Gail: I was pretty sure that rugged mountain men living off grid were a myth– until I blow a tire on a lonely mountain road. I’m no damsel in distress, I can change my tire all by myself! But the jack that came with the SUV needs something under it to give it more height. I don’t need this guy to fall in love with me, all I need is some wood.Blaze: Swinging the axe is a good exercise when my … a good exercise when my modest homestead up here in the Bitterroot mountains of Idaho starts feeling lonely. When a curvy woman shows up on my property looking at me like I’m her last meal, I’ve got a better way to work off the tension. She says all she needs is some wood, but I’m going to convince her she just found home.
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WOOD features a complete story with no cheating and a guaranteed happy ending for one rugged mountain man and one stubborn lady who manage to find each other even in the most unlikely of places.
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She is living out of her car and on her way to the next place she is going to when the flat stops her in her tracks. She goes to change it and realizes the piece of wood that she uses to help her change the flat was left with someone else. Now what?? So, she does the logical thing, packs a pack and starts to hike. After walking a ways she is hearing something but not sure what it is. But she follows the sound and comes up on a man chopping wood, with an axe, not a chainsaw. From the back this man has Gail thinking all sorts of naughty, hot naughty things. Then he turns around, hot from front to back, but NOT happy to see her. What can Gail do, so has a flat and needs a little assistance.
He has been around this cabin his whole life. When he makes it his and builds on it, it was everything he needed and wanted. Although for some reason today poor Blaze’s body won’t let him have a moment of peace. He decides that he will take out his frustration on chopping wood. He has a very definite feeling someone is behind him, the last time it was a huge bear, so Blaze slowly turns around, only to find his instinct is right but this ain’t no bear. She is gorgeous.
Blaze snaps at her, asking what she is doing on his property. Gail asks to use a phone, and tells him she has a flat. Then there is little time for much else to be said because the storm overtakes them. He offers her to come in and get shelter from that storm. He sees all she has is a backpack, and he also knows that she is going to be there for a few days. There is a spark between them from the time the locked eyes. He knows it, she knows it, but neither of them is willing to move first….until Blaze does. He asks her name and then proceeds to show her the cabin. He is expecting to be insulted or smirked at about it, but she takes it in as if she is in a palace. Then he teases her, he knows it gets to her, but he does it to get her reaction. Things get said and she turns to leave. He beats her to the door, and he gives his name…..and now the real games begin between these two.
Blaze makes dinner, Gail eats and does what she can to help, now the banter and charge between them hits the breaking point. They are both so stubborn and that only makes them getting together hotter. As the rain keeps going, so do they. Both do not want to face the facts that there is a day the rain and storm will be over. Blaze can only think of THEIR life here together, where did that come from? He has not put much time into thinking about a woman in the forever sense, until Gail….and he allows the feelings to surface and acts upon them. Gail is still way too stubborn to allow herself to feel that far in advance. Oh, she definitely wants it, but pushes it aside a lot because that kind of thing doesn’t happen that this, right?!
Then it is the dreaded day of no rain and sun shining. They go to find her car, she changes the tire (not allowing Blaze to help her at all) and he tries to tell her to stay and really lays his heart on the line. She still leaves. But this is not their end at all, you see Blaze knows stubborn, and he is just as stubborn as Gail is. He will get her back, that is after his initial shock of her actually leaving kicks his butt into gear that is. Gail gets to the bottom of the mountain she was on, and she is pulled back to Blaze, so she turns around and heads right back up there. She finds him all but in the same spot she left him, only he has a backpack and is hiking down that same mountain. He was going to hike and find her. So this is where they meet in the middle….both opening up and both allowing their feelings show and act on those feelings. They have a happy ever after that is better than fantastic.
Characters = 4/5
Plot = 4/5
Romance = 4/5
Mystery = 0/5
Action = 1/5
Darkness = 0/5
Humor = 1/5
Stars = 4
Would I recommend this book = Yes
Would I read future books by this author = Yes
Loved the plot. Damsel in distress/mountain man.
Characters were great for the most part.
• Loved Blaze. Protective, sweet, and loving.
• I did like the independent side of Gail but hated her for a second when she fled.
The spice between the two is super hot. Their connection is fantastic.
Well deserved HEA.
Loved it
Gail is living a Gypsy life style, living out of her SUV and travelling wherever take her. A flat tire and a lost shim for her jack has her stranded on a remote Idaho mountain pass. A hike to the next town leads her to a fantasy brought to life. A smoken hot honest to god mountain man, splitting logs with an ax.
Blaze, (father was a fireman), has been living off the grid for the last few years. Tired of the 9-5 rat race, the noise, the crowds, he need a change. He now makes his home in the remote Idaho mountains in the home stead his great grandfather built.
A storm has Blaze giving shelter to the prickly Gail. In Gail he finds his soul mate. Now he just has to convince her, that the home she has been looking for is with him.
A sweet and steamy love story, with a even sweeter epilogue. Loved Blaze and his Star Wars relationship comparisons.
Arc review For honest review. Gail lives in her car and blaze lives in the woods both know how to survive together they will make a home .I really loved these characters and how the story was written.
Rocklyn Ryder had proven herself as a one click author from the very first story, this one is no exception. It is full of well defined, well rounded characters, amazing chemistry, detailed plots, amazing adventure and a hot alpha male who will redefine lumberjack for any reader.
This is the story of Gail and Blaze (name appropriate), and how they become lost in the burning flames of their new love. Gail is a 23 year old woman who is at the same time lost and searching. She is a strong independent woman who needs a little help when her SUV get a flat tire. She hikes for a while only to stumble upon a “real life” lumberjack (using an axe and everything!). Blaze is a man who needs and craves the solitude that he received from living on a mountain. He enjoys the quiet and the simple life, he secretly wants a woman and family but believes that there is not a woman alive that would like to share his life, simple and off the grid as it may be.
The chemistry between them is off the charts and immediate (I really would not expect anything else from Ryder). Gail just wants help and to move on, Blaze is unsure of the woman and what to do with her. Their give and take, tug and pull are what make this story amazing and hot. I loved the interactions between the characters and the twists and turns in this plot. The sassiness and the gruff alpha-ness of this story make it close to perfect.
Any reader will be thrilled to read this story and get lost in the characters and the scenery. The writing is great and the adventure is fun and exciting. I cannot tell you enough how much I enjoyed this story and I am sure that any reader will as well. Take a chance if you are new to Ryder or one-click if you have read her before, either way you will not be disappointed and will have an amazing fun read for the next few hours.