Switching Leads

Campus Cravings

by Mia Downing, Diana Carlile (Editor)

Coach John Graham needs a new assistant coach for Cathia U's equestrian team. The last person he expects to get the job walks into the barn and stops his heart. How is he supposed to focus on the team when his ex-lover—sexy horse trainer Finn Parker—wants back into his life? Finn has had a hell of a bad year, ending with a horrible riding accident. Instead of looking forward to winter in sunny Florida training horses for the show circuit, he ends up going home to snowy Cathia, NY to heal, physically and emotionally. He'll endure John's frosty reception if it means he'll get what he wants most. He’s used to taking the reins…for love will he switch leads? (28,000 words)

Genres: M M Romance, Anthologies, Contemporary, Sports, Romance, Short Stories, Family Drama

102 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 8, 2014

About the author

Mia Downing started creating heroes at age four, but her heroes back then rode ponies to the rescue and only kissed her on the cheek. Today, Mia’s heroes still rescue those in need, but the price of their toys and the expertise of their seduction leads to a whole lot more.

When Mia isn’t busy creating new stories for her readers, she ensures justice runs smoothly in a New England courthouse. She lives on a small farm with her family, and enjoys horses and knitting.

Fun facts: Mia can juggle poorly, create balloon animals, and face paint. She was the hit entertainment of two family parties. No clown suits were involved.

Reviews

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read as part of Campus Cravings: Higher Learning MM Boxed Set collection

Sweet but not super memorable story about two reunited lovers. I didn't love the past misunderstandings, and the equestrian plot line was lost on me, but I'm always a fan of second chance love stories. Though it felt a little forced and incomplete, it I enjoyed this in the end.

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semicolons~✡~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally read & reviewed as part of the Campus Cravings anthology.

~3.5 stars~

Two equestrians and former lovers reunite ten years later. This was a hot and sweet story about two lost men reconnecting. Because one is very angry with the other, this had a bit of an enemies-to-lover feel to it; HEA ending and strong writing made this one stand out from the pack.

[Christi Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Review:
It's been a while since I read a Mia Downing book and I'll admit that I had forgotten just how incredibly well she does angst.

This book is about John and Finn. Now adults, they were once students at Cathia University and were involved then, 10 years ago. It ended really awfully when Finn screwed up and the following blow-up broke both their hearts. Now John is the Coach of the Cathia riding team. Unfortunately, the team has been rocked by a scandal from the an assistant coach who took advantage of John's distractions with his mother's health. The program is in trouble, but John has plans to fix things...those plans don't include Finn coming back as his new assistant coach, but he's been overruled on the choice.

The history between the two is extremely painful, just in that neither one has truly ever recovered from it. Finn knows he screwed up big time. Helping out with the team is just one way for him to pay John back for that. He also is harboring a secret and needs John's help too. Everything about this story resonated with me. The emotions felt true and valid. I love a bit of angst and this book had it in spades. I love the college setting for the entire book just because colleges have such a fantastic vibe to them, but I also really loved that both these mc's were a bit older than college students. It made for an incredible story...both with the back story and the depths of the current stories for both of these guys. I loved this one!

[BevS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Horses are NOT my thing, but as I loved Artistic Endeavor by Whitley Gray so much (another story in this Campus Cravings series), thought I'd give this one a look-see. Unfortunately for me, expectation was not matched by the actual story, although the last 30% where John and Finn had finally laid their past history to rest, and were doing all the communicating they needed with their bodies AND chocolate ice cream was quite hot, hehe. 3.5 stars.

[Elizabetta · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

There’s something about second chance stories, especially when mistakes were made when very young. Chalk it up to immaturity. John Graham and Finn Parker were competitors on their college equestrian team, barely out of their teens, both of them talented and ambitious. They were also lovers. Finn was the confident leader, a life-in-the-fast-lane charmer, and John was the quiet and serious one, the follower. Their love of the sport brought them together but youthful insecurities and misunderstanding drove them apart, and Finn far away.

Fast forward ten years later and John is now a college equestrian coach and Finn is back in town, saddling up as his assistant. John just can’t get over the anger and betrayal he’s been carrying around for a decade but Finn seems to have changed. Ten years and some growing up will do that. Finn’s gotten a hand on his drinking problem, and he wants to make things up to John.

So there’s this obvious theme throughout the story as set up by the title. What throws John is that Finn is now willing to follow his lead. Previously cock-sure and take-charge, Finn wants to show John that he has grown; he’s learned a lot more about himself and how to give.

I liked this simple short story despite the predictability. These are misunderstanding and recriminations we’ve seen many times before. But there are some tender, sweet moments between Finn and John. And the little bit of horse work and training thrown in was fun to read, too.

I was unsure about one thing in Finn’s attitude-- that John could be his savior, keep him from falling back into the bottle ( “...I knew you’d keep me sober after this. I knew you’d give me focus… you’d be the solution.” ). There’s a danger in that kind of thinking, one crutch can easily replace another. But Finn is sincere in his hope.

There is also danger with a short story to do more telling than showing, to move the plot along quickly, and while there’s a bit of that we do learn a lot about Finn and John through their actions.

John has had his own difficulties; he’s given over his free time and life savings to take care of his mother who is suffering from dementia. He realizes that his time with her is limited.

“You never know how much time you have before God switches leads on you.”

When faced with the choice of giving Finn another chance, John seems to have also grown through his own adversities and insecurities. It’s that discovery in the two men, that flexibility and understanding could lead to something new and richer between them, that strengthens their story.




For this and other great reviews, author interviews, and general fabulousness, visit Love Bytes:

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's taken 10 years after graduating college for Finn to make up for his mistakes. 10 years of longing for what he lost with John. A riding accident that threatens his career has him going back to become an Assistant Coach to help him rethink what he wants out of life. The one thing he wants is John, but after all that has happened he's not sure John will give him that chance.

John is the Head Coach of the Equestrian Team. Having Finn come back into his life after this long is not something he can deal with. He's having enough struggles on his own, his Mom's failing health is putting a financial strain on him. Having Finn walk back into his life is one more added pressure.

After 10 years will John get the answers he's always wanted and will Finn be able to heal himself and win back John's love.

This is one of the stories in the Campus Cravings Anthology. Received ARC for an honest review

[Wandering Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read as part of Campus Cravings: Higher Learning MM Boxed Set collection, Mia Downing: Switching Leads was an interesting 2.5 star read. I appreciated the attention to detail when it came to describing the business of training riders, but it tended to overwhelm the romance between the two main characters.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in the Campus Cravings Higher Learning anthology.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. It didn't come together but good

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, the chemistry between Finn and John is SMOKING HOT right from the get go. Finn sees a sexy behind underneath the hood of a broken down car. Being the nice guy that he is, he goes to help and find that the sexy behind belongs to his college boyfriend, Finn. Finn is injured and in need of a job, so the Athletic Director names him Assistant Coach of the equestrian team. Too bad John is the head coach and wants nothing to do with Finn.

Throughout the story, the tension between John and Finn is steamy. John has issues going on at home and he needs a good assistant to help take the load off. But, he doesn't want that to be Finn. Seeing him all of the time hurts and creates more stress for John. The scene in the bar where Finn confronts John is one of my favorite moments in the entire story.

[Antonette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really sweet story. A second chance romance after 10 years of being apart. John and Finn were in love in college until things went south and they went their separate ways only to be reunited 10 years later. Getting over the hate and old wounds was difficult for John when it came to trusting Finn again but he never stopped wanting or loving him. And the same went for Finn who desperately wanted John's forgiveness. There was a lot of love and sexual tension between these two men and it was a really nice story and super hot when things got going.
If you're looking for a quick sweet m/m story this was definitely a good one that I'd recommend.

[Marlobo ♥ epilogues · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Read as part of Campus Cravings: Higher Learning MM Boxed Set

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read as part of the Campus Cravings: Higher Learning MM Boxed Set anthology.

[Mia Downing]

Available for pre-order on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Switching-Leads...

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great short read that had the depth of a much longer story. Thoroughly enjoyable.

[Jodi Cain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book and would recommend it to anyone. Finn is HOT.. This book HOT from page 1. Can't wait to read this again very soon..

[Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars

[Tailtiu]

Part of the Campus Cravings: Higher Learning MM Boxed Set

[Lene · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved both these guys! Mia once again hit it out of the ball park with this one.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sexy. Sweet. Down-to-earth.

Such a great story. Such a cute couple. I wish it went on past the final page; I want more!

[*Nan* · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Pati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read 3 years ago as part of Anthology