Reviewed by Jen
TITLE: Cherry Picking
SERIES: The Games We Play
AUTHOR: Rikki Leighton
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 276 Pages
RELEASE DATE: July 10, 2024
BLURB:
RILEY
My last relationship couldn’t survive the secrecy of being queer in the PHL.
Sure, the league isn’t outright hostile to out players anymore, but you never know if a bad apple runs in your circle. From town to town and then team to team, you learn to hold those cards close to your chest.
That’s how I’ve lived the last thirty years of my life until Griffin Foster comes barreling in like the hotheaded goalie he is. He’s young, reckless, and makes me want a life I’ve never been convinced I can have.
He lights a fire under me to be a better player, to tackle the ghosts haunting my past. But when I push too hard and an old injury flares up, all that ambition goes up in flames.
Face to face with the love of my life, can I open myself up to give him what he deserves, or will I lose him for good?
GRIFFIN
I’ve always been out and proud and not willing to compromise for anyone—until I lock eyes with defenseman Riley Easton in the weight room mirror after being traded to the Hornets. One look and my resolve flies out the window.
What harm is a closet when you’ve got the flickering flame of a star-crossed passion to keep you company?
When Riley goes down on that ice and is given a career death sentence, there’s no pretending what we are is fun and indulgent anymore.
Riley has given me a home, not just with the team, but within himself, and I’m not willing to let that go.
I just need to convince him that we’re worth fighting for, even if the person he has to fight is himself.
REVIEW:
I’m always up for a good hockey story. Wasn’t too sure about this one at first, but it didn’t take long to suck me in. Griff is traded to a team back in his hometown after being traded fairly regularly for the bulk of his career. This time feels like a last chance that he needs to make work. He has no intention of hooking up with any of his teammates, but he and Riley seem to hit it off right from the get go.
It quickly becomes clear that Riley is heavily closeted but since Griff has no intention of having an actual relationship, he decides that having some fun with Riley while they are conveniently roommates will work out for both of them.
The bulk of this story is their growing relationship and the struggles Riley has with getting over his past relationship and the coming out issue. Griff remains extremely understanding and patient with Riley, but when an injury takes Riley out of the game, it seems their relationship dynamic will be forced to change.
It takes quite a bit of soul searching and a very patient and persistent Griff for things to eventually come together for these guys. While Riley’s issues seemed to take a front seat more often than not, the story actually moves along at a pretty good clip and I was fully invested to the end.
Some of the hockey aspects were a little unrealistic but that didn’t take away from the story too much for me. I enjoyed it and wouldn’t hesitate to give this author another try in the future.
RATING: 
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