Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  The Endgame

SERIES:  Atlantic Lightning #1

AUTHOR:  Riley Hart

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  336 pages

RELEASE DATE:  April 20, 2021

BLURB:

Weston
When I left home, I swore I’d never hide anything about myself again. From college, to law school, to the United States Senate representing California, I’ve done it all as an out gay man. So, when I’m in DC and see a beautiful guy at the hotel bar, I don’t hesitate to proposition him…right before he runs out on me, leaving his sunglasses behind like my very own Cinderfella.

Anson
I’ve always known I’m gay, but never acted on it. Pretending isn’t easy, but it means I can keep playing football. No one has ever guessed my secret until the gorgeous man at a bar in DC. At least he doesn’t know who I am—the best tight end in the NFL, playing for the Atlanta Lightning. Though my identity doesn’t stay a secret from him for long.

Between texts and late-night phone calls, we get to know each other. West’s the only person who knows all the parts of me, just like I know his. When he asks for one night together so he can show me what it’s like to be with a man, I can’t say no. But once isn’t enough, and we keep sneaking around together—brief encounters, in California, Georgia, or DC, filled with passionate touches and whispered truths.

I never thought I’d have love. West never thought he’d want it. Now we’re all in with each other, but he still has time left in his Senate term. I have contract obligations to fulfill, and I’m closeted. We don’t even live in the same state. The odds are stacked against us, but if there’s one thing I know, it’s how to win. He’s the endgame in the biggest challenge of my life, the one I’m banking my future happiness on.

REVIEW:

First let me say … a big thanks to Ms. Hart for making me nearly have a heat stroke from that smoking hot cover. Gah!

The Endgame is simply perfect! This is Anson Hawkins’ captivating coming out story. He’s a professional athlete in a sport without any out gay players, but he meets the future love of his life and soon knows the trajectory of his life has changed indelibly.

Anson desperately wants to live his life authentically as a gay man but he can’t do that as a pro football player with the Atlanta Lightning. He lives and breathes football and it’s one of the few ties he has to his father who died when Anson was a young child. His entire identity is tied to football and he’s terrified of losing his career if he comes out. He’s been allowing his sport to mean more to him than being true to himself, but then something happens to threaten the status quo.

That something is the nation’s youngest United States Senator, Weston Calloway, who meets Anson in a DC bar when his team is in town for a game. He’s a CockyBoy – scratch that – he’s a cocky man with an overabundance of confidence. He’s known as the out and proud bad-boy Senator. He’s a relentless flirt, whereas Anson has no game at all when he’s off the field.

Neither man recognizes the other and nothing happens other than drinks and conversation that first night. But they can’t forget about each other even though neither wants a relationship or even sees how one would be feasible over long distances and with Anson closeted. Besides, just talking to West is unsafe because it makes Anson ache for what West could give him, and that could ruin his life.

They do, of course, get together and when they do, the sex is wild and rough … and tender and passionate. This couple generates a lot of heat and a lot of feels.

Riley Hart does a remarkable job portraying a closeted pro athlete. If he comes out, he runs the risk of no longer being known as the superstar tight end (yes, she went there, would you expect anything different from Ms. Hart?) Instead, he’ll always be referred to as the gay player who teammates and fans might disdain. Alternatively, he might be lauded for breaking down barriers and that becomes what defines him rather than the sport that means everything to him.

“I just want to play. I’m nothing without it.”

Ms. Hart also represents a disabled secondary character admirably. Anson’s younger brother, Elias, is a paraplegic who lets nothing stand in his way. He’s proud of who he is and wouldn’t want to change his life because that would suggest he’s less than. Elias is a highly likable character, as is Anson’s best friend and teammate, Darren.

I devoured this opposites attract, long-distance, age gap story and adored every moment. As always, it’s superbly written, well-paced, and features characters that fit together like peanut butter and jelly. (Now there’s an idea for kink!) I recommend The Endgame to everyone.

“There’s a light inside him now. I see it, and I didn’t know it had been out before. But you lit it, and I thank you for that. You’re good to him, and you’re a good man.”  – Anson’s mom

RATING: 

BUY LINK: 

Amazon