Game Changer

Vancouver Orcas, Book 2

De: Amy Aislin

Narrado por: Aaron Hokanson

It’s Blair Brawsiski’s ride or die year. After a decade in the AHL, if he doesn’t get called up to the NHL this season, it’s time to hang up his skates and focus on other things. But between a second job and family priorities, his attention isn’t where it should be, and his dreams of making it to the big leagues are dwindling by the day.

Hiring a personal assistant to help out with day-to-day stuff? Probably the smartest move Blair’s made in a while.

But when that PA turns out to be an assertive baker who’s exactly Blair’s type? Blair can’t help but wish those dexterous hands would knead something other than pastry dough.

Charlie desperately needs extra income. With his expenses about to go up, it’s find a second job or get evicted. Getting hired as Blair’s PA is perfect: flexible hours, decent wages, and a scorching-hot professional hockey player who’s willing to let him use his gorgeous kitchen for his baked goods.

Too bad that hockey player is exactly Charlie’s type. Too bad Charlie knows better than to date his new boss....

©2023 Amy Aislin (P)2023 Amy Aislin

Loved it!

Game Changer is Book 2 in the Vancouver Orcas series. This is a wonderfully written story about Blair, a hockey player who is stretched thin and in need of an assistant, and Charlie, who becomes Blair's new assistant and so much more. Honestly this book made me hungry for Charlie's cake jars. Charlie and Blair are so sweet together and just whom the other needed. I love seeing all the characters and can't wait for the next book. I definitely recommend this book and series. 
Narrator Aaron Hokanson does an amazing job. This was a treat from start to finish. 

Who knew love was so sweet

I loved this book! Blair is sucked into the family business and familial issues and Charlie doesn't know how to handle money.

Each party needs to take time for themselves and reevaluate what is important to them. They just didn't realize it was each other! I love that they each had time to figure out who they were and where they wanted to go. Even though their relationship started out somewhat strained, their relationship was inevitable. Strong attraction drew them together and stronger love will keep them fighting for their futures.

I love that another Shore family member has found their other half and I'm so excited to see Dorian's story in 2024!

Blair and Charlie are super sweet

Game Changer is book 2 of the Vancouver Orcas series. Blair is an AHL hockey player and kind of a hot mess. He has no time management skills and doesn’t know how to say no to his family when they ask him to do things. And they ask a lot. Charlie is a baker and the coach’s cousin. Coach suggests Charlie as Blair’s PA as a win win for all. Charlie needs money and Blair needs help and Coach needs Blair on the ice on time.

Charlie and Blair are instantly attracted but both don’t want to go there because of the employee/employer relationship. Charlie is a blessing to Blair and helps him in more ways than just cooking for him. As their relationship grows the help becomes more mutual and acting in their attraction is inevitable.

Amy Aisling does a fantastic job bringing real men and real lives into her stories. Aaron Hokanson is the narrator for this story, also. He does a much better job with this story, changing his tone and inflection to give us more dynamic characters.

📖 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🥵 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🎧 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Blair and Charlie are too sweet

I enjoyed this one even more than the first one. Blair is the big hockey player that has put his all in hoping to make it to the big time. But he is bogged down with expectations. Charlie is the sweet baker who has plenty of problems he is trying to address. I love that Charlie took a chance on Blair and they are a sweet/hot couple. Aaron Hokanson continues to do an amazing job at the Canadian duo. He helps bring these characters to life. Really enjoyed this one!

The Baker and the Defenseman

Book 2, Vancouver Orca’s 🎧
Narrated by Aaron Hokanson

I’m 2.5 books into my Amy Aislin era (½ way through my Get Frosted ARC) and I. Am. Loving. It! I’m so happy to have quite the back catalogue to read.

I’m so into Amy’s low angst yet complex character story telling. I guess my lesson is that lack of drama and angst doesn't mean the characters and plot can’t have depth.

Charlie, baker for Vancouver’s NHL team, becomes Blair’s, Orca’s defenceman, personal assistant. Blair desperately needs the help and Charlie needs the money. Their attraction is immediate but Charlie is leery of dating someone who pays him.

What really struck me when I was listening to this audio (brilliantly narrated btw) was how both Charlie and Blair let their hangups dictate their choices and behaviours and how they both realize it and change accordingly. It was poignant and realistic.

If you like books with:

🏒 Boss/employee
🏒 Teddy bear/sunshine MC’s
🏒 Supportive family
🏒 Low angst
🏒 Hockey players

Then you’ll love this!
🔥🔥

Adorable Story with Likeable Characters

I'm a big fan of Amy's work overall and this book certainly did not disappoint. I really loved the character development with both MCs and how they each helped highlight for eachother ways in which they were not always prioritizing what was best for them. This was my first book with this narrator and I really liked the Canadian accent- there were times that having the narrator use multiple voices for different characters seemed unrealistic, however that is always the case with audiobooks- there are only so many Canadian accents that sound real! I would highly recommend this book and the others leading up to the Orcas as well.

Loved it!

Aaron Hokanson does a terrific job of bringing this story to life. Game Changer is a great addition to the Vancouver Orcas series.
This book gives us the story of Blair and Charlie and follows their journey from boss/employee to friends to so much more than that.
Charlie and Blair were just so sweet as they fumbled their into love that started off as a work relationship turned into a friendship turned in a romance.
Their chemistry together sparks fire!
I love how they realize they need to make other things besides work/career a priority.
This was an enjoyable read, very low angst, with super sweet and believable characters.

Baking + Hockey = yummy

We first meet Blair and Charlie in Star of the Game; Game Changer picks up a few years later and the two MCs are definitely more mature and sure of themselves. Charlie is no longer the bullied and somewhat timid fanboy and Blair, while still stretched thin, seems to be handling his many responsibilities a little better (with the exception of standing up Charlie). So, it's nice to see that some personal growth has taken place before the story begins. With that said, while I recommend reading the first book in the Vancouver Orcas series and at least the sixth book of the Stick Side series to enhance your enjoyment of this story, I think it can be read as a standalone.

Amy Aislin's characters are pretty self-aware — or tend to gain self-awareness during the story — so that a lot of the angst is within the MCs, as opposed to between them. I appreciate the fact that the mis-understandings are relatively rare and minor and there usually isn't serious conflict. I did feel as though this story focused more on the individuals than it did on them as a couple — basically, once they allowed themselves permission to date, they were a couple. I would have liked a little more couple development, but that doesn't change the fact that it's a heartwarming and sweet story.

Narrator Aaron Hokanson does a nice job, and there's never any doubt that the characters are Canadian (which is completely appropriate). He doesn't do much to differentiate the characters' voices, but since the novel is in third person, that's not really an issue.

If you like low angst romance with some hockey and some sass, you'll enjoy Game Changer!

Made me want a cake jar!

Other than leaving me with a wicked cake craving, this book was great. Charlie and Blair are sweet, Charlie’s a little too proud about money and Blair is a little too much of a doormat for his family. They are perfect for each other. Narration was very authentically Canadian.

Sweet, funny hockey romance

Game changer, book two of Amy Aislin’s Vancouver Orca’s series is delightful. Blair and Charlie both have reasons to lean into and away from their mutual attraction, and they help each other reach for their dreams. I would rate the book a five but for the fact that there were some odd anachronistic moments (no one I know makes phyllo dough from scratch, for example) that distracted me a bit. That said, it was well narrated (I received a complimentary audio book) and I’m looking forward to book three.