Warning: This book includes mature content such as: sexual content, and/or drug and/or alcohol use, and/or violence.
Back in Black by Lori Foster Series: SBC Fighters #5
Published by Penguin Format: Kindle
Source: Kindle Purchase
Gillian is a PR expert hired to smooth out the rough edges on hot- headed sports club president Drew Black. He's rough, raw and ready for any challenge Gillian throws his way. But which one's going to end up on top?
Back in Black is filled with hot fighters, strong-willed women, romance and quite a bit of action.
Back in Black was like time-travel for me, as I have read all Foster’s Ultimate stories, and the SBC Fighters series include some characters that show up there as well. Gillian and Drew were both great characters, and I loved the chemistry between them. However, there was another couple that started their romance as well, Brett and Audrey, and the fact that I had to follow two couples instead of just one made me feel like I didn’t really get fully invested in either of them. Don’t take me wrong – all four characters were great, and I enjoyed their interactions as well as the way they evolved throughout the story.
There was a lot of tension in Back in Black, both because Drew, the president and face of the SBC was told he needed to reign in his antics and got Gillian as a publicist and sitter. Also because a group of women were protesting very loudly against the SBC because they found MMA to be a far too violent sport, and that it should be banned. Of course, part of the intrigue was that Audrey was the founder of that group, but she didn’t know Brett was one of the fighters when they first met.
The story is quite fast paced, and there is a bit of mystery mixed in with the romance and the hotness. Of course, the writing is really good, and the flow of the story was great. And as always, Foster knows how to make the sexy scenes, well, sexy. Written in third person past tense, I got drawn into the story from the start, and I really enjoyed the ride.
Good looks, great body, intelligence, enthusiasm, and money… Drew Black would be quite the catch if he wasn’t such a sexist, foul-mouthed jerk with the tact of a mountain goat.
It was her job to clean up his act, to make him a more presentable figurehead for the SBC franchise. Daunting, but maybe not impossible. She always enjoyed a challenge.
Brett preferred not to judge. Over the years, too many people had drawn conclusions about him, and found him guilty by association. He hadn’t liked it, so he tried not to do it.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.
It sounds nice, mystery, romance and all. I haven’t tried a book by the author yet but I heard great things about her.
You should definitely try a Foster book, Melliane, they are awesome!
Oh gosh this sounds just like my type of book! I’ve always had a penchant for sports-focused romances, but hmmm I get what you mean – focusing on two couples can be a bit difficult. It’s great that you enjoyed the book anyhow though! 🙂
I love sports-focused romances, too, Lyra! And Lori Foster does those really, really well 🙂
I can see where there would be a lot of action and some suspense, Lex. I can also see why you’d feel like you didn’t get enough from the couples, despite how well developed they were. Unless the book is almost doubled in length, I’d prefer to focus on one couple because that enables me to get to know them better. Still, it’s Lori Foster so I know you enjoyed the story. 😀
Happy Wednesday ! I can’t believe the week is half over! Of course, Monday was a holiday so I feel like it should be Tuesday. 😉 I hope your day has been grand! **BIG HUGS**
Yeah, I really enjoyed the story, Brandee, but I think I’d have absolutely loved it if I had gotten just one of the couples 😀 And of course, Lori Foster still managed to truly wow me 😉
*BIG HUGS*
I like romance mixed with some mystery. I understand what you’re saying about the two couples, I prefer books that just follow one couple too., makes it easier to connect to the characters.
I actually did connect with the characters, but I wanted to know more I’m so greedy, Majanka 😉
It has been a long time since I read anything by Lori Foster. I have enjoyed her work so I should probably read another one of her books soon. I have to agree with you that I don’t usually like it when a second romance is added to a book. I really like to focus on one romance at a time. When there are two romances being covered I usually feel like I am missing something with both. Great review!
That’s exactly it, Carole, I felt like I missed a little something… Both couples were great, but I still felt slightly unsatisfied in the end.
I like books like this that incorporate some mystery. I have only read one of Foster’s books that was not a part of this series. I haven’t read a romance in awhile, so I may turn to another of hers. Thanks for the review.
Foster’s Ultimate series is great as well, Steph, and there’s some mystery in those as well 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
Isn’t Lori Foster just the best? I read this one but years ago so I honestly don’t remember a thing. I’ve been thinking lately that I would l really enjoy re-reading her SBC books.
Why, yes she is, Quinn 🙂 I haven’t read the other SBC books, but I have them on my kindle now. I love her Ultimate series, and some of the characters that were in this one are present in the last Ultimate story 😀
I’ll be reading my first “Ultimate” book next March, I’ve never read any of her books before ^^ And now that I’ve seen the title of that one, I’m going to have AC/DC’s song running endlessly in my head all day long, lol !
Oh yes, Iza! You know I’m a huge ‘Ultimate’ fan! I hope you’ll enjoy it 🙂 LOL AC/DC isn’t the worst to have running in your head, though 🙂
Twitter: Mollykatie112
I have yet to read a Lori Foster book, even though there are books on my bookshelf by her. One of the people I live with is a big fan of hers. I know I keep meaning to read at least one of her books, but just haven’t. Not big on books with fighting as a background theme though 🙂