Real

Written by Katy Evans

Narrated by Charlotte Penfield

The New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller, the first in a scorching series about a beautiful young sports rehab specialist who can't fight her attraction to a dangerously sexy underground fighter.

Remington Tate has a bad-boy rep in and out of the ring, a granite-hard body, and a raw, animal power that sends his female fans into a frenzy. But from the moment their eyes lock, the only woman he wants is Brooke Dumas. His desire is pure, all-consuming, and REAL.

Hired to keep his perfect body working like a machine, Brooke finally has the lucrative sports therapy job she’s been dreaming of. But as she tours the dangerous underground fighting circuit with Remy and his team, Brooke’s own body becomes alive with the most primal of hungers. If what happens between Brooke and Remy is ever as light as a flirtation, it quickly becomes an erotic obsession for them both, and promises so much more.

But their white-hot lust has a dark side—and when Remy’s deepest secret comes to light and Brooke’s familial duties demand action, will the pair be able to hang on, or will everything that once seemed so real suddenly fade away like an illusion?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Sep 3, 2013
• ISBN: 9781442368743

Katy Evans

Katy Evans lives with her husband and their two children plus three lazy dogs in south Texas. Some of her favorite pastimes are hiking, reading, baking, and spending time with her friends and family. She is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of Manwhore, Manwhore +1, Ms. Manwhore, and The REAL series: REAL, MINE, REMY, ROGUE, RIPPED, and LEGEND. For more information on Katy Evans visit her website KatyEvans.net, and follow her on Facebook and Twitter, @AuthorKatyEvans.

Reviews for Real

[judy griffin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Real, Mine, Remy, Rogue, Ripped, Legend, Racer

[Charlotte · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have had this book on my TBR for ages and I finally purchased the book and audio. They did not disappoint.

I love how they communicate through songs so that Remy can share his feelings accurately because of the struggles he endures with being bipolar. Remy has such a soft side and a super dominant side when he goes through a 'black' stage. The soft side is just as hot as the dominant side.

The small touches and intense stares create such a build-up for when the steam actually happens. Brooke and Remy together are fire and I was so upset when their conflict happened. There's an actual plot behind this romance and it has to do with Brooke getting her sister back which really intrigued me because it was so unexpected. There are so many possibilities for other characters and I am excited to read on and see where they go with their own stories.

[Mandy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Oh my goodness!! Jaw dropping!! This book was absolutely all I wanted!! It hit all of the right buttons for me!

I had butterflies in my tummy in so many scenes in this book! This is true LOVE for sure!!

The way that Remy ‘fafs’ over Brooke and visa versa is beyond anything!

Love always wins!

I so enjoyed this book and starting with MINE right away!!!!

Love Love Love is all I can say!!!!

[gigisiriereads · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I've never had such a hard time finishing a book before. Just a few pages in and I was turned off. The whole thing was ridiculous. The dialogue, which was mostly non-existent was godawful. I am most certainly positive that Remington Tate is a caveman and not in the "He's a guys, guy sense". But in the non-verbal grunting and jumping around shaking his hands in the air kind of caveman. Does he know more than six words? And don't get me started on Brooke. She was not believable as a character. She needs a constant cold shower or some medical help for her "Clenching" problem. I hate to be a hater, but I always try to be positive about the books I read in some way but the descriptions, characterizations, whatever, etc. used in this book for me, was just overdone or tying too hard to be smexy. I was just not drawn in but very turned off by it. There was just so much internal monologue with Brooke and not enough sensible dialogue. And she just came off as some horny desperate nympho, instead of a strong protagonist who persevered through some particular life struggle. I understand crushes, obsessions, and insecurities in a character but I still want them to be strong and memorable in a positive and redeemable way and just happen to find true love in the end, sadly, Brooke was just not that in my opinion.

[Brooke Boatright · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

i love this series, but they should really redo the audiobooks because it’s so boring.

[Michell Casper · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

WOW!!!! Can't wait to see where the road will lead them!!! It was even better on audio.

[addictofromance · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Real is the first book of Katy Evan’s MMA fighters series. Real is based on this infamous couple Remington “Remy” and Brooke. It starts off with Brooke coming to a MMA fight, that her friend dragged her to. Remy is the top prize fighter, and normally she barely looks at men. She doesn’t like flings and doesn’t do relationships much. But she is fascinated by Remy, and he looks straight at her in a way she has never felt before. But she knows he is bad news, until he comes after her. Their exchange is pretty intense and she wonders if she will ever see him again. Then she is taken to his hotel room with a job offer, to be his phsyical trainer to prevent future and occurring injuries. She has recently graduated but hasn’t received any offers and so she says yes. And thus begins their powerful story.From a man who fights like crazy, arouses me like no other, is the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. From the man who plays me sexy music, gives me his t-shirt to sleep in, protects me as fiercely as a lion, and yet won’t take me when I’m naked and trembling in his arms…Remy and Brooke are pure chemistry together, Katy Evans knows how to write chemistry. Because its not about sex…its so much deeper than that. And seriously I felt my heart literally skip beats while reading their story and I couldn’t get enough. Remy is a complex character for sure. His parents had him committed when he was just a teenager and he suffers from a intense form of bi polar. You see how drawn he is to Brooke as is Brooke to Remy. They have their ups and down in this book, but it was such a powerfully written book. I love that their relationship builds and focuses on the real aspects. I found their romance to be intense and explosive and heart wrenching!!! They have become one of my top couples to read

[blckrose books · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

La codependencia realmente es adictiva señores y señoras. Luce tan excitante y posesiva. Si tan solo fuera real que l manía y la depresión pueden manejarse saludablemente a largo plazo así…

[U'ilani Ioane · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved it!! It was the perfect kind of love and drama!

[Monika Zygadlo · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

The book is amazing but the audio book is horrible quality. You can hear the mic static and the voice actress isn’t great and not enjoyable to listen to.

[Melbt1278 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Little slow but love the storyline. Can't wait for more.

[ftbooklover · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Emotion is very high in this series about an underground MMA fighter who falls for a woman who was a world class runner, but lost her chance at the Olympics due to a career ending injury. She is looking for a new life and career and he provides one for her. Their desire for each other goes beyond simple want or even hunger; these two have a very deep need for what the other provides including physical and emotional stability.

[mrslabraden · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Emotion is very high in this series about an underground MMA fighter who falls for a woman who was a world class runner, but lost her chance at the Olympics due to a career ending injury. She is looking for a new life and career and he provides one for her. Their desire for each other goes beyond simple want or even hunger; these two have a very deep need for what the other provides including physical and emotional stability.

[itsbookishme · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I've never had such a hard time finishing a book before. Just a few pages in and I was turned off. The whole thing was ridiculous. The dialogue, which was mostly non-existent was godawful. I am most certainly positive that Remington Tate is a caveman and not in the "He's a guys, guy sense". But in the non-verbal grunting and jumping around shaking his hands in the air kind of caveman. Does he know more than six words? And don't get me started on Brooke. She was not believable as a character. She needs a constant cold shower or some medical help for her "Clenching" problem. I hate to be a hater, but I always try to be positive about the books I read in some way but the descriptions, characterizations, whatever, etc. used in this book for me, was just overdone or tying too hard to be smexy. I was just not drawn in but very turned off by it. There was just so much internal monologue with Brooke and not enough sensible dialogue. And she just came off as some horny desperate nympho, instead of a strong protagonist who persevered through some particular life struggle. I understand crushes, obsessions, and insecurities in a character but I still want them to be strong and memorable in a positive and redeemable way and just happen to find true love in the end, sadly, Brooke was just not that in my opinion.

[all_hail_grimlock · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Oh, Real, I can't decide what I hate most about you. The crappy grammar? The unbelievable scenarios? The way I imagine everyone peeing on each other to mark them, due to the creepy animal fetish you seem to have and the way everyone scents each other instead of smelling each other? No, no. It's the crappy research and the way you threw together symptoms that were convenient for you and slapped on the term 'bipolar'. Fugue states so extreme he doesn't remember anything when he's 'black', eyes changing colors, manic states that tend to be more 'hulk' angry than anything, and not doing most of the stuff most common to manic states. Oddly enough, she actually did do some research - bipolar being a different gene expression is how she describes it, and I talked to a friend of mine who practices psychiatry. This is apparently hotly debated in the psychiatric community, but it is an actual theory. Color me surprised.

[c4ro · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

MMA Romance. Disagree strongly with all the 5 star reviews here on LT. Mine is "Angst, girly gushing angst, girly stressing angst and yet more tedious angst". Agree with the Meh review. 

[ecataldi-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This was beyond cheesy, it jumped off the deep end, belly-flopping into the unbelievable. Brooke is convinced by her super cool friends to attend an underground boxing match and while there she encounters, Mr. Man Meat, Remington Tate. From the moment he lays eyes on her he knows he has to have her. So he bullies her into giving him her number, stalks her online, discover she's an athletic trainer, and "hires her" for the next three months. There's lots of sexual tension around them and at first Brooke doesn't care, but the more she watches his rippling muscles in action the more she wants him. He's a hot tempered maniac, and she's a former Olympic has been, match made in heaven. There's a couple of steamy hot sex scenes, but most of the book just talks about how wet Brooke's panties get watching Remington. It's over the top, the sex is super unbelievable, and hell so is the whole premise and romance.

[josp-7 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Realistically I probably give this book a 3.5 stars.I did like the story, but there were things that bugged me. Remington and his friends/staff I enjoyed, but Brooke maybe not as much. Or at least not all the time. I liked her at first, but then she was around him all the time and falling in love with him without actually talking to him. Normally I don't mind if characters start falling fast, but she barely says anything to him. She always thinks the same thoughts without striking anything up. I just wish she would have tried to talk to him a little more at the beginning. Remy is complex, and once you find out his story it is a bit heartbreaking. But once we find out, things do start to pick up. The big action comes towards the end and that was a saving factor for me. The ending was pretty great. If the next book continues with the type of intensity that this book ended with I will give it a shot.

[debbie97462 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely friggin' awesome! Loved Remy, can't wait for the next book.

[emilymcgee-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Oh boy, Real has got to be one of the best books of the year.Yes, I'm late to the Remy party, but I'm here and and I could not be more excited! This book was intense, fun and heart-wrenching. Remington "Riptide" Tate is not like everyone else, he cannot control his anger or mood swings, and most of those who see his darker side fear him. Enter Brooke. She cannot help but be drawn to this enigmatic guy. For their own reasons neither Brooke nor Remy will give into their passion at first. Don't fret though, it was not one of those frustrating cat and mouse chases. Yes, they have their ups and downs, which their passion fuels, but it is all worth the wait. Their journey was so enthralling, I couldn't predict what anyone was going to do, but I could not wait to find out!"Because I hate what he does to me. I hate that I want him like this, I hate that I feel so volatile, I want to tear his eyes out and then go cry about it."~BrookeRemy has finally found someone he can trust, that won't hurt him, and that truly understands and loves him without question. Brooke has had a rough go after graduating college, but Remy fixes her unemployment problem. Before Brooke even starts to work with Remy he has become so much more than her employer. Remy and Brooke have this instant connection, and hold great protectiveness for each other. Finally, we see a story where the woman is just as, if not more, fiercely protective of her man. She even goes to the lengths of protecting him from those he has known for years. They share their secrets with one another, and refuse to let anyone in their bubble. Brooke provides a security for Remy and saves him from himself and others unlike anyone else in his life... but she also evokes those darkest feelings and urges that she has to save him from. Their relationship is a lot of give and take, and Brooke has to force him to see reason more than once. They don't just connect on an emotional level, their time between the sheets is HOT! There were quite a few time where I had put my ereader down and control my blushing. Brooke and Remy have found equals in each other and I am so excited to see where their journey leads them."I want you to be my fucking REAL."~Remy The circumstances behind Real are very intriguing. It is rare that we see an author take on, what some might call a stigma such as the one discussed in Real, and it is done beautifully no less. It was not just a gloss over point, Katy Evans digs deep behind the why and how with Remy and still writes a very captivating story that I loved. She conveys such raw emotions it will make your heart ache... in a good way :) These characters made me feel their pain and happiness and by the end I was completely invested in their lives. I am so thrilled this will be an ongoing series and we will see more of Remy and Brooke!*Note: Target's paperback version has a bonus scene that you don't want to miss!*Happy Reading!

[mindaf_3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Real by Katy Evans is one steamy read with plenty of drama. I really enjoyed this book. At the beginning of the book I thought Brooke & Remy were heading for a quick one night stand that might lead to something else. Wow was I wrong. Remy has an instant attraction to Brooke, however he wants to make sure Brooke knows who he really is before they take the next step in their relationship. I loved this about Remy, I found it to be so darn sweet that he wanted her to get to know him the REAL him before they advanced their relationship. These two are combustible when they are together, I think if anyone is in the same room they better stand back because they two are capable of bursting into flames at any moment.I enjoyed reading some of the behind the scenes fighting information. I enjoyed a lot about this book. I liked Brooke and her feisty attitude. She is strongly protective of those she cares about and that includes Remy. Remy is a gentle giant teddy bear most of the time but, don't mess with this man because he can kick butt unlike any other. I also admired how Remy's right hand guys stand behind him all the way. They protect Remy and Brooke with all they have. This group that travels together really is a little family of their own. I enjoyed that aspect and their protectiveness for each other and their friendship. There are plenty of REALLY steamy scenes and a lot of drama involved. This book had me completely hooked from the first page until the last. It certainly is a page turner! I can't wait to see what is next from Katy Evans. I'm anxious to read more of this series and read more about Remy & Brooke. I was given the opportunity to read this book to share my thoughts. As always it has been my pleasure to share my thoughts with you.

[amdrane2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I really wanted to love it, but I just couldn't do it. I thought it started out okay at least enough to keep me reading. But one thing is I got really tired of reading about her clenching, throbbing, tightening, spasming vagina. And her pantie washing bill must be astronomical as many times as she was wet. I get it...he's hot, like really hot, but I'm amazed she could do anything as much as her nether regions were working. The licking like a lion thing....just weird. I guess I did enjoy it enough to finish, but I doubt I'll be reading the others in the series. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

[dawngenna · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was amazing! I loved the characters! Remy is a character that is very strong, but only on the outside. He is someone that you would love to take into your arms and just hold him so that he knows that he is worth more then just his money. The story is written so that you literally feel the characters as you go through the story. I can't wait to read the next book!

[lisa.hines · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Holy Crap I could NOT put this book down.Thanks to Angie's Dreamy Reads’s amazing review I knew I had to read this and am so very, very glad I did. Remington is heartbreaking, Brooke is a strong female lead, and the issues (view spoiler) that are mentioned are done so in an informative and positive way. Thank you Angie's Dreamy Reads’s for the review and a Remy Sized thank you to Katy Evans for writing this amazing story!~*~*~*~ Quick Update ~*~*~*~ I wrote the review for this fantastic book so late last night, I completely forgot to mention anything about the playlist. This is the first time ever I have been even slightly inclined to listen to an author's playlist while reading. It was a beautiful mix of music and totally helped engage you even deeper into the emotions of the characters. It also helped that the playlist was included at the beginning of the book.Anyway, I created a playlist on Spotify.Go to my Goodreads profile for the link.