Unfortunately I didn't love this book so I gave up about halfway into it. It just didn't hold my attention. I look forward to future books by Ms Maxwell, however.

This is one of those books when the characters find themselves in an arrangement for beneficial reasons yet more than they bargained for.

I love a man with a british accent and Xander fit the bill. Although I found some of his traits at the beginning not my favorite but that soon passed. He is sexy, sure of himself and gave Sophie a nice steamy little fairy tale. This is another of those authors who manage to wrap you around her little finger while pulling you under her trance while offering up her stories.

This is definitely another author I would offer up to my friends and family.

For me, Sweet Victory was a highly-anticipated novel! It is the fourth book in Gina Maxwell’s Fighting for Love series and I have been waiting years for Xander and Sophie’s HEA! I didn’t know what to expect but I knew it would be an excellent novel. Xander and Sophie’s storyline is marriage of convenience turned steamy hot affair! Xander has had a crush (in a totally manly way) on Sophie for a long while. Sophie has thought the British-born MMA fighter talks as sexy as he looks. Even though Sophie finds Xander drop dead sexy, she hasn’t been known for having good taste in men so getting mixed up with a playboy isn’t a road she is ready to go down. That is until her jerk (yes I’m being nice) of an uncle threats to sell her home and cupcake business. Not only is Sophie’s business in jeopardy so is Xander’s gym, which said uncle also owns the property to. The only way to save both of their businesses is either she gets married or wait till her thirtieth birthday. Since Sophie’s birthday isn’t until three years that only leaves marriage to maintain ownership. Xander proposes Sophie marry him to save their businesses but when her uncle throws a monkey wrench in their plans. They only planned a quick marriage with an even quicker divorce, it was only supposed to be long enough to gain permanent ownership. But then the court says they must stay married for 6 months to prove it’s a legitimate marriage. Now in close proximities and explosive chemistry, it’s only a matter of time before lines begin to blur. I loved Sophie and Xander’s HEA. I laughed, cried, blushed, and felt heart warmed. The naughty scenes were top notched too! ;) I can easily say this novel was 5 stars! The only down side was getting to the end because now the series is over and I’m going to miss all the characters.

This book failed to hook me in the beginning but by the end I didn't want it to end.
I loved Sophie and Xander's story. While they may seem like they are polar opposites nothing could be further from the truth. They both loved hard and fought even harder.
I fell for Xan long before Sophie did but she took a little longer for me to like. She won me over in the end and I'm glad she found ghost t for her man.
The only piece I thought was a bit odd was the BDSM angle in the bedroom. I understand Xander is totally Alpha but I thought it was forced.

AN ENCHANTING AND GREAT READ!!!!

Sophie is a strong young woman who guards her emotions. Always giving the pretense of strength to outsiders. After all she has been through in her personal life, she spends her time keeping her promise to her grandma.

The relationship between Sophie and Xander is enchanting. I liked how well developed the characters were. You are able to see their relationship develop; YAASSS!!! The sexual chemistry is HOT!!! There was an emotional connection that I loved.

Xander is what most women wish dream of. He is sexy, charming, charismatic and sexy as all get out. He knew what he wanted and worked hard to achieve it. I enjoyed him and the visual of his body…. LORD HELP ME!!!
The book made me laugh, mad and even teared up a couple of times. When certain things happened, I thought I knew the outcome but I was SO… SO... WRONG. It was even BETTER….

Gina Maxwell always DELIVERS.

4 1/2 STARS!

HOT!! You won't want to miss this sexy, tearing up the sheets read from Gina L Maxwell. If you've been following this series you'll recognize several characters, and you'll share in the disappointment that it's the end of the road with the last book in the series.

Sophie Caldwell is a strong independent gal that doesn't take crap from anybody, but all of a sudden she finds herself in quite the pickle and needing some help. Her uncle is trying to sell her inheritance right out from under her! There is only one stipulation in her grandmother's trust that can save the family business ... she has to get married! With no man in sight, Sophie is at a loss of what to do when help comes from the most unexpected place.

MMA fighter and gym owner, Xander James has been lusting after Sophie from afar ever since he moved in across the street from her shop. He's in the middle of a hard push to make it back to his former UFC championship level when he finds out his landlord, Sophie's uncle, is trying to play this game with her which would also force his gym and other businesses to close. Dire straights call for quick thinking ... and offering up a proposal he never expected to make!

AIR CONDITIONER REQUIRED. Ms. Maxwell knows the meaning of spicy romance. Two types of heat: the sexy attraction and irritating drama made for a complicated but addictive story. Sweet Victory shows how a situation of convenience can quickly turn to anything but. Sophie was a smart woman with a dilemma. The jury's still out on Xander. Love him or hate him, his star power is evident. Perhaps that was the draw of the story, because I have yet to make up my mind about Xander. Despite the hero and his at times egotistical behavior, Sweet Victory was a knockout in my opinion.

What’s it About? Sophie Caldwell needs help to save her family business from her uncle. Unfortunately the only way she can keep her grandmother’s bakery is if she’s A.) Already thirty, or B.) Married. Sophie is only twenty-seven and her uncle wants to sell the bakery along with the space being used as a gym by British born MMA fighter Xander James. Fortunately for Sophie, Xander has an idea: A marriage of convenience. Just until they’re both in the clear and then they can go their separate ways. Never mind that there’s been an unspoken attraction between them since they first met.



Describe the hero in five words: Hunky. Smart. Funny. Caring. Determined.

Did you like him?Yes.

Why? Xander was fifty kinds of sweaty goodness! He was working so hard on his UFC comeback and was willing to do anything to make it happen. I loved that while he married Sophie to help get what he wanted, he was so selfish that he didn’t help Sophie grow her business. For a “fake” husband he was so attentive, considerate, and just totally irresistible.


Describe the heroine in five words: Quirky. Fun. Kind. Sassy. Intelligent.

Did you like her? Yes.

Why? Yay for tattooed, pierced heroines! Something different! Just the face that Sophie was the one with the tats and piercings made her stand out but she wasn’t a clichéd bad girl. In fact, she was a total sweetheart and a good friend. I loved her dedication to her grandmother’s bakery and to her customers but also to helping Xander succeed. Sophie didn’t throw tantrums because he didn’t as much time with her because he was training, she remained independent no matter what.



How convincing were the main characters as a couple? Xander and Sophie had this great chemistry from the beginning. It was a light flirty kind of deal but without either one expecting it to go further until they had no choice but to get married. Then they had to pretend to be in love with each other and well that provided them a chance to let their attraction run wild. The one thing I noticed and loved about Xander and Sophie was that even with the red hot passion between them, they was also a deep amount of respect and humor too! I loved the playfulness between them, even when things were getting sexy, they always found a way to tease each other and laugh. It added such a great element to their relationship that made it feel more real to me. I loved it.



Is there a “Scooby Gang” worth mentioning? Xander has his group of friends who I assume have already had their stories told (Dang it, I can’t believe I missed those) and provided insight and humor when necessary. I liked them all, they were fun characters who obviously cared a lot about Xander and quickly came to care for Sophie as well.




How “Lost” did you get in the story? Sweet Victory started with a bang and quickly snagged my attention. It didn’t take long before I was completely into Xander and Sophie’s story. I honestly couldn’t put it down once I started reading. The pace was brisk, the characters were fun, and the heat level was just right for my tastes. Loved it.


Click It or Skip It? Click It. Xander and Sophie find a balance between passion and humor and it totally works for them. Gina L. Maxwell did a great job with these two.

I am a huge fan of this series and Gina L. Maxwell certainly knows how to write alpha males, add in to the fact that they are fighters and this particular ones has a British accent....well then there is no option but to spend most of the book swooning.....which is exactly what I did.

Sophie runs and owns a bakery across the street from the gym that Xander James runs and trains at. She has had the pleasure of seeing him on daily basis as he runs past her bakery every morning, not to mention that the the bakery she runs is also her home as she occupies the flat above that and oh did I forget to mention looks straight across at Xanders flat too...... He is also not a big fan of closing his blinds at night which has allowed her to see more of him than is socially acceptable. Not to mention having a first hand view at all the conquests that he parades in and out his home.

Sophie's uncle wants to sell her bakery as the land is a prime spot for a new development and because Sophie cannot technically inherit the bakery until she turns 30 or marries, she is in a bit of a bind because she is neither 30 yet (for 3 more years) and does not have a husband.

Enter Xander......If the bakery and the surrounding buildings are sold, he also stands to loose his gym and that is where he decides that if he and the lovely Sophie wed it will solve all their problems. They have to stay married for a period of 6 months to ensure that she inherits the building..... The only problem with this, is that neither one of them intended to fall in love with the other.

I really enjoyed this book as it re-connected us with the previous characters from the fist books and did I mention how hot it is.....phew!!

Another great read by this author!!!

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Sweet Victory by Gina L. Maxwell
Book Four of the Fighting For Love series
Publisher: Entangled Brazen
Publication Date: February 27, 2017
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Summary (from Goodreads):

Confident but distrustful Sophie Caldwell needs help if she's going to save her family business. Her grandma left one rule for Sophie to maintain ownership from her uncle before she's thirty: get married. But how does she get her uncle off her ass when she's only twenty-seven and hasn't had a boyfriend in years?

Lean, cut, British-born MMA fighter Xander James has never lost a fight, and he's not about to start now. On the brink of a comeback to be a UFC champion, his landlord wants to take away his last chance by shutting down his gym. No. Hell no. Fortunately, his landlord's niece has a problem of her own. Time for a proposal she can't refuse.

What I Liked:

Years ago, I read Seducing Cinderella and absolutely LOVED the book. To this date, that book is one of my favorite Brazen novels. I must say, Brazen doesn't make 'em like they used to. Seducing Cinderella and a slew of other "older" publications were among their very best. Sweet Victory is the fourth book in the Fighting for Love series (Seducing Cinderella was book one). The series closes with Sophie and Xander, a feisty baker and a sexy British MMA fighter.

Sophie's bakery and Xander's gym are across the street from each other, and under the same property ownership. The property owner, who happens to be Sophie's uncle, decides to sell the property. But Sophie is set to inherit the bakery from her grandmother, either when she turns thirty, or when she gets married. So what does she do when Xander suggests they get married? She accepts, to save the bakery, and his gym. So they get married. But what happens when both of them don't want the marriage to have an expiration date?

I liked this book, which is great because I read the synopsis and immediately thought that I would enjoy. I mean, which woman wouldn't like a romance novel with a British male protagonist? And an MMA fighter, no less. This is only the second book I've read by Maxwell, but she has not disappointed me yet.

Xander is every bit as sexy and swoony as the synopsis - and cover - make him out to be. He's a flirt when it comes to Sophie, but he's also a good man and a dedicated fighter. He trains incredibly hard and is so driven. But he also has a hero complex and a heart of gold. When he hears Sophie's uncle belittling her, he swoops in and defends her. Not in a I-am-man-let-me-fix-everything-for-you type of way, but in a selfless, incredible way. Xander had me hooked from the start. He seems like a ladies' man and an incorrigible flirt, but he's so sweet and so good.

Sophie loves her bakery, and she is determined to protect it. Marrying Xander seemed absurd but she doesn't realize just how much she likes him, before they get married. Sophie is a feisty, tough lady. She likes things her way but she also balances her way and Xander's way - I like how she compromised to him too (it wasn't all Xander and his selflessness).

The two of them together are dynamite and firecrackers! They have serious chemistry from the start, and it practically boils and sizzles between them. I do like how they knew each other from before the start of the story - with their respective places of work being across the street from each other, they see a lot of each other. Xander comes by the bakery to flirt with her before his run. I like how they had chemistry before the story started, and it got more intense after they got married. Because holy guacamole, did they have some intense chemistry. The two of them in close quarters was hot!

The whole rushed marriage thing was handled well, and not totally cheesy and inauthentic. They had six months to play married and then they could file for divorce and go about their merry ways. But of course both of them fall for each other during that time... I like how it wasn't an insta-love type of romance. Lust, yes, but the progression of feelings was well-written.

You know in the climax of romance novels (especially Brazen romance novels) when the hero breaks up with the heroine or the heroine breaks up with the hero? And then one of them (usually the man) has to grovel, whether it's his fault or not? I LOVE how that whole thing is handled, in this book. Sophie is the one who jumps to some dumb conclusions and leaves him, BUT she is also the one who owns up and chases him back. I was really really pleased to see that Sophie went after her man (and not the other way around), especially since she hurt him by leaving him.

I enjoyed this story and the characters, the fun banter and the sexy romance. The swoony, hot British guy really made the story, but I also loved the feisty by vulnerable heroine, and beautiful love story presented. This was definitely a great end to the series!

What I Did Not Like:

The drama towards the end of the book was fairly minimal, but it was there. Don't we all hate watching a woman jump 45435345 miles to some dumb conclusion? At least Sophie woman-ed up and ran after him.

Would I Recommend It:

If you're looking for a quite, steamy, swoony read, then give this one a shot. It's only the second Maxwell book I've read but I liked it a lot. I highly recommend the first book, Seducing Cinderella - Reid and Lucie are fiery together. This book is great too! I'm sure the series in general is amazing.

Rating:

4 stars. Perhaps I'll read the second and third book in the future, but for now I'm content with having read books one and four. They were excellent! I'll definitely be looking for more Brazen novels by Maxwell in the future.

i love a good fake marriage story, and xander and sophie really deliver in sweet victory. sophie's uncle holds the key to the trust that owns the commercial development where sophia's bakery and xander's gym are based. until she turns thirty or she gets married she has no say in what happens to the trust, and her uncle is unscrupulous enough to use that to his advantage.

when he makes a real estate development deal that will force all the tenants in the development to relocate, xander is furious and when he goes to talk to sophie about the situation he overhears the possible solution straight from mr. caldwell's mouth. so he barges in and pretends that they're engaged to be married.

sophie's been intrigued by xander for a long time, and his kiss is so hot and so surprising that she simply follows his lead. and when he proved that he is willing to do anything that is needed to preserve her bakery she decides to take him at his word.

she has every intention of things remaining platonic for the 180 days demanded by the court to prove the validity of their marriage. but there is so much explosive chemistry between them that when an outing to a carnival results in a bet where the payout is three orgasms, it's not really a surprise. and from there we get to see sophie and xander build a real marriage, a real relationship, a real friendship. even though they don't actually talk about what happens once their 180 days are up.

there's this wonderful scene with sophie's grandmother, who suffers from alzheimer's disease, where you see how deeply they are both in this relationship. the undeniable sweetness of their feelings, the incredible chemistry of these two characters--it all gets to develop so realistically. so often in romance novels you go from chemistry to love with nothing in between, and then there's some ridiculous blow up and then everything is magically solved. and yes, there is a moment where xander and sophie's wires get crossed, but even this is understandable. and i don't want to give anything more away, but to say that everything gets sorted out in exactly the right way.

sweet victory closes out the fighting for love series with a deeply emotional, satisfying love story. xander and sophie are perfect for each other from page 1 and seeing their love grow as the days count down in their pretend marriage is an absolute delight.

a good well-written romance. Good writing. Thanks!

Sophie owns a cupcake bakery her grandmother started and is upset to hear her uncle wants to sell the whole block of real estate for a mall, including her bakery. Xander is a hot MMA fighter who has had his eye on Sophie for a while and has a training center in the same block. Sophie can thwart her uncle's evil plans by marrying and gaining access to a trust fund. Guess who offers to marry her for six months? Yes. Xander.

I really enjoyed this book. Xander and Sophie move in together and have some trouble adjusting (rather Xander has some issues with her not loading the dishwasher correctly for example) but ofcourse they are superhot for each other.... heck why did he not ask her out earlier???

Very nice epilogue which wraps up the series.

It takes so long for this book to get going. I stopped and started this book, skimmed over a few paragraphs that were boring and it just seem to drag on and on before anything really happen with these characters.

An excellent steamy read that is perfect for a relaxing afternoon read. It's very well written, has great characters, and the steam will make your ereader sizzle. Xander and Sophie were great together and it was fun to watch their relationship develop. The story has just the right amount of angst to keep things interesting but warning there is a bit of OW drama. Overall a very enjoyable book and one I would definitely recommend to everyone.

I haven't read any of the other books in this series but that definitely didn't stop me from loving this story!

A sexy MMA fighter & a feisty tattooed heroine made this book fantastic & I couldn't put it down. I thought it was so refreshing for Sophie to be so unique & individual & her description has made me obsessed with the whole rockabilly pinup genre & is going to cost my husband a lot of money in the very near future!!

I haven't read anything else in this series, but I saw this book was by Gina and I knew I needed to read it.
I've read her other series, Playboys in Love and loved those so I knew I had to pick this one up.
Xander is English (swoon accent) and trying to get back into the UFC after an injury. He loves what he does and where he does it. Sophie is a baker, loves what she does and where she does it. Enter the evil Uncle who wants to kick them out of their homes, unless Sophie is married things won't go her way. Xander has appreciated her from afar for a long time now, but if she needs his help he's willing to step in. I love the whole friends to lovers. The little bit of heartbreak and watching them fall in love when they don't realize it.
It's a quick read, kind of super sweet, but to the point.

It's not the first marriage of convenience that has ever happened, nor will it be the last - and as it all begins, it's a desperate situation that forces Xander and Sophie into one. Their careers and livelihoods are at stake and as it really is, a business proposition that will start and end clinically 6 months after the storm passes.

Feelings, however, as well as stirrings of mutual lust, get in the way and threaten to turn the fake marriage into a real one.

I did think that apart from the rocky beginning - Xander did come across as the womanising, bastard-type British MMA fighter who used Sophie's face in place of the women he brought back - the story did get a little sweeter as Gina L. Maxwell tried to show how devoted both Xander and Sophie were to each other. (An English accent doesn't - and shouldn't - make it better, despite what it seems) But I found myself pretty much unsurprised by the progression of the story; it wasn't unpredictable or unexpected in any way, but perhaps it isn't meant to be at all since this imprint is really about the recycling of tropes and the numerous takes on them because readers simply like the variants.

There's also a wrap up of all the couples in this series (though I don't exactly remember them at all) but that's probably an epilogue for those who do. 'Sweet Victory' can definitely work as a standalone though, and if the alpha MMA-type fighters are what you personally dig, then this is is something I'd recommend.

Sophie is determined to carry on her grandmother's legacy and keep the family bakery thriving, but her uncle has other plans, he's out to make a buck and wants to sell the building that houses the family bakery. Taking over the bakery came with a very important stipulation, her grandmother insisted in order for her to maintain ownership she must be married by the age of thirty, but for some reason her uncle is jumping the gun a little and forces her into a very sticky situation, now she needs a husband and fast or her dreams of keeping the bakery open will be dashed...

As if knowing Sophie needed a knight and shining armor to save her beloved bakery, Xander James jumps in armed with a plan to save the day... a marriage proposal and a partnership which will give them both what they want. Sophie is hesitant to make a deal with the womanizing fighter, but with her uncle pushing for a sale she feels as though she has no other choice, so she takes the deal, and they both get far more than they bargained for!!

Once again Ms. Maxwell has knocked my socks off with one of her sultry and OH SO naughty reads, the minute I started this one I was pulled into Sophie and Xander's steamy little world, and completely dazzled by every printed word. These two came together under unique circumstances, but it didn't take them long to find a common bond, and start creating some serious heat! Sophie entered the partnership with the plan to not fall prey to the charming fighter, but she soon learned her defenses against him were useless, he was just too damn tempting, and once she had a little taste she knew she'd never get enough of him!! Xander was seriously something else, I mean what is not to love about an alpha with a sexy fighter physique, panty melting British accent, and a fierce dedication to give his woman every little thing she wants and desires!! I have to say this is by far my favorite read from Ms. Maxwell yet, she completely outdid herself with the character development on this one!!!

If you are looking for a naughty little fairy tale that is sure to leave you completely satisfied then I highly recommend you get your hands on this book, you will not be disappointed!!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title.