Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Conditioning Loan
AUTHORS: L.A. Witt
PUBLISHER: GallagherWitt Publishing LLC
LENGTH: 154 Pages
RELEASE DATE: October 7, 2025
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REVIEW:
Taylor has decided to go out to a club. His self-esteem has taken a beating thanks to a former teammate who thankfully is now playing on the other side of the country. He wasn’t thrilled to be traded from Vegas to Everett Washington, but at least he’s got access to Seattle’s gay scene. But when he decides to hit a club, he sees someone there that is very unexpected.
Vasily Abashev was a star on the Vegas team who was traded to the Seattle team. He and his ex (who was also a teammate) had a terrible public breakup. As a result, Vasily was traded. His ex had a pedigree and money, so of course it was Vasily who had to go. He’s decided to test the waters and goes out the first time. And a gorgeous young guy catches his eye. They dance. They kiss. The leave the dancefloor and Vasily realizes he isn’t ready for this yet. So he leaves. What he doesn’t realize is that Taylor takes this rejection very personally because of his own baggage.
Fast forward to the next season. Vasily has been injured – a severe knee strain. At the end of his rehab, he’s been sent to Everett for a two week conditioning loan to get minutes under his belt before returning to his team. Vasily feels like there is something familiar about Wils (Taylor Wilson). Then he puts it together and realizes Wils is the guy he had danced with the previous off-season. Taylor is pretty pissed off and shares how bad he felt that Vasily didn’t recognize him – for the second time since he’s also been with the Vegas team and Vasily didn’t recognize him from that either. But when Vasily shares where his head was at and how bad his breakup was, Taylor realizes that they were really neither one in a good headspace and the whole thing probably worked out for the best.
Taylor still distracted by Vasily, but the coach puts them on the same line. Eventually they start to gel as a line and they seem to bring out the best in each other. Vasily is also really helpful to the other guys on the team too. He definitely doesn’t play the “star” and really is a team player. Eventually, the spark and attraction between them come back to the surface. And just when they are get closer and decide to maybe give it a go, well things go south. Will this by the end of their time together?
I really enjoyed this story! It’s so clear that this author really knows hockey 🙂 Fans of the game will really appreciate the detail in this story. Both of these guys have had lived the ups and downs of the hockey life and Vasily has weathered a cheating ex and Taylor has not had much luck with guys either. They see in each other something valuable. They also experience the good and the bad of being an athlete and come out the other side stronger together. I loved the epilogue and the glimpse of couples from the previous season! This is another worthy romance in this series with enough heat and spice and connection that the HEA is a sweet one 😉
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