Kickoff Blues

Last Chances Academy #3

by Parker Avrile

As long as nobody knows how you feel, they can't take it away. parents don't believe I was born this way.They think I'm gay to peeve them off.But I'm not about to change my truth.So they ship me off to the all-male academy to get turned into their idea of a real man.At first, I'm pretty burned up about it.Then I meet the rookie quarterback.The sparks between us light up the sky for miles.Where are we if my folks yank me out of the academy? was meant to be a star.Then I fumbled the ball, and I don't mean the football.That senior year arrest lost me my scholarship and my first pick for college.So now I'm stuck here. The worst team in the southeastern conference. No future.Or so I thought.Turns out Gray and me together... we've got something special.Both in and out of the spotlight.The "in the spotlight" part is what causes all the problems."Kickoff Blues" is a full-length 75,000-word new adult gay romance with sports and academy themes. There is no cheating, no deep angst, and a guaranteed Happily Ever After. This book is a complete standalone romance. You don't have to read the earlier books first, and it won't spoil the earlier books if you read this one first. However, if you like this romance, bet you'll like them all. Here are the novels in the series so Hot Roommate Blues-- Stryker & Kingsley's new romanceHot Mafia Blues-- Stryker & Kingsley find their happily ever afterKickoff Blues-- Gray & Sparky's complete romance including their happily ever afterThe Last Chances Academy series is set in an elite all-male private college where gay romance between bad boys flourishes. Expect raw language and high-steam situations between high-energy college men. All characters are over 18.

289 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 11, 2022

Reviews

[Justine Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kickoff Blues is Book 3 the Last Chances Academy series and can be enjoyed as a standalone. This is a wonderfully written, emotional, a bit intense story about Gray and Sparky. After Gray and Sparky met in juvie, they find themselves together again at a college that neither one of them expected to be at. I really enjoyed this book. It drew me in from the very beginning. It seems fate brought Gray and Sparky together. I love their connection and their determination to not let anyone come between them or make them change who they are. Family is important but not when they want to control your life. I loved watching these two grow and become stronger in themselves, even if it was only a few months on page. There was so much love and trust between them, even with everything going on around them with their families. This book is fast paced, and you won't want to put it down until the very end. I definitely recommend this book and can't wait for the next one.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[☠︎︎༒︎✞︎ ѕℓιм ☠︎︎༒︎✞︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Spoilers here and there***

https://ladiikeiii.wordpress.com/2022...

Finally finished this book; would’ve been finished it earlier but somehow I kept falling asleep lol. Crazy…

But anyways this book was interesting enough. A lot of chapters though. Regardless it was still good.

I did wanted more of the information about Sparky parents though once they were found. But oh well, plus it still sucked that Fifty dad disowned him just because he was gay and was dating Sparky.

I was glad when Gray didn’t care that his dad was taking away his opportunity of having money and being in college. Which his dad… didn’t realize was that Gray was going to make it without him regardless. Especially with the help from the Dean of the school giving him a scholarship. Not only that Conner finally gotten his license back in the end…

[Fernanda Parente · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book that comes from the Last Chances Academy series
I haven't read the previous books, but I really liked this book
It’s funny, hot and as usual very well written
Now I must read to previous books to keep up with these guys

I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Hot Roommate Blues and Hot Mafia Blues we are introduced to billionaire golden child Stryker Dale and orphan Kingsley Blake (Kyle Pressley) when they meet and, against all odds, fall madly in love. Their story stops with a happily-ever-after in sight even though they are separated. If you are looking to see what comes next for the dynamic bad boy couple you won’t find it in Kickoff Blues, the next in Parker Avrile’s Last Chances Academy series. Kickoff Blues brings some more “bad boys” from Chestnut Dale University together.

As is typical with the Last Chances Academy series, a cacophony of lies, detrimental secrets, interfering fathers (and mothers) and homophobia stand between Grayson Easterly (Gray/Fifty) and Sparky (Connor Sparks) to achieve their happily-ever-after. If you have been following this series, you will recognize Gray as Kingsley’s friend and confidant working the check-in desk at Chestnut Dale’s Bellmount Hall. Sparky is the quarterback of Chestnut Dale’s football team and one of Stryker’s football buddies. Both Gray and Sparky were introduced in Hot Roommate Blues and remained present in Hot Mafia Blues. Even so, Kickoff Blues can be read as a standalone… but why not encapsulate yourself with all the shenanigans, romance, mystery and betrayal this series has to offer?

Setting perspective, Kickoff Blues runs parallel in time to Hot Roommate Blues and Hot Mafia Blues. This means that the events of Stryker and Kingsley’s tumultuous relationship occur simultaneous with the atrocities that Gray and Sparky endure. Just thinking about all this drama makes your head spin and you realize that Chestnut Dale University is a breeding ground for troubled youth. Or is it a safe haven for these young men, shielding them from their controlling, mentally abusive and unscrupulous parents?

Gray and Sparky are just two kids who met in juvie and years later wind up together at Chestnut Dale University. What are the odds? Is it fate? I am going with fate because Gray and Sparky could never let go of their past together. If it weren’t for the manipulations of homophobic parents these two might have reached out and kept in touch. But now, as young adults, they see the mental manipulations bestowed upon them from bad parenting.

The history for Gray and Sparky is miserable and in Sparky’s case mostly fabricated. The influence of these adolescent minds for gain by “adults” is an abomination. Yet, these young adults are mostly saddened by the lack of parental nurturing that should have been given freely. But, for being at such a tender and influential age, these men rise above the challenges bestowed upon them and seek a brighter future, together.

Forgoing the darker side of Kickoff Blues, it is ultimately a heart-knows-what-it-wants romance. Gray and Sparky are cock blocked so many times it becomes humorous. However, the intimate scenes, quickie releases, and shared moments with nature are where they shine. You can feel the connection radiate off the page knowing that once they put the crap behind them they will bask in their true destiny.

[LJ Henley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just got done reading a different college mm romance book and moved onto this one. I wouldn’t recommend that to you because at times it’s easy to get characters and events or storylines mixed up. Having stated that I did enjoy this book. It’s my first in this series even though it’s book three. There is a big more angst with both having a history in juvie. They’d met there, supposedly thought about each other and re meet at a private university. They’re sent there as a punishment because Grayson’s parents don’t believe he’s gay and Sparky’s is embarrassed by his most recent brush with the law.

Through the drama of being blocked from friends and parents both men find their HEA.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the book I was waiting for since Gray was introduced as a character in books 1 and 2. And it was well worth the wait!

I could say so much about Gray, but you can tell he has grown from when he was a kid. He used to run away but now he’s got the most heart and courage of any of the boys in the series.

Sparky’s family story breaks my heart though. This is a kid who through no fault of his own has to bear the sins of all of the adults around him. It touched a raw nerve in me since I can relate to how his family’s story ends in this book.

All in all, I read this one very quickly because I was invested in both characters. The hook in to Sparky’s story took a turn and I was all about it.

[L H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kickoff Blues introduces us to another pair of interesting guys who walk the edge in Sparky and Grayson. They initially met in juvenile detention and a few years later wind up at the same college where they get their second chance to get together. Theirs is a steamy, somewhat edgy story with the very sad reality that life has not been easy for them up to this point and things don't get that much easier as they find their way to one another. Another good story in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Janet Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grayson or Sparky are both stuck somewhere they don't want to me. But when they meet, it ends up being the best thing that could have happened to them. Both characters are strong, well developed. Some really great heat and steam to the chemistry and you get a great combination! Overall, this was fantastic! It was really well written with complex and multi-layered characters, highly recommend.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brenda Moser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written book with strong characters in Grayson and Sparky. The author does a great job building the story bringing some humor along with their steamy connection. It's an interesting story and I enjoyed reading.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[Ida Umphers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neither Grayson nor Sparky are where they want to be, but meeting each other turns out to be the best thing that has ever happened to either one of them. This is a great story of two young men who break out of their past conditioning by parents and society and get a second chance at a wonderful life and love.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series - M/M Romance within a college environment and always a criminal intrigue going on as part of the plot. Great character development of characters that you love and want happiness for.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story with some twists and turns. As long as you let a couple of unbelievable points pass by it is an enjoyable read to just turn off your brain and read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Arllau · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This was a well written, fun, and sexy read. This is the first book I have read in this series and plan to read the others. Gray and Sparky are great together. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Leeanne Harback · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book very great character growth and storyline, the characters were funny and real and the book drew you in making you wish to continue the book

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Julian White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kobo ebook - 1230004840633; 256 pages (another unlisted edition as the add book facility is no longer available).

An enjoyable romp - though that may not be the best description of a book with two sets of parents at odds with their sons' sexuality. After first encountering each other at a juvenile detention center/re the two lead characters end up at the same expensivee private college for 'bad boys'...

I think this is my first novel in the Last Chancs Academy series, though I've ambled through a couple of short stories - one of which has a character who puts in an appearance here and his his own novel, next in series.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I read from Parker Avrile but not the last. Gray and Sparky gets an second chance and the I'm so happy for theme. They deserve a HEA because their lifes has been hard and they need each other!

This book is well written, funny, steamy and really good!