Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Not Over You
AUTHOR: Samantha Wayland
NARRATOR: Michael Ferraiuolo
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 4 hours and 33 minutes
RELEASE DATE: June 12, 2023
BLURB:
Media darling Hunter Michaelson left home, and his best friend, six years ago and never looked back. He’s super comfortable on the ice and in front of the cameras, but his private life is a disaster. He’s tired of living a lie and even he feels bad for the women he dates because, as hard as he tries, he feels nothing.
Zach Bloom let himself fall in love, once, with his high school bestie, who ghosted him and broke his heart. He’s spent the years since focused on his studies, traveling as much as possible, and living happily out and proud. He’s focused on his future and not repeating old mistakes.
When a chance encounter brings Zack and Hunter face-to-face, their old attraction instantly sparks. They’re totally different men now, yet so deliciously familiar. Hunter knows he screwed up in the past and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to earn Zach’s trust back. But Zach’s days of blindly believing Hunter are long gone—been there, done that, got the scars to prove it.
Can Hunter prove he’s worth trusting and earn back the love he foolishly threw away? Or will Zach choose to leave him in the past?
REVIEW:
Note: This book takes place in the same universe as many of this author’s other Moncton Ice Cats universe books, so there are spoilers aplenty here for the previously published books. I recommend them all, but you can read this one as a standalone.
Zach Bloom is a college student. He’s working on his degree at the local university. One of his friends is related to the general manager of the local hockey team also. When he agrees to go to a holiday get together with Barnaby, he’s star struck when he realizes it’s at Barnaby’s cousin’s place and his cousin’s husband is hockey legend and team owner Callum Morrison. And if that isn’t enough, he comes face to face with a painful episode from his past.
Star hockey player Hunter Michaelson left Moncton for the NHL and never looked back. He was young and scared and wanted to make his life in hockey. Part of the collateral damage for that decision was completely ghosting his secret high school boyfriend, Zach. Literally had zero contact from the day he left town until this moment 6 years later. It’s awkward and Hunter is aware that it’s all his fault.
When they walk home together, well it’s like a fire igniting. They come together and the old chemistry is back. But Zach isn’t about to just fall into something again with somebody who could just walk away. Because that’s what happens again.
When Zach gets a text from an unknown number he’s unsure what to think. But Hunter has gotten his number and apologizes for leaving after Christmas and not being in touch. Again. Thus begins new phase of their relationship. Hunter is on the road playing hockey and Zach is doing school and his TA job. Things are getting hot but Zach isn’t sure where this is going.
Hunter realizes he needs to apologize. For everything. Is Zach ready to accept his apology and move on to a real relationship? Neither of them are the kids they were when they were last together.
This is a lovely second chance story of two young guys who definitely needed this second chance. Mistakes were made 😉 They were young and couldn’t figure out what they wanted or how they could get it if they came out as gay. Hunter has spend his life trying to be something he’s not because he didn’t want to lose his career. He’s nervous about hockey and he had no interest in being the first out player. Zach is not going to live his life in the closet. Luckily both of these guys have older and wiser friends 🙂 Barnaby and Callum are their sounding boards. It was great to see them again in this story helping the next generation.
I really love this whole universe that Samantha Wayland has built. The hockey guys, the tangential friends, the whole Moncton community provides such a cool environment. I hope we get more stories in this world. Michael Ferraiuolo is the perfect narrator for this series. There is wonderful continuity of all the characters. He really imbues each performance with such warmth and heart and heat 😉 Another winner here – highly recommended for sweet and hot listen of a second chances story with a perfect happy ending.
RATING: 
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