The Coldest by Jessica A PDF Download

My Rating

Overall: 4.5/5 ⭐

Tough Call delivers where it matters most: the romance. Madars and Connor have excellent chemistry, and their shared history gives their relationship an emotional depth that makes the second-chance aspect especially satisfying. The plot is engaging, the characters feel believable, and the emotional payoff is strong, although the pacing occasionally feels a little uneven.

Best for: Readers who love M/M hockey romance, second chances, reunited lovers, and high-chemistry relationships.

What I liked

• The second-chance setup — Madars and Connor already have history, so their attraction feels rooted in something deeper than an instant connection.
• The hockey backdrop — Hockey is an important part of Madars’s identity and gives the story a distinct sports-romance atmosphere.
• The chemistry — This is probably the book’s biggest strength. Their attraction feels natural, and the romantic scenes have a good balance of heat and emotion.
• The emotional stakes — The conflict between Madars’s professional ambitions and the possibility of building a relationship with Connor gives the romance something meaningful to overcome.
• The emotional payoff — The relationship gets enough attention for the HEA to feel earned rather than simply tacked on.

What didn’t work

The main weakness for me was pacing. Some parts of the story move quickly, particularly when the relationship or emotional conflict could have benefited from more time on the page.

I also would have liked more development around the external hockey/career conflict. It is an interesting source of tension, but at times the romance understandably takes center stage, leaving some of the surrounding conflict feeling less developed.

Characters

Madars Kulda

Madars is driven by his hockey career and the future he has worked toward. His professional ambitions make his romantic choices more complicated, and I liked that he isn’t forced to simply abandon his goals for love.

Connor Ellis

Connor provides a nice counterbalance to Madars. His connection with Madars feels particularly believable because of their shared history, and his own career creates an additional complication rather than making him simply “the love interest.”

Together

Their history is what makes the characters work particularly well as a couple. There’s a sense that they’re rediscovering something that was already there rather than creating a relationship from nothing.

Romance & Chemistry Analysis

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The romance is the strongest element of Tough Call. The combination of old feelings + adult attraction + professional complications creates plenty of tension.

What works especially well is that the chemistry isn’t only physical. Their emotional familiarity makes the intimate moments feel more significant, while the distance and career concerns give the relationship genuine stakes.

This is definitely a romance-first book, so readers looking for a deeply developed sports plot may find that the hockey elements primarily serve the relationship.

Tropes

• M/M hockey romance
• Second chance romance
• Friends-to-lovers
• Reunited lovers
• Forbidden/complicated romance
• Long-distance/career conflict
• HEA

Spice / Content Guide

🌶️ Spice: 3/5 — Moderate

The book includes explicit M/M sexual content, but the romance isn’t solely built around the spice. The intimate scenes are tied to the developing relationship and emotional connection.

Content to expect: adult romantic/sexual situations, relationship conflict, career pressure, and emotional uncertainty surrounding the couple’s future.

Pacing & Writing

The writing is accessible and romance-focused, with the story keeping its attention primarily on Madars and Connor.

The pacing is generally smooth, although I felt some emotional and relationship developments could have been given a little more room to breathe. Overall, though, it makes for a fairly easy and engaging read.

Ending — Spoiler-Free

Satisfying. 💕

The ending provides the romantic resolution you’d expect from this type of book and gives the couple a genuine HEA. The major relationship concerns are addressed without leaving the story feeling unnecessarily unresolved.

Who Should Read It?

I’d recommend Tough Call to readers who enjoy:

• M/M contemporary romance
• Hockey/sports romance
• Second-chance relationships
• Friends becoming lovers
• Reunions with unresolved feelings
• Strong romantic chemistry
• Moderate spice
• Emotional but ultimately feel-good romances
• Standalones with an HEA

Who Might Not Enjoy It?

It may not be the best choice if you want:

• A sports-heavy story where hockey receives as much attention as the romance
• A very slow-burn romance
• Extremely high spice
• A complicated, plot-heavy narrative
• Extensive secondary-character development
• A relationship with minimal external conflict

Why You Should Read

If you enjoy M/M hockey romance with strong chemistry and emotional depth, Tough Call is worth adding to your TBR. L.A. Witt combines a second-chance romance with a compelling career conflict, giving Madars and Connor’s relationship more substance than simple attraction.

The reunion between the two leads is the biggest draw. Their shared history makes their connection feel natural, while the tension between love, distance, and professional ambitions keeps the romance engaging. The moderate spice complements rather than overwhelms the emotional storyline.

Read it for:

•  A strong hockey-romance atmosphere
•  Second-chance and reunited-lovers tropes
•  Excellent M/M chemistry
•  Emotional relationship stakes
•  Moderate spice
•  A satisfying HEA

Bottom line: If you’re looking for a romance-first M/M hockey story with heart, chemistry, and an emotional payoff, Tough Call is a solid choice.

Books Similar to Tough Call

If what you enjoyed most was the M/M hockey setting, second-chance romance, emotional tension, and strong chemistry, these are good follow-up reads:

• Brick Walls by L.A. Witt — Probably the closest match if you want another L.A. Witt hockey romance with a second-chance element.
• Shot on Goal by L.A. Witt — Another M/M hockey romance from Witt, with a more complicated professional dynamic.
• Him by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy — A popular M/M hockey romance built around two former friends whose relationship becomes much more complicated when they meet again.
• Time to Shine by Rachel Reid — A feel-good M/M hockey romance with plenty of character chemistry and emotional payoff.
• Gravity by Tal Bauer — A strong choice if you want a more emotionally intense M/M hockey romance.

FAQ

Is Tough Call a standalone?
Yes. You can read it without having to work through a previous series.

What kind of romance is it?
It’s a contemporary M/M hockey romance centered on a second chance at love between Madars and Connor.

Is there a happy ending?
Yes. The book has an HEA.

How spicy is it?
I’d put it around 3/5 for spice—there is explicit sexual content, but the emotional relationship remains the focus.

Is hockey a major part of the story?
Hockey is important to Madars and the story’s central career conflict, but Tough Call is ultimately more romance-focused than sports-focused.

Is it a slow burn?
Not particularly. Because Madars and Connor already share a history, the romantic tension has a foundation from the beginning.

What are the main tropes?
Second chance, friends-to-lovers, reunited lovers, complicated/forbidden romance, professional athletes, and HEA.

Final Rating

⭐ Final Rating: 4.5/5

Final Verdict

Tough Call is a strong, emotionally satisfying M/M hockey romance that succeeds primarily because of Madars and Connor’s chemistry. Their shared past makes the second-chance romance feel meaningful, while the conflict between love and professional ambition gives the story enough tension to keep things interesting.

It’s not the book I’d recommend to someone looking for an extremely hockey-heavy plot or a very slow-burn romance. But if you want emotion, chemistry, moderate spice, hockey, and a satisfying HEA, Tough Call is an easy recommendation.

Bottom line:  A heartfelt second-chance romance with excellent chemistry and a satisfying payoff.

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