Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  Right as Raine

AUTHOR:  Lucy Lennox

SERIES:  Aster Valley

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  296 pages

RELEASE DATE:  February 2, 2021

BLURB:

Tiller

As the first openly gay professional football player, I can’t afford to make any mistakes, on or off the field. And the absolute biggest mistake I could make right now would be to fall for Mikey Vining, my best friend, employee and, more importantly, Coach’s baby boy. I might fantasize about Mikey at night-—every night—but actually touching him would be a serious personal foul.

And falling for him? That’s completely out of bounds.

Mikey

I’ve learned my lesson about falling for one of my dad’s players. They’re a bunch of spoiled jocks with more muscles than brains. I’ve spent years learning to keep my eyes, and my hands, to myself. But resisting the temptation becomes nearly impossible when Tiller Raine and I end up together in a small cabin in a remote Colorado town.

Suddenly, there’s not much to do but look at each other. And talk. And hopefully, hopefully touch.

But what happens when our stay in Aster Valley is over and it’s time to return to the real world? Will Coach blow the whistle on our relationship? Or will Tiller admit there might actually be something he loves more than football after all?

REVIEW:

Right as Raine is the latest offering by the uber-talented Lucy Lennox. This is the first book in her new Aster Valley series, although a prequel novella, Winter Waites, was recently released. Once again, the author seamlessly blends her brand of humor with a full gamut of emotions in this fantastic, friends-to-lovers novel.

Heisman Trophy winner Tiller Raine is a rookie wide receiver playing for the Houston Riggers. He’s also the first gay NFL player who’s publicly out. He’s determined to lie low, not date, and not garner media attention for reasons other than his skill on the field. After fainting a few times because of low blood sugar, Coach orders him to hire a personal chef to get him eating more intelligently.

Mikey Vining happens to be a personal chef, but he also happens to be Coach’s son. Coach, who can be nasty and homophobic, especially toward Mikey, says no way to his son taking the job because he doesn’t want him involved with his players. However, the team owner overrules Coach so Mikey goes to work for the man he can’t stop drooling over. Now, if only he and Tiller can refrain from acting on their mutual attraction.

The story jumps ahead five years and finds Mikey still working for Tiller in a live-in capacity as a chef, personal assistant, and housekeeper. Their easy friendship is playful, filled with happy banter and teasing, with a comfort that evokes a best buddies vibe. They are adorable together and a real pleasure to read. But sadly, they’re not lovers, although they’re still desperate for each other. An intimate relationship would be taboo in Coach’s eyes so they abstain. Mikey continues to cook while Tiller continues to be the highest paid receiver in NFL history.

That is, until Tiller is injured and ordered by the team doctors to sit out for several weeks. Mikey books them into a huge rental home in the bucolic town of Aster Valley, Colorado, where they plan to stay over the Christmas holidays while Tiller heals and undergoes physical therapy. They fall in love with the diverse, snow-covered village immediately, and are enchanted by the colorful, small-town folks that Ms. Lennox is always so adept at creating. Many characters from Winter Waites appear here, including Winter and Gentry (big fans of Tiller Raine), the adorable spice shop owner, Truman, and diner owners, Pim, Bill, and their son, Solomon. (Look for a Licking Thicket Easter egg at the diner.)

Tiller and Mikey finally consummate their relationship while in Aster Valley, and it’s hot and steamy. Let me just say, DIRTY TALK. Gah! Their playfulness carries over into the bedroom, and the witty prose that permeates the book is present here, too. But life must go on back in Houston and there’s no easy solution to making their relationship work. Unfortunately, plenty of conflict arises.

I haven’t seen this plotline or characters before from Ms. Lennox, which can be tricky to achieve when you’ve written dozens of books. She continues to impress me with her riveting plots and unique characters – primary and secondary – that are always well-differentiated from her previous ones. Many authors have difficulty creating fresh characters and it leaves me feeling like I’m reading the same people rehashed. Not so with Ms. Lennox whose stories are always one-of-a-kind. It results in a rewarding reading experience, as with Right as Raine.

The main draws here are the lovable Tiller and Mikey – two genuinely kind, down to earth men – and their chemistry. Life slows down in Aster Valley and little moments have a big impact in conveying their feelings, such as the scene where they’re playing in the snow. I look forward to spending more time immersed in Aster Valley and with its residents. I hope the series lasts long enough for Tiller’s vision to come to fruition. Up next I’m guessing we’ll see Truman paired off with Sam, Mikey’s best friend from Houston. These are already two compelling characters. In the meantime, enjoy Right as Raine. You can’t go wrong with this one.

RATING: 

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