Chris M

I don’t even know how to explain what this book did to me, but I’m going to try because it deserves every ounce of praise I can give it.

For the Fans isn’t just another dark romance. It’s one of those stories that sneaks up on you and settles in deeper than you expect. This was my first Nyla K. book, and honestly, I only picked it up because someone on Instagram told me I needed to read it. I’m so glad I listened, because I was not prepared for how quickly I got attached.

The dynamic between the characters is electric in a way that feels almost physical. Every scene has this weight to it, like there’s always something unspoken hanging in the air. Nyla doesn’t just write chemistry. She writes that kind of connection that makes you pause, reread, and sit with it for a second because it hits somewhere you didn’t expect. I had moments where I smiled, moments where my stomach dropped, and moments where I just had to stop and breathe.

What surprised me most was the softness tucked inside all the intensity. It’s messy and addictive, yes, but there’s a tenderness woven through it that caught me off guard. By the end, I didn’t just care about the characters. I felt like I’d gone through something with them.

It’s the kind of book that lingers. The kind you keep thinking about after you close it, replaying certain scenes because they landed just right. I finished it feeling a little wrecked, a little full, and genuinely grateful I picked it up. And honestly, I’m already fighting the urge to flip back to page one and experience it all over again.

Really liked this one overall. CC Black’s writing has definitely improved. It's way smoother, more confident, and the characters feel more alive than in his earlier work. The pacing is quick, the dialogue flows, and it’s easy to get pulled in.

That said, the short story format does show its limits. One moment that really stood out was when the characters hung out Friday night and made plans to meet Saturday morning. But then… nothing. The meetup never happens, and the author doesn’t explain why. For me, that felt like a missed opportunity. It could’ve added more depth or tension, but instead it just sort of disappears. It left me wondering if something got cut or if it was meant to be left hanging.

Even with that frustration, the story still works. Black manages to pack in the thrill of the game and the personal side of the players, which kept me engaged. And honestly, it’s exciting to see how much his writing has grown. Quick, heartfelt, and worth checking out if you’re into sports stories. Even if you’ll wish a few threads had been tied up tighter.

In The Last Buzzer, J.J. Mulder delivers a heartfelt tale about Desmond, a man who becomes the guardian of his young nephew after his sister’s sudden death. As Desmond navigates grief and new fatherhood, he finds solace and connection in his role as a hockey coach—and in Jack, a player with his own emotional scars. Their slow-building romance is tender and grounded, but it’s the evolving bond between Desmond and the child that gives the novel its emotional core. A beautiful story about showing up, even when you’re broken.