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A review by kindlelovingmom
Fighting for What's His by Laura Kaye
4.0
This is the second book in this series, and I've really enjoyed them both so far!
Billy Parrish is a former Army Ranger, and a current private investigator. He had a hard time assimilating after a serious injury caused his discharge from the Army before he was ready. In fact, he's currently still having a hard time, in some ways. He carries a little PTSD, a boatload of survivor's guilt, and burn scars on 40% of his body, but he's doing better than all his friends who didn't make it home alive. The only thing really keeping him sane these days is the Warrior Fight Club at his local MMA gym, comprised of fellow vets like him, who all need an outlet besides talk therapy. He wasn't sure at first, but it's been working wonders the last couple years. So, he thinks there won't be any issues temporarily housing his Army buddy's kid sister for a couple months. What's the worst that could happen?
Shayna Curtis just landed her dream job, as a photographer for a major Washington DC newspaper. But, she's making a big move to take the job and didn't want to try to find an apartment sight unseen. So, her brother Ryan hooked her up with a temporary roommate situation with his best friend Billy. She had a huge crush on Billy back in the day when her brother would bring him home on leave. But he's 6 years older than her and never even noticed she existed. Now she's 26 and she's over her long ago crush. It should be nothing but great crashing with him while she searches for her own place. She is totally over that old crush. Right?
Billy and Shayna's chemistry was explosive, and they both had a very hard time fighting it. Billy doesn't think he's good enough for her, and they both carry a huge amount of guilt over things that have happened in their pasts. Shayna is still young and just starting a new life, and Billy doesn't want to hold her back. She is sure he can't possibly feel anything for her beyond doing a favor for a friend. They both had to work hard to move beyond their preconceived notions, about themselves, and each other, in order to find a way to come together. This was quite the slow burn romance, much more so than any other I've read from this author I think. I really enjoyed it, and with these main characters' situation, it made sense for it to be that way.
I loved getting to see all the side characters from the prior book again, especially all the WFC members. There is clearly tension between 2 members, and their book is next, so I'll be looking forward to that. My only real complaints about the story are the lack of true communication between Billy and Shay. They both were comfortable with each other in a way they haven't been with anyone else. But, though they felt free to talk about any number of issues and secrets, neither of them were willing to talk about their most sensitive secrets, and be honest about their failings, or their feelings, until it was almost too late. That bothered me a bit and I found myself constantly talking to my Kindle and telling them both to grow a pair already. Additionally, I feel that an epilogue would have benefited the ending greatly, for me. Granted, I'm obsessed with epilogues, so I'm not exactly an impartial reader in that regard, but I would have loved to see them a little further into the future, even just a few months.
Overall I really enjoyed this story, and I'm very anxiously awaiting the next installment in the series!
ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Megan from Alpha Book Club
Billy Parrish is a former Army Ranger, and a current private investigator. He had a hard time assimilating after a serious injury caused his discharge from the Army before he was ready. In fact, he's currently still having a hard time, in some ways. He carries a little PTSD, a boatload of survivor's guilt, and burn scars on 40% of his body, but he's doing better than all his friends who didn't make it home alive. The only thing really keeping him sane these days is the Warrior Fight Club at his local MMA gym, comprised of fellow vets like him, who all need an outlet besides talk therapy. He wasn't sure at first, but it's been working wonders the last couple years. So, he thinks there won't be any issues temporarily housing his Army buddy's kid sister for a couple months. What's the worst that could happen?
Shayna Curtis just landed her dream job, as a photographer for a major Washington DC newspaper. But, she's making a big move to take the job and didn't want to try to find an apartment sight unseen. So, her brother Ryan hooked her up with a temporary roommate situation with his best friend Billy. She had a huge crush on Billy back in the day when her brother would bring him home on leave. But he's 6 years older than her and never even noticed she existed. Now she's 26 and she's over her long ago crush. It should be nothing but great crashing with him while she searches for her own place. She is totally over that old crush. Right?
Billy and Shayna's chemistry was explosive, and they both had a very hard time fighting it. Billy doesn't think he's good enough for her, and they both carry a huge amount of guilt over things that have happened in their pasts. Shayna is still young and just starting a new life, and Billy doesn't want to hold her back. She is sure he can't possibly feel anything for her beyond doing a favor for a friend. They both had to work hard to move beyond their preconceived notions, about themselves, and each other, in order to find a way to come together. This was quite the slow burn romance, much more so than any other I've read from this author I think. I really enjoyed it, and with these main characters' situation, it made sense for it to be that way.
I loved getting to see all the side characters from the prior book again, especially all the WFC members. There is clearly tension between 2 members, and their book is next, so I'll be looking forward to that. My only real complaints about the story are the lack of true communication between Billy and Shay. They both were comfortable with each other in a way they haven't been with anyone else. But, though they felt free to talk about any number of issues and secrets, neither of them were willing to talk about their most sensitive secrets, and be honest about their failings, or their feelings, until it was almost too late. That bothered me a bit and I found myself constantly talking to my Kindle and telling them both to grow a pair already. Additionally, I feel that an epilogue would have benefited the ending greatly, for me. Granted, I'm obsessed with epilogues, so I'm not exactly an impartial reader in that regard, but I would have loved to see them a little further into the future, even just a few months.
Overall I really enjoyed this story, and I'm very anxiously awaiting the next installment in the series!
ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Megan from Alpha Book Club