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The Rivalry

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The Rivalry

By: Beth Bolden
Narrated by: Darcy Stark
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About this listen

The first time NFL quarterback Heath Harris meets Sam Crawford, it’s just them, a luxury yacht, and a few days of fun in the sun. Sam turns out to be nothing like Heath expects. He’s kind and funny and irreverent - and also unbelievably, shockingly sexy. For three short, glorious, life-changing days, there are no rules.

The second time they meet, Sam has just been traded to Heath’s team, and instead of lovers, now they’re rivals. Heath has spent the last five years working desperately to be the best quarterback the Riptide could ever need, but when injuries threaten to derail his career, Sam is right there, standing on the sideline. Ready to take over, and ready to ruin everything Heath has given his life for.

Rival. Enemy. Teammate. Friend. Lover.

As their orbits collide, sparks fly, and Heath struggles to find the right label and the right box to shove Sam into, hoping to keep him contained. But Sam - and Heath’s feelings - refuse to cooperate.

Sam might not be just one of those things, he might be all of them, and so much more.

©2020 Beth Bolden (P)2020 Beth Bolden Literature & Fiction Romance Witty

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All stars
Most relevant  
Another super story from Beth Bolden. Sam and Heath were great characters to get to know, was totally invested in journey together. Darcy Stark did a great job with the narration, gave the characters that extra spark. Have also added The Rainbow Clause to my TBR list.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

Fantastic

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Oh, Heath. I loved him when I read the print version of the book, but Darcy Stark gave him such a grave, contained persona (& such a divine accent) that I love him even more. And with Sam, Stark allowed his light, playful manner came alive. In other words, Stark took an already brilliant book and made it shine.

Bolden shines with creating beautiful broken characters, complex with layers to peel back, reveal and love.

Side characters Moira and Coach Rodriguez added brilliantly to the underlying story. Bolden crafts them robustly, intertwining them with the narrative with exceptional flow. Likewise, Bran fleshes out some of Heath’s deeper layers.

Excellent audio of an enjoyable love story with a little football mixed in.

Football romance at it's finest

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I am not a lover of sports and I’m a couch potato but for some reason I love sports romance and this didn’t disappoint.
They way the two main characters met was unique and interesting and was a great way to set up the ‘rivalry’ between the two men.
This is my favourite book of Beth Bolden by far and Darcy Stark’s narration was excellent.

The Rivalry

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There is so much going on in this book that it's just amazing. Heath's angst and confusion were emotionally wrenching. As the star quarterback. he admits he has more money than he could ever spend, after growing up poor and abused, yet he lives in fear of losing his place and needing to control everything in his life. He is intense, moody, and demanding. Sam sees through that and he knows there is something deeper to Heath, but Heath won't let him in. Both men struggle for the love they want, but "Football players aren't gay." The love between them is so hot, but can they ever be brave enough to claim it? I so felt for Sam, too, being in love and never getting the openness and emotion he wanted from Heath except in bed. It twisted my heart until the final resolution. Wonderful, complex characters and story. I'm not a big fan of sports stories, buy this one was a lot more about the people than the sports, and I loved it.

Darcy Stark is a fantastic narrator and he perfectly captured the feelings and emotions of Heath and Sam.

I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

Angst, anxiety, and hot romance

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Story: This story is a brilliant study in human emotions, conflicts, alpha males and difficult decisions. The emotions ride high from the very beginning and do not calm down throughout! Such an emotional treat!

Narration: Darcy Stark did a great job with this one! The performance fits the emotions in the story perfectly!

Emotional highs like you wouldn’t believe!

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Are the two main characters in this story five star hot together? Definitely. Is the football story plot interesting? Definitely. But, this story is so much more than that and I didn't expect it to be. Heath is obviously meant to be the main focus of the story. His past, his inability to let go even though there is nothing he wants more than to find that one magical person he can be open with and just give in and ask for what he wants/needs these are the things we initially notice and respond to. Sam, however, is the really interesting character for me. I adored the way he immediately "got" that there were things all bottled up inside Heath that needed to come out and the way he adjusted himself to provide that for Heath without ever becoming a doormat or not standing up and asking for what he needed as well. Sam took care of himself first, even when that hurt both of them, but that gave Heath the strength to get the help he needed and let Sam in. This story grabs you from the first chapter and is one book length heart twisting ride through pain to a very hard earned and well deserved happy ever after. I felt wrung out after I finished it and all the best ways possible. I thought Darcy Stark's performance was perfect for this story. He sounded like the young men this story was about, the different voices were distinctive and well done and I thought he got the emotional intensity right in all its variations. I look forward to more books he performs.

Emotional, hot and a great performance

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I’ll start with the narration. I liked the narrator, but it felt a bit melodramatic for me, which threw me off a bit.

I enjoyed the story itself, but it felt a bit laggy here and there. I liked the overall, though, and there are good characters and chemistry.

It’s a good listen. I’d doubt I’ll revisit, but I won’t say never.

The Rivalry - enjoyed

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I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook.
It was such an entertaining story.
I was hooked from the beginning and couldn't put it down.

Great

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Listener received this title free

I really liked the tension and emotional turmoil in this story! Listeners are kept on edge and eager for more! There was a perfect amount of spicy:romance ratio, and the ending was perfectly perfect. I liked how there was more emphasis on certain aspects than others, and how the mental health aspects were treated so well. Stark did a good job with this piece, though I’m not a die hard Stark fan, I would listen to him again.

Great Romance-to-Spice Ratio

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I tried..i really really tried. I love Beth Bolden but this narrator is really hit or miss with me. Between the narration and Beth's writing style leads this to not be a match for me.

DNF

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