REVIEW: Fighting Dirty by Lori Foster

In Fighting Dirty (Ultimate #4) by Lori Foster, MMA fighter Armie Jacobson tries to remind himself every time he sees Merissa Colter that she’s his best friend’s younger sister. But years of denying himself the one woman he wants while he has countless one night stands has left him feeling empty inside. So when Rissy’s life is threatened, Armie steps in to protect her, knowing he’ll run the risk of giving away how he feels for her. He may not be good enough for Rissy, but he has to at least try to prove his worth to her.

‘She wanted this, with him, and he was more than happy to oblige her. But anything more? The future, her future, would be up to her and Rissy was a smart woman. She always made good choices. Odds were she wouldn’t choose him.’

Rissy has loved Armie for years. Hearing the rumors of his bedroom escapades and watching the long line of ladies interested in him has been torture. But she’s ready to admit her feelings to him, and she won’t stop until he understands how serious she is in making things work. Rissy’s plans might just backfire, though, when Armie comes under fire for something that happened years ago. Can she make him see that she’ll stick by him no matter what? Or will his protective streak mean the end of their new found romance?

“I’m not a man-whore.”
“Oh please.” How Army could deny that with a straight face, she didn’t know. “Total man-whore. But so what? You’re an adult and if you want to sow enough wild oats for a battalion, it’s your own business.”

Finally! I’ve been waiting for Armie and Rissy’s story since they were first introduced at the beginning of Lori Foster’s Ultimate series. And this passionate romance had all of the fire and excitement I could have hoped for.

“No one,” he said, interrupting her, “could ever love you as much as I do. I swear it.”
Her heart melted. That was the absolute sweetest, most wonderful thing anyone had ever said to her.

Fighting Dirty turned out to be exciting with all of the action scenes while Armie and Rissy were being threatened, yet it was also a truly sweet book. As a couple, they were so much fun together and had a really great rapport once they gave in to their feelings. I love how Foster has built up their sexual tension for so long over the course of this series. The culmination here showed what fans have known all along: that bad boy Armie and good girl Rissy were perfect for each other.

Armie, Armie, Armie. He was such a likable guy. Sure he was a wild man with the ladies. But his easy demeanor and honesty allowed the kids in the youth programs at the rec center to feel comfortable with him. And the other fighters knew they could count on Armie as well. I hated that he thought he wasn’t good enough for Rissy but understood where he was coming from, given his troubled past. Thankfully she had enough faith in him for the both of them. I did love how much his character grew emotionally by the end. It was wonderful to see.

I’ve enjoyed Rissy’s character immensely in other books but wanted to get to know more about her. She was similar to Armie in that she was protective of those she loved but she was also a natural caregiver, as is mentioned in the book. It was so cool to see her thoughts on her brother Cannon, how she thought of the MMA guys as her family, and to realize how deep her feelings truly ran for Armie. Rissy was brave and such a strong young woman during all of the events that happened. I can see why Armie was in awe of her and how she was able to keep his attention.

Fighting Dirty was an incredible book full of emotion, family dynamics, dark secrets, and ultimately, hope. I think fans will love how things were wrapped up between Rissy and Armie, as well as with the previous characters who made appearances in the story.

Book Info:

Publication: Published February 23rd 2016 | by HQN Books | Ultimate #4

He’s the hottest MMA fighter in the game, but one woman is ready to try out a few steamy moves of her own in an unforgettable new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster…

With the life he’s led and the muscles he’s gained, Armie Jacobson isn’t afraid of anything. Except maybe Merissa Colter’s effect on him. It’s not just that she’s his best friend’s little sister. Fact is, she deserves better. Women pursue him for one night of pleasure, and that’s all he wants to offer. Until rescuing Merissa from a robbery leads to the most erotic encounter of his life.

Good girl meets bad boy. It’s a story that rarely ends well. But Merissa is taking matters into her own hands. No matter how he views himself, the Armie she knows is brave, honorable and completely loyal. And as past demons and present-day danger collide, they’re both about to learn what’s truly worth fighting for…