Evictions and the refusal of private landlords to take tenants on housing benefit were common. A derelict police station on the edge of the town centre frustrated many: And now they face a new problem: He is friends with Faye, 32, who sometimes sleeps alone in a disused bin store as she struggles with beating heroin addiction and serious mental health problems. It is Christmas and I am living in a tent. Unity House is a lifeline in Chippenham and the council has recently funded 10 extra winter spaces, which has helped get some people off the streets.
Avoiding that was one reason Faye said she slept in a bin shed. Homelessness seems to suck people down. Savannah, 19, has been sofa surfing after being kicked out by her mother over a disagreement about her boyfriend. John, 20, a slight young man, arrived at Unity last week after 10 days camping in a wood north of Chippenham after a court ordered him out of his home. He said it was so horrible he considered taking all of his medication at once. Connor, 23, arrived last week straight from sleeping in a Swindon car park after a spell in jail for theft and actual bodily harm, crimes committed to feed his heroin addiction.
In September he asked Wiltshire council for help with housing, but said he received nothing, until now. A council spokesperson said: Wiltshire has a council housing waiting list of 1, people. It is not alone among rural authorities in suffering a shortage of affordable homes. Studies have shown that as many as half of the affordable homes councils require to be built in new rural developments are not met when housing developers argue they would not be sufficiently profitable.
Others are clean but still face considerable obstacles. He wants to get back to work, but is still dealing with mental health problems. While local charities such as Doorway and churches provide free lunches and breakfasts, some local people display violent hostility. Gifford became homeless after his marriage broke down and he served a spell in jail for drink driving.
Thanks a bunch hun!! Savannah Ryan is a year old woman trying to take control of her own life and start anew. With a gritty past of hers, who would? And with an ex-fling in the midst, jaded secrets, unexpected twists and turns, as well as stunted dreams on the line…how will it all turn out? I mean, Declan is a champion fighter is he not?
I was sort of bummed I couldn't witness him busting out even more of his extensive fighting chops. Martin consider with follow up with sequel!! Perhaps a Blake and Macy pairing?!!
I felt that Blake and Macy had a lot of potential to expand on singularly and as a couple!! View all 11 comments. Oct 08, Jen rated it really liked it Shelves: Why oh why do the majority of the heroines I've been reading about lately insist on keeping their menfolk at arms length for the majority of the book? The couple start to get close and BAM!
Misunderstanding followed by all kinds of awkwardness. Down and Out was well written and I liked the two main characters for the most part, but my enjoyment was hamper 3. If these little issues don't bother you or, unlike me you haven't experienced "girl doesn't do relationships" overload, I'd recommend this book. It's hard to say no to those sexy underground fighting dudes. Sep 28, Polly rated it liked it Shelves: Oct 02, Jacqueline's Reads rated it really liked it Shelves: It has the right amount of romance and fighting to keep you interested Savannah I love me a damsel in distress lady and Savannah fits the bill.
She bounces from job to job, doing almost anything she can to save enough money for college. She finds a help wanted sign in front of a gym and decides to apply. Declan Declan is the sexy owner of the gym and automatically has a soft spot for Savannah. She looks disheveled and in a need of rescuing, the only thing is, Declan is no Hero.
- Vive les punitions (Rageot Romans 8-10 t. 172) (French Edition);
- The Smartest Girl in the Room (The New Pioneers Book 1)?
- See a Problem?!
Declan is oh lickable and sweet at the same time. I trade punches for a living, but nobody can hurt me like you. Nobody can land a hit like you and leave me as breathless and torn up. I just love the banter between Savannah and Declan. You will be smiling and cracking up. Declan sees Savannah living in her car and feels really bad so he offers her a place to stay, with him!
I know, it makes for a juicy read. Declan and Savannah embark on a light and causal relationship, but of course there is nothing light about Declan. Overall Overall, Down and Out was a nice read. The pace is light and a little slow, which I know will work with a lot of people. If you are a fan of fighting books, then this one is for you. View all 5 comments. Down and Out by Kelley R. Get prepared to make Declan your next book boyfriend, he doesn't have a filter on his mouth but that's what makes him sooo freaking appealing he just has no idea of half the boundaries he crosses..
Declan is a delicious dominant, tattooed fighter who has met his match with Snarky Savannah, the sparks that fly between these two is hilarious and kept me entertained from page one right to the end!! Loved Loved Loved this book!! No strings attached sex I already know my insides are ugly and twisted.. But I'm slowly realizing that no amount of dick can fill the void I secretly carry around with me. This book started well, I loved Declan - he was such a darling and underground fighter with tattooed and pierced lips.
But the story went little annoying with her heroine. She ruined the story. Some parts didn't make sense considering her situation. She was too much. I wouldn't re-read this story again. Sep 08, Angie - Angie's Dreamy Reads rated it it was amazing. Oct 02, Lindsay rated it really liked it Shelves: I'll admit that I was a little hesitant to start this just because I'm burned out on fighter books. But once I started, I just couldn't put it down. I completely fell in love with Declan. He was the perfect mix of tough alpha and sweetness.
He knew the perfect things to say that had me melting. And I loved the banter between him and Savannah. They had me cracking up. Unfortunately, there was one thing that didn't work for me Don't get me wrong, for t 4. Don't get me wrong, for the most part I liked her. But she spent so much time running away and saying awful things that I really came to dislike her. And every time she would treat Declan like crap, she would act like the injured party. And that just plain pissed me off.
It got to the point that I thought she didn't deserve Declan. I realize that she had a really tough life and bad things happened to her, but her actions still ticked me off. Overall, I really did love this book, and I'll probably read it again.
Killing machines: Tracey Crouch on why she resigned as minister over FOBTs
I'm hoping that Declan's brother gets a book. View all 4 comments. This one is definitely awesome and totally worth reading! I can't wait to see what Kellie wrote: I can't wait to see what you think: This one sounds great! This one was definitely great! Lol, I still think about Declan. I'm going to have to rere Lisa wrote: I'm going to have to reread this soon! Good banter between the characters. Did get a little cheesy towards the end and of course I deducted for gray eyes Maybe I'll do a longer review later Apr 15, Dilek VT marked it as dnf Shelves: I lost interest in it And I hate the trope of unplanned pregnancy It warms up after a couple pumps, and pretty soon the silky, gliding pressure has my heart racing and my FREE hand clutching the counter to steady myself.
My mind wanders to Savannah. I had no idea she was such a firecracker. She kept me on my toes the whole conversation and I loved every second of it. Fuck me, this cannot be happening. I yank my boxers back up as she turns and smacks her face on the open door. She cups her nose in her hands as I wince and rush over to her. Sep 10, Abby A.
Down and out in Chippenham: Britain's hidden rural homeless | Society | The Guardian
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Regarding the rating, this is closer to a 2. Two of them have to do with plot points. For example, I liked how Declan brought her into his home when he found her homeless, sleeping in her car. Later on in the book, Savannah was recruited to be part of a new female fighter program at the same underground fighting organization that Declan fights for. That was a unique twist I wasn't expecting. Unfortunately, after all the training she did, she Regarding the rating, this is closer to a 2. Unfortunately, after all the training she did, she had to forfeit because it turned out she was pregnant.
So this really didn't go anywhere. The other thing or person I liked was Declan himself. Interestingly enough, he's described in the synopsis as being "snarky and dominant". While he has his moments of expressing both those characteristics, I actually found him to have more of a sensitive and giving nature than anything else. I saw this in how he has difficulty forgiving his abusive father. I saw this in how took care Savannah and also in how he expressed his love to her even though she couldn't or wouldn't reciprocate.
There's definitely a lot to like about Declan, although I have to say that the relationship with Savannah may not have been appropriate since he was her boss. I also liked some of the humorous situations that happened between Declan and Savannah. One in particular was quite hysterical.
When it came to Savannah, I liked the fact that she was feisty and that she wasn't afraid to stand up for herself, especially after such a rough childhood. However, I did have issues her. That piqued my interest and made me wonder how that would be explored in the book. Later on, she tells Declan about her mother overdosing and having to live in various foster homes as a result, I got the sense of why sex was crutch for her.
Yet, her explanation of what happened felt too matter of fact, like she was completely removed. I felt the same way when she talked about the bullying in school. The way she told the story lacked any type of deep emotion other than her wanting to kick the bully's ass. Both stories should be heart-wrenching; yet, I didn't feel much empathy.
Maybe, if there were some flashbacks so that you can actually "feel" her suffering, that would have brought something more to Savannah as a character.
- D&O Triumph T120 & Street Twin – Short Rear Mudguard Assembly!
- Down and Out (Cam'ron song).
- The best place to catch the game in DTLA?
- Celestino e la famiglia Gentilissimi (Italian Edition).
- TREE and PYRAMID.
Maybe, if there was more of a description of how she felt as opposed to just stating the info? Also, the bully plot point didn't really serve much purpose other than her confronting the person who bullied her later on. It didn't feel like it advanced the story other than her giving Declan a hard time for sleeping with that girl in the first place.
But hello, it was really none of her business and Declan had already ended it before Savannah came along. As the story progresses, they eventually agree to a no strings sexual relationship primarily because that's the only kind of relationship she'd agree to. Even when Declan told her that there was a possibility his feelings could get involved, she didn't let that stop her. So now not only am I not feeling that empathic, now I think she's kind of selfish.
Actually, there also just a lot moments in the book that she has no problem taking and taking and doing so in an abrasive and ungrateful manner. When she does give back, it's more out of obligation and not simply because she wants what is best for Declan. To be honest, I don't really feel that Savannah is deserving of Devon's time and attention.
It's where she admits to Declan that a foster father blackmailed her to have sex with him so that she wouldn't be kicked out of the home. But she tells him after she's already had sex with him, freaks out because of a flashback and then tells him not to touch her. When she finally told Declan why she freaked out, he felt really guilty, which was so unfair. If something was a trigger for her, the mature thing would have been to tell this to Declan so that he would have been prepared.
Instead, she acted quite selfishly. I actually think that whole trauma about the foster father could have woven throughout the story. Especially since she felt residual guilt for the fact her body responded, even if her mind didn't. The whole prologue actually would have tied better to this plot point and the story could have been more about Savannah dealing with this guilt, being confused about sex and what it means and Declan's love helping her through this somehow.
The problem is that Savannah is just not fleshed out well enough and the way she is written doesn't really give creedence to why Declan is so in love with her in the first place. One more thing that didn't make sense to me is given that Declan is MMA fighter, why doesn't he fight? The one opportunity where he would have fought didn't occur because he was attacked and injured the night before his fight.
Apparently, this was orchestrated by his opponent. This whole situation brought up things that didn't go anywhere. Why bring up him being beaten up and vowing to crush his opponent when the fight still doesn't even happen later on on the book? Instead, it becomes about Savannah being a female fighter and that also lead to nowhere. After all this, they eventually got their HEA; but with an ending that was really abrupt.
But by this time, I was more than ready to finish this book. Oct 08, Roksana rated it it was ok Shelves: I liked the idea of "the hero" chasing the girl and not the opposite and the characters were likable enough, but I have to say that before they met the hero and heroins attitude towards casual sex with a completer strangers that they didn't even remembered their names is not appealing at all!
I will never be ok with that kind of regard to sex life.. I know its a current norm, but I will never be ok with that If i read a romance I want my man to want something more from a woman, I want him to get something but not for free, I want him to prove to himself he's worthy of the lady of his affections that his lady returns those affections because he proven to her and himself he's worthy of that kind of privilege I have become so accustomed to this type of books with this "hook up culture" and I cannot help but think those kind of multiple short term sexual relations are damaging to the social values It was even researched that the refusal of people to delay gratification and engage in irresponsible behavior partly explains the marked increase in marital and family fragmentation, sociopathic behavior, sexually transmitted diseases, criminality, suicidal ideation, selfishness and self centeredness, hostile intolerance to differing viewpoints, and a lack of concern, compassion and sensitivity towards others.
The challenge is to weigh the long term consequences of immediate gratification behavior, return to greater civility and become more respectful of other's feelings, attitudes and values. View all 3 comments. Oct 18, Rag rated it it was amazing Shelves: She sleeps in her car and only has 3 dollars and some change for food. She goes to a Help Wanted gym for a job. All other jobs she applied for wont take her because she's a high school dropout. Declan eventually found out that kitten is sleeping in her car.
He takes her in and let's her stay at his apartment. They soon agree to have sex-witho 4. They soon agree to have sex-without-attachment he even wrote a legal contract that say if things don't work out she can still stay with him and still have her job can they really do this without feelings?
Can I just say that this book is funny as fuck. Declan- hot as hell and kind and sweet, I just love him. Savannah aka kitten- I loved her also. She's such a bad ass and a strong women. I love when a girl is strong. I just love the book. But the only thing I wanted was for it to be more.
Down and Out
I wasn't ready for it to come to an end. I also like a book that surprises me and this kept me on my toes for the whole ride. Oct 01, Nikki rated it it was amazing Shelves: I freaking loved this book! Declan is totally perfect in every way! I can honestly say there wasn't anything in Down and Out that I didn't like! The banter between Declan and Savannah was hilarious and the sexual tension was palpable.