Reviewed by Amber
TITLE: Cocky
AUTHOR: Sean Ashcroft
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 296 Pages
RELEASE DATE: April 7th, 2017
BLURB:
“I’m having a little trouble coming up with the right words here, so I’ll be blunt. I want you to pretend to date me.”
Faking a relationship with an injured hockey player had never been on Eliot’s to-do list, but when he’s sent by his editor to interview the newly-out hockey legend Danny Harper, he gets a little more than he bargained for.
Eliot has been stuck writing a fashion and grooming column that no one reads since he started at Cocky—a men’s lifestyle magazine—a year ago. Desperate to prove himself, he takes the assignment to interview Harper, even though he couldn’t hold a hockey stick the right way up in an emergency.
Danny turns out to be nothing like he expected—a lonely man who’s missed out on a lot by being in the closet, rather than the overconfident jock Eliot expects him to be. As much as he resists it, Eliot finds himself drawn to the other man.
When Danny proposes they fake a relationship to improve his image, Eliot jumps at the chance—not only does he need the money, but his curiosity about Danny demands to be satisfied.
With Danny struggling to get through the season on a busted knee and Eliot digging up the story that could make his own career, can the two of them bring themselves to admit their real feelings and find their happy ending?
Cocky is a standalone gay romance with a HEA and no cliffhanger. It does, however, contain peppermint lip balm, platonic(ish) bed-sharing, explicit sex scenes, hockey-related injuries, and several five a.m. starts.
REVIEW:
This was an odd story for me. I can’t really pinpoint what didn’t work for me but something was lacking here. I don’t know that I’ve read a Sean Ashcroft book before so I’m not sure if this is normally how the stories are developed but it seemed as though I was missing big chunks of Eliot and Danny’s relationship. There were also several repetitive moments that confused me. I didn’t understand why both Danny and Eliot kept commenting on how the other was not “their type.” It also felt like one moment they weren’t attracted to each other in a fake relationship then BOOM…in love. It was awkward for me. What I did like, however was Eliot. I adored him…saving Danny from falling and embarrassing himself with that kiss…was swoon-worthy.
Eliot is a magazine reporter looking for a story that will showcase his writing talents. But what his editor gives him is a coming out story involving professional hockey player Danny Harper. When Danny and Eliot meet there really didn’t seem to be a connection other than a mild attraction.
Danny’s manager feels that Danny should get himself a “fake boyfriend” to help establish his place in the gay community. Danny immediately thinks of Eliot and they strike a bargain.
What starts as a business deal slowly morphs into feelings both men easily give into.
As I mentioned, the connection between the characters wasn’t all that well developed on page, in my opinion. Aside from what really seems like a horrific knee injury other machinations are happening in Danny’s life, as well. Eliot sticks by him and these two get a cute HEA.
Overall, just an ok read with some interesting characters.
RATING: 
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