Review: Making Him Sweat - Meg Maguire

She's hitting below the belt…

Round 1
In this corner is admittedly romantic Jenna Wilinski, who’s inherited a rather seedy boxing gym from her estranged father. With it, she can realize her dream of launching an upscale matchmaking business…provided she can take on the very intimidating—and wickedly hot—boxer who stands in her way!

Round 2
In the far corner is former pro boxer Mercer Rowley. He’s the only one who can protect his “home”—even if it is a little run-down— from his determined and feisty little opponent. But man, once the gloves come off, his hands just want to touch her everywhere…

Round 3
This matchup is too close to call. But no matter which contender comes out on top, the other is sure to enjoy every minute of it....

Wilinski's Series:
Making Him Sweat
Taking Him Down (August 2013)
Driving Her Wild (November 2013)

Visit Meg Maguire's website for more information

Review:
When Jenna inherits a boxing gym from her estranged father she has no intention of keeping it running but it does give her the perfect opportunity to open the matchmaking agency that she has always dreamed of. She just needs to find a way to run the two businesses together until the end of the year when she can legitimately close the gym. She hadn't planned on having to deal with Mercer though, Mercer has been running the gym since her father got sick and he has plans to give the run down old place a makeover and rebuild it's reputation. He is shocked when his mentor's long lost daughter arrives on the scene saying that she is planning on closing it down. Mercer is prepared to fight for the gym but how can he go against Jenna's wishes when he knows her father would want whatever made her happy?

This is the first book I've ever read by Meg Maguire but it definitely won't be the last, I can't wait to continue reading this series and I'm planning on working my way through her back list as soon as possible because I absolutely loved Making Him Sweat. I never expected to find myself so attracted to a hot sweaty boxer but Mercer pushed all the right buttons and I completely fell in love with him. Jenna couldn't be more different to Mercer and this is definitely a case of opposites attract but they work so well as a couple and I didn't have the slightest problem believing they could be happy together.

Jenna is a sweet girl with a romantic heart who is looking for her perfect man. She always thought that her father didn't care about her and she blamed the gym and its fighters for taking all of his attention so the last thing she wants is to help keep it running. Financially the gym is struggling and that gives her the perfect excuse to close it and focus on her matchmaking business. She arrives in Boston with a very prejudiced outlook towards the gym and the people who use it but once she meets Mercer and starts to get to know the other guys she starts to realise that her first impressions couldn't have been more wrong. I loved the fact that she is brave enough to admit her mistake and has the guts to do something about it.

Mercer is cocky and arrogant but he is also sexy as hell. I have to include my favourite quote here to prove my point:

"All men think they're great kissers. Just like you think you're the only decent driver on the road."
"Maybe, but I am. Amazing kisser. Dangerously amazing. Your panties would, like, disintegrate, I'm such an awesome kisser."

He says all the right things but he has the skills to back them up and this scene turned into one of the hottest kissing scenes I've read in ages. He was right about the melting panties! As much as I loved Mercer for his banter I loved him even more for the way he was so protective and caring towards Jenna. She arrives on the scene determined to turn his whole world upside down but Mercer never once shows any anger towards her. He is so calm and collected about things even when he is asking for a chance to show her that he can turn the gym around and make it profitable again. I loved the fact that he doesn't try to pressure Jenna into anything, he accepts the choices she makes even when he really doesn't want to. He takes the slow approach to winning her over and it really works for him.

Making Him Sweat has everything I want in a good romance, a great couple with fantastic chemistry who are able to make things work both between the sheets and outside them, scorching hot sex scenes that left me in need of a cold shower and fab side characters who I can't wait to get to know better as the series continues. If you like your men muscled and powerful and your sex gritty and raw then you're going to love this book. Now I just want to know where I can find myself a guy like Mercer!

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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