Love Affair With An e-Reader: SUNNY - BLOG TOUR, REVIEW, EXCERPT, AND GIVEWAY: "Worth Forgiving" by Vi Keeland

Thank you for joining us in celebrating the release of Vi Keeland's Worth Forgiving. We have lots of goodies including an excerpt, review, and a whopping giveaway.

SUMMARY:

They say men like a lady in the living room and a whore in the bedroom. I never knew the sentiment was reciprocal. Until I met Jax Knight. A gentleman in public, a commanding, dirty talking rogue in the bedroom.

Daughter of legendary fighter “The Saint,” Lily St. Claire knows firsthand how fighters can be. As the owner of a chain of MMA gyms, she’s no stranger to aggressive, dominating, and possessive men. That’s why she’s always kept her distance. But the day Jax Knight walks through her door she’s captivated by his charm. Stunningly handsome, well mannered, Ivy League educated, and confident, he shatters all the preconceived notions she’d come to think were true about men who trained to fight.

But falling for someone so soon after her breakup wasn’t something she’d planned on. And definitely not something her ex plans to allow.

Genre: A New Adult/Adult Contemporary Romance novel

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Worth Forgiving is the third book in the MMA trilogy and in my opinion, the best of the three. After meeting Jax in Worth the Chance, I wondered where the author would take this character. He has a minor role in that book, but she does a wonderful job of developing this story and his character. One of the things I enjoy most about this series is the alternating first person perspective. The inner dialogue worked well for this book and brought a deeper understanding to the characters.

Jax is the son of a recently disgraced senior Senator. It turns out that the pillar of "family values" has been having affairs for years. The problem for Jax is that he bought into his father's image and now with this reality, feels disillusioned and alienated.

Lily is the part owner of a chain of MMA gyms started by her now deceased father. She is finding her own balance after going losing her equilibrium after her father's death. She also has an abusive ex-boyfriend who is intimately tied to the gyms. Jax comes in as a potential investor and the sparks start flying.

I didn't find the conflict between Jax and Lily overly dramatic or intense. There are a series of misunderstandings that leads to estrangement, but in the romance novel world these conflicts are more minor than most. However, what I did enjoy were the interactions between Jax and Lily. I enjoy the two sides to Jax. As Lily so aptly puts it: "I smile thinking how lucky I am to have Jackson, the Ivy League refined tycoon pulled out my chair and open my door. And Jax, the gritty, dirty talking fighter that commands my body." Their banter and play is fun and the way that the characters lose their inhibitions is flirty and erotic.

I did get a little frustrated with how Lily handled the whole Caden situation. I understand her guilt and her wanting to resolve the situation her way. Unfortunately for me, this undermines her strong character and I wanted a little more from Lily.

I especially liked how Ms. Keeland resolves a major conflict --- in the MMA ring. It is a great way to bring the story together with the original theme. Also, a thumbs up to the Epilogue - a very nice way to end the series.

IN A NUTSHELL:
This book can definitely stand on its own. It's a sweet love story within the MMA world.

Excerpt: Meet Jax and Lily

Dinner and a dirty mouth

My face pinks when the waiter clears his throat, no doubt he’d heard Jax’s last comment.

“Are you ready to hear the specials?”

“Are we?” Jax arches an eyebrow, his eyes gleaming with delight. He’s not the slight bit embarrassed, but knows I am and is quite enjoying himself.

“Yes. Please.” I give him the evil eye and force my full attention back to the waiter. The entire time the waiter talks about the specials I feel Jax’s eyes burning into me.

“I’ll give you a moment to let you decide.” Graciously, the waiter excuses himself.

“Why did you do that?” I scold, my voice low.

“Do what?” He leans back in his seat, crossing his arms over his thick chest.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

“Do I?”

“You enjoy watching me flustered, don’t you?”

Jax arches both eyebrows. Bad choice of words.

“You know what I mean.”

Leaning in, his voice gritty and sexy, he looks me straight in the eyes when he speaks. “I love watching you. Period. But what I like best is watching you pretend you’re unaffected. It’s like an unspoken challenge.” He pauses and leans in even closer. “I love the pink that creeps up your cheeks when I say something dirty. The way your pussy throbs when I mention what I’m going to do to you later, and you wiggle in your seat trying to control it. So yeah, I guess I do like watching you flustered. You sit and give your attention to the waiter, trying to pretend you’re listening to whatever he’s saying instead of thinking of me feeding you my cock later, but we both know you didn’t hear one word he said. Hell I didn’t hear one word watching you, just knowing what you were thinking about.”

This time, I see the waiter before he’s close enough to hear us. He smiles as he reaches our table. “So what can I get for you this evening? Did I interest you in one of our specials?”

I look at the waiter, then Jax, who arches an eyebrow with a knowing smirk on his face, then back to the waiter. “The specials all sounded delicious. I just can’t decide for myself. I’m going to defer to my date to pick one for me.” I return my eyes to Jax with a cheeky grin.

He throws his head back with a chuckle and looks at the poor confused waiter. “We’ll take whatever two are your favorites. Surprise us.”

Cover designed by Romcon.com

Model: Jamie Dominic

Photographer: Jamie Dominic Photography

MMA Series Reading Order

Worth the Fight (Book One)

It didn't matter that the ref called it a clean hit. Nico Hunter would never be the same.

Elle has a good life. A job she loves, a great apartment, and the guy she's been dating for more than two years is a catch and a half. But it's boring...and she strives to keep it that way. Too many emotions are dangerous. Her own past is living proof of what can happen when you lose control.

Then Nico walks into Elle's office and everything changes...for both of them. But what can the tattooed, hard-bodied MMA fighter and the beautiful and always steady attorney have in common? A lot more than they bargained for.

***Author's note*** THIS IS A STAND-ALONE NOVEL. Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

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Worth the Chance (Book Two)

Meet Liv Michaels

It may have been seven years, but I'd know him anywhere. Sure, he's grown, filled out in all the right places, but his captivating blue eyes and cocky grin are exactly the way I remember. Even though I'd much rather forget.

Liv Michaels is almost there. She's smart, determined and weeks away from landing the job she's dreamed about for years. Time healed old wounds, even her broken heart from the devastation of being crushed by her first love.

Meet Vince Stone

Women love a fighter, especially a good one. Lucky for me, I'm damn good. But there's one woman that isn't interested. Not again, anyway.

Vince 'The Invincible' Stone is every woman's fantasy...strong, sexy, confident and completely in control. Growing up surrounded by chaos, he's learned never to get too attached. Love will drag you down. He adores women, treats them well, puts their own needs before his own...for the night anyway. With the biggest fight of his life coming up, his focus should be on training.

When fate brings Vince & Liv back together again, there's no denying the chemistry is still there. But can Vince erase the old scars their past left behind? Or will Liv hurt him instead?

***Author's note*** THIS IS A STAND-ALONE NOVEL. Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the 18.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Vi Keeland is a native New Yorker with three children that occupy most of her free time, which she complains about often, but wouldn't change for the world. She is a bookworm and has been known to read her kindle at stop lights, while styling her hair, cleaning, walking, during sporting events, and frequently while pretending to work. She is a boring attorney by day, and an exciting smut author by night!