~Review~Against the Cage (Worth the Fight #1) by Sidney Halston

In her Loveswept debut, Sidney Halston turns up the heat as a sexy cage fighter shows a former bookworm how delicious a few rounds between the sheets can be.   

For Chrissy Martin, returning to her Florida hometown always seems to bring bad luck. The day starts with a breakup text, followed by a jailhouse phone call from her troublemaker brother. Now a routine traffic stop has ended with her accidentally punching an officer . . . in adelicate place. Then Chrissy realizes that the hot cop on the receiving end of her right hook is none other than the man from her teenage fantasies.

 

Jack Daniels knows how to take a hit. After all, when he’s not chasing reckless drivers, he’s kicking ass in a mixed martial arts ring. So what takes his breath away isn’t the low blow, but the woman who dealt it: a gorgeous knockout with legs Jack wouldn’t mind being pinned under—who just so happens to be his best friend’s nerdy little sister, all grown up. Soon their instant chemistry leads to a sizzling affair, but Jack and Chrissy are fighting an uphill battle if they want to make love last beyond the final bell.

Overall Rating:  5 Rockin’ ★★★★★

He is her brother’s best friend and she has had a crush on him for years.  When her father is killed in a car accident our heroine leaves her home in Tarpon Springs and doesn’t look back.  After receiving a come bail me out of jail call from her big brother she makes the trip home.   Only problem is once she gets there she is pulled over for speeding and guess who the officer is?

“License and registration,” said the husky voice from outside. Gingerly, he bent down to window-level and for the first time, she was able to see his face.  And, like a lightening bolt, Chrissy’s past collided right into he, a past she so wanted to forget.

Jack cannot believe that this is his best friend’s frumpy little sister, Chris!  This woman was nothing like the girl that had left eleven years ago. 

One long, fair, well-defined leg in the sexiest red high heels he’d ever seen stepped out of the car. Then, the other.  Jesus Christ! Was this the same goofy little Chrissy Martin?  Somehow, Jack had transformed into one of those cartoon characters whose eyes popped in and out of its socket.  Holy hot legs, Batman!

Chrissy cannot believe how much Jack has changed, a police officer, please!  He had always been protective of her but now he was all alpha male.  However, she was not the same naïve little girl that had followed Jack and her brother Slade around with hero worship in her eyes. 

That stupid love-struck teenager was gone and now every time Jack gave her one of those panty-dropping dimpled-smiles, she’d remember how mean he had been to her growing up and how he ruined her relationship with her best friend.  How he never saw her as anything other than Prissy Chrissy, a dorky little sister in need of a protective big brother.

Jack offers to help Chrissy get Slade out of jail.  He tells her that he has a key to Slade’s house and will help her get in to her old home.  Chrissy follows Jack home and the chemistry really starts to sizzle between the two of them.  There is only one problem a crazy Chihuahua that thinks he is a pit bull.

“He bites. He’s a quarter pit bull.” Jack said, matter-of-factly. “Oh please.  How can that tiny little beauty bite?”  Chrissy went to reach for it again but Jack moved the dog behind him.  His hand was larger than the dog.  “You must be kidding about the pit bull thing.”  Chrissy laughed.“Trust me.  He bites and growls.  The whole nine yards.  He has a Napoleon complex and thus the name, Drogo”

Will these to be able to forget the past and move toward a future together?  Can Chrissy not only cage Jack, but tame his dog? 

“I’ve been thinking about something that you brother said.  I don’t want to scare you and this is not how I envisioned doing this, but I love you so much baby.  And, I know that we haven’t been together long but we’ve known each other our whole live.” He took another deep breath.  Chrissy sensed he was nervous.  “I know exactly what I would love for you to call me.”

Hero –Jack Daniels: 5 stars

Heroine –Chrissy Martin: 5 stars

Steam: 5 stars 

Plot: 5 stars 

Cliffhanger: Yes

Would I recommend this book: Yes! This book has it all, hot doctor, hot police officer-cage fighter, hot sex and a crazy, sadistic Chihuahua!  What’s not to love?  This book is funny and sexy. It is a book that also gives a look at second chance relationships and I recommend it as a must read!

Would I read other books by this author: Yes! I look forward to reading where this author will take me with her next story.

***Received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review***