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Pounding Hearts #1
Banging Reaper
Two men. Only one can be the best in the ring. Only one can make her completely his. Avery Life isn't easy when your mother abandons you and the grandmother who raised you is gone. Ethan has been my best friend since middle school. He helped me out with college when I was flat broke, and now I feel like I owe him. So when he starts treating me like his MMA lucky charm, it's hard to say no. But when he finally loses, he blames me—and Reaper, the guy who beat the crap out of him, is the one who rescues me. I want to forgive Ethan ... but I can't resist Reaper. Chase Yeah, they call me Reaper, because I make anyone who fights me wish he was dead. I'm large and in charge with a big house, two cars, and enough money to party for the rest of my days. Life is great—but meeting Avery changes everything. She's nothing like the ring girls I usually hook up with. There’s just something about her that brings out the protective beast inside me. She needs to be mine, but that cheating asshole Ethan is in the way. I'll do whatever it takes to claim her ... even if that means destroying her best friend. Banging Reaper is a HEA, standalone MMA/Bad Boy romance with a dominant alpha hero and a young heroine trying to make her way in the world. Some content intended for mature readers.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 21, 2015
1451 people are currently reading
1714 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 250 reviews
January 19, 2021
Banging Reaper was a relatively straightforward and easy read. I wasn't looking for a complicated storyline when I picked this one out, so it ticked that box. I don't read much MMA romances but I found myself really enjoying the MMA fight scenes even though I had no idea what was going on. The hero was also likeable too...
But in saying that, Banging Reaper was far from perfect. The insta-love/lust romance felt unwarranted, because the MC's didn't have much chemistry. And I didn't really understand the heroine's thought process or decisions half the time... especially hopping into the hero's car after meeting him for the first time. Hello girl, ever heard of stranger danger?!
And normally, I like dual POV stories but I got whiplash because it switched back and forth so frequently. And the way some POV's overlapped disrupted the flow of the story (in my humble opinion).
Overall, not a bad story if you're looking for a HEA.
Rating: 3/5
But in saying that, Banging Reaper was far from perfect. The insta-love/lust romance felt unwarranted, because the MC's didn't have much chemistry. And I didn't really understand the heroine's thought process or decisions half the time... especially hopping into the hero's car after meeting him for the first time. Hello girl, ever heard of stranger danger?!
And normally, I like dual POV stories but I got whiplash because it switched back and forth so frequently. And the way some POV's overlapped disrupted the flow of the story (in my humble opinion).
Overall, not a bad story if you're looking for a HEA.
Rating: 3/5
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April 27, 2025
RATING 2 stars to Banging Reaper
It’s the grin I show every single opponent before a fight. It's the reason I earned my nickname the Reaper.
I was pleasantly surprised by this read, and I say pleasantly because most of my romance reads have been hitting a cement wall, so I've almost been in a state of refined dread just prior to picking up a new read, wondering if it would take a deep plunge into the shadowy deep end or ascend to the heights of narrative bliss. Lucky for me, Izzy Sweet brought me the right story at the right time to pull me from a reading slump. A simple, sweet and sexy MMA romance that just hit the bill, paid fully in my own enthusiasm.
Chase 'The Reaper' Winters is the starring alpha protagonist in Banging Reaper . He loves fighting down to the bone; it festers and feeds his heart and soul. He lives for a fighter's thrill and loves the adrenaline-fuelled zeal that drives his passion for it. A silent savage within a cage seals the deal and speakers volumes for his namesake, and he's not about to lose.
Avery is the best friend to Ethan, Chase's opponent for the world title. What I have to say about Avery is that I did enjoy her as a central character. She's smart, steady, hard-working, a likeable and relatable leading protagonist. She's supportive and leads her life with a lot of integrity. This is her childhood friend's chance to win the heavyweight title, it's what he has worked toward, and as always Avery is there at his side, his biggest cheerleader and lucky charm.
The problem? Ethan is changing, his showman's ego getting the best of him, and Avery is done trailing his fighting career. Feeling indebted to Ethan for the history of companionship and financial dependability he has offered her, she's lodged in a tight spot, stuck to him by invisible braces. Their friendship is far more steeped in the weight of obligation than the loyalty of a genuine friendship, and she secretly wants to set herself free.
After an altercation between Ethan and Avery, Chase steps to Avery's rescue in service of justice. This sets the crossroads to the relationship that builds between them. I loved Chase and I loved Avery - they had great chemistry and a great dynamic. The tough, bad boy alpha who unpredictably finds himself tied and bound to the one woman he doesn't want to walk away from.
I was absorbed and taken into the arms of this story starting the first chapter. I was a bit worried about this, because some books have a tendency toward 'initial illusion' - a great start, soon to descend to a bitter, deprived ending. I won't claim this to be a spectacular read, but it did pass some time nicely enough.
I was engaged throughout and was intent on finding out what happened next. There were a few missed opportunities, inconsistencies and too swift a relationship. I do think, though, that had the author taken this one step further and invested more effort, and a bit more intent and evolution, this could have definitely earned a higher rating.
For now, I say an entertaining, if not a magnificent read. Not many people realise this when they meet me, and admittedly are a little taken back to learn this, but the Rocky film saga is one of my favourite film series'. I have a special passion for those films, and it's almost blasphemy for me to take to my bed and sleep without witnessing the final fight scenes when I stay up to watch the films. I loved this cage-fighting romance because it had that same flavour of fighting thrill - could have done with a more - but the story was entertaining nonetheless.
With mixed reviews, this is consequently a bit of a marmite read, so it might not be for everybody. All I can say is that it hit a quick craving for me.
Trigger Warning: LOTS of swearing if you don't like profanity and sex scenes. Some instances of aggression and sexual harassment.
A few editing errors.
Visit my blog for more reviews: V.L. Book Reviews
T W I T T E R: @VicariousHearts
I N S T A G R A M: @Vicarious.Hearts
S O M E. F A V O U R I T E. Q U O T E S:
'Nodding my head, I slowly pull my black t-shirt up and over my head. I even flex my pecs at her and give her a leer. Her burst of giggles lets me know I have partially succeeded in making her more comfortable. She seemed so wary and hesitant when I gave her the tour of my house, I worried she was intimidated by it. I don’t want her to be intimidated by me. With her, I'm just a great big horny teddy bear.'
Chase pulls open the driver’s door then curses as he tries to squeeze in. “What the fuck? Did a munchkin drive my car?”
The hottest flames can burn out the fastest, don't forget to take the time to get to know her.
It’s the grin I show every single opponent before a fight. It's the reason I earned my nickname the Reaper.
I was pleasantly surprised by this read, and I say pleasantly because most of my romance reads have been hitting a cement wall, so I've almost been in a state of refined dread just prior to picking up a new read, wondering if it would take a deep plunge into the shadowy deep end or ascend to the heights of narrative bliss. Lucky for me, Izzy Sweet brought me the right story at the right time to pull me from a reading slump. A simple, sweet and sexy MMA romance that just hit the bill, paid fully in my own enthusiasm.
Chase 'The Reaper' Winters is the starring alpha protagonist in Banging Reaper . He loves fighting down to the bone; it festers and feeds his heart and soul. He lives for a fighter's thrill and loves the adrenaline-fuelled zeal that drives his passion for it. A silent savage within a cage seals the deal and speakers volumes for his namesake, and he's not about to lose.
Avery is the best friend to Ethan, Chase's opponent for the world title. What I have to say about Avery is that I did enjoy her as a central character. She's smart, steady, hard-working, a likeable and relatable leading protagonist. She's supportive and leads her life with a lot of integrity. This is her childhood friend's chance to win the heavyweight title, it's what he has worked toward, and as always Avery is there at his side, his biggest cheerleader and lucky charm.
The problem? Ethan is changing, his showman's ego getting the best of him, and Avery is done trailing his fighting career. Feeling indebted to Ethan for the history of companionship and financial dependability he has offered her, she's lodged in a tight spot, stuck to him by invisible braces. Their friendship is far more steeped in the weight of obligation than the loyalty of a genuine friendship, and she secretly wants to set herself free.
After an altercation between Ethan and Avery, Chase steps to Avery's rescue in service of justice. This sets the crossroads to the relationship that builds between them. I loved Chase and I loved Avery - they had great chemistry and a great dynamic. The tough, bad boy alpha who unpredictably finds himself tied and bound to the one woman he doesn't want to walk away from.
I was absorbed and taken into the arms of this story starting the first chapter. I was a bit worried about this, because some books have a tendency toward 'initial illusion' - a great start, soon to descend to a bitter, deprived ending. I won't claim this to be a spectacular read, but it did pass some time nicely enough.
I was engaged throughout and was intent on finding out what happened next. There were a few missed opportunities, inconsistencies and too swift a relationship. I do think, though, that had the author taken this one step further and invested more effort, and a bit more intent and evolution, this could have definitely earned a higher rating.
For now, I say an entertaining, if not a magnificent read. Not many people realise this when they meet me, and admittedly are a little taken back to learn this, but the Rocky film saga is one of my favourite film series'. I have a special passion for those films, and it's almost blasphemy for me to take to my bed and sleep without witnessing the final fight scenes when I stay up to watch the films. I loved this cage-fighting romance because it had that same flavour of fighting thrill - could have done with a more - but the story was entertaining nonetheless.
With mixed reviews, this is consequently a bit of a marmite read, so it might not be for everybody. All I can say is that it hit a quick craving for me.
Trigger Warning: LOTS of swearing if you don't like profanity and sex scenes. Some instances of aggression and sexual harassment.
A few editing errors.
Visit my blog for more reviews: V.L. Book Reviews
T W I T T E R: @VicariousHearts
I N S T A G R A M: @Vicarious.Hearts
S O M E. F A V O U R I T E. Q U O T E S:
'Nodding my head, I slowly pull my black t-shirt up and over my head. I even flex my pecs at her and give her a leer. Her burst of giggles lets me know I have partially succeeded in making her more comfortable. She seemed so wary and hesitant when I gave her the tour of my house, I worried she was intimidated by it. I don’t want her to be intimidated by me. With her, I'm just a great big horny teddy bear.'
Chase pulls open the driver’s door then curses as he tries to squeeze in. “What the fuck? Did a munchkin drive my car?”
The hottest flames can burn out the fastest, don't forget to take the time to get to know her.
February 7, 2017
This H was so incredibly possessive, obsessive, and crazy for the h. The sex scenes are super hot. Wow, wow, wow. This was such an enjoyable read with no triggers. I am going to read the other books in this series.
December 28, 2015
Shallow characters and they fall in love way to fast.
dnf
March 8, 2022DNF @ 47% - too insta - don’t know why the h kept saying she’s a “good girl” who doesn’t sleep around, when it seems shes quite experienced. It’s a bait and switch. 🤷🏼♀️ The H is oddly passive. Very meek and mild for a fighter. I think it’s weird to have people who don’t know each other humping immediately after meeting. Fully sober. 👀 No sexual tension of any sort.
This reads more like a Jessa Kane novella. But it’s not. The authors have plenty of room for relationship development. 😐
I don’t think this author team is for me. 😬
This reads more like a Jessa Kane novella. But it’s not. The authors have plenty of room for relationship development. 😐
I don’t think this author team is for me. 😬
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2021
I despised Chase so damn much...
I thought he might change, silly me - i was wrong. Avery wasn`t actually bad..just not good? Just meh.
I thought he might change, silly me - i was wrong. Avery wasn`t actually bad..just not good? Just meh.
January 15, 2019
Not quite sure what to say about this book. I went into it with high hopes but it was just bad. There were so many contradictory statements. I don't mind insta-love (in a few cases) but this was crazy! This story didn't feel natural. It felt rushed and like it was trying too hard. I didn't feel any type of connection with the characters whatsoever. There was never even a true conversation between the H & h...just sex every other page. *eye roll* Bangin' does not equate to a good book.
There's also a difference between a naive character and a character who's written to be idiotic. Sadly, this was the latter for me. The heroine was ridiculous. Here's an example (the H and the h have just reunited and he points out a plant he bought for his house. Yeah, that was the changes he made to the house while they were apart for 2 months...he bought a plant)...
H: "I want to make the house more comfortable for you, but if you don't like it, we can sell it."
h: "Sell the plant? I ask. Who would want to buy a used plant?"
*rakes hand down face* That is just the tip of the iceberg, my friends. There were SO many things wrong with the story. I do want to read the rest of the books in this series (I had a friend say she loved them) but I don't think I can jump right into the next one yet.
I hate to write a review like this but these characters, and their story, felt more cartoon-ish than a Saturday morning!
There's also a difference between a naive character and a character who's written to be idiotic. Sadly, this was the latter for me. The heroine was ridiculous. Here's an example (the H and the h have just reunited and he points out a plant he bought for his house. Yeah, that was the changes he made to the house while they were apart for 2 months...he bought a plant)...
H: "I want to make the house more comfortable for you, but if you don't like it, we can sell it."
h: "Sell the plant? I ask. Who would want to buy a used plant?"
*rakes hand down face* That is just the tip of the iceberg, my friends. There were SO many things wrong with the story. I do want to read the rest of the books in this series (I had a friend say she loved them) but I don't think I can jump right into the next one yet.
I hate to write a review like this but these characters, and their story, felt more cartoon-ish than a Saturday morning!
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Blurb:
Two men. Only one can be the best in the ring.
Only one can make her completely his.
Avery
Life isn't easy when your mother abandons you and the grandmother who raised you is gone. Ethan has been my best friend since middle school. He helped me out with college when I was flat broke, and now I feel like I owe him. So when he starts treating me like his MMA lucky charm, it's hard to say no. But when he finally loses, he blames me--and Reaper, the guy who beat the crap out of him, is the one who rescues me.
I want to forgive Ethan ... but I can't resist Reaper.
Chase
Yeah, they call me Reaper, because I make anyone who fights me wish he was dead. I'm large and in charge with a big house, two cars, and enough money to party for the rest of my days. Life is great--but meeting Avery changes everything. She's nothing like the ring girls I usually hook up with. There's just something about her that brings out the protective beast inside me. She needs to be mine, but that cheating asshole Ethan is in the way.
I'll do whatever it takes to claim her ... even if that means destroying her best friend.
Blurb:
Two men. Only one can be the best in the ring.
Only one can make her completely his.
Avery
Life isn't easy when your mother abandons you and the grandmother who raised you is gone. Ethan has been my best friend since middle school. He helped me out with college when I was flat broke, and now I feel like I owe him. So when he starts treating me like his MMA lucky charm, it's hard to say no. But when he finally loses, he blames me--and Reaper, the guy who beat the crap out of him, is the one who rescues me.
I want to forgive Ethan ... but I can't resist Reaper.
Chase
Yeah, they call me Reaper, because I make anyone who fights me wish he was dead. I'm large and in charge with a big house, two cars, and enough money to party for the rest of my days. Life is great--but meeting Avery changes everything. She's nothing like the ring girls I usually hook up with. There's just something about her that brings out the protective beast inside me. She needs to be mine, but that cheating asshole Ethan is in the way.
I'll do whatever it takes to claim her ... even if that means destroying her best friend.
October 18, 2017
"Banging Reaper" is the story of Chase and Avery.
Basically Ethan and Avery are best friends, and he considers her a good luck charm for his underground fighting. After losing a fight with his nemesis, Chase aka Reaper, he ends up being violent with Avery, she is rescued by Chase and there is instant attraction.
They start a full blown love affair, but ofc there is drama.
I am totally not a fan of MMA romances but I decided to give this a chance..and it was a bad idea. Sex was average, there was unnecessary drama and I wasnt a fan of the characters.
Not for me. The stars are because it wasnt bad and I dedicated one hour of my busy life to this between my work shift.
Safe
1.5/5
Basically Ethan and Avery are best friends, and he considers her a good luck charm for his underground fighting. After losing a fight with his nemesis, Chase aka Reaper, he ends up being violent with Avery, she is rescued by Chase and there is instant attraction.
They start a full blown love affair, but ofc there is drama.
I am totally not a fan of MMA romances but I decided to give this a chance..and it was a bad idea. Sex was average, there was unnecessary drama and I wasnt a fan of the characters.
Not for me. The stars are because it wasnt bad and I dedicated one hour of my busy life to this between my work shift.
Safe
1.5/5
February 2, 2020
I liked the story line , MMA, Instant love, HEA. I just couldn’t connect with the main characters.
October 25, 2023
Reaper has been staring at me from the screen of my Kindle for so long. He was tired of waiting.
I enjoyed this story. The MMC was exactly as I prefer them...good for my mental health.
I wish it was longer. I would've enjoyed staying with him for a while. ❤️
Ethan deserved so much worse though.
I enjoyed this story. The MMC was exactly as I prefer them...good for my mental health.
I wish it was longer. I would've enjoyed staying with him for a while. ❤️
Ethan deserved so much worse though.
June 30, 2020
Πολλά υποσχόμενο που με άφησε ανικανοποίητη από άποψη χαρακτήρων.
Πιστεύω ότι η συγγραφέας μπορούσε να γράψει μερικές σελίδες ακόμα ώστε να δομήσει σωστά τους χαρακτήρες της, να δώσει μια αιτιολογία που άξιζε για να χωρίσει το ζευγάρι και όχι αυτό που χρησιμοποίησε (εάν και σοβαρό, οι αντιδράσεις των χαρακτ��ρων και το πώς οδηγήθηκαν εκεί ήταν πρόχειρο και γρήγορο) και να μας αιτιολογήσει λίγο την συμπεριφορά των πρωταγωνιστών. Γενικά έλειπαν πολλά και είχε περιττές πληροφορίες.
Πιστεύω ότι η συγγραφέας μπορούσε να γράψει μερικές σελίδες ακόμα ώστε να δομήσει σωστά τους χαρακτήρες της, να δώσει μια αιτιολογία που άξιζε για να χωρίσει το ζευγάρι και όχι αυτό που χρησιμοποίησε (εάν και σοβαρό, οι αντιδράσεις των χαρακτ��ρων και το πώς οδηγήθηκαν εκεί ήταν πρόχειρο και γρήγορο) και να μας αιτιολογήσει λίγο την συμπεριφορά των πρωταγωνιστών. Γενικά έλειπαν πολλά και είχε περιττές πληροφορίες.
December 29, 2015
2.5 stars
I didn't hate this book but the characters instant-love was VERY instant and that usually doesn't bother me but it's too apparent in this book. Ethan was written too cartoonish villain for me to really take serious. Chase was great but I didn't feel connected to Avery of their relationship. Not bad otherwise but not great.
I didn't hate this book but the characters instant-love was VERY instant and that usually doesn't bother me but it's too apparent in this book. Ethan was written too cartoonish villain for me to really take serious. Chase was great but I didn't feel connected to Avery of their relationship. Not bad otherwise but not great.
November 24, 2016
I read book 3 first, not realising it was the third in the series before picking up Banging Reaper. The story itself was a bit of a snore-fest to be honest but the execution just wasn't there. Too clumsy and unnatural dialogue. It felt like it was the author's very first story (which it might be, I don't know) and it needed a lot more polish and guidance.
January 16, 2017
Okay, so this was insta lust and love on the Hero's part and somewhat on the h too. She is a bitch to him in a few places and totally unappreciative of what he tries to do for her. I wanted to slap her but she knew she messed up as soon as she did it. Anyway, NO CHEATING, NO OW drama, and there is a HEA and epilogue. Quick read, first in series. Lots of detailed sex scenes to.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2017
I loved the hero in this book, but couldn't stand the heroine. I found she was an unreasonable and ungrateful person. I felt the insta-lust/attraction, but the reason for the separation was ridiculous in my view.
January 9, 2016
2.5 stars
This was an easy quick read. It had a possessive alpha hero, instant love, MMA and a HEA. Unfortunately I just couldn't find a connection to the characters. I enjoyed it nevertheless. :)
This was an easy quick read. It had a possessive alpha hero, instant love, MMA and a HEA. Unfortunately I just couldn't find a connection to the characters. I enjoyed it nevertheless. :)
March 31, 2020
Ill be honest.. idk how i feel about this story....It was confusing during few parts and i didnt enjoy it.
I disliked Avery she wad that type of heroine who is well stupid and never stuck up for herself. Your "Best friend" assults you because he blames you for losing his big match, and what do you do forgive him but dont forget it but still work for him and take a assint job from him. Like??? Are you that dumb? As for Chase at first i was confused when he said Avery wasnt his type in chapter 1 then his tone changed in chapter 2 he was head over heels.. beside that i did feel bad for him he was a good hero who falling for a dumb chick. :/ oh well.
Om drama no ow drama, no cheating, Drama, sexy times, no virgins
Recommend- ehh
Cover-⭐⭐
Slowish-insta
Push away from h
28H
Violence
Masturbation
Seperation 6 weeks
Mentions of abuse
Safe sex
Hea
Epilogue
I disliked Avery she wad that type of heroine who is well stupid and never stuck up for herself. Your "Best friend" assults you because he blames you for losing his big match, and what do you do forgive him but dont forget it but still work for him and take a assint job from him. Like??? Are you that dumb? As for Chase at first i was confused when he said Avery wasnt his type in chapter 1 then his tone changed in chapter 2 he was head over heels.. beside that i did feel bad for him he was a good hero who falling for a dumb chick. :/ oh well.
Om drama no ow drama, no cheating, Drama, sexy times, no virgins
Recommend- ehh
Cover-⭐⭐
Slowish-insta
Push away from h
28H
Violence
Masturbation
Seperation 6 weeks
Mentions of abuse
Safe sex
Hea
Epilogue
January 25, 2024
Honestly, I almost dropped this book after reading the first paragraph. Chase came across as an arrogant prick, and I'm not the biggest fan of the trope where the guy has to change for the right girl. But I'm glad I kept going, cause while he's a bit of the stereotyped gym buff fighting guy, you also get to see that he was a decent guy even before he met Avery. This turned out to be a really good love story, and not just some smut, though the sexy scenes are still dang good. I also liked Avery and the struggle she goes through here. It's hard to see someone who you've always considered a best friend change, and that made what she was going through with Ethan an emotional and understandable one. Though I did get a little frustrated with her at times, I could still understand why she was reacting the way she did. It just made for a good story that I really enjoyed.
March 27, 2022
Banging reaper
I really liked this, it started off well and the ending was great. The bit in the middle got a bit dull that's why four not five stars, but overall a good read.
I really liked this, it started off well and the ending was great. The bit in the middle got a bit dull that's why four not five stars, but overall a good read.
October 17, 2021
The couple: Chase (Reaper) and Avery
Romance genre:
Series: Punding Hearts
Length: 248 pages
Plot: Avery is getting by, with the help of her best friend Ethan. The truth is that he would like to be more than friends, and he's pressing her pretty hard, but she just wants to be friends. Honestly, Ethan is kind of slimy, and despite their friendship, she knows that. His current obsession is MMA fighting, and he has a match coming up. Of course, she'll go to support him. While at the match, she meets Ethan's opponent, Chase, otherwise known as Reaper. He is instantly smitten, and after the match, which he won, he hears Ethan taking out his anger on Avery, and he saves her. Thus begins their relationship. Ethan won't give up easily though, and Reaper will have to be on high alert to keep Avery safe.
Commentary: I've read this book at least twice - I love it, as I do all of these authors' books. This starts the Pounding Hearts series, with one of my favorite books, Bucking Bear, with the hero with the Britney Spears obsession. In this one, we not only meet Chase (Reaper) but some of the other guys in the gym as well. So while I love the story in this one, I feel it serves a greater purpose in introducing us to this world. Since I love this series, I'm not mad about that.
Next book in the series: Slamming Demon
Romance genre:
Series: Punding Hearts
Length: 248 pages
Plot: Avery is getting by, with the help of her best friend Ethan. The truth is that he would like to be more than friends, and he's pressing her pretty hard, but she just wants to be friends. Honestly, Ethan is kind of slimy, and despite their friendship, she knows that. His current obsession is MMA fighting, and he has a match coming up. Of course, she'll go to support him. While at the match, she meets Ethan's opponent, Chase, otherwise known as Reaper. He is instantly smitten, and after the match, which he won, he hears Ethan taking out his anger on Avery, and he saves her. Thus begins their relationship. Ethan won't give up easily though, and Reaper will have to be on high alert to keep Avery safe.
Commentary: I've read this book at least twice - I love it, as I do all of these authors' books. This starts the Pounding Hearts series, with one of my favorite books, Bucking Bear, with the hero with the Britney Spears obsession. In this one, we not only meet Chase (Reaper) but some of the other guys in the gym as well. So while I love the story in this one, I feel it serves a greater purpose in introducing us to this world. Since I love this series, I'm not mad about that.
Next book in the series: Slamming Demon
November 30, 2022
Usually I love everything this duo writes but I struggled with this one. Avery was my main issue. At the start Avery's made to dress like a ring girl and paraded about by her 'best friend' Ethan at his MMA match. That's where she sees Chase for the first time right before he defeats Ethan. After the match Ethan then blames Avery for loss and says she owes him, forces a kiss then gets violent with her. Chase steps in and beats his ass for a second time, defending Avery. He then takes her home and they strike up a relationship. Their scenes together were hot. While Chase was obsessive, he was mildly possessive or controlling. I rather liked his down to earth personality and enjoyed reading the details about his training. I could tell the author did plenty research into the MMA world.
My frustration lied with Avery, who after the violent debacle with Ethan, was still considering working for him even after he basically got her fired from her job. She was livid when Chase stepped in and paid her tuition, so she wouldn't be forced back to Ethan. She breaks up with him cause she didn't want to owe anyone but then takes the job with Ethan who's shady as hell. Does not compute. She's convinced that Ethan is preventing her from getting other jobs and decides to work for him anyway? The guy got aggressive with her once. Why would she let herself become dependent on him? Really dislike when authors insist on making the heroines independent against common sense. Still hoping the series gets better.
My frustration lied with Avery, who after the violent debacle with Ethan, was still considering working for him even after he basically got her fired from her job. She was livid when Chase stepped in and paid her tuition, so she wouldn't be forced back to Ethan. She breaks up with him cause she didn't want to owe anyone but then takes the job with Ethan who's shady as hell. Does not compute. She's convinced that Ethan is preventing her from getting other jobs and decides to work for him anyway? The guy got aggressive with her once. Why would she let herself become dependent on him? Really dislike when authors insist on making the heroines independent against common sense. Still hoping the series gets better.
October 27, 2016
The Reaper And The Raven
Chase and Avery meet at an mma match. She's not his type but there's something about her that draws him and when she's attacked he goes into protective overdrive.
Avery was at the match to support her friend Ethan. But over time Ethan has changed and not for the better. When he loses the match and attacks Avery in a fit of rage she is rescued by Chase.
From there things heat up between Avery and Chase, Ethan plots to steal the championship from Chase and possess Avery. If Ethan continues down that dark path, Chase will show him why he is called the reaper. The title and Avery belong to him.
Chase and Avery meet at an mma match. She's not his type but there's something about her that draws him and when she's attacked he goes into protective overdrive.
Avery was at the match to support her friend Ethan. But over time Ethan has changed and not for the better. When he loses the match and attacks Avery in a fit of rage she is rescued by Chase.
From there things heat up between Avery and Chase, Ethan plots to steal the championship from Chase and possess Avery. If Ethan continues down that dark path, Chase will show him why he is called the reaper. The title and Avery belong to him.
January 4, 2016
I really liked this book. It was a good, fast read. It was sexy, but with a good plot. The only reason I gave it a four was because I never really got emotionally invested. I was pulled into their world, and I rooted for Chase and Avery, but I didn't cry or really laugh or hold my breath. It was just a really steamy, sexy, loving romance.
September 7, 2020
Banging Reaper, by Izzy Sweet & Sean Moriarty is a 244-page contemporary sports romance novel and is the first book out of a 5-part series. And since this is a series, you can expect reviews by this author pretty back to back for the next few weeks as I go through the books. It is written from a first-person POV, two-sided.
This is the second pair of authors I'm reviewing that write books together. I don't think I've ever read a book by Izzy Sweet that didn't include Sean Moriarty.
Spoilers Ahead ***
Avery had a rough life. Her mom abandoned her to her grandmother when she was five and she was lucky enough to have had her grandma to college, but they did not grow up with any money. The one person she could always depend on was a man she had met in high school, Ethan. Ethan having grown up well off has helped Avery financially as much as she'd allow by helping her pay for her grandma's funeral, giving her a job, and overall being there for her. Avery's proud. She doesn't want to owe Ethan, but feels that she does which is why she attends MMA fights with him as support and to cheer him on. What she didn't realize is Ethan wanted a lot more from her than she was willing to give him and that's when she meets Chase.
Chase is a champion MMA fighter and has won 23 out of 25 of his fights, but the fight that he wasn't expecting was the one against himself when he sees Avery in the arena. He wanted her, because Chase? Well, he's not the kind of man that settles down, but when he has Avery his mind has been changed.
Overall, the characters were likeable, but the story is completely not relatable, this would not likely happen in real life, so if you're one who likes to read things closer to life, this is not the book for you.
Generally, here are my thoughts:
Time is ephemeral a lot of the time in romance novels, because in real life people don't fall in love within a matter of days, or at least that isn't how it normally works. This book in a quiet nod occurs over many months.
Sex scenes in this book are really hot, so you can expect that.
This is going to sound crazy coming from me...but there were too many sex scenes. It felt like every scene of the two of the characters were them banging it out
I admit I'm not a lover of sports, so I appreciate this book didn't focus a lot on the technicalities of MMA, but gave the reader enough to understand and enjoy the aspects of the sport
It is fast-paced, but I didn't find it annoyingly so
In summary, I give this a 4 out of 5.
This is the second pair of authors I'm reviewing that write books together. I don't think I've ever read a book by Izzy Sweet that didn't include Sean Moriarty.
Spoilers Ahead ***
Avery had a rough life. Her mom abandoned her to her grandmother when she was five and she was lucky enough to have had her grandma to college, but they did not grow up with any money. The one person she could always depend on was a man she had met in high school, Ethan. Ethan having grown up well off has helped Avery financially as much as she'd allow by helping her pay for her grandma's funeral, giving her a job, and overall being there for her. Avery's proud. She doesn't want to owe Ethan, but feels that she does which is why she attends MMA fights with him as support and to cheer him on. What she didn't realize is Ethan wanted a lot more from her than she was willing to give him and that's when she meets Chase.
Chase is a champion MMA fighter and has won 23 out of 25 of his fights, but the fight that he wasn't expecting was the one against himself when he sees Avery in the arena. He wanted her, because Chase? Well, he's not the kind of man that settles down, but when he has Avery his mind has been changed.
Overall, the characters were likeable, but the story is completely not relatable, this would not likely happen in real life, so if you're one who likes to read things closer to life, this is not the book for you.
Generally, here are my thoughts:
Time is ephemeral a lot of the time in romance novels, because in real life people don't fall in love within a matter of days, or at least that isn't how it normally works. This book in a quiet nod occurs over many months.
Sex scenes in this book are really hot, so you can expect that.
This is going to sound crazy coming from me...but there were too many sex scenes. It felt like every scene of the two of the characters were them banging it out
I admit I'm not a lover of sports, so I appreciate this book didn't focus a lot on the technicalities of MMA, but gave the reader enough to understand and enjoy the aspects of the sport
It is fast-paced, but I didn't find it annoyingly so
In summary, I give this a 4 out of 5.
January 14, 2021
The title of this book is very misleading. I did not do any sort of research before reading this and I was 100% expecting a sexy Grim Reaper. I was very disappointed to discover that this is just an MMA nickname.
Now full disclosure: I am sports illiterate. I have had American football explained to me at least three times by friends and acquaintances but I still am convinced it’s just a complex version of capture the flag. All this to say: I do not understand MMA at all. It’s like consensual assault? Also they’re in Nevada so I assume gambling is involved. I just really don’t see the appeal of watching men beat each other up. I don’t really see the appeal of watching men throw a ball around either.
Like I said, sports aren’t my thing.
But one thing this book did have is CLASS DISCOURSE. I love, love, LOVE class discourse in romance novels and I don’t know why. North and south? Pride and prejudice? Drown me in it. While this book in no way approached the perfection of those others, I did appreciate the discussion of how money can add a power dynamic to friendships.
But seriously: why was this not about the Grim Reaper?? That would have been such a great book! Like a young ingenue dies too young and meets ... Sexy Death. She’s like “I’m too young to die!” And then he’s like “we all have to die ... even the sexy ones” and then they strike up some kind of *deal* where she is his companion and in return her brother/mother/etc is safe from impending death. Obviously some kind of graveyard sex ensues.
But anyway this book wasn’t about the Grim Reaper. The romance was fine, if unbelievable. They just met and then two weeks later they are deeply in love and moving in together? That’s so fast!! HE DOESNT EVEN KNOW HER LAST NAME. Honestly these people are wild and I wipe my hands of them.
Now full disclosure: I am sports illiterate. I have had American football explained to me at least three times by friends and acquaintances but I still am convinced it’s just a complex version of capture the flag. All this to say: I do not understand MMA at all. It’s like consensual assault? Also they’re in Nevada so I assume gambling is involved. I just really don’t see the appeal of watching men beat each other up. I don’t really see the appeal of watching men throw a ball around either.
Like I said, sports aren’t my thing.
But one thing this book did have is CLASS DISCOURSE. I love, love, LOVE class discourse in romance novels and I don’t know why. North and south? Pride and prejudice? Drown me in it. While this book in no way approached the perfection of those others, I did appreciate the discussion of how money can add a power dynamic to friendships.
But seriously: why was this not about the Grim Reaper?? That would have been such a great book! Like a young ingenue dies too young and meets ... Sexy Death. She’s like “I’m too young to die!” And then he’s like “we all have to die ... even the sexy ones” and then they strike up some kind of *deal* where she is his companion and in return her brother/mother/etc is safe from impending death. Obviously some kind of graveyard sex ensues.
But anyway this book wasn’t about the Grim Reaper. The romance was fine, if unbelievable. They just met and then two weeks later they are deeply in love and moving in together? That’s so fast!! HE DOESNT EVEN KNOW HER LAST NAME. Honestly these people are wild and I wipe my hands of them.
June 9, 2023
How the fuck does this have a 4.03 star average rating? It's so bad.
- The word "bimbo" is used so many times, and to describe, as far as I can tell, every other woman Chase has ever been with. This is offensive and says way more about him than them, IMHO. TL;DR - don't fuck people you don't respect.
- In a similar vein, slut shaming is not OK. And who even uses the word hussy these days?
- The protagonists never seem to just have a conversation. They just fuck a lot and then they're "in love".
- Forcing your money on someone is not romantic or protective, it's heavy handed. Even more so when they have already said they don't want it. And especially considering the antagonist is trying to control them with money.
- It is hardly selfless to pay off someone's loans so they'll "be less stressed out... and (you) can properly fuck (them)".
- You should never make major decisions during sex. Likewise, anything said in the pursuit of an orgasm should be taken with a pinch of salt.
- Stopping contraception is something you should discuss beforehand.
- Snap proposals are snap divorces in the making.
- It's kind of distasteful to take someone desperately poor on a tour around your mansion.
- "destroy(ing) (someone's) cunt" is actually not appealing. It's just more evidence of how commonplace sexual aggression is that it's referred to so casually.
- The heroine needs some serious therapy because she blames herself for other people's shitty behaviour all the time.
- Where x = a meatball sandwich, 3x ≠ 4 meatball sandwiches. That's terrible maths.
- People who can only afford a meal a day tend not to be curvy.
- I never want to hear the phrase "great big horny teddy bear" ever again.
- The word "bimbo" is used so many times, and to describe, as far as I can tell, every other woman Chase has ever been with. This is offensive and says way more about him than them, IMHO. TL;DR - don't fuck people you don't respect.
- In a similar vein, slut shaming is not OK. And who even uses the word hussy these days?
- The protagonists never seem to just have a conversation. They just fuck a lot and then they're "in love".
- Forcing your money on someone is not romantic or protective, it's heavy handed. Even more so when they have already said they don't want it. And especially considering the antagonist is trying to control them with money.
- It is hardly selfless to pay off someone's loans so they'll "be less stressed out... and (you) can properly fuck (them)".
- You should never make major decisions during sex. Likewise, anything said in the pursuit of an orgasm should be taken with a pinch of salt.
- Stopping contraception is something you should discuss beforehand.
- Snap proposals are snap divorces in the making.
- It's kind of distasteful to take someone desperately poor on a tour around your mansion.
- "destroy(ing) (someone's) cunt" is actually not appealing. It's just more evidence of how commonplace sexual aggression is that it's referred to so casually.
- The heroine needs some serious therapy because she blames herself for other people's shitty behaviour all the time.
- Where x = a meatball sandwich, 3x ≠ 4 meatball sandwiches. That's terrible maths.
- People who can only afford a meal a day tend not to be curvy.
- I never want to hear the phrase "great big horny teddy bear" ever again.
December 17, 2021
Avery is her best friend Ethan's "pretty lucky charm" at every one of his MMA fights. He has won every time she's there. Now he parades her around, making her wear ridiculous outfits. She says she wouldn't be there without him though. Ethan helped pay for her grandmothers services when she died. He set her up with a job because she has no one else. She thinks she owes him after everything he's done. Chase is an MMA fighter. They call him Reaper. Out of 25 matches he's only lost 2. He noticed Avery earlier but didn't think anything of it. She's not the type for girl he usually goes for but for some reason he thinks Avery is different. When Ethan attacks Avery, saying it was her fault he lost, Chase comes to save her. Will Avery realize what she has with Chase is real or will she let Ethan run her life?
Ethan is a terrible friend. Who hurts someone else on purpose. NEVER HIT A WOMAN. Every man should have this ingrained in their head. Avery is convinced if someone helps her then she owes them. She works but she doesn't make enough money to pay back anyone who helps her. Chase is the man every girl wants. He's tall, strong, and tattooed. The way Chase and Avery met was definitely not the way they both wanted but I'm so glad he saved her. I love Sebastian. Some choices the Avery made wouldn't have happened if she used her head. The ending was very rewarding. Not a bad story at all.
Ethan is a terrible friend. Who hurts someone else on purpose. NEVER HIT A WOMAN. Every man should have this ingrained in their head. Avery is convinced if someone helps her then she owes them. She works but she doesn't make enough money to pay back anyone who helps her. Chase is the man every girl wants. He's tall, strong, and tattooed. The way Chase and Avery met was definitely not the way they both wanted but I'm so glad he saved her. I love Sebastian. Some choices the Avery made wouldn't have happened if she used her head. The ending was very rewarding. Not a bad story at all.
September 5, 2021
All reviews posted at Tales of Love, Life, and Murder
I really liked the premise of this book: Avery’s best friend turns on her after losing a match so his opponent comes to her rescue. Avery and Chase are both great characters, real without being boring and interesting without being over-the-top. She’s had a really rough life and has always struggled, both financially and with being mostly alone in the world except for Ethan, who has been her best friend for years. Chase comes from a more privileged background but he works hard in his career and he’s very generous with the people he loves.
Avery has a lot of angst about Chase’s generosity because of the way Ethan has always made her feel like she owes him something for being her friend. Their dysfunction is the norm for her, so much that she doesn’t realize how bad things are until he does the unthinkable. This was a page-turner and I didn’t want to put it down. I loved the characters and enjoyed their story very much.
July 9, 2024
The writing was truly awful. There was so much redundancy throughout. I honestly cannot tell if there was an editor at all for this book.
There are many examples of this, but I picked a few gems. It should be noted, that there was never any time throughout the story that it felt believable at all that Chase's thoughts were that of an actual man. It was so very very very obvious that it was a woman writing what they "think" a big tough guy MMA fighter would think/say. It was almost laughable at times at how bad it was.
From Chase-
"She's one hot fucking woman. I don't usually go for girls who don't fit my cheerleader-bimbo-stereotype, but there is something about her that is absolutely fucking hot."
"....but Avery will hopefully be less stressed out now and I can properly fuck her. She's been tense as fuck with worry lately."
"Shit and fuck!" like, that is actually what he says to himself.
From Avery-
I don't want to give him the impression that nothing changed between us.
"Hey," Ethan smiles at me as if nothing's wrong, nothing's changed. ^^See how those same words were used in the line RIGHT ABOVE. The whole book is fuuuuuuuulllllll of that.
"Oh fuck, you're milking me, "he hisses out. This was just so damn funny I had to throw it out there. No part of that is hot or sexy
TL;DR- quick read, lots of sex, bad writing.
There are many examples of this, but I picked a few gems. It should be noted, that there was never any time throughout the story that it felt believable at all that Chase's thoughts were that of an actual man. It was so very very very obvious that it was a woman writing what they "think" a big tough guy MMA fighter would think/say. It was almost laughable at times at how bad it was.
From Chase-
"She's one hot fucking woman. I don't usually go for girls who don't fit my cheerleader-bimbo-stereotype, but there is something about her that is absolutely fucking hot."
"....but Avery will hopefully be less stressed out now and I can properly fuck her. She's been tense as fuck with worry lately."
"Shit and fuck!" like, that is actually what he says to himself.
From Avery-
I don't want to give him the impression that nothing changed between us.
"Hey," Ethan smiles at me as if nothing's wrong, nothing's changed. ^^See how those same words were used in the line RIGHT ABOVE. The whole book is fuuuuuuuulllllll of that.
"Oh fuck, you're milking me, "he hisses out. This was just so damn funny I had to throw it out there. No part of that is hot or sexy
TL;DR- quick read, lots of sex, bad writing.
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