ARC REVIEW: Medley by Layla Reyne

Medley
(Changing Lanes #2)
by Layla Reyne
ebook
Publication Date: April 23rd 2018 by Riptide Publishing
>> Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion <<

Sebastian Stewart was never Mr. Dependable; he was more the good-time guy who only wanted to swim, party, and ink tattoos. Until he cost his team the Olympic gold four years ago. Bas is determined to do right this time around—by his medley relay team and his rookie mentee.

Jacob Burrows is in over his head. The Olympic experience—from the hazing, to the endless practices, to the unrelenting media—makes the shy nineteen-year-old’s head spin. He’s trying to be everything to everyone while trying not to fall for his gorgeous tattooed teammate who just gets him—gets his need to fix things, his dorky pirate quips, and his bisexuality.

When Jacob falters under the stress, threatening his individual races and the medley relay gold, he needs Bas’s help to escape from drowning. Bas, however, fearing a repeat of his mistakes four years ago, pushes Jacob away, sure he’ll only let Jacob down. But the only path to salvaging gold is for Jacob to finally ask for what he needs—the heart of the man he loves—and for Bas to become the dependable one.

After reading my very first Layla Reyne book, Relay, and liking it (4 stars), her second book, Medley, had three possible ways to go. #1 It could be better than Relay, #2 it could be not as good as Relay, so it would make Relay a fluke, meaning I only liked Relay by this author and won’t like any other books by her #3 or it could be about the same as Relay.

To keep the suspense short, it was about as good as Relay, maybe a teeny-tiny bit better. Spoiler: I’m giving Medley 4,25 stars 🙂 that’s 0,25 stars more than Relay. Like I said teeny-tiny bit.

I can’t tell a specific reason why this one was slightly better than Relay, it probably was just all things combined – which doesn’t mean Relay was bad, like I said 4 stars 😉

We kind of already got a glimpse at the characters of Medley in the previous book and I really liked Bas and Jacob in the previous and in this book. Bas was this calm and collected guy who tried his damnest not to mess up and Jacob was a cute, clumpsy, way to observant guy who tried to do his best. Those two together just worked, they were like pieces of a puzzle that fit together. Their drama wasn’t overly over the top, but it was there, so if you’re not a fan of drama, back out now. I personally love drama, especially the kind of drama they had.

What I also really liked was that we got another glimpse at Dane and Alex’s relationship. I love it when previous couples are still included – in this case they had to because they were on the swimming team lol.

Also some people didn’t like in the previous book that swimming and the whole Olympia thing weren’t really that much of a deal. Guess what, in Medley it is a pretty big deal, as they are in the midst of the Olympics. So here you go, people! There is your swimming competition! Satisfied now?

Did I mention I was watching the Winterolympics on TV while reading this book? No? I was. Lol.

The writing style sucked me in as much as it already did in the first book. Also I really liked that Layla Reyne mentioned a german speaking country, in this case Austria. We germans are not enough mentioned in fiction romances. 😉

Overall I really liked Medley and can totally recommened it to anyone that wants to read a swimming related m/m romance. Also I really hope there will be a third book, not really sure if that will actually happen since I don’t have a clue what characters that could be about and what the whole setting would be, but I would definitely read it. Just saying.

Rating: 4,25 stars

 

ARC Review: Squared Away by Annabeth Albert

Squared Away
by Annabeth Albert
ebook
Publication Date: April 16th 2018 by Carina Press
>> Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion <<

In the wake of tragedy, SEAL Mark Whitley rushed stateside to act as guardian to his sister’s three young children. But a conflicting will could give custody to someone else—someone Mark remembers as a too young, too hot, wild party boy. Even after six years, Mark can’t shake the memory of his close encounter with Isaiah James, or face up to what it says about his own sexuality.

Isaiah’s totally over the crush that made him proposition Mark all those years ago. In fact, he’s done with crushing on the wrong men altogether. For now, he’s throwing himself into proving he’s the best person to care for his cousin’s kids. But there’s no denying there’s something sexy about a big, tough military man with a baby in his arms.

As the legal details get sorted out, their long-buried attraction resurfaces, leading to intimate evenings after the kids are tucked in. A forever future is within reach for all of them, if only Mark can find the courage he needs to trust Isaiah with his secrets—and his heart.

After not liking the previous book Wheels Up as much as I hoped I would – I’m just not a big fan of those boss + subordinate settings – we are back to me liking Squared Away as much as all the other books, meaning it got 4,5 stars. Just a head-up.

Be aware that if you don’t like reading about kids, this book won’t be for you, because the kids take a big part of the book and let me say they were adorable. I  personally couldn’t care less if children are part of a book or not, it’s ok if they are a part and it’s ok if there are not. As long as they are not super annoying – never read about annoying kids in a book – I’m good.

I really liked how the relationship between Mark and Isaiah progressed, but I knew what the big fallout between them would be from the very start. It was obvious, but throughout the whole book I hoped that Annabeth Albert would choose a different way. Still I waited for the other shoe to drop and sadly it did. That “twist” made sense, but it was a bit unnecessary, all they would have needed was a bit more communication, but I’m picky when it comes to that. Don’t mind me. Otherwise I really liked the dynamics between Mark and Isaiah and also between those two and the kids.

Also I’m happy that Annabeth Albert introduced some different sexualities as well, which I won’t name. Read the book if you’re curious 😉

Overall I was really happy with this book and can’t wait to read the next one, which I hope will be about Bacon – the guy, not the food. If Annabeth Albert ever chose to write a book about talking food I would probably still read it though, just saying. LOL.

Rating: 4,5 stars