Reading the Signs

Baseball: the all-American sport. My brother and I spent a couple summers obsessively following the Chicago Cubs and drooling over the players' very fine assets. <br><br>There are no finer butts in professional sports. <br><br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1474775707i/20640081.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br><b>This book pretty much rocks: age gap, BDSM lite (the at-home version), gay virgin (Nico gives it up so good), dirty (in all the right ways) sex, awesome HEA (one word: armadillo), and about a million FEELS (you're gonna root for these boys and their team). </b> <br><br>Jake has been a closeted gay man in professional baseball for years; he has an easy, regular hook-up going with a friend, plays on a losing team, and is completely stuck in his stale, lonely existence. Baseball has become just another game.<br><br>Nico is ALL passion, awkwardness, and nerves. He's wound so tight, he makes himself puke before every game. Baseball is in Nico's blood. His demanding father, a former pro player himself, is hard on Nico. Nico's goal is perfection, no less, no more. <br><br>Jake was Nico's first crush and a decade later, Nico still craves the man, even as he sleeps with countless women to prove that he doesn't have to be queer. <br><br>The slow burn between Jake and Nico is scorching. <b>Don't be put off by the BDSM tag; it's all light bondage, spanking, and aggressive sex. It's wanton and passionate and absolutely perfect. </b> The scene where Jake takes Nico against a desk . . . yeah, I may have needed a cold shower. Or three.<br><br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1474775707i/20640082._SY540_.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>I absolutely loved the theme of friendship in this book. Jake reconciles with not one but two close friends. His longing for Brandon broke my heart. That kind of unrequited love is self-destructive and raw. Jake was in the wrong, but I GOT HIM. <br><br>Both MCs are incredibly well developed. I could feel Nico's pain, his anxiety and fear. Jake is a steady rock; he's long ago learned to bury all emotion. But when he gets all bad-ass and in charge, oh, good lord, no wonder Nico just melts into the sheets. <br><br>Nico grows stronger under Jake's steady guidance, on and OFF the field. He stands up to his father and takes care of his man. He's still young and impetuous, prone to bouts of jealousy, but I had no doubt he was the one for Jake. <br><br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1474775707i/20640083.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>I also really liked how Nico's family situation was handled. Nico's father spews homophobic slurs like he orders pizza; he's careless and casual in his bigotry. But when it hits home that his son is gay, Nico's dad has some serious thinking to do. Because now the queer is not OUT THERE but IN HERE. And he realizes the prejudice he has toward homosexuals is the same one he witnessed as a kid when the white neighbors called him a "wop."<br><br><b>This book is another example of why Keira Andrews is one of my favorite authors in the genre. <em>Reading the Signs</em> is well-written, sexy, and romantic. I loved the hell out of this story. </b>

<b>*4.25 stars*</b><br><br>Surprise, surprise! Did you hear? Keira Andrews does <b>baseball</b>+<b>BDSM</b>+<b>"my friend's little brother trope"</b>+<b>age gap</b>!<br><br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1474634010ra/20625694.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>I won't lie, as far as baseball is concerned I'm like...<br><br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1474633419ra/20625492.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>It's a relatively new sport in my country (started in 1997 if I remember correctly), and every time I happen to take a glimpse of a game, I have no clue what the hell is going on.<br><br><b>There is A LOT of baseball in this book</b>, especially in the first half. If you 're a fan of the sport, you 're going to love that aspect of the story. My cluelessness didn't stop me from enjoying it, especially after the 50% mark where the romance really picks up.<br><blockquote> <b> <i>“No queers in baseball. Not allowed.”</i> </b> </blockquote><br>That's what Nico's father said, and since baseball is always more important, Nico was willing to live in denial, and hide this part of himself. Until Jake (his brother's old friend, and Nico's teenage crush) joins the team.<br><br>The only time Nico speaks up is when he gets mad during a game. Otherwise, he's shy, closed off and lives A LOT inside his head. He makes things ten times worse than they really are.<br><br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1474633419i/20625493.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>He does have a filthy mouth, though.<br><blockquote> <b> <i>"I used to dream about you here.”[...]<br><br>“Did you touch yourself?”<br>“Fuck, yes. All the time. Imagined how big your cock was, and if you were cut or not. What it would taste like. Wanted to swallow your cum. Used to taste mine and pretend it was yours.”<br>“Jesus. We can’t.”<br>“When I found out you were traded and I’d see you again, I got so hard I had to jerk off. Shoved my finger in my ass and imagined it was your cock, and—”</i> </b> </blockquote><br>You can guess what happened afterwards. Jake is the only one who can calm Nico down during and after a game. The sex, albeit hot, is not gratuitous at all. I found that every sex scene was poignant; Liberating for Nico, and a fantasy coming true. And for Jake, a chance at something he thought he'd never find.<br><br><b>As far as the BDSM part is concerned, it is very light and it's more about the mentality behind BDSM</b>. Nico needs to feel grounded, and for someone else to be in control, and make the rules in the bedroom. Jake gladly accepts that role. So no, there are no whips or chains here. Some bondage and spanking is as far as it goes, and I for one am grateful for it.<br><br>I won't lie...<b>there is angst and pain. There is self-loathing and guilt</b>. But it's not overwhelming or OTT. There's also a hissy fit from Nico (because young). In a way, <b>this story is Nico's journey to self-acceptance. But it's Jake's story too, and his second chance at love and friendship.</b> I'm very happy I was there to read their stories.<br><br>Recommended!<br><br><i>*Review cross-posted on <a href="http://gaybook.reviews/2016/09/23/reading-the-signs-2/" rel="nofollow noopener">Gay Book Reviews</a>.*</i>

*4.5 stars* <br /><br /><b><a href="https://goodreads.com/author/show/1366040.Keira_Andrews" title="Keira Andrews" rel="noopener">Keira Andrews</a>, kicking butt and taking names!</b><br /><br />I've been saying for years that I'm not a huge fan of sports player romance, but I think I have to change my tune! I've had an AMAZING run of sports romances recently, mostly hockey books, but with a couple of baseball ones thrown in. This one was exactly in my sweet spot (<i>see what I did there??</i>). <br /><br />About midway through the book, I was so impressed that I thought this might actually make my all-time favorites list. I cooled down my opinion a bit since then, but this book was <b>sooooo stellar all the way through</b>. <br /><br />I have a few particular kinks that really get me going. One, in fact, my top one in the BDSM spectrum, is <b>spanking</b>. There is something about spanking that really floats my boat, and if you thrown in a "daddy" or something, you have me SOLD. This one didn't go quite as far as I wanted, to be honest. When the first spanking scene happened, I was screeching in excitement because I was anticipating maybe a domestic discipline-esk relationship, or at least one with some punishment-type stuff. The BDSM ended up being really light here, which is fine, but I wanted to go a bit further. <br /><br />I also have a not-so-secret thing for gay first timers! I just do! I simply love going through a person's first time with them. New experiences are <i>everything</i> to me, and Nico getting to experience every one of his naughty, naughty fantasies was DELICIOUS! I thought the sex scenes were <b>smoking hot</b>. <br /><br />Some people thought that the book was a little heavy on the sports facts, but I enjoyed that part of the story (<i>see, closet sports-lover over here!</i>). The whole book reminded me a little bit of <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/13506481.Out_in_the_Field" title="Out in the Field by Kate McMurray" rel="noopener">Out in the Field</a>, which is a very good thing. I thought it was interesting, and though it isn't a fast-paced book, I never thought it was boring. <br /><br />My only major complaint is that I thought that the <b>relationship moved a little quickly for my tastes</b>. I could have used a smudge more time before the guys were thinking about the L-word. Other than that, this book was soooooo satisfying! <br /><br /><b><a href="https://goodreads.com/author/show/1366040.Keira_Andrews" title="Keira Andrews" rel="noopener">Keira Andrews</a> does it again! </b><br /><br />*Copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*

<b>10/11/16-ICYMI this is on sale TODAY only for 99¢ on Amazon to celebrate the Jays sweep of the Rangers: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.amazon.com/Reading-Signs-Gay-Sports-Romance-ebook/dp/B01M16ZAY0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1476238898&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=reading+the+signs">https://www.amazon.com/Reading-Signs-...</a><br><br>Don't miss it. It's amazeballs!<br><br><br>Finally! A quality sports romance that involves a sport that I'm passionate about! And just in time for the MLB Playoffs!</b><br><br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1475637137i/20744259._SY540_.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>Not to get too Annie Savoy (<i>Bull Durham</i> reference) but I love baseball. I love going to the ballpark, the chants, Sweet Caroline, the wave, the vendors hawking all sorts of things, the superstitions, the rituals, the uniforms, how long the season is, sabermetrics and most especially the Boston Red Sox. I've been known to get a little exuberant and get a little glassy eyed at certain significant moments-the WS win in 2004, the first time Strasburg pitched, Varitek's last game and undoubtedly will during Papi's last game. There are some great baseball movies but great baseball MM romances are few and far between, at least in my experience.<br><br>I don't even have words for how thrilled I was to discover that not only was there superb baseball knowledge in this book, but a moving romance that will go down as one of my favorites.<br><br>I actually told SRAL that I felt like this book was written for me which is delusional I know, but when I find a book that works on so many different levels I feel like I've won the lottery. <i>Reading the Signs</i> made me feel like I had hit the jackpot, won the lottery and saved some kids from a burning building. Too much? *shrugs*<br><br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1475637137i/20744260.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>Jake Fitzgerald is a veteran catcher who's lost his passion for the game. He seems a little depressed to me and he's definitely lonely in denial about it and isolated. He gets traded from San Francisco to an up and coming team chock-a-block with young players. He's brought on to help rookie pitcher Nico Agresta mature. Nico's a hothead and has a tendency to psych himself out at the first sign of trouble. He's also waaaaayyyy too hard on himself with some bad habits and puts WAY too much pressure on himself to live up to his father and brother, both of whom sound like Hall of Famers. And you know what? There's nothing I like better than couples that affect each other in positive ways and Jake and Nico do. Both on and off the diamond! <br><br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1475637137i/20744261._SY540_.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br><b> <blockquote>"Tell me how you feel," he whispered. <br>"Like there's no going back." <br>And as the words left Nico's kiss-swollen lips, Jake recognized that truth deep in his bones.</blockquote> </b><br><br>Both men are closeted to varying degrees. Nico more so than Jake. Plus, he's dealing with more than his fair share of self-loathing for being gay in a family headed by an outspoken bigot. He's also been smitten with Jake since he was a pimply faced teen playing catch in the backyard. As their connection grows it becomes increasingly difficult to hide their attraction. Both have baggage which added depth to them as well as the story. The scenes with Nico's family were meaningful and poignant. They don't get it right and they're certainly not perfect but they make an effort, they try and that's what's most important to Nico. <br><br>The clubhouse dynamics were just fun to read about and I still contend that's the essential element to a great sports romance. Andrews clearly knows a lot about the game, but it's the players, coaches and sometimes owners relationships that make a great story and the Ottawa Caps made for a great story.<br><br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1476069438i/20797564.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>The kink is unfussy just like I like it with a little spanking and some rope bondage. Jake is also possessive and protective! I thought my head was going to spin off! The only thing that was missing were manties and I might've passed out if they were included. Really, who needs that? I was already woozy from all the dirty talk, fuckhot sex and how prettily Nico begs. DAMN! He begs like a champ.<br><br>The only thing that slightly disappointed me was how the season turned out. But... that's baseball.<br><br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1476069438i/20797565._SX540_.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>This was my first but will most certainly not be my last Keira Andrews. I loved this so much I was sad when it was over, almost immediately wanted to start reading it again and even days later am still thinking about these characters and this story.<br><br>Highly recommended. Period.<br><br><a href="https://boymeetsboyreviews.blogspot.com/2016/10/review-reading-signs-by-keira-andrews.html" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1384707178i/6936447.png" width="162" height="143" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a><br><br><i>A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest opinion.</i>

FREE Oct 19-23 2022!<br /><br /><b>Amazon US</b>: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M16ZAY0/">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M16ZAY0/</a><br /><b>Amazon Global</b>: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="http://mybook.to/ReadingSigns_KA">http://mybook.to/ReadingSigns_KA</a><br /><br />ETA: Now available to borrow in KU! <br /><br />This is my new sports romance, born a year ago during the Toronto Blue Jays’ 2015 run to the division title and into the postseason for the first time in more than two decades. I was struck with a serious case of baseball fever, and Nico and Jake completely invaded my brain. <br /><br />Nico is a rookie pitcher who's repressing his sexuality and putting a buttload of pressure on himself to succeed. As a young teenager, he had a huge crush on Jake, his older brother's teammate. Fast forward nine years, and Jake is jaded and determined never to fall in love again after suffering through unrequited love for his former BFF. Now Nico and Jake are playing for the same team in more ways than one...<br /><br />This contemporary novel features an age difference, light BDSM, a motherlode of emotional constipation, hurt/comfort, and lots of action on and off the field. I hope you enjoy it! :)

LOVED!<br /><br />Baseball....<br /><br />Age gap....<br /><br />Friends sibling....<br /><br />Some kink....<br /><br />Some hot kink at that....<br /><br />Low angst....<br /><br />What's not to love? <br />

KA doesn’t “do repeats”. <br><br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1476111086i/20803107._SY540_.jpg" width="400" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>She writes about something, she finishes it, she turns the page and she goes on with something different. I didn’t want to read this because it was about sports. I wanted to try this one because it was done by her. She has already won my vote of confidence with the prospect of reading something by her. She only has to convince me, and that’s the challenge. <br><br>This story is about two men but there are many arcs, it was so complex in the end.<br><br>1. Love story (with an age gap): Nico – Jake.<br>2. Unrequited love and lost friendship: Jake – Brandon.<br>3. Guilt road: Nico – mother’s death.<br>4. Shame road: Nico – father’s homophobic attitude.<br>5. Health road: Nico – meltdowns before games.<br>6. Pear pressure road: Nico – expectations to be the best and how to deal with it all. <br>7. BDSM theme (a light one): Nico – Jake.<br>8. Rookie – veteran theme: Nico – Jake.<br>9. Retirement theme: Jake.<br>10. Obviously, the LBGT theme in a sports environment.<br><br>It doesn’t feel that way but in truth this book is not as simple as it seems at first. I don’t consider it a book about ‘sports’, although, ironically, the baseball topic was explained in a damn detailed way.<br><br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1476111152i/20803116._SY540_.jpg" width="400" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>And it’s funny because the novel is built in such a way that is not even the usual romance. It reads easy, so easy you don’t notice how short the love story really is. Despite this, the love story is balanced and, surprisingly, unhurried. Nico has had a crush on Jake since he can remember, and Jake cannot at first get the idea of a much younger man than him to be his other half… but he does. It's amazing how straight-forward it is, how non-dramatic and non-stupid. How honest and true. No bullshit in the middle.<br><br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1475945532ra/20786076.gif" width="400" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>There are fun moments, too. <br><br>And there are heart-melting moments. The scenes with Nico's family were very emotive. I love how the characters have a background. They are not simply this guy who happen to play baseball. They have a past, they are the result of their experiences and their histories. They have depth.<br><br>The author could have made it more convoluted, with more drama-queenish moments and beating around the bush for the sake of it. But she didn’t. <br><br>I know nothing about baseball. Sometimes I felt I was watching a tennis match. I felt I was stupidly turning my head left and right, left and right, sometimes not even seeing the ball at all.<br><br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1475944778i/20785987.jpg" width="400" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>I’m not even mad. I can work with lapses.<br><br>The pitcher and catcher jokes are a plus, but in truth I loved Jake’s reasons for his love of this sport. He shapes the game, he ‘controls’ it, but he also likes taking care of his players, of his team. I could see the parallelism here, and I thought that was beautiful.<br><br>All in all, I really enjoyed this one.<br><br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1476112727i/20803318._SY540_.jpg" width="400" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>*****<br><br><i>***ARC received from author via Indigo Marketing And Design in exchange for an honest review.</i>

<a href="http://imgur.com/5AfWzZm" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1475057499ra/20674213.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a><br><br>Wow, this book was great ! I loved it. I'm a big fan of sport themed (m/m) books, but baseball is defnitely my favorite. I love the sport, the lean muscular men and the very sexy uniforms. <br><br>The movie "Major League" is still one of my favorits and damn did I have a crush on "Wild Thing" Ricky Vaughn :)<br><br><a href="http://imgur.com/IlpGtJZ" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1475057892i/20674375._SY540_.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a><br><br>In this book we are dealing with a rookie pitcher, Nic Agresta, who has some issues with his temper. Most of his temper comes from having to hide who he really is, to his family and the rest of the world. He has very low selfesteem and puts way to much pressure on himself. My heart broke for him a couple of times.... <br><br><a href="http://imgur.com/gLrBlgR" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1475057499i/20674215._SY540_.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a><br><br>Then there is Jake. He is a catcher and a veteran. He has been playing for the same team for 8 years now. He has come out to his family and some of his friends, but not to his teammates and the rest of the world. Jake is a bit jaded. He fell in love with his best friend/ teammate a long time ago and in doing so, he also fucked up the best friendship he ever had. Things haven't been the same for him ever since. He is not interested in love or relationships and his love for baseball has slowly dwindled down.<br><br><a href="http://imgur.com/FxEmjcm" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1475057499ra/20674216.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a><br><br>Now Jake is being traded to Nic's team in Ottowa. Coaches seem to think that the veteran catcher can help out with their rookie hottempered pitcher. Nic and Jake have a little bit of a history together. Nic has always had a big crush on his brothers 12 year older teammate. So when these two come together...sparks are gonna fly, and Jake knows just how to calm down Nic's temper ;)<br><br><a href="http://imgur.com/7uRnDpK" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1475057499ra/20674217.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a><br><br>The BDSM factor in this book was pretty mild. Just some spanking and bondage, which was extremely hot !! I loved the steam in this book. These boys were perfect together. <br><br>I really hope there will be more books like this one. I'm gonna give this one 5 stars, because the MC's and the supporting characters were great, but also because I love baseball, which made it even better for me !!<br><br><a href="http://imgur.com/njC791I" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1475057499ra/20674218.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a>

Audio - 5 +++ Greg B was perfection as always<br /><br />Story - 3.25 Stars. It's been 4 years. My tastes have changed, and I didn't enjoy the story as much this time around. <br /><br />_______<br />Huh...it's like the MCs and other secondary characters from Valor on the Move were reincarnated into this story. Good thing I enjoyed that book.

<b>4.5 STARS</b><br /><br />Why did I let this book sit on my kindle for months??? I absolutely loved everything about this story. Usually I have a problem with age gap stories, but not this one. Jake and Nico were absolutely perfect together.<br />Jake Fitzgerald is the aging catcher that was used to having control, on the field and in the bedroom. Nico Agresta is the hot shot new rookie pitcher trying to live up to the accomplishments of both his father and brother. But Nico is struggling with self-doubt and self-hatred. His head is spinning, but it is patient Jake that once again takes control.<br />Some readers might not like the baseball details, but since I am a huge baseball fan, I loved every minute of it. This was a super sweet, low angst type of read and I highly recommend it.<br />