Have you met the Watkins Glen Gladiators series?

Can Liam and Tarcy’s relationship survive one career taking off while another is winding down?

The life of a hockey player centers on dedication to the sport. Years and years of honing your skills, road trips, summers spent training instead of vacationing, and winters away from loved ones for long, lonely stretches. Not many make it to the pros, so when the Watkins Glen Gladiators’ newest goalie is called up to Pittsburgh, Liam’s world is tossed into joyous chaos.

Thrilled to be getting a chance to play in his hometown for the team his uncle led to several championships is everything he ever dreamed of. But leaving the small village of Watkins Glen means leaving his boyfriend, stock car driver, Tarcy Hayward, as well. The summer they recently spent together touring the country and winning races seems to be a distant memory as the flying snows signal the start of new seasons of hockey and racing.

Racing has been a part of Tarcy Hayward’s life since he was a young man. It’s in his blood, in his soul. Sitting behind the wheel of his famed 66 stock car, pushing himself and his car to their extremes, is like breathing. And yet, of late, all those high-speed laps don’t seem to be packing the same punch as they used to. Ever since he broke a wrist in a crash and had to see the suffering and worry in his boyfriend’s soft green eyes, he’s felt a bit detached from the sport.

His winter off has been filled with simpler things, like long nights curled around Liam, cold days sledding with his grandson over the holidays, and planning his son’s wedding. As the start of another race season nears, Tarcy is unsure, for the very first time, if he even wants to run laps. Maybe the quiet life is what his spirit is yearning for but, then again, maybe not. Maybe it’s time to set some new goals, but he’ll be darned if he has any idea what they would be.

The Call-Up is a low angst, age gap, queer hockey romance with a young goalie about to get his big break, an older race car driver contemplating everything, loving friends and family, a city eager for a return to the glory days, and one big, happy icy ending. 

Discover the first three complete novels in this delightful low angst MM hockey romance series from a USA TODAY best-selling author!

Between the Pipes – Book 1

Between the Pipes is a low angst, age gap gay hockey romance that features an outgoing young goalie, a cautious older race car driver, two families who are not above meddling just a bit to see their loved ones happy, lots of on-ice and high-speed action, and a straightaway sprint to a happy-ever-after.

Defending the House – Book 2

Defending the House is a low angst, opposites attract, gay hockey twink/jock romance starring a sexy team captain, a bubbly but clumsy waiter, lots of nautical nonsense, on-ice action, off-boat shenanigans, yo-ho-ho a few bottles of rum, and one fair weather happy ending.

Dump and Chase – Book 3

Dump and Chase is a low-angst, slow burn, age gap queer hockey romance with a not-quite-as-confirmed-as-he-thought bachelor, a harried single father, plenty of nosy but well-meaning parishioners and teammates, tons of joyous song, and a harmonious happily ending.

Will the French countryside—and Henri’s estranged family—survive forty-eight hours of Phil Greco?

Henri Gaudion has been hiding an upcoming family event in Paris from his boyfriend, Phil Greco, and he has just discovered it. Phil is thrilled to take a long weekend to fly to France, where he can finally meet the other Gaudion family members. After all, he has a few words for the people who have been so distant from the man he loves. Not bad words, per se, just honest words. Nothing wrong with a little honesty, right?

With no out in sight, and the possibility of mending some fences, Henri gives in to Greck’s way of thinking. Surely a sign of true love if ever there was one. Leaving the States behind, the vintner, the gabby hockey player, and Barnaby—Henri’s faithful seneschal—are in the air and on the way to the French countryside to spend two days among the elite of the French winemaking world. All will be well is Henri’s silent prayer as the threesome cross the Atlantic for the nuptials. An affair that promises to be unlike any other Henri has ever experienced.

*Author Note—If you’ve not read the Watkins Glen Gladiators books, it is strongly suggested that you do before diving into this novella. While you can surely read this as a standalone, you’ll get far more enjoyment from it if you read the series—and Greck and Henri’s book Taking the Body in particular—for a wider and more in-depth understanding of Phil, Henri, and our beloved and ever faithful Barnaby. ~ V.L. *

They say time flies.

Liam Kneller-Polkman can testify to that fact.

It feels like yesterday that he was a small boy biking around Squirrel Hill with his friends and having sleepovers at his doting uncle’s home during summer vacation. Now he’s about to graduate from college. If he can ever find his tie…

This summer will be vastly different from the ones that came before. No trips abroad to study art, no weeks in the pool with buddies, no goofing off. The number one goalie draft pick for the Pittsburgh Ravens will have three short months to ready himself for his chance to grab a spot on the Watkins Glen Gladiators roster. The warmest days of the year are going to be long and sweaty ones for Liam, but this top prospect has a lot to prove to the world.

Top Prospect is a low-angst, romance free, family-and-friends filled prequel short story that will lead directly into Between the Pipes, Watkins Glen Gladiators #1.

It’s far from smooth sailing into love for this pair of polar opposites.

Carson Dries is the ultimate team captain. Seasoned, amiable, humble, understanding, outgoing, and good-looking. He’s also really darn lonely, but his searches for Mr. Right have all turned into producing Mr. Wrongs. Having just turned thirty, Carson isn’t sure if dating is even worth the hassle anymore. Maybe he should just devote his time to his team, his grandfather, and his Peke-a-Poo, Penelope. Feeling a little blue, he heads to a Gladiators’ fundraiser to wile away another night alone when one of the cutest guys he has ever seen runs into him—literally. Pity the adorable ginger is carrying a bowl of piping hot soup when they meet. While the mortified server is trying to dry off Carson’s ruined tux, Carson is getting rather lost in a magical combination of freckles, bright eyes, and kissable pink lips.

Criswell Dobbs is so getting fired. Or beaten up. Or maybe both. One does not dump French onion soup down the front of a behemoth of a man—a hockey player at that—and not get punched in the nose. Losing his job would be terrible. He loves being a member of the waitstaff on the Seneca Starlight paddleboat. The tips are amazing, his coworkers are fabulous, and the free dinners are keeping him fed. Knowing he and his little brother relied on this job, he’s got to do whatever it takes to stay employed so apologizing profusely while offering to pay for dry cleaning seems the right course. When the hulking hunk of a man in the soaking wet tux unexpectedly asks him out, Criswell is flabbergasted to say the least. Shocked yes but not too stunned to write the Gladiator captain’s seemingly sincere request off completely. There is something about a tall, dark, handsome man in a tux. Even if that tuxedo smelled of onions…

Defending the House is a low angst, opposites attract, gay hockey twink/jock romance starring a sexy team captain, a bubbly but clumsy waiter, lots of nautical nonsense, on-ice action, off-boat shenanigans, yo-ho-ho a few bottles of rum, and one fair weather happy ending.

Working side-by-side on a charityproject might just prove to be the foundation of anew romance.

DeandreJones is enjoying his single life quite nicely, thank you. He’s a defenseman onthe Watkins Glen Gladiators, gets to travel, dates frequently, and isn’t tieddown to anything other than his mom and brother back in the windy city. He hastime to do the whole family and kids thing. Right now he’s happy to befootloose, even if his mother has different ideas. As the playoffs near hisfocus should be on hockey, but for some reason, he can’t seem to give the sportits due. Ever since he volunteered to help the incredibly handsome assistantpastor of a local church work on an addition to the parish, his attention seemsto be locked on curly hair and bright blue eyes instead of breakaways and bodychecks.

GabrielHansley has quite the full plate. Not only is he the first openly out bisexualassistant pastor for a small but highly active parish, but he’s also got hisson to tend to as well as his work at the church, which keeps him hopping allday long. And that’s a good thing as the nights alone are hard for the youngwidower. Just when he’s about to give up on finding a person to share his lifewith—chaotic as it can be—he finds himself hammering nails beside DeandreJones. As they work side-by-side under the bright spring sun, he’s gettingwarmer under the collar with each shared smile and terrible carpentry pun.

Dumpand Chase is a low-angst, slow burn, age gap queer hockey romance with anot-quite-as-confirmed-as-he-thought bachelor, a harried single father, plentyof nosy but well-meaning parishioners and teammates, tons of joyous song, and aharmonious happily ending.

One’s from Flushing, New York, the other from Ambroise, France. Worlds, wit, and passions are about to collide!

Phil Greco is that player that every opponent and their fanbase hates but secretly wishes played for their team. Greck is a mouthy guy, high-spirited, and able to tweak nerves with relative ease. Having grown up with a large family he’d learned early that you had to fight for what you wanted. This is how a short, undrafted guy from Flushing made it as far as he had. It had taken no small amount of bull&*#*, grit, and plenty of wit. Generally that wit and grit was enough to get him on the top of the pileup but that’s not the case with Henri Gaudion, owner of Gaudion Winery. Ever since they’d met sparks have flown, and for the life of him, Phil cannot understand what it is about the suave, well-dressed, handsome French vintner that makes him so edgy. They have nothing in common aside from a love of Watkins Glen, so why does he keep finding himself so drawn to the lean man with the rapier wit? Sure, he was pretty, and did keep him on his toes, but Phil’s not the kind of fella to be drawn to such a fancy pants rich boy. How stupid would it be to think that a hoodlum like him could ever catch a man like Henri? Not that he wanted to catch the stuck-up winemaker…

Henri Gaudion has no time for shenanigans or those who engage in them, especially boorish braggarts on skates. Yes, he enjoys the game of hockey and having the Gladiators hockey team and the local gentry at his chalet overlooking Seneca Lake every Sunday for brunch, but that’s solely for keeping up appearances. Since the death of his father, he has devoted his life to ensuring the lands bequeathed to him produce the finest wines and champagne in the Finger Lakes district. Henri is a lonely, heartbroken man when the blinds are drawn and the erudite mask is dropped. He also has no room in his life for rowdy little men with bright smiles, cheeky winks, and heavily accented, fanciful tales about his large Italian family back in, of all places, Flushing. The pull that he’s feeling for Phil Greco must be some sort of glitch, or perhaps he’s been spending too much time in the tasting rooms. Whatever the reason, he is not about to let his attraction to Phil grow. It would be impossible for two such incompatible men to fall in love. Wouldn’t it?

Taking the Body is a low-angst, opposites attract queer hockey romance with a mouthy hockey player, a refined vintner, a whole lot of forced proximity, on-ice action, evenings spent sipping wine, a nosy butler, even nosier teammates, a large loving family, and a perfectly aged happy ending.

Will there be kissing and making up or will Baskoro and Marcus be dropping the gloves?

A new season is about to kick off and Baskoro Huda is ready to win it all. As one half of the Watkins Glen Gladiators two-man tandem goalkeeping duo, Basky, as his teammates call him, is on track to deliver a winning season and everything is going his way. His summer training is paying off, his family and friends are warm and supportive, and his new nephew is the cutest thing ever. He’s even had a few casual dates. The only downside to this upcoming amazing season is the fact that he has to face goalie Marcus Newley and the Comets several times. To say there is no love lost between the two men would be an understatement. Granted, Marcus is incredibly handsome and skilled, but those qualities are overshadowed by the man’s ego. The tension between the two goalies has been percolating since senior year of college and one more pithy comment from Basky’s rival might just be all it takes for a reckoning that’s been a long time coming.

Marcus Newley has come a long way in a short time. He’s clawed his way to the top of the Comets roster and is now within reach of his dream: winning that championship cup and securing his chances for a call-up to the pros. The brass ring is within reach, and he is not about to let someone like Baskoro Huda and his team stand in his way. He’s got one very important person counting on him to make those dreams a reality. Unsure of what he ever did to twist the pretty but irritable Gladiators goalie’s shorts into such a tight knot, all he can do is fire back when the verbal barbs are launched from the other end of the ice. The time to focus on hockey is now, and he refuses to let Baskoro take up any more time in his head. It’s an all-out war as far as Marcus is concerned and nothing but complete surrender from Baskoro will satisfy those—and perhaps not so hidden—passions.

Reading the Play is a low angst, enemies-to-lovers, doting uncle and single dad queer hockey romance with two goalies who snipe at each other endlessly, one old misunderstanding, far too many sci-fi/fantasy TV show and movie references, several teammates trying to keep the peace, one goaltending coach who sees what all the others seem to be missing, and a hard won but oh-so gratifying happy ending.

If only getting back into playing shape were as easy as falling in love…

Tanner LaBrie—aka Fossie to his teammates—is feeling every bit of his thirty-eight years. His shoulder aches when it’s cold, his arms need to be longer to see the crossword puzzle app on his phone, and his knees are incredibly unhappy about the abuse they’ve taken. During one of the final games of the regular season, one of his weary joints decides to give way. The need for surgery is not a surprising one for Tanner. He’s been putting it off for years, but escaping the knife is not an option now. Post-surgery rehab is a son-of-a-gun, but if Tanner is anything, it’s stubborn. Just ask any of his ex-boyfriends. So when his therapist suggests finding a local yoga group, he scoffs at first. Unsure of how he would fit in with the gals in leotards, he nonetheless signs up for a class at his local gym where the teacher is not at all the person listed on the signup form. Not that Fossie is complaining when Keyshaun Williams, the enigmatic and sexy gym owner, shows up with a floral exercise mat, some whale song CDs, and a smile that nearly erases how out of place the defenseman feels.

Keyshaun Williams is living the life he has always dreamed of…for the most part. His new business is a huge success, his family is happy and healthy, and his sister—the only somewhat straight triplet—is a few weeks away from giving birth to twins while his brother is about to open a franchise of Williams Wellness in Buffalo. Yep, life is looking pretty darn great for the former Army dietician/Golden Gloves boxer. Great aside from the quiet house he goes home to every night. Being a few years on the other side of thirty has him seeking someone to settle down with, raise a family, maybe adopt some dogs or raise some goats. Heck, maybe dogs and goats. A man could dream, right? And yes, dreamy would describe the towering, mature, stunningly attractive D-man for the local hockey team who has, it seems, signed up for a senior yoga class that Keyshaun is leading as his sister nests and eats far too many chocolate-covered jalapenos. Tanner LaBrie ticks all his boxes as well as a few he didn’t even know he had. Maybe those long looks the hockey player has been shooting his way for months means Tanner is interested in more than achieving the perfect camel pose?

Playing the Man is a low-angst, small-town, queer hockey romance starring a rehabbing hockey player, a personable gym owner, a fitness center filled with snoopy seniors, meddling but well-meaning siblings, rescue dogs, tons of namaste, and one barktastic happy ever after.