Why Writing Hockey Romance Makes Me Sweat by Amy Aislin

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[Note from Frolic: We are so excited to have author Amy Aislin guest post on the site today. Take it away Amy!]

The adrenaline. The cheers. The plays. I’m one of those pillow-hugging viewers: pillow clutched to my chest, eyes on the television, barely breathing as sweat beads my temple. Watching hockey is like reading a hockey romance. Will they score? Will they win? Is the game going to overtime? Will my team come out victorious?

In the world of hockey romance, my team is the one the main character plays for. But what if the two main characters play for opposing teams? The horror!

Writing hockey romance is no easier. I’m not a plotter by nature; sometimes when I start writing a hockey scene, it’s not clear whether my main character will win or lose this game. And that makes things so much fun!

But also difficult. I’ll be the first to admit that my knowledge of hockey is slim, making writing hockey romance a challenge. Every single hockey playing scene takes me forever to write because they require hours of watching YouTube videos, reading sports articles and tapping people on the shoulder who know more about hockey than me. Hopefully the end result is something that makes sense and weaves itself seamlessly into the story.

As someone who writes hockey romance, of course I read hockey romance. Here are a few of my favourites!

Home & Away by Samantha Wayland

I first read this book in 2016 and it continues to be a favourite. It’s a big novel, quite lengthy, with a lot of subplots woven into the story, including one of the main characters’ struggle with coming out, homophobia, child adoption and hockey team ownership. There’s an enemies-to-lovers trope between a pro hockey player and a former figure skater, with a sweet slide into love.

Empty Net by Avon Gale

The hockey content in this novel is plentiful, and it’s perfectly balanced with the emotional development of the main characters. This book is a bit darker than the other ones in Gale’s Scoring Chances series: one of the main characters, Laurent, not only has an eating disorder, but he deals with the repercussions of having an abusive father — who is also his coach — that trades him to their rival team. There, he meets the snarky, blue-haired Isaac, who is finally getting himself together after living in poverty. Despite the rivalry with Laurent’s former team, Isaac nevertheless takes him under his wing. What follows is a friendship between two unlikely characters that slowly turns to love.

Good Boy by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

Set against the backdrop of a Toronto hockey team, Good Boy is perfect if you’re looking for a fun, light read. It’s one of those books that will leave you smiling long after you’ve read it. The main characters, Jess and Blake, are on their own journeys of self-awareness that overlap in their mutual love of hockey. As characters, they are immensely likeable, although not without their flaws… which just makes them that much more likeable.

The Shameless Hour by Sarina Bowen

I love this novel because we have something that I don’t see very often: a female lead character who likes sex, isn’t afraid to admit it and partakes in it whenever she feels like it. Oh, and she’s the manager of her college team! Pair her with a virgin male lead, give them a one-night stand and watch as awkwardness ensues.

Power Play by Avon Gale

If you’re looking for the serious-guy-meets-cinnamon-role trope, look no further! Opposites attract in this emotional romance from Avon Gale. Former NHL player Max suffered a career-ending injury that affects his peripheral vision — at the hands of the head coach of the team he’s just been hired on as assistant coach for. Misha’s been blaming himself for years and has no idea what to do when Max joins his coaching team. This is one of those un-put downable novels with loveable main characters, a hilarious side cast and lots of hockey!

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About the Author:

Amy Aislin started writing on a rainy day in fourth grade when her class was forced to stay inside for recess. Tales of adventures with her classmates quickly morphed into tales of adventures with the characters in her head. Based in the suburbs of Toronto, Amy is a marketer/fundraiser at a large environmental non-profit in Toronto by day, and a writer by night. Book enthusiast, animal lover and (very) amateur photographer, her interests are many and varied, including travelling, astronomy, ecology, and baking. She binge watches too much anime, and loves musical theater, Julie Andrews, the Backstreet Boys, and her hometown of Oakville, Ontario.  

Find Her Here:

Website:  https://amyaislin.com/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyaislin/  

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/amyaislin

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/amy-aislin  

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/amy_aislin

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amy.aislin   

The Nature of the Game by Amy Aislin, out now!

Six years ago, an ultimatum forced Dan Greyson to make a choice that cost him everything he loved most. One of those things? His boyfriend, hockey player Ashton Yager. Now that they’ve crossed paths again, Dan isn’t about to let the opportunity slip away. Ash’s reappearance in his life is just the catalyst Dan needs to escape the rut he’s fallen into…and win back Ash’s trust and love.

Ashton Yager, once burned and now a little bit shy, didn’t mean to publicly come out as bisexual. But now that he has, he’s got to deal with the consequences, including the fact that it might’ve cost him his NHL contract. With his job on the line, he needs to keep his head down, work hard, and play the best hockey of his life. Rekindling things with Dan? That’s not exactly keeping a low profile. It’s also never going to happen, not after Dan walked away once without an explanation.

When a hurricane forces Ash to seek shelter out-of-state, he and Dan find themselves in the same B&B, where old feelings resurface. But with everything Ash has on the line, does he dare play with fire again?

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