Reviewed by Donna

TITLE: Playing With Fire

SERIES: Glasgow Lads

AUTHOR: Avery Cockburn

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 330 Pages

RELEASE DATE: January 29, 2016

BLURB:

“I don’t want options. I just want you.”

Robert McKenzie has a secret. As the only straight player on an all-LGBT soccer team, he’s known to fans as “McWhataWaste.” No one would guess Robert’s actually bisexual. At twenty-one, on the verge of a brilliant career in video game design, he’s finally ready to be his true self. The only thing keeping him in the closet is…his gay best friend?

Liam Carroll has a problem. His gorgeous pal and teammate wants to kiss him and touch him and…everything with him. But for how long? With Robert embarking on a bright future—far from their rough-and-tumble East End streets—Liam may soon be left behind. He can’t risk falling in love with a man he can’t live without. His solution? Keep things casual, “see what happens.”

Aye, right. After a single camping trip, the bridge back to mere friendship is well and truly burned. Now Robert wants more than sex, but diehard cynic Liam won’t drop the barriers around his heart. These two tough center-backs must find a way forward as lovers, or their lifelong bond—the heart of the Warriors team—will rupture for good.

REVIEW:

It’s no secret that I’m absolutely mad for the Glasgow Lads, and I’ve been wishing and hoping that Liam and his Rabby would get together ever since I was introduced to the lifelong best friends. The only problem with that – the fact that Robert is 100% straight. Or is he? Well, of course he’s not, where would the story be in that?

Robert McKenzie, the only “non-GLBT member of the Warriors FC” has had enough of hiding his bisexuality. He’s started hooking up with some guys on Grindr, and he’s working up the nerve to tell his friends the truth. If only he was gay, this would be so much simpler. He’s heard all the crap that is said about bisexuals – they’re gay but are too scared to admit it, they can’t be trusted because they want to have sex with everyone. And Liam’s biggest fear – at the end of the day all bi men will settle down with a woman to have a family, because it’s easier. As far as Robert is concerned, there’s nothing easy about being bi.

Liam’s fears are pretty well founded, considering the last bi man that he fell for ran off and married a woman after telling Liam he was ready for a relationship with a man. Liam has never allowed himself to lust after his best friend, not since they were younger teens anyway, but confronted with a Robert who suddenly wants him…what the heck is he suppose to do with that? From Liam’s perspective there’s no way that anything romantic with Robert could last, and the idea of risking their fifteen year friendship is terrifying.

This book, more than the other full length stories in this series, focuses less on outside forces (religion/politics) and more on the evolving relationship between the two main characters. But you know what, I kind of missed the author’s extremely insightful portrayals of real issues faced in Scotland. There were some references to unemployment and the life expectancy of Glaswegians compared to people living in other areas, but it remained largely unexplored. However, I’m not saying this is a pro or a con. I would have liked it spoken about more, whereas some readers will probably say – oh good, it’s all about the romance this time.

The next full length novel in this series finally gives Evan the chance to redeem himself, as he is coupled with the young gay wedding planner that we meet in Playing With Fire. Honestly, as soon as we met Robert’s attempted Grindr hookup, I wanted him to be the one for Evan. Jackpot! I’m so freakin excited just thinking about that story!

As always the quality of the writing from Avery Cockburn is top notch. This series is some of the most polished self published work that I’ve come across. The language used and the skillful inclusion of varied and interesting locations makes me want to hop on the plane to Glasgow.

RATING: 

BUY LINK:

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