The Nature of the Game by Amy Aislin
Series: Stick Side #2
**PLEASE NOTE: Book 1 in the Stick Side series, ON THE ICE, will be on mega sale at only 99¢ May 6 – 13!
Get it now: https://amzn.to/2Vd1Bbr
Publisher: self-published
Release Date (Print & Ebook): May 7, 2019
Length (Print & Ebook): 87,000 words / 330 pages
Subgenre: m/m contemporary romance
Tropes: second chances
Warnings: N/A
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Book synopsis:
Six years ago, an ultimatum forced Dan Greyson to make a choice that cost
him everything he loved most. One of those things? His boyfriend, hockey player Ashton Yager.Now that they’ve crossed paths again, Dan isn’t about to let the opportunity slip away. Ash’s reappearance in his life is just the catalyst Dan needs to escape the rut he’s fallen into…and win back Ash’s trust and love.
Ashton Yager, once burned and now a little bit shy, didn’t mean to publicly come out as
bisexual. But now that he has, he’s got to deal with the consequences, including the fact that it might’ve cost him his NHL contract. With his job on the line, he needs to keep his head down, work hard, and play the best hockey of his life. Rekindling things with Dan? That’s not exactly keeping a low profile. It’s also never going to happen, not after Dan walked away once without an explanation.
When a hurricane forces Ash to seek shelter out-of-state, he and Dan find themselves in the same B&B, where old feelings resurface. But with everything Ash has on the line, does he dare play with fire again?
About Amy Aislin: Amy started writing on a rainy day in fourth grade when her class was forced to stay inside for recess. Tales of adventures with her classmates quickly morphed into tales of adventures with the characters in her head. Based in the suburbs of Toronto, Amy is a marketer/fundraiser at a large environmental non-profit in Toronto by day, and a writer by night. Book enthusiast, animal lover and (very) amateur photographer, her interests are many and varied, including travelling, astronomy, ecology, and baking. She binge watches too much anime, and loves musical theater, Julie Andrews, the Backstreet Boys, and her hometown of Oakville, Ontario.\
Connect with Amy:
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/amyaislin
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amy_aislin
QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/amy-aislin/
Short Teaser :
Ash’s phone beeped in his pocket and he pulled it out, eyebrows winging up when he
saw who it was.
Speak of the damn devil.
I heard about the hurricane coming your way. Are you okay? Did you get out?
Then a second text: Oh, BTW, this is Dan.
How had Dan gotten his phone number? It was different than the one he’d had while
living in Syracuse.
I’m fine, Ash sent back. Flying out this afternoon. And because he didn’t want to seem
like a jerk who didn’t appreciate the concern—which, honestly, he wasn’t sure whether
he did appreciate it or not—he added, Thanks for thinking of me.
I’m always thinking of you.
Ash’s mouth dropped open and something suspiciously like butterflies erupted in his
belly.
Long Teaser :
“Gonna kiss me back?” Ash murmured against Dan’s lips, walking him backward until his back hit the wall next to the door. “Or just stand there like a corpse?”
Pushing against Ash, Dan reversed their positions and kissed him back.
God. Yes. More. More. But why? Oh, who cared. He shut his brain off and went with it,
consequences be damned.
Ash’s mouth was hot and wet and firm, and his hands were everywhere at once. Every
part of him Ash touched and stroked felt like it was being touched and stroked for the
first time. Parts of him he’d thought dead flared to life.
Ash bent his knees and sank down on the wall, bringing their heights in line. Dan could
feel Ash’s heart beating furiously between them, just as fast as his.
He was light-headed and his tongue was in Ash’s mouth and the world was a million
times brighter than it’d been mere minutes ago.
Ash kissed as if he was starving. Dan met every kiss with hunger of his own and held on
for dear life.
Finally, finally he could run his hands through Ash’s hair. The gray was coarser than the
brown had been; Dan couldn’t get enough of it. Ash inserted a leg between Dan’s thighs,
igniting his senses. Dan ripped his mouth away to gasp in air, making Ash smile against
his throat. Hands at Dan’s hips encouraged him to move, and the pressure of Ash’s thigh
on his erection made him see stars.
“God.”
He dragged Ash’s mouth back to his.
Gentler, this time. Quieter. More sensuous than frantic. Kiss after kiss after kiss.
Dan pulled back to look at Ash, breathing ragged, and ran a thumb along Ash’s jaw and
over his lips. Ash sucked his thumb into his mouth, tongue swirling around the tip.
“You kissed me,” Dan choked around a gasp.
“Mm-hmm.”
“Why?”
Ash let Dan’s thumb pop out of his mouth. “Felt like it.”
Release blitz/blog tour giveaway: Win a Stick Side prize pack, including signed
paperbacks of books 1 and 2 in the series, as well as some Stick Side swag! Contest
open internationally. Enter via Rafflecopter. Contest ends at 12:00am May 12.
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Direct link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c8c1c6418/
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
The Nature of the Game is the second book in Amy Aislin’s Stick Side series. It can be read as a standalone, which is what I did but her characters are so great you’ll want to go back and read the first book.
Six years ago Dan broke Ash’s heart and his own because he was stuck in an impossible position and didn’t see any other choice at the time. He has regretted it ever since and when chance puts him and Ash together he takes the risk that Ash still feels something for him. He wants a second chance to prove he cares, atone for the past and at the very least get his friend back. Even though the chemistry and connection is still there, Ash has his walls up and its not going to be easy for Dan to get past them.
“They might crash and burn again, but Ash would never forgive himself if he didn’t try.“
I loved everything about The Nature of the Game. I honestly can’t think of one thing that I disliked about it. The main characters Ash and Dan were fantastic, along with Ash’s team-mates and Dan’s brother. I liked Ash’s blunt honesty and that he didn’t hold back on his opinions, he was also passionate about his career and helping youths. I adored Dan, with his Lego building and onesie pajamas, he was really sweet and his insecurities and claustrophobia made me want to give him a hug. Together they were playful and supportive of each other and the physical chemistry between them was perfect. I loved how they weren’t just in a physical relationship but their friendship was just as important.
“Ash kissed as if he was starving. Dan met every kiss with hunger of his own and held on for dear life.“
I usually don’t enjoy second chance romances because the reasons for the initial break up are usually ridiculous but with this book the situation and the reaction to it was realistic. The story itself flowed and I looked forward to the flashbacks of their original relationship and how it grew. I appreciated the great LGBT representation in the book and how it made the distinction between bisexual and gay.
The Nature of the Game by Amy Aislin is a wonderful second chance MM romance. It made me laugh and it broke my heart but don’t worry it put it back together again. I look forward to future releases in Stick Sides series.
“I could never be afraid of you, Ash. You made me feel like I could fly.“
“Being with Ash was equal parts amazing and terrifying.“
OnceUpon_A_BookDream 