Review: Who knew MMA could be so sexy?!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 3, 2013
Battered not Broken is an adult themed story that follows the rocky relationship between Ryan Moore and Ally Rivera. Warning, this book is NC17, intended for mature audiences due to some intense violence and gritty love scenes.Ryan Moore is an Iragi War Veteran struggling to make a life for himself in the "real world" after his short stint in the military left him with a brain injury from and IED.  Determined not to accept the assistance his wealthy family offers, that comes with strings attached, he throws himself into the violent world of MMA fighting. The only thing he thinks he's any good at.Ally Rivera has suffered a different kind of violence that lead her to the MMA world as well.  Her father is in jail for assaulting the man that assaulted Ally when she was just a teenager, and her brother is kneck deep in gang violence. She works in her mother's salon, works out at the local gym and fights women's MMA on weekends.  It's at the local gym she first meets the reserved, sexy new member, Ryan Moore.Sparks fly immediately and soon these two are an unlikely and unseperable couple in and out of the ring.  When Ryan's injury becomes harder for him to deal with, he takes it out on Ally, and pushes her away.  He quickly realizes his error in judgement, but Ally's brothers gang affiliation not only adds another kink to the chain, but costs a few people their lives as well.  In the end will Ryan and Ally still be standing? And if they are, will they be able to overcome all the obstacles life throws at them in order to be together?This book is a wonderful tribute to our Military men and women, showcasing the struggle some soldiers have living thier lives in the aftermath of the uglieness that is War.  Rose's unbiased account of Ryan's struggles with the lasting effects of injuries sustained from an IED in Afghanistan, and how it spills over into his everyday life was spot on.  She definitely did her research into the topic, and poured that knowledge into the character of Ryan.Rose steams up the pages with her usual sexy as hell style! Her attention to detail is that perfect balance of just enough, but not too much. Ryan is definitely battered; on paper he is a dud, but he loves Ally ultimately and selflessly, prooving he isn't broken.  The scars he carries and his rawness just make him even sexier. I give this one 5/5.. but that's just my two cents. *i received a copy of this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review*