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Tough Luck Hero

(Copper Ridge #5)

Maisey Yates (Goodreads Author)

4.09 · Rating details · 988 ratings · 117 reviews

Can the golden boy of Copper Ridge, Oregon, get a second chance at happy-ever-after?

Ranching heir Colton West knew his wedding would be the talk of the town. But he didn't expect to get left at the altar—or to escape on the next flight to Vegas with Lydia Carpenter, the woman who gets under his skin like no one else. The only thing crazier than honeymooning with Lydia is ...more

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Mass Market Paperback, 372 pages

Published June 28th 2016 by HQN Books

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Start your review of Tough Luck Hero (Copper Ridge, #5)

Apr 28, 2016 Jessica's Totally Over The Top Book Obsession rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary-romance, read-in-2016, arc

4 Waking Up Married stars

Mild Spoilers

"You're my accessory." As soon as she said that, she got a little giddy kick in her chest. She was enjoying the idea a little too much. "The arm candy." "I'm your arm candy?" "My trophy husband."-Lydia and Colton

Tough Luck Hero is the 6th book in the Copper Ridge series but it can be read as a standalone. This book was a very enjoyable read. I would have given it 5 stars except for one thing the heroine did towards the end that really made me mad. I have ...more

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Nov 30, 2018 Jennifer rated it really liked it

Shelves: listened-to-audiobook, read-2018, adult-contemporary-romance, adult-content

My favorite romance trope is pretend relationships turn real. Tough Luck Hero is one of those. The two main characters wake up hitched in Vegas, and because the heroine is running in the upcoming mayoral election, she decides impulsive decision making wouldn't be doing her any favors. There's no hiding anything in a small town. The two agree to act the part until after the election. And when I say, "act the part"... yeah. But it's decided: "Sex only. No judgment. No feelings." Will it really be ...more

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May 26, 2016 Melissa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, sweet, unputdownable, hot-hot-hot, 2016

This just might be my favorite book of the entire series! There wasn’t a single moment that I would take back or even wished was different.

I have to admit, I wasn’t sure what to expect after not really connecting with the couple from One Night Charmer. I just had to brush it off and realize I’m not always going to love every book. Even in a series that I consider my favorite.

In this installment, Maisey Yates brings the chemistry and the tension! Big time.

I loved that both Lydia and Colton This just might be my favorite book of the entire series! There wasn’t a single moment that I would take back or even wished was different.

I have to admit, I wasn’t sure what to expect after not really connecting with the couple from One Night Charmer. I just had to brush it off and realize I’m not always going to love every book. Even in a series that I consider my favorite.

In this installment, Maisey Yates brings the chemistry and the tension! Big time.

I loved that both Lydia and Colton thrived on being in control and having everything go according to plan. To the point that Colton planned to marry Lydia’s best friend, not for love, but for stability and the notion that she was a sensible choice. How boring. Good thing Natalie stood him up at the alter!

Lydia has big goals of her own. The biggest being elected Mayor of Copper Ridge. Who needs a relationship when you have an entire town to worry about?

While it may seem a little implausible, it’s pretty funny and kind of shocking that Lydia and Colton would wake up in Vegas, hungover and married. They've barely spoken two words to each other, ever.

Part of the fun was watching them try to piece that hazy night together. How did they go from barely ever speaking to waking up in bed together? Did they consummate the marriage? How had this happened between two people who don’t have an impulsive bone in their bodies? Or do they?

I couldn't image being married to someone I hardly know and claim to not like, but they decided to stick it out for a couple of months, in an effort to save her campaign and Colton’s mom from the stress of another family drama. If you've read any of the previous book then you know there has been a lot going on. And it looks like the next book is going stir up even more drama for the West family. I can't wait!

After a short time together, regardless of how much Colton and Lydia tried to deny it, all hell broke loose. The passion, the impulsiveness, it was off the charts great!

If you haven’t read a book by Maisey Yates, what are you waiting for? Seriously, if you’re a romance reader, don’t miss out on this series.

*ARC kindly provided by HQN and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review* ...more

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May 15, 2016 Stacee rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley, read-in-2016

I do love this series and being a bit disappointed in the previous book, I was excited to see how this one turned out.

I loved Colton and Lydia. They're both so similar it was amusing to see them try to figure out a fake relationship and how to make it look real. Not to mention, the chemistry and UST is nearly off the charts.

Of course there's the obligatory push away and the inevitable grand gesture. Somehow those things never get old. This was a great addition to the series and I'm eager to ...more

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Apr 22, 2017 ♥ℳelody rated it did not like it

Shelves: annoying-heroine, 1-star-stinker, aren-t-you-a-prude, blah-meh-whatever, drama-queen, prim-haughty-as-a-cat, duds-by-favorite-authors, shrew-alert, begging-for-snark, bored-me-to-tears

This did absolutely nothing for me.

I thought Lydia and Colton were very mismatched. Two serious, arrogant, uptight, control-freaks being forced together into an accidental marriage of convenience. Eh. Although to me the heroine came off way more arrogant, cold and self-serving than the hero ever did. *shrugs* Everything was so half-approached and weak. The chemistry just wasn't there and the attraction between the two came off incredibly forced given Lydia's abhorrent attitude.

I really struggled ...more

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Jul 04, 2016 Lover of Romance rated it liked it

Shelves: pub-2016, trope-enemies-to-lovers, genre-contemporary, trope-marriage-of-convenience, characters-cowboy, setting-usa-oregon, topic-beta-hero, trope-fake-engagement

I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

I have heard some pretty great things about Maisey Yates, and so when I was offered a chance to read this, I picked it right up!! It sets off when our hero and heroine wake up together, naked in a hotel room, and evidence that they got married in Vegas of all places. Our hero, Colton West has done everything to be there for his family when they needed him. His fiancee has stood him up at the altar, and he finds himself getting drunk with a woman ...more

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Jan 26, 2016 Ami rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-books, romance, 4-and-half-stars_rating

4.5 stars

I wasn't really happy with the previous book -- Sierra and Ace in One Night Charmer -- so I admit I was approaching this with lower expectation. Especially since I didn't get enough impression of Colton in the last book.

Well, I'll be damned ... this is definitely my favorite of the series so far, and one of the most entertaining reads of the year!! Even after I slept on it, the only thing I could think about the next day, was how this book as well as the characters of Colton and Lydia 4.5 stars

I wasn't really happy with the previous book -- Sierra and Ace in One Night Charmer -- so I admit I was approaching this with lower expectation. Especially since I didn't get enough impression of Colton in the last book.

Well, I'll be damned ... this is definitely my favorite of the series so far, and one of the most entertaining reads of the year!! Even after I slept on it, the only thing I could think about the next day, was how this book as well as the characters of Colton and Lydia amused the hell out of me throughout *hugs book, beaming happily*

Getting hitched under influence in Vegas is a cliché plot. Usually I have trouble in believing why the couple should together. However, I thought Maisey Yates gave a pretty plausible explanation on why Colton and Lydia should keep their marriage for now. Lydia is running as Mayor of Copper Ridge and she can't go through a scandal (since she already told people she married Colton, while she was still drunk *haha*). And Colton also needed to take consideration of his mother's health.

I LOVED Colton and Lydia -- their banters, while sometimes full with barbs and wires, were sizzling and crackling!! Both were quick with their quips!! It was SO DELIGHTFUL reading it!! Especially because Colton and Lydia were actually share similar traits. They were both like to be in control, and it was fun to see when things didn't really come their way.

I thought the progress from adversaries to lovers was believable. I could actually feel the difference in their attitudes and dialogs from the first chapter to the last. They had chemistry and in the end, I believed that they loved one another. Their passion was OFF THE CHART! I was so ready to read their first kiss and actual sex scenes, because the tension was so thick and crackling, I thought it was going to be explosive for sure *lol*

So yes, I really loved this one. I love it when a book can still surprise me, especially when I start it with low expectation. I guess now I'm pretty excited to read Gage's story :)

The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received. ...more

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Apr 30, 2016 Dani C. (Paulette's Papers) rated it it was amazing

I noticed recently that I rarely give out 5 stars (or hearts in my case) reviews on books. There is so much a book has to do for me to earn 5 stars. It has to keep me entertain and give me the desire not to put it down. It has to make me either laugh or cry or somehow get emotionally involved in the characters and the situation they are going thru. When I am finished I want to feel like I don’t want this story to end but I would have no problem picking it back up and rereading it all over again. ...more

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Jun 28, 2016 Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews rated it it was amazing

Shelves: guiltypleasures-autr

Autry's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

4.5 stars

Lydia Carpenter has her life in perfect order; unfortunately keeping things in perfect order has caused her emotions to shut down. She shut down many, many years ago and only pours her heart into things that can’t love her back. Waking up in Las Vegas, wasn’t part of her plans, as her election for mayor is drawing near, she decides to play it out. As Lydia gets further and further into her fake marriage, she realizes that processing ...more

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Jun 17, 2016 Sheyla ✎ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-fangs, best-2016

I have read a few books in the Cooper Ridge series and I've always liked them but after reading Tough Luck Hero, I know this one is my favorite.

So what happens when you mix two type A, strong, determined people who seem to hate each other?

HOTNESS! HOTNESS! HOTNESS!

Lydia Carpenter is running for Mayor of Cooper Ridge. She loves this town and she wants to preserve its qualities but also to make it successful. She wants to win and help the people who have helped her after moving into town a few ...more

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Jun 25, 2017 Melanie rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance, own-print

Tough Luck Hero was an absolutely charming book with a wonderful fake relationship and the perfect amount of humor and I really enjoyed it!

Copper Ridge golden boy Colton West knew his wedding would be big news; he just didn’t count on the news being that he was abandoned at the altar. Or that he would flee to Las Vegas with Copper Ridge mayoral candidate Lydia Carpenter and end up married. Colton immediately suggests divorce, but Lydia convinces him to remain married and pretend to be madly in Tough Luck Hero was an absolutely charming book with a wonderful fake relationship and the perfect amount of humor and I really enjoyed it!

Copper Ridge golden boy Colton West knew his wedding would be big news; he just didn’t count on the news being that he was abandoned at the altar. Or that he would flee to Las Vegas with Copper Ridge mayoral candidate Lydia Carpenter and end up married. Colton immediately suggests divorce, but Lydia convinces him to remain married and pretend to be madly in love until after the election. Lydia knows she can’t risk a scandal so close to election, but she didn’t count on the attraction that would spark between her and Colton while pretending to be in love. Soon, they’re left trying to decide what’s real, what’s not and where they’ll go once everything is over.

Lydia loves everything about Copper Ridge and is devoted to making her home a better place. When she enters the mayoral race, she knows it won’t be easy as the people of the Copper Ridge are resistant to change, but she fully believe she can help make Copper Ridge better. She’s very passionate about her job and is fully in control when it comes to her professional life. In her personal life however, she has a tendency to let her fear of the unknown rule her life. It certainly played into her relationship with Colton and definitely caused a few roadblocks for their happily ever after.

Colton is incredibly devoted to his family and even gave up on his dreams in order to help take care of them. I loved his devotion to his family, but at times it did blindside him to what else he could be doing with his life.

Lydia and Colton’s relationship had two of my favorite tropes, fake dating and enemies to lovers. Now while I don’t know that I’d classify them as enemies, they certainly were very hostile towards each other prior to the Vegas wedding. These two had a ton of unresolved sexual tension which made for some wonderful scenes prior to them sleeping together. Once they did, it was amazing and I loved every bit of it.

As always with the Copper Ridge books, there were a ton of cameos from characters in the previous books. One of my favorite aspects of this series is how well the author has connected all of the characters and how often characters reappear in later books. It’s always nice to see an old favorite pop up, which is something this series has in spades.

Overall, Tough Luck Hero was an excellent addition to the Copper Ridge series and I highly recommend it for fans of fake relationships. ...more

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Jul 09, 2016 Kate Vale rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemp-women-s-fiction, contemp-romance

Part of the Copper Ridge series, this story focuses on Colton West, who's taken it upon himself to assume responsibility for everything his big brother left behind when he took off nearly 20 years earlier. Also featured id Lydia Carpenter, who's intent on becoming Copper Ridge's new mayor. She's a newcomer, but has embraced the town as her own and its members have taken her in, too.

But when Colton is left at the altar by Lydia's best-friend-who-isn't-really, her willingness to drink with him at ...more

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Jan 02, 2017 Kay (aka) Miss Bates rated it really liked it

Tough Luck Hero is as fine a romance novel as any Yates's has penned in her saga-proportioned Copper Ridge series. This is the story of Golden-Boy Colten West, made up of responsibility and family loyalty. When fiancée Natalie leaves him at the altar, he ends up married to the woman he most dislikes, who has nothing but contempt for him, his ex-fiancée's BFF and Copper Ridge's mayoral candidate, Lydia Carpenter. Their marriage-of-convenience contains spitting repartee and fraught love-making, ...more

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May 03, 2016 Mandi Schreiner added it

Shelves: dnf

DNF @ 20%

I don't like the set-up/premise of this. The hero's fiancee is a no-show at his wedding, so he heads to Vegas with a bridesmaid (heroine) and they get really drunk and married - and the next morning decide to stay married because hero doesn't want to upset his mother and heroine is running for mayor and has to avoid a scandal.......but isn't getting married the night of your supposed wedding a scandal? Plus hero of course isn't fond of his fiance who didn't show up. Felt off.

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Mar 22, 2017 Cheri rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.5 stars

We get to know Colton and his fiancée Natalie on a surface level in One Night Charmer and I couldn’t stand Natalie. In fact, she’s barely in the book and I actually yelled out loud at her! Colton, although he seemed quite uptight, was obviously a nice person. Boy oh boy I am so glad Natalie left him at the altar. Sure I felt terrible for Colton and hated Natalie even more, but that marriage would have been a train wreck!

In most of the past books in this series we get to see Lydia on the 4.5 stars

We get to know Colton and his fiancée Natalie on a surface level in One Night Charmer and I couldn’t stand Natalie. In fact, she’s barely in the book and I actually yelled out loud at her! Colton, although he seemed quite uptight, was obviously a nice person. Boy oh boy I am so glad Natalie left him at the altar. Sure I felt terrible for Colton and hated Natalie even more, but that marriage would have been a train wreck!

In most of the past books in this series we get to see Lydia on the periphery. I had no strong feelings for her either way, although in Part Time Cowboy she played with the edge of me not liking her. I knew she live to make their small town better and that she was single and she was highly organized. That’s about it.

With the little bit I knew of both Lydia and Colton, I was getting a bit worried at the beginning of this book that they would never start liking each other. Although they’ve known each other for a few years, they have never gotten along. That doesn’t change after they get married…at least not for a bit. I personally know couples who seem to fight constantly and frankly, don’t seem to like each other. I will never understand those relationships. The annoyance Colton and Lydia felt toward each other and the way the purposely pushed each other’s buttons just to “win” had me worried they were going to have that kind of relationship. Although I am not one to give spoilers I want to say that the relationship isn’t all fighting and sniping. There does come a point where the warm-fuzzies take over and I start rooting for the hero and heroine to find their HEA with each other.

So many romance books seem to center around the idea that opposites attract. Colton and Lydia are in no way opposites. In fact, I’d say they are way too much alike. That’s where their conflict actually comes in. Their similarities are what drive them crazy but those same similarities also help them to understand each other once they finally let the walls come down once in a while. The reasons for their similarities were a bit sad at times when it came to their family issues and their need to make everything okay for everyone else.

See my full review at https://allingoodtimeblog.wordpress.c... ...more

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Mar 30, 2019 Samantha (WLABB) rated it really liked it

Shelves: audiobooks, contemporary, romance, pre-2017

Rating: 3.5 Stars

I loved the beginning, thought it was hilarious, and really enjoyed seeing these two peel back each other's layers. I also thought the ending was really strong, and it did leave me with a smile on my face. I understood that both were sort of owned by their families. Lydia did a better job getting out of that situation than Colton did, but there were a few times, where I found his angst a little too high. But I adored his sisters and felt like Lydia and Colton shared quite a few ...more

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Sep 11, 2019 Lacey rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audiobook, five-stars, romance, series, 2010s-publication, library, hoopla-digital, fiction

SWOOOOOOOOOOOOON!!

I think this might be my favorite of the series so far!

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Nov 18, 2016 Aly rated it really liked it

Lydia wake up in Vegas, naked, and in bed with her ex best friend's fiancé, not remembering how she ended up here. She just knows that Colton was left at the altar yesterday. She's hangover and the situation takes a turn for the worst when she stares in horror at the wedding band on her finger. Apparently, she married Colton West last night !

Lydia will convince Colton to not get an annulment, to not scrap her chance at winning, since she's running for mayor of Copper Ridge. He will accept to Lydia wake up in Vegas, naked, and in bed with her ex best friend's fiancé, not remembering how she ended up here. She just knows that Colton was left at the altar yesterday. She's hangover and the situation takes a turn for the worst when she stares in horror at the wedding band on her finger. Apparently, she married Colton West last night !

Lydia will convince Colton to not get an annulment, to not scrap her chance at winning, since she's running for mayor of Copper Ridge. He will accept to spare his mother's from another heartbreaking new. To preserve appearances, they will have to share the same house. The problem with that ? They fight like cat and dog. Ever since they met for the first time they can't stand each other. She thinks he's arrogant, and he thinks she's uptight. But soon they will learn they have more in common then they think and that sometime there's a very thin line between love and hate.

I don't usually enjoy when it's too awkward between characters, except when it comes to the arranged marriage's stories. Maisey Yates is very good at mixing drama and romance, with a little touch of comedy. Lydia was maybe a little bit too self-conscious for me, her inner thinking couldn't get a break and it could be annoying in the long run. But being with Colton will bring her a kind of freedom that she didn't allow herself before or with someone else. It was fun to see her try things she didn't dare before. That same could be said for him. Colton is the responsible son, he's used to put his family's happiness before his own. He abandoned his dreams to take over the family business. Being with Lydia is the only thing he did for himself and she'll help him see that he doesn't have to take care of everything and everyone all the time.

I would have like to see more of Lydia's preparation as a candidate who's running for mayor. And I wish there was just a little more scenes where they're not bickering and they just have a good time being with the other.

My favorite scene is without a doubt the moment on the swing when they opened their heart and talked about their past. Can't wait to read the next book.

...more

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Feb 28, 2016 Danielle rated it really liked it

I always love coming back to Cooper Ridge to see what's new and what's going on in this town. From the very beginning the characters captured my interest and I truly fell in love with this town. I can hardly believe this is book 5 and if you haven't started this series you are missing out.

In the previous novel Colton and his fiancé Natalie were planning a wedding. Colton was easy to like from the moment he was introduced into the story and Yates had me wondering if the wedding would go on but I always love coming back to Cooper Ridge to see what's new and what's going on in this town. From the very beginning the characters captured my interest and I truly fell in love with this town. I can hardly believe this is book 5 and if you haven't started this series you are missing out.

In the previous novel Colton and his fiancé Natalie were planning a wedding. Colton was easy to like from the moment he was introduced into the story and Yates had me wondering if the wedding would go on but this novel started off with a twist and oh man did I love it!

Lydia wakes up hungover and in a room she doesn't recognize, but she isn't alone. Next to her lays a naked Colton. These two can't go without bickering for 5 minutes so it's a wonder how they ended up naked, married and hungover in Vegas together. Because Lydia is running for mayor she wants to stay married until she secures her win and when Colton agrees some changes will be made and falling in love with her husband will be done but can these two make it last?

These two have some cute tension moments which made me like them even more. I love how they both stand their ground but yet bicker about the littlest things. They had such a strong chemistry I was shocked they weren't doing it like bunnies from the very moment they woke up in Vegas.

One of my favorite parts of the book is when Lydia cooks revenge bread just to show Colton she is the "little wife". It was such a cute and funny moment that really showed that their fake relationship was becoming very real.

There are some steamy scenes between these two when they aren't bickering with each other. And a hot one that happens outside!

Yates also delivers some surprises! Someone returns, someone ends up in the hospital and a pregnancy is announced. It's just enough to keep me coming back to Cooper Ridge for more and the next book I'm already dying for!

I thought the novel was well written and was totally loving the ending! I hope Yates keeps this series coming for a long time! ...more

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Mar 19, 2018 Melinda rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance, fiction

Colton gets jolted at the wedding altar and he runs off with Lydia to Vegas and wouldn't you know it they got super drunk and ended up married. So now they need to make this marriage work. But can it when it seems like they get on each other's nerves....or is there something more to it??

Lydia is a transplant to Copper Ridge, she sees so much potential for this town and wants it to flourish while retaining it's original charm, but can the town's people see her vision or will they stick to what ...more

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Jul 05, 2016 Jonel rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle

This novel was priceless from the get-go! Yates had me laughing & near tears throughout. Yates’ vibrant writing shines throughout. I could feel the turmoil and turbulence of the characters’ feeling throughout. At the same time, the excitement of the story and the chemistry between the characters is also prominent. The plot was emotional, comical, and poignant all at once, creating a complex tale that I couldn’t get enough of.

I love the insights into Colton & what makes him tick. I found ...more

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Jul 04, 2016 Nichole Howell rated it it was amazing

I have read all of the Cooper Ridge novels and I think Tough Luck Hero is my favorite. It's crazy and fun and entertaining and a great addition to the series. We met Colton West in One Night Charmer where he was the over protective brother of Sierra West. He was engaged to be married, but readers knew there was something that didn't meet the eye in that relationship.

Colton West and Lydia Carpenter have never been friends. In fact, they have hated each other since the moment they met. They are ...more

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Aug 27, 2016 Joyfully Reviewed rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary, joyfully-reviewed-melissa, series, recommended-read

Colton West never expected his bridezilla fiancé to leave him at the altar. That’s how he finds himself drunk and married in Vegas to Lydia Carpenter. Lydia has been running for mayor of Cooper Ridge, so when she wakes up married to her best friend’s ex fiancé, she knows that if she want to win her election, she needs to stay married. Colton agrees to help Lydia by staying married. Neither can admit that the real reason they got married isn’t so much because of how drunk they were but rather ...more

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Aug 28, 2016 Alicia rated it really liked it

"Tough Luck Hero" by Maisey Yates

A truly interesting and enjoyable novel which I read in less than a day.

Ms Yates has a storyline that really takes in the reader from the beginning, has it evolve in a round about manner until the conclusion. The reader remains engaged throughout.

Her characters are wonderful and each has many strengths, yet many flaws, as well. They add a great deal to the backstory, as well as the main plot line.

I truly enjoyed Colton and Lydia and how their individual and ...more

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Feb 25, 2016 Seanna Yeager rated it it was amazing

I love when you know two characters who seemingly hate each other through a series, finally give into their attraction for each other. Colton and Lydia both try to stick to the rules, make the right decisions, and have never given into passion. Until one day they wake up to find, they ran away and eloped in Las Vegas. They decide to stay "married" until after Lydia's mayoral election. They end up trying to keep their marriage physical in nature only, but they end up falling for each other. Both ...more

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Jul 11, 2016 Kassiah rated it liked it

Shelves: adult, reviewed-pretty-sassy-cool, pub-2016, ft-swoon-worthy-guy

3-1/2 stars.

This review is also posted on Pretty Sassy Cool.

The summary for this story is pretty spot on. I liked these characters together and their chemistry was palpable. They had great banter, and I found myself blazing through the pages of this fast, sweet read. The star of this show was definitely Colton. He was a total sweetheart and so swoony. I didn't love Lydia (no shock there), but Colton made up for it. Sure the plot is cliché and predictable, but it's fun for sure. Maisey Yates is a ...more

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May 30, 2016 Ann rated it really liked it

This is the 5th book in the Copper Ridge series but I have not read any of the previous stories. I had no problem enjoying this book. Colton and Lydia end up in Las Vegas married after Colton is left at the alter in Copper Ridge and they start drinking to his future. They agree to maintain the marriage since Lydia is running for Mayor and doesn't want any scandal. They both have some major family issues and as they learn to talk about their situation they start growing and learning to love. ...more

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Mar 09, 2017 Nate Brightman rated it it was amazing

Sometimes I think being a modern romance writer must be a lot like being an actor like Keanu Reeves or pre-Oscar nomination Matthew McConaughey. The serious critics of your profession scoff at your work but the fans love you and I suspect you get to laugh at your critics all the way to the bank. Not that I have the slightest idea of the size of Ms. Yate’s bank account.
In some ways writing a romance novel seems pretty easy. If you’ve read more than one you know it’s pretty formulaic and a Sometimes I think being a modern romance writer must be a lot like being an actor like Keanu Reeves or pre-Oscar nomination Matthew McConaughey. The serious critics of your profession scoff at your work but the fans love you and I suspect you get to laugh at your critics all the way to the bank. Not that I have the slightest idea of the size of Ms. Yate’s bank account.
In some ways writing a romance novel seems pretty easy. If you’ve read more than one you know it’s pretty formulaic and a length of three hundred pages would be considered an epic. The physical characteristics of the hero are always the same. He’s built like a pro athlete with the face of a GQ cover model. The heroine’s physical attributes are a little less limiting since the primarily female audience (I don’t want to believe I’m the only guy that reads them) wants to feel like the average woman would have a chance with said fantasy male. Boy meets girl and both feel like they’ve been hit by a lightning bolt of attraction. Both fight the attraction and finally give in to the physical aspect, experiencing the greatest sex of their lives while continuing to fight the growing emotional connection because of the emotional baggage they are carrying. Eventually one of the lovers confesses it’s no longer just about great sex for them and the other rejects the attempt to turn it into more only to have that life changing moment where they put aside whatever has been holding them back from embracing love, kiss and make up and the couple rides off into the sunset to live happily ever after. The thing is readers of the genre know this going in so it’s up to the writer to create compelling characters and situations within the predetermined story arc that will keep the reader wanting to turn the pages until they get to the happily ever after. And the ability to create strong characters with entertaining story lines that pull at the heart strings of the readers is what separates the true masters of the genre from the hacks. I don’t know if anyone reads the reviews I post on Goodreads but if they do they know I am unabashedly a huge fan of Maisey Yates work because IMHO she is a master of her craft.
Case in point in Tough Luck Hero we have Colton West scion of the prominent Copper Ridge West family. He’s been left at the altar in front of everyone who is anyone in Copper Ridge by his fiancée Natalie. Colton didn’t really love Natalie and Natalie didn’t really love Colton. But they fit into the mold of the type of well bred socially connected persons they were expected by their families to marry and carry on the family names. Colton is big on shouldering the responsibility of being the male heir to the family businesses and the emotional crutch they all lean on even if it’s not the future he dreams of. In steps Lydia Carpenter the head of the Copper Ridge Chamber of Commerce and Natalie’s former friend (until she decides to run against Natalie’s father for mayor of Copper Ridge) and one of Natalie’s bridesmaids. Turns out Colton and Lydia who are normally the epitome of social grace and charm have been sniping at each other since the moment Natalie introduced them to one another two years prior. They don’t really understand why they dislike each other until they come to realize its because they both felt the instant heat and attraction between them and the realization that this was the one person that could tear down the walls they’d built around their hearts to protect them and turn their well ordered worlds upside down. So of course as it could only happen in a romance novel or rom-com movie, Lydia feeling sympathetic to Colton’s situation, encourages Colton to leave the church with her. They go off get hammered at Ace’s bar, fly to Vegas and in a drunken stupor get married. The rest of the story is devoted to Colton and Lydia discovering and coming to grips with the attraction that compelled them of all people to run off to Vegas together and get married. It all pretty much follows the familiar modern romance story arc.
What makes this book like all of Maisey Yate’s books so entertaining is the way she makes Colton and Lydia so real and likable. The way we hear their private unspoken thoughts as well as their spoken words to each other and the other characters in the book. Even if the plot is unbelievable, they feel like real people struggling with real emotions and situations within that plot. You come to understand them through their well written backstories, the events that have made them so resistant to loving and being loved. It’s the steamy stuff like Colton making Lydia express her physical desire for him in the basest of terms and the emotional impact that forced acknowledgement has for both of them. The kindness of spirit both Lydia and Colton show Natalie when they confront each other. The cute stuff like, well how can you not love “revenge zucchini bread?” The heart wrenching big stuff like Lydia’s sad backstory or Colton putting his heart on the line offering it to Lydia or Lydia near emotional collapse fighting her demons to accept that love and her love for him. The subtle heart warming stuff like the scene where Lydia atones for rejecting Colton’s love or how in the end it’s Lydia West not Lydia Carpenter waking up in her not just Colton’s bedroom. If you’re a fan of the series you’ll enjoy seeing many of the characters from previous stories in the series incorporated in this book. Of course Sierra, Colton’s little sister her husband Ace and her older sister Maddie were given prominent secondary roles. If I have one minor complaint it’s the way Sadie Garrett (one of my favorite heroines) was briefly brought back as Lydia’s best friend and confidant but then just disappeared. As her best friend and the only person Lydia shares the true story of her and Colton’s marriage with, I would have thought Lydia would have leaned on Sadie a little more for emotional support and advice later in the book. Much as Colton’s half-brother Jack gives relationship advice to Colton I expected Sadie to fill more of a similar role with Lydia. Kate Garrett-Monahan was mentioned a few times as Jack her husband was given a secondary role, but I don’t think she ever got any dialogue in this book. All we really know is that like Sierra she’s very round with child. Still those are minor complaints and truthfully if I had my way all of the previous main characters from the other Copper Ridge books would have their spot in every story because once I come to love them I don’t want them to just disappear.
Even with Lydia’s sad back story Tough Luck Cowboy is not as dark as some of the others in the series like Broke Down Cowboy. While the MCs seem equally as antagonistic towards each other as Ace and Sierra did in their story it doesn’t feel as antagonistic. Maybe because Ace's backstory was so much sadder and he was more emotionally crippled from it than Colton was his own? I think Tough Luck Hero was a great addition to the Copper Ridge Series. Now on to Last Chance Rebel, Gage West's and Rebecca Bear's story. Not sure why Maisey decided to give brother Gage his book before Maddie gets hers but hopefully it will be just as entertaining as the rest of this series has been.
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Apr 22, 2016 Heather andrews rated it it was amazing

Colton was a great guy, although he did like to poke the bear so to speak, “which is why you don’t remember if my underwear needs to be specially tailored or not.” Oh Colton, I really did love that boy, "...giving him a full view of her bare back, her bare *** and…“You have a pamphlet stuck to your rear,” he said." I really liked this book the back and forth between these two characters were entertaining.

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Jul 20, 2016 Mandapanda rated it it was ok

Shelves: contemporary-romance

I don't know what it was about this author's writing that didn't appeal to me but I struggled with this from the start and put it down about a third of the way through. I felt like the author just jumped straight into the marriage of convenience / enemies to lovers tropes and counted on their popularity to get readers engaged in the story and didn't put enough effort into making her own characters interesting and complex.

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About Maisey Yates

Maisey Yates

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New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit. In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book.

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