This book was a solid 3.5 for me. I adored the banter, chemistry, and character growth. Eric was a well developed hero and I loved how he didn’t match stereotypes. Isla was a strong, intelligent heroine with an interesting backstory. It did use a Cyrano trope that I didn’t love but otherwise it was an enjoyable quick romance with a strong heroine and respectful hero. I would love to read this author again.

I am so far behind in this series! I've read New Orleans rush but none of the books until this one! I really enjoy Kelly Siskind's writing style and I loved these characters and their flaws. I will admit reading the sysnopsis for this book made me think Isla and Preston were going to get together but thankfully not because I adored eric!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley, CD Books, Kelly Siskind, and Socialbutterflypr for the opportunity to read and review this book. I will be honest when introduced to this couple in Kelly Siskind's previous book in this series, I was very skeptical on how this was going to turn out. However, I think this and Don't go Stealing my Heart are tied for my favorite in the series (I know right??) I think this is because that this and that book had a fantastic balance of serious feels and hilarious banter. Trigger warnings for intense violence with boxing, Parkinson's severe symptoms, PTSD, intense working out/physical therapy, and panic attacks. There is also a lot of foreign language references, modern poetry and boxing along with physiotherapy explanations along with the parallels of the family dynamic and the encouragement to do therapy. Definitely not a book that is a quick read. However, bringing all of these items together in a story that is romantic but also profound makes me enjoy a story like this. I also like when people change their minds about someone after they get to know them rather than make a first impression and stick to it. Overall, I am sure you can probably guess that I really enjoyed this romance and am excited to read more from Kelly Siskind. Because of these points, I have to give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Isla Slade is a physiotherapist, she works with athletes but has a hard rule - no boxers. Her father, Graham, was a famous boxer now trainer, and watching his fights gave Isla panic attacks, particularly after her mother left them. Graham has suffered his diagnosis for two years and never told a soul. He is paranoid about his illness and swears Isla to secrecy. He also refuses to talk about it.

But now Daddy-dearest has put Isla in a terrible position, he has Parkinson's and needs her to come to Las Vegas with him to work on a new boxer Brick 'Smash' Kramarov, Isla would be there working but also covering up if her father is unwell. Brick is everything that Isla hates about boxing, a huge Neanderthal with a violent persona and a catchphrase 'Brick Smash'. But the reality is somewhat different. Brick's real name is Eric and he is a sensitive man trying to look after his family who really wants to be a linguist, helping immigrants to gain access to justice and medical support.

Brick's agent, Preston, is a smooth-talking, nicely dressed man who wants to date Isla but she keeps turning him down, so he enlists Brick's help as a modern-day Cyrano de Bergerac to teach him how to woo a woman who likes poetry.

TBH, I'm not sure why I requested this novel because I don't have a good track record with stories involving boxing/MMA, especially those involving medical professionals. While Isla and Brick lasted longer than most before jumping into bed together they still broke that 'I must not sleep with my clients' rule. Also, I found Isla and Brick's habit of quoting poetry at each other was a bit NA/YA and cringe-worthy.

My other gripe was that everything had to be neatly resolved by the end. Graham's refusal to speak about his illness (which may have been caused by all the blows to the head that he suffered as a boxer), the reasons why Brick needed to fight, the conditions in his contract, all just pfff blown away.

So, better than many other books I have read of a similar genre but there were too many clichés to make it any more than a three star review.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.

Eric is extremely intelligent, but has to play a Neanderthal boxing persona, Brick Smash.

Isla grew up in the boxing world and wants nothing to do with it.

Even though they had a rough first meeting, they quickly found out that they had a lot in common. Though Isla tried, she finally realized she couldn't fight fate.

This would have been a 4 star book for me if not for the Preston love triangle. I found him slightly creepy. He could have played the manager and friend to Eric, without the dating Isla part.

I received an ARC of this book, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I fell for the blurb of this book but Isla was such a letdown, she was immature and judgmental. Eric was such a perfect book boyfriend, he deserved someone more centered.
The story felt slow and repetitive, the "love" triangle was so unnecessary.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book received from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a nice romance of opposites attracting and not judging people by first impressions or reputations. Isla is trying to stay away from boxing after experiencing the stresses of her father’s boxing career. When she gets talked into helping her father’s new client, a boxer, she’s ready for the worst. What she isn’t ready for is Eric, a brilliant and gentle man who quickly gets under her skin. They fall for each other, but can their relationship work with all the odds stacked against them? I enjoyed Siskind’s mix of charm and humor, sweetness and heat. The mix of chemistry and poetry between Eric and Isla is really beautiful. But I also enjoyed watching them grow as people and figure out how to make choices to make their own lives better, and that putting themselves first might actually make their relationships stronger.

Fans of sports romances will enjoy Kelly Siskind’s “The Knockout Rule”

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I didn't realize this was part of a series until after I started reading, but I don't think not reading the previous books really hinders your enjoyment/understanding of this one! Still, I wish I had read the rest of the series prior to reading this one. That's just a personal preference though! The premise of The Knockout Rule was interesting, and I think the characters were likable.. It's not a new favorite or anything, but it's a solid romance.

HJ Top Pick!

Isla Slade is no stranger to blood and bruises after all she has spent a good part of her life helping her own father boxing legend heal and recover from all his fights, it is for this very reason that Isla swore that she would never ever get involved with a boxer, there was far to much heartache and stress involved. Which is exactly why Isla came up with her own rule not to ever take on a boxer as a client, especially now that she is opening up her own business. However when dear old dad calls in a favor for her to take on boxing superstar Eric ‘Brick' Kramarov as her new client to work and travel with him to Vegas for an up and coming prize fight, Isla doesn’t have much of a choice. Which is how she finds herself headed to Vegas on a private jet with a boxer, a dog and a flirty agent.

“Sometimes control is a hindrance. Chasing it keeps you from experiencing life fully.”

Eric is far from the dumb meat head people take him for, he is actually a lot softer that his persona Brick. The real Eric doesn’t even really love boxing but it is a means to an end, his real love is reading and literature and most of all his family. It is for this very reason that Eric finds himself looking into the big Vegas fight, you see the winner is guaranteed a big pay day which will take the pressure of his mum and sister who have been living pay check to pay check. So when there is a last minute change to the physiotherapist Eric is not to thrilled but he trusts his agent and is determined to win this fight, Eric just didn’t expect the physio to be such a knockout herself.

However things between Eric and Isla don’t get of to the best of start, but neither is able to deny that there is just something about the other that they just cant figure out. But with Eric’s agent trying to woo Isla with the help of Eric’s romantic words will Isla finally realize it is actually Eric that she has been falling for all this time or will him being a boxer be one hang up she just cant get past?

I love Kelly Siskind books and The Knockout Rule is now one of my favorites! This opposites attract romance was filled with ups and downs all while taking you to a cute happy ending. I loved the chemistry between Eric and Isla, and that it was not based purely on a physical attraction but an intellectual one as well. These two had a lot more in common than it would appear and it was this and their understanding of each other that made them so enduring.

I loved Isla's strength and passion. I loved that even though she has battled with anxiety since she was a teen, that didn’t stop her from being their for her father – even when watching him fight only amplified her anxiety. I think this is what made her apprehensive about getting involved with Eric so understandable. As for Eric, he was perfect. I loved his love for literature and poetry and that he was so connection to his family. His boxing persona was such a polar opposite to who he really was and to an extent it was sad to see that he had to hide himself so much. I loved how selfless he was and that was so evident in the sacrifice that he made for Isla. I absolutely loved watching them fall in love and rooting for their happy ending.

I loved the secondary characters in this book, initially I didn’t think that I would like Preston but as we got to know him and watch him help both Isla and Eric he eventually won me over. As for Isla's dad, I do like that he made a turn around and finally saw what he was doing and put Isla first. Eric’s family were absolutely darling.
I would definitely recommend reading this beautiful opposites attract romance!

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a DNF for me. I was very excited for the story because I always love the "secretly super smart" trope but it actually doesn't happen. It's reveled early on that Eric is very educated and the "conflict" about that is quickly resolved. The whole Preston storyline becomes so unnecessary and annoying. Preston is freaking sleazy as hell.
I don't understand why Eric keeps saying what a great guy Preston is. If you have to finish every story about a guy with "but he's a really nice guy" then he really really isn't. Preston is a creepy womanizer who doesn't understand the meaning of the word no. Isla at one point says herself she's just tired of saying no to him.
Besides that the romance between Isla and Eric seems quite boring. Isla's reasons for not wanting to date a boxer are completely understandable and valid but in this case this conflict just dragged on for too long.

This was my first book by Kelly Siskind, and I don’t think it will be my last.

I have to start by gushing about Eric. A professional boxer, who takes on this persona of neanderthal Brick Smash, but in real life is probably the smartest and kindest giant you’ll ever meet. Growing up as an immigrant life has not been easy for him and his family. And his family means everything to him. He has this need to provide, and take care of him. He is such a sweet, and caring character.

Meanwhile Isla grew up watching her father box, and she hated it. The injuries, the hospital visits, and now brain damage, the stress of it eats her up. No more boxing and boxers for her. Until now. Eric challenges her, and doesn’t match her past experience. I loved seeing these two connect. Exchanging favourite poetry, long, sweet talks, and not to mention the physical attraction.

It definitely takes a while for Isla to come around admitting she might actually like a boxer. Her aversion to all things boxing is huge, and rooted in quite a lot of trauma, which she has to learn to face.

I also loved how getting to their HEA wasn’t clear cut, and magical. They really had to make some tough decisions and overcome some hurdles. Overall I really enjoyed it, and it made me smile quiet often.

*I received a copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

The potential for romance between our leads is complicated. Eric and Isla are at ease with one another, and their shared love of poetry makes them compatible partners who not only appreciate one another's physical attributes but their intellectual ones as well. However, Eric's life revolves around boxing and Isla is determined to root it out of her life. Isla struggles with trying to figure out what she should do: give in to her feelings or give in to her feelings. Sometimes, it's not your head at war with your heart, but your feelings at war with each other. Eric and Isla are moderately complex characters with compelling backstories making it all the easier to root for them to find a happy ending. Siskind successfully wooed me with the written word. I've gone back to read my abundance of highlights a few times over, always pausing momentarily to soak in the words, to ruminate in the feelings they evoke. The Knockout Rule was completely unexpected and comes close to being a perfect read. (4.5 stars rounded to 5)

Although The Knockout Rule is the fourth novel in the Showmen series, it can be read as a standalone. I have not read the first three and I understood everything in this novel and from reading other reviews it seems that each novel can be read as a standalone as they all fit a central concept, but are not linked by their plots. This novel is described as a slow burn romance and it delivered as it built up the romance a lot and you, as the reader, become anxious for the couple to actually come together. It was a fantastic job on the author’s part as the anxiety of wanting the characters to come together is the purpose of a true slow burn rather than promise it and rush the connection.

Isla Slade is the daughter of the famous boxer, Graham Slade. She grew up with the anxiety that her father might not survive one more blow while in the ring and it has affected her relationships with boxers and boxing in general as she suffers from panic attacks driven by this fear. Due to this relationship with boxing, she has refused to allow boxers as clients in her new sports physiotherapy clinic that she is working on opening. Although Isla deals with her anxiety, she hides it from her family and anyone else around her as she thinks that she will appear weak given that was how she was raised or how she thinks the world wants from her. She is still very close with her father and is shocked to learn that he has been dealing with a Parkinson’s diagnosis for the past two years. This revelation is only revealed when the father deems it necessary and he believes he has a handle on this disease. This subplot is well-done as it illustrates the struggles each of the two characters deal with as they have their own personal struggles, but also have an image to keep up due to one stigma or another. It is an excellent example of the hidden struggles that people go through alone at times as they don’t want to affect how others see them for one reason or another.

Another character with hidden struggles is our other protagonist, Eric Kramarovsky, also known as the famous boxer, Brick Kramorov. He greatly cares for his family and wants to provide for them as they are struggling financially. Money is one of his central motives for boxing as he can earn more being an athlete than he can pursue his linguistic passions. As he wants to be the provider for his sister, her two children, and his mom, he wants his sister to work part-time and be with her children as much as she can. Based on my family dynamics with my older brothers, I had a very difficult time relating to this as my older siblings would not tell me not to work full-time as they try to earn enough for us to get by and it can sometimes not be enough. For my family, we would work together no matter the age or gender to plan out the best way to earn and save money while still balancing family responsibilities. It was hard to relate to and fully understand as it is not explored in depth aside from it being based solely on “conventional” gender/age roles where the “man of the house” has to provide for his family. I understand how some families/people follow this mindset, but for those of us on the outside, it would have been more informative to include a little backstory as to why Eric felt this way about being the provider.

Isla and Eric are brought together when Graham signs on to train Eric for his next big match in Las Vegas. Graham convinces Isla to go along as an excuse to use in case he needs time to rest without arousing suspicion from Eric’s team that includes his manager Preston, who Graham thinks would be perfect for Isla to date. Although Isla is attracted to Eric, she begins to believe that Preston might be a good alternative as he is not a boxer, but still seems like a good guy. As Preston does not have the same interest in poetry that Island and Eric share, he ropes Eric into helping him pursue Isla. It creates an entertaining struggle as Isla and Eric fight their attraction while she begins dating Preston and is impressed by his words, given to him by Eric.

I love that these characters were fairly complex with their own backstories; even Preston has his own backstory that gives him a little more depth. Although they had an almost instant physical attraction, their intellectual connection is what makes them a great couple to root for. It is interesting how the only hiccup for Isla and Eric to come together is the fact that he is a boxer. The story shows how something seemingly small, such as your job or any other obstacle, can actually be a valid reason to fight your attraction and not want to be with someone as it isn’t something you can suddenly overcome in the long-run.

Overall, the story was an enjoyable read and I would be curious to read the rest of the series. It is interesting though how it seems like a big deal for Isla to be with her father in Vegas, but it did not seem like they spent that much time together. It seemed that he showed up only once in a while and it did not line up with how his and Isla’s progression in their relationship was laid out to be. Although Isla and Eric connected through poetry, it seemed that lust was their main driving factor at times. It felt off-balance during some portions of the book, but it was not too extreme that it took away from my enjoyment. This novel was a great insight into the boxing world as you learn about the trials and tribulations that these athletes go through and how much training and therapy goes into routines. Generally, this novel was very entertaining and worth reading, and, again, I would read the rest of the series and more from this author.

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, CD Books, and the author for a chance to read this ARC. The opinions expressed are completely my own.**

Kelly has a way with her writing that makes you want to enjoy the story along with the characters. This one is no exception where rules get broken and complications have Isla questioning everything. What or who will she follow is half the fun.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley for my honest review.

The Knockout punch is a slow burn, feel good sports romance that brightened my day. The characters are easy to relate to and the story is smoothly written. Although the story is emotional and there are serious issues, there is also a mixture of lightheartedness and fun. I also enjoyed the secondary characters, they bring entertainment and add to the story.

Isla has spent all her time and money opening her own business as a physiotherapist. Her father is an ex boxer and she is still dealing with issues from watching his fights and worrying about him. Isla loves working on athletics but refuses to work on any boxers and she certainly will never date one. She just can’t handle watching them abuse their bodies. Unfortunately, when Isla meets Eric, he is the type of guy she could fall for, but he is a boxer. Eric is totally unexpected and Isla isn’t sure she can resist him. He is the perfect guy, except for being a boxer. He is cerebral and happiest when he is reading books and studying.

Eric and Isla both have strong family values. They care so much about their families and will do anything for them. They also have some personal issues they are dealing with. Eric and Isla have to make some difficult decisions about what is Important to them and reevaluate their lives and thinking. I enjoyed this fun and lighthearted story.

I liked this book. Good mixture of drama, comedy and romance. I didn't know this writer, i have to say she wrote a quick, light, little masterpiece. If you are looking for a light read with the right mix of emotion this is the book for you. I would recommend this book to romance readers who enjoy a slow burn romance.
Just Can Eric be found in real life?

The Knockout Rule by Kelly Siskind tells the story of Isla Slade, a physiotherapist who hates boxing due to the stress of growing up with a boxing legend for a father, and Brick Kramarov, a heavyweight boxer with so much hidden under the surface. I absolutely loved this book. I fell in love with the characters. Their backgrounds were so complex and well developed, and I loved the emphasis on loyalty to family. The relationship in this story was one of my favorites as it was both passionate, heartwarming, and supportive. This novel was emotional and captivating and I didn't want to put it down. I would highly recommend it to other romance fans.

I received a copy of this ebook from Xpresso Tours via NetGalley which did not affect the contents of my review. All opinions are honest and my own.

This was such a cute and unique storyline. I loved the characters and the writing. The story flowed well and left me very satisfied with the ending.

I loved this! I normally don't read boxing love stories so this one was different for me! I will be definitely checking out this authors other books in the future!

Thank you NetGalley, CD Books and Kelly Siskind for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
How do you feel about boxing? Personally, I don’t see the appeal in participating, but I really don’t see any appeal in watching people beat each other. This being said, I also can't even kill those super tiny little ants you sometimes find in the kitchen so this is definitely a Me Thing.
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I had a chance to read the first three books in Kelly Siskind’s Showmen series and I was excited to read this one! Let’s start with the obvious, the title/cover are great, both are Instantly eye-catching. Eric ‘Brick’ Kramarov is known in the boxing world as a giant idiot, emphasis on the idiot part. Forced to promote his career using sexist and barbaric tactics and dumbing himself down for fans, he’s losing himself and fast. Unfortunately the act couldn’t be further from the truth. Working towards a PhD in Linguistics and boxing to keep him family afloat, he’s well past misunderstood. When he gets the chance to fight for Heavyweight Champion he needs all hands on deck, so his trainer bringing along his hot but moody daughter as a physical therapist? Pass. Isla Slade has been the daughter of a world champion boxer her entire life, but she’s never been able to accept her father’s career. Watching boxing not only destroy his body, but his marriage too, has kept Isla far away from the boxing world. But her father has a secret and he needs her help, how could she say no? Initially her judgments of Brick are not too great and he feels likewise, but the longer they work together the easier it is to forget the boxing world around them. When Brick’s manager asks for his help winning over Isla, Brick has a choice... Fight for his girl, or watch someone else win her heart.
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This was a pretty run of the mill sports romance with some heavier topics that tapped into things like anxiety, panic attacks and Parkinson's Disease. My last book also touched on anxiety and panic attacks and as someone with pretty severe anxiety, I love to see the representation!! SOO many people struggle Every Day with anxiety and it’s just now finally moving past it’s stigma. I would’ve loved to see more of the therapy that Isla went through and the processes she took to heal. I also really would’ve liked to see more of the Parkingson’s discussed. I think going the route of Isla and her father working together on that project would’ve been interesting to read and a great way to spread a little awareness in a book! As far as chemistry, it was definitely there! I loved the physio sessions where the tension was turned up to 10!
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The books in this series are all slow-burn romances and you don’t see any saucy scenes until like 70 percent (?), but it’s done tastefully and I’d call it a door cracked open romance. Is that a thing? Either way, I really enjoyed this series and I’m curious to see what Kelly Siskind does next!