Book Review – Real By Katy Evans

Real
<— This one was a “stayed-up-all-night-now-I’m-a-book-zombie” read, and I had a blast sighing and *squeeing* with my fellow readers over Remy as so many of us read it together. It just came out yesterday, and when Joanna mentioned how much she was enjoying it, I knew it had to be my next (we have similar book tastes).

Joanna: I’m reading “Real” by Katy Evans right now. It’s giving me chills… Hope it holds up this good all the way through. If it does, it’ll be on my keeper shelf in a BIG way.

I was in the mood for a bad a$$, with a bad reputation, bad temper and hopefully, a good heart, and Remy did not disappoint. Oh he freaked me out a few times (I ruh-roh’d and believe me, with good reason).

… I have the awful desperate urge to flee back to my home.

The guy is just too much. Too much male. Too much masculinity and pure raw beast.

If a guy COULD “acceptably” pee on a potential mate to claim and mark her in front of others… this would be the guy. He was another one of those… you know the kind. Where logically, things happen and stuff is said and you know you should run in the other direction. But your heart just can’t get enough of him, and instead you just want to promise him forever, even though you’ve only known him for two weeks, and you’re too young to know better, and well… he did just trash the entire hotel room in a fit of rage.

Er… what? Yep!!!! I know, crazy right? Kinda dangerous, even (in real-life, sure…)

Wait!! Wait!! Stop pacing and trying to shake some sense into me… Lemme explain:

1.) There’s a reason for the madness.

2.) There’s just something sooooooooo *sigh* about him. He’s so dreamy. So protective. So fierce. And seemingly so broken. She must fix!!!

3.) It would appear SHE just might be the fix (I know… you realists are eye-rolling right now), but I swear it! Even ask the author, she knows! The heroine (Brooke) calms his wild beast!! *giggle*… I mean, you know… tames his inner turmoil, eases his pain.

4.) I love his “lion bonding ways”. Wow, the detail in this book when it came to their private interaction was so different than a lot of what I’ve been reading. Okay maybe not so different per se, but… just more detailed, more personal and very “signature” to this couple. Their make-out sessions were unforgettable and even a bit eccentric, but I LOVED that. What a long, lengthy and detailed tease! I was going crazy with her, but I loved every minute of the “getting there” and every moment of being there.

5.) And well, for me… I’m goin’ with it. It’s just a story. after all, and we’re safe indulging and immersing ourselves fully into this bad-boy’s alarming reactions to life, his demands, his obsession.

“I sincerely hope you know what you’re getting into,” Pete says in a concerned whisper, his brow scrunched worriedly at the corners.

Yes, yes… obsession does not equal love, and if it does, it’s probably not a good thing. Co-dependancy and utter freak-outs if things change for one of ‘em. Of course. But I’m not going there. These two had me on such a love-buzz, and I wanted to keep that buzz alive.

Would I recommend this as a love-model for real life? Heck no (and eeeeeep!) Although… *swoon* Er… I mean… Eeeeeeep!!!

But, would I recommend this for a reader who wants to be sucked into both an elating, intense, all-consuming, sometimes scary/downward spiral but SO WORTH it, love? Yep!

For example: The “You have no idea what you’re asking for.” scene. His warning her off of him… and the circumstances of getting involved.

Here is where my brain went Eeeeeeeep!!! And my heart fluttered and I got butterflies. See? But again, it’s okay! I’m safe. He stays in my iPad and I can take him out and put him back whenever I want to. He never has to know.

So what’s it about?

Brooke goes to an underground fight match with her best friends, and the undefeated fighter (also the hottest of the hot) glances at her (sears her right to her soul),

His face is suddenly before me, illuminated by the lights, and I just stare like an idiot from my place.

My god.

My.

God.

… and they can’t stop staring at each other. I mean, to the point that when she goes to leave, he knocks his opponent out in one fell swoop, leaps out of the ring and chases her down.

“Your name,” he growls, panting, his eyes wild on mine.

Oh. Em. Gee!!! I was a puddle of swoony-melt, already.

And then, after sufficiently cyber-stalking her, he (eventually) offers her a job on his tour. And his “entourage” are extremely concerned by his obvious infatuation… no let’s call a spade a spade – his obsession with her. And she’s not playing hard to get. She likes him back.

I like him too much. Oh, god. I like him. Too. Much.

Oh I totally get that!!! No game playing here, but… never fear. We don’t just skip ahead to all of that, where the reader doesn’t even get to fall in love. Oh no. We get it alllll drawn out and intense-like.

And now, what I just can’t get over is that, from twenty thousand songs, he played that one to me?

Oh my…. don’t even get me started on the songs. THAT is one of the things that makes up this book’s signature. Something I will never forget. Like Collide’s bottlecaps, and Travis’s “Pidge” and their bets, the communication through songs in this love story? Just… perfect. It’s everything.

If you’re into this sorta thing, you’ll be feeling every moment of it. You will want relief, and you will not get it. Yet.

… he grabs my face in one hand, ear to ear, and breathes me again, his eyes drifting shut as he nuzzles my face with his.

“Do you know what you’re asking for?” he asks in a hoarse rasp, breathing harsh and fast. “Do you, Brooke?”

Sure, yes… this one was somewhat “insta-love-ish”, but so intense and drawn out, so primal and almost paranormal in his connection to her that I couldn’t be upset about it. Especially since the author made her readers, and every character in this book, work for it. And it took awhile, lemme tell you! But everything in between was fun.

Was it my perfect 5 star read?

Well… I won’t say 5 stars, ’cause I would have preferred a bit more conversation and laid-back interaction. Goofiness, stuff like that. It was mostly always just… intense, and a lot of inner dialogue (which I’m good with. That helps trick me into believing I’m thinking these things). I was mostly always on edge. On edge because I was scared of that certain *something* that was looming (there were a few of those “somethings”, by the way). I was on edge due to the intensity of their connection. On edge due to certain secrets. On edge over his over-the-top reactions. As much of a “Travis-feel” as he had, (and lemme tell you… if you’re seriously craving another “Travis-like” hero, this is the closest I’ve gotten so far), I’d say Remy was far more intense and serious than Travis (’cause ya gotta admit, Travis was a total goof at times. I laughed a lot, along with my swooning, when it came to Trav). Remy was mostly intense. No worries, not just angry-intense. I mean… just… intense. About everything. Again… reasons for all of it.

Okay and the second thing that keeps me from 5-staring this. Well… there was a sort of over the top decision that was made, and an even more over the top situation (which I just KNEW would happen). Oh COME ON!!!!. Well whether I knew it or not, it happened anyway, and I was just a touch disheartened that it even had to go there. Mind you, the drama eventually turned into something that was much better than it’s naive-drama-start, so I forgive it.

Oh. And the word nubbin’. I stumbled at that part. Tee hee!!! Not a big deal, though, but I just had to put that out there.

And yes… this is a “What to Read After Beautiful Disaster” suggestion. In fact a friend of mine expressed a touch of concern at first that it might be too similar, but it becomes it’s own thing soon enough. Although it certainly has a definite BD feel (or influence)? But I’m still happy I stuck with it! Similar in feel, and certain situations, but if you’re looking for more like Beautiful Disaster… hey! Here’s one!!!

Of course I’m mostly looking to read original, new and surprising “awesome”, but sometimes, one is done well enough that even in it’s similarities (sometimes despite it’s similarities), I can still immerse myself and enjoy it.

So… I’m giving it 4.5 stars. Maybe not a masterpiece or wholeheartedly unique as some of my most-intense, most loved “OMG-this-is-GENIOUS” favorites, but just by how the author handled the romance and emotional intensity, had me. How Remy is the closest in “type” to Travis (which I LOVE), and for the fact that, well I devoured it and involved myself in it fully, I can’t just give it 4 stars. After all, it gave me frequent butterflies and stomach dips. And can I say at one point, my mouth watered and I forgot to swallow. TMI? *silly grin*. Pretend you didn’t hear that.

Suddenly all I know is that this man has god-like proportions in my mind, but now I realize he’s also human and imperfect, and with every aching, quaking inch of my body, I want him all the more.

Okay, yes. 4.5 stars (but on a guilty-pleasure level of 4.5 star rating). Get me?

Okay now… look at how crazy we all went on Facebook, together (mini sample of our discussions):

Maryse’s Book Blog: Oohhhh wow, Remy in “Real” is innnnntense! *phew* Only a 3rd of the way in, but haven’t put it down once… Oh. ‘Cept to type this.

Meredith: I was just having the same thought. Best. Book. Ever.

Sharon:  Just started and am totally gone for it after that ‘He just fuc#$ed my name” line.

Amanda: @Heather, NO CLIFFHANGER!!!! Finally!

Kasey: 50% on and oh my! So good

Tracie: I love Real!! I’m 68% through and I’m obsesses. It’s soooooo good.

Stacey: I just read it today! I loved every single second of it! It was so intense, I may have to read it again to let it all soak in just one more time.

Melissa: Im reading it too!! Love him!!

Maryse’s Book Blog: OMG help me. The songs on the plane is giving me butterflies. Soooo sweet and sooooo perfect.

Tracie: It is intense. I have butterflies. The songs are beautiful and add so much. ”Iris” could not be a more perfect song for Real! I just listened and I swear it made me cry. I loved this book!!

Kristine: Read it in one sitting – wow intense isn’t even the word!! Can’t wait for the sequel!!

Ruth: Reading Real now. So Intense I just keep reading.

Maryse’s Book Blog: Loving that title even more now. It has meaning.

Nicole: Saw you recommended it, of course purchased it … and I DEVOURED it! Finished it and loved every word of it…Remy has his problems but damn if I don’t still love him!

Patricia: oh my!!!!!!!!!!!! oh Maryse!!!!!!!!!!! Give me an anwser! !!!!!! hahahaha oh crap i shouldn’t have Maryse, i really shouldn’t have

Alyssa: I’m pretty sure I was hooked by their first interaction. MMmm. I’m totally prepared that I may be up all night with this one. He is HOT!

Jennifer: I am so totally engrossed in this story!! I just ….wow! Absolutely beyond brilliant!!

Elaine: Loved it, read it twice already;)

Dawn: Stayed up until 4am reading it!

Crestina: Remy is my new Travis!

Kaylee: Stayed up till 1 am last night finish it!! Loved it!!

Julie: I started this yesterday! Only like 30% in but really like it so far!

Tina: Loving it so far!! 60% in and had to go to bed! Can’t wait to pick it

Tiffany: Well I Finished Real and This Book Wowed Me!!! On my Fav List!!! Can not wait for the Sequel!! The Book does not end on a CliffHanger but the Sequel continues the Story between Remy and Brooke!!

Maryse’s Book Blog: Tee hee!! I just had a flash-memory of his “lion-like” ways… he’s too cute. In real life I mighta been all… Ew! Wait, too much! But in book-life and ’cause it was Remy, *swooooon*

Tagged as: 4.5 stars, angst, bad boys, contemporary romance, fighters