Playing Defense

Playing Defense #1

by Beckett Layne

This book is taboo with dark themes involving two broken men surviving through each other's dark desires.

There are many reasons for me not to want Clay:

He's selfish.

He's straight.

He's a monster.

He's my brother.

He keeps secrets from me.

And yet I need to be his anyway, and he will always make sure I do.

Words: 19,395

Genres: M M Romance, LGBT, Erotica, Contemporary, College, Dark, M M Sports Romance

ebook

Published December 18, 2023

Reviews

[Iman (hiatus) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

This book had great plot and then it vanished. I really wanted their past and backstory to unfold along with their romance, but that wasn’t what happen and honestly it’s frustrating. Dropping this from a 3 to a 2. Though it did end with a cliffhanger, so I believe there’s more to the story in part 2.

[Mariansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This was my first book with this close blood relations, and the author wrote it perfectly in my opinion. It’s angsty, and has some bully romance vibe to it!
The author writes with feels and emotions, and it made me get lost in the story. In the best possible way.
Love the characters and their connection.
I’m definitely excited to read the next! ♥️

[Renae Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this dark and toxic taboo romance between brothers Clay and Malcolm. I loved how many layers there are in this relationship. They both have experienced such dark moments together, which helps you realize how connected they are, which makes their complicated dynamic so much more fascinating than it ever could be. Overall I loved this amazing debut taboo romance and could not get enough. So excited for the next part!!!!

[Camm reads books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Estuvo entretenido, quiero masss

[My Dark Romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

TABOO DUET

Well this was something…

Book one was on the lighter side of taboo were we get to know brothers Clay and Malcom’s back story and a look into their relationship as brothers.

Book two…Ok, the spice is heating up. I enjoyed the second book so much more. It was on edge for a big chunk of it. Going there but not, a bit of a tease tbh but who doesn’t love a good tease 😛

Malcolm is a slave to his brother Clay, and what ever Clay says or does, Malcom finds too intriguing not to want, turn down or say no. He tries, but it’s a weak attempt to get Clay off his back (and his ass)

This is high heat 🌶️ and taboo because its sibling brothers having an affair at college where they live together. A game of revenge turns into sexual play, lust and forbidden love.

Warning ⚠️
It has childhood trauma and incest so check the TWs before you start reading it only to slam it.


Looking forward to book three 🔥 Playing to win, comming soon!!!!

[A.E. Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

♥️ ARC Review ♥️ Playing Defense ♥️ Beckett Layne ♥️

There’s nothing like a good taboo book. And I mean real taboo like Endscene or Secrets and Lies. Real blood ♥️

Nothing against stepbrothers or teacher/professor—to me it just doesn’t fall under the definition of taboo.
Sorry 🤷🏻‍♀️

Brothers on the other hand… yes, please 🔥🔥 So, when I heard there was a new sibling novella on the block, I was pretty much willing to sell my left kidney or entire VHS porn collection to get my hands on it (luckily it didnt come to that though 😅)

I read this book in one sitting. 19k just like that. I had a blast. Clay might be a certified A-hole but damn, that boy is one dirty motherf#cker and I loved every minute of it. So while my family was sleeping, I was drooling 🤤🤤

Whenever the words “baby brother” spilled from Clay’s lips, I felt like bringing out the pom poms and live out my inner cheerleading dream 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 Give me a C! Give me an L! Yeah, yeah, you get the picture… So f#cking sexy 🫠🫠

And Malcolm. Malcolm, Malcolm, Malcolm. What a brat. Constantly trying to find out what happens when you ask that age old question: “does my Big brother have a Big 🍆 and what would it feel like to choke on it?” Yes, don’t we all wanna know? Thank you, sweet Malcolm, for taking one for the team and doing the research 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

Malcolm gets what’s coming to him. You usually do when you play with fire, but as the book progresses it’s becoming increasingly more unclear who’s actually playing with whom… 🔥🔥 Clay might think that he has the upper hand but who knows?

One thing is for sure: January can’t come fast enough! I need part two asap! 😩😩 I’m beyond ready! This book was so f#cking good and if you love some good ol’ brotherly love, then go grab it!

*I rcvd an ARC from the author and I’m still flying high 🔥🔥🔥

[TaurReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just the type of book I like!

Full Review soon

[S a n d r a · Rating 3 out of 5]

❊ Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook ❊

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

I randomly saw a post about this novella scrolling through Instagram and I had to read it.

I haven’t tried many taboo romances, but I’m up to nearly everything while reading and I’m not scared of trying out new things (there are some kinks and tropes that are a hard no for me, but not taboo LOL).

This being a novella, it’s pretty short and so there’s no room for much development of the story. But it has huge potential! And you shouldn’t be afraid since it will end being a three-part story, and the next two will be longer! I can’t wait to read them.

In here we discover Clay and Malcom’s past, that they are half brothers and how was their childhood together. Actually, they share a room while on collage, but their relationship is pretty bumpy.

I won’t say too much since… short LOL But there’s a lot of steam!! It’s a nice beginning for their story, and I’m glad the author decided to continue it because if not it would have felt lacking.

As the beginning of what’s to come, however, it’s pretty nice. I except a lot of steam and complicated feeling for their future, but I can’t wait to see how they come to terms with what they feel for each other, and how they make it work.

[Maggie May · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author tried to write a dark romance with morally good characters. It didn’t work. The characters are just inconsistent and the darkness (which isn’t very dark) feels extremely forced. Also, it’s not a first book in duology, it’s a half a book.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmm
2.5 rounded down

I’m struggling with the rating a bit bc this short story has my fav trope: toxic co-dependency (plus incest, which I’m sometimes also in the mood for). The sex scenes weren’t bad either…the Halloween party scene especially was kinda hot! Actually, that scene is probably the only reason I’m giving it stars.

Everything else tho was not really to my liking. It‘s probably not the books fault, it’s my own preferences. I didn’t really like the younger brother. I could tolerate him, but barely so. He felt very immature, even almost childlike. He was supposed to be 18/19 years old and, yes, at that age people are still very immature but Malcolm felt like he was 13/14. It was especially jarring bc his big brother behaved a lot more manipulative and calculating in comparison. The power balance was def off and it irked me. Even if Malcolm technically monologued about how all of it was wrong and how he didn’t want to do it (but did really), he never truly tried to resist properly and I personally was craving more emotional and even physical stand off.
Malcolm quickly moved into the spineless MC category closer to the end and the whole vibe became too much like „Slave, do my bidding“ trope, which I actively dislike, kink or otherwise.
The big brother was underdeveloped too, especially in comparison to the younger one and I couldn’t connect with him at all. He was like ‚I care for my brother but I also resent him and now I want to punish him for what he did and NOW I wanna fuck him forever‘. All of that was a bit weird, especially without any proper explanation.
Another thing that irked me was that they called each other „brother“ way too many times. It felt forced. I know that some people get off on that, especially in context of sex scenes and I get it, but bc I don’t get off on characters calling each other „brother“ all the time in lieu of using names, it took me out almost every time it happened and it happened a lot!
Not sure I’ll read the continuation. I heavily dislike spineless MCs and noticeable power imbalance and judging from the ending that’s where their story is headed.

Halloween party scene ftw though! That was awesome!

[read•me•romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖤🏈Playing Defense // Beckett Layne 🏈🖤

Releasing Dec. 18

⚠️t boo 🩸 will be on Smashwords⚠️

🖤”He has me cornered like a mouse, and the decision is fully up to him. I don’t like it—I f✨ cking love it.”🖤

😈 Clay and Malcolm are some Naughty Naughty Broken Boys, and I am here for it. They are Toxic, and pining, and finding any excuse to fulfill the f*ntasies they have of each other. 😈

😏Dirty , shy, subbie lil Malcolm is sick of his cocky, dominant, player of a brother constantly bringing home bed partners - so he decides to spread a taboo rumor about the two of them to ruin Clay’s chances with the girls. I wonder how Malcolm’s dirty mind came up with that so quickly 😏.

🔥 Clay being the absolute A$$ hole, and horn dog that he is decides to make Malcolm pay… in dirty dirty ways. Oof! These two are absolutely obsessed with each other in all the ways- including the steamy ones. Just let those shmink tags tell ya! If you like steamy, toxic, tab oo- do not miss this one! 🔥

⚠️Ta b🩸bros
Toxic / Codependent
Revenge
Broken Boys
Opposites Attract
Protective / Possessive / Obsessive
Short and Steamy Read -70p
HFN - Part 2 Coming

🔥K!nky tags:
Strict Top/ Bottom: yes
Dub Con- Misleading Identity
CNC
D + s
Size Difference/ Manhandling
Degrading Dirty Talk
Mask Shmink
C-m Play

✅ yes, book has listed trigger warning

Official Description:

There are many reasons for me not to want Clay:

He’s selfish.

He’s straight.

He’s a monster.

He’s my brother.

He keeps secrets from me.

And yet I need to be his anyway, and he will always make sure I do.

💋 @read.me.romance

[Anne Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, where do I even begin with this book?? It has a very taboo storyline which isn’t for everyone. But I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. This book ends in a kinda happy place for now but really there’s a lot more to come from the story, I believe. Clay and Malcolm are brothers, when they were younger, something awful happened, which changed their whole life. It was agreed that the truth would not be told to Malcolm, but for Clay, it is something he can never get away from. He has emotional scars. He has psychological scars. He has physical scars that he will never get away from. But he does believe hiding the truth from Malcolm is the right thing to do. Clay is always there to protect his brother when Malcolm does something that he can’t turn back Clay decides to teach him a lesson not thinking this lesson would go anywhere but it takes him on a totally different route. There is such a strong chemistry between these two. Deep connection and they can’t get enough for one of another. But what’s to come from the next book. Can’t wait.

[RestlessPages]

This is really just the beginning, like an intro, and it stops rather abruptly - but there's a sequel, so...

Even though I knew this was erotica when I started, I found myself wanting to see more of the plot. Because the plot is there, laid out, but then the focus shifted to smut and stayed there. I assume it will pick up in 3rd book (because I already read the 2nd book and it barely addressed anything, it was still mostly smut).

°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*
*General Notes*
-Taboo (brothers), unhealthy codependency, erotica.
-Malcolm is 18-19? Clay is around 3 years older.

*Intimacy Notes*
-Top/bottom/verse: no penetration
-Kinks/sex notes: frotting, fingering, hot-dogging, rimming, thigh sex, humiliation and praise...
-Other:
・Clay has tattoos (never described)
・Malcolm is touch-starved
・nicknames: squirt, pipsqueak, sweetheart, baby...

[Tricia Ledford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clay and Malcom. Brothers by blood find themselves in the same college and apartment. Clay is a footballer and Malcom is a nerd but Malcom is codependent with Clay. Malcom relies on Clay, and all Clay does is bang chicks. Well Malcom comes up with the idea to start lying to the girls hanging around and he freaks em out by yelling then Clay and Malcom do dirty things to each other. Clay doesn't like a liar, and even he knows it's wrong and Malcom knows it's wrong Clay makes a truther out of Malcom
HFN. They will be more of these two boys.
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5 steam
Taboo. Brothers
First person duel point of view.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una vida difícil para dos hermanos que tratan de sobrellevar sus... ¿cosas?

Debo decir que en un principio estuvo bastante entretenido. La historia de los hermanos, cómo su trágica infancia los llevó a tener los problemas de su actualidad. Me gustó que hubiese una confusión en todo lo que estaba pasando, porque en la mayoría de libros lo describen demasiado natural. La tensión en medio de todo, pero en un punto se pierde un poco el sentido de venganza. También se pierde la historia de su infancia.

Tengo entendido que hay una segunda parte, pero considero que era necesario un poco más del principio y menos del final.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clay is not a very likeable character at all. Considering his and Malcolm's past, Clay isn't very kind to his brother at all. Malcolm in turn takes a massive risk being petty. When you look at both sets of behaviour, you can't help but wonder whether it was all a bit of the bloke protests too much. Even after giving in, Clay is still not pleasant, I'm hoping he redeems himself in the next book. If brocest is your thing, then this is the book for you. Can't wait for the next.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Giulia’s bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was HAWTTTTT🥵🥵🥵

So this was part one... and you need this novella in your life!
We get a major throwback at the beginning which explains some things and then it all lets you on a cliffie about what's to come, but THEN... phew😮‍💨 when the spice starts, it STARTS💥 it's hot anf will definitely let you more than bothered🥵

There's definitely some misunderstood jealousy and some unexpected feelings that you (and me🤷🏼‍♀️) will eat right up! And they're 🩸brothers, we know how we love our families around here😏

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clay saved his half brother when he was a child. Clay's protective and sheltering attitude changes as they age and they enter a taboo relationship. Their is coercion by Clay who seems mean and harassment but Malcolm wants to be used. This ends hanging as this has a continuing book to follow. It's a steamy, explicit novella that was hot despite what I thought I should feel and I need the follow up. I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary opinion.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

**ARC Read**

Without giving too much away for Book 1, Clay and Malcolm have always had a super close relationship, with Clay being Malcolm's protector from a young age. Once they reach college level, things start to change as Malcolm's nightmares start coming in full force and he doesn't understand why. When he starts a rumor about Clay for all of Clay's conquests to hear, things heat up in a game of epic revenge for the both of them.

HFN ending, but Book 2 is on the way

[Kassandra Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. If you know her writing then this won’t be a surprise, regardless of the tropes here (especially because I didn’t even read the blurb, she just said the magic words and I eagerly volunteered to read it). My only complaint is that it’s too short… and that I have to wait for part two. I need more ASAP. Guess I’ll have to settle for reading it again. Oh well.

Highly recommend.

I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sarahreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Today, Tomorrow, and Forever” Ashlynn Mills also known as Beckett Layne for her taboo works has this amazing way of leaving a phase forever engraved into your head. For me in this book it’s this one.


Malcom is tired of his brothers playboy ways and decides to get a little pay back by trashing his reputation with the ladies. Malcom is tired of making up excuses to the endless women at the door for my is brother is ignoring them so he stopped correcting them. When one lies turns into elaborate stories, how will Clay get his needs met?



“Don’t forget, the only monster you have to worry about is the one who sleeps only a few feet away. “

“Maybe we can both be winners and losers in this game together”

“He was at war with himself and I wasn’t letting him walk away without some battle wounds”

“If I’m bi, I’m no. That shit doesn’t matter to be. But I’m pretty sure I’m just Malcolmtized”

My heart was already in my throat at the very beginning beginning. I was so sucked in, I didn’t want to put it down. I blew this this novella! I knew this lift off and a cliffhanger, I cannot wait for the second one to come out! And the third. Maybe we can get a fourth *wink wink*

[M's ☆~HEA~☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clay & Malcolm had a seriously traumatic event occur during their childhood but luckily were kept/raised together all the way through college where their unexpected taboo romance begins. Clay is somewhat of a jerk but getting his POV more often and seeing more of his care taking side is helpful. This is a hot taboo book with a HFN and a part 2 coming. Can't wait to see how the brothers continue to explore the brand new activities/relationship they have just embarked upon.

[Syd Springer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book. I enjoyed Malcolm and Clay’s first book. These two have a complicated history and now that they are adults they are having craves that they both know that they shouldn’t have but can’t deny. This was a short taboo MM romance that will have you begging for the next book asap. I can’t wait for it!

I received a free e-book copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was good, but as a seasoned smut reader, I felt like it was missing something. It’s a short (around 70 pages). There weren’t many spicy scenes and the ones that were there, weren’t enough for me. It was hot, but I need more. More length and more spice. Especially for the price. I probably won’t be buying the second book.

[FHR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malcolm and Clay were always close with Clay being more protective of Malcolm. College brings a bit of a change to their dynamic so Malcolm does what he must to get Clay’s attention back onto himself.

This was a fantastic taboo read. A steamy story with a HFN ending that leaves you eager for the next book.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh man. I just devoured this! And the end...I need book two so badly!!! Clay and Malcolm are so hot together, but are also tender and sweet at times! Beckett Layne is a new voice in taboo and I am absolutely here for it. I will absolutely be following this new author for more stories and will definitely be on the lookout for the rest of this series!

[Petra · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a filthy little bro(?)cest bully romance.

This was everything I wanted and more. There is some angst, some jealousy, some tenderness and lots of filthy stuff they do together. Clay is such an asshole but I still loved him as a bully. Malcolm is a sweetheart but so soft for his brother.
Cannot wait for the next book.

[Amanda Reeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a h3ll of a read, dark and hot as fire about Malcolm and Clay. It's a taboo novella about two stepbrothers who find themselves feeling more than brotherly love. I loved this book and can't wait to hear more of these two.

[Reading Rommance · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tihnk this one just wasn't for me. I don't mind taboo themes, but I just wasn't vibing. I think because Clay was genuinely kind of mean. I did love Malcolm though. This was a very short, quick read, so that was nice. 3/5 spice levels.

[samuel · Rating 1 out of 5]

look this is fucking shit, u know its toxic as fuck and poor malcolm dude he only need mental help and love and clay definilly get abuse of this weekness and abuse of him, this its just dependence looool, i wanna kill myself after this