Real

Real follows Brooke Dumas, a former track athlete turned physical therapist who becomes involved with underground fighter Remington "Riptide" Tate. After a chance encounter at one of his matches, Brooke accepts a job as his sports rehab specialist while he competes in an underground fighting circuit. Their professional relationship becomes complicated by an intense mutual attraction and Remington's unpredictable behavior. As Brooke learns more about Remington's struggles with mental health, she must decide whether to maintain professional boundaries or pursue their connection. The story tracks their relationship against the backdrop of the competitive fighting world, where reputation and victory mean everything. Both characters face personal demons that threaten their careers and their growing bond. The novel examines themes of control, healing, and acceptance through its central romance. Through its characters' journeys, it presents questions about the boundaries between helping someone and losing oneself in the process.

Readers describe Real as a steamy romance with an alpha male lead and strong sexual content. Most reviews focus on the chemistry between Remington and Brooke and the underground fighting backdrop. Readers liked: - Fast-paced emotional intensity - Raw passion and heat level - Fight scene descriptions - Mental health representation - Male lead's vulnerability Common criticisms: - Repetitive internal monologue - Basic writing style - Predictable plot - Unrealistic character behaviors - Too many explicit scenes Review stats: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (116,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (2,800+ reviews) Sample reader quotes: "The sexual tension was off the charts" - Goodreads reviewer "Brooke's constant overthinking became tiresome" - Amazon reviewer "Fight scenes felt authentic but the romance was cliché" - Barnes & Noble review "Great chemistry but needed better editing" - Bookbub reviewer

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire A college student falls for an underground fighter who helps her overcome her traumatic past while battling his own demons.

The Deal by Elle Kennedy A hockey player agrees to tutor a music student in exchange for her help improving his dating reputation, leading to an unexpected romance.

Fight for Her by JJ Knight An MMA fighter protects a woman from her dangerous ex while confronting the choices that drove him from professional fighting.

The Hurricane by R.J. Prescott A young boxer takes in a homeless abuse survivor and trains her in self-defense as their relationship evolves from protector to partner.

The Strongest Steel by Scarlett Cole A tattoo artist helps a woman cover her scars from an assault while dealing with his past as an underground fighter and her stalker ex.

🥊 "Real" was Katy Evans' debut novel and initially started as a self-published work before being picked up by Gallery Books, a division of Simon & Schuster. 💫 The book sparked a successful series, with five subsequent novels following different characters in the underground fighting world. 🏆 The novel reached #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list for e-books in 2013, demonstrating the growing power of digital publishing in romance literature. 🤼 Underground fighting, the backdrop of the novel, has historical roots dating back to ancient Greek pankration, which combined boxing and wrestling in no-holds-barred contests. ❤️ The main character Remington "Riptide" Tate was inspired by Evans' fascination with the intensity and dedication of professional fighters, particularly their discipline both in and out of the ring.