On the Ropes

De: Kathryn Nolan

Narrado por: Lila Winters, Wayne Mitchell

Summer in the city heats up when the girl who got away moves in next door.

Dean “The Machine” is a South Philly legend. Much to the dismay of fans who still hound him, the broody former fighter walked away from his boxing career right before clinching another championship belt. Tight-lipped on his reasons for retiring, he’s busy trying to figure out his future when the past literally falls in his lap.

Tabitha Tyler, the fiery redhead who captured his teenage heart, is back in town and staying next door. Only now the girl that got away is all grown up and offering him a strings-free summer fling. Dean knows better than to start something that will leave him flat on his back and seeing stars.

But there’s only so much temptation a man can take.

Kept away by the secrets that tore her family apart, sparkly filmmaker Tabitha is home for the first time in nine years. And her old friend and new hunky neighbor is just the distraction she needs. It’s the perfect relationship for her—one with an expiration date.

She’s got two weeks to convince him to cave.

He’s got two weeks to convince her to stay.

But when she refuses to let down her guard, Dean realizes that this time…he just might get knocked out for good.

Author’s note: A smokin’ hot friends-to-lovers, opposites-attract love story in a close-knit South Philly neighborhood with a quirky cast of nosy but well-intentioned neighbors.

©2021 Kathryn Nolan (P)2022 That's What She Said Publishing, Inc.

Love finding home with Dean & Tabitha!!

Oh my gosh y'all, I am in LOVE with the Audible of On The Ropes by Kathryn Nolan!! The Narrators - Lila Winters, and Wayne Mitchell are spectacular!

I was already in love with Dean from reading the ebook last year, but getting to hear his whispery, growling voice just made the whole thing for me.

Dean's solitary, almost solemn, character is so sweet, and his feelings of being left high and dry by a town that doesn't love any sports heroes that they think fail, just made me want to weep for his obviously broken heart.

The way he loves Tabitha but is so afraid to show it, jeez that just made him all the sweeter. His support of her at the Lavender Center when they were kids and teens, it just show the strength and kindness of his true character - even though right now at the beginning of the book he's lost in his grouchiness because of the demolished home and abandoned lot, and how much in my eyes I think he believes they represent his failed career and image around town.

Tabitha Tyler blows into town, intent on staying for only two weeks, even convincing her sister that she is more than capable of having a summer fling with no real emotional attachment. Even when she quite literally lands in Dean's lap, she's still convinced that they can just have this tawdry little affair and no real emotions will be involved.

Poor Tabitha - she's been running from Philly since she graduated from high school, running from her mother's cruelty, and any semblance of actual emotional attachment. She doesn't understand that this relationship, this time, with Dean is going to drag out all her own emotions and fears and make her want to stick around this time!

The side characters of Eddie, Alice, Midge, and Mary, and Tabitha's whole family along with the whole 10th street neighborhood made me yearn for more even as the book was ending.

It's just such a beautiful book, and Kathryn Nolan's ability to build in two young teens lives in the LGBTQIA+ community, and give them the closeness they needed, the love all around them, it makes this old gay women yearn for someplace like that in her life as a young person and young adult. But dont worry, Kathryn will always help you find the place and the words you've been missing.

Five out of five stars for Kathryn Nolan's On The Ropes, I'd give it 10 if I could, her writing always gives me such a feeling of finding home!!

Lovely, happy story that will fill your cup

I adored this story. Dean is totally swoon-worthy and Tabitha is relatable and also very swoon-worthy. Loved every minute of it!