Defying the Odds (2011) (edit title/settings)

• Rated 5 stars

“I've only read one book by Kele Moon before and really liked it so I was definitely looking forward to reading this one and thankfully I wasn't disappointed. I loved both Clay and Melody and thought they were great together; very sweet and very believable as a couple. And of course once they got together, they were smokin' hot. I don't watch the UFC and really never thought about watching it, but since this series takes place in that world I was kinda nervous thinking I wouldn't get the story but I should never have worried about it. The romance takes center stage with the fighting taking just a minor role. The secondary characters were all great and I can't wait to read more of this series. I know Jules gets the next book, but I'm really looking for Wyatt's book. Would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance that's sweet, funny and generally makes you feel good knowing you read a great book.”

• Rated 4 stars

“Melody Dylan is searching for a second chance. She has recently escaped an abusive relationship and now she is making a new start in a new town. Overwhelmed by the generosity of strangers, she really feels Garnet is the town for her. A simple act of giving someone pie on Thanksgiving changes her life forever.

Clay Powers is a famous Ultimate Fighting Champ. He has grown up his entire life in the town of Garnet and even though he’s famous, he’s just a home town boy at heart. Taken back by the kindness of a waitress, Clay takes an immediate interest in Melody. Her smile seems to captivate him...among other things.

This is a perfect love story. Watching two emotionally wounded people find love and happiness in each other...what better way to spend your afternoon. I loved watching the connection grow and build between them. The protectiveness and selflessness of Clay was amazing, he really did wear his heart right out in the open. The passion was volatile and the scenes hot and steamy. Defying the Odds was a wonderful book to warm your heart on a cold winters’ day.

This copy of Defying the Odds was given to me by Random House Publishing Group - Bantam in exchange for an honest review. Publish Date Dec. 20, 2011.”

• Rated 2 stars

“Super cute”

• Rated 4 stars

“I really enjoyed this book. Such a weird couple a fighter and a woman hiding from her ex-husband. They were so good together though. Really enjoyed this book hope there is another one.”

• Rated 1 stars

“h - abused by husband”

• Rated 3 stars

“DEFYING THE ODDS was a pretty quick read for me. It was different than what I had expected, not necessarily in a bad way.

Clay Powers, a multiple UFC championship fighter, has always intimidated people. He only has two people he can really call his friends, the rest just want to benefit from his fighting abilities. So when new waitress to their small town, Melody Dylan, brings him a piece of pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving, he doesn’t tell her he hates pumpkin pie, but accepts in and realize she’s the first to do something nice for him.

When his friend, fighting buddy, and town sheriff, Wyatt Conners warns him away from her because of her abusive past, Clay feels a sense of loss, but holds out hope.

Melody’s life has been one of constant trials. Since finally getting away from her abusive ex-husband, Justin, she’s trying to start a new life for herself. She’s lucky she’s found such a great town that is willing to help her out.

It’s soon clear to the entire town that they are both smitten with each other. Clay always comes in on her shifts, he’s bribes others to sit in her section, and he helps her with post dinner prep when she’s so tired from double shifts.

Melody has tried to keep the mentality that all men aren’t abusive and she finds she doesn’t feel afraid with a big man like Clay, instead she finds that comfort she’s been searching for.

There budding romance comes to a halt when Melody gets summons that has her address on it. Fearing Justin will get the same papers, she breaks it off with Clay and contemplates how fast she can get out of town.

With Melody out of his life, his drive to fight goes down and Clay’s friends worry about his championship fight. They go as far as convincing Melody to surprise him in Las Vegas and use her as a slap in the face to get Clay to wake up and win the title.

After, Melody comes clean about her fears and with the promise he’ll protect her, they finally find each other. Their love is quick and I really enjoyed how much they respected each other. Clay ached for her abusive past and talks of his own struggles for acceptance in the world.

The actual showdown with Justin wasn’t quite what I expected, but with his opponent, Romeo saving her life, it really tied the story up nicely.

Christmas Eve at the diner reminds them much of Thanksgiving. Clay’s Romeo’s new trainer and with a promotional offer by his sponsors, he and Mel are going to open a women’s clinic for abused women, her dream.
”

• Rated 4 stars

“Defying the Odds
Reviewed by Suz & posted at Under the Covers Book Blog
http://underthecoversbookblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/review-defying-odds-by-kele-moon.html

It all started with a slice of pumpkin pie. Not the most auspacious of starts I'll grant you , but it lead to one hell of a sweet and sexy read.

Melody has started a new life in the small town of Garnet to get away from an abusive, crazy ex-husband , concentrating on getting her life back together, she didn't expect to find Clay. Seeing him lonely on Thanksgiving she gets him a piece of pumpkin pie, never expecting the gesture to touch the big gorgeous man as much as it does. No one has given Clay anything that they didn't expect to gain from, and so when the new waitress gives him a free slice of pie she can't really afford he is deeply touched and can't help but notice of beautiful and warm she is and despite the fact the two of them are a little bit broken, they seem to fit just right.

I have never read anything by Kele Moon before, but I am definitely going to be looking more of her books up, and I am certainly going to be reading the next book in this series. It was a great mixture of sweet, with the gruff and quiet Clay all but bearing his heart for anyone to see whenever he looks at Melody, sexy, Vegas against-the-window-sex *fans self*, and funny. The characters were likable, especially Clay's adopted siblings Wyatt and Jules; I pratically devoured this book!

I am left now with a craving for pumpkin pie, (which I have never had) and eagerly awaiting the next book, which, fingerscrossed is going to be about the highly charming but equally lonely Sheriff, Wyatt or his sister the beautiful, tough but also lonely Jules.

”

• Rated 0 stars

“*”

• Rated 3 stars

“I enjoyed this, it's a sweet love story, but I felt like I had read it before...too many cliches to feel fresh.

Mel is a waitress in a small town, hiding from her abusive ex-husband, who you knew would show up at the end of the book....Clay Powers, UFC fighter and all around big handsome grouch falls for Mel...and that's at least where the book sucked me in. Their romance played out over (compressed book)time and was sweet, with some pretty hot sex scenes.

A nice warm book with Valentines Day approaching, but cannot compete with her Eden series, which I loved.”