Full
Contact
Worth
the Fight # 2
By: Sidney Halston
Releasing October 28th, 2014
Loveswept
Sidney
Halston returns to steamy Tarpon Springs, Florida, where a hell-raising bad boy
prepares to get down and dirty for the woman he loves.
How
could she have been so stupid? When Jessica Cross decides to give her violently
jealous boyfriend—the otherwise influential and charming Dennis Stavros—a
second chance, she very nearly becomes a statistic. After weeks of healing from
a broken rib and collapsed lung, and with Dennis behind bars, Jessica finally
feels ready to come out of hiding. But will she ever be able to take a chance
on love again with someone new?
Mixed
martial arts fighter Slade Martin knows he has a bad reputation. Hell, he's
probably earned it. So it won’t be easy to convince beautiful, vulnerable
Jessica that she can trust him—that from the moment she walked into his life,
she’s been the only one he’s wanted. Powerful and confident, Slade knows he can
honor his vow to protect Jessica body and soul. Winning her heart will be
another matter . . . but a woman like Jessica is worth the fight.
Meet
the characters of FULL CONTACT:
FULL
CONTACT is a stand-alone novel, but it does start where AGAINST THE CAGE left
off. Jessica Cross is still in the hospital after being brutally assaulted by
her boyfriend (now ex-boyfriend), Dennis. I think readers will find Jessica to be a
different kind of heroine. Even though she stayed with Dennis too long, she is
not a push-over and Slade Martin, the hero in FULL CONTACT, will soon find out
exactly how feisty Jessica can be.
Jessica
is in her late twenties and has been bartending at the Pier since moving to
Tarpon Springs with Dennis a few years ago. Bartending had not been her plan
when she got her Masters degree in Exercise Physiology. Her plan had been to
open up a yoga studio, not be the “perfect” politician’s wife to Dennis. After
the fight with Dennis left her tattered, she’s decided to start living her life
for herself without the distraction of a man. Except, Slade’s relentless
perusal doesn’t really play into her new plan. And really, Slade’s not just any man. He’s a badass cage fighter who
is not used to hearing the word ‘no’.
Slade
Martin is Tarpon Spring’s dirty-mouthed, bad boy, womanizer and the typical
oblivious man. Slade’s been a professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter for
over a decade. However, some recent underground-unsanctioned fights and too
many injuries to the head have taken him out of the game he’s loved for so long.
He misses fighting but has luckily been preoccupied with the grand re-opening
of Worth the Fight Academy, the MMA training gym he is re-launching with
partner, Francesca Silva. Opening the Academy isn’t the only thing that has him
preoccupied, though. Wholesome, funny, and sweet, Jessica is at the forefront
of his mind. Where Slade lacks any filter, Jessica doesn’t curse and is shocked
but turned-on by Slade’s dirty-mouth. Slade’s
not used to having to work hard at getting women; they normally hop on the back
of his bike and head straight to his bedroom. But, convincing Jessica to give
him a chance has him uncharacteristically frustrated and grumpy.
With
his long jet-black hair, piercing blue eyes, and mesmerizing tattoos, Jessica
may be willing to dive into unknown territory. The problem is: Dennis hasn’t
exactly gone away.
Since
the series takes place in the small town of Tarpon Springs, Florida, where
everyone knows each other and most people grew up together, the characters from
the town are important parts of the series. Patsy and Jett are the owner’s of
the Pier and Jessica’s employer. Earl and Esther are the owner’s of EE’s Diner.
Then, there are the fighters. You met Chrissy and Jack in AGAINST THE CAGE.
Chrissy is Slade’s sister and Jack’s his best friend. Chrissy’s a doctor and
Jack is a police officer who fights professionally from time to time for sport.
The banter between Slade and Jack are some of my favorite scenes in the series.
Tony
“Scarface” Marino is the newest fighter to the gym. He’s the Academy’s ticket
to success, a professional fighter who has the potential to bring in big bucks
as well as notoriety to the Academy—if he wins. Francesca Silva, Slade’s
business partner and all around bombshell is the newest addition to the
Academy. Her presence makes Jessica uncomfortable – Frances is strong,
opinionated, and wants to see the Academy succeed, but she’s also beautiful,
flirtatious, and very ‘touchy touchy’. Jamie Lynn, or JL, as she’s
affectionately known, is another bartender at the Pier. The small, tatted-up, Texan with the southern
drawl and funny-sayings, quickly becomes great friends with Jessica.
Then
there’s Cain and Travis. These are two fighters from Worth the Fight Academy
that make cameos in FULL CONTACT and will be constant sub-characters in the
series (hopefully having their own novels someday). Travis will easily become
the favorite of most readers. He is also a Professional fighter but he is super
playful and had no qualms flirting with all the women, especially Chrissy. Even
though he really means no harm, his Texan charm sends most women swooning. He
has a southern drawl and says whatever comes to mind without much thought. Cain on the other hand, is a man of few
words—or no words. He’s a closed book. When he does speak, it tends to be
brash, short, and straight to the point. He is tall, lean and blonde and looks
more like a Viking than an MMA fighter. Whereas most of the fighters are all
tatted up, this man has no visible tattoos, clean-cut haircut, and is just a
mystery to most.
Last
but definitely not least, there’s Drogo. The scene-stealer and most readers’
favorite character. Drogo is Jack’s miniature Chihuahua with a temperament of a
Pit-bull. He doesn’t like Jack but completely hates Slade.
As
the series progresses I’m sure you’ll meet more characters and hopefully you’ll
fall in love with Slade and Jessica as much as I have.
Author
Info
Sidney Halston lives her life by one
simple rule: “Just do it.” And that’s exactly what she did. At the age of
thirty, having never written anything other than a legal brief, she picked up a
pen for the first time to pursue her dream of becoming an author. That first stroke
sealed the deal, and she fell in love with writing. Halston lives in South
Florida with her husband and children.
Connect with Sidney
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