Manhandled

Winner Takes All, Book 5

By: L. Blakely

Narrated by: 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.

Luke and Tanner score a touchdown...or a home run.

What happens when two hot, sports star best friends figure out they have feelings for each other? Things get hot and heavy fast!

Luke is the new QB on the scene who is trying to prove he has what it takes to lead his team. Tanner is a star baseball player who has had a rough go at it in the relationship department and ready to put his career first. Like other L. Blakely books, we see characters we recognize from the rest of the Winner Takes All series, so of course all these hunky, hot successful men are all friends with each other. Luke and Tanner start to realize that maybe they like each other more then just friends, and when an "I dare you" turns into a 100,000 date things go from a bunt to a grand slam! Once they decide to give into their more primal urges, they also decide they do not want to completely risk their friendship and put a time limit of this thing between them. The old, "bang it out of their system" if you will. But has that ever worked for anyone? no, and these two are no exception. Soon feelings become real, and with their whole friend group finding out and rooting for them it gets serious. Except while one is ready to commit, the other is running scared. To find out which is which and how this story ends you will have to read for yourself.

Manhandled is the second book published under the L. Blakely name. Penned for her MM books, Ms. Blakely really knocks it out of the park with these two. While there was some reminiscent of her other sports books, we don't see the same thing we do in the other ones where they can't be together because they are on rival teams. These two play two completely different sports in the same city, which is a bit of fresh air. While I do lover her longer full length novels as well, I feel this was perfectly timed and a nice little quick listen coming in just under 6 hours. This was also such a nice little tie up for the Winner Takes All series, the perfect little bow on top.

This is narrated by one of my favorite MM narrator dues, Teddy Hamilton and Jacob Morgan, more affectionately known as JEDDY. These two really brought it all home as Luke and Tanner and with them having done almost the entire series, they were able to bring back those older characters perfectly.

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.

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 !!