Review: "TOUGH LOVE" by Lori Foster!

Release Date: August 25th, 2015 Pre-order it HERE!

Type: Contemporary Romance, Fighters, Sports Romance, Awesome author, bonus novella included, Favorites, Series, Book 3

About the Book: She's playing hard to get… to win the MMA fighter of her ultimate fantasies in a sultry new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster…

Vanity Baker loves a good, clean match, but she's not above playing a little dirty. She's wanted Stack "The Wolf" Hannigan from day one. Seems as though the best way to corral the famously commitment-phobic fighter is to insist on keeping it casual. And her plan works—deliciously well—until Stack's past steps out of the shadows. 

Stack learned early to stay free of attachments. But with sexy, forthright Vanity, he's the one always left wanting more. Then his troublemaking family comes back into the picture, threatening everything Stack cares about—Vanity included. Suddenly he realizes they're much more than friends with benefits. He's ready to go to the mat for her…but will it be in time to protect the woman who's tamed him for good? [Synopsis from the back of the book]

My Review: One of my favorite things about this series is that each book picks up right where the other left off. The story is definitely Stack and Vanity's, but that doesn't mean we don't get Armie, Denver, Leese, and more. There is such a family dynamic in this group that their stories and lives intertwine - and it makes for some great reading. And while talking about the group itself, I'd like to mention how much I appreciate that author Lori Foster doesn't have the fighters skimp on their training. Sure, there's times it's in the background while she focuses on the love story, but even with all this other stuff going on, these guys are dedicated athletes, and they work hard and eat right to stay in prime condition. It's small things like this that show Foster did her homework, and that she is dedicated to writing good, true characters.

Stack and Vanity are wonderful together. And from their first meet up in previous books, the connection is obvious - and they lose none of that connectivity when they finally get their own story. Vanity is giving, kind, and always hopes for the best in people - but that does not make her a pushover. I love reading about a strong heroine that can hold her own against the world, and even against the hero if need be. And moving on to the hero himself, Stack did tend to drive me nuts when he would jump to conclusions. The big fight at the end of the story made me want to give him a good smack on the back of the head, to come to his senses. But even when he's being an idiot, he knows when to let things drop and bring them back up when people are more rational, which is something I admire. I just wish he had a better way of expressing himself in the rough moments. But really, what's a hero without faults? - creepy, that's what.

I so enjoy this series. These guys are the gruff, alpha-male macho type, but that does not mean that they aren't good people, and that they don't have their soft moments. I have never been disappointed in one of Lori Foster's books. She writes some seriously good stories.

I can't wait for Armie!!!

Cover Lovin': *Fans self* - Lori always gets good covers. And I think this is a good choice of cover model for Stack.

Recommendation: It helps to read the rest of the series before this one, as previous characters do show back up, and previous story lines do impact future books. Also, they were just that amazing, so be sure to look into them all!

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE stars!

Read my review of book two HERE!

Be sure to check out the rest of the series!

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

Disclaimer: I received a free, advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

Release Week Blitz: BETTER WHEN HE'S BRAVE by Jay Crownover - Excerpt!

 

We are absolutely thrilled to bring you the Release Week Blitz for Jay Crownover's BETTER WHEN HE'S BRAVE!! BETTER WHEN HE’S BRAVE is a New Adult Contemporary Romance and is a part of Jay Crownover’s Welcome to the Point Series. This awesome book is available now! Go grab your copy today!

   

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BETTER WHEN HE’S BRAVE Excerpt:    
It hit me like a ton of bricks. So heavy and hard it almost took me to my knees. Roark had been going after the thing that mattered most to me from the very beginning. I cared about the people that still had a shot to make it out of the Point. I fought for the innocent and the young because I often felt like no one else was going to. Every person that Roark had hurt, had twisted, had infected in his quest to exact his revenge had been someone I’d sworn I would protect and keep safe.
It started with the kid whose neck he snapped and ditched outside of the Pit. Just some dumb jock barely in his twenties that liked to gamble, but he was just a kid and deserved a better end. Then it was the club. Before it burned to the ground, Nassir had been deliberately lured away and all the victims were just kids out looking for some trouble and fun. They lost their lives doing what kids all across the country did every single day. After that it was the girl on the dock and the armed stripper at Spanky’s. Two girls too young to be caught up in that kind of life and too young to be dead. Two girls I should’ve been able to keep safe. And lastly there was my brother. Sure, Bax was far from innocent, far from having a shot at a good and law-abiding life, but he was still my only family, my blood, and even if I had let him down in the past, I took my duty to keep him safe and keep him out of trouble to heart now. Killing Bax would have served the dual purpose of exacting revenge on the man who Roark thought was responsible for his father’s death and rubbing salt into the wound I would suffer for being unable to protect him.
The realization of how insidious and malicious as well as how fucking brilliant in his evil machinations Roark was had me shaking so hard I almost missed Brysen’s words as she whispered “Someone needs to stop him; he can’t be allowed to go after anyone anymore.”
I blew out a breath and tried to steady myself. “I’m trying.”
She narrowed her very blue eyes. “Try harder.”
No wonder Race was sprung on her. She looked like a doll but had the bite of a barracuda. She was his perfect match in that way—all golden and glossy on the outside but made of stronger, more resilient stuff on the inside. If Roark did have Karsen, I sure hoped the younger Carter was as tough as Brysen.
Just as the big, black utility vehicles with SWAT team members and the bomb technicians rolled up to the scene, the metal front doors at the front of the school clanked open and Booker came striding through with his arm wrapped around an obviously shaken and upset Karsen. The teen looked so tiny and fragile next to the giant man that it had murderous rage toward Roark thumping heavy not just through my heart but the heart of the beast that was wide awake in my chest and hungry for retribution.
Brysen let out a squeal and took off running toward the duo. I should’ve stopped her considering the building still wasn’t secure and I still had no idea where Roark was lurking, but I didn’t have the heart to keep her away from her sister. The two blondes hugged and then they were both crying as Booker was ripped away from the teen and slapped into cuffs by the same cop he has shoved over only moments before.
Karsen started yelling when the cop started to haul Booker away, but Brysen shushed her and guided her over to where I was still standing. I watched curiously as the guys dressed in black tactical gear unloaded a robot that looked like something from Star Wars and used a computer to guide it toward the front of the school. I was dying to know if they were going to find anything or if this had all been some elaborate ruse Roark had staged only to show me he had me right where he wanted me.
“Are you okay?” The teenager was crying big, fat, silent tears but she looked unharmed. She nodded and looked in the direction where the cops had taken Booker.
“Why is he getting arrested? He was the only one that came and looked for me.” Ouch. That accusation burned hot across my skin.
“He pushed a cop. They tend to take offense at that. Why were you still inside the building, Karsen? What happened?” I didn’t want to press her too hard because she was obviously pretty shaken up but I didn’t have any time to waste either.

BETTER WHEN HE’S BRAVE Synopsis: In New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jay Crownover’s third novel in her sexy, thrilling Welcome to the Point series, a woman’s search for repentance leads her to the one man from her past she can’t forget as they join forces to save their city—and the explosive love neither can live without. Titus King sees the world in black and white. Right and wrong. Which is why as a teenager he left behind the only family he’d ever known to make a better life for himself. Now a police detective in one of the worst cities in the country, he can’t deny his life has turned into a million different shades of gray. The new criminal element in The Point has brought vengeance and destruction right to Titus’s front door, and the difference between right and wrong is nothing compared to keeping those he loves alive. To add to his already strained moral compass, the beautiful and mysterious Reeve Black has made her way back to town, and she might be as dangerous to Titus as the guy trying to destroy the Point because he needs her—in more ways than one. Reeve knows all about how ruthless this new threat to destroy The Point can be… and instead of running away, she wants to help. She has a lot to repent for and saving the city, plus the hot cop that she hasn’t been able to forget might just be the only way she can finally find some inner peace. With an entire city poised on the brink of war, Titus and Reeve stand in the crossfire—and it will take two brave souls to fight for the ultimate love.  

And don’t miss the previous books in The Point Series!

BETTER WHEN HE’S BAD

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BETTER WHEN HE’S BOLD

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      About Jay Crownover: Jay Crownover is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men and The Point series. Like her characters, she is a big fan of tattoos. She loves music and wishes she could be a rock star, but since she has no aptitude for singing or instrument playing, she'll settle for writing stories with interesting characters that make the reader feel something. She lives in Colorado with her three dogs.      

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