Genre: Contemporary romance, gay romance, sports romance
Heat Level: Three flames
Buy Link: https://books2read.com/two-for-holding
This slow-burn romance has a grumpy/sunshine opposites attract dynamic. Team captain Tom is reserved and sensible. He's also in the closet. Alternate captain Jax is new to the team. He is outgoing and out. Tom finds himself attracted to Jax in spite of the fact that he finds Jax's personality irritating. Jax is not initially drawn to Tom. He finds the captain's personality dull and officious. However, as he gets to know more about Tom, his feelings move from grudging respect to admiration and attraction.
The interpersonal relationships between not only Jax and Tom but also their teammates are depicted in an engaging and realistic fashion. Some parts of the story delve into the intricacies of the game of hockey and may lose the interest of readers of those who are only invested in the romance arc. However, these scenes provide depth for those readers who enjoy realism with their romance. The author understands hockey and isn't afraid to give readers bite-sized lessons in the context of the story.
I am not fond of the term "queer." From my perspective, it is a homophobic slur. Were I bisexual or homosexual, I would most assuredly not embrace it. Many younger authors tend to incorporate it. I much prefer gay to queer.
Queer shows up a lot in this tale. I tried to ignore it and enjoy the story's intent and plot. The author does a good job of educating readers about the reality of homophobia in athletics, particularly male-dominated sports such as baseball, basketball, football (American), hockey, and soccer. Gay athletes still face a lot of potential backlash. Kudos to the author for not glossing over this fact.
I give this book a five-star rating for overall enjoyability and quality. I highly recommend it for fans of gay contemporary romance and sports romance.
With love,
Ornery Owl
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