REVIEW: The Rest of the Story by Tal Bauer

THE REST OF THE STORY

by Tal Bauer

Release Date: January 8, 2023

Review

Oh man, I have no idea how to put any of this into words. My mind is a complete jumble of emotions over this. This doesn’t follow the expected paths. In short, this is a story, not just of two men, but an entire team finding love. Love of themselves, the game, and each other. It’s a redemption story. Despite some darkness, it is a hopeful story. One that will make your heart grow three sizes.

Morgan has been traded to the worst team in the league, the Outlaws. It’s the team players go to fade into oblivion. It’s the kiss of death to a career. But what he finds there, is worse than he could imagine. And for some reason, they think he can help. He’s ready to walk but it’s not just the hopeful looks of his teammates…it’s the beautiful rookie Shea that keeps him tethered there.

What follows is an incredible story of love, healing, and purpose.

I adored Shea and Morgan both. They are amazing people and fit so sweetly together. But more than that, I adored the whole team, their dynamic, and their love for one another.

This is one book that I will definitely need to re-read… multiple times.

Add to your TBR List

GOODREADS LINK

Synopsis

I keep things simple. I’m a classic one-night wonder. Relationships? Are you out of your mind? No. No way. Not interested. My heart is vulcanized rubber, puck hard, and that’s the way I like it.

Then I'm traded to the absolute worst team in the NHL, the Rocky Mountain Outlaws, and I’m hit with a one-two punch.

First: I’m asked to step up and lead the team, which is every kind of bad idea you can imagine. I'm a head-down, mind-my-business kind of guy. Mr. Uninvolved, Mr. No, Not Me, Mr. Find Someone Else. But these players have been through a mess of hell, and someone thinks I can help pull them together.

The Outlaws are made up of jaded veterans and wide-eyed rookies, and we have no business whatsoever succeeding. We are scrappy and plucky and built out of spit and duct-tape… and whatever we’re doing, it’s working.

Second: The first day I’m in Boulder, I go over the boards and come face-to-face with a pair of blue eyes and lose my heart. Boy, howdy: meet my new co-captain, Shea Darling.

He’s way, way off-limits. It's a stratospherically terrible idea to want or crave him. This crush, this infatuation, is going nowhere fast.

Yeah, right. I’m gone for Shea. I’m head over heels, and I’m all tangled up in something I can’t understand or control. This isn’t me. I don’t fall in love. And there’s nothing simple about Shea, or about the Outlaws. This team is finally putting up the wins, and we are making something of ourselves. Falling for my co-captain while we’re on a Cinderella run could jeopardize everything we’re striving for.

But then there’s this one night.

And this one kiss.

And everything changes.

Eighty-two games in a season.

Twenty men hungry for redemption.

One co-captain who could be my forever.

This is the rest of the story.

*****

The Rest of the Story is a friends-to-lovers, hockey players/teammates MM romance, and includes themes of survivorship.

The Rest of the Story is set in the same universe as Gravity, but each novel can be read independently. You do not need to read Gravity first to enjoy The Rest of the Story.

About Tal Bauer

Tal Bauer is an author of gay romantic suspense/thriller novels.

The world needs more gay heroes, gay love stories, and powerful women kicking ass. I try to write those stories. With a background ranging from law enforcement to humanitarian aid, my stories are global in scope and with diverse characters in all roles. My goal is to help normalize gay characters as action heroes and to bring to life strong, dynamic, holistic women in all of my novels.

Where to find them: