Saved by Love (Bellevue Bullies Book 7) by Toni Aleo

 

Saved by Love by Toni Aleo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A hockey player and a gymnast. Both are lost in different ways. Evan is dealing with a host of mental health issues while Callie is trying to find her way in the world after losing both of her parents and being raised by her sister. She desperately wants her brother-in-law to adopt her too.

This book focuses on several real-world issues and I appreciate the author tackling these. Some of them are more difficult than others! I think that's my favorite part of this story, is how the characters aren't your typical picture-perfect people. They are flawed and that's what ultimately makes this story loveable.

While this book is part of a series, I read it as a stand-a-lone. I am guessing the previous books cover some of the other characters that we read about in this story but I did not feel at a loss while reading this one. However, I do believe that I will go back and read the previous books for more context.

View all my reviews

Caging Grace (Grace Series Book 1) by Carsen Lane

 

Caging Grace (Grace Series, #1). by Carsen Lane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is actually 4.5 stars!! I never thought I'd enjoy a book about a MMA fighter but I wanted to expand my reading genres so I reached out for this one. I'm so glad that I did!

Grace is a 20 year old underground fighter. She's been fighting her whole life. Her parents are illegal immigrants to the US and her mother has schizophrenia. When she was much younger, Grace's dad died. It's not initially known the details but plays a role in Grace's thoughts about fighting. Grace is left to defend her younger sister and mother. Having to hold down 3 jobs just to support them, Grace really has no time to herself and has never done anything for herself.

When a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity comes around, Grace can't refuse it. She knows what this could mean for her family...good or bad. She's a fighter and she'd bound to prove it!

There are elements of romance in this novel but nothing that screams romance novel. It's all very subtle and I found myself rooting for a certain someone. I would love to read more about Dar, Mason, and Lizzy's characters and I hope they will get books of their own!!

View all my reviews