Book Review: High Balls by Tara Lain

Reviewed by Susan65

Title: High Balls
Author: Tara Lain
Series: Balls to the Wall #6
Heroes: Theodore Walters/”Snake” Erasmo
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 163 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: October 4, 2017
Available at:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Though only twenty-six, single father Theodore Walters lives with his head in the clouds and his feet firmly planted in reality. At the center of his life is Andy, his seven-year-old son, with whom he shares no DNA, though nobody—including his religious-fanatic in-laws—knows that, and Theodore will do anything to keep them from finding out. Theodore works hard to get his PhD and the tenure and salary that might follow to make a better life for Andy—but the head of his department thinks his dissertation on Jane Austen and romance novels is frivolous.

Theodore’s carefully planned life goes off the rails when he walks into a popular Laguna Beach bar and meets the bartender, “Snake” Erasmo, a pierced and tattooed biker who sends Theodore’s imagination—and libido—soaring. Snake has even more secrets than Theodore and couldn’t be a less “appropriate” match, but he might be the only guy with the skills to show Theodore that happily-ever-after is for real.

Review: Okay, for some reason I’d put this book on the back-burner. Maybe it was because the blurb and the cover just didn’t do it for me. Lesson learned. If a series and author consistently puts out stories that grab you and keep you vested, don’t judge a book by its cover. I ended up really liking this one, a lot. And it was especially nice reconnecting with the characters from the first five books. Big bonus points there.

Theodore, the PHD student and TA, and Snake, the tattooed bartender. So not a likely couple, at least on the surface, but man do they both have a lot going on underneath. Especially Snake. What a twist and an enigma that man turned out to be. Theodore is a struggling widower with a small son, trying to stay afloat and keep his overly religious in-laws at bay. His poor son was put through the wringer and my heart went out to him. Now, Andy, his son, was a little disconcerting to me as a reader. His dialogue was more that of a teenager and it was very hard for me connect his words with such a young child. Some of the things that came out of his mouth were just unrealistic, but hey, maybe that’s normal for a kid whose father is a college professor.

Now, I normally barely tolerate kids in my stories, but Andy was pivotal to the entire plot, and besides his dialogue, he actually enriched the story. It was beautiful to watch a big, tattooed, Harley riding man form a protective relationship with a small child. Stereotypes people, don’t judge like Andy’s grandparents did. Enjoy it, I did.

Overall Impression: I really liked it!

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