Release Review: Common Goal: Rachel Reid

by - Monday, September 21, 2020


Graphic from author's Twitter page
Common Goal
Rachel Reid
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Release Date September 21, 2020
Publisher Carina Press

New York Admirals goalie Eric never thought his friends-with-benefits arrangement with much-younger Kyle would leave them both wanting more…

Veteran goaltender Eric Bennett has faced down some of the toughest shooters on the ice, but nothing prepared him for his latest challenge—life after hockey. It’s time to make some big changes, starting with finally dating men for the first time.

Graduate student Kyle Swift moved to New York nursing a broken heart. He’d sworn to find someone his own age to crush on (for once). Until he meets a gorgeous, distinguished silver fox hockey player. Despite their intense physical attraction, Kyle has no intention of getting emotionally involved. He’ll teach Eric a few tricks, have some mutually consensual fun, then walk away.

Eric is more than happy to learn anything Kyle brings to the table. And Kyle never expected their friends-with-benefits arrangement to leave him wanting more. Happily-ever-after might be staring them in the face, but it won’t happen if they’re too stubborn to come clean about their feelings.

Everything they both want is within reach… They just have to be brave enough to grab it. 
Eric Bennett just hit the wrong side of forty and is feeling it. He has good games and bad games, but realizes retirement is probably in his near future. He is divorced, lonely, reserved, and wants to maybe start dating and find companionship. But he also wants to explore part of his sexuality that he never really has...being with a man. But with little dating experience, his flirting game is off, he is awkward, insecure, and lacks confidence. He is not the typical cocky hockey hero, he is more subdued and in his own head. 

Kyle has been crushing on his best friend, Kip, for a while but has to finally realize that Kip is getting married(to Eric's friend and teammate, Scott). He is in his mid-twenties but has a thing for older guys, but also has a bad history with them and has come to expect the worst. He is flirty, fun, smart, and outgoing. He is scared of a real relationship and has never really had a healthy one. 

These two cross paths due to their friends, but find common interests. They kind of play at flirting, friendship, and even try to be each other's wingman. But there is this simmering attraction between them that leads to a friends-with-benefits exploration situation. But they think they want opposite things and that they are not right for each other despite the attraction and connection they both are feeling but hiding. 

This is a slow-burn, opposites-attract, age-gap romance. I liked both of the characters and it did develop at a realistic speed, even though at some times I might have wanted it to move along a bit faster and maybe a bit more couple time in the end. They definitely had some issues as far as their fears, insecurities, misconceptions, and communication. Sometimes I wanted to just yell at them to say what they are thinking or feeling. They had great chemistry and sexy times were not an issue, but they really needed to get out of their own heads and talk it out. But I loved them together and at least I could see they would make a great couple even when they were too afraid to admit it.

Fans of the series will enjoy cameos, but it can be read as a stand-alone as well. 
Buy books in series Amazon  | Apple | B&N | Kobo
Buy The box set  Amazon | Apple | B&N | Carina Press

Upcoming
Role Model

Rachel Reid

Rachel Reid is the pen name of Rachelle Goguen. She chose it because it is much easier to say, spell and remember than Rachelle Goguen!

Rachel writes cute, romantic smut, mostly about hockey players.

Rachelle co-hosts a comic book podcast called Living Between Wednesdays.

Rachel/Rachelle lives in Nova Scotia, Canada. She has always lived there, and it's looking like she probably always will. She has two boring degrees and two interesting kids.

Her books, Game Changer and Heated Rivalry were both published by Carina Press and are available wherever you buy ebooks!





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