Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  Trade Deadline

SERIES:  Chicago Thunder

AUTHOR:  Jodi Oliver

PUBLISHER:  Self-published

LENGTH:  333 pages

RELEASE DATE:  August 17, 2023

BLURB:

BLAINE

When my name is involved in yet another scandal, I’m told to keep my head down and my stats up.
The trade deadline is looming, and I don’t want to leave Chicago.
But that night, I meet Alex. The guy with the bluest eyes and the kindest smile.
My reputation precedes me, and he’s determined to resist me, but the more time we spend together, the harder it is to deny the chemistry between us.
He’s someone who might make me want to change for the better.
But can we survive the slap shots that come our way, or will my scandalous past hit harder than any defenseman could?

ALEX

Being a lifelong Chicago Thunder fan, I know that Blaine Olsen is trouble.
Because all hockey players are.
He’s a notorious playboy, and I refuse to be another notch on his bedpost.
But when he shows me the part of himself he keeps hidden, it gets harder to resist him.
I can’t afford any distractions though. I’m up to my eyeballs in debt, doing everything I can to keep my head—and family business—above water.
Will Blaine prove me wrong and show me a hockey player could be my Prince Charming after all?

Trade Deadline is a low angst, hockey player/fan sports romance. It has team shenanigans, fast paced hockey, cheesy texting, no third-act break-up and puppies. It is book one in the Chicago Thunder series and can be read as a standalone.

REVIEW:

Blaine Olsen is living the dream.  He’s finally playing professional hockey with his twin Elliot and his team is more like his family than teammates.  They he shows up on social media in a fairly unflattering light.  His hookups post something that does not portray him as a serious athlete – more like a “player” and the trade deadline is looming.  UGH!  He’s told in no uncertain terms to keep his head down, just play the game and keep it in his pants.  Of course that’s when he sees his dream guy at the next home game 😉

Alex is a young guy who is in business with his brother. He’s not had an easy life and he’s been helping his brother out with his business trying to keep their heads above water.  He cannot believe that Blaine Olsen, ultrahot hockey player, is flirting with him!  He’s not going to fall for that.  He’s been burned before by guys who just want to use him and then leave him in the dust.  He’s not immune to Blaine’s flirting though 😉

When they run into each other again, it seems to Blaine that it’s fate.  But he really likes this guy and he doesn’t want to come on too strong.  Alex is a bit skittish – this guy is totally out of his league.  What could a superhot NHL player see in him?  Blaine is smart though (with a little help from his friends) and he decides to woo Alex.  He doesn’t want to overwhelm the first person he’s really cared about it a long time.

As Blaine and Alex get to know each other, they begin to share more of their pasts.  Blaine is so sympathetic to Alex and Jacob about their family losses. He’s never felt so strongly about a person and wanted to help them so badly.  Alex makes it clear that he doesn’t want Blaine’s money.  Blaine goes out of his way to not try to impress Alex with his money.  And that is what impresses Alex – and also convinces his brother Jacob that Blaine really is a good guy and not looking for another notch in his bedpost.  Maybe this is for real after all!

Well this was just a really lovely treat!  As a hockey fan, as an MM fan, as a Chicagoan, this is totally my jam.  It’s a really sweet kickoff to this new series from debut author Jodi Oliver.  There is just so much to love here.  The guys are adorable.  The angst is pretty much non-existent (and sometimes we really need that).  The setting is well described.  And the romance?  Fully swoon-worthy.  And there are puppies 😀  What more could we ask for?  Blaine and Alex are so cute together.  Blaine is helpless against Alex’s charms here and even after he’s been told to keep his head down, he just can’t help his feelings for Alex. He realizes that this guy is something different – and the person he didn’t know he needed.  Alex has been burned in the past by boyfriends who were just using him.  He and his brother Jacob have been through a lot.  Alex is reluctant to let someone get this close again.  Blaine has had his share of letdowns too.  Far too many people have been interested in his paycheck more than they are interested in him.  I loved the way that Blaine found ways to help Alex without making Alex feel like he “owed” him something.  It’s also clear that Alex is a good guy and really cares for Blaine the person, not Blaine the rich NHL star.  He refuses to take Blaine’s help financially even when he could really use the help.

This book is a bit long as it’s setting the scene for future books so I didn’t mind that at all. There’s a good amount of hockey stuff, but it won’t put anyone off who doesn’t know a lot about the game I don’t think.  I was a bit late to the hockey party myself in spite of living in Canada for a period of time 😉  We get to meet Blaine’s teammates (including his twin Elliot), his family, his agent and team management also.  I can’t wait to see what happens next with this found family.   There are so many possibilities!  I love that there is no homophobia in this book – it’s sort of an alternate reality that we can hopefully achieve in this world someday.  Nobody cares if anyone is dating a girl or a guy.  Just not an issue. The relationships between the players and their SOs were well done here too and give us some insight into what makes this team a family.  I am really looking forward to the next book in this series.  These two were shmoopy perfection with a delightful epilogue that was incredibly cute!  Highly recommended especially for folks looking for a athlete/fan romance without the requisite angst that is part of so many pro sport stories.  It’s a wonderful aspirational tale.

RATING: 

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