Book 890: Playing at Home (Sporting Secrets #2) – Jax Calder

I have been waiting for this ARC request to arrive in my inbox ever since I read the teaser at the end of Playing Offside and it was worth the wait!*

Playing at Home is the story of Jacob Browne, professional rugby player and son of a legendary New Zealand rugby player who’s recently split with his wife but is co-parenting his kids, and Austin, the manny his wife hires who’s fled London after a mess with his previous employer.

Of course, Jacob is going to be really standoffish with Austin who’s come into his house and is there a lot more than he is caring for his twin daughters, but what NO one expects, least of all the two of them is that they’d fall for each other.

God he looked hotter than scorching. Whoever invented tight rugby shorts deserved an award for their services to humanity. (Chapter 10)

The story moves at a nice steady space, none of this whirlwind three days and they’re madly in love BS that MM romance authors love. Austin and Jacob dance around each other for weeks and as they find their groove with each other they start to realize it’s more than just friendship that’s blossoming, but they have to keep it professional.

Calder did a fantastic job of writing both Jacob’s acceptance of his bisexuality and Austin’s learning to trust Jacob. Their stories drew me in and once I got into the story I couldn’t stop reading. I also loved how restrained she was as the story progressed. The first kiss, on the forehead even, was heart meltingly perfect and both of their responses fit so perfectly I couldn’t have asked for it to be any better.

The minor characters from the twins to Austin’s grandmother and the couple of interactions we got with Tyler and Aiden from the first book and Jacob’s family and ex-wife were just so well done and added to the story. When Lilly, Jacob’s daughter accidentally tells his ex-wife that he and Austin kissed on the lips (they were caught once in the kitchen) the ensuing crises that follow were heart wrenching and swoon worthy.

What really got me, even though they haven’t figured it out yet, was when Austin’s grandmother goes missing and Jacob realizes the only place he needs to be is at Austin’s side and he calls his family and teammates just so many happy tears and gasps. But the final cherry on the cake was the first interview with Jacob’s ex-wife an actress. I legit teared up and was like O.M.G. and the follow up text exchange with Austin just gave me all the feels because you know they’ll all be alright and be a big happy extended family.

In this kiss was all the times we’d laughed together, confided secrets over the phone, LEGO wars and vegetable puns and making up stories, his support for me with Gran, my support to him in return.

It started out sweet and gentle, one of his hands coming up to cup the side of my face. It almost made my knees dissolve; Jacob Browne, the big hulking rugby player, kissing me like I was something precious. (Chapter 18)

Recommendation: So. Much. Yes. This was a fantastic follow up to Calder’s first book in her Sporting Secrets series. Jacob and Austin were perfectly written and all of the minor characters really added to the story for me. The sex scenes, though few, were well written and blush worthy, but honestly the story could’ve stood as a mostly clean romance, with a few kisses and heavy petting, and I would’ve been perfectly happy with it. I CANNOT WAIT for book three, Playing for Keeps, but 6 months is a long-ass time to wait!

*I received a copy of Playing at Home via Gay Romance Reviews in return for my honest opinion. No goods or money were exchanged.

Opening Line: “I was a healthy twenty-seven-year-old, a professional rugby player who ranked among the fittest in my team.”

Closing Line: “And I danced with Austin and my daughters, grinning the whole time.” (Whited out to avoid spoilers, highlight to read.)

Additional Quotes from Playing at Home
“Another statement loaded with hidden meaning. This was why any discussion with my ex was like wading through Tolkien’s dead marshes. A single misstep and you could end up being pulled to your doom.” (Chapter 1)

“I wasn’t sure what Brett’s deal was, whether he was fundamentally straight and just experimenting or truly bisexual or pan. It actually wasn’t any of my business. What had happened with us was between two consenting adults, so did it need a label?” (Chapter 14)