Heated Rivalry

A fast, funny, very explicit sports romance that gets its emotional weight from two guarded men and one long cottage stay. Dated chapters, sharp banter and real feeling, held back by a thin middle and heavy, repetitive heat. Four out of five (draft rating). Read it if: you watched the hbo max / crave series and want the original; you like rivals-to-lovers and slow-burn secrets; you want hockey, banter and feelings in equal parts; you are fine with explicit sex scenes and a lot of swearing. Skip it if: explicit on-the-page sex is a hard line for you; a parent's death by suicide is a trigger (chapters 24, 25 and the epilogue); you want a plot that is about more than the relationship; constant strong language will wear on you.

Our ending explained covers the final chapters in full, with spoilers. How does the Heated Rivalry book end? The cottage, Shane's parents, the epilogue and the Irina Foundation, chapter by chapter. Full spoilers. Heated Rivalry Ending Explained →

What is Heated Rivalry about? A chapter-by-chapter summary from the 2008 World Juniors to the cottage and the epilogue. Full spoilers. Heated Rivalry Summary: Plot, Chapter by Chapter →

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery.

Yes. The series is based on Rachel Reid's 2019 novel Heated Rivalry, the second book in her Game Changers series.

Rachel Reid, a Canadian author. It was published in March 2019 by Carina Press.

Two rival NHL players, Shane Hollander of Montreal and Ilya Rozanov of Boston, have a secret, on-and-off affair over about nine years while they compete for the same awards and championships.

Yes. It is an adult romance with frequent explicit sex scenes and very strong language. The content guide lists the chapters.

Not to follow this one. It centers on Shane and Ilya, and Scott Hunter from book one appears as a side character. The books-in-order page lists the whole series.