Reviewer: Casee
Hard To Handle by Lori Foster
Series: SBC Fighters #3
Publisher: Penguin
Publication Date: February 5th 2008
Genres: Fiction
Pages: 352
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Series Rating:

Sometimes Fate delivers a left hook.
After Fate deals Supreme Battle Challenge (SBC) fighter Harley Handleman a sucker punch, his uncle secretly hires a pretty lifecoach to get Harley back in the ring of life. Anastasia Kelley has actually known Harley for years, but never as well as she's going to now. Hot for his fighter's form, she has trouble keeping it professional, especially since Harley doesn't know she was hired. And when Anastasia turns the tables on him, it's as if he's been hit below the belt. But that's also where is uncontrollable lust for her burns.

 

Harley Handleman is determined to win the title belt for the SBC (see UFC). Every time he has a chance at the belt, something seems to go wrong prior to the fight. Very protective of his privacy, Harley is very careful who he allows in his life. When Fate puts him in the path of Anastasia Kelley, he’s not sure whether to stay and fight or run like hell. What he does know is that his landlord affects him like no other woman has.

Stasia has always been attracted to Harley, but has never let it show. She’ll never let herself be the type of woman that throws herself at Harley. When she finds herself run off the road late one night, it’s Harley that comes to her rescue. Harley that protects her from an enemy that she can’t see. Even after he comes to her aid, Stasia still refuses to ask Harley for anything. When they part ways, Stasia knows she won’t contact Harley again. As for Harley, he’s mystified that Stasia is so willing to cut all ties, especially since he knows she wants him.

That all changes when a meddling old man gets involved. Harley’s uncle is hellbent on helping his nephew get the SBC title. Even if it takes hiring a life coach behind his back.

This is typical Lori Foster fare. I’ve noticed that with each book she releases, I like it less than the last one. Hard to Handle is no exception. While I enjoyed the romance between Harley and Stasia, they really didn’t do it for me. I liked the secondary romance between Barber and Jasmine, but it happened too quickly to be believable. I mean, really. Then there was the mystery part of it. Give me a freaking break. It was so laughable that I can’t quite do it justice. I think without the secondary characters that Foster has brought into this series, I wouldn’t even read it anymore. What can I say? I’ve been reading her for years. I can’t just give up. So file this under train wreck.

3 out of 5.

Other books in the series:

Causing Havoc
Simon Says