He’s an Enigma, an unsolved mystery or a puzzle missing the final piece. How did he become this way? Well, that’s the part that gets complicated.Kol – I’m a foster kid raised by greed and child abuse. I fought my way out of the system, literally. My bloody knuckles and bruised ribs have made me the man I am today: one angry, distrusting a$$hole. I keep my thoughts and my words to myself, and my … to myself, and my women to the barest of minimums. Don’t get me wrong. I could have any woman I wanted, but I don’t want just any of them.
I want her. Jade. She looks like Barbie but fights like Brutus.
She drives me crazy with her sassy mouth and constant want to discuss my “feelings”.
That damn stubborn streak of hers is going to be the end of me.
Jade –
I’m a foster system reject, but I refuse to let it hold me back. I know what I want in life and how to get it, but some men think a female fighter is a distraction to the real MMA fighting that men do. I’m not going to let anyone get in the way of living my dreams.
So when I have to beat a fighter to join an exclusive MMA training center, I choose him. The Enigma.
One trip and I fall in love.
I see the lover I need inside the fighter I want, but his past keeps his heart caged and untrusting.
When life starts to crumble down around us, a cowardly shadow of the man I admire takes over.
Will Kol and Jade fight to keep their love alive? Or does one slip of the tongue break their trust forever? What happens when the fight is over, but no one wins?
more
Enigma, he had earned the name and it fit him like a glove. She had skills but not the skills she needed to be a prize MMA fighter. She had her circle of sister friends to ground her and feed the feminine side but fighting was her passion. This was a really good read. This new to me author showed a surprising depth to her characters. The friends and associates who guide and guard them add so much to the picture of who these two are. The passion for their craft, the desire to want more but unsure how to sustain it. This author brought it all to the table and laid it bare. I was so flooded with emotion I had to take a breath before writing this. I do need to read more from this author especially now when so many authors are using sex to fill in the story this author didn’t have to. I loved watching these two make it work, the fighting, the winning, the love.
Enigma is my second book by C.M. Lally. This is the story of two MMA fighters, one man and one woman, both products of the system, both with big dreams for the future.
Kol Porter grew up in foster care, with a father that used him for his own gain. Kol started out fighting in the underground because he was forced to. But he was good at it, a legend actually. Now, all Kol wants is to make it in the UFC. Kol keeps to himself. He’s broody and angry. He cares little about anything else but his training. He’s never had anything more than a one night stand with any woman. His long time friend and trainer, Lou, and his brother, Shawn, are the only people he really trusts.
Jade Cantor is a blonde haired beauty. People mistake her for a Barbie doll type, a dumb blonde. But she is anything but. Jade also grew up in foster care but she had a caring foster mother. She did experience love. Now, all Jade wants is to be a female UFC Champion. She wants to be someone young girls can look up to and believe they can do anything. But first she has to find a place to train. When Lou agrees to train her, she has to agree to be a grappling partner with Kol. They both have skills the other needs and can help each other. She knows she can learn so much from Kol. She only wishes that he doesn’t seem to hate her so much.
“I may look like Barbie, but I’ll drop you like G.I. Joe.”
As time goes on, Kol and Jade begin to trust one another a bit more. Feelings begin to develop. Jade knows how she feels but she’s unsure about how Kol feels and she wants him to say the words. But words aren’t easy for Kol. He’s never had a close relationship with anyone except his brother, Shawn, and with Lou. This is all new to him.
Before Kol is able to come to terms with how he feels for Jade, the rug is ripped out from under them both once again and causes them both to question everything.
“Jade is my person. She may not know it yet, but she is. She’s the only one I need to impress as a man, a person, a fighter, and as a lover.”
This is a sweet, sexy story of two people that finally find that one person made especially for them, that just fits. But of course, the road can’t be easy. They have to survive some bumps in the road, and maybe some bumps on the head, before they see the light. I loved the epilogue. Our angry, broody Kol finally finds all the words. I really did enjoy this and I believe I will think of these two every time I see a fight on television now.
I loved Jade and Kol. It’s like Barbie met the barbian. I loved how their rough background is what bonded them because they both had an understanding. Jade was a determined girl to get what she wanted and by that i mean MMA contract and win, to be able to train at Liam’s gym (all male by the way), as well as Love. Kol was a guarded person he doesn’t trust easily and or let anyone in easily which made this chase for Jade so much sweeter when she finally was let in.
I love a great MMa book and this one certainly doesn’t dissapoint! It was well written and I loved the storyline!! 5S all the way!!!!
Fight for survival, fight for recognition, fight for money or fight for love. Kol has to fight numerous ways in the MMA ring, but it is not until he opens his heart to a woman he at first hated that he understands exactly what he has always fought for. CM Lally has outdone herself with this novel. Her characters had such emotion and depth, her storyline not only had me hooked from the prologue but I could not put it down until it was finished. The novel was so well written it felt like you were taking the punches and throwing the kicks. Her supporting characters were not just there for fluff but actually made the characters stronger. This is one book you do not want to miss.
I am always soooo hungry for the next book by Cyndy and this one satisfied my hunger for now. I was so excited to download this book and I was not disappointed.
Great characters………………………………………………check
Great story line……………………………………………….check
Great electricity between lead male and female..check
Great friendships…………………………………………….check
This book had all the pulls and pushes of a man and woman in love but fighting it all the way and Kol (swoon) is a man’s man with all the appeal that ladies look for in a man.
I loved the MMA centering of this book since it’s a little close to my heart.
Kol and Jade butted heads from the beginning as they struggle not to let the other know their true feelings. But we all know the heart loves who it loves and sometimes we get lucky just like this couple did and end up in a relationship that is perfect for us.
I loved Lou and Liam who were like family to both Kol and Jade.
Jade had a great girl squad in Candy, Leanne and Angie. These ladies would be a welcome addition to anyone’s squad.
As always I loved the proposal which means we this book with an HEA 😉
What a fabulous book! I loved the MMA side to it, it was interesting to read about a world i know nothing about.
Kol is all hard edges and gruffness, Jade is all pretty lady but shredded and eager to learn. Kol has an emotional wall around him and Jade is taking it down a brick at a time……. Kol is an amazing fighter but an Enigma, Bit Jade is trying really hard to work him out.
This book is all about girl power and the power of belief in ones self, love and the need to work through differences.
A great read….I highly recommend it!