I’d prepared myself for a life without love. Lost my parents and anyone else I got close to. Nothing good ever stays for long. I’m a statistic after all. Former foster kid. Former drug addict, alcoholic. Always thought I was destined to be alone. Always felt like I wasn’t worth a damn. Then Carla Evans walked into my life. One look at her in that uptight, buttoned-up outfit and I knew I had to … I knew I had to have her. For a night, I’d indulge myself in the fantasy of a girl like her actually wanting a guy like me.
Then she moved here with no job and that ridiculous bucket list.
I knew she needed my help.
I just didn’t expect to need hers.
I spent a long time letting myself believe I didn’t deserve happiness. It took me a while (and a whole lot of therapy) to realize I’d had it all wrong.
Now I know.
And now I have to tell her.
*Fighting the Odds deals with sensitive topics like drug addiction, death, foster care, homelessness, and miscarriage. But it is also an inspirational story of love, friendship, hope, and finding your inner warrior.
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Im so in love with Tj. He was so beautifully broken. But he had some very special people in his corner along his tumultuous road in life cheering him on. And what a man he grew to be. He made something of himself and then processed to pay it forward and help others. He was amazing. Broody, alpha, and the type of buff and tattooed a person dreams about. But behind the armor he was broken and sad about losing everyone he loved. I love Carla and her ability to pick herself up. Her and tj were made for each other. Loved this story. One of my faves.
This is Carla and TJ’s story and is just a beautiful book that you need to read. It’s not an easy read though. TJ was a drug addict, homeless and witnessed his dad killing his mum, but with the help of one man who saw the potential in TJ, he fought his way back. He’s now a successful MMA fighter and business owner and tall, built and covered in tattoos *licks lips*. I connected with Carla from the start with many of her personality traits matching mine. Just ask Mere, I am the queen of organisation and all about the lists!!! BUT I’ve also lived some of her pain, and I was glad to see that Kristen didn’t sugar coat the loss that Carla experiences.
This book bounces back and forth from the past to the present and normally this would annoy me but it didn’t here. We get to understand the intricacies of TJ’s psyche by looking through the window to his past. We witness the shell of an addict fight literally and figuratively to become the man that he is today. I am not an addict but have lived with one, and so know how dark times can get. TJ’s story was real and raw and totally authentic. He’s a warrior and I was glad that although he was able to be strong for others in the end he was vulnerable and unsure of his worth. It just showed that he wasn’t this picture perfect person but real with flaws and insecurities. Carla is the balm to his wounds and once he lets her in, she is the yin to his yang. Although she has experienced a gut wrenching loss, she is determined to take charge of her life and I loved that she did this with LISTS!!! In the end they both needed and complemented each other and it didn’t hurt that the thermometer was busted when they came together (pun intended).
This book left me in a state of reflection. This is so much more than a love story. It is a life lesson and an education in practicing positivity and nurturing our mental wellbeing. It’s a book I couldn’t put down and devoured in a couple of days.
TJ has had a hard life. That’s putting it mildly but life has really made him fight. Quite literally.
Carla had the perfect life with everything all planned out until it was all gone in the blink of an eye. Everything changed so drastically, so quickly she didn’t know how to handle it.
When TJ and Carla meet it’s pretty comical. She’s not interested at all and doesn’t even try to give him the time of day. Then she finally looks up and sees who has been annoying her and is flabbergasted by his looks.
Carla and TJ have an unconventional start to a really good friendship. Except all friendships are fine when you aren’t really sharing yourself or your past. When you just stick to the basics of life and hide behind your walls you can project the outward appearance of whatever you want. When Carla tries to dive deeper and TJ squashes that notion it puts a damper on things.
This story is told in multiple POVs and jumps from past to present but is not difficult to follow in the least. It flows very well and reads smoothly. I loved the slow flow of information from TJ’s past. It made me not want to put this book down. I couldn’t get enough of TJ and Carla and all the little bits of his past. This was by far my favorite couple out of this series.
I was devastated for TJ when he was rejected in the other book. (no spoilers here). I wanted him to find happiness even though I didn’t know his story at the time. He really grabbed my heart from the first time I met him.
I went through so many emotions with this book. I went from laughing to crying to mouth agape with shock to irritated.. I was all over the place. This book hurt in the best way. It was so sad but the HEA was much needed and hard earned and I loved the entire rollercoaster ride it took me on. I can’t wait to see who will get the next book. Fingers crossed it’s Mal’s turn.
I have been waiting for a TJ book since the moment that I started reading the Collision series.
TJ is one of those characters that just works his way into your soul. And I’m not ashamed to admit that I am a little bit in love with him (okay, maybe more than a little bit, but you get my drift).
This story made me feel everything.
It consumed me.
TJ and his demons, Carla and her struggles.
Two characters that are totally right for one another.
Kristen has a way with words and this book is written so beautifully. It’s not just a love story but also shows you that you can be a warrior no matter what may have been thrown your way. You can change, you can live life to the full, and you can get your happy ever after.
I am so sad to have finished this series because I absolutley loved it, and TJ’s story has been my favourite.
Five stars for this phenomenal story!
FIGHTING THE ODDS is Book 4 in the The Collision Series. This is the first book I have read by the author Kristen Granata. So I can safely say it could be read as a standalone. However, after reading the wonderful writing and inspirational quotes from this author, I look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.
Carla Evans had her life planned out. Her boyfriend Joe and her had been together for four years. They were engaged. Everything was going according to plan. But then she got pregnant. Joe hadn’t wanted her to keep the baby, but Carla could not kill the tiny life that was inside her. Joe heartlessly broke up with her. She had to move back home with her parents. She was devastated with Joe’s betrayal, but she really stopped being strong when nine weeks later she woke up to blood-stained sheets. She had a miscarriage. She felt she had lost everything. The final blow was when Joe found out their baby was dead, and felt “now” they could work things out. That was the final straw. She left him standing there, quit her job, packed her suitcase and headed to New York.
On her journey to New York to see her best friend, she stopped for the night at a motel. She asked where the closest bar was. And that is where she met T J. They seemed to both have sad stories. Their chemistry was strong, and she took “one-night-stand” off her bucket list. It was to be one night, but she could say with absolute conviction, that she had never been kissed like that before. She also parted with his words of wisdom: “You didn’t lose everything. Plan A didn’t work out, so now you move on to Plan B. As long as you’re alive, you’ll always have a plan B.”
Carla and T J are just too perfect together, so fate would find them meeting once again. Luck has a lot to do with the things that happen to us. But it’s up to us to reclaim the wheel and steer our lives where we want them to go.