Two of my favorite romance genres, rockstar romances and sports romances, come together in this sweet and sexy tale of friends becoming lovers. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Immoral by Nicole Dykes, along with getting my impressions of this contemporary m/m romance, then add it to your bookshelf!
Grady
A preacher’s son. I’ve done everything I can to defy his rules. Reckless, destructive, immoral. But after all this, there’s only one thing I haven’t allowed myself to indulge in...Him.Ryan
A welder's son. I’ve done everything I can to make him proud. Hard-working, loyal, strong. I’ve accomplished all his dreams while denying my own. But there was only one thing I’ve ever wanted...Him.
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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Ryan Bailey and Grady Bell were friends and teammates throughout most of their lives, close as could be, but not as close as Ryan had hoped. With time winding down before they went their separate ways though a clandestine kiss changed everything between them. It led to seven years of silence fueled by Ryan's fears over thinking Grady was disgusted by what happened, while Grady was left hurt and confused by his best friend ghosting him. But when Grady's forced into singing the National Anthem at the final game of the World Series he and Ryan are back in each other's lives, working through unspoken feelings and addressing how their fragile relationship will survive in the spotlight in this endearing and sensual m/m romance.
Ryan and Grady are a delight to watch. They are opposites in their personalities but fit just perfectly together. That doesn't mean that their journey to HEA goes smoothly but it wasn’t overdramatic either as I was rooting for them every step of the way. Ryan’s the son of a one-time baseball player which has made for some heavy obligations and living a life that isn’t always his own. Though he’s out to his family it’s not something they talk about and they still have hopes of him bringing home the perfect girl. His life therefore revolves around baseball and a few, secretive hookups with men who sign NDAs. Ryan’s life is one big secret which leads to a rather solitary existence with few friends. The closest friend he has is his outspoken agent Jenny and though she sometimes rubbed me a bit wrong I always knew she had Ryan’s back. Living such a secretive life broke my heart as Ryan’s a truly caring and loving man, one who respects his parents and wants to make them proud, but disappointed by them too as he can never really be himself. He’s a thoughtful hero, one who thinks things through before acting, which was a good balance to the brash Grady. Grady’s multitalented and could’ve either played pro baseball or make music. He ultimately chose becoming a rockstar and it’s led to massive success and a life lived in the public eye. He’s had many relationships over the last seven years but never felt fulfilled by any of the women. In life and love something always felt missing…Ryan. He was deeply hurt by Ryan leaving him behind which is why he uses the opportunity fate has given him to the fullest, moving into Ryan’s house for the three weeks he’s has off from touring to truly reunite with the man who’s always been his other half. Though Grady’s the son of a homophobic pastor he never let it taint his views of others as he’s an open-minded, non-judgmental, rockstar who lives life to the fullest and is saddened to hear that his friend can’t live openly too. Grady’s utterly delightful, jumping into everything wholeheartedly. He doesn’t overthink things like Ryan, but instead grabs on to living with both hands. He’s fun and flirty and quickly accepts his newly-acknowledged attraction to Ryan without blinking an eye in a relationship that’s a slow-burn early on before turning steamy later.
There’s oodles of sexual tension surrounding these two in their “gay for you” romance, tension that’s blatantly obvious from the start. Their foundation of friendship made the story even richer and more believable as their ties were crafted from a young age. I was completely immersed in their journey to HEA, rooting Grady on as he worked to prove himself to Ryan. On a whole this was a quick read with very little angst to get in the way of my enjoyment. The main couple was pure perfection with personalities that were beautifully balanced along with sweet and sensual interactions that made me chuckle one moment while making me blush the next. Alongside this decadently delightful main couple were a few secondary characters who stood out. Jenny and Waylon, agents to both the lead characters, were outspoken yet caring and supportive of their clients. Waylon especially could be counted on for a comedic contribution. This was a wonderful and fresh read, a m/m romance that warmed my heart and had me clapping at the turn of the final page, one that I wholeheartedly recommend as a well-crafted addition to Ms. Dykes’s backlist!
My rating for this is an A.
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
Nicole Dykes is a wife and professional assistant/mom to two gorgeous girls. Currently residing in Kansas, she’s a lover of coffee, Kansas City Chiefs, and all things romance.
She currently has over 20 published books with her Monroe and Adamson series being the most popular. She enjoys cranking up the angst level, making her readers cry, and turning those tears into the coffee that fuels her writing.
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