How I got into fighting by Felix Sanchez
I think the moment I first stepped in the ring I knew it's what I wanted to do for a living. Jack the late founder of 5th Street and my father figure for many years saw it in me too.
He knew.
Jack told me early on he saw big things in my future. My first non-official fight was all I needed to confirm it was a passion I wanted to pursue to the fullest. Jack took me under his wing and set everything up. I truly owe it all to him and 5th Street.
When I decided it was time to go professional was after I began to feel like there were no real opponents in amateur boxing for me anymore. I needed more of a challenge and some of my opponents were getting hurt bad. It got so bad there were few who were willing to get in the ring with me. So I took the next step. After getting my first official title under my belt I felt addicted. I wanted more and then I hit the road and never looked back. That is until...
We all make mistakes. We all learn from them. Let's just say I'm still learning.
They say the only good thing about hitting rock bottom is that it can't get any worse . . . or can it?
World famous boxing champ, Felix Sanchez, had it all—the fame, the fortune, and all the women any man could ask for. When the hours of partying followed by hours spent in court and in rehab begin to outnumber the hours he spends training, losing his title comes as no surprise to everyone. The world assumes he deserved to lose it.
Only those closest to Felix know the real truth behind his sudden downward spiral. And if Felix has his way, no one else ever will. With an uncertain future ahead of him, he heads back to his roots—5th Street—the gym that started it all for him. It's where he meets the humble but mighty little Ms. Ella.
The only times Felix had ever decided to forgo the usual meaningless fling and try a real relationship he was burned badly. Now the adorable but tenacious self-defense instructor has him considering this love thing one more time.
Then just when he begins to worry that his past is letting his possessive and jaded heart get the best of him, he's blindsided in the most brutal way—he's brought to his knees—to what could be the one low in his life he may never recover from.
I never really knew what to think of Felix Sanchez. While he is a 5th Street legend and friend of the boys, because of his big success he always stood a bit apart for me. The last time we got some insight in this man was in Gio, though he has been mentioned a couple of times since then. Years have gone by and it soon becomes clear that there is more to Felix than meets the eye.
We meet up again with Felix just when he hits rock bottom. Losing his title is pretty much the nail to the coffin in this downwards spiral that he's been going through the past couple of years. What might even just be worse, is that he doesn't care that much. Felix is lost and he knows no way out of it, not really sure if he wants out of it. So he returns back home to figure things out.
Returning back to 5th Street is definitely the best decision. His boys help keep his feet on the ground, and they are always there for him. But when little Miss Ella shows up, that's when things really start to turn around. She herself has been through some really terrible stuff, but instead of letting those things put her down, she has turned them into something positive. While pretending she's not impressed with Felix, Ella inadvertently draws his attention.
Down to earth, no bullcrap, little fighting Ella, is just what Felix needs. Never before has he been touched by a girl like that before. Since all these feelings are pretty new to him, he does screw up once in a while and so does she btw, but you know these two deserve a happily ever after. Though it seems fate might not make it that easy for them and this twist in the story definitely came as a surprise to me.
Both of them have already been through so much. Seriously Felix might seem like a giant d-bag at first, but once you've learned what happened to him, well my heart cracked. This big tough guy, who hasn't a care in the world, actually cares so much, you will want to hug him. Meanwhile Ella lost her mom to cancer and one of her best friends went through something unspeakable. These are all burdens they carry with them and the main reason they've kept others at arm's length. The further Ella and Felix get involved, the harder it gets for them to keep that part hidden. Together though they can find love and happiness underneath all that sorrow.
This book is the last in the 5th Street series, and while I'm sad to see it ending, I am also grateful for the way it ended. Felix had always been the hardest one to connect with for me, but now reading his story, that all changed. This heavyweight champion will make you curse at him while melt your heart at the same time. Ella is the perfect counterpart for him. She might be little, but she's very fierce. If there is one girl to bring Felix down on his knees, it's her.
We do get to see the rest of the boys and their ever growing families. It was really fun to catch up with them and certainly that epilogue brought it all to a great closing.
USA Today Bestselling Author, Elizabeth Reyes continues to answer to her calling on a daily basis. Since releasing her debut novel Forever Mine (Moreno Brothers #1) in 2010 she has now published 9 full length novels total and fast at work on the next. The excitement her Moreno Brothers, 5th Street, and Fate series have garnered has far exceeded her wildest dreams. It is with as much excitement that she'll continue to put out books related to these series as well as introduce brand new ones very soon. In 2014 she will take her next step in the exciting world of writing and publish her first traditionally published book with Simon & Schuster/Atria. But she will continue putting out self published books as well.
We meet up again with Felix just when he hits rock bottom. Losing his title is pretty much the nail to the coffin in this downwards spiral that he's been going through the past couple of years. What might even just be worse, is that he doesn't care that much. Felix is lost and he knows no way out of it, not really sure if he wants out of it. So he returns back home to figure things out.
Returning back to 5th Street is definitely the best decision. His boys help keep his feet on the ground, and they are always there for him. But when little Miss Ella shows up, that's when things really start to turn around. She herself has been through some really terrible stuff, but instead of letting those things put her down, she has turned them into something positive. While pretending she's not impressed with Felix, Ella inadvertently draws his attention.
Down to earth, no bullcrap, little fighting Ella, is just what Felix needs. Never before has he been touched by a girl like that before. Since all these feelings are pretty new to him, he does screw up once in a while and so does she btw, but you know these two deserve a happily ever after. Though it seems fate might not make it that easy for them and this twist in the story definitely came as a surprise to me.
Both of them have already been through so much. Seriously Felix might seem like a giant d-bag at first, but once you've learned what happened to him, well my heart cracked. This big tough guy, who hasn't a care in the world, actually cares so much, you will want to hug him. Meanwhile Ella lost her mom to cancer and one of her best friends went through something unspeakable. These are all burdens they carry with them and the main reason they've kept others at arm's length. The further Ella and Felix get involved, the harder it gets for them to keep that part hidden. Together though they can find love and happiness underneath all that sorrow.
This book is the last in the 5th Street series, and while I'm sad to see it ending, I am also grateful for the way it ended. Felix had always been the hardest one to connect with for me, but now reading his story, that all changed. This heavyweight champion will make you curse at him while melt your heart at the same time. Ella is the perfect counterpart for him. She might be little, but she's very fierce. If there is one girl to bring Felix down on his knees, it's her.
We do get to see the rest of the boys and their ever growing families. It was really fun to catch up with them and certainly that epilogue brought it all to a great closing.
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