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Harrow #1
Fighting Fate
Ivy Dune knows how to survive.
Even when her paycheck-to-paycheck life is ripped from her by a vicious crimelord without a conscience, Ivy knows she’ll do whatever it takes to make it to the other side alive.
Dax Harrow has made a living off of blood and pain…both in the ring and out.
As an enforcer for the most lethal family in California, Dax knows the bounds of loyalty and will do anything to pay back the debt he owes them, no matter the cost.
When Ivy is placed in Dax’s care neither of them are prepared for the fallout.
As enemies close in around them, Ivy and Dax must be prepared for the fight of their lives.
Even when her paycheck-to-paycheck life is ripped from her by a vicious crimelord without a conscience, Ivy knows she’ll do whatever it takes to make it to the other side alive.
Dax Harrow has made a living off of blood and pain…both in the ring and out.
As an enforcer for the most lethal family in California, Dax knows the bounds of loyalty and will do anything to pay back the debt he owes them, no matter the cost.
When Ivy is placed in Dax’s care neither of them are prepared for the fallout.
As enemies close in around them, Ivy and Dax must be prepared for the fight of their lives.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 10, 2015
34 people are currently reading
451 people want to read
About the author
Scarlett Finn
90 books482 followersWriting has always been a big part of my life. Since I was a child I've known exactly where my passion lay.
No matter what's gone on in my life writing has been my touchstone. After all, we all need a place to escape to.
Reading is my idea of heaven. There's nothing I like more than to switch everything off, close the bedroom door, and curl up with a good book.
I have a feeling that's something all at Goodreads can identify with.
Thanks for taking the time with me today. Now do something for yourself, go and curl up in your own reading heaven.
No matter what's gone on in my life writing has been my touchstone. After all, we all need a place to escape to.
Reading is my idea of heaven. There's nothing I like more than to switch everything off, close the bedroom door, and curl up with a good book.
I have a feeling that's something all at Goodreads can identify with.
Thanks for taking the time with me today. Now do something for yourself, go and curl up in your own reading heaven.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
July 14, 2015
4 stars
An infuriating mafia enforcer falling for a woman that doesn't belong to him
A woman with the worst luck ever finding herself relying on the most unlikely man to save her
This is my first Scarlett Finn and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by how much I actually enjoyed Fighting Fate. I was lured into reading this by the mafia theme, however truth to be told, there isn't much mafia biz going on. This plot is very much focus on the romance. Although this is not a dark romance, this is definitely grey. Some of the actions by the hero are questionable.
Ivy Dune is one of the unluckiest woman I've read. Not only that she is struggling with living in Vegas, she even managed to piss off the mafia prince, Trystan. She ended up getting captured and train to be his future submissive wife.
Dax Harrow is the loyal and dedicated enforcer of the family. He is the anti-hero of the story, the most unlikely man that turn up to be the salvation for Ivy.
In order to train up Ivy for Trystan, Dax was assign to get her ready aka 'fuck her to submission'. They were both thrown together in a situation that both have no control of and later formed an undeniable bond that lead to a point of no return.
To say that I'm angry with Dax in the beginning is an understatement. Not because he was cruel, but because he don't give a rat ass about the heroine demise. There is no compassion at all. Can you imagine that when Trystan attempt to rape a woman, he don't bat an eye and even help to hold down her leg? I can't even.... Gah! Since then, I on his ass, waiting for him to show a trace of humanity behind his tough exterior.
"I don't want to just survive, I want more than that."
"More? There is no more, you breathe in, you breathe out, that's it."
Is great to see the transformation in Dax, learning about his past and his motivation. I appreciate that he still manage to stay true to his character of being a domineering male even after he start having feelings for Ivy. He is the kind of man that doesn't meant what he said. Sometimes he portrayed himself like a chauvinistic pig and talk to her as if she is just a piece of meat. But we know that underneath his tough guy exterior, he had a little mushy beating heart.
As for Ivy, I like her sarcasm in the midst of her doom future. Every time Dax said something demeaning to her, she will have something to counter back and drive him up the wall. She planned to seduce her way into Dax's cold heart in order to escape her demise, but she didn't plan to fall for this complicated man.
"If I got any better, babygirl, you'd have died and been sent to paradise."
"If I was in heaven you wouldn't be the one delivering me to ecstasy. I heard you've already paid your room deposit in hell."
What will happened to this unlikely couple? Dax is not suppose to keep the girl for himself. And she is destine to be ruin by the mafia prince who wants to make her pay.
"Babygirl, there's a lot going on here that you don't understand. There's a lot of back room family politics with a bit of betrayal and sabotage mixed in. We're in a fucked up situation."
During the first half, I was dying to see Dax crack his ice cold heart for Ivy. While the second half, I'm dying to see what kind of plan will he come up to keep her for himself. I enjoyed seeing them being in a committed relationship together against the bad guys.
I would have gladly rated this 5 stars if not because of a little glitch in the plot nearing the end. Anyhow, Scarlett did provide me with a satisfying ending. I just wish I got an epilogue though.
And no matter how infuriating Dax is, I think I totally fall for his no-nonsense manner and zilch romantic notion. Yeah, emphasize on the zilch.
"You are bound to be at my side. You've gotta accept that I will never let you go free."
An infuriating mafia enforcer falling for a woman that doesn't belong to him
A woman with the worst luck ever finding herself relying on the most unlikely man to save her
This is my first Scarlett Finn and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by how much I actually enjoyed Fighting Fate. I was lured into reading this by the mafia theme, however truth to be told, there isn't much mafia biz going on. This plot is very much focus on the romance. Although this is not a dark romance, this is definitely grey. Some of the actions by the hero are questionable.
Ivy Dune is one of the unluckiest woman I've read. Not only that she is struggling with living in Vegas, she even managed to piss off the mafia prince, Trystan. She ended up getting captured and train to be his future submissive wife.
Dax Harrow is the loyal and dedicated enforcer of the family. He is the anti-hero of the story, the most unlikely man that turn up to be the salvation for Ivy.
In order to train up Ivy for Trystan, Dax was assign to get her ready aka 'fuck her to submission'. They were both thrown together in a situation that both have no control of and later formed an undeniable bond that lead to a point of no return.
To say that I'm angry with Dax in the beginning is an understatement. Not because he was cruel, but because he don't give a rat ass about the heroine demise. There is no compassion at all. Can you imagine that when Trystan attempt to rape a woman, he don't bat an eye and even help to hold down her leg? I can't even.... Gah! Since then, I on his ass, waiting for him to show a trace of humanity behind his tough exterior.
"I don't want to just survive, I want more than that."
"More? There is no more, you breathe in, you breathe out, that's it."
Is great to see the transformation in Dax, learning about his past and his motivation. I appreciate that he still manage to stay true to his character of being a domineering male even after he start having feelings for Ivy. He is the kind of man that doesn't meant what he said. Sometimes he portrayed himself like a chauvinistic pig and talk to her as if she is just a piece of meat. But we know that underneath his tough guy exterior, he had a little mushy beating heart.
As for Ivy, I like her sarcasm in the midst of her doom future. Every time Dax said something demeaning to her, she will have something to counter back and drive him up the wall. She planned to seduce her way into Dax's cold heart in order to escape her demise, but she didn't plan to fall for this complicated man.
"If I got any better, babygirl, you'd have died and been sent to paradise."
"If I was in heaven you wouldn't be the one delivering me to ecstasy. I heard you've already paid your room deposit in hell."
What will happened to this unlikely couple? Dax is not suppose to keep the girl for himself. And she is destine to be ruin by the mafia prince who wants to make her pay.
"Babygirl, there's a lot going on here that you don't understand. There's a lot of back room family politics with a bit of betrayal and sabotage mixed in. We're in a fucked up situation."
During the first half, I was dying to see Dax crack his ice cold heart for Ivy. While the second half, I'm dying to see what kind of plan will he come up to keep her for himself. I enjoyed seeing them being in a committed relationship together against the bad guys.
I would have gladly rated this 5 stars if not because of a little glitch in the plot nearing the end. Anyhow, Scarlett did provide me with a satisfying ending. I just wish I got an epilogue though.
And no matter how infuriating Dax is, I think I totally fall for his no-nonsense manner and zilch romantic notion. Yeah, emphasize on the zilch.
"You are bound to be at my side. You've gotta accept that I will never let you go free."
November 7, 2015
This book is so Hot and Sexy!!! Dax is my new book boyfriend:)
As an enforcer for a wealthy and dangerous family, it is his job to make her submit.
Growing up on the streets and fending for herself, she refuses to be broken.
Dax Harrow and Ivy Dune are an unlikely and unconventional couple who have overcome tremendous odds, but will it be enough?
When Ivy landed a job at an upscale Vegas resort she thought her life was finally moving in the right direction. Little did she know she would end up on a crash course with disaster, known as the Stark family.
Dax has spent his life fighting, both in and out of the ring, but he never expected the fight of his life to be over some woman. Adopted into the Stark family at a young age, Dax takes his role as enforcer and bodyguard to a new level. There is no line he won’t cross in the name of loyalty. After one fateful night when Dax and Ivy cross paths, both of their lives change in a way neither could have predicted. Coerced into an arrangement that is bound to break them, Dax and Ivy must stand together against a force greater than themselves. As their enemies close in Dax realizes this may be the one fight he’s destined to lose.
Fans of the Explicit Series by Scarlett Finn will fall in love with Dax and Ivy, this book is a must read!
As an enforcer for a wealthy and dangerous family, it is his job to make her submit.
Growing up on the streets and fending for herself, she refuses to be broken.
Dax Harrow and Ivy Dune are an unlikely and unconventional couple who have overcome tremendous odds, but will it be enough?
When Ivy landed a job at an upscale Vegas resort she thought her life was finally moving in the right direction. Little did she know she would end up on a crash course with disaster, known as the Stark family.
Dax has spent his life fighting, both in and out of the ring, but he never expected the fight of his life to be over some woman. Adopted into the Stark family at a young age, Dax takes his role as enforcer and bodyguard to a new level. There is no line he won’t cross in the name of loyalty. After one fateful night when Dax and Ivy cross paths, both of their lives change in a way neither could have predicted. Coerced into an arrangement that is bound to break them, Dax and Ivy must stand together against a force greater than themselves. As their enemies close in Dax realizes this may be the one fight he’s destined to lose.
Fans of the Explicit Series by Scarlett Finn will fall in love with Dax and Ivy, this book is a must read!
September 3, 2015
4.5
Another easy read, because when you find an author that has stories that capture your mind and soul? That's it. I can honestly say I will pick up any book by Scarlett Finn from here on out.
Prior to starting the book, I saw a few comments about some readers not particularly liking Dax, the ever sexy male alpha. I didn't want that to cloud my form of thinking in any way so I set it aside...
This story is dark but not as dark as I expected. It was a pleasant surprise to see such a deep and raw element of kidnapping & control be turned into an addictive read that had me thinking everything I thought I knew about what makes someone a bad person. It really did.
Ivy is a girl who doesn't seem to have luck on her side. Being nearly rapped followed by kidnapping her to be trained into a submissive for a guy that she hates more than the devil, is only the bare beginning..
Dax is an enforcer of all things that should make him a bad guy but with a heart that somehow manages to beat faster through all the mess of trying to claim a girl that shouldn't be his.
But having Ivy submit with her rebellious nature is anything but an easy task.. if possible.
Fighting Fate is one of those stories that unexpectedly grab hold of your mind and heart and everything else, leaving your sanity in a trail of broken pieces. It's a story of a strong minded girl that has a tough life, a life that shouldn't be called a 'life" but she has to find a way of surviving. Despite her struggles before being kidnapped, she keeps her self worth, her respect & personality.
Giving up would be easy. Yes. That is always the fastest and easiest option when the going gets tough.
Letting go of your respect and what you think is right for you, is also something easy to do. Very easy to a weak, scared, and brainwashed mind..
But.
There's always a but to every fighting chance.
When you know what is worth your respect and life in general, you do what you have to do in order to find a way through to getting back into a life that you should.
Fighting to stay alive when you have everything working against you is hard. damn hard and sometimes even impossible. But do you know what is even harder?
Fighting against someone fate...
...
Take that as you will, but until you read this story, I'll give a subtle reminder of all the sexiness that goes on in it too..
Through all the hardship that Ivy goes through, and the constant changing mindset that Dax seems to have between fighting for what he learnt, and his relationship with her, it's a plot twisted story that will bring you to a reading high.
You get everything and anything between the pages of a strong book with such perceptive ideas.
Fighting
Cruel
Dark but grey too..
POV challenging
Sexy
Raw
Emotional
Deep
Smart
Sexy
Action packed
Exciting..
I couldn't have been more honored to once again having read a story that I will read over and over again. The only element that made me give it a 4.5 instead of 5, was how Dax handled his "family". I was NOT expecting for him to change his mindset about Ivy so damn quickly. I was sure that he would fight heart and soul just to keep her as his and protected. I DID NOT expected that ending between what seemed like brainwashing of his own by the people that seemed he realised wasn't his family a little too late..
Don't get me wrong, I LOVED the ending. It was the perfect mix of sexy and heartbreaking. It was an ending that should have happening the way that it did, but I just was not so sure about the way the the lead up to that was done. That's just my opinion and it's only a small thing.
The story was undoubtedly wonderful. It was dark enough but at the same time it had a sexy element all throughout. It had characters that I am sure we will all grow to hate especially with their devilish personality but it also had a way of showing why those characters were that way. Not that it's an excuse for their unnatural behaviour, BUT, the author captured their back story so well that it made you double think of the glimpses of good that might be hiding behind all that dark..
One of my favourite parts however, was seeing the beautifully tainted relationship between Dax + Ivy develop.. PERFECTION would be an understatement!
Fight for what you know is you.
Give up what you can live without.
Trust your gut when fate doesn't seem to be in your favour.
Read Fighting Fate and bow down to Scarlett Finn in creating a world that anyone would happily lose themselves in over and over again..
That's all.
Thank you Scarlett Finn for creating a world of characters that I can only ever hope that my own books will hold between their pages :)
xx
Another easy read, because when you find an author that has stories that capture your mind and soul? That's it. I can honestly say I will pick up any book by Scarlett Finn from here on out.
Prior to starting the book, I saw a few comments about some readers not particularly liking Dax, the ever sexy male alpha. I didn't want that to cloud my form of thinking in any way so I set it aside...
This story is dark but not as dark as I expected. It was a pleasant surprise to see such a deep and raw element of kidnapping & control be turned into an addictive read that had me thinking everything I thought I knew about what makes someone a bad person. It really did.
'Do you think you're a tough girl?' he asked. 'You have no idea what you did tonight, no idea what I'm capable of. You should never piss off a man who has no conscience.'
Ivy is a girl who doesn't seem to have luck on her side. Being nearly rapped followed by kidnapping her to be trained into a submissive for a guy that she hates more than the devil, is only the bare beginning..
She had never been content with her lot in life, she didn't want money and riches; she just wanted to belong, to know that she would be ok and that she wasn't alone. That dream seemed to be getting distant every day."
Dax is an enforcer of all things that should make him a bad guy but with a heart that somehow manages to beat faster through all the mess of trying to claim a girl that shouldn't be his.
But having Ivy submit with her rebellious nature is anything but an easy task.. if possible.
Guilt and shame were a brainwasher's best friend.
Fighting Fate is one of those stories that unexpectedly grab hold of your mind and heart and everything else, leaving your sanity in a trail of broken pieces. It's a story of a strong minded girl that has a tough life, a life that shouldn't be called a 'life" but she has to find a way of surviving. Despite her struggles before being kidnapped, she keeps her self worth, her respect & personality.
Giving up would be easy. Yes. That is always the fastest and easiest option when the going gets tough.
Letting go of your respect and what you think is right for you, is also something easy to do. Very easy to a weak, scared, and brainwashed mind..
Her body did what Bruno wanted it to, but there was blank determination in those chocolate eyes. She was doing what he did, a job, what needed to be done.."
But.
There's always a but to every fighting chance.
When you know what is worth your respect and life in general, you do what you have to do in order to find a way through to getting back into a life that you should.
Fighting to stay alive when you have everything working against you is hard. damn hard and sometimes even impossible. But do you know what is even harder?
Fighting against someone fate...
...
Take that as you will, but until you read this story, I'll give a subtle reminder of all the sexiness that goes on in it too..
Through all the hardship that Ivy goes through, and the constant changing mindset that Dax seems to have between fighting for what he learnt, and his relationship with her, it's a plot twisted story that will bring you to a reading high.
You get everything and anything between the pages of a strong book with such perceptive ideas.
Fighting
Cruel
Dark but grey too..
POV challenging
Sexy
Raw
Emotional
Deep
Smart
Sexy
Action packed
Exciting..
I couldn't have been more honored to once again having read a story that I will read over and over again. The only element that made me give it a 4.5 instead of 5, was how Dax handled his "family". I was NOT expecting for him to change his mindset about Ivy so damn quickly. I was sure that he would fight heart and soul just to keep her as his and protected. I DID NOT expected that ending between what seemed like brainwashing of his own by the people that seemed he realised wasn't his family a little too late..
Don't get me wrong, I LOVED the ending. It was the perfect mix of sexy and heartbreaking. It was an ending that should have happening the way that it did, but I just was not so sure about the way the the lead up to that was done. That's just my opinion and it's only a small thing.
The story was undoubtedly wonderful. It was dark enough but at the same time it had a sexy element all throughout. It had characters that I am sure we will all grow to hate especially with their devilish personality but it also had a way of showing why those characters were that way. Not that it's an excuse for their unnatural behaviour, BUT, the author captured their back story so well that it made you double think of the glimpses of good that might be hiding behind all that dark..
One of my favourite parts however, was seeing the beautifully tainted relationship between Dax + Ivy develop.. PERFECTION would be an understatement!
Fight for what you know is you.
Give up what you can live without.
Trust your gut when fate doesn't seem to be in your favour.
Read Fighting Fate and bow down to Scarlett Finn in creating a world that anyone would happily lose themselves in over and over again..
That's all.
Thank you Scarlett Finn for creating a world of characters that I can only ever hope that my own books will hold between their pages :)
xx
January 29, 2023
Loved it! Broke the book slump I'd slipped into :)
I had to sit back and get my head in some sort of order to be able to write this review. First up, it's dark, involves kidnapping and characters that have little value of a human life. So why the high rating? As with all dark stories, there's the element of good attempting to triumph over evil. It's not always successful and like all good fights. It's how you fight that counts.
I was excited to read this book. When Lady Sassy, saw the offer to review this book, she took one look and thought of me, the Dark Queen as she refers to me, and said this is for you. We know each other well, I love a dark story and although this isn't the darkest of dark, it's far from sweet. If you're into dark reads, you'll get an idea of what you're in for when I say the beginning reminded me of another book, Captive in The Dark, but not for long. The H, Dax, was definitely no Caleb since he wasn't about revenge and he was obviously a novice at the task of training a slave. He was about carrying out an order given from a man that he respected. Not a lot of background information on the characters is provided, only enough to take the edge off my curiosity. His partner in crime for this story was Bruno and seemed well versed in mind games and how to twist someones self belief, a character you loved to hate. A character that garners no respect and never fails to grate you with his cold and heartless behaviour.
The chemistry between Dax and Ivy is undeniable from the moment they first meet each other. There's angst in that their relationship is not up for consideration and initially that suits them both fine. When Ivy is asked to chose between the lesser of two evils, she finds herself relying on Dax to help her find a way out of the mess she finds herself in.
Ivy is doing everything right, she is not asking for trouble, if anything she down right avoids it. Finding herself at the mercy of men that see her as a solution to their family problem was disturbing and there seemed no viable way for her to escape the fate that seemed to be assigned to her. As she struggled to hold her own, it was hard to determine who was actually in control. Doubt crept in, words were twisted, thoughts skewed. Ivy was named aptly. She was uncontrollable, survived in the most unexpected circumstances and near impossible to get rid of. A strong h that gave it her all. There was a moment that had her considering a TSTL move, fortunately for her, that moment is saved by the storyline.
Somehow, along the way I fell for Dax and his charm. He was believable except for the rare moments when he questions himself. I struggled with these moments. Be prepared for steamy scenes, the first one caught me off guard, I didn't expect to see it as anything other than abhorrent but it was turned around in a way that I would put it up with some of the best I've read. Dax was all about fitting in and belonging. Being a respected, useful and valued member of the family. He would do anything for Mauri without question, even tag along making sure Tristan didn't tarnish the family / company image.
This is a dark romance, meeting the family didn't constitute a home cooked meal around the dinner table. I don't recall one bunch of flowers being mentioned. No fancy, dreamy dates or dancing the night away. Then there was the family business…dry-cleaning and haulage! That cracked me up, never heard it explained that way before haha :)
Was it a triangle? I don’t think so. There are two men that have very different reasons for wanting Ivy by their side. One option is off the table IMO, right from the start, the other is not so clear. And this is where the mind games begin.
The title, Fighting Fate gives an impression that the end is inevitable. And it may very well be, but a fight is what you get from all of the characters. No one is prepared to back down which makes for an unpredictable ending. Where the story takes us is what appears to be a safe haven but I'm not that sure. It wasn't a cliffhanger, nor a HEA or HFN. It was simply a break in the story that felt right. Hoping the next book features Blase, a character introduced in the final chapter and one that spiked my interest without even having met the guy.
I had to sit back and get my head in some sort of order to be able to write this review. First up, it's dark, involves kidnapping and characters that have little value of a human life. So why the high rating? As with all dark stories, there's the element of good attempting to triumph over evil. It's not always successful and like all good fights. It's how you fight that counts.
I was excited to read this book. When Lady Sassy, saw the offer to review this book, she took one look and thought of me, the Dark Queen as she refers to me, and said this is for you. We know each other well, I love a dark story and although this isn't the darkest of dark, it's far from sweet. If you're into dark reads, you'll get an idea of what you're in for when I say the beginning reminded me of another book, Captive in The Dark, but not for long. The H, Dax, was definitely no Caleb since he wasn't about revenge and he was obviously a novice at the task of training a slave. He was about carrying out an order given from a man that he respected. Not a lot of background information on the characters is provided, only enough to take the edge off my curiosity. His partner in crime for this story was Bruno and seemed well versed in mind games and how to twist someones self belief, a character you loved to hate. A character that garners no respect and never fails to grate you with his cold and heartless behaviour.
The chemistry between Dax and Ivy is undeniable from the moment they first meet each other. There's angst in that their relationship is not up for consideration and initially that suits them both fine. When Ivy is asked to chose between the lesser of two evils, she finds herself relying on Dax to help her find a way out of the mess she finds herself in.
Ivy is doing everything right, she is not asking for trouble, if anything she down right avoids it. Finding herself at the mercy of men that see her as a solution to their family problem was disturbing and there seemed no viable way for her to escape the fate that seemed to be assigned to her. As she struggled to hold her own, it was hard to determine who was actually in control. Doubt crept in, words were twisted, thoughts skewed. Ivy was named aptly. She was uncontrollable, survived in the most unexpected circumstances and near impossible to get rid of. A strong h that gave it her all. There was a moment that had her considering a TSTL move, fortunately for her, that moment is saved by the storyline.
Somehow, along the way I fell for Dax and his charm. He was believable except for the rare moments when he questions himself. I struggled with these moments. Be prepared for steamy scenes, the first one caught me off guard, I didn't expect to see it as anything other than abhorrent but it was turned around in a way that I would put it up with some of the best I've read. Dax was all about fitting in and belonging. Being a respected, useful and valued member of the family. He would do anything for Mauri without question, even tag along making sure Tristan didn't tarnish the family / company image.
This is a dark romance, meeting the family didn't constitute a home cooked meal around the dinner table. I don't recall one bunch of flowers being mentioned. No fancy, dreamy dates or dancing the night away. Then there was the family business…dry-cleaning and haulage! That cracked me up, never heard it explained that way before haha :)
Was it a triangle? I don’t think so. There are two men that have very different reasons for wanting Ivy by their side. One option is off the table IMO, right from the start, the other is not so clear. And this is where the mind games begin.
The title, Fighting Fate gives an impression that the end is inevitable. And it may very well be, but a fight is what you get from all of the characters. No one is prepared to back down which makes for an unpredictable ending. Where the story takes us is what appears to be a safe haven but I'm not that sure. It wasn't a cliffhanger, nor a HEA or HFN. It was simply a break in the story that felt right. Hoping the next book features Blase, a character introduced in the final chapter and one that spiked my interest without even having met the guy.
February 7, 2016
Mixed feeling on this one.
I have very mixed feelings about this book.
Ivy is working as a private attendant at the GoldSpring Hotel and while it may not be the glamorous job she'd expected it was a job and it paid the bills. Until one night she was attending a private party which got out of hand when one of the guys grabbed her and tried to rape her, Ivy escapes but money and power talks and she's fired.
The guy in question is Trystan Stark and he doesn't appreciate being disrespected, he's a rich entitled spoilt brat but he's a powerful one since his family are the most lethal crime family in California.
Trystan is happy playing his way through life however his father Mauri decides it's time he settled down and had a family and so a deal is struck and Ivy finds herself kidnapped and held by two men Bruno and Dax.
We know from the blurb more or less what happens so the story is the journey not the ending and this is where I'm not sure.
It's a difficult situation all round as Bruno and Dax try to train and control Ivy, I will say this book's nowhere near as dark as I expected or it could have been.
Dax took a while to grow on me and I switched at times from liking Ivy to having her annoy me, I felt at times she should have been a little more understanding considering Dax explained how the family worked and his relationship to them.
With me being undecided on this book I didn't really intend to continue on with the second 'Fighting Back' even though I'd downloaded them together but the ending had me intrigued, not so much Ivy and Dax but Blase so I'm going to see where this goes.
November 24, 2015
3 1/2. I need to finish two before I decide what my review will be.
July 20, 2015
With "Fighting Fate" , somehow Ms. Finn has found a way to make this story not only suspenseful and dark but blend in a good dose of hot and sexy too .
Ivy Dune, has been on her own since she was a teenager she has moved from job to job,and city to city , now living in Las Vegas , and securing a good job at an upscale resort , she may finally be able to settle down for a while.
However, an encounter with a spoiled son of a crime lord , Trystan, and his enforcer Dax Harrow turns from being a private waitress for their suite to attempted rape , Ivy being an intelligent and smart young women is able to escape, but Trystan just can not let it go, he whines about it for weeks, even with Dax trying to get him to see reason.
Trystan's father wants him to marry and settle down hoping that marriage will help him to mature but to get Trystan to agree, is to meet his demand . He will settle down if they can get Ivy to agree to marry him and be a dutiful wife that will tolerate his gambling, whoring and drug use.
The incident at the resort , left Ivy unemployed, given that Trystan's family is not only very rich customers but dangerous a few days later however her roommate lets her know about a live in maid position available for a wealthy family, Ivy secures the job and a few days later finds herself abducted, throw in the trunk of a car and unaware of what is happening until she arrives at a gated mansion and the first person she recognizes is Dax.
Dax, does not particularly agree with the plan to make Ivy submissive to Trystan, but he has always been loyal. To the family, since Trystan ' s father Maurice took him in as a young boy , though he may not agree. He will do as he is told.
In the case of Ivy, Maurice right hand man Bruno is present to mentally break Ivy and Dax's job will be to sexually break her.
Being locked in a cell in a basement with no food or water to spite how strong willed you are will certainly make you a little compliant even if all you have to give up for some water at the time is just sitting down and being quite. And only talking when answering a question. Days of back and forth and struggle of wills goes on and Ivy is determined to not break but if she does it eat , how can she possibley stay strong enough to get away when she has a chance.
Studying the dynamic she assumes that Dax may be in a similar situation as herself and may be being forced to do this , so she chooses to submit to Dax ,better him than the disgusting Bruno, and at least she was a little attracted to him when they first met.
Both of them are determined to not allow emotions to become involved , but as time goes by Ivy finds herself caring for this cold attractive man who on occasion show her a softer warmer side. Unfortunately for Dax he finds himself more and more attached to Ivy and less and less willing to turn her over to be Trsytan's bride.
How to get out of this, should he trust that Ivy feels the same way , should she trust him , twist and turns ensue through the end .
Can love be a redeeming factor?
Arc graciously provided by author for an honest review.
Ivy Dune, has been on her own since she was a teenager she has moved from job to job,and city to city , now living in Las Vegas , and securing a good job at an upscale resort , she may finally be able to settle down for a while.
However, an encounter with a spoiled son of a crime lord , Trystan, and his enforcer Dax Harrow turns from being a private waitress for their suite to attempted rape , Ivy being an intelligent and smart young women is able to escape, but Trystan just can not let it go, he whines about it for weeks, even with Dax trying to get him to see reason.
Trystan's father wants him to marry and settle down hoping that marriage will help him to mature but to get Trystan to agree, is to meet his demand . He will settle down if they can get Ivy to agree to marry him and be a dutiful wife that will tolerate his gambling, whoring and drug use.
The incident at the resort , left Ivy unemployed, given that Trystan's family is not only very rich customers but dangerous a few days later however her roommate lets her know about a live in maid position available for a wealthy family, Ivy secures the job and a few days later finds herself abducted, throw in the trunk of a car and unaware of what is happening until she arrives at a gated mansion and the first person she recognizes is Dax.
Dax, does not particularly agree with the plan to make Ivy submissive to Trystan, but he has always been loyal. To the family, since Trystan ' s father Maurice took him in as a young boy , though he may not agree. He will do as he is told.
In the case of Ivy, Maurice right hand man Bruno is present to mentally break Ivy and Dax's job will be to sexually break her.
Being locked in a cell in a basement with no food or water to spite how strong willed you are will certainly make you a little compliant even if all you have to give up for some water at the time is just sitting down and being quite. And only talking when answering a question. Days of back and forth and struggle of wills goes on and Ivy is determined to not break but if she does it eat , how can she possibley stay strong enough to get away when she has a chance.
Studying the dynamic she assumes that Dax may be in a similar situation as herself and may be being forced to do this , so she chooses to submit to Dax ,better him than the disgusting Bruno, and at least she was a little attracted to him when they first met.
Both of them are determined to not allow emotions to become involved , but as time goes by Ivy finds herself caring for this cold attractive man who on occasion show her a softer warmer side. Unfortunately for Dax he finds himself more and more attached to Ivy and less and less willing to turn her over to be Trsytan's bride.
How to get out of this, should he trust that Ivy feels the same way , should she trust him , twist and turns ensue through the end .
Can love be a redeeming factor?
Arc graciously provided by author for an honest review.
July 23, 2015
3.75 stars
Fighting Fate is not your typical book. i will say i had a few mixed feelings abut this book.
i did like the back and forth from Ivy and Dax... bot of them have been through difficult childhoods and life has not been easy for either one of them. Dax, can be a bit of asshole, he had moments where he would show his true self and i really enjoyed those parts. I love when he was trying to fight Ivy advances and how own feelings. Ivy... shes a fighter, shes feisty, and determined to not let others break her.
The book is considered dark but i didn't see a lot of darkness in this book, There was a also mention of the Mafia family... but there was not a lot of Mafia craziness going on either. I felt the story focused more on the romance between Dax and Ivy.
i do want punch Trystan in the face for being a dick.
furthermore, the story ends in a different way than im used to. There is no cliffy and I'm not even sure the story will continue. The author did leave the end in a way that shes able to continue. If she does, I will definitely read it. i want to know what happens between these two.
Arc received for an honest review.
Fighting Fate is not your typical book. i will say i had a few mixed feelings abut this book.
i did like the back and forth from Ivy and Dax... bot of them have been through difficult childhoods and life has not been easy for either one of them. Dax, can be a bit of asshole, he had moments where he would show his true self and i really enjoyed those parts. I love when he was trying to fight Ivy advances and how own feelings. Ivy... shes a fighter, shes feisty, and determined to not let others break her.
The book is considered dark but i didn't see a lot of darkness in this book, There was a also mention of the Mafia family... but there was not a lot of Mafia craziness going on either. I felt the story focused more on the romance between Dax and Ivy.
i do want punch Trystan in the face for being a dick.
furthermore, the story ends in a different way than im used to. There is no cliffy and I'm not even sure the story will continue. The author did leave the end in a way that shes able to continue. If she does, I will definitely read it. i want to know what happens between these two.
Arc received for an honest review.
July 18, 2015
***ARC provided in exchange for honest review**
If you're looking for hearts and flowers romance, this is not the book for you.
If you want suspense, excitement, an intelligent heroine and a hot, alpha male then you've picked up the right book.
As noted in the blurbs for the book, Ivy is a survivor and when she pisses off the son of a major crime boss, she's abducted and put in the care of Dax Harrow. His directive is to break her and mold her into the perfect wife for the spoiled brat she stood up to in the first place.
Ivy has no clue that being married off is the planned end game but does her best to try to win Dax's trust. Despite his loyalty to the crime family he does fall for her and has to decide what he can do to prevent her planned fate.
Will they get their HEA? Both are naive about some things in their own way. Read this book to see if they are successful in fighting fate.
If you're looking for hearts and flowers romance, this is not the book for you.
If you want suspense, excitement, an intelligent heroine and a hot, alpha male then you've picked up the right book.
As noted in the blurbs for the book, Ivy is a survivor and when she pisses off the son of a major crime boss, she's abducted and put in the care of Dax Harrow. His directive is to break her and mold her into the perfect wife for the spoiled brat she stood up to in the first place.
Ivy has no clue that being married off is the planned end game but does her best to try to win Dax's trust. Despite his loyalty to the crime family he does fall for her and has to decide what he can do to prevent her planned fate.
Will they get their HEA? Both are naive about some things in their own way. Read this book to see if they are successful in fighting fate.
August 12, 2015
4.5 out 5 stars
I always love Scarlett Finn. She knows how to weave a story and keep the reader enthralled until the end. At first, I worried that this book was going to be a little too dark for me and had to put it down, but trusting in Finn's creativity I picked it back up. I am so glad I did. This book not only was about physically fighting but the emotional battle that Dax and Ivy must with each other and within themselves. I love it when the woman makes the man a better person no matter the ending, but this couple is a good one. So many people just want to give up, but they want to live and so they fight to survive and to love.
For more reviews, go to bbsbookreviews.com
I always love Scarlett Finn. She knows how to weave a story and keep the reader enthralled until the end. At first, I worried that this book was going to be a little too dark for me and had to put it down, but trusting in Finn's creativity I picked it back up. I am so glad I did. This book not only was about physically fighting but the emotional battle that Dax and Ivy must with each other and within themselves. I love it when the woman makes the man a better person no matter the ending, but this couple is a good one. So many people just want to give up, but they want to live and so they fight to survive and to love.
For more reviews, go to bbsbookreviews.com
October 4, 2015
Fighting Fate is a hard one for me to rate because I didn't love it and after about the 40% mark I didn't hate it anymore. I felt Dax was to similar to Rushe from the authors Explicit series but I think Rushe was a better character. Since I didn't read any reviews I wasn't aware of what happens in the beginning of this book and honestly its not something I enjoyed. While I did start to like Dax as the story progressed I found him at times not as strong as he was portrayed. I also felt Ivy was a little to demanding towards Dax after such a short time together . I am curious to see what happens with this couple so I will read book 2.
July 13, 2015
A new to me author that has blown me away. An amazing story with unexpected twists and turns, mafia ties, a wonderful love story and a whole lot more. I could not put this book down, I highly recommend this book!
July 12, 2015
······received an ARC for an honest review·····
I am loving everything that Scarlett Finn writes. I was introduced to her work just a few months ago and have just about devoured all her books. This one was no different! This one was dark and twisted.
Dax was another character that I loved. He was just the right amount of dark bad boy. Don't get me wrong, he had his nice moments, but Scarlett can write about bad boys!! He is someone that you want to hate but ending up loving.
Ivy is a strong female character. She has the smart mouth and attitude to back it all up.
The story starts out with Ivy working as a private attendant. She is catering to her clients, when she she one guy. They are both eyeing each up. Before anything happens, the leader of the pack, Trystan tries to take advantage of her. She fights her way out and goes to her boss, only to get fired. Their words against hers. She meets a stranger outside advising her to drop it.
Ivy applies for a housekeeping job. This is where all the craziness begins. Ivy meets the stranger again, who we know is Dax, and Bruno. They kidnap her and take her to the beach house.
Dax has no clue what is going on but he will do what he is told by Mauri. He will do what it takes for his family. What does he have to do? He has to break Ivy and make her ready for Trystan. Make her compliant and broken. Bruno is there to help. What a creepy man.
You can just feel the tension of Ivy and Dax. Ivy was locked in the basement for days, her defiance making it harder and harder to break her. She finally decides on her best plan. She thinks she can seduce Dax. She makes the first as the move. And so it begins. The coupling is amazing. Dax makes her do all the work. He is content to let her do it too. Trust me, his bad boy and alpha ways come through.
Ivy can tell right away there is something different about Dax. Dax begins to fight his feelings. Dax treats her one way in front of Bruno but when they are alone, he opens up slowly.
‘Yeah. We are. This was never supposed to happen. And it’s not Mauri’s fault that touching you makes me wanna slam the door and keep us alone and naked all day. It’s not his fault that whenever you look at me with that goddamn unimpressed scowl I wanna go out and find myself a no-bell, no-forfeit fight. I’m a guy who is always in control, that’s what Mauri knows, I’ve worked hard for him, I have. I’m the problem-solver, not the problem-creator and you, Minx, are one major head-fucking problem! One I could do without!’
Dax doesn't know how to handle his feelings, but his alpha comes out:
‘But make no mistake,’ he said, dropping his hand away to take hold of her again with a more ferocious grip. ‘You will never be free. If you walk out of here with me today, then you belong to me, forever. I will never allow you to leave me. You will be my female, mine. I will not let you marry him. I will not watch you do that. We leave here, now, and you will do as I say because while you’re in my custody, while I claim you, you are wholly mine, every part of you, every single breath that you take will belong to me. You are bound to be at my side. You’ve gotta accept that I will never let you go free.’
I loved how Ivy was so strong and didn't back down. She got into his head. And got into her own head.
"Ivy didn’t need a man to survive; she had been happy working hard and paying her own way. She knew that she could make it on her own, except now she didn’t want to. Since meeting Dax and experiencing what they had together she had learned one vital distinction that separated her from her mother and sister. Ivy didn’t need Dax, she wanted him."
Ivy trying to constantly convince Dax that he was worthy.
‘Because I love you, Dax, and I couldn’t walk away from you. I’ll always do whatever makes life easier for you, no matter the personal cost. Putting someone ahead of yourself, ahead of your own wants and needs, that’s love. If this was about me having a simple dislike of Mauri then I wouldn’t hesitate in coming back with you. I don’t want to go back there because of what they’ll do to you, not what they’ll do to me.’
I wanted to throw my kindle across the floor a couple of time because of Dax. He was so insensitive at times. The words that spilled out his month, ugh!! He thought everything could be solved with Ivy with sex. Yes, they had that attraction, but there was more to the pair.
This was a story of overcoming your fears. Seeing that you are worthy of love. Of opening yourself up to someone.
I promise that this is one book that you will want to read
I am loving everything that Scarlett Finn writes. I was introduced to her work just a few months ago and have just about devoured all her books. This one was no different! This one was dark and twisted.
Dax was another character that I loved. He was just the right amount of dark bad boy. Don't get me wrong, he had his nice moments, but Scarlett can write about bad boys!! He is someone that you want to hate but ending up loving.
Ivy is a strong female character. She has the smart mouth and attitude to back it all up.
The story starts out with Ivy working as a private attendant. She is catering to her clients, when she she one guy. They are both eyeing each up. Before anything happens, the leader of the pack, Trystan tries to take advantage of her. She fights her way out and goes to her boss, only to get fired. Their words against hers. She meets a stranger outside advising her to drop it.
Ivy applies for a housekeeping job. This is where all the craziness begins. Ivy meets the stranger again, who we know is Dax, and Bruno. They kidnap her and take her to the beach house.
Dax has no clue what is going on but he will do what he is told by Mauri. He will do what it takes for his family. What does he have to do? He has to break Ivy and make her ready for Trystan. Make her compliant and broken. Bruno is there to help. What a creepy man.
You can just feel the tension of Ivy and Dax. Ivy was locked in the basement for days, her defiance making it harder and harder to break her. She finally decides on her best plan. She thinks she can seduce Dax. She makes the first as the move. And so it begins. The coupling is amazing. Dax makes her do all the work. He is content to let her do it too. Trust me, his bad boy and alpha ways come through.
Ivy can tell right away there is something different about Dax. Dax begins to fight his feelings. Dax treats her one way in front of Bruno but when they are alone, he opens up slowly.
‘Yeah. We are. This was never supposed to happen. And it’s not Mauri’s fault that touching you makes me wanna slam the door and keep us alone and naked all day. It’s not his fault that whenever you look at me with that goddamn unimpressed scowl I wanna go out and find myself a no-bell, no-forfeit fight. I’m a guy who is always in control, that’s what Mauri knows, I’ve worked hard for him, I have. I’m the problem-solver, not the problem-creator and you, Minx, are one major head-fucking problem! One I could do without!’
Dax doesn't know how to handle his feelings, but his alpha comes out:
‘But make no mistake,’ he said, dropping his hand away to take hold of her again with a more ferocious grip. ‘You will never be free. If you walk out of here with me today, then you belong to me, forever. I will never allow you to leave me. You will be my female, mine. I will not let you marry him. I will not watch you do that. We leave here, now, and you will do as I say because while you’re in my custody, while I claim you, you are wholly mine, every part of you, every single breath that you take will belong to me. You are bound to be at my side. You’ve gotta accept that I will never let you go free.’
I loved how Ivy was so strong and didn't back down. She got into his head. And got into her own head.
"Ivy didn’t need a man to survive; she had been happy working hard and paying her own way. She knew that she could make it on her own, except now she didn’t want to. Since meeting Dax and experiencing what they had together she had learned one vital distinction that separated her from her mother and sister. Ivy didn’t need Dax, she wanted him."
Ivy trying to constantly convince Dax that he was worthy.
‘Because I love you, Dax, and I couldn’t walk away from you. I’ll always do whatever makes life easier for you, no matter the personal cost. Putting someone ahead of yourself, ahead of your own wants and needs, that’s love. If this was about me having a simple dislike of Mauri then I wouldn’t hesitate in coming back with you. I don’t want to go back there because of what they’ll do to you, not what they’ll do to me.’
I wanted to throw my kindle across the floor a couple of time because of Dax. He was so insensitive at times. The words that spilled out his month, ugh!! He thought everything could be solved with Ivy with sex. Yes, they had that attraction, but there was more to the pair.
This was a story of overcoming your fears. Seeing that you are worthy of love. Of opening yourself up to someone.
I promise that this is one book that you will want to read
September 13, 2018
What an awful, AWFUL book. Honestly I cannot believe how fucked up it is. I hated every second of it. Trigger warning// He is a disgusting, rapist, abusive psycho. How can I be expected to forgive a 'hero' who sits on a girl's legs to let his friend/boss/weird brother person rape her. SERIOUSLY??? Then he told her girls like her get whats coming to them. THIS HAPPENED IN THE FIRST 3 CHAPTERS FFS!! My dumbass who hates leaving books unresolved carried on. The rapist guy has her kidnapped and this 'hero' and his colleague have to fucking TRAIN her to be a dumb, obedient wife ready to take lots of abuse. Fuck that! So after that she basically loses her mind and gets Stockholm syndrome. He treats her like crap throughout the book. She makes up reasons for him, like he's being forced/can't stand up to his 'family' blah blah blah. Even though he tells her to her face that he is happy doing all this. Oh and when she explained how she was kidnapped he was like 'oh yeah that's how I wouldve done it' which means he's kidnapped girls before. He doesn't take 'no' as an answer and it was so uncomfortable reading those scenes. And she at one point says she knows if she said stop he would. Girl you said that plenty of times and he didn't. What are you on??? Anyway then at the end he EASILY with like 2 sentences is convinced by his Evil Father Surrogate that she was tricking him so he agrees to take her to be abused by his fake brother. She leaves blah blah he realises he's wrong and goes after her, who by the way still believed in him. Oh and turns out the guy who was his colleague abusing her was his friggin father??!!! Dafuq?!! God. It was so horrible. He is a psycho who is okay with hurting, kidnapping and raping women and is not sorry at all. She has lost her gd mind. I hated it!! Wtf is wrong with the 4/5* reviewers on here. Also from the blurb I thought it was gonna be about a guy in a criminal organisation who sees this wrong thing happen, and takes her and goes on the run. Man was I disappointed with this abusive disaster.
On a side note: her other series are actually really good. Explicit/Kindred. The guys and girls in those series wouldve killed this guy a thousand times over for being such a despicable and disgusting human being.
On a side note: her other series are actually really good. Explicit/Kindred. The guys and girls in those series wouldve killed this guy a thousand times over for being such a despicable and disgusting human being.
July 20, 2015
Fighting Fate is not your typical happily ever after feel good romance book. The hero doesn't court his lady love. He doesn't bring her flowers or take her on glamorous dates but Ivy and Dax's journey together makes you enchanted anyway and somehow that makes you appreciate their love for one another so much more.
Ivy and Dax are strong-willed survivors whose relationship starts with a crazy and intense situation. Nothing about their circumstance is normal and they are both trapped in their current predicament. While this makes them understand each other better, there is a hesitation to truly commit. They know the other will manipulate and mold themselves to be whatever the situation calls for so they both worry that they are being emotionally deceived.
Neither knows what is real or how a future together could be possible. Yet, you feel their connection and it snatches a hold of your attention until the very last page. Scarlett Finn's characters are incredibly entertaining.
I absolutely loved how the author has the plot playing out. The couple's feelings had me feeling wooed and curious - I was devouring page after page - I mean, how can something beautiful be created out of something horrific?! I thought Fighting Fate's tale was a dark, twisted story that was completely seductive and highly erotic. It's awesome.
I definitely suggest you meet this duo - their book is one you will not forget. Fighting Fate is can't miss reading.
Ivy and Dax are strong-willed survivors whose relationship starts with a crazy and intense situation. Nothing about their circumstance is normal and they are both trapped in their current predicament. While this makes them understand each other better, there is a hesitation to truly commit. They know the other will manipulate and mold themselves to be whatever the situation calls for so they both worry that they are being emotionally deceived.
Neither knows what is real or how a future together could be possible. Yet, you feel their connection and it snatches a hold of your attention until the very last page. Scarlett Finn's characters are incredibly entertaining.
I absolutely loved how the author has the plot playing out. The couple's feelings had me feeling wooed and curious - I was devouring page after page - I mean, how can something beautiful be created out of something horrific?! I thought Fighting Fate's tale was a dark, twisted story that was completely seductive and highly erotic. It's awesome.
I definitely suggest you meet this duo - their book is one you will not forget. Fighting Fate is can't miss reading.
July 14, 2015
I received an ARC copy of Fighting Fate in exchange for an honest review. Holy dark suspense. I hesitate to use romance to describe this book, but it's in there too. It just isn't your "run of the mill" romance. Ivy is kidnapped and forced to submit to slavery to become a submissive "won't say no" slave to whomever owns her. Except Dax cannot follow through with his orders. He enjoys her rebellion and her arguments. Not that he doesn't enjoy her submitting to him in the bedroom, the dominance that Dax shows there is not to be trifled with. Lots of sex, some of it falls under the BDSM classification. Some disturbing scenes involved with the kidnapping and the breaking of Ivy's will to make her a slave to her master. The twists and turns take you to a new place and you can't help be get emotionally involved. If Ivy can manage to keep her will and submit, you should be able to and read what happens. It's a rollercoaster and will be difficult to put down, but I guarantee by the end, you will be glad that you couldn't put the book down. Enjoy!
August 11, 2015
***** 5 Stars *****
Holy crap!!! I didn't think I would love this one as much as I thought!
Go figure huh? This had everything - Kidnapping, being held as captive, Mafia organised crime... Its dark read but the main characters do make it up with their amazing sizzling chemistry!!
We meet Ivy Dune, she's a survivor that's takes no shit from anyone, love her sass!!! And the enforcer guy they brought in to make her submit in every way - Dax Harrow.
I'll be totally honest here, I didn't think I would like Dax as much as I love my alpha males that I read....
*OMG!!*
He finally earned that spot!! He's just needed someone to love him for who he is... That's Ivy as she challenged him in every way she knows how!
Scarlett did a fantastic job with this story! Well done girl!!
Holy crap!!! I didn't think I would love this one as much as I thought!
Go figure huh? This had everything - Kidnapping, being held as captive, Mafia organised crime... Its dark read but the main characters do make it up with their amazing sizzling chemistry!!
We meet Ivy Dune, she's a survivor that's takes no shit from anyone, love her sass!!! And the enforcer guy they brought in to make her submit in every way - Dax Harrow.
I'll be totally honest here, I didn't think I would like Dax as much as I love my alpha males that I read....
*OMG!!*
He finally earned that spot!! He's just needed someone to love him for who he is... That's Ivy as she challenged him in every way she knows how!
Scarlett did a fantastic job with this story! Well done girl!!
July 24, 2015
I've gotta say I really enjoyed this story. As soon as I saw this was about a Mafia family I just had to read it.
Dax is an enforcer for a wealthy Mafia family. Since they took him in his loyalty lies with them. He meets Ivy when his boss Trystsn tries to rape her. When she is fired from her job she thought things were bad but her bad luck is only starting.
Dax and Ivy find themselves in situations they don't wanna be in. What happens when Daxs loyalty is questioned?
Great romantic thriller with some fab unpredictable twists. I loved this story.
Dax is an enforcer for a wealthy Mafia family. Since they took him in his loyalty lies with them. He meets Ivy when his boss Trystsn tries to rape her. When she is fired from her job she thought things were bad but her bad luck is only starting.
Dax and Ivy find themselves in situations they don't wanna be in. What happens when Daxs loyalty is questioned?
Great romantic thriller with some fab unpredictable twists. I loved this story.
August 20, 2015
***************10 STARS FOR FIGHTING FATE***************
Scarlett Finn has done it again!!! I am absolutely blown away by this AMAZING story. The twists and turns are gut wrenching but of course make you want to keep reading. This book definitely tears you apart and the carefully puts you back together. As much as you are going to want to hate Dax you won't be able to. He will steal your heart and you will want to love him forever. I can't wait for more!!!
Scarlett Finn has done it again!!! I am absolutely blown away by this AMAZING story. The twists and turns are gut wrenching but of course make you want to keep reading. This book definitely tears you apart and the carefully puts you back together. As much as you are going to want to hate Dax you won't be able to. He will steal your heart and you will want to love him forever. I can't wait for more!!!
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July 14, 2015I'm not sure how to rate this; ultimately its not a bad book. Its just not a book for me.
Serious trigger warnings: Rape, physical abuse, sex trade/slavery
So, this book is a very dark story; but it was well written and hard to put down because you so badly want to know what happens next. If you are okay with dark stories that have some triggers, then this is an excellent book.
Serious trigger warnings: Rape, physical abuse, sex trade/slavery
So, this book is a very dark story; but it was well written and hard to put down because you so badly want to know what happens next. If you are okay with dark stories that have some triggers, then this is an excellent book.
July 16, 2015
I completely was sucked in to this story and it forced a full range of emotions on me throughout the duration of the book. They ranged from fear to anger to sad to ecstatic....I love it when a book does that! The author did an excellent job with the story line, it flowed very nicely and the "bumps" in the road were all well placed. I loved that I was able to relate to the characters as the were very well told. There were some scenes in this book that were hot as hell and definitely steamed up the screen of my kindle!! Some of the twists and turns the story took surprised me and at one point pretty much had me pissed off. I also really like the way the book ended. It completely left me with a thousand different ways that the story line could go if there is additional books, which I'm hoping for, but didn't leave me hanging off the edge by my fingertips! Awesome job Ms. Finn, looking forward to reading more!
July 26, 2015
*This ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
3.5 stars
This is the first book I have read by this author. It took me some time to really get into this one. It's supposed to be a mafia book, but it didn't feel like one. The family was more along the lines of drug dealers vs mafia.
I have read a number of stories that involves a woman who is kidnapped & forced to be a slave. This wasn't as dark as I anticipated.
I did like the heroine Ivy. I loved her sarcasm. Dax, the anti-hero, I found frustrating. One minute I liked him and the next I wanted to hit him. But, I must admit, I loved when he called her "baby girl".
I enjoyed the book enough to look for a sequel once I finished. I find it hard to believe that their story ends here and they live happily ever after. Too many questions were not answered and I see repercussions following Dax's decision after he walked away.
3.5 stars
This is the first book I have read by this author. It took me some time to really get into this one. It's supposed to be a mafia book, but it didn't feel like one. The family was more along the lines of drug dealers vs mafia.
I have read a number of stories that involves a woman who is kidnapped & forced to be a slave. This wasn't as dark as I anticipated.
I did like the heroine Ivy. I loved her sarcasm. Dax, the anti-hero, I found frustrating. One minute I liked him and the next I wanted to hit him. But, I must admit, I loved when he called her "baby girl".
I enjoyed the book enough to look for a sequel once I finished. I find it hard to believe that their story ends here and they live happily ever after. Too many questions were not answered and I see repercussions following Dax's decision after he walked away.
July 23, 2015
This story follows Ivy and Dax. Ivy is a strong willed lady,who's not had all the breaks in life. She spots Dax at a club, whilst all sorts of bad things are happening. She crosses Tristain who is a guy who comes from a very influential family. She finds herself kidnapped, and Dax is sent to mould and manipulate her, into complying to be Tristains dutiful wife. It's an interesting concept, and I enjoyed the story. We watch as Dax slowly falls for Ivy, and how Ivy seizes the opportunity of escape through Dax, but ultimately is captured for good.
I loved the Dax/ Ivy story, but was disappointed at the ending. I felt it left me with no true conclusion. I was left wanting more, hence 1 star dropped. What happens to the family now, will this couple be forever looking over their shoulder?... For me it was an abrup ending, leaving me screaming, no, you can't leave me there!!!!!!!
I loved the Dax/ Ivy story, but was disappointed at the ending. I felt it left me with no true conclusion. I was left wanting more, hence 1 star dropped. What happens to the family now, will this couple be forever looking over their shoulder?... For me it was an abrup ending, leaving me screaming, no, you can't leave me there!!!!!!!
August 1, 2015
Fighting Fate by Scarlett Finn is a dark and twisty novel about an unlucky girl in Vegas and the Mafia enforcer that ends up taking her.
If you enjoy a novel that embodies the darkness in people with eventual redemption but a rough and painful journey to get there then this is for you. You will quite probably join me in shaking your proverbial fist at Dax's behaviour and bad attitude and bemoaning Ivy's terrible luck.
If you enjoy a novel that embodies the darkness in people with eventual redemption but a rough and painful journey to get there then this is for you. You will quite probably join me in shaking your proverbial fist at Dax's behaviour and bad attitude and bemoaning Ivy's terrible luck.
July 24, 2015
I received this book for an honest review.
To be honest at first I didn't know about this book, but I kept reading and I soon started to like it. It is dsrk, suspenseful, but yet it's sexy. Dax and Ivy have a very interesting relationship which goes from bad to better to wow! I do t want to give too much away but you should read this if you like page turners!!
To be honest at first I didn't know about this book, but I kept reading and I soon started to like it. It is dsrk, suspenseful, but yet it's sexy. Dax and Ivy have a very interesting relationship which goes from bad to better to wow! I do t want to give too much away but you should read this if you like page turners!!
August 29, 2015
Oh how I love me some Dax!!
December 18, 2022
This is an intense smutty thriller. There are some similarities to this author's "Explicit" series, but the setup is different. The FMC is strong here, but she does react with extremes. The MMC is a bit dense, but he's got a code of conduct that sets up the conflict. He doesn't realize what is happening to him, and he doesn't talk much. This contrasts with her self-awareness and unwillingness to shut up.
Still, there are some very creative scenes, some of which are quite dark. Along the way, they figure out their relationship by what they do, not what they say.
I've been reading this author's various series, and this may be the weakest of the bunch, but it's still quite good.
Still, there are some very creative scenes, some of which are quite dark. Along the way, they figure out their relationship by what they do, not what they say.
I've been reading this author's various series, and this may be the weakest of the bunch, but it's still quite good.
March 9, 2020
Their passion is volcanic!
From the first few pages I was hooked! Their chemistry is an inferno that craves to explode. It’s a bit on the darker side of romance but I was completely intrigued by their dynamic the push and pull between them was addicting. The story sucks you in and never lets go. The plot is always pushing forward with never a dull moment. It’s a dark and wild ride full of pleasure and manipulation that you’ll never want to end.
From the first few pages I was hooked! Their chemistry is an inferno that craves to explode. It’s a bit on the darker side of romance but I was completely intrigued by their dynamic the push and pull between them was addicting. The story sucks you in and never lets go. The plot is always pushing forward with never a dull moment. It’s a dark and wild ride full of pleasure and manipulation that you’ll never want to end.
May 2, 2020
2 words : Dax Harrow!
On to book 2 and more of Dax!
On to book 2 and more of Dax!
July 20, 2015
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I have mixed feelings about this book. It is about a woman named Ivy who loses her job when she would not allow a man with criminal ties to rape her at a Vegas club. She then loses her job, but her roommate gives her an ad with a job offer of becoming a live-in housekeeper. Unbeknownst to Ivy, it is a ruse to kidnap and break her spirit down, so her captors can mold her into the perfect wife for the man she refused in Vegas. One of her captors is a man named Dax, who works for the man's family with criminal ties. He has worked for this family for over 20 years and will do anything for them, including kidnapping a woman. Ivy is a fighter, and after a week or two, decides to pretend to break down and be what the men want her to be, controllable. Dax just wants to finish this job and move on, but what he doesn't intend on doing is falling for Ivy. What happens when it's time for Ivy to be the wife of a man she loathes?
This is the first book by this author that I have read. I'm not exactly sure if I liked it or not. I love when characters get their happily ever after, but I did not enjoy the acts how they got there. I am not a fan of kidnapping or being held captive books. I also don't like reading how woman are subjected to rape or being emotionally broken down. In real life, the heroine would be suffering from Stockholm Syndrome and not really in love. But the great thing about fiction is that anything can go. The copy I read is an ARC so I am not sure what the final edition is like, but I had a few issues with it. There were questions I had at the end that were never answered. I don't know if more was added to the story or if the author intends to make this book into a series. Maybe if there had been an epilogue, my questions might be answered. You can also tell that the author is not from the U.S. as some of the words are spelled the British/European way. This did not bother me as I read through the story, but it could throw other people off. Although Fighting Fate was not a book for me, it could be for others. If you enjoy reading the dark, kidnapping, being held captive-type books, then please give this book a try.
I have mixed feelings about this book. It is about a woman named Ivy who loses her job when she would not allow a man with criminal ties to rape her at a Vegas club. She then loses her job, but her roommate gives her an ad with a job offer of becoming a live-in housekeeper. Unbeknownst to Ivy, it is a ruse to kidnap and break her spirit down, so her captors can mold her into the perfect wife for the man she refused in Vegas. One of her captors is a man named Dax, who works for the man's family with criminal ties. He has worked for this family for over 20 years and will do anything for them, including kidnapping a woman. Ivy is a fighter, and after a week or two, decides to pretend to break down and be what the men want her to be, controllable. Dax just wants to finish this job and move on, but what he doesn't intend on doing is falling for Ivy. What happens when it's time for Ivy to be the wife of a man she loathes?
This is the first book by this author that I have read. I'm not exactly sure if I liked it or not. I love when characters get their happily ever after, but I did not enjoy the acts how they got there. I am not a fan of kidnapping or being held captive books. I also don't like reading how woman are subjected to rape or being emotionally broken down. In real life, the heroine would be suffering from Stockholm Syndrome and not really in love. But the great thing about fiction is that anything can go. The copy I read is an ARC so I am not sure what the final edition is like, but I had a few issues with it. There were questions I had at the end that were never answered. I don't know if more was added to the story or if the author intends to make this book into a series. Maybe if there had been an epilogue, my questions might be answered. You can also tell that the author is not from the U.S. as some of the words are spelled the British/European way. This did not bother me as I read through the story, but it could throw other people off. Although Fighting Fate was not a book for me, it could be for others. If you enjoy reading the dark, kidnapping, being held captive-type books, then please give this book a try.
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