REVIEW: BENEATH THE SURFACE BY M.A. STACIE

Kyran Reese is a man in control. Driven when it comes to work, focused when it comes to play. From his office to the chalk circle of the bare-knuckle boxing ring, his only thought is to win. That thirst heightens when Dale Porter enters his life. His brother’s assistant should be off limits, but her witty comments and sarcastic comebacks have him desperate to get her between the sheets.

When Dale agrees to Kyran’s relationship stipulation of no labels she’s sucked into a whirlwind of lust, money, and underground boxing. Dale fights her growing affection, trying to hide it when the world around them spirals out of control. All too soon she realizes she can’t hide her true feelings any longer.

Has Kyran finally met his match? Could playing to win mean playing for keeps?



Published: August 29th 2013 by TWCS Publishing House
Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley for review
Purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

So this is not your typical fighter novel. It's more like rich guy fights to rid himself of angst novel...but really, that's splitting hairs: hot rich guy + fighting + angst + hot sexy times = hot rich fighter guy, RIGHT?!!!! Completely right. Doesn't matter what the reason...that combination will draw us in like moths to a flame. Shameless, we are.

Anyway, Kyran meets his brother's (Taylor) new assistant and it's game on. Dale is a smart mouthed, spunky, take no shit off of anyone--even if he is the CEO of the company she just got hired on at. The chemistry between them is almost instantaneous and ever present. We gets drips and drabs of their story between the fight and sex scenes and while it's no American Horror Story, they've both had some hardships to overcome. The biggest hurdle for them is trying to keep the 'just sex' title on their relationship that is quickly becoming more than just sex. To their credit, while they aren't always able to verbalize their TRUE emotions, they are able to be honest and upfront with their sometimes uncomfortable and awkward feelings and that is something I can always get behind with my characters!! Yep! Can I add here that Dale is really, really funny. She's young and she said spunky already, but she owns who she is...and has learned not to take crap off of anybody. She has a little more learning to do herself before this novel is done, but Dale is a strong character that I enjoyed.

I liked that they steamed up the pages a bit, and Dale definitely gave as good as she got to Kyran because she didn't let him walk all over her at all, hot steamy CEO title or not. What I liked, and wished could've been even more fleshed out (and it was pretty fleshed out...so don't worry) was the family dynamic aspect with Kyran and his father and Taylor. Those boys have some serious issues to overcome, and they are even more cray than Dale and Kyran trying not to love each other. I also liked that there wasn't a huge deal with the fights for Kyran. It was definitely something he enjoyed doing, but with everything else he has going on it was just the pure simple enjoyment of fighting for him. He's not getting richer, or famous off of it that I know of...and that was a nice change from the usual M.O. of CEO hotties that fight. So...I liked that it made that trope it's own, and that worked me over for a few of the details that I thought might be missing.

This story was super quick to read. There were points when I wished there had been more back story or more information provided so that I felt more engaged with them..but ultimately I found them to be likable characters. Ditto, sister. I liked that the story lines that I needed to know more about at least were answered before the end, but I would have liked to see a scene getting down to the nitty gritty with those guys. I'm thinking that Taylor needs, I won't daresay is getting a book...but his story is the most undone, and I needed more of that! :) Other than that, I really enjoyed this book that like she said is sexy, fun, and super quick to read on a cold day that requires lots of snuggling under the covers! 

Shelley: 3 1/2 Stars
Courtney: 4 Stars

About the Author

M. A. Stacie is never without a book or her eReader. A voracious reader, with a love of sexy, yet angst ridden novels, she loves getting lost in new worlds. Her need to write did not grip her until after her second son was born, when her previous rambles became fully fledged stories.

She describes herself as one huge contradiction, and though not the most conventional of hobbies, she counts getting new tattoos as one of hers. Along with running, knitting, and listening to loud music. However, she is yet to work out how to do them all at the same time.

M. A. Stacie lives in the UK with her husband and three sons.

Goodreads | Website | Twitter