The remote woods of Oregon.A desperate young woman.And a mean-tempered recluse. Standing alone in the middle of the Oregon woods, Alessia Conners was officially out of options.With no money, no family, and no friends to turn to Alessia has little hope of escaping the predator in her home without doing something–drastic. All she wanted was a safe place to call home. With a tent and some camping … call home. With a tent and some camping gear, she is determined to find refuge and a new start to life in the peaceful woods of Oregon.
There was something in his woods, something that didn’t belong.
Jax Beranek is a rugged, mean recluse whose powerful presence and sharp tongue hide a damaged man who has given up on the world. He is a man that doesn’t need or want anyone. He has his cabin, his peace and quiet, and above all else is solitude. So when he happens to find some young woman sorely unprepared and close to getting herself killed in his woods he gives her a hard but fair choice: leave with his aid or leave tied and gagged over his shoulder, but either way she was leaving his damn forest.
It was the pain though, that familiar soul-wrenching pain he recognized all too well inside the lonely, sad-eyed woman that struck at a cord of compassion he didn’t know he possessed.
But his help wouldn’t be free–he was going to put the little vagabond to work.
With her days filled with hard work, back and forth bickering and her nights filled with exhausted sleep in Jax’s safe, cozy cabin, Alessia could finally for the first time in months breathe easy and forget about the monster in her past.
If only the monster would forget about her.
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Contains some violence and lots of steamy adult themes
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This is a slow burn romance. They started out a sort of enemies. She was trespassing on his property, but he knew she was unsafe out in the woods alone, so took it upon himself to keep her safe. Even if she was driving him crazy with her smart mouth and stubbornness. His character is a bit of a hermit. Living on his own out in the woods. You can tell he has some secrets but they aren’t mentioned until near the end of the book. He character is on the run for her life. While she comes across as smart and level headed, it doesn’t take long to realize she is in over her head and totally out of her element. Both are good people. He may come across as stern, harsh at times, and dominate by nature, but we get to see he does have a heart and while he may try to deny it, he is trying to do the right thing by her, especially as his feelings for her grow. It is a slow burn, so most of the book is them getting to know each other (and not an intimate relationship,) so there are no real up and downs within the relationship… no big break ups and grand gestures. Yes they had some rocky moments though. It wasn’t smooth sailing. There is a little angst (from both ends.) There is also some violence… not entirely played out, but is mentioned so you can guess what happened. There is also mention of sexual abuse. There is some sexual content (only a couple scenes and also near the end of the story.) It’s got an endearing quality about it. There aren’t many laughs, but there are a few thrown in here and there between the characters and their bantering. It’s an interesting story and keeps your attention. There are a few moments of ‘thriller’ like essence when certain incidents happen to give the story some action. While not a comedy, it’s isn’t an emotional read. No Kleenexes were needed.
*I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.
I love all Katerina Winters heroes. They become very devoted and possessive of their women and will do anything to keep them happy and safe.
Who knew that there was such a thing as in insta-love-slow-burn romance!? That is exactly what Katerina Winters delivers with this mountain man romance!
Alessia is on the run from her past and finds herself in, what she thinks, a unclaimed wooded area in Oregon. One day, she leaves her campsite to returns to a large burly man lurking around. Scared, she tries to flee but ends up cornered by the rugged stranger.
He tells her that she’s camping in his woods and that it is not safe for her to be out there alone. Because of the upcoming storms, he offers Alessia to crash at his place until he can drive her somewhere far, far away from him. She’s left with no choice but to go with him to his cabin.
Little did Jax know, Alessia isn’t someone he can’t let go. It interferes with his life of solitude. Solitude – the very thing he has worked hard to achieve in this small Oregon town. But there is something about Alessia that is so broken and it speaks to all his broken pieces.
The romantic relationship was so spot on! There was instant attraction between Jax and Alessia. I loved their almost taboo relationship. There is a bit of age gap and a play on the forced proximity trope. And to top it all off, they chose to deny their feelings for one another which makes this a deliciously slow-burn. The steam level gets pretty high when these two finally give in.
The plot, however, was a little too predictable for my tastes. I knew immediately that a certain something was going to happen. Also, the ending was a bit abrupt as well.
Overall, I really enjoyed my first book by Katerina Winters. Thanks so much to her and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Loved the book it was great, the story was well written and the characters are interesting. Once I started I could not put the book down from start to finish you just could not get enough left you wanting more twists and turns with emotions that makes you want more with lust and hot and steamy like a rollercoaster ride of emotions that Alessia and Jax. Alessia just wants safe and happy goes into the woods camping to live. Jax lives in his cabin in the woods.
Thank you for allowing me to review your book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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Unputdownable. This feel good read will have you falling in love. I never cared for mountain men romance however after reading this I think I’m swayed. I give this book 5 stars.
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Jax is the sweetest man who is a reclusive in the woods. He saved Alessia and took her in when she had nowhere to go. Not the best person to live with, a little rough around the edges but the perfect gentleman. He is sometimes grouchy, dominant and protective. And did I mention, hes very handy with his hands.
Alessia needed protecting but she was no damsel. I usually find this trait to be outdated and annoying but I really liked her character. She lived a tough childhood and is on the run from her issues. She wanted to give up at times but she still had hope. She opened her heart to kindness and showed kindness in return.
Their relationship was a slow burn but they grew on each other. I loved their comfortable friendship turnt relationship. The chemistry was everything I expected and more. They were two pieces of a puzzle that fit seamlessly. I loved reading every bit of their romance.
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I have a soft spot for black cats. Whiskers was everything. It hurts my heart that people abandon and are cruel to animals but he found his forever home. Adored all of his scenes.
Katerina Winters books always give me the feels. I loved the premise from reading the synopsis and this book did not disappoint.
Beautifully written with themes of hurt and comfort, and a surprising dark turn of events near the end of the book. I give this book 5 stars and would recommend it to all romance readers. If you want to read a romance fiction that puts your faith back into love and romance, this is a beautiful story with a real and heartwarming romance between two normal, down to earth people.
This was my first book by Katerina Winters and I absolutely loved it. Once I started it, I could not put it down. Not only is this a fantastic contemporary romance read but it also takes the reader on a angsty suspense filled journey. I absolutely loved rugged mountain man Jax. The sexy loner lives alone in a secluded cabin in the middle of nowhere. He loves his solitary existence and does not tolerate human interaction. Alessia is young, beautiful and resourceful. She is on the run, trying to escape a dangerous situation and finds herself on Jax’s radar. When Jax stumbles across her camping out on his land he saves her from the elements and her own stupidity. Recognizing that she is alone and desperate, he offers her shelter in exchange for some help around his cabin. Unbeknownst to her he is ex military and is prepared to protect her at all costs and protect her he does. A nail biting ending will leave you on the edge of your seat as will their much deserved happily ever after. TBR this great book and enjoy. (I received an ARC via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review).
**I received a copy of At All Cost from Net Galley and the author in exchange for a voluntary and honest review. My opinion wasn’t solicited in any way.**
At All Cost by Katerina Winters is an author I haven’t read before and because the description intrigued me. However, I agree with other reviews the abrupt ending left me with a lot of questions because of this. I loved the strong alpha with his protective instincts and when he was cuddling Whiskers the cat melted my heart. Give me a slow burn on the romance any day as the couple then learns more about each other instead of heading straight towards love. Alessia’s mom left me with very bad opinion of her which includes her boyfriend Gary and his treatment of Alessia.
Alessia is on the run from her mother’s boyfriend and when she decides to rough it for the winter in the Oregon Coast mountains little does she know that Jax will be her rescuer when the winter rain storm happens. (Trust me I lived on the WA coast and know how these storms are). But when Jax offers her shelter in exchange for helping him with finishing the house. But will she always be looking over her shoulder for Gary to take her back to Yakima? Or can she stay and make a life in Gaulding, Oregon without fear?
Jax Beranak came to Gaulding after serving in the military for almost 10 years but after losing both parents while on duty his escape to the Oregon Coast to live off the grid was what he needed. When he sees Alessia in the woods it will mean a change for both of them. When danger is found tracking her he’ll do whatever necessary to keep her safe.
This is a slow burn romance about wo broken souls who finds the one that heals them in one another
Alessia was molested by her mothers boyfriend so she took his car and went on the run she isn’t running anymore she is camping in the forest what she doesn’t know is that the land belongs to Jax. He isn’t happy to find a trespasser on his land but he knows she needs help and it is too cold for to be out there so he offers her shelter in return for her work. These two start of hating one another but passion soon flares Do they have a future together You will have to read to see
I enjoyed every written word of this book. The author gave us well developed and engaging characters that have plenty of chemistry. The storyline flowed smoothly making for a great read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
At All Cost: A Mountain Man Romance by Katerina Winters is the story of Jax Beranek and Alessia Conners. Alessia is on the run from her past that threatens to find her. So she plans to get off the grid by camping in a small town. But that town has a man named Jax that prefers to live alone and only goes to town when he has too. But this time his trip into town he spots Alessia there. Jax tries to keep his emotions in tack because something about her brings out feelings in him. When he finds her camping on his property he tries to get her to leave but ends up taking her home where they slowly build a weird friendship that starts to mean more.
Enjoyed their story and couldn’t put it down.
Told in dual POV, this is a slow burn romance that has mild steam. Jax is ex-military trying to escape civilization. Alessia is trying to escape one man. I loved both characters and enjoyed following their emotional growth with each other. There is an element of darkness that adds to the tension of the story. There is a rather bloodthirsty end which I liked since it is not the norm. My first book by this author and am interested to reading more!
I received a copy from Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.
When Alessia ran from home the last time, she knew that she couldn’t go to a shelter and decided that she needed to go one step further, almost completely off the grid. Thinking a tent in the woods, in practically the middle of nowhere, was the answer. Alessia has high hopes for this to work, her life depends on it.
When Jax realizes that there is a stranger on his land he is understandably angry. When he realizes just who is on his land, he feels like he can’t just turn her away. Offering her a place to stay in exchange for work, Jax is determined to make sure she earns her keep. This works for awhile but when he realizes that he is starting to look at her differently, and have feelings, will the anger that he has at himself end up driving Alessia away?
WOW! This read kept me hooked from the first page. I loved everything about this, the subtle increase of awareness and chemistry was a tangible thing. I don’t know why I like mountain men stories but this was an amazing one. I do wish there was a little more from the ending, but I have never denied being greedy! I give this 4.5 stars.
Probably not a good idea to hang out in a frozen forest, but when you’re trying to get away from a dangerous situation, you do whatever it takes. A mountain man finding you and taking you back to his cabin may sound sexy, but it’s also scary as hell. Has she jumped from the frying pan into the fire? Her mountain man is rough and dangerous, but that’s because he’s chosen this life to be away from people. A sweet innocent girl like her might send him running. Can they come to an agreement to at least get along until she can get back to civilization and be safe? A good read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Jax is working on his house, trying to live a simple life off-grid. He has no room for relationships or b.s. Alessia is on the run from her mom’s boyfriend. She was molested, stole his car to get away, and Jax catches her camping on his property. It’s winter, and cold and stormy out, so he lets her stay in exchange for work. This in an incredible story, one that I couldn’t put down once I started reading. These two broken souls find a way to help each other out of their problems, and learn how to trust another person after being alone and lonely for so long. I love how patient Jax is with her, knowing that she’s trying her best. And it was so heartwarming so see their relationship develop beyond that slow sizzle just under the surface. This is my first read from this author, but it won’t be the last.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
At All Costs by Katerina Winters
A Mountain Man Romance
Jax sees her and is intrigued then rather dismayed to find her settling in on his property. He knows that will NOT do and has a plan to move her on her way…although…the plan does NOT work out as he thought it would. Nope, Alessia tugs at him…at a part of him he thought was frozen or perhaps destroyed by the anger that has been with him for so long. Alessia finds security when near Jax but also fears the brooding darkness that appears from time to time. She fears what she is running from more than Jax, though.
What I liked:
* Jax – a bit of a mystery all the way to the end. A good man who will do anything to keep those he cares for safe – a rather dark man but one I grew to admire and like.
* Alessia – definitely younger than Jax but wise in her own way – a survivor – someone who sees Jax as more than who he appears to be on the surface.
* The slow build
* The steamy bits when they kicked in
* The potential for the couple as they move forward together
What I did not like
* The bad guy – what an evil man he was
* Alessia’s mother – definitely unworthy of Alessia
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes
Thank you to the author who bequeathed me a copy of this ARC through NetGalley ~ This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
Katerina Winters is a new to me author, but when I saw this book took place in Oregon and had a burly mountain man I just knew I needed to read it. I devoured this book. I really couldn’t put it down. I loved Jax and all his broodiness. I loved Alessia for getting out of her situation, for trying to find a better life for herself.
This was a SLOW BURN and at times I found myself yelling at my kindle just telling them to give in to each other. The tension was so strong. I was getting frustrated with them! However, when they finally do give in the chemistry is explosive. Jax is a protector, despite Alessia trespassing on his land, he can’t help but feel the need to keep her safe.
I loved how their relationship progressed and how they both helped each other. Though, I wanted more when it came to the ending. I just felt like something was missing for me. Though, this book is still a must read and an emotional story. I will definitely be checking out more books from Katerina Winters in the future.
*Spoilers*
This book not only was this an emotional journey that focused on Alessia but how she is coping with it as she is developing feelings for Jax. While Jax has his set of problems, he loves that he finally has someone who has made his cabin welcoming. Although he did save Alessia from the wild, he starts to have feelings for her and at the same time is trying not to oversteps because of her triggers. Although Jax starts to have feelings for her, his behavior is misinterrupted by Alessia that she feels she has overstayed her welcome. This was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, this is a bit of a duo point of view, there is tension because she does not know if she is going to be discovered and be dragged back. As a reader, I enjoyed the journey the author has made me read, I thank her for the opportunity for reading this book early. You think that you know where the story is going but there are some PLOT TWIST, just enjoy the ride.
While I would love to give you more, I think that readers would want to find out what’s going to happen with this couple. I will tell you that this does have a HEA.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Jax and Alessia will have you glued to the pages of this story. Alessia has finally had enough of her dysfunctional family and left knowing that Gary would probably be on her tail soon. Jax noticed Alessia when she was sitting in the diner he never expected that she would take residence up in the woods around his home. Taking matters into his own hands, Jax abducts Alessia from the woods and places her into his home setting up the life altering changes for the both of them. They crave a longing that just maybe they can give to each other.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.