WoB - Hard and Fast by Lisa Renee Jones

Hard and Fast

Lisa Renee Jones

Publisher:
Harlequin Blaze

Release Date:
August 1, 2007

Genres:
Erotica
Contemporary Romance

ISBN:
eBook
No ISBN
Print
9780373793433
Kindle
No ISBN

Bookmark Rating:

Reviewed by
Jennifer Ray

Review Posted:
May 2008

Amanda’s dream of becoming a sports reporter for a major newspaper has finally come true - a dream that is going to go up in smoke very quickly if she can’t deliver the goods. Leaving her job covering high school baseball in Texas behind to move to Los Angeles and cover Major League Baseball is a no-brainer, but the heat is on when her editor pressures her to hit one out of the park with her first story or high-tail it back to Texas.

Her first night covering her newspaper’s home team, the Los Angeles Rays, proves eventful in more ways than one. She exchanges barbs with her competition, proves her mettle to the team, and discovers the team’s star pitcher is hiding an injury to his pitching arm. It’s the kind of story that could make her career, but lose her the respect and cooperation of the team. More than that, it is a situation that Amanda identifies with all too well. Determined not to break the team’s trust, she hides the secret from her editor, who sets her on the path of an even riskier – one her predecessor/competitor is already hot on the trail of – steroid use by one of the Rays’ team members.

Brad knows better than to get involved with a reporter – the press hasn’t exactly been good to him for the last year. But he can’t help but be drawn to the beautiful new reporter for the Tribune, even when she scares the heck out of him by telling him she knows he is playing injured. She says she won’t print the story, but he is still reluctant to trust her – especially with his contract up for negotiation this year. Still, the attraction between them proves irresistible, although each have more than enough reason not to act on it. And soon that attraction develops Hard and Fast into something more…

I will admit it. I had never really thought I would be interested in reading a Harlequin novel. Years of hearing stereotypical ideas of these books had me believing them to be fluffy, sweet little romance novels that were not exactly my cup of tea. I didn’t look down on them – just did not believe they were the kind of stories that suited my reading tastes. Boy, was I wrong! Thanks to Lisa Renee Jones, an author who I am already a big fan of, I read Hard and Fast, from the Harlequin Blaze line and will tell anyone without reservation that I loved it!

I have thoroughly enjoyed every book I have previously read by this author, and this book was no different. Yes, the romance was sweet, but with none of the ‘virginal princess in the tower’ feeling I had expected from Harlequin. No, this book had all the sexy heat I had found in Jones’ other work, much to my delight!

Brad and Amanda are very down to earth, realistic characters. Their fears, their motivations, and their situation were all very believable, as were the obstacles that kept them from easily settling into a romance together.

Brad is the kind of sports hero women fantasize about – a star pitcher with soap star looks and a killer physique, complete with down-home Southern charm and a penchant for going after what he wants – in bed and out. His fear of discovery is palpable as he struggles to pitch a memorable year and cement his contract with the Rays.

Amanda is a great role model for women – she has faced the kind of adversity that would break some people, yet still forged ahead and found a new path for herself, in which she has succeeded admirably. Through it all, she has retained her compassion, and refuses to build herself up by using the misfortunes of others. It is no wonder Brad can’t keep his mind or his hands off of her!

Which brings me to a stereotype I am very pleased with – the happy ending Harlequin is known for. Lisa Renee Jones wraps up this story with a tidy little ending, resolving any potential loose ends that could derail our couple, and leaving her readers with smiling faces and warm hearts! If you love hot little romances with multi-layered characters, then you will not want to miss Hard and Fast!

Note: This review was originally written by Jennifer Ray for another review site. It is being reposted at Wild on Books.

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