Virtual Blog Tour, Spotlight & Giveaway ~ Relay (Changing Lanes #1) by Layla Reyne

Welcome to the RELAY Blog Tour, presented by Layla Reyne and Riptide Publishing! RELAY, by Layla Reyne, is Book 1 of the Changing Lanes sports romance series featuring Olympic swimmers. RELAY is an enemies-to-lovers, second chance romance between Alex, the team captain, and his closeted ex, Dane, swimming’s biggest star. Read on to learn more about RELAY, Changing Lanes, and Layla Reyne!

About Relay

Captain is not a title Alejandro “Alex” Cantu takes lightly. Elected by his teammates to helm the US Men’s Swim Team, he proudly accepts the role, despite juggling endless training, team administrative work, and helping out on the family farm. And despite his ex-lover, Dane Ellis—swimming’s biggest star—also making the Olympic Team.

Dane has been a pawn in his celebrity parents’ empire from crib to pool, flashing his camera-ready smile on demand and staying deeply in the closet. Only once did he drop the act—the summer he fell in love with Alex. Ten years later, Dane longs to cut his parents’ strings, drop his too-bright smile, and beg Alex for another chance.

Alex, though, isn’t ready to forgive and forget, and Dane is a distraction he doesn’t need on his team, until an injury forces Alex to accept Dane as his medley relay anchor. Working together, their passion reignites. When Dane’s parents threaten reprisal and Alex is accused of doping, the two must risk everything to prove Alex’s innocence, to love one another, and to win back their spots on the team, together.

Available now from Riptide Publishing!

About Changing Lanes

A chance at gold or a chance at love? Members of the US Men’s Swim Team fight for both in this sports romance duology following two couples on one medley relay team as they train and compete in the world’s biggest sporting event: the Olympics. To reach the top of the podium, they’ll need to depend on one another and be willing to change lanes—in their lives and hearts, and in the biggest 
race of their athletic careers.

4.5*

This book was, for some reason, very sad to me. I had a lot of tears in my eyes throughout the story.  I felt so bad for Dane. His parents were so pushy and controlling. One being former beauty pageant and the other renowned preacher with his own TV show and everything. To them, everything is about appearance, pleasing sponsors and toeing the line. Everything is fake and scripted, literally, scripted. 

The only time Dane has ever known any freedom is the summer he spent at camp with Alex Cantu as his roommate. He was free to be who he wanted and could explore a side of himself he could never do with his parents, and fall in love. Only, that couldn't last, so Dane had to walk away. 

Fast forward 10 years and Dane and Alex are on the same team going to the Olympics. There is still a LOT of anger on Alex's end and he can barely contain it. It isn't until something bad happens to a team member because of their shenanigans that they snap out of it and call a truce. Events lead to some blackmail gone wrong and Dane has to further grow a backbone and FINALLY stand up for the life he wants to live and the man he wants to love. 

One thing about this book is, all the training and talks of relays and winning golds... the ending, they still haven't gone to the actual Olympics yet. I am hoping in book 2, Medley, they talk about this more. 

So, we get an HFN with an upcoming story of one of my favorite characters, Bas (Sebastian), Alex's best friend. I can't wait!

Check out Changing Lanes!

About Layla Reyne

2016 RWA® Golden Heart® Finalist Layla Reyne was raised in North Carolina and now calls San Francisco home. She enjoys weaving her bicoastal experiences into her stories, along with adrenaline-fueled suspense and heart-pounding romance. When she's not writing stories to excite her readers, she downloads too many books, watches too much television, and cooks too much food with her scientist husband, much to the delight of their smushed-face, leftover-loving dogs.

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Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Relay, one lucky winner will receive a signed paperback copy of the book and a $25 Amazon gift card! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on January 13, 2018. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!