Release Day Review: Modern Gladiator by S.A. Stovall (Giveaway)

Title: Modern Gladiator

Series: Modern Gladiator: Book One

Author: S.A. Stovall

Release Date: March 26, 2019

Category: Contemporary

Pages: 250

Dreamspinner Press

A prim and proper aspiring doctor and a destitute martial artist—both with hurts to comfort. Each with just the cure the other needs.

Corbin Friel hates mindless sports, especially fighting and boxing. As a medical student, he wants to help others, not watch them beat each other senseless. But his sister, Lala, can’t get enough of rough-and-tumble sporting events, and she drags her brother along whenever she can.

Keon Lynch doesn’t have much going for him. He’s broke, he lives alone in a new state, and he’s estranged from his family. But at least he has his dream—becoming a professional UFC fighter. Keon trains every day, and if he can just score a few more wins, he’ll get his ticket into the ranks of professional competitors.

But an unexplained pain jeopardizes Keon’s dream. During a backstage meet-and-greet, Corbin recognizes the telltale signs of a bone infection, which could cost Keon his leg. Unable to ignore Keon’s situation, Corbin begrudgingly decides to help. And while he gets to know Keon, finding him more desirable with each interaction, Corbin’s ex-boyfriend isn’t pleased with the development….

And he’s determined to keep Corbin for himself, no matter what.

4 Stars

Modern Gladiator was such a good read. With one of the main themes of this book being MMA, I was impressed with how much was included about the moves and weights, and with everything else that clearly went into researching this book. I was also impressed with the descriptions of each fight scene that Keon was entered in. I am normally really squeamish when it comes to descriptions of blood and broken bones but S.A. did so in just the right way that I got the full experience of what was happening, without any of the unease that I would normally get.

Corbin was such a dedicated medical student that I was iffy over how this story would work but everything turned out better than I ever expected. I found his reaction to Keon, not knowing if he liked or disliked him, quite amusing, and once he did figure things out he dedicated himself to making things work, just like with the other things in his life.

Keon was an impressive character with so much drive to succeed in the MMA world that he trained and stayed on point with his diet and regiments. When meeting Corbin for the first time, he was not sure what to make of the tidy, put-together man, but I loved that he had no problem with admitting what he wanted from him.

The MMA/fighter trope is one of my favorites and I knew after reading the blurb that I needed to see if it was as good as I thought I was going to be and I have to say… it was.

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

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