Cannon by Sawyer Bennett Release Blitz

Cannon West left his hockey playing days behind to care for his dying wife but has since found success on the other side of the bench. Now, as the youngest head coach in league history, he’s hoping to lead the Pittsburgh Titans to a winning season. The last thing he’s looking for is a relationship, but life sometimes takes us in another direction.

The Pittsburgh Titans are still working to move on from the tragic plane crash that forever changed the landscape of their organization. Having lost my wife, I know all about grief and the guilt of survival which makes me uniquely equipped to take this team to the next level. From the very first time I stepped inside the Titans’ arena, I knew I was exactly where I needed to be.

New to town, I’m still establishing my routine, but I have the most important aspect under control—the coffee shop where I stop on my way to the arena every morning. A strong cup of java and the gorgeous manager who I can’t help but chat up is quickly becoming my favorite way to start the day. But no matter how much I enjoy the blush that stains Ava Cavanaugh’s cheeks with my admittedly awkward attempt at flirting, I know it will never be more than brazen banter with a new friend. My job consumes almost all my time, and I know firsthand what that level of commitment can do to a relationship.

That doesn’t mean I’m not open to some fun. My career comes first, but Ava understands my boundaries. The only problem is that once I give into her temptation, the rules I set for myself become blurred, and my mixed signals hurt Ava—the one thing I promised I wouldn’t do. I’ve put myself in what seems to be an untenable situation, but I’ve faced those before. Now I need to find the strength to move past my fears, or risk losing my second chance at love with the woman who has stolen my heart.

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of the Pittsburgh Titans series!
For book one, Baden, click HERE.
For book two, Stone, click HERE.
For book three, Gage, click HERE.
For book four, Coen, click HERE.
For book five, Drake, click HERE.

 

 

Book 6
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo
Audiobook (US)  ~  Paperback (US)
Big Dog Books (Sawyer Bennett)

 

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary – ☆☆☆☆☆
Cannon West is the head coach of the Pittsburgh Titans and hopes to bring them to a winning season after losing all but three members of the team to a deadly plane crash. He isn’t looking for a relationship, but sometimes it is just what he needs.

Ava Cavanaugh is trying to make it after she ended things with her cheating boyfriend, and he gets her fired from her job and then kicks her out of their shared apartment. When she meets Cannon at a coffee shop, they hit it off from the start, their chemistry is off the charts.

Cannon explains his boundaries and Ava understands but as they grow closer, those lines begin to blur. As Cannon tries to move forward, his ex-mother-in-law wants to stay in the past to keep his wife alive. Cannon can't move forward with Ava because he feels that history will repeat itself. So when Ava says they are through, Cannon can't stop thinking about her and he realizes that he is in love with Ava and he must win her back. Will Ava give him another chance?

I love this whole series, and it seems the coaches or team owners seem to steal my heart the most. Cannon's past broke my heart, but Ava will heal him if he gives her the chance.

If you haven't started this series yet, what are you waiting for? Each book is about a different couple and I would recommend reading them in order, you don't have to but it would make more sense.


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance

Cannon is a young, new, hockey head coach and he loves his job. While he has a painful past, he knows that he made the right choice in giving up his career as a player when his wife became ill. He has never truly regretted that decision. Cannon is also one to be compassionate and empathetic towards his former mother-in-law, who is a horrible, icky character, in my opinion. I wanted to yell at her for him.

Ava comes from a wealthy family who wants her to return to their family business. But Ava knows that going back means hearing all of the "I told you so's" and she's not ready to admit defeat yet.

When Ava and Cannon meet, it's like the movie, The Holiday, where you learn of the meet-cute. I love how Ava and Cannon met. So fun and adorable and REAL. I love that their relationship seemed so real.

The boundaries are set and then both Ava and Cannon have to walk the line. But when feelings come in to play and lives are intertwined, it's hard to keep those boundaries.

Bennett writes in a way that makes her characters very relatable and you want to yell at them when they are making boneheaded decisions and cheer them on when they figure it out. You'll be yelling and cheering throughout this book like the hockey fans do for their team.

I can't wait to see what's next.


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
I don't know much more I can say it, but Sawyer Bennett is the BEST when it comes to writing hockey romance.

Cannon West is the youngest league coach ever. Getting here was an epic journey. His playing time in the league was cut short by his wife's cancer diagnosis. He walked away to take care of her when her prognosis became terminal. What people didn't know, was that his marriage was on the brink of collapse when life handed his wife the cancer bomb. She didn't appreciate the time that Cannon put into his hockey career, leaving her in "second" place.

Ava Cavanaugh is new to Pittsburgh, having moved to the city with her former boyfriend, a man who dumped her and kicked her out of her apartment after getting her fired. Working as an assistant manager at a coffee shop, she has been quietly flirting with Cannon. When he finally asks her out, she agrees.

What Cannon likes most about Ava is that she is a survivor. She doesn't take what life hands her by laying down but by flipping it over and trying again from a different direction.

Ava likes Cannon because he respects her boundaries and aspirations. His belief in her bolsters her own belief in herself.

Don't get me wrong, Ava and Cannon have their ups and downs, but they seem to manage them in such a way that makes sense.

And let's not forget the hockey. I love the hockey and learning more about what coaches do, how they are responsible for all of the behind the scenes master plans, and make it look so effortless out on the ice.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the sixth book in the series, and I would definitely recommend the whole series to you! This one runs in parallel with Drake's and it is fun to see some of the storylines from a very different viewpoint, and feel like we know a secret, even though we are not in the room!

Cannon is such a breath of fresh air as the new coach, and exactly what the team need – I enjoyed the talk of his style and its effectiveness, as well as the action on the ice. He has devoted so much of his energy to coaching since his wife died, that he has made a huge impact on the sport. He sees no space for a new relationship and has no interest in repeating history. As the story behind his marriage is revealed, and we listen in as he has to appease and comfort his mother-in-law, it is easy to understand his reluctance.

Ava finds herself in a pretty awful situation after a relationship goes bad, but she is an optimist and a hard worker. Her interactions with Cannon are initially entirely for fun, but that chemistry is clear even then. But as two people so cautious after difficult pasts, the story is destined to be both complicated, but also hopeful. I loved their stripping away of the things which don't matter and the looking forward to a better future – even if it takes a bit of faith.

Inevitably, the rest of the team and the growing group of fabulous wives and girlfriends all play important parts in helping this romance flourish – giving us a fun catch up and reminder of just what makes this team and their lives special.

 

 

 

New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author SAWYER BENNETT uses real life experience to create relatable stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From contemporary romance, fantasy romance, and both women’s and general fiction, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.

If you’d like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, click HERE to sign up for her newsletter.

Sawyer also writes general and women’s fiction under the pen name S. Bennett and sweet romance under the name Juliette Poe.

Connect with Sawyer Bennett

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  TikTok  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Sawyer Bennett's Never Ending Party

 

 

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Cannon (Pittsburgh Titans #6) by Sawyer Bennett to read and review.

Answering Atlas by Chantal Fernando

New York Times bestselling author Chantal Fernando delivers the sexy third installment in her Knights and Dragons motorcycle club series.

He was everything she didn't want and exactly what she needed.

She refuses to date him.

The daughter of the infamous Rake from the Wind Dragons MC, lawyer Natalie Ward knows all too well the problems that come with getting involved with a biker. That’s not for her—she’ll stick to suits over leather. And nothing will change her mind, especially not a sexy, built-like-a-Greek-god biker that rides for the Knights of Fury, another MC.

He loves a challenge.

Atlas is on a manhunt to find a rival gang leader and the last thing he needs is a distraction. But when he runs into Natalie at a bar with all her strength and beauty wrapped in a power suit, he can’t look away. He wants to forget her and running into her at every corner in town doesn’t make it easier. Being with her is impossible, but it’s the only thing that makes sense.

Never… say never.

When Atlas helps her get out of a difficult situation, Natalie can no longer ignore their growing attraction. But when a common enemy of both their clubs becomes a client at her law firm, she finds herself pulled into the very world she’s sought to avoid…

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of the Knights & Dragons MC #2 series!
For book one, Decker’s Dilemma, click HERE.
For book two, Rhett Redeemed, click HERE.

 

 

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo
Audiobook (US)  ~  Paperback (US)
Carina Press (HQN)

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary – ☆☆☆☆
Natalie grew up in the clubhouse and knew she didn't want that life, so she went to law school. Now she is a lawyer working for one of the top law firms. When she meets a guy at a bar, she knows she doesn't want anything from him. So, the next day she saw who she thought was the same guy and it turned out to be his brother.

Atlas has gotten confused with his twin, Aries, many times. So it was no surprise when Natalie thought he was Aries. But when she refuses to date him because he is in the MC, he is okay with that until he finds out she grew up in an MC. So now he has to find out what the deal is and why she feels that way.

The chemistry is there just under the surface between Natalie and Atlas, neither wants to admit it. He has club business and wants to forget about her, but she keeps turning up and he keeps her on his mind. Atlas' MC, Knights of Fury, and Natalie's father Rake's Wind Dragons MC are rivals and will help each other when needed. When Natalie gets a client that is a common enemy of both MCs, she is pulled into the world she tried to avoid. Can they work together to protect her and keep her safe? Will she realize that Atlas is exactly what she needs?

I enjoyed this story as I have the other in this series and the other series connected to it. It is filled with family, friends, MC brothers, loyalty, trust, pain, love, and loss. I found that once I started reading, I didn't want to put it down, I enjoyed the banter between Natalie, Atlas, Aries, and all of the club's members. I can't wait for the next one.


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
A girl and biker meet at a bar, the girl says no thanks to the offered drink and the biker walks away. Leaving, the girl sees said biker about to hook up with not one but two other women. Shaking her head, the girl reiterates to herself that bikers are not for her.

Natalie grew up as the daughter of the Wind Dragons’ president, Rake. She's lived that life and she definitely does not want to live it again. She wants to date a man who lives the white-collar life, where they are not constantly in danger from unknown entities or where her life would be centered around MC life.

Atlas is both fascinated with Natalie and upset at her because of her judgmental attitude. The first moment she met him, she pegged him as just "another biker" without really noticing what made him tick. Unable to help himself, he puts himself in her path again and again.

As Natalie and Atlas begin to really get to know each other, outside forces work to tear them apart. A foe from the past threatens Atlas's brother and in turn, the Wind Dragons and Knights of Fury.

Love and heartache is ultimately what this story is about and how love can overcome the worst tragedy of all.

 

 

CHANTAL FERNANDO is the New York Times bestselling author of the Wind Dragons Motorcycle Club series, the Cursed Raven Motorcycle Club series, and the Maybe series, along with several other novels. She lives in Western Australia, where she is working on her next book.

Connect with Chantal Fernando

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Chantal's Clubhouse

 

 

ARC provided by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided with a free copy of Answering Atlas (Knights & Dragons MC #3) by Chantal Fernando to read and review.

Maniac by Onley James Blog Tour

Thomas Mulvaney was just a child when an error in judgment cost him everything. He vowed then that he would do anything to atone for his mistake. And he did. He never strayed from the right path. Until Aiden.

Aiden Mulvaney doesn’t exist. He’s a lie created by the father who disowned him and by Thomas Mulvaney, the only man Aiden had ever begged to love him. But that was years ago, when he’d still believed in fairytales. Before Thomas rejected him.

Thomas has spent years trying to have Aiden in his life while keeping him at arm's length, but Aiden’s done with half-measures. He’s done with Thomas the martyr. He’s just done. So, he’s kept his distance. Trouble is, now, someone is threatening to expose a secret that affects them all.

No, not that one. A secret so shameful, Thomas won’t even utter it out loud. Can he and Aiden revisit the past and keep the family name intact, or will they both be buried beneath the weight of their memories as their old feelings resurface?

Maniac is a filthy hot, enemies-to-lovers, psychopath romance with an HEA and no cliffhangers. It features a sexy, roguish degenerate and a hunky bleeding-heart ginger who love how much they hate each other. As always, there’s gratuitous violence, very dark humor, more blood than a slaughterhouse, and enough heat to melt your metaphorical undies. This is book seven in the Necessary Evils series. Each book follows a different couple.

 

 

Book 7
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Paperback (US)
~  Also Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angie – ☆☆☆☆
This book has been wanted for soooo long. Everyone has been wanting Thomas's story. EVERYONE. We all wanted to find out more about Thomas, and for him and Aiden to get their act together. I will say I was slightly disappointed in the book. I think we all built Thomas up so much in our minds and we wanted his story so bad that this was just a little underwhelming. Don't get me wrong, if it was anyone else's book, it would have been awesome, but it was Thomas's book, it was the last book in the series, and it was kind of a letdown. This is one of my favorite series and I'm sad it's over. It was amazing for everyone to finally see Calliope – she's a rock star. Thomas and Aiden are great together and the book was good but not as amazing as we all were expecting, but I will definitely read this series again because I love these crazy guys so much.

 

 

ONLEY JAMES lives in Central Florida with her daughter, her daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and a menagerie of animals, both good and evil. James splits her time between writing m/m romance and mainlining dangerous levels of caffeine and attempting to maintain her ever-slipping sanity.

When not at her desk, you can find her whining about how much writing she has to do and avoiding said writing by binge-watching unhealthy amounts of television. She loves true crime documentaries, anti-heroes, obsessively scrolling social media, and writing kinky, snarky books about morally gray men who fall in love with other men.

Connect with Onley James

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  TikTok  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Onley's Oubliette

 

 

Hosted by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Maniac (Necessary Evils #7) by Onley James to read and review.

Until You by K. Bromberg Release Blitz

A single dad, forced proximity, standalone romance from New York Times bestselling author K. Bromberg.

Crew Madden needs to find a place to recover.
For his twin girls.
For himself.
From the woman who left them without a backward glance.

Recovering from a traumatic event, a summer in the small town of Redemption Falls was the perfect solution for him. For his family. The only drawback? The rental cottage at the end of the drive.

But then he met its tenant.

The quiet, guarded, sexy-as-sin woman who took Crew’s breath away.

*****

Tennyson West moved to Redemption Falls to hide.
From her previous world of abundance.
From the woman she used to be.
For a chance to start over... and be free.

She’s settled into her new life on the outskirts of a small town, content with her solitude. Her peaceful life.

And then she met her new landlord.

Crew Madden—and his sweet daughters—entered her life with a bang. She learned how to laugh again, to love again, something she never thought would be possible.

It was only meant to be a summer fling, but as demons from their past knocked on the door, their relationship was tested. Was their love strong enough to keep them together or would danger drive them apart for good?

 

 

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Audiobook (US)  ~  Paperback (US)
~  Also Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

 

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary – ☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars

Crew Madden and his twin girls moved to Redemption Falls so he could recover after a tragic event. They thought they would only be there for the summer. Oh, but how things can change.

Tennyson West moved to Redemption Falls to hide and for a fresh start. She was not looking for those fresh-faced twins or their gorgeous father.

These two come from totally different worlds, she cannot tell him who she really is. Tenny can't let her past reach Crew and his girls. But Crew knows there is more going on than what she is telling him. He has seen the signs before, she is skittish, fearful, and scared. He wants to protect her.

As Crew and Tenny grow closer, will her past destroy what is beginning to build between them? No, she has to leave before her past catches up and hurts Crew and his precious girls. She can't let that happen. Will Crew let her go or will he fight for what he wants?

I was hooked from the first page; the suspense of the story drew me in and kept me on the edge of my seat. I didn't want to put it down until the end. This story will tug at your heart for Tenny's past and her pain and for Crew and his girl's past and their pain. Life isn't always easy but when you have someone you can depend on, you have a lot. It is called "Trust Fall," when you trust someone to catch you when you fall. That is what this story was to me.


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars
M/F Romance

Crew is trying to make it from day to day. With an on-the-job injury and close death, he is seeing things in a new light. His daughters are needing their dad more than ever; their mom is a deadbeat who left everyone high and dry when he was hurt. Getting away from everything for a while is just what they need.

When Crew and his girls show up for the summer in Redemption Falls, it's just what they all need. A summer of fun, friends, and, if Crew can keep his hands to himself, his beautiful tenant, Tenny.

I really liked this romance. Both main characters are fun, flirty, and have pasts that they won't let them define them.

When things come back to haunt Tenny, she knows that she can't put her newfound friends/loves in harm’s way and so she knows that she'll have to make sure that nothing can get to them. Crew knows that something or someone haunts Tenny, but she won't open up about it.

As these two find their way through pain and grief, they will learn a new way to live. A free way to love and live together. It's a beautiful story and I can't wait for the next book in this series.

 

 

 

New York Times bestselling author K. BROMBERG writes contemporary romance novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines and damaged heroes who we love to hate but can't help to love.

A mom of three, she plots her novels in between school runs and soccer practices, more often than not with her laptop in tow and her mind scattered in too many different directions.

Since publishing her first book on a whim in 2013, Bromberg has sold over 1.5 million copies of her books across eighteen different countries and has repeatedly landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists over thirty times. Her Driven trilogy (Driven, Fueled, and Crashed) is currently being adapted for film by the streaming platform Passionflix, with Driven available now.

With her imagination always in overdrive, she is currently scheming, plotting, and swooning over her latest hero. You can find out more about him or chat with Kristy on any of her social media accounts.

Connect with K. Bromberg

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: VP Pit Crew/The Driven Trilogy

 

 

 

Hosted by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Until You (The Redemption #1) by K. Bromberg to read and review.

Unnecessary Roughness by Rheland Richmond & Emerson Beckett

Jackson Kincaid

When my best friend, Allison, died in a car accident, I suddenly became the parent of my ten-year-old godson. How was I supposed to play football for the Portland Pirates and be a full-time single dad?

Adjusting is the name of the game. But thanks to my friends, and Simon, the team doctor, we'll heal and make it through.

Did I mention he's my best friend, and I can't stop my having dirty thoughts about getting him naked? Keeping my feelings a secret isn't easy or the only obstacle I'll face.

Simon Taylor

As my new friends like to say, I'm the hardass team doctor that lets nothing get by me. But somehow, Jackson did.

While helping him adjust to his new reality, I wasn't prepared for my new feelings for him to surface. Especially when I didn't know I had them. Jackson and his godson have stolen my heart and aren't letting go.

It doesn't matter that our relationship might be considered forbidden or that he's fifteen years younger than me. I want things with him that I've never wanted with anyone else. Especially a man.

Jackson and I deserve to be together no matter how rough things get. Some things are just worth it.

Unnecessary Roughness is a smokin' hot, friends-to-lovers, age-gap story and the third book in The Package Deal series.

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of The Package Deal series!
For book one, The Quarterback Keeper, click HERE.
For book two, Pass Interference, click HERE.

 

 

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Paperback (US)
~  Also Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Shannan – ☆☆☆☆☆
Unnecessary Roughness is the third installment in The Package Deal series. It can be read as a standalone, but I feel it is a better experience if read in the order that the authors intended.

Jackson Kincaid gets a call he never saw coming. His best friend from his childhood was in a fatal car accident leaving her ten-year-old son alone. Jackson's world is turned upside down, but he knows he has to get to Parker – that is his only concern. His friends seeing that he can't do this alone, Simon Taylor, the team doctor and one of Jackson's closest friends, goes to Atlanta with him to do what needs done for Parker.

Simon and Jackson had been dancing around their feelings for some time and when Jackson needed him the most, Simon was there. The emotional toll and closeness of the situation brought all of those feelings to the front and center, causing Simon to question himself and what he wanted. It was fast but they were it for each other. I loved the emotional rollercoaster of this one, with Parker and his needs. Simon and Jackson were such a good, emotionally exciting story. I can't wait for what's next with Callum and Declan.

 

 

For as long as she can remember Rheland's had her nose stuck in a book, getting lost in the world of someone else's creation (She still does). Her love for writing came from her love for reading. She could never have one without the other.

Writing has always been a hobby and a cathartic experience for her. There are many stories lost to the never to be completed or published pile but needed to be written at the time.

She's just a girl that loved stories so much she wrote hers.

RHELAND RICHMOND would love to hear from her readers and learn more about Y'all. So if you get a chance... please get in touch.

Connect with Rheland Richmond

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  TikTok  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

 

EMERSON BECKETT is new to the publishing world. As an avid sports fan and lover of well-written M/M romance books, Emerson loves her new career as an author of gay romance. It’s even more fulfilling for her when she can combine the two.

The journey to becoming an author started with an idea while reading on the sofa. That idea became an email that ultimately resulted in Emerson using those teacher skills to edit novels for three phenomenal M/M romance authors. The third referral led to an opportunity to co-write a book series with one of the most genuine and kindest people she’s ever had the pleasure of knowing – Rheland Richmond.

Connect with Emerson Beckett

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  TikTok  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Beckett's Book Brigade

 

 

ARC provided by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Unnecessary Roughness (The Package Deal #3) by Rheland Richmond & Emerson Beckett to read and review.

Playing Deep by Beth Bolden Release Blitz

Kenyon Ellis knows getting involved with Julian Anderson is an enormous mistake—but from the very first night, he finds him annoying, intriguing and ultimately, irresistible.

One, Kenyon is a player, and Julian is a reporter, so hooking up with him, no matter how spectacular the nights are, is a terrible idea.

Two, he’s falling for him, even if Julian continues to be prickly and impossible. But every time Julian’s walls shift, Kenyon sees the real man behind the attitude, and he only wants more.

Three, between the Piranhas and the charity work he’s committed to, Kenyon really doesn’t have the time for a relationship—but a relationship with Julian turns out to be exactly what he wants.

Maybe even exactly what he needs.

But when Julian starts calling out his performance on the field, the last thing Kenyon expects is his betrayal. But is it betrayal? Or does Julian see something in Kenyon that he’s lost?

The answer leads him not only to love, but to the biggest crossroads of his life.

The fifth and final Miami Piranhas book.

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of the Miami Piranhas series!
For book one, Playing for Keeps, click HERE.
For book two, Playing the Player, click HERE.
For book three, Playing by the Rules, click HERE.
For book four, Winning the Season, click HERE.

 

 

Book 5
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Paperback (US)
~  Also Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

 

 

“You really didn’t know who I was, did you?” Kenyon asked.

Julian shot him a look. “I told you, you’re going to believe what you want to believe.”

“I want to believe,” Kenyon said, his voice a little unsteady, “whatever the truth is. That’s all. I promise.”

“What if the truth isn’t what you want to hear?” Julian angled his head, licked his lips. He was trying to be flirty again. Tough. Put those walls back up between them. Kenyon could see his technique now, easy as breathing.

The thing was, Kenyon could never hate Julian flirting with him. Even if it was because he was trying to deflect from the truth.

He pressed a palm right into Julian’s chest, felt the firmness of his pectoral muscles. He was slim, but he was strong. What would he look like naked?

Gorgeous, that’s what he’d look like.

Kenyon kept trying not to think about it, but instead, it was all he could think about, the possibilities fogging up his brain, obscuring every bit of good sense he had.

“Fine,” Julian said with a resigned sigh. Like he was finally giving in. “Fine. Okay. I didn’t know who you were.”

Kenyon curled his fingers into the cotton of Julian’s polo. This one was baby blue with a tiny white and red stripe through it. The man looked like the hottest goddamn American flag that he’d ever seen.

It should have been such an asshole move, like he was the guy who mounted a flag on the back of his giant truck, or hung one from the tallest mast of his fucking sailboat, and Kenyon should’ve been desperate to steer clear. But that wasn’t Julian. He knew it wasn’t. He could see just a flash, just a glimpse of the guy behind the polo. Behind the act. So, instead, he took another step closer. Until he felt the warmth of Julian’s thighs through the thin fabric of his shorts.

“Thank you,” Kenyon said. “I think we both deserved the truth, didn’t we? It was...” He hesitated.

There was another crack in Julian’s armor. A genuine smile, flashed quickly, Kenyon barely getting the impact of it before it was gone. “The best thing that could’ve happened and also the worst?”

“I think,” Kenyon said, dipping his head, so tempted to just end this ridiculous standoff by kissing Julian so thoroughly he always smiled at him that way, “we should just focus on the best part.”

Julian shot him an unimpressed look, clearly trying to pretend he wasn’t affected by Kenyon’s nearness, but Kenyon could feel the faintest tremor in his chest, just like he’d trembled last night and there was no denying it now. Kenyon wanted him to give in. Wanted to feel him shake when all that self-possession and self-control fell and the orgasm overtook him.

“It would be a terrible idea to do it again,” Julian said. There was a look in his eyes, though, that said he wouldn’t exactly mind it.

Kenyon knew it was a bad idea to repeat their initial mistake. But they’d done it last night, hadn’t they, and the world hadn’t stopped revolving. Coach hadn’t found out. Julian’s boss hadn’t discovered any deep, dark, dirty secrets about him.

“You know what I think?” Kenyon asked.

“What?” He was still pretending. Kenyon could feel it, and wanted nothing more than to strip Julian down to the bare essentials, so he could see the real man behind the act.

“I think you want me.” He stripped off the practice jersey. Tossed it on the floor. Then reached over and tugged Julian’s polo out of his jeans.

Julian didn’t stop him. Just kept looking at him with those inscrutable eyes.

Like they could see right through him, see down to every single thing he kept close, every single thing he hid from the world.

It was all laid bare before Julian.

“I think you,” Julian said in a soft, damning voice, “want me.”

 

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Shannan – ☆☆☆☆
Playing Deep is the fifth and (sadly) final installment in the Miami Piranhas series. It can be read as a standalone but it shouldn't. You need to experience the past characters' stories to truly appreciate this one.

Is this my favorite in the series? No
But did I still really enjoy it? Absolutely.

Kenyon Ellis is a quiet guy. He's kept to himself, for the most part, in the last two years on the Piranhas. But he needs some advice from his friends and teammates when he finds himself in a situation he never saw coming. He sneaks out during training to a dump of a bar, and he never expected to be hit on by the most gorgeous guy he's ever seen. A quick hookup in the bathroom leads to some confusion on the field the next day when Kenyon sees the guy he hooked up with is a reporter. Sleeping with a reporter is definitely a terrible idea but Kenyon can't seem to stop. And the rules they set in place aren't helping the fact that Kenyon is falling hard for Julian. The walls Julian has put up to protect himself aren't stopping Kenyon from wanting to get to know him better. But when Julian gives an interview on a podcast calling out Kenyon's playing, Kenyon feels betrayed and after seeing the footage, he's more confused if football is something he still wants to do.

Here's why it wasn't my favorite. I never felt that connection with Julian. He just seemed all over the place and his inner monologue drove me crazy. I did enjoy the second half of the book when Julian started dropping some of the walls, but I still didn't love him.

I still enjoyed the read and I am gutted that this is the last book in the series. I've loved going on this emotional ride and it's like saying goodbye to friends. (In my world, I'd be besties with the team. LOL)

I can't wait to see what Beth Bolden has in store for us next!


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the fifth book in the series, and I would recommend you read them in order to get the full goodness, but if you want to start here and retrace your steps, that's fine too! This definitely stands well on its own.

Kenyon cannot fight the temptation to take the preppy guy he meets in a bar out the back. He shouldn't have slipped out of the training camp for a drink, let alone for an encounter! The second comes back to bite him, when Julian turns out to be a journalist who will be on the Piranhas case all season. The sense of betrayal is deep, but actually Julian really did not know who he was... and Julian hides a lot about himself in his choice of clothes and demeanour.

As we watch the football season unfold, we also get to see how their influence on each other, whilst pursuing a secret friends-with-benefits arrangement. It adds a level of complexity which neither need, and yet don't seem to want to avoid until… well, you need to read it for yourself to get the full story, but rest assured it is twisty, sexy, and ends just how we want all such stories to end, with revelations to make the heart sing.

Another very good installment in this series. Thank you, Beth Bolden!

 

 

A lifelong Pacific Northwester, BETH BOLDEN has just recently moved to North Carolina with her supportive husband. Beth still believes in Keeping Portland Weird, and intends to be just as weird in Raleigh.

Beth has been writing practically since she learned the alphabet. Unfortunately, her first foray into novel writing, titled Big Bear with Sparkly Earrings, wasn’t a bestseller, but hope springs eternal. She’s published twenty-three novels and seven novellas.

Connect with Beth Bolden

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Facebook Group: Beth’s Boldest

 

 

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Playing Deep (Miami Piranhas #5) by Beth Bolden to read and review.