Review: Fighting Silence – Aly Martinez

Posted February 27, 2015 by Shannon in Blog Tour, Reviews, Shannon / 1 Comment

Review:  Fighting Silence – Aly MartinezFighting Silence by Aly Martinez
Series: On the Ropes #1
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance
Published by Self Published Publication Date: February 23rd 2015
Pages: 297
Also in this series: Fighting Shadows, Fighting Solitude
Buy on Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org
Find on: Goodreads
five-stars

Sound is an abstract concept for most people. We spend our lives blocking out the static in order to focus on what we believe is important. But what if, when the clarity fades into silence, it's the obscure background noise that you would give anything to hold on to?

I've always been a fighter. With parents who barely managed to stay out of jail and two little brothers who narrowly avoided foster care, I became skilled at dodging the punches life threw at me. Growing up, I didn’t have anything I could call my own, but from the moment I met Eliza Reynolds, she was always mine. I became utterly addicted to her and the escape from reality we provided each other. Throughout the years, she had boyfriends and I had girlfriends, but there wasn't a single night that I didn’t hear her voice.

You see, meeting the love of my life at age thirteen was never part of my plan. However, neither was gradually going deaf at the age of twenty-one.

They both happened anyway.

Now, I'm on the ropes during the toughest battles of my life.
Fighting for my career.
Fighting the impending silence.
Fighting for her.

Every night, just before falling asleep, she sighs as a final conscious breath leaves her.

I think that's the sound I'll miss the most.

Each book in this series can be read as a standalone.

 

Shannon’s Thoughts

FIGHTING SILENCE brought forth these reactions from me as I read the book. Β It’s a testament to the craftsmanship of Aly Martinez that she can take a reader on an emotional journey in a book to evoke these kinds of responses.

In the first book of the On the Ropes series, we’re introduced to the Page brothers. Β Oldest brother Till has taken on the responsibility of making sure his younger brothers are taken care of, all while fighting to scrap along. Β His one bit of lightness is Eliza Reynolds. Β She helps ground Till and make him understand he’s providing something for his brothers that he didn’t have. Β And then, when boxing champ Slate Andrews opens a gym in Till’s neighborhood he finds something else that makes his life better.

So many things happen as we chronicle the relationship between Till and Eliza from the age of thirteen to their early twenties. Β From best friends to lovers, we watch both of these characters struggle with their circumstances, what their future is going to look like and how to keep their little unconventional family together. Β You couldn’t help but hope they figured out how to get their HEA. Β It took them awhile to get it, but as they matured and realized there are some things more important than money, you knew they’d find it.

I loved the dynamics between the Page brothers and Eliza. Β They may have pushed each other and sometimes rubbed each other the wrong way, but there was never any doubt they had each other’s backs. Β They would do anything for each, actually proving that towards the end, which proved just how special this group was. Β They all rose above their situation to build a life they could be proud of.

I look forward to hopefully seeing Flint and Quarry’s stories. Β Both of them have huge demons to overcome and I just know Aly Martinez will give them spectacular stories.

About Aly Martinez

Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Aly Martinez is a stay-at-home mom to four crazy kids under the age of five- including a set of twins. Currently living in Chicago, she passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a glass of wine at her side.
After some encouragement from her friends, Aly decided to add β€œAuthor” to her ever-growing list of job titles. So grab a glass of Chardonnay, or a bottle if you’re hanging out with Aly, and join her aboard the crazy train she calls life.

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I am a lover of alpha males with dirty mouths, strong heroines putting alpha males in their place, and the Chicago Blackhawks. I'm a proud hockey mom who can often be found at the hockey rink cheering on my favorite forward, with my kindle close by.
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