Hard Count

An MM Tight End and the Governor Bi-Awakening Romance (The San Diego Storm MM Football Series, Book 1)

By: Emerson Beckett

Narrated by: Michael Dean

A feel good, low angst romance that will make you smile, laugh, and swoon.

Evan Ellis
Evidently, I’m a rule breaker.
The rule I broke? Falling for the straight man with two kids. Didn’t help that he is the Governor of California.
As the starting tight end for the San Diego Storm, you’d think I had better self-control. But there was no avoiding it when our unlikely friendship blossomed, and he unknowingly started flirting back. It was out of my control.
Yes, I want him. But I’m probably the last complication he needs in his life. I was fine being just friends until the tension between us broke, and our lips found one another.
From that point on, I knew one thing. I wanted him more than my next breath, and I’d take him any way I could get him. Even if it meant we were just friends.

Governor Hudson Gatlin
If anyone were to ask me how to fall in love with the most unlikely human and staring tight end for the Storm, the answer would be simple.
Sling your drink all over him at a black-tie fundraiser. And if he just smiles and sends you flirty texts, then he’s yours.
Problem was, as much as I enjoyed his friendship, I found myself wanting more from him. But he didn’t seem to care. He saw the hot mess who needed a friend. And that’s what I thought we were, until we both wanted so much more.
This is our love story and how he found a missing piece of me I didn’t know I’d lost.

Content Warning: death of a spouse

Hard Count is book one in the San Diego Storm Football Series. Tropes include: age gap, opposites attract, single dad, long distance love affair, finding love after loss.

©2025 Emerson Beckett (P)2025 Emerson Beckett

Beautifully perfect story

This is definitely one of the best stories I've listened to in a long time. I love the MM romance and the instant Love. A perfect coupling at first meet. this story is so beautifully perfect. The writing is so well done and the narration only adds to how wonderful this book is. Listen for yourself and see. its so good!!👏❤🔥⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Beautiful Journey

Michael Dean brought these characters to life! The story is a feel good story. It brings all the emotions, love, heat, and humor. This is a top audiobook for me!

Second chance at love unexpectedly

🏈✨ Book Review: Hard Count by Emerson Beckett
🎧 Narrated by: Michael Dean

If you love MM sports romances with sizzling chemistry, forbidden desire, and emotional depth, Hard Count is about to become your new obsession.

Evan Ellis is the confident, charming tight end tearing up the NFL—and breaking hearts along the way. But beneath his cocky swagger is a man who knows exactly what (and who) he wants. Enter Hudson Gatlin: a widowed single father, the governor of Georgia, and the one person Evan can’t stop thinking about.

From the moment Evan sets his sights on Hudson, the sparks explode. But Hudson—reserved, principled, and still grieving his late wife —isn’t exactly looking for love, let alone with a younger, bi sexual football star. Still, Evan’s relentless charm, genuine heart, and unwavering patience slowly chip away at Hudson’s walls.

Michael Dean’s narration? Chef’s kiss. He captures Evan’s confidence and flirtatious swagger while also delivering Hudson’s complexity and restraint. Every emotion—from flirty banter to vulnerable confession—hits just right. Dean adds layers to the characters, making the tension and payoff all the more satisfying.

This is a must listen and spice is just the right amount to heat your cheeks 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Such a great book! A must read!

I went into this book completely blind and I absolutely LOVED it. Evan and Hudson were perfect for each other. Their instalove was adorable and they fit into each others lives seamlessly. Also big props to Michael Dean. I could listen to his voice all day everyday. Make sure to give this a listen!

Easy and fun to listen to

I’m getting into listening to audiobooks more and I was really excited to give this one a try and I loved it. I read the ARC for Personal Foul and I really wanted to read the rest of the series. Michael Dean is an amazing narrator. His voice was easy to listen to and made the story more entertaining with his narration. The overall performance made the story even more enjoyable and I was engaged the whole time. I was offered a code for this audiobook in exchange to listen and leave a review.

Hard Count

Wow! Wow! Wow!!! This book absolutely came to life. The narrator did such a fantastic job getting all the emotions. Highly recommend!

Amazing

This is Evan and Hudson’s story and it has heat to their story. I listen to the audiobook and I enjoyed the plot and the narrator did amazing job on narrator this story.

Cute and enjoyable overall.

I just had a couple of confusing thoughts. For 1 it says Evin is 6’8” but in the other book that is Nick’s & Preston’s story they said he was 6’5”. Also he said he was drafted to the Storm. In the other book he was drafted to Atlanta and later traded to San Diego. Nothing serious just confusing comparisons to what was in the book We Could Do This Forever. I like that there wasn’t a bunch of unnecessary drama. Sometimes you just want to read a love story and, that’s what this was to me, A true love story.

Cute and sweet

I really enjoyed this story. It’s low angst and insta love. These two are meant to be together and they know it right away. There’s no third act breakup. Just a sweet love story. I also loved how Evan fell in love with the family. Highly recommended.