Molly Reviews: Changing On The Fly Anthology

Blurb:
Changing on the Fly is a celebration of romance, featuring six M/M stories about hockey players falling in love on – and off – the ice. All proceeds from the anthology will be donated to a charity that supports inclusiveness in athletics.

The anthology will be available starting in October, 2016, for a limited time only.

It includes the following stories:

Even Strength by Cherylanne Corneille

Next Season by Avon Gale

Going Home by Heather Lire

On Broadway by V.L. Locey

The Brother and the Retired Player by Mary Smith

Take a Shot by Samantha Wayland

Where To Buy:
Smashwords || Amazon US || Amazon UK || Kobo Store || Barnes & Noble

Review:
This anthology was one that I couldn’t wait to read because I absolutely adore hockey romances. I’m a huge hockey fan so I knew this anthology was written with me in mind. That said, anthologies are hard because stories run the gamut. There were a few that missed the mark a bit for me in this one and a few that I absolutely loved. However they were all enjoyable and I am so glad I got the chance to read them. There’s some authors I’m going to be stalking following now and reading more of their work.
Overall Stars:
Four
Even Strength by Cherylanne Corneille
I really enjoyed this story. I liked how Tristan and Nate are already together at the beginning of the story but still are working on their relationship. Tristan has his own life outside of Nate’s stardom. But they both have to work hard to keep their relationship going and growing. Nate was an interesting character that was a little clueless at first but realized he was going to have to embrace his symbol status whether he truly wanted to or not. Where he went with that was so wonderful. I adored the scene where Nate and Tristan finally talked and got on the same page with where they wanted to go with the relationship. You could tell then they were going to make it and have a long and happy relationship. The scenes on the ice were great! I felt like I was right there in the action as it was happening. I really enjoyed Ms. Corneille’s writing style and the characters in this story. I hope there are more stories about the Carolina Krewe in the future because I will gladly read them.
Stars:
Four and a half
Next Season by Avon Gale
I adore Ms. Gale’s writing and her hockey. This story was so filled with emotion and heart stopping hockey action. Once again there are characters that  feel so real and make me want to see them happy. Everett and Nick are so good together. Their slow to build relationship was wonderful to watch as it unfolded on page and in the back half of their season. Everett was hard to read at times but Nick’s confusion mirrored that in the story. Nick was so full of emotion. I liked him right from the beginning. I was proud of both Everett and Nick for their courage to come out when they were ready. I also really liked how neither pushes the other to be ready. The end is so sweet for these two. You can tell they’re going to make it. I would love to see more of the guys from their team and this version of the NHL Ms. Gale created. There’s some guys that clearly have stories. Even without them, this story was such a joy to read. Even if my beloved Flyers changed names. 😉
Stars:
Four and a half
Going Home by Heather Lire
This story started out great. I really got invested in Blake and Micah and their history together. I wanted to know what happened with them in the past and how they could work to try again. I wanted to see them fall in love and figure out how Blake’s career as a hockey coach plays a role in that. Plus I wanted to know more about Dex since he clearly plays a part in everything too. But the story just ends. It’s like this is just a preview instead of a mostly whole story. At the end you don’t even get to know if they’re going to try. That final paragraph leaves you hanging not even knowing if Micah is going to walk into Blake’s house. I adored the character and the premise. Plus the set up for the story is great. I just feel like I was cheated out of a story in the anthology because of how this one was handled.
Stars:
Three and a half
On Broadway by V.L. Locey
I had mixed feelings about this story. There were parts I liked and parts I didn’t but overall this one missed the mark for me. I liked the premise. I liked the camaraderie between Riley and his teammates. He was a good hockey player, had a great attitude and din’t let the fame go to his head. I felt for Keiffer and his situation. He had a good head on his shoulders and wouldn’t take any of Riley’s crap. Riley came off kind of creepy at first with Keiffer. This strange combination of wanting to help but wanting to have sex with and misplaced feelings for a stranger made their first time kind of awkward. Keiffer’s reaction to Riley’s phone call with Otto was so over the top it was out of proportion to their relationship and Riley’s infraction. The emotions between Riley and Keiffer felt wooden and forced through most of the story. I didn’t ever get the sense these two were connected and creating a lasting relationship. I did like that Rile came out for himself and not someone else. His decision was his own and made for all the right reasons.
Stars:
Three and a half
The Brother and the Retired Player by Mary Smith
I didn’t love this story. But I didn’t hate it either. It was more of a meh for me. I mostly just floated along as I read it and didn’t really feel any pull or connection to any of the characters. No emotions were evoked. Kian was a little hard to read first person. He kept having rambling thoughts that kept me from connecting with the scenes. Time was a bit confusing. He was out but not? He acted as if he’d had obvious feelings for Kian forever but somehow Kian didn’t even know he was gay. Despite the story revolving around a hockey team, there wasn’t actually much hockey in the story. Overall this was a story I could take or leave.
Stars:
Three and a half
Take A Shot by Samantha Wayland
This was a wonderful final story in the anthology. I love how we jump right into the action and get to know a good sense of who Chris and Tim are. Tim’s obvious cluelessness is fun to see when it gets turned on its head. Chris is sweet and clearly loves being a hockey player and spending time with his friend Tim. Tim is such a protector you can tell he’s going to love fiercely the longer he and Chris are together. The ease with which they both tackle their feelings and the change in their relationship is refreshing. No drama, no unnecessary angst. Just that “oh” moment and they handle it like adults. The emotions between these two are so clear as you’re reading. I truly enjoyed connecting with them. I would love to see more stories with these two after they’ve been together for a while an to see what Chris’ future holds after he heals.
Stars:
Four and a half

Excerpt:
Take a Shot by Samantha Wayland:
“There already is someone who loves to spend time with you, who loves hockey and your friends and their ridiculous pranks. Who gets that you have to travel and that you’re tired!”

Tim blinked, appearing utterly bewildered. “Who?”

“Me, you asshole! Me.”

Tim threw his hands in the air. “What about you?”

“I appreciate you exactly as you are. I love our life. Our friends. You. Even the super fucking irritating things, because apparently there is something wrong with me. I love that you can’t hide what you’re feeling, almost ever. And that you say what you’re thinking, even when I can’t do the same. I like living with you, a fucking neat-freak nudist, and working with you, and there’s never been a time, not once, that I was tired of being around you. You’re gorgeous and you’re kind and you’re the best person I know. So shut up about there not being someone who can appreciate everything about you. There already is. And unfortunately for you, it’s me.”

About The Authors:
V.L. Locey
V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a flock of assorted domestic fowl, and two Jersey steers.

When not writing spicy romances, she enjoys spending her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in hand. She can also be found online on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and GoodReads.

Avon Gale
Avon Gale was once the mayor on Foursquare of Jazzercise and Lollicup, which should tell you all you need to know about her as a person. She likes road trips, rock concerts, drinking Kentucky bourbon and yelling at hockey. She’s a displaced southerner living in a liberal midwestern college town, and she never gets tired of people and their stories — either real or the ones she makes up in her head.

Cherylanne Corneille
Cherylanne Corneille has been writing almost as long as she has loved the game of hockey, so it was inevitable that she would eventually combine two of her favorite pastimes into one hobby. She will watch almost any game but prefers to cheer on the Carolina Hurricanes, Anaheim Ducks, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Tyler Seguin.

When not writing or watching hockey, she enjoys running and has completed 18 half marathons.  She also loves Stars Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Captain America.

Cherylanne lives in Central Florida with her cat, who was almost called Puck or Hanifin but sometimes answers to the name Phasma.

Heather Lire
Heather has traveled all over the world, speaks several languages, collects romance books like they’re going out of style, and has multiple book boyfriends. Ok, she hasn’t been all over the world, except in her mind. She does however speak multiple languages and collect romance books. Her long-suffering husband and sons roll their eyes at all her book boyfriends. When she’s not busy on her next novel she can be found in her classroom where teaches one of those many languages, at one of her sons many sporting events or on twitter talking about what else, romance books.

Samantha Wayland
Samantha Wayland has three great loves in life; her family, writing books, and hockey. She is often found apologizing to the first for how much time and attention is taken up by the latter two, but they forgive her because they are awesome and she clearly doesn’t deserve them.

Sam lives with her family—of both the two and four-legged variety—outside of Boston. When she’s not locked away in her home office, she can generally be found tucked in the corner of the local Thai place with other socially-starved authors and an adult beverage. Her favorite things include mango martinis, tiny Chihuahuas with big attitude problems, and the Oxford comma.

Mary Smith
Best Selling Author, Mary Smith, has been coming up with stories her whole life. She has written A HOCKEY TUTOR and THE NEW HAMPSHIRE BEARS SERIES along with numerous other titles, as well as co-authored THE PENALTY KILL TRILOGY, OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN SERIES, and THE NINTH INNINGS SERIES with Lindsay Paige. When not busy writing or rooting for the Chicago Blackhawks you can find her with her nose stuck in her Kindle.

Author Contact:
V.L. Locey
Website: http://vlloceyauthor.com/

Avon Gale
Website: https://www.avongalewrites.com/

Cherylanne Corneille
Website: https://cacorneille.wordpress.com/

Heather Lire
Website: http://heatherlire.com/

Samantha Wayland
Website: http://www.samanthawayland.com/

Mary Smith
Website: http://www.authormarysmith.com/

Tour Stops:
October 10: Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
October 11: Joyfully Jay
October 12: MM Good Book Reviews
October 13: Gay Book Reviews
October 14: Open Skye Book Reviews
October 17: RJ Scott
October 18: Diverse Reader :: Bayou Book Junkie
October 19: BFD Book Blog
October 20: MM Book Escape
October 21: Molly Lolly: Reader, Reviewer, Lover of Words :: Alpha Book Club

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