Tanner, the hunky college football star, is home for the summer.Billy, the budding dessert chef, is about to have his hot-fudge-glazed world flipped upside-down. Get ready for the “sweetest” romance you’ve ever tasted.Contains: hot man-on-man action, a whole lotta southern small town sass, and ice cream.This is a “sweet & steamy” male/male romance with humor, an HEA, and NO cheating.
Football Sundae
By darylbanner
This is one of my go to comfort rereads so I’m surprised I haven’t made time to leave a review here on BookBub. I’m righting that oversight now. This book is classic Darryl Banner at his best. It’s a small town, opposites attract romance with lots of snark, wit and humor to go hand in hand with the raw sexuality of his characters and the real sweetness he cultivates in them as he reveals their truths layer by layer. You’ll want these two (and Banner) to be your best friends by the time you finish reading, I know I do each and every time.
This was a fun read. I started off really enjoying it. Even though it was easy to tell where this story was going I genuinely wanted to see how the author would get there. There was a particular scene where the main character, Tanner, gets blamed for a plumbing accident that got my biggest laugh. Comedy gold. Though my first impression was good problems arose as the book continued.
Once I got to the good bits the dynamics between Billy and Tanner didn’t cross new ground. Without the side characters and the comedy it didn’t move, or more accurately, grow much. Instead of being excited about Tanner’s big reveal, I felt annoyed. Like of all the times, this is the time you do it? It made so little sense beyond one obvious bit, to drum up some drama to make the story more interesting. Instead, it just seemed like another unrealistic plot moment designed for people who like drama and can suspend heap-loads of reality to make something too crazy to work, work.
The other thing that got me was the book seemed to want me to dig deep without trying to taking me down that path. Like Tanner talks about how hard it is being at college/university but I don’t think, for the amount of time it’s brought up, he ever actually deals with that emotion. I get the sense I’m supposed to feel that verbalising it is dealing with it. It’s not. People say stuff all the time and never actually deal with it. Some have good intentions and others have zero intentions to deal with things but know expressing their feelings is enough to stall most people for a while before the unresolved problem arises again so the cycle can begin again.
It was the same with Billy. Talking about how he had to stay home instead of going to culinary school, but it feels so effortless. Like it wasn’t that much of a struggle for him to stay behind. He had no choice in the matter and the story reads like it wants readers to feel some sort of way about how it affected him, but he gets along so well with his family and this issue never gets brought up in a way beyond just talking about it. It never digs into the alluded emotional trauma this causes but as I said there is zero evidence of this in how he acts and interacts with characters; we only have his word. Much like Tanner supposedly living a lie about being a star athlete. He keeps saying it but I get the sense he is still a star athlete and it’s just harder than he thought with all the competition. So where’s the lie he apparently is living? And scraping by academically… he never deals with that either. I was waiting for him to tackle this one with his parents. Deal with the fact he might need to either buckle down and go hard with the football career or start looking into a backup plan which he might need some tutors or summer classes to make happen. But it’s more of the same, mention problem, almost go deep but the story must go on so it’s not dealt with.
The side characters gave this book life. Specifically both moms and Tanner’s grandma. Laughter abound. Especially how Tanner’s mom acts after the reveal. Hilarious. My second biggest laugh in the book.
The romance angle and the sex didn’t lift off the page or fit much for me. There’s something about the way a college experienced student and a boy who’s been out of high school as a working adult for two years talk and approached adult themes that felt very sixteen instead of twenty. A lot of the time I was brought out a bit like no twenty-year-old would say this, especially not during the encounter. However, the steamy mid-sex talk did this a lot. Even if they had never had sex before something about their sentence structures I found lacked the experience that working and being around older and maturer crowds for two years would have. It was a bit too juvenile for their age bracket. A lot of the reactions, situations, and the way things were worded through the novel in its entirety sometimes made me think of teen fiction trying to masquerade as adult fiction.
That was what undid it mostly. With all the hilariously good moments that kept this book alive, the main characters still felt like they were a few years behind the age they actually were. The story was clearly designed for adults but a lot of the times read more PG13 and never quite lifted to the level of real character depth that I continuously felt I was being pulled towards. It hit one good note and sang it really well. But it had so much potential to hit all the other notes but missed them. And, after reading some of the other reviews, I noticed I’m not the only one that found the writing a bit juvenile as a whole.
Lastly, I am here for books where being gay is a non-issue. However, I couldn’t suspend enough belief that in a small southern Christian town literally no one has an issue with this. Like no one. And, plot spoiler, the local minister marries them. I found this out in the second book. Again, we have a small southern Christian town with an open-minded pastor and openly gay residents and… no one cares. Let that wordy sentence sink in a bit.
This book gets three stars for the comedy and overall southern sass and mostly Tanner’s mom’s reaction to his coming out. You can’t beat that kind of writing. I’m here for it. Beyond that, it doesn’t have much going for it. If you’re looking for a hilarious romance about two guys navigating their way through first love, you’ll love this book. If you’re looking for an adultier worded, slightly more angsty, in-depth type of read along with your comedy, this is probably not deep enough and too safe for you, outside of the sex scenes of course.
Hello Everybody! Oh my gosh I Loved this book from start to finish!!! Both Tanner and Billy were such an amazing couple through the laughter, sex, fear, and love! Billy was so understanding, patient, and yet strong willed all the same. Tanner, OMG ! A sexy, football alpha who is dominant, yet has such a sweet side that it just melted my heart! This was my first time reading a book by this author. What a surprise I was in for! Daryl Banner did an amazing job to keep the reader engaged through the story; as well as not adding too much drama to where it gets on your nerves. Just to give a brief synopsis of the book, I will review just some portions below. (not to spoil!)
Billy and Tanner are both from Spruce, Texas where everybody knows everybody. Being the football quarterback in high school, of course Tanner was king amongst the populace. In addition to his family being extremely wealthy just upped his prestige. Billy and his parents work/own their own diner that many of the locals love to come to and eat. After going away to college for a bit, Tanner returns during his summer break to eventually meetup and know Billy. From there, the book just unfolds so beautifully into the relationship they strive so hard to finally bring out into the open. The side characters like Billy’s mother and Tanner’s friends add so much hilarity to this as well. Definitely a read I would have no problem rereading anytime just for the feels and humor. In making this book even more enticing, it is available on KU. That said, I highly recommend reading this book for a wonderful, touching M/M Texas romance!
Loved it & love the entire series so far. This series is just …wunderbar & I’ve re-read it several times. Daryl Banner (Mr. Banner, if ya nasty… #RhythmNation #Janet4Life ) is one of my fave one-click authors because he’s an awesome storyteller, his prose just flows, & he has a wicked sense of humor. In short, he rarely disappoints me. And chiiiiiiile, please don’t get it twisted: Mr. Banner is a connoisseur when it comes to writing steamy, steeeeeamy sex scenes
I also loved the mood/ overall feel of the fictional town, “Spruce, Texas,” & all the quirks of the town’s residents. Now maybe I missed it, but it really, really, really wouldn’t hurt the author to include more people of color as major characters/ protagonists/ whatev. Again, maybe I missed them, & if so, I sincerely apologize if I missed any such characters as I devoured Mr. Banner’s novels like a ravenous great blue heron with zero self-control. (Go ahead & judge my lack of self-control. Go on… I. Don’t. Care. Babes )
Anywhoooo. In spite of that sadly common oversight in most fiction written by 15th-21st Century authors of majority Euro-descent , I still felt that Mr. Banner created the type of small-town escapism that I relish; funny, sexy, not too perfect or cloying as to be insulting, where living, loving, & growing into your own skin is a work in progress, warts & all. What I wouldn’t GIVE to live with my “United Nations” family & loved ones in a town like that for real… #LifeGoalsForHumanity Read the series today – I think you’ll enjoy it.
Tanner appears to have it all, at least everyone thinks he does. Winning personality, local football hero, laid back attitude, girls all over him all the time, football scholarship, well off parents and a fancy house on their large ranch. Back for the summer from college he wants to change things, be his own self. Billy Tucker went to school with Tanner but they never ran in the same circles. Billy knows his own mind and has no time for the likes of Tanner Strong. This is a story about accepting who you are without losing sight of what you want in life and there is always the possibility of a second chance. Tanner’s mom was a real pain until almost the end and her antics had me rolling with laughter. The best part was her lecture to Tanner about is party. Billy’s mother was just the cool mom with no judgments. I really loved this book and recommend it.
Hot, steamy, romantic, sweet, and sticky. Great book.
Football Sundae is book one in the Spruce, Texas series by Daryl Banner. This was such a sweet story, in so many different ways. Tanner and Billy were both so adorable.
Tanner Strong was the football star of Spruce, Texas. The boy from the wealthy family that owns most of the town. All through high school he did all the expected things. He dated all the prettiest girls, made prom king, and was a star of his football team. He went away to college in Oklahoma and has just finished his third year so he’s home for the entire summer. While away at college, away from all of his town’s expectations, he’s finally learned a few things about himself, most importantly that he’s been living a lie.
Billy Tucker’s parents own the diner in Spruce. He never played sports in school, instead helping his parents in their diner. Billy didn’t get to go away to college as he had hoped due to his father’s health. But he still plans to go to culinary school. Billy’s love of food, his true talent, is in baking. He is a master of making sweets.
The first time Tanner and his friends came into Billy’s diner, Billy was a nervous wreck. He had a secret crush on Tanner all the way through high school. He hasn’t seen him in a long time. They were never friends. He just worshiped him from a distance.
A friendship develops between Tanner and Billy which quickly escalates to more. But Tanner is just figuring out this new life. No one knows except Billy. So they have to keep things a secret. Their feelings grow and they spend every moment they can steal together. But the summer is quickly coming to a close. Was this just a convenient interlude for Tanner? Or is it more?
“It’s like returning home when our mouths lock, and everything is perfectly, simply, exactly where and how it ought to be.”
This was such a sweet story. Billy was so talented with his baking skills. He knew who he was and what he wanted in life. Tanner struggled a bit more figuring out his own direction. He’s a football jock. What did his future hold for him? And how will Billy fit into things? Of one thing that was certain was the way these two felt about each other. It’s what would happen with their feelings that was in question.
I really did enjoy this. It was a quick read. I loved both Tanner and Billy’s families. I think I loved the epilogue most of all. This was sexy and sweet and I look forward to more of this series.
Loved it!
Love this series! Funny, steamy, romantic and full of snark.
A great, low-angst read that was just steamy and sweet. It hit the spot.
This was a super sweet romance between Billy and Tanner, two guys who grew up in the same small town but ran in different circles. I loved the secondary characters as much as the two main characters and the author did a really great job of immersing you into the town. Tanner’s thoughts killed me every time he thought of Billy. They were so loving before Tanner even realized that was what he was feeling. I’m really excited to read other books by this author!
Football Sundae was so dang cute, I can hardly stand it! Like, seriously so adorable I get a cheesy grin on my face just thinking about it. Light and fluffy, sweet and steamy, with just the tiniest little bit of angst that barely registered on the angst scale, Tanner and Billy’s love story was such a delightfully heartwarming read. It really was the perfect palate cleanser after having read some heavier, emotional stories. And yes, I’m still smiling.
This book is so good that I read it all over again as soon as I finished it. The main characters are wonderful, the town is something out of a dream, and the interaction between the main characters is very steamy.
Ahhhh!!! What a cute story. I adored Football Sundae. It was so light and carefree. Billy and Tanner are so damn cute together. Every minute spent reading this book gave me all kinds of bubbly feels. It was sexy as hell, funny, and had me hungry all the time. I loved Billy a lot. He was so comfortable in his skin, but I also loved his nervousness around Tanner. Daryl Banner is such a great writer and I loved reading this cute, feel good romance.
Omg, I have nothing to fault with this book!
I absolutely love Billy and Tanner, I didn’t want this story to end.
No Angst? Check
No drama? Check
Hilarious banter? Check
Hot Sex? Check
A gorgeously believable love story with some mouth-watering sundaes? Check
Small town Spruce sounds like a pretty cool place, seriously I want to live there!
Billy’s dream is to own his own dessert store, in the meantime, he works at his parent’s diner.
His other dream or I should say dirty fantasy is Tanner Strong.
Superstar football player Tanner is home from college and is back to being Spruce’s golden boy. However, being away from the pressure of being who his family and friends expect him to be, Tanner has learned to be true to himself and his sexuality.
Never being friends in high school, Billy is taken back when Tanner starts wanting to be friends, and boy does things heat up really fast once the nerves subside.
This is one of those stories that leaves you cracking up laughing and gives you all the feels as you watch them grow as friends and then as lovers.
THIS my friends is how you write a fan-fucking-tastic story that will stay with you long after the book is over.
Watch out Daryl, you have a new stalk…er fan on your hands
* ARC PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR FOR AN HONEST REVIEW *
I would recommend this book very, very highly!!!!!
Easy romance without to much drama.
I loved this book! Sweet & emotional………
I loved this story It has its Laugh Out Loud moments, has some serious moments, it is sweet, and heartwarming.
I enjoyed getting to know Billy and Tanner. Both characters are easy to relate to and they are two guys I can totally see myself being friends with. The secondary characters were enjoyable too. I want more of these characters!! Maybe even want a football sundae!
One click this book when it releases, it will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy and wanting some sweet desserts.