LAID OUT (Worth the Fight #4) by Sidney Halston-Review and Book Tour
Laid Out
Worth the Fight #4
by Sidney Halston
Release Date: August 18, 2015
Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / BAM
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 18, 2015
Growing up an Army brat, Violet Channing could never meet her dad’s high expectations. But in the eyes of her best friend, she could do no wrong. He even insisted that he should be her first kiss. Now Cain Sorensen is all grown up, hardened by years in special ops and always looking for a good fight. Tall, with striking blue eyes and impossibly blond hair, he’s a modern-day Viking warrior. Of course, Violet’s all grown up, too, and she’s ready to surrender to his every command.
Cain knows he’s bad for Violet. His work is dangerous, and his hobbies are downright deadly. As a private mercenary and a mixed martial arts fighter, he could never let such an innocent soul into his world. And yet his most grueling combat training is no match for Violet’s killer curves, hot touch, and suggestive glances. Now all of Cain’s most explosive fantasies are coming true—but once they cross the line between friends and lovers, there’s no turning back.
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REVIEW: LAID OUT is the fourth installment in Sidney Halston’s adult, contemporary Worth the Fight MMA romance series. This is former Special Ops soldier / MMA fighter Cain Sorensen, and nurse Violet Channing’s storyline. LAID OUT can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous storylines is imparted where necessary.
Told from third person point of view LAID OUT follows the rekindling of a friendship between Violet and Cain. After two tours of duty Cain went MIA and in the ensuing time Violet’s emotions were all over the place believing her best friend, and the man that she loved since childhood was missing or dead. She had already lost one friend to the war in the Middle East but losing Cain would have destroyed Violet’s heart and soul.
Violet has issues with self esteem following a childhood where she was always considered overweight or slightly plump, and in this, Violet’s issues of weight are a continuing presence, throughout the story. In the ensuing years Violet has grown into her body but her lack of confidence finds our heroine asking Cain to ‘teach’ her how to make love–and of course- you know what is going to happen when two people who love one another promise to remain friends in the face of everything that is going on.
The relationship between Violet and Cain is one of life long friendship and love. Along with their other best friend and fellow army brat Jeremy, Violet and Cain did everything together including falling in love-the problem-Jeremy and Cain fell in love with the same girl. Upon his return Cain continues to send mixed signals as it concerns his relationship and love for Violet Channing. Cain believes he is not worthy of Violet’s love in the face of all that has happened between Jeremy, Violet and Cain but his back and forth attitude was a little disconcerting throughout the story: his reasons will become very clear when our hero goes missing-one final time. The $ex scenes are erotic and seductive although many fade to black or are implied.
All of the previous storyline couples play a secondary and supporting role throughout the story. Cain’s love for Violet is apparent to everyone but the man in question; Violet’s love for Cain finds our heroine lost every time Cain rejects what it is Violet is willing to offer. There is a building storyline between MMA fighter Enzo Silva and Violet’s BFF Jamie Lynn Calhoun.
LAID OUT is a slow building storyline both in the romance and relationship development. The attraction and sexual energy between our leading couple is filled with anxiety, regret and heartbreak; Cain is unable to get past his guilt; Violet knows it is time to move on when the man that she have always loved is unable to recognize he loves her in return. The bigger issue is Cain’s need to run when everything begins to break down, and Violet’s willingness to forgive Cain upon his every return.
This is a bit of a difficult review as it pertains to the overall ‘feel’ of the story. Cain is a veteran whose personality has drastically changed and in this his emotions and ability to express himself are closed off; almost cold towards the woman that he loves but his continuous mixed signals left me in a constant state of…WTF!! To feel, Cain pushed himself into the underground world of the MMA without thinking about how his actions affected everyone else.
LAID OUT is an emotional and heartbreaking storyline where one man must learn to acknowledge the past before he is able to move on with the woman that he loves. Guilt and the atrocities of war make for some ugly bedfellows when trying to move on with the realities of life.
Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.
Reviewed by Sandy
Lately she’d felt flustered when Jeremy was nearby, with his mess of curly dark brown hair and dimpled smile. Feelings that hadn’t been there before were now creeping in. In fact, she could’ve sworn Jeremy had been flirting with her lately—complimenting her clothes and hair, brushing against her “accidentally,” inviting her to the movies without Cain around. But these brief flirtatious moments were with Jeremy. Not with Cain. Never with Cain. Cain was just her friend. A little gangly, a little quiet, a lot overprotective.
That was until now.
Suddenly there was an awareness that had never been there before.
When he licked his lips, her pulse sped up. A foreign feeling—desire—began to take root. He reached toward her hair, and she flinched a little before he tucked a stray strand behind her ear. The tender action surprised her. For the first time, she noticed how clear his blue eyes were, how his hair was so blond it almost looked white. All of a sudden, he didn’t seem like just this boy who was always around. Unfamiliar feelings began to erupt throughout her body. She felt her cheeks flame and her heart race.
When he finally spoke, his voice shook a little. “I’m your friend because I want to be your friend. Not because of your parents or your dumb threats. I don’t like it when you call yourself fat. You’re not fat.”
She nodded and murmured, “Okay.” She drew her lower lip into her mouth and nibbled as her wide eyes gazed at his. Cain reached over and pulled her lip out of her mouth. “You’re nervous.” It wasn’t a question. He knew her well enough to be aware of her tells.
“I . . . uh . . . what are you doing, Cain?”
“I don’t want you to kiss just anyone to get it outta the way.”
Words failed her, so she just nodded again. There was a moment where neither spoke. He just looked at her as if trying to decide on his next move.
“I should be the first person you kiss,” he finally said as his tongue flicked out a little and wet his lips.
She gasped and looked up into his eyes nervously. His eyes never left hers, but his reddened ears and neck showed that he was also nervous. She too knew him well.
Like a fool, she bobbed her head up and down mostly because the words were stuck in her throat. It felt like he stared at her lips for an eternity until he finally leaned forward, causing her to press herself further back against the tree, her hands gripping the bark. He tilted his head to the side and she imitated the action.
Should I open my mouth? Leave it closed? What about my tongue? What should it be doing?
Softly, almost feather light, his lips brushed against hers. Her eyes instinctively closed tight, and she stopped breathing. It was less than ten seconds but it was forever. In that moment she fell into the category of girls who’d had their first kiss. She kept her eyes closed for far too long, and when she opened them he was standing upright, his face even more flushed. Her own tongue snuck out of her mouth to taste her lips. She swallowed and looked at him, her eyes as wide as saucers. What just happened?
Then, with the same intensity in his expression, he leaned back down, but this time he pressed harder against her lips causing her lips to part slightly. His body moved closer to hers, and then she felt his hands grip her waist and his tongue touch her lips before it moved into her mouth and brushed hers for a brief second, his fingers digging into her skin at her waist. She instinctively melded into him, her body seeking him out.
Again he moved away and looked at her. His expression never changed, and neither did hers. Her eyes were wide; she touched her lips, as if to determine whether the kiss had really happened. They just looked at each other, neither saying anything, her heart beating so loudly she was sure he could hear it. Finally she spoke and said the only thing that came to mind. “Wow, my cup runneth over,” she whispered. It was a phrase he teased her about constantly, but it was exactly how she felt: she could barely contain her happiness.
He chuckled, and the smile did her in: she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. Hard. He wrapped his arms around her waist and walked them the half step back against the tree again. Their noses bumped. It was awkward, but as first kisses went . . . it was perfect.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Vi.” It was the last thing he said to her before leaving for war.
Against the Cage
Worth the Fight #1
by Sidney Halston
Genre: adult, contemporary, MMA romance
Release Date: May 24, 2014
Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / The Book Depository / BAM
For Chrissy Martin, returning to her Florida hometown always seems to bring bad luck. The day starts with a breakup text, followed by a jailhouse phone call from her troublemaker brother. Now a routine traffic stop has ended with her accidentally punching an officer . . . in a delicate place. Then Chrissy realizes that the hot cop on the receiving end of her right hook is none other than the man from her teenage fantasies.
Jack Daniels knows how to take a hit. After all, when he’s not chasing reckless drivers, he’s kicking ass in a mixed martial arts ring. So what takes his breath away isn’t the low blow, but the woman who dealt it: a gorgeous knockout with legs Jack wouldn’t mind being pinned under—who just so happens to be his best friend’s nerdy little sister, all grown up. Soon their instant chemistry leads to a sizzling affair, but Jack and Chrissy are fighting an uphill battle if they want to make love last beyond the final bell.
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FULL CONTACT
(Worth the Fight 2)
by Sidney Halston
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romance, MMA
Amazon.com / Barnes and Noble / KOBO /
Click HERE for Sandy’s review of FULL CONTACT
About the book: Release Date October 28, 2014
How could she have been so stupid? When Jessica Cross decides to give her violently jealous boyfriend—the otherwise influential and charming Dennis Stavros—a second chance, she very nearly becomes a statistic. After weeks of healing from a broken rib and collapsed lung, and with Dennis behind bars, Jessica finally feels ready to come out of hiding. But will she ever be able to take a chance on love again with someone new?
Mixed martial arts fighter Slade Martin knows he has a bad reputation. Hell, he’s probably earned it. So it won’t be easy to convince beautiful, vulnerable Jessica that she can trust him—that from the moment she walked into his life, she’s been the only one he’s wanted. Powerful and confident
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Below the Belt
Worth the Fight #3
by Sidney Halston
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Genre: adult, contemporary,erotic, romance, MMA
Amazon.com / Barnes and Noble / KOBO /
Click HERE for Sandy’s review of BELOW THE BELT
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 10, 2015
Once one of the most sought-after names on the mixed martial arts circuit, Antonio “Scarface” Marino watched his career go down for the count as he chased skirts and made tabloid headlines. Now he’s finally making a comeback, and it’s all thanks to Francesca Silva, a Brazilian bombshell as tough as any of her fighters. But who’s the real Francesca: the trash-talking trainer who rides him hard, or the vulnerable woman who blushes at his touch?
Francesca went to the mat to sign Tony because she believes he still has the potential to bring big success to her gym—if she can keep his head in the cage and out of her personal life. After a short-lived marriage soured her on love, a one-night stand is all she can handle. Now Tony’s kisses are stirring up complicated feelings—especially when he agrees to face her ex in the ring. Francesca’s used to freezing guys out. But Tony’s tempting her to give in to the heat.
Sidney Halston lives her life by one simple rule: “Just do it.” And that’s exactly what she did. At the age of thirty, having never written anything other than a legal brief, she picked up a pen for the first time to pursue her dream of becoming an author. That first stroke sealed the deal, and she fell in love with writing. Halston lives in South Florida with her husband and children.
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Ebook copies of:
• JUST A LITTLE CRUSH by Renita Pizzitola
• CRUSHED by Lauren Layne
• AGAINST THE CAGE by Sidney Halston
• POSSESS by Laura Marie Altom
• AFTER MIDNIGHT by Kathy Clark
• MAKE YOU BURN by Megan Crane
• MY HIGHLAND LOVER by Maeve Greyson
• BREAKING NOAH by Missy Johnson and Ashley Suzanne
• A FASHIONABLE INDULGENCE by K.J. Charles
• FORBIDDEN by Jacquelyn Frank
