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Knock Out (2013)

by Michele Mannon(Favorite Author)

3.77 of 5 Votes: 5

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Carina Press

series

Worth the Fight

review 1: First time I’ve read a book about MMA fighting and I was totally knocked out! What a fabulous story. Keane O’Shea is a strong, vulnerable hero and the perfect match for Logan, the broken-hearted ballerina in need of a friend, money, and a purpose for her life. Good thing they find each other, but it isn’t an easy path to romance. Mannon writes a gritty story that comes complete with strong plot, depth of character and plenty of loving.Favorite romantic line because it shows Logan is as much a fighter (for love and emotion) as Keane in the ring:“I’m going to find out what’s bothering you and together, we’ll fix it…that’s what you do when you love someone.”Not to be missed!
review 2: 4 starsThis was a very good story. I liked Logan and Keane ... moreand was rooting for them from the beginning. This is the first story I've read by this author and based on this I’ll probably try more of her work in the future.Logan used to be a very talented ballerina that performed all over the world including for royalty but a bad fall took any chance of her continuing to dance professionally away from her. The dancer that dropped Logan was her fiancee who she broke up with after she found him cheating on her. Not only did he ruin her career and cheat with her understudy, he screwed her over financially as well. Now that her career is gone and she has no money (because her Ex took most of it), Logan has been forced to work as an Octagon girl, trying to save up enough money for her new dream, to open a dance school so she can teach little girls ballet.Keane is an ex-marine and an MMA fighter. He has some issues with PTSD that causes him to have nightmares and a problem sleeping which basically makes him behave like a jerk most of the time. As I read the story, I couldn't help but think of Keane as a bear with a thorn embedded deep in his paw. The Keane bear is is hurting from the thorn and whenever someone gets too close he lashes out to keep them away rather than risk them aggravating the thorn and causing him more pain. Unfortunately he doesn't get professional help for it and instead self-medicates with booze, women and working out to try to dull the pain enough to get by. When the story begins, Logan is doing her job, strutting around the octagon with her card and when done she ends up in an encounter with Keane. This doesn't last long but part of it involves Logan’s boss getting pissed off and firing her when he was really mad at Keane because Keane had just decided not to fight any more. Logan is desperate to keep her job and makes a deal with her boss that she keeps her job if she can get Keane to come back and fight in the qualifying rounds for an upcoming MMA tournament. Logan gets some help from one of Keane's trainers to find him and goes to try to talk to him. She meets with a lot of resistance as Keane isn't very talkative or helpful and pretty much just acts like a grump and wants to be left alone. He does have his sweet side though. When a woman he knows steals Logan’s coat, cell and wallet, Keane goes out of his way to get them back for her (if grumpily). Keane doesn't agree to fight though and Logan is feeling pretty down. It doesn't help matters for Logan that her Ex has been lambasting her in the news, trying to say that the reason he dropped her was her fault because her C-cup breasts were too big and overbalanced him (or some such crap like that…he’s just a publicity whore that uses any reason he can to get on TV). Since her Ex is using her to make himself look good and making her life worse with the negative publicity Logan’s desperate to find something to help the situation and even tries finding a different fighter that she could bring her boss in Keane’s place but has no luck. Thankfully, Keane eventually agrees to go back and fight for Logan but since the paparazzi are circling due to her Ex’s lies, Keane brings her to his place to stay with him. Logan is supposed to help him with training and herbal remedies for his pain and other problems but having her there is a sweet torture for Keane.Logan and Keane are definitely attracted to each other and even shared a trip to third base but once she moves in to help with training, Logan decides they shouldn't have sex. Keane isn't quite as sure about this but goes along with it for now. Logan sticks to her rule but still wants Keane and has a hard time keeping her hands off. While they train together, Logan starts to get some insight in to Keane and realizes he has some deep seeded hurts that are still causing him issues. Logan wants desperately to help Keane, especially as she realizes that she’s falling for him. Keane tries not to let Logan get to him but even while he tries to be grumpy towards her and push her away, he still has very protective feelings for her (as well as very sexual feelings). The feelings and attraction build up between Logan and Keane and it’s a back and forth at first because there are a few times they almost go there but don’t. The last few times because Keane stops things, knowing that if they sleep together, Logan will get hurt because he’s too messed up to do a relationship. Regardless of the yo-yoing, things eventually break between them and they end up in bed together and it’s great on both sides. However, it complicates things and Logan tries to put on the brakes but it doesn't really have much success. They have a tumultuous and intense beginning but the fighting and Keane's issues with PTSD cause roadblocks…especially since Keane would rather try to ignore the issues rather than fix it. Things do get dramatic at the end and a bit sad but thankfully Keane gets his act together and he fixes things with Logan so they get a sweet start to their HEA.I enjoyed this story very much. I liked both MCs very much. Logan was likable as a heroine and I was relieved to find a heroine that didn't annoy the hell out of me (I've run in to way too many like that recently). Keane...well like I said, he’s a grumpy wounded bear but deep down he’s a teddy bear and I liked him even though he was a bit of a butt head (considering his PTSD it’s understandable). While I thought the start of the story was a bit shaky, overall the story was very good and once I got in to it I was engaged until the end. I’ll probably read more of the series in the future. I’d recommend this book. 2 thumbs up. :D* note - I listened to the audio version and the narrator did a very good job. less

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