The Fighter In Me

by M.J. Penn

Tia Anderson wants to escape the attacks of the creepy visitors at her apartment, the verbal abuse from her alcoholic mom, and the anxiety-driven nightmares. The summer before Tia starts attending Bastien University, her mother’s drinking forces Tia to make a deal with an unreasonable and unstable drug dealer, Charlie. She is given a three-month deadline to pay off her mom’s debt —with money, or with her body. Now Tia has to add an obsessive stalker to the list of things she’s running from.

Tia finds refuge with her brother at his campus apartment where she meets Victor “The Bull” Cornelius. Victor is nothing like the picture of Mr. Perfect glued to Tia’s dream board—not preppy, not polo-wearing, nor does he aspire to be a dentist or doctor. Victor is a mixed martial arts fighter with delicious rippling muscles and an angry bull tattoo on his chiseled chest. He is a walking reminder of the violent past Tia’s trying to run from.

Except, Tia is so completely drawn to Victor’s charm, surprising gentleness, and stunning body that she can’t decide if she should run away from him or run to him. She can’t ignore the fiery tension growing between them—and Victor’s persistence helps Tia awaken the fighter in herself and realize she’s stronger than she believed.

But is she strong enough to withstand Charlie’s attacks? Tia designs the perfect plan to find the money to pay off her stalker. Only this time the stakes are higher—Charlie’s threatened the people she cares about most: her brother and Victor. As the deadline looms closer and closer, and Tia’s love for Victor grows deeper and deeper, she wonders: would it be better to disappear once and for all? Or stay and fight?

282 pages, Paperback

Published February 3, 2021

About the author

M.J. Penn is a former tax and accounting professor who traded spreadsheets for magical stories. Now a fantasy and paranormal romance author, she creates steamy, angsty worlds filled with strong heroines, sexy alpha males, and fated mates.

A book addict and coffee lover, Maia finds inspiration in mythology and legends, weaving those influences into tales of werewolves, vampires, fae and the humans who dare to love them.

When she's not crafting heart-pounding adventures, you can find her exploring Southern California beaches with her husband and son or dreaming of the day she'll conquer a marathon.

For the latest releases and updates, subscribe to Maia’s newsletter: www.authormjpenn.com

Connect with her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/authormjpenn

Reviews

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found The Fighter in Me to be a good read for a debut author. Her writing style reminded me of Monica Murphy. Perhaps it was the genre, new adult, that I related to her. The author wasted no time bringing the drama but I felt that I started reading in the middle of a chapter instead of the beginning of the book. The author explains more about 1/3 into the book but I would have liked this knowledge in the beginning.

Tia is the main character of the book. It’s written in the first person but I would have loved a different POV especially from Victor, her love interest. Despite her rough upbringing, she is very naive. She shields her issues from her brother and Victor thinking she can handle her situation on her own.

Victor is Tia’s love interest and her brother’s roommate and friend. He’s protective towards her but is also dealing with family drama that he keeps to himself. The author does a good job explaining his feelings but again his POV would have been welcomed.

The book held my attention but there were times the storylines didn’t make sense to me. I understand that it's fiction and you have to dispel belief but it also has to be somewhat believable for the reader so they can fully support the characters.

Review copy provided for a voluntary review.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tia has had a hard life and has been told often that she wasn't wanted but things have just got worse as he mother has sold her to a drug dealer Charlie to pay for her own drugs and it is only Tia's brother Alek that has saved her from the latest of the attacks on her and now her time is running out and if she doesn't get the money to pay for her mother's debt Charlie will try and take Tia. When Alek rescues Tia he takes her to stay with him but what he doesn't know is how bad things are and Tia is determined to run far away to protect anything happening to Alek and anyone that he cares for but things don't always go as as especially when she meets Victor who is her brother's roommate. Victor might be a MMA fighter and into martial arts but he is also a protector so when he meets Tia and sees her wounds he is furious and wants to find the person responsible but what he doesn't understand is his reaction when he meets her even though he had seen pictures of her as Alek is his best friend but she is more beautiful than he thought. Victor and Tia's connection and chemistry between them is instant and so strong that you can feel it sizzling of the pages of this book but with Charlie on her trail and everyone she cares about in danger she can't do anything about it except run. Omg I absolutely love this book and it has so many emotional situations that you feel like you are living through it with them and I couldn't put this book down as I had to see what would happen next and it was so addictive. I have now read all of MJ Penn books and I can't wait to read more as they are so well written and she certainly knows how to keep her reader's attention. I definitely recommend you read this book and others by her and you will definitely not be disappointed.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Elsie Pitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I was so surprised with this big ditty that I was shocked I had totally missed this series! I am glad I looked to see this book and this author. I am enamored with these characters. Tia I really liked her as a character and as a person. She is struggling just to survive and keep her head above water. Upon meeting Victor she is struggling to just get through the day and live to see another. She does not mean to bring trouble within her brothers and Victors domain but who better to protect her than a MEAN BRUTAL man who not only will make your panties wet but also allow a brief moment to escape. Victor is that man! Oh this was intriguing and engaging I could not release this book once I started and I whole heartedly recommend ALL of these books! Miss Penn will entice, incite and deliver. Each of these stories within this series can be read as standalones.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nicole Ortiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

This was a good story. Tia has acquired her mother's debt to a drug dealer, she needs to come up with the money her mom owes or he will take her as payment. Right before her time is up and she has a chance to escape his goons come for her but she is saved by her brother. Taken to stay with him she meets his roommate Victor and there is an instant attraction between the two. The story is told on how she is struggling to try to run away to save her brother and his friends from Charlie the crazy drug dealer, her attraction to Victor, her wanting to stay and start school and have some normalcy. There were some parts that I was confused she wanted to have the close relationship she had with her brother before he went to college but she doesn't let him know what's going on. But he was the one who drove from his school to their home the minute she didn't answer his phone call.

I received an ARC and volunteered to leave a review.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tia Anderson is about to attend Bastien University. Her mother’s drinking is out of control and she “sells” Tia to an unstable drug dealer, Charlie, to cover her debts! Tia needs to get away from this and runs to her brother at his campus apartment. She meets Victor “The Bull” Cornelius there. He is a gentle, protective, mixed martial arts fighter who helps Tia awaken the fighter in herself and realize she’s stronger than she believed. But when Charlie’s threatens to harm her brother and Victor, she must make a decision. Will she stay and fight for the men she loves? Or should she disappear forever?

This is a very emotional story and will captivate the reader. Grab your copy and be drawn into the suspense as Tia tries to find a way to escape this awful situation with Charlie and be free to live her life without fear.

[Cathylynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tia is going to go away to school and leave her crappy mother behind, but she sells out her daughter to her drug dealer. Tia runs to her brother and meets his friend Victor. Victor is not what Tia pictured as the perfect guy but she is attracted to him. Tia does not share what is going on with Charlie the drug dealing stalker. Victor is also dealing with some drama and he too does not open up. So now Tia has a problem does she stay and fight for what she wants or does she turn and run, and run away from Victor. Victor was a great character for a fighter he was very gentle and tender. Tia had a lot of turmoil in her life. This is a great coming of age story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Courtney Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gawd this book! Victor is your quintessential alpha male but with a super soft gooey centre. Tia is in trouble. But it takes her a long time to see that she doesn’t have to run any more. She has her brother Alek, Abi and Victor are all their to help. And they show her over and over. Their relationship might not be the easiest, Tia’s troubles have followed her. But she finally has family to help her and are willing to risk their lives for her. This is definitely a angst filled love story but all the angst is worth it in the end when Tia and Victor get the happy ending they both deserve.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shanna D · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fighter in Me by M.J. Penn. This is book three of the Bastien University Chronicles and each book can be read as a standalone. I enjoy reading sports related romances and have a soft spot for MMA. Tia and Victor had intense and undeniable chemistry. I thought this plot was intriguing and story captivated me and held my interest til the very end. I would recommend this book to others. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[CYNDY · Rating 4 out of 5]

**** 4 Bull Stars****
This is my first read by M.J. Penn and it was good. Tia and Victor have not had an easy life. Tia is currently running from monsters and has no reason to stay; running will keep who she does care about safe. Victor see’s Tia and knows there’s more than what she telling and he is not buying. This book flowed so well I breezed right through it.
****ARC from Book Sprout for review****

[Shifty Bugger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book it was great, the story was written well and the characters were interesting. Tia and Victor have not had an easy life. Tia has been sold to Charlie a drug dealer just to pay her mums drinking debt. She runs to her brother and his friend Victor, Victor is a fighter he wants to help her but how can he when she want talk about it. Can they get their HEA?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[S A · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hope this book gets better. I am 8 chapters in and this book is so boring. It started off well. It's only been 2 days. This book was not for me. Tia repeated the same thing for 80% of the book. Garbage.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one. It was an entertaining & intriguing read. This was a new author for me. I received a free copy of the book. And am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.

[Mulan Book Princess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rate this book 4.5 stars.

This was such an action-packed romance. I felt so badly for Tia. To have that type of parents, and to have to fear for her live. She is such a sweetheart and so strong though she may not know it. And Victor sounds like the type of guy to be mean and tough, but shows such a sweet and caring side to Tia. This romance was really sweet between the two of them, and they have such great chemistry together. I love the friend/sibling dynamic, and thought this was a very well written novel.

I received a free advanced review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my fair and honest opinion.