This is a book about finding yourself and overcoming your fears. Narrated by Nick Russo who did an amazing job. So, they get their HFN, that appears to be the HEA that they both have been waiting for. Then finally Bas realizes with the help of Alex what his fears really are and goes to get Jacob back. His mentor, and love interest lies with Bas, but Jacob does not want to ask for too much. Jacob is a 19 year old trying to find his way in his first Olympics. In reality he is afraid of his partner leaving him behind. He believes he will always leave his partner behind. Bas, an Olympic swimmer thinks he can never be in a full time relationship with anything other than swimming.

This book started off kinda slow, but it makes sense as one MC was 19 and the other was still recovering from a bad breakup and the fallout from his father leaving his mother. Provided ARC by GRR for an honest review. Swimmingly good sports romance with heart NJR did a fine job narrating the story too. Their journey to the path of glory and love definitely isn’t smooth but I feel like it was worth fighting for.

I like Bas, he’s an interesting character. It was interesting to see their interactions with each other and how they have to struggle their way to achieving glory. Will they win their medal and their love? Bas is a senior member while Jacob is the youngest in the team. But winning an Olympic medal is never easy and Bas is already suffering from the trauma of losing his dreams four years ago. Bas and Jacob are doing their best to win the gold medal for their team, their country and themselves. It’s rare to read a book with awimmers as MCs and I’m loving this! It’s difficult to write sports novel right and good but Layla Reyne did everything right by this book. But the only path to salvaging gold is for Jacob to finally ask for what he needs - the heart of the man he loves - and for Bas to become the dependable one.

Bas, however, fearing a repeat of his mistakes four years ago, pushes Jacob away, sure he’ll only let Jacob down. When Jacob falters under the stress, threatening his individual races and the medley relay gold, he needs Bas’s help to escape from drowning. He’s trying to be everything to everyone while trying not to fall for his gorgeous tattooed teammate who just gets him - gets his need to fix things, his dorky pirate quips, and his bisexuality. The Olympic experience - from the hazing, to the endless practices, to the unrelenting media - makes the shy nineteen-year-old’s head spin. Bas is determined to do right this time around - by his medley relay team and his rookie mentee. Until he cost his team the Olympic gold four years ago. Dependable he was more the good-time guy who only wanted to swim, party, and ink tattoos.

Relay by Layla Reyne