The New Guy is live!
A new male / male hockey romance from 24-time USA Today bestseller Sarina Bowen!
Full of heart, humour, emotion, epic chemistry and heat, the longing-kind-of-angst that I love in a romance, and an absolutely beautiful m/m love story that completely captured my heart. This is a single dad, forbidden-ish, workplace, sports romance with all the feels, and I absolutely loved it!
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Blurb
My name is Hudson Newgate, but my teammates call me New Guy.
That was my nickname in Chicago, too. And Vancouver. That’s what happens when you keep getting traded. Brooklyn is my last chance, especially after my poor performance last season.
But I can make this work. The new guy knows to keep his head down and shoot the puck. The new guy puts the game first.
What he doesn’t do is hook up with the other new guy—a hot athletic trainer who lives in my building. Gavin needs this job with my team. He’s a single dad with responsibilities.
We can’t be a couple. My arrogant agent–who’s also my father–will lose his mind if I’m dating a dude. And my team needs me to score goals, not whip up a media circus.
Too bad Gavin and I are terrible at resisting each other…
Review
5 stars!
Oh wow, this is a fabulous read! Full of heart, humour, emotion, epic chemistry and heat, the longing-kind-of-angst that I love in a romance, and an absolutely beautiful m/m love story that completely captured my heart. This is a single dad, forbidden-ish, workplace, sports romance with all the feels, and I absolutely loved it!
While this book is a standalone, it does fit into the Brooklyn Bruisers Hockey universe. There is quite a lot of character crossover, but nothing where you would feel lost, and you could easily read this one on its own.
Hudson Newgate is a hockey player who has been traded four times in the last five years. He hates that he has never been able to settle anywhere, and he’s convinced that his very first trade was due to his being bisexual, so he has kept his private life locked up tight since then, hiding who he is and never getting too attached to anybody. He lives and breathes hockey with little time for anything else, and he is desperate to find somewhere to settle and prove himself once and for all.
Gavin is a widower whose husband died two years ago and left him with a precociously adorable seven-year-old to raise. They have just made the move to Brooklyn, where Gavin will start as the new Assistant Trainer for the team, and he’s eager for the fresh start their move will bring.
Hudson and Gavin’s attraction is instant when they meet in a bar. They narrowly miss making things awkward when their plans for a one-night hook up are thwarted when they realise that they are literally neighbours. Things get even closer when they learn that they both work for the Bruisers, they’re both new at their jobs, and both are looking to make a good impression, so they agree to keep their distance. But that doesn’t stop the sparks from flying. And it doesn’t take long for sweet and friendly Gavin to start to break down Hudson’s walls, the two men becoming friends, though they both crave more.
I finally did the scary work of making an effort to connect with someone. But I chose a guy who can never love me back.
It’s a situation that absolutely oozes chemistry and sexual tension. You can feel how much these two guys want each other, but I could totally understand their reasons for trying to keep their distance. The longing and angst is phenomenal, and I read with such anticipation and excitement, waiting for something to happen.
We can’t be a thing.
My subconscious feels otherwise, though. Whenever I hear his voice, I gravitate toward it. And when he smiles at me, a nameless energy bounces off the walls of my empty heart.
It happens alright, and oh holy hotness! These two are on fire together, and they slowly start to explore their connection – both physical and emotional, and I was right there with them. There’s such a wonderful combination of playfulness and intensity between them, and I loved watching them open up to each other.
“It’s not just sex. It’s never just been the sex. I’m falling for you.”
But their relationship is a secret. Not only that, but Hudson’s whole life is a secret. He’s dealing with some pretty big issues which understandably puts strain on their relationship, and there are some pretty huge ups and down for these two boys as they find their way forward and figure out their places in each other’s lives.
It’s real and relatable, it’s heartwrenching, intense, and completely understandable, and I was captivated as their story played out. I could feel what they were feeling, I fell in love with them, I cried with them, I cheered for their individual victories and I was rooting for them the whole way through. Watching them work through it all and find their well-deserved happy was such an amazing journey.
“Falling for you is the easiest thing I’ve ever done. You smiled at me that first night, and it was game over. It’s just taken me a few months to admit how much I’d risk to wake up next to you every day.”
I loved seeing the guys from the Bruisers. I love this bunch, and loved seeing them bring Hudson and Gavin into the fold. And Gavin’s little daughter, Jordyn, is a complete scene stealer. I wanted to hug her just as much as I did her dad! She and her dad are so cute together, and watching her developing relationship with Hudson is absolutely adorable!
I loved so much about this book. It owned my heart and will be a fave for 2023. And with a couple of hints dropped at the end of this one, I’m so freaking excited for whatever comes next in this world.
5 stars!
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Hockey Guys
For more great reads, check out our Sarina Bowen Author Spotlight