Risky Game (Out of Bounds, #3) by Tracy Solheim
Contemporary Romance/Sports
Releases: May 6, 2014
Berkley

Reviewed by Tori

Favorite Quote: “I like conundrums.”

Brody Janik, the uber sexy tight end for the Baltimore Blaze has just learned he has a medical condition that could sideline him permanently. With his contract coming up for negotiation, Brody needs to keep his health issues under wraps.

PhD student Shannon (Shay) Everett works multiple jobs to help her family out of a financial mess. One job is an unpaid intern with the Blaze Training Center. When Shay is offered cash by a gossip blog to gather and spill some juicy secrets about the Blaze football team, she sneaks into the players locker room and learns Brody’s secret.

Brody catches Shay and immediately thinks to turn her in but since she could still spill his secret he decides that keeping her by his side till the end of the season is his best option. Brody blackmails Shay into keeping her job by helping him monitor and control his condition. Soon Brody and Shay are sharing more than meals but Brody still doesn’t trust Shay and when the gossip blog hits too close to home, Brody wonders if he’s once again been played by a woman.

Risky Game is the third book in Tracy Solheim’s Out Of Bounds series. A sport dominated romance contemporary that balances behind the scene looks at football players and their health issues with a very steamy romance. Steady pacing with a personable cast of characters, humorous dialogue, and multiple plot lines keeps the story moving fast and highly entertaining. Though Brody and Shay meet under less than stellar circumstances, their relationship evolves at a realistic rate; allowing each other and the readers to get to know them on a personal level. Solheim uses their issues to provide conflict but doesn’t go overboard or invent unbelievable scenarios in order to drag it out.

Brody and Shay are both likeable engaging characters whose differences mesh together well. Brody’s on the field persona is at odds with his private life. A sweet witty intelligent whose pretty face and oh so potent charm has garnered him more than his fair share of the American dream. His alpha moments are rare but highly entertaining when he decides to go caveman. He’s reached a point however where he’s beginning to look beyond his fame to what happens next. He wants what some of his friends have- someone he can count on and grow old with. He wants to settle down. However, he’s been burned many times by so called friends and women who only want him for what he can do for them. In a nutshell, he trusts very few people.

Shay is a strong and intelligent woman with an admirable work ethic and low self esteem. Constantly measured up to her beautiful twin sister and found wanting, Shay relies on her brains to set herself apart. An over achiever, Shay just wants to get her PhD and get her family out of debt. Brody’s attentions leave her confused as she doesn’t see herself as a serious contender when he’s been know to date some of the most beautiful women in the world.

Hot and heavy chemistry sparks from their first meeting and only increases as the story progresses. I liked that Brody and Shay don’t immediately jump into bed. Brody’s trust issues are a sticky point and Shay, correctly, isn’t going to engage beyond a platonic level with anyone who doesn’t trust her. Plenty of near misses and mind blowing kisses keeps the sexual tension at a premium.

Quirky secondary characters give us lots of laughs and our protagonists plenty of advice as they navigate their rocky relationship. I loved how the offensive line are all very protective of Shay; letting Brody know they are watching him and he needs to do right by her. Brody’s family and a feisty nun are lovingly obnoxious and always have his back.

One small note. I did not read the first two in this series so I am assuming the gossip blogger subplot is on going as it was not resolved in here. I will admit I was very intrigued by it.  As a majority of us read gossip blogs, how many of us really think about how the gossip is learned and how much of it is really true and not just a small fact wrapped up in innuendos and speculation? Solheim makes a good point in that these celebrity blogs can be extremely invasive and harmful at times.

The ending wraps everything up nicely and our couple is finally able to let go of their past issues in order to embrace a future together. Risky Game is a quick fun romantic contemporary that embraces the concept that there is much more to beauty then a pretty face. I am looking forward to reading book four,

RATING: B

Recent Reviews:
Night Owl Reviews
The Romance Dish
Cocktails and Books

Goodreads I Author Site I Series List
Amazon I Barnes & Noble