Blog Tour: A Fighting Chance by AJ Sand

A FIGHTING CHANCE

By A.J. Sand

New Adult/Adult Romantic Suspense

Released February 4, 2014

Jesse Chance is a bastard.

And that’s all he heard his entire life growing up once news got out that he was the illegitimate child of womanizing ex-con, Henry Chance.

Stuck in Glory, Texas, a town too small to escape the sins of his parents, Jesse turned into exactly what everyone expected him to be: a lover of liquor and women, and so good with his fists, he became a teenage champion of the secret underground fighting rings that float around the South, while doubting the only people who ever believed he could be more, his ailing mother, and his girlfriend, Drew Hallisay.

But determined to make his mother’s dying wish come true, he enrolled in a college on the East Coast, far away from his past. Jesse Chance is reborn into a new life, and set on keeping Glory, Texas--and Henry Chance--in his rear view.

Until a visit from his father in the middle of the night changes everything.

Forced to return to Glory to prevent a tragedy, Jesse is soon back on the fighting circuit with Drew's help and facing the history he was so desperate to escape, the part of him he would prefer to hide.

As he slips back into his old ways--Henry Chance's ways--he finds himself torn between the guy he was and the one he’s been struggling to become. And in a world dead set on betting against you, can you ever really overcome your past… or your destiny?

3.5 Star Review by Jen Hagen

Jesse Chance was born a fighter.  He has had to fight to be accepted by everybody in his small community, he has tried to fight for his father’s love, and most of all he has had to fight for himself so that for a brief period of time he feels that he has earned everybody’s pride and acceptance only to realize that it leaves the moment he steps out of a ring.  He desperately wants people to like him.  Jesse gave up his fighting ways 4 years ago and he is now 22 years old and in his last semester at college far away from home.  He is happy in the life he has made for himself with his future being planned out with his girlfriend beside him.  Jesse’s plans are thrown to the wind when his father suddenly makes an appearance.

“I need your help…” When Henry reaches out to me, I see the space on his right hand, where two of his fingers are gone: the ring and the pinkie. They were clearly sliced off, in a clean line, and then cauterized at the knuckle. “I’m in trouble. A lot of trouble. I think you have to come home.”

Jesse knows better than to become involved with his father, but when his half-brother’s life is being threatened that is when Jesse realizes he will do anything to help.  Jesse doesn’t even have to think twice about what this means for his future.  He is willing to put his life on hold and go back home to make certain that his little brother’s life is not in jeopardy.  Jesse is devoted and compassionate to a fault; he has never been accepted into his father’s family but yet is putting his life on the line for their safety.

When Jesse returns home he not only has to face the past of everybody not wanting him, but also he finds himself back in the comfort of Drew, the girlfriend and love of his life that he walked away from.  Drew had always been by Jesse’s side when he was fighting in underground fights and was vastly knowledgeable in the opposing fighter’s weaknesses.  She picked up the broken pieces of her heart when Jesse walked away and has moved on, and is currently engaged.  She steps up to assist Jesse with his training and accompany him to Mexico where the fighting bets and rewards are larger.  These fights aren’t anything that Jesse was used to.  They are full of illegal moves and lethal if you do not come out as the winner.

Jesse and Drew have their lives placed in danger several times.  Jesse and Drew still have strong feelings for each other and even though each of them have moved forward their lives and are each involved in a romantic relationship, their past love for each still strongly exists.  Can they push their feelings back and focus strictly on trying to stay alive?  Maybe the sense of danger and the eminent threat of their lives is what they need to acknowledge the unspoken and undefeated love for each other that has never left.   

I love you, Drew Hallisay. I don’t want anyone else to know what that’s like ever again. I don’t want anyone else to love you. And I don’t want anyone else to ever know what it’s like to be loved by you.

A.J. Sand grew up an only child whose parents bought her many, many books to keep her busy, so it was only natural that she would start writing her own stories. She is the author of “Documentary,” “Remake” and “Recklessly.” She lives just outside of Washington, D.C.

Author social media links:

Twitter: @ajajajsand; https://twitter.com/ajajajsand

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ajajajsand

Blog: http://ajswritingreallyblows.blogspot.com/

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