The Last Buzzer

About This Audiobook

J.J. Mulder’s *The Last Buzzer* isn’t just another sports romance—it’s a raw, fast-break play about grief, responsibility, and the messy business of rebuilding a life when the whistle blows on your old one. Desmond, a former pro hockey player turned reluctant single dad and assistant coach, is the kind of protagonist who stumbles into heroism: flawed, exhausted, but incapable of walking away from the people who need him. The story’s South Carolina setting swaps ice rinks for humid college campuses, giving the hockey trope a gritty, sunbaked twist. What elevates this audiobook is its dual narration: Liam DiCosimo’s gravelly, weary tone for Desmond contrasts sharply with Daniel Lewis’s brighter, more youthful delivery for the love interest, creating a push-pull dynamic that mirrors their on-page chemistry.

This isn’t a book that sugarcoats parenthood or romance. The hockey scenes crackle with authenticity (Mulder clearly knows the game), but the real tension lives in Desmond’s quiet moments—late-night feedings, awkward custody conversations, the way his body remembers the ice even as his life keeps him off it. The audio production leans into these contrasts, with sharp edits during game sequences and softer, more intimate pacing for the emotional beats. If you’re tired of sports romances where the stakes feel manufactured, this one grounds its love story in the real, unglamorous work of showing up—even when you’re out of your depth."

"review": "I’ll admit I rolled my eyes at first: *another* hockey romance? But *The Last Buzzer* disarmed me within chapters. Desmond isn’t your typical alpha-jock hero; he’s a guy who’s been bench-pressed by life, and Liam DiCosimo’s narration sells that exhaustion without tipping into self-pity. His voice has this rough, lived-in quality—like he’s recording after a double shift—and it makes Desmond’s dry humor land harder. Daniel Lewis, as the love interest, brings a lighter touch, but the real magic is in how their performances clash and complement each other, especially in the banter-heavy scenes. (The post-game argument in Chapter 12? *Chef’s kiss.*)

Where the audiobook stumbles slightly is in its pacing. The first act drags with setup—Desmond’s adjustment to fatherhood and coaching feels deliberate to a fault—but once the romance kicks in, the story finds its rhythm. I also wished for more texture in the secondary characters; some teammates blur together, their voices indistinguishable in the narration. That said, the production shines in its use of silence. A beat too long after a painful line, a sharp inhale before a confession—these choices make the emotional moments hit like a body check. This isn’t a feel-good listen; it’s a *feel-everything* one. Perfect for fans of angsty, character-driven romances where the happy ending isn’t guaranteed—just earned."

"tags": [
"grumpy-sunshine hockey romance