Lori Foster 'Hard To Handle'

I got this book from a friend and since I'm more of a historical romance novel reader, I had very low expectations. The first half of the book (save our hero's one-night-stand opening scene) was actually quite good. Harley is an extreme fighter who has had three title fights that he's missed, mom dieing, injuries, etc. He has retreated to his cabin in the hills to get himself ready for his next try at the title belt. The woman who rents him his cabin is the only woman whose never come on to him.....

Anastasia is a life coach whose got the hots for Harley but she's too intuitive to throw herself at him like all the other women in the area. When she acquires a stalker, Harley immediately steps in to take care of her, putting them in close proximity, etc. Hot, hard-fighting man protecting smart determined woman from mortal danger, yep, gets me every time.

Critiques: I have to mention his last name, Handleman, I mean really! Then there is Anatasia's pop-psychology drivel which became more annoying as the book went along, and finally the plot wraps up at warp speed at the end. Even his title fight is about two paragraphs.

Overall it's a quick light read with plenty of sex, very enjoyable.

Contemporary Romance 2008: 4 out of 5 extreme fights.