Review: Genius and the Jock by Daisy Harris

Title: Genius and the Jock*
Author: Daisy Harris
Series:  Men of Holsum College #7
Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance
Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand
Format: E-book
Date/Year:  September 2012
Reviewed by: Andrea

*This book was provided to the reviewer by the author in exchange for an honest review

Summary from the publisher:

First and goal. Three years ago, football star Griff Parker shared a locker room sexual encounter with brainy scholarship kid Raj Mehir. That stolen blow job turned Griff’s worldview upside down, unlocking desires he wasn’t ready to face.

Now a senior, Griff’s working in Holsum College’s biology lab, where he’s in direct contact with his freshman crush. Raj wants nothing to do with him or the memory of that afternoon. Too bad. Griff's falling hard for Raj, battling his way past every one of his sexy scientist's defenses.

Raj Mehir knows he’s gay. But he's locked that knowledge tightly inside and has no desire to change that. But he does have desire for Griff. In a big way. Now he's experimenting with Griff and inching closer to the closet door.

Double overtime. Two deeply closeted guys. Two hearts on the line. One term to change everything.

My Musings:

Daisy Harris writes some of the best college-age M/M romances out there.  Her books are full of angst filled encounters, sexual tension and the resulting struggle for self-acceptance.  She manages to capture the nervousness and uncertainty of coming out to friends and family so well that I actually feel their indecision.  That’s what keeps me coming back for more.  I’ve loved almost every book in The Men of Holsum College series, but the book previous to this one was disappointing.  I was nervous when I picked up this book, I know how good her books can be and I didn’t want to be let down again.  I’m very happy to say that Genius and the Jock was back up to the quality I expect from her. 

Griff and Raj are on opposite ends of the social spectrum.  Griff is the jock.  He’s rough around the edges and abrasive.  As he matures, he realizes he no longer wants to be that guy, even though his family and friends expect and encourage such behavior.  Raj is the genius.  He also has family and friends with high expectations for him.  He is supposed to be driven and successful.  Above all else,  he feels obligated to live up to the expectations of his very traditional Indian family. 

Raj and Griff have a history together, an awkward locker room encounter their freshman year.  They have very different memories of that encounter.  For Griff it was exciting and for Raj it was terrifying.  When their paths cross a few years later, it leads to new questions.  Can Griff convince Raj to give him a chance to prove he’s not the same guy he was back then?  Is the spark between them worth the condemnation of their family and friends?  

The books in this series are my guilty pleasure :)  I loved the cultural differences between Griff and Raj and the problems they encountered because of them.  Of course, the sexual chemistry between them was great too.  I admit this book is a lighthearted, fluff romance but it’s also one hell of a page turner and I was more than happy to lose myself in it.

Ratings:

Overall: 4
Sensuality level: 3.25
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Other Reviews:

• Under the Covers Book Blog (4 feathers)
• Scorching Book Reviews (4.5 stars)
• Goodreads (avg rating as of 10/3/12= 4.22 stars)

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