Taken By Storm (Cloudy Skies, #1) / Cloudy Skies (ePub)

For former boxing contender, Q'orian "Storm" Jones, running a gym might not have been his first choice, but with a partial vision loss, his career options are limited. His new goal is to train professional boxers and get kids off the streets. Bonus: focusing long hours training clients in his men-only gym means that any chance of getting involved with another back-stabber like his conniving ex-girlfriend are nil.

Until the day Celeste Warner walks into his gym. She claims she needs his help. But he doesn't turn her away because she's a dark-haired version of the woman he once loved. No. He turns her away because she's a woman.

A woman messed up his past; he certainly isn't going to let another one ruin his future.

Growing up with the story of a magic ring, Celeste rebuffs the signs when her late mother's ring appears before her. She doesn't want a mate; she's known nothing but pain from her last boyfriend. But that stupid ring leads her to Storm's Corner, a gym where Celeste decides that maybe learning how to punch certain ex-boyfriends might be beneficial. But the self-righteous owner, Storm, wants nothing to do with her.

When Celeste's ex gets released from prison, she knows she must follow the ring back to Storm's Corner and plead her case. But the bruise on her arm is all the proof Storm needs to realize he must help Celeste, regardless of his mixed emotions.

His bottom line is failing, even though he's succeeding in getting kids off the streets. And with a felon breaking Celeste's restraining order, Storm doesn't know if she will even survive until her court date.

Storm knows he can't let anything happen to Celeste.

But protecting someone who feels no self-worth is probably the hardest battle he's ever fought.