The Fighter and The Fallen Woman
Released: March 9, 2015
Historical Romance
Carina Press

Reviewed by Mandi

This book has a great cover, and a great premise and a great blurb. A debut author to boot. The actual story has good things and some things that frustrated me. Let me set it up.

Blurb: In twelve years as a bangtail, Lady has never feared a man’s kiss. Owned by the ruthless Hannibal Adams, the “Earl of the East End,” she’s draped in jewels and dead inside. Lady learns fear, however, when she kisses Mr. Adams’s best fighter for luck—for King sees the real woman locked away behind finery and falsity.

King’s life is made of fists and scars, the only things that have ever felt real to him. Even his name came from the man who owns him—the man who turned him into a champion. From the moment Lady’s kiss sends him reeling, King resists wanting what he can’t have. Mr. Adams never gives up what he owns.

When Lady is sent to nurse King through the tournament, she finds a new strength through the one man who’s never treated her like a whore. King discovers that the woman who shares his dark world might also be the one to lead him out. And as the tournament comes to a violent finale, Lady and King must decide—stay spoiled and shackled, or break free and risk what happens when fear and dreams collide.

First let me note that Hannibal Adams, mostly referred to as Mr. Adams in this book, is a truly brutal, ruthless man. I appreciate the author making him so vile that he made me sick – because otherwise this story would not have worked. Mr. Adams owns both King and Lady, and they know just how ruthless he can be. He has killed previous mistresses, making Lady’s current house face the grave of his former mistress. He abuses Lady out of sheer enjoyment, and holds King by a very tight leash. If he was any less brutal, I would have demanded King to punch his lights out and get on with the story. But Mr. Adams is very wealthy and has spies everywhere, making a romance between King and Lady very difficult.

Lady shined in this book – I truly enjoyed her. She has a lot of spirit and although works tirelessly to keep Mr. Adams happy (which means less beatings) her spirit always shined through. She is smart and knows how to play the game Mr. Adams demands. She is so much smarter than Mr. Adams, but he is so slimy and a weasel, it’s hard for her to get out of her situation. In one regard, she is cared for – at least with money and jewels. But the horrid acts he performs on her are so much for one woman to take. Her journey to finally rid herself of Mr. Adams is a long and dark one.

This story is heavy on Mr. Adams. The fighting is detailed well and Mr. Adams starts several bets with another leader of fighters, and things get messy with this particular man. The stakes are high, and secondary secret meetings take place trying to get certain fighters to throw certain matches. On top of this, Mr. Adams always has his eye on Lady making sure she never once sways towards any other person than himself. I think King gets lost in this a bit. I needed King to act like a brute at some points. While King is a big, burly fighter, he is very gentle outside of the ring. Taking in an injured bird and never seeming to raise his voice. I wanted him to punch a wall and demand Lady be his. I wanted him to be outraged at the injustice of Mr. Adams having her night after night. But King is quiet. King day dreams of little houses and gardens. I wanted King to be a little more alpha. I also wanted him to have more page time. I got a little tired over Mr. Adams page after page.

Another frustration with this one is the ending. I didn’t like it. It felt….a little out of place and I don’t know – we get a happy ever after, I just wasn’t a fan of how the conclusion played out. I’m definitely interested to see what else this author releases. I like her voice.

Grade: C+

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