Books, Boots and Bakeries

Beth Bolden is one of those authors I automatically read. She writes MM sports romance that ticks all the boxes for me, and Breakaway Goals, book four in the Food Truck Warriors spin-off series, just reminded me why she is a favourite. I do not think I have ever blogged about her other series, which surprises me because I have enjoyed every single one. She consistently delivers couples you want to cheer for and worlds that feel fun but still grounded.

I have been waiting for Morgan and Hayes to finally get their book and it did not let me down. Their slow build has been there in the background for a while… and the payoff was definitely worth it. Bolden writes characters with layers, people who are chasing their goals and dealing with their flaws, but who are also tender and vulnerable when it counts. In this one, you get the intensity of hockey and ambition mixed in with that emotional connection that makes a romance work. Morgan, poor, stunted, prickly Morgan, he definitely delivered, and Hayes was just GORGEOUS.

Now, a confession. I had to stop reading it on the tram. I am not someone who embarrasses easily, but there was a moment where I had to snap my Kindle shut before someone could read over my shoulder…. (And I accidentally sat on a  poor little old man on the tram the other day!!!) If you have ever read one of Bolden’s steamier chapters in public you will understand. It is a hazard of being a romance reader out in the wild.

What I liked about Breakaway Goals is that it gives you the sweetness and spice, but it also digs into the risk of opening yourself up. Morgan and Hayes are both strong characters, and together they make a couple you genuinely want to see succeed. Their story is about love, yes, but also about trust and the courage to take a chance when it would be easier to protect yourself.

You could read this book on its own and enjoy it, but I think you would be doing yourself a disservice. The series as a whole has a cast that pops in and out of each book, and seeing their friendships and connections develop adds so much to the experience. Bolden has built a world you want to stay in, which is why each new release feels like catching up with old friends.

Breakaway Goals has all the fun and heat you expect from a sports romance, but it also has heart. For me, that is the winning combination, and why Beth Bolden is a one click author for me, everytime.