"Play On" by Avery Cockburn

This novella in the Glasgow Lads series takes place before the first book, "Playing for Keeps."  It focuses on Duncan Harris, who plays for an LGBT football (soccer) team in Glasgow, Scotland, and Brodie Campbell, one of Duncan's flatmates at university.  Duncan's team and his attitude have gone to pot since they were abandoned by their captain.  Brodie is trying to recover from a bout of mono, study for finals, and deal with the emotional trauma of being bullied for his sexuality.  He and Duncan grow close, but when Duncan beats an opponent who threatens Brodie, his status on the team and his relationship with Brodie are in jeopardy.

As in "Playing for Keeps," the author does a great job of building the two main characters, their issues, and the ways they each try to handle them.  Brodie is introverted and afraid of being hurt once again, and Duncan doesn't always understand how difficult Brodie's life has been and continues to be because of his homophobic parents and hometown.  Duncan comes from an upper middle class family who brags about his homosexuality.  Plus, he's a physically strong athlete, like Brodie's tormentors back home.  But the story isn't all doom and gloom.  Both men are funny, loyal, and kind.  Duncan spent several months in the U.S. before starting university, and it was fun to read the odd things he learned there. I really enjoyed the story and can't wait to read more in the series.  152 pages (Kindle edition).