The Summer Games: Out of Bounds by R.S. Grey

Blurb:

I despise Erik Winter.

He’s arrogant and cruel—a man I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy—and by some twisted turn of fate, he’s my new Olympic gymnastics coach.


I’ve had to contend with gruff coaches in the past, but Erik is far worse. His stern demeanor complements a body built for intimidation, and his reprimands come from a mouth so cunning, I know it could strip me of my defenses—if I let it.

Though each of us would love to be rid of the other forever, we are bound to each other by need and necessity. I’m his rising star, his best shot at proving himself to his critics. And without a coach, I have zero chance of winning gold in Rio.

The easiest way forward would be to wave a white flag and make peace with the man I’ll be sharing close quarters with for the foreseeable future, but he is intent on war.

Fine. By. Me.

If he pushes me, I’ll push back harder. If he wants to test me, to play with my head, I’ll show him just how many boundaries I’m willing to cross. Because I know it’s not a choice between winning or warring—not if you can have them both. At the end of it all, I plan on leaving Rio with gold around my neck and his icy heart in the palm of my hand.

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Audio: http://amzn.to/2aulyUG

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2asyjuQ

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2aBe4dW

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2aMWruC

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: August 2016.

I discovered RS Grey by chance before The Duet was released, I quickly devoured every available title of hers released up until that point and fell in love with her words, her writing style, her stories, everything about them drew me in, there's a freshness to her writing that makes diving into her books a pure joy.

Brie Watson knows all about the sacrifices you make to be the best, discovering her love of gymnastics at what most would consider old age, Brie worked hard to become worthy of the gold medals she's already claimed from World Championship's, with the Rio Olympics only weeks away Brie is the person to beat, and has her heart set on bringing home the Olympic Gold. To most standing on the medal podium while your National anthem plays seems like a pipe dream, but for Brie it could mean providing her and her mum the chance at financial security, something they've never experienced.  While she may be singularly focused on winning, Brie can't deny her attraction to her new Olympic coach. Erik Winter is devastatingly handsome, sizzlingly sexy and a complete ass, they say first impressions last, and their first meeting certainly leaves them both on the back foot.

"I guess you need your privacy if you’ve got the Tinder Train rolling in every night." 

Erik Winter is an enigma, son of the former Olympic gymnastics team coach, Erik has been able to live the last few years out of the media spotlight. A one time Olympic contender, he retired from the sport and chose a different path, estranged from his father, and yet selected as his replacement, Erik is once again thrust into the media spotlight. Coaching five headstrong young women, teenagers is bound to be a tough gig, fighting your attraction to your gold medal hopeful is definitely the safest course of action.

Five Olympic hopefuls, elite athletes who's days revolve around training and getting game day ready should have more than enough to concentrate on, but an attraction that strong is harder than Erik or Brie ever anticipated, and despite everything going on focusing on preparing for heats and all the sights and sounds of the Olympic Village, the chemistry simmering between them only seems to burn hotter with each encounter. Their interaction like verbal foreplay, dancing around one another, the push and pull of the imminent power play had me utterly invested.

"I’d gone down to meet Erik so I could surrender, and I had. I’d laid down my sword and armor, and in return, he’d stabbed me square in the chest. It was an ambush." 

With the Rio Olympics currently taking place in the real world, the fictional world RS Grey created gives a nice birds eye view into the world of elite athletes. So often sports romance focuses on male dominated sports, I've certainly read my share of football and hockey stories albeit loving quite a few, but what I LOVE so much about Grey's Summer Games series is the level playing ground she explores, with two Olympic heroines so far, I only hope for more to come from the series. Grey once again absolutely captivated me from the very first page, Brie and Erik's undeniable chemistry making it impossible to put down, laugh out loud funny, devastatingly sexy, with that beautiful balance of tender that Grey does so very well, set against a backdrop of the bright lights of Rio, Out of Bounds was the perfect book to wet my appetite for the television coverage of the 2016 Summer Games.

About R.S. Grey:

I am a lover of books, chocolate, reality TV, black labs, and cold weather. Seriously, if I had it my way, I would be curled up on the couch with all of those things... everyday.



I live in Texas where I spend my free time writing and reading. My favorite authors include Mindy Kaling & Jonathan Safran Foer. I'm a comedy geek and love all things "funny". Women like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Mindy Kaling are definitely the biggest inspirations for my writing, though I think my work tends to skew a bit smuttier than theirs.

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The Player and the Pixie (Rugby #2) by Penny Reid & LH Cosway - ARCReview

Blurb:


How can someone so smokin’ hot be so bad in bed? I mean, Sean Cassidy is absolute rubbish. RUBBISH. He is the epitome of walking, talking false advertising and I want a refund! Plus he’s an arsehole. So… what is wrong with me that I can’t stop thinking about him?


The Pixie and the Player is a full-length, romantic comedy novel, can be read as a standalone, and is the second book in the Rugby Series.



THE PIXIE
Lucy Fitzpatrick doesn’t like rugby.
As the little sister of Ireland’s most infamous rugby player, Lucy can’t seem to escape the championship-sized shadow cast by her big brother, or her mother’s frequent attempts to micromanage her future. Her rainbow hair is as free-spirited as her quest for inner peace, yet overbearing expectations keep bringing her down. And when she’s down, her compulsive little problem lands her in seriously big trouble.

THE PLAYER
Sean Cassidy is a cold-hearted brute… or so he’s been told. Frequently. By everyone.
His blonde locks, baby blues, and rock hard bod make ladies the world over drool with desire. As the rugby world’s second most infamous player, he should be basking in his success. But Sean has never been content settling for second place, and his frequent confrontations with Lucy’s big brother leave him cold. And when he’s cold, his compulsive little problem lands him in the lap of Lucy Fitzpatrick.

THE PLAN
Sean has a problem only Lucy can solve. Lucy has a problem only Sean can fix. The solution seems obvious: you scratch my back, and I’ll bail you out of jail. But when their business arrangement unexpectedly leaves Sean scorching hot and Lucy on the precipice of inner peace, can they convince the world—and Lucy’s big brother in particular—that this is the real deal?

Either way, both the Player and the Pixie are about to teach each other some pretty monumental lessons about family, life, but most importantly, love.

Purchase Links: 

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/231666i
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1RUOtzL
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1RFSzX5
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01DPMWBFQ


Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: April 2016.

I'm going to be entirely honest here, I've been struggling to read of late, my ability to devour a book the way I once did has been sorely lacking, my speed reading skills seem to have taken a holiday, and I've been finding my concentration poor, I've been ill and exhausted, in short I'm burnt out, I find myself trying to read, and within a few pages I'm staring at the words on the page as they dance across the screen, my mind frazzled, feeling dejected because the thing that has maintained my sanity isn't working the way it used to, picking up and setting down title after title just because, when new books wouldn't capture my attention the way I'd hoped, I'd return to old faithfuls, rereading paragraphs of text hoping to reignite my passion for reading.  When The Player and the Pixie hit my kindle I felt that zing of anticipation, followed quickly by the dread of "what if I can't get into this either".... I'll be honest I was cautious, I told myself to just give it a go, if I couldn't get into it I'd put it down and take a breath, one page turned into two, two turned into three, three turned into five chapters, and before I knew it I was lying awake at 2.30am this morning, my eyes drooping, my brain begging for just one more page. There's something about Penny Reid and LH Cosway's writing independently that draws me in, after falling in love with Cosway's prose years ago when I first picked up Painted Faces I instantly became a bona fide fan, similarly Reid's quirky Knitting in the City series enticed me, but it was her Elements of Chemistry series and the aloof but ultimately charismatic Martin Sandeke that made her an automatic one click author for me. Creating stories that readers love is no small feat, dreaming up fictional worlds the reader can get lost in is monumental in itself, but two authors crafting a story that is cohesive, that drags the reader into it, that feels organic and real, that flows from one sentence to the next...well that for me is mind blowing, Reid and Cosway may not be the first to collaborate or co-write a novel, but they certainly are an unstoppable force in contemporary romance, and one of my automatic must read recommendation duo's.

Lucy Fitzpatrick and Sean Cassidy felt like old friends to me after meeting them both in the first book in the Rugby series, Lucy was flighty and lovable, ethereal and quirky - everything about her set me at ease, unaffected by wealth or societal standing Lucy was a joy, beneath her outlandish appearance lurked a quiet temerity, Shakespeare's words ring in my mind when I think of her "Though she be but little she is fierce" - with her diminutive stature but loud personality everything about Lucy screams that she's a silent warrior, she knows her flaws, see's her faults and yet she keeps trying to find ways to better herself, but more than that, she's desperate to effect change in a world that often lacks humanity, refusing to fight hate and aggression with venomous vitriol, she endeavours to do good, to be good, to find the good in people even when they are desperate to prove to the world that they are nothing but bad.

Sean Cassidy is cocky and aloof, his vehement distaste for most of his acquaintances is clear, he has a tenuous relationship with most of his family, his connection to the women whose bed he shares is apathetic at best, and a well documented aggressive relationship with his team captain Ronan Fitzpatrick means there's very little for him to hold dear. Sean is meandering through life with zero expectations, he has wealth and prestige but as he already knows all too well, money only gets you so far, it certainly doesn't keep you warm at night, nor does it allow you to dream about a future filled with a life you are eager to experience.

Everything about Sean and Lucy is wrong, the woman who finds the inherent goodness in her surroundings, and the man who is trying to prove to the world just how much of a jerk he is, their connection is immediate, there's a pull there from their first reconnection that catches both of them off guard. Moments of candour interspersed with snarky barbs set the tone for two people inexplicably drawn to one another and yet desperate to keep their distance.

"It was a completely insensitive thing to say. I am insensitive. But I'd like to be otherwise, with you, if you'll give me the chance."

The more they explore their blinding sexual chemistry, the more cracks appear in Lucy's resolve to keep Sean at arms length, when the man who has never wanted for anything suddenly knows what it's like to have someone who feels like coming home, we see the metaphorical shackles breaking as he finally figures out the lengths to which you can be willing to go when you find someone who colours your world. Despite his earlier childish pranks, his smart remarks, his outward disdain for almost everyone he knows, there's a softer side to Sean that was thrilling to unravel, my heart beat faster, my breath stilled every time I saw a glimpse of the kind of man Sean truly was under the armour he put on for the world.

"Now you have two people in all the world who will always be there for you."

 

There wasn't a word in this story that I didn't adore, nor a moment when I felt that all too familiar panic set in, telling me my concentration was waning, that I was ready to set it down to move onto something else. I fell deeply, hopelessly and irreverently in love with Sean and Lucy, from Sean's clueless bumblings in the bedroom, to Lucy's klepto tendencies, to the sweet smiles, soft sighs, shared looks and warm caresses they made me smile, but more than anything they made me desperate for more, they made me want to keep reading, they had me losing track of time, and just being in the words, getting swept away. The Player and the Pixie was tender and heart-warming, funny and exhilarating, and sexy as sin, the balance of heat, heart and humour was a winner for me, one that left me feeling both sated and invigorated, with a smile on my face long after I turned the last page.

Review: The Hooker and the Hermit

About the Authors:

Penny Reid

Penny Reid is a USA Today Best Selling Author of romantic fiction. When she’s not immersed in penning smart romances she works in the biotech industry as a researcher. She's also a full time mom to three diminutive adults (boy-8, girl-6, and girl-4 months), wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.

Connect with Penny Reid on Facebook

LH Cosway

L.H. Cosway has a BA in English Literature and Greek and Roman Civilisation, and an MA in Postcolonial Literature. She lives in Dublin city. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favourite things in life include writing stories, vintage clothing, dark cabaret music, food, musical comedy, and of course, books.

She thinks that imperfect people are the most interesting kind. They tell the best stories.
Connect with LH Cosway on Facebook

The Baller (A Down and Dirty Football Novel) by Vi Keeland - Review

Blurb:




From New York Times and USA Today Bestseller, Vi Keeland, comes a sexy new novel.

The first time I met Brody Easton was in the men’s locker room.
It was my first interview as a professional sportscaster.
The famed quarterback decided to bare all.
And by all, I don’t mean he told me any of his secrets.
No. The arrogant ass decided to drop his towel, just as I asked the first question. On camera.
The Super Bowl MVP quickly adopted a new hobby—screwing with me.
When I pushed back, he shifted from wanting to screw with me, to wanting to screw me.
But I don’t date players.
And it’s not because I’m one of the few women working in the world of professional football.
I’d date an athlete.
It’s the other kind of player I don’t date.
You know the type. Good looking, strong, cocky, always looking to get laid.

Brody Easton was the ultimate player.
Every woman wanted to be the one to change him.
But the truth was, all he needed was a girl worth changing for.
Turned out, I was that girl.
Simple right?
Let’s face it. It never is.
There’s a story between once upon a time and happily ever after…
And this one is ours.  

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Purchase Links:

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Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1KXcD9Z
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/215G5wd
Amazon AU: bit.ly/24wx7wy
Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/1oIGkB2
iBooks: http://bit.ly/iBooksBaller
B&N: http:// bit.ly/BarnesBaller
Kobo: http:// bit.ly/KoboBaller
Google Play: http:// bit.ly/GoogleBaller

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: February 2016.

I was recently speaking with a friend about my need for something fun and sexy recently, she suggested The Baller almost immediately, I'll be honest, at the time I though hmmmm no that's not what I want, from the title and cover I expected the stereotypical jock story, and while I didn't want anything too heavy, I wanted a developed storyline, I wasn't sure I would get this here and I initially added The Baller to my kindle and my TBR for another time. Upon closer inspection I picked it up, read the first page...and I was hooked, instantly, acutely, for such a big advocate for not judging a book by it's cover...well I was a culprit... and I have to say I wasn't just pleasantly surprised here, The Baller was sexy, and funny, and so heartbreakingly raw at times that it stole my breath.

"You have my head spinning. I have no idea what I'm doing."

Delilah Maddox had landed her ultimate job, beating out thirty journalists to become the staff football sportscaster for World Media Broadcasting her professional dreams are coming true, she busted her butt working long hours, building her portfolio, knowing the ins and outs of the game, knowing every possible statistic she could know, she's seen her fair share of football stars, badboys, playboys, niceguys, she's seen them all, she's determined to not be led astray by goodlooks or charm, and Brody Easton has both in spades.

"You don't have to. I feel it. It's in the air when we're near each other. You're as attracted to me as I am to you."

From their first meeting Brody is nothing but bravado and cockiness all wrapped up in a sexy as sin package, Brody's big talking ways may be enough to momentarily distract Delilah but she's not a fool, she refuses to entertain her attraction to him, but their connection is immediate, it's stronger than anything either have ever felt before, but tangled up in their budding connection, their indisputable chemistry are two people with pasts that have taken a toll on them, pasts that have left indelible marks on who they are now, shaped who they have become. The more they fight their cosmic pull, the more they fail at denying the connection they have, when Delilah tells Brody what she needs, more than just sex, more than a purely physical interaction, all seems lost until Brody can't pass up his chance to get to know Delilah.

"Because sex has to be more than just...sex...I need an emotional connection with the person to have sex with them."

Brody and Delilah's connection is undeniable, their raw chemistry exhilarating, but more than that, The Baller is a story about two people who are more than just a sum of their parts. Delilah is strong, confident, sassy, she's a consummate professional who is determined to be known for more than just who her father was, Brody was the golden boy when he hit the big leagues but a tumultuous history left him weary, but he can't fight what he's feeling for Delilah anymore than she can, and what follows is a sexy, heart-warming and simultaneously heartbreaking tale of two people raging against the hurts of their past while navigating their present and hopefully their future. I'm ashamed to admit that I was expecting a light fluffy sexy piece, and instead I got a book that had moments of sheer beauty, a story that was both sizzling with heat, and so heartbreakingly real and honest that I found myself sitting there, kindle in hand, holding my breath. Everything about The Baller demanded my attention, insisted that I let go of my preconceived notions of what this story would be, allow myself to get lost in Keeland's words, and just enjoy the ride. Hands down a book I will revisit, Brody and Delilah captured a piece of my heart and I don't even want it back.

 

 

About Vi Keeland:

 

Vi Keeland is a native New Yorker with three children that occupy most of her free time, which she complains about often, but wouldn't change for the world. She is a bookworm and has been known to read her kindle at stop lights, while styling her hair, cleaning, walking, during sporting events, and frequently while pretending to work. She is a boring attorney by day, and an exciting New York Times & USA Today Best Selling smut author by night! 

Visit Vi Keeland's Website

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Him by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy - Review

Blurb: 

They don’t play for the same team. Or do they?

Jamie Canning has never been able to figure out how he lost his closest friend. Four years ago, his tattooed, wise-cracking, rule-breaking roommate cut him off without an explanation. So what if things got a little weird on the last night of hockey camp the summer they were eighteen? It was just a little drunken foolishness. Nobody died.

Ryan Wesley’s biggest regret is coaxing his very straight friend into a bet that pushed the boundaries of their relationship. Now, with their college teams set to face off at the national championship, he’ll finally get a chance to apologize. But all it takes is one look at his longtime crush, and the ache is stronger than ever.

Jamie has waited a long time for answers, but walks away with only more questions—can one night of sex ruin a friendship? If not, how about six more weeks of it? When Wesley turns up to coach alongside Jamie for one more hot summer at camp, Jamie has a few things to discover about his old friend...and a big one to learn about himself.

Warning: contains sexual situations, skinnydipping, shenanigans in an SUV and proof that coming out to your family on social media is a dicey proposition.

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: August 2015.

 

 

 

College romance...check....Athletes...check...sexy alpha men...check...a storyline that dragged me in, had me invested within the first few pages...CHECK... Him by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy was one of those books that had me intrigued when it first popped up on my facebook feed, I marked down the release date in my diary and waited (not so patiently) for it's release, I #1clicked it the second it went live and made sure I left it to read when I had time to savour it, book friends gave it high praise and I was excited to dive in, when I had a break in my blogging commitments yesterday I dove in...and I didn't put it down until I turned the last page, I struggled to walk away to eat dinner with my family, as I read the final words I set it down, smiled that smile only a book lover will understand, I sighed and then I picked it up again to read through my highlighted passages, I messaged book friends to tell them to buy this book instantly if they hadn't already, and I enjoyed that joyous moment any reader will understand when you finish a book that made your heart soar.

 

Ryan Wesley, has few regrets, he's a college hockey superstar about to embark on the national championships, he's got a NHL contract waiting for him once his college career is over, life is good... the only thing that truly gives him pause is the way he ended his friendship with childhood friend Jamie Canning four years ago. Embarrassed, guilt ridden, upset and angry Wes walked away from his best friend fearful some drunken decisions can never be fixed. Despite the confusion of adolescence and childhood crushes on his very male best mate one thing that night all those years ago proved was that Wes was gay, he accepted it and went about his life.

 

Jamie Canning lost his best friend Wes four years ago, he hasn't allowed himself to truly think about it in detail in the years that passed, he's an all star goalie with a contract waiting for him, he's not short for friends, he's got a girl who keeps his bed warm and he spends his summers coaching the sport he loves, when he runs into his ex best mate at the Frozen Four play offs, for the first time in four years he finally lets the memories of all that happened wash over him, he remembers summers spent at camp with Wes, he remembers what it's like to have a best friend by his side, and he remembers the confusion and hurt and anger of that best friend walking away without a word.

 

Wes is undoubtedly all alpha male, he's tough, independent, his strength isn't just physical, he's lived a life where he's had no choice but to be self sufficient, with the exception of Jamie he's never truly had anyone he's wanted to let in, he's gotten used to hiding who he is sexually, not totally in the closet but not truly out of it either, for such a huge personality being discreet constantly has taken its toll.

 

Jamie can't really complain about his life, he's got a loving and supportive family, friends who have his back, a girl who would jump at the chance for something more than friends with benefits, hockey and summer camp, he's never really known what it's like to have to hide a side of himself, but when he and Wes finally have the opportunity to mend their friendship, things he's never really addressed, thoughts he's never entertained are suddenly brought to the forefront of his mind, try as he might to dispel is thoughts, he is realising his sexuality might be more fluid then he thought, but more than that whatever happens this summer might be about more than just experimenting.

 

 

"Loved you every summer since I was thirteen years old."

 

There's this beautiful tender quality to both Wes and Jamie, Wes has come to terms with where he is and what he wants, but embarking on anything with Jamie means being vulnerable in a way he hasn't been since that fateful night four years ago. There's a stereotype that professional athletes especially hockey players must be big and tough, that gay men are flowery and effeminate, even in the day and age we live in hatred and bigotry still run rampant, it's evident that we even have to label books as M/M and not just as contemporary romance, in truth there wasn't one moment in this book that the thought that these two characters were anything but two people taking me along for a ride as they discovered what I already know to be true, that love is powerful, it has the power to build you up and bring you to your knees, that family is the one you make for yourself, that your worth is not determined by those who only wish to tear you down.

 

"But here's the thing about family, Ryan...blood doesn't mean shit. You just need to surround yourself with people who do love you."

 

From the first page to the very last line Him captivated me, it was funny and irreverent, sexy as hell, it was tender and touching, Bowen and Kennedy straddled the line of when to go for it and when to pull back perfectly, there was never a moment when I thought something was over done, and even as I turned the last page I was left wanting more and yet perfectly sated, it's a tough gig to balance heat, humour and heart but the authors knocked it out the park, and I can't wait to see what else they write together.

 

 

 

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1SF4FoW
Amazon AUS: http://bit.ly/1M1OH2w
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1VY1PKT
B&N: http://bit.ly/1JRRADQ
iBooks: http://apple.co/1HkQxWe
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1LWeMAh

About the authors:

Elle Kennedy

A RITA-award nominated author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from Yor...k University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager. Elle currently publishes with Silhouette Romantic Suspense, Harlequin Blaze, and Samhain Publishing.

Website

Sarina Bowen

Sarina Bowen lives in Vermont's Green Mountains with her family, eight chickens and too much hockey and ski gear. She holds a B.A. from Yale University.
 Website