Book Review: Fourth and Long by Michele Michael Rakes

Reviewed by Susan65

Title: Fourth and Long
Author: Michele Michael Rakes
Series: Sequel to Saving Kane
Heroes: Irus Beaumont/Jackson McCoy
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 413 Pages
Publisher: Loose Id
Release Date: March 17, 2016
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Irus Beaumont, cornerback for the Highlanders, has an issue with his nemesis: wideout for the Pirates, Jackson McCoy. Partly jealous over Jackson’s skill and ability to scrub coverage, Irus also struggles against an unbearable attraction to the receiver. Firmly ensconced in the closet, Irus also has a no football player rule, leaving his desires for Jackson unfulfilled. Anti-gay sentiment in the league keeps Irus closeted, even though he’d rather be out and proud.

When Jackson McCoy suffers a gay bashing at the hands of his team mates after winning the national championship, he finds himself traded to the Highlanders. Spring training brings out Jackson’s competitive nature, eliciting the aggression of his new team’s cornerback, Irus Beaumont.

In practice, Irus hurts Jackson badly. The injury places Jackson on the reserve roster. Jacks has plenty of time to contemplate his life, career, and his attraction to the sexy cornerback. Off to Orlando for the best rehab where guilt inspires Irus to call him every evening, Jackson can’t stop thinking about Irus, or what the season holds for his team.

Review: I really loved most everything about this book. It was passionate, dramatic, heartfelt, dark and intense. The topics were harsh and loving, hardcore and sweet, and everything in between. Many buttons will be pushed, and some trigger warnings may be needed for some so make sure you check out the tags before you start reading. No reason to knock an author because you weren’t forewarned. It really is a full-bodied novel that encompasses many topics and tropes, all wrapped up in one very well written and heartbreaking novel, but one that ends on a very happy note.

Even though I struggled to remember a lot of stuff from the first book, Saving Kane, it did not detract from my enjoyment at all. One of my biggest issues with sequels is that I forget so much from the previous book because it takes too long to come out. That is an issue I have across the board and not a ding against this series. My biggest concern though is how this one ended. I don’t see anywhere that it’s part of a continuing series, but the ending left so much open that I can only hope that another book is planned. Sadly, a resolution to the championship game and Terry was one that wasn’t completed and that was the part of I was really looking forward to most.

So prepare yourself. This book is everything you’ve ever wanted to know about football. I love football so that was not a problem with me, but I do believe we got a complete play by play for every down ever played in the game, and I found I skimmed those sections a bit. Now top that with pedophilia and child molestation. That is the gist of this book. Not for everyone, but trust me when I say it is really well written.

Jackson and Irus are both pro football players. Irus starts off like a nutcase. He has this crazy attraction to Jackson but treats him like shit, in actions and deeds. He nearly ruins him to ever play the game again. This man had a multitude of issues and took everyone of them out of Jackson. I loved Irus, don’t get me wrong, but how Jacks could ever find it in him to get past all that posturing is beyond me. Especially since Jackson was a nice guy. A truly nice guy with a terrible secret and horrific past. But once these two are on the same page, Irus redeems himself in flying colors. These two are a match made in heaven.

This is a long book where nothing is glossed over. You will cringe, you will look away, you will want to gag, but you will also swoon and sigh and make all sorts of kissy-face noises. You root for the good guys to come out on top, and just as hard root for the bad guys to get their just desert.

Overall Impression: I really liked it

*I received a copy of this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review.*