Outside The Ropes by Ashley Claudy Pages: 438
Published by Createspace Independent Pub on January 1, 2015
Series: Outside the Ropes #1
Genres: dark, Romance, New Adult, Violence
Source: ecopy from Author
In the ring, Regan has control. Outside the ropes, she fights to survive.
Regan Sommers spent her life fighting. Fighting foster parents, kids in the group home, and classmates. But the night she has to fight for her life changes everything. Now, she's fighting for money in the ring, and from the first punch she's addicted. Every addiction has a price though, and this one is the gym's star boxer, Gage Lawson. He may come in an enticing tattooed package, but his demands are more than she can handle. The responding officer from that night, Anthony Fields, comes with no demands. He wants whatever she's willing to give, and Regan can handle that. She can definitely handle him.
But no help comes string free, and Regan's not the only one with a hard past and scars to cover. The life she was trying to escape is nothing compared to the danger she's in the middle of now, and she can't fight her way out.
***Reader please be aware: Story contains mature content such as: Drugs, sex, abuse, and explicit language that may be upsetting for some.****
Outside the Ropes is the first book in a new adult sports/crime contemporary romance series by the same name. It is dark, gritty and more violent than I am used to. This book pushed me outside of my normal comfort zone while reading, but I have to say I enjoyed it. I know almost nothing about boxing, but I thought Ashley Claudy made the sport accessible to the reader. Plus there is a lot of action, violence and romance to keep the story moving and to grab your attention.
Regan has had a tough life in the foster system, and Outside the Ropes starts out with her getting jumped on her way home and beat up pretty bad. That should set the tone for the whole story actually. But she survives and as a result she is brought into the world of competitive boxing. She loves it almost immediately, and through this world she meets a whole slew of new people. I really liked the whole cast of characters in Outside the Ropes. Dexter and Gage were obviously my favorites, but I have a soft spot for Anthony too. I know that might seem crazy if you have read the book, but I do. Even though Dexter and Gage are brothers, they could not be more different, which is always fun for me to read. I like a variety of character types in my reads.
I wanted a little more hinting at Gage’s interest in Regan early on. At one point in the story, after talking to her only a handful of times, he said something like “well I think you know how much I like you.” And I was thinking, really? I don’t know that. I mean, I could have guessed because I knew he was going to be the love interest, but I didn’t see much interest manifesting on the pages of the story. Now after they had that conversation, I totally saw his interest. (and no it wasn’t insta love, nor did they get together at that point, but it was at least obvious that he liked her.)
Outside the Ropes is not the typical story that I read, but I am glad that I read it. I found myself getting caught up in Regan’s world. I think fans of gritty stories with fighting and violence will absolutely love this series. And if you are like me, and you like your romance on the fluffy and light side, give this series a try anyway! I think you will enjoy it. I am already itching for the next book.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
kindlemom1
Oh a darker read! I like these every now and then but you really do have to be prepared for them.
Wonderful review Michelle!
Sarah @ One Curvy Blogger
Hum, not really into these types of romances here lately. But Outside the Ropes does sound interesting!
patty
Thank you I can’t wait to read them!
Jazmen
This doesn’t really sound like a winner. I think I’m passing on it. Thanks for the review!