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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Book

Heated Rivalry

Heated Rivalry is a 2019 gay sports romance novel by Canadian author Rachel Reid.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Heated Rivalry is a 2019 gay sports romance novel by Canadian author Rachel Reid. It follows the secret relationship between rival professional hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov.

What it is

The novel centers on Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, two elite hockey players whose public rivalry masks a long-running private romance. Their relationship develops over several years, with secrecy and identity at the core of the story.

Key details

Published in 2019, Heated Rivalry is the second book in Reid’s Game Changers series. The main characters are Shane Hollander (a Canadian player) and Ilya Rozanov, both professional hockey stars. The book is commonly read as part of the series.

Why it matters

Rachel Reid is a Canadian author, and the novel reflects the strong cultural presence of ice hockey in Canada. A television adaptation was released in November 2025, expanding the story’s reach beyond the romance genre.

In short

  • Secret romance between two rival hockey stars.
  • Set in the world of professional ice hockey.
  • Author Rachel Reid is Canadian.
  • A TV adaptation was released in November 2025.
Canadian angle

Rachel Reid is Canadian, and one of the main characters, Shane Hollander, is a Canadian hockey player. The novel also reflects the strong cultural presence of ice hockey in Canada.

Quick questions

What is Heated Rivalry about?
It is about two rival professional hockey players, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, who maintain a secret romantic relationship while competing against each other.
Who wrote Heated Rivalry?
Heated Rivalry was written by Canadian author Rachel Reid.
What is the book order in the series?
Heated Rivalry is the second book in the Game Changers series.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heated_Rivalry_(novel)
    Supports: Identifies the novel as a 2019 gay sports romance by Canadian author Rachel Reid, about Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, and as the second book in the Game Changers series.
  2. Goodreads — https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/220966494-heated-rivalry
    Supports: Describes the book as Heated Rivalry (Game Changers, #2) and summarizes the rivalry between Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov.
  3. Amazon — https://www.amazon.com/Heated-Rivalry-Game-Changers-Book-ebook/dp/B0BZZCSYXJ
    Supports: States the book premise, names the main characters, and presents it as part of the Game Changers series.
  4. SumReads — https://www.sumreads.com/books/heated-rivalry.html
    Supports: Provides a summary of the plot involving Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov and their secret relationship.