Love on the Ropes

I will admit that I purchased this book because of the cover. I am a sucker for a cute cover. Also, because it was not about boxing. I am not a fan of boxing. I enjoyed Love on the Ropes. It moved quickly, the characters were interesting and made you care about their story and the romance between J and Sandy was very well done. That being said, I did have a few issues with the story. I found myself skipping over large parts of internal dialoug because it kept getting repeated again and again. J and his family situation, Sandy and her love for the boys and her desire to please her father. I was glad that Sandy reconciled the issues she had with her father and with BAM but J's past never got the same treatment. Did he make up with his siblings? Call his mom? It bothered me that I was left wondering about that. Also, I didn't really get the whole steroid investigation part of the story. Aside from believing that Sandy was the one distributing the stuff, there were no other suspects and limited investigation was done. I felt like this part of the story was an afterthought and was conveniently tied up in a neat little package at the end. Overall, I would recommend this book. It was entertaining, an easy read and a good diversion.

Being undercover is second nature to DEA agent Jason McBain, but after spending three months posing as a drug dealer the last thing he needs is a cheesy assignment like the one he's just been assigned. Jason's assignment has him entering the world of pro wrestling as a wrestler called Jack the Stripper to discover the source of the steroids that are being distributed. Medical assistant/physical therapist Sandy Ryan practically grew up at ringside. Both her father and brother had been involved in wrestling until injuries and health issues forced them to the sidelines. Sandy knows that steroids and sheer stupidity are running rampant through many of the wrestlers. It's her job to keep them healthy and in the ring which would be so much easier if they'd only listen to her once in awhile. Jason is positive that this assignment is nothing more than a way for his boss to sabotage his career. Rather than bury his blade in Meek just to deflate his ego a little bit, Jason decides to become the best pro wrestler in the league and nail whoever is dealing steroids. It can't be that difficult. After all professional wrestling isn't even a real sport, right? The first time Jason meets Sandy he's poised to strike another wrestler with a pink stiletto heel for talking trash - definitely not the best way to make a first impression or to fit in with the wrestling community. Luckily Sandy takes pity on him and helps him with his routine and ensures that he's accepted by the other wrestlers. The only wrestling Jason is really interested in would be between the sheets with Sandy. The only trouble is Sandy doesn't get involved with anyone in the wrestling profession and Jason suspects that she is the source of the steroids. He just may have to convince her to throw out her personal issues of mixing business and pleasure so that he can do some up close and personal surveillance. Pat White's LOVE ON THE ROPES is a fast-paced adventure in the world of pro wrestling - both in and out of the ring. The characters are larger than life and an absolute delight to spend a few hours reading about. I really got absorbed in the developing relationship between Jason and Sandy and loved `watching' them fight the emotional pull between them. Throughout this whole story you're kept guessing at the identity of the steroid distributor and hoping it's not one of the many characters that you really like. Ms. White fulfilled all my expectations with this novel and brought back memories of watching pro wrestling with my dad and grandpa. It's a family event that makes a wonderful tale you'll want to read many time over. Christine Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

Back from a dangerous undercover mission, DEA Agent Jason McBain is looking forward to some well-deserved R & R. Leave it to his boss to throw him straight into another assignment. Taking on the role of "Jack the Stripper" in the pro-wrestling ring is the last thing Jason wants to do. But someone has to find out why high school students are being dealt steroids when the wrestling circuit is in town. Sandy Ryan's job is to patch up wrestlers who zig when they should zag. There's nothing like tending to a bunch of big babies just to earn a paycheck. The new guy is a whole other breed, and something about the Stripper makes her crazy, in more ways than one. When Jason begins to suspect Sandy is dealing the steroids, his heart doesn't want to believe it. But he has to go where the evidence leads, even if it's into the lion's den. Pat White's trademark humor will pull readers into her third pro-wrestling romance. Although LOVE ON THE ROPES falls just shy of the punchiness found in the first two (RING AROUND MY HEART and GOT A HOLD ON YOU), there's plenty of fun to be had, and quirky, engaging characters make for a great read. Whether fans have read all of White's books, or if this is the first one, it's a good pick for a laugh-out-loud weekend read. Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer 10/17/2006