Brad Costa is finally about to fulfill one of his dreams as he has just arrived at Marine Corps Boxing Camp. But the competition to make the team is fierce and as one of oldest, he has to be untouchable. And he is not there to make friends.

Trainer Marianne Cook is at home with sweaty men in a training room and does not expect to be intrigued by any of them. She has her own goals and this is a stepping stone in her career. 

Neither of them had a relationship on their radar. Brad is trying not to let the observant trainer in on the fact that he is nursing a new knee injury. But trying to distract her only makes them realize they actually like each other. They should not let anything happen due to their working relationship, but they cannot seem to resist the temptation.

He'd never felt this pull before with a woman. Never realized that there would be a single person on the planet that would call to him without saying a word.

"The ka-boom factor...You're the gas, she's the flame. You get anywhere near each other and...Ka-boom."

And getting involved could definitely cause some issues--he's trying to keep a secret and the sneaking around in an undisclosed relationship could affect both of their places in the camp. Neither want to jeopardize  their spots or each other, so it is all a tangled up mess.

I really began to like Brad as we got to see under his tough, guarded outer shell. Underneath it all he was passionate, caring, and had a good heart. She made him take things less seriously. She was smart, funny, and nurturing. Together they had an easy going, flirty rapport and hot chemistry. They were really good together both outside and inside the bedroom. I liked that they were more mature and actually had real conversations. But his hiding and lying to her takes a toll on him. And she knows he is hiding something but is afraid to push him to far.

He'd started the journey toward the team risking only his chance to box. Now he was risking his heart too.

I liked the building camaraderie of the team especially Higgs and Sweeney. As the older guys, they inadvertently became role models and leaders for the wilder younger ones. The team antics and dynamics had me laughing at times.  Her friend Kara was a fun and sassy sidekick, And the new PR girl Reagan was both tenacious and timid at the same time. Some of the story lines are still ongoing and I am looking forward to Higgs's story in Against the Ropes.

This was a sweet, funny, and not too angsty. There was a bit of a mystery/suspense story under the surface as well. It was an engaging read with likable characters and enough issues to make it interesting. It showed that sometimes team, friendships, and even love required dedication and sometimes sacrifices. 

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Against the Ropes (First to Fight #2)

The author of Below the Belt continues her First to Fight series with a novel of one Marine’s battle to come out on top—in life and love…