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SSU Boys #0.5
Initiation
Latino linebacker Emilio Madero has a huge crush on the new backup quarterback. He’s perfection in motion with his lean, muscled body and rich boy good looks. But there’s no way in hell Emilio is going to do anything about it. He’ll just have to be content with fantasizing about the guy of his dreams and watching him from afar, because hitting on another player is out of the question.
That is, until Andrew turns the tables and makes the first move. Then all bets are off as the two of them drift into uncharted territory.
That is, until Andrew turns the tables and makes the first move. Then all bets are off as the two of them drift into uncharted territory.
94 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 27, 2014
25 people are currently reading
418 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
March 28, 2020
I loved this story! Maris Black has a way of telling a compelling and romantic love story that's also realistic and relate-able. Her characters are not stereotypes but complex and layered like everyday people. Emilio is a masculine Latino football player that is not out about his sexuality but can't help but fantasize about the new freshman football player Andrew. Andrew is younger but has a strong sense of who he is and what he wants. He's not reluctant to let Emilio know either. The story follows them on their road to discovery and relationships. It also delves into deeper issues unlike a lot of male/male novels. The story touches on issues of class, race and self esteem. Being a short story, I really didn't expect to connect to the characters as much as I did. I totally saw myself in Andrew and could relate easily to the situations that he was confronted with. Having read Maris Blacks previous books, I could say that relate-able characters are her signature.The book is a great read. I was satisfied with the ending even though I wasn't ready for it to be over. I'm really not done with these two. I hope Maris isn't either.
April 5, 2017
Okay that was super cute and hot as hell... great characters! *smirks* I did the audio version, which was narrated by Chris Patton, so the MC sounded just like Adrien and he had such a dirty mouth.
September 10, 2015
So this is a bit sized love story that is pretty angst-ridden.
Emilio has a crush on Andrew but fears he’s out-classed by the all American freshman. Not to mention that he can’t just be gay with a guy on the team.
The night the two get together is a truly awful event of hazing and then furtive sex between a jaded “player” and a golden-hearted virgin. Andrew has a lot to teach Emilio about love – the kind you do with your heart.
The smexy times are super hot between these two and in a short number of pages you get the idea that they just might have a chance at something – it’s definitely something that keeps you interested in the series.
But… be warned it is hard to read at times, there is a lot of pain in this story, but a lot of feels too. And a HFN, no HEA – not yet.
Audio
Chris Patton is amazing. I really have become quite a fan of his. I’ve enjoyed every one of his narrations and though he doesn’t do anything “over the top”, he is really good at handling emotions and making you part of the story. It definitely adds to the overall experience.
4.25 of 5 stars
Emilio has a crush on Andrew but fears he’s out-classed by the all American freshman. Not to mention that he can’t just be gay with a guy on the team.
The night the two get together is a truly awful event of hazing and then furtive sex between a jaded “player” and a golden-hearted virgin. Andrew has a lot to teach Emilio about love – the kind you do with your heart.
The smexy times are super hot between these two and in a short number of pages you get the idea that they just might have a chance at something – it’s definitely something that keeps you interested in the series.
But… be warned it is hard to read at times, there is a lot of pain in this story, but a lot of feels too. And a HFN, no HEA – not yet.
Audio
Chris Patton is amazing. I really have become quite a fan of his. I’ve enjoyed every one of his narrations and though he doesn’t do anything “over the top”, he is really good at handling emotions and making you part of the story. It definitely adds to the overall experience.
4.25 of 5 stars
February 3, 2023
I remember reading Maris Black's Kage trilogy and really like it. I thought I'd give this series by Black a try and this novella is the first part. It's just under 100 pages and those pages wheel by pretty quickly. The entire novella takes place over a couple or three days and is told from the POV of Emilio, a linebacker for a college football team, who takes interest in Andrew, a freshman he first sees at a football training camp.
Although Emilio things his feelings for Andrew are just sexual infatuation, of course it progresses to more than that, although Emilio has to have a metaphorical kick in the gut to realize that. I'm not sure how this sets up the rest of the series, as the first book deals with a couple of wrestlers, but there is this interesting subplot of a guy named Mitch, who comes across as a bit homophobic but has something else going on in his head.
Still, it's just ok. Not much happens in the way of characterization for either MC, although there are some aspects of Emilio that are mentioned that shows why he's more of a fuck and run kind of guy. There is also some casual racial remarks that I was kinda "ugh" about. Emilio calls Andrew "white boy" a few times and Andrew calls Latino Emilio a "beaner" once. If these guys were friends for a long time I could see this as friendly banter but they literally just get to know each other. Then there is a lot of problematic stereotypes about Hispanics and Black kinda makes it seems that Emilio has whiteness envy almost. He describes himself as "looking like he belongs in prison whereas Andrew looks like he could be [his] lawyer." ugh ugh ugh
I'll read the next SSU book, and hopefully it will have a lot more to it than this novella.
Although Emilio things his feelings for Andrew are just sexual infatuation, of course it progresses to more than that, although Emilio has to have a metaphorical kick in the gut to realize that. I'm not sure how this sets up the rest of the series, as the first book deals with a couple of wrestlers, but there is this interesting subplot of a guy named Mitch, who comes across as a bit homophobic but has something else going on in his head.
Still, it's just ok. Not much happens in the way of characterization for either MC, although there are some aspects of Emilio that are mentioned that shows why he's more of a fuck and run kind of guy. There is also some casual racial remarks that I was kinda "ugh" about. Emilio calls Andrew "white boy" a few times and Andrew calls Latino Emilio a "beaner" once. If these guys were friends for a long time I could see this as friendly banter but they literally just get to know each other. Then there is a lot of problematic stereotypes about Hispanics and Black kinda makes it seems that Emilio has whiteness envy almost. He describes himself as "looking like he belongs in prison whereas Andrew looks like he could be [his] lawyer." ugh ugh ugh
I'll read the next SSU book, and hopefully it will have a lot more to it than this novella.
July 26, 2020
I’d like to read a short story/serial/novel and fall into the plot without racist stereotypes showing up in the first couple of pages. Not a big ask, but when an author’s implicit biases show up on the page, it’s not likely to happen.
I hadn’t even made it six percent into the story before this gem made an appearance:
“I would be mortified if anyone found out that I’ve imagined us walking around school together, the boy next door quarterback and the badass Latino linebacker. We’re such polar opposites. I look like I belong in prison, and he looks like he could be my lawyer, but I think we’d make a great couple anyway.”
Oh yeah... at 6%
Then...
”Manuel the janitor is the only person with a Hispanic accent who would be wandering these halls at night.”
10% mark peeps
What the hell is a Hispanic accent?!
This was my first Maris Black read, and it’ll be my last. I made it 15% into this short before I noped out. M/M romance has always had a problem with race and implicit bias in storytelling, but holy moly I usually stick with reading authors whose work I don’t find problematic. I was going through my Kindle and decided to give a couple of new to me authors a chance, and they’ve only further turned me away from reading what many consider to be popular genre authors. Disappointing, to say the least.
I hadn’t even made it six percent into the story before this gem made an appearance:
“I would be mortified if anyone found out that I’ve imagined us walking around school together, the boy next door quarterback and the badass Latino linebacker. We’re such polar opposites. I look like I belong in prison, and he looks like he could be my lawyer, but I think we’d make a great couple anyway.”
Oh yeah... at 6%
Then...
”Manuel the janitor is the only person with a Hispanic accent who would be wandering these halls at night.”
10% mark peeps
What the hell is a Hispanic accent?!
This was my first Maris Black read, and it’ll be my last. I made it 15% into this short before I noped out. M/M romance has always had a problem with race and implicit bias in storytelling, but holy moly I usually stick with reading authors whose work I don’t find problematic. I was going through my Kindle and decided to give a couple of new to me authors a chance, and they’ve only further turned me away from reading what many consider to be popular genre authors. Disappointing, to say the least.
December 1, 2015
Incredibly racist. I am not Hispanic, but I was incredibly offended. The whole thing is based on negative stereotypes of hispanic people, awful.
Edit:
So this story was basically about the MC feeling down about himself because he's hispanic, and apparently that is inherently bad? It was a little white boy hero for me, like the MC was stepping up the social ladder, or better in some way because a white boy was interested in him, but of course the MC doesn't feel like he deserves the white boy, because white people are apparently inherently better than non-white people.
I was not feeling this at all, as a woman of colour I was down right offended. I almost crossed this author completely off my list, but the Kage series was decent, and non-racist.
Edit:
So this story was basically about the MC feeling down about himself because he's hispanic, and apparently that is inherently bad? It was a little white boy hero for me, like the MC was stepping up the social ladder, or better in some way because a white boy was interested in him, but of course the MC doesn't feel like he deserves the white boy, because white people are apparently inherently better than non-white people.
I was not feeling this at all, as a woman of colour I was down right offended. I almost crossed this author completely off my list, but the Kage series was decent, and non-racist.
September 28, 2018
So... I was mostly enjoying this bc character of colour? YAY.
Except...
Except...
December 30, 2014
3.5 rounded up. One cheeky Latino character who is feeling sorry for himself, one virginal All-American boy who wants said hot Latino to be 'the one' and a bunch of homophobic players who insist on stupid frat-type initiations. I could've done without them.
July 1, 2015
Well, I sure hope that the other 3 books that I already bought aren't incomplete like this one is. Wish I would have known that this ends at 57%.... And takes place over two days?! That's not a book, it's a couple of freakin' chapters!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2016
This was certainly a hot one! More smutty than telling a story but still it was a fun sexy read. Only thing I didn't particularly like is how Emilio always kept putting himself down because of his race & his past. It bugged me. But in the end I think he wised up.
January 12, 2018
Re-read 1/12/18: Did not hold up all on re-read. The romance was lacking and the representation of Emilio, a Mexican-American college football player, was not good. 😒
Original rating 4/14/14: 4⭐s
Original rating 4/14/14: 4⭐s
December 1, 2014
4.5 star review by Dan
I really enjoyed this short novella set in the author’s SSU Boys series. In this installment we are introduced to Emilio, the narrator of the story. Emilio is a sophomore at SSU and is a linebacker on the school’s football team.
The story starts at the initiation of the freshmen football players. Initiation being a nice name for hazing. While the hazing is occurring, Emilio make eye contact with a freshman who isn’t getting hazed. That freshman, Andrew is checking out Emilio’s crotch! One thing leads to another, we have a quick interrupted attempt at sex, then Andrew takes Emilio home to meet his mother, who it seems already knows all about him.
The rest of the story is set the next day when the team goes off to another town for their first overnight football away game. For such a short story, I felt I really got to know the characters and I really want to know what happens to them down the road after this story ends!
I recommend this novella. I’ve gotten it on good authority that this teaser will be expanded in the near future and we will hear more from Emilio and Andrew! This novella is a standalone and can be read on it’s own, but I highly recommend you read all the books in the series!
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
I really enjoyed this short novella set in the author’s SSU Boys series. In this installment we are introduced to Emilio, the narrator of the story. Emilio is a sophomore at SSU and is a linebacker on the school’s football team.
The story starts at the initiation of the freshmen football players. Initiation being a nice name for hazing. While the hazing is occurring, Emilio make eye contact with a freshman who isn’t getting hazed. That freshman, Andrew is checking out Emilio’s crotch! One thing leads to another, we have a quick interrupted attempt at sex, then Andrew takes Emilio home to meet his mother, who it seems already knows all about him.
The rest of the story is set the next day when the team goes off to another town for their first overnight football away game. For such a short story, I felt I really got to know the characters and I really want to know what happens to them down the road after this story ends!
I recommend this novella. I’ve gotten it on good authority that this teaser will be expanded in the near future and we will hear more from Emilio and Andrew! This novella is a standalone and can be read on it’s own, but I highly recommend you read all the books in the series!
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
May 7, 2014
Maris Black is a detailed writer! She holds you and you do not want to put the Kindle down, no matter if it is a short read. thought wrestling OMG and now FootballI She has a way with her writing that makes you believe you are part of the story, sitting there watching it unfold. I have read Maris other 2 books Pinned and Owning Corey! These SSU BOYS you will put your butt in a chair and not want to move!!! Matter of fact I am proudly wearing a SSU BOYS shirt, that shows I do support her books. I am fairly new to the MM reading world, but OMG this is a great way to start!! So if I were you start with Pinned and work your way towards Initiation! Those SSU BOYS will make you WANT MORE ;-)
Read
July 3, 2015DNF Disgusting stars
I DNF this book it was disgusting!!!
I have an open mind to a lot of things but this was degrading and utterly disgusting.
Being whipped and licked by 9 other boys and running with crackers between your but and if it falls out you must eat it and watching gay porn and jacking of otherwise being pissed on, no thank you - not my cup of anything
I DNF this book it was disgusting!!!
I have an open mind to a lot of things but this was degrading and utterly disgusting.
Being whipped and licked by 9 other boys and running with crackers between your but and if it falls out you must eat it and watching gay porn and jacking of otherwise being pissed on, no thank you - not my cup of anything
October 17, 2017
This one hour read is packed full of hot sex and emotions. Emilio and Andrew are explosive. Super hot M/M sexiness and a tale that is full of awakening and desire. Maris Black lets us know these characters in quick order, and we can feel the connection. College football, right of initiation, and a hesitant Latino Emilio being confronted by Andrew, who gives them each what they want and need. ENJOY !!!
February 23, 2017
A great start to 2017! This was a pretty good book. A bit rushed since it was less than 100 pages. I can already tell I'm not going to *love* this series like I loved KAGE, but I still plan to continue with the audiobooks. It appears that each book is about a different couple and a different sport. The next one is about wrestlers. Woo hoo!
August 10, 2016
Man seriously?!? Why can't it ever just be the two Damn men. Why is there always a third fckin party ??? I was loving it until then. Then I had no interest what so ever. I really hope the third book doesn't disappoint since the wait feels like forever.
September 30, 2014
Sexy introduction to the SSU Boys series. I enjoyed both Andrew and Emilio and the struggles that they went through. Both young men have a lot to overcome though who really knows how many truly straight guys are on the football team.
March 2, 2014
hot stuff. I'm seriously loving this author. I can't wait for the next ssu book!
March 4, 2014
Maris is definitely one of my auto-buy authors. Just love her style of writing and her choice of subject!
December 15, 2015
3.5 stars
Short, hot & angsty story that has been turned in a well-made audiobook.
Short, hot & angsty story that has been turned in a well-made audiobook.
June 16, 2014
want more of these boys
May 28, 2015
3.5 because of the length. Can't wait to continue the series
June 7, 2015
Horrible! Just horrible! Emilio's character was so stereotypical it was offensive!!! I'm scratching this author off my list.
March 14, 2017
http://www.voluptueusementvotre.fr/20...
UES Boys est une saga qui m’a tout de suite attirée lors de la préparation des sorties hebdomadaire, car c’est dans le milieu du sport qu’elle se déroule. J’étais très intriguée de savoir comment l’auteure allait traiter une histoire d’amour entre hommes à travers l’ambiance macho du football universitaire.
Initiation est une mise en jambe dans cet univers réputé pour ne pas faire de cadeau dans les vestiaires. On apprend à faire la connaissance d’Emilio et Andrew lors d’une séance de bizutage musclée qui nous ouvre les yeux sur cette pratique assez courante dans les facultés. C’est une scène-choc qui ouvre la voie à une histoire dite « impossible ».
La première chose que je retiens de ce tome c’est la sensualité qu’il s’en dégage. En effet, l’auteure a parfaitement imagé son récit ce qui m’a totalement captivé. Les ébats sont torrides à souhait, érotiques au possible. La connexion entre les personnages est évidente, palpitante, haletante. Il est impossible de ne pas voir le lien qui se crée entre eux.
Outre cette passion, Emilio et Andrew vont devoir s’adapter l’un à l’autre dans un court laps de temps. L’action se déroulant sur quelques heures, Maris Black a centré son récit sur la myriade d’émotions qui anime ses héros : honte, colère, désespoir, confusion, rien ne leur sera épargné.
J’ai vraiment beaucoup aimé l’évolution de leur relation. Andrew apporte une nouvelle vision de la situation à Emilio ce qui va le pousser à réfléchir à la direction qu’il souhaite donner à sa vie. On s’attache rapidement à ces deux hommes si différents sur le papier et pourtant si complémentaires.
Le rythme effréné de narration est très agréable. On ne voit pas le temps passer. Je découvre Maris Black grâce à cette saga ce qui me donne vraiment envie de découvrir ses autres écrits. Elle a su m’emporter dans son histoire et m’apporter exactement ce que je recherchais. Initiation est une mise en bouche très alléchante pour la suite des événements.
UES Boys est une saga qui m’a tout de suite attirée lors de la préparation des sorties hebdomadaire, car c’est dans le milieu du sport qu’elle se déroule. J’étais très intriguée de savoir comment l’auteure allait traiter une histoire d’amour entre hommes à travers l’ambiance macho du football universitaire.
Initiation est une mise en jambe dans cet univers réputé pour ne pas faire de cadeau dans les vestiaires. On apprend à faire la connaissance d’Emilio et Andrew lors d’une séance de bizutage musclée qui nous ouvre les yeux sur cette pratique assez courante dans les facultés. C’est une scène-choc qui ouvre la voie à une histoire dite « impossible ».
La première chose que je retiens de ce tome c’est la sensualité qu’il s’en dégage. En effet, l’auteure a parfaitement imagé son récit ce qui m’a totalement captivé. Les ébats sont torrides à souhait, érotiques au possible. La connexion entre les personnages est évidente, palpitante, haletante. Il est impossible de ne pas voir le lien qui se crée entre eux.
Outre cette passion, Emilio et Andrew vont devoir s’adapter l’un à l’autre dans un court laps de temps. L’action se déroulant sur quelques heures, Maris Black a centré son récit sur la myriade d’émotions qui anime ses héros : honte, colère, désespoir, confusion, rien ne leur sera épargné.
J’ai vraiment beaucoup aimé l’évolution de leur relation. Andrew apporte une nouvelle vision de la situation à Emilio ce qui va le pousser à réfléchir à la direction qu’il souhaite donner à sa vie. On s’attache rapidement à ces deux hommes si différents sur le papier et pourtant si complémentaires.
Le rythme effréné de narration est très agréable. On ne voit pas le temps passer. Je découvre Maris Black grâce à cette saga ce qui me donne vraiment envie de découvrir ses autres écrits. Elle a su m’emporter dans son histoire et m’apporter exactement ce que je recherchais. Initiation est une mise en bouche très alléchante pour la suite des événements.
April 7, 2021
Emilio Madero, linebaker latin dans le placard, a l’œil (et pas que... ) attiré par un jeune quaterback lors du bizutage humiliant (pléonasme ?) à forte connotation sexuelle des nouveaux arrivés dans leur équipe.
Andrew Dalton, venu d'un milieu aisé, blondinet musclé, allume Emilio et après un petit intermède près du distributeur de friandises (no comment...) l'emmène au domicile parental, pour, je cite "Ma mère nous fera à dîner, on peut rester dans ma chambre, jouer aux jeux vidéo, regarder la télé et baiser toute la nuit"...
OK c'est chaud, plutôt bien écrit, totalement dans le cliché du petit blanc américain blond et musclé venant d'un milieu aisé qui craque sur le bad boy tatoué latino honteux enfoncé dans son placard, ça se lit vite et permet de passer un court moment.
Si c'est juste un mini one-shot et qu'on n'aura aucune suite à leur histoire, c'est très dommage et ça ne présente pas grand intérêt.
Si cette courte nouvelle n'est qu'une "mise en bouche" et permet de retrouver ces deux personnages dans les tomes suivants et de développer leur histoire, notamment avec l'intrigant Mitch, pourquoi pas... J'ai le tome 1 dans ma PAL, j'enchaine...
Andrew Dalton, venu d'un milieu aisé, blondinet musclé, allume Emilio et après un petit intermède près du distributeur de friandises (no comment...) l'emmène au domicile parental, pour, je cite "Ma mère nous fera à dîner, on peut rester dans ma chambre, jouer aux jeux vidéo, regarder la télé et baiser toute la nuit"...
OK c'est chaud, plutôt bien écrit, totalement dans le cliché du petit blanc américain blond et musclé venant d'un milieu aisé qui craque sur le bad boy tatoué latino honteux enfoncé dans son placard, ça se lit vite et permet de passer un court moment.
Si c'est juste un mini one-shot et qu'on n'aura aucune suite à leur histoire, c'est très dommage et ça ne présente pas grand intérêt.
Si cette courte nouvelle n'est qu'une "mise en bouche" et permet de retrouver ces deux personnages dans les tomes suivants et de développer leur histoire, notamment avec l'intrigant Mitch, pourquoi pas... J'ai le tome 1 dans ma PAL, j'enchaine...
May 23, 2020
Initiation is a short novella focusing on the lust and romance that sparks between two football players on a college football team. Emilio is a linebacker who’s firmly in the closet, but he can’t keep his eyes off of Andrew, the cute new quarterback. Lucky for Emilio, Andrew wants more than just Emilio’s eyes on him – he wants his hands and much, much more. The chemistry between these two young men is electric and hot. For a short novella, the characters and relationship were nicely developed and didn’t feel rushed. I wished the book was a little longer just because I wanted to experience more of the relationship between Emilio and Andrew, but I did find the ending pretty satisfying. The audiobook narration was well done and I quite enjoyed the overall production.
December 20, 2019
Might have been a good story if the book was longer...now there was just not enough character development, background info or build-up for the attraction and the blooming love between Emilio and Andrew. The reading experience felt hollow.
And I didn't like how Emilio was constantly thinking bad about himself and bringing up his race. He seemed like a good guy to me, the trash talk made no sense! There is nothing wrong with being Hispanic...
Plus the plot twist with Mitch was so weird and unexpected... WTF?
And I didn't like how Emilio was constantly thinking bad about himself and bringing up his race. He seemed like a good guy to me, the trash talk made no sense! There is nothing wrong with being Hispanic...
Plus the plot twist with Mitch was so weird and unexpected... WTF?
July 2, 2021
SSU line backer, Emilio, has walked away from his Latino gang but he still feels he is not good enough for the new quarterback, Andrew, who comes from a privileged background. I understand this novella is an appetiser for the SSU series and I liked the premise and the characters a lot, I just felt it contained more sex than story. There was some compelling trademark SSU drama, but not enough for my taste. Audio narrator, Chris Patton, is one of the best in the business - another great performance!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews