Out in the Field

Out in College, Book 4

De: Lane Hayes

Narrado por: Michael Dean

Max Maldonado loves baseball. He knows playing first base at a private college probably won’t get him to the big leagues, but he doesn’t mind. He loves the game and his teammates. If he has to stay in the closet until he graduates, that’s okay. Baseball comes first. Relationships are complicated anyway. And after his recent messy breakup, Max prefers to keep things simple.

Phoenix Bell is a fabulous theater geek. He’s excited about his recent transfer to a new school with an elite liberal arts program. Life has been on hold for a while, but this opportunity feels like the fresh start he was hoping for when he moved to California. And the chance reunion with the hot closeted jock is an unexpected surprise. The two men have nothing in common and their timing couldn’t be worse. However, when their unconventional alliance blossoms into friendship and perhaps something more, it may be time to make some hard decisions. And perhaps risk it all…out in the field.

©2019 Lane Hayes (P)2019 Lane Hayes

Fun loving NA romance

Book 4 of the series gave us baseball player, Max and theater geek, Phoenix. Max is in the closet, although I won't say 'deep in the closet'. He didn't acknowledge his sexuality, but he is not doing the whole hiding himself or trying to act like a macho straight dude. His best friend, Christian is gay and he doesn't seem to mind that he is seen around campus hanging out with Phoenix.

Phoenix had a slew of lousy relationship and decided to have a fling with Max, since they are both so attracted to each other and had nothing in common. Perfect!

There isn't much drama and conflict in this short read, but I find myself enjoying the relationship development between Max and Phoenix. They are just so cute and adorable together. I love Max blunt nature and the way they care for each other. Even with the reappearance of Max's recent ex, Sky, it didn't dampened the pleasant mood of the book. Overall, such a sweet and adorb read and you can't go wrong with Michael Pauley. I love the sweet innocent voice of Phoenix!

Great addition to the series!

4.5 Stars!

We met Max in Out in the Offense, but you don't need to read/listen to that one first, however, for your maximum enjoyment, reading or listening to the series in order might be the best option.

While the book is told from Max's POV and we didn't get to know Phoenix, his love interest, just as well, I couldn't help but loving Phoenix. He was just so unapologetically himself, kind and supportive that I just fell in love with him, right along with Max. And then we have Max, who showed so much growth throughout the book, getting over his toxic relationship with his venomous snake of an ex, Sky—who I hated in Out in the Offense and hated even more here—and moving forward with someone who was not only Sky's opposite, but also Max's in a different sense. The sizzling chemistry between Max and Phoenix was balanced by the friendship they managed despite not having many interests (if any!) in common and I just couldn't get enough of both the passionate and the sweet moments.

Michael Pauley delivered a nearly flawless narration, filled with emotion and bringing Max, Phoenix and the rest of the secondary cast to life for me.

Overall, definitely a book or an audiobook you don't want to miss out on. Very recommendable!

An enjoyable sports-based romance series

This has been an enjoyable sports-based series with each main closeted character facing the challenge of coming out to his team-mates and family. The characters are often connected via a previous relationship or a friend at college. Although each story could be read as a standalone, I think it is worth reading/listening to the books in order to gain an insight into the various situations and relationships that have gone before. In this case, I would definitely recommend listening to book 3 as there are quite a few plot and character links with this story. Overall book 3 has been my favourite so far, with this one, Out in the Field, running a close second.

Lane Hayes always does a great job of writing the main characters getting to know each other and showing how they gradually fall in love. There’s plenty of conversation here and several steamy scenes that move from being friends with benefits to meaning much more. I love how she blends the journey of falling in love with the main character deciding to come out because of that love. Sky, Max’s spiteful ex, again provides some additional angst to the plot. I hope Sky gets his happy ever after in a future story.

Max and Phoenix are opposites in many ways, yet they gel as a couple. Max is the sporty one and Phoenix’s total lack of knowledge of anything sporty leads to some humorous moments. It’s great how Max moves out of his comfort zone to spend time with Phoenix. I especially loved the ‘break up’ scene and onwards to the end of the story. The coming out scenes were great as were the make-up and epilogue. I had a few issues with some points in the story, but nothing major.

I liked that Christian and Rory (the couple from book 3) were involved throughout this story. I just wished the narrator had been consistent with his voices for these characters as they were different in books 3 and 4. Also Phoenix sounded very much like Mitch from book 2. Having said that, Michael Pauley narrates the story well and makes it easy to follow. He creates a range of emotions and varies his voice and intonation accordingly. A recommended series of audiobooks.

Five Stars!

This is another great addition to the Out in College Series by Lane Hayes. Her characters are down to earth and engaging. The emotional connection with the reader is firmly established by Michael Pauley's excellent narration. Fans of Lane Hayes won't be disappointed by this new pairing. Recommended!

Wonderful!

I first read Max and Phoenix's story in eBook the second it came out, and I grabbed the audio before the page finished loading! It certainly did not disappoint as this is one of my favorite authors and narrators. I just loved Max and Phoenix’s story and Michael Pauley truly made it come to life for me! His narration of Max was just as I envisioned as I read his and Phoenix's story. One of my favorite themes is closeted athletes, so the Out in College series has been a favorite must-read for me. When Max, the closeted baseball player, crosses paths again with Phoenix the out drama student, their feelings resurface from their first and only meeting from an LA nightclub months ago. After a blind-date setup gone wrong, Max sees Phoenix again where Phoenix suggest an “indecent proposal” for a closeted friends with benefits. With the guidelines they set up, what could possibly go wrong? I loved that their friendship blossomed into more, and made me all swoony. Michael Pauley did such an amazing job bringing Lane Hayes's words to life. I truly felt all the emotions and frustrations that Max was feeling, as well as Phoenix's growing feelings for Max. The narration of the last couple of chapters really got me emotional that I didn't feel with my read in eBook form. I found myself grabbing a tissue while listening. If you’re looking for closeted athletes, guys who wear makeup, friends with benefits, smoking hot chemistry and an ex with a potential score to settle you’ve got to read this book! Lane Hayes’s writing always has a way of drawing me into her stories, and I couldn’t recommend this book, or series more!