Manhandled

Winner Takes All, Book 5

De: L. Blakely

Narrado por: Teddy Hamilton, Jacob Morgan

My buddies made me do it. I swear.

I didn’t plan to bid big on a date with my baseball player best friend at the auction. But he looked really good in that tailored suit, and I can't resist a dare.

The media jumps all over the story–the city’s new quarterback nabs a date with the bigshot star shortstop.

Not so fast–we’re just friends.

Until we hit the links for the strictly platonic date I won. Suddenly, I'm looking at my silver-tongued, devilishly handsome best bud in a whole new light–and it’s dark and dirty.

We cross way over the friendship line at my place that night, but in the morning we agree it can’t happen again. Trouble is, we can’t keep our hands off each other, especially not when we’re stuck in the same hotel room at our friend’s wedding.

But Tanner wants a real relationship, and I’m only serious about football. So when my second season as a starter begins next week, our late-night games (and talks, and sleepovers, and morning coffees) will have to end.

Except, as the cutoff looms closer, I’m feeling a whole lot more than friendship, and that’s a big problem for my career....

Don't miss this red-hot friends-to-lovers, only-one-bed-in-the-room MM sports romance from NYT best seller Lauren Blakely!

©2023 Lauren Blakley Books (P)2025 Lauren Blakley Books

Great end to a great series!

Loved watching Luke and Tanner move from best friends to scorching - yet sweet - lovers. Perfect end to the 5-book Winner Takes All series - can’t say enough about each of the couples, each of these books - Lauren Blakely is the best! As always, amazing narration.

It all starts with a dare...

What started out as a fun dare got sexy pretty darn fast. Luke and Tanner are long-time friends who are also neighbors. They constantly love to dare each other to do silly things. There’s an attraction between them that they try to deny, but it's way too strong. Things get real during the auction that puts things in motion. I was so heartbroken for both Tanner and Luke. Luke, for thinking he isn't worth much with the situation with his team and Tanner who puts his heart on the line and gets it broken all in one go. I literally bawled after the wedding.
Jacob Morgan and Teddy Hamilton are an absolute dream to listen to. They're so good at all of the humor and emotions that Lauren Blakely writes into every story.

Another homerun / touchdown

I was hoping these two would get a story… Per usual L Blakely did not disappoint! Two best friends, that banter with each other, leading to flirting… Which leads to so much more hotness! I love their chemistry and I think that Teddy as Tanner and Jacob as Luke really bring these characters to life.
I also love that the author brings in other characters from different books, and continues their stories … it’s like a bonus Christmas gift!
This book is definitely a quick listen and at times I wanted it to go on a lot longer but it does not disappoint !!

Steamy, fun and banter filled!

Give me all the friends to lovers MM romances and I’ll be a happy person. “Manhandled” is a steamy, funny and banter filled MM romance that was such a great listen.

Tanner and Luke are friends who also like a little competition amongst their friends and themselves. Tanner is a star baseball player and Luke a star quarterback so competition comes to them naturally. When one of their friends dares Luke to bid Tanner for a date at a charity auction, he can’t say no. But as they spend time together, the banter they’ve always had is actually an underlying chemistry.

The banter between these two is top notch and had me laughing out loud so many times as I listened. It’s classic Blakely magic that I live for with each book of hers. I loved how sweet and confident Tanner was. He’s a great friend and great partner to Luke. Luke’s swagger was screaming through the pages and I couldn’t help falling for him too. I loved their friendship, the hook-ups and the ultimate “I want to be with you” moment. The appearances by past characters made me so happy, it was like catching up with old friends.

Jeddy is one of my top narrating duos to listen to and I love them so much together. Jacob Morgan was the perfect Luke because he brought his swagger and confident personality to life perfectly. Teddy Hamilton can do no wrong and was amazing as Tanner. Teddy truly becomes his character and I could listen to him narrate all day.

Cute Story

I loved this story and found it entertaining and informative as to the stressors confronting high profile athletes. The story is just heartwarming.