Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Sometimes switching things up really does mean getting the guy.

Allan Clark thought his life as a wide receiver for the Wildcats was over the moment he was told he’d be the new punt returner. He’d thought he didn’t want to be a special teams player. He’d rather have the limelight. But once he starts returning punts, he realizes this was where he should’ve been all along. Speaking of perks, he now gets to spend time with the sexy kicker, Tyler Leigh. Maybe this switch is the best thing that could’ve happened to him.

 

Unlike Allan, Tyler isn’t planning on going into the draft or playing football for the rest of his life. He’s got other plans, though a side trip in the sheets with Allan isn’t off his radar. He’s wanted Allan since he joined the team. But Tyler’s got baggage and an overzealous ex-boyfriend hell-bent on making his life miserable. With Allan, he sees a bright spot.

 

Will these two seeming opposites leave their desires on the field, or will they find common ground together and score?

 

 

Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of masturbation, implied abuse as well as references to violence, physical assault and emotional abuse.

Book Review

Making the play – getting the guy – both end up meaning the same thing for Allan and Tyler in this story. Both men begin with a change in their lives, and while it takes them a while to adjust, Allan’s new role on the college football team and Tyler’s new outlook on life end up being exactly what they need. Not everyone is as happy about them getting together as they are, but learning to stand up to his abusive ex is a challenge for Tyler that makes him stronger.

Allan is all swagger and, initially, he is after Tyler mostly because he likes his looks. I don’t believe Allan thinks things through or considers the longer term when he first approaches his teammate in the showers. Yes, he is somewhat protective of Tyler, but he doesn’t understand what it means to have very little self-worth and how that impacts Tyler’s outlook on life. Allan may be ready to get to know Tyler better, but a serious relationship and what that may entail is not on his radar.

Tyler, unfortunately, is quite familiar with abuse and it has become the normal way of life for him. His father was abusive when he grew up, forced him into playing football to “cure the gay”, and now Tyler’s boyfriend being abusive as well does not really alarm Tyler. Even though the bast*rd dumps Tyler in the first few pages I don’t think Tyler takes that seriously – he’s probably been humiliated like that before. Tyler also can’t believe a cool guy like Allan could possibly be interested in him. Tyler has a long way to go in more than one sense!

Neither Allan nor Tyler start out looking for, or believing in, a permanent relationship. The basis for their encounters is mostly physical in the beginning, with a spark of interest in understanding someone who is very different from themselves. But this spark quickly grows into a proverbial flame of common ground in areas neither of them would have expected. It empowers Tyler to the point that he can practice what his therapist has been preaching – and the moment he stands up for himself is beautiful to watch, even if it is somewhat violent.

If you like stories about athletic college students who learn to look beyond the exterior, if you enjoy reading about characters who begin to change and grow, and if you're looking for a short read with lots of heat, then you might like this novella.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novella, 96 pages/34506 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	21-March-2017
Price	$2.99 ebook
Buy Link	https://www.pride-publishing.com/book/making-the-play