What's interesting is that in this MM book one MMC is actually a pro rugby player who has been married before to a woman and has a child (a 14-year-old) but divorced soon after she was born because he realised he was gay. He stayed in the closet since then. His plan was to come out in retirement after a few years (he is 32).
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But then he meets Beckett and has an instant connection with him but the thing is Beckett is out and proud. They start to hang out at first but the chemistry between them grows until one day it bursts and they can't keep their hands off each other.
Playing It Safe was a delight to read from the first to the last page. I love how giddy it made me feel to read about these two characters as they are truly meant for each other.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶🌶🌶🌶

A new-to-me author’s first m/m book.

Donovan “Dono” Bane is one of the huge (in more ways than one) star of the Sydney Smoke Elite Rugby Team. And he has a even huger secret…he’s gay. But there are no other Elite Rugby players, let alone major stars, that are “out” in Australia. So Dono is living with his secret, like he has been since he was 15, until he retires in another 5-6 more years. But that’s all about to change since the team hired a gorgeous new finance department guy, Beckett “Beck” Stanton, that checks off all his boxes and he can’t get out of his mind.

I really like the banter between Dono and Beck as they forged around this “non-relationship”. But what I loved most was how caring and thoughtful they both were in regular D’s to the others needs, desires and feelings. They were aware and tried to go slowly so that Dono had a chance to comfortably explode his desires while Beck tried to guard his heart from being shattered.

I did really like this book but really, really, really would have liked to have realized that there was a glossary at the back of the book. Being an American reader I had no clue what a lot of these terms were and spent a lot of time searching on the internet to figure what the writer was saying. The glossary would have been better suited at the beginning so the reader could be introduced to the terms and not be withdrawn from the story trying to figure out what she was saying.

Also, we spent a huge amount of time reading the angst over whether Dino and Beck should be together in this forbidden love. Of whether Dono could finally be the person he really was inside. How it would blow up his career and effect him, his teammates and the team, his daughter and family. Then BAM! It’s done. I really wanted more of the what happens when he comes out. We got a glossed over version in the epilogue but I felt like we had spent so much time on the what if’s and not enough on what did happen when all was revealed. Also, and I know this is inconsequential, but we heard about that little white scar that cut through Dono’s eyebrow several times that Beck seemed fascinated with but he never asked the reason it was there?

I know this is the writer’s first time in the M/M world however even Dono acknowledged he was “well hung” but, when he and Beck have anal sex for the first tome there is absolutely no prep just “use lots of lube and go slow”. It literally made me cringe. I know that Beckett wasn’t a virgin by any means but he hadn’t been with another man in awhile by the time they got to this point and a little stretching would have been more than needed. He could have even showed Donovan how he did it. He was actually teaching him so it would have been appropriate.

I do love when a book teaches me new facts and I learned a doozy in this one while the boys were playing cards. I had absolutely no idea that there was an Icelandic Phallological Museum! I looked it up (yes the wonders of Google) and it’s real! It’s even the only one of its kind in the world and had to move locations at least twice due to its growth. Yep, I went there with that. 🤣

I did really like this book but I feel, even though it’s listed as a standalone, that you would understand more of the brotherhood of Dino’s brothers/teammates and how they stand up for each other if you had read the previous six books in the series. There are references that I think would be better understood but realize that the other six books are all M/F so I won’t be indulging in them.

*Swoon* I loved this book. I loved how sensitively Amy Andrews depicted love and depth of connection for these two male characters in such a manly man's world. More please :)

A professional rugby player who continues to push his desires aside for fear he'll risk his career. He hasn't come out about his sexuality to his team or friends, what will happen when he meets someone that is worth the risk? Will he finally open his heart?

When Donovan Bane meets Beckett Stanton, a man he can explore everything he's desired and experience a love he's craved for so long? Can he trust him with his past? What will happen when Beckett discovers he's never had the opportunity to explore those feelings, can he handle being another "first" for someone?

A tender love story that tugs at the heart and has all the feels. A story of a discovering what it feels like to experience true passion and love is heartwarming, scorchin, and full of hot rugby. I always enjoy reading Amy Andrews and while this book is part of a series it is enjoyable as a standalone. Should you enjoy this adventure there are so many more to dive into to continue the fun!

Great job by Amy to sneak in an m/m romance in her Sydney Smoke series! I enjoyed seeing the team again and getting to know Donovan and the new guy on the block, Beckett. She tackles the difficulty Donovan faces with coming out of the closet as a gay rugby player well, and gives a great happy ending for the couple (perhaps a touch too easy at the end, but sometimes that's just fine). Makes me want to reread the whole series!

The MM romance is everything! Please read it! I loved it and I’m so happy I read it. Even though I’m a little late with my review. The plot was amazing the characters ahhhh!

I loved this book...Their chemistry was awesome and I really liked the ending.Definitely my favourite among the series and I loved.Donovan and Beckett as a couple :-)

I absolutely loved this MM romance.

Such a great book with a solid storyline and great characters.

I eagerly look forward to reading more from this author.

A definite recommend

this is the newest book in one of my favrorite series! the sydney smoke gang is back and I think readers of the series will love this installment.

Any book by Amy Andrew’s is a great one! Playing It Safe is a phenomenal book that I couldn’t put down. You must get this book!

I am such a fan the M/M genre and Playing it Safe certainly hit the spot! Donovan Bane is a rugby player with a secret. He is great at his job but keeps his personal life oh so private. So, when he runs into Beckett the new guy in finance for the team it is about to get sticky!
Beckett he is forward, sexy, sweet and knows what he wants but he will not be someone's secret. I loved watching them grew as men and navigate the couple world!
These men are alpha, funny, sexy, sweet and I loved getting pulled into their world!
~~Michele McMullen~

This is my first book by this author. Rugby player Donovan is a star on his team, has a daughter but doesn’t have the one true love in his life…. Until a chance encounter where their eyes meet. Both work for the team. One is out and the other is not. This is the first M/M by this author and she does it really well.

I received this ARC through #netgalley and I am voluntarily reviewing this book

Amy Andrews has done it again! Loved Playing It Safe and the continuation of this series. I especially loved Donovan and Beckett's back stories. Their romance was perfect! And this book has great LGBTQ representation. I was so fascinated by their different needs and differing experiences as gay men. And in sport in particular.

I will be totally honest here … I read this book twice. Not because I felt that there was something I missed or didn’t understand but because I absolutely loved this story. Donovan had me from the beginning and Beckett just stole my heart.

I loved how this story was told. Both points of view were so very well written and explained. You understood Donovan’s hesitation and Beckett’s need to be seen and understood. But, even though they were opposite in there views, they were perfect together.

Opposites attracting was definitely the premise of this wonderful story and, boy, what a pair they were. Beckett was understanding … Donovan was both heartbreaking and heart warming. When they were together, the pages burned up. When they were apart, you were sad. You couldn’t help but hope for the best for both of them. And, the beginning of the ending … wow. I cried. The members of the Sydney Smoke not only brought tears to my eyes but made me so very proud. You couldn’t help but cheer then shed a tear. This was such a prominent and poignant point in the story and it couldn’t have been written any better than what it was. I smiled, cried and cheered then went back and read it again because it made my heart soar.

Amy Andrews totally outdid herself with this outstanding story. Two men, two different lifestyles, one love.

This was actually the first book in the series and it was great that you didn't feel like you were missing any pieces of past books but it did make me want to go back and read the others! Donavan is a great Father as well as an incredible rugby player but his love life is non existent as no body but a few know that he is actually gay and your heart goes out to him as he has chosen his career over finding love. His resolve to stay hidden is tested when he meets Beck, he doesn't want to like him but there is a connection and as much as Beck doesn't want to be with another guy who won't embrace who he is they both are drawn to each other. This shines a light on how male sports has a hold over it's people when it shouldn't and you get to not only see two people who deserve love fall for each other as well as the internally struggles they go through while navigating a new world for Donavan and the frustrations you feel along with them both. I just loved the characters as well as the highs and lows, laughs and sadness they go through and how you can find love and support when you least expect it and where you should expect it.

Superbly done first M/M romance by Amy Andrews! Playing it Safe is super steamy, sweet and emotional, I loved Donovan and Beck together as they navigated Donovan's first forays into a same sex relationship - Donovan's endearing shyness, despite his tough-guy rugby exterior, and Beck's humor and patience had me swooning for them both!

Five swoony stars!! 😍 I just loved it and you all need to read this book! I haven't read any others in this series and didn't feel like I was missing any information so it's absolutely okay as a standalone. That being said, now I want to go back and read all of them!

Thank you Net Galley for a copy of Playing It Safe by Amy Andrews. This is a M/M romance. It's sweet and hot! If that makes any sense. I totally loved the romance between Donovan and Beckett.

*2.5 stars*

Playing It Safe is another one of those books that started off very strong but then petered out and became hard for me to finish.

From what I've gathered, Playing It Safe is Amy Andrews's first M/M romance book, even though it's the 7th in the series. It can be read as a stand-alone with no issues, though I'll admit I had no idea what Australian rugby was the entire time I was reading. I still don't quite get it...

I think the author tried to create tension artificially. These two like each other, but have this sort of semi-platonic hang out thing going, even though they aren't really friends. Lots of page time is spend with them internally pondering and waiting out the inevitable hook-up, which doesn't have enough UST to be that enticing. I think the author didn't develop their connection all the way. We hear all of the ways that they have chemistry, but I struggled to feel it.

The second half of the book was also a bit slow. It felt like much longer than 200 pages. There were moments that were enjoyable, but I wasn't sad to finish the story.

Maybe rounding up to 3-stars is a bit generous, but I'm in a generous mood.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

Andrews has crafted a strong and dreamy romance. Set in Australia, Donovan is a star rugby player with a number of secrets that are just waiting to spill. Thanks to a series of chance encounters with the team's new accountant, Beckett, the tipping point just keeps getting closer. There's some angst, humor, and realistic hurdles for these two to overcome. The dialogue is crisp and keeps the story going.