A Fighter’s Desire (A Gloves Off Novel)
LP Dover
Genre: MMA Romance
Release Date: July 28, 2014

A Fighter’s Desire contains two prequel novellas to introduce the main characters in the series. IT IS ONLY TO INTRODUCE THEM. They’re happily ever after’s will come, but it doesn’t happen in this book. (Fair warning) Each fighter will have his own book where their stories will continue and end to that HEA everyone wants.

Two is always better than one.

Knowing a fighter’s desires and needs are one thing, but actually experiencing them is another. A Fighter’s Desire gives you not one, but two stories full of hardcore passion, angst, and action that’ll leave you breathless and aching for more.

Part One: Ryley and Camden Jameson, well-known MMA fighters and identical twins, were just as aggressive and passionate in the bed as they were in the ring. They loved a good fight, and that’s exactly what they got when they met Ashleigh Warren. The brothers had a habit of sharing things—including women—and she happened to be the only one they truly craved. However, the problem was getting her to agree to their proposition. It was one she couldn’t refuse, but she knew it wouldn’t be easy to win. Nonetheless, she sure as hell was going to enjoy it.

Part Two: Fighting temptation isn’t easy when you’re constantly around the one person you’ve desired more than any other. Gabriella Reynolds was warned by her brother, MMA Heavyweight Champion Matt Reynolds, to stay away from his friends; they only wanted one thing, and in the end they’d break her heart. She heard it, but the desire to have the one man she couldn’t led her down the forbidden path to pursue him; he also happens to be one of her brother’s best friends. Tyler Rushing can’t deny his attraction to her, and he’s afraid she’ll want more than what he can give her. When he finds out that’s not the case … everything changes. They have no choice but to keep their time a secret, and it’s a secret that’ll stay with them forever.

Part #1

Part one focuses on the Jameson twins, a force to be reckoned with in the ring and out of it. They are two identical yet completely different men. Ryley and Camden have been through a lot in life and their reactions to the past have helped to mold who they are today. They both do love a challenge and that is exactly what Ashleigh is. Ashleigh is Gabriella’s best friend and when she goes to a fight with Gabby, she gets a bit more than she has bargained for. The Jameson twins are known for their sexual exploits and the woman line up around the block for a chance at one night with them. When Ryley sets his sights on Ashleigh and approaches her, he is shot down immediately. When Camden approaches her later, he is shot down as well. This confounds the twins and they decide to step up their game and make a wager with Ashleigh. Yet when emotions get involved in any capacity in a situation like this, it is bound to get messy. Where Camden is a total jerk, Ryley is sweet and thoughtful. Their differences and personalities come out in full force and Ashleigh must choose what she wants and who she wants it with.

This first novella is hot! Ashleigh is not short of suitors and she must make a decision as to who and what she wants. She is in love with someone that she cannot have and decides to take matters into her own hands. She is an intelligent girl, a Marine Biology major, yet she is not so wise in the ways of emotion and love. When she enters into the Jameson twin’s agreement, she understands that things could get dicey, but when it all first begins, she has no idea what is going to happen and where it will all lead. She may be book smart, but that girl was not mentally connected or well versed with some of the issues at hand. Her street smarts needed some developing.

Ryley and Camden appear to be identical in almost every way but as Ashleigh interacts with them, we see that their looks and chosen career are the only things that are the same. Their personalities and tendencies are completely different and come out into full force in this story. Camden expects the world, and by extension, Ashleigh to fall at his feet, and anything else resembling effort is a waste of his time. Ryley may have at one time functioned that way, but his sweet side is displayed here. He woos Ashleigh and they take a leap. When things go South, emotions are muddled and hearts are hurt. I cannot wait to read Ryley’s Revenge and see what happens in the end.

This first part was hot and sweet and emotional. It was an up and down affair and at times I wanted to take Ashleigh aside and talk some sense into her! The connection between Ryley and Ashleigh is one that had potential and a spark to consume. LP Dover introduces some incredible characters, giving us just a glimpse. I am excited to see where their stories take them.

  

Part #2

In the second part, we see the flowing continuation in time but our perspectives switch to focus on Gabriella. Gabby has been in the fighting world for a long time. Her brother is the man on the pedestal in the fighting world and as a result, none of the other fighter’s will touch her, leaving her frustrated. She has had a growing crush on Tyler, a fellow fighter in her brother’s inner circle, yet their interactions are stifled and the spark is dulled due to the situation at hand. All they need is the perfect opportunity to let the spark catch for a perfect moment, even if it is just for one night. No one is thinking forever, but just for now!

When Tyler and Gabby decide to try and see where this all leads, Tyler offers her a weekend in Vegas with no strings attached. They decide to take a secret leap and see what is brewing. Yet Gabby knows that there could be more, a connection. She likes Tyler, maybe not true love, but doesn’t want this to ruin anything. She knows of his past and doesn’t just want to be another one of his conquests. When the moment finally comes, their chemistry and spark explodes. They enjoy their weekend, never knowing where things would lead.

I read Tyler’s story (Tyler’s Undoing) first and going back to see where his relationship with Gabby developed was interesting. I feel like their relationship was one of curiosity. They had been friends for a while and Gabby wanted to see where the spark lead. I think that LP Dover did a great job of showing that there was something there that was physical and chemical, without all the messy emotions involved. They both cared for each other, but a lasting relationship would never work, something that they both agreed on up front. Their chemistry was hot and their fling was memorable for them both.

I loved seeing a bit more development for who Gabby is. In this novella, we see her own personal passion come out for the ring. Obviously she loves the MMA world and the friends she has made, but seeing her step into the ring and take control was awesome. I loved seeing her show the world her strength in the ring and surprise her friends in the process. Her association with the MMA world has always been a strain on her friendship with other back in college, but she decides to be true to herself and embrace her passion. I loved that about Gabby. No matter what, she stuck to her guns and embraced the world as she knew it. She learned to never apologize for who she was and what she wanted. This short story allowed for the reader to see her strength and overcome the labels that she had been living with for so long. I am excited to see more of Gabby in Paxton’s Promise and see what is in store for her!

       

   

 

USA Today Bestselling author, L.P. Dover, is a southern belle residing in North Carolina along with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she even began her literary journey she worked in Periodontics enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries.

Not only does she love to write, but she loves to play tennis, go on mountain hikes, white water rafting, and you can’t forget the passion for singing. Her two number one fans expect a concert each and every night before bedtime and those songs usually consist of Christmas carols.

Aside from being a wife and mother, L.P. Dover has written over nine novels including her Forever Fae series, the Second Chances series, and her standalone novel, Love, Lies, and Deception. Her favorite genre to read is romantic suspense and she also loves writing it. However, if she had to choose a setting to live in it would have to be with her faeries in the Land of the Fae.

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