Fighting against Gravity (Ice Tigers #4) by Isabella Cassazza

Fighting against Gravity (Ice Tigers #4) Reviews

• 
  Kelsey

  1.5 stars, because the bad outweighs the good.
  
  The good: johnny is adorable and isn't used as a "you should date my mom" plot device. Ellie is a struggling mom who doesn't want charity and insists on paying Michael back for some of the things he gets her (though I would have liked more a resolution on this, like what happens when they move in together). Ellie is also unapologetically a size 16, but she is very insecure with herself. For good reason, which made her more real, but I was sad and wanted better for her.
  More good: Michael's grief over the loss of hockey was believable. This story also takes place over several months time, so his slow recovery is accurate. Also, he was awful at sex the first time they were together and having a male MC be awful at sex was a first, and it was great. I've never read a book where the guy isn't a sex god.
  
  The bad: Michael is MEAN. Like, really nasty to Ellie on more than one occasion. He said some things that I would never be able to get past, even with an apology. For example, telling her that "a 5 should be grateful a 10 is even paying any attention to her". He also insults her weight to her face and thinks to himself that she isn't pretty more than once. The guy doesn't really have a good reason to be an asshole either. He was a complete manwhore before his injury and was taking out that loss on Ellie.
  
  Truly the way Michael acts for the first half (yup, entire half) of the book was awful. And just because he got his act together by the end doesn't make up for his initial horrendous behavior. I really had a difficult time rooting for their happy ending because he was so mean.
  
  Don't bother with the extended epilogue; it's literally 1 page and doesn't do anything but set up the next book.
• 
  Marion

  The story starts out by giving us a glimpse of star defense man Michael King's life. He is living large and partying hard. He is goal focused and wants to win the Stanley Cup. He does not come across as a very nice person. Next he has his career ending injury. All his hopes and dreams are crushed. He begins a downward spiral projecting his anger and frustration at everyone and everything. While understandable, it doesn't endear him to the reader and others.
  
  The first time he meets single mom and decorator Ellie Sullivan is right when he is in the middle of a breakdown. All his anger and frustration is vented towards her. It was definitely not a good first impression. Ellie goes home to her little son Johnny and vows to forget Michael King. Even though she needs to money and work; she would not work with him.
  
  Once Michael starts to sort his life out, he realizes that he owes Ellie an apology for his behaviour the first time they met. He goes over to her shop and knocks her off a ladder causing her to break her leg. Ellie really wants nothing more to do with Micheal now. Unfortunately Ellie's family and support system are not available to help her. With her crutches she is unable to get up to her apartment and look after her son. Surprising both Ellie and himself, Michael insists that she and Johnny stay in his large house with him.
  
  Michael had a lot of growing to do. As with people battling depression, he has good days and bad days. So some backsliding is to be expected. The question is, will Ellie forgive the backsliding? This story shows the journey these two take to finally find their missing pieces and happiness.
  
  This is the first book I have read by this author and I plan to read more.
  
  I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
• 
  Emily Pennington

  Hockey playboy Michael King was a star – obnoxious, entitled, caught up in his own greatness. But when a career-ending injury has him walking with a cane, completely shattering his Stanley Cup dream, he responds like a child having a temper tantrum when his frustration becomes more than he can handle. An interior decorator arrives to make over his home, and he blasts her with all of his pain and anger. Despite needing the money, Ellie Sullivan won’t tolerate being treated like that by any man – and she walks out on him.
  
  Embarrassed and trying to apologize for his behavior, Michael makes things worse by causing Ellie to accidentally break her leg when he knocks over her ladder and shelving as he loses his balance. Since she now can’t even work, and has no other options, she accepts his offer to care for her and her son while she heals. With someone else besides himself to focus on, Michael’s caring and gentler side comes out. Can these two broken people heal each other as they grow to understand the other better?
  
  This was a good story line and the characters grow on you as you also get to know them. It’s easy to see how losing your dreams and becoming dependent on others can shake a person up. But with both Ellie and Michael facing their problems together, they might have a chance to begin the healing process and allow the pull that draws them together. Grab your copy and see how it all works out for them.
  
• 
  Diane Lynch

  Isabella Cassazza scores a hat trick with book three in the Ice Tigers series, FIGHTING AGAINST GRAVITY. Hockey defensemen Michael King suffers a career-ending injury. He does not handle his situation well and takes out his emotions on single mother/interior decorator Ellie Sullivan. When he goes to apologize to her, he accidentally causes her to break her leg. He offers to help her with her son, so she does not lose her business. She reluctantly accepts. This contemporary enemy to lover’s romance is suitable for adult readers.
  
  Isabella Cassazza does a great job with this story. The plot was clever. My heart went out to Michael. He suffered a brutal injury that left him using a cane to walk. He has lived and breathed hockey and not handling the loss well. Ellie is a great heroine. She is a wonderful mom. She has some trust issues to overcome. She is the owner of the Cozy Cottage (mentioned in books one and two). I love that she stands up to Michael. The two have great chemistry. I enjoyed their verbal sparring. She brings life back to Michael. They help heal each other. I love how Michael reinvents himself.
  
  FIGHTING AGAINST GRAVITY is a skillfully written and heartwarming read. It is the perfect addition to the Ice Tigers series. I recommend it to people who enjoy enemy to lover’s sports romances. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
• 
  Katie

  Mr. Disaster and Ms. Stubborn. Sounds like a recipe for catastrophe? Absolutely!
  
  Michael had it all and he took it for granted, until a serious injury and a close to death experience changed his mindset and made him put in question his whole life.
  
  Enters Ellie, a single mom with a heart of gold and insecurities who struggles to raise her little boy Johnny alone and run her own redecorating business.
  
  Her first encounter with Mr. Cocky Hockey Player ended up in an embarrassing disaster. Her second encounter with Mr. Former Playboy ended up in a take me to the ER disaster.
  
  Needless to say that Michael and Ellie's relationship started on the wrong foot (literally). Yet, throughout a forced cohabitation, pain, hatred and an adorable funny Johnny, hope and love began to bloom between Mr. Disaster and Ms. Stubborn.
  
  I particularly appreciated the evolution of Michael's character. We witnessed all the stages of his change in behavior until he found out who he truly was meant to be.
  
  Fighting Against Gravity approaches serious themes in a poignant and well-written way. The emotions are well balanced and the pace well set. The story is a whole journey to a second chance, at life for Michael, and at love for Ellie.
  
  *ARC kindly provided
• 
  Donna

  Michael is a professional hockey player. He is a player on and off the ice as well and really cares about no one but himself. During an important game, things are not going in their favor so Michael decides he will be the "golden boy" and instead suffers an injury that ends his career. He knows nothing else and hockey has been his life since he was a little boy. Depression and darkness sets in. Can he find his way back?
  
  Ellie is an Interior Decorator who was referred to Michael by a client who is also his team owner. She's also a Mom of a 3 year old little boy, Johnny. But she has struggles and insecurities of her own. Meeting Michael was a disaster! The circumstances of meeting Michael and the disaster that follows, gives Ellie no choice but for her and Johnny to move into Michael's house. Not really a choice either wants but is needed.
  
  Life isn't always what you think it will or should be. There was darkness and seeing what Michael goes through was hard but also a bathroom/diaper scene that had me laughing so hard I had tears.
  
  Isabella's writing gets better with every book. I loved it.
  
  I received an ARC for my honest review.
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  Kari Hansen

  Michael was on top of the world and his lifelong ambition was within his grasp until an injury ended his hockey career and he is not handling the emotional or physical fallout well.
  
  Ellie is an interior decorator and her son’s sole support system. Earning the contract to help Michael with his house would give her the financial security she needs however their first meeting was a disaster and their second meeting even worse when she finds herself incapacitated for a while.
  
  Michael feels bad about the part that he played in the debacle, so he suggests that she and her son become his roommates until she heals so that he can help her out but he may just find out that she helped him in more ways than she could have imagined.
  
• 
  yesenia (Caligirlheartsbooks)

  Definitely a good solid read! Michael, Michael, Michael ..... Ive never had a character that frustrates me so much, ok I lied there are other characters from other books, but he definitely is hard headed and super uber cocky, and a tad frustrating. Ellie is a single mother who crosses paths with Michael. At the time he has serious depression and is extremely angry, which adds to his hard head-ness. Ellie is independent and scared of being hurt again. Ultimately he overcomes his own inner demons and learns to love someone else other than himself. It has romance, passion, comedy. It definitely brings out many emotions while reading it (Michael lol) Isn’t that what a good writer does though? Can make you hate then love a character? His character development was the best!
• 
  Kayla Pocernich

  Michael King is at the top of his game as a defenseman in the NHL. He’s the team’s playboy and lives to live. His career is cut short when has a devastating career ending injury. Ellie Sullivan is a single mom with a very hyper and sweet boy, Tommy. She is also a small business owner struggling to be successful, have a life and be a great mom. The two are brought together in an unusual way. Michael is fighting some hardcore demons and his success was taken away in an instant. Ellie and Michael have an almost 10 year age gap, with Ellie being older. These two are great together and they help each other heal and get past there demons that they both have.
  
  I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
• 
  Melinda Swaine

  It has the perfect mix of swoon, witty banter, heat, all the feels, angst, romance and hockey!
  
  Fighting against Gravity is a sports romance story filled with unforgettable characters and an unputdownable storyline that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. It has the perfect mix of swoon, witty banter, heat, all the feels, angst, romance and hockey! If you're a fan of hockey/sport romance books, then you need to get your hands on this book by Isabella Cassazza!! Happy reading everyone!
• 
  Barbara OBrien

  Oh boy I loved this story it really drew me in. It does help the fact that I love Ice Hockey and being a rough sport know the injuries that can happen. Didn't want the story to end but then when reading, I couldn't get to the end quick enough.
  
  I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
• 
  Kat

  I loved the first two books in the ice tigers series and I couldn’t wait to read Michael’s story.
  It’s heartbreaking from the beginning so be warned to always have a box of tissues handy. After living the life of a playboy without a care in the world, Michael suffers the worst possible thing to happen to a pro athlete and his pain is unbearable.
  After a disastrous meeting with interior designer Ellie (if you’ve read the other books you’ll recognise her as the owner of the Cozy Cottage) which had me laughing so hard, Michael suffers another terrible life changing tragedy and he flees home to Canada.
  Upon his return to Boston Michael tries to make amends with Ellie but that ends up in disaster as well.
  Out of necessity and obligation Ellie and her little son Johnny become roommates with Michael and their journey begins.
  You will laugh so hard at Michael trying to cope with a hilarious dino obsessed toddler with a farty diaper and his growing attraction to Ellie.
  But you’ll see Ellie trying to cope with being an independent single mom, unable to accept help and being stubborn as hell.
  I loved the dynamic between Michael and Ellie, especially when their relationship gets physical and she calls him out on his playboy past.
  After finishing the ARC and I was completely emotionally exhausted. I laughed so hard and cried my heart out. Isabella writes about depression and PTSD in such an honest way it gave me goosebumps. What an incredible story. And be warned you will fall hard for Johnny ❤️
  I loved all the old characters coming back and when Tyler told Michael he was happy to share Lily with Johnny I had a little secret laugh!
  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ You must read this book!
• 
  Debbie Orazi

  I don't know if I would call this a romantic comedy, it has more dark themes than a traditional romcom. There were some very funny scenes, especially around Johnny and Michael's reactions to dealing with him. The story is really about two people who have had their souls and dreams broken and how they deal with the aftermath and eventually become better happier people for overcoming their challenges.
  
  I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
• 
  Lori

  great book
• 
  Julie Sherman

  Really liked
  
  This is the third book in the series and I love a great story of personal hardship and the resilience to overcome even the rock bottom of your life even when you think it's over.
• 
  Lori Porter

  I voluntarily read an arc of this book for an honest review. I liked this story. It’s not simple, it’s not easy, it’s not for the faint of heart. It deals with deep emotions, depression and ugliness. Michael King thinks of himself as “the King”. He’s arrogant, vain and not very likable...then he loses it all. His life spirals out of control and he hits rock bottom. Ellie has a tough life. She’s a single mom, in debt up to her eyeballs and trying to keep her design business running on her own. When these two meet it’s not pretty, not the first time. The second time...the second time is very interesting. I found myself liking and disliking this book in turn. I didn’t like the “baby talk” of her soon to be 3 yr old. It threw me off trying to decipher it and pronounce it in my head. It had to be explained after he said anything and while sometimes it can be cute, this fell flat for me. I found that some of the situations dealt with had the right feel and others made me think wait, what? I liked that Ellie had such a good attitude and never gave up, I liked that Michael knew he’d been a jerk before and turned it around although his new career choice came out of left field. I found overall that It was an enjoyable read and would definitely recommend it.
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