Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Body Check
SERIES: Scoring Chances
AUTHOR: Brigham Vaughn
NARRATOR: James Edward Jones
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 12 hours and 46 minutes
RELEASE DATE: May 16, 2025
BLURB:
The last thing Gavin Racine needs is more heartbreak …
Following an ugly public divorce, all Gavin wants is a little stress relief in the bedroom and to put together a winning roster. Unfortunately, his busy and chaotic schedule as the Boston Harrier’s general manager and president of hockey operations means he cancels more hookups than not.
When Gavin reluctantly hires Dakota Crane as the team’s yoga and Pilates instructor, their first few meetings leave them annoyed … and intrigued.
With a struggling team to manage, a complicated relationship with his twin brother, and a secret from his past threatening to upend the success he’s fought so hard for, Gavin absolutely shouldn’t start something with his employee.
Personalities clash, sparks fly, and the chemistry is undeniable. But neither of them are looking for love.
Dakota’s been burned before and the last thing he wants is another messy relationship. Especially with his new boss.
Falling in love is nowhere on his agenda and nothing is worth putting his fresh start in Boston at risk.
But what if learning to work together is exactly what Gavin, Dakota, and the team needs?
REVIEW:
Note: This is the second book in this series and there are spoilers for the first book. That being said, it can work as a standalone.
Oh how I love Brigham Vaughn’s hockey series! This is another great story in the hockey universe she’s created. There are references to characters and events that appear in other series, but if you haven’t read/listened to them all, I don’t think it will impact the enjoyment of the story 🙂
Dakota Crane has moved to Boston to start over. His cheating ex ran off leaving him with no money and a mountain of debt. His sister works in the accounting department of the local Hockey team, the Boston Harriers, and Dakota gets hired as a new yoga and Pilates trainer for the team. Despite the skepticism of the General Manager, he’s having some success.
Gavin Racine is a former hockey player who is now the President of Operations and the General Manager. It’s a big job and he overworks himself doing it. He’s gone through a lot in his life including a divorce that was fairly painful and public. He doesn’t have anything against Dakota personally, but he doesn’t see why they need to add this new expense. He and Dakota butt heads a bit.
Then Gavin actually takes Dakota’s advice about his headaches. And it works! Also there is a definite attraction there. However, their sexual preferences don’t really align and Dakota is the skeptical one about how Gavin would handle not being able to dominate Dakota. Gavin isn’t so sure though. It turns out he actually likes Dakota and wants to see if they can make this work. As a no strings relationship. Just sex. Riiiiiiight.
In the meantime, Gavin’s twin brother Thad has come to work for the team. He’s got some issues with Gavin that Dakota can’t quite work out. There is some bad history there that Gavin hasn’t shared, but he warns Dakota to be careful. Interestingly Thad warns Dakota about Gavin as well. Hmmmm.
Eventually there is a crisis and Dakota is there for Gavin. Gavin comes clean about the situation with Thad. There is a lot to work through there. Dakota also shares his past and why he’s working two jobs. Together, these two have to make some decisions if they both want to keep their jobs and their health and hopefully have a real future.
Oh Gavin! Keeping so much bottled up cannot be good for this guy. He’s a workaholic and he’s very very driven. Dakota seems like maybe he’s a whoowhooo guy. But he’s not. He’s a serious professional who had the rug pulled out from under him and he’s starting over LITERALLY from scratch and in a giant financial hole not of his making. He’s a strong personality as well and he’s not going to let someone else convince him to do something he’s not interested in ever again. He’s dedicated to doing what needs to be done and he’s happy to be spending time with his family. Even if it is under less than ideal circumstances. I loved Dakota’s sister Violet. She and her family were a breath of fresh air. Her love for her brother is balanced with her wariness of the potential situation with a workplace relationship. Getting to see Jesse and Connor living their best life is great too 🙂 Plus there are cameos from some characters from other series that longtime fans will enjoy. Overall another solid story in this hockey world where if you can plan, you can play! For real 😉
James Edward Jones does another outstanding job of performing this story. It’s another long book, but it didn’t feel like it. There is a lot going on – with rebuilding the team, dealing with a health crisis, finding love in the most unexpected place, negotiating a relationship of equals and dealing with family drama – that there is never a dull moment. There are a lot of voices here and each one felt distinct. The Boston accent and other international players also keeps things lively. Even the Irish bartender was spot on 🙂 This is a perfect marriage of author and narrator and I will keep coming back for more. Highly recommended!
RATING: 
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