Reviewed by Susan65
Title: Empty Net
Author: Avon Gale
Narrator: Scott R. Smith
Series: Scoring Chances #4
Heroes: Isaac Drake/Laurent St. Savoy
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 6 Hours, 38 Minutes
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: January 10, 2017
Available at: Amazon, Audible and iTunes
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: Spartanburg Spitfires’ goalie and captain Isaac Drake ended last season with an unexpected trip to the playoffs. He’s found a home and family with his coach and mentor, Misha Samarin, and he’s looking forward to making a serious run for the Kelly Cup. But things take an interesting turn when Isaac’s archnemesis, Laurent St. Savoy, is traded to the Spitfires. After Laurent’s despicable behavior in the playoffs last year, Isaac wants nothing to do with him – no matter how gorgeous he is. But that changes when Isaac discovers the reason for Laurent’s attitude.
Laurent St. Savoy grew up the only son of a legendary NHL goalie in a household rife with abuse, constantly treated like a disappointment on and off the ice. When a desperate attempt to escape his father’s tyranny sends him to the Spitfires, the last thing Laurent wants is to make friends. But there’s something about Isaac Drake that he can’t resist, and Laurent has an opportunity to explore his sexuality for the first time, but he’s cracking under end-of-the season pressures. When facing the playoffs and a rivalry turned personal vendetta, Isaac’s not sure he’s enough to hold Laurent—or their relationship—together.
Please be advised: This book does contain some non-graphic references to past childhood physical/emotional abuse as well as issues relating to ED (bulimia and restricted eating, disordered thoughts about eating).
Review:
I really love this series. The narration, the writing, the dialogue, it’s all so well done that I am hard pressed to find something I don’t like about the stories. What did surprise me, though, was that I liked this audio just as much as I liked the first one. I really didn’t think anyone could surpass my love for Lane, but I must admit, Issac and Saint were pretty damn close. I will also say that Scott R. Smith is still the perfect narrator for this series. I just love his voice. It has a stunning cadence to it, and his inflections are upbeat and so alive. He isn’t just reading the lines, he is performing each scene. He puts forth a ton of effort and it shows.
I’d actually put off listening to this audio because Issac and Saint didn’t really excite me when I’d first met them. They were both bad boys and trouble makers…or so I thought. Just like in all things, there are multiple sides to all stories, and boy does Saint have a horrific reason for being so hateful. Heartbreaking. Fortunately, Issac, once he puts his fists away, takes the high road. I really fell hard for Issac in this book. I also loved that Misha and Max were both front and center in helping our boys deal with their major issues. Misha is still hot, and Max is still funny. I loved that they played such a prominent role. I am not giving anything away and I am not going to summarize. Just know that you will love it and won’t be disappointed.
I haven’t had a chance to look and see if another book was forthcoming, but if it is, you can bet I will be jumping all over it. As you can tell, I highly recommend this audio series.
Overall Impression: I loved it!
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*
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