The Hockey Problem by Kendall Ryan, narrated by Rose Dioro and Dane Anderson, is the first book in the Off the Ice series, but I read it second. It doesn’t matter what order you read them in, especially as Winnie’s story in the second book doesn’t have any bearing on this book.
Victoria Wells has made her way in sports medicine despite the boys club, and she definitely has rules to keep everything professional. But Tori isn’t expecting her next case, Zayden Bishop, to make her want to break those rules.
As the team physical therapist, Tori heals her NHL players and focuses on protecting and advancing her career because she’s seen first hand what can happen with one misstep. But French-Canadian superstar Bishop has other plans, and he clearly pursues her despite those boundaries and the possibility that he could land himself in hot water with his custody agreement.
Bishop is similar to Banks in the second novel, being all business and aloof, but his tender side comes out when his daughter calls or is near. He’s definitely a girl dad. How can Tori resist?
The interactions between these two characters felt wooden, and I don’t know if that’s because the seeming lack of emotion from the narrator for Bishop or the text. Tori comes off as genuine in the narration, but Bishop seemed bored, not agonizing or stuck in a hard place.
I did enjoy the interactions between the characters, the role of Banks in this one, and the interactions between Tori and Bishop’s daughter. Those were the gems. The Hockey Problem by Kendall Ryan was a bit unbalanced for me, but overall a solid romance read.
Rating: Tercet
About the Author:
Kendall Ryan is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of flirty, feel-good romance filled with heart, heat, and plenty of banter. An American author who has lived all over the world, her books have sold millions of copies and been translated into multiple languages. She writes swoony heroes, bold heroines, and stories that make you laugh, blush, and fall in love. When she’s not dreaming up new plotlines, she is a proud mom to two amazing sons and the wife of her real-life hero.
