Breaking Free

Fighter's Passion #3

by Ruby Starr

A spicy sports romance with protect-me and teach-me vibes and a sweet book boyfriend.

In the ring Dani Graves is the kickboxer everyone's afraid to fight. She doesn’t back down, she doesn’t show pain, and she never gives up. No one knows she’s on the run and living out of her car behind the gym.

When Dani runs into wrestler Ryan Thomson one morning, he immediately suspects Dani needs help and protection, no matter how fiercely she guards her independence.

Dani insists her freedom will come from taking the most dangerous fights she can. Ryan will do anything to keep her safe, but can he convince her she’s worth protecting?

✔️Gym romance kickboxing
✔️Bad ass heroine fighter
✔️Protect her and secretly help her
✔️Virgin, teach me
✔️No third act break up

Breaking Free is a spicy sports romance and the third book in the Fighter's Passion Series. This story can be read as stand alone. Available as paperback and ebook including Kindle Unlimited!

Genres: Romance, Sports

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2024

About the author

Find my spicy fighter romances here! I write about love and combat sports and martial arts. I trained in Muay Thai for 7 years. When I'm not at the gym I like to read and hike and I play a lot of music. My family and my dog keep me busy.

Reviews

[Tohfaaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 ⭐

This was such a fun read! Dani is a total badass in the ring, and I loved how tough and independent she was. She’s been through a lot and is just trying to survive, her wall is always up.Ryan is this super sweet, supportive wrestler who just wants to help her. He was honestly such a great book boyfriend. He's kind, patient, and protective without being controlling.

The romance had a really nice slow burn, and I liked how their relationship built up over time. the chemistry was so good . Plus, I love that there's no third act breakup.

[Kerri Wells Goetzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun read! Dani is a total badass in the ring, and I loved how tough and independent she was. She’s been through a lot and is just trying to survive, so it made sense that she had walls up. Then Ryan shows up. He's this super sweet, supportive wrestler who just wants to help her. He was honestly such a great book boyfriend. He's kind, patient, and protective without being controlling.

The romance had a really nice slow burn, and I liked how their relationship built up over time. The “protect her/teach me” vibes worked well, and the chemistry was definitely there. Plus, I love that there's no third act breakup.

Some parts dragged a little. There was a lot of focus on the gym, the fighting, and the logistics of Dani’s life, and I just wanted a bit more time with them as a couple. Also, Dani felt a little naive at times, but considering her past, it made sense.

Overall, though, it’s a strong, spicy sports romance with a tough heroine and the softest hero. Definitely recommend it!

ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and Ruby Starr Press. This is my honest review.

[CLorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Breaking Free: A Fighter Romance is Book three of Ruby Starr’s Fighter's Passion series. The stories are interconnected but can be read without having experienced the other selections. This story involves big brother and all-around nice guy, Ryan Thomson. When he notices that kickboxer Dani Graves is struggling with basic needs as she prepares for an upcoming match, he steps in to help. Dani is not accustomed to accepting help from anyone; she is running from a past where she was never in control! But can she trust that the gentle and kind Ryan is who he seems to be or will her experiences of the past sabotage her present and future? Ms. Starr includes all the grit that is found in a contact sport like kickboxing in this story but infuses sweetness in Ryan and Dani’s journey to “coupleship”. Dani was naturally skittish but Ryan was patient and supportive. I enjoyed their story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
https://theretiredreader.com/f/breaki...

[PurpleLadi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Loved This Book! Breaking Free: A fighter Romance is a wonderful continuation of the Fighter's Passion series. I truly admired Dani for, despite awful circumstances, having the guts to take control of her life and destiny. Ryan was a wonderful, kind, loving, nurturing, yet perssitant youngman. They learned how to let down their walls, trust again, and build the future they both wanted/ deserved. Though this is a work of fiction, Ms. Rose Star touched on a couple of real societal issues. Women are still trying to attain equal/ fair status and treatment in sports and religious cults do exist.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sharon McMaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved these characters and Dani tries to show no fear and puts on this tough girl act especially with everything she has had to endure. She struggles to trust and rightfully so (don’t want to give spoilers) - - half the battle is believing that you are worthy but Ryan really gives off that protector vibe and notices things that others would often glaze over. I loved that he was so patient with her but yet wouldn’t back away from her. I personally enjoyed that it wasn’t just romance with a page of MMA thrown in and had a little more the training and what all goes into kickboxing/wrestling as I felt it gave more backbone to the story.

[Ashleyt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC from NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

Breaking Free is a solid read with an interesting story. It is definitely a slow burn on all aspects of the story. The book leans heavily on the fighting and training parts of Dani’s life. I would have liked to have learned more about her history what lead her to the place she is in her life. The characters and the story was well written.I love a bada** MFC and a golden retriever MMC. I just wish we could have seen a little more emotional growth in their relationship before the book ended.

If you’re looking for a slow burn romance with lots of professional fighting mixed in, Breaking Free is the book for you.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read. I found it a tad slow. Or maybe just very heavy on the fighting and training and living arrangements and less so on the relationship and love. Which for some people that is going to be awesome, for me it was just a little slow. I loved the characters and the story was well written. I love a strong MFC and a sweet MMC and this book definitely gave me that.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Willie-mai · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first time reading Ruby Starr and it won’t be my last! Breaking Free was a highly enjoyable and captivating read! It was well written, had awesomely developed characters and great storytelling! It was also sexy and steamy with some MMA action packed scenes! Loved it! Looking forward to reading more of this author’s work!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Aliss (gracedby_books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to take Dani to any fight or just anywhere with me. I love FMC who don't give up and keep fighting for everything they want. Ruby did an amazing job of not overdoing Dani as a victim. Ryan is the protective MC I love to read all day long.
I haven't read a fight romance in a bit and this book was 5 star read for me.

Tropes:
MMA Fighters
Slow Burn
Age Gap
Protective MC
Indepedent FMC
Spice 2.5

[Arcs and Betas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book about fighting/boxing and having no knowledge of the sport, I found the story informative and interesting.

The characters are well rounded, with unique personalities, flaws, and virtues. Dani is naive, but strong. Ryan is selfless and protective.

The plot kept me turning pages!

This book is an HEA with on-page spice, and no third act breakup.

[Dana Eisinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this e-book in a Goodreads giveaway. The author is a new author and this was just her 3rd book (a series). I enjoyed this sports romance, and enjoy a strong tough female main character. Quick book, like around 200 pages but seemed much longer than a novella. This author has great promise and I would definitely read more of her books.

[Mary Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite thing about this book was the strong FMC. It was so refreshing to read a romance centered around MMA with a fmc that is independent, and strong willed. The MMA world was new to me, and I was shocked by how much I enjoyed it. I can’t wait to see what other stories we get from Ruby Starr in the future.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed the plot and characters. Ruby has a great writing style that had me very invested in the characters and left me wanting more. I received a complimentary copy from the author as part of the voracious readers program but it has left me wanting more and I will be reading the other books in the series when I can get ny hands on them.

[Lauren Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Ruby Starr for the opportunity to review this ARC copy.

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*

Tropes:
gym romance
Virgin
HEA

3rd book, stand-alone, 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Content warnings: escape from a cult (off page) and the death of a sibling (off page).

[Tawny Blumenthal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. It was totally different than anything I’ve read before as I’ve read nothing related to kickboxing. The character development and the relationship these two build made this book so enjoyable and loved having Dani be such a strong FMC.

[cyndi gillingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read. Story flowed nicely Dani seemed a little naive at times but was still a bad ** Ryan was so supportive and they played off each other perfectly. Just the right amount
of spice/drama

[Tracy H · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story and characters were well written and nicely developed. I enjoyed the chemistry and journey. Good read.

[Hannah]

Thank you to Goodreads for the giveaway! I will be reviewing this officially, soon!

[Andrea Mendoza · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable. Fun and a little sexy read. Tropes: mma fighters, the protector, female in hiding.

[Paris Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the concept but of the book it just wasn’t well executed and the spicy scenes gave me the ick.

[Michelle Combs · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite of the series, it is a good, quick read.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review ✨

Thank you so much Ruby Starr and Voracious Readers Only, for this arc!

So I am completely obsessed!!

This is such a cute, wholesome, fast read. I completely fell in love with the characters, my only complaint was that it didn't last longer😂

I've decided a new favourite genre crossover is sports romance and cults (a pair I never thought I needed).

[Oops I ARC'd Again · Rating 5 out of 5]

OFFICIAL ARC REVIEW 🩷🥰 No Spoilers!

I don’t usually reach for sports romance, but Breaking Free was such a nice surprise. The plot was easy to follow, the characters felt relatable, and the story had just enough spice and heart to keep me turning pages.

Dani is a total badass in the ring but also vulnerable in a way that made her easy to root for. Ryan? Sweet, steady, protective, the kind of book boyfriend energy you want in your corner. Their dynamic had the perfect balance of fierce and tender.

This isn’t a heavy read. It’s the kind of feel, good book you grab when you just want to relax and enjoy a story. I flew through it in one sitting and ended up liking it way more than I expected.
If you’re looking for an easy, spicy, sports romance with strong characters and no unnecessary breakup drama, this one’s worth picking up.