Ryan Price is a pro hockey star who's an enforcer on the ice, but off the ice, he's riddled with anxiety. He's been traded to Toronto and is determined to get into the LGBTQ Village in Toronto and check it all out. The last thing he expects is to see a blast from his past, Fabian. Fabian is an aspiring musician who is more than happy to show Ryan around. Ryan doesn't know whether to choose the ice or something he hasn't felt in a long time - joy. This book was very sweet with some really funny banter filled moments. Nice and quick read with an easy story line.

Thanks to NetGalley and Carina Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I’m a sucker for m/m hockey romances! I immediately went and purchased the other two books in this series. Thank you to netgalley for the arc!

I absolutely adored this! I was hesitant going into this because Heated Rivalry was my favorite read of 2019 and I knew nothing could top that. I kept an open mind and knew I couldn’t compare this book to that. I shouldn’t have worried because Ryan and Fabian were so sweet that I immediately was drawn into their story.

Ryan is something of an anomaly. He’s a huge guy, 6’7”, and his position as a defenseman in the NHL has him fighting in almost every game he plays. In the last book he’s referenced as being the guy who is expected to fight and protect the main players. What Ryan really is is a huge teddy bear who is shy and reserved and he hates fighting! He’s soft spoken and struggles with self esteem and his worth as a player and a person. Even though he’s a huge man he’s almost invisible to his teammates. He’s traded constantly and has not made any personal connections.

Fabian is the opposite of Ryan in every way. He’s outgoing and loves attention. He’s smaller in size and he has no problem showing his feminine side with his clothes and makeup. I loved him and his huge personality. He’s also a talented musician. Oh, and he hates hockey. There’s a very good reason for his though. His parents took in hockey players while he was growing up and the players were mostly the epitome of homophobic jocks. Fabian’s parents were more interested in these hockey players than their own son who they didn’t seem to understand. The one exception to these players was Ryan, the only hockey player the family took in who was quiet and respectful, who took the time to get to know Fabian. They both had a crush on each other and there was an almost kiss but then they went their separate ways.

When Ryan is traded to Toronto he sees Fabian again and they strike up a friendship. They are both very interested in each other still but Ryan is so down on himself he thinks someone like Fabian deserves better. Fabian is hesitant to get involved with a hockey player but Ryan is the sweetest man he’s ever met and they finally get together.

I loved the connection between Ryan and Fabian. This book isn’t full of sex and it works. There’s more intimacy and it’s beautiful.

There’s so much more to this story than what’s presented. I felt like Ryan was just going through the motions in his life until he met Fabian. I also really enjoyed Fabian’s friends. They were fun and the scenes with them left me smiling.

We see some of Ilya and a tiny bit of Shane here too. Those two are still my favorite but Ryan and Fabian aren’t far behind. This book tackles mental health, something that is so important. There isn’t much hockey time, this is a relationship driven book. It is a slower moving story than Heated Rivalry but it never dragged for me. I felt like the story unfolded and I was swept away with it. I hope we get more glimpses in future books of Ryan and Fabian. This was such a special story.

It’s a good story, quite challenging. Ryan has quite a few issues so there’s a fair bit of angst. I thought Fabian was really different, interesting easy to like but kind of hard to work out. I liked some of the scenes between them
So overall it was enjoyable but I never really felt connected to the story or characters. I think I wanted more pace but that’s a very personal view and can always change on a given day.

3.5 stars!

Content Note: suicide, addiction, some homophobic language between players

I loved the depiction and rep of anxiety in the main MC, Ryan. His story and arc and personality captured me instantly, and I was absorbed in his personal journey more than any other aspect in the story. Because I wasn't feeling the romance, I left Rachel Reid's Tough Guy feeling a little meh.

Ryan's traded from team-to-team, and the only time he gets on the ice is spent fighting as the Enforcer. His personal life feels just as rocky. He's shy, dealing with anxiety and lack of self esteem, as well as difficulties during sex. Meeting up with an old friend--and crush--is unexpected.

I enjoyed Fabian as a person, if not them together. Fabian is confident, a musician, sexually adventurous, but he has a nasty habit of picking the wrong guy. Enter the right guy, but he's a hockey player. Fabian hates hockey and all the homophobia that seems exist in the sport.

But of course, Fabian, is drawn to Ryan's soft smile and gentle hands. The opening chapters were some of my favorite, though the last half flagged for me. To be honest, I didn't feel the chemistry or romance between Fabian and Ryan.

The black moment as well just felt...lackluster. I want to feel the anguish, but I never truly understood why Fabian couldn't be with Ryan. It felt more like surface tension loosely keeping them apart rather than an actual barrier. I didn't feel, either, like they were destined for each other.

May I say, however, that I LOVED Fabian's friends? They were hilarious, and I wanted more.

Overall, I did enjoy this book. It's light on the hockey, but it really dives into mental health in the sports world, and I like this inside look into the not-so-glamorous. Watching Ryan find his footing with his triumphs as much as his stumbles cemented my love for his character, even if this story didn't satisfy on the romance.

Tough Guy is a wonderful story of two people reconnecting and working through the difficulties of anxiety, insecurity, and new love. The story is a second chance love story that had me hooked from the beginning, even through some of the parts where the characters where in their heads. I didn't read and other book in this series but I didn't feel anything was lacking from this stand alone book. I definitely recommend this story. Four chilli peppers of hotness!

I received a free ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts are my own.

I liked this one.

Book 2 will forever be my favourite book ever. I went into this one with zero expectations and tried really hard not to compare it to book 2. I think i succeeded.

This is the story of Ryan the hockey enforcer and Fabian the aspiring Indie Musician. It is some sort of second chance thingy/the one that got away thingy.

I liked both characters, Ryan is a giant teddy bear, he struggles with anxiety, i wanted to hold him and wrap him in a warm blanket. Fabian is the complete opposite of Ryan, He is femme, confident out and proud, who loves to wear eyeliner, lipstick and lace. Me likey him alot.

So why only 3?

The writing is good and the story flowed so well. This one deals with some I felt like the beginning dragged, it only picked up for me at around 40%. The MCs spent too much time in their head. I also missed the hockey in this one. I like Fabian and his friends but they took away some page time. I found myself zoning out then i had to go back and read again to see what i missed. Ugh!!

The relationship between Ryan and Fabian was just ok, it didn't give me butterflies, there was something missing, huh? Maybe some intense chemistry and hot, hot sex? Or maybe it was the build up. Ryan and Wyatt on the other hand! Made me all tingly, their conversations were what gave me butterflies. Those two got mad bromance chemistry.

Overall, it was an ok cute story, the writing was good, the characters likable enough. Oh! and we got Ilya and Shane cameo. Me is good.

ARC kindly provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Tough Guy was a great read!! It's different in tone from the first two books in this Series, but Ryan is a different character than we're used to. Fabian was also a delightful character! I LOVED the deft way Rachel Reid tackled a character with anxiety and the way she let Fabian embrace his true self without sugar coating the struggles he has had. These are two characters who don't seem to go together on paper, but who compliment each other perfectly in reality. The growth in both of them was great to see throughout the book. I also enjoyed catching glimpses of characters from previous books and meeting new characters in Fabian's friends and especially Wyatt.

Overall a really good read and another excellent installment in the series.

3.5 stars

I found this author only recently, when I read and fell in love with book 2, Heated Rivalry - which was a 5 star book for me and honestly is hard to top.

Ryan Price was this huge enforcer, ginger beard, hard muscles, gently bear in the inside, and he was attracted to the very opposite of what everyone would have imagined. He was confident in his feelings, but didn’t flaunt them. I loved his softer side, especially since he was such a fearsome character on ice.

Fabian Salah, a former childhood friend, was artistic, and very feminine compared to Ryan. It was an interesting change from the status quo of regular MM books and Fabian and Ryan made a great opposite attract couple.

Although I really enjoyed the writing and characters, the book wasn’t as captivating as I hoped. It was slower, it had less hockey than I would have liked, and even though I really enjoyed the couple, Ryan and Fabian didn’t enthrall me the same way Ilya and Shane did.

Overall I enjoyed the book, but it wasn’t a favorite.

I received a copy of this arc from NetGalley or an honest review. I really enjoyed this hockey read by Rachel Reid. It was different than I thought it would be and I enjoyed sides of both characters. Quick read with an enjoyable storyline.

AHH! This was my favourite book in the Game Changers series yet! I loved these two guys, Fabian and Ryan have such amazing chemistry which made this book so perfect. I love this series and hope there are more books in this series!

Gosh darn it, now I have to buy all the books in this series! It has all my major kinks: respecting your partner, open communication, clear consent, an emphasis on self-care/mental health, and a dismantling of toxic masculinity. I know Carina Press is strictly epub, but I would totally buy a hard copy.

Ryan is a giant teddy bear with anxiety and I feel that so hard. Fabian is a delight, I imagine him as basically a Lebonese male Lyndsey Sterling - so great. And, the side characters are the best. I want them all to have their own book. Especially, Wyatt. He deserves a prequel wherein he meets his wife.

I absolutely loved Heated Rivalry, so I was very excited to get this ARC. Unfortunately, Tough Guy lacks the oomph, charisma and emotionally satisfying character arcs that had endeared me to Reid in the first place. Whilst not awful, it isn't as engaging as her previous work, and therefore just an average read for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

arc provided by netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review! full review to come closer to the pub. date.

my transformation to full hockey aficionado has obviously involved reading any and all hockey-based fiction books i can get my hands on so very grateful to have been given the chance to read this one early! i love the way rachel tells a story and how different she can make her characters voices sound. ryan and fabian were basically two ends of a spectrum but the way they came together was sweet and heartwarming.

as someone who suffers with anxiety, the way ryan struggled with everyday things like ordering a coffee or food at a restaurant is heartbreakingly familiar. very grateful for the way his condition was portrayed and the steps he took to alleviate it.

I am a HUGE fan of sports romance and there is something special about hockey romance. This is a series, each book can be read as a standalone, but I recommend starting with Game Changer and you will want to read them back to back with no regrets. Yes it is steamy, but it is so much more than that. I can't imagine feeling like I am only have worth because of my job or ability. Ryan and Fabian have a sweet, fun and complicated relationship, shocker I know. Pick up Tough Guy for the romance and turn the pages for a little bit of introspection.

I think that the anxiety issues that Ryan has is a good spin for a pro hockey player. Makes him more approachable to me.

A meh read and it wasn't intriguing enough to really draw me in. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad because I was initially pulled towards this because of the unique bland of main characters: an out and in the open gay sports athlete and an androgyny musician. It was just a bland mix of nothing and I'm skipping out from reading the rest of the novel. It just wasn't my cup of tea.

*3.75 stars*

Tough Guy is a very different book from Heated Rivalry, which was one of my favorite books of 2019. It's a more... angsty story, a lot weightier, and though I enjoyed it, I didn't adore it like the second in the series.

I loved the fact that we get a confident, femme MC. I'm always into books with MCs who play with gender and blur the lines, and so Fabian was a real pleasure to read. I adored his confidence, and though he edged towards too judgmental and unsupportive of Ryan at times, he was a sweet character with an amazing group of friends. In fact, I think he had the best friend group I've read about in a long time.

Ryan really touched me. As an anxious person with a child who suffers from anxiety, I really related to him and his struggles. He is a gentle giant, even with his job as an enforcer. I loved that he was so very different from the typical male romance MC. He was so sweet and so earnest that my heart really went out to him. Also, his sexual difficulties aren't usually discussed in romance, which I found to be refreshing. Real relationships have challenges and aren't all sex, all the time (well, most of the time!).

While I found the pairing to be really lovely and with great chemistry, I found the plot to be slightly slow. I read the book quickly, but I didn't feel that urgency to finish that I do with a 5-star read.

If you want an opposites attract romance with some hockey angst to boot and MCs that you don't usually see in romance, this will be the story for you. I think Rachel Reid is on a great roll with this series.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

Loved It!

I am such a sucker for so many elements going on in this book. My heart went out to Ryan so many times with his feelings of anxiety, self-esteem/body image insecurities, his feelings of not belonging, and even his problems with bedroom times.... ugh, I just wanna give him a big ol' hug! I love, love, love the bear-otter / big tough guy(ha!) paired with a more fab femme type... love! I also really dig the mutual secret youth crush re-introduced trope!

Ryan was a big ginger giant of a man who was such a dichotomy. On the ice, he was a savage doling out beatings like it's his job (cuz it is) and in real life, he was so shy, anxious, and insecure in everything he did. Fabian, oh Fabian! how I want to hang with you and exchange make-up tips...I too am totally drawn to confident, self-assured peoples. He and his whole gang were so much fun, I totally wanted to hang with them.

The relationship that develops between Ryan and Fabian evolves very realistically and is totally in the slow burn category (which I totally love). I really love how supportive Fabian was with all of Ryan's issues. Like I said before, I just wanted to give that big orange Viking a big HUG!

Unfortunately, I haven't read the first two in the Game Changers series, but from the little snippets I've read, I am totally going to go find them! If you are thinking about reading this book, you totally should!

*This ARC was generously provided in exchange for an honest review.*

3.5 Stars!

A sweet story! I liked this one a lot, but it wasn’t love. Fabian and Ryan had lots of really endearing moments, but something held me back from just LOVING them like I did Shane and Illya. Although Ryan was adorable I do tend to like an assertive MC more so that may be part of it. Fabian and his friends added a nice lightness the story needed since Ryan’s anxiety was pretty heavy. I would have liked the epilogue to be set further into the future and maybe seen how Ryan was managing his anxiety, but that’s not a big deal. Overall a solid read, and I’m excited to see more from Rachel in the future!

PS: I was living for the snippet of Shane and Illya we got during the camp. *swoon*