AUDIOBOOK REVIEW:
Story: 5 stars Narration: 5 stars Overall: 5 stars

Love and Hockey is a dark age-gap romance featuring Valor and Bishop. They are two damaged souls who are meant to be together. Twin flames!
Valor was ten years old when she met eighteen year old NHL rookie Bishop. They connected through their love of hockey and past trauma. Listen to this fabulous audiobook for their story.
The dual narration by Amy Hall and Benjamin Sands was phenomenal. Amy Hall was magnificent as Valor at all ages in this story. I could feel all of her pain, hurt, sadness, uncertainty as well as her happiness, passion and love in her voice. Benjamin Sands as Bishop was superb. He had a sweet teasing tone he used with Vallie when she was younger. As she matured and eventually they became more than friends, his tone was more sultry and seductive. These two voice actors brought this story to life beautifully. I highly recommend listening.
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for this ALC.

This is probably the lowest rating I have ever given an arc. I only pushed through as long as I did because I received an advanced copy from the publisher and I feel like I owe it to them to give it my all. I forced myself to keep going but by 73% I finally decided to tap out.

Let me start by saying, I am not easily shocked when it comes to certain taboo topics in dark romance. I’m able to separate the fact that it is purely fiction. If I’m being completely honest I almost prefer when authors pushes the social boundaries simply for the simple fact that they show they are not afraid of being cancelled by an audience who is easily offended. I recently discovered Monty Jay’s writing when I picked up, The Lies We Steal and I DEVOURED it. When I saw there was an audio arc available by this same author I jumped in head first.

Unfortunately, there was nothing that I liked about this book. Nothing. It did not have one single redeeming quality.

We are first introduced to Valor (the FMC) when she is 10 years old. Bishop is 18 when he comes into her life and by the time she is 13 (he is 21) it is suggested that this grown ass man is starting to feel an attraction to a 13 year old girl. Then we get to the next time jump where she is 15 and he is 23. Again, more suggestions in the writing that are leading to an inappropriate relationship. By the next chapter, Valor is now 17 (not quite 18) and Bishop is 26. This chapter ESPECIALLY pissed me off. There is a boy more age appropriate that starts to flirt with Valor and she smiles at him. Once the boy leaves the room Bishop goes into an aggressive rage. He starts accusing 17 year old Valor of “eye fucking” Nico and basically calls her a whore. At that moment I knew there was zero chance at redeeming Bishop’s character for me and honestly I should have just DNFed the book right then and there. Ohhh but it continues to just get worse… in seconds he goes from verbally assaulting her to somehow having her finger bang herself… yeah. Yep. You read that right. By the next chapter she is 18, he is full on screwing her, takes her virginity just to then hit it and quit it. He ends up disappearing from her life for several years just to reappear, he insults her boyfriend and accuses her of having sex with her boyfriend. When she confirms that she has in fact slept with her boyfriend he GRABS HER BY THE FUCKING NECK. It was at that moment that I said screw this I’m done and I officially DNFed it.

Listen, I have read plenty of age gap romances and an 8 year age gap or even a love affair with an older family friend in the scheme of things isn’t really that big of a deal but this book just gave me the ICK. The writing made it feel more like grooming than a genuine friendship that blossomed into something more when they are of legal age. Bishop’s aggressive behavior towards Valor made this feel like it was a story about a groomed victim and not a love story.

Thank you for the ALC of Love and Hockey!

I almost DNF this book at 40% but I am so glad I finished it. The second half of the book felt like a completely different person had taken over the story. The hardest part to get over was that she was only 10 and he was 18 when they met. I am all for an age gap romance. I think the bad part of this was that she was so young it felt a little like she was groomed.

The maturity that develops in the second half of the book makes it significantly better.

"I know that I have loved you before, I will love you in this life, and I'll love you in the one after."

Excuse my emotions as they are currently in a puddle on the floor after this one! In true Monty Jay fashion I became completely consumed by the storytelling and these characters. It was emotional; both beautiful and heartbreaking. I couldn't have loved it more!

Amazing audio as well!

3.95 ⭐️🤣. I couldn’t get pass the choice of words used. lol it wasn’t cringy but ugh. I’m glad I powered through because the second half wassss soooo much better! I wanted more pinning from bishop tho. A bit hasty on the romance part enjoyed the found family dynamic and her friendship with Riggs.

I thought I would love this book. I've been on an age gap binge and this sounded perfect. I'm sorry to say I just couldn't get past her being 10 and him being 18 when they met and hero worshiping him. He knew she had a crush on him and when she was 17 kissed her and told her not to go out with someone else. He was never really clear about when his feelings for her changed, or that they had ever been innocent. He even says later that they were always more. The power imbalance, grooming, and disgust I felt that on her 18th birthday, he took her virginity... I just can't get past that. It's the whole, "Wait until she's legal" mentality that is gross. I didn't feel the connection between them and the trauma lacked real depth or realistic reactions to it. I do not recommend this.

This story was so much more than what I was hopping for .
And I really love it. It is a mix of raw sentiments, tragic pasts, drama, hurt, hockey love, angst and that love that happens only once in life.
I loved Bishop for what he was and what he done, but my girl Valor was so so good.
I liked her because she is such a fierce woman, from childhood she knew what she wanted and fought for it every time in every aspect of her life . And in the moment that she saw Bishop was not ready to tell the world about them, she choose herself.
But years later, Bishop finally fights for her and redeems himself and it is that good boyfriend that Vallie needs.

Before reading you should check TW, the story has some though subjects.

The audio was good and the voices I think were a good fit for these characters.

Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the chance to listen to this ALC. This is my honest and only opinion.

This is where my never doing research and just going off the vibes bit me in the butt. Because I got this book from Net Galley I assumed it was an ARC, it was actually a reprint.
Can we talk about how red curly hair has such a space in romance novels, and I love it!
There were definitely some redeeming qualities to Bishop, but I COULD NOT get over that their relationship started when she was underage. Everything just felt like it was grooming. I loved that he protected her in the end. I loved that he knew she could handle herself in public and that he could be her safe space to fall apart after. But the age gap and the way I started kept popping up in my brain. I don’t hate an age gap trope, I’ve read several, but I felt that this one could have been done better.
Ultimately, I think the best love story was how much Riggs loved Valor. I wanted more of her story honestly.
Overall it was good, but not great to me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“What I have learned about life is that letting go doesn’t mean loving any less.”

“That’s love isn’t it. When someone else’s happiness becomes more important than your own.”

“ you never know how much losing someone will change you until after they are gone.”

“ we don’t have to look at each other in order to see.”

“ sometimes the fear of living with your pain is greater than the fear of dying.”

“ you never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”

✨ ALC Audiobook Review ✨

I listened to the new audiobook for Love and Hockey as an ARC, and it did not disappoint.

The setup between Valor and Bishop is unconventional, and while it took me a minute to warm up to it, I can’t deny how deeply I felt their connection. What really stood out was Valor’s growth — she realized she deserved more than being kept a secret, so she moved forward, built her own life, and found her strength.

Meanwhile, Bishop never moved on. He went from carefree to completely undone without her — and there’s nothing I love more than a miserable man pining for the one who got away. Years passed, and he waited, knowing he had to earn her trust back.

Their communication through hockey added such a unique and emotional touch, tying their love story together in a way that felt both tender and fierce. Honestly, cue the Taylor Swift lyric: “I stayed there…” because that’s exactly the energy.

This book is packed with yearning, heartbreak, and second chances, but it also dives into some heavy themes. It addresses childhood sexual assault, drug addiction, abandonment, attempted suicide, and devastating loss. It’s not for the faint of heart, but if you love messy, emotional romances with broken characters fighting their way back to love, this one will hit hard.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I honestly did not read the blurb before starting this book, so I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it. I'd give this book a solid 4 stars, maybe even 4.5 stars. This is not your typical hockey romance since the heartbreak came in so many different forms throughout the book. The relationship between Valor and Bishop was messed up, yes, but can you really expect two people with deep childhood trauma to have a "typical" relationship? My heart absolutely broke for Valor at times, but I loved their journey to get to their happily ever after. I absolutely loved Valor and Riggs's friendship and have already started Ice Hearts, review to come soon!

*Age-Gap
*Hockey Romance
*Childhood Trauma
*Found Family

Format: audiobook - Amy Hall and Benjamin Sands did a great job! I will listen to anything Amy Hall narrates.

Thank you NetGalley, Monty Jay, and Dreamscape Media for the ALC.

5⭐️ 3🌶️ 5🎧 This book is a roller coaster of emotions and has angst on angst! I loved how we got to see their relationship and how it grew, starting when Valor was as young as six and Bishop 16. Once we get to teens/20s, I never felt like their relationship was inappropriate. There are some very heavy and hard topics in this book, please check you trigger warnings.

Bishop and Valor are both so broken and had such a hard time coming together at the right time for both of them. I loved watching them grow and mature into the people the both needed each other to be. The care he showed her in her time of need was so dang sweet! And the twist at the end, woo buddy!

This audiobook is narrated by Amy Hall and Benjamin Sands, they both did an excellent job bringing these characters to life. You could hear the pain and love come through!

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape media for this advanced copy! I can’t wait for the next in the series!

He kisses and hooks up with a minor at 26 years old. I’m so (not) sorry, but what in the ever loving fffffff does a 26 year old have in common with a 17 year old? Should be nothing. Unless you’re a pedo. I’m sorry, I cannot. I feel like Monty tried REALLY hard to make it seem like that was the first day ever that he noticed her, but then he says “she’s been invited love with me since she was 10”. Okay….. so you knew and didn’t make clear boundaries?! Disgusting. I get that he’s traumatized and so is she, but what?!?!?! I would immediately get the ick from this man in real life. Narrators were the only reason I finished this one.

Age gap
Dads best friend
Taboo
Forbidden romance
Sports romance

Dual narration - Benjamin Sands & Amy Hall
Great voices. I think duet would have given this audio just that bit of an extra edge.

This is a little taboo. He’s 8 years older than her. They met when she was 10 and he was 18. They don’t start anything romantic until she’s just about legal. This was a deeply emotional listen.

Be sure to check your trigger warnings. These two have deep love for each other but they both have issues that are holding them back. I don’t want to give any spoilers. It’s a good listen.

I went into this book thinking it was going to be your typical age-gap, forbidden relationship, hockey romance and while it is to an extent, it's so much more. I really enjoyed this emotional story and I just love the way that Bishop loves Valor. He accepts her for who she is and doesn't try to change her at all. I did get a little annoyed with him at around the half way mark for reasons I won't name here due to spoilers but in order for these two to end up together in the end I get it. This book has a few unexpected parts and there are definitely some tough emotional scenes so please check trigger warnings before reading.

Narration by Benjamin Sands & Amy Hall is great.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for access to the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

The age gap at the start is a hard no for me. I like an age gap when it’s legal 🙃 should’ve had them meet as adults and then maybe I could be on board with it.

I don’t think the first 1/4 was needed, I’m still not 100% sure what the plot was supposed to be.

Monty Jay was smart into turning this book into an audiobook when sports and age gap romances are very popular. This is diamond in the ruff book that I think every reader needs to read.

I was feeling every emotion listening to this book. Finished in less than 24 hours. So many unknowns and twists came out of the book that I had to download the book as well to follow along.

I really love Monty Jay’s writing, but this one didn’t click with me the way I hoped. I couldn’t fully connect with the characters or their story. That said, I did enjoy the age gap element (always a favorite trope of mine), and I’ll definitely keep supporting Monty by finishing the series.

I think a lot of readers will love this one—especially with it being a hockey romance, which we all know is BookTok’s current favorite sport. For me, it just didn’t vibe the way her other books have, but I can absolutely see it hitting hard for others.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was a beautiful romance but it was more about the growth of Valor. She grew up through the course of the book and in the process of becoming a strong woman she fell in love with a broken man who was growing into a wonderful man. The story was wonderfully written, didn’t shy away from horribly difficult topics, and showed that true love deals with it all. It was great read/listen.
The narrators did a fantastic job with the story and fit the characters perfectly.

3 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC

🎧 AUDIOBOOK REVIEW 🎧

Love & Hockey by Monty Jay had an intriguing premise, but it ultimately wasn’t the right fit for me. While the narration was solid and easy to follow in the audiobook format, I struggled to connect with the content and characters. Some parts felt drawn out, and the storyline didn’t keep my attention the way I had hoped. That said, I can see how fans of hockey romances might enjoy the themes and style more than I did. For me, this one was just okay.

▪️hockey
▪️age gap
▪️second chance-ish

Valor & Bishop were brought together by fate. They are two broken souls dealing with abandonment by their birth mothers. But where one lost out, the other was saved.

Please check trigger warnings ⚠️ There are heavy, sensitive subjects within.

Narrated in dual by Benjamin Sands & Amy Hall.