Stevie’s Duckies Do Series review of The Hard Feelings Series by Kelsie Leverich
Contemporary Romance published by InterMix
This military romance series has its flaws, but the premise has a lot going for it, and the cast of characters is extensive and varied enough that I can see plenty more potential variations on the theme just over the horizon. I particularly like the differently confident heroines, who are secure in their sexuality and their bodies, but have very good reasons for steering clear either of relationships in general or certain types of men in particular. Meanwhile, the books are packed with heroes who have equally good reasons not to get too involved with their perfect match – in the form of each book’s heroine.
The Valentine’s Arrangement, Book 1
31 Jan 13
Tough-girl tattooist Ronnie is sick of Valentine’s Day, and just as fed up with the soppy tattoo requests she gets around that time of year. So she’s more than happy when Kale walks in to request a big design that has nothing to do with romance. The pair are immediately attracted, but neither of them does relationships. Of course, this means they keep ending up together, all the while denying that they want anything more than casual sex, right up until they nearly lose each other and then have to figure out how two commitmentphobes can best make a lasting connection work. Sadly my copy of this book was let down by writing errors – particularly tense confusion in the form of random switching between past and present – which fortunately doesn’t show up elsewhere in the series.
Grade: D
Summary:
The “emotional, spicy-hot story” (Belle’s Book Bag) that propelled Kelsie Leverich to the New York Times bestseller list!Tattoo artist Ronnie Clark is counting the days until Valentine’s Day is over. Ronnie doesn’t do romance. She doesn’t do flowers or dates, and she sure as hell doesn’t do love—not anymore. Love leads to heartbreak, and she’s vowed never to let herself get hurt again.
Sergeant First Class Kale Emerson is home on his mid-tour leave from Iraq, but he only has one thing on his mind—returning to his soldiers to finish leading their mission. He’s dedicated to his men and to his country, and he’s not interested in getting wrapped up in a distracting relationship…but casual sex, that’s a different story. From the moment he sees Ronnie, he wants her. And he agrees to her terms—no romance, no fluff—just passion.
But as their sexual chemistry ignites, the lines of their arrangement get blurry, and Ronnie starts to push Kale away. And when Kale realizes he’s found his match in this razor-tongued, gorgeous woman who is hell bent against love, winning her heart could be the toughest battle he has ever fought.
Read an excerpt.
Feel the Rush, Book 2
20 Aug 13
After her best-friend-with-benefits, Kale, does the unthinkable and settles down, Meagan decides that she’s had it with casual flings – and also that she really doesn’t want to stay quite so close to where Kale is enjoying his Happy Ever After. So when her other best friend, Eva, decides to relocate, Meagan moves too – and vows that she’ll settle for nothing less than Mr. Right in her next relationship. Of course, the girls move in next door to a sexy man, who’s less Mr. Right and more Mr. Short-Term-Fun. Their new neighbour Reed likes excitement in his work and personal life and is completely not what Meagan had envisioned for her next relationship, but he’s a lot of fun and insists that the girls join him and his crowd on a series of wild weekends away.
I like seeing the various high-thrills adventures the crowd goes on, although I do cringe slightly at how many of their activities involved both deep water and excessive alcohol (one or the other, folks, please). I also like that the mixed bunch of friends include a lesbian ‘with the same taste in women as Reed’s.’ However, I do feel that the event that finally pushes our pair together has been overdone in Romancelandia, and that the character brought in to help the two work through their differences is connected to them both by one too many coincidences.
Grade: C
Summary:
The New York Times bestselling author of The Valentine’s Arrangement continues her sizzling series with a new novel of a plan that goes awry—in the arms of a soldier….Picking the wrong men is a talent Meagan Mitchell has perfected. She’s sweet, confident, beautiful—and single. With her thirtieth birthday sneaking up on her, she needs a new plan. No more Mr. Wrongs or Mr. Bads. It’s time to find Mr. Safe….
Army captain Reed Porter lives for the thrill—an Airborne Jumpmaster with a rush addiction. He’s sexy and playful, and he quickly tempts Meagan with his rich Southern drawl and sinful looks. But slowing down and settling down are not on his agenda, making him exactly the type of man Meagan wants to avoid.…
As their undeniable attraction heats up, Meagan has to decide if she’s willing to risk everything on a chance at love with a reckless charmer. Is she brave enough to bet her future—and her heart—on Mr. Thrill? Or will Reed finally learn that the feeling of a safe landing is just as addicting as the rush of the fall?
No excerpt found.
Pretending She’s His, Book 2.5
19 Nov 13
While Meagan and Reed were working through their differences, best friend Eva was having a fling with another of the gang. That didn’t work out, however, and now she has to face him at Meagan and Reed’s wedding. The obvious solution is for Meagan and Eva’s longtime platonic boypal, Trevor, to pretend he and Eva are dating for the duration of the celebration. Trevor’s not going to object – he’s the ultimate player, and he and Eva have always got along well – besides which, he’s always secretly fancied her. Of course, the pretence part doesn’t last long, although it takes them a while longer to admit the depth of their feelings to each other.
A bit of a filler novella, but worth reading as part of the series.
Grade: C
Summary:
New York Times bestselling author Kelsie Leverich “serves up fun, sexy and hot” (Flirty and Dirty Book Blog), in her new Hard Feelings novella, where a tempting little lie turns into so much more…Eva Riley is the maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding and it just so happens that her ex is the best man. Eva’s a straight shooter and definitely not the damsel-in-distress type. But with her pride on the line and her ex’s heart on his sleeve, there might not be enough champagne in the world to get her through this weekend.
Trevor Owens may be one hell of a good friend to Eva, but he’s always wanted to get the fiery redhead between the sheets. So he swoops in and offers a solution to her ex problem: they can pretend to be together—just for the weekend. But when their little game of make-believe is over, will they be able to tell what’s real and what’s only pretend?
No excerpt found.
A Beautiful Distraction, Book 3
06 May 14
Rafe and his affair with a married woman has been a part of the series since Meagan and Reed’s book, but this book sees him properly single at last. Meanwhile, Fallon is a totally new addition to the mix of characters. Thrown out by her wealthy parents at 17, Fallon has applied the skills she developed as a teenage ballerina to burlesque performance: initially on stage, but now also as co-owner of a successful upmarket club – and with another club under development. She and Rafe meet after he comes to the defence of another dancer who is being harassed by a VIP member of the club. The pair get together, but not everyone is impressed about how Fallon makes her living, and even Rafe is hostile to the idea that she’ll continue dancing even once she’s in a longterm relationship. On top of that, the reasons her parents threw her out prey on Fallon’s memories, not helped by people from her past showing up in unexpected places. Fallon’s tough, though, and Rafe proves his worth in the end, coming through not just for her but also for the various waifs and strays Fallon has helped out after finding success with her club.
Grade: B
Summary:
A brand-new novel in the New York Times bestselling Hard Feelings series—where nothing’s more dangerous than a bad boy with a broken heart…First Sergeant Rafe Murano did everything to the extreme. He trained harder, he fought harder, and, unfortunately, he loved harder. And falling for the wrong woman nearly destroyed him.
Home from a deployment and without his missions to consume him, Murano is ravaged by memories of his heartbreak. So he drinks until he’s numb and drowns himself in meaningless one-night stands. But they only take the edge off….
Until he meets Fallon.
Haunted by her past, Fallon Kelly knows all too well about the desperate desire for an escape. So when she sees the tatted-up bad boy who’s one punch away from a ride in the back of a squad car, she offers him a distraction—one that quickly becomes an addiction.
Little does she know, this bad boy can love so hard, it can break her…
No excerpt found.
I’ve enjoyed this series so far and am keen to see where it goes next. I have a hankering to see what happens if the two lesbian characters we’ve met in different books ever meet, and I’d also like to see a potential relationship for the gay bouncer at Fallon’s club. Of course, there are plenty of unattached straight characters still around in the background of the various plots who deserve books of their own too.
Overall Grade: C
