Author: Ashley Suzanne
Release Date: June 25th, 2014
Book Links:
Goodreads / Amazon US / Amazon UK / B&N/ Amazon CA / Kobo
Synopsis
If I would have known then what I know now.
If I would have known that having my heart broken at thirteen by my one and only friend, Garrett Rhodes, would never compare to the empty feeling at sixteen when I buried my mother.
If I would have known that changing schools in my senior year would throw all that back in my face.
Maybe … just maybe … I wouldn’t be in the hell storm I’m living in these days. Letting my past dictate my future, allowing the best of the best male MMA fighters bully me day in and day out and knowing no matter what I do, Garrett will always be the only man that understands me. I didn’t have to live this way. One day changed the course of my life forever.
Through all this mess, the one thing that I’ve found that keeps me centered … martial arts. And I’m damn good. If only someone would give me a chance to prove my worth.
All I can do now is make the best of it and try to not let the fight consume me.
Or has it already?
“It doesn’t matter
if you’re a man or a woman, you’re gonna wanna get in our next contender’s
pants … show some love for our hometown legend, The Switch Hitter!” I snort at the name, expecting to walk out
and see a fighter carrying a baseball bat.
What do ya know? No bat in
sight. Extra reinforcements might not
have been a bad idea since I’m on fire and ready to bust the bricks off this
clown.
Waiting for the
emcee to call my name, I think of all the crazy things in my life that have led
me to this point. I’ve experienced more
than any one person should by the age of barely twenty-two—few happy moments
surrounded by almost constant anguish.
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right?
“Being escorted to
the cage by the most badass entourage I’ve seen tonight, all the way from
Corbin, Kentucky … the newest fighter this side of the Mississippi … The
Raven!” At least my name makes sense. Ravens
are known for being alone, having no problem flying solo. That’s what I’ve done for the past four years
anyway.
After my
announcement, the crowd erupts into cheers that I can hear loud and clear, even
over the song streaming out of my iPod through my ear buds. Bouncing back and forth on the balls of my
feet, I crane my neck side to side, examining the mass of people. It’s a good sized crowd for this venue. I sometimes wonder if these guys come to
watch the fights for the love of the sport or because they like to see the ring
girls walking around, barely dressed, carrying signs to designate what round
we’re in. Oh well, they paid their cover
and that money, if all goes according to plan, will be in my pocket later
tonight.
With my coaches
leading the way, I follow, bobbing my head to Down with the Sickness by Disturbed, mentally preparing
myself. I run over everything I’ve been
taught over the last year—how to get out of a submission hold, finding
opportunities to take my opponent down, remembering not to be a cocky asshole.
It took a lot of convincing for Zan to let me
fight tonight. He’s not the kind father
figure he portrays himself to be. He
says he loves and supports his “children”, but deep down he’d rather me not get
in that cage. I know damn well if I blow
my first match, it’s going to be a long time, if ever, until he puts me on
another card.
“You ready for
this?” Zan asks, pulling out one of my ear buds.
Smirking, I eye up
my competition that’s already inside the cage—a small, tiny thing that doesn’t
look to have much muscle mass. I got this. Standing on the opposite side of the mat
surrounded by coaches, glancing in my direction, the slightest tinge of fear
flashes across those brown eyes, similar to mine. Physically, I’m not very
intimidating—weighing in at average weight for my class with an average stature
to match, but the menace written across my face is an entirely different
situation.
Since my first
introduction into the world of mixed martial arts, it’s all I can think
about. It may be cliché, but I live,
breathe and sleep MMA. It’s the one
place I have any control. Nobody can
take a match from me unless I allow them to, and my opponent isn’t going to
walk away with anything … maybe disappointment, but I’m taking the purse. I already know I want it more; I can taste
the victory and it’s going to be as sweet as I imagine it to be.
Stepping into the
steel cage, I shrug my midnight blue robe off, right into the hands of my
coach. Wearing standard MMA gear and my
hair pulled back tight, I walk straight to the official who checks my taped
hands. Once cleared, I step back to Zan
who pops my mouth guard in for me, pats me on the shoulder and whispers in my
ear, “It’s only you two. If you want it,
make it happen. If not, we can leave
right now.”
“Don’t worry,
Z. I wouldn’t bring you all the way here
to disappoint you.”
Zan and the other
coaches walk out of the cage and the door slams shut, leaving only me, my
opponent and the official inside.
Meeting them in the middle, the ref goes over the standard rules for the
fight. Both of us nod, bump fists and
the bell dings, indicating round one is under way.
Pacing myself and
testing Switch Hitter’s skills, I toss a few jabs in the air, needing to know
if we’re on compatible levels. Weight
class isn’t everything in the MMA world.
Sometimes the smallest contender can be the best fighter. Without even flinching, my advances are shut
down and every punch is dodged while some are tossed in my direction as
well. None land. I may have to reevaluate my plan. This
isn’t going to be as clean as I thought.
It doesn’t take long
before hands are wrapped around my legs.
I try my hardest to center myself and stay on my feet, but I’ve been hit
in just the right spot. I position my
body to flip and mount, like I’ve been taught, but I’m not quick enough.
Before I know it, a
strong forearm, stronger than I assumed, is wrapping around my neck, pulling
back to cut off my air supply. Rear naked choke, shit. Taking a few deep breaths, I try to calm my
overheated and exhausted body and find a way to maneuver out of this
situation. From the corner of my eye, I
see Zan signaling me to tap. Not
yet. If I’m going to go down, the
officials are gonna have to call a medic in here—quitting isn’t an option. Dangerous
or not, it’s how I’ve been taught.
The phrase that’s
been drilled into me for months dances around in my head. Don’t
let the fight consume you.
Well, I’m consumed
and I’m not giving up. I’ll figure a way
out. I always have, I always will.
About the Author
Ashley
Suzanne is a married mother of three little boys as well as a daughter, aunt,
sister, best friend, birth mother, blogger, book whore and author. Ashley is a native to the suburbs of Detroit,
with most of her family living in Kentucky and New York.
You can
usually find Ashley sitting in bed, with her laptop, playing on Facebook,
pretending to write, entering giveaways (she’s also a swag whore) or on a
football field with her oldest son, Tyler.
Yep, not only is she a football fan, she’s a football mom!
When she’s
reading, it’s typically something to do with romance, contemporary being her
favorite genre. She’s a total fan-girl
over a few authors; Pamela Ann, SE Hall, Madeline Sheehan, Jasinda Wilder, Maya
Banks, CM Stunich, Nicole Jacquelyn and Riley Rhea to name a few.
Ashley has
no pets, unless you count her children and she is a little OCD. Her favorite color is pink. Her favorite drink is cherry vodka and coke
and double chocolate brownies are a must.
Other Works by Ashley Suzanne (all
available on Amazon, BN, iTunes, Kobo and Smashwords)
Mirage
(Book One: The Destined Series)
Inception (Book One 1/2: The Destined Series)
Awakening (Book Two: The Destined Series)
Façade (Book Three: The Destined Series)
Epiphany (Book Four: The Destined Series)
Sign up for Ashley’s Mailing List
Inception (Book One 1/2: The Destined Series)
Awakening (Book Two: The Destined Series)
Façade (Book Three: The Destined Series)
Epiphany (Book Four: The Destined Series)
Sign up for Ashley’s Mailing List
Raven Playlist
Down With The Sickness by
Disturbed
Valerie by Amy Winehouse
100 in a 55 by Pop Evil
Fancy by Reba McEntire
Chasing Pavements by Adele
TKO by Justin Timberlake
E.T by Katy Perry
Closer by Nine Inch Nails
My Best Friend by Tim McGraw
Yellow by Coldplay
Cry Me a River by Justin
Timberlake
Booty Wurk by T-Pain
Titanium by David Guetta
The Scientist by Coldplay
Broken by Seether and Amy Lee
Sail by AWOLNATION
Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri
Back to Black by Amy Winehouse
Rumour Has It by Adele
Linger by The Cranberries
Chop Suey by System of a Down
Turn Down for What by Lil Jon
Gorilla by Bruno Mars
Got the Life by Korn
SPOTIFY LINK - Raven
click me - GIVEAWAY
Carissa's Review
☆☆☆☆☆
"Sometimes, you have to go through the worst to get to the best."
Rian "Raven" Fields.
A friend, a daughter.
Fearless, stubborn and supremely independent.
A fiercely loyal woman.
Her namesake, synonymous with the life she has lived.
At the age of twenty-one, Rian has lived a life that most people has never seen in any one lifetime. Heartache at age thirteen, physical abuse, suicide and regret at sixteen. Family, Love, Intimacy and Loss at seventeen. Hatred and REVULSION. She has lost everyone near and dear to her. Being alone, dependent on herself and only herself, has only, slightly, eased her pain, but her suffering endures the test of time.
Garrett Rhodes, a military brat, Rian's one true love. After being separated at the age of thirteen, they reunite at the untimely suicide of her mother, at the age of seventeen. Their short time together is spent falling in love, testing the endurance that is their friendship, learning and teaching each other. Becoming soul mates.
Rian's horror, strikes again. This time, knowingly. Garrett enlists into the military, a right of passage, an honor. Rian loses Garrett at seventeen to the military, to time and distance, she loses him......
At the same point in time, her aunt and guardian, Elaine, her mother's sister, dies. Rian is left feeling desolate and alone. Garrett is away, there is no easy form of communication. She has no one she trusts enough to confide in and to console her.
The pain, the torture, the loss..........
she runs.... to save herself.... to start over...... to endure.....
Four years later, the "Raven" soars to new heights and in turn she lands right in Garrett's lap.
Seeing each other after so many years, has brought back all the pain and heartache they both tried and worked so hard to bury.
For Garrett, the nice guy he was, died, the day she ran, the day she decided he didn't deserve a Dear John letter. For years, Garrett and his mother looked for Rian. Even with the death of his father, they searched, still hopeful. Resolved to the fact, she didn't want to be found.
For Rian, she never loved again, it was casual sex to numb her deeper desires and the blinding pain of regret, all because of her selfish actions.
Garrett Rhodes, a military brat, Rian's one true love. After being separated at the age of thirteen, they reunite at the untimely suicide of her mother, at the age of seventeen. Their short time together is spent falling in love, testing the endurance that is their friendship, learning and teaching each other. Becoming soul mates.
"We're the ones who are gonna make it- we're forever."
"We'll create our own world. A place where nothing else matters but us." Garrett
"Baby, this isn't even love. It's so much more. The feelings I have for you go far beyond what most people will ever experience in their lives. When God created us, he cut us from the same mold, always a part of one another. I'm never going to let you feel that kind of pain again if I can help it."
Swoon ladies, eat this up.
Now this is why I love and I mean love Garrett Rhodes. After Rian confesses her darkest secrets and regret to him. His response is:
"Baby, this isn't even love. It's so much more. The feelings I have for you go far beyond what most people will ever experience in their lives. When God created us, he cut us from the same mold, always a part of one another. I'm never going to let you feel that kind of pain again if I can help it."
Swoon ladies, eat this up.
At the same point in time, her aunt and guardian, Elaine, her mother's sister, dies. Rian is left feeling desolate and alone. Garrett is away, there is no easy form of communication. She has no one she trusts enough to confide in and to console her.
The pain, the torture, the loss..........
she runs.... to save herself.... to start over...... to endure.....
Four years later, the "Raven" soars to new heights and in turn she lands right in Garrett's lap.
Seeing each other after so many years, has brought back all the pain and heartache they both tried and worked so hard to bury.
For Garrett, the nice guy he was, died, the day she ran, the day she decided he didn't deserve a Dear John letter. For years, Garrett and his mother looked for Rian. Even with the death of his father, they searched, still hopeful. Resolved to the fact, she didn't want to be found.
For Rian, she never loved again, it was casual sex to numb her deeper desires and the blinding pain of regret, all because of her selfish actions.
"And I still tremble
When we touch
And oh the look in your eyes
When we make love" Tim McGraw - My Best Friend.
"You're more than a lover
There could never be another
To make me feel the way you do" Tim McGraw - My Best Friend.
Garrett thought her to fight. For herself, for him and for their life together.
"This raven's found her home."
************
There is not enough words or ways, I can think of to express my thoughts and feelings over this book. Utterly amazing and it did render me speechless at times. Garrett, you are my all time book boyfriend. I routed for you all through this book, jumped with joy, felt you heartbreak and sorrow. Your love and friendship, ultimately your undying loyalty to Rian.
Cheers to soul mates and true love.
This is my first Ashley Suzanne read and also my very first review as a blogger with graphics and quotes. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
☆ ARC received via Enticing Book Journey Promotions in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!!☆
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