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Love on the Ice
The Next Competitor
an alternate cover edition can be found here
If he risks his heart, can he keep his head in the game?
To win gold, figure skater Alex Grady must train harder than the competition morning, noon, and night. He’s obsessed with mastering another quadruple jump, and due to the lack of filter between his mouth and brain, doesn’t have a lot of friends. As for a boyfriend, forget it. So what if he’s still a virgin at twenty? The Olympics are only every four years—everything else can wait. Relationships are messy and complicated anyway, and he has zero room in his life for romance.
So it’s ridiculous when Alex finds himself checking out his boring new training mate Matt Savelli. Calm, collected “Captain Cardboard” is a nice guy, but even if Alex had time to date, Matt’s so not his type. Yet beneath Matt’s wholesome surface, there’s a dirty, sexy man who awakens a desire Alex has never experienced and can’t deny…
Note: This gay romance from Keira Andrews features opposites attracting, new adult angst, sexual discovery, and of course a happy ending.
First published as a YA novel in 2010. This new version has been extensively rewritten, updated, and expanded.
If he risks his heart, can he keep his head in the game?
To win gold, figure skater Alex Grady must train harder than the competition morning, noon, and night. He’s obsessed with mastering another quadruple jump, and due to the lack of filter between his mouth and brain, doesn’t have a lot of friends. As for a boyfriend, forget it. So what if he’s still a virgin at twenty? The Olympics are only every four years—everything else can wait. Relationships are messy and complicated anyway, and he has zero room in his life for romance.
So it’s ridiculous when Alex finds himself checking out his boring new training mate Matt Savelli. Calm, collected “Captain Cardboard” is a nice guy, but even if Alex had time to date, Matt’s so not his type. Yet beneath Matt’s wholesome surface, there’s a dirty, sexy man who awakens a desire Alex has never experienced and can’t deny…
Note: This gay romance from Keira Andrews features opposites attracting, new adult angst, sexual discovery, and of course a happy ending.
First published as a YA novel in 2010. This new version has been extensively rewritten, updated, and expanded.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
111 people are currently reading
974 people want to read
About the author
Keira Andrews
65 books3,056 followersKeira aims for the perfect mix of character, plot, and heat in her M/M romances. She writes everything from swashbuckling pirates to heartwarming holiday escapism. Her fave tropes are enemies to lovers, age gaps, forced proximity, and passionate virgins. Although she loves delicious angst along the way, Keira guarantees happy endings!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 247 reviews
December 8, 2016
Alex Grady isn't the easiest guy to like. He's snarky, cocky, and has zero filter; what he thinks, he says, and what he says isn't always nice.
Much of Alex's abrasive personality can be explained by youth and stress. Alex is only 20, and he has a real chance at winning the gold. That's his goal, his prize for training hard and giving up his life to skate.
Alex has a hardass Russian coach whom he followed to Toronto and who pushes him unrelentingly (that's her job afterall); a supportive and loving family (his parents rock!); and a crush on the relentlessly nice Canadian pairs skater Matt Savelli (whom he initially refers to as Captain Cardboard).
Alex tells himself he doesn't have time for sex, much less romance, but following a tragedy on the ice, he can't help but me drawn to Matt, who's not boring, or shy, at all. Indeed, Matt has a dirty mouth and is a great kisser. Alex is a virgin, and that turns on Matt even more.
Alex is the narrator of the story, so we're not privy to Matt's thoughts, but he definitely reads like a complex character, with his own fears and ambitions. Matt isn't even out to his family, and he has to work long hours as a server to pay for his skating.
I loved Matt from the get-go, but it took me much longer to warm up to Alex. Alex is a perfectionist, but once he starts seeing Matt, he sort of loses focus. He pushes himself so hard, skating is no longer about joy. The fall is inevitable, and when Alex falls, he falls hard.
The relationship moves from friendship to more, and the awkward almost-kisses are adorable. There were a few smoldering smexy scenes, and I had fun getting to know the secondary characters, especially Kenny the Japanese ice skater. Sadly, Kenny's straight, or I would beg for his story.
The ending was satisfactory if a little anti-climatic. Matt and Alex get a strong HFN, but too many things are left up in the air for me to call this a HEA.
Keira Andrews knows her ice skating. The Next Competitor isn't bogged down with technical details, but the sport comes alive.
This book was a little too NA for me (thus the 4 star rating), but I still enjoyed it and would love to read a follow-up about Matt and Alex set four years down the road at the next Olympics.
Much of Alex's abrasive personality can be explained by youth and stress. Alex is only 20, and he has a real chance at winning the gold. That's his goal, his prize for training hard and giving up his life to skate.
Alex has a hardass Russian coach whom he followed to Toronto and who pushes him unrelentingly (that's her job afterall); a supportive and loving family (his parents rock!); and a crush on the relentlessly nice Canadian pairs skater Matt Savelli (whom he initially refers to as Captain Cardboard).
Alex tells himself he doesn't have time for sex, much less romance, but following a tragedy on the ice, he can't help but me drawn to Matt, who's not boring, or shy, at all. Indeed, Matt has a dirty mouth and is a great kisser. Alex is a virgin, and that turns on Matt even more.
Alex is the narrator of the story, so we're not privy to Matt's thoughts, but he definitely reads like a complex character, with his own fears and ambitions. Matt isn't even out to his family, and he has to work long hours as a server to pay for his skating.
I loved Matt from the get-go, but it took me much longer to warm up to Alex. Alex is a perfectionist, but once he starts seeing Matt, he sort of loses focus. He pushes himself so hard, skating is no longer about joy. The fall is inevitable, and when Alex falls, he falls hard.
The relationship moves from friendship to more, and the awkward almost-kisses are adorable. There were a few smoldering smexy scenes, and I had fun getting to know the secondary characters, especially Kenny the Japanese ice skater. Sadly, Kenny's straight, or I would beg for his story.
The ending was satisfactory if a little anti-climatic. Matt and Alex get a strong HFN, but too many things are left up in the air for me to call this a HEA.
Keira Andrews knows her ice skating. The Next Competitor isn't bogged down with technical details, but the sport comes alive.
This book was a little too NA for me (thus the 4 star rating), but I still enjoyed it and would love to read a follow-up about Matt and Alex set four years down the road at the next Olympics.
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December 12, 2016My new book is now available! This is an extensive rework of a novel I published in 2010. I put more focus on the romance and Alex's sexual awakening with on-page sex, and also updated the figure skating details, since men's skating has evolved greatly since I wrote this in 2009. I'm delighted to have this story back out in the world, and I hope you enjoy it!
Now exclusive at Amazon to buy or borrow in Kindle Unlimited.
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2h00FBW
Amazon global: http://mybook.to/NextCompetitor_KA
Now exclusive at Amazon to buy or borrow in Kindle Unlimited.
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2h00FBW
Amazon global: http://mybook.to/NextCompetitor_KA
February 9, 2017
So, skating!
A sport I’ve always loved and, as I’m such a hopeless case, I’ve never followed closely. Skating has always been a sport from ‘other’ countries: Russia, Japan, Canada, Scandinavian area (AKA: places where it’s fricking cold!). Meaning of this: it rarely appears on TV where I live. But lately it’s becoming closer and closer. Still, no response from my part. Wow.
I liked it a lot, because it’s a good book. However, there were parts that reminded me of Reading the Signs (a Canadian vs an American, Italian family, sports…). Not enough to say it’s a copy, but enough to say it wasn’t as original as I would have liked it to be.
This is supposed to be a YA-kind of book. At least, that’s the original idea, the original premise. It doesn’t feel that way, maybe NA, but that’s it. I’m not speaking about the chemistry or the sex scenes alone, but about everything surrounding the main pair. It feels mature, but they are young, so of course there are misunderstandings and a phase of self-discovering.
It’s true that at first the situation is hard to defend at first.
Alex is harsh and egocentric, only saying hurtful comments to everybody. I had a hard time believing he’s so mean but at the same time, he has lots of awesome friends and good people around him at all times.
Seriously?
Alex is super competitive, up to the point where he can only focus on winning, skating is the ‘need to win’ rather than the ‘need to skate’. I can understand athletes have an obsession, they spent most of their lives in their discipline, and not winning can be disheartening.
But… if you think about it, athletes lose a competition more often than winning it. So it’s only fair they develop a ‘second skin’ to bear the weigh and the pressure and still be able to enjoy what they are doing.
Alex focus so much on winning he loses himself in the process.
Matt is more balanced, he lives with his feet on the ground. He’s by far more experienced, but he still lives in the closet. However, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have to deal with challenges of his own. And something happens that puts his career and his self-esteem, in jeopardy.
Their relationship follows a natural path. Nothing comes out of the blue and strikes as something ‘strange’. It’s fun because at first Alex does not like Matt. Not at all. But hey, he’s not so bad now, yeah? But hey, he’s good, right? But hey, I wanna have sex with him right now!
Yes, it’s a comfort story, not much angst, lots of fluffy scenes, a couple of hot ones, and a moral that should sound pretentious, but it’s positive and uplifting instead.
I do recommend it.
*****
***ARC received from author via Indigo Marketing And Design in exchange for an honest review.***
A sport I’ve always loved and, as I’m such a hopeless case, I’ve never followed closely. Skating has always been a sport from ‘other’ countries: Russia, Japan, Canada, Scandinavian area (AKA: places where it’s fricking cold!). Meaning of this: it rarely appears on TV where I live. But lately it’s becoming closer and closer. Still, no response from my part. Wow.
I liked it a lot, because it’s a good book. However, there were parts that reminded me of Reading the Signs (a Canadian vs an American, Italian family, sports…). Not enough to say it’s a copy, but enough to say it wasn’t as original as I would have liked it to be.
This is supposed to be a YA-kind of book. At least, that’s the original idea, the original premise. It doesn’t feel that way, maybe NA, but that’s it. I’m not speaking about the chemistry or the sex scenes alone, but about everything surrounding the main pair. It feels mature, but they are young, so of course there are misunderstandings and a phase of self-discovering.
It’s true that at first the situation is hard to defend at first.
Alex is harsh and egocentric, only saying hurtful comments to everybody. I had a hard time believing he’s so mean but at the same time, he has lots of awesome friends and good people around him at all times.
Seriously?
Alex is super competitive, up to the point where he can only focus on winning, skating is the ‘need to win’ rather than the ‘need to skate’. I can understand athletes have an obsession, they spent most of their lives in their discipline, and not winning can be disheartening.
But… if you think about it, athletes lose a competition more often than winning it. So it’s only fair they develop a ‘second skin’ to bear the weigh and the pressure and still be able to enjoy what they are doing.
Alex focus so much on winning he loses himself in the process.
Matt is more balanced, he lives with his feet on the ground. He’s by far more experienced, but he still lives in the closet. However, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have to deal with challenges of his own. And something happens that puts his career and his self-esteem, in jeopardy.
Their relationship follows a natural path. Nothing comes out of the blue and strikes as something ‘strange’. It’s fun because at first Alex does not like Matt. Not at all. But hey, he’s not so bad now, yeah? But hey, he’s good, right? But hey, I wanna have sex with him right now!
Yes, it’s a comfort story, not much angst, lots of fluffy scenes, a couple of hot ones, and a moral that should sound pretentious, but it’s positive and uplifting instead.
I do recommend it.
*****
***ARC received from author via Indigo Marketing And Design in exchange for an honest review.***
December 11, 2016
When I was a kid, I loved watching the figure skating competitions. I've never been on ice skates in my life, nor do I actually have the desire to, but watching the athleticism and grace out there on the ice was just so awe inspiring. And Keira Andrews captures that perfectly, but from the other side, where the competitors are.
Alex Grady, 20, is the reigning National US Champion. He's cocky and self-absorbed and has a tendency to run his mouth a bit too much. He has no filter to speak of and it gets him into trouble. A lot of trouble. He says what is on his mind without ever thinking it through and oftentimes, the things he says are, well, rather hurtful. He's had one goal since he was a child and that goal is winning an Olympic Gold. The problem? Well, Alex doesn't take defeat well, he pushes himself harder and harder and he doesn't even seem to have fun. He doesn't see his successes as good enough, because they are not the Olympic Gold. Life is skating and working toward that Gold Medal goal. Alex isn't very likable. At first, anyway.
Matt Savelli, 24, is a Canadian pairs skater. He's handsome, gracious and just a really good guy. Matt is insanely easy to like. He's focused and dedicated and easy going. Matt, I liked pretty much right away. He's laid back and honest, without being a jackass. He's a little older, but a lot more experienced at life. He takes most things in stride, even as he reaches for his goals. He and his skating partner, and best friend, Mylene are the perfect pairs skaters. They've been partners for six years, since she was 13. I absolutely adored them both.
Alex took me the longest time to actually warm to. He did not start off likable, at all. But as with so many things, Alex's abrasive personality was a shield and he hid behind it like his life depended on it. He's never allowed himself to really have friends, so he's never learned how to actually interact with people. And he's certainly never had time for hookups, much less a boyfriend. It really isn't all that surprising that Alex is a virgin.
Matt didn't want to like Alex. And, well, Alex didn't want to like Matt, either, because he saw Matt as having no personality, at first. They were total opposites. And when they finally got together, after Alex starts to seem more human, I loved them! They were hot and sweet and Alex took to losing his virginity like he had been a starving man who just happened upon a free buffet. Their problems are hardly solved by being together, though, because Alex is still Alex and he still wants that Gold medal to the exclusion of anything else. And Matt isn't out to his parents, either, so that causes a fair amount of strife. But mostly, Alex has a tendency to be an insecure asshole, and say things he doesn't even really mean.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Next Competitor. Young love can feel so intense and considering these guys are both very competitive athletes, emotions can run high when mixing their competitive lives with falling in love. The ending of the story is a pretty solid HFN, but I wanted "more". It felt a bit too abrupt to me. I do hope Keira Andrews writes more of these boys in the future, though.
-------------------
Review copy of The Next Competitor was generously provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
Alex Grady, 20, is the reigning National US Champion. He's cocky and self-absorbed and has a tendency to run his mouth a bit too much. He has no filter to speak of and it gets him into trouble. A lot of trouble. He says what is on his mind without ever thinking it through and oftentimes, the things he says are, well, rather hurtful. He's had one goal since he was a child and that goal is winning an Olympic Gold. The problem? Well, Alex doesn't take defeat well, he pushes himself harder and harder and he doesn't even seem to have fun. He doesn't see his successes as good enough, because they are not the Olympic Gold. Life is skating and working toward that Gold Medal goal. Alex isn't very likable. At first, anyway.
Matt Savelli, 24, is a Canadian pairs skater. He's handsome, gracious and just a really good guy. Matt is insanely easy to like. He's focused and dedicated and easy going. Matt, I liked pretty much right away. He's laid back and honest, without being a jackass. He's a little older, but a lot more experienced at life. He takes most things in stride, even as he reaches for his goals. He and his skating partner, and best friend, Mylene are the perfect pairs skaters. They've been partners for six years, since she was 13. I absolutely adored them both.
Alex took me the longest time to actually warm to. He did not start off likable, at all. But as with so many things, Alex's abrasive personality was a shield and he hid behind it like his life depended on it. He's never allowed himself to really have friends, so he's never learned how to actually interact with people. And he's certainly never had time for hookups, much less a boyfriend. It really isn't all that surprising that Alex is a virgin.
Matt didn't want to like Alex. And, well, Alex didn't want to like Matt, either, because he saw Matt as having no personality, at first. They were total opposites. And when they finally got together, after Alex starts to seem more human, I loved them! They were hot and sweet and Alex took to losing his virginity like he had been a starving man who just happened upon a free buffet. Their problems are hardly solved by being together, though, because Alex is still Alex and he still wants that Gold medal to the exclusion of anything else. And Matt isn't out to his parents, either, so that causes a fair amount of strife. But mostly, Alex has a tendency to be an insecure asshole, and say things he doesn't even really mean.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Next Competitor. Young love can feel so intense and considering these guys are both very competitive athletes, emotions can run high when mixing their competitive lives with falling in love. The ending of the story is a pretty solid HFN, but I wanted "more". It felt a bit too abrupt to me. I do hope Keira Andrews writes more of these boys in the future, though.
-------------------
Review copy of The Next Competitor was generously provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
January 13, 2025
3.5 Stars
At twenty, Alexander Grady is at the top of his game in the world of competitive figure skating. He's a US national champion with Olympic dreams a mile high, and he'll be damned if anything or anyone will distract him from winning.
What Alex never expected was to develop feelings for his fellow training mate and pairs skater, Matt Savelli. But in the months leading up to the most important event in Alex's competitive life, Matt becomes too hard to resist and soon the two young skaters begin a passionate affair of sexual discovery, which begins to awaken new feelings and dreams in Alex that he never anticipated.
Personally, Alex was a hard character to like. He was impudent, conceited, and often nasty and demeaning in his unfiltered comments to others. It was clear Alex's attitude and behaviour was born from deep-seated insecurities and a life-time of believing that winning is literally everything, but that did little to garner my sympathies towards him.
To be honest, I rarely relate to driven, competitive individuals in books or in life. I have this weird reaction wherein I highly respect the determination and discipline it takes to be a successful athlete (or a successful anything, really), but at the same time I have little esteem for those who become so single-minded in their goals that everything and everyone else fall to the wayside on their road to personal glory. So, although I can respect Alex's fixity of purpose, I can't say that I liked him all that much as a result.
Matt on the other hand was a tasty, surprisingly dirty-mouthed, sweetheart. Although we didn't get his POV, I felt he was a well-developed and complex character in his own right, and I admired the way he challenged Alex's opinions and ideals. They made a good match, even if at times I thought Matt was an absolute saint for sticking with Alex.
Much like the other (and only) heavily sports-themed book I read by Andrews (Reading the Signs), it is clear a lot of solid research went into writing this story. I know next to nothing about figure skating myself, but it's clear that Andrews is a passionate fan, with a wealth of knowledge on the topic, that she very expertly shared here. The on-ice imagery she created was pretty fantastic; I felt immersed in Alex's competitive world of skating, even when I didn't quite understand a lot of the terminology. So, major points for setting a compelling scene.
Overall, this was another solid addition to Andrews' already impressive catalogue of M/M romances.
At twenty, Alexander Grady is at the top of his game in the world of competitive figure skating. He's a US national champion with Olympic dreams a mile high, and he'll be damned if anything or anyone will distract him from winning.
What Alex never expected was to develop feelings for his fellow training mate and pairs skater, Matt Savelli. But in the months leading up to the most important event in Alex's competitive life, Matt becomes too hard to resist and soon the two young skaters begin a passionate affair of sexual discovery, which begins to awaken new feelings and dreams in Alex that he never anticipated.
Personally, Alex was a hard character to like. He was impudent, conceited, and often nasty and demeaning in his unfiltered comments to others. It was clear Alex's attitude and behaviour was born from deep-seated insecurities and a life-time of believing that winning is literally everything, but that did little to garner my sympathies towards him.
To be honest, I rarely relate to driven, competitive individuals in books or in life. I have this weird reaction wherein I highly respect the determination and discipline it takes to be a successful athlete (or a successful anything, really), but at the same time I have little esteem for those who become so single-minded in their goals that everything and everyone else fall to the wayside on their road to personal glory. So, although I can respect Alex's fixity of purpose, I can't say that I liked him all that much as a result.
Matt on the other hand was a tasty, surprisingly dirty-mouthed, sweetheart. Although we didn't get his POV, I felt he was a well-developed and complex character in his own right, and I admired the way he challenged Alex's opinions and ideals. They made a good match, even if at times I thought Matt was an absolute saint for sticking with Alex.
Much like the other (and only) heavily sports-themed book I read by Andrews (Reading the Signs), it is clear a lot of solid research went into writing this story. I know next to nothing about figure skating myself, but it's clear that Andrews is a passionate fan, with a wealth of knowledge on the topic, that she very expertly shared here. The on-ice imagery she created was pretty fantastic; I felt immersed in Alex's competitive world of skating, even when I didn't quite understand a lot of the terminology. So, major points for setting a compelling scene.
Overall, this was another solid addition to Andrews' already impressive catalogue of M/M romances.
January 2, 2017
3.5 Hearts
Sometimes you just catch an edge.
There is a lot to like about this story especially if you're a fan of competitive figure skating. It's clear Keira Andrews is from the amount of technical knowledge held within these pages.
There are a lot of things about competitive figure skating that are very subjective and many fans of the sport take issue with; Keira Andrews addresses those issues diplomatically. The amount of effort, time, money and sheer intestinal fortitude it takes to make a champion is also detailed well in an engaging way.
The Next Competitor is told from and centers around Alex Grady. Alex's focus on becoming an Olympic gold medalist is myopic and borders on obsessive. I didn't really like him, though he's not a wholly unsympathetic character. As far as his characterization goes it's actually quite good and remains consistent throughout with his insecurities plaguing him and, more often than not causing friction between him and those in his life. There were things that I sprang off the page immediately about him and his character that as this story unfolded snowballed. I think that's the thing that I liked the least about this story, that an opportunity was missed to show how a sports psychologist could've helped him get a handle on his anxieties.
His relationship with Matt helps to a certain extent, but I found the love conquers all tactic a bit trite. Initially I thought their relationship was moving to Kinksville and thought that might bring some... grounding but, alas, it stayed vanilla. A cautionary warning for the jizz averse-these two are cum junkies. There is snowballing and... generally they just like the jizz, each others, their own. I bet if they could get one of those fountain things...
I am just saying.
Admittedly, I had to suspend disbelief at much of the sex since Alex is a virgin when they meet, but who am I to question the edifying power of gay porn? Just put your jizz goggles on and go with the flow.
Their relationship is mostly opposites attract with a smattering of enemies to lovers. How they went from "enemies" to lovers happened very quickly and I found myself missing the potential fireworks of a true enemies to lovers story. Read: hate sex. Alex and Matt are (sort of) rivals but Matt is more a pairs skater and after his partner is hurt along with some prodding Matt decides to skate solo, though he's really no threat to the top skaters. What it does is give them more opportunities to train together, get to know each other and develop their relationship.
Matt is such a likable character. He's very even-keeled, earnest and just...nice. He, unlike Alex, has a balanced approach to skating, but he's got some closet-like familial issues to contend with that cause problems in their relationship.
However, the story isn't overly angsty or heavy. The competitions kept the pace steady and I even learned a few things! The secondary characters like Mrs. C and Kenny added to the story and made Alex more sympathetic.
The ending is what sticks with me, though. I liked the simplicity of it it while simultaneously finding it too easy, if that even makes sense?
Nevertheless, I think fans of Keira Andrews and sports romances will enjoy this book.
A review copy was provided by the author.
Sometimes you just catch an edge.
There is a lot to like about this story especially if you're a fan of competitive figure skating. It's clear Keira Andrews is from the amount of technical knowledge held within these pages.
There are a lot of things about competitive figure skating that are very subjective and many fans of the sport take issue with; Keira Andrews addresses those issues diplomatically. The amount of effort, time, money and sheer intestinal fortitude it takes to make a champion is also detailed well in an engaging way.
The Next Competitor is told from and centers around Alex Grady. Alex's focus on becoming an Olympic gold medalist is myopic and borders on obsessive. I didn't really like him, though he's not a wholly unsympathetic character. As far as his characterization goes it's actually quite good and remains consistent throughout with his insecurities plaguing him and, more often than not causing friction between him and those in his life. There were things that I sprang off the page immediately about him and his character that as this story unfolded snowballed. I think that's the thing that I liked the least about this story, that an opportunity was missed to show how a sports psychologist could've helped him get a handle on his anxieties.
His relationship with Matt helps to a certain extent, but I found the love conquers all tactic a bit trite. Initially I thought their relationship was moving to Kinksville and thought that might bring some... grounding but, alas, it stayed vanilla. A cautionary warning for the jizz averse-these two are cum junkies. There is snowballing and... generally they just like the jizz, each others, their own. I bet if they could get one of those fountain things...
I am just saying.
Admittedly, I had to suspend disbelief at much of the sex since Alex is a virgin when they meet, but who am I to question the edifying power of gay porn? Just put your jizz goggles on and go with the flow.
Their relationship is mostly opposites attract with a smattering of enemies to lovers. How they went from "enemies" to lovers happened very quickly and I found myself missing the potential fireworks of a true enemies to lovers story. Read: hate sex. Alex and Matt are (sort of) rivals but Matt is more a pairs skater and after his partner is hurt along with some prodding Matt decides to skate solo, though he's really no threat to the top skaters. What it does is give them more opportunities to train together, get to know each other and develop their relationship.
Matt is such a likable character. He's very even-keeled, earnest and just...nice. He, unlike Alex, has a balanced approach to skating, but he's got some closet-like familial issues to contend with that cause problems in their relationship.
However, the story isn't overly angsty or heavy. The competitions kept the pace steady and I even learned a few things! The secondary characters like Mrs. C and Kenny added to the story and made Alex more sympathetic.
The ending is what sticks with me, though. I liked the simplicity of it it while simultaneously finding it too easy, if that even makes sense?
Nevertheless, I think fans of Keira Andrews and sports romances will enjoy this book.
A review copy was provided by the author.
December 10, 2016
I had really high hopes for this story. After all, ice skating is one of the most beautiful types of sports, especially pair skating.
This story, however, is about American solo skater Alex Grady who is training in Toronto in order to qualify for the Olympic Winter Games in Salzburg (when were the Games ever in Salzburg?! I live in Austria, so I guess I would have noticed them...)
Alex is a determined 20 year old athlete who wants a Gold Medal at the Olympic Games. At all costs. Everything else in his life is secondary.
Sadly also the romance in this book.
Matt Savelli is the male part of a pair skating pair also training at Alex' rink. Matt and Alex dislike each other, but that seems to be the initial spark of interest between both guys. A terrible accident on ice shatters the life of these guys and it takes the other man's tenderness and devotion to make it back on the ice on a competitive level.
This is the summary of the first half of the book. And had the story stuck to this kind of theme, I would probably have liked it a lot.
BUT, the issue about the accident was resolved rather smoothly and the rest of the book is solely about Alex being a workaholic and a bitch to the people around him, telling everyone how important the upcoming Olympics are.
Sex? No time for that, man. I gotta be on the rink (and most of the sex was cam-sex anyway, since when are two competitive athletes ever in the same place at the same time?)
Competition is fun? Only for losers who have no hopes at ever achieving a medal, pal!
I absolutely disliked Alex. He ruined the book for me. Matt was a great guy. He was hot, a very good skater and my heart broke over what happened to him. But why in heaven Matt fell in love with Alex is a miracle to me...
Alex CONSTANTLY insulted the people around him. He mentioned repeatedly that he had no filter, but instead of making him an honest person, this just showed what a mean bitch he was.
Also, the plot was very technical. A figure skating professional might have a blast here, because everything is very detailed and undoubtedly perfectly well researched, but to someone like me who watches figure skating because it's *beautiful*, all the details were just plain boring and the actual beauty of the sport fell totally flat.
Alex doing a quad Sal? A triple Lutz? Step, jump, step, left, right and up?
I just pictured him jumping up and down on the ice like a cat chasing a mouse on a slippery surface. I didn't get any feeling for Alex' love of skating. He just did it to win medals and to qualify.
Alex is the most competitive person I ever met in romance and he completely ruined the story for me. Even worse, of course, since he's the first person narrator.
A picture that fits my mood rather well after finishing the story:
2 stars! But I'm not giving up on ice skating romances! I absolutely love that sport!!
This story, however, is about American solo skater Alex Grady who is training in Toronto in order to qualify for the Olympic Winter Games in Salzburg (when were the Games ever in Salzburg?! I live in Austria, so I guess I would have noticed them...)
Alex is a determined 20 year old athlete who wants a Gold Medal at the Olympic Games. At all costs. Everything else in his life is secondary.
Sadly also the romance in this book.
Matt Savelli is the male part of a pair skating pair also training at Alex' rink. Matt and Alex dislike each other, but that seems to be the initial spark of interest between both guys. A terrible accident on ice shatters the life of these guys and it takes the other man's tenderness and devotion to make it back on the ice on a competitive level.
This is the summary of the first half of the book. And had the story stuck to this kind of theme, I would probably have liked it a lot.
BUT, the issue about the accident was resolved rather smoothly and the rest of the book is solely about Alex being a workaholic and a bitch to the people around him, telling everyone how important the upcoming Olympics are.
Sex? No time for that, man. I gotta be on the rink (and most of the sex was cam-sex anyway, since when are two competitive athletes ever in the same place at the same time?)
Competition is fun? Only for losers who have no hopes at ever achieving a medal, pal!
I absolutely disliked Alex. He ruined the book for me. Matt was a great guy. He was hot, a very good skater and my heart broke over what happened to him. But why in heaven Matt fell in love with Alex is a miracle to me...
Alex CONSTANTLY insulted the people around him. He mentioned repeatedly that he had no filter, but instead of making him an honest person, this just showed what a mean bitch he was.
Also, the plot was very technical. A figure skating professional might have a blast here, because everything is very detailed and undoubtedly perfectly well researched, but to someone like me who watches figure skating because it's *beautiful*, all the details were just plain boring and the actual beauty of the sport fell totally flat.
Alex doing a quad Sal? A triple Lutz? Step, jump, step, left, right and up?
I just pictured him jumping up and down on the ice like a cat chasing a mouse on a slippery surface. I didn't get any feeling for Alex' love of skating. He just did it to win medals and to qualify.
Alex is the most competitive person I ever met in romance and he completely ruined the story for me. Even worse, of course, since he's the first person narrator.
A picture that fits my mood rather well after finishing the story:
2 stars! But I'm not giving up on ice skating romances! I absolutely love that sport!!
February 4, 2017
I grew up watching ice skating and have very fond memories of exciting competitions, amazing performances (Torvill and Dean!) and at times some pretty unfair judging!
Keira Andrews has very clearly immersed herself in the world of skating and its workings completely because everything about it feels authentic and real. And I take my hat off to every single competitor in the sport for all the blood and sweat they invest into succeeding !
Alex Grady is the reigning American champion. His reputation as an arrogant, selfish a*****e goes before him, and he hasn’t exactly made himself popular with his fellow skaters. Alex’s main problem is that he has the tendency to say exactly what he thinks, no matter if it’s unflattering or insulting. ‘Blunt’ and ‘direct’ is his main MO.
But a lack of filter isn’t his only problem. Alex is also exceedingly ambitious. To him skating and winning is like breathing. His whole mind continuously circles around competitions, competitors and how he can improve his skating. He is so dedicated and driven, and so full of performance anxiety, he sometimes ends up acting like a total douchebag.
So… not a nice character then? I know he doesn’t appear the most likeable guy at a first look.
But you know Keira Andrews, don’t you! She waves her magic (writing) wand and lets us see what’s going on inside Alex, why he does and says certain things (mainly because he just blurts stuff out without thinking) and how deep his fears run. Yes, Alex does some stupid sh**, he says some awful things, and although I admittedly cringed at some of that stuff, I could always see how vulnerable and young he is inside. And I felt for him.
Alex has a lot to learn – about life, about love and about what is really important – and yes, I wanted to tell him off, shake him up and open his eyes to his faults, but in the end he has to come to terms with his issues himself. And it was amazing to watch just that once he meets Matt.
Matt is four years older than Alex and we know right from the start that he has got his head screwed on right. Unlike Alex, his values and priorities are totally spot on. Of course he loves skating, but he realizes that there is more to life than that. And he is simply a lovely guy, one of those you definitely would like to meet! Yes, please!
And Matt manages to get under Alex’s skin, to make him feel and see and believe. There was nothing rushed about their love story. It all blossomed organically and naturally. (LOL, how’s that for imagery?!) There are doubts and hurdles both men have to overcome. Matt has got his own devils to face and Alex is just a bundle of nerves, no matter what. But the connection they feel is tangible and as for their sexual encounters – there is so much desire and want! And I loved all those firsts for Alex!
I have yet to read a book by Keira Andrews I didn’t enjoy. She is an amazing author who’s got the knack of conjuring up real characters and engrossing plots. This book is no exception!
HIGHLY recommended!
ARC received from author via Indigo Marketing And Design in exchange for an honest review.
Keira Andrews has very clearly immersed herself in the world of skating and its workings completely because everything about it feels authentic and real. And I take my hat off to every single competitor in the sport for all the blood and sweat they invest into succeeding !
Alex Grady is the reigning American champion. His reputation as an arrogant, selfish a*****e goes before him, and he hasn’t exactly made himself popular with his fellow skaters. Alex’s main problem is that he has the tendency to say exactly what he thinks, no matter if it’s unflattering or insulting. ‘Blunt’ and ‘direct’ is his main MO.
But a lack of filter isn’t his only problem. Alex is also exceedingly ambitious. To him skating and winning is like breathing. His whole mind continuously circles around competitions, competitors and how he can improve his skating. He is so dedicated and driven, and so full of performance anxiety, he sometimes ends up acting like a total douchebag.
So… not a nice character then? I know he doesn’t appear the most likeable guy at a first look.
But you know Keira Andrews, don’t you! She waves her magic (writing) wand and lets us see what’s going on inside Alex, why he does and says certain things (mainly because he just blurts stuff out without thinking) and how deep his fears run. Yes, Alex does some stupid sh**, he says some awful things, and although I admittedly cringed at some of that stuff, I could always see how vulnerable and young he is inside. And I felt for him.
Alex has a lot to learn – about life, about love and about what is really important – and yes, I wanted to tell him off, shake him up and open his eyes to his faults, but in the end he has to come to terms with his issues himself. And it was amazing to watch just that once he meets Matt.
Matt is four years older than Alex and we know right from the start that he has got his head screwed on right. Unlike Alex, his values and priorities are totally spot on. Of course he loves skating, but he realizes that there is more to life than that. And he is simply a lovely guy, one of those you definitely would like to meet! Yes, please!
And Matt manages to get under Alex’s skin, to make him feel and see and believe. There was nothing rushed about their love story. It all blossomed organically and naturally. (LOL, how’s that for imagery?!) There are doubts and hurdles both men have to overcome. Matt has got his own devils to face and Alex is just a bundle of nerves, no matter what. But the connection they feel is tangible and as for their sexual encounters – there is so much desire and want! And I loved all those firsts for Alex!
I have yet to read a book by Keira Andrews I didn’t enjoy. She is an amazing author who’s got the knack of conjuring up real characters and engrossing plots. This book is no exception!
HIGHLY recommended!
ARC received from author via Indigo Marketing And Design in exchange for an honest review.
January 25, 2020
I love how Keira Andrews tosses us into the competitive world of figure skating from the very start of The Next Competitor and creates a solid foundation of information about the required jumps, judging system, competitions, etc. It just reminds me of why I love figure skating, and especially this story about Alex and Matt, two figure skaters with totally different perspectives.
20-year-old Alex Grady is his own worst enemy. He's extremely talented, hardworking and dedicated to his craft, but it's easy to see why other skaters believe he only thinks of himself. While Alex appears supremely confident, inside he's a mass of insecurity and worry. He has to hit his quad Sal, he has to win the Olympics, he can't let his parents down, he's technically not in the closet but fears if anyone in the skating world knows he's gay it may affect how the judges score him. Alex loves skating but it brings him no joy:
Along the way, there are challenges and disappointments and tragedies, but all flow organically from the plot and even the crisis between Matt and Alex makes sense, based on Alex's mind-set. There is also a rich cast of secondary characters - Mylene, Kenny, Mrs. C, Maxim and Oksana, Chantal, Tanner, Lisa - who all felt so real and fully-realized.
My only complaint is at times the pace of the story felt slow with a long string of competitions - many of which had no specific information about Alex's program other than something like "I did it" - and Matt and Alex seemed to have the same sort of arguments several times. Because Andrews writes so wonderfully about the various skating elements, I guess I wanted a blow-by-blow description of every one of the competitions.
The ending was beautifully done, and I gave The Next Competitor 4.5 stars and would definitely love to see another story about the next Olympics with many of the same characters.
This book was provided by the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
20-year-old Alex Grady is his own worst enemy. He's extremely talented, hardworking and dedicated to his craft, but it's easy to see why other skaters believe he only thinks of himself. While Alex appears supremely confident, inside he's a mass of insecurity and worry. He has to hit his quad Sal, he has to win the Olympics, he can't let his parents down, he's technically not in the closet but fears if anyone in the skating world knows he's gay it may affect how the judges score him. Alex loves skating but it brings him no joy:
"I’ve never had fun in a competition. I love winning, but competing is way too stressful and important for fun. It’s just not possible."Our other MC Matt Savelli is a bit older (24), wiser and much more relaxed. Alex calls him "Captain Cardboard" because he never seems to get angry or upset. But Matt's got his priorities straight - skating is wonderful, but it's not the be-all or end-all. And once Matt overcomes Alex's prickly defenses, watching their relationship grow and develop is all kinds of fascinating. Of course, it's never smooth and easy because, hello, Alex is still a young guy with a lot of growing-up to do and he has NO filter, but there's something about the other that each man needs and it's a delicious slow burn as they figure this out. And the sex ... in bathrooms, broom closets, on Facetime .... holy Salchow ... it's steamy.
Along the way, there are challenges and disappointments and tragedies, but all flow organically from the plot and even the crisis between Matt and Alex makes sense, based on Alex's mind-set. There is also a rich cast of secondary characters - Mylene, Kenny, Mrs. C, Maxim and Oksana, Chantal, Tanner, Lisa - who all felt so real and fully-realized.
My only complaint is at times the pace of the story felt slow with a long string of competitions - many of which had no specific information about Alex's program other than something like "I did it" - and Matt and Alex seemed to have the same sort of arguments several times. Because Andrews writes so wonderfully about the various skating elements, I guess I wanted a blow-by-blow description of every one of the competitions.
The ending was beautifully done, and I gave The Next Competitor 4.5 stars and would definitely love to see another story about the next Olympics with many of the same characters.
This book was provided by the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
December 9, 2016
En plena fiebre de Yuri On Ice (fiebre en la que me incluyo) está claro por qué Keira ha vuelto a sacar este libro, aunque retocado, y también está claro por qué lo he leído yo.
Creo que su función de entretener la cumple. Es una historia sencilla centrada en la dificultad de ser patinador profesional y comenzar una relación, la autora no se distrae con dramas familiares, angst desmesurado o cuestiones sobre la sexualidad, los protagonistas son el patinaje y la historia de amor, y en su sencillez es donde gana. Protagonistas adorables, buenas escenas de sexo, sin temas que puedan crear mucha controversia, y muy entretenido.
Cumple su función de hacer pasar un buen rato a todas aquellas que estamos viviendo ahora esta fiebre (#TeamYurio)
Creo que su función de entretener la cumple. Es una historia sencilla centrada en la dificultad de ser patinador profesional y comenzar una relación, la autora no se distrae con dramas familiares, angst desmesurado o cuestiones sobre la sexualidad, los protagonistas son el patinaje y la historia de amor, y en su sencillez es donde gana. Protagonistas adorables, buenas escenas de sexo, sin temas que puedan crear mucha controversia, y muy entretenido.
Cumple su función de hacer pasar un buen rato a todas aquellas que estamos viviendo ahora esta fiebre (#TeamYurio)
May 28, 2024
More like 3,5 stars. Enjoyed it, there were some parts I loved, but the chemistry between Alex and Matt was a bit lacking and so I’m thinking 4 stars would be too many.
It started off really good. I have become quite picky with my mm romances lately. Some time last year I fell into a book slump and decided I needed to step away from mm romance for a while, because the books I was reading couldn't hold my attention. I think that's because a lot of them start to sound similar, and a lot of authors seem to chose quantity over quality and it doesn't do good for the genre. At least, that's my opinion.
Keira Andrews seemed to be a safe option. And, as I said, it started off quite well. I always enjoy her writing, she has written some of my favorite mm romance books.
When I started reading this book, I thought I had a winner in my hands. But unfortunately it didn't last. The chemistry between Alex and Matt was lacking, I never really warmed up to either of them. I couldn't feel their connection, and I had a hard time feeling my own connection to them. I did like the skating details, I love watching it on TV, specially in the Olympic season.
And I suppose that if you're interested in that, you could still enjoy this book. It's just a shame that I couldn't feel how Alex and Matt opened up to each other and started falling for one another, it didn't feel natural.
They just didn't have the chemistry I was hoping for.
It started off really good. I have become quite picky with my mm romances lately. Some time last year I fell into a book slump and decided I needed to step away from mm romance for a while, because the books I was reading couldn't hold my attention. I think that's because a lot of them start to sound similar, and a lot of authors seem to chose quantity over quality and it doesn't do good for the genre. At least, that's my opinion.
Keira Andrews seemed to be a safe option. And, as I said, it started off quite well. I always enjoy her writing, she has written some of my favorite mm romance books.
When I started reading this book, I thought I had a winner in my hands. But unfortunately it didn't last. The chemistry between Alex and Matt was lacking, I never really warmed up to either of them. I couldn't feel their connection, and I had a hard time feeling my own connection to them. I did like the skating details, I love watching it on TV, specially in the Olympic season.
And I suppose that if you're interested in that, you could still enjoy this book. It's just a shame that I couldn't feel how Alex and Matt opened up to each other and started falling for one another, it didn't feel natural.
They just didn't have the chemistry I was hoping for.
May 24, 2022
I really enjoyed that!
Of course, some of it was due to Tristan James' beautiful voice. It's been way too long since I've had the pleasure of listening to his warm and sexy tones.
Keira Andrews did a great job with the skating scenes, and the tension of Matt's journey works great in the story. If you're looking for a figure skating romance, The Next Competitor is a solid four stars for me.
Of course, some of it was due to Tristan James' beautiful voice. It's been way too long since I've had the pleasure of listening to his warm and sexy tones.
Keira Andrews did a great job with the skating scenes, and the tension of Matt's journey works great in the story. If you're looking for a figure skating romance, The Next Competitor is a solid four stars for me.
December 10, 2016
3.5 stars
This book is re-released in the midst of the popularity of the anime Yuri On Ice which has pretty much taken the online social media by storm -- by the way, if you don't know that anime, you probably haven't read Heidi Cullinan's passionate blog post about it (*haha*). I can already see fans of the show who also love M/M romance might take an interest on the story of Alex Grady, a twenty-year-old American figure skater on his way to his first Olympic.
I admit that it wasn't easy for me to immediately warm up towards Alex. Alex is abrasive, sometimes dismissive and he doesn't seem to have a filter from brain to mouth, which ends up with him hurting other people with his words more than once. But I could chalk it up at him being young and also feeling the pressure to win -- after all of his family has done to support him.
Unfortunately, it also made me frustrated with Alex's determination to win the Olympics without actually showing that he loves the skating itself. I don't fit to athlete's "I'm in it to win it" philosophy; which also means that I definitely suck in competitive environment. I guess I really want to see Alex loving the sport because he can't see himself doing anything else, rather than because of a gold medal (and possibly an Olympic tattoo).
On the other hand, I think that IS what the story is all about. It's about Alex's journey to find that there are things other than a place at the podium. Oh, winning is important but it is not everything, you know? Alex learns about friendship, about love (with Matt), and finally able to skate because he loves being on ice. THAT is what I loved the most about this story.
As for the romance -- eh, it was okay, I guess. Since Alex is the narrator, I didn't get to know a lot about Matt's personal thoughts except in conversations with Alex. I liked Matt just fine though. I thought he would be a good partner for Alex, to remind Alex whenever he is in over his head.
I didn't enjoy the sex scenes though, which was the HUGE reason for my not being able to put this on my 4-stars category. This is definitely due to personal taste. I have come to realize that I find Keira Andrew's sex scenes to be personally off-putting. In this case, it felt dirty and I didn't like to read dirty/advanced sex scenes with young adult/new adult characters *shrugs*.
All in all, this is a good sports-romance with figure skaters. There are quite a number of technical terms used during Alex's training and performance, but you can take it in stride. Or you can try to watch Yuri On Ice for better visual image of what Alex is doing *lol*
The ARC is provided by the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
This book is re-released in the midst of the popularity of the anime Yuri On Ice which has pretty much taken the online social media by storm -- by the way, if you don't know that anime, you probably haven't read Heidi Cullinan's passionate blog post about it (*haha*). I can already see fans of the show who also love M/M romance might take an interest on the story of Alex Grady, a twenty-year-old American figure skater on his way to his first Olympic.
I admit that it wasn't easy for me to immediately warm up towards Alex. Alex is abrasive, sometimes dismissive and he doesn't seem to have a filter from brain to mouth, which ends up with him hurting other people with his words more than once. But I could chalk it up at him being young and also feeling the pressure to win -- after all of his family has done to support him.
Unfortunately, it also made me frustrated with Alex's determination to win the Olympics without actually showing that he loves the skating itself. I don't fit to athlete's "I'm in it to win it" philosophy; which also means that I definitely suck in competitive environment. I guess I really want to see Alex loving the sport because he can't see himself doing anything else, rather than because of a gold medal (and possibly an Olympic tattoo).
On the other hand, I think that IS what the story is all about. It's about Alex's journey to find that there are things other than a place at the podium. Oh, winning is important but it is not everything, you know? Alex learns about friendship, about love (with Matt), and finally able to skate because he loves being on ice. THAT is what I loved the most about this story.
As for the romance -- eh, it was okay, I guess. Since Alex is the narrator, I didn't get to know a lot about Matt's personal thoughts except in conversations with Alex. I liked Matt just fine though. I thought he would be a good partner for Alex, to remind Alex whenever he is in over his head.
I didn't enjoy the sex scenes though, which was the HUGE reason for my not being able to put this on my 4-stars category. This is definitely due to personal taste. I have come to realize that I find Keira Andrew's sex scenes to be personally off-putting. In this case, it felt dirty and I didn't like to read dirty/advanced sex scenes with young adult/new adult characters *shrugs*.
All in all, this is a good sports-romance with figure skaters. There are quite a number of technical terms used during Alex's training and performance, but you can take it in stride. Or you can try to watch Yuri On Ice for better visual image of what Alex is doing *lol*
The ARC is provided by the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
December 11, 2016
BR a nuestro aire con Elsa e Izen.
La Sra. Andrews, en plena ola de furor por YOI saca un libro de skaters y claro, como die hard fan de Victuri, tenía que leerlo.
Mal no ha estado, Keira es muy correcta en todo lo que escribe, pero ésta vez me ha faltado pasión entre los MC, si habéis leído Training Season de Leta Blake entenderéis a lo que me refiero.
Además a Alex me ha costado quererle... y lo peor es que no sé si lo he conseguido xDDDD
La Sra. Andrews, en plena ola de furor por YOI saca un libro de skaters y claro, como die hard fan de Victuri, tenía que leerlo.
Mal no ha estado, Keira es muy correcta en todo lo que escribe, pero ésta vez me ha faltado pasión entre los MC, si habéis leído Training Season de Leta Blake entenderéis a lo que me refiero.
Además a Alex me ha costado quererle... y lo peor es que no sé si lo he conseguido xDDDD
February 18, 2018
3.7 stars
I was looking for a figure skating romance where I could picture Adam Rippon as one of the MCs but, sadly, Alex is no Adam Rippon ...
Overall, though, this was pretty good. I think the author expanded a YA story with sex scenes to turn it into NA but I suspect I would have preferred it in its original form.
I was looking for a figure skating romance where I could picture Adam Rippon as one of the MCs but, sadly, Alex is no Adam Rippon ...
Overall, though, this was pretty good. I think the author expanded a YA story with sex scenes to turn it into NA but I suspect I would have preferred it in its original form.
December 14, 2016
4.5 stars
I read a lot of sport romance and professional athlete are hardcore. But non of them come close to Alexander Grady's level of Olympic obsession. Not only he want to be an Olympian, he want to win the Gold at all cost.
Alexander is the US Team figure skater, not quite in the closet, but not quite out either. Is not an issue to him because he just didn't have the time to date or hook up at all. His entire young life revolves around training and training. Due to his lack of filter, his tends to be too honest for his own good and came across as the asshole who insult everyone.
Matt is the Canadian pair skater who Alex labeled as Mr. Cardboard. Matt is always nice and kind and never throw a tantrum. He seems unruffled no matter what happens on the rink, until one accident that happened that might affect his skating career. Of course, Matt is more than the cardboard personality that Alex assume he is.
This story is entirely from Alex's POV, which make me feel as if he is the only skater who is beyond obsess with his skating and stressing about everything all the time. But I bet other skaters have their own problem to deal with, but we never got to know about them. I was very invested with Alex though. I want him to win so bad and I empathize with him when he felt he was treated unfairly. I hope the author give the fucking gold medal to him already. But alas, this story is not all about the glory. Alex actually went through a lot of growing up in his journey towards Olympic and I'm glad Matt is along the ride with him. They both are too freaking adorable.
Winter Olympic is not a big thing in my country, it is not even broadcast at all. But I watched some figure skating before and I only thought they look so pretty. After reading this book and manage to get behind the scene of all the hard work pour into this sport, I will definitely be looking at it in an entirely new light.
I read a lot of sport romance and professional athlete are hardcore. But non of them come close to Alexander Grady's level of Olympic obsession. Not only he want to be an Olympian, he want to win the Gold at all cost.
Alexander is the US Team figure skater, not quite in the closet, but not quite out either. Is not an issue to him because he just didn't have the time to date or hook up at all. His entire young life revolves around training and training. Due to his lack of filter, his tends to be too honest for his own good and came across as the asshole who insult everyone.
Matt is the Canadian pair skater who Alex labeled as Mr. Cardboard. Matt is always nice and kind and never throw a tantrum. He seems unruffled no matter what happens on the rink, until one accident that happened that might affect his skating career. Of course, Matt is more than the cardboard personality that Alex assume he is.
This story is entirely from Alex's POV, which make me feel as if he is the only skater who is beyond obsess with his skating and stressing about everything all the time. But I bet other skaters have their own problem to deal with, but we never got to know about them. I was very invested with Alex though. I want him to win so bad and I empathize with him when he felt he was treated unfairly. I hope the author give the fucking gold medal to him already. But alas, this story is not all about the glory. Alex actually went through a lot of growing up in his journey towards Olympic and I'm glad Matt is along the ride with him. They both are too freaking adorable.
Winter Olympic is not a big thing in my country, it is not even broadcast at all. But I watched some figure skating before and I only thought they look so pretty. After reading this book and manage to get behind the scene of all the hard work pour into this sport, I will definitely be looking at it in an entirely new light.
December 13, 2016
I really enjoy reading sports romance books. I get a real kick when the sports are well researched and presented to us in laymen's terms. I get a thrill from being a fly on the wall in the athlete's life.
What sport is more beautiful than figure skating? How do those athletes do that?! It's insane what their bodies are capable of. They seem almost superhuman to me.
Keira Andrews gives us plenty of detail about the sport. I wish some of it had been explained in layman's terms, but I still enjoyed the sneak peek. All that falling down during practice...ouch. It hurts to fall down on solid ice!
None of the characters complained though. They all love the sport and are wholeheartedly committed to succeeding in it. Alex is maybe too committed. He pretty much lives and breathes figure skating. He's not very likeable, especially at first. He's very driven and lacks social skills. He comes across as a lot younger than his 20 years.
I think this was originally written as a YA novel. Some of that bled through into the rewriting. A couple of the jokes were silly and inappropriate, very much like you'd hear from a couple of younger boys. But it isn't hard to overlook that when you get caught up in this story of growth and self-awareness.
Matt is a little harder to get to know. He is certainly kind and caring but I would have liked more depth from him. Although, he was perfect for Alex helping him realize that there is more to life than hard work. There are things more important than victory. That the people around you are as important as the one who stares back at you in the mirror. They did make a beautiful couple.
I'm dying to watch some figure skating on TV now!
Review ARC graciously provided by the author via IndiGo Marketing Design
What sport is more beautiful than figure skating? How do those athletes do that?! It's insane what their bodies are capable of. They seem almost superhuman to me.
Keira Andrews gives us plenty of detail about the sport. I wish some of it had been explained in layman's terms, but I still enjoyed the sneak peek. All that falling down during practice...ouch. It hurts to fall down on solid ice!
None of the characters complained though. They all love the sport and are wholeheartedly committed to succeeding in it. Alex is maybe too committed. He pretty much lives and breathes figure skating. He's not very likeable, especially at first. He's very driven and lacks social skills. He comes across as a lot younger than his 20 years.
I think this was originally written as a YA novel. Some of that bled through into the rewriting. A couple of the jokes were silly and inappropriate, very much like you'd hear from a couple of younger boys. But it isn't hard to overlook that when you get caught up in this story of growth and self-awareness.
Matt is a little harder to get to know. He is certainly kind and caring but I would have liked more depth from him. Although, he was perfect for Alex helping him realize that there is more to life than hard work. There are things more important than victory. That the people around you are as important as the one who stares back at you in the mirror. They did make a beautiful couple.
I'm dying to watch some figure skating on TV now!
Review ARC graciously provided by the author via IndiGo Marketing Design
February 9, 2017
Review originally posted at Sinfully.
This is a sweet, low-angst romance and coming of age story set in the stressful world of competitive figure skating. While the two MC’s aren’t exactly rivals, they are almost complete opposites who would seem, at first glance, to have little more than the love of skating in common.
Alex is 20 years old, the American men’s champion, and has a real shot at Olympic gold. He has put skating ahead of everything, not wanting what he fears would be the distraction of a relationship. He is very competitive, very cognizant of how much his family has sacrificed to support him and knows what coming out in the sport could do to his already rocky standing with the powers that be. This all has him putting a lot of pressure on himself to make it to the Olympics and win. Alex may have no brain to mouth filter and come off as abrasive, but he’s not out to hurt anyone. His brain sabotages him by constantly overthinking everything.
Canadian pairs skater Matt practices at the same rink as Alex and thinks very little of Alex. Matt’s 24 and has almost the complete opposite attitude as Alex. He loves his sport and would like to go on to the Olympics, but he also sees that there are other things in life. He has time for friends and is pretty laid back, almost nothing seeming to faze him. Alex has dubbed him “Captain Cardboard” for his lack of emotion.
Their relationship starts off slowly, Matt wary of Alex and Alex afraid to admit he’s having feelings, but when near tragedy strikes on the ice the two become almost inseparable. There are plenty of ups and downs in store for both their on-ice and personal lives as Matt and Alex slowly bring about changes in each other’s attitudes toward the sport and towards the possibility of not having to sacrifice an entire part of their lives just to have the other.
Told from Alex’s POV, his abrasiveness never put me off. You know deep down, he just doesn’t understand how to juggle skating with any other part of his life and that though he doesn’t have a knack for censoring his words, his intentions are pure. Matt is a nice guy from the start even when he’s looking down on Alex’s treatment of other skaters. I wouldn’t have minded a bit of his POV in the early parts of the book, but eventually more of his personality and his background is revealed.
Matt may be Captain Cardboard in public, but in private Matt morphs into Major Dirty Talk. He is more experienced than the virginal Alex so when they get together, Matt’s take charge attitude and Alex’s insecurity was a nice change of pace. I loved the balance of hot, dirty and tender in the sex scenes. Keira Andrews never disappoints me there!
Just as the romance builds slowly, so does Alex’s learning to love skating again beyond the drive to win. His growth plays out well not just on the ice, but with the other skaters he trains and competes with. Keira Andrews is obviously a figure skating fan and brings up a number of issues facing skaters both within the sport itself and off the ice as well. I know very little about the sport and did find the set-up, explanations and introductions at the start a bit slow, but as soon as that was out of the way I was sailing through the story.
This is another solid romance from Keira Andrews with likable MCs and a good cast of secondary characters. I thought the ending was realistic (though I would have liked to have seen a bit more of that last skate) and left open the possibility of another story about Alex and Matt which, of course, I would read in a heartbeat.
This is a sweet, low-angst romance and coming of age story set in the stressful world of competitive figure skating. While the two MC’s aren’t exactly rivals, they are almost complete opposites who would seem, at first glance, to have little more than the love of skating in common.
Alex is 20 years old, the American men’s champion, and has a real shot at Olympic gold. He has put skating ahead of everything, not wanting what he fears would be the distraction of a relationship. He is very competitive, very cognizant of how much his family has sacrificed to support him and knows what coming out in the sport could do to his already rocky standing with the powers that be. This all has him putting a lot of pressure on himself to make it to the Olympics and win. Alex may have no brain to mouth filter and come off as abrasive, but he’s not out to hurt anyone. His brain sabotages him by constantly overthinking everything.
Canadian pairs skater Matt practices at the same rink as Alex and thinks very little of Alex. Matt’s 24 and has almost the complete opposite attitude as Alex. He loves his sport and would like to go on to the Olympics, but he also sees that there are other things in life. He has time for friends and is pretty laid back, almost nothing seeming to faze him. Alex has dubbed him “Captain Cardboard” for his lack of emotion.
Their relationship starts off slowly, Matt wary of Alex and Alex afraid to admit he’s having feelings, but when near tragedy strikes on the ice the two become almost inseparable. There are plenty of ups and downs in store for both their on-ice and personal lives as Matt and Alex slowly bring about changes in each other’s attitudes toward the sport and towards the possibility of not having to sacrifice an entire part of their lives just to have the other.
Told from Alex’s POV, his abrasiveness never put me off. You know deep down, he just doesn’t understand how to juggle skating with any other part of his life and that though he doesn’t have a knack for censoring his words, his intentions are pure. Matt is a nice guy from the start even when he’s looking down on Alex’s treatment of other skaters. I wouldn’t have minded a bit of his POV in the early parts of the book, but eventually more of his personality and his background is revealed.
Matt may be Captain Cardboard in public, but in private Matt morphs into Major Dirty Talk. He is more experienced than the virginal Alex so when they get together, Matt’s take charge attitude and Alex’s insecurity was a nice change of pace. I loved the balance of hot, dirty and tender in the sex scenes. Keira Andrews never disappoints me there!
Just as the romance builds slowly, so does Alex’s learning to love skating again beyond the drive to win. His growth plays out well not just on the ice, but with the other skaters he trains and competes with. Keira Andrews is obviously a figure skating fan and brings up a number of issues facing skaters both within the sport itself and off the ice as well. I know very little about the sport and did find the set-up, explanations and introductions at the start a bit slow, but as soon as that was out of the way I was sailing through the story.
This is another solid romance from Keira Andrews with likable MCs and a good cast of secondary characters. I thought the ending was realistic (though I would have liked to have seen a bit more of that last skate) and left open the possibility of another story about Alex and Matt which, of course, I would read in a heartbeat.
February 4, 2017
*** Ice Skating competition is so intense ! Wow ! ***
We see the endless practice, the ups and downs, the dedication and love for the sport. Awe inspiring.
Blonde and 20, Alex, Olympic hopeful, and Matt, 24, a pairs skater,
are the love interests here, but hadn't liked each other in the beginning. When Matt and his partner have a tragedy, Alex is right by his side to help him.
They get to know each other and it turns into a hidden relationship. No one is "out" in ice skating, and Matt has never told his folks. Alex's family is different, accepting, and loving.
Alex has never had a boyfriend, a real kiss, nor sex,
so it's first times for him. Matt feels honored to be with him. Competing is grueling, as is the travel grind. We get amazing characters, the intensity of ice skating at their level, but it is never boring.
There are hot, sexy times, and also the agony of defeat. We see Alex mature and realize things about himself and about life.
Terrific ! Highly recommended. ENJOY !
===============================
We see the endless practice, the ups and downs, the dedication and love for the sport. Awe inspiring.
Blonde and 20, Alex, Olympic hopeful, and Matt, 24, a pairs skater,
are the love interests here, but hadn't liked each other in the beginning. When Matt and his partner have a tragedy, Alex is right by his side to help him.
They get to know each other and it turns into a hidden relationship. No one is "out" in ice skating, and Matt has never told his folks. Alex's family is different, accepting, and loving.
Alex has never had a boyfriend, a real kiss, nor sex,
so it's first times for him. Matt feels honored to be with him. Competing is grueling, as is the travel grind. We get amazing characters, the intensity of ice skating at their level, but it is never boring.
There are hot, sexy times, and also the agony of defeat. We see Alex mature and realize things about himself and about life.
Terrific ! Highly recommended. ENJOY !
===============================
December 9, 2016
Adorbs. Keira Andrews is my favorite. She never lets me down.
March 1, 2017
*** 4.25 Stars ***
February 28, 2018
This is really engaging New Adult romance about two very hardworking figure skaters.
The book features an opposite attract bit of fun but as we get to know Matt and Alex more there complexity as people elevates the novel and makes their love story really sing.
This Olympic theme romance is sexy but it emotionally sexy as well.
Alex and Matt are a couple who deserve the Happily Ever After in the sport and in love they both work so hard to achieve.
A great cast. Good stuff!
The book features an opposite attract bit of fun but as we get to know Matt and Alex more there complexity as people elevates the novel and makes their love story really sing.
This Olympic theme romance is sexy but it emotionally sexy as well.
Alex and Matt are a couple who deserve the Happily Ever After in the sport and in love they both work so hard to achieve.
A great cast. Good stuff!
December 14, 2016
Los chicos de Keira, como siempre, monos remonos. Me quedo con Matt, Alex no hace honor a esa fama de bocazas arrogante con la que nos lo pintan al principio, pero nos gusta también.
Le ha faltado chicha a la trama, pero se lee sólo.
Le ha faltado chicha a la trama, pero se lee sólo.
March 14, 2024
What a complete and total nightmare this book was.
"Mr. Savelli seems totally out of his element. Matt’s dad is short, has a beer belly, and looks like he finishes every sentence with “bada boom, bada bing,” which is ridiculously stereotypical and offensive, but it keeps running through my mind despite my best efforts."
I feel like I'm in another universe here, because I love quite a few books from this author, I've been a fan for a longer time and I've re-read this series this week, but this was my first time reading this book.
And it was terrible.
I can hardly believe this is written by the same author who wrote the very good Barbarian duet or Kidnapped by the pirate, one of my favourites from her. I love quite a few of her books and now I'm just blown away, because this was a disaster.
Don't get me wrong - I love figure skating! I love watching men skate. It's such a tough sport and the author really did her research, but forgot about developing the love story, completely. Not only that, to me figure skating is beautiful and magical and I don't mind a bit of the technical stuff, but not told like this.
🟣 Competitive figure/ice skating
🟢 Both MMCs gay (none officially out)
🟠 1st person POV, a dual POV badly missing
🟡 One MMC is a diva and a brat, but in the worst possible way
🔵 Olympics, that's the main topic of this book, romance is secondary
🟣 Bad interactions, dialogues, overall not a good story
🟢 A good final chapter and the ending, finally some good storytelling, but no epilogue
🌶️ Some smut and it was good, if the book were a romance and had more emphasis on the relationship, it would be pretty damn good; virgin; t/b
This was so bad. Or should I say extremely disappointing? Even if one MMC was a complete arrogant prick, the story could've worked in his favour, but his character developed a little only near the end. The love story wasn't developed enough, didn't get enough page time and Matt's POV was missing.
Alex is the guy who's POV we're getting. He's a 20-year old American figure skater who's highly competitive and thinks of nothing but the Olympics and winning. And that's fine, but that's all you're getting in this book. This is the main topic in every chapter.
That and everything about skating.
"Remember the Olympics. Tanner Nielsen. Focus. “Sorry, I can’t. I really need an early night.” I stare at the ceiling, Matt hovering in my peripheral vision.
“Oh.” The happy energy in his voice has dissipated. “Sure, I understand. What about tomorrow? Or the weekend?”
I keep on shoving the weight up with my legs, even though my quads are burning and I’ve done my reps. “Can’t. Have too much training. No time.”"
or
“I’m going to France tomorrow. Obviously I need to medal.” I take a swig of water and imagine myself winning in Bordeaux. “Look, it’s nothing personal.”
Matt’s smile evaporates. “I guess it isn’t. My mistake.”
Guilt tugs at me, low and insistent. “Olympics are in, like, three months—” “I know when the fucking Olympics are.”
I jump to my feet. “Good! Then you know I don’t have time to dick around since I’m actually still going.”
That's all this guy keeps saying. Olympics, Olympics, Olympics.
Alex hate-likes Matt, the perfect male skater from the pair skater duo where the girl had an accident and then Alex and Matt got closer, start really liking each other and hooking up. The hook-ups were hot, but scarce and the olympic talk overshadowed everything. Not to mention there was absolutely nothing romantic or sexy about them getting together, no budding relationship in the works and the Olympic gold and practice was everything Alex could talk about.
"My heart skips and soars like I just landed a perfect quad combo."
or when they have sex
""All the way. I'm going to do it. It's just like the quad. No hesitation. Have to go for it." Bearing down, I grit my teeth and push past the head." 😆
then Alex is worried he's been having too much fun losing his virginity to a hot guy and not enough training is happening
"The pasta, bread, and Coke - and fuck me, why did I have that cheesecake?-sit like lead in my gut as Matt pulls into guest parking at my building. My quad Sal is still not consistent enough."
Matt is worried because Alex is spacing out all the time with his bitch-inner-monologuss, as a good boyfriend he's worried, so
""He reaches out and strokes a hand over my head as I sit rigid. "What happened? Where did you go?"
"Going to the Olympics. I'm not ready." An iron band constricts my chest. "Need to focus. There's so much to do!""
Not to mention Matt and Alex are being cockblocked throughout the whole book, just in the first 35% they get interrupted 4 times before they kiss and it just keeps going on and on. The only time these two have a normal night together is at the very end of the book.
🟡 It wouldn't be me if I hadn't mentioned some of the misogyny in the book now, would it?
"This time, his tongue pushes inside, and I open my mouth wider on a low moan, because holy shit, kissing Matt is nothing like what I imagine it would be like kissing a girl."
Look at this ridiculous crap. This guy is a complete virgin, hasn't kissed anyone, hasn't kissed a girl either, so kissing a guy is nothing like what he'd imagine kissing a girl would be? What the hell does that even mean??
"Maybe I should rewrite the text. Or put in another exclamation point at the end? Is that too teenage girl?"
There it is. There's that good old hate for teenage girls. Fantastic. And yes, punctuation is teenage girl-ish, you're correct. Douze points.
"God, maybe what happened between us really didn’t mean anything. Maybe it was only sex. And maybe I should stop acting like a sixteen- year- old girl."
Another thing that bothered me a little was Matt's relationship with his skating partner. Now, I know girls are usually very young and younger than guys (majority), but this is a little bit weird
"When we started, she was just a baby. Thirteen. I was eighteen and the only thing we had in common was skating and hot chocolate with marshmallows. It’s our favorite.”
This guy claims this girl is his best friend. When he met her she was 13 years old and he was legally an adult. Yeah. 🤨
The story finally starts picking up and getting palatable near the very end where Alex and Matt find their common ground, they're boyfriends, but you don't really feel happy for them because they didn't get a good story and overall a lot of things are just left up in the air. Not much is resolved and they get a HFN.
I mean at the end I did like them together, sure I did, but that was only one chapter.
So, 244 pages of what exactly?
Well, now if you wake me up in the middle of the night I'll know for sure what a freaking quad is, so there's that.
"Mr. Savelli seems totally out of his element. Matt’s dad is short, has a beer belly, and looks like he finishes every sentence with “bada boom, bada bing,” which is ridiculously stereotypical and offensive, but it keeps running through my mind despite my best efforts."
I feel like I'm in another universe here, because I love quite a few books from this author, I've been a fan for a longer time and I've re-read this series this week, but this was my first time reading this book.
And it was terrible.
I can hardly believe this is written by the same author who wrote the very good Barbarian duet or Kidnapped by the pirate, one of my favourites from her. I love quite a few of her books and now I'm just blown away, because this was a disaster.
Don't get me wrong - I love figure skating! I love watching men skate. It's such a tough sport and the author really did her research, but forgot about developing the love story, completely. Not only that, to me figure skating is beautiful and magical and I don't mind a bit of the technical stuff, but not told like this.
🟣 Competitive figure/ice skating
🟢 Both MMCs gay (none officially out)
🟠 1st person POV, a dual POV badly missing
🟡 One MMC is a diva and a brat, but in the worst possible way
🔵 Olympics, that's the main topic of this book, romance is secondary
🟣 Bad interactions, dialogues, overall not a good story
🟢 A good final chapter and the ending, finally some good storytelling, but no epilogue
🌶️ Some smut and it was good, if the book were a romance and had more emphasis on the relationship, it would be pretty damn good; virgin; t/b
This was so bad. Or should I say extremely disappointing? Even if one MMC was a complete arrogant prick, the story could've worked in his favour, but his character developed a little only near the end. The love story wasn't developed enough, didn't get enough page time and Matt's POV was missing.
Alex is the guy who's POV we're getting. He's a 20-year old American figure skater who's highly competitive and thinks of nothing but the Olympics and winning. And that's fine, but that's all you're getting in this book. This is the main topic in every chapter.
That and everything about skating.
"Remember the Olympics. Tanner Nielsen. Focus. “Sorry, I can’t. I really need an early night.” I stare at the ceiling, Matt hovering in my peripheral vision.
“Oh.” The happy energy in his voice has dissipated. “Sure, I understand. What about tomorrow? Or the weekend?”
I keep on shoving the weight up with my legs, even though my quads are burning and I’ve done my reps. “Can’t. Have too much training. No time.”"
or
“I’m going to France tomorrow. Obviously I need to medal.” I take a swig of water and imagine myself winning in Bordeaux. “Look, it’s nothing personal.”
Matt’s smile evaporates. “I guess it isn’t. My mistake.”
Guilt tugs at me, low and insistent. “Olympics are in, like, three months—” “I know when the fucking Olympics are.”
I jump to my feet. “Good! Then you know I don’t have time to dick around since I’m actually still going.”
That's all this guy keeps saying. Olympics, Olympics, Olympics.
Alex hate-likes Matt, the perfect male skater from the pair skater duo where the girl had an accident and then Alex and Matt got closer, start really liking each other and hooking up. The hook-ups were hot, but scarce and the olympic talk overshadowed everything. Not to mention there was absolutely nothing romantic or sexy about them getting together, no budding relationship in the works and the Olympic gold and practice was everything Alex could talk about.
"My heart skips and soars like I just landed a perfect quad combo."
or when they have sex
""All the way. I'm going to do it. It's just like the quad. No hesitation. Have to go for it." Bearing down, I grit my teeth and push past the head." 😆
then Alex is worried he's been having too much fun losing his virginity to a hot guy and not enough training is happening
"The pasta, bread, and Coke - and fuck me, why did I have that cheesecake?-sit like lead in my gut as Matt pulls into guest parking at my building. My quad Sal is still not consistent enough."
Matt is worried because Alex is spacing out all the time with his bitch-inner-monologuss, as a good boyfriend he's worried, so
""He reaches out and strokes a hand over my head as I sit rigid. "What happened? Where did you go?"
"Going to the Olympics. I'm not ready." An iron band constricts my chest. "Need to focus. There's so much to do!""
Not to mention Matt and Alex are being cockblocked throughout the whole book, just in the first 35% they get interrupted 4 times before they kiss and it just keeps going on and on. The only time these two have a normal night together is at the very end of the book.
🟡 It wouldn't be me if I hadn't mentioned some of the misogyny in the book now, would it?
"This time, his tongue pushes inside, and I open my mouth wider on a low moan, because holy shit, kissing Matt is nothing like what I imagine it would be like kissing a girl."
Look at this ridiculous crap. This guy is a complete virgin, hasn't kissed anyone, hasn't kissed a girl either, so kissing a guy is nothing like what he'd imagine kissing a girl would be? What the hell does that even mean??
"Maybe I should rewrite the text. Or put in another exclamation point at the end? Is that too teenage girl?"
There it is. There's that good old hate for teenage girls. Fantastic. And yes, punctuation is teenage girl-ish, you're correct. Douze points.
"God, maybe what happened between us really didn’t mean anything. Maybe it was only sex. And maybe I should stop acting like a sixteen- year- old girl."
Another thing that bothered me a little was Matt's relationship with his skating partner. Now, I know girls are usually very young and younger than guys (majority), but this is a little bit weird
"When we started, she was just a baby. Thirteen. I was eighteen and the only thing we had in common was skating and hot chocolate with marshmallows. It’s our favorite.”
This guy claims this girl is his best friend. When he met her she was 13 years old and he was legally an adult. Yeah. 🤨
The story finally starts picking up and getting palatable near the very end where Alex and Matt find their common ground, they're boyfriends, but you don't really feel happy for them because they didn't get a good story and overall a lot of things are just left up in the air. Not much is resolved and they get a HFN.
I mean at the end I did like them together, sure I did, but that was only one chapter.
So, 244 pages of what exactly?
Well, now if you wake me up in the middle of the night I'll know for sure what a freaking quad is, so there's that.
December 9, 2016
Alex is a driven, focused, intense and self-absorbed 20 year old perfectionist, unrelenting in his ambition to be the Men's Olympic Figure Skating Champion. He's also an immature, emotionally stunted, jealous, whiny little bitch with a mouth that doesn't have a filter and quite often spews nasty stuff to or about other people that he later regrets;
needless to say, I found it very difficult to like anything about him. He has a great, loving and extremely supportive family, and could have some great friends too if he stopped thinking solely about himself for a minute or two.
Maybe another story with the very patient and understanding Matt [<3 Captain Cardboard, if he sticks around long enough?] 4 years down the line at the next Olympics in Annecy will show us a totally different Alex....one who has grown up and into himself as a human being, his love of Matt and all things skating [here's hoping no injuries get in the way]. Unfortunately, at the mo I can find no redeeming qualities in him, and I have to say he's one of the very few MC's I've disliked.....
Other than Alex [yes, let's move on], this was a really interesting and informative story from Keira, full of detail and knowledge, and if you hadn't realised just how much effort, time, money and pain goes into creating an Olympic champion, this would answer all of your questions.
February 10, 2018
First of all: where the FUCK did all my highlights go? Effing hell... There were quite a lot of fun moments and descriptions of figure skating that I found interesting. Also being in Alex's head packed quite a punch... So where the FUCK are all my highlights? *sigh*
Second of all: when reading this, I thought it was sort ofclear? obvious? distinct where Ms. Andrews had changed some things from the YA/NA novel it started out as. It didn't bother me, but the changes weren't 100% seamless.
Third of all: HOLY DIRTY TALK BATMAN!
I really enjoyed this story a lot. And even though I have NO experience with figure skating, this sucked me in and ALMOST had me googling figure skating-stuff. To be fair I mostly read these days, so me not googling/watching FS-stuff is not on this book.
I loved the descriptions and the focus on WORK preparing for something like the Olympics (it is, after all, 'Olympic Season' right, Alex?!?).
In some sports romances the story isn't balanced, but I loved the background here and the focus on training, though that might not be for all.
Captain Cardboard was amazing and SO understanding of all of Alex's idiosyncrasies.
At one point it did become a tad bit ridiculous how harsh Alex was, and how Matt just forgave him, but Alex's growth in this story was overall well-done and believable, while also being perfect for this story.
I enjoyed this a whole hell of a lot, and my highlights being gone, just means I need to read it again at some point #notaproblem.
Lastly: Hurray for sassy figure skaters!
Second of all: when reading this, I thought it was sort of
Third of all: HOLY DIRTY TALK BATMAN!
I really enjoyed this story a lot. And even though I have NO experience with figure skating, this sucked me in and ALMOST had me googling figure skating-stuff. To be fair I mostly read these days, so me not googling/watching FS-stuff is not on this book.
I loved the descriptions and the focus on WORK preparing for something like the Olympics (it is, after all, 'Olympic Season' right, Alex?!?).
In some sports romances the story isn't balanced, but I loved the background here and the focus on training, though that might not be for all.
Captain Cardboard was amazing and SO understanding of all of Alex's idiosyncrasies.
At one point it did become a tad bit ridiculous how harsh Alex was, and how Matt just forgave him, but Alex's growth in this story was overall well-done and believable, while also being perfect for this story.
I enjoyed this a whole hell of a lot, and my highlights being gone, just means I need to read it again at some point #notaproblem.
Lastly: Hurray for sassy figure skaters!
December 15, 2016
1. I'm a huge fan of figure skating.
2. I'm also a fan of Yuri! On Ice.
Need I say that I loved/adored/enjoyed every minute of reading this book?... It was all realistic figure skating goodness (so much training and pressure!), awesome romance and hot sex, and an absolutely adorable pair of MCs. Grumpy and high-strung Alex and sweet, laid-back Matt were complete opposites of each other, but so perfect together.
Thank you, Ms Andrews! ^_^
February 1, 2017
A rare miss for me from this author. Weird, considering I love figure skating, and I love this author, but somehow, I just didn't really connect with the characters. I'm not sure what was missing for me, time getting to know each other better, or what, but this just isn't gonna be a favorite for me.
February 4, 2017
This book was enjoyable enough, but didn’t manage to leave much of an impression although it definitely had its moments. It starts off with Alex, who you hold off judging because you don’t know whether to like him or not. Being straightforward and the ability to put your foot in your mouth should be entertaining, but it just made me cringe at times or frown at my screen asking “why”. He’s open, honest enough, has no filter (which I love - because snark) but I had trouble understanding his decisions. On one hand his personality is awe-worthy, to have a dream and go for it full speed ahead for me is something I can respect and root for, but on the other hand his neurotic self started getting on my nerves very quickly. I have neurotic tendencies myself, so I get it. I really do, but the point of a book is to match the character development you know is coming with the pace the book is on. His realisation is set so far into the book, it’s a bit off.
This works both ways, I say it’s off because that’s how I see it, but you can also see it as a trait that he’s embodied due to years of not having done anything else, of having focused on a goal so intently that even when he’s changing he doesn’t allow himself to do so.
Yet, when you take that road how easy it is for him to get distracted by his Captain Cardboard, losing focus during practice works despite this deeply entrenched notion that he needs to win and not allow himself to be distracted, it’s too easily pushed aside. Then again, it’s because it’s the first time in his life something actually comes out of his clear infatuation so… I’m playing both fences here.
A lot bothered me, but I could understand why the author made the decisions she had when writing this story.
Maybe bother isn’t the right word, but just put me in a state where I’m not able to be as receptive to the world and the story within it that the author is spinning. Because that’s what Andrews was doing, giving the reader - even the completely ignorant when it comes to figure skating reader like me - an introduction to the world behind the work that figure skaters put in so that we can be amazed by their ability to do what we can’t possibly aspire to without years of dedication and training and innate talent to a certain extent. Although that’s the position that Andrews has put herself in, she doesn’t exactly deliver as well as she could have.
The tense usage, for example. Present tense is really hard to pull off without it becoming over descriptive or downright make it boring to read the story. She wasn’t able to fully do that, at times I did get absorbed into the story but in the beginning I just kept frowning at my screen and couldn’t put my finger on what exactly was throwing me. In hindsight, it was the over description. The information dump. The way it’s presented.
The plot of this story, the line that we’re following was clear. We see the struggle that Alex faces during his training time and again, his failure to do the quad Sal (succeeding and it not working out interchangeably) is a constant reminder given to the reader throughout the book on how he approaches said practice and it runs parallel to how his relationships and his outside circumstances affect him.
How he and his Captain Cardboard get together, the obvious struggles he faces dealing with labelling this relationship having the constant self-doubt that he’s not good enough (which is present in his figure skating heavily - though that’s probably normal in this field) and remaining in the closet because the figure skating world isn’t ready for a gay figure skater as its champion.
The relationships he enters give us an idea of how he develops as a character throughout, that includes his friendships with Mylene and Kenny, his rivalry with Tanner, and his who even needs clothes relationship with Matt. In the beginning he can’t talk to Mylene without making an ass of himself. He doesn’t have it in himself to deny Kenny when he’s being a friend to Alex, but has trouble truly being a friend to him in return. He hates Matt (well, that’s what he says but it’s completely obvious that it’s just repressed-but-not-really-repressed attraction because it’s really really obvious).
Matt becomes his catalyst, the person that gives Alex something else in his life to focus on than his goals. A boyfriend didn’t fit in ‘his plan’ but it’s what he needed to start getting out of this shell that he put himself in. The tragedy Matt suffers, bring the two together - helps them heal one another because whether Alex realises it or not, he needed someone he could be that anchor to. This in turn helps him become more open with others, gives him an outlet for himself, and though he screws up along the line, he does make up for it.
I just think that it feels off. How fast things progressed between him and Matt, how distracted he let himself get from the goals he’d set for himself (and by that I just mean the practices - what he did for Mylene and Matt was a great moment although a sad one). How it does feel like he’s looking down on everyone, but when he speaks later apparently he isn’t?
The chemistry between the two in the end, although hot and had great moments, I felt wasn’t as developed as it could have been. Or, at least given the breaking space that if it had been granted would make it just so much more explosive and memorable instead of just becoming another cute couple.
Another thing that bothered me, though a lot of authors have a tendency to do this: did Alex and Matt really have to get so hot and bothered with one another, so completely lost in their haze of lust, that when Alex loses his ‘giving a blowjob’ virginity they act like idiots? Matt came down the guy’s throat and didn’t give a heads up in any way, shape or form. Which is rude, and unsafe on so many levels because the more important point: Safe Sex. To Alex: ‘Honey, you have no idea where Little Matt has been since it realised all the other fun thing he could do’. This shouldn’t be a non-issue.
Overall, the plot had its moments but halfway through this book would have lost my interest if I wasn’t reviewing it after. Having that extra notion to get on with it, I got to the interesting parts but it became a thing where I kept checking how much more I needed to read. The character development was nice enough, but it felt sloppy and didn’t transition well enough. The writing felt choppy, but that’s mostly due to the initial chapter which raised my hackles. Overall I’d recommend it if you’re into sports romances.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Reviewed by Kudrat from Alpha Book Club
This works both ways, I say it’s off because that’s how I see it, but you can also see it as a trait that he’s embodied due to years of not having done anything else, of having focused on a goal so intently that even when he’s changing he doesn’t allow himself to do so.
Yet, when you take that road how easy it is for him to get distracted by his Captain Cardboard, losing focus during practice works despite this deeply entrenched notion that he needs to win and not allow himself to be distracted, it’s too easily pushed aside. Then again, it’s because it’s the first time in his life something actually comes out of his clear infatuation so… I’m playing both fences here.
A lot bothered me, but I could understand why the author made the decisions she had when writing this story.
Maybe bother isn’t the right word, but just put me in a state where I’m not able to be as receptive to the world and the story within it that the author is spinning. Because that’s what Andrews was doing, giving the reader - even the completely ignorant when it comes to figure skating reader like me - an introduction to the world behind the work that figure skaters put in so that we can be amazed by their ability to do what we can’t possibly aspire to without years of dedication and training and innate talent to a certain extent. Although that’s the position that Andrews has put herself in, she doesn’t exactly deliver as well as she could have.
The tense usage, for example. Present tense is really hard to pull off without it becoming over descriptive or downright make it boring to read the story. She wasn’t able to fully do that, at times I did get absorbed into the story but in the beginning I just kept frowning at my screen and couldn’t put my finger on what exactly was throwing me. In hindsight, it was the over description. The information dump. The way it’s presented.
The plot of this story, the line that we’re following was clear. We see the struggle that Alex faces during his training time and again, his failure to do the quad Sal (succeeding and it not working out interchangeably) is a constant reminder given to the reader throughout the book on how he approaches said practice and it runs parallel to how his relationships and his outside circumstances affect him.
How he and his Captain Cardboard get together, the obvious struggles he faces dealing with labelling this relationship having the constant self-doubt that he’s not good enough (which is present in his figure skating heavily - though that’s probably normal in this field) and remaining in the closet because the figure skating world isn’t ready for a gay figure skater as its champion.
The relationships he enters give us an idea of how he develops as a character throughout, that includes his friendships with Mylene and Kenny, his rivalry with Tanner, and his who even needs clothes relationship with Matt. In the beginning he can’t talk to Mylene without making an ass of himself. He doesn’t have it in himself to deny Kenny when he’s being a friend to Alex, but has trouble truly being a friend to him in return. He hates Matt (well, that’s what he says but it’s completely obvious that it’s just repressed-but-not-really-repressed attraction because it’s really really obvious).
Matt becomes his catalyst, the person that gives Alex something else in his life to focus on than his goals. A boyfriend didn’t fit in ‘his plan’ but it’s what he needed to start getting out of this shell that he put himself in. The tragedy Matt suffers, bring the two together - helps them heal one another because whether Alex realises it or not, he needed someone he could be that anchor to. This in turn helps him become more open with others, gives him an outlet for himself, and though he screws up along the line, he does make up for it.
I just think that it feels off. How fast things progressed between him and Matt, how distracted he let himself get from the goals he’d set for himself (and by that I just mean the practices - what he did for Mylene and Matt was a great moment although a sad one). How it does feel like he’s looking down on everyone, but when he speaks later apparently he isn’t?
The chemistry between the two in the end, although hot and had great moments, I felt wasn’t as developed as it could have been. Or, at least given the breaking space that if it had been granted would make it just so much more explosive and memorable instead of just becoming another cute couple.
Another thing that bothered me, though a lot of authors have a tendency to do this: did Alex and Matt really have to get so hot and bothered with one another, so completely lost in their haze of lust, that when Alex loses his ‘giving a blowjob’ virginity they act like idiots? Matt came down the guy’s throat and didn’t give a heads up in any way, shape or form. Which is rude, and unsafe on so many levels because the more important point: Safe Sex. To Alex: ‘Honey, you have no idea where Little Matt has been since it realised all the other fun thing he could do’. This shouldn’t be a non-issue.
Overall, the plot had its moments but halfway through this book would have lost my interest if I wasn’t reviewing it after. Having that extra notion to get on with it, I got to the interesting parts but it became a thing where I kept checking how much more I needed to read. The character development was nice enough, but it felt sloppy and didn’t transition well enough. The writing felt choppy, but that’s mostly due to the initial chapter which raised my hackles. Overall I’d recommend it if you’re into sports romances.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Reviewed by Kudrat from Alpha Book Club
February 18, 2017
A bit of a slow start and a wait until 40% until the first kiss.
Set in the world of figure skating Matt and Alex are training as its olympic season. After an on ice accident involving Matt's partner the two become closer and Alex persuades Matt to try out for the olympics.
I liked this story.
3.5 rounded up.
Set in the world of figure skating Matt and Alex are training as its olympic season. After an on ice accident involving Matt's partner the two become closer and Alex persuades Matt to try out for the olympics.
I liked this story.
3.5 rounded up.
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