Off Sides is book 3 in the Darby U Hockey Boys series by Andi Jaxon, and though this one is less angsty than its predecessors you can still expect Jaxon to bring us all the feels and emotions they are known for in their books!
From the blurb:
The captain of the hockey team has a lot of responsibilities but when it’s just us, all he wants is to be my good boy.
Senior year should have been the same as the previous years: football, hook ups, and homework.
But after the season ended, somehow, Joey Carpenter happened.
He’s weaseled his way under my skin. Into my heart.
The strong, intimidating, hockey player melts so beautifully for me and I’m addicted.
He pretends like he doesn’t need anyone, but I see him.
See what he really needs.
The longing to be cared for is there in his eyes.
I desperately want to give it to him.
If I’m being honest with myself, I need to matter.
I need to save him.
Save him from himself.
Save him from his family.
Will I be able to convince him that he deserves to be loved without conditions or will they leave him ragged and broken?
Off Sides is a one night stand to lovers, hockey, romance with daddy vibes and angst. To check trigger warnings, please check my website.
Jacqueleen the Reading Queen's review:
"ɪ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪ ᴅɪᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴇꜱᴇʀᴠᴇ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴍᴀɴ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ɪ'ʟʟ ᴅɪᴇ ɪꜰ ʜᴇ ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇꜱ."
Joey and Nick OMG! They were just so perfect for one another and had me rooting for them the entire time! Yes, there was angst in the story, but I felt like this was definitely less angsty than book 1. The issues came from Joey's home life circumstances, rather than anything to do with their relationship. When these two were alone together, nothing could come between them. They could lose themselves in each other and let the world wait for a while, which is exactly what Joey needed. He was just terrified that finally taking something for himself would lead to his downfall.
My heart broke for Joey so much. He had so much on his shoulders. Some of it he put there himself, but the majority of it came from his horror show of a parent placing too much on him as a child. I hated her. I hated that she was the reason Joey and Nick weren't riding into the sunset with their HEA ASAP. It was so obvious they needed each other and yet Joey tended to panic and push back whenever things felt too good.
"ᴀꜱ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴀꜱ ɪ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ʜɪᴍ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴍɪɴᴇ, ɪ ᴄᴀɴ'ᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʜɪᴍ. ɴᴏᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ."
Nick wasn't without his own baggage, but he often put his aside to care for Joey. Don't get me wrong, Nick loved it. He needed to feel needed, and Joey needed someone to take care of him for once. Their needs lined up perfectly, both in and out of the bedroom. Speaking of the bedroom, these two also indulged in some light Daddy/boy fun when between the sheets and it was pretty hot if you're asking me.
It took a lot of patience on Nick's part, but eventually he was able to convince his man that he was here to stay. The ending was really sweet, and it gave us a nice solid HEA for these two that I couldn't be happier about. They really were the perfect match.
Off Sides is currently available as an e-book, hardback and paperback and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription
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