Title: Fighting Shadows
Series: On The Ropes #2, Interconnected characters
Author: Aly Martinez
Release Date: July 7, 2015
I come from a family of fighters. I always thought I’d follow in their shadows, becoming unstoppable in the ring. That changed the day I saved the life of a woman I loved, but could never have.
My brother hailed me as a hero, and my reward was a wheelchair.
Paralyzed, my life became an inescapable nightmare.
Until I met her.
Ash Mabie had a heart-stopping smile and a laugh that numbed the rage and resentment brewing inside of me. She showed me that even the darkest night still had stars, and it didn’t matter one bit that you had to lie in the weeds to see them.
I was a jaded asshole who fell for a girl with a knack for running away. I couldn’t even walk but I would have spent a lifetime chasing her.
Now, I’m on the ropes during the toughest battles of my life.
Fighting the shadows of our past.
Fighting to reclaim my future.
Fighting for her.
I dropped to my hands and knees, following the noise. “Got it!” I shouted, stretching my arm under the bed and barely catching the alarm clock with the tips of my fingers.
I quickly turned it off, and he had apparently found the second alarm, because the room fell blessedly silent. Well, that was until I heard Flint breathe, “Fuck,” from behind me.
It was then that I remembered I was naked and kneeling with my chest to the carpeted floor and my ass sticking straight up in the air. I glanced over my shoulder to find him standing, staring down at me, his already large cock thickening between his legs—a sight that had me returning his curse.
“Don’t move,” he commanded when I started to sit up.
As Flint’s heated eyes leveled me, there was a part of me that felt as though I should have covered up. But I didn’t feel insecure at all. Under his gaze, I felt more secure and wanted than I had in my entire life, and for that alone, I pressed my ass even higher into the air.
“I lied. Get on the bed, but right back in that position.”
First, I had other plans. I sat up but didn’t push to my feet. Instead, I spun on my knees and slowly crawled over to him.
“Don’t do that,” he warned, but his eyes said otherwise.
“I have a few apologies to make.” I licked my lips.
“On the bed, Ash.”
“No,” I responded.
He arched an admonishing eyebrow, which I ignored.
“You did a lot of things to me last night—things I loved. But there was something I wanted to do.” I wrapped my hand around his hard-on, steadily gliding to the tip and back again. “I’m going to suggest you sit down.”
And for once, Flint didn’t have a retort. He backed up to the edge of the bed and dropped his crutches to the floor. I smiled in victory as I followed him forward, running my hands up his thighs until I reached the base of his cock. Then I lowered my head to kiss the tip.
“Wait,” he urged.
But I was done taking his orders. I slid his length as deep as possible into my mouth. “Fuck,” he hissed.
“Wait,” he repeated as I glided back up his shaft. He pulled me upright before bending forward to kiss my shoulder. Using my chin to tip my head, he forced my eyes to his. “I said wait.” He chastely kissed my mouth and teased his hands down my sides to rest on my hips.
Then the ground below my knees disappeared and the entire world turned upside down.
Literally.
A loud laugh escaped my throat as Flint flipped me onto the bed to join him. He juggled me like a rag doll until he until he found a position that suited him—kneeling over his face.
I stopped laughing immediately when his mouth sealed over my clit.
Then I cried out as his long finger found my opening. His other hand darted between us and lifted his cock toward my mouth.
With a swirl of his tongue, he dropped his head to the bed long enough to say, “Now, apologize all you like while I have breakfast.”
I gasped as his fingers began a rhythm inside me that left me unable to focus on anything else.
“Are you sore?”
“A little.” I managed to pull myself together long enough to find his cock again. But I instantly regretted my answer when he removed his finger.
“Then you come on my mouth, but you better get busy.” He swatted my ass deliciously hard before using each cheek to pull me down to hover only a centimeter from his mouth. “Because I’m coming in yours too.” He pulled me down until I completely covered his face, licking and sucking in a deep and greedy way I should have been embarrassed by.
But embarrassment would have required thoughts, and right then, every single brain cell I possessed had abandoned me in the hunt for climax.
I came on his mouth, all right. Then, when I finally got my act together, he came in mine as well. And Flint being Flint, well, he was such an overachiever that he insisted on showing me exactly how much he accepted my sexual apologies. So, before I fell asleep on his chest, I came one last time with his hand between my legs.
I decided I could live with two alarm clocks if that was the wake-up call they provided.
5 Newsies Stars
ARC received from TRSoR and Aly Martinez for an honest review
"Maybe she was the reason for the struggle all along."
ARC received from TRSoR and Aly Martinez for an honest review
"Maybe she was the reason for the struggle all along."
I know I have Aly Martinez on my auto-read list for a reason... she never fails to snatch my heart out of my chest with every story she writes and there is always something different and new with her characters. Fighting Shadows, Flint and Ash's story, has now one of my favorite heroines in the book world. Add to that how much emotions I've struggled with with this book, one chapter I'm laughing, and then the next I want to do bodily harm to either or both of the characters.
Flint Page is the second Page brother, if you've read Fighting Silence (which I recommend you read STAT!) then you've met the serious and heroic brother. Whereas in Fighting Silence he was a serious and responsible kid who still have fun with his family, in Fighting Shadows, he has become more brooding. I can think of a few adjectives to describe him but on top of the list would be brooding, sexy, generous, and intense. Him being broody about his situation is understandable, it actually breaks my heart reading his struggles but it all changed when he met Ash Mabie. From broody Flint, Ash turned him into a fun, sexy Flint. And it was a joy to read! I love how Ash's sunny personality balances out Flint's gloomy one. Do I need to elaborate more on the "sexy"? Having went through what he experienced, his intense feelings about almost everything is probably an after-effect or it just magnified all that is Flint. He feels intense pain and hurt but he loves and cares twice as more.
It might be a struggle to some having to read Flint's feelings for Eliza, but because it came out while he was in a "happy place", it lessened the pain for me and I had to laugh at how Q and Flint interacted during this part.
It might be a struggle to some having to read Flint's feelings for Eliza, but because it came out while he was in a "happy place", it lessened the pain for me and I had to laugh at how Q and Flint interacted during this part.
"Was I in love with Ash Mabie? I could have sat there for a decade and never given an adequate answer."
I can give my answer... Ash Mabie is my favorite Aly Martinez heroine and she's definitely on my list for all-time awesomesauce female characters. She's bubbly, full of life, and such a positive person. And being raised by a dad like hers who is all bad and evil, seeing her as a great person is a relief! Ash brought sunshine and hearts to Flint's glum mood. She made not just Flint smile, but she made me laugh, too. Her antiques and her wit is a perfect match for this Page brother and their chemistry is so obvious during their fist meeting. That scene had me researching for a particular juice recipe, by the way. (Thanks, Dude!)
Their relationship started out as cute with Q introducing them and Ash being her quirky self, then turned out to be a little painful for my heart when Flint's dark broody mood got the best of him (but I loved that it only took him hours to realize what an a-hole he has been), but after the hurt, I was back to laughing and being in love with them.
Their relationship started out as cute with Q introducing them and Ash being her quirky self, then turned out to be a little painful for my heart when Flint's dark broody mood got the best of him (but I loved that it only took him hours to realize what an a-hole he has been), but after the hurt, I was back to laughing and being in love with them.
Flint and Ash's story is somehow a friends turned lovers story but like the Aly Martinez way, there is no dragging their story. Fighting Shadows is jam-packed with emotions and all the feels, tears and laughters, hot and heavy scenes that will keep you turning the pages until before you know it, you've reached the end already.
Stars: 5 stars
Recommended to: Dude. Everyone. If you've read Fighting Silence, I'm sure you've been itching to read Flint's story. If you haven't read about the Page brothers, I know after reading this, you would want to read Fighting Silence, too.
Series: Yes, interconnecting characters.
POV: First person. Dual POV.
Extra Comment: Quarry, baby, I'm ready for you!
Series: Yes, interconnecting characters.
POV: First person. Dual POV.
Extra Comment: Quarry, baby, I'm ready for you!
Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Aly Martinez is a stay-at-home mom to four crazy kids under the age of five, including a set of twins. Currently living in South Carolina, she passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a glass of wine at her side.
After some encouragement from her friends, Aly decided to add “Author” to her ever-growing list of job titles. Five books later, she shows no signs of slowing. So grab a glass of Chardonnay, or a bottle if you’re hanging out with Aly, and join her aboard the crazy train she calls life.
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