ARC Review: Making Him Sweat

Making Him Sweat
Meg Maguire
Contemporary Romance
Wilinski/Book 1
Harlequin/Blaze #740/February 19, 2013

She's hitting below the belt… 

Round 1 
In this corner is admittedly romantic Jenna Wilinski, who’s inherited a rather seedy boxing gym from her estranged father. With it, she can realize her dream of launching an upscale matchmaking business…provided she can take on the very intimidating—and wickedly hot—boxer who stands in her way!

Round 2 

In the far corner is former pro boxer Mercer Rowley. He’s the only one who can protect his “home”—even if it is a little run-down— from his determined and feisty little opponent. But man, once the gloves come off, his hands just want to touch her everywhere…This matchup is too close to call. But no matter which contender comes out on top, the other is sure to enjoy every minute of it....

Well, I finished it.  It took far too long to read for a Blaze.  I can't say I ever really got into the story or the hero or heroine.  I was interested in the setting of the fight school and the people it attracted.  The matchmaking business didn't do anything for me.  It felt like Jenna could have started any business, it was only there for conflict with the gym.

Jenna Wilinski knows very little about her father, only that he loved his gym more than her or her mother.  Or so she thought.  Jenna learns her father isn't necessarily the man she thought he was and while the revelations are important to her character development, it's the development of Jenna and Mercer's relationship that I was more interested in seeing develop in a more believable scenario.

Mercer Rowley is a man with a rough exterior that holds an intelligent, kind-hearted man a woman can appreciate.  I liked Mercer up to a point. He is a man loyal to a fault, who stands up for his friends but he didn't stand up for himself.  If a person won't stand up for themselves, why should anyone else?  That really bugged me.  I wanted him to get mad about the situation he finds himself in.  At the unfairness of working so hard for someone and something and then having it giving away to someone (Jenna) who doesn't appreciate what it truly is.  I think Mercer just wasn't alpha enough for me.

Unfortunately, Jenna and Mercer never really clicked for me.  I just couldn't see them together.  Mercer was too rough around the edges, needing a woman who could hold her own.  Jenna came across as too needy when it came to men and relationships.

While Jenna and Mercer's story didn't work for me, what I saw of the hero and heroine of the next book sparked my interest.  Hopefully, they will come through where Jenna and Mercer didn't.

Rating:  C-

Wilinski Series

Making Him Sweat
Taking Him Down (July 2013)
Driving Her Wild (October 2013)