More than any other book in this series, Wrapped and Strapped was a full out hard look at life; accepting the past and moving forward, second chances, learning from mistakes, embracing new experiences, trusting one another fully and most of all giving in and accepting love and Lorelei James has once again proved why her fans wait not so patiently for each and every release. ~ Slick, Guilty Pleasures
Description:
Flower child, vegetarian and humanitarian Harlow Pratt and gruff and strapping cattle ranch foreman Hugh Pritchett have been taunting each other for years. Hugh thinks she’s nothing but a spoiled rich girl, and he’s had enough of that life with his ex-wife. Harlow thinks Hugh is an ill-mannered trouble-maker who wouldn’t know fun if it bit him on his tight denim-clad butt.
When they’re forced together at the Split Rock Ranch and Resort, everything changes. They might be polar opposites, but working out their differences skin to skin, in the dark, seems to help their incompatibility a lot. But when trouble from both their pasts comes calling, Harlow and Hugh have no one else to lean on. Can they trust one another enough to make it through the hard times together… or will their tentative truce fall apart?
Review copy provided for an honest review
I was very much anticipating this book so much so that I worried it might not live up to my 
expectations, but in true Lorelei James form she quite frankly managed to blow me away with this engrossing tale of two very different people with two seemingly different lifestyles converging into one difficult, perplexing, sexy and satisfying romance. Wrapped and Strapped is everything I’ve come to expect with this author; a strong hero with a heart of gold, a feisty heroine, lots of fun and interesting secondary characters, a complicated plot and a love that knows no bounds.
From the minute Hugh Pritchett was introduced in this series, I was curious about him. His rough appearance, his gruff almost mean attitude and his obvious back off vibe made me want to know more than the fact he went through a rough divorce. Throughout this series, we’ve seen him change quite a bit, but he remained a pretty big mystery until this book where we got a very good look at Hugh’s life before the Spilt Rock Ranch and since he moved to Wyoming. I loved seeing he had a great sense of humor, that he wasn’t afraid to take chances and that when he wanted something badly enough he went after it with his whole heart whether it was personal or business. On top of that we was Hugh was observant and despite a long dry spell he was an inventive and caring lover.
I’ll admit when Harlow Pratt first came on the scene I didn’t like her all that much, but as time went on it was evident that Harlow was a master at letting people think what they wanted to think about her and she pretended not to give a damn. I was a bit shocked at how fragile Harlow really was and not just due to an incident that happened from the time she left Wyoming to the time she returned three years later. Growing up the way she did and never really feeling close to anyone other than her sister (and even that was a tenuous at best), Harlow had a very hard time accepting help, expressing her emotions and truly letting someone see all sides of her. She can be outspoken and sassy but in all honesty that is a mask she wears to hide her real self.
Hugh and Harlow have history and when she is forced to leave her life in California and head to Denver to care for her father, she finds she has to deal with Hugh right off the bat. I give Hugh a lot of credit for apologizing for past mistakes, for letting Harlow say her piece and for not giving up. Honestly I was impressed with Hugh’s dedication to making Harlow understand that he wasn’t going anywhere. While there was heat between these two it was on a low simmer and it just kept getting hotter with each exchange and every touch and conversation. Lord did these two talk about anything and everything and I appreciated it because we really got a good feel for both of these characters and the baggage they brought to the relationship. That being said, just because they talked didn’t mean they didn’t boink like bunnies because holy smokes did these two burn up every surface everywhere they went. They were both making up for lost time and I can truly say not only were they satisfied; it was pretty damn satisfying to the reader as well.
I truly appreciated how these two had each other’s back when they needed it and I’m sure Harlow would say even when she didn’t need it. But the fact remains, there was a bond between them that was strong and even when neither one was sure where their relationship was going or for how long; they really were a cohesive unit. Their journey was not an easy one and along the way events, people and life got in the way but I was impressed with the way they both handled not only the situations but each other.
More than any other book in this series, Wrapped and Strapped was a full out hard look at life; accepting the past and moving forward, second chances, learning from mistakes, embracing new experiences, trusting one another fully and most of all giving in and accepting love and Lorelei James has once again proved why her fans wait not so patiently for each and every release.
4.5 stars
Thanks for the thorough review. It’s going right on my to read now list. Her books are always great and fullfilling reads. I look forward to reading Wrapped and Strapped.
Carol L
Definitely looking forward to reading this…thanks for the review Slick.