Review: Out in the Deep by Lane Hayes (Out in College #1)
Note: An advanced reader copy (ARC) was provided by the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design.
Can Lane Hayes do no wrong? Hold up. Let me amend that. Can Lane Hayes possibly write crappy romances? I don't think so. I've read every single book she's published, and I've yet to come across one that's left me thinking "What the heck was that?!" I haven't even experienced a "meh" moment with any of her stuff. Of course, that sets the author up to some rather lofty expectations and astronomical standards on my part, but such is what happens when I find myself grinning like an idiot after reading her stories. Case in point: her newest book, Out in the Deep.
Twenty-three-year-old and fifth-year college senior Derek Vaughn takes pride in his being the captain of his water polo team. He knows he's supposed to set a good example for his teammates, but his rivalry with twenty-two-year-old Gabe Chadwick can get the better of him, leading to some physical confrontations. When Gabe transfers to Derek's school AND team, however, the adversaries experience a whole different kind of physical confrontation the first time they're alone and in close quarters. Now, not only does Derek have to deal with his bisexuality as a whole but he needs to get a handle on his undeniable attraction to his new teammate. Will they choose to dive in and explore their connection but keep things on the down-low or will the pressure of all the secrecy drown them both?
The author's opening salvo in her new Out in College series went rather swimmingly, if I do say so myself. This was a story about self-awareness and self-acceptance and how jumping into what may seem like the murky waters of the unknown can be worth it. I seriously liked Derek and Gabe, and I was pleasantly surprised at how the development of their relationship from foes in the water into friends and more turned out. There were at least a couple of notable supporting characters--one of whom gets his own story in the second book in the series--but for all intents and purposes, the spotlight was truly and solely on Derek and Gabe. This had the bare minimum in terms of angst, but even an angst addict like myself can't be bothered to demand for more because the story didn't need it. Now, I know that the author had a free short story entitled Out in the Deep End as part of Goodreads's Love is an Open Road 2015 collection, but Out in the Deep is a different tale altogether and one that gets five stars. ♥
Twenty-three-year-old and fifth-year college senior Derek Vaughn takes pride in his being the captain of his water polo team. He knows he's supposed to set a good example for his teammates, but his rivalry with twenty-two-year-old Gabe Chadwick can get the better of him, leading to some physical confrontations. When Gabe transfers to Derek's school AND team, however, the adversaries experience a whole different kind of physical confrontation the first time they're alone and in close quarters. Now, not only does Derek have to deal with his bisexuality as a whole but he needs to get a handle on his undeniable attraction to his new teammate. Will they choose to dive in and explore their connection but keep things on the down-low or will the pressure of all the secrecy drown them both?
The author's opening salvo in her new Out in College series went rather swimmingly, if I do say so myself. This was a story about self-awareness and self-acceptance and how jumping into what may seem like the murky waters of the unknown can be worth it. I seriously liked Derek and Gabe, and I was pleasantly surprised at how the development of their relationship from foes in the water into friends and more turned out. There were at least a couple of notable supporting characters--one of whom gets his own story in the second book in the series--but for all intents and purposes, the spotlight was truly and solely on Derek and Gabe. This had the bare minimum in terms of angst, but even an angst addict like myself can't be bothered to demand for more because the story didn't need it. Now, I know that the author had a free short story entitled Out in the Deep End as part of Goodreads's Love is an Open Road 2015 collection, but Out in the Deep is a different tale altogether and one that gets five stars. ♥
Date Read: 27 August 2018
Learn more about Lane Hayes.
Purchase Out in the Deep on Amazon.
Comments
Post a Comment