Changing the Rules
~ Lance & Gabriel (Coach/Player; Deals with TBI & CTE)
Emotional and beautiful story. Romantic and sexy and handles the CTE topic well, but with some minor gripes I need to try to articulate in a review. 🌟🌟🌟🌟
⚪️ Unwritten Rules
~ Jamie & Taylor (Enemies-toLovers/Bi Awakening/Hockey player & Figure skater: "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")
✅ Rules of Engagement
~ Kelly & Anders (Best friend's little brother; surviving family tragedy and moving on with a new love.) 🌟🌟🌟🌟
✅ Breaking the Rules
~ Wade & Trevor (Agent/Troubled Player; Domestic abuse, not w/couple) 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Phenomenal. My favorite of the series so far. This one just blew me away!!
If you love a character that has as many layers as an onion, is wildly misunderstood, and desperately needs to be loved, Trevor is it. Wade is perfect for him and is exactly who Trevor needs in a stable mature lover who SEES him for who he really is... Oh, and dicks him down thoroughly in the process 😂🔥🥵 They didn't like each other very much in the beginning but it was a tangle of miscommunication built on assumptions and appearances. Both of them quickly realized they were underestimating and misunderstanding each other and once they got on the same page, HOO BOY.
As sometimes happens I think I started with the best of the bunch (Book 6) but I will say, not only is the writing very good throughout the series, the sex is 🔥 in all of them, AND the hockey writing is really good too 🥳 #yay But most importantly this author is touching on some really hard topics with these stories - CTE/TBI, domestic abuse, family tragedy, etc - with a deft and tactful touch.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Series Summary/Thoughts:
⚪️ Road Rules - Not yet released, coming March 2023 after revision from the original Prolific Works version
~ Zane & Ryan's Story (Best friends/teammates to lovers; team captain/teammate relationship)
Can't wait for this one, these two are a goddamn delight in the other books and really want their story!!
⚪️ Bending the Rules
~ Noah & Simon (Second chance romance/college crush/coming out)
Least excited about this but will read to complete the series. Noah seems lovely I just don't usually enjoy the second chance trope.
✅ Changing the Rules
~ Lance & Gabriel (Coach/Player; Deals with TBI & CTE)
Emotional and beautiful story. Romantic and sexy and handles the CTE topic well, but with some minor gripes I need to try to articulate in a review. 🌟🌟🌟🌟
⚪️ Unwritten Rules
~ Jamie & Taylor (Enemies-toLovers/Bi Awakening/Hockey player & Figure skater: "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")
✅ Rules of Engagement
~ Kelly & Anders (Best friend's little brother; surviving family tragedy and moving on with a new love.) 🌟🌟🌟🌟
✅ Breaking the Rules
~ Wade & Trevor (Agent/Troubled Player; Domestic abuse, not w/couple) 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
December 30, 2022
I am glad to be finished with this series because, as apparently I have stated repeatedly, none of the characters nor pairings in this author's hockey universe, with one notable exception of Zane and Ryan in Road Rules, have worked for me.
This was also true for Trevor and Wade's characters and their relationship. I liked Trevor well enough as a side character in previous books but apparently it only lasted until he got his own story. There was nothing wrong with either his or Wade's characterizations that I could pinpoint to as the reason why I did not enjoy either of their characters. I was simply not feeling them for whatever reason.
The antagonistic opening of their relationship read as somewhat of a stretch and childish in nature. The set up with Trevor becoming a spy for the Otters' cause of ousting Jack Malone from the team in order to get him and Wade working more closer together felt incredibly contrived and unrealistic on top of being unfair to Trevor. Once they started hooking up and dating I was bothered by the amount of sex scenes between the two. I can't say their number was higher that what is the usual fare for m/m romance objectively but considering I did not enjoy their relationship it made sense I wouldn't enjoy their sex scenes either. It also felt strange to me how their substantial age difference was never touched upon and it was only mentioned once as an offhand thought on Trevor's side.
I can appreciate what the author tried to do with this last installment and tying up Jack Malone's villain arc which spanned through the series. Team's resident homophobe, who on top of being a cheater also turns out to be at the end of this story. In this author's hockey world there are hockey players like Zane, Ryan, Trevor and others, coaches and even agents like Wade, who are willing to take a stand for what is right instead of keeping the status quo in the world of hockey (and beyond it) which usually protects rapists and abusers. Sadly the reality remains quite different to fiction and instead the ending of this series making me feel warm and fuzzy it just makes me more aware how far apart reality and fiction are in this case. But this is my personal issue and I am sure there will be many more readers who will more than appreciate this kind of ending to the series.
I am still interested in reading story so I will probably be back once their story is published. And I might revisit Road Rules once it is published as a full length story instead of a novella.
Themes: dual POV, agent/player, animosity, age difference, single father, bisexual character, domestic abuse (by secondary characters), NHL
This was also true for Trevor and Wade's characters and their relationship. I liked Trevor well enough as a side character in previous books but apparently it only lasted until he got his own story. There was nothing wrong with either his or Wade's characterizations that I could pinpoint to as the reason why I did not enjoy either of their characters. I was simply not feeling them for whatever reason.
The antagonistic opening of their relationship read as somewhat of a stretch and childish in nature. The set up with Trevor becoming a spy for the Otters' cause of ousting Jack Malone from the team in order to get him and Wade working more closer together felt incredibly contrived and unrealistic on top of being unfair to Trevor. Once they started hooking up and dating I was bothered by the amount of sex scenes between the two. I can't say their number was higher that what is the usual fare for m/m romance objectively but considering I did not enjoy their relationship it made sense I wouldn't enjoy their sex scenes either. It also felt strange to me how their substantial age difference was never touched upon and it was only mentioned once as an offhand thought on Trevor's side.
I can appreciate what the author tried to do with this last installment and tying up Jack Malone's villain arc which spanned through the series. Team's resident homophobe, who on top of being a cheater also turns out to be at the end of this story. In this author's hockey world there are hockey players like Zane, Ryan, Trevor and others, coaches and even agents like Wade, who are willing to take a stand for what is right instead of keeping the status quo in the world of hockey (and beyond it) which usually protects rapists and abusers. Sadly the reality remains quite different to fiction and instead the ending of this series making me feel warm and fuzzy it just makes me more aware how far apart reality and fiction are in this case. But this is my personal issue and I am sure there will be many more readers who will more than appreciate this kind of ending to the series.
I am still interested in reading story so I will probably be back once their story is published. And I might revisit Road Rules once it is published as a full length story instead of a novella.
Themes: dual POV, agent/player, animosity, age difference, single father, bisexual character, domestic abuse (by secondary characters), NHL
January 6, 2023
Trevor is a low-ranked player on his team and still making a comeback from an injury. He has a history of having to be self-sufficient, which makes him prickly and suspicious of everyone. He's also doing a bit of rewriting of his self-image, having realized that Malone, the player he used to hang out with, is even more of a creep than he realized. So he's grumpy and short-tempered and not ready to listen to his older-and-wiser agent acting like some kind of judgemental dad.
Wade is fifteen years older and already raising a pre-teen son. He doesn't need to find himself riding herd on the young player he represents. But as they spend more time together, he finds out that some of Trevor's lack of social graces have roots he can empathize with. And both of them want to see Malone's poisonous behavior brought to light.
This book could conceivably be read alone, but the underlying plot, particularly with regard to the nemesis player Malone, builds through the series, so they're best read in order.
I enjoyed the shifting of the relationship between these two men, watching Wade loosen up and Trevor step up to be worthy of his man and his team. Both men had to change, not just the younger abrasive one, and that helped give the relationship some balance. I wish I could believe in a hockey team and organization as committed to doing the right thing about domestic violence as we see here, but it's nice to imagine and a hope for the future. Once again, this book has a kid who accepts a new relationship for their parent with no significant pushback, which also felt a bit idealized, but I enjoyed the story and the ending was warm, solid, and satisfying for these two men and the series as a whole.
Wade is fifteen years older and already raising a pre-teen son. He doesn't need to find himself riding herd on the young player he represents. But as they spend more time together, he finds out that some of Trevor's lack of social graces have roots he can empathize with. And both of them want to see Malone's poisonous behavior brought to light.
This book could conceivably be read alone, but the underlying plot, particularly with regard to the nemesis player Malone, builds through the series, so they're best read in order.
I enjoyed the shifting of the relationship between these two men, watching Wade loosen up and Trevor step up to be worthy of his man and his team. Both men had to change, not just the younger abrasive one, and that helped give the relationship some balance. I wish I could believe in a hockey team and organization as committed to doing the right thing about domestic violence as we see here, but it's nice to imagine and a hope for the future. Once again, this book has a kid who accepts a new relationship for their parent with no significant pushback, which also felt a bit idealized, but I enjoyed the story and the ending was warm, solid, and satisfying for these two men and the series as a whole.
December 27, 2022
And finally, it's here. The end of this series. I'm kind of sad about it, but on the other hand, happy to see that certain situations were finally resolved.
I really loved this book. None of the characters had it easy. Trevor had to survive a somewhat traumatic childhood and he is a person who is not afraid to speak his mind and to face whatever comes; and Wade has bounced back from a relationship that ended abruptly at the worst possible time. Something that left marks on both of them and the reason why neither of them is looking for love, but as always, it comes when one least expects it.
They have a strained relationship as agent and client, and it spills over into a relationship between them that happens unexpectedly and explosively. And so it begins...
I like Brigham Vaughn's books because they are not without substance. From the first to the last one, they follow a plot, exposing situations that athletes experience, either because they cause them, and they come out of them well because they are "covered up", or because they are the ones who suffer them, such as homophobia , etc.
This book was a great ending to a great series, and while not everything ends this way in real life, at least one feels a little bit of happiness to see that some people who accompanied us for long hours receive their well-deserved HEA .
Looking forward to the spin off!!!
I was given an advanced copy and voluntarily wrote a review.
I really loved this book. None of the characters had it easy. Trevor had to survive a somewhat traumatic childhood and he is a person who is not afraid to speak his mind and to face whatever comes; and Wade has bounced back from a relationship that ended abruptly at the worst possible time. Something that left marks on both of them and the reason why neither of them is looking for love, but as always, it comes when one least expects it.
They have a strained relationship as agent and client, and it spills over into a relationship between them that happens unexpectedly and explosively. And so it begins...
I like Brigham Vaughn's books because they are not without substance. From the first to the last one, they follow a plot, exposing situations that athletes experience, either because they cause them, and they come out of them well because they are "covered up", or because they are the ones who suffer them, such as homophobia , etc.
This book was a great ending to a great series, and while not everything ends this way in real life, at least one feels a little bit of happiness to see that some people who accompanied us for long hours receive their well-deserved HEA .
Looking forward to the spin off!!!
I was given an advanced copy and voluntarily wrote a review.
January 3, 2023
What a fantastic conclusion to an amazing series! I have enjoyed every single book in this series and I love this author’s writing. She has touched on so many topics with each book and hasn’t shied away from sensitive subjects handling them with care and understanding. This book handled some very tough topics and I think the author did a great job of helping to bring awareness.
While Kelly and Lindy are hands down my favorite couple of this series, after reading this book Trevor and Wade are a close second. Trevor was such a fantastic character - he’s built up so many walls around himself and has such a chip on his shoulder and you see Wade breaking down those walls with his care and patience. His evolution from the beginning of the book (and even his appearances in earlier books) to the character he is at the end of this book is such a great story. And Wade is a also pretty amazing-his board room speech was well done!
Having followed the series and seen how vile Jack Malone’s character becomes with each book, I was hoping this book would have his character dealt with. I won’t get into spoilers and his character is definitely lower than I thought. Although Carlie’s appearance is brief in the book, her scene had me in tears.
While I am sad to see this series end, I’ve enjoyed the ride. Definitely can’t wait to read the spin off series and what story Dustin and Charlie have. And I can’t wait to re-read Zane and Ryan’s story! I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest and fair review.
While Kelly and Lindy are hands down my favorite couple of this series, after reading this book Trevor and Wade are a close second. Trevor was such a fantastic character - he’s built up so many walls around himself and has such a chip on his shoulder and you see Wade breaking down those walls with his care and patience. His evolution from the beginning of the book (and even his appearances in earlier books) to the character he is at the end of this book is such a great story. And Wade is a also pretty amazing-his board room speech was well done!
Having followed the series and seen how vile Jack Malone’s character becomes with each book, I was hoping this book would have his character dealt with. I won’t get into spoilers and his character is definitely lower than I thought. Although Carlie’s appearance is brief in the book, her scene had me in tears.
While I am sad to see this series end, I’ve enjoyed the ride. Definitely can’t wait to read the spin off series and what story Dustin and Charlie have. And I can’t wait to re-read Zane and Ryan’s story! I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest and fair review.
November 22, 2023
Audiobook Review:
Overall – 5
Performance – 5
Story – 5
A great conclusion to a great series!
I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the books in this series. James Edward Jones performance of the audiobooks has been consistently great for each book and Breaking the Rules was no exception.
Trevor has been antsy and angry since his ankle injury and he's not too happy with his agent, Wade. Anger quickly turns into something more and they start a forbidden relationship. Once they realize that what they have isn't going to go away they make plans to get Trevor a different agent.
There's a 20+ year age gap between Trevor and Wade and one of the things I really like about this aspect of the story is that this wasn't mentioned over and over like some age gap books. There was none of this "oh we can't, we shouldn't" stuff that just drives me nuts to read. Both of them are consenting adults and that's all I need to know.
I loved how protective Wade was of his son, not wanting to let him get too close to Trevor until they decided that their relationship was going somewhere.
One other great thing about this book was the resolution to a problem that plagued the team throughout this series. I won't say anymore so that I don't spoil it for anyone who hasn't read these books yet. You can read this story as a standalone but I think your enjoyment of it would be greater if you've read the series.
A complimentary copy of this audiobook was provided to me at my request; my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author and/or narrator.
Overall – 5
Performance – 5
Story – 5
A great conclusion to a great series!
I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the books in this series. James Edward Jones performance of the audiobooks has been consistently great for each book and Breaking the Rules was no exception.
Trevor has been antsy and angry since his ankle injury and he's not too happy with his agent, Wade. Anger quickly turns into something more and they start a forbidden relationship. Once they realize that what they have isn't going to go away they make plans to get Trevor a different agent.
There's a 20+ year age gap between Trevor and Wade and one of the things I really like about this aspect of the story is that this wasn't mentioned over and over like some age gap books. There was none of this "oh we can't, we shouldn't" stuff that just drives me nuts to read. Both of them are consenting adults and that's all I need to know.
I loved how protective Wade was of his son, not wanting to let him get too close to Trevor until they decided that their relationship was going somewhere.
One other great thing about this book was the resolution to a problem that plagued the team throughout this series. I won't say anymore so that I don't spoil it for anyone who hasn't read these books yet. You can read this story as a standalone but I think your enjoyment of it would be greater if you've read the series.
A complimentary copy of this audiobook was provided to me at my request; my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author and/or narrator.
November 23, 2023
***Audio Review*** As has become my usual MO, I read the last book in the series first. But having read (and loved) The Husband Game and The Head Game, a lot of the characters were familiar to me.
In Breaking the Rules, Trevor Underhill (The Undertaker) d-man for the Evanston Otters, has an antagonistic relationship with his agent Wade Cannon. He’s mad at Wade for not getting him better endorsements. And Wade is frustrated that Trevor’s bad attitude is tying his hands recommending him for jobs. Then there is matter of the plot to take down toxic player Jack Malone that they’ve both involved in…Both are strong personalities which makes things interesting.
So. Much. Sexual. Tension!
There’s a lot to like here:
🏒 Hot hockey players
🏒 Age gap, forbidden romance
🏒 Single dad, reformed bad boy
🏒 Puppies!
🏒 Sexy times - it’s amazing there’s any ice left with all this sizzle
🏒 Karmic justice -love it!
Wade is a great agent and represents a lot of LGBT players. But there’s an underlying melancholy coupled with regret that he didn’t have the luxury of coming out when he was a player. And prickly, resentful Trevor won me over. Getting his POV made you understand him, and appreciate his actions. Plus he was great with Wade’s son.
I loved how the overlapping plots played out with a lot of tense moments!
Of course, now I have to go back and read this series from the beginning because I have to know the stories of all the other couples mentioned. Gah!
Great story, secondary characters are fantastic, and my sweet Charlie Monaghan has a cameo. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
In Breaking the Rules, Trevor Underhill (The Undertaker) d-man for the Evanston Otters, has an antagonistic relationship with his agent Wade Cannon. He’s mad at Wade for not getting him better endorsements. And Wade is frustrated that Trevor’s bad attitude is tying his hands recommending him for jobs. Then there is matter of the plot to take down toxic player Jack Malone that they’ve both involved in…Both are strong personalities which makes things interesting.
So. Much. Sexual. Tension!
There’s a lot to like here:
🏒 Hot hockey players
🏒 Age gap, forbidden romance
🏒 Single dad, reformed bad boy
🏒 Puppies!
🏒 Sexy times - it’s amazing there’s any ice left with all this sizzle
🏒 Karmic justice -love it!
Wade is a great agent and represents a lot of LGBT players. But there’s an underlying melancholy coupled with regret that he didn’t have the luxury of coming out when he was a player. And prickly, resentful Trevor won me over. Getting his POV made you understand him, and appreciate his actions. Plus he was great with Wade’s son.
I loved how the overlapping plots played out with a lot of tense moments!
Of course, now I have to go back and read this series from the beginning because I have to know the stories of all the other couples mentioned. Gah!
Great story, secondary characters are fantastic, and my sweet Charlie Monaghan has a cameo. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
January 5, 2023
This is the fifth and final book in the Rules of the Game series and it does not disappoint! This book can be read as a standalone but you will get much more out of it if you read the previous books first. This is the story of Trevor Underhill and Wade Cannon. Trevor is a defenseman for the Evanston Otters. He is known as a grinder. He has worked hard his entire career to ensure he can help his sister and mother. Frustrated by recovering from an ankle injury, he takes his frustration of a lost endorsement out on his agent. Wade is a well respected agent and single dad. He specializes in LGBT players. Being unable to come out while he played professional hockey, he does everything in his power to help his players. Wade and Trevor have a rocky relationship. There is a lot of friction and frustration between them. Due to Trevor's reputation as a bad boy, he is unable to get the endorsement deals that he wants. He takes his frustration out on Wade. But you know what they say about love and hat; there is a very thin line between the two. I loved both these characters. Together with a few other team members, they are working to getting the proof to get rid of a a full-fledged homophobe that is hurting the team. But what they finally discover is much worse. This is their story. It is very well written and easy to read. I really enjoyed it.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 4, 2023
The hockey jock and the single dad (an audio review)
This is the second Brigham Vaughn audiobook I’ve listened to – and I have to say I’m a fan. This story involves Wade, the stuffy by-the-book agent, and Trevor, the hockey star – and twenty years Wade’s junior – who can’t seem to keep himself out of trouble.
Trevor’s edgy – and he’s looking for endorsement deals. He wants Wade to nail those deals. Wade’s coping with Trevor’s antics off the ice – including a friendship with another player with questionable morals (more about that later). The men butt heads any number of times, but there’s an underlying element of sexual tension that eventually explodes.
Also, there’s an Otters player whose behavior is threatening the reputation of the team. Several of Trevor’s teammates approach Wade. Once Trevor sees the real person behind the man he believed to be his friend, he wants to bring the man down once and forever. Things get tricky for the men as they navigate both that goal as well as their feelings for each other. Both have been burned in the past – so neither is quick to love. Throw in an 11-year-old boy, a puppy named Pepperoni, and some gentle (and not so subtle) nudges from their friends, and maybe – just maybe – the men might find their way to each other.
I have to say, I really like James Edward Jones’s narration of these books. He does a great job and I can’t wait for more to come.
This is the second Brigham Vaughn audiobook I’ve listened to – and I have to say I’m a fan. This story involves Wade, the stuffy by-the-book agent, and Trevor, the hockey star – and twenty years Wade’s junior – who can’t seem to keep himself out of trouble.
Trevor’s edgy – and he’s looking for endorsement deals. He wants Wade to nail those deals. Wade’s coping with Trevor’s antics off the ice – including a friendship with another player with questionable morals (more about that later). The men butt heads any number of times, but there’s an underlying element of sexual tension that eventually explodes.
Also, there’s an Otters player whose behavior is threatening the reputation of the team. Several of Trevor’s teammates approach Wade. Once Trevor sees the real person behind the man he believed to be his friend, he wants to bring the man down once and forever. Things get tricky for the men as they navigate both that goal as well as their feelings for each other. Both have been burned in the past – so neither is quick to love. Throw in an 11-year-old boy, a puppy named Pepperoni, and some gentle (and not so subtle) nudges from their friends, and maybe – just maybe – the men might find their way to each other.
I have to say, I really like James Edward Jones’s narration of these books. He does a great job and I can’t wait for more to come.
December 5, 2023
🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Performance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I enjoyed the Rules of the Game series so I was really looking forward to Breaking the Rules. As always, Brigham Vaughn's writing style was wonderful and the author portrayed the story realistically and comprehensibly.
This time it's about Trevor and Wade. Trevor is a hockey player and Wade is his agent. The two have a complicated relationship when it comes to working together, but one night should change that. If you've listened to the whole series, you'll be looking forward to finding out more about Underhill, as I was. Wade is also a great character and I took him to my heart from the beginning because of his son and how he relates to him. His son is a real ray of sunshine.
You'll have to find out for yourself what happens next with Trevor and Wade, who are attracted to each other, but the chemistry is definitely there and I loved how their relationship developed.
But there are also other topics. Issues that are serious and are also taken seriously by Trevor's teammates. And you get a bit more insight into Trevor's past. I liked the way the author dealt with this sensitive topic and I was amazed at how far this went.
Breaking the Rules entertained me well and I think it's a pity that the series has now come to an end.
James Edward Jones narrated the audiobook and, as always, he did a good job bringing the story to life.
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Performance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I enjoyed the Rules of the Game series so I was really looking forward to Breaking the Rules. As always, Brigham Vaughn's writing style was wonderful and the author portrayed the story realistically and comprehensibly.
This time it's about Trevor and Wade. Trevor is a hockey player and Wade is his agent. The two have a complicated relationship when it comes to working together, but one night should change that. If you've listened to the whole series, you'll be looking forward to finding out more about Underhill, as I was. Wade is also a great character and I took him to my heart from the beginning because of his son and how he relates to him. His son is a real ray of sunshine.
You'll have to find out for yourself what happens next with Trevor and Wade, who are attracted to each other, but the chemistry is definitely there and I loved how their relationship developed.
But there are also other topics. Issues that are serious and are also taken seriously by Trevor's teammates. And you get a bit more insight into Trevor's past. I liked the way the author dealt with this sensitive topic and I was amazed at how far this went.
Breaking the Rules entertained me well and I think it's a pity that the series has now come to an end.
James Edward Jones narrated the audiobook and, as always, he did a good job bringing the story to life.
December 9, 2023
Really liked this series, even though it had the habit of never being there when the action was happening. This was an ongoing situation in past books as well. Scenes where Kelly would go out with a teammate to have some difficult conversations were fade to black. Here, there was no confrontation with Malone, were no screaming matches, no difficult press conferences.
I also started to expect and read over the obvious buzz word flinging. This time around it wasn't toxic masculinity but being white and male and even worse when you had any other experience in life but a hard upbringing. But once you got over this one chapter rather early on everything mellowed out once more.
You’re okay looking for a middle-aged white dude.
Yeah, because a rich white straight asshole who had grown up with a shitload of money and never had to work hard a day in his life was really struggling.
She’d attended a few of the Otters’ games with Wade but other than telling him she appreciated that the team had a little color thanks to Dean Tremblay, she said it was way too white of a sport for her.
“Because they never do anything to protect rich white men.” Her dry tone wasn’t meant to be a jab at him, but he still flinched.
“According to who?”
“Whom.”
“Fuck off,” Trevor said, his irritation rising. “Jesus Christ. That’s such classist bullshit. Shouldn’t be surprised coming from a guy like you though, I guess.”
I also started to expect and read over the obvious buzz word flinging. This time around it wasn't toxic masculinity but being white and male and even worse when you had any other experience in life but a hard upbringing. But once you got over this one chapter rather early on everything mellowed out once more.
You’re okay looking for a middle-aged white dude.
Yeah, because a rich white straight asshole who had grown up with a shitload of money and never had to work hard a day in his life was really struggling.
She’d attended a few of the Otters’ games with Wade but other than telling him she appreciated that the team had a little color thanks to Dean Tremblay, she said it was way too white of a sport for her.
“Because they never do anything to protect rich white men.” Her dry tone wasn’t meant to be a jab at him, but he still flinched.
“According to who?”
“Whom.”
“Fuck off,” Trevor said, his irritation rising. “Jesus Christ. That’s such classist bullshit. Shouldn’t be surprised coming from a guy like you though, I guess.”
December 27, 2022
This is the 5th in the Rules of the Game series, although technically you could read it as a standalone, I would recommend reading the others in the series first, as a lot of the other couples make at least a cameo appearance in this book.
This is Trevor and Wade's story. We've met them both before in other books in the series, and there is an underlying thread of story continuing on from the previous book. There is a trigger warning for domestic violence, it's not graphic but it is there.
I loved seeing Wade and Trevor come together, from the initial antagonism and almost (but not quite) hate sex, to the push and pull of their dynamic and both coming around to the idea of a relationship. Trevor in particular is way more complex than you'd think on the surface, he's not the arrogant playboy you would think from the previous books, and while I loved the other characters in the series, Trevor might have been my favourite (that's saying a LOT because I adored Lindy). This is quite a long book as there are quite a few threads to wrap up, and it's all done very well. I was never bored once, and had to keep turning the pages until I got to the HEA.
I know NOTHING about hockey, but I've loved this series and the characters in it, and I'm happy it continues with a spinoff.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
This is Trevor and Wade's story. We've met them both before in other books in the series, and there is an underlying thread of story continuing on from the previous book. There is a trigger warning for domestic violence, it's not graphic but it is there.
I loved seeing Wade and Trevor come together, from the initial antagonism and almost (but not quite) hate sex, to the push and pull of their dynamic and both coming around to the idea of a relationship. Trevor in particular is way more complex than you'd think on the surface, he's not the arrogant playboy you would think from the previous books, and while I loved the other characters in the series, Trevor might have been my favourite (that's saying a LOT because I adored Lindy). This is quite a long book as there are quite a few threads to wrap up, and it's all done very well. I was never bored once, and had to keep turning the pages until I got to the HEA.
I know NOTHING about hockey, but I've loved this series and the characters in it, and I'm happy it continues with a spinoff.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
December 28, 2022
Hockey waits for no crisis.
This is truly the tagline for this amazing series of books set in the world of the Evanston Otters. Vaughn has given us MC's dealing with chronic illnesses with aging parents, generational feuds, acceptance by birth family, grieving survivors. In the final story, Vaughn does an amazing job of redeeming an MC and an MC struggling with work vs family life balance as a single dad. The seeds of Trevor and Wade's story were sown and grown throughout the previous books. They come together as antagonistic client and agent, then as uneasy alliance to deal with a truly despicable teammate, then the fire finally ignites between them. Freaking scorching! I'm not sure anyone can write a better organic smexy scene. Each scene works to compliment and drive the narrative. We see Trevor grow into the person and player he was supposed to be. Wade sees he deserves an adult relationship. Their interactions with birth and found family are wonderful. I love this hockey team, I wish they really existed. Please read the author's notes. She deals with some tragic events and attitudes. And such a call to arms for the pro sports universe. Wade's speech and actions are so necessary today. While this is the finale for the Otters, I'm sure we get updates because we are heading back to Toronto for Dustin and Charlie's story! I can't wait!
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