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THE PROTECTION VARIABLE: A Grumpy Sunshine Sports Romance
She calculates probabilities. He throws punches. The only variable they didn’t account for was falling in love.
Dr. Olivia Moore has a Life is safer when you control the variables. As a biochemist, she thrives on data and logic. But when she finds her boyfriend cheating with her roommate, her carefully curated life implodes. Homeless and heartbroken, she posts a desperate ad for a roommate. She expects a student.
She gets Claude Russo.
A 240-pound underground boxer with scarred knuckles, eyes like ice, and a past he’s running from. He’s massive, dangerous, and completely occupies her small Queens apartment—and her thoughts.
They agree on ground rules. No questions. No personal entanglements. Just a business transaction.
But when Olivia’s toxic ex refuses to let go, Claude steps out of the shadows. Suddenly, the grumpy giant who eats all her eggs becomes her fake fiancé, her protector, and the only man who makes her feel safe.
From a shared tiny bathroom to a "one bed" situation that tests every boundary, the tension between them becomes explosive. Olivia knows Claude is hiding a deadly secret that could destroy them both. But as his walls come down, she realizes the most dangerous thing isn't the mob chasing him—it's the risk of giving her heart to a man who might leave to save her.
"I would burn the world for you, Plankton."
The Protection Variable is a steamy, swoon-worthy Grumpy x Sunshine romance featuring a STEMinist heroine, a protective boxer hero, and the forced proximity trope that will make you melt. No cheating, and a hard-fought HEA guaranteed.
Dr. Olivia Moore has a Life is safer when you control the variables. As a biochemist, she thrives on data and logic. But when she finds her boyfriend cheating with her roommate, her carefully curated life implodes. Homeless and heartbroken, she posts a desperate ad for a roommate. She expects a student.
She gets Claude Russo.
A 240-pound underground boxer with scarred knuckles, eyes like ice, and a past he’s running from. He’s massive, dangerous, and completely occupies her small Queens apartment—and her thoughts.
They agree on ground rules. No questions. No personal entanglements. Just a business transaction.
But when Olivia’s toxic ex refuses to let go, Claude steps out of the shadows. Suddenly, the grumpy giant who eats all her eggs becomes her fake fiancé, her protector, and the only man who makes her feel safe.
From a shared tiny bathroom to a "one bed" situation that tests every boundary, the tension between them becomes explosive. Olivia knows Claude is hiding a deadly secret that could destroy them both. But as his walls come down, she realizes the most dangerous thing isn't the mob chasing him—it's the risk of giving her heart to a man who might leave to save her.
"I would burn the world for you, Plankton."
The Protection Variable is a steamy, swoon-worthy Grumpy x Sunshine romance featuring a STEMinist heroine, a protective boxer hero, and the forced proximity trope that will make you melt. No cheating, and a hard-fought HEA guaranteed.
222 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 16, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 23, 2026
the protection variable is a very quick and easy read with a strong start, but it didn’t quite hold up all the way through for me.
the beginning was genuinely engaging. it hooked me quickly and made me feel like i was in for something intense and emotional. the pacing early on worked really well, and i was interested in where the story was going.
unfortunately, the emotional arc didn’t land the way i hoped. the main character’s heartbreak felt over-the-top in a way that came across more like angsty teenage drama than genuine, complex emotion. instead of feeling deep, it often felt a little immature and hard to take seriously.
there were also noticeable spelling and grammar mistakes throughout, which pulled me out of the story more than once and made the writing feel unpolished.
overall, the protection variable is a fast, accessible read with a promising start, but the emotional depth and writing quality held it back for me.
easy to get through, but not particularly memorable 🤍📖
the beginning was genuinely engaging. it hooked me quickly and made me feel like i was in for something intense and emotional. the pacing early on worked really well, and i was interested in where the story was going.
unfortunately, the emotional arc didn’t land the way i hoped. the main character’s heartbreak felt over-the-top in a way that came across more like angsty teenage drama than genuine, complex emotion. instead of feeling deep, it often felt a little immature and hard to take seriously.
there were also noticeable spelling and grammar mistakes throughout, which pulled me out of the story more than once and made the writing feel unpolished.
overall, the protection variable is a fast, accessible read with a promising start, but the emotional depth and writing quality held it back for me.
easy to get through, but not particularly memorable 🤍📖
January 20, 2026
This book is just science word salad.
January 21, 2026
It was fun. It was just weird that Claude was an underground boxer *-based by Blurb-* and he was fighting at MSG, but ultimately it wasn't a sports career story, no problem.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews