Jaded by Lex Easton

Hockey prodigy Nat Taylor should’ve followed his father and brother to the NHL, but a dream-shattering mistake cost him his career. Now at thirty-five, he’s desperate to give his teenage daughter a better life while struggling to hold onto his job as a Zamboni driver for the failing Day River Dingoes. But when a spicy meet-cute with the Dingoes’ new captain sparks something far hotter than friendship, Nat finds himself worrying about more than just his daughter’s college fund.
Captain Olli James has one goal—make it to the NHL. His rocky mental health has thrown his otherwise promising career into question, but saving the sinking Dingoes could be his ticket to the big leagues. However, a certain moody, broody bad-boi Zamboni driver might prove distracting … Especially when Nat turns out to be the secret star of a gritty underground league called the Ice Out—the town’s favorite new hockey phenomenon.
It’s no wonder the locals prefer the illicit fight-club hockey over their home team. The Dingoes are a rotating door of players passing through on their way to something better. Olli’s no different. An outsider won’t save the Dingoes, or Nat’s livelihood. But maybe together, Nat and Olli can unite the town and the team—make the Dingoes matter again. It might give Olli a reason to stay and Nat a new dream worth fighting for.

JADED is a gritty MM hockey romance and the first book in the Day River Dingoes series. Expect slow burn, grumpy x sunshine, friends to lovers, mental health rep, plenty of hurt/comfort, some funny banter, and lots of bonding over emo poetry and metal music.