Victoria’s husband stole money from their friends then killed himself when he was found out, leaving her with a sick son, no house and friends who despised her. When her father dies and leaves his ranch to Victoria’s half-brother, her brother asks her to live at the ranch and run it.
Liam’s family has worked on the ranch for generations. In fact, they used to own the land but lost it in a dodgy deal. So when city-girl Victoria shows up with no clue how to run the place, Liam takes immediate advantage and sells all the cattle.
Needless to say, this does their relationship no favors. But as an inexplicable attraction draws them together, they both have to decide how much they’re willing to trust the other when they’ve both been betrayed by the people who should’ve loved them most. (Liam’s mother left when he was a boy and never contacted him.)
Have you ever read a book that seeped into your soul while you read it, leaving you feeling both destroyed and elated when you finished? Can’t Hurry Love was that book for me.
I’d never read any of Molly O’Keefe’s books before, but a couple of my blog readers had highly recommended this one so I bought it. Holy cow, this is exactly the kind of novel I love. I have a soft spot for heroines who start off with a critical lack of self-confidence, and Victoria certainly has a lot to learn about her own capabilities throughout the novel. All of the characters—not just Liam and Victoria—are driven to emotional hell and back, making their redemption all the sweeter.
And Molly O’Keefe’s writing is sumptuous. She uses language beautifully to crank up the heat between Liam and Victoria, like in this scene where Victoria confides in Liam that she wants to turn the ranch into the kind of luxury spa and resort she used to visit when she was rich.
”I happen to be an authority, Eli. And I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that this resort will be a success. As long as I can get the money to have it done right.”
“Why?” he asked as currents ran between them, slowly building speed and strength until the world fell away and it was just them in the twilight with this unreasonable connection. “Convince me.”
“This land is beautiful. Wild and raw. Dynamic. Virile, in a way.” She was close, too close probably, but she’d been pushed here by a wind she didn’t want to fight. And she could see his heart pounding hard under a quarter-sized bit of skin in his brown neck. She wanted to lick him. Taste the skin over his blood.
“And women like that sort of thing, but from a safe distance. Behind glass. Under control.” Yes. Oh Lord, yes. She wanted to control this wild, virile man in front of her. “They want to experience something unpredictable, while being cared for. While being petted and stroked and made to feel beautiful and womanly.”
He blinked. “You’re…you’re talking a about a spa, right?”
No! she wanted to scream. I’m talking about sex! Wild, crazy sex. With you!
Another reason I loved this book was because of Molly O’Keefe’s unique descriptions. She draws out intriguing details and creates comparisons so vibrant that at several points I closed my eyes and smiled as I pictured the scene, like this description of Liam taking several very busy businessmen and their young sons horseback riding.
The dogs ran ahead of the horses as if they couldn’t believe their luck to be out on a day like this. The boys were sort of like that, too, preening under their fathers’ attention.
Their fathers, though—they handled their sons as though they were sticks of dynamite or talking frogs or some other kind of scary mystery. They kept looking at the boys like they’d never seen them before, like they’d just popped up riding alongside them.
I said earlier that this book left me destroyed. When I put it down, it took me a full week to pick up another novel. I read some non-fiction instead, because Can’t Hurry Love was so perfect that I knew any other novel would pale in comparison.
Rating: 5/5
Heat: Hot
Have you read any of Molly O’Keefe’s books? What did you think? Can you recommend any more for me to read?
I just finished Can’t Buy Me Love yesterday. Wow. First one of Molly’s books I have read. It was funny, heartbreaking, romantic, gut wrenching, I mean it has everything. I absolutely could not put it down. I am now searching out everything I can find that she has written and wondering how i could have missed her. Now that I have read your review, this will be my next book.
I’m definitely going to have to read Can’t Buy Me Love, Trish. Thanks for the rec!
Only read the first one Cant Buy me Loved. Enjoyed it very much.
I have the first one in my TBR pile, but I haven’t gotten to it yet. I know it got very good reviews.
Very nice review. I haven’t read any of her books yet.