A good sports-based romance is just what I needed, and when I came across a whole series (well, two previous books and a third up for publication in a few weeks), I decided to give it a go. The blurb alone had my anticipation going up a few notches: two stubborn men, one rude one social, and “hate at first sight” sounded very promising in terms of conflict, passion, and lots of “interpersonal sparks” all over the place. And what a ride it turned out to be!

Dexter is a professional beach volleyball player who desperately wants his first professional Grand Slam title. He has a volleyball partner he plays well with, and his strongest opponent is a man he already hated in college and who has since risen to “an asshole to the hundredth power”, as Dexter puts it. What makes it worse is that Finn and his playing partner usually win in a direct confrontation.

Finn is everything Dexter is not. He’s tough, unfriendly, glowers a lot, and is a brutally tough player who will do pretty much anything it takes to win. He hates Dexter for his ability to charm people, for his friendliness, and just – because he is too physically perfect and utterly charming. Not qualities Finn has in excess. He is also deeply in love with his volleyball partner, Tristan, whom he is secretly engaged to, but he isn’t out and that leads to all kinds of complications.

Told in alternating first person, the story is especially tension-filled as I was able to see each character’s thoughts and feelings from really, really up-close and personal. Being this close to the proceedings added an extra dimension to my enjoyment. I saw both sides to the point that I began to hate Dexter when Finn was talking, and vice versa. Quite an experience. But as much hostility as there is between the men, there is also some shared history, an underlying respect (not that they’d ever admit that), and quite clearly the potential for a passion as deep as their initial disdain.

Watching them slowly gravitate toward each other was very entertaining! Not that it was an easy process for them to deal with their feelings for each other while Dexter faces work pressure outside volleyball so he can make enough money to survive and Finn tries to deal with the accidental death of his volleyball partner/lover. Of course there is also homophobia and fears for their careers if anyone finds out they are together. In the end, the stubbornness that kept them apart for so long turns out to be their single biggest ally in figuring out how to be lovers.

If you like stories about athletes, if you want to watch two men go from rivals/enemies to forced teammates and then lovers, and if you’re looking for a read that is likely to make you grind your teeth in anger as often as it might make you smile (eventually), then you will probably like this novel.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
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