Tight End: Taking One for the Team

by Shylee Campbell

Jerome “Romeo” Johnson is used to winning—on the field and off. As the Atlanta Pits' star tight end, he's been the team's go-to receiver for years, but it’s not just touchdowns he’s catching. With a reputation as a heartbreaker for starstruck females, and a fan club, the Rome Dome, who worships him, Jerome seems to have it fame, fortune, and a flawless image as the perfect son to Mama Joy, brother to Karina, and fearless guardian to his teammates.

But beneath the surface lies a secret Jerome has hidden for years—until the one man who always knew how to bring him willingly to his knees makes a comeback. Suddenly, the smooth-talking playboy is facing the heat of a love he never forgot but was too afraid to embrace.

As his perfect world starts to unravel, Jerome must decide if he's ready to risk it all and take a chance on a love that could make him whole. Can a scandal lead to his biggest win yet, or will it cost him everything? The game’s about to change, and Jerome’s playing for the ultimate love.

Get ready for a front-row seat to this year’s hottest play—a heart-pounding erotic romance where passion, pride, and redemption are all on the line!

Tropes/ Friends to Lovers, Second Chance, Self-Discovery, Age-Gap, Sports Romance, Erotica

Genres: LGBT, M M Romance, Contemporary

114 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 17, 2025

Reviews

[lauraღ · Rating 2 out of 5]

“You didn’t just take my mind off the pain. You reminded me what it feels like to be whole.”

2.5 stars. This was fine. A sexy novella that I regret not writing a review for immediately, because now that it's a few days later, I truly remember very little about the experience. Second chance isn't my favourite trope, but I feel like it's a good trope for a novella, since the characters presumably already have a lot of connection and backstory, and so the author can make the most of their limited word count, and really make the most of the romance in the present day.

That... didn't really happen here. Jerome is a successful football player who gets embroiled in a scandal when he takes the fall for one of his younger teammates at a sex club. The guy hired to help him handle the fallout is Kendaya, his ex. This was just... okay. I know I said second chance is a good trope for novellas, but I think for this to have any impact at all, it needed to be longer. I wanted to get more of a sense of Jerome and Kendaya's previous relationship (we just got vague details about why it didn't work out). I wanted to learn more about Jerome's relationship with Marcus and his brother. I wanted to feel like these characters had actual chemistry, and I really didn't. We barely saw how Kendaya handled the scandal, and his whole push-and-pull attitude near the end didn't make sense to me. We barely even saw any sports, which I was pretty disappointed about. I liked the characters for what they were, but we didn't get to know them past surface level. The smut was hot, and I have no actual complaints? But unfortunately, I just had an okay time with it, and will probably forget it soon.

[Book Lover · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Touchdown That Left Me Hopeful For Love

I loved this book! From the first chapter, I was invested in the story. I felt like I was right there with Jerome and Kenyada, watching their story unfold, feeling everything they felt. I wasn’t just reading about them, I cared about them and their genuine connection. Their relationship was honest, messy, and heartfelt. You could sense the history between them, and the magnetism they still had toward each other, despite being apart for five years. Nothing about this story or their love felt forced.

The supporting characters stood out in the best way. They felt like real people, not just side notes. They added to the story and helped bring Jerome’s world to life. Every interaction mattered and made things feel complete.

I also really appreciated how football was part of the story without taking over. I especially enjoyed the interview scene which reminded me of sports interviews.. The theme gave the setting importance as football is a huge part of Jerome’s life, showing who he is, but never forcing it into the spotlight.

There are plenty of lines I could point to, but I don’t want to give away too much, so I’ll share one that stuck with me from the beginning:
“Even the usual sights—muscle-bound men flaunting rock-hard bodies and tight asses—failed to stir his appetite. This was supposed to be his playground, the arena where he ruled in the off-season with endless catch-and-receive games of desire. But tonight, it all felt empty.”

That paragraph says so much in just a few words. It showed where Jerome was emotionally, without having to over explain it.

This is a story about choosing to stop hiding, about being honest, with yourself and with the person you love. I highly recommend “Tight End” regardless if you typically read M/M or not because it’s a story where people are just people who choose love.

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. Jerome and Kenyada. The relationship between them has always been complicated to say the least. Jerome is a famous NFL player and he’s gay, he’s not necessarily out but after taking the fall for a scandal he needs Ken’s help. Ya’ll, this was so good! I loved the characters, they felt real and human and the chemistry between Jerome and Ken was absolutely fantastic. The push and pull between them had me hooked as Ken kept running from his emotions but let it be known that Jerome is both a patient and persistent man. I absolutely loved the romance here as I loved seeing both men be so vulnerable with each other and the little moments between them were so incredibly tender. I absolutely loved these two and I would love a sequel or something. I need more!

Also, there was a Tabitha and Cheryl mention! What a pleasant surprise! I adore those two so much.

Overall, this is one that I can absolutely see myself rereading. It’s very romantic and sexy and left me smiling by the end. Highly, highly recommend.


*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lin A. 📚🎶 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the premise, but not quite sure it reached the climax I expected. I do love that most everyone felt comfortable with Jerome’s sexuality. It is hard to find gay romance that doesn’t heavily rely on homophobia for the plot. The sex scenes were fine. I didn’t expect a lot of sex scenes, but I did expect longer and more descriptive sex scenes. I did not like the audio that was attached to the ebook.

[Rena · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Enjoyed Jerome as a football player coming to terms with his sexuality and winning back the man he loves.

[Shanara · Rating 3 out of 5]

he got his man

Now they got their HEA but all that back and forth and running had me stressed out. Jerome really was a great leader for his team.

[Moraa]

DNF @ 7% Poor writing

Kindle freebie: 8.11.25

[Amanda Davis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just no. I was so confused on who was supposed to be with who. Then randomly this other person is introduced. And what the hell was with the writing? I could not follow the story at all and the beginning with boomer this and boomer that and it's Gucci. I could not get through this.