Review: Fighting Dirty by Sidney Halston (Worth the Fight #5)

Note: This ARC was provided by Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept in exchange for an honest review.

Fighting Dirty is the fifth novel in the MMA romance series from bestselling author Sidney Halston entitled Worth the Fight, which is set in a gym by the same name and is about the gym's fighters and the women who fall for them and vice-versa. Lorenzo Silva looks more like a business executive than he does a mixed martial arts fighter, but it turns out that he's actually both. Unfortunately, he spends more time handling his family's business dealings than he does in the gym, making it difficult for him to be prepared enough to be ready for a professional fight. The one thing he's willing to make time for is his pursuit of waitress Jamie Lynn Calhoun, who just happens to be his closest friend's twin sister. They're from two very different worlds, but when they get together, there's no denying the chemistry sizzling between them.

Lorenzo or Enzo was introduced to fans of the series in the second book, Full Contact, as Francesca Silva's cousin from Brazil and MMA aficionado, while Jamie Lynn or JL was introduced in the series starter, Against the Cage, as Travis Calhoun's twin sister. While the differences between them--not just in financial status but in terms of personality as well--are obvious, it's those differences that balance Enzo and JL out. JL looks at Enzo and pegs him as a straight-laced businessman who didn't know how to relax and have fun, but it turns out that all Enzo needed was a push and JL sure as heck did a lot of pushing and prodding to get him to turn his brain off and just focus on seizing the day. On the other hand, JL came off as happy-go-lucky, but that facade masked her difficulty in fully committing to any intimate relationship.

Both Enzo and JL were so much more than I was expecting and while their relationship may have started of as fun and flirty, it belies how complex their respective lives are and how intertwining those two very different lives will prove to be far more challenging than they probably ever imagined. I loved Enzo! He was an alpha male who was willing to let go of the reins and let JL lead, but he also knew when to step in. He was sweet and was constantly taking care of JL, even when she didn't want him to. Speaking of JL, kudos to her being feisty and independent but with a softer side that simply wanted someone to love and be loved by. She refused to give up on herself or on the people that meant a lot to her, even when they had disappointed her time again. Fighting Dirty is a great four-starred addition to the Worth the Fight series. ♥

Release Date: 05 January 2016

Date Read: 04 January 2016

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