After reading the synopsis, I could not wait to get
my hands on Quarry’s romance and seriously kicking myself for not reading the
first two installments - something I plan on rectifying real soon, because I
simply fell in love with all the Page Brothers, as well as the emotional way
Martinez pens her tales. Regardless, the story told in Fighting Solitude flowed effortlessly, as I was fully absorbed into
the lives of two extremely damaged children, their life long friendship, and the
true love that blossomed. This read was heart warming, tearfully heart
wrenching, filled with nail biting angst and loads of drama as Quarry fought to
claim the heart of his true soul mate, while Liv struggled to move beyond her
hang-ups and believed unrequited love.
Liv and Quarry have a special bond. I adored seeing
their interactions, the funny banter, their innocence, and the way each calmed
the storms that raged within. As children, they were both plagued with demons –
Quarry battled rejection from his parents’ abandonment, while Liv’s life was
riddled with fears. Trust was the foundation of their relationship, as Quarry
sensed Liv’s need for protection against her vulnerabilities while Liv was the
force that fed him strength and comfort. Best friends until Quarry was shaken
by a family trauma that left him defeated. I felt all his anguish as he
foolishly decided to push Liv out of his life in a way that left her
devastated. Their connection was severed for years until Liv made the effort to
reunite, when discovering Quarry was losing his hearing. But things changed
while they were apart. Quarry was bigger, stronger, a powerhouse of a boxer who
has matured beautifully…and unfortunately in love with a girl named Mia March.
Poor Liv, even during the separation, she could not deny that Quarry (aka Q)
was her one true love. My heart ached seeing Liv bury her amorous feelings. He
was always at arms length, but never more than a friend, even years after Mia’s
death.
Reading second chance romances can be very tricky.
The
author is faced with the responsibility of convincing me that both the hero and
heroine share a genuine love.
I had some mixed feelings for a great portion of this
read mainly due to Mia’s character. The prologue introduced her death and Q’s
despair.
The
aftermath left both Q and Liv shattered from her loss and me wondering… would
this couple find their way to true love?
It was a great hurdle for me to
overcome. However, this author created such a beautiful image of Q, I had no
choice but to believe his sincerity. He was the quintessential flawed hero that
was patient, determined, loving and most importantly sexy. Liv was eternally imprinted within his heart,
but it took years after Mia’s death to realize her true place in his life. He may
have loved Mia, but Liv was his soul mate and his future. I swooned when seeing the
great lengths he traveled to regain Liv’s trust and finally claim what was his
all along. I adored the sweet little boy
who shouldered the responsibility to guard Liv, and the sensual man who proved
his undying love.
Liv was a witty, spirited sweet girl who was a
great friend and beyond loyal…in fact too loyal at times. She had my sympathies during the aftermath of
Q’s reckless actions, and all the years spent masking her feelings. Yet, she frustrated
me with the constant guilt over loving ‘Mia’s man’ and the endless inability to
move beyond the past. It was maddening. Q has proven his remorse, love and trustworthiness repeatedly. She was just too stubborn to let it go and it
worked on my last nerve at times. But
once Q tore down her defenses, tenderly showering her with affection, Liv’s
character came to life and I grew to like the woman she became.
Although this romance is by no means a love
triangle, Mia played a major part of this story, as her presence and memory
overshadowed this couples’ relationship in every way. Honestly, I did not like
her at all and found her to be cunning and manipulative. Sure, I felt bad when
she died, but resented how she controlled their lives. As
bitter and cold as it sounds, I was happy when Mia was finally out of the
picture, so I could feel the love that Q and Liv shared without any obstruction. It was exhausting seeing her memory dragged
throughout the story and yet another struggle for them to overcome.
Phew…glad to get my Mia vexation off my chest…
In the end, I loved this story and cherished all of
their sorrows and joys. From early beginnings, to their undeniable love, this couple had a tight hold on my affections. Quarry was ridiculously
hot, and his sexiness made this read even more pleasurable. Aly Martinez
scripted a memorable tale with just the right amount of chemistry, sexual
tension and passion. I always savor a read layered with plot twists that have
me on edge, and there was certainly no shortage of drama. Fighting Solitude was a well written, emotionally driven friends
turned lovers romance that is a must read.
