Mike comes to Moncton wanting nothing more than to play for the Ice Cats and finally live on his own terms. He’s broke, bruised, and covered from head to toe in cheap lube, but he isn’t going to let that stop him. All he needs is a place to live and some time to figure out how to reconcile who he really is with who everyone wants him to be. Dumping three gallons of lube on the new kid is just another day at the office for Alexei. He knows exactly who he is: a goalie on the ice, a prankster in the locker room, and a man who knows better than to share his private life with anyone. He’s let people in before and it’s taught him that if he can’t have what he really wants, it’s better to be alone. Despite their apparent differences, an unlikely friendship grows. Neither of them could ever have guessed how much they really have in common.

Mike & Alexei are back, and they’re hotter than ever. After four years with Alexei, there are a few things Mike knows with absolute certainty: he loves Alexei, Alexei loves him, and Alexei gives the very best gifts. This Christmas is no exception, though Mike is having a hell of a time figuring out what, exactly, Alexei’s gift is. Alexei knows his gift this year is going to blow Mike’s mind, but in the meantime, it’s pretty hilarious watching Mike try to figure out what it is. Granted, Alexei does have a lot of surprises in store for Mike this week, and it sure as hell isn’t frankincense and myrrh.

Alexei has a roommate and it’s not Mike. He also has a whole lot of regrets, but no one wanted the Ice Cats’ brand new back-up goalie to be on his own down the stretch in the playoffs. Anyway, Alexei and Mike have been together a long time. They’re getting married for heaven’s sake. They can go a few nights not sleeping next to each other. Mike can’t stand not sleeping next to Alexei. He’s not going to complain, because this is the playoffs and he’s a freaking adult, but it turns out sleep deprivation makes him overthink a bunch of shit he wasn’t planning to think about at all until the off-season. Like, the fact they’ve been engaged for over a year and haven’t set a date. Mike knows they’re going to spend their lives together. But to get the wedding done? They’re going to have to change some rules… Note: While Changing the Rules is a complete story, we've gotten to know the main characters and their friends in the previous books in this series, and it will be an even better experience if you read those first.