Stephanie Phillips

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through Netgalley.)

Joanna Carr used to be a professional MMA fighter - that is, until she lost her title in a rather crushing fashion. After that, she retired to New Jersey, where she started a family and a Muay Thai gym with her husband, Clark. Though she loves the life she's created for herself, Joanna is haunted by memories of that last loss - and with it, feelings of inadequacy both in and outside of the ring (motherhood is hard).

When an old friend asks Joanna and Clark to take in an especially tough client, Joanna jumps at the chance. Sixteen-year-old Mari reminds Joanna of herself - tough and scrappy, and desperately in need of an outlet for all those feelings. Slowly but surely, Joanna wins Mari's trust - thanks in no small part to their bonding over Muay Thai. But when Mari runs away after a misunderstanding, she falls into the clutches of George Pine, who runs a very brutal - and very illegal - underground fighting ring in NYC. Can Joanna make things right before Mari starts a fight she can't win

The story is fairly simple and a little predictable, but it tugs on ye ole heart strings nonetheless. I'm a sucker for found family stories, and this is a sweet (and bloody!) one. More than anything, though, it feels like a love letter to Muay Thai (and, by extension, women's empowerment through choosing to fight), and I am so here for it. The artwork is fantastic, though the cover definitely takes the cake.… (mais)