Sucker for Payne by Carrie Thomas

A reckless decision after a drunken night leaves Conner Payne with no money, a criminal record, and a lifetime’s worth of regret. Searching for a way to get his life back on track, he is surprised to find solace inside a steel cage at the local gym. Even more shocking, is the emotional connection he builds with a feisty reporter, who might just know a thing or two about starting life over.

After a stint in rehab, and several years of therapy, Willow Stevens finally lands her dream job as a women’s rights columnist, and gains the stability she’s always craved. When asked by her boss to cover a fight at a local gym, she has no idea what to expect. But nothing could have prepared her for the gravitational pull she experiences when she first sets eyes on Conner Payne, or the love she develops for the turbulent world of professional fighting.

Both Conner and Willow want to create a future independent from their pasts, but with old fears and new insecurities, the odds are stacked against them.

Two battered souls. One ultimate goal—to love unconditionally.