Review: Flawed but decent MMA romance
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 10, 2014
The first book in a new series by Ms. Mannon features Logan Rettino, ex-ballerina turned Octagon Girl for MMA bouts.  She’s an ex-ballerina because of her ex-fiance Pierre dropping her on TV during a dancing reality show.  He’s taken her career, her money, her home, but she still has her pride, which she clings to so she can get through the day.  She meets Keane O'Shea when he saves her from faceplanting in front of the whole world.  Keane fights but his personal demons keep him from enjoying what he does and he quits.  Now the sleazy promoter has issued an ultimatum to Logan: get Keane to compete for the champion or kiss her job goodbye.The Good-Strong, stubborn likeable heroine: Logan can be illogical, fixated on her dancing and frustrating, but I liked her anyway.-Sexy, tortured hero with PTSD issues: mix MMA fighter with former soldier and I immediately sympathize with him.-Believable angst: see PTSD issues.-Decent pacing: fairly quick, easy read.-Not a cliffhanger: definitely a series, but not a serial.  There’s a HEA.The Not So Good-Sometimes the angst overwhelms: angst can be exhausting and both of the H/h were steeped in angst without much in the way of lighthearted moments to balance it all out.-the fight scenes: I wasn’t invested in the fighting and for something that was supposedly regulated, most of the situations regarding weigh-ins and fight setups seemed exaggerated for dramatic purposes. I don’t necessarily have a problem with it, but I’m not that into MMA.-The climax could have been stronger: with the buildup to the ending, I just thought there'd be...more. It was sweet, but I had hoped for more.The Bottom LineFlawed, but I liked it and I’ll definitely check out the next book.