Title: Force of Nature
Series: Coming About, #4
Author: J.K. Hogan
Publisher: Euphoria Press (self)
Release Date: 7/4/17
Heat Level: 4 – Lots of Sex
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 80,000 words
Genre: Romance, contemporary, adventure
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Synopsis:
Everyone knows that bonds formed under extreme circumstances never last.
Harbor Patrol officer Neal Hesse has had his life turned upside down by a sudden break-up with his partner of ten years. After sleeping his way through Seattle failed to take his mind off his broken heart, he decides to take a leave of absence from work to find himself again. He hires a professional wilderness guide to take him up into the mountains, so he can get away from everything and live off the grid for a few days.
Travis “Rock” McCreary, ex-Army Ranger turned survivalist, hates doing guided excursions, but it’s his primary source of income while he’s working towards getting his own survival show. Working in such a testosterone-fueled profession has forced him so deep into the closet, he feels like he might never see the light of day again, which makes it even harder to put on a friendly face for his happy, normal clients.
When Rock is hired by clumsy city-boy Neal to take him up into the North Cascades for a survival adventure, his patience and his resolve are tested at every turn. He has to teach Neal to survive in the wilderness while fighting an attraction he can’t allow himself to act on. When their trip doesn’t go as planned, Neal’s getaway turns into a true survival situation, and he and Rock are forced to rely on each other to stay alive. If they make it out of the wilderness, can their newfound connection survive in the real world?
Excerpt:
Neal didn’t see how this was supposed to help take his mind off his ex because, as they trudged up the trail mostly in silence, he had nothing but time to think. Time to think about how he’d fallen for and spent years with a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He thought he’d been settled, that Tony was The One, that they had been on their way to growing old together. How wrong he’d been.
When the party reached an overlook at the highest point on the trail, they stopped for a panoramic view of the waterfall. Even Neal had to admit, with the sun streaming into the gorge and casting rainbows from the mist, it was a beautiful sight. It was still hard to drag himself out of his head, though. He knew his friends meant well, and they were right, of course. He needed to get up, get out, get back on the proverbial horse of life. But he didn’t wanna. He wanted to be at home on the couch moping, damn it.
He wished for that even harder when he saw the so-called trail that descended from the overlook to the foot of the falls where hikers could walk around or swim on warm-enough days. This trail was also steps, but natural ones of smooth, flat rock. It was narrow. Very narrow, and the lower part had a thin coat of slime from the water spray and mud. So it was fucking slippery.
When he’d almost made it to the flat riverbed, Neal lost his footing on a slick rock. He barely avoided taking a tumble—probably would’ve cracked his skull open—but he gained his balance again at the last moment. He breathed a sigh of relief when he stepped off that part of the trail. The falls dumped into a wide open part of the gorge, forming a broad pool that was bordered by a large, semicircular bank of river rock. There, day-hikers and tourists spread out on the rocks, picnicking, sunning themselves, or generally just taking in the scenery. Neal’s friends spread out to do their own thing.
Addison stalked off to the tree line with her cell phone, probably trying to get a signal so she could call her girlfriend. Bennett led Rory around the edge of the pond so they could get close to the actual waterfall. He was wearing a chest harness that held his Go-Pro, the action camera he usually kept on his boat. Rich and Paddy sat down on some large rocks and got out their trail snacks. And Nic Valentine, the crazy fucker, was wading in the frigid pool while Justice looked on, shaking his damn head.
Neal shivered just thinking about it. It was the tail-end of summer, so it was still quite warm, but these high lakes and rivers were always brisk, even on the hottest days. He’d been trained to withstand cold water temperatures for marine rescues, but that didn’t mean he had to like it, and he certainly didn’t do it for fun. Turning away from the splashing idiot, Neal looked around at all of the tourists and vacationers. Everyone had phones out, taking pictures, and he was sure they were tweeting and Instagramming like mad whenever they could find a bar or two.
He shook his head, then smirked and took his own phone out. “When in Rome,” he muttered. First, he snapped a picture with the reverse camera of himself with the waterfall in the background. Then he flipped the view so he could get a shot of the gorge. His frame wasn’t wide enough, so he took a few steps back, mindful of the rocks that became more slippery the closer he got to the falls.
His foot slipped and plopped down into water still cold enough to make him gasp, and right at the same time, he backed into something hard. Solid. Something alive. Neal winced when he heard an outraged cry and a splash behind him. Oh, fuck. Had he just…knocked someone into the water? He knew he needed to make sure they weren’t hurt or anything, but damn, he was afraid to turn around…because that had not felt like a small person.
Cautiously, he turned around and looked down, where he saw a man flailing around in the shallows of the pool. Once he got control of his feet, the man sprang up in the perfect kip-up. Neal cringed when he saw that his clothes and trail pack were completely soaking wet. And when he looked at the man’s face, he froze. His brain registered three things almost simultaneously: he looked vaguely familiar, he was very attractive, and he was really fucking mad.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” the stranger shouted.
He stepped forward so aggressively that Neal backed up, and his right hand went instinctively to his hip, where he would’ve put his hand on the stock of his service weapon—only there was nothing there because he was off duty.
Not wanting to seem like an equal aggressor, he covered the move by sticking his hand in his pocket, hoping to appear non-threatening. This guy was about his age and shorter by a few inches, but he was ripped. He looked rugged and whipcord strong and looked ready to kick some ass in a heartbeat. Neal might’ve been able to take him—he had him on height and weight, but the guy looked like he might be stronger…and a lot meaner. Neal really didn’t want to fight. That was a helluva lot of paperwork.
He held his arms out in front of him, both as a gesture of peace and to stave off an attack if that were to happen. “Man, I am so sorry. I didn’t realize anyone was behind me.”
“Clearly,” he growled, shrugging out of his pack. He unzipped it and started digging through it.
“Again, really sorry. If anything in your pack got damaged, I’ll reimburse you.”
He scowled at me. “This is a waterfall hike. I’m not an idiot. Anything of value is inside a dry bag.”
Neal bristled because the guy was basically calling him and everyone with him an idiot because they hadn’t brought dry bags. They’d just figured they could avoid, you know, falling in the water. Probably should’ve planned better, because if Neal hadn’t knocked into this guy, it would’ve been him in the water. But Neal had been the one to cause the fall, so he tried not to let his attitude get to him. “If you need a towel, I think one of my friends might’ve brought one.”
He sat down on a large, flat rock and pulled off his hiking shoes, probably to let them dry a little in the sun. His socks looked dry, so Neal assumed his footwear was waterproof. That also would’ve been a good idea, since Neal’s right sneaker was soggy as hell from stepping in the water.
The guy shook his head and didn’t make eye contact. “I’ve got more hiking to do. I’ll air-dry. Just try not to drown anyone, will ya?”
Neal’s eyes narrowed, and he fought a valiant battle not to tell the guy to fuck off. Instead, he fell back on his usual façade of charm and reached out a hand. “I’m Neal. Wish it had been under better circumstances, but it’s nice to meet you.”
His mega-watt smile, the one that had gotten him laid all the time when he was with Tony and before, bounced off this angry stranger like he had some kind of nice-guy force field. He glared at the proffered hand until Neal got the hint and put it back in his pocket. Just when he was about to say ‘fuck it’ and walk away, the guy mumbled, “Travis.”
“Pardon?” Neal asked, raising his eyebrows.
“Name’s Travis.”
“Well…Travis. It’s been a pleasure. I’ll get out of your hair.” About maxed out on politeness, Neal turned on his heel and started walking, stumbling slightly on the wet stones.
“Hey, Neal?”
He turned and looked at Travis. “Yeah?”
“You should stick to walking in the park or going to the gym. You don’t belong out here.”
Rage burned in Neal’s gut. He’d apologized profusely, and this guy just wouldn’t let it go. Where the hell did he get off? “The fuck did you say to me? I’ll have you know, I’m a police officer.”
Bennett had obviously picked up on the tone because Neal sensed his partner and Paddy creeping up on his flanks.
Travis’s eyes flicked back and forth between the three men, then he shook his head with a scoffing sound. “I’m just trying to give you some advice. It’s guys like you who come out here and fall down into the ravine because you don’t have the instincts to pay the fuck attention to where you put your feet.”
Neal lunged forward, but Bennett stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. “Nuh-uh. Walk away, Hesse.”
“But—”
“Nope.” Paddy started pulling him backward.
Travis spoke again, and the sound of his voice grated over Neal’s nerves like sandpaper. “I’m not just trying to be an asshole, although I’d be justified, considering.” He gestured down at his wet clothes. “But seriously, if you want to be all outdoorsy and shit? Get yourself some survival training, because you seem pretty fucking hopeless.”
Neal growled and lunged again, but was stopped by his two strong friends.
“Aaaand we’re done here,” Bennett said, as he and Patrick hauled Neal to the other side of the river where the rest of their group was waiting.
“Come on, just one swing!” Neal shouted over his shoulder. It was just for show because his pride was more bruised than he wanted to let on, but the boys kept a firm grip on him just in case.
Why the fuck did it matter that some asshole stranger thought he was incompetent? But Neal knew the answer to that—because his own boyfriend had as well. Tony had basically unmanned him by suggesting Neal’s career and choices didn’t matter, and now some random guy was telling him he couldn’t even wipe his own ass without help.
Neal seethed quietly all the way back down the trail. He’d never see that crazy fucknut again, but he’d be damned if he’d let the guy be right. So as soon as he got back, he booked himself on a survival excursion with a professional wilderness guide. That’d show that asshole. The one he would never see again.
My Review:
Force of Nature by J.K. Hogan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Force of Nature (Coming About, #4) (ARC) was graciously provided to me by IndiGo for an honest review.
“The Peace of Being Oneself..”
SQUEEEE! And may I add YESSSS! *air fist pump* I am beyond excited to read yet another book by the author, J.K. Hogan. I recently read, Boys Don’t Cry, and..let me just say, I was blown away by that book. Blown away. It was a rare five-star review for me. And, now….I have another opportunity to read one of this one-click author’s books? Yes, please!
Can I just take a moment and talk about this cover? I’d really just like to sit and admire it. It’s stunning. I just love a great cover. In addition to a book blurb, its cover is really the first and greatest opportunity there is to pull a reader into the story at hand, it’s just waiting for the reader to drop everything and be completely immersed in its own encompassing world. This particular book with its descriptive cover, Force of Nature, called me. I jumped right into this cover about two men who were heading out into nature, across a vastly green and welcoming meadow, to eagerly immerse themselves amongst the ever-changing mountain range, all the while wondering what would be in store for them? And for Neal Hesse and Travis McCreary? It would involve a heck of a lot of discovery..
Wow. *wipes tears away* What a multi-layered story that was! I was pleasantly surprised to have come across something that has left me, somewhat speechless, happy and yet satisfied all in one, as a result of a book coming all together in the end. Force of Nature is a story about self-discovery. It’s about discovering, deep down, who you are as a person, while finding out along the way, what makes you tick, through a myriad of ways, which enable you to actually be completely at peace within society.
Upon reaching a particular point in his life, which he worked hard for, and as a result of a failing relationship, Neal, a Harbor Police Officer, makes the decision to take some time off to truly discover, and to prove to himself, and, more so for others, exactly who he was from the top of his head to the tips of his toes. In order to do this, he sets out on an excursion, a hiking excursion, with an incredibly important goal, and this hiking trip will contain incredibly challenging tasks for him to accomplish for said goal. So, Neal sets out on a week-long hike through the beautiful North West. First of all..the North West?? HELLO! Hiking? ABSOLUTELY! Two things which had me at the get-go. And…an ex-Army Ranger Specialist, aka wilderness guide, by the name of Travis “Rock” McCreary. HE-LLLOO! Yes, pu-leeeze!
As I made my way through the story, as Neal and Rock made their way through the wilderness filled with fragrant Evergreen trees, beautiful vistas containing vast open spaces as far as the eye could see, and snow-capped mountains, I felt like I was experiencing all of the sights and sounds of the same excursion as Neal and Travis. While I found myself thoroughly engrossed in the scenery, and everything that Neal and Rock had to endure, I began thinking that I was becoming too engrossed, and too relaxed with what I was reading. I had to refresh my memory about the actual plot, because I getting a little confused, and, also thought that the pace was a bit slow at that point, perhaps due to the constant, and yet different, scenery…
But then…OMG!!!!!!!!!! *breathing deeply* My adrenaline then started to increase during various events which began to happen for both Neal and Rock. I found myself holding my breath (safely), during these tense and incredibly scary times. Yes, a couple were tough to read, and I barely have any nails left. But, I understood what I read, as a whole, and, I saw the big picture. And then…I found myself reading with mouth agape, and tears quickly forming. Because..OMG!!!! And..it was through all of these times, that both men began to discover who they were and how they could be absolutely comfortable and happy. Neal and Travis needed to experience and work through these events as they made their way through the Cascades, in order to find out who they are, what makes them happy and what brings them peace.
As Force of Nature is a part of the series, Coming About, there were cameos from the characters from the previous books, but, I don’t feel there is an absolute need to read any of the previous books prior to this one. As this was my first read from the series, I will say that, it didn’t take away from the overall enjoyment of the book. However…it is recommended to read the prior books, in order to add to the overall experience. Since the story did have many secondary characters who I did enjoy, minus one, to an extent, I was thrilled to have read some of their background in this particular book, and look forward to delving into their complete stories in the other books.
Sooo..umm, *achem* about that chemistry. YOWZA YOWZA YOWZA *fanning ‘self again* Neal and Travis definitely have some amazing chemistry. And that’s a-mazing! My glasses kept steaming up and will probably never be the same again..:)
However…all of that being said..the writing, in some parts, wasn’t completely smooth-running for me. I did find myself, at times, scratching my head while wondering, “Huh?” or “Wait, where’s my Hiking 101 Handbook?” I had to re-read some of the passages because I didn’t quite understand what was being said, nor did I understand what it had to do with the plot. But, after a couple of re-reads, I understood what was written. And, while I LOVED the actual hike up into the mountains, I thought that there was a lot of time spent hiking and..wondering. Attempting to make “that decision.” I would have loved to have seen more of their time together after having made the ultimate decisions. I also thought that the character development was a bit under-developed. A wee bit. While it’s not earth-shattering, I had to take a guess as to the ages of both men. I have always thought it to be very important to be able to have a clear view, in one’s mind, as to all of the characters completely.
Force of Nature was a great book filled with great characters, stunning nature, suspenseful moments, amazing chemistry, heart-felt and realistic moments of strength, that had my tear ducts in over-drive. It’s a story about two men, making their way through a challenging excursion, similar to that of the challenges of life, to ultimately reach what they had both been searching for this whole time..love. At the culmination of this read, I now want to go on another hike sometime soon, all in the hopes of coming across beautiful panoramic views with high-peaked mountains and knowledgeable wilderness guides! 🙂
Purchase:
Euphoria Press (self) | Amazon
Meet the Author:
J.K. Hogan has been telling stories for as long as she can remember, beginning with writing cast lists and storylines for her toys growing up. When she finally decided to put pen to paper, magic happened. She is greatly inspired by all kinds of music and often creates a “soundtrack” for her stories as she writes them. J.K. is hoping to one day have a little something for everyone, so she’s branched out from m/f paranormal romance and added m/m contemporary romance. Who knows what’s next?
J.K. resides in North Carolina, where she was born and raised. A true southern girl at heart, she lives in the country with her husband and two sons, a cat, and two champion agility dogs. If she isn’t on the agility field, J.K. can often be found chasing waterfalls in the mountains with her husband, or down in front at a blues concert. In addition to writing, she enjoys training and competing in dog sports, spending time with her large southern family, camping, boating and, of course, reading! For more information, please visit www.jkhogan.com.
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