Review: See the Light by Cassandra Carr

See The Light by Cassandra Carr
Loose-Id
Novel
3.25 Pants Off

Blurb:
Hockey player Jason Monroe lives a double life—star defenseman and soon-to-be Olympian on the ice and closeted gay man outside the rink. A serious relationship is out of the question, and Jason makes do with anonymous sex in barroom bathrooms, not willing to take the chance on coming out as gay in a decidedly macho sport.

Advisor to the US Olympic hockey team Patrick Parker knows a thing or two about being a professional hockey player who’s not out. He’s fifteen years older than Jason, and when he senses the sexy younger man is interested, he knows he shouldn’t give in to the attraction.

The two men can’t keep their hands off each other, though, and with each heated encounter it gets harder to hide their relationship. When their world blows up around them, forcing them into the limelight, though, will their love survive or be put on ice?

Review:
I am coming to the conclusion that maybe sports books aren't for me. From the very few M/M sports book I've read (where a sport is also the main focus of the story and not just something the characters play) I've enjoyed only one. See the Light falls into the category of a book I somewhat liked, but my overall feelings are very meh.

Jason Monroe is a star defence man on his hockey team, and soon to be Olympian. His career has skyrocketed and he couldn’t be happier, but behind all the success he's a man with a secret, and that secret is that he is gay. One thing Jason knows for sure is that you can't be openly gay and play hockey. But when he starts getting strong physical reactions to Patrick Parker advisor to the US Olympic team, Jason is feeling like he might actually out himself. What he needs to do is keep his head in the game, and face the facts that there is no way a guy like Patrick is gay, no matter the reaction from his dick.

Seeing Patrick day in day out, is seriously affecting Jason and Patrick is taking notice. Suddenly, the sexual chemistry is too much and Patrick might not be gay after all. The men enter into a relationship but with tentative feelings, knowing that nothing long-term can come of it. They both fear the repercussions of coming out, and it’s that fear that rules them. Though one thing is for certain, their physical chemistry is off the charts.

Firstly, I wasn't 100% invested in the characters. Their relationship seemed to be based only on sex, and after awhile it irked me. It was all about blow jobs and getting off, and nothing more substantial. Where I can understand the urgency due to the lack of time, but in the end it was all they had. When it comes to conflicts, there really isn't much just their struggle in finding time together and thinking if their relationship is long lasting.

I didn't like how the coming out happened (I think that whole tragedy strikes so overcome with grief and being scared you forget yourself and the truth comes out) I feel like it’s been done before. Not saying facing the after stuff isn't brave, but I wanted more from the characters. What I liked was the sexual chemistry, the men were molten lava together, and the strongest part of the book but it also fuels as the weakest part of the book. There is no doubt that Jason and Patrick are great in bed together, it’s the after stuff  I am worried about and I feel like another book might be needed just to see how strong they are as a couple.

Should You Read It? A fan of sports book might like this one, and those who love a somewhat dramatic coming out. This is a first for me by Cassandra Carr, and I am willing to try something else by the author. See the Light had something, but it was also missing a lot. Also, man seriously needs to go easy on the blow jobs.