Rival. Enemy. Teammate. Friend. Lover.
The first time NFL quarterback Heath Harris meets Sam Crawford, it’s just them, a luxury yacht and a few days of fun in the sun. Sam turns out to be nothing like Heath expects. He’s kind and funny and irreverent—and also unbelievably, shockingly sexy. For three short, glorious, life-changing days, there are no rules.
The second time they meet, Sam has just … rules.
The second time they meet, Sam has just been traded to Heath’s team, and instead of lovers, they’re now rivals. Heath has spent the last five years working desperately to be the best quarterback the Riptide could ever need, but when injuries threaten to derail his career, Sam is right there, standing on the sideline. Ready to take over, and ready to ruin everything Heath has given his life for.
Rival. Enemy. Teammate. Friend. Lover.
As their orbits collide, sparks fly, and Heath struggles to find the right label and the right box to shove Sam into, hoping to keep him contained. But Sam—and Heath’s feelings—refuse to cooperate.
Sam might not be just one of those things, he might be all of them, and so much more.
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This is my first Beth Bolden book and I really enjoyed it. Heath and Sam are really great together but it’s not really an enemies-to-lovers story. It’s more of a miscommunication rather than hatred. There were moments where I wanted to scream at them because they were both being idiots, especially Heath. Idiots in love.
I had a lot of fun reading this book. There’s some amazing tension between them after their first meeting, delicious chemistry and steamy sex scenes. I’m a huge fan of sports romances and this one doesn’t disappoint.
Loved the side characters, especially Heath’s best friends, Bran and Frankie. Highly recommended to fans of rivals-to-lovers and sports romances!! And I’m looking forward to reading more books from the author.
*ARC provided by the author via Gay Book Promotions in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
When two quarterbacks meet for the first time, sparks fly. They shouldn’t be attracted to each other, and on paper, they definitely do not work. Sam is the golden boy whose life has been nothing but easy – everything handed to him. Heath grew up under the thumb of a truly horrible father, with nothing to his name but his ability. It’s what got him out of his father’s thumb. So they have a few days of fun in the sun, then part ways.
Imagine their surprise when Sam is traded to Heath’s team and becomes his rival for the starting quarterback position. Those sparks? Now they just might be snuffed out under the weight of their rivalry.
This is a great rivals to lovers story. For much of the story, Heath is hard to like. Then the author flips the script and Sam is hard to like. But when the two finally got on the same page, they were a wonderful couple. If you like your MM reads of the forbidden deliciousness type, then I highly recommend this one. I don’t have any hopes that this is realistic, because I highly doubt professional sports will ever be inclusive and tolerant. However, it’s nice to hope for, and this is a great read to give me hope.
I loved The Rivalry. I know next to nothing about football, but it really didn’t matter in this book. I actually think I might have learned a little, not technical stuff, but I have new respect for the inner workings of the game. I loved the meet-cute, it really was a cute meeting! I liked the concept of being rivals for the same role (again, I didn’t know there were 2 QBs that would compete). I loved all the secondary characters, and I need to pull out my copy of The Rainbow Clause and read it, shame on me for letting it languish on my TBR. I thought the romance, friendship and sex between Sam and Heath was great. I definitely recommend this book.
Although he is a very successful Quarterback in the NFL, Heath is always afraid of failing. He had less than an ideal childhood and he feels that he has to always prove that he is worth all of what he has right now. His greatest fear is that he will lose the chance to continue to play football.
Sam, although his parents are not rich, comes from a family who lived comfortably. He got a full scholarship ride so he really didn’t experienced what Heath might have been through on his way to the NFL. But after a disastrous breakup, he decided that he will not go through something like that relationship again. He never counted on meeting Heath!
People see these two guys as rivals, but they are actually teammates. They never thought that it will go beyond that, so much more beyond that. I cry for what Heath went through when he was a child, how he fought to survive, how he is still fighting to survive. I love how Sam showed him that he could be happy, that not everything is about football, that it is alright to let go and grab the chance to be happy.
Thank you Ms. Beth Bolden for this wonderful story, I love how Sam and Heath found their happily ever after, how they navigated through some deeply-rooted fears and held on to the one person that will make all the hardships worth it all!
Wow! What a terrific story. I loved Heath and Sam from the beginning, and it made me so happy to watch them each grow in very different ways. There were some moments when I wanted to shake one of them – usually Heath. There were also times I had to laugh – usually because of Sam. But overall, my heart felt broken and put back together by these men, as they tried to figure out if two quarterbacks on the same team had any possibility of making a relationship work, while also struggling with their inner demons. Heath especially had such a difficult past to overcome, and I am not ashamed to say that I cried for him at times.
The secondary characters, including Colin and Nick from the Rainbow Clause, were incredible. Bran and Frankie were devoted friends to Heath, and I loved them for it.
This was such a great story. Heath and Sam had such a beautiful love for each other. I highly recommend this wonderful book!
I would rate this 4.25 stars.
Although there is a previous book (The Rainbow Clause), I can say with absolute confidence this can be read as a standalone, since I had no idea. This is the story of Heath and Sam, NFL quarterbacks on different teams at different points in their careers, who end up on the same team after a holiday fling that left them both wanting more. Moving from opposites attract to frenemies to love, as they navigate both their personal and professional issues, the book also changes from erotic romance to something more interesting and nuanced as the psychology of the characters is touched upon. I would describe it more as tension-filled rather than full of angst, since past trauma isn’t dwelt upon just addressed so that the leads can have a believable HEA.
That tension is stretched taunt at several points–the longing, that breathless feeling, the fear of discovery–all of which are palpable. I like how the author also breaks the tension, with some fun at Heath’s expense. Heath is endearing in his awkwardness; knowing his thoughts is crucial to liking him. Sam is actually the more emotionally mature of the two in some ways, even though he is younger. As much as Heath watches football film to find tells for rival plays, Sam studies Heath for his tells, finding ways to break down the walls Heath has spent a lifetime fortifying. Heath is the mind of the book, while Sam is supposed to be the heart; but Sam, while nice and fun, only becomes more three dimensional to me when he starts to play football. Their miscommunications are very realistic, as is their using past experiences to “fill in the blanks” and decide what the other is thinking. I really liked that Heath allowed himself to explore his sexuality and realize his need to see a mental health professional.
This may only be me, but for the first five chapters it was difficult for me to keep Frankie and Felicity straight when the POV flipped between Heath and Sam–maybe because they weren’t real to me yet as they hadn’t been introduced as characters. I still wish the best friends of the main characters hadn’t had similar names. I also found that even though the book changes POV between Sam and Heath, the book seems more skewed towards Heath, explaining him to create empathy for him and show his character development. Sam’s bits tend to be more geared to how his personal development helps his career development. So, it felt a bit uneven. Also, I know we sometimes want that big gesture, but here I felt it detracted from the team and their achievement–not a way to win over your teammates. Overall, I enjoyed this immensely. With interesting lead characters, heartfelt emotions, steamy sex scenes, and a good supporting cast of friends, this was an entertaining read with the right amount of football for fans and non fans alike.
Heath and Sam aren’t supposed to be friends or boyfriends. No, Heath and Sam are both quarterback for the Riptide, and They both want the same things in their career being the best Quarterback and won the Superbowl. So, what are the odds that Heath and Sam find more than football or friendship, what if they win something better and more important than the Superbowl?
The Rivalry by Beth Bolden is a romance about two hot quarterback who may have it all.
Heath is complex. He had a rough childhood and football is all his life. He doesn’t have time for love or a family. Football is his life. He’s also deeply in the closet and wears the stigmata of his disturb and rough childhood.
Sam is the exact opposite of Heath. He had a normal childhood with a supportive family. He’s at peace with his sexuality even if he understands that being a footballer in the NFL implies that he must be secretive about his love life. Sam wants to play football, but he wants Heath too.
Both men will have to face difficult choice, and both men will have to face some serious challenge. I loved the fact that they choose to face it together. I loved that after their rough start they find a way to work together, to support each other and to fight for each other.
This book is about how you can move mountains for what’s matter and how the love of the good person help you to walk through fire without any pain.
They met on a fishing trip two NHL quarterbacks enjoying some down time. I knew Sam from playing against him but I had no clue how attracted to him I was untill we met on that boat and things got really personal while we were there, but then it was back to our seperate lives, it was just a hook up after all. Next thing I know he’s been traded to my team and we are rivals for the same position but that thing for him it’s still there and now what am I going to do.
is an incredible take on the macho world of football, with clear lines of what should be and act like. Ad to that Sam and Heath’s own emotional baggage, and the story became a rough ride. But the amazing thing about them was that they both were like “man, I’m messed up and full of issues, but I’ve got to clean up my act by myself “. There’ve been moments they didn’t really own up to their baloney, times I would have loved to shake them up a bit, but eventually they pulled through…with flying, rainbow colors.
This book is a mixed bag of emotions and absolutely fun to read. Recommended.
It took me a bit to get into this book but once I got past the first couple of chapters, I completely bought into Sam and Heath’s relationship. There’s plenty of push-pull tension with the characters, both between each other and each one with his own lifepath. It’s more a rivals-to-lovers romance than an enemies-to-lovers. If you don’t like feeling that you’re starting a series on the second book, you might want to read The Rainbow Clause first, as those characters make an appearance in this book and play a pivotal role in the resolution of the story. Not reading it didn’t make me confused but it did make me feel as if something happened that I wasn’t privy to. I still enjoyed The Rivalry and recommend it.
3.5 stars Heath and Sam
They both play quarterback. Heath plays for the Riptide and Sam for the Piranhas.
Both at a boat for a few days.
Heath is straight and Sam doesn’t know if Heath understands Sam is gay.
They could be friends. Not.
Heath feels something towards Sam, not sure what. Both think the other wants a one night stand. Only Heath had never one before and Sam wants something more. Impossible, Heath isn’t out, and a great chance he will never.
After they spend a night together Heath feels awkward and that made Sam feels awful.
Misunderstanding their behavior they both think the other doesn’t want more.
Personally, I don’t like these situations, where no one speaks out what they think.
They are in a situation where Sam gets a job at the Riptide as Heath’s back up because Heath has physical issues. He doesn’t want Sam there, he’s a threat, Period.
Heath wants a physical therapist but it seems he needs a different one.
He had a rough life and his head is full of denial.
Heath will never let his guard down, for anyone. He has a lot of inner turmoil. With that, we get to know him better, because his actions lack it.
Sometimes I had the urge to shake. He was so unfair to Sam, with rude comments ugh.
After both agreed to an arrangement between them it only seems to go downward.
Keeping it a secret is harder than it seems. And with Heath being not in the right mind Sam thinks it will not work.
I had a hard time liking Heath, he constantly gave me whiplash with his contradictory action and attitude. Sam was way too patient with Heath.
I wasn’t always sure what he exactly loved about Heath.
For my personal joy I would have loved a faster pace, I found it a bit dragging, but that’s me. I know other love some slow burn, 458 pages is a lot with a slow pace.
I missed something in this story and after some thoughts I knew I missed passion, passion towards each other and maybe even towards their sport.
A widely written story, good developed. The sport had a big space and was good entwined with other secondary parts. All the inner conversations were enlightening. Overall an enjoyable and entertaining story.
I love a sports romance book, even better when it’s MM
This book might take a little for some people to get into, but dont give up, once you do you’ll love it and wont be able to put it down
I quite enjoyed Sam and Heath’s relationship, it was well written and explored .Sam and Heath aren’t perfect, far from it and they have their issues but I love that but they didnt ignore them or even leave it to the other or the relationship to fix them, They worked on themselves, to make them a better person a) for the relationship and b) just to be a better person
Having already read Rough Contact – the fabulous 5-star Book 2 in this series – I was curious about Sam and Heath’s story. Their journey is an angsty rollercoaster ride, as both pro football players are deeply closeted, tangled in emotions after their steamy vacation hook-up, and competing for the same high-stakes starting quarterback spot.
Adding to the ongoing tension are unspoken feelings and miscommunication between the men, which is frustrating but also feels true to the characters – particularly Heath, since his complex relationship with Sam is also a sexual awakening for him, plus he’s got some baggage to work through.
I enjoyed the slow-build of friendship between Heath and Sam as their rivalry eases and they build trust and understanding as teammates and more. Their HEA is hard won, packed with feeling, and ultimately worth the bumpy journey to get there. And cheers for a sports romance actually featuring a good amount of playtime.
This is one of the best football series I have ever read… Beth Bolden knows her stuff. Love the characters… it’s more than an enemies-to-lovers story. Sam & Heath have fiery chemistry, but circumstances put up roadblocks that threaten possibilities that may never come true. Love does triumph, but it’s not an easy road. This is a great setup for a wonderful series… football season is just around the corner – this is a great way to get ready for the season to begin. Read Rough Contact and The Red Zone next!
This is such an emotional read where you will want to almost hate one of the main characters because he is so terrible to the other main character but you really can’t because of how well he is written by Beth Bolden. This isn’t your typical football romance in my opinion. This is very angsty which isn’t my usual go-to but I’m still glad I read it.
4 1/2 Stars
I’m glad I picked this up. I’m not much into sports romance, but this was worth the read.
The Rivalry has engaging characters, a strong storyline, and enough angst to keep it from being too sweet. The football parts of it were fairly understandable and didn’t take up too much page time.
On to #2.
I enjoyed a lot this book! Heath’s intensity, Sam’s lovely demeanor and how good they were together. There were difficult moments and I even cried a little, but the turmoil of emotions and the way everything settled at the end was worthy of any tears. The best part is that this wonderful book is just the beginning of an incredible series. I am starting book 2 right away!
I love Beth Bolden as an author and have read alot of her books.
I liked Heath and Sam and there rivalry/relationship. I think maybe this book was a bit to long. I read the book and I enjoyed it.
There is a whole ‘sports’ culture…the psychology of the game, the physical demands of the games, the intensity of the fans and press. All of this is explored in this wonderfully written story about love, individual strength and family…supportive and abusive. Friends who are there to support you and lovers who turn into an entirely stronger support system.
You’ll love so many of the characters in this story…you’ll hate to say goodbye.
I enjoyed this –
Lots of football for those who enjoy lots of sports in their sports romance
The two MCs went back and forth on will they/won’t they but it’s was understandable because they’re both in the NFL.
100% wish I would’ve known characters from The Rainbow Clause are in this because I would’ve read that first (but that’s me and my absolute need to read universes in proper order)
on to book two!