Memphis

Ginger Scott keeps amazing me. I have read every book she’s written to date, and with each I see her writing evolve. It keeps getting better and better, which is remarkable when I found it perfect to begin with. None of her books feel like a carbon copy of another. They’re all so different, yet incredible. Memphis was different, yet incredible. When I started reading Memphis, I was immediately wrapped up in the story. I was so uncomfortable the entire time I was reading it. I knew there would be harsh truths and heartbreak — this is Ginger Scott’s writing after all — but I didn’t know I would be on edge the entire book. There was such a darkness to Memphis. It’s set in this dingy, dark place. Reading it felt a little dirty. It was a weird and disturbing feeling, but in a good way. I truly felt like I was right there with the characters experiencing their drama. Memphis and Olivia were such complex characters. Their separate histories went deep and dark. Olivia’s broke her, while Memphis’ speared him on. Their meeting brought a tentative balance to them. I was scared the entire time I was reading how this balance could/would/might break. I loved Memphis and Olivia together, and I didn’t want to experience anymore heartbreak than I already had. I enjoyed watching them learn and grow throughout the story. Memphis, but I wasn’t supposed to. I did appreciate what they brought to the story. The horrible characters added to the plot, and created some twists I never saw coming. I did love one supporting character, though: Miles. Miles certainly was something special. Ginger Scott did what she does with Miles, and spotlighted an issue that needs more attention in our society today. I applaud her for that. One thing that separates Ginger Scott’s sports romances apart from the rest is her attention to detail. Her descriptions of the sport she’s writing about are vivid and almost educational. I feel like I learn so much about a sport from reading them. I felt this way about Memphis. The rawness and beauty of the sport of boxing were so well described that it felt like I was watching it all unfold on television or in person. Obviously, I’m a fan of Ginger Scott and now I’m a fan of Memphis. It was a wonderfully written sports romance set in the dark world of boxing. It’s one of those books I’m sad I have finished because I will miss the characters, and now I’m left anxiously awaiting Ginger Scott’s next release.

I received a free copy through Wordsmith Publicity in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion. 3.5 stars — I love this author, but I had a hell of a time staying engaged in this book. I honestly can’t tell if it was my mood, or the book, or perhaps a mix of the two (the book exacerbated by my mood). I would find my mind wandering constantly, and I would have to reread and reread paragraphs and sentences. If it hadn’t been an ARC, I probably would have set it aside and tried again another time. Though quite honestly, I started a book right after I finished this one and had no such problems, so it was at least partially that the writing/plot wasn’t working for me. I will say that I LOVED Memphis. He was the shining light in this book. He was such a sweet, almost adorkable hero. I felt for his childhood, and for how it shaped him. He was truly good and kind and dedicated, and I admired his drive. I loved how sort of shy and awkward he was with Liv, but he was also persistent. He made some missteps on occasion, but it didn’t take him long to course correct. Liv was MUCH harder to love. I think that’s a bit on purpose though. It’s hard when she’s got this nasty streak that her Mom brings out in her. I guess I understood it with her family, but I was saddened when she would also use it against Memphis in the beginning. She was ungrateful, and rude to him at times. I get that she was protecting herself, I’m just saying that apparently I was less forgiving with her. But once she started letting him in, it got better. I think Ms. Scott likes making her heroines harder to love. Sometimes it pays off, sometimes the pay off is less big. This was less big for me. The chemistry was pretty good between Memphis and Liv, but Ms. Scott has done better in other books…I just wasn’t feeling a whole lotta tummy butterflies, you know? What I did love was how solid I felt their relationship was at the end. I loved their friendship chemistry. I felt like they connected on a lot of levels that are often missing in the romances I’m reading, so this book excelled at that. I think I just wished I felt the steamy chemistry a bit more, in a strange twist (since I’ve accused other books of focusing more on the steam, and less on the rest of the connections). I felt like some plot threads got dropped, or that I didn’t get as much information about them, and when that happens I wonder why they’re introduced at all. The Enoch stuff was odd…as was the court stuff. The miscarriage too, why was that not addressed? I feel like sometimes there are so many little other details that I start to get lost and confused and that can affect my enjoyment (mostly b/c I spend a lot of time waiting to find out more and not concentrating on what’s happening now). The plot twist was interesting, but honestly I got a bit lost there as well… One area where Ms. Scott always excels is in her sports descriptions. No matter the sport, I always feel like she actually gives the sport and the athletes the respect and attention they deserve. She doesn’t use it as some gimmick to get a hot muscular hero, she actually shows the dedication of the athletes, and she shows the good and bad sides of training and of the sport itself. She makes the elements of the story where the sports are involved really engaging, and they’re often my favourite part. I LOVED the fight at the end in this one. I also really loved Miles. He was a standout secondary character, and I loved his relationship with both Memphis, and then Olivia. I was delighted with how his character was peppered throughout right until the very end. So yeah. A mixed bag for me unfortunately. Ah well, some fit, some don’t.

Great read