Playing It Safe

Amy Andrews

Sep 2021 · Sydney Smoke Rugby Series Book 7 · Sold by Entangled: Brazen

About this ebook

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—for now. He’d rather be known for his footy skills than being the first actively pro rugby player in Australia to officially come out. And that means no dating, no relationships, no sex. Nothing but playing ball.

Until Beckett Stanton changes everything.

Beck is out and proud—and not looking for a guy who isn’t. Been there, done that, total disaster. He certainly can’t afford to compromise his new job for the Sydney Smoke just because he’s locked eyes with Donovan Bane.

Big, gruff, and athletic isn’t usually Beck’s type, but for some reason this man is ticking every box.

Maybe he’s the one to show Donovan everything he’s been missing...

For the first time, Donovan isn’t playing by the rules. With Beck, he’s indulging in things he knows he can’t have. But when their relationship gets serious, Donovan faces a showdown between the career he loves and the man he’s falling for.

How can he possibly have both when losing is not an option?

Each book in the Sydney Smoke Rugby series is STANDALONE:
* Playing By Her Rules
* Playing It Cool
* Playing the Player
* Playing With Forever
* Playing House
* Playing Dirty
* Playing It Safe
* Playing It Tough

Ratings and reviews

This is Amy Andrews first M/M romance and after reading Playing It Safe I’m wonder why she has ventured into this genre before now because Donovan and Becks romance is up there with the best M/M romances of the year. This really shows how talented and diverse this author is. Donovan Bane is playing a game he loves, he is at the top of his career but he has been hiding his sexuality his whole life, he has excepted a future without a partner and makes up for this by spending time and loving with his teammates families. Beckett “Beck” Stanton has just joined the Sydney Smoke working in the finance dept and this is where these two meet. The attraction is instant and the connection is strong but Beck knows Donovan is hiding his sexuality and add in the fact Beck is not looking for a relationship over being burnt in his last, it seems these two are not meant to be. But fate has a plan and it’s a lift on a rainy night that makes them realise the chemistry and attraction is to hard to resist but will that be enough for Donovan to come out of the closet. Guess you need to read the book to find that out….. This book ticked all my boxes, I smiled, I swooned and I held my breath as I found myself engrossed in this steamy, entertaining journey. I adored the characters and I loved the story and I highly recommend this read to all M/M romance lovers.

Donovan Bane is a big tattooed half-Maori professional rugby player. Divorced, with a daughter who lives with her mother in New Zealand, he is devoted to being the best player he can be for the Sydney Smoke. Donovan is hiding a big secret, he's gay, but there are no openly gay professional rugby players out there and he doesn't want the furore of being the first one to come out, so he's resigned to staying in the closet until he retires a few years down the line, anyway it's not as if he has any experience with men, not since a disastrous first encounter years ago when he was still married. Then pow! Donovan is sitting with two of his teammates' wives and baby having a coffee when the women spot a sexy guy called Beck wearing a Sydney Smoke lanyard. Donovan can't take his eyes off this sexy accountant, which is a surprise because he always thought he would be attracted to a sportsman or someone more outdoorsy, and Beck can't take his eyes off Donovan, although he seems to understand that Donovan is hiding his sexuality and doesn't flirt with him. It might have been the most innocent of meetings but Donovan can't help thinking about Beck, about how he had the courage to be totally honest about his sexuality, about mentioning his ex-boyfriend to relative strangers, about how gorgeous he was. Heck obsessing about Beck is putting him off his game, the most reliable player on the field! Beck has been in a relationship with someone who keeps his sexuality a secret and he doesn't want to do it again, but this big, sexy rugby player is so cute and so sexy he's breaking his own rules. This is the bit where Amy Andrews calls me out in her newsletter (again), of course the sex scenes are H.O.T., I just felt that there wasn't enough story/plot linking the sex scenes, not enough tension, no plot twist, no misunderstandings, no homophobic friends/teammates/family, no grit. I thought Kate Meader did it better in Undone By You, and yet it's a shorter book. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Playing it Safe by Amy Andrews Sydney Smoke #7 Loved Donovan and Beckett and rooted for them from beginning to end. It can’t be easy living up to the expectations some hold for athletes whether they are those of one’s own making or created by society and Donovan has a lot on his plate being “in the closet”, playing rugby, and then meeting the man that could be his soul mate. What I liked: * Donovan: father, divorced, gay, rugby player, in the closet, has his future planned, meets Beckett, his life is changed. * Beckett: financial guy, gay, confident, charming, open, charismatic, unwilling to be with a man in the closet, meets Donovan and his life is changed. * That the two men “knew” there was chemistry from their first meeting * The way they went slow at first while exploring the possibilities * Thinking about the impact society has on youth and how that can last a LONG time * The way Donovan came into his own and grew through the story * The relationship Donovan had with his family and friends * Beckett’s ability to communicate * Miri: Donovan’s daughter * Griff: coach but definitely helpful when needed * Donovan’s team and the relationship they seem to have * The fairytale feel to the story that came with a happy ending What I didn’t like: * Knowing that the conflict Donovan faced is still being experienced today by many…wish being open and accepted no matter one’s orientation was possible. Did I enjoy this book? Yes Would I read more in this series? Definitely Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing-Brazen for the ARC – This is my honest review. 5 Stars

About the author

Amy Andrews is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling, double RITA®–nominated Aussie author who has written eighty-plus contemporary romances in both the traditional and digital markets. She’s been translated into more than a dozen different languages as well as manga. Her books bring all the feels from sass, quirk, and laughter to emotional grit to panty-melting heat. She loves frequent travel, good books, and great booze—although she’ll take mediocre booze if there’s nothing else. For many, many years she was a registered nurse. Which means she knows things. Anatomical things. And she’s not afraid to use them! She lives in a sleepy seaside town with her husband of thirty years. Visit her online at amyandrews.com.au.