Rating: 4 🌈
I had started this series with the third book in the series and decided to backtrack to the beginning and I’m glad I did. I really enjoyed the first installment and my introduction to the location of Aster Valley .
The relationship and romance between Mikey Vining, personal chef and son of a NFL Coach and the NFL wide receiver on his father’s team, Tiller Raine, is told in rotating 2-person pov. It’s a sexy, fun, and heartwarming contemporary romance that’s got terrific dialogue and a wonderful group of support players, many of which become a full time Aster Valley cast.
Lennox does a good job with getting the importance of great nutrition across as a source of better job performance for athletes, making what Mikey does essential. He becomes believable as a professional as well as a person. And it enhances both Tiller’s character and his job as a pro Football player.
The flashbacks are kept to a minimum, the relationship feels based in a real dynamic between the men and I loved the chemistry going forward.
Just the odd element about Truman pulled into the book towards the end seemed out of keeping with the rest of the tone and added another pov out of nowhere. I get the author’s setting up a bridge to the next story but perhaps another method could have been found.
Other then this aspect of the story, I liked my introduction to Aster Valley and it’s dwellers very much. I also really like this couple and look forward to seeing more of them in future novels.
I’m recommending this!
https://www.goodreads.com › showRight as Raine (Aster Valley #1) by Lucy Lennox – Goodreads
Aster Valley Series:
â—¦ Winter Waites #0.5
✓ Right as Raine #1
â—¦ Sweet as Honey #2
✓ Hot as Heller #3
â—¦ Thick as Thieves #4 – coming 2022
Book Synopsis
Tiller:
As the first openly gay professional football player, I can’t afford to make any mistakes, on or off the field. And the absolute biggest mistake I could make right now would be to fall for Mikey Vining, my best friend, employee and, more importantly, Coach’s baby boy. I might fantasize about Mikey at night–every night-but actually touching him would be a serious personal foul.
And falling for him? That’s completely out of bounds.
Mikey:
I’ve learned my lesson about falling for one of my dad’s players. They’re a bunch of spoiled jocks with more muscles than brains. I’ve spent years learning to keep my eyes, and my hands, to myself. But resisting the temptation becomes nearly impossible when Tiller Raine and I end up together in a small cabin in a remote Colorado town.
Suddenly, there’s not much to do but look at each other. And talk. And hopefully, hopefully touch.
But what happens when our stay in Aster Valley is over and it’s time to return to the real world? Will Coach blow the whistle on our relationship? Or will Tiller admit there might actually be something he loves more than football after all?
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 