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Graves Brothers #2
Playing Life
Sometimes you have to let go of your fears and start playing life.
When Ryan decided to spend his summer vacation in the tiny town of Augusta rather than in Sacramento, he expected to work on the house he inherited from his grandmother, go to the gym and train, and not much else.
He should have known better.
His grandmother’s house is a mess, and there’s no way Ryan can get it back to its past splendor on his own. He calls the Graves Brothers, a renovation company in town, and hires them to do the work.
When Kenny is offered the job on the house he’s been wanting to put his hands on since he was a kid, he jumps on the occasion. He doesn’t even care that Ryan, the new owner, is a player for the Sacramento Pelicans, his favorite hockey team.
Kenny offers Ryan his guest room until the house is ready, and they become friends, then more. But Ryan is in the closet and he’s not ready to come out and risk his career, while Kenny is still hurt over breaking up with his closeted ex-boyfriend.
Can they make things between them work even with all the obstacles and their own personal hang-ups? Or will their relationship be nothing more than a summer fling?
When Ryan decided to spend his summer vacation in the tiny town of Augusta rather than in Sacramento, he expected to work on the house he inherited from his grandmother, go to the gym and train, and not much else.
He should have known better.
His grandmother’s house is a mess, and there’s no way Ryan can get it back to its past splendor on his own. He calls the Graves Brothers, a renovation company in town, and hires them to do the work.
When Kenny is offered the job on the house he’s been wanting to put his hands on since he was a kid, he jumps on the occasion. He doesn’t even care that Ryan, the new owner, is a player for the Sacramento Pelicans, his favorite hockey team.
Kenny offers Ryan his guest room until the house is ready, and they become friends, then more. But Ryan is in the closet and he’s not ready to come out and risk his career, while Kenny is still hurt over breaking up with his closeted ex-boyfriend.
Can they make things between them work even with all the obstacles and their own personal hang-ups? Or will their relationship be nothing more than a summer fling?
- GenresM M Romance
Kindle Edition
First published July 22, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 25, 2018
I didn't realize this was book two in a series, but this can absolutely be read as a standalone.
Thirty-six year old NHL star Ryan Widner has decided to fix up the old Victorian his grandmother left him in Augusta, California. However, when he gets to the house he quickly realizes the decade of neglect has made the house unlivable and in desperate need of fixing up by professionals and not the DIY he thought he'd be able to handle.
When Ryan contacts Kenneth Graves of Graves Brothers Renovations Kenny is overjoyed with the prospect of getting his hands on a house he's loved all his life. The cherry on this sundae is his favorite defenseman for the Sacramento Pelicans is the owner. When Kenny brings Ryan home for dinner and to meet the other brothers in the business to talk about what's needed for the renovation, Kenny's mother suggests that Ryan not go to a hotel, but rather stay in Kenny's spare room.
What starts off as a bit awkward, turns into friendship, and then sparks ignite. But Ryan is deeply in the closet, especially after a particularly bad reaction from the only person he's ever told he's gay, and Kenny is only just over a relationship where he was a secret. Can love win out?
The family, filled with four sons on the "rainbow spectrum" is a joy to read, and filled with acceptance and love for the men the boys fall for. It was particularly sweet seeing Ryan's reaction to Kenny's family's acceptance of him even before they know he's gay or interested in Kenny.
Told in a dual POV, Playing Life is a cute, not too steamy romance, with a build up to Kenny and Ryan getting together, a little miscommunication that is pretty quickly cleared up, and a solidly cute HFN/HEA ending.
For the sticklers: In the ARC there were some editing and proofing issues consistently throughout that I hope will be caught and fixed before the final draft was published.
Advanced Review Galley copy of Playing Life provided by the author in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
Thirty-six year old NHL star Ryan Widner has decided to fix up the old Victorian his grandmother left him in Augusta, California. However, when he gets to the house he quickly realizes the decade of neglect has made the house unlivable and in desperate need of fixing up by professionals and not the DIY he thought he'd be able to handle.
When Ryan contacts Kenneth Graves of Graves Brothers Renovations Kenny is overjoyed with the prospect of getting his hands on a house he's loved all his life. The cherry on this sundae is his favorite defenseman for the Sacramento Pelicans is the owner. When Kenny brings Ryan home for dinner and to meet the other brothers in the business to talk about what's needed for the renovation, Kenny's mother suggests that Ryan not go to a hotel, but rather stay in Kenny's spare room.
What starts off as a bit awkward, turns into friendship, and then sparks ignite. But Ryan is deeply in the closet, especially after a particularly bad reaction from the only person he's ever told he's gay, and Kenny is only just over a relationship where he was a secret. Can love win out?
The family, filled with four sons on the "rainbow spectrum" is a joy to read, and filled with acceptance and love for the men the boys fall for. It was particularly sweet seeing Ryan's reaction to Kenny's family's acceptance of him even before they know he's gay or interested in Kenny.
Told in a dual POV, Playing Life is a cute, not too steamy romance, with a build up to Kenny and Ryan getting together, a little miscommunication that is pretty quickly cleared up, and a solidly cute HFN/HEA ending.
For the sticklers: In the ARC there were some editing and proofing issues consistently throughout that I hope will be caught and fixed before the final draft was published.
Advanced Review Galley copy of Playing Life provided by the author in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
July 27, 2018
This is another solid entry in the Graves Brothers series from V.M. Sanford and features an ice hockey player deep in the closet and the eldest brother Kenny.
It's a bit slow to get going and it feels a little bit repetitive on the odd occasion, but other than that, it's a sweet, fairly low steam romance.
There were errors in the ARC but I'd expect them to be cleaned up by release and the narrative isn't too complicated. Kenny's family are a great bunch and it was good to catch up with them again.
It'll be interesting to see who is up next, Cam or Orlando.
#ARC kindly provided by the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
It's a bit slow to get going and it feels a little bit repetitive on the odd occasion, but other than that, it's a sweet, fairly low steam romance.
There were errors in the ARC but I'd expect them to be cleaned up by release and the narrative isn't too complicated. Kenny's family are a great bunch and it was good to catch up with them again.
It'll be interesting to see who is up next, Cam or Orlando.
#ARC kindly provided by the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
December 23, 2018
This was the second book in this series, and revolves around brother Kenny Graves. Kenny is the electrician in the family business, set up in a small community called Augusta California. He works with his brother’s in the business created by his father, and all boys are somewhere on the rainbow spectrum.
So, in Kenny’s book we are introduced to Ryan, professional hockey player and gay man in the closet. He’s hiding in there thanks to his career, the fear he has of coming out and losing his job, and the lack of support he received from his mother when he came out to her, left a sour taste in his mouth so he’s content to live the closeted life he has. He did not bank on meeting Kenny though.
So, these two men, because we are pushing 40, most of the time, acted like teenagers with their hurt feelings and reactions to the other over something. Kenny was willing to go into the closet for Ryan, and I felt that was a little drastic considering that man deserved better than to be someone’s dirty secret-which is where he had been living in his previous relationship-the closet. I felt he held Ryan pretty high on a pedestal I am not sure he deserved, and I felt that their relationship was a lot of work.
The book is not long, and for me, it was just an OK read. I didn’t fall in love with the boys, but, I was not completely put off with their relationship antics.
So, in Kenny’s book we are introduced to Ryan, professional hockey player and gay man in the closet. He’s hiding in there thanks to his career, the fear he has of coming out and losing his job, and the lack of support he received from his mother when he came out to her, left a sour taste in his mouth so he’s content to live the closeted life he has. He did not bank on meeting Kenny though.
So, these two men, because we are pushing 40, most of the time, acted like teenagers with their hurt feelings and reactions to the other over something. Kenny was willing to go into the closet for Ryan, and I felt that was a little drastic considering that man deserved better than to be someone’s dirty secret-which is where he had been living in his previous relationship-the closet. I felt he held Ryan pretty high on a pedestal I am not sure he deserved, and I felt that their relationship was a lot of work.
The book is not long, and for me, it was just an OK read. I didn’t fall in love with the boys, but, I was not completely put off with their relationship antics.
July 30, 2018
4-1/2 Stars
When Ryan decides to spend his summer downtime restoring the home he inherited from his grandmother, he had no idea just how far the condition of the house had fallen. Kenny always loved the old house he passed nearly every day and it saddened him to see it go untouched so when he gets the call inquiring about redoing the house, he & his brothers jump at the chance. Ryan had no idea that by hiring the Graves Brothers it wasn't only the house that receives attention but will it be the kind of attention he's looking for? Will the house that Kenny admired most of his life bring him more than occupational satisfaction?
Playing Life is a wonderful second entry in the Graves Brothers series. I have to be honest, I don't think Ryan and Kenny's story quite touched me as much as Jason and Spencer's did but that doesn't mean I wasn't entertained. I was. Kenny's determination to be supportive and protective of both Jason and Spencer in Eyes Wide Open is wonderfully followed up by Jason's support in Playing Life. I don't know that we see as much of the brotherly interaction in this entry as we did in the first but when the Graves boys do appear, they certainly bring forth the irritating yet loving camaraderie that can only exist between siblings.
As for Ryan, well you can't help but love him and want to knock him upside the head at the same time. I can't begin to imagine what Ryan's life is like as a closeted hockey player but I want him to find happiness and sometimes that means giving him a good knuckle-rap to the skull😉. Knowing he has few friends and no real family to support him, yes his mother is there but she offers no support so I found myself not counting her(and that's all I'll say on the subject of her), when Logan shows up I cheered even knowing it would probably lead to an obstacle or two for the boys.
Playing Life is only the second book of VM Sanford that I have read, Eyes Wide Open having been the first, and unfortunately time continues to allude me so I haven't been able to check out his backlist yet but when the calendar allows it I look forward to doing so. I also can't wait to see what other kind of trouble the remaining single Graves Brothers will find in their individual journeys to find love. I should add that I highly recommend reading this series in order. Yes, each entry is a different duo and Playing is Kenny and Ryan's story but there are mentions to Jason and Spencer's path that may not really impact the boys but I find it flows better having read Eyes first. Definitely a winner.
When Ryan decides to spend his summer downtime restoring the home he inherited from his grandmother, he had no idea just how far the condition of the house had fallen. Kenny always loved the old house he passed nearly every day and it saddened him to see it go untouched so when he gets the call inquiring about redoing the house, he & his brothers jump at the chance. Ryan had no idea that by hiring the Graves Brothers it wasn't only the house that receives attention but will it be the kind of attention he's looking for? Will the house that Kenny admired most of his life bring him more than occupational satisfaction?
Playing Life is a wonderful second entry in the Graves Brothers series. I have to be honest, I don't think Ryan and Kenny's story quite touched me as much as Jason and Spencer's did but that doesn't mean I wasn't entertained. I was. Kenny's determination to be supportive and protective of both Jason and Spencer in Eyes Wide Open is wonderfully followed up by Jason's support in Playing Life. I don't know that we see as much of the brotherly interaction in this entry as we did in the first but when the Graves boys do appear, they certainly bring forth the irritating yet loving camaraderie that can only exist between siblings.
As for Ryan, well you can't help but love him and want to knock him upside the head at the same time. I can't begin to imagine what Ryan's life is like as a closeted hockey player but I want him to find happiness and sometimes that means giving him a good knuckle-rap to the skull😉. Knowing he has few friends and no real family to support him, yes his mother is there but she offers no support so I found myself not counting her(and that's all I'll say on the subject of her), when Logan shows up I cheered even knowing it would probably lead to an obstacle or two for the boys.
Playing Life is only the second book of VM Sanford that I have read, Eyes Wide Open having been the first, and unfortunately time continues to allude me so I haven't been able to check out his backlist yet but when the calendar allows it I look forward to doing so. I also can't wait to see what other kind of trouble the remaining single Graves Brothers will find in their individual journeys to find love. I should add that I highly recommend reading this series in order. Yes, each entry is a different duo and Playing is Kenny and Ryan's story but there are mentions to Jason and Spencer's path that may not really impact the boys but I find it flows better having read Eyes first. Definitely a winner.
July 27, 2018
Kenny is doing what he loves. Rebuilding an old Victorian house that he has wanted to work on for years is a dream. What he didn't expect in the dream was the owner Ryan. Hockey player on his favorite team, gorgeous. Kenny is bisexual, and lost partners because of it. He had a serious relationship with a guy but he was in the closet. Kenny won't open himself up to that pain again.
When Ryan admits he's gay, Kenny isn't sure what to do. When they decide they want each other it isn't smooth sailing. They are both falling in love. Kenny decides they can have a relationship as long as Ryan agrees to tell people he is gay at some future point. When one of Ryan's teammates show up and Ryan refers to Kenny as a friend he's can't accept what he sees as a rejection. They need to really work on their communication if there is any kind of chance it will work
This was a nice, low angst, slow burn type of story. Supporting characters were good. Second book in the series. Can be read as a standalone.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
When Ryan admits he's gay, Kenny isn't sure what to do. When they decide they want each other it isn't smooth sailing. They are both falling in love. Kenny decides they can have a relationship as long as Ryan agrees to tell people he is gay at some future point. When one of Ryan's teammates show up and Ryan refers to Kenny as a friend he's can't accept what he sees as a rejection. They need to really work on their communication if there is any kind of chance it will work
This was a nice, low angst, slow burn type of story. Supporting characters were good. Second book in the series. Can be read as a standalone.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
July 30, 2018
This was my first read by this author. This was slow going at first and built up some momentum but it never really grabbed hold of me. I liked both Kenny and Ryan and I liked them together but I never felt like I truly connected with them like I do with other characters. Still, there was enough in this book that I’ll definitely try another by this author.
July 26, 2018
this was a good sweet story.. it was a bit slow in spots but overall a fun story. theres very little angst or issues.. it is the second in the series but you can read it without the first honestly.. it was a fun read with lots of love involved
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