The Quarterback: An M|M Sports Romance (The Team - MM Sports Romances Book 2)

Nick and Colton. Such a journey and so many emotions. I like that the older guy wasn't cheesy as it can be in some books. Colton wants to be loved and with a mother so distant in both miles and heart I'm not surprised. Nick is a supportive friend at first but a serious kiss from Colton has him diving back in for more. Of course every book has to have a heartbreaking element and this was in the form of the way Justin finds out his Dad is his fiancé's best friends lover. It all comes together and we get our hea.

Colton Hall 22, is Wes’s best friend and Teammate on their College Football Team. They are in their final year and hoping for their first Draft into the NFL when they finish College. Unfortunately just as they start the final season Colton has a serious injury during a game and is out of action for a long time.Justin is Wes’s Boyfriend, and Nick, 42, is Justin’s Dad. These three took care of Colton all through his hospital stay, convalescence and recovery. Nick being more or less his own boss had more flexible schedule so he spent most time organising food and entertainment during the day when Colton was released from hospital. The shoulder injury and subsequent operation prevented Colton from moving his arm and couldn’t feed himself properly.When Wes took Justin down to his family Farm in West Texas for the summer months Nick spent a lot of time with Colton. Just keeping him company, getting food ready and later chilling and playing on Play Station. When the Frat House cleared out for Summer Nick took Colton to his condo so he wouldn’t be alone.Colton has always been alone, his mother is a lawyer in Houston and is always too busy to visit or make time for him. His father left when he was a very young child. He is desperate for someone to care for and about him. He envies his best friend Wes’s relationship with Justin and wants that for himself too, if only he could find a girl to love him.While staying in Nick’s Condo, Colton can’t help his growing feelings for Nick. He doesn’t know why he has these feelings, he isn’t gay or bisexual.Nick is in the process of a divorce from his wife Cynthia, Justin’s mother. She refused to accept that her son Justin was gay and made his life miserable. Nick couldn’t tolerate his son being treated like that so he wanted out of the marriage.When Colton did something really nice for Nick the day after the divorce was finalised, something happened between them that changed everything for both men. Unfortunately the results of this eventually rippled out to cause a chasm between best friends and father and son.Colton drops out of sight and Nick hits the bottles of wine, big time and takes a “vacation” from his work. The Summer fling seems to have run its course. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::I always enjoy Tal Bauer’s writings and these two books have been excellent reading. Book 1 is Wes’s story, his “outing” after been beaten up severely by homophobic football team supporters and his first meeting in Paris with Justin. Both of these guys feature heavily in this Book 2.Colton is a character that was easy to sympathise with and root for, his Teammates were his only family and he lived for them, he yearned for someone to ‘live for him, and love him’.If you enjoy Sport related MM stories this series is a great place to get your “fix”, enjoy.I’m looking forward to getting Tal Bauer’s latest book which is due out next week.

On the surface, The Quarterback isn't exactly a book with an oceans-deep storyline - it can be summed up as 'man meets man; men become friends after a rocky start; men fall in love; there's angst; there's a fabulous HEA'. That's not a surprise if you've read the blurb and there are, of course complexities that make this a brilliant read. To give any more away, however, and stray closer to spoiler territory would be doing it a disservice, so I'll just give my headlines.Tropes: age gap/friends to lovers/bi-awakening (possibly GFY)/slow burn.Mood: settle in for a rollercoaster of emotions. Tissues, your comfort food/drink of choice and quiet time to absorb and reflect (really, so no-one sees you ugly crying) are recommended.Takeaway message: everyone has layers - nobody is just one thing (a profession/a parent/a fried/a lover) - finding who you fit together perfectly with and how is a wonderful thing... ultimately, the heart wants what the heart wants so so whatever's in your power to make it work and be yourself.Long story short, this is a bit of a different approach/style for this author, but all of his wordsmith magic is still present, so whilst some might not think the circumstances in the plot all that realistic, every thought, feeling, word and action from all of the characters come across as authentic. Whether it's uplifting or heart-rending it's always honest, always beautiful. 5 fantastic stars from me for Nick and Colton's story.

Both Nick and Colton form a friendship mainly as spares to Justin and Wes’s love saga! But when Colton has a horrendous accident on field he’s put out of action and Nick finds himself helping, then becoming more drawn to Colton as he helps him recuperate.May to December love tropes can often feel unrealistic. But I can see how these two were drawn together. At first due to their relationships to Wes and Justin, then as emotional support when Colton needs some one after the accidental. As he had No one to be there for him. And also Colton being there for Nick needed when he needed support for his divorce.Tal writes character emotion really well and you get to see the insecurities that both Nick and Colton have. In regards to themselves and each other because of the age gap, Nick’s son Justin and even Colton’s potential future career.I thought it was sensitively written and it opens up the doors to love not being bound by gender as wellAs age. Both thought they were ‘straight’ but sometimes you just feel that love for a person and as Colton says.. he just wanted to be loved and gender had nothing to do with fulfilling that need.It has the usually tension and angst ( not overly high) and I personally liked the Colton/Nick relationship. A lighter read that his more political heavy mystery series. But a joy to read non-the less.

This book really got to me. I just wanted to hug Colton all the way through and make things right for him - all he wanted was someone to love him, as his own family didn’t make a very good job of it, and he got there in the end - yay! Lots of different threads to follow in this one - the age difference, the shock to both of them about their sexuality, the close friendships that were tested. If you’re not into sport, please don’t let this put you off. I’m a Scottish female and have absolutely no idea about this sport but it didn’t detract from the story in any way - Tal’s books are so easy to read. Definitely recommend!