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Manhandled #2
The Baller
I am not a famous person, but I have been called a king maker. I own the most important talent agency in the world. Music is my life, and no one knows the industry better than I do.
But I’m also a Townsend and the Townsends made their money off of the city of Los Angeles itself, which is why I’ve also inherited the ownership of a Major League Baseball team—The L.A. Flames.
But the team isn’t what I’m known for. I’m best known for one thing, and one thing I manage Gideon York, the most famous pop star in the world. He’s also my ex who is recently married and happier than I’ve ever seen him, and I’m sinking. Drowning in loneliness and misery and alcohol.
So when the Flames rookie closing pitcher Adam Haas recognizes me from rehab, I’m quick to shut him down, until I realize he’s one of the only people in the world who knows the real me. Beautiful and vibrant and fighting for his sobriety, Adam enraptures me from day one. But am I making the same mistake I made with Gideon all those years ago? Falling for someone too young for me? Too beautiful? Too promising? Too quickly, my heart wants too much, and my body demands even more.
Once again I find myself head over heels for a man I can’t possibly have, and once again I have to hide my love, my heart, my weaknesses behind a wall not even a 108-mile per hour fast ball can penetrate.
But I’m also a Townsend and the Townsends made their money off of the city of Los Angeles itself, which is why I’ve also inherited the ownership of a Major League Baseball team—The L.A. Flames.
But the team isn’t what I’m known for. I’m best known for one thing, and one thing I manage Gideon York, the most famous pop star in the world. He’s also my ex who is recently married and happier than I’ve ever seen him, and I’m sinking. Drowning in loneliness and misery and alcohol.
So when the Flames rookie closing pitcher Adam Haas recognizes me from rehab, I’m quick to shut him down, until I realize he’s one of the only people in the world who knows the real me. Beautiful and vibrant and fighting for his sobriety, Adam enraptures me from day one. But am I making the same mistake I made with Gideon all those years ago? Falling for someone too young for me? Too beautiful? Too promising? Too quickly, my heart wants too much, and my body demands even more.
Once again I find myself head over heels for a man I can’t possibly have, and once again I have to hide my love, my heart, my weaknesses behind a wall not even a 108-mile per hour fast ball can penetrate.
394 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 19, 2023
84 people are currently reading
644 people want to read
About the author
August Jones
14 books321 followersAugust Jones (She/They) is an author of queer romance and a voracious reader of smut. She resides in Texas with her family, pets, and books. However, she reads mostly on her phone because she’s cheap, it has a built in backlight, and it’s almost always in her hand.
If you ever discover her real name, don’t tell her, just read the books she’s published (you’ll like them) and thank her later with a rating or review. Mwah!
Books: KU, Paperback, & Audio
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If you ever discover her real name, don’t tell her, just read the books she’s published (you’ll like them) and thank her later with a rating or review. Mwah!
Books: KU, Paperback, & Audio
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
March 1, 2025
I went in prepared for some m/f in my m/m read this time... so I was not jump scared by it, like I was in book 1.
HOWEVER, I did have my moment of bamboozle when the MC became OBSESSED with the idea of impregnating his girlfriend...? Wot?
And not just a normal amount of wanting a baby, the 'need to breed' was strong with this one 🤮🤮🤮🤮
This line is my sleep paralysis demon:
"My cock twitches at the sight of that sucked-in, concave belly of hers with the urge to fill it up"
ANYWAY.
These dudes be TOXIC AND NEEDY AF.
I never met two MC's who needed to fish for compliments like they would pass away in 5 seconds without attention/compliments/reassurances.
There is discovery on both sides as one is new with his gay awakening moment, and the other was a strict top in one relationship previously.
They think they are 'both tops' but realistically, they're both bottoms.
They fuck alot. AND THE SWITCHING DURING SEX IS FUCKING FIRE 🥵🥵🥵 I AM WEAK FOR SWITCHES 🥵🥵🥵
✨SWITCHES GET BITCHES✨
Once they start getting together, I found them silly and annoying and DRAMATIC and I was having a fucking great time for most of this book if I'm honest.
The co-dependency made my brain want to vomit, but I was eating the crumbs of their feral-ness.
They go through drama that was... for the sake of some drama. It's solved. Redemption act. The end.
I was having a solid 4 star enjoyment time for most of this book. But then right at the end, he used the term "Winking hole" and I needed to cut a star off for the pure inconvenience/trauma to my eyeballs that those two words in that order caused.
HOWEVER, I did have my moment of bamboozle when the MC became OBSESSED with the idea of impregnating his girlfriend...? Wot?
And not just a normal amount of wanting a baby, the 'need to breed' was strong with this one 🤮🤮🤮🤮
This line is my sleep paralysis demon:
"My cock twitches at the sight of that sucked-in, concave belly of hers with the urge to fill it up"
ANYWAY.
These dudes be TOXIC AND NEEDY AF.
I never met two MC's who needed to fish for compliments like they would pass away in 5 seconds without attention/compliments/reassurances.
There is discovery on both sides as one is new with his gay awakening moment, and the other was a strict top in one relationship previously.
They think they are 'both tops' but realistically, they're both bottoms.
They fuck alot. AND THE SWITCHING DURING SEX IS FUCKING FIRE 🥵🥵🥵 I AM WEAK FOR SWITCHES 🥵🥵🥵
✨SWITCHES GET BITCHES✨
Once they start getting together, I found them silly and annoying and DRAMATIC and I was having a fucking great time for most of this book if I'm honest.
The co-dependency made my brain want to vomit, but I was eating the crumbs of their feral-ness.
They go through drama that was... for the sake of some drama. It's solved. Redemption act. The end.
I was having a solid 4 star enjoyment time for most of this book. But then right at the end, he used the term "Winking hole" and I needed to cut a star off for the pure inconvenience/trauma to my eyeballs that those two words in that order caused.
June 27, 2025
The most toxic codependent shit I've read since Bad Wrong Things. LOVED IT. More MCs should be unhinged.
These two went from 'Oh my God, why would you kiss me, I'm NOT gay.' to 'Talk me through how you bred your girlfriend earlier.' to 'Yeah, I'm totally gay, BREAK UP WITH HER.' in like....a fortnight💀.
And I've not read any sports romance where one MC is a player and the other the literal team owner. The closest dynamic I've seen is where one's the coach.
I loved the bumbling way they started, though. It wasn't immediate attraction. It was 'hmmm that old guy's kinda a weirdo AND he's off the wagon' to 'Huhhhhhhhh. Maybe I kinda like weirdos'.
They had soo many awkward encounters.
But once they got started? Near immediate obsession. Started with them being sooooo sure they HAD to be the pitcher. Ended with them being vers but very enthusiastic catchers when it was their turn. But the journey there was hilarious.
Also, Sawyer being so hesitant at first then after the first kiss he was all, 'He wants me to bottom? Consider me bent over a couch.'
💀
Adam just couldn't resist rubbing it in.
'Just the tip, boss.'
'Open up for me, boss.'
Okay but the sex scenes did end up being too many for me.
I was glad when we got back to the main plot, which was them becoming addicted to each other to the point that Adam couldn't go more than 3 days without needing Sawyer to literally fly to wherever the team was playing.
RIP to the environment but Adam needed his fix.
Loved how open they were about their very weird dynamic. They both had serious fears of abandonment and they kept ping-ponging off each other's fear until their intimacy was daily affirmations of 'Don't ever leave me.' 'If you ever walk out on me, I'll lose my shit.'
As expected, shit did hit the fan. Adam got outed and Sawyer fell short. I've seen bad reactions but this was more gutting simply because he was saying what seemed to be the right things but his actions.....wild.
First, he flew off to sort a simultaneous crisis that had broken out over his best friend's tour- oh, and this was the same best friend Adam always feared he'd never measure up to because Sawyer had been in love with him and said bestie getting married to another GUY less than a year prior had sent Sawyer into a spiral so massive he'd ended up in rehab.
So basically, I wish I could be there for you during this massive personal crisis that involves the both of us but...this is just as important.
Anyway. Hats off to Adam for being an understanding partner but 👀👀👀👀
Come ON.
Crime #2. And this one's the one that broke Adam because Sawyer could have stopped it. If he'd wanted to badly enough.
He sat back and let him get traded. Could have interfered at any time. The GM asked if he felt one way or the other about it but nope.
Mr 'If you leave me I'll lose my shit'?
I've never felt more heartbroken for an MC than when Adam discovered that shit because I was right there with him in the 'What the fuck' - ery.
How long had he known about the trade? Basically since around the same time they started seeing each other. Ie MONTHS.
Sawyer knew this man couldn't live without him, knew all his abandonment issues, knew his history with being taken for a naive idiot by people with power over him AND STILL DID THAT.
And, yes. Sawyer's reasons (to himself) made sense. He felt Adam deserved a chance to discover that he COULD live without him. Felt it might look suspicious if a very hands off owner was suddenly very interested in keeping a low stakes player. They both knew going in that this could happen. They both had the means to make it work 🙄
Yadda yadda yadda.
But Adam was gutted nonetheless. For good reason. They'd gotten engaged the night before 💀
And they both KNEW their codependent relationship survived on physical closeness. If you're going to be toxic shits and swear toxicity forever then let it FUCKING BE THAT.
A breakup the DAY after the engagement is crazy business.
But honestly, you don't trade someone today then promise it doesn't have to change anything, THEN place an NDA in front of them.
Baby, I love you more than anything and I swear it's going to be okay, nothing has to change. Just sign this document here that states you can't ever say anything about it to anyone. But I swear, everything is going to be fine. You'll see.
When Adam said, 'It sounds like you're protecting yourself FROM me' it honestly hit different. Because it didn't just sound like that, that's basically what Sawyer was doing.
Never loved two MCs together more WHILE rooting for them to breakup more strongly because what the ACTUAL fuck?!
The 42 year old billionaire telling the 24 year old kid who trusted him to protect them both 'This has the potential to ruin me'????
Yeah, he had to go.
And I loved this enough to 5* it until that point on because the eventual grovel was not enough to satisfy my bloodlust.
I wanted (and honestly, probably also DESERVED to see Sawyer lose his shit the way he'd been threatening to if Adam ever left him).
Won't spoil the details of the apology tour(well. If tours had one stop) but I clearly did NOT get that.
Anyway.
Adam's dad(who is only SIX years older than Sawyer btw) asking, 'Do you usually take such a hands-on approach with your players?' 💀💀💀💀💀I loooove awkward family meetings.
These two went from 'Oh my God, why would you kiss me, I'm NOT gay.' to 'Talk me through how you bred your girlfriend earlier.' to 'Yeah, I'm totally gay, BREAK UP WITH HER.' in like....a fortnight💀.
And I've not read any sports romance where one MC is a player and the other the literal team owner. The closest dynamic I've seen is where one's the coach.
I loved the bumbling way they started, though. It wasn't immediate attraction. It was 'hmmm that old guy's kinda a weirdo AND he's off the wagon' to 'Huhhhhhhhh. Maybe I kinda like weirdos'.
They had soo many awkward encounters.
But once they got started? Near immediate obsession. Started with them being sooooo sure they HAD to be the pitcher. Ended with them being vers but very enthusiastic catchers when it was their turn. But the journey there was hilarious.
Also, Sawyer being so hesitant at first then after the first kiss he was all, 'He wants me to bottom? Consider me bent over a couch.'
💀
Adam just couldn't resist rubbing it in.
'Just the tip, boss.'
'Open up for me, boss.'
Okay but the sex scenes did end up being too many for me.
I was glad when we got back to the main plot, which was them becoming addicted to each other to the point that Adam couldn't go more than 3 days without needing Sawyer to literally fly to wherever the team was playing.
RIP to the environment but Adam needed his fix.
Loved how open they were about their very weird dynamic. They both had serious fears of abandonment and they kept ping-ponging off each other's fear until their intimacy was daily affirmations of 'Don't ever leave me.' 'If you ever walk out on me, I'll lose my shit.'
As expected, shit did hit the fan. Adam got outed and Sawyer fell short. I've seen bad reactions but this was more gutting simply because he was saying what seemed to be the right things but his actions.....wild.
First, he flew off to sort a simultaneous crisis that had broken out over his best friend's tour- oh, and this was the same best friend Adam always feared he'd never measure up to because Sawyer had been in love with him and said bestie getting married to another GUY less than a year prior had sent Sawyer into a spiral so massive he'd ended up in rehab.
So basically, I wish I could be there for you during this massive personal crisis that involves the both of us but...this is just as important.
Anyway. Hats off to Adam for being an understanding partner but 👀👀👀👀
Come ON.
Crime #2. And this one's the one that broke Adam because Sawyer could have stopped it. If he'd wanted to badly enough.
He sat back and let him get traded. Could have interfered at any time. The GM asked if he felt one way or the other about it but nope.
Mr 'If you leave me I'll lose my shit'?
I've never felt more heartbroken for an MC than when Adam discovered that shit because I was right there with him in the 'What the fuck' - ery.
How long had he known about the trade? Basically since around the same time they started seeing each other. Ie MONTHS.
Sawyer knew this man couldn't live without him, knew all his abandonment issues, knew his history with being taken for a naive idiot by people with power over him AND STILL DID THAT.
And, yes. Sawyer's reasons (to himself) made sense. He felt Adam deserved a chance to discover that he COULD live without him. Felt it might look suspicious if a very hands off owner was suddenly very interested in keeping a low stakes player. They both knew going in that this could happen. They both had the means to make it work 🙄
Yadda yadda yadda.
But Adam was gutted nonetheless. For good reason. They'd gotten engaged the night before 💀
And they both KNEW their codependent relationship survived on physical closeness. If you're going to be toxic shits and swear toxicity forever then let it FUCKING BE THAT.
A breakup the DAY after the engagement is crazy business.
But honestly, you don't trade someone today then promise it doesn't have to change anything, THEN place an NDA in front of them.
Baby, I love you more than anything and I swear it's going to be okay, nothing has to change. Just sign this document here that states you can't ever say anything about it to anyone. But I swear, everything is going to be fine. You'll see.
When Adam said, 'It sounds like you're protecting yourself FROM me' it honestly hit different. Because it didn't just sound like that, that's basically what Sawyer was doing.
Never loved two MCs together more WHILE rooting for them to breakup more strongly because what the ACTUAL fuck?!
The 42 year old billionaire telling the 24 year old kid who trusted him to protect them both 'This has the potential to ruin me'????
Yeah, he had to go.
And I loved this enough to 5* it until that point on because the eventual grovel was not enough to satisfy my bloodlust.
I wanted (and honestly, probably also DESERVED to see Sawyer lose his shit the way he'd been threatening to if Adam ever left him).
Won't spoil the details of the apology tour(well. If tours had one stop) but I clearly did NOT get that.
Anyway.
Adam's dad(who is only SIX years older than Sawyer btw) asking, 'Do you usually take such a hands-on approach with your players?' 💀💀💀💀💀I loooove awkward family meetings.
July 18, 2025
Ugh I loved this 😮💨 Another 5 stars ⭐️ 👏🏼
We met Sawyer again - Gideon's talent manager and former lover from the first book.
Sawyer is also the owner of The Flames LA based baseball team and Adam is the rookie who just joined the team. They met before. They were in the same rehab program as annomous addicts, just a few months before.
When they meet again, the tension and need is electric between them.
These two are some sexy big ass grown build men who struggle for dominance. Vers couple at its best! (psst I personally love that)
The relationship starts with a lot of negotiating between the two men. Adam is sober and vegan and loves to cook for Sawyer, trying to support him in his struggling with sobriety best he can - AND he has just realised he is indeed gay and immediately wants EVERYTHING with Sawer, his Boss. His need is slobby and messy and Sawyer is all about it, wanting Adam just as much - it evolves with high intensity and they go at it hard once they have their first taste of each other. Brace yourself for som steamy raw and intense sex scenes 😮💨
The way they approached each other was just wow, hallo! *swoon* so sexy (and slobby at times)
The toxicity, jealousy and codependency was chefs kiss 💋 The need between them so deep it’ll touch your soul!
The longing that Adam feels is all consuming! His struggle with sobriety and balancing it with the heartbreaking need he feels to be with Sawyer, not being able to cope when they are apart, was so deep I wanted to hug him. He’s lost himself to the relationship and is in his feelings. ❤️🩹
Sawyer's possessivness for Adam were at times blinding him of what Adam really needed. Keeping it a secret was how he thought he was protecting his player.
Overall just a sexy, needy mess of so much deliciousness. Loved it!!!
Also, Gideon and Sawyer's friendship in this book was just beautiful 😍
@augustjonesbooks doesn’t kid around. When she writes it’s deep felt emotions that make you feel it and it's almost heartbreaking to read. You’re just in it with them. It’s a rollercoaster of up and downs. It’s phenomenal writing!!!
AJ I love you 😘
We met Sawyer again - Gideon's talent manager and former lover from the first book.
Sawyer is also the owner of The Flames LA based baseball team and Adam is the rookie who just joined the team. They met before. They were in the same rehab program as annomous addicts, just a few months before.
When they meet again, the tension and need is electric between them.
These two are some sexy big ass grown build men who struggle for dominance. Vers couple at its best! (psst I personally love that)
The relationship starts with a lot of negotiating between the two men. Adam is sober and vegan and loves to cook for Sawyer, trying to support him in his struggling with sobriety best he can - AND he has just realised he is indeed gay and immediately wants EVERYTHING with Sawer, his Boss. His need is slobby and messy and Sawyer is all about it, wanting Adam just as much - it evolves with high intensity and they go at it hard once they have their first taste of each other. Brace yourself for som steamy raw and intense sex scenes 😮💨
The way they approached each other was just wow, hallo! *swoon* so sexy (and slobby at times)
The toxicity, jealousy and codependency was chefs kiss 💋 The need between them so deep it’ll touch your soul!
The longing that Adam feels is all consuming! His struggle with sobriety and balancing it with the heartbreaking need he feels to be with Sawyer, not being able to cope when they are apart, was so deep I wanted to hug him. He’s lost himself to the relationship and is in his feelings. ❤️🩹
Sawyer's possessivness for Adam were at times blinding him of what Adam really needed. Keeping it a secret was how he thought he was protecting his player.
Overall just a sexy, needy mess of so much deliciousness. Loved it!!!
Also, Gideon and Sawyer's friendship in this book was just beautiful 😍
@augustjonesbooks doesn’t kid around. When she writes it’s deep felt emotions that make you feel it and it's almost heartbreaking to read. You’re just in it with them. It’s a rollercoaster of up and downs. It’s phenomenal writing!!!
AJ I love you 😘
May 7, 2025
Messy inconsistent writing and plotting about a messy relationship. I get that the relationship is meant to be messy, all co dependency (name checked!), borderline toxic, they met in rehab for alcoholism, big age gap, team owner and player getting a career break, one of the MC's guilt about a former relationship, and a lot of readers object to that, but hey that could work for me. I liked the setup, I liked the beginning, I liked the real issues this relationship would have. But what does not work for me is the storytelling itself, the inconsistency in characters and details from chapter to chapter, the unbelievability of it all.
I have no idea how this was written and its publication story. I have not even gone looking into the author's socials or anything they said ever about their writing process, BUT as a reader, to me, this feels like a kind of serial story - it is much too long, it is is inconsistent from chapter to chapter (or within the same chapter, like OMG you need to sign something to cancel the NDA so I can make a public statement about our relationship, but pages later, oh that guy discussed that with all team owners in the league and who knows who else...) full of something intense in each chapter but it is repetitive as fuck drawn out. Both characters, and I mean both, often just sound like teen girls who spend way too much time in social media, the references, the snark, the anxiety and the way they just express themselves. With lots of dirty sex talk very often.
The inconsistency also extends to the supporting characters, the couple from the previous book, where one of the MC's (Jax) has good reason to be very mad at one of the Mc's here, and we get a scene about that, but hey he is magically tamed off page and he is so supportive right after that. Inconsistency all through.
It feels like an erotica serial, sorry but I wanted more believability to the relationship, deeper characters.
Incidentally like the other books of the author I read this has tons of explicit sex scenes and I do not mind that (I would not be reading a lot of what I read if I minded), but it felt silly often and too much got boring and and irrelevant often. A lot of these sex scenes seem very "cinematic", like they are just descriptions of porn scenes and not necessarily about the feelings of the characters before they started having sex (again...)
I hope this is some kind of early work, reworked into a series. If this was my first book of theirs I would not read any more - but I really liked later published books I have read earlier, so I still think the author is talented, and the concept of that toxic codependency turning healthy, romantic is something I would love. If done believably...
I have no idea how this was written and its publication story. I have not even gone looking into the author's socials or anything they said ever about their writing process, BUT as a reader, to me, this feels like a kind of serial story - it is much too long, it is is inconsistent from chapter to chapter (or within the same chapter, like OMG you need to sign something to cancel the NDA so I can make a public statement about our relationship, but pages later, oh that guy discussed that with all team owners in the league and who knows who else...) full of something intense in each chapter but it is repetitive as fuck drawn out. Both characters, and I mean both, often just sound like teen girls who spend way too much time in social media, the references, the snark, the anxiety and the way they just express themselves. With lots of dirty sex talk very often.
The inconsistency also extends to the supporting characters, the couple from the previous book, where one of the MC's (Jax) has good reason to be very mad at one of the Mc's here, and we get a scene about that, but hey he is magically tamed off page and he is so supportive right after that. Inconsistency all through.
It feels like an erotica serial, sorry but I wanted more believability to the relationship, deeper characters.
Incidentally like the other books of the author I read this has tons of explicit sex scenes and I do not mind that (I would not be reading a lot of what I read if I minded), but it felt silly often and too much got boring and and irrelevant often. A lot of these sex scenes seem very "cinematic", like they are just descriptions of porn scenes and not necessarily about the feelings of the characters before they started having sex (again...)
I hope this is some kind of early work, reworked into a series. If this was my first book of theirs I would not read any more - but I really liked later published books I have read earlier, so I still think the author is talented, and the concept of that toxic codependency turning healthy, romantic is something I would love. If done believably...
September 23, 2023
The Baller is the second installment in August Jones's Manhandled series. It's a M/M slow-burn, erotic, baseball player/team owner romance. It's told in a first person, dual point of view. It does deal with some very sensitive topics, so please ensure you review the content and trigger warnings and take care of yourself when reading.
Sawyer Townsend is known in Hollywood as the king maker. His biggest client is musical superstar Gideon York, who also happens to be the ex that broke his heart. For the past seven years, Sawyer's been incredibly lonely, miserable, and drowning in alcohol. One lesser-known aspect of Sawyer's extensive portfolio is ownership of the L.A. Flames major league baseball team. After a stint in rehab, the Flames' rookie pitcher, Adam Haas, recognizes Sawyer. Adam's fighting tooth and nail for his sobriety, and he's so beautiful and vibrant that Sawyer can't help but be enamoured. Their relationship is forbidden at best, and Sawyer is afraid he'll be considered a predator once again. Could they possibly be one another's forevers, or is Adam just another mistake that Sawyer is doomed to repeat?
This boy is trouble. I feel it like a universal truth.
Sawyer Townsend is known in Hollywood as the king maker. His biggest client is musical superstar Gideon York, who also happens to be the ex that broke his heart. For the past seven years, Sawyer's been incredibly lonely, miserable, and drowning in alcohol. One lesser-known aspect of Sawyer's extensive portfolio is ownership of the L.A. Flames major league baseball team. After a stint in rehab, the Flames' rookie pitcher, Adam Haas, recognizes Sawyer. Adam's fighting tooth and nail for his sobriety, and he's so beautiful and vibrant that Sawyer can't help but be enamoured. Their relationship is forbidden at best, and Sawyer is afraid he'll be considered a predator once again. Could they possibly be one another's forevers, or is Adam just another mistake that Sawyer is doomed to repeat?
This boy is trouble. I feel it like a universal truth.
After reading The Handler earlier this month, Sawyer definitely wasn't my favourite character. However, those always seem to be the ones you end up loving in the end! I was thrilled that the next installation in the series was only a few weeks away after that, and my goodness, I wasn't disappointed.
Similarly to The Handler, this book was a gritty, slow-burn romance. August Jones really has a knack for capturing the emotions of the characters in such vivid detail, it feels like you're standing next to them. Although Adam and Sawyer do get their happily ever after, they have to fight for it and deal with some difficult emotions in the process. There were times when I wanted to reach into the book and give them both a good shake, and other times where my heart broke for them. Also similar to The Handler (and yes, we got some Gideon and Jax cameos which made my heart happy), this book touched on some of the raw and gritty emotions surrounding the industry as well as Sawyer and Adam's respective approaches to their sobriety and mental health struggles. Nothing was sugarcoated, and I really appreciated that.
The spice in this book was also phenomenal! The passion and pure lust between Adam and Sawyer absolutely shone through. They were completely vers in the bedroom, and their struggle for control and willingness to contend with surrender was decidedly beautiful to witness and I thought it contributed very well to the overarching plotline of this book.
These characters and this series is so special, and August Jones has such a gift for writing these perfectly imperfect characters that you want to root for. Even if you won't always like them at times, I promise you'll be in it for their happily ever after which they more than deserve! I can't wait to see what's next!
"You'll find this out eventually, but one thing I can tell you about me right now is I take care of what's mine. And that's you, player."
April 1, 2024
The Baller by August Jones is book 2 in The Manhandled series.
I was lucky enough to do a beta read for The Baller and it was an incomparable experience. I already adored August Jones after reading the first book in her series, The Handler, and now I can proclaim myself her greatest fan. I have a literary crush on this woman and her writing. The way she writes resonates with me in so many ways, and I think it's mainly because she writes from the heart.
The Baller is a completely different beast from The Handler. Here we had two MCs in a co-dependent relationship that was borderline toxic. I became attached to Adam and Sawyer so quickly. They both had a great vulnerability, a need to be loved and not to be alone that led them into an almost impossible relationship. They had so much against them that it was questionable whether they would ever find a way to be together. It was painful and beautiful to watch them navigate through both external and internal obstacles.
The Baller a highly emotional and deliciously steamy story. August is the queen of spice and can always be counted on for plenty of variety and intensity in the sex scenes. Adam and Sawyer literally set the pages of the book on fire.
What I particularly like about August's style is the feeling that what she writes could happen in real life. Her MCs aren't perfect, they even screw up a lot and often. Their sexual awakening doesn't come from nowhere. They often have relationships with women, and their sexual awakening comes through the experiences they have in the book, with both women and men. There's something very organic about the way she gives her characters multiple layers. She creates magic, and I'm totally in tune with what she's proposing.
The Baller was simply breathtaking, sometimes overwhelming and, above all, a pure pleasure to discover. It saddens me to say goodbye to Sawyer and Adam, but I take comfort in the fact that we'll have a third book in this series in a not-too-distant future.
I was lucky enough to do a beta read for The Baller and it was an incomparable experience. I already adored August Jones after reading the first book in her series, The Handler, and now I can proclaim myself her greatest fan. I have a literary crush on this woman and her writing. The way she writes resonates with me in so many ways, and I think it's mainly because she writes from the heart.
The Baller is a completely different beast from The Handler. Here we had two MCs in a co-dependent relationship that was borderline toxic. I became attached to Adam and Sawyer so quickly. They both had a great vulnerability, a need to be loved and not to be alone that led them into an almost impossible relationship. They had so much against them that it was questionable whether they would ever find a way to be together. It was painful and beautiful to watch them navigate through both external and internal obstacles.
The Baller a highly emotional and deliciously steamy story. August is the queen of spice and can always be counted on for plenty of variety and intensity in the sex scenes. Adam and Sawyer literally set the pages of the book on fire.
What I particularly like about August's style is the feeling that what she writes could happen in real life. Her MCs aren't perfect, they even screw up a lot and often. Their sexual awakening doesn't come from nowhere. They often have relationships with women, and their sexual awakening comes through the experiences they have in the book, with both women and men. There's something very organic about the way she gives her characters multiple layers. She creates magic, and I'm totally in tune with what she's proposing.
The Baller was simply breathtaking, sometimes overwhelming and, above all, a pure pleasure to discover. It saddens me to say goodbye to Sawyer and Adam, but I take comfort in the fact that we'll have a third book in this series in a not-too-distant future.
Read
May 5, 2025Sadly, this is unreadable vis-à-vis the writing and editing, so I’m DNFing at 15%. But damn……. What a way to go with book 2 in a series, this author said “I’m writing the creepy too-old ex from book 1 as the MC in this romance novel sequel, and he’s absolutely positively going for a second much younger guy, don’t fight me on this”… and the chemistry somehow kind of works on page??? Wild.
December 12, 2025
Audiobook narrated by Dane Anderson & Theo Sinclair - excellent narration!
Sawyer is a kingmaker/talent manager & baseball team owner, who goes on a bender after witnessing his ex (Gideon, MC from The Handler) get married. While at an event for his baseball team, the new addition to his ball team, Adam, recognizes him from when they both attended rehab. WIP
What to Expect:
*Team owner + MLB rookie/pitcher
*Forbidden (power imbalance)
*rookie is a twin (hard time being solo)
*age gap
*recovery/AA
*soup/caretaking/vegan
*both tops
*secret relationship
*cheating
*one MC has a girlfriend/some MF content
*pool time
*queer awakening
*restraints
*breeding kink
*cum kink
*marking
*docking
*olive oil lube
*co-dependent
*jealous/possessive
*spice spice spice
*cameos from previous mcs
Sawyer is a kingmaker/talent manager & baseball team owner, who goes on a bender after witnessing his ex (Gideon, MC from The Handler) get married. While at an event for his baseball team, the new addition to his ball team, Adam, recognizes him from when they both attended rehab. WIP
What to Expect:
*Team owner + MLB rookie/pitcher
*Forbidden (power imbalance)
*rookie is a twin (hard time being solo)
*age gap
*recovery/AA
*soup/caretaking/vegan
*both tops
*secret relationship
*cheating
*one MC has a girlfriend/some MF content
*pool time
*queer awakening
*restraints
*breeding kink
*cum kink
*marking
*docking
*olive oil lube
*co-dependent
*jealous/possessive
*spice spice spice
*cameos from previous mcs
January 9, 2024
This was fantastic
Even better than the first
These two needy, vulnerable codependent men were beautiful
Super hot and needy in the best way.
Even better than the first
These two needy, vulnerable codependent men were beautiful
Super hot and needy in the best way.
March 1, 2024
Rating: 4.5
Steam: 5
PoV: dual, 1st person
Genre: contemporary erotic romance, MM
Main tropes: sexual discovery, age gap, baseball player / team owner
Steam: 5
PoV: dual, 1st person
Genre: contemporary erotic romance, MM
Main tropes: sexual discovery, age gap, baseball player / team owner
January 7, 2025
OMG I AM OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK! The Baller was recommended to me several months ago as a "soup book," which as many of you know, is my FAVORITE niche trope. And, y'all, the soup in this book - it's GOOD. So is the rest of it - the relationship between Sawyer and Adam is INTENSE, super hot, and often very sweet. And I've come to find that I just EAT UP August Jones' writing - if you want some of the best-written smüt I've ever read, THIS IS IT.
Sawyer is the wealthy owner of a professional baseball team, and Adam is his newest rookie pitcher. When they run into each other at a party, they realize that they've met before - at rehab. Both of them are lonely in different ways, and they immediately feel a spark of connection, but Sawyer is heavily closeted and Adam had never realized he wasn't straight. Once they finally admit their feelings they literally cannot function without each other - I've never read this level of codependency before and I was HERE FOR IT. Adam seems like such an All-American guy, but he's hiding some serious trust issues that leave him feeling like an outsider wherever he goes. And Sawyer has been burned by love before - he's buried himself in his job, but he transfers that obsession to Adam. Their relationship is forbidden on multiple levels - there's a pretty significant age gap between them, they are both "recovering" (Sawyer doesn't really try) alcoholics, and Adam is technically Sawyer's employee. But you can tell that they are each other's person - they both constantly question why their feelings are so intense and if they will continue at that level, but all I was getting were soulmates vibes. And the spice? Someone told me that August Jones could teach a masterclass in writing spicy scenes, and they were not wrong. These guys are nuts (and nuts for each other) and NOTHING was off limits.
I absolutely could not put this book down. I LOVED Sawyer and Adam so much, loved their relationship, and I LOVED all of the cooking as a love language (especially the soup). If you haven't read these yet, you need to. I'll definitely be reading the rest this year!
Sawyer is the wealthy owner of a professional baseball team, and Adam is his newest rookie pitcher. When they run into each other at a party, they realize that they've met before - at rehab. Both of them are lonely in different ways, and they immediately feel a spark of connection, but Sawyer is heavily closeted and Adam had never realized he wasn't straight. Once they finally admit their feelings they literally cannot function without each other - I've never read this level of codependency before and I was HERE FOR IT. Adam seems like such an All-American guy, but he's hiding some serious trust issues that leave him feeling like an outsider wherever he goes. And Sawyer has been burned by love before - he's buried himself in his job, but he transfers that obsession to Adam. Their relationship is forbidden on multiple levels - there's a pretty significant age gap between them, they are both "recovering" (Sawyer doesn't really try) alcoholics, and Adam is technically Sawyer's employee. But you can tell that they are each other's person - they both constantly question why their feelings are so intense and if they will continue at that level, but all I was getting were soulmates vibes. And the spice? Someone told me that August Jones could teach a masterclass in writing spicy scenes, and they were not wrong. These guys are nuts (and nuts for each other) and NOTHING was off limits.
I absolutely could not put this book down. I LOVED Sawyer and Adam so much, loved their relationship, and I LOVED all of the cooking as a love language (especially the soup). If you haven't read these yet, you need to. I'll definitely be reading the rest this year!
May 16, 2025
Generally speaking, I prefer eyeball reading, but this was God tier narration!
I was absolutely not prepared for Sawyer’s on page need to breed his GF but thankfully that story line didn’t last too long. Now that that’s out of the way…
This book was a masterclass on addiction transfer and why celibacy is recommended during the first year of sobriety 🤣 These MFs were addicted (or is it obsessed) with each other from the jump. Is there a difference? Basically never in history has anyone ever been this dick drunk... or toxic! But you know what… I commend them for owning their codependent needs and just rolling with it. I loved how Sawyer is the one with all the power but Adam has no problem being like ‘I OWN you, boss.’ They had a ton of sweet and vulnerable moments too.
I was shaking my fist at Sawyer for the world’s most questionable decision making from like 75-95%. But honestly,I know to expect this from August’s books at this point, and I loved it anyway. The one thing that ACTUALLY bothered me was that Sawyer seemed to give zero fucks about Adam’s sobriety, however, I don’t think it would have been an honest depiction of his character to do otherwise. He grew in the end; it just took him a minute to get there.
lol that their solution to “both being tops” (sure, Jan) was to flip-fuck all over the place 😂 The spice was so good!
Anyway, this was a great listen and I recommend!
I was absolutely not prepared for Sawyer’s on page need to breed his GF but thankfully that story line didn’t last too long. Now that that’s out of the way…
This book was a masterclass on addiction transfer and why celibacy is recommended during the first year of sobriety 🤣 These MFs were addicted (or is it obsessed) with each other from the jump. Is there a difference? Basically never in history has anyone ever been this dick drunk... or toxic! But you know what… I commend them for owning their codependent needs and just rolling with it. I loved how Sawyer is the one with all the power but Adam has no problem being like ‘I OWN you, boss.’ They had a ton of sweet and vulnerable moments too.
I was shaking my fist at Sawyer for the world’s most questionable decision making from like 75-95%. But honestly,I know to expect this from August’s books at this point, and I loved it anyway. The one thing that ACTUALLY bothered me was that Sawyer seemed to give zero fucks about Adam’s sobriety, however, I don’t think it would have been an honest depiction of his character to do otherwise. He grew in the end; it just took him a minute to get there.
lol that their solution to “both being tops” (sure, Jan) was to flip-fuck all over the place 😂 The spice was so good!
Anyway, this was a great listen and I recommend!
May 22, 2025
This was close to a DNF for me.
Sure the HEA was sweet AF. But I'm not sure if the angst to get there was worth it. In the early stages I had no love for either MC.
I had to force myself to keep listening as there were many ick factors.
We start with a deeply confused Sawyer who is obviously longing for Adam, yet is still trying to impregnate his girlfriend. The dinner was just weird giving the timing - commenting on how lickable Adam's jaw was while he had just told his gf to keep her knees up so his seed would take. And then referring to Sheridan as his broodmare! Wtf?
Sawyer lying to both Adam and his gf was irritating. At some point you want to fall in love with, or at least have empathy for a character's bi awakening. It just never happened for me.
Adam's immaturity was deeply annoying. The tying someone up for their first time bottoming is deeply problematic and then insisting that someone doesn't need lube when they ask for it? Absolutely not.
This is perhaps one of the most toxic relationships I've ever read. And it wasn't fun.
3 stars purely for the ending. More like 2.5.
Sure the HEA was sweet AF. But I'm not sure if the angst to get there was worth it. In the early stages I had no love for either MC.
I had to force myself to keep listening as there were many ick factors.
We start with a deeply confused Sawyer who is obviously longing for Adam, yet is still trying to impregnate his girlfriend. The dinner was just weird giving the timing - commenting on how lickable Adam's jaw was while he had just told his gf to keep her knees up so his seed would take. And then referring to Sheridan as his broodmare! Wtf?
Sawyer lying to both Adam and his gf was irritating. At some point you want to fall in love with, or at least have empathy for a character's bi awakening. It just never happened for me.
Adam's immaturity was deeply annoying. The tying someone up for their first time bottoming is deeply problematic and then insisting that someone doesn't need lube when they ask for it? Absolutely not.
This is perhaps one of the most toxic relationships I've ever read. And it wasn't fun.
3 stars purely for the ending. More like 2.5.
August 29, 2025
1 instead of zero because I'm feeling generous today I guess?
The point is, this book could have been really good. It was a solid 4 star read up until the two idiots kiss for the first time. The writing is flowing, paced, actually sort of good (it also had some lovely sarcastic moments). Unfortunately this wasn't a question of bad or good writing, but just me not vibing with the plot and the characters. Because I didn't like Sawyer, but good sweet jesus I hated Adam and his whiny arse.
Also, I had problems the way addiction was painted in this story. Because it was superficial at the end of the day. You get a 24 year old who's a professional athlete, who's an alcoholic, who's been in rehab for it, who's drank himself into a coma and who's always been depressed to somehow... be all of this together? It wasn't written convincingly, imho. Sure Adam goes to AA meetings sometimes and he thinks about his sobriety every now and then, but... that's it? He still manages to kiss a man who drinks gin like it's water and he manages to be around him ALL THE TIME. Dear lord Sawyer must reek of alcohol in some of those scenes, yet there's only one time in a long ass book that Adam actively pulls away from him because he tastes of alcohol. AT LEAST ONCE IT HAPPENS, OK?
Still, there's no way one can root for a relationship like this. The sober alcoholic and the one that doesn't want to quit drinking? Yeah, great success rate guys. I'll see you both when you'll need a new liver.
Anyway. I was still willing to go through the whole thing until the end. The end broke me, so I dnf at about 88%. I have enough of the OMG THEY'RE TRADING YOU!! plot in sports romance, especially since this one was a) avoidable b) stupid c) the amount of drama it created was honestly too much, and I love drama. Just how can you have the maturity to stay sober at such young age and not being able to cope with your partner away from you for a couple of months, especially considered you're both rich as fuck and can visit each other all the times? Also, the coming out narrative was super tired. And I hated it, but for different reasons, because the "IF HE DOESN'T COME OUT FOR YOU IT MEANS YOU DON'T MEAN THAT MUCH TO HIM" it's soooooooooooo tired.
AND SHALL WE TALK ABOUT THE SEXUAL ABUSE PLOT? Jesus wept it appeared in one chapter and BOOM, gone forever. It's sort of implied that Adam's problem derive from his trauma, but since the whole thing is never ever mentioned again I'm not even sure it had that much of an impact on him? Also, why did he need to tie Sawyer up the first time they fuck (trauma response), and then never again? DID SAWYER MAGIC DICK CURE HIM?? THAT WOULD BE AMAZING
1 star because I did love Gideon York, even if he talked like a walking stereotype for the British. I also liked Vince, he was cute. And Sheridan! She was lovely. Btw pretty much anyone was better that the two MCs.
Now I'll go manifest a good book in my future s'il vous plait
bye now
The point is, this book could have been really good. It was a solid 4 star read up until the two idiots kiss for the first time. The writing is flowing, paced, actually sort of good (it also had some lovely sarcastic moments). Unfortunately this wasn't a question of bad or good writing, but just me not vibing with the plot and the characters. Because I didn't like Sawyer, but good sweet jesus I hated Adam and his whiny arse.
Also, I had problems the way addiction was painted in this story. Because it was superficial at the end of the day. You get a 24 year old who's a professional athlete, who's an alcoholic, who's been in rehab for it, who's drank himself into a coma and who's always been depressed to somehow... be all of this together? It wasn't written convincingly, imho. Sure Adam goes to AA meetings sometimes and he thinks about his sobriety every now and then, but... that's it? He still manages to kiss a man who drinks gin like it's water and he manages to be around him ALL THE TIME. Dear lord Sawyer must reek of alcohol in some of those scenes, yet there's only one time in a long ass book that Adam actively pulls away from him because he tastes of alcohol. AT LEAST ONCE IT HAPPENS, OK?
Still, there's no way one can root for a relationship like this. The sober alcoholic and the one that doesn't want to quit drinking? Yeah, great success rate guys. I'll see you both when you'll need a new liver.
Anyway. I was still willing to go through the whole thing until the end. The end broke me, so I dnf at about 88%. I have enough of the OMG THEY'RE TRADING YOU!! plot in sports romance, especially since this one was a) avoidable b) stupid c) the amount of drama it created was honestly too much, and I love drama. Just how can you have the maturity to stay sober at such young age and not being able to cope with your partner away from you for a couple of months, especially considered you're both rich as fuck and can visit each other all the times? Also, the coming out narrative was super tired. And I hated it, but for different reasons, because the "IF HE DOESN'T COME OUT FOR YOU IT MEANS YOU DON'T MEAN THAT MUCH TO HIM" it's soooooooooooo tired.
AND SHALL WE TALK ABOUT THE SEXUAL ABUSE PLOT? Jesus wept it appeared in one chapter and BOOM, gone forever. It's sort of implied that Adam's problem derive from his trauma, but since the whole thing is never ever mentioned again I'm not even sure it had that much of an impact on him? Also, why did he need to tie Sawyer up the first time they fuck (trauma response), and then never again? DID SAWYER MAGIC DICK CURE HIM?? THAT WOULD BE AMAZING
1 star because I did love Gideon York, even if he talked like a walking stereotype for the British. I also liked Vince, he was cute. And Sheridan! She was lovely. Btw pretty much anyone was better that the two MCs.
Now I'll go manifest a good book in my future s'il vous plait
bye now
February 18, 2024
Its a 4 star read because I reserve 5 stars for books that completely transfer me to the their world. This one didn’t do that, but was good nonetheless.
It’s a second book in the series and it’s depicting a relationship between Sawyer, Gideon Yorks manager and Adam Haas, a professional baseball player, who is bought by a club that Sawyer owns and doesn’t deal with much except financing it.
They have met before however and their first interactions are rather cringy to read.
I got a feeling that the author changed her mind about Adam’s character and personality at some point. Trigger warning SA, when Adam was a minor, which kind of looks like the author had to put in because she couldn’t possibly find another reason why he would be an alcoholic so young. I didn’t particularly like that to be honest with you. I find that it’s an easy out for a lot of authors when they want their characters to have some trauma. Either that or parental assault.
He was so sweet and kind in the beginning, and then a compete 180 with the Boston room scene. I sat there and was like WTF?! 😳
He’s just so all over the place. I also didn’t expect him to be so random in his kinks but hey, not judging it was just off, his character was so odd. I felt sorry for him often and he was relatable at times because their relationship is so FUCKIN TOXIC! I hoped that by the end or at least in the epilogue we would have a glimpse of a healthier version of them and their relationship but we didn’t get that. Their big solution for toxic and codependent relationships is to embrace it?! Like we are toxic but what can you do, it is what it is. 🤷🏻♀️
I’m happy however that Sawyer got his happy ending, it was pure torture to see him in first book, I could relate to that as well. I found his insecurities very funny though. When he asks both Gideon and Sheridan how he looks, and if he is good in bed. I don’t think there are a lot of billionaires who wonder and ponder such stuff. I can’t know that but I’ve been in the company of powerful people and they do not ponder such things about themselves, it’s why they are powerful, they fully believe in themselves and their abilities.
I had a good time reading it, ergo 4 stars. The writing is very easy to follow and it just flows nicely , which means a lot to a nonnative reader.
I will continue reading the series though.
P.S. the spice was spicing here, but I’m not crazy about the nicknames… boss and player… baby boy from Boston has my heart though 😩
It’s a second book in the series and it’s depicting a relationship between Sawyer, Gideon Yorks manager and Adam Haas, a professional baseball player, who is bought by a club that Sawyer owns and doesn’t deal with much except financing it.
They have met before however and their first interactions are rather cringy to read.
I got a feeling that the author changed her mind about Adam’s character and personality at some point. Trigger warning SA, when Adam was a minor, which kind of looks like the author had to put in because she couldn’t possibly find another reason why he would be an alcoholic so young. I didn’t particularly like that to be honest with you. I find that it’s an easy out for a lot of authors when they want their characters to have some trauma. Either that or parental assault.
He was so sweet and kind in the beginning, and then a compete 180 with the Boston room scene. I sat there and was like WTF?! 😳
He’s just so all over the place. I also didn’t expect him to be so random in his kinks but hey, not judging it was just off, his character was so odd. I felt sorry for him often and he was relatable at times because their relationship is so FUCKIN TOXIC! I hoped that by the end or at least in the epilogue we would have a glimpse of a healthier version of them and their relationship but we didn’t get that. Their big solution for toxic and codependent relationships is to embrace it?! Like we are toxic but what can you do, it is what it is. 🤷🏻♀️
I’m happy however that Sawyer got his happy ending, it was pure torture to see him in first book, I could relate to that as well. I found his insecurities very funny though. When he asks both Gideon and Sheridan how he looks, and if he is good in bed. I don’t think there are a lot of billionaires who wonder and ponder such stuff. I can’t know that but I’ve been in the company of powerful people and they do not ponder such things about themselves, it’s why they are powerful, they fully believe in themselves and their abilities.
I had a good time reading it, ergo 4 stars. The writing is very easy to follow and it just flows nicely , which means a lot to a nonnative reader.
I will continue reading the series though.
P.S. the spice was spicing here, but I’m not crazy about the nicknames… boss and player… baby boy from Boston has my heart though 😩
February 4, 2024
Read to me by Alexa
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
✅ Toxic codependency
✅ age gap
✅ possessiveness
✅ vers couple ( didn’t love that part, but it made sense for their characters so I wasn’t too mad)
Sawyer is a billionaire owner of a talent management firm and he happens to also own a baseball team. He finds himself in rehab after a DUI because he’s mourning the loss of his much younger hot ex boyfriend that is now married to someone else. In rehab he meets Adam.
Adam is a young rising baseball star but he’s got some issues with depression that led him to poor coping with alcohol.
Adam and Sawywer don’t really kick things off until they get out of rehab and realize that Adam plays for Sawyer’s team.
They have a lot of obstacles to overcome initially and throughout the story. Neither identity as gay prior to getting together despite Sawyer’s one off BF before this, neither can come out, there are both fresh out of rehab with plenty of issues, Adam is technically Sawyer’s employee, Sawyer has a GF…. It’s alot.
But this is a romance novel so they do make it work in the end and the journey there is 🔥🥵, angsty, and full of deep emotion.
I love how codependent they are. It’s not a healthy codependency either. It’s definitely toxic. But I loved it. My only complaint was some drama in the last 1/4 of the book that seemed like it was gonna lead to character growth and then went no where. So I was just left feeling like why did we go through that? I was fine with their flaws but I was also okay if the story was going to move in a direction that was gonna help them improve. I don’t like drama for drama’s sake though….
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
✅ Toxic codependency
✅ age gap
✅ possessiveness
✅ vers couple ( didn’t love that part, but it made sense for their characters so I wasn’t too mad)
Sawyer is a billionaire owner of a talent management firm and he happens to also own a baseball team. He finds himself in rehab after a DUI because he’s mourning the loss of his much younger hot ex boyfriend that is now married to someone else. In rehab he meets Adam.
Adam is a young rising baseball star but he’s got some issues with depression that led him to poor coping with alcohol.
Adam and Sawywer don’t really kick things off until they get out of rehab and realize that Adam plays for Sawyer’s team.
They have a lot of obstacles to overcome initially and throughout the story. Neither identity as gay prior to getting together despite Sawyer’s one off BF before this, neither can come out, there are both fresh out of rehab with plenty of issues, Adam is technically Sawyer’s employee, Sawyer has a GF…. It’s alot.
But this is a romance novel so they do make it work in the end and the journey there is 🔥🥵, angsty, and full of deep emotion.
I love how codependent they are. It’s not a healthy codependency either. It’s definitely toxic. But I loved it. My only complaint was some drama in the last 1/4 of the book that seemed like it was gonna lead to character growth and then went no where. So I was just left feeling like why did we go through that? I was fine with their flaws but I was also okay if the story was going to move in a direction that was gonna help them improve. I don’t like drama for drama’s sake though….
March 1, 2024
It took me reading a bit to get into this book but once I did, I really liked it. This couple is an example of the type of needy I love to read about. Want to be with each other all the time, need to be in touch when they’re not. Miss each other something awful while apart. They took some time getting together partly because of that need and their worry about it. I loved that too. I also love angst and this story had some along the way and especially near the end. It was perfect. There’s a lot of sex and usually that bores me (I love the erotica in erotic books but sometimes too much is just that - too much) and I skim through it all after the first time or two but it worked for me in this one. It was good to spend a bit of time with Gideon and Jax again too. Off to read about Vince and his guys now.
May 22, 2025
4.5⭐️ 4🌶️ 5🎧
July 29, 2025
i loved sawyer’s story and stoked that he got his hea!!
it was so raw but at the same moment so perfect!
i loved how adam pushed sawyer to be better for himself and nobody else!
the smutty scenes are off the charts!!!🥵
i loved how protective they became over each other😂
it was an overall beautiful book to read!
it was so raw but at the same moment so perfect!
i loved how adam pushed sawyer to be better for himself and nobody else!
the smutty scenes are off the charts!!!🥵
i loved how protective they became over each other😂
it was an overall beautiful book to read!
January 5, 2024
|| 4.5 Stars ||
I don't know what August Jones puts in her books that makes them so addictive, but this was another one that I just couldn't put down.
Adam and Sawyer meet in rehab, and are reunited a few months later when Adam begins to play for the baseball team that Sawyer owns. Sawyer is still heartbroken over Gideon's marriage to Jax (from The Handler), but he finds himself drawn to Adam, and before long they embark on an extremely intense secret relationship. However, due to their respective positions and Sawyers history with Gideon, things aren’t exactly smooth sailing.
The beginning of their relationship is pretty fumbling and awkward, with a dash of angst, but then it becomes sweet and passionate. I loooove codependency, so I was eating this up. I loved the way that Sawyer and Adam couldn't get close enough to each other, and how reliant they were on each others presence. It's wildly unhealthy (especially given their addictions & recovery), but it makes for great reading! They were equally possessive over each other, and I liked that their relationship was truly vers, with a constant battle for dominance.
Which brings me to the spice, which was... pheew. Again, this is a spice-heavy book with not a huge plot, but I never felt bored. I was a bit put off by the MF breeding kink scenes, but they were very brief. There was less kink in this story overall, but the spice still felt intense.
Honourable mention for the cameos of Gideon York too. I would honestly read another whole book about him, I love that little brat.
Overall, I loved it, and I can't wait to read The Director. MMM? Sign me up!
I don't know what August Jones puts in her books that makes them so addictive, but this was another one that I just couldn't put down.
Adam and Sawyer meet in rehab, and are reunited a few months later when Adam begins to play for the baseball team that Sawyer owns. Sawyer is still heartbroken over Gideon's marriage to Jax (from The Handler), but he finds himself drawn to Adam, and before long they embark on an extremely intense secret relationship. However, due to their respective positions and Sawyers history with Gideon, things aren’t exactly smooth sailing.
The beginning of their relationship is pretty fumbling and awkward, with a dash of angst, but then it becomes sweet and passionate. I loooove codependency, so I was eating this up. I loved the way that Sawyer and Adam couldn't get close enough to each other, and how reliant they were on each others presence. It's wildly unhealthy (especially given their addictions & recovery), but it makes for great reading! They were equally possessive over each other, and I liked that their relationship was truly vers, with a constant battle for dominance.
Which brings me to the spice, which was... pheew. Again, this is a spice-heavy book with not a huge plot, but I never felt bored. I was a bit put off by the MF breeding kink scenes, but they were very brief. There was less kink in this story overall, but the spice still felt intense.
Honourable mention for the cameos of Gideon York too. I would honestly read another whole book about him, I love that little brat.
Overall, I loved it, and I can't wait to read The Director. MMM? Sign me up!
I genuinely never thought I could want anyone this much. I don’t even think I knew it was possible to want someone like this. It feels like so much more than love. It feels like everything.
May 2, 2025
I never thougt I would say that a book have too much spice. Read this and tell me you don't agree. Predictable. The first book was soooo good, so maby the expectations where too high? Just remember that this is my opinion...
June 12, 2024
hot hot hot
Sexy as hell and very enjoyable read. Characters are well developed and story line fun. If you like mm erotic books this is a good one
Sexy as hell and very enjoyable read. Characters are well developed and story line fun. If you like mm erotic books this is a good one
July 3, 2025
The Baller’ is Sawyer and Adam’s book and it was GOOD! Co-dependency trope is also a favorite and they have that in the bag. Adam’s character means everything to me, I just get him; he’s an all or nothing kind of guy and I want to hug him. Sawyer…the man that you are! I love them, I always go back to them being my favorites so maybe they are.
December 27, 2024
sawyer + adam
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
standalone | 2nd book in Manhandled series | MM | erot!ca | billionaire/team owner x player | age gap (40s x 24) | baseball | MLB | forbidden | codependency | bi-awakening | vers af | HEA
These two were toxic AF. Like the codependency was off the charts, but I couldn't get enough of it. #noshame
Sawyer hit rock bottom after witnessing the man he loves (Gideon from book 1 - The Handler) marrying someone else - Jax Lawrence. Despite 7 years having passed since their breakup and a stint in rehab Sawyer still turns to alcohol, namely gin, to numb himself. One night at an event for his baseball team - the LA Flames - he comes into contact with the rookie pitcher, Adam Haas. But that's not the first time they met...they were in rehab together. It starts off with Adam wanting to help Sawyer choose something else over alcohol but it quickly evolves into a codependent situationship that will make you weak in the knees. The toxicity and codependence coupled with the forbidden aspect of the team owner fcking one of the players on the team will have you gripping your Kindle wondering where the hell these two will end up. This story HURT, but I also swooned like massive amounts. Adam's vegan cooking....Sawyer's means to fly all over for Adam...all of it was adorable and completely unhinged at the same time. Loved that August had them in Boston (New Englander here!). Once again, August nailed the spice and this book is packed with steam (hello MM erot!ca). This is without a doubt a 2024 favorite, 5 star read, and I am officially a SIMP for August Jones. Read it - enjoy it - vibe with it (bzzzzzzzzzzzz). You won't be disappointed if you're into hot, heavy, and toxic stories - Adam and Sawyer will DELIVER!
My IG edit
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
standalone | 2nd book in Manhandled series | MM | erot!ca | billionaire/team owner x player | age gap (40s x 24) | baseball | MLB | forbidden | codependency | bi-awakening | vers af | HEA
These two were toxic AF. Like the codependency was off the charts, but I couldn't get enough of it. #noshame
Sawyer hit rock bottom after witnessing the man he loves (Gideon from book 1 - The Handler) marrying someone else - Jax Lawrence. Despite 7 years having passed since their breakup and a stint in rehab Sawyer still turns to alcohol, namely gin, to numb himself. One night at an event for his baseball team - the LA Flames - he comes into contact with the rookie pitcher, Adam Haas. But that's not the first time they met...they were in rehab together. It starts off with Adam wanting to help Sawyer choose something else over alcohol but it quickly evolves into a codependent situationship that will make you weak in the knees. The toxicity and codependence coupled with the forbidden aspect of the team owner fcking one of the players on the team will have you gripping your Kindle wondering where the hell these two will end up. This story HURT, but I also swooned like massive amounts. Adam's vegan cooking....Sawyer's means to fly all over for Adam...all of it was adorable and completely unhinged at the same time. Loved that August had them in Boston (New Englander here!). Once again, August nailed the spice and this book is packed with steam (hello MM erot!ca). This is without a doubt a 2024 favorite, 5 star read, and I am officially a SIMP for August Jones. Read it - enjoy it - vibe with it (bzzzzzzzzzzzz). You won't be disappointed if you're into hot, heavy, and toxic stories - Adam and Sawyer will DELIVER!
My IG edit
February 2, 2024
Hot demais e é sempre a mesma coisa. Muito papo. Eles não tiveram a história pessoal desenvolvida na minha opinião. A vdd eh que o livro é pelo menos 60% sexo, e olha que é um livro grandinho
Preferi o primeiro da saga
Preferi o primeiro da saga
January 15, 2024
I absolutely loved this book. Low buzz constant angst for a deeply intimate, sexy story. I love the way August Jones serenades us into the story. I couldn't put this book down.
*Favorites
*To reread
*Favorites
*To reread
March 1, 2024
I could not put this down, so so so good cannot recommend enough
December 17, 2025
🎧 Audiobook review 🎧⚡ Spoilers and profanities might lie ahead —I usually like to talk shit about everything that goes down in these books
Damn, bitch, the neediness in this book had me absolutely feral. Both MCs are top-tier simps—desperate for each other in that unhinged, cannot-function-without-you way. Constantly needing to be together. Touching. Fucking. Kissing. Breathing each other in like oxygen. I loved it. Inject it straight into my bloodstream. I want to get high on this shit.
Oh, to be this lonely, this sad, this painfully love-starved—and then meet the one person who is just as starved for you. That’s not romance, that’s destiny with teeth. Perfection.
Toxic? Fuck yes. And that toxicity? Hot as hell.
Listen. I am a weak woman for whimpers, clawing, and that unhinged “the room is too far and I need to be inside you now” energy. And I adored—ABSOLUTELY ADORED—the fact that they were so obsessed with each other they switched from TOPS to Verse. I am deceased at the idea of two powerful, hyper-masculine men completely losing their minds while ravaging each other. Brain chemistry altered.
This book was a bit less intense than The Handler in terms of spice—not kink-heavy—but the emotional intensity more than made up for it. This is my third August Jones book (yes, I started out of order like the menace I am), and holy shit, I love her writing. The characters, their flaws, the mess, the depravity—chef’s kiss. And God help me, the spice? I live there now.
As I always say, I’m a serial skipper. Audiobooks almost never keep my attention; I ADHD-skip at least 25% of the content, and that’s if the book is good. But I listened to all three books in the Manhandled series with bated breath. No skipping. No zoning out. I didn’t want it to end. At all.
Are these books for everyone? Absolutely not. Do your research, know your limits. But for my tastes? This is gold. Pure, uncut, unadulterated bliss—for my brain, my heart, and my other regions.
I am a relationship-based story slut. There is no plot here—plot can go sit quietly in the corner. This is all raw emotion, obsession, and need.
I loved both MCs, but Adam owns my entire soul. That baby boy just wanted to be loved and needed—and he gave everything in return: heart, body, soul, and domestic king cooking skills. Proposing after a few months? Who am I to judge. I got engaged after three and here I am, 16 years later, still feral for my husband.
Sawyer was a little bit (okay, a lot) shitty and made some choices (okay, a lot) that were… let’s say deeply questionable. But if characters were perfect, we wouldn’t have drama. Let’s blame fear and past trauma, slap a warning label on it, and move on.
The audiobooks aren’t duet style, but given the fact they are both male it's easier on the ears. Nick Russo is the king of MM audiobooks <3
Damn, bitch, the neediness in this book had me absolutely feral. Both MCs are top-tier simps—desperate for each other in that unhinged, cannot-function-without-you way. Constantly needing to be together. Touching. Fucking. Kissing. Breathing each other in like oxygen. I loved it. Inject it straight into my bloodstream. I want to get high on this shit.
Oh, to be this lonely, this sad, this painfully love-starved—and then meet the one person who is just as starved for you. That’s not romance, that’s destiny with teeth. Perfection.
Toxic? Fuck yes. And that toxicity? Hot as hell.
Listen. I am a weak woman for whimpers, clawing, and that unhinged “the room is too far and I need to be inside you now” energy. And I adored—ABSOLUTELY ADORED—the fact that they were so obsessed with each other they switched from TOPS to Verse. I am deceased at the idea of two powerful, hyper-masculine men completely losing their minds while ravaging each other. Brain chemistry altered.
This book was a bit less intense than The Handler in terms of spice—not kink-heavy—but the emotional intensity more than made up for it. This is my third August Jones book (yes, I started out of order like the menace I am), and holy shit, I love her writing. The characters, their flaws, the mess, the depravity—chef’s kiss. And God help me, the spice? I live there now.
As I always say, I’m a serial skipper. Audiobooks almost never keep my attention; I ADHD-skip at least 25% of the content, and that’s if the book is good. But I listened to all three books in the Manhandled series with bated breath. No skipping. No zoning out. I didn’t want it to end. At all.
Are these books for everyone? Absolutely not. Do your research, know your limits. But for my tastes? This is gold. Pure, uncut, unadulterated bliss—for my brain, my heart, and my other regions.
I am a relationship-based story slut. There is no plot here—plot can go sit quietly in the corner. This is all raw emotion, obsession, and need.
I loved both MCs, but Adam owns my entire soul. That baby boy just wanted to be loved and needed—and he gave everything in return: heart, body, soul, and domestic king cooking skills. Proposing after a few months? Who am I to judge. I got engaged after three and here I am, 16 years later, still feral for my husband.
Sawyer was a little bit (okay, a lot) shitty and made some choices (okay, a lot) that were… let’s say deeply questionable. But if characters were perfect, we wouldn’t have drama. Let’s blame fear and past trauma, slap a warning label on it, and move on.
The audiobooks aren’t duet style, but given the fact they are both male it's easier on the ears. Nick Russo is the king of MM audiobooks <3
June 30, 2025
Read this review which made me think I would loooove this. I co-sign everything in that review, she's right on the money about this book. It does have epic co-dependency, bountiful sex scenes, major unhinged vibes, emotional betrayal, and definitely not enough on the groveling side. But even the lack of good groveling (there is some, but it's not enough) makes sense because Adam was clearly so "addicted" to Sawyer that it wouldn't have mattered, he was going back to him. You know, a "you had me at hello" sort of situation. The bar was on the floor, to be honest.
But it still doesn't go above three stars for me because it was just too long, way too many sex scenes, the pacing and flow was just off all over the place. I ended up skimming so much of this. Could it be that my brain just hasn't been in a romance space and so nothing is really satisfying it? Maybe? But I also thought there was just way too much extraneous stuff in here and it needed to be really tightened up. I shouldn't be skimming this much if I'm properly emotionally engaged.
I never read the first in this series, so I'm not properly educated on Gideon and Sawyer's previous relationship. But as a stand alone, I feel like I had enough information and I honestly felt like Gideon and his husband (whose name I forgot) kind of detracted from the story rather than adding to it. I guess we needed to widen Sawyer's life beyond Adam and his ex-girlfriend so I sort of get it, but all the Gideon stuff was just distracting and boring. I also didn't buy Sawyer's "but I'm afraid of being called a groomer (again)!" excuse for why he treated Adam so shabbily during the whole forced-out-of-the-closet situation. Someone that rich and powerful is not going to fear getting called a groomer as his main issue.
I appreciate that this author is gung-ho on sexy spicy co-dependent romance, that is my vibe, but I wish she'd work on pacing and tightening things up. I've read at least one other (one of the doormen series) that had similar problems.
But it still doesn't go above three stars for me because it was just too long, way too many sex scenes, the pacing and flow was just off all over the place. I ended up skimming so much of this. Could it be that my brain just hasn't been in a romance space and so nothing is really satisfying it? Maybe? But I also thought there was just way too much extraneous stuff in here and it needed to be really tightened up. I shouldn't be skimming this much if I'm properly emotionally engaged.
I never read the first in this series, so I'm not properly educated on Gideon and Sawyer's previous relationship. But as a stand alone, I feel like I had enough information and I honestly felt like Gideon and his husband (whose name I forgot) kind of detracted from the story rather than adding to it. I guess we needed to widen Sawyer's life beyond Adam and his ex-girlfriend so I sort of get it, but all the Gideon stuff was just distracting and boring. I also didn't buy Sawyer's "but I'm afraid of being called a groomer (again)!" excuse for why he treated Adam so shabbily during the whole forced-out-of-the-closet situation. Someone that rich and powerful is not going to fear getting called a groomer as his main issue.
I appreciate that this author is gung-ho on sexy spicy co-dependent romance, that is my vibe, but I wish she'd work on pacing and tightening things up. I've read at least one other (one of the doormen series) that had similar problems.
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