The Blame Game

Relationship Goals #5

by Brigham Vaughn

Fiery Rescue: Fisher Cats Player Heating Up the Sheets with Handsome Stranger?

Fourth line center, Dominic Olson, was spotted with an unidentified man following a fire at the High Park Towers building in Liberty Village late last night.

The fire was contained to the fifth floor where—according to firefighters from Toronto Fire Station 346—it began in one of the condo’s kitchens. Thankfully, only minor injuries were reported.

After being treated by paramedics, Olson escorted the mystery man to a black SUV and helped him inside. Although they left together, their destination is also unknown.

Traded to Toronto from the Los Angeles Suns, Olson was a major player in the team’s 2013 Stanley Cup win.

However, it’s become obvious in recent years that the ageing forward is no longer the superstar he once was.

But what exactly was Olson doing at High Park Towers in the wee hours of the morning with a strange man? “Just friends,” or something more?

Though Olson has been notoriously tight-lipped about his personal life, rarely choosing to attend events with a plus one, we all know the old adage: where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

Content/Trigger Warnings:
This story contains scenes discussing parental neglect/estrangement, mild internalized homophobia, accidental mixing of medication leading to a health scare, two short scenes with sexual harassment from a side character, and a positive attitude toward sex work as a career (MCs are only with each other in the book).

Genres: Hockey, M M Romance, Romance, Sports, Sports Romance, LGBT, Contemporary

ebook

First published August 30, 2024

About the author

Brigham Vaughn is on the adventure of a lifetime as a full-time writer. She devours books at an alarming rate and hasn’t let her short arms and long torso stop her from doing yoga. She makes a killer key lime pie, hates green peppers, and loves wine tasting tours. A collector of vintage Nancy Drew books and green glassware, she enjoys poking around in antique shops and refinishing thrift store furniture. An avid photographer, she dreams of traveling the world and she can’t wait to discover everything else life has to offer her.

Reviews

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I did really enjoy this book, it was far too long! It was 649 pages on the kindle and that feels excessive to me, especially for a really minimal angst story. If you want my full attention for that long you better be putting me through the emotional wringer...

I really loved getting to know Dom better because he's such a closed off character, and Shae was really sweet although he lacked a bit of personality because his whole storyline wrapped around Dom. Their relationship actually felt the most natural one in this whole series though, and the most believable situation.

The plot about the leak has kept me interested throughout the series, but it kinda fizzled out a bit when it was explained. I'd rather have had them be an actual villainous character rather than portraying them as someone who needs compassion and forgiveness - at times this series has been too sickly sweet! I honestly think I'd have preferred Birdie to be the baddie and there to be a blow up with Yates 😂 it just felt like it was missing that killer impact 🤷🏼‍♀️

I am excited for the upcoming Boston series though, and I love the way Brigham Vaughn writes hockey romances.

[Aysha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Blame Game is the fifth and final book in the Relationship Goals series and can be read as a standalone.

5 stars! I loved being back with the Fisher Cats and could not wait to read the Blame Game. I instantly felt like coming home with this one. It was a captivating read and everything I was expecting and so much more for Dominic Olson and Shea Barnett. From the first chapter I was riveted to this story. I love this team so much!!!

Brigham Vaughn is an expert at adding dynamics to characters. There was so much character growth throughout this book that I was in shock.

I loved how Vaughn portrayed Dom’s laser focus before a game and his need for privacy was extremely relatable. I felt really bad for Dom that his body wasn’t doing what his mind or heart wanted him to do at the beginning of the book.

Shea had his own issues as well. He was such a well developed character and was so kind. I felt very protective of these two.

They were honestly perfect for each and their relationship developed so beautifully. I could feel the love between these two in even the little moments.
The intimate scenes were both sexy and romantic. And jealous Dom, lol that was hilarious!

I hate Jock Gossip, they are the worst, but I enjoyed how it was resolved. I was so proud of Dom when he stood up to Gilly (the coach). The conversation between Dustin and Dom was peak friendship and communication. Honestly there were so many moments I loved and made note of.

I really liked how the book was played out. I especially liked when we skipped forward a bit.

I was an emotional mess during this book. I cried both happy, sad and angry tears and I can count on one hand the amount of times a book has done that out of the thousands I’ve read. The ending was perfect! I saw a potential new book there with a certain goaltender…

Overall, Brigham Vaughn created a masterpiece of an incredible story about life, love, second chances and finding your happiness in your career and your life. The Blame Game was a wonderful, satisfying, truly delightful read. If you like characters who will make you snort with laughter and cry happy tears, this book and series are must-reads.

This book contains triggering content such as an apartment fire, parental neglect/estrangement, mild internalized homophobia, accidental mixing of medication leading to a health scare, a positive attitude toward sex work as a career (MCs are only with each other in the book), mental health discussion, physical health problems like chronic pain, two short scenes with sexual harassment from a side character, mention of past partner threatening to out MC, mention of anorexia (side character), mention of past parental abuse (side character).

😉 Fake relationship
🏒 Hockey player and Escort/ Physiotherapist
🌈 Out for you
😍 He falls first
💚 Team feels
🌷 Age gap (40, 29)

Plot: 📚📚📚📚
Character rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sexiness: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Feels: 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
Writing style: 🖊🖊🖊🖊🖊
Narration by James Edward Jones: 🌕🌕🌕🌕

Audiobook review - 26th May 2025

James Edward Jones’ narration brought the story to life, allowing me to vividly picture the scenes and feel the palpable emotions. The characters felt real, especially during the more intense or poignant parts of the story.

Jones’ voice is always pleasing and enjoyable to listen to. There’s something about his tone that made the experience smooth and engaging, drawing me into Dom and Shea’s forbidden love story.

Jones skilfully adjusted his tone to convey the characters’ emotions—whether it was softness, anger, or the subtle shift that comes from tiredness. It definitely enhanced the emotional depth of the story. However, when it came to giving each character a distinct voice, it was a bit subtle. The differentiation between characters wasn’t always clear.
I will probably re-listen again sometime in the future, and I would recommend if you enjoyed this book and like audiobooks with high emotion and pleasing narration.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, we get Dom's story. And what a story it is.
And we find out who's been leaking info about our favorite Fisher Cats hockey players.

Long as all these have been, but so worth the time. Loved the relationship between Dom and Shea, and it was good to finally learn why Dom has been so closed off. Loved that there is closure for him at the end.

This series needs to be read in order for maximum enjoyment.

[The Secret Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5
Steam: 3
PoV: dual, 3rd person
Genre: contemporary romance, MM
Tropes / tags: escort / client, fake relationship, age gap

The Blame Game was a highly anticipated read for me as I’ve been waiting for Dom’s story since the beginning of the series. I ended up loving his story and it was a great way to wrap up a fantastic series!

I’ve been very curious about Dom and his secret Sunday nights, and even if he’s had a central role in the team, he always appeared pretty closed off and distanced. It was great to finally be able to get to know him better and understand why he valued his privacy as much as he did. I loved how he tried to open up more to the team and to Shea, and I had a lot of fun reading a certain discussion over lunch.

And Shea... How my heart hurt for him at times, all that longing and pining, not knowing if his feelings were returned or how Dom would react if he knew. I loved the depth of his character and how self-aware he was, he felt very mature for his age and I enjoyed his PoV a lot. He was a perfect fit for Dom, and I adored how caring and sweet he was. I also loved how protective Dom turned out to be, and the way he looked out for Shea and put him first, even when Dom himself had a lot to lose.

The Blame Game was a strong ending to the Relationship Goals series, and I loved Dom and Shea’s story! It was great spending time with the team and seeing the situation with Jock Gossip being wrapped up. This has been one of my favourite series, so reading The Blame Game was a bit bittersweet, knowing that it would be the last book. Brigham Vaughn made sure to hint about her next series though, and I’m very excited to see what she’ll come up with!

-
Thanks to Neon Rainbow ARC Reviews for the opportunity to read and review this book. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75-4 stars

I enjoyed this one more than the previous two books in the series, although not as much as The Head Game, which is my favourite of the set.

Dominic Olson is a veteran who, at forty, is playing his last season in the NHL. He has a lot of complicated feelings about that, but it's time; he's struggling with a back injury and isn't playing his best - hasn't been playing well for a long time if he's honest with himself. He's appeared in the other books in the series and has seemed rather aloof and detached from the other players on the team; he's a very private person and has no wish to provide any fodder for the gossip sites, especially as he's gay, deeply closeted and has been paying a high-end escort for sex. After his last boyfriend threatened to out him and demanded money, Dominic decided that paying for sex was the way to go; no strings, no feelings, and guaranteed discretion.

Shae Barnet (who Dom knows as Sawyer) is that escort. He turned to sex-work to put himself through college and now works as a physical therapist; for the past year or more, Dom has been his only client, although Dom doesn't know that. Shae has fallen for him but doesn't want to push and scare Dom away - he knows that Dom coming out isn't an option and doesn't see how they can be together any other way than by continuing their sexcapades every Sunday evening. But on the night the book opens, a fire at the apartment they meet up at sees them both having to evacuate the place quickly - and Dom's concern for Shae, who gets out of the building after he does, is noted by the infamous Jock Gossip site, which immediately stirs up speculation about Dom's private life. Which he absolutely hates and has gone out of his way to avoid, keeping himself apart and holding himself back from actually living his life.

I liked a lot about this one, although as with most of this author's books, it's overlong (Amazon says 649 pages!) Dom and Shae make a good couple, although I have to say I didn't really feel much heat or chemistry between them. Shae is already in love with Dom when the book opens, so the story is more about Dom and how he comes to fall for Shae, who is a former player who had to abandon the idea of a career in professional hockey before it even began owing to a serious knee injury, which means he knows the kind of pressures Dom is under and is able to offer help, advice and support with Dom's medical issues.

I enjoyed getting to know Dom better, reading about him making an effort to be more open with the team, and facing up to some long-standing family problems. It takes him a while to properly figure out how he feels about Shae, but he steps up when rumours begin to circulate about the nature of their relationship and how it started, and decides he wants to protect Shae more than he wants to protect himself. Shae has some family issues to contend with as well, and I liked that he and his dad were able to find their footing again.

There's a secondary plotline here about the search for whoever is leaking stuff to Jock Gossip, but it's so under-played, it might as well not have been there at all; and there's a preachy speech about sex work near the end that sticks out like a sore thumb (and which ignores the very real issues that exist in an industry that can and often does exploit the most vulnerable.)

The Blame Game is a pretty low-angst affair, but the characters are likeable and well-written and I once again enjoyed the team camaraderie and the way they all rally round and support each other. Some books in the Relationship Goals series worked better for me than others, but on the whole, I'm glad I read them and at some point, I intend to go back to read the author's previous Rules of the Game books.

[Henna · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars

I think this is my favourite book out of all Fisher Cats AND River Otters.

Dom is at the end of his career, and he's been keeping secrets. He's kept his sexuality to himself, and only recently opened to few of his teammates about it. But the bigger secret is his current envolvement with Shea.

When a fire breaks out and the two of them are in the scene, rumours start flying.

Shea's been in love with Dom for years. He's been patiently waiting for Dom to catch up. But their situation is a bit tricky, not really a normal start for a relationship.

Secrets have a way of coming to light, and these two need to find a way to cope with them.

I loved how protective Dom was of Shea even if he didn't understand his feelings, or didn't want to acknowledge they were there.

There was a lot happening in the book: who is the leak, Dom's health, teammate shenanigans, PR emergencies, family issues etc. I also loved how most questions were answered and loose ties neatly wrapped.

It was all heartfelt, beautiful, and just brought a smile - and misty eyes - to my face.

[notachance · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a few issues with this one tbh.

Shea didn’t feel like he was in love with Dom as early as he was meant to, it was a bit underwhelming.

The pro sex work speech at the end felt crass given it didn’t acknowledge any of the trafficking, safety, poverty etc issues and how it impacts so many vulnerable LGBTQ+ and marginalised people - there are very real issues with the industry and it’s unhelpful to pretend they don’t exist.

Also disappointed in the leak reveal, which was kinda boring - I had hoped for more sleuthing, Wagatha Christie style.

ALSO presumably a bunch of people were injured and/or homeless after the fire, but they were never mentioned. No one donated clothing, raised cash, or helped out at all.

[BWT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dom & Shea

Fun, fake relationship romance that's actually real because both MC's are secretly in love with each other. Sex positivity, hurt/comfort, some heat, and a happy ending, including finally finding out who the Jock Gossip leak is and why.

And with a certain player's trade to Boston we might be getting set up for another spin-off series...maybe starting with a certain hot hockey Captain in Boston who'll find love in an unexpected place with said trade (age gap/mentor/love at first sight)?

The Rules of the Games books all follow standard romance tropes: 1. best friends to lovers, 2. second chance romance, 3. coach/player, age gap, 4. enemies to lovers, 5. brother's best friend/first love, and 6. workplace romance. The spinoff series Relationship Goals are all Fake Relationships. So I wonder what tropes will be used in the Boston spin-off (if that even happens).

I'll look forward to whatever comes next.

[Crisana · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5* Great ending to an overall OK series. I had issues with book 3 being a bit slow, so need to go back and finish it. But I really like Shea & Dom, so this one deserves all the love.

[Demian Grimm · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️ I had a feeling that I would love Dom when we got to his story, and I was not wrong! ❤️

The Blame Game is the fifth and final book in Brigham Vaughn's Relationship Goals series. Although it can be read as standalone, for those new to the series I highly recommend reading the series in order to fully appreciate how everything comes together. That said, for those who have been following the series, you'll appreciate how everything wraps up.

This story centers on Dominic Olson, a hockey veteran who's nearing the end of his career. Dom is fiercely protective of his privacy and has been keeping some pretty big secrets. Dom's journey in this books is complex as he grapples with his hidden sexuality and the challenges of his aging body. And then there's his relationship with Shea Barnett, that is a situation that's been far from typical, that adds another layer of complexity The two share a history of secret Sunday nights together, with Shea harbouring feelings for Dom for years. But now, their private world is starting to collide with the public one, and this is when things really get interesting.

One of the best things about all Brigham Vaughn’s books, including The Blame Game, is how well the characters are developed. Vaughn did a great job showing us Dom’s struggle to open up and be vulnerable, and it’s great to watch him slowly start to trust Shea. The slow peeling back of Dom’s layers to reveal Dom’s true self is what makes his struggles feel real and relatable. I could especially relate to the physical challenges that come with aging, even though I'm not a professional athlete. Shea is another great character. His unwavering patience and understanding make him a truly perfect match for Dom, and I really loved the way their relationship evolves. It was beautifully done with moments of tenderness, humour, and undeniable chemistry.

The story is also packed with secondary storylines, including family issues, leaked gossip, and all the ups and downs of life in the public spotlight and all the pressure that comes with being a professional athlete. It’s a lot to handle for the characters, but it all also fits together nicely and it keeps you hooked from start to finish. But that also gives many opportunities for both Dom and Shea to grow, as individuals as much as a couple, making their relationship feel genuine and showing the depth of their connection.

Another highlight of this book, and the series as a whole, is the strong sense of friendship and found family. Their friends and teammates add so much warmth and humour, lightness and fun to the story which helps to balance out more serious moments and heavier themes. It really feels like these characters have each other's backs, which only made the story even more enjoyable for me.

As the final book in the series, The Blame Game does a great job of wrapping things up. Vaughn has managed to create a story that's heartfelt and funny, and perfect for anyone who loves a good romance with well-rounded characters. So if you love a well-told story about love, growth, and second chances, this one’s definitely worth a read.

I'm sorry to leave this world of Toronto hockey players, but I really hope there will be a spin-off series (I think I read the hints right 😊).

I received a copy of this book from Neon Rainbow Reviews, and this is my unbiased review.

______________________

CW: scenes with an apartment fire, parental neglect/estrangement, mild internalised homophobia, accidental mixing of medication leading to a health scare, and two short scenes with sexual harassment from a side character.
This romance also contains a positive attitude toward sex work as a career (MCs are only with each other in the book).

[Leelah🍁♋️ Orion · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a perfect ending

This was such a sweet ending to this group. The writing is amazing as always. Please don’t let the page number scare you. Every page was totally worth it. I loved this story. I loved that care they had around smexy work. I think most of all I love the fact that this talked about not everyone wants to be out and proud and that should be ok. That one shouldn’t be forced out especially if they are a celeb (thinking of you Kit Connor) and we shouldn’t be pressuring folks if they don’t want to talk. That goes for people in the community and folks who aren’t.
I loved how we got to see the full ark of this relationship. I loved how they worked for this and were both loyal. I loved how they chose each other every single time. The smexy was yum, and while we are done with this team, we aren’t done with hockey.

For future me
Dual POV
No cheating or sharing. All relationships outside of them has ended when we first meet them
Do diverse side characters (which they got a story)
There is angst but it’s between them
No last min break
They are verse
Smexy is early but they have an established relationship.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book rounds off the series well, but Dom has a long journey before his happy ending. Dom is in his final NHL year, before retirement. He just needs several months and he can start living his life without hiding his true self. He has had an arrangement with Shae for years, but paparazzi have decided to print speculation about these two and if Dom doesn't want his personal life printed he is going to have to do some damage control. We watch Dom struggle with opening himself up to his team and how it helps him understand his feelings for Shae. It isn't a quick awakening and he has Shae with him throughout. There was a lot to fit in this story, because there were secondary storylines including family conflicts, leaked stories and hockey games. I am going to miss these men, it has been a really strong series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jeanette Buck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore Brigham's storytelling and the Relationship Goals have been such a good series and this was a good and final story in the series. I had been looking forward to reading Dom's story. He's deeply in the closet and very closed off. He has been seeing escort Shae for a few years to help with his needs. Shae only worked as an escort to help fund his studying to become a physiotherapist and unbeknownst to Dom Shae has been in love with him for years and Dom has been his only client for a while. When they are seen together they are forced to live together. Slowly Shae helps Dom open up. I thought it was a heartfelt story. You could feel Shae's pinning and Dom's struggles. And loved meeting all the past couples too.

[Monikat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A long, full book. One of the types that you sort of live in their world. Hang out with their friends and deal with their problems. This could easily have been an entire season on a tv show.
A great ending to the series.

[Imanewreader ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

it is official, brigham vaughn has become a new hockey romance favourite of mine !
the blame game was absolutely amazing. i am sad to say goodbye to the team, but i am glad the series ended this way. long live the toronto fisher cats SAPs !

[Jennivie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great end to a great series

Absolutely love these books and these characters. This was so sweet and moving, tender and steamy. We’ve been wondering what’s been going on with Dom all this time and now we know! Shea and Dom are perfect together and seeing everyone else from the series in their own perfect relationships was so wonderful. An amazing end to an amazing series. I’m sad this series is over but looking forward to the next!

[Patricija · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I had paused my reading and now that I got back I can’t believe these were so long. But I enjoyed them so much, one of my favourite series ever. I loved the characters and their love story. I’m kinda sad that these series are over, but I’m ready to read the next ones!

[Sawyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was amazing! Dom is one of the most broody characters that I've read. I loved how his character developed through the whole novel. Shea was also amazing. He was a very complex character who didn't read as complex, which I liked. Both characters had a lot of depth, which was nice. I loved how this wrapped up. Now, I need to go through and read some of the other books in this series.

[Edga · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Blame Game begins with a relationship between a hockey player and an escort. Dom is closely guarded, wants no connections, no emotions. Shae, secretly loves him, but keeps it hidden from Dom. Their story is about the complexities of their connection, loneliness, and how they both are searching for a genuine connection. Brigham does a fantastic job of describing their internal struggles and their gradual realization of love for one other. By the time I finished, I adored both Shae and Dom, so many hidden depths! The writing is incredibly evocative and emotional, and I felt totally part of their world. The way in which Brigham balances the romantic elements with the challenges faced by Shae and Dom is particularly well done. I liked how Brigham called out the hypocrisy regarding escort work. I totally agree with her attitude to sex workers. As Dom says, everyone has the right to make informed decisions about his or her own body, it's no one else's business!

I've enjoyed every single book in this series, this one, however, turned out to be my favourite. It was heartbreaking to find out why Dom was so closed off, and I loved watching him open up to both Shae and his friends. The last few chapters were a joy to read 😍

[Siân PJsAndBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
Thanks, Brigham, for my audiobook copy of The Blame Game; book 5 and the last book in the #RelationshipGoals series. Dom has intrigued me for a while, but when he came out to Matty & Dustin in The Home Game, I needed to know what he was doing on Sunday evenings. The Blame Game can be read as a standalone, but seriously, don't. Personally, I would start with the Rules of the Game series.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I was not disappointed. The characters had depth, and their backstories were woven in to help the reader understand them more deeply. The Blame Game had me in all the feels 🤣🤩🫣😜🥹 and I'm definitely sad that the series is finished.

James Edward Jones is an amazing narrator, and I've enjoyed the 3 #RealtionshipGoals books I've listened to.

Things I 💚
🏒 Dual POV
🏒 Sports Romance
🏒 Backstories
🏒 Found Family
🏒 Grumpy x Sunshine
🏒 Fake Relationship
🏒 Age Gap
🏒 Out for You
🏒 Gay 4 Pay
🏒 Cameos of characters from the same universe
🏒 Conclusions - PR Leak!
🏒 Epilogue

Brigham, real talk. I NEED invites to all these weddings.








🏒 Thoughts 🏒
Thanks Brigham & Neon Rainbow for my eARC.

The Blame Game is book 5 and the last book in the #RelationshipGoals series. Dom has intrigued me for a while, but when he came out to Matty & Dustin in The Home Game, I needed to know what he was doing on Sunday evenings. The Blame Game can be read as a standalone, but seriously don't. Personally, I would start with the Rules of the Game series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was not disappointed. The characters had depth and their backstories were woven in to help the reader understand them more deeply. The Blame Game had me in all the feels 🤣🤩🫣😜🥹 and I'm definitely sad that the series is finished.

Things I loved
💚 Dual POV
💚 Sports Romance
💚 Backstories
💚 Found Family
💚 Cameos of characters from same universe
💚 Conclusions - PR Leak!

Brigham, real talk. I NEED invites to all these weddings.

[Sadonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review refers to the Audio version of this book. The review and much more can be found at Love Bytes Reviews

Well it’s fitting that the last book in this series ups the ante on the fake relationship/coming out/finding true love stakes 🙂 Absolute perfection!

Dom has been the poster child of a buttoned up tight closeted aging hockey player in his last season. He’s spend his entire life and career hiding who he is. He torpedoed his first relationship and spent years keeping everyone at a distance. He was burned badly by the person he loved over his inability to come out and be who he really was. So he’s been determined to just keep things transactional. He gets relief from his stylist/escort and he has for years.

Sawyer/Shay Barnett is a physiotherapist and former hockey player who has been moonlighting as a stylist/escort. Dom has been his client for years. One night while they are having their usual Sunday night together there is a fire at the apartment that is rented for their meetings. Dom gets out but Sawyer goes back to get Dom’s wallet and keys. He suffers from smoke inhalation and Dom insists on taking him home after he’s cleared by EMTs and volunteering to look after him for the rest of the night. But then they show up in the Jock Gossip pages. Uh-oh.

As usual, Kate, the head of PR has to get involved to keep her players in line and protect them and the organization. Shay and Dom have to come clean with her and they agree to a plan. The plan is that they stick with the stylist angle and that they are friends. They have to go on some bro dates and Shay’s friends join them. But when they go to a Pro basketball game and clearly the star player is friends with Shay, Dom is what? Jealous?? What’s going on here?

There is just one problem with this whole plan. Shay has been in love with Dom for years. In fact he’s had no other clients for a long time and he’s been donating the money Dom pays to charities. Shay isn’t feeling great about this plan, but they have to do something to save both of their careers. And the organization is still dealing with what definitely seems to be a leak from within the organization based on what keeps appearing on Jock Gossip.

Everything is going to plan until Dom takes Audra, Shay’s roommate and a fellow escort, to a formal event. The resulting Jock Gossip story is WAY worse and they have to go to another plan. And it means that Dom is going to have to let go of his very very long held secret of his sexuality. And he and Shay admit that they have been in a relationship but didn’t want the focus on Dom’s sexuality in his final season. He’s dealing with an injury too. Dom is torn in so many directions, but his feelings and relationship with Shay have clearly been changing. Shay has been there for him over and over again.

When Shay moves in with Dom things are awkward at first. Dom finds that he really likes having Shay with him. The Toronto team is going to make the playoffs and Dom really wants to be there for the post season. He’s got to deal with this injury and Shay is there every step of the way. And Dom realizes that he needs and wants Shay there – for all the stuff in his life.

Oh man I LOVED seeing Dom let go and finally be himself! Shay was pining and pining for him and Dom was closed off it took him literally years to realize that he had what he needed right in front of him. There are a lot of other past traumas and relationships that both men have to heal – particularly with their families. Dom has cut his parents out of his life completely and he thinks that’s what’s best. Shay was pushed and pushed by his father to the point of no return and ended up not even being able to have the hockey career he wanted. Dom had hurt the man he loved and then been hurt in return in a way that caused him to completely withdraw and keep himself isolated from everyone – family, friends, teammates. It’s taken all the crap of the season and the gossip blogs and his friends willingness to push him to acknowledge his truth. He is a gay man. And he’s in love with his boyfriend Shay. There is also the series long arc of the internal leak of info to Jock Gossip that finally gets resolved and a lot of HEAs all around. Oh and some exciting hockey too!

The audio of this book is fantastic! I particularly like Mr. Jones’s portrayal and voice choices for Dom. He’s gruff with everybody except Shay. When he’s doped up on pain killers, his true feelings some through and I adored Dom’s sweet and loving voice. Shay is a great character as well and his true caring for Dom come through from the first interaction. The consistency of characters (and there are a lot of them) was absolutely amazing here. This series is fantastic and well worth the hours of listening pleasure. Might be my favorite hockey series yet! Well done and highly recommended.

[Colleen (colleenreads40) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Blame Game is the fifth and final book in Brigham Vaughn's Relationship Goals series. It can be read as a complete standalone. Here's what you can expect from Dom and Shea:

💚 MM contemporary hockey romance
💚 Third person dual point of view
💚 Guaranteed happily ever after
💚 Found family
💚 Fake relationship
💚 Positive attitude toward escort work (main characters are only with each other in book)

As always, ensure you review the content and trigger warnings to decide if this book is right for you. Note that this list of warnings and triggers may be incomplete. Please take care of yourself while reading. The Blame Game contains scenes with an apartment fire, parental neglect/estrangement, mild internalized homophobia, accidental mixing of medication leading to a heath scare, and two short scenes with sexual harassment from a side character.

I'll be honest, after The Home Game, I was not Dom's biggest fan. Although I understood his suspicion of Antoni and how he was trying to protect Matty, I still wasn't thrilled with how he treated the two of them. Although he discloses some very personal information to Dustin and Matty at the end of the book, I knew his story would most likely had an element of redemption to it, as well as a deeper dive into his character. And, well, I wasn't disappointed and I think his book might be my favourite in the series!

As with the rest of the series, the overarching theme in this book starts out with a fake relationship angle after Dom and Shea are spotted following a fire at their meetup location. It's imperative that the public doesn't find out that Dom's closeted, and that Shea works as an escort. Their arrangement has been going on for nearly half a decade, but even before the fire, something's changing. Although Dom and Shea are such an unlikely duo, and Dom is (in Shea's words) an "emotionally repressed oyster," they made such a perfect pairing. I loved seeing Dom's personality shine through, even if it was through jealousy. Shea was just so good for him, and he definitely had that golden retriever energy going on. But Dom, my goodness, he broke my heart and then him and Shea put it back together again. Between his medication scare, his injury and pain, his final season as a professional hockey player, and his tumultuous relationship with his parents he had me in tears by the end of the book (in a good way, of course). He was hilarious though, even if he wasn't trying to be. And when he said he struggles to feel or think about his feelings, well, I think that's something all of us will relate to. He was such a sweetheart under his prickly exterior, and I loved him and Shea's story.

Another smaller overarching theme to this series was the team realizing there was a leak in their organization. Dom spent a lot of this book on the injured list, and I thought it was cute that he wanted to help Kate (the team's media relations superstar) get to the bottom of it. And not to worry, we get a very satisfying ending on that front! I also love the positive attitude towards escort work in this book, and the thoughtful portrayal to how it can intertwine with people's lives and change them for the better. This was a great end to the story, and I'm definitely going to miss Dom, Shea, and the whole Fisher Cats bunch as we ship down to Boston for Brigham's next series!

If you love hockey romance with lots of on-ice action, steamy and swoony love stories, and thoughtfully researched plots with diverse representation, don't let the longer page counts of Brigham's books scare you away. I absolutely love getting immersed in her work, and I'm glad the universe she's built is continuing. Her books can all be read as complete standalones, so if there's tropes or content warnings that don't work for you, don't be discouraged.

[Julie Underhill · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Blame Game by Brigham Vaughn is the 5th book in her Relationship Goals series. I suggest that you read the others first as many of the characters from them have major parts in this one. This is the story of two hockey players whose careers went in different directions, have secrets that have shaped their lives that they don’t want told, issues with their families, and yet after much growth they are finally able to commit to each other. Dominic Olson plays for the Toronto Fisher Cats NHL Hockey Team. He is 40 and knows that this will be his last season, especially with the injuries and pain he is feeling. He is also closeted and very private, even with his teammates who are understanding and open. He has no desire to come out, especially after seeing something that happened with his family when he was young. Shea Barnett was looking forward to a great career in hockey when a series of knee injuries caused him to leave the game at age 19. His father was very upset about this which caused a rift between them. He then went on to college to become a physiotherapist. He needed money to pay for grad school and his best friend, Audra, got him a job as a stylist and also as a paid escort. He was good at these jobs and that was how he met Dom who became a regular client and then his only client, unbeknownst to Dom. He fell in love with him early on but knew his feelings were not reciprocated so he kept quiet so he didn’t scare him off. They were able to keep their working relationship a secret for several years until there was a fire at the apartment where they were staying and people saw them together in the aftermath. This led to an article in JockGossip, the tabloid for sports, that had everyone speculating what was going on with Dom and if he was into men. This got Dom’s hackles up and he dug in when talking to Kate Foster, the team’s head of public relations, and said that he and Shea would go out on bro dates so he wouldn’t be outed. But he also realized at that time that he was developing feelings for Shea that hadn’t been there before and that he wanted to protect him from the consequences of what had occurred. The story continues with those dates, then being seen with Audra at a charity event and finding out that there may be a leak within the Fisher Cats organization giving personal details to JockGossip. Then Dom’s pain in playing hockey has to be addressed and he has surgery with Shea right there to help with his rehab. Meanwhile Dom and Shea’s feelings for each other are growing and Dom starts to open up more, telling more of his teammates that he likes men, particularly Shea, and as events continue to unfold with a blackmail attempt, he finally comes out to everyone and declares his love for Shea. Shea is thrilled that there is a future for them together as he has loved Dom all along. I really enjoyed this story. It is quite long but there is a lot going on for both characters. Dom had someone he loved break his trust over coming out and something he saw with his father also added to him staying in the closet and distancing himself from others. Shea also had some problems with his family and had to show extreme patience with Dom because he didn’t want to lose him. There are many scenes featuring their hockey player friends and family that add some fun and they also give good advice and are there for both Don and Shea throughout everything that is happening. The hockey games are great and so is the team’s quest for the Stanley Cup. The articles in JockGossip and the blackmail situation also add some mystery and angst to the story. I highly recommend this book especially if you like stories involving hockey, a closeted man who finally finds trust and a need for another one’s love that brings him out and sets him free, long time family problems that get resolved, an injury that needs taken care of, someone out to ruin their careers, and a love neither man thought they could ever find or have.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the final book in the Relationship Goals series and it brought back all of these couples I have come to love. This one focuses on the very private, grumpy, loner Dominic Olson. Dom has been in the background but not much was known about him. But there is so much under the surface and happening in his life. Dom is at the end of his long, successful hockey career with two Cups but a lot of pain and dealing with an injury. He has also kept his past and personal life in lockdown. But due to an unexpected circumstance and the Jock Gossip site suddenly interested in and broadcasting their theories, his life is thrown into scrutiny.

And Dom has some big things to hide. Dom and Shea(Sawyer) have shared their private Sunday nights for years, but no one else knew. Shea is now a physical therapist and does not need to rely on money from working as an escort or stylist anymore. He just likes to be around Dom and knows that if he lets on about any real feelings it would send Dom running.

But now they are in crisis mode with the team PR and trying bro-ish outings but then transitioning to a fake-ish public relationship that is more real than they are willing to admit.

Dom has demons, fears, issues, and a lot of worries about his health, pain, future, and public perception. He is forty years old and has lived and played in a hockey environment that was not supportive. Shea is also a former hockey player taken out too young by injury so he understands some of Dom's issues and it does not hurt to have a PT on standby. They both have some family dynamics issues, past pain, and secrets they have not wanted exposed, but that they also have to face to keep moving forward.

I loved seeing the growth with these two, especially Dom. There is a gradual growth of trust, safety, vulnerability, sharing, support, and working together that helps them deal with their own personal issues but also become more of a real couple and partnership. And it is a journey for Dom as he faces his last season where he is struggling hard but wants to try to take home one more Stanley Cup and then figure out what comes next. Shea is so patient and understanding with Dom, even as he struggles to hide his own feelings. I just loved them together.

Like the other books in this series, it is a long one at around six hundred fifty pages, but I was totally invested in them and their story. She spends a lot of time developing the characters and making you care for them, and providing just enough conflict and challenges to allow them to have growth opportunities.

This is the last of this series with the Fisher Cats' fake-ish-turned-real relationships and PR nightmares. PR Manager Kate deserves a raise! But this is also about a team and group that has truly become found family and that wants to spread a message of support and inclusion throughout their team and the hockey league. I am sorry this is the last of the Toronto books but I am hoping that there is a spin-off series and I have a feeling what city they are going to next.

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[Lady Macbeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
This is definitely my favourite of the series: Dominic and Shea's story was higly emotional and so very beautiful.
Shea lost his dream to play hockey at 19 because of an injury; he lost his family too, because his father kept pushing him to face more surgeries and training to recovery and his mother never really stood up for him. In order to support himself through college, he started to work as an escort. Despite identifying as straight, little by little he found himself very comfortable with men too.
Dom is at the end of his career, almost ready to retire, he always kept himself at distance and never really let anyone get close. He hadn't spoke to his parents for over 2 decades and he had a terrible experience with a former boyfriend that prevented him to trust people, even his own teammates.

Shea and Dom have an easy arrangement, they meet every Sunday and keep things clearly into the escort/client boundaries, but after some speculations on a gossip site, things start to change and their relationship is shaken: they're around each other more, they fall into a real friendship, they share a lot of public moments and everything is confusing.
Shea is so precious and adorable, he's been pining over Dom for years and he's willing to do everything to keep having a little bit of him.
Dom is in pain because of his back problems, he's worried about his career and he's confused about what he feels for Shea: he start seeing him under a new light, but he's too emotionally closed to understand that Shea is in love with him and that he's the right man for him.

Their journey towards love is slow and it has to face a lot of complications, but Shea is patient and he lets Dom set the pace of their relationship.
I adored how Shea could understand all Dom's reticences and never pushed him to come out, how he always offered him a safe place to let go of his worries and be himself.

There were a couple of very emotional moments about them with their dads and I loved how the author brought them closer again.

What prevented me from giving five full stars:
I didn't like how Dom blamed himself for what happened with his former boyfriend : I understand how Christian must have felt, never being able to love his man openly, but pushing someone to come out is never the answer. Moreover, what he did to him was awful and criminal and poor Dom was way too understanding.
While Christian was building his career thanks to the outcome of his crime, Dom isolated himself and carried the emotional scars for twenty years.

The sex scenes after the fire, when they become close, are very intimate, it's like Dom and Shea, not ready for big declarations, show their love for each other through their intense physical connection.

I don't know if the author is planning another book, I really hope so: the scene at Dustin's home, with the guys sharing experiences was hilarious and I'm not ready to say goodbye to them. Jesse seems a very good candidate for a future book, especially after seeing his attraction for a certain Boston player. We'll see.

In the meantime, I highly recommend this book.

I received an ARC of this book from Neon Rainbow and this is my honest review.

[Brianne McCallum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc audio review

M/M
GFY
Hockey player/hired escort, stylist, PT
One MC secretly loves the other
Secret romance
Both aren't out
Age gap (11 years)
Hurt/comfort
Slow burn

Story = 4 stars
Narration = 5 stars

Dom (40) is a aging Hockey player trying to play through an injury. He's gay but not out so he pays Shea/Sawyer for "company" once a week with the cover that he is his stylist and PT. When he gets caught he tries to get back his straight image.

Sawyer/Shea (29) has been Doms escort for awhile. He didn't tell him he fell in love with him or that he quit the business and is just doing PT now and acting as Doms stylist on the side. He also didn't tell him he's straight and he was his only male customer.

This can be read as a standalone. That might actually be a good thing because I absolutely hated Dom in the last book and was not looking forward to his book. If I wasn't given an arc I prob would have have skipped it and that would have sucked cause he actually acted like a normal human being in this one and I enjoyed it.

I enjoyed both of the MCs. They grabbed my attention from the very first page. I felt so bad for Sawyer/Shea that he was secretly in love all those years and didn't think he had a chance. Then when Dom was more concerned about him that he risked getting caught, it was totally sweet. There was lot's of hurt/comfort which I love between both of these MCs and they made a great couple even when they weren't. They had great chemisty and I loved that they put each other first.

This story was no angst and fairly low steam due to Doms injury and I thought there could have been more. There were moments mentions off page when Dom wasn't hurt and I would of liked to of had them on page to add some more spice to the story but it was still a sweet story overall.

Once again this book had great world building and the same side characters are present but you don't need to have read the previous books. Even when the others were present the spotlight was focused on the couple and Doms injury. Once again we do get to see them all come together like a family to help each other at the end and I really loved that. Also, due to Doms injury there was a huge amount of Hockey talk til the end. The coach does come off a little jerkish as does Sheas parents, but they weren't on page much so it wasn't too bad.

I will say this book was way too long. By the mid point I was thinking it's time for these men to start communicating and wrap this book up. However, I was still interested in finding out who was the inside gossip leak and if Dom was going to recover from his injury but it definitely could have been half the length. I enjoyed the ending though and the set up for the spin off series. The couple mentioned intrigued me.

The narrator was fantastic. His voice was wonderful to listen to. He kept a good pace and flow. He expressed all the emotions wonderfully and brought the story to life. He gave all the characters including the side characters their own distinct voice that suited them all perfectly and made the story easy to follow. It was a pleasure to listen to this story.

[Clara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Finale!

This series for me has been a bit hit or miss. I’ve loved the characters but some of the storylines felt like they needed more detail or depth. This book did not suffer from that at all!

Dom and Shea were great from the very start! I loved the dynamic between them and how seamlessly it switched from their arrangement to them falling in love. There was a bit of miscommunication and at some points it was mildly frustrating but it also made sense for the book. There was almost no angst between the MMCs which I love. I was nervous going into this mammoth of a book that its length meant a ton of drama and angst but it never felt like that. Yes there were some plots and scenes that could have been whittled down or cut completely but all in all the book just works.

I loved how much this book involved the other players on the team and side characters. It was fun to read about their dynamic on the ice and off and especially when they were all together with the SAPs too. It made me appreciate even the books in this series that weren’t my favorite.

I really enjoyed how the whole escort side of the story was portrayed. I am not a romance reader who enjoys any sharing so I appreciated that despite the topic of the book and Shea’s work, that there was no “other person” drama. Though the hints with Travis were a bit unnecessary. That felt like it was just there to stir trouble but maybe it’s a hint at a future book character / love interest? Also the meeting with Dom’s ex did not sit right for me. I don’t like that there was zero discussion with Shea about it after, not because I felt anything was done wrong but because it was such a big moment for Dom it felt weird we didn’t get to experience him sharing that with Shea. And I hated the conversation with the ex in general. I thought there should have been more remorse and accountability on the ex’s side and the little hints that perhaps he still cares for Dom just irked me.

Despite all that, the only thing I really didn’t enjoy in this book was the plot / mystery with the Jock Gossip spy. It all played out really blandly and after so much build up it was a really disappointing end. It felt like the author didn’t know what would happen until the very end of the series and then just threw something together.

But I digress, let’s get back to all the great stuff. Though the ending of this book was predictable it was still so fun to read. I am not ready for this group of characters to be done with so I was so happy there will be a continuation with Boston’s team. I hope we get glimpses of our favorite couples from this book going forward and I know no matter what, I’ll be rereading this book multiple times in the future.

Tropes: Hired Escort / Professional Hockey Player, Forced Proximity, Dual POV, Found Family, Fake Relationship, Hurt / Comfort, Suspense
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5
Relationship: MM

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I am devastated to see the end of this series, as I have loved it, but I am very excited for what (I think) is coming next, and have to say this was a fantastic end to the series!

Dom has mostly been in the background in the previous books in this series: on the team, mentioned, but no one knows much about him--except that he's always busy on Sundays and he's very private. We finally get to know what he's up to on Sundays--Sawyer (real name Shea), an escort that Dom has been seeing for several years. Unknown to Dom, Shea has only been seeing Dom for most of that time, as he is in love with Dom. Their arrangement is in danger of being exposed when a fire breaks out at the condo where they rendezvous, and they both have to make some big decisions about each other.

I really liked this book for several reasons. First, I loved that it normalizes sex work as a valid option when it is willingly entered into, and worked to remove the stigma around that industry. While there are people who are forced into it (and that is horrible and 100% wrong), looking down on the people who willingly decide to perform a valid service is something that our society very much needs to work on.

I also just loved Dom and Shea together. They may have started under interesting circumstances, but they both clearly developed some form of feelings for each other (even Dom who is insistent that he doesn't feel anything for anyone). These two trying to navigate what they mean to each other and how much they wanted to see each other did lead to some great moments and some much needed levity.

While Dom was very guarded of his privacy for a lot of reasons, he does grow in this book quite a bit in learning to trust Shea and his teammates. As an older player in the league, he had the longest memory of how unaccepting it had been. There were definitely moments where I wanted to shake Dom and make him admit his feelings, but he had to get there in his own time, and I'm glad he took a journey through a lot of internalized angst and issues to come out the other side happier.

Shea was also a total sweetheart, and I liked him working through trying to balance his feelings for Dom with what would ultimately be the best for him. He also had an interesting journey with his sexuality (which happened before the events of the book) that I think takes an interesting view about sexuality as a whole.

For all that this book is very long, it honestly flew by, as I was riveted. We also finally solve the mystery of who was leaking information about the team.

Honestly, at this point if you're here for this book, you've probably already read the other books and should know what to expect, which is a great hockey romance!

CW: sexual content, medical issues, sex work, homophobia, attempted blackmail, invasion of privacy

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series, good story. A definite winner.

Rating: 4🌈

The Blame Game is the finale story in
Brigham Vaughn’s wonderful Relationship Goals series.

Vaughn ends the series with line center Dominic Olson, who came out to two of his teammates in the last story. The Blame Game picks up with those events, giving the reader insight into exactly how secretive Dom is about his private life, his sexuality and how shut off he’s become from his those around him.

Determined to keep his interactions with others at a superficial level, dramatic moments at the beginning of The Blame Game start to implode this mentality of his. It begins with his relationship with Sawyer Barnett aka Shea, the man he’s been paying to be his stylist as well as his escort.

Only Shea has his own secrets, plus a new sports physiotherapist day job. He’s got his own decisions to make.

I admit I found this relationship and story a bit frustrating and long. As a finale book I’m sure the author wanted to bring in all the other couples (and did), tie up loose arc plot threads, and give this team a rousing send off. Yes to that ending, absolutely. That takes a certain amount of length to execute the plot and characters.

But that long slog to an acknowledged relationship, outside of the fake boyfriend scenario, just wasn’t as satisfying as the other couples that came before. It’s a 2 person POV so we get that it’s a lopsided affair from the start. Shea has always loved him, even when it’s been a transactional relationship.

Maybe it’s that Dom is just written as spectacularly closed off and damaged but the reasons behind it are so to be revealed and his own actions in the narrative make it hard to connect with him.

Bright spots will always be Dustin and Charlie from The Husband Game, my favorite of the series. I love seeing them together and the important roles they play here. Actually it fantastic seeing all of the couples come together to share their experiences to support Dom and Shea through this process of finding a HEA.

For me, all of them were the best and that last game was everything!

This maybe leaving this team but another is set to arrive! I’m definitely looking forward for this series and that relationship which is set up here. Should be drama on the ice!

Great series, good story. A definite winner.

[Megan McGrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dominic & Shea
I think of all the stories in the Relationship Goals series, Dom's book is the hardest to read because of all the different bits of stress that comes at him. Beyond Charlie's issues in book one, Dom is the one that has a lot of background and past that no one knows about. And in fact, Shea knows more about Dom at the beginning of the story than even his teammates, since he and Shea have had arrangements between them for 4 years, and Dom only just came out to Matty & Dustin recently.

These two have to run through the gamut of issues and tension to counter statements made by Jock Gossip, and with a leak in the organization, it makes it all the more difficult to fight.
Things start to shift between the pair when Shea helps Dom one night after a game, and Dom tries too many remedies to mask/help his pain and Shea recognizes the dangers. Dom knows Shea may have saved his life, and he's grateful to the point of risking outing their connection and relationship.
When it finally comes to the point where Dom is unfortunately forced to come out, he's also forced to pull Shea with him into the gossip drama, and Shea is forced to shift his career status so that no one's livelihoods are at stake. This move causes them some initial issues between them, but it also allows them to see one another as more than just their paid arrangement partner.

Audiobook Update:
Narrated by James Edward Jones
It's always hard saying goodbye to characters that you've grown with over a significant amount of time. When I read the e-book for this story, I thought that would be it. Listening to the audiobook gave me the chance to relive the story once more and feel even more of a connection with the characters.
Each time I experience a new audiobook with a consistent Narrator throughout the series, I feel more connected to the characters, whether from early in the series or the end. I loved James' take on the Relationship Goals series. He did a wonderful job bringing Brigham's characters and stories to life. The attitudes of the characters within their POVs felt/sounded real and believable, no matter the depth (or not) of the scene at play at the time. I will have to take the opportunity to listen to all the audiobooks in this series again when I get the chance.

I received an authorized copy of this audiobook and am volunteering my honest review.