Against the Ropes by Sarah Castille

He scared me. He thrilled me. And after one touch, all I could think about was getting more…

Makayla never thought she’d set foot in an underground mixed-martial arts club. But if anyone needs a medic on hand, it’s these guys. Trouble is, at her first sight of the club’s owner she’s the one feeling breathless.

All sleek muscle and restrained power, the man they call Torment plays to win at any cost. Whether it’s in the ring or in the bedroom, he knows exactly when to use a soft touch and when to launch a full-on assault. He always knows just how far he can push. And he’s about to tempt Makayla in ways she never imagined…

3.75-4 Stars

Fight terms skitter through my brain. Naked. Back. Rear. Mount. Submission. Dominant. Pound. 

If you didn’t know why I love reading MMA books, just read the above quote and you’ll automatically know the reason. Nice right? Reading those words, you know that anyone with a perverted mind, like me, would automatically think dirty things. 

I was browsing through my Kindle when I came across this impromptu purchase I made a bit ago. I figured, meh! Why not give it a go? I love MMA Heroes! So here I am, and I wasn’t disappointed. 

My pulse pound so hard I can barely hear them over the rush of blood through my veins. This is sports. It has nothing to do with sex. Sports. Sports. Sports.

Torment puts his hand on my shoulder. “Lie on your back, hands over your head, legs apart.”

Sex. 

Makayla (Mac) is at a crossroads in her life. She doesn’t really know what direction her life is taking, especially in the career department. She’s behind in her student loan and she needs money stat. That’s the reason why we first find her at a seedy fight club selling tickets to an underground fight, though she does have a strong aversion to violence. This is where her life changes. This is where she meets the club’s owner, Torment. 

“Everything you do overwhelms me. You’re big. You’re strong. You’re covered in incredible tattoos. You ride a monster motorcycle. You have a tendency to glare and shout and stomp around when things don’t go your way. You’re bossy and controlling. You take overprotectiveness to the extreme. But even with all that, I think I can handle you.” 

Max, aka Torment, is intrigued when he first meets Mac. She’s a bit of a whirlwind to be honest. He wants to find out more about her. When he finds out she was once a medical school student with an EMT background, it presents the perfect opportunity for him to see more of Mac. So he offers her a part time job as the club’s medic. 

Mac is bombarded with a lot of emotions when she’s around Max. It’s no secret the man is sex on a stick, but the more she finds out about him, the more her feelings are conflicted. Max lives in a world of violence. With the type of past she has, she definitely doesn’t need a guy like him. Unfortunately her heart and her libido makes it hard for her to stay away. But will Max’s overprotectiveness and controlling ways be too much to handle? 

“He upset you. He’s lucky to be standing. No one will hurt you when I’m around…in any way.” 

This was a very fast and enjoyable read. You guys know I’m a sucker for strong Alpha males, and Max fit the bill perfectly. I really liked Max and Mac’s characters. Mac was very likeable and as for Max, well he’s just plain ole sexy. Their chemistry is pretty hot and you guys know I love steam. As an extra bonus, the setting of the book took place in the Bay Area, so I really enjoyed that aspect as well. I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast, steamy MMA-themed book.