Holly Vanderbuilt is running.From her past, her present, her future—everything.Baking is her only solace. Cookies, cakes, ingredients coming together, they make sense.A professional fighter walking into her kitchen? Not so much.Vince Steele is focused on his future.The next fight.The next win.Nothing else matters except feeling the weight of the Light Heavyweight belt around his waist.Until Holly. feeling the weight of the Light Heavyweight belt around his waist.
Until Holly.
He has what it takes to win the belt. But will Holly’s past prove to be an opponent he can’t beat?
He’s never backed down from a fight.
He wasn’t going to start now, not when winning Holly’s heart could be the sweetest victory of all.
SWEET VICTORY is the third book in the BTU Alumni series and can be read as a stand-alone. This book features a Christmas-loving hot mess of a baker, an alpha-dirty-talking MMA fighter, and the best group of friends ever (even if they don’t know how to mind their own business). HEA guaranteed—being on Santa’s Nice List…not so much.
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I didn’t think anyone could knock Gage James off his pedestal I put him on until Vince Steele knocked him out and swept me completely off my feet!
Vince Steele is a dirty talking professional MMA fighter and Holly Vanderbilt is a baker at the coffee shop called Espresso Patronum that’s conveniently across the street from Vince’s families gym. The one he happens to train out of. When Vince first meets Holly he falls victim to love at first sight but Holly has secrets from a hurtful past.
This book was fun, hilarious, steamy and PERFECT! Also the Coven texts are back and anyone who has read Power Play and Tap Out knows they’re literally LOL funny!
If you have been anticipating the next book in the BTU series from Alley Ciz, you will not be disappointed. Once again, Alley has written a book that I just could not put down. From the hilarious text conversations between the “Coven” to the oven hot chemistry between Holly and Vince and everything in between, this story has it all.
Holly is escaping her past and the rules of her stuffy family. She easily fits in with the BTU group. Vince is drawn to Holly from the first moment he meets her and the chemistry they have is undeniable. But Holly doesn’t want to date and refuses Vince over and over again until the Coven interfere. And then it’s all over.
You are going to want to set aside a few hours to binge read this one. You will love not only Holly and Vince, but catching up with all your other BTU favorites.
Ever since Tap Out, I have been waiting impatiently for Vince’s story, and it truly fit him perfectly.
We have known Vince as this fighter who doesn’t let a lot of people into his circle. He has a great group of core friends and needs to focus on his upcoming fight. He’s always been the sweet, protective, jokester in the group.
Holly was the perfect addition to this group. She had the wit, the funny t-shirts, and the backbone needed to deal with this crazy, rambunctious group and her past.
The last 25% of the book wasn’t what I saw coming. I knew something was up the entire time, but I didn’t realize Holly was in that much trouble. I was seriously reading with my jaw hanging open.
This series has the best group of friends ever. The Coven is spot on in texts and scary at times, but they would never break your trust. The guys have the same bond, but the girls take the cake!
I highly recommend reading the bonus epilogues. They are amazing and frustrating at the same time. Amazing because you get more of this group, and frustrating because Alley drops hints about future books that you will have to wait to read!
-An Arc was generously provided in exchange for an honest review.-
One of my favorite things EVER is when I discover a new (to me) author. When an opportunity to read an ARC of this book presented itself I jumped at the chance. Alley Ciz is fantastic and I could not put this book down. It is such an incredibly sexy yet sweet read. I absolutely adore Vin and Holly both as individual characters and as a couple. And I Loved (with a capital “L”) their love story. Nothing turns me on as a reader than instant attraction and a man who acts on it – Vin is my new favorite book boyfriend and I just want to gobble him up. This book is the reason why I’m addicted to contemporary romance novels and am damn proud of it. Add this book to your TBR list and become one with the coven.
Holy mother of dragons!!!!
Vince is so hot he melts icing right off of cupcakes.
I couldnt get enough of his dirty sweet mouth and the more alpha he was the more I fell in love with him.
He was one hot man of steel…
I loved Holly I loved that she stood her ground for as long as she could before giving into Vince. She made him work for it and I loved that.
She was strong, funny and so likeable.
This was an epic fairytale romance with passion, drama, friendship and love thrown into one big dynamic.
Everything about Vince and Holly was magical I freaking loved them and I will think of Vince long after reading this book.
I thought I loved Jake and Gage. Nope Vince takes the cake and the icing! He is so alpha and hot it just keeps your heart racing and your panties dripping!
Vince has taken the top spot and this book was flipping incredible. One of my top books this year for sure!
This series just keeps getting better and better! Sweet Victory is Vince & Holly’s story. Hot swoon worthy MMA fighter & Sassy baker. There is so much more to both of them! When there paths cross there ‘s no going back for either of them! I loved Holly’s back story and her friendship with Kyle and Lyle. It doesn’t take long for Holly to be part of The Covan, just love the friendship from this group and they will do anything for each other. Loved seeing the rest of the BTU gang. This made me laugh and cry! And seriously don’t get me started on the bonus epilogue’s! Can’t wait for BTU4
I have so much love for this incredible read! Author Alley Ciz has an inexplicable talent for writing the heroines I want to be friends with, and the swooniest alpha heroes! Her latest release, Sweet Victory, is no exception! Plus we get MORE of the Coven! And you guessed it… Coven Conversations! Get ready to laugh and swoon in equal measure!
I absolutely reveled in this slow burn! The tension and heat in just a kiss was so intense, I ate up every page! This delicious and chemistry filled slow burn was impossible to put down. The undeniable connection between Vince and Holly is palpable. Every scene absolutely explosive. A 5 star read, hands down! By the way – pro tip: have cookies and/or cupcakes (go big or go home right?) on hand for this read! I can guarantee you’re going to end up with a major Vince induced sweet tooth!
Read Sweet Victory, a holiday themed, Coven approved, read to bring joy to your world no matter the season! Get more of the BTU crew and one click Sweet Victory today!
Omg i thought i had a thing for Jake and then when Gage came along i thought he was my guy but nope Alley has done it once again Vince is my HOT SWOONEY ALPHA guy.
Wow hes a dirty talker. I seriously dont know how Holly resisted for so long.
I Absolutley loved that Holly loved Christmas and always listened to Christmas songs.
You have to read its a fantastic book. Storyline is great and the Coven girls just crack you up.
Another day, another epic book hangover courtesy of Alley Ciz.
But, just know it was so worth it.
It’s pretty clear Alley Ciz is trying to make it impossible for you to have a favorite guy but holy talking snowman (insider) Vince was smoldering, melt your panties hot and as of now he’s the reigning champ, pun intended.
“This wasn’t a kiss. No, this was mouth-f***ing at its finest. He owned her body with a single kiss.”
This statement here has me questioning every kiss I’ve ever had and that’s only a sample of all the times you’ll be swooning in this book.
Holly is escaping from her past and starting over new. A new guy is not apart of the plan and she’s determined to keep it that way when she meets Vince Steele.
From the moment Vince Steele sees Holly he’s a goner. And despite her attempts to deny him, little does she know a challenge is something he never backs down from.
Vince uses every tool in his arsenal to have Holly fall as hard as he has. Only her heart isn’t the only one he steals. There’s a sexy side alpha side to Vince I was not prepared for but oh did I love every single minute.
When I got to the end I only had one question: Can I have more please??
I received a copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.
I can Honestly say that Alley’s books just keep getting better and better. Congrats again Girl in this amazing book ! Sweet Victory was a sweet read because Vince and Holly’s story was just freaking perfect. Also the Coven its back and better than ever with their “oh so hilarious texts.”From the moment MMA fighter Vince lays eyes on sweet baker-christmas music lover Holly, sparks fly and he is determine to win the girl. Holly in the other hand its running away from her past and she wants a fresh start doing something she loves where she can be free and not control by anyone. Their low burn romance would have your panties melting because let me tell you Mr. dirty talker Vince would make you feel this way, you’ll never look at frosting the same way(fair warning lol). All and all, this book is everything, it would swoon you away, it will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will make you hot, honestly what else do you need? Ps: this book can be read as a standalone but I’ll recommend for you to read Power Play and Tap Out first, that way you’ll meet all the amazing characters in this crazy amazing world that is “BTU”
OMG! Vince and Holly’s story is the freaking sweetest. There was the right amount of sweet with sexy. Wow! Alley Ciz writes these characters that stick with you. I am up to 3 book boyfriends from the BTU series. She makes me such a book bf whore! I love it!
Vin and Holly’s story will have you swooning and enjoying their banter. Vince’s perseverance is my fave. The guy does not back down!! He’s a fighter through and through! Yass!
This book is a must read and it’s totally epic! Loving the BTU crew so hard and I totally want to be part of the coven!
Holy Jingle Bells!! I fell so hard for Gage “The Kraken” in Tap Out! I wasn’t sure my heart had room for another one of the boys in the BTU crew . But oh how wrong I was. Vince Steele did It y’all. He pushed everyone else outta the running for my man status…at least until Alley releases her next book. Hehe
Vince is EVERYTHING, and I do mean everything you could possibly want in your H. He’s super sexy. Abs for days. Disciplined, he has that title belt in sight ladies. He’s swoony and sweet, but at the same time Alpha and dirty-talking AF! He sets it mind on something and he’s NOT going to stop until he gets it, and that something just happened to be the new beautiful bombshell baker of his dreams at the coffee shop across from his family’s gym.
From the second he saw the delectable, Holly. He was hooked. She was sassy, and sweet and he wanted, no he needed a taste of her like his next breath. But he knew once he had one, he would never let her go. It was obvious to him from early on that she was hiding something and he wanted to get to the bottom of it.
Now, Holly was great. She was sassy, strong and amazing. She gave up everything for a life of nothing. Or was it really? She ran from a horrible upbringing, and found where she belongs. Although she was immediately attracted to Vince she is hesitant because of everything she has been through. She just wants to continue her life of baking her delicious treats, singing Christmas tunes and settling into her new life. She never expected to find the world’s sexiest fighter, a coven of new BFF’s that would bring her in and make her part of their family. While the sparks of attraction and banter took off immediately, the relationship was slow burn, and I loved that. But holy moly, the love scenes y’all. GOOD.GRAVY!
When Holly’s past shows up to threaten her perfect new future she has built for herself. The way all her new friends stood up for her and backed her as one of their own, *fans watery eyes* Like the grinch my heart grew three sizes!!
This is the third stand-alone in the BTU books and they keep getting better! I most definitely recommend you check out Alley Ciz and the crazy crew she has crafted!!
My cr8zysockbookblock blog wrap up for this book!
-Five Golden Stars Once again Alley Ciz does it. She brings back the BTU crew adds us a new gal Holly and weaves together the perfect blend of sweetness, kindle melting heat, fun coven conversations, hilarious graphic Christmas T-shirts, and threw in some suspense to kick it up a notch!
– Keep an eye on your cookies ladies cause they might get burned! So.Freakin.Hot!! Butter melting hot!
Cliffhanger Warning- No Cliffy. This is the third book in the BTU series, but like the others can be read as a stand-alone.
I said it before and I’ll gladly repeat myself: I thought I liked this gang before…
Every single one of them have me wishing I could be part of their shenanigans.
Hilarious, loving, caring and fiercely loyal.
I want ALL of that.
I must confess that when I first realized this next book was going to be about Vince, I didn’t know if I was “curious enough” about him yet or if I needed to do a little bit more spectating, before diving into his story.
Wow, was I wrong.
Vince is the alpha with the panty-melting grin, a tender side and goofy demeanor.
Such an awesome surprise.
Him and Holly make such a cute, sexy couple.
Love at first sight? Yup. I really think it was.
It’s so heartwarming to see Holly go through all these moments and seamlessly become a part of this big family. The girl deserves every bit of love and encouragement she gets.
Sweet Victory is the perfect read to get you ready for the holiday season, with the mentions of all the sugary treats and family get-togethers. I just wish I had such a talented baker around to help me out with my sweet tooth. And after, maybe a gorgeous gym rat to keep me motivated while I try and loose the extra pounds.
I’m so excited to see who’s next in line: I know we’ll have ourselves the time of our lives with Skye and Tucker when the time comes, Ryan and Maddey – question mark, because I haven’t forgotten about Dex – and now Chance and Gemma? Ooohhh, now that’s what I’m talking about! All the tension… I love it.
Yes, I’m ready. Give me all the books. ASAP.
See you soon.
Disclaimer (a tiny one): even though this might seem pretty insignificant and maybe only relevant to a small group of readers, I’d still like to come across it while reading a specific item’s review: this book is written in the third person. Usually, it is something I tend to avoid; I don’t know what it is, or how/when it started, but eventually because sort of a pet peeve of mine.
However, some stories and characters are worth my effort to try and bypass it:
Alley Ciz’s work is one perfect example of this. It is perfectly enjoyable and believable when I tell you that, once you get immersed in the story, you won’t even notice it. Specially if the Coven is involved, since all your attention will be directed at the girls wreaking havoc.
4.5 Stars
Sweet Victory is the third title in the BTU Alumni series, a sports romance with strong holiday themes. I’m the first to admit I don’t love books that revolve around holiday themes, don’t know why I just generally don’t connect with them, which I’m glad to say was not the case with Holly and Vince’s story.
Holly and Vince are an endearing pair of characters, with banter that is not only fun, but flirty and engaging. Their story is very sweet and full of heat and heart, and a touch of humor.
Holly is a sweet, reliant and likeable heroine. Vince on the other hand is all alpha, an MMA fighter who is driven, determined, loyal and loving. He will do anything for those he cares for most.
I really love the world building that Alley Ciz has managed with the first three books of the BTU Alumni series. With each title we discover more snippets of the characters personalities and it leaves me eager for more and I’m looking forward to the next title in the series.
This was everything! It’s funny, sexy, sweet, and oh I couldn’t put it down. I was left smiling and crying from the happiness and giddiness it left. You will not be disappointed with this. It’s the first book I’ve read by Alley Ciz but it won’t be my last now. Not only could I not get enough of Holly and Vince but The Coven was the best!