Today, I’m hosting author Amy Aislin’s latest release, The Best Parts of Him, book one in the Vermont Trailblazers series, a m/m contemporary romance. Be sure to read my review.
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Title: The Best Parts of Him
Series: Vermont Trailblazers, book 1
Author and Publisher: Amy Aislin
Genres: M/M Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Hockey, Forced Proximity, Opposites Attract, Long-distance Romance
Tense/POV: Third person, past tense
Heat Rating: 3 flames
Length: 57,000 words / 210 pages
Release Date: October 28, 2025
Sometimes the sweetest victories happen off the ice.
Ryland Zervudachi lives for the game of hockey—and for the chance to build the kind of team unity that will carry the Columbus Pilots all the way back to the playoffs after last season’s crushing defeat. Off the ice, though, there’s one goal he hasn’t managed to score—the heart of Kyle Dabbs, the Vermont Trailblazers’ team captain and his long-time crush.
Kyle Dabbs has built a life centered on quiet strength. After a childhood scarred by his father’s verbal abuse, Dabbs pours his energy into his career on the ice and the book series he’s written to help kids like the boy he once was. He doesn’t need someone flashy, loud, and spotlight-loving like Ryland turning his world upside down.
But when an untimely appendectomy leaves Dabbs stuck at home, Ryland—recovering from an injury—shows up to help. Between late-night Scrabble competitions, pumpkin-carving mishaps, and long talks that peel back layers they’ve both kept hidden, Dabbs begins to see past Ryland’s bold exterior.
With chemistry sparking and walls crumbling, both men must decide if they’re ready to risk their hearts for something even better than a championship: love.
Note: It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.
“Hey,” Ryland said, his mouth going dry when Dabbs’ gaze met his. “How’s your summer been so far?”
Dabbs leaned his forearms on the top of the high-backed kitchen chair on his left. It sent his biceps straining against his blue T-shirt. Ryland forced his gaze off them.
“Well, let’s see,” Dabbs said, his voice a deep timber that stroked along Ryland’s skin. “Bellamy and I just moved into a new place, so there are still boxes of crap taking up floor space in the kitchen. One of the kids at hockey camp this week decided the ice was too slippery, so he sat out almost every activity. And one of my dogs swallowed a bee.”
Ryland gasped. “Oh my god. Is he okay?”
“He’s fine.” Dabbs regarded him for a long moment, his expression softening. “Nice of you to be concerned though. How has your summer been?”
“Oh, its . . . ” Ryland stumbled over his words for a moment, still stuck on Nice of you to be concerned. “Fine. Good. I can’t top any of that, but my niece did puke candy all over my feet when I picked her up from daycare last week.”
Dabbs made a face. “Gross.”
“I was wearing flip-flops.”
Dabbs made gagging sounds.
“Imagine trying to get vomit out from under your toenails.”
“Oh god, stop talking.” Dabbs straightened and covered his mouth with the back of his hand, as though his gag reflex had engaged.
“On a lighter note, I built a canoe.”
“You . . . what?”
“Built a canoe. Well, me and six other people. We took part in a canoe-building workshop in Glen Hill over the past two months, and we built a communal wood strip canoe. We even took it out onto the water last week.”
“Did it float?”
Putting on his most scandalized Southern belle impression, Ryland brought his hand up to his chest. “Excuse you. Yes, it floated. Rude.”
Dabbs chuckled. “Sorry. You just don’t seem like the woodworking type.”
“Oh, I know how to work wood.” Ryland gave Dabbs an up and down glance. “Very, very well.”
He wasn’t sure what to expect from Dabbs. For him to be so turned on that his cheeks pinked and he stuttered over his words?
Dabbs, coolly confident in a way Ryland had never managed, did neither of those things. Instead, he drawled a lazy, “Me too,” and added three tiles to the Scrabble board, adding w, o, and d to an existing o.
Wood.
Ryland had to laugh, surprised by this aspect of Dabbs’ sense of humor. “Not exactly what I meant.”
Dabbs grinned. “Wood for eight points, plus a double letter score on the w for a total of twelve points. Your turn.”
Swearing under his breath—word games weren’t Ryland’s strong suit—he added a g and a t to an existing e, netting himself four points for get.
“It’s okay,” Dabbs said. “We can’t all be good at everything.”
Ryland laughed. “Oh, you did not just go there.”
“Hey, are we heading out to dinner, or what?” Jason called from the front door. “I’ll drive.”
“Do you play darts, Dabbs?” Ryland asked, grabbing his wallet from the table in the foyer.
“I’ve played a game or two,” Dabbs said hesitatingly. “Why do I get the feeling I’m going to regret admitting that?”
Ryland grinned. “You’ll see.” And followed the group out the door.
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I’ve read and reviewed a couple of books by the author, so when this title came up for review, I said yes, since the author is a guaranteed great read.
As stated in the blurb, Ryland is determined to bring his team to the playoffs this year, even though his crush is on the opposing team—a team that won the Stanley Cup the previous year. Dabbs, on the other hand, is everything that Ryland is not—quiet, conservative, and private. But when the two meet, the chemistry isn’t flying; it’s bubbling beneath the surface.
This romance completely emulates Dabbs’ personality of quiet and cautious. The two aren’t hopping into bed right away, although they’d love to. It’s built on rapport and lots of Scrabble games. They show much respect for each other with good communication as Ryland nurses Dabbs back to good health. Add in some cute doggies, along with lots of apple bread, and you’ve got a recipe for a sweet romance.
Both characters are extremely likable. And they also have some growth in their arcs. Dabbs, for specific reasons, has a purpose for taking things slow. He didn’t have the greatest upbringing, and I found Ryland the perfect guy to bring Dabbs out of his shell.
There isn’t much tension happening. So if you are a reader who likes high-stakes romance, you won’t find that here. Instead, you get two mature gentlemen who slowly get to know one another over the pages of the book.
It’s a great start to the series. If you enjoy slow-burn romances, do yourself a favour and get a copy.
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Amy’s lived with her head in the clouds since she first picked up a book as a child, and being fluent in two languages means she’s read a lot of books! She first picked up a pen on a rainy day in fourth grade when her class had to stay inside for recess. Tales of treasure hunts with her classmates eventually morphed into love stories between men, and she’s been writing ever since. She writes evenings and weekends—or whenever she isn’t at her full-time day job saving the planet at Canada’s largest environmental non-profit.
An unapologetic introvert, Amy reads too much and socializes too little, with no regrets. She loves connecting with readers. Join her Facebook Group to stay up-to-date on upcoming releases and for access to early teasers, find her on Instagram, or sign up for her infrequent newsletter.
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Maggie Blackbird 