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Scoring Chances #2
Body Check
The last thing Gavin Racine needs is more heartbreak …
Following an ugly public divorce, all Gavin wants is a little stress relief in the bedroom and to put together a winning roster. Unfortunately, his busy and chaotic schedule as the Boston Harrier’s general manager and president of hockey operations means he cancels more hookups than not.
When Gavin reluctantly hires Dakota Crane as the team’s yoga and Pilates instructor, their first few meetings leave them annoyed … and intrigued.
With a struggling team to manage, a complicated relationship with his twin brother, and a secret from his past threatening to upend the success he’s fought so hard for, Gavin absolutely shouldn’t start something with his employee.
Personalities clash, sparks fly, and the chemistry is undeniable. But neither of them are looking for love.
Dakota’s been burned before and the last thing he wants is another messy relationship. Especially with his new boss.
Falling in love is nowhere on his agenda and nothing is worth putting his fresh start in Boston at risk.
But what if learning to work together is exactly what Gavin, Dakota, and the team needs?
Following an ugly public divorce, all Gavin wants is a little stress relief in the bedroom and to put together a winning roster. Unfortunately, his busy and chaotic schedule as the Boston Harrier’s general manager and president of hockey operations means he cancels more hookups than not.
When Gavin reluctantly hires Dakota Crane as the team’s yoga and Pilates instructor, their first few meetings leave them annoyed … and intrigued.
With a struggling team to manage, a complicated relationship with his twin brother, and a secret from his past threatening to upend the success he’s fought so hard for, Gavin absolutely shouldn’t start something with his employee.
Personalities clash, sparks fly, and the chemistry is undeniable. But neither of them are looking for love.
Dakota’s been burned before and the last thing he wants is another messy relationship. Especially with his new boss.
Falling in love is nowhere on his agenda and nothing is worth putting his fresh start in Boston at risk.
But what if learning to work together is exactly what Gavin, Dakota, and the team needs?
526 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 30, 2025
287 people are currently reading
357 people want to read
About the author
Brigham Vaughn
82 books802 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 156 reviews
July 2, 2025
B- / 3.5 stars
Body Check, book two in Brigham Vaughn’s Scoring Chances series, is an engaging and thoughtful age-gap romance between two men who have good reason to be wary of relationships but who, after an inauspicious start, are willing to work on their hang-ups and insecurities in order to move forward together. The characters are well-developed and engaging, their chemistry sizzles and I enjoyed their slowly evolving romance - but overall, the story lacks the energy and vibrancy of book one, Goaltender Interference , hence the lower grade.
Director of Hockey and General Manager of the Boston Harriers, Gavin Racine is not at all opposed to hiring a new fitness coach who specialises in pilates and yoga to help improve the flexibilty, balance and co-ordination of the guys on the team. What he is opposed to, however, is being told which candidate to hire, especially when that candidate is the brother of one of the women who works in accounts and who, for some reason, has the ear of the team’s owner. Gavin can’t exactly cry nepotism, given he recently got his twin brother a job in the team’s social media department – but he still isn’t happy about the owner pulling rank on him.
Unfortunately, he isn’t shy about voicing those opinions – even though he hadn’t intended to voice them in the new coach’s hearing. Dakota Crane is not impressed by Gavin’s dismissive attitude or his apology, which he knows is less for what he said than for saying it within earshot.
Gavin realises he’s been a total dick and knows it’s up to him to extend an olive branch. Dakota is doing good work with the team and it’s starting to show; but whenever they’ve encoutered each other in the HCI building, Dakoka has been distinctly cool towards him, which Gavin guesses he deserves. At a Thanksgiving party at the O’Shea’s, he decides it’s time to bite the bullet and at least make an effort to be friendly; he strikes up a conversation with Dakota and is pleased when he isn’t rebuffed. They spend some time chatting fairly easily, and Gavin discovers that he likes that Dakota isn’t intimidated by him, enjoying the unexpected low-level flirtation that develops. When Gavin mentions he’s feeling a bit off due to the tension headache that’s been hanging around for days, Dakota suggests Gavin comes to his studio so they can work on a few things, and offers to work out a training plan that will help ease some of the tension he’s carrying that Gavin can fit in around his hectic schedule.
That low-key flirtation continues into their next few interactions, as does a growing awareness of the mutual attraction humming between them. Neither man is in the market for a relationship – Dakota has recently left an ex who did a number on him emotionally and screwed him over financially, and Gavin just went through a messy, very public divorce – but as the pull between them intensifies and becomes impossible to ignore, maybe, given that their packed schedules make it difficult to find time to hook-up and blow off some steam, some no-strings sex with each other isn’t totally out of the question? Dakota quite rightly brings up the fact that Gavin is effectively his boss, and that if they do start something and are found out, it’ll be his job on the line and not Gavin’s, and Gavin is absolutely clear that the decision is Dakota’s and that he isn’t going to pressure him into anything he’s not comfortable with. I appreciated that aspect of their relationship – there’s a lot of give and take and good communication right from the start, and I was pleased that Dakota is so up front about what he does and doesn’t want in the bedroom. He’s done with letting himself be pushed into situations or guilt-tripped into things he doesn’t want, and is very clear on what his limits are. Knowing Gavin to be such a forceful, type-A personality, it takes a while for Dakota to trust that Gavin is truly serious about respecting those limits and that when he does nice things for him – like stocking up on his favourite foods, or offering him a ride home – he’s doing them because he’s being considerate and not because he expects something in return.
While the attraction and sexual relationship happen fairly quickly, the emotional connection is more of a slow-burn as what starts out as stress-relief becomes something more and Gavin and Dakota get to know each other and correct some of their initial misconceptions. Dakota discovers that Gavin has a good sense of humour, that he’s a generous lover and a thoughtful, caring person while Dakota makes Gavin feel valued and appreciated and gives him a safe space to be himself and to unload about the personal failures he feels keenly and carries a lot of guilt over.
There’s an interesting sub-plot concerning Gavin’s twin brother, Thad, who showed up out of the blue at the end of the previous book, and who looks like he’s out to stir up trouble. However, things go in a direction I didn’t expect when we learn the truth about the events that landed Thad in prison – and which didn’t turn out well for Gavin, either. This aspect of the story is very well done; there is a lot of pain and a wealth of hurt lying between the brothers which Gavin doesn’t know how to bridge – until Dakota helps him to see things through a different lens and to find a way to reconnect.
There’s plenty going on on the ice, too, for those who like their hockey romances to include some actual hockey (!) – the Harriers are still struggling to find their footing - although some things are falling into place - and Gavin decides it’s time to open negotiations to bring a new defenceman on board.
As I’ve observed about the other books by this author I’ve read or listened to, they tend to be long (Amazon lists the page count for this one as 526). Sometimes, as in The Head Game or Goaltender Interference , I know they’re long because I can see the numbers going up on my Kindle screen, but I don’t really feel the length because I’m invested in the story and characters and don’t notice. With Body Check, though, I did notice. Dakota and Gavin are all in well before the end; they’ve make their relationship public, other (spoilery) things have happened – but it's all wrapped up by 85%. The final few chapters don’t really add anything to the story, which would have worked perfectly well without them and would still have run to almost 450 pages.
Body Check is unusual for a hockey romance in that neither of the leads are players, but I liked getting a couple of different perspectives on the day-to-day of the team. There are some pacing issues and some degree of repetition around Dakota’s reasons for being slow to trust Gavin – they’re understandable but are a bit drawn out nonetheless – and for a story that has some difficult themes (guilt, health issues, debt and other emotional baggage) it’s pretty low angst. There’s one odd scene in which Gavin becomes really aggressive – it stuck out to me because it felt so out of character - but otherwise, the central romance is nicely done. Gavin and Dakota are well-matched, they’re supportive, intuitive, and they bring out the best in each other, they behave like adults and they communicate well throughout. Despite my reservations I enjoyed the book – and I’ll be back for the next one later this year.
Body Check, book two in Brigham Vaughn’s Scoring Chances series, is an engaging and thoughtful age-gap romance between two men who have good reason to be wary of relationships but who, after an inauspicious start, are willing to work on their hang-ups and insecurities in order to move forward together. The characters are well-developed and engaging, their chemistry sizzles and I enjoyed their slowly evolving romance - but overall, the story lacks the energy and vibrancy of book one, Goaltender Interference , hence the lower grade.
Director of Hockey and General Manager of the Boston Harriers, Gavin Racine is not at all opposed to hiring a new fitness coach who specialises in pilates and yoga to help improve the flexibilty, balance and co-ordination of the guys on the team. What he is opposed to, however, is being told which candidate to hire, especially when that candidate is the brother of one of the women who works in accounts and who, for some reason, has the ear of the team’s owner. Gavin can’t exactly cry nepotism, given he recently got his twin brother a job in the team’s social media department – but he still isn’t happy about the owner pulling rank on him.
Unfortunately, he isn’t shy about voicing those opinions – even though he hadn’t intended to voice them in the new coach’s hearing. Dakota Crane is not impressed by Gavin’s dismissive attitude or his apology, which he knows is less for what he said than for saying it within earshot.
Gavin realises he’s been a total dick and knows it’s up to him to extend an olive branch. Dakota is doing good work with the team and it’s starting to show; but whenever they’ve encoutered each other in the HCI building, Dakoka has been distinctly cool towards him, which Gavin guesses he deserves. At a Thanksgiving party at the O’Shea’s, he decides it’s time to bite the bullet and at least make an effort to be friendly; he strikes up a conversation with Dakota and is pleased when he isn’t rebuffed. They spend some time chatting fairly easily, and Gavin discovers that he likes that Dakota isn’t intimidated by him, enjoying the unexpected low-level flirtation that develops. When Gavin mentions he’s feeling a bit off due to the tension headache that’s been hanging around for days, Dakota suggests Gavin comes to his studio so they can work on a few things, and offers to work out a training plan that will help ease some of the tension he’s carrying that Gavin can fit in around his hectic schedule.
That low-key flirtation continues into their next few interactions, as does a growing awareness of the mutual attraction humming between them. Neither man is in the market for a relationship – Dakota has recently left an ex who did a number on him emotionally and screwed him over financially, and Gavin just went through a messy, very public divorce – but as the pull between them intensifies and becomes impossible to ignore, maybe, given that their packed schedules make it difficult to find time to hook-up and blow off some steam, some no-strings sex with each other isn’t totally out of the question? Dakota quite rightly brings up the fact that Gavin is effectively his boss, and that if they do start something and are found out, it’ll be his job on the line and not Gavin’s, and Gavin is absolutely clear that the decision is Dakota’s and that he isn’t going to pressure him into anything he’s not comfortable with. I appreciated that aspect of their relationship – there’s a lot of give and take and good communication right from the start, and I was pleased that Dakota is so up front about what he does and doesn’t want in the bedroom. He’s done with letting himself be pushed into situations or guilt-tripped into things he doesn’t want, and is very clear on what his limits are. Knowing Gavin to be such a forceful, type-A personality, it takes a while for Dakota to trust that Gavin is truly serious about respecting those limits and that when he does nice things for him – like stocking up on his favourite foods, or offering him a ride home – he’s doing them because he’s being considerate and not because he expects something in return.
While the attraction and sexual relationship happen fairly quickly, the emotional connection is more of a slow-burn as what starts out as stress-relief becomes something more and Gavin and Dakota get to know each other and correct some of their initial misconceptions. Dakota discovers that Gavin has a good sense of humour, that he’s a generous lover and a thoughtful, caring person while Dakota makes Gavin feel valued and appreciated and gives him a safe space to be himself and to unload about the personal failures he feels keenly and carries a lot of guilt over.
There’s an interesting sub-plot concerning Gavin’s twin brother, Thad, who showed up out of the blue at the end of the previous book, and who looks like he’s out to stir up trouble. However, things go in a direction I didn’t expect when we learn the truth about the events that landed Thad in prison – and which didn’t turn out well for Gavin, either. This aspect of the story is very well done; there is a lot of pain and a wealth of hurt lying between the brothers which Gavin doesn’t know how to bridge – until Dakota helps him to see things through a different lens and to find a way to reconnect.
There’s plenty going on on the ice, too, for those who like their hockey romances to include some actual hockey (!) – the Harriers are still struggling to find their footing - although some things are falling into place - and Gavin decides it’s time to open negotiations to bring a new defenceman on board.
As I’ve observed about the other books by this author I’ve read or listened to, they tend to be long (Amazon lists the page count for this one as 526). Sometimes, as in The Head Game or Goaltender Interference , I know they’re long because I can see the numbers going up on my Kindle screen, but I don’t really feel the length because I’m invested in the story and characters and don’t notice. With Body Check, though, I did notice. Dakota and Gavin are all in well before the end; they’ve make their relationship public, other (spoilery) things have happened – but it's all wrapped up by 85%. The final few chapters don’t really add anything to the story, which would have worked perfectly well without them and would still have run to almost 450 pages.
Body Check is unusual for a hockey romance in that neither of the leads are players, but I liked getting a couple of different perspectives on the day-to-day of the team. There are some pacing issues and some degree of repetition around Dakota’s reasons for being slow to trust Gavin – they’re understandable but are a bit drawn out nonetheless – and for a story that has some difficult themes (guilt, health issues, debt and other emotional baggage) it’s pretty low angst. There’s one odd scene in which Gavin becomes really aggressive – it stuck out to me because it felt so out of character - but otherwise, the central romance is nicely done. Gavin and Dakota are well-matched, they’re supportive, intuitive, and they bring out the best in each other, they behave like adults and they communicate well throughout. Despite my reservations I enjoyed the book – and I’ll be back for the next one later this year.
June 25, 2025
I really expected a lot more from this book. It wasn’t bad, the story was captivating enough but omg the red flags! Don’t screw an employee! No matter how hot he is. Fix it first, before you start. There’s no coming back from that!
And excuse me, Violet, but if you hear your boss gossip about you and suggesting you’ve slept with an executive to get your brother a job, one little coffeedate is not enough to forgive him. He was so out of line! She should have reported him.
Then the whole viagra thing! How did that lead to them becoming closer, instead of realizing how red the flags were? I understand Dakota was afraid of losing Calvin, but seriously! Were was the whole: you take one more viagra and I’ll personally twist your neck speech? (
Why still three stars? I don’t know, I finished the story. And in the end Calvin wasn’t as creepy as he was in the beginning.
I don’t know. Maybe 2 would be better. I do know I’ll never reread this. And I hope the next book in the series is more up to the standard I’m used to from this author
And excuse me, Violet, but if you hear your boss gossip about you and suggesting you’ve slept with an executive to get your brother a job, one little coffeedate is not enough to forgive him. He was so out of line! She should have reported him.
Then the whole viagra thing! How did that lead to them becoming closer, instead of realizing how red the flags were? I understand Dakota was afraid of losing Calvin, but seriously! Were was the whole: you take one more viagra and I’ll personally twist your neck speech? (
Why still three stars? I don’t know, I finished the story. And in the end Calvin wasn’t as creepy as he was in the beginning.
I don’t know. Maybe 2 would be better. I do know I’ll never reread this. And I hope the next book in the series is more up to the standard I’m used to from this author
June 6, 2025
Unfortunately I’ve dnf’d the last few Brigham books I’ve read. Their writing is great but I haven’t enjoyed many of the MCs in the more recent books. I think Gavin was meant to come off as a jock a-hole set in his ways but honestly it was Dakota I couldn’t stand. He was a nag & the way he talked to his boss would see him fired in a hot minute in real life. Which leads me to the final thing I’ve been struggling with, each book feels to me like it’s getting more politically charged & trying to send a message. While I think those topics are incredibly important, I read to escape from real life not to be reminded of the world’s problems.
June 3, 2025
I love it when the MC's say it's just casual and then we watch the slow realisation that it's anything but that. There were some great sex scenes and a good compromise on what they like/dislike sexually.
July 19, 2025
3.5
i had a good time reading this book during my stay in seoul.
i'm so happy to stay in brigham vaughn's universe and discover new queer character within her fictional hockey league !
this pairing is not the kind we are used to in hockey romances and i found it refreshing! pilates/yoga instructor x coach ? sign me in!
the love hate relationship was great too and i loved to see how they are navigate their relationship as boss x employee and lovers.
very nice read, and i'll definitly go back to it at some point!!
i had a good time reading this book during my stay in seoul.
i'm so happy to stay in brigham vaughn's universe and discover new queer character within her fictional hockey league !
this pairing is not the kind we are used to in hockey romances and i found it refreshing! pilates/yoga instructor x coach ? sign me in!
the love hate relationship was great too and i loved to see how they are navigate their relationship as boss x employee and lovers.
very nice read, and i'll definitly go back to it at some point!!
August 8, 2025
Unfortunately, I didn't connect with this couple as much as in other books by this author.
June 5, 2025
A great feel good book. Loved it!
This story takes it's time. The slow untangling from past relationships is needed in order to strengthen the relationship that builds between Dakota and Gavin. A great slow burn into a budding relationship between two men already burnt by love. A new love that becomes rock solid through honesty and respect.
The homage paid to Pride month makes this a great read for right now🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈
Quite a few great life lessons (without being school-y) on how to be honest with yourself and others and choosing the way you want your life to be and how to get it.♥️
To reread💯
This story takes it's time. The slow untangling from past relationships is needed in order to strengthen the relationship that builds between Dakota and Gavin. A great slow burn into a budding relationship between two men already burnt by love. A new love that becomes rock solid through honesty and respect.
The homage paid to Pride month makes this a great read for right now🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈
Quite a few great life lessons (without being school-y) on how to be honest with yourself and others and choosing the way you want your life to be and how to get it.♥️
To reread💯
June 13, 2025
4.5☆
I really enjoyed Dakota and Gavin's story! The slow untangling and unpacking of past relationships was something that made the wait worth it. Both had things to work through and I was glad that they had each other to lean on and to see that relationships can be different, can be healthy and supportive. I loved all the little things Gavin did to bring joy to Dakota's day. I loved how commited Dakota was to helping Gavin get healthier and make little changes in his life to feel better.
I loved being back with the Harriers and the O'Shea family. Their team is starting to feel like a little family and I enjoy reading about everything that goes on with them.
A very enjoyable hockey romance, where we get to see the GM fall in love with the team's yoga instructor, unpack their less than great prior relationships and find their perfect person.
I really enjoyed Dakota and Gavin's story! The slow untangling and unpacking of past relationships was something that made the wait worth it. Both had things to work through and I was glad that they had each other to lean on and to see that relationships can be different, can be healthy and supportive. I loved all the little things Gavin did to bring joy to Dakota's day. I loved how commited Dakota was to helping Gavin get healthier and make little changes in his life to feel better.
I loved being back with the Harriers and the O'Shea family. Their team is starting to feel like a little family and I enjoy reading about everything that goes on with them.
A very enjoyable hockey romance, where we get to see the GM fall in love with the team's yoga instructor, unpack their less than great prior relationships and find their perfect person.
June 1, 2025
I loved Dakota and Gavin. I will say this book was very plot heavy and a perfect read for pride month. It was a great conversation around trans rights and living your truth out loud. This one is long and my brain was not fully on board for that. Lots of getting to know the team and the dynamic of the organization. AND more Jesse and Connor that made me so freaking happy!!
May 31, 2025
3.5 stars
Body Check is the second book in the Scoring Chances series and can be read as a standalone.
Gavin Racine, 41, is the general manager of the Boston Harriers. He had a messy divorce and has a complicated history with his twin Thad, which has made him stubborn, driven, a workaholic, but still kind and caring. One of the best parts of the book was seeing him and Thad make amends.
Speaking of siblings I loved Dakota’s and Violet’s sibling relationship. Dakota Crane, 29, is the yoga/ pilates instructor for the team and has also been burned by a past relationship.
Gavin and Dakota definitely got off on the wrong foot. And so did I with this book. I didn’t like the first half at all but loved the second half of the book. To begin with, Dakota was extremely judgmental but I saw major growth in both Dakota and Gavin. They both became better people.
I did really like seeing these two learn about love together and become happier versions of themselves. The ending was completely swoon-worthy. Overall, this book was a nice read but not one I will re-read.
This book contains sensitive material such as financial struggles, a potentially threatening heart condition, discussions about past recreational drug use, prison, manipulative exes, and initially unsupportive parents to a trans person (off page).
🌷 Age gap
🚫 Forbidden romance
👔 Boss/ employee
❤️🔥 Dislike to lovers
🌤️ Opposites attract
💕 Second chances
Plot: 📚📚📚📚
Character rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sexiness: 🔥🔥🔥
Feels: 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
Writing style: 🖊🖊🖊🖊
Body Check is the second book in the Scoring Chances series and can be read as a standalone.
Gavin Racine, 41, is the general manager of the Boston Harriers. He had a messy divorce and has a complicated history with his twin Thad, which has made him stubborn, driven, a workaholic, but still kind and caring. One of the best parts of the book was seeing him and Thad make amends.
Speaking of siblings I loved Dakota’s and Violet’s sibling relationship. Dakota Crane, 29, is the yoga/ pilates instructor for the team and has also been burned by a past relationship.
Gavin and Dakota definitely got off on the wrong foot. And so did I with this book. I didn’t like the first half at all but loved the second half of the book. To begin with, Dakota was extremely judgmental but I saw major growth in both Dakota and Gavin. They both became better people.
I did really like seeing these two learn about love together and become happier versions of themselves. The ending was completely swoon-worthy. Overall, this book was a nice read but not one I will re-read.
This book contains sensitive material such as financial struggles, a potentially threatening heart condition, discussions about past recreational drug use, prison, manipulative exes, and initially unsupportive parents to a trans person (off page).
🌷 Age gap
🚫 Forbidden romance
👔 Boss/ employee
❤️🔥 Dislike to lovers
🌤️ Opposites attract
💕 Second chances
Plot: 📚📚📚📚
Character rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sexiness: 🔥🔥🔥
Feels: 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
Writing style: 🖊🖊🖊🖊
June 3, 2025
I received an ARC and leave this review voluntarily.
I really wanted to like this book, but I just could not get into the story or care about the characters at all. It was just so meh for me.
Gavin is a workaholic GM and VP of Ops coming out of a divorce and Dakota is the new pilates and yoga instructor for the team. There was some animosity at first, but then it just became an endless slew of hookups and work and then poof... feelings.
I think it lacked tension and just that extra something to keep my squirrel brain intrigued. Not my favorite from this author, but I will still read the next in the series.
I really wanted to like this book, but I just could not get into the story or care about the characters at all. It was just so meh for me.
Gavin is a workaholic GM and VP of Ops coming out of a divorce and Dakota is the new pilates and yoga instructor for the team. There was some animosity at first, but then it just became an endless slew of hookups and work and then poof... feelings.
I think it lacked tension and just that extra something to keep my squirrel brain intrigued. Not my favorite from this author, but I will still read the next in the series.
Did not finish
June 13, 2025DNF
I'm usually a big fan but I've honestly struggled with the last few Brigham Vaughn books so it's not surprising that this finally happened. I didn't like the beginning of BODY CHECK and it felt more like a recap than an actual start to a story, which made it very hard to connect with the plot or the characters. I also downright disliked Gavin and while I know that would change over the course of the book, I don't have the interest to try.
I'm usually a big fan but I've honestly struggled with the last few Brigham Vaughn books so it's not surprising that this finally happened. I didn't like the beginning of BODY CHECK and it felt more like a recap than an actual start to a story, which made it very hard to connect with the plot or the characters. I also downright disliked Gavin and while I know that would change over the course of the book, I don't have the interest to try.
June 7, 2025
look I love this author and this book wasn’t bad, it had a solid plot, writing was great but I just didn’t care about anyone in this story. The two mc’s were just ✨ boring ✨
There was just something missing overall that’s usually there in this authors books but I can’t quite put my finger on it yet
There was just something missing overall that’s usually there in this authors books but I can’t quite put my finger on it yet
June 7, 2025
4.5/5 ⭐
Body Check is the second book in Brigham Vaughn's Scoring Chances series. It can be enjoyed as a complete standalone. Here's what you can expect from Gavin and Dakota:
🏒 MM contemporary romance
🏒 Third person dual point of view
🏒 Guaranteed happily ever after
🏒 Open door spice
🏒 Hockey romance
🏒 Team GM/interim president of hockey operations
🏒 Team yoga and Pilates instructor
🏒 Dislike to lovers
🏒 Age gap
🏒 Forbidden romance (boss/employee)
🏒 Opposites attract
Ensure you review the content and trigger warnings to decide if this book is right for you. Note that this list of warnings and triggers may be incomplete. Please take care of yourself while reading.
I have been looking forward to Body Check since I devoured Goaltender Interference a few months ago, and Gavin and Dakota absolutely did not disappoint! I was really looking forward to this kind of hockey-adjacent romance. It still had lots of great hockey action, but it was cool having two employees of the team as opposed to a romance featuring one of the players. One of my favourite things about Brigham's writing is the amount of care and research she puts into her books. Her stories are always so well-thought out, and any contentious issues are thoroughly researched with sources cited. I appreciated that she used a specific sensitivity reader for Violet's representation.
The story itself was great, and Gavin and Dakota definitely had a bit of an idiots to lovers vibe about them at times (they were just so oblivious sometimes, it was adorable). They went from initial dislike after getting off on the wrong foot when Dakota was hired by the team to hooking up out of convenience to something so much more. It really felt like they fell into love by accident and I loved that for them. Let's talk about the spice in this book, because there was a unique aspect I'd love to see in other open door romances. When Dakota and Gavin start hooking up, they both tell one another they're tops. Instead of them bending to the other's will, I appreciated how they communicated and worked around it. Sex isn't just penetration, and these two had a hell of a lot of fun navigating that aspect of their dynamic. Their biggest hurdle was trust, but it was so sweet watching those walls come down. Combined with some mystery over what exactly happened between Gavin and his twin brother and a lovely cast of supporting characters (let's be honest, I'd die for Kady and watching Jesse and his Captain Growly was adorable) this was such a fun read. Gavin and his twin brother's big talk towards the end of the book made me so emotional, and I loved the raw vulnerability. It was also cool getting to see the kinds of things a professional hockey team's GM and president of operations gets up to in a day and it offers another dynamic for hockey lovers to enjoy.
We're already set up for the next book, and I can't wait to see another two members of the Boston Harriers organization fall in love! Amazing work as always, Brigham.
Body Check is the second book in Brigham Vaughn's Scoring Chances series. It can be enjoyed as a complete standalone. Here's what you can expect from Gavin and Dakota:
🏒 MM contemporary romance
🏒 Third person dual point of view
🏒 Guaranteed happily ever after
🏒 Open door spice
🏒 Hockey romance
🏒 Team GM/interim president of hockey operations
🏒 Team yoga and Pilates instructor
🏒 Dislike to lovers
🏒 Age gap
🏒 Forbidden romance (boss/employee)
🏒 Opposites attract
Ensure you review the content and trigger warnings to decide if this book is right for you. Note that this list of warnings and triggers may be incomplete. Please take care of yourself while reading.
I have been looking forward to Body Check since I devoured Goaltender Interference a few months ago, and Gavin and Dakota absolutely did not disappoint! I was really looking forward to this kind of hockey-adjacent romance. It still had lots of great hockey action, but it was cool having two employees of the team as opposed to a romance featuring one of the players. One of my favourite things about Brigham's writing is the amount of care and research she puts into her books. Her stories are always so well-thought out, and any contentious issues are thoroughly researched with sources cited. I appreciated that she used a specific sensitivity reader for Violet's representation.
The story itself was great, and Gavin and Dakota definitely had a bit of an idiots to lovers vibe about them at times (they were just so oblivious sometimes, it was adorable). They went from initial dislike after getting off on the wrong foot when Dakota was hired by the team to hooking up out of convenience to something so much more. It really felt like they fell into love by accident and I loved that for them. Let's talk about the spice in this book, because there was a unique aspect I'd love to see in other open door romances. When Dakota and Gavin start hooking up, they both tell one another they're tops. Instead of them bending to the other's will, I appreciated how they communicated and worked around it. Sex isn't just penetration, and these two had a hell of a lot of fun navigating that aspect of their dynamic. Their biggest hurdle was trust, but it was so sweet watching those walls come down. Combined with some mystery over what exactly happened between Gavin and his twin brother and a lovely cast of supporting characters (let's be honest, I'd die for Kady and watching Jesse and his Captain Growly was adorable) this was such a fun read. Gavin and his twin brother's big talk towards the end of the book made me so emotional, and I loved the raw vulnerability. It was also cool getting to see the kinds of things a professional hockey team's GM and president of operations gets up to in a day and it offers another dynamic for hockey lovers to enjoy.
We're already set up for the next book, and I can't wait to see another two members of the Boston Harriers organization fall in love! Amazing work as always, Brigham.
June 6, 2025
4.5 stars
Dakota, new Yoga and Pilates instructor for the Boston Harriers, and Gavin, GM and President of Hockey Operations definitely started off on the wrong foot: Gavin was sceptical about Dakota's skills and Dakota disliked him because he seemed the typical powerful man who wants to dominate others.
After their arguing, Gavin decided to try to mend things and put himself under Dakota's care, admitting that his job could be very beneficial for the team.
Once the initial disliking fades out, they have the chance to get to know one another and attraction sparkles between them.
Their agreement on just casual sex is not easy because Dakota is very closed off and doesn't want to give Gavin any power over him, while Gavin is frustrated because Dakota is adamant against being taken care of. Gavin also has a complicated past that still affects his life and his relationship with his twin brother.
I liked very very much how their physical relationship evolved once they started to trust each other. Their first time with full sex is so emotional and beautiful and it shows the depth of their feelings and how far they've come.
One of my favourite part is when Dakota realises how much Gavin cared about him and what all those thoughtful gestures really meant.
What prevented me from giving a higher rate:
There's quite a lot of talk about the MCs' previous partners, for obvious reasons. But while Dakota's hurt from the past gets a satisfactory resolution, Gavin's messy divorce seemed to be a dark cloud always floating around. I would have loved for him to have a satisfying revenge moment with his ex.
There's obviously also a lot of hockey in this book and I was very happy to see some the MCs of the previous series appearing here. I did not expect Wade and Trevor! I'm so grateful the author brought them back, even if for a small cameo.
Will the next story be about Turtle? I sure hope so and I'm so very curious about who his future partner will be: that man needs a HEA badly, after all the hurt from his breakup.
I received an ARC of this book from Neon Rainow and this is my honest review.
Dakota, new Yoga and Pilates instructor for the Boston Harriers, and Gavin, GM and President of Hockey Operations definitely started off on the wrong foot: Gavin was sceptical about Dakota's skills and Dakota disliked him because he seemed the typical powerful man who wants to dominate others.
After their arguing, Gavin decided to try to mend things and put himself under Dakota's care, admitting that his job could be very beneficial for the team.
Once the initial disliking fades out, they have the chance to get to know one another and attraction sparkles between them.
Their agreement on just casual sex is not easy because Dakota is very closed off and doesn't want to give Gavin any power over him, while Gavin is frustrated because Dakota is adamant against being taken care of. Gavin also has a complicated past that still affects his life and his relationship with his twin brother.
I liked very very much how their physical relationship evolved once they started to trust each other. Their first time with full sex is so emotional and beautiful and it shows the depth of their feelings and how far they've come.
One of my favourite part is when Dakota realises how much Gavin cared about him and what all those thoughtful gestures really meant.
What prevented me from giving a higher rate:
There's quite a lot of talk about the MCs' previous partners, for obvious reasons. But while Dakota's hurt from the past gets a satisfactory resolution, Gavin's messy divorce seemed to be a dark cloud always floating around. I would have loved for him to have a satisfying revenge moment with his ex.
There's obviously also a lot of hockey in this book and I was very happy to see some the MCs of the previous series appearing here. I did not expect Wade and Trevor! I'm so grateful the author brought them back, even if for a small cameo.
Will the next story be about Turtle? I sure hope so and I'm so very curious about who his future partner will be: that man needs a HEA badly, after all the hurt from his breakup.
I received an ARC of this book from Neon Rainow and this is my honest review.
July 13, 2025
3.4 von 5*
Eine Romanze oder gar eine neue Beziehung stehen nicht auf der Agenda des NHL Managers Gavin Racine. Seine Ehe ging erst kürzlich sehr spektakulär und öffentlich in die Brüche. Dann ist auch noch sein entfremdeter Zwillingsbruder aufgetaucht und die Boston Harriers hatten auch schon bessere Zeiten. Da wird ihm auch noch der Yoga- und Pilates-Trainer Dakota vor die Nase gesetzt.
Dakota und Gavin haben keinen guten Start, da Gavin eigentlich fürs Personal zuständig ist und Dakota mit dem arroganten und selbstherrlichen Kerl nichts anfangen kann. Auch er kommt aus einer desaströsen Beziehung, die ihn zudem auch noch finanziell ins Unglück gestürzt hat. Auch Dakota hat keine Pläne sich so schnell wieder auf einen Mann einzulassen.
Und doch knistert es zwischen den beiden Männern, die kaum unterschiedlicher sein können ….
Beide Charaktere werden bereits im ersten Teil der Reihe vorgestellt und man hat auch da schon einen kleinen Einblick in ihre Vita bekommen. Jedoch sind sie mir persönlich in ihrem eigenen Buch etwas fremd geblieben. Gavin und Dakota sind nicht unsympathisch und ihre Handlungen, Gedanken und Gefühle machen auch durchaus Sinn. Aber sie kommen mir eben nicht nahe und mir fehlte auch ein wenig die Empathie und das Verständnis für sie.
Vielleicht fand ich sie als Persönlichkeiten jetzt auch etwas langweilig und das Geheimnis um Gavins Vergangenheit und Dakotas Ex-Freund hat sich für meinen Geschmack einfach zu sehr gezogen, als dass ich daran noch echtes Interesse hatte.
Die Geschichte ist wie immer solide geschrieben und man trifft auch wieder auf Connor und Jesse, aber auch auf Wade und Trevor aus einer anderen Reihe. Tatsächlich hatte ich in diesem Buch immer Ausschau nach einem anderen Charakter Ausschau gehalten, der vermutlich gar keine Geschichte bekommen wird. Aber dieser Spieler hatte in seinen kurzen Auftritten fast schon mehr Persönlichkeit als Dakota das ganze Buch über.
Eine Romanze oder gar eine neue Beziehung stehen nicht auf der Agenda des NHL Managers Gavin Racine. Seine Ehe ging erst kürzlich sehr spektakulär und öffentlich in die Brüche. Dann ist auch noch sein entfremdeter Zwillingsbruder aufgetaucht und die Boston Harriers hatten auch schon bessere Zeiten. Da wird ihm auch noch der Yoga- und Pilates-Trainer Dakota vor die Nase gesetzt.
Dakota und Gavin haben keinen guten Start, da Gavin eigentlich fürs Personal zuständig ist und Dakota mit dem arroganten und selbstherrlichen Kerl nichts anfangen kann. Auch er kommt aus einer desaströsen Beziehung, die ihn zudem auch noch finanziell ins Unglück gestürzt hat. Auch Dakota hat keine Pläne sich so schnell wieder auf einen Mann einzulassen.
Und doch knistert es zwischen den beiden Männern, die kaum unterschiedlicher sein können ….
Beide Charaktere werden bereits im ersten Teil der Reihe vorgestellt und man hat auch da schon einen kleinen Einblick in ihre Vita bekommen. Jedoch sind sie mir persönlich in ihrem eigenen Buch etwas fremd geblieben. Gavin und Dakota sind nicht unsympathisch und ihre Handlungen, Gedanken und Gefühle machen auch durchaus Sinn. Aber sie kommen mir eben nicht nahe und mir fehlte auch ein wenig die Empathie und das Verständnis für sie.
Vielleicht fand ich sie als Persönlichkeiten jetzt auch etwas langweilig und das Geheimnis um Gavins Vergangenheit und Dakotas Ex-Freund hat sich für meinen Geschmack einfach zu sehr gezogen, als dass ich daran noch echtes Interesse hatte.
Die Geschichte ist wie immer solide geschrieben und man trifft auch wieder auf Connor und Jesse, aber auch auf Wade und Trevor aus einer anderen Reihe. Tatsächlich hatte ich in diesem Buch immer Ausschau nach einem anderen Charakter Ausschau gehalten, der vermutlich gar keine Geschichte bekommen wird. Aber dieser Spieler hatte in seinen kurzen Auftritten fast schon mehr Persönlichkeit als Dakota das ganze Buch über.
May 23, 2025
Gavin and Dakota are no strangers to heartbreak. For Gavin, he had a messy divorce and looked back to realize that his ex really didn’t love him the way Gavin thought he did. And after all that, plus his job just getting busier and busier, a relationship is the last thing he really needs. He needs someone who understands his demanding scheduling and is okay with it. For Dakota, a relationship is not on his mind at all. His ex did a number on him in many ways and the biggest at the moment was leaving Dakota with a mess of debt while he disappeared. No way is he ready to trust anyone with his heart again. Dakota and Gavin getting together for even just a physical relationship is the last thing you would expect from these two after their disaster of a first meeting. But little by little, they warm up to one another and start to get to know each other. And the attraction between them is certainly there, but to let it happen knowing they are coworkers? Well, it’s a risk they realize eventually they want to take. This starts the beginning of what ends up being a really wonderful relationship. The two have a long way to go when it comes to trust and their hearts, and it takes them a bit to realize they want more, but in the end so worth it! These two weren’t what I expected when I opened this book. I thought I had a pretty good idea of who they were when we first met them in the previous book, but I was wrong! And that was okay! I loved getting to know these characters and seeing their struggles. It made them so much more real. And though they clash a lot, they also balance one another at the same time. Lots of twists and turns in their story, but they get their well deserved happy ending! Can’t wait to see who’s story is next in this series!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 8, 2025
yes hello it is me and I am trash for these books. I love to read about the otters the fisher cats and now the harriers. this was sweet and lovely, even if i wish there wasn't always age gaps and complications with conflict of interest with the books.
I was absolutely over the moon with Connor and Jesse but this didn't have me just as bad. I think a reason for that was... there were just sooo many plots in one book. The twin. The ex con man. trans sister. new player. ANOTHER new player. changes in the organisation. I felt a bit dizzy at the end and some of the plots were so quickly resolved it felt a bit meh to even bring them in. I am sad the third book is about new characters that have barely been in the books. I want Luke's book. or Thad. we barely know rafe or mouse and honestly i struggle thinking rafe will date another player after having a relationship crash and burn but I guess we will see.
BUT gavin and dakota are sweet. bless those little exhibitionists.
I was absolutely over the moon with Connor and Jesse but this didn't have me just as bad. I think a reason for that was... there were just sooo many plots in one book. The twin. The ex con man. trans sister. new player. ANOTHER new player. changes in the organisation. I felt a bit dizzy at the end and some of the plots were so quickly resolved it felt a bit meh to even bring them in. I am sad the third book is about new characters that have barely been in the books. I want Luke's book. or Thad. we barely know rafe or mouse and honestly i struggle thinking rafe will date another player after having a relationship crash and burn but I guess we will see.
BUT gavin and dakota are sweet. bless those little exhibitionists.
January 19, 2026
An unexpected favourite
I loved this! I wasn't sure about an age-gap boss/employee romance at first and skipped this one on my first read of this series, but I circled back and I'm so glad I did.
I loved the way they handled their dynamic and how Dakota set his boundaries. I loved the way Dakota was helping Gavin with his relationship with his brother. And all their back stories and how that impacted on the story.
Plus Dakota’s family and Violet was a brilliant side plot.
In this, you'll find:
●MM Contemporary romance
●Gay NHL team GM
●Gay Yoga & pilates instructor and personal trainer
●2 toppy men with baggage working it out
●Age gap
●Hookup to more
●Trans woman secondary character
●Heart issues
●Estrangement from parents & strained relationship with brother
●Discussion of past incarceration of secondary character & mention of ongoing issues related to having been incarcerated
●Mention of past drug issues
●Mention of emotionally & financially abusive ex leaving debts
●Mention of ex cheating
●Mention of messy divorce
I loved this! I wasn't sure about an age-gap boss/employee romance at first and skipped this one on my first read of this series, but I circled back and I'm so glad I did.
I loved the way they handled their dynamic and how Dakota set his boundaries. I loved the way Dakota was helping Gavin with his relationship with his brother. And all their back stories and how that impacted on the story.
Plus Dakota’s family and Violet was a brilliant side plot.
In this, you'll find:
●MM Contemporary romance
●Gay NHL team GM
●Gay Yoga & pilates instructor and personal trainer
●2 toppy men with baggage working it out
●Age gap
●Hookup to more
●Trans woman secondary character
●Heart issues
●Estrangement from parents & strained relationship with brother
●Discussion of past incarceration of secondary character & mention of ongoing issues related to having been incarcerated
●Mention of past drug issues
●Mention of emotionally & financially abusive ex leaving debts
●Mention of ex cheating
●Mention of messy divorce
May 30, 2025
Gavin & Dakota are so similar and yet show it in completely different ways. Both men have pasts they wish they could keep in the past, yet as they unfold, these two men learn to rely on the other to come out better. Dakota was burned by his former lover so bad he now is financial ruin leading him to work for the Harriers as the new yoga and fitness instructor. Gavin, having gone through one relationship scandal, too many don't allow himself to see Dakota as the brillant man he is until he almost loses him. When push comes to shove, these two fight hard for what they are starting, even if it scares them to be burned again.
Brigham does a tastefully beautiful trans inclusion of a side character and how their relationship could affect her even if it shouldn't. A beautifully written part woven into an openly exclusive organization. the Harriers may not be the best team yet, but they have the heart and soul to be the best for the teams overall wellness. I am so looking forward to seeing who is next of the Harriers to find their match.
Brigham does a tastefully beautiful trans inclusion of a side character and how their relationship could affect her even if it shouldn't. A beautifully written part woven into an openly exclusive organization. the Harriers may not be the best team yet, but they have the heart and soul to be the best for the teams overall wellness. I am so looking forward to seeing who is next of the Harriers to find their match.
June 15, 2025
I really love Brigham's books, Hockey is one of my favourite tropes.
This time is the MG and the yoga-pilates instructor, and their chemistry is insane. This an amazing book and an amazing couple.
I highly recommend this book as any other Brigham's book
Can't wait for the next book from this series
This time is the MG and the yoga-pilates instructor, and their chemistry is insane. This an amazing book and an amazing couple.
I highly recommend this book as any other Brigham's book
Can't wait for the next book from this series
January 13, 2026
Dakota and Gavin
This author is tremendously good at slowly pulling on your heart strings and before you know it you’re hooked. The character depth and development as the story moves along is amazing. She holds true to their story and maintains that or shows how they accept changes in themselves.
This author is tremendously good at slowly pulling on your heart strings and before you know it you’re hooked. The character depth and development as the story moves along is amazing. She holds true to their story and maintains that or shows how they accept changes in themselves.
June 16, 2025
Rating: 4
Steam: 3
PoV: dual, 3rd person
Genre: sport romance, MM
Tropes / tags: boss / employee, age gap, hurt / comfort
I loved Dakota and Gavin's story! They might have seemed like opposites, but they turned out to have a lot more in common than it first seemed, and the grumpy / sunshine vibes were great.
Dakota and Gavin had some undeniable attraction and chemistry going on, and while they didn't start off on the best terms, things slowly thawed as they got to know each other. They both had some past hurt they needed to work through, and while I didn't always love the way Gavin acted, Dakota knew how to put him in his place and I really liked them together.
It was a bit of a slow burn, and they had every intention of keeping things casual once they started hooking up, but it didn't take long for things to get real between them. I really liked Dakota, and it was refreshing to get a hockey romance with characters that weren't hockey players. I instantly liked Dakota, he was feisty and the easy banter between him and Gavin was a lot of fun.
Body Check was a great addition to Brigham Vaughn's hockey romances, and I really enjoyed Dakota and Gavin's story. Their communication was great and the forbidden romance / secret relationship added a tinge of angst to the story. I loved the found family feeling from the team, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of them!
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I received an advanced copy of this book, and these are my honest thoughts and opinions.
Steam: 3
PoV: dual, 3rd person
Genre: sport romance, MM
Tropes / tags: boss / employee, age gap, hurt / comfort
I loved Dakota and Gavin's story! They might have seemed like opposites, but they turned out to have a lot more in common than it first seemed, and the grumpy / sunshine vibes were great.
Dakota and Gavin had some undeniable attraction and chemistry going on, and while they didn't start off on the best terms, things slowly thawed as they got to know each other. They both had some past hurt they needed to work through, and while I didn't always love the way Gavin acted, Dakota knew how to put him in his place and I really liked them together.
It was a bit of a slow burn, and they had every intention of keeping things casual once they started hooking up, but it didn't take long for things to get real between them. I really liked Dakota, and it was refreshing to get a hockey romance with characters that weren't hockey players. I instantly liked Dakota, he was feisty and the easy banter between him and Gavin was a lot of fun.
Body Check was a great addition to Brigham Vaughn's hockey romances, and I really enjoyed Dakota and Gavin's story. Their communication was great and the forbidden romance / secret relationship added a tinge of angst to the story. I loved the found family feeling from the team, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of them!
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I received an advanced copy of this book, and these are my honest thoughts and opinions.
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May 30, 2025What seems like an opposites attract story is really a story of balancing want and need with expectations - it's a lovely story of lifting each other up instead of tearing things down. Like every relationship there are things that need to be worked through and outside forces to be considered, but Dakota and Gavin communicate and talk through their issues well, while maintaining a spark and heat that drew this reader to them like a moth to a flame.
I like that both men have histories and that they open up about how that impacts them. I also appreciate how they're willing to support and fight for each other, as well as consider those around them, especially Dakota's sister!
I like that both men have histories and that they open up about how that impacts them. I also appreciate how they're willing to support and fight for each other, as well as consider those around them, especially Dakota's sister!
July 25, 2025
4.25 ⭐
A second book in Brigham Vaughn’s Scoring Chances series, Body Check works perfectly well as a standalone. But personally, I would strongly recommend not skipping Connor and Jesse’s story! ❤️
In Body Check we see Gavin Racine, a 41-year-old general manager of the Boston Harriers hockey team, and Dakota Crane, a 29-year-old yoga and pilates instructor newly hired by the organization, find their HEA. Both men have been burned by past relationships, and they soooo don’t click at first. But that just made their slow journey to their HEA into something real, deeper and sweeter.
Gavin is a complex character, and he comes across as a workaholic with a tough shell. He is overworked, stubborn…and emotionally guarded due to a messy divorce. Add a complicated dynamic with his twin brother Thad, and you get why he comes across as tough and cold. But we also see a softer and caring side of him. Watching him be soft and vulnerable is one of things that made me love him and the book more than I first thought I would.
Dakota, meanwhile, is a bit more…let’s say grounded, but he also has his own emotional baggage, and is dealing with financial struggles not completely of his own making. Going on a journey with these two, and seeing them both grow as a couple and as individuals, was another thing I really loved in this story. It’s emotional slow-burn, starting as casual but quickly becomes meaningful.
One thing I found refreshing is how Brigham handled the intimacy between them. It’s undeniable there’s chemistry between them, but what really makes them work is how much they talk. They talk about sex, trust, fears…all of it. A great moment early on, that I really loved, is where they both admit they’re tops, and instead of it turning into a problem, they figure things out in a way that feels respectful. Brigham treats physical connection with nuance, and that only adds to the emotional depth of their relationship for me. Besides, communication is sexy!!
One more thing that makes this story a bit slower in pace, and more plot driven, is that it spends some time building the team environment. It also gives us a little bit of the day-to-day of running a pro hockey organization, which is a bit different than what we usually see in hockey romances. We are getting a story “from behind the scenes” of the team, and I personally liked that change.
The book also deals with some serious themes like real-life financial issues, health scares, family estrangement, and trans rights. all come up at various points. I would say these topics are handled thoughtfully, and, as always, Brigham clearly put in the work, including using a sensitivity reader for trans representation. Like in Brigham’s other books, it doesn’t feel preachy, but it does add depth to it all.
I received a copy of this book from Neon Rainbow Reviews, and this is my unbiased review.
A second book in Brigham Vaughn’s Scoring Chances series, Body Check works perfectly well as a standalone. But personally, I would strongly recommend not skipping Connor and Jesse’s story! ❤️
In Body Check we see Gavin Racine, a 41-year-old general manager of the Boston Harriers hockey team, and Dakota Crane, a 29-year-old yoga and pilates instructor newly hired by the organization, find their HEA. Both men have been burned by past relationships, and they soooo don’t click at first. But that just made their slow journey to their HEA into something real, deeper and sweeter.
Gavin is a complex character, and he comes across as a workaholic with a tough shell. He is overworked, stubborn…and emotionally guarded due to a messy divorce. Add a complicated dynamic with his twin brother Thad, and you get why he comes across as tough and cold. But we also see a softer and caring side of him. Watching him be soft and vulnerable is one of things that made me love him and the book more than I first thought I would.
Dakota, meanwhile, is a bit more…let’s say grounded, but he also has his own emotional baggage, and is dealing with financial struggles not completely of his own making. Going on a journey with these two, and seeing them both grow as a couple and as individuals, was another thing I really loved in this story. It’s emotional slow-burn, starting as casual but quickly becomes meaningful.
One thing I found refreshing is how Brigham handled the intimacy between them. It’s undeniable there’s chemistry between them, but what really makes them work is how much they talk. They talk about sex, trust, fears…all of it. A great moment early on, that I really loved, is where they both admit they’re tops, and instead of it turning into a problem, they figure things out in a way that feels respectful. Brigham treats physical connection with nuance, and that only adds to the emotional depth of their relationship for me. Besides, communication is sexy!!
One more thing that makes this story a bit slower in pace, and more plot driven, is that it spends some time building the team environment. It also gives us a little bit of the day-to-day of running a pro hockey organization, which is a bit different than what we usually see in hockey romances. We are getting a story “from behind the scenes” of the team, and I personally liked that change.
The book also deals with some serious themes like real-life financial issues, health scares, family estrangement, and trans rights. all come up at various points. I would say these topics are handled thoughtfully, and, as always, Brigham clearly put in the work, including using a sensitivity reader for trans representation. Like in Brigham’s other books, it doesn’t feel preachy, but it does add depth to it all.
I received a copy of this book from Neon Rainbow Reviews, and this is my unbiased review.
September 28, 2025
An interesting story, quite angsty, about two guys, Gavin and Dakota, who are total opposites, but for some reason are drawn to one another. Initially, they seemed to be on edge each time they met. Eventually, though, it all felt quite natural and didn’t feel rushed. I also liked that they took time to get to know each other, eventually beginning a friends with benefits agreement. However, despite all of this and their growing feelings, there was always some tension between them. It became obvious that both had something to hide. Gavin, in particular gave the impression that he was running from a past, he was reluctant to face.
Dakota gave the impression that he fought the past head on. He showed so much strength. He fought to improve things, never giving up. Regardless of there being a conflict of interest, possibly his job being at risk, he was willing to give Gavin a chance.
This was such an emotional rollercoaster, the hurt, pain, pure, and raw emotions that Brigham poured into this story were immense. Both guys experienced a lot of growth. I understood Gavin's pain, struggle and the problems he had dealing with his past. I admired his willingness to embark on a road to healing. Dakota simply proved himself time and time again. I admired his strength, his fighting mode, and his not allowing negativity to get to him.
A story about loss and loneliness and then finding love and self forgiveness, it was well written, with such feeling and genuine understanding. It was like taking a journey alongside both Gavin and Dakota, discovering things about them as you go along. There were certainly some surprises!
I've just finished listening to the Audible version of this, and wow! The narrator does a marvellous job of bringing Dakota and Gavin to life. The emotional impact of the story is immense. If you enjoyed the ebook. You'll love the audible version.
Dakota gave the impression that he fought the past head on. He showed so much strength. He fought to improve things, never giving up. Regardless of there being a conflict of interest, possibly his job being at risk, he was willing to give Gavin a chance.
This was such an emotional rollercoaster, the hurt, pain, pure, and raw emotions that Brigham poured into this story were immense. Both guys experienced a lot of growth. I understood Gavin's pain, struggle and the problems he had dealing with his past. I admired his willingness to embark on a road to healing. Dakota simply proved himself time and time again. I admired his strength, his fighting mode, and his not allowing negativity to get to him.
A story about loss and loneliness and then finding love and self forgiveness, it was well written, with such feeling and genuine understanding. It was like taking a journey alongside both Gavin and Dakota, discovering things about them as you go along. There were certainly some surprises!
I've just finished listening to the Audible version of this, and wow! The narrator does a marvellous job of bringing Dakota and Gavin to life. The emotional impact of the story is immense. If you enjoyed the ebook. You'll love the audible version.
September 10, 2025
M/M
Hockey romance (not much hockey time on page given they aren't players)
Team GM/Team yoga instructor
A bit of hate to lovers
2 tops
Arc Audio review
Story = 3 stars
Narration = 5 stars
This can be read as a standalone but it is much more enjoyable if you've read the previous book.
I really enjoyed both of the characters previously especially Dakota. I was really looking forward to reading their book but it didn't meet my expectations. While the characters overall were enjoyable, Gavin came off as a jerk alot. Overall they made a good couple but I definitely didn't feel much chemistry between them. It felt very transactional.
While I managed to finish reading it and found it ok, I did find it repetitive and draggy alot. The plot was pretty uneventful. I enjoyed the subplot involving other side characters more than this couple.
While I give the author credit for the originality of trying to make 2 tops work, there were just aspects that didn't work for me and some of the, what I would consider important steamy moments, were glossed over and fade to black. While I can understand not wanting to make a book too steam focused, I just feel as though certain moments could have been swapped in and made it better.
I can't say I'll ever read this book again or recommend it but Iam still looking forward to the next book. The first book was great. This just didn't live up to it.
I always love this narrator. They have a pleasant reading voice, he kept a good pace and sounded age appropriate for the main characters. He expressed all the emotions really well and made it an enjoyable listening experience. He gave all the characters, even the side characters distinct voices that suited them each perfectly, especially the women and it brought the story to life.
Hockey romance (not much hockey time on page given they aren't players)
Team GM/Team yoga instructor
A bit of hate to lovers
2 tops
Arc Audio review
Story = 3 stars
Narration = 5 stars
This can be read as a standalone but it is much more enjoyable if you've read the previous book.
I really enjoyed both of the characters previously especially Dakota. I was really looking forward to reading their book but it didn't meet my expectations. While the characters overall were enjoyable, Gavin came off as a jerk alot. Overall they made a good couple but I definitely didn't feel much chemistry between them. It felt very transactional.
While I managed to finish reading it and found it ok, I did find it repetitive and draggy alot. The plot was pretty uneventful. I enjoyed the subplot involving other side characters more than this couple.
While I give the author credit for the originality of trying to make 2 tops work, there were just aspects that didn't work for me and some of the, what I would consider important steamy moments, were glossed over and fade to black. While I can understand not wanting to make a book too steam focused, I just feel as though certain moments could have been swapped in and made it better.
I can't say I'll ever read this book again or recommend it but Iam still looking forward to the next book. The first book was great. This just didn't live up to it.
I always love this narrator. They have a pleasant reading voice, he kept a good pace and sounded age appropriate for the main characters. He expressed all the emotions really well and made it an enjoyable listening experience. He gave all the characters, even the side characters distinct voices that suited them each perfectly, especially the women and it brought the story to life.
July 14, 2025
The rarest of rare misses for miss Brigham, I don't think the pairing made any sense, way too much was focused on the twin's relationship, and it's the first book of hers in a long time that's felt genuinely too long. I think as intrigued as I was by the concept, I wasn't moved by a hockey romance where neither of them were hockey players, especially so early in the series when there aren't that many side characters we care about, just Connor and Jesse. This might have worked as like book 4 of the series, but it didn't work here. I do like how they were both trauma-informed tops and had to clear that hurdle. Typically the MCs either settle into natural roles, or they're both vers and switch hit all over the place, so that was a series of conversations that was interesting to read (even if it did lead to one of the most awkward drunkenly aggressive failed sexual initiations I've ever read, whew I hated that and Dakota would've been correct to back out)
January 11, 2026
I really like Gavin's character since he was introduced previously, his way of managing the team is different from other places we saw and we know he has good intentions and smart choices when trying to rebuild a team that was going down. And mixing him with Dakota, the new Yoga intructor for the team, was interesting because we see two very different people struggling with past traumas/relationships. Some mistakes are made but in the end they care a lot about each other.
(Some dynamics of their relationship was not my cup of tea but overall it was a good book.
(Some dynamics of their relationship was not my cup of tea but overall it was a good book.
January 6, 2026
3.0 stars
Mmmm I don’t really know what to say
They were really hostile for 30 pages and then it was just gone so that was weird but okay
I liked Dakota but he could be really standoffish at random times
Gavin and his work was so funny sometimes
Like workaholic alert haha but seriously I liked them together
It was just nothing special really
Mmmm I don’t really know what to say
They were really hostile for 30 pages and then it was just gone so that was weird but okay
I liked Dakota but he could be really standoffish at random times
Gavin and his work was so funny sometimes
Like workaholic alert haha but seriously I liked them together
It was just nothing special really
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