12 Rounds
12 Rounds by Lauren Hammond on goodreads:Â
Sean (Right-Hook) Reilly knows a few things about himself. One, he’s the middle-weight boxing champion of the world with an undefeated record. Two, women find his cocky persona, chiseled biceps, and inked body sexy. Also, the fact that it’s known that he doesn’t do relationships only adds to his sex appeal. And three, he’s Irish, proud of it, and a member of the Braithreachas Don Saol, a branch of the Irish mafia and king pins of the drug cartel taking over the streets of Cleveland.
Connor Doyle(aka Connie) the boss and leader of the Braithreachas Don Saol, has been like a father to Sean, taking him under his wing and teaching him how to survive on the streets after the death of his parents. Sean has never been ungrateful, but has always wanted one thing… More. More to live for. More to fight for. More to believe in. A chance at a future without drugs or guns. A chance at a future without wondering which day will be his last. There’s only one problem with that. You live by the braithreachas. You die by the braithreachas. And Sean knows whether Connie considers him to be family or not, the only way he’ll be leaving the braithreachas is in a body bag.
Hadlee Flax has had a year to overcome her issues. After almost being raped and brutalized, she’s putting her best foot forward, seeing a therapist, and has even(with some persuasion from her best friend, Lara) enrolled in self defense classes. And she’s doing well moving on with her life until she meets the dark, and conflicted Irish boxing champion of the world, Sean Reilly.
Hadlee is immediately drawn to the gorgeous, cold, and mysterious man who speaks with a slight Irish brogue. She soon learns that there is much more to him than his darkened gaze, cool demeanor, and body covered in tattoos. He’s not the type of man she thought he was. And Hadlee finds herself doing something she never thought she would do in the last year…
Falling for a guy. Falling for Sean Reilly. A man who is on the path to becoming a boxing legend.
One thing Hadlee doesn’t know is the other part of Seans’ life. His life of drug running, and killing. Or the fact that when he’s not boxing he’s walking the streets with a gat tucked into the back of his loose jeans, and glancing over his shoulder at every turn. But it doesn’t take Hadlee long to learn that some attractions and relationships can be fatal.
And sometimes…Â They just might be worth fighting for
Reading the synopis and looking at the cover: sexy and dangerous is exactly what I was hoping for when I started reading 12 Rounds… and .. I was not dissapointed!
 
Angst, Violence, Fights and Healing
Clearly in 12 Rounds we touch a bunch of topics the meshed together make a heartbreaking, touching and thrilling New Adult Contemporary book. Handlee is nearly broken and tries to get her life back and lives without fear. Her almost rape put her in a deliberate and vulnerable situation and  all she wants is to get her strength back. Sean, dark and dangerous has his own devils to fight, bound to the Irish mafia and there is no running from, even Sean would do anything to be free.
Sean – dark, sexy and dangerous
Oh how I am drawn to characters such as Sean! Hart on the outside, covered in tattoos gun wielding and wrapped up in a life he doesn’t want to belong. He’s broken just like Hadlee but handles it completely different. Taking woman home only to have sex and then throw them away. He doesn’t want to let anyone get close to him. Until he meets Hadless and suddenly wants her to be close, even though he knows this is a bad idea.
Sean is an intriguing multilayered character, all hard and muscles but sweet and caring from inside!
Fast, Explosive, Sexy and Dangerous
The plot has everything I was looking for  I was captivated right away by this violent, but also touchingly sweet story! My heart was breaking for Hadlee with her horrible story. But I was also touched by Sean’s story. I was holding my breath a few times with everything Sean had to deal with. Needless to say his life is nothing short of dangerous. But when those two meet ,both change and both see something in each other that they cannot find with someone else. Hadless sees a protector but also care taker and Sean sees a broken girl he wants to hold and protect but also, she could be his chance to finally change his life.. My only complain was the length, as it was fairly short and some scenes could have dragged out a little. It ended way too fast, so now I am eager to get the next book!
Bewitched Rating
Bottom Line
12 Rounds has everything I am looking for in a New Adult book: It’s sexy, full of angst and a beautiful, touching love story. Sean is an elusive and complex character I fell for easily with a rough outside and a very sweet and caring inside! Fans of New Adult Contemporary will  love this book!
 
 
 
Note: explicit sexual content.Â
Additional Info
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Holy jesus. This sounds so sexy!!! Danny, I totally blame you for making my TBR pile even longer! 😛
I’m honestly a little worried about the length though. This sounds like such an intense, emotional book, but I’m worried that at only 190 pages it might not go into enough detail!
But great review! I’ll definitely have to read this at some point! And damn, that cover….
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Ooh, the dark characters with the tats and the broken past and the marshmallow-y center…so yummy to me lately! This one sounds very compelling if for nothing else but the characters.
Mary @ BookSwarm recently posted..Stop me if you’ve heard this one…
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Ohhh wow- I love these new adult books, they are totally addicting to me right now. Ill have to add this to my naughty read list…..:D
Tina recently posted..The Saturday Spotlight with Sandra Saidak and Giveaway
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this sounds like such an intense book! the subject matter really isn’t for me but i’m glad you enjoyed it so much. love that the characters are multi-layered. 🙂
elena recently posted..(where is your mind?) review: the evolution of mara dyer by michelle hodkin
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Dark, sexy and dangerous you say Danny? YES PLEASE! You know that’s my kind of guy (and also your kind of guy) so clearly I need to be reading this. I mean, aside from your lovely review, look at that cover? Whuh. Sean and I definitely need to become better acquainted I think! Glad to know you enjoyed this one, means I will too:)
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Sorry I’m commenting late today. We’re in Minneapolis for a few days for vacation and I have the world’s slowest hotel wifi. It’s so annoying! At least we’re accruing Marriott points though 🙂
This sounds interesting, although I’m not a fan of the boxing thing. For some reason that doesn’t say sexy to me. Now polo player, tennis player, swimmer (swoon!), even rugby player – might be different.
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O,o now this sounds suspenseful, hot and come on the guy has an accent *swoons*
kimbacaffeinate recently posted..Laurie London ~Sweetblood/Iron Portal author {guest post-giveaway}
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I saw this book around but must admit I never even looked at it because I couldn’t stop rolling my eyes at the cover long enough to check out the blurb. However, after reading your review, I’m pretty interested in it.
Thanks, I love NAM!!!!
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