Audiobook Review: Out on the Ice (Out in College #5) by Lane Hayes

Colby Fischer is a bad boy with attitude and a chip on his shoulder. As a senior at a Southern California college, he knows this may be his last shot. He doubts he’ll ever become the hockey legend he dreamed of being as a kid, but he definitely doesn’t want to be an accountant. Things get interesting when he’s asked to train the new intern at his step-dad’s firm, who happens to be the troublemaker from his econ class. And the one guy Colby can’t stand.

Baseball is Sky Jameson’s life. He’s happy to be back at Chilton for his senior year, but he’s burned a few bridges and has a bit too much free time off-season. He could use the money and something to keep him busy until his season begins. But his accidental crush on his prickly coworker could be a problem. Colby is straight and Sky is in the closet. Their timing isn’t great, but the intense attraction is hard to deny. With his final season on the hockey team in the balance, Colby may have to decide if he’s ready to come out on the ice.

Listening Length: 6 hours and 22 minutes
Narrator: Michael Dean

Colby Fischer lives for hockey. School and family are obligations he puts up with. He’s fairly got it together - except for the one thorn in his side in econ class. Things take an interesting turn when said thorn, Sky Jameson, turns out to be the new intern at Colby’s step-dad’s accounting firm.

For his part, Sky’s more than happy to tease the straight boy who won’t stop looking at him. He doesn’t expect much to come of it. But the pull can’t be denied.

I didn’t think I’d like Sky, after his less-than-impressive behaviour in previous books. But I actually warmed up to him pretty easily!

Part of it was that we finally see things from Sky’s perspective and get his background story. But mostly it was the fact that he’d matured a lot, and accepted that his actions were wrong. Character growth!

In fact, I found Colby a bit harder to get used to. He has a massive chip on his shoulder, and his treatment of his step-dad was incredibly childish. He was likeable over time, but it took some convincing.

Regardless, I really liked the set-up to Colby and Sky’s story. Nothing like a misunderstanding and some mutual dislike with a strong undercurrent of physical attraction to really make things interesting.

And these two delivered, once Colby decides to give in! While Colby does have doubts about his attraction to a man, he was pretty open to giving things a try.

I thought Sky was the perfect tutor. He respected Colby’s boundaries and didn’t try to push him into anything he wasn’t ready for.

And while the two explored their intense attraction, they slowly developed a friendship beyond the physical. They bonded over mutual interests and shared dreams.

I thought it was very sweet that the two didn’t second guess making time for casual dates and just hanging out together. And that they both acknowledged when their feelings became deeper.

But inevitably their relationship in the closet hits a wall. It was predictable, but the resolution and Colby’s grand gesture were cute regardless!

Overall, I enjoyed ‘Out on the Ice’. If you’re looking for a well-narrated audiobook of a fairly simple and sexy romance, give this a try!

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.