Tough Guy

Written by Rachel Reid

Narrated by Tor Thom

They have nothing in common-so why does Ryan feel most like himself whenever he's with Fabian?

Pro hockey star Ryan Price may be an enforcer, but off the ice he struggles with anxiety. Recently traded to the Toronto Guardians, he's determined to make a fresh start in the city's dynamic LGBTQ Village. The last thing he expects to stumble upon in his new neighborhood is a blast from his past in the fabulous form of Fabian Salah.

Aspiring musician Fabian loathes hockey. But that doesn't stop him from being attracted to a certain burly, ginger-bearded defenseman. He hasn't forgotten the kiss they almost shared back in high school, and it's clear the chemistry between them has only intensified.

Fabian is more than happy to be Ryan's guide to the gay scene in Toronto. Between dance clubs and art exhibits-and the most amazing sex-Ryan's starting to feel something he hasn't experienced in a long time: joy. But playing the role of the heavy on the ice has taken its toll on his body and mind, and a future with Fabian may mean hanging up his skates for good.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Jan 13, 2020
• ISBN: 9781541431645

Rachel Reid

Rachel Reid has always lived in Nova Scotia, Canada, and will likely continue to do so. She has two boring degrees and two interesting sons. She has been a hockey fan since childhood, but sadly never made it to the NHL herself. She enjoys books about hot men doing hot things, and cool ladies being awesome. You can follow Rachel on Instagram at rachelreidwrites and Twitter @akaRachelReid, and on Goodreads. Her website and blog, where she writes more things, is www.rachelreidwrites.com.

Reviews for Tough Guy

[spinsterrevival · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was so well done and gorgeous. I loved that Ryan and Fabian were so perfect for each other. Ryan’s mental health was a big part of this, and I thought it was handled well but wished there was even more healing shown.

[samnreader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I wasn't even looking forward to Ryan's book. Until, that is, I started reading it. See, I'm having trouble pulling myself away from news (most of us) and other various things at the moment. Despite being socially distanced with no obligations other than my 9-5 wfh gig, my concentration is terrible. I started reading this after the kiddos were in bed, and I didn't have much hope it wouldn't end up another meh that I threw back on the stack, barely mustering up the will and effort to say more than a few sentences. My friends seem to have liked it but I have not seen that she nailed it. I wasn't really holding out hope.

I was wrong. I read this till I fell asleep, tried to keep reading while sleeping (we all do this, right?) woke up read some more, ended my work day and gobbled the rest up. Look, this is NOT Shane and Ilya. And thank fuck for that. I was so happy to see these characters presented in the way they were, and Ryan's anxiety so near the surface and well done, but they genuinely were just stupid honest with each other and I was refreshed.

So sweet, funny, and endearing. Toasty warm and engaging. (And also, at times really really hot-Even though the sex was not easy or even at times...sexy! Seriously! SERIOUSLY. Thank you Rachel Reid. )
3.9 from me.

[dlynch-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Rachel Reid hits it in the net with Tough Guy (Game Changers, #3). In this story, NHL defenseman Ryan Price is traded to the Toronto Guardians. He moves to Toronto’s LGBTQ Village where he bumps into his teenage crush, Fabian Salah. This story is suitable for adult readers.I like Ryan’s character. When we are introduced to him, he is not happy. He suffers from anxiety. I love how he bumps into Fabian. Fabian is an admirable character. He is confident and a talented musician. Despite being unhappy with his upbringing, he is a cheerful person with great friends. He is a positive influence on Ryan (who Fabian thought was straight). The two are very different from each other, but they fit. I like how Ryan and Fabian initially met. It is understandable why Fabian does not like hockey players. That created some interesting hurdles in the story.Rachel Reid does a great job with this novel. I appreciate how she ties the first two books from the series into this story. It is creative considering the characters are on different teams. She does an admiral job covering compelling topics. I recommend this book to people who enjoy sports second chance romances. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.