I've never read any of Jeanette Murray's works before, and I was a little hesitant to jump straight into a series that was clearly well established. I will admit, this one takes a little while to find your bearings if you haven't read the entire series. There's been an ongoing issue with vandalism at the gym it takes place at, for instance, and Murray clearly assumes you know exactly what is happening and what has happened with it. I was able to muddle through and still deeply enjoyed the book, but I do wish I would have known that reading the first ones were pretty recommended.

It's a shame that I was confused because the gym which serves as the setting is clearly the main impetus of the tribe this series is about. You can tell from small asides and larger conversations that the men and women who make up this series are family and I wish I could have watched the building of that trust and that world.

FIGHT TO THE FINISH, the third in the series, centers around Kara and Graham. Kara, a single mom and yoga instructor at the gym, gets caught in a custody battle with her ex, who seems like a true piece of human garbage. Luckily for everyone, including the readers, Graham is a lawyer who has also, conveniently, been super into Kara for a while. Sparks fly, emotional walls come a tumbling down, hot sex is had, we all live happily ever after. Human-Garbage-Ex is vanquished, and justice is served.

Even with my slight confusion about the backstory of all the characters, I would wholeheartedly recommend FIGHT TO THE FINISH to anyone who likes quiet heroes and resilient heroines.

Book Summary

Kara is a single mom working hard to keep life running smoothly for herself and her son, but a custody battle is wearing her down. When her friend suggests asking a JAG officer for some unofficial advice, Kara agrees—and soon finds herself officially head over heels...

As a Judge Advocate, Graham has seen his share of nasty custody disputes—and he plans on keeping his distance from this one. But this purposeful, passionate woman has a way of drawing him ever closer to the edge. And when Kara’s ex starts to throw his weight around, Graham will have to choose between toeing the line or stepping into the ring...