Poster Boy (Theta Alpha Gamma, #5) in Riptide Publishing

Apr 11, 2014 Tina rated it really liked it

Poster Boy is the fifth book in the Theta Alpha Gamma series from Anne Tenino. TAG is a fraternity with an open door policy for gay members. We kind of met Jock close to the end of the third book, Sweet Young Thang when his brother, who is a member of TAG, mentioned that Jock had been outed to his hockey team and was leaving his current college to come live with them at the temporary TAG house. The original TAG house was blown up in Sweet Young Thang. What can I say, it’s an exciting series!
Jock Poster Boy is the fifth book in the Theta Alpha Gamma series from Anne Tenino. TAG is a fraternity with an open door policy for gay members. We kind of met Jock close to the end of the third book, Sweet Young Thang when his brother, who is a member of TAG, mentioned that Jock had been outed to his hockey team and was leaving his current college to come live with them at the temporary TAG house. The original TAG house was blown up in Sweet Young Thang. What can I say, it’s an exciting series!
Jock arrives at TAG and is humiliated to find out that everyone already know he’s gay. He barely knows it himself and his brother has told the entire membership of the frat and it spread like a fifty-five year old out of shape former athlete’s ass on a bar stool. This doesn’t stop Jock from being ready to fully experience college life as a gay man. He meets Toby, a graduate student, at the first party he attends. Their night together is a perfect introduction to the art of the one night stand for Jock. He takes this information and skill and runs with it.
Toby is a little older than Jock. His friends are surrounding him with coupled bliss and he wants the same for himself. He didn’t think his night with Jock was a one-time thing at the time. He is interested in way more and hurt when he finds out how Jock is using the skills he learned during his night with Toby. The distraction of Jock’s disinterest and the couples everywhere is making it impossible for Toby to concentrate and complete his Master’s thesis. He is consistently missing deadlines and is out of excuses.
As a way to earn a little extra time to complete his Thesis, he is persuaded to chaperone a three-month TAG trip to France. All he needs to do is get the six students to school and back to the boarding house each day and keep them out of any trouble that would embarrass the university. He has a good portion of the day to himself. He sees it as a good opportunity to distance himself from Jock and get down to the task at hand.
Unfortunately, the photo which was used to out Jock to his hockey team is leaked to an on-line gay tabloid. Because there were NHL teams interested in recruiting him, the photo soon makes it to mainstream sports publications and talk shows. To get away from the demands coming at him from every direction, Jock decides at the last minute to go along with his fraternity brothers to France.
The wrench in both Toby’s and Jock’s plans is their feelings. Once they are away and in a much smaller group, it becomes clear that their feelings extend far beyond a one night stand. Toby, as the chaperone, is staying in a tiny little cottage. The French word for the house he inhabits translates into the English word “shed”. It is cozy and intimate. The TAG guys are in one of the most romantic places on Earth.
Since their History professor isn’t taking them to see the sights, Toby takes it upon himself to do this, to expose them to some of the history they took this trip to learn about. These activities frequently put the group in the van driving from one historical site to another. The TAG brothers have decided to maneuver so that Jock is always riding shotgun while Toby drives. Evidently their mutual attraction hasn’t gone unnoticed. With these surroundings and the forced proximity how can they not get together? The question is whether or not they will be able to withstand all the hurdles life puts in their way, including re-entering real life. Toby and Jock grow very close while staying in paradise, and it is great to see the other frat brothers, straight, gay or somewhere in between, supporting their brother and chaperone.
It wouldn’t be realistic if six college aged men were in a foreign country and managed to stay out of trouble though. At a pivotal point in Toby and Jock’s budding relationship, that trouble comes to a head in the form of busted down doors. Let’s just say it involves copious quantities of beer and the public use of the word “terrorist”. With worldwide awareness of terrorism rightfully at an all-time high, one must be careful of throwing that word around! Je vous recommande fortement de lire ce livre.
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Apr 18, 2014 Shirley Frances rated it really liked it

Shelves: mm-read, read-2-review, mm-series, glbt, reviewed, 2014

Rumor is that this is the last book in the Theta Alpha Gamma series and if so, I'm sad to have it end. But what a way to go--I loved it!

There were many things I was curious about when I finished Good Boy , the previous book in the series. I wanted to know more about Jock and was looking forward to who was going to be paired up next. However, I didn't think Jock's story would be the next one nor that he would be paired with Toby, so you could say that I was surprised when I found out it was.

On Rumor is that this is the last book in the Theta Alpha Gamma series and if so, I'm sad to have it end. But what a way to go--I loved it!

There were many things I was curious about when I finished Good Boy , the previous book in the series. I wanted to know more about Jock and was looking forward to who was going to be paired up next. However, I didn't think Jock's story would be the next one nor that he would be paired with Toby, so you could say that I was surprised when I found out it was.

Once again, Anne Tenino didn't disappoint. She brought about her trademark humor laced with sweet and tender moments and a cast of characters straight out of a loony bin. I admit that the frat boys and their antics came to be too much at times, but in the big scheme of things it fit.

I loved Toby. I appreciated the fact that I got to see another side of him. Truthfully, my first impression of him was not the best. I thought he lacked depth, but Anne Tenino made sure to prove me wrong with every turn of the page (or tap of the tablet!). His personality, his actions and his sweet side coupled with the emotions that Jock's struggles brought about more than made up for some of the confusion I felt over the events that took place in Provence.

Now Jock was a whole other matter altogether. For the first-half of the story, I could not stand him. I understood his need to explore his sexuality and his fears over being 'out' in the open, but some of his thoughts were too much for me to accept. Thankfully, Anne Tenino brought about some of his best traits to the surface. If not for that, I don't think my enjoyment and acceptance of this pairing would have been was it was.

As for a connection, I have to say that it was slow in coming. At least for me it was. Sure, they had great chemistry but it it wasn't enough for me to put my reservations aside. It wasn't until well past the half-way mark, once they were in Provence, that I got to see the potential for their connection to grow. And grow it did! It was a treat to see Jock and Toby growing as individuals. I enjoyed watching how Jock came to accept not only his sexuality as a whole, but the emotions, needs and desires Toby brought out in him. Likewise, I loved how Toby stood for what he wanted--personally and romantically.

As a follower of the series, I have to say that this particular story should not be read as a stand alone. Although it focuses mainly on Jock and Toby's story, some of the content deals with events that happened before. So I encourage you to at least read the previous installment, that way you get to experience first-hand what the frat boys are going through, plus you'll get to meet the different characters han0 which will help you understand why they are a special bunch.

All in all, a funny, sweet yet at times exasperating read.

*I received a copy of this title in exchange of my honest opinion.
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May 24, 2014 Pat rated it really liked it

The fifth in the Theta Alpha Gamma (TAG) fraternity series is a delicious romp with the frat boys in France, taking classes and causing hilarious concern as they forget the problems back home Calapooya College where their frat house burned down.

TAG member Tank's brother Jock, a gifted hockey player, was outed at his former college when a photo of him and another guy in a compromising position was sent to Jock's coach. Afterward the coach kicked Jock off the team, ostensibly for partying which b ...more

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