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"No More Secrets Everything Tennis champion Tyler Florman touches turns to gold. Winning is easy, but fame comes with a price. Living in the closet in exchange for riches and honors was second nature, until he met the younger man who conquered his heart.
Chip Carter has turned a childhood trauma into a career saving lives. As an EMT, he’s never found time for love, but all of that could be about to change when he rescues the famous, older athlete who steals his heart for the very first time.
Avoiding love is second nature for both men, until they meet that special someone worth fighting for. The odds against Chip and Tyler look insurmountable. But can Tyler leave the safety of the closet, and win Chip’s love at the same time?
Welcome to Hidden Creek, Texas, where the heart know what it wants, and where true love lives happily ever after. Every Men of Hidden Creek novel can be read on its own, but keep an eye out for familiar faces around town! This book contains an eccentric blue-haired aunt, a spurned blackmailer, and a whole lot of balls.
Chip Carter has turned a childhood trauma into a career saving lives. As an EMT, he’s never found time for love, but all of that could be about to change when he rescues the famous, older athlete who steals his heart for the very first time.
Avoiding love is second nature for both men, until they meet that special someone worth fighting for. The odds against Chip and Tyler look insurmountable. But can Tyler leave the safety of the closet, and win Chip’s love at the same time?
Welcome to Hidden Creek, Texas, where the heart know what it wants, and where true love lives happily ever after. Every Men of Hidden Creek novel can be read on its own, but keep an eye out for familiar faces around town! This book contains an eccentric blue-haired aunt, a spurned blackmailer, and a whole lot of balls.
228 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2018
160 people are currently reading
263 people want to read
About the author
Ian O. Lewis
55 books51 followersIan writes LGBTQ fiction, mainly romance. Growing up, he could never find many books portraying guys like him, so now he's helping to fill the shelves with gay-friendly tales. He tends to write more romance, because he loves nothing more than a happily ever after.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 65 reviews
April 9, 2018
3 / 5 Stars
Part of a series which you don't need to read in order, it was a nice story to spend an afternoon. But nothing exciting.
It's a very in-depth story about a closeted case in the sport world compare to other books I've read. I liked certain parts and some situations with the characters but next minute, they turned a bit annoying. Added to that, the story dragged sometimes but at the same time Tyler and Chip's relationship happened too fast for my liking.
All in all, it was an ok read with some interesting moments.
Part of a series which you don't need to read in order, it was a nice story to spend an afternoon. But nothing exciting.
It's a very in-depth story about a closeted case in the sport world compare to other books I've read. I liked certain parts and some situations with the characters but next minute, they turned a bit annoying. Added to that, the story dragged sometimes but at the same time Tyler and Chip's relationship happened too fast for my liking.
All in all, it was an ok read with some interesting moments.
April 15, 2018
A disappointment
The storyline was choppy at best. The main character, Tyler, was given the most ridiculous reasons to not to come out while still playing professional tennis. I faught to get to the end of the story and was disgusted to actually find this line in the final chapter "If he'd known being out of the closet would be so lucrative, he would have done it years ago." This author needs to reevaluate the reason they are writing M/M based stories....Is it lucrative?
The storyline was choppy at best. The main character, Tyler, was given the most ridiculous reasons to not to come out while still playing professional tennis. I faught to get to the end of the story and was disgusted to actually find this line in the final chapter "If he'd known being out of the closet would be so lucrative, he would have done it years ago." This author needs to reevaluate the reason they are writing M/M based stories....Is it lucrative?
April 3, 2018
This is a story heavily focused on the difficulty of being a closeted athlete. Tyler is a professional tennis player determined to stay in the closet for his career and win Wimbledon (and more), where Chip is a somewhat lonely EMT back in Hidden Creek for his aunt. Sparks fly when they meet at the scene of a car accident, but nothing is really easy for this couple. To be honest, I have mixed feelings about this story. I liked Chip a lot, but thought he needed a bit more backbone since everyone seemed to dictate things for him at times. As for Tyler, I had a bit of a hard time connecting with him for some reason. While I understand his fear of coming out, his back-and-forth routine with Chip drove me a little crazy. Aunt Dixie is a good addition to the story. There is a connection between the men and I did enjoy seeing them finally get on the same page, but it didn't work quite as well for me as the other Men of Hidden Creek books. My opinion might be based on my personal difficulty connecting to the characters, though, and others likely won't have the same issue as it is still a pretty good read.
April 10, 2018
This book started out good but it was hard for me to relate to the characters and the more the story progressed it got harder. Chip and Tyler are nice enough characters but there were situations that came out of nowhere and did not have any explanation! I enjoyed the other two books I read in this series, which are each written by different authors, but this one was a disappointment. I was looking forward to understanding Tyler better, why he is struggling now with his career and life, but I could not find it in myself to care. The story felt very flat, Chip just suddenly decided to be attracted to Tyler without any indication he is even remotely interested in him romantically or sexually. And they go from 0 to 1000 like it's nothing.
Parts of it felt very rushed, staged and unbelievable to me and I unfortunately did not like the book at all.
Parts of it felt very rushed, staged and unbelievable to me and I unfortunately did not like the book at all.
April 4, 2018
This is a fast-paced, story I really enjoyed. The characters are interesting, though it did take a bit for me to connect with them. There is a message about professional sports players the author tries to convey, I think it’s done well.
This is one of the books in The Men of Hidden Creek series. Each book is written by a different author and can be read as a stand-alone with appearances from familiar faces.
I received a copy of this book from the author, my review has been voluntarily submitted.
This is one of the books in The Men of Hidden Creek series. Each book is written by a different author and can be read as a stand-alone with appearances from familiar faces.
I received a copy of this book from the author, my review has been voluntarily submitted.
April 7, 2018
This book is one part of a six book series, all written by different Authors. All books are a standalone with supporting characters coming from each of the different books.
Before reading this. I never thought Tennis sounded very interesting. But I think this book has changed my mind. It was pretty fast paced and interesting. And I’m not quite sure all the sports terms were correct. But since I don’t know Tennis at all, they sounded pretty Legit to me. This book surrounds Closeted Tennis Pro Tyler and EMT Chip, who is back in town trying to help out his aunt. Chip and Tyler happen to meet by chance on the scene of an accident, and realize they have friends in common. Tyler is trying for his last chance at playing for Wimbledon. And Chip ends up going along for moral support even though they have to hide their relationship and pretend to be friends. There’s some drama involving an Ex Coach, and some interesting spots where homophobia and being Closeted in higher profile Sports is addressed, and I think those parts were written in well. I think that at 30 and after all the years living in the closet Tyler should have been a little more understanding on Chips thoughts since he wanted nothing but good things for Tyler, but on the other hand Chip needede to stick up for himself and stick to his guns a little better than he was. Overall another great addition to this series. But we didn’t get to see much of the town in this one.
Before reading this. I never thought Tennis sounded very interesting. But I think this book has changed my mind. It was pretty fast paced and interesting. And I’m not quite sure all the sports terms were correct. But since I don’t know Tennis at all, they sounded pretty Legit to me. This book surrounds Closeted Tennis Pro Tyler and EMT Chip, who is back in town trying to help out his aunt. Chip and Tyler happen to meet by chance on the scene of an accident, and realize they have friends in common. Tyler is trying for his last chance at playing for Wimbledon. And Chip ends up going along for moral support even though they have to hide their relationship and pretend to be friends. There’s some drama involving an Ex Coach, and some interesting spots where homophobia and being Closeted in higher profile Sports is addressed, and I think those parts were written in well. I think that at 30 and after all the years living in the closet Tyler should have been a little more understanding on Chips thoughts since he wanted nothing but good things for Tyler, but on the other hand Chip needede to stick up for himself and stick to his guns a little better than he was. Overall another great addition to this series. But we didn’t get to see much of the town in this one.
April 9, 2018
Tyler is a professional tennis player who is struggling with figuring out if he wants to continue playing or retire. One day, he is driving and veers to miss a dog in the road and crashes his car. Chip is an EMT who comes to help. Tyler has a big concussion and needs to stay in the hospital. Chip can't stop thinking about him and decides to check in on Tyler. Imagine his surprise when he sees his Aunt at the hospital, because she has been Tyler's housekeeper for years. Over time, a real love story develops.
The romance seemed to go from 0-60 in less than a minute and almost felt like instalove, but that seemed to me just a way to get them together quick so we could get the real story, which was them trying to be together while Tyler was in the closet. It was written quick, but it was solid and it felt real. Their relationship was totally believable and strong. Despite all of Tyler's doubts and concerns about coming out, his love for Chip never waivered.
I enjoyed the sports action, and I thought the ridiculousness with the ex-coach was well written. I really felt for Tyler. He tried so hard to ignore his authentic self as he built his career, and was able to succeed because he never met anyone he wanted to settle down with.
As with every other book in this Hidden Creek universe that I've read so far, the secondary characters are amazing. Aunt Dixie was a spitfire, and Emm and Tina were lovely. This book, like all of the other Hidden Creek books, has truly exceeded my expectations.
I am voluntarily reviewing an ARC received from LesCourt Author Services
The romance seemed to go from 0-60 in less than a minute and almost felt like instalove, but that seemed to me just a way to get them together quick so we could get the real story, which was them trying to be together while Tyler was in the closet. It was written quick, but it was solid and it felt real. Their relationship was totally believable and strong. Despite all of Tyler's doubts and concerns about coming out, his love for Chip never waivered.
I enjoyed the sports action, and I thought the ridiculousness with the ex-coach was well written. I really felt for Tyler. He tried so hard to ignore his authentic self as he built his career, and was able to succeed because he never met anyone he wanted to settle down with.
As with every other book in this Hidden Creek universe that I've read so far, the secondary characters are amazing. Aunt Dixie was a spitfire, and Emm and Tina were lovely. This book, like all of the other Hidden Creek books, has truly exceeded my expectations.
I am voluntarily reviewing an ARC received from LesCourt Author Services
May 5, 2018
The editing (rather, the need for) hurt this one quite a bit. While I love an appropriately used semi-colon, it feels stupid if the previous sentence has a comma splice, incorrect capitalization, and "your" when it needed "you're" followed by "next" when it meant "not." I seriously considered DNF'ing at 15%, but decided I cared just enough about the characters to try to overlook it.
I'm not sure if this is also an editing issue, but the author also confused me on the main character. He introduces the character's aunt as 71 years old, and tells us her older brother is our MC's dad. Ok, so if his dad was 30ish when he had him, that'd make our character a mature adult, probably 40, right? NO! Our MC is a 20ish virgin and horribly immature, still having issues just getting to work on time. This gap was never addressed. Was he adopted? Doesn't sound like it. Was his mom younger than his dad? Who knows. The first two times his parents are referenced, we're told "oh, you already know what happened to them." The characters might, but I don't! Made me wonder if I needed to flip back pages... had I missed it? Turns out, this aunt actually raised him for several years. Didn't learn that for quite a while; really changes the perspective on the closeness of the relationship.
I'm not sure if this is also an editing issue, but the author also confused me on the main character. He introduces the character's aunt as 71 years old, and tells us her older brother is our MC's dad. Ok, so if his dad was 30ish when he had him, that'd make our character a mature adult, probably 40, right? NO! Our MC is a 20ish virgin and horribly immature, still having issues just getting to work on time. This gap was never addressed. Was he adopted? Doesn't sound like it. Was his mom younger than his dad? Who knows. The first two times his parents are referenced, we're told "oh, you already know what happened to them." The characters might, but I don't! Made me wonder if I needed to flip back pages... had I missed it? Turns out, this aunt actually raised him for several years. Didn't learn that for quite a while; really changes the perspective on the closeness of the relationship.
May 13, 2019
DNF 20%
This gets a 2 star rating because, while I didn't get into it, it wasn't terrible. It just didn't make me want to read more. I got to chapter six, and the first kiss, and felt nothing. I didn't care about either character, what they were going through, or where they were headed as a couple. And for me, there's no point continuing if I don't care about the characters.
Chip is a twenty year old who constantly has trouble getting to work on time but is an EMT responsible for saving people's lives. Tyler is a tennis champ who only feels happy right after winning so he doesn't want to retire despite being miserable. Both of these characters put me off and nothing they said or did made me warm up to them.
None of the side characters caught my attention either. It's clear that Tyler has some toxic people in his life. As for Aunt Dixie, she's not believable as a seventy-one year old. If she was in her forties or fifties, sure. It would also make more sense if she was younger, because Chip is only twenty and Dixie is his father's younger sister.
The whole thing (or at least the part I read, so I'll assume it applies to the whole book) needs a good line editor. There is massive pronoun confusion, changes in tense, awkward phrasing, and entire blocks of dialogue that you have no idea who is talking until the end. I'll usually put up with some imperfection from a self-published author, but this was a bit much, and a marked drop in quality from the other books in the series. Add in random POV shifts, including paragraphs from side characters, despite the chapters being marked as coming from either Tyler or Chip, and it was a choppy read.
My final big complaint was the prologue chapter. It shows a scene where Tyler and Chip are together. Since there's no context, I assumed it was in the past, and Tyler and Chip had been a couple when they were teens. So I was really confused when they met as adults and thought the other looked familiar but couldn't remember why. Turns out, the "prologue chapter" is actually a sneak peek of what the two will be getting up to in chapter fourteen. This would have lost the book an automatic star just for the confusion it caused me, even if I had liked the book.
Ian O. Lewis is an author I've never read before, and I can't say this was a good first impression. He has not written any other books for the Hidden Creek series, so I won't likely be reading his other works any time soon. I have to admit, I was incredibly disappointed with this book. Especially when it's a series, I try to read everything, even if I end up skimming. I just wasn't willing to spend my time on something I had to force myself to keep reading. I had enough of that in high school.
Originally posted on Love is Love Reviews
This gets a 2 star rating because, while I didn't get into it, it wasn't terrible. It just didn't make me want to read more. I got to chapter six, and the first kiss, and felt nothing. I didn't care about either character, what they were going through, or where they were headed as a couple. And for me, there's no point continuing if I don't care about the characters.
Chip is a twenty year old who constantly has trouble getting to work on time but is an EMT responsible for saving people's lives. Tyler is a tennis champ who only feels happy right after winning so he doesn't want to retire despite being miserable. Both of these characters put me off and nothing they said or did made me warm up to them.
None of the side characters caught my attention either. It's clear that Tyler has some toxic people in his life. As for Aunt Dixie, she's not believable as a seventy-one year old. If she was in her forties or fifties, sure. It would also make more sense if she was younger, because Chip is only twenty and Dixie is his father's younger sister.
The whole thing (or at least the part I read, so I'll assume it applies to the whole book) needs a good line editor. There is massive pronoun confusion, changes in tense, awkward phrasing, and entire blocks of dialogue that you have no idea who is talking until the end. I'll usually put up with some imperfection from a self-published author, but this was a bit much, and a marked drop in quality from the other books in the series. Add in random POV shifts, including paragraphs from side characters, despite the chapters being marked as coming from either Tyler or Chip, and it was a choppy read.
My final big complaint was the prologue chapter. It shows a scene where Tyler and Chip are together. Since there's no context, I assumed it was in the past, and Tyler and Chip had been a couple when they were teens. So I was really confused when they met as adults and thought the other looked familiar but couldn't remember why. Turns out, the "prologue chapter" is actually a sneak peek of what the two will be getting up to in chapter fourteen. This would have lost the book an automatic star just for the confusion it caused me, even if I had liked the book.
Ian O. Lewis is an author I've never read before, and I can't say this was a good first impression. He has not written any other books for the Hidden Creek series, so I won't likely be reading his other works any time soon. I have to admit, I was incredibly disappointed with this book. Especially when it's a series, I try to read everything, even if I end up skimming. I just wasn't willing to spend my time on something I had to force myself to keep reading. I had enough of that in high school.
Originally posted on Love is Love Reviews
April 3, 2018
I wanted to love this book but I found the writing to be disjointed and difficult to follow at times. The best part of this book for me is the accurate portrayal of professional tennis . The author did an excellent job with the tennis aspect which I really appreciate as it is my favorite sport and I have been disappointed by other tennis books in the past. The characters are interesting but could have had more depth. My favorite character is Aunt Dixie and I wish Chip and Tyler had as much personality as she has. I understand why Tyler refuses to come out while he is still competing but it is unfair of him to drag Chip into the closet with him. Chip allowed Tyler, and everyone else, to dictate to him which made it hard for me to connect with him. When he gave up his job to follow Tyler on the tennis tour after knowing him for such a short time I felt sorry for him and his lack of a backbone. Tyler and Chip both have choices to make about how they want to live their lives and by the end of the book I was rooting for them. The ending is very satisfying and I look forward to reading more books by this author.
I was given an ARC to review.
I was given an ARC to review.
April 26, 2019
Not a bad story, and definitely better than the previous one in the series, but still not up to the level of the E. Davies, Max Hawthorne or H. J. Welch stories in this season. The editor obviously had a problem with apostrophes, which always pulls me out of a story, but the most interesting grammar error was the consistent use of a period after someone spoke followed by the short non-sentence of speaker identification. I didn't notice at first due to the use of first names, but I was laughing out loud by the the third time I saw "'...(blah blah blah).' He said." I liked the MCs enough, but my favorite character here was Aunt Dixie, the sassy 71 year-old. As I'm writing this, I'm realizing that she was 50 when Chip was born, so that means Chip's Dad must have been a bit of a cradle-robber, since he was Dixie's older brother. I don't think the author really though that bit out when they wrote it..or didn't realize the readers would do the math. Almost done with this season of Men of Hidden Creek -- on to the last one!
June 2, 2018
There was not anything here to make this book memorable. I didn't care for Aunt Dixie at all. She was too over the top for me. I believe the story would have benefited from a better editor and word usage.
April 8, 2018
I received an ARC of this book. This is my honest opinion and review.
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. I didn't really connect with the characters and I wanted to smack Tyler a few times so that he would get over himself. I'm happy with how things ended and how Tyler finally manned up, but it doesn't fix how I was feeling for most of the book. I get why Chip puts up with what he did, but that doesn't mean that I agree with it.
I liked Chip, but I felt that he gave up a lot, emotionally, for Tyler and it wasn't reciprocated until the end. I feel like some of the actions that Tyler did would have had me on the next flight home. I get that they love each other, but you shouldn't be treated like that even when you know it is done because of fear.
This book is about a Tennis champion so of course it has tennis in it, but I feel like the same things are said repeatedly and it was getting a little annoying. It is interesting to know the different surfaces and playing styles, but they only need to be mentioned once or twice.
If you are wondering about an order to read this series, there isn't any order, but I didn't notice any other characters in this book so you won't have any spoilers if you read this book before the rest.
This isn't a bad book, it just rubbed me the wrong way on a couple things. I was still rooting for Chip and Aunt Dixie is the aunt that everyone wants. Try this book for yourself and make your own opinion.
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. I didn't really connect with the characters and I wanted to smack Tyler a few times so that he would get over himself. I'm happy with how things ended and how Tyler finally manned up, but it doesn't fix how I was feeling for most of the book. I get why Chip puts up with what he did, but that doesn't mean that I agree with it.
I liked Chip, but I felt that he gave up a lot, emotionally, for Tyler and it wasn't reciprocated until the end. I feel like some of the actions that Tyler did would have had me on the next flight home. I get that they love each other, but you shouldn't be treated like that even when you know it is done because of fear.
This book is about a Tennis champion so of course it has tennis in it, but I feel like the same things are said repeatedly and it was getting a little annoying. It is interesting to know the different surfaces and playing styles, but they only need to be mentioned once or twice.
If you are wondering about an order to read this series, there isn't any order, but I didn't notice any other characters in this book so you won't have any spoilers if you read this book before the rest.
This isn't a bad book, it just rubbed me the wrong way on a couple things. I was still rooting for Chip and Aunt Dixie is the aunt that everyone wants. Try this book for yourself and make your own opinion.
April 27, 2019
The TL;DR:
Worth reading? Yes.
Worth placing in the to-read-again pile? I don’t have any inclination to re-read this one.
Steamy? There is steam.
Romance? It’s missing something but I liked it enough to be happy for the HEA.
Did I feel like not finishing or throwing the book? No.
[I’ve attempted to keep myself in the realm of at most only referencing what the blurb says or implies, but a few things I mention below may get too close to spoiler for some.]
I’m sitting here writing this review and debating what all to say because the first thing in my thoughts after finishing the story isn’t what I expected to be thinking.
🤔 I liked the story.
It shocks me to say so not for the premise in any way but only because I did have some trouble with implementation. So much so I began writing notes for this review as early as ten percent in. But I’m struck a little by the small piece of contentment I have in finishing. Despite the troubles I had, I found satisfaction in the ending and HEA.
So, I’ll start off by saying I enjoyed the closeted athlete element brought to the story by Tyler. (Something I never thought I’d say about a book with a heavy sports angle. Lewis managed to pull me into the world of tennis. Bonus points in Serves favor.)
Tyler is a great character and I appreciated his struggle with being closeted, depression and anxiety.
As always, I loved Hidden Creek, and seeing even little glimpses of this setting is great in my opinion.
This story also brought the world stage into view through the tinted glasses of the profession tennis circuit. An element, as I mentioned before, I found entertaining.
Now for the part explaining my choice of three stars.
There are some things I would have liked to see (see being the keyword): more about Tyler’s depression and anxiety, more about -and from- Chip, and more of the important -connecting- moments standing center stage for a bit rather than stuffed into the sidelines where we only hear about it.
As a quick aside, I discovered a major dislike for the prologue style used here. An absolute first for me considering, until now, I’d never met a prologue I didn’t appreciate. But, lo and behold, I’m not a fan of dropping a major moment in the romance as the intro point. It’s a romance novel, if we’re reading, we know (or should) what we are getting. This kind of prologue offers nothing useful to setting the tone or establishing anything about the story or characters. It just tells us what we already know going in: it’s steamy.
For feeling satisfied in the ending, becoming engrossed in Taylor and Chip’s story did prove difficult. This romance feels rushed and it shouldn’t. It feels a little lackluster and, again, it shouldn’t. The pieces, and opportunities, are there but not always connected well.
It’s a little jarring.
There are a few notable moments where even a few extra lines in the right place could have bridged the gaps a beat before the story charged fulltilt on what instead comes off as misplaced momentum. In other places opportunities are missed to show the gravity or emotional intensity mentioned later.
So the resulting effect is not smooth.
And the pace early on is reckless to where it doesn't quite make sense.
For example, at what point does the EMT —who is supposed to be a headliner of this story—, of all people, show more than offhanded concern for the injuries of his love interest? Some caution? It feels out of character.
Also Taylor and Chip’s familiarity with each other sets in faster than it should based on what is established by the story itself. They give off a vibe of closeness and comfort with each other right away, though nothing really shows why or how this dynamic occurred between them so fast.
Insights into them that would have been useful in the beginning happen later instead. It feels misplaced and, as a result, lacks effect. There is nothing to show the build of their feelings or the why of how they evolve with the action in the story. We are told but not shown and it’s stark to me here.
And something else too. The sidelining of Chip. (Ironic, or perhaps an unintentional reflection of his part in being the love interest of a closeted athlete.) Is been wrestling with being unable to connect to Chip and after about 50% in it occurred to me...
Chip is a sidekick in his own romance story. It happens through missed opportunities to show how hard the hiding is for Chip, from Chips POV rather than hearing about it from Tyler, and even the lack of showing romance buildup from him.
We see more of the trials faced by a closeted athlete. Too a point. Even then we hear more about the tribulations than see them; so they lose a little of their effect.
I didn’t go through the tension, the highs, or the lows with Tyler and Chip because they happened behind the scenes. Everything center stage was good, apropos, and valid but missing some crucial connections to fully invest me in their romance.
A few extra things...
Grammar-wise the story could have used one more look through to catch a couple of minor instances where the speaker flips in odd places, confusing who the speaker is.
The constant drop of Chip’s age is irritating and beside the point. Sure his worldly inexperience should play a factor. But he is an adult. Reminding us of the age gap is pointless when it’s underutilized in the story itself. Give him an endearment, something to refer to either of them as instead of “the older man” “the younger man.” It’s not endearing. It’s flimsy and lacks any gravity whatsoever.
I also feel there were some missed opportunities surrounding Tyler’s depression.
We get why Tyler closets himself, stop repeating the spiel in lecture mode to Chip and let me see it. Let him see it.
And I think that illustrates my only real issue. What’s here is a good story, but unfinished and not shown nearly enough to fully engage me and give the gravity of the plot its due.
Overall I’m wary of further books by Lewis but curious nevertheless. And it doesn’t deter me from further books in the Hidden Creek series. I’ll continue on to the next and, perhaps, look into something else from Lewis at a later date.
Worth reading? Yes.
Worth placing in the to-read-again pile? I don’t have any inclination to re-read this one.
Steamy? There is steam.
Romance? It’s missing something but I liked it enough to be happy for the HEA.
Did I feel like not finishing or throwing the book? No.
[I’ve attempted to keep myself in the realm of at most only referencing what the blurb says or implies, but a few things I mention below may get too close to spoiler for some.]
I’m sitting here writing this review and debating what all to say because the first thing in my thoughts after finishing the story isn’t what I expected to be thinking.
🤔 I liked the story.
It shocks me to say so not for the premise in any way but only because I did have some trouble with implementation. So much so I began writing notes for this review as early as ten percent in. But I’m struck a little by the small piece of contentment I have in finishing. Despite the troubles I had, I found satisfaction in the ending and HEA.
So, I’ll start off by saying I enjoyed the closeted athlete element brought to the story by Tyler. (Something I never thought I’d say about a book with a heavy sports angle. Lewis managed to pull me into the world of tennis. Bonus points in Serves favor.)
Tyler is a great character and I appreciated his struggle with being closeted, depression and anxiety.
As always, I loved Hidden Creek, and seeing even little glimpses of this setting is great in my opinion.
This story also brought the world stage into view through the tinted glasses of the profession tennis circuit. An element, as I mentioned before, I found entertaining.
Now for the part explaining my choice of three stars.
There are some things I would have liked to see (see being the keyword): more about Tyler’s depression and anxiety, more about -and from- Chip, and more of the important -connecting- moments standing center stage for a bit rather than stuffed into the sidelines where we only hear about it.
As a quick aside, I discovered a major dislike for the prologue style used here. An absolute first for me considering, until now, I’d never met a prologue I didn’t appreciate. But, lo and behold, I’m not a fan of dropping a major moment in the romance as the intro point. It’s a romance novel, if we’re reading, we know (or should) what we are getting. This kind of prologue offers nothing useful to setting the tone or establishing anything about the story or characters. It just tells us what we already know going in: it’s steamy.
For feeling satisfied in the ending, becoming engrossed in Taylor and Chip’s story did prove difficult. This romance feels rushed and it shouldn’t. It feels a little lackluster and, again, it shouldn’t. The pieces, and opportunities, are there but not always connected well.
It’s a little jarring.
There are a few notable moments where even a few extra lines in the right place could have bridged the gaps a beat before the story charged fulltilt on what instead comes off as misplaced momentum. In other places opportunities are missed to show the gravity or emotional intensity mentioned later.
So the resulting effect is not smooth.
And the pace early on is reckless to where it doesn't quite make sense.
For example, at what point does the EMT —who is supposed to be a headliner of this story—, of all people, show more than offhanded concern for the injuries of his love interest? Some caution? It feels out of character.
Also Taylor and Chip’s familiarity with each other sets in faster than it should based on what is established by the story itself. They give off a vibe of closeness and comfort with each other right away, though nothing really shows why or how this dynamic occurred between them so fast.
Insights into them that would have been useful in the beginning happen later instead. It feels misplaced and, as a result, lacks effect. There is nothing to show the build of their feelings or the why of how they evolve with the action in the story. We are told but not shown and it’s stark to me here.
And something else too. The sidelining of Chip. (Ironic, or perhaps an unintentional reflection of his part in being the love interest of a closeted athlete.) Is been wrestling with being unable to connect to Chip and after about 50% in it occurred to me...
Chip is a sidekick in his own romance story. It happens through missed opportunities to show how hard the hiding is for Chip, from Chips POV rather than hearing about it from Tyler, and even the lack of showing romance buildup from him.
We see more of the trials faced by a closeted athlete. Too a point. Even then we hear more about the tribulations than see them; so they lose a little of their effect.
I didn’t go through the tension, the highs, or the lows with Tyler and Chip because they happened behind the scenes. Everything center stage was good, apropos, and valid but missing some crucial connections to fully invest me in their romance.
A few extra things...
Grammar-wise the story could have used one more look through to catch a couple of minor instances where the speaker flips in odd places, confusing who the speaker is.
The constant drop of Chip’s age is irritating and beside the point. Sure his worldly inexperience should play a factor. But he is an adult. Reminding us of the age gap is pointless when it’s underutilized in the story itself. Give him an endearment, something to refer to either of them as instead of “the older man” “the younger man.” It’s not endearing. It’s flimsy and lacks any gravity whatsoever.
I also feel there were some missed opportunities surrounding Tyler’s depression.
We get why Tyler closets himself, stop repeating the spiel in lecture mode to Chip and let me see it. Let him see it.
And I think that illustrates my only real issue. What’s here is a good story, but unfinished and not shown nearly enough to fully engage me and give the gravity of the plot its due.
Overall I’m wary of further books by Lewis but curious nevertheless. And it doesn’t deter me from further books in the Hidden Creek series. I’ll continue on to the next and, perhaps, look into something else from Lewis at a later date.
April 3, 2018
This entry from the Men of Hidden Creek series follows Tyler, a professional tennis player nearing the end of his career, and Chip, a young ENT who meets Tyler at the scene of a car accident. It turns out they are connected through Chip’s aunt Dixie, and despite obstacles and warnings, begin dating. Only they can’t really date, because Tyler is convinced he has to stay closeted while he is playing professionally, and he’s determined to win Wimbledon before he retires.
Tyler has just come to realize that spending his life in the closet – literally his life, since he started playing professionally at 17 – has left him lonely and depressed. When he meets Chip he senses something wonderful, a kindred spirit, but his private actions can carry a high price if they are made public. Not only his privacy, endorsements, and ability to play are at stake, but he has to consider Chip’s possible reaction to being front-page fodder. While they discuss the matter, of course Chip has no real frame of reference, so Tyler feels especially responsible for making the best decision for both of them.
I was a little disappointed with Tyler, I admit. I thought he was more self-serving than someone in a committed relationship ought to be, especially when he’s already asked his partner to quit his job, follow him around Europe, and hide in the background for the months it will take to get to Wimbledon. His constant concern about appearances was irritating. I also was a bit puzzled by the character of Dixie. I think she was supposed to provide a bit of comic relief/wisdom, but her age was odd (she’s 71 but she is 20-something Chip’s dad’s younger sister?) and I found her character unfathomable more than witty or wise. I did love Emm and Tina, though, and agent Sania as well. It’s a quick read with some interesting things to say about the culture of professional athletics, and the ending is cute. I was provided an advance copy in return for my honest review.
Tyler has just come to realize that spending his life in the closet – literally his life, since he started playing professionally at 17 – has left him lonely and depressed. When he meets Chip he senses something wonderful, a kindred spirit, but his private actions can carry a high price if they are made public. Not only his privacy, endorsements, and ability to play are at stake, but he has to consider Chip’s possible reaction to being front-page fodder. While they discuss the matter, of course Chip has no real frame of reference, so Tyler feels especially responsible for making the best decision for both of them.
I was a little disappointed with Tyler, I admit. I thought he was more self-serving than someone in a committed relationship ought to be, especially when he’s already asked his partner to quit his job, follow him around Europe, and hide in the background for the months it will take to get to Wimbledon. His constant concern about appearances was irritating. I also was a bit puzzled by the character of Dixie. I think she was supposed to provide a bit of comic relief/wisdom, but her age was odd (she’s 71 but she is 20-something Chip’s dad’s younger sister?) and I found her character unfathomable more than witty or wise. I did love Emm and Tina, though, and agent Sania as well. It’s a quick read with some interesting things to say about the culture of professional athletics, and the ending is cute. I was provided an advance copy in return for my honest review.
April 11, 2018
In this book, Tyler and Chip meet when Tyler has a car accident. Chip is an ENT. And Tyler is a pro tennis player. Ends up that Chip’s aunt works for Tyler. As they get to know each other, Chip realises that he is attracted to Tyler. He has never had feelings for a man before, but he cannot help but to kiss Tyler.
Chip’s aunt warns him that Tyler is closeted and that they shouldn’t date. Tyler wants to retire soon, but not until he wins Wimbledon. And he doesn’t want to be out while still playing.
When they do started dating, they have to do so in hiding. When Tyler goes to tournaments, Chip follows. And has to stay hidden. It is not easy for Chip. But Tyler is winning, feeling that his success is coming from having Chip there watching him play. Tyler wants to continue to hide his sexuality so it doesn’t affect his playing, his comradery with the other players, his endorsements, etc. He also wants to keep Chip a secret to protect Chip from the limelight.
I really loved the aspect of Tyler remaining closeted and fighting to do so. I found it very realistic given the pressure that athletes are under, and how few come out while they are still playing. That said, it was very sad to see Chip’s viewpoint of things when he has to stay hidden, even after leaving his home and job to follow Tyler.
Overall, this book has some of the key ingredients that I love in books:
-Hot athlete
-First time feelings for another guy
-The fight to stay in the closet or to come out
-A sweet romance
-And some blackmail
I definitely enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the rest in this new series!
Chip’s aunt warns him that Tyler is closeted and that they shouldn’t date. Tyler wants to retire soon, but not until he wins Wimbledon. And he doesn’t want to be out while still playing.
When they do started dating, they have to do so in hiding. When Tyler goes to tournaments, Chip follows. And has to stay hidden. It is not easy for Chip. But Tyler is winning, feeling that his success is coming from having Chip there watching him play. Tyler wants to continue to hide his sexuality so it doesn’t affect his playing, his comradery with the other players, his endorsements, etc. He also wants to keep Chip a secret to protect Chip from the limelight.
I really loved the aspect of Tyler remaining closeted and fighting to do so. I found it very realistic given the pressure that athletes are under, and how few come out while they are still playing. That said, it was very sad to see Chip’s viewpoint of things when he has to stay hidden, even after leaving his home and job to follow Tyler.
Overall, this book has some of the key ingredients that I love in books:
-Hot athlete
-First time feelings for another guy
-The fight to stay in the closet or to come out
-A sweet romance
-And some blackmail
I definitely enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the rest in this new series!
October 2, 2019
Awful. Just awful. From the writing to the plotline to the characters, everything was ridiculous, unrealistic, and at times, offensively annoying. There was absolutely no chemistry or spark between anyone in this book. It was at best laughable and at worst aggravating. There was a distinct lack of reason and absolutely no ounce of sense within this story, not to mention the appalling lack of continuity. Things just seemed to happen without any sort of build-up or rationale. The writing was full of simple mistakes not easily swallowed, and the plotline full of more holes than could be overlooked. Motivations, backgrounds, and explanations were entirely ignored. The entire thing felt rushed, frenzied, and extremely forced, and there were even a few instances of the writer contradicting himself. I felt absolutely no connection to any of the characters, especially Aunt Dixie, who's one of the most annoying fictional characters I've ever not met. The author was clearly trying to make her come across as funny, endearing, and lovable, but she only ended up coming across as obnoxious, intrusive, and meddlesome. It's been quite a while since I've disliked a protagonist so strongly.
This is, without a doubt, the worst book of the entire series.
This is, without a doubt, the worst book of the entire series.
April 3, 2018
Chip has returned to Hidden Creek to be close to his Aunt Dixie, the only family he has left, since the death of her wife. He's got a job as a EMT but something is missing in his life. When he gets called to a road accident his life soon changes. He meets Tyler, a Tennis player. Chip has never been with another man but he cant help himself, he kisses Tyler. It could ruin Tyler's career if it comes out that he is gay. Can they keep their relationship a secret as they travel the world with Tyler winning major tournaments. Or will someone from Tyler's past try to destroy his career and ruin everything?
This is the second Men of Hidden Creek book that I have read and enjoyed. Although the books sometimes cross into each other they can be read as a standalone. They are also written by different authors.
This is the second Men of Hidden Creek book that I have read and enjoyed. Although the books sometimes cross into each other they can be read as a standalone. They are also written by different authors.
April 9, 2018
🎾Tyler and Chip🚑
This book is part of a 6 book series, each written by a different author. The books take place in the same town around the same time. Although this book mostly took place away from Hidden Creek so there really isn’t any of that small town feel that was present in the other books so far. This is the 5th book that I’ve read in the series and unfortunately I had trouble connecting with the characters in this one. I gave it 4 stars because I feel others would likely enjoy this book but personally it didn’t click for me. I felt that Tyler was extremely selfish and self centered and it bothered me throughout the entire book. I also felt that Chip was extremely naive for someone who has already been through something extremely traumatic in his life. If you enjoy instant love books and aren’t looking for the small town feel than you’ll likely enjoy it.
This book is part of a 6 book series, each written by a different author. The books take place in the same town around the same time. Although this book mostly took place away from Hidden Creek so there really isn’t any of that small town feel that was present in the other books so far. This is the 5th book that I’ve read in the series and unfortunately I had trouble connecting with the characters in this one. I gave it 4 stars because I feel others would likely enjoy this book but personally it didn’t click for me. I felt that Tyler was extremely selfish and self centered and it bothered me throughout the entire book. I also felt that Chip was extremely naive for someone who has already been through something extremely traumatic in his life. If you enjoy instant love books and aren’t looking for the small town feel than you’ll likely enjoy it.
April 9, 2018
Another great one in the Men of Hidden Creek series! Great storyline that kept me glued to my kindle from beginning to end. Chip, an EMT, met Tyler, a tennis pro, when Tyler got into an accident and was transported to the hospital. Little did they know that Tyler is also Chip's aunt's boss. Tyler and Chip have an instant attraction and great chemistry but Tyler needs to keep the fact that he's gay hidden because of his tennis career. Although their relationship developed quickly, I still felt that Tyler and Chip had a strong connection and it didn't feel rushed. As Tyler and Chip grow closer and then Tyler is blackmailed, will Tyler "come out" or stay hidden and put everything at risk, especially his relationship with Chip. Another MUST READ in this spectacular series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
April 11, 2018
3.5* Serve is one part of a six book series, all written by different authors. Tyler is a famous tennis champion and is deeply closeted. Chip is an EMT living with the Aunt who helped raise him. Tyler and Chip meet when Tyler gets in to a wreck and is rescued by Chip. The story focuses quite a bit on the struggles of being a male and closeted athlete and about gender equality of both athletes and coaches.
This book was well written and had a lot of great things going for it (sassy aunt, sports hotties, good lessons), but I was just not a huge fan of it overall. I had a bit of trouble connecting to Tyler, though he had quite a few humanizing moments and was a good guy overall. I love that Chip has a backbone and uses it often throughout the book! I feel like Tyler and his group might have run all over him otherwise, even accidentally.
This book was well written and had a lot of great things going for it (sassy aunt, sports hotties, good lessons), but I was just not a huge fan of it overall. I had a bit of trouble connecting to Tyler, though he had quite a few humanizing moments and was a good guy overall. I love that Chip has a backbone and uses it often throughout the book! I feel like Tyler and his group might have run all over him otherwise, even accidentally.
April 12, 2018
This is a book in the Men of Hidden Creek Series which is a multiple author series. Although the books are in a series they can be read in any order. The series includes the following books:
Shield by - Max Hawthorn
Serve by - Ian O Lewis
Storm by - HJ Welch
Stay by - Avery Ford
Score by - A. E. Wasp
Shelter by – E. Davies
interesting book the writing was good. The plot was entertaining and it was steady throughout the book. I found the story and characters likeable. The characters were developed and thought out. Tyler Florman and Chip Carterare the MC’s of this book. There was tennis, EMT, coaches, a vindictive man, car crash, travel, friends and family, touring, sports, media and so much more in this book. I can recommend as a good read I enjoyed it voluntarily read an advance copy of this book for an honest review.
Shield by - Max Hawthorn
Serve by - Ian O Lewis
Storm by - HJ Welch
Stay by - Avery Ford
Score by - A. E. Wasp
Shelter by – E. Davies
interesting book the writing was good. The plot was entertaining and it was steady throughout the book. I found the story and characters likeable. The characters were developed and thought out. Tyler Florman and Chip Carterare the MC’s of this book. There was tennis, EMT, coaches, a vindictive man, car crash, travel, friends and family, touring, sports, media and so much more in this book. I can recommend as a good read I enjoyed it voluntarily read an advance copy of this book for an honest review.
April 3, 2018
Tyler is your normal male athlete who needs to stay in the closet because of his job as a tennis pro.
Chase is young man who is finding himself in his first relationship...aka the virgin.
When these 2 happen to fall in love and Chase is asked to follow Tyler around the world but to keep their relationship quiet, Tyler has to decide if his career or Chase is more important.
This book was beautifully written. I can empathize with both characters having to deal with different aspects of their relationship. Having Aunt Dixie as a secondary character was needed to lighten some of the heaviness that this book brought in some areas.
I am enjoying the town of Hidden Creek and I hope that you all continue reading the other books written by other authors in this town.
Chase is young man who is finding himself in his first relationship...aka the virgin.
When these 2 happen to fall in love and Chase is asked to follow Tyler around the world but to keep their relationship quiet, Tyler has to decide if his career or Chase is more important.
This book was beautifully written. I can empathize with both characters having to deal with different aspects of their relationship. Having Aunt Dixie as a secondary character was needed to lighten some of the heaviness that this book brought in some areas.
I am enjoying the town of Hidden Creek and I hope that you all continue reading the other books written by other authors in this town.
April 10, 2018
Enjoyable characters with a good plot allow us to follow Tyler and Chips journey to love. This story mostly took place outside of Hidden Creek so it doesn't have the small town feel to it. The connection between Tyler and Chip was really quick and sometimes i wanted more depth of feeling. They do find their happiness and i think it is a book that you will enjoy!
Serve is the third book that i have read within the Men of Hidden Creek series and i am so looking forward to reading more! Serve is part of a group of books written by different authors all centered around the town of Hidden Creek. Each book can be read as a stand-alone but the characters pop up in the different books. I’m quite intrigued and will be following them.
April 14, 2018
Tyler was a tennis star who met Chip the EMT after a car accident. They formed a bond very quickly, and Chip began traveling with Tyler in his quest to win the Grand Slam of tennis. At this point, I was annoyed with Tyler quite a bit. He was in the closet for his career, and he kept making Chip feel second best. I almost wanted Chip to find himself another man who would appreciate him in front of the world, but Tyler did keep insisting that he planned on retiring after the Grand Slam and living out with Chip in Hidden Creek. This wasn't my favorite story in the series, but I do think it fit with the others. I thought Chip was a sweetheart, and I also really enjoyed the scenes that focused on the tennis matches. I will read more from this author.
September 14, 2018
Pretty awful. The tennis plot was what kept me reading this terribly written book. I like both Tyler and Chip, but not a lot made sense.
Chip’s history was nonexistent, even though it’s alluded to that he’s figuring out his sexuality, and that goes nowhere.
The big deal about Tyler coming out makes no sense, and is a nonissue at the end, after all the drama. At times, the book goes into a weird narrative mode, about a country they’re in, or how tennis is played, or whatever. It’s totally outside the flow of the story and is awkward. Similarly, some of the dialogue doesn’t work, is too stilted or trying to be humorous when it just plain isn’t.
I read it because it was the end of Season 1, but it wasn’t worth the time.
KU
Chip’s history was nonexistent, even though it’s alluded to that he’s figuring out his sexuality, and that goes nowhere.
The big deal about Tyler coming out makes no sense, and is a nonissue at the end, after all the drama. At times, the book goes into a weird narrative mode, about a country they’re in, or how tennis is played, or whatever. It’s totally outside the flow of the story and is awkward. Similarly, some of the dialogue doesn’t work, is too stilted or trying to be humorous when it just plain isn’t.
I read it because it was the end of Season 1, but it wasn’t worth the time.
KU
April 4, 2018
Tyler and Chip met when Tyler has a car accident. Chip was the EMT that took care of him. Tyler is a world class tennis star. They spark off each other from the beginning. Tyler is gay and needs to keep it hidden to be able to continue to play. Chip isn't as straight as he thought he was. Their relationship quickly heats up.
When threatened with blackmail, Tyler does what he thinks he has to to protect his career.
I liked the book, it just didn't quite flow for me. Seemed hurried at times and slow at others. Tyler and Chip were good characters. I really liked the supporting cast, specially Aunt Daisy.
Over all it was a nice addition to the series.
I received an ARC of this book.
When threatened with blackmail, Tyler does what he thinks he has to to protect his career.
I liked the book, it just didn't quite flow for me. Seemed hurried at times and slow at others. Tyler and Chip were good characters. I really liked the supporting cast, specially Aunt Daisy.
Over all it was a nice addition to the series.
I received an ARC of this book.
April 6, 2018
This was an enjoyable and easy book to read. Tyler and Chip meet after a car accident. Chip is an EMT who is thrown into Tyler’s world of professional tennis after this meeting. Together, they have a lot to overcome to make this relationship work. One of the biggest challenges is being true to themselves and coming out as gay to the world. I loved the support of Chip’s Aunt Dixie. She understands what both are feeling, what constraints are on them, and what needs to be done to make everyone in their lives happy. I loved her snappy comebacks! This was my first book by this author and I will be reading more.
May 5, 2018
Love the Hidden Creek series.
What happens when a veteran tennis champion who is deep in the closet, meets a sexy EMT just discovering his sexuality? Tyler has never let anyone get close before, afraid that discovery of his sexuality will ruin his tennis career, until he met Chip. Their relationship is fraught with obstacles, hiding who they are to each other and an ex coach out to destroy him and ultimately outing him. Can their relationship survive? Will Tyler stop being afraid to come out? A great story about the world of mens elite sport, where being gay is extremely difficult.
What happens when a veteran tennis champion who is deep in the closet, meets a sexy EMT just discovering his sexuality? Tyler has never let anyone get close before, afraid that discovery of his sexuality will ruin his tennis career, until he met Chip. Their relationship is fraught with obstacles, hiding who they are to each other and an ex coach out to destroy him and ultimately outing him. Can their relationship survive? Will Tyler stop being afraid to come out? A great story about the world of mens elite sport, where being gay is extremely difficult.
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