I think she short-changed it enough that I don't actually buy that the way it ended is realistic, but it's still one of my favorite reads of the year. I like that she didn't shy away from the dark side of hockey's homophobia, but I didn't love some of the plot devices used for the ending. The journey to HFN is always fun, but what I really love is watching a couple navigate their way through the early ups and downs, life decisions and compromises that lead to the true HEA. It feels like the missing piece between the HFN and HEA that I always yearn for with my favorite romances. There were some things I felt were almost too subtle, plot lines I would have liked explored in a little more depth outside the relationship story, but for the most part I was really happy with the direction she took this.

Ilya's life has changed in almost every way, and Shane has mostly just fit the last missing piece (Ilya living nearby) into the puzzle of his mostly perfect life.Īs such, it feels very much like Ilya's story (even though there's still plenty of Shane's POV), and it feels very earned and realistic.

The book does a great job showing the contrast between Ilya and Shane's post-relationship trajectory. It’s time for them to decide what’s most important-hockey or love.Loved it! This picks up about two years after Heated Rivalry, as Ilya is entering his third season with Ottawa (which is also the season Troy Barrett joins Ottawa in Book 5). The closeness, the intimacy, even the risk that would come with being open about their relationship…Ilya wants it all. Shane has gotten so good at hiding his feelings, sometimes Ilya questions if they even exist. He loves Ilya, but what if going public ruins everything? If Shane wants to stay at the top of his game, what he and Ilya share has to remain secret. From friends, from family…from the league. How long they’ve been keeping their relationship a secret. That’s how long Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov have been seeing each other. To the world they are rivals, but to each other they are everything. 'Everything you could want from this magnetic couple! A passionate, sexy, emotional sequel that grips your heart! Shane and Ilya forever!' -#1 NYT Bestseller Lauren Blakely, author of Hopelessly Bromantic Shane and Ilya’s story, first seen in Heated Rivalry, continues in this long-awaited hockey romance from Rachel Reid.

The Long Game by Rachel Reid