What do you think?
Rate this book
Win a free print copy of this book!
2 days and 13:30:06
3 copies available
U.S. and Canada only
Chords & Courts #1
Breaking Strings
Not yet published
Expected 2 Mar 26Win a free print copy of this book!
2 days and 13:30:06
3 copies available
U.S. and Canada only
Rafe Ortiz should be focused on the music—on the gigs, the grind, and the industry eyes finally turning his way. Instead, every lyric he writes leads back to one Oliver Marshall, the golden-boy basketball captain with a body built for highlight reels and a secret smile meant only for him.
Behind the court and the stage lights, they burn.
In the shadows, they fall.
And no one can know.
Ollie has a reputation to protect and parents who expect perfection. Rafe has a band depending on him and a career poised to explode. Rules say they should walk away. Desire says they won’t survive it if they do.
When March Madness collides with a life-changing showcase opportunity, their stolen nights and breathless encounters become a crossroads—love or legacy, truth or secrecy, each choice carrying consequences that could break them.
Or bind them tighter than ever.
BREAKING STRINGS is an addictive, emotional, steamy MM romance about two men fighting for dreams, for each other, and for the life they’re terrified to admit they want.
Behind the court and the stage lights, they burn.
In the shadows, they fall.
And no one can know.
Ollie has a reputation to protect and parents who expect perfection. Rafe has a band depending on him and a career poised to explode. Rules say they should walk away. Desire says they won’t survive it if they do.
When March Madness collides with a life-changing showcase opportunity, their stolen nights and breathless encounters become a crossroads—love or legacy, truth or secrecy, each choice carrying consequences that could break them.
Or bind them tighter than ever.
BREAKING STRINGS is an addictive, emotional, steamy MM romance about two men fighting for dreams, for each other, and for the life they’re terrified to admit they want.
404 pages, Paperback
Expected publication March 2, 2026
3 people are currently reading
2290 people want to read
About the author
Becca Seymour
50 books642 followersBecca Seymour is a British/Aussie author and the #1 gay romance best seller of the True-Blue series. Known for "steamy and endearing" and "emotionally profound love stories" (InD'tale Magazine) her books have been nominated for multiple RONE Awards.
Becca has a sweet tooth for marshmallow-hearted monsters, swoon-worthy supernatural studs, and everyday guys and basketball players with hearts of gold. If you like your MM romance sweet, spicy, and occasionally action-packed, slip into stalker mode and fall hard for her True-Blue and Minnesota Eagles men—and maybe a shifter or monster two.
Monsters & Mates
Solan | Kael | Varek
Zone Defense
No Take Backs | No More Secrets | No Wrong Moves | No Backing Down
Fast Break
Rules, Schmules! | Facts, Smacts! | Regular Smegular! | Easy, Schmeasy!
True-Blue Let Me Show You | I’ve Got You | Becoming Us | Thinking It Over | Always For You | It’s Not You | Our First & Last | Next For Us
Outback Boys
Stumble | Bounce | Wobble
Fangs & Felons
Thicker Than Water | Weaker Than Instinct | Brighter Than Fear | Stronger Than Fate | Softer Than Stone
Stand-Alone Contemporary
Not Used To Cute | High Alert | Realigned | Amalgamated | Under the Blazing Stars | Best Kind of Awkward | Tastes Like Sugar | Caden & Theo | Full Tilt
REVIEWS:
"WOW! Simply, Wow! A funny, steamy and endearing story that should be put into your family of books. Something that you can read over and over again when you need a pick me up." The Book Fairy Reviews
"An intense connection that smolders" - JayReads
"This book was a slow burn and I loved it." - Steamy Book Momma
"Characters to pull for, a romance to give you feels, and enough steam to keep you turning pages..." - Romantic Reads and Such
"Emotionally profound love story with many laugh aloud moments." - InD'tale Magazine
"Becca had me cracking up laughing and smiling ear to ear." - HeidiLynns BookReviews
Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...
Becca has a sweet tooth for marshmallow-hearted monsters, swoon-worthy supernatural studs, and everyday guys and basketball players with hearts of gold. If you like your MM romance sweet, spicy, and occasionally action-packed, slip into stalker mode and fall hard for her True-Blue and Minnesota Eagles men—and maybe a shifter or monster two.
Monsters & Mates
Solan | Kael | Varek
Zone Defense
No Take Backs | No More Secrets | No Wrong Moves | No Backing Down
Fast Break
Rules, Schmules! | Facts, Smacts! | Regular Smegular! | Easy, Schmeasy!
True-Blue Let Me Show You | I’ve Got You | Becoming Us | Thinking It Over | Always For You | It’s Not You | Our First & Last | Next For Us
Outback Boys
Stumble | Bounce | Wobble
Fangs & Felons
Thicker Than Water | Weaker Than Instinct | Brighter Than Fear | Stronger Than Fate | Softer Than Stone
Stand-Alone Contemporary
Not Used To Cute | High Alert | Realigned | Amalgamated | Under the Blazing Stars | Best Kind of Awkward | Tastes Like Sugar | Caden & Theo | Full Tilt
REVIEWS:
"WOW! Simply, Wow! A funny, steamy and endearing story that should be put into your family of books. Something that you can read over and over again when you need a pick me up." The Book Fairy Reviews
"An intense connection that smolders" - JayReads
"This book was a slow burn and I loved it." - Steamy Book Momma
"Characters to pull for, a romance to give you feels, and enough steam to keep you turning pages..." - Romantic Reads and Such
"Emotionally profound love story with many laugh aloud moments." - InD'tale Magazine
"Becca had me cracking up laughing and smiling ear to ear." - HeidiLynns BookReviews
Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
I absolutely LOVED Rafe and Ollie and I can't wait to get the rest of their story, but I have this feeling that it's going to break my heart completely before the final part of their trilogy!
So, weirdly I don't actually like basketball because for me it seems like the dude's are SO tall that they take three steps and they've crossed the court (I'm more of a giant AFL oval fan!) BUT Becca's basketball books always pull me in and make it seem like a way more interesting and entertaining sport! Becca is literally the only author who makes basketball romance something that I really want to read as soon as the book is available.
I loved Rafe and his bandmates and you could feel the frenetic energy of them as they stand on the brink of becoming something big. Rafe's love for Ollie is so big and all consuming that it made my heart hurt everytime he had to hold himself back for Ollie's sake.
Obviously this book was from Rafe's POV so I don't know Ollie as well or understand his feelings or decisions just yet, but he just made me want to hug him and get him away from his awful parents! Ollie allowing Rafe into his life is such a huge deal for him, and I adored how he kept working hard to find ways for them to just spend time together and support each other in their dreams.
I loved the whole Vegas part but I do feel like I'm going to get sucker punched in the next book which is from Ollie's POV. I'm anticipating that heartbreak is coming, and I already wish Ollie's parents would disappear in a permanent way so that Rafe and Ollie can just be....
Ugh, bring on the next book!!
*****
I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review
So, weirdly I don't actually like basketball because for me it seems like the dude's are SO tall that they take three steps and they've crossed the court (I'm more of a giant AFL oval fan!) BUT Becca's basketball books always pull me in and make it seem like a way more interesting and entertaining sport! Becca is literally the only author who makes basketball romance something that I really want to read as soon as the book is available.
I loved Rafe and his bandmates and you could feel the frenetic energy of them as they stand on the brink of becoming something big. Rafe's love for Ollie is so big and all consuming that it made my heart hurt everytime he had to hold himself back for Ollie's sake.
Obviously this book was from Rafe's POV so I don't know Ollie as well or understand his feelings or decisions just yet, but he just made me want to hug him and get him away from his awful parents! Ollie allowing Rafe into his life is such a huge deal for him, and I adored how he kept working hard to find ways for them to just spend time together and support each other in their dreams.
I loved the whole Vegas part but I do feel like I'm going to get sucker punched in the next book which is from Ollie's POV. I'm anticipating that heartbreak is coming, and I already wish Ollie's parents would disappear in a permanent way so that Rafe and Ollie can just be....
Ugh, bring on the next book!!
*****
I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
First in a series, this is Rafe, the musician, and Oliver, the basketball player's romance
Yes, it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger - a Happy for Now, but it's suggested that we'll get the HEA by book 3.
Both Rafe and Oliver are poised to get their big breaks. Rafe's band is getting to play some good locations & getting starting to get noticed by music execs, and Oliver is doing really well in basketball - well enough that he's expecting to be drafted before graduation. Oliver's parents are highly religious, don't care much about basketball, and expect him to run the family business. Rafe's parents are 100% behind him in his music career. The 2 pass in a hallway, lock eyes, and it's instant attraction. Oliver becomes Rafe's inspiration for his new songs, and later his lover.
They have a long road to go before they can actually be together full time, but at least they're still in the same city by the end of the book.
This is a low drama romance in that the 2 mains don't fight or question each other - once they decide they're in love, they're committed. The drama is family drama and drama around getting music contracts/drafted. Medium spice.
Looking forward to book #2.
Yes, it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger - a Happy for Now, but it's suggested that we'll get the HEA by book 3.
Both Rafe and Oliver are poised to get their big breaks. Rafe's band is getting to play some good locations & getting starting to get noticed by music execs, and Oliver is doing really well in basketball - well enough that he's expecting to be drafted before graduation. Oliver's parents are highly religious, don't care much about basketball, and expect him to run the family business. Rafe's parents are 100% behind him in his music career. The 2 pass in a hallway, lock eyes, and it's instant attraction. Oliver becomes Rafe's inspiration for his new songs, and later his lover.
They have a long road to go before they can actually be together full time, but at least they're still in the same city by the end of the book.
This is a low drama romance in that the 2 mains don't fight or question each other - once they decide they're in love, they're committed. The drama is family drama and drama around getting music contracts/drafted. Medium spice.
Looking forward to book #2.
February 18, 2026
Arc Review
When Rafe Ortiz needs some inspiration to write a song for his band ‘Steel Saints’ he doesn't have to go far.
Oliver Marshall plays basketball for the college team, and is hoping to enter the draft soon. While in the corridors his eyes meet Rafe’s and immediately becomes his muse.
They become friends who become more, but it cannot become common knowledge.
Ollie’s parents expect a lot from him and hope he will get over his ‘phase’ of basketball.
Rafe has supportive parents who champion his dreams of becoming a rock star.
This is the first book in Becca Seymour’s Chords and Courts series.
It is told purely from Rafe’s point of view. This is a slow burn but it is so worth it.
The pining, wanting and love between the characters eminates off the page. Ollie is a lovely character but he lives in his parent’s shadow, and what they say goes, all he wants to do is to live his life under his terms. Rafe is the confidence he needs in his life.
The next book Shattered Hoops is Ollie’s story, but I have a feeling things will get worse before they get their HEA.
When Rafe Ortiz needs some inspiration to write a song for his band ‘Steel Saints’ he doesn't have to go far.
Oliver Marshall plays basketball for the college team, and is hoping to enter the draft soon. While in the corridors his eyes meet Rafe’s and immediately becomes his muse.
They become friends who become more, but it cannot become common knowledge.
Ollie’s parents expect a lot from him and hope he will get over his ‘phase’ of basketball.
Rafe has supportive parents who champion his dreams of becoming a rock star.
This is the first book in Becca Seymour’s Chords and Courts series.
It is told purely from Rafe’s point of view. This is a slow burn but it is so worth it.
The pining, wanting and love between the characters eminates off the page. Ollie is a lovely character but he lives in his parent’s shadow, and what they say goes, all he wants to do is to live his life under his terms. Rafe is the confidence he needs in his life.
The next book Shattered Hoops is Ollie’s story, but I have a feeling things will get worse before they get their HEA.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Brilliant, loved it 🥰 .
This is the first in a trilogy following Rafe and Oliver as they navigate college, music, basketball and a secret relationship whilst in their early 20’s. Rafe is the tattooed bass player/lead singer of a band of college best friends trying to make it to the big time. Oliver is the captain of the basketball team, comes from a very conservative family and just wants to play pro basketball and not work in his father’s business. The chaos loving Rafe sees beyond the facade that Oliver presents to the world and the first part of their story ends with a satisfying HFN and a quick look at what’s to come in book 2. This engaging and very entertaining read had me hooked from the start due to the very likeable characters, the seductive yet lyrical songwriting included in the narrative and a sensual slow burn with a delightful twist at the end. It is beautifully written with the perfect balance between the romance and the professional ambitions of Rafe and Oliver.
This is the first in a trilogy following Rafe and Oliver as they navigate college, music, basketball and a secret relationship whilst in their early 20’s. Rafe is the tattooed bass player/lead singer of a band of college best friends trying to make it to the big time. Oliver is the captain of the basketball team, comes from a very conservative family and just wants to play pro basketball and not work in his father’s business. The chaos loving Rafe sees beyond the facade that Oliver presents to the world and the first part of their story ends with a satisfying HFN and a quick look at what’s to come in book 2. This engaging and very entertaining read had me hooked from the start due to the very likeable characters, the seductive yet lyrical songwriting included in the narrative and a sensual slow burn with a delightful twist at the end. It is beautifully written with the perfect balance between the romance and the professional ambitions of Rafe and Oliver.
Review of advance copy
Breaking Strings was an absolute revelation, and I wish I could rate it more than 5 stars. Becca Seymour perfectly captured the exquisite torture of wanting something impossible, of dancing on a knife edge of desire and obsession. Every nuanced breath between Rafe and Ollie felt pivotal, momentous, and I was rapt, caught up in the spell the author cast. Every line of this story ached in the best possible way. The author's prose ventured into unexpected, lyrical (pun intended) phrasing that held my interest completely; I wanted to rush to finish the story while at the same time slowing down to make it last. And the climax of the book took me completely by surprise. Beautifully done in every way. I simply cannot wait for the remaining two books in this series as these fascinating men move from HFN to their HEA. Highest recommendation!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am loving Rafe and Ollie’s story. I feel for Ollie when his parents have such a hold on where his life should be going. I love that Rafe’s family is accepting and knows exactly what he wants in life. I can’t wait for the next installment of their story.
Review of advance copy
What an amazing story. I loved Rafe and Ollie.
I can't wait for the next installement for this series
I can't wait for the next installement for this series
Read
February 18, 2026NON-US/CANADIAN RESIDENTS... ENTER HERE FOR PAPERBACK GIVEAWAY: https://forms.gle/Zyh8wW4CyQqKSocG6
Review of advance copy received from Author
A fantastic book, I can’t wait for the rest of the series now.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews