Review - Caught Running – Abigail Roux , Madeline Urban

 

 

 

 

The Blurb

 

Ten years after graduation, Jake "the jock" Campbell and Brandon "the nerd" Bartlett are teaching at their old high school and still living in separate worlds. When Brandon is thrown into a coaching job on Jake's baseball team, they find themselves learning more about each other than they'd ever expected. High school is all about image – even for the teachers.

 

Brandon and Jake have to get past their preconceived notions to find the friendship needed to work together. And somewhere along the way, they discover that perceptions can always change for the better

 

 

 

The Review

 

Characters

Jake Campbell – The jock grown up to be the coach of the Jocks. He’s also the man that hides who he is from the friends and colleagues he has. Having Brandon on his team might just be the best thing that has ever happened to him

Brandon Bartlett – The geeky guy who was more than he seems. Brandon also hides his true self from the few close friends he has. Tossed into Jakes world, he’s not sure he ever wants to leave.

 

The Plot

Jake and Brandon having attended the same school in there teenage years had clearly defined social structure. Now years later they were back, both working at their old high school, but the state of play in regards to their social structure remains the same.

That changed however when Brandon is asked to help Jake coach the football team. Brandon sees another side to Jake and Jake is awed at the athlete that he never knew Brandon was. While the job tosses them together more and more, preconceived ideas are hard to let go of and both men have to see that the person in front of them was there all along. 

 

Shaken out of his concentration, Brandon pulled back as feet attached to long legs pushed onto his lap, nudging the papers. He lifted a brow and tipped his chin to look at Jake, glasses sliding down his nose. "Is this your way of telling me you want my attention?" he asked. Yep. Still feeling happy. Shit.

"No, but feel free to keep my feet warm," Jake ordered haughtily as he waggled his fingers at Brandon and then tucked his hands under his head, long body stretched out comfortably.

Brandon now had ankles on his multiple-choice tests, and he looked at them, bemused. Without thinking, he dropped his pen and pressed a finger to a whitened scar and slid it along the tendon.

Caught Running © Abigail Roux, Madeline Urban

 

Surprise Element

The ABC of the plot. There was no twist or turns, nothing to rock to the boat. The story was just that a story. It captivated me, it concentrated on the evolution of the relationship between Jake and Brandon. The chemistry between these two was off the charts.  

 

Predictability

None, the plot alone in itself was a surprise, I was so caught up in the story to not even bother trying to consider what will come next. Everything was geared towards these two men finding each other. 

 

Smut/ Ick Factor

At one point i thought they would never build up the courage and get the show on the road. However once they got down to the business at hand, it was hilarious. The highjinks that these two get up along with the people around them is so good.

 

Positive

I love books about men in motion. So athletes, Cops, Army, Navy ( it’s the uniform) and from the moment i read the blurb and heard ‘coach” I was hooked.

The fact that their teenage dynamics was alive and well even in there adult life was a big plus for me. Brandon had his friends, Jakes had his friend – so very high school – which it was.

The character are well developed, there is no question about that. You knew then, why they laughed, why they moaned and you certainly felt when they  were pissed off.

The simplicity of the plot was wonderful, There is no side story, there is no “other” person. This is simple a love story and it works.

I have fun with this book, i laughed out loud and i had my heartbreaking moment as well. The hilarity was spot on, there are more than enough laugh out loud moments to give a good balance to the story.

 

Negative

No there was nothing to complain about. once i realise the story was not going down the route of old lover, bitches in the closet or any other expected scenario – i just enjoyed the story for what it was. 

Cover.

I love an athlete, there built, there form, just everything. I was immediately attracted to the cover. A man in motion – does it for me every time.