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Fighter: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 2 Feb 27Savannah Reed hasn't willingly touched someone in fifteen months, four days, and ten hours. Until she meets MMA fighter Kai Makenzie.
Former adrenaline junkie and white hat hacker Savannah Reed wasn't always a recluse, afraid of the world around her. But when a contract job went wrong, she barely escaped with her life. Her loved ones weren't so lucky. Now, alone and deeply scarred, Savannah knows she's losing her life to the trauma that still haunts her. Determined to save herself from the darkness of her past, she reaches out to the local MMA gym and the harsh, tattooed fighter training there.
Undefeated MMA fighter Kai Makenzie spent his life training for a career in the UFC until an unforgivable mistake stripped him of everything he cares about and sent him to prison. Now, out on parole, he's desperate to get his life and career back on track and find a way to forgive himself for destroying the lives of the people he loves.
They're an unlikely pair, but Kai's the only person that Savannah can let close enough to teach her self-defense. And Kai can't stand that constant look of fear in her eyes. As they spend more time together, they find themselves unexpectedly falling for each other. But when an attack on Kai from old enemies draws Savannah deeper into his world, they discover the past isn't as easy to escape as they thought.
Former adrenaline junkie and white hat hacker Savannah Reed wasn't always a recluse, afraid of the world around her. But when a contract job went wrong, she barely escaped with her life. Her loved ones weren't so lucky. Now, alone and deeply scarred, Savannah knows she's losing her life to the trauma that still haunts her. Determined to save herself from the darkness of her past, she reaches out to the local MMA gym and the harsh, tattooed fighter training there.
Undefeated MMA fighter Kai Makenzie spent his life training for a career in the UFC until an unforgivable mistake stripped him of everything he cares about and sent him to prison. Now, out on parole, he's desperate to get his life and career back on track and find a way to forgive himself for destroying the lives of the people he loves.
They're an unlikely pair, but Kai's the only person that Savannah can let close enough to teach her self-defense. And Kai can't stand that constant look of fear in her eyes. As they spend more time together, they find themselves unexpectedly falling for each other. But when an attack on Kai from old enemies draws Savannah deeper into his world, they discover the past isn't as easy to escape as they thought.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 2, 2027
About the author
K.J. Morgan
1 book34 followersKJ Morgan is a hiker, a climber, a martial artist, and an adventure seeker. She trains and teaches Krav Maga and women’s self-defense, and trains Muay Thai kickboxing. Her passion is showing everyone that they are strong, valued, and deserve to be safe. When she’s not writing dark, angsty romance, she’s either hiking something, climbing something, or kicking something. Find out more at www.kjmorganbooks.com.
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August 16, 2026No sé qué calificación ponerle. La historia entre Savannah y Kai está bien, aunque hay cosas que siento que se pudieron tratar mejor, como el tema de la violencia. A esto le sumo la relación de J y L, donde se menciona que ella se enojaba y le pegaba. No era una escena tan descriptiva, pero sí decía algo como: “Lexi daba las mejores patadas y la marca en el brazo de Josh lo demostraba”, ya que lo hizo cuando él la estaba molestando o por alguna tontería. Es decir, le pegaba a su marido y siento que eso debió tratarse con un poco más de seriedad y no como algo de risa o inocente,
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am not normally a huge fun of the genre Sports Romance, but I found that I had great time reading this book. It had a good mix of funny moments and more emotional times and kept me turning the page even late at night. Savannah is a woman with a traumatic past and is trying to overcome it by taking a women's self-defense class. Unfortunately, her past traumas overwhelmed her and she left class and asked for a refund from the front desk. There she meets Kai, one of the instructors and an MMA fighter himself. Later, Savannah agrees to train with Kai on a 1-on-1 basis and we see their from their story of pain, fear, and grief comes a blossoming relationship that both serves them well in the end. Rounding out the cast is Josh, Lexi and Brooke, Josh and Lexi are married and owners of the gym. Josh is Brooke's older brother and Brooke is Kai's ex-wife.
I truly enjoyed this story mainly because everyone is pretty much a morally grey character and this helps make the characters more down to earth and shows that their past traumas are relatable to us readers. As a 35 (soon to be 36) year old mom, it is also awesome to read about characters that are not young adults who can always "save the world". Sometimes, we really just need to save ourselves.
Unfortunately, I did give 4 stars because there were two events that seemed very clunky during the story transition. First was when Kai and Savannah first realized that they were falling for each other, way before their first kiss. Second is when Savannah revealed her past trauma to Josh. With the first, I felt that there were not enough signs, banter, etc. to show that Kai and Savannah were becoming romantically involved, so when the time came, I felt that their romance came out of left field. Yes, I know that this is a romance and the leads are expected to fall in love, but you have to show more signs that they are falling in love so their relationship is more believable. In the end, I was left rereading all the pages leading up to this to parse out whether they truly liked each other or if their relationship in the book forced too early.
I was also left confused when Savannah sits down to Josh to reveal her past, even after she has spent a lot of her time before this refusing to speak to Kai about it. To me, it didn't make sense that Savannah should choose to bypass Kai and just dump her past traumas at Josh's feet especially since they were not even remotely close to begin with. In fact, Savannah was terrified of Josh so I did not like this scene at all because I felt that it didn't make sense in the overall context of the story. Lastly, I found a lot of different typos ranging from misspellings to just plain missing words. Because of this, it gave me the impression that they hardly spent any time at all editing the manuscript before publishing, which is not very professional.
Overall, I had a great time reading this book. It had it's funny, easygoing moments but also contemplative when it needs to be. Seeing that this is the author's debut novel, I hope to read more from her in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.
I truly enjoyed this story mainly because everyone is pretty much a morally grey character and this helps make the characters more down to earth and shows that their past traumas are relatable to us readers. As a 35 (soon to be 36) year old mom, it is also awesome to read about characters that are not young adults who can always "save the world". Sometimes, we really just need to save ourselves.
Unfortunately, I did give 4 stars because there were two events that seemed very clunky during the story transition. First was when Kai and Savannah first realized that they were falling for each other, way before their first kiss. Second is when Savannah revealed her past trauma to Josh. With the first, I felt that there were not enough signs, banter, etc. to show that Kai and Savannah were becoming romantically involved, so when the time came, I felt that their romance came out of left field. Yes, I know that this is a romance and the leads are expected to fall in love, but you have to show more signs that they are falling in love so their relationship is more believable. In the end, I was left rereading all the pages leading up to this to parse out whether they truly liked each other or if their relationship in the book forced too early.
I was also left confused when Savannah sits down to Josh to reveal her past, even after she has spent a lot of her time before this refusing to speak to Kai about it. To me, it didn't make sense that Savannah should choose to bypass Kai and just dump her past traumas at Josh's feet especially since they were not even remotely close to begin with. In fact, Savannah was terrified of Josh so I did not like this scene at all because I felt that it didn't make sense in the overall context of the story. Lastly, I found a lot of different typos ranging from misspellings to just plain missing words. Because of this, it gave me the impression that they hardly spent any time at all editing the manuscript before publishing, which is not very professional.
Overall, I had a great time reading this book. It had it's funny, easygoing moments but also contemplative when it needs to be. Seeing that this is the author's debut novel, I hope to read more from her in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I finished this in 24 hours. Realistically, less. This book is a lot—there is so much that goes into this story, and it could be too much but it’s not. It’s so seamlessly executed. Though it’s written in a third person POV, this was the most feelings-oriented writing I’ve read that doesn’t rely on 1P or inner monologue. It’s actually brilliant. You see such clear pictures of the main characters, completely depicted by their loved ones. There’s a complex relationship between love and suffering in this novel, but there’s also growth and excitement and rediscovering what makes life an experience we’re willing to live.
If you can’t tell, I truly enjoyed reading this book. It’s a bit long, but I never lost interest. Arguably, the pace sucks you in and compels you to become invested in the characters. I would describe it as a sort of character study—though it’s not literary fiction. Some elements reminded me of We/Meet The Brennan’s (I might have that title wrong) but they are two totally unique books.
Grief and trauma. Do I know em? Oh boy, do I…and it is the perfect time of year for me to read this book. I’ve been in a slump and this is a reminder. I also appreciate the authors note at the end of the book. It was personal and not necessary so it feels special that they chose to share with their readers. Though I’m not religious, and I can be quite sensitive about the ways we’ve been socialized to talk about suicide (or rather very intentionally not socialized, despite it being so prevalent) the general sentiment hit home. Everyone has their sensitivities and developed norms for the experiences they’ve survived which is probably the biggest lesson I’ve learned on this grief journey; I can appreciate the vulnerability—especially from someone who could probably understand my pain more than most.
I think it’s incredible that she took those experiences and turned it into a book that’s so inventive but also completely captures her feelings of grief. She translated this universal suffering that people know in one way or another, while breathing life into a ‘larger than life’ (though I guess not for some…) story that helped alleviate the heaviness of everything that was going on.
Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for the chance to read this ARC.
If you can’t tell, I truly enjoyed reading this book. It’s a bit long, but I never lost interest. Arguably, the pace sucks you in and compels you to become invested in the characters. I would describe it as a sort of character study—though it’s not literary fiction. Some elements reminded me of We/Meet The Brennan’s (I might have that title wrong) but they are two totally unique books.
Grief and trauma. Do I know em? Oh boy, do I…and it is the perfect time of year for me to read this book. I’ve been in a slump and this is a reminder. I also appreciate the authors note at the end of the book. It was personal and not necessary so it feels special that they chose to share with their readers. Though I’m not religious, and I can be quite sensitive about the ways we’ve been socialized to talk about suicide (or rather very intentionally not socialized, despite it being so prevalent) the general sentiment hit home. Everyone has their sensitivities and developed norms for the experiences they’ve survived which is probably the biggest lesson I’ve learned on this grief journey; I can appreciate the vulnerability—especially from someone who could probably understand my pain more than most.
I think it’s incredible that she took those experiences and turned it into a book that’s so inventive but also completely captures her feelings of grief. She translated this universal suffering that people know in one way or another, while breathing life into a ‘larger than life’ (though I guess not for some…) story that helped alleviate the heaviness of everything that was going on.
Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for the chance to read this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
OK, this one was a little bit of a mind twist on how to rate it. There were many elements that I enjoyed about the story and others that threw me off.
Let's start with what I liked. Overall, I think the premise of the story was interesting and it kept me engaged. I loved how our FMC was built up and encouraged by Kai, Josh, and Lexi in her strength, (not just her physical strength, but her ability to push through all of her mental and emotional hurdles).
Now for what I didn't enjoy.
Safety squad:
-OWD
-No OMD
-No cheating
-No 3rd act
Overall, I think this has potential to be a very strong book. I did enjoy myself even though I wanted to throat punch people on several occasions. Thank you so much for the ARC read, and I will definitely be following to see what this author puts out in the future!
Let's start with what I liked. Overall, I think the premise of the story was interesting and it kept me engaged. I loved how our FMC was built up and encouraged by Kai, Josh, and Lexi in her strength, (not just her physical strength, but her ability to push through all of her mental and emotional hurdles).
Now for what I didn't enjoy.
Safety squad:
-OWD
-No OMD
-No cheating
-No 3rd act
Overall, I think this has potential to be a very strong book. I did enjoy myself even though I wanted to throat punch people on several occasions. Thank you so much for the ARC read, and I will definitely be following to see what this author puts out in the future!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fighter
By: KJ Morgan
Publish Date: February 2, 2027
Rating: 3.5\5 Stars
Genre: Romance
Premise:
Former adrenaline junkie and white hat hacker Savannah Reed wasn't always a recluse, afraid of the world around her. But when a contract job went wrong, she barely escaped with her life. Her loved ones weren't so lucky. Now, alone and deeply scarred, Savannah knows she's losing her life to the trauma that still haunts her. Determined to save herself from the darkness of her past, she reaches out to the local MMA gym and the harsh, tattooed fighter training there.
Undefeated MMA fighter Kai Makenzie spent his life training for a career in the UFC until an unforgivable mistake stripped him of everything he cares about and sent him to prison. Now, out on parole, he's desperate to get his life and career back on track and find a way to forgive himself for destroying the lives of the people he loves.
They're an unlikely pair, but Kai's the only person that Savannah can let close enough to teach her self-defense. And Kai can't stand that constant look of fear in her eyes. As they spend more time together, they find themselves unexpectedly falling for each other. But when an attack on Kai from old enemies draws Savannah deeper into his world, they discover the past isn't as easy to escape as they thought.
Review:
Fighter by KJ Morgan is a wonderful blend of high-stakes intensity and deep emotional warmth!
What truly makes this story special is the bond between Kai and Savannah. Seeing the way their relationship grows into a source of genuine healing for both of them is so incredibly sweet and touching. Amid all the grit and challenges, their connection provides the perfect heart and balance to the story. A fast-paced, deeply satisfying read that leaves you feeling completely invested in their journey!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advance reader.
By: KJ Morgan
Publish Date: February 2, 2027
Rating: 3.5\5 Stars
Genre: Romance
Premise:
Former adrenaline junkie and white hat hacker Savannah Reed wasn't always a recluse, afraid of the world around her. But when a contract job went wrong, she barely escaped with her life. Her loved ones weren't so lucky. Now, alone and deeply scarred, Savannah knows she's losing her life to the trauma that still haunts her. Determined to save herself from the darkness of her past, she reaches out to the local MMA gym and the harsh, tattooed fighter training there.
Undefeated MMA fighter Kai Makenzie spent his life training for a career in the UFC until an unforgivable mistake stripped him of everything he cares about and sent him to prison. Now, out on parole, he's desperate to get his life and career back on track and find a way to forgive himself for destroying the lives of the people he loves.
They're an unlikely pair, but Kai's the only person that Savannah can let close enough to teach her self-defense. And Kai can't stand that constant look of fear in her eyes. As they spend more time together, they find themselves unexpectedly falling for each other. But when an attack on Kai from old enemies draws Savannah deeper into his world, they discover the past isn't as easy to escape as they thought.
Review:
Fighter by KJ Morgan is a wonderful blend of high-stakes intensity and deep emotional warmth!
What truly makes this story special is the bond between Kai and Savannah. Seeing the way their relationship grows into a source of genuine healing for both of them is so incredibly sweet and touching. Amid all the grit and challenges, their connection provides the perfect heart and balance to the story. A fast-paced, deeply satisfying read that leaves you feeling completely invested in their journey!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advance reader.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
your experience with this novel is going to depend entirely on your tolerance for toxic drama.
୨ৎ DNF 20%, as for me, I'm too old for this much drama.
I really hate messy other woman drama that feels like the male love interest has one foot in and one foot out the door of a prior relationship. from the mmc risking violating his parole to hold back his ex's hair in the midst of her drug withdrawals to being served divorce papers in front of his place of work and then being so upset by it that he punches and dents a street sign...I'm running for the hills.
I was expecting a rough-around-the-edges MMA fighter to be presented with the opportunity to teach self-defense to the clearly traumatized female protagonist and intentionally approach this opportunity with the care and sensitivity that is required. I was expecting tender moments where he instills confidence and encourages her and empowers her. Instead he takes on this cruel tough love approach, telling her seconds after coming down from a panic attack to get up off the floor and stop cowering. not the empathetic, supportive response that I was looking for.
the female protagonist clearly has a traumatic backstory that I didn't stick around long enough to delve into, but it baffles me that she carries an unregistered weapon. If you insist on carrying a weapon, why are you not acquiring one through the proper channels?
thank you SMP for the ebook arc in exchange for an honest review. sadly this one did not work for me but my hope is that this review will rule out the wrong readers and rule in the right readers for this book
source netgalley ebook arc
୨ৎ DNF 20%, as for me, I'm too old for this much drama.
I really hate messy other woman drama that feels like the male love interest has one foot in and one foot out the door of a prior relationship. from the mmc risking violating his parole to hold back his ex's hair in the midst of her drug withdrawals to being served divorce papers in front of his place of work and then being so upset by it that he punches and dents a street sign...I'm running for the hills.
I was expecting a rough-around-the-edges MMA fighter to be presented with the opportunity to teach self-defense to the clearly traumatized female protagonist and intentionally approach this opportunity with the care and sensitivity that is required. I was expecting tender moments where he instills confidence and encourages her and empowers her. Instead he takes on this cruel tough love approach, telling her seconds after coming down from a panic attack to get up off the floor and stop cowering. not the empathetic, supportive response that I was looking for.
the female protagonist clearly has a traumatic backstory that I didn't stick around long enough to delve into, but it baffles me that she carries an unregistered weapon. If you insist on carrying a weapon, why are you not acquiring one through the proper channels?
thank you SMP for the ebook arc in exchange for an honest review. sadly this one did not work for me but my hope is that this review will rule out the wrong readers and rule in the right readers for this book
source netgalley ebook arc
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of an advance copy received from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I was pleasantly surprised by Fighter! Once I started reading, I could not put it down. I swear I finished this book in a day. 😂
Savannah’s growth really impressed me. I have experienced losing a loved one myself, and I know how difficult grief, PTSD, and counseling can be. I loved watching Savannah work through everything she was facing. She never gave up, even when things got difficult, and seeing her become stronger throughout the story was one of my favorite parts.
Kai’s loyalty is unmatched. He put up with more than he probably should have, but I loved how devoted he was to his family. I also really appreciated the author showing that you can grieve someone who is still alive. That was such an emotional aspect of the story, and I thought the different perspectives worked really well together.
I honestly loved everything about this story. Savannah and Kai are perfect for each other, and let’s not forget Josh and Lexi! 😂 As Lexi likes to say, “Kicking butt isn’t a privilege. It’s a women’s God-given right.”
My only real critique is that the ending felt a little rushed. I would have liked a little more time to see everything play out.
I also have to mention KJ Morgan’s acknowledgments. They felt so personal, and after reading them, I felt even more connected to the story. I really respect the author for being so transparent and open, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more of her work!
4.2 ⭐️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I did enjoy this novel. There was a certain point I wanted to finish this book as fast as I could because I couldn't put the book down. This novel is a sports romance with 2 people who are dealing with painful emotional issues.
Kai's story comes out a little faster and easier than Savannah's. Savannah holds onto her secrets longer. It is clear something happened to Savannah because Savannah doesn't willingly allow any physical contact whatsoever. When Savannah wants trained in self defense by Kai's gym, touch becomes a issue. Kai, probably reluctantly at first, agreed to help Savannah. I think Kai understood Savannah at least a little. I think what Kai went through made him want to help reach Savannah. Because of Savannah's issues there isn't a lot of spicy content. That wouldn't make sense. There is chemistry and yearning.
There is a scene in the book where Savannah watches Kai's first professional fight. I liked what Savannah said to Kai. Basically paraphrasing here, the fight is never going to be fair so why bother trying to win or train. That speech had a profound impact on Kai.
I enjoyed Kai's brother in law and sister in law. The in laws were kind and comical considering everything. Savannah was way too nice especially with Kai's estranged wife, Brooke. I can't get myself to like Brooke at all. I enjoyed the ending as well. Every secret finally came out. I liked how the book wrapped everything up. I'm glad no one gave up on Kai or Savannah.
I received an ARC of this novel and voluntarily left this review.
Kai's story comes out a little faster and easier than Savannah's. Savannah holds onto her secrets longer. It is clear something happened to Savannah because Savannah doesn't willingly allow any physical contact whatsoever. When Savannah wants trained in self defense by Kai's gym, touch becomes a issue. Kai, probably reluctantly at first, agreed to help Savannah. I think Kai understood Savannah at least a little. I think what Kai went through made him want to help reach Savannah. Because of Savannah's issues there isn't a lot of spicy content. That wouldn't make sense. There is chemistry and yearning.
There is a scene in the book where Savannah watches Kai's first professional fight. I liked what Savannah said to Kai. Basically paraphrasing here, the fight is never going to be fair so why bother trying to win or train. That speech had a profound impact on Kai.
I enjoyed Kai's brother in law and sister in law. The in laws were kind and comical considering everything. Savannah was way too nice especially with Kai's estranged wife, Brooke. I can't get myself to like Brooke at all. I enjoyed the ending as well. Every secret finally came out. I liked how the book wrapped everything up. I'm glad no one gave up on Kai or Savannah.
I received an ARC of this novel and voluntarily left this review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is yet another story I devoured in 24 hours! I just could not stop reading. I had to get a replacement crown at the dentist today, and I was even telling the dental assistant about the crazy chase scene between one of our main characters and one of the antagonists! I will bullet point the things I LOVED
-Fabulous chemistry between our FMC, Savannah, and MMC, Kai.
-Thrilling, and I mean thrilling moments!
-Two broken people doing the work to heal themselves and being there for each other
-I legitimately wanted to throat punch the ex of our MMC and the ex of our FMC. I don't always love the messiness that comes with ex-partners in books but I looooved it here
-Moments where I literally beamed with pride for our main characters, especially Savannah
-Side characters that made me feel like I was a part of their chosen family
-He's the only one that can calm her panic attacks
-She chooses the scariest looking guy in the gym (Kai) to train her
*Side note: Make sure you read the acknowledgements at the end. I audibly gasped. The author's explanation and personal story brought even more meaning to the one she wrote.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own!
-Fabulous chemistry between our FMC, Savannah, and MMC, Kai.
-Thrilling, and I mean thrilling moments!
-Two broken people doing the work to heal themselves and being there for each other
-I legitimately wanted to throat punch the ex of our MMC and the ex of our FMC. I don't always love the messiness that comes with ex-partners in books but I looooved it here
-Moments where I literally beamed with pride for our main characters, especially Savannah
-Side characters that made me feel like I was a part of their chosen family
-He's the only one that can calm her panic attacks
-She chooses the scariest looking guy in the gym (Kai) to train her
*Side note: Make sure you read the acknowledgements at the end. I audibly gasped. The author's explanation and personal story brought even more meaning to the one she wrote.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is officially my God tier book. One of the very few books I have given 6 stars to. This book was beautiful, heartbreaking, and consuming.
I don't know what it is about this book, but as I was reading it, it felt incredibly familiar. It was like I read it before (don't know if there is another book out there really, really similar).
***"Best day so far"***
Kai and Savannah have both experienced very traumatic events in their lives. Somehow, Kai is the only one Savannah feels safe with. You could see their feelings for each other develop very early on in the story and it just felt natural. Their dialogue, their banter, the way they understood each other...these two characters were perfect for each other.
The story was tragic. It tore my heart out, ripped my heart up, pieced it back together, and shoved it back into my chest. I will happily read this book over and over and I will be buying a physical copy because I love it that much.
If you like tragic, sports romance stories, I highly recommend you buy this book and give it a read.
Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced reader copy.
I don't know what it is about this book, but as I was reading it, it felt incredibly familiar. It was like I read it before (don't know if there is another book out there really, really similar).
***"Best day so far"***
Kai and Savannah have both experienced very traumatic events in their lives. Somehow, Kai is the only one Savannah feels safe with. You could see their feelings for each other develop very early on in the story and it just felt natural. Their dialogue, their banter, the way they understood each other...these two characters were perfect for each other.
The story was tragic. It tore my heart out, ripped my heart up, pieced it back together, and shoved it back into my chest. I will happily read this book over and over and I will be buying a physical copy because I love it that much.
If you like tragic, sports romance stories, I highly recommend you buy this book and give it a read.
Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced reader copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
thank you NetGalley for the arc! it’s been a long time since i’ve read an MMA romance and this one did not disappoint, especially after reading the Author’s note at the end and learning about her grief and how she was able to personally use MMA to help her heal. there were only a few things I didn’t like. the first being that Savannah finally opens up about her past and lets herself be vulnerable with Kai but we never get to see Kai be vulnerable in return and open up about his past in prison. the second being Kai’s inability to cut the cord with Brooke despite the fact that she’s absolutely horrible to him. and thirdly being when he thought Savannah was dead, he went straight to pick up Brooke? in my opinion, that’s something Kai would’ve wanted to see for himself. To go to the scene of the crime and make sure Brooke was actually telling him the truth because that woman couldn’t be trusted in general. Other than those things, I enjoyed seeing how far Savannah had come since the start of the book and i’m glad she got her happy ending
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2026
4.5 stars for this one!
When I tell you I could not put this one down! I swear I held my breath for the last 40% waiting to see what was going to happen. Fighter tells the story of Savannah, a women who begins to train with an MMA fighter (Kai) to overcome her past. It's a raw, emotional, and absolutely gripping story that will have you flying through the pages. The characters were flawed, human, but so captivating. The story was unique and intriguing, it was easy to get lost in and easy to believe. I was constantly guessing what was going to happen next and I really appreciated that it wasn't obvious and predictable. The settings were beautifully painted and easily pictured as the story progressed. There are some triggers to be mindful of, so I'd advise checking those as needed, but I'd most definitely recommend this one.
When I tell you I could not put this one down! I swear I held my breath for the last 40% waiting to see what was going to happen. Fighter tells the story of Savannah, a women who begins to train with an MMA fighter (Kai) to overcome her past. It's a raw, emotional, and absolutely gripping story that will have you flying through the pages. The characters were flawed, human, but so captivating. The story was unique and intriguing, it was easy to get lost in and easy to believe. I was constantly guessing what was going to happen next and I really appreciated that it wasn't obvious and predictable. The settings were beautifully painted and easily pictured as the story progressed. There are some triggers to be mindful of, so I'd advise checking those as needed, but I'd most definitely recommend this one.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'm torn about Fighter...it has an intriguing premise, some good angst, some mysterious trauma, and a damaged but protective hero. I think my problem is that the emotional tone of the book is not consistent, and the characters don't act or respond in ways that I think make sense for them. Some of the pacing is disjointed and abrupt, as well, which threw me off.
Also, the reveal where we learn what Savannah's trauma is really about was tough -
All in all, it was a good but not great read. It has real potential, but the execution didn't pull me in completely.
Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC - all opinions are my own!
Also, the reveal where we learn what Savannah's trauma is really about was tough -
All in all, it was a good but not great read. It has real potential, but the execution didn't pull me in completely.
Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC - all opinions are my own!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
This book was a little more slow burn than most romances I read, a little less steamy than what I am used to but this book surprised me in the best way possible.
Savannah is dealing with so much, touch being the main thing she can't stand....and rightfully so after what has happened to her. When she stumbles across a class for self-defense at a local gym, she is introduced to Kai, an MMA fighter that sees Savannah for who she was before her trauma, he sees her as someone that is strong.
Together they begin training, in order for Savannah to gain some control over her fears/trauma and that is when sparks begin to fly. Kai isn't without trauma himself seeing them actually see each other, fall for one another....that is what made me love this book.
Thanks to Macmillan for the ARC!
Savannah is dealing with so much, touch being the main thing she can't stand....and rightfully so after what has happened to her. When she stumbles across a class for self-defense at a local gym, she is introduced to Kai, an MMA fighter that sees Savannah for who she was before her trauma, he sees her as someone that is strong.
Together they begin training, in order for Savannah to gain some control over her fears/trauma and that is when sparks begin to fly. Kai isn't without trauma himself seeing them actually see each other, fall for one another....that is what made me love this book.
Thanks to Macmillan for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fighter by KJ Morgan is a wonderful blend of high-stakes intensity and deep emotional warmth!
Kai and Savannah have both experienced very traumatic events in their lives. You could see their feelings for each other develop very early on in the story and it just felt natural. Their banter and how they understood each other made it seem like they were perfectt for each other!
Seeing the way their relationship grows into a source of genuine healing for both of them is so incredibly lovely and touching. Amid all the grit and challenges, their connection provides the perfect heart and balance to the story.
A fast-paced, deeply satisfying read that leaves you feeling completely invested in their journey!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advance reader.
⭐⭐⭐.5
Kai and Savannah have both experienced very traumatic events in their lives. You could see their feelings for each other develop very early on in the story and it just felt natural. Their banter and how they understood each other made it seem like they were perfectt for each other!
Seeing the way their relationship grows into a source of genuine healing for both of them is so incredibly lovely and touching. Amid all the grit and challenges, their connection provides the perfect heart and balance to the story.
A fast-paced, deeply satisfying read that leaves you feeling completely invested in their journey!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advance reader.
⭐⭐⭐.5
August 14, 2026
I really liked this book, and sports romance, especially MMA fighting is not really my thing, but I loved it! Savannah, not only fights back to survive but has a mechanical, technical brain that is so fun to learn about! Kai, the fighter, has such a soft heart with her as she regains her faith in humanity and strength. There were a lot of characters to follow, but I was completely sucked into their world. Definitely a trauma read that explores grief in so many ways. Make sure to read the acknowledgements, because the author does a beautiful job exploring her connection to different aspects of the book. Well done!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I enjoy MMA romantic suspense, but this one went a little darker than I expected once Savannah’s full story was revealed. Both Savannah and Kai are dealing with trauma from their pasts and trying to find a way forward. He helps her by becoming her trainer, while she helps him simply by believing in him.
I enjoyed watching Savannah’s story slowly unfold, although some of the focus on her trauma started to feel a little long and repetitive at times. I liked the relationship between her and Kai and how they helped each other heal without either one magically “fixing” the other.
Overall, this was an enjoyable 4-star read. I would definitely read another book by this author.
I enjoyed watching Savannah’s story slowly unfold, although some of the focus on her trauma started to feel a little long and repetitive at times. I liked the relationship between her and Kai and how they helped each other heal without either one magically “fixing” the other.
Overall, this was an enjoyable 4-star read. I would definitely read another book by this author.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This story doesn't shy away from the darker, more difficult turns life can take, but there's also a special softness in the pages - a brave vulnerability.
I'm a firm believer that the deeper grief hollows you out, the more you can be filled with joy. And this book is proof of that.
A hard won HEA that leaves you wanting to hug the book, these characters, and the author tight.
I'm a firm believer that the deeper grief hollows you out, the more you can be filled with joy. And this book is proof of that.
A hard won HEA that leaves you wanting to hug the book, these characters, and the author tight.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow. Loved. Loved. Loved. Loved. What a breath of fresh air!! I am not an MMA fight fan, but this book kind of made me one. I loved how real and raw the characters and their problems were written. Not many books are brave enough to dive into the darker, relationship gray areas, that this book tackled. Highly recommend.
August 17, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Could. Not. Put. Down. This one had a little bit of everything I love - found family, strong(er than she appears) FMC, tough on the outside/soft on the inside MMC, suspense, etc. Very unique plot. You end up feeling like you know the characters. Hope to read more from this author.
Could. Not. Put. Down. This one had a little bit of everything I love - found family, strong(er than she appears) FMC, tough on the outside/soft on the inside MMC, suspense, etc. Very unique plot. You end up feeling like you know the characters. Hope to read more from this author.
Want to Read
August 24, 2026OH! MMA fighter romance.... yes please!!!!!
BUDDY READ with Court.
BUDDY READ with Court.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was unexpectedly beautiful. Review to come.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
While this wasn't ground breaking, I did enjoy it. Something about broken people healing together works for me. However, it did feel a little disjointed at parts and overall, I'm just not sure how necessary Brooke was to the story, beyond some extra drama.
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