Review: Almost...
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 08 10, 2013
From the title of this book, Ben Ryder gives the impression that it is about sports.  From the cover of the book, the artist gives the impression that it is about beer.  Side Line is kind of about both.  Jay Wells is an British beer promotions manager.  He is an out and proud gay man.  With the large number of American, British and Australian forces in the Middle East, the company that Jay works for wants to send him and his team there to promote their new beer.  Side Line the beer is promoted mostly in sports bars, hence the name.  There are several promotional appearances scheduled in Bahrain.Damon O'Connor is a tough as nails, stereotypical  U.S. Marine getting ready to ship out to Iran.  He doesn't really identify himself as gay, but has had limited experience with other men.  Damon is focused only on providing for his sisters at home.Jay is reasonably likeable.  He takes good care of his team, which is mostly made up of young, beautiful women.  That is a tough job in the Middle East, where they must be covered up while in public.  It is an even tougher job in a bar full of horny, drunk soldiers.  Mr. Ryder really made me feel that Jay and his assistant Jackie, genuinely cared for the well-being of his girls.From the first time we meet Damon, I don't like him.  He continually calls Jay "buddy".  This was supremely annoying to me.  I wanted to slap the smirk right off his face.  Damon treats Jay with no respect at all.  There was a vague reference to "the vaccine" which I assume to be the reason there was no condom use during their "encounters".  There was also no lube.  (My personal pet peeve.)  It seemed like Damon was almost raping Jay, but Jay kept letting it happen.When one of Jay's girls is in danger, Damon does come to the rescue and helps Jay get everyone to safety.  At that point there seems to be an acknowledgement of actual feelings between the men.But their relationship is doomed from the get-go.  Jay is returning to England.  Damon is being shipped out  for two years, then going home to Florida.Unbelievably, Jay buys a home in Florida and years later, Damon shows up, calls him "buddy" and the book ends.The best thing about this book was Jay's assistant Jackie.  There was a side story about her and Damon's superior officer.  She evidently made it possible for Jay and Damon to reunite.I have read a lot of gay romance where the situation prevents the lovers from being together.  I've also read a lot of closeted, closed off, emotionally unavailable men.  Side Line had all those things and great potential.  I wish Mr. Ryder had been able to put the ingredients together better and make me like these guys.  I really wanted to!