REVIEWED by Jen B.
TITLE: Tight End
AUTHOR: Devon McCormack
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 304 Pages
RELEASE DATE: October 9, 2016
BLURB:
“I don’t need a fucking babysitter.”
Out and proud NFL star tight end Tad Roarke has success, money, and fame. Just about everything. Except a good reputation. After being outed by the media as a promiscuous cheat, sponsors are dropping him left and right. To make matters worse, he’s been targeted as the next victim of an anti-gay celebrity serial killer. The FBI works with his team to protect him, assigning Agent Bryce Finnegan as his undercover bodyguard. But Tad doesn’t like Bryce from the get-go. The fed thinks he’s a spoiled brat. Maybe he’s right. Regardless, Tad doesn’t plan on proving him wrong, and he’ll do anything to make Bryce’s job even more difficult. Still, as much as he hates him, he can’t deny the guy’s hot as hell…and he wouldn’t mind passing a few balls around with him in the sheets.
“I don’t get paid enough for this.”
Agent Bryce Finnegan is no stranger to undercover work. With a background in busting drug cartels, he’s used to his life being on the line. He’s not used to putting up with spoiled rich kids who don’t realize how good they have it. When he meets Tad Roarke, he expects him to be a jerk. And he’s right. But the more time he spends with him, the more he realizes that all Tad’s attitude is little more than bravado. He’s not an asshole, and the media has twisted more than a few facts to tarnish Tad’s reputation. Now Bryce isn’t just worried about protecting this guy from a serial killer, but about falling in love in the process.
REVIEW:
First of all, hot cover alert! Then, amped up pro football player meets big tough bodyguard? Sign me up!
There were things I loved about this story, such as the smoking hot sex – Bryce and Tad couldn’t resist the pull which made for some really hot chemistry. Then, there was so much more to Tad than meets the eye, from his upbringing to his being an out professional ball player, to having to live in the spotlight, all of which forced him into a mold that he felt he had to maintain, even though it was so very far from the real him. Then we have Bryce, an ex-undercover agent with issues over the loss of his last partner which helped foster his issues about being involved with Tad in the first place. These guys had issues upon issues and their issues just bled into and fueled other issues, and there was miscommunication galore.
Then there were things I didn’t enjoy, such as Bryce’s unbelievable lack of professionalism. First, he’s flirting with Tad’s PA, then he’s with Tad, then back to maybe being with the PA, then back to Tad. I felt bad for him and understood his feelings of always getting Tad’s sloppy seconds. Let’s just say that Tad wasn’t the only one who needed a babysitter! There were also issues with Tad’s dad, Kieran, who wasn’t actually much of a father figure as he was Tad’s agent. He pulls through in the end, but most of the story I was shaking my head.
But, if you set those things aside, you get an exciting story full of hot action, a little mystery and danger with a side of romance to boot. I loved getting to know the real Tad and seeing him and Bryce finally get on the same page and work things out. While the football wasn’t overwhelming, it did play an important role, and I loved the way it all turned out.
I really enjoyed the style of this writing. It’s gritty and while still technically a romance, contains very little fluff, which is a huge plus in my book. So, while I didn’t love everything that happened or how the story played out, I did love the way it was written and the things I did enjoy had me engaged and turning pages quickly to get to the finale. I’ll definitely be looking for more of Mr. McCormack’s books in the future.
RATING: 
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