Slick sports agent Griffin Steele is living the highlife in Los Angeles, far from the shadow of the North Carolina mountains where he grew up. But when his hometown falls on hard times and needs his help, Grif reluctantly agrees to commute between coasts. He never expects the lush scenery, in the form of pretty tomboy Carlie Beth Parrish, to be such a temptation. After an impetuous one-night … one-night stand with Grif Steele fifteen years ago, hardworking blacksmith Carlie Beth has tried to make a living and raise her daughter in the hometown she loves. Then, too-sexy-for-his-Rolex Grif blows back into town like the perfect storm, making Carlie feel less like a thirty-something mom and more like an infatuated teenager.
When a stalker targets his hometown and Grif suspects Carlie Beth might be the next victim, he can’t help but step in to protect her. But once he discovers the fourteen-year-old secret she’s been keeping from him, will he embrace the truth or will he turn his back on Steele Ridge and Carlie Beth forever?
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Kelsey Browning’s books always transport me to a rich world of amazing characters, passionate moments, southern charm, and hilarious interchanges. Going HARD has all this and more. Grif Steele is like a magnet. You can’t help but be drawn to him, again and again and again.
You’re going to love the Steele brothers and the combination of small town romance and bite your nails suspense. Kelsey leaves you guessing until the very end!
Well, this wasn’t what I was expecting. And I mean that in a good way. While this is, for the most part, a second chance type story, there are several of twists and turns. That’s the part I didn’t expect.
The Steele brothers are back in town. Heck, the Baby Billionaire has bought the whole darn town and named his brother, Grif, as the city manager. Now, Grif has to decide how he’s going to keep his LA business as a top sports agent going while getting Steele Ridge’s economy back on track. Yeah, when the billionaire brother bought Canyon Ridge he insisted on the name change as part of the deal. All of the brothers are involved in the project. There’s just one thing. Someone is trying to stop them.
In the midst of this, Grif reconnects with Carlie Beth only to find out she’s been keeping secrets. Actually, just one BIG secret. He’s not sure how he’s going to handle it, but he knows he doesn’t have a choice. But could Carlie be behind some of the trouble they’re having in the town? Can Carlie trust Grif? He’s got a past that’s he’s not too open about. Just when they’re getting some answers things turn deadly. Literally….
Less sexual explicitness would have actually made the book better. A little is good, a lot is not and detracts from the story line.
Loved the entire series. Couldn’t put it down from book to book.
Steamy romance! Maybe the best loves start out early! You will love this family’s journey as they find true romance!
Great story with great characters
Full of everything I love in a romantic suspense and more. The main characters, Griff and Carlie Beth, are opposites on the surface which brings a dynamic to their relationship that is written so well as they are both strong and independent. The suspense is non-stop and will leave you guessing until the end until the end, which is why I give this book 5 stars. The romance is angsty (is that a word?) in the beginning and later a deep and supportive love… oh yeah, and can’t forget steamy!
Wow
This was wonderful. It’s good to read the forest book in the series so you can understand the dynamics of the family. But the story is wonderful. Grid is back & finds out he is a dad. Callie Beth has been raising her daughter alone. Now her dad is back. Can they make it work.
This is the first book of the series that I have read. Great suspense and romance. It keeps you guessing until the end. I look forward to reading more of this series.
enjoyed it a lot the characters were witty and I can’t wait to read the next one
I loved the Steel Ridge prequel so I was looking forward to reading the rest of this series. Going Hard did not disappoint.
When his hometown fell on hard times, Grif Steele wanted to help fix things. Well, his brothers actually talked him into it, so he agreed to commute from Los Angeles to North Carolina so that he could continue doing his job as a sports agent while also working with the town. As if doing all that wasn’t hard enough, he runs into Carlie Beth Parrish who he’d spent one night with just before he left town, 15 years earlier. There is still an incredible attraction between this pair. But should they act on them? Grif is only in town for a little while and Carlie Beth has a whopper of a secret. It’s worth reading this book to find out what they did.
I love the brothers. Well, all the characters actually. Even though Grif’s life and career were very successful and allowed him to get every material thing he wanted, his family was most important to him. I went back and forth in how I felt about Carlie Beth. For the most part, I liked her but I didn’t like some of the things she did. I laughed at the way the boys tormented each other and adored their mother.
If you like romantic suspense, this is the book for you. There’s a killer on the loose and someone was defacing town property. Add a smouldering romance and you’ve got a winner.
Carlie Beth has lived in Steele Ridge all her life. When she was nineteen she had a one night stand with Grif Steele. She got pregnant but never told anyone who the father was. Now fifteen years later Grif has returned after his brother buys Steele Ridge, changes its name, and makes him the city manager, a job he doesn’t want. He is a big sports agent back in L.A. and as soon as he finds a replacement he’s going back. Until he finds out he has a daughter. Now he wants to get to know his daughter and have a relationship with Carlie Beth. When two people are killed that are connected to Carlie Beth, Grif and his brothers try to figure out what’s going on. But someone vandalized Grif’s car and almost killed him, the family will do anything to protect their new family members. When their daughter is taken, they’ll do whatever it takes to get her back. Suspense. Funny. Sexy. Action packed that will have you turn the page until the very end. Great characters and a story that will pull in from the first page.
What a book!! The book had a cliff hanger that I didn’t expect. Very good read.
Did not hold my interest, didn’t finish it.
Great characters. Great writing and dialogue. I reread this book, because it was so interesting and well written.
This book was awesome, but too much sex.
As someone that typically does read mystery/romance books I really enjoyed the beginning of the Steele Ridge series.
Wanted to get the rest of the series! Definitely kept my interest.
Boring