Freebie Friday #20

My teammates won’t like this, but after reading 20 books for prompts, I’m currently reading random novellas to avoid a reading slump, so it’s like self-care.

Hey Everyone

As you know, I’ve been trying a new thing for me, where I share a book I love and provide a free ebook link to it, if possible.

I got this novel because it was free, and sometimes free wins me over, even though I have been trying to stay away from sports romance, as I have been rating them pretty low. I think this is a reading issue on my part, since I’m a very character-driven reader. I want to know the character’s past/background that led to their current situation or their future direction.

We meet Hutch, who, after playing soccer, needs to return to his hometown since his father’s health isn’t great, so he goes back to give him a hand. By the way, I love his father —the kind of dad who would create a dating profile for his son. Then enters Amos, who self-proclaims to be a nerd. However, will their shared history repeat itself? Some people didn’t enjoy this, saying it needs more twists, but for me, it was perfect, so I wonder what you think about it.

First Lines:

Hamlet pondered to be or not to be. Tina Turner asked what’s love got to
do with it. And this morning, I got stuck with my own eternal, soul bursting question.
Is Hutch Hawkins back?
I was gabbing with my fellow teachers in the faculty lounge during my off period, gossiping about some high school drama that we should’ve been too mature to care about, and through the window of the door, the familiar waves of auburn hair and chiseled profile of Hutch Hawkins flashed for a second as someone walked by with Principal Aguilar.
Was that someone Hutch?
Now perhaps I drank my morning coffee too fast or inhaled too much chalk dust. It’d been a long-ass time since I last saw him. A freaking decade. By design. He was the reason Britney Spears invented the word toxic. He was the reason why people willingly cried along to Adele songs.
Not me, of course.
Not for a long time anyway

Goodreads Blurb:

The guy who broke my heart is back and teaching at my school. I’m really trying not to give an F.

A long time ago, in a suburban high school not so far away, a closeted nerd (me) and a closeted soccer star (Hutch) fell in love and planned to make their public debut at prom. Until Hutch bailed at the last minute, leaving me with a broken heart and unworn tuxedo. Tale as old as time, right?

I spent the past ten years working to forget Hutch, returning to our old high school to teach and make new memories that could erase ones of him. I thought Hutch was ancient history, off living his professional athlete life. But he’s suddenly back in Sourwood, coaching soccer at South Rock High, and sexy as ever. Just when I’d gotten over him, we’re now colleagues.

As Hutch leads the soccer team to victory once again, and we find ourselves trading stolen glances in the halls, it feels like a reboot of our high school bad romance. Especially after a late night encounter where I find myself climbing him like the rope in gym class. Oops.

Hutch wants to give us another try, but what if history is doomed to repeat itself?

Download Link Here

Goodreads Link Here

Alex