Self-Isolation Read - Tough Guy

• Title And Author: Tough Guy by Rachel Reid
• Publisher: Carina Press
• Physical, eBook or Audiobook: eBook
• Bought, Borrowed or Gifted: Gifted by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review/reaction
• Length: 262 Pages

I was meant to be reading Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile. That was the plan. But after reading 20-odd%, my brain wasn’t in the right head space while self-isolating. So, I needed something light and easy. Something that didn’t involve much brain-power, and then I remembered I requested this adult gay romance a while back from the publisher and went “I’ve read a bit of romance the past few weeks, let’s try you out!”

Ice hockey player Ryan Price has recently moved to Toronto Guardians to play their enforcer, but he struggles with self-esteem issues and anxiety. But he’s determined to make a fresh start in the city’s LGBTQ Village. The last thing he expected was to bump into Fabian Salah, a blast from the past who has sworn never to date an ice hockey player. They shouldn’t have a strong attraction, but it’s there… But can these two, who seem completely incompatible, make it work?

I wasn’t sure what I was getting into with this, but I was surprised how easy I fell into reading these two characters: a gentle giant put into an uncomfortable position at work due to his size and a confident, femme who worries his new boyfriend’s job is going to hurt him beyond repair. 

This is a slow burn of a read, a second-chance/the one that got away romance, which does tackle the issue on mental health. I read this very quickly, but I saw that this is a slow burn of a romance. I know there are readers who prefer the previous book in this series, Heated Rivalry, as that was more intensity with its chemistry and romance aspects. 

This isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea of a romance. This felt soft and gentle with a tiny hint of angst in it, and while that’s ok for me, I know some of you want hot, burning passion from the first page. This might not be the book for you. 

It was a nice, fluffy gay romance read. A beach read of a romance. I had fun with these characters and I can very easily see myself reading the other books in this series. Now, to read Heated Rivalry or wait till the fourth book in series, Common Goal, comes out at the end of the year?