Title: Two Dumb Jocks
Series: Dumb Jock, #5
Author: Jeff Erno
Genre: New Adult Gay Romance
Length: Novel (210 pages)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (July 18th 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate to Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Reviewer: Tams
Blurb: Rejected by his family for coming out, Bryan Helverson boards a plane for Tampa, Florida, where he plans to attend college. Brett and Jeff’s family embrace him when he arrives, and his new “brothers,” Adam and Trevor, help him assimilate into the community.

While playing tennis with Trevor at the country club, Bryan meets aspiring pro tennis player Greg Lewis. But after a few minutes, it’s easy to see the arrogant jock is not on Bryan’s menu, and he quickly dismisses the man. Forgetting he ever met Greg is not an option, though, when Bryan is hired as a waiter at the country club’s restaurant, and Greg is assigned to train him. An unexpected romance blossom just as Bryan discovers one of Greg’s ex-boyfriends also works at the restaurant.

Greg is not the person Bryan first took him for, though. His true ambition is to become a doctor. And as their romance grows serious, Bryan discovers Greg’s mom suffers from the same debilitating depression that plagues Bryan. Unfortunately, just as Bryan is making giant strides with managing his depression, Greg’s ex—as manipulative as he is abusive—takes a battered Bryan back to point A and threatens to destroy his relationship with Greg.

Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5228

Review: This is the fifth and final book in a series that really should be read in order.

Bryan Helverson suffers from a severe form of depression that is only compounded by his parents ostracizing him because he is gay. On his road to self discovery he made a few mistakes along the way (hence, why you have to read the series in order) but he’s gotten away from his religious fanatic parents, and hopes to build in new life in Tampa with the help of Brett and Jeff (and you’ll know who Brett and Jeff are if you’ve read the series).

Bryan is pretty athletic, he loves basketball, and so once he arrives in Tampa, he decides to try his hand at Tennis. That is when he first meets Greg. Another jock, Greg is gorgeous but conceited, or so Bryan thinks. When he finds a job and winds up working with Greg, getting to know him better, he realizes his first assumption was wrong. Greg Lewis is truly a nice, decent guy at heart. When his father died, his mother took it pretty hard as she suffers from depression like Bryan does, and Greg has stuck by her side getting her the best care possible. As a result, he has decided he wants to be a doctor when he graduates. He is very assured and headstrong, the kind of guy that goes after what he wants. And what he wants now is Bryan. But he is also a kind soul… generous, loving and patient, which is exactly what Bryan needs.

Bryan’s own worst enemy is himself though. Because of his past and his demons, his emotions are a wreck. He goes from happy-go-lucky to sad panda at the drop of a hat, but Greg is ever-present and patient with him, even when he tries to push him away. Right about the time that it looks like Bryan may have a hold of his emotions, making some headway with his depression. Greg’s jealous ex does something so extreme in an attempt to damage the relationship between Bryan and Greg, that it may send Bryan over the edge for good.

The book was a roller coaster of emotions, especially with Bipolar Bryan. I wasn’t even joking about his mood swings, the door to them should be on hinges as wide as it swings! But that is the reality of the disease that Bryan has to live with every day. I loved the sessions with his therapist and how we saw a different side of Bryan there. Also, how he had to learn the hard way that just because he felt better and had a better grasp of his emotions, moods and life didn’t mean he could stop his medications. The consequences were dire. Kudos to Erno for doing the research for this story and making sure every little detail was accurate. It added depth and reality to the story.

I feel though that the synopsis should include a trigger warning. There is a brief rape scene, dealt with in the content of the story more so as Bryan has to tell the man he loves what happened, which broke my heart. But none the less, it has to be mentioned. There is a lot of love woven into the darker aspects as well though. Bryan is surrounded by it, even if he doesn’t always realize it, or constantly questions it, it is there. Erno did a bang up job of taking a previously hated character and explaining his machinations and turning him into someone you could not only like, but also relate to.

The passion and romance between Bryan and Greg is pretty intense, they definitely steam up the pages a time or two. But there is drama and just the right amount of angst as well. Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I was taken aback by the severity of Ian’s actions, but everything was pretty well-balanced by the end. I’d recommend this series. It starts out on the YA end of the genre and as the books progress, so does the sexual aspect. But the characters are all growing up, so it makes sense that the situations they face would be more mature. Just remember to read the books in order.