What do you think?
Rate this book
Golden Oakes #1
Prepared to Fight
Live each day as if it were your last. Worry only about yourself. Work hard, and never, ever fall in love. That’s Olivia Buchanan’s motto and she stands by it every day.
Feisty, headstrong and confident, recent graduate Liv is fighting to succeed in the male dominated field she has chosen as her career. Working for her best friend's father's respected London based company, her chance to shine and become recognised comes when she lands the prestigious account for GO Sports and Leisure.
Armed with her plans and determination, Liv is ready to deliver the presentation of her life. That is, until he walks in. The mysterious personal trainer from the gym. The only man to ever make her heart flutter.
When he offers Liv a business proposition to join him in France to complete a major architectural design project she’s left questioning his motives—and her body’s ability to ignore his sexiness. But as she is also intrigued by the prospect of what the job could do for her career she reluctantly accepts.
Liv has no time for a relationship. Nate doesn’t want one. When forced to live side by side, though, feelings are stretched and emotions are battled. Can they keep their professional and personal lives separate, or are they prepared to fight for what is in their hearts?
Feisty, headstrong and confident, recent graduate Liv is fighting to succeed in the male dominated field she has chosen as her career. Working for her best friend's father's respected London based company, her chance to shine and become recognised comes when she lands the prestigious account for GO Sports and Leisure.
Armed with her plans and determination, Liv is ready to deliver the presentation of her life. That is, until he walks in. The mysterious personal trainer from the gym. The only man to ever make her heart flutter.
When he offers Liv a business proposition to join him in France to complete a major architectural design project she’s left questioning his motives—and her body’s ability to ignore his sexiness. But as she is also intrigued by the prospect of what the job could do for her career she reluctantly accepts.
Liv has no time for a relationship. Nate doesn’t want one. When forced to live side by side, though, feelings are stretched and emotions are battled. Can they keep their professional and personal lives separate, or are they prepared to fight for what is in their hearts?
Unknown Binding
First published June 25, 2015
23 people are currently reading
633 people want to read
About the author
E.J. Shortall
8 books166 followersA resident of London, UK, E.J. Shortall writes contemporary romantic fiction with a slant on the steamy side. Writing characters described as 'real' and 'relatable', E.J. creates stories that will draw you in a leave you wanting more.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
August 18, 2015
5 Cranky Stars!
Nathan Oakes, the golden boy fighter, comes out of retirement to settle a grudge match with his arch nemesis, Damian “the Dark Destroyer” Sanchez. These two have an antagonistic history and the rematch is something Nathan doesn’t take lightly.
Enter: Olivia Buchanan, an architect, assigned to design Nathan’s newest rehabilitation in France. Sparks fly and Nathan agrees to be Olivia’s personal trainer. As the rematch heats up with dubious dealings from The Destroyer, so does their relationship. Both may need to make a choice: gloves or love?
Set against a backdrop of boxing and gyms, fans of the romantic-fighting genre will enjoy this book. It is almost impossible to highlight without spoiling, and Cranky doesn’t do that, so we urge readers to pick this up.
Highly recommended.
Nathan Oakes, the golden boy fighter, comes out of retirement to settle a grudge match with his arch nemesis, Damian “the Dark Destroyer” Sanchez. These two have an antagonistic history and the rematch is something Nathan doesn’t take lightly.
Enter: Olivia Buchanan, an architect, assigned to design Nathan’s newest rehabilitation in France. Sparks fly and Nathan agrees to be Olivia’s personal trainer. As the rematch heats up with dubious dealings from The Destroyer, so does their relationship. Both may need to make a choice: gloves or love?
Set against a backdrop of boxing and gyms, fans of the romantic-fighting genre will enjoy this book. It is almost impossible to highlight without spoiling, and Cranky doesn’t do that, so we urge readers to pick this up.
Highly recommended.
July 18, 2015
Clearly I am in the minority with my rating but the book was just OK. It fell short for me with the build up btwn Nate and Olivia. His constant push and pull became eye rolling. Then when the focus shifted to his MMA rematch...it took away from the love story dynamic and I just lost interest. It just didn't work for me. 2.5 stars
June 9, 2015
This is a gripping journey of discovering self-worth, learning to trust and putting your heart on the line.
Liv is a strong, feisty leading lady who I instantly connected and identified with. She knows what she wants and she goes for it but is there something missing in her career fuelled life?
Nathan is a hot, focused gym owner. What lies beneath that sculptured, hard exterior and what is it he really wants from Liv?
The sexual chemistry sizzles off the pages and the story carries you along, cocooning you in their world and keeping you on the edge of your seat.
Another fantastic book from this fabulous author.
Prepared to Fight? Try to take my copy and you'll see!
Liv is a strong, feisty leading lady who I instantly connected and identified with. She knows what she wants and she goes for it but is there something missing in her career fuelled life?
Nathan is a hot, focused gym owner. What lies beneath that sculptured, hard exterior and what is it he really wants from Liv?
The sexual chemistry sizzles off the pages and the story carries you along, cocooning you in their world and keeping you on the edge of your seat.
Another fantastic book from this fabulous author.
Prepared to Fight? Try to take my copy and you'll see!
August 30, 2016
I throughly enjoyed this book. Olivia is not a simpering female who falls at the feet of the hero Nate. She is smart, ambitious, and knows what she wants. It was nice to see a female in a role where as soon as you meets the hero she doesn't fall at his feet and that is it. No once she meets him it is a truly wonderful journey to find their happy ending. The book was superb in that the plotline kept me interested, the characters were continually developed chapter after chapter, and the chemistry jumped off the pages. I am so glad I took a chance on this book - you should too!
June 27, 2015
I want/need to meet a man like Nathen Oakes!
This story had me gripped, the words flowed and I didn't want to put the book down. Desperate to find out what was gonna happen next in the life of Olivia and Nate (Nathan) .
Olivia was a completely relatable character, her attitude and feelings towards life. She is feisty and strong but still insecure within herself. Being career driven she has let other areas of her life slip. A series of events leads her directly to met Nathen Oakes, owner of a gym and later we discover he is an mma fighter. Soon Nate and Olivia are fighting against there feelings for each other. Nate is dark and brooding, he keeps his emotions hidden, buried deep. but when they do surface he quickly rains them in. Olivia is sassy and determined, nate certainly meets his match.
This is a slow burning love story, mixed with some seriously hot scenes. This was a passionate filled book that i loved.
This story had me gripped, the words flowed and I didn't want to put the book down. Desperate to find out what was gonna happen next in the life of Olivia and Nate (Nathan) .
Olivia was a completely relatable character, her attitude and feelings towards life. She is feisty and strong but still insecure within herself. Being career driven she has let other areas of her life slip. A series of events leads her directly to met Nathen Oakes, owner of a gym and later we discover he is an mma fighter. Soon Nate and Olivia are fighting against there feelings for each other. Nate is dark and brooding, he keeps his emotions hidden, buried deep. but when they do surface he quickly rains them in. Olivia is sassy and determined, nate certainly meets his match.
This is a slow burning love story, mixed with some seriously hot scenes. This was a passionate filled book that i loved.
June 30, 2015
Nate and Liv! <3 Perfect couple!!
I couldn't wait to jump into this book. I love EJ's other books and I was really excited to get this one.
Liv is very career driven, she isn't interested in men, dating or relationships. In the industry she is in, its over run with males. She is one of very few females. She needs to prove herself. The only man in her life is her best friend Adam.
Nate is against relationships, he's been hurt in the past and wont put himself through that again. He has his fun with women, but that's all it is, a bit of fun.
These are the most addictive characters to read. You want to know more about them, you want to be friends with them. I loved how feisty Liv is. She doesn't take any shit from anyone.
Sometimes I just wanted to slap Nate myself, he could be such a idiot at times to Liv.
5 stars for EJ. I can't wait to see what else she brings out in the future!!
I couldn't wait to jump into this book. I love EJ's other books and I was really excited to get this one.
Liv is very career driven, she isn't interested in men, dating or relationships. In the industry she is in, its over run with males. She is one of very few females. She needs to prove herself. The only man in her life is her best friend Adam.
Nate is against relationships, he's been hurt in the past and wont put himself through that again. He has his fun with women, but that's all it is, a bit of fun.
These are the most addictive characters to read. You want to know more about them, you want to be friends with them. I loved how feisty Liv is. She doesn't take any shit from anyone.
Sometimes I just wanted to slap Nate myself, he could be such a idiot at times to Liv.
5 stars for EJ. I can't wait to see what else she brings out in the future!!
June 23, 2015
Wow! this book sucked me right in this was intense, intriguing, I loved every minute of it this is my first book by E.J, and it will not be my last.
Liv, was sexy, caring, fiesty she knows what she wants in life and goes for it I really enjoyed her character and her development. Her character was very well written and left me wanting more.
Nathan, holly hotness he was panty-melting hot his chemistry with Liv, was hot and undeniable I could not put my kindle down I, just connected with him great job E.J. I, cannot wait for more of your greatness!
ARC received on behalf of bookalicious babes blog!
Liv, was sexy, caring, fiesty she knows what she wants in life and goes for it I really enjoyed her character and her development. Her character was very well written and left me wanting more.
Nathan, holly hotness he was panty-melting hot his chemistry with Liv, was hot and undeniable I could not put my kindle down I, just connected with him great job E.J. I, cannot wait for more of your greatness!
ARC received on behalf of bookalicious babes blog!
June 28, 2015
EJ has written this novel beautifully. It captures you from the very start to the very end. I hated putting my kindle down and getting on with reality, but enjoyed every second of picking it back up. It's so nice to see a curvy lady achieving her dreams while getting the man of her dreams and helping towards building more to of his success. If you love MMA books then I would 100% highly recommend this. I smiled and had tears threatening to fall throughout. Nathan is one of my beloved book boyfriends. Iv claimed him and not letting go!
#TeamNate #Always
For full review http://www.tsu.co/Pixie90 please check the following link x
#TeamNate #Always
For full review http://www.tsu.co/Pixie90 please check the following link x
November 26, 2015
I’m just going to keep this review short and sweet. When I first read the synopsis of Prepared to Fight, I was really intrigued by it. I loved the cover. I was really excited to dive in.
Prepared to Fight starts off really promising and then just sort of falls flat. Olivia is supposed to be this feisty, confident woman who is living in a man’s world, trying to succeed and make a name for herself. While I did see her as a great business woman, I felt that she severely lacked confidence. Her character is not a perfect 10 and has some self esteem issues. Yes, ladies, we all have them from time to time, but this was just too much. I felt like she was always complaining about how she looked. For me, that was very hard to get past. Then we have Nate. Nate is this MMA fighter, who also owns his own gym. He is very intrigued by Olivia when he first meets her. He not only likes Olivia, but wants to help her get in shape. When we first meet Nate, he has all the makings of an alpha male. He’s possessive of Olivia. He wants her. He will do anything to have her. I love a good alpha male, but again, I felt like he just fell flat. Instead of being the alpha male that I was anticipating, he just came across as creepy. Again, this is just my opinion.
I didn’t really feel any real chemistry between Olivia and Nate. They had some moments, but not nearly enough. I needed to see more build, more connection. Why did these two want to be with one another? In the end, I just left wanting more.
Prepared to Fight had a lot of potential, but just didn’t work for me. There were times I found myself wanting to put this book down and not read anymore, but I stuck with it, hoping it would get better. It never did for me. There was a lot of things that were hard for me to get past. Again, this is just my opinion. What doesn’t work for some, may work great for others.
* I was provided an ARC copy of this book via S.B.B. Promotions, in exchange for an honest review*
My review can also be seen at: www.onceuponabookblog.com
Prepared to Fight starts off really promising and then just sort of falls flat. Olivia is supposed to be this feisty, confident woman who is living in a man’s world, trying to succeed and make a name for herself. While I did see her as a great business woman, I felt that she severely lacked confidence. Her character is not a perfect 10 and has some self esteem issues. Yes, ladies, we all have them from time to time, but this was just too much. I felt like she was always complaining about how she looked. For me, that was very hard to get past. Then we have Nate. Nate is this MMA fighter, who also owns his own gym. He is very intrigued by Olivia when he first meets her. He not only likes Olivia, but wants to help her get in shape. When we first meet Nate, he has all the makings of an alpha male. He’s possessive of Olivia. He wants her. He will do anything to have her. I love a good alpha male, but again, I felt like he just fell flat. Instead of being the alpha male that I was anticipating, he just came across as creepy. Again, this is just my opinion.
I didn’t really feel any real chemistry between Olivia and Nate. They had some moments, but not nearly enough. I needed to see more build, more connection. Why did these two want to be with one another? In the end, I just left wanting more.
Prepared to Fight had a lot of potential, but just didn’t work for me. There were times I found myself wanting to put this book down and not read anymore, but I stuck with it, hoping it would get better. It never did for me. There was a lot of things that were hard for me to get past. Again, this is just my opinion. What doesn’t work for some, may work great for others.
* I was provided an ARC copy of this book via S.B.B. Promotions, in exchange for an honest review*
My review can also be seen at: www.onceuponabookblog.com
June 9, 2015
I absolutely loved reading this book by EJ. I honestly don’t know how she takes these awesome ideas and makes them seem so “real”. The characters and the situations are so realistic, that I swear I could see them on the street and become their friends. This was an exciting read and very motivating.
First off, I want to tell you that Olivia is amazing. I loved her from the first sentence of the book. She has fire, and very goal oriented. She works in a male dominating field, but she doesn’t let that stop her from reaching her goals. What I love the most about her is the fact that she isn’t some skinny snobby girl who gets her way. She is a curvy girl, and she works hard to get the things she wants.
When a run in with a stranger, Liv decides it’s time for a change and that is what brings her face to face with the sexy Nathan Oaks. Nathan is every woman’s dream man. He’s sexy, dominate, and most of all he’s a MMA fighter. I loved Nate just as much as I loved Liv. He challenges Liv, and they are perfect for each other.
Throughout this entire book I was giddy with excitement. I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next. And in certain scenes, my adrenaline was pumping right along with the characters. There are also some humor and I loved that. Liv has a smart mouth and is always coming back with a witty comment. And, my most favorite part, EJ is a British writer, and I love, love, love knowing her character have that British accent. It makes it sexier when Nate talks thinking of how he would really speak in real life.
I highly enjoyed reading this book. I love EJ’s writing style and how she doesn’t over do anything in her books. I recommend everyone reading this! I can promise you, you will enjoy it just as much as I did. Great job EJ!! Looking forward to more and more by you!!
First off, I want to tell you that Olivia is amazing. I loved her from the first sentence of the book. She has fire, and very goal oriented. She works in a male dominating field, but she doesn’t let that stop her from reaching her goals. What I love the most about her is the fact that she isn’t some skinny snobby girl who gets her way. She is a curvy girl, and she works hard to get the things she wants.
When a run in with a stranger, Liv decides it’s time for a change and that is what brings her face to face with the sexy Nathan Oaks. Nathan is every woman’s dream man. He’s sexy, dominate, and most of all he’s a MMA fighter. I loved Nate just as much as I loved Liv. He challenges Liv, and they are perfect for each other.
Throughout this entire book I was giddy with excitement. I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next. And in certain scenes, my adrenaline was pumping right along with the characters. There are also some humor and I loved that. Liv has a smart mouth and is always coming back with a witty comment. And, my most favorite part, EJ is a British writer, and I love, love, love knowing her character have that British accent. It makes it sexier when Nate talks thinking of how he would really speak in real life.
I highly enjoyed reading this book. I love EJ’s writing style and how she doesn’t over do anything in her books. I recommend everyone reading this! I can promise you, you will enjoy it just as much as I did. Great job EJ!! Looking forward to more and more by you!!
July 20, 2015
This was a story that kept me interested until the end. The writing and pacing were good.
Olivia is very focused on her career. She wants to be taken seriously so she does her best to make it to the top. And because of that, relationships are not really on the front-burner. That is…until she meets Nathan. Nate is a former MMA fighter turned gym owner. After several run-ins, they developed a sort of friendship but the chemistry between these two is sizzling and the possibility of more in the background. Nate has sworn off relationships because of his past but there is just something about Liv that he can not resist. When Nate has to go to train for a fight in France, he takes Liv with him as his employee. But of course the tension between the two is sky-rocketed. Will they deny their feelings or will they make a go at a relationship?
There were times that I was frustrated with Nate with how he treated Liv. I got his hesitation but sometimes I wanted to smack some sense into him. But when he was all in with her, it was sweet. Liv is a determined woman in everything she does in life and she knew what or who she wanted. Even with the secrets of the past, she was all for Nate and showing him just how deep her love ran. I liked how they were together. Their feelings was deep and as a reader, you can tell they were a great match. I really enjoyed seeing the progression of their relationship. I really liked seeing the progression of each character from the beginning to end.
Overall, a good story that is full of both intensity and action and also sexiness and sweetness. A good combination to keep you interested.
Olivia is very focused on her career. She wants to be taken seriously so she does her best to make it to the top. And because of that, relationships are not really on the front-burner. That is…until she meets Nathan. Nate is a former MMA fighter turned gym owner. After several run-ins, they developed a sort of friendship but the chemistry between these two is sizzling and the possibility of more in the background. Nate has sworn off relationships because of his past but there is just something about Liv that he can not resist. When Nate has to go to train for a fight in France, he takes Liv with him as his employee. But of course the tension between the two is sky-rocketed. Will they deny their feelings or will they make a go at a relationship?
There were times that I was frustrated with Nate with how he treated Liv. I got his hesitation but sometimes I wanted to smack some sense into him. But when he was all in with her, it was sweet. Liv is a determined woman in everything she does in life and she knew what or who she wanted. Even with the secrets of the past, she was all for Nate and showing him just how deep her love ran. I liked how they were together. Their feelings was deep and as a reader, you can tell they were a great match. I really enjoyed seeing the progression of their relationship. I really liked seeing the progression of each character from the beginning to end.
Overall, a good story that is full of both intensity and action and also sexiness and sweetness. A good combination to keep you interested.
September 6, 2015
REVIEWED ON BEHALF OF YOUR NEXT HOT READ
Dear Lord, where to start with this novel.
Well, I should clarify I've never read a book about MMA fighting and I'm so glad this one popped my cherry. Nate truly is the epitome of sexual tension. I loved his brooding, dark and mysterious character and the fight he put up against his attraction to Liv. Damn, when they gave into the pull he was truly worth the wait. The sex in this book is the best I've read in quite a while.
Liv is a woman so many of us can relate to, career focus, knows she likes the treats in life regardless of the fact she knows she is a bit out of shape. Her venture into shedding those few pounds literally turns her whole life around. It was rather inspiring to be honest because we saw Liv didn't just get a better body from her gym visits, her confidence and self esteem grew too.
The settings were great in this book, I've never been to Monaco but it sounds fantastic! The build up to the big fight was totally exciting and I was so eager to read that I stayed up late just to devour that part of the book. If I hadn't been so busy I'd have devoured this book in one day because it was so damn addictive!
Dear Lord, where to start with this novel.
Well, I should clarify I've never read a book about MMA fighting and I'm so glad this one popped my cherry. Nate truly is the epitome of sexual tension. I loved his brooding, dark and mysterious character and the fight he put up against his attraction to Liv. Damn, when they gave into the pull he was truly worth the wait. The sex in this book is the best I've read in quite a while.
Liv is a woman so many of us can relate to, career focus, knows she likes the treats in life regardless of the fact she knows she is a bit out of shape. Her venture into shedding those few pounds literally turns her whole life around. It was rather inspiring to be honest because we saw Liv didn't just get a better body from her gym visits, her confidence and self esteem grew too.
The settings were great in this book, I've never been to Monaco but it sounds fantastic! The build up to the big fight was totally exciting and I was so eager to read that I stayed up late just to devour that part of the book. If I hadn't been so busy I'd have devoured this book in one day because it was so damn addictive!
July 24, 2015
I received this for an honest review.. I have to say when I picked this up I wasn't quite sure what to expect and I have to say I liked how surprised I was and how in love with this book I became.. This book I thought was written amazingly wonderful.. The two main characters just blew me away..I really enjoyed that Olivia wasn't a stick figure and had a little meat on her bones and was I thought a very strong woman. OH NATE OH NATE, I fell in love with Nate and his Alpha ways. Nate was an awesome character because he had this really awesome push and pull with his emotions and with what he wanted although we didnt really get to hear his side of the story (which I would have loved to). Even with his push and pull he knew what he wanted and did whatever he could to get Olivia!!!
LOVED LOVED LOVED
Ej I think is wonderful writer who has evolved since the first book of hers that I read.. LOVED IT!!!
LOVED LOVED LOVED
Ej I think is wonderful writer who has evolved since the first book of hers that I read.. LOVED IT!!!
June 6, 2015
After reading Silver Lining and Silver Dove ...... We now have this masterpiece written by a very talented Author and credit wheres credits due E J Shortall has done so both brilliantly and beautifully..
Prepared to Fight is well what can i say other then WOW.!!!!
Once I started reading I didnt want it to end. We meet the Characters Olivia and Nathan .Some parts have your heart literally beating so fast as you read , real page turner ;-).
The author has done a brilliant job of bringing the characters to life and the style its also written . .Thats what I really enjoy about E J shortall s books they are written in a realistic way soooo easily to get sucked in .
As a reader myself I would HIGHLY recommend Prepared to fight !!!!!
Prepared to Fight is well what can i say other then WOW.!!!!
Once I started reading I didnt want it to end. We meet the Characters Olivia and Nathan .Some parts have your heart literally beating so fast as you read , real page turner ;-).
The author has done a brilliant job of bringing the characters to life and the style its also written . .Thats what I really enjoy about E J shortall s books they are written in a realistic way soooo easily to get sucked in .
As a reader myself I would HIGHLY recommend Prepared to fight !!!!!
August 5, 2015
Must Read!!! This story did take em a few days to read but once I really got into it I felt myself not able to stop and man what a long story but so very worth the read. I loved this type of love story MMA mixed with really hott alpha and love, it's passion at it's finest and I couldn't get enough I'm just hoping to get more of these characters in the future as I don't think Liv and Nate are done yet, well it feels that way.
***I received this story for free in exchange for an honest review see more of my review @ http://jmhoward2007.blogspot.com ***
***I received this story for free in exchange for an honest review see more of my review @ http://jmhoward2007.blogspot.com ***
December 1, 2016
This did not work for me. Neither characters were likable. The heroine, I felt, was as angry as the girls she felt were telling her she had weight issues. (loc 3%) The hero was wishy washy. I was hoping for a good MMA story, but was disappointed.
Did not work for me, but may work for you.
Did not work for me, but may work for you.
March 23, 2016
Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick
This is the first book I have read from E.J. Shortall, and I have to say that I really enjoyed Prepared to Fight. I love a sexy fighter story, but this was so much more than that. I thought that E.J. Shortall did a great job with not only giving us a sexy hero, but also giving us a great positive story as well. This book had a great message, and I loved seeing the heroine find herself and embrace her life while learning to make better choices for herself along the way.
Olivia is used to being surrounded by men, and is focused on doing whatever it takes to succeed in her male dominated career. When she lands the job of working on the proposal for GO Sports and Leisure, she sees it as her chance to finally show them all what she is capable of. But when the owner Nathan Oakes walks in, she realizes that he is none other than the sexy and mysterious man that she previously met at the gym. Liv thought that he was a personal trainer, but it turns out that he is way more than she first thought. Not only is Nathan the owner of GO, but he is also a famous MMA fighter. So when he offers to personally train Olivia and for her to join him in France, she immediately questions his motives and begins to wonder if she should turn him down. But Liv finds herself unable to fight the connection she feels for him, and knows that this is a once in a lifetime chance. But as the two grow closer, things get more complicated than ever. With them both focused on their careers and keeping things professional, will they be able to avoid falling for one another?
I really liked these two together, and I loved seeing them figure things out together. Nathan was very private, and it was clear that he didn't let many people in. I wondered if he was good for Liv in the long run, and I will admit that his hot and cold routine got old. But he seemed like a great guy, and I really liked his positive support and encouragement. He pushed Liv to be the best she could be, and he seemed genuinely concerned with her well being and progress. So even though I was irritated with him and his wishy washy attitude, I did want him with Liv. Liv was so easy to relate to for me. She had insecurities with her body, and liked how her life was. She knew that she should change things, and yet she really needed someone to push her and to keep her committed to making that life change. But she was strong and feisty, and she was a fighter at heart. I loved that she allowed Nathan to help her, even if she didn't always like what he had to say. These two were so good for one another, and I enjoyed seeing Liv return the favor for Nathan later on in the story as he began to open up to her. Liv and Nathan fit together really well, and I enjoyed watching them figure things out together. They had a ton of chemistry and heat, but it was their growing connection that kept me reading.
Overall, this was a really good story and I liked how Shortall handled Liv's insecurities. She showed that it is okay to be normal sized and that not everyone needs to be a complete stick figure that never eats. But she also showed that with hard work and positive life changes, we can look and feel better about ourselves. I really liked the characters in this story, and I felt a bit bad for Liv's best friend Adam. I felt like he handled some things poorly, but I could tell how he really felt right from the start. It had to be hard watching his best friend move on with her life, knowing that he had never said anything or really acknowledged his feelings until it was too late. I really hope that E.J. Shortall will write a book for him, as I would love to see him get his own HEA. Plus it would be great to see more of Liv and Nathan as well. I would recommend this book if you are looking for a positive story with some steam. This isn't just another MMA fighter story, and I liked that it was different. I will definitely look for more from Shortall in the future.
**ARC Provided by S. B. B. Promotions**
This is the first book I have read from E.J. Shortall, and I have to say that I really enjoyed Prepared to Fight. I love a sexy fighter story, but this was so much more than that. I thought that E.J. Shortall did a great job with not only giving us a sexy hero, but also giving us a great positive story as well. This book had a great message, and I loved seeing the heroine find herself and embrace her life while learning to make better choices for herself along the way.
Olivia is used to being surrounded by men, and is focused on doing whatever it takes to succeed in her male dominated career. When she lands the job of working on the proposal for GO Sports and Leisure, she sees it as her chance to finally show them all what she is capable of. But when the owner Nathan Oakes walks in, she realizes that he is none other than the sexy and mysterious man that she previously met at the gym. Liv thought that he was a personal trainer, but it turns out that he is way more than she first thought. Not only is Nathan the owner of GO, but he is also a famous MMA fighter. So when he offers to personally train Olivia and for her to join him in France, she immediately questions his motives and begins to wonder if she should turn him down. But Liv finds herself unable to fight the connection she feels for him, and knows that this is a once in a lifetime chance. But as the two grow closer, things get more complicated than ever. With them both focused on their careers and keeping things professional, will they be able to avoid falling for one another?
I really liked these two together, and I loved seeing them figure things out together. Nathan was very private, and it was clear that he didn't let many people in. I wondered if he was good for Liv in the long run, and I will admit that his hot and cold routine got old. But he seemed like a great guy, and I really liked his positive support and encouragement. He pushed Liv to be the best she could be, and he seemed genuinely concerned with her well being and progress. So even though I was irritated with him and his wishy washy attitude, I did want him with Liv. Liv was so easy to relate to for me. She had insecurities with her body, and liked how her life was. She knew that she should change things, and yet she really needed someone to push her and to keep her committed to making that life change. But she was strong and feisty, and she was a fighter at heart. I loved that she allowed Nathan to help her, even if she didn't always like what he had to say. These two were so good for one another, and I enjoyed seeing Liv return the favor for Nathan later on in the story as he began to open up to her. Liv and Nathan fit together really well, and I enjoyed watching them figure things out together. They had a ton of chemistry and heat, but it was their growing connection that kept me reading.
Overall, this was a really good story and I liked how Shortall handled Liv's insecurities. She showed that it is okay to be normal sized and that not everyone needs to be a complete stick figure that never eats. But she also showed that with hard work and positive life changes, we can look and feel better about ourselves. I really liked the characters in this story, and I felt a bit bad for Liv's best friend Adam. I felt like he handled some things poorly, but I could tell how he really felt right from the start. It had to be hard watching his best friend move on with her life, knowing that he had never said anything or really acknowledged his feelings until it was too late. I really hope that E.J. Shortall will write a book for him, as I would love to see him get his own HEA. Plus it would be great to see more of Liv and Nathan as well. I would recommend this book if you are looking for a positive story with some steam. This isn't just another MMA fighter story, and I liked that it was different. I will definitely look for more from Shortall in the future.
**ARC Provided by S. B. B. Promotions**
July 16, 2015
4.5 / 5 stars
Received an arc for an honest review; original tour post can be found at mignon mykel : reviews
PREPARED TO FIGHT takes place in the UK; Olivia, our lead lady, is from London and she works with an architect firm belonging to her best friend's father. First, let's talk Olivia and her best friend -- a man, just so you know.
Olivia and Adam have been best friends forever. And quite honestly, even though people mumble and whisper? Olivia is happy with that. Adam is her rock; Adam is the one person who can pull her out of a funk and the very last thing she'd ever want to do is ruin that relationship by trying out something more.
When a mean comment is said to Olivia about her weight, she tries to brush it off. When Adam realizes something is wrong, he eventually gets it out of her and offers to bring her to the gym with him --
...and so her life will forever change.
No, no, I don't mean that she'll lose all this weight and be the beautiful swan. Some mean mouthed witch was mean to her, her button popped off on her pants, and she ends up at a gym that turns out to be the very one she's doing a drawing for. She makes a bit of a fool of herself, a cute trainer checks on her and she ends up with a lifetime membership (sheesh, sign me up) with other perks, such as the spa -- where she makes a new great friend named Cassie. Said cute trainer turns out to be the owner of the gym, a former MMA star, and he likes her designs. Additionally, he likes her and wants her to come to France with him to put together ideas for a new facility as well as be his calm spot, because this girl with a weakness for jelly beans, well her smile brings him back to the surface.
I truly enjoyed this story. I loved how Liv was a stand-up girl and she didn't take shit. Sure, Barbie wannabe got in her head but c'mon -- not only was she rude to her in a public restaurant, but again at an athletic outfitters store. SERIOUSLY!? Grow up, Barbie wannabe. I loved that Liv put Nate in his spot -- kinda sorta.
Why kinda sorta? Because the man ran hot and cold. And yes, Liv called him out on in multiple times -- but then she'd threaten to do this or that and she always went back. Nate knew he was being hot and cold, and he blames it on his training (there may or may not be a ton of other factors as well, ranging from family to the sport...) but I swear to you, at one point I was ready to throw my phone (with my lovely Kindle app on it) out the window because he
Frustrated.
Me.
So.
Freaking.
Much.
I don't know how Liv did it -- but in the end, it all worked out.
Altogether, a super enjoyable read. I love a strong, feisty heroine and I love the strong men who love those ladies -- even if they piss me off a little bit on the journey.
Received an arc for an honest review; original tour post can be found at mignon mykel : reviews
PREPARED TO FIGHT takes place in the UK; Olivia, our lead lady, is from London and she works with an architect firm belonging to her best friend's father. First, let's talk Olivia and her best friend -- a man, just so you know.
Olivia and Adam have been best friends forever. And quite honestly, even though people mumble and whisper? Olivia is happy with that. Adam is her rock; Adam is the one person who can pull her out of a funk and the very last thing she'd ever want to do is ruin that relationship by trying out something more.
When a mean comment is said to Olivia about her weight, she tries to brush it off. When Adam realizes something is wrong, he eventually gets it out of her and offers to bring her to the gym with him --
...and so her life will forever change.
No, no, I don't mean that she'll lose all this weight and be the beautiful swan. Some mean mouthed witch was mean to her, her button popped off on her pants, and she ends up at a gym that turns out to be the very one she's doing a drawing for. She makes a bit of a fool of herself, a cute trainer checks on her and she ends up with a lifetime membership (sheesh, sign me up) with other perks, such as the spa -- where she makes a new great friend named Cassie. Said cute trainer turns out to be the owner of the gym, a former MMA star, and he likes her designs. Additionally, he likes her and wants her to come to France with him to put together ideas for a new facility as well as be his calm spot, because this girl with a weakness for jelly beans, well her smile brings him back to the surface.
I truly enjoyed this story. I loved how Liv was a stand-up girl and she didn't take shit. Sure, Barbie wannabe got in her head but c'mon -- not only was she rude to her in a public restaurant, but again at an athletic outfitters store. SERIOUSLY!? Grow up, Barbie wannabe. I loved that Liv put Nate in his spot -- kinda sorta.
Why kinda sorta? Because the man ran hot and cold. And yes, Liv called him out on in multiple times -- but then she'd threaten to do this or that and she always went back. Nate knew he was being hot and cold, and he blames it on his training (there may or may not be a ton of other factors as well, ranging from family to the sport...) but I swear to you, at one point I was ready to throw my phone (with my lovely Kindle app on it) out the window because he
Frustrated.
Me.
So.
Freaking.
Much.
I don't know how Liv did it -- but in the end, it all worked out.
Altogether, a super enjoyable read. I love a strong, feisty heroine and I love the strong men who love those ladies -- even if they piss me off a little bit on the journey.
July 13, 2015
First off let me say wow I love this book. I love E.J. Shortall and her Silver series so I was eager to read this just because she wrote it. This book has romance, a little danger, mystery, and more. This books was a great read. The characters have lots of depth and the story pulls you in. Nathan is quite the mystery for most of the book. Olivia finds herself constantly fighting her feeling for Nathan and wondering if he feels the same way about her. There is this pull between them and it is only a matter of time before something happens. Nathan has a past that he is trying to forget and swears doesn't affect his future, but it does. Olivia has never really felt the way she does about Nathan ever before. She is trying to be what he needs and help him but she can't do any of that if he won't let her in. She refuses to give up even if it doesn't turn of the Nathan feels the same way for she was hired to do a job and she is going to do it. There were some twists and turns in the book. I didn't like Nathan manager, Mal right from the start. There was just something off about him and it wasn't just that he didn't seem to like Olivia. All the characters in this book were fantastic. I hope that maybe E.J. will write a book about Adam and Nathan's friend Cassie. There was a little bit about them possibly liking each other at the end of this book. I look forward to reading more books by E.J. Shortall. You did another fantastic job with this book.
Olivia always thought that she would be married to her career. She is an architect and works for her best friend's dad and is determined to prove how good she is and that she didn't get the job just because of her connections. Her best friend Adam is her rock whenever she has any doubt he is there for her. Olivia is about to make her first big presentation. After some not so nice words from a stranger in a cafe Adam convinces Olivia to come to a new gym he has joined, Olivia agrees reluctantly. Of course while she is on the treadmill she sees a very hot personal trainer and winds up falling off said treadmill while staring at him. Mortified she goes to the locker room and prepares to go home. The next day she is prepared to give her presentation and in walks the personal trainer from the night before, Nathan Oakes, he owns the company she is presenting to. Nathan is impressed with her presentation and makes an offer of his own. He wants to help train her. Olivia wonders why he would want to help her but knows that she wants to see him again so she agrees. This leads Olivia and Nathan on a journey neither of them ever expected.
Olivia always thought that she would be married to her career. She is an architect and works for her best friend's dad and is determined to prove how good she is and that she didn't get the job just because of her connections. Her best friend Adam is her rock whenever she has any doubt he is there for her. Olivia is about to make her first big presentation. After some not so nice words from a stranger in a cafe Adam convinces Olivia to come to a new gym he has joined, Olivia agrees reluctantly. Of course while she is on the treadmill she sees a very hot personal trainer and winds up falling off said treadmill while staring at him. Mortified she goes to the locker room and prepares to go home. The next day she is prepared to give her presentation and in walks the personal trainer from the night before, Nathan Oakes, he owns the company she is presenting to. Nathan is impressed with her presentation and makes an offer of his own. He wants to help train her. Olivia wonders why he would want to help her but knows that she wants to see him again so she agrees. This leads Olivia and Nathan on a journey neither of them ever expected.
July 7, 2015
Olivia Buchanan seems to have her life sorted, great job, great friends and respect from most people around her. Until one day, some ‘Barbie’ in her coffee shop makes a cruel remark which leads Olivia to take a real close look at herself and her life. Deciding to take matters into her own hands, she joins the local gym, Golden Oakes, this is where she first meets HIM. A mysterious personal trainer who is the first person to ever get her all hot and bothered.
As if making an ‘ass’ of herself in the gym wasn’t enough, guess who happens to turn up to one of the most important presentations of her career so far, HIM… Nathan Oakes, owner of GO Sports and Leisure, which of cause includes Golden Oakes gym, also ex MMA fighting champion. Olivia cant believe her eyes, this has to be a joke, right? No, it really is happening.
He sees something Olivia that draws him in, he wants to help her in the gym, gain that confidence he knows is in there somewhere. He pushes her, at the same time she pushes him. Both refusing to back down, their friendship finally takes off and the have a mutual respect for each other.
When Nate comes out of retirement for one last fight, he relocates to his gym in France. He knows that he wants to expand on his current training facilities, so who better to take than the feisty architect. For Olivia this is a dream project, she has free reign to do as she likes. The downside is spending so much time in such close proximity to Nate. Their feelings have been growing and you can feel the heat from the pair.
Can they keep their professional lives and personal lives separate or will someone get burned?
This is once again a really great read from EJ Shorthall, she has took these two unlikely characters and paired them together brilliantly. I definitely feel I need a Nate in my life!! They are a hot couple and you can feel the sparks from the first meeting. I could not physically make myself put this book down from start to finish. You get easily drawn into their lives and yes there are times when you want to scream at them but that makes it all the more appealing.
Definitely recommend this to ANYONE!!!
As if making an ‘ass’ of herself in the gym wasn’t enough, guess who happens to turn up to one of the most important presentations of her career so far, HIM… Nathan Oakes, owner of GO Sports and Leisure, which of cause includes Golden Oakes gym, also ex MMA fighting champion. Olivia cant believe her eyes, this has to be a joke, right? No, it really is happening.
He sees something Olivia that draws him in, he wants to help her in the gym, gain that confidence he knows is in there somewhere. He pushes her, at the same time she pushes him. Both refusing to back down, their friendship finally takes off and the have a mutual respect for each other.
When Nate comes out of retirement for one last fight, he relocates to his gym in France. He knows that he wants to expand on his current training facilities, so who better to take than the feisty architect. For Olivia this is a dream project, she has free reign to do as she likes. The downside is spending so much time in such close proximity to Nate. Their feelings have been growing and you can feel the heat from the pair.
Can they keep their professional lives and personal lives separate or will someone get burned?
This is once again a really great read from EJ Shorthall, she has took these two unlikely characters and paired them together brilliantly. I definitely feel I need a Nate in my life!! They are a hot couple and you can feel the sparks from the first meeting. I could not physically make myself put this book down from start to finish. You get easily drawn into their lives and yes there are times when you want to scream at them but that makes it all the more appealing.
Definitely recommend this to ANYONE!!!
July 17, 2015
Olivia Buchanan is thriving in her career as an Architect even though her field is dominated by her male counterparts. Not only does she get to work with her best friend Adam, she is also set to become the next big thing in her company. When a bitchy jab is made about Olivia's appearance she opts to use it as her motivation to become a healthier version of herself. She had no idea that joining Golden Oakes Gym would change her life in more ways than one, but both her personal & professional worlds are about to be thrown into a tailspin.
Nate is successful, wealthy and has women throwing themselves at him, however he feels like he's just going through the motions and that nothing excites him anymore, until he sees Olivia at his gym. Her awkward determination is what draws him to her but it's the way she looks at him and seems to see straight down to his soul that keeps him coming back for more.
From the boardroom to the gym & then across the world to Monaco & France, Nate & Olivia's relationship builds from a slow burning attraction to an intense and emotional relationship. Nate struggles to focus on his big fight while Olivia struggles to separate her personal feelings from her professional ones.
Nathan Oakes has that confident yet mysterious alpha vibe going on that makes you want to just keep flicking those pages over to find out more about him. For such a strong character I expected that Nate might have manned up more when it came to those who surrounded him professionally but he was blindsided by those he trusted. Olivia is intelligent, sassy and while at times a little insecure (who isn't?) she holds her own and knows what she wants out of life and what she's willing & not willing to sacrifice to get it.
The sexy & adorable banter between Olivia & Nate is what had me falling in love with them as a couple and the short but fleeting love triangle that could have been, added another layer to an already great story. I hope we get to read Adam & Cassie's story at some point :) A must read if you love MMA Fighter romances with a strong & sexy heroine to boot!!
Nate is successful, wealthy and has women throwing themselves at him, however he feels like he's just going through the motions and that nothing excites him anymore, until he sees Olivia at his gym. Her awkward determination is what draws him to her but it's the way she looks at him and seems to see straight down to his soul that keeps him coming back for more.
From the boardroom to the gym & then across the world to Monaco & France, Nate & Olivia's relationship builds from a slow burning attraction to an intense and emotional relationship. Nate struggles to focus on his big fight while Olivia struggles to separate her personal feelings from her professional ones.
Nathan Oakes has that confident yet mysterious alpha vibe going on that makes you want to just keep flicking those pages over to find out more about him. For such a strong character I expected that Nate might have manned up more when it came to those who surrounded him professionally but he was blindsided by those he trusted. Olivia is intelligent, sassy and while at times a little insecure (who isn't?) she holds her own and knows what she wants out of life and what she's willing & not willing to sacrifice to get it.
The sexy & adorable banter between Olivia & Nate is what had me falling in love with them as a couple and the short but fleeting love triangle that could have been, added another layer to an already great story. I hope we get to read Adam & Cassie's story at some point :) A must read if you love MMA Fighter romances with a strong & sexy heroine to boot!!
July 13, 2015
Reviewed by A Wanton Book Lover Blog
Hot MMA fight? Check. Broody MMA fighter? Check. Emotional? Check. Said MMA fight falling for an everyday, average working woman (i.e. not an impossibly thin, “Barbie” type? Double Check.
I enjoyed E.J. Shortall’s Silver Series but in her stand-alone recent release, Prepared to Right, I was blown out of the water. Meet Olivia Buchanan. A recent college graduate and currently working as an architect in her best-friend’s father’s company she is fighting to make a name for herself in this male-dominated field. Fast-shamed at her local coffee shop, Liv decides to go to the gym her best-friend is a member of to work-out and possibly lose weight during a month-long trial period. However, she only embarrasses herself flying off a treadmill. As she is leaving the gym locker room trying not to embarrass herself any further, she meet a tall, dark, sexy training-little does she know that this sex-on-sticks trainer is the owner of the big account she is trying to win for the company she works for Go Sports and Leisure. After wowing Nathan “Nate” Oakes, owner of the gym and trainer, he offers to work with Liv to improve her health. After Liv finally accepts Nate’s help, they find themselves spending a lot of time together, first becoming friends and eventually developing feelings for each other. Nate asks Liv to join him in France to research for something he’s like for her to design while he also trains for his big upcoming fight.
I flat-out loved this book. The character of Olivia was easy to relate to and I found myself rooting for her. Who hasn’t felt or experienced some type shamming as Olivia did? Nathan, even giving Liv whiplash from his ever-changing emotions, was easy to fall in love with also. (Again, who hasn’t had some guy want them one minute and then change he mind later?) The book flowed smoothly rarely, if at all, staling out. I personally couldn’t put this book down and read through it in one day. It was hot, intense, and such a guilty pleasure reading it.
Hot MMA fight? Check. Broody MMA fighter? Check. Emotional? Check. Said MMA fight falling for an everyday, average working woman (i.e. not an impossibly thin, “Barbie” type? Double Check.
I enjoyed E.J. Shortall’s Silver Series but in her stand-alone recent release, Prepared to Right, I was blown out of the water. Meet Olivia Buchanan. A recent college graduate and currently working as an architect in her best-friend’s father’s company she is fighting to make a name for herself in this male-dominated field. Fast-shamed at her local coffee shop, Liv decides to go to the gym her best-friend is a member of to work-out and possibly lose weight during a month-long trial period. However, she only embarrasses herself flying off a treadmill. As she is leaving the gym locker room trying not to embarrass herself any further, she meet a tall, dark, sexy training-little does she know that this sex-on-sticks trainer is the owner of the big account she is trying to win for the company she works for Go Sports and Leisure. After wowing Nathan “Nate” Oakes, owner of the gym and trainer, he offers to work with Liv to improve her health. After Liv finally accepts Nate’s help, they find themselves spending a lot of time together, first becoming friends and eventually developing feelings for each other. Nate asks Liv to join him in France to research for something he’s like for her to design while he also trains for his big upcoming fight.
I flat-out loved this book. The character of Olivia was easy to relate to and I found myself rooting for her. Who hasn’t felt or experienced some type shamming as Olivia did? Nathan, even giving Liv whiplash from his ever-changing emotions, was easy to fall in love with also. (Again, who hasn’t had some guy want them one minute and then change he mind later?) The book flowed smoothly rarely, if at all, staling out. I personally couldn’t put this book down and read through it in one day. It was hot, intense, and such a guilty pleasure reading it.
July 23, 2015
Liv is an architect working in a male dominated industry shes determined to succeed.Shes feisty,strong and has the body hang up most womwn have!! Adam is her best friend since childhood they work together,the company being owned by Adams formidable father.After humilitated in a café about her size shes talked into going to the gym with Adam where she meets the gorgeous sexy personal trainer Nate.He gets her heart rate going in more ways than one!!!Liv has landed a very important client GO Sports and Leisure as she enters the room to deliver her presentation shes mortified to discover Nate there,turns out hes the owner!!
Nate is wealthy,successful ,a famous MMA fighter and closed off he doesn’t do relationships his life is his work….until Liv walks through his gym doors,hes drawn to her,wants to help her so offers to train her…the right way.They start training and spending time together and feelings start to grow but Nate is closed off after suffering heartbreak hes vowed never to go there again but what he didn’t bargain on was Liv getting under his skin.
Nate offers Liv a job designing for him in South of France so off she goes not knowing how shes going to face living side by side with Nate.He is going to have a rematch with a face from the past but is all as it seems?Though he tries can he leave Liv alone or will he tell her his past and let her in??
I just loved this book ,I was sad it ended but what a fantastic read.Every woman can relate to Liv…body image hang ups not feeling her best in comes Nate and dismisses all those,Nate is every kind of hot and sexy,he also has the sexy broody moody thing going on but as you get deeper into the book you see why he acts like he does.Theres also a secondary cast of characters,Cassie,Wes(id love to see him get his own story!!) and some not so nice ones too.The storyline was interesting and fast moving.It was an emotional,gritty sexy and passionate read but so funny too Liv had me in stitches on more than one occasion.Get this book settle down and read youll not stop till you reach the end!!!
Nate is wealthy,successful ,a famous MMA fighter and closed off he doesn’t do relationships his life is his work….until Liv walks through his gym doors,hes drawn to her,wants to help her so offers to train her…the right way.They start training and spending time together and feelings start to grow but Nate is closed off after suffering heartbreak hes vowed never to go there again but what he didn’t bargain on was Liv getting under his skin.
Nate offers Liv a job designing for him in South of France so off she goes not knowing how shes going to face living side by side with Nate.He is going to have a rematch with a face from the past but is all as it seems?Though he tries can he leave Liv alone or will he tell her his past and let her in??
I just loved this book ,I was sad it ended but what a fantastic read.Every woman can relate to Liv…body image hang ups not feeling her best in comes Nate and dismisses all those,Nate is every kind of hot and sexy,he also has the sexy broody moody thing going on but as you get deeper into the book you see why he acts like he does.Theres also a secondary cast of characters,Cassie,Wes(id love to see him get his own story!!) and some not so nice ones too.The storyline was interesting and fast moving.It was an emotional,gritty sexy and passionate read but so funny too Liv had me in stitches on more than one occasion.Get this book settle down and read youll not stop till you reach the end!!!
July 23, 2015
Liv is an architect working in a male dominated industry shes determined to succeed.Shes feisty,strong and has the body hang up most womwn have!! Adam is her best friend since childhood they work together,the company being owned by Adams formidable father.After humilitated in a café about her size shes talked into going to the gym with Adam where she meets the gorgeous sexy personal trainer Nate.He gets her heart rate going in more ways than one!!!Liv has landed a very important client GO Sports and Leisure as she enters the room to deliver her presentation shes mortified to discover Nate there,turns out hes the owner!!
Nate is wealthy,successful ,a famous MMA fighter and closed off he doesn’t do relationships his life is his work….until Liv walks through his gym doors,hes drawn to her,wants to help her so offers to train her…the right way.They start training and spending time together and feelings start to grow but Nate is closed off after suffering heartbreak hes vowed never to go there again but what he didn’t bargain on was Liv getting under his skin.
Nate offers Liv a job designing for him in South of France so off she goes not knowing how shes going to face living side by side with Nate.He is going to have a rematch with a face from the past but is all as it seems?Though he tries can he leave Liv alone or will he tell her his past and let her in??
I just loved this book ,I was sad it ended but what a fantastic read.Every woman can relate to Liv…body image hang ups not feeling her best in comes Nate and dismisses all those,Nate is every kind of hot and sexy,he also has the sexy broody moody thing going on but as you get deeper into the book you see why he acts like he does.Theres also a secondary cast of characters,Cassie,Wes(id love to see him get his own story!!) and some not so nice ones too.The storyline was interesting and fast moving.It was an emotional,gritty sexy and passionate read but so funny too Liv had me in stitches on more than one occasion.Get this book settle down and read youll not stop till you reach the end!!!
Nate is wealthy,successful ,a famous MMA fighter and closed off he doesn’t do relationships his life is his work….until Liv walks through his gym doors,hes drawn to her,wants to help her so offers to train her…the right way.They start training and spending time together and feelings start to grow but Nate is closed off after suffering heartbreak hes vowed never to go there again but what he didn’t bargain on was Liv getting under his skin.
Nate offers Liv a job designing for him in South of France so off she goes not knowing how shes going to face living side by side with Nate.He is going to have a rematch with a face from the past but is all as it seems?Though he tries can he leave Liv alone or will he tell her his past and let her in??
I just loved this book ,I was sad it ended but what a fantastic read.Every woman can relate to Liv…body image hang ups not feeling her best in comes Nate and dismisses all those,Nate is every kind of hot and sexy,he also has the sexy broody moody thing going on but as you get deeper into the book you see why he acts like he does.Theres also a secondary cast of characters,Cassie,Wes(id love to see him get his own story!!) and some not so nice ones too.The storyline was interesting and fast moving.It was an emotional,gritty sexy and passionate read but so funny too Liv had me in stitches on more than one occasion.Get this book settle down and read youll not stop till you reach the end!!!
July 11, 2015
Olivia “Liv” Buchanan’s motto is Live each day as if it were your last; worry only about yourself; and work hard and never, ever fall in love. She has eccentric parents and is fighting to succeed in the male dominated field as an architect working for her best friend’s father’s company. Liv has been given the chance to proof herself when she lands the prestigious account for GO Sports and Leisure. Ready to deliver the presentation of her life she is shocked to learn the owner is none other than the mysterious personal trainer from the gym that made her heart flutter and question her motto.
Nathan “Nate” Oakes is business owner, personal trainer and MMA fighter. Nate is about to train for a major MMA rematch and wants Liv to join him and work on designs for a new training facility. Nate doesn’t want a relationship, he doesn’t do them and has some secrets from his past.
Liv is intrigued by the offer and what it could do for her career. Can they keep their professional and personal lives separate as they are living side by side and keep from falling into something they both need to avoid?
What can I say but this book had me hooked right from the start and I was not able to put it down. There were plenty of times during the book I wanted to reach into my kindle and strangle several of the characters. The author did an awesome job in keeping things very real. What they were dealing with or experiencing you could really feel the emotions. There were moments of laughter, frustration and awe how sweet. I would love to see future books focusing on several of the supporting characters. I was sad to see this story come to an end as Liv and Nate will want you reading more. I provided an advanced reader copy for an honest review and I will continue to read more from this author.
Nathan “Nate” Oakes is business owner, personal trainer and MMA fighter. Nate is about to train for a major MMA rematch and wants Liv to join him and work on designs for a new training facility. Nate doesn’t want a relationship, he doesn’t do them and has some secrets from his past.
Liv is intrigued by the offer and what it could do for her career. Can they keep their professional and personal lives separate as they are living side by side and keep from falling into something they both need to avoid?
What can I say but this book had me hooked right from the start and I was not able to put it down. There were plenty of times during the book I wanted to reach into my kindle and strangle several of the characters. The author did an awesome job in keeping things very real. What they were dealing with or experiencing you could really feel the emotions. There were moments of laughter, frustration and awe how sweet. I would love to see future books focusing on several of the supporting characters. I was sad to see this story come to an end as Liv and Nate will want you reading more. I provided an advanced reader copy for an honest review and I will continue to read more from this author.
July 18, 2015
Okay so having read the silver series by EJ Shortall I can say that I love her writing. He characters are not the usual you find in a romance novel, they have issues that you can relate to and probably deal with on a daily basis.
In this book we have Olivia a woman who is trying to make it as an Architect in a male driven company owned by her best friend Adam. As confident and driven in her work she is lacking her confidence when it comes to herself. In come Nathan.
Owner of the gym that Adam takes her to and lo and behold her most important client, he offers to her her in her fitness. Let me tell you ladies that this man is the definition of whiplash, mood swings and confusion. His reaction to Liv and Adam make you believe that there is something more to his wanting to help her and then he doesn't react to their time together. Yeah makes you want to break thing!
Now you know I am not one tho tell the out come of a story, the journey into the read is something sacred. This book will give you heat, romance, it will challenge you and make you think about yourself, This story is more than just a romance with a hot MMA fighter. This is a challenge to us all to really look at our lives, are we happy with it or just existing. Like Nathan asks Liv, if you leave this world today would you be happy with what you left behind? A challenge to find happiness, be it in your health or your heart that is what I got out of this amazing story about a girl that wants to see herself as more than what others see. About a man that sees what he wants and tries to get her to see him and what he sees. In the end it is about love, and a side of the hot and sexy!
Loved it as I knew I would!!
In this book we have Olivia a woman who is trying to make it as an Architect in a male driven company owned by her best friend Adam. As confident and driven in her work she is lacking her confidence when it comes to herself. In come Nathan.
Owner of the gym that Adam takes her to and lo and behold her most important client, he offers to her her in her fitness. Let me tell you ladies that this man is the definition of whiplash, mood swings and confusion. His reaction to Liv and Adam make you believe that there is something more to his wanting to help her and then he doesn't react to their time together. Yeah makes you want to break thing!
Now you know I am not one tho tell the out come of a story, the journey into the read is something sacred. This book will give you heat, romance, it will challenge you and make you think about yourself, This story is more than just a romance with a hot MMA fighter. This is a challenge to us all to really look at our lives, are we happy with it or just existing. Like Nathan asks Liv, if you leave this world today would you be happy with what you left behind? A challenge to find happiness, be it in your health or your heart that is what I got out of this amazing story about a girl that wants to see herself as more than what others see. About a man that sees what he wants and tries to get her to see him and what he sees. In the end it is about love, and a side of the hot and sexy!
Loved it as I knew I would!!
July 15, 2015
Usually I don't read a ton of fighting books, but with that being said, I LOVED Prepared to Fight. I'm also very glad that I finally read a book from E.J. Shortall.
Olivia Buchanan's motto is Live each day as if it were your last. Worry only about yourself. Work hard and never, ever fall in love. She is very driven in the male dominated field she has chosen. I LOVED Liv so much. Feisty, headstrong, and confident, she is a force to be reckoned with. She wasn't perfect, as she had the same insecurities that most women have, so that made her extremely relatable to me. To her, putting a man first was unacceptable. I cheered for her all through the book.
Nathan Oaks was a super yummy personal trainer with demons. He doesn't do relationships, as he's been hurt in the past, and isn't willing to chance that hurt again. Fun with women once, then he leaves. But meeting Liv, at her presentation for his company, he doesn't stand a chance. Nate gets her to go to France with him to help him with a project.. He is also coming out of retirement as a MMA fighter, and he believes Liv, is his calm place among the chaos.
I LOVED Nate and Liv together, although Nate needed to be slapped from time to time with his back and forth attitude. Liv never slunk off and cried in a corner. Nope she just put her big girl panties on and kept going. The writing was smooth, the secondary characters were awesome, there was emotional angst, off the charts chemistry, twists, and finally big love. This was my first time reading this author but certainly won't be the last! I highly recommend Prepared to Fight!
Olivia Buchanan's motto is Live each day as if it were your last. Worry only about yourself. Work hard and never, ever fall in love. She is very driven in the male dominated field she has chosen. I LOVED Liv so much. Feisty, headstrong, and confident, she is a force to be reckoned with. She wasn't perfect, as she had the same insecurities that most women have, so that made her extremely relatable to me. To her, putting a man first was unacceptable. I cheered for her all through the book.
Nathan Oaks was a super yummy personal trainer with demons. He doesn't do relationships, as he's been hurt in the past, and isn't willing to chance that hurt again. Fun with women once, then he leaves. But meeting Liv, at her presentation for his company, he doesn't stand a chance. Nate gets her to go to France with him to help him with a project.. He is also coming out of retirement as a MMA fighter, and he believes Liv, is his calm place among the chaos.
I LOVED Nate and Liv together, although Nate needed to be slapped from time to time with his back and forth attitude. Liv never slunk off and cried in a corner. Nope she just put her big girl panties on and kept going. The writing was smooth, the secondary characters were awesome, there was emotional angst, off the charts chemistry, twists, and finally big love. This was my first time reading this author but certainly won't be the last! I highly recommend Prepared to Fight!
July 18, 2015
I received and ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Olivia Buchanan worked hard. She was determined to be one the best architects It was a male dominated world one tom boy Liv fit right into. Working with her best friend Adam just made it sweeter. When a Barbi look alike makes some nasty comments on Liv's weight it doesn't really bother her but does get her to thinking it might be time to get healthy. When Adam invited her to his gym she figures why not. After a slight mishap with a treadmill Nathan Oakes challenges Liv to allow him to train her. Never one to back down from a challenge, especially from such a hot sexy man Liv accepts.
What a book. I absolutely loved Liv . She was feisty, gave as good as she got. Had no problem standing up to Nathan or telling him exactly what she thought. Oh Nathan, most of the time I loved him, there were a few times I wanted to hate him. Blowing hot and cold. Enough to make a women get dizzy. There was so much more to him then meets the eye. At one point in the book I thought maybe Liv and Adam. I do love a best friend to lovers story. But I would fall in love with Nathan again and so wanted him and Liv to work out. As the story line develops the chemistry between Liv and Nathan jump off the page and I would totally forget about Adam. Lots of humor and intense moments. Characters were well developed and they came to life on each page as their stories unfold. One of the must read books of the year.
Olivia Buchanan worked hard. She was determined to be one the best architects It was a male dominated world one tom boy Liv fit right into. Working with her best friend Adam just made it sweeter. When a Barbi look alike makes some nasty comments on Liv's weight it doesn't really bother her but does get her to thinking it might be time to get healthy. When Adam invited her to his gym she figures why not. After a slight mishap with a treadmill Nathan Oakes challenges Liv to allow him to train her. Never one to back down from a challenge, especially from such a hot sexy man Liv accepts.
What a book. I absolutely loved Liv . She was feisty, gave as good as she got. Had no problem standing up to Nathan or telling him exactly what she thought. Oh Nathan, most of the time I loved him, there were a few times I wanted to hate him. Blowing hot and cold. Enough to make a women get dizzy. There was so much more to him then meets the eye. At one point in the book I thought maybe Liv and Adam. I do love a best friend to lovers story. But I would fall in love with Nathan again and so wanted him and Liv to work out. As the story line develops the chemistry between Liv and Nathan jump off the page and I would totally forget about Adam. Lots of humor and intense moments. Characters were well developed and they came to life on each page as their stories unfold. One of the must read books of the year.
February 4, 2016
5 Stars!!!
I was given this book in turn for an honest review!!!
Olivia Buchanan wasn’t interested in having a boyfriend, she was career minded and determined to show her best friend’s father that she was as good as any other of his employees. When she gets that chance little did she expect the owner of Go Sports and Leisure to turn her whole world upside down.
EJ Shortall totally blew me away; I was hooked from the beginning, Nate and Liv’s story had me reading until the early hours of the morning, I just couldn’t put it down. I loved both Nate and Liv equally; I loved their humour, their rapport and how they each brought out the best in each other. Liv had a take no crap attitude which I absolutely loved. You could feel the connection they both had; the attraction, interaction and rather sexy moments between Nate and Liv were HOT!!! Hotter than HOT!!! Seriously I think cold showers and waterproof kindles are the way forward! Some characters from this story I absolutely loved and others I wanted to find them and kick their sorry asses! EJ Shortall will keep you guessing and leave you hanging until the end for all the revelations and truth to come out; this story is not easily predictable. #NateHasArrived and I am one happy lady!
This book is perfect for those who love contemporary romances with suspense, erotica and humour.
I was given this book in turn for an honest review!!!
Olivia Buchanan wasn’t interested in having a boyfriend, she was career minded and determined to show her best friend’s father that she was as good as any other of his employees. When she gets that chance little did she expect the owner of Go Sports and Leisure to turn her whole world upside down.
EJ Shortall totally blew me away; I was hooked from the beginning, Nate and Liv’s story had me reading until the early hours of the morning, I just couldn’t put it down. I loved both Nate and Liv equally; I loved their humour, their rapport and how they each brought out the best in each other. Liv had a take no crap attitude which I absolutely loved. You could feel the connection they both had; the attraction, interaction and rather sexy moments between Nate and Liv were HOT!!! Hotter than HOT!!! Seriously I think cold showers and waterproof kindles are the way forward! Some characters from this story I absolutely loved and others I wanted to find them and kick their sorry asses! EJ Shortall will keep you guessing and leave you hanging until the end for all the revelations and truth to come out; this story is not easily predictable. #NateHasArrived and I am one happy lady!
This book is perfect for those who love contemporary romances with suspense, erotica and humour.
July 10, 2015
I must confess that I am new to E.J. Shortall's writing. But after reading Prepared to Fight, I'm adding her other books to my TBR list. I fell head over heels for this book. I could not Put. It. Down. The characters are so well written that it's impossible not to love them. And I love them because I connected with them on so many levels. I could definitely see myself in Olivia. While I'm not an architect, I do work in a male dominated field and I understand the challenges she faced based on gender.
I also loved that she was curvy, smart, and sassy. She changed her lifestyle not because she felt obligated, but because she wanted to be healthier. She wanted to be a better version of herself without losing the essence that made her her.
Umm, and who wouldn't jump at the chance to have a former MMA star as your personal trainer? Yes, please. Where do I sign up? But underneath the muscles lies a wounded heart. Circumstances have caused Nate to close his heart and only offer a physical connection. He has no need or want of an emotional connection and that suits Liv just fine because she's married to her career.
But what happens when these two lost souls find each other? A beauty of a book that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you wanting more.
Prepared to Fight has quickly catapulted itself on to my favorites of 2015 list.
I also loved that she was curvy, smart, and sassy. She changed her lifestyle not because she felt obligated, but because she wanted to be healthier. She wanted to be a better version of herself without losing the essence that made her her.
Umm, and who wouldn't jump at the chance to have a former MMA star as your personal trainer? Yes, please. Where do I sign up? But underneath the muscles lies a wounded heart. Circumstances have caused Nate to close his heart and only offer a physical connection. He has no need or want of an emotional connection and that suits Liv just fine because she's married to her career.
But what happens when these two lost souls find each other? A beauty of a book that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you wanting more.
Prepared to Fight has quickly catapulted itself on to my favorites of 2015 list.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews