FIGHTING SHADOWS by Aly Martinez
♥ ♥ ♥ 4.5 STARS ♥ ♥ ♥
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
"Flint, don't get so caught up on the shadow that you forget the man who casts it. You might not be able to walk, but that's the extent of your disability."
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
After meeting Flint in Fighting Silence, I could not wait to get my hands on Fighting Shadows. After the way the last book ended for Flint, he now finds himself in a very difficult place in his life. He's in love with a woman who will never feel the same way, and now he is wheelchair bound for saving that woman's life. He is filled with so much hurt and guilt that he doesn't know what to with it all, so he ends up lashing out to those who love him, his family. He pushes them away and isolates himself from them. His family wants to help him get through it, but he just won't allow it. His life takes a turn when Ash Mabie enters his life. 
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
'The only thing that I'd figured was that Ash always made things lighter for me. Gravity didn't keep me pinned to my wheelchair when I was with her. She freed me.'
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Flint may want to seem like a jerk to everyone around him, but Ash sees the real him under that facade. She is determined to bring out the real Flint. She likes him when he's real, and unguarded. She doesn't care that he's in a wheelchair. She just likes him for him, and the fact that he tried to save her, something no one has ever done for her. No matter what she tells herself, her heart has already fallen for him. Something that ends up hurting her deeply when Flint tells her he's in love with his brother's wife Eliza. After Flint pushes her away in such a painful way, she leaves and never wants to return.
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
“I may not be able to chase you physically, but we need to be clear on one thing, Ash. I will not let you go again. You belong with me. And I will do whatever I have to do in order to keep you. I fucked up the first time. I won’t do it again. You can walk out that door, but know that I will find you. I will chase you for the rest of my life if that is what it takes to be with you.”
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
This is the part where I was so hurt by the things Flint said to Ash. I couldn't help the tears that fell during this part. Ash was such a bright and quirky character. I loved her. I loved how hopeful and trusting she remained despite her not so great upbringing. She smiled, joked around, and brought so much light into Flint's life. It was really contagious, that Flint found himself addicted to her. Ash was the only one who was able to get the real Flint to come out. So it really hurt me that he hurt her. Luckily he realized his mistake and didn't give up until he finally found her again, three years later.
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
“In my dreams, you were walking,” I whispered, kissing his chest.
“In mine, you stayed,” he replied on a deep, content sigh.
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
This is where things got a whole lot interesting for me. I was pissed at Flint for what he did but I was hoping he would redeem himself, and boy did he. I loved how hard he worked to get Ash to trust and fall in love with him again. You know I'm a sucker for second chance at love stories so the second part of this book totally did it for me. I just completely melted and fell in love with Flint. He was so sweet and gentle yet so possessive and alpha. I loved all of him. I loved the banter Ash and Flint shared throughout the book. Their chemistry was very strong and smoking hot. I loved both characters with their flaws and all. It was just a great second book to this series. I was very happy with how things concluded for Ash and Flint that I had a big goofy grin on my face. And then that part in the end that was setting up Quarry's book....what the heck!?! I need his book now! But I will have to wait *sigh*. Overall, Fighting Shadows did not disappoint. It was one of those books I didn't want to put down. I definitely recommend this one.
View all my reviews
