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Blue Harbor #1
Topping the Jock
For years, he’s been on top. Now, it’s my turn.
Here’s the thing.
I’ve hated Montgomery Adams since freshmen year of high school when he stole my clothes from my gym locker, leaving me in nothing but a towel. Oh, and it didn’t stop there. He teased me, threw wads of paper at my head, and booed me when I raised my hand to answer questions in class.
I thought I finally escaped him after graduation. He went off to play college ball, and I became a teacher. But ten years later, Monty comes back to town. Even worse? He’s the new football coach at the same school as me.
He’s just as irritating as I remember, an annoying meathead jock with too much muscle and a smirk I want to smack off his too-perfect face. I don’t care that he’s hotter than ever or that he says he’s changed. I’m not falling for it.
If he thinks he can waltz in and take over the school like he did when we were teenagers, he has another thing coming.
Warning: this book is nothing but fluff, steam, banter, and features two men who pretend to be enemies yet sneak kisses whenever possible. Don’t read if you hate lighthearted romance and nerd/jock tropes. No angst. Just two adorable dorks falling in love.
Here’s the thing.
I’ve hated Montgomery Adams since freshmen year of high school when he stole my clothes from my gym locker, leaving me in nothing but a towel. Oh, and it didn’t stop there. He teased me, threw wads of paper at my head, and booed me when I raised my hand to answer questions in class.
I thought I finally escaped him after graduation. He went off to play college ball, and I became a teacher. But ten years later, Monty comes back to town. Even worse? He’s the new football coach at the same school as me.
He’s just as irritating as I remember, an annoying meathead jock with too much muscle and a smirk I want to smack off his too-perfect face. I don’t care that he’s hotter than ever or that he says he’s changed. I’m not falling for it.
If he thinks he can waltz in and take over the school like he did when we were teenagers, he has another thing coming.
Warning: this book is nothing but fluff, steam, banter, and features two men who pretend to be enemies yet sneak kisses whenever possible. Don’t read if you hate lighthearted romance and nerd/jock tropes. No angst. Just two adorable dorks falling in love.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2020
369 people are currently reading
919 people want to read
About the author
Jaclyn Osborn
50 books1,774 followersAs an avid reader and coffee addict, Jaclyn Osborn can always be found with either a book in her hand or one being written on her laptop. The men in her stories mean the world to her, and she's thankful for each day she's able to do this as a career.
She writes M/M romance across all genres and worlds, including contemporary, historical, fantasy, and paranormal.
She writes M/M romance across all genres and worlds, including contemporary, historical, fantasy, and paranormal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 254 reviews
January 29, 2022
Okay, I'll come clean and confess. I read this story mostly because of the provocative title, so I wasn't exactly expecting (or hoping for) "classic literature" here, sue me. 😜
Also, thoughts of the bullied finally coming out on top (literally) of the former bully intrigued me as well.
The story that I got was fine, but it didn't venture far from exactly how I'd predicted that the story line would go from simply reading the blurb. Not exactly groundbreaking stuff.
One aspect of the story that I didn't particularly care for, though, was some of the cornier attempts at humor that I found to be suuuuuuper groan-worthy.
Also, a lot of things were included over and over and OVER again, with that repetition giving me a huge case of the eye-rolls.
Like Monty continually calling Quinn "Specks". Pet names. Mega-groan.
And the fascination of "running my fingers through his hair".
And "he makes me feel like I'm flying".
We. Get. It. Move along. Pretty please.
One thing that I did find extremely unlikely about the story, though, was that at 90+ percent in, Monty super-casually mentioned that Quinn HAS A NINE-INCH DICK, like finding one of those was some everyday occurrence.
On a *white* guy.
He'd already been getting railed by said NINE-INCH DICK for months. But when they first started sleeping together, Monty barely had even a single thought as to the size of Quinn's wang.
As a gay man, let me tell you, the moment that the zipper dropped and out popped a NINE-INCH DICK, the next ten minutes of internal monologue would've been something along the lines of:
Holy mother of God! I'm looking at a fucking NINE-INCH DICK! It's huuuuge!The book held my interest pretty well for around the first maybe thirty percent, then I kept putting it down and found myself less motivated to pick it back up again.
I wonder how much that thing weighs? Will it fit in my mouth? Or in "other" places"? Will I still be able to walk tomorrow? Should I call my doctor first?
Can I snuggle with it like a teddy bear while I sleep? Do I need to burp it afterward? Does it have its own name? Or ZIP CODE??? 😲
Holy shit, I can't believe I'm looking at a big ole' NINE. INCH. DICK!!!
I didn't have the same issues with Osborn's "The Ghost of Ellwood (Ivy Grove #1)", though, so I'd actually recommend giving that story a try, instead of this one.
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May 21, 2021
This was a fun second chance and bully mix romance that was a delight to read. It was fun, heartwarming and the chemistry between the two main characters was on fire. This was an amazing story that I could not put down. I loved this novel from start to finish.
Read
January 1, 2021DNF @30%
Look at me kicking off 2021 with a DNF. I hope this is not indicative of how things will be reading wise.
I have liked some of Osborn's stuff in the past but I didn't like this one at all. Quinn tried, although he gave in too quickly, but Monty's immaturity ten years later (!) turned every attempt at a serious dialogue into a joke.
I rest my case.
Look at me kicking off 2021 with a DNF. I hope this is not indicative of how things will be reading wise.
I have liked some of Osborn's stuff in the past but I didn't like this one at all. Quinn tried, although he gave in too quickly, but Monty's immaturity ten years later (!) turned every attempt at a serious dialogue into a joke.
I rest my case.
October 19, 2021
This was such a fun read. Totally adorable, lighthearted and sexy. So, so sexy.
The former bully trope is a hard one for me and I usually pass on them. However, the blurb promised me a lighthearted read and the author delivered. Even though Monty and Quinn have all this history, they also had ton of chemistry. And banter. The banter had me in stitches.
This is totally the book for you if you need something light to take your mind of things.
The former bully trope is a hard one for me and I usually pass on them. However, the blurb promised me a lighthearted read and the author delivered. Even though Monty and Quinn have all this history, they also had ton of chemistry. And banter. The banter had me in stitches.
This is totally the book for you if you need something light to take your mind of things.
Read
October 23, 2020DNF at about 15%. Just not feeling it.
July 3, 2023
3/5 stars
November 1, 2020
This book is super cute
Rating: 3 Stars.
Steam: 6 out of 10.
Triggers:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
Rating: 3 Stars.
Steam: 6 out of 10.
Triggers:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
February 19, 2021
here's another goal for 2021: read every book by Jaclyn Osborn
October 19, 2021
fun and cute, but i finished 10 minutes ago and i forgot what happened
October 5, 2021
DNF ~33%
I think I need to accept this author isn't for me. To be fair, the whole "falling for your former bully" trope is one I reeeeeally don't enjoy and it takes a lot to make it work for me, so this book already had that against it and, unfortunately, the author didn't sell it for me. I really didn't buy their chemistry and didn't find Monty's "apologies" to be all that authentic--it felt like lip service and it wasn't enough for me to get over the former bully angle.
I think I need to accept this author isn't for me. To be fair, the whole "falling for your former bully" trope is one I reeeeeally don't enjoy and it takes a lot to make it work for me, so this book already had that against it and, unfortunately, the author didn't sell it for me. I really didn't buy their chemistry and didn't find Monty's "apologies" to be all that authentic--it felt like lip service and it wasn't enough for me to get over the former bully angle.
June 16, 2024
Re-read
I remembered this book a while ago and finally got to read it again. I'm bumping down the rating to 4⭐.
🔵 Bully trope, but very light
🟣 Both MMCs 28, teachers and gay
🟡 Small town
🟢 Sweet, hot, emotional, wonderful HEA
🌶️ Good smut, I loved it; most of the book t/b--both vers
It's a completely light, romantic book where the bully is far from that monster I usually like, but I don't know, the story simply worked for me. I very much like the main characters, especially Monty, who has my heart - and remembering them in Reed's book I know they're simply great together.
I found the dialogues sometimes too learned on this re-read, like citing a quote from a romance book or something - and cheesy, out of character for Monty and Quinn, because the author probably wanted to put as much romance as possible into it, but things like
“See?” Monty said, as a soft smile touched his lips. “The way we banter back and forth… it’s so easy. Natural. That, my friend, is called chemistry. And we have it in spades.”
simply isn't said because if you have that intense chemistry with someone you aren't talking about it, it just is, you enjoy it.
So big words definitely weren't needed in my opinion, they had a really sweet love story and I still like it.
Will read it again.
______________________________________
Original review -- 31/July/2022
Rating : 5⭐
This was a bully feelgood romance. Expect no angst. Only the good vibes. Completely up my alley, even though I usually don't like stories that feel this perfect.
Monty is a high school american football player, one of the most popular guys at school who's bullying Quinn, the little nerdy twink.
Monty was tall, athletic and an extrovert who loved the attention and had a very secret crush on Quinn. I loved his character, he was amazing.
My Monty and I really, really like the guy
Quinn is straight, but in the senior year of highschool he finds Monty banging another guy in the locker room, so his world gets turned upside down completely. That deed alone makes him start questioning his sexuality and later on in college Quinn is certain he's gay.
A decade later these guys work at the same school as teachers and Monty, now being a down to earth guy who's had a lot of shit in his life happen to him, realises he still likes Quinn.
I liked how Monty really had to work for it, Quinn didn't give in too easily and definitely took his time to really feel he could trust Monty.
First they started meeting up as fwb, then the more serious relationship started developing and the emotions were there, the passion was there, it was believable and I loved every minute of it.
I remembered this book a while ago and finally got to read it again. I'm bumping down the rating to 4⭐.
🔵 Bully trope, but very light
🟣 Both MMCs 28, teachers and gay
🟡 Small town
🟢 Sweet, hot, emotional, wonderful HEA
🌶️ Good smut, I loved it; most of the book t/b--both vers
It's a completely light, romantic book where the bully is far from that monster I usually like, but I don't know, the story simply worked for me. I very much like the main characters, especially Monty, who has my heart - and remembering them in Reed's book I know they're simply great together.
I found the dialogues sometimes too learned on this re-read, like citing a quote from a romance book or something - and cheesy, out of character for Monty and Quinn, because the author probably wanted to put as much romance as possible into it, but things like
“See?” Monty said, as a soft smile touched his lips. “The way we banter back and forth… it’s so easy. Natural. That, my friend, is called chemistry. And we have it in spades.”
simply isn't said because if you have that intense chemistry with someone you aren't talking about it, it just is, you enjoy it.
So big words definitely weren't needed in my opinion, they had a really sweet love story and I still like it.
Will read it again.
______________________________________
Original review -- 31/July/2022
Rating : 5⭐
This was a bully feelgood romance. Expect no angst. Only the good vibes. Completely up my alley, even though I usually don't like stories that feel this perfect.
Monty is a high school american football player, one of the most popular guys at school who's bullying Quinn, the little nerdy twink.
Monty was tall, athletic and an extrovert who loved the attention and had a very secret crush on Quinn. I loved his character, he was amazing.
My Monty and I really, really like the guy
Quinn is straight, but in the senior year of highschool he finds Monty banging another guy in the locker room, so his world gets turned upside down completely. That deed alone makes him start questioning his sexuality and later on in college Quinn is certain he's gay.
A decade later these guys work at the same school as teachers and Monty, now being a down to earth guy who's had a lot of shit in his life happen to him, realises he still likes Quinn.
I liked how Monty really had to work for it, Quinn didn't give in too easily and definitely took his time to really feel he could trust Monty.
First they started meeting up as fwb, then the more serious relationship started developing and the emotions were there, the passion was there, it was believable and I loved every minute of it.
October 25, 2020
Meh. I kept waiting for something to happen, but nothing really happened. The whole thing just felt a little same-y to me. It was like reading the same thing for a hundred pages over and over again. If that's what you're looking for, here it is. I did not really like the character of Quinn, I felt sorry that he was bullied in high school because that does a number on your head, but his personality was not that great and I was quite annoyed with having to read about him calling the other guy moron Meathead idiot etc for like the whole book. The other guy was so bland that I can't even tell you what his name was and I just finished the book like 10 minutes ago. So there it is.
October 20, 2020
3,75/5
Jaclyn Osborn nous propose une nouvelle série qui se déroule dans la ville de Blue Harbor. Nous allons faire la connaissance de Quinn et de Montgomery.
On peut dire que ces deux hommes ne s'apprécie pas vraiment. Montgomery, surnommé Monty, a représenté le pire cauchemar des années de lycée de Quinn. Moqueries, humiliations, surnoms dégradants... on peut dire que Quinn a subi beaucoup de choses de la part du grand sportif mais aussi de son cercle d'amis.
Dix années plus tard, les deux anciens camarades se retrouvent à enseigner dans le même lycée.
Franchement, j'ai passé un super moment de détente. Que j'ai bien fait de démarrer ma lecture un dimanche après-midi ! Ce livre m'a vidé la tête, m'a déconnecté de la réalité, m'a donné le sourire et la patate !
J'ai bien aimé suivre les deux personnages, d'ailleurs l'auteur nous offre les alternances des deux points de vue. Le thème des ennemies to lovers est un de mes préférés, on peut dire que j'ai été servie ici !
J'ai aimé la façon de mené l'histoire de Jaclyn Osborn. Certes, il y a rien d’extraordinaire, mais j'ai aimé la dynamique entre les personnages, l'alchimie qu'il y a dès le début.
Les interactions étaient drôles, marrantes, piquantes ! On peut dire que Quinn est tout sauf le jeune nerd à grosses lunettes introverti désormais, il ne se laisse pas faire et ne mâche pas ses mots. Il va tout faire pour ne pas faire baisser ses barrières face à Monty, pour lequel il a un vrai faible même s'il ne veut pas se l'avouer.
A côté, Monty, bon ok, on peut dire qu'il a été un beau salaud lors de ses années de lycée. Il a bien changé depuis et est prêt à tout accepter pour se rapprocher de Quinn, devenir son ami voire un peu plus !
C'est rapide sans être rapide, car au final, la dynamique de ces deux hommes qui ne peuvent pas se sentir persiste tout le long ou presque. Franchement, les joutes verbales sont top !
J'ai littéralement englouti ce livre qui m'a laissé un sourire sur le visage et m'a fait glousser une paire de fois ^^ On peut dire que j'ai lu ce roman au bon moment. C'est un livre frais, léger, drôle, sans drama inutile, avec des personnages attachants, une romance bien développée et mignonne.
J'ai hâte de pouvoir lire la suite qui portera sur Reed, le meilleur ami de Quinn. J'espère pouvoir aussi découvrir les autres personnages dans des suites aussi !
Jaclyn Osborn nous propose une nouvelle série qui se déroule dans la ville de Blue Harbor. Nous allons faire la connaissance de Quinn et de Montgomery.
On peut dire que ces deux hommes ne s'apprécie pas vraiment. Montgomery, surnommé Monty, a représenté le pire cauchemar des années de lycée de Quinn. Moqueries, humiliations, surnoms dégradants... on peut dire que Quinn a subi beaucoup de choses de la part du grand sportif mais aussi de son cercle d'amis.
Dix années plus tard, les deux anciens camarades se retrouvent à enseigner dans le même lycée.
Franchement, j'ai passé un super moment de détente. Que j'ai bien fait de démarrer ma lecture un dimanche après-midi ! Ce livre m'a vidé la tête, m'a déconnecté de la réalité, m'a donné le sourire et la patate !
J'ai bien aimé suivre les deux personnages, d'ailleurs l'auteur nous offre les alternances des deux points de vue. Le thème des ennemies to lovers est un de mes préférés, on peut dire que j'ai été servie ici !
J'ai aimé la façon de mené l'histoire de Jaclyn Osborn. Certes, il y a rien d’extraordinaire, mais j'ai aimé la dynamique entre les personnages, l'alchimie qu'il y a dès le début.
Les interactions étaient drôles, marrantes, piquantes ! On peut dire que Quinn est tout sauf le jeune nerd à grosses lunettes introverti désormais, il ne se laisse pas faire et ne mâche pas ses mots. Il va tout faire pour ne pas faire baisser ses barrières face à Monty, pour lequel il a un vrai faible même s'il ne veut pas se l'avouer.
A côté, Monty, bon ok, on peut dire qu'il a été un beau salaud lors de ses années de lycée. Il a bien changé depuis et est prêt à tout accepter pour se rapprocher de Quinn, devenir son ami voire un peu plus !
C'est rapide sans être rapide, car au final, la dynamique de ces deux hommes qui ne peuvent pas se sentir persiste tout le long ou presque. Franchement, les joutes verbales sont top !
J'ai littéralement englouti ce livre qui m'a laissé un sourire sur le visage et m'a fait glousser une paire de fois ^^ On peut dire que j'ai lu ce roman au bon moment. C'est un livre frais, léger, drôle, sans drama inutile, avec des personnages attachants, une romance bien développée et mignonne.
J'ai hâte de pouvoir lire la suite qui portera sur Reed, le meilleur ami de Quinn. J'espère pouvoir aussi découvrir les autres personnages dans des suites aussi !
November 16, 2020
This is another story about high school bullies meeting their victims years later and the two falling in love. Maybe it’s just me but I find this plot line incredibly offensive. Bullying is a serious matter. It hurts people and it destroys lives. A plot such as this one would require incredible insight and a strange set of circumstances not to come off as offensive. The idea of a traumatized person at a later time falling in love with their bully is quite ludicrous actually, unless we’re looking at continued trauma. This book doesn’t cut it. I’m sorry, but it trivializes a very serious matter.
November 23, 2020
This was my second book by Jaclyn Osborn and I think it might've been my last.
I was not impressed with Topping the Jock - it just didn't sit right with me. The MCs both felt rather two-dimensional and never really grew on me, which might have something to do with the fact that I felt like they didn't really have any chemistry.
There were so many underlying issues that were never really addressed or solved. Bullying is a serious issue and should never be trivialized as it was in this novel. Monty's behaviour as a teenager was 100% toxic and I'm sorry, but the bullshit-excuse of "I was only bullying you because I had a crush on you" is just that - bullshit. What makes the matter even worse is that Monty kept apologizing to Quinn but at the same time kept lamenting about how he'd already apologized so many times and Quinn should just get over himself already and not hold their previous history against him.
Give me a nerd and a jock falling for each other any day, but that jock being a bully is a big fat no for me.
I was not impressed with Topping the Jock - it just didn't sit right with me. The MCs both felt rather two-dimensional and never really grew on me, which might have something to do with the fact that I felt like they didn't really have any chemistry.
There were so many underlying issues that were never really addressed or solved. Bullying is a serious issue and should never be trivialized as it was in this novel. Monty's behaviour as a teenager was 100% toxic and I'm sorry, but the bullshit-excuse of "I was only bullying you because I had a crush on you" is just that - bullshit. What makes the matter even worse is that Monty kept apologizing to Quinn but at the same time kept lamenting about how he'd already apologized so many times and Quinn should just get over himself already and not hold their previous history against him.
Give me a nerd and a jock falling for each other any day, but that jock being a bully is a big fat no for me.
January 28, 2021
I really really really really REALLY don’t like the falling-in-love-with-the-bully type of trope. it makes me super sad. but this book was soo lighthearted and sweet, I could see past the angsty parts. the characters were so nice and the romance was so cute, I loved it a lot!!! the writing was super good.
November 20, 2020
DNF. Monty didnt get it, wasnt truely remorsefull. He never acknowledged that he was a bully in high schoo!. And he was a teacher now, where he was in a position to identify and prevent bullying in school. Geez, school districts are sued now if they don't take action to intercept bullying.
October 26, 2020
Jocks and Nerds for the win!
This has to be my second favorite of Jaclyn Osborns books! My heart will always belong first to Brighter Shade of Light but this book is on the opposite side of the coin. A sweet funny low angst enemies to lovers that kept me hooked from the first paragraph on I did not want to put this down!
Quinn Beck was a quintessential high school nerd excelling is history having a best friend in band and being constantly tortured by the jocks.
Montgomery Adams was your typical jock quarterback going to college on a scholarship for sports loved by almost everyone and good at picking on the nerds.
At the end of senior year Quinn catches Monty in a compromising position that makes him realize some things about himself including the fact that he may not actually hate his personal bully after all.
Fast forward ten years later Monty comes back to teach at the very same school with the very same nerd he loved to torture and cannot seem to stop trying to make Quinn forgive him and like him.
This book may have been low on the angst but it wasn’t low on the feels. I laughed out loud, I smiled a lot, I felt for each of our MCs in their struggles and I even shed a few tears in spots because one thing this author does well IMO is wring emotions out of the reader! Don’t miss out on this one folks in this crapshoot of a year we need all the feel good we can get!
*I received and ARC of this book for an honest review*
This has to be my second favorite of Jaclyn Osborns books! My heart will always belong first to Brighter Shade of Light but this book is on the opposite side of the coin. A sweet funny low angst enemies to lovers that kept me hooked from the first paragraph on I did not want to put this down!
Quinn Beck was a quintessential high school nerd excelling is history having a best friend in band and being constantly tortured by the jocks.
Montgomery Adams was your typical jock quarterback going to college on a scholarship for sports loved by almost everyone and good at picking on the nerds.
At the end of senior year Quinn catches Monty in a compromising position that makes him realize some things about himself including the fact that he may not actually hate his personal bully after all.
Fast forward ten years later Monty comes back to teach at the very same school with the very same nerd he loved to torture and cannot seem to stop trying to make Quinn forgive him and like him.
This book may have been low on the angst but it wasn’t low on the feels. I laughed out loud, I smiled a lot, I felt for each of our MCs in their struggles and I even shed a few tears in spots because one thing this author does well IMO is wring emotions out of the reader! Don’t miss out on this one folks in this crapshoot of a year we need all the feel good we can get!
*I received and ARC of this book for an honest review*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2022
Love this author's Sons of the Fallen series!!!! Seriously it's really great MM. So I decided to check out her backlog. I wish I hadn't.
I'm a sucker for enemies-to-lovers...but this? This was boring, mostly forgettable and I didn't really like either MC. O well.
I'm a sucker for enemies-to-lovers...but this? This was boring, mostly forgettable and I didn't really like either MC. O well.
October 30, 2020
This one had its moments, but what passed for snark had little bite.
October 25, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
The bully and the victim falling for each other is a popular trope and Topping the Jock is another book following that format. Quinn was bullied by Monty and his friends and, even though ten years have gone by, Quinn hasn’t forgotten. Even with the subject matter, however, the book is lighter on angst.
Behind the bullying, there was always some attraction and when Monty returns, the attraction is still there. Quinn is not at all pleased that Monty is not only back in town, but now a co-worker as well. Quinn doesn’t trust Monty and doesn’t want to be around him, but there is sexual tension that simmers beneath the surface. Monty really has no idea what he and his friends put Quinn through and doesn’t understand at first why Quinn is still so irritated with him. When I read books with this storyline, I do need the former bully to show a little more remorse than Monty did and, while the men do work through some things, for me it read mostly as Quinn just having to get over it and acknowledge that everyone is now older.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
The bully and the victim falling for each other is a popular trope and Topping the Jock is another book following that format. Quinn was bullied by Monty and his friends and, even though ten years have gone by, Quinn hasn’t forgotten. Even with the subject matter, however, the book is lighter on angst.
Behind the bullying, there was always some attraction and when Monty returns, the attraction is still there. Quinn is not at all pleased that Monty is not only back in town, but now a co-worker as well. Quinn doesn’t trust Monty and doesn’t want to be around him, but there is sexual tension that simmers beneath the surface. Monty really has no idea what he and his friends put Quinn through and doesn’t understand at first why Quinn is still so irritated with him. When I read books with this storyline, I do need the former bully to show a little more remorse than Monty did and, while the men do work through some things, for me it read mostly as Quinn just having to get over it and acknowledge that everyone is now older.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
October 19, 2020
The nerd and jock trope stories are my jam.
AND this is a great one! Told in dual POV, it was great getting both characters take on things.
Quinn is prickly for good reasons but honestly Monty is so endearing, it would be impossible not to fall in love with him.
This is a sweet and sexy story. I loved their banter and steamy encounters.
Second chances can lead to happy endings.
This HEA was perfect too! ♥️♥️
AND this is a great one! Told in dual POV, it was great getting both characters take on things.
Quinn is prickly for good reasons but honestly Monty is so endearing, it would be impossible not to fall in love with him.
This is a sweet and sexy story. I loved their banter and steamy encounters.
Second chances can lead to happy endings.
This HEA was perfect too! ♥️♥️
January 9, 2021
Sigh. I mean this was ok. But the dialogue was so awkward, I just didn’t feel the love. I almost dnf 2/3rds in but kept dragging myself through (seriously it felt like an endurance event at times) in curiously about whether there would be some dramatic anaphylaxis scene after the nut allergy thing was mentioned ONE MILLION TIMES. But no... review reader there was not. I did have a snort-laugh at the casual mention of the monster shlong though.
December 9, 2020
Much of the background happens off the page - summarized information dumps to explain current character behavior and situations.
Uneven dialogue. At times its funny, cute, clunky and cringeworthy.
Montgomery (as an adult) and Quinn are likable characters.
If this is a series the next coupling is weirdly teed up at the end.
Uneven dialogue. At times its funny, cute, clunky and cringeworthy.
Montgomery (as an adult) and Quinn are likable characters.
If this is a series the next coupling is weirdly teed up at the end.
November 1, 2020
DNF 60% the characters were inconsistent and unlikeable. The bully was still a bully, but the victim didn’t seem to notice. After multiple times of someone calling a man “like a girl” as an insult, I decided I owed it to myself to stop reading.
November 3, 2020
3 solid, low angst, just wish there was more character backstory or I felt anything deeper towards the characters.
October 18, 2020
What a fantastic read. I could not put the book down. Jaclyn sucked me right on in with these guys
Quinn has a huge heart that he guards, rightfully so. His self esteem has been shattered due to the bullying he went through in his teenage years.
Monty is the one that caused all of the pain that Quinn went through when they were young by being the bully.
When they meet up again Quinn hates Monty and so wants to stay mad at him but Monty has grown up and realizes what he did was wrong and wants To make amends and move forward. Monty grew up to be kind, charming, easy going, and funny. But he is also lonely.
What happens when all barriers are dropped and love blossoms? You have to read the book and find out.
What you’ll find is awesome banter, lots of laughs, light and fluffy read, characters that have grown up and truly regret the past, and lots of sexy times.
I absolutely loved Monty and Quinn and I really can’t say if I love one more than the other but I will definitely say Monty pleasantly surprised me.
October 18, 2020
This adorable romance had me practically glowing with happiness by the time I reached the end. Sure, a nerd/jock pairing isn't anything particularly revolutionary, but Monty and Quinn were such amazing men that I would have loved them no matter what they were. Aside from the briefest mentions of high school, this story was angst and drama free, giving me plenty of time to swoon over how cute Monty and Quinn's bantering and flirting was. To be honest, there wasn't a lot going on in this book besides the romance, but I thoroughly enjoyed getting an up-close and personal look at all the steamy hookups that gradually turned into something more. If you're looking for a feel-good story about two men who've done a lot of growing up since their school days, this is the perfect book for you.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
March 3, 2021
The first part of the story talks about how Quinn Becks was being bullied by Monty and his gang. So when Quinn found out Monty was going to be his new colleague ten years later was horrifying. He was so against Monty and I was just so glad to see how he could finally back himself up. There are some plot developments that made me roll my eyes .
Its indeed a fluffy no angst storyline despite the bullying part. The bullying scenes weren't exactly graphically depicted and violent that made me swear and cry. A 3.5 read for me.
Its indeed a fluffy no angst storyline despite the bullying part. The bullying scenes weren't exactly graphically depicted and violent that made me swear and cry. A 3.5 read for me.
December 14, 2020
A sweet sweet romance featuring a reformed bully and the boy he loved since middle school. This book does not condone bullying in any way, and show that it does have long term negative effects, but that love and forgiveness is stronger than hate.
Quinn was bullied by sport star Monty and his friends, and he was dismayed to find out Monty is the new football coach at the school where he teaches history. Monty has changed, though, and is now a sweet tempered guy who loves his work, his football kids, and most importantly, he still loves Quinn. The bullying was his distorted way of dealing with his feelings for Quinn all those years ago.
The story was so cute, my heartstrings were thoroughly tugged. I loved reading about these two, their bickering was funny and I was rarely so invested in a HEA.
I can't wait for the next book in the series!!
Quinn was bullied by sport star Monty and his friends, and he was dismayed to find out Monty is the new football coach at the school where he teaches history. Monty has changed, though, and is now a sweet tempered guy who loves his work, his football kids, and most importantly, he still loves Quinn. The bullying was his distorted way of dealing with his feelings for Quinn all those years ago.
The story was so cute, my heartstrings were thoroughly tugged. I loved reading about these two, their bickering was funny and I was rarely so invested in a HEA.
I can't wait for the next book in the series!!
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