It's official: The rumored sequel to Heated Rivalry — book 7 in the Game Changers series of novels that will once again center the love story between Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov — has been announced by author Rachel Reid today.
The Unrivaled synopsis reads, "A line has been drawn — and the hockey world is divided. For the first time in their professional hockey careers, Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander have nothing to hide. For more than a decade, they kept their love a secret, but now they're out, married, and even playing on the same team. The support is incredible. Most of the time."
"They've gotten a lot of love from fans who are thrilled for them," the description continues. "But some people in the hockey world are still reeling from their relationship reveal, and the backlash — led by popular hockey podcast Top Shelf and the #TakeBackHockey movement — is getting louder. Ilya and Shane are finally able to stand together in the light, the way they'd always wanted. And now they might be facing their biggest challenge yet."
This third installment centering Shane and Ilya will follow the original Heated Rivalry novel and its sequel The Long Game. The novel will be released on September 29, 2026 by Harlequin Books — and the Unrivaled book cover can be seen below.
Author Rachel Reid broke the news with People.
"I'm really excited to have the chance to continue their story with Unrivaled," Reid told the publication. "I'm writing this one for all the Hollanov fans, old and new. I can't tell you how much the love my characters have received over the years means to me. It has been a blast writing these guys again, and revisiting the entire Game Changers cast."
Unrivaled is now available for preorders on Harlequin, Indigo, and everywhere else books are sold.
NEXT: Heated Rivalry book sequel Unrivaled by Rachel Reid: What we know (so far)
