As a fan of MMA-themed romances and the sexy and snarky men who live in this world, I found myself enamored with the fighter weighed down by his past in Let Me by Cecy Robson. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of the romance between two emotionally bruised souls, along with my impressions of it, and learn even more by visiting the other sites hosting this tour. In honor of this second installment in the O'Brien Family series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a prize pack of books and swag from Ms. Robson's works too!
Once he was broken beyond repair. Now this MMA contender is fighting to be a better man—for her. RT Book Reviews proclaims that the O’Brien Family series from award-winning author Cecy Robson “has the hottest brothers ever!” And in Let Me, it is Finn’s turn to discover how love can heal the deepest wounds.
A mixed martial arts star on the rise, Finn O’Brien dismantles his opponents with brutal precision. And yet beneath his fierce persona, Finn is raw from a trauma he’s buried for years . . . until the day his deep-rooted rage erupts and lands him in court-mandated therapy. Finn’s not one to bare his soul, but if talking it out means meeting beautiful women like Sol Marieles, he’ll give it a shot.
Sol is working toward her master’s degree in psychology, and already she feels like she’s in over her head. With an important internship on the line and a scary family situation demanding her attention, the last thing Sol needs is Finn around to distract her. The man is ripped and seriously sexy yet it’s his troubled side that warns her to keep her distance. But their attraction is intense, and he clearly has the heat to see how far and fast their passion takes them.
Alone, Finn and Sol have been fighting to find happiness in their lives. Together, there’s no stopping them as they face their greatest challenges—not in the ring, but in their hearts.
EXCERPT:
I lean against the tile with my arms spread, allowing the water to beat against my back. It’s too hot. I should turn it down, but I don’t bother. Eventually, like everything else, the sensation fades.
I’m not sure how long I’m in that position. A few seconds? A few minutes? But then Easton and his trainer Yefim are suddenly there. “You got lucky, O’Brien,” Yefim calls out, taunting me with his thick eastern European accent.
Shit. Like all the trash talk before the fight wasn’t enough.
“Did you hear me, you pussy?” he fires back when I don’t answer. “Did you hear me, you goddamn coward?"
Coward? Fuck you. It’s what I think, but not what I say, focusing instead on the streams of water that gather along my feet before they swirl into the drain.
It doesn’t help. The rage that’s building, the one I only manage to barely keep in? It stirs in my gut like a heavy pot filled with hate, sin, and all the curses my Ma would still beat my ass for saying.
“What’re you doing?” Yefim asks.
His voice is closer, he’s drawing near. I doesn’t matter that I’m standing here naked. He wants to be next to me. I shudder, that feeling I keep buried drilling its way up.
“I know about you,” Yefim says, not bothering to keep his voice low. “But everyone knows, don’t they? Even if you don’t want them to."
My body shakes a little more, but it’s not from the cooling water. It’s from his words and all that anger they trigger. Don’t do it. Don’t go there.
“You like to keep it a secret. Don’t you, pussy?"
Yefim laughs when I keep my trap shut. He thinks I’m backing down, just like Easton did before his face met the mat. “He’s crying,” he calls out to Easton. “What? Not so tough now?"
That’s where he’s dead wrong. Every muscle I’ve conditioned serves a purpose―to take down those who fuck with me. And right now, Yefim is seriously fucking with me.
“You like to pretend that it’s girls you like, don’t you?” he says. “But that’s not true, is it? Oh, no, that’s not true at all . . ."
I raise my chin, knowing that someone’s not leaving without bleeding, and I’ve bled enough tonight.
Yefim kicks at my calf. “What? Nothing to say? Can’t speak without your boyfriend here?"
“Boyfriend?” Easton asks, laughing. “No fucking way."
“Yes. Way,” Yefim insists. “Didn’t you know this little pussy takes it up the ass―"
I punch him so hard, I feel his teeth crack against my knuckles. For someone with decades of boxing experience he never saw me coming. But I see Easton flying at me out of the corner of my eye. I toss him over my shoulder, slamming him hard onto the ceramic tile floor. Like in the octagon, I throw myself on top of him, my fists colliding against his skin.
Voices rush forward, telling me to stop. A woman screams, but I don’t stop fighting off the bodies trying to grab me, breaking through the arms wrenching me back. I need to hit him―I need to feel my fists meeting his face―I need to feel something.
God damn it. I need to feel alive.
I don’t want the pain.
I don’t want the terror.
But once more, it’s all I feel.
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FIND THE O'BRIEN FAMILY SERIES ON GOODREADS here.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
As a reader who loves romances that balance intense emotions with fun and flirty banter, it's this perfect blending found in Let Me that captivated me from the first page to the last. When two bruised souls are brought together the sparks fly, and the tears fall, as they cling to each other for support in a journey full of ups and downs that put them and us through the wringer. Family is everything though and it's only through their love and support that readers are given such a satisfying conclusion that left me cheering from such a memorable and empowering story of survival.
Finn has always been seen as the charming and jovial O'Brien brother popular with women and a rising star in the MMA world. Behind that facade though hides a little boy still dealing with the anger and fear of being sexually abused. Those feelings are now bubbling ever closer to the surface and resulting in dangerous behavior and violent outbursts that may jeopardize his career and his life. Each smile has become a lie as darkness is overtaking his soul, even when in the ring the punches no longer make him feel anything other than numb. The change in his demeanor not only scares his family, but it's starting to scare him too as he's forced to admit he needs help. He's always been attracted to Sol and her warm smiles and caring nature, but he never made a move before out of respect for her being like family. Being close to her brings him his only glimpses of brightness and her smiles bring him warmth from the coldness of his grief and anger. Though he worries his darkness will hurt her, he'll do anything to claim her. Using all his sweet and sexy charm he wages a sensual war for her heart and soul that had me grinning one moment and frustrated the next as fate rears it's ugly head to mar their journey to HEA and forced Finn to deal with his past once and for all in an ending that was heartbreaking yet uplifting. Finn is immensely appealing, sexy and funny, and I adored how special he made Sol feel. He was charming and only wanted to make her happy, supporting her in her own emotional battles. Being with Sol brought out a lightness to his soul and when apart I feared the darkness would overtake him. The issues he dealt with were believable and packed an emotional wallop and it is with a respectful hand that Ms. Robson depicted his emotions. It was a vivid portrayal that had me sharing his pain and proud of him for surviving it.
Sol has her own issues to deal with as her mother's mental illness is getting worse and she feels as if she's the only one who can help her heal. It leaves little time for her to have a life of her own as guilt is her constant companion, but Finn is too tempting of a distraction. Just as her smiles become important to him, so too does seeing his happiness as she senses the darkness overtaking his soul. If she can't heal her mother, she'll be there for Finn as their relationship morphs from flirty friends to sexually combustible couplings. Being with him gives her a chance to escape from the sadness of slowly losing her mother to her mental illness. When tragedy strikes though, it tests them both and puts their HEA in jeopardy. Sol's reasoning at this juncture left me frustrated but I chalked it up to her guilt speaking and didn't hold it against her for too long as she was there for Finn when he needed her most in an ending that was emotionally draining but powerful. Sol's a strong-willed woman who's immensely loyal to those she cares about. Being so caring of others has her putting her own needs and desires aside as seen by the slowly evolving relationship between her and Finn as her mother's needs weighed on their time together. She's a dutiful daughter which sometimes blinds her to the truth of her mother's illness and left me sometimes frustrated in her dealings with Finn. Despite everything she was there to bring Finn back from the edge which ultimately won me over.
This was a fast-paced story full of intense emotions both in and out of the ring. The issues Finn was dealing with were palpable, his descent into darkness heartbreaking. He wasn't alone though and with each family member making an appearance it shows how close-knit they are and how supportive they are of one another. I enjoyed these scenes, and their realistically loving yet playful banter, as they provided an update on previous couples and gave readers hints of future storylines. I adored Finn for his sweet and sexy nature and for his all-consuming feelings for Sol that radiated off him even as he had trouble speaking them aloud. Sol was a very caring woman who was willing to sacrifice her happiness for others in actions that left me frustrated but empathetic to her reasons. Together, Sol and Finn are combustible with interactions teeming with witty banter and scorching encounters. Seeing them together brought a smile to my face as they brought out the best in each other and I was rooting for them through all their ups and downs. Ms. Robson handled the weighty issue of childhood sexual abuse with a caring hand in expressing the powerful emotions Finn dealt with as an adult. His emotions were visceral and pulled me into his darkness completely. It resulted in a painful journey to HEA that was richly rewarding for the empowerment it ultimately gave him. The MMA world was equally vividly depicted in exhilarating fight scenes that had me feeling each punch along with hearing the cheers of the crowd. It's a bloody world at times that Ms. Robson didn't shy away from. From start to finish this was a story that captivated me and had me falling in love with another O'Brien brother. It showed a powerful man reeling from his past saved through the power of love which makes him the quintessential hero. The emotions were powerful with a message that was uplifting and has me thinking of this story still and the engaging characters that made it possible. Readers won't want to miss this story as Ms. Robson has once again crafted an unforgettable read that I highly recommend!
Finn has always been seen as the charming and jovial O'Brien brother popular with women and a rising star in the MMA world. Behind that facade though hides a little boy still dealing with the anger and fear of being sexually abused. Those feelings are now bubbling ever closer to the surface and resulting in dangerous behavior and violent outbursts that may jeopardize his career and his life. Each smile has become a lie as darkness is overtaking his soul, even when in the ring the punches no longer make him feel anything other than numb. The change in his demeanor not only scares his family, but it's starting to scare him too as he's forced to admit he needs help. He's always been attracted to Sol and her warm smiles and caring nature, but he never made a move before out of respect for her being like family. Being close to her brings him his only glimpses of brightness and her smiles bring him warmth from the coldness of his grief and anger. Though he worries his darkness will hurt her, he'll do anything to claim her. Using all his sweet and sexy charm he wages a sensual war for her heart and soul that had me grinning one moment and frustrated the next as fate rears it's ugly head to mar their journey to HEA and forced Finn to deal with his past once and for all in an ending that was heartbreaking yet uplifting. Finn is immensely appealing, sexy and funny, and I adored how special he made Sol feel. He was charming and only wanted to make her happy, supporting her in her own emotional battles. Being with Sol brought out a lightness to his soul and when apart I feared the darkness would overtake him. The issues he dealt with were believable and packed an emotional wallop and it is with a respectful hand that Ms. Robson depicted his emotions. It was a vivid portrayal that had me sharing his pain and proud of him for surviving it.
Sol has her own issues to deal with as her mother's mental illness is getting worse and she feels as if she's the only one who can help her heal. It leaves little time for her to have a life of her own as guilt is her constant companion, but Finn is too tempting of a distraction. Just as her smiles become important to him, so too does seeing his happiness as she senses the darkness overtaking his soul. If she can't heal her mother, she'll be there for Finn as their relationship morphs from flirty friends to sexually combustible couplings. Being with him gives her a chance to escape from the sadness of slowly losing her mother to her mental illness. When tragedy strikes though, it tests them both and puts their HEA in jeopardy. Sol's reasoning at this juncture left me frustrated but I chalked it up to her guilt speaking and didn't hold it against her for too long as she was there for Finn when he needed her most in an ending that was emotionally draining but powerful. Sol's a strong-willed woman who's immensely loyal to those she cares about. Being so caring of others has her putting her own needs and desires aside as seen by the slowly evolving relationship between her and Finn as her mother's needs weighed on their time together. She's a dutiful daughter which sometimes blinds her to the truth of her mother's illness and left me sometimes frustrated in her dealings with Finn. Despite everything she was there to bring Finn back from the edge which ultimately won me over.
This was a fast-paced story full of intense emotions both in and out of the ring. The issues Finn was dealing with were palpable, his descent into darkness heartbreaking. He wasn't alone though and with each family member making an appearance it shows how close-knit they are and how supportive they are of one another. I enjoyed these scenes, and their realistically loving yet playful banter, as they provided an update on previous couples and gave readers hints of future storylines. I adored Finn for his sweet and sexy nature and for his all-consuming feelings for Sol that radiated off him even as he had trouble speaking them aloud. Sol was a very caring woman who was willing to sacrifice her happiness for others in actions that left me frustrated but empathetic to her reasons. Together, Sol and Finn are combustible with interactions teeming with witty banter and scorching encounters. Seeing them together brought a smile to my face as they brought out the best in each other and I was rooting for them through all their ups and downs. Ms. Robson handled the weighty issue of childhood sexual abuse with a caring hand in expressing the powerful emotions Finn dealt with as an adult. His emotions were visceral and pulled me into his darkness completely. It resulted in a painful journey to HEA that was richly rewarding for the empowerment it ultimately gave him. The MMA world was equally vividly depicted in exhilarating fight scenes that had me feeling each punch along with hearing the cheers of the crowd. It's a bloody world at times that Ms. Robson didn't shy away from. From start to finish this was a story that captivated me and had me falling in love with another O'Brien brother. It showed a powerful man reeling from his past saved through the power of love which makes him the quintessential hero. The emotions were powerful with a message that was uplifting and has me thinking of this story still and the engaging characters that made it possible. Readers won't want to miss this story as Ms. Robson has once again crafted an unforgettable read that I highly recommend!
My rating for this is an A!
*I got this book from NetGalley for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
Cecy Robson is a new adult and contemporary author of the Shattered Past series, the O’Brien Family novels and upcoming Carolina Beach novels, as well as the award-winning author of the Weird Girls urban fantasy romance series. A 2016 double nominated RITA®finalist for Once Pure and Once Kissed, Cecy is a recovering Jersey girl living in the South who enjoys carbs way too much, and exercise way too little. Gifted and cursed with an overactive imagination, you can typically find her on her laptop silencing the yappy characters in her head by telling their stories.
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What a great review!! Thank you so much for sharing the love!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by! It WAS a great read, the kind that makes you feel good. It's a satisfying series thus far and I'm definitely looking forward to the next two installments after the glimpses of Wren & Declan's stories in the back of this book. Declan especially has me excited as the heroine appears to be deaf & uses sign language. Being a quadriplegic has me always looking for books with disabled characters & I'm adding his story to my TBR mountain right now.
DeleteThe Scarf Princess
I'm deeply touched and humbled by your review. Thank you so much for taking the time to read, review, and feature LET ME. *wipes tears*
ReplyDeleteThank YOU for stopping by, Cecy! With your busy writing schedule I'm honored you took the time to read my review. Thanks for crafting such a powerful read & I'm looking forward to Declan's story & his intriguing match (being disabled myself has me always on the lookout for characters that reflect my life experiences)!
DeleteThe Scarf Princess
Hey, Jody. I hope you enjoy Feel Me (Declan and Melissa's story) as well as Crave Me (Wren and Evan's). Feel Me is already written, but it's a heavier book so I'm releasing Wren's first because it's a bit lighter in more in tune with Once Kissed. Thank you, again!
DeleteNice review! Congrats to Cecy on being a RITA finalist!
ReplyDelete