After Kova’s devastating betrayal, Adrianna must become her own champion and place her Olympic dream ahead of all else. In doing so, she ignores the warning signs as both the extreme training and unending heartbreak begin to take their toll.There is no atoning for what Kova did. The vow he made cannot be undone. With boundaries set and lines clearly defined, Kova will now have to be the one to … the one to relinquish control in order to regain Adrianna’s trust.
Though the dynamics shift between coach and gymnast, nothing can prepare them for the agonizing truth that is to come. Fighting for a dream becomes only half the battle when Adrianna’s fate is sealed, leaving them both with their biggest challenge yet.
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Release is the third installment of the Off Balance series and it did NOT disappoint. Lucia Franco grabs you from the very beginning and leaves you questioning everything but begging for more. This is more than a taboo love story or an athlete romance, it is anguish and elation, hope and despair, determination and defeat, secrets and lies, but more than anything it is soul deep love and destiny. This book is not to be missed; a rollercoaster you will never want to get off.
I love the strength Ria shows in this book and Kova . . . just when I thought I couldn’t love him more.
Well worth the wait! Lucia continues to bring us another amazing book in the Off Balance series! If you love angst, heartache, and characters risking it all, then this book is for you!
Adrianna continues to push herself through hell and back to get once step closer to the Olympic level in gymnastics. Her body is going through great physical and emotional stress with everything going on around her. How far will she push herself and at what risk?
We finally learn some more backstory in regards to Kova. We learn more about his feelings and reasons for things he’s done. We learn that he is also struggling emotionally which I feel is very important to his character.
I have to tell you, I’m super excited for the next book! I feel like their worlds are going to implode and I can’t wait to see how everything plays out. I can surmise what I think might happen and how characters will react but you just never know! Bring it, Lucia!
{I received this in exchange for an Honest review}
What can I say other than this book is phenomenal!! This was one of my most anticipated releases of this year and it did not disappoint! Lucia takes this story to a whole new level!! So any things are happing in this book and I freaking loved every single minute!! Lucia has a way of making me crave the next chapter, the next page, even the next sentence. I can not get enough of this world she has built!! It is truly sensational!! You will definitely not guess what happens. There are so many twist. Ria is defiantly a BADASS and I love the way she handles the whole situation with Kova! Plus her gymnastics journey is addicting to read about!! She is so talented and I loved cheering her on in my head lol! My man Kova is amazing in this one. I can honestly say that if you didn’t love him before you will at least like him if not love him after this one! I mean I was hating on him after the end of “Execution” but the way he acts in this book is so amazing! Lucia has a way of making me hate Kova at the end of her books then fall immediately back in love with him in the next one. Kova and Ria are incredible. This book will have you feeling everything! All the emotions are packed into this story! Lucia has written another Incredible unputdownable read! I am dying for book 4!!! I am so in love with couple and their crazy world! I HIGHLY HILGHLY HIGHLY recommend this series!!!
Lucia has done it again!! sucked me into this series and spit me out at the end!!! I am not sure my heart can take much more. Kove has been a love/hate replationship throughout this series, but the love is winning a bit more at the moment.
It is intense to imagine what a pro athelete goes throught when training for the ulitmate end goal, but Ria is going to the EXTREME!! The mother in me is screaming at her to take a break and take care of herself and would have jumped into the books to drag her kicking and screaming to the Dr.
Kova is keeping is distance as she wanted but was silently wishing he could do more and then maybe he would have acted sooner.
Gah without going into further detail that may spoil it for some, I will stop and let you discover this when you read it.
Lucia…. I will be impatiently awaiting the next one…..I may die until then but can’t wait for it!!!!
5 OMG, OMG, OMG STARS!!! OMG…..This series is going to kill me, but I LOVE EVERY WORD OF IT!! Kova….you love him and hate him, but he is PERFECTION. Adrianna is a beautiful strong and determined girl that doesn’t take no for an answer. Their story is forbidden and so full of angst and you can’t get enough of them….I NEED MORE!! You must read this series, this is in my top 5 series ever.
Lucia is a greatest storyteller! This is the 3rd book in a 5 book series . This one was full of surprises. I read it in a few hours and could not put it down.
We get to see a Ria who is more accomplished. I was so happy to see her in her element. She’s giving it her all in gymnastics and nothing stopping her .
She does have some issues going on , but she better be okay!!! She’s made some mistakes and I hope she’s learned from them.
Kova is a different man in this book. He definitely has shown his love for Ria . He’s opened up so much and I fell more in love with him ! He definitely has shown a softer side but I miss my alpha Kova . I hope he comes back . But it was great seeing his growth and his love for Ria .
Twisted cannot get here fast enough . I need it now .
This one felt fast paced compared to the other 2 books . But so much happens in this books. So many questions answered , but more question have arisen.
I need their HEA . This is my favorite series and I cannot wait for the next one !!
Lucia I commend you for your beautiful written words. I cannot get enough of this series !!
Team KovaRia always !
This Book y’all! So many emotions. THE ANGST!!! Can’t even write a proper review because I’m frustrated & emotional at the same time.
Just read this damn book!!!
I am actually breathless because I spent twenty minutes hysterically laughing after I finished reading the book. The other option was uncontrollable sobbing.
Kova betrayed Ria in the worst way possible. No matter how hard she tries she cannot forgive nor forget. She has to find a way to detach her emotions because all that matters now is her coaching and gymnastics. But fate is about to play her cruelest joke on Ria and Kova. And both of them are utterly unprepared.
I was absolutely terrified of reading RELEASE after the events of EXECUTIONS. I was physically heaving after I finished this book. Because (a) I know shit is just about to blow up and (b) thinking about Kova’s reaction has me excited but also hurting.
I will be honest, I wasn’t really mad at Kova. Like not at all. I love that man too much. This book proved I was 269% right and something messed up was happening with Kova which is why he did what he did. We don’t know the actual reason yet but I know my boo was 99% faultless. This book has just cemented my never dying love for Kova and now I’ll walk through fire for this man.
I was honestly scared for Ria 89% of the book and the rest 11% I was just mad at her. I just want her to be healthy and happy but this bitch made it so hard for herself. OHMYGOD! I had to remind myself that she is still a teen who is going through tons of madness. I am just going to hardcore pray for my girl and hope everything falls into place soon.
Lucia Franco never fails to amaze me with her storytelling. It’s an absolute pleasure getting to read her stories. The Off Balance series is one of the most emotional, raw and beautiful stories I have ever read and I cannot wait for what’s next.
Oh holy shiiiii! Y’all, Release was a much anticipated release for me this year, and it was so worth the wait! Lucia has a gift of writing compelling, delicious forbidden romance that cripples you at the knees with all of the emotional upheaval she puts you through.
Release picks up right where Execution left me shattered on the floor. I consider Release to be a very cleansing, healing book because Ria shifts her focus back to gymnastics and Kova gives her the space to heal from the emotional blow he dealt her. We get to fall back in love with Kova (and fall in hate with Hayden) because we all needed a breather from the intense back and forth of Kova and Ria’s relationship.
I really loved the growth that both Ria and Kova experience in this book. Ria learns to stand up for herself more and pays more attention to what she needs while she is struggling with her health. We get to see a different side to Kova in this one. One who respects Ria’s wishes and takes a step back so that they can repair their relationship, which the repairs start with their coach/athlete relationship.
I am just so in love with this world and with this author. Lucia puts so much into every book that she writes and it shows through. I am dying for Twist to release after the cliffhanger Lucia left us with because Twist is going to be EPIC. I am anticipating that Twist is going to be my favorite of the series!
Overall Rating: 5+ Stars!
Blog: http://www.radbabesread.com
*MUST READ BALANCE AND EXECUTION FIRST!*
Lucia Franco sure knows how to pack a punch with her words.
With the devastating and shocking way she left Execution, she picked up right where she left off in Release. Ria proves in this book just how strong, fierce, capable and ambitious she is. You see the growth of Ria in Release. I feel for her, salute her and envy her all at the same time.
My feelings towards Kova are still mixed. I still love him sometimes and hate him sometimes and want his babies almost all the time.
Expect more steam and heat in Release cause it is there. But it’s more about Ria as a person I’d say.
All in all, another fabulous release (pun intended). Still rooting for my Ria. Still wanting Coach Kova. Still left at the edge of my seat, aching for more and slightly heartbroken.
Lucia Franco, you killed it once again.
*Reviewed by Ali at Fallen For Books.
Wow! Release didn’t end on the same kind of gut punching cliffhanger that the other 2 did…. but it was still a devastating blow! In this part of the story you get to see Ria getting her own self together. She seems to take the blow from the end of Execution and uses it to her put some edge into her gymnastics! I said GOOD FOR HER! Hayden sees his chance so he takes a shot. Kova is going to go everything that he can to get her back on track. Their relationship is still quite explosive. After all that she was dealt in the last book I feel like this one centers more on her focusing on herself. The angst is still strong with this one. I feel her pain. When things are described about how she was feeling at certain times…. I felt it too. The explanations of the routines had me visualizing them in my head just like I was watching a gymnastics meet. I am totally #TeamRia now! That girl is being dealt the crappiest hand ever, and she is not letting any of it get her down for too long. I am quite excited to see how she deals with this most recent obstacle and what Kova does to help her through it. Because even when she is pushing him away, he refuses to go and stays right there to be supportive no matter how hard she pushes. That is one thing I really like about him. ….how long do I have to wait for the next one??? Still loving this series and I totally recommend it to anyone who is a fan of some very taboo stuff! The series may be called “Off Balance” but these books are ON POINT!
When a book starts out with the author telling you to “grab a pack of smokes and a bottle of Vodka”, you know it’s going to be a gut wrencher. This entire series has left me an emotional mess. It’s really hard to write a review for this book and not give spoilers, and trust me, you don’t want this sensory experience spoiled. This writer makes magic on her pages, because if you would have told me I would enjoy reading a story about an underaged gymnast and her coach, I would have said pass. However, once I started I was completely immersed within their story. My heart hurts. I have screamed, cussed and cried. I have tried over and over to guess what comes next and could not have been more wrong. At one point I even said, ” I’m finished and not going to read anymore”, as I turned the next page! I am so invested in Kova and Ria that they feel real. I literally sat and ask myself how a grown woman could get so wrapped up in a work of fiction that I had a physical reaction to this book?
In summary all I can say is this is a story of love and lies. It is one of the BEST series that I have ever read and as Kova would ask, ” were the sacrifices worth it?” The answer is a hundred times YES! All the obsessive thinking I have done, the stop my life for a few hours to read, the staring aimlessly into space once it was over and the Vodka I did drink (I skipped the smokes) was so worth it. This is not a stand alone book and you must read the first 2 books. This brilliant author makes wrong so imperfectly right. Do yourself a favor and read this series. I think by now you smart people have figured out that I highly recommend this book and series.
Once again, I’m left reeling and in complete awe of just how intricate this story is. This series has never just been centered around the “physical” aspects of a forbidden relationship, and in Release we’re definitely introduced to a much more in-depth side of Ria and Kova.
“I knew success could go one of two ways: drown in darkness and lose yourself, or swim in the light and bask in the glory.”
At the end of Execution, a lot of jaw-dropping, heartbreaking stuff happened. And even though Ria is banged up in body and heart, we see just how much strength she has. She picks herself up, dusts the chalk off, and pushes through time and time again. She embodies the characteristics of a true fighter, and we’re reminded that at the heart of it, this truly is her story.
Now, where to begin with our Coach? Let’s just say, I’ve always been “Team Kova,” but…I was completely unprepared to end up loving him even more. You guys, MY HEART. We continue to learn so much more about this commanding character, and I repeat: I was NOT ready!
“It was Kova. It was always Kova, and though his presence could rile me up, it also had the ability to calm me down.”
This world of gymnastics continues to be a whirlwind ride. And with the added emotional depth in Release, it created yet another beautiful layer to this story. There were parts that brought me to tears, and I felt my heart constrict for these characters and the almost impossible situations they navigate through. This installment ended up being so much more than I could have possibly imagined!
I felt like I had been waiting on this book for forever! The book did not disappoint can’t wait for the next one. What a plot twist at the end of the story. Great Job! The chemistry between Ria and Kova was off the charts!
I’ve just finished this book and I feel so sick from the feelings left in my stomach!!!
This series has brought out so many feelings inside me that I don’t even know where to start without spoiling anything.
I don’t know if I want to love or hate them,
I don’t know if I want to hug or slap them,
I just don’t know what’s going on in my mind as I have to process so much AND THERES SO MANY MORE QUESTIONS!!!!!!!
WE NEED MORE ANSWERS!!!!!
Let me put it to you this way, if you want something totally forbidden totally out there & pushing all your boundaries!!!!
Something that will steal the air from your lungs and will leave you feeling like you are on your knees with no one to help you up.
Then this is definitely the book for you!
This is a 5 for me based purely on how Lucia writes, she draws you in and leave you lifeless at the end!
This series must be read in order this is not a stand-alone!
I think I need another lifetime to process what just happened…
I don’t think I have ever been so happy about a cliffhanger (and what a damn cliffhanger it was) before.
, ! , , .
I can’t wait for Twist, Release devastated me and left me hanging by a thread.
Nothing was what I’d thought it would be.
Kova
Adrianna
Katja
Joy
. . . . . .
My heart can’t take this. I need more!
Speechless.
And at the same time, I want to say so much. Where the heck do I even begin?!
I’m going to try to keep this review short (HA!) because it would be a disservice if I rambled along. Plus this is a story you MUST experience yourself. It’s a crazy AF journey, trust me!
Anyway, this book…..
After the crazy and “OH NO HE DIDN’T!!!” cliffy of the second book, EXECUTION, we start right where we left off. I had no idea how that whole mess was going to turn out, but regardless, I LOVED Ria in this book. She’s a hell of a lot fiercer and doesn’t comply to Kova. She makes him SUFFER which I LOVED; of course, that only means she’s suffering too….but hey, it had to be done. Kova? Well…..he definitely got what he deserved from Ria. But I believe the way things transpired were probably the biggest plus for him; we finally saw a different side of him…..and I loved it. He’s still an asshole, yes….VERY much so. But in this book we get glimpses of his real feelings. His hurt. His regrets. He’s more HUMAN.
The cliffy in this book? Well, yeah, it sucked, not gonna lie. However I’m left feeling sort of the same way as I felt when I finished reading the first book, BALANCE: once again I feel I have a big question mark over my head. The difference here is, the question mark is more urgent, weighs a bit more, and it has a sense of warning and foreboding.
I guess……well, I guess we’ll see what happen next. Crank the Kova-Ria roller coaster yet again!!
Release is the third instalment in the Off Balance series and seriously, I need more and more Kova n Ria with every instalment.
Every word she write in this book, every plot she device, every action she invented for her characters to endure, EVERY SINGLE PAGE IN RELEASE IS PURE PASSIONATE AND EMOTIONALLY TORTURE for her readers
How can she do this to me with that ending just beyond word!
I start with hatred to Kova reading Release. If you already start this series, you know why. If not, what in the name of all hero you love to hate in the book world have you not??!!
I just can’t believe he could do what he had done!
And then I keep chanting… OK screaming No No No No to Ria for not being impulsif and reckless and stupid just because she’s hurt.
And then Hayden… Omg boy you don’t do that! I can just smack his head for what he did. There’s no excuse! His fault was underline with bold mark when Kova do the opposite.
I fall bit harder to Kova at this moment.
Man oh man… My love and hate for Kova sure rival Ria hate and love for him.
Then with every page I got the chills. That scary feeling of calm before the storm. I couldn’t shake it even through all the Ria angst and steamy Kova moment.
And bam! Lucia just have to do that for the ending!
My heart break.
I’m numb for what just happened.
I can’t cry for it’s hurt too much.
Cause if it’s just about death, I can except but losing the possibility. Losing what you have been fighting and living and dreaming your entire life for that one moment… It’s beyond devastating.
I have to say everytime I’m finish with Lucia books, I feel Thorn of my love and hate for her
That’s what great author do to you.
She makes you love and hate her story and characters as if you part of that story. As if the characters are you or your besties.
That’s what Lucia do. Brilliant way of story telling. Great characters to love and hate. Plot Twist to die for. And detail steamy super hot scenes
I’VE WAITED FOR THIS BOOK FOR SOOOO LONG! I’m happy to say it was worth the wait. Release is everything I wanted. So much angst, yelling, wanting to throw my kindle at the wall and Kova all in one book. Release picks up where we left of in Execution. Ria is broken heart because of what Kova went and did without letting her know. She looks for comfort in Hayden(which I didn’t care for because #kova4life!) and it doesn’t go well like most things in the book. We get to see a different side of Kova and Ria. Ria isn’t the same girl from Execution. She has so much drive and is living her gymnastic’s dream. I’m so proud of her in this book. Kova is still Kova! But it was nice seeing a different side of him that is all about Ria. Many questions and theory are answered and confirmed in this book, but a lot of new things arise. I’m excited to see what Lucia gives us next. This book like the others has it’s steamy scenes. *fans self*
Hurry! Check it out now! You can’t miss out on any more KOVA!
OH MY FREAKING GOODNESS! I don’t even know where to begin. Release by Lucia Franco was an extraordinary addition to one of my favorite series of all-time. My heart was completely obliterated and I am still trying to pick up the pieces after devouring this incredible story that brings on all the angst!
I have and will ALWAYS be TEAM KOVA, but after reading Execution he was slightly on my SH*T list. However, he totally redeemed himself and I am even more head over heels in love with him. Adrianna (Ria) and Kova’s journey has been a complicated one and the author manages to leave us guessing every step of the way. There were so many unexpected twists and turns throughout this story and I am an emotional mess right now, especially after that cliffhanger ending. HOLY SH*T I was not expecting all that sadness. My poor Ria.
If you haven’t read this series yet don’t wait any longer! Trust me when I say that the cliffhangers are absolutely worth it! Lucia Franco is the QUEEN of forbidden romance and now I am already eagerly anticipating the next installment, Twist!