Review: 5 whopping stars!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 5, 2014
I’ll start by saying, man this is a good book! A Fighting Chance isn’t your typical ‘bad boy MMA fighter meets shy and reserved girl who flutters her eyelashes more often than she takes a breath’ – it’s so much more with lots of twists and turns along the way.Jesse Chance grew up literally fighting for love and affection. His father showed little interest in him until he took part in his first fight, and then with dollar signs flashing in his eyes every time his son was in the ring, he finally started to give a damn. It soon became an addiction for Jesse – the adoration, the crowd going wild for him, the attention from his dad… even when it threatened to drive a wedge between him and his high school girlfriend, Drew.It was only after his mother’s death Jesse realized he wanted more from life. The love he got from his father and the fighting crowd alike was fickle – only lasting as long as he was winning. So, he left his hometown of Glory, left the fighting behind and even his girlfriend.The story skips along to a few years later where we see Jesse living a life his mum would’ve been proud of – one she knew he deserved. He is settled at college with good friends and a loving girlfriend… and then his father makes an unwanted re-appearance and things spiral way out of control from that point on. According to his dad, he has gotten himself in debt and the people he owes are threatening to harm Jesse’s step-brother who he’s never met. A few fights – that’s all it will take to earn enough money to save his brother. So, despite turning his back on that life for good, and not for his dad but for HJ, Jesse heads back to Glory to plan his next move.While back in Glory Jesse runs into ex-girlfriend Drew. She has continued to follow the fighting circuit in Jesse’s absence and knows people in Mexico that could earn him the high amounts of cash he needs to raise to save his little brother. Understanding his plight, Drew and Jesse head to Mexico together… which is where I’m going to stop because I don’t want to give anything away!Of course I loved Jesse. Despite his fighting past, that doesn’t define who he is even if he struggles to believe it himself. He is a lost soul. He’s loving, caring and aches to be loved in return. I knew from the start Drew was the one who could do that for him. They are perfect together and I loved Drew. She is strong and feisty. She isn’t shy, weak or clingy. In a lot of respects she is stronger than Jesse and throughout the whole book I was urging her on to save him – to show him how much he’s worth.Their time in Mexico brings a whole host of twists, turns, heartache and setbacks and I was literally gripped to every page.“I know the decision is hasty and stupid, but I want HJ to know that at least one person would go the ends of the earth for him – would go into Hell for him.”I really enjoyed A Fighting Chance and I give it 5 whopping stars!*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*