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Slugger
Rule one of being the coach’s kid: don’t fall for the players.
Tommy Jenkins has spent the past three years as the batboy for the Wildbrook University’s baseball team. He keeps his head down, his grades up, and his distance from the players who treat him like a kid brother at best, invisible at worst.
Evan Brock is a hot-tempered slugger with a reputation for breaking rules and hearts in equal measure. What was supposed to be a night out on the town with his teammates ends in a bar fight that goes viral on social media, suddenly putting Tommy in the position of babysitting the team’s biggest problem.
Sharing hotel rooms and keeping Evan out of trouble quickly turns into something hotter, deeper, and far more dangerous. Because Evan needs something only Tommy can give.
Behind closed doors, they burn. On campus and in the dugout, Evan won’t meet Tommy’s eyes. A reputation is everything, and falling for the coach’s son is a risk his draft prospects can’t survive. Not if he wants the future he’s been chasing his whole life.
As the season heats up and the stakes climb higher, Tommy will have to decide how long he’s willing to be kept a secret before it breaks him.
Tommy Jenkins has spent the past three years as the batboy for the Wildbrook University’s baseball team. He keeps his head down, his grades up, and his distance from the players who treat him like a kid brother at best, invisible at worst.
Evan Brock is a hot-tempered slugger with a reputation for breaking rules and hearts in equal measure. What was supposed to be a night out on the town with his teammates ends in a bar fight that goes viral on social media, suddenly putting Tommy in the position of babysitting the team’s biggest problem.
Sharing hotel rooms and keeping Evan out of trouble quickly turns into something hotter, deeper, and far more dangerous. Because Evan needs something only Tommy can give.
Behind closed doors, they burn. On campus and in the dugout, Evan won’t meet Tommy’s eyes. A reputation is everything, and falling for the coach’s son is a risk his draft prospects can’t survive. Not if he wants the future he’s been chasing his whole life.
As the season heats up and the stakes climb higher, Tommy will have to decide how long he’s willing to be kept a secret before it breaks him.
153 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 6, 2026
About the author
Christopher J. Brice
6 books132 followersChristopher J. Brice has always loved reading stories and creating his own. After many years of wanting to do so, he finally took the plunge and published a story that had been brewing in his mind for over ten years.
When Christopher is not writing or reading, he’s watching a lot of television and movies, indulging in his favorite foods, and enjoying time with friends, family, and the most adorable cat known to mankind.
When Christopher is not writing or reading, he’s watching a lot of television and movies, indulging in his favorite foods, and enjoying time with friends, family, and the most adorable cat known to mankind.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
July 8, 2026
⚾️ ARC REVIEW | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I had the opportunity to read Slugger by Christopher J. Brice, and if you’re looking for a fun, spicy MM baseball romance, this novella definitely delivers! 🔥
Evan and Thomas (Tommy), the coach’s son, had me hooked from the start. Tommy has been quietly crushing on Evan for years, but when the team is forced to share hotel rooms on a road trip, the tension between them finally reaches a breaking point. The forced proximity and only-one-room setup made every interaction so much fun to read.
I loved watching Evan slowly let his walls down while Tommy found the courage to go after what he wanted. Their chemistry was undeniable, and the spice definitely lived up to the hype. 🌶️
Even though it’s told in a single POV, I still felt connected to both characters and found myself rooting for them every step of the way. The baseball backdrop, secret romance, and emotional moments balanced perfectly with the steam, making this a quick but satisfying read. I did wish I had more of Evan’s point of view! But I still enjoyed it!
If you enjoy:
⚾️ MM sports romance
🏨 Forced proximity
❤️ Coach’s son/player romance
🔥 Open-door spice
📖 Single POV
⚾️ Baseball romance
then you’ll definitely want to add Slugger to your TBR! Thank you so much to Christopher J. Brice for the ARC!
I had the opportunity to read Slugger by Christopher J. Brice, and if you’re looking for a fun, spicy MM baseball romance, this novella definitely delivers! 🔥
Evan and Thomas (Tommy), the coach’s son, had me hooked from the start. Tommy has been quietly crushing on Evan for years, but when the team is forced to share hotel rooms on a road trip, the tension between them finally reaches a breaking point. The forced proximity and only-one-room setup made every interaction so much fun to read.
I loved watching Evan slowly let his walls down while Tommy found the courage to go after what he wanted. Their chemistry was undeniable, and the spice definitely lived up to the hype. 🌶️
Even though it’s told in a single POV, I still felt connected to both characters and found myself rooting for them every step of the way. The baseball backdrop, secret romance, and emotional moments balanced perfectly with the steam, making this a quick but satisfying read. I did wish I had more of Evan’s point of view! But I still enjoyed it!
If you enjoy:
⚾️ MM sports romance
🏨 Forced proximity
❤️ Coach’s son/player romance
🔥 Open-door spice
📖 Single POV
⚾️ Baseball romance
then you’ll definitely want to add Slugger to your TBR! Thank you so much to Christopher J. Brice for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW
So we have the pairing of a college baseball star and the coach’s son.
Tommy has been admiring Evan from afar for years. When Evan gets into a bit of trouble, Tommy’s dad decides it’s a good idea to room them together during away games to help keep Evan out of trouble.
Let’s just say Tommy is very successful at keeping Evan occupied… and inside their hotel room.
This is a relatively short book told from a single POV.
The first half was really strong. It was funny, charming, and had me laughing out loud more than once.
The last 20% moved a little too fast for me. Evan seemed to do a complete 180, and because we never get his POV, it felt a bit abrupt. I also would have liked a more meaningful conversation between the two of them to make that change feel more convincing. The storyline with Tommy’s dad wrapped up in a similarly rushed way.
What I loved throughout the story were the side characters, especially Hunter and the rest of the teammates. They added so much fun and personality to the book.
Overall, I really enjoyed the writing style and the humor, and I’ll definitely be picking up the next books in the series.
3.75 ⭐️ rounded up
So we have the pairing of a college baseball star and the coach’s son.
Tommy has been admiring Evan from afar for years. When Evan gets into a bit of trouble, Tommy’s dad decides it’s a good idea to room them together during away games to help keep Evan out of trouble.
Let’s just say Tommy is very successful at keeping Evan occupied… and inside their hotel room.
This is a relatively short book told from a single POV.
The first half was really strong. It was funny, charming, and had me laughing out loud more than once.
The last 20% moved a little too fast for me. Evan seemed to do a complete 180, and because we never get his POV, it felt a bit abrupt. I also would have liked a more meaningful conversation between the two of them to make that change feel more convincing. The storyline with Tommy’s dad wrapped up in a similarly rushed way.
What I loved throughout the story were the side characters, especially Hunter and the rest of the teammates. They added so much fun and personality to the book.
Overall, I really enjoyed the writing style and the humor, and I’ll definitely be picking up the next books in the series.
3.75 ⭐️ rounded up
June 28, 2026
Spicy MM sports romance novella that was a quick ready and easy to follow.
I felt that Evan and Tommy’s relationship was a little rushed even for a novella. The story itself flowed well and the details helped set the story line, I just felt that their chemistry wasn’t fully built before they jumped into their agreement.
To be honest, I was more invested in Petrie and Jenkins relationship. I hope they get a story of their own.
Thank you Christopher and LoveNotes for the ARC.
I felt that Evan and Tommy’s relationship was a little rushed even for a novella. The story itself flowed well and the details helped set the story line, I just felt that their chemistry wasn’t fully built before they jumped into their agreement.
To be honest, I was more invested in Petrie and Jenkins relationship. I hope they get a story of their own.
Thank you Christopher and LoveNotes for the ARC.
July 7, 2026
This book is most definitely a spicy novella but there was more depth to it than I expected, especially during the second half. While the storyline is, of course, fast paced – I mean it’s under 150 pages so that’s absolutely as it’s intended – there were some incredibly touching moments where the characters evoked some unexpected real emotion in me.
I especially couldn't get enough of seeing their vulnerable moments and at the end seeing them just being real, owning up to who they are and what they want. I really loved all the acceptance Evan and Tommy had from their loved ones.
I also looooved Hunter as Tommy’s best friend; he brought an extra little spark to the book for me and is a solid enthusiastic support for the bat boy. While we don’t see the supporting characters much – again, this is a spicy novella after all – they are incredibly likable and bring some great banter. Reed stands out from the baseball lads – he’ll tell you all about Brock’s “Louisville Slugger” too 😂
I was all prepared to hate on Tommy’s dad, so I was somewhat surprised to find myself feeling sympathetic towards him in the latter half of the book. While I don’t particularly agree with all of his decisions, he did manage to make up for things a bit in the end IMO. Still not my favourite person but I’m glad he’s finally living his truth and explains his behaviour to Tommy.
This is my second book by Christopher and once again I loved the writing style. It’s so easy to read and I really enjoyed the humour. This one didn’t have me laughing out loud like Written in the Stars did, but it still made me chuckle in places (I’m quite a tough nut to crack in terms of big emotion for books, eg laughing, crying).
If you love your MM low angst, spicy (I’d probably rate it 4🌶), sport romances, this is your perfect palate cleanser! FYI this one is singular person POV from Tommy’s perspective.
There’s definitely a lot of potential here if the author ever decided to turn this one into a full-length novel as well, though it’s certainly enjoyable as it is.
----
Some of my favourite quotes
“But let’s be real—when are you gonna ask to draw me like one of your French girls?”
He reminded me of a king on a throne. A naked, erect, insufferably confident king.
“I know what I’m asking. And I know it’s a lot. But, Evan— you’re the only person I want to draw. You’re the only person who makes me feel something worth putting on a page.”
“For the record, the fact that you want to draw me? That I’m the one you think of when someone asks for vulnerability? That means something, Tommy.”
“I kissed you in a coffee shop, and the world didn’t end. Nobody cares. And even if they did, I’m starting to think I don’t.”
I especially couldn't get enough of seeing their vulnerable moments and at the end seeing them just being real, owning up to who they are and what they want. I really loved all the acceptance Evan and Tommy had from their loved ones.
I also looooved Hunter as Tommy’s best friend; he brought an extra little spark to the book for me and is a solid enthusiastic support for the bat boy. While we don’t see the supporting characters much – again, this is a spicy novella after all – they are incredibly likable and bring some great banter. Reed stands out from the baseball lads – he’ll tell you all about Brock’s “Louisville Slugger” too 😂
I was all prepared to hate on Tommy’s dad, so I was somewhat surprised to find myself feeling sympathetic towards him in the latter half of the book. While I don’t particularly agree with all of his decisions, he did manage to make up for things a bit in the end IMO. Still not my favourite person but I’m glad he’s finally living his truth and explains his behaviour to Tommy.
This is my second book by Christopher and once again I loved the writing style. It’s so easy to read and I really enjoyed the humour. This one didn’t have me laughing out loud like Written in the Stars did, but it still made me chuckle in places (I’m quite a tough nut to crack in terms of big emotion for books, eg laughing, crying).
If you love your MM low angst, spicy (I’d probably rate it 4🌶), sport romances, this is your perfect palate cleanser! FYI this one is singular person POV from Tommy’s perspective.
There’s definitely a lot of potential here if the author ever decided to turn this one into a full-length novel as well, though it’s certainly enjoyable as it is.
----
Some of my favourite quotes
“But let’s be real—when are you gonna ask to draw me like one of your French girls?”
He reminded me of a king on a throne. A naked, erect, insufferably confident king.
“I know what I’m asking. And I know it’s a lot. But, Evan— you’re the only person I want to draw. You’re the only person who makes me feel something worth putting on a page.”
“For the record, the fact that you want to draw me? That I’m the one you think of when someone asks for vulnerability? That means something, Tommy.”
“I kissed you in a coffee shop, and the world didn’t end. Nobody cares. And even if they did, I’m starting to think I don’t.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
Slugger 🔗
Firstly, I want to thank LoveNotes PR & Christopher J.Brice for trusting me with this ARC!🩶
Tommy Jenkins cares only about keeping his baseball game & grades up.
Evan Brock loves a good fight,but when a teammate night out turns into a one that blows on social media,understands that is not the athlete life that he needs ,and that now Tommy Jenkins will be his shadow.
Inside the bedroom they burn for each other,on campus they are strangers.How much until they collapse?
To start with,this novella is not my first introduction to Brice's writing,and since that is the occasion I had big expectations about Slugger,which of course they were 100% met.The writer introduces us to an amazing mm romance between the quiet Tommy & trouble Evan,that will leave us craving definitely more that 140 pages that were given .I loved how connected the reader feels with the characters,even if we do not read about them a lot,we really got to know them real good .Their personality,their feelings their fears are clearly shown in the book,and if you want my opinion this what made the romance such a big hit.
Writing a novella is itself hard but making it that good while putting real life college problems inside is a spectacular job to do.
As for the characters,I loved that we had this gap between their behaviour and view of how they should live their college/athletic life,and we mostly saw them being really connected when that gap slowly closed and understood what was the best for them as individuals,and when I say that was cute,I mean THAT WAS CUTE!.
An other big part of this book was the sm*t,which in that case was surely more that just the act.In Gay romances,those scenes are the only ones they can show each other their true passion,lust,YEARN and love for each other,since in public they,most of the times,have to act as strangers or enemies.So seeing many deeply passionate scenes of that kind really made the difference both on the reading experience and their spectacular romance.
Long story short,if you love a good mm novella,Slugger is the perfect read for you.
Out On July,6th 🎖️
5⭐
Firstly, I want to thank LoveNotes PR & Christopher J.Brice for trusting me with this ARC!🩶
Tommy Jenkins cares only about keeping his baseball game & grades up.
Evan Brock loves a good fight,but when a teammate night out turns into a one that blows on social media,understands that is not the athlete life that he needs ,and that now Tommy Jenkins will be his shadow.
Inside the bedroom they burn for each other,on campus they are strangers.How much until they collapse?
To start with,this novella is not my first introduction to Brice's writing,and since that is the occasion I had big expectations about Slugger,which of course they were 100% met.The writer introduces us to an amazing mm romance between the quiet Tommy & trouble Evan,that will leave us craving definitely more that 140 pages that were given .I loved how connected the reader feels with the characters,even if we do not read about them a lot,we really got to know them real good .Their personality,their feelings their fears are clearly shown in the book,and if you want my opinion this what made the romance such a big hit.
Writing a novella is itself hard but making it that good while putting real life college problems inside is a spectacular job to do.
As for the characters,I loved that we had this gap between their behaviour and view of how they should live their college/athletic life,and we mostly saw them being really connected when that gap slowly closed and understood what was the best for them as individuals,and when I say that was cute,I mean THAT WAS CUTE!.
An other big part of this book was the sm*t,which in that case was surely more that just the act.In Gay romances,those scenes are the only ones they can show each other their true passion,lust,YEARN and love for each other,since in public they,most of the times,have to act as strangers or enemies.So seeing many deeply passionate scenes of that kind really made the difference both on the reading experience and their spectacular romance.
Long story short,if you love a good mm novella,Slugger is the perfect read for you.
Out On July,6th 🎖️
5⭐
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5 Stars! Thank you to LoveNotes PR and the author for entrusting me with this ARC. First of all I feel like 3 Stars have a bad reputation, this books was actually so good!
This novella follows Tommy mostly and his relationship with Evan a star baseball player. Tommy is also the coaches son 👀 Due to Evan messing up and having bad media, he gets sent into timeout and needs a „babysitter“. And who could that be? That’s right! Tommy!
From there their little story goes … ❤️
What I liked:
- the setting, I love love love sports romance!!
- open sexuality (I know this author is writing queer romance) but I am used to stories where the mc always keeps their sexuality a secret, so this was really refreshing
- spicy scenes —- can’t lie, this shot was hot 🔥
- Hunter, the best friend. He was a lot of fun and I don’t know if he gets a book I would definitely read it
- THE side plot
What was missing for me:
Let me preference this. I KNOW THIS IS A NOVELLA, BUT I can’t help but wish for this to be a longer book. Like all the elements of a great novel are in this. Great side characters. Great Side Stories. Great topics I just wish we had dealt with more. And all of that led to my biggest issue, I feel like we didn’t get to know our main characters well enough to actually root for them. Again I know this is a novella. But I still don’t even really know who Evan is, what are his personal desires, issues, passions (beside baseball) he just fell so flat unfortunately. And also Tommy, how is his personal life, what does he do in his free time,… all he does is pine after this one boy and that makes him seem really dull. Especially since they are like what? 21-22. Like come one eventhough this is a novella please give them so personality besides horny.
I am sure the author is a great writer. I have not yet read a full length novel by this author, so I am trying to keep this in mind with my rating. His writing style is really good, I had an easy time reading this and actually flew trough this in one day. I would definitely recommend this book to you if you like queer, sports romances and don’t mind a good quick time.
Again thank you to LoveNotesPR and the author for the book.
This novella follows Tommy mostly and his relationship with Evan a star baseball player. Tommy is also the coaches son 👀 Due to Evan messing up and having bad media, he gets sent into timeout and needs a „babysitter“. And who could that be? That’s right! Tommy!
From there their little story goes … ❤️
What I liked:
- the setting, I love love love sports romance!!
- open sexuality (I know this author is writing queer romance) but I am used to stories where the mc always keeps their sexuality a secret, so this was really refreshing
- spicy scenes —- can’t lie, this shot was hot 🔥
- Hunter, the best friend. He was a lot of fun and I don’t know if he gets a book I would definitely read it
- THE side plot
What was missing for me:
Let me preference this. I KNOW THIS IS A NOVELLA, BUT I can’t help but wish for this to be a longer book. Like all the elements of a great novel are in this. Great side characters. Great Side Stories. Great topics I just wish we had dealt with more. And all of that led to my biggest issue, I feel like we didn’t get to know our main characters well enough to actually root for them. Again I know this is a novella. But I still don’t even really know who Evan is, what are his personal desires, issues, passions (beside baseball) he just fell so flat unfortunately. And also Tommy, how is his personal life, what does he do in his free time,… all he does is pine after this one boy and that makes him seem really dull. Especially since they are like what? 21-22. Like come one eventhough this is a novella please give them so personality besides horny.
I am sure the author is a great writer. I have not yet read a full length novel by this author, so I am trying to keep this in mind with my rating. His writing style is really good, I had an easy time reading this and actually flew trough this in one day. I would definitely recommend this book to you if you like queer, sports romances and don’t mind a good quick time.
Again thank you to LoveNotesPR and the author for the book.
July 7, 2026
What happens when you get roomed with your crush
This a spicy single POV read that actually hits you in the feels before it ends. I really wish it was a longer story with the second POV because I want to know what was going through Evan's head to get where they did.
Tommy is the coaches son, batboy, and artist. He has been fantasizing over Evan's derriere for quite a while and may or may not have a collection of drawings for his personal pleasure. Evan is straight and so it's just a fantasy.
Evan is a star player and when he gets into trouble he is roomed with Tommy since obviously the coach knows his son can keep him in the room. How that works out he doesn't care.
That first shared hotel room was so unexpected. Evan is confident and has no issues dropping his pants in front of his gay roommate. The tension is palpable for poor Tommy who can't look away from the monster. So when Evan can no longer wait he offers to let Tommy get him off but only in the room and no one can know.
Evan is quite the over achiever and determined to enjoy this gift. However, as time goes on he wants more. That scene where he made a meal of Evan in a way he never expected what seriously so hot.
The entire sequence involving Tommy's final project and the subject matter was both unexpected and beautifully vulnerable. .I really wish we could have seen what was going on in Evan's head through all if this. He makes a big choice I really want to understand more.
I also wanted to know more about the coach situation. It was surprising and added another series if questions in my head. I however, absolutely loved Hunter. He was hysterical and I'd love to see more from these guys.
Overall it started perfect minus only being one POV but the end definitely went by too quickly for me to be satisfied with it. So much happened in the last few chapters without a moment to process or understand how it got there.
This a spicy single POV read that actually hits you in the feels before it ends. I really wish it was a longer story with the second POV because I want to know what was going through Evan's head to get where they did.
Tommy is the coaches son, batboy, and artist. He has been fantasizing over Evan's derriere for quite a while and may or may not have a collection of drawings for his personal pleasure. Evan is straight and so it's just a fantasy.
Evan is a star player and when he gets into trouble he is roomed with Tommy since obviously the coach knows his son can keep him in the room. How that works out he doesn't care.
That first shared hotel room was so unexpected. Evan is confident and has no issues dropping his pants in front of his gay roommate. The tension is palpable for poor Tommy who can't look away from the monster. So when Evan can no longer wait he offers to let Tommy get him off but only in the room and no one can know.
Evan is quite the over achiever and determined to enjoy this gift. However, as time goes on he wants more. That scene where he made a meal of Evan in a way he never expected what seriously so hot.
The entire sequence involving Tommy's final project and the subject matter was both unexpected and beautifully vulnerable. .I really wish we could have seen what was going on in Evan's head through all if this. He makes a big choice I really want to understand more.
I also wanted to know more about the coach situation. It was surprising and added another series if questions in my head. I however, absolutely loved Hunter. He was hysterical and I'd love to see more from these guys.
Overall it started perfect minus only being one POV but the end definitely went by too quickly for me to be satisfied with it. So much happened in the last few chapters without a moment to process or understand how it got there.
Review of advance copy
Slugger is an MM/Baseball romance that packs a little punch for a such a short read.
This is told in single POV through the lens of Tommy, and Christopher J Brice wrote it very well. I panicked a little thinking we wouldn’t be able to get rounded characters but it worked.
Our MMC’s are Tommy - the coaches son and batboy, and Evan Brock - the top baseball player for Wildbrook University.
What was supposed to be a night on the town ends in a bar fight and as a result of it, it’s put Tommy in the position of babysitter. He has to share a hotel room with Evan every time there’s a game and keep him out of trouble.
This turns into something much hotter and dangerous because Evan wants something only Tommy can give, but this has to be kept a secret. Outside of the hotel room, Evan doesn’t even look at Tommy. This can’t go anywhere.
Slugger is funny, but I expected this because I know the author can write humour perfectly. It was also super spicy but I also felt like I got slapped with heartfelt and beautiful moments that I loved. I went from ‘this is so hot’ to ‘aww this beautiful’.
What I didn’t expect was the relationship between Tommy and his dad to play out like it did and by the end of this book I felt like I had been wrapped tightly in a bear hug.
I also need to give a special mention to Hunter because his character had me giggling in the way a child does.
I do feel like the end of this book was a little rushed. It felt like Evans character did a complete personality flip but I still enjoyed it regardless. I’d hope to see their characters more in future novellas because I definitely need more from them.
Overall though, I ate this book up and i’ve really become a fan of Christopher J Brice writing so if you’re looking for a shorter read, i’d check this out for sure!
Thank you to LoveNotesPr and Christopher J Brice for my ARC ❤️
This is told in single POV through the lens of Tommy, and Christopher J Brice wrote it very well. I panicked a little thinking we wouldn’t be able to get rounded characters but it worked.
Our MMC’s are Tommy - the coaches son and batboy, and Evan Brock - the top baseball player for Wildbrook University.
What was supposed to be a night on the town ends in a bar fight and as a result of it, it’s put Tommy in the position of babysitter. He has to share a hotel room with Evan every time there’s a game and keep him out of trouble.
This turns into something much hotter and dangerous because Evan wants something only Tommy can give, but this has to be kept a secret. Outside of the hotel room, Evan doesn’t even look at Tommy. This can’t go anywhere.
Slugger is funny, but I expected this because I know the author can write humour perfectly. It was also super spicy but I also felt like I got slapped with heartfelt and beautiful moments that I loved. I went from ‘this is so hot’ to ‘aww this beautiful’.
What I didn’t expect was the relationship between Tommy and his dad to play out like it did and by the end of this book I felt like I had been wrapped tightly in a bear hug.
I also need to give a special mention to Hunter because his character had me giggling in the way a child does.
I do feel like the end of this book was a little rushed. It felt like Evans character did a complete personality flip but I still enjoyed it regardless. I’d hope to see their characters more in future novellas because I definitely need more from them.
Overall though, I ate this book up and i’ve really become a fan of Christopher J Brice writing so if you’re looking for a shorter read, i’d check this out for sure!
Thank you to LoveNotesPr and Christopher J Brice for my ARC ❤️
July 10, 2026
ARC Review of Slugger Book 1 in the Wildbrook University Novella Series by Christopher J. Brice. This book is a 5 star read for me. I really enjoyed it. It is a short fast paced novella that is low angst and full of spice. I wish it was longer because I wanted more of their story and didn’t want to be over. I really liked the storyline. This is Tommy and Evan's story. It is told from just Tommy’s POV which I liked but I would have also liked some chapters from Evan’s POV as well. This is a spicy, coach’s son, baseball player x batboy, forced proximity, secret hookups, college baseball MM romance. Tommy Jenkins is the batboy for the Wildbrook University baseball team and he’s the coach’s son. Evan Brock is the star first baseman on the Wildbrook baseball team. Tommy has had a secret crush on Evan for the past 3 years. Evan gets into a bar fight and because of that Tommy’s dad, Evan’s coach wants Tommy to room with Evan on all the away games of the season so he can babysit him and keep him from getting in trouble. On their first away trip together Evan proposes a deal to Tommy for them to hookup secretly on every away game to which Tommy happily excepts. But as the end of the season gets closer Tommy starts wondering more about what happens to them once the season ends and if Evan gets drafted. Tommy doesn’t want to be a secret forever he wants more than hookups in hotel rooms behind closed doors. He wants to be loved in the light out in public. I loved watching Tommy and Evan’s relationship shift and change. I loved watching Evan let his guard down and seeing more of his vulnerable side and I loved seeing Tommy be more brave and saying what he wants and needs. I love the ending. I wish their story was a little longer because I enjoyed them so much. I definitely recommend this book.
July 6, 2026
I loved this book! We have Tommy - coaches son and artist (fits in my "nerd" category very nicely) and Evan one of his dads players (whom Tommy has had a CRUSH on for years!). They are forced to room together on road trips and out of that Tommy and he have some really hot smexy times. My only real "thing" was how their first encounter started, while it was hot it kinda lacked a little chemistry for me - more transactional. As they progress through the season, while not spelled out on page, I felt that they started to develop a bit more of a relationship - at least behind the closed doors oof their hotel room and eventually, Evan starts to acknowledge Tommy on campus. Small ways, but it means the world to Tommy. It really forced Tommy to have to decide if staying "hidden" was worth whatever they had developing. I loved the ending - wrapping up with an art show Tommy has entered with a drawing of the two of them (with Evan's full agreement). This is not my first book by the author, but it's probably my favorite and I hope this is the set up of a great MM baseball series. Cause I'm HERE FOR IT!
Two quick side notes 1) it's a novella and yes I always want 'more' but I think the author did an amazing job with the 150ish pages - providing background, some great secondary characters (Tommy's best friend Hunter better be the next book lol) and some funny moments. 2) it's in single point of view - I know that last one can be hit or miss for some people and while I'd of course loved to have dual POV, it's a novella lol Hopefully we'll see Tommy and Evan in upcoming books through the series! But overall, want a quick and fun read - this is for you.
Thank you Love Note PR and the author for a chance to receive an ARC of this book!
Two quick side notes 1) it's a novella and yes I always want 'more' but I think the author did an amazing job with the 150ish pages - providing background, some great secondary characters (Tommy's best friend Hunter better be the next book lol) and some funny moments. 2) it's in single point of view - I know that last one can be hit or miss for some people and while I'd of course loved to have dual POV, it's a novella lol Hopefully we'll see Tommy and Evan in upcoming books through the series! But overall, want a quick and fun read - this is for you.
Thank you Love Note PR and the author for a chance to receive an ARC of this book!
July 13, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 | ARC Review – Slugger by Christopher J. Brice
If you’re looking for a fun, spicy MM college baseball romance, Slugger is a quick read that I flew through in one sitting!
Tommy, who is the baseball coach’s son, and he has been wanting Evan for quite some time. Evan finds himself in some trouble, and Tommy’s dad believes it’s a good idea for them to room together during away games so it will help Evan be better. In the bedroom they are on fire but on campus when around everyone else it’s like ice!! Evan avoids Tommy at all costs. Worried about keeping the distance so no one suspects a thing because why would these two be associated with one another.
I’m a sucker for forced proximity and this one was so fun. There was even humor in this story and had me lol. I’m not the biggest fan of baseball in sports romance, but enjoyed this. The spice was definitely there! The tension between these two is sooo good.
My only real critique is the one POV and that the romance felt a little rushed due to this being a short story. Since the story is told only through Tommy’s POV, we don’t really know what Evan is thinking throughout the story. I would’ve loved a little more emotional development before they got together. A dual POV would have been nice just to understand Evan more.
The side characters were so much fun I’m already hoping Petrie and Jenkins get their own book! Overall this was a really enjoyable strory leaving me excited to read more from this series. This was my introduction to Christopher J. Brice and would definitely be interested to see what else is in store.
Thank you to Christopher J. Brice and Love Notes PR for the free ARC! All opinions are my own.
If you’re looking for a fun, spicy MM college baseball romance, Slugger is a quick read that I flew through in one sitting!
Tommy, who is the baseball coach’s son, and he has been wanting Evan for quite some time. Evan finds himself in some trouble, and Tommy’s dad believes it’s a good idea for them to room together during away games so it will help Evan be better. In the bedroom they are on fire but on campus when around everyone else it’s like ice!! Evan avoids Tommy at all costs. Worried about keeping the distance so no one suspects a thing because why would these two be associated with one another.
I’m a sucker for forced proximity and this one was so fun. There was even humor in this story and had me lol. I’m not the biggest fan of baseball in sports romance, but enjoyed this. The spice was definitely there! The tension between these two is sooo good.
My only real critique is the one POV and that the romance felt a little rushed due to this being a short story. Since the story is told only through Tommy’s POV, we don’t really know what Evan is thinking throughout the story. I would’ve loved a little more emotional development before they got together. A dual POV would have been nice just to understand Evan more.
The side characters were so much fun I’m already hoping Petrie and Jenkins get their own book! Overall this was a really enjoyable strory leaving me excited to read more from this series. This was my introduction to Christopher J. Brice and would definitely be interested to see what else is in store.
Thank you to Christopher J. Brice and Love Notes PR for the free ARC! All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 5/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Disclosure: I received a complimentary eARC of Slugger by Christopher J. Brice in exchange for an honest review.
Slugger is an absolute standout. It is an intense, high-heat romance that somehow manages to be laugh-out-loud hilarious at the same time. I found myself tearing up from laughing so hard, only to be completely floored by the depth of the connection between the leads.
The story follows Tommy Jenkins, the coach’s son and team batboy, and Evan Brock, the university’s hot-tempered star slugger. When a viral bar fight forces them into a forced-proximity "babysitting" arrangement, the tension between them burns hotter than the season itself.
The execution of this book is brilliant. Christopher J. Brice balances the slow-simmering intensity of their secret relationship with sharp, incredibly well-timed humor. I loved that the conflict felt grounded and realistic—it wasn't about manufactured drama, but about two people needing to navigate communication and the weight of public expectations. Seeing them move toward a place of honest, public recognition was incredibly rewarding. Plus, Tommy’s friend Hunter is an amazing addition to the cast!
Slugger is a masterclass in the forbidden sports romance trope. If you want a story that burns through the pages and leaves you desperate for the next book in the Wildbrook University series, pick this up immediately.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary eARC of Slugger by Christopher J. Brice in exchange for an honest review.
Slugger is an absolute standout. It is an intense, high-heat romance that somehow manages to be laugh-out-loud hilarious at the same time. I found myself tearing up from laughing so hard, only to be completely floored by the depth of the connection between the leads.
The story follows Tommy Jenkins, the coach’s son and team batboy, and Evan Brock, the university’s hot-tempered star slugger. When a viral bar fight forces them into a forced-proximity "babysitting" arrangement, the tension between them burns hotter than the season itself.
The execution of this book is brilliant. Christopher J. Brice balances the slow-simmering intensity of their secret relationship with sharp, incredibly well-timed humor. I loved that the conflict felt grounded and realistic—it wasn't about manufactured drama, but about two people needing to navigate communication and the weight of public expectations. Seeing them move toward a place of honest, public recognition was incredibly rewarding. Plus, Tommy’s friend Hunter is an amazing addition to the cast!
Slugger is a masterclass in the forbidden sports romance trope. If you want a story that burns through the pages and leaves you desperate for the next book in the Wildbrook University series, pick this up immediately.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2026
Review of advance copy received form the author:
4/5⭐️
If I have to define this novella in one sentence it would be “patience”
What caught my attention from this book and the reason why I wanted to read it so bad it was because it has my favorite tropes, sports and secret romance.
I thought that the pace would be so fast since it was a novella but god the author knew so well how to handle it. The building up between Tommy and Evan was perfectly captured, you see all the different steps of their feelings and you just know the exact moment when they become something more.
I love their connection, I love how Tommy became a safe place for Evan to ask, to try, to just be. One of the most important parts in a relationship is that, being with someone that is patient with you and let you be your true self.
Let’s not forget the side characters because Hunter takes the price of the best-friend of the year, he definitely had Tommy’s back no matter what and in a hilarious way too.
The only con that I have is that it was so good that I wanted more pages, I would have love to have more interactions between Tommy and his dad or even Evan with his friends, but besides that, this book was a perfect combination.
Thank you Love Notes PR and Christopher J. Brice for this incredible opportunity, it was my first time with one of your books and a novella and I really enjoyed it. I’m really looking forward to your future books.
4/5⭐️
If I have to define this novella in one sentence it would be “patience”
What caught my attention from this book and the reason why I wanted to read it so bad it was because it has my favorite tropes, sports and secret romance.
I thought that the pace would be so fast since it was a novella but god the author knew so well how to handle it. The building up between Tommy and Evan was perfectly captured, you see all the different steps of their feelings and you just know the exact moment when they become something more.
I love their connection, I love how Tommy became a safe place for Evan to ask, to try, to just be. One of the most important parts in a relationship is that, being with someone that is patient with you and let you be your true self.
Let’s not forget the side characters because Hunter takes the price of the best-friend of the year, he definitely had Tommy’s back no matter what and in a hilarious way too.
The only con that I have is that it was so good that I wanted more pages, I would have love to have more interactions between Tommy and his dad or even Evan with his friends, but besides that, this book was a perfect combination.
Thank you Love Notes PR and Christopher J. Brice for this incredible opportunity, it was my first time with one of your books and a novella and I really enjoyed it. I’m really looking forward to your future books.
Review of advance copy
This was a surprisingly steamy book for such a short novella - and it really did it’s job well in that respect. Definitely a quick and fast paced read, it was a lot of fun (even if the ending was a bit abrupt for me). Featuring Tommy, the coach’s son, who has been tasked to share a room with the team’s star Evan in order to babysit him and keep him out of trouble after a number of scandals - and Tommy is more than willing to come to an ‘arrangement’ to keep him out of trouble. I really liked Tommy as our MC - he was a lot of fun and I really got a sense of who he was and his motivations, which is tricky to do in a short novella. I really liked the build up of their relationship and the Evan’s exploration of his new interest in men, although he always remained a bit of an enigma and we didn’t get a lot of exploration of emotions between the two men - althoughI was glad that the unfairness was dealt with quickly and I wasn’t left with the feeling of Tommy being taken advantage of (and even his friend made a point of ensuring the same). The spicy scenes were done well, and flowed as part of the story in a way that made sense for the characters. The only draw back for me, was that the ending felt a little rushed and too perfect. Especially not having the men have a real conversation about emotions and their attraction going beyond the physical, it felt a bit rushed and out of left field how okay Evan was with the painting and basically coming out. But overall I really enjoyed these characters and their relationship, and loved the world built here with Tommy’s friends and the rest of the team - I’ll definitley be picking up the next book!
Thanks to LoveNotesPR and Christopher J Brice for the ARC!
Thanks to LoveNotesPR and Christopher J Brice for the ARC!
July 6, 2026
This book was SPICY!
Typically, I'm not a huge fan of novellas, because I feel like they never give us the whole story, and there's always too much left out that it feels like not enough. But Slugger kept me glued to the screen, and I NEVER read from a screen. I need to hold a book, but I finished it in two days while home visiting my family.
I loved the characters Tommy, Hunter, and Evan. I felt like they were all relatable people I already knew or could picture in my mind. I liked that even with such a short book you were able to see them develop and grow throughout the pages. Slugger is part smut, part romance, and written extremely well, that I was able to envision it all (not G rated 😈) happening in real time. Not to mention all the events that transpired at the end of the book made me smile and my heart happy. 💙
This is now the third book of Christopher J. Brice's that I have read, and I have enjoyed them all, but for different reasons. If you like a good MM Romance, then he's your guy, check him out!
Typically, I'm not a huge fan of novellas, because I feel like they never give us the whole story, and there's always too much left out that it feels like not enough. But Slugger kept me glued to the screen, and I NEVER read from a screen. I need to hold a book, but I finished it in two days while home visiting my family.
I loved the characters Tommy, Hunter, and Evan. I felt like they were all relatable people I already knew or could picture in my mind. I liked that even with such a short book you were able to see them develop and grow throughout the pages. Slugger is part smut, part romance, and written extremely well, that I was able to envision it all (not G rated 😈) happening in real time. Not to mention all the events that transpired at the end of the book made me smile and my heart happy. 💙
This is now the third book of Christopher J. Brice's that I have read, and I have enjoyed them all, but for different reasons. If you like a good MM Romance, then he's your guy, check him out!
July 9, 2026
✨This was such an enjoyable read! The slow build between Tommy and Evan kept me hooked, and I found myself rooting for them the entire time.
🩵Tommy was so easy to love. After spending years in the background as the coach’s son and the team’s batboy, you could really feel how invisible he believed himself to be. 🥹Watching him grow more into his own was amazing and sweet. And Evan? It was not hard to root for him. 🫠Watching him have the courage to come out was admirable especially with his internal struggles and fear.❤️🩹
The chemistry between Tommy and Evan was undeniable🔥, and the secret relationship brought just the right amount of tension and angst. 🤌🏽You can tell they genuinely cared for each other. The only thing I wish is more time with Tommy and Evan. 🫶🏽
⭐️Overall, Slugger was a quick sweet, emotional MM sports romance that left me smiling by the end. I recommend if you want an amazing fast paced read.🙌🏽
Thank you to the Author Christopher J. Brice and LoveNotesPR for the opportunity to read this ARC!💙
🩵Tommy was so easy to love. After spending years in the background as the coach’s son and the team’s batboy, you could really feel how invisible he believed himself to be. 🥹Watching him grow more into his own was amazing and sweet. And Evan? It was not hard to root for him. 🫠Watching him have the courage to come out was admirable especially with his internal struggles and fear.❤️🩹
The chemistry between Tommy and Evan was undeniable🔥, and the secret relationship brought just the right amount of tension and angst. 🤌🏽You can tell they genuinely cared for each other. The only thing I wish is more time with Tommy and Evan. 🫶🏽
⭐️Overall, Slugger was a quick sweet, emotional MM sports romance that left me smiling by the end. I recommend if you want an amazing fast paced read.🙌🏽
Thank you to the Author Christopher J. Brice and LoveNotesPR for the opportunity to read this ARC!💙
Review of advance copy
👓👓ARC READER👓👓
First of all, thank you Love Notes for giving me the chance to read this ARC, now let’s get started.
This novella follows Tommy, the coach's son, and Evan, the baseball star.
Told from a single point of view, the story begins after Evan's actions prompt Tommy's dad to pair them together on road trips to keep Evan in check, with that you can see where I’m going with this 👀👀
To me, as the story progressed, the pacing became much faster than I expected. It felt like the characters made a complete 180 in their development just to wrap up the story, which made their relationship feel rushed. Because of that, I found it difficult to connect with the characters by the end.
Overall, this is a fun, quick read if you're in the mood for something light and easy. While the pacing and character development didn't fully work for me, the premise was enjoyable and made for an entertaining novella.
First of all, thank you Love Notes for giving me the chance to read this ARC, now let’s get started.
This novella follows Tommy, the coach's son, and Evan, the baseball star.
Told from a single point of view, the story begins after Evan's actions prompt Tommy's dad to pair them together on road trips to keep Evan in check, with that you can see where I’m going with this 👀👀
To me, as the story progressed, the pacing became much faster than I expected. It felt like the characters made a complete 180 in their development just to wrap up the story, which made their relationship feel rushed. Because of that, I found it difficult to connect with the characters by the end.
Overall, this is a fun, quick read if you're in the mood for something light and easy. While the pacing and character development didn't fully work for me, the premise was enjoyable and made for an entertaining novella.
Review of advance copy
Slugger by Christopher J. Brice is a heartfelt, steamy college sports romance that blends emotional vulnerability with the excitement of university baseball. In this novel, the story is centered around the MMC Tommy Jenkins, the coach's son and longtime batboy, and the other MMC Evan Brock, the team's talented but troubled slugger. From the very start, the chemistry between the main characters is undeniable and projects an emotional depth I love seeing. I enjoyed how Christopher used the forced proximity trope so that the "coach's son falls for the player" dynamic created plenty of tension, while the secret romance adds higher stakes that kept me turning the page to see what happened next. Overall, Slugger was a charming start to the Wildbrook University series that has me excited to see what else the author does next!
I received an ARC copy from Love Notes PR. Thank you so much for giving me a chance to read and voluntarily review this novel!
I received an ARC copy from Love Notes PR. Thank you so much for giving me a chance to read and voluntarily review this novel!
July 12, 2026
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy of this book, and I enjoyed it!
This is a college baseball M/M romance featuring forced proximity and a long-term crush tropes, and I really enjoyed watching the core relationship develop. I liked that the book was told from a single POV, especially given the shorter length, as it allowed for a more focused look at the narrator's thoughts and feelings as he navigated his journey.
Alongside the romance, I really enjoyed the main character's friendship with his best friend. Their dynamic added a lot to the story and helped shape his journey in a way that felt genuine and engaging.
The main reason this wasn't a higher rating for me was that I was left wanting a little more resolution. Both the central relationship and the main character's relationship with his dad felt like they wrapped up quite abruptly, and I would have loved a bit more time spent exploring those emotional threads. That said, it does feel like there could be room for these storylines to continue in future books.
Overall, this was a lovely, quick read with enjoyable characters, a sweet romance, and an engaging coming-of-age journey. If you're looking for a fast-paced college sports romance with forced proximity and a fresh take on familiar tropes, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a try!
⭐ ⭐ ⭐
This is a college baseball M/M romance featuring forced proximity and a long-term crush tropes, and I really enjoyed watching the core relationship develop. I liked that the book was told from a single POV, especially given the shorter length, as it allowed for a more focused look at the narrator's thoughts and feelings as he navigated his journey.
Alongside the romance, I really enjoyed the main character's friendship with his best friend. Their dynamic added a lot to the story and helped shape his journey in a way that felt genuine and engaging.
The main reason this wasn't a higher rating for me was that I was left wanting a little more resolution. Both the central relationship and the main character's relationship with his dad felt like they wrapped up quite abruptly, and I would have loved a bit more time spent exploring those emotional threads. That said, it does feel like there could be room for these storylines to continue in future books.
Overall, this was a lovely, quick read with enjoyable characters, a sweet romance, and an engaging coming-of-age journey. If you're looking for a fast-paced college sports romance with forced proximity and a fresh take on familiar tropes, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a try!
⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Review of advance copy received from Author
This cosy, MM sports novella (around 150 pages), was utterly stunning. It's a single 1st POV, college baseball romance between a player and the coach's son who helps out the team. Tommy feels invisible while having a massively inconvenient crush on one of the players. I am really loving books like this at moment, low angst, high heat with a MC who is slightly introverted (and a bit of a psuhover when it comes to his dad) and another character who is incredibly arrogant but has a deeper personality that's not seen surface level. Slugger is fast paced, fun, spicyyy with a few first times, secret hook-ups and hilarious best friends who I'm obsessed with (loved Hunter and Reed sooo much)! Thank you for trusting me to read your book early, I really enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to future books in this series!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was such a spicy and fun read! The baseball player (Evan) and the bat boy (Tommy. who’s also the coaches son) get roomed together and Tommy’s dad wanted Tommy to basically keep Evan out of trouble. Their shared nights together quickly turn into them BOTH getting into some trouble 😏
Seeing Evan go from being unsure of what he even wants to being so vocal with Tommy was such a precious thing. I loved seeing Evan coming out of his shell and putting his trust in Tommy.
Tommy was infatuated with Evan long before their hooking up started and he was not at all afraid to let Evan know that. Tommy pretty much worshiped the ground that Evan walked on and I loved how he was so fearless right from the start.
I loved getting to know the side characters as well and can’t wait to read more from this novella series!
Seeing Evan go from being unsure of what he even wants to being so vocal with Tommy was such a precious thing. I loved seeing Evan coming out of his shell and putting his trust in Tommy.
Tommy was infatuated with Evan long before their hooking up started and he was not at all afraid to let Evan know that. Tommy pretty much worshiped the ground that Evan walked on and I loved how he was so fearless right from the start.
I loved getting to know the side characters as well and can’t wait to read more from this novella series!
Review of advance copy
I received an ARC for my honest review.
Novellas get a lot of leeway from me because they have to do a lot in a little bit of time. This one did a great job of getting a full story shoved into limited pages.
That said, this needed to be longer (I wish it were longer). We needed more character development for Evan. He never felt like his own person, just a prop for Tommy to play off of - and play they did! I have never been a 21 year old man so I don't know if this is anything near actual levels of horniness, but there is so much lusting that it takes over the story right from the start.
In a longer book, this could have been spaced out and the characters could have more background and depth, but it isn't longer, so these things didn't happen. It works here because of the story's brevity. If it were 150 pages longer and still only had sex and no further character depth, it would be a problem. Even so, I do feel we get enough of Tommy's life to understand him. He's a small, non-athletic kid just seeking his dad's love and approval. Note, the side character and BFF, Hunter, was a lot of fun - I'd read his book!
All in all, I liked this novella. It set out what is came to do, entertain us with a quick and easy read about a couple of college kids falling for each other.
Novellas get a lot of leeway from me because they have to do a lot in a little bit of time. This one did a great job of getting a full story shoved into limited pages.
That said, this needed to be longer (I wish it were longer). We needed more character development for Evan. He never felt like his own person, just a prop for Tommy to play off of - and play they did! I have never been a 21 year old man so I don't know if this is anything near actual levels of horniness, but there is so much lusting that it takes over the story right from the start.
In a longer book, this could have been spaced out and the characters could have more background and depth, but it isn't longer, so these things didn't happen. It works here because of the story's brevity. If it were 150 pages longer and still only had sex and no further character depth, it would be a problem. Even so, I do feel we get enough of Tommy's life to understand him. He's a small, non-athletic kid just seeking his dad's love and approval. Note, the side character and BFF, Hunter, was a lot of fun - I'd read his book!
All in all, I liked this novella. It set out what is came to do, entertain us with a quick and easy read about a couple of college kids falling for each other.
July 6, 2026
When life throws you a curveball, hit it out of the park."
.
It's novella time!
SLUGGER (Wild room University)
5⭐
.
Honestly I loved this novella from the very beginning.
I am a huge fan of long and enormous books, but novellas have a special flavor and power in them. With less than 200 pages I was able to focus entirely on the story of Tommy and Evan and reality just became a blurry picture around the pages of this book.
When life hits hard or, as the caption says, throws curveball from every possible direction, having a way to escape is so precious, especially if it works how well as this novella does.
I loved the tension and how hard they fight for each other. The chemistry and the spice >>>
This novella has some of my fav tropes, as coach's son... YAY!
.
Thanks for the opportunity to read this ARC!
.
.
It's novella time!
SLUGGER (Wild room University)
5⭐
.
Honestly I loved this novella from the very beginning.
I am a huge fan of long and enormous books, but novellas have a special flavor and power in them. With less than 200 pages I was able to focus entirely on the story of Tommy and Evan and reality just became a blurry picture around the pages of this book.
When life hits hard or, as the caption says, throws curveball from every possible direction, having a way to escape is so precious, especially if it works how well as this novella does.
I loved the tension and how hard they fight for each other. The chemistry and the spice >>>
This novella has some of my fav tropes, as coach's son... YAY!
.
Thanks for the opportunity to read this ARC!
.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2026
I love everything that Christopher writes and this was no exception. Evan's character reminded me a lot of someone in Christophers book Gerard. How full of himself he was but at the same time vulnerable. Tommy also reminded me of another Christopher character Alex. All Tommy wanted was to matter he had his artwork, whatever his arrangement was with Evan and he best friend. Yet he even knew this thing with Evan may be short lived and lets not forget his father and how he seemed like he brushed him off. What I loved was the fact that Tommy was the dominant one in their "relationship" and outside of that relationship he was pretty much invisible. However things have a way of changing and a final art project gives not only Tommy the push he needs but Evan as well. This book had the heat and the spice but at the same time had the cuteness of a relationship just beginning.
Review of advance copy
I received an ARC copy of this novella from Love Notes PR and I could not be happier!
I really enjoyed this story from start to end! This book picked up quickly and immediately presented readers with the external conflict for main character Tommy. Christopher J. Brice wrote this book in an easy to read, perfectly paced, and simple to comprehend format!
I sometimes struggle with novellas, they are either rushed or I feel lack of connection to the characters but I didn’t struggle with this one! It was a great story with 2 MMCs that I wanted to dive into deeper!
The epilogue left me feeling fulfilled and closed any plot points I was curious on!
This is a MUST READ for any MM sports romance fans!
Christopher J Brice you have done it again!
I really enjoyed this story from start to end! This book picked up quickly and immediately presented readers with the external conflict for main character Tommy. Christopher J. Brice wrote this book in an easy to read, perfectly paced, and simple to comprehend format!
I sometimes struggle with novellas, they are either rushed or I feel lack of connection to the characters but I didn’t struggle with this one! It was a great story with 2 MMCs that I wanted to dive into deeper!
The epilogue left me feeling fulfilled and closed any plot points I was curious on!
This is a MUST READ for any MM sports romance fans!
Christopher J Brice you have done it again!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Tropes:
⚾️ Baseball Romance
🧢 Jock MMC
🎨 Artist MMC
🛏️ Forced Proximity
📋 Coach’s Son
Tommy is a student artist, the baseball team’s bat boy, and the coach’s son. Evan is the team’s star first baseman and slugger and a bit of a loose cannon.
After Evan gets himself into a bit of trouble, Tommy’s dad has them room together for away games in an effort to keep Evan out of trouble. The plan helps Evan keep his cool out in the world but once that hotel room door closes, things get “pretty” heated.
There was so much packed into this fast paced perfect novella, however, you don’t feel like you’re missing anything. The MMCs are fully developed, there beautiful character growth, and the side characters are top tier. I can’t wait for book 2!
⚾️ Baseball Romance
🧢 Jock MMC
🎨 Artist MMC
🛏️ Forced Proximity
📋 Coach’s Son
Tommy is a student artist, the baseball team’s bat boy, and the coach’s son. Evan is the team’s star first baseman and slugger and a bit of a loose cannon.
After Evan gets himself into a bit of trouble, Tommy’s dad has them room together for away games in an effort to keep Evan out of trouble. The plan helps Evan keep his cool out in the world but once that hotel room door closes, things get “pretty” heated.
There was so much packed into this fast paced perfect novella, however, you don’t feel like you’re missing anything. The MMCs are fully developed, there beautiful character growth, and the side characters are top tier. I can’t wait for book 2!
July 6, 2026
This MM novella is a well paced college sports romance that does a lot with a short page count. The forced proximity setup works so well, bringing great chemistry when the responsible Tommy has to babysit Evan, who is always in trouble. Their connection feels natural as it turns into an exciting secret romance.
The intimate scenes are handled perfectly, giving just the right amount of spice to show their deep emotional bond instead of just being filler. Plus, the background feels alive thanks to plenty of queer representation and interesting side plots that add real depth without taking over the main story. Read this of you are into MM romances, especially if they are baseball focused. Great start of a new series.
The intimate scenes are handled perfectly, giving just the right amount of spice to show their deep emotional bond instead of just being filler. Plus, the background feels alive thanks to plenty of queer representation and interesting side plots that add real depth without taking over the main story. Read this of you are into MM romances, especially if they are baseball focused. Great start of a new series.
July 7, 2026
Arc Review thanks to the wonderful LoveNotes PR and the author! <3
A MM baseball romance novella that, although short and spicy, held a lot of depth! I’ve had Brice’s work on my TBR and was super excited for this based on the tropes, and I was not let down!
It was a quick read (I finished it in basically one sitting) and very spicy, but had me hooked the whole time! Although the ending did feel a little rushed, I still loved the way the two MCs relationship folded out and developed. I found myself rooting for background characters too, which I am always happy to see especially in a novella.
Certainly not a negative critique, but I so wish this was a full novel! I adore the universe and characters created in ‘Slugger’, and now I need more!
A MM baseball romance novella that, although short and spicy, held a lot of depth! I’ve had Brice’s work on my TBR and was super excited for this based on the tropes, and I was not let down!
It was a quick read (I finished it in basically one sitting) and very spicy, but had me hooked the whole time! Although the ending did feel a little rushed, I still loved the way the two MCs relationship folded out and developed. I found myself rooting for background characters too, which I am always happy to see especially in a novella.
Certainly not a negative critique, but I so wish this was a full novel! I adore the universe and characters created in ‘Slugger’, and now I need more!
Review of advance copy received from Author
On the verge of burnout after DNFing another ARC, I was really excited to get an ARC of Slugger by Christopher J. Brice. This novella ended up being the perfect palate cleanser and such an enjoyable read!
The story follows college baseball player Evan Brock and Tommy, the coach's son and team's batboy, who are forced to share a room on the road for away games. I love baseball, forced proximity, only one bed, and jock x nerd/artist romances, so this was right up my alley.
Slugger is a quick, low-angst read with lots of spice, and I had so much fun with it. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a fun weekend read!
The story follows college baseball player Evan Brock and Tommy, the coach's son and team's batboy, who are forced to share a room on the road for away games. I love baseball, forced proximity, only one bed, and jock x nerd/artist romances, so this was right up my alley.
Slugger is a quick, low-angst read with lots of spice, and I had so much fun with it. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a fun weekend read!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was a spicy novella into a new series by Christopher J. Brice. This new series will be called Wildbrook University and from what I understand will focus on baseball players this time around.
I have loved the Barracudas series and I am excited to see not only how that series concludes but where this author goes from here with this new series. For a novella the pacing was quite good. We jump right into the spice almost immediately and we get to see our two main characters especially the more hesitant one at first, slowly come into their own and gain confidence within themselves and explore each other.
I have loved the Barracudas series and I am excited to see not only how that series concludes but where this author goes from here with this new series. For a novella the pacing was quite good. We jump right into the spice almost immediately and we get to see our two main characters especially the more hesitant one at first, slowly come into their own and gain confidence within themselves and explore each other.
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