Tag Archives: Rugby Union

Blog Tour: Playing at Home by Jax Calder

Playing at Home | Jax Calder

Sporting Secrets #2

BT Playing at Home Banner

Release Date:December 9th, 2021

Universal Link

Add to Goodreads

Playing At Home Cover

Blurb

Jacob Browne comes from rugby royalty but he’s never come close to being the heroic idol his father was on the rugby field. And now he’s failed off the field as well with the breakdown of his marriage.

When his ex-wife hires a manny, it feels like the ultimate kick in the guts that another guy gets to spend more time with his kids than he does.

But when he actually meets Austin, the connection that grows between them upends everything Jacob thought he knew about himself and forces him to reconsider what it truly means to be a hero.

PAH Teaser 1

Excerpt

“Are you okay if I ask Jen to babysit next Saturday night?”

My eyebrows knitted together. “Why, where’s Austin going to be?”

“Austin and I are going out together.”

My breath left me. It felt as if I’d been kicked in the guts. This is what I’d worried about right from the start. Matilda starting something with our ridiculously good-looking manny.

But now my guts were clenching not just because of my concern about the instability for the girls if Matilda started something with Austin. This was a whole other level of distress.

Hell. I scraped my hands through my hair.

Could I really blame Matilda for being attracted to Austin? No. Not when I suffered from the same affliction.

“Do you think that’s a good idea?” The words came out half strangulated.

Her forehead rumpled. “Why isn’t it a good idea?”

“I mean…I just don’t think it would be good for the girls…if you and Austin…”

Matilda’s frown morphed into a smirk. “Are you worried about me and Austin? Seriously?”

“I just don’t think it’s a good idea to get involved with our manny, that’s all.”

Matilda’s smirk remained. “I think you’ll find I’m lacking one major thing that Austin looks for in a partner.”

“What’s that?”

“A dick.”

My eyebrows flew up, and Matilda giggled.

“Oh my God, you should see the look on your face right now.”

I tried to keep my breathing even. “Austin’s gay?”

“Well done, I’m glad you managed to put those clues together.”

Fuck. My stomach was auditioning to be a somersault performer right now. At the same time, my heart raced harder than if I’d just played a full eighty minutes of a hard game.

Matilda’s smile faded. “What’s wrong? You’re not homophobic, are you?” Her eyes narrowed. “You can’t be. You’re fine with Beth and Charlotte.” She named her cousin and her cousin’s partner.

No, my physical reaction had nothing to do with the fact Austin was attracted to members of the same sex as him.

It was because the fact that I found him so attractive wasn’t quite as innocent anymore.

Yeah, I wasn’t exactly about to tell my soon-to-be ex-wife that.

“I’m not homophobic. What Austin does in his private life is his own business.”

“I totally agree. And that’s why I’m going to help him find someone,” she said. “I’m going to take him to the gay-friendly nightclubs and be his wingman. He deserves to have some fun. Hopefully he’ll manage to pull someone.”

My stomach twisted as I considered that possibility.

Of course he’d pull someone. Austin was gorgeous and charming and funny and sweet…yeah, that feeling inside me, the one that made me clench my teeth, it felt like…jealousy. And more than just mild jealousy. This was a fiery burn in my gut as I imagined Austin smiling at another guy.

Which I was fairly sure wasn’t what I was supposed to be feeling right now.

PAH Teaser 3

About the Author

jax-calder-logo-small

Jax’s stories are all about light-hearted conversations and deeply-felt connections. She loves exploring exactly why two characters are the only ones who’ll make the other truly happy, and the journey they take to reach their happily-ever-after

Jax lives in New Zealand with her family and a wide assortment of animals. She’s a rabid sports fan, a hiking enthusiast and has a slightly unhealthy addiction to nature documentaries. She has also been known to read the odd book on occasion.

jex-calder-headshot

Social Media

www.jaxcalder.com

https://www.instagram.com/jaxcalderauthor/

https://www.facebook.com/Jax-Calder-Author-102045195499410

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jax-calder

IG Sized Playing at Home Tropes

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Playing At Home, Jax is giving away a $10 Amazon Voucher and an e-set of the Sporting Secrets Series so far (2 ebooks)

A Rafflecopter Giveawaygrr-tours-promo

IG Sized Playing at Home Out Now

Release Blitz: Playing at Home by Jax Calder

Playing at Home | Jax Calder

Sporting Secrets #2

RB Playing at Home Banner

Release Date: December 9th, 2021

Universal Link

Add to Goodreads

Playing At Home Cover

Blurb

Jacob Browne comes from rugby royalty but he’s never come close to being the heroic idol his father was on the rugby field. And now he’s failed off the field as well with the breakdown of his marriage.

When his ex-wife hires a manny, it feels like the ultimate kick in the guts that another guy gets to spend more time with his kids than he does.

But when he actually meets Austin, the connection that grows between them upends everything Jacob thought he knew about himself and forces him to reconsider what it truly means to be a hero.

PAH Teaser 1

Excerpt

“Are you okay if I ask Jen to babysit next Saturday night?”

My eyebrows knitted together. “Why, where’s Austin going to be?”

“Austin and I are going out together.”

My breath left me. It felt as if I’d been kicked in the guts. This is what I’d worried about right from the start. Matilda starting something with our ridiculously good-looking manny.

But now my guts were clenching not just because of my concern about the instability for the girls if Matilda started something with Austin. This was a whole other level of distress.

Hell. I scraped my hands through my hair.

Could I really blame Matilda for being attracted to Austin? No. Not when I suffered from the same affliction.

“Do you think that’s a good idea?” The words came out half strangulated.

Her forehead rumpled. “Why isn’t it a good idea?”

“I mean…I just don’t think it would be good for the girls…if you and Austin…”

Matilda’s frown morphed into a smirk. “Are you worried about me and Austin? Seriously?”

“I just don’t think it’s a good idea to get involved with our manny, that’s all.”

Matilda’s smirk remained. “I think you’ll find I’m lacking one major thing that Austin looks for in a partner.”

“What’s that?”

“A dick.”

My eyebrows flew up, and Matilda giggled.

“Oh my God, you should see the look on your face right now.”

I tried to keep my breathing even. “Austin’s gay?”

“Well done, I’m glad you managed to put those clues together.”

Fuck. My stomach was auditioning to be a somersault performer right now. At the same time, my heart raced harder than if I’d just played a full eighty minutes of a hard game.

Matilda’s smile faded. “What’s wrong? You’re not homophobic, are you?” Her eyes narrowed. “You can’t be. You’re fine with Beth and Charlotte.” She named her cousin and her cousin’s partner.

No, my physical reaction had nothing to do with the fact Austin was attracted to members of the same sex as him.

It was because the fact that I found him so attractive wasn’t quite as innocent anymore.

Yeah, I wasn’t exactly about to tell my soon-to-be ex-wife that.

“I’m not homophobic. What Austin does in his private life is his own business.”

“I totally agree. And that’s why I’m going to help him find someone,” she said. “I’m going to take him to the gay-friendly nightclubs and be his wingman. He deserves to have some fun. Hopefully he’ll manage to pull someone.”

My stomach twisted as I considered that possibility.

Of course he’d pull someone. Austin was gorgeous and charming and funny and sweet…yeah, that feeling inside me, the one that made me clench my teeth, it felt like…jealousy. And more than just mild jealousy. This was a fiery burn in my gut as I imagined Austin smiling at another guy.

Which I was fairly sure wasn’t what I was supposed to be feeling right now.

PAH Teaser 3

About the Author

jax-calder-logo-small

Jax’s stories are all about light-hearted conversations and deeply-felt connections. She loves exploring exactly why two characters are the only ones who’ll make the other truly happy, and the journey they take to reach their happily-ever-after

Jax lives in New Zealand with her family and a wide assortment of animals. She’s a rabid sports fan, a hiking enthusiast and has a slightly unhealthy addiction to nature documentaries. She has also been known to read the odd book on occasion.

Social Media

www.jaxcalder.com

https://www.instagram.com/jaxcalderauthor/

https://www.facebook.com/Jax-Calder-Author-102045195499410

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jax-calder

IG Sized Playing at Home Tropes

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Playing At Home, Jax is giving away a $10 Amazon Voucher and an e-set of the Sporting Secrets Series so far (2 ebooks)

A Rafflecopter Giveawaygrr-tours-promo

IG Sized Playing at Home Out Now

Blog Tour: Playing Offside by Jax Calder

Playing Offside | Jax Calder

BT Playing Offside Banner

Release Date: August 26th, 2021

Universal Link

Add to Goodreads

Playing Offside Cover

Blurb

Aiden Jones, aka the Ice King, is one of the best rugby players in the world. He got there by working hard and sacrificing a lot, including denying a large part of himself. But there’s plenty of time to be the poster boy for gay rugby players after he retires.

At the moment, he’s focused on passing a long-standing points record to cement his legacy, and he’s not about to surrender his starting spot to the cocky loudmouth who just joined the training squad, no matter how talented the kid might be.

Tyler can’t believe he’s made it into the New Zealand rugby training squad after only his first professional rugby season. Now management has decided that it’s a good idea for him to room with Aiden Jones, who Tyler’s had a long-range crush on for years. And although Aiden is icy to him both on and off the field, Tyler figures with a little charm, he can melt the Ice King.

But even he’s not prepared for how heated things become between them. Now Tyler’s falling for the same guy whose starting spot he’s gunning for. But all is fair in both love and sport, right?

IG Sized Playing Offside Review Quote

Excerpt

I was a strong man. But right now, I definitely wasn’t made of ice.

And it would have taken someone with a stronger willpower than Gandhi not to check out a half-naked Tyler Bannings standing a few feet away. All that golden skin lying over perfectly sculpted muscle. I swallowed. Hard.

“Like what you see?” He smirked.

Fuck. It looked like the direction of my attention had not escaped his notice.

I managed to stop my cheeks from igniting. I raised my gaze to stare straight at him. He was still smirking, and I had an overwhelming urge to wipe that smug grin off his face.

“Yeah, I do, actually.” The words were out of my mouth without me stopping to think through the consequences.

His smile dropped. “Wait, what?”

Now was the time to backtrack and turn this into a joke. But part of me liked the fact I had the cocky bastard flummoxed. I could always claim the joke later.

“I said I do like what I see.” My voice came out husky.

His Adam’s apple bobbed. “You’re shitting me, right? You’re just messing with my head?”

He’d started breathing harder, his chest rising and falling as he watched me. My smart-ass teammate was the most freaked out I’d ever seen him. Even more freaked out than when he thought the New Zealand coach disapproved of him.

And that caused anger to flash through me.

I quirked an eyebrow. “What? I thought you’re this enlightened, woke generation. You’re not going to tell me you’re homophobic, are you?”

His eyes narrowed. “You are messing with me.”

I shrugged. “If that’s what you want to believe.”

He licked his lips. I couldn’t help my gaze dropping to his mouth. When I looked back up, his eyes had heated.

Holy shit, maybe I’d read this situation wrong. He couldn’t be, could he?

Bannings stepped toward me, his dark eyes not leaving my face.

IG Sized Playing Offside Teaser 2.2

About the Author

jax-calder-logo2

Jax’s stories are all about light-hearted conversations and deeply-felt connections. She loves exploring exactly why two characters are the only ones who’ll make the other truly happy, and the journey they take to reach their happily-ever-after

Jax lives in New Zealand with her family and a wide assortment of animals. She’s a rabid sports fan, a hiking enthusiast and has a slightly unhealthy addiction to nature documentaries. She has also been known to read the odd book on occasion.

Social Media

www.jaxcalder.com

https://www.instagram.com/jaxcalderauthor/

https://www.facebook.com/Jax-Calder-Author-102045195499410

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jax-calder

IG Sized Playing Offside Teaser 2.2

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Playing Offside, Jax is giving away a $20 Amazon Voucher and an e-copy of Playing Offside

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

grr-tours-promo

IG Sized Playing Offside Out Now

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