A Touch of Maple

Love in Maplewood #3

by Amy Aislin

After being traded numerous times over the course of his pro hockey career, all Bellamy Jordan wants is a place where he belongs. Burlington, Vermont, home of the Vermont Trailblazers, his newest team, might just be that place. The bonus: he’s within spitting distance of the grandparents who raised him. The drawback: his long-time rival’s gorgeous brother—who he can’t get out of his mind—also lives nearby.

And he hates Bellamy on sight.

Jason Zervudachi is busy enough trying to diversify his family’s maple syrup farm while completing his master’s degree. Adding in an attractive complication like Bellamy? Hard pass. Even so, there’s something more behind Bellamy’s eyes that draws Jason in, but Bellamy is his brother’s rival. There’s a sibling rule against that, right? There must be.

Except Bellamy isn’t at all what Jason expects—and neither is the connection between them.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Sports, Hockey, Contemporary, Adult, Found Family

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 30, 2025

About the author

Amy's lived with her head in the clouds since she first picked up a book as a child, and being fluent in two languages means she's read a lot of books! She first picked up a pen on a rainy day in fourth grade when her class had to stay inside for recess. Tales of treasure hunts with her classmates eventually morphed into love stories between men, and she's been writing ever since. She writes evenings and weekends—or whenever she isn't at her full-time day job saving the planet at Canada's largest environmental non-profit.

An unapologetic introvert, Amy reads too much and socializes too little, with no regrets. She loves connecting with readers. Join her Facebook Group to stay up-to-date on upcoming releases and for access to early teasers, find her on Instagram and Twitter, or sign up for her infrequent newsletter here: http://bit.ly/AmyAislinNewsletter

Reviews

[Snjez · Rating 2 out of 5]

To quote a character from this book, I found this unimaginative. Everything about this story – the storyline, the characters, the writing - felt generic to me. The found family aspect was nice, but for most of the story I was bored, to be honest.

I didn’t enjoy the audiobook, either. The narrator speaks in the same tone and rhythm, there's almost no distinction between the characters, and you can clearly hear every time he takes a breath at the beginning of a sentence. It’s very distracting.

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Touch of Maple is the third book in the multi author series, Love in Maplewood. This is by Amy Aislin. I’ve read four previous books of this author’s and just love the way she writes. This was such a sweet, lovely story. This one revolves around the Moon Meadows Maple Farm’s Maple Syrup Festival.



Jason Zervudachi is twenty nine years old and works on his family’s maple syrup farm, Moon Meadows Maple Farm. He has been working hard to find ways to diversify the farm while completing his master’s degree. Jason’s younger brother, Ryland, is a pro hockey player and has had a long time rivalry with another player who recently got traded to the Trailblazers, the team in the nearby town of Burlington. When Jason is out with his friends one evening, he couldn’t be more shocked when that same player walks in to the bar.



Bellamy Jordan has just been traded...again, to the Vermont Trailblazers. He has a long history of being traded, never being allowed to fully settle, make friends or put down roots. Even though he gives hockey his all. Practices hard and plays hard. Now he can’t help but wonder how long the Trailblazers will keep him. He’d really like to stay. His grandparents who raised him are barely an hour away in the adorable town of Maplewood. While he’s visiting them, he goes out one night and comes face to face with the most gorgeous guy he’s ever seen. He’s instantly smitten. But soon, that same guy reveals he’s the brother of his long time rival. He couldn’t be more disappointed.

“He hadn’t been nervous playing his first game as a Trailblazer, but one smile from this man and his mouth went dry and his heart flip flopped.”

Soon, though, these two are given a second chance. Jason soon realizes Bellamy isn’t at all what he thought. He’s a sweet, kind man with a huge heart. He doesn’t even really know what the rivalry is all about. And it seems to be more on his brother’s side than on Bellamy’s. But he loves his brother. Would he ever accept Bellamy? Is there any way there could be a future for them?



These two were just the sweetest together. I adored them. They both made my heart so happy. Just so you know, this is a closed door romance, meaning there are no steamy scenes. You just know they are happening. I am most excited to learn that there is going to be a future series for the Trailblazers. And, Justin’s brother, Ryland, will be the first book! The next book in this series will focus on the Honey Bee Jubilee, Bee-tween the Music, by Chantal Mer. I am so excited to read it.

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been craving another Vermont hockey/maple romance for soooo long (weirdly specific I know, but it's one of my favourite book combos!) and brother's enemy/rival is always a trope that I love - this was so entertaining!!

Jason and Bellamy are just the sweetest guys who both have a lot of emotional baggage when it comes to relationships (of any kind for Bel) and trust issues too. Seeing them tentatively work towards becoming more was just so endearing and I was cheering them on. I also really enjoyed Ryland finding out about them and his way of showing them that he was supportive of their relationship was just adorable. This had the most wholesome outcome for all three characters and the whole book just had me smiling from beginning to end.

Also it was so cool to catch up with Roman and Cody from the Stick Side series and to see them married and with kids. Roman's advice about the jelly bean theft was exactly what I'd say too 😂😂 I really hope that Amy Aislin has more books to come for the prominent side characters that were featured in this book - I especially want Dabbs and Ryland's story - because I really enjoy the hockey universe this author has created and I'm always wanting more books added to it.

I also loved the mention of the rivalry between the two diners in the small town as well - the sneaking around to try Maple pies was so silly but so funny too!

*****

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

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

I love this series and I think this may be my favourite so far. The two main characters are just lush together. There’s some tension at the beginning due to the rivalry between Ryland and Bellamy, but they move past that quickly and the rest of their story is pretty drama-free. Bellamy does have some abandonment issues, but Jason is good at making him feel wanted even when they worry about Ryland’s reaction.

It’s not steamy, it’s just a cute story about two guys meeting and falling in love. Very romantic, fun, and sweet. I love the epilogue not only for Bellamy and Jason but for Dabb and Ryland too. Really sweet series so far, each book just gets cuter and cuter.

————-
I received an ARC of this from GRR, and this is my honest review.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only other books by Amy Aislin that I've read were her two books in the Christmas Falls series (1 & 2), and I really liked both of those. This book is similar in that it's a low-angst, low-steam tale, which I usually don't like but found that with these two characters it worked, at least for me. The setup was interesting, the perceived drama was interesting, and the resolution was satisfying. I didn't mind the lack of overt sex scenes, although it would have been nice. :)

[Bess · Rating 4 out of 5]

So cute! I really love Amy Aislin in general, and I feel like she really shines when writing seasonal books. Sweet to the Core was the first book I read of hers (also a fall book) so there's something perfect about this season and her writing.

Thank you to the author for their generous ARC copy. I did not factor receiving this book as an ARC into this honest review. I read this as a standalone and didn't feel left out, but I'm sure that reading the full series gives you a bit more familiarity with the setting and the side characters. While there is tension at the start of the book, the rest is pretty sweet and low-angst. This is a pretty light and easy read, and I think I'lk revisit it again in the fall!

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

4.25 ⭐

A Touch of Maple is Amy Aislin’s contribution to the Love in Maplewood multi-author collaborative series. Here’s what you can expect from Bellamy and Jason:

🍁 MM contemporary romance
🍁 Third person dual point of view
🍁 Guaranteed happily ever after
🍁 Can be read as a standalone
🍁 Rival’s brother
🍁 Small town
🍁 Found family
🍁 Divided loyalties
🍁 Hockey player
🍁 Shots on Goal cameos

I love these low-angst small town collaborations Amy has been a part of, and A Touch of Maple is no exception. I thought Bellamy and Jason were the cutest, and the Shots on Goal cameos had me ecstatic as that was one of my favourites in the Stick Side series.

Although this book did tackle some reflective topics (both main characters have emotional trauma through no faults of their own), it was balanced well with the sweetness and found family. We can only wish that organizations like the Vermont Trailblazers actually existed in professional sports! The other main complication in this book was that Bellamy’s biggest rival is Jason’s brother, Ryeland. I don’t read this trope quite as much but I liked how it was executed in this book. Overall, this book just had sweet, feel-good, and small town vibes. It made for a lovely, easy read and I think the maple syrup festival aspect to it was a fun spin. Another great read from Amy!

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Neon Rainbow ARC Reviews and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Janette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll read every hockey book Amy Aislin writes. Her love and knowledge of the game shines through in each MC, on and off the ice, but it’s always coupled with emotional depth and heartfelt affection. This time she brings it in a low angst, brother’s rival romance - Jason & Bellamy are sweet together, and I enjoyed how they really balanced each other.

Bellamy’s a frequently traded hockey player who’s bounced around the NHL before finally being traded to a team closer to where he wants to be – near his family. Unfortunately, it’s also closer to the family of his league rival.

And the brother of that rival? He’s just trying to make a living on his family‘s maple farm in small town Vermont. Jason has ideas for how to make their struggling farm a success, but it might take a miracle to make it happen.

The connection between Jason & Bellamy is really sweet with a clear focus on their budding relationship and the complications of the rivalry. If you’re looking for a spicy page burner, this might not be it — while there’s plenty of intimacy, it doesn’t happen in a way that immerses readers in the fire and intensity of the moment. It’s not quite fade to black, but I’d consider it mild spice.

Overall this one’s a satisfying, easy read. It sets up an interesting storyline with Jason’s brother, Ryland,and one of Bellamy’s teammates that Amy Aislin has mentioned is on tap for release this fall. I can’t wait to see what happens - I need to know how Ryland Zervudachi gets his man.

*I voluntarily read a complimentary copy of this book*

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

[I received a digital Arc for an honest review]

A Touch of Maple by Amy Aislin is a charming small town romance in which a hockey player falls for his rival on the Ice's brother.

So who was Bellamy Jordan, really? Jason wanted to find out— desperately. Wanted to take those sad eyes and fill them with joy.

Amy Aislin has created a must protect at all costs character and his name is Bellamy Jordan. Oh my goodness he was such a a sweetheart . He tried his hardest but always seemed to come up short against his rival Ryland , a rival he was exhausted with and wishes would end. An upbringing that left him feeling like he wasn't worth keeping 😭 the way he feels about always being traded 😭 then you have the adorable relationship he has with his grandparents ... seriously I could go on and on about him.

“It’s okay. I accepted a long time ago that they didn’t want to keep me. Most people don’t.” “I do,” Jason whispered brokenly. “I want to keep you.”

Then we have slightly nerdy Josh , who was a solid character too. He was kind of stuck in a hard place between his brother and Bellamy. Him and Bellamy have a sweet romance even with Josh sticking his foot in his mouth a few times.

Overall, A Touch of Maple by Amy Aislin is a hockey romance filled with hockey team bets and banter , friendships , maple syrup, dragons , low steam and a happily ever after .

[Sindu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wholesome and heartfelt small town romance!

A Touch of Maple is part of the multi-author Love in Maplewood series. This book has all the charm of a small town romance mixed with the warmth and emotions of an Amy Aislin book.

"He wasn’t allowed to find Bellamy Jordan attractive. Surely there was some kind of sibling rule against it."

Bellamy Jordan is constantly being shuffled around the NHL so when he's traded to Vermont, he doesn't expect things to go any different here. But when a visit to his grandparents introduces him to Jason, his whole world turns upside down for a minute. Just long enough for him to develop feelings before things come crashing down when he finds out that Jason is the brother of his rival, Ryland.

"Jason wanted to hug him, encase him in bubble wrap, and kiss every inch of him, all at the same time."

I've always loved how Amy writes books that are so soft and fuzzy but also pack a punch with the emotions. Like this one had me smiling the whole time, but out of nowhere I'd just start crying because the emotions were so strong. Bellamy is such a precious character. He's spent his whole life feeling like he's not enough and that no matter how hard he works, he'll never be worth it. But with Jason he finally has a safe space to land where he's wanted and loved and appreciated.

"Jason smiled at him like he’d been waiting for him to show up, and now that he was here, everything was right in his world."

Jason is such a sweetheart. He cares so deeply for Bellamy. He's always doing the smallest things to show him that he cares and that he pays attention. A lot of it is food related so if you like that kind of caretaking, you'd love this book. But it's also other things like the way they communicate and constantly choose each other. It was really cozy in a way and gave me all the warm, fuzzy feelings.

"This man made him believe in the impossible— made him believe, for perhaps the first time in his life, that he did belong somewhere, and that somewhere was here, right by Jason’s side."

There was a point there where I thought Ryland would be a bit of a villain in this story, but he had me tearing up a few times during this book. I really hope we get his story at some point because I'd love to get a peek inside his head. This book is part of a shared world and while I haven't read any of the other books in this series (though I want to because it's so cute!), I never felt like I was missing anything. There were also a few cameos and Easter eggs from Amy's other books, but they were just a fun little addition that made me happy. This book can be read as a standalone and you should check it out because it's so wholesome and heartfelt, and I just adored everything about it!

[✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰Janeane ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Copy received from author for an honest review

When I saw this book/series was set around and in Burlington, VT I was so happy. As an Aussie, Burlington has been one of my favourite places to visit on my US travels, and it makes it so much easier to picture the town.

Add in a sexy maple farmer, and I was all in (though it has made me crave maple candies and a maple cremee!

Jason and Bellamy had me from hello. I felt for Bellamy and his want - no, a need - to find a team that becomes his home

And Jason has had his thoughts on Bellamy tainted for so long by his brother, and the feelings he starts to feel as he gets to know the man - that his family will take issue with him, the he will hurt his brother, that he will hurt the man he is falling for... oh man I did not envy him at all!

The whole vibe of the whole story is just cute, cute, cute! Full of fun and romance, and not steamy. Just an adorable couple giving us smiley vibes.

This is the only book in the Maplewood series I have read to date, but I will be reading them all

[Marian. · Rating 4 out of 5]

📌 I received an e-arc, and this is my honest opinion/review of it.

⭐ 3.5

Sin duda esta pequeña pero adorable historia fue nueva, me la leí en una sola noche de lo atrapante que fue, Bellamy y Jason fueron adorables y me encanto todo sobre ellos, desde Jason siendo hermano de su “rival” hasta Bellamy encontrado su equipo/familia con los chicos del Vermont Trailblazers y eso fue lo más bonito de este libro. No hubo tanto drama como pensé que sería con el tema que trata, fue super light, justo lo que necesitaba leer. Pase un buen tiempo leyéndolo, fue lindo, ligero, todos los personajes le dieron su toque a la historia, el hermano de Jason me sorprendió un poco así que espero leer su libro pronto.

---

Without a doubt this short but adorable story was new, I read it in one night from how catchy it was, Bellamy and Jason were adorable and I loved everything about them, from Jason being a brother to his "rival" to Bellamy finding his team/family with the Vermont Trailblazers and that was the cutest thing about this book. There wasn't as much drama as I thought there would be with the subject matter, it was super light, just what I needed to read. I had a good time reading it, it was cute, light, all the characters added their touch to the story, Jason's brother surprised me a bit so I hope to read his book soon.

[fortheloveofmmromancebooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc Review

Jason Zervudachi lives and works in Mapletown. He helps run his families business producing Maple syrup at Moon Maple Meadows Farm. He is also doing a masters degree in his spare time, and looking at different types of tree to use for syrup.

Bellamy Jordan has just been traded to the Vermont Trailblazers, which means he is now closer to where his grandparents live. They took him in when his parents were unable to care for him.

On a night out at a bar on town with his friends, Bellamy meets Jason, and has an instant attraction. Bellamy does not realise that Jason is the brother of his long time rival Ryland.
Once Jason realises that Bellamy is not the enemy Ryland made him out to be, they start to get friendly and progress into a relationship.

What worries them both is how Ryland will react to their love.

This is Amy Aislin’s offering to the Love In Maplewood multi author series.
I loved Jason and Bellamy together. The character development was lovely especially from Jason, when he realised his brother was not always telling the truth.

[Siân PJsAndBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Amy & Neon Rainbow, for my copy of A Touch of Maple. This is part of the multi author series Love in Maplewood. It can be read as a standalone, but I definitely want to read more by Amy and more set in Maplewood. This book focuses on newly transferred hockey player, Bellamy Jordan & Maple Farmer/Masters student Jason Zervudachi. Jason is Ryland's older brother who is Bellamy's biggest hockey rival! A Touch of Maple is sweet like Maple Syrup but will definitely get you rubbing your heart at both Jason's & Bellamy's inner anguish.

Things I ❤️
🍁 Rivals Brother
🏒 Hockey
🍁 Maple Syrup Farmer
🏒 Small Town
🍁 Found Family
🏒 Low Angst
🍁 Divided Loyalties
🏒 Dual POV
🍁 Epilogue
🏒 Bonus Content

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual with this author, I loved this book so much. Amy knows how to portray ice-hockey players and writes beautiful romances that involve them.
Bellamy was an amazing character that stole my heart. He just wanted to settle down in a team for once and all, be closer to his family and, maybe, meet someone. He carried some trauma from the past and was just tired of feeling like he didn't belong. Meeting his rival's brother and falling in love with him was not something he expected.
I also liked Jason very much. He was a good son and brother, but both roles made him feel uncomfortable for different reasons. First, he found out what the rivalry between his brother and Bellamy was like and it was for him to accept that his brother was in the wrong. I also liked when he decided to talk with his dad about his ideas for the business. He was a nice guy who couldn't deny the attraction towards Bellamy and decided to give their relationship a try.
This was such a sweet story, there is no high spice in it but I honestly didn't miss it, because the intimacy between the MCs was beautiful. I enjoyed how their relationship developed, it was a slow burn romance with many lovely moments between Jason and Bellamy.
I immensely enjoyed every single scene where they were together. I was thinking all along that was what relationships should be like. Jason and Bellamy didn't rush anything, they just got to know each other slowly until they were head over heels for each other.
How this author manages to write such amazing stories is a mystery, but I love every single book by her.

[Saskia Veldhuis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really enjoyable low angst story, part of a multi-author series. There was some palpable tension at the beginning between the MCs, and both working through their emotional baggage to develop a strong relationship together was very good. The reaction of Ryland (the brother) was all that one could hope for.

[Bethany (Bee_TheBibliophile) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh Bellamy and Jason…what sweethearts. They’re maybe the two people most unlikely to end up together, but fate brings them together time and time again.

After being traded to the Vermont Trailblazers, pro hockey player Bellamy Jordan finds himself spending time in Maplewood to see his grandparents and to combat his loneliness being in a new city yet again in his NHL career. He struggles with relationships, has a lot of baggage when it comes to being accepting of love and has trust issues. Of course the person who catches his eye while in town is Jason Zervudachi, the older brother of Bellamy’s long-term rival. Jason is committed to making his family’s syrup business sustainable and is dedicated to trying out new revenue streams to keep them up and running, even if things go south with their sugar maples. He’s smart and patient and surprisingly open to seeing where things go with Bellamy, as friends and as more, even though his brother has ongoing hangups with him. The two of them are so sweet and caring with each other - I love their open conversation and how they work toward a relationship at their own pace. Even though Ryland finding out could have been a dark moment for their relationship, Aislin wrote it perfectly and realistically in a way that felt so right for all of these characters and kept them open lines of communication intact.

I’m such a big fan of the Stick Side series, so seeing Roman and Cody all grown up, married with kids and all kinds of happy made me smile. Getting to return to those characters is one of my favorite parts of Amy Aislin reads!

Just saw on Amazon that there’s a Vermont Trailblazers trilogy coming soon and I couldn’t be more excited! Bellamy’s teammates were incredibly sweet and made me laugh, so I’m looking forward to every single one of their stories.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute story with a brother’s hockey rival! Jason and Bellamy were so cute together. Not much steam but super romantic, sweet and low angst. They’re supportive of each other and the communication is on point! Very excited for Ryland’s book!

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-ish

[Fernanda Parente · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of best books I've read this year.
Love Bellamy and Jason, great world surrounding this couple. Low angst and not very steamy but love, and knowing each other.

I love hockey books and I highly recommend this book from one of my favourite writers

[Heather MMRomanceReviewed]

Amy Aislin writes sweet and just a little steamy well! I love how she incorporates her hockey world into this multi-author town and gives us maple-y sweet goodness, hockey flair and a lovely love story! The brother's rival tie in gave just enough angst for them to have something to work through without having to get too dramatic.

As the second book in the series, I was waiting to see how the world we were introduced to evolved this week and I have to say, it was seamless! The town vibe was very much the same and the characters were lovely and made total sense!

I can't wait to see where the next festival takes us in Maplewood!

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bellamy has been traded so many times over the years in his pro hockey career. All he wants is to find a place where he belongs. Where he can build roots and feel wanted. He hopes the Vermont Trailblazers will be the place for him. It’s near his grandparents who raised him so that’s already a plus. He just hopes his team will like him. Then he meets Jason and just for a moment he wonders if he could have a friend and maybe something more than him. Until Jason reveals that he is Bellamy’s rival’s brother. Bellamy has had a rivalry with Ryland for a long time and Ryland is always the one to instigate or keep it going when all Bellamy wants to do is have it end. He doesn’t know what he has to do to make it stop. And he can’t help but feel that Jason is going to hate him on principle. But though they start off rocky, Jason starts to surprise him. Jason can’t believe that Bellamy is the guy his brother constantly chirps on about. Because the guy that Ryland keeps complaining about is nothing like the Bellamy Jason sees. And the more he gets to know him, the harder Jason falls. He knows he’ll have to tell his brother, and he can only hope that he’ll let it go because Bellamy may just be the guy he has been waiting for. I adored these two! I loved Bellamy. The poor guy has just been through enough. He wants friends and a place to belong and you can tell he is just so tired of not finding it. And it’s so sweet how Jason bit by bit opens Bellamy up and gives him hope for the future he has always wanted. And even Jason has been burned in the past and is wary of anyone’s motivations but he sees Bellamy for who he is and in return opens himself up right back. Loved their story! I want more from Bellamy’s team and even Jason’s brother! There were so many interesting characters and I would love books for them all!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jeanette Buck · Rating 5 out of 5]

NHL hockey player has been traded several times and is desperate to feel settled somewhere and he is hoping it'll be in Burlington, Vermont. It's close to his beloved grandparents and he quickly makes friends with his teammates. He didn't realise his arch rival was from the area when he runs into his brother Jason. Jason is determined to dislike him but quickly realises that he isn't what his brother has made him to be. They start dating but have to keep it quiet until Jason can talk to his brother. I thought this was a heartwarming story and really enjoyed reading it.

[Kiki Reads]

When I saw A Touch of Maple was set in Burlington, VT and the nearby fictional village Maplewood, and had a hockey subplot - I knew I had to read it.
Bellamy Jordan has been traded. Again. After a tumultuous childhood and and journeyman career, all he wants is a place to call home. He’s really hoping that the Vermont Trailblazers - which puts him close to his beloved grandparents- is that place.
When he meets Jason he doesn’t realize he’s the brother of his arch rival Ryland Zervudachi until he’s already smitten.
Jason helps at his family maple syrup farm while working on his Masters, and has dreams he’s not ready to share with them quite yet. He really doesn’t want to like Bellamy. But he cant help it. The sweet, gentle man who is a good teammate and loves cooking is nothing like his brother had led him to believe.
When Jason really looks at what Ryland has been saying on-line he realizes Bellamy wasn’t kidding. As much as he loves his brother, he’s been a bit of an asshat. When Jason calls his brother out on a particularly cruel post, he gets him to admit he doesn’t even remember why he started this vendetta in the first place.
I adored Bellamy, who just wants to belong somewhere. Watching him find peace with his new team and tender, tentative relationship with Jason is really satisfying. And I liked how these two quiet personalities (with an assist from Bellamy’s teammates) give Ryland a wake-up call he needed. I’m interested in Ryland’s story (which we get glimpses of) because he needs to atone for hurting Bellamy.
Jason and Bellamy together are adorable. I loved how their relationship developed. They were both cautious people, so it made sense they didn’t rush into anything.
This is a sweet, low-angst story and I’m going to check out the stories of Bellamy’s teammates because Amy has created a lovely world that I want more of.

[Stéph62Hapiot · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

Une romance mignonne même si tout va un peu vite à mon goût.
Les personnages sont sympa et je pense lire d'autres tomes.

[Julie Underhill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Touch of Maple by Amy Aislin is part of the Love in Maplewood series by various authors. It is the story of an ice hockey rivalry that leads 2 men who are lonely and longing to belong to find love. Bellamy Jordan has just been traded to the Burlington Trailblazers NHL hockey team. He has been traded almost every year of his professional life and is longing for a place to become his home for longer than a year. Also, his grandparents, who raised him, live in Maplewood about an hour from Burlington so he is very happy to be close to them. In college a rivalry started with Ryland Zervudachi when he started dating a girl Bellamy wanted to ask out and it continued as Ryland was pretty much handed everything in his hockey career while Bellamy had to work very hard to get where he is. This continued every year on the ice after Ryland said mean things to him and Bellamy started a fist fight on the ice and this continued in just about every game ever since. One day Bellamy was visiting his grandparents in Maplewood and the Moon Meadows Maple Farm was having it’s annual Maple Syrup Festival so he and a friend visited the farm. Unbeknownst to Bellamy it was owned by the Zervudachi’s and Ryland’s brother Jason works there. Jason knew immediately who Bellamy was and was expecting to hate him, which he did after he heard some comments he and his friend were saying. That night Bellamy went to The Striped Maple which was a bar and saw some guys playing darts. He was lonely and just wanted to belong so he asked to join them which they let him but he soon learns who Jason is so he leaves. When joining the team the next day he talks to the team captain, Kyle Dabbs, who has been in his shoes and knows he wants to find a place to settle and tells him that the Trailblazers don’t trade often. The Director of Player Engagement, Roman, wants everyone to stay here so he tells Bellamy to work through difficulties and try to fit in and maybe he should ignore the jabs Ryland keeps sending him on social media. Jason is getting his master’s degree and studying the effects of climate change on the maple syrup industry. He has been experimenting with syrups from different kinds of trees and wants to approach his father about making them on the farm. His savvy sister says she will back him if he can prove this to be profitable so that is what he is working on. Bellamy goes back to the farm store to get maple syrup and some cool bracelets in the team’s colors and to talk to Jason about why he didn’t tell him who he was. Then Jason invites him to dinner and they start to talk about their families and lives and Jason is shocked when Bellamy tells him that he’s not the one who starts things in the rivalry. He’s not sure he believes this so he looks it up and finds out it is true. Both men have an attraction to each other but are hesitant, Bellamy because of the rivalry with Jason’s brother and Jason because two of his boyfriends used him to get to Ryland so he has trust issues. But Jason wants to get to know Bellamy so they start dating which leads to a kiss in the snow and to much more. Now they are worried about what Ryland will say when he finds out and luckily their Dad gives Jason some good advice about how it will probably go down. When he does finally find out, it happens just the way Dad said it would but luckily he knows how to deal with the situation that leads Ryland to say he will try to get to know him. Bellamy was worried that Jason would break up with him over this because no one wants to keep him, but luckily this doesn’t happen and he thinks that Ryland will accept their relationship in time, which he finally does. As time goes on the rivalry ends and they become friends and Bellamy and Jason declare their love for each other and are looking forward to the future, especially since Bellamy is not getting traded and has found the home he has been looking for. I really enjoyed this story. Bellamy is sad and lonely at first because of always getting traded and is longing for friends and a home. He tries hard and the rivalry between him and Ryland is getting to him and he wants it to end so he can just play hockey. Jason is sweet and thoughtful and is shocked when he finds out what Ryland has done to perpetuate the rivalry by being just plain mean. He wants to be with Bellamy and has to find a way to get the it to end and their relationship to be accepted which he is able to do. Their families and friends also play a big part in the story as they work together and help each other. I also found it interesting that this story has no on page love scenes, they are just implied, and this lets the story shine through. I highly recommend this book, especially if you like hurt/comfort stories about a lonely hockey player who has a rivalry with the brother of the man he wants to be with and how they solve this problem so they can be together and find love.

[Samantha Ortega · Rating 5 out of 5]

FR- Alors alors.... alors j'aime énormément les romans d'Amy Aislin et celui ci ne fait pas exception.

Comme pour Want You Back d'Annabeth Albert que j'ai lu peu de temps avant, j'ai frôlé le coup de coeur avec A Touch of Maple

J'ai passé un excellent moment de lecture.

S'il y a bien une auteure qui maitrise les romances sur le hockey c'est clairement Amy Aislin. Je n'ai jamais été déçue de ses romans. Ils sont tous, sans exceptions, des romans doudou. Des petites merveilles de douceur que je savoure à chaque fois.

A Touch of Maple en est un parfait exemple.

J'ai adoré le personnage de Bellamy. Il est tellement attachant. Je me suis énormément attachée à lui et j'ai beaucoup aimé la façon dont Amy Aislin traite sa carrière et son rapport avec le hockey, ses différentes équipes et ses coéquipiers. Bien sur j'ai adoré l'ambiance petite ville qui se dégage de Maplewood et j'ai énormément aimé les différents personnages secondaires.

Jason m'a également beaucoup plus. J'ai aimé qu'il donne sa chance à Bellamy malgré son passif avec son frère. D'ailleurs j'ai vraiment apprécié qu'il n'y ai pas de drama et ques les deux personnages se fassent confiance et communiquent. On ne le dira jamais assez : la communication est la clé!

La relation entre Jason et Bellamy est vraiment super mignonne et touchante. Cerise sur le gateau, on peut très bien lire ce roman sans lire les autres tomes de la série, même si l'univers est vraiment chouette et que ça donne envie de rester un peu plus à Maplewood.

En résumé, un très très bon roman d'une auteure qui ne me déçoit jamais.
ENG-So well well well...well I absolutely love Amy Aislin's novels, and this one is no exception.

As with Annabeth Albert's Want You Back, which I read shortly before, I almost fell in love with A Touch of Maple.

I had a wonderful time reading it.

If there's one author who masters hockey romances, it's clearly Amy Aislin. I've never been disappointed by her novels. They are all, without exception, cozy novels. Little marvels of sweetness that I savor every time.

A Touch of Maple is a perfect example.

I loved the character of Bellamy. He's so endearing. I grew extremely attached to him, and I really liked the way Amy Aislin handled his career and his relationship with hockey, his different teams, and his teammates. Of course, I loved the small-town atmosphere that Maplewood exudes, and I loved the various supporting characters.
>I also really liked Jason. I liked that he gave Bellamy a chance despite his past with his brother. I also really appreciated that there was no drama, and that the two characters trusted each other and communicated. It can't be said enough: communication is key!

The relationship between Jason and Bellamy is truly adorable and touching. The icing on the cake is that you can easily read this novel without reading the other books in the series, even though the world is really cool and it makes you want to stay in Maplewood a little longer.

In short, a very, very good novel from an author who never disappoints me.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The development of Jason and Bellamy’s relationship flowed so easily, once Jason was able to get past his initial dislike of Bellamy, all based on a false impression given by his brother Ryland, Bellamy’s nemesis over the last 5 years. The two clicked from the first sight of each other, the connection was instantaneous, and it grew quickly. The only concern was Ryland’s reaction once he found out. Other things fell into place as the two spent time together, and they were soon at the boyfriend stage. Both did have some hesitation at times, mostly due to events in their pasts, but love quickly prevailed.

Bellamy, a hockey player, and Jason, part of the family that owns the farm and a horticulturist/ researcher in his own right, are well developed characters, realistic and relatable, each with foibles of their own but mature enough to work things out to find a way to be together, despite a personal rivalry, family dynamics, the possibility of a trade and not remaining in the area always in the back of their minds. Both want this badly enough to put aside other challenges which could disrupt their romance, concentrating on doing what they can to have the relationship succeed. It is easy to root for this couple, they obviously have a deep connection and are perfect for each other, fulfilling needs that haven’t been met in the past. The steam level is low on page but the two do have a satisfying and passionate relationship, just not as much on page as in other books.

The world building for Maplewood, Vermont, and the Moon Meadows Maple Farm’s annual Maple Syrup Festival as the March celebration for the town was a fun addition to the Valentines/Anti-Valentines Festival from February based in the first book. The town has ten different themed festivals throughout the year, each one lasting a month, with one book in the works for each month’s festival and chosen couple. It will be enjoyable to see what each of the festivals are and if any of the new couples are built from characters we’ve already met. This is a sweet, low angst romance, and I would recommend this book, and the other one released so far, for an enjoyable read in a small town setting, revolving around a multi-author series set around hockey and local festivals.

I received an ARC from the author and this is my voluntary review.

[Katriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite things about reading books is when I can learn something from them. Through Jason's character I got to learn about what it takes to make maple syrup and how climate change is affecting that business and profession. Sure, this is a work of fiction, however, the details behind Jason's job was very real and I liked being able to learn about things I didn't know previously . I commend Amy for doing her research and being so detailed when it comes to Jason's livelihood and passion, along with writing about the NHL as well. This story is packed full of so many wonderful details and has such realistic characters that the whole time I was reading this it felt as though they were real.

The world that Jason and Bellamy's story takes place in is set in a small town, which may seem simple but it was so very fitting for this story. Even though Jason and Bellamy started off on the wrong foot due to the history Jason's brother has with Bellamy, I was so happy when these two figured out a way to work things out. From the moment Bellamy gave Jason a shy smile in the bar I was hooked and cheering for them. I absolutely adored when these two went on their dates, they were so adorable together and I loved that they took the time to learn about each other for themselves.

I also liked seeing these two men grow as the story progressed, they learned from past mistakes and were determined to do better. They put in the effort and work to change and to make their relationship work, which I loved seeing! Jason and Bellamy are fantastic as individuals but as a couple they are extraordinary! There's give and take in their relationship, communication, trust, understanding, and lots of love. I adored the bonus epilogue at the end, it was such a great way to wrap up a fantastic story and I'm so happy Jason went forward with his new syrup idea.

The guys on Bellamy's team are as amazing as he is, each one has their own shining person and really added to the overall story. I really hope that they each get their own story in the future, I would love to see more of them. They help give that found family feeling and I really liked how open and accepting they are. All in all, a really terrific small town romance featuring a fresh take on the 'brother's rival' trope!

[Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Touch of Maple book 3 in the multi-author Love in Maplewood series. It can be enjoyed as a standalone read. I loved this book! It is very well written and easy to read. This is the story of Bellamy Jordan and Jason Zervudachi. Bellamy is a professional hockey player who has just been traded to the Vermont Trailblazers in Burlington, Vermont. Bellamy is tired of being traded and lonely. He hopes that he will be able to put down roots and stay with this team. With the grandparents who raised him living in Maplewood, it is an ideal location for him. Jason is the older brother of Bellamy's NHL rival Ryland. He works on the family maple farm and is working on ways to diversify their dependence on just maple syrup. As well, he is working hard on completing his masters degree. The two meet at a local pub. Bellamy doesn't know who Jason is but Jason is well aware of the feud between Bellamy and his brother Ryland. Believing that Bellamy is just using Jason to fuel the feud with his brother, Jason is not welcoming. Before Bellamy abruptly leaves, Jason gets a glimpse of the hurt and the loneliness that Bellamy tries to hide. That in turn makes Jason feel bad. Perhaps he misjudged Bellamy. But Jason has been used before by others just trying to get to his famous brother. He won't let that happen again. This is their story. As with all of the author's books, the characters just come to life and you can't help but root for them to have their own HEA. I liked how characters from previous books pop in here. I am especially happy as Shots on Goal is my all time favourite book by this author. It was nice to see Roman Kinsey and his husband Cody in the book. As well as a family update for them. I received a complementary advanced review copy of this book from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review. This is a sweet, low angst romance between hockey player and maple syrup making grad student.