Okay, deep breath, here we go. I have a lot more to say about this book than I thought I would.

When all is said and done I wouldn’t go back and choose to read this. The highs are high, but the lows are LOW. This felt longer than it probably actually was because of that.

Basically, It felt like reading about what someone THOUGHT two people like this (Introvert/Extrovert. Asexual/Hyper-sexual. Grumpy/Sunshine) would be like in a relationship with each other. The writing was not good. Story was fun at times, but style-wise was so bland! Quippy dialogue please!!!

I love every asexual and demisexual rep romance ever written though. So big ups for that. It was also oddly charming sometimes? While I didn’t think the writing was well done, the plot was a really cute idea. And even though the characters ended up being more caricatures, I still like the concept (Again, I love every Ace-spectrum romance ever written)

I also tend to hate reading a ton of scenes where an MC hooks up with someone not the love interest on the page. Once for plot purposes, sure. A jealousy scene here or there, usually worth it. But there’s a lot of it in this book. Like a lot of it. I can honestly say the only reason I DIDN’T mind is that neither of the characters felt super realistic to me anyway.

So yeah *shrugs*

My hopes for this were much higher than they should have been, to be honest. I do think this is a very easy and light read and for some people that’s definitely enough! But for me, I’m giving this one a pass.

Thank you so much to Carina Adores and Netgalley for providing an advanced copy of this! All thoughts and opinions are still my own.

Everything that Rachel Reid writes is wonderful. And this was no exception. This was significantly less angsty, but delightful and cozy.

I love an opposites attract romance and these 2 were polar opposites. Casey is a bubbly ball of energy and Landon is quiet and reserved. Mix that with forced proximity/roommates and I was immediately hooked.

Not only was the romance itself delightful, but the teammate relationship and personal growth journey for each of the heroes was also great.

Landon is trying to find self confidence in his ability while Casey struggles to be alone. I loved how their relationship helped them both down these paths without it ever feeling the romance itself was "fixing" them.

While this does take place near the holidays, it's a definitely a romance you could pick up at any time. If you're looking for low angst, forced proximity, and plenty of hockey, definitely check this one out!

I really loved this. The perfect hockey MM romance. Both the characters were so well written. Loved the grumpy x sunshine piece. The ending was amazing and heart warming.

RACHEL REID YOU SLAY EVERY TIME! Her writing is what keeps me coming back and this book was no different. I love how fleshed out her characters are and the amount of research put in is obvious. I loved the sweetness of this story and how it was just a delightful read from beginning to end.

Rachel’s writing is just top tier, there’s just nothing like it. This one is no different! I love how innocent and just a fantastic love story it was from start to finish. The main characters were lovable, the hockey details were well researched and the dialogue felt authentic. Overall it was a delightful read.

I really loved the story between Landon and Casey! They are polar opposites but their relationship works because they are willing to try.

This book was such a quick and cute read! Both Landon and Casey were amazing characters, there was no unnecessary conflicts through miscommunication, all in all a great read for all fans of ice-hockey romances!

This was fun and adorable! I was worried I wouldn't like a hockey romance but I was actually into the descriptions of the games. I liked the relationship between these two though Landon's self sabotaging did get frustrating even if I understood it! I love Casey. He is such a cinnamon roll. What I didn't love was how everyone treated him. He felt like he was looked down on and almost infantilized to the point he felt like a caricature of himself!

Time to Shine is my first Rachel Reid book, but it certainly won't be my last! Firstly, I'm all for diverse romance reads and was super excited to read about an M M sports romance! That was also a first for me, and it did not disappoint. Secondly, I'm also all for Canadian settings, and was super thrilled to see Calgary pop up as the book's Wintery setting. As for the relationship itself, both the male leads were lovely to read about. Landon's heart and soul captivated me from the moment he was introduced, and Casey's personality was practically jumping off the page. Its been a while since I've adored both ends of a couple like this, and I just wanted to hug them both and never let go.

I'm not sure if this was intentional or not, but the ambiguity of Landon's sexuality (as maybe being ace) was an element of his character that I, and I'm sure others, really appreciated. The rep Rachel Reid provides in Time to Shine is all around fantastic, though. There was an unconditional acceptance of identity and sexuality by all characters in the book, and as a reader, I felt as if I were a part of a world full of love and acceptance. And even though this novel was a fun read, I appreciated the way in which Rachel Reid expertly navigated more sensitive issues, such as Landon's grief, anxiety, and self-confidence.

Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for providing me with an electronic copy of Time to Shine by Rachel Reid in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and are not influenced by any third party.

Thank you to the author, publisher and @NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Roommates to friends to lovers MM hockey romance?! Toys in the bedroom? There are a lot of positives to this 😜

Negatives: I wish Casey would have been less self deprecating… constantly talking down about himself was annoying. And I think for me I didn’t need to hear about every other sexual conquest he had. Might be cool for others but not for me.

I did love how Landon’s relationship with his parents changed over the course of the novel and how they processed their grief. That was a pretty heavy topic to cover during this romance novel but somehow it worked. I found myself tearing up as they had their big talk.

And loved their communication during the intimate scenes ♥️ Overall, a pretty great hockey romance.

I really loved this book! One of the best sports romances of the year, this book is so unique because of the main characters roles as teammates! I can't wait to read what Rachel writes next!

THIS BOOK!!!!!! AHHH, I loved it so much, I still have such a goofy grin on my face when I think about it. I loved Casey and Landon and sb dhas d fk f it was WONDROUS. Thanks Gretal for reccing, I will be reading more Rachel Reid.

This book was SO SWEET and I loved it so much!! I listened to the audiobook and really liked the narrator. I've never been a fan of sports romances, but I'll always give them a shot (pun not intended lol), and I'm glad I tried this hockey romance out because it was so so good. I listened to it in two days and didn't want to put it down!

It is set around the winter holidays but it isn't really a holiday book. I loved the two main characters, one was super shy/anxious/awkward, and the other was extroverted/talkative/lonely, so it was a great mix. Plus there are some lovely conversations in here about family and grief. And no homophobia from teammates and stuff too which I loved to see! And the spice was A+!!

🌈Queer rep: MM main relationship, bi/pan main male character, gay/questioning male main character

I loved this book! It was the perfect blend of romantic comedy with characters working through their emotions and flaws. Landon took a minute to warm up too but I loved Casey right from the get-go. I really appreciated the exploration of sex in this book and the boundaries associated with sex. This is one I would read again and again. I definitely need a physical copy.

4.5 stars

I really do love myself a hockey romance. I’ve been inhaling hockey romances ever since I started reading them 6 years ago now. This was such a sweet story and I loved it so much! And this has definitely become one of the cutest queer sports romance stories I’ve ever read (and I’ve read my fair share of them).

This story was so moving and my heart was touched through this entire story. Rachel delved into series topics and I feel like she handled every topic with the gentleness, care, and love it deserved. I finished this book with this overwhelming sense of joy and hope. This book truly was so sweet and beautifully written.

This actually was my very first Rachel Reid book (even though I’ve had one of her other MM romances on my tbr shelf for soooooo long now) and this has totally made me a fan and I’ll be reaching for more of her books in the future.

*Thank you Carina Press and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

This was a fun hockey romance to read, but I didn’t find any of the main characters likable. There were so many things that feel like they weren’t addressed or that got dropped by the end of the book.

Time to Shine by Rachel Reid was such a sweet romance with Landon and Casey in this MM opposites attract sports romance. Casey was all sunshine with kind nature while Landon is more reserved. As roommates, Landon is more of a loner, but Casey slowly brings him out of his shell as they get to know each other. This was a slow-burn romance with amazing chemistry and two characters I loved. I loved watching them get to know each other, fall and see their journey from start to finish.

Happy reading!

This was really sweet! It was refreshing to read a sports romance where the characters are out to the team, and the team is supportive. The focus was on the romance and the relationships instead of external homophobia. Unfortunately, I don't know if this is realistic, but I appreciated the positive portrayal in this story.

A couple of character highlights for me:
I love that Casey had strong emotional intelligence and was very careful with people and their feelings. I also like that other characters stepped up to defend Casey against teasing about being stupid.
There was also excellent portrayal of Landon's inexperience with relationships and intimacy. I liked that he had the support to explore at his own pace and was confident in his boundaries.

One thing I did not like was the casual inclusion of vaping. It was unnecessary, and I think the positive portrayal of vaping is unfortunate.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

As an Alberta girl, I LOVED that this book was set almost entirely in my province. That was such a fun aspect that I didn't expect when I started reading.

As for the book itself, I thought it was so cute! The opposites attract roomance was delightfully executed and I loved being a part of Landon and Casey's relationship as it blossomed and grew. I will definitely check out more of Rachel Reid's books.

As always, Rachel Reid never disappoints. I was sucked right into this story and found myself rooting for these characters from the very beginning!