Flip Turn

by Dean Cornwall

A new coach ignites the flames of passion in this gay-for-you sports romance set in the world of professional swimming... I’ve been swimming professionally since I was seventeen. Over the last decade I’ve won prizes, gained lucrative sponsorships and worked my way into the top ten in Britain. Swimming has brought me a long way from my roots, growing up in the inner city.But a random injury, followed by a moment of panic in the water, has changed everything. It’s left me terrified of getting back in the pool, and no longer able to trust the coach I’ve been working with for years.That’s when I decide to give Nick Dante a try. He has a reputation for getting swimmers back on their feet, and with only a couple of weeks to get over my fear I need his help.Only, I don’t expect to find myself falling for the gorgeous, red-headed coach, with his killer abs and thighs that I fantasize about being crushed between. As we spend our days together, we find ourselves drawing ever closer, and it becomes impossible for me to get him off my mind.There’s just one Nick Dante isn’t gay. Author’s This gay-for-you, older-younger M/M sports romance brings you all the feels. Follow Juke Henderson as he swims the treacherous waters of an affair with his ostensibly straight coach, a man with a dominant personality and a mysterious past...

94 pages, Paperback

Published September 30, 2020

About the author

I write intimate M/M fiction that brings you strong romantic elements along with stories that challenge my characters to discover more about themselves and the world around them. Always with an HEA or at least an HFN, my stories explore multiple themes and settings, and I never shy away from the passionate moments.

Reviews

[Jessica Alcazar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flip Turn turned out to be a bit more than I expected. In a good way! I expected a short, gritty, dirty kinda read … I mean look at that cover and add to that I rarely read blurbs and you can’t blame my expectations, amirite? But there’s a thoughtful story here with deep emotion and a whole lot of heart. Yeah, I got my sexy MM, but with a glorious surprise! For the price point, I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys MM reads!

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

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked Flip Turn. It's a short novella about a swimmer named Juke who has recovered from a swimming accident but is now afraid to go into the water. He hires a new coach, Nick Dante, who is supposed to be great at helping swimmers get over their fears. Jake instantly falls for his straight coach, and to his surprise, his feelings are returned. Can Dante get Juke back in the water and in competition form before his next big match in two weeks, and is it ethical for them to be together as a couple when Dante is his coach? You'll have to read the book to find out. *Spoilers* There were two things that I didn't think were realistic about the book. One, how fast Juke got over his fear of the water, and two, how comfortable Dante is with being with a guy when he's only been with females. Other than that, I liked the story, and I enjoyed the two epilogues at the end.

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

[Juniper · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this novella, swimmer Juke gets over a traumatic accident with the help of his older coach, Nick Dante. Feelings develop, but there are significant obstacles, including a horrible rival and his equally horrible family, the coach/pupil relationship, and Dante's own understanding of his sexuality. This is a quick read, and it has all the elements to make a compelling story, but the writing feels rushed and improbable in places (confiding in a fellow competitor you've just met about a secret, taboo relationship, for example). Juke's mixture of confidence and insecurity is mercurial at best, and the pacing isn't always even: it starts off a bit slow, and then a lot happens in the last few chapters and epilogues. It's still mostly an enjoyable read, but there are some rough edges.

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

[Latecia Jennings · Rating 4 out of 5]

**First Time Reader**. I enjoyed this short story about a young man overcoming his fears and taking a chance on love with an older man who just learning to love again. First time gay romances for me is kind of interesting because it shows you cant help who you fall for. It takes a lot of guts to realize that and act on the feelings. This story to me is all the more real because Dante had these new feelings for a guy and was initially afraid to act on it but he couldn't deny his attraction to Juke. Their coming together was sweet and intense at the same time. Both new to the feelings and it was refreshing to see how they dealt with their relationship. A very enjoyable story with a satisfying HEA for the guys.

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

[Justine Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flip Turn is an enjoyable story with all the feels, told in first person, about Juke, a professional swimmer in need of a new coach who will help him get back into the water after an accident, and Nick Dante, a coach that not only helps Juke but so much more. Their journey to love isn't an easy one, as Nick is older than Juke and has only been with women, but the heart wants who the heart wants. I'm glad they didn't give up on each other. They really are so good together. I look forward to reading more from this author.

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

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This is a story that needed more development and a much longer timeline. Everything happened too fast, and I don’t meant just the insta-love. Everything felt rushed, especially In how quickly Juke overcomes his ptsd-related phobia. Also, as a fan of competitive swimming, it really irked me that there’s no mention at all of what stroke June specialized in. Not even during the one race included in the story. That’s just lazy writing.

[Cynthia Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dante is Juke's new swimming coach. The minute Juke sees Dante he wants him but Dante is straight. I enjoyed this story.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flip Turn was pretty much what you would expect with a romance novella, insta-love. Maybe since it was written in first person, I did not feel the connection coming from the other guy. It could have been more enjoyable in a different point of view. That might just be a personal preference though. There were some funny parts and some serious. I believe the story got more interesting as it went along. The main character definitely seemed younger than 27. I love the term jacket potatoes now. Overall, the story was enjoyable to read. I will be open to trying another piece of work by this author in the future.
3.5

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