Stick by Me

A Nerd Jock Hockey MM Romance (Desert Ice Hockey, Book 1)

By: Christie Gordon

Narrated by: Finnley Cole

Hockey is my life, until I meet an adorable nerd. But he doesn’t date men. Can I convince him to take a chance?

Archer

Hockey was everything, but now I’m questioning if I’ll ever make it to the NHL.

I need to find a life.

In comes a stunning guy in designer jeans and hair so dark and silky, I struggle to keep my fingers to myself.

We connect at an animal rescue, where I accidentally soak him with a hose. I give him my team shirt to make amends.

The vision of him in my clothes stirs a primal urge in me.

When he mentions he’s queer, my heart skips a beat. But he’s only interested in a hookup.

Game on.

Will he accept my challenge for a date?

Leo

I’m having a moral dilemma. I don’t date men. I have an out and proud brother and, in my family, it’s complicated.

Then Archer comes along, eyeing me like a piece of candy and daring me to date him. Yeah, I’m interested.

Problem is, the dare goes awry. I find myself falling so deeply for Archer, there’s no turning back.

When his life goes off the rails, I’m forced to make a decision and fast.

Stick By Me is the first book in the College Hockey series, Desert Ice Hockey, and is the follow up to the Rock U series. It features a dependable nerd and a rebel jock, opposites attract, found family, hurt/comfort, and a secret relationship amidst the backdrop of the holidays. Desert Ice Hockey follows a group of queer hockey players, known as the squad, while they each battle for their HEA.

Buy now to explore a world where emotions run as high as the heat, and hockey isn’t the only game in town!

©2024 Christie Gordon Publishing (P)2025 Christie Gordon Publishing

Great Series Starter

This is the first book in Christie Gordon's Desert Ice series that connects to her Rock U series. Archer is an ASU hockey player looking for some validation from his dad and his first long-term relationship. Leo is a nerdy numbers guy keeping a large part of himself secret from his friends and family. But when he meets Archer while volunteering at a local animal shelter, the dam is broken and he can't hold back his feelings. They have instalove chemistry and the steam starts pretty early. There is also a lot of affection and care taking which I really like. And of course, Finley Cole just kills it in the narrating. Excellent use of accents, and I especially like the Minnesota one. Great start to the series.

Good Listen!

I love how this story unfolds and the patience and understanding Archer has for Leo as he struggles to come out to his family. The support Leo gives Archer in return with his own family struggles really makes you root for them long term. I really enjoyed the book when I read it but hearing Finnley Cole perform it just brought everything and everyone to life.

Wonderful story.

I have loved every book Christie has written and especially this hockey series. I am so glad that Archer and Leo were able to get together and finally come out to their families, each in their own way. Archer is an amazing hockey player who has been told that he should find another career path because he may not make it professionally (his father kept up the negative talk). Only for it later to come out that his father wasn’t his actual biological father and his actual biological father is a professional hockey coach. His father actually had a heart attack and Archer found all of this out at the same time, quite a lot to chew on. His biological father was trying to get him to sign up for his hockey teams preseason training program and then hopefully sign up with his team. I also loved how they met. The dogs always pull people together. I definitely recommend this book to everyone who loves mm sports romance stories and the narrator is awesome and just made the story that much better.

Favorite so far

This is an absolutely fantastic listen! I love the narrator hits this accents of the north. I like how the complex parental relationships are shown in two different examples! I also love the fact that these two navigated those situations so adeptly.

Good storyline

In this story the similarities between Leo and Remy stood out. Leo always felt like he was different, but he couldn't do anything about it as his family already had a out and proud guy son. Archer was ready to explore and get into a relationship with a man. The sparks when they met was off the charts and I could feel the yearning of both men.
The performance was good, I don't usually like being read to, but with this performance I felt like I was there.