Dear Jackson,I’m leaving you this note because I know you’re very busy and I don’t want to waste the town sheriff’s time. Lord knows I’ve already wasted enough of it.Thank you for taking me home last night and…everything else. I made you a basket of wild blueberry muffins for your trouble. That seemed like the appropriate baked good for getting naked in your living room.I wasn’t myself last … room.
I wasn’t myself last night. I didn’t mean to kiss you or fondle your backside or ask all those intimate questions. Thank you for pretending to enjoy it.
It was very noble of you to sleep on the couch while I was starfished on your bed. I couldn’t help but notice it’s quite large. The bed, that is. I swear, I didn’t notice anything else when I let myself out this morning.
As you know, Talbott’s Cove is a ridiculously small town and there’s no chance we can avoid each other. Not that I’d want to avoid you, of course, but I’m not sure I can look at you without thinking of the forty different ways I made a fool of myself.
Instead of avoidance, let’s try to be friends. We’ll forget all about last night…if that’s what you want.
Please burn this note after you read it—
Annette
p.s. I whipped up some cinnamon buns, too. Please enjoy them. I’m not sure why, but I couldn’t get buns out of my mind today.
more
Swoony, romantic, funny,
I don’t think I could possibly love this story, these characters more. Hard Pressed is swoony, romantic, funny, and managed to tug at my heartstrings! It is the second book in the Talbott’s Cove series, but a standalone story.
Jackson is the strong, silent type, Alpha without being an jerk about it. He gives Annette time and space to get her head in the right place, but still stays close enough so that she cant help but know he is all in.
“Her eyebrow arched up. “My baking isn’t intended to turn you on.” I gave her a quick shake of my head. “Neither are your ankles, beautiful. You just can’t help it.”
Annette is a bit of a hot mess. A quirky heroine who doesn’t quite know her own worth or strength. She grew up in the shadow of her mom and sisters and they were happy to keep her there.
“I’d spent the past few nights reliving every moment of Annette up against the refrigerator. God damn, I needed to get her on a bed. Kitchen appliances were the wrong surface for worshipping quirky women.”
I was pulled right in to the story with sexy banter, magnetic chemistry and some really funny scenes. Every page, every word just soothed me and made me fall in love with Jackson and Annette (AND BROOKE!!!) I absolutely love this series and really hope for more visits to Talbott’s Cove!!
-6Stars-
-Diane-
SWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON! Sheriff Jackson Lau knows what he wants and he wants bookseller Annette Cortassi. When these two come together the attraction is instant! Kate Canterbary delivers wonderful characters that are real and flawed and loveable. Her way of drawing the reader into the characters as well as their environment ends up delivering a book that you want to read over and over. I can’t wait to learn more about the residents of Talbots Cove!
Have you ever wanted someone to see you on your worst day and still want you and all of your baggage? Have you ever wanted someone to tell you they’ve been attracted to you since the first time they met you?
That man is Jackson Lau. The new sheriff of Talbott’s Cove was looking for a place to belong and make a difference. He never expected to be entranced by the alluring bookstore mistress.
Left reeling after witnessing the person she thought was her destiny kiss another man, in the middle of her bookstore, no less, Annette finds herself questioning everything. Feeling as though she doesn’t belong in her own family, Annette likes her life, for the most part.
I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one since we briefly met Annette in Fresh Catch. I felt like she was my soul sister and I was experiencing everything with her. And Jackson, oh my lord. This man is probably one of the swooniest, alpha men I have read in a long time (likely since the last Walsh book). His quiet yet firm ways were a definite turn on.
My attention was captivated from the first page until the end. As with the rest of this author’s stories, I was in a hurry to get to the heart of the story but not for it to end.
Do yourself a favor and get this book! This one is one of my top reads for the year! I am anxiously (and not so patiently) waiting for her next one. I will definitely recommend it to my friends.
What an incredible book!! Flowing with clever dialogue, off the chart sexual chemistry & wonderful characters, this is a must read!
After Annette is introduced to the boyfriend of the man she hoped to share a future with, she takes to the local bar to drown her sorrows & Sheriff Jackson Lau is called in to escort her home. This is no hardship for Jackson who’s totally smitten with the pretty bookstore owner & it’s all he can do to resist her charms, especially when she strips naked in his living room. Steamy almost refrigerator sex, drunken regrets and many baked goods follow, resulting in Jackson wanting to build a relationship and Annette retreating, afraid of getting too involved.
This story made me want to visit Maine, to walk the streets of Talbott Cove and interact with these characters. Jackson is one sexy, dirty talking sweetheart of a man and Annette is just the right combination of quirky & adorable- I can relate to her love of The Great British Bake Off. And crazy bff Brook, with her hilarious texts & fierce devotion, so deserves her own book. Hard Pressed is part of a loosely connected series but can absolutely be read as a stand-alone.
Kate Canterbury is a master at her craft! There’s no other way to describe her exquisite talent for weaving words together that make you feel so hard, fall so fast, and love so much. She makes her characters relatable, the storylines are engaging and her pace and prose are perfectly timed. Once you dive in, you won’t want to stop until the last page is read. And believe me, you’re going to want to devour Hard Pressed.
Jackson Lau is one of the dreamiest heroes to date! His confidence and conviction were enough to make any girl weak in the knees; how Annette was able to stay upright when around him is beyond me. It’s doesn’t matter though, if she had fallen, Jackson would’ve been there to catch her. I loved his patience and understanding; it was exactly what Annette needed. Her growth & resiliency were beautiful to behold and I was beyond thrilled when she finally accepted the happily ever after that she truly deserved.
Once again Kate Canterbary delivers another five-star book that just reinforces to me – yet again- that she is the most intelligent, witty, sophisticated romance writer out there. Hard Pressed is beautifully written story set in the fiction town of Talbott’s Cove, which we first visited in the equally awesome book Fresh Catch and meet Annette, the owner of the local bookstore and baker extraordinaire. She catches the eye of the new Sheriff Jackson Lau and what follows is intricately woven story (filled with sass, witter banter and super hot sexy times) of two real and relatable people finding that spark and getting their happily ever after.
What I love is that there isn’t serious angst or drama. Jackson isn’t some damage jaded cop from the big smoke who is running away to a small town to escape from his demons and Annette isn’t some fragile damage female in need of a white knight to make her whole. The characters are not perfect though and this isn’t an insta-love story. They have their struggles and they feel real and relatable.
Of course the Laydee Writer checks all my usual boxes for a five star read: great love story, plenty of detail, laugh-out-loud humor, trademark Laydee Writer banter, a swoon-worthy guy, a sassy female (helped in part by her super awesome BFF who I hope will get her own book), and super hot sexy times. What more could you want?
So, in summary, another fantastic book from my favourite writer on this planet and I cannot wait for what she comes up with next
I have so much love for Jackson and Annette!! Jackson is the new sheriff in the town of Tallbott’s Cove and he is all kinds of swoony and sexy. He’s had his eye on Annette since he got into town but Annette was busy pining after the local lobsterman (if you haven’t read Fresh Catch one-click now!!). Kate Canterbary has such a way with all the words. I felt like I was right there in that town watching these two banter back and forth, and I was swooning when Jackson pulled out all the stops to win the girl. So many feels, so many laugh out loud moments and let’s not forget Kate’s ability to write the steamy sexy times *fans self*. Highly recommend this book!!
One of the many, many things I love about Kate is that she doesn’t give us readers books just because we demand them. She puts her heart in soul in every page and that takes time, that takes effort and it takes lady balls not to kowtow to the demand of the readers. She takes time, she makes sure that her words are meaningful and steamy and laugh out loud funny. Hard Pressed is just another stellar example of the brilliance that is Kate’s stories. Hard Pressed gives us another, deeper look into Talbot’s Cove. It’s small town life, it’s quirky townsfolk and how it adapts to the world around it. This is the story of two of the Cove’s habitants. Jackson the newest member of the town and also the sheriff and Annette, a life long member. I really related to Annette, I swear when I was reading, I was astonished at the things she said and did! I could so relate and empathize with her. To carry such a torch for something she knew deep down she couldn’t have but thought what she deserved. Her career, her dysfunctional family dynamic really called out to me! (Even her clunky little WordPress blog…ah hello, right here!) Jackson, oh my me…Kate really knows how to make growly, swoony, real heros! With just the right touch of alpha but also the sense to know not to step all over their intended woman and hold them down, but to raise them up. I admire the way that Kate creates characters with such dyversity, no stereotypical, homogenized characters that get so overused. She comes at you with freshness and realism and that is just another of the many, many things I admire about her! Finally, before I go into a full out sermon of Kate’s fantastic talents and bore you, I have to say that she has the best smart, fantastically funny humor in her books! From the townspeople, to the main characters, there are truly laugh out loud moments! I almost felt like I was in a “Gilmore Girls” episode! And I flove Gilmore Girls! Thank you for your words Kate! You take your time to make sure that your words are epic! I appreciate that! I think all of your fans do! I will wait patiently for your next book!
LOVE! Let’s be honest, I say that about all of Kate’s books. This author is the best at packing in tons of detail and to make you feel like this is a real place, these are real people and that you want to be there.
Now, Jackson and Annie. Omg, what can I say about them other than I love them! Jackson is just the right amount of authority, duh he is the sherriff, and Annie is just the right about of sassy and sweet. Apparently the way to a mans heart is through your ankles, who knew.
Give this book a shot and be immersed in a quiet little coastal Maine town with the hottest sheriff and cutest curvy baker/little book store owner ever. You wont be disappointed, Kate never disappoints.
This book exemplifies the rocky path to finding yourself AND finding that person who loves you.
Annette, bookstore owner and baker – is a refreshing, flawed soul who loved a man that would never hers. She had a great personality filled with laughter, a little self-doubt, and love to give. She was a woman who I want to be friends with. Her BFF Brooke reminds her of how kick ass she is! She and Annette have a no hold bared relationship and I love that they build each other up! Sheriff Jackson Lau is SWOONIEST Kate guy (Don’t worry Nick, you’ll always be number one!) He’s just good. Can we talk about food, too?
What I love about this book Annette and Jackson are flawed. They aren’t perfect nor do we want them to be. They have this buzz around them that explodes, it gets messy. But they fight, they laugh, they cry yet though don’t let go. They hold on. That’s what a relationship is. It just solidifies Kate’s words.
Another book means more characters to fall in love with, thanks Writer Lady!
Once again Kate Canterbary gives us wonderfully likeable characters and a storyline that is lighthearted, romantic and sexy.
Take one big city cop turned small town sheriff, Jackson Lau and book store owner and talented baker, Annette Cortassi. Add in a meddling, comical best friend and a small town that thrives on gossip. You’ve got the perfect recipe for a delightful romantic
Jackson is enamored of Annette, her cute summer dresses and her “hot” ankles. Annette is reeling after discovering that the man of her fantasies is involved in a relationship,with another man, no less. Jackson pursues Annette with dogged determination and while they can’t keep their hands off each other, Annette is reticent to open her heart and trust her feelings. Their relationship plays out amidst family drama and the watchful small town residents
I’m a HUGE fan of Kate Canterbary. So, when we found out that we were going back to Talbott’s Cove and get Annette and Jackson’s story, I was over the moon excited. Once again Kate hits it out of the park with this book.
Annette is the local book store owner and the town sweetheart. She is loved by her community and her friends but misunderstood by her family. She struggles with learning to accept love. She’s a character that I think many people will be able to relate to. Not only did she teach herself how to be a local business owner but she also taught herself how to bake. After this book I want to go watch The Great British Bake-Off and eat my weight in baked goods. Or just show up to Talbott’s Cove and eat some of what Annette baked in this book. This character is one of my favorites that this author has written. She’s strong but vulnerable. She is kind and loyal. She is definitely someone I want as a friend.
Jackson is the new town sheriff. He hasn’t lived in town long and is trying to make his place in this community. Jackson is one of THE SWOONIEST characters that I have ever read. I will gladly let him protect me anytime. He is dedicated, loyal, protective, and kind. He is definitely an alpha male, but has such a sweet side to him that you can’t help but fall in love with him. The sexy times are hot! The banter is great. He is just an all round great, swoony guy!
I would be remiss if I did not mention Annette’s best friend Brooke. As secondary characters go she is one of the BEST. Brooke is brash and hilarious. The text messages between the two are priceless. Brooke is the BFF I want in my life. I REALLY hope she gets her own book someday.
I cannot recommend this book enough. It is a stand alone and no cliffhangers. You will fall in love with this community and want to move to Talbott’s Cove. This author has such a way of not only telling us a story, but drawing us into their world, where we just want to set up permanent residence. This is one of those book that I wish was a million pages, because I don’t want to leave this community or the people. Giving this book 5 stars is not enough. You NEED this book and this author in your life!
I’ve been a Canterbary fan for some time now. Each and every book Ms. Canterbary releases somehow tops the last one. I didn’t realize a book could get so good.
If you happen to be new to Ms. Canterbary’s work, please note that this book will have you swooning hard! That Sheriff Jackson Lau is one hunk of a man. He knows what (ahem who) he wants and won’t stop until he makes Annette his.
Annette is the strong willed – yet flawed – female character I’ve come to love from Ms. Canterbary. She knows how to perfectly package her characters to make them relatable.
Speaking of relatable, wait until you meet Annette’s best friend Brooke! She was one spitfire I hope we get to meet again.
In closing and to summarize this review: Bravo, Kate, you’ve given us another masterpiece! This books has all the feels, and will leave you wanting to stream the great British bake-off and wanting a damn blueberry muffin at the same time!
Get swept away by the enchanting small town love story of Jackson and Annette. I sure did! I loved this adorably quirky heroine. And Jackson – I think at one point I actually growled in his direction. His swoon worthy protectiveness, kindness and sense of humor make him the best kind of book boyfriend. Annette is the town sweetheart and is definitely the girl you want to share a glass of wine and some girl talk with!
Annette’s best friend, Brooke, is a scene stealer who I instantly fell in love with.
This is the perfect summer read for your book club!
Kate Canterbary once again delivers a flirty, fun and witty story that will wow readers. Hard Pressed is set in Talbott’s cove and is a small-town romance that will make you fall in love with not only the quaint town, but the amazing people you will meet. Canterbary has a knack for developing the most unique characters and Hard Pressed introduced some seriously memorable ones! Sheriff Jackson Lau is deliciously delectable so prepare to add him immediately to your book boyfriend list because this man is all that and a bag of homemade donuts prepared lovingly by Annette Cortassi! Jackson is the perfect man….He’s protective, trustworthy, persistent, hard working, honest, romantic and, of course sexy as sin. In a word, he’s magnetic. Annette is the town sweetheart….she’s generous, caring, friendly and unassuming. Getting over a non-relationship, she didn’t see Jackson coming. I loved watching Jackson court the beautiful Annette and I loved seeing her flourish and grow under his watchful eye. Their relationship is pure fun! And deliciously hot! There’s so much sexiness that readers will wish they had their very own Jackson in their lives! Seriously…..Jackson will make you swoon HARD! And I mustn’t forget to mention Brooke, Annette’s best friend. She is an absolute hoot and I really hope she gets her own book in the near future. She is a force to be reckoned with and I loved her hilarious dialogue with Annette. It was pure, unadulterated FUN!
Canterbary delivers in spades with Hard Pressed. Fans new and old will relish the personal touches she adds to this story. From clever chapter titles to the finer details on each and every page, she wields her pen with a deftness that will enthrall readers from the start. While Hard Pressed is a complete standalone, there are some references to Fresh Catch which is the first book set in Talbott’s Cove. If you haven’t already read it, be sure to add it to your TBR because it’s also phenomenal!
Once again the author has created a couple that you can’t help but fall in love with. This ever growing world of hot growly guys, salty sassy ladies, alcohol fueled bad decisions that lead to really good stuff in the end, and delicious tasty treats to make your inner foodie salivate, just got even more amazing. I’m always fascinated with how the author is so good at character development that it makes me wish that these characters were real.
This book stars the lovely heroine, Annette, who intrigued us (the loyal fans of Writer Lady) back in Fresh Catch. From the minute we met Annette we knew we wanted her to have her own story and boy did the author deliver. Annette doesn’t need a man messing with her head, she does that plenty on her own, so when the new swoony sheriff expresses his desire for her, she doubts all of it. As always, you’ll experience all the feels from the laugh out loud moments; to the witty banter; to the sexy times; to the those moments that will tug on your heart strings, and to that one moment where you connect and relate with the one of the main characters and you can’t help but stop and say “oh”.
Jackson will cause swooning for all – be warned. Annette is fun and strong and everything we have come to love about Kate Canterbary heroines. Here best friend , Brooke, also great and creates some great banter moments.
Loved it.
This is romance.
This is what I want to experience when I pick up my iPad and reach for my next read to get lost in. Kate Canterbary is one of those authors that reaches into my hearts and unicorn loving heart and ticks off every necessary box I need.
Jackson and Annette are destined for each other. And if they aren’t? Jackson is going to make damn sure they are. Well, Annette…poor Annette she wants to protect her poor battered heart. But her panties seem to fly off every time the HAWT sheriff graces the doorway. But they more than the sum of single sheriff hooking up with the single bookseller. It’s about finding the one that ticks all your boxes and then some. Ms Canterbary again delivers accessible characters you can’t help but root for their HEA. But let’s discuss the elephant in the room.
Brooke.
I seriously had to re-write this review because I have a serious case of girl crushing. She is my book BBF-separted-at-birth-spirit-animal. Most of my friends will see the tell-it-like-it-is-don’t-care-who-is-listening. So here is my plea: Brooke needs a book. The. End.
If you are new to Kate Canterbary’s work, this is a fabulous introduction to her talent as a storywriter. Although, the story is set in the Talbott’s Cove world, readers will not need to read Fresh Catch (but why would you do that?). Kate spins the story with bringing the reader up to speed and into the story flawlessly. Are you already a fan? Because seriously you should be. You are absolutely going to fall for this pair. 5 out of 5 pastry heaven stars.
Anyone else want All The Recipes? NO, just me? 🙂
Brief flashes to Fresh Catch, this book does stand alone.
Annette. She’s lovely, and conflicted, and…beautiful. Jackson – oh, yes. Holy hotness.
These two come together thru conflict, and it’s real. And there’s a beautiful job of exposing what family can do, even to the best of us, with their intentions and assumptions. And what the right person can bring out in your soul.
Go forth and read this.
Jackson and Annette are wonderful!
Jackson has admired and had a few shall we say naughty thoughts including the local bookstore owner over the past few months. When he is near her the need to touch is overwhelming so that is why he does his best to avoid the oh so lovely temptress . Annette is sweet, quirky, sexy and does not realize it and always taking care of others . She has pined after local fisherman Owen for years and now to find out she was so not his type ….he prefers the male gender…she is devastated . Jackson has never caught her eye he wasn’t even on her radar , that was filled with only Owen. One night filled with way tooo much adult refreshment and a inn keeper that feels the need to call the lady an escort home Sheriff Jackson has no choice but come to Annette’s rescue and she sleeps it off at his house . She is drunk so funny , so cute and he wants …wants her way too much. This is now the beginning of the awkward sweet funny banter to begin! Jackson is such a fabulous alpha male, sheriff , subtle but so sexy, and caring he wants to care for Annie . I loved their journey!!!!
~~Michele McMullen ~~