Reviewed by Valerie 

TITLE:  Blitzed

SERIES:  Rules of Possession #3

AUTHOR:  S.E. Harmon

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  363 pages

RELEASE DATE:  November 1, 2022

BLURB:   

NFL tight end Andrew McAdams isn’t thrilled to be sidelined with an injury. He’s even less thrilled about his legal troubles. Community service is the only thing standing between him and jail so…yeah. That’s a no-brainer. It’s not all bad news, though. He gets to work with Jesse Fox, who is as gorgeous as he is guarded. And there’s no rule saying he can’t do his hours and have a little fun. Right?

Wrong. Jesse may have to put up an athlete using his center as a “get out of jail free” card, but that’s where he draws the line. And who cares if Andrew is unexpectedly sweet and thoughtful? The people in Jesse’s life think he should get a life outside of charity work and find love. And maybe he will. But it won’t be with a playboy NFL player wearing an ankle monitor as an accessory. Besides, anyone who dated someone like that would be thrust into the public eye. Jesse has worked hard to become someone else—someone better—and he’s not about to dig up the past.

That’s just not a game he’s willing to play.

Too bad it’s not in Andrew’s nature to give up on something he wants. It may have started as simple attraction, but now it’s much more than that. He doesn’t just want Jesse for now…he wants Jesse for always.

And that’s not a game he’s willing to lose.

REVIEW:   

“I wasn’t sure which part was the scariest part of falling in love. Wondering if you were going to hit the ground… or knowing someone was there to catch you.”

Who knew I’d swoon over something as simple as Andrew “looping his thumbs through Jessie’s belt loops and pulling him closer”? It’s the little things that grab me, and with the way Jessie keeps putting off Andrew, the bedroom (or couch) action moves along at the speed of sloth. That’s exactly how I like my books – with a slow burn, a cat and mouse game full of banter, snark, and flirting. And that’s just how S.E. Harmon serves it up in her  wonderful, new release, Blitzed – Andrew is all in but Jessie has been emotionally damaged in the past and is reluctant to commit to anything more than friendship, or maybe a short-term dalliance, with Andrew. After being treated poorly, betrayed, and lied to in the past, he’s learned his lesson – don’t trust anyone. Andrew is determined to wear him down – but only if Jessie wants him, too.

Andrew’s facing a trinity of complications to his NFL career: trumped up charges from a crime he didn’t commit, the scrutiny of his bisexual orientation (his coach only wants him to date women), and a serious injury caused by a homophobic opposing player.

Although Andrew and Jessie have known each other casually for a long time, it isn’t until Andrew is court ordered to perform community service that the men become closer. Naturally, Andrew chooses to do his three months of service at none other than the community center that serves LGBTQ+ and other at-risk youth where Jessie just so happens to be the outreach coordinator. Jessie is horrified when he learns the new volunteer is Andrew because he doesn’t believe Andrew will be committed to the work and the kids. Jessie is flustered every time he runs into Andrew, however. He isn’t interested in another relationship with a football player, though, since his last involvement with one of Andrew’s closeted teammates ended painfully. But he’s crushed on Andrew for years and knows his heart is at risk.

“Attention, please! We are now starting priority boarding for You Are So Very Screwed Airlines. I sighed. All that was left was to decide if I wanted a window or an aisle seat.”

Andrew hasn’t wanted a relationship, especially because his last boyfriend cheated on him, but he wants Jessie badly. He’s been a smitten kitten for years. The more he gets to know Jessie as they work together, the more he genuinely wants to know what makes the other man tick. It’s more than physical attraction – he’s turned on by Jessie’s kindness, and his devotion and commitment to the kids at the center.

“When we first met, I’d thought prickly Jesse was hot. But vulnerable Jesse? The one who trusted me enough to see even his most trivial of worries? He was so beautiful to me that it was hard to look away.”

Andrew is unwavering in his quest to win over Jessie but he’s not without his insecurities. He’s thinks he’s just a dumb jock and not the ideal guy for Jessie long-term, but he wants Jessie permanently. He wants to prove he’s more than a football player. But Jessie is adamantly opposed to being dragged into the publicity surrounding Andrew and loathes the idea of the press and social media attention he would garner as Andrew’s partner.

I adore both Andrew and Jessie. Cocky, charming Andrew is so endearing in his steadfast pursuit of the man he’s falling in love with. He’s so much more than a big, tough football player. He has so much heart; he wins over Jessie’s heart through his love of working with the kids at the center, his generosity, and benevolence.

This book contains fuzzy bunnies, lighthearted bickering befitting an old married couple, plenty of steamy sexy times, and a brief bit as fake boyfriends – all made more enjoyable by Harmon’s deft hand with humor. Her books always keep me smiling and laughing. I was delighted by the scene in which Andrew takes Jessie to a family dinner at his mom’s house. It seems Andrew has been raving about Jessie to his family and they welcome him with open arms. They help alleviate his lifelong need for affection.

I highly recommend Blitzed, which is the third book in Harmon’s Rules of Possession series. I have not read the previous titles (I wasn’t aware of and addicted to Harmon’s wonderful books back then) but I don’t feel I was missing anything when reading this book. In my opinion, Blitzed works fine as a standalone. If you’re yearning for great characters brought to life through excellent writing as they muddle their way to happiness, don’t miss this book.

RATING:

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