Book one in the Blood and Glory series are about guys fighting MMA and the women that will make them better only if they will let them. In book one Nick and Julia have a past and when they are reunited Julia is the one determined to keep him at arms length. This is a quick read with grit and emotion.

4.5 stars

I was really looking forward to Gabe's book, he was quiet, broody and mysterious and I wanted to see how Megan would get through to him. In a nutshell, I enjoyed this book A LOT and I think I liked it even more than the first.

After reading the third book in the series, I can honestly say that this one is my favorite of the series. (It didn't hurt that I pictured Chris Hemsworth as Gabe. Not a bit.)

The second book in this series and it has the “Sandman” Maddox fighting to defend his title that he just won. Meanwhile a journalist Megan Sinclair is drawn to him more after they have a sit down for an interview. She knows that there is more to the MMA champion. Gabriel does not think that he deserves any happiness for he once had it but not anymore. Megan has he own issues that she deals with, she keeps those to herself but she is always smiling not letting anyone know if she is having a bad day or not. A very good story about people that hopefully can get together if the sandman can get out of his own box that he has created. Very good characters and a very good story overall.

Take Down is a sexy, emotional MMA drama. Megan has lived through a serious cancer scare, and it's affected her in physical and more importantly, emotional and mental ways. She hasn't been comfortable in her own skin, or comfortable with her sexuality, since. But, when she meets Gabriel Maddox, the MMA fighter she's interviewing, he just may be the man to give her back the passion she deserves.

Gabe is haunted by a very personal loss, and it's left him angry, and hollow, and feeling as if he can't let himself live or love again. So he trains for his title fight, and engages in lightly kinky hookups that have no emotional connection for him whatsoever. That is, until he meets the beautifully submissive Megan, who's interviewing him for a series of articles she's writing about him and some of the other fighters that train at his gym. When the two started engaging in a strictly for sex arrangement, I was cringing, not because it wasn't hot, (it was really hot), but because I knew it was going to implode in a big way and one or both of them would be left with broken hearts. When the big drama happened, instead of cringing, though, I was just mad. Mat at Gabriel for holding his feelings hostage, mad at Megan for being so doormat-ish with him for their entire "arrangement" and just mad in general because it wasn't necessary. I wanted better for both of them because they deserved it. Thank God it was resolved quickly, but I'm still irritated the author chose to take this route. I'm tired of heroes and heroines who won't allow themselves to feel the love every human on the planet deserves to feel for someone. I'm tired of characters who feel like they don't deserve what we all deserve - to be happy, to be in love, to be alive. Ugh.

But still, I couldn't honestly rate this less than 4 stars because it's well written, it's emotionally substantive, the characters are layered and realistic, and it's hot. Can't ask for much more in good fiction.

This was a super MMA read and I really enjoyed it.Megan is a freelance journalist when she meets Gabriel /The Sandman for an interview the chemistry between these two was immediate but when she goes after him he repeatedly turns her down but cannot fight his attraction to her for long.Gabriel has a tragic past and knows he cannot be what she needs so they agree to a no strings relationship.This was a fantastic read and my heart broke for Gabe at time I would recommend it

Title: Take Down
Series: Blood and Glory Book #2
Stand Alone Title: yes
Author: Harper St. George, Tara Wyatt
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, MMA
Blurb: MMA champion Gabriel “The Sandman” Maddox prefers to live his life quietly and intensely. He plays by the rules, respects the sport, and trains harder than any other fighter. It’s this unwavering focus that helps him block out the pain from a devastating loss in his past. He spends his days slaying his monsters in the octagon, and his evenings numbing himself with sexual conquests. With his painful baggage, he’s not looking for anything beyond his no-strings-attached lifestyle.

But journalist Megan Sinclair won’t leave him alone. She’s intensely drawn to Gabe from the moment she meets him, and wants to know more about the secretive man who both intrigues her and makes her heart race. As she gets to know the quiet, brooding fighter, she realizes that giving in to their intense chemistry could mend her scars. Will these two be able to heal each other, or will ghosts from the past keep them apart?
Thoughts: If you love a good MMA novel, then this is a great title to pick up. Having been a fan of Sydney Halston’s Worth the Fight series, I couldn’t not pick this title up. The characters are great…I liked how straight shooting these characters were with each other, and the storyline itself was good. The end really hit me though – as usual, when you have a guy so determined not to be in a relationship, he falls and falls hard. Overall, a great MMA contemporary romance.
Rating: B

Wow! What a book. There was so much pain in poor Gabriel. Thankfully, Megan knew what she wanted and went after him. Their relationship was intense and worth the fight to find what they both needed, which was each other. I really hope there's more books to come in this series. The first book was good, but this one was better. I don't know how she'll top it.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Get your tissues ready! Gabriel's story will bring you to tears. His story is tragic, heartbreaking and changed his life forever. Since that day he hasn't been really able to move on; he's tried different things but never truly moved on.

Megan sort of sneaks up on him; she interviews him for an article she's writing and the two of them seem to have a physical connection. An arrangement that starts as something purely physical between two people to help each other heal, quickly begins to cross more lines than either intended to.

Megan is strong, having gone through an ordeal that changed her life forever. Then she struggled with the aftermath and long term affects of that ordeal. When Gabriel gave Megan exactly what she needed, and never knew she needed, she didn't want to lose it. She stood up for herself, telling Gabriel exactly what she wanted and needed from him.

It was up to Gabriel to decide if he was able to give that to her.

Gabriel is a MMA champion with a complicated past that leaves him just wanting some rough nights with strangers rather then settling down. Journalist Megan has a connection between Gabe and the more shes around him the harder it is to stay away.

I read the first book to this series and after really enjoying this book I was happy to be able to get my hands on this book as well to see whats in store for the other MMA characters. This book did not disappoint. It was pretty hot and steamy, but also with a great story line and an interesting set of characters. This isn't going to be the type of book you going to read in public because it gets pretty dirty but its a fantastic book. I really enjoyed it, I pretty much devoured this book in a couple of hours and I just loved seeing the chemistry between the two seeing how they were together was sweet. When they weren't hooking up things got down right sweet and complicated and it was nice seeing how they interacted with each other. Overall its a great book Highly recommend you readers check out the first book since characters from previous do appear here but these books do act as stand alone. Regardless how you get to it if you like a great steamy romance then this book and series will be great for you.

I was sooooo looking forward to Gabe's story and I wasn't disappointed! I was pleasantly surprised that he turned out to be a sexy alpha male with a filthy mouth-swoon! Megan was his perfect compliment and helped him to see that he deserved a second chance at love. Gabe gave Megan her sexuality back and the ability to truly feel like a woman again. I loved how they saved each other. This book is so swoony and sexy. The chemistry and sexual tension is off the charts but this book has it's tender moments as well. A perfect story from beginning to end!

Megan meets Gabe when she interviews him about his MMA career for an article she’s writing. There seems to be an immediate mutual attraction, but Gabe is closed off about some of his past, specifically what precipitated his going into fighting full time. And while he really wants to give in to his attraction to Megan, his past has determined that he has no business in any romantic relationship.

I’ve been a fan of Tara Wyatt’s for some time, but the advance copy I read of this book is my first by this writing duo. This one grabbed me in a stranglehold and didn’t let go! Angsty, heartbreaking, super steamy (B and D without the S&M), and moving, Gabe and Megan’s story was a poignant, moving read. I wondered how Gabe would ever let go of the pain from his past in order to heal, so it was really gratifying to watch him come through the other side and allow himself to find love. He’s the damaged, vulnerable, good-hearted kind of hero that always wins my heart. Don’t miss his emotional, sensual, supremely satisfying story!

I have been looking forward to Gabe’s story and it didn’t disappoint.

Gabe Maddox is so broken from his past he doesn’t feel he deserves a future. MMA fighting and no strings sex became his outlet. He is a distant, evasive, brooding, intense, focused puzzle.

Megan Sinclair has endured her own painful past and come out the other side determined to make the most of every moment with no regrets. She is a journalist. Her current story involves the newer CFW MMA league. Her best friend, Jules, is the owner’s daughter, so she has an in. Her first interview is with Gabe.

There is instant attraction between the two. However, Gabe recognizes that she isn’t a strings free kind of woman. Megan is completely intrigued by the mystery that is Gabe and intends to dig deeper. Watching these two evolve is filled with emotions. Gabe fights his growing emotions and Megan pushes his limits. I felt the connection between them as well as the resistance to let go of the past and move forward.

I felt the ending a little over the top to be consistent with Gabe’s personality/character. Still, I liked this book much better than the first.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher.

Title and author: Take Down by Harper St. George and Tara Wyatt
Series: Blood and Glory - Book 2
Publisher: Pocket Star
Releases: November 13, 2017
Purchase: http://tinyurl.com/yb73wb7w
Genre: Contemporary
Author websites: http://harperstgeorge.com/ and http://www.tara-wyatt.com/
Rating: 4 Stars

The second book in the Blood and Glory series is about two people who have endured heartbreaking personal issues, and they now need to find a way to move forward and perhaps even find happiness. With the hero being a MMA fighter, he appears to be tough and in control. Yet on the inside, he is vulnerable and always guarded. While the heroine has also suffered, she tries to be upbeat and looks for something positive, even when an incident could turn out to be undesirable. When the couple are drawn together by sexual escapades, their lives are changed in ways neither could have ever predicted. The scenes where feelings are the focal point touched me on numerous levels, while the moments filled with steamy sex definitely grabbed my full attention. Harper St. George and Tara Wyatt have made TAKE DOWN a compelling plus emotional story about the world of MMA fighting.

As a journalist, Megan Sinclair likes to uncover facts that no one else knows. Her latest project for an online magazine is about the World Fighting Championship and the individuals who fight for this league. To learns about the reason someone would want to participate in such a sport, she is doing several interviews. One of the men with whom Megan will be speaking is Gabriel “The Sandman” Maddox.

When Megan and Gabe meet to discuss his career choice, he is cordial but seems to be holding back on various questions. There was an occurrence years ago that changed his life, and the event still haunts him every day. To take his mind off the tragedy, he tries to keep his whole focus on staying a champion fighter. Though the interview between Gabe and Megan was short, there was enough time for them to make a huge impression on each other, and now they want to discover more.

Since I had never watched a MMA fight before reading the Blood and Glory series, I did give it a try. What I learned was how challenging the bouts were, and I could tell these men had diligently trained to be so athletic. In TAKE DOWN, Gabe often seems to be giving his career everything he has, especially in how he lives his life on a daily basis. It may look as if all is wonderful since he is a champion, but one fateful day has left him guilt ridden and not letting anyone get past the emotional barriers that he has erected. But one interaction with Megan, and he feels a spark of interest that just will not go away. She also feels the same, but has no idea how big the hurdle is which stands in the way of them having a relationship. While they have no trouble at all when it comes to satisfying sex, having openly honest conversations do not look to be happening. I could easily sense how extremely difficult some discussions were for Gabe, and this caused me to worry about what would happen to their relationship, as I wanted the likable Megan to find pleasure in life. TAKE DOWN entertains with real-life experiences, lusty sexual encounters, and engaging characters.

I voluntarily reviewed the book from the publisher via NetGalley, and all comments are my honest opinion

Take Down is the second book in the Blood and Glory series. This novel can be read as a standalone. 

One thing I am absolutely loving about this series is the fact that it gets better with each book (and there has only been two books so far.... these men...I tell you! )

Gabe 'The Sandman' Maddox a man who needs no introduction but highly deserves one! This man is fierce, domineering, and sexy as all hell! Let's not forget he's also a sweetheart underneath all of that alpha fighter hotness!

After losing everything he loved, Gabe submerges himself in the world of MMA. He fights to keep his demons at bay. He fights because he feels like it's the only thing he has left. That is until he meets a kind-hearted reporter, Megan.

Megan is a journalist who's world is finally starting to look up. When she gets assigned to write a series of articles on MMA and the fighters behind the sport she finds herself intrigued by Champion fighter Gabe. 

Gabe and Megan's chemistry is OFF THE CHARTS. From the very first interaction I was rooting for these two. I was captivated from the start. I loved these two characters as separates and as a couple. I was honestly blown away by this story. 


I am a huge fan of MMA so of course I love romance novels that center around the sport. I was surprised at how much MMA was actually in this novel. It was fun to read about Gabe's strict routines. I loved that aspect of the novel. It actually felt like I was watching a real fighter's life play out. 

I am sooooo looking forward to the next book in this series! Eeek... That little snippet has me on edge and impatiently waiting!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS SERIES!

I absolutely loved this novel! Take Down was such a surprise hit. The blurb looked fantastic but I didn't expect it to pack the emotional punch that it did. I loved Megan and Gabe. This was such a fantastic novel!

While Take Down was the second novel in the Blood & Glory series, it is a complete standalone. Anyone who knows me knows that I love fighter/MMA books. There is something about the quiet, intense and broody fighter that does it for me. That is exactly what we received here. Gabriel was amazing. He was so so intense and the chemistry between him and Megan was combustible. (And the Smexytimes? GOOD LORD- they were hot!!) I felt drawn to his secret pain and just wanted to hug this man who shied away from emotional entanglements after his tragic past. Megan likewise was a sassy perfect match for him! She was strong and looking to feel whole again after the adverse psychological impact of a past illness. As a result, they helped each other: a friends with benefits arrangement that would help her find herself again and be more confident in her sexuality while remaining emotion-free. But what happens when life happens and feelings develop? Can Gabe give it one more shot at love or will his past dictate that he walk away from Megan for good?

I really loved this novel. It was sexy, fast paced and surprisingly emotional. I teared up quite a few times. All in all, this was such an amazing book and I look forward to the next one! 4.5 stars! ~Ratula

I would like to thank NetGalley and Gallery Books for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.

Amazing characters and fab story! 5 Stars
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Have you ever met someone you immediately gravitated to? You knew you needed to get to know them? That they were supposed to be in your life? That’s what happened in this romance.

As a second in the series, this book does standalone but wraps in the friendship and a bit of storyline from the first book Dirty Boxing.

Take Down is an intense book in many ways. We meet a guy who is so hurt and broken that he doesn’t think he deserves anything better out of life.

But Megan has fallen hard. She’s drawn to him Like a moth to a flame. When she is with him, her soul is complete but he feels unworthy.

With intense passion, off the charts heat and emotion, this book will truly get under your skin. I hated seeing it end but I was thrilled with the final result. I can only hope that there are a few more books in the series up their sleeves.

What’s it About? Gabriel Maddox’s intensity inside the MMA ring has lead to a championship and notoriety but Gabe would rather train in order to hide the pain of a devastating loss he suffered not too long ago. Aside from training hard and fighting harder, Gabe loses himself in women who only want him for a fling. Then he meets journalist Megan Sinclair who carries around her own emotional baggage. Megan is drawn to Gabe’s quiet intensity and the their hotter than hot chemistry but Gabe is determined not to let Megan get too close to him and his scars, even if it means losing out on something special.




Overall reaction to the story? Tara Wyatt and Harper St. George are a great writing team and from what I’ve read so far (two books), they create engaging, passionate stories. However, as much as I liked Gabe and Megan’s story, I can’t help but compare it to the first book and while I liked Take Down, I didn’t love it like I did Dirty Boxing. I’m not saying Take Down was a loss because it definitely had some fine points to it, but again, it wasn’t in the same vein as the first book. It’s still a good book though and I did connect to both Gabe and Megan on an emotional level which can’t be overlooked. These two struggled through some tough stuff and I appreciated their journey.



Describe the hero in five words: Intense. Stubborn. Withdrawn. Reluctant. Passionate.

Did you like him? Yes.

Why? Gabe is carrying around a lot of guilt over what he lost in his past and it is a heavy burden that influenced his every thought, move, and decision. Gabe was super intense and extremely private that it took awhile for me to get a grasp on who he really was underneath all that pain and guilt. Once that was stripped away Gabe was a man who pulled at my heartstrings. He was more than capable of loving with all he had and that scared him to death but it also made him real to me. He wasn’t a fighting machine at that point but an emotionally vulnerable man that needed to be saved from himself.



Describe the heroine in five words: Survivor. Sassy. Caring. Loyal. Determined.

Did you like her? Yes.

Why? Megan tugged at my heartstrings too. As tough and snarky as she appeared on the outside, Megan was also hiding some bad scars, she just did the opposite of Gabe and lived life to the fullest instead of becoming an empty shell. Megan’s story is very real and she represented so many women and the hope that everyone should have to survive and thrive. She was definitely a stand out character in Take Down.



Let’s talk about the romance: I’m not a BDSM fan and I didn’t know that Take Down had some elements which yeah was a bit of a turn off BUT it didn’t lessen the amount of physical chemistry between Gabe and Megan. It was like the broken parts of them recognized each other as someone who could understand and possibly heal those wounds. Their romance was slow to build but at the same time it had the same intensity that was a constant theme in the story. These two didn’t do anything by halves; they were all in with a heavy amount of intense.



How about that supporting cast? With Gabe a member of a MMA league there was bound to be a whole group of supporting characters and I can’t single out a one that I wouldn’t like to see as a lead in the next book because all the characters that have been introduced so far have been interesting. I will say that I loved seeing Nick and Jules again because they’re my favorite couple.


Click It or Skip It? Click It. Take Down’s intensity level and heavy dose of realism makes it a bit more somber than its predecessor but that doesn’t make it any less passionate, especially if you enjoy light BDSM.

I am a fan of MMA love story and I enjoyed reading this one. It is a story of young journalist Megan and MMA fighter Gabe who meet each other when Gabe gives Megan his interview. They are both young but in the short period of time, they got through a lot of pain a struggle. They are both fighters and strong and maybe that is what draws them together. They start a physical relationship until for Megan that is not enough. To me is clear why Megan want more from Gabe and it is funny because he was already given her more and didn't want to admit it. Also, I understand Gabe he found a coping mechanism to keep on living although his life was not satisfying until he met Megan and saw a new meaning in his life. I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgelly

Just didn't do it for me. The beginning was almost bleak, with both characters kinda miserable. And the middle felt long, with the same back and forth repeated. It wasn't bad, but it just wasn't what I like.