Necessary Roughness

by Jason Collins

I’ve made a career out of tearing Luke Dalton apart.

Criticizing him? Easy. Surviving the summer next to him? That’s another story.

As a sports journalist, I expose every fumble the NFL legend makes. Luke is my favorite target—arrogant, untouchable, perfect. Now that he’s retiring with millions, I thought I was finally rid of him.

Life, though, has a twisted sense of humor.

Turns out, I’m stuck next to Mr. Perfect all summer after he rented the beach house next to mine. Every time I see him shirtless and smirking, I can’t help but fantasize about wiping that grin off his face.

But here’s the the clock’s running out. My boss at Pinnacle Sports is demanding fresh insults—snarkier, meaner, and way more personal. Our rivalry is about to explode, and I’m not sure either of us will walk away unscathed.



Brett Mercer’s made a living out of dragging my name through the mud.

Every game, every play, he’s there mocking me on his podcast. So, when I discover my loudest critic is my new neighbor, I plan to ignore him—or drive him insane. But then I see the fiery look in Brett’s eyes up close, and everything changes.

The insults, the tension—it’s electric.

I don’t just want to get under his skin. I want to get him under me.

I see right through his tough, sarcastic facade. He wants to keep pushing me? Bring it on. He’s in for a fight, and I’m all in. The line between hate and love is razor-thin—and Brett’s standing right on the edge.

Necessary Roughness is a standalone novella.

Genres: Enemies To Lovers, M M Romance

118 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 6, 2024

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this novella. I wish it was longer!

[Eileen Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars.... I do wish it had been a little but longer.

Luke has retired from football. He had a great career and while his last season may not have been his best he did not deserve the constant attacks from a podcaster. They got so bad that the lucrative job he was working on was pulled. He did not need the money but he wanted the job. Now he has moved to the beach to get used to retirement. He asked for solitude but instead he gets neighbors close on both sides of his beach house. Um one is a little too close especially when he sees who lives there.

Brett has kept his followers high on his podcasts by dismantling one particular player, Luke Dalton. Now that he has retired Brett sees no reason why he needs to stop. For now he needs to take care of his boss's house on the beach. Along with the house he has to take care of the parrot. Luckily for him he will not be bored since the parrot talks, and talks a lot. After getting settled he is surprised to see someone is moving in next door. But he is stunned to see who it is.

Will Brett continue to rip on Luke? What happens when Luke's equipment is damaged, will he blame Luke? When there is a life threatening event who saves whom? Can Brett keep his followers happy or will he lose followers? Will the two of them ever see eye to eye?

Sweet story, only complaint, it is too short.

[Julianne Macneil · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read this book as part of an arc program. This is the enemies to lovers story of Brett and Luke. Brett was a sports journalist who has a pod cast. He has made his career by talking about Luke, a professional football player. Luke recently retired and wants to move on to endorsing products. Luke moves into a home on the beach for the summer until he decides what his next career move with be. Brett was asked to housesit for his boss and he agrees, hoping it will lead to a promotion. It is just bad luck Brett's boss lives next door to the house Luke is renting. Luke wants to stop Brett from reporting anything about his career because he is worried about the endorsement. Luke is also very attracted to Brett and worries about what to do with his feelings. I really enjoyed this book. I think they made a great couple and Brett really had feelings for Luke. This was another good one from Jason.

[C.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

OUCH! Brett, is a sports journalist who takes sarcastic and sassy to an entirely new level with his favorite target, Luke who retired from the NFL. Brett is housesitting while his boss travels. Brett and Luke have hysterical reactions when they discover they are next door neighbors. Brett's editor wants him to turn up the heat on Luke. Luke, is ready for the battle and wants to play. They are sideswiped by their attraction to each other which creates and additional conflict. Jason, always creates the best characters with the best supportive friends, and the most descriptive, sexy couples. The insults are the funniest! It's a tossup if they can calm down and say nice things, LoL. Delightful read, good flow, funny word ping pong, good characters, great support friends. Well done! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jackie O'Donnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angst, humor and heat. This book has it all. Love this author’s writing. His books have always drawn me in yearning to want to read more.
Brett is a low level podcaster and wants to move up in the company. When his rich boss asks for someone to watch his house Brett automatically agrees, hoping he will earn good points towards a promotion. What he doesn’t realize is that the mansion he will be staying at is next door to the retired NFL player he criticizes on his podcast.
When Luke moves in next door he is not happy to find out Brett is his neighbor. He tries his hardest to keep his cool around the other man. But fate has other plans.
When their meddling old millionaire neighbor brings the two of them together they both realize there is an attraction to each other and that all the hate they have for each disappears and kindness steps in along with love.
Guaranteed HEA

[Vols77 · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite author does it agin in this wonderful stand alone love story of enemies that find love. I eagerly wait each book as I know thy will be at the top of my reading list. In this one I loved Luke and his decency as he had to interact with Brett, the sports journalist whose ambition will cause him to do anything to get promoted. I loved witty dialogue and oh my the perfect insults remind us that there is a fine line between love and hate. Funny, fast paced, and a feel good read. I also love how central the secondary characters are in moving the story. One of the best books of I have read this year. I did receive an ARC and leave this honest review.

[DENICE · Rating 4 out of 5]

BRETT AND LUKE (JOURNALIST VS QUARTERBACK)

I received this book for free and am giving my honest and voluntary review.

This novelette is an emotional litany about what people will do to get ahead in life without caring what they do to others. I love the way when Luke becomes a real person to Brett that he rethinks what he’s doing. I also like the way that each one figures out his true self and feelings. I would have loved to read what Brett had to say about Luke when he changed his mind. Loved the story. Wish it had been a little longer.

[Liza · Rating 1 out of 5]

Omg that was so bad. Not only was the writing style absolutely stilted, the story was just ridiculous. Guy 1 had unexplained hate for guy 2 and get clicks with it. Then when confronted with the results of his actions he feels suddenly bad 🙄. After that guy 2 saves guy 1s life, now guy 1 feels extra bad. So he goes on his podcast and tells everyone what a great guy guy 2 is. Guy 2 gets now all the sponsorships. Now they’re fucking. It’s so sudden you get whiplash. 3 month later they moved it together.
What the hell was that. That got to be one of the worst novellas I read.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brett is an unconventional sports announcer and has targeted Luke as the enemy. Brett needs to house sit for his boss & when he gets there he finds that his next door neighbor is no other than Luke. The banter continues until the realization is they really like each other. For me, This was a light hearted easy to read story. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Coral Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brett believs being on top of sports journalism is tearing apart the athletes' performances. He also focuses on Luke in his final season. Luke cannot uunderstand why Brett is constantly belittling his performance and costing him millions in potential income. An interesting read with their animosity and Brett's journey in his journalistic focus and how he feels about himself.

[Shelley Chastagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brett has made a name for himself by trashing sports figures. His favorite victim, Luke, is trying not to react but I wouldn't have blamed him for it. It takes some harsh truths from his best friend to get Brett to see that he's built his career on vitriol and what his true feelings for Luke are. I loved that Luke is a stand-up guy regardless of how hard Brett pushed him.

[Stealth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hate both of them in the beginning.......

Love both of them in the end. I've known people like Luke and Brett that can't stand each other, very few fall for each other, but most definitely do not have anything to do with the other ever. To each it's own! I definitely liked the ending for these guys! THANK YOU JASON! ENJOY!

[devil · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just ok for me. I get there was tension between these guys but, at the 70% mark, they were still hating each other (or at least acting like they did). By the time they do get together, the story is basically over.

[Mary Forster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, Short, Good Read

This is a quick and short read. I like how the author waited till the end for the sexy part but you got to see the two main MC’s come together. I love when they finally get their heads out of the clouds and enjoyed the funny moments.

[Delirium · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I skipped a few pages, but no - after we meet the main characters and their circumstances, in the first half or so, the rest of the story speeds up. You get the introduction and conclusion without much of an elaboration. Should have been better paced, if not longer - it had potential.

[Rachael Wise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great banter!

This was a funny, and quick read. I loved the banter between Brett and Luke, the writing was really good!

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Podcaster moves into a house in Malibu next door to a retired player he has been ragging on. What would you suppose happens? Exactly.

[D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too bad there's no I love you

[aishhh · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

[Toni K · Rating 2 out of 5]

Simplistic and unsexy.

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Late twenty-something Brett is a podcaster who's been making a name for himself at the expense of sports figures. His favorite vict- er, topic of criticism is Luke Dalton, recently retired football legend. Brett's witticisms and unrelenting take downs of Luke have cost the jock a massive contract. Both men are not predisposed to be polite to each other when they finally meet. Which, of course, they do when Brett, ambitious and hungry for promotion, volunteers to house sit for his boss. The house is on Malibu beach, comes with a talkative parrot, and a neighbor in the glass box monstrosity next door: Luke Dalton. Luke's agent mistakenly rented this "cottage" and now the two men are stuck for the summer next door to each other. With the help of an eccentric neighbor and a well-meaning best friend. the two work out their differences and find they're attracted to each other.

This could have been better, but it reads like it was rushed. Lack of editing and virtually no character building or connection makes this short novel (almost novella length) very flat. At one point, about 80% in, as he's seducing Brett, Luke says "I've waited months for this". They've only known each other for few weeks at this point. Annoying dropped thread: someone approaches Luke at the coffee shop and says "Sorry about your recent separation..." and pointedly means his relationship status. This was never commented on again, a wasted opportunity to follow up or to further develop story.

Also, someone, please buy the author a thesaurus and make him use it. "Rushed" and "captivated" were two very over used verbs that were used almost every other paragraph.

Do not recommend this.

2 stars - I'm feeling generous because if this had been worked out properly, it could have been really good.