Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Buzzed on You
SERIES: The Call-Ups #2
AUTHOR: Hannah Henry
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 261 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 24, 2025
BLURB:
Young hotshot Skylar Coburn should already be in the NHL. At least, if you ask him. His shoulder injury from the previous season delayed his timeline, but he’s ready to show his coaches that they’re wasting his talents down in the AHL. For now, he’s twiddling his thumbs, counting down the seconds until Iowa is in his rear-view.
Adam Lark’s bar is failing. Heathens was his inheritance from his late brother, and he’s spent years keeping it alive not just for his brother but for his niece. Every day of his life for the last ten years has been the same, until a loud blond hockey player walks in the door with a big opinion of himself and a lot of energy to burn.
Skylar isn’t falling in love in Iowa—he’ll save that for when he’s up in the big league in the Twin Cities—but a little flirting with the owner of the bar down the street from his apartment passes the time. Adam has a thick shell, and Skylar loves a challenge.
They both try to keep their distance, but just as they start to get attached, Skylar finally gets sent up to the big league. This is going to be a mess.
REVIEW:
We met Skylar in the previous book in this series as Brandon’s roommate. Not Brandon has moved up to the NHL and Skylar is still recovering from a shoulder injury after he got sent up the previous season. He’s unhappy being back in Iowa in the AHL and he didn’t even get to renew his apartment lease, so he’s living alone in a studio apartment which he does not love. He does however live within walking distance of a local dive bar, Heathens. While there, he takes a liking to Adam, the owner.
Adam Lark inherited the bar nearly 10 years ago when his brother Heath, the original owner, died. Heath’s daughter was a kid and so Adam was called upon to take care of the business for her. Now Grace is an adult and Adam is keeping the bar on life support. He’s spent the last decade of his life surviving – working at the bar and not really having a life. In fact, he still has all his brother’s belongings in the apartment he lives in above the bar. He also doesn’t think he needs the complication of Skylar.
Skylar’s emotions are all over the place with his up and down performance with his team, not getting called up and missing his previous roommate. He also is missing his relationship with his captain who has been a mentor to him. When he has a particularly bad game, he end up at Heathens and Adam is able to talk him down by taking him up to his apartment and getting him to relax with some deep breathing exercises. Skylar has made it clear that he is interested in Adam, but Adam is reluctant to get involved with someone who may be moving back to the twin cities soon.
Skylar and Adam continue to spend time together though. They are finally getting closer and then Skylar gets called up. For the rest of the season. What does this mean for their burgeoning relationship??
I really really enjoyed this story. First, Skylar is kind of a self-centered immature emotionally unregulated brat at the beginning of this story. He grows up SOOO much over the course of this book. Between his teammate, his captain, Adam, and Jackson and Ryan really help Skylar figure out what it is he wants and how he can better handle the disappointments and joys of life. Adam finally realizes he deserves a life also. He’s been so focused on keeping the bar going that he’s literally lost sight of his own wants and desires. It takes outside influences to convince him that he DOES deserve more 🙂 I loved his niece Grace and the bar regulars who were supportive as well. I loved the ups and downs of the hockey season and how Skylar and Adam were able to work together and find their way forward. They were so sweet with each other – I really was rooting for them both to get their HEA. It was nice to see the couples from the previous book, but it is really Adam and Skylar’s story. I am looking forward to the next book in this series 😉 Recommended.
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