What do you think?
Rate this book
Fighting for Redemption
Protect yourself at all times.
The #1 rule of combat sports.
I broke that rule once, paid the price.
And I swore I’d never do it again.
She might force me to make an exception.
Ames
Unfinished business – the one and only reason I’m back on the mixed martial arts scene.
Her? She’s inconsequential. Just a means to settle a debt long overdue.
They call her “The Spitfire”. A sassy, scrappy little thing with a savage low kick. She doesn’t know a thing about how to fight from her back, and she’s in more danger than she realizes.
I have a promise to keep.
But I’ve always been a sucker for strays.
And I know better than anyone how cruel this sport can be.
I can’t let it devour her… even if it means pretending my heart is still as stone cold as my last beer.
Sammy
I swore I would never let anyone underestimate me.
Never let them submit me.
But when he enters the gym – dark, brooding, and out-of-place – my stomach buckles.
He rips me to shreds. Tears me down, one weakness at a time, and only stops when he’s one breath short of tapping me out of MMA for good.
I will never forgive him for breaking me.
Not even when he builds me back up – to be stronger, better, faster.
Not even if his absence makes me feel like I’m being choked out from the inside.
Broody heroes. Feisty heroines. Love worth fighting for.
Fighting for Redemption is a standalone contemporary sports romance, and the first in the City Limits MMA series.
The #1 rule of combat sports.
I broke that rule once, paid the price.
And I swore I’d never do it again.
She might force me to make an exception.
Ames
Unfinished business – the one and only reason I’m back on the mixed martial arts scene.
Her? She’s inconsequential. Just a means to settle a debt long overdue.
They call her “The Spitfire”. A sassy, scrappy little thing with a savage low kick. She doesn’t know a thing about how to fight from her back, and she’s in more danger than she realizes.
I have a promise to keep.
But I’ve always been a sucker for strays.
And I know better than anyone how cruel this sport can be.
I can’t let it devour her… even if it means pretending my heart is still as stone cold as my last beer.
Sammy
I swore I would never let anyone underestimate me.
Never let them submit me.
But when he enters the gym – dark, brooding, and out-of-place – my stomach buckles.
He rips me to shreds. Tears me down, one weakness at a time, and only stops when he’s one breath short of tapping me out of MMA for good.
I will never forgive him for breaking me.
Not even when he builds me back up – to be stronger, better, faster.
Not even if his absence makes me feel like I’m being choked out from the inside.
Broody heroes. Feisty heroines. Love worth fighting for.
Fighting for Redemption is a standalone contemporary sports romance, and the first in the City Limits MMA series.
- GenresContemporarySports
186 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 25, 2022
36 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Emma Marie Cormier
6 books14 followersEmma Marie Cormier writes steamy romantic stories about resilient, kick-ass females and the alpha men who can’t help but fall in love with them.
A huge nerd at heart, you’ll find her bingeing MMA YouTube videos, watching the latest UFC PPV, or kidnapping attractive villagers in Animal Crossing (RIP, Phil…).
She fights an endless horde of chirpy crickets alongside a grumpy husband, three gorgeous pirate cats, and a temperamental 3D printer in a small pink house in Auckland, New Zealand.
A huge nerd at heart, you’ll find her bingeing MMA YouTube videos, watching the latest UFC PPV, or kidnapping attractive villagers in Animal Crossing (RIP, Phil…).
She fights an endless horde of chirpy crickets alongside a grumpy husband, three gorgeous pirate cats, and a temperamental 3D printer in a small pink house in Auckland, New Zealand.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
March 11, 2021
This is a well written sports romance with strong characters in Sammy and Ames. She paints her scenes in vivid detail and moves the story fluidly. She's full of sass and he's serious and quiet. The author does a great job bringing these two together. It's a push - pull relationship and I enjoyed reading.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
June 10, 2021
I loved the instant chemistry between Ames and Sammy and the way they developed through the book individually and together. I really appreciated the strength in Sammy being in a male dominated sport and look forward to seeing her develop in the rest of the series.
April 13, 2021
Ooo, I quite enjoyed this sports romance! A short read, Fighting for Redemption was only about 100 pages in my copy, but definitely full of action.
Sammy ‘The Spitfire’ Crawley is sick of being constantly underestimated, so when the opportunity to fight for a PFC contract comes up, she takes it. The only problem is that matchmaker has set her up with her old sparring partner, a woman who is already familiar with her style, and moves. Enter Ames ‘The Anesthetist’ Anderson, an old friend of Sammy’s coach, and a PFC legend. The two attempt to remain professional, but there is no denying the chemistry between them and they soon give in to each other.
I loved Cormier’s 'spin' on the MMA fighting romance – I don’t often find ones where the female is the athlete, but I very much liked the change of perspective. I thought the author did a great job building the sexual tension between Ames and Sammy, and I really liked how their relationship didn’t become the sole focus of the book. The pacing of it was quick, but well done, making it easy to get pulled into Sammy’s journey without getting lost, and the details of the fighting and training were well crafted. I do wish I got to know a little more about the mains – perhaps their background and why they got into MMA in the first place, but I can understand that may be difficult in such few pages. Overall, a great read and will be looking for the following books in the series!
Thank you Voracious Readers and Emma Cormier for my copy!
Sammy ‘The Spitfire’ Crawley is sick of being constantly underestimated, so when the opportunity to fight for a PFC contract comes up, she takes it. The only problem is that matchmaker has set her up with her old sparring partner, a woman who is already familiar with her style, and moves. Enter Ames ‘The Anesthetist’ Anderson, an old friend of Sammy’s coach, and a PFC legend. The two attempt to remain professional, but there is no denying the chemistry between them and they soon give in to each other.
I loved Cormier’s 'spin' on the MMA fighting romance – I don’t often find ones where the female is the athlete, but I very much liked the change of perspective. I thought the author did a great job building the sexual tension between Ames and Sammy, and I really liked how their relationship didn’t become the sole focus of the book. The pacing of it was quick, but well done, making it easy to get pulled into Sammy’s journey without getting lost, and the details of the fighting and training were well crafted. I do wish I got to know a little more about the mains – perhaps their background and why they got into MMA in the first place, but I can understand that may be difficult in such few pages. Overall, a great read and will be looking for the following books in the series!
Thank you Voracious Readers and Emma Cormier for my copy!
May 10, 2021
"Fighting for Redemption" is a wonderful stand-alone novel, the first of the City Limits MMA series. Sammy "The Spitfire" is a resilient being who dreams of securing a PFC contract, but there's a catch. She has to fight her old sparring partner, who is well acquainted with her game and fighting strategies. Enter Ames ‘The Anesthetist’ Anderson, a PFC legend, who was forced to retire at the peak of his career. Ames has a simple plan, stooped in professionalism to train Sammy and get her ready to fight and vanish into his reclusive lifestyle. What none of the characters anticipated was their instant chemistry and elevating sexual tension. Emma exceptionally brings life to an array of scenes from the boxing ring to the bedroom while bringing multiple emotions of rage, betrayal, anger and vulnerability into the fore. The level of research undertaken to bring clarity to the MMA world is exceptional and flows so well throughout the book. Sammy and Ames grew on me, and their relationship has a magnetic push and pull, which tugged my heartstrings. A 4.5 star read! I'm looking forward to the next book!
A thank you to VoraciousReadersOnly and Emma Cormier for giving me an ARC of this book. This honest review is left voluntarily.
A thank you to VoraciousReadersOnly and Emma Cormier for giving me an ARC of this book. This honest review is left voluntarily.
March 17, 2021
Loved the book it was great, the story was written well and the characters were interesting. Ames was a great MMA mixed martial sports star, he went hiding away from people wanted to be left alone. His old time friend and spar opponent bought a gym, he went looking for Ames and when he found him he asked for help. Ames rolls up at the gym really early to train the female they call Spitfire. The chemistry between them was intense and Ames tried to keep it professional, Spitfire was sassy and feisty and he wanted to break her down then build her again. Ames stipulated how long he will teach when he will teach and he was not going to the finals. Loved the book I will definitely put it on the shelf to read again later.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 14, 2023
I love a good sports book. This was redemption for both main characters. They both had a past to overcome and people to prove wrong. I love that there was chemistry between the two off the jump but it was a natural progress, a correct slow burn in my opinion. I’m glad that Ames was a man who respected Sammy and not an egotistical jock. They saw the beauty in each other and it was a relationship on respecting their partner and just not lust. Sammy was strong beyond measures and once she saw that, I couldn’t help but root for her to push past the naysayers. But overall they were a team. Sammy had great people in her corner rooting for her, and it’s proof that sometimes our chosen family will show up more for us. I feel like I need a second epilogue to know about her family, her contract, what going on with the gym now.. can’t wait for the next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2021
New to me author and I will be checking out more of Emma's books! In Fighting for redemption, we meet Sammy and Ames. Ames is living out of the MMA world for the past few years and Sammy is trying to break in. One favor being cashed in has our two characters mingling and what was a professional relationship gets blurred with tensions. The story is good, but I felt that it was a bit rushed. I would have loved to learn more about Sammy's background and why she got into MMA and have Ames' story shared through his perspective. If you like MMA and a quick read (I read this in like a day) then this book is for you!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 20, 2021
Training Sammy . . .
Ames Anderson is asked by an old friend to help Sammy ‘The Spitfire’ Crawley prepare for a fight where her opponent is an old sparring partner of hers who is familiar with all of Sammy’s moves and her fighting style. Without additional skills, Sammy would quickly be defeated.
Ames asks much of her, but he will make sure she is at her peak of performance. And as they train, both of them begin to feel the strong attraction for each other. Despite their attempt to remain professional, will their sizzling chemistry pull them into a relationship? Will Ames get her ready for her big fight and to earn the contract she is after?
Ames Anderson is asked by an old friend to help Sammy ‘The Spitfire’ Crawley prepare for a fight where her opponent is an old sparring partner of hers who is familiar with all of Sammy’s moves and her fighting style. Without additional skills, Sammy would quickly be defeated.
Ames asks much of her, but he will make sure she is at her peak of performance. And as they train, both of them begin to feel the strong attraction for each other. Despite their attempt to remain professional, will their sizzling chemistry pull them into a relationship? Will Ames get her ready for her big fight and to earn the contract she is after?
June 28, 2021
This MMA story gave you a sort of Cinderella Man feeling of rising from the ashes and overcoming what life throws at you. Sammy and Ames's story followed hard breaks, self doubt, and triumphs over situations within your control to accomplish.
The nerdy banter between those two made me smile a bit and you wanted Sammy to get the big break in the end. I have read other MMA books, such as those by Kele Moon, and this was definitely a good one in the genre. I enjoyed this so much, decided to read the others in this series and hope they are just as good.
I was asked to review this book... definitely wasn't disappointed. :)
The nerdy banter between those two made me smile a bit and you wanted Sammy to get the big break in the end. I have read other MMA books, such as those by Kele Moon, and this was definitely a good one in the genre. I enjoyed this so much, decided to read the others in this series and hope they are just as good.
I was asked to review this book... definitely wasn't disappointed. :)
March 9, 2021
Fight for Redemption by Emma Marie Cormier. Standalone contemporary sports romance, and the first in the City Limits MMA series. This is my first story by this author and will not be my last. I love a good sports romance and am a sucker for MMA- this one had it all. Broody male lead -Ames, and feisty heroine- Sammy with a take no prisoners attitude. The push and pull between these two made this an intensely satisfying read for me. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to others. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 13, 2021
Y and es story will have you falling hook line and sinker for the pair with their push and pull relationship. Ames has been out of MMA fighting for a few years and is only back because of Sammy. Ames will pushy Sammy beyond her limits just to rebuild her but can she look past that for what really happening outsode the Octagon too? This is well written first in a new series, with indepth characters and a engaging story line.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 5, 2021
I received a copy of this book through voracious readers and I loved reading it. It did not take long for me to finish it at all since I could not stop once I started. I loved the MMA journey for Sammy and the romance between her and Ames, both flowed soo naturally and had challenges which highlighted the realism of the whole plot. I also loved Piper and Scotty, due to him becoming nicer throughout the book and Piper being quirky and positive the entire time. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes MMA romances.
March 19, 2021
I enjoyed Sammy and Ames' story! The story is well written with a sports theme and wonderful, strong characters you cannot help but like. Ames was a MMA fighter who left the limelight to be left alone. Now his friend has opened a gym and needs his help. He is supposed to help train Spitfire who lives up to her name. The attraction and chemistry between these two is off the charts. The lines between them definitely get blurred. This is such an interesting and intriguing story.
April 26, 2021
I received a complementary copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
This book was really good in its story and it’s obvious the author knows what she is talking about in regards to the sport. The characters are well thought out and the descriptions of the scenery and the other characters are done well. It is a quick read but one that showcases the author’s engaging writing style.
This book was really good in its story and it’s obvious the author knows what she is talking about in regards to the sport. The characters are well thought out and the descriptions of the scenery and the other characters are done well. It is a quick read but one that showcases the author’s engaging writing style.
February 26, 2022
Fighting For Redemption is Book 1 in the City Limits MMA series
Loved these things about Fighting for Redemption:
Cover
Love the sport of MMA fighting
New author for me so I will be checking out Emma Marie Cormier’s backlist
Great characters in Ames and The Spitfire- otherwise known as Sammy
Steamy chemistry
This was a quick read and I really enjoyed it !
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Loved these things about Fighting for Redemption:
Cover
Love the sport of MMA fighting
New author for me so I will be checking out Emma Marie Cormier’s backlist
Great characters in Ames and The Spitfire- otherwise known as Sammy
Steamy chemistry
This was a quick read and I really enjoyed it !
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 12, 2021
A sports novel with a female MMA fighter. In 1 word; Awesome
The structure of the book is beautiful, a leisurely pace in which the background of the main characters play a clear role. The blossoming romance is beautifully portrayed and the chemistry of Sammy and Ames can be felt. Nice story to read
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The structure of the book is beautiful, a leisurely pace in which the background of the main characters play a clear role. The blossoming romance is beautifully portrayed and the chemistry of Sammy and Ames can be felt. Nice story to read
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 17, 2021
I really liked this story. I absolutely loved the first person point of view, this is always a deal breaker for me. I really liked our hero, Sammy and for me it's the guy who makes or breaks the story. I read this one in one sitting, because it was a fast paced read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 10, 2021
This is a city limits MMA romance. This story is a little different because the fighter is a woman. Can Ames protect her from this sport?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 25, 2021
Ames has a chance to help Sammy be her best as an MMA fighter. He won’t allow her to slack off while preparing her, but the mutual attraction is there between them.
This was an enjoyable read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was an enjoyable read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 16, 2021
I am new to this author and although this was a short read it packed a punch, very well written and enjoyed it from start to finish, not usually a fan of sports romance but this 1 held my attention, would definitely recommend for a short and easy read
February 24, 2023
Pretty Good
This book was pretty good. It had a couple of smexy scenes but nothing too spicy. I feel like the fight was a letdown though after all the training, stressing, etc to get there. Overall a good read but I don’t plan to read any more of this series. Very anti-climatic.
This book was pretty good. It had a couple of smexy scenes but nothing too spicy. I feel like the fight was a letdown though after all the training, stressing, etc to get there. Overall a good read but I don’t plan to read any more of this series. Very anti-climatic.
April 27, 2021
Loved reading this.. as an avid mma fan it was nice to see the sport feature in a book.. very well written, everything made sense.. I got the chance to read this through voracious readers
Want to read
February 23, 2023🎁 Books 1 & 2 in the Series are FREE on Amazon today (2/23/2023)! 🎁
April 22, 2021
Ok, full disclosure - I am not usually a reader of sports romance BUT this was based around MMA so I thought why not! (You all just thought of the most famous tiger chest tattoo didn't you?)
This is the story of Sammy 'The Spitfire' and her quest to land a contract fighting on the MMA circuit. Enter one cranky, angry ex MMA Legend Ames 'The Anaesthetist' Anderson who left the sport at the peak of his career, who is doing his old sparring partner a favour by helping Sammy with her grappling manoeuvres.
Ames quickly realises how much potential Sammy has and how hard working she is and his standoffish manner quickly turns into something else.
This is a new to me author and I found this well written looking forward to reading the next book.
Actual Rating 3.5 stars
This is the story of Sammy 'The Spitfire' and her quest to land a contract fighting on the MMA circuit. Enter one cranky, angry ex MMA Legend Ames 'The Anaesthetist' Anderson who left the sport at the peak of his career, who is doing his old sparring partner a favour by helping Sammy with her grappling manoeuvres.
Ames quickly realises how much potential Sammy has and how hard working she is and his standoffish manner quickly turns into something else.
This is a new to me author and I found this well written looking forward to reading the next book.
Actual Rating 3.5 stars
April 11, 2021
I really enjoyed this. I received a free review copy from Voracious.
If I’m honest I wouldn’t have chosen a romance about kickboxing. I’m not in the least bit sporty but I’m really pleased that I had opportunity to see how the author developed the ‘hurting’ Ames character. And how Sammy reached her potential and prove herself worthy.
The story was well crafted and I look forward to reading more books from Emma.
If I’m honest I wouldn’t have chosen a romance about kickboxing. I’m not in the least bit sporty but I’m really pleased that I had opportunity to see how the author developed the ‘hurting’ Ames character. And how Sammy reached her potential and prove herself worthy.
The story was well crafted and I look forward to reading more books from Emma.
December 11, 2022
2.5 Stars
If you are looking for a quick and steamy read, this is it. The romance to actually storyline ratio was good, I felt as if the romance didn't overshadow the overall plot - which is always a quality I admire. The writing flows nicely and the pacing is very fast (as aforementioned) overall a fun read. The MMA details were well thought out, and nicely incorporated. Also, the romance wasn't insta-love and it didn't feel forced. However, the book was quite short so character development was quite minimal. Other than that, a great read.
I received a free copy of this book through Voracious Readers and am writing this review of my own free will.
If you are looking for a quick and steamy read, this is it. The romance to actually storyline ratio was good, I felt as if the romance didn't overshadow the overall plot - which is always a quality I admire. The writing flows nicely and the pacing is very fast (as aforementioned) overall a fun read. The MMA details were well thought out, and nicely incorporated. Also, the romance wasn't insta-love and it didn't feel forced. However, the book was quite short so character development was quite minimal. Other than that, a great read.
I received a free copy of this book through Voracious Readers and am writing this review of my own free will.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews