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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed the relationship between Sia and Ray. Sia sports tattoos and piercings, wears the rebel uniform of a tattoo artist and exudes confidence. Yet all of her window dressings are just a means to disguise an affront and pain that she has yet to fully get over. After giving up her love of painting Sia has turned to tattooing as a means of expressing herself artistically as well setting herself apart from "normal" women. Sia has been enamored of Ray "The Predator", a well respected and tough as nails MMA fighter but has been hesitant to show him her interest. Sia has been off limits for all of the fighters because of her brother however when Ray finally gives her a bit of the attention that she has been longing for Sia seizes her opportunity to be with Ray. Ray pushes her to reclaim what she thought was put away forever. Ray is also strong enough to be there for Sia and encourage her to reach for more than what she thought was possible. Ray, of course, has his own demons to battle but through pushing Sia he starts to face his own issues as well.
FULL CONTACT has a good balance of drama, sexiness, tension, and a bit of action. A real page turner of a read FULL CONTACT kept me entertained from beginning to end. I look forward to reading more books in the REDEMPTION series.
**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
You can find more from me at Monlatable Book Reviews
http://www.monlatablereviews.com/
FULL CONTACT has a good balance of drama, sexiness, tension, and a bit of action. A real page turner of a read FULL CONTACT kept me entertained from beginning to end. I look forward to reading more books in the REDEMPTION series.
**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
You can find more from me at Monlatable Book Reviews
http://www.monlatablereviews.com/
Full Contact was my second book by Sarah Castille, and chances are excellent it won't be my last. The story drew me in, and although both main characters did some things that drove me a little batty, it kept me reading.
Both Sia and Ray had some major baggage and serious issues to work through--she'd never really gotten over an earlier sexual assault, and he felt as if he'd allowed the people who'd gotten close to him to die. They spent much of the novel (between frequent and a moderately repetitive sex scenes) pushing each other away just as much as they pulled each other in.
Sometimes it got a bit difficult to remember from one scene to the next if they were together or not, they went back and forth so frequently. There is an HEA, but it happens pretty quickly given the pacing of the rest of the story. When they finally made the choice to be together, it didn't really seem like enough had changed in order to make their decision totally believable--but the ending itself was adorable and made up for a lot of what came before it.
Though overall the story didn't quite work for me--Sia's tendency toward melodramatics and Ray's Neanderthal-like qualities rubbed me the wrong way at times--if you're a fan of MMA/underground fighting heroes who play up the tortured soul bit like no one's business and you enjoy FSOG-style sex scenes, give it a try. If you read and enjoyed the first two books in the series, then this one should absolutely be on your TBA.
If nothing else, reading this book has me seriously considering getting another tattoo...
Though it's the third in the series, Full Contact worked okay as a standalone--characters and situations from the first two books were here and were mentioned, but there wasn't anything you needed to have read in them for this one to make sense.
Rating: 3 stars / C
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
Both Sia and Ray had some major baggage and serious issues to work through--she'd never really gotten over an earlier sexual assault, and he felt as if he'd allowed the people who'd gotten close to him to die. They spent much of the novel (between frequent and a moderately repetitive sex scenes) pushing each other away just as much as they pulled each other in.
Sometimes it got a bit difficult to remember from one scene to the next if they were together or not, they went back and forth so frequently. There is an HEA, but it happens pretty quickly given the pacing of the rest of the story. When they finally made the choice to be together, it didn't really seem like enough had changed in order to make their decision totally believable--but the ending itself was adorable and made up for a lot of what came before it.
Though overall the story didn't quite work for me--Sia's tendency toward melodramatics and Ray's Neanderthal-like qualities rubbed me the wrong way at times--if you're a fan of MMA/underground fighting heroes who play up the tortured soul bit like no one's business and you enjoy FSOG-style sex scenes, give it a try. If you read and enjoyed the first two books in the series, then this one should absolutely be on your TBA.
If nothing else, reading this book has me seriously considering getting another tattoo...
Though it's the third in the series, Full Contact worked okay as a standalone--characters and situations from the first two books were here and were mentioned, but there wasn't anything you needed to have read in them for this one to make sense.
Rating: 3 stars / C
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
https://books-in-a-storm.tumblr.com/post/185000916791/snowflake-book-reviews-title-full
WOW - I have a new favorite author!
This was the first book I've read by Sarah Castille and even though it is the third book in the Redemption series, I was perfectly fine with reading it out of order. (I will definitely be going back to read the first two because I loved the characters SO much)!
Sia has been attending underground fights for over a year...mainly to see her favorite fighter, the Predator (aka Ray), who is a muse to her tattoo artistry. Their paths finally cross and the attraction is off-the-charts HOT. Ray embodies the dominance that Sia craves, even though she's dealing with some serious demons from her past. She also isn't sure that she can trust Ray because of secrets he's harboring.
I loved reading about these two characters because both of them had experienced terrible losses and you can't help rooting for them to find their HEA together. The banter between them was fantastic, too...alternately steamy and witty. I would highly recommend this book to any romance fans!
Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was the first book I've read by Sarah Castille and even though it is the third book in the Redemption series, I was perfectly fine with reading it out of order. (I will definitely be going back to read the first two because I loved the characters SO much)!
Sia has been attending underground fights for over a year...mainly to see her favorite fighter, the Predator (aka Ray), who is a muse to her tattoo artistry. Their paths finally cross and the attraction is off-the-charts HOT. Ray embodies the dominance that Sia craves, even though she's dealing with some serious demons from her past. She also isn't sure that she can trust Ray because of secrets he's harboring.
I loved reading about these two characters because both of them had experienced terrible losses and you can't help rooting for them to find their HEA together. The banter between them was fantastic, too...alternately steamy and witty. I would highly recommend this book to any romance fans!
Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, here's the thing. I like this book best of them all, and I don't really like it. Somehow SOMEHOW I still picked up the others in this series when I didn't love the first one--I can only blame the MMA aspect and the cool gym community.
The guys are hot, until they're so alpha they're abusive and stalkerish and treat their girlfriends like property. The girls are funny, until they're so full of self-hate/blame they let to take over the stupidest things. "Because one guy I used to know raped me, I can never make good decisions about anything ever again." I'm sorry, this heroine is supposed to have gone through years of therapy, and no one's touched on the whole, "it's not your fault, it's your rapists?"
Yeah. Not a fan of the message here. I liked it okay up to maybe 50%, and the just slogged through it to be done. I guess I'm just not into heroes THAT alpha?
The guys are hot, until they're so alpha they're abusive and stalkerish and treat their girlfriends like property. The girls are funny, until they're so full of self-hate/blame they let to take over the stupidest things. "Because one guy I used to know raped me, I can never make good decisions about anything ever again." I'm sorry, this heroine is supposed to have gone through years of therapy, and no one's touched on the whole, "it's not your fault, it's your rapists?"
Yeah. Not a fan of the message here. I liked it okay up to maybe 50%, and the just slogged through it to be done. I guess I'm just not into heroes THAT alpha?
I never remembered that I had received ‘Full Contact’ for review until I received a request to review the fourth book in the Redemption series. Although it was unnecessary to read ‘Full Contact’ prior to reading the fourth book, I decided to read it in order.Having read and enjoyed the earlier books in the series, my expectations for this instalment was high. I hoped for well-developed characters, strong romance and a great storyline. I got most of what I hoped for except the romance, which was disappointing. What I got was a pull-push relationship and sex that had a touch of BDSM and lots of pain. I found the pain aspect of main characters’ sexual relationship disconcerting, in light of the heroine’s past issues.Sia O’Donnell, a fan of underground fighting and even bigger fan of the MMA fighter known as ‘The Predator’. Her visits to the club are two-fold. As a tattoo artist, she goes there to get inspiration and ideas for her designs and to view her fantasy in the flesh. Sia has been fantasising about ‘The Predator’ for some time now but was not willing to go beyond fantasy due to the danger that surrounds him. However, when he sets his sights on her, she found that reality proved better than the fantasy.I admired her resolve to move past her traumatic experience, although I thought the steps taken were drastic. These steps were only a band-aid and not a solution to her problem, which was evident in her interaction with her family, friends, and associates. Her failure to address the root of the problem prevented her from moving on and as result prevented her from having a meaningful relationship. There were times her actions frustrated me. One moment she was confident and sassy and the next she appeared to lack confidence in her abilities to succeed and overcome her past.Ray Black AKA ‘The Predator’ is a man of mystery and he remained that way even after the story ended. The tragedies from his past shaped him into the man he is today. He has no desire for a committed relationship due to the danger that surrounds him, but Sia would have him breaking his rule. In addition to being an underground fighter, Ray is a PI and by all appearances, he is involved in other activities, which no one is privy to. He is a man of few words, but when he speaks, his words have an impact. Despite his dominant nature, he had a sensitive side, especially when it concerned Sia.I was not a fan of how Sia and Rays’ relationship developed. It lacked credibility and so I had a hard time connecting to them as a couple. Their knowledge of each was limited. He told her of the tragedies in his past, but she was not that forthcoming. It was around 60% into the story before she disclosed her painful history to him. I found it strange that Sia did not know Ray’s full name until 90% into the story. In addition, what was even more strange is that they have never been on a date. There was no substance to their relationship, as it was not built on a solid foundation. Furthermore, the constant push and pull between them nearly gave me a crick neck. One minute they are into each other, and the next, they are not good for each other. I believe that having the story told from both character’s POV would have enhanced the storyline, as it would have helped the reader understand what makes the characters tick. Unfortunately, we only got Sia’s POV. The story was well- written, for the most part. There is a scene I could not figure how it fit into the series of events. Someone connected to Ray kidnapped Sia, but the information provided was sketchy. He appeared in the story several times, and it was evident he was up to no good, but I had no idea who he was and why he wanted to get even with Ray. I enjoyed the interaction with the secondary characters which funny and interesting. I am interested in learning more about them, especially Sia’s brother.Verdict:This was an average read. Out, of all the books is the series, this is my least favourite. Despite the issues, I had with this instalment, I am not giving up on the series. If you have, an interest in contemporary romances set in underground fight clubs, with a dominant View all my reviews
I never remembered that I had received ‘Full Contact’ for review until I received a request to review the fourth book in the Redemption series. Although it was unnecessary to read ‘Full Contact’ prior to reading the fourth book, I decided to read it in order.Having read and enjoyed the earlier books in the series, my expectations for this instalment was high. I hoped for well-developed characters, strong romance and a great storyline. I got most of what I hoped for except the romance, which was disappointing. What I got was a pull-push relationship and sex that had a touch of BDSM and lots of pain. I found the pain aspect of main characters’ sexual relationship disconcerting, in light of the heroine’s past issues.Sia O’Donnell, a fan of underground fighting and even bigger fan of the MMA fighter known as ‘The Predator’. Her visits to the club are two-fold. As a tattoo artist, she goes there to get inspiration and ideas for her designs and to view her fantasy in the flesh. Sia has been fantasising about ‘The Predator’ for some time now but was not willing to go beyond fantasy due to the danger that surrounds him. However, when he sets his sights on her, she found that reality proved better than the fantasy.I admired her resolve to move past her traumatic experience, although I thought the steps taken were drastic. These steps were only a band-aid and not a solution to her problem, which was evident in her interaction with her family, friends, and associates. Her failure to address the root of the problem prevented her from moving on and as result prevented her from having a meaningful relationship. There were times her actions frustrated me. One moment she was confident and sassy and the next she appeared to lack confidence in her abilities to succeed and overcome her past.Ray Black AKA ‘The Predator’ is a man of mystery and he remained that way even after the story ended. The tragedies from his past shaped him into the man he is today. He has no desire for a committed relationship due to the danger that surrounds him, but Sia would have him breaking his rule. In addition to being an underground fighter, Ray is a PI and by all appearances, he is involved in other activities, which no one is privy to. He is a man of few words, but when he speaks, his words have an impact. Despite his dominant nature, he had a sensitive side, especially when it concerned Sia.I was not a fan of how Sia and Rays’ relationship developed. It lacked credibility and so I had a hard time connecting to them as a couple. Their knowledge of each was limited. He told her of the tragedies in his past, but she was not that forthcoming. It was around 60% into the story before she disclosed her painful history to him. I found it strange that Sia did not know Ray’s full name until 90% into the story. In addition, what was even more strange is that they have never been on a date. There was no substance to their relationship, as it was not built on a solid foundation. Furthermore, the constant push and pull between them nearly gave me a crick neck. One minute they are into each other, and the next, they are not good for each other. I believe that having the story told from both character’s POV would have enhanced the storyline, as it would have helped the reader understand what makes the characters tick. Unfortunately, we only got Sia’s POV. The story was well- written, for the most part. There is a scene I could not figure how it fit into the series of events. Someone connected to Ray kidnapped Sia, but the information provided was sketchy. He appeared in the story several times, and it was evident he was up to no good, but I had no idea who he was and why he wanted to get even with Ray. I enjoyed the interaction with the secondary characters which funny and interesting. I am interested in learning more about them, especially Sia’s brother.Verdict:This was an average read. Out, of all the books is the series, this is my least favourite. Despite the issues, I had with this instalment, I am not giving up on the series. If you have, an interest in contemporary romances set in underground fight clubs, with a dominant View all my reviews
Rating: 3.5 Stars
This is Ray and Sia's story, and it has all the ingredients that I loved in the previous Redemption books. You have the big, strong, super-alpha male, and the strong female, who are both a little damaged. I am not a huge fan of the kink, but I did like the story. It was intense and suspenseful, and I really loved the way these two saved each other from themselves. I got a little teary-eyed at the end, but it was tears and smiles. I really liked the ending.
This is Ray and Sia's story, and it has all the ingredients that I loved in the previous Redemption books. You have the big, strong, super-alpha male, and the strong female, who are both a little damaged. I am not a huge fan of the kink, but I did like the story. It was intense and suspenseful, and I really loved the way these two saved each other from themselves. I got a little teary-eyed at the end, but it was tears and smiles. I really liked the ending.
I really enjoyed the relationship between Sia and Ray. Sia sports tattoos and piercings, wears the rebel uniform of a tattoo artist and exudes confidence. Yet all of her window dressings are just a means to disguise an affront and pain that she has yet to fully get over. After giving up her love of painting Sia has turned to tattooing as a means of expressing herself artistically as well setting herself apart from "normal" women. Sia has been enamored of Ray "The Predator", a well respected and tough as nails MMA fighter but has been hesitant to show him her interest. Sia has been off limits for all of the fighters because of her brother however when Ray finally gives her a bit of the attention that she has been longing for Sia seizes her opportunity to be with Ray. Ray pushes her to reclaim what she thought was put away forever. Ray is also strong enough to be there for Sia and encourage her to reach for more than what she thought was possible. Ray, of course, has his own demons to battle but through pushing Sia he starts to face his own issues as well.
FULL CONTACT has a good balance of drama, sexiness, tension, and a bit of action. A real page turner of a read FULL CONTACT kept me entertained from beginning to end. I look forward to reading more books in the REDEMPTION series.
**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
You can find more from me at Monlatable Book Reviews
http://www.monlatablereviews.com/
FULL CONTACT has a good balance of drama, sexiness, tension, and a bit of action. A real page turner of a read FULL CONTACT kept me entertained from beginning to end. I look forward to reading more books in the REDEMPTION series.
**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
You can find more from me at Monlatable Book Reviews
http://www.monlatablereviews.com/
DNF. Even though this novel is deceptively intricate with its interweaving plots and the growing relationship between Ray (the Predator) & Sia intrigued me with its intensity, I got bored with its slow progression. It just didn't capture my interest as I wished.