Tough Luck Hero

Copper Ridge #5

by Maisey Yates, Lillian Thayer (Narrator)

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 waking up married to her. So why does he find himself entertaining his new wife's desire to stay married--and fantasizing about a real wedding night? As Copper Ridge's prospective mayor, Lydia can't risk a divorce scandal so close to election time. But pretending to be blissfully in love with her new husband is more confusing than she'd thought. For a man who's always rubbed her the wrong way, Colton suddenly seems to know exactly what to do with his hands. And his lips. Now Lydia's wildest mistake could turn out to be her luckiest move, if they're both willing to take the ultimate gamble.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook, Westerns, Fiction, Harlequin

1 pages, Audio CD

First published June 28, 2016

About the author

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.

Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.

She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.

Reviews

[Jessica's Totally Over The Top Book Obsession · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 read a few book by Maisey Yates before and I really love her writing style and her sense of humor.



I liked both the hero and the heroine, but I liked the hero a little bit more. Lydia had some major scars and I can understand her fear of letting someone close to her. She was very determined, outgoing, and smart, but she kept everyone at arm's length. I liked Lydia but at the same time her cowardly tendencies really bugged me. There were a few times that she really frustrated me by constantly letting fear rule her and her relationship with Colton. A few times I wouldn't have minded shaking her really hard. Just sayin'! And then there was the thing she did towards the end that had me deducting a star from my rating She tells Colton over and over again that she doesn't love him when he came to her and told her that he loved her. Then she turns around and leaves him standing there brokenhearted. Although she does come back a few hours later confesses her love for him in a big way and apologizes

"Colton, I like you best with your zipper down and your mouth shut."-Lydia



"Yes," she said, "I'll beg. I'll do whatever you want. Just please." "Please, what?" Heat spread over her skin like a rash. "You know what." "Maybe I don't. Maybe I need you to tell me, peaches." "Now you're being a jerk," she said, gasping as he flicked his tongue over her clit. "Tell me what you want," he said, his mouth hovering just above her core. "I need to come, damn you." "Say please, Lydia." "Bastard." "Never," he responded. "I'm an upstanding citizen." -Lydia and Colton

Colton I really liked. He was definitely sexy, hard working and loyal. He was protective of his family. Giving up his dreams to take care of his sisters and mom. Both Colton and Lydia had an A typical personality. They both were all about control and responsible. They both had very similar characteristics. I liked that they had a kind of hate/love relationship. They were so full of passion they were either ripping each other's heads off or each other's clothes off. I liked all the side characters expect for Colton's ex thank God she was barely in the book. I really liked Colton's siblings. I think I'm going to go back and read their books too. Gage the runaway brother really intrigued me. This story had a nice pace, never got boring, and was very sweet. Most of the drama was dealing with the fact that got mcs didn't want to let their walls down and feel. The epilogue was perfect. Overall I really liked this book and I can't wait for Gage's book which I believe is next.

"Nothing about you is dumb, Lydia Carpenter. Don't play stupid now. You are my real wife. I married you, I sleep with you every night, I damn well love you. Tell me what isn't real about that?"-Colton



http://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessio...

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★½
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 that easy? With fun banter, steamy romance, and unexpected emotion, Tough Luck Hero turned out to be an enjoyable and engaging reading experience.

I'm so glad I recently discovered Maisey Yates because she can write some fun romance. Tough Luck Hero is the fifth installment in a series but I read it as a standalone with no problem. I'm seriously looking forward to digging through her mountain of books. Check her out.

My favorite quote:
"Love made you do crazy things."

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

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*

[Stacee · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 see who gets a story next.

**Huge thanks to HQN Books and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**

[♥ℳelody · Rating 1 out of 5]

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 and not believable given Lydia's abhorrent attitude.

I really struggled to understand why this woman would get so bent out of shape and waspish over everything. My You're a Flaming Bitch 🚨 button was triggered multiple times.

"What if you spend a few minutes talking to me. Because I'm trying to figure out exactly where I stand here, and I have to say, I'm not entirely sure."
"Well excuse me for not feeling all that sorry for you," she said, her tone verging on ferocious. "I am...I don't do things like this."

🚨🚨🚨

"I guess I don't know how you feel about things like your number. Or, whatever it is that people seem to obsess about when it comes to sex and partners. It was different maybe when we thought we had done it before..."
"Are you concerned that you just made me a slut when you hadn't already?"
He frowned. "That's not what I said. And you know it. But I feel like maybe it was a little bit of sex under false pretenses. And, it wasn't on purpose, but I'm worried."
"Worried that I'll have a spiral because I've now had sex with three men instead of two? However will I go on?"
"You don't have to be sarcastic about it."
"Yes, I kind of do, because it's either that or punch you in the face, or maybe curl up on top of my pamphlets and have a mental breakdown."

🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨



All this because he asked you if you were ok during afterglow? 😳

Lydia was exactly what I was expecting to get but hoping for her to prove me wrong. She's uptight, temperamental and just so blah. She's only ever one mode: Defensive. And that never works for me. Give me a reason why someone needs to act like a bitch besides the fact that she's attracted to a guy. I mean seriously? This isn't Junior High. I just didn't understand her or what Colton found so attractive about her. The stank attitude was very hard to overlook for me. A person can be gorgeous or plain but end of the day if their attitude is shit? You ugly. Period. Point. Blank. It's the biggest turn off imaginable. And I will never ever understand why authors write heroines like this. Delete it.



I think what also lost me besides the lackluster pairing and mediocre sex was the humor was totally missing. The humor & witty dialogue Yates is known for was completely absent here with a dry as dirt couple and an uptight heroine who constantly vilifies the hero because she doesn't want to open up. And let me just say Colton is literally the least arrogant or offensive hero out of this whole series. He's totally mislabeled in here for the sake of added forced 'conflict' for the sparring couple, and to justify the heroine's snide nasty behavior towards him. 👎 Which I find so intolerable and a flimsy reasoning. Colton goes out of his way constantly to try and understand and make peace with Lydia but she acts like he's an overbearing offensive jerk for even daring to ask her. A guy simply asks if you are ok or if you need help and you chew his head off for it every time & go off on rants yet the guy is the "arrogant asshole" in this equation?...

I mean was she confusing him for someone else? Was Yates confusing him with another hero? #confuzzled And Lydia's sob story I found a little bit much and didn't translate well as to why she acts the way she does. You lost your twin sister at a young age and your parents smothered you is the reason you are so emotionally stunted?.....Seriously? 😕 Meh. I don't know maybe because nothing was clicking for me here I ended up nitpicking more but Yates dragged things out so much with both hero and heroine internalizing things to death that it tipped over to the dramatic side.

His stomach twisted in horror. “This is why I want to talk. Did I...did I do something that you didn’t like?”
She lifted her hands, rubbing the back of her neck and squeezing her eyes shut. “No. I’m just...horrified. And I don’t know what to do with all of the feelings. Because I’ve never had an orgasm with a man before, and I’ve never gone down on... Anyway, I can’t have this conversation with you right now because I’m very delicate.”
“You’re delicate?” He had no idea why that was the part of her little speech he had chosen to comment on, except maybe because it was about the only thing he could focus on in the middle of all that information.
“Birdlike.”
“And you’ve never had an orgasm with a man before?” He was not even going to touch the blow job issue.
“No,” she said. “But I don’t want to talk about that.”
“You can’t introduce the fact that I was the first man ever to give you an orgasm and expect me to not talk about it. At length.”
“If you were a gentleman you would honor my request.”

🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨




Delicate? Birdlike??



I have never in my life ever heard such a thing. Nobody talks this way about themselves.

He had said it the last time they were together, and it had been rough, thrilling. She had relished that look inside of him, beneath the veneer. And because it had meant so much coming from him, she knew it would mean even more coming from her. And what would happen then? The world might fall apart, and she would be revealed. Lydia Carpenter, in all of her shattered, messy glory, wrapped up in a tight little ball and squished down deep inside well-ordered, reinvented Lydia Carpenter, who controlled her life in a way that was a lie, because life couldn’t be controlled. Who looked so smooth and serene, like she could never be broken when deep inside she already was.
If she asked Colton West to do that to her then he would know. He would know that deep down she wanted those things, that she fantasized about those things. That she was no more the perfectly kept and well-ordered person she presented to the world than he was.
Then he would have her. Have his hand wrapped around her every vulnerable piece. He would know just where they were, and just how to destroy them.

All this because he wants you to say 'fuck me' during sex?

Whew.

The amount of lengthy expositions you have to sit through in this book is borderline obsessive compulsive and absurd. How many times do I need to be reminded how neither character has "never done this kind of thing before"? One to three times is good. Five is enough. But 50 times through a book? Insane. There's 3 pages worth of just internal monologues with the h/hr examining things to death before actually doing anything. Lydia in particular. 😫 Girl acted like her head and vagina would short circuit if she kissed Colton. The amount of internal angst and hair pulling this woman goes through over just the idea of having sex with Colton because her cooch has never experienced these feelings is a serious test in patience.


And I also found the whole premise of this story so unoriginal and extremely contrived. Colton gets stood up at the altar and ends up at the local bar getting drunk with Lydia who also happens to be a bridesmaid, they somehow end up flying to Vegas and getting married and wake up in bed together (cause that’s apparently what you do when you are shit-faced, you book a flight and board a plane). Since the two texted photos of their Chapel of Love adventure to friends and colleagues, Lydia’s brilliant idea is to continue on with the charade and stay married for the time being to avoid scandal so it doesn’t ruin her chances of running for town mayor. 😐

*crickets*


Right. Running off with the groom to Vegas and getting married isn’t scandal enough??? Considering the fact that nobody has ever seen these two spend time together much less share a civil word, the idea of trying to sell it like they’ve secretly been in love this whole time was far fetched enough. But the fact that zero reaction was shown to this surprising nuptial except for a few raised eyebrows just showed how ill-thought out and thin this plot was. It was played out so weakly where Yates put no effort into exploring the couple playacting the role of a "happily married couple". Which made no damn sense. All they did was freaking fight. And very publicly I might add. I mean if you are going to use the marriage of convenience trope, use it to your full advantage. I feel like this is where I should point out that heated sparring as "sexual foreplay" and nasty unstable fighting are not the same thing. At all. One has sexual tension coming off in waves the other is just asking for a shrink. I hate when authors mix the 2 up. Lydia kept using Colton as her emotional punching bag and it was uncomfortable to sit through. And trying to tell your readers 2 people who could never stand the sight of each other suddenly discovering they "wanted each other from the very first moment they met" (😂) is really hard to buy considering the fact that they barely shared more than 3 words before this book. Get. real.

Nothing about this book was believable.

And PS: The fact that I still don't have one clue what Lydia even looks like did not escape my notice Yates. 😑

[Lover of Romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 he doesn't necessarily like but feels a attraction to. When they find themselves married to each other, they decide to make the best of the situation. Lydia is running for mayor, and getting a divorce would ruin her chances. So she convinces Colton to stick through it until the election is over.

I really enjoyed the set up of the story, and seeing a marriage of conveience (or fake marriage) turn out with a happy ending. I was intrigued by the politics of Colton's family, and I am curious about the other members of his family. I liked the chemistry between Colton and Lydia---some powerful intimate scenes were written quite well. But I felt a bit disconnected with the actual romance and couldn't get fully engaged in the story. So even though this aspect was a bit disappointing, it was a enjoyable story with charming characters and a cute little town. I do plan on trying this author out again! :)

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Dani C. (Polly's Place) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

Tough Luck Hero by Maisey Yates did all that for me.

Now I have been a fan of the Copper Ridge series since it started. In fact I have already given two of her books in this series 5 stars as well. This means that I have truly enjoyed these books and I most certainly look forward to the newest arrival coming out in late August. I do recommend that you read these books in the order that they were published in. You just get more enjoyment out of a series like this one if you do.

[Sheyla ✎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 years back.

From the moment Lydia met Colton West, she knew she had to remain as far as possible from him. He was dating her ex-best friend Natalie and she's even a bridesmaid at their wedding. But, when said wedding doesn't happen and Colton is left at the altar, she can't seem to let him suffer. After too many drinks, the next morning she finds herself with a severe hangover in Las Vegas with a ring on her finger. Yes, she has married the guy she was supposed to stay away from. Annulling the wedding is not an option. The last thing she needs is this type of news to spread around town. Nonetheless, she's not sure she can survive moving in with Colton. She's attracted to him and as hard as she tries to fight her feelings for him, getting to know him only makes it harder.

“But I really don’t do things like this. I am not spontaneous. I am not irresponsible. I do not…sleep with men that I don’t like.”
He snorted. “I don’t usually sleep with women with superiority complexes.”

Colton has always done the responsible thing. When his twin left town without a glance back, he knew he had to step up and help his father with their family business. He has demonstrated he's good at it. He's also good at helping his sisters and mother who is fragile after learning her father had an affair and he has another sibling. He decides staying married is the best choice rather than upsetting his mother and fighting his attraction to Lydia is a lost battle. Convincing her that they might have a chance is harder than he thought. Good thing he can be stubborn.


“Next to him I look like a damn Care Bear.”
She pressed her hand to his stomach and pushed against his abs. “Aren’t you supposed to have some kind of rainbow light that shoots out of you or something?”
“I regret my choice of simile. Stop pressing on my stomach.”
“It pretty much doesn’t press. Your abs are crazy.”


I loved both characters. They made perfect sense. From the moment they met, they knew about their attraction. Their banter and fights had me laughing every single time. The epilogue was too sweet!

Cliffhanger: No

5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

[Alvina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tags: vegas married

DNF

Shame because the writing is objectively good. Maybe read it if youre in the mood for illogical soap operas.

They dont like each other at all which makes me wonder why she approached him to comfort him, let alone why they went to Vegas semi-sober??? He’s snarky but ok, the man was left at the altar so lets give him a break.

But she’s running for Mayor and she engaged in this kind of behavior months before the election???? Like fine, people have done worse in real life, but I presume the author wants us to respect this woman’s competence right? The entire trip after their drunken marriage consists of the heroine monologuing about how she never liked the hero and how she wants to punch him in the face.

Aaaand, this woman wants to be a politician yeesh😂😂😂 Hunny? How did this even happen then?

Enemies to lovers is not my thing at all but I can grit my teeth through the misunderstandings if the writing is good. But damn, the logic really doesnt hold up well. She hates him too much for me to even believe theyd sit next to each other on a flight, let alone get Vegas married.

Edit: Skimmed to the end and dodged a bullet ya’ll

[Julia Carti cu Colti · Rating 4 out of 5]

🥰

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 her feelings from the past is the only way to move forward and accept love, truly become part of Copper Ridge.

Colton West did not picture himself being left at the altar, and within 24 hours he’s married. His whole life Colton has been groomed to take over the family ranching business. However, with bothers skipping town and family marital secrets reeking havoc on the West family, Colton steps in and takes over it all. Protector, adviser, business manager, brother, son and now a husband, Colton is forced to take a stand and do what’s best for him.

I really enjoyed reading Tough Luck Hero, I felt the title was so fitting for the couple. Colton and Lydia were heroes, to each other, neither one knew they needed rescued until they found themselves becoming people they didn’t want to be. Cold and snotty would have been a good way to describe the early days in their relationship. I was almost to give up on Lydia with how she was treating Colton but she redeemed herself, I was rooting for her by the end of the novel. The characters were blended perfectly into a supporting cast, I’m intrigued enough to go searching for previous novels in the Copper Ridge series. The plot was a good mix of emotions, characters and surprise. There were a couple of plot twist that happened, I never saw coming. Tough Luck Hero was a great read, easily placed in a reread category and I’m eagerly anticipating the next release, Last Chance Rebel.

Review copy provided for an honest review.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tough Luck Hero
Copper Ridge, Book 5

I Picked Up This Book Because: Bookspin Bingo pick. (O5 An ARC)

Media Type: Audiobook
Source: Everand (Have Netgalley Copy)
Dates Read: 2/14/25 - 2/17/25
Rating: 3 Stars
Narrator(s): Lillian Thayer


The Characters:

Lydia Carpenter:
Colton West:
Other residents of Copper Ridge

The Story:

A very “meh” story with a hallmark ending. Perhaps I'm impatient but some plot points took way too long to drop. I wanted to understand the characters but couldn't because of things being held back.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Kate Vale · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 the local pub turns into something a lot more when they end up in Vegas and wake up married. What?! How did that happen? Or, why? And now what are they going to do? A quicky divorce will kill Lydia's election chances and Colton's mother won't tolerate yet another shock. So... they decide to stay married--at least for a time.

How that decision begins to tie them together and then begins to unravel makes for an intriguing story perfect for a hot summer day in the shade of a leafy tree.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

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, but Yates still manages to tell a tale about how uncompromising people find their HEA. If you'd like to read a more extensive review, please follow the link to:

https://missbatesreadsromance.com/201...

I received an e-ARC from HQN, via Netgalley.

[Mandi]

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.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

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...

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 tender moments together, which made me happy.

Overall: A very enjoyable fauxmance-romance, with a grin-inducing ending.

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[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 ! And he have no clear memories of it either.

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 trope. Maisey Yates is very good at mixing drama and romance, with a little touch of comedy. Lydia's inner thinking couldn't get a break but being with Colton 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.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 they have always known and cling to old traditions (like the mayor who has been mayor for FOREVER and is the father of her former friend, who also happens to be Colton's no show bride). I like her ideas and her vision, she works really hard and there are definitely a lot of people and support in her vision and she is very personable for sure. Totally rooting for her to win! While trying to keep her 'husband' from making more moves.

Colton is trying to be the prodigal son, especially when his sisters were involved in some scandalous controversies, he found out his father had an affair that resulted in a kid around his age, his eldest brother walked out on them years ago and his mother is in a very very fragile state. So he does what he can to make his family but in the mean time he doesn't get to focus on what he is passionate about, nor dare to pursue what he wants....that is until Lydia arrives in his life and turns his world upside down.

One thing, I would have liked to known what happened to this older brother of Colton's, who shows up at the last possible minute. Also, would have liked Lydia to reach out to her parents and actually have them meet Colton, after all, they are married!

[Nichole Howell · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 only forced to be around each other because Lydia's friend, Natalie, is marrying him. When Natalie no-shows at her own wedding, Lydia spends time with Colton, trying to be nice to him, for the first time ever. The next thing she knows it's the next day, she's in Vegas, and there is a ring on her finger.

Neither Colton nor Lydia know what happened, but all evidence points to their marriage. Not keen on the idea to stay married, they are stuck because it seems they shared the "happy" news with others in Copper Ridge. Lydia is running for mayor, so she can't deny the marriage nor say it was a drunken mistake. Colton and Lydia agree, that for both their sakes, it's best to stay married until after the election and then they can part ways.

[Jonel · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 myself dying for a deeper understanding of what made Lydia tick. When she finally opened up to Colton about her family I was both floored & rewarded. Together, these two were not only heartfelt, but also explosive. Seeing them come to grips with their new equilibrium and relationship was an absolute blast. Seeing both of these two ridged people gobsmacked by their emotions was powerful.

Once again Yates has penned a novel that kept me coming back for more time and time again. It was a fantastic read that I could barely put down. It could easily be read on its own but is also an absolutely unforgettable addition to this series.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

[Joyfully Reviewed · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 that they have been attracted to each other for a very long time. Will they admit how they feel and stay together after the election is over?

I’m hooked on Cooper Ridge and Tough Luck Hero may be my favorite story yet! I’ve been waiting and hoping that something would happen to stop Colton from the terrible marriage he had planned to a “suitable” woman. I could see the sparks between Lydia and Colton and was intrigued! Maisey Yates didn’t disappoint me! I loved every minute of Tough Luck Hero and can’t wait to see what is coming next in Cooper Ridge!

Reviewed by Melissa for Joyfully Reviewed
Link: http://bit.ly/29bNgRS

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

"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 joint stories evolved and what they learned about themselves along the way.

Ms Yates had written a sweet and enjoyable novel, with some steamy scenes. She examines the role of family, obligation, life changes, codependence, and the dynamics between couples.

This is a novel I would recommend to readers who want a wonderful, enjoyable and engaging novel with a HEA ending.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/2bKSR1a

[Seanna Yeager · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 characters have hidden depths and hurts, that they try to hide from the world, and most importantly from each other. I loved Yates humor throughout the book, it brings much needed levity to the story.

The only thing that annoyed me, is now I am DYING for Gage's story... must remain strong and wait.

Thanks Netgalley for the free review copy, in exchange for an honest review.

[Kassiah · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 fantastic author, and you can definitely count on her to write supreme hotness between relatable characters.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

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. Copper Ridge seems like a great little town to host this series of books and I'll have to check out the previous titles.

[Nate Brightman · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.