Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Nick Bedford coaches the men’s rowing team at California Pacific College, a small liberal arts school in Sacramento. He’s quiet, dedicated—and closeted. He struggles with professional ethics and NCAA rules as he denies his attraction for Morgan Estrada, one of his rowers. While they may not be far apart in age, the difference between coach and athlete leads Nick to worry about exploitation.

 

But Morgan has desires and a mind of his own, and what he wants is his coach. As the spring racing season advances, Morgan feels his coach’s eyes on him. Morgan may be gay, and while he’s not out to team, he hasn’t hidden it, either. It may be a coach’s job to check out an athlete’s form, but Morgan hopes Nick’s interested in more than his technique.

 

Morgan corners Nick in the boathouse, and Nick admits that while he wants Morgan he can’t have him. Morgan laughingly points out that he’s not bound by any of those rules and he wants Nick. Nick and Morgan start a relationship, but Nick worries whenever they’re in public: what if someone sees? An anonymous complaint from a rower to the athletics director sends Nick’s worries into overdrive just as the crew prepares for the make-or-break race of the year.

 

First edition published by Dreamspinner Press, February 2011. 

 

Book Review

'Rocking the Boat' is was a great combination of a pretty realistic love story between two very normal guys and a somewhat unusual setting. The world of rowing isn't one that I'm very familiar with, and I liked all the little details I learned about that sport while I was reading about Nick and Morgan.

Nick is the older of the two, a graduate student and a coach, and he knows he's in trouble if anyone finds out he's falling for his younger colleague. Since they are both students I didn't have any issues with the teacher/student relationship, but I did think that his initial hesitation vanished fairly quickly and conveniently once temptation was too much for him. Of course, this comes back to haunt him, but that was as it should be. He did ignore the rules and regulations, after all, even if I didn't think there was a moral issue with what they did.

Morgan is the younger partner, but the more aggressive one. Well, he has to be, to get through Nick's defenses. I thought this was pretty selfish of him, he never seems to stop and think (or discuss with Nick) what would happen if they get caught.

The two are great together, I loved their dialogue. There are also some appropriately tense moments that provide a good crisis towards the end. If you like your characters to be realistic, close to real life, and loving, you will probably like this book.

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. The first edition of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novel, 68500 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	28-September-2020
Price	$5.99 ebook
Buy Link	https://ninestarpress.com/product/rocking-the-boat/