First Step Forward by Liora Blake Review
4 Smooches
Synopsis
Pro-football player Cooper Lowry is off the field and into some trouble—in the form of a very alluring, very free-spirited apple orchard owner named Whitney Reed—in the first installment in Liora Blake’s all new Grand Valley series.
After eight seasons playing pro-football, Cooper Lowry knows all the right answers.
Is he stubborn, short-tempered, and impatient? Yes. Are jersey chasers more trouble than they’re worth? Absolutely. Has he ever imagined a life beyond the game? Nope.
Cooper has built an enviable career—the result of staying focused, working hard, and keeping his head on straight—even as his body takes the brunt. So when a hard hit during a Sunday home game leaves him in a dazed heap on the field, it’s nothing more than another day at the office. The only thing that’s different about this Sunday is a chance encounter with a certain fascinating, beautiful free-spirited woman. And some sternly-worded instructions from his coach to take a little time off and give his body the TLC it craves—before he does lasting damage.
Whitney Reed is a few months away from losing the organic fruit orchard she bought three years ago in the tiny town of Hotchkiss, Colorado. At the time, she was just looking for a place to get lost. Instead, she found a home, somewhere she could finally put down roots. Now foreclosure is knocking on her door—along with a grumpy, gorgeous football player who might be just what she never knew she needed.
Review
“You should have said something about that – oh, I don’t know – eight flipping hours ago! Instead, you spend all this time giving me a bunch of hot, smoldering looks while man spreading your way around my house, and I’m thinking there’s going to be some wocka-wocka action between us. But the whole time you knew nothing could happen. Which makes you a tease, Cooper Lowry.”
When I saw the blurb for First Step Forward I was like OH HELL YES! A football player and a struggling orchard owner. This book was right up my alley and Liora Blake did not disappoint with the witty banter and so hot they made me blush sex scenes mixed in with characters you fall for and a plot that keeps the story moving.
“First off, your pussy and I are on the same team. I’m team captain and that amazing place between your legs is MVP. And, if you hadn’t noticed, we play really well together.”
Cooper Lowry was the star of the book for me personally. He never waivers in his devotion to Whitney had me hooked from the start. Add to that a dirty mouth and some extreme patience and you have a perfect man. I loved him and found him to be a perfect balance to Whitney, who struggles with trust and letting others help her. They don’t have the easiest road but I also wouldn’t say that this was a book filled with angst.
“Jesus, Whit. I had no idea I was capable of missing someone like this.”
Overall, this was an enjoyable read from an author I have come to trust to put out a great book. I will definitely be finishing the series and look forward to seeing the next one on my kindle in a few months.
~miranda
