Fighting For Everything is the first book in a new series by Laura Kaye. I was very intrigued about this book, I was sent this book by the author a while ago, and then totally forgot about it and when i realized I had this, I knew I needed to read this especially since I have been in the mood for a story just like this one. I always get a kick out of Laura Kaye’s book and even though I wouldn’t say that this book would be my favorite from Kaye, I did enjoy it quite a bit and it was such a heart wrenching romance that really tugged at my emotions.
Fighting For Everything begins its story when our hero Noah, has returned from his tour and has been medically discharged after getting a TBI, losing partial hearing and eyesight. He lost all the members of his team and barely survived on his own. Noah still bears the physical and emotional after effects of the trauma that he suffered. Even though he has returned home, he is not the same man he was when he left. He has changed and he doesn’t know if he will ever be back to who he used to be. While at a BBQ that his family is hosting, he sees his best friend Kristina come to him and seeing her causes a severe panick attack, he sees the energy and the beautiful smile and he doesn’t feel worthy of her and tries to flee away from her. But Kristina, knows that Noah is in a load of pain and the last thing he needs is solitude. He needs her, just in the way she has needed him in the past. So she goes in search of him and what begins as a act of comfort, turns into something she never expected….a HOT and passionate kiss that she never saw coming but one she was more than willing to participate in. But then Noah turns her away and practically pushes her out the door.
But Kristina refuses to give up on her best friend, and even though circumstances have changed between them, she knows that she has to give in and see what they can become and help Noah adjust to his new life here. Kristina starts to force Noah to face up to some of his fears and his feelings for her, they start to slowly reconnect but when things get too serious between them Noah can’t handle it and pushes Kristina completely out of his life and breaks her heart in the process. He begins to unravel emotionally and mentally, and only when a least expected friend he finds at a recovery art class which brings him to the Warrior Fight Club, where he works out his frustations on the mat and finds some real friends that understand what its like, he finds his center and is able to focus on living again and fighting for Kristina and proving to her that he does love her….no matter how long it takes him.
This tattoo is about me, because I had to fix myself before I could do or have or be anything else. But this tattoo is also about you, because you were my reason, my inspirations, my hope against hope.
There was something so emotionally raw about this book. Now Laura Kaye does put me in a emotional swirl quite often, but this book was really different. I didn’t know what I was quite expecting, but it wasn’t this. These two characters really worked me in this book. From the beginning we see the strong chemistry that builds between them. I liked seeing the whole friends to lovers trope and this was done very differently. We get hints that the attraction had always been there but the friendship put the attraction on hold. But when Noah returns home, emotionally and physcially scarred, something shifts between them. Kristina knows that he is troubled, and being with him in the sense of a romantic long term relationship is going to be rough, she also would do anything for Noah. I loved seeing how committed Kristina is to Noah, and how she never truly gives up on him no matter how many times he tries to push her away.
You own every part of me. Everything I am or will be. Everything is yours.
We get to see the Warrior Fight Club and seeing Noah connect with other veterans and ex soldiers that have their own challenges and seeing him make a family with these men. Learning to spar, build up his strength and realize how much damage he is doing to himself and those that he loves. One of my favorite side characters was MO, he was AWESOME and brilliant and really helped Noah get his head on straight and didn’t tell him nonsense, he really gave the truth to him straight and is such a solid friend to Noah. We see Noah go through quite a bit of growth and change and seeing him overcome the emotional tolls of PTSD and this is what I liked most about this story. Is seeing someone so damaged and hurting and at the bottom literally and then being able to rise above everything and make a good decent life for himself.
I want to stay right here, in your arms. Because this is right where I’m supposed to be.
Fighting For Everything was a story of growth, of change, of finding love when you least expect it and a courageous fight to live and to love with a fierce devotion….
About Laura Kaye
Laura Kaye is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense, including the Hard Ink, Heroes, and Hearts of the Anemoi series. Laura's hot, heartfelt stories are all about the universal desire for a place to belong. Laura grew up amidst family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses, cementing her life-long fascination with storytelling and the supernatural. Laura lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.