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Open Play #3
Offside
Radek Šíma and Tomáš Hájek were teammates first. Best friends after that. And somewhere along the way, on the road, between matches, they became something neither of them has ever said out loud.
It started once. Then it kept happening.
Now the World Cup has brought the whole Czech squad to Atlanta, the semifinals are days away, and the thing Šíma and Tomáš have been pretending isn't real is getting harder to leave in the dark.
Offside is the third book in the Open Play MM soccer romance series, a steamy friends-to-lovers story about two men, one situationship that was never supposed to mean anything, and a tournament that keeps raising the stakes.
Each book in the Open Play series follows a different couple and can be read on its own, though characters return throughout. For readers who love slow-burn MM sports romance, found-family teammates, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
Preorder now.
Heat Level: Steamy POV: Dual POV, present tense Series: Open Play, Book 3
It started once. Then it kept happening.
Now the World Cup has brought the whole Czech squad to Atlanta, the semifinals are days away, and the thing Šíma and Tomáš have been pretending isn't real is getting harder to leave in the dark.
Offside is the third book in the Open Play MM soccer romance series, a steamy friends-to-lovers story about two men, one situationship that was never supposed to mean anything, and a tournament that keeps raising the stakes.
Each book in the Open Play series follows a different couple and can be read on its own, though characters return throughout. For readers who love slow-burn MM sports romance, found-family teammates, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
Preorder now.
Heat Level: Steamy POV: Dual POV, present tense Series: Open Play, Book 3
- GenresM M Romance
178 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 6, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 8, 2026
DNF @ 83%
3.5 stars
That was all I could take. Just up to the resolution. The rest of the book can take a rest. So can I.
Thoughts as reading:
*at 50% I am debating not finishing the book. The verbal run around is frying my brain. Whether the book wins, or my brain burns is a match waiting for a result.
*at 62% The file says the author should ease up and let the writing flow without poetic license. That is a new rule. Percentage in verse should, at some point, flow freely. Too much of a good thing can lose the reader.
I really love Riley Bauer's stories. The writing style is uniqe and enjoyable...until it isn't. There comes a time when you realize that all the characters are the same voice. They are interchangeable because they all sound exactly the same. As I write this, I am 18% into the book and still can't remember who the MCs are. Clocks have attitudes and inanimate objects negotiate and announce things and the writing is so convoluted it's throws you off. Sue me, I'm tired as I write this and reading is difficult at the moment, but I really think the style has been overworked.
3.5 stars
That was all I could take. Just up to the resolution. The rest of the book can take a rest. So can I.
Thoughts as reading:
*at 50% I am debating not finishing the book. The verbal run around is frying my brain. Whether the book wins, or my brain burns is a match waiting for a result.
*at 62% The file says the author should ease up and let the writing flow without poetic license. That is a new rule. Percentage in verse should, at some point, flow freely. Too much of a good thing can lose the reader.
I really love Riley Bauer's stories. The writing style is uniqe and enjoyable...until it isn't. There comes a time when you realize that all the characters are the same voice. They are interchangeable because they all sound exactly the same. As I write this, I am 18% into the book and still can't remember who the MCs are. Clocks have attitudes and inanimate objects negotiate and announce things and the writing is so convoluted it's throws you off. Sue me, I'm tired as I write this and reading is difficult at the moment, but I really think the style has been overworked.
August 24, 2026
Another AI product. This one didn’t have the funny grammatically correct but impossible details the last one had, but it definitely was the worst when it came to making sense.
Apparently these guys have been together for 5 years and at some point we get the story in pieces. Only little bits though. You have to read between the lines. There’s no mentioning of looks or anything that would make sense that there is chemistry between them. There were two forks. Ok.
Why were they there? How did they end up together? Why is it such a big secret? Did they meet in between? Or only on national games? All of it is not really mentioned.
Like all the books in the series, the way the people talk is weird. In this book it’s even worse. I didn’t understand half of the sentences both of the mc’s uttered. There was a lot of talking about files and records. I didn’t understand the whole thing.
The at some point there’s a break up. I didn’t understand why. And to be honest, I almost didn’t understand it was a break up until the next chapter. That’s on me, because when I turned the pages back it was there. But on my defense the emotionless writing made it incredibly difficult to keep focused on what they were saying. One asks in a very complicated way whether they’re together and the other says no, it was convenient. So then it’s over. I guess.
And since this is a romance novel they make up again. I didn’t understand why he changed his mind. It’s in there, but also not. I wish these guys would just use normal language.
If you wonder why I keep reading these books if I hate them so much: with this one I wondered too. Didn’t like any of it. The others I mostly did like. I just really don’t like the dishonesty of the author about the use of AI. If she’d be more honest about that, I’d give her books there original four or five stars back. This book would stay a 1 star because it’s unreadable. The others though have been pretty good. And it’s hard work to get AI to write good stories, that’s what this book proves as well. Ok not as hard as writing a book yourself, but to get a book that reads like these author’s other books, that’s pretty amazing. Just be honest about it…
Anyway: this book is not good. Won’t reread and don’t recommend.
Apparently these guys have been together for 5 years and at some point we get the story in pieces. Only little bits though. You have to read between the lines. There’s no mentioning of looks or anything that would make sense that there is chemistry between them. There were two forks. Ok.
Why were they there? How did they end up together? Why is it such a big secret? Did they meet in between? Or only on national games? All of it is not really mentioned.
Like all the books in the series, the way the people talk is weird. In this book it’s even worse. I didn’t understand half of the sentences both of the mc’s uttered. There was a lot of talking about files and records. I didn’t understand the whole thing.
The at some point there’s a break up. I didn’t understand why. And to be honest, I almost didn’t understand it was a break up until the next chapter. That’s on me, because when I turned the pages back it was there. But on my defense the emotionless writing made it incredibly difficult to keep focused on what they were saying. One asks in a very complicated way whether they’re together and the other says no, it was convenient. So then it’s over. I guess.
And since this is a romance novel they make up again. I didn’t understand why he changed his mind. It’s in there, but also not. I wish these guys would just use normal language.
If you wonder why I keep reading these books if I hate them so much: with this one I wondered too. Didn’t like any of it. The others I mostly did like. I just really don’t like the dishonesty of the author about the use of AI. If she’d be more honest about that, I’d give her books there original four or five stars back. This book would stay a 1 star because it’s unreadable. The others though have been pretty good. And it’s hard work to get AI to write good stories, that’s what this book proves as well. Ok not as hard as writing a book yourself, but to get a book that reads like these author’s other books, that’s pretty amazing. Just be honest about it…
Anyway: this book is not good. Won’t reread and don’t recommend.
September 12, 2026
Perfect ending to a perfect series.
Tomas and Sima finish off this series in spectacular fashion, and I am absolutely not okay with how much I loved these two. 😂
They’ve spent five years behind closed doors, perfecting their little lie so they can be together while making sure nobody has the slightest clue that there’s actually no film being watched. The dedication to the fake routine is honestly impressive. And these two together? They just work. They’re meant to be. It’s just a shame everyone else is a little slow to catch up. 😉
Of course, they need that time to get there, and watching them figure it all out makes the journey even better.
My heart broke for Tomas when he finally gets the courage to say what he wants from Sima… only to have his heart broken. 💔 And the fact that it’s the first time their carefully perfected routine looks different enough for someone else to notice? Oh, Tomas. 😭
I laughed, I swooned, I got frustrated, and I was completely invested in these two.
Riley Bauer definitely knows how to pull me into a story and make me stay. By the time I reach the end, I’m already wondering when I can get my hands on the next one.
I loved this series, I loved Tomas and Sima, and I absolutely cannot wait for the next series!
This one has just enough “oh, I see what you two are doing 👀” without getting Amazon-angry. 😂
Tomas and Sima finish off this series in spectacular fashion, and I am absolutely not okay with how much I loved these two. 😂
They’ve spent five years behind closed doors, perfecting their little lie so they can be together while making sure nobody has the slightest clue that there’s actually no film being watched. The dedication to the fake routine is honestly impressive. And these two together? They just work. They’re meant to be. It’s just a shame everyone else is a little slow to catch up. 😉
Of course, they need that time to get there, and watching them figure it all out makes the journey even better.
My heart broke for Tomas when he finally gets the courage to say what he wants from Sima… only to have his heart broken. 💔 And the fact that it’s the first time their carefully perfected routine looks different enough for someone else to notice? Oh, Tomas. 😭
I laughed, I swooned, I got frustrated, and I was completely invested in these two.
Riley Bauer definitely knows how to pull me into a story and make me stay. By the time I reach the end, I’m already wondering when I can get my hands on the next one.
I loved this series, I loved Tomas and Sima, and I absolutely cannot wait for the next series!
This one has just enough “oh, I see what you two are doing 👀” without getting Amazon-angry. 😂
August 8, 2026
4.5
Well, this is a pretty good score for a novel that tries to be too clever by half, even if the bare bones of the story is cool. Soccer. The semifinals for the World Cup. A very cohesive team. And the tension of a captain and his lover, still in secret, after five years. The team doesn’t know, but that is because of their discipline covering the matter.
If I hadn’t been trying so hard to get past all the barbs, the overturning of normal verbal processes and the often bang on commentary, the score would be higher. Worth it for those who love soccer, mothers, grandmothers, and two good men.
Well, this is a pretty good score for a novel that tries to be too clever by half, even if the bare bones of the story is cool. Soccer. The semifinals for the World Cup. A very cohesive team. And the tension of a captain and his lover, still in secret, after five years. The team doesn’t know, but that is because of their discipline covering the matter.
If I hadn’t been trying so hard to get past all the barbs, the overturning of normal verbal processes and the often bang on commentary, the score would be higher. Worth it for those who love soccer, mothers, grandmothers, and two good men.
August 15, 2026
So many metaphors
I love these books, but this one took me a few chapters to understand the metaphors. For a second ond I thought maybe it's translated from another language. Everyone speaks in metaphors! But i will always give 5 stars because this writer is awesome and her stories are amazing.
I love these books, but this one took me a few chapters to understand the metaphors. For a second ond I thought maybe it's translated from another language. Everyone speaks in metaphors! But i will always give 5 stars because this writer is awesome and her stories are amazing.
August 6, 2026
Keeping up the good work. Like everything Riley wrote so far. Svičková for the win
August 7, 2026
After Header, I was skeptical of liking Tomas and although I warmed up to him, my favorite parts wiener Sima and Dami.
August 8, 2026
3⭐️ 2🌶️
August 15, 2026
Adored this series. So good.
August 19, 2026
another great story
I’ve read the hockey series and now the football series, and Ive thoroughly enjoyed them all. Well worth a read
I’ve read the hockey series and now the football series, and Ive thoroughly enjoyed them all. Well worth a read
August 9, 2026
The names. Idk how the author kept them straight. And the story.... I was so miserable during the story. This was such a hard fought HEA.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews