Pregame

Blackwell After Dark #3.5

by Mickey Miller

Pregame (verb): To drink alcoholic beverages prior to a social engagement to make it more enjoyable.

Before the men of Blackwell settled down, there was the pregame.

Clarissa Hanks:
Tonight, I was invited to hang out with the boys.
And of course my all-time high school crush Mason Worthington decides to strut his stuff around me. And by that, I mean he and his friends are screaming like ogres, running around shirtless in my brothers' garage. Trust me, I never think about Mason as anything more than a friend. It doesn't matter that he can leave me in stitches of laughter like no one else can.
Or that he's outrageously hot--almost comically so--even when he's ten beers deep and running a nudey lap around my house when we shut him out in Beer Pong (hey, it's house rules).
And it definitely doesn't matter that years ago, he stuck out his neck for me in a way that I'll never be able to repay. He was the one who inspired me to go to Harvard. Sorry, I'm getting all choked up here. Let me elaborate a little bit before I get off topic.
In case you're having a hard time believing me, let me tell you all the reasons why I can't be with him:
*He's my brother's best friend
*He's like family
*They've made a pact to never, ever hook up with their friends' sisters
*Mason doesn't DO relationships. And that's very clear by his behavior.
So those are the first four things, already. And also:
*Mason's the hottest bartender in Blackwell. Maybe even in the U.S.A.
*He loves to cavort around my house shirtless and dare me to lick his six-pack
*We may or may not have had a secret make out session in high school we vowed never to tell anyone about
Oh...I'm sorry. I was supposed to be saying all the reasons we can't hook up?
These pregame beers must be affecting me... Basically--my brother Cole will kill me (and Mason) if he finds out we're a thing. But what if it's not just a hook-up?What if it's something deeper? Problem is, once we veer into this territory, there's no going back. Maybe I'll just head to the bar instead to get out of here. Oh wait, Mason's the bartender at my favorite place in town. Well, one drink can't hurt, right?

A Bartender with Benefits prequel.
All the men of Blackwell make appearances in this free prequel that ties the Blackwell series together!

Genres: Romance

41 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 25, 2018

About the author

Hi, there! My name is Mickey Miller and I write sexy, fun romance with smart characters. My books are great if you're looking for a light-hearted, steamy read with some humor and a happy ending! Happy reading!

Reviews

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (1/24/2020)! 🎁

[Wonder Tre Reads -Tre Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great little kickoff to Bartender With Benefits, we get to have Clarissa’s POV and how she views Mason from the beginning. What I also enjoyed is that all the Blackwell men are hanging out with us too. Such a great quick read that gets you psyched for the full Bartender story. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

[Sherill · Rating 5 out of 5]

DELIGHTFUL READ WITH A BIT OF STEAMINESS

PREGAME had me beaming with delight. This story is the prequel to Bartender With Benefits; you are introduced to Mason known as the best bartender in Blackwell and Clarissa a sassy intelligent Harvard graduate. The characters are engaging and there is a bit of steaminess too. I also enjoyed the antics of the Blackwell friends. Since I found this story to be quite entertaining {of my own volition without any stipulations, I reviewed an advanced copy.} Without reservations, I recommend this read.

[Ann Kelly-Uhryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This prequel is a quick read. It happens before Bartender With Benefits and brings back all the previous men and gives us a new one. Although this is more about Mason and Clarissa (told in her POV). In this book Cole, Liam, Sebastian, Mason and Carter are having a guys night. Clarissa, Cole's younger sister is invited to hang out with them. It's a fast read and definitely should be read if you've read Bartender with Benefits.

[Alis Renzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Allora ho finito questa serie ieri e devo dire che tutti i personaggi sono interessanti. Certo meno di altri ma comunque abbiamo una buona vista della vita a Blackwell. Con i suoi alti e i suoi bassi ma sempre una bella vista resta!

I primi tre libri li ho divorati mesi fa e gli ultimi tre in due soli giorni!
I personaggi sono frizzanti, e molto sensuali. Le coppie sono perfette perché uno completa la parte mancante dell'altro.

Certo in quello del Bartender si poteva azzardare di più con la trama avendo una buona base! Più dramma e più discordia tra i due protagonisti, ma va bene così! La finta coppia alla fine ce la fa!

Per quanto riguarda il motociclista/chef e la cantautrice c'è tanto dramma e viene spiegato alla perfezione. Non ci sono buchi di trama anche se avrei preferito vedere un pelino di più la madre dello chef e la sorellina. Sapere cose ne è stato di loro dopo che lo hanno abbandonato, quali drammi ci sono stati nelle loro vite e avere un finale sui nonni anche magari! Ma son punti di vista esterni dalla storia principale dunque non servivano per forza. Solo parere mio personale per un quadro completo!

Comunque sono soddisfatta delle mie letture per questa serie!
Complimenti!

[Jeraca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad I read this book first! It was a great introduction to the characters and I was able to get a feel for each one of them. I have to say, Mason and Liam unrighteousness me, so I would definitely want to read their stories!

The attraction between Clarissa and Mason was really obvious, and her brother Cole is a bit naive if he can't see it. Plus, they are adults and they don't need Cole's permission, but I've read enough books to know that best friends sister stories are a bit dramatic.

Mickey Miller is becoming a must read author for me, and now that I've read this novels, I can't wait to get the rest of the books in this series to read about all of these guys and how they fall in love :)

[Crystal's Book World ~ Crystal Cordova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pregame will get you purring and ready for what is coming up in Bartender with Benefits. Clarissa and Mason's story starts here! The men of Blackwell make this book Caliente!!! The sexy ride goes on overload. The visuals this girl had while reading made the room over heat! I could not believe how much this short story brought!!!

[Ingrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before the men of Blackwell find their HEAs, there is Pregame. And Mickey knows just how to warm his readers up in anticipation of Mason, Blackwell's hottest bartender. Enjoy this super-short, super-hot read before Bartender With Benefits for some interesting backstory on our fave guys with "benefits"!!

[K.D. Hilt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this prequel a lot. I haven’t read any of Millers other books but I am going to start in them. It was a short and quick read and kept me interested and wanting to read the series that it is a part of. I loved the way Mason, Cole, and Clarissa interact. I’ve had some similar conversations with my brother and his friend.

[Natalie Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

dayumm!!! this is one HOT short read! The sexual energy between these two will have you on the edge of your seat! Pre Game is an introduction into the lives of Mason and Clarissa, and if this is what I can look forward too,,,, HOT Damn!! I can't wait to read it!

[Nicki - The Overflowing Bookcase · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a perfect addition to the Bartender book. Mickey Miller brings you back in time to really show just how much chemistry Mason and Clarissa had from the very beginning. A great quick read to get the insight of the background of this great couple. Loved it!

[Michaela Zankl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg the men of Blackwell are scorching hot. The story of Mason and Clarissa starts here and it is full of sexual tension and desire. Pregame is a glimpse of what's to come an Bartender with Benefits. This prequel is super sexy and makes you look forward of what's to come.

[Mindy Martinez Borda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just laughed to my heart's content with this prequel. It was great to see all my favourite characters together being goofy and relaxed. And the hint of heat between Mason and Clarissa just makes this the perfect most funny way to start a story.

[Tara Ramey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, light read.

All from Clarissa’s POV. No sexy times but a good amount of humor and high school/college frat bro shenanigans. Nothing much happens but it introduces you to the main guy characters from the other books.

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This prequel was a great way to continue our previous beloved Blackwell characters and set up for ‘Bartender With Benefits’. I thoroughly enjoyed the dynamic when our favorite Blackwell men come together!

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction to the chemistry between Mason and Clarissa. I love the banter between them and the rest of the guys. It's funny and a little bit steamy. Makes you heart pitter patter with the sparks that you know is going on between these two.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pregame: A Bartender with Benefits Prequel (Blackwell After Dark) by Mickey Miller – This was a freebie prequel. A nice intro to all the men in the series (and one of the leading ladies)! Happy Reading!

[Madeleine · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! What an absolutely great beginning to A Bartender with benefits. Cannot wait to start reading Mason and Clarissa's story.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say is... Damn!!! That is one HOT prequel. Mickey knows how to get your attention. And Mason... drool 🤤!

[Autumn Sluder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This pregame def gets you ready (wet) for the next book. After reading this I believe a dating show with guys dancing to Pony is a thing that needs to happen.

[Book-Lovin-Momma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This prequel was a quick, sexy look at Mason and Clarissa. We also got to see the other guys. Great peek leading into Bartender with Benefits.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick intro to the steamy chemistry between Mason & Clarissa! Can’t wait to read the full story between these two!

[ruby Barrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pregame

Awesome lead in to Bartender with benefits! It definitely !makes me want to jump right into Bartender with Benefits and so I'm gonna do that now y'all should do that too 💕

[Cindy Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pregame is a great prequel to Bartender with Benefits, we get Clarissa POV of Mason and the rest of the guys of Blackwell.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prequel to bartender with benefits ...this is a great short book ....Blackwell is the place to be with these hot men that live there. It gives you some insight of what and how the story is going

[DeAnna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super quick prequel read. Gets you ready for sure

[Cheryl Graham-Petit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pregame is a short prequel to the book, Bartender with Benefits. This quick, hot read gives you some backstory of Mason and Clarissa.

I volunteered to review an advance reader copy of this book.

[Leslie Feneley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

This was a great prequal to bartender with benefits. Another great book by Mickey Miller. I can't wait to get into bartender with benefits.

[Gabriela Bragg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good start

With this beginning you have to read the whole story, thank you for the entertaining story of all the Blackwell boys.

[Samantha Love HEA Romance Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

This prequel is super quick and easy to read. It gives us the rundown on things between Clarissa and Mason before we dive into the book. Loved seeing all the Blackwell characters together!