Audio Review & Giveaway: Changing Lines by R.J Scott and V.L Locey

Buy Links: Audible US | Audible UK

Length: 5hrs 10mins

Narrated By: Sean Crisden

Cover Design: Meredith Russell

Blurb

Can Tennant show Jared that age is just a number and that love is all that matters?

The Rowe brothers are famous hockey hotshots, but as the youngest of the trio, Tennant has always had to play against his brothers’ reputations. To get out of their shadows, and against their advice, he accepts a trade to the Harrisburg Railers, where he runs into Jared Madsen. Mads is an old family friend and his brother’s one-time teammate. Mads is Tennant’s new coach. And Mads is the sexiest thing on which he’s ever laid eyes.

Jared Madsen’s hockey career was cut short by a fault in his heart, but coaching keeps him close to the game. When Ten is traded to the team, his carefully organized world is thrown into chaos. Nine years his junior and his best friend’s brother, he knows Ten is strictly off-limits, but as soon as he sees Ten’s moves, on and off the ice, he knows his heart could get him into trouble again.

Review

First I’m gonna start off by saying I care nothing for Hockey in RL, and this book didn’t change that. My first time reading R.J Scott with writing partner V.L Locey. 

The Story: 3.5 Pants Off 

Tennant Rowe is a superstar in the making and when he decides on an up and coming team a few eyebrows were raised. Of course he could have gone with superstar teams most likely to win the Stanley Cup but Ten decides on the Railers with big disapproval from his family, but Ten is a big boy and he’s making his own decisions. While the Raiders aren’t cloaked in history it’s the team he wants to join and the upside is that the team has Jared Madsen. An old family friend and someone Ten is looking to get up close and personal with. Yeh, they have history and Mads is a bit older but age ain’t nothing but a number after-all.  

Downside, you can’t be gay in hockey. So when Ten finds himself telling his coaches that he’s gay he’s expecting the worst but what it gets him is a secret relationship with Mads and things are almost perfect. All that’s left is coming out to his family and maybe one day even publicly. Ten’s got hockey, love, and Mads, what more could he even want?!

First, things moved pretty fast from the get go. Ten is the new to the team and next things he’s sharing he’s gay, and professing his attraction to Mads. Their relationship moves pretty fast, and most of their loving happens off page so I sort of felt like I was filling things in. The hockey was too much of the story, and the romance felt like a backdrop but again I have no particular feelings for hockey. Ten spent most of his time dwelling on his brothers, and everyone else on the fact that he plays for a unknown team. 

Throw in some conflict involving Mads and that pretty much made the entirety of the story. I was a bit more interested in a few side characters actually, so the rest of the series is peaking my interest. 

Overall, an alright read. I can’t call it sexy or amazing but I can say I found it sweet. I enjoyed Ten a lot more than I did Mads. There’s still so much of the story that I feel needs to be explored, and I wasn’t a fan of how it ended. Changing Lines wasn’t horrible but I fear that it’s quite easily forgettable for me. 

The Narration: 4 Pants Off 

Sean Crisden did an amazing job bringing the characters to life. I’m in love with his take on Tennant, listening to his voice was far more enjoyable than the story and because of his narration I enjoyed it more. I’m positive if I’d read Changing Lines instead of listening I wouldn’t have liked it at all. 

Sean was dramatic where he needed to be and sweet in others, definitely enjoyed that. Also brought a new voice to each character which strongly made them individuals. Sean Criden does an amazing job with whatever story you give him.  

Overall Rating: 3.5 Pants Off

RJ’s goal is to write stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and most importantly, that hint of a happily ever after.

RJ is the author of the over one hundred novels and discovered romance in books at a very young age. She realized that if there wasn’t romance on the page, she could create it in her head, and is a lifelong writer.

She lives and works out of her home in the beautiful English countryside, spends her spare time reading, watching films, and enjoying time with her family.

The last time she had a week’s break from writing she didn’t like it one little bit and has yet to meet a bottle of wine she couldn’t defeat.

She’s always thrilled to hear from readers, bloggers and other writers. Please contact via the following links below:

Email RJ (rj@rjscott.co.uk)

Goodreads Page | RJ’s Blog | RJ on Twitter | Facebook | Library Thing Page | Tumblr |Pinterest

V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, Dr. Who, Torchwood, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, two Jersey steers and a flock of assorted domestic fowl.

When not writing lusty tales, she can be found enjoying her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in hand.

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Blog

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Review: The Winning Edge by Keira Andrews

The Winning Edge (Cold War #1-2) by Keira Andrews
Amazon
Novel: 214pgs

3.5 Pants Off

Blurb: After an explosive locker room confrontation with his Russian rival ends in the most intense sex of his life, American pairs skater Dev Avira is distracted to say the least. He’s worked for years to have a chance at Olympic gold, and he can’t let himself—or his partner—down. Playing cat and mouse with the steely and smoldering Mikhail Reznikov is the last thing he needs as he prepares for the biggest competition of his life, but they can’t keep their hands off each other as the Games approach.

Dev soon learns that beneath Mikhail’s arrogant and aloof exterior is Misha, a passionate man who warms Dev’s heart and scorches his bed. They’re both determined to win, but for Misha his freedom could be at stake if he and his partner take anything less than gold. Who will stand atop the podium? And can secret lovers from different worlds make a life together once the competition ends? 
 
This gay sports romance from Keira Andrews features enemies to lovers, two alpha men, sequins, and of course a happy ending. Content previously published as novellas Cold War and Holding the Edge.

Review

Causing An Ice Melting

I’ve only read one Keira Andrew’s book previously and really liked it, so when I saw there was a figure skating romance being offered up by the author I had to jump on (Yuri on Ice feels anyone). This is also a enemies (rivals) to lovers story. Let’s just say, I don’t understand how they even had ice to skate on because things were hot, hot, hawt! 

Dev wants to be a champion on the ice, he wants the gold for him and his partner but theres a team stopping him from achieving his dream and it’s the Russians. The team also has Mikhail Reznikov, colder than the ice he skates on and crazy beautiful. Dev is feeling things he shouldn’t and his eyes should be on the prize and not gloriousity that is Mikhail’s ass. When an angry encounter leads to some mutual getting off, Dev has more to worry about than winning a competition he now has to protect his heart from the cold. 

Mikhail is seen as cold and aloof and he’s accepted that. He’s got a job to do and that’s winning gold at the olympics. Its not that he wants to win its that he needs to win at all cost. He has no love for skating anymore, its become a way to keep his family safe to keep himself safe but Dev Avira has come and put a chink in his plan. Their chemistry is molten and Mikhail is putting all that he is in jeopardy but staying away from Dev is impossibly hard. He makes him need! 

The book is broken down in two parts and honestly I liked the first part a lot more. It had intensity, excitement, and a taste of the forbidden. Dev and Misha are fighting an attraction that neither of them needs, but the chemistry is so delicious and risks behind it is all so electrifying. I loved their coming together and the apprehension that Dev faces knowing that his ass and mind should be on the ice and not on Misha (easier said than done). 

The second part, while alright is not without it's faults. This is where the story hit a plateau for me. There was all this excitement in the first part and the second became a repetitive storyline about why they shouldn’t be together. The sex, sizzling but that dirty talk got me feeling some sort of way. Like some badly produced porn with dialogue, I could not deal. I was all “no more talkie, please no more talkie”. I was all on board for them having their happy ending, but the balance was off and by the end their I was just waiting for it to be over.  

Overall, I liked the story. In the beginning I was loving the story, loving the figure skating just loving it all but by the end there it was falling apart for me. The conflict was dragged out and then came together with an anti-climatic reveal. So this one was just an alright read for me, sucks cus I really dig the figure skating.

SideNote- Big applause for representation. It is great o see a person of colour on the cover and also represented in the book.

Review: Biochemistry by Andrew Grey

Reviewed by SinChan
Biochemistry (Chemistry #2) by Andrew Grey
Dreamspinner Press
Novella: 158pgs
3 Pants Off

Blurb:
When his college biochemistry class turns out to be much more difficult than star quarterback Freddie Samuelson imagined, his lab partner, Kurt Maxwell, agrees to help. They’re very different: a rich kid athlete and a hardworking openly gay scholarship student. But Kurt slips past Freddie’s defenses, and little by little—despite Freddie ignoring his own sexuality in the past—Freddie realizes he wants to get to know Kurt, especially when Kurt helps him through more challenges than their science class. But it isn’t long before rumors begin to fly, and the obstacles Freddie will face may block him from both the future he planned on and the future he didn’t know he wanted.

Review
This is the second book in the Chemistry series, however, it can be read as a standalone. For readers that have read Organic Chemistry, it'll be a pleasure to see Brendon and Josh again.

Kurt attends college through a scholarship sponsored by Freddie's father. Freddie, the star quarterback, needs some help from Kurt to pass his biochemistry class. When they realized they are falling for each other, they have to overcome negative opinions from their friends, the football team, and Freddie's father.

The build up of Freddie's and Kurt's romance is well written and filled with obstacles, mostly on Freddie's side. Freddie is unsure of his own sexual orientation and insecure in his identity as a football player and college student. He faces difficult decisions on how to come out to his family, his team, and the school. His father also gives him a lot of pressure (and threats) to be a football star, instead of succeeding academically. No one believes in him or encourages him to discover his potential beyond playing football until Kurt.

Kurt, on the other hand, is out and pride. The only struggles he deals with in the book are rejections from Freddie and the threat of Freddie's father revoking his scholarship. Kurt's troubles all stem from Freddie. When Freddie is still unsure of their relationship and wants to hide their relationship from the public, Kurt says no. Kurt is the stronger person and I think Freddie needs Kurt more than Kurt needs Freddie.

The only character that I was confused about is Freddie's father. He switched personalities too fast. Originally, he is against gay relationships, threatens Freddie with stopping Kurt's scholarship, and just thinks about his son as the football star. At the end, Freddie's mother "talked" with him and then he become so accepting. The resolution to Freddie's family tensions comes too easily and too fast.

Overall, the story is very predictable. The theme is very similar to the first book, Organic Chemistry. I still enjoyed the story and reading about Freddie coming out of the closet, but I liked the first book better.

3 Pants Off

Review: Black Dog by Cat Grant

Reviewed by Whuppsy
Black Dog (Bannon's Gym #1) by Cat Grant
Self-Publsihed
Novella: 130pgs
3 Pants Off

Blurb:
Danny Bannon and Eddie Roscoe have been fighting in and out of the ring for more than fifteen years, held together by mutual attraction and small-town ties, yet kept apart by a shared tragedy that continues to haunt them. Their steady on-again off-again is shaken up by the arrival of Tom Delaney, a teenage runaway trying to escape his tense home situation and his punch-happy dad.

In no time, the scrawny homeless kid has shown himself to be a boxing prodigy, and building him up brings Danny and Eddie closer than they’ve been in ages. It seems that the three of them, plus Eddie’s mother, Gloria, are forming a new family unit, much tighter than anything Tom experienced in his difficult past.

But Tom’s politically influential father isn't the only person he left behind. When his mother shows up at Eddie and Gloria’s diner with a shiner and a haunted look in her eyes, Tom is hopeful for her future. But when that hope is snuffed out, Tom is ready to turn his new fighting skills to a deadly purpose: get revenge on his abusive father or die trying.

It’s up to his surrogate big brothers, Danny and Eddie, to put their differences and their painful history aside to prevent another tragic ending.

Review
Not what I was expecting when I read the blurb for the book, however, still an interesting read. Tom really stole the book for me. He was this kid who was running for his life and that just broke my heart.

The story starts when Eddie Roscoe meets Tom Delaney behind his diner as he’s fighting with a homeless man for his things. And thus our story begins. As you read the story you get to meet who these characters are. Eddie-heartbroken and guilt-driven. Danny Bannon-fueled by anger and guilt. As you get deeper into the story, you get a sense of the Push-Pull, On-Off Relationship that Danny and Eddie share.

You will get lots of angst and miscommunication in this book. You will also see the guilt that these follow these two around. The abuse and hurt that all of these characters carry around. The fear of stepping out of the roles that they each placed on themselves. How they overcome them is really sweet.

Tom comes with problems of his own. Abusive Father. Abused Mother. Anger. Lots of anger from Tom. But his strength of character comes through. That he’s a survivor.

I found this short story had such an amazing premise. I loved the idea of people who haven’t had the easiest life, find a way to make a life for themselves. To find the strength to know that where you come from can’t be changed, but that they can change their future. How they feel and how they deal with the past and look forward to the future. I just felt that the execution of the story didn’t really hit the mark for me.

The book shows the three main characters POV. I have to say, at first I wasn’t sure about this, but as I read along it grew on me. I loved hearing how they thought and what they felt. I felt that the book was rushed. Very rushed. The ending came to quickly without a real sense of closure. I understand that it’s part of a new series. I hope that with that comes more. Just more. I would like to see how the characters develop. I would like to see how this family that they have become flourishes.

3 Pants Off

Review: Horizons by Mickie B. Ashling

Horizons (2nd Edition) by Mickie B. Ashling
Dreamspinner Press
Novel: 250pgs
2.75 Pants Off

Blurb:
College football player Clark Stevens, a popular wide receiver with a potential NFL contract, has a few problems. He's got a jealous girlfriend, a narrow-minded and controlling father, an attention problem, and an unexpected and powerful attraction to the trauma doctor—the male trauma doctor—who treats him for a broken bone.

Dr. Jody Williams is getting some really mixed signals. He can't ignore how much he wants Clark, because it's obvious Clark feels the same way. For the out and proud doctor, the solution seems very simple. For Clark, it's not! His world is not gay-friendly, and the obstacles he's faced have led him to deny his sexuality for years.

It's the Super Bowl of disasters, no matter how you look at it. In the end, Clark has to decide if he's going to stick with the only life he's ever known or take a chance on a new one with Jody.

Review:
I became a fan of Mickie B. Ashling after reading Loving Edits, which happens to be one of my fave ménages out there. Then the awesome continued with Tono, so of course I was totally down with reading Horizons the blurb sounded interesting enough but what sounded interesting soon started to fizzle and I was left all kinds of disappointed.

Clark Stevens is a star football player at his college; he's so fantastic that the NFL is most definitely in his future. Too bad he's miserable, with his grades at failing and constantly feeling miserable all the time and Clark is at his breaking point. What he does is lash out and his temper lands him a broken arm and a date in the E.R. What Clark doesn't expect is his instant attraction to doctor Jody Williams, he's kept that part of himself buried tight and wrapped up, but now he's flirting with the doctor but Clark knows that being gay and football just doesn't go hand in hand. Yet, he keeps seeking out the company of the sexy doctor and doing this sexual tension filled dance around each other. Things get more intense when Jody decides to tutor Clark in English and their attraction cannot he denied.

Clark comes with a series of problems, a girl he sleeps with occasionally to show his heterosexuality, a father that’s more of a bully than anything else, and the fact that he feels like an idiot pretty much all the time. Alas, he has Jody a man he's a falling in love with and finally realizing how much happier he is now that he's being honest with what his body wants. Too bad he's gotta stay in the closet until he figures out how to come out without losing everything, because though his new found honesty is exhilarating letting the world know could cost him everything.

First, these guys are like the Canadian weather; one minute they're hot and the next a cool front moves in out of nowhere. They're happy and in the next minute there is tears and them having all the feels. Realistically I can understand Clark's fear of being outed when he's not ready but dude was just setting the trap for a whole bunch of hurt. Obviously, he wanted to come out so his later "lets protect Jody from my crazy father" was just a little too late cus dude was asking for it. Jody...for a doctor he is a darn fool sometimes, I get that love makes you do crazy things but I was not impressed with most of his decisions. Like yeh, these guys fuck all amazing but otherwise I just couldn't get a handle on them (cloudy with a chance of mood swings).

Mostly everyone in this book is sort of annoying with the exception of Jody's best-friend who I really liked. Clark's parents especially his dad should have called it quits with being a parent, his adult status has surely gone up in flames. Clark likable, but his constant self pity was a bit annoying, Jody also likable but easily forgettable. I just couldn't read this one without eye-roll numerous and in the end I was disappointed. Not a good read for me, but I am usually impressed with this author work so overall "it just wasn't the right read" for me.

Should You Read It? *sound of crickets* to each his own I say, this one didn't work for me but I did get through it quickly. In all honesty the pacing is good; I just didn't enjoy the overall story. HEA was too neat, in a perfect world it’s awesome but I didn't find it believable.

Review: Social Skills by Sara Alva

Social Skills by Sara Alva
Self-Published
Novel: 357pgs
3.5 Pants Off

Blurb:
Music is the only form of communication Connor Owens controls. No matter how badly he wishes to fit in, friendly banter and casual conversations have never been his thing. College is yet another social universe he has no clue how to navigate—until he meets Jared, a football player with chestnut eyes and a cocky grin that holds the power to shatter his self-imposed prison.

Jared's attention opens Connor up to a new realm of emotional and physical intimacy. But as Connor's self-confidence grows, so does his fear that everything will fall apart. Because in this socially stratified world, how long can a relationship between an introverted violinist and a closeted football player really last?

Review:
Connor Owens is extremely shy, and the only time he seems to shine is when he's playing the violin. The music takes over and he gets lost in a world where he speaks through his music and everything seems easier. Connor really wants to fit in, and being in college is a time for socializing and making new friends. Yet, the words always get lost in Connor's throat and leave him feeling silly. He does manage to make a friend in that of his music stand partner. When Connor is asked to tutor two jocks, his shyness and not wanting to hurt his professor's feelings have him saying yes. But when the actual time for tutoring is to begin, Connor just hopes he doesn't bomb and/or completely embarrass himself.

One of the boys he has to tutor is Jared, and Jared is the kind of guy that Connor finds attractive but alas Jared is the typical jock who is insanely popular with the beautiful girlfriend. Connor knows he could never be anymore than his tutor or something even as close as an acquaintance but when a true friendship begins to develop Connor is walking on cloud nine because nothing could be better. That is until Jared kisses him for the first time and Connor realizes he's getting more from Jared than he could have possibly dreamed. Downside, their relationship has to stay hidden behind the walls of Connor's room. But it's alright, Connor is willing to take scraps if it’s coming from Jared and he's just happy with their cozy little love nest. That is until the walls start to crumble and keeping their relationship a secret starts to hurt Connor more than he ever expected. It might be a case of love gained and then lost.

On one hand I really enjoyed this story, but on the other hand I feel like it followed the typical nerd/jock trope. From keeping the relationship under lock and key then being suddenly outed and riding the storms. I guess I was expecting more but it failed to meet my expectations. Even with my misgiving, there is a lot to like about this story. For on the evolution of Connor Owens was really great to read, he went from a social outsider to a man actually making an attempt to speak up. He didn't become a social butterfly overnight which makes his character believable and enjoyable. Jared, my feelings are mixed on him. I feel like I have read his type so many times that I am far from being sympathetic. Then he had the audacity to pull a jealous type of boyfriend thing, gawww it just freaking annoyed me. I started to like him close to the end when he was showing actual courage.

The lowest point for me was the situation with Jared's ex-girlfriend. I am trying to understand her actual purpose, apart from outing them to the entire college. Writing a mental illness is delicate enough but...I just don't see how she worked into the storyline (I guess helping her out showed both Connor and Jared's caring side). Yeh didn't like that part of the story.

Geek Level: A 2.5 out of 5. Connor is a music geek and dude does all the reading for school (I mean all his reading). He's smart enough to be a tutor, reads a little science fiction and his social anxiety really says geek. Though not 100% a part of the storyline, he still does a little geek.

Should You Read It? If you're a fan of the nerd/jock finding love trope, then yes this book might be it for you. As I said I did like it, but was sorta expecting more and was hoping it would step away from the usual set up. I really liked Connor and have feels like he deserves more than Jared (he certainly does) but alas the heart wants what the heart wants. A good job by Sara Alva, and I am looking forward to more books by the author.

3.5 Pants Off

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Review: Your Biggest Fan by Missy Welsh

Your Biggest Fan (Greek's Invented Love #1) by Missy Welsh
Loose-Id
Novella: 160pgs
4 Pants Off

Blurb:
Truman Durant has two painful secrets. One keeps him in the closet and the other hangs inside his closet. Letting either out seems like the equivalent of suicide to him. He didn’t know just how badly he needed Stasi Manolis until he found himself in the pushy Greek’s sights. Would giving up his secrets and maybe falling in love really be so bad?






Review:
My first book by Missy Welsh was My Summer of Wes which is absolutely awesmazing. So I was really excited to read Your Biggest Fan, but man I wasn’t expecting the amount of sexy that’s in the story. Plus, nothing gets me happy like a man who likes to dress up a bit.

Truman Durant has two secrets and both leave him with crippling fear if anyone was to ever find out. He fears that he will lose his friends and the athletic scholarship he got, because Truman doesn't want to live in his car like he once had to. A scandal caused him to lose his family, home, and just thinking about it happening again makes him break out in a cold sweat. You see, Truman is gay and he likes to dress up in woman's clothes now and again. There times he gets caught in overwhelming need and finds hook-ups on the internet but they always leave him feeling dirty and used. Yet, he feels like it’s the only thing he deserves and keeps his closely guarded secrets under lock and key. That is until there was Stasi Manolis, a big whole Greek who got by all his defences and healed his heart.

Stasi Manolis is out and proud, and confident in whom he is. He's tired of taking smack from the jock fraternity so he's gonna crash one of their parties. Not really for the purpose of causing trouble, but for his eyes to land on the blonde beauty that is Truman Durant. Stasi notices that Truman is skittish but interested and he's willing do anything to get his attention (not as creepy as it sounds). What he finds out about Truman while in caring stalker mode, both surprises and excited him. Seems his stunning blonde beauty is also a bombshell.

The men begin a tentative relationship, mostly due to Truman's experience; Stasi becomes a friend, and also a lover. Stasi is out and proud but Truman is stuck in the closet, and just the thought of coming out leaves him in crippling fear. So their relationship has to be a secret, and it means Truman gets to dress up in pretty clothes only for Stasi. A disaster comes in the form of Truman's frat brother, who’s a complete homophobic asshole, but it’s not all complete angst. There's light at the end of the tunnel, and Truman gets the light hearted feeling he's longed for plus a hot hairy Greek sex god.

I really liked this one, loved the whole cross-dressing and Truman was a real sweetie. I just could not understand how he was so clueless, I can understand him being wrapped up in his fear but man...he really had no idea and his hiding wasn't needed. I liked Stasi too, so glad he made an appearance in Truman's life because Truman was playing a dangerous game with internet hook-ups (dangerous game). He needed his big hairy Greek to teach him to love himself.

Geek Level: This one is a low 2 out of 5. Yes Truman is jock but he's also super smart and dedicated to his work. He's loves Algebra and Chemistry (total nerd) and he wears glasses to read which kicks up the geek level a notch. His nerdiness wasn't the overall focus of the book, so we didn't get geek all the time. He's still a nerd though  :D

4 Pants Off

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.

Review: Plan B by SJD Peterson

Plan B by SJD Peterson
Dreamspinner Press
Novel: 200pgs
2.5 Pants Off

Blurb:
Danny Marshal has always lived his life out loud, but his androgynous appearance is only a small part of who he is. One night at a frat party, Danny meets Lance Lenard, football jock and apparent straight guy. Lance is shocked when he's immediately attracted to Danny's feminine side. Danny is happy to be the subject of Lance's first man-on-man experiment—until Lance begins to struggle with the fact that despite his appearance, Danny is indeed a man.

Lance's whole life has been focused on his goal of playing in the NFL, and he knows those dreams will be smashed if anyone finds out about his little secret. Although Lance has come to hunger for Danny's touch, he's not willing to give Danny what he's grown to crave: a boyfriend who's proud to love him for every flamboyant and snarky cell in his body.

Life sends Danny and Lance in different directions, each of them focused on his respective Plan A. But the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.

Review:
All the ways I was excited to read this book, it even made unto my list of January pants droppers so expectation was high (ya think I would learn my lesson by now). I am a huge fan of androgynous characters who like to play with their look and this book looked like it had it spades. Well, it didn't go the way I expected and ended up getting all the bad feels.

Danny Marshal doesn't hide who he is, he likes to be pretty and man is he ever good at it. A little make-up here and some six inch heels and he looks spectacular. Off to be the wingman to his best-friend Bo at a college frat party, Danny would rather be elsewhere but what the hell's a best-friend for? Danny is happy that his friend has found a girl, and Katie seem very sweet but it’s her brother that get things stirring. When Lance asks Danny if he sucks dick, the night goes from bad to worst. Danny is pissed and just wants to head home, to forget what the dumb jock asshole said. It’s a good thing he never has to see Lance again? Or so he thinks.

When Danny runs into Lance again, he never expected him to be polite or to show some interest. Suddenly, their hanging out together, Lance is coming to his plays, and making an actual effort to be a good guy. While Danny fights his attraction, Lance admits he's also attracted to him when he dresses and looks feminine. Which leads to stolen kisses behind closed doors, and sneaking around and Danny wants more. He's lived out and proud his entire life and will not resort to hiding so Lance can keep his straight act up in public, it’s better to walk away no matter how much it might break his heart.

This book has all the things I love reading about but somehow this didn't work for me. With Danny being the first person narrator, I think this is where the story went wrong for me cus I feel like Danny had no story to tell. All I kept reading from him was how fabulous he is, and he could be out getting laid and what not. There were moments when I got real sincerity from him but it all got lost when he would say something obnoxious. He needed a moment to realize that it wasn't all about him, and that is why I did not enjoy him as a character.

Lance had the story to tell, but he just came off as the bad guy. He got no time to prove himself, and everything was done on Danny's time. He was more sincere in his feelings, even bordering on desperation but he remained like a speck in the life of the person who mattered. Where he wasn't willingly being a bastard, Danny did things out of selfishness trying to hurt Lance (gawd, he was petty). I think I told him to "suck it" a few times, and after awhile I just stopped caring and the story lost me. Since Danny was the main focus, and I don't like him (not even a little) Plan B was a disappointment. I don't even want to call it a romance, because I didn't feel it.

Should You Read It? This is one of those books that will vary depending on the reader. I once again could be the odd one because it has all the things I like reading about, a cross-dressing character with attitude, but I think over the entirety of the book that’s all it was. Danny lacked depth, and he really shouldn't have been the entire focus of the story. This is just all me though, because others seem to like this one a lot.

2.5 Pants Off

Review: My Roommate's A Jock, Well Crap by Wade Kelly

My Roommate's A Jock, Well Crap by Wade Kelly
Dreamspinner Press
Novel: 262pgs
3.5 Pants Off

Blurb:
It's easy to become cynical when life never goes your way.

Cole Reid has been a social recluse since he was fifteen, when he was outed by his high school baseball team. Since then, his obsessive-compulsive behavior and sarcastic nature have driven away most of the population, and everyone else hates him because he's gay. As he sees it, he's bound to repulse any prospective friends, let alone boyfriends, so why bother?

By the time Cole enters college, he's become an anal-retentive loner—but it's not a problem until his roommate graduates and the housing department assigns Ellis Montgomery to move in with Cole. Ellis is messy, gorgeous, straight, and worst of all, a "jock"!

During a school year filled with frat buddies, camping expeditions, and meddling parents, Cole and Ellis develop a friendship that turns Cole's glass-half-empty outlook on its head. There must be more to Ellis than a fun-loving jock—and maybe Cole's reawakening libido has rekindled his hope for more than camaraderie.

Review:
I wanted to read this one because of the title, plus I am a sucker for a nerd/jock romance. I have a book by Wade Kelly but it seemed like an emotional bummer, so I've been putting off reading it. This fun title sounded like something right up my alley so I jumped at the opportunity to read it. There is mixed feelings on this one, a part of me really liked it and another part of me wants to kick its ass.

Cole Reid has just lost his roommate and friend on campus. Now he has an empty room, and must find another roommate but he just wants the old one back. Because Jon was his friend, and now he has start over with some stranger. Finding his own roommate was a bust, so housing has no choice but to provide one. Cole only hopes they don't give him a Jock cus he's got bad experiences with jocks. When Ellis shows up at the apartment, 2 things become clear: 1 he's ridiculously good looking and 2 he's such a total jock.

Cole suffers from a bit of OCD, and a fear of people. Ellis comes in with his group of friends, making a mess, and getting Cole all hot and bothered. Keeping his attraction to himself is becoming hard because Ellis wants to be friends. A little accident has Ellis realizing how close Cole really wants to get with him, and then panic ensues.

As I said, I have mixed feelings about this one. I liked the progression of Ellis and Cole's relationship, I liked their friends (well most of the time) and they had semi-hot sex scenes. What irked me something fierce is the switch of POVs from random characters, I 100% did not like any of it. There was this weirdness from Ellis's mom, then that bad case of awkward from their homophobic friend and eye rolls numerous came out in full effect. Random flashbacks also added to my ire, and really took away from the story.

Overall, I am on the fence but it kept me entertained and I wanted to keep reading so that is a plus. If you take out some of those unnecessary povs and made the book a tad bit shorter, I think it would be a great read. Alas, I liked it and loved Cole's fun t-shirts.

3.5 Pants Off