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Review

4 “imperfectly perfect” stars

Combative is the first book the the Combative Trilogy by Jay McLean. I loved her More Than series and was excited to get my hands on this new series. It is much different than her other series. It’s a dark read full of mystery, suspense, romance, forgiveness, and even some funny moments.

Kyler has a tortured past. He is living with guilt and regret, and does not believe he deserves anything good in his life. But, he is a good man who has just been thrown into difficult situations. Carrying so much on his shoulders, he has a hard time managing the pain and anger.

I’m a victim of my own past. A past I’ve spent too many years trying to escape. And now it’s back… and the fucker’s a ticking time bomb waiting to explode in my face.

We meet Ky after he takes out his anger on a bar patron and is picked up by the cops, landing him in a heap of trouble. Jackson, the detective on the case, makes Ky a deal to avoid an attempted murder charge. The deal: Ky needs to infiltrate an underground fighting organization and get close to the boss to see if he is involved in a drug ring.

There is a history between Ky and Jackson but it is not one you would have expected. They grew up together, were best friends, and as close as brothers could be without sharing the same blood. Decisions Ky made when we was young led to their separation and they haven’t been close for some time. We get glimpses of their childhood and it is painful to see what Ky and Jackson went through. Tragedy upon tragedy stuck leaving Ky lost and feeling alone. Now that Ky is back in town, seeing Jackson for the first time brings up lots of memories. Jackson wants revenge for things that happened to them in the past and convinces Ky to take the deal to help him out.

And then there is Madison. She is Ky’s new, gorgeous neighbor who intrigues him from the first moment he lays eyes on her. She seems so innocent and naive. She is a complete mystery. Even though we get snippets from her POV, they only make her more of a puzzle. She is full of secrets and though Ky opens up to her, she keeps hers hidden away.

I saw the hurt in his eyes and I almost told him everything.
Almost.
But then… where the hell would I even start?

Every time you think you have Maddison figured out, you learn something new and things surrounding her get even more confusing. And what is with the mailboxes? I am definitely fascinated by her.

Nate DeLuca is also a mystery to us. He runs a fight club and Ky needs to find out what Nate has going on and whether or not he has his hands in the dirt Jackson believes he does. We don’t get a lot of Nate’s history or information on his business but he seems to cover his tracks well. I am interested in him. He’s supposed to be the bad guy, but you just know there is something else going on and its gonna be a twist. We are given very little but know he’s a badass.

Along with the suspense and mystery, Jay McLean gives us moments to swoon over as well as some sexy times. Ky and Madison’s relationship is slower to develop because of everything going on in Ky’s life.

Placing my hand behind her head, I bring her in and kiss her forehead. “Just…”
“What?” she asks, searching my face for answers.
She won’t find them.
They don’t exist.
It comes out a plea when I say, “Just…wait. Okay?” Please, I think, just wait until this bullshit with Jackson is over and I can give her what I really want.
She smiles—a genuine one that reaches her eyes.

We see a sweet friendship form, but when they give into their attraction once and for all they jump right in.

I place my hand on her chest, covering her heart. And when she looks up at me, her eyes wide and waiting, I whisper, “Madison, I exist in here.”
…
I can’t recall ever seeing magic. Not in person, and not on TV. So it made me wonder how I knew what it was, or how it was supposed to make me feel.
But when Ky Parker places his palm on my chest—holding my heart in his hand—I somehow knew.
I felt it.
Magic.
And magic, at least for me, was undeniably, unequivocally, real.

This story is so much more than a romance though. The mystery leave you guessing the whole time. And that cliffhanger?!?! At the end of Combative, Ms. McLean gives us an excerpt from the next book, and OMG, the glimpse into the past told from Madison’s POV! I need the next book NOW!!

4 stars!

And I knew it then—that whatever we were meant to be, for however long time would allow it, it was going to be breathtakingly, heartbreakingly, beautiful.

*This Ebook was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.*

 

Combative Trilogy

 

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