You can’t put the brakes on love… Ronnie Ashford needs a distraction. In the morning, she has to offer arrogant, conventional Jack Crews a job and convince him not to take it. She doesn’t need anyone’s help, thank you very much. But tonight is all about the tall, sexy stranger who just walked in the bar–and all the delicious trouble they could get into together. Too bad just as things are … things are heating up between them, he whispers the three little words that destroy everything: “I’m Jack Crews.”
Jack is determined to connect with fiery Ronnie–in bed and out of it–but her terms are clear. If he takes the job, helping her acquire prized artifacts for her mysterious bosses, anything between them is strictly off-limits. Somehow he has to convince a woman who’s never felt like she belonged that she’s found her place–with him. And with the danger sparking hotter than the fire between them, it’s going to be one unforgettable trip…
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**I Received a Free Copy in Exchange for an Honest Review**
Slow Ride is the new book in Lori Foster’s Road to Love series. The character’s are well written and the plot is simply brilliant. I have to say that this is one of my favorite new books written by Ms. Foster. If you are looking for a quick read that is simply page turning until the end then this is the one for you.
Love Lori Foster! Jack is the calm and polite brother of Mustang Transport Courier Service. Jack is a HOT alpha male who is protective of those he cares about and can be a total bad ass when the situation calls for it. Ronnie is sent to town by her employers to hire Jack as her driver when she is sent to purchase items for their collection. Ronnie knows the only person she can trust is herself, so she planned to offer the job to Jack and convince him not to take it. The chemistry between Jack and Ronnie is instant and explosive. Can Jack prove to Ronnie that she can trust him? Can Jack protect Ronnie when danger comes after her? Jack and Ronnie are great, but I really loved Jack’s family, the twins, and the fur babies, Howler and Peanut. This reader found Slow Ride entertaining from the beginning to the end. Slow Ride by Lori Foster is a fantastic read with drama, intrigue, danger, laughter, and passion. Lori Foster is a MUST read author for this reader. I would highly recommend getting Slow Ride by Lori Foster. I received an ARC of this book, and I am leaving my honest review.
This is a read you don’t want to miss! With a quote like, “Goddammit, why did he have to be so freaking awesome in so many ways? Why couldn’t he be a supreme dick or a sexist ass or…or at least not so good looking?” sets up a good conflict within the heroine. Ronnie is a woman who has been thrown some pretty hard curve balls, relying on herself and only herself, looking for a one-night stand but the sparks flew when Jack steps into and tries to protect her is something new for her. Jack is everything Ronnie didn’t know what to do with, and he knows he wants to get to know her better. Fun story with great chemistry between Jack and Ronnie with suspense that will keep you glued to the book! My favorite quote: “God, every kiss with Jack was a revelation, as if each time she learned what kissing should be…but had never been before.”
Ronnie Ashford is determined to do it all by herself. She retrieves the oddities her employers want to collect, and she thinks she does not need a man to take care of her. Her employers insist that they want to hire a driver for her. Her goal in life is to get Jack to turn down the work. But Jack is determined to get her to trust him, to care for him, in spite of (or because of?) her prickly attitude. Gradually she softens towards him and they are able to work as a team.
But someone is targeting Ronnie. She has had bad things happen to her, to the point that she doesn’t trust anyone, and she wonders why such bad things happen to her. Are the various problems related?
While Ronnie & Jack work through their problems, it gives Ms. Foster a chance to do what she does best – write about relationships. She shines when she describes family interactions. The situation is made more poignant fact by that often the “families” are not blood, but bound by other ties. Their relationships with family and pets make an enjoyable story.
I very much enjoyed this book. I read the first in the series but the story stands alone.
Strong heroine with a crazy past…..check
Incredibly compassionate hero who loves animals…..check
Crazy things that happen during courtship….check
Must be another amazing Lori Foster book! One can always count on some laughs, gasps, awwwws & love in her books! Another winner!
“Slow Ride” (Road to Love Book 2) by Lori Foster is a terrific read. This is a great follow up to “Driven to Distraction”. I loved Jack and Ronnie’s story. This is a fantastic addition to this series, packed with action, romance, passion, entertaining characters, humor, family, and more. I enjoyed getting to catch up with Brodie, Mary, Howler, Ros, and Charlotte. I’m anxious to read what happens next in the series in Charlotte’s story! Highly recommend to all fans of romance, action, and series.
Slow Ride sucks you in a keeps you turning the pages! After the second chapter I was hooked, I could not put this book down.
The chemistry between Jack & Ronnie is off the charts, I love the bickering and snark, it’s all part of the buildup to a great ending.
Ronnie is strong, independent and endearing.
Jack is protective, a little over the top at times and has to learn how to handle Ronnie so he doesn’t tick her off!
I loved their story and can’t wait for the next one.
This is the second book in the Road to Love series but can be read on it’s own. I’ve read both and highly recommend them.
I really enjoy when an author “flips the script” on us and takes what we, the readers, would typically think of as male characteristics and gives them to the heroine. You don’t see that too often in contemporary romance, but that’s just what Ms. Foster did with Ronnie in Slow Ride. She’s someone who’s more interested in scratching an itch, rather than getting involved with someone long term.
Ronnie gets more than she bargained for with Jack Crews, though, in both her personal and professional life. When things don’t go as she hoped professionally, she does her best to keep her distance personally. But with Jack, that’s kind of a lost cause, as he slowly breaks down the barriers she’s built around herself. He’s just as persistant and caring as his brother Brodie, and it would take someone far stronger than Ronnie, and she’s pretty damn strong, to resist everything he offers.
While things between Ronnie and Jack are heating up, so is the mystery of who and why someone is after her. I have to admit, I think I might have to steer clear of their little town, there’s just a bit too much craziness going on there! Where do these people come from that collect all these oddities, and why is someone else always after them?!? But it sure makes for an entertaining story!
I’m loving the Crew’s family. Jack, Brodie, and their mom Ros, along with Charlotte, sure know how to make someone feel cared for and loved. I can’t tell you how excited I am for Charlotte’s story- the little peek into the next book has definitely piqued my interest!
If you love stories with badass women, this is your series! Ronnie is one tough independent woman. Like all of Lori’s leading men, Jack is so ALPHA, protective but still romantic and sweet. He gives Ronnie the independence she needs but still protective! There is romance and suspense, what a great combination. If you enjoy reading Lori Foster’s book, this book will not disappoint. I can’t wait for the next book! Another great read, Lori!
– I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy.
I was hooked from the beginning of the story. I was so happy to get Jack’s story & it was wonderful. Even though this is book 2 in the series & is a stand alone book I am happy I read the first book in the series first. I enjoyed the sparks between Jack & Ronnie which started right away. Both are stubborn in different ways. I liked their personalities & how they get things done.
Strength and power are the underlying themes in Slow Ride. Jack uses his strength to protect; the bad guy uses his power to intimidate; and, Ronnie uses her strength and power to rise above her past and become a truly remarkable woman who has the talent and ability to save herself, but isn’t afraid to accept help when it’s offered.
I read an advanced copy of this book
Veronica (Ronnie) & Jack got off on the wrong foot. She tried to pick him up in the bar & everything was going fine until he said his name. Once she heard Jack Crews, the brakes were put on & they each went home hurting. Ronnie is in town to offer Jack a job & she only does one night stands. When he won’t turn down the job, she takes anything else off the table.
Jack is different than his brother. His personality is more groomed, cautious, & calm – until he meets Ronnie. He’s instantly intrigued. Everything Ronnie does to push him away, pulls him closer. His naturally protective streak is upset about the situations she finds herself in doing her job. He’s determined to hold on to her one way or another. He’s a good man to have in your corner when you’re threatened as Ronnie discovers.
I love this couple! Jack has a wide protective streak which causes Ronnie to bristle. She can take care of herself. Ronnie doesn’t trust anyone except maybe her bosses. She has a lot of affection for them. From the very beginning, you could sense the push/pull aspect of their relationship. Ronnie is trying to push Jack away while he’s trying to pull her closer. The addition of Howler & Peanut added some needed levity. The contradiction of their sizes but the depth of their affection was perfect! They stole the scene when they first met! I could easily picture the whole thing in my mind.
Ronnie Ashford has a strict rule about mixing business and pleasure, she doesn’t ever do anything to muddy the waters between her work and home life. But when she meets the man who is supposed to become her new partner, she begins to realize that rule of hers is going to be hard to abide by. Jack Crews is gorgeous, and being trapped in the confines of a car with him for long periods of time is going to be torturous!
She doesn’t think she needs any help finding and transporting the antiques her bosses want, but her bosses say otherwise. So they send Jack Crews to her doorstep, to be her driver and bodyguard. She is beyond frustrated about having him tag along on her ventures, and she is not afraid to voice her opinion about that fact, but Jack just plays it cool, and acts like it’s no big deal. From the moment these two meet it’s full on fireworks and of course some mild irritation too… which just keeps fueling the fire, and stirs up lots of moments to swoon over!
Slow Ride is a passionate little page-turner that delivers on all fronts, it’s got steamy moments to keep you swooning, and a touch of suspense to keep you on your toes! I thoroughly enjoyed this newest installment in the Road to Love series, the instant I cracked the cover I was hooked by the words, and smitten with the characters. Ronnie and Jack were quite the pairing, their constant banter exchanges kept the evident sparks between them simmering, and the anticipation high. I’ve got to say Ms. Foster has penned another stellar tale here, it was a perfectly blended romance, with characters that I couldn’t help but fall for! Highly recommend!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.
I love to read Lori Foster’s books. They are always so exciting and fun and such a great read that you never want to put them down. Thanks for another great read Lori!
Lori Foster has delivered two very different main characters. Ronnie has built a wall around herself due to past experiences, so she is tough on the outside, but fragile inside. Jack Crews seems to be a quiet, polite, conservative man until something sets him off and then he goes totally alpha. I loved both these characters and the chemistry between them. Happily, the Crews family with their dog, Howler, are all in the book, and any book with Howler touches my heart.
This book follows Driven to Distraction but works well as a standalone.
I received an ARC from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I was excited to dig into the next book in this series. Veronica “Ronnie” Ashford was here to meet this driver, get him to decline the job and get back to work. Meeting Jack Crews was not in her plan nor was the chemistry she found between them. Ronnie was used to being along and refused to be dependent on anyone that is until Jack Crews walked into her life. Slowly Jack shows Ronnie that not only can he be trusted but his family can as well. When Ronnie is being threatened Jack refused to let her do this alone. Wonderful story of love, trust and family.
Veronica (aka Ronnie) has no desire to take on a partner for her transporting jobs. She’s capable of taking care of herself and someone else would just hinder her or get in her way. The last thing she expected was to have the hots for the guy she was hoping would decline her job offer.
Jack was such a fun character! He could be sweet, charming, tough, and protective at the spin of a page, keeping me guessing at how he would respond to Ronnie’s reactions. I liked how he took his time to build trust between them even when his libido was strongly protesting the wait. I also loved his interactions with his family, finding them all very laid back and supportive of one another.
This probably sounds weird, but I thought Ronnie was similar to Mary in the first book. Kind of a ‘me against the world’ attitude going on. When the story starts, Ronnie came off tough, with a big chip on her shoulder, and no…I didn’t really like her, but I wanted to know what made her tick! She turned out to be a funny, empathetic, protective, sweet, brash, and yes, very temperamental chick with a lot of emotional baggage. In the scheme of things, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I grew to like her.
The transporting jobs Jack and Ronnie took gave these two plenty of time for heartfelt conversations since they were stuck in a car for periods of time, yet being cooped together also flamed their attraction. The push and pull stoked the anticipation because Ronnie refused to act on it and Jack respected her space, biding his time until she felt ready. No worries, since Foster delivered blistering hot yet sweetly tender love scenes!
Overall, I liked this entry more then the first book. Jack and Ronnie had chemistry from the start and I liked how things stewed and built up between them, establishing the emotional intimacy. It made their reactions believable and had me vested in the outcome of their relationship. And I can’t forget about Howler, Brodie’s lovable rescue mutt! He was just the sweetest thing with his bottomless pit of a stomach and his mothering-hen tendencies towards Peanut!
Book two in the Road to Love series, Slow Ride can be read by itself. Brodie, Jack, and Charlotte (her story will be book three) are the connecting characters and each story/romance stands on its own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Veronica “Ronnie” Ashford is in Red Oaks, Ohio only long enough to offer Jack Crews a job and then convince him not to take it. In the mean time she is sitting in a bar needing to forget her past and she is thinking a one night stand will do it when in walks a sexy, tall drink of water; he should do the trick. Just when the offer is extended and accepted someone calls out his name…”Jack Crews”.
Jack Crews is immediately attracted to the petite blonde, she is not his usual type. He’s on board for the night when she shuts him down over a job. Her terms are clear, if he takes the job then she is off limits. He wants to get to know her and for longer than a night. Ronnie’s job is to drive and pick up odd and unique artifacts for her twin bosses and they want to offer him a driver position to back up Ronnie. She thinks she doesn’t need help until strange incidents start happening and they realize someone is out to get her. Jack has to convince her that she is wanted and that she has a home with him and his family forever.
Slow Ride is everything its predecessor, Driven to Distraction, isn’t. Ronnie Ashford and Jack Crew have a hilarious meet-cute and I’m all over this pairing like a wine connoisseur over a 1999 Château LaTour Pauillac (I totally googled that, a bottle recently auctioned for £330/$427 so ‘sgood). Ronnie doesn’t do commitments, no dating, no relationships, no friendships, no attachments whatsoever, just her job, even her apartment is ready to leave at a moment’s notice. She has some trauma in her past that makes her abrasive and standoffish. Then we have Jack who’s already renovating a house and does favours for his old school teacher and has so many community ties, he’s a walking Gordian Knot. But boy-meets-girl and slowly but surely, things fall into place. With suspense and a teensy mystery tossed in for flavour. And it does have flavour. The bad guy du jour, North Runde, skeeves me out. My first thought was literally, and I’m quoting from my notes here, “fudging serial killer obsessed with Ronnie”. The vibes coming off this guy made me glad Ronnie and I are of the same mind, never go anywhere without a knife. I’m a fan of Ronnie’s bosses, gothic twins Drake and Drew, and Ronnie is definitely my favourite character in this one. She’s stereotype edgy but I adore her because Lori doesn’t usually write characters like Ronnie and it shows that she’s expanding her character types. Yay!
I had a couple things I wasn’t fond of in Slow Ride. I’m just going to get this out of the way. I keep calling the book Slow to Ride and that is a totally different connotation, don’t you think? Jack’s internal dialogue could be a bit, well, objectifying towards Ronnie. The cringey part that got me was post-“trust has been established” sex, he’s lying there with her and thinking “He felt like he’d just solved a difficult puzzle, conquered a nation, scored first prize.” Cringe! It was irksome to read. And yes, I did spend a good ten minutes venting about this scene while I was reading.
I want to put some content warnings in here for y’all. (on site this is hidden by a lovely button) We have unsolicited sexual harassment towards our hero (because sexual harassment isn’t okay no matter the gender), and “mild” animal abuse (all animal abuse is severe in my book but this is quickly abated by our hero and heroine and the animal is 100% unharmed and safe). There is also kidnapping and slightly descriptive talk of murder in here. Oh, and a stabbing scene. And gun violence.
Overall, I’m giving Slow Ride 4 stars and 4 flames because this is the Lori Foster I know and love. I highly encourage y’all to go find yourselves a copy if you’re into respectful alpha men, mustang cars, weird collectors, and goofy dogs.
This has been a review from Once Upon a Time, I Read a Book (dot-com), for more of my reviews and funky content, come visit my site!
This was kinda boring. Not much happening.