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Love, Tussles, and Takedowns
(Cactus Creek #3)
by
He’s a better fighter...but she has all the weapons.
After his combat injuries retire him from the military career he wasn't ready to give up, battle-scarred Hudson Reyes now spends his new life as a movie industry fight scene and weapons specialist simply doing what he knows best: surviving. Until he meets her. The one woman who makes him want to live again.
Sweet, ang ...more
After his combat injuries retire him from the military career he wasn't ready to give up, battle-scarred Hudson Reyes now spends his new life as a movie industry fight scene and weapons specialist simply doing what he knows best: surviving. Until he meets her. The one woman who makes him want to live again.
Sweet, ang ...more
Paperback, 256 pages
Published
June 29th 2014
by Violet Duke
(first published June 13th 2014)
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Community Reviews
Showing 1-30

Start your review of Love, Tussles, and Takedowns (Cactus Creek, #3)

I'm so torn writing this review because I am a HUGE fan of Violet Duke's books. This book not so much. While I really like the overall story, the writing felt rushed with many of the twists and character issues left unresolved. I love the characters in this book but I really want to know more about them. The book left me feeling unfulfilled.
...more

Oct 26, 2020
Carolyn
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
humorous,
romance,
special-ops,
small-town,
alpha-male,
part-of-a-series,
military,
family,
kind-read,
mma
Love, Tussles, and Takedowns is the third book in the Cactus Creek series. The books are all stand alone issues with interconnecting characters. It's a small town romance that is heavy on the humor and the heat leans towards a slow burn. This addition has all the "feels" that makes this book a five star!
Hudson Reyes is former U.S. Army Special Forces and injuries from combat force him to retire from the military earlier than he wanted. Hudson is now a movie industry fight scene choreographer and ...more
Hudson Reyes is former U.S. Army Special Forces and injuries from combat force him to retire from the military earlier than he wanted. Hudson is now a movie industry fight scene choreographer and ...more

Hudson and Lia's story was very sweet. I loved the chemistry between the two. Their story made me laugh and cry. It was very touching.
...more

This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland
4.5 stars
I loved Love, Tussles, and Takedowns. Hudson and Lia are amazing together. Where they both end up by the end of the book is just perfect. Such a great read.
Lia is this strong, tough, girl. She is the bouncer for the local bar, she is an antique arms authenticator, she does kickboxing and martial arts, she is just amazing. She is small, but man you do not want to mess with her. Loved her.
Hudson is trying to figure out his new life outsi ...more
4.5 stars
I loved Love, Tussles, and Takedowns. Hudson and Lia are amazing together. Where they both end up by the end of the book is just perfect. Such a great read.
Lia is this strong, tough, girl. She is the bouncer for the local bar, she is an antique arms authenticator, she does kickboxing and martial arts, she is just amazing. She is small, but man you do not want to mess with her. Loved her.
Hudson is trying to figure out his new life outsi ...more

Violet Duke brings us a romance with two incredibly romantic Alphas, that know their firearms and love to roughhouse - and find it incredibly SEXY! They are adorable, trying to take it slow but getting turned on at the slightest noise, roundhouse kick, and tap out. Liana, the heroine, seems like she has all of her trauma behind her, but there is something that she didn't really know wasn't resolved. Hudson has a deeply buried misery that when it rears it's ugly head - it's ... well ugly. This to
...more

☆☆☆☆☆ 4.5 ☆☆☆☆☆
The first time Hudson has seen Liana, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. And as an antique arms authenticator trained in martial arts, Hudson was in awe. He was so turned on, on how much she knew her firearms. After he saw her ride her motorcycle, he was turned on even more. After that he couldn’t get his mind off her, he tracked her down and surprised her at the bar. When they started talking it was effortless, they talked like they’ve know each other for years. That day was the ...more
The first time Hudson has seen Liana, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. And as an antique arms authenticator trained in martial arts, Hudson was in awe. He was so turned on, on how much she knew her firearms. After he saw her ride her motorcycle, he was turned on even more. After that he couldn’t get his mind off her, he tracked her down and surprised her at the bar. When they started talking it was effortless, they talked like they’ve know each other for years. That day was the ...more

Ahhh Hudson and Lia...I really liked these two. Honestly Lia HAS to be a gift from another world with how sweet and patient she is. These two damaged souls come together to heal each other with the best known power to man: Love.
With acceptance and caring these two create quite a powerful couple. I love that Hudson isn’t so careful with her. He doesn’t treat Lia like fine china. This is what made me truly and really LOVE Hudson.He know’s she can hold her own and doesn’t coddle her. He also chose ...more
With acceptance and caring these two create quite a powerful couple. I love that Hudson isn’t so careful with her. He doesn’t treat Lia like fine china. This is what made me truly and really LOVE Hudson.He know’s she can hold her own and doesn’t coddle her. He also chose ...more

This is the third book of the Cactus Creek series by Violet Duke. Just like all the others, it can be read as a stand-alone, but you’ll appreciate it more knowing the characters and their backgrounds as they all run in and out of one another’s stories.
This is Lia and Hudson’s story. Lia was orphaned at the age of fourteen and was promptly brought into the Spencer family through the foster system. Her destiny was sealed after that. Especially where her three overprotective brothers are concerned ...more
This is Lia and Hudson’s story. Lia was orphaned at the age of fourteen and was promptly brought into the Spencer family through the foster system. Her destiny was sealed after that. Especially where her three overprotective brothers are concerned ...more

This book was slow moving. The characters didn't really connect for me. There are too many unanswered questions and holes in the plot. I was just left feeling empty. I truly wanted to love this book. The premise was promising but fell short for me.
...more

❤❤❤
Lia and Hudson were definitely meant for one another. You knew it from the moment they met it was going to work out for them! So happy they found what they were looking for!
Can't wait to read about Xoey and Isaac next! 😊 ...more
Lia and Hudson were definitely meant for one another. You knew it from the moment they met it was going to work out for them! So happy they found what they were looking for!
Can't wait to read about Xoey and Isaac next! 😊 ...more

DNF: The writing for this one is just too much... the banter between the characters is corny as hell and I"m sorry but please let the Thesaurus rest.
...more

Nearly perfect
Just not as graphic sex wise as I like. They actually kissed right? Very little description in there lol but loved the characters. Also undressing seems to have gotten forgotten. Great fantasy escapism though hard to get into the guns/weapons/war theme but I guess it goes with the jobs and people. Loved the two fighting. Sexy.
Just not as graphic sex wise as I like. They actually kissed right? Very little description in there lol but loved the characters. Also undressing seems to have gotten forgotten. Great fantasy escapism though hard to get into the guns/weapons/war theme but I guess it goes with the jobs and people. Loved the two fighting. Sexy.

Great characters . Lia knew all kinds of MMA moves and Kung Fu plus she was an antique arm’s expert . Hudson was ex military with hand injuries . They met , she was a virgin widow ( never found out if husbands war remains found ) and he took things slow. They said it would be ok to go to second base . Sweet story

Mar 10, 2018
Christine Peterson
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-2018
I wasn’t sure about this book in the beginning, but it pulled me in and tugged on my heartstrings just like the other books I have read by the author. The was only one missing piece to the story...what happened to Leo.

I think I loved this one most of all. I'm excited to read the rest of the series, but need to wait for it to come out for NOOK.
...more
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August 2014 Comment | 1 | 11 | Aug 15, 2014 03:41PM |
NEW YORK TIMES & USA TODAY bestselling author Violet Duke is a former professor of English Education ecstatic to be on the other side of the page now writing emotion-rich stories with fun, everyday characters and sweet, sexy match-ups. Since her debut series in 2013, over a million readers have put all four of Violet's laugh & cry contemporary romance series on bestseller lists and Top 10 charts a
...more
Other books in the series
Cactus Creek
(6 books)
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