Monday, May 16, 2016

Book Tour for Fighter Girl by Kathryn James (Review & GIVEAWAY)


Readers who enjoy unique heroines will find Fighter Girl by Kathryn James an exciting and thought-provoking read with its lead character who leaves her mark from the first page to the last.  Keep reading to get a tempting glimpse of this story of forbidden young love amidst prejudice and danger, along with my impressions of it, and discover even more about it by visiting the other sites hosting this tour.  In honor of this book make sure to fill out the form for the chance to win a $10 Amazon GC and an e-copy of this YA romance that releases tomorrow too!

“It began three days ago with a fight. Seems that for me, everything begins with a fight..."
Sammy Jo may be strong, fast and tough, even in heels, but she gets into trouble when she fights some local thugs to save a rich boy named Gregory.
Now bad guy McCloud is after her – and he’s even more dangerous than her forbidden love for Gregory.
Fighter Girl was published in the United Kingdom under the title GYPSY GIRL.

FIND AT GOODREADS here.

BUY AT AMAZON here.

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

From their over-the-top weddings to their colorful history to the prejudices they face today, the gypsy culture makes for a compelling tale that drew me to this story initially.  What kept me reading though was its strong-willed heroine and the forbidden romance between her and the proverbial boy next door. Theirs is a rocky journey as familial and societal prejudices keep them apart for most of the story with longing glances and fleeting touches full of desperation their only connection.  Throw in a bit of suspense and danger revolving around the world of illegal cage fighting and you end up with an action-packed tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat watching the early stages of an unforgettable romance that will change people's lives forever.

Sammy-Jo isn't your typical Gypsy girl as she prefers fighting over looking for a husband.  She gets a thrill out of being able to beat any guy who sees her as weak and her strength, both inside and out, will come in handy when she stumbles upon a dangerous secret that will change her life irrevocably.  Though Sammy's young in years she's extremely mature, taking on the responsibility of paying for her older sister's wedding with her fight winnings which takes her into the darkest and most dangerous parts of the cage fighting world.  Along the way she finds herself reunited with the young boy who left a lasting impression on her long ago and who she's intensely drawn to despite all the outside forces working against their HEA.  Sammy's a memorable and admirable heroine I rooted for every step of the way.  She had a kind heart, never judging people as they judged her.  Her fighting skills were impressive, which gave her the right to be so self-assured, and though she partly fought for the money it was the thrill and excitement of living life on the edge that drew her to the illegal fights.  She had lots of patience when it came to the poor treatment she received from others, the nasty insults hurled at her angered her but she never hurt others in retaliation.  Her patience was wore thin though by a very shrewish and demanding older sister who redefined the term Bridezilla and expressed Sammy's maturity even more blatantly in their interactions.  Her interactions with good guy Gregory were sweet but didn't occur near enough.  Their time together was fleeting and full of desperation but vibrated with intensity that left me longing for more.  Through everything Sammy showed herself to be the ideal heroine who could take care of herself, was loyal to her family and those she loved, and whose story is just beginning.  The connection between her and Gregory is undeniable and they've both taken the first steps towards an ending that will be epic yet full of twists and turns that I look forward to reading.

This was a story that had much to tell!  That sometimes led to a bit of melodrama and a storyline that got a bit bloated.  At the beginning this seems like a modern-day tale of Romeo and Juliet, but it soon takes a suspenseful turn involving illegal cage fighting and a villain involved in other sundry crimes. While it makes for compelling storytelling, I wish there had been more romance as Sammy and Gregory are a match made in heaven, supportive and protective of one another.  The nastiness of the outside world fades away whenever they're together.  With the romance on the back burner so too was Gregory, who we didn't get to know too deeply here.  He was honorable, never believing the things said about Sammy beyond what she told him.  He was in awe of her fighting skills but never emasculated by it which had me liking him all the more and looking forward to their romance maturing.  Along with that unforgettable couple came a cast of equally unforgettable secondary characters, with fellow fighter Rocky being the standout along with the funny master of storytelling Granny Katie.  Sammy once had a crush on the older and charismatic Rocky but they've settled into a flirty yet sibling-like relationship as he has revenge on his mind which has taken over his life.  I hope to see more of him and his antagonistic connection to the older woman aiding him in his plans against illegal cage fighting as it's an issue very close to him.  Sammy's Granny Katie was a spitfire full of wisdom and romantic tales.  Everything she looked at was a sign, which added to the Gypsy mystique, and everything she said came to fruition which spoke volumes about wisdom and age.  All in all this was an engaging read populated by many unique, colorful, and larger-than-life characters.  The author vividly depicted many aspects of the Gypsy culture, as well as the prejudices they face, to get readers engaged in thought-provoking dialogue while Americanizing parts of the locale which diminished the atmospheric impact.  This story is ultimately about a strong-willed young girl maturing into an even stronger adult and it's a privilege to see these early stages of her growth which has me counting down the days until the next installment and its epic finale.

My rating for this is a B.

*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

Kathryn lives in Leicester with her family, writing full time (and loves that!) Kathryn always wanted to become an author and wrote her first story at age eight. But it took quite a while and lots of different jobs before she got published.
She's worked with gypsy and traveller children, working from a converted bus with a rainbow on the side, doing video and photography projects, and documenting travelling lives.
Mist draws on and is influenced by her work with this community.
She's also written scripts for a local video production company, many of them for children and teenagers.

**********GIVEAWAY**********

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6 comments:

  1. Great review, Jody! This sounds like a fun read and unique, too! Glad you liked it! :)

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  2. Thanks for sharing your review - I'm looking forward to checking it out myself :)

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  3. I found your impressions helpful thank you. I am curious.

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  4. Nice review! I'm looking forward to reading a new author.
    Lori

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  5. I love the idea of a strong woman saving the man! Thank you for sharing!

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