Saturday, March 14, 2015

Review: Below the Belt

Title: Below the Belt
Series: Worth the Fight, #3
Author: Sidney Halston
Publisher: Loveswept
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Pages: 272
Buy LinkAmazon

Blurb:


A former title contender turns the tables on his knockout trainer with a lesson in seduction.
 

Once one of the most sought-after names on the mixed martial arts circuit, Antonio “Scarface” Marino watched his career go down for the count as he chased skirts and made tabloid headlines. Now he’s finally making a comeback, and it’s all thanks to Francesca Silva, a Brazilian bombshell as tough as any of her fighters. But who’s the real Francesca: the trash-talking trainer who rides him hard, or the vulnerable woman who blushes at his touch?
 

Francesca went to the mat to sign Tony because she believes he still has the potential to bring big success to her gym—if she can keep his head in the cage and out of her personal life. After a short-lived marriage soured her on love, a one-night stand is all she can handle. Now Tony’s kisses are stirring up complicated feelings—especially when he agrees to face her ex in the ring. Francesca’s used to freezing guys out. But Tony’s tempting her to give in to the heat.


Review

I'm absolutely in love with this book! The first 20% was a bit slow for me, but as soon as the bickering started, I could not put the book down!

Tony and Francesca just did not get along. It was like they wanted to bite each other every chance they got. Tony was very persistent in wanting to date Francesca, while Francesca was the woman who needed no one.

I loved that Tony continued to push Francesca to let him in and he wore his heart on his sleeve. The honesty that Tony showed was really admirable. His temper, however, was hilarious! Being Cuban, I guess that meant he was passionate about everything, including being temperamental. Every time he and Francesca would get in a silly argument, I would literally laugh out loud... Read some of them below.

Tony: You're just making me crazy. My accent's all over the place, I can't even understand myself.

Tony: Francesca--
Francesca: Don't Francesca me!
Tony: That's jour fucking name!

Tony: When did you get a cat?
Francesca: I saw your kittens before I left and decided I wanted one too.
Tony: That's not a kitten. That's a baby tiger. It's fucking huge. I hope it doesn't eat my kittens.

Tony: 'S okay. I felt like shit before. Now I feel like death.
Francesca: Oh, stop whining.

Francesca: Anything specific you want me to bring you from the store other than what Chrissy suggested? Orange juice? Soup? Your balls, maybe?

I also loved that Francesca was a total badass! She was trained as a professional fighter and she could bring professional fighters on their knees without breaking a sweat. I totally wanted to be her!

Did I mention I completely fangirled over this book on Twitter?



Every other character were amazing! Slade was one of my other favorite characters. He had such a foul mouth and he was hilarious! I don't want to give anything else away, so you'll just have to read the book. It's only $2.99. Surely, the sheer enjoyment you will get from reading this book is worth that price!





Arianne

Friday, March 13, 2015

Review: Full Contact

Title: Full Contact
Series: Redemption, #3
Author: Sarah Castille
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: April 7, 2015
Pages: 304
Buy LinkAmazon

Blurb:

Ray wraps his arms around me and holds me tight as if something terrible has happened and he doesn't want to let me go.

Full Contact. This is how Ray speaks when his emotions overwhelm him. I melt into his stillness. His body is hot and hard, his breath warm on my neck. He smells of leather and sweat, sex and sin. Nothing can tear me away.


When you can't resist the one person who could destroy you...


Sia O'Donnell can't help but push the limits. She secretly attends every underground MMA fight featuring The Predator, the undisputed champion. When he stalks his prey in the ring, Sia is mesmerized. He is dominant and dangerous and every instinct tells her to run.


Every beautiful thing Ray "The Predator" touches he knows he'll eventually destroy. Soft, sweet and innocent, Sia is the light to Ray's darkness-and completely irresistible. From the moment he lays eyes on her, he knows he's going to have to put his dark past behind him to win her body and soul.

ARC Review

You are my light, Sia. I'm lost without you.

Have I mentioned how much I love the sexy, silent type? Ray was that type. As the blurb stated, Ray was someone who acted, instead of speaking. Something about it made him more genuine than the most charming guy in the world who always knew the right thing to say. Ray was silent and strong, and exactly what Sia needed.

I enjoyed the humor that was injected in random parts of this book. One of my faves was when Sia was telling Ray about potato chips being her vice and Ray insisting that she was his. Wasn't that the cutest thing ever? *swoon*

Sia: Surveillance isn't a date.
Ray: I'll bring potato chips.
Sia: Chips?
Ray: You said they were your vice. We'll chill in my vehicle. You'll have your vice. I'll have mine.

I also liked the moments, the ones when Ray would actually speak, that revealed Ray's deepest feelings for Sia. I loved that he was so open and vulnerable, completely uncharacteristic of his Predator persona ;)

Sia: What kind of woman am I?
Ray: The kind that can bring a man to his knees.

My favorite thing about Ray was that he talked like a bloody caveman! Clearly, he never learned to speak in full sentences at school, but that's what I loved about him! He was utterly adorable!

Ray grunts as he wanders through my apartment.
Ray: Checking your place out.
Sia: Usually people wait for an invitation. They don't wander at will.
Ray: They aren't me. Getting to know you. Will report back in a minute.

Did I mention Ray was also very demanding? If you've read the first book of this series - Against the Ropes - you know how badass Torment was. However, being the Predator apparently meant that Ray was also fearless, more specifically of Torment. Ray walked into Torment's office without an invitation, or a knock. Obviously, he wasn't afraid of Torment's temper. Therefore, I conclude, that Ray was a real man ;)

I also loved how the author really differentiated Ray from the Predator. There were times when Sia was face-to-face with the Predator himself. She was a bit afraid, but she didn't back down. Well, I'd like to be that strong one day.

Last, but not least, I thought you should know: Ray said he was afraid of his mom.

If this review wasn't enough for you to go and buy the book, then there must be something wrong with you. Thanks for reading ;)




Arianne