Tommaso DiCosta is a professional hockey player, but isn’t one to worry about the details of his home. Prepping for his mother’s Christmas visit means he needs to fully furnish his new house quickly. One step into a furniture store and he knows he is out of his depth, but the salesman is no help whatsoever. Hiring a designer seems to be the best way around this challenge, but Tommaso isn’t expecting to fall for the dedicated designer he happens to run into at the ill fated shopping trip.

Carter Flynn needs a break. Losing his boyfriend, apartment, furniture, and any job leads in such a short period of time has him feeling like he will never reach his dreams. A new job dropping at his feet is not what he would have expected, but he won’t look the gift horse in the mouth, especially because the job comes with some pretty phenomenal eye candy.

I loved watching these two pick themselves up, while also building the other up (even before they knew there was mutual attraction). Tommaso has some family things he has to work through as he grapples with his relationship status (or lack thereof). Carter may not know what is going on, but his patience is amazing. Carter, for his part, has his own rebuilding to do and as he reflects on his past relationship and business practices, I love the strength that he develops to face his mistakes and build his dreams.

There was a bit of a slow build to pieces of the story. Tommaso is struggling with his truth for the first part of the story, and Carter isn’t sure there can be anything but a one sided attraction from him. But once things start heating up, they spark and kindle. These two are both looking for acceptance and mutual support from a partner, and have been burned in the past.

The teammates gave a great backdrop to this story, especially because I had already read the first book, The New Guy, and knew what was going on in Newgate’s storyline which happens in the background of parts of this book. I love the little glimpses that happen when book timelines overlap like this. It is both a standalone and a perfect series tie in. There is a lot of overlap in the themes of these two stories as well, with Tommaso struggling with how to live honestly while protecting those he loves.

Jacob Morgan and Teddy Hamilton did a fantastic job voicing these two men. Hearing the personalities rather than just reading them on the page gave each man extra life and there were so many moments that the line delivery had me laughing out loud.