Heated Rivalry book review
Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid Series: Game Changers #2
Published by Carina Press on April 18, 2023
Pages: 372
Goodreads
Nothing interferes with Shane Hollander’s game—definitely not the sexy rival he loves to hate.
Pro hockey star Shane Hollander isn’t just crazy talented, he’s got a spotless reputation. Hockey is his life. Now that he’s captain of the Montreal Voyageurs, he won’t let anything jeopardize that, especially the sexy Russian whose hard body keeps him awake at night.
Boston Bears captain Ilya Rozanov is everything Shane’s not. The self-proclaimed king of the ice, he’s as cocky as he is talented. No one can beat him—except Shane. They’ve made a career on their legendary rivalry, but when the skates come off, the heat between them is undeniable. When Ilya realizes he wants more than a few secret hookups, he knows he must walk away. The risk is too great.
As their attraction intensifies, they struggle to keep their relationship out of the public eye. If the truth comes out, it could ruin them both. But when their need for each other rivals their ambition on the ice, secrecy is no longer an option.
Okay. I need to be honest. I went into Heated Rivalry ridiculously excited. Enemies to lovers? Hockey? Long term tension? That combination should have been my perfect book.
And look, I did enjoy it.
But this might be where the series lost a little spark for me.
What Is Heated Rivalry About?
If you love hockey romance and enemies to lovers, this book centres on two rivals.
Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov dominate the ice for opposing teams. They compete, and push each other constantly.
Off the ice, they start hooking up in secret. What begins as tension and ego slowly turns into something deeper.
Neither man knows how to handle those feelings. Neither knows how to define what they share.
They hide everything. Even avoid the word “relationship.” They keep telling themselves it means nothing.
Spoiler: it absolutely does.
Where It Lost Me A Little
The story jumps back and forth across multiple time periods. I usually love that structure, especially when you’re trying to build a backstory quickly. Here, it felt repetitive at times.
Many scenes echoed the same moments.
Hook up.
Deny feelings.
Repeat.
The plot often steps aside to make room for steam. I love tension and spice as much as anyone. But I wanted in fact needed more emotional development in between.
The rivalry also didn’t hit as hard as I expected. I wanted fire. I wanted sharp, cutting tension, something that showed the real passion they had.
Instead, I got sarcastic remarks and half-hearted insults. The banter works in places. It just never reached the explosive level the build-up promised.
At times, I struggled to understand the depth of their attraction. I saw the chemistry, could see why they wanted to experiment with each other. But, I wanted more clarity on why it grew into something lasting. There was so little explained and so little developed into the why, I felt stranded.
The Side Character Situation (Again)
Side characters barely register here. It was the same issue as I had in Game Changer. Teammates exist in the background without much personality. Especially with this being two hockey players we really did suffer with having no outside voices.
Saying that I cannot remember any of their names. That says a lot. Usually a side character will be a shining star for me.
Stronger friendships could have grounded Shane and Ilya’s relationship. Support systems could have added weight and realism. This story really could have used that balance.
What I Did Love
Now let’s talk about what worked.
Shane and Ilya shine when they interact one on one. Their personalities bounce off each other beautifully.
Ilya brings cockiness and sharp humour. Shane brings quiet determination and surprising innocence. Together, they create a dynamic that feels intimate and complicated.
I loved watching them grow over the years, the time jumps show their envy, jealousy, and gradual emotional maturity. Especially through tournaments, games against each other and the pressure of needing to be seen to hate each other. That long term progression feels thoughtful and well written.
Under all the bravado, they care deeply for each other. That genuine care broke my heart more than once.
Final Thoughts On Heated Rivalry
Did Heated Rivalry deliver everything I hoped for?
Not quite.
Did I still enjoy the ride?
Yes.
The formula works, but I can feel it wearing thin for me. So I plan to take a short break before the next book. I want to give the series space so the magic can hit again.
If you love enemies to lovers, long term secret relationships, and intense hockey drama, you will probably adore this one.
As for me?
I’ll step off the ice for a minute… and then I’ll probably come skating back
