Ineligible Receiver by Rheland Richmond & Emerson Beckett Blog Tour

A sexy and emotional story about how two best friends secretly fall in love but struggle to keep a heartbreaking secret from tearing them apart.

When I met Greg Foster, the straight tight end for the Portland Pirates, the rookie needed a friend to bring him out of his shell. There was more to the shy twenty-two-year-old bookworm than met the eye, and I was the perfect person for the task. My roommate and best friend, Christian, was involved with the Pirates QB, so a new friend to hang out with was good.

I pushed down my attraction to him and became the best friend he ever had. We bar-hopped all over Portland and played video games in our apartments. We even loved the same indy band from Seattle.

Then we fucked up when we fell in love. And by fucked up, I mean we got married even though we knew our marriage had to remain a secret.

No one knew about us. Not even our closest friends. And every time they asked, we gave them the same line... we're just friends.

And ultimately, the reason for that secret would tear us apart. Now, here I was three years after meeting him, and wasn’t sure how to survive without him. He was the love of my life, and I was his.

Ineligible Receiver is a friends-to-lovers and bi-awakening story and Book 5 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.
For book three, Unnecessary Roughness, click HERE.
For book four, Illegal Motion, click HERE.

 

 

Book 5
Buy Links

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

 

 

“So, Texas Tech, huh? Did you finish your degree, or leave early for the pros?”

Greg took a sip of his beer, then nodded. “Yeah, I got my degree.”

“What is it?” He was going to make me pull it out of him.

“English Literature,” he said, running his big hand over his head.

“You like to read?” I was intrigued.

He nodded again. “Yeah, I love it. Kinda fits my personality.”

“The quiet one?”

He smiled, but not so shyly this time. “Yeah, that one. I’ve never been a partier or anything like that. I’m weird and like to stay home.” He rolled the bottle between his long fingers.

Interesting. “That’s not weird. What else do you do to relax?”

Greg chuckled. “This feels like an interview.”

All I could do was smile. He was so fucking adorable.

“Well,” I said, turning toward him, “just so happens I have a spot open for a new friend, and you seem like the perfect person to fill the position.”

Our eyes met, and my pulse sped up a little. The small smile that crossed his face forced me to smile. He was breathtaking, with green eyes, tanned skin, and that thick light blonde hair. I was really going to have to work to tamp down my lust for him.

“Well, I guess I better finish the interview then.”

I waited. And waited some more.

“Well?”

“That’s a deep subject.” He tried his damndest not to smile.

My eyes widened. “You’ve got dad jokes!” I pushed his shoulder. “What else you hiding in there, rookie?”

Greg laughed and visibly relaxed in front of me. This was good.

“Nothing, I swear.” He took another drink of his beer. “Go back to your interview.”

I had to smile at him. “What do you like to do other than read? That’s not something we could do together. Although, I guess we could. Maybe get a couple of velvet dinner jackets, some armchairs, and pipes to smoke. Would you like that?”

I watched his throat as he laughed at my suggestion. That beautiful smile and a tiny bit of his warmth was beginning to show.

“Uh, that’s not necessary. But it would make a cool picture to send to my brother.”

Okay, he has a brother.

“Brock is almost fourteen. He’s my best friend.”

I smiled. “Well, until now.”

 

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Shannan – ☆☆☆☆☆
Ineligible Receiver is the fifth installment in The Package Deal series. It technically can be read as a standalone because the authors take you back to the beginning of this friendship to the current day, BUT I wouldn't be a good reviewer just saying that. I personally feel you MUST start at the beginning of this series and read in the order that is intended. The stories before just build the intensity of this one.

Cooper Evans has spent time around the Pirates with some of his best friends involved (mostly married now) to players. He considers some of these players his best friends. When he sees number 88, Greg Foster, he knows that even though Greg is straight, they will be best friends. So, when he slightly bullies himself into Greg's life and brings him out of his shell, he just has to deal with the soul crushing attraction to Greg. He'd rather have him has a best friend than nothing at all.

Greg never expected to love having Cooper in his life as much as he does. When Cooper starts dating someone, Greg misses him more than he thought possible. At some point Greg realizes the feelings he has for Cooper are no longer just friendly. But Greg has to worry about his younger brother, who just came out to him and lives with his very political, homophobic father. So Greg coming to terms with his sexuality, and kissing the one man who makes him weak in the knees, needs to be kept a secret, which Cooper knowingly goes along with until he can't.

I loved finally getting this story. I loved everything about Greg and Cooper and pulled for them from the beginning. It really was an emotional read. Greg living his life for his parents and hiding what he loved most about him was so heartbreaking. Greg and Cooper went through hell to be together, but it was such a beautiful journey.

And can we just discuss Dom and Jessie? I am so here for this story because it looks AMAZING! And it breaks my heart that this will be the final installment in this series.


Angie – ☆☆☆☆
Ohhhh boy! This one did a number on me! I was crying like a baby at times. This book drew me in and kept my attention. It gave me all the feels, I felt every emotion reading this book. I felt like I was right there living the story with Cooper and Greg. These two went through a lot and worked so very hard for that happy ending. Highly recommend.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the fifth book in the series... and it is a winner. It does a fabulous job of giving us a reminder of the last few years and the relationships that formed whilst Greg and Cooper were keeping their growing closeness secret.

It is fascinating thinking back on how they seemed at the time to the rest of the guys, and also heart breaking when we get to understand why Greg was so determined to keep them secret. It was beautifully written, from how Cooper does not push his desires in any way, nor when he accepts how important it is for Greg to be private about his newly found sexual preferences.

If you enjoy football romances with plenty of camaraderie in the team, and plenty of success in the sport, this should be on your to reading list for sure. It is a good mix of sport, passion, and friendship. And there is a great set up for the next installment!

 

 

 

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... Get in touch.

Connect with Rheland Richmond

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  TikTok  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Richmond’s Riders

 

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. Emerson is the co-author of The Package Deal Series. She plans to release her first solo book in 2023.

Besides being a retired teacher and author, Emerson lives in North Carolina and has been married to the same man for 32 years. She is the mother of three beautiful adults, one of whom is proudly part of the LGBTQ Community and completely responsible for her addiction to MM Romance. Even though the kids no longer live at home, they filled the empty nest with an Australian Shepherd, three cats, and a cute bunny rabbit.

Emerson would love to hear from her readers. So if you get a chance... Get in touch.

Connect with Emerson Beckett

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

 

 

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Ineligible Receiver (The Package Deal #5) by Rheland Richmond & Emerson Beckett to read and review.