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linaru's review against another edition
5.0
I love Lauren’s books and Sebastian York’s narrations. Where I loved the story and how drama free it was, I wanted female voice too. Normally I’m not bothered about male narration of woman but here I just needed that extra. But I still loved his narration. And his narration of Zeus? Perfect. Made me chuckle every time.
If you are looking for a fun, sexy and drama free story. This one is perfect. It made me realise I needed a drama free romance.
Thank you.
If you are looking for a fun, sexy and drama free story. This one is perfect. It made me realise I needed a drama free romance.
Thank you.
annabeth_391's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
pattyfgd's review against another edition
5.0
Lauren Blakely has a winner on her hands!! We had a taste of Patrick and Mia in Joy Ride and am so glad we get to hear their story. Mia, Chase and Max's sister finally gets her chance at love with Patrick, but there are a couple of obstacles this couple need to overcome before they can find their happiness. The two like to dance around each other, and their flirty banter is so much fun. The chemistry is undeniable, and you can feel the love, but something is holding them back. Is it something they will be able to overcome? With her comedic style, Blakely includes the supporting character of Zeus, the cat. When given his own chapters and point of view, you will find this confidant has you laughing out loud. I would definitely follow this cat on Instagram! We do get to see the couples from the previous books, Josie & Chase, and Henley and Max and get to have a cameo by Evie, Patrick's matchmaking sister. All in good fun, this book is pure entertainment at it's best!
Sebastian York, with his warm and sexy baritone voice is so perfect for the role of this story. He has such a relaxed ease when he narrates, that it seems effortless and makes the narration really enjoyable.
Sebastian York, with his warm and sexy baritone voice is so perfect for the role of this story. He has such a relaxed ease when he narrates, that it seems effortless and makes the narration really enjoyable.
keller6690's review against another edition
5.0
Sweet love at its finest. Patrick and Mia fit like two-peas-in-a-pod!! Patrick is definitely a Blakely Boy-hot, handsome, heart-of-gold, and so swoon-worthy. Patrick is also the proud owner of a hiking feline who seems to always know everything first. Totally loved the occasional chapter from the feline's POV. Mia is a smart, strong, knows what she wants, and goes for it type of woman. Which includes a move across the country to get the man of her dreams. As always, Lauren knows how to write hot, steamy, and oh-so sexy scenes between the sheets. Another great rom-com that lets you escape into a world of great characters with lots of love and laughs from Ms. Blakely. I am continually amazed at Lauren's ability to create a great love story. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review of Hard Wood by Lauren Blakely.
readfrenzy's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
I’m in awe of Lauren Blakely’s ability to rapidly write hit after hit. The sheer volume of her work is jaw dropping, but it’s the consistent quality of her rom-coms that is truly impressive. Hard Wood marks the end of her Big Rock compilation, and what a way to go out. This book had me smiling so hard my face hurt.
Patrick and Mia have always clicked: same sense of humor, same easygoing nature, and same interests. She checks all the required boxes in Patrick’s “The One” list, but the fact that they live on opposite coasts has prevented him from moving their relationship out of the friend zone.
Who wouldn’t love Patrick? He’s adventurous, wickedly cheeky, selfless, and old enough to be done playing games. Mia is an ambitious humanitarian with a quick wit and huge heart. I loved these two together.
I guarantee that any cat lover will fall head over heels for Zeus, one of the coolest cats in the history of felines. His trail blazing antics and chapters written from his point of view are particularly entertaining.
This book offers a slow burn with lots of sexual tension, a few misunderstandings, flirty banter, and a perma-smile for readers. What you don’t have to worry about is contrived mega drama cropping up just to create completely unnecessary conflict.
Hard Wood is pure joy. Whether you like sweet friends-to-lovers stories or sexy romantic comedies, this is one endearing treat.
Recommended for fans of:
Friends to lovers stories
Cats
Hiking
Jackrabbits
I’m in awe of Lauren Blakely’s ability to rapidly write hit after hit. The sheer volume of her work is jaw dropping, but it’s the consistent quality of her rom-coms that is truly impressive. Hard Wood marks the end of her Big Rock compilation, and what a way to go out. This book had me smiling so hard my face hurt.
Patrick and Mia have always clicked: same sense of humor, same easygoing nature, and same interests. She checks all the required boxes in Patrick’s “The One” list, but the fact that they live on opposite coasts has prevented him from moving their relationship out of the friend zone.
Who wouldn’t love Patrick? He’s adventurous, wickedly cheeky, selfless, and old enough to be done playing games. Mia is an ambitious humanitarian with a quick wit and huge heart. I loved these two together.
I guarantee that any cat lover will fall head over heels for Zeus, one of the coolest cats in the history of felines. His trail blazing antics and chapters written from his point of view are particularly entertaining.
This book offers a slow burn with lots of sexual tension, a few misunderstandings, flirty banter, and a perma-smile for readers. What you don’t have to worry about is contrived mega drama cropping up just to create completely unnecessary conflict.
Hard Wood is pure joy. Whether you like sweet friends-to-lovers stories or sexy romantic comedies, this is one endearing treat.
Recommended for fans of:
Friends to lovers stories
Cats
Hiking
Jackrabbits
**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**
gabbysreading's review against another edition
5.0
Who is ready for a sexy, rugged outdoorsman who also happens to be a pretty freakin’ great guy?!! Yeah me too. Thankfully, Lauren Blakely has given us the perfect person in Patrick. Adventurous, sweet, funny, and owner of the world's greatest cat, Patrick Milligan is everything!! *Swoon.
I absolutely loved this book!! Hard Wood is a light hearted, laugh out loud, sexy, friends to lovers/ friend’s sister romance. I knew I wanted Patrick and Mia’s story the second they met in Joy Ride. Their connection sizzled off the pages. I love their well timed, witty, back and forth banter. And, of course it should go without saying, the heat between these two is off the charts. I especially love the forbidden element to this story. Not only is Mia Max and Chase’s sister, she also becomes his client when her company hires his company for a team building excursion. Watching these two work their way around their obvious passion for each other, was pure fun. I'm giddy just thinking about these two. LOVE them!!
I will never not love a Lauren Blakely rom-com. These wonderful, good natured stories are highly entertaining, have amazing character chemistry, and full of heart. Big Rock - the first book in this series of standalone - was my introduction to this author. With Hard Wood being the sixth and final book, it warms my heart seeing all the characters that I love so dang much engaged/married/having babies and happy. I hate to see this series end but knowing Lauren Blakely’s writing, I'm sure we'll see these characters again.
I absolutely loved this book!! Hard Wood is a light hearted, laugh out loud, sexy, friends to lovers/ friend’s sister romance. I knew I wanted Patrick and Mia’s story the second they met in Joy Ride. Their connection sizzled off the pages. I love their well timed, witty, back and forth banter. And, of course it should go without saying, the heat between these two is off the charts. I especially love the forbidden element to this story. Not only is Mia Max and Chase’s sister, she also becomes his client when her company hires his company for a team building excursion. Watching these two work their way around their obvious passion for each other, was pure fun. I'm giddy just thinking about these two. LOVE them!!
I will never not love a Lauren Blakely rom-com. These wonderful, good natured stories are highly entertaining, have amazing character chemistry, and full of heart. Big Rock - the first book in this series of standalone - was my introduction to this author. With Hard Wood being the sixth and final book, it warms my heart seeing all the characters that I love so dang much engaged/married/having babies and happy. I hate to see this series end but knowing Lauren Blakely’s writing, I'm sure we'll see these characters again.
jamie_w's review against another edition
4.0
A quick Audible listen to cleanse the palette. No drama. Cute characters. HEA guaranteed.
Patrick and Mia were so sweet together. They’d both been crushing on the other for a while and finally got the nerve to act on it. Once they did, it was game over. They were it for each other. They’re banter was hilarious! Lauren is so good at writing such funny dialogue and situations. I mean, who else would give us chapters dedicated to a cat’s inner dialogue?!?!
Patrick and Mia were so sweet together. They’d both been crushing on the other for a while and finally got the nerve to act on it. Once they did, it was game over. They were it for each other. They’re banter was hilarious! Lauren is so good at writing such funny dialogue and situations. I mean, who else would give us chapters dedicated to a cat’s inner dialogue?!?!
anasatticbookblog's review against another edition
5.0
Hard Wood (Big Rock 6) by Lauren Blakely
Narrated by Sebastian York
Male POV Romantic Comedy. Can easily stand alone. Interrelated Series.
I am so sad to see this top favorite “series” end (Lauren just admitted it’s a series before this release). I have loved every single one of these male POV stories and the dual POV ones that relate to it. See the Series Reading Order for the Big Rock series and related books, and how they are related. Lauren Blakey’s male POV characters are so perfect! My favorite thing about them (besides them all being hot, dirty and dominant in bed) is that they all feature men who respect women—they respect career women and take their jobs as seriously as their own. This is rare in a genre where you often find the woman in a subservient position.
We have met two of the main characters, Patrick & Mia, in previous books in the series, but it isn’t necessary to remember them. The character you didn’t meet before, however, kind of stole the show, and that’s Zeus, the hiking cat. Ms. Blakely often finds clever ways to portray a bit of the female’s POV in her male POV stories. In this one, it’s chapters from the cat, some which reveal personal conversations the cat was privy to. By the way, I kind of want a cat now.
“The reason I said ‘after you’ at the start of the trail is that I’m a gentleman, and I still believe that ladies come first.” I stop, reining in a smirk. “Go first, I mean. Ladies go first.”
Patrick is such a good, upstanding guy (with a dirty streak). He runs an adventure tour company, and his cat Zeus joins him often on his hikes. They’ve become internet famous. His friend’s sister, Mia, lives across country from the rest of her family, way out in California, but she visits New York often, and she and Patrick have shared a flirty friendship whenever she visits.
"She makes all parts of me quite happy indeed. By happy, I mean hard as a rock."
After an extended stay in NY, the two get a little closer than friends, until her cosmetics company hires his adventure company for some team building. But being the upstanding guy he is, he realizes she is now a client that he can’t fraternize with!
They live on opposite coasts, they are against company rules…how will they work it out?
Likes:
- •I smiled the whole way through.
- •This book charmed me as much as the series did 7 books ago.
- •How Lauren’s men are all dirty and respectful at the same time.
- •How neither character ever really doubted their feelings.
- •Angst—free.
- •Zeus is the best cat ever!
- •The creative way of getting the female POV.
- •Visiting with previous couples in the series, but I never felt like you needed to have read the previous books (though you totally NEED to because this is one of my favorite series EVER). See my in-depth series order.
Dislikes:
- •I can’t think of any!
The Narration:
Sebastian York is more suited to Lauren’s books than any others I have heard him in. The mature, super-sexy voice that always seems to respect women could not be more perfect for this romantic comedy. To me, SebYo will forever be a Lauren Blakely alpha in my head. I loved it!
The Down & Dirty:
Lauren Blakely hit another home run with the 'last' in one of my all-time favorite series. I love this group of friends (though I was mixing them up so much, I finally did a series order with each couple and how they connect). This is the last male POV for this series, but I like to look at the “extended series” that includes dual POV books that are related via family & friends of characters, and looking at that, I’m thrilled another is coming. Lauren is such a genius at the male POV that after 6 books of all male POV and 6 of half male POV, I still can’t get enough. Do yourself a favor and READ THIS BOOK AND SERIES!
Note: Why not 5 stars? I loved this book, can't think of anything I didn't love, but it wasn't EPIC. It doesn't stand out as any more memorable than the others in this amazing series. The series itself is 5 stars no doubt, but all being a bit similar, they have lost that epic feel, though I still love them just as much.
Rating: 4.75 Stars, 4.25 Heat, 5 Narration
Purchase Hard Wood by Lauren Blakely
While they each easily stand alone, I like reading in order since each couple turns up in the next books. Also, I am putting The Sexy One and The Hot One in there where it belongs chronologically because they are all part of the same group of friends in New York City, but The Sexy One, The Hot One and The Knocked Up Plan are dual POV while the rest are male POV.
To see all the couples and how they are all related, see the Series Guide Here.
