Title: Fighting Redemption
Author: Kate McCarthy
(Website, Twitter,Facebook, Goodreads)
Published by Self-Published
Release Date November 30, 2013
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 348
More Info:Goodreads
Purchase From: Amazon
Purchase From:Barnes & Noble
Synopsis:
Ryan Kendall is broken. He understands pain. He knows the hand of violence and the ache of loss. He knows what it means to fail those who need you. Being broken doesn’t stop him wanting the one thing he can’t have; Finlay Tanner. Her smile is sweet and her future bright. She’s the girl he grew up with, the girl he loves, the girl he protects from the world, and from himself.
At nineteen, Ryan leaves to join the Australian Army. After years of training he becomes an elite SAS soldier and deploys to the Afghanistan war. His patrol undertakes the most dangerous missions a soldier can face. But no matter how far he runs, or how hard he fights, his need for Finlay won’t let go.
Returning home after six years, one look is all it takes to know he can’t live without her. But sometimes love isn’t enough to heal what hurts. Sometimes people like him can’t be fixed, and sometimes people like Finlay deserve more than what’s left.
This is a story about war and the cost of sacrifice. Where bonds are formed, and friendships found. Where those who are strong, fall hard. Where love is let go, heartache is born, and heroes are made. Where one man learns that the hardest fight of all, is the fight to save himself.
At nineteen, Ryan leaves to join the Australian Army. After years of training he becomes an elite SAS soldier and deploys to the Afghanistan war. His patrol undertakes the most dangerous missions a soldier can face. But no matter how far he runs, or how hard he fights, his need for Finlay won’t let go.
Returning home after six years, one look is all it takes to know he can’t live without her. But sometimes love isn’t enough to heal what hurts. Sometimes people like him can’t be fixed, and sometimes people like Finlay deserve more than what’s left.
This is a story about war and the cost of sacrifice. Where bonds are formed, and friendships found. Where those who are strong, fall hard. Where love is let go, heartache is born, and heroes are made. Where one man learns that the hardest fight of all, is the fight to save himself.
Excerpt
Review
Later that morning after their
workout and shower, Jake fell asleep on the couch. Feeling at a loss with
nothing but time on his hands, Ryan wandered down the hall towards Fin’s room.
She was sitting at a little study nook in the corner, laptop open with one foot
resting on her chair. She was wearing a tank top and a little pair of shorts.
Leaning up against the doorframe, he couldn’t tear his eyes away from those
long, delectable legs.
As though sensing his presence,
she turned in her chair. He forced his eyes upwards, catching a sexy flush fill
her cheeks at his blatant perusal.
“Morning, Ryan.” She took off her
black framed reading glasses and tossed them on the desk.
“Morning, Fin,” he replied.
Against his better judgment, Ryan
pushed away from the door and walked farther into the room. Fin hadn’t changed
at all and neither had his desire for her. His heart kicked over when she met
his eyes. He knew everything he was feeling right now was written all over him,
but he couldn’t seem to shut it off.
Her eyelids fluttered closed and
she whispered, “Why now?”
Ryan took a deep breath. “I don’t
know,” he replied honestly.
He shouldn’t still be feeling
this way after so many years. Why was he doing this to her, and to himself? It was
better for everyone if he stayed away like he was supposed to.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have
come. I’ll go stay at the barracks.” He turned to leave.
“Ryan!” she called out.
Scrambling out of the chair, she grabbed his arm as he was halfway out the door.
“Fin,” he warned, looking down at
her hand pointedly.
She took a step closer and he
breathed her in, her scent like jasmine on a hot summer’s day. He was surprised
when he looked into her eyes and saw anger burning hotly in their depths.
“Six years, Ryan. Do you know how
hurt I was, each day passing by and getting nothing—not even a note or an
email? I didn’t just lose you. I lost my brother too. Both of you left me, and
I was okay with that. I understood that this was what you needed to do, so I
moved on. I built a life that doesn’t include you. That was what I had to do.” She paused and raised a
shaky hand to cup his cheek. “I’d have given you my entire heart if you’d only
asked, but it’s not yours now. It’s not yours.”
Ryan closed his eyes, agony for
losing what was never his rose in his chest until he felt strangled by it. He
placed his hand over hers, holding it there until she tugged it away.
“You’re right,” Fin told him.
“You should stay on the barracks … but I don’t want you to. Damn you, Ryan,”
she whispered fiercely. “I don’t want you to.”
Ryan used his bulk to crowd her against the wall until there
was no room for her to move. Leaning one hand against the wall, he grabbed her
hip with the other. Her breathing rose rapidly and he leaned in, ducking his
head until their mouths hovered a mere breath apart.
“Why can’t I force myself to
leave?” He rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. “I hurt too.
For six years I fought every day not to think of you, and I lost, because every
day you were all I could see. You were the best thing in my life—so sweet and
innocent, and so goddamn tempting.” His hand strayed from her hip and slid down
to grip her ass. He swallowed the groan. “I stayed away so you could move on.”
Review
Every once in awhile a book will really touch you to the point that you feel like you are living that story, I can count on my hands how many times this has happened and one of those times was Fighting Redemption. This is without a doubt one of my favorite books ever, I felt so many emotions while reading this book, and I'm pretty sure I sobbed the entire time while reading this powerful, touching, heartfelt emotional journey about a damaged soldier and his true love and their struggle for a chance at a HEA. 5++++++ stars!
The Story:
Fighting Redemption is a story about war. It's a story about the men and their families and the sacrifices that are made by these men, who give up their lives to fight and to protect our freedom. But more than this, Fighting Redemption is a story about love, friendship, dreams, and hope.
Ryan Kendall grew up neglected, he had an abusive father and a mother who let it happen because they were all suffering over one tragic accident. He quickly becomes friends with Jake Tanner, forming a brother bond and became a part of their family. He spends as much time with the Tanner's as he can and they come to think of him as a son. Finlay is Jake's baby sister, and they loved each other from the start. As much as Ryan loved Finlay he never let his feelings be known, he knew he was leaving soon to join the SAS army and didn't want Fin giving up her dreams for him. So, they move on with their lives. Ryan and Jake are at war and Ryan cuts off all communication with Finlay, that is until 6 years later when he sees Finlay again and he realizes his love for her has remained, in fact if anything it grew stronger. Ryan and Fin's relationship is intense, passionate, heart-wrenching, and so so beautiful. The journey they face won't be easy, if anything, it will be one of the hardest things they have ever done.....but true love is worth every single struggle they face.
Final Thoughts:
One of the best books I have ever read! If my reviews persuade you to read one book....choose this one! The characters were amazing, the story was amazing! Fighting Redemption was absolutely beautiful, heartbreaking, emotional.....a timeless love story that will stick with me forever!
Favorite Quotes:
The Story:
Fighting Redemption is a story about war. It's a story about the men and their families and the sacrifices that are made by these men, who give up their lives to fight and to protect our freedom. But more than this, Fighting Redemption is a story about love, friendship, dreams, and hope.
Ryan Kendall grew up neglected, he had an abusive father and a mother who let it happen because they were all suffering over one tragic accident. He quickly becomes friends with Jake Tanner, forming a brother bond and became a part of their family. He spends as much time with the Tanner's as he can and they come to think of him as a son. Finlay is Jake's baby sister, and they loved each other from the start. As much as Ryan loved Finlay he never let his feelings be known, he knew he was leaving soon to join the SAS army and didn't want Fin giving up her dreams for him. So, they move on with their lives. Ryan and Jake are at war and Ryan cuts off all communication with Finlay, that is until 6 years later when he sees Finlay again and he realizes his love for her has remained, in fact if anything it grew stronger. Ryan and Fin's relationship is intense, passionate, heart-wrenching, and so so beautiful. The journey they face won't be easy, if anything, it will be one of the hardest things they have ever done.....but true love is worth every single struggle they face.
Final Thoughts:
One of the best books I have ever read! If my reviews persuade you to read one book....choose this one! The characters were amazing, the story was amazing! Fighting Redemption was absolutely beautiful, heartbreaking, emotional.....a timeless love story that will stick with me forever!
Favorite Quotes:
"I’ll love you longer than the stars that live in the sky stars."
“You’re the strongest person I’ve ever known, but someone smart and brave once told me that it’s always the strongest that fall the hardest. You can trust me, Ryan. Let go. I’ll be here to catch you. I’ll always be here.”
“I hurt too. For six years I fought every day not to think of you, and I lost, because every day you were all I could see. You were the best thing in my life—so sweet and innocent, and so goddamn tempting.”
“Would they only ever have those fleeting moments—the ones where you lived the briefest, loved the hardest, and burned like the devil had set fire to your very soul? They were the only moments in his life that had been worth a damn.”
“I want you, Fin,” he finally admitted. “So damn much I can’t sleep from it. I lie in bed at night and I dream of my lips on yours, my mouth tasting every inch you. I want to fuck you until I go blind from it and even then I don’t think it would ever be enough.”
“That’s so far from the truth I can’t believe you’d even think it. I have a thick skin, baby,” he told her, his wide shoulders crowding her back against the cool tiles, “but you’re under it. You’re buried in there so deep it’s like I was born with you in my soul.” His eyes slowly ignited as he slid soapy hands over her hips. “When I’m near you I’m consumed by you—your smile, your eyes, your heart. Even though we’ve never been together, you’ve always been mine, and even if I never get to keep you, you’ll still be mine.”
“War is a cold, selfish bitch, Kendall. It changes you. It makes you hard, and it makes you hurt, yet somehow, we keep going back for more.”
“Because we’re soldiers,”
“I hurt too. For six years I fought every day not to think of you, and I lost, because every day you were all I could see. You were the best thing in my life—so sweet and innocent, and so goddamn tempting.”
“Would they only ever have those fleeting moments—the ones where you lived the briefest, loved the hardest, and burned like the devil had set fire to your very soul? They were the only moments in his life that had been worth a damn.”
“I want you, Fin,” he finally admitted. “So damn much I can’t sleep from it. I lie in bed at night and I dream of my lips on yours, my mouth tasting every inch you. I want to fuck you until I go blind from it and even then I don’t think it would ever be enough.”
“That’s so far from the truth I can’t believe you’d even think it. I have a thick skin, baby,” he told her, his wide shoulders crowding her back against the cool tiles, “but you’re under it. You’re buried in there so deep it’s like I was born with you in my soul.” His eyes slowly ignited as he slid soapy hands over her hips. “When I’m near you I’m consumed by you—your smile, your eyes, your heart. Even though we’ve never been together, you’ve always been mine, and even if I never get to keep you, you’ll still be mine.”
“War is a cold, selfish bitch, Kendall. It changes you. It makes you hard, and it makes you hurt, yet somehow, we keep going back for more.”
“Because we’re soldiers,”
*Reviewed by Brandi
Kate McCarthy grew up in a small town outside of Port Macquarie, Australia. Raised in a house just a short walk to the beach, Kate enjoyed the peaceful, relaxed atmosphere and friendships that come from being raised in a friendly, small town area.
She now resides in Brisbane, Australia, a city in the state of Queensland where she works as an accountant, along with a sideline wedding cake business and her writing.
She is married with two children, has two dogs and house in the suburbs, and a pile of friends and family dotted all over the country that help keep her sane.
When she’s not busy running after naughty kids, filthy dogs, crunching numbers, piping buttercream and writing books, you can find her curled up in bed in the early hours of the morning reading new books and re-reading old favourites. Her favourite books are the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward in which she longs to eventually join the brotherhood and change her name to Phierce Mutha.
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