Something to Prove

MM Small-Town College Hockey Romance (Smithton Bears, Book 2)

De: Lane Hayes

Narrado por: Kirt Graves

The hockey star, the influencer, and the deal of a lifetime.

Ty

I’m going to the pros, baby! Deal made, contract signed. Now all I have to do is finish out my final season at Smithton and stay out of trouble. I like to have a good time, but don’t worry, I’ll behave.

What I won’t do is talk to that double-crossing influencer who’s been badgering me for an interview. No thanks.

I know Walker’s type—sweet as pie on the outside, a shark on the inside.

Get this…he wants to make a deal that sounds a lot like a bribe.

Not interested. No way.

But I am curious.

Walker

I’ve never worked so hard for an interview in my life. Ugh!

Look, I get that Ty doesn’t like me. As in…he won’t return my calls and avoids me like the plague on campus.

Too bad. I’m not giving up.

I don’t want to beg, but I’m willing to barter. Every man has his price—and something to prove.

Even Ty.

Something to Prove is a low-angst, geek-jock MM bisexual college hockey romance featuring a hockey star and the adorkable influencer who’s determined to win him over…

©2025 Lane Hayes (P)2025 Lane Hayes

Ty & Walker

I enjoyed reading this one a lot. Ty and Walker were entertaining to read about. I enjoyed the audiobook even more. Kirt Graves does an amazing job narrating this and bringing the story to life.

I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion

How did I not know about this series?

I can’t believe I didn’t know about Lane Hayes before. I feel like I’ve been missing out on some beautiful stories.

This is my first book by Lane and as always, I saw the blurb and just needed to read it without checking it was part of a series😅 At this point I should just assume EVERY book is a series, lol.

Ty and Walker started as almost enemies to lovers but not quite. It was more of a dislike with the possibility of hate if given the chance. Ty couldn’t forget Walker’s blunder with his best friend and therefore, that landed him in his sh*t list.

Walker needed to get an interview with Ty but he couldn’t catch a break. As big an influencer as he was, Walker just couldn’t get the jock to say yes. Ty was determined to hate him no matter how many times he apologized.

Ty was sure Walker was a bad guy but couldn’t deny he was attracted to the gorgeous red head. Things take a turn for the worse when Walker accidentally stumbles upon a secret Ty was desperate to keep.

Trying to get the upper hand on Walker, Ty decides to do the interview Walker so desperately needed, but he wasn’t counting on his attraction for Walker to take over. Getting to know Walker was shock to the system.

What started as animosity, slowly became friendship and ultimately love. Ty attached himself to Walker in a way that left no room for doubt that they belonged together. Even when things went wrong, he wasn’t willing to let him go.


I loved their banter and how they both could be themselves with each other. I laughed out loud a few times with their shenanigans, especially during the milkshake scene. They were absolutely adorable.

I need to read more of this author. Nothing better than low angst, hockey, hot, adorable guys and the sweetest HEA.

beautiful surprise

Ty and Walker's story was unexpected. I went into this audiobook blindly and it surprised me.

They started their fling on... bad terms, let's just say, but the way everything evolved so naturally showed that where there's a will there's a way.

Ty absolutely despised Walker in the beginning, he didn't want to talk to him, hear from him or even look at him... for a good reason, or so he thought, but the more time they spent together it became impossible not to notice how AMAZING Walker really was.

Their relationship felt so natural, and so, oh, so sweet. They found their ritm pretty fast and they became permanent fixtures in each other lives without even realizing. They made time for each other, found any excuse to be next to one another and they fell in love... gradually. When they realized what was going on it was too late to back down. Of course, they had their fair share of drama to deal with, but... as I said earlier, where's there's a will there's a way. Always.

Ty and Walker were perfect for each other and their story was beautiful. It was the story of two people who build a relationship on a strong friendship foundation, and that is what made them last.

The audiobook was also super good, and I enjoyed every second of it.

This was definitely a beautiful surprise and I am sure that I will come back and listen to this a few more times. I just loved this cozy love story so, so, so much.

Hockey and journalism great combo

This hockey and journalism read was great. This actually an enemy to lovers trope due to an accident. I really enjoyed at the little details in this audiobook. Great narration.

Great listen

It's the final period, and the game is tied up. You just got a power play and the game is on the line...No, this book doesn't really have that scenario, but it feels like it at times. The push and pull is great and leaves you on the edge of your seat.

STORY: 4.5 stars
I love Lane Hayes, and I will say this book did not disappoint. A social media star with a huge secret, and a hockey player who is moving on to play professionally once his college season is over, but he needs to keep his nose clean. They are both under a microscope, and things unfold from there. At first, Ty claims to hate Walker because of something that happened to his best friend, but he soon finds that there is a very thin line between love and hate. Walker wants to interview Ty, but he doesn't know how to get the hockey player to agree. Until he does...and that's all it takes. A crack is opened. I love the way the plot developed and the growth of the characters. It was a fun read, and I highly recommend it. It will suck you in, and you are just crossing your fingers nothing else happens.

NARRATION: 4.5 stars
The narration was really good, and I loved how Kirt Graves gave each character their own voice. There were a few times when it was hard to differentiate between the two main characters, but those were few and far between and only for the briefest of times.

OVERALL: 4.5 stars
Great story, great narration...all in all, I highly recommend this book. 4.5 stars overall.

Loved it

Gah, I really loved this story! Like, I plan to re-listen frequently. Ty starts out a little ridiculous in his protectiveness towards his friend. Walker made a mistake, and owned up to it, and was forgiven by the friend. But almost two years later and Ty still sees Walker as an enemy worthy of contempt. Through Walker's vlog, the two get to know each other. Their relationship develops in a fun and realistic way. I really enjoyed the two of them together and want more! Kirt Graves is a narrator I've enjoyed before, and again does a great job with this book. The characters have distinct voices, the inflection and pacing are well done, and I really stayed invested in the story.

Good

This seemed to be a somewhat predictable college sports romance. I probably enjoyed it more for the narrator than anything else. Ty is an enjoyable character.

Fantastic audiobook!

I absolutely loved this book so I jumped on the chance to listen to the audio version. Kirt Graves did an INCREDIBLE job bringing Ty and Walker to life. This audiobook is 🔥🔥🔥

Working for Those Interviews!

I absolutely loved that Walker definitely did a wrong thing, but that he was beyond dedicated in making it right. I enjoyed the banter while Ty denied him that chance. Made him work for those interviews! They were genuinely an unlikely pair which made watching them together much more enjoyable. Walker's family life verses Ty's family life was a very enlightening experience on how that can affect one's life so deeply! Kirt's voices each of these guys was spot on with the emotions and the fun!

More about the relationship, less about the hockey

Walker is an influencer and Ty is a hockey player newly minted to the AHL with his sights set on the NHL who initially despises Walker. When Ty’s agent insists that he do an interview with Walker Ty starts to get over his animosity and they become friends and more. It almost seems like enemies to lovers but that part really doesn’t drag on (which I think runs the risk of making the characters unlikeable) and the focus of the book is really on their evolving friendship/relationship. Walker’s family creates a bit of conflict between the two that ultimately forces them to confront their feelings (in a good way). I always enjoy Kirt Graves and found the audio version easy to follow. Definitely made me want to read/listen to other books in this series!