After realizing pretty quickly in Shots on Net (SCU Hockey #1) by J.J. Mulder, that there was a second connected series I sought it out. What I didn’t realize, is that it would take me to book three, Between the Pipes, to get the story I wanted! I’m divided on whether or not I should’ve read this one first. Mulder definitely improves as a writer throughout the two series and I believe wrote them simultaneously or at least in quick succession.
Changing the Game starts both series out with a bang in the most nonchalant way you possibly could. There’s Troy, the star forward of the South Carolina NHL franchise. He’s gay and he’s open about it, he’s never been in the closet and it’s just never been brought up. And you have Sam, a former Harvard University goalie who wasn’t good enough to go pro, but still wanted to work for the NHL and does so for the SC team. Sam is coming off of a nasty breakup from a gold-digging girlfriend and this is his bisexual awakening.
Sam and Troy were PERFECTLY adorable. Sam goes all in when he figures it out and balances out Troy’s shy but cocky persona. Every time Mulder mentioned Troy’s blushing or grinning I could just picture him perfectly. I also loved that we got to meet Tony, from book three and the SCU series and get his humor right off:
‘Well, give him a couple days to get settled before you ravish him.’
I blush furiously, my already warm face heating up further.
‘I’m not going to ravish him!’
‘You could, probably. You know what else I noticed last night? Him watching you.’ (32)
I was also impressed with Mulder’s walking the walk on verse characters. You never know when you start/find a new author if they’re going to say a character is verse and then do nothing about it, but throughout both series Mulder has her characters do what she says and almost all are verse which was refreshing. A lot of authors like to really write toppy characters that are hyper-masculine and more often than not it comes across as highlighting their internal homophobia and fragile masculinity and these were all a nice change of pace, especially with so many of the characters discovering new things about themselves.
By far, my favorite scene of the novel was when Sam took Troy home to Maine for Thanksgiving. I always love a novel/scene set in New England and this one was well done with snow and cozy cabins. Sam didn’t give his parents warning who he was bringing home or why. His sister knew, but kept it quiet. His mom’s reaction was a little more predictable and concerning, but she got over it. However, his dad’s was epic in it’s response:
‘Well, your prayers were answered because this time I brought home a boyfriend,’ Sam says ironically.
‘What’s that?’
‘They’re together, Dad,’ June explains, pointing at us.
‘Together together.’
‘That right?’ He looks over at Sam, who I see stiffen slightly as though preparing for a blow.
‘Well, then, I don’t see how you could do much better than Troy Nichols, eh? Good for you, boy.’ (168)
Just that generic you do you, but do it the best you can. I am here for it. Like oh, you like guys, that’s cool. Good on you for bringing home a star forward from the NHL 😀
The rest of the novel was well written and there wasn’t a whole lot of angst, which I appreciated. There was, of course, a scene with Sam’s ex and I really appreciated how it wasn’t an issue. It was for Troy for a few minutes, but Sam was like NO, this is it for me, we’re it. I also liked getting a different perspective on Corwin Sanhover, one of the protagonists from Square the Puck (Offsides #2), because I’m not sure jumping right into his story would’ve been enough for me to keep going with this series.
If there’s one thing I wished for, from the entire series, it would be that there was another pickup game or a family night like in Sticks & Scones. I enjoyed them shooting the shit so much and Sam getting the chance to be back out on the ice, but it fell to the side at some point.
Recommendation: Go for it! This was a fun low-angst MM hockey romance and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It set up the next two novels and the following series in a way that I enjoyed, even if it’s not necessary to read the SCU Hockey series. There was something refreshing about a bisexual awakening story with so little angst, internal homophobia, and freaking out. Troy and Sam are my favorite couple from this series (I’m writing this a few weeks after finishing all of them), because they were just so well matched and meshed perfectly even together.
Opening Line: “The lights are already on above the rink when I walk into the arena, and I feel a pang of disappointment.”
Closing Line: “I grin, immediately changing direction and heading back down the hallway. I’m not that hungry, anyway.” (Whited out to avoid spoilers, highlight to read.)
Additional Quotes from Changing the Game
“I’m surprised he’s not a player with a body like that—I know a hockey butt when I see one.” (4)
“He smiles, and two dimples pop into place on his cheeks. Good lord, how did I not notice those before?” (22)
“‘But don’t they know you’re gay?’
‘Yes. But I’m a hockey player, and I make a lot of money.’ And, because I’ve been told this on several occasions, I add: ‘Also, I’m very cute.’
He laughs, an authentic one this time, and I smile.
‘It’s the dimples,’ he informs me.
‘What is?’
‘What makes you very cute.’ He points to his own, smooth cheeks. I turn my face away, slightly, trying to hide my grin.” (36)
“Jesus, I have a degree from Harvard and can’t manage to say what I actually want to say. We sound like a pair of teenagers, fumbling through their first relationship. Or, more accurately, a pair of dumb jocks who aren’t accustomed to talking about their feelings.” (67)
“‘What is it?’ he asks as he pulls back, thumb brushing across my face as he notes my surprise.
‘Sometimes guys don’t want you to kiss them after.’
‘Let’s just move forward with the understanding that there will never be a time when I don’t want to kiss you.'” (91)
“‘Oh, that reminds me. I do want you to do that to me at some point,’ Sam says, tone matter-of-fact.
‘Do what?’
‘Fuck me.’ He laughs at the look on my face and shrugs.
‘I know you would never bring it up unless I did, so this is me bringing it up.’
‘You want to do that now?’
‘No, not now, Jesus.’ He laughs, reaching forward to open the door.
‘Just sometime. Anytime.'” (116)
“I frown at the ceiling. Because that sounded like he was speaking from experience, and not a good one.
‘So, do you prefer to top then?’
‘I don’t care either way. I have more experience topping though.’ There is a long pause, while the sound of the rain permeates the room. He continues, almost shyly.
If you are . . . curious, or want to try it, I would let you do that, or whatever you want. To me, I mean.’
‘I do want to,’ I admit.
‘But you don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with, Troy. You have more experience than I do, so if you know you don’t like something, I’m not going to force it. But you have to tell me, okay? I don’t want to hurt you without knowing it.'” (127)
“‘I’m going to marry you, one day,’ I say, into the dark room. Sam snorts, wrapping an arm around my chest.
‘Of course you are. But you’re going to have to ask me a lot nicer than that.'” (254)