REVIEW: 'Gasping for Air' by T.S. McKinney
Title: Gasping for Air
Series: Gameday Book 2
Author: T.S. McKinney
Published: April 20, 2017
Publisher: Painted Hearts Publishing
Cover Artist: E. Keith
Genre: Contemporary Romance; Erotic Romance; New Adult
Length: 456 Pages
Tags: Gay; M/M; Bisexual; Athlete/Sport: Swimming and Football; College; Tattoos and Piercings; Angst: High; Kink: Anal Toys; HFN; CW: Violence - Attempted Murder; CW: Recounting of Physically and Emotionally Abusive Relationship, Abduction, Gang Rape
About Gasping for Air
How far will Trystan go to win the heart of the man he loves? All the way. Trystan Matherly is conceited, arrogant, and rich. He has plenty of money, athletic ability, and gorgeous looks to keep the men forming a long line just to be with him. Choosing his next lover has been as simple as down-selecting to the hottest candidate. Until Dakota. With his sad eyes, full lips, and perfectly sculpted swimmer’s body, Dakota is just the kind of lover Trystan wants. After only one look, he knows he has to have him. Too bad Dakota seems to be totally oblivious to all his charms. Dakota Jacobson is lonely, tired, and depressed. He’s at Alabama Temple to complete his degree, not to put up with idiots. He works diligently to be as invisible as possible. He doesn’t need friends and he sure doesn’t need lovers…especially not football titans that think they rule the world. Nope; been there, done that. Until Trystan. With his sexy eyes, arrogant smirk, and muscled physique, Trystan is just the kind of lover Dakota never intends to have…again. Too bad Trystan refuses to allow him to be invisible.
4 HEART READ
REVIEW:
Gasping for Air by T.S. McKinney’s is an intense addition to her Gameday series. Although it can easily be read as a standalone I would recommend reading the first book in the series so you have a better appreciation for the cast of supporting characters who play a heavy part in this story.
I enjoy how McKinney brings you right in a couple weeks after Touchdown left off so you get a glimpse of where Alex and Lincoln have landed. Many times in our romance stories we are left with them falling in love but miss the “ever after”.
Tank, Heisman Trophy winner and top NFL draft pick, used to getting anyone he wants (male or female), finds himself in a rare position. He has a serious case of the “lusts” for a man who won’t give him the time of day. Him, Trystan Matherly. And his self-inflicted dry spell is making him determined. He just needs to fuck the dude and get him out of his system. But is his infatuation more than meets the eye?
Dakota obviously has had a bad experience that ended in some sort of legal consequence. Now resigned to finishing out his swimming career at a new college he’s determined to not attract unwanted attention and to stay away from all men. Five months, he can do it – right!? Until Trystan starts stalking him. It’s hard to avoid an aphrodisiac even when you are determined not to fall for the wrong man - again.
Trystan is cocky, vain, self-assured…yet sweet. Dakota, is the complete opposite. What could go wrong – or right?
To start Gasping for Air has a progressively slow build-up while Trystan and Dakota’s rambling thoughts at times left me shaking my head. I found myself thinking “Get to the point already we know you haven’t slept with anyone else since setting your sights on Dakota and we know you wish you had met Trystan before your troubles – what happened to you, Dakota?”
But, this build-up is highly important and just like Trystan I recommend that you stay focused and invested because where this tale leads will not leave you disappointed that the author has instilled such empathy.
There’s this deep, heavy angst throughout Trystan and Dakota’s story and for anyone who knows me you know how difficult this is for me. But, just as I would feel my heart beat faster, my toes start to tap and my breathing start to increase, McKinney would swoop in with one of her hot sex scenes, and I do mean hot, and ease my anxiety.
I sort of felt what Trystan was feeling. The turmoil, the confusion, the frustration, tempered by passion.
Trystan stalks and pursues Dakota with determination and at the same time you see Dakota wanting so much to give over his heart. But the secret he holds, and six years of believing he doesn’t deserve someone like Trystan, could have disastrous consequences for them both.
At about 320 pages you better be prepared to cage up your heart because, holy shit, it’s gonna be drug through hell.
You’ll even begin to wonder how much more you can take. But just as Trystan slowly drags his “Guppy” back to the land of the living so does McKinney bring forth her readers.
Then she fabulously ties in the logistics of the championship game in Touchdown to what occurs in this book - the “star players” from the other team who were removed from the championship game just days prior to playing – and I was sold on her talent.
Trystan and Dakota’s story is a gripingly, all-consuming, emotional roller coaster!
With an explosive ending that will leave you “Gasping for Air”, wanting to reach through the pages and hug them both, praise “Heisman” for not giving up and hold Dakota’s hand and never let go. It will have you believing love can, and will, conquer all and has the power to make a young man a deserving MAN!
As the Fray’s song Corners implies we all have corners we can find something nice in if we keep looking and when everything you love goes bad, you love them til they love you back. Which is exactly what Trystan does.
An advanced reader copy of Gasping for Air was provided to Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter, by Enticing Promotions, at no cost and with no expectations in return. We offer our fair and honest opinion on behalf of our readers.
NOTE: Gasping for Air deals with a very heavy topic and reading this as a survivor I can imagine what some might think. “How could Dakota even involve himself and do the things he did with Trystan, given his past.” From my experience I can tell you this can happen. Especially if you have yet to confront your past, still blame yourself for what happened and have not recovered your self-worth. When you are still trying to find a way to escape the pain you gravitate to what you “know”. And sometimes that one soul can reach yours!
I don't generally mention grammatical elements unless they affect my overall enjoyment of the story. Unfortunately, that was my experience here. There were numerous misused and completely missing words throughout the book which pulled me away at very pivotal moments and I almost gave up. I stuck it out because this story is very intense, moving, and emotional. I realize the 'perfect manuscript' is little more than a pipe dream. (Heck, as a blogger I make mistakes and I'm very thankful when someone points them out to me.) It's my sincere hope the publisher will take the time to edit/update the book as the author deserves to have this piece of work shine for the beautiful, important message it is!
Catch-up to the Gameday series with Alexander and Lincoln’s story, Touchdown.
Meet the Author
T.S. McKinney lives in East Tennessee with her high school sweetheart/husband and all the countless dogs she picks up from deserted country roads. Her professional career has been in business but her heart has always belonged to the fantasy world found in books.
Creating wicked worlds where one can meet the perfect hero – and then do anything to him that you want – has been a hobby that has brought her plenty of hours of fun and naughty entertainment.
When not working, reading, or writing, she loves to spend time with my family and forcing them (because they don’t really have another choice) to allow me to redecorate their houses…and listen to my naughty…sometimes sadistic stories.
