I received this book for free from Gay Romance Reviews in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Jaded by Lex EastonSeries: Day River Dingoes #1
Publication Date: May 29, 2025
Pages: 480
StoryGraph
Source: Gay Romance Reviews
Genre: Contemporary, Hockey, M M Romance, Romance, Sports
Rating: ★★★★
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.
Lex Easton’s Jaded is a heartfelt, gritty MM hockey romance that delivers far more than just swoony chemistry. At its core, this is a story about second chances, healing, and finding meaning when life doesn’t go as planned. Nat, once a rising hockey star, is now scraping by as a Zamboni driver and single dad. Olli, the Dingoes’ new captain, is battling his own demons while trying to salvage his shot at the NHL. Neither expects to find something real in each other—but what begins as tension-filled banter quickly turns into something deeper.
The relationship between Nat and Olli is slow-burn perfection, filled with hurt/comfort, vulnerability, and moments of genuine tenderness. The nicknames “Mouse” and “Ghost” are surprisingly intimate and endearing, capturing the soft, guarded sides of both men in a way that lingers long after the final page. The representation of depression and mental health is handled with honesty and care—raw without being overly dramatic, and truly reflective of real-life struggles.
Set against the backdrop of a dying hockey town and an underground fight-club-style league, Jaded adds enough grit and atmosphere to make the emotional moments hit even harder. Some pacing issues in the middle and underdeveloped side characters keep this from being a five-star read, but the connection between Nat and Olli shines. This is an emotional, bruised, and beautiful start to the Day River Dingoes series.
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About Lex Easton
More About Lex
Writer. Editor. Web Developer.
To say I have a love of writing is an understatement; writing is my absolute passion! I majored in Writing in college and have worked as a marketing copywriter and editor, fiction editor, and web developer for nearly the last ten years.
In my professional career, I’ve worked with clients on a huge variety of projects across quite a few industries—from real estate to carpentry to travel, and more. I can tackle just about any aspect of the website building process, whether that’s crafting a site from scratch, creating compelling content for it, or updating and refreshing existing content and designs. I also have experience with blogs, social media, email newsletters, and more.
As an editor, I pride myself in being thorough, honest, and kind. I truly believe in every story that comes my way and want to make it the best I can be. As such, I’m honest—if I think something needs work, I will tell you. On the flip side of that, I’m also the biggest fangirl 🙂
