I love this series. This book Going Hard is is the second in the series and is about Griffin Steele a Sports agent. Grif is polished, wealthy and not wanting to live in his small hometown. But brothers have a way of convincing you to do things you don't want to do, so Grif reluctantly agrees to commute between the West coast and the East coast. He sure isn't expecting to run in to a woman he had a one night stand with fifteen years ago, and absolutely was not expecting to find himself attracted to her now. Carlie Beth is not the type of woman Grif usually finds attractive, she isn't sophisticated and isn't a mode,l she is a Blacksmith, rough, tough and about as unsophisticated as you can be. So how is it that Grif can not stop thinking about her and why does he find he so hot?
Carlie Beth is trying to avoid Grif Steele, the last thing she wants to do is get tangled up with him again. One night fifteen years ago was enough thank you! But oh it would be so much easier to stay away if he wasn't so good looking and sweet. She doesn't need to be involved she has a teen daughter to raise after all and no time for a man. ( Famous last words.)
These two when they get together scorch up the pages. I loved this book, the story line is great, the characters are complex and very well written, the book moves along at a steady pace and will keep you turning pages. This one is not to be missed! Plus there is a big secret that you will find out about so snatch it up and block out some reading time you won't be sorry.

not for me

I got through half of the book and just couldn’t continue on. The characters weren’t very likable and the storyline wasn’t very exciting.

After being in a sort of a slump with the books I was reading Going Hard by Kelsey Browning, book two in the Steele Ridge series was a breath of fresh air. Grif and Carlie Beth's story took many common tropes and revamped them in a way that I had to forget what I knew about second chance small-town secret baby stories.
The first thing I loved was our heroine. Carlie Beth was different. Not in the way that was forced or pushed but relatable. It was so satisfying to read a book where, besides one instance which I loved, the heroine was a tom-boy from the first page to the last. Even as someone who is nowhere close to being a tomboy I loved that Carlie Beth was authentic and didn't suddenly become this beacon of femininity because she fell in love with her rich baby daddy who was accustomed to the attention of supermodels. Now, Carlie Beth was flawed. I didn't agree with all of her choices, actions, or even reasoning regarding revealing her daughter's paternity. However, she and Grif were still a couple I rooted for.
Speaking of Grif, who was quickly added to my book boyfriend list, perfectly fit into the theme of unique characters and plot lines. As someone who likes to dream of living a lavish life it was nice to read about an alpha that cared about his appearance, loved his fancy car and didn’t care about what other people thought about it. Especially in a romantic suspense novel, Grif was something new compared to the standard rough around the edges guy that I’m used to seeing- not that I don’t enjoy that too.
I do recommend reading the first book in the series as it sets you up for the characters that you will be encountering throughout the series. Going Hard pulled me into the town of Steele Ridge. I loved that as Kelsey Browning interjected other characters who have stories later on in the series I was intrigued but not pulled away from Grif and Carlie Beth’s story.
I was expecting the standard secret baby second chance romance that I normally read but I was pleasantly surprised with what Kelsey Browning was able to do. She flipped this common trope and gave me action, chemistry and an ending that surprised me. Romantic Suspense can sometimes have expected endings where you know the villain a couple of chapters in. Even when I thought I knew who it was I doubted myself, which just kept me glued to this page-turner.

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Method: ebook

Rating: 3/5 stars

H rating: 4/5 - Good guy, but I am not really sure I liked his easy forgiveness, his blatant flaunting of his wealth to prove himself..but he was an ok MC.

h rating: 3/5 - Not really a big fan of her..living in the same town as his family, 14 years is a damn long time and I honestly still don't understand her need to keep the father a secret for such a LONG time.

Drama: 4/5 - good amount of drama, and honestly was what kept me going in this book. Would've liked to see a more defining end..some few loose ends that just bugged me.

Thoughts: Reiterating, I felt that some of the loose ends were not and should've been covered. Like what really happened with the guys from Carlie's life? What happens to Yvonne? Is that something that is going to be covered in the next books?? Not going to continue this series, so unfortunately I'll never really find out. Alas. I did like this book, it was good. Just maybe an epilogue? Like years in the future? Even if it happens in the timeline of the other books, I'm sure it could've read fine.