Games

by Cooper West

Former professional skateboarder Art Nichols now runs a business almost as successful as his career on the board. His flourishing professional life is in stark contrast to his string of romantic failures until he meets up-and-coming event promoter Jack Martinez. Jack and Art hit it off right away, but what they have is too good to waste on a one-night stand. It’s a long, slow, romantic seduction—and then scandal breaks just when everything seems to be going right for Art at last. Now he has to decide what kind of role model he wants to be to his young fans and whether that will cost him the love he thought he would never find.

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary

84 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 27, 2011

About the author

Cooper West is the pen name of KimBoo York, who is a GenX elder-goth whose main life purpose is to provide a good life for her rescue mutt, Keely-Boo, who is perfect and beyond reproach in every way. She is also a librarian, former project manager, and a professional author who wears too many hats and crosses too many genres including romance, fantasy, and non-fiction. She is a bit grumpy, especially in the morning.

Reviews

[Vio · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I liked the skateboarding storyline in fact it was quite good something different and fresh. As for the relationship between Art and Jack it could have been developed more it was a bit too rushed for me. Art is pretty much a nice guy with some hangups, he's still in the closet and his eventual outing and the drama that unfolds is predictable with no surprises on the outcome. An easy read even with the quickly resolved and rushed ending.

[Serena Yates · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this story about a super-rich ex-skateboarder, Art, and a guy he meets, Jack, because the man wants to help him promote an event, as well as has a sister who is keen to improve her skateboarding skills with Art’s help. The tension between the two men is palpable, and I liked how they kept trying to focus on the business side of their relationship – ant not quite succeeding.

Art is totally in the closet, and since he is bi, hasn’t had too hard a time. He does fall for Jack right from the beginning, and his struggle to admit what is going on as well as do something about it kept the tension up. That – and all the skateboarding and business details.

Jack is out, but doesn’t want anyone to take his younger sister away from him – least of all their ‘disinterested’ mother. When they are exposed and need to come up with a decision what to do and how to handle themselves, Jack is less than courageous. Maybe both of them are less than mature about handling their situation – but I found that to be very realistic.

If you like stories about love that is ‘inconvenient’ but too strong to ignore, if you’re interested in the world of skateboarding or want to learn about it, and enjoy long, slow seductions, you may like this book.




NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Queer Magazine Online.

[Mandy*reads obsessively* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice story about Art a retired skateboarder and Jack a promoter and brother to an up and coming skater girl.
Art is in the closet ( he's bisexual) and when Art and Jack's relationship hits the www they split with some hard feelings between them.
although I appreciated Art's big gesture in the interview, I thought they needed a few more pages or something for the ending, it just felt really rushed and such an abrupt turn for Art.

[Candice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I randomly picked this book and was quite pleased. The storyline was different and interesting. While I liked Art and Jack, my only complaint was it just seemed to rushed and would have liked it to been developed a little better, but all in all an enjoyable read.

[Anke · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a pretty good read up to the final 10%. There it somewhat lacked coherence.

[Stacey Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

My full review is at manohmanreviews.blogspot.com

Good book :o)

[Jennifer Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this short story. The characters are original and easy to like which makes you connect to the story early on.

This makes me want to hear the full story of Art Nichols prior to Jack and after Jack. It left me wanting more which is a great sign of a good book.

[Spark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the story - it could have been longer, but it was good despite that. What I had a problem with was the coming out drama. Now, there was a certain logic to the whole debacle, one that I haven't read too often, and I liked that... down to earth? approach. However, in the aftermath bith characters made me want to slap them silly. Seriously? That's all you grown up adults could come up with? I'd have liked more of a discussion and less flouncing off, you know.

[Meggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I admit the world of professional skateboarders is rare reading material and as sport goes it was interesting. But the other part of this plotted story just didn't do it for me. This being "in deep closed" is getting old as we have a lot of similar stories. I do like "in the closed" stories, but only if they have deeper developed plot and a bit longer story. This was blah..., boring!

[Kendra T · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book!!! I loved Art's character and thought his struggle was very well portrayed. I wasn't thrilled with his being in the closet and how it affected those around him (especially Jack...such a cutie!) but I could totally understand why he thought he had to. I would have liked just a little more at the end because I loved the MC's but thought it ended well.

[Jane (PS) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book - IMHO it is better than the avg rating shows. It is well written with decent characterisation - great story if you only have an hour or two to spare. Being only a fairly short story, it's hard to go overboard on the rating. I would normally rate this 3 stars, but I DO think the avg should be higher, so I gave it an extra star :)

[Kiki · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Dallison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did not like this book at all. Art was too old to be in the closet.

[SA · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know what the author's disdain of contractions was about, and the story moved entirely too fast for it to be believable or enjoyable, but hey. Sk8ter bois. Rawr.

[Indigo · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75*