Avon Gale - Coach's Challenge

It’s been decades since blackmail forced Troy Callahan to retire from playing professional hockey, and he’s built a successful career behind the bench. When he’s offered the opportunity to coach the Asheville Ravens—the most hated team in the ECHL—he’s convinced that his no-nonsense attitude is just what the team needs to put their focus back on hockey. But Troy is disheartened when he finds out the Ravens have signed Shane North, a player known for his aggression—especially when Shane’s rough good looks have Troy thinking inappropriate thoughts about a player, even if he’s set to retire at the end of the season.
Shane’s career in the majors never quite took off. Wanting to quit on his own terms, Shane agrees to a one-year contract with the Ravens and finds himself playing for a coach who thinks he’s an aging goon, and with a team that doesn’t trust him, Troy, or each other. Despite his determination not to get involved, Shane unwillingly becomes part of the team… and is just as unwillingly drawn to the gruff, out-and-proud coach. As the Ravens struggle to build a new identity, Shane and Troy succumb to the passion that might cost them everything.

Comment: This is the fifth and final installment in the Scoring Chances series by author Avon Gale, which I have been reading lately. It isn't my favorite (I'm debating if that is the 1st or the 3rd) but I think the series finished strong enough.

In this book we have the story of Troy Callahan, who was blackmailed when he was a player by St Savoy, the villain of the previous book. At the time St Savoy forced Troy to leave hockey or he would tell Troy was gay. Now out and proud, Troy feels like revenge is perfect when he takes over the coaching with the Ravens, after St Savoy was fired for all the things he did and Troy wants to bring the team back to be respected.

One of the most recent acquisitions is veteran Shane North, who will probably have his last season with the Ravens, but management still wanted him anyway, mostly for his experience and leadership. He and Troy butt heads, but deep down the issue is that they are attracted to one another but Shane isn't out and Troy is his coach... if or when they can't avoid their attraction anymore, could it be any hope for them to become a real couple anyway?

As always, the "voice" of these books was very appealing to me. Somehow, the way the author writes these books has been an important part of why I keep wanting to read them and here, even though the dynamics between coach/player weren't always to my taste, the author still managed to give the impression this was an emotional inevitability and convinced me of the couple's intentions and feelings.

The plot isn't too complicated, we follow these two and the rest of team as they go from game to game and how their personal lives are affected by those events and what they think of one another. Closer to the end there's a situation which felt a little predictable and I think the author only wanted to use it to create a comparison, which works. As for if it really was necessary, though... I might have preferred a different option.

The romance is obviously the intention here but I kind of liked how often they talked about their careers and how some decisions were made based on that. In this regard, I preferred Shane's character, he is at the end of his career and is wondering if he will do another year as soon as he feels he is part of the team and his feelings for Troy intensify. He believes he might have another good year, especially since we learn many had expectations for his talent and he never played in the major league. Of course, plot stuff happens and he is a little forced to make a decision sooner than later.

I did like his personality, he wasn't always considered as the most affable of people but through his friendship with a friend from California, where he was playing before he traveled to North Carolina, and his tentative way to befriend his teammates made him really alluring to me.

As for Troy, he is one of those brash, without excuses type of guys, a little blunt but I was convinced he had reason after what happened with St Savoy in the past. What a delicious notion of karma to have him do a better job and being a considerate person as a revenge for what St Savoy had done in this team. I obviously liked how he made everyone feel they mattered.

The relationship between Troy and Shane should not happen, clearly, for they are in an unfair position, and as expected, something has to be done about it, also because them being together would certainly affect the team. Often we accept stuff in romance or fiction which in real life is a legal nightmare, but I'm simply glad the author didn't keep the situation without any type of resolution on the page. I think them being a couple lasted way longer than it should, though.

Despite the details I liked less, I was motivated to keep reading the story. I wasn't as dazzled by this pair as I was by others but in general, it was a good enough end to the series.

I see the author has other hockey series, I will likely try that one as well.

Grade: 7/10