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Playing the Field #4
Served!
Colby Johnson and his cousin Megan have been practicing all summer for Wildwood's annual Beach Volleyball Tournament. The evening before, Colby drops by the bar where Megan works for a quick drink before heading home and meets sexy Vander "Van" Byron. The instant attraction is mutual, but they only share a few brief hours before Colby has to call it a night.
The next day, Colby and Megan are on a winning streak, advancing through the tournament ranks with ease. When Colby runs into Van and his twin sister Vallery at the tournament, he isn't surprised -- more than half of Wildwood's population, tourist and local alike, are crowded on the beach for the event. But he is shocked to see the numbered vest Van wears, marking him as a competitor.
A quick look at the schedule shows that if both teams continue their winning streaks, the day will end with Colby and Van facing off through the volleyball net. To up the ante, Van proposes a little wager. Whoever wins their game advances in the tournament, of course, and continues on for a chance to win one of the grand prizes the next day. But whoever loses gets whatever he wants from the winner.
The next day, Colby and Megan are on a winning streak, advancing through the tournament ranks with ease. When Colby runs into Van and his twin sister Vallery at the tournament, he isn't surprised -- more than half of Wildwood's population, tourist and local alike, are crowded on the beach for the event. But he is shocked to see the numbered vest Van wears, marking him as a competitor.
A quick look at the schedule shows that if both teams continue their winning streaks, the day will end with Colby and Van facing off through the volleyball net. To up the ante, Van proposes a little wager. Whoever wins their game advances in the tournament, of course, and continues on for a chance to win one of the grand prizes the next day. But whoever loses gets whatever he wants from the winner.
56 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2009
1 person is currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Snyder
302 books567 followersAn author of gay erotic/romantic fiction, J.M. Snyder began in self-publishing and worked with Amber Allure, Aspen Mountain, eXcessica, and Torquere Presses.
Snyder's highly erotic short gay fiction has been published online at Amazon Shorts, Eros Monthly, Ruthie's Club, and Tit-Elation, as well as in anthologies by Alyson Books, Aspen Mountain, Cleis Press, eXcessica Publishing, Lethe Press, and Ravenous Romance.
In 2010, Snyder founded JMS Books LLC, a royalty-paying queer small press that publishes in both electronic and print format. For more information on newest releases and submission guidelines, please visit JMS Books LLC online.
Snyder's highly erotic short gay fiction has been published online at Amazon Shorts, Eros Monthly, Ruthie's Club, and Tit-Elation, as well as in anthologies by Alyson Books, Aspen Mountain, Cleis Press, eXcessica Publishing, Lethe Press, and Ravenous Romance.
In 2010, Snyder founded JMS Books LLC, a royalty-paying queer small press that publishes in both electronic and print format. For more information on newest releases and submission guidelines, please visit JMS Books LLC online.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 19, 2009
The fourth book in the JM Snyder’s Playing the Field series is another fun and sexy novella. This series are stand-alone books involving different sports for each book. There is the author’s trademark wit and humor evident in entertaining dialogue and affectations that elevate the pure fun of the short story. These are not always happy ever after endings with lasting love but some are short flings with two hot, sexy guys with some sports thrown in for flavor. Although there is not depth to these stories, they are always a lot of fun to read and perfect for light summer reading.
Here Colby is unwinding after a long day of enticing tourists to throw hacky sacks into a bowl for a dollar prize. As he has a big volleyball tournament the next day, he’s not looking for a hookup but can’t resist flirting with a tall, handsome, and sexy out of town visitor. Although both are hungry for more, Colby has to play the next day so their first “date” is cut short. The promise for more exists as they meet the next day on the court and decide to add a sexy little incentive to their game.
This short and fun flirtation doesn’t delve into the characters much but offers a delicious summer flavor. The characters of Colby and Van are both sexy and very masculine. The type of young men who aren’t worried about the future yet but indulge in their love of summer, sports, and sun with the occasional hookup. The chemistry and flirtation is electric and the story keeps a nice balance of not quite giving into that lust but keeping the tension stretched tight. Although these two aren’t looking for a happy ending, there is always a possibility for more which makes their interaction more interesting than strangers meeting to scratch an itch.
The secondary characters of Van’s twin sister Vallery and Colby’s cousin Megan are fun as they are annoyed with the walking hormones of their respective tournament partners. The story is short enough that the antics of the women aren’t annoying and it’s easy to relate to their annoyance while enjoying the sexual flirtation of the men. The dialogue and background of the volleyball tournament bring to life a hot summer day filled with spectators as the men unobtrusively grope and fondle while trying to distract each other. The numerous details added really add a depth and flavor that is often ignored in short stories in favor of adding more sex. Here the sensuality and flirting continue to ratchet the tension higher and higher until the last satisfying scene.
Although I think my favorite of the series so far is Play On, the soccer themed novella, this new installment is fun and highly enjoyable. The dialogue and setting are rich and wonderful, offering a texture not often found in shorter stories. If you’re looking for a quick, hot summer read, be sure to check this out. You don’t need to have read the previous stories to understand this one, there are no continued characters so go ahead and indulge in some summer smexing. Two hot guys, suntan oil, and a rocking jeep – what more could you want?
Here Colby is unwinding after a long day of enticing tourists to throw hacky sacks into a bowl for a dollar prize. As he has a big volleyball tournament the next day, he’s not looking for a hookup but can’t resist flirting with a tall, handsome, and sexy out of town visitor. Although both are hungry for more, Colby has to play the next day so their first “date” is cut short. The promise for more exists as they meet the next day on the court and decide to add a sexy little incentive to their game.
This short and fun flirtation doesn’t delve into the characters much but offers a delicious summer flavor. The characters of Colby and Van are both sexy and very masculine. The type of young men who aren’t worried about the future yet but indulge in their love of summer, sports, and sun with the occasional hookup. The chemistry and flirtation is electric and the story keeps a nice balance of not quite giving into that lust but keeping the tension stretched tight. Although these two aren’t looking for a happy ending, there is always a possibility for more which makes their interaction more interesting than strangers meeting to scratch an itch.
The secondary characters of Van’s twin sister Vallery and Colby’s cousin Megan are fun as they are annoyed with the walking hormones of their respective tournament partners. The story is short enough that the antics of the women aren’t annoying and it’s easy to relate to their annoyance while enjoying the sexual flirtation of the men. The dialogue and background of the volleyball tournament bring to life a hot summer day filled with spectators as the men unobtrusively grope and fondle while trying to distract each other. The numerous details added really add a depth and flavor that is often ignored in short stories in favor of adding more sex. Here the sensuality and flirting continue to ratchet the tension higher and higher until the last satisfying scene.
Although I think my favorite of the series so far is Play On, the soccer themed novella, this new installment is fun and highly enjoyable. The dialogue and setting are rich and wonderful, offering a texture not often found in shorter stories. If you’re looking for a quick, hot summer read, be sure to check this out. You don’t need to have read the previous stories to understand this one, there are no continued characters so go ahead and indulge in some summer smexing. Two hot guys, suntan oil, and a rocking jeep – what more could you want?
November 28, 2010
Colby Johnson and his cousin Megan have been practicing all summer for Wildwood’s annual Beach Volleyball Tournament. The evening before, Colby drops by the bar where Megan works for a quick drink before heading home and meets sexy Vander “Van” Byron. The instant attraction is mutual, but they share only a few brief hours before Colby has to call it a night.
The next day, Colby and Megan are on a winning streak, advancing through the tournament ranks with ease. When Colby runs into Van and his twin sister Vallery at the tournament, he isn’t surprised - more than half of Wildwood’s population, tourist and local alike, are crowded on the beach for the event. But he is shocked to see the numbered vest Van wears, marking him as a competitor.
A quick look at the schedule shows that if both teams continue their winning streaks, the day will end with Colby and Van facing off through the volleyball net. To up the ante, Van proposes a little wager. Whoever wins their game advances in the tournament, of course, and continues on for a chance to win one of the grand prizes the next day, but whoever loses gets whatever he wants from the winner.
Playing the Field: Served! is the fourth installment in J.M. Snyder’s popular Playing the Field series and a great stand-alone novella for those looking to read a well-written and carefree story.
I have yet to come across an author of gay romance/erotica that writes athletic “men in motion” better than Snyder and this holds true of Served! Colby and Van sizzle on the page as Snyder expertly ratchets up the sexual tension in anticipation of who will win the volleyball tournament and who will win their clever side-bet. But I have to say that it is her descriptions that had me going throughout this story and made me nostalgic for those hot and lazy summer days spent on the beach checking out the life guards and ogling those lean boys in their cut-offs playing a haphazard game of beach volleyball.
Playing the Field: Served! is a fun, angst-free and easy-going story that serves up hard-bodied tanned beach boys for your reading pleasure and inspires all sorts of sex-on-the-beach fantasies. I’d say it’s an altogether winning reading proposition!
NOTE: This review was originally published online by Rainbow Reviews on September 6, 2009.
February 26, 2016
If it wasn’t for it being a free ebook, I wouldn’t have chosen this book for me. But since it was free, it was an okay read with a real story line, were volleyball athletic hotties compete and bask in the sun in their revealing swim trunks. J.M. Snyder continues to write really great M/M erotica, and I continue to enjoy reading her work. This was okay, but I won’t be reading any of the other Playing the Field stories. Nothing against them, they just aren’t for me.
January 24, 2010
More like 3.5 stars; I enjoy the beach scene and the volley ball games. I also enjoy the flirtation and leading up to the sex scenes. But I want deeper emotion, I guess, from the two main charactes though.
August 14, 2009
This is my book so I won't write a review.
June 7, 2011
Gorgeous. My favorite out of this short series. Loved the family aspect mixed in with the one-nighter-becomes-more storyline of this book. It was hot and cute and a lot of fun.
October 20, 2011
What can I say? I love J.M. Snyder.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews