By Stephanie A. Ellison on December 20, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
I read the first JOCK series book earlier this year and loved it, so when I saw the second book was out, I bought it without hesitation. As with My Roommate's a Jock (book 1), Wade Kelly continues giving us a wonderful, character-driven story. We even get to visit with Ellis and Cole (in all his funny science t-shirted glory) in a supportive role.
I won't re-hash the blurb, which is spot-on, or give away spoilers, but I will say that I think this book is more about healing and self-discovery or even self-recovery, as opposed to a coming-of-age story. Chris and Alonzo are diametric opposites and yet so perfect for each other. As another reviewer mentioned, this is not an insta-love story. Yes, there is attraction but Chris and Alonzo have to work for it, but the progression is natural and these guys have great chemistry. Chris' joie de vivre and confidence helps coax out Alonzo's true self, with a little help from some gummy bears.
Kelly's writing continues to be clean and as error-free as you can get in today's publishing. The characters are solid and well-defined; no cardboard cutout people here. I will warn that, as mentioned in the book blurb, Chris's father has a weird cheerleader hang-up. While I find it strange—and towards the end a bit creepy and irritating—you kind of have to take it with a grain of salt...or a handful of gummy bears. I challenge you to read this book and NOT be dying for a bag by the end!
Highly recommend. You can read it as a stand-alone, but if you haven't read Ellis and Cole's story, you should check it out. When/if book three comes out, it'll be another instant buy.
I won't re-hash the blurb, which is spot-on, or give away spoilers, but I will say that I think this book is more about healing and self-discovery or even self-recovery, as opposed to a coming-of-age story. Chris and Alonzo are diametric opposites and yet so perfect for each other. As another reviewer mentioned, this is not an insta-love story. Yes, there is attraction but Chris and Alonzo have to work for it, but the progression is natural and these guys have great chemistry. Chris' joie de vivre and confidence helps coax out Alonzo's true self, with a little help from some gummy bears.
Kelly's writing continues to be clean and as error-free as you can get in today's publishing. The characters are solid and well-defined; no cardboard cutout people here. I will warn that, as mentioned in the book blurb, Chris's father has a weird cheerleader hang-up. While I find it strange—and towards the end a bit creepy and irritating—you kind of have to take it with a grain of salt...or a handful of gummy bears. I challenge you to read this book and NOT be dying for a bag by the end!
Highly recommend. You can read it as a stand-alone, but if you haven't read Ellis and Cole's story, you should check it out. When/if book three comes out, it'll be another instant buy.
By Dan Mitton on December 21, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition
(Originally Reviewed for Love Bytes Same Sex Book Reviews. 4.5 out of 5.0 stars)
I finished reading Wade Kelly’s newest Jock installment last night, and I’ve got to say…I quite enjoyed it, as usual for a Wade Kelly book.
The characters in this one had some flaws which made their story more interesting in some ways, and maybe one which touched me in an irritating way. I’ll share both as I go along, rather than just pointing out either side. Chris is this perfect son, sexy soccer player that all the cheerleaders have chased for years. But he hasn’t been caught by any of them, because he isn’t at all interested in females, or cheerleaders. His Dad is completely insistent that Chris find a big boobed blond cheerleader to carry on the family tradition, because ALL the men in the Jackson family marry cheerleaders and have for something like 4 generations!
Then one day Chris notices a guy dressed all in black, including a black trench coat, sitting in the stands watching one of their soccer team practices. Did I mention it is late summer in Maryland? Black trench coat? Chris is instantly intrigued. When he sees the guy in the cafeteria the next day, and starts a conversation, he realizes that the cheerleader thing might be completely off the table after gazing into the deep brown eyes of the guy, Alonzo.
Alonzo Martin has just received a scholarship to attend the school, but he is from Podunk, Nebraska, and has never seen the world beyond his small homophobic town. And he has some heavy baggage tying him to his past. Is he ready to date? When the sexy soccer player comes over and introduces himself…could he be interested?
I really liked the characters. Alonzo has been broken by events that happened back in Nebraska.
I finished reading Wade Kelly’s newest Jock installment last night, and I’ve got to say…I quite enjoyed it, as usual for a Wade Kelly book.
The characters in this one had some flaws which made their story more interesting in some ways, and maybe one which touched me in an irritating way. I’ll share both as I go along, rather than just pointing out either side. Chris is this perfect son, sexy soccer player that all the cheerleaders have chased for years. But he hasn’t been caught by any of them, because he isn’t at all interested in females, or cheerleaders. His Dad is completely insistent that Chris find a big boobed blond cheerleader to carry on the family tradition, because ALL the men in the Jackson family marry cheerleaders and have for something like 4 generations!
Then one day Chris notices a guy dressed all in black, including a black trench coat, sitting in the stands watching one of their soccer team practices. Did I mention it is late summer in Maryland? Black trench coat? Chris is instantly intrigued. When he sees the guy in the cafeteria the next day, and starts a conversation, he realizes that the cheerleader thing might be completely off the table after gazing into the deep brown eyes of the guy, Alonzo.
Alonzo Martin has just received a scholarship to attend the school, but he is from Podunk, Nebraska, and has never seen the world beyond his small homophobic town. And he has some heavy baggage tying him to his past. Is he ready to date? When the sexy soccer player comes over and introduces himself…could he be interested?
I really liked the characters. Alonzo has been broken by events that happened back in Nebraska.
