First Step Forward by Liora Blake – Review & Giveaway

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Description:
After eight seasons playing pro-football, Cooper Lowry knows all the right answers.

Is he stubborn, short-tempered, and impatient? Yes. Are jersey chasers more trouble than they’re worth? Absolutely. Has he ever imagined a life beyond the game? Nope.

Cooper has built an enviable career—the result of staying focused, working hard, and keeping his head on straight—even as his body takes the brunt. So when a hard hit during a Sunday home game leaves him in a dazed heap on the field, it’s nothing more than another day at the office. The only thing that’s different about this Sunday is a chance encounter with a certain fascinating, beautiful free-spirited woman. And some sternly-worded instructions from his coach to take a little time off and give his body the TLC it craves—before he does lasting damage.

Whitney Reed is a few months away from losing the organic fruit orchard she bought three years ago in the tiny town of Hotchkiss, Colorado. At the time, she was just looking for a place to get lost. Instead, she found a home, somewhere she could finally put down roots. Now foreclosure is knocking on her door—along with a grumpy, gorgeous football player who might be just what she never knew she needed.


Review:

First Step Forward by Liora Blake is the 1^st book in her new Grand Valley series.  This was a sweet fun romance.   We meet our hero, Cooper Lowry, who is a professional football star.  Cooper has a major headache, as he suffered a concussion in his last game, and goes to the pharmacy to get some salt to soak his aching body.  Whitney Reed notices someone bending down in pain, and tries to offer support.  She ends up giving him advice on what to buy, knowing nothing that she is talking to a mega super sports star.

Whitney is in town to try to get a loan for her organic apple orchard which is facing foreclosure, due to insufficient funds.  In another chance encounter with Cooper, a friendship develops of two people totally different.  Cooper, when sidelined with a leg injury will visit Whitney, where she lives in a small town called Hotchkiss, and finds a different peaceful atmosphere that he is not used to.  Whitney is totally surprised to see Cooper, and shortly thereafter a fun romance begins.

I loved the premise of this story, as well as our leading couple.  Whitney was enjoying her flirtation with the rich famous Cooper, and he was finding himself slowly falling for her.  She refuses to allow Cooper to help her with a loan, since she does not want to owe anyone anything.  The story was a lot of fun, as we follow Cooper during his games, and his injuries that could end his career.  We also follow Whitney as she tries to salvage her business and land, and meet some of the people from Hotchkiss.  I will add that there were a lot of sex scenes throughout the whole story, which I prefer to be more story oriented.  But overall it was a fun read with a sweet couple. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

Liora’s publisher is offering a paper copy of First Step Forward to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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