Jason Collins (1)

It was one of those romances that has a fairly unlikely setup, but if you can get past that, it’s a good enough story with strong enough characters to keep it going. Both of the main characters are believable, but as is often the case, just a little too good to be true unless you can turn off all your "disbeliefs" and go for the "made for each other" line. The setting is isolated for most of the story so there aren’t really any other characters aside from occasional people who appear for show more only one chapter. I have to admit that I’m a sucker for dominant, protective, and sexy Doms who take ownership over their submissives ...so Levi became my hero and Jake was a good character for his role in the story but some things about him...the job that was supposed to be waiting for him in Boston when the hike was over...why he didn't want to talk about his former teaching career or much of any other aspects of his life, especially when his and Jakes relationship became more than just friends...that didn't make much sense. Good enough story and characters for 4 stars. show less

I liked the concept of this book but really disliked the execution. All the NFL stuff rang really untrue. The hateful relationships between players, the fact that an MVP, starting quarterback would be benched for several games due to only an unsubstantiated claim that said football player laughed at a joke about male cheerleaders. Um, that would literally never happen. Especially that after the starting QB is benched he's not even allowed to practice with the team. And no one seems to care. show more The ballet stuff also rings untrue. Patrick is supposed to be the lead in a difficult ballet, yet we only ever see him giving free classes at the youth center and obsessively working out at home. There's no mention of him actually working with the ballet company.

The relationship between Patrick and Hunter is also based on absolutely nothing. Except that Hunter sees Patrick (the ballet dancer) without a shirt on, thinks he's hot, then almost immediately decided to kiss him and go to bed with him. For someone who is supposed to be a deeply closeted professional athlete, this also rang false. The characters don't flirt, don't seem to like each other (but not in a sexy way of enemies-turned-lovers), but in a way where Patrick is continually disrespectful of Hunter. And there is zero building of the relationship past that, either. We never see them hanging out, chatting, having anything deeper than sex, yet they still fall in love for some reason? I have no idea what that reason is. Hunter seems really sweet. Patrick is really mean. And there's no chemistry.

Patrick is also extremely self-conscious and has an obvious eating disorder. There are several mentions of Patrick never eating. Refusing meal after meal of healthy food. Then he goes out and buys a bottle of tequila and margarita mix and drinks several margaritas - one of the least healthy, highest-calorie, most sugar-laden drinks. Someone who is counting every calorie wouldn't drink margaritas without blinking an eye when they obsessively worry about every morsel of food and won't ever eat dinner.

I'm a little over halfway through, but just trying to be done with it. At this point, I'm not thinking it will be worth it to read anything else in this series. show less

I like the way Jason Collins writes! Light, fairly uncomplicated story in this sweet gem. Michael Carrington was as obnoxious as his name sounds. The give and take between Brett and Ethan was both hot and sad. If Ethan had only asked Brett out in the awkward beginning...well there would not have been the entire story.

Rating 3.89 out of 5 stars
Jesse is a flamboyantly gay man who loves pink and runs his own soap business. Austin is an open minded straight man who is the foreman for a construction crew. After Jesse's help that ultimately wins Austin's crew a bid, Austin invites Jesse out for a drink and discover's that he may have some not so straight feelings toward Jesse. Jesse is having trouble with his male line of soaps and after talking with very attractive Austin they come to an agreement. Austin show more will be his Straight Guy Consultant, but it doesn't take long for things to heat up between the two.
I liked this book. It had some very steamy scenes which was nice. I thought romance was a bit unrealistic though. Mostly cause a guy like Austin seems highly fantasy. Whether gay or straight, I just highly doubt there is such a perfect man. He's supposedly straight but accepts his attraction to Jesse with no problems, and he's highly open minded to all of Jesse's whims. Just no lol. It's a great fantasy but took the realism away from the story for me. This is one of my first M M romances. I definitely love the genre
My rating system:
initial feeling= 3.5
writing= 3.75
story= 3.5
originality= 4.5
unpredictability= 4
ending= 4
interest= 4 show less