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Espen Emperors #1
Checked Swing
Callen Teague. The best shortstop the league had seen in years.
A rocket for an arm, a terrific swing, and reflexes you wouldn’t believe. Every woman wanted him, but he wasn’t interested in them. The secret he’d kept from almost everyone. Callen wanted his skills on the field to be his legend, not who he slept with at night. Everything changed when a season-ending injury put his career on hold.
Enter Spencer Matson, the only physical therapist who could put up with Callen and his demands.
Spencer built his practice into one of the most prestigious in the area. He worked hard and made his dream a reality. Although, it didn’t come without a cost. Spencer’s social life was nearly non-existent, even when he had women throwing themselves at his feet.
It should have come as no surprise that baseball’s biggest star was also its biggest diva.
Callen was Spencer’s toughest case yet. Fortunately for the Espen Emperors, Spencer knew how to get their bad boy back on the field. Except neither of them planned on each other.
As far as the world was concerned, Callen was straight. And Spencer had never been attracted to a man before.
No one said love was easy. Sometimes the cost was too high. The fear was too real to take the final step toward freedom.
The pitch was thrown. The ball hurtled toward the plate. Only Callen could decide how he was going to swing.
A rocket for an arm, a terrific swing, and reflexes you wouldn’t believe. Every woman wanted him, but he wasn’t interested in them. The secret he’d kept from almost everyone. Callen wanted his skills on the field to be his legend, not who he slept with at night. Everything changed when a season-ending injury put his career on hold.
Enter Spencer Matson, the only physical therapist who could put up with Callen and his demands.
Spencer built his practice into one of the most prestigious in the area. He worked hard and made his dream a reality. Although, it didn’t come without a cost. Spencer’s social life was nearly non-existent, even when he had women throwing themselves at his feet.
It should have come as no surprise that baseball’s biggest star was also its biggest diva.
Callen was Spencer’s toughest case yet. Fortunately for the Espen Emperors, Spencer knew how to get their bad boy back on the field. Except neither of them planned on each other.
As far as the world was concerned, Callen was straight. And Spencer had never been attracted to a man before.
No one said love was easy. Sometimes the cost was too high. The fear was too real to take the final step toward freedom.
The pitch was thrown. The ball hurtled toward the plate. Only Callen could decide how he was going to swing.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 4, 2021
198 people are currently reading
345 people want to read
About the author
Haven Hadley
10 books64 followersHaven Hadley is romance writing duo Rebecca Brooke and Michelle Dare. After being friends for years, they decided to venture together into the genre they both loved to read—M/M. Slow burn, sexy, angst-filled stories are their favorite. Both are wives and moms who love dogs, the beach, and baseball, even if they root for rival teams. With every Haven Hadley book, you’ll get stories filled with emotion, romance, hot scenes, and a happily ever after.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
January 30, 2022
DNF at 74%
I’ll admit, I borrowed this because the setup of athlete with physio was the same as another book I liked. They're not similar otherwise, but that's why I tried it.
the sports part: There is certainly baseball in this, at least in the beginning. I don’t understand baseball, at all, so I can’t say if it makes sense. I do appreciate sports being in sports romances, even if I don’t like baseball. (why did I read this? lol don’t ask questions. this had nothing to do with why I DNFd for the record.)
Holy buckets of misogyny: I swear, baseball romances are way more misogynistic than other sports romances and I don’t know why. You can have a MM romance without shaming women and talking about them in horrible ways. Women are “throwing” themselves at both characters, which leads them to think and say shitty things about them. They can be just not interested in women without shaming them.
Don’t shame women for being forward. Don’t shame them for liking and wanting sex. Don’t shame them for being “a cleat chaser”, they can have a baseball/athlete/fame fetish if they want, I’ll only judge them for liking baseball.
We get a quote from Spencer, when he’s going on a date, theoretically thinking positive thoughts about the woman because she’s dressed somewhat “modestly”:
Glad we have your opinion, sad little man.
You could have a misogynistic idiot character, sure, and I could see writing Callen as a misogynistic loser since he’s a bro-athlete, but I don’t know why Spencer would be written as one.
Characters:
Callen is definitely a diva. A dumb one. He throws a temper tantrum at one point, and spends a bunch of time lifting heavy/normal weights on his recently injured shoulder. Oh, and then he also punches a wall like a manchild. The PT calls him out for the tantrum, but still, he’s supposed to be a professional athlete obsessed with getting back on the field, and he deliberately risks his shoulder because he’s a whiny brat?
Spencer is…meh. Not very interesting. Very quick to accept being attracted to a man, which isn’t bad, but it’s in a way that’s boring. He also has the supportive gay friend who gifts him a dildo and sends him links to porn. I don’t appreciate his capriciousness. He knew going in it’d be a secret, and long distance, and yes you can change your mind about anything anytime, especially those restrictions, but the way he went about it…something irritated me about it.
I did like that Spencer’s dad is a good father figure. Usually when you have the widowed father, he ends up being some emotionally repressed dick. But he’s not. They’re close. That's a nice change.
The romance:
Speedy fast! They’re in love very quickly, and not supported in text. I don’t feel their attraction, and I certainly don’t feel their emotional connection. It’s also a declaration of love via aggressive orgasm which just…dear, no. They’re such drama queens too, honestly the pages where they’re crying (yes, literally, pages) because Callen is going back for spring training or the ludicrous travel schedule of baseball made it seem like Callen was getting deployed to the moon. My dudes. You knew he played baseball. It’s not the end of the world to do long-distance, plus he’ll have home games. Pull it together. There’s better ways to show emotion than having your characters turn into watering pots. (yes they can cry that’s good and healthy but not for pages please god)
There’s a lot of repetitive internal monologuing angst about their relationship, and boy was it unconvincing. Okay, I get it, you’re scared Spencer will hate being a secret, being long distance, will abruptly decide to date a woman (why not a man? he could date another man too)…yada yada yada. Please. move on. Give me something new with real emotion.
Misc:
Speech tags - too much shouting. People don’t actually shout that much. Or maybe these are volatile loud people? Given Callens propensity towards immature idiocy, it’s possible.
Sex scenes read almost instructional at times. I’ve seen this on reviews of other books before, but this is the first time I really, really get it. grasp tab A with hand, move up and down, insert into slot b… Awkward.
Overall, I did not enjoy reading this much. I regret skimming it, that’s for sure. Why did I do that?
I’ll admit, I borrowed this because the setup of athlete with physio was the same as another book I liked. They're not similar otherwise, but that's why I tried it.
the sports part: There is certainly baseball in this, at least in the beginning. I don’t understand baseball, at all, so I can’t say if it makes sense. I do appreciate sports being in sports romances, even if I don’t like baseball. (why did I read this? lol don’t ask questions. this had nothing to do with why I DNFd for the record.)
Holy buckets of misogyny: I swear, baseball romances are way more misogynistic than other sports romances and I don’t know why. You can have a MM romance without shaming women and talking about them in horrible ways. Women are “throwing” themselves at both characters, which leads them to think and say shitty things about them. They can be just not interested in women without shaming them.
Don’t shame women for being forward. Don’t shame them for liking and wanting sex. Don’t shame them for being “a cleat chaser”, they can have a baseball/athlete/fame fetish if they want, I’ll only judge them for liking baseball.
We get a quote from Spencer, when he’s going on a date, theoretically thinking positive thoughts about the woman because she’s dressed somewhat “modestly”:
I wasn’t a fan of women putting everything out there for the world to see.
Glad we have your opinion, sad little man.
You could have a misogynistic idiot character, sure, and I could see writing Callen as a misogynistic loser since he’s a bro-athlete, but I don’t know why Spencer would be written as one.
Characters:
Callen is definitely a diva. A dumb one. He throws a temper tantrum at one point, and spends a bunch of time lifting heavy/normal weights on his recently injured shoulder. Oh, and then he also punches a wall like a manchild. The PT calls him out for the tantrum, but still, he’s supposed to be a professional athlete obsessed with getting back on the field, and he deliberately risks his shoulder because he’s a whiny brat?
Spencer is…meh. Not very interesting. Very quick to accept being attracted to a man, which isn’t bad, but it’s in a way that’s boring. He also has the supportive gay friend who gifts him a dildo and sends him links to porn. I don’t appreciate his capriciousness. He knew going in it’d be a secret, and long distance, and yes you can change your mind about anything anytime, especially those restrictions, but the way he went about it…something irritated me about it.
I did like that Spencer’s dad is a good father figure. Usually when you have the widowed father, he ends up being some emotionally repressed dick. But he’s not. They’re close. That's a nice change.
The romance:
Speedy fast! They’re in love very quickly, and not supported in text. I don’t feel their attraction, and I certainly don’t feel their emotional connection. It’s also a declaration of love via aggressive orgasm which just…dear, no. They’re such drama queens too, honestly the pages where they’re crying (yes, literally, pages) because Callen is going back for spring training or the ludicrous travel schedule of baseball made it seem like Callen was getting deployed to the moon. My dudes. You knew he played baseball. It’s not the end of the world to do long-distance, plus he’ll have home games. Pull it together. There’s better ways to show emotion than having your characters turn into watering pots. (yes they can cry that’s good and healthy but not for pages please god)
There’s a lot of repetitive internal monologuing angst about their relationship, and boy was it unconvincing. Okay, I get it, you’re scared Spencer will hate being a secret, being long distance, will abruptly decide to date a woman (why not a man? he could date another man too)…yada yada yada. Please. move on. Give me something new with real emotion.
Misc:
Speech tags - too much shouting. People don’t actually shout that much. Or maybe these are volatile loud people? Given Callens propensity towards immature idiocy, it’s possible.
Sex scenes read almost instructional at times. I’ve seen this on reviews of other books before, but this is the first time I really, really get it. grasp tab A with hand, move up and down, insert into slot b… Awkward.
Overall, I did not enjoy reading this much. I regret skimming it, that’s for sure. Why did I do that?
July 24, 2021
Edited to add:
Changing my rating from 1 to 2 stars.
Okay so I actually started to skim this book after I decided to stop reading and it got better. I don’t remember exactly where I slowed down again, but it was definitely by the time the two MCs hooked up. That scene was hot. All the sex scenes were hot. I don’t know that it’s entirely believable for the guy that’s figuring out he’s bi to be okay with hearing he’s going to get fucked right away, but it was still hot. I loved the dominance and the dirty talk it was well done.
The dialogue got a bit better as the book progressed and I mostly enjoyed the rest of the book. I did skim through the awkward conversations with side characters. They felt very contrived. Not a huge fan of separation between MCs, but it made sense here.
Original Review:
DNF @ 18%
Lots of telling instead of showing. Just didn’t catch my attention and the dialogue felt stilted.
Changing my rating from 1 to 2 stars.
Okay so I actually started to skim this book after I decided to stop reading and it got better. I don’t remember exactly where I slowed down again, but it was definitely by the time the two MCs hooked up. That scene was hot. All the sex scenes were hot. I don’t know that it’s entirely believable for the guy that’s figuring out he’s bi to be okay with hearing he’s going to get fucked right away, but it was still hot. I loved the dominance and the dirty talk it was well done.
The dialogue got a bit better as the book progressed and I mostly enjoyed the rest of the book. I did skim through the awkward conversations with side characters. They felt very contrived. Not a huge fan of separation between MCs, but it made sense here.
Original Review:
DNF @ 18%
Lots of telling instead of showing. Just didn’t catch my attention and the dialogue felt stilted.
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November 5, 2021
MM Romance
Sports Romance/Bi-Awakening
This book started well and then totally went to shit. Callen was this hotshot baseball player who tore his rotator cuff and needed surgery. In comes his physical therapist, Spencer, and Callen thinks he is the most gorgeous man he’s ever seen. Problem is, Callen is in the closet due to his career and Spencer is straight. Spencer also has the personality of a wooden post. 🥱 Spencer finds Callen so fascinating and omg he wants a man for the first time in his life. 🙄 He’s a bit freaked out but gets over that shit fast when his gay best friend gifts him some lube and a dildo and tells him to play with himself a little. To do some exploring to see if he’s a bottom. Um ok…I would have liked to read about his solo playtime adventures however it was told to me instead. Spoiler alert: he liked it and “wanted to go all the way”. WTF Is this high school? This guy is a 30 year old man! Spencer agrees to a secret relationship until it turns into a sob fest and by this time I had checked out. I somehow made it to the epilogue and promptly fell asleep LOL 😂 Soo technically this book is a dnf.
I read this because Amazon kept offering it to me based on my reading choices and despite not liking sports much in real life, I seem to enjoy them in my romance reads. Next time, I’ll ignore Amazon’s not so helpful suggestions. Anything to avoid reading another “gem” like this. 🤦🏻♀️
Sports Romance/Bi-Awakening
This book started well and then totally went to shit. Callen was this hotshot baseball player who tore his rotator cuff and needed surgery. In comes his physical therapist, Spencer, and Callen thinks he is the most gorgeous man he’s ever seen. Problem is, Callen is in the closet due to his career and Spencer is straight. Spencer also has the personality of a wooden post. 🥱 Spencer finds Callen so fascinating and omg he wants a man for the first time in his life. 🙄 He’s a bit freaked out but gets over that shit fast when his gay best friend gifts him some lube and a dildo and tells him to play with himself a little. To do some exploring to see if he’s a bottom. Um ok…I would have liked to read about his solo playtime adventures however it was told to me instead. Spoiler alert: he liked it and “wanted to go all the way”. WTF Is this high school? This guy is a 30 year old man! Spencer agrees to a secret relationship until it turns into a sob fest and by this time I had checked out. I somehow made it to the epilogue and promptly fell asleep LOL 😂 Soo technically this book is a dnf.
I read this because Amazon kept offering it to me based on my reading choices and despite not liking sports much in real life, I seem to enjoy them in my romance reads. Next time, I’ll ignore Amazon’s not so helpful suggestions. Anything to avoid reading another “gem” like this. 🤦🏻♀️
September 13, 2021
Callen is a dick.
Dumb out-for-you sports ball book.
They get hard a lot.
Dumb out-for-you sports ball book.
They get hard a lot.
September 6, 2021
dnf at ~60%. wow haven't read something this blatently misogynistic in a while... why both MCs felt the need to talk about how much they hate women who are "easy" every chapter, i couldn't tell you. well, i could: it's bc the author somehow made the decision to portray attraction to men as casual hatred for women.
beyond that, the story doesn't have legs to stand on. not much chemistry, both MCs are annoying woe-is-me rich boys, they 'fall in love' and feel attraction out of nowhere. Spencer (straight, hates women, never looked at men before) is also immediately down to receive anal. whatever i couldn't care less lol
beyond that, the story doesn't have legs to stand on. not much chemistry, both MCs are annoying woe-is-me rich boys, they 'fall in love' and feel attraction out of nowhere. Spencer (straight, hates women, never looked at men before) is also immediately down to receive anal. whatever i couldn't care less lol
December 29, 2022
Checked Swing (Espen Emperors #1) by Haven Hadley
This is the first book in a series, but it is a stand alone book.
Callen Teague is a shortstop for the Espen Emperors. He is the best shortstop the league had seen in years. Unfortunately, he suffers a rotator cuff injury that is threatening his brilliant career in the Major Leagues.
Callen is desperate: not only is his career at state, but he is also concerned about his "other" problem: Callen is a closeted gay man. Coming out could ruin his life.
After Callen had surgery for his injury - he needs physical therapy. The first therapist they send is too passive and careful and Callen fires him on the spot.
Enter Spencer Matson. He built his practice into one of the most prestigious in the area. He worked hard and made his dream a reality. Although, it didn’t come without a cost. Spencer’s social life was nearly non-existent, even when he had women throwing themselves at his feet.
Spencer gets a call from Dr. Laila Barretty who operated on Callum. She was Spencer's diseased mother best friend and requests he take care of Callum. It should have come as no surprise that baseball’s biggest star was also its biggest diva.
But slowly, they work things out and the therapy is going well. Except they are both attracted to each other. As far as the world was concerned, Callen was straight, and Spencer had never been attracted to a man before.
No one said love was easy. Sometimes the cost was too high. The fear was too real to take the final step toward freedom. Will their attraction grow into love? Will Callen finally come out so he can be with the man he loves?
The book is narrated from both Callum and Spencer's first person point if view. It's a fast, but boring read. Not much plot to talk about except to set up the sex between them. The plot is extremely unbelievable, sappy, and predictable. I never cared for the plot or the characters. There were many secondary characters (Brett Teague - Callen's older brother, Evan - Spencer's best friend who is gay) who were not developed and distracted from the plot.
I don't recommend the book and I will not read any future installments.
This is the first book in a series, but it is a stand alone book.
Callen Teague is a shortstop for the Espen Emperors. He is the best shortstop the league had seen in years. Unfortunately, he suffers a rotator cuff injury that is threatening his brilliant career in the Major Leagues.
Callen is desperate: not only is his career at state, but he is also concerned about his "other" problem: Callen is a closeted gay man. Coming out could ruin his life.
After Callen had surgery for his injury - he needs physical therapy. The first therapist they send is too passive and careful and Callen fires him on the spot.
Enter Spencer Matson. He built his practice into one of the most prestigious in the area. He worked hard and made his dream a reality. Although, it didn’t come without a cost. Spencer’s social life was nearly non-existent, even when he had women throwing themselves at his feet.
Spencer gets a call from Dr. Laila Barretty who operated on Callum. She was Spencer's diseased mother best friend and requests he take care of Callum. It should have come as no surprise that baseball’s biggest star was also its biggest diva.
But slowly, they work things out and the therapy is going well. Except they are both attracted to each other. As far as the world was concerned, Callen was straight, and Spencer had never been attracted to a man before.
No one said love was easy. Sometimes the cost was too high. The fear was too real to take the final step toward freedom. Will their attraction grow into love? Will Callen finally come out so he can be with the man he loves?
The book is narrated from both Callum and Spencer's first person point if view. It's a fast, but boring read. Not much plot to talk about except to set up the sex between them. The plot is extremely unbelievable, sappy, and predictable. I never cared for the plot or the characters. There were many secondary characters (Brett Teague - Callen's older brother, Evan - Spencer's best friend who is gay) who were not developed and distracted from the plot.
I don't recommend the book and I will not read any future installments.
December 7, 2022
First book by this author and it was … fine?
I was expecting a formulaic sports romance and that’s what I got:
- closeted baseball player afraid of losing eVeRyThInG if he comes out
- falls in love with Physical Therapist (who thought he was straight hello Zach and Tristan is it you? no :()
- once he loses his love he realizes the eVeRyThInG he was afraid of losing really isn’t anything
I think what made me disappointed was incongruous facts and unused potential:
- baseball player has anger issues (that aren’t solved but only used as way to advance plot at times and forgotten at others)
- he likes to be dominant and called sir apparently (not shown apart from the fact that he wants to get in the tight ass! Topping ≠ dominant)
- PT doesn’t seem submissive at all but rather bossy himself but is described as quiet by the guy in love with him
- their developing friendship which makes supposedly straight PT slowly fall in love is completely glossed over so we don’t understand the connection they’ve supposedly forged
- focus is too heavily on sex but not on the kind they could have:
I.e.
- they’re in the midst of an argument but decide to get off with each other
- months later focus on how they’re always hard around each other rather than showcasing the friendship they supposedly built as a foundation
- AND we get to see no dominant/submissive sex: no use of sir in the moment, then discovering their kinks etc.
Also I was rolling my eyes at the ending instead of smiling: not a good sign :/
I think I will try another book because it can only improve?
NSFW infos:
Closeted gay man (tops)
Guy who thought he was straight (bottoms)
I was expecting a formulaic sports romance and that’s what I got:
- closeted baseball player afraid of losing eVeRyThInG if he comes out
- falls in love with Physical Therapist (who thought he was straight hello Zach and Tristan is it you? no :()
- once he loses his love he realizes the eVeRyThInG he was afraid of losing really isn’t anything
I think what made me disappointed was incongruous facts and unused potential:
- baseball player has anger issues (that aren’t solved but only used as way to advance plot at times and forgotten at others)
- he likes to be dominant and called sir apparently (not shown apart from the fact that he wants to get in the tight ass! Topping ≠ dominant)
- PT doesn’t seem submissive at all but rather bossy himself but is described as quiet by the guy in love with him
- their developing friendship which makes supposedly straight PT slowly fall in love is completely glossed over so we don’t understand the connection they’ve supposedly forged
- focus is too heavily on sex but not on the kind they could have:
I.e.
- they’re in the midst of an argument but decide to get off with each other
- months later focus on how they’re always hard around each other rather than showcasing the friendship they supposedly built as a foundation
- AND we get to see no dominant/submissive sex: no use of sir in the moment, then discovering their kinks etc.
Also I was rolling my eyes at the ending instead of smiling: not a good sign :/
I think I will try another book because it can only improve?
NSFW infos:
Closeted gay man (tops)
Guy who thought he was straight (bottoms)
Want to read
May 22, 2025🎁 FREE on Amazon today (12/6/2022)! 🎁
July 3, 2021
Checked Swing is the first of the Espen Emperors series by Haven Hadley, and if the passion and emotion found in this first book is any indication, this is going to be one heck of a series. This new duo may be new at writing together, but they are both seasoned writers and their writing flows together seamlessly.
Callen Teague is the best shortstop in the league, with a big secret, one he fears could end his career faster than any injury. So he buries his sexuality to live his dream of playing in the majors. Often seen with a new woman on his arm every night, he seems to have everything in his life under control. Until...an injury sidelines him and he needs to do physical therapy.
Enter Spencer, the only physical therapist who will put up with Callen's grumpy demands. Spencer is the best in the business, even if his dating life suffers, even though there are plenty of women who want him. What follows is an emotional story of two men with an overpowering attraction for each other and how they come to terms with the potential fallout. This is all new territory for Spencer, but luckily his best friend, Evan, can give him expert advice about how to please a man.
The story is less about baseball and more about choices made, friendship, passion, and being true to yourself. The characters are well-defined and likable and the story flows well. The road to Spencer and Callen's HEA is fraught with roadblocks and miscommunications but the journey is worth the pull on the reader's heart.
Callen Teague is the best shortstop in the league, with a big secret, one he fears could end his career faster than any injury. So he buries his sexuality to live his dream of playing in the majors. Often seen with a new woman on his arm every night, he seems to have everything in his life under control. Until...an injury sidelines him and he needs to do physical therapy.
Enter Spencer, the only physical therapist who will put up with Callen's grumpy demands. Spencer is the best in the business, even if his dating life suffers, even though there are plenty of women who want him. What follows is an emotional story of two men with an overpowering attraction for each other and how they come to terms with the potential fallout. This is all new territory for Spencer, but luckily his best friend, Evan, can give him expert advice about how to please a man.
The story is less about baseball and more about choices made, friendship, passion, and being true to yourself. The characters are well-defined and likable and the story flows well. The road to Spencer and Callen's HEA is fraught with roadblocks and miscommunications but the journey is worth the pull on the reader's heart.
September 1, 2021
2 🙄🙄 Stars...
This wasn't what I hoped to read.
Spencer is a physical therapist asked to help out an injured/ recovering baseball player. Callum is the recovering player ...with a big gay secret.
The story wasn't bad until the author remembers that this is MM romance...not fiction. Its a jarring moment where Spencer finds out accidentally that Callum is gay, then goes home & jacks off to thinking about him. He wasn't gay or attracted to man but he is now.
Its like there are two books in the story...before & after. Spencer gets jealous when Callum dances with a women. An argument ensues that leads to kissing. That was the start of them...as a couple rather than friends..its like a cut & paste story with nothing original.
I picked this up since it kept showing up on my searching...should have given it a pass...
This wasn't what I hoped to read.
Spencer is a physical therapist asked to help out an injured/ recovering baseball player. Callum is the recovering player ...with a big gay secret.
The story wasn't bad until the author remembers that this is MM romance...not fiction. Its a jarring moment where Spencer finds out accidentally that Callum is gay, then goes home & jacks off to thinking about him. He wasn't gay or attracted to man but he is now.
Its like there are two books in the story...before & after. Spencer gets jealous when Callum dances with a women. An argument ensues that leads to kissing. That was the start of them...as a couple rather than friends..its like a cut & paste story with nothing original.
I picked this up since it kept showing up on my searching...should have given it a pass...
July 13, 2021
Definitely disappointed in this book.
It started oh so good and built high expectations yet about when the MCs relationship began it started feeling rushed and like it skipped things along the way.
It started oh so good and built high expectations yet about when the MCs relationship began it started feeling rushed and like it skipped things along the way.
December 12, 2022
Geeez glad that's over. How come almost every time a woman was mentioned they described them as "easy" or "desperate"? Like please. Callen was insufferable. He was seriously a horrible person. And the amount of punching walls and breaking things in this book was so cringe. I think the whole press conference thing at the end was overkill tbh. I liked Spencer at first but heated him by the end. The only redeemable character was probably Evan. This book was just underwhelming.
July 9, 2021
✯✯5 Callen & Spencer Smoking Hot Stars!!! ✯✯
OMG this is the first book in Haven Hadley’s new series Espen Emperors and man what an epic start to what I’m sure is going to be an epic series.
Callen is the best shortstop in the league. He lives and breathes baseball. He’s got a woman on his arm every night. His life should be perfect.
Callen is living in secret. He doesn’t want a woman on his arm Bc he’s known his entire life he’s gay but only his parent’s and brother know. Callen plans on keeping it that
way until he’s finished playing baseball for good.
One wrong move on the field and he knows he’s hurt. Needing surgery and needing PT was another thing. After a brief meeting with his PT and he’s unimpressed and gets rid of him.
Callen’s Dr. sends him a new PT. When Callen opens the door and meets Spencer his new PT he knows he’s in trouble.
Spencer opened his practice and has worked hard ever since. When his mom’s lifelong friend calls asking for a favor he can’t say no.
Spencer knows Callen’s going to be his hardest patient but he’s OK with it.
Over time these two become friends. Callen knows Spencer’s straight so he will settle for being friends. Spencer doesn’t have friends other than his childhood friend Ethan and enjoys hanging out with Callen.
Callen gets drunk one night and spills his secret to Spencer. One night they go out with Callen’s teammates and Callen starts dancing work a girl and Spencer feels a jealousy he’s never felt before.
One thing lead’s to another and these two are inseparable from the other. Callen still won’t come out and Spencer’s OK with it. Until Callen goes back on the road and Spencer goes to seeing his boyfriend in the tabloids with women on his arm.
Both men are miserable and it’s affecting everything in their lives.
OMG I read this in less than two days!! This author is a new duet. One author I’ve never heard of but the other is one of my favorites.
I’m SO glad Ethan’s stories next Bc OMG he had me LMAO.
OMG this is the first book in Haven Hadley’s new series Espen Emperors and man what an epic start to what I’m sure is going to be an epic series.
Callen is the best shortstop in the league. He lives and breathes baseball. He’s got a woman on his arm every night. His life should be perfect.
Callen is living in secret. He doesn’t want a woman on his arm Bc he’s known his entire life he’s gay but only his parent’s and brother know. Callen plans on keeping it that
way until he’s finished playing baseball for good.
One wrong move on the field and he knows he’s hurt. Needing surgery and needing PT was another thing. After a brief meeting with his PT and he’s unimpressed and gets rid of him.
Callen’s Dr. sends him a new PT. When Callen opens the door and meets Spencer his new PT he knows he’s in trouble.
Spencer opened his practice and has worked hard ever since. When his mom’s lifelong friend calls asking for a favor he can’t say no.
Spencer knows Callen’s going to be his hardest patient but he’s OK with it.
Over time these two become friends. Callen knows Spencer’s straight so he will settle for being friends. Spencer doesn’t have friends other than his childhood friend Ethan and enjoys hanging out with Callen.
Callen gets drunk one night and spills his secret to Spencer. One night they go out with Callen’s teammates and Callen starts dancing work a girl and Spencer feels a jealousy he’s never felt before.
One thing lead’s to another and these two are inseparable from the other. Callen still won’t come out and Spencer’s OK with it. Until Callen goes back on the road and Spencer goes to seeing his boyfriend in the tabloids with women on his arm.
Both men are miserable and it’s affecting everything in their lives.
OMG I read this in less than two days!! This author is a new duet. One author I’ve never heard of but the other is one of my favorites.
I’m SO glad Ethan’s stories next Bc OMG he had me LMAO.
July 8, 2021
This book is 4.5 stars!
Love can be wonderful and painful simultaneously, but growth and give-and-take love can live forever over time.
During reading this book, I found that it rings true for Callen & Spencer, our main characters. As an 'in the closet' pro baseball player, Callen would only focus on the game and felt if his sexual orientation would ever come out, he would lose his number one love, career, Baseball. Callen that force him to meet the "sexiest man [he'd] ever seen in [his] life," Spencer, the best physical therapist, after a few events happen to cause him to need therapy and anger the team's PT.
Callen feels this hard attraction to the straight, Spencer. Callen buries his appeal down and won't act out those feelings, but he will build a close friendship with Spencer. However, after a lot of drinking, Callen lets his closely guarded secret out. Spencer doesn't care, and life goes on, or does it?
This close friendship Spencer has been developing with Callen is different than his other friendships. When Spencer has to see Callen acting like a straight guy in front of his teammates, this is a tipping point in the relationship to more than friends. And for Spencer, not just a straight but to what?
Callen and Spencer choose to explore their feeling for each other, but with Callen not out to his team and fans, they had to stay a secret. How will the stress of this secret do to them individually and together as a couple? Who in the couple has to make the most significant compromise? Does Callen have fears of losing his number one love still? Yes, but that love has changed to Spencer.
This book is a great start out to this series by this duo team. I have received an ARC of this book with booksprout and the author.
Love can be wonderful and painful simultaneously, but growth and give-and-take love can live forever over time.
During reading this book, I found that it rings true for Callen & Spencer, our main characters. As an 'in the closet' pro baseball player, Callen would only focus on the game and felt if his sexual orientation would ever come out, he would lose his number one love, career, Baseball. Callen that force him to meet the "sexiest man [he'd] ever seen in [his] life," Spencer, the best physical therapist, after a few events happen to cause him to need therapy and anger the team's PT.
Callen feels this hard attraction to the straight, Spencer. Callen buries his appeal down and won't act out those feelings, but he will build a close friendship with Spencer. However, after a lot of drinking, Callen lets his closely guarded secret out. Spencer doesn't care, and life goes on, or does it?
This close friendship Spencer has been developing with Callen is different than his other friendships. When Spencer has to see Callen acting like a straight guy in front of his teammates, this is a tipping point in the relationship to more than friends. And for Spencer, not just a straight but to what?
Callen and Spencer choose to explore their feeling for each other, but with Callen not out to his team and fans, they had to stay a secret. How will the stress of this secret do to them individually and together as a couple? Who in the couple has to make the most significant compromise? Does Callen have fears of losing his number one love still? Yes, but that love has changed to Spencer.
This book is a great start out to this series by this duo team. I have received an ARC of this book with booksprout and the author.
July 13, 2021
Loved!!!
These authors coming together have definitely made epic waves! This story was amazing and I loved every bit of it. There were some ups and downs and parts that made you really think and emerge yourselves in the possibilities of if you were in their shoes. And that means they did their jobs as kick ass authors. Loved Callen and Spencer. They clicked on a fundamental level and I loved how they really helped one another to be themselves. I did find that there were parts that I loved more than others. Coming from callens perspective. He was up front about who he was and what he was capable of giving due to his ball career and never hid that. So to have Spencer enter into the he relationship with open eyes about waiting for callen to be ready to come out was a big deal. To then turn around and say he had a problem with it and end things was almost hypocritical. But to also defend Spencer he did say he didn’t know how things would be in the future and that they would go one day at a time. I can understand how he came to realize this would be a issue after the fact and wanting to be open about their love for one another. Loved the ending! Can’t wait for more.
These authors coming together have definitely made epic waves! This story was amazing and I loved every bit of it. There were some ups and downs and parts that made you really think and emerge yourselves in the possibilities of if you were in their shoes. And that means they did their jobs as kick ass authors. Loved Callen and Spencer. They clicked on a fundamental level and I loved how they really helped one another to be themselves. I did find that there were parts that I loved more than others. Coming from callens perspective. He was up front about who he was and what he was capable of giving due to his ball career and never hid that. So to have Spencer enter into the he relationship with open eyes about waiting for callen to be ready to come out was a big deal. To then turn around and say he had a problem with it and end things was almost hypocritical. But to also defend Spencer he did say he didn’t know how things would be in the future and that they would go one day at a time. I can understand how he came to realize this would be a issue after the fact and wanting to be open about their love for one another. Loved the ending! Can’t wait for more.
July 8, 2021
Callen is a superstar shortstop for his baseball team. He's on top of the world and has women throwing themselves at him all the time. He would totally enjoy that if he was into women. He is gay and has every intention of keeping that secret until he retires from baseball. However, life has other plans for him. He got injured and needed surgery and was a less than model patient for the PT that tried to help him. His doctor calls in a favor from a friend and gets Callen a new PT....that's when Spencer enters his life. Callen is instantly in lust!
Spencer has his own practice and when approached by a friend about a baseball player that needs PT, he obliges. What he didn't expect was to be attracted to Callen. He's not gay...is he bi? He's not sure about anything at this point! Will he give in to his desire for Callen? It won't be an easy relationship for either of them. Can he really be Callen's dirty little secret?
Great beginning of a new series! I loved the characters and look forward to Evan's story!
Spencer has his own practice and when approached by a friend about a baseball player that needs PT, he obliges. What he didn't expect was to be attracted to Callen. He's not gay...is he bi? He's not sure about anything at this point! Will he give in to his desire for Callen? It won't be an easy relationship for either of them. Can he really be Callen's dirty little secret?
Great beginning of a new series! I loved the characters and look forward to Evan's story!
July 5, 2021
Checked Swing is the first book in the Espen Emperors series by Haven Hadley.
Callen is the best shortstop in the league but he had a secret that if it came out it could ruined is career. So he had always buried is homosexuality and live is dream playing baseball. Everything was under control until he injured himself and need surgery for his shoulder.
Spencer is a therapist and the best in his business and all the work he did to get there didn't come without the cost of his social life. Callen his one of his toughest case yet.
Neither of them had plan to be attract to each other. For what Spencer's know, Callen is straight and he had never been attracted to a man before. But the cost of their love could be heavy and is Callen ready to maybe lose his place in the league?
I have really loved the first book in this serie. A lot of passion and emotion and can't wait to read the next book in this serie. I have received an arc of this book with booksprout and the author.
Callen is the best shortstop in the league but he had a secret that if it came out it could ruined is career. So he had always buried is homosexuality and live is dream playing baseball. Everything was under control until he injured himself and need surgery for his shoulder.
Spencer is a therapist and the best in his business and all the work he did to get there didn't come without the cost of his social life. Callen his one of his toughest case yet.
Neither of them had plan to be attract to each other. For what Spencer's know, Callen is straight and he had never been attracted to a man before. But the cost of their love could be heavy and is Callen ready to maybe lose his place in the league?
I have really loved the first book in this serie. A lot of passion and emotion and can't wait to read the next book in this serie. I have received an arc of this book with booksprout and the author.
August 15, 2021
This is dramatic, entertaining, heartbreaking and captivating. After firing the team's physical therapist, Callen was in no mood for incompetent or unsure people. When Spencer, the new therapist, shows up, Callen is caught off guard, he'd never met someone who attracted him instantly. Things were rough at first, Callen had a hard time keeping his interest in Spencer to himself. Spencer was confused about his interest in Callen. They are so hot and sweet as they fall in love. Both are stubborn, strong and caring. I loved the storyline, the main characters, and the minor ones too. Once you start reading it, it's really hard to put it down.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.
July 7, 2021
Oh my god..what an amazing book!! I literally read this book in 2 days! It was a definite page turner and I love Spencer and Callan!! Two hot guys that are made for each other..soo romantic and sweet but with a bit of heat mixed in. What else could you ask for?
The chemistry between these two characters are hot but with a bit of romance. I felt their emotions throughout the book. It made me cry at some parts but happy in others. Overall, very good book and I recommend anyone to read it that doesn't mind M/M romance. You won't be disappointed when you do!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The chemistry between these two characters are hot but with a bit of romance. I felt their emotions throughout the book. It made me cry at some parts but happy in others. Overall, very good book and I recommend anyone to read it that doesn't mind M/M romance. You won't be disappointed when you do!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 18, 2021
The most I can say about this book is that it’s okay. I wasn’t overly impressed with Callen or Spencer. It’s a low angst read which is nice, but I was expecting more. More difficulty on Spencer’s part initially and more fight from him once he and Callen are together. Callen is perplexing. He’s this deep in the closet player who’s family knows his secret. He’s determined to never come out or be involved with any guy until after he retires. Yet he seems to have more experience than is explained. Like sex god levels of experience if Spencer is any indication.
If you are looking for a lite, low angst read between a hot baseball player and his physical therapist, you may like this one.
If you are looking for a lite, low angst read between a hot baseball player and his physical therapist, you may like this one.
June 6, 2023
📖 I just love sports romance
In this book we have super in the closet Callum and a bi awakened Spencer. Spencer was all in once he wrapped his head around liking Callum and he was even dealing with having to be in the closet with him, until Callum was photographed on a date with a woman. His teammates set him up and didn’t tell him but he still went along with it and that was the wake-up call to Spencer that he would have to live with that sort of stuff if he stayed. There’s a third act breakup due to this. These two eventually get their HEA after a few months of separation.
In this book we have super in the closet Callum and a bi awakened Spencer. Spencer was all in once he wrapped his head around liking Callum and he was even dealing with having to be in the closet with him, until Callum was photographed on a date with a woman. His teammates set him up and didn’t tell him but he still went along with it and that was the wake-up call to Spencer that he would have to live with that sort of stuff if he stayed. There’s a third act breakup due to this. These two eventually get their HEA after a few months of separation.
July 14, 2024
After reading Breaking Through the Pain I went and started at the beginning. This was great. Even though I hate what Callen had to do I understood it but poor Spencer. The man has a heart of gold. These two are the perfect match and had me rooting for them the whole time. Now I’m going to read Evan’s book because I already love him too. 🖤🔥⚾️🔥🖤
My favorite quotes from Spencer:
• I let go of his hair, but as my hand slid from him, Callen quickly grabbed it and brought it up to his chest, cradling it against his heart. The move was so gentle, so perfect. It had me swallowing down the emotion threatening to choke me. This side of Callen caught me off guard.
• He told me how he felt. Made me feel special. We fell in love. However, the end result still brought us here. Both of us different people than we were before pre-season began.
My favorite quotes from Spencer:
• I let go of his hair, but as my hand slid from him, Callen quickly grabbed it and brought it up to his chest, cradling it against his heart. The move was so gentle, so perfect. It had me swallowing down the emotion threatening to choke me. This side of Callen caught me off guard.
• He told me how he felt. Made me feel special. We fell in love. However, the end result still brought us here. Both of us different people than we were before pre-season began.
July 4, 2021
Callen was the shortstop in a baseball league. But one time he caught the ball he messed up the roto cup in his left shoulder needed surgery and physical therapy. Spencer was his therapist but Callen wanted more than but hadn’t let anyone know he was gay. He kissed Spencer the romance continued until it wasn’t, Callen kept him hidden. Callen had to decide what he wanted to do. Great book! The next book will be great too!
July 8, 2021
I’ve read M/M books before but I’ve never connected with the characters as much as these.
They are lovely characters with great personalities. With most situations like this there is always a high price to pay for fame and it takes a lot of courage to come out and be yourself and happy. I’m really looking forward to the next book in this series.
Evan looks like an absolute blast and I can’t wait to hear his story.
They are lovely characters with great personalities. With most situations like this there is always a high price to pay for fame and it takes a lot of courage to come out and be yourself and happy. I’m really looking forward to the next book in this series.
Evan looks like an absolute blast and I can’t wait to hear his story.
July 10, 2021
there wasn’t inherently anything wrong with this, and it’s more like a 3.5 stars to me but i just didn’t *love* it. i need it to be a home run (pun intended) these days for me to be able to rate it 4 stars or above.
there’s pretty much no angst in this, and while there is a plot point of the main character having to hide who he is because he’s in MLB, it’s tackled easily and quickly.
i felt the chemistry between the characters but it didn’t pull me in and keep me there
there’s pretty much no angst in this, and while there is a plot point of the main character having to hide who he is because he’s in MLB, it’s tackled easily and quickly.
i felt the chemistry between the characters but it didn’t pull me in and keep me there
July 13, 2021
Omg, love this series!
Callen tried to hold on for dear life to a secret he thought would change his life, but little did he know Spencer was only going to make it better. I loved Spencer! He loved Callen, but he loved himself more. I was so surprised when he made the decision he did, even if it hurt. Loved this book. This is a new author for me, but man, am I a new fan. Can't wait to read the next book in this series!😍
Callen tried to hold on for dear life to a secret he thought would change his life, but little did he know Spencer was only going to make it better. I loved Spencer! He loved Callen, but he loved himself more. I was so surprised when he made the decision he did, even if it hurt. Loved this book. This is a new author for me, but man, am I a new fan. Can't wait to read the next book in this series!😍
July 16, 2021
Callen is an in the closet pro baseball player. Spencer is a physical therapist that Callen ends up seeing. They have an immediate attraction. Callen was straight up with Spencer, he was worried he'd lose everything if he came out. This was really good, loved the ending, cannot wait for the next one in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 20, 2021
Great baseball story
Really enjoyed the interaction between Spencer and Callen! Its *such* a "thing" to be other than straight in professional sporting, and these guys navigate it beautifully - especially considering Spencer (the non-MLB player of the two of them) has never been with , or even considered , being with/dating a guy
Really like their journey - looking looking forward to the next in the series!
😎😎😎
Really enjoyed the interaction between Spencer and Callen! Its *such* a "thing" to be other than straight in professional sporting, and these guys navigate it beautifully - especially considering Spencer (the non-MLB player of the two of them) has never been with , or even considered , being with/dating a guy
Really like their journey - looking looking forward to the next in the series!
😎😎😎
August 29, 2021
Loved this! Can't wait to read the next in the series. It had a very similar storyline to The Endgame (by Riley Hart) except with baseball instead of football. Knowing that going in (after having read a similar story so recently), I kinda had lowered expectations for my level of enjoyment. Very glad to have been wrong, this was a great book despite the similarities and I can't wait to read the next installment in the series.
Read
December 10, 2022DNF at 18%
I hated Callan and the interactions between Callan and Spencer made absolutely zero sense. There were entire parts of conversations that made no sense whatsoever and homeboy popped a literal boner two seconds after setting eyes on the dude? Then called his brother about it bc he was afraid he couldn't control his boner for some guy he just met? Fucking weird as hell. Only marking it as read so I don't forget and try to read it again in the future.
I hated Callan and the interactions between Callan and Spencer made absolutely zero sense. There were entire parts of conversations that made no sense whatsoever and homeboy popped a literal boner two seconds after setting eyes on the dude? Then called his brother about it bc he was afraid he couldn't control his boner for some guy he just met? Fucking weird as hell. Only marking it as read so I don't forget and try to read it again in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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