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Knockout
Tyler Morris did not have a happy childhood. He suffered abuse at the hands of his alcoholic father, then bounced around a series of foster homes. He became unable to express his emotions or deal with his past. Then, at fifteen, at a charity boxing camp hosted by heavyweight champ Jamie Lewis, Tyler found a purpose and an outlet for his anger. Seven years later, Tyler arrives at the The Gold Arena, Jamie's Los Angeles gym. He's desperate to train under the man who helped him turn his life around. With some difficulty, Tyler convinces Jamie to take him on, but their working relationship is complicated by a mutual attraction they both attempt to deny. Jamie fears their relationship will ruin Tyler's chance at a career in pro boxing. Tyler's scars run deep, and he knows he could be hurt if he opens up. But how can he expect to win in the ring if he won't let Jamie win his heart?
104 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 5, 2012
1 person is currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Leora Stark
4 books12 followersLeora Stark is a writer of romance and erotica. She writes sometimes sweet and always dirty stories in a variety of genres. Recently stories about hot m/m and m/m/f action have been keeping her up at night. Leora lives in Toronto where she earns her keep as a professor.
View her website for free fiction, upcoming releases and more!
View her website for free fiction, upcoming releases and more!
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 19, 2014
Lots of telling and summaring, but no boxing in sight; the big misunderstanding was silly, and I didn't feel the slow burn between the men despite the steamy scenes. Plus, the epilogue was a piece of work: 10+ years summed up in a paragraph. Yeah, but no.
September 7, 2012
3.5
This was an enjoyable younger man/older man romance (22&36) and probably the first for me of this type that did deal with the age issues in more detail. There were some interesting power issues that went along with the age difference as well since Jamie is Tyler's trainer.
I enjoyed the rough patches these two went through and the chemistry between them really worked although there were a few times where it came across as a student/teacher crush vibe that didn't really work for me quite as well.
Once they work through their troubles the story moves pretty fast and we get a nice jumped time epilogue to wrap things up.
This is a good sports romance where we get a bit of boxing information thrown in, I almost wish it focused a bit more on the sport because I don't know a lot about it so I found that part very interesting.
This was an enjoyable younger man/older man romance (22&36) and probably the first for me of this type that did deal with the age issues in more detail. There were some interesting power issues that went along with the age difference as well since Jamie is Tyler's trainer.
I enjoyed the rough patches these two went through and the chemistry between them really worked although there were a few times where it came across as a student/teacher crush vibe that didn't really work for me quite as well.
Once they work through their troubles the story moves pretty fast and we get a nice jumped time epilogue to wrap things up.
This is a good sports romance where we get a bit of boxing information thrown in, I almost wish it focused a bit more on the sport because I don't know a lot about it so I found that part very interesting.
September 9, 2012
2.5
Not one jot of showing here. This is an all authorial telling story. She simply relates everything. He said, she said, and then...the epilogue is an especially horrendous bit of summing up.
On another note, I do so wish writers would not feel the need to keep saying "the younger man". We get it. You're establishing a romance with an age difference. Duly noted. Now move on. It does not help characterisation one bit nor is identification by this means continually necessary.
Not one jot of showing here. This is an all authorial telling story. She simply relates everything. He said, she said, and then...the epilogue is an especially horrendous bit of summing up.
On another note, I do so wish writers would not feel the need to keep saying "the younger man". We get it. You're establishing a romance with an age difference. Duly noted. Now move on. It does not help characterisation one bit nor is identification by this means continually necessary.
June 25, 2012
Tyler Morris catches a bus from NY to LA in the hope that Jamie Lewis, gym owner and boxing kingmaker, will take him on as a boxer. He has little money but sets about making Jamie see his potential, including giving him a heartfelt speech about how much boxing means to him. Tyler is 22, spent some time with Jamie when he was 15 at a boxing camp for youth identified as at risk; and never forgot what he learned there.
Jamie is a 36 year old boxing mentor. He takes on those he think can make a go of boxing, as they don't pay for their training he takes a percentage of their future earnings; so they have to show potential. He finds Jamie attractive, passionate about the sport, but he's seen it all before, besides, his personal philosophy is one of a separation of work and sex. He thinks Jamie's speech is nice, but he makes him go a few rounds in the ring before deciding on whether or not he's worth investing in.
Reading the official blurb on Knockout makes it sound a little darker/ heavier than it really is.
What it actually is, is a sweet read, with endearing leads that happens to centre itself around a boxing trainer, and an up and coming heavyweight boxer. There's a little 'drama' mid book but it's really nothing. Both men fall for each other and their relationship is genuinely nice, and I couldn't help but really like them both. As a plus the sex is terrific, and there's lot of it - no complaints.
Yes, Tyler's father was an angry, drunk man, but very little is explored here, you just read bits and pieces of his past. There's no great angst associated with it in general. However, there is a nice message about coming from a life of hard knocks and liking yourself, laying the blame at the right feet.
I'm not really a boxing fan and, to be honest, there's not much about it in the book, but there is some and it's just enough for me. I thought the ratio of character development, boxing and sex was pretty good.
I bought Knockout for something a little different, and for a shorter read. It filled the criteria above, with the bonus of giving me really nice characters that I cared about, an interesting, sweet story, and a happy ending. Can't ask for much more.
Review also posted here
June 17, 2014
★★★ 3 Awwwww! Stars ★★★
This was a very sweet and romantic story between Tyler, an aspiring boxer, and his trainer, Jamie.
When Ty picks up his whole life and moves to L.A. to be mentored by the man who saved his life when he was a teenager, Jamie, he is surprised to find out that he wants Jamie to be more then just his trainer. He finds himself genuinely attracted to the man when no one has really managed to turn his head before. Jamie, on the other hand, can't keep his eyes and hands off the newest boxer in his gym even though he knows mixing business with pleasure could get tricky pretty fast. What follows is a sweet romance between the two with some drool-worthy bedroom scenes *insert lascivious smile on my part* and a small portion of angst due to misunderstandings on both sides. I actually found the angsty aspect of this book well done, and it added some extra liveliness to the book without making it seem melodramatic.
This novella was a bit insta-lovey,
They both had similar traumatic pasts with childhood abuse, they both loved boxing and were damn good at it, and both always felt like something was missing from their lives until they became reunited once more.
Overall, this was a very sweet, romantic story with a little bit of angst, and the perfect HEA.
If you're looking for a fun novella with great MCs and a small dose of angst, then give this one a try!
This was a very sweet and romantic story between Tyler, an aspiring boxer, and his trainer, Jamie.
When Ty picks up his whole life and moves to L.A. to be mentored by the man who saved his life when he was a teenager, Jamie, he is surprised to find out that he wants Jamie to be more then just his trainer. He finds himself genuinely attracted to the man when no one has really managed to turn his head before. Jamie, on the other hand, can't keep his eyes and hands off the newest boxer in his gym even though he knows mixing business with pleasure could get tricky pretty fast. What follows is a sweet romance between the two with some drool-worthy bedroom scenes *insert lascivious smile on my part* and a small portion of angst due to misunderstandings on both sides. I actually found the angsty aspect of this book well done, and it added some extra liveliness to the book without making it seem melodramatic.
This novella was a bit insta-lovey,
To be honest, Jamie had surprised himself with how quickly he'd decided he wanted a commitment from Tyler. He felt strongly protective of the younger man......but I think that really worked in this one.
They both had similar traumatic pasts with childhood abuse, they both loved boxing and were damn good at it, and both always felt like something was missing from their lives until they became reunited once more.
Overall, this was a very sweet, romantic story with a little bit of angst, and the perfect HEA.
If you're looking for a fun novella with great MCs and a small dose of angst, then give this one a try!
June 12, 2012
Knockout by Leora Stark
4 Stars
Reviewed for www.heartsonfirereviews.com
Twenty two year old Tyler Morris had a horrible childhood and still wears the scars from his abusive father. He was a very angry teenager by the time that he was turned over to foster care but being sent to a boxing camp changed his life. He never forget his time training under his mentor, championship fighter Jamie Lewis, and hops a bus from New York to LA in hopes that Jamie, who is now a gym owner and boxing kingmaker, will take him on as a client. Jamie remembers Tyler from all of those years ago and after sparring with him, agrees to train him. Soon the sparks fly between the two men but Jamie believes in keeping his private life separate from his gym and resists temptation for as long as he can. The men have an attraction that is undeniable and they eventually start seeing each other. Just as Tyler's career is taking off, he overhears information about Jamie's past conquests and takes it the wrong way. Yes, there is a big miscommunication that keeps the men apart for a time but their love wins out and the men get back together again for a wonderful HEA. Despite the blurb making this sound like a very dark book, it isn't. It is a rather light novella with little angst and I enjoyed it very much for it's length.
4 Stars
Reviewed for www.heartsonfirereviews.com
Twenty two year old Tyler Morris had a horrible childhood and still wears the scars from his abusive father. He was a very angry teenager by the time that he was turned over to foster care but being sent to a boxing camp changed his life. He never forget his time training under his mentor, championship fighter Jamie Lewis, and hops a bus from New York to LA in hopes that Jamie, who is now a gym owner and boxing kingmaker, will take him on as a client. Jamie remembers Tyler from all of those years ago and after sparring with him, agrees to train him. Soon the sparks fly between the two men but Jamie believes in keeping his private life separate from his gym and resists temptation for as long as he can. The men have an attraction that is undeniable and they eventually start seeing each other. Just as Tyler's career is taking off, he overhears information about Jamie's past conquests and takes it the wrong way. Yes, there is a big miscommunication that keeps the men apart for a time but their love wins out and the men get back together again for a wonderful HEA. Despite the blurb making this sound like a very dark book, it isn't. It is a rather light novella with little angst and I enjoyed it very much for it's length.
November 4, 2012
A very well written M/M love story featuring boxers. *wipes drool* First time read for me from Leora Stark. It will not be last. The story was short and yet it wasn't lacking. It had just enough substance to make it a solid read. The characters both same similar histories - survivors of child abuse, rough childhood making them into the men they were today - poor Tyler had the worst of it compared to Jaime.
Though Jamie, the older and more experienced of the two claimed to be possessive, he was not overt in his 'possessiveness'. The story got sweet towards the end and didn't veer off track. I felt the author did a good job of portraying what she wanted to portray.
I wished the story was longer, maybe delving into Tyler's past (what happened with his brother). The epilogue summed up Tyler and Jaime's HEA neatly.
I would recommend to fellow sports M/M romance fans.
Though Jamie, the older and more experienced of the two claimed to be possessive, he was not overt in his 'possessiveness'. The story got sweet towards the end and didn't veer off track. I felt the author did a good job of portraying what she wanted to portray.
I wished the story was longer, maybe delving into Tyler's past (what happened with his brother). The epilogue summed up Tyler and Jaime's HEA neatly.
I would recommend to fellow sports M/M romance fans.
September 7, 2012
Sorry. No review. I read this back in June -- and somehow I forgot to enter my thoughts. Since I didn't remember ANY of it, I assume I didn't hate it nor loving it that much. So the 'safe' 3-stars
September 24, 2013
I'll say this, I wanted to love it. I had high hopes, but in my opinion it did not succeed.
First off, Tyler picks up and moves from NY to LA without even knowing if Jamie will take him on. What happens when Jamie says no? Dumb move, Tyler!
Second, where the hell was the training and boxing? I wanted more of that! It's why I bought the damn book. I love reading about the ins and outs of the sport, but I got one match described--and it was short to boot. That was it.
Three, there was a whole lot of telling and not a lot of showing. Time passed too quickly (ie. 2 weeks later...)
Four, the Epilogue was horrid. Sorry, but it's the truth.
Overall, I was disappointed, but 2 stars for charity boxing camp!
First off, Tyler picks up and moves from NY to LA without even knowing if Jamie will take him on. What happens when Jamie says no? Dumb move, Tyler!
Second, where the hell was the training and boxing? I wanted more of that! It's why I bought the damn book. I love reading about the ins and outs of the sport, but I got one match described--and it was short to boot. That was it.
Three, there was a whole lot of telling and not a lot of showing. Time passed too quickly (ie. 2 weeks later...)
Four, the Epilogue was horrid. Sorry, but it's the truth.
Overall, I was disappointed, but 2 stars for charity boxing camp!
June 7, 2012
4.5 stars - I first read this when it was posted on Lit a while back. I totally fell in love with the story and the characters, so it was great to see it published. I enjoyed it just as much the second time around, even if I think there were some areas or scenes that could have been expanded to feel a little less rushed. While Ty and Jamie's story is short, it's also incredibly sweet. Their relationship builds beautifully and the ending was just perfect. I'm rating it so highly because this was exactly the type of story I wanted to read right now, it was just as cute as I remembered it to be, and it put a smile on my face.
I've read quite a few M/M stories based on athletes and sporting stars, but there really isn't enough stories about gay boxers. Seriously, boxing is awesome AND hot - we need more! ;) I'd love to see more M/M boxing stars or MMA fighters.
I've read quite a few M/M stories based on athletes and sporting stars, but there really isn't enough stories about gay boxers. Seriously, boxing is awesome AND hot - we need more! ;) I'd love to see more M/M boxing stars or MMA fighters.
June 24, 2012
I really liked this novella. The storyline is drawn around professional boxing and a light romance between young Tyler, with an abused childhood, and heavyweight champ Jamie Lewis. I really enjoyed this light romance between Tyler and Jamie. They were hot together.
July 28, 2012
I loved it!!!
September 15, 2012
Nice, surprisingly romantic story between two rough fighters.
July 19, 2013
pretty sure it doesn't take 10+ hours to drive from Hollywood to LA
January 15, 2015
I really enjoyed this story. Both main characters are likeable and although it´s a story about boxing that isn´t all there is. I really liked reading this book the epilogue however is just to short.
March 3, 2013
Lazy writing.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews