Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Unnecessary Roughness
SERIES: The Package Deal
AUTHOR: Rheland Richmond and Emerson Beckett
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 384 pages
RELEASE DATE: October 28, 2022
BLURB:
Note: This is the third book in this series and as such, contains spoilers for the first two books. That being said, it can be read as a standalone.
Jackson Kincaid
When my best friend, Allison, died in a car accident, I suddenly became the parent of my ten-year-old godson. How was I supposed to play football for the Portland Pirates and be a full-time single dad?
Adjusting is the name of the game. But thanks to my friends, and Simon, the team doctor, we’ll heal and make it through.
Did I mention he’s my best friend, and I can’t stop my having dirty thoughts about getting him naked? Keeping my feelings a secret isn’t easy or the only obstacle I’ll face.
Simon Taylor
As my new friends like to say, I’m the hardass team doctor that lets nothing get by me. But somehow, Jackson did.
While helping him adjust to his new reality, I wasn’t prepared for my new feelings for him to surface. Especially when I didn’t know I had them. Jackson and his godson have stolen my heart and aren’t letting go.
It doesn’t matter that our relationship might be considered forbidden or that he’s fifteen years younger than me. I want things with him that I’ve never wanted with anyone else. Especially a man.
Jackson and I deserve to be together no matter how rough things get. Some things are just worth it.
Unnecessary Roughness is a smokin’ hot friends to lovers and age gap story and the third book in the Package Deal Series.
REVIEW:
Note: This is the third book in this series and as such contains major spoilers for the first two books. While it can be read as a standalone, I think it’s better read in order to understand the found family that these guys have formed and how/why they support each other.
Jackson Kincaid is a professional football player and team captain. He got out of his one-horse conservative down in Alabama on a FB scholarship to Georgia. His best friend since age 12, Allison, from that small town got out too – with academic scholarships. They went through college together and Allison had a son, Parker, while she was still in college. She went on to get her nursing degree and make a great life for her son. Sadly, Jackson is at a party for some of his teammates and their husbands when he gets a terrible call that his friend has been killed in a car accident and he needs to come to take custody of her 10-year old. Jackson is about to melt down. His best friend – the team doctor, Simon Taylor – talks him down and volunteers to go with him on this mission that proves to be quite difficult.
Jackson and Simon make he trip to Atlanta to pick up Parker, a devastated 10-year old. Both Jackson and Parker are understandably have a very hard time. Parker is worried he’s going into foster care or that Jackson is going away. Thankfully Allison had made ironclad provisions. This gives both of them some comfort and confidence. They also have good lawyer friends who look out for them. But the most important thing is that Simon is a rock for Jackson. He helps with so much. Then their teammates come to for the funeral and Jackson and Parker are surrounded by love and support. Thing is, Jackson has long had feelings for Simon. During this period away though, Simon realizes that he has feelings for Jackson are more than friendship. When they get together, the chemistry is off the charts.
Once the return to Portland, they decide to keep their relationship secret because they aren’t sure how that’s going to affect their jobs. Although some people seem to think that they know they are together so maybe they aren’t that successful at hiding things. Simon also a little worried about their age gap and also he’s never had a real relationship before. Then there’s the thing that he’s never been with a man before. Lots of unexpected things 🙂 But he’s already committed to Jackson and he loves and is there for Parker from the beginning as well. There are some definite ups and downs and their found family of teammates and their spouses, caregivers, grief counselors, even bosses, provide the support that this little family needs.
Overall I really enjoyed this story. It’s starts off really sad and I felt terrible for Parker losing his mom – his only parent. Jackson and Simon were awesome in putting the needs of a devastated little boy first. Their friends were amazing. Once Simon got out of his own way in realizing that his feelings for Jackson went beyond friendship, well we were off to the races. There is a LOT of sex in this story – some sort of unbelievable given that Simon hadn’t been with a man before 😉 Simon is a great guy and I loved that he was more cautious than Jackson and wanted to make sure things didn’t move too fast. Obviously they’ve been friends for years, but this new dimension of their relationship has changed many things. Then there is the fact that Parker is already dealing with so much change – he doesn’t want to compound what he’s dealing with. Jackson is a great guy also and it’s clear he’ll move heaven and earth for his newly adopted son. He’s eager to get on with his life, but he too is careful with Parker’s feelings. I appreciated how much this whole found family unit supported these guys and their new life and family. Recommended especially for fans of Sports romances 🙂
RATING: 
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