Story

 When struggling waitress Melody Dylan gives a handsome, lonely stranger a simple gift she has no clue her life is about to take a drastic turn.

The stranger ends up being Clay Powers, a famous UFC heavyweight fighter. Clay’s large build and dangerous fists have always intimidated. People in his hometown keep their distance and Clay is fine with that. Everything changes when a new waitress at the local diner buys him a piece of pie on thanksgiving. Touched by the gesture when it’s obvious she can barely afford to survive, her warm smile and lush body churn up powerful feelings that leave Clay wanting more from her than pie.

Melody is running from her past and the small, country town of Garnet is the perfect hiding place. With an ex-husband after her and scars from her abusive marriage etched deep, the last thing she expects is to fall for a man who makes a living with his fists, but she can’t resist Clay or the tender connection they share.

Finding love in the most unlikely of places, the passion is undeniable, but Clay and Melody know their haunted pasts and unpredictable futures leave the odds stacked against them.

Characters

Clay Powerhouse

Petarung kelas berat UFC yang tenar berkat kesuksesannya dalam memenangi pertarungan. Clay tak menyukai publisitas. Ia cenderung pendiam, penyendiri, dan tak ramah.  Tapi ia menyayangi kedua saudara angkatnya dengan tulus.

Melody Dylan

Melody pindah ke Garnet untuk menghindari mantan suaminya yang suka main tangan. Ia mengalami trauma akibat pernikahannya yang dipenuhi kekerasan fisik dan mental itu. Melody memiliki keramahan tulus yang membuat ia disukai rekan-rekan kerjanya

Wyatt Conners

Wyatt adalah sheriff Garnet yang dulunya juga menjadi petarung UFC. Ia adalah saudara angkat Clay. Ia dikenal sebagai playboy charming yang suka membantu Clay dalam urusan publisitasnya.

Jules Conners

Jules adalah adik kadung Wyatt. Ia bekerja sebagai pengacara criminal di Garnet. Ia sering bertengkar dengan Wyatt. Tapi hubungan mereka sangat dekat.

My Ratings

4 poin untuk:

Good Story/Idea=yes

Good writing style=yes

Well-developed characters=nope

Additional information/message=yes

Good first impression=yes

Penokohannya biasa aja. Dialog-dialognya & ceritanya juga cenderung klise. Tapi aku suka banget cover-nya. Terus jadi tahu yang namanya mixed martial arts.

My interest level:

Aku suka interaksi Clay & Mel yang menurutku sweet untuk ukuran novel erotica.

My Favorite Dialogue

Melody: “Jeez, this town really does need a movie theater. I can’t believe that many people know ’bout us.”
Jules:  “You make sure Clay wins this fight, and he can buy them one.”
Melody: “He doesn’t make that much, does he? Just for one fight?”
Jules: “One fight? This is a title fight, and he’s the UFC’s topearning fighter. You really have no clue, do ya? It ain’t a lie. You really like Clay for Clay, bad attitude and all.”