Review: Fearless (Pretty Smart Girls #2) by Shae Ross

Fearless

Author: Shae Ross

Series: -

Pages:

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Amazon

Synopsis (Goodreads) Every fighter has a weakness...

Devi Dalton won't let anyone hold her back. With the help of her friends, she's taken control of her future and traded her messed-up family life for a new job in Manhattan. Her only obstacle? Ben Winslow, the sexy friend she's desperately trying to resist. If she's going to succeed, she can't afford to be distracted, no matter how hot the chemistry burns between them.

Cage fighter Ben spent six months trying to convince Devi to take a chance on a relationship. Now that they've reunited in New York, he's not letting her push him away again. They're more than friends-always have been-and he'll do whatever it takes to prove it to her. First, he has a few demons of his own to slay...one of which could ruin his chances with her for forever.

But every fighter has a weakness. Ben's is Devi. And this time, she'll need more than just her favorite "Fearless Red" lipstick to protect her heart if she lets him in...

Review: 3 out of 5 stars

I was so curious about this book, I adore friendship to lovers relationships so I started this one the moment I downloaded it and all was going well until the big Ben reveal and also the misleading ‘cage fighting’ in the description which was only mentioned in two small scenes.

I didn’t realise this is also the second book in the Pretty Smart Girls series but it can most definitely be read as a stand-alone.

Our MC’s are Devi & Ben who met in the first book in the series, Laced Up where they were competing for a place to work at the sponsoring company’s headquarters; Ben’s team won and part of the deal was city accommodation so they decide to sublet an apartment to Devi and her friend Ryan. The chemistry between Ben and Devi was smouldering and you just anticipate the moment they would get together, it didn’t come without drama but it was entertaining none the less until a BIG setback happens; I just felt this aspect was completely unnecessary and ruined what they had worked towards – I don’t want to spoil it for anyone but it was a bit of a deal breaker for me which is why I reduced my rating.

We also learn about Devi’s dysfunctional family life; I felt this aspect was interesting and explored well; it also shaped Devi to be the independent person she was; she didn’t like to depend on anyone so seeks out to find a job the moment she arrives & when offered a job at a children’s centre she readily accepts it. I loved reading about her time with the kids, especially Gator and I loved that he got his HEA; he was a sweetheart.  

I enjoyed Shae Ross’s writing style & her characters, the storyline without the unnecessary drama would have appealed to me more; there was a lot happening such as drugs, dysfunctional families, traumatised kids and potential parenting; the blend made for an angst filled read.

Thank you to Entangled via Netgalley for the opportunity to read Fearless.

About the author (Goodreads): Shae Ross was born and grew up in Ferndale, Michigan. After graduating high school, Ms. Ross attended Michigan State University and continued her education at Detroit College of Law. Prior to 2014, she spent the majority of her career practicing corporate law, running a successful business and engaged in entrepreneurial ventures.

After having one too many stressful days at the office, Ms. Ross began to consider pursuing her lifelong dream of writing. Armed with an English degree, an interest in historical settings and a huge collection of romance novels, Ms. Ross put pen to paper and began converting the characters in her head to ink. She soon found herself happily immersed in a new working world that included heroes and heroines, agents and editors, and a multitude of secondary characters.

Ms. Ross currently writes in the new adult and historical romance genres and lives with her husband and three children in Holt, Michigan.