Erryn reviews ‘Hay’ (Made Marian Book 8.5) by Lucy Lennox. The ebook was published March 11, 2019 and is 104 pages. The audiobook version of this story was narrated by Michael Pauley, released by Lucy Lennox on November 26th, 2019 and is 2 hrs and 36 mins long. A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Why I read this book: I wanted Hay to get his happy ending.
When sports journalist Hayworth Buchanan lands the interview of his dreams, he gets the chance to visit famous NFL coach Christian Lasley at his secluded ranch in Wyoming. Despite the cold weather outside, things get plenty steamy inside when sparks fly between Hay and his celebrity sports crush. But Hay’s been down this road before, and he knows from experience hot connections never turn into the real deal for him. After all, everyone he’s ever been interested in has left him for their childhood love.
So when Christian’s on-again, off-again childhood love shows up at the ranch hoping to reconcile, Hayworth knows he a decision to make. Does he hand over the ball and slink off the field, or does he step up and try to make the winning play?
While Hay is set in the Made Marian world, this story stands completely on its own.
Book Links: Audible | Amazon | Add to Goodreads
My Review:
I am a huge Made Marian fan. I listened to the main books a few years ago and the shorts more recently. I remember Hay. I wasn’t enamored with him and now I realize why. He was, essentially, a place holder. He was dating men destined for other happy endings. In all three cases, the men wound up with their childhood sweethearts. Part of me felt sorry for Hay, but I didn’t think much more of him until I heard he was getting his own story.
His perspective is, of course, very different. He cared deeply for each of the men he lost and, to be honest, discovering you’ve merely been a placeholder must have sucked. So when he gets the chance to interview his football hero, he’s ecstatic. He has his own podcast and has made quite a successful go of it, including his own YouTube channel. The big boys in the sports world have also taken note. The interview with Christian Lasley will be the feather in his cap, so to speak.
Oh, and Christian is gay. An open gay football coach. Hay is out as well but he isn’t thinking about how nice a hook-up would be. He’s thinking about how nice this interview will be. But there are sparks. Add in a foal, some actual hay, and a cold winter’s night and things do heat up. But Christian has an ex that he was with on and off for twenty years and Hay’s positive he knows where things are going to wind up for him.
Still, Christian is smitten and determined to see Hay again. They’ve made a connection that has Christian thinking of the long term and his enthusiasm brings Hay along for the ride. Then, of course, Christian’s ex does appear. Hay has to decide whether he’s willing to fight or if he’s going to slink off and lick his wounds.
This is a Lucy Lennox romance so I was pretty sure I knew what’d happen next. I do love my happy endings. Michael Pauley has narrated this entire series and he again hit this one out of the park. His narrations are always enjoyable and I was glad to listen to this book. The story is on the shorter side but I didn’t mind a bit because it was steamy almost from the beginning. Two men destined to be together. Sigh.
My Rating:
10/10 Pots of Gold (100% Recommended) – Compares to 5/5 Stars
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