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TLC 101

by Janey Chapel (Goodreads Author)

3.52 of 5 stars 3.52 · rating details · 147 ratings · 19 reviews

Sports psychologist Kip Rigsbee feels like an outsider, not part of the players’ circle and not accepted by the coaches of the college team he’s been hired to help. But that hasn’t kept him from feeling the gravitational pull of defensive coordinator Greg Browne, despite the fact that Greg dismisses Kip’s methods as “motivational bullsh*t.” An accident brings the unacknowl...more

ebook, 76 pages

Published October 21st 2009 by Dreamspinner Press (first published 2009)

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Oct 23, 2010 Shell rated it 3 of 5 stars

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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 3.5 Stars

Kip Rigsbee doesn't like mornings and a 6:22am phone call from South Guilford Hospital by Coach Greg Browne, on the first day of spring break is probably the last thing he expected waking up to. Coach Browne is Kip's upstairs neighbor, he's also the defensive coordinator at the local university and he can be one hard-to-handle cantankerous SOB sometimes. In the hospital, with a broken ankle, a busted-up face and a wrecked car is one of those times. By the time Kip rolls out of bed and s...more 3.5 Stars

Kip Rigsbee doesn't like mornings and a 6:22am phone call from South Guilford Hospital by Coach Greg Browne, on the first day of spring break is probably the last thing he expected waking up to. Coach Browne is Kip's upstairs neighbor, he's also the defensive coordinator at the local university and he can be one hard-to-handle cantankerous SOB sometimes. In the hospital, with a broken ankle, a busted-up face and a wrecked car is one of those times. By the time Kip rolls out of bed and scrambles into the ER, Coach Browne has successfully alienated and frustrated three nurses, a couple of doctors and a lab tech, all of which are standing inside his little curtain room attempting to treat him. Fortunately, Kip is the sports psychologist for the same team Browne coaches and has a little experience handling situations like this. In a matter of minutes, Kip has Browne calmed down enough that the medical staff is able to get a cast on his injured ankle. The cast they put on has to be on for three days and in that time Browne will be unable to put any weight on that leg. After three days, he will need to go back into a medical center and get his current cast taken off and replaced with a walking cast.

That is the scene that opens up this book and leads to Coach Greg Browne spending three days in Kip's apartment, where Kip can take care of him. In those three days, Kip discloses a little about himself, where he grew up, what his family is like, how his childhood was and what past event started him on the path to sports psychology. Browne on the other hand, isn't so forthcoming, by the end of those few days you know he loves football and is passionate about what he does, he's gay and in the closet and that he has an affection for Kip, but other than that, his character is a bit of a mystery.

This book ends rather abruptly, with the two men at the office of the orthopedic specialist who Browne goes to see on the third day. After seeing the severity of the ankle break, the doctor there orders him to stay in the cast he has, with crutches, for two more weeks. That means two more weeks of Kip, two more weeks for the tentative relationship they've started in the last few days to strengthen and grow.

I enjoyed this story, it was fascinating to see a relationship begin to bloom between the two very dissimilar men and it's ending left me with a certainty that things would progress, at least somewhat, between them. If walls can be broken and an intimate connection started in just three days, who knows what two more weeks could do.(less)

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Oct 24, 2009 JenMcJ rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-books, mm-mmm-a-few-mmf-too

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 14, 2013 Mandy*reads obsessively* rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook-owned, m-m, sports, cute-easy-light, feel-good-read, hurt-comfort-disability, short, way-too-short

3.25*
Kip is the new guy on the football training team, he's a sports psychologist so of course he isn't taken overly seriously by his fellow coaches.
Greg is one of those other coaches, with the only difference being they have been having longing/lusting looks going on but absolutely no intention of doing anything about it, at least as far as Greg and his very deep closet are concerned.
Now, of course to make it exciting something had to happen, so Greg needs Kip's help and they are thrown into ve...more

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Dec 02, 2009 Elisa Ramblings added it

This was for sure a very nice story and it had the potential for being a great long novel, but this was only an appetizer. I actually can’t say if the author has any intention to write more about these two men, and so this was only a way to tease the reader, or if she cleverly built a novella that had the wide breath of a novel.

Kip is a sport psychologist for a professional football team. He is the newbie in the team and he has not exactly the role everyone else thinks at as useful, but he is a...more This was for sure a very nice story and it had the potential for being a great long novel, but this was only an appetizer. I actually can’t say if the author has any intention to write more about these two men, and so this was only a way to tease the reader, or if she cleverly built a novella that had the wide breath of a novel.

Kip is a sport psychologist for a professional football team. He is the newbie in the team and he has not exactly the role everyone else thinks at as useful, but he is a nice guy and one that you can easily fall in friendship with without even realizing it. And if Kip has a special eye for Greg, one of the coaches, it all remains at “eyes” level, he has never made a move on the other man, even if he thought sometime to have seen a similar knowing look on the other man. Then Greg has a simple but serious accident and he is forced in bed at least for three days, and a stunned Kip discovers that he is listed as contact in case of emergency. Kip doesn’t think twice and he finds himself with a growling Greg in bed… well, it was not exactly the way he has wished to do it, but the result is pretty much the same.

The entire story is basically the play of hint and innuendos that will bring Kip and Greg to admit that there is something more between them. It’s not the story of a forever and happily ever after love, actually I think that, in the end, Kip and Greg have only realized that they are good together, but there is not yet real love between them, at least not a love they have acknowledged. Once in a time, this is not a friends with benefits relationship that will lead to love, this is actually the description of how two men start a friends with benefits relationship. It’s not said, and this is exactly the reason why I think there is potential for a longer story, that between Kip and Greg it’s not love, only that love, for now, it’s not the main purpose of the story. Love, at this moment, will be too complicated: there is always the usual problem of being gay in a world, professional football, where the don’t ask don’t tell policy it’s pretty much the same as in the army. Without love between them, or as I said, without an acknowledged love, Kip and Greg can pretend that sex is enough, and that, if they are discreet, they can be together without too much clamour.

Probably for now it’s enough, and being a novella, it’s not necessary for this story to find a solution to their problems. But the questions are all there, as it’s the potential: I wouldn’t mind to see Kip brings Greg at home, like a prodigal son who comes back home with a coveted prize, “see mom and dad (or better grandmom and granddad)? Even if I couldn’t be like all my other cousins, at least I was able to find a man like them!”. Now don’t get me wrong, between Kip and his family there are no big issue, and I was thinking more to the funny aspect of the scene than anything else.

Also the characterization of Kip and Greg was quite original, for once it was not the professional player who was a slob at home, and controlled and quiet Kip was not the same in his private life, like all the energy he didn’t spend yelling in a playfield, was reversed in creating chaos in his apartment. Instead Greg freak control’s attitude was more in role with the semi-closeted case, putting a controlled mask outside, also at his home, when inside he is burning to finally be able to do as he wants, without need to hide.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002VU8VUI/?...(less)

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Oct 28, 2009 Kassa rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is a short, entertaining story with a couple of masculine men that should appeal to readers but it does have some significant problems. "TLC 101" reads very similar to Chapel’s other quick novella, "Maritime Men," with two masculine men who have rough, sweaty sex but talk very little. Here the set up is that one of the men breaks his ankle in the shower (cue soap jokes) and must rely on another coach to help take care of him in the short term. That leads to some hot and heavy sex despite a...more This is a short, entertaining story with a couple of masculine men that should appeal to readers but it does have some significant problems. "TLC 101" reads very similar to Chapel’s other quick novella, "Maritime Men," with two masculine men who have rough, sweaty sex but talk very little. Here the set up is that one of the men breaks his ankle in the shower (cue soap jokes) and must rely on another coach to help take care of him in the short term. That leads to some hot and heavy sex despite a casted leg with a few conversations thrown in for variety. The plot is basic and the men may appeal to some readers more than others. Since this particular offering feels so reminiscent of the previous book, but nowhere near as good, I hope future novellas will have more variety.

The characters of Kip and Greg are classic opposites attract. Whereas Kip is outgoing, energetic, and attempts to bond with the team players, Greg is closeted, rigid, and tight lipped. Kip is a slob with clothes, books, and boxes strewn around his apartment where Greg is neat to the point of color coordinating. Greg lives and breathes football whereas Kip loves the sport but also has a life. The two have very little in common other than their love of football and gay sex but this seems to be enough of a basis for the short-term relationship. However there is an emotional connection, albeit brief, when Kip helps Greg open up slightly but the focus is on sex and hanging out for a few days. Unfortunately this connection felt forced and awkward instead of natural and easy.

While this is not a bad plot line and certainly gives a laid back, easy approach to two men who hook up with the possibility of more, the story seems to lack a depth that makes this an easy book to read and forget. There is also a lack of a strong happy ending, instead after three days giving a very vague possibility to a future relationship. This didn’t bother me but some readers are cautious when a happy ending is not very strong so readers that require such may be disappointed. Especially since the ending is abrupt and problematic.

Some problems inherent in the story in addition to Greg’s dislikable personality were Greg’s refusal to accept any sort of pain medication and the quick sex. While his reasoning is clear, it seems ridiculous for a man of his age to still subscribe to something he did almost twenty years ago and instead writhe in pain. This ties into the ridiculous and out of place argument in the emergency room about medicating players so they could play sooner. Greg is neither a player nor being medicated to play; they wanted to set his cast. Furthermore Greg’s willingness to have sex almost immediately after breaking his ankle is suspect as he was writhing in pain one minute and sex starved the next but these are minor problems and easily overlooked.

Other than these problems, the story really ends just as the most interesting aspects start. There are numerous questions left unanswered and dangling from Greg’s closeted sexuality to what this means for their future, their jobs working together, the football community, their families, if they are having a relationship or simply a few more days of sex together. Furthermore why would these two men be together since they have very few things in common and do nothing but mostly concentrate on the sex. All of these questions are left hanging without indications to a wrapped up ending. Whereas such things were more acceptable in "Maritime Men" given the nature of the military, here the questions are more glaring and disappointing. For all the problems listed, this story is mostly a quick novella with some classic characters in a familiar setting and may appeal to other readers who can overlook the problems.(less)

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Feb 07, 2013 Heller rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, m-m, sports

3.5

Two hot guys who work together on a college football team, one a sports psychologist and the other a defensive coach. They're attracted to each other but only when one of them gets hurt and the other steps in to help does that attraction move beyond (view spoiler). Sold.

I really enjoyed this but it was too short. I wanted more of Kip and Greg and I want the end of the story not just the beginning.

6 likes · like · see review

Oct 22, 2009 Staceyr rated it 5 of 5 stars

Giving this five stars--that's not to say I wasn't pouty and pissed when this book ended, rather abruptly. Okay, so it's a short story, and my only gripe was that it was too short. I've become a huge fan of Janey Chapel--Maritime Men an all-time favorite--her characters really come to life with situations that are believable, intense, hilarious and dialogue that rings true. Short--but fun while it lasted.

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May 04, 2012 Edina Rose rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

This theme has been visited many times and there is nothing special about the plot... BUT, the two main characters are GREAT!

One is a typical jock baddass who acts before he thinks. Too much testosterone badly managed. The other one is a jock with an emotional intelligence that prevents him from acting like a dumb jock.

Sweet and funny read

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May 17, 2013 Traci rated it 4 of 5 stars

Again, the author masters the short novella. I do believe these characters could be develop into longer stories or other novella series. I did like the characters as I do with all of her books. I went on a Janey Chapel binge and read all of them in two days.

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Jan 24, 2010 T'Lar rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was an enjoyable, fun read, and like other reviewers, I definitely wish the story had been longer. The author has a simple, engaging voice, and I liked her guys very much.

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Dec 20, 2009 A. Steele rated it 5 of 5 stars

Janey Chapel has done it again! Her writing is truly exquisitely well crafted and a pleasure to read. This time she has created a story that is the perfect fantasy: two hot guys forced to spend time together in the same apartment... Both of the characters are extremely realistic and believable, and both are very appealing. And, the story of how they gradually come to reveal their attraction for each other is captivating. The only disappointment you will have is that the novel isn't longer. Here'...more

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Nov 11, 2009 Wren rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, contemporary, cats-pajamas

I like how Janey Chapel writes. The characters are interesting and entertaining. They struggle insides themselves and with each other. The sex is pretty dang good, too.

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Apr 10, 2010 Luvflix rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, sport

A nice short story, but kind of stopped just as the story could have kept on going to further develop the characters and their relationship.

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Aug 19, 2010 Alana rated it 3 of 5 stars

have to admit it was a little short and it seemed to stop right in the middle, like it left me wondering where they went from here.

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Feb 06, 2013 Tailtiu rated it 3 of 5 stars

3,5 this story needs a sequel or at least an epilogue.

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May 03, 2012 jules0623 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: colleagues-to-lovers, doctors-nurses-health-professionals, illness-or-injury-strikes, in-the-closet, relationship-m-m, may-december-romance, sports-stars

I spent most of the book wondering what the hell the MCs saw in each other. I didn't feel much of an emotional connection between the MCs, but perhaps with more time... I felt like the story was a bit unfinished when I got to the end.

Apart from that, and the neck-breaking POV changes, I liked it well enough.

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Jun 23, 2011 Nichole (Dirty H) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, m-m

I liked this book. Janey Chapel is really good at writing characters.
But the book was very short and only covered the span of 2-3 days. It was enjoyable for what it was, but there wasn't much to sink your teeth into and there's no indication that these two even entered into a relationship beyond a few days of sex, let alone anything that will last. And that might not be necessary for everyone, so in that sense it was fine. Mostly it's just a pleasant way to pass 74 pages but not anything that wi...more

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Oct 24, 2009 Maygirl7 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m

Sweet, cute, and too short.

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Jun 25, 2012 Emily Moore rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: gay, ebook

2.5 stars

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Jan 18, 2010 Book Utopia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, erotic-romance, m-m

A hot little morsel. Just don't ever think of this as any kind of grand romance. It's too short, the focus too much on their sex and little else, and the ending too rushed, for that. But it delivers if you're looking for a short, hot read.

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Jun 20, 2011 Bubbles Hunty rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really liked it. Sure I wish it was longer but for a short story it was everything i like

3 likes · like · see review

Oct 24, 2009 Tam rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m

3.5 Why can't I have an extra half star?

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Jun 10, 2013 Shawnie Brocious marked it as to-read

Shelves: outreach, non-supernatural

May 31, 2013 Miraclsm rated it 5 of 5 stars

May 31, 2013 Dana Cavallon added it

Shelves: m-m

May 31, 2013 Zinger marked it as to-read

Shelves: gang-bang-to-read

May 20, 2013 Francesca rated it 3 of 5 stars

May 17, 2013 Breedcentosette marked it as to-read

May 16, 2013 Kiki Lynnwood rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: general

May 12, 2013 Karin Dorsman rated it 3 of 5 stars

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About Janey Chapel

Janey Chapel found a paperback romance in her grandmother's bookcase at the age of eleven, inhaled it in one sitting, and then proceeded to devour thousands of romances in a variety of genres over the course of several decades. Eventually, her husband said, "Stop reading! Start writing!" After a lifetime in the South, Janey now lives in the Northeast with her husband and daughter, where she volunt...more

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