What do you think?
Rate this book
Try Line Hearts
Lucas Byrne has built his life on control.
Captain of his country’s rugby team. Relentless on the pitch. Disciplined off it. He knows how to carry pressure, how to lead men into collision, how to keep every want neatly folded away where it can’t cost him everything he’s worked for.
Elijah Kaine is a problem.
Too talented. Too open. Too easy with laughter and touch and the kind of attention Byrne has spent years convincing himself he doesn’t need. Kaine plays like he has nothing to lose—and looks at Byrne like he already knows the truth he refuses to name.
They’re supposed to be teammates.
They’re definitely not supposed to want each other.
What starts as friction turns into something sharper. Something electric. Glances held too long. Hands brushing in cramped spaces. Nights where the line between discipline and desire wears dangerously thin. Byrne knows the risks—his career, his reputation, the world that expects him to be one thing and one thing only.
But Kaine isn’t asking for promises.
He’s asking for honesty.
And for Byrne, that might be the most dangerous thing of all.
Set against the brutal intensity of professional rugby, this is an emotionally charged MM sports romance about truth, restraint, and the terrifying freedom of wanting more—on the pitch, and in the dark, when no one else is watching.
Sometimes the hardest opponent isn’t across the line.
It’s the future you’re finally brave enough to imagine. (18+ Heat Level)
Captain of his country’s rugby team. Relentless on the pitch. Disciplined off it. He knows how to carry pressure, how to lead men into collision, how to keep every want neatly folded away where it can’t cost him everything he’s worked for.
Elijah Kaine is a problem.
Too talented. Too open. Too easy with laughter and touch and the kind of attention Byrne has spent years convincing himself he doesn’t need. Kaine plays like he has nothing to lose—and looks at Byrne like he already knows the truth he refuses to name.
They’re supposed to be teammates.
They’re definitely not supposed to want each other.
What starts as friction turns into something sharper. Something electric. Glances held too long. Hands brushing in cramped spaces. Nights where the line between discipline and desire wears dangerously thin. Byrne knows the risks—his career, his reputation, the world that expects him to be one thing and one thing only.
But Kaine isn’t asking for promises.
He’s asking for honesty.
And for Byrne, that might be the most dangerous thing of all.
Set against the brutal intensity of professional rugby, this is an emotionally charged MM sports romance about truth, restraint, and the terrifying freedom of wanting more—on the pitch, and in the dark, when no one else is watching.
Sometimes the hardest opponent isn’t across the line.
It’s the future you’re finally brave enough to imagine. (18+ Heat Level)
317 pages, Paperback
Published December 1, 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Read
January 4, 2026Oh, my heartstrings!
Eli and Lucas. Boy, did they put me through the ringer! This book had me chuckling, crying, angry, crying some more, and then smiling so big! I want to be one of Eli's aunts for sure! What a fun, loving, and fun-loving family! Lucas is the type of character that made me turn to my husband and say, "I know he's a fictional character, but he is exactly why I enrolled in college in my late 40s to become a sports psychologist!"
This was my first read from this author and it won't be the last!! So much emotion, great knowledge of rugby, and amazing character development!! I love when an author can describe something so vividly that I don't feel like I need to look up a picture of what they are describing. Well done!
Eli and Lucas. Boy, did they put me through the ringer! This book had me chuckling, crying, angry, crying some more, and then smiling so big! I want to be one of Eli's aunts for sure! What a fun, loving, and fun-loving family! Lucas is the type of character that made me turn to my husband and say, "I know he's a fictional character, but he is exactly why I enrolled in college in my late 40s to become a sports psychologist!"
This was my first read from this author and it won't be the last!! So much emotion, great knowledge of rugby, and amazing character development!! I love when an author can describe something so vividly that I don't feel like I need to look up a picture of what they are describing. Well done!
March 29, 2026
“Alexa, play I’ll Believe in Anything by Wolf Parade.”
I really enjoyed this book! Even though Lucas was the main character, Eli was my favorite. I wish we had more of his POV throughout the book. I also appreciated Lucas’ struggles with his identity and his family, and would have liked to see that explored more! In my opinion, we only got a taste of the tension between his family’s religious beliefs and his queer identity. I would have liked a little more commentary on that, but that’s just me!
I really enjoyed this book! Even though Lucas was the main character, Eli was my favorite. I wish we had more of his POV throughout the book. I also appreciated Lucas’ struggles with his identity and his family, and would have liked to see that explored more! In my opinion, we only got a taste of the tension between his family’s religious beliefs and his queer identity. I would have liked a little more commentary on that, but that’s just me!
January 20, 2026
OMG
I absolutely loved this story. The characters were real. I could feel Eli's heart literally break and mine broke a little with his. I thought Lucas would never pull his head out his rear. Great book, I would definitely recommend.
I absolutely loved this story. The characters were real. I could feel Eli's heart literally break and mine broke a little with his. I thought Lucas would never pull his head out his rear. Great book, I would definitely recommend.
January 10, 2026
V.K. Alenko's writing is so poetic. Beautiful story with beautiful characters. Loved everything about it!
January 26, 2026
Daww!! My heart melted! I loved the writing! Very good book!
January 26, 2026
3.5/5
I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway. It was a quick read, but really packed an emotional punch!
I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway. It was a quick read, but really packed an emotional punch!
March 11, 2026
Finally, an MM Romance that takes its characters seriously. Rugby with heat.
As the book industry floods with MM sports related romance novels, few actually stand out. This novel is one of the standouts.
The novel, of course, contains spicy scenes, but they add to the story as opposed to becoming the story. We don't wait for character development between descriptive text forcing us to know how hungry the characters are for each other. Instead, we receive tension and build up, making those romantic scenes a reward as opposed to an obligation.
The writing style of this book surprised me several times. At one point I felt anxious and tense, as did the character, only to realize that the text structure had changed, reinforcing the claustrophobic feelings the main character was experiencing. I then realized that formatting changes happened subtly throughout the book based on which character's perspective we were in. The changes are not glaringly obvious, but once you realize what the author has done, it is a delight knowing the author was able to convey something to the reader without the use of direct narration. It is unique in my experiences with authors and I found it refreshing.
Our characters, Lucas and Elijah, are likeable and provide reality centered actions and thoughts. Things don't happen easy for these men whether it be by their own decision making or by things outside of their control. I never felt like these characters were stepping into fantasy, but instead remaining grounded, believable, and relatable.
The location changes were also very fun. We aren't stuck in one city or even country, allowing each unique background to help build the character interactions and their development from beginning to end. We revisit some locations, but they never feel repetitive due to Lucas, Elijah, and their supporting cast evolving and interacting with the environment differently as they change their own perspectives.
For the Spice Cravers out there, know that this book is not page after page of intimate scenes, but the scenes that do exist are deliciously described and still remain intimate without stepping into immorality or triggering environments. There is consent. There is control without demeaning. There is give and take between the characters to meet their needs in that moment. And none of it feels forced or disregarding of a character's worth.
In conclusions, if you are searching for your next grounded, well written, slow burn, delectably spicy romance, I implore you to take a journey into the world of rugby in the Advantage series beginning with Try Line Hearts... but be prepared, because the story doesn't stop there.
As the book industry floods with MM sports related romance novels, few actually stand out. This novel is one of the standouts.
The novel, of course, contains spicy scenes, but they add to the story as opposed to becoming the story. We don't wait for character development between descriptive text forcing us to know how hungry the characters are for each other. Instead, we receive tension and build up, making those romantic scenes a reward as opposed to an obligation.
The writing style of this book surprised me several times. At one point I felt anxious and tense, as did the character, only to realize that the text structure had changed, reinforcing the claustrophobic feelings the main character was experiencing. I then realized that formatting changes happened subtly throughout the book based on which character's perspective we were in. The changes are not glaringly obvious, but once you realize what the author has done, it is a delight knowing the author was able to convey something to the reader without the use of direct narration. It is unique in my experiences with authors and I found it refreshing.
Our characters, Lucas and Elijah, are likeable and provide reality centered actions and thoughts. Things don't happen easy for these men whether it be by their own decision making or by things outside of their control. I never felt like these characters were stepping into fantasy, but instead remaining grounded, believable, and relatable.
The location changes were also very fun. We aren't stuck in one city or even country, allowing each unique background to help build the character interactions and their development from beginning to end. We revisit some locations, but they never feel repetitive due to Lucas, Elijah, and their supporting cast evolving and interacting with the environment differently as they change their own perspectives.
For the Spice Cravers out there, know that this book is not page after page of intimate scenes, but the scenes that do exist are deliciously described and still remain intimate without stepping into immorality or triggering environments. There is consent. There is control without demeaning. There is give and take between the characters to meet their needs in that moment. And none of it feels forced or disregarding of a character's worth.
In conclusions, if you are searching for your next grounded, well written, slow burn, delectably spicy romance, I implore you to take a journey into the world of rugby in the Advantage series beginning with Try Line Hearts... but be prepared, because the story doesn't stop there.
February 7, 2026
🖤📖 BOOK REVIEW 📖🖤
Try Line Hearts by V.K. Alenko
This isn’t just a sports romance.
It’s a full-on reckoning baby!!
Try Line Hearts is what happens when you build your entire identity on control, discipline, rules, silence and then someone comes crashing in and quietly wrecks all of it by showing you that surviving is not the same thing as living.
Lucas doesn’t just play rugby. This man is rugby. He’s the captain, the leader, the guy everyone leans on while he keeps himself locked down tight. His strength is quiet, rigid, and honestly kind of suffocating. He believes if he keeps his heart closed, he’ll stay safe. (Been here many times Lucas I feel ya🖤)
And then… Eli😍
Eli is warm like the sun. He’s risky like John Bender in The Breakfast Club (one of my 80’s heart throbs). Eli says things out loud. He’s everything Lucas has trained himself not to be, and that’s exactly why being around him feels so dangerous.
This book understands something that to most is painfully real: the biggest risks aren’t taken on the field they’re taken in the moments you let yourself be seen.
It also hurts in the quiet ways. In the longing. In the fear of wanting more. In that awful, honest question of who you are when you strip away expectations, titles, and the version of yourself you built to keep everyone else comfortable.
What I loved most? No one is saved. Love isn’t a rescue here. it’s a choice!!! A shaky, terrifying, heart-first decision to step into truth even when it costs you certainty.
Try Line Hearts is about finding your identity through risk. About choosing yourself. About realizing that love doesn’t make you weaker it makes you real!
This book broke me open in all the best ways 🖤
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#TryLineHearts #Bookstagram #MMRomance #SportsRomance #QueerReads #EmotionalReads #BookReview #ReadQueer #LoveIsRisk #HealingHurts #RomanceBooks
Try Line Hearts by V.K. Alenko
This isn’t just a sports romance.
It’s a full-on reckoning baby!!
Try Line Hearts is what happens when you build your entire identity on control, discipline, rules, silence and then someone comes crashing in and quietly wrecks all of it by showing you that surviving is not the same thing as living.
Lucas doesn’t just play rugby. This man is rugby. He’s the captain, the leader, the guy everyone leans on while he keeps himself locked down tight. His strength is quiet, rigid, and honestly kind of suffocating. He believes if he keeps his heart closed, he’ll stay safe. (Been here many times Lucas I feel ya🖤)
And then… Eli😍
Eli is warm like the sun. He’s risky like John Bender in The Breakfast Club (one of my 80’s heart throbs). Eli says things out loud. He’s everything Lucas has trained himself not to be, and that’s exactly why being around him feels so dangerous.
This book understands something that to most is painfully real: the biggest risks aren’t taken on the field they’re taken in the moments you let yourself be seen.
It also hurts in the quiet ways. In the longing. In the fear of wanting more. In that awful, honest question of who you are when you strip away expectations, titles, and the version of yourself you built to keep everyone else comfortable.
What I loved most? No one is saved. Love isn’t a rescue here. it’s a choice!!! A shaky, terrifying, heart-first decision to step into truth even when it costs you certainty.
Try Line Hearts is about finding your identity through risk. About choosing yourself. About realizing that love doesn’t make you weaker it makes you real!
This book broke me open in all the best ways 🖤
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#TryLineHearts #Bookstagram #MMRomance #SportsRomance #QueerReads #EmotionalReads #BookReview #ReadQueer #LoveIsRisk #HealingHurts #RomanceBooks
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews