Review: Real by Katy Evans - 4.5 Wine Glasses!

Real 
(Real, Raw & Ripped #1)
by Katy Evans 
Paperback, 268 pages
Published April 8th 2013 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN 1482335395 
Purchased by Reviewer
*Mature New Adult/Adult novel - contains adult situations, high sexuality, some violence, and is suited for ages 18 and up*

REAL
A fallen boxer.
A woman with a broken dream.
A competition…
IS HE FOR REAL?
He even makes me forget my name. One night was all it took, and I forgot everything and anything except the sexy fighter in the ring who sets my mind ablaze and my body on fire with wanting…
Remington Tate is the strongest, most confusing man I’ve ever met in my life.
He’s the star of the dangerous underground fighting circuit, and I’m drawn to him as I’ve never been drawn to anything in my life. I forget who I am, what I want, with just one look from him. When he’s near, I need to remind myself that I am strong–but he is stronger. And now it’s my job to keep his body working like a perfect machine, his taut muscles primed and ready to break the bones of his next opponents . . .
But the one he’s most threatening to, now, is me.
I want him. I want him without fear. Without reservations.
If only I knew for sure what it is that he wants from me?

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Crystal's Thoughts:
Real is a raw and gritty story of a flawed, broken fighter who was kicked out of professional fighting and is now the biggest thing in the underground fighting world. 

Remington Tate is working towards the championship when he spots Brooke Dumas in the crowd. As soon as their eyes connect he knows that he can't let her go and hires her to be his personal physical therapist. 
Brooke assumes that Remy just wants to have sex with her, but when he continually turns her down or puts the brakes on their make-out sessions she doesn't know what  to think. Is he just playing with her? 
Remy wants Brooke to know the man inside, not the star fighter. She wants him but doesn't truly know him. Remy won't give in to the desire that sparks between them until she does. 

Wow, what an amazing story with a drop-dead sexy and heartbreaking alpha male! 

Real is told from Brooke's perspective. A young woman who is starting over after a life-changing injury. The plot is well paced and kept me engaged from the start. When Remy and Brooke meet the chemistry between them explodes from the pages, and the sexual tension is drawn out to the breaking point. I swear I was in a constant state of arousal right alongside poor Brooke! Their connection builds steadily and was not rushed at all which I enjoyed. Remy really wanted Brooke to get to know him before getting under the sheets with her which is a real turn-around in romance. He has a secret and he's not sure how Brooke will react but knows that it's not fair to her to start a relationship without coming clean. And he wants that relationship with her. He wants forever. *Insert swoon here* But thanks to his horrid upbringing Remy isn't very good at expressing his emotions, which sometimes leaves Brooke feeling confused, so Remy uses music. I just loved this aspect of the story. Remy would play Brooke a song that depicted what he was feeling at the time and Brooke would then pick a song for him, and they would go back and forth. Gah. This was so romantic, I swear little tiny hearts were floating from my Kindle up to the ceiling while reading these scenes. 

Remy was a character with incredible hidden depths and though Brooke didn't know everything about him, she saw that he was more than just a fighter with a bad reputation. She was protective of him right away, despite the fact that a man his size and ability needed little protection. lol I did dislike some of Brooke's actions towards the end of the book but for the most part she was an enjoyable character and I appreciated her feisty attitude. 

All in all, Real was a fantastic read riddled with agonizing internal struggles and angst with an edgy and intense hero that you will absolutely fall in love with! I can't wait for more from these characters and this incredible debut author!

Rating: 4.5 Wine Glasses

Reviewed by: Crystal