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!
Reviewed by Jennifer
