As a fan of sports-themed romances and the m/m genre I found the perfect combo with this third installment in the Homeruns series, Triple Play by Sloan Johnson. Keep reading to get a glimpse of this emotional read and the previous books, along with my impressions of it, and then add them to your bookshelf. In honor of this book make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $50 bookstore GC too!
Drew Jackson seemed to have it all. He has a family who loves and supports him, a tight circle of friends, and is a rising star with the Milwaukee Mavericks. Then, it all begins to unravel. Cam, the only man he’s ever loved, falls head over heels for Drew’s teammate. He makes a critical mistake in the playoffs that he’s not sure he’ll be able to recover from. And then, his world really crashes around him…
Eric Sapp may no longer play for the Mavericks, but he's still one of the guys. No one could have imagined how much his life would change when he agreed to help his former teammates mourn the end of their run for the pennant. After stopping a brutal attack, Eric is forced to face the feelings that've been growing for his roommate, Drew. That's be much easier if Drew wasn't hell-bent on pushing everyone away as he recovers.
Neither of them were counting on Bryce Shaw. He and Drew enjoyed the one night they spent together, but knew it was unlikely they'd be anything more since they lived in different parts of the country. After Bryce is relocated to help a failing LGBT homeless outreach, he wants to explore something more with the Maverick's short stop.
As much as Eric wishes he could be the one to help his friend, he knows Bryce holds the key to Drew's recovery. Will pushing the two back together be the biggest mistake of his life or will they all learn there is strength in numbers?
Eric Sapp may no longer play for the Mavericks, but he's still one of the guys. No one could have imagined how much his life would change when he agreed to help his former teammates mourn the end of their run for the pennant. After stopping a brutal attack, Eric is forced to face the feelings that've been growing for his roommate, Drew. That's be much easier if Drew wasn't hell-bent on pushing everyone away as he recovers.
Neither of them were counting on Bryce Shaw. He and Drew enjoyed the one night they spent together, but knew it was unlikely they'd be anything more since they lived in different parts of the country. After Bryce is relocated to help a failing LGBT homeless outreach, he wants to explore something more with the Maverick's short stop.
As much as Eric wishes he could be the one to help his friend, he knows Bryce holds the key to Drew's recovery. Will pushing the two back together be the biggest mistake of his life or will they all learn there is strength in numbers?
FIND THIS BOOK AT GOODREADS here.
FIND THE HOMERUNS BOOK SERIES AT GOODREADS here.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
The boys of baseball are back in a story full of life-altering events, contemporary issues, and lots of sexiness. When tragedy strikes it brings three men together who have to figure out a way to make their unconventional relationship work if they wish to find healing and a HEA. Helping them along the way are characters, and past loves, seen in the previous installments in the Homeruns series which shows their close-knit connection and sense of family. Though we see glimpses of past characters, and get brought up to date with their lives, it's not necessary to have read their stories to enjoy this one but it will make the experience all the richer.
Baseballer Drew is still dealing with the loss of the man he loved to another, along with a crushing game defeat, when he's attacked for being gay and left battered and traumatized. Racing to his rescue is the supportive and kindhearted Eric who does whatever necessary to help Drew heal, which has him calling on the strong-willed Bryce to help him in the healing too. These are three very different men at very different times in their lives but together they just work. They're good together in a sweet and sensual way, with lots of steamy encounters, but I didn't feel they were always equal in the feelings they expressed towards each other. With Drew's difficulties in dealing with what happened to him which doesn't always show him at his best, Eric and Bryce put their focus on him, as it should be in order to give him confidence and a sense of safety again. Bryce was clearly the alpha in their triad, the one with all the answers, while Eric's quiet control was taken for granted and he was sometimes the odd man out which saddened me as he was a true savior to Drew expecting nothing in return.
Ms. Johnson has crafted a story that juggles a lot of issues revolving around homosexuality in athletics, the plight of the homeless, and how love is defined. Some are dealt with in a believable and thought provoking way while some veered into melodrama. In many ways society has grown when it comes to homosexuality but in this book it feels a bit behind the times, especially with the verbal gay bashing that was seen in the locker room as teams now go out of their way to educate and penalize those who engage in that activity. The ending too felt a bit rushed and I wished for a more definitive conclusion to Drew's attacker to further aid in his healing. Barring these small quibbles though this was still an engaging read with three very appealing men going through an awful event that brings them together in emotional solidarity along with super steamy interludes that are nicely balanced with the overall story arc. Fans of baseball will get a taste of the sport but it's all about the heart in this story of unconventional love and healing.
Baseballer Drew is still dealing with the loss of the man he loved to another, along with a crushing game defeat, when he's attacked for being gay and left battered and traumatized. Racing to his rescue is the supportive and kindhearted Eric who does whatever necessary to help Drew heal, which has him calling on the strong-willed Bryce to help him in the healing too. These are three very different men at very different times in their lives but together they just work. They're good together in a sweet and sensual way, with lots of steamy encounters, but I didn't feel they were always equal in the feelings they expressed towards each other. With Drew's difficulties in dealing with what happened to him which doesn't always show him at his best, Eric and Bryce put their focus on him, as it should be in order to give him confidence and a sense of safety again. Bryce was clearly the alpha in their triad, the one with all the answers, while Eric's quiet control was taken for granted and he was sometimes the odd man out which saddened me as he was a true savior to Drew expecting nothing in return.
Ms. Johnson has crafted a story that juggles a lot of issues revolving around homosexuality in athletics, the plight of the homeless, and how love is defined. Some are dealt with in a believable and thought provoking way while some veered into melodrama. In many ways society has grown when it comes to homosexuality but in this book it feels a bit behind the times, especially with the verbal gay bashing that was seen in the locker room as teams now go out of their way to educate and penalize those who engage in that activity. The ending too felt a bit rushed and I wished for a more definitive conclusion to Drew's attacker to further aid in his healing. Barring these small quibbles though this was still an engaging read with three very appealing men going through an awful event that brings them together in emotional solidarity along with super steamy interludes that are nicely balanced with the overall story arc. Fans of baseball will get a taste of the sport but it's all about the heart in this story of unconventional love and healing.
My rating for this is a B.
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
THE PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE HOMERUNS BOOK SERIES....
Book One: WILD PITCH
AMAZON: http://bit.ly/
iBOOKS: http://bit.ly/curvebal
AUTHOR INFO:
Sloan Johnson is a big city girl trapped in a country girl’s life. While she longs for the hustle and bustle of New York City or Las Vegas, she hasn’t yet figured out how to sit on the deck with her morning coffee, watching the deer and wild turkeys in the fields while surrounded by concrete and glass.
When she was three, her parents received their first call from the principal asking them to pick her up from school. Apparently, if you aren’t enrolled, you can’t attend classes, even in Kindergarten. The next week, she was in preschool and started plotting her first story soon after.
Later in life, her parents needed to do something to help their socially awkward, uncoordinated child come out of her shell and figured there was no better place than a bar on Wednesday nights. It’s a good thing they did because this is where she found her love of reading and writing. Who needs socialization when you can sit alone in your bedroom with a good book?
Now, Sloan is a tattooed mom with a mohawk and two kids. She’s been kicked out of the PTA in two school districts and is no longer asked to help with fundraisers because she’s been known to lose herself with a good book and forget she has somewhere to be.
**********GIVEAWAY**********
a Rafflecopter giveaway
No comments:
Post a Comment