DerrickI’d been fighting all my life.Making it my career choice seemed…logical.Sticking to what I was good at seemed…illogical as often as I ended up in the ER.Then my occupational hazard began to feel like more of a perk when I met, Katy. She was a night nurse at the ER I frequented. She could barely hide her contempt for me, which naturally made the curvy brunette with long wavy hair all … brunette with long wavy hair all the more irresistible.
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Katy
They called him Dagger, for the looks he gave.
He knew I hated him on sight, but still, he teased me and tried to sway me.
There’s no way it would work. I was on the run and still healing from a relationship with a ‘roid-raging powerlifter. No way was I going to give it a go with someone trained to cause pain for a living.
Then my ex tracked me down. And suddenly, having a fighter in my corner didn’t seem like such a bad idea.
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I truly enjoyed reading this story. This was a great story by S.L Sterling.
Very sexy romance and hot characters I felt for the heroin in this story and did tear up. This story does touch your heart on what some of us women have to or have actually dealt with.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
3.5 Stars
They both have been fighting most of their lives, but each for different reasons.
Derrick survived an abusive father and the bullies on the street to become Dagger, a poor but up-and-coming MMA contender.
Katy survived an abusive relationship—just barely—and is living life looking over her shoulder and in the shadows.
The two meet during one of Derrick’s frequent visits to the ER where Katy works to get patched up after a fight. There is an attraction but closed-off Katy and cynical Derrick don’t connect.
However, they each suffer setbacks which cause their paths to cross again, and Derrick goes into protective mode and Katy needs the protection… and a friend.
Told in the alternating points of view of Katy and Dagger (Derrick), this read is a good slow build romance. The problem for me was there was too much telling and not enough showing.
We spend a lot of time in the internal thoughts of Katy and Derrick, remembering past times and events, but most are only memories/descriptions with little dialogue between characters. It’s obvious these two have lived hellish lives, but the intensity is lost in the telling of their pasts. The suspense was watered down, leaving me feeling bad for their experiences, but no anger or empathy until near the end.
These two are likable characters and I couldn’t help but be in their corner as they grew closer together. Overcoming trauma and abuse is difficult, and while I believe these two characters appreciated the changes in their lives, to me, it simply didn’t feel like a life-changing victory because of all the telling.
A solid, feel-good ending ensures Katy and Derrick have a future together… and they do deserve it.
Enjoy!
This was exciting to watch. Katy tries to fight Derrick’s attempts at getting her but the connection and attraction is undeniable. They both have their pasts and struggles but I loved seeing break each other’s walls.
Do you need to swoon? Do you need a super sexy, protective fighter? Do you need sweet with a dash of suspense? If your answer was yes, you’ve found the right book. If your answer was no, you still need to read Dagger.
Sweet. Dashing. Protective. Loving. Ah. Derek is all that and so much more! He is probably the sweetest MMA fighter I’ve ever read. He’s making a better life for himself than how he grew up. Katy is on the run and constantly looking over her shoulder. Meeting Derek was exactly what she needed.
One thing I can’t gush enough about is how Derek builds up confidence in Katy. He let’s her make her own decisions even when she doesn’t think she can. I loved that about him!
Dagger is a fast paced sweet read with suspense thrown in and I couldn’t put it down for a second!
I always love a good S.L. Sterling read. She always writes such good stories from start to finish and Dagger was just that.
Derrick is a fighter and wants nothing more then to make it big and not have to live the way he has been. Katy is an ER nurse and is new to town after fleeing from her old life and abusive boyfriend she’s ready for new start in hopes she won’t be found. When Derrick better known as Dagger by all the ER nurses shows up Katy believes she knows he’s just like her ex so she already feels resentment towards him. Derrick can’t help but be interested in Katy but can Katy let go of the resentment and give him the chance to prove he is different? And how long can Katy keep running from her abusive ex?
Quick, steamy read with some surprises! Both characters are strong and help each other which only builds on there connection. I absolutely loved Katy and Derricks story.
She works at the hospital when she meets Dagger. She has sworn off muscle bound jocks. What happens when her ex finds her, who will help her.
Good read and romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
WOW!! WOW!! WOW!! DAGGER by S.L. Sterling was OUTSTANDING and Tugs at your Heart Strings at the Same Time!!
Derrick aka Dagger has always had to fight for his life literally since he was a child and later to decide to do it for a living as a MMA fighter. Then of course after a fight, goes to the ER which turns out he is a Regular there after taking some physical hits. Derrick is taken from the waiting room after some time to get his vitals done then waiting some more for an examination room.
Finally one the regular nurses Mollie takes him to a room and let’s him know the doctor will be in to see Him soon but also mentioning a new nurse will be assisting. Derrick is taken by surprise after the so-called new nurse enters with the Bluest Eyes he has ever seen.
Katy walks in to find a Big Muscle guy with a bloody towel on the side of the head and swollen eye. As she examines him and notices that he has pain in his lower back, barks at him for not telling them since it was not noted on his chart. After Katy is finishing up his examination, walks in the doctor who is familiar with Dagger’s injuries. Katy is looking over his chart again while ignoring their banter when they are calling her out.
Dagger trys to put the charm on Katy but doesn’t fall for it and calls him out. Katy knows the type since she is on the run from her Ex and vows not to go there again.
Days later after ER visit, Dagger runs into Katy but Not in good terms. Katy feels threaten that her Ex is out to get her and confines in Derrick when she feels comfortable with what he did for her.
Derrick and Katy’s storytelling is suspenseful and Heartwreching at the same time. And there is chemistry between the two characters that are Off the Charts Hot! I Could Not Put It in Down and devour it in ONE Sitting since it Captivated me from the Very Beginning!
DEFINITELY A MUST READ BOOK!!
Powerfull
by Danee
I loved the story, that no matter what and where u where born go can grow out of a bad situation ,and rise above all
There is allot of love and bad things and sad, an you see what woman go thru when they want out of a bad and abusive relationship.
She did it en she had dagger and her friends she left behind to do it and survive
I’m so mad I didn’t find this book earlier, I was glued to it the second I started reading it. Derrick “Dagger” is the type of guy every girl should want and have. I absolutely loved him and Katy to pieces and can’t wait to read Ace next.
I have read other titles by this author and this is just as good as those. The author did a great job with giving these characters life. The chemistry is undeniable and steamy. The storyline flows smoothly from beginning to end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
5 AMAZING STARS
Review by Leah
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
Love, Love, Love Dagger! I wanted to wrap myself up in this book and not let go. Dagger by S.L. Sterling is perfect. This book has all the feels wrapped up in a strong hug. One of those hugs that hold on to you and you know you are safe.
Yes, Dagger is an MMA fighter but this book is so much more than his fights. This is about survival. It is about the future, hope, and love. S.L. Sterling builds these characters and you feel their struggles. Each has its own demons and issues they are working through but these two are fighters in all sense of the word.
This is a book you will keep and pull out in those book funks and you just need to feel that comfort and warmth. I know I keep saying it and it may sound crazy but from personal experience, the entire book, descriptions, feel of this book is spot on. If you need a little hope and warmth please pick this book up.
I love Dagger! This is my first S.L. Sterling book and it will not be my last. Not only because I will need all the books in the Vegas MMA series but I will also be going to her backlist.
Derrick is no stranger to ER visits, he makes them regularly, on one of those visits he meets Katy, a nurse at the hospital. Katy is on the run from her abusive ex, so keeping a low profile is the only thing she’s trying to do.
Sterling hit me right in my soul with this book. Domestic violence is a real life issue that so many more people face than we will ever really know. Sterling had me in tears with this gritty, raw book. My heart connected with Katy so much.
I can tell you I was not expecting all the emotions I felt while reading this book, and I am not for one second disappointed. Dagger is the kind of book that will make you fall in love with an author. Sterling left me feeling everything. She left me emotionally raw. This is a must read book for everyone! I beyond loved this book!
Dagger and Katy are well developed characters. She is a strong woman and ER nurse who Dagger seems to get to know because of his fights. I loved how the author entangles these two for some hot scenes and so much love. Loved the drama and HEA.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review.
Derrick: I’d been fighting all my life. Making it my career choice seemed…..logical. Sticking to what I was good at seemed…illogical as often as I ended up in the ER. Then my occupational hazard began to feel like more of a perk when I met Katy. She was a nigh nurse at the ER I frequented. She could barely hide her contempt for me, Which naturally made the curvy brunette with long wavy hair all the more irresistible. Now I just need to convince her I’m a better lover than fighter.
Katy: they called him Dagger, for the looks he gave. He knew I hated him on sight, but still, he teased me and tried to sway me. There’s no way it would work. I was on the run and still healing from a relationship with a ‘roid-raging powerlifter. No way was I going to give it a go with someone trained to cause pain or a living. Then my ex tracked me down. And suddenly, having a fighter in my corner didn’t seem like such a bad idea.
This is the first book in SL Sterling’s Vega MMA Series. I really liked this book. It pulled you in from the first chapter and kept you reading to the last page. This is the story of Dagger who is a MMA fighter who visits the ER quiet often and there he meets Katy the nurse in the ER. And when she doesn’t just fall at his feet like all of the rest of the women in his life then Dagger doesn’t quiet get it. This is their journey together and I thought it was a great read and I loved these two character’s both apart and together though I was rooting from the from the very beginning. This is a great start to this series and I can’t wait to see what we get with the next book.
Got to love me some Dagger! I loved the story as it was heart felt and one that tugged on one’s heart strings.The story had really great characters Dagger aka Derrick was a MMA fight that was rough and tough on the outside but, we found him to be a big softie at heart on the inside.We loved no matter how bruised and battered and in pain he was he always retained his sense of humor and that sexy smile of his was panty melting and he left a many broken hearts in his wake.
Katy was one of those character you first meet and she seems a bit standoffish and unapproachable but, once you get to know the real her below the protective armor she is a sweet and kind and a loving soul who has been battered and bruised and abused by her ex and she is just trying to survive day by day.
We loved the chemistry this couple had and the easy friendship that turned into so much more.The story had a bit of intrigue and suspense and personal struggles for both characters who were both surviving in the only way they new how.
Overall this was a real good story with love-able characters that found love in the mist of the chaos that their lives were currently at at this particular moment in time and we loved how Katy woes although, were not the same as Daggers he could in some way relate to the things she was currently going through as he had a crazy ex himself and we loved how they easily bonded over crazy ex’s and after everything Katy has be through Daggers size and job alone should make her run for the hills but, it did the exact opposite it made her feel safe,cherished and protected. I think this new series got off to a real great with Katy and Daggers story and we are looking forward to the next book in the series to come.
PS – Everyone should have a Dagger in their corner….
This is a new author to me and I will definitely be reading more of her work. I can’t believe it took me so long to pick up my story by this author. She writes well developed characters and intriguing storylines that sucks a reader in. Derrick fondly known as Dagger is a MMA fighter that is on a vicious cycle of prepping for a fight then getting the crap beat out of him (he is usually victorious) and ending up in the ER. A regular in the ER he knows all of the doctors and nurses until Katy. She is new and doesn’t fall under his charm of smiles and light hearted quips. Katy it’s on the run from an abusive ex and she feels like Dagger it’s just like him but she couldn’t be more wrong. When Katy is forced to move in next door to Dagger that’s when the story really takes off. Will Dagger be able to protect her from her abusive ex? Will they act on the chemistry that is palatable between them? This is the first story in this highly addictive series and I can’t wait for the next installment!!
Only my second book by this author… I had just watched an MMA movie with Tom Hardy and loved it, so this book was a must read! So glad I did!
Both of the main characters; I loved them both. Well, I loved Dagger more!
This book has a lot to offer. Suspense, romance, loyalty, steam! I will definitely check out other Sterling novels.
I received an advanced reader copy, and this is my honest and voluntary review.
A bit of a slow start, but when it got going, I did not want to stop reading. Katy had the appearance of a hard shell, but she was a mess inside. Dagger was driven, one goal in mind, until he met Katy. Together, he gave her the strength to take her life back, and she helped him keep on track for his goal. With some danger thrown in, it was an interesting journey.
I received a copy of this story through Enticing Journey Book Promotions, and this is my unsolicited review.
Dagger meets Katy one night after a fight when he needed to get stitches. The nurse caught Dagger’s eye but she didn’t seem to keen on him, so he went on his way after he got patched up. Through a series of events, Dagger ends up moving into an extended stay place and the very next day he ends up with a neighbour.. Katy. After getting Katy’s story out of her, now Dagger is bound and determined to make sure that she stays safe, and if he loses sleep then he will. For Katy she hasn’t felt safe in a very long time and now with Dagger she finally feels that way. Will Dagger be able to keep her safe?
So, I must be the odd person out. This was a good story, but it could have been way better. I felt there was a lot missing from the story, the meat without the potatoes kind of thing. There was drama, danger, some ok spicy moments; but something was just missing for me. I give this 3.5 stars.
Derrick aka Dagger meets Kay when he comes to the hospital after another MMA fight. He is drawn to her the moment he lays eyes on her. However Katy isn’t having nothing to do with him because her ex was a fighter and she doesn’t want to go down that road again. When his land lord boots him for complaining about repairs he ends up at a local hotel until he can figure his next move out. Imagine his surprise when his new neighbor turns out to be Katy. Katy is jumping and at first she thinks he has followed her but learns he was there first. Derrick sees how upset she is so he helps her get inside and then asks what’s wrong. Katy explains things to him and it upsets him that another man has hurt her this badly and offers to help her. Things heat up between them and soon its more than just a friendly offer of help. Can Derrick keep her safe from her ex? Will her ex find her? Can they get their happy ending?
This is an amazing story that once I started it I couldn’t put it down. The chemistry between them is off the charts hot. This is a well written and very entertaining story. I would recommend this book to any book lover.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.