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Never Hollowed By The Stare
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  • Home
  • REVIEWS+RECS
    • MANGA
    • BOOK REVIEW
    • SOUNDTRACK
    • QUOTE
    • TRAILER
    • DESERT ISLAND CASTAWAYS
    • BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
    • Reviews A-Z
    • MINI MOVIE REVIEWS
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    • FIRST LINES FRIDAY 56
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  • Uncategorized

    LAST YEAR I WAS READING…(September 21, 2022)

    September 21, 2022 / No Comments

    Here are the rules:

    Take your current read and compare it to what you reading this exact time last year. Which one do you like better? What is different about the books? Any special facts/things you want to make note of or bring attention to?

    Read More
    neverhollowed

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  • Uncategorized

    LAST YEAR I WAS READING…(March 23, 2022)

    March 23, 2022 / No Comments

    Here are the rules:

    Take your current read and compare it to what you reading this exact time last year. Which one do you like better? What is different about the books? Any special facts/things you want to make note of or bring attention to?

    Read More
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    May 17, 2024
  • book,  Uncategorized

    REVIEW: Role Model by Rachel Reid

    September 24, 2021 / 5 Comments
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    Game Changers: Role Model – Rachel Reid

    The highly anticipated fifth novel in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series sees a grumpy professional hockey player meet his match in an out-and-proud social media manager

    The hits just keep coming for Troy Barrett. Traded to the worst team in the league would be bad enough, but coming on the heels of a messy breakup and a recent scandal… Troy just wants to play hockey and be left alone. He doesn’t want to be in the news anymore, and he definitely doesn’t want to “work on his online presence” with the team’s peppy social media manager.

    Harris Drover can tell standoffish Troy isn’t happy about the trade—anyone could tell, frankly, as he doesn’t exactly hide it well—but Harris doesn’t give up on people easily. Even when he’s developing a crush he’s sure is one-sided. And when he sees Troy’s smile finally crack through his grumpy exterior, well… That’s a man Harris couldn’t turn his back on if he wanted to.

    Suddenly, Troy’s move to the new team feels like an opportunity—for Troy to embrace his true self, and for both men to surrender to their growing attraction. But indulging in each other behind closed doors is one thing, and for Troy, being in a public relationship with Harris will mean facing off with his fears, once and for all.


    As much as I love Rachel Reid’s hockey romance series, Game Changers, I struggled with Book 3. As a result, I didn’t bother with Book 4. However, there was something about Book 5 that piqued my interest again. Because who doesn’t love a bad boy redemption story?

    Role Model is top pro hockey player and asshole by association Troy Barrett, fresh from a scandal and having just been traded to bottom ranked team, Ottawa Centaurs. Feeling lonely and miserable, also secretly nursing a broken heart, he grumps his way through the day with the intent of moving to a better team when the season is over.

    Troy is considered a pariah in the league after calling out his former teammate/best friend for sexually assaulting several women. Anticipating a frosty reception, he did not expect his new team welcoming him with open arms. Nor did he expect the Centaurs’ out-and-proud social media manager, Harris Drover, befriending him. And slowly but surely, drawing out that super secret side he had hidden for years. Also, is he imagining it or does the man smell like apples?

    One thing that made me keen to read this is the promise of Ilya sightings. He is in very fine form here. Witness him cooing over a puppy. The author really made good use of his character in the plot, as well as setting up his and Shane’s second book.

    However, what made Role Model stood out for me was that even with Ilya’s magnificent self making a very strong presence, Troy and Harris managed to shine and they did it quite brilliantly. There were no doubts that this is their story.

    Raised by a happy family of apple farmers, Harris is the ray of sunshine Troy needed in his life. With his booming laugh and his beaming smiles and him being completely comfortable in his own skin. Everyone in the team loves the guy. I loved his openness and how he looked, really looked, and saw that behind the cold expressions was an anxious young man who could use a friend.

    The romance was a beautifully rendered slow burn, friends to lovers, out for you story between two opposite people. It was super sweet and oh so gentle, showing a surprisingly thoughtful and caring side of Troy very few people are privileged to know.

    The book did a fabulous job portraying how Troy’s character evolved from an angry, heart-broken and very sullen newcomer to Harris’ tentative friend to a motivated team player to a young man on the cusp of new love to the inspirational hero he is.

    My heart went out to Troy when he felt like the whole world was against him. I was rooting so hard for him. The book’s Disney fairy tale ending couldn’t be more perfect. Of all people who deserved that many rainbows and his very own apple-scented prince, it was him.

    Role Model is not only a story of bad boy gone good, it also a story about giving voice to those who were silenced and the courage it takes to be truly yourself. Funny, heartwarming and uplifting, this here is Rachel Reid upping her game and scoring a definite win

    Rating:
    4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step away

    Soundtrack: Apple Pie
    Artist: The Scary Jokes
    Album: April Fools

    P.S.

    While Role Model can be read as a standalone, hockey is a group effort. So it’s best to meet the rest of the team starting with the meet-cute that led to the Stanley cup in Game Changer and that infamously incendiary trysts between that cocky Russian and the polite Canadian boy in Heated Rivalry.


    If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Role Model. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.

     US |  UK

    You can also use my Bookshop affiliate links to buy paperbacks and MP3 CD audiobooks and help support independent bookstores.

    ROLE MODEL

    If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!

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  • Uncategorized

    LAST YEAR I WAS READING…(September 8, 2021)

    September 8, 2021 / 1 Comment

    This meme was created by Reading Marie. It’s a great meme because it’s nice and easy to do.

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    LAST YEAR I WAS READING…(July 21, 2021)

    July 21, 2021 / 1 Comment

    This meme was created by Reading Marie. It’s a great meme because it’s nice and easy to do.

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    PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE (Aug 19, 2020)

    August 19, 2020 / 4 Comments

    Found this tag on Chelle’s Book Ramblings . It’s simple and fun. I thought I would put my own spin on it and make it a weekly thing.

    Original Rules

    • Find a book published 10+ years ago.
    • Find a book that will be published THIS year.
    • Find a book that will be published NEXT year.

    Some slight revision of the rules:

    • Find a book published 10+ years ago
    • Find a book that will be published THIS month.
    • Find a book that will be published NEXT month.
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    PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE (June 3, 2020)

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    COVER REVEAL: Death Of The Moon by S.A. Pavlik (Giveaway)

    March 18, 2022

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    December 18, 2022
  • Uncategorized

    BOOKS I DNFed OR PUT ON HOLD (Part 4)

    August 8, 2020 / No Comments

    More unfinished books when I was in a bit of a reading slump last month. At least it’s not as bad as the 3-year one I had back in 2013. It wasn’t until I discovered Captive Prince that I got my mojo back in 2016.

    This little slump didn’t last long thankfully and I am back on track thanks to Cat Sebastian‘s wonderful friends-to-lovers story, Two Rogues Make a Right. Let’s hope it stayed that way.

    Below are the books currently up in the air and/or not doing it for me.

    Check out other books I dropped and/or stubbornly not letting go: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3


    36343972. sy475

    Steel, one of the last Dire Wolves on earth, has searched more than 100 years for the special mate promised by the Fates. Discouraged after meeting his latest prospect, he sees a naked hitchhiker on his way home who’s everything he’d envisioned the man of his dreams would be. His wolf and body tell him he’s found his fated mate but why can’t he pick up his scent?

    I love shifter romances but I balk at certain genre tropes that some people love. Fated mates could be a hit or miss. It comes down to a well-done execution. Omegas and MPREG? Not really my thing. Which sadly is what happened here. The hardcore fans would love this though so if wolf dads are your thing, I’d say go for this.

    P.S.

    My fault for not reading blurbs carefully.


    36666994. sy475

    A kidnapping, slave auction, revelations of long-kept family secrets and a rare, powerful gift from the gods are some of the surprises in store for both of them until they finally find their way into each other’s hearts after discovering neither is who the other thought he was.

    Okay so this is me hoping things would click this time. Thing is, I kind of liked the whole premise of the series. I want to see the brothers find their mates. Normally, I like multiple POVs but this was all over the place. The cheesy bits was too much for my liking. I held on for as long as I could but gave up eventually.


    52245968. sx318 sy475

    Can two men keep a childhood promise for marital bliss?

    I have yet to wrangle feels for this book because sadly, it’s is not clicking with me the way Surprise Groom did. I couldn’t really pinpoint what was wrong. Could be the characters weren’t as interesting as book 1 or working at the ranch scenarios didn’t make for riveting reads Which is unfortunate because the chemistry is there. Another try then.


    51838143. sx318 sy475

    They have nothing in common—so why does Ryan feel most like himself whenever he’s with Fabian?

    I really feel bad for having a hard time finishing this because poor cinnamon roll, Ryan Price, needs our love. It’s one of those books with all the right ingredients but yet somehow still come up short for some vague, unexplainable reason. Which is why I think this is purely a ME problem. I’m not abandoning Ryan and Fabian, no no no.


    25417535. sy475

    Detective Lane West doesn’t do Complicated. Especially when it comes to his personal life.

    Dr. Aiden Sharp is Complicated. Complicated in ways that Lane can barely get his mind around when he’s forced to babysit Aiden as a favor for the District Attorney.

    After that, things get very Complicated.

    I’ve been wanting to get my hands on this series for a long time now. Now that it’s here, my slump hit. I’m liking the few chapters I’ve read so far and how Aidan is blowing Lane’s mind the first couple of days they’re together. This promises to be a good series opener so I’m holding on.


    What’s the worst slump have you been in? How did you break the curse? Here’s hoping you’re having a better luck this weekend!

    Related image
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  • Uncategorized

    MY TOP 10 READS OF 2019

    December 31, 2019 / 1 Comment
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    END OF THE YEAR BOOK TAG

    December 28, 2019 / No Comments

    The New Year is almost here and it’s time for the End of the Year book tag. I found it @MyBookWorld24.


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    PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE (Dec 4, 2019)

    December 4, 2019 / No Comments

    I found this tag on Chelle’s Book Ramblings . It’s simple and fun. I thought I would put my own spin on it and make it a weekly thing.

    Read More
    neverhollowed

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Book images and promotional materials are from Goodreads or media kits provided for blog tours, cover reveals and release blitzes. Manga covers and other images are sourced through Google image search. The two dorks in the header image is from a manga by TogaQ & Kikuchi Neko. The cat logo is my own design. Reviews and other writings found in the blog are mine unless otherwise stated. All Buy Links to Amazon and Bookshop in my posts contain affiliate links.

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neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
8h

PROMO BLITZ: To Defend a Damaged Duke by Fearne Hill



https://neverhollowed.com/2025/06/18/promo-blitz-to-defend-a-damaged-duke-by-fearne-hill/

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neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
8h

DESERT ISLAND CASTAWAYS: Oliver Takely

Our favorite  MM authors a.k.a. castaways are asked, what books, songs and luxury item would they take to a desert island?

#desertislandbooks

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neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
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After spending the year suffering as a reality TV villain IRL, Alec Braud will do anything to get his redemption arc.

BOOK TOUR: America’s Not-So-Sweetheart by Blair Hanson



https://neverhollowed.com/2025/06/17/book-tour-americas-not-so-sweetheart-by-blair-hanson/

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neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
8h

Falling for a royal guard with glowing eyes and a lethal energy punch? Definitely not on my Terrafeara survival bingo card. But here we are.

PROMO BLITZ: Kael by Becca Seymour



https://neverhollowed.com/2025/06/17/promo-blitz-kael-by-becca-seymour/

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