Avon Gale & Piper Vaughn - Permanent Ink

At twenty-three, Poe Montgomery is going nowhere. He still lives in his father’s basement and spends most of his time tagging with his friends. When an arrest lands him in debt, Poe accepts the front desk job at Permanent Ink, the tattoo shop owned by his father’s best friend, Jericho McAslan. Jericho is nearly twice Poe’s age, but with his ink and prematurely graying hair, he quickly takes the starring role in Poe’s hottest fantasies.
Jericho is known for his ability to transform poorly designed tattoos into works of art, but he was once as aimless and misdirected as Poe. Wanting to pay it forward the way someone once did for him, Jericho makes Poe his apprentice and is determined to keep things strictly professional. Easier said than done when Poe makes his interest—and his daddy kink—abundantly clear.
Jericho can’t resist Poe or their intense chemistry for long. But between the age gap, tension with Poe’s father, and Poe’s best friend calling him a sellout, they’ll need to ensure they’re both on the same page before they can rewrite their rocky start into something permanent.

Comment: I've decided to read this book due to a challenge I'm doing and one of the topics included a book with less than 200 pages, which is the case here.

After one more negative experience in his seemingly drifting life, Poe Montgomery does accept the idea of going to work at the tattoo shop of Jericho, his father's best friend. Poe likes art and quickly learns he is interested in how tattoos work and how to do them correctly, which is great, but it also allows him to spend time with Jericho who, despite being his father's age, is extremely attractive. It seems the attraction is mutual and they soon start dating. But will Poe's father accept this idea? What about Blue, Poe's best friend who often distracted him and led him into doing graffiti, which is why he was arrested?

This is not the first book I try by these authors and I had a certain expectation on how this would go. I had this idea that the age gap would be an interesting element to see developed and since I also have liked stories featuring tattoo artists, this should be a good read.

The story isn't long and I could quickly finish it but I wasn't completely taken by it either. I think the main characters worked out better for me as individuals than as a couple. I just could not see what they would see in each other besides the physical aspects and even that seemed a little exaggerated as well, considering Poe's general attitude.

Poe is 23 or 34 and he still acts like a teenager, emotionally speaking. I can understand why he feel rebellious and why he feels unsatisfied with life, but I never warmed up to him and struggled to care for him as a character. All the things that should make him special in this specific context just seemed to be overlooked, such as his behavior in doing things he knew she shouldn't, his relationship with his best friend, his attraction to a man that is his father's age and not even him saying that he simply doesn't care about dating people his age seems enough compensation for his irritating personality.

Jericho, a man who has it together, who has a business with a good reputation, who is at a stage of his life where he can feel he is at a good place seemed more interesting to me. However, his attraction to such a guy as Poe is, emotionally, seemed to be unrealistic. I can get it that physically that isn't a big deal, but what did Jericho see in Poe, emotionally? He did lack maturity and even their conversation about their age gap, Jericho's musings about this exact issue seemed too weak and I never really believed in their romance for that, they simply don't match in all areas.

I also dreaded the idea of the "daddy kink" mentioned in the blurb. I have no interest whatsoever in this, whether in regards to m/m or m/f, and I was already a little influenced negatively before starting, but I did read other books by the authors and hoped this would not be too bad. Apparently, after reading some reviews, this was that bad precisely for that reason: it isn't enough daddy kink. I'm actually glad this story didn't exploit it further, but what did happen just left me confused on why would this seem like a good idea, it is too weird for me.

Besides, Poe does have a father and their relationship isn't really friendly sometimes. It also happen that his father and his boyfriend become a couple, they tell Poe's father and he reacts rather numbly. I mean, if it works for them, great, but does this not affect the behavior and the way people now need to interact? If the older men had not been friends, I could see this in a better light. I've ended up thinking that this "kink" was just a convenient device to push the dynamics between Jericho and Poe as a replacement for real maturity and connection.

Thus, I've finished the novel, I did like a few elements but, overall, this did not win me over and if I ever re-read books by the authors, I don't think this will be it.

Grade: 5/10

Avon Gale & Piper Vaughn - Trade Deadline

Daniel “Bellzie” Bellamy should be on top of the world—a Stanley Cup is the perfect topper to his fourteen-year NHL career. But despite the post-win high, something’s missing. When the chance to play for his hometown team, the Miami Thunder, comes along, he’s open to it. And when he runs into an old friend from his past soon after he makes the move, he wonders if it might be kismet.
Micah Kelly never thought he’d see his childhood crush—and first kiss—again. Danny Bellamy moved on to bigger and better things when they were teenagers, and the idea that Micah’s relationship with the professional hockey player could be anything more than one-sided Instagram thirst seems too good to be true.
Maybe too good to be true is the new reality, though. As the season goes on, Micah teaches Daniel to surf, and Daniel introduces Micah to his lovable pack of rescue dogs and the world of being a hockey boyfriend. Life is good. But when things on the ice don’t go as planned, they’ll have to decide if their rediscovered romance is built to last.

Comment: This is the last installment in the Hat Trick trilogy by Avon Gale and Piper Vaughn, which I've been reading for the past months.

In this story we finish the trilogy with the focus on Daniel Bellamy. Daniel was the captain of the Atlanta Venom when the first book begun, but now Daniel no longer has the numbers he used to and he has just won the Stanley Cup with his beloved team, which means he feels restless for something else. He decides the offer by the Thunder, a team based in his home state in Florida, is the chance he needed to go back to a place he has fond memories of and where his retired parents live as well. His ex and his children relocate too, which makes him very happy and reconnects with childhood friend and neighbor Micah, who is now a marine biologist at the Miami aquarium. As his feelings for Micah grow and as his life becomes steadier, the only issue is that the Thunder isn't such a cohesive team as Daniel believed he could help them be and he feels at odds.... is there a happy future for him?

In general, I liked this book and I liked how consistent the trilogy is, not only in terms of writing but in tone and details. Clearly the authors like and understand hockey, and that shows ,without it being too much for a reader who might not be familiar with the game.

Still, I was a little surprised by how this final book felt more serious, not only because it involved a couple who was more aware of their age - but they aren't old - , but mainly because the tone of the story was one with a bit more angst and clearly more somber than the others had been for me. I did like how the previous books, and now this one, weren't only about a cute romance, the authors did touch several elements which make the stories more realistic, but there's quite a thin line between this vibe and melancholy, which sometimes was a bit too much for what i thought this would be about.

Daniel is a captivating character and I was rooting for him to succeed in his new team. I think this change of teams is a subject that authors don't use as much the way these two have done here because Daniel goes into a team where things don't immediately go well, and not just because of Daniel's performance; regarding that, we don't have many scenes about actual hockey practices. However, the authors did touch an interesting and less pleasant side of sports, which is the fact things don't always go well, no matter the talent the athletes may have. I just think that the use of this subject along with secondary elements made this story a bit too angsty and I was anxious about what might come next.

In terms of personality, Daniel is a likable man, he does seem to be a great person and when the story was over, i was simply glad I had seen him being developed. He also has this dreamlike situation in which he is friends with his ex, he has managed to be seen as reliable and friendly and of course this makes us want him to be happy even more. I also liked his decision at the end of the book, it made all sense if we think about his path in sports.

Micah is also likable. He wasn't as developed, as Daniel, I think, but perhaps I had that feeling because we did follow Daniel, even if only at a distance, in the other two books. Micah is resourceful,  competent, I liked him and his passion for his job and the dolphins in particular. He was rejected by his family when he came out and this is clearly an issue but it wasn't developed as much as I think it should, if only, again, to add more layers to him ... it gets to a point his role is almost reduced to one POV and I think more background or interactions with people from his past might have helped.

The romance, I'm sad to say, was my least favorite part. I don't seek friends to lovers that much in romance because the thrill of getting to know this new person seems more exciting and here, them being friends as kids, and now reconnecting as friends first, made the romance feel forced. Well, to me it was, and although I liked that they could find each other as romantic partners, this part of their story didn't feel organic, as if it was meant to be or something. Or, perhaps, they were both focused on other things and the romance simply felt as if it was a weaker element.

I still consider this to be a good trilogy and, overall, I had a good time reading all the books. the writing is fluid and easy and the dual POV helped to connect with each protagonist, in all books. As always, some things work out perfectly for some readers or not as much for others and not at all for someone else. I liked I read this trilogy but I'll be honest and say this is probably not the one I'd re-read (if I had time to do re-reads).

Grade: 7/10

Avon Gale & Piper Vaughn - Goalie Interference

Ryu Mori has had a stellar season as goalie for the Atlanta Venom. So when he’s called into management’s office, he’s expecting to hear he’s the new starting goalie for the team, not that some new guy—an incredibly hot, annoyingly bratty rookie—is here to compete for his spot.
Not everyone gets to play in the best league in the world. Emmitt Armstrong knows that, and he’s not about to waste the opportunity after grinding his way from the bottom to the top. If the Venom is looking for a meek, mild-mannered pushover, they’ve got the wrong guy.
Ryu doesn’t want to admit the other goalie’s smart mouth turns him on. Beating Armstrong at practice feels good, sure, but there are other, more fun ways to shut his rival up.
In this league, it’s winner takes all. But there’s more to life than winning, and if Emmitt and Ryu can get past their egos and competitive natures, they might just discover they work better as partners than they ever imagined possible.

Comment: This is the second book in the Hat Trick trilogy by authors Avon Gale and Piper Vaughn. As I've said before, I've enjoyed books by Avon Gale and I also liked the previous book in this trilogy, thus why I'm reading the remaining stories.

In this second installment we meet Emmitt Armstrong, or "Army", a new goalie for the Atlanta Venom, and he is very eager to prove his worth. He knows Ryu Mori is the likely started but Army wants to be the best he can, even if that means being at odds with his fellow goalkeeper, who seems to be a rather rigid guy. However, as train and time go by, it seems there's more to their animosity than simply professional competition, and eventually they become more than co workers, so to say.

Ryu Mori doesn't come from such a warm family as other players and his cultural background isn't also one for demonstration of affection. Still, he starts to care for Army and might even think he could be happy with him, but the truth is they are both vying for the same job here, and Ryu still has this need to be the best, so his parents can recognize his efforts. It seems complicated, but proximity and understanding from Army might go a long way...or will the game push them apart after all?

For me, this book is pretty much at the same level as the previous one. I liked it and I liked reading about the characters but there are still some elements I'd change to better suit my preferences. Despite this I had a good time reading and it was one of those books where one turns the pages effortlessly.

The story starts when the hockey season is about to start and Army has a call to let him know the Venom wants him, and he is very happy to think he will play in the main league of hockey. Army is an interesting character, confident in himself but as so many people, he still feels he needs his father's approval. This is a bit tricky because his father was a successful football player, and he wanted Army to follow his steps, but Army preferred hockey, his true passion, even though a Black player in a sport which doesn't have much inclusion might make it more difficult for him.

Playing for the Venom is everything he wanted and when the coaches decide that he, a newcomer, and Ryu Mori, a more seasoned player, will play in tandem, he is even happier, for he believes this is the chance to prove he deserves to be the starter. Things with Mori start off a little badly, because Mori is hard to read and seems to not be very receptive to competition. Of course, this is just the beginning to a relationship that starts as casual and will develop into something more serious.

Mori is certainly a more introverted character but I could sympathize with some of his thoughts. I think the cultural part of him being Japanese and how people from different countries/cultures wasn't such a big deal in the overall story but it does add to why his personality is more contained. I still think that, as with Army, his need to still show his parents he is doing well and being successful plays a bigger role in his decisions than culture. Of course this means he isn't as demonstrative and isn't bubbly; some readers have said he seems to lack personality but to me this wasn't an issue.

I liked the pace of the story, the authors have, again, managed to convey time passing and things moving on in a good enough way to make me feel things were evolving. Nevertheless, the development of the relationship between Army and Mori was a little too quick. I know they start of as only "co workers with benefits" but I kind of hoped to see more scenes where things between them were obviously changing romantically, and not just because they talked on the phone about serious matters. I understand the constrictions of their work and that they were in the public eye a lot, but... I can't explain well, but this part, the romance, could have been better.

The biggest conflict comes later on, as expected, when things are stressful and at a decisive moment for the team. I think the fact they were thinking professionally was only an excuse for what they decide to do and if they were already committed at this point, perhaps they should have talked more, but I can also accept the pressure in such situation would be a lot (if one compares with real life possibilities in the same scenario). Of course, the resolution for the issues are quickly solved, there's a HEA and everything is fine, which only adds to the lack of real importance of these supposed issues.

Although Mori isn't the most demonstrative of characters in public, his relationship with Army has interesting and cute moments in private, besides the sexual part, and I was happy for them in general.

I'll look for to finish the trilogy next month.

Grade: 7/10

Avon Gale & Piper Vaughn - Off the Ice

Tristan Holt is nothing if not pragmatic. Despite a flourishing career as a defenseman for the Atlanta Venom, Tristan knows he can’t play hockey forever. One day he’ll retire — if an injury doesn’t force him to hang up his skates first. His backup plan? Finishing his business degree. But he doesn’t count on a very inappropriate attraction to his standoffish sociology professor, Sebastian Cruz.
Sebastian is on the bottom rung of the Sociology Department at Georgia State. He has his sights set on tenure, and he can’t afford to be distracted, especially not by a sexy student with a body straight out of Sebastian’s dreams. No matter how much Tristan tempts him, that’s one line Sebastian won’t cross. At least not until summer classes end. After that, everything is fair game.
But Sebastian lives loud and proud, and Tristan is terrified of being the first out player in the NHL. Neither of them can afford to risk their hearts when they can’t imagine a happily ever after. The problem is, unlike hockey, when it comes to love, there are no rules.

Comment: Since I've read and enjoyed another series by author Avon Gale which featured hockey players, I felt like trying another, even though this one is a partnership with Piper Vaughn.

In this story, professional hockey player Tristan Holt is about to start a summer class, so that he can one day have his college degree and a way to have something else in his future when his hockey career is finished. He wasn't counting on being so quickly attracted to the teacher, though, and at some pint he also dreams professor Cruz might be as interested.

Sebastian Cruz is a sociology teacher and he wants to obtain tenure, which is why he doesn't complain when doing summer courses. At first, he thinks Tristan isn't really dedicated to the course, but when a plagiarism situation happens, he is quick to judge. When it's obvious Tristan didn't do it, their attraction seems to escalate, but they both contain themselves until the end of class. 

After that, they start seeing each other, and things seem to go well, but will their differences be too much to overcome?

As a whole, this was a good story. I was also hoping the story would be similar enough to Avon Gale's style as a solo writer, so I was ready to like the story anyway, even if Piper Vaughn's intake would make changes being obvious. In fact, I can't say what exactly was written by one author and by the author. This is recognizable enough as being by Avon Gale since I've read other things by her, but how much belongs to each I wouldn't be able to tell.

The plot starts of quite well. I'm not particularly interested in the teacher/student dynamic but if done well, it can certainly be challenging, and I obviously appreciated the fact they waited until they no longer had an established professional relationship. The scenes with them looking at one another sometimes, and the inner thoughts allowing us to understand just how much longing and sexual desire was in play, the small exchange of conversation here and there, then the misunderstanding with the paper Tristan delivered and so on, all made for the tension to be visible and readable and I was looking for to see how they would finally say something to one another.

I think this process was a bit quick, even though - I suppose - we had Gale's technique used here, for she has this ability, in books that don't have many pages, to develop things in a way that yes, it's quick on the page but relatively longer in context. Not all authors can convey the passage of time in a book that easily and, for the most part, I think this happens here. I still wish for some different things, other type of situations to let us know how much time is passing but this wasn't too badly done.

Tristan is fascinating, he's 23 and a professional hockey player but he is also a sweet young man, has a sweet family dynamic and is eager to keep studying which means he isn't keen on simply earning money and do nothing else later. I liked his attitude and his personality. An important part of the story is also dedicated to his decision to come out and how, and I think his reasons are quite valid as to why not doing it without some planning.

Sebastian is a bit more complex I'd say, he's a little older and has had other types of experiences, more so since he is Latino, but I did like his professor mode. He's more confident in himself and while out, he still feels bitter things changed and his parents accept him being gay but clearly don't interact with him the same way and probably still wish for this "phase" to end. I think his personality was more complex but easier to understand, although did I like him better? Not certain... I also wonder if each character was perhaps given a voice by a different author?

So, these two are kind of opposites but when they finally get together it's fireworks. I did like the romance and the evolution of their relationship, even though - along with a few other plot details - some things seemed to happen as bit too predictably and in a way that would ensure a specific result, which perhaps I would prefer to see differently... also, in the midst of all their personal and professional lives and dealing with new feelings, the sex between them sometimes went into a slight kinky level which I could do without. I understand why it was that way but I didn't really like it was the authors' choice.

When the story reaches the final conflict, which I also would have preferred had happened differently, the two guys are thinking they are in love but will love be enough to overcome the details of being with someone who has different experiences and a way of seeing things? I think the compromise was done well enough and the HEA was a sweet one. Still, a part of me wished for more romantic situations, more sweeter moments and less kinky sex scenes. I liked the story yes, but I think it could have been better too.

Grade: 7/10