Review of The Next Competitor by Keira Andrews

by Keira Andrews

4 stars

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…

A different kind of sports romance with slow-burn sexy characters – another total winner from one of our FAV authors Keira Andrews!

Alex Grady is driven, cold and takes no prisoners to get what he wants, Gold medal at the Olympics, is his ultimate dream and goal. He is a hard character to really get to love – at the beginning of The Next Competitor we were unsure if we could read a whole book with this Prima Donna figure skater who has chip on his shoulder.  But enter Matt Savelli, and Alex truly softened.  As the connection between Alex and Matt grows, the nasty demeaning Alex becomes more human.  He steps out of his comfort zone and we as so happy to see that Alex actually has empathy under his prickly exterior. 

Keira Andrews can write characters, and The Next Competitor does not disappoint.  She immerses us in a figure skating world; we can feel the cold stare of Alex’s Coach, the bitter cold of the ice on the rink and the aches and pains after falling over and over trying to get the Quad perfect.  This is not a long book, but that doesn’t limit the detail. 

So let’s talk about the relationship between Alex and Matt.  It is a sweet, slow-burn, low-angst journey.  Although they are both figure skaters they aren’t competitors, rather they are opposites.  They are both driven, but whereas Alex is single focused on the Gold medal at the Olympics without distraction, the road to the goal is Matt’s focus.  This difference brings about changes in their attitudes, for the betterment of both.   And as their relationship grows, so does their sexual tension, woohooo!  It is so good –sensual, dirty and swoon worthy.  Alex is a firecracker and Matt sees that beneath the icy exterior he is a passionate man, and helps Alex own that side of himself.  They are flammable!

All in all The Next Competitor is a great read; fascinating story of top-athletes, engaging secondary characters, slow-burn love and burnable between the sheets – so checkboxes all around! Keira Andrews builds another story that shouldn’t be missed!