The Knockout Rule, an all-new sexy and addictive standalone romance from bestselling author Kelly Siskind is available now!

Growing up with an adoring father for a boxing legend isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. It looks more like hospital visits, bloody noses, and cracked ribs.

Isla Slade now works as a physiotherapist, helping athletes heal their bodies. Except for boxers. She has no interest in reliving the stress of her teen years. Dating someone in the boxing world? She’d rather snort wasabi powder.

Until she meets Preston Church.

Preston manages heavyweight boxing darling Brick Kramarov. A brute who’s built tougher than his name, with a cocky attitude to boot. She wants nothing to do with either man, but her father begs her to help them prepare for a huge Vegas fight.

She doesn’t expect Preston to recite romantic poems and slowly break her resolve. His fascinating mind gets under her skin, even if his star athlete reminds her how much she hates boxing.

Too bad it’s Brick coaching Preston how to woo Isla, falling for her from the sidelines. Once she finds out, she’ll have to decide if she can risk loving another man who puts it all on the line for the knockout.

One-click this sexy slow-burn romance today!

Each book in the Showmen series is STANDALONE:
*New Orleans Rush
*Don’t Go Stealing My Heart
*The Beat Match
*The Knockout Rule

Download your copy today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2VmusYk
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/KnockoutRule
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Apple Books: https://apple.co/2KMx3bQ
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Excerpt

“Don’t let the resistance pull your arms forward at the top,” Isla told him. “Keep your hands in line with your ears.”

He repeated the movement, noting her suggestions, sweat gathering along his neck. “Like this?”

“Exactly. Take it slow.” 

She crouched next to him, the closest they’d been all session, and his stomach swooped. Fucking swooped, like he was a love-struck teen. The sensation divided his focus, part of it staying on the rope in his hands, a fraction diverting to her proximity, another locked on his reacting body. She shifted positions slightly, seemed to hesitate, then she placed her hand on his back. 

Forget divided. All his attention zeroed in on that one spot. Isla. Hand. Hot. So much heat concentrating where she touched. He leaned back a bit, couldn’t control his body’s urge to ask for more. More contact, more Isla. 

Her fingers spread wider. “Don’t overarch your back,” she said, her voice lower, breathy. “Sit straighter.”

He paused with the triceps rope at his chin, fixed his posture and turned his head, bringing them almost nose to nose. “Like this?”

Her gaze dropped to his lips. His thighs flexed. 

“Yeah,” she murmured. “Like that.” 

The moment lingered, sexual tension vibrating between them so thoroughly he was surprised the walls didn’t shake. And he was pissed. Angry at their circumstances. Upset for Isla and all she’d dealt with in her life. Mad that the easy friendship they’d developed had devolved in a matter of hours to broken sentences and awkward glances. None of it was okay.

Determined to salvage something from this mess, he worked through his next rep with slow precision, keeping his back straighter, his arms at the correct angle. At the end of the rep, he said, “What do you call spending the afternoon with a cranky rabbit?”

Isla made a startled sound, a muffled kind-of-laugh. From the corner of his eye, he caught the hint of a smile. “I don’t know,” she said.

“A bad hare day.”

Her tentative smile grew. “Have I told you your humor hovers at a grade-one level?”

“Have I told you that you have no sense of humor?”

“I wouldn’t know. I usually tune you out.” 

He chuckled at that, turned his head toward her, bringing their lips dangerously close again. Her hand was still on his back, maintaining his posture. Her thumb moved, a small stroke he felt everywhere. They breathed deeply at the same time, their chests expanding like their hearts were reaching toward each other.Then they got back to work. Less awkward this time. They talked more easily. Joked occasionally. Everything out of Isla’s mouth sounded like foreplay to him: move slower, hold that position, yeah like that. But he somehow found his focus, stayed attuned to his body’s needs and pains, assessing when muscle fatigue meant a break was due. Neither of them crossed the invisible line they’d drawn. They were once again patient and physiotherapist, no different than during their early sessions. But everything was different.

About Kelly

A small-town girl at heart, Kelly moved from the city to enjoy the charm of northern Ontario. When she’s not out hiking with her husband or home devouring books, you can find her, notepad in hand, scribbling down one of the many plot bunnies bouncing around in her head.

Her novels have been published internationally.

Connect with Kelly

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3aMl4pr
Facebook: http://bit.ly/3bt45aK
Instagram: https://bit.ly/37IFGwN
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KellySiskind
Website: https://www.kellysiskind.com

*** ARC KINDLY PROVIDED IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW. ***

This book almost threw me off but I kept reading because I could sense that there was something more under all the layers. 

The main characters meet cute didn’t show some great parts from the heroine and the hero gave her the same. To feel something but no sparks flying from the start. It might have been challenging to see what would come next.

I didn’t mind that the main characters didn’t start on the right from the beginning and all goofy smiles because it could be interesting. The confrontation and also how they were so wrong from the beginning, that the first impression could be deceiving.

Well, Isla was judgmental since the beginning and the principles she set about all the boxing world were understandable. How to settle the mood. Being the daughter of a famous retired champion, she tried to put so much distance with it.

Unfortunately when she had to help her father and being Eric’s “Brick” physiotherapist, all her good will would be tested. That man she misjudged in the first place was full of surprises and making her feel a lot and also too dangerous for her heart.

Eric was a boxer the day, a man helping his family always and so much more in the between. He kept his public personality and his private life separate. Two different people but making the man he was today but somehow tired of the game. 

Isla’s development was interesting and it was a character I learned to appreciate as the story unfolded. Knowing when she was wrong and mostly to apologize when needed. Eric was almost too perfect but I appreciated to see him sometimes failing and also showing his flaws.

The first half of the story was a little weird with the plot about Eric’s manager, to seduce Isla through Eric’s words, this kinda love triangle which wasn’t really one. The writing style was somehow difficult to follow at times but still this story has great material.

I enjoyed this book more towards the end and I was glad to see Isla and Eric having their happily ever after, fighting for what they really loved, working together as partners.