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Review: Out of Bounds – F. A. Ray

Out of Bounds - F. A. Ray

Genre: Sports, Romance, Contemporary

LGBTQ+ Category: Gay

Reviewer: Xanthe, Paranormal Romance Guild

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About The Book

Keith Russo is just a marketing guy looking to make the nights a little less lonely when he calls up the sex hotline. He shouldn’t be so pathetically desperate for human interaction, especially not when he’s about to go to Tokyo to work for the U.S. men’s soccer team in the 2024 Olympics. But the voice spilling filthy promises into his ear and calling him “daddy” is addicting. And strangely familiar…

Juro Ando is just trying to pay the bills. He’s not struggling as an artist anymore, but the pathetic men who call the sex hotline asking for “Kitten” to purr in their ears practically throw cash at him. It’s easy money — at least until the voice on the other end of the line is a little too identifiable. No amount of nicknames can keep Juro from recognizing the childhood friend who broke his heart. But this is just about the worst way they could possibly reunite. Is there any hope of a second chance like this?

The Review

This was really a three part book for me. I enjoyed and got into the story in the first part, was then left for the next half of the book wondering just what was going on with these guys, and then was happy with the resolution to the relationship thru all the drama.

Keith and Juro’s story starts with them meeting over a hotline, voices somewhat familiar to each other but neither is brave enough to bring up anything about them having a past or an old friendship. This is definitely different to any other story I’ve read so far.

Keith then sets off for the Olympics in Tokyo but is constantly distracted by what did/didn’t happen with Juro. Juro finds himself distracted from his own work and takes the bold decision to follow Keith from Ohio to Tokyo.

This is where the plot loses it a little for me. Juro’s sudden action comes a little out of left field considering it’s such a huge thing and they haven’t even acknowledged that they know who the other person is…..also Keith is there working in a professional capacity.

While in Tokyo, Keith’s work ethic is absolutely atrocious. I’ve got no idea how he stayed employed while he was there considering what he does, or actually doesn’t, do. Apart from the phone calls at the start, there is very little VERBAL communication between Keith and Juro. Yes, a lot of their time together is freaking hot and definitely worth the time, building a physical connection, but emotionally and mentally there was no sharing of anything between them. This clearly then leads to the confusion that, Juro especially, experiences and the ensuing drama.

I just found it quite frustrating as there is a lot of internal monologue with angst and ‘I should do this, say that’ but with nothing happening in that way until the end of the story. Must admit the heat level is right up there and the premise of the story is enjoyable, friends from high school reuniting in a random way, but the story itself did lose me a bit along the way.

This book happens along the same timeline as Book one but it’s not necessary to have read that one to understand this one. Carter and Mateo’s story can be found in the first of the series Book #1 Yellow Card.

The Reviewer

Hello all, my name is Xanthe and I am excited to be a reviewer for the PRG.

I read a lot, every night for at least 4-5 hours and I love to get lost in the world that an author has created. The best ones leave you wanting more and at a loss for words to describe just how good it is but I’ll try my best.

I live in a small town in South West England, just me and my dog Bonnie. I work part time in administration and really enjoy my job and the people I work with which I am very aware is not always the case!

I’ll read pretty much any sub genre within the mm genre. Since discovering it a few years ago, I rarely read anything else. One thing I won’t touch is horror, a definite no no for me!

Never ask me what my favourite anything is as I’ll have to give you a list of about ten or twenty things. How am I able to pick one food, book or film out of so many that I love?! 

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