Time to Shine
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4.6 • 60 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
"Rachel Reid's hockey heroes are sexy, hot, and passionate!" —#1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely
From the USA TODAY bestselling author of the Game Changers series comes a merry and bright hockey romance about finding your place, finding your people and finding your way back to the one you love the most.
For Landon Stackhouse, being called up from the Calgary farm team is exciting and terrifying, even if, as the backup goalie, he rarely leaves the bench. A quiet loner by nature, Landon knows he gives off strong “don’t talk to me” vibes. The only player who doesn’t seem to notice is Calgary’s superstar young winger, Casey Hicks.
Casey treats Landon like an old friend, even though they’ve only interacted briefly in the past. He’s endlessly charming and completely laid-back in a way that Landon absolutely can’t relate to. They couldn’t have less in common, but Landon needs a place to live that’s not a hotel room and Casey has just bought a massive house—and hates being alone.
As roommates, Casey refuses to be defeated by Landon’s one-word answers. As friends, Landon comes to notice a few things about Casey, like his wide, easy smile and sparkling green-blue eyes. Spending the holidays together only intensifies their bromance-turned-romance. But as the new year approaches, the countdown to the end of Landon’s time in Calgary is on.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
With this sultry hockey romance, Reid takes a break from her Game Changer series but stays on familiar ground. When Landon Stackhouse is called up from Saskatoon to substitute goaltend for the NHL team in Calgary, he's soon befriended by Casey Hicks, the team's unofficial social director. While Landon's "default mode antisocial homebody," Casey is afraid of being alone. After Casey suggests Landon come live in his spare room, the bi Casey and closeted gay Landon, a virgin, both find themselves secretly crushing on each other. Soon they start sleeping in the same bed, nonsexually, for company and comfort. Casey also invites Landon and his parents to his family cabin in Banff for Christmas. The yuletide trappings are thin but festive: it's at a team holiday party where Landon and Casey first—finally—kiss and Landon's parents arrive for Christmas just as the teammates couple up, prompting some drama. The bigger threat to the men's relationship, however, is what will happen when Landon is sent back down to the minors. Reid's winning formula of on-ice action and off-ice passion continues to work well, though longtime fans will find the relationship dynamics a bit familiar. Still, there's plenty to swoon over here.
Customer Reviews
Loved it
As usual Rachel Reid has done a great job. I loved the character, the story line, the story flow. She’s is one of my favorite writers.
Definitely a keeper
Holy wow.
TIME TO SHINE by Rachel Reid is the bubbly, sparkling delight of a hockey romance we all need.
Landon Stackhouse gets called up to be the backup goalie for the Calgary Outlaws. While the team as a whole is welcoming, his new teammate, superstar Casey Hicks, offers him a room in his big house, and the outgoing Casey cajoles him into a friendship that surprises them both with how well they mesh.
Rachel Reid’s writing is moving and lovely, describing Landon and Casey’s unfolding friendship and their inner selves with warmth and compassion. They each have struggles they guard from everyone, except they are able to come to see the genuine acceptance and support the other offers.
I loved seeing Casey and Landon interacting with their teammates and their families. They are clearly cared for, although we also see at times how imperfect relationships can be. Ms Reid’s scenes had me frequently smiling and laughing aloud, and sighing with pleasure.
Time to Shine is definitely a keeper.