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The Mixed Martial Artist
A dark and twisted love story told through the lens of mixed martial arts...
In the twilight of her MMA career, Juliette competes not only for her love of the sport, but also to provide a better life for her daughter. Based on her most recent performance in the cage, Earl, her overbearing brother and cornerman, insists it's time she hangs up her gloves and makes the difficult transition from fighter to coach.
Reluctantly, Juliette takes a young female fighter, Amiyah, under her wing, but she soon finds herself questioning her sexuality when their relationship develops beyond the bounds of student and mentor.
Juliette discovers feelings within herself she has never previously dared to explore, but will the complicated past she shares with her brother come back to haunt her?
Graphic content. Not suitable for minors.
In the twilight of her MMA career, Juliette competes not only for her love of the sport, but also to provide a better life for her daughter. Based on her most recent performance in the cage, Earl, her overbearing brother and cornerman, insists it's time she hangs up her gloves and makes the difficult transition from fighter to coach.
Reluctantly, Juliette takes a young female fighter, Amiyah, under her wing, but she soon finds herself questioning her sexuality when their relationship develops beyond the bounds of student and mentor.
Juliette discovers feelings within herself she has never previously dared to explore, but will the complicated past she shares with her brother come back to haunt her?
Graphic content. Not suitable for minors.
- GenresLesbian
338 pages, Paperback
Published November 26, 2019
6 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 5, 2020
I don't know what the hell I just read, and I was left feeling lost and confused with no real explanation into the psychology of Juliette, but man was I hooked. From beginning to end I devoured this book, it was sexy, it made my stomach turn feeling sick, it gave me a lump in my throat, every possible feeling. I didn't want it to end and was really disappointed when it did. Incredible writing.
January 7, 2020
Yeah, it's bloody good, this. I picked it up because I was looking for something outside of my normal comfort range. I was not disappointed.
It's an engaging story, with a number of twists and turns that I didn't see coming. Although, the ending felt a little rushed. The fight scenes are fantastic! Full of energy and movement. It's so well written. I really felt like I was watching two fighters in the cage. I'm not sure how well it would translate to non-MMA fans, though. Even outside of the fights, some of the descriptive language used left me with a sense that I could feel the aches and pains, the stiffness, creaks and clicks of joints. It's very kinaesthetic.
The story has some fantastic GSD rep. The story explores sexuality in a rather refreshing and insightful way, including the struggles that come along with being non-hetero. I liked how the MC is often told what their sexuality is instead of being allowed to self-identify, or figure it out for themselves. People are so quick to put others in a box.
Speaking of the MC, she is flawed. I'm not really sure if I ever liked her. She makes terrible choices, her priorities are often in the wrong place, and she doesn't really learn from her mistakes. But, she I could still get behind her. The supporting characters are very good - I laughed a lot at the MCs sassy teenage daughter. I did feel like a couple of characters that played quite a large part in the plot needed a little more 'air time' to have me understand them a tad more.
There is lots of very explicit yakky sex. I had to skip read those sections. It's not for me, but I'm sure other people would enjoy those scenes.
Overall, a bold story that should be applauded for its unconventional, yet effective, style. Not your average love story. A strong debut, and an author to watch!
It's an engaging story, with a number of twists and turns that I didn't see coming. Although, the ending felt a little rushed. The fight scenes are fantastic! Full of energy and movement. It's so well written. I really felt like I was watching two fighters in the cage. I'm not sure how well it would translate to non-MMA fans, though. Even outside of the fights, some of the descriptive language used left me with a sense that I could feel the aches and pains, the stiffness, creaks and clicks of joints. It's very kinaesthetic.
The story has some fantastic GSD rep. The story explores sexuality in a rather refreshing and insightful way, including the struggles that come along with being non-hetero. I liked how the MC is often told what their sexuality is instead of being allowed to self-identify, or figure it out for themselves. People are so quick to put others in a box.
Speaking of the MC, she is flawed. I'm not really sure if I ever liked her. She makes terrible choices, her priorities are often in the wrong place, and she doesn't really learn from her mistakes. But, she I could still get behind her. The supporting characters are very good - I laughed a lot at the MCs sassy teenage daughter. I did feel like a couple of characters that played quite a large part in the plot needed a little more 'air time' to have me understand them a tad more.
There is lots of very explicit yakky sex. I had to skip read those sections. It's not for me, but I'm sure other people would enjoy those scenes.
Overall, a bold story that should be applauded for its unconventional, yet effective, style. Not your average love story. A strong debut, and an author to watch!
January 31, 2020
I made early assumptions towards this book. I got cocky. Man, was I ever wrong in all ways. This story not only knocked and rocked me it made me squirm, flinch, shut my eyes while blowing out several cleansing breaths just to re-centre myself.
Juliette was a badass mma fighter who had suffered a less than favorable childhood. She was at a crossroads in her life; either continue to fight at an age where most fighters retire, or, take the advice from her older brother and train the young whipper-snappers. As she made her decision before realizing she had made it, she found herself drawn almost aroused by her young student, Amiyah. Juliette went her whole life thinking she was straight but knew deep down she wasn't.
This story took me on a ride of self-discovery as Juliette bobbed and weaved her way in and around everyone in her life who thought they knew what was best for her, including her fifteen-year-old daughter. Juliette, in my eyes, was very immature in some ways especially where her daughter was concerned. I didn't appreciate the way the fifteen year old spoke to her mother. Then again, their relationship was a little unorthodox, so maybe that was normal. I also found some of the relationships Juliette had was inappropriate, her and her brothers being one of them. Just a heads up, it gets grim and dark. The sex between Juliette and Amiyah was anything but vanilla or routine. It was fresh and different and down-right dirty. I loved it!!!
What a kick-ass story that had me begging for more!
Juliette was a badass mma fighter who had suffered a less than favorable childhood. She was at a crossroads in her life; either continue to fight at an age where most fighters retire, or, take the advice from her older brother and train the young whipper-snappers. As she made her decision before realizing she had made it, she found herself drawn almost aroused by her young student, Amiyah. Juliette went her whole life thinking she was straight but knew deep down she wasn't.
This story took me on a ride of self-discovery as Juliette bobbed and weaved her way in and around everyone in her life who thought they knew what was best for her, including her fifteen-year-old daughter. Juliette, in my eyes, was very immature in some ways especially where her daughter was concerned. I didn't appreciate the way the fifteen year old spoke to her mother. Then again, their relationship was a little unorthodox, so maybe that was normal. I also found some of the relationships Juliette had was inappropriate, her and her brothers being one of them. Just a heads up, it gets grim and dark. The sex between Juliette and Amiyah was anything but vanilla or routine. It was fresh and different and down-right dirty. I loved it!!!
What a kick-ass story that had me begging for more!
April 19, 2020
I wanted to love this. MMA and lesbians? Right up my alley. Unfortunately, this book is so not for me. The author definitely knows her MMA, which is what earned two stars. I expected some romance, but the explicit kinky sex scenes (including peeing and incest) made me want to quit reading this book several times. Finishing it was like not being able to look away from a grisly car accident; I had to know how bad it got.
March 28, 2022
Great read, fantastic MMA detail, not sure about Juliette though! A lot of family drama and strange going’s on in the family unit. Loved the student character, plenty of drama but really worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews