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Dahlia Donovan
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After the Scrum: A Sin Bin Prequel Kindle Edition

by Dahlia Donovan (Author), BookSmith Design (Illustrator), Hot Tree Editing (Editor) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 675 ratings
“I loved this story - and all of its quirky, thoughtfully written characters. It's sweet, sexy, poignant - and, overall, one of the most unique M/M romance novels I've read.” - Passionate Reads

Read the novel that inspired the bestselling series The Sin Bin. When a former rugby player reinventing himself meets a man who’s afraid to move on, can love offer a path for them both?

When Caddock Stanford loses his brother and his rugby career, two of the most important parts of his life are gone forever. Now raising his young nephew, he seeks a quieter place away from the paparazzi and all the vices of his old life. Lust and love in the form of an eccentric man weren’t even on his horizon.

Yet.

Francis Keen talks to his dog and his car. In his experience, people are less predictable and safe. His crippling anxiety keeps him anchored to his grandmother’s home. He wonders if he’ll ever find the courage to live—and to love.

Two men, so different, on track for a romantic collision... can they survive the impact?
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  1. Print length
    206 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    April 1, 2016
  4. File size
    482 KB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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From the Publisher

Two men
so different
on track for a romantic collision... can they survive the impact?

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Well-written and smoothly paced, this was a slow burner of a romance, although the attraction was instantaneous." - The Romance Reviews

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01DIF79W0
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hot Tree Publishing (April 1, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 1, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 482 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 206 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 675 ratings

About the author

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Dahlia Donovan

Dahlia Donovan

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Dahlia Donovan wrote her first romance series after a crazy dream about shifters and damsels in distress. She prefers irreverent humour and unconventional characters. An autistic and occasional hermit, her life wouldn’t be complete without her husband and her massive collection of books and video games.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
675 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a sweet love story with well-developed characters and humor, particularly appreciating the witty banter between Caddock and Francis. The book is easy to read, with one customer noting the author's effective use of details and descriptions, and customers find the emotional content bearable and heartwarming, with one mentioning it brought tears to their eyes. The pacing receives positive feedback, with one customer particularly enjoying the addition of the child character, while the sex scenes receive mixed reactions, with one customer noting they could have been more graphic.

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49 customers mention "Story quality"46 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, describing it as sweet and wonderful, with one customer noting how the relationship develops throughout the narrative.

"I thought this was a really sweet book. It's a nice, easy read- no drama between the main characters, no angst, just a bit of trouble with a parent,..." Read more

"...Their relationship was sweet and I loved the fact that at no point in the story those two mistrusted each other. Truly refreshing in romance...." Read more

"...surprised to read all the reviews describing this as heart wrenching, amazing, etc...I can't define exactly what I didn't like about it but I can..." Read more

"...I really enjoyed this book; I liked the fun, sassy relationship between Francis and Caddock...." Read more

22 customers mention "Character development"19 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the characters in the book, with one review specifically praising the well-written secondary characters.

"...It's a nice, easy read- no drama between the main characters, no angst, just a bit of trouble with a parent, but even that wasn't too bad...." Read more

"...The characters were so well developed, I felt I knew them personally and more importantly I liked them a lot...." Read more

"...Francis, while a wonderful character, is somewhat subjugated to Caddock's overwhelming insta-love, and it works, works, works!..." Read more

"...in London before the story began, but he was a strong, fully developed character...." Read more

19 customers mention "Readability"19 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well written and easy to read, with one customer noting the author's effective use of details and descriptions.

"...It was all rather terrifying." I really enjoyed the British terminology and was thankful for the glossary at the beginning of the book...." Read more

"I thought this was a really sweet book. It's a nice, easy read- no drama between the main characters, no angst, just a bit of trouble with a parent,..." Read more

"...Truly refreshing in romance. The writing was flawless and Donovan managed to write very sexy scenes without the crassness of language that seems to..." Read more

"...The pacing for the plot is nearly pitch-perfect, I just thought the jump to the epilogue a bit rushed...." Read more

13 customers mention "Humor"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book humorous, with one mentioning the witty banter between characters Caddock and Francis, and another noting the steamy and humorous sex scenes.

"...The conversations were 100% entertaining and appealing; the sex scenes were nice but not super steamy...." Read more

"A Beautiful story, funny, exciting and just an enjoyable read...." Read more

"...Love, hot sex, angst, danger, grief, anger, family strife and humor are all ingredients to make this a must read on your list of well...must reads...." Read more

"...Francis was sarcastic; Caddock was alpha tolerant (note: this is not PNR); and Devlin (4 yo nephew) was darling." Read more

12 customers mention "Angst level"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the emotional content of the book bearable, with one customer mentioning it brought tears to their eyes and another noting it was heartwarming.

"...It's a nice, easy read- no drama between the main characters, no angst, just a bit of trouble with a parent, but even that wasn't too bad...." Read more

"I was really surprised to read all the reviews describing this as heart wrenching, amazing, etc...I can't define exactly what I didn't like about it..." Read more

"...Love, hot sex, angst, danger, grief, anger, family strife and humor are all ingredients to make this a must read on your list of well...must reads...." Read more

"...There was a lot of hope, and building a life and starting over themes throughout the book...." Read more

12 customers mention "Sweetness"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book charming and sweet, with one customer noting the author's ability to write sexy scenes and another mentioning the quaint town setting.

"...The writing was flawless and Donovan managed to write very sexy scenes without the crassness of language that seems to abound in a lot of today's..." Read more

"...The conversations were 100% entertaining and appealing; the sex scenes were nice but not super steamy...." Read more

"...If you enjoy a good story line with a splash of good sexy romp, this book delivers. The only time I was sad is when I finished reading the book...." Read more

"...Caddock's nephew seemed like a true 4 year old and was adorable...." Read more

4 customers mention "Pacing"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the pacing of the book, with one customer particularly appreciating the inclusion of a child character.

"...I love the little Devil, he was such a precious little guy! I don't know what else to say!..." Read more

"...The author did well with details and descriptions. The dog was adorable, too." Read more

"...Francis is adorable, funny. Caddock is strong, older man with a child. There are lively group characters in the story. A must read." Read more

"...Please. Well written good story development, loved the addition of the child i cant wait to see how the pub is doing" Read more

4 customers mention "Sex scenes"0 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the sex scenes in the book, with some finding them unsatisfactory.

"Not an erotic story. Caddock and Francis weren't the typical gay males found in most M/M stories; at least in my opinion...." Read more

"...But to each their own. Though the sex scenes weren't the hottest I've read, they were descriptive and plenty hot for this story...." Read more

"This was just a really sweet romantic story. Nothing complicated, not a lot of sex. But I enjoyed the characters and the story." Read more

"...The sex could have been a bit more graphic.It was cute and easy reading." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • copperdropper
    5.0 out of 5 stars I liked this modern day M/M story.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Not an erotic story. Caddock and Francis weren't the typical gay males found in most M/M stories; at least in my opinion. Each had a tragic family and personal history that being drawn together helped to overcome. Caddock had lost is younger brother, was awarded custody of his nephew Devlin, and had a father who caused him nothing but grief. Francis was a quiet and shy gay man who suffered from PTSD after being attacked by drunks in a back alley, suffered a terrible case of shyness that all noticed because of his uncontrollable blushing, and had two companions: Sherlock his nurturing Sheltie and Watson his somewhat dependable car. Their mutual attraction was typical but straightening out their lives was not.

    I want to call attention to Caddock's nickname for Francis. When I first read the name (Cub) I just couldn't understand how Caddock came up with it. After all this wasn't a paranormal story. It took place in the real world that is today's Britain. It's too bad that other reviewers didn't look up Cub in the Kindle dictionary. If they had Francis's nickname would have made sense. The definition is as follows: Archaic: a young man especially one who is awkward or ill-mannered. This fits Francis to a "T". He was uncomfortable in and around crowds. I loved the juxtaposition Francis had being around women. "What was Francis supposed to do with a woman? They had weird jiggly bits. It was all rather terrifying." I really enjoyed the British terminology and was thankful for the glossary at the beginning of the book. It cleared up a lot of the language used and American readers should remember that the plot does take place in England. The people of Looe where Caddock set up his pub were an open lot and accepted these two lovers wonderfully.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • ShannonVM
    4.0 out of 5 stars A feel good story.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I thought this was a really sweet book. It's a nice, easy read- no drama between the main characters, no angst, just a bit of trouble with a parent, but even that wasn't too bad. I'd say the romance was a bit of insta, if not love then definitely lust. But I think it was more than lust for both Caddock and Francis, although they didn't rush things in the love department until they did get to know each other better.
    Francis suffered from PTSD, which I thought was handled really well. It definitely played a part in showing who he was as a person, but it didn't define him. I liked that we got to see Sherlock in his job as a support dog- we weren't just told he was one, he actually did the work.
    Caddock was a really good man. After suffering his own tragedy, he moves to a small town to start a new life for his nephew and himself. He was wonderful with both his nephew Devlin, and with Francis. I love the little Devil, he was such a precious little guy!

    I don't know what else to say! This was just a feel good story that put a smile on my face.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet, sexy, and genuine.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I've had quite a few bad experiences with M/M romance so I was not expecting too much, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book. The characters were so well developed, I felt I knew them personally and more importantly I liked them a lot. They were not perfect and maybe because of that they were indeed perfect. Their relationship was sweet and I loved the fact that at no point in the story those two mistrusted each other. Truly refreshing in romance. The writing was flawless and Donovan managed to write very sexy scenes without the crassness of language that seems to abound in a lot of today's romance novels of any pairing. I'm looking forward to reading more of Ms. Donovan's stories. Well done!
    Helpful
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  • LobsterPhone
    3.0 out of 5 stars Very, very dull
    Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I was really surprised to read all the reviews describing this as heart wrenching, amazing, etc...I can't define exactly what I didn't like about it but I can say it didn't engross me, I was never fully engaged or interested in either character and I gave up in boredom about 3/4 of the way through. It's absolutely nothing out of the ordinary. The character interactions are mostly brief and stilted and I got the the feeling the author was trying for a sort of Notting Hill eccentricity, especially with the secondary characters, that totally missed the mark. Most of all, I hated the nickname of 'cub', it just didn't suit them.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Mrs. Readsalot
    4.0 out of 5 stars The title and the cover kept me from reading this for quite a long time
    Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I saw this book when it first came out but I didn't know what a 'scrum' was and the cover didn't really catch my eye so I just never picked it up. Recently I was reading The Wanderer (The Sin Bin Book 1) and got the impression that I was supposed to have more knowledge of some of the minor characters. So I looked up the author and found After the Scrum.

    I really enjoyed this book; I liked the fun, sassy relationship between Francis and Caddock. The conversations were 100% entertaining and appealing; the sex scenes were nice but not super steamy. I liked the gossipy little town and Francis's gran. I see that some people do not like all the British-isms. Wow. Then don't read a book by a British author. I enjoy that aspect because it's different than what I normally hear and it just sounds so charming.

    This is an author I would certainly read more of.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • jewel2656
    5.0 out of 5 stars An Enjoyable Read
    Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    A Beautiful story, funny, exciting and just an enjoyable read. I really did have fun reading this story and wished that I too lived in their little village. How wonderful it would be to live in a small village with loving and caring people. the personality's of the characters are all so endearing and I enjoyed getting to know them. I found myself falling in love with the main characters and their little boy. I loved the dog was named Sherlock and i had a really good time reading this story. Pick it up, download the story and I guarantee you will enjoy as much as I have. Read this book and enjoy the journey with these lovely people. If you enjoy a good story line with a splash of good sexy romp, this book delivers. The only time I was sad is when I finished reading the book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Rayanvar
    5.0 out of 5 stars When ...
    Reviewed in Germany on November 10, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    ...Francis meets Caddock he first only hears him and "It might possibly be the most orgasm-inducing voice Francis had ever heard. A deep, gravelly timbre ... He'd wager the man attached to it would be large - hopefully in all the best ways."
    ... Caddock meets Francis he "had stirrings of another sort within him. There had always been hints of dominance in his relationships. He enjoyed being the one relied upon ... He found Francis almost unbearably enticing ... Fragile. It was one of the words that struck him whenever Francis was near."

    In case you await a D/s relationship after these quotations you will be disappointed, because that is not the aspect the author is exploring. But if you want to read the story of two men with the average amount of qualities and flaws, difficulties and doubts, yearnings and courage, you will be delighted by this serving of a mundane, but not ordinary dish of happenings and feelings spiced up with a healthy dose of British eccentricity and humour.

    If you happen to be a sucker for "bright blue (sad) eyes", innocent smiles and the word "Pwease" you will occasionally experience a melt down while reading.

    Last not least if you think you can be both aroused and guffawing when reading a dialogue like:
    <<"You're the Brute."
    "You watch rugby?"
    "Sweaty and muddy men in tight shirts and shorts grappling with each other?...Who wouldn't watch it?">>
    then you should absolutely snap this little jewel of a story and spend a relaxing exciting day with it.

    Warmly recommended.
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  • Ashish
    5.0 out of 5 stars Adorable and hilarious
    Reviewed in India on May 9, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    You see two characters hurtling towards each other. You want them to crash head-on because you are sure there will be sparks. Those are the exact fireworks this story gives you. Adorable characters, at times poignant but mostly hilarious. Brilliant narration. Francis, Caddock, Devlin, Sherlock, Gran, Rupert, and Joanne will surely charm you. 
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  • Laora
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great book
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on August 23, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Great book, nicely written in a nice pace. The main characters are both given atrrention to develop, especially Francis.love the side characters of Devlin and Sherlock.
    This book has given me an appetite to read more books written by Dahlia Donovan.
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  • Li Taylor
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 29, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Absolutely perfect. Totally romantic and a fantastic read. Caddock and Francis are amazing and little Delvin made it perfect. Truly a brilliant read
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  • TRIMONTIUM
    4.0 out of 5 stars GIVE THE DOG A BONE
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 20, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    A pleasant romance which drops a star for language and editing blunders. Are we really in England or half way across the Atlantic? The story is a bit predictable and would have profited from a little more tension in the plot. A minor point is that l am doubtful whether a priest would officiate even in a church never mind a pub.
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