Ethan

Hockey Bros, Book 1

By: Beth Bolden

Narrated by: Darcy Stark

There’s nothing Ethan Barnes has wanted more than to play hockey with his brothers. Avery, Charlie and Ethan have been dreaming about uniting the Barnes brothers on one team since they were barely old enough to hold a hockey stick.

Starting his rookie season on the New York Bandits, Ethan’s finally going to get the chance to play with his brother Charlie. But while Charlie’s great—a fantastic roommate, a better teammate, and a damn good forward—it turns out the guy Ethan’s really interested in doesn’t have a last name of Barnes.

Hank Tucker’s been working his ass off for two years to make the Bandits opening roster as one of their starting defensemen. What he needs is determination, hard work and focus.

What he doesn’t need is a rookie forward with a famous last name, who, since the first time they met at development camp last year, has permanently moved into his thoughts with his rumpled curls and magnetic smiles and killer body. No matter how grumpy Hank is or how determined he is to shake him, Ethan’s sunshine ends up buried deep under Hank’s skin.

Hank’s always been sure he was straight. But Ethan tempts him and entices him and ultimately, makes himself so irresistible Hank’s got no shot at holding back.

Especially when it turns out that Ethan’s not just been working hard to make a spot on the Bandits’ roster but in Hank’s bed, too.

©2026 Earl Gray Publishing LLC (P)2026 Earl Gray Publishing LLC

Grumpy/Sunshine slow burn at its best!

I love starting a new series from Beth Bolden! After some time in the football arena (lol), we are back in hockey land, yay (though I love all sports in romances).

Ethan has got to be one of my fave new MCs from Beth Bolden - from the first page, he captured my attention with his love of Sid Crosby. We get a great sense of all 3 brothers - Ethan the youngest, Charlie in the middle, and Avery as the oldest - at the beginning of the book and get to know them all better throughout the story. I'm already excited for Charlie's story and know that Avery will also capture my heart in his book.

Ethan is just adorable with a sunny personality and sparkling blue eyes. I love how determined he is to make his mark in the hockey world as himself and not just as "one of the Barnes boys." He meets Hank Tucker during a one time callup from the AHL and they form a fast friendship. This book is definitely a very slow burn because it takes many, many, many months -years, really - for the embers to become flame. But during all this time, there is SO much pining and yearning and need even before Hank at least realizes that his straight self is not so straight after all....It is delicious!

All of this emotion is brought to life by audiobook narrator Darcy Stark, who is a regular narrator for Beth's books! I enjoyed getting to listen to this book after I had read it - audio just always makes books more intense for me and I love it!

Slow burn sassy listen

This was a slow burn with lots of sass. Ethan and Tuck’s story started a couple years before it continues. Although they stayed in touch, the relationship was just friendship. To watch these two and the team was something awesome.

Having to prove themselves

Ethan is the youngest of the Barnes brothers and hockey is in his blood just like his siblings. Waiting for his time to shine in the NHL, he meets Hank who seems to be in the same position as him.

Whilst they click, they have to wait to be together as life has hurdles they will both have to overcome.

A nice first in series story that has good character introductions, sets up well for future books and lets the main characters shine in this book as well.

Hank and Ethan were well suited, leaned on each other and were happy to explore their bi awakening together.

Mr Stark does the narration well which keeps you engaged throughout the story. A good listen overall.

ethan and hank are such sweethearts

i really enjoyed this. i liked how it opened with getting some back story of all the brothers and then slowly progressed into both of them joining charlie on the same team.

ethan meets hank at a training camp for the hockey team they were drafted to, except once its finish ethan is to go back to college and hank back down to the ahl (the farm team for the nhl). they have this immediate connection but both aren’t entirely sure about it right away. ethan kind of comes to the conclusion that he’s queer faster than hank and that’s okay. their relationship starts slow, they build up this beautiful friendship over the months. they start catching feelings and even that is a slow build which i loved!!

i enjoyed reading about the progression of their relationship. how it went from strangers, to friends, to someone they talk to every single day, to a long distance kind of relationship and how they waited until they were on the same team before anything physical really progressed. it was this beautifully slow, slow burn and i was here for it all.

the cameos with ethan’s brothers and seeing where things will lead to in the next books has me so excited!!

darcy stark narrates these books so well. i truly love him and how well he does at bringing these books to life and with these characters! he just is phenomenal at it!

Low angst and low drama. A pleasure to read!

I adored these two boys. They are young, impetuous, quite easy-going hockey players. Neither of them has ever been with a man (or has ever been interested in men, for that matter), but they find themselves immediately drawn to each other, as soon as they meet. As friendship turns into something more, they have to navigate long distance and family dynamics, but they do it with a seemingly endless well of optimism and resilience.
As always, Darcy Stark delivered a flawless performance!