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The Summer Games #2
Out of Bounds
From the USA TODAY Bestselling author of Scoring Wilder, comes a sexy new STANDALONE novel.
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.
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.
442 pages, ebook
First published August 1, 2016
About the author
R.S. Grey
44 books11.7k followersR.S. Grey is the USA Today bestselling author of over twenty-five romantic comedies. She loves books, chocolate, reality TV, and cold weather. She lives in Texas with her husband, two daughters, and dog. Visit her at rsgrey.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 765 reviews
August 1, 2016
4.5 Stars!!
If you have read and enjoyed 'Settling the Score', the previous installment in this series, then I’m pretty sure you will love 'Out of Bounds' as well. This second installment in R.S. Grey’s newest sports romance series was simply wonderful. Intense (for the most part) and so very gripping from the first page, this second book in the series was hotter than I had anticipated. In fact, it was the hottest book I’ve read by this author so far. But here’s the thing, Rachel delivered more than a steamy sport romance. 'Out of Bounds' has a well-developed plot, engaging characters, witty banter and great interactions between the main and supportive characters. Needless to say, every aspect of the story was done really well.
Everyone in the gymnastics world and not only knows who Brie Watson is. Brie is the Cinderella of the Olympics, she’s the girl who everyone expects to win Gold for USA at the Olympic Games. Brie has always been a hardworking girl. Even if she has already won different major competitions, she wants to win at the Olympics more than anything. Growing up with a single parent, Brie knows how hard it must have been for her mother to raise her, especially since gymnastics is expensive. She wants to win for herself, but mostly she wants to win for her family. Brie arrives in Seattle to practice with other four girls and there she meets her new coach, Erik Winter. Their first encounter doesn’t thrill Brie at all. Dark haired, with blue eyes and broad shoulders, Erik is sexy as sin, a sexy asshole who’s picking a fight with Brie at every opportunity.
Erik is an ex-gymnast whose career ended in a very mysterious way ten years ago. No one knows what happened with him back then and why he decided to retire from the gymnastics world. While he wasn’t the first choice in coaching the Olympic gymnasts, he was the best choice since he has the necessary experience. However, everyone expects for him to fail. Erik is willing to do anything to prove everyone that he’s worthy of coaching the Olympic team so he just has to stay focused and do what he does best. But this task becomes harder and harder when one of his gymnasts constantly mocks him pushing his buttons like no other.
Sparks starts to fly between Brie and Erik, both of them trying hard to fight the strong attraction between them. But how can you fight a sexual tension so tick like the one between them? How can they remember that one is the coach and the other the gymnast when the chemistry between them is off the charts?
I really enjoyed this entertaining sports romance. Mrs. Grey’s flawless writing and effortless storytelling won me over from the beginning. The pace of the story was perfect. Nothing was rushed and I didn’t find anything to be boring or OTT. Once again this author proved that she’s a fantastic writer doing a wonderful job with all the details about the sport in case (gymnastics) and the Olympic Games. I found all the information to be very interesting and despite the fact that I don’t usually find this type of info very “necessary”, this time I really appreciated it. Maybe because once upon a time I used to love this sport.
The two main characters were fantastically developed. The author did a great job with both Brie and Erik’s characters, both of their backgrounds being well done. Brie was an endearing, relatable character I loved from the beginning. She’s strong, hardworking, determined and such a spitfire. I loved the fact that she wanted so badly to offer her mother a better life, but I have to say her stubbornness and also her immaturity (in some way) got on my nerves a little as the story progressed. I have to say her outspoken ways were entertaining as hell, but I would have liked her to be a little more mature at times.
If you love assholes in your books, then you will love Erik, because our hero is the epitome of an asshole. As much as I love douchebags/assholes/etc. I have to say Erik was a little bit too much at times. Obviously I understood why he tried to fight his attraction toward Brie, but I think he exaggerated at times. He was cruel, distant, chilly and an arrogant prick…in the beginning. However, I loved his possessiveness and his challenging ways. As the story unfolded he proved that he can be thoughtful, considerate and even a little bit of sweet and eventually..yeah, he won me over.
My favorite aspect of the story was without a doubt the push and pull between the two main characters. Mrs. Grey did such a wonderful job portraying the love/hate relationship between Brie and Erik. The dynamic between them was crazy in the best possible way, so yeah the chemistry between them was scorching hot. One of the best I’ve read in a long, long time. It goes without saying the sexual tension between them was so tick at times you could have cut it with a knife. Holy cannoli! These two were combustible together. I loved all the intense, sexy encounters between them and of course the bickering between them and even all their “silly” fights. So deliciously sexy and entertaining!
Once again, the supportive characters were well portrayed, interesting, engaging and I wouldn’t mind to read their own stories in the upcoming books in the series. I really enjoyed the camaraderie between the girls in team USA gymnastics and the entertaining dialogue between them. It was fun watching them interact with each other, especially since they had different personalities. The epilogue was sweet and hopeful and I simply loved it!
All in all, 'Out of Bounds' was a wonderful contemporary sports romance and a great addition to the series. If you haven’t read anything by this author, then you should definitely try this one, especially since it can be read as a standalone. However, I highly recommend reading the first installment since you don’t want to miss another great romance at the Olympic Games.
** ARC kindly provided by R.S. Grey in exchange for an honest review! Thank you so much, Rachel! xoxo **
If you have read and enjoyed 'Settling the Score', the previous installment in this series, then I’m pretty sure you will love 'Out of Bounds' as well. This second installment in R.S. Grey’s newest sports romance series was simply wonderful. Intense (for the most part) and so very gripping from the first page, this second book in the series was hotter than I had anticipated. In fact, it was the hottest book I’ve read by this author so far. But here’s the thing, Rachel delivered more than a steamy sport romance. 'Out of Bounds' has a well-developed plot, engaging characters, witty banter and great interactions between the main and supportive characters. Needless to say, every aspect of the story was done really well.
“She was probably used to testing her maturity and newfound confidence around hesitant boys closer to her age, but the lesson to be learned was that unlike boys who are intimidated by feminine boldness, men like me are inflamed by it.”
Everyone in the gymnastics world and not only knows who Brie Watson is. Brie is the Cinderella of the Olympics, she’s the girl who everyone expects to win Gold for USA at the Olympic Games. Brie has always been a hardworking girl. Even if she has already won different major competitions, she wants to win at the Olympics more than anything. Growing up with a single parent, Brie knows how hard it must have been for her mother to raise her, especially since gymnastics is expensive. She wants to win for herself, but mostly she wants to win for her family. Brie arrives in Seattle to practice with other four girls and there she meets her new coach, Erik Winter. Their first encounter doesn’t thrill Brie at all. Dark haired, with blue eyes and broad shoulders, Erik is sexy as sin, a sexy asshole who’s picking a fight with Brie at every opportunity.
“I’ve never been touched by someone like you,” she said, leaning forward to drag her lips across my neck. “Show me what I’ve been missing.”
Erik is an ex-gymnast whose career ended in a very mysterious way ten years ago. No one knows what happened with him back then and why he decided to retire from the gymnastics world. While he wasn’t the first choice in coaching the Olympic gymnasts, he was the best choice since he has the necessary experience. However, everyone expects for him to fail. Erik is willing to do anything to prove everyone that he’s worthy of coaching the Olympic team so he just has to stay focused and do what he does best. But this task becomes harder and harder when one of his gymnasts constantly mocks him pushing his buttons like no other.
“Reading between the lines of her defiance gave away the extent to which my presence had affected her. Around me she was a ticking time bomb, but then again, she had lit my fuse as well.”
Sparks starts to fly between Brie and Erik, both of them trying hard to fight the strong attraction between them. But how can you fight a sexual tension so tick like the one between them? How can they remember that one is the coach and the other the gymnast when the chemistry between them is off the charts?
I really enjoyed this entertaining sports romance. Mrs. Grey’s flawless writing and effortless storytelling won me over from the beginning. The pace of the story was perfect. Nothing was rushed and I didn’t find anything to be boring or OTT. Once again this author proved that she’s a fantastic writer doing a wonderful job with all the details about the sport in case (gymnastics) and the Olympic Games. I found all the information to be very interesting and despite the fact that I don’t usually find this type of info very “necessary”, this time I really appreciated it. Maybe because once upon a time I used to love this sport.
The two main characters were fantastically developed. The author did a great job with both Brie and Erik’s characters, both of their backgrounds being well done. Brie was an endearing, relatable character I loved from the beginning. She’s strong, hardworking, determined and such a spitfire. I loved the fact that she wanted so badly to offer her mother a better life, but I have to say her stubbornness and also her immaturity (in some way) got on my nerves a little as the story progressed. I have to say her outspoken ways were entertaining as hell, but I would have liked her to be a little more mature at times.
“…after seeing him, I wanted to protest. Surely they’d made the wrong choice. He was too young, too handsome, too much.”
If you love assholes in your books, then you will love Erik, because our hero is the epitome of an asshole. As much as I love douchebags/assholes/etc. I have to say Erik was a little bit too much at times. Obviously I understood why he tried to fight his attraction toward Brie, but I think he exaggerated at times. He was cruel, distant, chilly and an arrogant prick…in the beginning. However, I loved his possessiveness and his challenging ways. As the story unfolded he proved that he can be thoughtful, considerate and even a little bit of sweet and eventually..yeah, he won me over.
“I WAS PLAYING with fire—no, I wasn’t just playing with fire; I was rolling in it. I was so confident I wouldn’t get burned, I didn’t realize how deep into the flames I’d fallen.”
My favorite aspect of the story was without a doubt the push and pull between the two main characters. Mrs. Grey did such a wonderful job portraying the love/hate relationship between Brie and Erik. The dynamic between them was crazy in the best possible way, so yeah the chemistry between them was scorching hot. One of the best I’ve read in a long, long time. It goes without saying the sexual tension between them was so tick at times you could have cut it with a knife. Holy cannoli! These two were combustible together. I loved all the intense, sexy encounters between them and of course the bickering between them and even all their “silly” fights. So deliciously sexy and entertaining!
Once again, the supportive characters were well portrayed, interesting, engaging and I wouldn’t mind to read their own stories in the upcoming books in the series. I really enjoyed the camaraderie between the girls in team USA gymnastics and the entertaining dialogue between them. It was fun watching them interact with each other, especially since they had different personalities. The epilogue was sweet and hopeful and I simply loved it!
All in all, 'Out of Bounds' was a wonderful contemporary sports romance and a great addition to the series. If you haven’t read anything by this author, then you should definitely try this one, especially since it can be read as a standalone. However, I highly recommend reading the first installment since you don’t want to miss another great romance at the Olympic Games.
** ARC kindly provided by R.S. Grey in exchange for an honest review! Thank you so much, Rachel! xoxo **
August 15, 2017
★★★★! Out of Bounds (stand-alone, book 2). Rigorous physical activities in & out of the bedroom as coach & gymnast prep for the Olympics!
“Brie wasn’t a woman that would try to fit whatever ideal mold I thought I had for a partner; she was a woman that shattered the mold and made me feel the excitement of young love again.”
Books in The Summer Games series are stand-alones:
Book 1: Settling the Score
Book 2: Out of Bounds
Out of Bounds(stand-alone) opens up to Olympic gymnast and American favorite, Brie Watson traveling to meet up with her Olympic team for the last month of training before the Olympics. Coach, gym owner and former gymnast Erik Winter has recently taken over the team and much is resting on his shoulders.
Their first meeting is a fiasco setting them off to a rocky start…
But in the gym they connect, like magic. And their combative bantering soon becomes sexually charged moments of not being able to keep their hands off each other nor their clothes on. En route to the Olympics becomes a journey of self-reflection and truths. But with winning being Brie’s only option to save her future…
Will Eric prove her biggest distraction or greatest asset?
Six words to describe Erik Winter: Reckless, private, flawed, moody, conflicted and intense.
Six words to describe Brie Watson: Combative, snarky, fierce, focused, competitive and impulsive.
Out of Bounds, told from dual POVs, is a mixture of forbidden romance, tempestuous relationship and two lost souls finding themselves and each other. It ends perfectly with a heartwarming epilogue.
Fast paced! Sexy! Feel-good!
“She and I weren’t forever. She was a beautiful little fantasy, the kind that kept you up at night, not the kind that extended into reality.”
***
Hero rating: 4 stars
Heroine rating: 3.5 stars
Sexual tension rating: 4 stars
Sex scenes rating: 4 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4 stars
Plot rating: 4 stars
Dialogue rating: 4 stars
Storytelling rating: 4.5 stars
Story ending rating: 4.5 stars
**********************************************
Overall rating: 4 stars
Would I recommend this story: Yes.
Would I re-read this series: Maybe later.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
August 15, 2016
Well this was certainly out of fucking bounds.
If you read reviews for this book you'll see that everyone mentions that 52% mark and the out of the blue shit that happens then. Being the sweet summer child I am, I genuinely thought that she FELL ASLEEP during her yoga session and that she's having some sort of sexual nightmare. OH, mark me very surprised and VERY DISTURBED when I realized by the end of that chapter that she was very much awake. First of all, I am a very open-minded person, I read all sorts of books and I have no problem with different tropes used in them. HOWEVER, this was so out of the blue and completely UNEXPLAINED that I fear that R.S. Grey might be on drugs. What other explanation is acceptable? I would've fucking run and turn him to the police. Well, I wouldn't, to be honest, even like this fucking bastard in the first place so the possibility of this scene would be 0%. Adults that act like teenagers are too damn hard to like so it's no surprise that I wanted to slap Brie & choke the hell out of the miserable fuck that is Erik throughout this WHOLE book. Never in my life have I encountered a worse hero than in this book. And I liked the first one so much that when I saw that the second one's about gymnastics, I almost screamed from happiness. I didn't feel that special atmosphere like the author created in the first book and, honestly, I was very disturbed with the fact that these two don't talk to each other like normal human beings. There are no explanations for anything they've done so it's quite normal that the readers can't form a functional connection with them.
In short, the characters are stupid idiots who completely deserve each other, now that I think about it. Oh, also, you're fictional, but I really hope you accidentally fall from the roof and die Erik. XOXO
If you read reviews for this book you'll see that everyone mentions that 52% mark and the out of the blue shit that happens then. Being the sweet summer child I am, I genuinely thought that she FELL ASLEEP during her yoga session and that she's having some sort of sexual nightmare. OH, mark me very surprised and VERY DISTURBED when I realized by the end of that chapter that she was very much awake. First of all, I am a very open-minded person, I read all sorts of books and I have no problem with different tropes used in them. HOWEVER, this was so out of the blue and completely UNEXPLAINED that I fear that R.S. Grey might be on drugs. What other explanation is acceptable? I would've fucking run and turn him to the police. Well, I wouldn't, to be honest, even like this fucking bastard in the first place so the possibility of this scene would be 0%. Adults that act like teenagers are too damn hard to like so it's no surprise that I wanted to slap Brie & choke the hell out of the miserable fuck that is Erik throughout this WHOLE book. Never in my life have I encountered a worse hero than in this book. And I liked the first one so much that when I saw that the second one's about gymnastics, I almost screamed from happiness. I didn't feel that special atmosphere like the author created in the first book and, honestly, I was very disturbed with the fact that these two don't talk to each other like normal human beings. There are no explanations for anything they've done so it's quite normal that the readers can't form a functional connection with them.
In short, the characters are stupid idiots who completely deserve each other, now that I think about it. Oh, also, you're fictional, but I really hope you accidentally fall from the roof and die Erik. XOXO
August 8, 2016
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
August 5, 2016
Aaaaaaand it's live!! http://amzn.to/2aCAcI9
4.5 bright stars!!
Katerina's guidelines on reading Out of Bounds
➺ Always be equipped with the essentials: fan, bottles of freezing water and easy access to a bathtub.
➺ Do NOT read in public or near parents/ judgy adults (most likely Muggles). Things can get really awkward.
➺ Do not, I repeat, DO NOT let your guards down and believe men like Erik Winter exist out there. Because you'll be like this
but in the end, the only thing you'll lick will be your e-reader/ tablet/ kindle/ i-phone and that's unhygienic.
You've been warned.
Out of Bounds was hands down R.S. Grey's steamiest book. It was bold. Sensual. It gave a whole new definition to the enemies-turn-to-lovers concept because Brie and Erik were enemies and lovers at the same time. Their war began the very first day they met, and the lines between right and wrong were blurry. Erik was the Olympic team's coach, and he wanted to prove that he was worthy of his title. Brie on the other hand was the gymnast, her life goal was to win not one, not two, but six medals and nothing could get in her way. The relationship between them was non-existant. It was strained, and it varied between insults and constant bickering to hot and angry, desperate sex in the most unlikely places. No one wanted to surrender. It was a struggle for power and control. The result?
This book had a sinister vibe. Erik managed to corrupt Brie because she wanted to be corrupted, be desired, she wanted to be seen. Even though I found her immature at some points, even annoying, I can't deny that she was the perfect match to Erik. To scolding, cold and wicked Erik, who was obviously so delicious that I'd give up cupcakes if that meant I could get a taste of him.
Their story was intoxicating. Their scenes hotter than hell. They gave you goosebumps. It was the first time we witnessed this side of R.S. Grey's pen, and I loved the ride! And I'm ready for more!
*ARC generously provided by the author in exchange fon an honest review*
4.5 bright stars!!
“We were using each other, fucking and fighting like it was our job. We'd become each other's prisoners, twisting ourselves into a sexual Stockholm syndrome, but now we were in Rio.”
Katerina's guidelines on reading Out of Bounds
➺ Always be equipped with the essentials: fan, bottles of freezing water and easy access to a bathtub.
➺ Do NOT read in public or near parents/ judgy adults (most likely Muggles). Things can get really awkward.
➺ Do not, I repeat, DO NOT let your guards down and believe men like Erik Winter exist out there. Because you'll be like this
but in the end, the only thing you'll lick will be your e-reader/ tablet/ kindle/ i-phone and that's unhygienic.
You've been warned.
“From the first day I'd met Erik, we'd been at war. If we weren't throwing knives, we were falling into each other's arms.”
Out of Bounds was hands down R.S. Grey's steamiest book. It was bold. Sensual. It gave a whole new definition to the enemies-turn-to-lovers concept because Brie and Erik were enemies and lovers at the same time. Their war began the very first day they met, and the lines between right and wrong were blurry. Erik was the Olympic team's coach, and he wanted to prove that he was worthy of his title. Brie on the other hand was the gymnast, her life goal was to win not one, not two, but six medals and nothing could get in her way. The relationship between them was non-existant. It was strained, and it varied between insults and constant bickering to hot and angry, desperate sex in the most unlikely places. No one wanted to surrender. It was a struggle for power and control. The result?
“I still wanted to rip his face off, but in my dreams-when I wasn't in control-my mind morphed into my darkest fantasy. No matter how hard I tried to resist him during my waking hours, the moment I closed my eyes, he was all I saw.”
This book had a sinister vibe. Erik managed to corrupt Brie because she wanted to be corrupted, be desired, she wanted to be seen. Even though I found her immature at some points, even annoying, I can't deny that she was the perfect match to Erik. To scolding, cold and wicked Erik, who was obviously so delicious that I'd give up cupcakes if that meant I could get a taste of him.
Their story was intoxicating. Their scenes hotter than hell. They gave you goosebumps. It was the first time we witnessed this side of R.S. Grey's pen, and I loved the ride! And I'm ready for more!
*ARC generously provided by the author in exchange fon an honest review*
August 3, 2016
Well...I finished it.
***2.5 Stars***
I went into Out of Bounds with high expectations but unfortunately this one just didn't work for me. To start with it felt really, really long. Also, I'm all for seeing a hero at his worst and then gradually seeing the light shine through and hearts and flowers appear, but Erik (with a k) is a douchewaffle. That douchewaffle status stuck with him till nearly the end which is way too long for me. I don't expect perfection from my heroes but I also don't expect for the heroine to be questioning his feelings for her (justifiably) until the end of the book. We get dual POV's, so we know what he's thinking (sometimes) but he never really lets her know his true feeling until the end.
Brie is a 20 years old and gymnastics has been her life. She's heading to the Olympics to get gold. Yes, she wants to win, but her main reason is the prize money to pay her mother back for all the sacrifices she had to make for her sport. Brie has a single-minded focus...until the Olympic Gymnastic Coach is replaced with the douchewaffle. This is unfortunately when Brie's brain goes on holidays. I'm going to put it out there that this chick was too young and all her wrong decisions were made because of her immaturity and her lack of life experience. I honestly felt like this girl was in an abusive relationship. I've seen a few reviews mention the dreaded 52% mark and I can honestly say that the scene brought a tear to my eye. I'm pretty sure it was supposed to be erotic but it was just WRONG and unfortunately Erik (with a k) never really recovered in my eyes from it.
Erik was in a position of responsibility as coach of the women's gymnastics team and there is no way that his relationship was appropriate. Yes, Brie was legally able, but he admitted very loudly that she was too young for him. But it was LOVE, you all say. Well, that sure came up pretty darn quickly and I had no reason to think these two who fought continuously felt anything but lust.
Sorry to say, but Out of Bounds was not as good as the first book in the series. I was disappointed that the scenes at the Olympics were right near the end and didn't really encompass the experience as well as I hoped. I knew that there was a chance that I'd be upset by the extreme training and that the coach would be all gruff and cranky, but that wasn't really my problem in the end. I'm all for escaping reality, but this just seemed to turn my tummy. Probably why teacher/student romances do absolutely nothing for me.
Anyways, this is just my humble opinion. Lots of other reviewers have loved it, so definitely take the time to read their reviews and maybe it will work for you.
I’m an Aussie chick who loves to read and review romance, drink coffee, be a Style Setter and stalk David Gandy. To see more of my reviews, fashion, food and pervathons -
August 27, 2016
LIVE LIVE LIVE :D http://amzn.to/2aCAcI9
5 ERIK + BRIE STARS
Seriously this is absolutely fantastic!!!I loved it so much and I didn't want to finish it!!With this book Rachel took sexy to another level!!The story is intense,the writing flawless,the characters fantastic and the scenes between them super hot,yes yes more than the other books!!I love every part of this story!!
"I was playing with fire-no, I wasn't just playing with fire; I was rolling in it."
"You have a way of crawling under my skin like no other man ever has before."
I love Brie and Erik's chemistry these two are so stubborn yet so hot!!It's like an explosion everytime they are together! Brie is a strong heroine and I could relate with her!I love her personality!And Erik is mysterious,stubborn,and sexy!
"He wasn't poisoning the well; he was drawing from it.At times, I wondered if he knew me better than I knew myself.It felt like he'd split open my chest and pulled out my heart, watchingit beat for him-only him."
Rachel is one of my favorite authors and I love love love her books!!!I highly recommend it to everyone!!!If you are looking for a fast paced,well-written,hot and intense story this is perfect!!!
5 ERIK + BRIE STARS
Seriously this is absolutely fantastic!!!I loved it so much and I didn't want to finish it!!With this book Rachel took sexy to another level!!The story is intense,the writing flawless,the characters fantastic and the scenes between them super hot,yes yes more than the other books!!I love every part of this story!!
"I was playing with fire-no, I wasn't just playing with fire; I was rolling in it."
"You have a way of crawling under my skin like no other man ever has before."
I love Brie and Erik's chemistry these two are so stubborn yet so hot!!It's like an explosion everytime they are together! Brie is a strong heroine and I could relate with her!I love her personality!And Erik is mysterious,stubborn,and sexy!
"He wasn't poisoning the well; he was drawing from it.At times, I wondered if he knew me better than I knew myself.It felt like he'd split open my chest and pulled out my heart, watchingit beat for him-only him."
Rachel is one of my favorite authors and I love love love her books!!!I highly recommend it to everyone!!!If you are looking for a fast paced,well-written,hot and intense story this is perfect!!!
August 2, 2016
DNF @ 52%. The guy is beyond dick- even for books with the cliche 'bad boy' in the title. What he does at 52% makes him unredeemable in my eyes. More than a little angry I stayed up to read this.
Off of my kindle! Get off of my kindle now!
Off of my kindle! Get off of my kindle now!
August 2, 2016
5 Stars!
(ARC provided by author)
Brie Watson is s 20 yr. old Olympic gymnast for the U.S. women's gymnastics team. She lives in Texas & has been doing gymnastics full time since she was 14. She wants to win the gold to provide a better life for herself & her mother. This is her first time at the Olympics & she's eager to prove herself.
Brie is planning to train in Austin for the next month before heading to Rio de Janeiro for the games. Suddenly Team USA's coach for the last 30 yrs. has to take medical leave, & his ex-gymnast son is going to fill in as head coach. This means Brie has to head to Seattle & train at his gym Seattle Flyers.
Brie arrives at Coach Erik Winters home, where she will be staying for the next few weeks. They get off to a rocky start from the beginning. First off she was expecting the usual coach in his 50's, not a 29 yr. old gorgeous, arrogant jerk. Erik and Brie clash from day one. She's usually mild mannered, but he brings out the feisty headstrong side of her. She stood up to him, when nobody else would. They were constantly sparring, & the sexual tension continued to build. The fighting began to be a turn on to both of them.
One issue is they were too similar. Brie was seriously lusting over her hot coach, but tried to act like he didn't phase her, when truly she was so affected anytime he even entered a room. She craved his attention and his touch. They both tried to focus on training, but eventually their desire for one another becomes out of control. Soon they are completely consumed by each other.
-"You have a way of crawling under my skin like no other man ever has before."
-She was fierce; she wanted to be seen, and not just for her gymnastic skills. No, she wanted to be desired. Coveted. Craved. Had anyone ever touched her the way she wanted to be touched?
-Deep down, I knew we were a perfect fit.
As Brie begins seeing glimpses of a softer side to Erik, she starts falling harder for him. They both realize they've met their match in one another, & that they have something real together. They have to decide if it's enough to try for something more, or if they will walk away from each other when the games are over and they leave Rio.
I loved this book so much! I liked the whole forbidden romance aspect, & thought Erik was hot as hell! I love this series & can't wait for another Summer Games romance! :))
(ARC provided by author)
Brie Watson is s 20 yr. old Olympic gymnast for the U.S. women's gymnastics team. She lives in Texas & has been doing gymnastics full time since she was 14. She wants to win the gold to provide a better life for herself & her mother. This is her first time at the Olympics & she's eager to prove herself.
Brie is planning to train in Austin for the next month before heading to Rio de Janeiro for the games. Suddenly Team USA's coach for the last 30 yrs. has to take medical leave, & his ex-gymnast son is going to fill in as head coach. This means Brie has to head to Seattle & train at his gym Seattle Flyers.
Brie arrives at Coach Erik Winters home, where she will be staying for the next few weeks. They get off to a rocky start from the beginning. First off she was expecting the usual coach in his 50's, not a 29 yr. old gorgeous, arrogant jerk. Erik and Brie clash from day one. She's usually mild mannered, but he brings out the feisty headstrong side of her. She stood up to him, when nobody else would. They were constantly sparring, & the sexual tension continued to build. The fighting began to be a turn on to both of them.
One issue is they were too similar. Brie was seriously lusting over her hot coach, but tried to act like he didn't phase her, when truly she was so affected anytime he even entered a room. She craved his attention and his touch. They both tried to focus on training, but eventually their desire for one another becomes out of control. Soon they are completely consumed by each other.
-"You have a way of crawling under my skin like no other man ever has before."
-She was fierce; she wanted to be seen, and not just for her gymnastic skills. No, she wanted to be desired. Coveted. Craved. Had anyone ever touched her the way she wanted to be touched?
-Deep down, I knew we were a perfect fit.
As Brie begins seeing glimpses of a softer side to Erik, she starts falling harder for him. They both realize they've met their match in one another, & that they have something real together. They have to decide if it's enough to try for something more, or if they will walk away from each other when the games are over and they leave Rio.
I loved this book so much! I liked the whole forbidden romance aspect, & thought Erik was hot as hell! I love this series & can't wait for another Summer Games romance! :))
October 1, 2016
2.5 stars. Erik ends up being the USA Gymnastic's Team Olympic coach after the previous coach has a medical emergency and reluctantly retires. Brie is gymnast with a history that makes her popular with American fans and the best shot Erik has to prove that he knows what he's doing. There's also a strong attraction between these two that gets pushed away with animosity and snark. I've got to say that there were times where Erik wasn't very nice to Brie, or the other girls for that matter, but I didn't find him to be cruel in the beginning even as he was an @$$. At one point, though, after the girls had ruined a date for him, the things he did cross over into that side for a bit. While he eventually pulled back, it left a bad taste. I was a little confused by the push and pull / hot and cold going on between Brie and Erik, but recognize that perhaps they too were confused by their feelings. There is a f/f/m scene in here that, though I thought it was ultimately pretty hot in its own capacity, it felt out of place in the story. It didn't fit what was going on at the time, nor who or where I thought the characters were. As individuals, I liked what motivated Brie and the fact that there was some depth to Erik underneath his prickliness. Together, though they had good chemistry, I didn't like how they were with one another until almost the end when Erik realized how he felt. All in all a read that has great potential with both good execution at times and missed opportunities. Safety: H tries to date OW while fighting the attraction between he and the h. There is a sharing scene. OW and H do not interact but they have in the past. No rape or abuse.
August 15, 2016
I read it. And it all felt wrong. Like "call-the-police-now" kind of wrong.
Initially, Erik's just cold. He's got an issue behaving professionally. He's bringing women home for one night stands knowing that the young gymnasts can see what's happening and it doesn't send out a great message. Well, rakes are like that and we have forgiven them for such misbehaviour in a lot of cases. Problem is it doesn't stop here. He's cold, domineering and mean towards his gymnasts and cannot behave normally around Brie. His preferential mis-treatment towards her doesn't go past anybody's eyes and frankly, puts the reader off. Ya ya, indifferent hero makes for a great challenge. You can have this challenge all for yourself. I am just reading the book because I learnt from a great person that every author deserves your attention if you've ended up picking up their book.
My noble promise bit me in the ass at the end.
I don't understand what is the problem with asking for consent?!
Some may like such a morally ambiguous story. I really didn't. I wouldn't even call it ambiguous. It was sexual harassment, plain and simple. What kind of generous and truthful love makes you go so emotionally cruel towards your partner. And so we add another crime to the list. Emotional abuse.
I suppose I should call the guy some choice profanities. But I am so disgusted, I don't think he deserves any more attention.
Initially, Erik's just cold. He's got an issue behaving professionally. He's bringing women home for one night stands knowing that the young gymnasts can see what's happening and it doesn't send out a great message. Well, rakes are like that and we have forgiven them for such misbehaviour in a lot of cases. Problem is it doesn't stop here. He's cold, domineering and mean towards his gymnasts and cannot behave normally around Brie. His preferential mis-treatment towards her doesn't go past anybody's eyes and frankly, puts the reader off. Ya ya, indifferent hero makes for a great challenge. You can have this challenge all for yourself. I am just reading the book because I learnt from a great person that every author deserves your attention if you've ended up picking up their book.
My noble promise bit me in the ass at the end.
I don't understand what is the problem with asking for consent?!
Some may like such a morally ambiguous story. I really didn't. I wouldn't even call it ambiguous. It was sexual harassment, plain and simple. What kind of generous and truthful love makes you go so emotionally cruel towards your partner. And so we add another crime to the list. Emotional abuse.
I suppose I should call the guy some choice profanities. But I am so disgusted, I don't think he deserves any more attention.
February 16, 2017
4.5 stars
Holy heck, this is R.S. Grey's sexiest book yet! This isn't your typical romance. Nope, this is angsty, push and pull, enemies to lovers Romance that will have your toes curling. Sound up your alley? Read on :)
Twenty-year-old Brie Watson is the newest IT girl in the gymnastics world, predicted to take Gold at the Olympics. As if that weren't already enough pressure, Brie knows she has to win Gold in order to give her single mother the life she deserves after the years of support and sacrifice she has given to Brie to ensure she was able to pursue her dreams. Her mom is everything to her and this is the one thing she yearns to give her. The team is getting ready for Rio when they learn they are inheriting a new coach last minute, enter Erik Winter.
Erik is strict, brooding, and basically comes across as a giant ass. Bring on Brie and her fiery, take no shit attitude and you've got a recipe for disaster. From their very first meeting these two are under each other's skin and the fight for the upper hand never ceases. But what they never anticipated is how much they would like the fight.
"She loved teasing and testing me, but she couldn't handle the consequences. She thought she could keep nipping at me and I wouldn't bite back."
"I was pissing him off; I knew it and I couldn't stop. He had been right the night before - I did like his attention on me, even if he was about to rip my head off."
I was totally, 110% on Team Brie and Erik. I loved their constant bickering, the way they challenged one another, and the chemistry and tension between them was insane to watch. The slow build was TORTUROUS I tell ya! I wanted them to just get it on already! It's not all fun and games when genuinely real feelings get involved, though. With two strong personalities such as Brie and Erik, who will be the first to lower their guard?
"I'd focused so much energy on hating Erik that when love appeared out of nowhere, it stole my breath."
When I read a R.S. Grey novel I know I'm going to get characters with depth, a strong and entertaining plot, humor that is all Rachel, and a toe dip in the steam pot. Or in the case of this book, a visit to the sauna. She just has that perfect formula down to a T. R.S. Grey has been one of my favorite go-to authors for quite some time now and she just gets better and better with each new release. If you love the NA and Sports Romance genres, then this series is an absolute must!
Holy heck, this is R.S. Grey's sexiest book yet! This isn't your typical romance. Nope, this is angsty, push and pull, enemies to lovers Romance that will have your toes curling. Sound up your alley? Read on :)
Twenty-year-old Brie Watson is the newest IT girl in the gymnastics world, predicted to take Gold at the Olympics. As if that weren't already enough pressure, Brie knows she has to win Gold in order to give her single mother the life she deserves after the years of support and sacrifice she has given to Brie to ensure she was able to pursue her dreams. Her mom is everything to her and this is the one thing she yearns to give her. The team is getting ready for Rio when they learn they are inheriting a new coach last minute, enter Erik Winter.
Erik is strict, brooding, and basically comes across as a giant ass. Bring on Brie and her fiery, take no shit attitude and you've got a recipe for disaster. From their very first meeting these two are under each other's skin and the fight for the upper hand never ceases. But what they never anticipated is how much they would like the fight.
"She loved teasing and testing me, but she couldn't handle the consequences. She thought she could keep nipping at me and I wouldn't bite back."
"I was pissing him off; I knew it and I couldn't stop. He had been right the night before - I did like his attention on me, even if he was about to rip my head off."
I was totally, 110% on Team Brie and Erik. I loved their constant bickering, the way they challenged one another, and the chemistry and tension between them was insane to watch. The slow build was TORTUROUS I tell ya! I wanted them to just get it on already! It's not all fun and games when genuinely real feelings get involved, though. With two strong personalities such as Brie and Erik, who will be the first to lower their guard?
"I'd focused so much energy on hating Erik that when love appeared out of nowhere, it stole my breath."
When I read a R.S. Grey novel I know I'm going to get characters with depth, a strong and entertaining plot, humor that is all Rachel, and a toe dip in the steam pot. Or in the case of this book, a visit to the sauna. She just has that perfect formula down to a T. R.S. Grey has been one of my favorite go-to authors for quite some time now and she just gets better and better with each new release. If you love the NA and Sports Romance genres, then this series is an absolute must!
August 11, 2016
2.5 Too Outta Bounds for me.
I wanted to love this, because I LOVED book 1 and 2. I read the blurb and because Im a total sucker for a good sport's romance! Add in the fact that this was a coach/athlete romance and I was sold!
This book ventures out of the soccer realm and into the world of gymnastics. The US Cinderella, Brie Watson is about to have her hands full with new team coach, the young sexy Erik Winter. Fairly predictable that they were gonna fall in lust right? I would have loved that, but instead I got a bunch of push and push and angry tirades. I got a irritable connection that was only soothed by intimacy that seemed forced at that.
To keep in simple, I found Erik to be a jerk start to finish. I found Brie to be naïve and immature start to finish. I didn't find their connection to go past their initial attraction and it seemed to take a long time for either to "fall" in love. Even then it was just "you know I am in love with you?" Really? I kinda couldn't tell.
Overall, I still feel this series is a winner...but maybe I need some more soccer or rugby players! Now, Owen...he seems like a bad boy that needs reformed...or Noah that wholesome gymnast needs dirtied up!!
I wanted to love this, because I LOVED book 1 and 2. I read the blurb and because Im a total sucker for a good sport's romance! Add in the fact that this was a coach/athlete romance and I was sold!
This book ventures out of the soccer realm and into the world of gymnastics. The US Cinderella, Brie Watson is about to have her hands full with new team coach, the young sexy Erik Winter. Fairly predictable that they were gonna fall in lust right? I would have loved that, but instead I got a bunch of push and push and angry tirades. I got a irritable connection that was only soothed by intimacy that seemed forced at that.
To keep in simple, I found Erik to be a jerk start to finish. I found Brie to be naïve and immature start to finish. I didn't find their connection to go past their initial attraction and it seemed to take a long time for either to "fall" in love. Even then it was just "you know I am in love with you?" Really? I kinda couldn't tell.
Overall, I still feel this series is a winner...but maybe I need some more soccer or rugby players! Now, Owen...he seems like a bad boy that needs reformed...or Noah that wholesome gymnast needs dirtied up!!
August 5, 2016
4 Stars
Ok I'm a hugeee Olympic Games fan, I just love the team spirit and how everyone as a country just pulls together to support each other. Then add gymnastics to the mix and I was both feet in, gymnastics is one of my fav sports and my daughter is into gymnastics too. My week revolves around a twice a week schedule of gymnastic practices and a child who can't keep still. So yeh I really couldn't wait for this book.. Plus she's a new author to me so I really wanted to try her after so many book friends have recommended Rachel Grey to me I was alrighty then let's do this.
Onto the review
Brie has come from a single parent family and no money. She's had to work her way up by putting her EVERYTHING into this sport but ultimately she is one of the best, in Rio she's lined up to win Gold Stars and well she needs them to give herself but mostly her mum the life she wants to give back to her for all the money time she's given to Brie to get her to be an Olympic champion. So off she huddles to spend a month practicing with no other than dark, handsome and angry coach Eric who since day one fights a good fight with Brie.
There is a definite love/Hate relationship here and basically Eric has no time for second chances. He trains the best and he won't tolerate much. That said Brie doesn't give 1 iota and answer's back because well her life depends on this. And she'll do what she damn well pleases, in the gym world anyway.. She's not having a coach pull her down.
I loved the Olympics side of it all, because of that honestly the first half had me excited and nervous for Brie and her team mates. But then throughout both characters are strong people. You have a strong kick ass heroine and then you have a angry darkish hero who really and truly underneath just wants to be loved like the rest of us. But two strong characters = to some pretty intense, Fiesty and angry sex scenes..
I will though say, that in my honest opinion for me.. The relationship between these two came second to everything else. They wanted each other, but they fought for it throughout the book. I enjoyed their banter and the banter between their team, but it was a slow read... Yet one where I kept turning the pages as it was on the tip of my fingers, you know I could see them together yet they couldn't.. If I'm making sense?!!
All in all it was a great read and I'll defo pick this author up again for nothing else than she does great banter between all characters involved.
ARC generously gifted in exchange for an honest review
For more reviews and blog posts
Ok I'm a hugeee Olympic Games fan, I just love the team spirit and how everyone as a country just pulls together to support each other. Then add gymnastics to the mix and I was both feet in, gymnastics is one of my fav sports and my daughter is into gymnastics too. My week revolves around a twice a week schedule of gymnastic practices and a child who can't keep still. So yeh I really couldn't wait for this book.. Plus she's a new author to me so I really wanted to try her after so many book friends have recommended Rachel Grey to me I was alrighty then let's do this.
Onto the review
Brie has come from a single parent family and no money. She's had to work her way up by putting her EVERYTHING into this sport but ultimately she is one of the best, in Rio she's lined up to win Gold Stars and well she needs them to give herself but mostly her mum the life she wants to give back to her for all the money time she's given to Brie to get her to be an Olympic champion. So off she huddles to spend a month practicing with no other than dark, handsome and angry coach Eric who since day one fights a good fight with Brie.
There is a definite love/Hate relationship here and basically Eric has no time for second chances. He trains the best and he won't tolerate much. That said Brie doesn't give 1 iota and answer's back because well her life depends on this. And she'll do what she damn well pleases, in the gym world anyway.. She's not having a coach pull her down.
I loved the Olympics side of it all, because of that honestly the first half had me excited and nervous for Brie and her team mates. But then throughout both characters are strong people. You have a strong kick ass heroine and then you have a angry darkish hero who really and truly underneath just wants to be loved like the rest of us. But two strong characters = to some pretty intense, Fiesty and angry sex scenes..
I will though say, that in my honest opinion for me.. The relationship between these two came second to everything else. They wanted each other, but they fought for it throughout the book. I enjoyed their banter and the banter between their team, but it was a slow read... Yet one where I kept turning the pages as it was on the tip of my fingers, you know I could see them together yet they couldn't.. If I'm making sense?!!
All in all it was a great read and I'll defo pick this author up again for nothing else than she does great banter between all characters involved.
ARC generously gifted in exchange for an honest review
For more reviews and blog posts
August 4, 2016
R.S. Grey is one of my new favorite authors. I chose her as my challenge to read all of her books this year and I'm so glad I did. She writes the best romance comedies, but with this new book Out of Bounds, she brought the steam factor. I enjoyed Settling the Score, but this one wins a gold medal without a doubt.
"Gymnastics was in my heart. Competing gave me a rush of endorphins like nothing had before."
Brie Watson is a rising star in the gymnastics world. She started doing ballet as a kid, but when she saw other kids doing gymnastics she convinced her mother to let her switch. Starting later than most, Brie began gymnastics at fourteen and has kicked butt ever since. She's very humble though. She realizes all of the sacrifices her mother has made for her, so when she was picked for the Olympics team she saw it as an opportunity to earn money and try to pay her mother back.
Leaving Texas, she goes to Seattle for a month to train with her new coach and the rest of the team before they go to Rio. Arriving early, she catches her coach, Erik, off guard and his one night stand leaving that morning which leaves Brie and Erik getting off on the wrong foot. I loved her personality though. She wasn't afraid of speaking her mind or talking back to the coach.
"Since the moment she’d arrived, she’d been outspoken and abrasive."
Erik Winters is an ex-gymnast and the new coach for the girls Olympic team, stepping in after his father had to step down for health reasons. Erik and his father haven't spoken in years, but it's his turn to run things and he plans on doing it his way. He's stepping out of his father's shadow, proving to himself and the world that he knows what he's doing.
"You have a way of crawling under my skin like no other man ever has before."
Erik and Brie do not get along from the beginning. There's just something about each other that brings out the fight in them. I loved the animosity between them. They tried so hard to deny the attraction they felt for one another, but the harder they tried the more intense it became and the harder it was to ignore the temptation.
Erik knows that he has to keep their relationship professional. He doesn't want Brie to have unnecessary added pressure from the media if anyone were to find out about them. After all, it's taboo to have a relationship between a coach and student. She needs to concentrate on winning as many gold medals as possible. But once feelings become known, what will happen when they leave Rio?
I seriously love enemies-to-lovers books. R.S. Grey gave that to us in spades with this book. It was crazy hot! I loved it! This is one of the best sports books I've read and now my new favorite by this author. Thanks for that epilogue! Perfect!
August 1, 2016
R.S. Grey certainly knows how to feed my sports romance addiction—not to mention my Summer Olympics obsession. In Out of Bounds she takes the sport of competitive gymnastics, adds in a fabulous enemies to lovers scenario, tons of heat, and a touch of forbidden romance, and—voilà—you’ve got a winning combination.
I’ve read many books that are categorized as enemies to lovers stories. In actuality, it’s rare to find a book of this trope where the couple doesn’t just dabble in some irritation with each other, only to fall in love a few chapters later. Out of Bounds is the epitome of a well done lust/hate story.
Brie Watson is an elite gymnast on her way to her first Olympics. Erik Winter is the newly appointed head coach of the USA women’s Olympics gymnastics team. They get off on the wrong foot and instantly can’t stand each other. Between Erik’s rude, cold then hot behavior and Brie’s fiery, rebellious temperament, the flames of hatred are well and truly stoked throughout most of the story. They seem to bring out the worst in each other, and yet much to their aggravation and confusion they find themselves battling an intense magnetism. The fact that Erik is Brie’s older coach and the world is watching their every move makes the situation even more complicated.
My main issue with the story is that Erik is downright cruel to such an extreme extent that I often wondered why Brie has a tough time getting him out of her system. His douchey attitude lasts a little too long for my taste. Brie is a smart girl, and her stubbornness helps her give as good as she gets, so sometimes I was irritated when her gullibility slips through. I must admit, though, that Erik is a walking advertisement for sex appeal, so he is hard to resist.
Learning about the discipline and hard work that is required of competitive gymnasts was interesting, and I relished the insider’s peak into the experiences of an Olympian. And while I appreciated the dedication and special hardships Brie endured on her path to the Olympics, I did find her bemoaning her mom’s sacrifices to be a tad repetitive.
I enjoyed the unpredictable dynamics between Brie and Erik and the simmering sexual tension. Their vehement disdain for each other, as well as their mutual attraction and Brie’s reluctant respect for Erik eventually meld into intense sexual chemistry and some seriously scorching scenes. I was also thoroughly entertained by Brie’s relationship with her diverse group of wacky teammates.
Out of Bounds is a fun and sexy treat that should delight readers looking for a satisfying sports romance fix.
Recommended for fans of:
Enemies to lovers stories
Sports romances
Gymnastics
The Olympics
Baking
**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**
I’ve read many books that are categorized as enemies to lovers stories. In actuality, it’s rare to find a book of this trope where the couple doesn’t just dabble in some irritation with each other, only to fall in love a few chapters later. Out of Bounds is the epitome of a well done lust/hate story.
Brie Watson is an elite gymnast on her way to her first Olympics. Erik Winter is the newly appointed head coach of the USA women’s Olympics gymnastics team. They get off on the wrong foot and instantly can’t stand each other. Between Erik’s rude, cold then hot behavior and Brie’s fiery, rebellious temperament, the flames of hatred are well and truly stoked throughout most of the story. They seem to bring out the worst in each other, and yet much to their aggravation and confusion they find themselves battling an intense magnetism. The fact that Erik is Brie’s older coach and the world is watching their every move makes the situation even more complicated.
My main issue with the story is that Erik is downright cruel to such an extreme extent that I often wondered why Brie has a tough time getting him out of her system. His douchey attitude lasts a little too long for my taste. Brie is a smart girl, and her stubbornness helps her give as good as she gets, so sometimes I was irritated when her gullibility slips through. I must admit, though, that Erik is a walking advertisement for sex appeal, so he is hard to resist.
Learning about the discipline and hard work that is required of competitive gymnasts was interesting, and I relished the insider’s peak into the experiences of an Olympian. And while I appreciated the dedication and special hardships Brie endured on her path to the Olympics, I did find her bemoaning her mom’s sacrifices to be a tad repetitive.
I enjoyed the unpredictable dynamics between Brie and Erik and the simmering sexual tension. Their vehement disdain for each other, as well as their mutual attraction and Brie’s reluctant respect for Erik eventually meld into intense sexual chemistry and some seriously scorching scenes. I was also thoroughly entertained by Brie’s relationship with her diverse group of wacky teammates.
Out of Bounds is a fun and sexy treat that should delight readers looking for a satisfying sports romance fix.
Recommended for fans of:
Enemies to lovers stories
Sports romances
Gymnastics
The Olympics
Baking
**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**
August 17, 2016
I am a sucker for sports romance and I enjoyed a lot Brie and Erik scuffles and bickering. It has emotional and funny moments. The surprise is how much sexy it was! I didn't expect that. Maybe a little too long, and not exactly romantic, but R.S. Grey is one of my favorite author, for sure. It was different than she accustomed us, but 4,5 stars is my rating, which best reflects my feelings after that.
more soon
***
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
more soon
***
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
August 1, 2016
**2.5 Stars**
Let me start this off by saying that I LOVED Settling the Score, in fact I have liked/loved all of R.S. Grey's books. I was looking forward to this book ever since I finished Settling the Score and saw she was doing another in the series.
Unfortunately, I was really, really disappointed. To the point where I almost DNF, but out of respect for Ms. Grey (who is one of my favorite authors) I decided to push through it.
Brie is annoying, childish, and whiney. She's 20 years old and I swear I pictured a 16 year old every time she was "pining" for Erik. I was hoping for the strong, independent, funny h that R.S. Grey is known for writing. There is always something endearing about the h's in her book, even when they are having immature moments (because let's face it, we all have those.) This was not at all the case when it came to Brie. I wish I could pinpoint a moment where I felt she was being mature, but I can honestly say there wasn't. Every time she felt remotely jealous, she would do something childish, i.e. having her friends repeatedly interrupt his date, rub all up on another guy because he was TALKING to someone she THOUGHT he may have slept with, or furthermore thinking he slept with every. single. woman he came into contact with.
Not only was she childish, but she was also an extremely weak-willed person. Erik does these degrading things to her (i.e. the yoga studio) and yet she gives into him almost immediately. She has zero self respect and for that, I couldn't STAND her. I still can't figure out what Erik saw in her.
Erik was just as bad. There was nothing swooney about him. He didn't exude confidence, he didn't command respect, he didn't even scream alpha. All he screamed was Asshole. And not in the sexy way. He did nothing for me.
Their relationship was a joke to me. Brie is making declarations of love (in her head) before knowing anything about him. When she started thinking that way, I stopped for a minute and thought about all of the things she could possibly know about him. They were:
1) He was a former gymnast who quit before the Olympics
2) His grandfather was awesome
3) He owned a gym and coached gymnastics
4) He lives in Seattle.
5) He was great in bed
There is absolutely nothing of substance in that list. How could she have possibly fell in love with him when she knows nothing about him? I still feel like I know almost nothing about him and I finished the book!
I really hate to rant and rave about this book because, like I said, I love her books. I've read everything she's written and I will continue to read everything she writes, but I feel so slighted when it comes to this book. I'm clearly in the minority when it comes to my rating on this and that is one of the main reasons why I felt like I had to write a review. I couldn't just leave a 2 star rating without explaining myself. On to the next one Ms. Grey! I anxiously await your next book.
Let me start this off by saying that I LOVED Settling the Score, in fact I have liked/loved all of R.S. Grey's books. I was looking forward to this book ever since I finished Settling the Score and saw she was doing another in the series.
Unfortunately, I was really, really disappointed. To the point where I almost DNF, but out of respect for Ms. Grey (who is one of my favorite authors) I decided to push through it.
Brie is annoying, childish, and whiney. She's 20 years old and I swear I pictured a 16 year old every time she was "pining" for Erik. I was hoping for the strong, independent, funny h that R.S. Grey is known for writing. There is always something endearing about the h's in her book, even when they are having immature moments (because let's face it, we all have those.) This was not at all the case when it came to Brie. I wish I could pinpoint a moment where I felt she was being mature, but I can honestly say there wasn't. Every time she felt remotely jealous, she would do something childish, i.e. having her friends repeatedly interrupt his date, rub all up on another guy because he was TALKING to someone she THOUGHT he may have slept with, or furthermore thinking he slept with every. single. woman he came into contact with.
Not only was she childish, but she was also an extremely weak-willed person. Erik does these degrading things to her (i.e. the yoga studio) and yet she gives into him almost immediately. She has zero self respect and for that, I couldn't STAND her. I still can't figure out what Erik saw in her.
Erik was just as bad. There was nothing swooney about him. He didn't exude confidence, he didn't command respect, he didn't even scream alpha. All he screamed was Asshole. And not in the sexy way. He did nothing for me.
Their relationship was a joke to me. Brie is making declarations of love (in her head) before knowing anything about him. When she started thinking that way, I stopped for a minute and thought about all of the things she could possibly know about him. They were:
1) He was a former gymnast who quit before the Olympics
2) His grandfather was awesome
3) He owned a gym and coached gymnastics
4) He lives in Seattle.
5) He was great in bed
There is absolutely nothing of substance in that list. How could she have possibly fell in love with him when she knows nothing about him? I still feel like I know almost nothing about him and I finished the book!
I really hate to rant and rave about this book because, like I said, I love her books. I've read everything she's written and I will continue to read everything she writes, but I feel so slighted when it comes to this book. I'm clearly in the minority when it comes to my rating on this and that is one of the main reasons why I felt like I had to write a review. I couldn't just leave a 2 star rating without explaining myself. On to the next one Ms. Grey! I anxiously await your next book.
September 1, 2016
2.5 stars
I read this the day it came out, but I didn't rate it right away. I loved Scoring Wilder. I have liked all the books that I have read by this author in the past. That's why I was surprised that I didn't love this one.
I read Out of Bounds straight through, because the author has a great writing style. It was easy to get caught up in the story. I liked the female friendships in this book. The main characters, Brie and Erik, have great sexual tension. The problem is that Erik is a complete asshole. I love hate to love romances. I love the "bad boy" trope. This guy just had no redeeming qualities. His character doesn't develop over the course of the story. He is awful to Brie until the last little bit of the book.
There is a scene that takes place in this book that is more risqué than anything else R. S. Grey has written previously. I usually have no problem with that type of scene. It felt wrong here, for multiple reasons. One being Erik is such a dick to Brie afterwards. That is never explained. The whole thing was sprung on her last minute. She hadn't even been intimate with him yet. I could go on, but it made no sense to me. Then to have him be cruel to her afterward made it worse.
Brie seemed like an idiot to me, because she keeps going back to him for more. Why? I can't see any other reason than that he is hot. She is an Olympian. She could scrounge up another hot guy easily.
Their story never felt like love to me which made the ending feel unbelievable. There wasn't enough transition between him being cruel to her to wanting a future with her. The emotional connection didn't feel real enough. I wanted to love this, but I just disliked the characters too much.
I read this the day it came out, but I didn't rate it right away. I loved Scoring Wilder. I have liked all the books that I have read by this author in the past. That's why I was surprised that I didn't love this one.
I read Out of Bounds straight through, because the author has a great writing style. It was easy to get caught up in the story. I liked the female friendships in this book. The main characters, Brie and Erik, have great sexual tension. The problem is that Erik is a complete asshole. I love hate to love romances. I love the "bad boy" trope. This guy just had no redeeming qualities. His character doesn't develop over the course of the story. He is awful to Brie until the last little bit of the book.
There is a scene that takes place in this book that is more risqué than anything else R. S. Grey has written previously. I usually have no problem with that type of scene. It felt wrong here, for multiple reasons. One being Erik is such a dick to Brie afterwards. That is never explained. The whole thing was sprung on her last minute. She hadn't even been intimate with him yet. I could go on, but it made no sense to me. Then to have him be cruel to her afterward made it worse.
Brie seemed like an idiot to me, because she keeps going back to him for more. Why? I can't see any other reason than that he is hot. She is an Olympian. She could scrounge up another hot guy easily.
Their story never felt like love to me which made the ending feel unbelievable. There wasn't enough transition between him being cruel to her to wanting a future with her. The emotional connection didn't feel real enough. I wanted to love this, but I just disliked the characters too much.
August 20, 2016
Just a little introductory run down on a The Summer Games: Out of Bounds. It has slightly darker tomes with an enemies to lovers story line and a forbidden love/attraction between the characters. The sexual tension is off the charts, the banter, bickering and baiting (because I like alliterations) were fantastically written and a joy to read.
I'm having a hard time with Erik as a character. I wanted to love him the entire time, and I'm a huge fan of enemies to lovers stories. In Out of Bounds, my problem was that well yes, at times I loved him, at other times he went way too far. He became such an asshole, I questioned why I even liked him. I hated the back and forth and how I would doubt him every time an argument came between the characters. Was I going to like him this time? Would he go too far? Or would it be Brie? You never knew. One thing I loved though was his character development and practically everything he did and said in the last 30%. During this portion, he *almost* completely redeemed himself in my eyes. Not fully, but it was close, cause he was pretty damn awesome. He said the right things, did the right things, and was an overall awesome hero while doing it.
I really liked Brie. She was feisty but had a huge heart and was so cognizant of her actions and the effect on others. She was trying to make a better life for her family all while working her butt off doing what she loved. I can admire and appreciate this! Brie was a leader and was also incredibly humble. She stuck close to her roots and had good intentions for her actions. She's strong willed and knows both when and how to stand up for herself, all while not falling at a guy's feet just because of a few nice words.
In the moments that I liked Erik and didn't want to castrate him for being a major douchenozzle, these two had intense chemistry. I'm talking off the charts, burn your kitchen down chemistry. Throw in sexual tension by the pound and oh hot mama you've got something going here. And you can't forget how they bait each other! So. Much. Fun.
The secondary characters being the other gymnasts were such an exciting and dynamic group! The differences in personalities was fun and fresh while they all complimented each other differently to make a cohesive unit.
That's a really good question, and I'm sorry to say that I don't know the answer.
Being as this is one of the most major things talked about in Out of Bounds, I need to bring up 'the incident'. If you've read it, you know what I'm talking about. I'm not going to spoil it, but I'm going to give you my god forsaken 100% honest truth, both from a book structure standpoint and an emotional standpoint. No sugar coating. Starting with the emotional, while reading this scene, I'll admit, it was hot as hell. Sure I was confused, but it's still hot. Then when it ended, I resonated with and felt exactly like Brie did. I was a little disgusted and a hell of a lot confused. I felt used and ugly. I was beyond angry with Erik for not only doing that to her but putting her in that position in the first place when he knew exactly what was going to happen. Yes, she could've left. Yes, she could've said no. But Brie was in a vulnerable position and she trusted him, to which he then turned into ... this scene. Whatever you want to call it. Safe to say I'm not a fan. From a structure standpoint and discussing how it reads, it was too long. In general, the second half should've been cut out anyways, there was no need for this. It added absolutely nothing to the story, it hurt both the heroine AND the readers, and it's NEVER discussed again in the book. What the hell was the point of having it in there? This made me so angry. But even if the second half wasn't cut out, the scene was still --- you know what? No. Just cut it the eff out. The entire situation just left a bad taste in my mouth and now, even days later, when I think about this book, THAT is the first thing that pops in my head. Remembering this 'incident'. Pretty sure that's not the reaction that the author was going for... Harsh, sure, but my review = my opinions.
I love enemies to lovers, sexual tension and bickering like no other, so this is almost painful for me to say. I feel like half, or at least a quarter of the fighting in this book could have been cut out and the story would have benefitted. It was long. At times it was just back and forth, over and over without much progression in the story line. If one scene, two scenes, or even three scenes were either cut or condensed, it could've helped the story move along at a better pace and gotten the characters to where they needed to be without so much running around.
I was caught off guard by the twist and I freaking love that this happened! I loved every second of it. So often these days you can see a twist coming or guess what might happen in the climax of the novel. During the entire book, I thought I had it figured out. It seemed so simple, so easy that I wasn't terribly excited, but just kept waiting for that to happen. But then it didn't. The author takes us in a different direction that while it makes complete sense to the story, was not the direction I had assumed. This was fantastic! As a reader you're kept on your toes, wondering where the story might twist and turn and finally end up. How will Erik and Brie manage? Or will they? I'm a huge angst fan so let me tell you, I definitely enjoyed this.
I wasn't the biggest fan of the epilogue and part of the ending in this story. Based on the journey that these two went through and all of the passion and fiery attitudes they embodied, it felt tame. I though it was kind of cheesy and didn't really fit the rest of the novel. Cute, sure. It made sense and was a nice ending, but did it really fit these characters and their personalities? Maybe not. I would've loved to see something with a little more passion to end off this story.
This isn't an entirely light and fluffy story about two people falling in love. There are reservations, there are repulsions, there are rules that forbid them from being together and they're both too stubborn and hotheaded to even understand it at the beginning. There also some darker stuff going on. I noticed an almost heavier undertone throughout the entire book. Yes there were times of laughter and fun, but with what happened to Erik in the past to make him how he is in the present, it deepens every feeling you receive.
Here's a little secret about me. I love gymnastics. Whenever it was in TV, I'd watch. I would learn what I could online or stream big competitions that weren't televised in my country. I followed the careers of Aly Raisman, Jake Dalton and Jonathan Horton for years and years. So it's safe to say I have a basic, if not slightly above average understanding of the sport, the tricks, the terminology, etc. From what I could tell, the author was precise and exact in her words, descriptions, terminology and sequencing. This is incredible! But yet she does this in such a humble and understated writing style, it flows flawlessly. Who cares if a reader doesn't know anything about gymnastics or the tricks before hand? They'll still understand! RS Grey shows you her talent with her words, characters and story all speaking for themselves. She doesn't have to resort to forcing everything at the reader like some others. I know the Olympic books are a big topic right now, and this isn't even the only one about gymnastics, but this story blows the others out of the water. It's like trying to compare an arabian double front to a round off. Both have to have similar abilities and be practiced, but one is not only more complicated and more delicate, but a lot more impressive as well.
Whether you like the Olympics or not, give this book a shot. It's a nice summery read that will not only make you chuckle but confuse the hell out of you and have you questioning whether in that moment you like, or hate each character. It's confusing, yes, but worth it! I had some negative thoughts to discuss here but as a whole, I did enjoy this story.
*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.
JOIN THE SISTERHOOD! FIND US ON: FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM / TWITTER / WEBSITE
I'm having a hard time with Erik as a character. I wanted to love him the entire time, and I'm a huge fan of enemies to lovers stories. In Out of Bounds, my problem was that well yes, at times I loved him, at other times he went way too far. He became such an asshole, I questioned why I even liked him. I hated the back and forth and how I would doubt him every time an argument came between the characters. Was I going to like him this time? Would he go too far? Or would it be Brie? You never knew. One thing I loved though was his character development and practically everything he did and said in the last 30%. During this portion, he *almost* completely redeemed himself in my eyes. Not fully, but it was close, cause he was pretty damn awesome. He said the right things, did the right things, and was an overall awesome hero while doing it.
"He wanted to rip my heart out for sport, to add it to his collection with all the others. I should have fought him more, but I liked it. I liked the way he ruined me."
I really liked Brie. She was feisty but had a huge heart and was so cognizant of her actions and the effect on others. She was trying to make a better life for her family all while working her butt off doing what she loved. I can admire and appreciate this! Brie was a leader and was also incredibly humble. She stuck close to her roots and had good intentions for her actions. She's strong willed and knows both when and how to stand up for herself, all while not falling at a guy's feet just because of a few nice words.
In the moments that I liked Erik and didn't want to castrate him for being a major douchenozzle, these two had intense chemistry. I'm talking off the charts, burn your kitchen down chemistry. Throw in sexual tension by the pound and oh hot mama you've got something going here. And you can't forget how they bait each other! So. Much. Fun.
The secondary characters being the other gymnasts were such an exciting and dynamic group! The differences in personalities was fun and fresh while they all complimented each other differently to make a cohesive unit.
"WHY DIDN’T OLYMPIC condos come with ovens?"
That's a really good question, and I'm sorry to say that I don't know the answer.
Being as this is one of the most major things talked about in Out of Bounds, I need to bring up 'the incident'. If you've read it, you know what I'm talking about. I'm not going to spoil it, but I'm going to give you my god forsaken 100% honest truth, both from a book structure standpoint and an emotional standpoint. No sugar coating. Starting with the emotional, while reading this scene, I'll admit, it was hot as hell. Sure I was confused, but it's still hot. Then when it ended, I resonated with and felt exactly like Brie did. I was a little disgusted and a hell of a lot confused. I felt used and ugly. I was beyond angry with Erik for not only doing that to her but putting her in that position in the first place when he knew exactly what was going to happen. Yes, she could've left. Yes, she could've said no. But Brie was in a vulnerable position and she trusted him, to which he then turned into ... this scene. Whatever you want to call it. Safe to say I'm not a fan. From a structure standpoint and discussing how it reads, it was too long. In general, the second half should've been cut out anyways, there was no need for this. It added absolutely nothing to the story, it hurt both the heroine AND the readers, and it's NEVER discussed again in the book. What the hell was the point of having it in there? This made me so angry. But even if the second half wasn't cut out, the scene was still --- you know what? No. Just cut it the eff out. The entire situation just left a bad taste in my mouth and now, even days later, when I think about this book, THAT is the first thing that pops in my head. Remembering this 'incident'. Pretty sure that's not the reaction that the author was going for... Harsh, sure, but my review = my opinions.
"I’d been intoxicated in the moment, dancing for the devil himself, and now that it was over, I felt nothing but burned."
I love enemies to lovers, sexual tension and bickering like no other, so this is almost painful for me to say. I feel like half, or at least a quarter of the fighting in this book could have been cut out and the story would have benefitted. It was long. At times it was just back and forth, over and over without much progression in the story line. If one scene, two scenes, or even three scenes were either cut or condensed, it could've helped the story move along at a better pace and gotten the characters to where they needed to be without so much running around.
"He and I weren’t supposed to fall in love. We’d been at war, fighting and pushing each other because it was a fun distraction, because I liked to get a reaction out of him, and because I just couldn’t help myself. It was the most shocking kind of love I’d ever experienced, the sort that hid itself behind the other edge of the blade—hate. I’d focused so much of my energy on hating Erik that when love appeared out of nowhere, it stole my breath."
I was caught off guard by the twist and I freaking love that this happened! I loved every second of it. So often these days you can see a twist coming or guess what might happen in the climax of the novel. During the entire book, I thought I had it figured out. It seemed so simple, so easy that I wasn't terribly excited, but just kept waiting for that to happen. But then it didn't. The author takes us in a different direction that while it makes complete sense to the story, was not the direction I had assumed. This was fantastic! As a reader you're kept on your toes, wondering where the story might twist and turn and finally end up. How will Erik and Brie manage? Or will they? I'm a huge angst fan so let me tell you, I definitely enjoyed this.
I wasn't the biggest fan of the epilogue and part of the ending in this story. Based on the journey that these two went through and all of the passion and fiery attitudes they embodied, it felt tame. I though it was kind of cheesy and didn't really fit the rest of the novel. Cute, sure. It made sense and was a nice ending, but did it really fit these characters and their personalities? Maybe not. I would've loved to see something with a little more passion to end off this story.
This isn't an entirely light and fluffy story about two people falling in love. There are reservations, there are repulsions, there are rules that forbid them from being together and they're both too stubborn and hotheaded to even understand it at the beginning. There also some darker stuff going on. I noticed an almost heavier undertone throughout the entire book. Yes there were times of laughter and fun, but with what happened to Erik in the past to make him how he is in the present, it deepens every feeling you receive.
"While it hurt to fall, it was agonizing to be dropped."
Here's a little secret about me. I love gymnastics. Whenever it was in TV, I'd watch. I would learn what I could online or stream big competitions that weren't televised in my country. I followed the careers of Aly Raisman, Jake Dalton and Jonathan Horton for years and years. So it's safe to say I have a basic, if not slightly above average understanding of the sport, the tricks, the terminology, etc. From what I could tell, the author was precise and exact in her words, descriptions, terminology and sequencing. This is incredible! But yet she does this in such a humble and understated writing style, it flows flawlessly. Who cares if a reader doesn't know anything about gymnastics or the tricks before hand? They'll still understand! RS Grey shows you her talent with her words, characters and story all speaking for themselves. She doesn't have to resort to forcing everything at the reader like some others. I know the Olympic books are a big topic right now, and this isn't even the only one about gymnastics, but this story blows the others out of the water. It's like trying to compare an arabian double front to a round off. Both have to have similar abilities and be practiced, but one is not only more complicated and more delicate, but a lot more impressive as well.
"Gymnastics is the sport with a strong marriage between body and mind. Your body hesitates in fear and cries out in pain while your mind wills it to push beyond what should be possible. The only thing separating good gymnasts from great gymnasts is the ability to overcome that fear."
Whether you like the Olympics or not, give this book a shot. It's a nice summery read that will not only make you chuckle but confuse the hell out of you and have you questioning whether in that moment you like, or hate each character. It's confusing, yes, but worth it! I had some negative thoughts to discuss here but as a whole, I did enjoy this story.
*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.
JOIN THE SISTERHOOD! FIND US ON: FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM / TWITTER / WEBSITE
August 2, 2016
R.S. Grey pens another intense, explosively hot and impossible to put down sports romance about an underdog gymnast and her stern and sexy coach.
After winning three consecutive World gymnastic championships, Brie Watson is slated to become the next Olympic gold medalist. Something she desperately wants, not just because she has tirelessly dedicated almost her entire life to gymnastics, but because she wants to be able to give back to her mother, the woman who had selflessly sacrificed so much to get her there.
To do so however she must survive the next month of training, and the Olympics themself under the hash and watchful eye of the newly appointed head coach.
Erik Winter needs to prove to himself, the critics and his country that he can lead his team of elite gymnasts to top. Luckily he has an incredible team. Unfortunately his most talented athlete respects no boundaries, isn’t intimidated by him, pushes all buttons and has taken permanent residence under his skin.
Can these two put a ceasefire long enough to win gold? Or will their constant warring stoke the fire to also win over their hearts?
After falling in love with Scoring Wilder, I’ve made it a point not to miss R.S. Grey’s books. Her writing always feels fresh with a smooth flow, endearing characters, and new and different stories that captivate from start to finish. Out of Bounds delivers on all counts. I highlighted about half the book, entire sections at a time that gave me all kinds of feels.
Brie is incredible. Her background story brought tears to my eyes and fiercely made me wanted her to win. She’s strong, determined, persistent, headstrong a spitfire. In short, someone who deserves to be on top of a medal stand and the perfect match for Erik Winter.
Erik on the other had was a tough sell for me. He had almost a decade’s worth of age and experience on Brie not to mention the fact that he was her coach (kind of a forbidden romance). He’s challenging, domineering and terse. I understood why he tried to deny his attraction to Brie and wanted to keep their relationship strictly coach-athlete. Yet his emotions and actions tilted like a seesaw and when he was a downslide he tended to be truly mean and uncaring towards Brie’s feelings, which made it difficult for me to connect with their budding romance. In all honesty, the blurb does say Brie wouldn’t wish him on her worst enemy, so I can’t say I wasn’t warned, but I would have liked for him to beg, suffer and squirm a bit more.
Of course their constant battles and push-pull made their relationship that much more intense and combustible. They were like matches and gasoline with sizzling chemistry.
I loved his grand gesture and they do eventually find their balance which made for a very happy and fitting ending. Although just one epilogue? Really? R.S. Grey has spoiled me!
I also loved the camaraderie between the girls in team USA gymnastics. They were charming with very different personalities which gave an added layer and contributed fun and sweetness to the story as a whole.
Out of Bounds is book #2 in the Summer Games series by R.S. Grey. It’s a standalone, contemporary sports romance told from both points of view with a happy ending.
4.5 stars
Author's pinterest board -> https://es.pinterest.com/RSGrey/the-s...
* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author. The excerpts are from that copy. *
More reviews * Stalk us on FaceBook * As well as Twitter * Pinterest Board for Book Teasers
“I liked the little game we were playing and I’d die before I let him see me falter.”
After winning three consecutive World gymnastic championships, Brie Watson is slated to become the next Olympic gold medalist. Something she desperately wants, not just because she has tirelessly dedicated almost her entire life to gymnastics, but because she wants to be able to give back to her mother, the woman who had selflessly sacrificed so much to get her there.
To do so however she must survive the next month of training, and the Olympics themself under the hash and watchful eye of the newly appointed head coach.
Erik Winter needs to prove to himself, the critics and his country that he can lead his team of elite gymnasts to top. Luckily he has an incredible team. Unfortunately his most talented athlete respects no boundaries, isn’t intimidated by him, pushes all buttons and has taken permanent residence under his skin.
Can these two put a ceasefire long enough to win gold? Or will their constant warring stoke the fire to also win over their hearts?
"I was playing with fire-no, I wasn't just playing with fire; I was rolling in it. I was so confident I wouldn’t gt burned, I didn’t realize how deep into the flames I’d fallen."
After falling in love with Scoring Wilder, I’ve made it a point not to miss R.S. Grey’s books. Her writing always feels fresh with a smooth flow, endearing characters, and new and different stories that captivate from start to finish. Out of Bounds delivers on all counts. I highlighted about half the book, entire sections at a time that gave me all kinds of feels.
Brie is incredible. Her background story brought tears to my eyes and fiercely made me wanted her to win. She’s strong, determined, persistent, headstrong a spitfire. In short, someone who deserves to be on top of a medal stand and the perfect match for Erik Winter.
Erik on the other had was a tough sell for me. He had almost a decade’s worth of age and experience on Brie not to mention the fact that he was her coach (kind of a forbidden romance). He’s challenging, domineering and terse. I understood why he tried to deny his attraction to Brie and wanted to keep their relationship strictly coach-athlete. Yet his emotions and actions tilted like a seesaw and when he was a downslide he tended to be truly mean and uncaring towards Brie’s feelings, which made it difficult for me to connect with their budding romance. In all honesty, the blurb does say Brie wouldn’t wish him on her worst enemy, so I can’t say I wasn’t warned, but I would have liked for him to beg, suffer and squirm a bit more.
"You aren't special, Brie, so stop acting like it." His words had the same effect as a knife to my heart.
Of course their constant battles and push-pull made their relationship that much more intense and combustible. They were like matches and gasoline with sizzling chemistry.
“He was a sweet poison and I was so addicted, I didn't care that our encounters left me choking for air.”
I loved his grand gesture and they do eventually find their balance which made for a very happy and fitting ending. Although just one epilogue? Really? R.S. Grey has spoiled me!
"I don't know what the future will hold for us, but I'm asking you to trust me, to trust that I won't take your love lightly.”
I also loved the camaraderie between the girls in team USA gymnastics. They were charming with very different personalities which gave an added layer and contributed fun and sweetness to the story as a whole.
Out of Bounds is book #2 in the Summer Games series by R.S. Grey. It’s a standalone, contemporary sports romance told from both points of view with a happy ending.
4.5 stars
Author's pinterest board -> https://es.pinterest.com/RSGrey/the-s...
* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author. The excerpts are from that copy. *
More reviews * Stalk us on FaceBook * As well as Twitter * Pinterest Board for Book Teasers
August 3, 2016
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review
A sizzling sexy sports romance that is bound to have readers begging and craving for more!!! R. S. Grey has truly elevated her writing game as she has written one of the most sexiest, steamy sports romance that I have read. Who knew stepping out of bounds can lead to love? Well Rachel definitely did as she has written one of my favorite summer reads of 2016 and possibly my favorite book hero.
If you are like me and are a big fan of enemies to lovers trope then you are in luck because Out of Bounds has that and so much more. With the 2016 Summer Olympics approaching, what better way to kick off the summer games than a hot, sexy romance between a coach and his student.
“From the first day I’d met Erik, we’d been at war. If we weren’t throwing knives, we were falling into each other’s arms.”
Brie Watson has only thing on her mind. To win gold. Nothing will stop Brie from pursuing that dream. Why gold? Well, as every Olympian strives to win gold for their country and to prove that they are the best in the world. Winning the gold medal is so much more than that for Brie. To win gold means more endorsements, sponsorship, and money that she wants to win in order to repay all the sacrifices that her mother did in order for Brie to get this opportunity to pursue her career in gymnastics. And nothing will stop Brie that is until she is informed that the team will have a new coach.
“She wanted to be someone’s voice when they were beaten down, lost, forgotten—but now it was my turn to stand up for her. She deserved a better life and I wouldn’t let myself rest until I gave it to her.”
Erik Winter is a former gymnast whose career ended earlier from an accident. And right off the initial meeting with Brie, the sexual tension in the air was strong. The push and pull and back and forth banter between Erik and Brie could be felt and it was only a matter of time till the lines were crossed. Will Brie and Erik discover that stepping out of bounds has it’s consequences? Or will Brie discover that she might be winning more than gold?
“He was a sweet poison and I was so addicted, I didn’t care that our encounters left me choking for air.”
Rachel Grey is one of those authors who deserves to be on the spotlight and so I will take this opportunity to praise her for her flawless, smart, and magnetic prose. Rachel, I think it’s time for your moment to stand on the pedestal and here’s why. This book is by far one of the BEST SUMMER SPORTS ROMANCE THAT I HAVE READ. Out of Bounds had passion, lust, perseverance, dreams, sacrifices, and loved integrated into a story line where raw emotions were running rampant. The push/pull and hate/love was the driving force that catapulted this story onto a whole new level as readers got to see Erik and Brie in a whole new light. So if you are looking for a book that had heat, steam, passion, and sexual tension then I would highly recommend that you read Out of Bounds as R.S. Grey has executed the perfect landing as she delivers an unforgettable summer romance.
Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...R.S. Grey
A sizzling sexy sports romance that is bound to have readers begging and craving for more!!! R. S. Grey has truly elevated her writing game as she has written one of the most sexiest, steamy sports romance that I have read. Who knew stepping out of bounds can lead to love? Well Rachel definitely did as she has written one of my favorite summer reads of 2016 and possibly my favorite book hero.
If you are like me and are a big fan of enemies to lovers trope then you are in luck because Out of Bounds has that and so much more. With the 2016 Summer Olympics approaching, what better way to kick off the summer games than a hot, sexy romance between a coach and his student.
Brie Watson has only thing on her mind. To win gold. Nothing will stop Brie from pursuing that dream. Why gold? Well, as every Olympian strives to win gold for their country and to prove that they are the best in the world. Winning the gold medal is so much more than that for Brie. To win gold means more endorsements, sponsorship, and money that she wants to win in order to repay all the sacrifices that her mother did in order for Brie to get this opportunity to pursue her career in gymnastics. And nothing will stop Brie that is until she is informed that the team will have a new coach.
Erik Winter is a former gymnast whose career ended earlier from an accident. And right off the initial meeting with Brie, the sexual tension in the air was strong. The push and pull and back and forth banter between Erik and Brie could be felt and it was only a matter of time till the lines were crossed. Will Brie and Erik discover that stepping out of bounds has it’s consequences? Or will Brie discover that she might be winning more than gold?
Rachel Grey is one of those authors who deserves to be on the spotlight and so I will take this opportunity to praise her for her flawless, smart, and magnetic prose. Rachel, I think it’s time for your moment to stand on the pedestal and here’s why. This book is by far one of the BEST SUMMER SPORTS ROMANCE THAT I HAVE READ. Out of Bounds had passion, lust, perseverance, dreams, sacrifices, and loved integrated into a story line where raw emotions were running rampant. The push/pull and hate/love was the driving force that catapulted this story onto a whole new level as readers got to see Erik and Brie in a whole new light. So if you are looking for a book that had heat, steam, passion, and sexual tension then I would highly recommend that you read Out of Bounds as R.S. Grey has executed the perfect landing as she delivers an unforgettable summer romance.
Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...R.S. Grey
August 10, 2016
Out of Bounds (The Summer Games, #2) by R.S. Grey
Overall rating: 2/5 stars – DNF at 50%... Here’s why…
Genre: Contemporary/Romance/New Adult/Sports
Type: Books 2 of 2 – Can be read as a standalone, The Summer Games series
POV: First person - dual POVs - Erik and Brie
Release date: August 1st, 2016
Overall thoughts:
This is a bit of a rant, so I apologize in advance. I'm just trying to be as honest as possible...
Ok, here’s the thing. I was really enjoying this book, up until THAT scene. If you’ve read the book I’m sure you know which one, but just to refresh your memory, I’m talking about the yoga scene. Perhaps I’m just being uptight, perhaps I’m just saying it like it is, but that scene shouldn’t have been in the book.
Hear me out.
I read romance novels - or books in general, as a matter of fact - because I’m interested in the story they have to offer, and the characters they bring to life. I don’t read romance for the smut. If I wanted to read smut, I’d just read any book by Alexa Riley – no offense, many people love her books – but her books are about 90% sex, and 10% story. But smut is not why I read romance. In my opinion, a sex scene needs to serve a purpose. Whether it’s character development or emotional conflict, if it adds to the overall story, it’s a good sex scene in my opinion. Do they have to be sexy? Yes, sure, that’s the added bonus, but it’s not the main purpose. Or, at least, I don’t think it should be. A happy mix of everything, that’s what it should be.
So, whether a book contains 0 or 100 sex scenes matters very little to me, as long as it fits with the overall story. As long as it feels like it’s right for the story. If it feels like a sex scene was added to the story just because there wasn’t one in the last 3 chapters and the author thought it was about time they have sex again, fine, that’s the author’s decision to make, but as a reader – and a reviewer – I start enjoying the story less, and less, with each passing sex scene of the sort.
Everything I just said is even truer when you add kinks or anything “out of the norm” into the mix; like threesomes, BDSM elements, etc. It’s exciting, it’s different – sure, but it needs to fit the characters’ personalities that are taking part in such activities.
So, you can imagine that as I was reading this book, that particular yoga scene really bugged me. Up until that point in the story, the hero and the heroine hadn’t had sex, and they had barely done anything more than him having his fingers inside her. Never, before then, had any of them showed any signs of being “into” that sort of thing. Never. And then BAM! Suddenly, they’re having some kind of threesome with the yoga instructor – note, I’m saying “some kind” because I’m not exactly sure one would call that “having sex” but the girl was certainly having “fun” with the guy and the yoga instructor… The girl, Brie is her name, never even let on that she was remotely into that kind of thing. If anything, she was almost shy with Erik, the guy. Perhaps, shy isn’t the right word… but she was taking her time with him – and he with her - if you know what I mean.
So the fact that all of a sudden – remember they never had sex together, and the girl barely had sex in her life – she has a – female – yoga instructor that she doesn’t know, right up her pants, and the guy tending to her breasts at the same time, and experiencing – oh so surprisingly – the most intense orgasm of her life left me kind of... disappointed? Frustrated? Annoyed? Or at the very least confused. Very confused. That scene was so out of character for both characters and didn’t fit with the story whatsoever.
I don't know if it was meant to be like an "OMG! How shocking!" plot-twist, but for me, it was more of a "What the hell?! This is so fucking random and out of place" plot-twist... In other words, not a good plot-twist.
Also, I can't help be feel like Brie was almost - I say almost because it wasn't 100% clear, all of it was quite weird - forced into the threesome with Erik and the yoga intructor, and that's something else that really made me uncomfortable with that whole scene...
It really bugged me, so much so, that I’ve lost interest in this story… So it’s a DNF for me.
I should probably also mention that I had many issues with Brie. She was supposed to be a 20 years old woman, but acted like a twelve years old teenager, which made me a bit uncomfortable in some parts, knowing Erik was 29, and more or less acted like a 29 years old man. I know she's 20, but she acted like a girl - an annoying girl with very little self-respect at that - so the age gap seemed a lot bigger between them...
Final thoughts:
Anyway, I’m not sure any of this made much sense, all I was trying to say was that the yoga scene is what made me DNF this book. I don’t know if I’m the only one who felt that way about the scene… maybe no one else felt that way about it, who knows… One thing is sure, I’m just not curious enough to read the rest of the book…
With that being said, it's not the last book by R.S. Grey I'll ever read. I've read Scoring Wilder a few years ago and remember liking it, so I'll definitely try out her other books.
In short,
Story: 3/5 stars – Still enjoyed the story before THAT scene, it was going great and then well…you know…
Writing: 3/5 stars – Nothing utterly special or beautiful in the writing, it was quite average.
Characters: 1/5 stars – And this is where I’m taking points off for THAT scene, because it was, again, out of character.
Sexiness: 3/5 – I liked the sexual tension between the two characters.
Cover: 2.5/5 stars – It’s alright, I mean, there’s obviously nothing overly special about it. Not my favorite cover out there. I don’t like it when there are real life people on the cover.
Overall: 2/5 stars – it’s a DNF for me.
Note: This isn't really a review. It's just me trying to explain how I felt about that scene and why I think it shouldn't have been in the book.
Overall rating: 2/5 stars – DNF at 50%... Here’s why…
Genre: Contemporary/Romance/New Adult/Sports
Type: Books 2 of 2 – Can be read as a standalone, The Summer Games series
POV: First person - dual POVs - Erik and Brie
Release date: August 1st, 2016
Overall thoughts:
This is a bit of a rant, so I apologize in advance. I'm just trying to be as honest as possible...
Ok, here’s the thing. I was really enjoying this book, up until THAT scene. If you’ve read the book I’m sure you know which one, but just to refresh your memory, I’m talking about the yoga scene. Perhaps I’m just being uptight, perhaps I’m just saying it like it is, but that scene shouldn’t have been in the book.
Hear me out.
I read romance novels - or books in general, as a matter of fact - because I’m interested in the story they have to offer, and the characters they bring to life. I don’t read romance for the smut. If I wanted to read smut, I’d just read any book by Alexa Riley – no offense, many people love her books – but her books are about 90% sex, and 10% story. But smut is not why I read romance. In my opinion, a sex scene needs to serve a purpose. Whether it’s character development or emotional conflict, if it adds to the overall story, it’s a good sex scene in my opinion. Do they have to be sexy? Yes, sure, that’s the added bonus, but it’s not the main purpose. Or, at least, I don’t think it should be. A happy mix of everything, that’s what it should be.
So, whether a book contains 0 or 100 sex scenes matters very little to me, as long as it fits with the overall story. As long as it feels like it’s right for the story. If it feels like a sex scene was added to the story just because there wasn’t one in the last 3 chapters and the author thought it was about time they have sex again, fine, that’s the author’s decision to make, but as a reader – and a reviewer – I start enjoying the story less, and less, with each passing sex scene of the sort.
Everything I just said is even truer when you add kinks or anything “out of the norm” into the mix; like threesomes, BDSM elements, etc. It’s exciting, it’s different – sure, but it needs to fit the characters’ personalities that are taking part in such activities.
So, you can imagine that as I was reading this book, that particular yoga scene really bugged me. Up until that point in the story, the hero and the heroine hadn’t had sex, and they had barely done anything more than him having his fingers inside her. Never, before then, had any of them showed any signs of being “into” that sort of thing. Never. And then BAM! Suddenly, they’re having some kind of threesome with the yoga instructor – note, I’m saying “some kind” because I’m not exactly sure one would call that “having sex” but the girl was certainly having “fun” with the guy and the yoga instructor… The girl, Brie is her name, never even let on that she was remotely into that kind of thing. If anything, she was almost shy with Erik, the guy. Perhaps, shy isn’t the right word… but she was taking her time with him – and he with her - if you know what I mean.
So the fact that all of a sudden – remember they never had sex together, and the girl barely had sex in her life – she has a – female – yoga instructor that she doesn’t know, right up her pants, and the guy tending to her breasts at the same time, and experiencing – oh so surprisingly – the most intense orgasm of her life left me kind of... disappointed? Frustrated? Annoyed? Or at the very least confused. Very confused. That scene was so out of character for both characters and didn’t fit with the story whatsoever.
I don't know if it was meant to be like an "OMG! How shocking!" plot-twist, but for me, it was more of a "What the hell?! This is so fucking random and out of place" plot-twist... In other words, not a good plot-twist.
Also, I can't help be feel like Brie was almost - I say almost because it wasn't 100% clear, all of it was quite weird - forced into the threesome with Erik and the yoga intructor, and that's something else that really made me uncomfortable with that whole scene...
It really bugged me, so much so, that I’ve lost interest in this story… So it’s a DNF for me.
I should probably also mention that I had many issues with Brie. She was supposed to be a 20 years old woman, but acted like a twelve years old teenager, which made me a bit uncomfortable in some parts, knowing Erik was 29, and more or less acted like a 29 years old man. I know she's 20, but she acted like a girl - an annoying girl with very little self-respect at that - so the age gap seemed a lot bigger between them...
Final thoughts:
Anyway, I’m not sure any of this made much sense, all I was trying to say was that the yoga scene is what made me DNF this book. I don’t know if I’m the only one who felt that way about the scene… maybe no one else felt that way about it, who knows… One thing is sure, I’m just not curious enough to read the rest of the book…
With that being said, it's not the last book by R.S. Grey I'll ever read. I've read Scoring Wilder a few years ago and remember liking it, so I'll definitely try out her other books.
In short,
Story: 3/5 stars – Still enjoyed the story before THAT scene, it was going great and then well…you know…
Writing: 3/5 stars – Nothing utterly special or beautiful in the writing, it was quite average.
Characters: 1/5 stars – And this is where I’m taking points off for THAT scene, because it was, again, out of character.
Sexiness: 3/5 – I liked the sexual tension between the two characters.
Cover: 2.5/5 stars – It’s alright, I mean, there’s obviously nothing overly special about it. Not my favorite cover out there. I don’t like it when there are real life people on the cover.
Overall: 2/5 stars – it’s a DNF for me.
Note: This isn't really a review. It's just me trying to explain how I felt about that scene and why I think it shouldn't have been in the book.
August 16, 2016
“He wanted me, he didn’t want me. He used me, he tossed me aside. I couldn’t keep dedicating hours of my life to dissecting his every move. It was exhausting, toxic.”
¿Qué fue de la R.S. Grey que escribió Scoring Wilder y With This Heart? ¿Qué le pasó?
Esto no es un romance, es una historia erótica al nivel de Fifty Shades of Grey. Y no digo eso como un halago (no creo que nunca nadie jamás haya dicho eso como un halago).
Cuando comencé a leer Out of Bounds estaba segura de que el libro se llevaría mínimo tres estrellas. Era divertida, adictiva y sexy en un los-protas-no-paran-de-discutir-ni-un segundo kind of way. Luego siguieron discutiendo.
Y discutiendo.
Y discutiendo.
Sube el tono de los insultos, de los ataques. Y deja de ser divertido.
La relación se vuelve tóxica, enfermiza. Erik humilla a Brie, se aprovecha de su papel de entrenador, de su autoridad sobre ella.
“Do you dream about spreading those legs for me? For your coach?”
Hay una escena en particular que me pareció perturbadora, y que conste que no tengo nada en contra de la erótica, pero todo se siente tan impuesto que es incómodo de leer. Erik decide que Brie necesita tomar clases de yoga como parte de su entrenamiento de gimnasia, así que la acompaña a la clase. Cuando están allí Erik comienza a tocarla y a desvestirla, la instructora entra al salón y ¿qué hace Erik? ¡La alienta a practicarle sexo oral a Brie! Cuando todo termina, Brie se siente apenada, no estaba preparada para eso: The excitement I’d felt only minutes before had morphed into something dark and ugly.
Así que confronta a Erik, y él ¡LA INSULTA!
“I’m not your plaything. I’m a real person with real feelings and real desires.”
“No, Brie. You’re a little doll. You’re so easy to control. If I pushed you back on this seat right now, you’d spread your legs for me.”
I shook my head “No. I would never let you do that.”
He laughed and the sound nearly tore my heart in two. “You already have.”
Pero lo peor, lo más feo es que: Brie lo perdona, lo busca y lo alienta.
Después de eso las cosas solo empeoran: las peleas continúan; los personajes jamás evolucionan; las escenas de sexo nunca revelan ningún tipo de afecto real, de intimidad, solo lujuria. ¿Y se supone que esto sea un romance?
Mal, mal, mal. TODO MAL.
August 3, 2016
2.5 Stars
This story started out so well. I was engrossed in the story and the characters. The plot was familiar, enemies to lovers, but that didn't discourage me from reading it. I love some fighting and making up. The sexy and naughty way. I was really enjoying Brie and Erik's bantering and fighting. The tension and lust between them was off the charts and so palpable that even my Kindle felt hot at times. I was so into the story.
But then I slowly started to feel irritated and disconnected with Brie and Erik. Brie was a twenty year old woman and yet she behaved like a teenager. Erik's hot and cold act was starting to turn me off and frustrated. At one point I felt like that was all these two were doing. Fighting and lusting for one another. Yes, the sex was fabulous and I could easily feel their want and lust for one another but I needed more from Erik and Brie. When I finally got Erik's story it was too late. His douche bag behavior went on for too long and when his story was disclosed it didn't matter to me. Also when both of them finally realized they were in love it felt flat and very fast.
The book was so long that I ended up skimming the last twenty percent.
This was just one of those cases where it didn't work for me but don't let that discourage you from reading it. I would still recommend it. The writing was fabulous and the pace flowed. I would definitely read another book from this talented author.
2.5 BadAssDirtyCoachStars
This story started out so well. I was engrossed in the story and the characters. The plot was familiar, enemies to lovers, but that didn't discourage me from reading it. I love some fighting and making up. The sexy and naughty way. I was really enjoying Brie and Erik's bantering and fighting. The tension and lust between them was off the charts and so palpable that even my Kindle felt hot at times. I was so into the story.
But then I slowly started to feel irritated and disconnected with Brie and Erik. Brie was a twenty year old woman and yet she behaved like a teenager. Erik's hot and cold act was starting to turn me off and frustrated. At one point I felt like that was all these two were doing. Fighting and lusting for one another. Yes, the sex was fabulous and I could easily feel their want and lust for one another but I needed more from Erik and Brie. When I finally got Erik's story it was too late. His douche bag behavior went on for too long and when his story was disclosed it didn't matter to me. Also when both of them finally realized they were in love it felt flat and very fast.
The book was so long that I ended up skimming the last twenty percent.
This was just one of those cases where it didn't work for me but don't let that discourage you from reading it. I would still recommend it. The writing was fabulous and the pace flowed. I would definitely read another book from this talented author.
2.5 BadAssDirtyCoachStars
August 28, 2016
Going along fine then BAM! Weird ass yoga scene? NOPE! NO! NUH UH! DNF after yoga scene. Asked for money back.
August 1, 2016
5 "I WAS IN LOVE WITH THE ENEMY" STARS.
Funny, sexy & light. Those are the words that come to my mind every time I’m about to read a R.S. Grey’s book. So when I dived into Out Of Bounds I was not expecting what I got. This book was so much MORE. It was charged–electric –and I dare to say that it’s the hottest book R.S. Grey’s ever written so far (At least from the ones I have read). It’s one of those books that once you start it, you won’t want it to end.
“…he was the coach, I was the gymnast.”
An enemies-to-lovers sport romance.
Brie Watson is the Cinderella of the Olympics. Being the daughter of a single mother hasn't been easy for her. She is determine to win and give her mother what she deserves for helping Brie lives her dream.
Erik Winter. ERIK FUCKING WINTER. Sorry I got excited. This man is a sexy hard ass coach that is used to get respect from his trainees. That is until she met Brie Watson and all hell breaks loose.
“She wanted to be felt and I was too selfish to leave her hanging.”
Coach & gymnast are enemies. Round after round you can feel how what they feel for each other consume them. R.S. turns up the steam in this book, leaving us with some of the steamiest scenes I have read up to this point.
Gawd! The chemistry between these two was explosive. I got goosebumps all over me every time they were together. The fightings, the teasing, the banter, every fucking thing between them was on fire. And I love every single minute of it.
I would not change a thing about this book. Maybe at some point you could think that Brie is a little immature or that Erik is a dickhead but THAT is what make the book amazing. Because even though you wanted to slap them you wouldn’t have it other way.
I rooted for them since the beginning. At any moment I thought they wouldn't be a good couple. for me, they were a match made in heaven.
I could keep babbling about Erik & Brie but I have to stop it and say that besides the main couple, I also love the glimpses of the gymnastic world. The training, the team; I love those girls. *Here is when I beg the author for the girls to get their own book, even June’s*. I could tell Grey passion for this sport in her writing; the detail descriptions of the routines and the equipment. If you didn't love gymnastics, you would love it after reading this book.
The Summer Games: Out of Bounds, is a mind blowing and consuming story that unlike the first Summer Games novel has a darker feeling to it. And I LOVED IT.
Ok I could keep talking about this book for hours but I don't want to give you an spoiler so I will end this review by telling you: READ THE DAMN BOOK and that I will never think of yoga the same way ever again.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
Funny, sexy & light. Those are the words that come to my mind every time I’m about to read a R.S. Grey’s book. So when I dived into Out Of Bounds I was not expecting what I got. This book was so much MORE. It was charged–electric –and I dare to say that it’s the hottest book R.S. Grey’s ever written so far (At least from the ones I have read). It’s one of those books that once you start it, you won’t want it to end.
“…he was the coach, I was the gymnast.”
An enemies-to-lovers sport romance.
Brie Watson is the Cinderella of the Olympics. Being the daughter of a single mother hasn't been easy for her. She is determine to win and give her mother what she deserves for helping Brie lives her dream.
Erik Winter. ERIK FUCKING WINTER. Sorry I got excited. This man is a sexy hard ass coach that is used to get respect from his trainees. That is until she met Brie Watson and all hell breaks loose.
“She wanted to be felt and I was too selfish to leave her hanging.”
Coach & gymnast are enemies. Round after round you can feel how what they feel for each other consume them. R.S. turns up the steam in this book, leaving us with some of the steamiest scenes I have read up to this point.
Gawd! The chemistry between these two was explosive. I got goosebumps all over me every time they were together. The fightings, the teasing, the banter, every fucking thing between them was on fire. And I love every single minute of it.
I would not change a thing about this book. Maybe at some point you could think that Brie is a little immature or that Erik is a dickhead but THAT is what make the book amazing. Because even though you wanted to slap them you wouldn’t have it other way.
I rooted for them since the beginning. At any moment I thought they wouldn't be a good couple. for me, they were a match made in heaven.
I could keep babbling about Erik & Brie but I have to stop it and say that besides the main couple, I also love the glimpses of the gymnastic world. The training, the team; I love those girls. *Here is when I beg the author for the girls to get their own book, even June’s*. I could tell Grey passion for this sport in her writing; the detail descriptions of the routines and the equipment. If you didn't love gymnastics, you would love it after reading this book.
The Summer Games: Out of Bounds, is a mind blowing and consuming story that unlike the first Summer Games novel has a darker feeling to it. And I LOVED IT.
Ok I could keep talking about this book for hours but I don't want to give you an spoiler so I will end this review by telling you: READ THE DAMN BOOK and that I will never think of yoga the same way ever again.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
August 23, 2016
It's not often that I really dislike a book, but this one I did a lot. What I thought I was going to get was not what I was expecting at all. I realise lots of other people liked this but it not only did nothing for me, it annoyed me, everything about it wasn't right IMO.
I usually love a good sports romance and here it's a bit different with a female gymnast and her coach. Brie is part of the U.S.A gymnastic team for Rio 2016. The head coach has been taken ill and his son Eric is the replacement coach. Right from the moment they meet they are antagonistic towards one another, or they're turning one another on, push and pull for the whole book it was beyond boring. Eric was just about the most nasty and objectionable leading man ever, and the reason he is like that when you find out his back story, I was totally unsympathetic towards him. As for Brie she behaved like a spoilt whiney brat. The ménage scene happened right out of the blue it didn't add anything to the story and it didn't feel like something that Brie would be into. The ending was rushed as in oh by the way I love you. Overall this was a massive disappointment.
I usually love a good sports romance and here it's a bit different with a female gymnast and her coach. Brie is part of the U.S.A gymnastic team for Rio 2016. The head coach has been taken ill and his son Eric is the replacement coach. Right from the moment they meet they are antagonistic towards one another, or they're turning one another on, push and pull for the whole book it was beyond boring. Eric was just about the most nasty and objectionable leading man ever, and the reason he is like that when you find out his back story, I was totally unsympathetic towards him. As for Brie she behaved like a spoilt whiney brat. The ménage scene happened right out of the blue it didn't add anything to the story and it didn't feel like something that Brie would be into. The ending was rushed as in oh by the way I love you. Overall this was a massive disappointment.
August 24, 2016
4 stars
In a nutshell: Insta-lust between coach and gymnast while they prepare for the Olympics, both try to fight the attraction while literally fighting with each other and then end up having real feelings and trying to sort through those emotions.
I liked the premise of the book; that whole forbidden bit about falling for your coach. I think that was executed very well. I loved the Olympics atmosphere while they were in Rio. The hero and heroine both had a palpable, intense connection and the sex scenes were scorching hot. I did not however appreciate the temper tantrum the heroine had at the 75% mark; thought that was so immature and unnecessary. I would have preferred a much older heroine to have handled this brooding, arrogant coach.
Overall, a good read!
In a nutshell: Insta-lust between coach and gymnast while they prepare for the Olympics, both try to fight the attraction while literally fighting with each other and then end up having real feelings and trying to sort through those emotions.
I liked the premise of the book; that whole forbidden bit about falling for your coach. I think that was executed very well. I loved the Olympics atmosphere while they were in Rio. The hero and heroine both had a palpable, intense connection and the sex scenes were scorching hot. I did not however appreciate the temper tantrum the heroine had at the 75% mark; thought that was so immature and unnecessary. I would have preferred a much older heroine to have handled this brooding, arrogant coach.
Overall, a good read!
July 20, 2017
Originally posted at Booklovers For Life
It’s almost time for the 2016 Olympics, and what better way to usher it in than by reading a sports romance about an Olympian? Out of Bounds is R.S. Grey’s HOTTEST book yet – it’s an incredible enemies-to-lovers/forbidden romance between an upcoming gymnastics Olympian and her coach. It’s my second favorite of her books, right after the first Summer Games book. It’s steamy – so, sooo steamy. The lust and hate come so clearly off the pages, it’s mind-blowing. If you don’t like heroes who act like complete asses and heroines who give as good as they get, this probably won’t be the book for you. But if you do love that intense chemistry that comes with hate, you NEED to get your hands on Out of Bounds!
She was fierce; she wanted to be seen, and not just for her gymnastics skills. No, she wanted to be desired. Coveted. Craved. Had anyone ever touched her the way she wanted to be touched? Had anyone ever ripped that bun out and tugged her long hair, tilting her head back to expose the creamy skin of her neck?
Brie Watson needs to win the gold so she can repay her mother for everything she sacrificed for her daughter to become the Olympian she is today. The prize money, the future endorsements, all of it will go into giving her and her mother a better life. So even though her original coach steps down due to health issues and his son takes his place, there’s nothing stopping Brie from giving her all during gymnastics training – not even a beautiful 29-year-old coach she loves to hate.
Erik Winter may not have asked for the position of gymnastics coach to Team USA, but he’s going to do what his father didn’t and lead the team to gold. But from the very first moment Brie steps into his life, it’s antagonism and lust and everything in between. To say Erik and Brie don’t get along would be an understatement – these two LIVE for getting under the other’s skin. They fight, argue, cock-block – if it’ll make the other annoyed, they’ll do it. There’s so much hate between them, but underneath it all is a burning lust, a fiery chemistry that can’t be denied. They want each other bad, no matter how much they hate each other.
But in between grueling practices and training, Brie and Erik get to understand each other on a deeper, more visceral level. They might not like each other, but they KNOW each other. Their connection is powerful and unlike anything they’ve ever experienced – so it’s only inevitable that feelings eventually get involved.
He and I weren’t supposed to fall in love. We’d been at war, fighting and pushing each other because it was a fun distraction, because I liked to get a reaction out of him, and because I just couldn’t help myself. It was the most shocking kind of love I’d ever experienced, the sort that hid itself behind the other edge of the blade—hate. I’d focused so much of my energy on hating Erik that when love appeared out of nowhere, it stole my breath.
I loved Erik.
This book… I couldn’t put it down from the moment I picked it up. Brie and Erik’s tumultuous, crazy hot romance gripped me and wouldn’t let me go. I mentioned this book was the author’s hottest one yet, right? Because the steam in this – holy GOD. The things that happen between Brie and Erik will make your panties melt and make you blush like crazy!
I do wish there was more of the forbidden love aspect of the story. Despite Erik being Brie’s coach, I never really felt like there were any possible consequences with them getting together. Most of everyone surrounding them approved of their relationship, so if they had that more developed dynamic of forbidden romance, this book would’ve been perfect.
“At the end of this, you’re mine.”
I love that R.S. Grey set the Summer Games series during the 2016 Olympics in Rio – this series has seriously gotten me so hyped up about the upcoming competitions! Also, with every book the author writes, her writing improves, and I have to say, I’m so impressed with her ability to create such lust/hate between her main characters. This series is one of the best sports romance series I’ve ever read, and if you love reading that genre, the Summer Games is a must read. Out of Bounds is such an amazing enemies-to-lovers romance. Just a fair warning before you start it though – you are going to be in such lust/hate with Erik right alongside Brie, you’ll need a fan as you read!
Thanks to the author for generously providing me an ARC to review.
Quotes are taken from the ARC and are subject to change in the final version.
Amazon Ebook: http://amzn.to/2aEMHCk
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/2aiP0Hu
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