Sometimes we have to go through the dark to reach the light. Whenever he steps into the octagon, heavyweight champion Gabriel Maddox is focused on one thing, and one thing alone: destroying the man in front of him with calm, devastating precision. He’s controlled in everything he does, but it’s not a control that comes easily. It’s born out of pain and survival—out of necessity. Dominating in the … Dominating in the octagon, and dominating in bed, Gabe is a man who gets what he wants. And when he lays eyes on journalist Megan Sinclair, he wants her.
From the moment Megan meets Gabe, she knows there’s something different about him. Something hiding behind all of that calculated control. His commanding, dominating nature sparks a need in her, opening her eyes to desires she didn’t know she had. She wants to know what it would feel like to be at his mercy. To give herself over to him, even if it’s only for one night.
Megan brings out an insatiability in Gabe, and he knows one night isn’t enough. Against his better judgement, he breaks his rules for her as his control starts to slip. Where she’s Beauty, he’s the Beast, and he doesn’t think she can handle the dark needs he harbors. Needs involving her submission and his twisted fantasies. But Megan craves what he’s offering, sending them both down a dangerous path.
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Take Down is the second book in the Blood and Glory series. This novel can be read as a standalone.
One thing I am absolutely loving about this series is the fact that it gets better with each book (and there has only been two books so far…. these men…I tell you! )
Gabe ‘The Sandman’ Maddox a man who needs no introduction but highly deserves one! This man is fierce, domineering, and sexy as all hell! Let’s not forget he’s also a sweetheart underneath all of that alpha fighter hotness!
After losing everything he loved, Gabe submerges himself in the world of MMA. He fights to keep his demons at bay. He fights because he feels like it’s the only thing he has left. That is until he meets a kind-hearted reporter, Megan.
Megan is a journalist who’s world is finally starting to look up. When she gets assigned to write a series of articles on MMA and the fighters behind the sport she finds herself intrigued by Champion fighter Gabe.
Gabe and Megan’s chemistry is OFF THE CHARTS. From the very first interaction I was rooting for these two. I was captivated from the start. I loved these two characters as separates and as a couple. I was honestly blown away by this story.
I am a huge fan of MMA so of course I love romance novels that center around the sport. I was surprised at how much MMA was actually in this novel. It was fun to read about Gabe’s strict routines. I loved that aspect of the novel. It actually felt like I was watching a real fighter’s life play out.
I am sooooo looking forward to the next book in this series! Eeek… That little snippet has me on edge and impatiently waiting!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS SERIES!
I have been brought to submission by “The Sandman”. Harper St. George and Tara Wyatt’s Blood and Glory series continues with two broken souls in need of healing and each other. Take Down is the second book in the series and deals with some real and tragic issues, but that is not to say that it is not light and fun also.
“Everyone was in possession of a beautiful hourglass, with a finite amount of sand.”
Megan Sinclair is a free-lance journalist who, thanks to her best friend Jules and her connections, is about to cover a series of articles on the MMA fighters of the WFC. When she meets Gabriel “The Sandman” Maddox for an interview, her libido jumps up and takes notice. Since she knows better than most not to let an opportunity pass by, she pursues him. But Gabe refuses her again and again, until their mutual sexual attraction gets the better of them.
“She was drawn to him, and felt an almost desperate need to know him. To understand him. As though there were a part deep within herself that was pulling her to him.”
Gabe doesn’t lie to himself or Megan when he tells her he can’t be what she needs, but he wants her and lets that want offer her what little he can give, sex with no strings and no expectations. He never sees a woman more than once and he never gives them more than the orgasms he promised, but with Megan things are different. The game has changed on him and he doesn’t know if he can play anymore. Will he grab ahold of this second chance at love, or will he push her away one time too many?
“He was distant, gruff, and obviously had a metric ton of baggage. Not exactly relationship material, but God, as she watched him, she found that she didn’t care. She just wanted him.”
Megan was easygoing and talkative. She has a happy go lucky personality and I found that I envied her that, because if this woman that has been through so much can be optimistic and find the brightside to life, who am I to complain that the laundry hasn’t been washed or the dishes are not put away. Her situation and insight put a lot of things in perspective. I especially realized how much I take for granted. Megan is definitely an eye-opening character. I loved when she stood up to Gabe and asked for what she wanted out of their relationship.
“She made him want things he had no right to want. Things he didn’t deserve. Things he didn’t know how to give.”
Gabe is the definition of dark and brooding. His past holds a lot of pain and he fights to help numb it. I understood this on a personal level, when I am overwhelmed with emotions that I want to shut off I turn to what I love, reading and writing. For Gabe that was fighting. Of course, he is a hardheaded stubborn man and as such almost loses the one good thing he has. I appreciate that he realized it fairly quickly and when he was presented with an opportunity to make it right he took it.
I am not a huge sports fan, I don’t watch, and I don’t know anything about anything. But my husband is, particularly MMA. So, I have caught glimpses of fights and the fighters and I just want to say that from the small amount I have seen, Harper and Tara got it right. It was well done, I felt as if I was there, watching. Their words and descriptions brought it to life for me.
Speaking of descriptions, I cannot write this review without saying how attracted I was to Gabe from his first interaction with Megan. I highlighted and noted “His description is so freaking hot! Omg! I love him already!” I know, not very thought out and intelligent, but these ladies had me salivating!
I immensely enjoyed reading about Gabe and Megan, their hardships and how they overcame them together. This series is shaping up to one of my favorites and I cannot wait to read the next book! FIVE life’s too short stars.
Gabriel “The Sandman” Maddox does his best work in the octagon, and every once in a while he puts his skills to use in the bedroom too… for a little strings free fun. After a life changing accident he decided that he could never give his heart to another woman again, knowing it could never handle another heartbreaking loss… so he keeps his entanglements with women strictly on a one night basis. But then Megan wanders into his life, and suddenly one night doesn’t seem to be enough anymore…
When Megan Sinclair signs on to interview the men from the WFC for Mosaic she finds her story, and a whole lot more… a sexy something more! Meeting Gabe was so unexpected, he’s everything she knows she should avoid, but her head and her heart aren’t agreeing on this one… one little kiss and she knows she can’t walk away. He informs her that he is only in it for one night, but something tells her that one night isn’t going to be enough!
Take Down is an erotic little page-turner that will leave your mind riddled with naughty thoughts and your heart overflowing with love for a certain sexy fighter! I knew the moment I met Gabe in the first installment that he was going to be a force to be reckoned with, and WOW! was I right, the man was seriously something else!!! He was all alpha, but hidden amongst all his bravado was a softer side, one that took some time to lure out, but definitely worth the struggle. I loved meeting these two, their beautifully crafted story came with lots of ups and downs that toyed with my emotions, and lots of steamy moments that left my toes curled, and had my tablet overheating! I am really enjoying this series, it has a perfect balance of sports and romance… I’m dying to get my hands on the next one and have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the WFC’s privileged playboy Leandro Oliveira!!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title.
Wow! A sexy, brooding Alpha MMA champion meets a journalist writing a series of articles about the organization he fight for. The chemistry is intense & more than he normally feels. She’s attracted to him but isn’t sure she wants to get involved. They both have secrets in their pasts that have them cautious & not wanting to risk their hearts. Very hot, steamy sex scenes with some mild BDSM. Loved it!