Tigerland – Book Review

So recently I reviewed the book Tigers and Devils and as soon as I had finished that one I was keen to get into the next book of the series Tigerland… and here is my review of that one too 🙂

Blurb: After an eventful and sometimes uncomfortably public courtship, Simon Murray and Declan Tyler settled into a comfortable life together. Now retired from the AFL, Declan works as a football commentator; Simon develops programs with queer content for a community television station.

Despite their public professional lives, Simon and Declan manage to keep their private life out of the spotlight. Their major concerns revolve around supporting their friends through infertility and relationship problems—until Greg Heyward, Declan’s ex-partner, outs himself in a transparent bid for attention.

Though Simon and Declan are furious with Greg and his media antics, they can’t agree on what to do about it. Declan insists they should maintain a dignified silence, but both he and Simon keep getting drawn into Heyward’s games. Simon and Declan will once again have to ride out the media storm before they can return their attention to what really matters: each other.

Rating: 5/5

My thoughts: There are times when you read a book you really enjoy, the characters are left in a good place but you still can’t help but wonder “what happened to them next”… and there are times when the author kindly lets you find out.

Set a few years after the first book Tigerland find Simon and Declan settled into a comfortable and happy life together and things are going well. As much as we all want such a settled life for ourselves it would ultimately make for a dull read but no such worries here as Sean Kennedy quickly throws a spanner in the works once more as Greg Heyward, Declan’s ex and himself a football player, decides to come out now that his playing career is over.

Dec’s plans to keep a distance from this situation doesn’t work out too well as Heyward is quick to cash in on Dec’s popularity and drag him into his own bid for attention. By refusing to be drawn into the situation Dec give Heyward every opportunity to embellish their past relationship, regardless of the truth – or lack thereof!

So once again Simon and Dec’s lives are thrown into turmoil by outside forces and only their love for each other and support of their wonderful network of friends will keep them strong.

Another great installment of this series and once again I am left thinking “what happened to them next..”  Oh there is another book you say *happy face*

Tigers and Devils – Book Review

Another beautiful sunny day and another good day for sitting out and reading giving me time to get to the end of this little gem – Tigers and Devils by Sean Kennedy

Blurb: The most important things in Simon Murray’s life are football, friends, and film—in that order. His friends despair of him ever meeting someone, but despite his loneliness, Simon is cautious about looking for more. Then his best friends drag him to a party, where he barges into a football conversation and ends up defending the honour of star forward Declan Tyler—unaware that the athlete is present. In that first awkward meeting, neither man has any idea they will change each other’s lives forever.

Like his entire family, Simon revels in living in Melbourne, the home of Australian Rules football and mecca for serious fans. There, players are treated like gods—until they do something to fall out of public favour. This year, the public is taking Declan to task for suffering injuries outside his control, so Simon’s support is a bright spot.

But as Simon and Declan fumble toward a relationship, keeping Declan’s homosexuality a secret from well-meaning friends and an increasingly suspicious media becomes difficult. Nothing can stay hidden forever. Soon Declan will have to choose between the career he loves and the man he wants, and Simon has never been known to make things easy—for himself or for others.

Rating: 5/5

My thoughts: Now this is a book I might never have normally come across – but after glowing recommendations from a friend it did seem like a read worth checking out – and I was right 🙂

The opening of this book was a little slow as we learned of the football loyalties of the different characters but thankfully, despite one of the main characters being a football player, football isn’t any real major part of the story. The real strength of this book in my opinion is the characters. When you simultaneously want to hug and shake a character then you know the author is doing something right 🙂

Simon is a decent guy with great friends and a job he loves, what he doesn’t have is a boyfriend, and he’s pretty okay with this – or so he tells himself. When he meets the superstar football player Declan Tyler however everything changes. Any new relationship can be difficult but when you’re openly gay and the man you are falling in love with isn’t, and believes he can’t be, things are never going to be easy… but some relationships are worth the hardships.

With the kind of best friends we all need behind him Simon learns what it’s like to fall in love with a man who’s private life is public property. No matter how hard they try nothing can stay secret forever.

A great story, love and friendship and all of the ups and downs that go along with any kind of relationship… very enjoyable read and I’ve already started on book 2 🙂