Common Goal: Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Game Changers: Heated Rivalry Book Series 4)

I’ve owned this series for a while and have never gotten around to reading it. I was looking up audiobooks by one of my favorite narrators, Cooper North, and saw that he narrated books 4-6, so I had to give them a listen. And I’m so glad that I did! I freaking loved this book! Kyle is still trying to decide exactly what direction he wants to go career-wise, so he’s working at a bar while getting his master’s degree in a field that he enjoys but maybe not as a full-time career. Eric is a veteran goalie for the local pro hockey team and on the other side of things where he may be ready to retire but afraid of being lonely without a partner to enjoy it with. Eric and Kyle meet at a bar, have an immediate connection, and things eventually lead to a casual arrangement with the initial intention of Eric experiencing what it’s like to be with a man. This book includes a 16 year age gap, a flipped power dynamic (the younger guy is much more experienced with relationships and s*x), demi/ace representation, super spicy scenes, an athlete who comes out, and more. I loved loved loved this book. Because Eric is probably demi, much of this book was Eric and Kyle getting to know each other and building a really lovely friendship. Despite Eric’s worries over the age gap, these two connect right away and just love being together. Kyle is SO patient and understanding, and honestly Eric had to know what a gem he had found. Seriously, I adored Kyle! Ultimately I really, really loved how well…

This is the 4th book in the Game Changers series. Each book follows a different couple and can be read as a standalone, but I would definitely recommend reading them in order as characters from previous books make an appearance in the following books and there are spoilers. This book is the story of Kyle and Eric both of whom we first see in Game Changer. Kyle works with Kip and has always had a bit of a crush on him but since Kip is in a relationship with Scott he knows they will never be anything more than friends. Eric and Kip's fiance Scott play on the same hockey team. Eric is newly divorced and anxious not only about retiring this season and what that will mean for him but he's also nervous about being open and honest about his bi-sexuality. He was married to his wife for a long time and has never really dated men so he's not sure what to expect and not sure about it will be perceived. Since Kyle and Eric know each other from Scott and Kip, Kyle agrees to help him get back into the dating scene. What starts as a friendship and innocent flirting soon develops into something more. Can Kyle get past the secret he's been running from and can Eric get past the age difference between him and Kyle or will their relationship be doomed from the start? At first I didn't really care for Kyle's character. I just couldn't connect to him and he felt a little annoying to me in the fact he couldn't get past how he liked Kip. As the story developed and he opened up more and more to…