The Trainer

Redemption #1

by Shey Stahl

What if you had one night to reignite the passion and romance that time and distance had seemed to have forgotten?

What would you do for just one night to captivate…one night to find the magic?

Just one.

When Tallan Spencer’s high school crush, Silas Cade, is set to return home after five years, she’ll do anything to impress this renowned rock star and show him what could have been, what might still be.

The problem.

She’s only got six weeks before he comes back and she’s determined to look the same as she did in high school. In an act of desperation, she hires a personal trainer to get her into drop-dead gorgeous shape. And not just any personal trainer, but a previous heavy-weight title boxer with an attitude.

Destry Stone doesn’t have time for games. He’s angry at the world for what’s been taken from him. One look at Tallan and he has to remind himself he’s just paying off a debt. Though he doesn’t agree with what she’s doing, and who she’s doing it for, he’s forced to put his opinions aside.

What he wants doesn’t matter.

Destry should be training to get his title back but instead, he finds himself in the basement of a bar every night working one-on-one with a woman who is sheer perfection... and nothing more than a distraction for him. Or is she?

What happens when he can’t get this girl out of his mind when all she’s living for is just one night?

All he’s living for is one more.

Warning: This story contains graphic adult content.

Genres: Romance, Fighters, Mixed Martial Arts, Humor, Contemporary, New Adult, Sports

222 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 24, 2014

About the author

USA Today Bestselling Author, Shey Stahl is a lover of sunsets, dirt track racing, collecting antiques, and the south, where her soul wants to be. Writing is her passion, giving words meaning, and readers experiences they’ll never forget. Currently she’s living in the pacific northwest with her husband and daughter, she can usually be found near a dirt track with an iced coffee in hand.

Visit her website for additional information and keep up to date on new releases: www.sheystahl.com

You can also find her on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/sheystahlauthor

Follow on Instagram: http://bit.ly/2Bdh0t4

Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/2rfQ0cI

Reviews

[JP · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed

OK, so I like most if this authors work and I was intrigued by the plot. It started out OK and got better towards the middle right until...Spoilers....... She acts like SHE is the victim and pouts and cries and feels like she has a right to be a bi#ch to Destroy because he's mad she lied to him. Nope this was the beginning of the terrible turn of her character. Seriously, she writes a story about him and doesn't tell him BUT knows he doesn't like to share his personal story. then she feels like he shouldn't be mad at her "if he would just read it." Completely missed the point if her LYING. Ugh. Story ruined. But there is more, she calls him after she is trapped by Silas and then destry comes to help and she says he ius over reacting!? Really idiot? Why did you call him then? Story ruined more. Then he takes you to his house after he saves her and she acts self righteous and pouty because he is angry and she hasn't explained herself but she still thinks he should read her stupid article that she never should have written without his permission? Again idiot. Story now ruined AND annoying. Sorry but the author takes what had promise and turns it into a joke.

[CastingCrowns with Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 solid Destry loving stars!!!!

Another great read from Shey Stahl!!! This book is a breathe of fresh air with her old style writing if sports and talking about it in the beginning of every chapter!

This book starts off kind of slow, picks up really well, has hot sex, has the retarder heroine moment like most books tend to have, a great 90-95% and then the dreaded cliffhanger!!! :)

Tallan wants to loose weight for an old high school boyfriend who is now a rock star, and she hires HWC Destry Stone. Yikes!!! Just that name is hot! :) This story is a great story that follows a hurt, damaged hero that you want to keep learning more and more about! The other characters in this book were just as great, but my favorite is Jared! Best best friend/brother figure a girl could ask for. :)

Shey Stahl wrote one of my favorite series of all time with ROTE. This story isn't as great as that, but it is still great! I can't wait until Feb to see what the next part of the story is.

[★ Belle The Bibliophile ★ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! The heroine is witty and very funny and while I hated the hero at first, I warmed up to him after he got that stick out of his ass.

This would be at least, a 4 star read if it wasn't for the whole "real women have curves crap" in it. That pissed me off.

All women are real. End of.

[Sybil aka Lala · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review SHOULD be about the weird hate/lust connection between the h and H that at times made no sense at all. It SHOULD be about the douchebag alpha MC. It SHOULD be about a warning not to fall in insta-lust with a guy who treats you like your only there to annoy him. It SHOULD be filled with a feminist manifesto about self-respect and not succumbing to the pitfalls of contemporary and NA romance novels with a skewed vision of romance/ lust.

But, after I finished this book, my brain and my vagina had a heart to heart. It was decided that fuck it, I’ll be a feminist tomorrow.

I think Tallan said it best:
“… my pussy wanted to be friends with Destry. Good friends. She didn’t care if he was a dick.”


Destry Stone is one HOT alpha. The things he said and did sent my confused little heart (the one down below) aflutter. The sex scenes in this book were scorching – yup,hot enough to burn away any notions I had about hating this guy on principle.


GIVE. ME.DESTRY


Tallan as a character was a complete hot mess. I loved her. She was easily relatable and the situations she gets herself in and her inner monologue was hilarious!

I was suffering from whiplash during the first part of this book going between WTF and turned but after about 53% I got really invested in their story. I was surprised by how emotional I got during the plot twists and how beautiful this story turned out to be.


I fell in love with the broken Destry. It’s true love this time. No more book boyfriends for me. No siree. I promise this time it’s real.

[Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Olivia Newton-John did sing it and I quote:
"...Let's get physical, physical
I wanna get physical
Let's get into physical
Let me hear your body talk, your body talk
Let me hear your body talk..."
and she wouldn't be wrong if those would be the lines to start describing this book...LOL

but there's so much more...and more...there's also a shithead of a rock star (minor role in this case particulary)...there's a lot of a misunderstanding and misshaped answers...and holding back...woven with snarky dialogs and funny moments...

and one hot piece of a hunk, a fighter/boxer with an unusual name.

and the last but not the least... now I know all the tricks and terms of boxing...
ready for a match, anyone?

and of course, it goes without sayin' in the future comments, there's a lot of...you know, physical...! LOL

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap that's one hell of a cliffhanger damm

[Kelly/yllektra · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMFG,
This must be one of my fave reads of 2015.
The story was beautiful, the characterization insightful, the pacing exciting and the romance factor off the charts!

I love how the main female character, Tallan (what an original name btw!! Or maybe it's because I'm Greek and we don't have that kind of names), was an everyday girl.... Working, hanging out with her friends, eating and drinking like a real person and not like a prude as in a lot of novels...

And Destry (when I hear that name I think of pastry... I don' know why, maybe it's because he also has the "yum" factor), is a gutsy and driven male lead!

Honestly I adored how the story appeared simple but was multi-layered and how we got to peel off the surface and see into the characters' souls, how bitter Destry was, how self-conscious Tallan was and how through their strained (at least in the beginning) relationship they moved forward and matured and ultimately found their happiness together.... Only they didn't actually find it, because the end was bloody unexpected and made my heart stop.
Shey Stahl must be evil, because now I have to go get myself the next book!! ^_^

Silas was a very real character. I didn't like him, but that doesn't make him any less of a "very real feeling" character.. He was exactly how I imagined a spoiled rock star would be, since he rose to stardom so suddenly and probably before he actually was mature enough to avoid all the "traps" and the lure of the easy life.

This would probably be a 5 star, but I only took out one star because the voice of the protagonist kinda surprised me and irked me, at first... I thought it was too conversational and ...don't know, hard to explain, but I ,eventually, got to love it... So i will probably turn the rating into 5 stars in a little while...

[Snigdha Prakash · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shey Stahl...is a new author for me.
I can say that I liked the work. I really did.
The writing of an author either works for you or it doesn't. There's no in-between.
The plot was good.
Though an old school plot but still good.
The treatment of characters was good and the execution was also pretty on the spot.
I can say that I liked Destry. At least he was not confused about what he felt for whom.
But I cannot say the same for Tallan. Which was actually the point of the plot but still.
It does get on your nerves.
My only problem is that I dont think there should've been other parts of the book or not.
So I am not sure whether I will read the sequel or not but I will definitely try a standalone, if there is any, by this author.

[Anjanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love, love, love the sport of boxing . That being said, when I saw Shey Stahl was writing a boxing romance I had to read it !!! Omg Destry is all Alpha male, and he's so sexy and a major asshole at first. Tallan who plays the heroine is pure comic relief, I could relate to her because she surrounds herself with mostly males with the exception of her best friend Catie. She plays such a strong character, and the chemistry between Tallan and Destry is Sooo hot !!This is a definite must read and I want book 2 like yesterday !!!

[Lorie Berger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three pages into this book and I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. Tallan is just to funny! Her character is refreshing and totally relatable . Her roommate Jared is the honest in your face, tell it like it is protective friend. Destrey is the trainer who agrees to help her lose the weight and get her into shape. He is a hard *ss that doesn't take any crap! If anything he seems kind of annoyed with Tallan at first. Although this book was funny it has its serious and intense moments. I can't wait for the next book "The Fighter".

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the love of god would someone please edit this before publishing?! What the hell? Such a good story but let down by the terrible terrible writing, not just grammar but repetitive words/ lines and parts of sentences that made absolutely no sense as if the author lost her train of thought and kept going with something else. Very disappointing. I kept reading as the story had me hooked but it was definitely a struggle. If this was revised and edited properly i would absolutely recommend it. But in the current format i couldn't.

[Sekena Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it....great read

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can’t give this book more than 3 stars because the writing is horrific! I’m not sure anyone edited this book at all? And when the big revelation comes she literally has to have a character spell it out because she did not lead up to the build at all! That being said I really like Tallan and Destry’s characters (despite his name like really Destry?). Jared is also a great secondary character although I kind of wish he’d admit he’s in love with Tallan but I doubt that is how it’s headed. Maybe he will get his own book? Anyway, I’ll definitely read the second book since the first ended on such a cliffhanger and despite the horrific writing I still like the characters. I’d only recommend it to you if you like the synopsis, other than that there are better (well written) romance novels you could read.

[Anna Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m sorry but the ending of this book fell completely flat.
The “reconciliation” of the main characters felt rushed and completely unrealistic. Nearly nothing was explained and in the heroine’s twisted imagination, she concludes that she’s nearly blameless. Nothing is her fault. I just felt very confused by the entire ending. Questions were left unanswered as far as the female antagonist was concerned. It just all felt so... You know when you eat a good taco but then you get to the end and all of the ingredients just start falling through. This book was that taco. Two stars.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

i didint like her i mean she lies through out all their "relationship" then he found out and she didn't even say sorry and when she is trapped by Silas and calls Destry, he saves her and she gets mad at him like ???

[Alicia Berhow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, Dentry, you make me want to get a trainer!

Tallon is absolutely hilarious! Dentry is hot... Tallon and Dentry have such a unique story. I love the war between them and having them develop such a strong bond.

[Marianne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Good chemistry but it was written as porn.

[Danielle Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

SAY WHAT NOW???

[Aria Peyton]

Another great Shey Stahl read. Cannot wait to get my hands on the second book

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

What the fuck? What was that ending lol

[Dendrofilka · Rating 3 out of 5]

That last post concert part is a no from me.

[Jenny Dauksa Schaber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever read a book and then didn't know exactly how to review it? Well, welcome to my world right now. This book was more than what I expected based on the blurb. Tallan was not your typical female lead, but is a typical female at that age. They're just not normally written that way. Most of us weigh considerably more when we graduate college than when we graduated high school. Chalk it up to a final growth spurt and alcohol. When Tallan gets a call out of the blue from her high school sweetheart, Silas (who is now a rock star), she is completely self-conscious about that weight gain from when she was 18. She agrees to meet him in 6 weeks when he's in town on tour. In order to lose the 20 pounds she gained since high school, she hires a personal trainer. The trainer more or less fell into her lap. He's a boxer - actually a champion fighter doing some training on the side. Along the way, we get a lot of insight into Tallon, how she thinks, what she's feeling and all of the confusion that goes along with it. I liked her so much because she's not the typical girly girl. Her roommate is her best friend and HE is a cop. She starts working out in order to look good for Silas, but as time passes she realizes that she's really doing it for herself. She has an enormous amount of personal growth in the 6 weeks that she trains. I thoroughly enjoyed the transformation within her character and the connection that sparked with her trainer, Destry. They had nowhere near a typical romance, but that spark ignited into one heck of a firestorm. Their passion leapt off of the pages, and I had a very difficult time putting this book down. Tallon is also a writer. She writes articles on everything and anything she can get paid for. An old friend asks her to write a story about Destry - did he throw the championship fight, why has he stepped out of the spotlight, etc. Destry refuses to grant interviews since that fight. At first, she refuses, but is eventually manipulated into agreeing to write it. She never tells Destry about the article she's been commissioned to write about him. We all know this is going to blow up in her face later on, so this cannot possibly be considered a spoiler by any stretch of the imagination. The way it unfolds, however, is something you need to read to find out - along with the underlying conspiracy about attaining said article. I would highly recommend this read despite my wanting to slap Shey Stahl for the final sentence in this book. Yes, there was copious amounts of swearing on my part. "Technically" it's a cliff sentence, but there is also plenty of closure for the story line that we're not left hanging in regard to Tallan and Destry's relationship. I will definitely be picking up the next book when it comes out.

[Callixta · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://blue-moon.fr/spip.php?article9966


Shey Stahl est une des spécialistes des héros sportifs et elle commence ici une série qui va nous plonger dans le monde de la boxe, le sport classique et non pas les fameux combattants qui pratiquent le MMA. Elle sait écrire et trousse un premier tome intense et très fort autour de son héros.

Tallan est une jeune femme de vingt-deux ans qui vit à Seattle. De façon très inattendue, elle va recevoir un coup de fil de son ancien copain parti plusieurs années auparavant. Silas est devenu une star du rock et doit venir faire un concert dans sa ville natale. Il souhaite rencontrer Tallan. Celle-ci est intriguée et ravie car elle n’a jamais compris pourquoi il était parti sans pratiquement rompre avec elle. Mais voilà, Tallan a changé, s’est laissée un peu aller et a pris du poids. Elle a six semaines avant le concert qu’elle veut utiliser pour retrouver sa silhouette. Son coloc et meilleur ami va la présenter à un boxeur qui vient de perdre un combat important et semble un peu à la dérive. Entre alors en scène Destry...

Il est sans doute un des meilleurs atouts de cette romance. Comme l histoire est entièrement racontée du point de vue de Tallan, difficile de savoir ce qui se passe dans la tête de Destry mais il appartient à la catégorie des héros tourmentés, mutiques et odieux, du moins au départ. Chaque fois qu’il apparaît dans une scène, l’atmosphère s’alourdit et se tend car l’auteure sait superbement rendre compte de l’intensité qu’il dégage, toutes les émotions qu’il enferme et la tension sexuelle qui se développe entre Tallan et lui. Celle-ci est aussi intéressante. Ne vous arrêtez pas aux premières lignes où elle semble en effet un peu futile, plus préoccupée de son poids et de son image que d’autre chose. Son problème est plus profond que cela en réalité. Alors qu’elle a très envie de régler cette histoire de son passé, son présent, celui qui s’impose à elle dans les six semaines qui la sépare du concert, va devenir très envahissant. Destry n’est pas du genre à passer inaperçu ni à ne pas laisser d’impression durable ! De plus, il va peu à peu se révéler, devenant plus complexe, toujours aussi intense et sexy mais plus vulnérable et émouvant.

[Hotncold82 · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH. MY. GOODNESS. I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS BOOK ENDED THE WAY IT DID. I'm beyond desperate to read the next book in the series, because I LOVED THIS BOOK. It's been a long time since I've read a book in one sitting overnight, and I devoured this book in hours. It was humorous, clever, passionate and lovable. I literally laughed out loud over and over again because of how awesome Tallen was. She's one of my top favorite heroines of all time for sure. Not only was she extremely relatable, but she was hilarious and cute as well. And Destry...whewww he was HOTTT. I loved, loved, loved Shey Stahl's writing-there was such chemistry between Destry and Tallen it was insane. Even more great than the crazy chemistry was the emotional bond the two developed, and how they were able to overcome their issues in a way that was uniquely them. I even laughed during their most heated arguements because of how cleverly it was written and because even then, Tallen remained her hilarious self. I loved every second of this book, and can't wait to get started on the next one in the series.

[Heather Carver · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

This book was really good. Who doesn't like a rocker and a super HAWT boxer!?!

Tallan has never understood why her high school boyfriend just up and left her with no warning. She knew he was going to become a Rockstar. She just always thought she would be a part of his life. So when she gets the call from him saying he wants to see her she decides she needs to lose weight.
Enter Destry. Ex Heavy Weight Champion. Tallon isn't sure training with him is a good thing. He is a jerk and is mean. But he is HAWT to look at. She tries to stay away, but there is an undeniable chemistry. Can she open her heart to him? Or is her heart still with Silas her high school love?

This is an amazing book, but is a major cliffy. I am not fond of cliffy's. This book is a definite must read!! Cannot wait for book two because I have to know what happens.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT? WHAT? WHAT? WHAT? WHAT????????????!!!!!!!! NOOOOOO, I cannot be left hanging like this...NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Let me just say this about this book....

Tallan is freaking HYSTERICAL!!! The way this girl spoke, thought and acted about her weight, her past coming to visit her present, her drooling over her trainer (because hello? Who the hell in their right mind wouldn't???) was so realistic!! I loved her and her crazy ramblings.

And Destry? Man oh man, sign me up for some of that!! The man was a total dick in the beginning but you know underneath it all was so much more. He has made his way on to my "book boyfriend" list and now, my heart is left pounding with that ending...

Do I really have to wait till February 2015??? I know it's a few weeks away but really???? GAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Heather andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously Shey a cliffhanger, WHY!?!?! Destry he can be a bit of an a** but it makes him all the more appealing, "yeah, what the hell do you want to accomplish? You want to lose weight? Want to wear the matching outfits, what? Danny said you needed to lose weight but I'm not seeing it." Even when Tallan thinks she's been sneaky enough she hasn't Destry catches her, "he shrugged and dumped the bucket in my bath. "So what? You saw me naked on Monday, in the shower, yes?" I mean our boy doesn't beat around the bush on things, "bulls***. You've wanted to have sex with me since you saw me in the shower." He moved closer, our chest in line, blinking once but then finding my eyes again. "Have you ever been effed?" I need the next book like yesterday Shey.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and the attitude behind the writing for Tallan. I giggled along with some of the things she was thinking and saying, which says a lot since I usually don't do more than smile with the characters. I enjoyed the hate you/lust after you dance between Tallan and Destry...especially those steamy scenes! I didn't read reviews on this prior to starting, so I was caught off guard with the cliffy ending. I found myself missing Tallan's sparky attitude around 3/4 of the way through, but still enjoyed this single POV story. Some scenes needed editing with continuity and repeating lines, which caused slow downs when rereading so I could follow. Glad I took a chance with a new author and can't wait to see how this story ends.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really thought this book had great potential. It started out really great but then it just kind of died out at the end. I think Tallan is pretty funny and sarcastic and I think Destry is pretty hot & sexy. He wears his heart on his sleeve and I love his honesty.

I didn't really get how they could fall in love so quickly but then again, it happens but for me I just felt pretty disconnected. I felt like I didn't get to see their relationship on a deeper level and I was a little disappointed but perhaps it will show through in the next book. However I wasn't really all impressed with this book so I highly doubt I'll ever get to find out.

This is still a good read though and I would recommend for everyone to give it a chance unfortunately its just something I'm not interested in.