Release Blitz: The Boyfriend Comeback: Lauren Blakely

by - Tuesday, September 13, 2022

 
The Boyfriend Comeback
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Release Date September 13, 2022
Audio September 6, 2022

A sexy, emotionally-charged, rivals-to-lovers, second chance sports romance…

Some men are just off-limits. Like, say, all the other football players in the league.

But I’ve been crushing hard on one quarterback in particular for the last year. When Jason invites me to his place the night before my first pro football game, I say yes so fast. Our white-hot time together answers a lot of questions I’ve had about myself.

Then life happens, and I don’t show up for our second date. The worst part is that he’ll never know how much it meant to me.

And when I’m traded to his cross-town rivals, I know that’s not the time to serve up my secrets either. My team’s PR department wants to double down on our rivalry.

And they’re right. I need to focus on football, not on my interest in men. But the more time I spend doing media appearances and charity events with the generous, quick-witted, popular guy, the hungrier I am for him.

It’s a bad idea to knock on his door late one night. I could lose everything. He’s probably not even home.
swings open, and I have a choice to make.

Contents Include: Forbidden nights, first times, sexy athletes, nosy friends, a meddlesome cat, and two men who are arch rivals.

Are you ready for some football?! How about rival NFL quarterbacks?! It's finally Jason McKay's story! We have seen him support his friends and his brother, Nolan, but now this quarterback for the San Francisco Hawks meets his match!

Jason is embracing all the superstitions and rituals hoping to increase his team's luck this season. He feels the pressure to prove himself as part of the team and generally is a people pleaser. So he is charming and outgoing. As an out and gay player he also feels the need to set a good example and have a positive media presence. His love life has not been so positive and the last guy that sparked his interest subsequently stood him up.  

Beck Cafferty has just been traded to the best team in San Francisco, The Renegades. He is taking over for a legend that retired and is a last-minute fill-in. He has had a lot going on in his life...some of which caused him to make a move on Jason last year and then disappear.  He is more private and reserved and not as adept in handling attention and the media. He is a bit overwhelmed and trying to get his bearings in a new city, with a new team, and with a few regrets. 

But now they are rival quarterbacks in the same city and share friends in the football community. They are bound to cross paths. The truth will eventually come out...all of it. They will have to let go of the past to focus on the present. Beck might be the quiet type but he has a stealthy sarcastic sense of humor and is not afraid to ask for what he wants. And Jason is patient and understanding and is a mentor to him in some ways. 

Both are under such pressure to be the best quarterback in the city and lead their teams to victory. But they also have the added responsibility of representation in sports. They both need to focus and get their jobs done and avoid distractions...and avoid any media scandals. But they seem to keep finding ways to distract the other...with lips, bodies, or sometimes just witty rapport. 

These two have snarky banter, flirty exchanges, and the SF football team rivalry that makes it more forbidden and brings pressure and fear of exposure. They have insane chemistry.  Even though it is sometimes in their best interest to team up for career purposes, they know that they should not be engaging in any unsanctioned extra-curricular activities. They try to resist but sometimes they just get carried away. There are times when what you cannot have is the thing you want most but can see no way of keeping it.  And when emotions start getting in the mix, it's bound to get complicated. 

They are often sidelined by timing, missed opportunities, anxiety, and the forbidden aspect and privacy issues regarding their teams and status. But sometimes it comes down to asking for what you want,  giving as good as you get, and living in a bit of denial. 

This second-chance romance is full of seriously HOT, raw, powerful physical scenes along with sweet, vulnerable, emotional, and swoony ones. These two are so likable, charming, sexy, sweet, witty, and just so everything! I adored them both! Their personalities and needs offset each other so well. While they strive to be the best in their sport, they also both have issues to tackle that they have to deal with personally and together. It's about finding balance, priorities, acceptance, and having passion in life as well as for the game. The characters have so many growth opportunities and really excel in taking on challenges.

Two guys.
One shared hope.
Interference in their way. 
Taking steps to navigate obstacles.
Figuring out the big picture.
Deciding what is a true win in the grand scheme of things. 

I came into this one already liking Jason from the other books, but Beck quickly garnered my attention and won me over. He really comes into his own and takes on unexpected challenges along the way. And Jason is his ideal counter-balance. They mesh so perfectly together in their safe bubble, but there is a whole city and legion of fans and others that could keep them from getting to the endgame of their happy-ever-after.

I enjoyed all the cameos from various books and the teammates. I love Jason's relationship with his brother, Nolan, and close friends. There are a lot of people in this one, but they all serve their purpose. I was rooting for somehow both teams could ultimately win in this one. But these two guys definitely won a place in my heart!

As football season ramps up on the television, it is fun to have a start of season experience in the book world as well.

Jason McKay is the veteran quarterback to the Hawks. His crosstown rivals, the Renegades, have a new quarterback in Beck Cafferty. While Jason has been in San Francisco his entire career and is a local, Beck is new in town and a little uncomfortable around the media. A year prior to Beck’s trade, a chance to ask Jason for some media pointers turns into a steamy encounter that has both men wanting another date. But the second date doesn’t happen and it isn’t until Beck moves to town that they run into each other again. Even though they are crosstown rivals, their team owners have them paired up on several media spots giving them ample time to banter and test the chemistry again.

These two were a great match. Jason is confident, intuitive, and comfortable with himself. Beck is getting better with the media but still finds himself struggling with certain situations. The rivalry aspect means they both feel they need to keep their building relationship under wraps, adding an element of tension that wouldn’t otherwise have been there. But even with the secrecy, these two have such an amazing bond. Their banter and genuine care for each other was so much fun to watch.

I read the book and also listened to part of the audio version and I loved the duo of Teddy Hamilton and J.F. Harding. The narrators really made Jason and Beck come alive and helped me to really connect to their story in a way I hadn’t quite reached with reading the book alone. (It was a stressful work week and my focus was shot -- in those cases audio helps me see the characters better than the words alone.)

This is yet another fantastic MM from Lauren Blakely. I love that her world is so well rounded and full of fun to follow characters. This story fits so nicely in the middle of her other series, with cameos from the team owners and teammates from other series/books. I will always be ready for more from Ms. Blakely!
Free Prequel
Contents include: A sarcastic, romance-phobic American football player, a charming and dirty-minded young British businessman, white-hot first times, dangerous decisions, and a sexy, witty, emotional fake marriage, first times MM standalone sports romance!

Teddy Hamilton and JF Harding narrate this sizzling romance, and I have to warn you -- have your fans and tissues ready! When I was proofing the audiobook, it heated me up and made me cry at the same time. They are perfect as Jason and Beck, and I cannot wait for you to hear them!

Audible

Lauren Blakely

A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s sweet, sexy and witty. She also writes  USA Today bestselling LGBTQ romance.

With fourteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than 100 times, with more than 60 titles on the USA Today Bestsellers list alone. She’s sold more than 5 million books. She likes dogs, cake and show tunes,  and is the vegetarian at your dinner party.





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