It’s not often that I listen to a book that I’ve already read with my eyes and have it bring tears to my eyes but this one did just that. The story was wonderful, just like everything Lane Hayes writes, but Nick J. Russo’s performance brought it to the next level for me. Below is my original review from when I read the book with my eyes.

╰☆☆ Original Review: ☆☆╮

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading The Elmwood Stories series and Hotshot was no exception. It has a hot up and coming NHL rookie and a reluctant lumber mill temporary CEO. There’s a seven-year age gap between the two MCs but I love that this wasn’t beat to death anywhere in the story.

Hotshot can definitely be read as a standalone but know that one of the MCs, and many secondary characters, have appeared in other books in the series. If you’ve read the other stories, you will recognize Denny’s name but if you haven’t then you might want to dive into the other books after you read this one.

Denny has recently broken up with his long-time girlfriend but they are still besties. He’s in his rookie season as an NHL hockey player and he’s doing great. Hank is in town temporarily to take charge of his family’s lumber mill. Not everyone is happy that the mill is no longer locally owned and Hank wants Denny to be friends so that the locals will maybe warm up to him a bit. Neither of them expects the strong attraction they feel towards each other.

I loved everything about this book. Denny and Hank agree to a secret relationship so Denny can learn what it’s like to be with a man and, of course, that relationship ends up turning into so much more. I feel like this is a pretty low angst story. There’s no real third act breakup but some tough decisions have to be made between Danny and Hank if they are to continue to have a relationship.

The epilogue, set five years into the future, was a perfect way to end this fantastic story. It’s always nice to be back in Elmwood and I was happy to learn that there will be another story coming at some point.

Reviews for Lane Hayes

Reviews for Nick J. Russo

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“Let’s get this over with. What did you want?”

“Ouch. I can’t remember the last time anyone was happy to see me,” he groused without heat. “Except Steve the contractor. He likes me okay, but he’s being paid well. Our employees do well too, but sadly, they don’t like me at all.”

“I can’t help you with that. Sorry.”

Hank sipped his beer and shrugged. “Yes, you can. I’m extorting you, remember?”

“Oh…yeah.” I chuckled.

And fuck, I didn’t want to be amused. I didn’t want to like Hank at all, but it was hard not to appreciate his self-deprecating honesty. He emanated “nice guy” vibes with the right amount of edge. No wonder drunk me had gotten flirty with him. Fortunately, sober me knew he was more than I could handle.

Which was fine since Hank wasn’t interested anyway. He wanted my alleged star power, not me.

So why was I grinning like an idiot?

Fuck, I had a bad feeling my eyes were twinkling too. I had to rein that shit in, stat.

“So…let’s make a deal,” he said, thankfully unaware of my inner detour. “I need an Elmwood buddy. My dad gave me the all-clear to make my offer sexy, so…what’ll it be?”

I bugged my eyes out. “Sexy?”

“Yeah, something interesting. If it’s money, name your price. Tell me what you want in exchange for your time.”

You.

The word tripped to the tip of my tongue. I bit it back and swallowed it, clearing my throat to be sure it was gone.

“I just…want to make sure that whatever I blabbed while I was wasted off my ass stays between us.”

“Yeah, but I’ll do that for free. You can trust me.”

“I don’t know you,” I retorted.

“True,” he conceded, sipping his beer. “But you don’t really have a choice. I can’t prove that I won’t sell you out. It’s a trust thing. Let’s talk about the sexy angle, ’cause I need an Elmwood buddy like yesterday.”

“I can’t believe I’m asking this, but…what does an Elmwood buddy do?”

“He shows the new guy the ropes.” Hank leaned in. “Introduce me, give me tips on who’s who and what to avoid. I suck in Elmwood and I need a champion, a liaison…a friend. That can be you.”

I huffed in amusement, feeling strangely at ease. He was charming as fuck and I was not immune. “How can you suck in Elmwood? Everyone is cool there.”

He slumped on his stool. “I don’t know, but I’m even worse in Wood Hollow. I don’t get it. People in Denver like me just fine. Even you like me.”

“No, I like your hat.” I reached for his water and winked.

I fucking winked.

Me.

That was me flirting. Ugh. Bad, Denny. Bad.

I felt surprisingly relaxed with him. Like I had last weekend when I’d spilled my guts and…other things. The point was, I could talk to him without feeling immediately depleted, and that alone was a minor miracle.

Hank kicked my shin playfully. “Nah, you like me. You did last weekend, anyway.”

“I was drunk, and I’m still mortified. Go easy on me.” I took a swig of water as if I were knocking back whisky.

“I’ll try, but…you shook your dick at me, then fell buck-ass naked in my bed, so c’mon.”

My eyes had to be saucer-sized. “I shook my dick at you?”

He inclined his chin and winked in a touché move that made my cock swell against my zipper.

“A week later, I’m still thinking about it,” Hank drawled.

Whoa. Was he serious?

The Elmwood Stories Series

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