4.5 Stars

Devan and Eli were happily married and working on trying to have a baby, until they weren't. Eli decided being a husband and a father weren't for him. Those things didn't fit into his life as an up and coming MMA fighter, so he walked away from Devan. Devan was heartbroken, but after pulling himself together decided he still wanted the family they'd been planning, with or without Eli, something Devan never had as a child, so his best friend and surrogate, Meg and he decided to go through with the plans and Devan now has a happy and well-adjusted eleven-month-old son, Matthew. Life for Devan is hectic, but he's moved on and loves being a father. The only thing missing in his life is someone special to share it all with. Then Eli comes back into town. Will they give it another try or walk away for good this time?

I'll be honest, I absolutely loved book one in this series, but was a bit disappointed with book two, so I wasn't sure what to expect from book three, Making It. I wasn't disappointed. This was a fabulous addition to the Ringside series, and I absolutely loved it.

I really liked Eli, but I absolutely fell in love with Devan. He was an amazing man. He's sweet, caring and lovable, but with a bit of snark to his personality that made him funny as well. Eli was a bit rougher around the edges, but he could be sweet and tender too, especially when it came to Devan and Matthew. I really loved the interactions, both individually and together as a couple, between both Eli and Devan with Matthew. They were so swoon worthy. The chemistry between Devan and Eli was off the charts. The electrical current between them sparked off the pages of the book.

This was a really enjoyable read. It's full of so much emotion. It's well-written and it was paced well. It's romantic and sweet, but has a good bit of angst as well that kept my stomach in knots. Frankly, I couldn't see a way for Devan and Eli to make this relationship work, not with the threats of Eli's evil manager, Stephan, who I hated! The author did a good job at showing us what happened previously between Eli and Devan while keeping the story in the present.

I really enjoyed this book. I absolutely could not put it down once I started. I really loved getting to catch up with Grady and Max and of course my favorite couple, Nolan and Zack. I'm hoping to see more stories in this series in the future and would definitely love to see more of these characters in the future! Highly recommendable!!

*copy provided by author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Devan and Eli's story is a total and complete picture of what it can be like when a married couple doesn't talk to each other, doesn't listen to each other, doesn't really know each other enough to see the little signs. This is when a married couple, or any couple really, doesn't communicate well. It's a frustrating thing for me to read because while I'm not in a perfect relationship, I am in one where I know that we communicate well. Sometimes people thing too well.

So when I read characters in romance that are flawed and have a lot of issues, and they have someone who is there for them yet can't find a way to talk their feelings out, yea, I get frustrated. But it also makes me really happy when those characters work through their issues, struggle through the rough road and finally get to the place where they can open up and be truthful with each other.

And that's what this was for me. I really liked Making It because these guys work for it. They go through all kinds of emotions, taking me along for the ride with them.

There are some minor issues I have, mostly dealing with the way Eli never once went back to his contact to see if there was something that was being done by his manager that he could use against him. The fact that even Eli took as long as he did to stand up for himself. But he finally does do it. He finally does and that's where the fun lies.

I also enjoyed touching base again with Zack and Nolan, Max and Grady. When a series spans over many characters, it's important to keep them involved, and I think that's done well here.

Looking forward to the next book... there is another book, right? :)

I haven’t read the other two books in this series but this one can be read as a standalone. Eli, an MMA fighter and Devan fell in love, got married and ultimately wanted a family of their own, but sadly, due to the pressure of a miscarriage, Eli’s mother being ill and his fledgling career in MMA the dream didn’t pan out and Eli, feeling overwhelmed I’m sure, leaves Devan and moves on. Fast forward three years and we have Eli back in town at his old training gym, Ringside. Devan has been desperate to contact him so that he can sign the divorce papers and now he has the perfect opportunity. Unbeknownst to Eli, Devan is now a father and the stinger is the boy could be Eli’s biological child. Eli wants forgiveness and to give the relationship another go but there were a lot of obstacles to overcome and trust to gain back. Eli begins to bond with little Matthew and I liked that Devan didn’t automatically give in and forgive him, he made him work for it. We do get the reasoning behind Eli’s departure and what was going on his mind at the time so I did soften towards him but I felt that he could have been a bit more emphatic in his actions when trying to win back Devan as he had so much to fight for. This does end up in a HEA and although not as solid as I would have liked, it was a rather pleasant read and on the whole an enjoyable way to spend a few hours and I would definitely read the previous two books in this series as I did enjoy the authors writing.

Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMG Reads.

3.5 stars

So I love a hero who seems as though he’s beyond redemption before I even open the book. And it’s safe to say that a hero who has deserts his family fits that bill. But despite what the blurb led me to believe, that’s not quite what this story was. And I think it may have been better for it. Making It is the third book in the Ringside Romance series, and while I was able to jump right into this one and follow the story without reading the first two, I think there are parts that would have meant more to me had I read Working It and Faking It. And my curiosity is sparked enough so that I will be going back and read the first two books, especially Nolan’s, as I think that man has quite the history.
One of the things I really liked about this story was that I felt these characters were on even ground as far as their support systems went. Devan had a wonderful friend in Meg. And my favorite thing about her was that when Eli left, she was fiercely loyal to Devan and all about being there for him. But she wasn’t so steeped in her dislike of Eli so that when he returned, she wasn’t able to see both sides of the story and offer Devan sound advice. And Eli had good friends at Ringside Gym that weren’t hesitant to let him know he’d messed up, and his best bet was to fix things. And quick.
Now I will say this story isn’t without its issues. The biggest for me was that there were points in this story where both main characters thought that a baby could be just the thing to make their relationship better and ‘save’ their marriage. It left a bad taste in my mouth, but by the end of the story, it was clear any baby these two men shared was going to be loved unconditionally, so while it did bother me, I was able to (sort-of) get over it. Also, while they were trying to work things out, it felt as though Devan was playing games with Eli, and I found it incredibly frustrating. I know Devan was scared and hurt, but I didn’t think the way he went about things was very mature.
Having said all of that, I found this book very enjoyable despite my issues. I adored both of these men (though I would have liked more backstory on both,) and the story flew right by for me, so clearly the pacing was on. I also liked the event at the end that brought the two of them back together, and I loved that Eli was given an opportunity to show how devoted he was to Devan. Overall I thought Making It was a nice story of two people finding their way back to loving each other again and trusting each other more than before, and if you’re a fan of romance, I recommend picking this one up.

This is the third book in this series by this author. This book can easily be read as a stand alone read. This is a second chance romance story. I really liked the characters, they grew on me as I read. This is a really sweet story. This is an emotional read in places. You are always guaranteed a fantastic read from this author. I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.
Highly recommended
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

I was super excited about this book. I love a good second chance story. Unfortunately this didn't live up to my expectations.

The book starts three years in the past. Eli and Devon are married and they're in a bad place. Things happen and Eli walks away from it all and the way he does it is truly horrible. My status update at this point said "Eli exhibited a bionic level of asshattery. He's going to need to crawl through broken glass while begging for forgiveness for this to work for me."

And there is the problem. He didn't. He just shows back up, says he's sorry and they're seeing each other again. I couldn't understand any decision Devon made at this point. They do this weird thing where they decide Devon should see other people so he knows he wants Eli back (but he hasn't dated at all in the three years he's been gone) AND he leaves his kid with Eli as the babysitter. Devon was like that one friend we all have who makes constant decisions that make you scream "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?!" internally every time you talk about their relationship.

Despite the dramatic set up, the story is actually low angst and low drama and a nice and mello love story. Which is not necessarily a bad thing but it was absolutely not what I was expecting or wanting from this book.

This is the third book in the series but is fine as a standalone. You see both couples from books one and two in this but the way the books are done they can all be easily read on their own.

**ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

3.5 Stars. Making It is the 3rd book in Ringside Romance but can easily be read as a stand alone. This book centers around Eli who is an MMA fighter and his husband Devan. Usually, I like to see the beginning of a relationship and in this book we are dropped in after Eli and Devan had a whirlwind courtship, got married and are trying to begin a family. When their surrogate mother has a miscarriage Eli leaves Devan. He tells Devan it's because he doesn't want a family and can't deal with the pressure but the truth is that Eli is under pressure from a lot of different things and hasn't opened up to Devan about any of them.

When Eli returns to help his friends promote Ringside gym it's been three years and he's had no contact with Devan although Devan has tried to contact him to get divorce papers signed. (Okay there are few things about this scenario that were a bit unbelievable but I just went with it). Eli knows he still has strong feelings for Devan but he doesn't feel like he deserves him after walking out on him. When Eli takes the divorce papers over to Devan he meets his 11 month old son who could possibly be his biological son. There is still a strong spark between the two of them and Eli decides to see if he can salvage their relationship.

I liked both MCs and wanted things to work out for them but I struggled a little bit with Eli's passive behavior at times. He wanted to give Devan the space he said he needed and yet I never felt like he really pursued Devan and worked hard enough to be forgiven. At the same time, I loved that Eli takes a hard look at the marriage and realizes that there were some faults on his side as well (although he doesn't excuse Eli's walking out he is realistic that they both made mistakes.)

I really enjoyed seeing Eli bond with the baby and open to Eli about all the things he had previously held back.

I enjoyed this relationship centered and engaging book although I would have liked to see a more solid HEA.

***2.5 Stars***

Nothing bums me out more then when a book I've been really anticipating just doesn't click with me.

The whole foundation of this book is Devan and Eli's marriage and how it fell apart three years ago. Everything about this book is built off of that. And therein lies my problem...I didn't feel anything. I wasn't connected to their relationship at all. That emotion that was supposed to pull at the heartstrings and carry you through the story was completely missing for me.

I wanted more about how they fell in love, what their happy times were like, why their relationship was such a whirlwind....and why both men felt like they couldn't communicate with each other (like, at all) in those last few months where things fell apart.

Eli kept all of his stresses buried (beginning his fighting career, a sick mother, uncertainty about becoming a father) and Devan functioned with a single-minded focus of becoming a father and starting a family with Eli. On the night of their surrogate's miscarriage, Eli up and leaves. Poof. Bye bye for three years. Who does that?

Eli returns after three years for various reasons....none of which are Devon. When Devon sees that Eli will be appearing at Ringside Gym for a promotional event, he musters up the courage to head over and serve Eli with divorce papers. Naturally all those old feelings, both good and bad, come bubbling back up.

However, Devon isn't flying solo anymore. He comes with baggage...or should I say, a stroller. Now, as much as I applaud Devon for not letting heartbreak deter his dreams of becoming a father, there is one thing that REALLY, REALLY bothered me....A LOT. **spoiler** When Devon realized that there was a mix up at the lab and there was a possibility that Eli could be Matthew's father...HE SHOULD HAVE REACHED OUT TO ELI! I really hated the fact that he was never planning on having a paternity test and/or telling Eli about Matthew's existence.**spoiler** Because of this, no matter what, I couldn't fully warm up to Devon.

The angst that should have been present with Devon figuring out if he could trust Eli again and Eli coming to terms with how he feels about fatherhood (and the fact that he's not out professionally) just wasn't there.

At the end of the day, I never understood the motivations/actions of either man. Even when I finished the book, I didn't feel like I knew either of them....and I still wasn't any closer to developing a connection with their romance.

I think this is the end of this series (I didn't see any hints of future books) and I'm sad to see it go. I've really enjoyed it. Book 2, Faking It, was hands down my favorite of the series...and one of my favorite reads of the year.

Making It is a sweet story with very likable characters. I always love stories where kids are involved and this one was no exception. I loved every scene with little Matty and how he was the center of Devan's family. 

Unfortunately the story never really picked up pace and I found myself skimming some parts. It also stagnated at some point as if the author wasn't quite sure how to move on from this point. Some issues weren't really resolved in a satisfying way either. 

So all in all it's been a sweet book but it definitely had its weak spots and dragged a little.

This was a touching story of having to decide which path to take, the one that leads to fame and fortune or the one that leads to love and devotion. Eli walked away from his husband, Devan, when things in their marriage were difficult. Flash forward three years and Eli comes back to promote his MMA career only to find out that he and Devan are still married but there is now a child in the mix. What path will he choose. This was another great read in the series with strong characters, a plot that keeps the reader's interest but also a story that pulls on the heartstrings and makes you root for a HEA. I highly recommend this book.

Making It was an okay read for me. The story was slower than I expected and it seemed a little dull at time. Its also hard to really enjoy a book when you feel some type of way about one of the main characters. However, with that being said, this story wasn't a bad read but the two things I just mention was some things that bothered me in the story. The story focuses on Eli, his husband Devan and Devan's best friend Meg. I loved that Meg was willing to do anything to make Devan's dream come true. I loved Devan because he had such a big heart, him and Meg, and after everything he was willing to forgive Eli and put his heart out there again. I disliked the decisions Eli made because although he was still struggling with who he was he kept making selfish decisions. The ending was good but I still didn't get the feeling of deep love and devotion from Eli that I felt from Devan this whole story and I needed to feel that. This is the first book I've read from this author and I would give another book from her a try because like I mentioned above it wasn't a bad read, it was just lacking a bit for me.

When I first read the blurb for Making It, I was not too keen to read the story. I don't like long separations, followed by rekindled passions (unless the MCs were very young when they first met).

In my experience, people don't change that much, and there's always a reason the relationship failed in the first place.

In this case, Eli left Devan following a whirlwind courtship and marriage because he couldn't deal with the pressure of their surrogate mother suffering another miscarriage. Or at least that's what he told Devan. And himself.

In reality, Eli, a MMA fighter, was being pushed by his manager to stay in the closet and stressed out over his mother's declining health. He and Devan were fighting constantly, because Eli was angry and completely separated from his emotions. He wasn't sharing any of his worries with Devan, keeping everything bottled inside.

When Eli returns to help Zack, Nolan, and the gang promote the Ringside gym, he knows he has to see Devan again. What he doesn't expect is to meet Devan's 11-month-old son, Matthew, who could possibly be his biologically.

Eli and Devan never officially divorced because Eli's manager refused to let Eli have any contact with Devan. (How they managed their taxes remains a mystery, but whatever; this is fiction.)

When they see each other again, they definitely feel a spark, but Devan doesn't trust Eli, even if Eli appears to be a changed man.

I liked both MCs. Devan was willing to spend time with Eli but didn't forgive him immediately. And Eli was careful to give Devan his space and protect Devan and the baby from publicity.

Eli was so sweet with Matthew; he even offered to babysit so Devan could go on a date (this works out for the best, trust me).

Making It is a truly engaging read. I was so involved in the story, I read it in one sitting. I just wish there had been more steam and a stronger HEA.