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Beyond the Storm
I don’t trust people who smile constantly. It's unnatural.
Kai Whitaker is aggressively cheerful. He’s the human embodiment of a golden retriever and entirely too wholesome for my liking.
I can’t help but taunt him every time we run into each other which — spoiler alert — constantly happens since he’s my new neighbor.
But there’s layers to Kai, a side of him that’s taking me by surprise and intriguing me enough to offer him a deal.
No strings, no feelings, just temporary fun.
He’s only here for a year before heading back to Australia. A built-in expiration date? Perfect.
I’m still picking up the pieces after my life imploded and I can’t use any distractions, much less in the form of a man.
This is fine.
Totally fine.
There's no way this will backfire.
...Right?
Beyond the Storm is a spicy MF college football romance featuring an actual Big Boy, frenemies-to-lovers, rugby thighs, friends with benefits, a meddling grandmother, and size difference intended for readers 18+. This book is a complete standalone.
Kai Whitaker is aggressively cheerful. He’s the human embodiment of a golden retriever and entirely too wholesome for my liking.
I can’t help but taunt him every time we run into each other which — spoiler alert — constantly happens since he’s my new neighbor.
But there’s layers to Kai, a side of him that’s taking me by surprise and intriguing me enough to offer him a deal.
No strings, no feelings, just temporary fun.
He’s only here for a year before heading back to Australia. A built-in expiration date? Perfect.
I’m still picking up the pieces after my life imploded and I can’t use any distractions, much less in the form of a man.
This is fine.
Totally fine.
There's no way this will backfire.
...Right?
Beyond the Storm is a spicy MF college football romance featuring an actual Big Boy, frenemies-to-lovers, rugby thighs, friends with benefits, a meddling grandmother, and size difference intended for readers 18+. This book is a complete standalone.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 13, 2026
18 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Sorena Graves
5 books76 followersSorena Graves writes the books she loves to read and just can't seem to find enough of. She loves unconventional main characters and tropes, all wrapped up in a scorching hot package.
Her home is currently in Germany, where she lives with her husband, daughter and dog, but she plans to make Australia her home soon.
When Sorena isn't busy writing steamy love stories, she can be found either riding horses or enjoying a glass of rosé while crafting her next irresistible tale.
Her home is currently in Germany, where she lives with her husband, daughter and dog, but she plans to make Australia her home soon.
When Sorena isn't busy writing steamy love stories, she can be found either riding horses or enjoying a glass of rosé while crafting her next irresistible tale.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
January 18, 2026
Beyond the Storm by Sorena Graves eARC Review 🖤🏈
Sorena did not came to play with this one you guys. 🤭 I am a fan of every single book she has written but this one just took me by surprise in the best way.
Kai and Tori are perfection. She is a badass, MMA fighter with commitment & daddy issues and he is a big rugby/football teddy bear with primal tendencies. Holy shit they make the best & most entertaining pair. We can’t forget about Gran who had me literally cracking up.
The banter between the two of them is fantastic and can we talk about the spice because.. wow. The primary play scenes, oof so HOT. Oh and I absolutely have to mention that he whimpers. 🫠😮💨
I loved this one so much and how she pushed the idea of living for yourself and making decisions about your life based on your own happiness. 😍
What to expect:
Friends with benefits
Black cat x golden retriever
He falls first
Switch FMC & MMC
Forced proximity
Frenemies to lovers
Size difference
Pr!mal Pl@y
Thank you so much Sorena for the arc!
Sorena did not came to play with this one you guys. 🤭 I am a fan of every single book she has written but this one just took me by surprise in the best way.
Kai and Tori are perfection. She is a badass, MMA fighter with commitment & daddy issues and he is a big rugby/football teddy bear with primal tendencies. Holy shit they make the best & most entertaining pair. We can’t forget about Gran who had me literally cracking up.
The banter between the two of them is fantastic and can we talk about the spice because.. wow. The primary play scenes, oof so HOT. Oh and I absolutely have to mention that he whimpers. 🫠😮💨
I loved this one so much and how she pushed the idea of living for yourself and making decisions about your life based on your own happiness. 😍
What to expect:
Friends with benefits
Black cat x golden retriever
He falls first
Switch FMC & MMC
Forced proximity
Frenemies to lovers
Size difference
Pr!mal Pl@y
Thank you so much Sorena for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from Author
February 11, 2026Thank you to the author for the chance to ARC read Beyond the Storm. Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me.
I went into this book expecting to love it since it has a switch dynamic and a golden retriever MMC, which are usually right up my alley. And for the most part, that was true. Kai is definitely a golden retriever type. However, his first chapters leans more toward telling rather than showing, but I tried to ignore it.
My first issue was how quickly the sparks flew between him and Tori. For a 400+ page book, I was expecting a slow burn. Instead, Kai starts pining for her since chapter 1, just because she ignores him and doesn’t seem interested. He even says people usually like him, which is why her indifference intrigues him. But ughhh, you’re 21, Love. Not everyone is going to like you, and that’s ... Totally normal?? It didn’t feel convincing enough to justify such instant feelings.
Second, the intimate scenes happened too fast for my taste. By chapter six, things were already very physical. They turn the woods into some licking olympic. I read a book with a sex scene in the woods before and it was so gross it traumatized me. Idk how it considered to be sexy with all the leaves and bugs and soil. Just ... No.
While the scenes in this book weren’t bad, the pacing felt rushed. I’m more of a slow burn girlie, so the emotional build up just wasn’t there for me. At some point, I was skimming the dialogue and not really missing anything. There’s also one scene that takes up to 6% of the book. Like one smutty scene = 6% and I was like, wow okie. I'm sorry but it felt a bit excessive to me and yes, I read a bunch of erotica. I just want more ... Conflicts?
Lastly, the writing style wasn’t quite my cup of tea. It’s very smooth and easy to read, but also extremely dialogue heavy. The constant banter started to wear me out around the halfway mark. That’s when I found myself losing interest. Normally, I can finish a 200 page book in less than two days if the book is interesting, but this one felt much slower for me, and I struggled to stay engaged.
Overall, this simply comes down to personal preference rather than quality and I hope this book will find the right audience. Good luck!
I went into this book expecting to love it since it has a switch dynamic and a golden retriever MMC, which are usually right up my alley. And for the most part, that was true. Kai is definitely a golden retriever type. However, his first chapters leans more toward telling rather than showing, but I tried to ignore it.
My first issue was how quickly the sparks flew between him and Tori. For a 400+ page book, I was expecting a slow burn. Instead, Kai starts pining for her since chapter 1, just because she ignores him and doesn’t seem interested. He even says people usually like him, which is why her indifference intrigues him. But ughhh, you’re 21, Love. Not everyone is going to like you, and that’s ... Totally normal?? It didn’t feel convincing enough to justify such instant feelings.
Second, the intimate scenes happened too fast for my taste. By chapter six, things were already very physical. They turn the woods into some licking olympic. I read a book with a sex scene in the woods before and it was so gross it traumatized me. Idk how it considered to be sexy with all the leaves and bugs and soil. Just ... No.
While the scenes in this book weren’t bad, the pacing felt rushed. I’m more of a slow burn girlie, so the emotional build up just wasn’t there for me. At some point, I was skimming the dialogue and not really missing anything. There’s also one scene that takes up to 6% of the book. Like one smutty scene = 6% and I was like, wow okie. I'm sorry but it felt a bit excessive to me and yes, I read a bunch of erotica. I just want more ... Conflicts?
Lastly, the writing style wasn’t quite my cup of tea. It’s very smooth and easy to read, but also extremely dialogue heavy. The constant banter started to wear me out around the halfway mark. That’s when I found myself losing interest. Normally, I can finish a 200 page book in less than two days if the book is interesting, but this one felt much slower for me, and I struggled to stay engaged.
Overall, this simply comes down to personal preference rather than quality and I hope this book will find the right audience. Good luck!
March 10, 2026
so, safety: no Vs, no info past h and H, minor owd—only one girl came up to him, h shut her down, H was oblivious.
my personal opinion: i don’t think i used to have any problems with curse words, but only recently i started noticing that it has been getting on my nerves, those i’d say, are filler words. i feel like these couple of months were very difficult, i am feeling very anxious, frustrated and irritable. a me problem. so i pretty much notice anything and make it into a problem.
i massaged the author on instagram about safety–she replied quickly, answered everything:).
now about the book, a great book, if you want something fast paced, not emotionally damaging and sweet. the H and h, have basically no personality, ugh. she is a MMA fighter, he is a rugby player turned american football player, from australia. h’s father left her and her mother for a younger woman, even though is was not mentioned enough for it to really have a emotional impact on her. he is having some trouble with sports… once again, there is no deep dive about anything, so i honestly couldn’t feel any emotional connection to them. h’s gran was awesome, the only person who had some personality, reminded me of my impulsive nana.
sorry for making this messy, there are so many grammatical errors. needed to write my thoughts down in a rush. xxx
edit: oh and i forgot to mention, all they did was have sexy time, never went to any dates, nothing romantic, it was said she was struggling financially, working two jobs, but it was not shown, no grand gestures, from 0 to ‘i love you’.
my personal opinion: i don’t think i used to have any problems with curse words, but only recently i started noticing that it has been getting on my nerves, those i’d say, are filler words. i feel like these couple of months were very difficult, i am feeling very anxious, frustrated and irritable. a me problem. so i pretty much notice anything and make it into a problem.
i massaged the author on instagram about safety–she replied quickly, answered everything:).
now about the book, a great book, if you want something fast paced, not emotionally damaging and sweet. the H and h, have basically no personality, ugh. she is a MMA fighter, he is a rugby player turned american football player, from australia. h’s father left her and her mother for a younger woman, even though is was not mentioned enough for it to really have a emotional impact on her. he is having some trouble with sports… once again, there is no deep dive about anything, so i honestly couldn’t feel any emotional connection to them. h’s gran was awesome, the only person who had some personality, reminded me of my impulsive nana.
sorry for making this messy, there are so many grammatical errors. needed to write my thoughts down in a rush. xxx
edit: oh and i forgot to mention, all they did was have sexy time, never went to any dates, nothing romantic, it was said she was struggling financially, working two jobs, but it was not shown, no grand gestures, from 0 to ‘i love you’.
February 19, 2026
˚.༄ Thank you to the author Sorena Graves for the provided eARC in exchange for an honest review! 💌 ꒷·˚ ༘
2.75 ⭐️
I really hoped I’d love this book more than I did, but not every book is for every reader and that’s fine! This one sadly just wasn’t for me.
I really liked our golden retriever MMC, Kai. Always having a hard time saying no and wanting to please anyone and anything. He was such a cute and honest character that I was honestly baffled once we reached chapter 6, lmao. I didn’t expect him to be a chase kind of guy, but we listen and we don’t judge! Our Australian teddy bear with a heart too big for his own good - I really, really liked him throughout the whole story! 🤭
I didn’t dislike our FMC, Tori, but I couldn’t really connect with her either? I get it, her past is hard and she developed a coping mechanism that seems to work well for her, but a lot of the times she was just mean with no point. And it was kind of unfair how she lashed out at Kai and he still didn’t cave - good for him, I guess, seeing how it all worked out for them in the end. And I really loved the non existent third act breakup! 💌
What I didn’t enjoy was the pacing, it just felt kind of off? Nothing was happening and at the same time too much was going on. There also wasn’t really a plot, so take that as you will. I think the book was too long, seeing the plot is missing and it was always the same issue(s) all over. The spicy scenes were good, but sometimes I wished they’d just talk about it instead of being feral about each other, but well. I guess we all solve our problems differently. 🫡 I also didn’t really like the writing style, but I guess that’s on me. Just not my cup of tea, maybe too much dialogue without any real substance behind it? I can’t really explain it, just wasn’t for me.
And while I didn’t enjoy the book, I’m sure there are a lot of people out there that might, so give it a try! 🌞
𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓:
🥊 black cat MMA fighter FMC
🏈 golden retriever rugby/football player MMC
🥊 past issues
🏈 dislike to friends to lovers
🥊 commitment issues (FMC)
🏈 he falls first
🥊 the funniest Gran ever (she carried the book for me; even funnier that a lot of it was based on a true story!)
🏈 no third act breakup (thank you, oh heaven above🙏🏼)
🥊 a few k!nks (better look up the trigger warnings before diving into the book)
🌶️ rating: 4/5 - very little plot and a lot of chasing?
2.75 ⭐️
I really hoped I’d love this book more than I did, but not every book is for every reader and that’s fine! This one sadly just wasn’t for me.
I really liked our golden retriever MMC, Kai. Always having a hard time saying no and wanting to please anyone and anything. He was such a cute and honest character that I was honestly baffled once we reached chapter 6, lmao. I didn’t expect him to be a chase kind of guy, but we listen and we don’t judge! Our Australian teddy bear with a heart too big for his own good - I really, really liked him throughout the whole story! 🤭
I didn’t dislike our FMC, Tori, but I couldn’t really connect with her either? I get it, her past is hard and she developed a coping mechanism that seems to work well for her, but a lot of the times she was just mean with no point. And it was kind of unfair how she lashed out at Kai and he still didn’t cave - good for him, I guess, seeing how it all worked out for them in the end. And I really loved the non existent third act breakup! 💌
What I didn’t enjoy was the pacing, it just felt kind of off? Nothing was happening and at the same time too much was going on. There also wasn’t really a plot, so take that as you will. I think the book was too long, seeing the plot is missing and it was always the same issue(s) all over. The spicy scenes were good, but sometimes I wished they’d just talk about it instead of being feral about each other, but well. I guess we all solve our problems differently. 🫡 I also didn’t really like the writing style, but I guess that’s on me. Just not my cup of tea, maybe too much dialogue without any real substance behind it? I can’t really explain it, just wasn’t for me.
And while I didn’t enjoy the book, I’m sure there are a lot of people out there that might, so give it a try! 🌞
𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓:
🥊 black cat MMA fighter FMC
🏈 golden retriever rugby/football player MMC
🥊 past issues
🏈 dislike to friends to lovers
🥊 commitment issues (FMC)
🏈 he falls first
🥊 the funniest Gran ever (she carried the book for me; even funnier that a lot of it was based on a true story!)
🏈 no third act breakup (thank you, oh heaven above🙏🏼)
🥊 a few k!nks (better look up the trigger warnings before diving into the book)
🌶️ rating: 4/5 - very little plot and a lot of chasing?
January 21, 2026
“Let the other girls drool over cut abs and lean waists; I’d take a big boy any day.”
Just Sorena Graves, giving us yet another 5 star banger with Kai and Tori. The real star of this book, though, is Gran. She was absolutely the best in this book. She was an absolute legend with all of her shenanigans.
Tori is closed off and has been since her father left years ago. With no direction in life, she’s not looking to get close to anyone, including the exchange student next door. Kai may only be at BRU for a year but that doesn’t stop him from trying to get under the skin of his feisty neighbor.
Their banter was everything in this book. They both had such quick comebacks at each other. Tori may have been prickly but Kai definitely got under her hard exterior with his boyish smile and just being there for her.
Kai had me swooning and caught me off guard in this book so many times. This man was soft when he needed to be and feral when it counted. The primal scenes, I will never be over them. I was slack jawed from this man being the biggest golden retriever who had the filthiest mouth. And we love a man who loves a feisty woman, not to tame her but to fuel her fire. And of course it wouldn’t be a Sorena book without him being a big boi. From the quote in the beginning of this review, that’s what we got and Tori was here for it.
Tori was so freaking feisty, I loved every time she brought this man to his knees figuratively and physically. She had this man in the palm of her hand without even trying. I loved so much how much she helped him and in turn helped her self see her potential. Gran and hers relationship was the absolute best in this. That old woman knew what was up before Tori did. And all the planning for her own funeral, I could not.
This book will make you laugh, swoon and drool all in the matter of chapter and have you do it on repeat.
Thank you to Sorena Graves for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes:
✨Frenemies to lovers
✨Friends with benefits
✨Black cat x golden retriever
✨Primal play
✨Size difference
✨Forced proximity
✨He falls first
Just Sorena Graves, giving us yet another 5 star banger with Kai and Tori. The real star of this book, though, is Gran. She was absolutely the best in this book. She was an absolute legend with all of her shenanigans.
Tori is closed off and has been since her father left years ago. With no direction in life, she’s not looking to get close to anyone, including the exchange student next door. Kai may only be at BRU for a year but that doesn’t stop him from trying to get under the skin of his feisty neighbor.
Their banter was everything in this book. They both had such quick comebacks at each other. Tori may have been prickly but Kai definitely got under her hard exterior with his boyish smile and just being there for her.
Kai had me swooning and caught me off guard in this book so many times. This man was soft when he needed to be and feral when it counted. The primal scenes, I will never be over them. I was slack jawed from this man being the biggest golden retriever who had the filthiest mouth. And we love a man who loves a feisty woman, not to tame her but to fuel her fire. And of course it wouldn’t be a Sorena book without him being a big boi. From the quote in the beginning of this review, that’s what we got and Tori was here for it.
Tori was so freaking feisty, I loved every time she brought this man to his knees figuratively and physically. She had this man in the palm of her hand without even trying. I loved so much how much she helped him and in turn helped her self see her potential. Gran and hers relationship was the absolute best in this. That old woman knew what was up before Tori did. And all the planning for her own funeral, I could not.
This book will make you laugh, swoon and drool all in the matter of chapter and have you do it on repeat.
Thank you to Sorena Graves for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes:
✨Frenemies to lovers
✨Friends with benefits
✨Black cat x golden retriever
✨Primal play
✨Size difference
✨Forced proximity
✨He falls first
February 13, 2026
“Not all men leave scars. Some of them just leave a girl wondering when she stopped feeling alone.”
Golden Retriever vs Black Cat vibes are my jam. I ate this up in one sitting.
Kai is a big plush golden retriever rugby/football player with primal tendencies. He’s tender in the streets but rough in the sheets. I fell for him immediately. The way he saw life was just inspiring. I especially love the way he saw all of Tori and gave her exactly what she needed. Tori is a prickly black cat MMA fighter with commitment issues. Her walls are high, but not high enough for Kai to tear down.
Gran was a major highlight for me with all of her shenanigans. So many LOL moments. I want to be her when I grow up. The banter was exquisite. And ohhhh the spice was spicing so hard. The moral of this story was to make your life decisions based on your own happiness. All in all, this was just an awesome feel-good book that had me smiling the whole time. I also loved that there wasn’t a third act break. My heart wouldn’t have been able to handle it. I’m looking forward to what else Sorena has up her sleeve.
Tropes: football, black cat x golden retriever, friends with benefits, he falls first, forced proximity, prim@l pl@y, frenemies to lovers.
Thank you so much, Sorena, for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Golden Retriever vs Black Cat vibes are my jam. I ate this up in one sitting.
Kai is a big plush golden retriever rugby/football player with primal tendencies. He’s tender in the streets but rough in the sheets. I fell for him immediately. The way he saw life was just inspiring. I especially love the way he saw all of Tori and gave her exactly what she needed. Tori is a prickly black cat MMA fighter with commitment issues. Her walls are high, but not high enough for Kai to tear down.
Gran was a major highlight for me with all of her shenanigans. So many LOL moments. I want to be her when I grow up. The banter was exquisite. And ohhhh the spice was spicing so hard. The moral of this story was to make your life decisions based on your own happiness. All in all, this was just an awesome feel-good book that had me smiling the whole time. I also loved that there wasn’t a third act break. My heart wouldn’t have been able to handle it. I’m looking forward to what else Sorena has up her sleeve.
Tropes: football, black cat x golden retriever, friends with benefits, he falls first, forced proximity, prim@l pl@y, frenemies to lovers.
Thank you so much, Sorena, for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was interested in this book because the only experience I have with Rugby is when Ross *attempts* to play it in Friends to impress Emily (RED ROSS!) and a female MMA fighter was judt what I was in the mood for....a fresh up from my usual cowboy/hockey/mafia books.
Sorena Graves is definitely an author I'd read again. She starts the book with the MMC (an aussie rugby player) complaining about American coffee and it was hilarious. I'm a sucker for a good sidekick and this book delivered with a kooky grandma!
This was a sports book that actually had sports in it! I loved it! (Dislike "sports romances" that don't actually show the sport or practice or anything) It kept my interest without being full of jargon and it was easy to follow without knowing much about rugby or MMA. It made the story authentic.
Sorena Graves is definitely an author I'd read again. She starts the book with the MMC (an aussie rugby player) complaining about American coffee and it was hilarious. I'm a sucker for a good sidekick and this book delivered with a kooky grandma!
This was a sports book that actually had sports in it! I loved it! (Dislike "sports romances" that don't actually show the sport or practice or anything) It kept my interest without being full of jargon and it was easy to follow without knowing much about rugby or MMA. It made the story authentic.
February 13, 2026
Holy heck was this perfect! Sorena did not mess around with Kai and Tori and left no option but to be absolutely obsessed with these two!
I adored the heck out of Kai. He is such a big sweet teddy bear but was absolutely feral for his girl. Tori is a hardcore badass with so many walls up to keep everyone out. He didn’t hesitate to break down all her walls and embraced her prickliness 🤭
While I’m completely in love with Kai and Tori, Gran has my whole entire heart. I couldn’t stop cackling at this woman. She was so hysterical and kept everything fun. I loved her relationship with Tori and the way they loved each other!
I adored the heck out of Kai. He is such a big sweet teddy bear but was absolutely feral for his girl. Tori is a hardcore badass with so many walls up to keep everyone out. He didn’t hesitate to break down all her walls and embraced her prickliness 🤭
While I’m completely in love with Kai and Tori, Gran has my whole entire heart. I couldn’t stop cackling at this woman. She was so hysterical and kept everything fun. I loved her relationship with Tori and the way they loved each other!
March 4, 2026
How magical was this writing!!!
It was just so good, so poetic.
How you connect with the characters from like moment number 1!!!
The changes between soft tender and goofy, to like hot spicy and deep.
Just everything flowed good not a moment was rushed or short.
I did not want their story to end.
Kai might’ve just crawled up into my top 10 boyfriend list and Tori Tori my girl I LOVE YOU!!!
To death like she is one of those strong feisty women we love and adore but also deserves to be treated like a princess with a guy who will take the load of her shoulders without taking her independence away.
It was amazing it was great I am in love!!!
It was just so good, so poetic.
How you connect with the characters from like moment number 1!!!
The changes between soft tender and goofy, to like hot spicy and deep.
Just everything flowed good not a moment was rushed or short.
I did not want their story to end.
Kai might’ve just crawled up into my top 10 boyfriend list and Tori Tori my girl I LOVE YOU!!!
To death like she is one of those strong feisty women we love and adore but also deserves to be treated like a princess with a guy who will take the load of her shoulders without taking her independence away.
It was amazing it was great I am in love!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
What to Expect:
Sports (Football/MMA)
Friends with Benefits
Frienemies to Lovers
Black Cat/Golden Retriever
He Falls First
Pr!mal and Dominance play
Neighbors to Lovers
I am convinced that Sorena can read my mind and pulls out all the characteristics I want in a couple. Because Kai and Tori were fire from page one and I ate this up and left no crumbs.
Kai and Tori might immediately be at odds when Kai moves in next door, but his golden retriever personality begins to win over Tori slowly but surely. She might be black cat-like, but she knows what she wants and she knows how to make Kai work for it. Their banter and chemistry were fantastic and SPICY. In between their banter and their teasing, I loved seeing the soft sides of Tori while she helped Kai with his stances for football and how Kai cared for Tori and her grandmother.
There were also some fantastic spice scenes throughout. Not only did we have primal play, but we had dominance battles and an MMC who was more than willing to beg and whimper himself. You will need an ice water while reading this book.
Thank you so much to Sorena for an early copy of Beyond the Storm!
Sports (Football/MMA)
Friends with Benefits
Frienemies to Lovers
Black Cat/Golden Retriever
He Falls First
Pr!mal and Dominance play
Neighbors to Lovers
I am convinced that Sorena can read my mind and pulls out all the characteristics I want in a couple. Because Kai and Tori were fire from page one and I ate this up and left no crumbs.
Kai and Tori might immediately be at odds when Kai moves in next door, but his golden retriever personality begins to win over Tori slowly but surely. She might be black cat-like, but she knows what she wants and she knows how to make Kai work for it. Their banter and chemistry were fantastic and SPICY. In between their banter and their teasing, I loved seeing the soft sides of Tori while she helped Kai with his stances for football and how Kai cared for Tori and her grandmother.
There were also some fantastic spice scenes throughout. Not only did we have primal play, but we had dominance battles and an MMC who was more than willing to beg and whimper himself. You will need an ice water while reading this book.
Thank you so much to Sorena for an early copy of Beyond the Storm!
February 18, 2026
Sorena has done it once again 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 I absolutely adored this book! Kai and Tori were everything I hoped for! Their instant chemistry and character development were amazing! The banter was simply👩🏼🍳💋. And of course, I can't write this review without mentioning Gran 🤣🥰👏🏼 Complete main character energy! Her meddling and humor had me in crying laughing! This book was incredible! I highly recommend it ♥️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
January 12, 2026
Thank you Sorena Graves for my copy of Beyond The Storm. 🤍 I received this book for review, all opinions are my own and given freely.
Beyond The Storm a Big Boys of BRU standalone novel. While I do highly recommend the entire series, this can be read without reading the others first. BTS is Kai and Tori’s book! I loved both of these characters so much. Their dynamic was just so dang good. And having Gran as a side character honestly made this book even better. I absolutely adored her character! I was cracking up so many times while reading this book. Gran is totally unhinged and unapologetic and I love her for it.
It should come as no surprise how much I enjoyed this book because of how much I love Sorena’s books in general. This one though is special. I’m not sure if it was the switch energy, the Australian accent or the primal play but this book is a must read. Kai gave Dom a run for his money I’ll say that!! The spice was delicious throughout this book. The humor, the banter, the acts of service, literally everything about this book is top notch.
Beyond The Storm releases 02/13.
Beyond The Storm a Big Boys of BRU standalone novel. While I do highly recommend the entire series, this can be read without reading the others first. BTS is Kai and Tori’s book! I loved both of these characters so much. Their dynamic was just so dang good. And having Gran as a side character honestly made this book even better. I absolutely adored her character! I was cracking up so many times while reading this book. Gran is totally unhinged and unapologetic and I love her for it.
It should come as no surprise how much I enjoyed this book because of how much I love Sorena’s books in general. This one though is special. I’m not sure if it was the switch energy, the Australian accent or the primal play but this book is a must read. Kai gave Dom a run for his money I’ll say that!! The spice was delicious throughout this book. The humor, the banter, the acts of service, literally everything about this book is top notch.
Beyond The Storm releases 02/13.
February 19, 2026
I struggled with this story. Some parts I found really cute but others were kinda boring. The plot wasn’t that great, not much really happened so I found myself skipping a lot. I also wasn’t a huge fan of Tori, she was a little too harsh as a character. I know she was meant to be like that as it was her way of protecting herself, but to me she had no likeable qualities.
The spice was good, I liked the primal scenes and the fact that Kai whimpers…. A LOT 😍 He was a really sweet character who made me enjoy the story.
I did find the ending really sweet and I liked that there was no third act breakup. But I just needed a bit more to the plot and a more likeable FMC.
Thank you Sorena for the ARC.
The spice was good, I liked the primal scenes and the fact that Kai whimpers…. A LOT 😍 He was a really sweet character who made me enjoy the story.
I did find the ending really sweet and I liked that there was no third act breakup. But I just needed a bit more to the plot and a more likeable FMC.
Thank you Sorena for the ARC.
March 4, 2026
I don’t trust people who smile constantly either, so I felt very aligned with Tori from page one.
Kai is trading in rugby to give American football a shot in Sorena Graves’ latest, and he does not expect his firecracker of a neighbor—or her extremely unhinged grandma—to sweep him off his feet.
He’s the epitome of the overly confident jock type, but he’s also a total golden retriever, and there ends up being so much more to him than meets the eye. Tori is a badass MMA fighter who doesn’t pull punches, emotionally or otherwise. She’s rebuilding her life on her own terms, and the last thing she wants is a distraction.
If you haven’t met the OG couples (Colt + Hailey, Dom + Sierra, Hunter + Ella), I’d recommend starting from the beginning, but this one stands on its own.
+ college
+ football / big boy mmc
+ mma / fighter fmc
+ forced proximity
+ neighbors / girl next door
+ friends with benefits
+ he falls first
+ crazy grandma
+ black cat x golden retriever
4/5 🌶️
Kai is trading in rugby to give American football a shot in Sorena Graves’ latest, and he does not expect his firecracker of a neighbor—or her extremely unhinged grandma—to sweep him off his feet.
He’s the epitome of the overly confident jock type, but he’s also a total golden retriever, and there ends up being so much more to him than meets the eye. Tori is a badass MMA fighter who doesn’t pull punches, emotionally or otherwise. She’s rebuilding her life on her own terms, and the last thing she wants is a distraction.
If you haven’t met the OG couples (Colt + Hailey, Dom + Sierra, Hunter + Ella), I’d recommend starting from the beginning, but this one stands on its own.
+ college
+ football / big boy mmc
+ mma / fighter fmc
+ forced proximity
+ neighbors / girl next door
+ friends with benefits
+ he falls first
+ crazy grandma
+ black cat x golden retriever
4/5 🌶️
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️.5
ARC Review.
I’m honestly sad that I didn’t like this as much as I hoped I would. I loved the tropes, the MMA fighting FMC and the rugby/football MMC, and the charismatic Grandma and supportive Uncle. Unfortunately the pacing was completely off for me.
I usually like when the characters know they’re attracted to one another and have chemistry, but by chapter 6 we get a full sexually charged chase in the woods. Now I know people really like this run and chase idea, but it happening so early in the book before they’ve even had a real conversation away from her grandma and his uncle, it was very fast and needed more of a build up for that type of situation. And then other parts were almost dragging, we have Kai sparing with Tori when the football team goes to learn at the gym she works at and it goes on a little too long and then there’s a bunch of football chapters where he’s constantly feeling like he can’t keep up and thinks to himself Tori would say this, Tori would say that through multiple practices and games.
I got to a part in the book where Kai is helping Tori touch up the red pieces in her hair and it was honestly such a nice moment I was thinking maybe before the books ends we’ll see a couple more of these acts…. Next page EPILOGUE. So one of the only times we get a really sweet not sexual act that’s showed to us and not just told, it’s the last chapter. And there’s definitely cute things where Kai is helping Tori and her grandma but there’s nothing really outside of all three of them being together that doesn’t lead to sex. There’s a very entertaining chapter where Tori’s grandma has a “funeral” and it is cute seeing them all interact, but in that chapter Tori’s thinking about Kai and how he “fills her water bottles” and listened when see talked about losing her fight last year, BUT WE NEVER SEE THAT FIRST HAND.
Also Kai talks about his family back in Australia, but we don’t even get one little phone call with them, like their son is across the world and we get no communication. There’s 400 pages and not a lot of depth.
If you want something that focuses around sexual chemistry, this is for you. I don’t necessarily think this was bad, I just expected something different from reading the tropes. I’ll definitely check out other books from Sorena, because I liked the characters and the premise of the story, this pacing was not working for me in this specific book.
ARC Review.
I’m honestly sad that I didn’t like this as much as I hoped I would. I loved the tropes, the MMA fighting FMC and the rugby/football MMC, and the charismatic Grandma and supportive Uncle. Unfortunately the pacing was completely off for me.
I usually like when the characters know they’re attracted to one another and have chemistry, but by chapter 6 we get a full sexually charged chase in the woods. Now I know people really like this run and chase idea, but it happening so early in the book before they’ve even had a real conversation away from her grandma and his uncle, it was very fast and needed more of a build up for that type of situation. And then other parts were almost dragging, we have Kai sparing with Tori when the football team goes to learn at the gym she works at and it goes on a little too long and then there’s a bunch of football chapters where he’s constantly feeling like he can’t keep up and thinks to himself Tori would say this, Tori would say that through multiple practices and games.
I got to a part in the book where Kai is helping Tori touch up the red pieces in her hair and it was honestly such a nice moment I was thinking maybe before the books ends we’ll see a couple more of these acts…. Next page EPILOGUE. So one of the only times we get a really sweet not sexual act that’s showed to us and not just told, it’s the last chapter. And there’s definitely cute things where Kai is helping Tori and her grandma but there’s nothing really outside of all three of them being together that doesn’t lead to sex. There’s a very entertaining chapter where Tori’s grandma has a “funeral” and it is cute seeing them all interact, but in that chapter Tori’s thinking about Kai and how he “fills her water bottles” and listened when see talked about losing her fight last year, BUT WE NEVER SEE THAT FIRST HAND.
Also Kai talks about his family back in Australia, but we don’t even get one little phone call with them, like their son is across the world and we get no communication. There’s 400 pages and not a lot of depth.
If you want something that focuses around sexual chemistry, this is for you. I don’t necessarily think this was bad, I just expected something different from reading the tropes. I’ll definitely check out other books from Sorena, because I liked the characters and the premise of the story, this pacing was not working for me in this specific book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Give me a big, sexy, rugby/football player with an Australian accent anyday! Kai did not disappoint! Beyond The Storm by Sorena Graves is book 4 in the Big Boys Of BRU series. If you love a good and steamy college romance, throw in a hysterical grandma and a golden retriever with a hot mouth that will bring you to your knees, read this book! And this series!
Kai and Tori are the perfect opposites attract, lived such different lives and both deserve every perfect thing in life! Tori is a bad a$$!! She is fierce and strong, an MMA fighter who takes no crap! But, she struggles deeply, both with her past and commitment issues. This girl deserves a pure and deep love! And to truly be taken care of. Kai has lived such a different life. A great family who has loved and supported him, his Uncle who he came with to the US for a year to play football. He’s so caring and kind. A caretaker who wants to truly give Tori the world! Their banter and their teasing will kill you! But also seeing the vulnerable sides of Tori while she helped Kai with his stances for football and how Kai cared for Tori and her grandmother.AND OMG, this man’s mouth, to be so kind and then so freaking feral, primal and hot!! The chemistry between these two is pure fire. And I loved how they both were dominant at times. (He begs AND whimpers♥️)
Having Gran as a side character made this book even more enjoyable. I completely adored her—she had me laughing out loud more times than I can count. She’s wildly unhinged, unapologetically herself, and absolutely unforgettable. And Kai’s uncle too! Can’t wait for his story.
Sorena killed it again with his series! All the books are just so good. You feel every emotion AND burn with the spice! Read this book and the whole series now, it doesn't disappoint!
Rate: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 5/5🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
🏈Frenemies to Lovers
🏈Switch FMC & MMC
🏈Forced Proximity
🏈Black Cat x Golden Retriever
🏈Friends with Bennies
🏈Pr!mal Play
🏈Size Difference
🏈He Falls First
🏈No 3rd Act Break Up
🩷THANK YOU so much to Sorena Graves for my ARC!
Kai and Tori are the perfect opposites attract, lived such different lives and both deserve every perfect thing in life! Tori is a bad a$$!! She is fierce and strong, an MMA fighter who takes no crap! But, she struggles deeply, both with her past and commitment issues. This girl deserves a pure and deep love! And to truly be taken care of. Kai has lived such a different life. A great family who has loved and supported him, his Uncle who he came with to the US for a year to play football. He’s so caring and kind. A caretaker who wants to truly give Tori the world! Their banter and their teasing will kill you! But also seeing the vulnerable sides of Tori while she helped Kai with his stances for football and how Kai cared for Tori and her grandmother.AND OMG, this man’s mouth, to be so kind and then so freaking feral, primal and hot!! The chemistry between these two is pure fire. And I loved how they both were dominant at times. (He begs AND whimpers♥️)
Having Gran as a side character made this book even more enjoyable. I completely adored her—she had me laughing out loud more times than I can count. She’s wildly unhinged, unapologetically herself, and absolutely unforgettable. And Kai’s uncle too! Can’t wait for his story.
Sorena killed it again with his series! All the books are just so good. You feel every emotion AND burn with the spice! Read this book and the whole series now, it doesn't disappoint!
Rate: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 5/5🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
🏈Frenemies to Lovers
🏈Switch FMC & MMC
🏈Forced Proximity
🏈Black Cat x Golden Retriever
🏈Friends with Bennies
🏈Pr!mal Play
🏈Size Difference
🏈He Falls First
🏈No 3rd Act Break Up
🩷THANK YOU so much to Sorena Graves for my ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I have mixed feelings about this book. At 35% I was sure I was going to dnf but I persevered & I’m glad I did. Whilst it wasn’t a 5 star read for me, I found the second half of the book definitely better than the first.
Kai is a beautiful human who’s new mission in life, for the next year anyway, is to get good at football & convince the hot neighbour next door to let her guard down & give him a chance. At first I found him a bit cringe, I like a golden retriever but I need him to have a bit of bite & whilst he was almost keeping up with Tori he was almost a bit too mushy for me. But by 50% I had definitely warmed to him more & felt his goodness & dominant side were more balanced.
Tori is a great black cat FMC. Her standoffish behaviour & sassy comebacks are consistent throughout & she definitely makes him work for it. I love that she’s a badass who can take on any of the guys & that she just wants to look after her gran & keep her safe & happy. I definitely liked her more than the MMC but again, I found their relationship better in the second half of the book.
The spice in this book definitely deserves its own star. I loved the switching between the two & how Kai was soooo down for everything she wanted to give. When Tori takes charge? Soooo hot 🥵
I found that sometimes I lost where we were at with these two, especially in the first 30%. I thought they’d only been speaking for a week but it seemed like actually it had been a lot longer, I missed the really kinda build up between the two with the time jumping forward.
That being said, I’m glad I finished the book & whilst it wasn’t 100% for me that’s not to say someone else may love it. I just needed a bit MORE.
Kai is a beautiful human who’s new mission in life, for the next year anyway, is to get good at football & convince the hot neighbour next door to let her guard down & give him a chance. At first I found him a bit cringe, I like a golden retriever but I need him to have a bit of bite & whilst he was almost keeping up with Tori he was almost a bit too mushy for me. But by 50% I had definitely warmed to him more & felt his goodness & dominant side were more balanced.
Tori is a great black cat FMC. Her standoffish behaviour & sassy comebacks are consistent throughout & she definitely makes him work for it. I love that she’s a badass who can take on any of the guys & that she just wants to look after her gran & keep her safe & happy. I definitely liked her more than the MMC but again, I found their relationship better in the second half of the book.
The spice in this book definitely deserves its own star. I loved the switching between the two & how Kai was soooo down for everything she wanted to give. When Tori takes charge? Soooo hot 🥵
I found that sometimes I lost where we were at with these two, especially in the first 30%. I thought they’d only been speaking for a week but it seemed like actually it had been a lot longer, I missed the really kinda build up between the two with the time jumping forward.
That being said, I’m glad I finished the book & whilst it wasn’t 100% for me that’s not to say someone else may love it. I just needed a bit MORE.
February 12, 2026
A SPICY Grumpy/Sunshine! I absolutely LOVE when She is Grumpy and He is Sunshine, literally peak trope for me. Add in the fact that he’s a big buff Australian rugby/football player?
“Tori scoffed. “Oh, please. You couldn’t handle me.” I bit back a groan as my pulse spiked. Fuck. I loved feisty women. “Yeah?” I rose to my feet and stepped closer to the railing, my grin widening. “Wanna bet?” She let out a soft, incredulous laugh. “You’re ridiculous.” “Maybe. But you love it,”
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Oh this was delicious. Tori is the grumpy bad ass MMA fighting girl next door, Kai is a transfer from Australia and he can’t get that grumpy woman out of his mind! They have instant chemistry, the banter is top tier! I loved how much Kai loved riling up Tori, totally his kink😆
We had some fun “catch me and you can do whatever you want to me” moments, “fill me up” scenes, a little spit and swallow 🥵
But also, Kai was so gentle with Tori, he knew she didn’t trust easily, so he was gentle with her heart, great with her grandma, and slowly broke through all of Tori’s defenses.
“Shit, this was so fucking hot. The urge to catch her, make her submit to me, and claim her curled deep inside me, dark and feral. I’d never had the chance to act out any of these particular fantasies of mine. My blood was pumping and I was practically salivating for this—for the chase, for her.”
“It was pure, unfiltered love. It wasn't just about kissing her or touching her; it was about knowing she was mine. I wanted to show her she wasn’t losing me. Not any time soon. Never, in fact, at least not without a fight.”
“Tori scoffed. “Oh, please. You couldn’t handle me.” I bit back a groan as my pulse spiked. Fuck. I loved feisty women. “Yeah?” I rose to my feet and stepped closer to the railing, my grin widening. “Wanna bet?” She let out a soft, incredulous laugh. “You’re ridiculous.” “Maybe. But you love it,”
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Oh this was delicious. Tori is the grumpy bad ass MMA fighting girl next door, Kai is a transfer from Australia and he can’t get that grumpy woman out of his mind! They have instant chemistry, the banter is top tier! I loved how much Kai loved riling up Tori, totally his kink😆
We had some fun “catch me and you can do whatever you want to me” moments, “fill me up” scenes, a little spit and swallow 🥵
But also, Kai was so gentle with Tori, he knew she didn’t trust easily, so he was gentle with her heart, great with her grandma, and slowly broke through all of Tori’s defenses.
“Shit, this was so fucking hot. The urge to catch her, make her submit to me, and claim her curled deep inside me, dark and feral. I’d never had the chance to act out any of these particular fantasies of mine. My blood was pumping and I was practically salivating for this—for the chase, for her.”
“It was pure, unfiltered love. It wasn't just about kissing her or touching her; it was about knowing she was mine. I wanted to show her she wasn’t losing me. Not any time soon. Never, in fact, at least not without a fight.”
February 14, 2026
ARC REVIEW!!! 5/5 Stars!!
If you have not read the BRU series by Sorena Graves, then you need to!!! Time and time again, Sorena brings every girl's fantasy to life with every book! Both the FMC and MMC are worth reading, and it is definitely worth the time. I devoured this book, and I know you will too!
Tori and Kai are the best of both worlds. Tori is an independent queen who knows MMA, and Kai is an Australian rugby/football player who's a golden retriever with primal tendencies. These two make a HOT and steamy couple, and I am here for it!!! Not only am I here for the spice, but I love that these two build each other up in every aspect. Tori struggles with relying on people, and Kai shows her what it feels like to be cared for and loved. While our Australian lover boy is every green flag a girl can ask for, he struggles with self-doubt. Tori helps build his confidence when it comes to football and helps calm his mind when it's moving too fast. I love the banter between two of these characters, and I cannot count how many times this book had me giggling at late hours of the night.
OF COURSE, I cannot forget the one and only Gran. The woman is hilarious, and I can only hope to be that funny and carefree when I am that age.
If the spice and banter don't pull you in, then best believe Gran will get your attention! But never fear, Kai is a tree that every girl is going to want to climb, while Tori is a badass queen that every woman aspires to be.
Sorena Graves, thank you for this opportunity to ARC this book. You did it again with another AMAZING book. The whole series is everything and more. You did that!
If you have not read the BRU series by Sorena Graves, then you need to!!! Time and time again, Sorena brings every girl's fantasy to life with every book! Both the FMC and MMC are worth reading, and it is definitely worth the time. I devoured this book, and I know you will too!
Tori and Kai are the best of both worlds. Tori is an independent queen who knows MMA, and Kai is an Australian rugby/football player who's a golden retriever with primal tendencies. These two make a HOT and steamy couple, and I am here for it!!! Not only am I here for the spice, but I love that these two build each other up in every aspect. Tori struggles with relying on people, and Kai shows her what it feels like to be cared for and loved. While our Australian lover boy is every green flag a girl can ask for, he struggles with self-doubt. Tori helps build his confidence when it comes to football and helps calm his mind when it's moving too fast. I love the banter between two of these characters, and I cannot count how many times this book had me giggling at late hours of the night.
OF COURSE, I cannot forget the one and only Gran. The woman is hilarious, and I can only hope to be that funny and carefree when I am that age.
If the spice and banter don't pull you in, then best believe Gran will get your attention! But never fear, Kai is a tree that every girl is going to want to climb, while Tori is a badass queen that every woman aspires to be.
Sorena Graves, thank you for this opportunity to ARC this book. You did it again with another AMAZING book. The whole series is everything and more. You did that!
Review of advance copy
went in expecting fun, spice, and vibes. What I got was layered, emotional, laugh-out-loud banter with a side of oh no why do I suddenly care this much.
Kai Whitaker is aggressively cheerful in a way that should be illegal. Golden retriever energy dialed to eleven. Big boy. Rugby thighs. Sunshine incarnate. And somehow, beneath all that warmth, there’s depth and quiet ache that made me melt into a puddle. Every scene peeled him back just a little more, and I loved that he wasn’t just the happy guy trope. He felt real.
Tori? Deliciously prickly. Wounded. Sarcastic. Guarded with intention. Watching her needle Kai while clearly being undone by him was peak frenemies-to-lovers satisfaction. The banter crackled. The chemistry snapped. Every “no strings, no feelings” moment had me screaming internally because we all knew how that was going to go. Temporary fun with an expiration date is never temporary, and this book proved it in the most satisfying way.
The friends-with-benefits arc was chef’s kiss messy. The tension between wanting connection and being terrified of it was handled so well. There’s humor here, but also genuine hurt and healing, and it all flows so naturally. And the meddling grandmother? Absolute icon. I would read an entire book just about her stirring the pot.
Beyond the Storm balances spice, softness, and emotional payoff beautifully. It’s cozy and hot, funny and heartfelt, and somehow both comforting and swoony at the same time. I laughed, I clutched my chest, I absolutely fell for Kai Whitaker, and I regret nothing.
Kai Whitaker is aggressively cheerful in a way that should be illegal. Golden retriever energy dialed to eleven. Big boy. Rugby thighs. Sunshine incarnate. And somehow, beneath all that warmth, there’s depth and quiet ache that made me melt into a puddle. Every scene peeled him back just a little more, and I loved that he wasn’t just the happy guy trope. He felt real.
Tori? Deliciously prickly. Wounded. Sarcastic. Guarded with intention. Watching her needle Kai while clearly being undone by him was peak frenemies-to-lovers satisfaction. The banter crackled. The chemistry snapped. Every “no strings, no feelings” moment had me screaming internally because we all knew how that was going to go. Temporary fun with an expiration date is never temporary, and this book proved it in the most satisfying way.
The friends-with-benefits arc was chef’s kiss messy. The tension between wanting connection and being terrified of it was handled so well. There’s humor here, but also genuine hurt and healing, and it all flows so naturally. And the meddling grandmother? Absolute icon. I would read an entire book just about her stirring the pot.
Beyond the Storm balances spice, softness, and emotional payoff beautifully. It’s cozy and hot, funny and heartfelt, and somehow both comforting and swoony at the same time. I laughed, I clutched my chest, I absolutely fell for Kai Whitaker, and I regret nothing.
February 14, 2026
🔥📚 ARC Book Review: Beyond the Storm 📚🔥
Sooo this book didn’t just flirt with my emotions it picked a fight, pinned me up against the lockers, and whispered “you like this, don’t you?”🥵 … Um yes, yes I do!!!!
Beyond the Storm is frenemies to lovers done feral!!! The kind where the banter is bantering and it can draw blood, the tension is HOT and crackles like static before a storm. Every interaction feels like it’s one breath away from crossing a line that absolutely will be crossed!
This story is about the BRU college sports vibe..big bodies, bigger egos, and that intoxicating mix of rivalry and proximity that makes bad decisions feel inevitable. These aren’t soft misunderstandings nope!!! These are charged stares, territorial energy, and “we should not” energy that screams “we absolutely should”🥵
The romance is raw and messy in all the best ways. They don’t just fall they collide hard. Every scene drips with barely-contained want, resentment tangled with desire, and the kind of chemistry that makes you feel like you’re intruding on a personal moment just by reading.🙈
It’s spicy without try-hard, emotional without losing edge, and deliciously unhinged in that college chaos way. Which I absolutely love!!!
If you like:
🔥 Frenemies who argue like foreplay
🏈 Big college athletes with attitude
💥 Tension that snaps instead of simmers
😮💨 Romance that feels earned, not easy
…this one will ruin your peace and thank you for it.
I closed this book knowing two things:
I need more BRU boys immediately.
I will never recover & I'm totally ok with that 😏
Sooo this book didn’t just flirt with my emotions it picked a fight, pinned me up against the lockers, and whispered “you like this, don’t you?”🥵 … Um yes, yes I do!!!!
Beyond the Storm is frenemies to lovers done feral!!! The kind where the banter is bantering and it can draw blood, the tension is HOT and crackles like static before a storm. Every interaction feels like it’s one breath away from crossing a line that absolutely will be crossed!
This story is about the BRU college sports vibe..big bodies, bigger egos, and that intoxicating mix of rivalry and proximity that makes bad decisions feel inevitable. These aren’t soft misunderstandings nope!!! These are charged stares, territorial energy, and “we should not” energy that screams “we absolutely should”🥵
The romance is raw and messy in all the best ways. They don’t just fall they collide hard. Every scene drips with barely-contained want, resentment tangled with desire, and the kind of chemistry that makes you feel like you’re intruding on a personal moment just by reading.🙈
It’s spicy without try-hard, emotional without losing edge, and deliciously unhinged in that college chaos way. Which I absolutely love!!!
If you like:
🔥 Frenemies who argue like foreplay
🏈 Big college athletes with attitude
💥 Tension that snaps instead of simmers
😮💨 Romance that feels earned, not easy
…this one will ruin your peace and thank you for it.
I closed this book knowing two things:
I need more BRU boys immediately.
I will never recover & I'm totally ok with that 😏
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2026
This was such a fun, light-hearted, college sports romance with fantastic characters you'll instantly love, and spice that will have you fanning yourself from the heat.
This is my first book by Sorena Graves and I loved her writing style it's easy to read, and her characters and dialogue are so fun to read.
The flirty banter between Kai and Tori was so good. I was laughing, giggling, and kicking my feet. I absolutely loved their dynamic and how they'd switch dominance was so hot. I am so obsessed with them.
Their chemistry was palpable I couldn't get enough of them. The spice was scorching hot and so delicious. Kai the Australian with the biggest heart and dirtiest mouth, I absolutely loved this character so much, He's one of my favorite MMCs. And Tori is a fireball, I love her confidence and straight-up attitude.
And can we talk about Gran? I know she was a side character but she added so much fun to every part she was in, just hilarious every time.
This was such a fantastic, fun, feel-good story. I definitely recommend this college romance.
Tropes:
Friends with benefits
Football player + MMA Fighter
College romance
Grumpy + Sunshine
Black Cat + Golden Retriever
Forced proximity
Size difference
Primal Play
Kink
He falls first
Dual POV
Check TW
The Big Boys of BRU book 4 and you bet your sweet booty I'm going back for the previous books. New fun series and author unlocked.
Thank you Sorena Graves for the opportunity to read this book.
This is my first book by Sorena Graves and I loved her writing style it's easy to read, and her characters and dialogue are so fun to read.
The flirty banter between Kai and Tori was so good. I was laughing, giggling, and kicking my feet. I absolutely loved their dynamic and how they'd switch dominance was so hot. I am so obsessed with them.
Their chemistry was palpable I couldn't get enough of them. The spice was scorching hot and so delicious. Kai the Australian with the biggest heart and dirtiest mouth, I absolutely loved this character so much, He's one of my favorite MMCs. And Tori is a fireball, I love her confidence and straight-up attitude.
And can we talk about Gran? I know she was a side character but she added so much fun to every part she was in, just hilarious every time.
This was such a fantastic, fun, feel-good story. I definitely recommend this college romance.
Tropes:
Friends with benefits
Football player + MMA Fighter
College romance
Grumpy + Sunshine
Black Cat + Golden Retriever
Forced proximity
Size difference
Primal Play
Kink
He falls first
Dual POV
Check TW
The Big Boys of BRU book 4 and you bet your sweet booty I'm going back for the previous books. New fun series and author unlocked.
Thank you Sorena Graves for the opportunity to read this book.
February 15, 2026
The way I loved this read! It’s smart, it’s funny, it is insanely sexy, and I will never be over Kai and Tori and the way he waits her out or the way she chooses to believe, in him, in them, and in every ounce of his love. This is a read that you completely lose yourself in, it’s got the spice down on lock, it has wit and banter, family that keeps the laughs rolling and adds just enough insanity to make it fun, it has heart and fight, and a story about falling in love that isn’t loud, it’s honest and I freaking love that. It’s Kai just showing up, it’s Tori letting herself fall in increments, it’s being scared but still knowing that you’ve found it, your one, your person, your future, and no matter what you can’t let go, and it is so, so good.
There is so much right with this read, so much that just feels good and perfect. It’s the way Kai brags about Tori, the way she swears he means nothing and then bakes for him, the way it’s wild and fast and hot, and slow and sweet and sincere all at the same time. The chemistry is there from the second they meet, the connection is so much more than either of them planned but equally something they literally can’t walk away from because from the moment they touched it’s like they were tethered, and watching these two take the small steps toward more than neighbors with benefits is beyond fantastic. The plot is basically learning to believe someone loves you enough to stay but as you’re reading it feels way bigger than that courtesy of the absolutely amazing way Sorena Graves has written it and I literally couldn’t get enough.
There is so much right with this read, so much that just feels good and perfect. It’s the way Kai brags about Tori, the way she swears he means nothing and then bakes for him, the way it’s wild and fast and hot, and slow and sweet and sincere all at the same time. The chemistry is there from the second they meet, the connection is so much more than either of them planned but equally something they literally can’t walk away from because from the moment they touched it’s like they were tethered, and watching these two take the small steps toward more than neighbors with benefits is beyond fantastic. The plot is basically learning to believe someone loves you enough to stay but as you’re reading it feels way bigger than that courtesy of the absolutely amazing way Sorena Graves has written it and I literally couldn’t get enough.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky enough to get to read this book as part of an ARC team and I’m so happy I needed up getting picked for this book, it’s amazing. The FMC was such a badass and knew what she wanted and it was a big chunk of Australian man meat.
Our FMC Tori, is just a girl trying to do everything by herself and look after everyone but herself I liked to think of her as a black cat with a heart of gold, very stand offish with most and takes no shit but will do anything for those she loves.
Our MMC Kai has just moved to the states to play American football for a year to help his uncle and he is the epitome of Labrador energy, he wears his heart on his sleeve, will do anything to get Tori to be his and at the beginning wants nothing more than to go back home.
As the story developed you find Kai isn’t such a good boy after all with his little k*nks and tori is here.for. It!
Speaking of k*nks 😉 the spicy scenes in this book took my breath away and make me kick and squeal like my other half just said I could go buy more books!
I do need to do an honourable mention to the amazing side characters, Janet is tori’s nan and is just a feral ball of chaotic energy and will not be told what to do by anyone! Tāne is Kai’s uncle and tbh is just as scared of Janet’s as anyone else, Tāne is also the one who helps Kai get his head out of his delicious thicc booty, and help him get the girl! I have never wished that a couple of side characters were more real than I do with these!
Our FMC Tori, is just a girl trying to do everything by herself and look after everyone but herself I liked to think of her as a black cat with a heart of gold, very stand offish with most and takes no shit but will do anything for those she loves.
Our MMC Kai has just moved to the states to play American football for a year to help his uncle and he is the epitome of Labrador energy, he wears his heart on his sleeve, will do anything to get Tori to be his and at the beginning wants nothing more than to go back home.
As the story developed you find Kai isn’t such a good boy after all with his little k*nks and tori is here.for. It!
Speaking of k*nks 😉 the spicy scenes in this book took my breath away and make me kick and squeal like my other half just said I could go buy more books!
I do need to do an honourable mention to the amazing side characters, Janet is tori’s nan and is just a feral ball of chaotic energy and will not be told what to do by anyone! Tāne is Kai’s uncle and tbh is just as scared of Janet’s as anyone else, Tāne is also the one who helps Kai get his head out of his delicious thicc booty, and help him get the girl! I have never wished that a couple of side characters were more real than I do with these!
March 5, 2026
🏈Beyond The Storm by Sorena Graves🏈
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
@sorenagravesauthor
Golden retriever energy + rugby thighs + primal play 👀 - sign me up!
Tropes:
Black Cat FMC x Golden Retriever MMC
Frenemies To Lovers
MMA Fighter FMC
Neighbors
Primal Play
Size Difference
Tori is prickly and guarded and refuses to let people get too close to her heart. Enter Kai Whitaker — aggressively cheerful, rugby-thighed, actual Big Boy energy, and the human equivalent of sunshine.
What starts as taunting the new neighbor turns into a “no strings, no feelings, strictly temporary” arrangement — because he’s heading back to Australia in a year, so what could possibly go wrong?
Well, it absolutely goes wrong. In the best way.
And can we talk about Tori’s grandmother? The banter? Elite. The meddling? Immaculate. By far one of my favorite side characters!
The AUS vs NZ chat had me cackling as a fellow Kiwi 🇳🇿 — and yes, I did finish this book craving pavlova (a dessert everyone should try at least once in their life).
The spice? Top tier.
The primal play? One of my favourite tropes and executed SO well.
The emotional layers under Kai’s sunshine exterior? Unexpected and beautifully done.
This book is soft and filthy, funny and heartfelt, chaotic and comforting all at once.
I am looking forward to Tane's book next!
🏷 Bookstagram • Beyond The Storm • Sorena Graves • Black Cat FMC • Golden Retriever MMC • Primal Play • MMA Fighter FMC • Neighbors • Frenemies To Lovers • Size Difference
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
@sorenagravesauthor
Golden retriever energy + rugby thighs + primal play 👀 - sign me up!
Tropes:
Black Cat FMC x Golden Retriever MMC
Frenemies To Lovers
MMA Fighter FMC
Neighbors
Primal Play
Size Difference
Tori is prickly and guarded and refuses to let people get too close to her heart. Enter Kai Whitaker — aggressively cheerful, rugby-thighed, actual Big Boy energy, and the human equivalent of sunshine.
What starts as taunting the new neighbor turns into a “no strings, no feelings, strictly temporary” arrangement — because he’s heading back to Australia in a year, so what could possibly go wrong?
Well, it absolutely goes wrong. In the best way.
And can we talk about Tori’s grandmother? The banter? Elite. The meddling? Immaculate. By far one of my favorite side characters!
The AUS vs NZ chat had me cackling as a fellow Kiwi 🇳🇿 — and yes, I did finish this book craving pavlova (a dessert everyone should try at least once in their life).
The spice? Top tier.
The primal play? One of my favourite tropes and executed SO well.
The emotional layers under Kai’s sunshine exterior? Unexpected and beautifully done.
This book is soft and filthy, funny and heartfelt, chaotic and comforting all at once.
I am looking forward to Tane's book next!
🏷 Bookstagram • Beyond The Storm • Sorena Graves • Black Cat FMC • Golden Retriever MMC • Primal Play • MMA Fighter FMC • Neighbors • Frenemies To Lovers • Size Difference
February 1, 2026
🩵🏈🥊ARC Review🥊🏈🩵
Thank you for this ARC of Beyond the Storm, it is an absolute honor to be on your team! I can’t wait to for what comes next!
The pace of this book was absolutely amazing! From the moment we met Kai you were rooting for him; in life, in his studies and football, but most of all with his ability to win over Tori!
BOTH Tori and Kai were so easy to love, and there was no surprise of the complete firecracker that was Janet (Tori’s Grandmother) but also the subtle love that you feel for Kai’s Uncle, Tane.
This book was epic, but chapter 12 was PERFECTION! I was so entranced and laughing out loud for its entirety, and I was there for it 💯.
I feel like this quote for this book sums up the flawlessness of Beyond the Storm:
“After what felt like both an eternity and a blink of the eye, he pulled back and pressed his forehead against mine, our breaths mingling.”
Such a sensual story with so much passion and heart yet when the spice hit and developed into an all consuming love, and a promise for a future ahead it was both an eternity but also a blink of an eye! I am so looking forward to what comes next and the stories to come…
Tropes:
🩵Frenemies to Lovers
🏈switch FMC & MMC
🥊Forced Proximity
🩵Black Cat x Golden Retriever
🏈Friends with Bennies
🥊Pr!mal Play
🩵Size Difference
🏈He Falls First
🥊No 3rd Act Break Up
Thank you for this ARC of Beyond the Storm, it is an absolute honor to be on your team! I can’t wait to for what comes next!
The pace of this book was absolutely amazing! From the moment we met Kai you were rooting for him; in life, in his studies and football, but most of all with his ability to win over Tori!
BOTH Tori and Kai were so easy to love, and there was no surprise of the complete firecracker that was Janet (Tori’s Grandmother) but also the subtle love that you feel for Kai’s Uncle, Tane.
This book was epic, but chapter 12 was PERFECTION! I was so entranced and laughing out loud for its entirety, and I was there for it 💯.
I feel like this quote for this book sums up the flawlessness of Beyond the Storm:
“After what felt like both an eternity and a blink of the eye, he pulled back and pressed his forehead against mine, our breaths mingling.”
Such a sensual story with so much passion and heart yet when the spice hit and developed into an all consuming love, and a promise for a future ahead it was both an eternity but also a blink of an eye! I am so looking forward to what comes next and the stories to come…
Tropes:
🩵Frenemies to Lovers
🏈switch FMC & MMC
🥊Forced Proximity
🩵Black Cat x Golden Retriever
🏈Friends with Bennies
🥊Pr!mal Play
🩵Size Difference
🏈He Falls First
🥊No 3rd Act Break Up
March 4, 2026
✨️ ARC Review ✨️ – Beyond the Storm by Sorena Graves
I loved so much about this book.
First up, the body positivity. Kai is our big boy hero and I absolutely adored the way he was represented. Confident, steady, patient… and completely swoon-worthy. We don’t get nearly enough heroes like him.
And Tori? An absolute powerhouse. She’s strong, independent, and could quite literally take a man down in seconds thanks to all her MMA training. I loved that she wasn’t written to be “softened”... she’s capable, guarded, and unapologetically herself.
Gran deserves her own special mention because honestly… main character energy. The drama, the wisdom, the subtle (and not so subtle) matchmaking. Watching her ship Kai and Tori while pretending she wasn’t interfering was half the fun.
Kai slowly biding his time, charming Tori bit by bit until she finally lets him in? Perfection. The tension, the patience, the emotional pay-off, it all felt earned.
And as an Aussie, I have to say how much I loved the representation. Seeing Australian town names and little factual details woven into the story made it feel that much more personal and authentic. I love spotting pieces of home in the books I read.
Such a heartwarming, character-driven romance with strength, softness, and a whole lot of heart.
I loved so much about this book.
First up, the body positivity. Kai is our big boy hero and I absolutely adored the way he was represented. Confident, steady, patient… and completely swoon-worthy. We don’t get nearly enough heroes like him.
And Tori? An absolute powerhouse. She’s strong, independent, and could quite literally take a man down in seconds thanks to all her MMA training. I loved that she wasn’t written to be “softened”... she’s capable, guarded, and unapologetically herself.
Gran deserves her own special mention because honestly… main character energy. The drama, the wisdom, the subtle (and not so subtle) matchmaking. Watching her ship Kai and Tori while pretending she wasn’t interfering was half the fun.
Kai slowly biding his time, charming Tori bit by bit until she finally lets him in? Perfection. The tension, the patience, the emotional pay-off, it all felt earned.
And as an Aussie, I have to say how much I loved the representation. Seeing Australian town names and little factual details woven into the story made it feel that much more personal and authentic. I love spotting pieces of home in the books I read.
Such a heartwarming, character-driven romance with strength, softness, and a whole lot of heart.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Okay, Sorena!!!! Like 1,000,000 gold stars. (Thankfully she’s the author and not me, but hopefully you stick with this review).
First and foremost BIG BOYS ftw, I love this series of giants that just handle their women. Yes it’s college, but the mouths on the men (and women) 😮💨😮💨😮💨 SPICY! This couple doesn’t really overlap with the original 3 books, but still go back and read those too!!
Kai is new to the college since he and his uncle move from Australia. He is originally a rugby player, and pivots to football to work on his instincts.
Then he meets his neighbour Tori who has the best grandma that just wreaks havoc and has no filter in the best way. Tori is a MMA fighter and not afraid to take Kai on in the gym or behind closed doors.
Now these two, soo 🔥🔥🔥 definitely Primal, Switching, Public Play. In some ways I actually forgot Kai was in college because so much centres around his football training and the time he spends with Tori.
While it was fantastically spicy, you got to see glimpses where these hard exteriors opened up to reveal two big softies and how they show up for each other and the HEA, so sweet!
I’m always so grateful when authors share their stories with me. Thank you Sorena for the advanced copy 💜💜
First and foremost BIG BOYS ftw, I love this series of giants that just handle their women. Yes it’s college, but the mouths on the men (and women) 😮💨😮💨😮💨 SPICY! This couple doesn’t really overlap with the original 3 books, but still go back and read those too!!
Kai is new to the college since he and his uncle move from Australia. He is originally a rugby player, and pivots to football to work on his instincts.
Then he meets his neighbour Tori who has the best grandma that just wreaks havoc and has no filter in the best way. Tori is a MMA fighter and not afraid to take Kai on in the gym or behind closed doors.
Now these two, soo 🔥🔥🔥 definitely Primal, Switching, Public Play. In some ways I actually forgot Kai was in college because so much centres around his football training and the time he spends with Tori.
While it was fantastically spicy, you got to see glimpses where these hard exteriors opened up to reveal two big softies and how they show up for each other and the HEA, so sweet!
I’m always so grateful when authors share their stories with me. Thank you Sorena for the advanced copy 💜💜
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC of Beyond the Storm and absolutely devoured this book. I was already a big fan of Sorena’s writing and the other three big boys she has already given us, but I think Kai may just be my new favourite!! I was completely hooked on his golden retriever puppy personality from the start and found myself smiling along at his antics quite a few times!
The story, the romance, the banter, the SPICE! Wow, wow, wow and WOW!! A man who is willing to beg and whimper is always a winner in my eyes!! The chemistry between Kai and Tori is undeniable, and I adored the push and pull between them. They challenge each other, banter back and forth and know how to push each other’s buttons which creates the most delicious tension that makes every interaction feel electrically charged!!
I couldn’t review this book and not mention Gran! She had me laughing out loud most of the time but also reminded me fondly of my own nan with her more emotional moments, sharing her wise words and staging interventions when she knew Tori needed it. Fantastic character and I loved the dynamic between her and Tori!!
Massive thank you to Sorena Graves for the ARC — this was such an amazing addition to the Big Boys of BRU world, and I’m already looking forward to what (or who 😉) comes next!!
The story, the romance, the banter, the SPICE! Wow, wow, wow and WOW!! A man who is willing to beg and whimper is always a winner in my eyes!! The chemistry between Kai and Tori is undeniable, and I adored the push and pull between them. They challenge each other, banter back and forth and know how to push each other’s buttons which creates the most delicious tension that makes every interaction feel electrically charged!!
I couldn’t review this book and not mention Gran! She had me laughing out loud most of the time but also reminded me fondly of my own nan with her more emotional moments, sharing her wise words and staging interventions when she knew Tori needed it. Fantastic character and I loved the dynamic between her and Tori!!
Massive thank you to Sorena Graves for the ARC — this was such an amazing addition to the Big Boys of BRU world, and I’m already looking forward to what (or who 😉) comes next!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Arc Review
First off I would like to thank Sorena for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Tori & Kai
I am absolutely obsessed with this one! I just adore them both so much. I love Kai's soft and Golden Retriever personality & I love Tori's Grumpy Black Cat Energy. These two are the definition of match my freak (ifyky 😂) I love how Kai is so soft and sweet and just go with the flow but works so hard to make his dreams come true also the mouth on this man 🥵 🫠. I love how grumpy and rough around the edges Tori is while being a softie underneath for the right people, I love that she isn't afraid of hard work to make life better and isn't afraid to go for what she wants. The chemistry between them can be felt though the pages and the banter is top notch. Also shout out to Gran for being the real star and pushing these two together 😂🤣
5/5 Recommend this book. Y'all Sorena absolutely killed it with this one, let's be honest she killed them all & I have the time of my life reading her books. I'm so excited for what's next & can't wait! Hunter & Ella are still my favorites 🫶🏼
First off I would like to thank Sorena for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Tori & Kai
I am absolutely obsessed with this one! I just adore them both so much. I love Kai's soft and Golden Retriever personality & I love Tori's Grumpy Black Cat Energy. These two are the definition of match my freak (ifyky 😂) I love how Kai is so soft and sweet and just go with the flow but works so hard to make his dreams come true also the mouth on this man 🥵 🫠. I love how grumpy and rough around the edges Tori is while being a softie underneath for the right people, I love that she isn't afraid of hard work to make life better and isn't afraid to go for what she wants. The chemistry between them can be felt though the pages and the banter is top notch. Also shout out to Gran for being the real star and pushing these two together 😂🤣
5/5 Recommend this book. Y'all Sorena absolutely killed it with this one, let's be honest she killed them all & I have the time of my life reading her books. I'm so excited for what's next & can't wait! Hunter & Ella are still my favorites 🫶🏼
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