Amy Andrews - Playing it Safe

Donovan Bane loves playing rugby for the Sydney Smoke. And if that means he has to keep his sexuality a secret, that’s a sacrifice he’s prepared to make. At least until after he retires, anyway. He doesn’t want to be the first pro rugby player in Australia to officially come out while still playing. The team doesn’t need the media shit storm and he’d rather be known for his footy skills. Which means no dating, no relationships, no sex. Nothing but playing ball.
Until one man suddenly changes everything…
Beckett Stanton is out and proud—and not looking for a guy who isn’t. Been there, done that, complete disaster. Unfortunately, on the first day of his new job working for the Sydney Smoke, he locks eyes with Donovan Bane and he’s a goner. Big, gruff, and athletic isn’t usually Beck’s type, but for some reason this man is ticking all his boxes. And it’s clear the feeling is mutual. It’s also clear that Donovan is not out, and doesn’t plan to be anytime soon. Still, Beck can’t resist being the man to show Donovan everything he’s been missing.
For the first time, Donovan doesn’t play it safe and allows himself to indulge in things with Beck he knows he can’t have. But when their relationship gets serious, he knows he has to choose between the career he loves and the man he loves, because how can he possibly have both?

Comment: I got interested in this book because of a positive review. Really, what a difference it can make, sometimes a sentence, an idea can be enough to convince me I'd like it too...

In this story we meet Donovan Bane, rugby player who is happy with his life except he hasn't told anyone he is gay, except his ex, and mother of his daughter. For a long time, this was something he could put aside and go on with his live, but he has started to feel the weight of the lonely years. Things change when he meets Beck, a new employee of the team, in the financial area. At first it doesn't seem there could be much to bring them close, but step by step they find things to talk about and Donovan finally has someone he can talk to about what he feels. However, he isn't ready to come out and Beck isn't the type to hide anymore... is there any hope for them?

This is the seventh installment in the Sydney Smoke Rugby series about, obviously, a team of rugby players in Australia. From the example of this book, the actual rugby playing seems to be quite light and more a reason for some plot situations and it's really not necessary to understand the game to read the novel (I know nothing about rugby and that didn't stop me from moving along with what they were sometimes discussing).

This is also the first book I try by the author, meaning I have not read any of the other novels in the series and, to be honest, I don't feel curious to do do now. I really only wanted to read this one because it featured an m/m couple. This said, the writing seems approachable, easy, fluid and I've felt no problems following what was being referenced, especially since many characters already had been protagonists and were all familiar to one another. Sometimes getting into things after so many books can feel weird, but this novel does seem different enough for this to not be important.

Donovan has been hiding his sexuality not only because he didn't feel ready, but also for concern over how the news would affect his daughter and those around him, assuming that coming out would affect everyone. His reasons are, of course, valid and I liked the fact he was thinking about others too and not just doing whatever because he could afford the publicity. His personality is one of a shy person, very at odds with his apparent physical description, but he is sensitive and I was eager to see him becoming more confident and falling in love.

Beck is a more assertive person, he has been through disappointments which led him to feel he is ready to be out and proud and he knows right away Donovan isn't ready yet. he does respect his way of thinking but, of course, this would not be a romance if they weren't to find a way to be together enough for the d«feelings to develop between them. The romance alone is sweet and slow paced, which makes me think the relationship is taking time to advance, and they are respecting one another, but...

As things progress, the slow part if the process feels too much. Perhaps if there had been more interactions with others while they were assessing each other or if their time together had been more constant (better, if we could see those scenes) I'd have more eagerly awaited for things to finally improve. However, the author certainly allowed them to take their time and for Donovan to really think about everything... in real life this would be heaven, but in the book it was a little boring. Plus, when things change at last, it was rushed!

After so long with the whole "should he take a chance, should he wait", Donovan makes a decision  - I know it's not hard to guess! - and from that moment on, things are solved in very few pages, it's too quick. I thought to myself, why taking so long to set up something and then everything is fixed/dealt with in seemingly five pages? The distribution of pages doesn't match the emotional evolution of the story, in my opinion.

All things considered, this was a good story, entertaining enough, interesting themes mentioned and discussed, but the overall feeling for me is of "it could have been better".

Grade: 7/10