Reviewed by PizzyGirl

TITLE: High Balls

SERIES: Balls to The Wall

AUTHOR: Tara Lain

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

LENGTH: 163 pages

RELEASE DATE: October 4, 2017

BLURB:

A Balls to the Wall Romance

Though only twenty-six, single father Theodore Walters lives with his head in the clouds and his feet firmly planted in reality. At the center of his life is Andy, his seven-year-old son, with whom he shares no DNA, though nobody—including his religious-fanatic in-laws—knows that, and Theodore will do anything to keep them from finding out. Theodore works hard to get his PhD and the tenure and salary that might follow to make a better life for Andy—but the head of his department thinks his dissertation on Jane Austen and romance novels is frivolous.

Theodore’s carefully planned life goes off the rails when he walks into a popular Laguna Beach bar and meets the bartender, “Snake” Erasmo, a pierced and tattooed biker who sends Theodore’s imagination—and libido—soaring. Snake has even more secrets than Theodore and couldn’t be a less “appropriate” match, but he might be the only guy with the skills to show Theodore that happily ever after is for real.

REVIEW:

Ooooooohhhhhh yes!!!! High Balls was an excellent addition to this series. It was quintessential Tara Lain Balls to the Walls. It was fun yet deep and oh so utterly romantic! I thoroughly enjoyed my reading experience.

I liked Theodore from the very start. I felt like his struggle was presented very well and that I understood why he was an asshole sometimes.He was trying to make a life for himself and his son within a very conservative and homophobic framework. There was so much fear that it made things very difficult for him to have any kind of personal life. His stress levels were constant and the constant tension leapt off the page so much that I was anxious right along with him.

I didn’t really understand Snake as well as I would have liked. I didn’t have any frame or reference for his behavioral patterns or why he so easily connected with Theodore or why he was willing to date inside the closet. There were bits and pieces that made me think, but without confirmation, it seemed a bit odd at first. But once the story got moving Snake really stole the show for me. His demeanor and his desires in life were so great that I actually started to dislike Theodore a bit for how easily he threw Snake under the bus time and again.

I did love how slowly snake was revealed. Those bits and pieces really kept me guessing and absolutely needing to know more about this enigma But I feel like there was a missed opportunity with Snake. He was such a controversy yet he really wasn’t and other than a bit about his family, his life was ignored. I just felt like there should have been more about him and his past. I had so many questions about how he came to be the man he was and I felt like they were really answered.

I enjoyed seeing some of the other guys from Laguna. Rod always cracks me up and I love how they rally whenever one of them is in need. It was a fantastic counterpoint to Theodore always doing things alone.

I think the religious theme was well done. It showed the harmful side of religion while not really getting too political or preachy. It made a great bit of plot to cut some of the sweetness of the romance.

And finally, the romance. Oh it was so sweet. I loved the way Andy was incorporated and Snake just stole my heart. The proposal at the end was so utterly perfect it made me cry big, ugly, happy tears. It ended things so well and left me just so happy and content.

I love this series and am looking forward to more.

RATING:

BUY LINKS:

Dreamspinner Press

Amazon