This review was originally posted on Addicted To RomanceI received this book for free from Sourcebooks Casablanca in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Strong Hold is the fifth in the Redemption series, and I had a fun time with this story. I have really enjoyed this series, although I will warn you that the sex scenes are pretty HOT and spicy. They do have some BDSM elements, but I would consider them light and not full on BDSM. So most readers would enjoy the scenes. This was a story that I found very bittersweet at times. It had some strong emotional and drama elements that really suck you into the story and into the relationship and its complexity. Our story starts off when Zack, is a MMA promoter and ex fighter. Zack is still feeling what he lost that one night during a fight when his opponent died in the ring and Zack has blamed himself ever since and that night has haunted him including losing the one woman he never stopped loving.  Shayla or also known as "Shilla the Killer", knew Zack and they were high school sweethearts but right when she was ready to follow him to California for his dreams he broke up with her brutally and she has never fogotten. Shayla was once a dancer, and was married until she showed up on Redemption door brutalized by her husband and her knee so damaged that she could no longer pursue her dream of being a professional dancer. She now is fierce and a fighter and used the techniques she has used to beat her fear of her ex and heal from the past until her past comes riding back in when Zack enters her life again. But both Zack and Shayla will need to resolve past issues and face them in the ring....but will they rise on the top or be defeated? I really enjoyed seeing this story evolve, and yeah any of my friends and followers on here know how much I LOVE the Second Chance Trope and this one rocked for sure. It was interesting to see Shayla's story since I have really enjoyed her sassy character throughout the series and boy the depth of her character is the bomb. I loved seeing her past and that there is so much more to her than meets the eye. I found it interesting the way the relationship reconnects, and its not an easy one. We all have a past. It's what you do with it that determines your future. Don't let it limit you, Shay. Don't let it hold you back from going after what your heart really wants. We learn that Zack only broke up with her so she wouldn't give up on dreams of being a dancer, but we also see that Shayla isn't just pissed about that but also that he wouldn't talk to her. Shayla was aware of what she wanted even years ago when they were together and that he didn't have the right to make life altering decisions that caused her so much pain. I found that these two deserve one another. They are both fighters, and want to go the professional route. But they also have some issues they need to face and I enjoyed seeing them push each other into realizing the truths that they hide from each other. Love is sacrifice. Love is giving. Love is taking the long, hard road back when it's easier to walk away. Love fils all the cracks in your heart and give syou strength in the darkest of times. It is there when the lights go out and in the depth of despair. The love story is so beautifully written, seeing these two characters suffer all that they have and to find each other again and become stronger together was breathtaking and worth the read in every way!! IRRESISTIBLY SEXY   [foogallery id="19992"]

Strong Hold will bring back two former lover again after several years apart. Zach has been searching for new fighter that he comes to visit MMA gym where he see Shayla again. They have history with each other that it is going to come up again. And it is going to be heavy but also going to relieve them since they need closure. It's going to be a tough road for them but hashing out the past always is. Shayla may had a tough childhood but she is living better now. But things change when she see Zach again. It brings up all of the past back to her that it will take some time to figure out what she wants to do with Zach. She is going to be challenging toward Zach but it only because she still love him. Love hurts and it will continue to hurt unless you move on and forgive. And it is going to take both of them to do so. Three star