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Brian & Lexi #2
Match
Whatever happened to Brian Scagill?
A year after his dramatic exit from England’s Grand Slam tournament, Brian has all but disappeared from the world of professional tennis, and doesn’t intend to return. He’s made a life for himself with fellow athlete Lexi Horvat, far removed from the dual pressures of fame and family.
A surprise wildcard might be his last chance to play on an international stage, and Brian’s life is thrown into tumult once again. This time, however, he’s not alone. Lexi has secured himself a place in the tournament, as has Jared, a young player the two men have been coaching. With his loved ones accompanying him, Brian agrees to play. Lexi promises they’ll take on the tournament together, as a team, but Brian knows better than anyone that on the grass, it’s every man for himself.
A year after his dramatic exit from England’s Grand Slam tournament, Brian has all but disappeared from the world of professional tennis, and doesn’t intend to return. He’s made a life for himself with fellow athlete Lexi Horvat, far removed from the dual pressures of fame and family.
A surprise wildcard might be his last chance to play on an international stage, and Brian’s life is thrown into tumult once again. This time, however, he’s not alone. Lexi has secured himself a place in the tournament, as has Jared, a young player the two men have been coaching. With his loved ones accompanying him, Brian agrees to play. Lexi promises they’ll take on the tournament together, as a team, but Brian knows better than anyone that on the grass, it’s every man for himself.
275 pages, Paperback
First published January 12, 2014
2 people are currently reading
295 people want to read
About the author
Kate Aaron
37 books339 followersBorn in Liverpool, Kate Aaron is a bestselling author of the #1 LGBT romances What He Wants, Ace, The Slave, and other works.
Kate swapped the North West for the Midwest in October 2015 and married award-winning author AJ Rose. Together they plan to take over the world.
Kate swapped the North West for the Midwest in October 2015 and married award-winning author AJ Rose. Together they plan to take over the world.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 21, 2017
Cross-posted at Shelf Inflicted and at Outlaw Reviews
This lovely sequel to Ace was just as romantic and satisfying. As in the first book, tennis features very prominently. I appreciated the attention and thought that went into the sport details which never felt excessive and which helped make the story come alive for me.
Despite earlier events that conspired to keep the two men apart, Brian’s and Lexi’s love is solid. They are now living in Tampa, Florida, where Lexi is coaching Jared, a promising 15-year-old player, and Brian is taking time off from professional tennis to focus on his relationship.
Thanks to Lexi’s gentle encouragement, Brian agrees to compete professionally again after a year’s hiatus.
Breathtaking athleticism, fierce competition, hot sexy times, and familial love abound.
After Brian’s parents finalize their divorce, much work is needed to mend the relationship with his meddling mom.
While tennis is the major focus here, this is a story that explores love in its many forms, family ties, competition, dedication, self-discipline, finding one’s purpose in life, and leaving a legacy.
Jared has a bright future ahead of him.
Love-love.
Thanks to Reggie from Bookie Nookie's Erotic Lending Group for lending this to me.
This lovely sequel to Ace was just as romantic and satisfying. As in the first book, tennis features very prominently. I appreciated the attention and thought that went into the sport details which never felt excessive and which helped make the story come alive for me.
Despite earlier events that conspired to keep the two men apart, Brian’s and Lexi’s love is solid. They are now living in Tampa, Florida, where Lexi is coaching Jared, a promising 15-year-old player, and Brian is taking time off from professional tennis to focus on his relationship.
Thanks to Lexi’s gentle encouragement, Brian agrees to compete professionally again after a year’s hiatus.
Breathtaking athleticism, fierce competition, hot sexy times, and familial love abound.
After Brian’s parents finalize their divorce, much work is needed to mend the relationship with his meddling mom.
While tennis is the major focus here, this is a story that explores love in its many forms, family ties, competition, dedication, self-discipline, finding one’s purpose in life, and leaving a legacy.
Jared has a bright future ahead of him.
Love-love.
Thanks to Reggie from Bookie Nookie's Erotic Lending Group for lending this to me.
August 2, 2014
Better actually than the first in the series.
Fresh, funny, and a not yet used up theme and fantastic characters. Very male, yet not macho.
I need to state that I received an ARC from the author. This however played no role in how I review this book.
Fresh, funny, and a not yet used up theme and fantastic characters. Very male, yet not macho.
I need to state that I received an ARC from the author. This however played no role in how I review this book.
February 4, 2014
4.5 Stars!!
Where I already liked the first book in this series, I cannot say any differently than that I really liked this second part as well.
Author Kate Aaron brings us to Brian & Lexi’s life together in Florida and gives us a (much wanted) peek into their lives together there, how they are living.
Things seems to get shaken up when Brian gets a wildcard for THE grand slam, the last one he played at and where he and Lexi started. Furiously denying at first, he finally gives in, renting the same house, hiring the same people and bringing with him Lexi, both their coaches and youngster Jared, Lexi’s student he has been training and who has a shot at his first junior tournament.
Together they travel back to England.
Finding small obstacles like his mother, a former crush, even struggles with Lexi doesn’t seem to set Brian off, in fact it gives him more and more much needed inside in things.
We follow all the characters going through the tournament and the tennis lovers will also find statistics and tennis terms in this part of the story, where I also in this part have the feeling it is a bit too much.
But that couldn’t take away the love I felt reading this story.
The family aspect of this part of the story is huge. It gives you smiles and warm feelings, makes you cringe (mum), opens up possibilities and makes you want to ask questions and know more.
I mean Jamie and Cole? Or should I say Dan and Jamie if I didn’t misread some of the end of this book?
And young Jared who seemed to have found a friend (or more) inof young participant Ethan?
And will Brian eventually get Lexi to permanently move in with him in Tampa?
All these question and more ( believe me there are more :)) I hope to get answered by the author in the wish that she brings more of this story to the readers.
Review posted at :
http://sidlove.com/2014/02/03/series-...
May 4, 2014
Thoroughly enjoyable and well-written. I loved the development of the relationship between these two. The only tiny niggle I had was
4.3 stars - but I am re-reading and that rating may well go up ;)
4.3 stars - but I am re-reading and that rating may well go up ;)
February 9, 2014
After book 1 (Ace) ended I was dying to know where Lexi and Brain were headed! I love what Kate Aaron did with these characters and the next leg of their journey together. A growing ensemble meshes perfectly with the already established and adds even more to this already wonderful tale! Very much enjoyed!
August 7, 2022
Whatever happened to Brian Scagill?
A year after his dramatic exit from England’s Grand Slam tournament, Brian has all but disappeared from the world of professional tennis, and doesn’t intend to return. He’s made a life for himself with fellow athlete Lexi Horvat, far removed from the dual pressures of fame and family.
A surprise wildcard might be his last chance to play on an international stage, and Brian’s life is thrown into tumult once again. This time, however, he’s not alone. Lexi has secured himself a place in the tournament, as has Jared, a young player the two men have been coaching. With his loved ones accompanying him, Brian agrees to play. Lexi promises they’ll take on the tournament together, as a team, but Brian knows better than anyone that on the grass, it’s every man for himself.
Review:
This is a sequel to "Ace". As blurb tells you a year passed since Brian quit tennis and lives in the US with Lexi. As much as I missed tennis matches in the first half of the book, I liked the romance in this book better . Probably because we get a chance to see the men at home and I just thought they had a nice chemistry together . I had a question mark where Lexi's gig at the academy was concerned though. I know there are young coaches in the famous tennis academies , but as far as I know ( and I can be absolutely wrong on this), they usually coach kids who are younger than Jared is and more importantly not Grand slam hopefuls yet , not even junior Grand slam hopefuls. Lexi is twenty years old now, will he be allowed to be a main coach for Jared?
This actually goes along with my main quibble where Lexi's characterization is concerned . I like him very much but I thought he read as older than nineteen in the first book and way older than twenty in this book. it is just my overall feel for the character. He certainly does some silly things, but his overall maturity level felt as too high for his age.
He is still a very sweet guy and I thought he and Brian were great together , don't get me wrong . Sex was very hot in this book too.
Once they start preparing and playing in the tournament tennis makes an appearance again and I was a very happy reader about that.
“The inevitable eventually happened, Ethan taking the point with a decisive shot, slamming the ball far left while Jared was stuck way over to the right. Thirty-forty. It was a break point unconverted but it wasn’t the end of the world, and I was gratified to see Jared move straight back to his starting position and hunker down, ready and waiting for the next serve. Ethan served, Jared connected and returned the ball, and a rally began. This time, however, Jared was the one in control, hitting the ball alternately left and right, forcing Ethan to chase it. In a bold move, Ethan broke the pattern and raced forward, clearly intending to reach the ball before it went to the far court, where he had less time to control his return. He was just a fraction too slow: Jared saw him move and adjusted his aim, hitting the ball high to land at the back of the court near the baseline. Standing at the net, Ethan could only watch the set slip away. Jared had the break. “Another time, that would have worked,” I consoled Danny. “It was a brave attempt.””
B+
A year after his dramatic exit from England’s Grand Slam tournament, Brian has all but disappeared from the world of professional tennis, and doesn’t intend to return. He’s made a life for himself with fellow athlete Lexi Horvat, far removed from the dual pressures of fame and family.
A surprise wildcard might be his last chance to play on an international stage, and Brian’s life is thrown into tumult once again. This time, however, he’s not alone. Lexi has secured himself a place in the tournament, as has Jared, a young player the two men have been coaching. With his loved ones accompanying him, Brian agrees to play. Lexi promises they’ll take on the tournament together, as a team, but Brian knows better than anyone that on the grass, it’s every man for himself.
Review:
This is a sequel to "Ace". As blurb tells you a year passed since Brian quit tennis and lives in the US with Lexi. As much as I missed tennis matches in the first half of the book, I liked the romance in this book better . Probably because we get a chance to see the men at home and I just thought they had a nice chemistry together . I had a question mark where Lexi's gig at the academy was concerned though. I know there are young coaches in the famous tennis academies , but as far as I know ( and I can be absolutely wrong on this), they usually coach kids who are younger than Jared is and more importantly not Grand slam hopefuls yet , not even junior Grand slam hopefuls. Lexi is twenty years old now, will he be allowed to be a main coach for Jared?
This actually goes along with my main quibble where Lexi's characterization is concerned . I like him very much but I thought he read as older than nineteen in the first book and way older than twenty in this book. it is just my overall feel for the character. He certainly does some silly things, but his overall maturity level felt as too high for his age.
He is still a very sweet guy and I thought he and Brian were great together , don't get me wrong . Sex was very hot in this book too.
Once they start preparing and playing in the tournament tennis makes an appearance again and I was a very happy reader about that.
“The inevitable eventually happened, Ethan taking the point with a decisive shot, slamming the ball far left while Jared was stuck way over to the right. Thirty-forty. It was a break point unconverted but it wasn’t the end of the world, and I was gratified to see Jared move straight back to his starting position and hunker down, ready and waiting for the next serve. Ethan served, Jared connected and returned the ball, and a rally began. This time, however, Jared was the one in control, hitting the ball alternately left and right, forcing Ethan to chase it. In a bold move, Ethan broke the pattern and raced forward, clearly intending to reach the ball before it went to the far court, where he had less time to control his return. He was just a fraction too slow: Jared saw him move and adjusted his aim, hitting the ball high to land at the back of the court near the baseline. Standing at the net, Ethan could only watch the set slip away. Jared had the break. “Another time, that would have worked,” I consoled Danny. “It was a brave attempt.””
B+
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2016
First and second.
I enjoyed the dynamics and the storyline of the first book in this series. There was depth to the characters and the build-up to the ending was done very well.
The second book, however, was overwhelmingly and needlessly saturated with the play by play of points won or lost in numerous tennis matches. Unless you are a tennis junkie, to the point of absolute immersion in the nuances of the game, and can easily visualize each volley, these overlong descriptions were rather boring and detracted from the story. They actually felt more like word filler and didn't really add to the story.
I enjoy reading about dedicated athletes and the hard work they give of themselves and their sport. The first book was a win. The second came at a poor second.
I enjoyed the dynamics and the storyline of the first book in this series. There was depth to the characters and the build-up to the ending was done very well.
The second book, however, was overwhelmingly and needlessly saturated with the play by play of points won or lost in numerous tennis matches. Unless you are a tennis junkie, to the point of absolute immersion in the nuances of the game, and can easily visualize each volley, these overlong descriptions were rather boring and detracted from the story. They actually felt more like word filler and didn't really add to the story.
I enjoy reading about dedicated athletes and the hard work they give of themselves and their sport. The first book was a win. The second came at a poor second.
Read
December 26, 2015Available from Amazon, ARe, and Smashwords
February 8, 2016
Totally enjoyable
Yes, there is a lot of tennis description,which may be annoying to non fans of tennis, but to those of us who love tennis, this was a very interesting story with characters you come to love reading about. You owe it to yourself to read Book #1 first to fully appreciate the story. I only wish there had been an epilogue.
Yes, there is a lot of tennis description,which may be annoying to non fans of tennis, but to those of us who love tennis, this was a very interesting story with characters you come to love reading about. You owe it to yourself to read Book #1 first to fully appreciate the story. I only wish there had been an epilogue.
March 18, 2014
3.5 stars. Way too much tennis action. Obviously, I was expecting some action scenes, but there was a little too much and I ended up skimming to just see who the heck won. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this.
November 11, 2014
Anticlimactic compared to its predecessor.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews