review: his convenient husband (love and sports #1) by robin covington

NFL football player Isaiah Blackwell lost his husband three years ago and is raising their teen son alone. He lives his life as quietly as his job allows, playing ball to support his family but trying not to draw unwanted attention. His quiet life is shaken up when a mutual friend introduces him to Victor, a visiting principal ballet dancer who is everything Isaiah is not.

Brash and loud, Victor Aleksandrov has applied for political asylum to avoid returning to Russia, where gay men are targeted and persecuted. He’s been outspoken about gay rights in his home country, and if he doesn’t get asylum, going back to Russia is a death sentence.

Their one-night stand turns into a tentative friendship, a relationship they both agree is temporary... until Victor’s denied asylum. Isaiah can’t offer Victor a happily ever after, but he can propose something that’ll keep Victor in the US and safe... marriage He just doesn’t expect his new husband to dance away with his heart. ~ Goodreads

Source: Arc provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review - Release Date: 10/9/17

Review:

I adored this super angsty story which surprised the hell out of me because me + angst = RUUUUUUNNNNN!!!! lol

Isaiah, an NFL football player, and Victor, an openly gay Russian ballet dancer, spend one steamy night together but Isaiah is still pining over his husband three years after his death. He had the real deal and lost it. He's afraid that going through that kind of loss again would break him and his son Evan is his #1 priority. No relationships for him.

When Victor, who has been an outspoken advocate about his country's treatment and torture of gays, doesn’t get approved for asylum, Isaiah makes an impulsive decision to get married so Victor can stay in the US rather than face danger and possible death going back home. It’s just an arrangement – they will just be friends and then go their different ways once the asylum comes through.. And really, surprisingly, despite their one night together and obvious desire for each other, that’s what happens for most of the book.

Despite their differences, Victor and  Isaiah had a wonderful chemistry and friendship that developed during the course of the book. It wasn't all based on sex (although there are sexy times).

I really loved Isaiah's son, Evan, and his relationship with Victor and how that woke Isaiah up to the struggle Evan was going though as a bisexual/bi racial teen who bends gender norms. It was something that Isaiah thought he shielded Evan from by placing him in an elite, *progressive* school. Evan was so damn huggable, brave, open and honest.

Victor is just the sweetest man and had given up any chance at love or family when he became a ward of the Russian government in exchange for a career in the ballet. Marrying Isaiah to get asylum gives him a glimpse at what he could have if only Isaiah will take the chance.

Soooo...like I said - this book is SUPER angsty but I felt like I understood where both men were coming from even when they lashed out. And boy does Isaiah lash out. Some readers might have a hard time with him but I got it.

I would have given this one 5 stars (I don't rate here but I gave it 4 stars on Goodreads) if it weren't for a few nitpicks.

1) There were a few scenes at the beginning that just cut off – SPOILER – highlight for spoiler -The men's first night together, their impromptu Vegas marriage, Victor’s night at the club was never resolved - Isaiah still thinks he cheated.

2) The end is a clear HEA but I wish we could have seen them together - happy as a family a bit more.

Despite those few quibbles I LOVED this. It was very emotional and I was so rooting for them to make it in the end.

I'm definitely looking into this author's other books because anyone who can make me like angsty romance is a winner in my book.