Hot Shot

MM Small Town/Hockey Romance (The Elmwood Stories, Book 5)

By: Lane Hayes

Narrated by: Nick J. Russo

The rookie superstar, the desperate cowboy, and a naughty proposition...

Denny

The press calls me this year’s hot shot, the rookie who scores at will and conjures plays out of thin air. Truth is…

I’m a PR nightmare. Seriously. Ask my agent.

My anxiety is off the charts. I can’t talk to the media without breaking into a cold sweat, but once I get through the season, I can regroup at home. Life is simpler in Vermont.

Well, not anymore. There’s a new cowboy in town. Literally, a cowboy. At least, Hank looks like one—he owns a horse, wears a hat, and did I mention he’s hot?

And get this…he has a proposition for me.

Hank

Proposition is a strong word. I prefer to call this a mutually beneficial arrangement. See, I could use Denny’s help with a family business venture, and though I was planning to offer cash, the jock has a sexier idea.

Not gonna lie, I’m interested.

This could be a fun distraction while I’m stuck in Elmwood. Nice enough place, however, the locals are wary of an outsider taking over the neighboring mill. Long story short…they don’t trust me. But they love their hometown hockey hero.

I get it.

I’ve never met anyone like Denny—skittish in street clothes and a feral beast with cunning instincts on the ice. He’s fascinating, sexy, smart, and—Whoa! I’m not falling for the hot shot rookie. No way, no how, no chance…

Too late.

Hot Shot is an MM bisexual, age-gap, small town romance featuring a hot shot rookie, a sexy cowboy, and a proposition that changes everything.

©2024 Lane Hayes (P)2024 Lane Hayes

Amazing Narration!

Welcome back to Elmwood, Vermont. Denny and Hank’s story was everything. Denny is the Hotshot hockey player in his small town. Because of his past, he is quiet and reserved with everyone but his closest friends. He also deals with a lot of anxiety. Hank is the new guy in town and wants to make Denny the poster boy for his family’s business. Denny comes up with a deal. A “proposition” for them to be friends so the town accepts Hank and Denny can try out his bi-side with the sexy cowboy. The chemistry is explosive with these two! Nick J Russo does an amazing job as usual!

Love this series!

Great story! No heavy drama, just a sweet story about more of the Elmwood gang. Hope there are more stories to come! These are always auto pre-orders for me.

Nick J Russo helps round this up

3.75 stars rounded up

Denny is terrified to acknowledge the bisexual feelings he has had since he was a young teen. Now that he is single for the first time since he was a young teen, he starts to slowly creep out of the closet with Hank, the sexy cowboy he sees on a billboard he drives past every day on his way to the rink after they make a business deal.

Hank is sent to Elmwood by his father to help his business while he is recovering from a health crisis. Elmwood is a small, insular community giving outsider Hank a lot of grief in the office and making things as difficult as possible. He approaches Denny, a much beloved local, to help ingratiate himself with the town so they will work with him. As part of agreeing, Hank offers to introduce Denny to the joys of being with a man. While the steam happens relatively early in the book, the deeper feelings are very much on a slow burn which works well due to their backgrounds and fears.

It took me much too long to realise there was quite the large time jump and that Denny is a teenager we met previously and the sweet little girl MK, niece to Nolan in book 1 of the series, is all grown up and Denny’s ex-girlfriend. Overall it’s a sweet, bisexual awakening but not my favourite of the series. Nick J. Russo is a personal favourite narrator of mine and I will say he helped me to rate this higher.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this audiobook.

Great story. Great narration.

This is the type of story that has me clicking preorder on Lane Hayes' books with just a glance at the synopsis. Denny is sweet, Hank is charming, and Denny's grandmother is my hero. The entire cast of Elmwood is lovely. I escaped small-town life years ago, but I might not have been in such a hurry if I had lived in Elmwood.

As with most of Lane Hayes' books, the romance was an appealing balance of sweet and steamy. In addition to the romance, this story had social commentary that I appreciated. Sports and business play an important role in communities, and the message about both in this story was insightful.

Nick J. Russo's narration was another pleasant listen, and I am looking forward to the release of the next audiobook.

“Sweetheart”

Gah! I loved this book. Hank and Denny are so sweet together. I love how things progressed and how they loved each other. Denny’s grandma was a hoot too. Add in a sexy cowboy and a wonderful bi awakening, it’s a great story. For me, this was the best book in the series so far.