He knows his place on the pitch, but in life, it's a whole other game.
All his life, Liam Donnelly looked and wondered. Could he? Would he? And then, finally, he did. But when he sampled a taste of that forbidden fruit, his whole world came crashing down, his position with Dublin Rugby right along with it. When the chance to ply his trade in Edinburgh comes along, Liam jumps at the offer, knowing it could be his best opportunity to start fresh and get back to the man he once was. But one look at Chef Lachlan MacLeod-his knowing, whisky-colored eyes, the abrasive scruff dotting his jaw, and the colorful ink lining his forearms-and Liam's wondering all over again. Can he? Will he? His heart says no, but his body says yes. Too bad love is never that simple.
He's conquered his own demons; can he help another man do the same?
Out and proud Chef Lachlan MacLeod has no problem with who he is, except he has a history of hooking up with bi-curious straight men. He's vowed never to go down that path again, but when Liam Donnelly shows up in his restaurant, his eyes filled with heat and secret longing, Lachlan can't help himself. He knows the closeted rugby player is a terrible idea, but the man calls to him in a way no one ever has before. What started as a safe way for Liam to explore his sexuality quickly morphs into something much deeper, and now Lachlan wants more. But can his heart reconcile what his head already knows-that loving the gorgeous, broken athlete might actually mean letting him go?
Release Date: February 21st, 2018
***5 Stars***
Sooo I did a thing. Again.
I read a book in a series without reading the previous ones, which I know isn’t a total faux pas, but considering I am one of those that does believe in reading a series in order, it’s a thing. But I do have valid reasons for jumping into the mix with soon to be released one
1) Rugby (I know, it’s a rugby series, but wait til the end)
2) Hot chef (I am a foodie ~ which in my world means I simply love to eat and drink)
3) MM Romance!!
Any of the three separately and I’m leaning in closer to find out more, but all of them wrapped up in one book? Passing that would be like me passing up a medium rare delmonico with garlic mashed potatoes ~ it would never, ever happen. So, I dove in and absolutely adored Liam and Lachlan’s journey. It was sweet, smexy, frustrating and real and I savored each step forward and back that these men took in order to find their HEA.
It was hard not to love and adore Liam and Lachlan. Both are passionate about their careers and have worked hard for what they’ve achieved and know that they are lucky to be living out their dreams and don’t take it for granted. But where they diverge is in their personal lives. Liam is out and proud. He don’t flaunt it, but doesn’t hide it either. Lachlan, on the other hand, is in his own personal purgatory as he works to figure out just what he wants and what the consequences could be should he finally go after what he’s always wanted. Lachlan’s struggles combined with Liam’s understanding and compassion made their journey a mix of sweet and smexy swoony-ness and frustrated, wanting to pull my hair out groans because they had that inexplicable spark between them that only happens once in a blue moon and I didn’t want to see them give up on it. Thankfully, they do get their HEA and I love how it came about because it was perfect for them.
After reading the first chapter I gave myself a mental Gibbs smack for not getting my hands on any of the authors books until now because I really enjoyed Break Down. The writing was engaging and I really liked how she didn’t rush things with the characters, even when I really wanted her to, and let things unfold organically, not only between Liam and Lachlan, but Lachlan and his new teammates, who I wouldn’t mind hanging out with in future. Since, I did read out of order, I will say that Break Down can be read as a standalone. Even though I met some of the guys, Declan and Aidan, and got hints of their own stories I never felt lost, especially since Liam is starting over in a new city with a new team. I will say that while I may not get to the first three books in the series any time soon (The struggle is real with that particular TBR pile) I will be keeping an eye out for the next in series and any other books down the road.
~ Copy provided by InkSlinger PR & voluntarily reviewed ~
When not writing, Rebecca can be found watching rugby, drinking craft beer, or traveling the globe in search of inspiration for her next story. Originally from California, Rebecca currently resides in Dublin, Ireland, with her husband.
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