Bar Down

by Ashley K. Broome

Bishop Briggs has enough on his plate playing professional hockey for the Carolina Warhorses and raising his daughter Bella on his own. Adding romance on top of that would complicate his life more. It didn’t stop Bishop’s growing attraction to his next door neighbor and the father to Bella’s best friend. He can’t seem to get Barrett Griffin off of his mind. It’s gotten to the point he’s sure the rest of the guys on the team are making bets on when he’ll finally make a move. It’s just, how do you make a move on your next door neighbor when you have to see him every morning at the bus stop, at school functions, and every time he walks out his front door? Life has other plans for them though. Barrett’s current project pushes them together causing Bishop to spend countless nights and roadies fighting with himself and his teammates with the possibility of what could be.

Genres: Hockey, Sports, M M Romance, M M Sports Romance

153 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 16, 2018

About the author

Ashley Broome was born and raised in southern Louisiana. That didn’t stop her from finding her love of hockey and embracing every aspect of it. When it isn’t hockey season she’s typically found sipping on PJ’s Iced Coffee, nudging one of her three cats out of the way, reading whatever book she can get her hands on or she’s plotting latest book ideas out half paying attention to everything going on around her. Playing the Point is her debut M/M Romance novel.

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet romance. Two single dads with a definite attraction but they are aphrenrsive since a failed relationship could ruin their daughters friendships. The story has some funny moments and I enjoyed the banter between the girls.

[Roland · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWESOME

It was AWESOME!! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! The kids made the book. Can't wait for the next one. Ashley you are fabulous!!

[Rebecca Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bishop Briggs is a hockey player for the Warhorses and also a single dad to Isabella. When his nanny lets him know that she is unable to come back to work for him as the new season begins he needs to try and find someone to help him out. His daughter's best friend Ivy lives next door and he finds himself attracted to her dad.

Barrett Griffin is a single dad to Ivy and a graphic artist. He doesn't mind helping Bishop out when he finds himself needing childcare and when he needs some help with his latest project he asks Bishop for some help.

Will Bishop be able to tell if Barrett is interested in him or is he likely to ruin a good friendship in the process?

This was a good read and I enjoyed it.

I liked Bishop and how hard he worked to keep his career going while taking care of Isabella. It was apparent how much he loved her and needed someone he trusted to take care of her. I thought it was great how he would check out his neighbor while down at the bus stop! I also really liked his relationship with his teammates and how they were there for him, even if they harassed him while doing it.

Barrett was interesting and you were never sure until about half way through what his intentions were. I loved that he helped out Bishop and Isabella and then what Bishop was able to help with in regards to his job.

I liked that you were never 100% sure how Barrett felt and whether Bishop had a chance. I liked that they both put their daughters in hockey and how Ivy was going to protect her goalie, Isabella. I really liked when they were "caught" by Isabella.

Great book!

[Mrs K Bartholomew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this series of books. Ashley Broome manages to capture the thrill of hockey without getting to technical for people who are not familiar with the game and also the romance and affection between the main characters without is seeming too sexual and purely titillation.
Bishop and Barrett are both single dads and the few minutes waiting to put their daughter's on the school bus soon turns into friendship which then becomes more. The sweet progression is done in a very believable and sweet way rather than them jumping straight to tearing each others clothes off.

Only negative I have is I wished their names were more different. During the romance scenes the Bishop/Barrett can be a bit much especially when it's along the lines of Barrett bit Bishops lip. Too many Bs 😁. All in all a good read

[Jaimed · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read all the books in this series and while I've liked them all, they seem to have the same problem which is being anther round with an editor. I like the story, but there are quite a few mistakes that start to affect the quality of the story and the reader's experience.
The characters are nice, but I feel like they are one note and more could have been out into them. The story has a lot of time jumps that aren't pointed out right away so you have a paragraph or so to go into new chapters before you realize that there is a time shift.

I wish that the author would have the stories edited again with someone new and go into a little more depth on the characters.

This is maybe a 2.5 read for me. I want to like it more since it does have the potential, it just needs a little more help.

[Samantha Waldow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I don't normally read M/M books but i enjoyed reading this one. Bishop has a crush on his next door neighbor Barrett. Bishop plays on a hockey team Warhorses. They ate both single dads raising daughters. He loves that Ivy has a friend to play with and he has someone to talk to about raising his daughter. Bishop isn't sure if Barrett has the same feelings. I loved reading this story.

[Amy Crull · Rating 4 out of 5]

I so loved this book! Bishop and Barrett have such a relaxed relationship. They fun with their girls, doing things that every parent does. They were neighbors but it blossomed from there. I love that all of Bishop's teammates were supported of them, even cracking jokes. This book gives you a real sense of family and how a family should act. I so loved the moment when they decided to take it further and how chill the girls were about it. This book was a lot of fun to read!

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sweet story is very low angst and has some nice hockey scenes. Bishop is the pro hockey player who lives with his daughter Bella next door to Barrett and his daughter Ivy. As the two men slowly become more than just neighbors, the girls join a youth hockey league. There are a few sexy scenes between Bishop and Barrett; and there are some great moments with Bishop and his teammates. I enjoyed this book.

[Loralie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the family element to this M/M story. Bishop and Barrett were single dads and neighbors, willing to help each other out, especially when it came to their girls. Their daughters Bella and Ivy were best friends. Bishop's team was loving and supportive, like a family should be. The romance started with a good friendship and evolved into a strong relationship. It was a sweet love story and an easy read.

[Ashley Sledge( UnderCoversBookBlog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!!!
Omg!!! Bishop and Barrett are amazing!!!
I loved that they went from neighbors to friends to lovers!!!!
Their story was great! You could feel the emotions almost jumping off the pages!
And I loved getting the thrill of hockey without all the technical stuff that I don't understand!

[Deborah Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this sweet, friend to lovers book. The friendship, the love
for their daughters, the friendship of Bella and Ivy, the slow manifestations of romance between the graphic artist and the hockey player were well developed. Quick read, summer romance m m handled gracefully, but 18 and over the to the sexual scenes.

[LS Kralicek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ashley Brooke has written a story you don’t want to put down. Barrett and Bishop totally make you believe in love. It is a different read from my normal but the characters and story line keep you engaged and rooting for them. Ivy and Bella add an additional layer which creates something fun within the story. Well done!

[Bookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet m/m romance between two single fathers. Bishop is a hockey players for the Carolina Warhorses and a single Dad. He's not really looking for love but cant help his growing feelings for the neighbor, Barrett the hot single dad next door. A fun sweet read, i loved how shy and uncertain Bishop was around Barrett. And the fact that the two girls were so adorable just made the book better. If you are looking for a quick,lighthearted happy read this book is for you.

[Roni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I normally do not read m/m but I figure what the heck Ashley Broome is a new author to me. I loved the story of Bishop and Barrett both single dads both trying to make time for life. I love the kiddos they make this story awesome!! I also love the hockey aspect huge hockey fan and that is why I read it. I now am going to read the whole series.

[Astra Astrid · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 for grabbing and entertaining me;
2 for terrible copy editing.

I'm rounding to 3, giving extra weight to the grabbing and entertaining part, because I rolled through the trilogy without much difficulty despite the terrible copy editing.

I enjoyed the characters and their journeys to their individual HEA's very much.

[Natasha TerMaat · Rating 3 out of 5]

so....overall this was an ok book. l enjoy m/m books and this one was more of a friends to lovers romance. slow burn for a short story...I loved the daughters they were Adorable. and the guys hoooot . the story line was a not off but in the end it was ok. I think its a book that's worth a try .

[Elsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story a lot. It was my favorite of the series. We get two awesome single dads looking for love. The love they have for their girls is amazing, they have a good system as friends that turn into something more.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book I have read in this series and they are all easy quick reads. This is a great friend to lovers book, I love books with kids in and these sweet girls added another depth to the story, A nice quick summer read with some sweet and spicy moments.

[Angel Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked this third book, but wish they were longer-! Enjoyed the hockey aspect along with the romance and chemistry. 4 solid stars!

[Amanda Roden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. In my opinion it was a well written love story with just the right amount of spice.

[evieo17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable read. I loved the chemistry between Barrett and Bishop.

[Deirdre Stokes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the way this book started, it was a very interesting and well written book. I hope to read more by this author soon.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really do love these books. The writing is getting cleaner but the story just stays amazing. I sometimes wish there was a little more crossover between stories but it doesn't detract at all. If you haven't started this series, I definitely recommend it.