Against the Ropes (Redemption #1) by Jeanette Murray

Against the Ropes (Redemption #1)

by Jeanette Murray (Goodreads Author)

BLURB:

The author of Below the Belt continues her First to Fight series with a novel of one Marine’s battle to come out on top—in life and love…

As a troubled teen, Gregory Higgs channeled his energy into boxing instead of breaking the law. The ring gave him purpose and something to strive for. So did the Marines. Combining the two seemed like a natural fit.

Another natural fit? Reagan Robilard, the sweet athlete liaison who keeps all the fighters out of trouble and manages their PR—a job that gets more challenging when someone digs up the truth about Greg’s not-so-shiny past after equipment is vandalized at the gym.

Even if it wasn’t her job, Reagan can’t let Greg take the fall. Because passion doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to matters of the heart…


REVIEW:

Against the Ropes is the second book in Jeanette Murray's  First to Fight Series, however, it can be read as a stand alone book.  I personally did not read the first book and had no issues with keeping up with the characters and story.  Gregory Higgs was introduced in the first book Below the Belt but Reagan was introduced here in Against the Ropes.  

We have two characters who are brought together at work.  They have similar issues within their hearts and minds in regard to family but for entirely different reasons.  Raegan comes from an extremely poor negative overbearing family where Greg grew up without one.  She is trying to build a life, prove her family wrong by getting 3000 miles away and all he's ever wanted was a family to care enough to give him hell and make him miserable.  

Raegan is the new liaison for the Marines boxing team.  Greg has just officially made the team.  Almost as soon as he sees her he feels this connection, he's protective and she's his. She's different for him, not that he was a manwhore but he has nothing against  being with someone he's interested in if the feeling is mutual, he just didn't hook up to hook up with just anyone.  

Raegan notices Greg and is instantly attracted but she has a job to do and she will not allow anything to stop her from doing that job.  A job that she stretched the truth to get, a job that's starting off on a bad foot because someone is out to get the team.  Someone is vandalizing the teams cars, the gym, the bus. They are stealing equipment and she has to get the team off of the media's radar.  There are protestors and the government is cutting everything.  Everyone surrounding the team especially Raegans boss is pushing for resolution.  Except she has his brick wall after brick wall.  

In between Greg sets his plans in motion to get the girl. They form friendships to lovers.  This is a sweet love story, it's a slow moving love story, it's a good story for a rainy weekend with some angst but in general a feel good love story.  

They have a great set of supporting characters, their friends Marianne, Kara, Brad and Sweeney.  They are all good people who help Greg and Raegan throughout the book.  

For me Against the Ropes was a little too slow moving, a bit too little angst but a good story when you got to it.  With that being said I do recommend reading when you need that breather after a book that's given you heart palpitations.  

One thing that did not appeal to me was the mystery of who was harassing and vandalizing the team was not solved. I suppose that will happen in the next book but to me it should have been handled here being it was the main part of the book.  

I will read the next book, Kara and Graham Sweeney's, I also will go back and read Brad and Marianne's book so I give Against the Ropes solid 3.5 stars

This review was prepared by Heather McLaughlin. An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.