Review of Hard Count: Book One of The Piper Ashton Saga
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[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Hard Count: Book One of The Piper Ashton Saga" by Lucas Malone.]
Hard Count by Lucas Malone is a book I struggled to put down once I started reading. It follows two star quarterbacks: Piper Ashton and Noah Reyes. Piper's entire life is controlled by a tech billionaire who doesn't like to share. If Piper tries to step out of line, another clause is added to his contract. When Noah winks at him across the field, Piper's entire world is turned upside down. However, a relationship could ruin both of their reputations. Will Piper be able to escape his contract? Will Noah and Piper find a happy ending?
Malone did an exceptional job of writing this book. There was not a moment I felt disengaged. In part, this was due to the excellent mix of plot, romance, and football. I feel as though many sports romance novels leave the sport in the background. This is not the case here. Malone included several thrilling football games that both drove the plot forward and took time to honor the sport. This, combined with the numerous scenes dedicated to Piper's inner turmoil due to his growing feelings for Noah and the impact a relationship would have on his life, made the book feel balanced.
The plot has some soap opera vibes, with over-the-top villains, sassy dialogue, and intense emotions. However, this is contrasted by darker themes of abuse, homophobia, and control. The contrast highlighted these issues, and more, quite well. This made the book surprisingly emotional and hard-hitting. For me, an especially chilling moment was when Piper first signed the contract at twenty-one years old. A tech billionaire had approached him, selling him fame and fortune. A seemingly simple contract sealed the deal. Piper, being young and inexperienced, did not fully understand the weight of it. This highlights the exploitation of young people that is so common.
I am happy to rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. There was nothing that I disliked about it. The book was also exceptionally well-edited; I didn't notice a single error. It is perfect for fans of dark sports romance. Malone provides a list of trigger warnings that should be noted before reading the book. It does contain explicit sexual content, making it only suitable for adult audiences. I also believe it is not well-suited to those who are extremely religious due to the sexual content, strong language, and depiction of a homosexual relationship. However, if you enjoy the genre, I highly recommend checking out Hard Count! I will be impatiently waiting to read the sequel!
******
Hard Count: Book One of The Piper Ashton Saga
View: on Bookshelves |
Hard Count by Lucas Malone is a book I struggled to put down once I started reading. It follows two star quarterbacks: Piper Ashton and Noah Reyes. Piper's entire life is controlled by a tech billionaire who doesn't like to share. If Piper tries to step out of line, another clause is added to his contract. When Noah winks at him across the field, Piper's entire world is turned upside down. However, a relationship could ruin both of their reputations. Will Piper be able to escape his contract? Will Noah and Piper find a happy ending?
Malone did an exceptional job of writing this book. There was not a moment I felt disengaged. In part, this was due to the excellent mix of plot, romance, and football. I feel as though many sports romance novels leave the sport in the background. This is not the case here. Malone included several thrilling football games that both drove the plot forward and took time to honor the sport. This, combined with the numerous scenes dedicated to Piper's inner turmoil due to his growing feelings for Noah and the impact a relationship would have on his life, made the book feel balanced.
The plot has some soap opera vibes, with over-the-top villains, sassy dialogue, and intense emotions. However, this is contrasted by darker themes of abuse, homophobia, and control. The contrast highlighted these issues, and more, quite well. This made the book surprisingly emotional and hard-hitting. For me, an especially chilling moment was when Piper first signed the contract at twenty-one years old. A tech billionaire had approached him, selling him fame and fortune. A seemingly simple contract sealed the deal. Piper, being young and inexperienced, did not fully understand the weight of it. This highlights the exploitation of young people that is so common.
I am happy to rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. There was nothing that I disliked about it. The book was also exceptionally well-edited; I didn't notice a single error. It is perfect for fans of dark sports romance. Malone provides a list of trigger warnings that should be noted before reading the book. It does contain explicit sexual content, making it only suitable for adult audiences. I also believe it is not well-suited to those who are extremely religious due to the sexual content, strong language, and depiction of a homosexual relationship. However, if you enjoy the genre, I highly recommend checking out Hard Count! I will be impatiently waiting to read the sequel!
******
Hard Count: Book One of The Piper Ashton Saga
View: on Bookshelves |
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