Hard Wood

Ahhh…. Mia and Patrick!! Patrick and Mia. If you have read previous recent books by Lauren Blakely, then these two secondary character names should sound familiar. In this highly much anticipated friends to lovers romance of Mia and Patrick, Lauren Blakely nailed it as she delivers one sexy, funny, heartwarming and decadent romantic comedy.

Hard Wood will honestly have you grinning and smiling like a fool. This book was pure entertainment.. It was sexy and at the same time made your heart go pitter patter. You just can’t help but fall in love with these characters. So if you are looking for a read that will have you obsessed, addicted, and swooning then I highly recommend you to read this book. It was cleverly written and had that great balance of romance and humor.

5 Crazy Ass Must Read Stars!!!!!

Lauren Blakely has done it again! And this time we get Patrick and Mia's story! Yay!
I just love how this psuedo series keeps us in touch with all the previous characters we've met and features characters that piqued our interest in the previous books. Maybe it's because I'm a book whore but I think it has more to do with the way Lauren Blakely writes these male POV stories. They just draw you in and have you laughing and fanning yourself the whole time.
Patrick and his cat won me right from the start and I'm not a cat person (the horror) so that's saying something. And poor Mia too because I definitely think she took the backseat to Zeus.
I'm eager to see how Lauren will top this book.

Lauren never disappoints. Hard Wood will have you laughing out loud while turning the pages. I adored Patrick. He was PERFECT. Let's not even talk about Zeus, the perfect pussy. Of course, that is pussycat.

Lets discuss Hard Wood. Mia and Patrick have known each other a few months. They both can't stop thinking about each other. Their thoughts are consumed with each other. Problem is.... neither have expressed their feelings to each other. Why, we ask? They both fear that they feel more than the other.

Patrick is in love with Mia, but he lives in New York. Mia is in love with Patrick, but she lives on the West Coast. Are they willing to have a long distance relationship? Is one willing to move, even though they both have businesses where they reside? Is Mia willing to give it a go with Patrick? Is Patrick willing to risk his heart on Mia?

Lauren is one of my go to authors for ROM-COM. With each turn of the page, I fall more in love with her characters and they stories. Lauren makes her readers able to relate to her characters.

Ladies buckle up, because Patrick will take you on quite the adventure.

Lauren Blakely has written another big time winner! I've been waiting for Mia's and Patrick's story for quite some time and it's finally here! It is hilariously funny but also told with heart and care by an author who loves her characters. While Mia and Patrick move from friends to lovers, people from previous books play key roles. This is such a fun, feel good story you can't resist. I just love spunky, ambitious, beautiful, little Mia. And Patrick? He is handsome, has a great bod, thoughtful, owns a successful business, and he has a strong moral compass. Plus he is ready to settle down. Did I mention this story is hot? Patrick and Mia are most certainly hot. Enjoy!

Another fantastic story from Ms. Blakely, and I loved every bit of it! If you've read Joy Ride, you already know Mia and Patrick, and their road to romance and a HEA is sweet, hot and hilarious at times. Patrick is that rare male that's successful, hot as sin with the swagger to back it up and the best part is that he wants to settle down. One thing that helped make this book relatable and perhaps realistic is that Patrick and Mia already have history. I loved that we get to see characters from the previous stories making an appearance here and there throughout this book. This is one more LB book I highly recommend.

Loved it! Put this amongst my favorite Lauren Blakely's Rom-Coms! Incorporating the cat into the story was fabulous and giving him a voice made it Outstanding! Kind of the Gate Keeper so to speak ;) It was sexy and mushy in all the right places!
I fed on the little tidbits of Patrick and Mia as well.
Great Story! Met all expectations I had and more! I always look forward to Lauren's male POV Rom-Coms...they are sexy, swoony, Laugh out Loud funny, grab the tissues and cry at times, but always, always a treasure to read!

Loved this sweet, hilarious story! Patrick and Mia were so cute together and it was refreshing how they worked through everything together in an upfront kind way without any drama. Not that I don’t love the drama filled stories too! ? Absolutely loved the conversations with the cat chapters ? it was adorable. Wonderful heartwarming love story!

I really loved and enjoyed Hard Wood. another awesome story that I could not get enough of. I loved the characters and thought they were so cute together. Also loved the little cat he was cute too. Loved the story line and how funny this book. Just another great book by the author. Love her work and can't wait for more.

I can’t possibly put into words how awesome this was! I know, don’t judge my grammar. Lauren never writes a bad story but somehow seems to make each new book better than the last. I love the humor, the banter and the chemistry.

LOVE!

A copy was provided for an honest review.

I bought the audiobook because it came out early and it was amazing. Mia is a great character and Zeus the cat is the coolest cat on the block. The book is written from Patrick's POV and Lauren Blakely does a great job with it. I can't wait to read her next book.

Another BRILLIANT romantic comedy from the master herself Lauren Blakely! I am not sure how she does it but I am a true fan.

What I absolutely love is how she can write in the male POV and make it so damn funny and yet realistic. Each book since I have read Big Rock has been a complete pleasure to read and I am sad when they are over. Not sad mind you because it's a heart wrenching story but sad in the : Damn, IT"S OVER??? kind of way. Each hero gets me right in the funny bone and right in the heart. Each heroine is an amazingly strong counterpoint for the hero and equally literary gold in their own rights. Lauren writes sexy, funny love stories. I also adore that each book plays perfectly off the last. While not necessary to the story to read the predecessors, they enhance each story and by rights each couple.

Patrick and Mia are no slouches in the later category. I want my own Patrick. I want to be Mia! Patrick is swoony in the best way. A catch for the single ladies looking:he says so himself. AND not in the smarmy way either. He's just a reliable, normal and predictable kinda guy. The three best traits for a man looking to settle down.

Mia doesn't know it yet but she's met the perfect other half she didn't know she needed.

This book was fun to read, kept me highly entertained and placed a smile on my face.

Happy Reading~ Sherry

Lauren Blakely delivers a fun and sexy conclusion to this fantastic series of standalones. Like the previous books, readers can expect swoon-worthy heroes, likable heroines, and a steamy romance to entertain for hours.

Patrick is the type of hero readers have come to expect from this standalone series and from Lauren Blakely's romantic comedies. He is sexy and smart, and he is looking for someone to be his one. Patrick is the type of man to know exactly what, and in this case, who he wants, but he is also incredibly realistic about the plausibility of this potential relationship. As a result, he tries desperately to keep Mia in the friend zone. His attempts, however, prove to be futile, as their chemistry and almost physical intimacy dances on the proverbial line. Once Patrick goes all in, though, he is all in, and he exemplifies what we want in a significant other. His honorable traits entice readers, his prowess in the bedroom is above par, and his desire to find the one and settle down make him another top book boyfriend contender.

Mia shares many similarities with Patrick, amongst them their love of animals. She is sweet and kind, but beneath the exterior she is a bit of a seductress. She tempts and teases Patrick all throughout the novel until they both let go. There is initial hesitance from Mia about pursuing a relationship with Patrick, but the reason behind her resistance is given. Although this reason is plausible, I would have liked to have more of the story to truly understand what is driving her throughout the book. Even with this tiny splice of background information, readers will enjoy Mia's character for her passion for animals and her willingness to go after what she wants, to take her passion and turn it into a career, and to make her personal life what she wants with who she wants.

Hard Wood is another laugh-out-loud romantic comedy. With the chapters from Zeus's perspective to the animal memes, readers will enjoy this steamy and hilarious romance from cover to cover. Lauren Blakely also delivers another couple who has phenomenal chemistry in and out of the bedroom, and readers will root for them to finally confess their feelings for one another and make a real go at being together. Like some of the other romantic comedies, the conflict, although real and authentic, lacked the angst or drama needed to make an impact on the story. Personally, I needed something more, a bigger obstacle or surprise revelation, to make the story a 5 crown read for me. The ending, though, is the perfect, and as a lover of all of these standalones, I enjoyed seeing everyone again and getting a glimpse into their current lives and potential futures.

Lauren Blakely continues to reign supreme in the world of romantic comedies. With heroes to swoon over, heroines to adore, and so many steamy moments to heat you up, she never leads you astray. You can always count on her to deliver!

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

"She's reduced me to nothing but lust, nothing but fire, nothing but heat." Yes this is what Patrick says in regard to Mia, but this is what Lauren did to me when I read Hard Wood. I had the great pleasure of receiving this book as an ARC and as usual, I am in love with Patrick and Mia (okay more Patrick, but I would love to be Mia).

Patrick is a no nonsense outdoor loving "normal" guy (as Mia puts it). He owns his own business leading trips into the great outdoors. I love the outdoors, so Patrick and I would be a match made in a tent. LOL Patrick has been head over heels for Mia since he first met her, but she lives on the west coast and he lives in New York. What's a guy to do?

Lauren continues to give her readers the best characters with fantastic storylines. We get to catch up with characters from her previous books while loving this new match made in Blakely heaven. Be ready to grab this book and hide yourself away because you will not want to put it down until you read THE END!

FINALLY!!! I have been waiting for Patrick and Mia's story. We saw their attraction building in the background of her brother's books and now we get theirs!!
I loved Patrick so much he knew what he wanted, he wanted Mia! But outside factors had him faltering in a GO GET YOUR GIRL attitude.
This was told completely from his POV so you would think we would be as clueless about her feelings as he was but there was his special know all, see all cat who told us her feelings, in cute little cat POV chapters. Zeus was awesome!
So funny how it took a week of hands off, seperation to bring them together on the same page with their feelings. Once they had those figured out it was a perfect whirlwind beginning and sealing the deal on where their future led them. And I loved that The Cat Knew First!!!

Ahhh…. Mia and Patrick!! Patrick and Mia. If you have read previous recent books by Lauren Blakely, then these two secondary character names should sound familiar. In this highly much anticipated friends to lovers romance of Mia and Patrick, Lauren Blakely nailed it as she delivers one sexy, funny, heartwarming and decadent romantic comedy.

Hard Wood will honestly have you grinning and smiling like a fool. This book was pure entertainment.. It was sexy and at the same time made your heart go pitter patter. You just can’t help but fall in love with these characters. So if you are looking for a read that will have you obsessed, addicted, and swooning then I highly recommend you to read this book. It was cleverly written and had that great balance of romance and humor.

5 Crazy Ass Must Read Stars!!!!!

Lauren Blakely has done it again! And this time we get Patrick and Mia's story! Yay!
I just love how this psuedo series keeps us in touch with all the previous characters we've met and features characters that piqued our interest in the previous books. Maybe it's because I'm a book whore but I think it has more to do with the way Lauren Blakely writes these male POV stories. They just draw you in and have you laughing and fanning yourself the whole time.
Patrick and his cat won me right from the start and I'm not a cat person (the horror) so that's saying something. And poor Mia too because I definitely think she took the backseat to Zeus.
I'm eager to see how Lauren will top this book.

Lauren never disappoints. Hard Wood will have you laughing out loud while turning the pages. I adored Patrick. He was PERFECT. Let's not even talk about Zeus, the perfect pussy. Of course, that is pussycat.

Lets discuss Hard Wood. Mia and Patrick have known each other a few months. They both can't stop thinking about each other. Their thoughts are consumed with each other. Problem is.... neither have expressed their feelings to each other. Why, we ask? They both fear that they feel more than the other.

Patrick is in love with Mia, but he lives in New York. Mia is in love with Patrick, but she lives on the West Coast. Are they willing to have a long distance relationship? Is one willing to move, even though they both have businesses where they reside? Is Mia willing to give it a go with Patrick? Is Patrick willing to risk his heart on Mia?

Lauren is one of my go to authors for ROM-COM. With each turn of the page, I fall more in love with her characters and they stories. Lauren makes her readers able to relate to her characters.

Ladies buckle up, because Patrick will take you on quite the adventure.

Lauren Blakely has written another big time winner! I've been waiting for Mia's and Patrick's story for quite some time and it's finally here! It is hilariously funny but also told with heart and care by an author who loves her characters. While Mia and Patrick move from friends to lovers, people from previous books play key roles. This is such a fun, feel good story you can't resist. I just love spunky, ambitious, beautiful, little Mia. And Patrick? He is handsome, has a great bod, thoughtful, owns a successful business, and he has a strong moral compass. Plus he is ready to settle down. Did I mention this story is hot? Patrick and Mia are most certainly hot. Enjoy!

Another fantastic story from Ms. Blakely, and I loved every bit of it! If you've read Joy Ride, you already know Mia and Patrick, and their road to romance and a HEA is sweet, hot and hilarious at times. Patrick is that rare male that's successful, hot as sin with the swagger to back it up and the best part is that he wants to settle down. One thing that helped make this book relatable and perhaps realistic is that Patrick and Mia already have history. I loved that we get to see characters from the previous stories making an appearance here and there throughout this book. This is one more LB book I highly recommend.

Loved it! Put this amongst my favorite Lauren Blakely's Rom-Coms! Incorporating the cat into the story was fabulous and giving him a voice made it Outstanding! Kind of the Gate Keeper so to speak ;) It was sexy and mushy in all the right places!
I fed on the little tidbits of Patrick and Mia as well.
Great Story! Met all expectations I had and more! I always look forward to Lauren's male POV Rom-Coms...they are sexy, swoony, Laugh out Loud funny, grab the tissues and cry at times, but always, always a treasure to read!

Loved this sweet, hilarious story! Patrick and Mia were so cute together and it was refreshing how they worked through everything together in an upfront kind way without any drama. Not that I don’t love the drama filled stories too! ? Absolutely loved the conversations with the cat chapters ? it was adorable. Wonderful heartwarming love story!

I really loved and enjoyed Hard Wood. another awesome story that I could not get enough of. I loved the characters and thought they were so cute together. Also loved the little cat he was cute too. Loved the story line and how funny this book. Just another great book by the author. Love her work and can't wait for more.

I can’t possibly put into words how awesome this was! I know, don’t judge my grammar. Lauren never writes a bad story but somehow seems to make each new book better than the last. I love the humor, the banter and the chemistry.

LOVE!

A copy was provided for an honest review.

I bought the audiobook because it came out early and it was amazing. Mia is a great character and Zeus the cat is the coolest cat on the block. The book is written from Patrick's POV and Lauren Blakely does a great job with it. I can't wait to read her next book.

Another BRILLIANT romantic comedy from the master herself Lauren Blakely! I am not sure how she does it but I am a true fan.

What I absolutely love is how she can write in the male POV and make it so damn funny and yet realistic. Each book since I have read Big Rock has been a complete pleasure to read and I am sad when they are over. Not sad mind you because it's a heart wrenching story but sad in the : Damn, IT"S OVER??? kind of way. Each hero gets me right in the funny bone and right in the heart. Each heroine is an amazingly strong counterpoint for the hero and equally literary gold in their own rights. Lauren writes sexy, funny love stories. I also adore that each book plays perfectly off the last. While not necessary to the story to read the predecessors, they enhance each story and by rights each couple.

Patrick and Mia are no slouches in the later category. I want my own Patrick. I want to be Mia! Patrick is swoony in the best way. A catch for the single ladies looking:he says so himself. AND not in the smarmy way either. He's just a reliable, normal and predictable kinda guy. The three best traits for a man looking to settle down.

Mia doesn't know it yet but she's met the perfect other half she didn't know she needed.

This book was fun to read, kept me highly entertained and placed a smile on my face.

Happy Reading~ Sherry

Sexy, sweet, amazing banter and a story that will leave you smiling after you finish. This series definitely brings all of the above. I am in love with all the characters and have so been looking forward to Patrick's story.

I always fall in love with Lauren's books and I am always left with a heartwarming feeling and my heart completely stolen by these characters. I can't wait to read more from Lauren and more from this series.

This series has the most drool worthy cover models because these stories are all told from the guys point of view, even Patrick's cat, Zeus, has something to say about the relationship that develops between Patrick and Mia. I loved the scenes where both Patrick and Mia confess secrets to Zeus; he knows everything that is in Patrick and Mia's hearts, but of course, he's keeping their secrets to himself. These characters are very likable and the storyline is enjoyable but it lacked conflict and the heartbreaking angst that goes hand in hand when two people are falling in love. I read a complimentary copy of this book and all opinions expressed in my unsolicited and voluntary review are completely my own.

YES! Another purr-fect romance from Lauren Blakely! This sweet and sexy and standalone rom-com is all that and a huge bag of catnip. Get this book and see why Mia, Patrick, and a cat named Zeus will steal your heart.

Hard Wood is told through Patrick’s point of view. Having read Lauren’s other books, I knew this book was going to be solid. I thought it was brilliant how she was able to use Zeus’ voice to tell his kitty cat side of the story as well as Mia’s. This book is just so much fun, drama-free and such as fast and lovable read. Patrick's wood is good ;)

OMG loved this book and glad that Mia and Patrick finally got together they have been dancing around the fact that they cared about each other a lot and they finally gave in to their feelings and glad that Mia realized that Patrick wasn't Eric and would never hurt her and glad that Mia realized that she did love him and he loved her too nice that they got married in Vegas and liked the little aside that we learn what the cat Zeus knew and the cat knew all along Thanks for an amazing book and look forward to you next series and Lauren is an amazing author

Lauren Blakey is the queen of humorous, sexy, fun, entertaining rom-com's. I happily but impatiently await each of her books. We met Patrick and Mia in previous books, this was a long time coming. The wait for their book was SO worth it. Super sweet and adorable story. Patrick is funny, loving and so normal of a guy you can't help but to fall in love with him. And not to mention Zeus. Zeus had my heart at first Purr. It was nice to see and catch up with the other couples from the series. This is a 5 + star rating for me.

I have enjoyed these individual romance book by this author. You can read any of them as a stand alone but you will know so much more if you have been reading them all along. The couple's are all in this book to get you caught up on them. Enjoy.

Bough the audio version of Hard Wood. Amazing second book, along with Joy Ride. Just because there are obstacles in your way, like your best friend, don't let the women of your dreams get away. This book is great at showing you how you can come out of any situation together if it's what you both want.

Hard Wood is the last in this wonderful series by Lauren Blakely and it is certainly the most light-hearted by far! Once again there is the perfect mix of smart humor and incredibly sexy trysts that has become the author's trademark.

I love that Patrick is so in tune with nature and how he mimics others out in the real world, traveling with their faithful 4 legged companions. Mia is the perfect spark that has both Patrick and Zeus wanting to be closer to her and elicit loud purrs every time she is around. Another Blakely heroine who is a go-getter and takes a chance on what she wants. I truly love that!! And even with the chance that distance could be a real factor in their finding their happy, these two have what it takes to make it.

I do believe Ms. Blakely has given all of the interconnected characters their due and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next.

Sure to put a smile on your face, I give Hard Wood a very solid 4 stars!

What a delightful romance! I liked that Mia and Patrick had feelings for each other but they didn't rush in each other's arms just to scracth an itch. They both wanted the real thing and had their reservations so they didn't rush anything. I liked the easy funny banter between them. How they also became friends. They had their awkward moments, both waiting the other to break the ice and admit their feelings first.
I liked that it was written in Patrick's POV. I liked the inner musings of Zeus, the cat. I'm a fan of epilogues and here I got more then one! Great writing, well crafted characters. There was a lot of emotions and chemistry. The low level of angst and drama made this book an enjoyable weekend read.
I was gifted a copy of this book and I posted my honest review volutarily.

The queen of double entendre is back with a clever, scandalous and hard to resist anti hero. Hard Wood is another Lauren Blakely original. Relevant and at times deep subjects are tackled with humorous dialogue, risque innuedoes and sassy characters. Patrick and Mia are dynamite. Heat, humor and heart are on display with some wicked fun for good measure.

Light easy predictable sweet read following Patrick and Mia, the story, told from Patrick’s POV (with a few hilarious chapters from Zeus the cat) is a completely lighthearted angst free love story, with a few super sexy moments. Patrick is best friends with Mia’s brother Max, and he has had a secret crush on her for years. He has never acted in his crush, not because he thinks Max would object, but because they live on opposite sides of the country. When Mia returns for their friend’s wedding it appears that his crush is not all one sided. Drama free romance that includes all the main characters from previous books in the series, I must say it was great to find out what they were all up to. That said, this story can be read completely as a standalone.

This was a fantastic story. Patrick and Mia have been dancing around each other for a while now and I couldn’t wait for things to go crazy. And they did not disappoint! This friends-to-lovers tale was sweet, romantic, fun, and sexy. They had such a great rapport and they fit together perfectly. I loved reading about their journey and how their story would go. I was smiling and swooning throughout. I also loved seeing the previous couples and how their lives are now. Overall I enjoyed every single moment of this book. Hard Wood had everything a reader would expect from Lauren. I am running out of words to describe how much I love Lauren’s writing but she is the best. A remarkable read!

Sexy, sweet, amazing banter and a story that will leave you smiling after you finish. This series definitely brings all of the above. I am in love with all the characters and have so been looking forward to Patrick's story.

I always fall in love with Lauren's books and I am always left with a heartwarming feeling and my heart completely stolen by these characters. I can't wait to read more from Lauren and more from this series.

This series has the most drool worthy cover models because these stories are all told from the guys point of view, even Patrick's cat, Zeus, has something to say about the relationship that develops between Patrick and Mia. I loved the scenes where both Patrick and Mia confess secrets to Zeus; he knows everything that is in Patrick and Mia's hearts, but of course, he's keeping their secrets to himself. These characters are very likable and the storyline is enjoyable but it lacked conflict and the heartbreaking angst that goes hand in hand when two people are falling in love. I read a complimentary copy of this book and all opinions expressed in my unsolicited and voluntary review are completely my own.