Review Blog Tour: Down for the Count Series by Christa Cervone
On the Ropes (Book 1)
Going the Distance (Book 2)
ON THE ROPES:
A murderer’s child…A foster child…A troubled teen…Gabriel ‘The Saint’ Vega has never had an easy life. Being shuffled from one foster home to another after his father murdered his mother, he found himself in and out of trouble with the law. Never giving a damn about himself, let alone anyone else, his life was spiraling out of control; fast. Until one man and one sport changed everything.
Frankie Carbone taught Saint how to handle his anger and rejection; by fighting it out in the ring. On his way to stardom, Saint finds himself pushed into the spotlight and into the arms of more women than he can ever imagine; he’s completely content with one night stands and random sex.
Then Salem Harris comes walking into his life and changes his game plan. Saint finds himself wanting Salem in all the ways that scare him. She is off limits; taken. But that doesn’t stop Saint from going after what he wants, and he wants her.
Frankie showed Saint a new way of life with Boxing, but will Salem give him the one thing he’s never known – love? Will Saint find himself fighting for the one thing he thinks he doesn’t deserve or will Salem end up breaking his heart? Gabriel ‘The Saint’ Vega has had to fight for every good thing he’s gotten in his life.
I truly enjoyed this book!
This story delivered on setting us up into the world of fighter Gabriel "The Saint" Vega. I fell for him right away! He acts tough but has a HUGE heart!
I liked it a lot that this story was more than just about a guy and girl getting together.
Heartbreak, cheating, loyalty, finding one self, trust, making bad decisions, falling in love....yep this book has it all.
When I started the book, my heart broke for Gabriel and his brother Jase. They don't start their lives well. The book then goes into their lives as adults years later and we get to see how they turned out. Being a box fighter now, Gabriel gets an opportunity to be sponsored by a big shot guy named Blaine & that is when his life changes when he meets Salem.
Salem seems like a challenge to Gabriel at first, but he soon finds out, he doesn't want to just be with her, he wants more. Their chemistry was hot and also had me giggle at times of how they both seemed to hold back on their feelings towards one another with acting out and being over dramatic. We all do that and can relate.
I am looking forward to Book#2 in this series. I want to know what happens next!
Go get this book and fall for "The Saint"!
**ARC kindly provided by AUTHOR in exchange for an honest review**
GOING THE DISTANCE:
Boxing saved Gabriel’s life…
From surviving a hellish childhood, to reuniting with his lost brother, only to struggle with helping him battle his drug addiction—a whirlpool of addiction that threatens to drag his brother under.
Life’s been a roller coaster for Gabriel ‘The Saint’ Vega…
Just when his career hits the fast track, he finally finds love with Salem, at least for a short time. But social differences, obligations, and misguided good intentions tore Gabriel and Salem apart before they could ever really get started.
Is Salem capable of breaking away from the ropes that bind her to doing what’s expected rather than what and whom she desires? Can Gabriel convince Salem that their feelings are worth fighting for?
Does their relationship have what it takes to go the distance?
Yes!! And "The Saint" is back!
***You should read "On The Ropes" 1st before reading this Review.***
I fell in love with him in book#1, but this book just made me love him even more with Saint.
Christa Cervone knows how to write! She knows how to make us the reader connect with the characters she created.
The story picks up from where it left off in "On The Ropes", Saint & Salem are not talking to each other. Saint is trying his hardest to forget Salem but he just can't. He can't completely forget the only woman that has touched his heart. He goes back to focusing on his boxing and trying to help his brother Jase stay clean.
Salem is realizing that she has made a mistake leaving Saint. She is learning that she can't keep trying to be what everyone else wants her to be. She misses the way she felt being around Saint, which is being herself & feeling loved.
This book is a very good mix of finding oneself, love, a bit of WTF drama & tragedy, hot sexy times (that had me needing a cold shower more than once afterwards), and learning that love comes in many different acts and forms from everyone.
I really enjoyed how we got to see Saint & Salem find themselves and each other. When Saint felt, I felt. He totally made me cry, laugh & totally want him hard!
" I love you, Salem Harris. I love you more than I've ever loved anything in my lifetime. My heart beats for you, my body aches for you, and my soul would die without you..." -Saint
Go get this series and fall in love with being in love!
**ARC kindly provided by AUTHOR in exchange for an honest review**
Born and raised in New England, Christa is a married mother of three. She began writing her first book, Broken, in October 2012, as a love story to her husband, Frank. During the writing process, Christa managed to keep her book a secret from the majority of her family and friends, including her mother. She finally revealed that she had written a book on her personal Facebook page just two weeks before Broken was released. Broken was released in February 2013, and within twenty-four hours of its release, it was on Amazon's Movers and Shakers list as well as in the Top 20 Erotica. Christa released her second novel, On the Ropes - Book One in the Down for the Count series, in February 2014. On the Ropes has also climbed the charts on Amazon, hitting the Top 10 Sports Fiction and the Top 20 Romance Sports Fiction lists. Book Two, Going the Distance, was released July 2014 and claimed the number 3 spot in the Interracial category as well being in the top 20 in Erotica on Amazon. Limitless Publishing has recently acquired the Down for the Count series and will be re-releasing the series under their publishing label in May 2015. Along with the Down for the Count series, Christa's new series titled, Can't Stop Lovin' You, will also be released under Limitless Publishing. The series will have at least four books, Dream On, What it Takes, Sweet Emotion and Hole in my Soul. Dream On is slated for 2015 release.
