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Review: The Summer Games – Settling the Score by R.S. Grey

My Thoughts

Sexy, funny and fast-paced—
the perfect must-read summer romance.

Buy Now on Amazon for 99¢

Synopsis

May-02 As an Olympic rookie, Andie Foster has spent far more time in her cleats than between the sheets. For 21 years, her Friday nights have consisted of blocking shots rather than taking them. But now that she’s landed in Rio, she’s ready to see for herself if the rumors about the Olympic Village are true:

• The athletes are all sex-crazed maniacs…
• The committee passes out condoms like candy…
• The games continue long after the medals have been handed out…

As Andie walks the line between rumor and reality, she’s forced into the path of Frederick Archibald, a decorated Olympic swimmer and owner of a sexy British accent—too bad he’s unavailable in a way that “it’s complicated” doesn’t even begin to explain.

In other words: off limits.

It doesn’t matter that he has abs that could bring peace to the Middle East and a smile that makes even the Queen blush; Andie fully intends on keeping her focus on the soccer field. But the Village is small. Suffocating. Everywhere Andie goes, Freddie happens to be there—shirtless, wet from the pool, and determined to show her a whole new meaning of the phrase “international affairs”.

My Review

R.S. Grey’s novels always feel like a treat—a delicious indulgence that exemplifies why I fell in love with reading in the first place. It’s the fun of reading a great story that makes you giggle and swoon, that has you flipping pages fast because you can’t wait to see what happens next. Plus, with Grey’s irresistible wit, it’s impossible not to fall in love with every novel she pens.

The Summer Games delivers all that wonderfulness in spades. The angst, the chemistry between characters, the humor—it’s impossible not to fall for Andie and Freddie. Their story captures that all-consuming, dizzying high of meeting someone that immediately becomes your every thought, your every heartbeat. Couple that goodness with the very real excitement of the upcoming Rio 2016 Olympics, and you’ve got yourself book gold.

“When the flame is lit, let the games begin.”

When Andie Foster lands in Rio for the Olympic games, she’s ready to soak it all in, to play the best soccer she’s ever played, to let loose and have some much-deserved fun. If that means meeting some cute boys and having the time of her life at some late-night parties, she’s in! After all, the Games were known for all kinds of hookups—fun and temporary and harmless.

And then her eyes landed on swimmer god and all-around hottie-with-a-British-accent Frederick Archibald.

“This Freddie? The sight of him begged a rousing “good heavens” with a polite undertone of “new pair of panties, please.”

Every girl lusted after him, and rightly so. He was both insanely talented and gorgeous. Lucky for her, after running into Freddie at a party, they become fast friends. Yet even from the beginning, it was hard to shrug off the surprising chemistry that sparked to life.

For Freddie, Andie was everything he wasn’t used to. Fun without fuss, carefree, strong, beautiful. He couldn’t stay away from her and it seemed she couldn’t stay away from him either.

Just as Andie leaps into the magic and madness of their connection, however, she realizes he’s entirely unavailable. Even after such a short time, she’s crushed. Her time with Freddie felt like the start of something real, special.

“I wanted to taste madness and I had. It tasted like a hot British swimmer who was currently off the fucking market.”

But things were complicated. Not what they seemed. So Freddie was determined to hold on to Andie. Their relationship is a frenzied push and pull between doing the right thing and following your heart’s desire. Their time was limited however, and what they had was sure to vanish quickly.

“We couldn’t make each other promises because there was nothing to promise. We had moments, tiny, stolen moments that felt wrong more than they felt right. She wasn’t mine and she never would be; I knew that and I felt that every time she was around me.”

We see Andie and Freddie’s relationship take a turn for the worse, even as their emotions intensify. Mix in media and others determined to break them apart, and their situation becomes nearly insurmountable.

“Do you think this thing between us is real? Or is it just part of the magic of Rio?”

I read the entire book in a single sitting. It’s impossible to put down. Delightfully fun, irresistibly sexy. Grey’s effervescence comes through in bright, snappy dialogue which is nicely juxtaposed with heart-rending moments full of feels.

Don’t wait to read this one—click it, devour it and share it with friends. I assure you, Freddie is your next, favorite book boyfriend!