I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Rookie Mistake by Anna Zabo, L.A. Witt, Lauren Gallagher Witt, Lori Witt, L.A.Witt/Lauren Gallagher Witt/Lori WittPublished by Independently Published on June 28, 2022
Genres: BDSM, Fiction / LGBTQ+ / Gay, Sports Romance
Pages: 536
Format: ARC, eBook, Kindle Unlimited
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Rookie forward Isaac Rivera is still finding his footing in the big leagues where he’s no longer the best player on the roster. It’s a whole new world, especially now that several of his hockey idols have become teammates. Friends, even.
There’s one who’s more than a hockey idol, though… and he might end up being more than a friend.
Julien Landry is a powerhouse on the ice. In eight years, he’s become one of the league’s top defensemen and the heartthrob everyone wants to bed. But fallout from a painful mistake as a rookie, followed by years of rough-and-tumble hookups, have him itching for something more.
When a connection sparks between him and Isaac, he discovers what he’s been missing: someone he can trust with his body and his heart. As long as Isaac and Julien keep the heat between them off the ice, what could go wrong?
But Julien’s past is never far behind him, and when it comes crashing in, he might lose everything—his career, his friends, and the first person he’s ever really loved.
CW: discussions of past abuse and sexual assault
The author’s character development is almost artful in the way they are able to take these creations that only exist in their mind and make them just as much flesh and blood as anyone I know. Rookie Mistake was filled with clear, open lines of communication, friends that went above and beyond to care for those they loved, and big, puppy-like hockey hunks. ~ Leigh – Simply Love Books
Sigh.
I’m in love with this new series.
I just finished this book earlier in the day, and I already miss having all of those hockey boys in my life. I adored this story, the feelings, the whole hockey aura. But most of all, I loved the characters. LA Witt is a new-to-me author, but I’ve read everything Ana Zabo has written, and this book with their combined efforts was wonderful. My favorite thing about Ana Zabo’s books is their ability to make the characters so real. This development is almost artful in the way they are able to take these creations that only exist in their mind and make them just as much flesh and blood as anyone I know. Knowing that I’ve just finished this book and these guys are not waiting for me to pick them up again in a few minutes makes me feel like I’ve lost friends I’ve gotten to know so intimately, and they’re going on with their lives, without me!
Julien and Isaac made me just want to melt into a puddle of goo at how perfectly they fit one another. The rookie player who met his idol in real life and found the man underneath the famous player to be one truly worth worshiping. And the seasoned pro that met the man who was able to see beneath the mask he wore and see the vulnerability that lay beneath. Their relationship gutted me in its sincerity, and I can’t wait to see them again to know what has been happening to them.
It wasn’t only the relationship of the main characters that hooked me, but Elias and Nikki as well. The depth of the friendship and caring between these four people had me wanting my own Russian/Swedish cheering squad.
Rookie Mistake was touching and sad and sexy and sweet. It was filled with clear, open lines of communication, friends that went above and beyond to care for those they loved, and big, puppy-like hockey hunks that made me want to fling myself onto the ice. I expected no less when I saw who had written this story, and now I have another author whose works I need to delve into as well.