Review: Hang Tough by Lorelei James

HANG TOUGH
Series: Blacktop Cowboys #8
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Lorelei James
Release Date: November 1, 2016

In the new Blacktop Cowboys® novel from the New York Timesbestselling author of Wrapped and Strapped, one woman learns that when it comes to cowboys, looks can be deceiving…

When Tobin Hale stepped in to stop Garnet Evans’s son from railroading her out of her own home, he knew moving in with his favorite Mud Lily could be seen as strange. But nothing prepared him for the arrival of Garnet’s fiery, beautiful granddaughter, Jade—or her assumption that he’s up to no good…

While Tobin might be the hottest man Jade Evans has ever seen, his physical attributes won’t distract her from protecting her grandma from his sweet-talking ways. But the stubborn cowboy digs in his boot heels and refuses to leave. Stuck in close quarters together, Jade learns Tobin is the real deal—a hardworking, fiercely loyal man and she’s the one in danger of losing her heart.

And just when he was prepared to leave Muddy Gap behind, Tobin may have found the kind of woman worth sticking around for…

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We are together and that makes you mine. I take care of what’s mine. From the smallest things to the biggest. Now close your eyes and pucker up, baby, ’cause I am gonna rock your world.”

Nice guys don’t always finish last.

Tobin Hale has always been known as the nice guy in his small town, the boy scout that’s perpetually friend zoned by women that crave someone with more edge. Leaving town to seek the career he wants may be his answer to everything, but before that he has one last duty.

When Tobin moves in with Garnet Evans’s in order to stop her son from forcing her out of her home, what he didn’t expect is Garnet’s beautiful and sassy granddaughter to test every ounce of his ironclad control.

The stubble on his jaw wasn’t affected like the city guys she knew who didn’t shave in an effort to appear more manly. This guy probably scared his razor away. He probably hadn’t shaved because he had important manly stuff to do and didn’t waste time with trivial stuff like running a blade over that beautifully chiseled face.

Jade may need a break from the hustle and bustle of NYC and working three part time jobs, but she’d never admit it. But when her father asks her to look in on her grandmother that seems to have a hustler that recently moved in looking to hone in on her belongings, Jade knows what she needs to do. But she doesn’t expect the tempting cowboy that greets her or the immediate sparks that fly between them

Say yes.” He brushed his lips across hers. Just once. “Admit you want to be a dirty little rule breaker too.”
“I do,” she said breathlessly. “Like you wouldn’t believe.”

I loved the banter between these two. It starts out with a little hate/lust that soon begins to turn into something much more. Neither Tobin nor Jade deny their chemistry when they finally give into it. Their relationship is a tease at first, the sexual tension spanning over half the book. But when they finally give in? Yowza!

Tobin may be a nice guy, but that man sure has a dirty mouth on him. I loved that he had both sides to him, the dirty and the uber sweet.

Tobin?” she said softly. “What are you doing?”
“Memorizing you.”
“Why?”
Tobin forced his gaze back to hers. “Because when I close my eyes at night, I want to recall with perfect clarity every nuance of this face.”

Garnet and the Mud Lilly’s were the perfect comedic relief. Their colorful personalities never failed to put a smile on my face. And while I love the bad boys, it’s a nice change of pace to read about a nice guy every now and then.

While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was a touch too sweet for me at times and I found myself getting restless in the second half. There wasn’t much tension going and even though Tobin and Jade burn up the sheets together it just wasn’t enough to keep me riveted to the pages. The story was a great balance of sweet and sexy, and if that’s what you’re in the mood for, this will surely fit the bill.

BLACKTOP COWBOYS SERIES

CORRALLED | SADDLED AND SPURRED | WRANGLED AND TANGLED | ONE NIGHT RODEO | TURN AND BURN | HILLBILLY ROCKSTAR | WRAPPED AND STRAPPED | HANG TOUGH