Face Offs & Cheap Shots: Special Edition

CU Hockey #2

by Eden Finley, Saxon James

JACOBS

For the last three years, I’ve lived and breathed hockey with one goal: team captain.

There’s only one thing standing in my way. TJ Beckett.

Beck is irresponsible and immature, and I’ve hated him since the moment we met freshman year.

Yet, the coaches see something in him I obviously can’t, and they refuse to choose between us. The captain spot is going to a team vote, and the team thinks that what we need are a bunch of challenges to prove our worth. Challenges that have nothing to do with hockey. Challenges that are throwing me and Beck together.
And he’s still as infuriating as ever.


BECK

I have no idea why Christopher Jacobs hates me, and I can’t say I care. I like pushing his buttons, but the guy needs to loosen up. I’m going to win these stupid challenges easily and spend my senior year as hockey king on this campus.

Tormenting Jacobs at the same time will just be a bonus.

Even if I’m getting confusing feelings toward him, I won’t let it hold me back.

When it comes to competing, I’m all in, and nothing will get between me and the W.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Sports, Enemies To Lovers, Sports Romance, Hockey, LGBT

290 pages, Paperback

First published October 5, 2020

About the author

Eden Finley is an Amazon bestselling author who writes steamy contemporary romances that are mostly full of snark and light-hearted fluff.

She lives to create an escape from real life for herself and her readers.

She's also an Australian girl and apologises for her Australianisms that sometimes don't make sense to anyone else.

Reviews

[☆ Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this collaborative enemies-to-lovers story in the CU Hockey universe, mostly because it was full of snark and banter.

[Jacobs]


After winning the Frozen Four last year, serious and hard-working Jacobs was on track to become new team captain, but was furious to discover that TJ Beck, the squad's resident joker, was also in the running for the coveted captain's jersey.

Jacobs had busted his ass for three years to keep his grades up to keep his scholarship, while uber-wealthy Beck did the bare minimum, knowing that his money could buy his way out of whatever hot water he might have skated his way into. And that pissed Jacobs off, big time, so he'd had an intense "hate on" for Beck ever since they'd met Freshman year.

[Beck]


Then it was decided that the team members got to select their new captain, which included a series of five immature and ridiculous challenges, with the winner earning the lead position.

But it was the third challenge that proved to be the most challenging. And confusing. And scary. And *HOT*.

Gay Chicken.

Now I’m fully hard, and what the actual fuck?

I pull away. “Nope, nope, nope. I’m out.”

“Whoa,” Cohen says. I didn’t even hear him come back in.

“What?” I snap at him.

“I think we’re all a little gay after that. That was hot.”

Rossi slaps Cohen’s shoulder. “Still only you, dude.”

For decades, gay men across the planet have been titillated by the idea of two straight guys diving into unexplored territory with one another, and I most definitely am *not* an exception to that rule. As far as taboos go, I'm all over that one, so I pulled up a chair, grabbed a bag of popcorn, and sat my happy, queer ass down for a front row seat to *that* show. ;- )

As I fully expected, since this is a romance, hello, the kissing challenge led to some soul (and sexuality) searching, then to the all-but-inevitable "more" for which I was hoping.



I adored how Jacobs' most furious scowls only served as fuel under the fire in Beck's snarky, playful comebacks, like they were his catnip. He totally had an appetite for someone finally not giving him a pass simply because he was attractive and rich.

Other than the usual pondering of their mutual attractions, the main angst in the story was the iron-willed expectation of Beck's father for him to grow up and take over the family's billion-dollar business empire after graduation -- whether he wanted to or not.

Spoiler: He did not want that.



But the Daddy Drama was wrapped up nicely, and in an unexpected way that made me happy, so I eventually enjoyed how that played out.

In regards to steam, there was a LOT of it, but not so much that I ever really considered skipping any of those scenes, as I felt that they were actually needed for the guys to strengthen their growing relationship.



The humor and overall tone of the story completely won me over, so I'd rate it at 4.5 stars and recommend this book to fans of enemies to lovers or jocks falling in love.

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My ARC copy of the book was provided by Eden for a fair, unbiased review.

See All My Latest Reads (Review Quick-Links)

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[moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus] · Rating 5 out of 5]

reread (2): september 2021

I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM

...have i mentioned how much i love them? 🧐

⊱ ──────ஓ๑♡๑ஓ ────── ⊰

5 stars ☆

I consider whether I should say what I’m about to or not. Fuck it. “You always look good.”
“Oh really?”
“And you know it.”
“Doesn’t mean I don’t want to hear it again.”
“Then you should have recorded me.” I pretend to look over the menu, but I’m pretty sure I’ll order the carbonara and be done with it. I’m way too aware of him to concentrate.

omg i loved this book so much!! Beck and Jacobs’ banters was my absolute favorite to read about; not only was it entertaining, but i loved how they were basically on the same level as the other. also, thank god for no unnecessary drama whatsoever 😭 the little misunderstanding they had towards the end was communicated well between them. i’m so excited to read the rest of the books as this was my first dive into the series and loved every moment of it! ♡

[Imme [trying to crawl out of hiatus] van Gorp · Rating 4 out of 5]

|| 4.0 stars ||

➛First read: November 2021 | ★4.5 stars
➛Second read: March 2023 | ★4.0 stars

I enjoyed this so much. This book is honestly just extremely fun. It was light-hearted, but also genuinely funny from time to time. It gave me happy vibes.

Most of my praise for this book is probably because of Beck. I love his personality and he made the whole novel humorous. He was somehow still sweet while being sort of a dickhead? I know, it sounds a bit odd, but it somehow just works. He works. I love him.
I also think his pairing with Jacobs was so fun: they bounced off of each other so well, and I think they balance one another out perfectly.

Sometimes I find it hard to really feel the whole enemies-to-lovers trope, but with them it made sense. Their hatred was never that enormous anyway, and their dislike was more due to a lack of understanding of the other. The best part about it is that they don't lose their banter when they get together: they still tease and are competitive with each other. Basically, it's not like their entire relationship changes, they genuinely just like the mocking vibe they've got going on together. The only thing that's different is that their teasing eventually comes from a place of affection and love. It's cute.

If anything can be said that's not exactly my cup of tea when it comes to this novel, it's that maybe the inner thoughts of the MCs could be a little deeper. On the other hand, maybe it kind of fit for these two to not have overly loving thoughts about the other. They don't carry the other person on hands and knees, and neither do they ever just swoon over how amazing or gorgeous or whatever the other person is (although maybe Jacobs does kind of reach that point at the very end; he slowly becomes infatuated with Beck, and I meannn.. can you blame him??).
Normally, I would say I don't like that those angsty and longing thoughts weren’t there, and I did kind of miss some more emotions here, but like I said, maybe it worked for these two.

At the end of the day, I was just thoroughly entertained throughout this entire thing, so I really don't have all that much to complain about.


'CU Hockey' series:
1. Power Plays & Straight A's - 3.0 stars
2. Face Offs & Cheap Shots - 4.0 stars
3. Goal Lines & First Times - 2.5 stars
4. Line Mates & Study Dates - 3.5 stars
5. Puck Drills & Quick Thrills - 3.5 stars

Novellas:
5.1. The Best Wedding Ever - 3.0 stars
5.2. See You In Boston - 3.0 stars

Other Eden Finley and Saxon James books:
‘Fake Boyfriend’ series - var. ratings
‘Famous’ series - var. ratings
‘Cash Me Outside’ series - var. ratings
‘Never Just Friends’ series - var. ratings
‘Frat Wars’ series - var. ratings
Making Him Mine - 2.0 stars
‘Mike Bravo Ops’ series - var. ratings
‘Puckboys’ series - var. ratings
The Dating Disaster - 3.5 stars

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good times.... had by all....
And by all, I mean me. 😇

The "I hate you"/"No you don't" said with a smirk vibes.... (+ double bi/gay awakening, HELL TO THE YEAH!)
👏GETS👏ME👏EVERY👏DAMN👏TIME👏

Teddy & Topher with the rivals to lovers... SMASH. 😏😏😏

This was an absolute win for me, this book is what SJ/EF books are SUPPOSED to feel like....

If we could go back to this energy/fun level, that would be great 🙏

[Wendys Wycked Words · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, so there was no question about me signing up fort he second one, and I am so glad that I did because this one was even better... At least for me, it was.



I am mean what is better than two hot hockey players experiencing the virtues of gay sex for the very first time!! So hot and sweet I tell ya!!

The first few pages I wasn’t so sure about liking Beck, but then the banter started and I got to read his thoughts and feelings and I fell just as much in love with him as I did with Jacobs.



These two go from enemies to frenemies to lovers in the most delicious way and it was so much fun watching them catch feels ;)
I absolutely adored these two men. They made me snort coffee out my nose, tear up, and they definitely made me blush.



Two completely different men, who share a love for hockey and apparently a love for dick :P

But both also have a very different future ahead of them… a future neither is really looking forward to, especially Beck. Catching feelings will only complicate things and decisions will have to be made..

I highly recommend this series and I can't wait to see what's next!!!

An ARC was provided to

in exchange for an honest review

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[Nark · Rating 4 out of 5]

“turns out there’s a fine line between love and hate, and that line is blowjobs.”

aren’t they just adorable?

3.5 stars rounded up!

✨ a very fluffy, light, sweet & cute romance.
✨ sports romance (hockey).
✨ enemies-to-lovers.
✨ rivals-to-lovers.
✨ double gay awakening.
✨ lots of humorous, snarky banter that’s not actually annoying.
✨ great chemistry between the mcs.

enemies-to-lovers remains the superior trope. gotta loooove when mcs start catching feelings for their so called “enemies”.🤣

this was SO much better than book 1. i loved Jacobs and Beck, they were such lovable characters. their banter was pretty hilarious both when they “hated” each other and when they actually started dating.
their connection felt so natural and effortless, it was hard not to like them.

“for the first time in my life, i’m with someone where everything comes natural - not like i’m trying to force something that doesn’t fit.”

that first kiss was impeccable. 🥰 their little dates were SO adorable.

“ask me out properly, dick.”
he laughs. “hey, asshole, wanna go out tonight?”
“with such sweet pet names like that, it’s amazing we’re not totally in love yet. but yes, i will go out with you.”

the way they started getting jealous and possessive over each other?? delicious. i especially liked when Jacobs unknowingly got jealous over Beck’s sister.💀

they were truly just so cute and perfect together… it was disgustingly adorable.

“you sure you’re okay?”
“never better.”
as i hug him against my chest and get taken over by all those soft, happy emotions, it really hits me how true those words are.
i’ve literally never been better. 🖤

i most likely wasn’t going to continue with this series if i didn’t like this book, but since i liked it, i’m definitely gonna check out the other books now. i really do hope that Beck & Jacobs show up as side characters sometimes.👀

[Snjez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very light and fun read.

To be honest, I wasn't really feeling the characters when I started this. I didn't care about the challenges and the way Beck and Jacobs first got together didn't seem believable.

But from the moment their feelings started to show, the story got so much better for me. I didn't expect it to become so sweet. Beck and Jacobs were super cute together, I loved the banter between them and I was very happy with how their relationship developed. I really enjoyed the rest of the story.

[Maartje · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️ Face Offs and Cheap Shots - Eden Finley and Saxon James ❤️

* m/m
* gay/pan awakenings
* first times
* hockey romance
* falling in love before even realizing their feelings
* rich kid × farm boy
* enemies to lovers and rivals to lovers
* emotional
* opposites attract
* chasing dreams



This book... THIS BOOK RIGHT HERE!!! OMG! Here I am crying over a M/M novel with the sweetest and sexiest ice hockey MC's ever. Face Offs and Cheap Shots is the perfect combination of the tropes: enemies to lovers and gay awakening. This book gets a solid 5 star rating. Because YES I enjoyed the books THAT MUCH!

So, the story revolves around Christopher Jacobs, Grant's (MC from book one) best friend and Teddy Beckett. At first neither can stand each other and their animosity turns into a battle of who will become the next captain. Their team set up a ridiculous series of challenges to determine who is worthy of a shiny C on their jersey. Jacobs has always wanted to become captain while Beck couldn't care less. All Beck gets out of this, is pushing Jacobs' buttons even more. And seeing that scowl on his face makes him feel even more victorious over his teasing. Funny how Jacobs sees this as bullying on his side. However, one challenge forces them closer together than ever. Sparks fly between both of them. Jacobs and Beck feel an instant attraction towards one another. Opposites do attract in this story as the rivals develop their instant sexual attraction into a deeper emotional relationship.

PLEASE EVERYONE READ THIS BOOK! IT IS AMAZING! IT IS SWEET! IT IS SEXY! Also this CU ice hockey book series deserves a bigger fanbase if only for the sake of Face Offs and Cheap Shots. This sequel is even BETTER than the first book: Power Plays and Straight A's. It is a low angst and such a romantic book with barely any drama. It features two sexy MC's who recognize their sexuality and attraction to each other without problems so this book is definitely IT. Teddy and Topher live rent free in my head from now on.

[Renae Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun enemies to lovers romance. I enjoyed the witty banter between the two main characters. Their chemistry was fun to explore and experience while reading. This is a light, fun, and enjoyable romance that I fully recommend.

[Marci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED IT!!!!🥰 A new all time favorite for me.💜

[martina (the life of a chaotic reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“i like shiny things, but i’d marry you with paper rings.” is the only thing i could think about. i love matching ts songs to books.
the gold sparkly highlighter was perfect.


———


trying to understand why i rated this 4 stars before. i must have hit my head or something because this is truly 5+ shiny stars.
it gets better every time i read it.

[Teal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another casualty of 2020. It took me weeks to read this, because I couldn't focus my attention properly. As a result I don't remember as much about it as I should... even though I just finished it 30 minutes ago.

Under the circumstances I can't pretend to write a meaningful review, but here are some random thoughts I have about it, if you're interested:

- It took a long time for me to feel invested, because at first I didn't much care for the MCs. In fact, I actively disliked smart-ass rich kid Beck. I stuck with it, though, because I was hoping for a low-angst feel-good story — which is exactly what it turned out to be, yay! And along the way, I fell for both MCs, much to my surprise.

- I liked the writing — or I didn't like the writing. Hmm, why not both?

On the negative side, the story was the written equivalent of a performance in front of a green screen. There was a sad lack of the sensory details that bring a setting to life. So whether the action was taking place at a hockey rink, in a bedroom, outdoors on a farm, or inside a moving car, it all felt the same. No (or pitifully few) references to visuals, sounds, smells, or other details that anchor a scene into a particular location.

On the positive side, there were a couple of conversations between the MCs that played out so naturally and rang so true that it made me aware of how rare it is to run across really good dialogue.

- Although it's #2 in the series, it works fine as a standalone. I skipped #1 because the jock/nerd trope holds no appeal for me. However, teammates falling in love? Sign me up. The couple from the first book had some appearances here, but I felt no need to learn more about them.

- The sex scenes were strangely disappointing. I say "strangely" because the lead-up to the sex was good. Intense, teasing, full of promise. But when they actually got down to business, something was off. Maybe the authors' word choices...? I don't know exactly what it was that kept putting me off.

- There was a major plot device/premise here that always annoys me. Well, if "annoys me" = "infuriates me." The one where a rich kid — make that a rich adult kid — must abdicate his independence and obey his wealthy father and do his father's bidding and submit to his father's will and let his father manage his life, in order to keep the money rolling in, because otherwise — get this — otherwise the adult kid would be reduced to having to live off his trust fund! Quelle horreur! Or — and I hope you're sitting down for this — he'd have to get an entry-level job like a normal person, and live off a normal salary! (In addition to that sweet trust fund income!) Obvs he has no choice but to turn his life over to his father's total control instead. Believe me, I could write a 10,000-word essay rant on this subject, but am reining myself in now for the greater good.

I don't want to penalize the book just because I happened to read it through a brain fog, so I'm going to go with 3 stars. Overall, when the pluses and minuses are factored in, it's... okay. Okay-ish. And I'd be willing to try another book by this author combo, so that counts in its favor, right?

[ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

reread: 11/09/2021

their first kiss still gets me good, eurgh🥰✋🏻 and them asking each other out on dates will always live in my head rent free.

“A whole afternoon and night off. What could we possibly get up to?”
“If that’s your way of asking me on that second date, your delivery needs some work.”
“Oh, and the way you asked was so romantic. The only reason I knew it was a date was because you told me to change my shirt.”
I shove him. “Ask me out properly, dick.”
He laughs. “Hey, asshole, wanna go out tonight?”

these two petty bitches still got me in a chokehold, a year later💅🏻

[Shile (Hazard's Version) on-hiatus · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I liked this one a lot more than I thought I would.

The beginning started off on the wrong foot but as the story progressed it started becoming more fun.

I loved Jacobs and Beck, they complemented each other and were so cute and adorable together. The banter between them was so hilarious and the sex hot. It also helped that they had some mad chemistry.

There was some drama Llama with Becks father that was totally unnecessary but it didn't stop me from enjoying the story.

Overall it was a fun, light read and I ended up liking it alot.

[hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

5++ stars ★

“Hey, Topher?”
“Yes, Teddy?”
“You know that I meant for this to be a date, right?” And holy shit, I’ve never seen Beck look as uncertain as he does tonight. The big eyes, the creased forehead—where is the confident guy I’m so used to bantering with? And while I have no idea what he means by asking me on a date, or being nervous, I do know that I like it.
“Then what are you doing over there?” He swiftly slides out of his side and into mine, and by the time Beck is beside me, he’s back to being the guy I know. His full smile is on display as he plants his elbow on the table and angles his body toward me. “You knew this was a date.”
“I suspected.”
“And you came anyway.”

me during this scene and the whole book in general: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHSKSKSJSJSHSKSKSKSKSKSKSSKS I LOVE THEM AHHHHSJSJJJJJSJSJAJAKAKAKJSJSSJDJ I LOVE THEM SO MUCH AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHEIRIRJDJSKAKSKDJDDJHSHSNDNDNDN💓💓💓💞💞💕💕💘💘💖💘💘🩷🩷🩷💗💓💘💘💘🥰🥰🥰💖❣️❣️❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥💞🩷🩷😍😍😍😍

so i've done this odd thing were i've read all eden/saxon's books backwards 😂 i've read their puckboys series before this one, and most of their solos stuff as well. in this series, i've read the last book before i read this one. i know it's really weird but i just read whatever book speaks to me first and since these are interconnected standalones, i just went with it 😅 so i think it's safe to say that i have a good idea on how i feel about their individual/solo projects and i gotta say, this is by far my favorite couple they have written together. i was so in awe of this couple, that i was questioning if i was actually reading a book by eden/saxon. i love Foolish Puckboy (i gave it 5 stars), but comparing my love for that book to this? literally no comparison. this book has my whole heart. it is far from angsty but i could cry thinking about it bc of how much i adored it 😭

→ THEIR FIRST KISS? i was LITERALLY holding my breath just like the rest of the people in that scene were doing. cohen knew what he was doing when he made them play gay chicken. bc it's basically impossible not to feel the tension between them. EVEN ZACH COULD SEE IT. beck and jacobs have IMPECCABLE chemistry and their first kiss scene made my jaw drop ngl. they actually had no business being that perfect.

“You’re right. I liked it. Wanna know why?” My response clearly takes him by surprise because when I dip my mouth down next to his ear, he doesn’t pull away. “You were finally fucking quiet.”

jacobs saying this to beck after their first kiss? this was only at 20% and they were already too much for me to handle 🥵🧎‍♀️

→ don't even get me started on their little obsessions they had about each other ✋
beck always noticing the vein that ran down jacobs’s arm? jacobs obsession with beck’s tan line? JACOBS OBSESSION WITH BECK'S 🍑 no bc the way he was always staring and wanting to feel it up. idk why but jacobs's obsession had me weak in the knees 😩it's not really a trope? but i love when characters in books always fixate on a specific thing about a person and obsess over it for the whole book.

“I guess you’ll have to practice some more.”
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
“Hell, next time you might even hit a big ol’ six.” Beck laughs and settles down, chin propped on my pec. His skin is warm against mine. It gives me the perfect view over his shoulder to his sexy, round ass and the grooves that run down the sides of his cheeks.
“You really like my butt, huh?” I reach down and grab a handful, squeezing it as tight as I can. “It’s fine, I guess.”

UGHHHHHH 🥵 "it's fine, i guess" rightttttt you ain't foolin no one. he was a beck ass enthusiast. and just the way they always have their funny banter going not matter that situation was amazing.

→ the hands on the thighs..... when driving.....when going on dates 😍
yeah, that's all that needs to be said about that....

→ the marking 🥵

→ the natural, casual, soft kisses they shared when they were out together.

→ their DATES? you can't tell me those weren’t fucking cute and romantic. i read through them a couple times before moving on with the book. i love how unbothered they when they started transitioning from sex to dates. there was no unnecessary drama and they had their doubts with what was going on, but they were both easily willing to work through it so they could be together. and the way they were so HAPPY to tell people about their relationship.

We part ways to go to class, and I take a moment to check him out as he walks away. His broad shoulders, narrow waist, and that ass I couldn’t help noticing even when I hated him are even hotter when paired with this warmth in my chest. And when I think about telling the team, I’m actually excited about it. Because I’ll have Beck, and anyone with an issue can go fuck themselves.

to have their love 😩 and yes, jacobs takes every opportunity to check out beck's ass, we know this.

→ how i actually enjoyed reading their sex scenes. i tend to skim sex scenes bc they're there to just be hot rather than adding something to the development of the relationship. that wasn't the case here. each scene was different and i could feel how their relationship was changing the more time they spent intimately together. they did start out as enemies with benefits type situation, but surprisingly it wasn't as smutty as you would think. don't get me wrong though, it was still very spicy but add in all the emotional connection going on, and the sex scenes felt a lot more than just sex.

→ the way jacobs was always lifting beck's legs around his waist and even picking him up too 😩

“I think they’ll prefer you’re a big, strong man.”
“I guess we’ll see.”
“We will.” I duck down and lift him off his feet. His legs close around my waist.
“You really like this trick.” Beck finally smiles, still a long way from being real, but it’s a start.
I carry him to the bed and drop down onto my back without letting him go. His weight when he lies on top of me is comforting and familiar, and his skin is warm under my fingertips as I run them down his back. “Boyfriends?” I whisper.
Beck squirms. “Sorry, teammates didn’t seem right.”
“Agreed.”
He tilts his head up. “Are we?”
“Boyfriends?”
“Well, obviously. I mean we’re fucking and dating and we’re kinda past the hating each other thing …”
“We’re definitely past that.” I hug him tighter, sure he can hear the way my heart is beating louder. “Yeah. I, ah—yeah. I want that.”
“Me too.”

this scene>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

→ the third act conflict. it was not a third act breakup THANK GOD 🙏 i probably would have cried if that happened. they actually communicated! jacobs was so mature about the whole situation. i really felt bad for him bc he was getting really worried, but i loved how he stopped himself from assuming things bc he knew he could trust beck and chose to talk to him about it 🥺

→ HOW THEY PLANNED THEIR WHOLE FUTURE TOGETHER. THEY ARE SOULMATES IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORLD. and the extra short story of them 😭 to see them still so happy and thriving 8 YEARS LATER and getting MARRIED??? i expected nothing less of them. if any of these couples from saxon and eden's books were going to get married, it would be them 💕

anyway, this review is way too long by now. it's hardly a review and more so me just me gushing about my obsession with them. clearly, i love them too much 🥺

[The Bursting Bookshelf of a Wallflower · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!
Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Main Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cover: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

After Power Plays & Straight A's, I was really anticipating this second installment in the CU Hockey series and being a huge fan of a good enemies-to-lovers trope, my expectations were huge and to be honest I was a tiny bit afraid that Face Offs & Cheap Shots would not be able to hold up.

Luckily, I have never been so wrong before! This book gave me everything I wanted:

✅ rivals-to-lovers
✅ snark and banter
✅ first time
✅ solid character development
✅ no unnecessary drama
✅ a bunch of hot and bulky hockey players

In comparison to the first book, I ended up loving this one a tiny bit more and it goes straight to my favorites shelf. Here's why:

Jacobs loves hockey and with Grant having left for the NHL, the CU captain position is up for grabs. Desperate to make his last year playing hockey a memorable one, Jacobs wants to become captain by all means. However, Beck, his biggest rival is competing for the very same position.

While Jacobs had to fight for standing where he is, he has the feeling that Beck is an irresponsible and immature party animal with a carefree attitude and witty retorts, that can't live up to the responsibilities coming with a captain position. Being the complete opposite to himself, Jacobs isn't willing to give up his dream of becoming captain – a position he has worked for with all he has.

While I was working my ass off every practice and in the gym every weekend, Beck was partying it up any chance he got.

With the decision of who becomes captain being left to the team, Jacobs and Beck have to compete in a number of funny challenges to prove their worth.

Being both very competitive, they are trying to get under each others skin by pushing all the buttons they can. I loved the way the playful competitiveness that came with the challenges and how Jacobs and Beck slowly start seeing the other one from a different perspective.

What I really enjoyed was the character development we get for Beck. Portrayed as a selfish young man who has all the money in the world to buy his place in the world, the authors manage to show a different side of him while he is slowly falling for Jacobs.

Affection isn't something I've ever received. Not from my parents and hardly from any of the girls I've dated. I've never felt the need to kiss someone's head lovingly or to wrap my arm around them possessively.

Faced with a quickly approaching future that he doesn't want, Beck has to find his own vocation and a way to stand up for himself.

Can his biggest rival be the anchor he needs to overcome his struggles and to find out who he really is?

The relationship between Jacobs and Beck was beautiful. It developed at exactly the right pace and I really enjoyed the plot/steam ratio. The opposites attrack part of the story worked very well and while I liked Jacobs better at the beginning, being a very mature and responsible young man who knows what it means to work hard for something in order to achieve it, I really fell hard for Beck, who is insecure at time and who is longing for love and acceptance. Rivalry turned into friendship and into falling in love in the most perfect way; it felt so real! And god … the snark and the banter are just perfect … I loved the way these guys talked to each other.

It's obvious he likes taking control, and as much as I love it, I can't help wanting to take over and struggle against him. I don't care where we end up, only tat we have to fight to get there.

While some series tend to struggle with too much focus on the secondary characters from former books or on characters with a potential book of their own in the future, Eden Finley and Saxon James managed to find the perfect balance. We got a little bit of Grant and Zach along the line and we met Cohen, who is likely to be features in the next book, without the focus being taken from the developing relationship between Jacobs and Beck.

As some of my Goodreads friends already pointed out in their reviews, the only thing that got me slightly disappointed is that we didn't get a lot of time with the boys actually on the ice. I would have wanted a bit more actual hockey, but well … I guess one can't have everything!

It was perfect nevertheless!

When it's him and me like this, nothing else matters. When his hands brand my skin, and he takes my body like he owns it, it becomes just the two of us.

[Meags · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

College guys, ice hockey, and sexual discovery are three of my favourite things in new adult MM romance, and I’m pretty sure this series by Eden Finley and Saxon James takes the cake in this arena. I’d honestly be hard pressed to think of an MM series with these themes that I’ve enjoyed to this degree.

In truth, though, this sequel and I got off to a rocky start. You see, I’m not one for juvenile pranks and peer pressure type antics, like the challenges Jacobs and Beck engaged in here to duke it out to win the captaincy for their hockey team. Thankfully, the ‘silly boys’ portion of this story lasted a mere 30% and, following that, as the characters grew and their unexpected but intense relationship blossomed into romance, Beck and Jacobs won me over in a major way, almost making me forget the childish irritations of the opening few chapters.

Mostly, I loved the banter. I enjoyed the way these two opposites learned to see the world and themselves in new ways simply from the growth they challenged within each other over time. They were fun together too, inside and outside of the bedroom. The angst was low (or manageable) because once these guys got together, it was all about respect and support, even while keeping the fun and passion on high.

The secondary cast were great too. I enjoyed getting to know all the new faces (like Jacobs' family) and I loved spending snippets of time with past and future couples of the series, like Foster and Zach, and not yet together but will be soon, Cohen and Seth. A fun cast of great characters is always a such-fire ticket to my heart, and this series is doing that a treat.

I’ve written the word a few times here already, but this book was just so much FUN. Both Finley and James are authors who, in the past few years, have proved again and again that their stories, their characters and their romances are completely my style of MM reading, and I look forward to attack-reading more of their stories, together or solo, in the new year.

****************************

CU Hockey Series

Book 1 - Power Plays & Straight A's (5 Stars)
Book 2 - Face Offs & Cheap Shots: Special Edition (4.5 Stars)
Book 3 - Goal Lines & First Times (5 Stars)
Book 4 - Line Mates & Study Dates (5 Stars)
Book 5 - Puck Drills & Quick Thrills (4.5 Stars)

[JonathanSamuelReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

TOPHER AND TEDDY FOREVER 🥹🏒

Absolute favorites so far! Funny, witty, with heart! Can’t wait to read more, I am a sports gay now? My dad will be so proud 🤣☠️

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Re-read 6/29/21-6/30/21-I still loved this one. I wanted to read it again since I was so disappointed in the third one and liked but didn’t love the third. Beck and Jacobs are still the best. Also look at younger, optimistic me being excited for book three. 🤣

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5 Stars
🥰🥰🥰🥰/5 Cuteness Factor
🔥🔥🔥.5/5 Steam

If you want:
✅ Double bi-awakening 👬
✅ Gay Chicken 🐓
✅ Hot hockey players 🏒
✅ Rivals to lovers

With...
✅ Perfect steam to plot ratio 🔥
✅ Humor 🤣
✅ An amazing first kiss and super second one 😘
✅ Shut you up with a kiss kisses. 🥰
✅ Low angst and good communication
✅ Loads of fun!

Then this is the book for you. Look, I love my angsty books. But I like my lighter fare as well as long as it’s not too heavy on the insta-love. I enjoyed this immensely. Eden and Saxon continue to be very compatible at co-writing. Their styles compliment and enhance each others. Beck and Jacobs (with an S!) were delightful and hot! I can’t wait for book three. Will it be Cohen and Seth? (Is that OC reference intentional?)

[Bhavya Marya · Rating 3 out of 5]

What did that Katy Perry sing about again? I kissed a guy. And my dick really fucking liked it.

The getting together part of the book was really fun and amazing to read about. All those challenges really made me enjoy the book more. Reading their rivalry turn into their love was a great experience.

But at some point I feel the book kind of turned boring to the point where I was skimming a lot of the sappy stuff. Sometimes, I like the cheesy stuff and sometimes I don’t. This was one of the latter situations.



So, the conclusion is I really enjoyed reading it in the begining but my interest kind of declined as I was making my way through it.

[Paige ♠ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute, feel-good m/m sports romance 🥰

✅ PERFECT ENEMIES-TO-LOVERS execution! You could feel the tension and the hatred between these two from the beginning, but their banter and teasing was hilarious and a great fuel for their relationship. And then when they got together it was *chef’s kiss* 👌

🆗 I COULDN’T ALWAYS tell which POV I was reading unless someone’s name was called out. I definitely liked both characters (but let’s be real, Beck was def my fave…) but sometimes their voices sounded too similar to really tell apart

✅ DAMN, THESE BOYS could get it 🥵🥵 They were horny all the time 😂 the amount of times they got down and dirrty was ridiculous lol. But it felt believable because they were both going through a kind of sexual awakening

Overall, I think I liked the first book a bit more - the nerd + jock trope just gets to me 😅💕 This book was still really good though and I definitely recommend it if you want a m/m enemies-to-lovers sports romance with lots of steam.

Steam Scale: 🔥🔥🔥/3
Swoon Scale: ❤️❤️/3

[Cadiva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better than book one

I loved this book, it hit so many of my favourite tropes in one easy to read, well paced narrative.

Enemies to lovers romance just ticks my boxes and with Jacobs and Beck it was a doozy.

Adrenaline filled, angry sexual encounters and a slow dawning that feelings are more involved than either had thought.

All adds up to a brilliant and relatively angst and drama free college age romance with a very solid ending I could totally believe would be a HEA.

[any · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beck is by far my favorite. He's a complete idiot and I love it.

What did that Katy Perry sing about again? I kissed a guy. And my dick really fucking liked it.

I loved the first book in the series but the second IT’S SO GOOD
Oh the sexual tension, the “hate”. This was one of the funniest books i’ve ever read. Jacobs and Beck are soulmates really they complemented each other in a way that is so right.

First reread: I LOVE THEM SO MUCH I WOULD KILL FOR THEM

[*J* Too Many Books Too Little Time · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!

Loved this one.

Didn't want to put it down.

Loved the enemies to lovers vibe. The bickering. The bantering.

Loved that there wasn't any unnecessary drama.

Great addition to the series. I'm thinking Cohen and Seth might be next?

[Florence . · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 “If I kissed you every time you annoyed me, my tongue would be permanently in your mouth” stars

First things first, hockey butts are really hot

“You sure you’re okay?” “Never better.” As I hug him against my chest and get taken over by all those soft, happy emotions, it really hits me how true those words are. I’ve literally never been better.

I don’t really have much to say about this book, I can’t really pinpoint what I loved about it, it wasn’t anything revolutionary, but it worked really well for me and I had one hell of a good time reading it.

It was a very typical plot, two college aged main characters who are ‘’enemies’’ because of a misunderstanding and then a bet happens and they kiss and then they realize that there might be something there so they explore it and then they fall in love.

This was very very sweet, light and really low angst with no unnecessary drama and those are my favourite reads. I really enjoyed the vibes of this book. I also enjoyed how the only drama we got was resolved very quickly and in a way that makes sense and is believable.

I adored Beck and Jacobs together. I loved how they both enjoyed kissing for a bet so they just decided to explore together. I loved how there was no drama there. I really loved both of the guys’ sexual exploration, it was really well done and really believable. And they were really really strong together and a good foil for the other. They had really really good communication too. They knew what they wanted and they kept communicating about it and fighting together for what they want.

Also, I have discovered a new favourite thing ot mine while reading this book, hockey themed sex puns. They are just so good. Example: ‘’And someone wants the D.” “I am a D-man.”

I removed some points because there was some miscommunication at end that made no sense. Also, I really wish we could get an enemy to lovers book where people are enemies for a good reason instead of one of the character assuming something incorectly about the other character and then hating him for it. I don’t feel like one little bad assumption about someone is enough to make them your enemy, I need more!

But this was a really enjoyable read and I had a really good time reading it.

[haletostilinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this. I couldn't put it down from start to finish. I definitely enjoyed this more than the first. It just had that extra spark needed for me to love it. Maybe it was the enemies-to-lovers thing, which is my bread and butter, or maybe it was just Jacobs and Beck, who were amazing together.

This starts at the beginning of their summer before their senior year in college, and now that Foster (MC from book one) is leaving to go off to the NHL, a new captain has to be picked. Jacobs thinks he has it in the bag, only when he gets to the coaches office, the coach says they were all torn between Jacobs and Beck for who is captain, so they're going to let the team decide at the beginning of the school year.

Jacobs...is not happy with this, at all. Beck is more carefree about it, but it more has to do with his personal life. We find out the reason these two have been so combative over the years, why they've hated each other (although Jacobs hating Beck more than the other way around) and after three years, things are about to reach a boiling point.

Especially when they're both staying for a training camp over the summer on campus (a camp where they and teammates help train high schoolers looking to become a part of the team in college) and so that means working together. Oh also, Jacobs' friend Cohen comes up with...tasks, as it were, for a competition between the two to see who wins and will then assumed to be voted as the Captain.

And when of those tasks includes "gay chicken," well...their simmering attraction can't be put back in the box anymore.

I loved these two and their chemistry and their romance. It was perfect, with the perfect amount of hotness and sweetness, with fun banter. Their transition from "hate" to love was seamless and so well done in this book. While the last book was good, this one was wonderful and I loved it, definite favorite of mine in the series so far.

Highly recommend, two massive thumbs up from me! Can't wait until the next one, whoever that couple may be... ;)

[julia✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

❝Does everything have to be a competition with you?❞
❝Nope. That’s a Jacobs-specific thing.❞
❝Oh, now I feel special.❞


Are BeckJacobs the best couple in the entire CU Hockey series? I mean kind of… Okay yes. They're my favorite couple hands down, and I truly believe that no other couple in the CU series can touch them.


i say that respectfully, of course ✨


Honestly, I still can't decide which couple is better… TalonMiller or BeckJacobs?

𝗖𝗨 𝗛𝗢𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗬
𝟭] 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀 & 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗔'𝘀 - 𝟯.𝟱 ✩
𝟮] 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝘀 & 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗽 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘁𝘀 - 𝟰.𝟱 ✩
𝟯] 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 & 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 - 𝟯 ✩ / 𝗗𝗡𝗙
𝟰] 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 & 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 - 𝗗𝗡𝗙
𝟱] 𝗣𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 & 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 - 𝟯.𝟱 ✩

[KnittingMamaBear-Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was surprisingly very very enjoyable.
Hot 🔥🔥🔥
Cute AF.

Yeay, I'm so happy this one is so much better than the first. This story is about rivals, enemies, teammates Jacobs (or Topher, met him before) and TJ Beck (Teddy, aawww).

Them together is absolutely everything you need from a college hockey romance. Yum. Must say, still don't love Zack and Foster. So glad that's just consistently so for me.

Not all too much else to say about this, there are

NO third act breakups
NO homophobic BS (a little from the rich daddy, but that dies down quickly)
NO angst

Highly recommend. And you can totally just jump into this one and skip the first all together!

[Mariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Ack. Got some Heated Rivalry vibes there for a second, and that is the highest compliment of which I am capable.

[Celine Ong · Rating 5 out of 5]

"you're not a potato." godDAMN a literary masterpiece