Review: Fun Start to a New Series
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 27, 2014
Fun, fun, fun, fun book! It starts off with a hilarious situation and just gets better from there. Chrissy was a hoot. The town nerd when she was growing up, she is mortified that the cop who is about to give her a ticket is her childhood crush and also nemesis, Jack Daniels. *snort* I know, right?? Chrissy is also a physician now, but not the oodles of money kind. She's been working off her student loans by serving in the Third World nations. She gets the rare call from her brother to bail him out of jail, for beating down the Mayor's nephew. So, she's not a big proponent of violence, having seen the ravages of war and extreme poverty. Especially not the voluntary, get yourself beat down for moolah, violence. Just the kind Jack and her brother, Slade do as professional cage fighters.I loved Jack!! He had his head on straight. He had his day job and the fighting was for fun and a little extra cash. He fought in sanctioned bouts, and was a pretty straight arrow. He made no bones about how he was digging on Chrissy. He lived up to his namesake, strong and bracing, warm and relaxing, and best straight up with nothing else. He also has a gangsta chihuahua that hates everyone. Loved this dog!Against the Cage features one of my all time favorite romantic tropes, attracted to the best friend's sibling. I don't know why this is such a favorite of mine, because all my brother's friends were fungi. Anyway, Jack does take a minute or two to ponder the ramifications of doing the nasty with Chrissy, but passions win out.  Of course, it helps that Slade is a tool most of the book, so Jack is there to smooth ruffled feathers.There were a few darker moments, and some very touching scenes dealing with abuse and family. Sidney Halston has crafted an extremely well rounded, entertaining book that I give a strong recommendation. It had a perfect combination of heat (Lord, JD does burn going down), humor, romance, and drama. Very well done, Ms. Halston, very well done.