The Crease was a heartwarming story full of love, heat and a broken hockey player who wants nothing more than to be owned and loved.
From the blurb:
Max
This wasn’t supposed to happen to me. I’m supposed to be at the top of my career. Untouchable. Worshiped. Finally proving to all the jerks in my life that I made it. I’m at the top.
Then a video that shouldn't exist leaks and everything comes crashing down. I’m about to lose it all and I can’t seem to get out of my own way. My agent banishes me to a place that technology can’t touch while he tries to salvage my career.
I’m caught between rage and deep depression, lashing out at everyone and everything around me. I have myself to blame but right now, all I want is to drown in my misery. Even when something unexpected and good comes along, all I can do is push and push until I’m once more drowning all alone.
Deryke
I don’t know what’s come over me. Why does this disaster of a hockey player suddenly call to my heart and everything inside my body and mind? I mean, the world knows what’s in his pants and I’ve never been even slightly turned on by that! Why now? Why him?
Even when he’s bratting so hard I want to break him, I can see that he acts the way he does because he’s hurting somewhere deep inside. He won’t let me in, but for some unknown reason, I can’t let Maximus Latham go.
He needs me. He needs someone to believe in him and not disappear the minute he messes up. He needs someone to love him for him, not for being the hockey god he is. Except I’m not sure I can reach him in time before he self-destructs.
But damned if I’m not going to try.
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The Crease is a LGBT+ story with content not intended for those under 18 years of age due to graphic scenes and situations.
Lilly's review:
We met Max in the previous book, and he came off as a devil may care, playboy/fuckboy type who wasn’t serious. He got into trouble with his NHL team a few times due to getting caught in some naughty antics, but when a video of him at a sex club gets leaked and goes viral, his career is in trouble. His manager sends him off to the island to hide away from the media, but he’s hurt, depressed, and seems to have given up on life. Deryke is on vacation visiting his friends when he runs into Max. He doesn’t know him off the ice; they’re just acquaintances, but seeing him in such a pitiful state, he can’t help reaching out to him.
I enjoyed this book! I loved the codependency between Max and Deryke; it was unhealthy, but it’s exactly what Max needed. He’s depressed and barely functioning, and Deryke assumes a sort of “Daddy” role. He takes care of him, making sure he’s showering and eating and slowly helping him get his will to live again. Max needs physical connections - sex, cuddling, touching - and Deryke is ready to provide it to him. Is it the best coping mechanism? Absolutely not, but Max grew up neglected by his family.
He was isolated and pushed away; he felt like he didn’t deserve any love and acted out as a way to protect himself. Deryke understands that he needs these physical reassurances and connections in order to feel grounded and cared for. I think Deryke’s presence, love and his ability to really see the true Max behind his public facade also made Max want to better himself. He got the strength to come out of the darkness of his mind and start on his path to healing.
I loved the possessiveness we get between the two, especially the leashing! Max craves it as a way to stay connected to Deryke.
The spice!! This book is very very heavy on the spice as it’s something that Max needs. I personally loved it and Crea writes some of the best steamy and kinky scenes.
Overall I really enjoyed The Crease and can’t wait for the next book!
The Crease is currently available as an e-book and paperback and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription
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