One-Touch Pass (SCU Hockey Book 4) by J.J. Mulder

I picked up One Touch Pass, not realizing it was book 4... read my review to see if it held up as a standalone:


From the blurb:

Nate meets a stranger at a party, and in the span of seventeen minutes, his life changes.

Marcos meets a stranger at a party and wonders if the universe is laughing at him. His life has become a seemingly endless stream of bad days. Everything is a struggle, from his friendship with Max, to the simple act of changing in the locker room after a baseball game. Stress and anxiety sit so heavy on his shoulders, he can barely function under the weight of it. Starting a relationship is the very last thing he wants or feels he deserves. Particularly when Nate— beautiful, gregarious, and kind Nate— could have anybody he wanted.

If there is one thing Marcos knows, it’s this: Nate deserves someone far better than him.

But despite his best efforts to keep him away, Nate persists. He knows what he wants. He wants Marcos. He wants to coax him out of his shell, take him horseback riding, and treat him right. Seventeen minutes isn’t enough for Nate and Marcos.


Heather's review:

This book is a slow burn, hurt/comfort, recovering from trauma/ptsd story that incorporates sport in a college/new adult settting.  I enjoyed getting to know Marcos and Nate, and their slow burn, slow build made a lot of sense given Marcos past trauma.  

I liked a lot of this story - Nate's patience and understanding, his focus on what his future could look like, and his determination to build something with the reluctant Marcos.  I wish that we got more about Marcos and his past and how he was handling the growing relationship and managing his trauma. 

Overall, it was a solid romance with a sweet HEA and I found it was easy to read as standalone.


One Touch Pass is currently available as an e-book and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription