Relay is an enjoyable second chance romance by Layla Reyne.

I always enjoy a good romance involving athletes, and especially Olympians. Alex's a closeted swimmer on the Olympic swim team. Suddenly, his ex-lover, the press favorite, Dane, is on his team.

Their reunion is not a fun time for either, as Alex is far from welcoming to his new teammate.

Dane's spent his life as his parent's puppet. He does and says what he's told. He's closeted, as his religious parents would never allow their darling son to be gay. Dane's tired of pretending, living his life according to his parents' plans.

Their story includes some scandal, betrayal and jealousy. People start meddling and careers are threatened.

Relay's a wonderful reminder that living your truth can help you find real happiness.

Relay tells the story of Olympic swimmers Alex and Dane. They met and fell in love as teenagers, but with Dane's very uptight parents who would never accept a gay son the two split up. Since then they've hated one another, but it's clear that there was chemistry below the surface. Now, in the same team again, old passions are boiling up to the surface and it's clear that something is going to happen.
The story is set in an Olympic training camp but there isn't really a great deal of actual sports taking place. I'm not reading it for that though, so for me, this was quite a good thing. We do have the question of doping and how some sports stars might make a fortune through sponsorship while others struggle to make ends meet.
I'm not sure how bothered the press would be about swimming stars, would they follow their every move. Perhaps things are a little different in the US, but certainly, before the games have even taken place, I'm not sure anyone would care. It works for this story though and adds to the tension when Dane and Alex try and work out their relationship.
This was an entertaining read and I liked finding out how they would sort everything out with Dane's evil parents.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have received an ARC of this book by NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review. The Pub date of the first edition of the book was January 2018. This review will be posted on my Goodreads, Facebook page and Instagram.
I don’t know very well how to talk about this book. I liked it but not since the start. It took me a while to enter this story and to really start to like it. I felt that something was missing and at the same time, everything was so fast that it made me a bit confused.
With this I don't mean that it's not a good book, just that for me it's not a book I want to reread so soon. I loved the characters and their differences and personalities. No doubt that Alex represented a lot in this story: being a Hispanic-gay-man representing the USA team as captain of his own team and with great responsibility in hand. Not only that, but also debating family situations and a broken heart.
Dante, for his part, and although it doesn't seem like it at first, also has a great evil to go with him: his family. I hated his parents with all my strength and everything that came out of their mouths; all their actions and everything they represented and imposed on their own son. But I was happy to see that despite all that, Dante managed to overcome and change everyone's lives in a big 180-degree turn.
There were also fun moments - especially with Alex's family and some teammates. A bit of suspense and action too and although I still found it all slightly confusing, it was fun and a kind of situation that changed the pace of the story a bit.
I am curious about the following story, which will have as main characters two friends that stood out in this book and for that reason, I'm going to buy the second one so I can read it soon.

I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to read this book. I love a sports romance but I’ve never read a swimmer romance, so I couldn’t wait to read my first one. This one didn’t disappoint. I really enjoyed it!

It’s an enemies to lovers and second chance romance. Alex and Dane first meet when they are 16 and then they reunite 10 years later. Their relationship is very up and down throughout the book and frustrating at times, but I feel like their feelings for each other are very clear. Even when they were trying to hide them.

My heart broke for Dane. The way he acted did frustrate me at times but I could understand why he acted that way. He really struggled to be his true self, mainly because of his parents, but it was so nice to see him stand up for himself and start to live his life how he has always wanted to!

At the end of the book they’re about to go to the Olympics to compete but the book ends. I was so disappointed but after reading the synopsis for the next book in this duoligy, I’m pretty sure we will get to see the final races in that one. The next book is about Bas and Jacob, which is a pair that the author teased us with in this book. I can’t wait to read about them.

4.25⭐

Relay is my first introduction to author Layla Reyne and what a great introduction it was. Ok, it gets off to a rocky start the characters Alex and Dane are a little frustrating and Dane in particular at 26 is well under his parents thumb. But the story grew, and it soon became clear why Dane is so reluctant to show his true self. And I was really pulled in thanks to a great group of characters and the storyline itself, and honestly, I couldn't stop reading and enjoyed the team dynamics, the m/m relationship and the angst Dane's evangelical controlling parents offered.

And I'm going to dive straight into Bas and Jacob's story not just because I loved them as characters, but because by the end, I wanted more and that's always the sign of a good story as far as I'm concerned.

Would recommend.

I really enjoyed the book. I didn’t want to put it down, which I can’t say about some of the books I have been reading.

I thought it was well written. The ending was a little eh, but overall, I liked it.

3.5 Stars. This book has everything I like: enemies to lovers, gay protagonists, and professional athletes, but I struggled with the melodrama. I really really really liked both Alex and Dane I loved their former loves to enemies to lovers dynamic. I’m a sucker for an I loved you even when I hated couple. The tension between the two was palpable. I liked some of the side characters and am very tempted to buy the next book to get Jacob and Seb’s story. However I really struggled with how stereotypical Dane’s parents were, the additional “villians,” and even the coach’s lack of spine for the sole purpose of drama. The book had so much going and enough drama for it without the overly dramatic plot twist in the last third. That being said, I the book kept me entertained for an evening. I may have to check out some of Layla’s other books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Valentine PR for the digital review copy.

Ah I loved this book!!! It was a sweet and steamy love/ hate relationship between Dane and Alex. Both of them qualified for the U.S. swimming team at the Olympics. They had a secret relationship ten years ago at a swimming camp. Now they have to work together on the swimming team to achieve their goals to win. One of the things I loved about this book was the relationship between the guys. Both clearly loved each other but couldn’t get passed the events from ten years ago. The slow burn of the story was beautiful as they rediscovered the love. Danes parents were horrible and made it more difficult for Dane to love himself as a gay man. Though they were needed for the drama within the story. I loved the side characters Bas and Jacob. They were supportive and hilarious characters that were more family than friends. I’m looking forward to reading their story next. Finally, I loved the backdrop of the upcoming Olympics. As a huge fan of the games it was great to see a love story within it. My only disappointment was I wanted to read an epilogue of what happened in the next few months for them. Overall, I loved this story of second chances, love and friendship. I’m looking forward to reading more of her books.
I received this ARC from the publisher and Netgalley for my honest opinion and review.

This is perfect since the Olympics are starting soon!

I loved this book. Adored it. Devoured it in a day. Just everything about it was amazing, I love the fact that it's based around swimming in the Olympics! Like, yet please! I need more of this Layla!! The characters are so so good and the chemistry? Off the Olympic charts. The sexy scenes are hot as the sun and the friends are as sweet as candy! Can you tell how much I love this book?? You have to read this!

I NEED the second book please! I gotta have Bas and Jacob's story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Layla Reyne for the earc in return for an honest review.