The Queer’s Review

I will go down with this series.

Seriously, I love it so much it’s ridiculous. And every time I read one of its books for the first time, I think it possibly can’t be better than the one before – and then it somehow ends up being exactly that.

At least my favourite character from Game Changers hasn’t changed (yet?). And even better he even has a guest appearance! But you’re probably not that interested in this little tidbit so I’ll stay quiet about him for now and start gushing about Ryan.

Because seriously… This huge-rough-on-the-outside-but-so-very-gentle-on-the-inside-red-teddy-bear has taken my reader’s heart within a few sentences.

I really don’t want him to suffer but I enjoy his anxiety so much because how often is anxiety portrayed realistically? I don’t wanna know how many times I’ve rambled to some “victim” about how anxiety isn’t some cutesey little character trait for fuck’s sake!

Also, how often is a seen by society as a manly man™ guy allowed to be anxious? And not only that but struggle with getting off (I use “struggle” because he tries again and again on his own so it seems to be something he would really like to achieve instead of not caring about it at all).

And his body issues. There is just so much to love about Ryan aside from his character – because he is in no way a manly man™ guy even though he appears that way to outsiders.

There is so much romance and talking between happening between Ryan and Fabian that I really enjoyed being able to come with them on their journey to finally fall in love with each other. Again in a way.

Bookish Thoughts

I just know that I will come with them again very soon because while I will yell again and again about how important Ryan’s portrayal is to me, I had so much fun reading Tough Guy.

Smirking while using public transportation and not caring manly man™ guy about it fun. And my favourite has a small part, too!

Wow another win! First off, I haven’t read any of the other books in this series but it didn’t lessen my enjoyment anymore. This book was pretty slow burn, and while there were some definite heated scenes, it was a little lower on the steam level. But it was very real; the guys weren’t perfect, their sex lives weren’t perfect, but they made it all work. It also did a very good job portraying what it’s like to live with an anxiety order and didn’t offer any unrealistic quick fix. I also loved that it wasn’t the typical mega cocky Uber jock hockey story. A really well written and sweet opposites attract romance.

I loved this book! Everything this author writes becomes my productivity kryptonite. Once I start her work, I can’t put it down. Ryan and Fabian’s story was no exception! I loved how these two met years back, and had a chance meeting 13 years later in a totally different city. I loved Fabian’s outgoing personality and I adored Ryan’s gentle giant persona. I loved these two men together and what started as an unlikely HEA. Ryan had a lot of mental baggage he had to wade through to find himself, and I loved that Fabian was right there with him to help where he could. These men made me smile while I read their story, and I couldn’t recommend it more!

While this is the third book in the series, it can stand-alone. However I highly recommend adding the other two to your reading list!

This is the third book in the Game Changers series. It is a MM contemporary hockey romance. In the story the development of the characters wonderful. The characters are funny, neurotic and lovable and as the reader I was routing for them to succeed. The pace was outstanding, I had a hard time putting the book down. Though this is the third in the series, I feel it can be read as a stand-alone.

What I love about Rachel Reid's stories are that they are about more than the male-male relationship and more than about hockey. This story delves into each person's ability to be comfortable in their own skin, be their own person, live their best lives. Fabian lives out and proud. He is exacly who he is meant to be and is quick to accept every as well...except for hockey players. No worries, he might have a reason for that which you'll need to learn for yourself. Ryan Price knows nothing but hockey. It is all he has ever known and because of his size, is automatically assumed to be the tough, confident guy. Nothing is further from the truth. He should be living the dream instead of dreading each time he'll have to be on the ice. Can these two learn to accept each other's faults and learn to live their own dreams and truths?

Tough Guy by Rachel Reid


This is the third book in Reid’s Game Changers series of m/m hockey romance novels. I haven’t read the other two books in the series, but they are already on my TBR queue based on how much I liked this one.

Well, spoiler alert, but there you have it: I loved this book.

Ryan, a professional hockey player, has been traded to Toronto. He doesn’t know anyone, but he immediately runs into Fabian, whose family he boarded with when he was a junior hockey player.

Fifteen years ago, they had an “almost” moment, but then they went their separate ways.

Until now.

Oh, my gosh, I absolutely adored this book. Ryan might look like a 6’7 red-haired Viking lumberjack and his hockey job is “enforcer”, which basically means he starts fights. But ironically, Ryan is secretly a big cinnamon roll. He’s afraid of flying, and his favorite book is Anne of Green Gables.

On a more serious note, Ryan deals with anxiety, and I thought this was dealt with tenderness and authenticity. Anxiety and depression are so prevalent nowadays, so it’s nice to see this reflected in romance novels.

Ryan and Fabian have great chemistry, and I especially liked how Fabian was so patient and empathetic when intimacy didn’t come easily to Ryan. They work so well together, and it was so sweet to see their friendship rekindle after so many years. They both have regrets that they never shared their feelings when they were in high school, and now they finally have a second chance, and oh my gosh, this book was so good.

I would absolutely recommend Tough Guy. I especially enjoyed the characterization of both heroes, and how Reid provides a good balance between humorous banter and more serious material. I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series in the very near future.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

it's no secret that i adore the game changers series. i have re-read heated rivalry over 9 times since it's release last year. and i released in march. so we're talking me re-reading basically once a month. i'm about due for another re-read to be honest.

ryan price had a short, but memorable appearance in heated rivalry. and in tough guy we see the man behind the mask. by all appearances, ryan is an actual tough guy. he's big and burly. he's an nhl defenseman whose primary job is to fight the other team's fight guy. ryan is those things, but he's also deeply anxious. insecure. socially awkward. and kind of into femme guys.

when he re-encounters fabian salah, it's an actual blast from the past. he stayed with fabian's hockey-mad family while at a training camp. and fabian, happens to be kind of a femme guy.

unlike the rest of his family, fabian kind of hates hockey. he didn't hate ryan though, remembering him as one of the few non-jerky hockey bros to have stayed with his parents. and remembering the crush he had on ryan. one that he at one moment wondered might be reciprocated.

spoiler alert: it was totally reciprocated.

but ryan has issues. deep-seated psychological issues that make relationships difficult and change difficult. and fabian has to work really hard to see beyond the hockey thing because he really hates the hockey thing. he hates that ryan fights. even though ruan has never been anything but gentle with him. he can't reconcile the sweet awkward man he loves with the ruthless enforcer on the ice.

they might need the help of some friends to figure this problem out. good thing ilya rozanov doesn't mind sticking his nose in other people's business.

**tough guy will publish on january 13, 2020. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/carina press in exchange for my honest review.

What an EXCELLENT follow up and new story in this series! While nothing can top or replace Shane and Ilya as my favorite couple in this series, Fabian and Ryan do give them a run for their money.

Ryan is the defender for his hockey team, but struggles with extreme anxiety and poor body and self image. He might be a bad ass on the ice, but his friend and teammate is right - he's a big, orange teddy bear. I LOVED Ryan, ohmygoodness, from his inner turmoil over little everyday things, to his honest issues revolving around sex, I just rooted for him right from the get go.

Fabian is a talented artist, and the total opposite of the stereotypical hockey-loving male. He wears makeup, jewelry, feminine clothing - and is completely unapologetic or shamed by it, which I absolutely loved. He and Ryan first met when they were both teenagers, and although both had a teenage crush on the other, neither one acted on it. When they reconnect as adults, that spark is still there and now the two can act on it.

I absolutely loved the two of them together. Fabian brought out confidence in Ryan, and also made things that Ryan struggled with into something fun and something to not stress over. Their interactions and early friendship was just so lovely to read about. I absolutely loved Fabian's friends and all their interactions as they got to know Ryan.

I think what I loved most was that things, like sex, were so openly discussed. So many things in this story felt real - Ryan's extreme anxiety and his medication to help throws off his sex drive. Their first time having sex wasn't romance-novel perfect. They laughed, things went wrong, and it all felt so grounded and honest. I just loved it. There is some angst, some hockey drama, and some serious stuff that goes down in the last quarter of the book, but the HEA is wonderful and just so perfect for these two!

Also, loved the little cameo with Shane and Ilya. I look forward to the next books in this series and can't wait for more! (And please Carina - if you ever read this - PUT THIS SERIES INTO PAPERBACK!)

I received an arc through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Heated Rivalry," by Rachel Reid was one of my top ten reads of 2019. "Heated Rivalry's," couple, Ilya and Shane are high on my all time couple list. And Ilya by himself, as a character, is just perfection. You get where I'm going with this. Basically I loved the heck out of that book. It was with a mixture of excitement and nervousness that I read, "Tough Guy." Would it measure up? Would it be as good? Maybe that's too much pressure to put on an author. Well, she shouldn't have created Ilya Rozanov then! In fact, I think I'm going to need to read it a third time soon.

So, did I love, "Tough Guy," as much as, "Heated Rivalry?" No. It appears my love of Ilya can not be topped. But, I really, really liked it. A lot!

"Tough Guy," centers around Ryan, who you may remember as a teammate of Ilya's in, "Heated Rivalry." He's not playing on Ilya's team anymore but Ilya fans will be pleased to know our favorite Russian does make an appearance or two. Also just to note that while part of this books timeline overlaps with, "Heated Rivalry," I do think this could be enjoyed on it's own without reading the previous book. But why would you want to do that to yourself?

Despite reading a ton of hockey romance books, I'm not very good with the lingo. But Ryan is, I think, an enforcer. Basically, he has to fight. Frequently. He's big and burly. But underneath and off the ice? He's a teddy bear of a guy who is starting to tire of the violence. Then he runs into Fabian, a guy from his past. Back when he was a teenager, Ryan stayed with Fabian's family during his billet year. Sparkly, feisty Fabian, a musician, has no room for hockey players in his life. Still, he did always have a soft spot for the quiet ginger who stayed with his family all those years ago...

"Tough Guy," was a lovely slow burn, friends to lovers, mild to medium angst, opposites attract, very sexy read! I loved Fabian's flair and confidence and loved how gone Ryan was for him. The two were so different but absolutely perfect and right for each other.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be anxiously awaiting the next book which will bring us back to Ilya and Shane. Can't wait!

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this take on the less talked about aspect of sports and how toxic it can be especially to those whose jobs it is to perform each day and night. Taking those aspects and still turning that background into a romance is a difficult task but it was well executed in Tough Guy. I loved how this wasn't the traditional mlm romance and how the characters allowed themselves and their partner to be vulnerable.. It could also be considered a second chance trope considering the characters originally met when Ryan lived with Fabian's family as many hockey players do as they try to make it to the pros. This is definitely an excellent addition to this series and it could probably be considered a stand alone if you haven't read the previous two already.

Heated Rivalry was one of my favorite books of last year so I was really excited to get into Tough Guy and luckly I really liked it. While part of the Game Changers series, it can defenitly be read as a standalone (but if you haven't read Heated Rivalry you need to go buy it right now)

Here we have Ryan, an enforcer for the Toronto Guardians, who suffers from anxiety and a deep fear of flying. Fabian is just fabulous. Confident, femme, out and proud who wears eyeliner and hates hockey players with passion. They shoudn't match, but boy they do.

Ryan is simply a giant cinnamon roll. I truly enjoyed that he isn't a stereotypical macho character. Yes, he is big but he also has a heart of gold. I was touched by how much he cared about Fabian. Their relationship adorable. It was a breath of air that the author touched on the topic of sexual dysfunction, something so utterly common that most romances seem to ignore.

All the supporting characters were extremetly well written, especialy Wyatt. I loved Fabian's friend group and how the accepted Ryan. That Ilya and Shane cameo <3

I would have loved to see more of Fabian pakistani culture (I didn't realised he was pakistani until he said it almost 50% in). Also, Fabian's family reaction of him dating Ryan was also something that I would have liked to have seen on page.

Overall, a great addition to an amazing series.

Veteran Ryan Price is a defenseman and enforcer for the Toronto Guardians hockey team. It's not a role he relishes, but his bulk and size have pinned him into the situation, so he goes to battle on the ice, and throws more punches than shots on goal. He's new to Toronto, having been recently traded after having a spectacular meltdown on the bench of his previous team during a game, though his anxiety struggles are being medically managed for the most part. Ryan is gay, and he's never hidden it, but he's also never broadcast it--not that he's had many friends, or boyfriends, to speak about it. His social anxiety, size and reputation usually keep him isolated, even from his own teammates. Ryan's self-esteem is pretty low, despite being a pro hockey player.

On this team, however, the back-up goalie Wyatt seems determined to make friends with Ryan. He sits with him on flights, helping him to manage his deep-seated fears, and invites him to a local kids club where Wyatt volunteers. This relationship is the first that Ryan cultivates in years. The second, is a reconnection to Fabian Saleh, a boy he lived with in his teens, since Fabian's family regularly hosted junior hockey players. Fabian is out and fabulous, having a genderqueer sensibility. He keeps a day-job at the drug store nearest Ryan's new condo in the heart of Toronto's queer village. Fabian is a first-rate violinist, though, and Ryan has many memories of listening to Fabian play back in his childhood home. Fabian's rabid hockey fan family has never been that supportive of Fabian, his music or his life. It turned Fabian away from hockey, but he never forgot Ryan, the shy boy who made more of an effort to see Fabian play back then than Fabian's own parents did.

Ryan had a big regret of never kissing Fabian back when they were young, but he's not going to make the same mistake again--even if he's terrible in bed. His meds and his anxiety often make him unable to perform, but Fabian's outre look has his libido perking up big time--and Fabian's happy to go at Ryan's pace--even if Ryan is a hockey player. Fabian's friends adore Ryan, even wishing to scoop him up if Fabian doesn't make a claim, and Ryan's so happy to be accepted by Fabian's posse--and hear the fantastic music he makes. For a couple of months it seems things are going really well for Ryan, but then Wyatt is traded and he loses that close friendship. Then, he hurts his back on the ice, and the recovery is...bad. Fabian is mad that Ryan won't take time off from the season to heal, and Ryan's frustrated that Fabian keeps harping at him. With all his pain meds on top of his anxiety meds it's an untenable situation.

With a break looming, both Fabian and Ryan are searching their souls. Should they make up? Should Ryan quit hockey? What would help them find the right path to mutual happiness? There are some really touching moments of deep introspection here, while each man figures out how to live a true and happy life. Ryan gets a chance to connect with an old teammate who offers him a chance to explore his passion for hockey in a low pressure situation. Could this be the first step to Ryan taking care of himself--first and foremost? The resolution is tender and awesome, with Ryan and Fabian being the support one another needs--right when they need it. I loved how each man found his personal happiness, and that magnified their joined happiness. Each man is a little bit broken, and to see both healed and whole in each other and in the end was so cool. I loved how uninhibited Fabian is, and how he coaxes Ryan out of his shell by his sheer exuberance. Not only that, Ryan developing a support network for himself was so great to experience. I really liked both of these characters a lot, and I liked the little glimpse of Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander, from the second book in this series, that we get at the end.

I am a huge fan of this series and the second book, Heated Rivalry is definitely one of my all times faves. I have fallen head over heels on love with Ilya and I don't think I will be recovering anytime soon. I don't even want to !!

So, of course, there was never any question about me reading this third book in the series, which by the way can be read as a stand-alone. I don't know why you would want to do that since I just told you about Ilya and his awesomeness... but you could.

Now as much as I enjoyed this one, it just wasn't the same. I knew that before I even started it that it would be. All these three books are pretty different from one another. This one was a bit heavier on the hurt/comfort/emotional side.

Now it isn't that this book wasn't good, it is just that the second book left such a huge impression on me, that my expectations for this one were maybe a bit too high. I know that isn't fair because they are completely different books...but I can't help how I felt either.

Ryan and Fabian were definitely sweet together...and did I mention HOT... they were definitely HOT as well ;)

Also, there are some awesome appearances from my all-time favorite Russian hottie !!

So even though this book did not surpass the previous one (it is gonna be hard to top anyway) I did still enjoy reading it and I am very curious what is gonna be next from this author ;)

3,5 stars from me ;)

An ARC was kindly provided in exchange for an honest review

At the time of reading this book I had not read the first 2 in the series. I will definitely be reading them.
I really enjoyed this book.
The fact that Rachel Reid gave a big, burly, hockey playing enforcer mental health issues was fantastic! Mental health affects all variety of people, no matter their age, race, size or profession. I also loved that she paired him with a makeup wearing, effeminate, confident man.
I felt for Ryan so much throughout the book. I just wanted to grab him and squeeze him and tell him he'd be ok. Tough guys have feelings too.
Fabian was just fabulous and perfect for Ryan. From him taking his time with Ryan and helping him figure out his insecurities in bed, to talking and listening to him when that was what he needed. Fabian also had his own issues to deal with.
I can't wait to read the first 2 books in this series.

Didn't love it.Didn't hate it.It was ok.


Maybe I was,unfairly,comparing it to book two which was one of my favourite books from last year.Was I expecting that same intensity? Most definitely.But,to be fair,this was a completely different book.



Let's start with the positives....



Fabian He is my absolute favourite type of character.Femme( enough said really)...I loved everything about him.I could wax lyrical all day about him.


Ryan,on the other hand....I had mixed feelings about him.At times I kind of melted and at times he just irritated me( the inner thoughts started to bore me).


Overall,I loved these two guys together.I got their connection and chemistry,I really did.But something just wasn't pulling me into this one.I stalled around half way and never really got going again.

Ryan Price is a fighter. He's been signed to the Toronto Guardians and he's one of the big guys who are always in the middle of the big brawls on the ice during the pro games. It's taken its toll on his body, and his mind. Off the ice, Ryan is a mild-mannered, gentle soul. He is struggling with an anxiety disorder and his medication is affecting his sexual desire.

One night in a drug store, he runs into Fabian. They met when they were both teenagers and Ryan was staying with Fabian's family when they were both teenagers. Fabian's family was one hundred percent into hockey... well, except for Fabian.

The main relationship in this book is quite interesting. There's a spark between Fabian and Ryan when they are young, but nothing comes of it. Now, all these years later there's still an attraction but the two men move in very different worlds.

I really liked the way Reid wrote Fabian and Ryan so differently! They're distinct and unique characters and I really enjoyed them. I really liked the way that their characters were revealed to me as they got to know each other. Ryan's anxiety was evident from the beginning of the novel, but Reid took the time to reveal it slowly and carefully. I enjoyed that a lot. There's a real demonstrated understanding of living with anxiety and the medication side-effects.

One of the things I liked most about Fabian was how comfortable he was in his own skin. He wore all kinds of clothing and jewelry, he enjoyed his body, he loved the attention of Ryan and was happy to reveal that. It was great to see a character breaking gender norms and being himself. I loved him!

This is a great romance... it's got a good pace and I loved the main relationship!

Despite not being a sports fan at all and generally not enjoying reading about them in any way, I enjoyed the first book in this series enough to come back for more. The writing and characters are engaging and the story is page-turning and intersting.

What I liked:
~ Well, Ryan, obviously -- I liked how much I ached for him, and I liked his growth throughout the book. I especially liked the juxtaposition between his personality and his job as an 'enforcer' on the ice -- and the fact that he was trying to figure out his own issues.
~ Wyatt -- he made a good friend
~ Valerie -- she also made a good friend, even though we didn't see much of her

What wasn't as strong (for me):
~ Fabian -- I personally found him really self-centered, and his lack of growth (and how he needed Valerie to point everything out for him) bothered me. For me, he didn't deserve Ryan, and it bugged me that Ryan experienced growth and Fabian didn't as much.
~ the resolution -- I didn't like how Ryan instigated the resolution. I really felt like it should have been Fabian (as he was the one who instigated the main conflict). Again, for me it just highlighted the inequality between the two characters.

So Ryan made this a great book, and even though I didn't really feel like Fabian was worthy of him, I liked Ryan enough to finish it. I'm already looking for the previous Game Changer books. ;)

Y’all, Rachel Reid makes me have ALL THE EMOTIONS. In her third Game Changers novel, she turns her focus on a musician whose career is starting to build momentum and a deeply anxious NHL player who’s questioning his—and the results, they are good.

Maybe a little TOO good. I, like Ryan, am anxious as all hell, and at one point I had to take a break because his life felt SO REAL. He struggles with stuff like introducing himself, ordering at cafes, and inserting himself into conversations, and Reid nails all the ways those everyday tasks can feel like the world’s steepest street.

Basically: major TW for accurate anxiety portrayal. Proceed slowly if necessary.

DO proceed, though. Ryan and Fabian’s relationship is super sweet, and I love their dynamic with their various friends. (Good fictional friendships are IMPORTANT.) There are plenty of character-affirming moments, too, including nuanced looks at each character’s complicated relationship with hockey. I finished this days ago and I still can’t stop thinking about it all.

I loved it awfully much—but I’m also in the weird position of being a little disappointed, because I didn’t love it quite as much as Reid’s first two books. I’ve read few romances I loved as much as GAME CHANGER or HEATED RIVALRY, though, so don’t let that put you off. Besides, I think at least part of it was me pulling back because the anxiety felt so real. You may not have that issue.

4.5 stars

I was in a bit of a reading slump so I picked up this book *knowing* it was going to be good enough to break through - and it did!

I keep seeing reviews comparing Tough Guy to the previous book in this series, Heated Rivalry. I feel like Heated Rivalry was a lot more high energy, enemies to lovers banter, secret relationship thrills, while Tough Guy has some more difficult hurdles to overcome and moves at a place that's slower and just sadder. They're both really great books, but they are very *different* books - which I think is a great thing. Authors shouldn't be pigeonholed into writing the same book over and over, or even the same tone of books, and why readers seem to expect/want that is beyond me. Kudos to Rachel Reid for writing a series that is a continuous surprise.

Ryan reminds me a little bit of Ares from Pippa Grant's books - big tought giants who could sqaush you like a big, but inside they're filled with marshmallow fluff and concerns about not accidentally squashing someone. This is apparently my type now, haha. He struggles with anxiety and not liking the role into which he's cast in his career, and he really struggles throughout this book. Even the relationship between Ryan and Fabian is as much about the struggle to stay together and make it work as it is about initially getting together, which I feel is something I see less of in romance than that heavy focus on the tension and build-up leading up to FINALLY getting together.

Fabian is lovely and amazing, and I adore his passion for music and makeup. He brings a much-needed pop of color to Ryan's life, and I love how they contrast and compliment one another.

Tough Guy is the third book in the Game Changers series, and can be read as a stand alone. Ilya from the second book, Heated Rivalry makes a few appearances, and there are some mentions of Scott from book one, Game Changer, so there are some light spoilers for the first books in the series.