A reckless and irresistible soccer star. A forbidden affair that could ruin her career. The locker room has never been this steamy.Starting over was her only option.Forty-years old and still reeling from a public and painful divorce, Thalia Blackwood is looking for a fresh start, somewhere far away from her upside down life. When she’s offered a new job as the sports therapist for a football … sports therapist for a football (soccer) team, she jumps at the chance. This is just what she needs to leave the heartbreak and shame of Manchester behind, trading it in for the warmth and hopeful vibrancy of Madrid.
He was her only desire.
Alejo Albarado is rising up the ranks in his career. As the charming forward for the Real Madrid team, Alejo’s life revolves around women, parties, and being a tabloid darling, that is until the new sports therapist joins the team.
Their passion could not be ignored.
What starts out as a strictly professional relationship between Thalia and the young Spanish player, slowly evolves into something more. Much more.
Their relationship was forbidden.
But their combustible chemistry and simmering sexual tension can only go so far–should Thalia give into Alejo’s advances, she’s at risk of not only losing her job, but succumbing to a much younger man will drag her through the spotlight again.
Alejo might be worth that risk.
Unless he breaks her heart in the process.
The Younger Man is a full-length standalone romance. Characters from Love, in English make a cameo in this book, however The Younger Man is intended to be read as a STANDALONE. This book is approximately 500 pages long.
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*4.5 STARS*
So many feels!!! I was so excited to see that this was going to be a much longer book than most of the author’s works. Even with it being so long, I still want more. These two characters and their relationship are so wonderful! I haven’t read, that I can remember, an age gap romance where the heroine is the older of the two. I loved it and I will be looking for more of that trope in the future because I loved this one so much!
Thalia is forced to completely change her life when a messy divorce makes her current job awkward. Working for Real Madrid seems to be the move she needs to find herself again. However, when she’s put in charge of helping irresistible Alejo, the forbidden attraction and feelings are immediately there.
This is one of the best age gap romances I’ve read in a long time. I love Alejo so much! He was so mature and strong because of things that happened to him in the past. He was so swoony and so passionate in everything he felt. I loved watching these two find love together and figure out how to move on from their pasts and find a happy future.
This story broke my heart but also put it back together in the best way!
I am embarrassed to say that I’ve owned Mateo and Vera’s story for a long time but haven’t read it yet. I can promise you, I will be diving into it as soon as I can!
Grateful to have received a complimentary ARC copy to honestly review.
It’s been mentioned that the main characters from one of the author’s previous releases makes an appearance here, but since I’ve never read Love, in English and I was still able to fully enjoy this new book, it’s safe to say that you don’t necessarily need to read the other book, although it’s been on my to-be-read list for a couple of years so maybe it’s time to check it out. Back to The Younger Man, which I’m happy to report was exactly what I’d hoped it would be. Thalia’s and Alejo’s respective back stories were both heartrending and it’s certainly shaped them into the people they are today. I understood Thalia’s hesitation to pursue anything outside the bounds of a professional relationship with Alejo, but it was clear that the bond they shared was something that demanded to be given a chance to flourish. However deep their involvement was, there were always going to be challenges, and goodness, but how I was rooting for these two. If anyone deserved to finally have their own slice of heaven, it was these two. Karina Halle made sure The Younger Man was a book that was worth the wait, and I loved every bit of it. Five stars.
I always forget that reading a Karina Halle book is an EXPERIENCE. I forget that there’s no rushing her stories and that her words will continue to bother me long after I’m finished. Getting that reminder is always somehow just as pleasant as it is frustrating.
This story consumed me. It wrapped me up in it’s arms and cradled me through the ups and downs and tears and romance. The love between Alejo and Thalia is not easy, but it is worth it! Her age, their jobs – there are so many entanglements to unravel during their journey. It’s impossible not to get wrapped up in this story!
Fantastic, 5 stars all day long!
Karina Halle writes books that squeeze at my heart. No one does angst and no one makes me tap on my kindle with a manic fervor while reading, like she does.
I’ve binge read:
The North Ridge Series
The Dumont Series
The Royals Series, and
The Duet Love in English and Love in Spanish
And can honestly say that I loved each an every minute I’ve spent in her magical worlds.
This fantastic reverse age gap romance is no exception. I was hooked from page 1 and literally survived on zero sleep, cappuccinos and digestive cookies until I finished it. You will fall head over soccer balls for both Alejo and Thalia and will enjoy every.single.second of their love story. TBR this incredible Five + Read now. (I read an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review).
What a great read. I really enjoyed this forbidden age gap storyline. It’s full of angst and so deliciously hot. Alejo and Thalia’s story has ALL the FEELS. I definitely recommend this book.
4.5 Estrellas de Amor
Before I tell you how much I love this story, let me tell you that I’ve met the love of my life in Valencia where we fell in love not only with the city but we each other and still doing it. I always say I wanna go back and live my retirement life there( it’s still a long way by then )
To say that I cannot live a week without a Spanish dish it’s an understatement.
Everything feels like paradise in that country from the people, the food and of course the sights. Latins people love with all their heart and you can feel it in the music and their day by day life.
I loved this story for so many reasons. The younger man older woman is definitely not my usual trope to go but I like other books by the author and had to read this one as well.
Each age comes with its challenges and I love how the author has intertwined this in this interracial love story.
I was sad for both of them, I laughed at their banter and cheered for their time together.
Love doesn’t know of age or any difference, it just makes its way under your skin and in your heart and refuses to go away.
Love it can’t wait to read more books like this one.
“The Younger Man” is one of my favorite Karina Halle books yet, and it kept me turning the pages long past my bedtime. The story packs an emotional punch and I found myself tearing up numerous times, but there were also surprising moments of humor that made me laugh out loud when I was least expecting it. Most importantly, I adored both of the main characters, Thalia and Alejo, who were incredibly well-developed and likeable. Despite their differences, especially the significant age gap, their feelings for each other were obviously sincere, and I couldn’t help but root for them to find a way to be together.
The problems Alejo and Thalia faced in their growing relationship were realistic and believable. For example, I completely understood the tough position Thalia was in after having worked so hard to build a successful career in a male-dominated field. She knew that one mistake could completely destroy everything she’d achieved, and after being burned so badly by her ex-husband, it took a lot for Thalia to be able to trust in love again. Alejo really seemed to bring out the best in her, as she brought out the best in him. I hated seeing them struggle, but it was all worth it in the end.
I would love to read a future book starring Alejo’s teammate, Luciano. He was a fun secondary character in this book and a good friend to both Alejo and Thalia when they needed him the most. Also, it seemed like there might have been more to the story he briefly told about his lost love. It would be wonderful to see him happily coupled up just like Alejo and Thalia!
*ARC provided by the author via Social Butterfly PR. All opinions expressed are my own.
5
I’ve been waiting for this ARC ever since it was announced. I normally don’t veer to an age-gap romance but there’s just something about the blurb that lured me in, and I was thankful I had signed-up for this one.
This is a combination of sports and age-gap romance, where the female protagonist is 17years older than the male lead.
I’m the same age as Thalia Blackwood and as I indulged myself and imagined, as a 40year old woman, I’d surely have the same fears and trepidations as her given her backstory.
Let me just make it clear that Thalia is 40 and Alejo is 23, going on 24. There’s no statutory rape or child abuse happening here, lol.
Dating is already hard enough, what more dating a soccer superstar who is old enough to be your son? aaand you work for the team he plays for.
I loved the story! It’s not some cliched cougar romance you usually read around. It’s raw and it pulls on your heartstrings.
I’ve read it in one day, and I kept thinking to myself—this is Karina’s bestest work yet! I mean, she’s one of my fave authors and I have almost all of her books in my iPad, but yes… I think this is her best work yet.
It made me laugh and cry and angry and fall in love… I tell you, there’s no other like Alejo Albarado… (sigh…) I wish there are guys like him in real life.
The book is awesome! Ya’ll don’t want to miss this especially to those fans of Erin Noelle’s MILF and Vi Keeland’s All Grown Up— this is definitely the book to pick up next…
The Younger Man is one of the BEST books I’ve read this year and this romance has captured my heart deeply. The storyline was flawlessly executed and it consumed me. Everything about Alejo and Thalia’s journey was absolutely incredible. The fact that Mateo (from Love In English) was a secondary character made this excellent book even better. Reading The Younger Man and being in that world felt like coming home.
I loved Alejo’s smooth, charming, assertive and romantic persona. Thalia was simply amazing, strong and very resilient. They certainly had undeniable chemistry that was oh so electric and scorching. And my goodness their sexual encounters were so filthy, HOT and wild that I needed a cold shower. The Younger Man was stunning and captivating with an engaging plot and I highly recommend reading it.
Forty-years old and still reeling from a public and painful divorce, Thalia Blackwood is looking for a fresh start, somewhere far away from her upside down life. When she’s offered a new job as the sports therapist for a football (soccer) team, she jumps at the chance. This is just what she needs to leave the heartbreak and shame of Manchester behind, trading it in for the warmth and hopeful vibrancy of Madrid.
He was her only desire.
Twenty-three year old Alejo Albarado is rising up the ranks in his career. As the charming forward for the Real Madrid team, Alejo’s life revolves around women, parties, and being a tabloid darling, that is until the new sports therapist joins the team.
Their passion could not be ignored.
What starts out as a strictly professional relationship between Thalia and the young Spanish player, slowly evolves into something more. Much more.
Their relationship was forbidden.
But their combustible chemistry and simmering sexual tension can only go so far—should Thalia give into Alejo’s advances, she’s at risk of not only losing her job, but succumbing to a much younger man will drag her through the spotlight again.
Alejo might be worth that risk.
Unless he breaks her heart in the process.
Wow! What a great read! Alejo an Thalia’s story will take you on a emotional journey like no other. Beautifully written and heartfelt. Their chemistry was off the charts hot. Highly recommend!
Wow…I’m seriously at a loss for words to describe how amazing this book was. The love, drama, and angst were all present in perfect doses. Their journey wasn’t easy, but it was worth it.
Thalia was such a strong character. Her ability to rationalize, stand up for herself, and make sacrifices for others showed that she was a wonderful person.
Alejo was such a fun hero. His cockiness, ability to make jokes, and the fact that he never wavered in his decision made me root for this romance that much more.
I honestly could not put this book down. Their chemistry was hot, the forbidden aspect had me holding my breath in hopes that they wouldn’t get caught, and their genuine love for one another had me swooning. Even the secondary characters that were apart of their story made it so much more enjoyable. I have never read Vera and Mateo’s book, but you can bet that it’s now on my list.
-An Arc was generously provided in exchange for an honest review.-