Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Review of Fighting to Forget by J.B. Salsbury

Synopsis: Every fighter is drawn to the violence, the release that a perfect hit can bring.
But very few are drawn to the pain.

Rex Carter lives behind a wall of indifference. The demons from his childhood act as an anesthetic, keeping him distant from emotional connections. Only the ache from a knock to the jaw, the sting of a tattoo needle, or the heat from a piercing can jolt him back from the numbness. The fiery pain is all he can feel, and nothing compares to the burn.

Or so he thought.

Working in a Las Vegas bar isn't Georgia McIntyre's dream. But she hopes it'll be an end to the nightmare.

She's watched him, followed him and kept tabs, all in preparation for this moment: to make amends and share the secret she’s been carrying since she was a kid. But she didn't count on the feelings that seeing him again would stir up, the vacant look in his stormy-blue eyes, and his perfect body now mutilated by ink and metal.

And she knows why. She's lived his pain every single day, since the day he left.

Changed by time, Rex doesn't remember the girl from his past. If only she could do the same.

Will she get the absolution she's spent her life seeking?

Or will he continue Fighting to Forget?

5 Stars!

Review: I absolutely loved Rex and Gia's story. They are both so broken due to their pasts, and yet both of them are still surviving and trying to figure out a way to keep going. They share a past of so much pain, heartache and abuse, and yet both of them are still fighting - Rex, as an MMA fighter and Gia, she's fighting for Rex, even if he doesn't know it. 


Rex and Gia's story goes back about fourteen years, and both of them experienced things that no child should EVER have to experience. Rex has no memory before age 10, when he woke up in a hospital after supposedly trying to kill himself, and Gia, she does remember what Rex's life was like. She was there, as well, and she has taken on so much of the burden of what he experienced. She blames herself, even still, and she will do anything to take Rex's pain away. 

The two of them come together, despite their brokenness, and they take that first, single step towards healing. Before they can take any more, however, some of Gia's secrets come out and Rex pushes her away. Gia simply crumbles at that point. I'm not sure there's another word for that - it's like she was living and getting her strength from Rex, even from afar, and when he pushed her away, the life that she has been dealt became too much. At this point, however, Gia's life is in danger, and Rex has to figure out if he can forgive her enough to fight for her this time. 

This story was raw and gritty and...just dark. It was done very well, however, and so many things tie back to their past. Other characters from the series also make an appearance, which I loved, as I really just love all of these characters. They are such lonely and broken people that are coming together and choosing to be a family with one another. It is very great to watch. And Rex and Gia - they might just be my favorites, so far. To come from something so broken and fight every single day...it is great to watch. 

Jessica

No comments:

Post a Comment