A New Romance Genre Caught Our Attention at Wine, Books & More

04 June 2026

Who knew that hockey romance was the hot new genre? At the last session of Wine, Books and More, these steamy romances really enlivened the chat.

One reader recommended the Heated Rivalry series by Rachel Reid, having read the first three books so far—Game Changer, Heated Rivalry, and Tough Guy— and now they’re hooked. It’s a romance series centred around gay hockey players, with the first book following Scott, a serious hockey player tempted by the funny, sexy guy at the juice bar. But romance mustn’t get in the way of his hockey ambitions.

Pucking Around by Emily Rath is the first book in another hockey romance series, Jacksonville Rays. We follow Rachel, who is the new team physical therapist, which would be fine if she hadn’t suddenly realised that the guy she’d just shared a magical night with is one of the team. This book was described as a good read, very energetic and descriptive. Through the books, the relationships keep expanding, which makes the series all the more engrossing.

More enjoyable reads in other genres included The Vanished Girl, a new book by Kathleen McGurl which was a really enjoyable mystery read. The story moves between two timelines—the hot summer of 1976 when a little girl vanishes, and 2024 where Jo who has never quite got over what happened, now determined to discover the truth. As secrets are revealed, Jo is unsure about who she can trust.

The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen 83 ¼ Years Old also written by Hendrik Groen was such a delightful  and charming read. Set in a rest home in Holland, it follows Hendrik’s daily observations about life, ageing, friendship, and the people around him. Something of a curmudgeon, Hendrik founds the anarchic Old-But-Not-Dead Club and with co-conspirator Evert, starts to stir up trouble. Our reader found a good few chuckles within the pages.

There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak is a very clever novel and one that felt both whimsical and also fairly meaty. The story takes you back to the ancient city of Nineveh, on to London in 1840 then Turkey in 2014 and back to London again - a story following three outsiders and a single drop of water. The way water is woven through the lives of characters across three different generations is beautifully done, earning the book a solid 4 stars.

The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson was a really fun and entertaining read. We’re in the genre of epic fantasy and the empire of Orrun, where a ruler is set to end his reign. Seven compete for the title, but then one of them is murdered. High Scholar Neema Kraa must find the killer before the trials end. It has a big cast of characters and quite a lot going on, which keeps the reader on their toes.

The Sandycove Sunset Swimmers by Sian O’Gorman is a warm, uplifting contemporary novel about friendship and new beginnings. The story follows daytime TV presenter Cat who has decided to say “yes” to everything for a month. And so she joins the Forty Footers, a sea swimming group in Dublin Bay. This was a nice feel-good story, and a light, easy read.

Posted by Mya

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