Up and coming football hero, Colton Michaels, makes a Hail Mary pass one night in the college locker room that results in the hottest, sexiest five days of his young life. However, interference after the play has him hiding his past and burying his future in the bottom of a bottle. While Colt seems to have it all, looks can be deceiving, especially when youβre trapped so far in a closet that you canβt see your way out. When ten years of living his expected fast-lane lifestyle lands him engaged to his manipulative Russian supermodel girlfriend, he decides itβs time to call a new play.
Jace Montgomery single-handily built the largest all-star cheerleading gym in the world, driven by a need to forget a life-altering encounter with a handsome quarterback a decade ago. His reputation as an excellent coach, hard-nosed business man, and savvy entrepreneur earned him respect in the sometimes catty world of competitive cheerleading. When Jace learns of his ex-loverβs plans to marry, his heart executes a barrel roll and his carefully-placed resolve tumbles down without a mat to absorb the shock. Can his island escape help him to finally let go of the past and move his life forward?
Series: Nice Guys #1
Release Date: October 8, 2013
Publisher: The Kindle Alexander Collection
Source: Provided by Author
Reviewer: Shannon
Rating:
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Reviewer’s Thoughts
I don’t generally read same sex romance books, but the hot football guy on the cover enticed me to try it. I’m so glad I did.
Jace Montgomery was a cheerleader for the same college team hotshot quarterback Cole Michaels played on. Jace had a huge crush on Cole (as did most of the female population on campus), but he never imagined that what he felt was reciprocated by the larger than life Cole. They spent five magical days together in a Hawaiian paradise before their life together was crushed under bigotry, fear and violence. Fast forward ten years and we once again find Cole and Jace at a another crossroads. But we’re left to wonder, can love truly conquer all or will the pressure crush them again.
I loved the relationship between Jace and Cole. Cole tried so hard, even in the beginning, to prove to Jace that he was who he really wanted. Poor Jace, already used to the bigotry against gays, had a tough time believing Cole was really into him and not just experimenting. Even ten years later, Jace still had the emotional scars of wondering if Cole was there because he wanted Jace or to just get another “fix”. Cole knew he had a lot to make up for. He’d broken a sacred trust and was going to do everything in his power to make sure Jace knew exactly what he wanted.
I think the hardest thing, for me, to read was the hate and bigotry the people who surrounded Cole had towards gay people. For a gay man who hadn’t come out, you could understand where his fear came from and why he pushed Jace away and turned to drugs and alcohol. And even more impressive was how, despite being beaten down by all of this, Cole was still able to become that same guy he was in college with Jace: kind, fun and loving.
There is a continuation to this story, in book 2 to the Nice Guys series, called FULL DISCLOSURE. While the main story about the relationship between Cole and Jace does have a HEA, one storyline was left hanging and I’m desperate to see what becomes of that (sorry for the vagueness, but I don’t want to spoil anything).
A very surprising and entertaining read. I will definitely be on the lookout for more books by Kindle Alexander.
Shannon
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