Built for Speed

Winter Sports #1

by Declan Rhodes

“Challenge me, James!”

James no longer believed in miracles. Particularly not on the ice. Not after a family tragedy in the midst of an ice storm. Then an elegant, nameless vision skated past him and challenged him to a race. They raced two times splitting the victories, and then four thousand miles of land and ocean put a gaping distance between them.

The vision was a Dutchman named Lucas, and at age 24 he was already retired from the national sport of speed skating. He held a secret close to his chest to justify the retirement. It was a secret that faced the possibility of unraveling when he got to know James.

James played a starring role on his college hockey team, but he found skating for speed addictive after meeting Lucas. Pursuing both sports filled his life with excitement until disaster struck, and James threatened to turn his back on the ice and Lucas forever.

When one of them finds the strength to claim victory over internal foes, will it be enough for two?

Built for Speed is a 50,000-word gay romance novel with a happily-ever-after ending and second chance themes. It is the first book in the series Winter Sports, but it can be read either as a standalone story or an introduction to the series.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Sports, LGBT, Contemporary

205 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 18, 2018

Reviews

[Sarita Chapdelaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to read this book as I love hockey and speed skating. The sports part of it was great but I just could not get into this story after James and Lucas stopped speaking the first time. Yes they are young but to stop speaking because James asked Lucas why he stopped competing didn't make sense to me. When it happened again after James is injured speed skating it was too much. I love angst but both of them just walked away too many times without fighting for their relationship. The ending was very satisfying and they did get their HEA but I wanted more interaction and heat between James and Lucas.
I was given an ARC to review by the author.

[BB · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dialogue is so stiff and unbelievable, it’s actually hard to read. No one talks like that.

[Mary Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

* I was given an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review *

This is a nice, quite interesting beginning of a new series.

It tells a story of a hockey player, James, and a retired speed skater, Lucas. They both have secrets and in theory they are both supposed to have something dark in their past but in reality only James does. Lucas is the youngest, not injured, skater who decided to leave racing only because of his pride.

The writing style is okay and the whole story has a potential but I didn't like MCs, they were just plastic. The whole story felt like a soap opera to be honest. Even though the beginning was enjoyable and believable it got a little bit boring with time and quite ridiculous (at least in my opinion). First of all, the MCs - Lucas and his so called "trauma". It was laughable. If people resigned from their careers because of mistakes like his, we would be living in caves! Plus, why is he talking about his sex life? Who cares?!
Then the interactions between Lucas and James. It felt like someone is telling their story in an emotionless manner. Their is absolutely NO spark, NO chemistry between them. Even the phone sex felt out of place. it was just a normal conversation with additional things like "he probably wants me to take off my shirt" and then "can I take off my clothes and get naked?" I was reading this and couldn't believe my eyes because holy hell what was this???
Third, the way of thinking and decisions. I had A LOT of trouble understanding the way MCs were thinking. As I said, I don't know what Lucas had in his head but it was obviously working differently than my brain. When it comes to James, he wasn't really thinking I guess. He was just doing or "saying". He met Lucas so he started speed skating, he had an accident so he decided to retire from ALL kind of sports for good, Lucas came back so he came back too. It was like he did nothing for himself and just to please or impress others.

I enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to Jordi's story :)

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both James and Lucas have something to overcome, to conquer. For James, it's the ice itself, for Lucas, it's his pride. One race, one kiss, and they're both willing to try to keep something going despite the distance. When location no longer becomes a problem it's only their fear that could keep them apart. The question is, are they willing to fight their fears for the chance at their own happily ever after?

I enjoyed James and his earnestness. He was sweet, realistic, and yet so very hopeful. He charmed me from the very beginning. Lucas was more fragile and vulnerable. His zest for life was shadowed by what he gave up, because of his pride. He still yearned so much for everything James could be for him.

James was clearly the star for me, even his moment of weakness after injury didn't keep me from knowing he'd come around. Lucas took much longer to really warm up to. I felt for him, yes, but he also frustrated me. With one moment he cut off all that could be and only because James gave in to desire to contact him first did they end their separation. Lucas had the courage to address and conquer his fears but there was so little apologies and open honesty from him that he couldn't be my favorite. James at least had the courage to not only conquer his fear but to be the one to broach their distance twice, to apologize, and to forgive.

The MC pairing was good and on the sweeter side of things than steamy, the sexual nature of their relationship was mostly off page and slightly awkward in a juvenile way because of youth, I suppose, and that was alright for their dynamic. Overall the story was nice, good, and had lots of hope and happiness at the end. With James' personality and genuine heart coming out on top, I find the story memorable and sticking with me. Because of that I'm more than willing to round up from 3.5 to 4 stars on all review sites.

Read and willingly reviewed this ARC from the author.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in one sitting. James and Lucas knew there was something special, something kindred in their spirits, from the first time they met. I liked how open and down-to-earth their characters were. That's not to say that they didn't have their flaws -- they most certainly did. Fear, denial, and self mortification are powerful things, that drive people to overreact and do nonsensical things. And it was easy for James and Lucas to marginalize that kind of behavior from each other when neither one of them had to be accountable for anything, really, as their very different lives made it difficult, if not impossible, for them to deal with each other in day-to-day situations. I found myself really liking Sophie and Michael, who provided an even keel when Lucas and James went off course. One thing I was moved by was the almost subconscious drive in both Lucas and James for each of them to keep something of the other in their lives and the skills they excelled at, even while they were on the outs. Lucas kept James in his artist's eye, and James kept Lucas in his choice of sporting activity. And when it did come time to address some pretty big issues and misunderstandings, I found myself impressed by how much they simply understood about each other without the need for a huge confrontation. However, having said that, just a bit more dialogue to between them to tie up some loose ends about the obvious issues (particularly Lucas') would have made me feel even better. When I looked back at my general feelings while I was reading this book, I found that when I would typically have felt a sense of apprehension while James' and Lucas' story unfolded, instead I felt anticipation, that I think stemmed from how at ease and in tune James' and Lucas' characters were established to be. I always had the feeling that something big or important was just around the corner, and I was excited to find out what was next.

[John Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

A chance meeting of two young men who share a passion for sport. One who loves everything about his chosen sport. The other who had loved it, but has lost that love due to an unfortunate incident. How do two young men who live over 3000 miles apart continue to share their love for sport and their love for each other.

James fell into Ice Hockey after his sister Meredith was killed in a tragic accident. He had made conquering the ice his life’s mission. To him, the ice was his enemy and he had to stay one step ahead of it; he became very good at his goal. He became an invaluable member of his team as well as a great friend.

When he met Lucas while in Chicago, the connection was immediate. Their lives overlapped in all the right places, but Lucas was Dutch and lived over 3,000 miles away. And Lucas was hiding a secret, a secret he felt was more humiliating than anything he could imagine. If James found out his secret, he would never want him in his life again, or so he thought.

The story is well written. What I found interesting about both James and Lucas was the reasons for their love of the ice, and their rational, as unstable as it was, for giving up on their dreams. Rhodes put me into their heads, let me feel their pain, and allowed me to see how their hearts had been broken, one by horrible loss, the other by humiliation.

Declan Rhodes drew me in, kept me interested, and let me understand how each of the lead characters felt. Further, he allowed me to see how others in James and Lucas’ lives felt about them. If you enjoy a sports, romance story, you would probably enjoy reading Built For Speed by Declan Rhodes.

Read more reviews at johncharlesbooks.com

[mrs sarah frost · Rating 4 out of 5]

Built for Speed

James a budding Ice Hockey player and Lucas a retired Speed Skater both have reasons why they should and shouldn't be on the ice. When they first meet the instant attraction is boom! The only problem is the distance they live away from each other. They keep in contact over the internet falling hard and fast.
James tells Lucas why he needs to be on the ice and he hopes Lucas will tell him why he's staying off the ice. When he doesn't James goes snooping on the internet, he knows he shouldn't he's already lost a partner due to this before. Lucas doesn't know why he can't leave it alone he's not going back to speed skating and cuts him off.
For six months they avoid each other and things change in their lives. James has started more speed skating and Lucas has a new job bringing him closer to James but they miss each other terribly. It only takes for one of them to reach out to rekindle their love.
After James pushes himself too hard a terrible accident happens making him decide to quit the ice. Lucas tries to convince him but this leads to them breaking up for a second time.
With them both back to being to miserable, Lucas knows what he needs to do. Will he be able to convince James to get back on the ice?
Have to mention Jordi, I'm hoping he gets his own book!
I enjoyed this book but with the build up over the internet I was hoping for more heat when they finally got together.

[Julianne Macneil · Rating 4 out of 5]

i read this book as part of an arc program. This was a sweet story about James, a college hockey player and Lucas, a dutch speed skater. When James was vacationing in Chicago with his family, he met Lucas who was visiting his sister. They had a good time and Lucas asked James to dinner. They had a few dates until James had to return to school and Lucas returned home. They kept in touch until they had an argument and then they parted ways. James was curious about the speed skating sport and when a teammate from hockey offered to take him to learn more about it, he went and found he really enjoyed it and even competed in a couple of races. Lucas used to race until an incident caused him to quit the sport he loved. Lucas was now a graphic designer and artist and when he is offered a job in the states, he goes, but he never forgot James. James eventually calls Lucas and when he learns he is stateside, he visits him. This was an enjoyable book, I really liked James and Lucas. I thought James really needed someone to help with his issues and Lucas needed someone to challenge him and help him race again. They were a good pair and had great friends. Good one.

[Julian White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know even less about speed skating than I do about ice hockey - but to an extent that's not a problem. Here we have boy meets boy, loses boy, finds boy again story, with the link being ice and problems arising therefrom. I enjoyed the story - the plot has additional elements, with both leading characters having interests outside the skating - and the added disadvantage being that one lives in the US and one in the Netherlands. A long-distance relationship is perfectly possible but both Lucas and James seem to have difficulty in relating, despite their mutual desires. That's the nagging question at the end - will they manage to communicate well enough to avoid a repetition of the break-ups (yes, plural) they have during this quite short book...

In addition to the leads there are several well-drawn supporting characters - and they certainly have their work cut out to be supportive!

I'm sure that this is the first book from this author that I've read - but it won't be the last.

I received this as a pre-publication uncorrected ARC.

[Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the winter sports and the author does an excellent job of representing speed skating and hockey in this sports romance. I love that Rhodes includes a bit of actual play in his sports romances. As I've come to expect from this author, the book is wonderfully written, the flow is good, and the characters are interesting. However, the romance side of things frustrated me to no end. Lucas and James are both likable characters and they had good chemistry from the start. They each have their own reasons for being on or off the ice and James' reason was both emotional and heartbreaking. My problem lay in how they walk away from each other when things get tough. It seemed like neither of them felt the relationship important enough to actually work for it, which makes the romance less believable. That said, the story did keep me turning pages, whether because of that frustration or in spite of it, and I found myself still rooting for this pair's happy ending.

[Kendra T · Rating 4 out of 5]

James is a hockey player who has overcome his issues with ice. Lucas is a speed skater who has not gotten over a huge embarrassment. When Lucas is in the US visiting his sister, he meets James and they have an instant connection. They stay in touch as Lucas goes back to Europe, but when James asks about why Lucas stops skating, Lucas shuts him out and they don't speak for months. It seemed super over dramatic for me considering they really seemed to like each other. They finally get back together, but then again, their lack of communication is astoundingly stupid. I was more annoyed with them at one point rather than rooting for them. I liked the background story and secondary characters, and I like the author's writing style. This was more of a 3.5 star read for me, just because of my annoyance with the characters.

[Guy Venturi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speecd is relative to something. The ground, the sun, each other.

Ice is a great medium for speed, especially speed skating. Like everything else, it has bumps and flaws, but with experience, it can let a skater or a car fly across the surface. Stopping is optional and often questionable. Life has many surfaces to traverse, and many people attempting to cross. As indicated,, most will fall at some point. But if joined as a group to spread the coverage area in contact with the ice, crossing becomes much easier and can be fun with much less risk.

Finding the right people to form this friendly bunch may be difficult, but family, friends, and other loved ones can bond in amazing ways and help each other slide through life with only the occasional speed bump. The speed is relative, the slide is overwhelming.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midwestern college hockey player, James, meets a Dutch ex-speed skater, Lucas as both are skating for pleasure in Chicago while vacationing over the Christmas holiday. Both are cautious as neither thinks a long distance relationship will work based on the short interactions. James and Lucas have different issues from their past that have brought them to where they are today.
As the story progresses, new issues and crises arise but it is the similarities of how they have addressed their personal problems in the past that allow them to help each other. And I case you must know there is a HEA ending.

Another great, fast paced read from Declan Rhodes. His secondary characters are simply well rounded and interesting. Lucas's friend Anna and James's teammate Jordi are wonderful characters that you want to learn more about. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

👍👍Skating brings them together but can it keep them together?
January 20, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
👍👍Loved the👬 romance💜 and passion🔥 these two MCs brought to this story. Angst and past mistakes and family tragedies gave Dutch skater/artist Lucas and American athlete/college student James plenty of depth and soul. Well-written, interesting plot, good, supportive secondary characters, including a surprisingly helpful fellow airline passenger, and a romance fraught with obstacles to overcome kept me glued to my Kindle beginning to end.:-)

I received a complimentary advance copy of this book from the author; this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Violet Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book in The Winter Sports Series. A enjoyable book the writing was good. Although the flow was uneven, and the story could have used some more details in a few places. The transitions were abrupt in some places. The plot was entertaining and it was steady throughout the book. I found the story and characters interesting. The characters were developed and thought out. James and Lucas are the MC’s of this book. There was humor, Chicago, hockey, skating, drawing and painting, family and friends, injury, teaching and so much more in this book. I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book for an honest review.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought the story was well written. The story has a steady pace to move the story along. Lucas and James have chemistry. I loved the story and got really into reading it. I was mad at the two not talking to each other for so long. When they finally got back to talking, I was like about time. They can sure heat up up the pages. They two make for an interesting read and loved it all the way through. Hope others enjoy reading it as much as I did.

Thank you for sharing your book with us.
Got for an honest review.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always with Declan Rhodes, this is a very well written book, with characters very well portrayed and nice flowing dialogue, and I quite enjoyed it.

But... I don't feel like these two had worked out their issues. They haven't recognized they have a communication problem, and boy! they really have one!!! This is book one in a new series, so maybe it will be addressed in next books, but it still makes me feel that their HEA is not a really a HEA at all; that there are problems laying ahead of them.

[Marg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I expected...

I’m a big fan of Declan Rhodes books, but I had a hard time staying with this book. That isn’t to say you shouldn’t read his book, it just felt rushed to me. The relationship between James and Lucas wasn’t given time to develop properly, too much angst, and by the end of the book the only character I felt like I knew was Michael.

But I’ll read the next book in the series because I know that Mr. Rhodes is a strong writer and everyone can have an off day.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Declan has written another book that delves into the building of a relationship and trust between two men who have been hurt in the past. One is afraid to follow his heart and the other is afraid to fail. As they grow as men they develop a closeness that is heartwarming. I love how they collect friends and add to their family. I'm hoping there will be a story in this series in which Jordi is the main star!

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review...but then I bought a copy in appreciation of a story well told!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book” Declan has written a sweet story about love and romance. The story is very fast paced and had me reading it one shot so i could know what happen next. James and Lucus were complex, loveable, and interesting. Each has something from their past that is affecting their present. Can they overcome their past to see their future. I can't wait to reading what happens next in this series.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is sweet, interesting and dramatic. Lucas is very stubborn, romantic and sensitive. James is funny, confident and impatient. They have a tumultuous relationship from the start, because they both think that they're right. They're cute and romantic when they're getting along, but stubborn and sullen when they're not. Jordi adds an extra, amusing dynamic to the story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting take on sports and athletes for a sport you don't read much about speed skating there is an element of hockey which is much more often written about but the speed skating takes the lead in this story along with the people who do it. It's fast, fun and engaging. The characters are real and warm inviting us into their lives. Some steamy scenes keep us on our toes. Well worth reading as always Declan Rhodes writes a good story and delivers.

[Alex Haber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how sweet the guys were towards one another. Two guys meant for sports and each other but they don’t want to let go of their past so they can’t live their life to the fullest and do what they want to in their life I read this book in one sitting because I kept turning the pages till I finished it. I gave this cute romance story a 5 out of 5 stars.

[Sonja Helies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

I’ve read books about Hockey before so I was a little familiar with it but I didn’t know anything about speed skating besides what I saw at the Olympic’s. It was interesting to say the least. I loved both of the characters, how they met and then spent so much time apart but in the end love conquered all. Beautiful story, can’t wait for book 2 now.

[Paisleyrowan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ooookaaay. Where to start? The writing was wishy-washy and the characters bland. There was nothing connecting them besides being athletes on ice. No heat and no real connection. And they both blew off the other way too easily yet somehow they are both thinking they are "obsessed"? *Eye roll HARD* so not impressed with this one. Maybe the next one in the series will be better?

[Jes Jester · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first glance, I thought this book would be M/M-ROM/HOCKEY, but it was actually more about speed skating and the insecurities of a former champion that took a hard knock in his family life. It was a good book that had a hard-fought HEA that I enjoyed greatly. This book, like oh-so-many others M/M, is going onto my REREAD list.

[Simera · Rating 4 out of 5]

James and Lucus meet on the rink and hit it off. However, timing isn't the best and they try to make a go of it.
This is a sweet story with several beak-ups and make-ups and a lot of learning to trust ones self and your partner.
Just an over all feel good read.

[Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I throughly enjoyed this book and learned a lot about speed skating along the way. I found it well written and intriguing. It had very few steamy scenes, but what it did have was very hot. I can’t wait till book two! I want more of this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy

[Coral Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucas and James both have issues that continue to hold them back from their full potential, personal and professional. And, they both make the same relationship mistake with one another which was beyond frustrating. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[devil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet story. Lucas and James were so cute together. They had great chemistry, and couldn't stay away from each other despite the physical distance between them. Good storyline.... I'm looking forward to Book 2.
*I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.*