One-Time Shot
Smithton Bears, Book 1
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Narrated by:
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Kirt Graves
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By:
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Lane Hayes
About this listen
The jock, the geek, and the hockey project…
Jett
My pro hockey dreams are hanging by a thread. I need to have a great season and that means no partying, no distractions, no fun. The grad student pestering me for science-y help on his thesis is the definition of no fun, so… okay.
Pros and cons of agreeing to this deal:
Pros: Positive use of free time. (At least that’s what my agent says.)
Cons: Malcolm likes big words and his first language is math. He’s also bossy, clumsy, and he doesn’t know the first thing about hockey.
But he’s also cute and he’s got a great sense of humor and—oh no. I cannot have a crush on the geek. No way. Not now.
Malcolm
Yes, I’m a serious student, but a hockey project is not serious. Who cares about big hunky hockey players zipping around a sheet of ice at warp speed? Not I.
According to my professor, however, the only way to attain the required data is to study the specimen in his natural habitat, a.k.a. the ice rink.
Pros: My thesis should lead to a bevy of job offers.
Cons: Jett. He’s impossible—too big, too handsome, too gruff and yet disarmingly charming and—
Okay, fine. I like the jock… a lot. Lately, I find myself wondering if there’s such a thing as a one-time shot at forever.
One-Time Shot is a low-angst, geek-jock MM college hockey romance featuring a charismatic hockey star and an adorkable scientist.
©2025 Lane Hayes (P)2025 Lane HayesListener received this title free
Story - While this seemed to start as a very typical nerd/jock story, it became something more. There was a bigger focus on the science, and Malcolm, the nerd, was confident and positive. Jett was particularly sweet and supportive, and it wasn't all about homophobia and coming out, which was refreshing.
unexpected
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Listener received this title free
The experiment commences, and as Jett and Mal spend time together, they start to bond over a mutual love of sci-fi movies and TV shows, Star Trek in particular – and a genuine friendship develops between them, which soon turns into something more when the mutual attraction and longing that’s been sparking between them finally boils over.
One Time Shot is entertaining and well-written, but it’s pretty predictable. Mal has never been interested in hockey (or any sport, really); Jett lives for the game and, in his final year in college, is hoping to make it his career in one way or another. He knows he’s unlikely to play in the NHL, but hopes that maybe a contract with the ECHL might one day lead to an AHL spot. I liked him and Mal together and enjoyed their gentle teasing and banter, and it’s clear they’re completely gone for each other – but they have to keep things on the downlow because while Mal is out and proud, Jett is in the closet because he doesn’t want to ruin his chances of getting picked up by a pro hockey team. Mal is mostly okay with this short-term; they’ll both be leaving Smithson at the end of the academic year to go their separate ways anyway, so it’s not as though they can be anything other than ‘casual’. Or can they?
Kirt Graves is one of those narrators I always enjoy listening to, so I was pleased to see he’d signed on to narrate this new series. His voice has a pleasantly husky note to it and is easy on the ear; his pacing is good, he differentiates very effectively between all the characters and his portrayals of Mal and Jett fit them perfectly, with Mal’s higher pitch and slightly faster delivery contrasting nicely with Jett’s deeper, more considered manner. The humour in the story comes across really well, as does the growing connection between the two leads; it’s an excellent performance and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
One Time Shot is a short listen, coming in at five hours and twenty minutes. Mal and Jett are likeable and endearing if somewhat stereotypical; Mal is geeky and a bit clumsy, and Jett is the hockey-focused hot jock, albeit a bit more intelligent than he initially appears. I liked them individually and together, and even though they’re opposites, they compliment each other well and are good for each other. On the downside, the story sometimes feels a bit… bare bones, there’s some telling-not-showing, the reasons for the (short-lived) third-act break-up could have been a bit more original, and the reconcilition is of the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it variety.
For all its predictability One Time Shot is a well-crafted and steamy opposites-attract romance – and if that’s your jam, you could do a lot worse than choose to listen to this one.
Predictable, cute jock/nerd romance
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Listener received this title free
🎧📚🎧 Lane Hayes cast the perfect narrator to bring her characters and story to life. Kirt Graves is a versatile voice artist, and he did a fantastic job voicing these characters, taking each role and owning it, sounding believable and just as I imagined they would sound. He did a superb job portraying both Malcolm’s geeky adorableness and Jett’s kind, patient personality, and his performance of the side/secondary characters was equally fabulous. Graves is an entertaining storyteller and his captivating performance rivets you to the story
Fantastic Story & Narration🎧Sweet & Enjoyable!
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Listener received this title free
This was such a sweet audiobook!
I loved this opposites-attract, jock/nerd story. Jett and Malcolm couldn't have been more different if they tried, but they managed to find some common ground in their favorite show and developed a solid foundation for an unlikely friendship that later turned into more. I loved how their relationship grew into more, the progression was very natural, and true to their characters.
This wasn't very long, and it was very low angst, very steamy, fun, and engaging. I was very invested in Jett and Malcolm getting their HEA.
I really enjoyed Kirk Graves narration, his voice is very pleasant. He brings the characters to life for me, giving each character a different voice and bringing their personality forth, which heightens the experience in my opinion.
Definitely recommendable!
Loved it!
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Listener received this title free
Also, as always, Kirt Graves’ narration was a great addition to bringing the story to life!
A cute nerd/jock romance!
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