Novel Review: Hard to Handle (SBC Fighters, #3) by Lori Foster

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Genre: Adult Contemporary Sports Romance

Publisher: Berkley (Penguin)

Release Date: 2007

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Goodreads Synopsis:

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.

The Cover:

I don't really like this cover. The colors and the image could be all right. But instead it looks at blurry and weird, and it's giving a very definite boxing image, but not as much of a adult romance one. I just don't think it looks that great, or that it gives the best idea of the book.

Review:

Harley Handleman is trying, again, to win a title belt match, which means not getting hurt before the fight this time. Anastasia is a life coach, but after her last job, she’s thinking of taking a break. Harley rents a place from Anastasia, and they have a run in during a storm, as someone is apparently trying to harm her. But when that’s finished (mostly), Anastasia shows up where Harley is training, wanting to help him.

I liked Anastasia and Harley. He’s fighting Anastasia, as well as his uncle’s influence, but the attraction is definitely there. The chemistry between the two was very good, and I liked how that worked out.

There was a second, sub-couple plot. It was about Barber and Jasmine, who wants to be the singer in his band. They were rather cute together, and I really enjoyed their story. We also got to see the other fighters in the previous books and the next one, and I really enjoyed that. It was nice seeing them all again.

Overall this was a good book; sweet and hot. I enjoyed it, and look forward to reading more of Foster’s books.