Wake up, Nat and Darcy

In Cochrane's solid queer debut, Darcy LaCroix, a retired Canadian hockey star, must work with her onetime lover and teammate turned rival, Nat Carpenter, as cohosts of a segment on the morning show Wake Up, USA. Nat and Darcy are flown to Olympic host nation Switzerland to meet the athletes of all the winter sports and then attempt to learn how to do said sport themselves. Meanwhile, Nat's still nursing a bruised heart and ego that Darcy caused when she denied their secret relationship in front of their college teammates. After years of intense, heartbreak-fueled hockey rivalry, will the two succumb to the chemistry that's still obvious between them? Adding to the tension is the pressure from legions of queer viewers of Wake Up, USA who start shipping them, complete with the hashtag "#PuckingHotties." This fandom element adds extra fun to a strong and well-executed premise that's sure to appeal to fans of sports romances. Cochrane shows promise. Agent: Paige Terlip, Andrea Brown Literary. (Nov.)

DEBUT After winning gold for the Canadian women's hockey team, Darcy LaCroix is building a career in sports journalism. For the next winter Olympics, she is offered her first chance at an on-camera gig, but only if she agrees to cohost Wake Up's Olympic coverage with her former rival, and secret ex-girlfriend, Natalie Carpenter. Squaring off with Darcy on TV isn't what Natalie hoped for after being cut from the U.S. women's hockey team before she could try, for the third time, to secure gold. Darcy broke Natalie's heart when they were teammates in college and then became her bitter rival as they competed for different countries. But Natalie needs something to keep her from living in her parents' basement, and it seems like looking goofy trying new winter sports on air with Darcy is it. Darcy's and Natalie's competitive spirits and repressed feelings lead to sizzling chemistry on screen, but is it only for show? VERDICT A charming debut, perfect for readers looking for queer stories in the popular hockey romance trend or those who enjoyed Anita Kelly's How You Get the Girl.--Elizabeth Gabriel