Fighting Redemption in Buddy Read Zone

Jan 04, 2014 M. rated it liked it

My issue with this book, and many other books too, is that they're all so much alike. It's just so standard, that I guessed pretty much all of what happened. Even Ryan's huge secret that made him self-destruct and run away to become a soldier wasn't a surprise to me.

I understand that almost everything has already been tried before and authors are bound to work with the same themes and events. That's fine though, as long as the execution is amazing, I can get over the unoriginality. However, the My issue with this book, and many other books too, is that they're all so much alike. It's just so standard, that I guessed pretty much all of what happened. Even Ryan's huge secret that made him self-destruct and run away to become a soldier wasn't a surprise to me.

I understand that almost everything has already been tried before and authors are bound to work with the same themes and events. That's fine though, as long as the execution is amazing, I can get over the unoriginality. However, the execution of Fighting Redemption was just okay. I didn't feel any connection between the love couple, I didn't feel connected to any of the main characters and, to me, it felt like their actions didn't make any sense.

I love a good build-up to a relationship, but when an author decides to skip the build-up, start in the middle, and explain by flashbacks, I want the flashbacks to be powerful. I felt like the flashbacks in this story lacked power completely. From the flashbacks, I got the impression that Fin and Ryan were really good, close friends, and none of them ever tried to be more. When they reunited after six years, suddenly they were spilling their hearts over how hurt they are, how much they missed the other and how they just cannot be. I just feel like I missed the boat on their relationship. And when they do finally admit all this, they just keeping running around in circles. I thought Ryan was stupid. Fin annoyed me in the beginning too. I wanted to punch both at some points. And my lack of tolerance had everything to do with the lack of connection.

Also, I felt a lot of it was repetitive and some of the dialogue was cheesy. They always kissed until they had to catch their breath, or until one of them was breathless. And there was a big emphasize on Ryan being possessive and alpha in the bedroom and I was like, whatever the author/Ryan is trying too hard. Now that I think of it, the characters felt hollow to me, like silhouettes. The only ones that showed some color were Kyle and Jake.

The only war story that I have read that really shows the effect war has on soldiers and the ones left behind, is In The Stillness. That story was so powerful and realistic. I cried every time I read a flashback in that book and the story was just so emotion-driven. No excuses, no dark pasts, no abuses, just plain, real, unapologetic pain. The author managed to take a theme that's been used a lot and still make it original.

Sorry, I'm such an asshole for talking about another book in my review for this book. I'm just gonna finish this review by saying I gave this three stars, because I felt indifferent towards it. It wasn't bad, just nothing that got my heart racing and nothing that hasn't been done before. ...more

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Dec 01, 2013 Sarah rated it it was amazing

Oh this book. It will really do a number on you! A 5 star read through and through and highly emotional and sweet and sad. Highly recommend this book!

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