Fighting for Flight (Fighting #1) by J.B. Salsbury

What happens when in order to win, you’re forced to lose?

The only daughter of an infamous Las Vegas pimp, Raven Morretti grew up an outsider. Liberated from the neglectful home of her prostitute mother, she finds solace as a mechanic. With few friends, she’s content with the simple life. Flying under the radar is all she knows, and more than she expects.

Until she catches the eye of local celebrity, UFL playboy Jonah Slade. 

Weeks away from his title fight, Jonah is determined to stay focused on everything he’s trained so hard to achieve. Undefeated in the octagon, he’s at the height of his career. But resisting Raven’s effortless allure and uncomplicated nature is a fight he can’t win. 

Jonah trades in his bad-boy reputation and puts his heart on the line. But when her father contacts her, setting in motion the ugly truth of her destiny, Jonah must choose. In a high-stakes gamble where love and freedom hang in the balance, a war is waged where the price of losing is a fate worse than death.

Will the hotheaded Jonah be able to restrain his inner fighter to save the woman he loves? 

Or will Raven be forced into a life she’s been desperate to avoid?

4.5 Stars

“You’re part of me now. I’d do anything for you. I’ll fight for your life as I’d fight my own.” ~ Jonah 

It was instant cover-love for me when I first came across this book. After I read the synopsis, I was further intrigued. A story involving a MMA Fighter and a daughter of a notorious Vegas Pimp…seriously?! Yea. I was all over this. I love stories involving sport celebrities, but I find that they’re even better when they involve tough-as-nails-sexy-tattooed-bad-boy MMA fighters. These guys are just badass Alphas! **Sigh** They are so appealing. They’re possessive, aggressive and fight for what is theirs, OMG, instant LOVE on my end. Love these kinds of Heroes. 

I’m drawn to her by some unseen force. Everything from my thoughts to my dick gravitates in her direction. Like getting caught in a rip tide, one minute I’m swimming, free to go in any direction, and then I feel a tug. 

…Yeah, that’s how it is with Raven. One minute I’m free, navigating the waters of my life, and, now, I feel a tug. 

Jonah “The Assassin” Slade has a reputation around Las Vegas. Not only is he a famous MMA fighter, but also he’s also infamous with the ladies. He’s pretty much a bag them, shag them and leave them type. He’s always functioned this way, figuring every woman out there just wants a piece of his fame and money. However when he meets Raven, his life will never be the same.

Raven is not your average woman. Her parents a prostitute and a notorious pimp. We learn in the very beginning that she was bred to become of one her father’s harem of escorts. He’s a very big fish in Vegas; rich and very well known in Vegas. She has been laying low as a mechanic and working in a garage. I love this part about her. Yes she’s sweet and beautiful, but I love that she’s not your typical girly-girl type. She first meets Jonah when he visits her garage looking to hire someone to fix up one of his classic cars. He’s heard of a great mechanic named Ray who can fix up and restore classic cars: Little did he know that the “Ray” is actually Raven. She’s unique and Jonah immediately takes notice. 

This story is almost an instant love kind. Almost. Raven certainly believes she is unworthy of love. Her parents didn’t really show her any growing up. Plus, how could anyone love a girl with her kind of background? No wonder she’s still a virgin at twenty. As for Jonah, well, he definitely falls for Raven fast, but he clearly is taken aback by his instant affection towards her. He tries to fight his feelings, but in the end, it was inevitable. 

I’ve been avoiding this since the day I left home, not wanting to be responsible for another person’s happiness and wellbeing. 

I have a choice to make, and screwing her out of my system isn’t one of them: face my fears and take a shot at a relationship or let her go. She’ll go on living her life until someone worthy of her love comes along.

Oh, hell no! 

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I love that it was told in dual POV, both Raven & Jonah’s. They both showed the depth of vulnerabilities and their capabilities to love and be loved. They both fight to be together, especially when Raven’s father comes to claim her. Lots of drama and tons and tons of sexy good times. I cannot wait for the next installment in this series. It’ll feature Jonah’s best friend and fighter, Blake. He is a freaking riot in this story and not to mention gorgeous. Gahh! Can’t wait!