Series: Tall, Dark, and Dangerous #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: November 3rd 2015
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
He’s a fighter who never loses, but is he tough enough to win her heart?
There was a time when I had everything–a wonderful family, a bright future. Love. But all that was taken away in a single night, torn from me like flesh from bone. Since then, I’ve hidden away in my second-choice job as a makeup artist. But I prefer it that way, actually. I’m comfortable in the shadows, where no one can see my scars.
Kiefer Rogan literally took my breath away the moment I met him. MMA champion-turned-actor, notorious playboy, charming to a fault—he’s everything I vowed to avoid.
But he just wouldn’t stop until I opened up and let him in. Maybe I should’ve tried harder to resist him. Maybe I shouldn’t have fallen in love with him. Because I, of all people, know that everyone has secrets. Scars. And that they’re usually ugly and painful and destructive to the people we love most.
I just never guessed that they could be deadly, too.
“Pugnare superesse. Vivere pugna. Fight to survive. Fight to live.”
Tough Enough is so, so, sooooo sweet!!!! I love Rogan so freaking much! He’s one of the sweetest heroes I’ve ever read, and I absolutely adored him. I actually wasn’t expecting this book to be as wonderfully romantic as it was, so it was such a great surprise to find out that Rogan is as sweet and heart-melting as he is sexy and alpha. He and Katie are perfect together – I simply adored their story. The romance in Tough Enough swept me away and had my heart swooning and sighing. I highly recommend this book for those who love romances!
“You think I don’t see you, don’t you? But I do. I see you. I could watch you and see you all day and never get tired of it.”
M. Leighton always writes the most wonderful heroes, but I have to say, Rogan is now my top favorite hero of hers. I LOVED HIM! Sweet, utterly smitten with Katie, but also powerful and dangerous. He may be a fighter, but he’s a lover at heart, and the second he sees Katie, he’s totally gone for her. But Katie has her own scars and an abusive past that prevents her from jumping into anything with Rogan, no matter how much she wants this man, who’s gorgeous inside and out. She’s the kind of girl I instantly related to – down-to-earth, sweet, self-conscious. She’s amazed that someone like Rogan could want her, and while I normally would’ve been annoyed by that attitude, it worked with her. I understood her so well and my heart broke at the painful past she has. But being with Rogan changes everything for her, and where she was once existing, he now makes her start to truly live.
“This . . . you are the closest I’ve come to living in a long time.”
“Then let me bring you back to life,” he whispers, brushing his lips over mine in a kiss even softer than his words. “Inch by inch, day by day, touch by touch.”
Katie and Rogan were both fantastic, dynamic characters that I grew addicted to reading about. And the chemistry between them is on fire! My heart grew invested in their characters and story because I loved them so much. I also enjoyed being in both their POVs. I especially appreciated the individual journey that Katie goes through. She learns to love herself and grow confident in herself, thanks to Rogan. Ah, I just want grab Katie and hug her, she’s such a sweetheart of a heroine!
The main reason I can’t give this book 5 stars is because I was expecting something… different. After reading Strong Enough, I thought Tough Enough would also have a strong romantic suspense theme, but this book is very much just straight-up contemporary romance with only the barest hints of suspense. If I’d known that going in, I’m sure this easily would’ve been a 5 star read, but since I was kind of looking forward to some action, I was a little let down. Still, I really did love this book – M. Leighton knows how to write romance, and she’s blown me away with Katie and Rogan’s heart-wrenchingly sweet love story.
Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.
Reading Order: Tall, Dark, and Dangerous series
#1 ~ Strong Enough: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Tough Enough: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Brave Enough: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
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