Hail Mary

Big Bend Bears, Book 2

De: Nicole Dykes

Narrado por: Devon Ryder, Nick J. Russo

Benny

Big Bend is my home. I love it here. I love everything about it.

It's my senior year, and I'm determined to have the best one yet. Of course, that's when life gets confusing.

I think I may have a little bit of a crush on my nemesis.

Something I never saw coming.

I just hope I can find a way to make him give me a chance because being together would make not only this year great but this life of ours—absolutely epic.

Rowan

Benjamin McBride is the bane of my existence. He simply won't quit—he never does.

He's too happy. Too confident. Too unafraid.

I can't let him get to me.

He thinks we could be epic together, that us in a relationship would be some saving grace—a Hail Mary—a way to make this year and our lives the best they can be.

But I'm not destined for happiness.

I have to make him understand.

It's never going to happen.

©2024 Nicole Dykes (P)2025 Podium Audio

Loved these guys!

I really enjoyed book 1 of this series of interconnected standalone romances and was super excited to get to book 2. I listened to this on my way to and from a book signing and it was such an easy drive because of it! Even with traffic I was engrossed in the story and didnt want it to end.

We met our goofy adorable MMC (Benny) in book 1 of this new spinoff series with being the bestie in book 1 to one of our MMCs. We had a girlfriend in book 1 but things maaaaay have happened between him and a guy that shook his existence (so addable by the way!). He is the sunshine part of this grumpy/sunshine perfectly, epitome of how you think of the trope. I loved his bubbly personality, how he wore his enemy turned lover down haha. You couldn't help smile or laugh at his antics. I mean he does have some vulnerability and sad/unsure moments, especially since he hasn't had feelings for a guy like this before. I would totally want to be his bestie, and loved see his bestie and their family have great cameos in this one too.

Our grumpy part of this duo has such a tough upbringing and life, I wasn't shocked with his behavior and being worried about having feelings for a guy when it has been engrained in him that was wrong. His dad is a piece of work, and that's all I will say. I felt bad for him when he had to use women as beards essentially so his dad wouldn't get physical or threaten to hurt others. I wanted to give him a hug and shake him out of his darkness at times and his stubbornness. I loved seeing him allow himself to be happy and to just feel, I can't imagine having to come to terms with my sexual orientation with all these negative influences and being scared to just live and be me. I thought the author did a good job bringing those feelings and worries to the pages/to my ears. The chemistry between these two is perfect though, and getting to see them experience some firsts is always some of my favorite moments.

The narrators did a great job like in book 1, I did wish the author switched up one of the narrators since Benny was so different than the MMC in book 1 but they did a great job bringing these characters to life. I could feel the angst through my earbuds, the fear, the anger, the frustration but also the happiness, the bliss when they could both just be with each other and be there for one another. I cannot wait for more from this series and more audiobooks!

it's becoming one of my fav series ever

This series... OMG, THIS SERIES IS PURE PERFECTION.

While Red Zone was more sad and the topics were heavier, Hail Mary also talked about some topics that made my heart break.

Rowan is such a sweet boy. I swear I would give him the world. He and Dallas truly deserve everything that's good and beautiful out there because these two babies did not have to suffer and go through so much.

Benny is sunshine. He is light. He is good, like deep in his soul, his bones, his heart, he is good. Of course, we already knew that from Red Zone, no one could've been a better friend to Dallas than him. I am so happy we got to see him as a main character and witness all this.

Him and Rowan were some kind of rivals, I would never call them enemies, but at the same time, were they thought?

What I loved the most about them was the way they loved each other. Benny was fierce in his love for Rowan. Nothing could hold him back, and we would like to thank him. All of us collectively should do that because Rowan deserves the best, and he is the absolute best.

This story takes place in their final year of high school, but d*mn those epilogues were everything.

I was not ready for the story to be over. I want more. I hope we will get more of them in book 3, just like we got more of Dallas & Christian in this book. Those bits and pieces made this book even more perfect.

At this point, there's no surprise... if Nicole writes it, I'll read it because d*mn I LOVE her books.

The audiobook was also absolutely amazing. It's always a pleasure to listen to Devon Ryder & Nick J. Russo. Highly recommend both books of this series & both audiobooks as well.

Always Be My Benny 😍

Benny with his sun-shining personality is a guy I would love to hang out with! He and grumpy Rowan were an awesome opposites attract couple for this 2nd title in the series. Loved the performances by Nick J. Russo and Devon Ryder

3.5 Starz - worthy of a repeat listen