Unlikely Hero by Kemmie Michaels

Reviewed by Jen:

So, I was contacted by this author with the offer to read her book. I had never heard of her before, but looking at the pictures from her facebook page, I was intrigued (please stop by and visit her-she is doing giveaways and freebies all the time! Kemmie's FB page ) I accepted the offer and began reading that night. As Kemmie and I began to talk, we realized that we certainly had much more in common than ogling over scrumptious looking men. But this is a review, and true to form, I will be as impartial to my new author friend as I can be.

The beginning of the book introduces us to Erin. Let me state that it has been awhile since I've read a story told through narrative versus the character's point of view. While I do find that you can reach much deeper into the character's feelings through personal point of view, you are much better able to be equally fair to EACH character's point of view through a narrative.

Anyhoo, Erin is the main female character in the story. She is the quintessential sounding Irish girl. She is thin, fit, with red flowy hair, and a back story that is sure to make you relieved that college parties weren't nearly as bad for you. Erin is scared to let herself out, she has cocooned herself within and lives a life that would be considered beyond hermit. After seeking therapy to help her through her fear and self doubt, she was encouraged to write her feelings in a notebook. Although doubtful it would do much, she embarked on trying to change how she lives her life. And what that notebook does changes her life forever.

Next we meet Marcus Walker. He is the main male character. He suffered through a terrible childhood with his twin sister and is filled with so much rage and anger, his life should have been spent in juvenile prisons and in a jail cell. But then a man by the name of Bill finds him and introduces him to an outlet that would help bring Marcus some peace. It is through MMA (Mixed Martial Arts for us lay folk) that he finally has an appropriate outlet for his anger.

When Marcus stumbles upon Erin's notebook, what he does changes the course of his and Erin's life. (And is beyond excusable and makes me want to apologize to my kids now for probably doing the same thing to their diary in the future.) Their connection through the notebook is beyond incredible and helps bring them something they both need in their lives: each other.

To say that Erin and Marcus's relationship heats up would be an understatement. The sex scenes in the book are fairly graphic, so if you aren't into a little couch and bed action, this isn't the book for you. However, she is so graphic in her writing of the sex scenes that it almost feels like you are there (I guess in an awkward fictional threesome-ha!). I could feel their passion through her writing and that was a wonderful thing when laying in bed with your book-especially when your husband is downstairs watching preseason football.

As their relationship moves on....Erin learns to find herself and how to love and trust again. And Marcus learns that he can control his fire filled rage, using it only when fighting within the walls of the MMA cage. Although Marcus is not quite the bad boy that many other books use to lure their readers in, he is a badass with the heart of gold. This alone, along with this own insecurities over money, help you feel for him and his whole backstory. In one scene in which he gets into an argument over money with Erin, it feels so real because anyone just starting their life understands the need to not be looked down upon. However, I wish Kemmie would have run with that idea a bit more because you can see trails of that insecurity throughout the book, especially in a scene with her parents later in the story.

With all that being said, if I had to choose a song for this book, it would most definitely be Christina Aguilera's song "Fighter," as it certainly fits the words in this book. It was a quick paced story and very fun to read. It has been a pleasure getting to know this author and I am happy that I got a chance to read Erin and Marcus's story. They are a couple I will definitely be interested in following through to marriage, and I am happy to recommend this book to my reader friends!