Reviewed by Danielle
T
ITLE: The Next Competitor
AUTHOR: Keira Andrews
PUBLISHER: K.A Books
LENGTH: 246 Pages
RELEASE DATE: December 4, 2016
BLURB:
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.
This new version has been extensively rewritten, updated, and expanded into a new adult romance with explict on-page sex
REVIEW:
I always love a good sports story and I was very curious to get to read this one. I was pleasantly surprised to see this story was adjusted to a new adult version and I am glad I finally picked it up.
In the beginning I struggled with the relationship between both main characters Matt and Alex and the way they acted around each other but you do feel as a reader that the building of their relationship, in whatever form it’s gonna take, is strong. Author Keira Andrews made sure of that.
Alex was hard for me to wrap my head around as his behaviour is not so nice (to put it mildly) but Matt? Gosh you cannot help but fall head over heels in love with Matt. His sincerity, his friendly behaviour and the way he treats people, no you can’t not love Matt. So to have those two together is setting a stage for some serious fireworks, which we definitely get!
Alex is so focused on getting an olympic gold medal that he literally cannot focus on anything else. He’s working towards that goal constantly, straining himself to an unhealthy level.
Matt is just as dedicated but he treats skating and life in a completely different way. He holds his loved ones close, keeping a realistic view on the sport.
Throughout the story we see their relationship develop but we also find out about Alex. He’s severely protective of his parents and how he feels they have sacrificed so much for him and his skating, you come to understand a little better where he is coming from.
On top of the love story author Keira Andrews writes in finesse about the art of skating, both singles and pairs, training and the relationship between coaches and pupils as skaters around each other.
A special mention to Matt’s best friend Mylene as I loved her. She is everything a bff should be and she totally gets Matt but definitely also Alex.
Author Keira Andrews brings a sweet, sexy, sport story to the pages that is a very enjoyable read. I am happy with the adjustments made to this story and loved the sexiness between both men.
I have to say the ending left me wanting a bit more to see how things would continue in the next 4 years. I hope the author will visit this couple in the near future to bring at least this reader a solution to that feeling.
RATING: 
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