Author: Liz Crowe
Published: August 10th 2013 by Tri-Destiny Publishing
Format: Ebook
This book was provided to me via Netgalley through RockStar PR
Links: AMAZON / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads
Bad boy of European football, Nicolas Garza is about to hit American shores with a vengeance. Signed by the Detroit Black Jack Gentlemen as lynch pin for their expansion club, Nicco only half believes he’s making the right move. But with a past full of ghosts and rotten behavior chasing him from his homeland, he has no real choice.
Parker Rollings is a college soccer superstar, but his parents’ plans for their only son do not include professional athletics. When the Black Jacks approach him to finalize their roster, Parker leaps at the chance to keep playing, leaving behind medical school, stability and his first and only college sweetheart.
Nicco and Parker face off as bitter rivals for a coveted starting spot at midfield and are forced to channel their negative energy into something positive for the sake of the group—and themselves.
All eyes are on the fledgling team in its debut season. It’s crucial that the Black Jacks prove all the doubters wrong. They must make a good showing in the league and with new fans. But player drama, club dynamics, and misplaced priorities may tear it apart before it even begins.
MY REVIEW
Nicco Garza is empty. The only passion he has is for soccer. He has lost his agent, his wife (who was only with him for the money anyway) and his spot on his team. Now he is headed to America and has a reputation spotted with drama following him.
As a pro-athlete, Nicco Garza has had his experiences with drugs, random sex, booze, and lavish parties. He has been given everything he wanted, but when he gets recruited for an American team, the one man he wants may just be out of his reach.
Parker Rollings is facing his final playing days and the reality of this is starting to catch up to him. He has lived his life for his parents in the sense that he has followed their path for him instead of dashing their dreams. Now faced with the situation of facing his final playing days, he's realizing he is about to be thrust into a life and career that he doesn't want. When Parker is offered an opportunity to play with a new expansion team in Detroit, he walks away leaving everything behind.
Man On is the first book by Liz Crowe that I have had the pleasure of reading and I really enjoyed it. Not only is Man On a great sports story, it's a great story about two men who feel not only attracted to one another, but genuine emotions. In a sports world where it is often taboo to be a gay athlete, Liz Crowe tackles this topic heads on and thrusts two men together in the world of soccer and doesn't bat an eye.
Obviously because it is taboo, Nicco and Parker have this connection, but they try not to do anything about it because they are athletes and don't want to be shunned by other players and fans. They keep drawing closer to one another though.
I loved that this book is real. You can feel genuine emotions from each character and not only that, the setting Crowe has described makes it seem as if we are a part of it. I think it says a lot to Crowe's character that she isn't afraid to approach a topic such as gay athletes. I look forward to reading more in this series.
★★★★
I would have not picked this up on my own, but it turns out that it sounds quite good. Thank you for the introduction and the great review.
ReplyDeleteThis was actually the first M/M book I have read, but it did not disappoint. I enjoyed the book and I'm even giving away ecopies of Man On, On Solid Ground by Melissa Collins, and Trust the Focus by Megan Ericson on my Facebook page if you want to check it out :)
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