Playing for Keeps

by Avery Cockburn 

Rule One: No Drama!

Fergus Taylor is damaged goods. Reeling from a brutal breakup, he’s determined to captain his LGBT soccer team out of scandal and into a winning season. For that, he needs strict rules and careful plans. He does NOT need a brash, muscle-bound lad messing with his head and setting his body afire.

John Burns has a rule of his own: Don’t get attached. Boyfriends are for guys with nothing to hide. Nobody—not his university mates, not the men he beds—knows his family’s shame. Now his double life is starting to unravel, thanks to a certain Highlander whose storm-riddled eyes turn John inside out, who wears a kilt like he was born in it.

Fergus is the first man John wants to share his secret with—but he’s the last man who could handle it. John knows the truth would shatter Fergus’s still-fragile heart. But how can he live a lie when he’s falling in love? 

Glasgow Lads #1

Show ’em Your Baws! ⚽👬⚽

MMy Thoughts and Review:

Oh these boys! **sigh… I loved/ hated this story so hard!💕 So many feels, the angst tore me apart for Fergus and John.

The book:
• 352 Pages • Contemporary • Standalone • Happily Ever After • In A Series • Third-Person Narrative • Each MCs POV

The romantic theme:
• First Love • Overcoming Heartbreak • 

The read:
• Deals with social issues • Good Pace • Excellent character development • Culturally sound • Sexy • Smart 

Heat level:
• 4/ 5 • MM scenes • The scenes are few for a book this size, but the ones included are smokin’ HAWT!!!🔥🔥🔥

Story ingredients:
• Hate crimes • Racism • Big Romantic Gestures • Family loyalty • Love of football ⚽ • LGBTQ+ Asylum Seekers

MC1 is…
• Scots-Irish • Catholic • Team Captain • Mending broken heart • Gorgeous • Architect

MC2 is…
• Scottish • Protestant • Juggling family issues w/ personal morals • Strong Helps Asylum seekers • Working with MC1’s football ⚽ team to raise money for charity • Uni Student

This book had me feeling it ALL!!!! The good, bad, ugly, sMMexy!! It was all there. You will be blown away by the atmosphere created as Glasgow comes to life. You can feel the tensions between all the different opposing sides in this story. No one comes out unaffected. Gay, straight, Irish, American, African, Scottish, Trans, Bi, Catholic, Protestant, rich, poor, schooled, unschooled, man, woman, OH…MY…GOD! The list is endless! But it does not matter. Even in real life, it is crazy all this fighting and turmoil we go through. As the book ends, it gives three words with which are so simple and so deep… 

WE…
ARE…
ONE!!! 👬🌈👫🌈👭 

I flippin’ loved this story! 😁 

5 Stars-with-Baws! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟