Winging It is a romance book written for serious hockey fans. You will not only share the ups and downs of Gabe and Dante’s love life, but you will really get deep into the game of hockey. Keep reading for an excerpt and my review of the book as well as a chance to win a copy for yourself. I was provided with a copy of this book at no charge in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
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Winging It By Ashlyn Kane and Morgan James
Blurb:
Gabe Martin has a simple life plan: get into the NHL and win the Stanley Cup. It doesn’t include being the first out hockey player or, worse, getting involved with one of his teammates. But things change.
Dante Baltierra is Gabe’s polar opposite—careless, reckless… shameless. But his dedication to the sport is impressive, and Gabe can overlook a lot of young-and-stupid in the name of great hockey. And Dante has a superlative ass in a sport filled with superlative asses.
Before Gabe can figure out how to deal, a tabloid throws him out of his comfortable closet into a brand-new world. Amid the emotional turmoil of invasive questions, nasty speculation, and on- and off-ice homophobia, his game suffers.
Surprisingly, it’s Dante who drags him out of it—and then drags him into something else. Nothing good can come of secretly sleeping with a teammate, especially one Gabe has feelings for. But with their captain out with an injury, a rookie in perpetual need of a hug, and the race to make the playoffs for the first time since 1995, Gabe has a lot on his plate.
He can’t be blamed for forgetting that nothing stays secret forever.
Available for purchase at
My Review:
In Winging It, you have two very likeable characters trying to make a relationship work in a rather difficult setting. They suffer through the normal highs and lows that all couples do, while still having to work together on the ice. They play (both on and off the ice), they fight, and they fall in love.
Gabe is rather clueless when it comes to relationships, having never actually had one. He is 25 and in the closet to almost everyone. Not because he is ashamed of being gay but because he just wants to play hockey and not have his sexual orientation mean a single darn thing. He has a horrible crush on his very straight teammate but firmly tells himself to get over it!
Dante is like a giant, fun loving puppy. He is an amazing up and coming new hockey player with a zest for life. His friendship with Gabe turns into something more than he ever expected, having spent his whole life sleeping with women. He falls hard and fast for Gabe and I thought it was adorable how accepting he was of Gabe’s cluelessness. He did get angry occasionally and there were arguments like there are in any relationship but then they talked things out, apologized, and had sweet and passionate makeup sex. Their relationship was REAL and while their was drama, it wasn’t unexpected or forced.
The secondary characters in this story are incredibly well written and I would love to see some of them back for their own stories. I was sad to see Kitty get traded and think he deserves his own sexy hockey player to play with! I really found myself enjoying the other characters quite a bit and loved seeing them interact both on and off the ice.
This is a book that is heavy on the hockey playing itself, which since I LOVE hockey, I really enjoyed. The dynamics amongst the team members was awesome….the way they teased and tormented but defended each other with their whole hearts. The play by plays of each game were detailed enough to make it seem like you were watching it on your living room TV. It is clear that the authors really researched the history of the sport, the vocabulary, the game play, etc. And if this all confuses you, have no fear there is a lovely glossary in the back to help you out along with some detailed sports trivia. While you could certainly read this book if you had no clue what a hat trick was, fans of hockey will definitely appreciate the story even more.
The book takes place during the entire hockey season so it is not rushed at all. There are sports clips (like newspaper stories) in between chapters to help transition the story and give you details that aren’t necessarily written into the chapters themselves. I thought this was a clever way to move the story along.
Overall, this was a great book that was about more than just 2 guys meeting and falling into bed. It is a well rounded story with likeable characters and a realistic pace.
Excerpt
Since the
whole impending disaster was his idea, Baller insisted on paying for their
tickets. Gabe let him, too overwhelmed by sunshine and happy families to do
otherwise. Baller forked over the money, ushered Gabe through the stiles,
grabbed a couple of maps, and then basically frog-marched Gabe onto the
railroad.
whole impending disaster was his idea, Baller insisted on paying for their
tickets. Gabe let him, too overwhelmed by sunshine and happy families to do
otherwise. Baller forked over the money, ushered Gabe through the stiles,
grabbed a couple of maps, and then basically frog-marched Gabe onto the
railroad.
“You are
really excited about this,” Gabe observed with mounting trepidation.
really excited about this,” Gabe observed with mounting trepidation.
Baller
grinned manically and threw his arm over Gabe’s shoulders. “Disneyland, Gabe,” he said, as if that
explained his completely bizarre behavior. Maybe it did, in his world. “We are
going to have fun today if it kills us.”
grinned manically and threw his arm over Gabe’s shoulders. “Disneyland, Gabe,” he said, as if that
explained his completely bizarre behavior. Maybe it did, in his world. “We are
going to have fun today if it kills us.”
Gabe
thought it actually might.
thought it actually might.
They got
off at the first stop, according to Baller’s extremely detailed plan of attack,
and Baller just stood there for a moment, beaming, like he couldn’t imagine
anywhere he’d rather be than Anaheim, California, in the middle of a losing
streak. Gabe gave in to his own sentimentality and snapped a picture with his
phone.
off at the first stop, according to Baller’s extremely detailed plan of attack,
and Baller just stood there for a moment, beaming, like he couldn’t imagine
anywhere he’d rather be than Anaheim, California, in the middle of a losing
streak. Gabe gave in to his own sentimentality and snapped a picture with his
phone.
“Pirates,”
Baller sighed happily, grabbing Gabe’s arm and herding him to the right. “Come
on. Maybe they have some poor sucker dressed up as Will for you to ogle.”
Baller sighed happily, grabbing Gabe’s arm and herding him to the right. “Come
on. Maybe they have some poor sucker dressed up as Will for you to ogle.”
Gabe was
reasonably sure the people dressed in costumes were for the kids to interact with, but he decided to
keep it to himself. Even if today did nothing more than deepen Gabe’s pit of
ill-advised feelings for his teammate, Baller still deserved to have a good
time.
reasonably sure the people dressed in costumes were for the kids to interact with, but he decided to
keep it to himself. Even if today did nothing more than deepen Gabe’s pit of
ill-advised feelings for his teammate, Baller still deserved to have a good
time.
As it
turned out, Gabe did not have to worry about Baller having a good time. The
line for the ride was surprisingly short, and Baller spent the whole ten
minutes bouncing on his toes, peering around at the scenery and humming “A
Pirate’s Life for Me” under his breath like a loser.
turned out, Gabe did not have to worry about Baller having a good time. The
line for the ride was surprisingly short, and Baller spent the whole ten
minutes bouncing on his toes, peering around at the scenery and humming “A
Pirate’s Life for Me” under his breath like a loser.
“Some days
I forget you’re only twenty,” Gabe said with a self-deprecating smile as they
reached the front of the line and took their seats on the ride. “Today’s not
one of them.”
I forget you’re only twenty,” Gabe said with a self-deprecating smile as they
reached the front of the line and took their seats on the ride. “Today’s not
one of them.”
“Stop
being so old for five minutes and relax. I’m trying to cheer us up.”
being so old for five minutes and relax. I’m trying to cheer us up.”
Gabe
raised his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay. You’re in charge. I’m just along
for the ride. Rides.”
raised his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay. You’re in charge. I’m just along
for the ride. Rides.”
Once he
admitted to Baller (and himself) that he was not in charge of the situation, it
made for a pleasant afternoon. At the end of the ride, they emerged into the
sunshine again and Baller made a beeline for a cart selling elaborate hats to
match the theme. He tossed a tricorne at Gabe, then grabbed something in mauve
with an ostrich feather plume and shoved it on his own head. “What do you
think?” he asked, running a finger along the brim, his eyes dancing.
admitted to Baller (and himself) that he was not in charge of the situation, it
made for a pleasant afternoon. At the end of the ride, they emerged into the
sunshine again and Baller made a beeline for a cart selling elaborate hats to
match the theme. He tossed a tricorne at Gabe, then grabbed something in mauve
with an ostrich feather plume and shoved it on his own head. “What do you
think?” he asked, running a finger along the brim, his eyes dancing.
Gabe
wanted to kiss him, but he distracted himself by trying on his own silly hat.
“Well, you’re no Will Turner, but I suppose you’ll do.”
wanted to kiss him, but he distracted himself by trying on his own silly hat.
“Well, you’re no Will Turner, but I suppose you’ll do.”
Baller
stuck out his tongue and forked over a handful of bills for the hat.
stuck out his tongue and forked over a handful of bills for the hat.
Baller
bought them Mickey Mouse-shaped ice cream for lunch, and they ate standing in
the shade of a big tree by the Haunted Mansion.
bought them Mickey Mouse-shaped ice cream for lunch, and they ate standing in
the shade of a big tree by the Haunted Mansion.
“We going
on this one too?” Gabe asked.
on this one too?” Gabe asked.
“Everyone
knows you have to work up to Splash Mountain,” Baller said loftily. He threw
his stick away and licked a drip of ice cream off his thumb.
knows you have to work up to Splash Mountain,” Baller said loftily. He threw
his stick away and licked a drip of ice cream off his thumb.
It
probably wasn’t purposely pornographic. Probably.
probably wasn’t purposely pornographic. Probably.
After the
Indiana Jones Adventure, Baller tried to buy Gabe a fedora that looked even
worse on him than the tricorne.
Indiana Jones Adventure, Baller tried to buy Gabe a fedora that looked even
worse on him than the tricorne.
“Only
douche bags wear fedoras.”
douche bags wear fedoras.”
Baller
smirked and took a picture with his phone. “So, no problem, then.”
smirked and took a picture with his phone. “So, no problem, then.”
Gabe made
a face.
a face.
“Come on,
you said I was in charge,” Baller wheedled.
you said I was in charge,” Baller wheedled.
“I didn’t
think that meant I was going to have to cede control of my wardrobe.”
think that meant I was going to have to cede control of my wardrobe.”
Baller
rolled his eyes. “Grouch.” He tossed a headband with Mickey Mouse ears at Gabe
instead.
rolled his eyes. “Grouch.” He tossed a headband with Mickey Mouse ears at Gabe
instead.
“Compromise?”
At least
Baller hadn’t invited anyone else along to witness Gabe’s humiliation. He would
definitely never hear the end of it if any of these pictures got out. Fifi
would chirp him forever, and there’d probably be a whole media circus if they
got caught goofing off when they couldn’t win a hockey game for love nor money.
Baller hadn’t invited anyone else along to witness Gabe’s humiliation. He would
definitely never hear the end of it if any of these pictures got out. Fifi
would chirp him forever, and there’d probably be a whole media circus if they
got caught goofing off when they couldn’t win a hockey game for love nor money.
Gabe
sighed internally and put on the headband.
sighed internally and put on the headband.
Three and
a half hours later, when they stumbled out of Buzz Lightyear AstroBlasters for
the fourth time, he was smirking. “Another rematch?”
a half hours later, when they stumbled out of Buzz Lightyear AstroBlasters for
the fourth time, he was smirking. “Another rematch?”
“Screw you,
no, you smug bastard.” Baller pouted, but he couldn’t hold it. His grin won out
a second later. “Seriously, are you hiding a secret video game addiction?”
no, you smug bastard.” Baller pouted, but he couldn’t hold it. His grin won out
a second later. “Seriously, are you hiding a secret video game addiction?”
“Admit it,
I just have better hand-eye coordination than you,” Gabe said, adjusting his
ears as he preened. They were starting to hurt his head, but the deal was
Baller had to wear the stupid hat as long as Gabe kept the ears on. Gabe wasn’t
going to be the first to give in.
I just have better hand-eye coordination than you,” Gabe said, adjusting his
ears as he preened. They were starting to hurt his head, but the deal was
Baller had to wear the stupid hat as long as Gabe kept the ears on. Gabe wasn’t
going to be the first to give in.
“That’s
not what the statistics say, buddy.” Baller had pulled ahead in their points
race since that game against the Sabres. “In fact, I—” He stopped midsentence
and cocked his head at Gabe, an odd smile twisting his lips. He took a step
closer and raised a hand to the headband. “Duck your head a little? You’ve got
something on your…”
not what the statistics say, buddy.” Baller had pulled ahead in their points
race since that game against the Sabres. “In fact, I—” He stopped midsentence
and cocked his head at Gabe, an odd smile twisting his lips. He took a step
closer and raised a hand to the headband. “Duck your head a little? You’ve got
something on your…”
Gabe froze
when Baller grabbed his right wrist for balance as he reached up. His hat
tipped back precariously, but Gabe couldn’t have made a grab for it if his life
depended on it. He was stuck, not breathing, while Baller shuffled closer until
Gabe could see his pores. He brushed his fingers over Gabe’s mouse ears.
when Baller grabbed his right wrist for balance as he reached up. His hat
tipped back precariously, but Gabe couldn’t have made a grab for it if his life
depended on it. He was stuck, not breathing, while Baller shuffled closer until
Gabe could see his pores. He brushed his fingers over Gabe’s mouse ears.
“I think
you walked into a cobweb. You’ve got a leaf…. There.” Baller pulled his right
hand away but left the other where it was, clasped around Gabe’s wrist. There
was a papery sound as whatever he’d pulled from Gabe’s head hit the asphalt.
you walked into a cobweb. You’ve got a leaf…. There.” Baller pulled his right
hand away but left the other where it was, clasped around Gabe’s wrist. There
was a papery sound as whatever he’d pulled from Gabe’s head hit the asphalt.
Their eyes
caught.
caught.
For one
eternally stupid second, Gabe thought Baller was going to kiss him.
eternally stupid second, Gabe thought Baller was going to kiss him.
Then the
moment passed, and Baller let go and took a step back. He slapped Gabe on the arm.
“Much better. Good thing you have me to look after you.”
moment passed, and Baller let go and took a step back. He slapped Gabe on the arm.
“Much better. Good thing you have me to look after you.”
Gabe
forced himself to unfreeze and shake his head in mock disbelief. “Right,” he
said as they started walking again, toward Space Mountain this time. “I’m such
a handful.”
forced himself to unfreeze and shake his head in mock disbelief. “Right,” he
said as they started walking again, toward Space Mountain this time. “I’m such
a handful.”
Baller
snorted. “Too easy. You know better than to feed me a line like that. Come on.”
snorted. “Too easy. You know better than to feed me a line like that. Come on.”
“I’ll feed
you something,” Gabe promised
jokingly, regaining his equilibrium.
you something,” Gabe promised
jokingly, regaining his equilibrium.
Baller
tripped over nothing on the pavement. Gabe grabbed him by the back of his shirt
before he could take a dive. Crap. He’d gone too far.
tripped over nothing on the pavement. Gabe grabbed him by the back of his shirt
before he could take a dive. Crap. He’d gone too far.
Huffing at
himself, Baller righted his hat, then poked Gabe with his elbow. “You know, I
was starting to be afraid you were never going to make that kind of chirp
again. Good to have you back.”
himself, Baller righted his hat, then poked Gabe with his elbow. “You know, I
was starting to be afraid you were never going to make that kind of chirp
again. Good to have you back.”
Sometimes I don’t understand you at all. But for
once Gabe let himself be honest. “It’s good to be back.” Then he saw the line for Space Mountain and winced. “Good
thing we have Fast Passes.” They only had an hour left before they had to leave
the park to be back in time for team dinner.
once Gabe let himself be honest. “It’s good to be back.” Then he saw the line for Space Mountain and winced. “Good
thing we have Fast Passes.” They only had an hour left before they had to leave
the park to be back in time for team dinner.
Gabe had
forgotten all about their stupid headgear by the time they returned to the
hotel. When they walked into the lobby, Fifi looked over from the concierge
desk, a gym towel slung over one of his shoulders, and barked out a laugh. “I
guess I don’t have to ask what you got up to today.”
forgotten all about their stupid headgear by the time they returned to the
hotel. When they walked into the lobby, Fifi looked over from the concierge
desk, a gym towel slung over one of his shoulders, and barked out a laugh. “I
guess I don’t have to ask what you got up to today.”
“We went
to Disneyland!” Baller said unnecessarily. The feather on his hat flopped from
one side to the other in time with his enthusiasm.
to Disneyland!” Baller said unnecessarily. The feather on his hat flopped from
one side to the other in time with his enthusiasm.
“No shit.”
Fifi rolled his eyes and reached up to flick Gabe’s ears.
Fifi rolled his eyes and reached up to flick Gabe’s ears.
Gabe took
them off.
them off.
“You’d
better have plenty of energy left for the game tomorrow.”
better have plenty of energy left for the game tomorrow.”
Gabe
bristled. “What? I got him home in time for curfew.”
bristled. “What? I got him home in time for curfew.”
Affecting
wide-eyed, earnest innocence, Baller nodded. “Yeah, Dad. He was a total
gentleman. Didn’t even try to steal second.”
wide-eyed, earnest innocence, Baller nodded. “Yeah, Dad. He was a total
gentleman. Didn’t even try to steal second.”
Fifi
smacked the brim of Baller’s hat down over his eyes. “Fine, fine. Hurry up and
get ready for dinner or we’re eating without you.”
smacked the brim of Baller’s hat down over his eyes. “Fine, fine. Hurry up and
get ready for dinner or we’re eating without you.”
Somehow
Chef snuck into his room and stole the ears while Gabe was showering, and he
showed up to dinner wearing them, so of course he and Baller got ragged on.
Gabe hoped Chef didn’t put it up on Twitter, but at least Gabe wouldn’t be
featured wearing the ears in any pictures. The teasing only got worse when they
begged off going out for a drink because they were both too tired to do more
than flop on Gabe’s bed and finish watching Pirates.
Chef snuck into his room and stole the ears while Gabe was showering, and he
showed up to dinner wearing them, so of course he and Baller got ragged on.
Gabe hoped Chef didn’t put it up on Twitter, but at least Gabe wouldn’t be
featured wearing the ears in any pictures. The teasing only got worse when they
begged off going out for a drink because they were both too tired to do more
than flop on Gabe’s bed and finish watching Pirates.
“Hey,
Banksy?”
Banksy?”
“Hmm,”
Gabe said. His eyes wouldn’t quite focus on the laptop screen.
Gabe said. His eyes wouldn’t quite focus on the laptop screen.
“Just…
thanks.”
thanks.”
Blinking
gritty eyes, Gabe managed, “For what?”
gritty eyes, Gabe managed, “For what?”
He heard
Baller answer, but the words got lost on his tired ears as he finally fell
asleep.
Baller answer, but the words got lost on his tired ears as he finally fell
asleep.
About the Authors
Morgan James started writing fiction before she could spell it. It was in high school that she started writing her first novel about a gay character, and she thanks the Internet for helping her realize that didn’t make her crazy. Coincidentally, she also thanks the Internet for the role it plays in her long distance friendship with Ashlyn Kane. Geek, artist, archer, and fangirl, Morgan tends to while away free hours with imaginary worlds and people on pages and screens—it’s an addiction. She lives in Ontario with her family and is the personal slave of three cats and a poodle (who isn’t named Ringo, but who does like to poke).
You can find Morgan at
Ashlyn Kane is a Canadian former expat who is now happy to be reunited with televised hockey at acceptable waking hours. She has reached the age of “twentysomething,” which she will be for at least the next fifteen years.
She has a bad habit of staying up too late, a husband who likes to go to bed early, and a baby brother called Miracle Whip. She is allergic to cleaning, unless you mean cleaning up manuscripts, in which case she gets a little obsessive. Feel free to drop her a line—she’s probably in front of her computer right now, since she’s attached to it at the eyeballs.
You can find Ashlyn at
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