Tough Guy is the third book in the Game Changers series but works perfectly well as a standalone. I love when each book in a series is a unique experience and that is certainly true with this collection. In many ways, Tough Guy is even angstier and heavier than Heated Rivalry as it addresses some difficult but relevant subjects including severe anxiety, self-esteem problems, sexual performance issues, suicide, addiction, and the toll professional sports can take on athletes. I devoured this book, really liked the couple, and was eager for their happily-ever-after, and yet I couldn’t help but feel as though something was missing.

Rarely do we get such different sorts of characters as in the Game Changers series and that was especially true with the main characters in Tough Guy. I loved that Ryan wasn’t your typical professional hockey player, not to mention who you would expect as an enforcer. His soft, vulnerable side was utterly charming, and I really liked that the author wrote about a main character who struggles with anxiety in a very real, palpable way. I also loved that he was paired with a femme, confident man who embraced all sides of himself and encouraged Ryan to try the same. Beyond that, it was awesome to have sexual anxieties and issues addressed in a romance without it losing any of the steam. Instead, this honest portrayal of Ryan and Fabian in the bedroom made the scenes that much more impactful. In so many ways, Tough Guy broke the mold on sports romances, and I absolutely loved that.

What I didn’t get was Fabian’s hatred for hockey that spilled over into him being unsupportive when Ryan needed it most, to the point that he refused to try and understand or listen to Ryan’s struggles. I get not loving every aspect of your partner’s life, I get not liking sports, but Fabian’s lack of investment in anything hockey when it came to Ryan rankled. Additionally, Tough Guy was really light on hockey. While that may be a positive for some readers, as a sports romance fan and a fan of hockey in general, I missed it. Overall, I really liked Tough Guy and that it set itself apart from most sports romances in so many wonderful ways, but when I pick up this trope, I want the sports elements. That said, this author will undoubtedly remain on my must-read list and I’d certainly recommend the title and series.

Uh wow, why did I wait so long to pick up a Rachel Reid book?! Tough Guy was a M/M read that I absolutely devoured in nearly one sitting! This was seriously such a cute read and I couldn't stop grinning at Ryan and Fabian.

When it comes to M/M romance, I'm fairly new to them, so I'd say this was my first opposites attract. I loved that we had a hockey player and a musician. They were so different, but they fit together perfectly.

I appreciated that Reid really dove into dealing with anxiety when it came to Ryan. It was one of his constants and we see his struggles and how he manages it. I liked (for once) that it wasn't swept under the rug. And Fabian, bless his heart, he was just so patient and understanding. Plus, he wanted to show Ryan what it's like to feel good. Ahhhh, these two, love them to pieces.

Once I finished, I had no idea this was book 3 in a series, so I'm elated that there's two more books that I can binge read.

Such a great first time read and it definitely won't be my last!

2 stars
I could not connect with these characters for the life of me. I love hockey. I love sports books, this one was tough, I put it down and picked it up 1000 times just to finish it.

I engaged quickly with this slow paced thoughtful read. Ryan's troubles and mental state are dealt with compassion and balance. His inability to look beyond his own superficial reasons for continuing to play enforcer plays out convincingly. Fabian is quick to judgement, but also almost as quick to recognise this and pull back.

Although clearly Ryan needs some tough love. Gosh, he's a lovely character. Sweet, but stubborn and looking for something.

Fabian is a contrast in every way. Musical, flamboyant and determined to walk his own path, his own brand of stubbornness causes problems.

Sigh.

I read this ages ago, and now it's almost due out (January 13th I believe). Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for advanced copy. I recommend if you loved the first two books in this series, but it is quite different from them too. Which is a good thing.

Hope there's more to come.

I was provided a copy from. Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and it probably would have been a little more enjoyable to have read the previous books before this one, but it can be read alone.

The dynamic between Ryan and Fabian is definitely interesting, but a lot more fast paced than I would have liked. Ryan and Fabian are very different types of people, but they mesh well with regards to interests and open mindedness.

For me, reading Ryan’s constant inner turmoil with his anxiety and self-consciousness was quite hard to keep up with. It is constant, which is realistic, but a bit of a downer. He overcomes it a bit when he’s with Fabian, but man is he a sad guy!

Not a bad story, but not really a favorite. The story was well written enough for me to want to read the previous stories, as I’ve seen those are higher rated.

Fabian is a wonderful musician. If he could just quit hooking up with his loser ex, life would be good. He’s working at his boring day job when his crush from high school walks through the door. His ohmygodicantbelieveit crush.

Ryan is an enforcer for a hockey team. He’s depressed, his anxiety is overwhelming, and he doesn’t want to fight anymore, but since that’s his job he’s stuck with the situation. When Ryan sees Fabian again, he can only remember their almost kiss all those years ago.

Fabian hates hockey and hockey players. Ryan’s anxiety and the medication cause him serious day to day issues and in the bedroom.

These boys (yes I know they are both well over the age of consent) made my heart hurt. Ryan more so than Fabian. The author did an excellent job of portraying his mental condition and I think Fabian’s understanding and support was also very well done. Ryan, big, ginger hunk and Fabian, a gorgeous twink (sorry, he probably wouldn’t like that description) were perfect for each other. Ryan needed someone to see the real him and Fabian needed someone to wholly embrace his wonderfulness.

This book was different from the others in the series. This one was less about hockey and more about the effect the sport had the main characters.

Tough Guy is the third book in the Game Changers series by Rachel Reid. It is currently scheduled for release on January 13 2020. You do not need to read the books in order or as a series, however those that do will enjoy seeing mentions and appearances by some of the characters from previous books.

Pro hockey star Ryan Price may be an enforcer, but off the ice he struggles with anxiety. Recently traded to the Toronto Guardians, he’s determined to make a fresh start in the city’s dynamic LGBTQ Village. The last thing he expects to stumble upon in his new neighborhood is a blast from his past in the fabulous form of Fabian Salah. Aspiring musician Fabian loathes hockey. But that doesn’t stop him from being attracted to a certain burly, ginger-bearded defenseman. He hasn’t forgotten the kiss they almost shared back in high school, and it’s clear the chemistry between them has only intensified. Fabian is more than happy to be Ryan’s guide to the gay scene in Toronto. Between dance clubs and art exhibits—and the most amazing sex—Ryan’s starting to feel something he hasn’t experienced in a long time: joy. But playing the role of the heavy on the ice has taken its toll on his body and mind, and a future with Fabian may mean hanging up his skates for good.

Tough Guy is a great romance that takes body issues and mental health head on, and I appreciated it. I love that Ryan and Fabian actually talk about the problems that Ryan has because of his medication, and the frank and honest way his body issues are handled up front. So often we read about women that are insecure about the way they look, even though we know there are men with similar thoughts. While I wish everyone could be comfortable and confident in their own skin it was refreshing to see a man no one would expect to be insecure go through similar doubts. The connection between Fabian and Ryan was wonderful to watch as it grew, and as they faced the difference that they each tried to ignore or avoid talking about. I think Reid did a great job of showing how good communication can make relationships work, but even that does not make it foolproof. I really enjoyed watching the pair find their way, and Ryan figure himself out even more. I was thoroughly engaged through the entire read, and had a hard time putting it down to do little things like cook dinner or perform in a concert that I had been in rehearsals for all year.

Tough Guy is another winner from Reid. I love the characters and story, and cannot wait for more.

I don't normally pick up sport romances, but I'm so glad I read this one. I loved Ryan and Fabian's story and their growth together. It would have been easy for Fabian to steal the show, but I just loved Ryan so much! I'll for sure be picking up the rest of this series.

I read this one immediately after Heated Rivalry and unlike most of my reading friends, Tough Guy is by far my favorite of the two.

I have a soft spot for wounded hero characters. Ryan stole my heart from early on. A gentle giant with a giant sized heart forced into an untenable position. Although I didn't understand what made him the way he was, I still empathized with his problems.

Glamorous, talented Fabian could have easily stolen the show. Except for "the break up". You know, the one we always dread in our romance reads. I was not a happy camper - but I never am with these.

These two seemed completely incompatible, but their attraction to each other was palpable.

Since I read the two books back to back, not comparing them is impossible for me. In comparison, Tough Guy is a four star read.


Review ARC graciously provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Tough Guy by Rachel Reid is a sweet, slightly angsty, m/m second chance romance. Ryan Price is a pro hockey star the standard bearer of everything up and coming musician Fabian loathes. Fabian has his reasons of course but the big guy is that almost first kiss from long ago. Ryan is blown away by the beautiful and talented Fabian. Watching these two get together and grow had me laughing and sighing. You don’t have to understand hockey to enjoy this story. Although this is part of a series this story stands on its own very well. That being said I am going to get the two earlier stories as well.

OMG This series just keeps getting better! I loved the dynamic between Ryan and Fabian, and how they played to one anothers strengths and walked through their fears together. Brilliant read.

Ohhh I wanted to love this one so bad because book 2, Heated Rivalry was 1 of my fav books of 2019. The Chemistry was offffff the charts.
Alas....
This book was just soooooo..... not that.
I wasn't bored per say but I was able to put this book down, walk away and do other things.
I want to sink my teeth into a book, I want to FEEEL all the FEELINGS and I just didn't.

That made me very sad because this book was 1 I was highly looking forward to.

Mare~Slitsread

I love a good sports romance and while this one was steamier than I usually go for, it didn't disappoint. I thought the way that it tackled homophobia in sports culture was really needed, especially since that's often glossed over in gay sports romances. Also as someone who has only a basic understanding of hockey, I feel like it's a good one for beginners. Explained a lot of terms but not in a way that detracted from the plot.

I enjoyed reading this opposite attract, friends to lovers, sports MM romance; book 3 In the Game Changer series, that can be read as standalone.

Written in a completely different tone , approach and heat level that Heated Rivalry; in Tough Guy , Rachel Reid explores few topics that are very relevant in today's world. The homophobic culture in the major sports leagues , coming out and continue playing while being in the NHL as a high profile professional athlete, anxiety disorder, panic attacks, Rx pain management and addiction.

Ryan and Fabian are very interesting , engaging and compelling characters and their journey to happiness isn't easy or/and direct . I liked how real, organic and natural their relationship build up and progressed.

<b>I was provided an ARC of this book by the publisher on <i>NetGalley</i>.</b>

Game Changer made Rachel my favorite hockey romance author. Heated Rivalry made her my favorite romance author. Tough Guy made me want to go to her house and do all the chores she hates most (and I hate doing housework) because she deserves not to feel annoyed even for a single second of her daily life.
(No, I am NOT actually going anywhere near her house. I also live on another continent so this is A JOKE)

Tough Guy is the book for you if you:
a) love contemporary romance (<i>of course</i> you do);
b) are mildly aware of hockey (WARNING: you will probably start to care about this incredible sport);
c) love music;
d) love unexpected pairings.

It’s emotional. It’s sexy. It’s also funny. You will need to re-read your favorite scenes at least a dozen times; the whole novel you’re probably good with >3. Yes, I know it seems a lot, but wait till <spoiler>you read about that sex-toy testing session and the scene with Ilya and Shane in the epilogue</spoiler>, okay?

Before diving into the actual review I will put here the content warnings for the book (I will not be speaking about them), in case anyone needs them. Tough Guy deals on page about drug abuse (briefly, with reference to opioids), anxiety & panic attacks; the suicide of a minor character as a consequence of brain trauma. If reading about anxiety and depression triggers bad emotional responses, it might not be the best light reading for you. The subject is treated very sensitively, but hey, we all have our limits.

& now, *ahem*:

What I find incredible about this book series is how different each new novel is from the others. The strength of these books is in their characters: all so very different, they make work relationships that are so different yet equally as beautiful. It’s great. And while I will never love any character like I love Ilya Rozanov (the man owns 98% of my heart), Ryan Price put up a good challenge. I think it’s him who makes this book so special (at least to me). A hockey enforcer, a so-called journeyman, changing team after every season, he’s got a lot of mileage under his skates and heavy baggage that he carries within his soul everywhere he goes. I do not want to spoil the second scene of this book, even if it’s just the first pages and you probably will get as a sample of this novel, but I will just say this: it’s incredibly heartbreaking while also being kinda high-level <i>hot</i>. I cried. My friend Alex was also deeply moved. It’s <i>that good</i> and makes you immediately connect with him - the troubles he’s going through; the emotional journey he will embark on in the story. Rachel’s novels have this power: they captivate your attention with the first scene and carry you till the end. Unputdownable, every single one of them. Tough Guy makes no exception.

Ryan and Fabian’s story is about a lot of things. First, it is about not judging from appearances. You can live a seemingly great life like the one Ryan does and be far more unhappy than someone else (Fabian) expects. Your preferences might be kind of… <i>unexpected</i> (not in a creepy way), but the surprise makes everything better. Secondly, it’s about patience and acceptance. Fabian is so much sweeter and gentler than what I expected. He’s got this attitude like he’s got it out for the world, but he is so kind, so calm. It’s also incredible how <i>HE</i> is the most secure person between the two of them. So refreshing. Third, Tough Guy is about change & growth. I guess all romances are a bit about this, about finding <i>the one(s)</i> and keeping them, but it’s especially true for this book. It’s not especially dramatic, but Ryan & Fabian both learn from each other a lot. Fourth (and last), this book is about friendship, about finding your place in a community that you feel is yours. It’s so good to see Ryan grow from an outcast, a sort of hermit, to someone who’s got friend who actually like him, both in the hockey world and outside.

Get this book. Read it. Read it again. I am @drartemysia on Twitter and I will gladly yell about how good this is with you. I will also <strike>possibly</strike> cry with you & send you hockey gifs and links to Ken Dryden’s books like a total dork.

2.5 S T A R S
Heated Rivalry(book 2 in this series) was one of my favorite reads of last year and is my favorite contemporary M/M romance. That being said, I went into this read with lower expectations, assuming that I probably wouldn't love it as much and sadly for me that turned out to be true.

Even sadder was that this didn't even rank as "I liked it" for me. I didn't hate this, but I was bored throughout. Which makes me think that this could possibly be an instance of not the book but me because this really wasn't bad.

I really loved the direction that Reid decided to go with these characters, making Ryan quiet and clinically anxious which is definitely the exact opposite of what you think of a big sports star, especially one whose unofficial position on the team is "enforcer". I loved that Fabian went against society's typical concept of what men should be, that he wore FABULOUS makeup, and amazing outfits and was 100% his authentic self and everyone else could just fuck off. I loved that Ryan and Fabian discussed these norms and battle against them. Fabian's group of friends were OTT but in a way that was fun and realistic.

All that being said... everything was just so flat to me. Ryan and Fabian had personality, they just didn't have enough and when I was reading them I couldn't connect and felt like an outsider looking in. They were like a rough sketch, I could see their potential but they never became full developed. I wish Ryan's clinical anxiety had been explored more, I wish the concept of masculinity had been deeper, everything was very surface level, and I really couldn't bring myself to care. There was a lack of overall plot, which is fine when the story is very character driven, but these ones weren't fleshed out enough for me to care just about them.

I will say that Ryan did have some good development but it felt a little out of nowhere, like he met Fabian and just changed . Fabian was pretty much the same from beginning to end but that's fine because this was more Ryan's story I guess.

My favorite part of this book was seeing my babies Shane and Ilya. For the very few pages Ilya was present he was so real and I just really didn't get that from Ryan and Fabian.

Reid is a new writer and I definitely have not given up on her. She put magic into Heated Rivalry and I know that magic is still in there. For me, it just didn't make it into this book.

This was the best in the series so far for me. It was good to read about characters out of the ordinary mould established by society. Ryan being very big, introverted, suffering from anxiety. Fabian, he wears makeup, nail polish., very extrovert. They were polar opposite but the chemistry was there. Can I just add as well, Oh Mother!! What a book cover. Absolutely delicious.
I voluntarily reviewed this ARC and the opinions expressed here are all mine.

I love the way Rachel Reid writes vulnerable characters. I loved that it was the big, strong, hockey player, Ryan, who needed the most help and that the femme, Fabian, wasn't stereotypically the one in distress.

It dragged somewhat for me, though I still haven't been able to really put my finger on why, other than maybe just the emotion of the story got too heavy at times for me? We're in Ryan's head a lot, and sometimes it was a lot.

Overall, I liked it. I loved Fabian, I loved how Fabian and Ryan were together, and their happy ending, and I loved getting some cameos from past characters. I'm looking forward to see what happens next in the series.

3.5 Stars

Readers looking for a sports romance are sure to find a lot to love in Rachel Reid's latest. Tough Guy is the third volume in Rachel Reid's Game Changers series, though it can be read as a standalone. It follows professional hockey player Ryan Price as he transfers to a new team and reunites with his teen crush, Fabian. Ryan lived with Fabian's family for a brief period of time when they were teens, and always believed that his feelings were one-sided. But when they reconnect, he discovers that Fabian felt the same way then and is interested in him now.

As sparks begin to fly, Ryan also finds himself becoming friends with a teammate and starting to open up about his sexuality, his anxiety, and more. I loved Ryan's journey throughout the novel. He slowly becomes more confident in who he is, what he wants, and what will ultimately make him happy. Fabian is a fantastic match for him–outgoing and bold in a way that helps Ryan relax, while never pushing for Ryan to change who he is. But as their feelings deepen, Fabian must confront his own feelings about the sport that brings Ryan joy but also pressures him to ignore injury and mental health needs, and doesn't challenge homophobia from players or fans.

I'd recommend this to fans of sports or contemporary romance. I'm looking forward to checking out the first two in this series!

I loved this.

After being unable to find a new good romance novel for weeks, I was browsing through my e-reader and settled on this. I‘ve lost count of how many times I‘d done that, but in this case, I was hooked right away.

First of all, Ryan and Fabian are my favorite kind of couple.
The other day, I was talking to my co-worker about how the romances I like best have variants of big dog/ little dog. Obviously I don’t mean literal dogs (although I probably would read a romance novel just featuring dogs) - I just love stories where one character is big and maybe a little clumsy or shy, and the other has more energy and is more direct. And Ryan and Fabian are exactly the kind of big dog/ small dog combination I love.

I also found the exploration of and alternatives to toxic masculinity well done, and liked that Ryan and Fabian‘s relationship progressed relatively smoothly. I even was on board with all the sex scenes, because they made narrative sense. I did feel like the final conflict and the ending as a whole was a bit rushed, and I also found Fabian to be more in the wrong. That could have been a bit more polished, in my opinion.

But it was a highly enjoyable romance - after not finishing the first book in the series, the second and third were very pleasant surprises, and I suggest that even if one of the books wasn’t for you, they‘re all different enough for them to be all worth checking out. I’m also happy I found another hockey romance I liked.