How long would you wait for the love of your life?The Asher Bailey who comes home to his quirky small town isn’t the same man who put a ring on Grace’s finger. He’s bigger, harder, haunted. Forced to give up Grace and everything else that was good in his life for a prison sentence he barely survived. Now that he’s home, he finds himself aggressively welcomed by his brothers and gleefully gossiped … brothers and gleefully gossiped about by his neighbors. He’d counted on both.
But he never expected to see Grace still wearing his ring.
Grace’s fairy tale didn’t end. It was interrupted. She’s spent the last seven years living her life while waiting for one man. Now that he’s back, she’s got her work cut out for her. He’s scarred and angry, and stubbornly convinced they can’t be together. She’s more than happy to educate him otherwise.
Every beer, every prank, every kiss brings him closer to where he’s always belonged. In her life. In her arms. In her heart.
Asher fears the darkness inside him can’t be contained. But Grace won’t give up on him without a fight.
Author’s note: A brooding, wounded hero and the woman who won’t give up on him. A pack of unruly, prank-loving brothers. A wild neighborhood rumor mill. Spectacular BFF banter. This is a love story about soulmates that delivers the heat and all the feels. The Bailey Brothers series is meant to be read in order and Fighting for Us concludes Grace and Asher’s happily ever after.
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Where do I even begin?! Gosh. CK’s “Heart. Heat. Happily Ever After.” It’s 100% spot on. This book was all those things and more!
A little bit of town mystery and intrigue, some fantastic side characters (Logan, Cara, Gram), A+ pranks, some Miles family cameos, and so much beauty in the brokenness. Not to mention some extremely memorable bedroom adventures (I’m looking at you, back of the truck picnic).
Asher and Grace are dealing with the fallout of seven years apart. It hurts at times and is inspiring at other times. Love always wins and that makes my heart happy. I don’t usually like to read angst books but CK has my heart so I knew I could trust her. So glad I did because I absolutely loved this book!!
5 Fighting stars!!!
Fighting For Us is the dramatic conclusion to the duet that began with Protecting You. It was an emotionally challenging story at times and incredibly well written. Asher and Grace had suffered through seven years of being separated.
Even though Asher had said they were over when he was sent to prison, Grace refused to believe him. She kept faith that he’d come back to her when his time was over.
That time came sooner than anyone expected and Asher’s plan to regain his mental footing was lost.
Book 1 was mostly sunny and warm showing us how these two came together, the depth and strength of their love. Book 2 is darker, murkier after Asher time in prison. It changed him, made him harsher, harder, he’s a ma on the edge and Grace is his solace. Only he doesn’t think he deserves her.
There’s heartache and turmoil, some lighthearted moments, and plenty of family time. I loved how this ended and I’m eager for more from this series and this author. Hopefully sooner rather than later.
Fighting for Us is the epic conclusion to Protecting Us, Book 1 in the Bailey Brothers series by this author. Book 2 is the very emotional, heart wrenching and heartbreaking story of Asher and Grace. We are introduced to Asher and Grace in Book 1 as teenagers but they are very much adults this time around, dealing with a whole bunch of struggles and challenges. Again, I loved getting to know all the Bailey boys and can’t wait to read the next book in this series. If you are looking for an emotional, all the feels, beautiful love story, check out Asher and Grace’s story! This was an emotional 5-star read for me!
Fighting for Us is the second part of Asher and Grace’s story and picks up seven years after the ending of Protecting You. This one was an emotional rollercoaster.
Asher and Grace have both changed over the past seven years. Asher isn’t the same man, he is wounded emotionally, there is a darkness and anger to him that wasn’t there before. Grace has grown, but she is also broken from the events of seven years ago. Can they save each other or is it too late?
I love Asher. He is so beautifully broken and I can see why Grace wants to help him. He has some anger over what happened in the past and what happened in prison. He is spiraling out of control despite being free. Grace is a fighter. She never once gave up on Asher in the time he was gone and even when he was home. She fought for their relationship. I love their relationship, struggles and all. Their chemistry is great, even after all the time.
The secondary characters in this story are FANTASTIC. From the Miles family, to the other Bailey brothers, to grams, Grace’s mom and brother, the entire town, Grace’s best friend, Cara. Everyone contributes to this story in a different way and it’s amazing.
Fighting for Us is full of angst, love, emotions, family and some amazing banter! A MUST READ and I can’t wait for more of the Bailey brothers!
Wow!!
We started Asher and Grace’s story in Protecting You and we get the stunning conclusion in Fighting For Us. Asher is home but his nightmare continues. For Grace, the fairytale reunion she has dreamed of is anything but and she has to deal with her new reality.
There were so many layers and emotions in this story. My heart broke for both Asher and Grace as they try to navigate their new relationship. Add in lots of Bailey Brothers shenanigans, a town feud, savage squirrels and a Miles family cameo and Fighting for Us is an amazing story.
Fighting For Us is the completion of the prequel Protecting You. Think of this as Part 2 and only proceed if you’ve read Part 1, or you’ll miss the magic that makes this story so achingly beautiful.
The prequel started with pure sweetness and sunshine, but ended with the unthinkable happening. Fighting For Us picks up a few years later, where we find both Asher and Grace transformed by tragedy and time. They are now facing the moment they’ve been waiting for–Asher is finally free–yet even after all this time, they’re somehow still not prepared to handle the moment as the new, damaged adults they’ve become.
Man, oh man, what a journey these two take to get their HEA. But, leave it to Claire to give us one of the angstiest book she’s ever written, yet still give us the family, friends, and lovable townspeople to nurture and protect these characters (and us!) to see us through safely. I knew this love story would be one of my favorites, but I had no idea how monumental the experience would be.
The good news is that this book is not all angst and longing though. With all the tragedy and gravitas, there are also plenty of light moments, hijinks, and hilarity. There’s a sassy sidekick who better become the future love interest for Logan (ahem), there are touching secondary storylines, a town mystery that will need sleuthing, and the much appreciated appearance of some of Claire’s most beloved cross-over characters. Oh…and the heat between Asher and Grace? Yeah…that’s no longer sweet and innocent. (*fan’s self*) Let’s just say, thank goodness the Bailey Boys know how to put out fires!
Within a handful of pages, Claire has a way of making us fall in love with the families she creates as though we were born and raised alongside them. After this book, I am just as much in love with the Baileys, as I am with Asher and Grace. I can’t wait for the rest of their stories!
Wowzers!!!!! I don’t even think I can express properly how amazing the book was. I think I was expecting your normal fall in love as kids drift apart and come back strong together plot but boy was I wrong. Drama, hardship, life lessons, struggles, inner demons, love, family, protectiveness… are all the words that come to mind when you read this story. With out killing the plot for you just know that the story defiantly sucks you in. There was parts that I thought wow and oh no get your Sh$t together Asher. I thought that Asher and Grace are perfect together and love does shine through… I loved Cara’s fierceness towards Grace defiantly a great bestie!!! There was a lot of witty banter that was fun to read. I loved both families and how they merged together. Over all a great read!! Can’t wait for the next family members story!!!
After an emotional rollercoaster of an origin story I was really excited to read this book.
We left Asher and Grace at the height of a tragedy. Now, years later, Asher is finally back, and surprized to learn that the wonderfully stubborn Grace has been waiting for him and is ready to start their lives together. But is love enough to fight the demons plaguing him?
I loved this story. Grace is such an awe inspiring character, possessing so much love and determination, she is a force to be reckoned with. The Bailey boys are to die for, I can’t wait to read the rest of their stories.
And Gram… Gram just gives me life, she is everything.
5 stars and a crochet beard.
If I were to write my review in emojis, it would look something like this: I don’t think a book has ever broken my heart so fiercely and utterly. So beautifully and perfectly. Yeah, yeah, “knit me back together” and whatever, but I’m still a stunned, sniffling, speechless mess. I have. No. Words. My heart will never be the same after Asher and Grace’s story.
I adore every aspect of this book, from its charming setting and captivating storyline to the loveable, original, larger-than-life characters. Prepare yourself because, I’m telling you, you will not be able to resist these unruly, unrepentant, endearing Baker boys and their hilarious pranks, as well as Grace’s BFF, Cara. And Grams, with her no-nonsense style and poignant words of wisdom, she’s the beautiful thread that runs throughout and holds this wonderful tapestry together.
But it’s Asher and Grace’s authenticity, lifelikeness and flaws that carry this story. Both are so desolate and broken in different ways from the same life-changing event, surrounded by those who love them dearly, but forlornly alone as they fight their own demons and learn to heal from a traumatic past. Their story is painful, messy and realistic, but their determination and fight, and their soul deep love that transcends even the most impossible challenges, is nothing short of awe inspiring.
You know how once in a rare while, that certain book comes along? That one book in hundreds and hundreds of books that speaks to you, calls to you and somehow just seems to get you and your romantic heart? Its monsoon of emotions ruins you, the angst guts you in the most exquisite ways, and the HEA leaves you in a cloud of euphoria? This is that book for me. From an author who’s technically not one of “my” authors, Asher and Grace have obliterated all other book characters from my mind. This story is it. My unicorn read that sits at the top of my list of best books for the year.
My best advice? Run to the 1-Click and start reading now, stopping only long enough to buckle up for an ugly cry and grab the box of tissues. These characters will own you and their story will strip your soul bare in the most magnificent, torturous, satisfying ways, leaving you desperate for more from this addictive book world. With intuitive, insightful writing and flawlessly crafted characters, this inimitable read is, without a doubt, unforgettable.
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The swoon. My goodness.
Asher & Grace have not had it easy. At all. Their love story has been rocky, and then interrupted, but now, they finally have the chance to get it right.
I love the Bailey family, all the cubs, all grown up making their way in the world. And Cara, who might be the worlds best friend.
This world is just so easy to fall into, and so hard to find my way back out of.
I can’t wait for the rest of the brothers stories, especially Logan. I have a feeling about him.
What a great story! So much heart and emotion! Loved seeing the Miles family as well.
What an emotional roller coaster! Asher and Grace’s road to their happily-ever-after took them on a long and winding path, with a lot of ups and downs, and they have truly earned their happily-ever-after. Throughout their two-book tale, Claire Kingsley repeatedly broke my heart and put it back together again, and she gave me just enough laughs along the way to balance the heartbreak perfectly so you don’t get dragged down the rabbit hole of angst.
All Asher has ever wanted to do is protect and care for those around him, including his brothers, his Gram, and Grace Miles. But now he’s convinced that he needs to protect Grace from himself. He’s unsure of where he fits, and how to navigate his life. And all Grace is sure of is that the two of them belong together and can handle anything that comes their way as long as they face it together. Their love is so pure and embedded in their souls.
Asher has lost some of the light that was in his soul, and Grace and his wacky brothers are faced with the daunting task of trying to help him find it again. The Bailey brothers are a large part of what keeps this book balanced, showing how life is a true balance of light and dark.
A wonderful, well-written romance from an author that you know will take good care of her characters and your heart.
Asher and Grace…sigh…I love them and while their story is not an easy one, their journey is so worth it!! Fighting for Us is the continuation of Asher and Grace’s story from Protecting You. It is seven years later and Asher has been unexpectedly released from jail. Even though bars no longer separate them, they are still miles apart in terms of how they view the future. Can they pick up the pieces and create a new future?
Asher is a different man than the one that Grace fell in love with. He is angry and full of rage and he feels out of control. He can no longer have the future that he planned and he’s unsure how to survive in his new reality. Watching him try to adjust to life outside of prison is heartbreaking, but his growth throughout the book is inspiring. It’s all just a matter of perspective.
Grace’s life hasn’t been easy while Asher was in prison. While she has kept living, she never really faced the tragedy that befell her. She is a character full of love and patience, but she needs to face her own issues in order to have the future that she wants.
I absolutely love these two. Asher and Grace are soulmates in the truest in of the word. Their story will break your heart and then put it back together again.
Grace’s best friend, Asher’s brothers and his grandmother as well as the Miles family all make appearances in this book. How could you not love all of these crazy characters. Their banter will bring a smile to your face and they bring so much emotion and heart to the story.
Fighting for Us is one of my favorite books that I have read this year. It tugs at your heartstrings, makes you laugh, makes you cry, and leaves you both happy and sad to reach the end. I’m left waiting with anticipation for the rest of the Bailey brothers’ stories.
Holy moly…..this series is one you are going to want to sit a devour so prepare to put your life on hold. Claire Kingsley has created a new family to fall in love with. The characters are so much fun and I am already so intrigued by these brothers that it’s going to be hard waiting on their stories. Asher and Grace’s book is such a fantastic story…all the emotions and ups and downs you would expect with a little mystery and humor mixed in. I loved the lesson learned….sometimes the life you envision is not the life you get but that doesn’t make it a bad life you just need to look at it from a different perspective.
I’m on day 3 after finishing this book, I still don’t think I have the words to give this book the review it deserves but here I go. The answers you need from Bailey Brothers Book 1 are answered. The first pages had me in awe, the writing of that jail scene made me feel like I was there watching with my hand over my mouth. Asher and Grace finally see each other once he is release, but their first meeting doesn’t go as expected. The level of angst in this book is so perfect, it’s just enough to keep you turning the pages, but not too much to make you cringe. The love story between these two and the rest of both of their families is so beautifully written, at some points through out you feel yourself in the thick of some of their conversations and wanting to put your two cents in. You will have a book hangover, so be prepared, but it’s not bad, it’s a “How did Claire out do herself yet again” feeling.
I received an ARC in return for my honest review.
I have been waiting for Grace and Asher’s story for what feels like forever and it was AMAZING! Eight years is a long time, they have both been through so much. They were never going to jump back into being the Grace and Asher from before.
Asher doesn’t think he is good enough for Grace now, he seen a lot, done a lot to survive prison, it’s changed him. But Grace disagrees underneath everything she still sees the Asher she knows and loves. Fighting for Us is the perfect bame for this book. They really are fighting for each other. It’s a beautiful story!
I loved getting to know the rest of the Bailey’s and I am excited for the rest of their stories. Logan and Gavin are both fighting to be my favourite Bailey!
I also loved seeing Grace’s Mills siblings and ALWAYS love catching up with Copper!
I can’t finish my review without giving Grace’s BFF Cara a special mention. I LOVE HER! I want to be here.
I did not want this book to end! Asher and Grace are broken, we knew that. We didn’t know how broken, but they have such big love for each other. This book made me want to yell and shake some of them,cry and laugh so hard, it made me stop and think about life and appreciate things. I am hooked with this series and the way Claire wrote these first two books! I absolutely LOVE all the characters and for the first time can’t pick a favorite with the exception of Gram who is incredibly wise. The fued and pranks make this little town so interesting and fun and the little mystery kept me intrigued. I’m so happy we got to see the Miles family and their acceptance of everything as well! I can tell already this entire series will be amazing and I’m already impatiently awaiting book 3.
I absolutely loved this book! What an incredible start to a new series! Claire Kingsley did it again! She knows how to pull you in and keep you so into to the story that you feel like you’re living it too! Great book, great characters, great start to this series!!!!
This book was a perfect conclusion of Grace and Asher’s story.
Grace was adorable, I wasn’t sure how much I would like that she waited 7 years for Asher, but after reading this story, it fit her personality perfectly. I loved Grace, and I also loved the surprises in her story as the book goes on.
I loved Asher even when he was being stubborn and stupid in his relationship with Grace. I loved reading his story and everything he had to go through in prison and getting out. His story was written brilliantly and I was so sad to see the end of this book. I absolutely cannot wait to see him in the rest of his brother’s books!
I loved how Fighting For Us handled a prison story. I haven’t read many stories about prisoners and I can’t say I would have searched for them but I absolutely loved this book. When authors reach out and write stories outside what they usually write, it also helps their readers find new stories they would love to read more of. This book was different than Claire Kingsley’s usual stories but at the same time it was also her writing in all the best ways. I loved that while handling dark topics, she handled them with humor and showing that life continues and you can be happy and do fun things even when you are going through dark times. This ending to this book absolutely messed me up and I need the third book immediately! I think anyone who loves a good romance will love this book as much as I do!
5*
This story picks up from Protecting You about Asher & Grace, they haven’t had things easy the story starts from him been released early from prison with no notice.
Grace is shocked to find him in his Grams kitchen and even more surprised by his reaction.
Asher found the only way to survive was to distanced himself from everyone but did he make the right choices?
This book really drew me in I couldn’t put it down.
Can’t wait for Evan’s book.
If you loved the miles family you most certainly are going to love the Baileys the personality of each character stays with you throughout the books