Ready for Wild by Liora Blake – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

Ready for Wild by Liora Blake – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

 

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Ready for WildAmazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

Description:
Braden Montgomery is certain about three things: one, luck is for suckers; two, time spent outdoors is what keeps him sane; and, three, when it comes to sharing his bed, there’s only one female he’s willing to put up with—his Chesapeake Bay retriever, Charley. Braden’s constructed his life on these beliefs, and he’s quite content with the status quo.

But when a moment of bad luck lands Braden toe-to-toe with a blonde bombshell with her own television show, his stubbornly structured reality begins to unravel.

As for Amber Regan, her brand has been built on camo, cut-offs, and cleavage. With her own hunting show on the foremost sports channel and enough social media followers to garner her plenty of endorsement deals, Amber’s come a long way from the tomboy in a small Texas town she once was. Unfortunately, ratings are down and her contract for next season is in limbo, so she’s in desperate need of a reboot to save her show—and filming a rough and tough archery elk hunt in Colorado might be the way to do just that. Too bad the local game warden grunts more than he speaks, seems determined to despise her—and makes her heart race in all the most inconvenient ways.

 

 

Review:

Ready for Wild by Liora Blake is the 3rd and final book in her Grand Valley series, and it reads very well as a standalone.  We met Braden Montgomery, our hero, previously, as he is a game warden, who hates hunters, especially those on TV.  Meet Amber Regan, our heroine, who is a tv star on a sports channel hunting show.  We know to be ready for the explosions.  🙂

Amber and her team come to Colorado to film an Elk hunt, as she is desperately trying to reboot her career.  When Braden is assigned to help Amber and her team, he is unhappy, and shows his feelings openly to them all.  However, Amber knows all about hunting, and is determined not to let a grumpy negative Braden ruin this project.  In a short time, Braden will feel a strong attraction to Amber, and does all he can to fight it off.  Amber is not only gorgeous, but she is overly friendly and outgoing, and uses her charms to try and get the loner Braden to be more sociable; not to mention she is enjoying watching the hunky game warden.

What follows is a slow built romance that becomes sizzling, as their chemistry together is off the wall.  In time, Braden begins to accept Amber’s profession and finds he is falling in love with her.  Amber is also falling hard for Braden, but she is desperate to get her career on track, and when things do not go her way, she looks at other alternatives, which Braden feels would be beneath  her.  Besides their hot romance, their constant bickering and banter was also fun.  They each had their own issues, which made a permanent relationship unlikely.  Braden knows he will lose Amber, and just when we are about to give up, things will change that will bring some surprises, and a wonderful happy ever after.

Ready for Wild was a fun entertaining romance, with an unlikely couple that won us over very quickly.  It was nice to watch a grumpy Braden, and the vivacious Amber rise above their differences, using their love of hunting and their combustible lust for each other. No question that this was a hot sexy story.  Liora Blake once again gives us another fun romance, that had a bit of everything, humorous, sensual, fun bantering and a sexy delightful couple.  We will all miss our visits to Grand Valley.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

excerpt

The entire room falls away, along with every anxiety, every question, every confusing thought I had. All that’s left behind is the two of us, intensely present and entirely vulnerable to whatever comes next between us. And I want Braden to decide what that might be, because I’m tired of taking the lead. I’ve made the first move more than once, and tonight, I don’t want to ply him or convince him, or have it feel like he’s simply succumbing to a craving he couldn’t control. It’s time for Braden to prove to me this isn’t one-sided by taking the reins, just so long as I know I’ll get them back at some point.
I caught a glimpse of the Braden I want earlier tonight, when the too-slick, too-skinny cowboy at the foundation dinner invaded a little too much of my space. Braden’s protective yet patient gaze was on me, and I wanted to wrap myself in that sensation, sink into the experience of being watched over without being hovered over. Braden didn’t storm over like a bull bent on drawing blood, or alpha his way in and deck the cowboy’s lights out, even when I was ready for him to do exactly that. He acted like a man, not a hotheaded kid, and I wanted that man—the one in possession of all that control and composure—to want me.
Braden moves to stand behind me. He draws my hair away from the side of my neck, placing a kiss to the sensitive skin behind my ear, then traces his fingertips to that same spot, and my entire body comes alive. Another sweep of my hair to the side, exposing the zipper on my dress, the one he could so easily yank down. Instead his hands land on my shoulders, fingers splayed wide so he can gently knead the muscles there. My eyes drift closed.
“I haven’t done this in a while,” he says.
Eyes still closed, my brow knits. This impromptu neck massage is diverting, but not so much that I don’t find what he just said a little surprising. Sure, Braden isn’t exactly a poster child or sociability, but he is hot. His looks alone could open a few bedroom doors, and anyone who bothers to peek under his surly Superman cape would find a man who never neglects to answer a text and sometimes checks his best friend’s forehead for sign of a fever. Add in that big, masculine body of his and the guy could easily get some if he wanted to, so there must be a reason why he’s been on hiatus.
Braden’s thumbs begin to work over deep knots near my shoulder blades that I didn’t know were there.
“Why has it been a while?”
He continues to knead until he feels my shoulders wilt in relief.
“I got burnt by an ex a few years back. I hadn’t met anyone worth the trouble since then. Until now.”
My curiosity doubles down on those last two words. “Why me?”
I’m not sure what it is I want him to say, so long as they aren’t trite words about how I look. From another man, that sort of desire might be enough, but with Braden I need something else.What, I’m not exactly sure. I just know I need more than the superficial.
Braden’s hands drop to my hips and he grips them firmly, pressing his groin to my backside.
“Because you make me feel like a goddam live wire. You’re in the room and I feel you. I don’t have to see you, even. Because you’re fucking everywhere. It puts my teeth on edge and sets my skin on fire. And I can’t get enough.”
He’d heard my thoughts. He had to—that’s the only explanation for his being able to say exactly what I needed to hear, yet couldn’t name for myself. I calm the urge to all but shout, Take me, sailor!—like some swoony matinee star from back in the day. Slowly, I turn in his grip and meet his heavy-lidded gaze, intent on kissing him or dropping to my knees, whatever feels right.
But Braden slinks one arm tight around my waist, trapping me in his grip so he can run his fingers across my mouth, his eyes fixed there so intensely my face heats under the lovely scrutiny. My lips
part a fraction, ready to speak or kiss or moan, I’m not sure which.
Braden continues to stare at my mouth. “Because it’s been a while for me, I need you to let me set the pace this time. Can you
do that?”
My chest begins to rise and fall raggedly. “Can we take turns after that?”
Braden’s face immediately cracks into a broad grin. One that’s wry and exasperated, but above all, charmed . . . charmed by me.
A slow shake of his head. “You couldn’t just say yes, could you?”
“You know you would have been disappointed if I had. I just want to be sure I get my turn. I want to drive you crazy, but in a good way.”
His grin fades, his eyes darken, and I find myself tossed over his shoulder before I can even act like I might object.
“Fucking live wire,” he mutters, striding down the hallway and ducking when we make it to the doorway, flipping on a light switch at the same time. Braden sets me back on my feet near a single nightstand next to an enormous bed.
The room itself isn’t huge, so the bed takes up most of it. The frame is gray-stained pine trimmed with black wrought iron, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think it was one of Trey’s designs because it’s industrial-looking and impossible to ignore. The nightstand holds a tower of books and an alarm clock, and there’s a grocery-store bag tossed there, partially open to reveal its contents.
Condoms. Good man, Braden.
I waste no time after that, reaching for him with a tug while trying to work his belt open and yank his shirt off all at the same time. Braden’s hands swoop in and latch on to mine, letting out a low rumble as he spins me to face the other direction, still somehow able to keep my wrists in his loose but commanding grip.
His lips meet the crown of my head, whispering, “My pace. We agreed.”

 

 

Giveaway white and rose

Liora Blake’s publisher is offering a paper copy of READY FOR WILD to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

NOTE: If you are having difficulty commenting after logging onto the site, please refresh the page at the top of your computer

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please LIKE us on FACEBOOK and click GET NOTIFICATIONS

4. Please FOLLOW us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. Please FOLLOW us on GOODREADS for an additional entry.

6. Follow LIORA BLAKE on Facebook.

7. Giveaway is open to USA only

8. Giveaway runs from October 30 to November 3, 2017

 

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Second Chance Season by Liora Blake – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

Second Chance Season by Liora Blake – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

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Second Chance SeasonAmazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

Description:
Garrett Strickland is unapologetically country, fiercely loyal, and perfectly happy with his job at the Hotchkiss Co-op. Garrett is all about living in the present and not dwelling in the past—even if he was once on his way to a lofty agricultural sciences degree that would guarantee the brightest of futures, only to end up back home when his old man died, leaving behind a debt-ridden family farm that was impossible to keep afloat. After that, it was easy to see why dreaming big wasn’t worth the heartache. And until he crosses paths with a city girl who’s hell-bent on kick-starting her own future, he’s sure that good enough is just that.

Cara Cavanaugh is ready for more from life, even if that means changing everything; including dumping her boyfriend of ten years, turning down a lucrative job at a major newspaper, and leaving behind the upscale suburbs of Chicago where she grew up. Now, she just has to pray that temporarily relocating to the middle of nowhere in Colorado will be the first step in building a career as a freelance journalist—all she has to do is prove she’s got what it takes to make a name for herself. Unfortunately, her tony country day school is as close to “country” as she’s ever been. But when a goodhearted guy who looks like he just stumbled out of a country music video offers to help, she ends up falling hard…and discovering that the perfect story is a love story. And it’s theirs.

 

Review:

Second Chance Season by Liora Blake is the 2nd book in her Grand Valley series. Cara Cavanaugh , our heroine, is on her way to Grand Valley, Colorado for a few months to research on the farming agriculture for her new freelance job.  Cara comes from a wealthy family, has broken up her engagement to her lifelong boyfriend, and is determined to make a name for herself.  While stopped on the side of the road close to her destination, she talks on the phone with her sister, when she is shocked to see someone knocking on the car window.  Who is this gorgeous cowboy?

Garrett Strickland, our hero, has lived in Hotchkiss all his life, and privately mourns the loss of his dad, and the land they had to sell to make ends meet.  When Garret is on his way home, he spots a car on the road, and goes to see if he can help.  Garrett sees an attractive girl, who looks like  “City” all over her.  Being the gentleman he is, Garret will have Cara follow him to the house she will be staying in during her research.  Of course, the house turns out to be his old house that he grew up in.

What follows is a slow build romance between two people totally different.  Garrett, who had an agricultural science degree, but gave it up when his family was debt ridden, is a full blown redneck cowboy; and Cara, is from wealth and city personified.   Wow, they were so good together; as their chemistry was off the wall hot.  Most of all, I loved everything about both of them.  Though they knew there was no future, they were so much fun together.  The witty banter between them; the lust they each had for each other was scorching, and it was fun to watch them fall hard for each other.  I really enjoyed their romance, and prayed they would find a way to stay together. The secondary characters in the book, including seeing Whitney and Cooper again, Braden and Cara’s sister Aimee were very good.  

As they begin to know they are falling in love, things begin to fall apart, since they knew that the time for Cara’s departure was near, with each having different lives to return to.  You will need to read this book to see what happens.  

I really enjoyed Second Chance Season, which was a perfect romance with a perfect couple.  The only thing I would add is that the last half of the book had a lot of constant sex scenes.  It was sensual, but I do like my stories in the forefront.  I do recommend that you read this, as it was an enjoyable read, and well written by Liora Blake.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

excerpt

 

Another pasture, another herd of cows. While it goes without saying that I can’t tell the diff erence, Garrett explains that this group is all fi rst-calf heifers, as in fi rst-time moms. Given that, they’re kept separate from the other cows, graze on the best-quality pasture, and get a little extra attention—and a few bonus calories.

Garrett is ambling through the herd, carrying a tub fi lled with feed pellets. Evidently, these protein-packed bits are the bovine equivalent of a Twinkie to a pothead. Because the moment they figure out what he has, they come running—well, not running, as much as clomping and plodding. But with a slobbering, unwavering gait and a penetrating gleam in their big cow eyes. It’s hilarious and terrifying at the same time.

Garrett, however, isn’t the least bit scared, and is able to avoid losing a hand or a fi nger to the more overzealous gals of the group. I can see his mouth moving, but with all the mooing and the fact I’ve stayed back by the truck while he works, I can’t hear what he’s saying. Chances are it’s the cow translation of fl irting. Because Garrett.

At the edge of the herd, he manages to turn my way and lifts the tub high in the air. “Cara! Bring me that other tub of pellets, will you? The girls are hungry.”

Oh, time to be helpful. Watch this city girl slay. I push off the dropped tailgate of his truck and haul forward the second pail sitting in the bed, but it’s heavier than expected, so I have to brace my hips and use both hands. Once I swing it down, I start Garrett’s way while avoiding the largest mud puddles. Garrett meets me halfway and immediately swoops in to take the pail. I turn around to head back to the truck, but I’m in the middle of the herd now, gazing out into a sea of bobbing cow heads. I try to stay cool and collected, even when I now have a close-up view to the size of their mouths and the bottom row of big, flat teeth working away inside those mouths—while knowing the only tool available for swatting or shooing is my scotch cap.

Speaking of swatting, my body goes rigid when I feel a nudge of something against my lower back. I can’t quite identify what’s at play here, but whatever it is starts to move southward.

Is that . . . ? No. Can’t be.

This gentle pressure, now squarely centered on the back pocket of my jeans, cannot be Garrett. He is not copping a feel. Not here, not now. Not absent of any attempt at seduction. Like, by way of dinner and a movie, some excuse to end up on the couch together when he drives me home, then using that to lean in for a kiss. Only after that would he go for the ass grab, right? He’s a raised-right country guy. Those rural roots alone must trend toward slower courtships.

And slow courtships would not involve descending his touch from my jean pockets to a place lower and more . . . between my legs.

Must. Set. Boundaries.

That’s what I need to do. Quickly. I don’t care if he does bring about lust-itis symptoms I can’t quite keep in check. This is not my speed—the fast-forward, skip-a-few-chapters, here’s-the-moneyshot speed. I take a deep breath and turn, fully prepared to lock eyes with Garrett and spell out my boundaries. Clearly and firmly.

Except Garrett isn’t next to me. I spot him fifteen feet away, carrying on another one-sided conversation with the cows. Most important, his hands are occupied—one gripping the pail handle and the other scooping out pellets.

A snort emerges from behind me, followed by my mind freight-training through the essentials of what’s happening right now.

Garrett is way over there.

I’m in the middle of a herd of cows. And something is touching me in a far-too-familiar way. All this is followed by a not-so-subtle poke in the ass—by a cow that either really likes me or really doesn’t.

Followed by me screaming.

My screaming does two things: elicits a very wet-sounding grunt from my cow paramour and prompts Garrett to whip his head our direction. He freezes, all except for his jaw dropping open. Another poke in the butt and I’m off, with only one objective in mind: to make it back to the truck so I can barricade myself inside. Whether cows lack opposable thumbs or not and locking the doors might be unnecessary, I don’t care. I barely register the mud bogs in my path because my feet are working at a squirrelly Flintstones pace, so what happens next is pretty much inevitable. Because when I plop a foot down in what looks like another shallow puddle, I find it’s actually a gully. A swamp-sized bog. A quagmire of epic proportions. Large enough to obscure the rock lying in wait to turn my ankle and fling me face-first into a pond of mud.

The fall and the cold and the mud take my breath away. Wet dirt seeps between my splayed fingers, splashes onto my face, and begins to soak the front of my clothes. And it doesn’t smell as if it’s composed entirely of dirt. Other stuff is mixed up in here. Other, more odorous stuff.

Garrett appears, sweeping to a stop in front of me before crouching down. Then he poses an obvious question. The inevitable, stupid, rhetorical question nearly anyone would feel compelled to ask in this situation. And he asks it with a look on his face like he’s dying to burst out laughing, but knows that wouldn’t be wise on his part, which makes the whole thing even worse.

“City. Whoa there. Are you OK?”

Point proven. The obvious answer to this obvious question would be to claim that I’m fine.

But I’m not.

My clothes are soaked through with sludge, my already tiny chest feels as if the impact may send me back into a training bra, and my face—where it isn’t covered in mud—is hot from humiliation. I push myself up and onto my knees. After a deep, shuddering breath, I stand up, take two steps to the right, where drier ground lies, then give my form a once-over to assess the situation.

Verdict is in. The situation sucks.

“Cara, answer me. Are you OK?”

I flick my gaze over to him and pin it there, biting my tongue both literally and figuratively, hard enough that tears are welling in my eyes. Garrett’s face falls, all traces of his stifled laughter having temporarily dissipated. He puts his hands to my upper arms, grips them gently.

“Fuck. Don’t cry, OK? Don’t cry, don’t cry. Just nod so I know you aren’t hurt.”

Just nod. This fucking guy. Mr. Rational Instructions Guy. Dreamy or not, he’s within striking distance, and I’m pissed at everything.

I take another deep breath and lay it on him good. “No! Of course I’m not OK! I’m covered in mud and cow shit!” I jab a finger in the air toward him. “And you’re trying not to laugh, I know it. Just laugh; you know you want to.”

Then I stamp my foot. Because I’m mature like that. More mud sloshes and lands on the backs of my hands.

And that’s all it takes. Garrett starts to howl, laughing so hard he doubles over, bracing his hands on his knees—and he doesn’t even have the decency to hold back his cackling, just lets it all out for what feels like a good ten minutes. When he’s finally able to breathe and stand upright again, his still annoyingly pretty hazel eyes are watering with gleeful tears. He wipes them away with the heel of one hand.

Garrett cups my face with his hands. “You’re fucking adorable.”

“You’re not,” I huff .

He tugs his hoodie sleeves down over his hands and starts to wipe the mud off of my face.

“If it makes you feel better, you wouldn’t believe how jealous I was of that heifer. That was a bold move she pulled. Knew what she wanted and went for it. Not the girl-on-girl action I usually go for, but still.”

He grins, a few residual laughs escaping him, and I groan. Garrett scans the front of my body, then takes my hand, leading us to the truck. After rustling around in the back, he extracts a stack of clothing from under the driver seat. Garrett holds up a pair of jeans, swinging a look between me and the pants. He drapes them over his forearm, tosses a T-shirt and a hooded camo sweatshirt onto the pile, and extends it my way.

“Redneck shenanigans often involve mud. This means always being prepared with a change of clothes. Come on, we’ll find a place for you to change.”

 

 

 

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Liora Blake’s publisher is offering a paper copy of SECOND CHANCE SEASON  to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

NOTE: If you are having difficulty commenting after logging onto the site, please refresh the page at the top of your computer

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please LIKE us on FACEBOOK and click GET NOTIFICATIONS

4. Please FOLLOW us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. Please FOLLOW us on GOODREADS for an additional entry.

6. Follow LIORA BLAKE   on Facebook.

7. Giveaway is open to USA only

8. Giveaway runs from June 22 to 27, 2017

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First Step Forward by Liora Blake – Review & Giveaway

First Step Forward by Liora Blake – Review & Giveaway

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First Step ForwardAmazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / The Book Depository

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 1st 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

 

giveaway

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

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

NOTE: If you are having difficulty commenting after logging in, please refresh the page (at the top of your computer).

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please LIKE us on FACEBOOK and click GET NOTIFICATIONS

4. Please FOLLOW us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. Please FOLLOW us on GOODREADS for an additional entry.

6. Please like Liora Blake on Facebook for an additional entry

7. Giveaway is open to US only.

8. Giveaway runs from November 28th to December 2nd, 2016

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