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A fallen boxer.
A woman with a broken dream.
A competition…
He even makes me forget my name. One night was all it took, and I forgot everything and anything except the sexy fighter in the ring who sets my mind ablaze and my body on fire with wanting…
Remington Tate is the strongest, most confusing man I’ve ever met in my life.
He’s the star of the dangerous underground fighting circuit, and I’m drawn to him as I’ve never been drawn to anything in my life. I forget who I am, what I want, with just one look from him. When he’s near, I need to remind myself that I am strong–but he is stronger. And now it’s my job to keep his body working like a perfect machine, his taut muscles primed and ready to break the bones of his next opponents . . .But the one he’s most threatening to, now, is me.
I want him. I want him without fear. Without reservations.
If only I knew for sure what it is that he wants from me?
I was drawn in first by the cover and then by the synopsis, to say I was wicked excited to receive an enthusiastic yes to my request to read this book is an understatement. I immediately set aside everything else to start it, and I am so very glad I did. I was not disappointed in the least bit. Katy delivered; oh man did she ever deliver. I was hooked from the very first paragraph. I was sucked into the world of underground fighting (a story line I am not very familiar with) and I did not want to find my way out. REAL was raw, it was intense and at times it was dark. I cannot praise this book enough, so if it gets a little gushy in that department I apologize.
Can I just say before I go any further that one of my favorite parts of this story was the lack of "nicknames or endearments" used. Brooke was a person, she had a name and it was used! I don't see this often in romance stories, usually nicknames are over used. When an endearment was used here it was sparingly and often placed within meaningful moments. I loved the feeling I got each time he said her name, and there were moments I felt the intensity of his feelings behind it.
"What was I suppose to be? Your one-night-f**king stand? I'm every woman's adventure, damn you, and I don't want to be yours. I want to be your f**cking REAL. You get that? If I f**k you, I want you to belong to me. To be mine. I want you to give yourself to me-not Riptide!" (Remy-53% kindle)
Now that I have your attention with that teaser quote, can you see why I am in love with this new hero hitting the streets. Remy was reserved, sexy, cocky, and so damn intense. These are just a few of the major things that drew me to him. I tend to gravitate towards the lost and damaged type, as you have read in my other reviews; there is just something about the intensity of their "fall." Bad boys fall harder, and it is in a forever kind of way. Riptide wasn't any different. The first time Remy saw Brooke in a crowd of thousands he just knew she was meant to be his. He didn't waste any time pursuing her and capturing her (before you start to worry this was not an insta-love type of story, well not in that annoying sickening sense). There was nothing instant about them, besides an instant attraction and lust. Their relationship was filled with chemistry, moments that felt like you were riding on the roller coaster with them, and emotions that just flew off the page and wrapped around your heart.
I adored Brooke. I think she may be one of the best written heroines I have read in awhile. Katy wrote her to perfection, in my humble opinion. Her personality complimented Remy's. He was dark and she was light. Remy was alpha, he was possessive and he hid his vulnerability under his cockiness. He had secrets that he held close to him, too many times he was failed by the people he loved when those secrets were revealed. Brooke on the other hand was strong, passionate, loyal and her vulnerability read on her face for the world to see. That's not to say she didn't have her own flaws and trails, but I think these are what made her perfect for Remy. He needed to know he wasn't alone in that aspect of their relationship. Brooke proved time and time again in a variety of ways that she was made for him. I loved the fact that she stood side by side with our hero (no matter how hard it got or what secrets were thrown at her), accepting everything about him. Their relationship was not always easy, in fact, these two took a bit to get their issues together."The very first moment I laid eyes on you, I think you had me. And I think you knew. How could you possible not know? That my floor was shaking under my feet. It was. You made it move. You colored my life again." (89% kindle)
I would say the one huge issue that Remy and Brooke faced was lack of communication, but that wasn't the case. They had an alternative way of communicating those feelings they couldn't bring themselves to voice. Music played major factor in their expressions. There were moments they had entire conversations without saying a word, the music did all the talking for them. Sometimes these moments were even more intense then when they actually spoke. It was unique how Katy wrote this into their relationship and the plot line, and I for one loved it. Iris by the GooGoo Dolls was "their" song. It shaped their beginning, middle and end. I thought it was the perfect touch to describe their emotions and the trials and journey they had to take in becoming a couple. The lyrics to this song were spot on and on several different occasions I felt the melody mixed with the words added intensity in the storyline giving the scene a different feel to it.
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
If you haven't already figured it out from my review, I will tell you point blank...this is a must read! Katy's descriptive writing will immerse you in their world and hold you captive until you finish leaving you needing more. Real makes you feel, it gives you hope that there is love and redemption in a world filled with secrets and darkness.
Thank you Katy for the opportunity to read and review Real for an honest opinion.
"The baddest of the bad, I give you, the one, the only, Remington "Riptide" Tate!
Fanning myself and coming down off the adrenaline rush! This book sucked me right in. I was immediately immersed in this world of underground fighting and could feel the intensity of the situation from the first page. Remington and Brooke had such an electric connection that it was like sparks flew out of my kindle. They did not even need words. With just a look you could feel the jolt and the electric current running in between them. But even as they were brought together and started spending time with each other, they werre also being held apart. There was a barrier in between them due to secrets and not being able to completely open up to each other. Remy was incredibly strong physically, but emotionally he was vulnerable and had an Achille's heel. And it takes time for the layers to be peeled back and for him to let Brooke really see who he was. But they have serious sexual chemistry and foreplay throughout the book even before anything really progressed physically with them. I mean seriously, incredibly, intense sexual tension and chemistry that leaves you squirming while reading it. Their attraction was just so strong that it literally consumed them.
I don't know if I'm bad for him, or him for me. All I know is that this is as inevitable as an incoming tsunami, and I'm just bracing for the swim of my life.
"What was I suppose to be? Your one-night-f**king stand? I'm every woman's adventure, damn you, and I don't want to be yours. I want to be your f**cking REAL. You get that? If I f**k you, I want you to belong to me. To be mine. I want you to give yourself to me-not Riptide!"
They might not have been incredibly effective communicators verbally, but they were able to use music as an outlet for sharing their inner most feelings. I loved seeing them search songs and exchange headphones trying to find the perfect song. And touch also played a big part of their communication. Despite their differences, they really were good for each other in so many ways. Even though they had different backgrounds, they also had similar interests and their career paths melded well together.
Remy's so different from me, and yet I swear we're so alike I swear I can understand this man in my soul.
"You tie me up in knots."..."I want to play you a thousand different songs so you get a clue of what...I feel inside me."
Remy is volatile and has issues that require special handling. And Brooke is so perfectly equipped to be that strong, caring person that Remy needs to keep him grounded and allow him to feel love. But there was a situation that has the potential to destroy everything that this couple has gained. There was no easy resolution and in all of the scenarios, someone would get hurt. It was so hard watching them struggle and try to see if they would be able to overcome it together or destroy each other in the process.
It was raw, it was sometimes harsh, but it was also beautiful and real. Remy was charismatic damaged vulnerable, cocky, strong, possessive and devoted. Brooke was intelligent, loving, nurturing, and a stable influence for Remy(most of the time). This couple was smokin' hot and deeply intense and emotional. I absolutely adored them together. Remy was such a tragic hero in some ways. I just wanted to hug him myself and take away his pain. Brooke was such a likeable and strong heroine.
"Even if I screw this up, I'll still be your screw-up."
"Not my screw-up. My real."
I highly recommend this book! And I will be reading more from Katy in the future. Her writing style literally drags you right into the action and the romance to the point you can feel every punch, every pain, every little bit of happiness, and every touch. The characters are so well developed. They are flawed, yet lovable and completely endearing. She is an incredibly talented author. So run, run, run and go meet Remington Riptide" Tate.
Thanks to Katy Evans for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Giveaway:
(1) Ebook version of Real: Katy Evans (International)
1 comments
I would love to win this book!!
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