Reviewed by True

TITLE: Playing Offside

SERIES: Sporting Secrets #1

AUTHOR: Jax Calder

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

LENGTH: 294 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 26, 2021

BLURB:

Falling for the guy whose starting spot you’re after? Never a good idea.

Aiden Jones, aka the Ice King, is one of the best rugby players in the world. He got there by working hard and sacrificing a lot, including denying a large part of himself. But there’s plenty of time to be the poster boy for gay rugby players after he retires. At the moment, he’s focused on passing a long-standing points record to cement his legacy, and he’s not about to surrender his starting spot to the cocky loudmouth who just joined the training squad, no matter how talented the kid might be.

Tyler can’t believe he’s made it into the New Zealand rugby training squad after only his first professional rugby season. Now management has decided that it’s a good idea for him to room with Aiden Jones, who Tyler’s had a long-range crush on for years. And although Aiden is icy to him both on and off the field, Tyler figures with a little charm, he can melt the Ice King. But even he’s not prepared for how heated things become between them. Now Tyler’s falling for the same guy whose starting spot he’s gunning for. But all is fair in both love and sport, right?

REVIEW:

Tyler had a crush on Aiden for years. Aiden is one hell of a rugby player and the reason for many of Tyler’s shower jerk-offs.
Now they are on the same training squad for the national team.
Aiden’s nickname is Ice King and you don’t have to ask why!

Aiden at twenty-eight sees the twenty-year-old Tyler as a kid, talented, and maybe even a treat to his point record.
Tyler is gorgeous and Aiden isn’t happy with it, even if he excels in not showing the attraction he has for the guy, Ice King, remember!

“Don’t look at anyone in a way that can be construed as a come-on. Don’t say anything that can be viewed as being a pansy. Be manly. Deep voice. Show no weaknesses.”

Under Aiden’s icily exterior there is lava bubbling, hot lava. And dang, cocky smart-mouthed Tyler is getting under his skin.

Tyler is rooming with Aiden. Tyler doesn’t want frostbites from Aiden. He wants so much more from this man.
Being strongly aware of each other doesn’t help Aiden to keep his distance from the guy who wants to take his place. Until he can’t keep his distance anymore.

The heat between them intensified to the max when they decide to get somewhere together.

Playing rugby and being gay doesn’t match inside Tyler’s head. The hurtful slurs are still ringing in his ears.
When they are getting more and more involved with each other Aiden is looking forward, he wants to out himself when he retires.
Tyler will never out himself. Maybe this thing between them can never work.

There are many emotions in this story, desire, guilt, hate, grief, and love, I felt them, all of these feelings were beautifully entwined and made this a heartfelt story.
The reason for Aiden’s nickname was quite emotional. My heart hurt for him.

The side stories with the families behind the two men are something different, the stories are there, of importance, but not prominently present. I liked it this way.
The talk about the age difference, about being old(er), recovery time, and not being twenty anymore, was a bit uncomfortable, I mean, hello…, it’s just twenty-eight.
There are a lot of sports romance stories written, and I read many of them. I’m in awe how every author gives their own signature to a story, I’m in awe how they make me glued to the pages, again and again.

Overall this was an entertaining and good-written, solid story. The side stories were slightly developed. I preferred the way the story was built, not too much attention to secondary matters. The characters were well developed, the story was mostly focused on both men and their interactions and relationship. I genuinely enjoyed this one!

RATING:

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