Review - Fighting Solitude by Aly Martinez

Title: Fighting Solitude

Series: On the Ropes #3

Author: Aly Martinez

Release Date: February 2, 2016

I was born a fighter. Abandoned by my parents, I spent my life forging my own path—one guided by my fists and paved with pain. 

Untouchable in the ring, I destroyed everyone who faced me, but that’s where my victories ended. Outside the ropes, I repeatedly failed the few people who loved me. Including my best friend, Liv James—the one person I’d die to protect. 

Even though I didn’t deserve her, Liv never stopped believing in me. Never gave up. Never let go. After all, she understood what I’d lost, because she’d lost it too. 

Liv was everything to me, but she was never truly mine. 

That was going to change. 

I lost my first love, but I refused to lose my soulmate. 

Now, I’m on the ropes during the toughest battles of my life. 

Fighting to be the man she deserves. 

Fighting the solitude of our pasts. 

Fighting for her.

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AMAZON US / AMAZON UK

Quarry Page and Liv James have been best friends for most of their lives. It hasn’t always been smooth sailing, but they’ve stuck by each other through the best and worst of times. They are fiercely devoted to each other, but due to life and circumstance and the whims of the world, they have always been just friends.

That is, until the day they became more than just friends. It’s arguable when that day might have been. The feelings were always there, hidden or buried or just plain unrecognized, feelings that stood as strong and stable as their devotion to each other. 

Every. Single. Day. 

It’s not as simple as it sounds—there are loyalties, lost loves, and big gaping heart wounds to be taken into consideration here. Watching Quarry and Liv navigate through their feelings sometimes left a few gaping wounds on my own heart, but it mostly was just…beautiful. Touching. Tender. Achingly poignant.

I don’t even know where to start with this—I’m barely controlling my flailing fangirl tendencies because I want so badly to scream at you to read this book, fast. This had to have been a tricky story to write. It could have gone so horribly wrong in so many ways. We were set up, emotionally, to resist this story—I think. And yet, I absolutely loved Every. Single. Moment. 

It felt good to read this book, even though parts of it were emotional and heartbreaking. My heart ached sometimes, but most of the time it just fucking overflowed with these swoony, happy feelings. I spent the vast majority of this book with a huge dopey smile on my face, giggling out loud—forgetting I was in public—and then wanting to explain to all the people around me that I was sorry. It’s just that Quarry and Liv were so unbelievably cute together, it was impossible not to fall in love with them in the sappiest, mooniest, most joyful way possible. As though they were real people. They felt like real people. My heart attached itself to them and found itself all wrapped up in their love. That, right there? Is the sign of a really, really good book.

I adored Quarry and Liv. I loved every interaction between them. I loved the solidity and depth of their friendship. I loved that they didn’t lie to each other, didn’t hide from each other, and when one of them tried to do either of those things, they didn’t let each other get away with bullshit. They were hilarious, fun, flirty, sexy, sweet—and deeply, deeply romantic. 

Good God, this was such a phenomenal series ender. My eyes are leaking and my heart is full and this book could not have been more perfect. The On the Ropes series is a “MUST READ”—and Fighting Solitude just might be my favorite of them all. The blend of heartache, humor, and two completely loveable characters with off the charts chemistry was captivating and enchanting and, in the end, “love” doesn’t feel like a big enough word to describe how I felt about this book. 

~ Review by Shelly

Oh My Goodness!!! I FLOVED Quarry Page and Liv James's story!! Simply amazing!!! The prologue captured my attention and heart, and I knew I was never going to be the same after that! 

When Quarry met Liv, he instantly became her best friend and they were inseparable. I loved reading about the trouble they got into, how they shared their feelings with each other, but most of all, I loved how they were there for each other no matter what!! When Quarry got some life-changing news, Liv was there to hold him and and let him know that she would always be there for him, no matter what!! That had me in tears, and I realized that she truly loved him. No. Matter. What!!

Liv and Quarry's road to happiness was filled with every type of emotion you can imagine, and I felt I was on a roller coaster with no end in sight. There were so many twists thrown that I was like, WTF just happened?! This book was Unbelievably Beautiful in so many way!!! It deserves SIX stars. All I can say is Every. Single. Day. 

"He made love to me. He fucked me. He held me tenderly. He pulled my hair and bit my shoulders. He stared deep into my eyes while taking me gently. He took me hard and rough from behind. The champagne went untouched. But we eventually fell asleep, naked and sated, drunk in a different way." 

~ Review by Kara

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 Chicago, 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. 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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Review - The Fall Up by Aly Martinez

Title: The Fall Up

Author: Aly Martinez

Release Date: October 26, 2015

I wanted to jump. 

He made me fall.

As a celebrity, I lived in the public eye, but somewhere along the way, I’d lost myself in the spotlight.

Until he found me.

Sam Rivers was a gorgeous, tattooed stranger who saved my life with nothing more than a simple conversation.

But we were both standing on that bridge for a reason the night we met. The secrets of our pasts brought us together—and then tore us apart.

Could we find a reason to hold on as life constantly pulled us down?

Or maybe there’s only one direction to go when two people fall in love at rock bottom—up.

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AMAZON US / AMAZON UK

I knew the moment I read the blurb that this story would have my heart in shambles and my goodness, did it ever! 

Levee had my full attention within the first chapter because, like her, I've felt like the way she does due to the pressures of life. As Levee contemplated life, and if she should or should not, Sam was there just waiting for the moment to talk her out of it. I must say that from the beginning their conversation flowed smoothly and my goodness, they had me intrigued. Their joking had me laughing and I might just use some of it in my real life! 

I won't spoil it by saying more but just know that it is a whirlwind of a relationship, with no slow time, and whoa, the sex scenes had me fanning myself to the point that I wanted to stick my head in the freezer to cool down! This story just had so many emotions that I felt my heart was put through the wringer and I wondered if it would be the same afterwards... All I will say is that I. Love. Epilogues!! 

Thank you, Ms. Martinez, for a story about something that affects or has affected many people one way or another, and for helping us to see that we all can play a part in helping someone or allowing someone to help us! 

~ Review by Kara

Levee Williams is strung out, lost, and looking for an escape from her world when Sam Rivers finds her, incognito, on the Golden Gate bridge late one night. Sam is on the bridge for his own dark reasons, and his past has made him sensitive to girls like Levee. Broken girls. Damaged girls. Girls he might not be able to save. 

A sexy, tattooed bad boy with a heart of gold, Sam has a bit of a hero complex and he’s drawn to Levee in a way he can’t quite explain. All he knows is that he needs to make sure she stays safe. Levee, in turn, is drawn to Sam’s gentle humor and the safe feeling she's found in his arms. They know it can never work, but they're determined to give it a shot.

This is a super sweet story with a "prince and pauper" theme that weaves itself into the delicate, tender love story. Levee is a famous pop princess who feels pulled in too many different directions, and is still trying to make peace with a tragic event in her childhood. Sam is an artist who is struggling to make peace with the tragic events in his own past, and figuring out how to let this broken woman into his life. She's not safe for him. But nothing that rewarding is ever safe, right?

The witty banter in this book is fantastic. Sam and Levee are flirty and fun—bringing a touch of lightness to their otherwise sad, dark circumstances. Their chemistry is steamy, but it is really the underlying tenderness and care they give each other that steals the show. I love that Levee took ownership of her troubles and that they fought for themselves, to heal themselves in order to be stronger and better together. 

I really liked this book—it read easily and beautifully, and was full of little laugh-out-loud moments and lots of swoons. In addition to a lovely romance, the other relationships in this book were beautifully written and gave the story depth. Sam's relationship with his best friend and his mom, in particular, were highlights for me. Sam is hilarious, the kind of sharp wit that I am powerless against. Throw in some tattoos and a six pack…I'm done. Seriously. Sam, FTW!

In a nutshell, light and swoony (despite some darker themes), The Fall Up will leave you with a full, happy heart and a giant smile on your face. 

~ Review by Shelly

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 Chicago, 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. 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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Review - Fighting Shadows by Aly Martinez

Title: Fighting Shadows

Series: On the Ropes #2

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.

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AMAZON US / UK

It took me ten minutes to figure out how to even start this review. I mean, I thought I loved Till and Eliza. I DID love Till and Eliza. I DO love Till and Eliza. But holy shit – Flint and Ash? My heart doesn’t even know what to do with all these feelings. I FLOVED Flint and Ash. 

Fighting Shadows starts right where Fighting Silence left off (so, in case you’re wondering, this book should not be read as a standalone) – Flint has been shot and we learn that he’s paralyzed from the waist down. This devastating event, combined with his intense and confusing feelings for the woman he can't have, send Flint on a downward spiral. By the time Ash dives head first (literally) into his life, he’s a miserable bastard. 

Ash is awesome. She’s all lightness and quirky weirdness. She’s endearingly hilarious and adorable as she drags Flint kicking and screaming out of his misery. She made it impossible for him (and me) not to fall in love with her. I spend a lot of time adding book boyfriends to my collection, but Ash is one of the few females to make it into my (sparse) book girlfriend collection. I am crazy about Ash. 

Ash and Flint together? When they have their shit worked out – my God, they’re freakin’ adorable. And sexy. SO sexy. A practically perfect combination of banter, swoon, and sexy, sexy times, this book made me laugh out loud, cry happy tears, and feel my heart explode over and over again. It’s one of those breathtaking love stories that satisfied every romantic bone in my body. Ash and Flint basically melted my entire being down into a puddle of swoony goo. 

And then – THEN, when I was just starting to recover from the beautiful rollercoaster that was Ash and Flint – Ms. Martinez set us up for Quarry’s book and my heart exploded all over again. I can’t wait! These books stick with me – in my heart, and in my brain. I’m so in love with the Page boys – I’m practically counting days ‘til the next one.

~ Review by Shelly

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 Chicago, 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. 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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Blog Tour - Fighting Silence by Aly Martinez

Title: Fighting Silence

Series: On the Ropes #1

Author: Aly Martinez 

Release Date: February 23, 2015

Sound is an abstract concept for most people. We spend our lives blocking out the static in order to focus on what we believe is important. But what if, when the clarity fades into silence, it's the obscure background noise that you would give anything to hold on to?
 

I've always been a fighter. With parents who barely managed to stay out of jail and two little brothers who narrowly avoided foster care, I became skilled at dodging the punches life threw at me. Growing up, I didn’t have anything I could call my own, but from the moment I met Eliza Reynolds, she was always mine. I became utterly addicted to her and the escape from reality we provided each other. Throughout the years, she had boyfriends and I had girlfriends, but there wasn't a single night that I didn’t hear her voice.
 

You see, meeting the love of my life at age thirteen was never part of my plan. However, neither was gradually going deaf at the age of twenty-one.
 

They both happened anyway.
 

Now, I'm on the ropes during the toughest battles of my life.
 

Fighting for my career.
 

Fighting the impending silence.
 

Fighting for her.
 

Every night, just before falling asleep, she sighs as a final conscious breath leaves her.

I think that's the sound I'll miss the most.

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As I sit and stare out my bedroom window, *wink* I think to myself… oh Aly, you first brought me Brett and I was hooked, next you showed me Caleb and I thought, “okay, I can be in love with 2 guys.” Then Leo came along, I fell hard. . . again. And, just when I think you can't top these 3 you bring me Slate. He was perfect, you can't top perfection, or so I thought…

Til Page, you stole my heart from very early on and made me eat my words. I think I knew I was in love when I read that handwritten note on that torn-out piece of notebook paper. More often than not the male lead in recent books are rich and arrogant; dominant alphas that demand a woman's attention and take what they want when they want it. Not here, not this time. Thank God. 

This is a story like no other. Actually, if you are a fan of Aly's writing, you know this already. She writes outside the box and nothing is off limits to her.

Cliffhangers, most of us hate them. Well, what about when it's at the beginning of a book. Sounds weird, let me explain.

I don't like spoilers so bear with me. Aly takes us on a journey that will make you feel like you are literally hanging off a cliff for dear life, with only a little tiny branch between you and the unknown. Early on I was waiting for the other shoe to drop and wasn't sure I would emotionally recover when it did. 

As a reader I sometimes feel that, while experiencing a story that is amazing, it gets rushed at the end by a 2 page “OH NO, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN”, followed by a little tension and then, BAM! Happily ever after. This book is nothing like that. Wear gloves because you will be dangling from this cliff for a very long time. But to me, that makes the HEA even that more worth the wait.

Giving me a cliffy at the beginning of the book and keeping me guessing as I turn the pages, is way better than a cliffy at the end, having to wait for the next one to come out.

This book tops perfection for me. It was amazingly written. You are going to abso-f--king-lutely fall in love with these characters. In the end you will finally be able to take a deep breath and patiently wait for the next one. I use the term patiently in a hurry-the-f**k-up-already kind of way. I give it 6 SILENT STARS! 

~ Review by Stacey

Aly's writing never ceases to amaze me. It's always so captivating, sucking you into the story and making you feel like you're a part of it.

I absolutely loved Fighting Silence. This story of struggle and fighting was so heartwarming and heartbreaking. Not everyone is a millionaire or grows up in a rich family. Till and Eliza proved that as long as you had someone worth fighting for, and with, even the poorest people could feel like the richest. They didn't have an easy life, but they had one that worked for them, no matter what hap-pened.

Aly, yet again, has brought tears to my eyes. Fighting Silence is so emotionally beautiful that the tears just flowed with no warning. You'll happy cry most of the time, but sometimes those tears were of sadness. This family has been through more hardships than most their age, but they never stopped fighting, and you know they never will. I can't wait to read the next story.

~ Review by Keisha

“Hi.” I stood up off the bed as he started climbing through the window.

His eyes went wide when he saw me, causing him to momentarily lose his balance on the windowsill and go crashing to the floor. “God. Damn,” he cursed as he rose to his feet while taking in my new wardrobe. “You… I…um…” His hand went to his lip.

He was rooted in place only a few steps away, but his eyes traveled over every inch of my body and back again.

Till was speechless. I had never felt so empowered in my life.

“Are you okay?” I feigned concern as I slowly approached.

“Not even close,” he told my breasts, making me giggle.

After sliding a hand under the edge of his T-shirt, I raked a fingernail over each of his abs before dipping it into the waistband of his jeans.

“I’m sore today,” I announced, closing the distance between us. My breasts were pressed against him, but he still hadn’t even attempted to touch me yet. I had plans to remedy that. I smirked then stood up on my tiptoes, kissing the base of his neck. “Make me sore for tomorrow too.” At the last second, I darted my tongue out to the hollow dip at the base of his neck. It was meant to tease him, but as the taste of his skin hit my tongue, I was flooded with memories of taking more of him in my mouth. The moan escaped before I’d even felt it coming.

A loud rumble shook his chest, but that was the only warning I received. Suddenly, I was off my feet and sailing through the air. Just as I landed on the bed, Till crashed on top of me. His mouth roughly landed on mine.

“Tell me we can’t do this again,” he demanded as his hands found my breasts.

“We’re definitely doing this again.” I arched into him.

“It’s gonna get so messy, Eliza. Please.” He groaned as I reached into the front of his jeans.

“I’m okay with messy,” I breathed, guiding his hand from my breast and into my panties.

“Fuuuuuck” he cursed when he discovered just how thorough I’d been with the razor earlier. His finger pressed inside me as his body traveled down the bed and settled between my legs, stripping my panties off during his descent.

He added another finger in a less than gentle but overwhelmingly intoxicating, rhythm.

“Tell me to stop, Eliza. We can’t do this again.” He grazed his teeth on the inside of my thigh.

“We’re already doing it.”

“Tell me to stop.”

“No.”

“It’s going to ruin us.”

“If you don’t stop talking, you’re going to ruin this.”

“I’m serious.” He kissed the inside of my other thigh, his fingers never faltering in their steady pace.

“So am I. Stop trying to talk yourself out of this while your fingers are buried inside me.” I threaded a hand into his hair and gave it a gentle tug.

“Goddammit. Tell me to stop!” he demanded one last time, but his fingers sped before twisting in the most delicious way.

I decided to give him what he wanted, but only because I knew he wouldn’t follow through.

“Stop.” I rolled my hips forcing him even deeper.

“Well, it’s too fucking late now.”

I would have laughed, but his mouth sealed over my clit and stole my breath, words, thoughts, and orgasm. My body shook as he pushed me higher even while I was falling. It shouldn’t have worked like that, but whatever voodoo magic Till Page was working with that night was all right with me. He didn’t stop swirling his tongue until I used his hair to pry his mouth away.

“Too much!” I cried.

He looked up with a wickedly proud grin. His hand disappeared, and seconds later, his cock replaced it.

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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Release Blitz - Among the Echoes by Aly Martinez

 

 Title: Among the Echoes

Author: Aly Martinez

Release Date: July 31, 2014

 

My name was Dr. Erica Hill. I was a victim, then a witness, and then I ceased to exist altogether.

I may still be breathing, but stripped of my identity, I have long since stopped living. I am invisible, and my life depends on my ability to stay in the shadows.

But he sees me.

Slate Andrews is the embodiment of everything I have been taught to avoid. He’s rich and famous, and one image of him with a woman would earn millions for any paparazzi lucky enough to snap it. He has vowed to protect me with his life, yet he exposes me with his every breath. I should be stronger and walk away. I should disappear. But I’m terrified he would come after me.

I’m on the run, determined not to take him down with me but absolutely unable to let him go.

My name is Riley Peterson…at least for today.

 

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I'm not quite sure where to begin... the one word that comes to my mind when I think of this author is genius.

I loved her first 2 books as well as her writing style so I was excited to read Among the Echoes. Little did I know I was going to be gasping and going "What the Fuck" after finishing the first chapter.

 
I believe I felt every emotion out there, and felt it to the extreme. The book was intense from the first page and I don't feel like I took a full deep breath until the very last word. After I finished, I needed to take a day to just regroup and think rationally about what I had just experienced. Let's not forget about the sex either. That's very important in a romance novel, I will admit, nothing is better than an erotic scene that makes you blush. I can assure you this book has that and then some.

I do not like putting spoilers in my reviews so it's kind of hard to explain to you why I loved this book so much. I will say for all you Aly Martinez fans....... you are going to freak out!

I give Among the Echoes 10 stars. I know technically I can only give 5 but there is no way on earth I will give this author just 5 stars. She is an amazing author with incredible talent! A "thank you" is not nearly enough... but, in the words of our dear Slate...

'I say the words I've probably said to him a million times since I met him. "Thank you."
He never responds, but he doesn't have to.'

 

~ Review by Stacey

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 F***ing Stars!

 

You know when you read those books that you just want to climb a mountain and yell for everyone to read it? No? Only I get those moments? Well after reading Among the Echoes you will know the feeling. Read this book. Read. This. Book!

I love Aly's Wrecked and Ruined series but this one just blew them out of the park. One of the best books I have read in 2014. It started off not so great because of the nightmare Erica and Leo were going through but it gets so much better.

Adam aka Slate, the big hunkalicious fighter, he can totally teach me self defence moves anytime. Riley aka Erica, goes from a scared girl into an amazing strong woman. These characters were meant for each other. Both coming from not so great pasts and working toward a picturesque future.

Among the Echoes is filled with angsty suspense, heartbreaking speeches and loving/tender moments. An all round perfect book for emotions. I could not put this book down at all. If you want a book hangover read Among the Echoes. Oh and that twist at the end... oh em gee! Enjoy :-)

~ Review by Keisha

 

 

 

 

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 Chicago, 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. 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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