Georgia Bookaholics- Everything's Hotter in the South!: The Final Fight by JB Salsbury Review!!

"Wherever you are will always be home to me."-JB Salsbury, The Final Fight

Blurb:

When life brings you the perfect person at the worst possible time...

On a weekend visit to Las Vegas to visit his brother, Marine Braeden Daniels meets a woman who challenges him in ways he can't deny. The best part is she wants what he wants.

No strongs. No feelings. Just fun.

AJ is a Las Vegas performer who is finally living her dream. Growing up poor, she's determined to succeed at any cost. No one will stand in her way- not even a hot Marine who breezes into her life all confidence and a cocky smile.

A few stolen weekends and neither can deny the feelings quickly growing between them. But the obstacles that keep them apart become more devastating when the Marine Corps calls Braeden away for a six-month deployment.

It's only six months.

What could possibly happen?

Review:

I'm incredibly grateful for receiving an ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review. This won't be your typical review. It won't go through the development of the characters (though the characters are incredibly well-developed). It won't be a detailed summary of what happens in this story (though there will be parts of the story line). This review will be about the overwhelming feelings I had while reading this book and why I think you need to read it, but not just this book- the whole series. So, without further ado...

You guys. <-- Channeling my inner Busy Phillips --> This is the LAST BOOK in The Fighting Series and I can't even tell you how devastated I am by this series ending.

JB is one of my absolute favorite authors and each book in this amazing series has been incredible. I'm seriously in mourning that it has come to an end. Luckily, I know that JB has a passion for her readers and knows how much her words have impacted them, so my guess is she'll remind us of our favorite rough around the edges, but incredibly lovable characters some time again in the (hopefully near) future. As you go through this series, it focuses on different fighters (hinted by the title of the series: The Fighting Series). Each fighter becomes my new favorite while I'm reading that book, their story is so impactful. JB has a way of truly making a reader feel that they are in her fictional world with the characters she's created and they are our friends, our family. While my favorite has bounced around and around, ultimately I have to make my claim on Rex (Fighting to Forget)- there's just something about him that breaks my heart and sews it back together all in one sitting. Tied very closely to Rex is Blake Daniels. My blog partner and I would have to come to blows with each other about Blake if my love for Rex wasn't so strong ;) However, we have both completely become smitten with the other Daniels brother, Braeden. <--- Yes, now comes the time that I wrap my endless love letter to JB back around to the current book I'm reviewing! ---> I have been waiting for Braeden Daniels' book ever since his character was first introduced early on in the series. JB gave us maybe a paragraph to introduce Braeden, but I was already intrigued and needed to know more. JB did not disappoint when she gave Braeden his turn.

Braeden's story is one that touches close to home for me in multiple ways. I'm a family therapist so I like to read about and observe family dynamics. The Daniels family has plenty. More than that though, my personal life has been affected by the military and I have a huge interest and passion for our service members. There were so many parts in The Final Fight that I imagine are so relevant for many people/couples who've gone through deployments as well as everything leading up to their separation. As hinted at in the blurb, there are some real challenges that both Braeden and AJ have to face in their story. The battle that Braeden has to fight is a lot less physical than some of the other battles of the other characters in the series, but that doesn't mean it wasn't just as difficult to get through if not a heck of a lot worse. There was one particular scene in this book that got me, right in the feels, more than any other part of this story. The funny thing is, it wasn't between Braeden and AJ. It was between Braeden and his brother, Blake and it's good. JB, those words- keep writing words like this.

"When I look in your eyes and no longer recognize my brother in there, I will not stand by and let you slip away."

My gaze drops back to the sink, and tears build behind my eyelashes. "I'm fucking lost, bro."

"Nope. You're not." He puts both hands on my shoulders. "I will die before I let you go, you hear me? You'll be back. You'll be fighting for this shit too, but until you're there, until you get your fight back, I'm fighting for you."

That, my friends, is just one small example of how well JB writes love. This example is a brotherly love, familial love, but it's a love that can transcend any type of typical circumstance- it's that love for one another, that love where another person can see someone lost and struggling and reaches out to help, refuses to give up on them, even when they are ready to give up on themselves, that can show someone the true meaning of love. There are so many examples of love in this story. Braeden has so many who come around him in his time of struggle.

AJ is one of them. Braeden and AJ knew from the beginning there was something special between them. A chemistry that neither of them had experienced before. Their story is long and hard and passionate and real. There are highs and lows, but throughout the entire story, you (as the reader) are pulling for them. There are times I want to reach through the book and shake AJ. There are also times I want to reach through the book and shake Braeden. There are multiple times I want to reach through the book and hug them both and tell them to keep going. Keep fighting. Keep loving.

There are parts of this book that you'll love, parts that you'll hate, and parts that you hate that you love. You'll feel conflicted on multiple occasions. You'll feel the hurt and pain they feel beyond measure. You'll see the sparks fly when the passion is high. You'll feel hope and love beyond all measures. I hope you read this book. I hope you read this series. I hope it reminds you of all the feels.