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Playing the Field #2
Hat Trick
The Captain. The Jock. The Cowboy.
Nathaniel ‘Nate’ Conroy
Six years ago, I fell in love with my best friend and roommate. I was content knowing I could never have him because he was straight. At least, I thought he was straight, until he came out seemingly out of nowhere. Six years of devotion gave me the courage to shoot my shot, only for him to tell me he was in love with someone else. Now, I’m temporarily homeless, heartbroken, and struggling to organize the chaos with my anxiety running rampant at the loss of the one man who could keep me sane. I need to replace him in every aspect of my life, but this time I have to keep a clear line between friendship and attraction.
Captain and Quarterback of the NFL Miami in Search Of a roommate and a ‘rebound’ fuck buddy, definitely not the same person.
Perfect.
Dillon McCay
I don’t do complicated. I quit medical school (thus becoming the black sheep in my family of doctors) to play professional football for the Miami Pirates, and I live life eat, sleep, football, video games. Some pro athletes splurge on giant houses, but I’m content with my simple two-bedroom apartment, just me, my television, my gaming consoles . . . and my team captain? Of course, the rookie gets stuck with the weirdo who covers my apartment in sticky notes, writes out our schedules word for word and day by day to the minute, and dictates all the food cooked and eaten. His previous roommate held his hand and cuddled the nighttime demons away, but now that task has fallen to me. FML.
Simple-minded In Search Of a simple how-to manual for navigating the neuro-spicy man who now sleeps in my bed, and his fuck buddy who crashes on my couch and is surprisingly good at video games.
Nothing complicated here.
Tucker Baird
Miami is a long way from Texas, and that’s a good thing. Since being traded to the Miami Pirates, I have had the freedom to live (mostly) out-and-proud without fear of my religious family back home finding out. I came out to my team at the end of last season, and it was a surprisingly painless experience. In fact, none of my teammates said anything about it. Not until training camp when the offensive line captain asks me to stay back in the locker room . . . and his demand is not at all what I am expecting.
Cowboy Living Living a Double In Search Of a way to navigate a friends-with-benefits situation without catching feelings for him or his enigmatic roommate. Sincerely, the man who has never had a one-night stand and loves love.
Easy peasy.
Hat Trick is the second book in the ‘Playing the Field’ series and can be read as a standalone. It’s a steamy MMM Sports (American Football) Romance featuring a neuro-spicy sticky-note-loving anxiety-ridden captain, a half-closeted southern-grown bless-your-heart cowboy, and a complicated secretly-nerdy self-sabotaging jock. Content warnings mention of deceased parents, homophobic slurs (from assholes who get what they deserve), anxiety and panic attacks, brief mention of past alcohol abuse, strong language, and sexual content. Hat Trick contains no cheating and a guaranteed HEA.
Nathaniel ‘Nate’ Conroy
Six years ago, I fell in love with my best friend and roommate. I was content knowing I could never have him because he was straight. At least, I thought he was straight, until he came out seemingly out of nowhere. Six years of devotion gave me the courage to shoot my shot, only for him to tell me he was in love with someone else. Now, I’m temporarily homeless, heartbroken, and struggling to organize the chaos with my anxiety running rampant at the loss of the one man who could keep me sane. I need to replace him in every aspect of my life, but this time I have to keep a clear line between friendship and attraction.
Captain and Quarterback of the NFL Miami in Search Of a roommate and a ‘rebound’ fuck buddy, definitely not the same person.
Perfect.
Dillon McCay
I don’t do complicated. I quit medical school (thus becoming the black sheep in my family of doctors) to play professional football for the Miami Pirates, and I live life eat, sleep, football, video games. Some pro athletes splurge on giant houses, but I’m content with my simple two-bedroom apartment, just me, my television, my gaming consoles . . . and my team captain? Of course, the rookie gets stuck with the weirdo who covers my apartment in sticky notes, writes out our schedules word for word and day by day to the minute, and dictates all the food cooked and eaten. His previous roommate held his hand and cuddled the nighttime demons away, but now that task has fallen to me. FML.
Simple-minded In Search Of a simple how-to manual for navigating the neuro-spicy man who now sleeps in my bed, and his fuck buddy who crashes on my couch and is surprisingly good at video games.
Nothing complicated here.
Tucker Baird
Miami is a long way from Texas, and that’s a good thing. Since being traded to the Miami Pirates, I have had the freedom to live (mostly) out-and-proud without fear of my religious family back home finding out. I came out to my team at the end of last season, and it was a surprisingly painless experience. In fact, none of my teammates said anything about it. Not until training camp when the offensive line captain asks me to stay back in the locker room . . . and his demand is not at all what I am expecting.
Cowboy Living Living a Double In Search Of a way to navigate a friends-with-benefits situation without catching feelings for him or his enigmatic roommate. Sincerely, the man who has never had a one-night stand and loves love.
Easy peasy.
Hat Trick is the second book in the ‘Playing the Field’ series and can be read as a standalone. It’s a steamy MMM Sports (American Football) Romance featuring a neuro-spicy sticky-note-loving anxiety-ridden captain, a half-closeted southern-grown bless-your-heart cowboy, and a complicated secretly-nerdy self-sabotaging jock. Content warnings mention of deceased parents, homophobic slurs (from assholes who get what they deserve), anxiety and panic attacks, brief mention of past alcohol abuse, strong language, and sexual content. Hat Trick contains no cheating and a guaranteed HEA.
542 pages, ebook
Published December 31, 2023
238 people are currently reading
520 people want to read
About the author
Ajay Daniel
7 books66 followersAjay enjoys writing romance stories (with a sprinkle of steam, smutt, spice, or whatever word tickles your fancy) where the main characters fall in love. Sometimes the main characters are opposite genders, and sometimes they're the same. Sometimes there are two, and sometimes there are more. Ajay doesn't discriminate because, between consenting adults, love is love. It doesn't need a fancy definition or strict guidelines of what should and shouldn't be, and who is anyone to judge? When the characters appear and offer their story, taking over the author's thoughts be it day, night, during the work day, driving, or trying to accomplish chores around the house . . . Well, Ajay is just going to write it for them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
May 5, 2024
4.5**** stars
I LOVED THIS. This super steamy friends- (and teammates) with-benefits MMM sports romance.
⇢ Nate: quarterback and captain of the Miami football team, still deeply in love with his (former) best friend Kane (mc of book #1), suffers from severe anxiety after his parents were killed in a shooting at a gala he went to with them a few years ago.
⇢ Dillon: tight end on the team, the failure to his family’s legacy of all being doctors, fears to be a let-down to and being abandoned by the people he cares about.
⇢ Tucker: defensive lineman on the team, the cowboy, hides his sexuality from his loving but very religious small-town Texas family
After Kane breaks up their (maybe toxic, maybe too tight) friendship in the first book, Nate is in desperate need for a substitute to get on with his life without Kane in it. This leads to him hooking up with Tucker to finally satisfy his sexual needs he put aside when he waited for his best friend to return his feelings and crawling into bed with his roommate Dillon for cuddles.
The story mostly addresses Nate’s anxiety with only glimpses into the personal challenges Tucker and Dillon bring to the table —combined with their dedication to and care for Nate —and I was a bit unsatisfied with the underdevelopment of what made them tick.
I know many don’t like the third act breakup but I ate up the drama that was imo pretty reasonable.
Still, as much as I loved this book I’m rounding down for the many many! typos. Really, the author should get onto fixing this asap!
Looking forward to the next book in the series. I really really hope for Kit and maybe Coach Silver Fox?
*************
Playing The Field Series
Book 1 - Icing the Kicker (MM) - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - Hat Trick (MMM) - 4.5 stars
Book 3 - Matchup (MM) - coming soon
I LOVED THIS. This super steamy friends- (and teammates) with-benefits MMM sports romance.
⇢ Nate: quarterback and captain of the Miami football team, still deeply in love with his (former) best friend Kane (mc of book #1), suffers from severe anxiety after his parents were killed in a shooting at a gala he went to with them a few years ago.
⇢ Dillon: tight end on the team, the failure to his family’s legacy of all being doctors, fears to be a let-down to and being abandoned by the people he cares about.
⇢ Tucker: defensive lineman on the team, the cowboy, hides his sexuality from his loving but very religious small-town Texas family
After Kane breaks up their (maybe toxic, maybe too tight) friendship in the first book, Nate is in desperate need for a substitute to get on with his life without Kane in it. This leads to him hooking up with Tucker to finally satisfy his sexual needs he put aside when he waited for his best friend to return his feelings and crawling into bed with his roommate Dillon for cuddles.
The story mostly addresses Nate’s anxiety with only glimpses into the personal challenges Tucker and Dillon bring to the table —combined with their dedication to and care for Nate —and I was a bit unsatisfied with the underdevelopment of what made them tick.
I know many don’t like the third act breakup but I ate up the drama that was imo pretty reasonable.
“I don’t care about whatever is going on between you two and Nate, and it doesn’t matter anymore, okay? […] I am done pretending this fight of yours isn’t idiotic as shit. Tucker’s spiraling, you’re angry and reckless, and Nate is driving his own fucking car. None of this is right.”
Still, as much as I loved this book I’m rounding down for the many many! typos. Really, the author should get onto fixing this asap!
Looking forward to the next book in the series. I really really hope for Kit and maybe Coach Silver Fox?
*************
Playing The Field Series
Book 1 - Icing the Kicker (MM) - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - Hat Trick (MMM) - 4.5 stars
Book 3 - Matchup (MM) - coming soon
January 3, 2024
DNF 73%
Ok, I tried a lot with this book. I ignored the amazing typos (sweat tea! Inmate dining! Taught stomach! Doctors Without Boarders! ). I ignored the utterly ridiculous money stuff, and the strange fashion bits. I ignored the real estate porn and the fake football stuff. Ok, I tried to ignore it, and sent snarky texts to my friend about some of it. I just scrolled through the weird ways in which these people’s sex organs are flavoured or scented (um…), and I didn’t pay attention to all of the astonishing red flags around the codependencies and poor trauma responses built into their relationship, nor the Mean Awful Family, nor the stereotyped hick family.
But then we get to “also, these people are sort of but not really out”, and that gets sillier and sillier. They’re celebrities. The one dude is the quarterback of a Miami football team, and he goes out with his fuckbuddies to a seafood shack for a sleazy meal, and they’re not in all the newspapers and websites the next day? What? Like, the Texan dude is ostensibly in the closet, but … what?
And then the whole thing just turns into one extended sex scene after another, where they have kinky (or is it, really? Mostly it just seems implausible) sex act after sex act. Oh, and some post-it notes as aftercare. I kind of would like for one of these characters to have, I don’t know, a muscle spasm during these ridiculous sex scenes, or something. And then they talk about their feelings, and hm. You know, maybe you should just go back to having sex, after all, since that’s less painful.
I will confess that the sex scenes are mildly titillating, which is why I’m not giving this one star. But jeez. It’s 500+ pages full of endless redoes of the same scenes. I finally finished trying when we broke down a door during a trauma crisis. I’m gonna guess we don’t call a mental health provider and instead fuck one more time. Oh, and it’ll be perfect. Thank goodness that these people have that, at least.
Ok, I tried a lot with this book. I ignored the amazing typos (sweat tea! Inmate dining! Taught stomach! Doctors Without Boarders! ). I ignored the utterly ridiculous money stuff, and the strange fashion bits. I ignored the real estate porn and the fake football stuff. Ok, I tried to ignore it, and sent snarky texts to my friend about some of it. I just scrolled through the weird ways in which these people’s sex organs are flavoured or scented (um…), and I didn’t pay attention to all of the astonishing red flags around the codependencies and poor trauma responses built into their relationship, nor the Mean Awful Family, nor the stereotyped hick family.
But then we get to “also, these people are sort of but not really out”, and that gets sillier and sillier. They’re celebrities. The one dude is the quarterback of a Miami football team, and he goes out with his fuckbuddies to a seafood shack for a sleazy meal, and they’re not in all the newspapers and websites the next day? What? Like, the Texan dude is ostensibly in the closet, but … what?
And then the whole thing just turns into one extended sex scene after another, where they have kinky (or is it, really? Mostly it just seems implausible) sex act after sex act. Oh, and some post-it notes as aftercare. I kind of would like for one of these characters to have, I don’t know, a muscle spasm during these ridiculous sex scenes, or something. And then they talk about their feelings, and hm. You know, maybe you should just go back to having sex, after all, since that’s less painful.
I will confess that the sex scenes are mildly titillating, which is why I’m not giving this one star. But jeez. It’s 500+ pages full of endless redoes of the same scenes. I finally finished trying when we broke down a door during a trauma crisis. I’m gonna guess we don’t call a mental health provider and instead fuck one more time. Oh, and it’ll be perfect. Thank goodness that these people have that, at least.
January 7, 2024
This is THE YEAR of “imma see for myself” and my oh my did it start with a banger.
I got this book rec from an edit on tik tok and was immediately intrigued. But this thing is, I tried searching up more videos and came up short but like I wasn’t upset about that so I came on here to read reviews and also came up short bc the people that liked this enough to give it 5/4🌟 ratio didn’t rate it and the people that either hated it or DNF’ed reviewed it. Again I was put off but not upset.
Long story short lol I decided I’ll bite. I’ll read it and have my opinion and YOU GUYS
THIS IS THE CUTEST MMM BOOK EVER.
The story follows Nate, Tucker and Dillon. Two Queer football players on the same team while Dillon is also on the team but is straight🤭
Thier dynamic kicks off with Tucker and Dillon TAKING CARE of Nate; so kind of like a why choose situation which I have NEVER seen in MM. obviously this guys fall into a routine and it’s so beautiful and selfless I adored it. I did think Nate was stupid at the end so I can see why that one review said they had to DNF at 78% but I couldn’t I just wanted them together so bad.
Safe to say I’m excited for more from this author especially because his epilogue style could use some work.
I got this book rec from an edit on tik tok and was immediately intrigued. But this thing is, I tried searching up more videos and came up short but like I wasn’t upset about that so I came on here to read reviews and also came up short bc the people that liked this enough to give it 5/4🌟 ratio didn’t rate it and the people that either hated it or DNF’ed reviewed it. Again I was put off but not upset.
Long story short lol I decided I’ll bite. I’ll read it and have my opinion and YOU GUYS
THIS IS THE CUTEST MMM BOOK EVER.
The story follows Nate, Tucker and Dillon. Two Queer football players on the same team while Dillon is also on the team but is straight🤭
Thier dynamic kicks off with Tucker and Dillon TAKING CARE of Nate; so kind of like a why choose situation which I have NEVER seen in MM. obviously this guys fall into a routine and it’s so beautiful and selfless I adored it. I did think Nate was stupid at the end so I can see why that one review said they had to DNF at 78% but I couldn’t I just wanted them together so bad.
Safe to say I’m excited for more from this author especially because his epilogue style could use some work.
May 28, 2024
This is all-consuming, breathless from too much oxygen, life-altering love.
4.25/5. I love poly relationships. Love them. They have a bit more variety in my opinion (at least when it’s done right) which I appreciate a whole lot. One character more means more of everything.
Which can be a curse too, because more often than not, one or more characters don’t get the same depth than the others.
Which was the case here. Although I must say that it didn’t bother me at all. I was invested in Nate.
And hell, it got kinky too. I was literally in heaven.
I really enjoyed this book quite a lot. The end was a bit too cliché and predictable in my opinion and Kane was such a weird side character (I can’t say I liked him and I will definitely not read his book) but other that that, this was pretty awesome.
dnf
July 6, 2024The codependency is driving me insane. Plus how many country stereotypes can you shove in one chapter?! No thank you.
February 6, 2024
Requires much suspension of disbelief.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2024
This is a weird one. The author calls Nate neurospicy, which seems like a strange way to describe anxiety and PTSD, but okay. However, that's not really the weird part. From the very start there's a lot of unlikely shit going on. The mannequin game sex (Nate holds as still as possible while the other two move and position him, even doing mundane things like brushing his teeth but mostly sexual stuff) is not for me, but I at least give the author credit for a kink that isn't overdone in romances. Unfortunately, the book goes from unlikely scenarios that require some suspension of disbelief to downright ridiculousness that requires suspension of pretty much any kind of logic. I really like the characters and was willing to go with the story but the nonsense the author expected me to buy by the last quarter of the book was a little insulting. Also, why is every single side character clueless, immature, an asshole, or some combination of all three? Lastly, I have to mention the poor grammar/spelling. The same mistakes were repeated multiple times. Passed is not the same word as past, boarders does not mean the same as borders, and so on. The occasional typo happens but getting the same words wrong (there were four or five words that were just used wrong multiple times) is the result of lazy writing and slacking in the editing phase. Three stars feels a little generous, but this feels like a five star read that was brought down by needing better alpha and beta readers to point out the weaknesses.
September 26, 2024
I really hated Nate so much.
I also hated the dynamic for a bit but was obsessed with tucker and dill.
So idk
I also hated the dynamic for a bit but was obsessed with tucker and dill.
So idk
July 11, 2024
Generellt bra bok, men inte lika bra som första! Är fortfarande inte ett fan av Nate, men Tucker och Dillon gjorde upp för det. Mer drama än första boken vilket jag inte riktigt vet om jag gillade eller inte, och lite lite fokus på fotboll.
Snäppet för lång bok, hade lätt kunnat kapas 50-100 sidor meeeen ändå underhållande så jag ska inte klaga.
Snäppet för lång bok, hade lätt kunnat kapas 50-100 sidor meeeen ändå underhållande så jag ska inte klaga.
July 25, 2024
"I want them to be happy," I finally confess.
"Well. It's obvious who you love, then. Right?"
Right.
Kane.
Right?
"Well. It's obvious who you love, then. Right?"
Right.
Kane.
Right?
October 22, 2024
wtf am I doing with my life
January 9, 2024
One of the best mmm I’ve ever read 🌶🌶🌶🌶
The characters are all very like able and I could not put this down!
The characters are all very like able and I could not put this down!
January 3, 2024
DNF
50% in and I just wasn’t into this threesome. For a long while I was into it but I just wasn’t jiving with the men in this book. I also felt like Nate was far too co-dependent on whoever was in his life. It just changed from Kane to Dillion and Tucker. I liked the first book and frankly liked Kane but in this book he had an attitude of ‘I don’t want to be your lover, Nate, but no one else can be either.’ I don’t know how this whole thing plays now but with over 500 pages I don’t have the patience to finish it either.
50% in and I just wasn’t into this threesome. For a long while I was into it but I just wasn’t jiving with the men in this book. I also felt like Nate was far too co-dependent on whoever was in his life. It just changed from Kane to Dillion and Tucker. I liked the first book and frankly liked Kane but in this book he had an attitude of ‘I don’t want to be your lover, Nate, but no one else can be either.’ I don’t know how this whole thing plays now but with over 500 pages I don’t have the patience to finish it either.
February 29, 2024
Okay, so, I only read book one because I wanted to read this one :) AKA: even though Nate is a highly problematic (to put it mildly) Man Toddler, I'm totally into him :D :D Let's be real, though, HOW is anyone meant to believe that this guy is the 30-year-old Captain of an NFL football team??? :D Only in MM land, LMFAO. He's bratty, messy, toxic and completely dysfunctional as a person. My favourite part of this book is when . AMAZING.
For me, the beginning parts where they're dancing around each other are better than the end parts where their relationship develops into sex marathons. Nate and Dillon's nighttime snuggles in Dillon's bed (and Dillon putting out a blanket beforehand) melted my heart. Dillon's my favourite by far and I kinda feel bad that he has to put up with the other two. I LOVE DILLON'S GAME THAT HE PLAYS WITH NATE!!! HOT DAYUM!!!!! Nate's pretty cute for being the most useless NFL Captain ever. But ... I really don't like Tucker ... *shrug* I'm not sure what it is, but the constant mention of a 'farmer's tan' DEFINITELY doesn't help with his sex appeal, that's for sure. He's way too 'cowboy' and I guess that ain't my vibe, y'all.
This book is far, far, far longer than it needs to be and, even though the sex is hot, it's just too much after a while. And you all know we're here for the sex. I would have liked a little less sex and a little more romance / relationship-building between the guys. However, even though MMM isn't normally my jam, I did enjoy this one. But let's not pretend this isn't a toxic, highly co-dependent relationship LOL because Dillon and Tucker completely fall apart after the obligatory breakup near the end. And Nate is such a doofus, my word. He's a bit too childlike in his behaviour.
I liked Kane (and especially Lake) in the previous book but ... Kane disappointed me in this one. To be fair, Nate is such a clingy troll person, that Kane probably felt they needed distance between them for Nate to move forward. But still. Nate clearly has mental health issues and Kane basically drops him like a hot potato to throw himself into his relationship with Lake, which isn't cool for the so-called best friend who used to be Nate's EVERYTHING. Don't worry, though, guys ... Nate's resourceful and finds replacements almost immediately, hahaha ... in fact, I was surprised how quickly he tried to replace Dillon and Tucker with also, but let's not talk about that ... ;)
For me, the beginning parts where they're dancing around each other are better than the end parts where their relationship develops into sex marathons. Nate and Dillon's nighttime snuggles in Dillon's bed (and Dillon putting out a blanket beforehand) melted my heart. Dillon's my favourite by far and I kinda feel bad that he has to put up with the other two. I LOVE DILLON'S GAME THAT HE PLAYS WITH NATE!!! HOT DAYUM!!!!! Nate's pretty cute for being the most useless NFL Captain ever. But ... I really don't like Tucker ... *shrug* I'm not sure what it is, but the constant mention of a 'farmer's tan' DEFINITELY doesn't help with his sex appeal, that's for sure. He's way too 'cowboy' and I guess that ain't my vibe, y'all.
This book is far, far, far longer than it needs to be and, even though the sex is hot, it's just too much after a while. And you all know we're here for the sex. I would have liked a little less sex and a little more romance / relationship-building between the guys. However, even though MMM isn't normally my jam, I did enjoy this one. But let's not pretend this isn't a toxic, highly co-dependent relationship LOL because Dillon and Tucker completely fall apart after the obligatory breakup near the end. And Nate is such a doofus, my word. He's a bit too childlike in his behaviour.
I liked Kane (and especially Lake) in the previous book but ... Kane disappointed me in this one. To be fair, Nate is such a clingy troll person, that Kane probably felt they needed distance between them for Nate to move forward. But still. Nate clearly has mental health issues and Kane basically drops him like a hot potato to throw himself into his relationship with Lake, which isn't cool for the so-called best friend who used to be Nate's EVERYTHING. Don't worry, though, guys ... Nate's resourceful and finds replacements almost immediately, hahaha ... in fact, I was surprised how quickly he tried to replace Dillon and Tucker with also, but let's not talk about that ... ;)
February 14, 2025
I… don’t know how to score this one.
I really liked it at first. I love poly books where they actually feel like a throuple and not a couple with a ‘bonus sentient sex-toy’ brought in to spice up their romance.
Yes, Nate is concerningly codependent (honestly read a little too childish in this book considering his rather neglectful upbringing and the excellence required to become an NFL player). Anyone—his ‘best friend’, his coaches, his doctors, any team mate or Kane’s mother…any/all of these people should have been encouraging Nate into therapy for his very legitimate trauma. Frankly, his team management should have required it.
Despite the above, I liked Nate, Dillon and Tucker. I thought they had good chemistry and great potential.
Then it all went to shit and for the latter part of the book I was irritated and angry at all of the characters.
Someone you love is in an accident? You flipping check in. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a fight, you check in.
Absolutely wild that Dillon is in an accident and Nate doesn’t even know? Surely his teammates would be talking about this? (Also a little confused at the timeline because did Dillon and Tucker not miss practice?) Still, he doesn’t immediately try to get more info upon finding out? THAT is a choice.
Someone you love gets ‘outed’, you check on them—especially when you KNOW their family won’t take it well. I couldn’t believe no one, NO ONE was giving Tucker any kind of support after their lover/friend/team mate got outed on national television.
Nate, Dillon, the allies on their team, the other queer players they befriended in LA… how is Tucker completely abandoned. No excuse.
Kane is a terrible friend. I knew that in the last book, after he decides to dose Nate with melatonin to knock him out so that Kane could have privacy with Lake but I actually very much dislike Kane after this book. He only got worse.
Your “friend” is very clearly spiralling after being outed and breaking up with his boyfriends and you’re just going to treat him like a nuisance because you need to sleep…?
Kane and Nate’s “relationship” was utterly befuddling this whole book. They’re not talking—barely managing to be on the same team—but Kane still throws Nate’s birthday party? And Nate went?
Kane is protective over Nate’s dating life but doesn’t giving a rat’s ass about him in any other way..? It honestly did not make sense.
At the end of the last book, it sounded like they’d been working on their friendship off page (which I was disappointed by) but apparently not? They never really repair their friendship at all but everyone still calls Kane Nate’s best friend, despite the two of them barely maintaining peripheral presence in each other’s lives and Kane saying their whole friendship was a lie…? This wasn’t an ‘intentionally messy’, it just read like the writer couldn’t keep track of whether they want to repair their friendship or not.
It would have been a 4-star up until the drama, it just…couldn’t stick the landing.
I really liked it at first. I love poly books where they actually feel like a throuple and not a couple with a ‘bonus sentient sex-toy’ brought in to spice up their romance.
Yes, Nate is concerningly codependent (honestly read a little too childish in this book considering his rather neglectful upbringing and the excellence required to become an NFL player). Anyone—his ‘best friend’, his coaches, his doctors, any team mate or Kane’s mother…any/all of these people should have been encouraging Nate into therapy for his very legitimate trauma. Frankly, his team management should have required it.
Despite the above, I liked Nate, Dillon and Tucker. I thought they had good chemistry and great potential.
Then it all went to shit and for the latter part of the book I was irritated and angry at all of the characters.
Someone you love is in an accident? You flipping check in. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a fight, you check in.
Absolutely wild that Dillon is in an accident and Nate doesn’t even know? Surely his teammates would be talking about this? (Also a little confused at the timeline because did Dillon and Tucker not miss practice?) Still, he doesn’t immediately try to get more info upon finding out? THAT is a choice.
Someone you love gets ‘outed’, you check on them—especially when you KNOW their family won’t take it well. I couldn’t believe no one, NO ONE was giving Tucker any kind of support after their lover/friend/team mate got outed on national television.
Nate, Dillon, the allies on their team, the other queer players they befriended in LA… how is Tucker completely abandoned. No excuse.
Kane is a terrible friend. I knew that in the last book, after he decides to dose Nate with melatonin to knock him out so that Kane could have privacy with Lake but I actually very much dislike Kane after this book. He only got worse.
Your “friend” is very clearly spiralling after being outed and breaking up with his boyfriends and you’re just going to treat him like a nuisance because you need to sleep…?
Kane and Nate’s “relationship” was utterly befuddling this whole book. They’re not talking—barely managing to be on the same team—but Kane still throws Nate’s birthday party? And Nate went?
Kane is protective over Nate’s dating life but doesn’t giving a rat’s ass about him in any other way..? It honestly did not make sense.
At the end of the last book, it sounded like they’d been working on their friendship off page (which I was disappointed by) but apparently not? They never really repair their friendship at all but everyone still calls Kane Nate’s best friend, despite the two of them barely maintaining peripheral presence in each other’s lives and Kane saying their whole friendship was a lie…? This wasn’t an ‘intentionally messy’, it just read like the writer couldn’t keep track of whether they want to repair their friendship or not.
It would have been a 4-star up until the drama, it just…couldn’t stick the landing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2024
MMM🌈
Football players 🏈
Biawakening
Let me start by saying, I do not like Nate, still. I’m sorry but he did not redeem himself IMO. He’s still the whiny uptight pretentious needy bitch that he was in the first book.
Nate is still “in love” with his best friend Kane. Even though he is now happily with Laken. So Nate moves in with teammate Dillon. Doing the exact same bullshit he did with Kane. Coming to sleep in Dill’s bed every night. Putting up his stupid sticky notes everywhere. Not doing anything for himself. Dill protests at first but then comes to miss Nate when Nate propositions another teammate Tucker for sex. Nate thinks he can fuck Kade out of his system.
Nate has never been with a man but has fucked his ass with every dildo he could find. T is gay and has never had a fuck buddies only situation. But agrees to the arrangement anyway. The first night they get together, Dill comes home and sees them having sex. He is unaware at the time that it is his other teammate T, until later. But he stands and watches them at the open door. Intrigued but Dill is straight.
But he jacks off to the sounds of every hookup. When he knows it is his two teammates together.
He even goes to the doctor to see if maybe he has a tumor cause he thinks he has too much estrogen coursing through him if he is getting turned on by men. During one of Nate’s panic attacks, Dill calls T to see if anything like this has happened while him and Nate were together. T tells him yes and he calmed him down by stripping and fucking him. Dill decides to kiss Nate to get him to calm down. It works, now they are friends that kiss. Nate likes to label everything.
T shows up to try to help with the situation. Him and Nate start to kiss and Nate gets on his knees to give him a blowie. While that’s happening, Dill turns to T and kisses him. That starts the 3 on a whirlwind friends with benefits adventure. Except Dill and T catch feelings while Nate says he is still in love with Kane. This leads to a major blow up where the 3 no longer speak. Kane eventually kisses Nate, with Lake’s approval, to prove that Nate doesn’t love him but his 2 men instead.
It was my first male only multiple partners book. I enjoyed it and the sex was spicy 🌶️ 🔥🥵.
Football players 🏈
Biawakening
Let me start by saying, I do not like Nate, still. I’m sorry but he did not redeem himself IMO. He’s still the whiny uptight pretentious needy bitch that he was in the first book.
Nate is still “in love” with his best friend Kane. Even though he is now happily with Laken. So Nate moves in with teammate Dillon. Doing the exact same bullshit he did with Kane. Coming to sleep in Dill’s bed every night. Putting up his stupid sticky notes everywhere. Not doing anything for himself. Dill protests at first but then comes to miss Nate when Nate propositions another teammate Tucker for sex. Nate thinks he can fuck Kade out of his system.
Nate has never been with a man but has fucked his ass with every dildo he could find. T is gay and has never had a fuck buddies only situation. But agrees to the arrangement anyway. The first night they get together, Dill comes home and sees them having sex. He is unaware at the time that it is his other teammate T, until later. But he stands and watches them at the open door. Intrigued but Dill is straight.
But he jacks off to the sounds of every hookup. When he knows it is his two teammates together.
He even goes to the doctor to see if maybe he has a tumor cause he thinks he has too much estrogen coursing through him if he is getting turned on by men. During one of Nate’s panic attacks, Dill calls T to see if anything like this has happened while him and Nate were together. T tells him yes and he calmed him down by stripping and fucking him. Dill decides to kiss Nate to get him to calm down. It works, now they are friends that kiss. Nate likes to label everything.
T shows up to try to help with the situation. Him and Nate start to kiss and Nate gets on his knees to give him a blowie. While that’s happening, Dill turns to T and kisses him. That starts the 3 on a whirlwind friends with benefits adventure. Except Dill and T catch feelings while Nate says he is still in love with Kane. This leads to a major blow up where the 3 no longer speak. Kane eventually kisses Nate, with Lake’s approval, to prove that Nate doesn’t love him but his 2 men instead.
It was my first male only multiple partners book. I enjoyed it and the sex was spicy 🌶️ 🔥🥵.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2024
interesting read
https://ladiikeiii.wordpress.com/2024...
***Spoilers here and there***
This was a good book I definitely enjoyed this one. But I will say I could never understand how Nate couldn’t tell that he been in love with both Tucker and Dillion.
He was so stuck on Kane that he didn’t realize it until Kane had to take matters into his own hands. With that help from Lake and both Dillion and Tucker.
But the crazy part about it was me feeling some type of way about Kane. How he treated Nate when he started things with Tucker he always had something to say . But over time it became worse when Dillion gotten involved.
I was glad when he let them be and stop trying to get in between the relationship that Nate had with Dillion and Tucker.
It sucks that Tucker family didn’t come around the only one that supported him was his sister Georgia.. that’s crazy; but he do have Dillon family because they seem to like him as much as they like Nate too!!
So that’s good thing but I can’t wait until the next book “Matchup” I wonder who’s that book about and when will it be out! I assumed may be it’s about Kit but who knows.
https://ladiikeiii.wordpress.com/2024...
***Spoilers here and there***
This was a good book I definitely enjoyed this one. But I will say I could never understand how Nate couldn’t tell that he been in love with both Tucker and Dillion.
He was so stuck on Kane that he didn’t realize it until Kane had to take matters into his own hands. With that help from Lake and both Dillion and Tucker.
But the crazy part about it was me feeling some type of way about Kane. How he treated Nate when he started things with Tucker he always had something to say . But over time it became worse when Dillion gotten involved.
I was glad when he let them be and stop trying to get in between the relationship that Nate had with Dillion and Tucker.
It sucks that Tucker family didn’t come around the only one that supported him was his sister Georgia.. that’s crazy; but he do have Dillon family because they seem to like him as much as they like Nate too!!
So that’s good thing but I can’t wait until the next book “Matchup” I wonder who’s that book about and when will it be out! I assumed may be it’s about Kit but who knows.
April 15, 2024
DNF @ 21%
I'm BORED. Nate is a codependent MESS. His teammate and former housemate and former best friend, Kane, is an egocentric dickbag. (Nate was [is?] in love with Kane, who he thought was straight. Kane came out in Book 1, and Nate shot his shot and kissed him, and was rejected. Nate is now heartbroken and at loose ends. And still obsessed with Kane, whose name is mentioned 271 times.) With the way Nate analytically deals with issues (the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else), I get the impression he's a little neuro-spicy, in addition to his anxiety issues, though nothing was specifically mentioned before I gave up.
Dillon has anger issues and a family full of judgmental assholes. He thinks he's straight.
Tucker is a country boy. He's big, hairy, wears a cowboy hat,and likes to use country sayings like "whoa, Nelly", "what in tarnation", and "holy cow" that Dillon is somehow convinced nobody actually says.
I was hoping for a fun read about 3 professional athletes who navigate their careers and growing relationship, but, but all I really came away with is that Nate's a hot mess, Dillon's angry, and Tucker is Country. That's not enough to sustain me over 500+ pages.
I'm BORED. Nate is a codependent MESS. His teammate and former housemate and former best friend, Kane, is an egocentric dickbag. (Nate was [is?] in love with Kane, who he thought was straight. Kane came out in Book 1, and Nate shot his shot and kissed him, and was rejected. Nate is now heartbroken and at loose ends. And still obsessed with Kane, whose name is mentioned 271 times.) With the way Nate analytically deals with issues (the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else), I get the impression he's a little neuro-spicy, in addition to his anxiety issues, though nothing was specifically mentioned before I gave up.
Dillon has anger issues and a family full of judgmental assholes. He thinks he's straight.
Tucker is a country boy. He's big, hairy, wears a cowboy hat,and likes to use country sayings like "whoa, Nelly", "what in tarnation", and "holy cow" that Dillon is somehow convinced nobody actually says.
I was hoping for a fun read about 3 professional athletes who navigate their careers and growing relationship, but, but all I really came away with is that Nate's a hot mess, Dillon's angry, and Tucker is Country. That's not enough to sustain me over 500+ pages.
September 14, 2025
This book for me is a 2.5. The reasons being how old the characters are and how immature they act. The codependency did start to drive me nuts around 73% he’s thirty and can barely wipe his tail without needing help. The sex scenes got boring after the first 6. And were not kinky (to me) at all. In fact it was pretty vanilla. (Besides the odd ‘games’ they kept playing which kind of ruined their dynamic-more on that soon)
As for how the mmm was done it started off good. I didn’t really relate to any of the characters nor did I feel a connection with nate. But all three of them together were good. Unfortunately I felt as if the emotional and just romantic aspect of the mmm was kind of focused on just two of the guys ( dill and tuck). They got to know each other, what each other like and don’t like, had more time together. Where as Tucker and nate only ever got physical. It’s like that even when dill is involved in the sexual aspect of it. All in all I didn’t like nate he was just..overwhelming and his lack of actual connection to the other two characters (my opinion) made me not really like him. As much as I like the thought of mmm and read mmm, I would have been okay if this was just mm.
As for how the mmm was done it started off good. I didn’t really relate to any of the characters nor did I feel a connection with nate. But all three of them together were good. Unfortunately I felt as if the emotional and just romantic aspect of the mmm was kind of focused on just two of the guys ( dill and tuck). They got to know each other, what each other like and don’t like, had more time together. Where as Tucker and nate only ever got physical. It’s like that even when dill is involved in the sexual aspect of it. All in all I didn’t like nate he was just..overwhelming and his lack of actual connection to the other two characters (my opinion) made me not really like him. As much as I like the thought of mmm and read mmm, I would have been okay if this was just mm.
June 27, 2024
I'm all for a great MMM scene, especially with well described rimming and DAP, because, it's just not usually done well.
That's about where this book hits the high mark though.
We have Nate, who needs years of therapy and some medications, not a multi pack of post it notes and new markers. Tucker, the closeted (only at home, which is weird because he's a super famous football player so just nobody tell his Southern Christian mama that he's gay, ok) defense player who is so stereotypical Texan cowboy that it's laughable. And we have Dillon, who is straight until he isn't.
I'm really not sure why Tucker and Dillon are in love with Nate. He's selfish and needy and whiny and repeatedly says he's still in love with Kane, even while they are all sleeping together. I'd stick a post it to his forehead that said "get TF out my house"
Also. The editing continues to be problematic. TAUT, not TAUGHT. Over and over and over. That was the one that made my eye twitch the most.
And the title doesn't make sense. "Hat trick" refers to hockey or soccer. Not football. I know there are 3 of them, but call it Third Down or Third and Ten or something football related.
That's about where this book hits the high mark though.
We have Nate, who needs years of therapy and some medications, not a multi pack of post it notes and new markers. Tucker, the closeted (only at home, which is weird because he's a super famous football player so just nobody tell his Southern Christian mama that he's gay, ok) defense player who is so stereotypical Texan cowboy that it's laughable. And we have Dillon, who is straight until he isn't.
I'm really not sure why Tucker and Dillon are in love with Nate. He's selfish and needy and whiny and repeatedly says he's still in love with Kane, even while they are all sleeping together. I'd stick a post it to his forehead that said "get TF out my house"
Also. The editing continues to be problematic. TAUT, not TAUGHT. Over and over and over. That was the one that made my eye twitch the most.
And the title doesn't make sense. "Hat trick" refers to hockey or soccer. Not football. I know there are 3 of them, but call it Third Down or Third and Ten or something football related.
January 10, 2024
DNF 60% The editing issues were plenty but compared to the Character development I hardly noticed. I was shaking my head. I love a good mmm book. I love football, especially stories based on the sport. But this book…Wow a quarterback the captain of the team acts like a spoiled brat. Thats just ridiculous. I really wanted to like these guys unfortunately as the story evolves it just gets worse. Regardless of why he had anxiety you don’t refuse to throw the ball to your receiver just because you’re mad. Stomping your feet like a child because you don’t get your way. Wtf. The team Caption that’s a leadership position. My message to the author, write stories that’s believable even if it’s fiction. So many examples I don’t have time. Check out Dans review there are many more.
1.5 stars.
1.5 stars.
March 13, 2024
3 sólidas estrellas, mi única queja es que fue demasiado largo, aunque por un lado lo entiendo, tenemos una relación mmm y alternamos entre los tres puntos de vista, pero el libro es enteramente disfrutable.
Lo que más rescato como suele suceder en los poliamores que me gustan, es la química entre personajes, tenemos a Nate quien ha estado enamorado de su mejor amigo por años y tiene un triste pasado familiar, luego está Dillom, el más joven compañero de equipo y roomie de Nate, Dil tiene la presión de toda una familia de médicos a sus espaldas, siendo la oveja negra al elegir el futbol y por último está Tucker, el vaquero con una familia tradicional y religiosa. Todos compañeros de equipo.
Lo que más rescato como suele suceder en los poliamores que me gustan, es la química entre personajes, tenemos a Nate quien ha estado enamorado de su mejor amigo por años y tiene un triste pasado familiar, luego está Dillom, el más joven compañero de equipo y roomie de Nate, Dil tiene la presión de toda una familia de médicos a sus espaldas, siendo la oveja negra al elegir el futbol y por último está Tucker, el vaquero con una familia tradicional y religiosa. Todos compañeros de equipo.
February 18, 2024
Great story
I thought this was a great story, but the execution was poor as it is absolutely full of spelling and grammatical errors, including misspelling Dillon several times. For as long as it is, it felt rushed because of all the mistakes that tripped me up. However! The story itself is amazing, nice and spicy, with characters and a dynamic to absolutely fall in love with. I actually loved this story so much I wanted extra chapters, or even an extended epilogue to see if the men made their dreams happen! My only complaint is that it desperately needs better proofreading, so I’m hopeful to see that in future books 🩷
I thought this was a great story, but the execution was poor as it is absolutely full of spelling and grammatical errors, including misspelling Dillon several times. For as long as it is, it felt rushed because of all the mistakes that tripped me up. However! The story itself is amazing, nice and spicy, with characters and a dynamic to absolutely fall in love with. I actually loved this story so much I wanted extra chapters, or even an extended epilogue to see if the men made their dreams happen! My only complaint is that it desperately needs better proofreading, so I’m hopeful to see that in future books 🩷
May 20, 2025
This was probably one of the most ridiculous book I’ve read. It started out so good as well but then it just turned ridiculous as it went on.
Firstly, the book didn’t need to be so long, it was 500+ pages and honestly 70% of it could be scrapped off. Secondly, I am supposed to believe Nate is almost 30? From the way he behaves and deals with emotions, it’s worse than a 15 year old. Like how is he so bad with emotions.
This book felt like something I would read in wattpad, the way it kept dragging on and on.
Also, the misogyny, what was that part about women & hormones & estrogones, utterly ridiculous
Firstly, the book didn’t need to be so long, it was 500+ pages and honestly 70% of it could be scrapped off. Secondly, I am supposed to believe Nate is almost 30? From the way he behaves and deals with emotions, it’s worse than a 15 year old. Like how is he so bad with emotions.
This book felt like something I would read in wattpad, the way it kept dragging on and on.
Also, the misogyny, what was that part about women & hormones & estrogones, utterly ridiculous
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2024
Nate's redemption arc
I loved the first book icing the kicker and at the time I dislike Nate so bad for being a douche to lake, but even though he was frustrating still throughout you actually come to realise why he does the stuff he does. You also see that he has been let down and understand more. As for Tucker and Dillon what a fantastic pair who together were everything Nate needed, what amazing supportive partners. With patience of a saint. The story was really good and so glad we got our HEA. The spice was 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻. Deffo would recommend.
I loved the first book icing the kicker and at the time I dislike Nate so bad for being a douche to lake, but even though he was frustrating still throughout you actually come to realise why he does the stuff he does. You also see that he has been let down and understand more. As for Tucker and Dillon what a fantastic pair who together were everything Nate needed, what amazing supportive partners. With patience of a saint. The story was really good and so glad we got our HEA. The spice was 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻. Deffo would recommend.
February 12, 2024
where did it go
Contains Spoilers* First of all, this book is way to long. Omg at a certain point I was over the sex scenes, give us development in the relationship please. But for a book so long the ending was so rushed.
It was at a 5 starts for so long and then it all went to shit after the breakup. How was Dillion in an accident and him and Nate never once talked about it. Suddenly everyone is getting into fights and evening up at the police station.
Please I want communication 😭😭
Contains Spoilers* First of all, this book is way to long. Omg at a certain point I was over the sex scenes, give us development in the relationship please. But for a book so long the ending was so rushed.
It was at a 5 starts for so long and then it all went to shit after the breakup. How was Dillion in an accident and him and Nate never once talked about it. Suddenly everyone is getting into fights and evening up at the police station.
Please I want communication 😭😭
May 31, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed these characters. After reading the first book in this series, I was so intrigued with Nate’s story, and I loved all of his quirks. I was so excited to find out more about him, and I was even more excited when I realized I got a little bit of cowboy in there too. Not only did I love reading about Nate and Tucker, but Dillon snuck up on me. I haven’t yet read any MMM books, but I really enjoyed this one more than I anticipated. I’ll be keeping tabs on when the next one releases, for sure.
January 14, 2024
3.75⭐️
I really enjoyed this! The main detractor was that the 3rd act breakup/drama lasted almost 15% of the end of the book and over 80 pages.. yes I went back to check because it was excessive. If we only have 1 chapter and an epilogue after the 3rd act drama, the drama went on for too long. Given the way this ended, a 5 years later epilogue would have worked perfectly, but over shadowed I think by the resolving of the drama
I really enjoyed this! The main detractor was that the 3rd act breakup/drama lasted almost 15% of the end of the book and over 80 pages.. yes I went back to check because it was excessive. If we only have 1 chapter and an epilogue after the 3rd act drama, the drama went on for too long. Given the way this ended, a 5 years later epilogue would have worked perfectly, but over shadowed I think by the resolving of the drama
March 16, 2024
i’ve always been looking for a book like this and it did not disappoint
okay i slept on it, and i think there were some unanswered questions (not necessarily plot holes), and also i wish tucker had a reaction to who outed him (cause please, i can’t stand her) and i also would’ve liked if nate had been encouraged to go to therapy (and possibly diagnosed). i really did enjoy the book though, i had a lot of fun reading about their dynamic
okay i slept on it, and i think there were some unanswered questions (not necessarily plot holes), and also i wish tucker had a reaction to who outed him (cause please, i can’t stand her) and i also would’ve liked if nate had been encouraged to go to therapy (and possibly diagnosed). i really did enjoy the book though, i had a lot of fun reading about their dynamic
May 19, 2024
At this point it should be understood that silly typos are par for the course for a lot of these self published romances and I’m mostly reviewing for the way a book made me feel and this one took me on a roller coaster.
Very spicy (maybe too many scenes if it were shorter but as it stands it was a blip on the radar), gave me anxiety at the right moments. Neurotic MMC was frustrating but their relationship was sweet and the progression was fun and I just had a good damn time.
Suspend your disbelief once again and just give it a try.
Very spicy (maybe too many scenes if it were shorter but as it stands it was a blip on the radar), gave me anxiety at the right moments. Neurotic MMC was frustrating but their relationship was sweet and the progression was fun and I just had a good damn time.
Suspend your disbelief once again and just give it a try.
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