New York Times bestseller Lexi Ryan brings you GOING UNDER, a sexy and emotional standalone sports romance set in the world of the Blackhawk Boys. It can be read alone or enjoyed with the other books in the series.~ ~ ~If I met Alexandra DeLuca for the first time today, I would only need one word to describe her: MINE.She’s everything she was when we said goodbye. Beautiful, stubborn, sweet…and … said goodbye. Beautiful, stubborn, sweet…and off-limits.
After two years leading separate lives, our worlds have collided. Now that she’s back home working and taking classes beside me, she’s bound to make me lose my mind.
She’s all I’ve ever wanted, all I’ve ever dreamed of, and the one thing I can never have.
Not because she’s my best friend’s sister.
Not because all four DeLuca brothers would come at me with fists swinging if I hurt her.
Not even because she’s way better than I will ever deserve.
I keep my distance because we didn’t meet for the first time today. We met five years ago when I was a different person. When my demons ruled me. Even though I’ve changed–even though I’ve gotten my life together and become a better man—I can’t change the past. And the secrets that haunt me would destroy her.
But I’m not the only one with secrets, and when the truth comes out, I don’t know where to turn. What do you do when your world washes away beneath your feet and you feel like you’re drowning? What do you do when the woman you promised yourself you’d never touch is the only thing that can keep you from going under?
GOING UNDER is a standalone novel and the third in The Blackhawk Boys series.
Football. Secrets. Lies. Passion. These boys don’t play fair. Which Blackhawk Boy will steal your heart?
Book 1 – SPINNING OUT (Arrow’s story)
Book 2 – RUSHING IN (Christopher’s story)
Book 3 – GOING UNDER (Sebastian’s story)
Book 4 – FALLING HARD (Keegan’s story)
Book 5 – IN TOO DEEP (Mason’s story)
more
I would recommended the first two. Love all of Lexi Ryan’s book.
TRAGIC & RIVETING FORBIDDEN ROMANCE!
WOW! I just knew when Sebastian was introduced as a side character in Spinning Out (book 1) that he was going to have an intense story and I was right! Sebastian & Alexandra’s story is my favorite of this series. I love a good forbidden romance.
Lexi Ryan pulled me in right from the start with tantalizing moments between the hero and his best friend’s little sister. Moments where both of them consider crossing the line and seeing if the emotions that they have been fighting are as strong as they feel.
Sebastian has labeled Alex as completely off limits for more than one reason but his main reason being because of the life that he led. Will their love be strong enough to survive when Alexandra uncovers all the secrets that Sebastian has been holding onto all these years…
Alexandra has lived in the shadow of her sister for so many years and now that she’s finally come home she just wants to live. Completely understandable considering she’s pretty damn lucky to still be alive after one tragic night altered her life forever.
Now…the major twist in this story. I couldn’t tell you if I guessed it or not because yes I made my assumptions and then this author had me second guessing myself constantly. Bouncing between two major theories and both completely apparent yet with both theories I could sit there and talk myself out of it because the alternative one made more sense. She kept me guessing until the last moment and I loved that!
Boy did Lexi Ryan knock out some tropes with this one!
+ best friend’s sister
+ forbidden romance
+ SECRETS!!!
+ Football romance
+ suspense
For one, just the fact that the hero just happens to be best friends with the heroine’s brother is one major reason I was sucked into this one. But also there’s another little thing connecting these two that happens to be a huge part of the story and adds some major emotion to the relationship between the heroine and hero.
The Blackhawk Boys
1. – SPINNING OUT (Arrow’s story)
2. – RUSHING IN (Christopher’s story)
3. – GOING UNDER (Sebastian’s story)
4. – FALLING HARD (Keegan’s story)
5. – IN TOO DEEP (Mason’s story)
4.5 Second Chance Stars!
I was captivated by this friends to lovers/forbidden romance from the very first page! I have been waiting for Sebastian Crowe’s story since the very first book and it was well worth the wait! This story opens up two years previously with Sebastian at Alexandra DeLuca’s door at midnight. She is leaving tomorrow and he can’t let her go without seeing her one last time. He knows he shouldn’t be there, not only because her brother is his best friend, but also because he has a secret that would destroy her. Alex has been harboring a secret love for him and is hoping he will beg her to stay. Sebastian sucks at goodbye and it leaves them both heartbroken.
Fast forward two years and Alex is back home to go to college, working in Sebastian’s family garage, and tempting him beyond measure. As they get reacquainted thru work, college classes and friends, they are finding it harder and harder to ignore their deep love for each other or the reasons they can’t be together. They have no clue they have been used and manipulated. But as secrets are revealed will they be able to survive the truth or find the strength to forgive? I really liked Sebastian and Alex and love them together. They share a love of cars, and the same quirky sense of humor. I also like their strength. They are both scarred and broken but in very different ways and working hard to be whole. I feel that the decisions they sometimes made were believable even if I didn’t agree with some of them. Ms Ryan skillfully revealed this story in alternating past and present sequence and diary entries allowing the reader to be truly engaged both emotionally and thoughtfully. She expertly weaved a tale of loyalty and betrayal, of love and heartbreak, and ultimately of hope and healing. This story is a raw and emotional journey with some suspense and several twists and turns that will keep you guessing.
We also get more of the back and forth between their friends relationships leaving us wanting more! I can’t get enough of this series and this group of friends and am looking forward to Keegan’s story next!
I liked this story a lot when I started reading and I fell in love with Sebastian not despite his flaws and past but because. And even though he was walking on the wrong path once, he found his way back on the right road.
The thing with this book was that it couldn’t always hold my attention and I had to sit myself down to read it especially around the middle part was it hard for me to not skip a few chapters though all in all the book was still well written and had a steady pace. I liked both perspectives and also that we got to read some journal entries. They were so important for the story and I think without them it wouldn’t have worked.
The Story:
Sebastian has been in love with Alex for years though he could never be with her because of his past. He is bad for her and she deserves someone better. Though when Alex starts working in his father’s shop, enrolls at the same college and hangs out with his friends it’s harder than ever for Sebastian to keep his hands to himself. When his past catches up with Sebastian, he and Alex have to decide how to deal with it. Can they overcome what’s happened?
Thoughts:
It’s not that I didn’t like the story but there was a lot revealed throughout the book that was heavy stuff and I anticipated a fun and light romance. I really enjoyed the second book in this series but this one was a tad bit much for my liking. Don’t get me wrong, it was well written and there was a lot happening and even though I was captured by the story at first I struggled a few times – especially in the middle – because the romance part constantly moved one step forward and three steps back. It was annoying after a while even though I understood the reasons of the characters’ struggles and problems to give in to their love. I can’t tell you if I liked the characters because I loved the beginning of the book and was hooked but as the story progresses the characters got more and more complex and a lot of their past was revealed that made me unsure if I liked them. I liked Sebastian more than I liked Alex that’s for sure.
Even though this wasn’t the best book in this series I will definitely read the next one because I can’t wait to know how Keegan’s story will turn out.
Sebastian has longed to have his chance with the gorgeous Alexandra, but he is certain that day is ever going to come because not only is she his best friends little sister, but also because she is way too good for him. Getting involved with her could only end in disaster, since he’s the boy from the wrong side of the tracks, one who has had his fair share of brushes with trouble. No matter how hard he tries to redeem himself and get his life traveling on a good path, his past is always seems to find a way to interfere. He hasn’t crossed paths with Alex in a long time, not since she left town two years ago, but now she is back, and she wants a chance with him… question is, can he keep his demons at bay and work up the courage to cross the lines he said he’d never cross? Or will he disappoint her again?
Alexandra has had a serious crush on her brothers friend Sebastian for a long time, but she never managed to catch his eye, she was always the plain Jane little sister. It hurt seeing him walk away two years ago, and she tried to move on, but her feelings for him were always there lingering in the back of her mind. Now that she is home though all bets are off, their lives are intersecting again, and this time she plans to make her move and hopefully win a place in his life and heart.
This was my first experience with Ms. Ryan’s work and I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised with what I found, so much so, it has inspired me to revisit this series and acquaint myself with all the characters I missed out on meeting in previous installments in the series. The moment I started this story I knew I had stumbled onto something truly special, Sebastian and Alex pulled me into their world, had me fully invested from the get go, and sent me flying right through the pages in search of what I hoped to be a well deserved happy ending. After reading the synopsis I knew it would be a very emotional read, but nothing could have prepared me for what I found, I went from moments of having my heart in my throat, to moments of needing a fan, all I can say is that it definitely kept me on my toes the whole way through!! Highly recommend this one, this heartfelt story is sure to satisfy!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title.