Changing on the Fly : A Charity Anthology

Title: Changing on the Fly : A M/M Hockey Romance Charity Anthology
Author: Cherylanne Corneille, Avon Gale, Heather Lire, V.L. Locey, Mary Smith and Samanatha Wayland
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: October 12, 2016
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance, Hockey!
Page Count: 368
Reviewed by: Crabbypatty
Heat Level: 3 flames out of 5
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Blurb:

Changing on the Fly is a celebration of romance, featuring six M/M stories about hockey players falling in love on – and off – the ice. All proceeds from the anthology will be donated to a charity that supports inclusiveness in athletics. The anthology will be available starting in October, 2016, for a limited time only. It includes the following stories: Even Strength by Cherylanne Corneille, Next Season by Avon Gale, Going Home by Heather Lire, On Broadway by V.L. Locey, The Brother and the Retired Player by Mary Smith and Take a Shot by Samantha Wayland.

Okay, straight up, hockey is an amazing sport. Not familiar with hockey? As Brendan Shanahan (three time Stanley Cup champion, inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame) explains:

Is hockey hard? I don’t know, you tell me. We need to have the strength and power of a football player, the stamina of a marathon runner, and the concentration of a brain surgeon. But we need to put all this together while moving at high speeds on a cold and slippery surface while 5 other guys use clubs to try and kill us. Oh yeah, did I mention that this whole time we’re standing on blades 1/8 of an inch thick? Is ice hockey hard? I don’t know, you tell me. Next question.

Even Strength – Nate, the first professional hockey player to come out of the closet publicly, is a rookie defenseman trying to balance hockey and a relationship with his boyfriend Tristan. In the course of the story, Nate encounters slashed tires and opposing team goons, a well as team solidarity and support. There’s a lot of hockey action in this story with a few off-page sex scenes. Heat Level: 1; Rating: 3 stars.

Next Season – Defenseman Nick Miles is a quiet sweet guy – thrilled to be playing professional hockey in Buffalo after being called up from the AHL – when he is traded to Philly along with seasoned forward Everett Sparrow. Nick know he isn’t the only gay man playing hockey, but he tells himself “wait for someone else to do it, and then you can speak up, too.” Over the course of the season, Nick and Everett begin a relationship that is equal parts hot/dirty/sexy and tender, with lots of bro-humor, eventually realizing they need to come out, so as Nick’s mom says “Your little niece or nephew will grow up in a world where it’s always been okay to be gay or bi or whatever else and play hockey.” Heat Level: 3.5; Rating: 4.5 stars

Going Home – Two local boys make it big in professional hockey, come home to Vegas to be part of the new franchise team, and also get a chance to “fix the things in our lives that we fucked up. Me [Dex] with my career and you with Micah.” Center Dex Mendenhall and assistant coach Blake Griffith run into classmate Micah Morales, who is now a teacher. Micah and Blake had a passionate first-love back in high school and each man wants to make amends and rekindle what they once had. And … then the story abruptly ends, to be picked up in an upcoming book entitled “Finding Home.” Heat level: 2; Rating 3 stars.

On Broadway – Captain Riley Zeally, at Rockefeller Center’s famous ice rink early one morning for a photoshoot, spots a mysterious man with flowing blonde hair, ancient skates and an old wooden stick and is instantly impressed with his skill and haunted by the man’s gorgeous face. When they next meet, Riley and former rentboy Rocket (in the midst of “changing career paths”) share a steamy night of dirty sex, and Rocket is gone in the morning. This story has a good share of twists and turns, a little bit of hockey, and lotsa hot sex. Heat level: 3.5; Rating 4 stars.

The Brother and the Retired Player – After the untimely death of their mother, 41-year-old Kian put his life on hold to raise his younger brother Kyson, who is now a professional hockey player for the New Hampshire Bears. Kian meets Tim Gibb, who is retiring from the Bears and transitioning into broadcasting. Their story begins with almost insta-love and moves into a tender low-angst relationship. Heat Level: 2.5; Rating 3 stars.

Take a Shot – Tim and his best friend and roommate Chris have played minor league hockey together “since they were practically just kids—eighteen years old and sure they’d died and gone to the heaven where people actually paid them to do what they loved.” When Chris badly breaks his leg in three places, Tim is by his side as he recovers and heals. Chris has been in love with Tim for so long and soon, Tim realizes there’s probably a pretty good reason why he’s never dated any woman longer than a few months. I really enjoyed this “out-for-you” story with its off-the-chain sex scenes and its tender moments. Heat Level: 4; Rating 4 stars.

If you like hot men and hockey, this anthology is in your wheelhouse!

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