First Base

Home Run #2

by Cole Bates

Alex Matthews was tormented by the same group of boys all through middle and high school for being “different” which in translation meant being gay. So who would have ever thought that he’d end up falling in love with one of them and happier than he ever imagined? He and Ryan have settled into their shared apartment and shared life, away at college and away from the stressors of a close-minded small town and most of all, Ryan’s close-minded father. Alex is willing to give Ryan some time, but when Ryan seems to have put telling his father what he really wants out of life way on the backburner, Alex begins to worry. He wonders if he’s losing Ryan to one of the hot jocks on Ryan’s baseball team and with the help of his close friend Harry, he tries to “transform” himself into what he thinks Ryan might really be looking for. When nothing seems to be working Alex will have to examine his own soul and decide if living with Ryan in the closet from his parents will hurt more or less than the hole that losing him will leave in Alex’s soul.


Ryan Reed is as popular in college as he was in high school, and surprisingly, everyone he knows at NYU knows he’s gay. He feels free and happy and most of all content that he can live with the man he loves and be himself without feeling like he needs to hide behind a reputation that was never really his to begin with. At least as long as he stays in the city he feels that way. Back home Ryan knows that his father still believes he’s raised a masculine jock that leaves a string of broken hearted women everywhere he goes. Alex is pressuring him to tell his father about them, and even considering issuing an ultimatum that if Ryan continues to cling to the lies he’s held onto for so long, he will end up losing the only person in the world that has ever loved and accepted him for exactly who he was. Ryan’s going to be forced to grow up quickly and make a choice that could alter the very course of his life and Alex’s.

Genres: M M Romance, Baseball, College, Sports, Amazon, Gay

708 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 4, 2016

About the author

Other pen names for this author:
Jake Evans
Em Covax
Zoe Forrest

Reviews

[T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received First Base as a free (beta) copy from the author. The gifting did not determine the review/rating, which reflects my honest opinion. First Base had a good overall story line, but it was an angsty read, due to both characters' insecurities with their relationship (which I found strange, as they had known each other for a long time and the conflict didn't seem credible with their good communication skills). I had an error-ridden beta copy (spelling and past/present tense issues), but when I spot-checked against Amazon's "Look Inside" feature, I noticed none of the mistakes I'd marked had been corrected in the uploaded version. . Also, the page count is inaccurate on both Amazon and Goodreads-- the book contains 12 chapters so I assume its about 100-125 pages. The formatting is awkward so I think the author needs to take another look at the pricing or a proofread/edit to justify the 2.99 cost.

[N · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 cute. Needs better line editing

[Bob Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great feel-good story

Great story about two step brothers who end up more than brothers. The story also gets into coming out and how it can be very different for everyone. HEA

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Base

This review is for First Base by Cole Bates. I will confess I haven't yet read the rest of the books included in this purchase. I will continue to read them when I finish this review.
I was very impressed with the flow of the story. It is engrossing and well thought out. The dynamic between Ryan and Alex was heartwarming, although at times they showed their insecurities with their relationship.
Now for another confession. I purchased both books in the Alex and Ryan story but read this one first. By no means did my inadvertent mistake diminish this second book about their relationship. It is truly can be read and enjoyed by itself.
Cole Bates is a talented author. This is the first of his books I've read and it won't be the last. After all, I still have to read the first book in this series. And, I looked Cole Bates up on his Amazon author's page and purchased another book by him.
Wonderful author, intelligent dialog and a rewarding reading experience. I highly recommend this author and this book.

[Hc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice Followup. A lot of insecurities pop up but overall they manage to get past them without too much overall drama. Add in a long overdue coming out for a cute ride.