Blind Landing by Carrie Aarons Pages: 206
Series: Flipped #1
Genres: Sports Romance
Also by this author: Hitting to Win, On Thin Ice
Goodreads
Fear stops dreams in their tracks before they even have a chance. Then again, so do injuries.
Natalia Grekov was born to win Olympic gold. As the USA’s top gymnast, she’s calm, confident and ready to make her country proud in just two short months. And her elite athlete lifestyle includes no time for distractions—especially men. When a disastrous fall in practice puts her dreams at risk, it seems the only person who can help her is the one person she wants nothing from.
Spencer Russell is gymnastics’ bad boy. A cocky, laid-back charmer with abs of steel and a witty mouth, he waltzes around the U.S. Gymnastics Training Camp like he owns the place—even though he doesn't anymore. After an injury sidelined his career and any chance at Olympic glory, he’s now just a coach, helping other gymnasts reach their goals. Serious is not a word in Spencer’s vocabulary. But when Natalia tumbles into his life, he's suddenly sincerely interested in helping the blonde beauty in any way he can.
Can they vault over the obstacles standing in their way? Or will Spencer be the distraction that causes Natalia's chance at gold to crash and burn?
Blind Landing
Carrie Aarons
Continuing my obsession with all things Olympics, I bring you my thoughts on Blind Landing by Carrie Aarons! Yep, another gymnastics book! I love me some gymnasts.
So, I will say having just read another Olympic gymnast book (Out of Bounds), it was difficult to not make some comparisons. In both stories, I struggled with the believability of the relationship. In Blind Landing, you get the super serious Natalia. This is what I imagine most Olympic athletes are like. Focused, driven, and not interested in bull shit. The counterbalance is Spencer, who is a laid back play boy. Did I believe these two would have a fling? Sure! But, I never felt the chemistry that makes think they would make it long term, ya know? And thats okay if you are down with the happily for now type endings.
What made this book superior to Out of Bounds in my mind is the passion evident for gymnastics as a sport. I was able to stick with the book despite my ambivalence for the main characters because I was totally sucked into the sport. Now, I (as I have mentioned) am totally obsessed with gymnastics. I always have been. So, this aspect of the book was what I was hoping for! If you aren’t big into gymnastics or the Olympics, you might struggle with the more technical details of the sport.
So, where does that leave me? I enjoyed the gymnastic aspect. I could take or leave the characters. The plot was predictable but not poorly written. Would I recommend it? If you love gymnastics and sports romances as much as I do, its worth a read!
- POV: dual 1st
- Tears: no
- Trope: athlete, coach/player
- Triggers: none
- Series/Standalone: stand alone
- Cliffhanger: no
- HEA: View Spoiler »
Out of Bounds by R.S. Grey, These Battered Hands by Laurel Ulen Curtis…then you will probably like Blind Landing!
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