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Driftwood Peaks #1
Hard Wood
Ridge Decker lives as far out in the Georgia wilderness as he can get. He leaves his cabin to cut trees and hike the rocky trails and nothing else. He doesn’t much like the hustle and bustle of the big city and he hates the headaches and hang-ups of a relationship.
When a pretty princess finds herself on his doorstep—he knows she is worth any ache she might cause him.
Rosa Souza is running from a life where she had no choices but she gets lost in a snowstorm. When hard and handsome Ridge finds her, she realizes he didn’t just save her from a blizzard—he saved her from a life of being lost.
When a pretty princess finds herself on his doorstep—he knows she is worth any ache she might cause him.
Rosa Souza is running from a life where she had no choices but she gets lost in a snowstorm. When hard and handsome Ridge finds her, she realizes he didn’t just save her from a blizzard—he saved her from a life of being lost.
84 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2022
43 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Dee Ellis
139 books315 followersBorn and raised in the Midwest, reading and writing have always been Dee's passion. Short stories became long stories that finally, became books. While playing grownup during the day, meaning working a job, Dee wrote her first book. When not reading or writing, which leaves less time than she's proud of, Dee loves spending her time with her four furbabies, her husband and lots of movies nights.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 23, 2022
Rosa and Ridge are two people that are on a path that focused on moving forward without any turns until they cross paths with one another unexpectedly. This story is filled to the brim with lust and romance throughout the story. A standalone in a series where secondary characters come into play but you won’t get lost with the storyline. I love heading to The Rusty Nail, there’s almost guaranteed to be some action taking place that has be reading faster to see what happens next. An enjoyable story with a HEA ending.
April 28, 2022
If you like mountain men, insta-love, and a little over-the-top, this is is for you. The story is short and gets right down to it but it's sweet, sexy, and it was just what I needed to decompress after a long day and escape life. I loved Ridge and Rosa.
July 18, 2022
'I think I got lost just so you could find me'
Ridge is a true mountain man, a hardened, grumpy, loner who loves his isolation with just his dog for company. But when Rosa wanders onto his land he knows she has been sent for him. She is the other part of his soul, his to love, his to protect, his to claim and his to provide for.
We instantly see a different side to Ridge, we see his softer side as he takes the loving and providing very seriously, we see his wild side as he claims and his dark side when he has to protect...but honesty every bit of Ridge we see is steamy hot and Rosa knows just how lucky she is.
I really enjoyed this book but I was very frustrated by the huge number of typos and errors that are littered throughout it, it is very disruptive to the flow.
I read this on Kindle Unlimited.
Ridge is a true mountain man, a hardened, grumpy, loner who loves his isolation with just his dog for company. But when Rosa wanders onto his land he knows she has been sent for him. She is the other part of his soul, his to love, his to protect, his to claim and his to provide for.
We instantly see a different side to Ridge, we see his softer side as he takes the loving and providing very seriously, we see his wild side as he claims and his dark side when he has to protect...but honesty every bit of Ridge we see is steamy hot and Rosa knows just how lucky she is.
I really enjoyed this book but I was very frustrated by the huge number of typos and errors that are littered throughout it, it is very disruptive to the flow.
I read this on Kindle Unlimited.
April 21, 2022
Dee Ellis’s New Series Starter is a Steamy One
Dee Ellis’s “Hard Wood,” Book 1 of the Driftwood Peaks series of instalove romantic shorts is a mountain man-curvy girl indulgence. Ridge is a sexy ex-military alpha hero living a very secluded life in the mountains when a young woman on the run finds herself on his doorstep during a blizzard. Rosa is running from the ruthless men in her life - namely her father and the man he chose as his future son-in-law - and she is completely drawn to Ridge. The sexy bits are super steamy, and the “supporting cast” of characters are great, but there was just something about the flow of the dialogue that I couldn’t wrap my head around for some reason.
Dee Ellis’s “Hard Wood,” Book 1 of the Driftwood Peaks series of instalove romantic shorts is a mountain man-curvy girl indulgence. Ridge is a sexy ex-military alpha hero living a very secluded life in the mountains when a young woman on the run finds herself on his doorstep during a blizzard. Rosa is running from the ruthless men in her life - namely her father and the man he chose as his future son-in-law - and she is completely drawn to Ridge. The sexy bits are super steamy, and the “supporting cast” of characters are great, but there was just something about the flow of the dialogue that I couldn’t wrap my head around for some reason.
May 2, 2022
I love a good mountain man romance and the story of Ridge and Rosa brings plenty of feels. Ridge is ex military and now he lives in solitude on the mountain, only leaving his cabin to work with a lumber crew. Rosa is a city girl running from a forced marriage and finds herself lost and alone on Ridge’s front porch. Although she thinks she’s lost, she’s actually found. Ridge finds everything be never knew he wanted in Rosa and Rosa finds safety and passion.
I really liked the characters of this book. Ridge is all protective alpha male but with a sweet and loving side. Rosa is a kind heart looking for something different in life. Together they make a great couple. There is plenty of chemistry and heat between them so this book has tons of steam. There is also some action and suspense when Rosa’s betrothed sends people to collect her. I did take one star off because there were a few inconsistencies in the store and some repetitive aspects but overall it was a good steamy read that I enjoyed. The ending of this book was a very sweet and steamy ending for these two.
I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really liked the characters of this book. Ridge is all protective alpha male but with a sweet and loving side. Rosa is a kind heart looking for something different in life. Together they make a great couple. There is plenty of chemistry and heat between them so this book has tons of steam. There is also some action and suspense when Rosa’s betrothed sends people to collect her. I did take one star off because there were a few inconsistencies in the store and some repetitive aspects but overall it was a good steamy read that I enjoyed. The ending of this book was a very sweet and steamy ending for these two.
I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 29, 2022
This is book number 1 of the Driftwood Peaks series and focuses on Ridge and Rosa. Ridge has been on his own for years and lacking a true purpose in life. He lives on his own with his dog in the mountains and for the most part lives a pretty secluded life. That all changes the second that Rosa wanders to his cabin during a blizzard and shakes up his whole world for the better. Rosa has lived a life as a pawn to be groomed and passed off like property. She finally decides enough is enough and runs until she happens to stumble onto Ridge’s cabin in the mountains. The connection between the two is instant and explosive. I absolutely loved how fiercely Ridge loved Rosa and how incredibly protective he was of her. They both finally found the love they had always wanted but had never found. This was such a great story! It was really nice seeing characters from other books in there as well. Great introduction to the series. I can’t wait for the rest to come out.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 2, 2022
Ridge and Rosa's Story . . .
Ridge Decker lives in the wilderness area to avoid being surrounded by people. He is okay with being alone. He has a dog for company, and that seems to be enough for him. But during a blizzard, Rosa Souza ends up at his cabin for shelter. She is running from a tightly controlled life and is not willing to tolerate it anymore. Her father was giving her to a mobster’s son. The son was a killer, sold drugs, and trafficked young women. She had no choice but to run.
Both Ridge and Rosa are attracted to the other. Will they have only a brief fling while the blizzard keeps them inside? Or is what they feel for each other enough to keep them together in a real relationship? And can Ridge keep Rosa safe when her father’s partners come after her to take her back to that brutal life?
Ridge Decker lives in the wilderness area to avoid being surrounded by people. He is okay with being alone. He has a dog for company, and that seems to be enough for him. But during a blizzard, Rosa Souza ends up at his cabin for shelter. She is running from a tightly controlled life and is not willing to tolerate it anymore. Her father was giving her to a mobster’s son. The son was a killer, sold drugs, and trafficked young women. She had no choice but to run.
Both Ridge and Rosa are attracted to the other. Will they have only a brief fling while the blizzard keeps them inside? Or is what they feel for each other enough to keep them together in a real relationship? And can Ridge keep Rosa safe when her father’s partners come after her to take her back to that brutal life?
December 31, 2025
Racy story, but continuity issues
I really liked the story line in this book, and the spice level is pretty tingly. However, it seems the editing and beta reading must have been rushed or overlooked entirely. Character features and backgrounds changed mid-story, there were a lot of simple-to-catch typos that weren't dealt with. Just seems like it might have been pushed through a deadline too quickly or something. I'm one of those readers that, in order for me to really enjoy and be absorbed into a plot, I have to have consistency and continuity. It's the only real complain I have for this story, and this is the first in the series that really sticks out for it.
I really liked the story line in this book, and the spice level is pretty tingly. However, it seems the editing and beta reading must have been rushed or overlooked entirely. Character features and backgrounds changed mid-story, there were a lot of simple-to-catch typos that weren't dealt with. Just seems like it might have been pushed through a deadline too quickly or something. I'm one of those readers that, in order for me to really enjoy and be absorbed into a plot, I have to have consistency and continuity. It's the only real complain I have for this story, and this is the first in the series that really sticks out for it.
May 1, 2022
Wow! What a great start to a new series. Ridge is one hunk of a huge lumberjack living alone up in the mountains. When he comes home to find a woman on his doorstep, one look and he is instantly hooked. Rosa is running away from a life she didn’t want only to end up lost. When she first meets Ridge she’s shocked to find herself so attracted to the huge handsome man. This Instalove romance will have you cheering for Ridge and Rosa to get their HEA!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 1, 2022
Y’all. This one went from zero to scorching on day one. Ridge is mostly content with his solitary life on the mountain. He works, he walks the land with his dog, and works some more. That’s until Rosa finds her way to his cabin. Lost in more ways than one, Rosa is instantly attracted to Ridge. Getting snowed in moved their relationship along and it is hot hot HOT! Outside drama brings them together even more and I’m here for it all.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 2, 2022
Ridge likes his life of solitude in the mountains until he meets Rosa. Rosa has has a rough life and when she finally decides she's had enough she runs and ends up at Ridge's cabin in the middle of a snowstorm. This is a steamy, insta love story between two people who never knew what love was until they found each other. The writing is good and the characters are believable. Hard Wood is book one in the Driftwood Peaks series and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
May 3, 2022
Heart Felt ~
I enjoyed reading this story. He spent so much time convincing himself he was better off all along on his mountain, until she showed up in a blizzard on his doorstep. It was lust at first sight for both of them. She had big baggage she ran from, but she knew, with out a doubt, she was safe with him. That right there set the fast forward tone for the rest of the book. That past made an appearance, for just a second or two. They got their happily family forever. Loved the epilogue.
I enjoyed reading this story. He spent so much time convincing himself he was better off all along on his mountain, until she showed up in a blizzard on his doorstep. It was lust at first sight for both of them. She had big baggage she ran from, but she knew, with out a doubt, she was safe with him. That right there set the fast forward tone for the rest of the book. That past made an appearance, for just a second or two. They got their happily family forever. Loved the epilogue.
May 6, 2022
NOT REALLY LOST
This is a quick insta-steamy short with a bit of dangerous trouble following her.
Ridge likes living alone on his mountain. After his service he felt lost until he ends up in Driftwood. He's not lonely at all. Rosa is running from mistake after mistake and ends up lost. He finds her at his cabin and takes her in. The heat between them explodes. Maybe they aren't lost at all, maybe they are right where they belong. Can her Beast protect her when they come to take her back?.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a quick insta-steamy short with a bit of dangerous trouble following her.
Ridge likes living alone on his mountain. After his service he felt lost until he ends up in Driftwood. He's not lonely at all. Rosa is running from mistake after mistake and ends up lost. He finds her at his cabin and takes her in. The heat between them explodes. Maybe they aren't lost at all, maybe they are right where they belong. Can her Beast protect her when they come to take her back?.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 1, 2022
Rosa and Ridge meet when they both needed to make changes in their lives. Rosa lands on Ridge’s doorstep on the day he starts thinking he needs to change his lonely existence and Rosa is running from a life that wasn’t her choice. Rosa and Ridge were meant to be together to not only save each other but to find the happiness they both deserve. A fast paced read with all the feels. I received an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 15, 2022
The author has given us a wonderful story that pulls us into the lives of Rosa and Ridge and does not let go. When Rosa gets lost on his mountain, Ridge takes her in and promises to keep her safe. But will he be able to when her worst fear is realized?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 29, 2022
This was a cute and really steamy instalove romance. The story was very fast paced maybe a little too fast for my taste but it was so cute and steamy that the pace could be forgiven. Ridge and Rosa had a strong instant connection and great chemistry. I liked the story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 5, 2022
Loved the start to this series! There's something about a mountain man that all the girls love!
Ridge and Rosa were so good together! As soon as Ridge saw Rosa he was done for. I loved how protective Ridge was no matter that he hasn't known her long. The chemistry was so good! Loved every minute of this book!
Ridge and Rosa were so good together! As soon as Ridge saw Rosa he was done for. I loved how protective Ridge was no matter that he hasn't known her long. The chemistry was so good! Loved every minute of this book!
June 12, 2022
PLEASE hire a proofreader
This book could have been good, but someone really blew it on the proofreading. It's almost like the author did a "cut/paste" job using other stories. The H is making stew for dinner, but when they start eating it's suddenly sandwiches and fries. Continuity is lost multiple times.
This book could have been good, but someone really blew it on the proofreading. It's almost like the author did a "cut/paste" job using other stories. The H is making stew for dinner, but when they start eating it's suddenly sandwiches and fries. Continuity is lost multiple times.
September 13, 2023
I’m so glad I didn’t pay for this book. It’s dreadful, full of pretty comical sex scenes and tropes of what an alpha male is as well as a virgin having out of this world Os her first time. Not to mention the whole runaway would be mafia bride business. Clunky writing, bad editing all combing for a hot mess of a read.
April 28, 2022
OMG this book was FIRE. Ridge was *SWOON* and Rosa was adorable.
The bar scene had me panting after Ridge for days. I kept playing it over and over and over again!
These two were made for each other and there is nothing else to say except hot damn. :)
The bar scene had me panting after Ridge for days. I kept playing it over and over and over again!
These two were made for each other and there is nothing else to say except hot damn. :)
May 13, 2024
For how short this book is it took me a while to read it. Why? Because there was a lot of repetition and changes. At one point we were making stew only to be eating a sandwich and fries.
I think there was a lot of promise in the story, but it just wasn’t there for me.
I think there was a lot of promise in the story, but it just wasn’t there for me.
March 7, 2025
very good
This is a very good short story. I really like this new driftwood peaks series of books. I can’t believe he found her on his porch in a snowstorm. He took care of her from day one.
This is a very good short story. I really like this new driftwood peaks series of books. I can’t believe he found her on his porch in a snowstorm. He took care of her from day one.
May 31, 2025
Read as part of Mountain Man’s Temptation, a really great anthology of mountain man / insta-love stories.
Another story from this anthology that I really liked! Rosa is running and lost and she’s found by Ridge. They’re in love at first sight, but what if her past comes looking for her?
Another story from this anthology that I really liked! Rosa is running and lost and she’s found by Ridge. They’re in love at first sight, but what if her past comes looking for her?
May 13, 2022
good
This was a good first installment of the Driftwood Peaks series. Ridge and Rosa were a great couple and the story was entertaining. Great quick read.
This was a good first installment of the Driftwood Peaks series. Ridge and Rosa were a great couple and the story was entertaining. Great quick read.
May 24, 2022
Great Read
Whew!! I love protective alpha males and this book delivered! Such a great read and I can’t wait to dive into the rest of this series.
Whew!! I love protective alpha males and this book delivered! Such a great read and I can’t wait to dive into the rest of this series.
June 19, 2022
DNF. No content, no connection, no attraction.
Just a book written by someone with a good idea, but a bad execution.
Just a book written by someone with a good idea, but a bad execution.
November 30, 2022
This was a decent book. I skimmed a lot it was ver repetitive
May 1, 2022
A fast paced insta love story. Ridge and Rosa are two people who have been searching for acceptance and love and find it in one another. Ridge is so protective of Rosa and falls for her quickly. Rosa has finally found someone who loves her just the way she is and isn't trying to use her to get ahead. A steamy hot read with all the feels. I loved the HEA. I can't wait for the other books in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews