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Book Review of Against the Ropes (Redemption, Bk 1)

Against the Ropes (Redemption, Bk 1)
frazerc avatar reviewed on + 672 more book reviews


First off, I did not read this in one sitting. I started it while waiting for a doctors appointment and then the doctor and nurse insisted on interrupting me. However, after I got home I put the rest of the day on hold Yes, I thought it was that good.

The heroine is Makayla who, through various events in the story, ends up working as an EMT in an gym/unsanctioned fight club. This is bad because she has issues with violence and anger, issues so severe it makes her throw up. But shes good at her job and she needs the money as someone has decided her student loans are due even though she had a deferment. Then theres the hero, Torment, who owns the place. [Thankfully we learn that is only his ring name.] He has a real name [Max] and a real life outside the fight club, an ultra-rich life that seems to freak her even more. Shes a beer and pizza and jeans kind of girl and he takes her to some nouvelle cuisine restaurant with minute portions of assorted sophisticated [but weird] foods. It doesnt end well. Then he takes her to a high society gig filled with people who are discussing where to buy their fourth home and shes majorly insulted by a society matron who wants the rich hottie for her granddaughter. Yeah, that doesnt end well either. He also keeps trying to control her to keep her safe, and in between bouts of hot sex he keeps trying to tie her up. She freaks each time. Yep, that doesnt work out either. But they keep trying

I truly cared about Makayla and Max and the supporting characters were great many of them deserve their own stories. [Hint to author here] The plot is definitely relationship driven but with major bouts [excuse the pun] of action along the way. The whole debt collector from hell thing was weird [I kept expecting it to be some kind of con] but it was obviously there as a plot device and the reader has to move past it. Would Max have been a whole lot smarter to sit down and talk about his control issues and the kinky stuff rather than just springing it on her? Definitely. Should Makayla have asked a few questions and refused to move forward without answers? Oh yeah. Did you occasionally want to smack the lead characters? Yup. The characters and the dialogue kept me going and laughing, though, and what more can I ask of a book?

Redemption series
Against the Ropes (Redemption, #1)
In Your Corner (Redemption, #2)
Full Contact (Redemption, #3) upcoming