Great emotional read. ( )

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Yes. Your touch is warm and your palms are rough, and it hurts to have you so close when you don’t want me.

Honest to goodness, 100% being truthful with you right now. Stop whatever you are doing and grab this book! Grab a box of tissues; make sure you have no distractions and a few hours to spare. Trust me when I say that once you start reading this epic story, you WILL NOT want to stoop! Not only will you not want to, you simply won’t be able to.

“But he’s not here. I am. I’m the one touching you. I’m the one holding you, because you’ve never been his.”

So with that warning, we are ready to delve into the world of Ryan and Fin. From the very first pages we are filled with a sense of impending doom. Kate McCarthy leaves the story up for interpretation and you will literally be guessing until THE very LAST sentence! Literally, last 50 pages, my heart was lodged in my chest, never knowing if it would see the light of day again. I fell SO HARD for these characters, and Kate tells a story so fluently that you feel as if you are living their romance with them. You feel all their pain, all their hope, all their love. This was my first time reading any of Kate’s books, but she has most definitely made a fan for life. I have her other books, but you know how endless TBR’s are!

Christ. He didn’t just love her, he fucking adored her. He’d give his life for her if he had to.

Anyway, back to the story at hand. Fin and Ryan meet in grade school and he becomes best friends with her brother Jake. Due to horrible situations going on at his house, he, for all intents and purposes, becomes part of their family. He isn’t simply Jake’s friend or Fin’s protector, he is their brother. In their parent’s, Ryan finds the stability, love and encouragement he so deserved yet never received. Ryan has always been sure of two things in his life. That he loves Fin with all of his being and that he wants to be a soldier for the Australian Army. Oh, did I forget to mention that? What makes this story even MORE delicious? It is set in Australia.

“I have a thick skin, baby, but you’re under it. You’re buried in there so deep it’s like I was born with you in my soul. When I’m near you I’m consumed by you-your smile, your eyes, your heart. Even though we’ve never been together, you’ve always been mine, and even if I never get to keep you, you’ll still be mine.”

This story CONSUMED me! Oh the feelings it invoked; the heartbreak that ensued rivaled any I’d felt before. I simply didn’t know how it was going to end. I had preconceived notions as to how I WANTED it to end, but I never, in my wildest dreams, could have imagined how it did. This isn’t a story that you simply turn the page on and go about your day. This is a love story that you live, that you breathe, and more importantly, that you FEEL. If you take the time to read nothing else this year, read Fighting Redemption.

Why did everyone always paint love as pretty rainbows and happily ever afters? It wasn’t any of that. To love was to feel the greatest of agony, burn in the hottest fires of Hell, and fail the only people who ever mattered.

There are so many twists and turns in this book that I choose to not give you many details at all. This is a journey that you must take on your own. You must experience everything that I did first hand. It would be a disservice to read it any other way. Just know that it is delicious, one of the most harrowing love stories I have EVER read. The love these two have for each other rivals any other, and it will definitely be a book I come back to many times in the future to read again. It’s real, it’s gritty, and it’s honest. Above all, IT IS PHENOMENAL! I cannot give this book five stars, because five is simply too low of a number. So nice I rated it twice, Fighting Redemption gets ten I’ll love you longer than the stars that live in the sky stars!

“You’re the strongest person I’ve ever known, but someone smart and brave once told me that it’s always the strongest that fall the hardest. You can trust me, Ryan. Let go. I’ll be here to catch you. I’ll always be here”

( )

BONUS CHAPTER POSTED BY KATE!!!! IF YOU HAVE NOT READ FIGHTING REDEMPTION DO NOT CLICK THIS LINK IT HAS SPOILERS IN IT!!!!!

http://katemccarthy.net/2013/12/17/fighting-redemption-bonus-chapter/


5 PHENOMENAL STARS




What can I say about this book that already has not been said with all the fantastic reviews out there?

Kate has brought us one PHENOMENAL story. Fighting Redemption is so beautifully written, that at times throughout this book I honestly had to stop and catch my breath or wipe the tears from my eyes.

A beautiful emotional journey of redemption! That is what this story is. The best way to describe this story is by the synopsis without ruining it for anyone. So I am going to share that as well as some of my thoughts and favorite quotes from the book.

This is a story about war and the cost of sacrifice. Where bonds are formed, and friendships found. Where those who are strong, fall hard. Where love is let go, heartache is born, and heroes are made. Where one man learns that the hardest fight of all, is the fight to save himself.

Ryan Kendall is broken. He understands pain. He knows the hand of violence and the ache of loss. He knows what it means to fail those who need you. Being broken doesn’t stop him wanting the one thing he can’t have; Finlay Tanner. Her smile is sweet and her future bright. She’s the girl he grew up with, the girl he loves, the girl he protects from the world, and from himself.

At nineteen, Ryan leaves to join the Australian Army. After years of training he becomes an elite SAS soldier and deploys to the Afghanistan war. His patrol undertakes the most dangerous missions a soldier can face. But no matter how far he runs, or how hard he fights, his need for Finlay won’t let go.

Returning home after six years, one look is all it takes to know he can’t live without her. But sometimes love isn’t enough to heal what hurts. Sometimes people like him can’t be fixed, and sometimes people like Finlay deserve more than what’s left.

“I’ll love you longer than the stars that live in the sky.”

I LOVED how Kate put this story together. This is the story of sacrifice, brotherhood, and what our men in the military do daily to protect this country and the people they love.

I understood why Ryan chose to leave even though he loved Fin with all his heart. He needed to follow through with his plan for himself. To be the man he wanted to be. We feel every emotions throughout this story. It definitely gripped my heart strings on more than one occasion throughout the story.

“I have a thick skin, baby...but you're under it. You're buried in there so deep it's like I was born with you in my soul. When I'm near you I'm consumed by you--your smile, your eyes, your heart. Even though we've never been together, you've always been mine, and even if I never get to keep you, you'll still be mine.”

“You’re the strongest person I’ve ever known, but someone smart and brave once told me that it’s always the strongest that fall the hardest. You can trust me, Ryan. Let go. I’ll be here to catch you. I’ll always be here.”

“You can’t leave me,” he whispered thickly, fumbling blindly for her hand and taking it in his. “Can you hear me? You can’t. I won’t allow it. I need you.”

“That’s how I remember you. But you’re not looking at me like that now, and I need you to do that. I need you to wake up and smile at me like I’m your everything, because without you, I’m not anyone’s anything.”

“Every piece of me is in here.” He placed his palm flat on her chest, feeling her heart beat hard and steady beneath his fingers. He closed his eyes briefly at the beauty of it. “My breath, my heart, my life. I won’t ever leave you if you keep that safe inside of you.”

“I missed you too.”
“It’s been six years.”
Ryan nodded again, staring at her, and replied softly, “I know.”

“I hurt too. For six years I fought every day not to think of you, and I lost, because every day you were all I could see. You were the best thing in my life—so sweet and innocent, and so goddamn tempting.”

I can honestly say that this story along with Jake, Kyle, Ryan and Finlay have touched my heart and will be with me for the rest of my life.


Some images provided from Michael Stokes Photography and Kate McCarthy's Facebook page. ( )

BONUS CHAPTER POSTED BY KATE!!!! IF YOU HAVE NOT READ FIGHTING REDEMPTION DO NOT CLICK THIS LINK IT HAS SPOILERS IN IT!!!!!

http://katemccarthy.net/2013/12/17/fighting-redemption-bonus-chapter/


5 PHENOMENAL STARS




What can I say about this book that already has not been said with all the fantastic reviews out there?

Kate has brought us one PHENOMENAL story. Fighting Redemption is so beautifully written, that at times throughout this book I honestly had to stop and catch my breath or wipe the tears from my eyes.

A beautiful emotional journey of redemption! That is what this story is. The best way to describe this story is by the synopsis without ruining it for anyone. So I am going to share that as well as some of my thoughts and favorite quotes from the book.

This is a story about war and the cost of sacrifice. Where bonds are formed, and friendships found. Where those who are strong, fall hard. Where love is let go, heartache is born, and heroes are made. Where one man learns that the hardest fight of all, is the fight to save himself.

Ryan Kendall is broken. He understands pain. He knows the hand of violence and the ache of loss. He knows what it means to fail those who need you. Being broken doesn’t stop him wanting the one thing he can’t have; Finlay Tanner. Her smile is sweet and her future bright. She’s the girl he grew up with, the girl he loves, the girl he protects from the world, and from himself.

At nineteen, Ryan leaves to join the Australian Army. After years of training he becomes an elite SAS soldier and deploys to the Afghanistan war. His patrol undertakes the most dangerous missions a soldier can face. But no matter how far he runs, or how hard he fights, his need for Finlay won’t let go.

Returning home after six years, one look is all it takes to know he can’t live without her. But sometimes love isn’t enough to heal what hurts. Sometimes people like him can’t be fixed, and sometimes people like Finlay deserve more than what’s left.

“I’ll love you longer than the stars that live in the sky.”

I LOVED how Kate put this story together. This is the story of sacrifice, brotherhood, and what our men in the military do daily to protect this country and the people they love.

I understood why Ryan chose to leave even though he loved Fin with all his heart. He needed to follow through with his plan for himself. To be the man he wanted to be. We feel every emotions throughout this story. It definitely gripped my heart strings on more than one occasion throughout the story.

“I have a thick skin, baby...but you're under it. You're buried in there so deep it's like I was born with you in my soul. When I'm near you I'm consumed by you--your smile, your eyes, your heart. Even though we've never been together, you've always been mine, and even if I never get to keep you, you'll still be mine.”

“You’re the strongest person I’ve ever known, but someone smart and brave once told me that it’s always the strongest that fall the hardest. You can trust me, Ryan. Let go. I’ll be here to catch you. I’ll always be here.”

“You can’t leave me,” he whispered thickly, fumbling blindly for her hand and taking it in his. “Can you hear me? You can’t. I won’t allow it. I need you.”

“That’s how I remember you. But you’re not looking at me like that now, and I need you to do that. I need you to wake up and smile at me like I’m your everything, because without you, I’m not anyone’s anything.”

“Every piece of me is in here.” He placed his palm flat on her chest, feeling her heart beat hard and steady beneath his fingers. He closed his eyes briefly at the beauty of it. “My breath, my heart, my life. I won’t ever leave you if you keep that safe inside of you.”

“I missed you too.”
“It’s been six years.”
Ryan nodded again, staring at her, and replied softly, “I know.”

“I hurt too. For six years I fought every day not to think of you, and I lost, because every day you were all I could see. You were the best thing in my life—so sweet and innocent, and so goddamn tempting.”

I can honestly say that this story along with Jake, Kyle, Ryan and Finlay have touched my heart and will be with me for the rest of my life.


Some images provided from Michael Stokes Photography and Kate McCarthy's Facebook page. ( )

BONUS CHAPTER POSTED BY KATE!!!! IF YOU HAVE NOT READ FIGHTING REDEMPTION DO NOT CLICK THIS LINK IT HAS SPOILERS IN IT!!!!!

http://katemccarthy.net/2013/12/17/fighting-redemption-bonus-chapter/


5 PHENOMENAL STARS




What can I say about this book that already has not been said with all the fantastic reviews out there?

Kate has brought us one PHENOMENAL story. Fighting Redemption is so beautifully written, that at times throughout this book I honestly had to stop and catch my breath or wipe the tears from my eyes.

A beautiful emotional journey of redemption! That is what this story is. The best way to describe this story is by the synopsis without ruining it for anyone. So I am going to share that as well as some of my thoughts and favorite quotes from the book.

This is a story about war and the cost of sacrifice. Where bonds are formed, and friendships found. Where those who are strong, fall hard. Where love is let go, heartache is born, and heroes are made. Where one man learns that the hardest fight of all, is the fight to save himself.

Ryan Kendall is broken. He understands pain. He knows the hand of violence and the ache of loss. He knows what it means to fail those who need you. Being broken doesn’t stop him wanting the one thing he can’t have; Finlay Tanner. Her smile is sweet and her future bright. She’s the girl he grew up with, the girl he loves, the girl he protects from the world, and from himself.

At nineteen, Ryan leaves to join the Australian Army. After years of training he becomes an elite SAS soldier and deploys to the Afghanistan war. His patrol undertakes the most dangerous missions a soldier can face. But no matter how far he runs, or how hard he fights, his need for Finlay won’t let go.

Returning home after six years, one look is all it takes to know he can’t live without her. But sometimes love isn’t enough to heal what hurts. Sometimes people like him can’t be fixed, and sometimes people like Finlay deserve more than what’s left.

“I’ll love you longer than the stars that live in the sky.”

I LOVED how Kate put this story together. This is the story of sacrifice, brotherhood, and what our men in the military do daily to protect this country and the people they love.

I understood why Ryan chose to leave even though he loved Fin with all his heart. He needed to follow through with his plan for himself. To be the man he wanted to be. We feel every emotions throughout this story. It definitely gripped my heart strings on more than one occasion throughout the story.

“I have a thick skin, baby...but you're under it. You're buried in there so deep it's like I was born with you in my soul. When I'm near you I'm consumed by you--your smile, your eyes, your heart. Even though we've never been together, you've always been mine, and even if I never get to keep you, you'll still be mine.”

“You’re the strongest person I’ve ever known, but someone smart and brave once told me that it’s always the strongest that fall the hardest. You can trust me, Ryan. Let go. I’ll be here to catch you. I’ll always be here.”

“You can’t leave me,” he whispered thickly, fumbling blindly for her hand and taking it in his. “Can you hear me? You can’t. I won’t allow it. I need you.”

“That’s how I remember you. But you’re not looking at me like that now, and I need you to do that. I need you to wake up and smile at me like I’m your everything, because without you, I’m not anyone’s anything.”

“Every piece of me is in here.” He placed his palm flat on her chest, feeling her heart beat hard and steady beneath his fingers. He closed his eyes briefly at the beauty of it. “My breath, my heart, my life. I won’t ever leave you if you keep that safe inside of you.”

“I missed you too.”
“It’s been six years.”
Ryan nodded again, staring at her, and replied softly, “I know.”

“I hurt too. For six years I fought every day not to think of you, and I lost, because every day you were all I could see. You were the best thing in my life—so sweet and innocent, and so goddamn tempting.”

I can honestly say that this story along with Jake, Kyle, Ryan and Finlay have touched my heart and will be with me for the rest of my life.


Some images provided from Michael Stokes Photography and Kate McCarthy's Facebook page. ( )