REVIEW: Josh’s Play – Hempstead Valley Romance #4 – Madalyn George

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Josh Marchetti-Gordon is an average college student who loves to play the field and party with his best friend. He's hooked up with closeted guys before, even a few closeted athletes, so what makes this one so special?

Josh Marchetti-Gordon is a senior in Hempstead University and is an out and happy young man. Everything changes for him when trying to save his seven-year-old niece from drowning he breaks his finger in three places. Ordered to go for physical therapy he meets Campbell Ryan the hockey goalie and has no idea what that meeting would bring.

Campbell has sprained his ankle and is sitting near Josh at physical therapy. Campbell’s dream has always been to make it to the NHL and has put aside any kind of distractions that could affect that outcome. No relationships, a virgin and a closeted gay man.

Josh unlike Campbell is a player picking up men for just one purpose, sex. When the two find themselves in the same sports journalist class and are assigned to work together on a hockey podcast all thoughts of staying in the closet become difficult. Campbell has finally concluded that he must face the fact that he is gay but deep in the closet.

Josh offers him a way to give into his desires by keeping his secret while introducing him to sex. They have a handy excuse for being together their school project. Once Campbell gives in to his nature he can’t get enough, and Josh is more than willing to give him what he needs.

As a player Josh realizes that being with Campbell is all he wants, and his being closeted is no immediate issue. Campbell is being scouted by a team in Buffalo and now more than ever he must keep the fact that he is gay a deep dark secret.

Campbell realizes how difficult it is to keep his secret, but hockey is the way for him to help his parents with their farm and ensure his younger brothers can get the educations they want. Hockey is Campbell’s life and Josh is more than willing to give him whatever he needs to help him reach his goal for the NHL.

The project that the two are involved in is the first time Josh has ever watched the hockey team play and knew nothing about the sport but watching Campbell on the ice is like watching a man float.

Two young men one out and one in the closet learn a valuable lesson hiding feelings is not easy and eventually can mentally and physically wear a person down. There are many professional athletes who have come out and had no effect on their careers, but Campbell must learn that for himself.