Where to Start with the Portland Storm Series
If you want to experience the Portland Storm hockey team's journeys the way author Catherine Gayle intended, your best starting point is Breakaway (2013). This first novel introduces the foundational dynamics of the team, centering on team captain Eric 'Zee' Zellinger and Dana Campbell. Their slow-burn, emotional romance establishes the franchise's hallmark style: intense sports action balanced by deeply personal healing.
For readers who want to catch every single detail, there is also a prequel short story titled Ice Breaker (often numbered as Book 0.5), which Gayle has occasionally offered as a newsletter sign-up bonus. While it provides fun backstory, starting directly with Breakaway is highly recommended for a smoother introduction to the team's roster.
Publication Order of the Portland Storm Books
Reading in publication order is the most popular way to enjoy this series. This path allows you to meet the characters as they join the roster, follow team drama across seasons, and watch relationships develop naturally in the background of each book. Here is the publication list of the main Portland Storm books:
- Breakaway (2013)
- On the Fly (2014)
- Taking a Shot (2014)
- Light the Lamp (2014)
- Delay of Game (2014)
- Double Major (2014)
- In the Zone (2014)
- Holiday Hat Trick (2014)
- Comeback (2015)
- Dropping Gloves (2015)
- Home Ice (2015)
- Mistletoe Misconduct (2015)
- Losing an Edge (2016)
- Game Breaker (2016)
- Defensive Zone (2017)
- Power Play (2017)
- Neutral Zone (2017)
- Free Agent (2018)
In addition to these core novels and novellas, Catherine Gayle has released extra stories set in the Storm universe, including the holiday novella Sleigh Bells and Slap Shots (2018) and the novel Journeyman (2018).
The Chronological Order and the 'Neutral Zone' Caveat
Some reading databases suggest a chronological order that places the novella Neutral Zone (published in 2017) at the very beginning of the timeline. However, readers should exercise caution here. Neutral Zone focuses on defenseman Cole Paxton and Luke Weber, characters whose arcs build directly on events and relationships established late in the series (particularly around Power Play).
Placing Neutral Zone first can lead to major spoilers regarding team roster changes, character backstories, and overall plot developments. For the optimal narrative experience, it is highly recommended to read Neutral Zone in its publication spot (Book 17, or between Power Play and Free Agent) rather than treating it as a prequel.
Spin-Offs and Companion Series: Tulsa Thunderbirds
Once you finish lacing up with the Portland Storm, you can transition to the ice with the Tulsa Thunderbirds. This official spin-off series, also penned by Catherine Gayle, features several heroes who were first introduced as supporting characters in the Storm books. While the Thunderbirds series is known for being slightly sexier and edgier, it carries the same emotional depth and focus on resilience.
The Tulsa Thunderbirds books include titles such as Bury the Hatchet (2015), Smoke Signals (2015), Ghost Dance (2016), Rites of Passage (2016), Rain Dance (2017), Dream Catcher, and On the Warpath. You do not need to read the Portland Storm books to understand the Tulsa Thunderbirds, but doing so provides a rich, interconnected experience of Gayle's fictional hockey universe.
What to Know Before You Start
Unlike lighthearted sports romances, the Portland Storm series is known for tackling heavy, mature topics with honesty and sensitivity. Gayle's characters frequently deal with trauma, recovery, mental health, and physical illnesses (such as Katie's leukemia battle in Dropping Gloves). Every book delivers a satisfying Happily Ever After (HEA) for the main couple, meaning they can technically be read as standalones. However, because the players, coaches, and spouses interact constantly, reading them in order preserves the delightful sense of team camaraderie and family progression that makes the series so beloved.