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Storm Warning #3
Top Shelf
Anyone can fall in love. Pickle makes it unforgettable.
Thunder Bay’s favorite chaos gremlin, Noah “Pickle” Piatkowski, is no longer the rookie, but he hasn’t lost an ounce of his wild energy. He’s fast, he’s fearless, and he’s still the guy who shows up late to practice because he got his hand stuck in a Pringles can again. Fans adore him. His teammates have stopped asking questions.
When the Storm gathers at The Drop to watch Hog’s partner, Rhett, land a deal on Shark Tank, Pickle’s world begins to tilt.
Enter Adrian Richter, thirty-four, a polished, quietly intense documentary filmmaker sent the day after the show by a streaming network sensing a story —sharp-eyed and no-nonsense. He’s come looking for an authentic slice of small-town hockey life…and instead he finds Pickle, standing in the parking lot of The Drop in Crocs, holding a broken karaoke microphone, and trying to teach Hog’s dog how to howl along to "Total Eclipse of the Heart."
Adrian is thunderstruck. Not just by Pickle’s ridiculousness—but by the heat beneath the chaos. The tenderness tucked behind the jokes. The way Pickle lights up a room without even meaning to.
Pickle, for his part, has no idea what to do when someone hot, grown, and deeply competent looks at him like he’s more than the team’s comic relief. Every instinct tells him to deflect with humor, to hide behind being “the funny one,” to pretend he doesn’t care about the idea that someone might—finally—take him seriously. Letting Adrian see the version of himself he's been protecting? That's terrifying. That's impossible. That's starting to feel inevitable.
When the production company decides Pickle makes better footage as a joke than a person, Adrian faces his own protect the project that was supposed to rebuild his stalled career, or protect the man who's stolen his heart.
An opposites attract small-town hockey romance, with a guaranteed happily ever after.
A storm is coming to Thunder Bay.
Turns out, it’s love.
Thunder Bay’s favorite chaos gremlin, Noah “Pickle” Piatkowski, is no longer the rookie, but he hasn’t lost an ounce of his wild energy. He’s fast, he’s fearless, and he’s still the guy who shows up late to practice because he got his hand stuck in a Pringles can again. Fans adore him. His teammates have stopped asking questions.
When the Storm gathers at The Drop to watch Hog’s partner, Rhett, land a deal on Shark Tank, Pickle’s world begins to tilt.
Enter Adrian Richter, thirty-four, a polished, quietly intense documentary filmmaker sent the day after the show by a streaming network sensing a story —sharp-eyed and no-nonsense. He’s come looking for an authentic slice of small-town hockey life…and instead he finds Pickle, standing in the parking lot of The Drop in Crocs, holding a broken karaoke microphone, and trying to teach Hog’s dog how to howl along to "Total Eclipse of the Heart."
Adrian is thunderstruck. Not just by Pickle’s ridiculousness—but by the heat beneath the chaos. The tenderness tucked behind the jokes. The way Pickle lights up a room without even meaning to.
Pickle, for his part, has no idea what to do when someone hot, grown, and deeply competent looks at him like he’s more than the team’s comic relief. Every instinct tells him to deflect with humor, to hide behind being “the funny one,” to pretend he doesn’t care about the idea that someone might—finally—take him seriously. Letting Adrian see the version of himself he's been protecting? That's terrifying. That's impossible. That's starting to feel inevitable.
When the production company decides Pickle makes better footage as a joke than a person, Adrian faces his own protect the project that was supposed to rebuild his stalled career, or protect the man who's stolen his heart.
An opposites attract small-town hockey romance, with a guaranteed happily ever after.
A storm is coming to Thunder Bay.
Turns out, it’s love.
349 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 2, 2026
27 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
January 8, 2026
4.6 stars
January 14, 2026
Can I give 6******?
The best book from this series. I love Pickle, so much, and I wanted to shake Adrian almost all the book.
All the players were there to support Pickle, no questions asked. Just there
The last chapters were read with a box of tissues beside me because I cried so much
It's an amazing book
The best book from this series. I love Pickle, so much, and I wanted to shake Adrian almost all the book.
All the players were there to support Pickle, no questions asked. Just there
The last chapters were read with a box of tissues beside me because I cried so much
It's an amazing book
January 17, 2026
The blurb sets this story up so well, there isn’t much to add without revealing more than I like to in a review. Pickle’s character drew me in from the first page and kept me engaged with him all the way through. Yes, he is a Chaos Demon, but there is so much more to him than the surface bravado. He has depths which no one sees, until Adrian arrives in town. The pull between them is instantaneous, but both are cautious, circling each other, wanting to get close, but both have past baggage that tempers the initial impulse. Adrian is supposed to only stay a few days, but as Adrian sees and understands more about Pickle (Noah), the barriers begin to falter. When the network takes the “documentary” footage in a direction that Adrian doesn’t want, he tries to control the narrative, and what Pickle knows, all under the guise of protecting him. Of course, it all backfires, leading to a confrontation that could have been avoided with that old bugaboo — communication. It’s messy and not easily fixed, but Declan writes romances, so we all know it comes right in the end. It’s the journey to get there that really shows what both characters are made of, and where their hearts lie.
While I adored Pickle, Adrian was a bit angsty for me at times. As the older adult in the room, he obviously hadn’t fully accepted a previous life lesson, which led to his dilemma now. I appreciated how he actually watched and listened to Pickle, which led him to seeing all the complicated parts of what made up this amazing man, and he accepted those parts without reservation, something that hadn’t happened to Pickle before. Adrian’s caring was definitely there, just parts of the follow through were flawed, but he learned from his mistakes this time, and ended up truly seeing himself, too. I did warm up to him more through the story as his real feelings for Pickle (though at times misguided) were obvious.
I so enjoyed meeting up with the main characters from the previous books, and the introduction of Heath had me giving a mental fist-pump for the growth he made under Pickle’s tutelage. The team dynamic of support, acceptance, and caring came through loud and clear through the interactions of the key members and their partners. Loved Hog’s quiet protectiveness, support and understanding of what made Noah Pickle, he was someone Pickle knew always had his back, along with Jake and the others.
The only thing that gave me pause was with the repetition of dialogue in chapters alternating the point of view between Pickle and Adrian, especially toward the end. While addressing a significant event by representing each character’s point of view, dialogue was duplicated, and I found myself thinking “huh? That just happened already”, which confused me until I realized it was setting the context for the other character’s thoughts and reactions to be expressed. It wasn’t enough to subtract a star, just something I thought worth mentioning if others had that same reaction while reading.
I’ve enjoyed this whole series, loved the team dynamic and the connections between the main characters in each book, carrying over to the next. I had hoped we might have a Heath book, but apparently not to be. Maybe in another lifetime for him. If you like hockey (was never a big fan, never have attended a game, but feel quite educated now after all the hockey themed books I’ve read), and really engaging, realistic and likable characters that keep returning in successive books, as well as great world building for Thunder Bay (can still feel the shivers🌬️❄️), I would recommend this book and the entire series. Each can stand alone, but are just richer together. A perfect read for a cold winter’s afternoon or evening to really put you into Thunder Bay and this amazing group of men.
I received an ARC from the author and this is my voluntary review.
While I adored Pickle, Adrian was a bit angsty for me at times. As the older adult in the room, he obviously hadn’t fully accepted a previous life lesson, which led to his dilemma now. I appreciated how he actually watched and listened to Pickle, which led him to seeing all the complicated parts of what made up this amazing man, and he accepted those parts without reservation, something that hadn’t happened to Pickle before. Adrian’s caring was definitely there, just parts of the follow through were flawed, but he learned from his mistakes this time, and ended up truly seeing himself, too. I did warm up to him more through the story as his real feelings for Pickle (though at times misguided) were obvious.
I so enjoyed meeting up with the main characters from the previous books, and the introduction of Heath had me giving a mental fist-pump for the growth he made under Pickle’s tutelage. The team dynamic of support, acceptance, and caring came through loud and clear through the interactions of the key members and their partners. Loved Hog’s quiet protectiveness, support and understanding of what made Noah Pickle, he was someone Pickle knew always had his back, along with Jake and the others.
The only thing that gave me pause was with the repetition of dialogue in chapters alternating the point of view between Pickle and Adrian, especially toward the end. While addressing a significant event by representing each character’s point of view, dialogue was duplicated, and I found myself thinking “huh? That just happened already”, which confused me until I realized it was setting the context for the other character’s thoughts and reactions to be expressed. It wasn’t enough to subtract a star, just something I thought worth mentioning if others had that same reaction while reading.
I’ve enjoyed this whole series, loved the team dynamic and the connections between the main characters in each book, carrying over to the next. I had hoped we might have a Heath book, but apparently not to be. Maybe in another lifetime for him. If you like hockey (was never a big fan, never have attended a game, but feel quite educated now after all the hockey themed books I’ve read), and really engaging, realistic and likable characters that keep returning in successive books, as well as great world building for Thunder Bay (can still feel the shivers🌬️❄️), I would recommend this book and the entire series. Each can stand alone, but are just richer together. A perfect read for a cold winter’s afternoon or evening to really put you into Thunder Bay and this amazing group of men.
I received an ARC from the author and this is my voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Videographer Stands Up For Truth, wins hockey player
In this traditional style of writing for Declan Rhodes, emotions are prioritized first, love is secondary, and misunderstanding is acknowledged. Adrian Richter is the videographer dispatched to the small town of Thunder Bay, renowned for its passionate hockey culture, after Hog, another hockey player, secures a deal on Shark Tank driven by his boyfriend. The video narrative highlights the unconventional characters of the hockey team and explores the desire to create a viral sensation, based explicitly on the antics of another player, Pickle.
However, Adrian resists the temptation to turn Pickle into a humorous meme for online engagement and contends with the network and his assignment editor over whether to focus on his compulsive and unusual behaviors rather than on portraying the mentor he is to many and his excellent hockey skills. Adrian perceives the authentic side of Pickle, and without revealing spoilers, this perception introduces a rift between them when Adrian fails to disclose the true nature of the video content, leading to a loss of trust with Pickle, with whom a mutual love has developed.
It is understandable that the network aims for a humorous meme, especially considering Pickle’s proclivity for humorous antics such as getting his hand stuck in a Pringles can or attempting to teach Hog's dog to howl to "Total Eclipse of the Heart" in a parking lot. His act of squirting a water bottle during his interview further reinforces his portrayal as an agent of chaos.
Through vivid language, compelling metaphors, and meticulous craftsmanship, Declan Rhodes masterfully portrays the tense situation arising from the network’s desire for viral clicks and the rift that develops between Pickle and his lover. Adrian seeks to demonstrate how Pickle advises the new team member, Heath, who possesses evident talent but lacks the focus and life experience that Pickle and others have accumulated and wish to share to benefit Heath and their team.
Love is equated with trust, which is damaged when Adrian withholds information about the repercussions of his conflict, failing to fully communicate potential hazards to those vulnerable to its impact. A resolution is ultimately achieved; however, it does not reunite the two lovers. In the characteristic style of Declan Rhodes, forgiveness is earned, and trust remains a pivotal element.
In this hockey-centered community, members share in one another's successes, and Adrian endeavors to regain the trust he sacrificed in protecting Pickle, his team, and his town, all while withholding the full ramifications of his actions.
This book is highly engaging, with captivating storytelling, precise and expressive prose, and a compelling plotline. The narrative is enthralling, and the conclusion is satisfying, affirming the triumph of love.
In this traditional style of writing for Declan Rhodes, emotions are prioritized first, love is secondary, and misunderstanding is acknowledged. Adrian Richter is the videographer dispatched to the small town of Thunder Bay, renowned for its passionate hockey culture, after Hog, another hockey player, secures a deal on Shark Tank driven by his boyfriend. The video narrative highlights the unconventional characters of the hockey team and explores the desire to create a viral sensation, based explicitly on the antics of another player, Pickle.
However, Adrian resists the temptation to turn Pickle into a humorous meme for online engagement and contends with the network and his assignment editor over whether to focus on his compulsive and unusual behaviors rather than on portraying the mentor he is to many and his excellent hockey skills. Adrian perceives the authentic side of Pickle, and without revealing spoilers, this perception introduces a rift between them when Adrian fails to disclose the true nature of the video content, leading to a loss of trust with Pickle, with whom a mutual love has developed.
It is understandable that the network aims for a humorous meme, especially considering Pickle’s proclivity for humorous antics such as getting his hand stuck in a Pringles can or attempting to teach Hog's dog to howl to "Total Eclipse of the Heart" in a parking lot. His act of squirting a water bottle during his interview further reinforces his portrayal as an agent of chaos.
Through vivid language, compelling metaphors, and meticulous craftsmanship, Declan Rhodes masterfully portrays the tense situation arising from the network’s desire for viral clicks and the rift that develops between Pickle and his lover. Adrian seeks to demonstrate how Pickle advises the new team member, Heath, who possesses evident talent but lacks the focus and life experience that Pickle and others have accumulated and wish to share to benefit Heath and their team.
Love is equated with trust, which is damaged when Adrian withholds information about the repercussions of his conflict, failing to fully communicate potential hazards to those vulnerable to its impact. A resolution is ultimately achieved; however, it does not reunite the two lovers. In the characteristic style of Declan Rhodes, forgiveness is earned, and trust remains a pivotal element.
In this hockey-centered community, members share in one another's successes, and Adrian endeavors to regain the trust he sacrificed in protecting Pickle, his team, and his town, all while withholding the full ramifications of his actions.
This book is highly engaging, with captivating storytelling, precise and expressive prose, and a compelling plotline. The narrative is enthralling, and the conclusion is satisfying, affirming the triumph of love.
January 5, 2026
PICKLE!!!!!!!!! 🥒
I just love him. I want him to be a real boy so bad. I see a likeness in him and just want to hug him so hard. “It’s easier to be around noise. Drown’s the rest out” I felt that to my core.
Pickle (AKA: Noah) seemed scattered and messy at first. He felt he didn't belong and what he was working towards was going to be taken away (I call that imposter syndrome). A lot of his behaviors and his anxiety centered around overthinking his situation. Adrian was damaged by his past but had to repeat his mistakes to truly understand how he hurt people. At first Adrian seemed the stronger of the two characters, calming Pickles seemingly chaotic life, but as the story went on Pickle ended up being the stronger more balanced character in my opinion. I liked Adrian, but Pickle spoke to me more.
This story started a little bit as a slow burn , the MC’s dancing around each other a bit. When the finally kissed for the first time it was in a quiet moment, it was yes!...Finally! The scene was written so well, moving and so heartwarming, both MC's caved to their insecurities and chose each other. In the background of all the falling in love, was the angsty part of the storyline...Pickle trusting in his man, and in turn, his man trusting only in himself that he was doing the right thing (spoiler, he wasn't) I’m glad Pickle had his team as support. I’m glad his team watched out for him, stood up for him, and protected him. I was especially glad for Hog. Hog had the best advice (Menacing and soft all at the same time). It was really nice to have characters from the previous books so intertwined as well. All of the characters of this series were so well written.
Overall, I loved this whole series, and I am sad it is ending. Pickle was BY FAR my favorite... I may be slightly like him :)
“You’re acting like a squirrel who found cocaine in the bird feeder” 😂
Review of advance copy received from Author
I’m giving this a 5 star review because of this: “ I had a date tonight. With someone who wanted to know about my day. Some things were worth being nervous about.” That right there is beautiful. I loved how Adrian sees Pickle, and learns to love him as he is, and how Pickle sees Adrian, and does the same for him. I love the mess, the nerves, the struggles and misunderstandings, I loved it all. I also enjoyed seeing Rhett and Hog from a previous book, and knowing their love is still going strong. I love how the reader knows everything that is going on with the characters, and eventually the characters know as well, but getting in their heads, seeing what a mess they are and how hard they try to make things work makes me love them even more. Once again, Declan Rhodes writes a realistic love story, full of imperfect people, scared and scarred people, who try their best to make things work out, and be better, do better, with someone else. I just love it! They don’t talk about how handsome or strong or whatever the other person is, they talk about falling in love with their contagious smile, the way they light up a room, their caring nature, the way they feel seen. And I love that. This dialogue puts it better than I can: “ “Having someone who sees me. The real me. And he doesn’t flinch.” “That’ll do it.” “Do what?” “Make you brave enough to see yourself.”” That right there is why this story is so amazing: we see the real characters, not the pretty parts they show the world, and we fall in love with them, and cheer them on, because we see them as they are. Declan Rhodes is a master at showing honest characters, with flaws and vulnerabilities, and showing us how strong they are. I can’t wait to read the next one!
January 6, 2026
TOP SHELF - DECLAN RHODES
This is book 3 in the Storm Warning series about a Thunder Bay minor hockey league, and in true Declan Rhodes style you will be engaged as soon as you start reading.
The main character, Pickle (Noah), has been a side character in previous books mostly as comic relief, but now it’s his turn to find his special someone. Through all of his idiosyncrasies this man will warm your heart and turn you into his biggest fan.
Adrian comes to Thunder Bay to film a short documentary on the hockey team, after Rhett was on Shark Tank and Hog was with him to help sell his idea to the judges. We met these men in the last book when Hog finally gave himself a chance to find love when he realized he may be using knitting to help hide his loneliness. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and Adrian believes Pickle speaks volumes through the actions he captures with his camera lens. Whether it is trying to teach Hogs dog to sing karaoke, mentor the rookie that reminds him of himself when he arrived on the team, or the nervous habits he has when anxiety and doubt get the better of him.
Pickle enjoys talking with Adrian and showing him around Thunder Bay, and feels instant chemistry with him. Adrian is finding it hard to do the job he was sent for after learning who the real Noah is. Especially when the network insists making a joke out of the Thunder Bay Chaos Creator will inspire more memes than serious interest in what makes this hockey team so important to this town. There are a few challenges along the way, but true love will win in the end.
There are always a lot of realistic situations in Declan’s books, but you know you will be guaranteed a HEA. This story and this author are worth the read.
This is book 3 in the Storm Warning series about a Thunder Bay minor hockey league, and in true Declan Rhodes style you will be engaged as soon as you start reading.
The main character, Pickle (Noah), has been a side character in previous books mostly as comic relief, but now it’s his turn to find his special someone. Through all of his idiosyncrasies this man will warm your heart and turn you into his biggest fan.
Adrian comes to Thunder Bay to film a short documentary on the hockey team, after Rhett was on Shark Tank and Hog was with him to help sell his idea to the judges. We met these men in the last book when Hog finally gave himself a chance to find love when he realized he may be using knitting to help hide his loneliness. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and Adrian believes Pickle speaks volumes through the actions he captures with his camera lens. Whether it is trying to teach Hogs dog to sing karaoke, mentor the rookie that reminds him of himself when he arrived on the team, or the nervous habits he has when anxiety and doubt get the better of him.
Pickle enjoys talking with Adrian and showing him around Thunder Bay, and feels instant chemistry with him. Adrian is finding it hard to do the job he was sent for after learning who the real Noah is. Especially when the network insists making a joke out of the Thunder Bay Chaos Creator will inspire more memes than serious interest in what makes this hockey team so important to this town. There are a few challenges along the way, but true love will win in the end.
There are always a lot of realistic situations in Declan’s books, but you know you will be guaranteed a HEA. This story and this author are worth the read.
January 18, 2026
I'll admit, I chose this book as part of a running joke with a friend- we work at a library, and hockey romances are EVERYWHERE right now. I didn't expect to stop three pages in and need to read the previous two books, and I Definitely didn't expect to fall in love with the series and every single one of these characters. I really, really didn't expect to feel so seen in a character whose nickname is Pickle. Freakin' PICKLE. In the first two books of the series, he's sort of just a joke- at one point, he describes himself as "a feral Muppet with the attention span of a caffeinated squirrel," which, for the record, is also me to a T. In Top Shelf, we get to see beyond the disaster to the anxiety underneath. It's obvious from the first two books that's these aren't silly little romances, there's substance and emotional weight, but Pickle's anxiety and compulsive tendencies really just got me.
About the romance- I appreciated how when Adrian screwed up, he wasn't instantly forgiven. It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, but it was an optimistic ending. You know they're going to be okay, but it's not all swept under the rug. I am ALL about that- it's part of why I'm not usually into romance books and I'm very much not into Hallmark movies- these kinds of things can't be fixed by a confession, an apology, and a kiss.
It sounded like this is the last Storm Warning book, and I really hope that's not the case, but either way, I enjoyed the ride, and I can't wait for Heath's story!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
About the romance- I appreciated how when Adrian screwed up, he wasn't instantly forgiven. It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, but it was an optimistic ending. You know they're going to be okay, but it's not all swept under the rug. I am ALL about that- it's part of why I'm not usually into romance books and I'm very much not into Hallmark movies- these kinds of things can't be fixed by a confession, an apology, and a kiss.
It sounded like this is the last Storm Warning book, and I really hope that's not the case, but either way, I enjoyed the ride, and I can't wait for Heath's story!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 19, 2026
Top Shelf is the third book in the Storm Warning hockey series by Declan Rhodes. While this is the third book in the series, the story stands a lone and can be read on its own. I would suggest reading the other books in the series to be familiar with the other members on the hockey team. Of the three books in the series, Top Shelf is my favorite, but that may be due to the fact that Noah “Pickle “Piatkowski has been a favorite since the first book. I was thrilled to see him get his story.
Pickle is a strong player on the ice but still feels like he has to prove himself to his coaches and his team. He overcompensates for his insecurities with humor and his wild energy. This is what catches the eye of documentary film maker Adrian Richter when he comes to Thunder Bay to film the team. Adrian sees more to Pickle and wants Pickle to see himself as the amazing man he really is. In order to do so Adrian needs to step out from behind the camera and open himself up to not only Pickle but to Thunder Bay.
Declan Rhodes created an amazing found family with this wonderful team of hockey players and the residents of Thunder Bay. In every book the bonds of the family get stronger and the family gets a little bigger. While this is a story about a hockey team there is a lot more going on in this third book. This is a well-done age-gap, hurt/comfort, hockey romance. I also love the playlist that was created for this book. This is such a cool addition Rhodes adds to his books.
I received an advanced reader copy for my honest review
Pickle is a strong player on the ice but still feels like he has to prove himself to his coaches and his team. He overcompensates for his insecurities with humor and his wild energy. This is what catches the eye of documentary film maker Adrian Richter when he comes to Thunder Bay to film the team. Adrian sees more to Pickle and wants Pickle to see himself as the amazing man he really is. In order to do so Adrian needs to step out from behind the camera and open himself up to not only Pickle but to Thunder Bay.
Declan Rhodes created an amazing found family with this wonderful team of hockey players and the residents of Thunder Bay. In every book the bonds of the family get stronger and the family gets a little bigger. While this is a story about a hockey team there is a lot more going on in this third book. This is a well-done age-gap, hurt/comfort, hockey romance. I also love the playlist that was created for this book. This is such a cool addition Rhodes adds to his books.
I received an advanced reader copy for my honest review
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received a free copy. This review is submitted voluntarily.
Pickle is a character we’ve seen in the previous books, and he came across as merely comic relief. But this book shows that he is far more complex. He suffers from a lack of confidence when it comes to believing that he deserves to be on the team, even though it is not in the NHL. He overcompensates with a sense of humour, straightening things, etc. He exhibits symptoms of OCD but doesn’t really have it. Adrian is a photographer/documentary filmmaker who goes through life keeping people, including those he loves, at a distance using his camera as a shield. He submits film that makes Pickle look like a joke and though he knows where the network is headed with the footage, he’s sure he can handle it, all while not telling Pickle. Of course, he cannot and Pickle is furious as are his protective teammates. They don’t see him as a joke. The two MCs are made for each other, notwithstanding a lot of signs to the contrary. They are both assisted by the other team members who oddly don’t seem to bear a grudge against Adrian. The number of secondary characters is relatively limited, thus increasing their effects on plot development. The storyline itself is on a dual track, the love story and the documentary, that eventually comes together toward the end, by which time the MCs have transformed in personality. While there are some sex scenes, they are handled with discretion.
A wonderful end to a short (3-book) series.
Pickle is a character we’ve seen in the previous books, and he came across as merely comic relief. But this book shows that he is far more complex. He suffers from a lack of confidence when it comes to believing that he deserves to be on the team, even though it is not in the NHL. He overcompensates with a sense of humour, straightening things, etc. He exhibits symptoms of OCD but doesn’t really have it. Adrian is a photographer/documentary filmmaker who goes through life keeping people, including those he loves, at a distance using his camera as a shield. He submits film that makes Pickle look like a joke and though he knows where the network is headed with the footage, he’s sure he can handle it, all while not telling Pickle. Of course, he cannot and Pickle is furious as are his protective teammates. They don’t see him as a joke. The two MCs are made for each other, notwithstanding a lot of signs to the contrary. They are both assisted by the other team members who oddly don’t seem to bear a grudge against Adrian. The number of secondary characters is relatively limited, thus increasing their effects on plot development. The storyline itself is on a dual track, the love story and the documentary, that eventually comes together toward the end, by which time the MCs have transformed in personality. While there are some sex scenes, they are handled with discretion.
A wonderful end to a short (3-book) series.
January 12, 2026
A BEAUTIFUL STORY ABOUT BEING SEEN!💕⛸️🏒📷🎞️
I love this series and I love Noah Piatkowsky aka “Pickle” and now we get a deeper insight to the chaos gremlin of The Storm and what an insight it is…
"Belonging is something you claim,"
"Not something they give you. You show up.”
“You do the work. You prove it to yourself first."
Pickle was a very complex character with many interesting layers who liked to deflect with humour but then a filmmaker Adrian Richter came to his little town of Thunder Bay to do a documentary and turned his world upside down!
Adrian was a character that showed personal growth with Pickle as they made each other better persons by being seen, staying and learning from each other…
“Three days in a town I've never heard of, filming people I'll never see again.”
“I want to be the kind of player people remember for the right reasons—“
They had a good dynamic with an age gap of nearly a decade between them with chemistry that could melt the ice, and in two weeks found what they never knew they needed- each other, trust and a deep abiding love but then that trust is broken in the worst possible way…
I loved how the team stood by Pickle and protected him and listened to him, not interfering just being there for him like a warm blanket…
A sweet epilogue follows with an interesting tear inducing ending…
I voluntarily received an ARC from the author for an honest non biased review.
I love this series and I love Noah Piatkowsky aka “Pickle” and now we get a deeper insight to the chaos gremlin of The Storm and what an insight it is…
"Belonging is something you claim,"
"Not something they give you. You show up.”
“You do the work. You prove it to yourself first."
Pickle was a very complex character with many interesting layers who liked to deflect with humour but then a filmmaker Adrian Richter came to his little town of Thunder Bay to do a documentary and turned his world upside down!
Adrian was a character that showed personal growth with Pickle as they made each other better persons by being seen, staying and learning from each other…
“Three days in a town I've never heard of, filming people I'll never see again.”
“I want to be the kind of player people remember for the right reasons—“
They had a good dynamic with an age gap of nearly a decade between them with chemistry that could melt the ice, and in two weeks found what they never knew they needed- each other, trust and a deep abiding love but then that trust is broken in the worst possible way…
I loved how the team stood by Pickle and protected him and listened to him, not interfering just being there for him like a warm blanket…
A sweet epilogue follows with an interesting tear inducing ending…
I voluntarily received an ARC from the author for an honest non biased review.
January 4, 2026
Nice age-gap hockey romance. Pickle is the heart of the Thunder Bay Storm Warning hockey team. Always quick with a joke and the loudest disaster at any party. Adrian is a documentary maker with an assignment to shoot some human interest stuff for a short piece about the team. He's immediately drawn to Pickle after finding him in an alley wearing crocs and trying to get a dog to sing with him. Adrian can also tell that the fun guy facade that Pickle puts on hides deep feelings and care. Pickle knows that Adrian is the first man who truly sees all of him and wants to pursue what that might mean. The network is requesting that Adrian focus on Pickle and how he could be "memeable" as a clown. Pickle's biggest fear is that he will not be taken seriously and be seen as just a joke. I very much enjoyed how Pickle was written with a deep emotional life that he kept mostly to himself. I connected with him pretty deeply. There is a pretty serious 3rd act betrayal and breakup, but I appreciated that Pickle held firm on his boundaries and didn't forgive Adrian right away. I again was surprised at how emotional I got with the story, but I should expect that with Declan Rhodes. I'd really recommend this one.
January 8, 2026
Noah/Pickle has been one of my favourite characters in this series. He is such a fun character, put underneath all his laugh and giggles, is a young hockey player with doubts of his playing skills and who wants what his team mates have. That one person who is his.
When Adrian is hired to create a documentary about Hog, his camera is only drawn to Pickle and whilst he sees the laughter, he sees what few see, the real Noah “Pickle” Piatkowski.
I loved knowing the real Pickle, and I could not stop myself being drawn to him. The relationship between Adrian and Pickle started off slowly with Adrian and Pickle getting to know each other. When trouble came calling with Adrian and his work I got so angry with him and I wanted to take Pickle out of that situation. But at the end Pickle was the stronger one and I was cheering him on all the way.
It was good to catch up with the rest of the team and have them fight for Pickle.
Whilst I liked Hog, Pickle the orange Croc wearer had my heart
When Adrian is hired to create a documentary about Hog, his camera is only drawn to Pickle and whilst he sees the laughter, he sees what few see, the real Noah “Pickle” Piatkowski.
I loved knowing the real Pickle, and I could not stop myself being drawn to him. The relationship between Adrian and Pickle started off slowly with Adrian and Pickle getting to know each other. When trouble came calling with Adrian and his work I got so angry with him and I wanted to take Pickle out of that situation. But at the end Pickle was the stronger one and I was cheering him on all the way.
It was good to catch up with the rest of the team and have them fight for Pickle.
Whilst I liked Hog, Pickle the orange Croc wearer had my heart
January 18, 2026
Thank you for the book; here is my honest opinion:
Pickles story, and it did not disappoint. I loved seeing Pickles find strength in the mess Adrian brought to his door, that was definitely a silver lining. Pickles is in an almost constant struggle to keep moving forward, self doubt and anxiety are warring with the confidence and talent he has on the ice. I loved the peek inside of Pickles mind when he is on the ice, where he is the best player on his team, confident, and a natural leader. It was one of my favorite parts of his story. Adrian had so many chances to change course and let Pickles know about the challenges with the documentary- that he didn’t, was frustrated for sure. It was also very compelling to read and the emotional punch was well done, I was definitely invested. For me, this was a love story between Pickles and hockey, because that is where he is at his strongest, where he finds both control and freedom. This series has the best team as family vibes, it’s been the heart of the series throughout - plus truly excellent characters.
Pickles story, and it did not disappoint. I loved seeing Pickles find strength in the mess Adrian brought to his door, that was definitely a silver lining. Pickles is in an almost constant struggle to keep moving forward, self doubt and anxiety are warring with the confidence and talent he has on the ice. I loved the peek inside of Pickles mind when he is on the ice, where he is the best player on his team, confident, and a natural leader. It was one of my favorite parts of his story. Adrian had so many chances to change course and let Pickles know about the challenges with the documentary- that he didn’t, was frustrated for sure. It was also very compelling to read and the emotional punch was well done, I was definitely invested. For me, this was a love story between Pickles and hockey, because that is where he is at his strongest, where he finds both control and freedom. This series has the best team as family vibes, it’s been the heart of the series throughout - plus truly excellent characters.
January 3, 2026
Why is it that we keep secrets to protect someone only to learn that doing so has hurt them? Enter Pickle, frenetic energy bordering on a neurodivergent diagnosis, and Adrian, calm documentary videographer, who can’t keep his camera off Pickle. It all takes place in small-town Onterio, Thunder Bay, near the shore of Lake Superior where hockey reigns. For many of us, this is a family reunion with the team. Is there any news network that doesn’t pay for sensationalism even when it glosses over who a person really is? Not really. Consent, non-consent, unknown non-consent, which is it? Role reversals? Rhodes is a master at weaving profound messages into his characters. No one can read his novels without finding a message waiting for them. Watch as characters unfold, form relationships, and endure. But of course, you cannot have a spicy MM romance without drama…that’s just not being realistic, right? Enjoy!
January 8, 2026
Being seen is something that has rarely happened for Noah (Pickle). Pickle knows hockey and he's good at it, but his nervous energy off the ice has earned him a reputation as an agent of chaos. Rhett, the partner of one of the other players, lands a deal on Shark Tank Adrian is sent to get a story for a streaming network. Adrian captures the chaos, but he captures the man under the chaos too. Adrian is at an impasse when the network wants only the chaos, which ignores who Pickle really is; the fact that Adrian has fallen for Pickle makes fixing things imperative. Adrian must learn that protection can be control and that control can be devastating to a relationship. Trust works both ways in a relationship. These two learn to trust each other as they work together to solve the network issue and repair their relationship.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 18, 2026
This is the third book in the Storm Warning series. Each book is a standalone read that focuses on a different couple. This is the story of Noah “Pickle” Piatkowski and Adrian Richter. Noah is hockey player who has a huge personality. Not many people know the person under the persona. Adrian is a documentary filmmaker who has been sent by a streaming network to showcase an authentic slice of small-town hockey life. This is their story. The book is well written and easy to read. I enjoyed how they were both attracted to each other right from the start. When the network wants to capitalize on Pickles personality and antics by making himout to be a big joke; that is when the problems start. I loved how Pickle's teammates and friends supported, protected and loved him for him. I enjoyed this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 16, 2026
I absolutely love this series even though i am not a sports fan! The characters are just so endearing. In this book we have Pickle who is complete chaos in human form, but beneath the humour and wild energy there’s so much heart, and I adored watching that slowly be seen and valued. The contrast between Pickle and Adrian worked brilliantly with Adrian being a calm, competent presence which was the perfect counterbalance, and their connection felt genuine and earned. I appreciated how the story explored trust, perception and what happens when someone is reduced to a punchline rather than treated as a whole person. The hockey team and small-town setting added warmth and depth, making it feel like a real community. Emotional, funny and quietly powerful, this was yet another romance by Declan that will stay with me.
I received a free arc copy and this is my honest review
I received a free arc copy and this is my honest review
January 5, 2026
ARC review
Starting this read was exciting. I totally got into Pickles' character even picked up his nervous exited character trait. The author is very good with words and how to bring out the serious topic. I like that a lot of the dialogue is written in a humourous way. Seeing things from Pickles' point of view is a whole new experience and I totally fell in love with his character. What I love about Adrian is that he truly see Pickle and still loves everything about him. He don't have to be perfect as long as he's himself.
This book is a heartfelt hockey romance that I highly recommend. It made the start of this new year perfect. The secondary characters were very important and they are one big family that have each others back.
Starting this read was exciting. I totally got into Pickles' character even picked up his nervous exited character trait. The author is very good with words and how to bring out the serious topic. I like that a lot of the dialogue is written in a humourous way. Seeing things from Pickles' point of view is a whole new experience and I totally fell in love with his character. What I love about Adrian is that he truly see Pickle and still loves everything about him. He don't have to be perfect as long as he's himself.
This book is a heartfelt hockey romance that I highly recommend. It made the start of this new year perfect. The secondary characters were very important and they are one big family that have each others back.
January 4, 2026
Declan Rhodes has become one of my favourite authors. In different series he has shown depth in subject matter but also in detail and research. His series on Thunder Bay hockey has been a joy and clearly one needs to visit there and the cities where the Thunder Bay team was playing to know how much realism Rhodes has captured.
In some ways this was a difficult book to read for it appeared the developing HEA was unravelling but in the end it survived. I would have liked a little more of the "after the truth came out" but the early part of the book was light and filled with humour and love not just between the two MCs.
In some ways this was a difficult book to read for it appeared the developing HEA was unravelling but in the end it survived. I would have liked a little more of the "after the truth came out" but the early part of the book was light and filled with humour and love not just between the two MCs.
January 9, 2026
Adrian goes to Thunder Bay to film a documentary on the hockey team after Rhett was on Shark Tank. Little did he know that his heart would get involved and what the network wanted was to make a joke out of one of the players.
Noah "Pickles" is more that what you see, he isn't just chaos, accidents and goofiness. He is a mentor to younger hockey players, a loyal friend and he does everything with his heart.
Adrian and Noah don't have an easy time of it. Trust issues and Adrian has to figure out that what he does isn't helping or protecting but control.
Slow burn, trust issues, teammate loyalty and a HEA.
Noah "Pickles" is more that what you see, he isn't just chaos, accidents and goofiness. He is a mentor to younger hockey players, a loyal friend and he does everything with his heart.
Adrian and Noah don't have an easy time of it. Trust issues and Adrian has to figure out that what he does isn't helping or protecting but control.
Slow burn, trust issues, teammate loyalty and a HEA.
January 12, 2026
This series has been a great dive into character development for Rhodes.
Pickle, ah, Pickle. You just want to hug him and tell him he is good, that his little quirks and quarks are what make him.
I was not feeling as patient with Aiden though, maybe because I was worried about how Pickle was going to fair when he found out what Aiden had brought upon him.
Of course, I knew there would be a HEA, but still, I felt protective towards Pickle.
The found family in this series was great and I loved how the first two couples showed up in this one.
A nice wrap up to a good series.
I received an ARC for my honest review.
Pickle, ah, Pickle. You just want to hug him and tell him he is good, that his little quirks and quarks are what make him.
I was not feeling as patient with Aiden though, maybe because I was worried about how Pickle was going to fair when he found out what Aiden had brought upon him.
Of course, I knew there would be a HEA, but still, I felt protective towards Pickle.
The found family in this series was great and I loved how the first two couples showed up in this one.
A nice wrap up to a good series.
I received an ARC for my honest review.
January 9, 2026
This book surprised me. Pickle has always been a source of comic relief. I mean…I don’t think we learned his real name (Noah) until this book. Declan Rhodes really showed us the depth of a character with Noah’s story. Noah was so much more than the jokester.
I didn’t love Adrian. He never seemed to really trust Noah’s maturity. Even though Adrian is 10 yrs older, he seemed much more immature than Pickle.
For me, this book was much more about Noah and his growth than the romance with Adrian.
I really enjoyed it.
I didn’t love Adrian. He never seemed to really trust Noah’s maturity. Even though Adrian is 10 yrs older, he seemed much more immature than Pickle.
For me, this book was much more about Noah and his growth than the romance with Adrian.
I really enjoyed it.
January 14, 2026
Adrian came to film a documentary about Rhett and Hog, the Shark Tank entrepreneur and his hockey boyfriend. But he stayed because of Pickle. Hog's teammate Pickle who bounces around a room like a pinball, chaotic, fidgety, always on and the life of the party. Adrian watches and sees there is so much more to Pickle. It's a beautiful love story with two guys who really get what the other is all about and wants them for themselves. It has angst, betrayal and pain but also friendship and loyalty. They have to trust in their love. I received a copy of this and this is my voluntary opinion.
January 15, 2026
Pickle is one of those special characters that I could keep reading about. He has a variety of coping techniques when his brain is running away with him and, at the same time, is so supportive of others in his chaotic way. Adrian may have thought he meant well in trying to solve an issue that would deeply hurt Pickle, but he went about it in a very wrong way. The reactions of the studio felt scarily possible. The found family is brilliant. The focus on being seen beyond the surface is great.
Thanks for the advance copy via Booksprout, I am happy to leave a voluntary review.
Thanks for the advance copy via Booksprout, I am happy to leave a voluntary review.
January 5, 2026
I was so happy to see that Pickle got his story to complete this wonderful series. There is a bit of angst in this book but lots of chaos. It seems appropriate that Pickle, known for chaos falls for Adrian, the responsible documentary maker. The premise of the story relates to Hog and Rhett but morphs to Adrian and Pickle. There is one part where it appears we may not get a HEA, but you will have to read the book to see the outcome.
January 7, 2026
Top Shelf by Declan Rhodes is a warm, charming hockey romance with plenty of heart. Pickle’s chaotic humor hides a surprisingly tender depth, and watching him be truly seen is incredibly satisfying. Adrian is the perfect calm counterbalance, and their opposites-attract chemistry feels natural and genuine. Add in a cozy small-town setting and strong found-family vibes, and this becomes an easy, feel-good favorite in the series.
January 8, 2026
Top Shelf is the third book in the Storm Warning series, each can be read as a standalone but I think is better in order. This is an age gap, opposites attract, small town read about Pickle and Adrian. I loved to see Pickle get his story after seeing him in the other books and what a story it is. There is a bit of angst and there is a third act breakup, but I do love what it brings to the story.
January 2, 2026
Adrian is documentary filmmaker who came to Thunder Bay for a story.
Pickles is the over the top hockey player that has a strong following of disaster!
When things start going wrong with the network Adrian tries to cover and protect Pickles but Pickles will have nothing to do with it!
Excellent story with enough love and the whole team standing right there beside him!
Pickles is the over the top hockey player that has a strong following of disaster!
When things start going wrong with the network Adrian tries to cover and protect Pickles but Pickles will have nothing to do with it!
Excellent story with enough love and the whole team standing right there beside him!
January 3, 2026
I’m so glad Pickle got his story told. He might be quirky and funny but he had a heart of gold when he saw the new rookie needed mentoring. Adrian is a videographer who came to Thunder Bay to film Rhett and Hog but ended up filming Pickle in his unusual quirks which made the network want to abuse the situation. This is another great book from this author ✍️
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