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Liam Roth is an MMA fighter with high hopes of winning the title and finally bringing his father's gym back into the spotlight. He's got no time for girls or any other distractions when training, though he makes an exception for his best friend that's in town for a few weeks. Chelsea has been his best friend since junior high, but sharing a wall with her and watching movies together brings about feelings he knows he has to deny. When she finally shares that she has the same feelings the wall between them falls down, allowing them to find perfect bliss together. Liam doesn't know how to do a relationship though and he's not sure it's possible to be with a woman and keep fighting. When he has to choose, will it be the ring or Chelsea?

"I had all the empathy for any girl who went and fell for Liam Roth. Especially since he was so damn hard to get over."

Cindi Madsen is a new-to-me author, but I am already a big fan after reading Until We're More. For me, this book fell into the space between New Adult and Adult romance, giving us a lot of character growth, relationship development, and just the right amount of smut. Told from alternating perspective, Until We're More is a funny, contemporary romance between a bookworm and a fighter. Chelsea is a sweet, innocent woman who seems to have only just discovered what she is capable of. She's relatable, with a past that's not fantastic and the strength to go after her dream, not settling for less despite what life's circumstances have set her up for. Liam, who I automatically pictured as a Hemsworth brother of course, is a little harder to connect with, with tall walls erected around him and his brain focused on fighting and the gym. He grows on you though, starting with his friendship with Chelsea and then winning your heart with the way he cares for her. The two circle around their friendship, but when they finally shed the title and embrace their desire for one another they fit together like puzzle pieces.

Until We're More is a story filled with friendship and family, with Liam's family embracing Chelsea like she is one of their own and giving her the push she needs to go after what she wants. I loved that aspect of the story, that all of Liam's family just wanted to see their friend succeed. They push her in her career and in finally embracing that her thoughts for Liam are far more than just friends thoughts. Liam and Chelsea share a lot of banter, much like real friends do, so it was believable that they had years of friendship with one another despite readers not knowing them until adulthood. They laugh, they fight, they throw some serious shade at one another, and they love each other, a lot. It was so apparent through out the entire novel that both loved each other, beyond even just the crushes and lust that they had for one another, but true love. Each wanted what was best for the other and Cindi Madsen made them feel more real by giving them that friendship. Both of them, and even the secondary characters, felt familiar to me and I enjoyed reading a book that was so easy to picture in my head.

If you're looking for a fresh new read with less angst and more loving, Until We're More is at the top of my suggestion list. It's the sort of book you escape into for a bit and come out of the other side smiling, refreshed, no aching heart pains here. Until We're More is a standalone in the Fighting For Her series and after falling for Liam I am going to be going back to read Until You're Mine for sure.

ARC provided. ( )

Until We're More (Fighting For Her #2) by Cindi Madsen  
Until We're More has a great formula for figuring out the mechanics of love. When dealing with heartbreak stay active, keep alert and if given the chance try to make things right. With an arrogantly aggressive cat, a determined ex and a suitcase full of untended baggage Cindi Madsen sets about making you smile while tempting your heart. Liam and Chelsea are hard to resist, but I'm sorry to say in my opinion were upstaged by a cat. It's hard not to love that. ( )

I love friends-to-lovers and really like Cindi Madsen‘s quirky, relatable characters–plus, the first book in this series (Until You’re Mine) was absolutely wonderful, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one. It didn’t disappoint! Chelsea and Liam are all that you could wish for in awkward will-they-or-won’t-they, OMG-just-do-it-already goodness.

Every time they got close and then one of them (usually Liam) pulled back, leaving the other one slightly confused and doubting (usually Chelsea) just about killed me, though. It went on just a teensy bit too long, especially since it was a forced proximity romance (OF COURSE she should move in with you for six weeks, Liam, great idea! ;)) And then just when I was beginning to worry they’d never do anything about it…

🙂

An absolutely wonderful ending, which *almost* made me forget all the frustrating angst that came before it! I can’t wait to see what Ms. Madsen has in store for us next!

Rating: 4 stars / B+

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. ( )

I haven't had such a good time reading a romance in a long time. Snark, spark, history, lust, and true friendship between two fantastic likable characters makes this story rock. I was cheering on one page, sniffling the next, snorting and spitting my coffee all over on the third. What a ride.

Sexy MMA fighter Liam, is training to get the belt title that will make his business a solid thing when his BFF Chelsea comes back in town for work. Chelsea is a distraction and he needs this belt. Chelsea needs to stay focused too, she's desperate to make it in her field of work and this job might be the way to a promotion. Both need to be a success, both have hormones/feelings/history that mess with their focus. The Chelsea moves in with Liam and brings George. Who is George ? George is the one throwing up on the carpet. Read the book, he's fantastic. Living together makes for some interesting moments. That's all you'll get out of me, read it if you want more.

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this review copy and an unbiased opinion ( )

Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author.(netgalley) This is the second of this series, and while you don't have to read the first one you really should you just go more out of it and no the characters a little more. This is Liam's book and his love interest who just happens to be his best friend although he doesn't understand his feelings for Chelsea. Chelsea has been in love with Liam forever but would never want to lose his friendship because he is the one he can always count on. She had left to Denver for a job to get away from her toxic family and also from her the feelings she had for Liam knowing he would always see her as his best friend. When she comes back to LA she ends up staying with him and eventually they give in, but do they work out all the problems that exist between them? Her toxic family having access to her? Him travelling and giving his all to the gym? The job that she has been working hard for? Well read it and find out..I can't wait for Finn's story. ( )