In Your Corner (Redemption)

Super smexy alpha male romance... yes, please. This was a super fun read and while I wish I read book one first because I felt like I was "missing" some things, this was fine as a stand alone. I have been digging the MMA books lately, so this was a perfect fit for me. While I did not love Amanda and we would never be friends, it was nice to have a lawyer (brains) as the female love interest and if I am to be honest I must like her a bit because I was cheering her on all the way. That is a testament to Sarah's writing. When you want a character you do not even like to have their Hea. I will be reading more by Sarah, starting with the first book in this series.

~*~My Thoughts~*~
A 5 Star Rating
I loved this book. I read the first in the series last year i think and fell in love. This book just made me love the series that much more. Jake yes please! He is perfect there's nothing better than an alpha male i will scream that from rooftops till the the day i die! Amanda I really enjoyed her character at times you wanna pull her hair maybe slap her around a bit but all in all you can't help but to love her to. The story line was awesome and this book kept me hooked till the very end. I cant wait for more of this series.

Received a complimentary copy from NetGalley for an honest review.

As posted on The Smutty Kitty reviewed by KittyKelly

4 out of 5 Licks

I think by now most of y'all know I'm a series whore. Even if the books don't need to be read in order (which in the case for this series) it doesn't matter I want them all. I know MMA fighters are sexy, as long as you ignore the cauliflower ears, but I didn't know that being in a ring could be so freaking hot! Jake is trying to take things slowly with Amanda. He wants her to fully commit and he's willing to wait to make it happen. So when the tension between them finally explodes it turns the ring into an inferno! There were several times I found the book a bit teenage angsty for my taste but overall I really enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to more in this series and more from Ms. Castille!

In In Your Corner we get to revisit Redemption, only this time it is Jake and Amanda's story. Unable to give him all of herself Amanda let Jake go. Now fate has thrown them together again. Stopping history from repeating itself proves difficult but Jake is a fighter and he doesn't give up easily. This will be tougher than any MMA fight though.

We get to revisit many old friends and even make some new ones. Touching base with and getting to see the interactions of everyone at redemption feels like coming home. The story sucks you in and has you hanging on to every word!

With the second installment in the Redemption series, Sarah Castille doesn't disappoint. While I highly recommend you read the first book in this series before beginning this one, it is not absolutely necessary. You should be able to follow the story and put together the pieces without reading the first book in the series. While it does bring back characters and settings seen in the first book, it is a stand-alone with a definite conclusion. NO CLIFFHANGERS!

This installment focuses on the relationship between Jake and Amanda. Jake is a MMA fighter that is torn between family obligations and his true desires. Amanda is a strong-willed lawyer that has a very hard time with true intimacy.

This book also highlights the societal double standard when it comes to a sexually active woman. Amanda has been around the block and makes no qualms about her experience. HALLE-FREAKIN-LUJAH! Too many times in the romance/erotica genre we are force fed the virginal heroine that needs to be saved and educated by the strong, well-experienced alpha male. This is not the case. Amanda has needs and doesn't feel ashamed by those needs. She knows what she likes and isn't afraid to ask for it.

The storyline progresses well. Although Jake and Amanda's one step forward two steps back relationship, does cause the story to feel a bit bogged down at times. That being said, I feel the progression and regression of these two is needed to allow for character growth. Amanda has to learn to deal with her fears of intimacy and Jake has to learn how to be patient with her; and this takes time. There are no immediate fixes for these two. Each one has to work through their own issues.

I really enjoyed Sarah Castille's latest and would highly recommend it. You get a definite conclusion and the HEA you hunger for. Happy reading!!

In Your Corner by Sarah Castille
This book is why I love getting the book for review: I don’t have to wait as long. As typical for this author’s books, I read this book in one sitting. It sucked me in like a clearance sale at Coach. This is about former (at the beginning) fighter, Jake, and his ex girlfriend, attorney Amanda. Changes ensue and they are drawn together. They have more than their share of ups and downs and let me just say, wow! My favorite part is from the first word to the last word. I will issue a word of caution: there are scenes that may be triggers for those who have experienced domestic or sexual violence. The scenes are necessary to build the heroine’s sense of self and do add to the whole story. This story is part of a series but stands on its own and has a HEA. My only close to complaint is there are so many sub characters in this that I want to have their own stories, I can’t pick who I want to be next. I would encourage you to read this book if you like strong main characters and crazy, but realistic plot twists. It is not necessary to have an understanding of MMA. The MMA parts are explained in the story. Hope you enjoy as much as I did!

Another great book by Sarah Castille!

I thought Against the Ropes was a great book, and same goes for In Your Corner.

The author is very descriptive - the scenes with MMA fights, lover quarrels and make up sessions are vivid and play out like a movie. Any fan of alpha athletes will enjoy this series. They come with emotional scaring that rivals the damage done in the cage. This is a gripping romance about how one couple can reconnect after years of obstacles and mistakes.

This is the second book in the Redemption series. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book because the first book in the series Against the Ropes was so great!
After getting into this book I was a bit bored with Amanda's "wishy-washy, inability to make up her mind on if she wanted to commit to Jake or not.
I do like Ms. Castille and her writing and will read more of her as she releases other books.

Received an ARC for review

They were together. They broke up. They got back together and then broke up. They...you get the picture. When they were together, it was HAWT. He did what to his package? I'm sorry I had to stop reading and google it. OH MY GOODNESS. This book was good but not as good as Torment and Doc. Now whose do I want her to write next: Fuzzy, Shilla, Ray, Penny, Doctor Death, Sandy. So many choices.....

Oh my goodness. This was a captivating story that had me going through the ups and the downs in this book. I just love it. Need more Redemption. Can't wait to read the next right after I finish the fourth installment.

4.5 Stars

In the second book of the Redemption series, In Your Corner, author Sarah Castille ramps it up a notch as returning characters Amanda and Jake are brought together again two years after a messy break-up. This book was better than its predecessor in that that their problems were intricate; there were some real reasons of why they had issues. Both Amanda and Jake have baggage that makes it difficult to see eye to eye on the way things should be between them. They were at different places in their lives and really thought they wanted different things, but they just couldn't stay apart and they both came to realize that they were better when they were in each other's corner.

We saw a little of Amanda and Jake in the first book in this series and their relationship was pretty tumultuous and that kind of continues in this book but the thing is Jake knows what he wants. He wants Amanda; heart, body, and soul and he knows she is not ready for that. He really keeps her at bay for a long while because he does want more and he knows that she's incapable of giving more. He thinks he knows why, but he doesn't know everything and that what has Amanda running scared and pushing him away. I loved Jake's patience and even his impatience because it came from a good place.

Amanda is one of those heroines I really wanted to hate but there was this innate goodness about her that I couldn't and it became very evident that she was her own worst enemy refusing help from anyone for anything.

One thing about Ms. Castille is she can write both MMA fights and sex; she's pretty graphic in her writing and that's not a bad thing. You feel the fight scenes; hear the noise of the crowd, the brutal blows, and the smell of blood. The sex scenes are often wild and uninhibited just like the two main characters and they are undoubtedly smoking hot, like fireworks on the 4th of July hot.

While Jake and Amanda's relationship is a main part of this book, there are quite a few subplots going on that just enhance an already great book. The secondary characters are really quite unique and honestly I hope most of them will get a book of their own because some are just so larger than life that I'd love to see them fall and fall hard.

In Your Corner was a great love story; messy as hell, but to be honest sometimes those are the best kind because they keep you entranced, excited, and leave you wanting the next book. So, well done Ms. Castille!

Review copy provided for an honest review.

There was more book than there was story. I enjoyed seeing characters from the first book in this series, Against the Ropes, and meeting new ones like Penny and Ray. Unfortunately, even though the book had a lot to enjoy, I was fidgety while reading it and wishing it had been compacted. Tightening it up by a hundred pages, or so, would've made it a better read.

Absolutely loved this book! I was so in love with the first book, but this one was better! The fact that their was an alpha male and a strong, independent female was what did me in! Can't wait for the next book!

Thoroughly enjoyed the story and the characters. And how the pair reconnects and becomes a kind of family. With not only the Crew at the gym but the other friends and people they surround themselves with. As they all grow and learn and support each other. Exactly the sort of thing I love to see in stories in general. Especially romances and across genres. The author is brilliant and easy to follow which I very much appreciate. So if you think it's your cup of tea you should definitely give In Your Corner and the rest of Sarah's book a try (or two). And it's always fun to reread your favorite parts after the first go around ;) .