Book Review — Fighting Redemption by Kate McCarthy

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• Buy FIGHTING REDEMPTION (Paperback)

WOW. WOW. WOW.

Fighting Redemption was everything I could want in a story and more!! It’s an unforgettable story about a broken soldier’s undying love for a woman who’d always held his heart. I loved every word of this powerful, captivating and emotionally charged book. This is a must-read!! Truly breathtaking!

I just want to shout from the rooftops — READ THIS BOOK, EVERYONE!!!!

You will FEEL it with your whole heart.

I can almost guarantee that you’ll cry while reading (probably several times) because the story is truly heart wrenching but I promise you that it’s worth every tear and that you’ll be left with a smile on your face.

My eyes were already filled with tears from the very first pages. The prologue alone was all it took for me to fully connect and I knew right from the start that this book was going to be special.

“Even though we’ve never been together, you’ve always been mine, and even if I never get to keep you, you’ll still be mine.”

Ryan had dreamed his whole life of becoming a soldier. With a drunken father who beat him and fought constantly with his mother, he couldn’t wait to get away. Then Finlay walked into his life — and she was this gorgeous, shining beacon that called to his heart. But as much as he was in love with her, he couldn’t allow himself to have her because his whole life had been building towards the dream of getting out and away; of becoming a solider. And at 19, he left everything behind and joined the Army.

Six years went by as he trained, fought, saved lives, took lives, survived, and lived through hell but he never stopped thinking about the girl he’d aways wanted, who’d never been his but who owned his heart… and that he’d walked away from.

And then… he came home.

“For six years I fought every day not to think of you, and I lost, because every day you were all I could see.”

Honestly, I’m being very vague about the storyline here because there is so much more to it that I really think will be better enjoyed if you just discover it for yourself along the way.

The story unfolded beautifully. It was captivating. It began by giving us a heart-wrenching taste of the future, and then took us right back to the very beginning showing how the relationships intensified over the years and allowing us to fall in love with Ryan and Fin as they were falling in love with each other.

It was gorgeous but made my heart ache watching Ryan’s quiet, unspoken love for Fin grow throughout his childhood. I felt his longing so strongly and these built-up feelings were a huge part of what made everything so powerful once their love for each other was acknowledged.

I can’t even tell you how many different things I felt while I was reading this. The writing was effortless and enthralling and I felt like I was watching a movie of the events rather than just reading them. Every scene came alive in my mind as though it were happening right in front of me.

Everything  in this story was just so emotionally charged. I felt every word of this book. My heart fluttered, raced, pounded, and even stopped. It was beaten, bruised, broken and then put back together.

It was just beat after beat of these hugely powerful moments and I’d stop every few pages to just let them all sink in. Sometimes I’d even go back and immediately reread a section because it had hit me so strongly that I just wanted to keep reliving it.

Ryan and Fin were true soul mates. I’m crying even as I write this because what they had — their connection — was just so. fucking. powerful. So often, I’d be reading a scene that wasn’t even sad but suddenly tears would be pouring down my face just from emotional overflow.

Here are just some snippets…

“I miss you. Each day hurts a little more than the last.”

And this…

“Fin. Look at me,” Ryan said firmly.
She lifted her eyes.
“Just one day at a time, okay?”

And ohh my gosh — this:

“I’ll love you longer than the stars that live in the sky.”

There was also one scene in particular that made me ugly cry. And by that I mean that I had to put my book down because I literally could not see the page through my tears. I was a shaking, sobbing wreck. But I loved every minute. Books that can pull this level of emotional out of me are the ones that stay in my heart.

The story took place over many years and was always moving forward but, at the same time, it always slowed down and took the time to highlight all the important, meaningful parts of their lives.

There were so many gorgeous visual moment that just stood out to me: the Black Hawk helicopter — Ryan holding his hand out to Fin — Fin cleaning his wounds in her bedroom — that moment when Jake asked Ryan if he was in love with Fin — the dance — that night — lying under the stars — the letter — ALL THE LETTERS!!!!! — the lawn scene — Brothers forever — the tarmac — …. pieces of this beautiful story just keeps playing over and over in my head and honestly, I don’t want them to stop.

Sacrifice, loyalty, strength, redemption, loss, love … This book had it all and more.

“Every piece of me is in here… My breath, my heart, my life. I won’t ever leave you if you keep that safe inside you.”

When I finished, I just sat there letting the story sink in, letting the tears pour down my face, feeling the journey — the heart ache, the loss, the happiness….

This is the kind of book that I spend all my time searching for. Reading this beautifully written and absolutely unforgettable story is an experience that will stay with me forever.

I highly recommend it!! In fact, I’ll just say — READ IT!!!!! You all should read this!! ♥

Rating: 5++ stars

** This is a standalone (Adult) romance with a HEA.

• Buy FIGHTING REDEMPTION (Kindle)
• Buy FIGHTING REDEMPTION (Paperback)