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Beth Bolden

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The Red Zone (The Riptide) Kindle Edition

by Beth Bolden (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.4 401 ratings

Part of: The Riptide (3 books)

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Spencer’s deep in the Red Zone and it’s time to even the score.

Nine years ago Spencer Evans became the first player out of the closet to be drafted into the NFL. Everyone believed he had aspirations to change the world but all Spencer ever wanted to do was play football for a team that accepted him wholeheartedly. But they never would, and Spencer began to conceal all the parts that made him different.

When a terrible injury forces him to re-evaluate his life and his choices, he realizes there’s only one man who can help him.

The very first gay sports agent, Alec Mitchell has given his life and his career to making queer athletes’ dreams come true. He can’t help but think of Spencer as the one who got away—professionally and personally.

Alec thought he’d buried his desperate longing for Spencer ages ago but it turns out it was just lying dormant, waiting for the right spark. When he begs Alec to take him on as a client, everything they’ve been burying for years surfaces once again.

With Alec’s help, Spencer can change everything about his life he’s come to hate. An extraordinary future—and an undeniably extraordinary man—are waiting for him. The play has been called. All he has to do is catch the ball and score.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09B4DW5V6
Publisher ‏ : ‎ (August 11, 2021)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 11, 2021
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 3185 KB
Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 358 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #44,471 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #526 in Gay Fiction
- #1,420 in Gay Romance
- #1,904 in LGBTQ+ Romance (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.4 401 ratings

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About the author

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Beth Bolden

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A lifelong Oregonian, Beth Bolden has just recently moved to North Carolina with her supportive husband and their sweet kitten, Earl Grey. Beth still believes in Keeping Portland Weird, and intends to be just as weird in Raleigh.

Beth has been writing practically since she learned the alphabet. Unfortunately, her first foray into novel writing, titled Big Bear with Sparkly Earrings, wasn’t a bestseller, but hope springs eternal. She’s published twenty novels and six short stories.

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4.4 out of 5

401 global ratings

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T.A. Fisher

Amazing

Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2024

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Such an amazing story!! So compelling, sweet, and steamy. Loved it!

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M Marshall

So Excited to See a Riptide book again! Love it

Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2021

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Rating: 4,5 stars

I really liked this story. For one, Borden’s series about the LA Riptide NFL team is marvelous and any new installment is exciting.

Two, Bolden brings into her Riptide universe, characters and couples from her other terrific series (Kitchen Gods , Kitchen Wars, and Food Truck Warriors). These couples are intertwined with each other’s stories and seeing them again here is a total pleasure.

Third and best reason? Bolden loves and knows the sport of pro football, every angle and aspect. From the Sports announcers/broadcasters like Terry Bradshaw , sitting crafty and country in his booth, to draft day to the locker room dynamics, it’s all here.

That’s understood immediately as we dive into the opening scene and mindset of defense end Spencer Evans. The Stars opponent has the ball and now it’s up to the defense to stop them. He’s in the zone…game’s on…he’s mentally focused as the field and action unfolds before and around him. We are THERE with him, seeing it all and waiting for him to act.

What an awesome way to jump into the story and character.

From that scene Bolden takes the reader and her characters on a moving emotional journey of self growth, acceptance and love. But not before putting them and us through some real turmoil.

That’s perfect and realistic when you have as tightly wrapped a person as Spencer and as deeply self protective as Alec Mitchell, the gay Sports super agent who’s had feelings for Spencer since the msn was first drafted. Each man has rejected, then been rejected over the course of a decades long complicated relationship. Spencer choosing to be drafted and then play for a decade for a team so toxic (the fictional LA Stars) that he’s buried who he is so deep he no longer knows who he is. And Alec Mitchell has watched knowing the man Spencer was.Tough dynamics through a decade of complex emotions.

The journey for both men restarts afterSpencer decides to change…everything.

It’s a moving read. Spencer, with the help of not only Alec but the surprise support of those he’s hurt in the past, decides to tear down the walls he built, and find himself again.

We see the maneuvering to get trades done, team dynamics (both great and ugly), while feeling intimately part of this new path Spencer is taking along with Alec.

Great stuff. I was totally in the game as they say, with him all the way.

The romance? Just as complicated and rewarding. I love this couple. The chemistry is hot.

The story comes so close to perfect. But it contains one element that always makes the reader wonder and yes, something I find irritating. Probably because it’s so correctable.

I call it the “missing main animal character “ syndrome . I can’t tell you how often I’ve seen this happen and it takes me right out of the narrative because I’m too busy wondering where Soarky, Fluffy or what have you went.

In this case, it’s a one-eyes black cat called Ignatius or Iggy for short. He belongs to Spencer. How that came about and their adorable relationship is a fairly big part of the story. Iggy acts as a fulcrum for a specific meeting. He also is used to show Spencer’s vulnerability and ability to change. So yes, Iggy’s a big deal.

However, the last , important, third of the story? No Iggy. Not even a mention of someone taking care of him, introducing him to Alec…nada. Iggy disappears.

Now I understand that the author has goals, narrative stages she wants to tell and/or hit as the storylines start to come together and the book heads toward The End. However, at least IMO, better to either never have such a animal character in the first place, use another device to accomplish the same meeting, then to create (extremely well btw) and then dump said animals.

It’s noticed. And in my case bothers me enough every time I see it to deduct rating points. 🤦🏼‍♀️. Just no.

So yes, great story, wonderful characters and romance. Missing cat.

Maybe Iggy will find a home in the next book. Which I will surely read because I do love the Riptide team and it’s players.

Unfamiliar with the inter workings of pro ball? Don’t worry because you’re going to feel like a football veteran after reading this, as well as her other books. Enjoy!

There are 3 terrific books in this series, I recommend them all.

Riptide series:
The Rivalry #1
Rough Contact #2
The Red Zone #3

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

OldLadyStauffer

Another delightful addition to the series

Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2021

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This book is definitely a must read. Even though it’s book 3, and some events happen in the previous books that parts in to the storyline, it can be read alone. It goes into things well enough that you can easily follow along without getting lost. That said, the secondary characters from this book were in previous books so reading them in order could potential heighten your enjoyment, but isn’t q00% necessary. It’s a personal call.

Spencer has been a tough to like character, especially in the book he played a part in inside Beth Bolden’s Food Truck Warriors series. Here we get to see beneath the mask Spencer puts on to survive the hostile environment he’s played in for 9 years: his football team. Although ‘team’ doesn’t describe their relationship. After an injury he has a moment of clarity that something has to change, and it begins with Alec Mitchell.

Watching these guys dance around each other was a lot of fun. I wondered how long they were going to last, and appreciated the slow burn (but not too slow) it turned into. I knew that combustion was inevitable, and I was not wrong. Their banter was easy, entertaining, and perfect.

This was an easy read. Unfortunately life got in my way or I would’ve read this in less than a day. I didn’t want to end!

***I received a copy of this book for my reading pleasure. All thoughts and opinions are my own.***

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Mary Ellen

A delicious slow burn.

Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2022

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5 stars. Alec and Spencer's story started 9 years ago with instant attraction. But neither of them cross them line, no matter how hard one of them tries or the other is tempted. So by the time they get together the build up and chemistry is high. And boy, am I here for it!!!
I loved that this story almost had a frenemies to lovers feel.

Side note: Even though this is book 3 in the Riptide series there are cameo appearances from a fellow Riptide player, named Chase, and his boyfriend. Their story is one Featured in the Food Truck Warriors series and I can't wait to read it.

TW: the football player deals with homophobia and internalized toxic masculinity due to the circumstances of his career. Even though I found this story relatively lower (maybe medium) angst, if these themes bother you, take care.

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Book Nut

Love this series

Reviewed in Canada on January 23, 2024

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And Loved this entry in the series. The cast of characters is very good, all real and well-written with depth to each, especially the MCs. I loved the way they grew and changed throughout the book. Always look forward to more from this author.

Kindle-Kunde

Toller Dritter Teil

Reviewed in Germany on September 8, 2022

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Ich fand die ersten beiden Teile schon Klasse.Das zweite Mal das ich das Buch lese. slow Burn.Die zwei harmonieren super miteinander

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sarah mitcham

Finally Ready to Be Out And Proud.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 14, 2021

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MM slow burn Sports romance, easy to read and a page-turner with great main characters. The third book in the Riptide series, although it could be read as a stand-alone I believe it's best enjoyed and read as part of the series. Angst caused from being bullied by his homophobic teammates/coaches/ team owner Spencer Evans has finally had enough and can't stand to play for/with them anymore. Spencer begs Alec Mitchell the first openly gay sports agent to sign him on as a client but there are issues between them that makes Alec hesitant. HEA, great story, thoroughly enjoyed all of it and can't fault it, strong plot from beginning to end.

KNJ

Loved it!!!

Reviewed in Australia on August 11, 2021

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Did not disappoint. All the feels on every page. Beautiful characters, really enjoyed revisiting old friends from previous stories. Hope the series continues.

Pontiki

The agent and the defense player

Reviewed in Canada on October 25, 2021

Verified Purchase

Alec is a great agent for all his queer players on the Riptide. The only that got away, Spencer, has been injured and is getting ready to come back.

Spencer has been on the Stars team for 9 long years, thanking the abuse from players and lack of support from management, while becoming the best defensive player in the NFL.

After his injury, a good hard look makes him decide he wants a better life. He’s ready to seek Alec out to become his agent, and to try to get traded to the Riptide. He’s made some careless remarks to the gay players over the years, but makes amends and friends on the team.

As they pursue a trade, Alec and Spence also finally admit to their feelings for each other, and neither has to go it alone.

A feel good story, with justice and camaraderie thrown in. Great book.

KU

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The Red Zone (The Riptide) Kindle Edition

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