Byron Harmon’s sophomore novel, Mistakes Men Make, is a fun, fast read with a serious message. In fact, the title could have easily been “You reap what you sow.”

Eric Swift, a former NFL superstar turned sports anchor, is on top of his journalistic game. He is in New York, the number-one news market, and his ratings are climbing. He is also attractive, charismatic, and very much a bachelor, putting the moves on many an unsuspecting woman. He is a true player who can have any woman he chooses—any woman except Eden Alexander, his co-anchor.

Eden is beautiful and ambitious, aggressively pursuing greatness in her own career. She is definitely a match for Eric. After several failed attempts, he finally convinces her to take a chance and go out with him. She agrees, but she chooses where they’ll go - and she picks her church. Although skeptical at first, Eric actually enjoys the sermon of the church’s young pastor. He also sees Eden in a new light, as she may be “the one” woman with whom he can settle down … or maybe not.

Almost as fast as the idea enters his head, his one-track mind leads him to his usual - partying, women and sex. With one of his female conquests, he picks up a new habit. This addiction causes his life to spiral quickly out of control. His father is diagnosed with cancer, his friendship with his best friend is in jeopardy, and he is dangerously close to ruining his career.

After visiting his father and seeing the severity of his condition, Eric experiences a harsh reality check. Suddenly he is aware of what his life has become and the mistakes he has made.

With Mistakes Men Make, Byron Harmon has crafted an entertaining novel, complete with a few touching moments and laugh-out-loud humor. This story is fast-paced, which normally is a good quality. However, here, it moves so quickly that character and story development are sacrificed. Everything seems to happen overnight, including Eric’s addiction, his falling in love with Eden and father’s illness. The inclusion of Eric’s best friend initially seems to be a sub-plot in the making but later proves to be just a stretch at making this book a sequel to the author’s debut All the Women I’ve Loved.

If you’re looking for sheer entertainment, this book is for you. However, if you’re looking for a slightly complex storyline with compelling, multidimensional characters, this may not fit the bill.