Hard to Handle

by Lori Foster

Book Overview

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...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425219720
• ISBN13: 9780425219720
• Release Date: February 2008
• Publisher: Berkley Books
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.1" x 6.6"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Hard To Handle is HOT

Lori Foster delivers an all out sexy one two punch in Hard To Handle. Harley Handleman, an extreme fighter hasn't had many breaks in his fighting career. He retreats to his rental cabin in the mountains for training and some much needed R & R. Harley has always enjoyed the give and take of conversations with his landlady, Anastasia Bradley. He has always put the attraction he feels for her on the back burner but this time something has changed. Anastasia Bradley, a life couch has taken some down time to reflect after trouble with her last client. Stasia has always looked forward to Harley being back in town but up until this visit she has ignored her feelings for him. When some startling close calls happen to her Harley becomes her shadow. As Harley tries to keep Stasia safe their attraction cannot be denied. They both are strong people who have overcome diversity to excel but the past does linger in them. Hard to Handle is another exceptional story by Lori Foster. Harley and Stasia are compelling characters that you really want to get to know better. They will touch your heart with their love for their friends and family. Their chemistry is smoking hot and their conversations are lighting quick. I always count the days till the next Lori Foster book comes out on the shelves.

Classic Lori Foster

Hard to Handle follows on perfectly from the previous SBC Fighter books, Causing Havoc and Simon Says, and for fans of the series you'll be happy to hear that your favourite characters from these books make plenty of appearances. If you haven't read the previous books, however, don't worry, as the story works perfectly well alone. Harley is one of the most promising fighters on the SBC circuit, but every time he gets a shot at a title fight, something goes wrong - most recently a dislocated elbow. This injury dumps him in a secluded cabin, where he promptly ends up snowed in with his life-coach landlady Stasia - can she help Harley take back control to get the title fight he craves - and will he let her through his defences? Lori Foster's reputation for creating hot heroes and steamy storylines is well deserved, and this book will surely become another fan favourite.

Excellent romance from Lori Foster!

HARD TO HANDLE is the story of Harley Handleman, yet another gorgeously beefy SBC fighter who has taken some time off from fighting to strengthen himself mentally and physically after three failed title attempts and the untimely death of his mother. Harley rents an isolated cabin from Anastasia Bradley, but has never really paid much attention to his landlady. That is, until he sees her out of the bulky coats and heavy clothing that she usually dons, and then every inch of him stands up and takes notice. Stasia knows of Harley's wild ways with women and although she finds him very attractive, being the wise woman she is, refuses to be taken in by his charm. When Stasia is the victim of an unknown attacker, Harley is determined to keep her safe, but he refuses to get close enough to let her get a read on him. Anastasia is a professional life coach, guiding her clients through difficult situations and helping them discover the best direction for their future. She finds Harley in serious need of guidance and understanding and offers assistance, but he dismisses her, unwilling to share that part of his life. When threats are made against Stasia, she reluctantly accepts Harley's offer of protection, but only to a degree that allows her to maintain independence and control. Harley's Uncle Satch, his manager and the person closest to him, requests her help and she reluctantly agrees, not realizing that she has been misled. It's a given that Harley and Stasia will become intimate, but immediately after they do so, a serious misunderstanding erupts, dividing them. Stasia then realizes that she's in love with Harley. The trouble is, she knows that he has no interest in sharing his feelings, or his life, with anyone else. Lori Foster fans practically hyperventilate over any upcoming release; this one will have them grabbing for paper sacks. This series has been incredibly popular, whether readers are ultimate fighting fans or not. I think it's Lori's eager to please "I know what you want" heroes, and her no nonsense "But I don't need you" heroines. It's a potent combination that readers simply can't seem to get enough of. Harley and Stasia are excellently written, and visits from characters of the previous books are great fun. The side romance of the ever popular Barber is heady stuff - an especially sweet little bonus. Lori's regular readers most likely already have this book on order or in their hot little hands, but in the event you haven't - what are you waiting for?

Hard to Handle

Harley "Hard to Handle" Handleman is determined that nothing is going to stop him this time from achieving his ultimate goal of gaining the SBC title belt. In the past, personal misfortunes have kept him from even entering the ring for a title fight. This time nothing, absolutely nothing is going to stop Harley, especially not trouble with women... But when Harley meets Anastasia, all his plans are thrown out the window because as much as Harley would like to forget Anastasia, she seems to have taken permanent residence in his brain and in his fevered dreams. Anastasia Kelley has known Harley casually for a long time, since she has been renting him a cabin during the winter months for several years. Even though Anastasia is really attracted to Harley, she knows his reputation and isn't eager to become another notch on his bedpost. Still, when chance throws them together and Anastasia sees a way to be close to Harley and help him reach his goals, she jumps at the chance. As fate brings Harley and Anastasia closer together by chance and manipulation, they must battle against an unknown person threatening Anastasia and Harley's tendency to rigidly control his emotions... Will they ever manage to come together and make it work? Hard to Handle is another fun romp into the SBC and the community of fighters that band together like a brotherhood when the need arises outside of the ring. As we have come to expect, Ms. Foster delivers characters who are flawed, but appealing, and a light plot full of humor and wit that will keep you entertained from start to finish. Harley is the ultimate Alpha male who will delight, entertain and frustrate you by turns while keeping the sexual tension high enough to singe you. Anastasia, on the other hand, is not your typical woman. She refuses to trip over herself in an effort to capture Harley's attention, which in itself serves to catch Harley's eye. These two spend a large part of the book dancing around each other and the attraction they feel, but when they finally come together, it will leave you sweating and reaching for a drink to cool down! However, there are some parts of the plot that are slightly predictable, but as always, Lori Foster will have you too busy with her characters' foibles and witty secondary characters to care too much for the flaws of the book. Pick up Hard to Handle for a funny and entertaining read that will leave your romantic heart well satisfied! Sabella reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Sizzling Great Read

Hard to Handle is the third book of Lori's SBC fighter series, one we have been waiting for and a terrific read. There is also a secondary romance - a bonus for the reader - in Barber's story which all blend together to make a terrific read. Harley "Hard To Handle" Handleman has always wanted to take a title belt, but it seems that when ever it has been his turn - fate has dealt him losing cards. Harley has become very controlled in everything he does now from relationships to fighting bouts. He doesn't have time to get tied down to one person and as for love "forget that!" Anastasia Bradley is a life-coach, who rents Harley one of her cabins every year for his vacation time, and because of an incident with her work is now taking some downtime. When things start happening to Anastasia that threaten her life, Harley is determined to keep is distance - even if his protective mode is activated. But then Uncle Satch hires Anastasia behind Harley's back to become his life-coach and all of a sudden she is up front and in his face. The heat between these two is instantaneous. Anastasia has a way of getting to Harley's control and sparks fly, but oh so much more happens. The secondary romance of Barber is a great read as well. To see the two big guys fight their own inner conflicts is a terrific read. Anyone taking this journey is in for a good read. I look forward to more of Lori's SBC fighters, and recommend this book.