Title: Out in the End Zone
Series: Out in College #2
Author: Lane Hayes
Publisher: Lane Hayes
Release Date: October 10
Heat Level: 4 - Lots of Sex
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 44000
Genre: Romance, New Adult, Bisexual, College romance, Football, Coming out
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Synopsis
Evan di Angelo is an upbeat, good-natured goofball who loves his friends and family… and football. A traumatic accident may have ended his hopes of playing professionally, but he’s made the most of his four years on the field at a small Southern California college. He’s learned the hard way to embrace change, take chances and try things outside of his comfort zone...like agreeing to play fake boyfriends for someone else’s senior project.Mitch Peterson knows that being his authentic self is the path to true happiness. He’s grown from a shy, quiet kid from a broken home to an out and proud budding internet sensation bound for grad school. An awesome senior project is the key. It’s unlikely anyone will believe the hunky, straight athlete is Mitch’s new lover, but it’s worth a shot. However, as their tentative friendship blossoms into unexpected attraction, the lines between reality and fiction blur for both men. Evan is forced to face old demons and decide if he has the courage to take the next step and come out in the end zone.
Excerpt
Mitch scoffed. “Cooperate, please. This is your intro. Maybe you should put your arm around me and kiss my cheek.”
“Now?”
“Yes. This is a rehearsal, so…go for it.”
I moved to his side, slipped my arm around his waist, and kissed his cheek. His scruff threw me off stride. It wasn’t noticeable because his facial hair was blond, but I could feel it. He smelled and felt different from anyone I’d ever kissed before. Sure, I’d kissed male relatives. I was part Italian. No one in my family shied from physical contact. But a hug and kiss on each cheek from my Uncle Gianni was different from kissing an attractive man. I caressed his cheek impulsively and then leaned in to sniff him the way I’d wanted to since the party. “Mmm.”
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“You smell good. I’ve never kissed a guy I wasn’t related to who had a five o’clock shadow.”
Mitch gave me a funny look. “You kissed me yesterday at lunch.”
“Yeah, but you haven’t shaved since this morning, right? The texture is like sandpaper but in a good way. I like it,” I assured him.
He looked flustered for a second but recovered quickly. “Well, that’ll make the real kiss easier then.”
“Right. When do we kiss, and what’s the intensity level supposed to be? G, PG, PG-13? Or are we going straight to the nasty?” I teased.
“Ha. G is peck on the cheek, which we just covered. PG is peck on the lips. So somewhere in between that and PG-13 works.”
“Got it. Maybe we should practice first,” I said.
“Um…sure.” Mitch turned around and gestured toward the bar stools at the island. “We can sit there, and I’ll set up the tripod a foot or so from where you’re standing now.”
“We don’t have to be in exact position. I just need to get used to touching you. It would be the same with anyone. Guy or girl.”
Okay, fine. I wanted to do it again. I’d thought about him nonstop since the party last weekend. And that throwaway kiss yesterday at the restaurant had opened a Pandora’s box. I was consumed now. I didn’t want to practice kissing him. I had to or I’d go crazy.
“Maybe you’re right. Um…okay. You can kiss me,” he said in a low voice.
“Well, you have to participate,” I chided as I stepped into his space.
“I’m…yes. Do you want to go first? Like…” Mitch set his hand on my hip and inched closer still. “This?”
I lifted my right hand and hovered it above his ear for a moment before threading my fingers through his hair. He suddenly looked nervous, which somehow worked in my favor. I held his gaze, then moved forward and gently pressed my lips to his. And fuck, it felt amazing to be here again. I tilted my head slightly, loving the intoxicating contrast of his soft lips and scratchy chin. Mitch closed his eyes and hooked his arms around my neck so we stood toe to toe and chest to chest. All the ways this felt different no longer applied. I knew what to do here. I was practically a fucking expert.
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5 Stars!
Out in the End Zone is book 2 in the Out in College series by Lane Hayes and while it can be read as a standalone, you'll be missing out if you don't read book 1 first. Not only was Out in the Deep fantastic, but Derek and Gabe have cameos in this new book and we met Evan there as Derek's roommate.
I loved Evan since I met him in book one. He seemed so easygoing and laidback, a go-with-the-flow kind of guy, and yes, he was that, but he's so much more than that, too. He'd gone through loss and resolved to bury a part of himself because of it, but once faced with the possibility of having something with Mitch, he simply can't stop it from happening and is mostly all in, only, he wasn't quite out. He figured his parents suspected, but no one else did and it wasn't easy for him to make a decision after what happened to him during senior year in high school. While closeted characters usually frustrate me, Evan was young and really, it's not that he's not willing to come out, he just hasn't found his reason to do it.
And then we have Mitch, who I liked a lot. He was understandably wary at times, waiting for the other shoe to drop considering Evan wasn't out and that was a tad annoying, but he seemed like a sweet, snarky, fun guy. The chemistry between Evan and Mitch was out of this world and it was great to see them progress from sort-of-fake-boyfriends into real boyfriends.
I loved catching up with Derek and Gabe and I'm very intrigued about Christian, Evan's team's captain, whose book we're getting next. I only wish we'd seen more of Mitch's grandma, who was wonderful!
All in all, Out in the End Zone was awesome, and while it was mostly sweet, hot and fun, it was also emotional in certain parts and Ms. Hayes made me cry with a certain scene with Evan near the end. *sniffs*
I can't recommend this book (and the first one) enough, definitely a must-read!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
I just LOVE Lane Hayes' writing. This story was sweet and refreshing. The writing was great and it was easy to connect to this story and characters. The dialogue was entertaining and kept me wanting more and more!
I adored the chemistry between Evan and Mitch. After meeting Evan in book one, I did not expect to see him be nervous in front of anyone. I loved seeing him that way with Mitch. Their interactions were pretty cute and I liked seeing a different side to Evan than what I previously thought of him. Also, their kisses, yes I said their kisses were HOT. All of their sexy times were hot but we see kissing for the most part at first and I did not realize after reading so many romance/erotica books that I could get turned on from a kissing scene. The language flows so fluidly in this book and it made the dynamic between the characters that much more powerful.
For me, this was the perfect story. We get the cute initial interactions and then the growing attraction and feelings. Intertwined with that there is humor and sweetness. We do get a teensy bit of angst but then it is quickly overshadowed by just sweet feelings!! Loved this book!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
I actually liked this one a lot more then book one (which I found a bit weird, I wonder if it’s because of the football aspect when I didn’t enjoy the water polo?) anyway...
I really liked Evan, he’s amusing and sweet and even though he is scared, he still tries to get what he really wants. Coming out for him was something that kinda terrified him (not that he would say that!) but he overcomes that when he finds someone worth fighting for.
I wasn’t Mitch’s biggest fan though I did like him but I felt he said one thing but then turns around and does something else (I don’t know if anyone else felt that.) He did come through in the end so I was happy about that.
I cannot wait for book three as well as anything else Lane has planned in the future!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
5 stars
I just LOVE Lane Hayes' writing. This story was sweet and refreshing. The writing was great and it was easy to connect to this story and characters. The dialogue was entertaining and kept me wanting more and more!
I adored the chemistry between Evan and Mitch. After meeting Evan in book one, I did not expect to see him be nervous in front of anyone. I loved seeing him that way with Mitch. Their interactions were pretty cute and I liked seeing a different side to Evan than what I previously thought of him. Also, their kisses, yes I said their kisses were HOT. All of their sexy times were hot but we see kissing for the most part at first and I did not realize after reading so many romance/erotica books that I could get turned on from a kissing scene. The language flows so fluidly in this book and it made the dynamic between the characters that much more powerful.
For me, this was the perfect story. We get the cute initial interactions and then the growing attraction and feelings. Intertwined with that there is humor and sweetness. We do get a teensy bit of angst but then it is quickly overshadowed by just sweet feelings!! Loved this book!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
4 Stars
I actually liked this one a lot more then book one (which I found a bit weird, I wonder if it’s because of the football aspect when I didn’t enjoy the water polo?) anyway...
I really liked Evan, he’s amusing and sweet and even though he is scared, he still tries to get what he really wants. Coming out for him was something that kinda terrified him (not that he would say that!) but he overcomes that when he finds someone worth fighting for.
I wasn’t Mitch’s biggest fan though I did like him but I felt he said one thing but then turns around and does something else (I don’t know if anyone else felt that.) He did come through in the end so I was happy about that.
I cannot wait for book three as well as anything else Lane has planned in the future!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Meet the Author
Lane Hayes is grateful to finally be doing what she loves best. Writing full-time! It’s no secret Lane loves a good romance novel. An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters. These days she prefers the leading roles to both be men. Lane discovered the M/M genre a few years ago and was instantly hooked. Her debut novel was a 2013 Rainbow Award finalist and subsequent books have received Honorable Mentions, and won First Prize in the 2016 and 2017 Rainbow Awards. She loves red wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband in a newly empty nest.Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
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