Game designer Henry Delloit loves his life, his mountain community, his isolated dream home, and the snow. He also loves that the X-treme Games blow into the area for a month every year, bringing with them hundreds of athletes.
Ecco Rasmussen loves boarding. He knows he’ll never make it to the big time, but as long as he can get on his board and go, he doesn’t care. If only his manager, Blake Dobbs, would cut Ecco a break. The man’s possessive and mean, and believes he owns Ecco.
When Henry and Ecco meet at the Branchberry Games, it’s lust at first sight. An injury on Ecco’s qualifying run offers an opportunity to spend quality time together at Henry’s home, away from the crowds and out from under Blake’s thumb.
At this rate, lust might turn into love, but not if they can’t keep their romance hidden from Blake.
Title: X-Factor
Author: Sean Michael
Release Date: April 27, 2016
Category: Contemporary
Pages: TBC (Novella)
When I get ready to read a sports themed book I usually assume I will like it, but not love it. How many times can we re-read the same story really? I was totally wrong! I’m a big girl, I can admit it.
Henry, a video game designer lives in a secluded mountain area in a gorgeous house with a spectacular view. His house is far enough away from town to feel like he’s in the middle of nowhere, but close enough to go see the X-treme Games when they are in town.
Ecco is an older (by snowboarding standards) boarder that will probably not make it big, but loves the sport just the same. The only thing that can dim his love of the snow is his psycho manager Blake.
Henry and Ecco meet after one of Ecco’s practice runs and after some drinks and flirting agree to meet for dinner later. After a great meal with good company and relaxing conversation the attraction takes root.
Ecco hurts himself during a practice run and ends up in a cast. His manager goes crazy and hurts him even worse. When Henry sees Ecco the next day he knows he would do anything to help him escape. The two quietly slip away for a few weeks at Henry’s place to let Ecco heal.
After two weeks in paradise Henry knows he would do just about anything to make Ecco safe and Ecco knows that he needs to make a clean break from Blake once and for all.
The story was so entertaining. Every time I had to put it down I would get mad, real life is so inconsiderate.
There were enough snowboarding terms in the book that you could tell the author knew about the sport, but not so many that I didn’t have a clue what was being said. It was a great balance. I loved that Ecco wanted to be the one to fix his own mess and the Henry was strong enough to let him try without his help. Their banter back and forth was endearing and their was just enough of the conflict with Blake to keep it from getting boring.
This was a great read. I’m excited to read more of Sean’s work.
5 pieces of eye candy
