Overtime

Scoring Chances #3.5

by Avon Gale

This short story (approximately 4000 words) takes place after the events of Power Play and before Empty Net. It features Spartanburg Spitfires' goalie Isaac Drake -- as well as a few other familiar faces.

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

13 pages, ebook

First published July 1, 2016

About the author

Avon Gale lives in a liberal Midwestern college town, where she spends her days getting heavily invested in everything from craft projects to video games. She likes road trips by car, rock concerts, thunderstorms, IPAs, Kentucky bourbon and tattoos. As a queer author, Avon is committed to providing happy endings for all and loves to tell stories that focus on found families, strong and open communication, and friendship. She loves writing about quirky people who might not be perfect, but always find a place where they belong. In her former life, Avon wrote fanfiction at her desk while ostensibly doing work in non-profit fundraising for public radio and women’s liberal arts education, and worked on her books in between haircuts and highlights as a stylist. Now she’s a full-time writer, delighted to be able to tell stories for a living.

Avon is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan of Handspun Literary Agency.

Enjoy fantasy with a bit of a kinky, darker edge? Check out Avon's fantasy books, co-written with author Fae Loxley, under the pen name Iris Foxglove!

Reviews

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short story is a setup for book 3, and that's okay. Just don't expect too much.

Isaac goes to a playoff game to cheer against his team's rivals and feels guilty about it, especially when he sees how defeated their goalie looks.

He confesses to Misha, but Misha already knows. Of course, he does. Misha knows everything.

No steam here, but I love Isaac so much, I didn't care.

[☆ Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be so short, this story felt surprisingly complete and was a great addition to book 3.

It definitely adds to the depth of the caring big brother / protective surrogate parent relationship that began between Misha and Isaac in the previous story, so I thoroughly enjoyed it.

There was more uber-dickish behavior on the part of the Ashville Ravens, making me further dislike them, which should help with my big ole' "hate on" for Laurent's team in the next book.

And in the Confession Time hockey scene between Isaac and Misha, their shared closeness and empathy was extremely touching, making me love them both even more than I previously had.

If you're reading the series, I'd definitely recommend reading this free short between books 3 and 4.

I'd rate this one at around 4.25 emotive stars. : )

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[~Kristin~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Iz · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely short story! A great introduction to Isaac's character POV. I cannot wait to dive into book four 👀 I'm so intrigued!


TWs/CWs: homophobia.

[Optimist ♰King's Wench♰]

review removed

[Simone - on indefinite hiatus - · Rating 5 out of 5]

I

this short-story!!!

Best introduction of Isaac and Laurent's story!

[Ami]

I am not going to rate this because I can't -- for the life of me -- remember who Isaac is!! Not the book's fault. Totally mine. I have a memory as small as goldfish!! *LOL*. But I can't rate it because I just didn't know what to think about a short story where I can't even remember the main character *head palm in embarrassment*

This is basically a slice of life kind of short story, no sex, not much of action, just like an update of sort ... Isaac is the main character of the next book (seriously, why can't I remember him?). I think I remember Laurent St. Savoy, though, his love interest. There's a blip of him here.

In any case, hey, it's free, and you get to hang around with previously familiar faces :)

Edited to add: My friend Ari told me that Isaac was Isaac DRAKE. AH, DRAKE! Okay, that sounds more familiar to me. Hah, I liked the name "Drake" better than "Isaac" maybe *LOL*

[Andreja · Rating 3 out of 5]

3* because it's toooo short.
First of all. I'm an idiot. I totally forgot to read this one before starting the last book. So this was now a bit weird and out of order. This is a cute, but extremely short "in between book", as I like to call them. We don't really get any new information. All I got from this book was the fact that Misha is total dad material. Hot-tall-Russian-ex-hockey-player-turned-coach-covered-in-tattoos dad. I mean, Max totally hit jackpot. High five Max ;D

[Trio · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was great, I really enjoyed this one, though it makes me really want to read Power Play again - I love Max and Misha :)

[Nerea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute short story <3
Love to see the nice relation between Misha and Issacc :)
Let's go to Empty net!!

[BWT · Rating 2 out of 5]

*shrugs*

It was okay.

It's a short story that doesn't seem to really move the series along in any meaningful way. I don't know what I expected really...a hot sexy scene or an exhilarating game moment, an incendiary match up that would lead into the next book...but I didn't get it here.

[h o l l i s · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well if I didn't know who book four would be about, I sure do now! Not sure why this was a novella (a generous term, this is hella short) instead of included in the full length but I guess we'll find out.

2.5 stars

[Annie ~ Queer Books Unbound · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will probably be no surprise when I say I loved it because I love Misha and I LOVE Isaac and absolutely adore Avon. I don't think she could write anything I wouldn't like but that's also because I trust her not to write anything offensive/racist etc.
In short: I loved this little extra time with Misha and Isaac.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Awwww! The dynamic between Misha and Max and Isaac makes me all melty!

[Leslie]

Free novella. I can’t really rate this. It was only 22 pages. It was more an introduction into the fourth book.

[Ash&#x1f349; · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was nice for a very short story. I liked reading from Isaac’s pov and it’s made me even more excited for book 4. Issac’s thoughts on Max and Misha made me so happy too I just love them.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

<3 Misha <3 That is all.

[Anke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little snippet in between:)

[dianis. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay but the AFTG vibes???? I'M THRIVING

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, how I love this series. Just a bit more of a glimpse into how Isaac Drake moves through life, the family slowly forming under Misha's roof.

[Alisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Very short story about the events between Power Play and Empty Net. The story mostly focuses on the relationship between Issac and Misha. You do not have to read this to read Empty Net but it's free and short and good so why wouldn't you?

[Pjm12 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just whet my appetite for the next one.

Bring it on.

(ah Mischa you devil)

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

So great to get another look at the dynamic and bond between Isaac and Misha. Love this series, and I can't wait for the next one to come out!

[Les Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isaac and Misha ... I ADORE their friendship like no other. It's my favorite ever! Than you, Avon Gale for giving us this wonderful surprise. It was as awesome as I knew it would be. <3

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loooooved this Scoring Chances vignette. Just two things:

1) Misha ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
2) Can't WAIT for Isaac and Laurent's book!

[Marion · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 Stars!

[CrabbyPatty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short snippet of a story bridging Power Play and Empty Net in Gale's amazing series Scoring Chances featuring goalie Issac Drake and Coach Misha of the Spartansburg Spitfires.

[Wendy Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read between Misha and Isaac. Love them both was a fun catch up with the guys.

[Molli B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isaac! ♥ I love this guy. After reading book 3, I was hopeful he'd be the focus of book 4, and he is. \o/ And here he is now, too, if only for a few thousand words.

This is just a little quickie—Isaac from his own POV in a few scenes following the events of Power Play —but I think it does a good job setting up Empty Net. You certainly don't have to read this before Empty Net, but it gives a glimpse of what EN will be about.

I liked seeing this side of Isaac before really getting in his head in 4: the way he notices Laurent St. Savoy, the kind of hilarious scene with sexy Misha in the kitchen, and the last scene, with Misha and Isaac playing hockey. You definitely get a good feel for what Misha means to Isaac (and the other way around, I think!). I like that Xavier is mentioned a bit, too. AND bonus Ethan Kennedy! Who isn't happy to see Ethan??

Fun little short! It went well with my morning coffee. :)

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hehehe - This was a fun little short showing the strength of the bond growing between Misha and Isaac. Sure it's not romantic, but that familial feeling is something Isaac desperately needs in his life and Misha is great.

I liked the little bit of vindictiveness here in cheering against your divisional rivals. I liked seeing the guys out and about. But seeing Isaac feeling all guilty was cute. Of course this is hinting at where our tension is about to come from and I can't wait!