Hat Trick

September 10, 2013 by Whit!!!!!!!!!

Title : Hat Trick

Author : Chelle Dugan

Publisher : Dreamspinner Press (BUY HERE)

Genre : M/M, Contemporary

Length : 92 pages (e-book)

Published : September 11, 2013

Rating : ★★★

Blurb:

Charlie Trevino and Tony Côté had one night together that neither could ever forget. Charlie left his number for Tony, but spilled water rendered it illegible. That mishap kicks off a year of failed connections and miscommunication. Tony fears what life outside the closet will do to his career in pro hockey, so he travels the country with his team and doesn’t search for Charlie. Charlie finishes college and tries to ignore his disappointment over Tony. When they finally get together, Tony’s closet takes its toll. But Tony attempts the ultimate hat trick, hoping for another chance with Charlie.

Review:

Charlie and Tony are drawn to each other one night at a club. Charlie is in town on vacation and can’t resist the offer Tony gives him. They go back to the hotel room together and Charlie loses his virginity to Tony. It’s a beautiful sexfest but Tony wakes up in the morning to an empty hotel room. Charlie left him a note with his number but a spilled cut of water only leaves a few of the numbers readable. Tony tries different combinations over the next 6 months but has no luck finding Charlie. He even hires a PI to find him.

Charlie is left wondering if he imagined the connection they had that one night. When he learns Tony is a professional hockey player he decides to go to him at a game Tony is playing near him. Tony sees him but a concussion keeps him from Charlie, Charlie disappears again. A few misses later they finally meet again and strike up a relationship.Tony is closeted because of his high-profile career and that creates some problems for the newly reunited couple.

I think this novella had some potential but it just felt so rushed. More time was spent with the guys apart than together and with the length of this story I just never warmed to them as a couple. A little more time in the book with them in a relationship would have helped me become more invested I think. Tony was kind of a jerk when they were together and without those moments making me fall in love with Tony through his actions or Charlie’s eyes, I was just left feeling like Tony was a jerk and not redeemable. Overall it was okay. Very little hockey in this story beyond Tony being a player. Charlie was adorable and the initial sex scenes were hot and sweet.

Rated 3 stars by Whit