Hard Cut

Men of the Woods #1

by Dani Wyatt

By the time Flint Rendell caught the beautiful, curvy brunette in mid-air, he already knew he’d never let her go. Flint figured his life of chopping down trees and building his cabin in the woods far from civilization, would be his life. He’d never found much use for other people, but from the moment he caught a glimpse of her, everything changed.

Wren Reynolds lived a nomad’s life with her hippie parents until a tragedy stole everything from her. Starting over in the middle of nowhere she dreamt of finding peace again. When the local lumberhunk rides in on his white horse to save her from herself, her dreams begin to change, and she starts to believe in fairy tales again.

But, fate had different ideas, and an incarceration that saves her, but sends Flint away changes everything. Can these two find their way back or will the real world have its way, and end their happily ever after before it has its chance to begin?

Author’s Note: The scent of pines and sex will have you swooning for this match made in backwoods heaven. One hunky lumberjack who’s not touched a woman in years finds his one and only, in this sweet, smutty first book in the CUT series. All standalone stories sure to have you dreaming of flannel and wishing for a piece of hard wood all your own.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Novella, Contemporary Romance, Adult, M F Romance, Erotica

158 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 27, 2017

About the author

Since I was a little girl, I’ve made up stories. I would lay in my bed at night and before I knew what a trope was, I would make up these trope filled stories. Boy sees girl, boys falls for girl, boy saves girl….happily ever after. As I got older, the stories turned steamier and more intricate, but the basics never changed.

Now, my books are still full of romance but the naughty bits are naughtier, my hero’s are obsessed alpha types and my heroines are quirky, real women who come in all shapes and sizes.

So, sit back, banish the real world and get lost in some over the top romance with a heaping helping of hot. xoxoxo

Reviews

[♡Tonya♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're longing for something OTT, with instalove and a stalker, this is for you. I personally love those OTT antics, it's fiction. Now if it was real life, I'd tell her to run as fast as she can. So before you read this and get all bent out of shape because of his OTT antics, just heed my warning 😂 That way, you don't waste your time and you can read something that won't tick you off.

Flint - like I said, this guy was done for at first sight. He went above and beyond to protect her and keep her safe. His obsession and circumstances wouldn't let him do it like normal people do - hence the instances of stalking. He was a loner but he knew with Wren, he found peace that he didn't know he craved.

Wrenn- she was a young girl, trying to find her place in the world. She didn't want the life her half sister was encouraging her to live, so she set out on her own to live her way. She encountered some road blocks but was starting to see that, when she needed him, Flint was always there.

- no cheating
- no ow/om drama
- no violence of a sexual nature
- steamy scenes
- great epilogue 1 year and 10 years out. great wrap up

[Jenny · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was boring as far as I'm concerned! Heroine not a virgin. Her first time sucked. I hate it when authors do that.

[Kelly_Reads_Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dani Wyatt writes these immensely strong Alpha me who will do anything to claim the woman they want in her stories. The women are always strong enough to be on their own, but with their fierce men, they are unstoppable.
I loved this story!

[May Reads Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5
Safe read

-Insta love
-OTT alpha
-Celibate H and h
-No OW Drama
-No pushing away
-HEA with epilogue

[Roanne Germaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

HARD CUT is a steamy contemporary insta-love novella about a mysterious lumberjack and a vibrant salon owner.

Flint and Wren both came from relatively influential families but they moved to the Upper Peninsula in the middle of nowhere to live the simple life. Wren struggled with her new life but she didn't want to go back to her old one. When Flint met Wren, he immediately became obsessed with her. When Flint's past record was revealed, this almost took her away from him, considering that he didn't tell her the extent of his obsession. But when she realized the injustices he had endured, she saved them both from the misery of being away from each other. Their love too strong that life just wouldn't be complete without being in each other's arms.

Every Dani Wyatt book is super hot, exciting, well thought out, and very well-written. And she didn't disappoint in this fist standalone book under the Cut Series! Hard Cut was really good! Flint was a dream lumberhunk! He's very rich but lived in the middle of the an island and got callouses from manual labor. He's got Viking-like good looks but he got eyes only for Wren. His obsession with her was super hot, as well as his sense of protectiveness. I super enjoyed this book and I can't wait to read the next ones from this series!

I have read an advanced copy of this book and this is a fair and honest review and recommendation voluntarily shared.

[Elizabeth Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flint walked away from the life he had before, one he wanted to live his way, despite his parents' objections to the contrary. He's made a life for himself, even built a cabin on property he'd won, and enjoys his solitude, his only interaction once a month when he travels into town for supplies. On one such day though, he knows he's found his soul mate.

Wren needed to escape her life, essentially running away from the pain of losing her parents. Though her much older half-sister, Sabrina, doesn't understand, wishing Wren was more like her in regards to aspirations, they do love one another. Wren randomly chose Emmetsville, and opened a salon.

Flint, intently focused on Wren, though he doesn't know here name...yet, sees the impending danger and catches Wren before she falls. Later that day, both are still intrigued, and feeling the mutual attraction. Flint follows Wren to her appointment, needing to make sure she's safe. It's a good thing he does as he saves her yet again.

Unfortunately, due to Flint's heroic actions that day, though Wren's involvement is kept secret for reasons, six months pass before Flint is free to pursue, to claim, Wren as he wishes.

When Flint steps in once again to prevent tragedy from happening to Wren, he knows the wait is over. It's time for them to start their lives together, though their may be a few more obstacles to overcome.

Will Flint and Wren both find peace with their respective pasts? Will Wren tell Flint all that's going on? Will Wren's sister continue believing she knows what's best for Wren? Is a HEA possible?

One-click now and follow along as two people meet and discover love at first sight does exist.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.**

[Lisa (Two Bookish Brits) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ah I’d like to say I really enjoyed this book but that would only be a half truth unfortunately.

I did enjoy the storyline, I truly did but parts of it just began to bore me and I couldn’t keep my attention to the book for long. The main guy is hot, god yes he is but he’s also creepy af and it way over the top. I don’t care how much he “cares” for a person that level of stalking is illegal.

I did like most of their relationship though, it annoyed me at times but other than that it was great.

Although I didn’t quite enjoy this book as much as I’d hoped I’ll still be reading more of this authors work.

[B.E.Love · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had every intention of reviewing this book, and a few others but I got sick and my reading slowed down and i forgot all about reviewing them.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (7/11/2019)! 🎁

[Fiction Junkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Perfectly safe.

[Cat Ziman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kinda creepy. In the beginning of the book we find out that this entire story revolves around insta-love. And the main character is a bona-fide stalker.

***Some spoilers ahead***

So, he's in jail for six months and then comes back and immediately installs illegal camera around her property. What the fuck? Then, he watches them every day. Pretty sure he even jerks off to them. I don't know about you, but to me that's fucking weird.

A little bit of obsession okay but this guy is definitely mentally ill. It's honest to god gross.

But whatever, they have their happy ending and they get married yadda yadda. And then we find out at the very end she's pregnant with her SEVENTH child. I mean, you do you, but what the fuck?

This whole story was badly written, badly thought out, and just fucking gross in general.

[Hopelessly Addicted To Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an insta love book, I liked it but didn’t love it.

Fate brought Flint and Wren together when he saved her from falling off a ladder. From that moment Flint sees her as the woman of his dreams the one he’s meant to spend the rest of his life with.

Flint is a hard character to nail down he’s kind of all over the place sometimes I liked him and other times he gave me the creeps to be honest. Wren is s hairdresser with big dreams she wants to open her own salon. Again I found her such a contradiction, strong willed but so easy to manipulate I liked her she’s kind of quirky.

If hot steamy insta love is your thing then buy this book.


reviewed by Sweet Spot Sisterhood

[Nova · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are like me and love OTT alpha males and sweet heroines then you will love this story.

Flint takes one look at Wren and knows that’s it his heart belongs to her. He will do anything to keep her safe and when I say anything I mean anything so her ready for some stalking behavior but she is his obsession and he will keep her safe no matter the cost to him.

Wren has lived the life of her parents never had one place to settle and now with them both gone she’s trying to forge her own existence and path in life. Her half sister is very controlling and wants her to live her life her way. Wren and Flint have an unusual romance but it’s theirs with lots of twists and turns.

Great quick read by one of my go to authors.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

[🌈⭐️RoseOfRainbows⭐️🌈💕 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kinda like a train wreck. Wanna look away but can’t. Still satisfying in some weird yet creepy sense. Overall creepy vibes

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. I'm not really sure how to rate this. I didn't really like it, but the writing isn't bad. Perhaps if one is into stalkers, it works well, but that's just not my thing. I don't mind reading about obsessive Alpha-male type characters, but Flint is really another level over that. He had cameras up pointing into Wren's house to watch her; had a tracking device on her car so he'd know where she was all the time. Just too much for me. And the 'Chirp' nickname?

[Miš · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.6

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of Flint (27) and Wren (20+??). Wren is a naïve woman (“girl”) in her early twenties. She moved to Emmetsville, MI after pointing her finger at a map in a motel room while escaping her Congresswoman sister, Sabrina, and her sister’s lifestyle. (Her sister lives in Charlotte -- don’t know if that’s NC or MI, or some other state). Wren is opening up a salon in the small town that already has a salon. Wyatt is a loner who lives on an island in/near Emmetsville. They meet when Wyatt, during one of his occasional visits to town, catches -- yes, actually catches -- Wren as she falls from a ladder. Later than day, he saves her from a mugger. There’s an instant attraction on both ends. Thus starts their story. And, the story is paused...

It picks up six months later when Wyatt is getting out of jail. Seems the local sheriff (and his mugger son) have it in for Wyatt, looking for any opportunity to make his life miserable. Since it’s Wyatt’s word against the sheriff’s son’s, Wyatt is jailed for assault after the attempted mugging. Though he was saving Wren, he doesn’t involve her. Anyway… the action picks up. Wyatt and Wren get together. But, will they get their HEA?

I vacillated between three and four stars, but fell back to three. It’s better than okay (2 stars) and I really liked the story overall (4 stars), but…

I thought the character of Wyatt, though “stalkerish” in his obsession with Wren, was great. However, I found Wren to be a bit too stupid. I don’t mind naive heroines, but naive and stupid is not a good mix. Though there are scenes showing she cares about people, what we get of her also shows her to be a bit self-centered and unaware. She tends to think in the “now” rather than in the long term. And, as much as she wants to assert her independence, she doesn’t really come across as a strong person.

I know one has to throw out some sense of logic when reading romances, especially insta-loves. However, there were things missing from the story I think would have made it better. For example, other than Wyatt’s obsession, there was no need for planted cameras and trackers. If there had been some sort of implied danger to Wren, I think Wyatt would appear less like a stalker. But, there really wasn’t anything, so why? I don’t mind obsessed heroes, but I’m not quite sure about invading personal boundaries “out of love.” Also, scenes with the villain(s) seemed to be tossed in to throw obstacles in the way of romance rather than really amounting to anything story-wise.

Then, there are continuity errors. For example…
* Wren’s father gave her a Volvo when she turned 18 (Ch 2). It currently has 300K miles on it. She wants to hit 1 Million because Volvo will give her a new car. -- I’m assuming she got it used because, though not impossible, putting 300K miles on a car in 2-5 years is a lot of driving -- at 12K miles a year, it would take 25 years to hit 300K miles. To get 700K more at that rate will take 55-60 years. I mean, maybe she drives everywhere she goes, but still… -- Though, maybe this was to further point to her naiveté (or, maybe, how great Volvos are??).

* I don’t think we’re given an exact age for Wren. We know she got her car at 18 (Ch 2). We know her parents have been dead for two years (Ch 2). That puts her at twenty at least. Sabrina, Wren’s half-sister, is 15 years older (Ch 8). However, their father was 28 when he and Wren’s mother met at the commune -- it was insta-love for them, too (Ch 12), making him 13 when his older daughter was born??? Maybe they waited more than a few years to have Wren??? [Sabrina grew up with her mother and Wren on the road with her bohemian parents.] To work it out, one would need to know how long Sabrina’s parents were divorced or the father’s age when Wren was born.

Finally, we don’t get to know what happens to the villain(s) of the story. This is the first story in The Cut series, so maybe that will come in subsequent stories.

I know this stuff is nitpicky, but it detracts from the overall for me. I have liked everything I’ve read by Dani/DD Wyatt (even with these kinds of issues). Though I point them out, these things aren’t enough to make me stop reading her works. (In fact, books 02 and 03 in the series are next on my quick-read list.) Nor, are they enough to keep me from recommending this book to others. Is it great? No. However, it does deliver a sweet, steamy story and an HEA. And, isn’t that what one is looking for when they pick up one of these books up anyway? ;o)

[Amber - TBR Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another hot, quick read from Dani Wyatt! And 100% safe.

Flint is used to being away from people. He does his own thing and only comes to town when he has to. And then he sees Wren and saves her from falling from a ladder.

Wren has moved to this tiny town away from her "normal" life because she wants to do her own thing without her family influence. When she is rescued from falling off a ladder but Flint, she knows her life has changed.

While some might think Flint was being almost stalker (he kinda was) but it was with good intentions not that he wanted to harm her.

[Ꭿຖᥲ·♡ ྀི · Rating 3 out of 5]

3✯

°Non virgin heroine :(
°Celibate hero
°Switching POVs
°Insta love/lust
°Possessive obsessed OTT alpha hero (27 y/o)
°Free of OW/OM drama
°No cheating
°No intimate scenes with OP
°Epilogue: 1 year and 10 years later married with 6 children and another on the way

[Amy Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flint and Wren... they were amazing together. Both were a mess, yet together they were perfection. I love Flint and his caveman ways. He is definitely a keeper. They both have many obstacles to overcome, but when they come together its amazing!

[Mick C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this story of beauty and the beast. A lot of twists and turns that make you want to read this book in one sitting.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good little book if you are looking for something that is short and easy to read, yet a sweet romance. There is some insta-love, a possessive male and a bit of drama.

[Kelly ~Booktrovert~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story has an OTT alpha, who stalks his woman. One look at her and it was Insta-everything!

Parts sweet, parts hot, this was exactly what I was looking for!

4 big stars!

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, quick read! STEAMY, of course! Stalkery goodness, too. :D

[phoebess · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think everyone expects to have fun after picking up new book. Usually they are not wrong. But sometimes, the fun drops dead right at the beginning...

[LK · Rating 2 out of 5]

NOT DANI'S BEST, FORCED MYSELF TO FINISH IT

b a s i c s :
short n spicy dual pov

s h e l v e s :
alpha
instalove
mountain man
obsessed stalker behavior
ott
possessive
protective
wife her up

k i n k s :
against the wall
cervix womb talk
dom
no condom (on the pill)
praise

e n d e a r m e n t s :
♥︎ CHIRP 💀 (wtf)

e n d i n g :
HEA + babies

p l o t :

25%

I feel nothing for either character so far. Slightly annoyed with the heroine and her tendency to just act like her problems aren't happening, but I’m gonna give her a chance. Overall though, this doesn’t seem promising.

27%

My Wren. My Chirp. That’s the name I have in my head now. It’s the name I’ve had these past six months. I don’t know where it came from, but it suits her, and it feels right.

I’m tempted to just give up right here guys. CHIRP. Wtf???

The dog is the cutest character so far and that’s not saying a whole lot.

32%

A shiver shakes her whole body, and the bleat from her lips lets me know how hard she’s fighting to hold back her nature, her body’s attempts to prepare for me.

BLEAT?!?! Like a GOAT?!!?

40%

I’m going to eat you now, Chirp.

I cannot. can. not.

100%

well i finished it and the ending was the best part.

I love Dani Wyatt, but idk about the last few books I’ve read of hers, all from 2017. I'd say maybe it wasn't her year but I have other books from that year I loved, so idk. Makes me wary of her other 2017 books I haven't read yet though.

h o t  c l i p s:

My cock brushes along her flesh as I settle myself, braced over her.

My face hovers over her tits.

“Bring your hands down here. One on each tit, Wren. Feed them to me.”

♥︎

If you’re a good girl, I’ll let you come a few times before I give you what you really need.”

“And what is that?” She bobs her eyebrows and gives me a coy look.

“Dick."

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure enjoyment

After much waiting another Dani Wyatt book and as usual she delivers. The setting is deep in the forest but near a quaint town. Our hero yes a true hero Flint, works as a lumberjack while building his own cabin on land he won in a lottery. Wren is the woman he spies and upon the first five minutes of knowing get existence saves her from falling down a ladder and within the next few hours saves her from a moving at knife point sends her on her way because of her lack of drivers license, he in turn is arrested and jailed for assault. After he is released from house arrest he is on his way to make is intentions towards her known and boy does he do that. Wren was raised and is a free spirit and no one including her sister is going to mold her into what society wants. Flint also is fleeing his past. Wren is having financial issues and problems with the sheriff's son whom is out to get Flint. After a few more than steamy sex filled days together back in town bad things await and not to spoil cause though really need to read this book. Now once again awaiting a new book from Dani.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot lumberjack + curvy woman = hotness!

Characters = 5/5
Plot = 4/5
Romance = 5/5
Mystery = 1/5
Action =  2.5/5
Darkness = 1/5
Humor = 1/5
Stars =  4 ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Would I recommend this book = Yes
Would I read future books by this author = Yes

Holy smokes! This one was sizzling hot. You will need a cold shower after reading this one.

First off, I love lumberjacks. One of my favorite heros. Secondly, I'm super happy the heroine was curvy. I get tired of reading about heroines who have perfect bodies. It gets old.

Flint is hot. He's possessive and super stalkerish when it comes to Wren. He has a primal urge to protector her no matter what. He's also very commanding and dirty talking in bed. 🔥 When he and Wren are together they are magical. She's wanting to be independent trys hard to make it but Flint makes sure she is taken care of.

Overall, this was a super quick read but well worth it. Love the plot and characters and the sizzle of everything. Can't wait to read the next book in this series.

P.S. the cover is spot on! Matches the hero's description and is hot!

[Melinda Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a LumberHunk!

If you want a hot OTT Alpha, sweet as pie heroine, bit a life's interference, smoking chemistry, and HEA, Dani Wyatt has your story.

Flint and Wren both come from families that wield influence but chose to lead simpler lives. Flint is ex-military, a felon through no fault of his own, and a man that lives off the grid. He's content until he sees Wren. He instantly becomes her Knight in Shining Armor when she falls into his arms, literally. He again saves her and suffers the consequences and jail. He patiently plots his claiming.

Outside forces, family, enemies, and secrets converge on the couple. But nothing will keep Flint from what's his.

Swoon worthy hero, bit of heartbreak, and a furry factor named Hercules makes this a necessary read.