★BOOK REVIEW + EXCERPT + GIVEAWAY★ Tough Love by Lori Foster

MY RATING

I liked it.

If you ever read Lori Foster inn the past then you’ll probably understand why I picked Tough Love in the first place.

I mean, MMA fighter hero? Great characters chemistry? Playful banter? Steamy romance? Action packed story?
These are the things coming in mind when I think about her books.

Book infos & Purchase Links

Book 2_Tough Love by Lori Foster_cover_lowShe’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?

Author : Lori Foster
Title : Tough Love
Series : 
Hard Limits #3
Publisher : HQN Books
Pages : 539
Release date : August 25, 2015
Genre : Contemporary.

 

Excerpt

The breath she held came out in a gasp as he pulled her against him, locked an arm around her waist and took her mouth with hot, incredible greed.

Whoa. And here she thought she’d been on the ragged edge.

He was so much bigger than her in every way, he made her feel tiny and feminine and fragile. In all other situations her independent soul might have rebelled, but not now. Not with Stack. She trusted him one hundred percent, and wanted him even more than that.

Flattening her hands on his chest, she smoothed over the solid wall of his pecs, up to those rock-solid shoulders. Heat poured off him, and—oh God—he smelled so good. With his big hands opened on her, his mouth eating at hers, she forgot… everything.

The music and the conversation of other guests faded away. She tunneled her fingers into his hair and tried to get closer still.

Someone bumped into them; Stack didn’t stop kissing her. If anything, his tongue became bolder, exploring, tasting.

Laughter, probably from his friends, sounded nearby, and still he didn’t stop. He gathered her closer.

Jarred back to the here and now, Vanity pressed against him. A true gentleman, Stack immediately eased up.

Her lips tingled. Shoot, her whole body tingled. She drew in a shaky breath. “Wow.”

Proving he hadn’t, in fact, forgotten they stood in the middle of the floor at a friend’s wedding, he whispered against her lips, “Let me get you someplace private.” A softer kiss of persuasion. “I’ll give you reason to be wowed.”

Such a tempting promise.

Oh, how she wanted to haul him to the nearest quiet closet. But that would be dumb. What she wanted, what she hoped he ultimately wanted, would require hours, not a few frenzied minutes.

Voice filled with regret, Vanity explained, “I can’t go just yet.”

His rough growl proved his impatience.

“Very soon, I promise.” Adjusting their embrace, her arms around his neck, his hands at her waist, she put some space between them. “Let’s dance while you cool down and I—”

“Dream on.” But he eased his hold and fell into step with her. Gaze burning over her, then lingering on her cleavage, he asked, “How much longer do I have to wait?”

Vanity didn’t pretend confusion; she knew exactly what he meant, exactly what he wanted. “One dance. Then I need to get the bouquet out of the fridge and gather up some presents and—”

He groaned again, prompting Vanity to laugh.

“Let’s talk.” Maybe casual conversation would help cool his jets and give her a needed opportunity to regroup.

“Okay.” He leaned in. “I can’t wait to taste you—all over.”

All over?

“And to get you under me. Or over me. Your preference.”

“Stack.” Her shaky voice sounded weak. “Let’s talk about something that isn’t provoking.”

“Like what? Because honest to god, darlin’, after weeks of your verbal foreplay, I’m feeling pretty damned provoked.”

The smile came slowly. Teasing Stack was a true pleasure.

My Review

Tough_Love_cast_alleskelle_1
Tough Love is the third book in the Ultimate series and tells the story of Vanity and stack. This series focuses on younger heroes than usual but if you read her SBC fighters books you’ll be in known territory as many of the older characters are making an appearance here.

Vanity Barker always loved StackThe WolfHannigan. Since she first came live in Warfield she fell in love with him despite Stack apparent lack of interest for her.

Tough_Love_cast_alleskelle_2

Deciding her friend Yvette’s wedding would be the perfect excuse to make an offer Stack won’t refuse, she bargains a night of sex in exchange of his company for the wedding.

Vanity is in for the long ride and desperately hopes Stack will fall in her subterfuge of a promise, only little did she know The Wolf had his sights set on her for a long time…

Throw in a overwhelming family, smartass hot fighter friends, and a jealous ex girlfriend and you got yourself an entertaining read!

I must say both characters appeared to be immature to me, given they are both young, but I couldn’t help myself to observe their contradictions throughout the story.

I enjoyed Stack alpha number, he had the talk, the attitude but I thought that’s what it was… Just a performance. I didn’t really find in him all the things I usually love a Lori Foster’s hero to be.

As for Vanity, sure she was a nice young woman but was constantly trying to connect with her. One minute she was nice and sweet, the other she wanted to show her bad-ass attitude… It was a little disconcerting but given her backstory I understand why she was such a complex character.

Tough_Love_cast_alleskelle_3

Overall I enjoyed this book, I was sucked in right at the beginning, Vanity and Stack chasing after each other, the promised night delayed by issue after issue being thrown their way. While at first it was entertaining and serving the sexual tension to grow between these two, the constant interruptions quickly annoyed me. The story lost a bit interest in the middle, maybe due to the slow pace and lack of action.

The chemistry between them was burning hot and playful and I truly enjoyed the sexy times and the romance.

I can’t wait to read the next book as Lori Foster gave us plenty of Merissa and Armie in this one!

Tough Love promo
Author Bio

Lori - Dec 2014Since first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. Lori has published through a variety of houses, including Kensington, St. Martin’s, Harlequin, Silhouette, Samhain, and Berkley/Jove. She is currently published with HQN.

Lori hosts a very special annual “Reader & Author” event in West Chester, Ohio. Proceeds from the event have benefited many worthy causes, including the Hamilton County YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, the Animal Adoption Foundation, The Conductive Learning Center for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and The One Way Farm, Children’s Home.

Each year Lori donates all proceeds from one book to charity. You can see the benefit romance books here: http://lorifoster.com/benefit-books/ 

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