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Review

4.5 “ I will fight the entire world for you” stars

I love this book! A strong woman shattered by trauma and living in constant danger, a guilt-ridden man determined to protect her, and a famous but highly private boxing champ. No, it’s not a threesome, and there is definitely no love triangle, but it is a story featuring incredible relationships and one all-consuming love story that absolutely stole my heart.

Erica and Leo are living life on the run in the Witness Protection Program. Erica was a witness in a high-profile trial after being abducted and viciously brutalised (this part of the story is told in brutally graphic detail, and includes sexual assault, so please be aware that it’s not easy to read). Leo was an undercover agent at the time and is the man who saved her, and he has made it his mission in life to protect her. They are currently living under the assumed identities of Riley and Dave, and they live a quiet life, constantly on edge, as they attempt to stay as out of site as possible.

The Heavyweight Champion of the World, Slate Andrews, hates the celebrity life, so after his big fights he retreats to his childhood home and hides out in an apartment where he can hide from the pressures of his life and regroup. And his apartment just happens to be right next door to Erica and Leo.

From Slate and Erica’s very first encounter, he can see that she is terrified, and as a protector by nature, he is drawn to her. But as they spend a bit of time together, she starts to relax with him, and he starts to see a whole new side to her and their mutual attraction grows.

I loved the set up of this relationship! From the very start, Slate is gentle and understanding with Erica and does his best to be there for her and help her build her confidence. He doesn’t know what happened in her past, but he isn’t stupid and he knows that she is deeply scarred, and he is beautifully patient with her.

“I won’t push you, beautiful. Anything that happens from here on out is completely up to you.”

Slate and Erica together are something very special. He wants her more than anything, but he also wants to help her recover from the crippling fear that she lives with. He is understandably frustrated by her refusal to open up to him, but his acceptance of her and the way he deals with her is beautiful, and the romance is beautifully swoony.

“I need some truths, beautiful. I don’t want you to relive any details for me, but even the general idea of who you really are would be amazing.”
“Slate,” I whisper, swallowing around the newly formed lump in my throat.
“I want you. All of you. Not these little bits I hear echoing around the room. I just want you.”

“Erica, I love you. I never knew you before you had these scars, but that doesn’t mean I won’t spend my entire life trying to erase them from the inside out … Everyone has scars, Erica. Don’t for a second think yours are any different based on how you got them. I love you— scars and all.”

And when he went all alpha and claimed his girl, the man actually gave me shivers.

“I’m not some damsel in distress you can just swoop off her feet and save, Prince Charming.”
…
“Fuck your fairytale. I just want you. I’ll make my own God damn happily ever after. But you’re the one who is mistaken. You’ll be at the end of that story, beautiful. You either come willingly or you force me into the dark after you. It doesn’t matter to me, because either way, I’ll find you.”

And oh my God, the man is hot!!! There is dirty talking, sizzling make-out scenes, hot sex, and even sweet and tender sex, and it’s all steamy as hell! And it’s so meaningful to their relationship as it ties in so closely with Erica reclaiming her life, and I thought it was really well done – particularly the scene where she finally let’s go with him… DAYUM!

I loved watching Erica slowly start to find herself again. She is an amazing character. She has endured trauma that would break a lot of people, but she has dealt with it and moved forward with her life. She is still tormented by the past, but she has absolute trust in both of the men who care so deeply for her, and with Slate and Leo by her side she works hard to find happiness again.

“You gave me back the pieces that were stolen from me. You gave me back myself.”
“You did that all on your own, beautiful,” he says, leaning forward to kiss me.
“You’re wrong, but I love you anyway.”

So with all of that swoon and hotness, and the fantastic banter and sweet moments between them, yeah, Slate is pretty much the perfect man for her. But his status as a celebrity (however reluctant he finds it) is the worst possible situation for Erica to be in, and combined with the continued threat on her life, there are some big hurdles for them to have to deal with. But it’s all functional, with no stupid behaviour, and I loved watching it all unfold.

And a quick word about Leo, because, OMG, I love him! And I love his and Erica’s relationship. He looks after her like a big brother, and wants nothing more than for her to be safe and happy. The genuine love between them was beautiful to see after everything that they had been through.

“Please stop hiding and actually live your life.” He pauses long enough to squeeze my shoulder. “It’s killing me to watch you fade into the background.”

This is a quick, exciting read which had me sucked in from the very first page, and I didn’t want to put it down. It’s the third book that I have read by Aly Martinez and once again she brings the feels, but with each book her writing gets tighter, and she’s done a great job with this one. And after that teaser at the end, I can’t wait to see more of the gorgeous Leo!

4.5 stars.

 

The Wrecked & Ruined series