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Breaking #3.5

My Little Secret

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HAWK
Focus is my middle name. But Sadie makes me forget why I’m in town, what I’m here to win, why it all matters. That alone should tell me to stay the hell away. But I need more of her, even though I know she’s hiding something from me.I’ll do anything to keep her by my side. Just how far I’ll go will be my little secret.
SADIE
I’ve had my eye on Hawk for a long time now. Let’s just call him my MMA celebrity dream lover. So when I find myself in Denver at the same time as him, at the same bar as him…I have to say hi. But I sure as hell shouldn’t take it any farther than that. Because he’s in town for one reason: to fight my brother in the biggest televised MMA match of the year.
I can be good… Except I can’t.
But maybe I can make Hawk my little secret.

Kindle Edition

First published November 12, 2018

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Ember Leigh

45 books720 followers

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5 stars
21 (31%)
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31 (46%)
3 stars
9 (13%)
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3 (4%)
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2 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
Profile Image for Jo - •.★Reading Is My Bliss★.•.
2,415 reviews231 followers
November 16, 2018
This may have been a very quick read but it contained plenty of of storyline to keep my interest in Sadie & Hawk’s blossoming relationship.

Sadie’s brother Brute is an MMA fighter and has an upcoming fight with his biggest rival, Hawk. Hawk may be a rival but he has been Sadie’s celebrity crush for a long time and when she has a chance to meet him, outside of the fighting world, she pounces. Okay, she is much more subtle than that, kind of.

Sadie knows she shouldn’t even be talking to the man who her brother deems as the enemy but she feels the intense connection between them and neither of them can deny it. Hawk has no idea of Sadie’s connection to Brute and hiding it from him before their upcoming fight seems like the right thing to do…

The more time they spend together the more secrets they keep.

Well this was a short but very sexy read. I’m looking forward to reading more from these two ☺
Profile Image for Jennifer.
2,447 reviews81 followers
February 18, 2019
Hawk and Sadie are hot, and their relationship is interesting. The fight..yeah, I have issues there. Plus can Ms. Leigh not do a proper ending. They're together and bam, book is over. No finesse, no epilogue, nothing.
Profile Image for Denise.
4,123 reviews12 followers
November 14, 2018
I will admit how this one caught my eye with one word in description- MMA. I am a sucker for a good one when one of the center characters is a alpha that competes or has done so. Hawk would be that one that caught my eye but he also has the eye of Sadie. The fact that they must be a secret gets you so intrigued you begin to eat up the pages because we know what becomes of secrets and how they usually end up. This is filled with deep drama and emotion that will fuel you along the way to keep those pages smoking. This is also the first time in reading this author so she does have the steam to keep me turning. Filled my craving for this taste I missed in a while for that MMA with this winding me up and down.
Profile Image for Sheri Velarde.
Author 47 books23 followers
October 14, 2017
I recently received an ARC of My Little Secret by Ember Leigh from the Season of Seduction Limited Collection. This is the only story that I have read from the collection, but I look forward to reading more when it is released on November 14.

My Little Secret is a steamy tale of a MMA fighter and a feisty woman who knocks him on his back, but has some secrets that might be too much for them to overcome. Lust, love, and every emotion in between are explored rather well in such a short story. I really liked the dynamic between the two characters, where both are powerful yet vulnerable. This was a hot and quick read which I give 4.5/5 stars. It will heat up your night for sure!
Profile Image for Vanessa Gayle ⚔️ Fangirl Faction.
1,010 reviews822 followers
January 2, 2020
Ember Leigh never fails to capture my attention so completely with her stories. This one is no different. This was my first time reading a novella instead of a full-length novel from Leigh and it was just as engrossing as the latter. I really loved the characters and the plot was convincing and exciting. I loved the connection that blossomed between Hawk and Sadie from their first encounter. They definitely had some magic. I loved the family aspect on Sadie's side of things and I loved seeing Travis even if only briefly. I would love to see more novellas like this one in the Breaking series. I can't wait for more from this author!
Profile Image for Brianna at Renee Entress's Blog.
3,803 reviews116 followers
November 12, 2018
4 Stars!

This is the first book I've read in the Breaking Point series and what I got did not disappoint... not one moment y'all. Sexy. Sweet. Quick. Dirty. Scandalous. Forbidden. Intense. All of the feels. Ember Leigh delivered an amazing, page-turning, heart-pounding romance that kept me glued to the pages while flipping them fast and begging for more once they stopped turning.

She never should have went to that bar and sent him that drink. She never should have went to his room and got in his bed. She never should have locked eyes with him... because now there is no turning back. Not for him and definitely not for her. I mean not only does she work for his biggest rival... she's also his sister.

Sadie and Hawk lit up my kindle from the moment they locked eyes from across the bar. Every moment and every emotion was unforgettable, undeniable, and so incredibly scorching hot. I knew their journey would be complicated at times but gah! What they gave was...everything in the best ways with a lot of heat and a ton of heart.

Ember Leigh is brand spanking new to me and while this book was technically a standalone novella in this quick and dirty series, I'm chomping at that bit to go back and read books one and two!

I definitely recommend this one y'all.

Reviewed for Renee Entress's Blog
Profile Image for Jody.
2,075 reviews55 followers
November 23, 2018
It’s a sensual and fast-paced tale of forbidden attraction found in this short story set in the world of MMA fighting. When a crush leads to something more between two people that should have nothing to do with each other, they’ll have to decide what’s truly worth fighting for in this third installment in The Breaking Series that just keeps getting better and better.

MMA Champ Hawk has the reputation of being a hard-hitting and an even harder-hearted playboy who’s supposedly left a trail of women behind him. With two weeks until his championship match against his mortal enemy, he’s focused on nothing more than fighting. But when he decides to take a respite at a bar he meets a woman who will turn his world upside down. In a romance with the fun and flirty Sadie, readers get to see a softer side to Hawk. Readers get to see a sweet man who values honesty and quickly becomes drawn to Sadie as she sees behind his fighting mask to the man beneath. There’s a crackling connection between them, in both his heartwarming words and deeds, that endeared him to me and had me rooting for them to work past her brother’s issues.

Sadie’s had a crush on Hawk for the last year and when the opportunity arises to make her presence known to him, she makes the most of it in an erotically-charged night that she doesn’t want to end. Though she knows of the animosity between Hawk and her brother, she can’t keep away from him as the happiness he brings to her life is infectious. In their scenes together they’re truly having fun and making an emotional connection despite knowing each other for only a few days. Though her attraction to Hawk is intense, her devotion to her family is just as important and it leaves her very conflicted when her brother feels she should choose between HEA and family. Sadie’s an immensely appealing heroine, likable, and strong-willed. She’s confident when it comes to her PR work, but when it comes to her looks and sexuality she lacks self-confidence which makes Hawk’s attentions all the more treasured. The closer she and Hawk get the sweeter this story becomes and the bigger the smile on my face.

From start to finish this was an immensely entertaining read with endearing characters put in the middle of a war. There was plenty of time for love though too in numerous erotic encounters and sweet and heartfelt moments that made Sadie and Hawk an even more relatable couple. It’s a gritty world that’s being balanced with the romance, a world of larger-than-life fighters whose amping up the anger is cheered. These insights into the MMA world were vividly depicted, especially in the fight scenes between Hawk and Brute, and had my pulse pounding. With a romance that’s happy for now, I hope to see this cheer-worthy couple again soon as I look forward to seeing more of their fun and flirty romance. Alongside this appealing main couple is the angry and revenge-filled Brute, a man betrayed by love who loves his family. He practically jumped off the page in his scenes and I hope he too finds his own HEA soon. On a whole readers will find this a delightful read that stands strongly on its own in a sexy and action-fueled series.
Profile Image for Char (1RadReader59).
2,520 reviews13 followers
April 23, 2019
Sadie’s brothers’ Brute has his biggest fight coming up. See he is an MMA fighter and he is training to fight Hawke who Brute is after because he thinks he stole an old girlfriend and also a chance for the opportunity to be at the top gym the Hawke is at. His anger towards Hawke is really off the wall, especially for Sadie who is Brute’s sister and works for him as part of his team in marketing him and PR. She has also had a crush on him through the media for years. Now when they meet at a local bar she tries not to act on the crush but Brute finds himself attracted to her. Seeking her out he wants to take her out to see if they have a connection. Finding that they enjoy the same things you would think everything would be fine. It is until she has to be there for the weigh-in and when her brother and family find out that she has been seeing him they are more upset with her than Brute is. He still wants to see her but she puts him off until after the match. This book was good but was nowhere near what my husband told me about the book before this one and the one after. It seemed that this one was a little tamed compared to those stories. Though I liked this book I was expecting a little more. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
Profile Image for JoAnna G.
677 reviews10 followers
November 18, 2018
Fun, Fast, Flirty 4 Star Read

This book was originally part of a compilation but was worked and meant for the Breaking The Rules Series. Boy, are the rules broken. Such a quick and fun sassy read. The pace is steady as is the writing. I have never really read about MMA fighters so this was a bit different for me in a good way. This is a sort of forbidden or off limits romance and just dare I say a tad scandalous. I loved every sordid detail of this book. I really liked the plot. Since I hadn't read this genre I had to give it a try. So worth it.

Sadie has been crushing on Hawk for quite some time. She sees him come into the bar and finally makes her move and buys him a drink. She was a breath of fresh air. No filter at all when she has been drinking. She is a feisty little thing. She is also her brother's publicist.

Hawk is an MMA fighter that is getting ready for his next bout. He is getting ready to fight his rival. In walks Sadie and knocks him on his ass. No pun intended.

They meet in secret have fun. This spans over a couple of weeks. I can't say much else since it is short and it will give it away. Just know that it is fun, flirty, sexy and passionate about sports as well as both the hero and heroine.
Profile Image for Johanna Sawyer.
3,460 reviews39 followers
February 8, 2019
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC to read and give my honest opinion.


This is just a fun series about hot MMA fighters and falling for a one of a kind woman. This one is novella length but its still fun and sexy. Hawk is in town waiting on his next big fight against Brute when he runs into a woman proclaiming to be his number one fan. Sadie is nursing her third drink at a bar when her favorite MMA fighter strolls through the door and liquid courage later she leaves with him.

What did I like? This is a series... so this is fleshed out pretty good despite being novella sized. I have enjoyed the series, it was easy to slip into this novella and start up on this couple. Hawk and Sadie are panty combustible hot.

Would I buy this book? I would kindle a copy for sure, its always nice if there is a series trying to read the novella's with it. This was a fun book, and amazing characters in this series.

Thoughts for the author? My copy had some mistakes and issues but hopefully they were ironed out before it went on sale. Love the characters, and love this series! Four stars of entertainment.
Profile Image for Susan Trewick.
568 reviews16 followers
November 12, 2018
This is the third book in the series, I didn’t realise that when I started reading this, I can’t wait to read them. This story was a short read, long enough to cover all the important parts but short enough to keep you interested, the story flows well and doesn’t feel rushed. This is Hawk and Sadie’s story, the attraction between them is instant and sparks fly from the first meeting. Sadie literally knocks Hawk’s socks off and has him hooked and begging for more, what happens when he finds out her secret? Will he forgive and forget?

MMA and forbidden love, what more can a girl ask for! Told in dual point of view, you get an in-depth view of the characters at each point of the story. There’s a couple of twists that keep you turning the pages, I loved the push and pull between the characters, it showed their vulnerable side that not many people see. Overall this was a sweet, hot read that leaves the reader feeling warm and squishy inside and begging for more!


*** reviewed for sweet & spicy reads-ARC provided for honest review ***
Profile Image for Kimberly Anne.
3,167 reviews184 followers
November 13, 2018
First and foremost, let me start off by saying I am a HUGE MMA fan, and the MMA trope is one of my absolute favorites.
Ember Leigh is a new author to me, and this is the first book I have read from this series. This pint sized book is a short one with a fast paced story line. While I am all for novellas, I feel like this book was a bit rushed, and left me feeling like some issues were resolved way too quickly, all because "I'm sorry." was thrown in there, and everything was a okay after that, when in reality that is not something that would normally happen.

This taboo story, will make Sadie and Hawk really work for it if they want their relationship come out on top. Sadie and Hawk had an instant connection, and their chemistry was off the charts. Always coming out on top can Hawk and Sadie overcome the obstacles that are headed their way?

I can not wait to see what Ember Leigh comes up with because her writing is very promising.

*I recommend this book.

~ Ashley
Profile Image for Julie.
2,004 reviews31 followers
January 2, 2019
This short read is part of a compilation, I haven’t read any of the series it is part of, but this short instalment can be read alone. It’s an MMA fighter romance and I enjoyed it immensely.
Sadie has had the hots for Hawk for a while now, she just loves his moves and his body....wow!! Imagine her surprise when she see’s him walking into the bar, she knows this is her chance to finally meet her crush....so she buys him a drink. He can only say “no thanks”. She’ll just have to keep her last name a secret.
Hawk is getting ready to fight a rival, but has decided to explore the locals in the area. He is only drinking water but when he spy’s Sadie, more secret’s are made.

The story is a novella, but the plot spans over a couple of weeks. It was well written, lot’s of depth in the characters and story wasn’t too complex, needing lots of explanation. It was fun with sexy scenes to heat up the pages and additional exciting sports action. A great read.
November 8, 2018
Forbidden Love, Denver, and MMA - what more could I ask for? These are just a few of my favorite things!

When I signed up to review this ARC, I didn't realize that it was book 3 of a series. I am now scrambling to get my hands on the first two books and hoping for more!

Hawk and Sadie are thrown together and the sparks fly instantly. They waste no time and it heats up very quickly. I loved reading from both viewpoints throughout this book. It increased the level of character development and kept me reading. Sadie is feisty and the type of female lead that I love reading while Hawk is steamy, strong and swoon-worthy. I loved everything about them and this story. I devoured it all in one sitting and I can't wait to read more from this series and Ember Leigh!

Reviewed by: Brianne M.
Profile Image for Kari Hansen.
10.2k reviews87 followers
November 17, 2018
Stopping into that bar in Denver was either Sadie’s best decision or her worst decision. While there she sees Hawk the sexy MMA fighter, she has been crushing on however the only problem is that he is her brother’s biggest competitor. She knows she should stay away from him especially as he doesn’t know her connection to his competitor, but some temptations are impossible to resist.

Hawk is attracted to Sadie and he knows she has secrets, but he can’t stay away. Will Sadie be able to keep the two men in her life in separate corners so that she can keep her little secret?

Sweet and sexy this novella hits the spot with great characters, hot chemistry and a few twists that keep you entertained until the last page. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Profile Image for Terry.
1,277 reviews
February 5, 2020
4 1/2 Stats for this MMA romance!

Sadie has had a crush on Hawk for the last year. It started when Hawk and her older brother, Brute, met in the octagon. But when Sadie meets Hawk in a bar - two weeks before Hawk and Brute are to have their second fight - she doesn’t tell Hawk who she is.

Hawk can’t believe his luck in meeting the beautiful Sadie. Too bad he has to be celibate till his next fight, but hopefully Sadie will stick around until after the fight and then he’d be more than happy to make it up to her.

This is a quick read that will have you laughing one minute and swooning the next minute. The steamy scenes are incredible! ... Ms Leigh sure knows how to write them. A great addition to the series.

I received an early copy courtesy of Backlit PR through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
Profile Image for Brianne Maffett.
192 reviews5 followers
November 6, 2018
Forbidden Love, Denver, and MMA - what more could I ask for? These are just a few of my favorite things!

When I signed up to review this ARC, I didn't realize that it was book 3 of a series. I am now scrambling to get my hands on the first two books and hoping for more!

Hawk and Sadie are thrown together and the sparks fly instantly. They waste no time and it heats up very quickly. I loved reading from both viewpoints throughout this book. It increased the level of character development and kept me reading. Sadie is feisty and the type of female lead that I love reading while Hawk is steamy, strong and swoon-worthy. I loved everything about them and this story. I devoured it all in one sitting and I can't wait to read more from this series and Ember Leigh!
107 reviews2 followers
November 15, 2018
Sadie is the beautiful little sister of MMA fighter Brute and also his PR person... She's also got a huge crush on her brother's rival, Hawk. Every girl has a crush on him as he's one of the sexiest guys in the world! She's at the bar one night just minding her own business and when she's getting ready to leave, Hawk walks in.

Hawk, MMA fighter and champ, just wants a quiet evening at the bar. Just wants a glass of water and to people watch, until a girl buys him a drink.

They talk most of the night and end up back at his hotel and have a steamy night. They both want more, but there's just one hitch.. he doesn't know she's his rival's sister...

Will they figure it out and be together or will everything end when he finally finds out???

Enjoy!!
Profile Image for One Book at a Time! .
Author 9 books3 followers
December 28, 2018
Thanks to netgalley.com for a copy of this book.
Hawk and Sadie are sneaking around together it’s just that he doesn’t realize it yet. I really wanted an epilogue to this novella, please, please can we get an engagement epilogue!! (Fingers crossed) It was an interesting dynamic between these two once the secret it out and the hurt is there for Hawk. He was so trusting of Sadie but once the secret is out, there relationship seems to continue to evolve and grows into something beautiful. I wasn’t a fan of the secret he plans to keep for a lifetime but maybe it doesn’t need to be so spelled out for the readers and we can come to that conclusion on our own or not? Interesting story line and characters are really fun.
Profile Image for Johnaka- Amity Book Blog.
1,163 reviews16 followers
November 5, 2018
My Little Secret by Ember Leigh
“Will he win or lose? 5 stars”

Usually I avoid novellas, but something about the blurb to My Little Secret sucked me in and I bite the bullet. I had never read Leigh before and I’m glad I did. From start to finish I was sucked into this quick, sweet, MMA romance. Sadie and Hawk have the odds stacked against them, but they are both willing to work for what they want. If you take a chance on these two you won’t regret it.
Plot-5/5
Characters-5/5
Heat-5/5
Writing style-5/5
Overall-5/5
Profile Image for Stacy Ross.
208 reviews9 followers
November 8, 2018
I received an ARC of My Little Secret by Ember Leigh to read and review. Ember is a new author to me and I enjoyed reading her writing style. I couldn’t put this book down. Hawk was Sadie’s brothers biggest MMA rival and the star of Sadie’s fantasies for the past year.

This book was great. Loved this quick little love story between two people who shouldn’t be together. I have found a new author to read. I was disappointed when the book ended, I wanted Sadie and Hawk’s story to continue. A definite 5 star read!
Profile Image for Doris.
2,791 reviews113 followers
December 19, 2018
In the world of MMA what could be better than when you have a huge crush on your brother’s biggest rival?! Sadie has been fantasizing about Hawk for quite some time even though her brother, whom she happens to be his PR person, hates everything about Hawk. They are in Denver for the big fight between Hawk and Brute so when Hawk happens to come in to the bar that Sadie is at she orders him a drink.

This story was sexy, funny and had you waiting to see when the bomb was going to drop when Hawk found out who Sadie actually was. This book definitely gives you your HEA!!!
Profile Image for Red Hot Romance Blog.
497 reviews31 followers
November 19, 2018
I received an ARC of this book for an honest review. I always enjoy a good forbidden love story. If anyone shouldn’t be with Hawk it is definitely Sadie. To start sleeping with your brother biggest rival is a bad idea. Of course, what started as one time turned into a relationship. What could possibly go wrong?! I liked the connection between the two and am interested to see if her family will ever accept their relationship.
Profile Image for Catty Jane.
377 reviews4 followers
November 12, 2018
*** ARC Received for Honest Review ***

4 stars

What a great novella. Chance lets Sadie meet her all time, number one celebrity crush, Hawk an MMA fighter. Too bad his next fight is with her brother. Oh, and she works for her brother doing PR and digging up dirt on his opponents. But with heat like they have one night is nowhere near enough. I loved this steamy romance, I can't wait for more. (Review by Terri "Jane")
38 reviews
December 23, 2018
Fast, fun four star read

Book received in exchange for an honest review

A fast, fun four star read from Ember Leigh.
This is the first book I’ve read by Ember Leigh and I must say I wasn’t disappointed.
Set in the MMA world, Sadie and Hawk meet and have an instant connection. But Sadie is keeping a secret from Hawk..... what will happen when he finds out who she really is?

I would definitely recommend this book and will now be adding Ember Leigh to my TBR list.
Profile Image for queen_of_the_books_18.
850 reviews224 followers
December 23, 2018
Book received in exchange for an honest review-Thank you Netgalley Uk and Backlit PR

A fast, fun four star read from Ember Leigh.
This is the first book I’ve read by Ember Leigh and I must say I wasn’t disappointed.
Set in the MMA world, Sadie and Hawk meet and have an instant connection. But Sadie is keeping a secret from Hawk..... what will happen when he finds out who she really is?

I would definitely recommend this book and will now be adding Ember Leigh to my TBR list.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Crissy.
2,524 reviews5 followers
December 27, 2018
3.5 STARS!!!!
This was such a short but good MMA romance read that can be read as a STANDALONE. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline. The back and forth banter between Sadie and Hawk had me laughing more than a few times. I was glad that Sadie did not let her family most importantly her brother deter her from being with Hawk. Hawk really showed what he was willing to do for Sadie. This was a fast paced, steamy, romance read that I liked a lot but it's also a one time read for me.
Profile Image for Kali McQuillen.
1,796 reviews38 followers
November 12, 2018
Sadie and Hawk are a fiery combination. He can get any woman he wants but he wants her from the moment that they meet. She has been in lust with him for a long time and can't believe her luck when she sees him in the bar that she's at. One thing leads to another and they're back at his hotel.

As their tryst gets hotter, her secret just keeps getting bigger. They're falling for each other but sometimes secrets will break a relationship. How is he going to take it when he finds out her biggest secret?

I adored Hawk for the most part. He is willing to try to keep their relationship going even though they have so many obstacles in their way. He's so sweet and has a heart of gold. Will Sadie be the one that breaks him or will she be the one that holds his hand to the very last match?
Profile Image for Ree.
2,457 reviews51 followers
November 10, 2018
I enjoyed this short, spicy romance.

The forbidden love angle was well-woven through this MMA romance. I couldn't help but devour the pages, and was wishing for more when it ended.

Having only read this installment in The Breaking series, I'm excited and eager to read the others.

I voluntarily read & reviewed an ARC of this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews

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