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Against the Odds
A love stronger than fear…
Former army sniper Douglas "Bear" Steele wants only to be left alone to live a quiet, peaceful existence in the small town of Widow's Grove. So his attraction to Hope Sanderson is unexpected and inconvenient. Having recently survived a violent bank robbery, Hope has vowed to seize each day and leave behind her safe, ordered life. As Hope and Bear help each other heal, their desire turns to love. But with their lives moving in opposite directions, can they find a balance to let go of the past and embrace the future…together?
- GenresContemporary Romance
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2016
4 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Laura Drake
41 books280 followersLaura Drake is a city girl who never grew out of her tomboy ways or a serious cowboy crush. She writes Women’s Fiction, Romance and Thrillers.
Her pro bull riding series, Sweet on a Cowboy is published by Grand Central. The Sweet Spot, Nothing Sweeter, and Sweet on You. The Sweet Spot won the 2014 RITA award for Best First Book.
Her Widow's Grove small town series is published by Harlequin's Superromance line. Her Road Home, Reasons to Stay, Twice in a Blue Moon, and Against the Odds.
The Chestnut Creek Series was published with Grand Central - The Last True Cowboy, December 2018. Home at Chestnut Creek, July 2019, and Cowboy for Keeps, December 2019.
Laura has since branched out into Women's Fiction with Days Made of Glass, The Road to Me, Amazing Gracie and For Roger.
In 2025, Laura released her first domestic suspense/thriller, The Devil She Didn't Know.
Laura finally realized a long time dream of moving to Texas, and is currently working on her accent. She gave up a Corporate CFO gig to write full time. She's wife, grandmother and motorcycle chick in the remaining waking hours.
Her pro bull riding series, Sweet on a Cowboy is published by Grand Central. The Sweet Spot, Nothing Sweeter, and Sweet on You. The Sweet Spot won the 2014 RITA award for Best First Book.
Her Widow's Grove small town series is published by Harlequin's Superromance line. Her Road Home, Reasons to Stay, Twice in a Blue Moon, and Against the Odds.
The Chestnut Creek Series was published with Grand Central - The Last True Cowboy, December 2018. Home at Chestnut Creek, July 2019, and Cowboy for Keeps, December 2019.
Laura has since branched out into Women's Fiction with Days Made of Glass, The Road to Me, Amazing Gracie and For Roger.
In 2025, Laura released her first domestic suspense/thriller, The Devil She Didn't Know.
Laura finally realized a long time dream of moving to Texas, and is currently working on her accent. She gave up a Corporate CFO gig to write full time. She's wife, grandmother and motorcycle chick in the remaining waking hours.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 1, 2016
4.5 stars.
Against the Odds by Laura Drake is a poignant and moving novel of healing, new beginnings and love.
Hope Sanderson has always done exactly what is expected of her but after surviving a bank robbery, she decides it is time to take charge of her life. Although her mom is now deceased, a lifetime of hypercritical commentary leaves Hope second guessing her judgment and her decisions, but she is determined to embrace everything life has to offer. Beginning a new job at a Wilderness Outfitter is just the first of many changes she is making. However it is not until she meets Doug "Bear" Steele at a trauma support group that Hope really steps outside of her comfort zone. The big burly biker is just the type of man her mother warned her about but Hope finds it impossible to resist her unexpected attraction to the emotionally wounded ex-con.
Like Hope, Bear is also forced into new situations that make him uncomfortable but unlike Hope, he is not exactly a willing participant. One of the conditions of parole is attending the trauma support group and for someone who has become a virtual recluse, these meetings are excruciating. Bear grudgingly reveals bits and pieces of his past, but he has absolutely no intention of discussing the real problems that are plaguing him. He is also hesitant to become involved with any of the other members or their problems but Bear finds himself reluctantly offering support once everyone begins discussing what brought them to the meetings. He is also drawn to Hope and although he feels he is completely out of her league, Bear works up the courage to ask her out and he is stunned when she says yes.
As the weeks pass, Bear and Hope tentatively begin seeing each other outside of their group sessions. Hope is pleasantly surprised to discover that Bear is a gentle giant who is quite protective. Bear still feels like he is completely unworthy of Hope but he is unable to stay away from her. Although they are an unlikely couple, they are soon spending as much time together as possible and as their attraction deepens, so do their feelings for each other. However, Bear still remains closed off and isolated and Hope grows concerned that he will never be able to work through the trauma he experienced during his tour in Afghanistan. Bear becomes defensive and angry with her gentle prodding but he still cannot bring himself to open up. Will their relationship survive after Bear's worst fears are realized and he withdraws from everyone who cares about him?
Heartfelt and engaging, Against the Odds is an absolutely wonderful novel that beautifully demonstrates the importance of making peace with the past in order to move forward. The characters are complex and multi-layered with realistic flaws and all too human frailties. The storyline is unique and features true to life issues that are easy to relate to. Bear's anguish over what happened in Afghanistan is heartbreaking but it is incredibly heartwarming watching him break free from his self-imposed prison. Another truly captivating romance by Laura Drake that I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend.
Against the Odds by Laura Drake is a poignant and moving novel of healing, new beginnings and love.
Hope Sanderson has always done exactly what is expected of her but after surviving a bank robbery, she decides it is time to take charge of her life. Although her mom is now deceased, a lifetime of hypercritical commentary leaves Hope second guessing her judgment and her decisions, but she is determined to embrace everything life has to offer. Beginning a new job at a Wilderness Outfitter is just the first of many changes she is making. However it is not until she meets Doug "Bear" Steele at a trauma support group that Hope really steps outside of her comfort zone. The big burly biker is just the type of man her mother warned her about but Hope finds it impossible to resist her unexpected attraction to the emotionally wounded ex-con.
Like Hope, Bear is also forced into new situations that make him uncomfortable but unlike Hope, he is not exactly a willing participant. One of the conditions of parole is attending the trauma support group and for someone who has become a virtual recluse, these meetings are excruciating. Bear grudgingly reveals bits and pieces of his past, but he has absolutely no intention of discussing the real problems that are plaguing him. He is also hesitant to become involved with any of the other members or their problems but Bear finds himself reluctantly offering support once everyone begins discussing what brought them to the meetings. He is also drawn to Hope and although he feels he is completely out of her league, Bear works up the courage to ask her out and he is stunned when she says yes.
As the weeks pass, Bear and Hope tentatively begin seeing each other outside of their group sessions. Hope is pleasantly surprised to discover that Bear is a gentle giant who is quite protective. Bear still feels like he is completely unworthy of Hope but he is unable to stay away from her. Although they are an unlikely couple, they are soon spending as much time together as possible and as their attraction deepens, so do their feelings for each other. However, Bear still remains closed off and isolated and Hope grows concerned that he will never be able to work through the trauma he experienced during his tour in Afghanistan. Bear becomes defensive and angry with her gentle prodding but he still cannot bring himself to open up. Will their relationship survive after Bear's worst fears are realized and he withdraws from everyone who cares about him?
Heartfelt and engaging, Against the Odds is an absolutely wonderful novel that beautifully demonstrates the importance of making peace with the past in order to move forward. The characters are complex and multi-layered with realistic flaws and all too human frailties. The storyline is unique and features true to life issues that are easy to relate to. Bear's anguish over what happened in Afghanistan is heartbreaking but it is incredibly heartwarming watching him break free from his self-imposed prison. Another truly captivating romance by Laura Drake that I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend.
June 15, 2016
Hope Sanderson has always been a "good" girl, doing what her mother expected. That is, until she is nearly killed in a kidnapping and bank robbery gone terribly wrong. After that horrendous experience, she decides her old life is no longer for her. Change is required, in spite of her late mother's continuing comments. At the trauma group she goes to, Hope meets former Army sniper and loner Doug (Bear) Steele.
Bear is shocked at how much like the woman whose image he thinks of as his angel Hope is and he has to talk to her, has to meet her. As each of them gets to know the other, as well as the other damaged members of the group, healing begins to occur.
Hope's attempts to become "adventurous" are hilarious. Bear's efforts to come out of his shell while protecting his secrets show how painfully he moves toward being the man Hope needs in her life. Each of them deserves what the other can offer, but can they reach that balance each needs? Read and find out.
Bear is shocked at how much like the woman whose image he thinks of as his angel Hope is and he has to talk to her, has to meet her. As each of them gets to know the other, as well as the other damaged members of the group, healing begins to occur.
Hope's attempts to become "adventurous" are hilarious. Bear's efforts to come out of his shell while protecting his secrets show how painfully he moves toward being the man Hope needs in her life. Each of them deserves what the other can offer, but can they reach that balance each needs? Read and find out.
October 11, 2018
Former army sniper Douglas "Bear" Steele wants only to be left alone to live a quiet, peaceful existence in the small town of Widow's Grove. So his attraction to Hope Sanderson is unexpected and inconvenient. Having recently survived a violent bank robbery, Hope has vowed to seize each day and leave behind her safe, ordered life. As Hope and Bear help each other heal, their desire turns to love. But with their lives moving in opposite directions, can they find a balance to let go of the past and embrace the future...together?
I absolutely loved this book the characters were great! The setting was brilliant!
I love how this all turn out.
I absolutely loved this book the characters were great! The setting was brilliant!
I love how this all turn out.
November 17, 2019
This is a new author to me and I am delighted to say I loved her book. The characters were totally believable and appealing, the storyline kept my attention throughout and the dialogue was beautifully written. I really enjoyed this.
Read
June 4, 2016Wonderfully Delightful
Wonderful story of redemption, self discovery and overcoming obstacles. Holly and Bear both have their demons to fight to get their lives on track. Being part of a group in a Trauma Recovery class, each one starts seeing things a little differently and start putting their lives back together or start taking over their lives. Of course there is a sweet romance between Hope and Bear but not without a few ups and downs.
If you could give 10 stars this book would deserve everyone of those 10. Laura Drake really has done a fabulous with telling this star. Personally I doubt you can go wrong with any of her books, so yes I would recommend this book.
Wonderful story of redemption, self discovery and overcoming obstacles. Holly and Bear both have their demons to fight to get their lives on track. Being part of a group in a Trauma Recovery class, each one starts seeing things a little differently and start putting their lives back together or start taking over their lives. Of course there is a sweet romance between Hope and Bear but not without a few ups and downs.
If you could give 10 stars this book would deserve everyone of those 10. Laura Drake really has done a fabulous with telling this star. Personally I doubt you can go wrong with any of her books, so yes I would recommend this book.
July 21, 2016
This couple was drawn together from the first, compelled to be together, and they were a perfect fit. Bear was a wonderful and complex hero who barely made it through to his happy ending. A mix of secondary characters were intriguing and pushed the story to a higher level. I admired Hope's unflagging determination to prove herself and the space she gave Bear. Laura Drake is such a fine writer and this is another good one from her.
April 1, 2018
A romance plus. The court mandated group where Bear & Hope met turned into a compelling secondary story. Bina, Brenda, Bryan & Mark were nice additions.
Priss & Nacho showed up too. Good story.
Setting: Widow’s Grove, CA
Priss & Nacho showed up too. Good story.
Setting: Widow’s Grove, CA
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews