Reviewed by Larissa
TITLE: Risking the Shot
SERIES: Stick Side Book #4
AUTHOR: Amy Aislin
PUBLISHER: self-published
RELEASE DATE: September 8, 2020
LENGTH: 322 pages
BLURB:
Time for distractions? Hardly.
A chance at making the playoffs? It’s a dream for NHL forward Taylor Cunningham that just might come true. If he can keep his eyes on the ball—ahem, puck. And study for midterms. Dakota Cotton, eleven years his senior, isn’t just a distraction, though—he’s everything Tay’s ever wanted.
Dakota has no interest in introducing someone who might not stick around to his four-year-old son. Been there, done that, with the divorce to prove it. But there’s something about Tay that hits all of the right buttons and has him wanting to take a chance.
As things heat up between them, and the pressure to succeed hits an all-time high, will they risk a shot at happiness or choke?
REVIEW:
Risking the Shot is not your ordinary sports romance. Sure, there are hockey players and steamy sexy scenes, but those are really just the backdrop for the vibrant development of a loving, healthy relationship between two deserving men, brokered by the surprisingly effective matchmaking skills of a precocious four-year-old child.
Our featured couple consists of NHL player Taylor “Tay” Cunningham and Dakota Cotton, who works for the NHL’s charity foundation by day and is a cake decorator extraordinaire on nights and weekends. Dakota is more than a decade older than Tay and has a four-year-old son, Andy, who he has sole custody of. Dakota’s ex-wife relinquished any interest or claim on being a parent, and left both Dakota and Andy behind. Andy is the center of Dakota’s universe. Dakota has put everything else aside in order to prioritize Andy’s needs, including a relationship. He doesn’t have the time. He doesn’t want to divide his attention. He doesn’t want to risk having Andy get attached to someone who may then leave, just as his Mom did. Hell, Dakota doesn’t want to get attached and have someone leave him behind as his wife did.
Tay, for his part, has overburdened himself in a misguided effort to prove himself to his two much older sisters. His sisters are 10 and 12 years older than Tay and have always treated him like a kid, doubted his abilities and generally belittled him, albeit not intentionally. Tay is an exceptional hockey player, having made it to the NHL and proven his value and skills within his first few years playing. But he’s also taken on a challenging paramedicine program that is burying him in schoolwork in all of his non-hockey playing time. Tay didn’t think he wanted or had time for a relationship, but after lusting over Dakota for two years, when his chance to pursue something with him arrives, he’s all in. He also falls head over heels for Dakota’s son Andy, who he bonds with over 3D puzzles and is a match for in exuberant energy.
As this single dad, age-gap romance develops, we not only see the evident chemistry and undeniable attraction between Dakota and Tay, but we also see the development of the lovely family relationship Dakota, Tay and Andy all deserve but haven’t previously been able to obtain. There’s no denying the desire or pull between Dakota and Tay, but to make it work, they need to conquer their fears. Dakota bravely opens himself and Andy up to love despite the risk that Tay could get traded and be sent away. Tay bravely opens up his heart and mind to share all of himself with Dakota and Andy, even the parts he’s kept locked away, like his art, due to fear of failure or ridicule. Both men act maturely and communicate well with each other. Even when Tay fails to reveal personal details to Dakota in kind, he’s honest and open about his emotions. He’s perceptive enough to recognize Dakota’s frustration, mature enough to root out the cause, and invested enough to make a change to fix it. Dakota and Tay likely would have gotten to their HEA on their own, but Andy, the unintentional matchmaker, sucks Tay right in and before you know it, he’s an integral part of Dakota and Andy’s life. Andy even helps facilitate his Uncle Owen’s (Dakota’s brother’s) love life in an absolutely adorable, heartwarming scene which showcases the kind hearted obliviousness of a child who just wants everyone he loves to be happy. Sometimes you just need a child to show you the truth that’s right in front of you and help you get out of your own way so you risk taking the shot for what you want.
This is an overwhelmingly beautiful story of love and family. It will give you all those warm fuzzy feelings. I adored the book and highly recommend it. Don’t worry if you haven’t read the prior three books in this series first. You can enjoy Risking the Shot just fine on its own. I hadn’t read the others and had no trouble following along. However, I will definitely be going back to read the other books. Risking the Shot is fabulous and I can’t wait to catch up on what came before and find out what is next to come in this series. I hope it’s many more terrific books like this one.
RATING: 
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