I wrote a review here, but it was meant for another book! I am sprry - My review for this one will come soon!

I'm really growing to love Sarah Castille as an author. Her writing is captivating and the story lines are always unique. Not to mention I love all the characters

I fell head over heart in lust and love with Jack from the very first page and fell just as hard for Penny. My heart broke for this sweet girl who suffered so much and needed pain to deal with it. She and Jack had been dancing around each other with both thinking that they couldn't possibly have a future together. All that changed when Penny ventured into a place where Jack leads a secret life. I really did love these two for each other. They had a bumpy ride, but I loved every bit of it. I can't wait to read more.

I give Fighting Attraction 5 hearts!

Whew!! This was a hot one 😍 You gotta love a story about a sexy ass fighter who's into BDSM. It's all the good shit wrapped into one. 
Penny, the prom and proper British girl, who has her own dark secrets, always chooses the wrong guy. 
Rampage aka Master Jack is a MMA fighter who just went pro, and is into giving others pain at his Sex Club. 
Penny thinks Rampage is super hot but believes he only sees her as a friend. After seeing him work in his club Penny wants him to cause her pain. 
But Penny has secrets that could get Rampage into trouble and destroy his reputation. It comes down to trusting each other in order for a relationship to work between them. 
Totally hot and sexy read. It can def be read as a standalone. Although reading them in order will give more clarification to the additional people in the story. 
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review.

The emails for this along with the widget ended up in my spam, I think and so I was not aware of it until after the archive date

I voluntarily read an advanced review copy of this book and I loved it.

This book packed heat, romance and lots of sexy little secrets that had the power to make everything great and ruin all chances of love. 

Both Rampage and Penny Worthington have a secret to tell but if they tell it has the power to change everything.....you want to know their secrets?


Read and find out!

I haven't read the Redemption series, but I loved Nico and am eagarly anticipating the next book in the Ruin & Revenge series, Luca. Fighting Attraction is the 4th book in the Redemption series, but it's a series of standalones so I was able to jump right in.

This book kept me engaged and was hard to put down. I don't often read BDSM, but I found it interesting and the sadism element was new to me. There are many character cameos in this book, so I know for longtime readers of the series they were like candy. For me, it made me want to go grab the other books so I could find out everybody's story. My TBR list is approximately 2 miles long and just keeps growing. I'm definitely going to be keeping an eye out for more books by Sarah Castille.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F BDSM
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

This is the first book in the series that I've read. While I didn't feel that I was really missing anything, I did find it sometimes difficult to remember who was whom, since they didn't use "typical" names.

Penny is sweet. She is just trying to get through her life without feeling so worthless. Since she was young, that is what she heard about herself. While she's working as a legal assistant, Amanda, her boss, is both amazing as a boss and a friend. However, with a smaller firm, Amanda and Penny are forced to take some not so great cases and that puts Penny in a trickier position than she'd like. She needs to learn to love herself first, before she can really let others in.

Jack – "Renegade" – is an MMA fighter. He is part of a group of friends that fight, hangout, and train together. He notices Penny right away, but he has a secret in his past and present that he has tried very hard to cover up. He only allows himself a certain latitude and despite his being okay with who he is, he doesn't want to have to explain himself to anyone again. When he sees Penny at his club, not only does his libido kick in to high gear, but so do his fears. Will it happen again?

Penny and Jack have great chemistry and despite miscommunications, hurt feelings, blackmail, and pig-headedness, they find a great way to come together – to heal each other.

This is a sweet story about loving yourself, reinvention, and overcoming obstacles.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the fourth in the series – and a great addition too. As we watch these men fall in love and fight for the one their heart desires, the level of fight put up by them and their women makes for great stories – I would recommend that you read them in order to get the full picture, but they are all excellent in their own right.

Here we have an unexpected match of Rampage, newly turned pro-fighter and the prim and proper Penny from England. They both have dark secrets and revealing them will cost more than their friendship – yet events transpire to make it impossible to ignore their feelings any longer. As we are drawn deeper into their relationship, there is a wonderful mix of dark when they are alone, and humour when they are with the Redemption family. By getting the story from both viewpoints, we get to reconnect with the men and women of that family. We catch up on the pairings which have already happened, as well as getting clues as to future romances.

I love the way that this story was resolved – it felt very natural as it fitted the plot beautifully and was very satisfying. Thank you once again, Ms. Castille.


Lee’Anne – ☆☆☆☆
Definitely one of my favorite MMA romances ever. I loved every page!

Rampage is a fighter at Redemption whose career in the MMA is just taking off. He’s known as the “nice guy” and it’s literally hurting his MMA image that he’s such a nice guy… what they don’t know is the secret he keeps locked tight. Rampage is into BDSM and one of the most sought after Masters at the local BDSM club. Penny had a rough childhood, which led to her longing for a bad boy and her bad habit of cutting herself just to feel the pain. When Penny is tasked with delivering paperwork to shut down Club Sin, she never thought in a million years she’d see the sweet fighter from Redemption there, but is immediately drawn to the pain that Rampage is delivering to his sub. Penny craves pain and will do whatever she can to convince Rampage to scene with her…

I just love that this book has so much drama. There is literally not a dull moment from page one. I love all of the characters, especially Rampage! The author does an outstanding job with the BDSM scenes, you’ll have no trouble at all picturing the intense scenes. I can’t wait to read more from Sarah Castille!

This book was almost too much for me. I'm not really into the whole BDSM thing, but it doesn't bother me to read it usually. The reason I kept reading was because there was such an emotional connection between the two characters. It was beautiful in its own way. 

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

This book wasn't for me. When it came to the sadist parts, I couldn't really read it but the overall story, Penny's back story, the cutting, was well written.

From the moment I met Rhampage aka Jack Caldwell in ‘Against the Ropes,’ he intrigued me. His quiet demeanour, his camaraderie with his friends and his propensity to gossip made him an interesting character. A man shrouded in mystery and it made me curious to learn what made him tick.  Therefore, you can imagine my excitement when I had the opportunity to read and review his story.

When I read the blurb, my excitement dimmed somewhat, as I am not a fan of BDSM. However, I must confess I was pleasantly surprised with the way the story unfolded. Yes, it has BDSM theme, but ‘Fighting Attraction’ was more than that. It is a story of healing, self-discovery, acceptance, trust and love. It tells the story two people who suffered betrayal at the hands of the persons they believed they could trust. Be warned this book touched on some heavy themes such as abuse, suicide, and self-mutilation, so if you have triggers where these issues are concerned then skip this title.

The name of the book is fitting as the main characters who, clearly attracted to each other were determined to fight their feelings for each other. They felt they did not deserve each other. Eventually, though they came to realise that they belonged together.  They helped each other to realise they were worthy of love. I enjoyed their interaction with each other, which at times were funny, sexy and emotional.

Connecting to the characters was easy. Penny Worthington is a damaged heroine. She grew up in an abusive environment and was constantly made to believe that no one loved her.  Years of hearing this led to her having low self-esteem issues, which I understood. It is my belief this was one of the reasons she attracted the wrong men. Her struggles with the physical and emotional pain were real and watching her overcome them was admirable. She had many layers, which made her a fascinating character. She is a fiery, strong, prim and proper British woman willing to fight for what or who she wants.

Jack an up and coming MMA fighter is a DOM who gets pleasure through pain. He is this way not because he is damaged, but because it was in his nature. His fiancée betrayed him, and his family disowned him and since then he kept this side of him a secret from his friends and counterparts.  He is ashamed of what he is as he is as he was made to believe a southern gentleman would never indulge in such behaviour. His attraction to Penny is evident, but he refuses to seek anything but friendship from her, as he was afraid to cause her pain. However, she broke down his barriers and made him feel things he never expected.

Due to them, thinking they did not deserve each other, there was a lot of push and pull especially on Jack’s side.  At times, their behavior got a bit frustrating, but eventually, they got their act together.  What I liked about their relationship was that they were friends long before they became lovers. There were many great scenes, but the one that put a smile on my face was seeing Jack grovel to win over Penny when he finally came to his senses.

Verdict
‘Fighting Attraction’ was a great read from start to finish and I am eager to know whose story will be next. I recommend this title to persons who love MMA fighter stories, alpha males, and hot romance.
N.B It can be read as a stand-alone

Emotional and hot!  Fighting Attraction is a wickedly good read

Fighting Attraction, by Sarah Castille is an intense contemporary romance book.

Jack "Rampage" Caldwell is a professional MMA fighter, and he trains at Redemption, which is a premier training facility in California. In addition to training top MMA athletes, Redemption is also a primary work out site for the fighters' girlfriends and other friends, including the single Penny Worthington.

Despite being friendly for over a year, Jack and Penny have never been more than acquaintances...until she discovers that Jack is secretly involved with a BDSM club. Due to his continually professed darkness, Jack thinks that Penny is too sweet and innocent for him, even after she decides to join the club. However, she's hiding several secrets. As the story unfolds, Jack and Penny are forced to deal with the ramifications of their pasts affecting their current thoughts and actions in their lives and unofficial relationship.

Since it's the fourth book in the Redemption series, it's recommended to start with the first book, Against the Ropes, yet it's not necessary to read the books in order.

Fighting Attraction is focused on serious issues and dramatic situations, and it's geared toward adults who prefer reading intense modern MMA and BDSM romances.


Note: I received this book from NetGalley, which is a program designed for bloggers to write book reviews in exchange for books, yet the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really like Sarah Castille so I was looking forward to this book. The erotic content is good but I must admit, I didn't love the story.

This is the fourth book in the Redemption MMA series. It is my first time reading a book in the series but you don't need to read the other books. If you are looking for a place to start this series, you can start wherever you want. This is Penny and Jackson's (Renegade) story. Penny and Jacks have been friends via their mutual enjoyment of the Redemption gym where Jackson trains for quite a while. Jackson has recently gone pro and is now somewhat of a celebrity. Penny is a refugee from a life of misery at the hands of her father. As a way of dealing with her pain, Penny has developed some really questionable coping mechanisms. Penny is a sweet thing in sweaters and kitten heels on the outside. On the inside, she's a huge damn mess who is really a bunch of broken pieces.

Penny discovers that Jackson, the nice guy who everyone loves at the gym, is hiding his own dark side. Jackson is "Master Jack" for a famous sex club. Penny works for a law firm that represents a client that is trying to get the club shut down. When Penny visits the club to serve legal documents, the course of her life is drastically altered. Penny discovers there may be another way to deal with the demons she has been facing on her own. What Penny is not prepared for is that her masochism is related to sexual pleasure. When she discovers that about herself, it freaks her out. When she discovers it with Jacks, her relationship with him is strained as she tries to run away from her own self. On the other side of the equation, Jacks was raised as a Southern gentlemen. He is completely horrified by his desire to hurt women but it's there. Jacks has not fully accepted that what he wants his normal and he doesn't want to subject Penny to it no matter how much she might enjoy it.

Penny and Jacks are flip sides of the same coin. Neither one of them can accept the truth about their self so it causes them to push the other one away. My problem is how confused things became. Jacks is over the top in his intensity about Penny. When any other guy even glances her way, Jacks flies into a crazy rage. On the other hand, when he has an opportunity to declare to Penny that he wants her, he goes running in the opposite direction. As for Penny, she is just really emotionally unstable. The way Penny's past comes back to haunt her and she fixates on not being good enough was sad but also exhausting. Penny just really need a big gulp of self confidence. I did like Penny and Jacks together but I wish they could have gotten there with just slightly less angst.  I also didn't really care for the use of supporting characters in this book. I thought there was too much information about other characters and it got a bit distracting at times.

All in all, this was not my favorite book by this author. It delivers some really great sex scenes and some intense emotion but parts of it felt tedious.

I really like Sara Castille, but Fighting Attraction was a little too much for me. I think a lot of readers will enjoy this dark and dirty sports romance with BDSM, but it is not my cup of tea. This is in no way a knock to Ms. Castille's talent.

Fighting Attraction was a hot and dark 5 star read.

Rampage is an MMA fighter with a secret that he isn’t proud of.
Penny also has some past demons and a secret she’s not proud of either. Every relationship she has been in has been abusive. This makes her feel unwanted and damaged. Worthless. No good…

I’m broken, damaged, and unfixable. And no amount of therapy is going to change that. 

Rampage and Penny are friends along with several other great secondary characters. They are members of the gym Redemption. When Penny has to serve papers on a sex club she discovers Rampage’s secret. 

Prepare to be punished. 

The attraction these two have is off the charts hot. Rampage just may be exactly what Penny is looking for and needs. Can he give her what she wants? Can Penny give Rampage what he needs as well? 

There is so much more to this great read. These two knew just how to push each other's buttons. And the sex, WOW. I really loved the secondary characters, they really added alot to the story. This was my first read in the series and feel it can be read as a stand alone. I do plan on going back to the beginning, I want to get to know the rest of the guys and their women. There are some intense scenes that may be triggers for some. Sarah Castille does a great job of pulling you right in with her writing. I highly suggest you 1-click and get started today.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Reviewed by MAustin from Alpha Book Club

When I first picked this up, I had no idea what I was letting myself in for. A romance involving an MMA heavyweight fighter? That could be hot, I thought. Poor, naive, Evelyn. Fighting Attraction is a BDSM novel. Not my usual romantic fare. But by the time I realised that, I couldnt put it down!

This isn't to say that on reflection, I don't have issues with this book: the overprotective male thing has never really been my cup of tea, and as I am British myself, it was difficult to imagine a working-class woman from Leeds (West Yorkshire) speaking the Queen's English. These issues were hardly at the front of my mind as I read this novel though, as the story was just too engrossing.

Could it have been the morbid curiosity of a reader unused to whips, and ropes, and spanking that kept me up all night, reading? No. Fighting Attraction held my interest with well-drawn characters, an engaging romance, and some incredibly hot sex.

The two main characters are Jack, known in the ring as Rampage, and Penny. Jack is a Southern gentleman, friendly, well-liked, and seemingly harmless. But Jack has a dark side. Twice a week, he visits a playroom at Club Sin, where he becomes notorious dom, Master Jack, inflicting a level of pain that only the most experienced and hard-core submissives can endure. Penny is Jack's friend. They work out at the same gym: Redemption, and see each other regularly, but like everyone else at the gym, she has no idea about his secret, just as he has no idea about hers. Penny works as a legal assistant, but is haunted by the emotional baggage of a difficult past. Rejected by her father, and beaten by more than one ex-boyfriend, Penny feels worthless and inadequate. Now, when things get too much, Penny finds release in the pain of cutting herself.

Jack and Penny's friendship is changed forever when, sent to serve papers to owner of Club Sin, Penny sees Jack whipping a woman in his playroom. Penny is not repulsed by this. She doesn't feel angered, or betrayed, or any of the things that saw Jack's ex-fiance running into the arms of his own brother. Penny is curious. She wants to visit Club Sin herself, as a customer. But when Jack and Penny cross the line of simple friendship, things get complicated. Jack is certain that his desires mean he can't have a normal relationship. He holds back with Penny. She doesn't know, cannot know, how dark his true needs go. However much he feels for her, however much he wants her, he won't let them become anything more than friends. He tells himself this over and over again, even as he invites her back for more.

Some of the sexiest scenes in this novel for me, were not necessicarily those feauring pain, or bondage, but those where the unspoken desire between Jack and Penny came to the surface in other ways, like during their practice fights at the gym. I loved the heat of the sexual tension between them, and the shared secret bubbling under their everyday interactions. There were also a lot of really sweet moments that built up a genuine bond, which I appreciated. I also really liked the community of the Redemption gym as a whole. This is the first book I have read in the Redemption series, but after this, I might like to try some of the others.

So, while I dabble here and there in BDSM reading I am definitely not all that well informed on it.  I know when it works for me and when it doesn't, and here it definitely does.  

Jack has some serious conflict about himself as a sadist.  He had people close to him turn against him when the truth came out so he's worked hard to keep it separate from his daily life.  Unfortunately it is as much as part of him as anything else which means that he feels that he has to avoid any intimacy in his life ... regardless of how sexy he finds sweet Penny.  But Penny is hiding secrets of her own and a little glimpse into Jack's world has her curious.  Making Jack let her in is a fight she's not willing to lose. 

I really liked these two together.  They have fun, definitely rock the entertaining banter, and set the pages ON FIRE.  There's a whole mess of emotions to go along with it as well, though.  They struggle a lot with their feelings, both for each other and about themselves, but with each other's help they might be able to figure things out.

You are definitely going to have to be OK with some sizzling kink with these too, including a seriously strong Alpha with a need to inflict pain.  But more importantly, you need to be ready for a lot of difficult times, ups & downs & abouts & arounds, because these two don't make it easy on themselves.  Or us  :)  But it is definitely a ride that I enjoyed!  I'm looking forward to seeing what Castille has in store for us next.  And I'll be adding those missed books to my TBR pile too ... It just never gets any shorter!

Love, acceptance and know who you are. Those are the demons that plague Jack or Rampage. The MMA fighter is fighting more that just an opponent in the ring, no he is fighting to accept his true self, the person that he is inside. His family rejected that person and he has been hiding in plain sight ever since. Now the one person he has loved from afar, is begging for that person he hides to come to light and bring her along with him.
Penny, the beautiful Britt with a heart of gold, is broken but hides behind her good girl clothes and manners. She is screaming for some one to love her. For that man to love all of her broken soul and painful scars that she craves. Could Jack be that man?
This book is so powerful, and emotional, not just a sexy read. No this book gives us the heart and soul of a man that is trying to lift himself out of the ashes of his past shame and live fully but in hiding. I love Jack, with is dual self battling to win the love he knows he deserves~ Penny.
Love, simple, pure, pain and all.

This is my first MMA fighter book as well as my first book by Sarah Castille and neither will be my last. Sarah has a way of writing that really draws you and keeps you entertained from the very first page until the end.

Penny has secrets of her own, but Jack doesn't know that when she uncovers his big secret. The secret he doesn't want to get out. While Penny and Jack are only friends they have thought about the other in non-friend ways. Penny uncovering Jack's secrets leads to things neither of them were expecting or ready for. We see the struggle (especially from Jack) as he navigates this new path. He doesn't know what he wants but he does know that Penny is his.

I love the dynamic of everything in this book, the friends, other fighters, etc. I love that Penny has people looking out for her, and help her along the way. Overall, this is a great read start to finish. It does have BDSM in it so keep that in mind when picking up this book.