When Ava Beckinsale’s parents discover their daughter’s attraction to women, they decide a radical medical treatment is the only way to fix her.When Ava finds out what’s really happening during her sessions with the doctor, she runs to the only friend she has left, a retired MMA fighter. With his help, Ava will reach for the only thing that hasn’t been stripped away: her dream of forging her own … of forging her own career in MMA.
Where the only things that matter are the strength of your character, the size of your heart and whether you have the courage to get back up when you’ve been knocked down.
Despite everything she’s endured, her true test will begin in the Cage. To conquer it, and everything life will throw at her, she’ll have to learn: sometimes your biggest opponent is yourself.
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Speer wrote it? Sold! I’ve said it before and I’ll keep on saying it: Speer is a natural storyteller with the talent to hook you from the first word. But he doesn’t rest on his laurels. He’s a definite one-click for me because of it. Each book gets better, and Ava’s story is no different. I’ve come to expect him to make me a fan of genres I normally don’t gravitate towards. PNRs, thrillers, and now sports. The commentaries I FLOVED in the first Undisputed book are back and better than ever. And while this book steps away from Owen and introduces us to the female side of the sport, if you’re expecting a slow down on the feels, buckle up. The action and feels ramp up as the author takes us somewhere we never thought we’d go. And you’re gonna love every second of the ride.
This book is awesome! Trigger warning for rape and physical abuse. It is F/F. It is about life not being fair and love being lost. Moving forward and finding yourself. Fighting to be yourself. Getting knocked down and getting up to do it again. Absolutely wonderful book!
I’m not normally into sport stories but once Aaron brings a book out I’ve just got to read it. Once again I wasn’t disappointed. I absolutely loved this story from start to finish. Sometimes you wonder how Ava manages to keep on getting back up with everything that’s happening to her but yet she does. I’m hoping there will be more in this series.
Angsty and intense, full of a fierce fighting and self preservation spirit, a determination to live life her way. Her friends support and love are at times the only thing she has in her favour, but that also works both ways as she gives back to them. Jaw dropping fight scenes and heart stopping aftermath had me on the edge of my seat, this is a powerful read and does contain some abuse. I feel people should be allowed the freedom to live their lives in whatever sexual orientation suits them and to think of “cures” and the treatment for that just makes me feel ill. This story though fiction I know also has a grain of truth in how some people think and treat anyone that is classed as different, it opens your eyes and makes you think, it gives some understanding of how these reactions cause suffering and pain. Hard hitting topic and plot in more ways than one, I found it gripping and edgy even suspenseful.and exciting.
Holy wow! This impressively written journey of Ava’s has left me speechless. I became so invested into her life that I read it straight through. I could NOT put this book down! Her story was so emotional and yes, there were quite a few times I was completely gutted and an emotional mess. Oh, but the highest of highs were so utterly beautiful and made me proud of not only her, but some of the other key characters that were a huge part of what made this book such a great read. This romance goes far beyond the MMA sport and touches on some very real and unfortunate issues that many face everyday. I highly recommend reading this brilliantly penned piece of art.
What. The. Actual…..nooooooooo you can’t leave it there…..I mean….just…..ugh. Ok, he’s done it to me again, couldn’t put the bloody thing down, got sucked in completely, nothing else got done….I loved the book. I loved all the references to other parts of the Speersverse. The characters are great, even the one that just caused me to sit open mouthed while reading about her and what she said, un-bloomining-believable. I love that he doesn’t shy away from the horrible characters, that they are there in all their full glory. And the good chracters have flaws, some of them huge. Makes it all just so real. I need the next one….
After having her Parents turn there back on her for not complying to what they see as “Christian” or” morally right” Ava turns to her friend and mentor Ruben and his partner Chris. Together they take her under there wings and they become the Family that they all desire. Following her dreams of becoming a fighter, with both Rueben and Chris as her coaches, Ava wins her unprofessional fights to be ungraded to cage fighting for Australian MMA hopefuls.
With lot’s of heartbreak and set back’s, Ava’s determination only proves again what stuff she is made of….Ava’s a fighter! she’s been through hell and back and still dust’s herself of to go at it harder, making her an inspiration to others.
Absolutely loved and thoroughly recommend this book.
Ava’s in for the fight of her life which takes readers on an unforgettable journey both personal and professional that leads directly to the Cage.
Ostracized by her family and then abused by her therapist, Ava turns to her friends and her dream to help her survive. She’ll do everything she can to achieve her dream of being the next female MMA champion.
Faced with a daunting task, Ava refuses to back down and tackles her road to the Cage just like she tackles her personal life. Head on and with strength and tenacity. But, as her journey continues, she’ll come to realize that before she can conquer her opponents in the Cage, she’ll first need to conquer her her past and her issues with trust and self doubt.
Aaron L. Speer has done it again! Unbroken was an amazing coming of age story that is empowering to anyone who has ever felt put down because of their gender, their sexuality or their own self doubt caused by bullying and cruelty from others.
Ava is truly an inspirational character. She’s not perfect, and I love that about her because it makes her perseverance and achievements that much sweeter. I adored that when her family refused to stand by her she created a new family in her friends Chris and Ruben that would.
While I’m not necessarily a fan of MMA and don’t know a lot about it, I found the fight scenes and commentary to be spectacularly written. They felt real and raw and I really could imagine the action taking place in the Cage. I also thought the author did a great job with Ava’s hero and later opponent, Veronica Nash. She was the character I kind of loved to hate, yet still respected.
For fans of Aaron’s work you’ll love the connections to book one, Undisputed (and, no, you don’t need to read that to enjoy Unbroken, but you should read it anyway because it’s awesome). And, Undeadly Secrets fans will die for the Easter Eggs that Speer drops into this book!
Unbroken was unexpected, emotional & inspirational reminding readers to never give up on their dreams and to surround themselves with people willing to help you achieve them. 5 stars
“Life always puts us down. We choose how we get back up, if we get back up at all. Ava chose to get up with a shrug and a smile. Life hit hard, but she’d been hit harder. And, though wobbly, she still stood.”
Unbroken is the second installment to the extraordinary Undisputed 2 Book Series! This novel has so many FEELS in the middle of a fast-paced, action-packed gem of a story where the author has opened the door to an emotionally charged world, one that focuses heavily on the struggles one faces in the LGBTQ community. Our individual struggles differ, but we all have a stake in this fight.
“Sometimes, despite the best intentions, people drift back towards each other but don’t fit the same way. It was sad but not the end of the world. She couldn’t change for anyone. Love, true love, no matter how hard, didn’t work like that. Compromise should never cost each person who they were inside.”
Speer delves into quite a few sensitive topics, tastefully handling each one with care. Ava is dealt so many blows before she even steps into a ring, it’s a wonder she has any fight left in her. That goes to show you how much character this girl has. Abused by the people who were supposed to protect her, Ava’s journey is an inspiration to never give up and follow your dreams.
I recommend this novel to those struggling to make it in a system that exploits and discards the unique, those who are devalued because they are different. What a boring place this world would be if everyone was the same…
What an amazing book!!!
Glued to each page, tranced by the words,
.. a page turner, with heart gripping emotions, that will leave you speechless.
Unbroken – Undisputed Book 2 – Aaron L Speer
Though this story is classically in the MMA genre, Aaron L Speer has also delivered an incredibly powerful and gut wrenching story of love, compassion, understanding and sheer determination.
Ava Beckinsale knows what she wants. Forthright and brash in her opinion, she’s pushed to breaking by her family and gives in to their twisted ideals. Until the day she realises that their ideals are not who she is.
She begins a journey of self discovery under the guidance of her friends, mentors and coaches, Reuben and Chris who will support her in her struggle to the top of the MMA ladder. Her life’s dream, her passion.
With so many tragic pitfalls along her journey, Ava builds the readers respect and admiration for her perseverance and for never quitting her passion or abandoning those that truly love her and support her.
Heart wrenching at times, anger inducing in its complex social issues, which Aaron L Speer handles with brilliant finesse, but totally inspirational in its message. This story will stay with me for a very long time and I will happily sing its praises at every opportunity.
Now I’m heading back to the Cage, to read Undisputed. Yeah, yeah, I know…. read these in reverse order but I’m totally hooked. Thanks Aaron L Speer…… great story.
Ava’s story is an incredible tale of perseverance. She fights for love, what is right, for her choices, individuality and her very life. I loved this book.
I dove into Unbroken without a clue as I had no expectation other than a foray into the wild world of MMA, of which I am a huge fan. Speer grabbed me by the throat and threw me to the mat as I felt all the ways for Ava, watching her repeatedly knocked down by life, only to rise, each time stronger than the last. Speer writes the universal need for unconditional love from a deep place that anyone can identify, but also from a female perspective that is eminently relatable and at the same time inspiring anyone to protect the important things in life. The story unfolds on the mats but really transcends to paint a picture of courage, determination, perseverance and a staunch love of self that connects in a world where it is all too easy to simply disconnect. I finished the last page, inspired and moved and emotionally wrung out. I climbed out of the cage ready to take on the world, or at least ready to grab my own shot at a second chance. Keep pushing, keep working, stayed focused!
Wow! I’m loving this series! I don’t want to say much to give spoilers but I will say, this book is unbelievably a great book with some great fighting. I love most of the characters & the ones I don’t like, it’s with great reason. This book will break your heart & put it back together.
There are very few books that have left me feeling as Unbroken did. This is not a book to race through, frantically turning pages to see what’s next. Instead this is a book that you really need to take your time with, to spend as much time as humanly possible on every page before moving to the next.
Ava’s story is thought provoking, an emotionally charged read and a conversation starter. The author has invited us into a world, where many readers will have strong reactions. I know I certainly did! At times I literally wanted to throat punch so many people and at others I found myself silently crying.
There are no stones left unturned in Ava’s story, none. The author has turned over every stone, wiped the dirt off it, polished it on his shirt until it shines and then replaced it with care. He has handled certain topics with care, while not shying away from the human responses those topics evoke.
Ava’s story is one that will stay with me for quite some time. I only hope that the message that can be learnt from her journey reach those who need to hear it- NEVER EVER GIVE UP.
Wow! I’m in awe of this author, this book, this story! There are so many outstanding details that make this story unforgettable for me. The writing alone was exceptional, distinct, unique, and kept me hooked onto every last word. This is a phenomenal story about MMA fighters and there are many great details about the sport and it is action packed. Ava’s strength and determination touched me on many levels and she’s a very inspiring character, with courage and perseverance. I found this story to be greatly inspiring and absolutely brilliant and one that will stay with me for a long while.
Let me start off by saying truly one of the best MMA books I have ever read. Ava is the most determined and strongest female character I have seen in a long time. No matter what horrible adversity she faces she keeps pushing forward. She may get beaten down but she fights her way back up. The dynamic between her, Reuben and Chris is unlike any I have seen before. I cried, I laughed and I cursed Aaron L Speer for many things in this story. It is one for all the feels. A true must read !
This story of MMA fighters has all the detail and action that a fan of the subject will enjoy. It is a well-paced, can’t put it down drama that begins fast and stays engaging. But soon into reading, you will discover that it is so much more. The main character not only wishes to win at the sport but to repair a broken life. The reasons I will not speak of other than to say that some will find it controversial. I have read all of Author Speer’s books because he is a consummate storyteller who does his research. But how he managed this, I will forever wonder. The depth and emotion are not only gripping but wholly realistic. He is an award-winning writer but with this book, he shows himself to have uncommon sensitivity. I give this book my highest recommendation. If you have had struggles in life, this story will inspire and uplift you. Don’t miss it.
Speerzie knows how to gently pound emotion into every part of a story. It’s what makes you feel like you’re intimately involved in what’s going on. Ava is the perfect broken heroine with her two guardian angels. The ups and downs she has to go through to find herself will resonate with all of us who have struggled with family issues and searching for our place in the world. I love how there are so many plot points left unresolved, but by no means is there a cliffhanger at the end. There are also an abundance of Easter eggs that are fun for those who have read all of Speerzie’s books. I can’t wait to see where he takes this story next.
An outstanding, mind blowing, tidal waves of emotions story that broke me and put me back together again!!!! OMFG Aaron, I wasn’t sure that you could write a second MMA story that even compared to how much I loved Undisputed but here I am at a compete and utter loss for words!!! It is AMAZING!!!! Unbroken hit me like a ton of bricks from the very first chapter and kept me guessing till the very end. I was so overwhelmed with love for Ava and all she has been through and endured. Yet, she was so strong, so brave and completely UNSTOPPABLE!!! I read this book in one day and it has taken me four days just to put my emotions into words and I am still reeling from the profound impact this book has had on me. The moments of despair that Ava had was nothing compared to the moments of determination and clarity when she realized that she could do any and get past anything she set her mind to.
I truly enjoyed all characters in this book even Veronica Nash!!! She was truly an icon in the fighting world and her desire to win was admirable. Ruben and Chris are such an amazing support system and the best couple. They won me over immediately. I was disappointed however in Jasmine for her inability to stand up for herself. To go after what made her happy yet I completely get why she did what she did in the end.
This book had so many wow moments for me and the tears fell so many times. The children that showed their love and support to Ava in the hospital gutted me, I cried so hard!! Even at the end, the final fight I was terrified to read. I wasn’t sure what was gonna happen and I felt anxious and nervousnto know. I almost had to pause from reading to control my anxiety.
Unbroken is by far one of the best books I have read in a long time. I cannot yak enough about how much I loved it and Ava. You have my many thanks Aaron L Speers for being this story into my life. I cannot wait to read more from you!!!!!! XO
“Rest Easy Warrior”