The Forbidden Man

by Karina Halle

An epic standalone forbidden age-gap sports romance from the New York Times Bestselling author of The Play and My Life in Shambles

Starting over was her only option.

Forty-years old and still reeling from a public and painful divorce, Thalia Blackwood is looking for a fresh start, somewhere far away from her upside down life. When she’s offered a new job as the sports therapist for a football (soccer) team, she jumps at the chance. This is just what she needs to leave the heartbreak and shame of Manchester behind, trading it in for the warmth and hopeful vibrancy of Madrid.

He was her only desire.

Twenty-three year old Alejo Albarado is rising up the ranks in his career. As the charming forward for the Real Madrid team, Alejo’s life revolves around women, parties, and being a tabloid darling, that is until the new sports therapist joins the team.

Their passion could not be ignored.

What starts out as a strictly professional relationship between Thalia and the young Spanish player, slowly evolves into something more. Much more.

Their relationship was forbidden.

But their combustible chemistry and simmering sexual tension can only go so far—should Thalia give into Alejo’s advances, she’s at risk of not only losing her job, but succumbing to a much younger man will drag her through the spotlight again.

Alejo might be worth that risk.

Unless he breaks her heart in the process.

The Younger Man is a full-length standalone romance. Characters from Love, in English make a cameo in this book, however The Forbidden Man is intended to be read as a STANDALONE. This book will be approximately 400-500 pages or more.

Genres: Romance, Sports, Sports Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Forbidden Romance, Adult

502 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 11, 2019

About the author

Karina Halle is a screenwriter, former music & travel journalist, and the New York Times bestselling author of Grave Matter, Blood Orange, & The Royals Next Door, as well as 80 other romances across all sub-genres, ranging from spicy rom coms to gothic horror and dark fantasy. Needless to say, whatever you're into, she's probably written an HEA for it.

When she's not traveling, she, her husband, and their pup Perry, split their time between a possibly haunted 120 year-old house in Victoria, BC, and their condo in Los Angeles.

Reviews

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!

The bigger the love, the greater the risk.

Wow. This was so good. Emotional, sensual, forbidden, beautifully written, and one of the best age gap romances I've read in a long time. It gave me the same kind of feels of my all time favorite Karina Halle romances (The Play, Love in English, etc) and I loved it so much!

Thalia is a forty year old recent divorcee looking to get away from her current life drama, so she takes a job in another country. She is a physical therapist and changes teams, from Manchester to Madrid. Madrid is different than Manchester in many ways and she's changing and growing with this move. Everything is going good for her until the unexpected happens. Alejo Albarado.

Alejo is a popular player for Madrid and when he hurts his knee, he spends a lot of time with Thalia. Alejo and Thalia have this beautiful and real connection from the very start. Their chemistry is palpable and even though it could cost her her job, Thalia finds it hard to stay away. He's forbidden to her in every way (did I mention he's twenty three?) but Alejo is something special.

“What you feel from your heart, what you feel from your soul, it always comes first.”

My goodness, I loved these two characters together so much. I felt their bond, their connection, and I wanted them to defy the odds so badly. I knew things wouldn't be easy for either one of them, but they brought out the best in each other and were truly meant to be. Thalia was such a great character. She was strong, independent, and learning how to be on her own and come into her own. Alejo may have been young, but he was mature for his age and part of that was due to how he grew up. I completely adored him and his family.

For all the lovers of 'Love in English', you're in for a real treat. Alejo's coach is none other than Mateo. Mateo and Vera play a rather big part in this story and I couldn't have been happier! There were also some great side characters in this story aside from those two, and I hope Karina writes more from this world. I could use a Luciano book!

This book was amazing. It gave me all the feels, had the perfect amount of angst, heartbreak, and romance. It was steamy, gorgeous, and oh so passionate. I couldn't have loved it more. A must read for sure!

She’s like the sun. El sol de mi corazon. The sun of my heart, but a sun that’s always rising, always beautiful.

[EmBibliophile · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This was...Boring?

I really wanted to like this book. I’ve discovered Karina Halle’s books last month, and I binge read her Royal romance series. They were so fun and enjoyable to read. So I was kind of excited to read this book, but oh man this was so boring!! It’s such a big book where nothing is really happening. I was just so freakin uninterested in the story/plot. It was just so boring!! And I hated that I had to push myself to finish it! I was Indifferent towards the characters. They had zero chemistry! And they were so immature, I was rolling my eyes the majority of the time. I just didn’t care about any of them! I know that I’m the odd one here and this book has many high ratings and great reviews. So maybe it’s just me being uninterested.
But Ugghhh this was so boring!!

[Karina Halle]

NOTE: there has been a title change for The Younger Man. Alejo and Thalia's romance is now called THE FORBIDDEN MAN, which more accurately reflects their epic love story. As a result, you may see the book referred to as either title on Goodreads or elsewhere :)

You can read a few excerpts of The Forbidden Man below:

**Excerpt is exclusive for you guys and totally unedited and unproofed and subject to change**

I walk over to him, conjuring up the confidence. I played softball and tennis as a young girl, and despite my size, I was actually pretty good at basketball. I used to play horse against my three brothers and won more often than not.
“From here?” I ask him, stepping up to what I think is an appropriate place to shoot from.
“Phhhf,” he says from behind me. “Anyone can make the shots from there. Back up.”
I move back a foot.
“No, no,” he says. “Come to me.”
“That’s not fair,” I tell him. “You’re so much taller than me.”
He laughs. “That only counts in real basketball, not this one. You’re actually closer to the height of the net than I am.”
That’s not exactly true. I sigh and move back another foot. The ball is tiny but so is the hoop and I’m pretty sure you’re meant to be playing it right up against the machine like you do at an arcade.
“This okay?”
He responds by mumbling something in Spanish.
“What was that?” I ask.
“Fine. If you must.”
The thing is, if I do score from here, it’s just going to look like it was only because I was closer than he was.
I end up shuffling right back until I’m standing just in front of him.
“Better, si?” he asks me, and with him looming behind me like this, I can feel his body heat. Doesn’t help that his already deep voice has taken on a huskier tone.
I swallow hard, totally aware that his presence is affecting me in ways it shouldn’t.
Don’t dwell on it, I tell myself. You just need to get laid, that’s all.
It’s true. It just can’t be with him.
“Better,” I manage to say. I take in a deep breath, hoping he can’t hear how hard my heart is pounding. I raise my arms and the ball, trying to focus on the net.
I shoot.
It bounces off the rim and back to us. Alejo reaches out and intercepts it before it has a chance to roll away.
“Concentrate,” he says to me. “Don’t be nervous.”
I pluck the ball from him and shake my ponytail over my shoulder. “Who said I was nervous?”
“I thought perhaps I made you nervous, standing so close to you.”
I give him a quick smile as my pulse accelerates. “Not at all.”
I try to shoot again but this time the ball doesn’t even come close.
“I swear I’m good at this,” I tell him as I walk over to pick up the ball. I can feel myself getting flustered, not just because of him but because I hate to lose. It’s one reason why I never made a career of sports myself, I was too hard on myself and prone to losing my temper and quitting out of frustration.
“I believe you,” he says as I walk back over to him. “You’re just doing everything wrong.”
I stop and put my hand on my hip. “Wrong?”
The tip of his tongue pokes through his teeth as he smiles. “Let me show you.” He makes the motion for me to turn around.
A wave of nerves comes over me as I turn around and go back into my position to shoot.
He comes up behind me and puts his hands – those large, warm, strong hands – on my upper arms, moving me in place. “Just relax,” he says in a low, gravely voice that makes my hair stand on end. “Let your body be loose, let it be easy.”
“Loose and easy, that’s how you like it, huh?” I say under my breath.
“Loose and easy, tight and hard, I’m not too picky,” he remarks and though his tone is light, there is definitely an undercurrent of desire in his voice.
What the hell are you doing?
“Stop overthinking,” he says, sliding his hands down my biceps and over my forearms until they rest at my wrists. “That’s your vice.”
“Vice? I have other, better vices than overthinking,” I tell him.
“Such as?” he says. His thumbs glide over the top of my thumbs. “Let them be loose.”
I try to let my thumbs be loose. I mean, how loose can your thumbs be, really?
I inhale through my nose and try to relax.
He’s not making it easier.
“I like red wine too much,” I admit.
“Who doesn’t?”
“I swear too much.”
“I swear in two languages.”
“I can eat an entire bag of sour candies in one sitting.”
“I can eat a lot of things in one sitting,” he says and fuck me if that’s not innuendo. “Now look at the net and shoot.”
I do as he says.
The ball goes soaring right into the net, then rolls down into a hole as the electronic scoreboard starts tallying up.
“I knew you could do it,” he says to me.
I burst into a grin and scamper over to the machine, picking the ball up. I throw it to him and he throws it right back to me.
“Don’t lose the momentum, keep going. You have nine more shots. This time I’ll let you do it on your own.”
“Oh you’re letting me, are you?” I tease him.
He shrugs and steps out of the way.
I take shot after shot and in the end, I end up scoring seven times out of ten.
“I’m starting to think perhaps you were, how you say, hustling me,” Alejo says, stroking his chin.
I throw him the ball. “You’re up next.”
Alejo gets nine out of ten shots, which was to be expected, but still I’m glad I held my own against him.
“You should be resting,” Mateo’s voice booms across the games room and the both of turn around to face him. “You too,” he says to me.
“This is resting,” Alejo says. “Helps me relax. Why put a games room here if it wasn’t for this purpose?”
“I didn’t put it here,” Mateo says. He looks strung-out and worried, not the unflappable coach I’m used to seeing. I guess everyone reacts differently before game day. “Meet in the warm-up room in twenty minutes.”
And with that he disappears down the hall.
I look at Alejo questioning. “Is he okay?”
“Mateo? Si. He’ll be fine tomorrow, it’s always the day before where he seems to lose it.” He pinches his thumb and finger together in demonstration. “Un poco.”
“Thank god you seem to have it together.”
“How can I not be fine, playing games here with you?” he says. “Besides, I have my superstitions.”
Now I’m intrigued. “Like what?”
“That’s for another time,” he says and starts walking toward the door. He chucks the ball behind him like an afterthought and then kicks it back with his foot.
The ball somehow arcs up and goes right in the net, the scoreboard lighting alight.
He gives me cocky smile, because he knows how good he really is, and then leaves.


1ST EXCERPT**Excerpt is unedited and subject to change. Takes place early in the book, after Thalia's first week of work at Real Madrid. She's having drinks with her boss (the coach) and his wife**

“You’re doing more than enough,” Mateo says to me and then raises his glass of wine. Vera raises what looks to be a dirty martini. “Here is to you, Thalia, for your first week at work.”

“And here’s to your proper introduction to the city of Madrid,” Vera says before she clinks her glass against mine and takes a hearty sip.

I do the same and immediately know that Mateo probably bought me the most expensive wine in the bar. It’s a big, bold, smoky red and it’s divine. My eyes flutter closed momentarily, my tastebuds dancing, my body immediately relaxing.

“Vera was just telling me that you get a lot of shit when you go out,” I tell him, starting to feel real good.

He gives me a lopsided smile. “I do. That comes with the territory. Real Madrid territory. Back when I coached Atletico -- even when I played for Atletico – I wasn’t hassled often. Maybe for autographs. But the fans…the Madridistas? They’re…what was that saying you taught me?” He looks at Vera.

“As crazy as an outhouse rat,” she says.

“Si,” Mateo says with a grave expression. “Crazier than an outhouse rat.”

“Sounds a lot like Man U,” I tell him. “Stewart couldn’t go anywhere without someone yelling at him over something.” The moment Stewart’s name leaves my lips, I immediately feel awkward. Like it’s a word I should have erased from my vocabulary, like it means something more than just my ex-husband’s name. It’s a word that still hurts.

Mateo seems to pick up on whatever vibe I’m giving off because he nods slightly, a sympathetic look shining in his eyes. “Luckily, there are some spots where we’re given some privacy,” he says. “And I don’t happen to go out all that often as it is.”

“Which means I often have to go out by myself,” Vera says.

Mateo smirks at her. “By going out, you mean watching Netflix by yourself?”

“Well, maybe Thalia and I will paint the town red whenever you feel like staying in.”

Mateo glances at me, raising his brow. “Please don’t let my wife talk you into anything. She knows that how important you are to the team.” He sits back in his chair, taking a sip of his drink while resting his hand on Vera’s knee.

“I also know how important it is to rest,” Vera says adamantly. “You always talk about how rest is as important as the work. I mean, hello, the whole country is built around siesta.”

“Siesta and rest is one thing,” Mateo says. “Going out with you is something else entirely. I’m barely man enough to survive it myself.” He smiles at me. “But, since we are about to go into the new season, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying ourselves for tonight.”

“Are you this strict with the players?” I ask him. I hate to keep bringing Stewart into my mind but I can’t help with the comparisons. Stewart was pretty relaxed with the team, which may have been his downfall on more than one occasion. A few times players showed up either drunk or with hangovers and the whole team suffered.

“I have to be,” he says. “I’m involved in every aspect of their lives. Even if I didn’t need to be, the boss would make it so. Jose believes in control, even though the players are free to do whatever they want. They aren’t slaves. But if it were up to Jose…”

“So what exactly do you know about them?” I ask.

“Their sleeping patterns. They’re supposed to log in their sleep details into an app every morning, though half of them forget. Their diet. What they did in their spare time.”

“Please don’t tell me you’re asking them about their sex lives,” Vera says with a scowl.

“No,” Mateo says hesitantly. “But they also know that, uh, if they’ve been…more…fucking than normal, then it could aggravate an injury.”

I’m trying not to laugh at the way he said fucking, but yeah, this is way more intense than my last job was. I guess if it creates champions for the most part, then it works.

“Poor guys,” Vera comments, munching on an olive from her drink. “They’re all young and in the prime of their lives, with all this fame and money to burn, and my husband has to make them cut down on all the fucking.”

“I didn’t say that,” Mateo says. “I just mean…”

“So what do the players do on a Saturday night, since we normally don’t have matches on Sunday anyway?” I ask him.

“They’re at home. Most of them live close to Valdebebas. They’re with family. Wives, kids.”

“I feel so silly,” I admit. “I feel like I should know all of this by now. I should know every player and who they are, deep down, you know?"

“Oh, cut yourself a slab,” Mateo says.

“A slab?” Vera asks with her brows raised.

“Yes,” Mateo says testily. “Cut yourself a slab. Like a slab of ham. Give yourself a break. Eat the ham.”

Vera stares at him for a moment with wide eyes until she breaks into a grin. “I don’t know if it’s the dirty martini, but you just made a lot of sense.”

I can’t help but laugh at his version of cut yourself some slack. “Okay, yes. I will eat the ham.”

[Bibi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm at the scene where Luciano is accepting an award and our hero and heroine are in the coat closet having sex. Is this woman 40 or 18? Also, just because the Hs have loads of sex doesn't mean they have any sexual chemistry.

In addition, the author clearly took creative licence with the info on European football clubs or maybe she just didn't do enough research..but, whatever, it's fiction. Ultimately, it was the boredom that got to me and I think I sleep-read majority of the book. Oh, well.

If you're looking for a swoon-worthy blistering hot love between a younger man and an older woman, then read VI Keeland's "All Grown Up".

[Mali Mor ❤️ The Romantic Blogger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forty-years old Thalia Blackwood, gets a second chance to start again as the physiotherapist of Real Madrid football team. ⚽️❤
A new country, a new language – in a world that belongs to men… she has a lot to prove and a lot to lose, so she doesn't need any distractions. 😱
Certainly not a distraction in the form of a handsome, Spanish, young, 23-year-old football player named Alejo Albarado – who could ruin everything she built for herself. 🔥🔥🔥

📚 "𝐓𝐞 𝐚𝐦𝐨, 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚. 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬." 📚

I loved the Spanish in the story, I loved the football and the world that the author built – it was so realistic… ❤
I loved the characters and their dilemmas… I loved the chemistry and the erotica (it was SO HOT !!!) 💥

📚 “𝐌𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬.” 📚

What I didn't like was that there were repetitive parts – but mostly – the male narrator ruined my enjoyment… I probably would have enjoyed this book much more if I had read it and not heard it. 🙈
So I definitely recommend this book – but do me a favor, read it, don't listen to the audio! 😂⚽️

• I listened to the AUDIO version. 🎧

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[Angie - Angie's Dreamy Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I AM STILL TRYING TO CATCH MY BREATH. Whew baby, Karina Halle BRINGS IT with The Forbidden Man! This book absolutely wrecked me. It was angsty and sexy and decadent and forbidden and heartfelt and beautiful and romantic and dreamy anddddddddd ... I could keep going on and on for days. I'm IN AWE of Alejo and Thalia. These characters are so special. They are MORE THAN memorable. They are the kinds of characters that leave a mark on you and I'm not sure how I will get over them.

I mean, my word! The Forbidden Man is simply a GUARANTEED BOOK HANGOVER . From start to finish, it’s impossible to put down. It more than holds your attention, it demands it. The characters have charismatic personalities that charm you through and through. And there's not a chance you won't FALL HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE with every aspect of this story.

From the gut wrenching prologue to the melt-your-heart epilogue, this is a romance that packs a punch. The age gap is significant, Alejo 23 and Thalia 40, but you barely notice it as these two are kindred spirits, connecting on a soul deep level.

Karina Halle not only delivers a stunning romance but one that pushes boundaries, makes you squirm, and has your pulse pounding like crazy. The way Thalia and Alejo's relationship is set up is out of this world intoxicating. Thalia has just moved to Madrid and has been hired as the head physical therapist for Real Madrid. She's there for a fresh start, having just come off a divorce. Alejo is NOT in her plans. But who could ever plan for someone like Alejo (the star football player of the team)! He's a force of nature, a sexy-as-sin, sweet-talking, gorgeous and passionate man that makes you want want want.

The relationship is forbidden. In Thalia's contract it states she can have NO sexual contact with a player. But when Alejo is hurt and they're forced to work closely together, things burn and they get swept up in an inferno that rages out of control.

And you guys, it's EVERYTHING. You truly can’t catch your breath. The storyline is so heady and sultry and sensual. It heats you up inside and out! On top of that, there’s a depth and realness to these character, a sweet-tenderness to their love story that just RUINS you. I truly can't say enough good things. I was completely romanced, carried away by Alejo and Thalia's love. It's so immersive, so visceral, so BEYOND any words. You need to read it. Undoubtedly one of my most FAVORITE STANDALONE READS of 2019! I. JUST. LOVE. IT.

[Giorgia Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️


I loved it. I abso-freaking-lutely loved it.
I’m gonna go into the why’s in a sec, first I gotta say that I don’t wanna sell it as this perfect book, this unicorn you absolutely have to go see(in this case read). This one is a case of to "each their own".

Sometimes you read something and you have no bloody idea how or why but you are gripped, and it touches you and you think about it often in the aftermath of reading it.
That’s this book for me. Maybe it’s because I’m familiar with the world in which everything took place (I live in Manchester UK, I’m pretty familiar with European football, the teams, players etc- I love Spain, I speak Spanish... need I go on? - you get the point). But aside from all other reasons, this book really took hold of my attention and I gotta admit it tugged at my feelings because it had heart.

- In this new year I’m here for a different kind of alpha male, the one who is in touch with his feelings, who will say “I love you and I know you love me too so let’s work it out”. The one who doesn’t play mind games or feels the need to retaliate in order to polish his bruised ego. The one who is relentless when he sets his sight on HER (that mythical being that gets all the awesome book boyfriends we pine after *sighs* ). The one who is respectful, protective but not controlling and the one who wears his heart on his sleeve and it doesn’t make him cheesy or weak. - you guessed it btw- a good example that meets all those qualities is Alejo.
Now, is he perfect? No, he’s immature and impulsive but he’s not a jackass 😉

- As for our heroine, Thalia, tbh I didn’t like her all the time because she was hella confused and a little flighty when it came to personal issues which then bled into her professional life. She became like a freaking ping-pong ball going back and forth between jobs and allegiances. But, I don’t really care, she’s not supposed to be perfect, all sorts of people have great love stories, even those with defects of personality.

I’ll tell you one of the things I loved most about this book though: how it dealt with the age issue between older woman/younger man. Characters, that were great otherwise and were friends with the MCs, were called out for being hypocritical and I was there for it!!! (Mind you, these were not awful people or bad intentioned, they just held the same prejudice everybody does and they didn’t even realise it)

“But weren’t you almost forty and your wife twenty-three when you first met her?”
He stills, blinks. Shakes his head. “Yes, but that was different.”
“How is that different? Because you’re a man and Vera is a woman? It’s not okay the other way around?”
“It’s a different scenario. Completely. Alejo, Thalia is your physical therapist. She’s off-limits. She’s forbidden to you. You’re crossing a line that can’t be crossed.”
I cock my head. “And weren’t you married when you first were with Vera?”

That right there people sealed the deal! I call it a complete knock out, I’d use more sports metaphors but I just don’t know any (it’s hard to be ignorant when you wanna make a point).

Anyway, we are basically saying that an older woman can not keep a younger guy interested and pass the test of time because her looks will fade and she’ll “deteriorate” quicker than him. How fucking shallow is that? Relationships collapse all the time for all sort of reasons, and they also last for all sorts of reasons DING DING, and those reasons have everything to do with personality, character and feelings and less with looks.

We have examples of older man/younger woman love stories everywhere. Books, movies, reality all around us, and while they might receive some unwanted comments, nobody really goes for the jugular and makes a big scandal out of it, it’s an everyday occurrence. When the genders are reversed it’s a completely different game. The woman gets trashed, called a granny, her imperfections are pointed out, her fertility called as an issue.
She is painted as a cougar (do men have a term for that sort of thing?!? I’d love to supply some gender equality, like with the word whore, we girls sobered up quickly and realised the dictionary is not doing us any favours so we took it upon us and now we have man-whore! Ain’t that lovely? I surely think so!)

Anyway, my point was lost somewhere in there, and I don’t have much to add (tbh I do, but that’s just a side effect of being me and having verbal/mental diarrhoea when I’m excited about something, so I’m gonna stop here).

It was a great book, a brilliant addition to the age-gap trope with some sports actions and a memorable love story with loads of heartfelt moments and sangria (which helped get all those feelings out from our characters- hence the heartfelt mushy stuff — and the sex, the sex was great, the steam was steamy alright?)

[Dilek VT · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was looking forward to this book so much. I always love younger man/older woman trope. I also like Karina Halle's writing. But this book is such a huge disappointment. I am so very upset :(



*********************************************

First of all, it is boring as hell. I waited and waited for it to get interesting or captivating but nope, it doesn't. It is boring in the extreme!

*********************************************

Secondly, the hero and heroine has ZERO chemistry. Zero, zip, zilch, nada!

This is a romance book, for God's sake, and there is no connection or no chemistry between the main characters. I would really prefer watching paint dry than read more about their story.

*********************************************

Thirdly, use of another language in an English book is something I dislike if there is not a translation given all the time. Checking those Spanish words or sentences in the dictionary was distracting.

*********************************************

I guess page 182 is good enough to decide that I am not enjoying a book at all; I believe I have tried hard; so now, DNF it is! The book is 440 pages and I cannot stand this torture any more.

[Pavlina Read more sleep less blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤ 5 STARS❤

I loved it so much, so nice to be back in Mateo and Vera’s world but this time with Thalia and Alejo who where fantastic! I loved their romance so much!

Super hot, sensual, emotional ,sweet and it has the perfect amount of drama! I fall in love with each character and it felt like I was a part of their story! I swoon and melt with these two! They make me feel warm!

This has everything I wanted and even more.I loved how the relationship between Alejo and Thalia developed and I liked the age difference, you don't find easy books with older woman!Alejo is protective , super hot and sweet!He was mature duo to what happened in the past and I like him a lot!He is definitely a swoon worthy hero!Thalia is also good, I could easily connect with her!

This is a must read, you have to pick it up!Favorite book of the year!!


 

  

[chan ☆]

dnf @ 5%

life's too short to read stuff that bores you. this didn't start off horribly and in fact the premise is pretty original. older woman is head physical therapist for soccer team in madrid. falls for one of the players.

i can tell this is the kind of angsty emotional story that a lot of y'all will like. i'm just not real big into older woman/younger man stories and soccer is the one sport i reallllllly don't give a shit about.

[Jennifer Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars



Karina Halle’s spin on a soccer player’s fall for a female staff member was EXCELLENT! I adored the manner in which the hero the “younger man” was written. Alejo Albarado is the twenty-three year old soccer star who was so refreshing and uniquely portrayed. He spoke from the heart, acted impulsively at times, and was so genuine, not to mention sexy as hell. On the other hand, our heroine Thalia, is a forty year old newly divorced woman whose career and reputation could be destroyed if she acts on the mutual attraction she has for Alejo.

”Our love is shaping up to be the biggest risk of all.”



As the season proceeds the sizzling attraction is intense while the stuff that comes out of the hero’s mouth is to die for.

”He pulls back just enough to stare into my eyes with this dark, raw desire. “I’m going to worship you.”



I connected and understood the heroine’s worries. Not unlike Thalia, I was pleasantly surprised by how open he was about his feelings and surety of an “us”. The writing was completely on point, the settings were described so clearly and the love…worth the risk!

“My heart is your heart. Your heart is my home.”

[Sonya ♕Chatterbooks book blog♕ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karina Halle delivered a soul crushing romance that was forbidden, sexy, passionate and full of love. I had no idea what I was going to get with a forbidden sports romance with the leading female being older, but I have to say that I really enjoyed this one.

Coming off of a heartbreaking divorce, Thalia is trying to pick up the pieces of her life and start over. With a new job in the works and the chance to re establish her career, things are starting to look a little bit better for this newly forty year old single woman. Being a physical therapist for the best soccer team in Madrid, Thalia knows she has to take care of the players and make sure that their recovery is top of the line. But things suddenly get complicated when one of the star players changes everything for her.

I loved the setting for this story and if I closed my eyes long enough, I could have pictured myself in the scenery and soaking up everything. The food, the excitement of watching the games, the sight seeing, I loved all of it and this author did a good job of making me envisioning it. I will admit that Thalia needed to be more self confident in certain things and I felt like I would have loved the story even more if it was a bit shorter.

Aside from that, I think if you love a good forbidden romance, then you should give this one a try because it’s definitely worth it.

[• Jodi Bibliophile • · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t even have the right words to express how I’m feeling right now.

Karina has literally FLAWED ME!

The second I started this book, I couldn’t put it down. I found myself thinking about it before bed and waking up feeling so giddy AF to jump back in.

I LIVED for this story and these characters.

Most of you know how picky I am and when a book consumes me as much as this book did, can only means it was BEYOND AMAZING. Like it was fucking incredible and I don’t throw that word around often.

Forbidden, powerful, funny, sad, chills-worthy, and oh so fucking HOT! I felt EVERYTHING!!!

I love books set in Europe and Karina writers THE BEST ONES! This story gave me all the ‘Love, in English-Kinda-Feels’.

OH MY GOD, IT WAS SO FUCKING GOOD!!!!!

I never wanted it to end and I won’t be forgetting Alejo and Thalia love story for a long time.

I want to read it all over again!!

Ps. Mateo is still mine!
Pps. Luciano needs his own book!

[warhawke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author: Karina Halle
Genre: Contemporary (Sports) Romance
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person - Dual
Rating:




A messy divorce forced Thalia Blackwood to completely overhaul her life. Moving to Madrid was supposed to be the fresh start she desperately needed. However, falling for Alejo Albarado’s impossible to resist charm was the last thing she ever expected and it became a complication neither of them was willing to face.



I love the older woman/younger man dynamic because it’s not very common for an age gap trope. And this one has quite a significant gap, so I was drawn to this book by that alone. I’m happy to say, this one hit the right spot.

“Bossy boy, aren’t you?” He raises his chin in defiance. “Not a boy. A man that’s going to tongue-fuck that sweet, pink coño of yours until you’re coming on my lips.”

Alejo was intense and incredibly sexy. I loved how he tackled everything in life passionately. He was young and cheeky, but he knew how to take responsibility.

Considering her past and present situation, Thalia was understandably more cautious. She was in the worse position between them with much more to lose. I liked how she was levelheaded without being uptight. Together, their chemistry was palpable and the sex scenes would make readers sweaty and breathless as if completing a full-time match.



One of the author’s strengths is immersing the readers into the ambiance and in this book, Madrid and several other cities came alive within the story. I also loved the energy at the matches.

The Forbidden Man is a story of taking chances and new beginnings. It would appeal to readers looking for an age gap sports romance with a forbidden element.

Note 1:
I’m not into sports romance but soccer is one of the few sports that I have knowledge about, so it was nice knowing all the real-life teams and players mentioned in the story.

Note 2:
I love Luciano and his Portuguese proverbs lol!







For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

[Vee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Possibly an unpopular opinion, but I feel like this author didn’t want to write an age-gap romance…😅

This is how I felt the FMC’s age was described in the book :

She’s 40… but she regularly gets Botox, so she doesn’t look ‘40’
She’s 40... but she gets mistaken for being in her early 30s all the time, so she doesn’t look ‘40’
She’s 40… but she works out a lot, so she doesn’t look ‘40’
She’s 40…but people always say she looks amazing for her age, so she doesn’t look ‘40’

Why can’t this woman just be 40 !! It sounded like the author was trying to justify why a 23-year-old would like a ‘40’-year-old, so she gave reasons that would ‘explain’ it. All those reasons linked back to the fact she didn’t look like an ‘average’ 40-year-old. What does that even look like? I’ve come here for an age-gap romance, I don’t need you to move the age.

The FMC was such a resilient character with a fun, outgoing personality, but that was overshadowed by how much her looks were written about. I understand describing a character as being attractive, but it seemed to go far beyond that.

I went off on a rant…For further context, the MMC is a 23-year-old professional Spanish Footballer and the FMC is a ‘40’ year old Physical Therapist. This was a forbidden romance, mostly because it would be a HR Nightmare.

I initially really liked the start of the book. I feel like I could easily visualise Alejo from his character description, but also because of his c*cksure, slightly forward, funny personality that came out so strongly when he spoke. He was very sure of who he was.

With this combination of personalities, I expected more chemistry. There seemed to be a connection prior to them getting together, but after it just vanished for me. It was like trying to light a fire in the rain…nothing was happening and there was no sparks flying.

The scene when they ‘got together’ felt so weirdly rushed and anti-climatic. Despite there being sexual tension previously it just didn’t seem to translate well. There were just no emotions behind it.

Dnf at 44% for very obvious reason 🙄😅

[KristenReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 to 5 Stars
I loved this book! It’s become one of my favorite sport romances.

[Samantha Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phwar! Steamy, angsty, emotional, and filled with amazing tension! Thalia and Alejo will pull you deep into their stunning romance and leave you with a guaranteed book hangover.

[Optimist ♰King's Wench♰ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started off like gangbusters!

My first Halle and I was thinking to myself, 'self, you're a dumbass for not reading her writes before now'. I'm kind of a sucker for the sekrit lub stories so I was kind of dancing a jig.

Thalia and Alejo had fantastic chemistry going on that turned hotter than a forrest fire when the sexy times started.



I was not mad at it.

Both of the characters and their emotions read realistic to me. I didn't want to put it down. Really, things were going swimmingly. I mean, I haaaaaaaattttttted Thalia's friend Helen. Like, a whole lot. Who just swipes someone's phone and reads their texts without permission???? But I really loved all the team dynamics, the physical therapy techniques and even some of the other players especially Luciano so I squinted and pressed on.

Then...



The "conflict" happens. And keeps on happening. And then happens again.

First of all, it got old. Second of all, it didn't make sense to me logically.

I mean, if a love interest says this to you:

“Yes. I have your body, but I don’t want just your body, Thalia. I want your fucking soul. I want to take it and keep it and mix it up with mine until it burns between us like the sun. That’s what I want from you.” I pause, trying to swallow the sadness in my throat. “At the very least, give me your heart.”

And you feel the same but then you choose your job over them????



There's just no fixing stupid, I guess.

Thereafter I'm not sure if I lost all respect for Thalia and she took the whole storyline down along with her as well as my goodwill but (a) I think it could've been edited down; (b) it's like the "love" concept became an entity in and of itself, which I get love being a force of nature, wild and even all-consuming but it's like their "love" became another person in the room. It was bizarre. Then (c) Thalia started making choices that were just flat-out nonsensical and she evolved into a contrivance.

The end was sweet and I'm glad they got their HEA and all but I just wish the story overall would've been more even-keeled rather than throwing obstacle after obstacle at them. I also think Alejo should've made her beg.

But I'm a grudge holding pill sometimes so...



I'm going to go with 3 stars overall but in general I'm SUPER butthurt that I originally thought it was going to be a 4-5 star read that nosedived.

p.s. the name of the book changed?????

[Melanie A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

~SIGH~ This could have been epic!

I think the main problem was the decided lack of thought that went into the story. It all came across as superficial. There weren't enough scenes to show the initial stages of their relationship, which felt off to me, like he was sexually harassing her and she wasn't doing her job.

Plus, you can't tell me that two rational adults didn't have some kind of plan, any kind of plan for the future. Again, it was superficial. They both knew they'd get caught eventually, but there was just no inner thought process around the idea other than 'she's going to get fired.' Ok, so what?

Then, there's no way that (A) a world-class athlete worth millions is sticking his dick into any woman without a condom, or (B) a 40 y.o. woman is letting any man (let alone a known manwhore) stick his dick into her without a condom. This is a huge no-no for me. Because there's nothing less sexy than STD's.

My only consolation was that this was a buddy read with the fabulous LEILA. She very kindly put up with my moaning, lol. 🥰 Many thanks!!

[Betül · Rating 4 out of 5]

**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**


The Younger Man is a very sensual, and straight to the point contemporary (a little bit taboo) romance. I loved that there was a big age difference (17 years) between Thalia and Alejo. What I also really liked was that you could sometimes really feel that there was an age difference. Even though Alejo is a young football player, he has been through a lot and had to mature earlier than most people. I think that was the main reason why he and Thalia connected so greatly. He was so passionate and didn't play games. I admired and fell in love with his personality and heart. It took me a bit longer to warm up to Thalia, but I understood her reservations about the relationship. She just started her new job and getting involved with a much younger player is definitely frowned upon (and not allowed). But it was just hard for her to resist Alejo's charms. And he definitely didn't let anything stop him from pursuing her.

"You mean everything to me. You are the world. More than the world, you are the sun, Thalia. El Sol. And the sun doesn't worry about being too bright for the moon or the stars, it just burns and shines. Just like you. You shine. You're el sol de mi corazon."

The chemistry between them was so hot, and the sex scenes were phenomenal. I loved that this book was long, because it gave me time to really connect to the characters. It also gave the charters time to grow as individuals, and deal with some personal things. I didn't feel rushed and the author really took the time to set an atmosphere for the story. I also loved how she described all the beautiful places the characters visited. It felt like I was there with the characters. I loved Alejo's team players, and I especially was intrigued by the team captain Luciano and the womanizer Rene. This was also the first time I was introduced to Matteo and Vera, who are the main characters in Love, in English. I really look forward to read their story and how they managed to get their HEA. The Younger Man is a great contemporary romance, that I think readers would enjoy a lot. The taboo aspect was great, and it added another layer to the story.

[Flor ❁ (HIATUS)]

DNF.

can't handle this book. the writing style is boring.

[Phuong ✯ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“My heart,” he murmurs, “it beats for you, Thalia. Now and always. I love you. Te amo. And this love burns like the sun.”

I'm really shocked at how much I liked this book. This is my 4th book by Karina Halle and I haven't enjoyed any of her books so far. I only picked up this book because I haven't read forbidden romance and younger man - older woman for a while and the blurb sounded interesting enough. I expected to find it mediocre at best, but woah ~ I was positively surprised.

My man Toni Kroos was mentioned a couple of times. Real Madrid's best midfielder and no I'm not biased or anything. Just trying to state facts here :D
Anyway, I really enjoyed the setting in Madrid and football. Finally a sport that I understand all the rules and know all the players!! Sports romances are like my kryptonite and it's always fun to read whether it is American football, basketball or hockey, but I realised that I'm waaay more into it when I know all the terms.. like when they were talking about "El clasico" or "UEFA champions league" I was getting SUPER excited! So yeah, the football setting really worked for me.

Alejo and Thalia were great characters. I was a bit sceptical at the beginning cause Thalia is forty while Alejo is twenty-three. That's seventeen years of difference. That's quite a lot, especially for guys in their tweenties. I was afraid that Alejo would be too childish, but that was not the case. He was a lot more mature for his age due to his circumstances. Alejo knew exactly what wants and wasn't unsure of his feelings for Thalia. He wears his emotions on his sleeve and he's not ashamed to show them. Therefore, the age-gap wasn't a problem because Alejo wasn't some alpha arrogant prick who was too cool to show emotion and created unnecessary drama. My soft football star.

I like Thalia for her resilience and kind-hearted spirit. She just went through a nasty divorce. Now she moved from Manchester to Madrid for a fresh start. She's a in a foreign country with no friends and she doesn't even speak the language and all she wants is to survive and leave the past behind. As Real Madrid new head therapist she has the chance to start again.

What I loved most about Alejo and Thalia's relationship is how supportive and selfless they were for each other. Thalia was Alejo #1 supporter during every game on and off the field. Alejo adores Thalia and would do everything for her. He would give up the game and team he loves so dearly if they would have a chance to be together. They were just adorable.

“You mean everything to me. You are the world. More than the world. You are the sun, Thalia. El Sol. And the sun doesn't worry about being too bright for the moon or the stars, it just burns and shines. Just like you. You shine. You're el sol de mi corazon.”

Additionally, there were some interesting secondary characters! Mateo and Vera were great friends to Alejo and Thalia! I'm not interested in reading their story, but they were good additions for this one! Alejo teammate Luciano was a awesome friend to them as well! I would have loved to get more of Alejo's family, they seem really cool! Of course not everyone is great, in every book there is at least some villain. Here is no different... Thalia had some fake friends to get rid off, but overall the good characters overshadowed the bad ones!

If you are looking for 500 pages of "forbidden romance" with a "younger man and older woman" age-gap couple that sets in Europe with football theme then you should give this book a try!

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐'s

“I can be your someone.”

This is an older woman/younger man forbidden romance and I just love when the younger man knows exactly what he wants.

Thalia has been through a rough divorce with her cheating husband and since they both worked for Manchester United she quits and gets a job with Real Madrid. That's where she meets Alejo.

Alejo is taken with her right away but there is a no fraternization policy and he is seventeen years younger than Thalia...not that it bothers him at all!

Thalia tries but she just can't stay away from him and when he injures his knee and she's put in charge of his therapy, there's no going back. (OMG...the steam room scene. Phewwww!)

They see each other in secret but Alejo is so passionate and he doesn't want to keep things a secret which is difficult. Thalia has them make some sacrifices to try to calm things down but it's only a bandaid and finally they have to take a stand.

I didn't agree with how Thalia handled things...she almost seemed like the younger person but I do like when she finally got her head on straight.

We get a lot about Mateo and Vera from the Love, in English series and I was happy to get some new scenes with them and find out what's going on.

We also meet Luciano, the captain of Real Madrid and he seems very yummy. I certainly wouldn't mind a book about him.

The ending was very romantic and I just love Alejo's passion.

"El sol de mi corazón."

The sun of my heart.

[Just A Girl With Spirit · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 Hala Madrid stars!

I am completely swept away right now by this book! Thalia & Alejo will be a couple that is written in the history books, as far as the book world goes. This book was extremely well written, and hit every single place in my heart. So much raw emotion, angst, passion, romance, and lust! I truly don’t want to leave this world. I love forbidden romances, and this one is my favorite!!

“So this is Alejo Albarado. Number 28.”

Hello top book boyfriend for 2019, and top 5 of all time! This passionate Spaniard stole my heart completely. Pure alpha with the most intense heart of gold, this man was my undoing. What choice did Thalia have?

I highlighted so many parts, but these quotes slay me.

“Tell me again, in English.” “I love you,” I whisper. “Tell me again in Spanish.” “Te amo.”

“The bigger the love, the greater the risk. But love, real, true, can’t-live-without-you love? That’s worth everything in the universe.”

“All the roads lead to Alejo.” Indeed they do. He is everything!

[NMmomof4 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

Overall Opinion: I was enjoying this and then the last quarter happened. I ended up not liking the h that much because I felt like she was all over the place and I didn’t understand her behavior. She was a mess and I think she hurt the H unnecessarily. In a way, 'I think she acted too immature for him! I also wanted more with the ending. While it was cute and offered closure (and I’m sure we will get more of them in the next book), I didn’t feel like it was enough. Overall, it was just alright.

Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Thalia and Alejo’s story. Thalia just went through a nasty divorce working as the only female physical therapist for a professional soccer team, so when she is given the opportunity to work for the Real Madrid team in Spain she feels like it is her clean slate. What she doesn’t expect is Alejo and their instant connection. Alejo is young and passionate and he knows he wants Thalia right away and starts his pursuit. When an injury causes the two to spend more time together, Alejo breaks down all of Thalia’s walls. There are some life obstacles, some hot sexy times, and some drama...and they get a HEA ending.

Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Thalia and Alejo’s POV.

Overall Pace of Story: Alright. I feel like it had good pacing until the last quarter where it seemed to slow down. I did skim some towards the very end.

Instalove: Yes for the H and kind of for the h.

H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Alejo. I liked him. I felt like he was a little naive at times but I think that was to portray his youth.

h (heroine) rating: 3 stars. Thalia. I liked her but then she pushed away too much during the conflict.

Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed

Push/Pull: Yes The h pushes away a good bit because of her job and their age difference and I’d say the H is the main pursuer of the relationship

Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.

Descriptive sex: Yes

OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No

Sex scene with OW or OM: No

Cheating: Not between mcs

Separation: Yes They are separated for ~3 months, but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time.

Possible Triggers: Yes The h is ~17 years older than the H, the h was cheated on and publicly divorced her ex (off page), the h had miscarriage with her ex (off page), and the H’s dad committed suicide (on page in prologue).

Closure: This had pretty good closure with what I would call a HEA ending they’re married and getting an adopted son, but I definitely would’ve liked more.

Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers

- Does Not have cheating
- Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
- Does have the h pushing the H away
- Does have a separation between the h and H
- Does Not have abuse
- Does have a HEA ending

[Alba and Her Secrets..♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 'El sol de mi corazón' Stars!
ARC provided via Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review.


And that is how a gripping age-gap romance is written! Karina Halle surely knows how to end this year with a bang because The Younger Man was simply an unputdownable read from start to finish. Trust me when I say you’ll want to meet Alejo and read his and Thalia’s journey to fall in love for each other. It’s oh-so-worth-it!

So, The Younger Man is Karina’s newest standalone release and it focuses on the story of Alejo Albarado and Thalia Blackwood. Thalia is recently divorced and she needs a change. She does that getting a new job in Madrid as a sports physical therapist. There she meets our hero, Alejo. Alejo has a difficult past but now he is the star of Real Madrid (Spanish football/soccer team) and he can take care of his family. The spark between this couple is instant and that is the start of this emotional love story.

She’s off-limits.
The forbidden fruit.
And I’m terrible at pretending I don’t want a taste.

Karina just gave us an outstanding, unique, sexy and emotional age-gap romance. She did THAT! And you want to know what the best thing about it is? Alejo himself, of course. He overcomes his past, he is a kick ass player, he loves his family and his friends dearly. And he fights for Thalia and their feelings from start to finish, without doubts. That was so beautiful to read! He is such a swoony hero and he melted my heart completely. *sigh*

She’s like the sun.
El sol de mi corazón.
The sun of my heart, but a sun that’s always rising, always beautiful, a sunrise that makes you stop and stare and wonder.

And, obviously, if you know of Karina’s works, you know this also got burning hot and ran high on the feels too. I loved how the author developed the whole relationship, its taboo theme, how she introduced the Spanish football world (even though I am a huuuuge Barça fan! lol), the explosive chemistry between Alejo and Thalia, the ups and downs between them and that roller coaster of emotions. I just loved everything!

“The bigger the love, the greater the risk. But love, real, true, can’t-live-without-you love? That’s worth everything in the universe.”

Therefore, I am rating The Younger Man with 5 STARS because I adored the journey and development of this age-gap story. Alejo and Thalia are so wonderful together and it’s so clear they belong with each other after everything. I loved every moment of reading this book. Trust me, if you are a fan of Karina Halle’s writing and this romance trope, you don’t want to miss The Younger Man.

CHECK OUT MY BLOG HERE:

[Vanessa (nessreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am completely and utterly speechless. Feels upon feels upon feel. My heart feels so full. Karina has floored me and I was beyond consumed with the story that she so eloquently and beautifully penned.

From the second I started this book, I couldn’t put it down. Every other thought I had was about this book, this story and these characters. I tried to pace myself from finishing reading in one-sitting, but the more I read the more I was sucked in and I couldn’t stop. I lived for this story and for Alejo and Thalia.

There is a specific level where I place the characters I read in books. They have to make me feel some type of way in order to be placed at the very top. And as far as Heroes goes, Alejo Albarado is one at the top of that pedestal. Santa maría, madre de dios this man was everything. I loved everything about him, but what I loved the most was his passion. Passion for life, passion for fútbol and his intense passion for love. Dios mio, the way that he loves is so magnetic and ferocious. There’s a Mexican saying—chuparse los dedos, which translates to “suck ones fingers” basically meaning “finger licking good” and in my eyes that’s definitely one way to describe Alejo.

Thalia, Thalia, Thalia—oh how I adored her! She’s ambitious, hardworking and a go-getter. There were many qualities that I admired in Thalia and I liked how she wasn’t impulsive and really and truly thought things through. I was rooting so hard for her and her happiness because she well deserved it and much more.

Thalia and Alejo’s chemistry was scorching. They burned volcanic hot. And honest to goodness they were meant to be together. Their heart called to the other and it was inevitable that they’d both fall. Age is just a number. And yes, Thalia is much older than Alejo, but love doesn’t know of age or any difference. And both were true in Thalia and Alejo’s story. There were challenges and it wasn’t easy, but in the end love always wins.

The Younger Man is one of the best age gap romances I’ve read in a long time. It was emotional, but at the same time had me laughing. It was sensual, sexy and beautiful. I loved the Spanish that was interwoven in the story. And the setting of this story in Europe was just magical. I was so invested in Thalia and Alejo’s story—I felt them deep in my bones. They took me on an emotional ride but it was well worth it. And though I never wanted Thalia and Alejo’s story to end, I’m content in knowing that I’ll never forget them or their incredible love story.

A 2019 favorite

Definitely recommend

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book*

[Lacey (laceybooklovers) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5-5!! I’m in loveeee!!! Alejo was literally the absolute sweetest. I adored him and Thalia so so much! Gah, the tension and angst was perfect. So happy I loved this one, and loved seeing Mateo and Vera again!

[AJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 passionate, swoony, epically romantic stars!

Oh, my heart! I’ve been through it all with this book, and I’m absolutely in love with this chemistry-filled, epic love story. An older woman/younger man romance with an angst-inducing forbidden twist, this book held me captivated for 500+ pages of sexual tension, chemistry, passion, angst, drama and soul-deep love, and I loved it so much.

And with a book like this, I couldn’t help but highlight my way through the book, so beware my quote-whorey review.

Against all odds, physical therapist Thalia rose through the typically male-dominated world of sports therapy to score a job with legendary English soccer team, Manchester United. But her dreams fell apart when her marriage to the team’s coach fell apart after he cheated on her. Suffering after a humiliatingly public divorce, she’s heading off to Madrid to become the lead physical therapist to one of Europe’s best soccer teams, Real Madrid, 40 years old and looking for a fresh start.

Alejo Albarado is a 23 year old forward for Real Madrid. He’s come from a poor and tragic upbringing to become one of the greats, and he is revelling in his success and his life in the spotlight.

All it takes is one glance between Thalia and Alejo and they are smitten. They keep things professional, with perhaps a little innocent flirting, but the more time they spend together, the mad chemistry between them becomes undeniable and the sexual tension builds brilliantly until they inevitably give in to it.

He pulls back just enough to stare into my eyes with this dark, raw desire. “I’m going to worship you.”

Though mind-blowing, Thalia knows that nothing can come of a relationship with Alejo, but their first encounter has only made them desperate for more, and they soon find themselves in the middle of a passionate, but illicit, affair.



It’s hot, passionate, and so, so easy to fall together, and I loved watching it all unfold.

“This is my favorite view,” he says to me. “You, beneath me, smiling. Don’t ever change.”
“Don’t ever stop fucking me like this,” I tell him, briefly sticking out my tongue.
His lips curl in a lopsided smile and he leans in, kissing me.
This, this, this.
I want this forever.

OMG, this love story is so, so beautiful! It’s passionate and emotional, with a soul-deep intensity that just swept me away. I swooned and fanned myself, sometimes at the same time, and I fell in mad love with Alejo and the love he has for Thalia.

“My heart,” he murmurs, “it beats for you, Thalia. Now and always. I love you. Te amo. And this love burns like the sun.”

Especially because while reading I kept picturing this... *dreamy sigh*...



But Thalia has insecurities and worries about their 17-year age difference, and of course Real Madrid staff aren’t allowed to become involved with players in any way, so every moment that she’s with Alejo she is putting her job on the line.

He sighs, closing his eyes. “I hate this,” he says softly. He lets his head fall to the side and looks at me. His eyes seem to dig straight into my heart. “
Why do we have to hide? I don’t want to hide.”

The secrecy adds a delicious intensity to everything, but of course it leads to drama. They have ups and downs as their romance plays out, and I ached for all that they go through. I felt it all, hurting and crying right along with them as they figure it all out.

“You’re worth it!” I yell. “You’re worth everything to me, more than the game, more than anything else I hold dear in the world. Fuck, Thalia, you are my world and everything in it. You are my sun, my heart.”

It’s such a hard situation, and a wild rollercoaster as their heads battle with their hearts, and as much as it’s a love story, it’s also a journey for Alejo, and more so Thalia, to discover who they are and what they want. And though it hurt, it’s well written and I could understand all that they were feeling, and it’s worth it for the ending that heals all the hurt and is so, so satisfying.

“My path in life leads right into your arms.”

Along for the ride is Thalia’s boss and Real Madrid coach, Mateo Casalles. Karina fans will know Mateo and Vera from Love, in English, which is still one of my all-time favourite reads, so I was in heaven seeing them again. They feature quite heavily as friends to both Thalia and Alejo, especially given the similarities in their situations, and they are just fantastic and I thought the tie-in was so cleverly done. You don’t need to have read Love, In English to follow this book, it’s just a bonus for fans, and hopefully a taste that will encourage you to go back and read Mateo and Vera’s story if you haven’t already.

I love so much about this book – the characters, the writing, the love story, the excitement of the soccer games, the Spanish setting and the chemistry, love and emotion that flows through it all. Karina has done a really wonderful job with this story, I’m still swooning!

“My heart is your heart. Your heart is my home.”

5 stars.

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Mali Mor ❤️ The Romantic Blogger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forty-years old Thalia Blackwood, gets a second chance to start again as the physiotherapist of Real Madrid football team. ⚽️❤
A new country, a new language – in a world that belongs to men… she has a lot to prove and a lot to lose, so she doesn't need any distractions. 😱
Certainly not a distraction in the form of a handsome, Spanish, young, 23-year-old football player named Alejo Albarado – who could ruin everything she built for herself. 🔥🔥🔥

📚 "𝐓𝐞 𝐚𝐦𝐨, 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚. 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬." 📚

I loved the Spanish in the story, I loved the football and the world that the author built – it was so realistic… ❤
I loved the characters and their dilemmas… I loved the chemistry and the erotica (it was SO HOT !!!) 💥

📚 “𝐌𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬.” 📚

What I didn't like was that there were repetitive parts – but mostly – the male narrator ruined my enjoyment… I probably would have enjoyed this book much more if I had read it and not heard it. 🙈
So I definitely recommend this book – but do me a favor, read it, don't listen to the audio! 😂⚽️

• I listened to the AUDIO version. 🎧

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