Smokin' Hot Reads: Audio Blitz: Something to Prove by Lane Hayes

Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Audio Blitz: Something to Prove by Lane Hayes

AUDIO BLITZ - Something to Prove by Lane Hayes

NARRATOR: Kirt Graves

Series: Smithton Bears, book 2

Prior Reading: Recommended but not essential

Genre: contemporary, sports

Tropes: Small-town, College, Hockey, Geek/Jock, Light-angst, Opposites Attract

Trigger/Content Warnings: n/a

The hockey star, the influencer, and the deal of a lifetime.

Ty
I’m going to the pros, baby! Deal made, contract signed. Now all I have to do is finish out my final season at Smithton and stay out of trouble. I like to have a good time, but don’t worry, I’ll behave.

What I won’t do is talk to that double-crossing influencer who’s been badgering me for an interview. No thanks.

I know Walker’s type—sweet as pie on the outside, a shark on the inside.

Get this…he wants to make a deal that sounds a lot like a bribe.

Not interested. No way.

But I am curious.

Walker
I’ve never worked so hard for an interview in my life. Ugh!

Look, I get that Ty doesn’t like me. As in…he won’t return my calls and avoids me like the plague on campus.

Too bad. I’m not giving up.

I don’t want to beg, but I’m willing to barter. Every man has his price—and something to prove.

Even Ty.

Something to Prove is a low-angst, geek-jock MM bisexual college hockey romance featuring a hockey star and the adorkable influencer who’s determined to win him over…

It's the final period, and the game is tied up. You just got a power play and the game is on the line...No, this book doesn't really have that scenario, but it feels like it at times. The push and pull is great and leaves you on the edge of your seat.

STORY: 4.5 stars

I love Lane Hayes, and I will say this book did not disappoint. A social media star with a huge secret, and a hockey player who is moving on to play professionally once his college season is over, but he needs to keep his nose clean. They are both under a microscope, and things unfold from there. At first, Ty claims to hate Walker because of something that happened to his best friend, but he soon finds that there is a very thin line between love and hate. Walker wants to interview Ty, but he doesn't know how to get the hockey player to agree. Until he does...and that's all it takes. A crack is opened. I love the way the plot developed and the growth of the characters. It was a fun read, and I highly recommend it. It will suck you in, and you are just crossing your fingers nothing else happens.

NARRATION: 4.5 stars

The narration was really good, and I loved how Kirt Graves gave each character their own voice. There were a few times when it was hard to differentiate between the two main characters, but those were few and far between and only for the briefest of times.

OVERALL: 4.5 stars

Great story, great narration...all in all, I highly recommend this book. 4.5 stars overall.

AVAILABLE NOW

https://geni.us/somethingtoprove-rev

Lane Hayes lives in sunny Southern California with her amazing husband, who thankfully doesn’t mind cooking, and their fabulous fox red Labrador, George, who’s pure mischief. Both provide oodles of inspiration for the low-angst, humorous books Lane loves to write.

She’s been telling stories about sexy, funny, sometimes geeky and quirky men who find love for a dozen years now and loving every minute. In her previous life, she sat at a desk and dealt with numbers, so yes…romance is much more satisfying!
Lane loves tea, travel, and chocolate…in any order. Add a book and she’s set!