High-Sticked has been getting a pile of 5* reviews which has absolutely thrilled me as this is my first m/m novel to hit the shelves. It's the 5th book in my Hot Ice series but many of you will know that these books can all be enjoyed as standalone reads. The characters from other stories flit in and out but each book is about a different player's journey finding love and satisfaction!
Here is what readers on Amazon are saying about Todd and Matthew's story...
"HOLY HELL I really loved this book. Todd "Pretty" Carty is back and finding a love of his own finally! He is used to having one night stands but he finally finds the one for him in the most unexpected way... He always knew something was off and he always wanted to try something but he was always afraid. Oh Lily does know how to write one fantastic book! She even brought back Raven and Fiona back in this one to meet his significant other. Let's just say they were a little shocked but it all ends well. This is a must read series. It helps to read them in order but they don't necessarily need to be..."
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"High-Sticked by Lily Harlem was sexy and sultry as life for Matthew and Todd played out on and off the ice rink. Todd Carty, forward for the Rangers ice hockey team finally decided to take the bull by the horns and admitted to himself that he is not only gay, but has fallen for photographer Matthew Foster. Matthew Foster was out and proud with a circle of wonderful friends that formed his family.
Life was not easy as the two began to bond after meeting on an Armani shoot in which the hockey phenomenon was the star. Todd decided that if he was going to be in a relationship with Matthew then it would not be a dirty little secret. Unfortunately being a professional athlete in a world of macho men brought its own set of conflicts and mountains to climb.
As always Ms. Harlem produced a sexy and loving tale as the two men grew closer together. Sexual intercourse was not the center of the story as Todd and Matthew found sensuality in their shared existence. But have no fear, when they finally came together the sex was explosive.
Ms. Harlem delivered passion and grace as she wrote of their caresses and exploration. The slow build-up of a new relationship was meaningfully delivered as the author traveled the line of friendship to love.
The secondary characters added substance and depth to the story as each had a vested interest in the happiness of Todd and Matthew. High-Sticked was a wonderful addition to the Hot Ice series and should not be missed."
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That photographer is British-born Matthew Foster, a gay man who's fancied Todd since he first laid eyes on him. But he doesn't think any more of it. Todd's a notorious womaniser, so he certainly wouldn't look at another guy... or would he? The story that follows is about how the two men eventually come together, and how that impacts them, their lives, their friends and family, and, inevitably, the media. It's a really hard time for Todd, who's coming to terms with his sexuality and his feelings for Matthew all at once.
Although this book, and all the others in the Hot Ice series are stand-alones, in my opinion, it's much better if you read them all in order. As well as Todd, other characters from Teamwork appear in High-Sticked and you'll have much more context and a richer experience if you know the full story. Plus if you adore the characters as much as I do, you'll be really pleased to see them again and see what's happened to them since the last book.
To me, it didn't make the slightest difference that this is the first m/m in the series. I love Lily Harlem's storytelling, the way she develops her characters, her plots, her writing style and her incredibly hot sex scenes. This was another excellent book in a fantastic series, and I can't wait to see which character from this "world" that she's going to write about next. Highly recommended."
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"The first time I saw the cover of High-Sticked by Lily Harlem, I had to read it as soon as possible despite the fact that it's book 5 of her Hot Ice series about hockey players. I'm a huge fan of m/m stories and was happy to learn that I could read this as a standalone. I'm so glad I did because I just loved the relationship between Todd and Matthew and how they took the time to get to know each other before taking it to the next level. I liked that they were able to tell one another about their past relationships and express their feelings without fear of judgment. Don't get me wrong, they did indulge in some foreplay which was just as sexy and a turn-on. I enjoyed how tender and caring Matthew was with Todd when they finally had sex because it was Todd's first time having intercourse with another man. What made it even more special was that their relationship was based on friendship. They looked out for one another when the truth about them exploded on and off the ice. Matthew also had some hang-ups about being left behind but Todd was able to reassure him that he was in this relationship for the long haul. Friends from Todd's sexual past also appeared in this story and now I'm looking forward to reading their history as well as all the other books in this series. The author did a great job writing this story and making me love and care about these characters."
You can find out more about Hot Ice on my website and if you want to read the books in order here they are...
Coming Soon - Misconduct (M/F)
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