Fighting Love
Abby Niles
Talk about kicking a fighter while he’s down.
Former Middleweight champion and confirmed bachelor Tommy “Lightning” Sparks has lost it all: his belt, his career, and now his home. After the devastating fire, he moves in with his drama-free best friend, Julie. One encounter changes everything and Julie is no longer the girl he’s spent his life protecting but a desirable woman he wants to take to his bed. Knowing his reputation, he’s determined to protect Julie more than ever—from himself.
Veterinarian Julie Rogers has been in love with Tommy since she was ten, but would love to get over the man. She’s quiet nights at home and a glass of wine. He’s clubbing all night and shots of tequila. As friends they work great. As a couple? No way in hell. She just can’t get her heart to agree. When she starts spending time with another fighter, the man who’s always treated her like a sister is suddenly not being very brotherly and enflames her body like never before.
Can two childhood friends make a relationship work, or will they lose everything because they stopped FIGHTING LOVE?
This is my second book by Abby Niles–and it won’t be my last.
Friends-to-lovers can be such fun when done well, and this one definitely is. Tommy was a bit slow on the uptake–but, you know, he is a guy–and I absolutely loved the foil that Brody’s character provided. Tommy wouldn’t have clued in so quickly–relatively speaking–to the fact that his relationship with Julie had gone beyond the BFF stage without the jealousy that the other fighter inspired. (He’s going to get a book too, right? And Mac? They definitely deserve their own stories, both of them.) Julie, of course, had known that she was in love with Tommy since, oh, forever, but felt like she was in permanent “friend zone” territory.
And then he moves in with her….
There was a lot of fun “almosts” in this book, and a whole lot of drama going on behind the scenes that made it an entertaining read. (Did I mention Brody already? Yes? Well, let me just reiterate–he’s awesome! Needs own book!) I’ll admit that both Tommy and Julie went a tad bit too far at times with their internal struggle, creating unneeded drama and that the ending was fairly abrupt, BUT Tommy made an absolutely lovely grand gesture, which was enough to cover a multitude of sins, let alone the small handful that were here.
Fighting Love is the second in the series, but works fine as a stand alone.
4 stars/ B rating.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Abby Niles has always loved to read. After having twins and becoming a stay-at-home mom, she started doodling stories to keep her sanity. She didn’t plan for writing to become an obsession, but it did. Today, she juggles work, home life, and writing. It’s not always easy, but hey, who said life was easy? When Abby’s not writing, you can find her playing ‘Just Dance’ with her kids or trying to catch up on her never-ending to-be-read list.
Giveaway:
The author is giving away a $50 Visa Card to one winner tour-wide.
I love a hot romance novel. As a mother of two little ones, read is like a mini vacation lol.
It is, isn’t it? I used to love naptime–if I didn’t fall asleep too, I could get some reading done in peace and quiet!