Tag: Internalized Homophobia

Books

Book 1,018: Rocky Start (A-List Security #4) – Annabeth Albert

Geoff W

Book cover of "Rocky Start" with Amazon Affiliate linkThe final installment of Albert’s A-List Security closes out the series with a bang. It’s relatively low-angst (mostly internal) and one major dramatic crisis, but overall, the series has been pretty low-key.

This book is a veteran-veteran romance rather than a veteran-civilian romance. Malik and Avery are both former SEALS and have connected with Duncan and Harley in their transition back to civilian life to work for their security firm. Malik experiences PTSD and Avery lost an arm (I think from combat) and they’re sent off to a remote set to help with security on a film.

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Books

Book 1,001: Superhero – Eli Easton

Geoff W

Book cover of "Superhero" with Amazon Affiliate linkI kept going down the Eli Easton rabbit hole after completing the Nerds vs. Jocks series and stumbled across this in the Kindle Unlimited library. The blurb drew me in because childhood best friends to lovers is usually a really good trope, that’s usually with a gap in between after one comes out, but this one was different.

The protagonists of this novel are Jordan, a nerdy kid who loves to draw, and Owen, the big jock who becomes a state-wide wrestling star and has protected Jordan ever since he came out. It wasn’t until after I finished the novel that I realized some of the scenes may have happened when they were under age and that made me feel a little squidgy.

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Books

Book 935: Dream Boy – Jim Grimsley

Geoff W

Kindle book cover of "Dream Boy" with Amazon Affiliate linkBare with me for a moment as I go on a tangent. Recently, I’ve been obsessed with re-watching the Netflix adaptation of Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper series and I  couldn’t realize why other than it’s a fantastic series and adaptation, but then I read this book and it all clicked into place: queer joy.

Growing up in the 1990s/early-2000s I’d say 85%+ of all depictions of LGBT characters were tragic or left to interpretation and this is a prime example of that. Having the opportunity to watch Charlie and Nick in Heartstopper as they discover happiness and joy, even with setbacks, mental health issues, and added TV drama, is just such a wonderful feeling of relief and joy that I float along every time I watch it or listen to the soundtrack or think about it. And this is in stark contrast to Roy and Nathan, the protagonists of Grimsley’s second foray into the novel.

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Books

Book 858: Heated Rivalry (Game Changers #2) – Rachel Reid

Geoff W

Book cover of "Heated Rivalry" with Amazon Affiliate linkWhat’s better than one enemies-to-lovers MM Sports Romance? TWO BACK-TO-BACK!!!! 😀

I hadn’t planned it this way, but I put this one on hold after finishing Game Changer and enjoying the preview, so when it popped up so quickly from my local library and I had a gap to read it in I went for it.

In Game Changer we meet one of the two protagonists, Ilya, an unlovable Russian jackass who’s been leading the Boston Bears (I see what you did there) to the championship multiple years in a row. But we never met Shane, Ilya’s biggest rival since the draft and their rookie year, who has led the Montreal team to success.

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Books

Book 857: Playing Offside (Sporting Secrets #1) – Jax Calder

Geoff W

Book cover of "Playing Offside" with Amazon Affiliate linkI know nothing about rugby other than the fact they wear super short shorts 😀 Apparently, that was enough for me to say yes when this book appeared in my inbox from Gay Romance Reviews* (I mean, let’s be honest, are any of us really surprised by this? I do love a good MM Sports Romance, regardless of the sport).

Playing Offside is the story of Aiden, top of his game  and heading toward the end of his career who is THE starter to beat for the New Zealand National Rugby Team, and Tyler, the young phenom that has everyone talking and will challenge Aiden for the same spot on the starting lineup. (There was another way they referred to it but hell if I can remember it—something about starting 5? I feel like there are more players on the field per team, but who knows).

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