Toughest Battle [Paperback]

Regina Pride (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 31, 2001

At eighteen, Brian Clark is ready to leave Akron Ohio and attend college at Ohio State. But when his parents are killed, he stays to raise his younger brother Tommy. Two years later, he falls in love with Pamela Carlyle. But when she becomes pregnant four years later, Brian can't put his life on hold again. He goes to school in LA, leaves Pam behind, and guilt drives him to drink and self-destruct. After he pulls himself together, he wonders if he can reclaim his family.So begins Brian's story is Small Sacrifices. Now, in Toughest Battle, Brian has come home. It's five years later, and Brian is broke, homeless, and fighting to stay sober. But he also loves his family, and he will do anything to be worthy of them again.Each day he fears he is too late. Tommy is now a grown man, who doesn't need or trust him anymore. Pam is engaged to another man, and fears giving her heart to Brian again. And Brian's daughter LaToya is a confused little girl who sees him as a stranger. But as Brian rebuilds his life, he tears down those walls and becomes a man they can believe in again. And to his utter joy, he believes Pam will finally let them have a new beginning.But Pam's fiance, Greg Austin, and her scheming sister, Patricia Carlyle, are digging into Brian's past. And what they discover could destroy Brian's reunion with his family for good ...

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Regina Pride lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Her first novel, Small Sacrifices, was published last year. She is currently working on the third book in the Clark/Carlyle saga.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse (May 31, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595185908
• ISBN-13: 978-0595185900
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,715,442 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid Storytelling, November 25, 2003

By 

Elizabeth ", Zumaya Publications LLC" (Austin, TX, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Toughest Battle (Paperback)

In this sequel to her debut novel SMALL SACRIFICES, Regina Pride follows her protagonist Brian Clark as he returns home to Akron, Ohio, seeking to repair the damage he caused with his abrupt flight five years earlier. Newly sober after a year in treatment, he wants most of all to win back his former fiancée Pam and become a real father to their daughter Latoya.

Given all that has happened in those five years, this project would be a difficult challenge all by itself. In Brians case, there are people who not only want him to fail but will go to whatever lengths necessary to guarantee it.

It is to Ms. Prides credit that one need not have read her first book to enjoy this one. She begins by providing a moderately well-handled recap of the past, only occasionally stumbling by having characters telling one another things they already know. There are other, mostly mechanical, problems a good editor would have helped her fix, but on the whole they arent sufficiently intrusive to be a nuisance.

Compelling characters are one reason for this. Although they are not particular unique, they are solidly drawn, and their very familiarity is an asset. That they are all clearly middle class makes it easier to identify with them and their problems than it is with, say, the poor rich in a Danielle Steele opus.

Inarguably, this book is the equivalent of daytime drama, but the solid, no-nonsense writing and excellent pacing keep it from falling too deeply into predictability. One is reminded of the best of the soaps of the sixties and seventies, before they became saturated with glamour, glitz and ever more improbable plots.

One element that is less than successful, however, are the sex scenes. When they arent repetitive they have a rather off-putting chemical flavor that makes them seem gratuitous. It almost seems as though Ms. Pride isnt quite comfortable writing them but felt her choice of genre required them. In fact, the book wouldnt have suffered a bit had she instead opted to fade to black at appropriate moments.

Nevertheless, TOUGHEST BATTLE is a worthy and fully entertaining sophomore effort readers of contemporary romance are certain to enjoy.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Toughest Battle, August 27, 2002

By 

Cynthia Godin (NH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Toughest Battle (Paperback)

When Brian Clark decides to return to his hometown to reunite with his long lost family he never imagined just how hard it would be. Could he get his brother to forgive him for deserting him? Would he ever be able to earn his respect after he finds out about his past?

How would LaToya handle her fathers return after years of never knowing him?

And what about his beloved Pamela? He had left her pregnant to run of and chase his dreams. Would he be able to rekindle their old flame? Did he still have what it would take to persuade her not to marry Greg?

He could only hope he still had time to right the wrongs and win back his family, especially when Allen had stepped out of the past to pay him a very unwelcome visit.

What a fantastic book!

Just when you think you have it all figured out...wrong! What a twist you never see coming!

Great job! I'm looking forward to reading the next one!

Cynthia Godin

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for Everyone!, July 3, 2002

By 

Misti Jackson, Author & Book Reviewer (Southern Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Toughest Battle (Paperback)

Brian Clark left his pregnant girlfriend Pam Carlyle, and his younger brother, Tommy; who he raised since their parents' death. Brian left to attend college at Ohio State, and later ended up in a hospital to receive help for his alcoholism.

Now, five years later, Brian returns to his hometown in Akron, Ohio in hopes of putting his past behind him. Brian hopes to start a new future with his daughter whom he has never met, Pam, and his brother. Upon returning, Brian finds things are not as easy as he had hoped they would be. Pam is engaged to be married, his daughter doesn't want anything to do with him, and Tommy still holds a grudge against him for leaving and not keeping in contact.

"Toughest Battle" is just what it is for Brian, it is Brian's toughest battle to start a new life for himself as he battles with his alcoholism, tries to find a home and job, and reunite with the ones he left behind. This is a wonderfully written story that is sure to touch your hearts, emotions, and keep you turning the pages for more. The character development is very realistic. This is a must read for everyone! My compliments to Ms.Pride for a job well done!