Worth the Chance By Vi Keeland

Regardless of the fact that I began reading 'Worth the Chance' right after 'Worth the fight', I had no problem transferring from 13 year old Vinny to 25 year old Vince, because both have spunk that I like and this time there was an equal amount of POV between both main characters.

Vinny was definitely direct and fearless especially when mad and that was often. He came off as ungrateful at times in his relationship with Nico but the respect and value of both Nico and Elle's trust and relationships were present. He wasn't in a state of obligation and I even liked him as a 17 year old  because he kept the same persona and was always confident in his moves; It was definitely not the 13 year old Vinny who made shirts for Elle.

Olivia was another honest character when it came to her beliefs and I love the passion and pride she placed in her work. I liked her reactions and reservations, as well as, the fact that she thought through her actions. Their relationship is perfect for them but the level of conflict in this novel didn't match it's importance. After reading the first chapter in 'Worth Forgiving', I think that maybe that drama will be released using Jax's character, though I really wish he'd stick to banking.

Knowing what to expect this time made this novel easier to navigate and while I saw all the twist coming a mile away, this installment actually lived up to it's title because every one got a chance at something, even Elle and Nico but I'll save that tidbit for when you read :)

The sex was alright but not what I expected from Vinny based on his talk of agression and depravation in the bedroom. The boy's not bad but he's pretty basic too or maybe it's Olivia. I don't know.

It was good to be in touch with characters we were fond of from book 1, Preach included and even the Lake house made another appearance. Still, this story was so smooth that I occasionally forgot that there was an upcoming fight and secrets that date all the way back to 25 years ago. It's a mellow story with not much conflict or fight unless we get in the cage which once again amounts to only two times.

Also, the fights continue to be taken from the female's POV, as well as, so many other elements that left me feeling like we were re-enacting Elle and Nico's story but with a different set of characters. The MMA fights in this series are also sorely unfair, because if the fighter's don't have problems, they tend to end the fights in round one and even then it's tentative as to a round three.

I don't know when they fell in love but they are a comfortable couple and the fact that they knew each other from high school might have helped, especially with the fact that because they already knew each other, we didn't get the basic background on them. Olivia is suppose to have the perfect little family with no deep dark secrets but I never even hear her speak to a parent once. Where are they? o.O

Where the story line is concerned, there was plenty of potential for an angst filled, drama themed romance between the sweetest, most understanding girl and the course, brutally honest MMA fighter. As I have come to figure out with this series though, it takes the easy road so we got the mellow ride instead. It's by no means a bad story or even delivery but I just felt like so much more could have happened and been highlighted.

My problem with this series is that we never get the full disclosure or time to work out the issues until the last 5% of the novel and then we are given an epilogue that spans months or years, this time six months, only for it to abruptly end and ask us to wait for the next.

I guess until next time folks!

- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20739590-worth-the-chance

Phenomenal X By Michelle A. Valentine

Yes! It's World Cup time so I have been a little absent. I apologize but I did get to read one book in this time frame and let's just say that it didn't live up to it's title. There was nothing phenomenal about this story or it's odd characters and weak progression. I don't even know what to say about that unnecessary ending.

Firstly, this isn't MMA. That was my first mistake. This is WWE RAW kinda fights, that were terribly scripted, like the novel. The ending was very unimaginative and unrealistic and I never once felt them as a couple. I could see them as friends with benefits though and for someone who is all, "I walk a straight line", Xavier has quite the temper on him, which naturally became his downfall.

In true Michelle Valentine style, the back stories were different and interesting and the ending, even if you don't agree or like it, has you wanting to take a chance on book 2. You just can't help it! It's a gift really.

Xavier had more realistic qualities in the beginning including his moment of weakness. We hate it in stories but let's be honest ladies, guys will screw anything that moves, that they can look on while they screw it and sometimes it's not even a requirement. His back story is a sad but solid one and I actually like the times we went back in his past because it provided a different  take than stories I have read. His relationship with his mother and grandmother differ in ways I didn't expect and the heavy religious theme threw me but was a good direction because it provided a different dimension.

This book spans a total of two weeks with 2 years worth of emotions so naturally you know my eyes were on the roll. I didn't believe half of what they said or claimed and their conversations were quite dull if you ask me. Not much interesting things happened in the present except for Xavier beating the crap out of his co-workers. To be honest, the man needs a sport that 's not as tame. He should try MMA or boxing, the refs there are actual refs too. o.O

Anna's contribution to this story was her majority narration, as well as, her vagina that made her the female counterpart. I didn't see the point of her character otherwise because she has nil spine in the grand scheme of things and what was her purpose again?

I don't hate her character but she did nothing but narrate most of the story and lust after X while rebuking her own self and Jorge, where are you buddy? Also, it took about 95% of this novel for me to know the chick has a sibling o.O

Then again, I keep forgetting it's only been 2 weeks . Silly me.

The sex doesn't happen until 70% in so don't expect that kind of story line and when it does come, I was over their irresponsible behaviour, cheesy sex lines and quite basic sex before the sex itself was over. If I wanted that, I'd do an internet search for basic porn -_-

Some might call this a rant but that's not the case. I felt like this story went no where and dropped in important points when it remembered. I was thoroughly underwhelmed and even though I was glued to the World Cup coverage for the better part of the days I preferred to play Quizup at nights than to finish this story in more than a week.

The story line is weak, the characters themselves are questioning their roles and I am still trying to piece together the point of this all. Hopefully, it will all come together in the next book. I have read better bodies of work from Michelle Valentine so I won't write her off as an author I can jam with but this just wasn't that great of a story.

- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18756982-phenomenal-x