Title: Scoring
Author: Edited by Vincent Diamond
Genre: Contemporary/Sports
Length: Anthology (212 pages)
Publisher: Torquere Press (August 28th, 2013)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5 Hearts
Reviewer: Thommie
Blurb: From tight ends to sliding home to running into love, Scoring collects seven sports stories that are scintillating, sweaty, and sexy. Hard bodies on the baseball field, the cricket field, the hockey rink or the track, these are men all about playing sports and scoring, in more ways than one. Of course, they love their sports, they love their fans, and they also love the men who play along.
V. L. Locey’s “Goaltender’s Penalty” focuses on the harsh world of ice hockey with a seemingly mismatched couple who are just right for each other. M. Durango contributes “Summertime Blues,” a lovely piece about baseball. G.S. Wiley writes intriguingly about cricket in 1930s India in “The National Game,” and Indra Vaughn’s “All That is Gold” focuses on the lone challenge in running track. Jena Wade contributes “The Slide Home,” with charming lovers from America’s favorite pastime. Katherine Halle gives us “Calling the Shots,” a baseball love story. And Sean Michael has written “Balls and Strikes,” a BDSM-tinged tale of the men on the diamond.
Pick up Scoring and score some romantic, sexy tales all about sporting–and loving– to win.
Product Link: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=96&products_id=3968
Review: Quite a nice anthology in my opinion. I loved most of the reads in it, and had quite a great time reading it.
The Slide Home by Jena Wade ♥♥♥♥3.5 Hearts
Randy Slater is not having much fun. When he accepted his coworker’s invitation to play softball he hadn’t counted on his nemesis David McGraw. Ever since high school David had been his number one bully making his attempt for a baseball spot a nightmare and he and his cronies making the rest of his high school experience a memorable one. Now they are adults and on the same team, but nothing has changed much with David always avoiding and glaring at him. What’s worse, Randy’s southern regions don’t seem to get it that his brain dislikes the guy, thus making it impossible for him to be around David and not have a constant sizzling desire.
As much as Randy is enjoying softball though he made up his mind to quit the team and on this last game he had to go and slide the home plate, a move that cost him quite a nice rash. What Randy doesn’t know is that the pain is well worth it as at that moment his doorbell rings, and everything he thought he knew is going to change dramatically. His nemesis appears and he won’t remain a source of frustration for long. Well not the kind you’d want to avoid anyway.
I loved this little story. Adorable, sweet, and sexy it turns the tables with the most desirable way. The guys were good together, even as I found Randy’s forgiveness a bit hasty, and they had that thing going between them, that chemistry and longing that made their intimacy all the better when it occurred.
The National Game by G.S. Wiley ♥♥♥♥3.5 Hearts
(Historical 1939)
Cricket and India; an Englishman and a native; a love blossoming in the beginning of war.
Despite the bittersweet tang of this story, or because of it, I liked it a lot. Scoring is the theme of this anthology, and it is exactly that which spurs this couple into winning-high, hot and steamy coupling.
Phillip might be terrible at cricket, especially when forced to play in the hellish heat of India, but he very good at one thing; loving and succumbing to his tempting native coworker Rajveer. How can he say no when such a handsome man looks at him with such adoring eyes?
The English charm, the Indian loveliness, and the forbidden act of two men being together are the ingredient for this interesting historical read, which will travel you back in time in an era where romance still lived.
Summertime Blues by M. Durango ♥♥♥♥3.5 Hearts
Working for a baseball team, even as an equipment manager, has always been Adam’s dream. The traveling season though this time is taking a heavy toll on him, especially since his partner Will has been travelling more frequently lately too, leading to a period of five weeks not seeing each other. Add in that the fact that temptations are always around the corner, and guys wanting to hook up sometimes are more persistent that one would like, and you got a relationship in the brick of serious trouble.
But both Adam and Will lose their jobs, so how are they supposed to find a solution to their problem?
And this is another story from this anthology that I liked. Real problems, real people, happy surprises, and blessed solutions making for a nice, sweet read. The intimacy of these two men was so good, with the time obstacle between them making the longing, lusty feeling come to the surface and grand us with a hot, sexy scene. Great read!
All That is Gold by Indra Vaughn ♥♥♥♥3.5 Hearts
Oh this was a good one. A runner running for his gold, running because it’s all he can do, in a world where everything is about running, single-track mind, and running, the best thing in his life seems to has lost that special edge, that fun that made it the most important thing in the world.
Brody is a charming character, the little we get to know him, and he doesn’t seem to know what’s been missing; only that something is.
And then, there’s Luke, his masseur, a gorgeous creature that had Brody’s world in turmoil whenever he looks at him. For years it’s been the same, but this time something gives. Some things cannot be contained this time, this time Brody runs for something that brings him joy, makes running a fun thing to do again, his goal in the end still a gold, a golden man.
A lovely read, hot, erotic, and sensual, with a dash of longing that makes it even better a read. Loved it.
Calling The Shots by Katherine Halle ♥♥♥2.5 Hearts
Well baseball’s always been good for innuendos games. Pitching, catching, and players in tight pants with a great show of assets. Yeah, baseball is a sexy game.
This story follows Cal, who is relaxing at a small league team while his leg gets back in full health, breaking the new catchers. Nothing really challenging for him until Todd comes along. Instant gaming chemistry combines with instant personal chemistry and both men quite quickly fell for each other, being goo on both the field and their bed.
But Cal gets better quickly and his return back to The Show is right around the corner. Will this couple manage to survive till Todd makes it there too?
So this was a sweet story, with a steady pace, but not much more. There was a certain edge missing to make us more involved with the story, and while it wasn’t bad at all, it simply didn’t thrill me, or make me feel more about it. An ok read!
Balls and Strikes by Sean Michael ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Holly Mother… Well, that’s it, I love kinky reads, and this one, this one was just perfect. It had everything; edge, kink, harshness, rough men, sounding, fisting, and damn it, it was glorious. Erotic and hot as Hell, if you’re a fan of any of the above you’ll love it.
As for the plot, well two baseball players playing for opposite teams share a secret relationship, and not a vanilla one at that. Mac has certain needs and Dove is the only one that can cater to them. And every time Mac plays well, he gets a seriously hot reward from his lover. Surprises are not amiss either.
Did I say this read was hot? Yes? Well, never hurts repeating myself. I loved it.
Goaltender’s Penalty by V.L. Locey ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts
Oh my freaking God, this was too hilarious! And fun! And funny! And so damned romantic in the end. I loved it!
Have you heard the phrase “gay for you”? No this was not such a read, but it was “a sports fan for you” kind. Daryl was not a hockey fan, but he had one look to Ryan, a Hawks goalie, and the gold God of a man had him drooling. Ever since Daryl had been a Ryan fan, and by extension a Hawks’ fan.
The first time Daryl goes to the stadium he’s ecstatic. He goes so far as to even buy a jersey with Ryan’s number, plus all the paraphernalia. And from the looks of the things, Ryan gives him “the look.” Unfortunately, when Daryl heads to the players’ exit to get his jersey autographed he gets punched by Ryan instead… No, it wasn’t intentional, it was just a stray punch aimed to an opponent who ducked and got Daryl instead. And if Daryl didn’t think at that moment that it was the best thing to happen to him, he certainly must have thought it at some point in the near future.
What happens next you might have an idea? What I hadn’t thought of and I don’t know why, was how this thing between them would go. I had envisioned Ryan doing Daryl. The image of the five foot five little man taking the Viking like Ryan instead took me unaware, but Hell it was a hot image, one that made me drool over the scene. So hot! So fresh, so not the cliché, that I’m ashamed for being shocked at the beginning.
As for the whole of the story, well it was a great on, and had quite some length to it. I enjoyed the heck out of it. J