Sugar Land Saints, Baylin Crow

With a slow build to their sexy conclusion, Torin and Rush have a great connection and friendship. We don't get enough of that on the page, sadly, and even their romantic evolution is sudden because of all the denial, withholding, and pretending. Their first attempt at more than a friendship was aborted by "good" intentions and unclear motives for Torin's change and further put on hold by some family drama from Rush. I'm not sure why that information was so huge and necessary for prolonging the relationship angst. It seemed like making a huge deal out of something that was never discussed again until the very end when things kind of changed for the better. Torin and Rush were believable together, but I wish it had more depth. I thought they were sweet together once they were all in and they did have chemistry, though not as sexy as others of Baylin's stories, but overall it worked. I'll definitely read more from the series because the other characters were quite compelling, even from the sidelines.  3.5 stars.

Bishop and Shaw appeared to be the "odd couple" of the team with Shaw's bright friendliness and Bishop's dark brooding.  Together they found a balance, but not until they went through their own trials both from within themselves and those that should have supported them.

I enjoyed Shaw and Bishop's chemistry quite a lot.  If this is the first book you've read from the series you'd miss out on some of their interactions that gave a bit of a basis for the way their relationship really took off in this story.  There was very little foundation building in this story, but we know right away what the relationship is and that the status quo is quickly becoming not enough for either of the young men.  With a dual POV we get to see both of them attempting to navigate the complications of their changing feelings and fears of both perceptions and disappointed hopes.  It wasn't too angsty, but the angst was predictable with the interference of secrets, coercion, and prejudice.

I did think the reconciliation and conclusion made up for the upsets that were experienced.  And with an epilogue that gave us the open and loving moments between Bishop and Shaw we've been craving, it felt like a complete story, so long as you saw how they were as friends in Quarterback Sneak before things changed for them.  We were also given a little insight into the trouble we're going to find with Nash and Rendon.  I'm seeing a good lead-in to the next book in the series and I'm suitably intrigued.  3.5 stars.

This addition to the series was longer than the previous two because there wasn't a long-running history that was implied enough to give context and depth to the relationship.  I enjoyed that the story began with their first meeting, which we saw peripherally in Quarterback Sneak, and then caught another glimpse of impending drama at the end of Broken Play.  From there we got their whole story, sordid and steamy details and drama and angst and immaturity and all.  Both Nash and Rendon were intriguing in their own ways and while Nash was my favorite, Rendon was not without his charms.

Their relationship progressed as expected, with a lot of denials, jealousy, setbacks, and second-guessing, but the thing that remained the stable driving force was Nash's heart.  He was committed to having Rendon and then to keeping him.  It didn't go easily and no amount of cocky charm could influence the fallout of his past, but he opened up and it was his complete honesty and laying bare his heart that made everything right.  There are additional characters in this story that caught my attention without stealing the show, mostly, so I'd be super happy if the series continues with them.  Until then, I'm glad the stories are improving and deepening both with the characters themselves and their own journey to finding their best partner.  4 stars.