Review: Fighting Shadows (On the Ropes, #2) by Aly Martinez

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Review

3.5 Oh-so conflicted stars

The On the Ropes series tells the story of the Page brothers – three boys who had a rough start in life, but who have clung to each other to fight hard (both in and out of the ring) to create a better life for their family. Book 2 in the series brings us the story of middle brother, Flint.

I absolutely adored Fighting Silence, and from the moment I finished it I have been desperate to get my hands on Flint’s book, and while I did enjoy it, it didn’t provoke the level of emotion that I was hoping for. Clearly I’m in the minority with this opinion, because there is A LOT of love out there for this book, and I totally get that, but I just didn’t feel it. I really struggled with how to rate it, and my review is probably going to be all over the place because I’m still not sure on my feelings, or how to articulate them so please bear with me.

And just a warning that this review is going to be spoilery if you haven’t read the first book in the series.

At the end of Fighting Silence Flint heroically saved Eliza (the woman that he loves, and his brother’s wife) by diving in front of a bullet for her. He took the bullet in the back, leaving him paralysed (at least temporarily). This book picks up from that same moment where we get to see Flint hurt and reeling from the news of his injuries, and for the first time we get to see just how deep his feelings run for his sister-in-law. The timeline then skips ahead and we see him struggling to come to terms his life – the fact that he is wheelchair-bound, and that he is starting to resent his older brother for having everything in life that Flint himself wants.

“Whoever said time heals all wounds was an ignorant asshole. In my experience, time made everything worse.”

His devastation has damaged him to the point where he doesn’t even recognise himself anymore. And so, to escape his self pity and find a way to move on, he cuts himself off from his family and starts out on his own. Desperate to create his own life away from the reminders of everything that can never be.

OK, so issue number 1 – I know that Flint is struggling, and I can’t even imagine what he must have been going through, but I was so pissed off at the way he behave, and how he treated him family. He acts like a selfish little bitch and honestly, I just wanted to give him a slap. BUT… Aly Martinez does a good job at showing his desperation, and the fact that he has sunk so low sets him up for some incredibly character development later in the story. Right, carrying on…

At the same time Flint’s story is being told, we are introduced to Ash Mabie. Ash’s life is also incredibly difficult. Pressured to live the life of a criminal by her useless, no-good father, she dreams of stability. Of a home, friends, family and someone to care for her. But unlike Flint, she is bright, sunny, and determined to squeeze every happy moment she can out of life.

Flint and Ash meet through Flint’s younger brother, Quarry, and from the very first meeting sparks fly. Not particularly good sparks as Ash irritates the crap out of Flint with her constant chatter and happy, flighty nature, but he is intrigued. And Ash sees Flint – like, really sees him. She can see the front that he is putting on to the man he truly is, and she finds herself drawn to him. So she doggedly pursues him, getting through to him in a way that nobody else can.

“Don’t get so caught up on the shadow that you forget the man that casts it.”

They develop a friendship, which develops into something more, and they become each other’s whole world. Ash opens Flint’s eyes again and encourages him to start living again. And in return, Flint cares for Ash and provides a safe haven for her, something she’s never experienced before.

And then, just when it’s all starting to come together, it all falls apart. Flint fucks up big time and Ash goes into self-protect mode. It’s a painful situation for both of them, but it provides the wake-up call that Flint needs, and he realises that in order to get his girl back, he needs to make himself worthy of her. And from here his long and slow journey back to himself really begins.

Flint’s character development is huge. From an almost unlikeable ass, he becomes a strong, in-control alpha male, determined to get his girl back.

“You can try to run, and I may not be able to chase you physically, but we need to be clear on one thing, Ash. I will not let you go again” … “You belong with me. And I will do whatever I have to do in order to keep you. I fucked up the first time. I won’t do it again. You can walk out that door, but know that I will find you. I will chase you for the rest of my life if that is what it takes to be with you.”

He actually almost becomes like a Kristen Ashley alpha, referring to Ash as “my woman” and sprouting off lines like “Changed my mind. We’re not trying. We’re doing.” But if this is the new Flint, I’ll take him, because the man sure knows how to win a girl over!

I just wanted to be with her. To show her who I truly was— not the jaded asshole she probably remembered. I wanted to find out who she had become and, even more than that, who she wanted to be. And then I wanted to be the one to give her that.
I draped an arm across her hips then pulled, forcing her to roll over on top of me. Her laughter abruptly stopped when I grazed a soft kiss over her lips. “No more running. Give me time to fix this.”

Which brings me to issue number 2 – In some ways it felt like their coming back together seemed too easy.

Spoiler
After ONE MONTH together, they are apart for THREE YEARS only to fall instantly back together (with Flint popping Ash’s cherry no less) the very same day they are reunited.
Sure, it’s romantic (and highly smutty – damn, Flint is like some sort of highly skilled, slightly kinky sexual beast, and he’s certainly unleashed a tiger in Ash!), and usually that sort of thing would be right up my alley, but for some reason I just didn’t feel it. I still can’t pinpoint what it is, but I didn’t feel the thrill or exhilaration that I was expecting. I liked them together, and I liked the way their relationship unfolded once they sorted themselves out (which also seemed really easy), but I didn’t get the emotional punch that I usually get with Aly Martinez’s writing.

But I did enjoy watching how things developed in the second half of the story. Flint and Ash find something incredibly special together and the emotion, playfulness and passion between them is really gorgeous.

“In my dreams, you were walking,” I whispered, kissing his chest.
“In mine, you stayed,” he replied on a deep, content sigh.

I loved that we get to see more of Till and Eliza (I love these two), and I particularly loved getting to know a grown up Quarry more. He’s still a foul-mouthed smartass, but he’s such a great character! The twist in his story was completely unexpected, and there is a sensational lead in to his book. I can’t say it’s what I wanted for him, but OMG, there are some epic feels coming!!

The book finishes off with a wonderful epilogue, and it left me with a smile on my face. So even though I did have some issues and it wasn’t quite what I was hoping for, I love Aly’s writing and I enjoyed the read and I’m still incredibly eager for the next instalment.

3.5 stars.

 

The On The Ropes series

Fighting Silence  Fighting Shadows  Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000038_00069]

Fighting Silence (#1) (Till & Eliza)
Review
Buy:  Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CAAmazon AUPaperback

Fighting Shadows (#2) (Flint & Ash)
Review
Buy:  Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU Paperback

Fighting Solitude (#3) (Quarry & Liv)
Review
Buy:  Amazon US | Amazon UKAmazon CA | Amazon AU | Paperback

 

 

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