A Sexy Mountain Man with a BIG Ax....Meet "Grizz"!
CRUSHING ON LOVE
The Bradens at Peaceful Harbor #4
Melissa Foster
Releasing Sept 21st, 2016
World Literary Press
Steve Johnson is living his life’s passion watching over the Colorado Mountains as a ranger and wildlife consultant. But his peaceful life is upended when overzealous and insanely beautiful Shannon Braden flits back into his life after returning from a brief trip home to Maryland. He thought his attraction to her was under control—after all, she’s only in Colorado temporarily, and he doesn’t do casual affairs.
Shannon’s return to Colorado has as much to do with the game of cat and mouse she and Steve have been playing as it does the data she’s been hired to collect. But despite her efforts to explore the undeniable heat simmering between them, Steve’s intent on keeping his distance.
When a ranch abutting the national park goes up for sale, Steve will do whatever it takes to keep it from falling into the wrong hands. And when all his attempts fail, he’s left with no alternative but to follow Shannon’s guidance into the online world he abhors in order to raise the funds. The more time they spend together, the deeper their attraction becomes, and a game of cat and mouse turns into an unstoppable connection. But when Shannon’s assignment comes to an end, will it mean an end to them, too?
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Steve Johnson took off his sweaty shirt and
guzzled a bottle of water. Nothing beat a predawn run, especially after a
shitty night’s sleep. He set the empty bottle and shirt on the steps leading to
his rustic log cabin and crossed the yard to the chopping post, determined to
work the remaining tension from his body. A six-mile run on the rough terrain
of the Colorado mountains should have worked out all his piss and vinegar, but
not this morning.
Sun beat down on his shoulders as he centered
a slab of wood on the tree stump that served as his chopping post, trying to
ignore the reason he’d been unable to sleep last night. He filled his lungs
with the scents of nature and tranquility. He knew every sound and smell of the
area, could differentiate every species of animal and plant in the forest, and
anticipated inclement weather well before it hit. His body was attuned to the
mountains as if he were a part of them.
He hoisted the ax over his shoulder, thoughts
he was trying to ignore pushing back in like adamant thieves. He swung the ax.
A loudcrack echoed in the forest—and in his head—rattling the truth
of his angst free. Shannon Braden was back—and she’d come home last night
wrapped around Cal Hayden on the back of his horse.
He ground his teeth against that reality and
set another log in place.
Smart, sexy-as-sin, talks-a-mile-a-minute
Shannon. He’d known her for years. His sister, Jade,
was married to her second cousin, Rex. Shannon had spent weeks doing research
on red foxes in the mountains. She’d been staying at her uncle’s ranch in
Weston, but he knew the company she was working with had made arrangements for
her to stay at the vacant cabin just around the bend for the remainder of the
project. He swung the ax, thinking of the weeks she’d spent flitting in and out
of his peaceful life, full of energy and never-ending conversations—mostly
one-sided, which she didn’t seem to mind. Truth be known, neither did he.
Listening to Shannon rattle on about anything was hot. She
tangled up his thoughts in ways no other woman ever had, which was just his
luck. Steve wasn’t into meaningless hookups, and Shannon’s life was in
Maryland, while his was there on the mountain, which rooted Shannon Braden
firmly in his off-limits zone.
The past couple of weeks had been quiet while
she’d returned home to Maryland to attend her brother’s wedding, and the fact
that Steve had noticed, and disliked it being quiet, had thrown him for a loop.
His mind reeled back to last night again. He’d
heard Cal riding back down the mountain about two hours after he’d arrived. As
he swung the ax, he wondered if Shannon had done some hands-on research with
Cowboy Cal last night.
He set another log in place, telling himself
it was none of his damn business if she had, and split the log so hard the two
halves flew ten feet from the stump. Another log, another split. And so became
his stress-relieving pattern as the sun sailed higher, taking the bite off the
chilly spring morning.
A mass of birds took off from the treetops.
Steve paused midswing, a smile tugging at his lips. Shannon. He
split another log, trying to ignore his accelerating pulse at the thought of
her flitting back into his life.
"Once I get my first taste of you, there's no turning back. I need to know we're both on the same page..."
"Who are you trying to convince? Me or you?"
"Maybe a little of both...I have to kiss you now."
"Yes."
"Same page?"
"Same page."
Oh my goodness me!
Steve and Shannon are hot, hot, HOT!!!
I adored this story!!
I'm a sucker for friends-to-lovers stories. I absolutely enjoyed watching these two fall deeper and deeper into each other. Their chemistry was off the charts!
Steve and Shannon both have a love for the wilderness, but their love for each other seems to trump everything else. They only have short amount of time together before Shannon has to return back to her hometown. Better make the most of it...and boy do they!
"I was a fool. Nothing will ever be the same."
I love how Melissa ties all her stories into each other. You meet these amazing characters, fall in love with them, and get so excited when their stories are told!
I was so happy with everything about Crushing On Love! It was heartwarming, romantic, and sexy!
A mountain man and a nature girl never were so hot!
"You will always be my Grizz, right?"
"Always, Butterfly."
Great job, once again, Melissa!
I always know I'm in for a real treat when opening the pages of one of her books! You're always hooked from the beginning and you never want it to end!
"Still on the same page?"
"Yes. Every. Single. Word."
"Who are you trying to convince? Me or you?"
"Maybe a little of both...I have to kiss you now."
"Yes."
"Same page?"
"Same page."
Oh my goodness me!
Steve and Shannon are hot, hot, HOT!!!
I adored this story!!
I'm a sucker for friends-to-lovers stories. I absolutely enjoyed watching these two fall deeper and deeper into each other. Their chemistry was off the charts!
Steve and Shannon both have a love for the wilderness, but their love for each other seems to trump everything else. They only have short amount of time together before Shannon has to return back to her hometown. Better make the most of it...and boy do they!
"I was a fool. Nothing will ever be the same."
I love how Melissa ties all her stories into each other. You meet these amazing characters, fall in love with them, and get so excited when their stories are told!
I was so happy with everything about Crushing On Love! It was heartwarming, romantic, and sexy!
A mountain man and a nature girl never were so hot!
"You will always be my Grizz, right?"
"Always, Butterfly."
Great job, once again, Melissa!
I always know I'm in for a real treat when opening the pages of one of her books! You're always hooked from the beginning and you never want it to end!
"Still on the same page?"
"Yes. Every. Single. Word."
Melissa
Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling
and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary
romance, new adult romance, and women's fiction with emotionally compelling
characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa's
emotional journeys are lovingly erotic, perfect beach reads, and always family
oriented.
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Wonderful review! Thank you for hosting CRUSHING ON LOVE today!
ReplyDeleteCrystal, Tasty Book Tours
I know I'm into a real treat when I read your reviews, too! I'm so happy you enjoyed Crushing on Love. Thank you for another awesome review XOXO
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