REVIEW: The Last Resort by R.S. Kovach

The Last Resort by R.S. Kovach: Ali is certainly headed toward bigger and better things in her financial services career as she takes on her new position. She is certainly committed to her job and spends almost all of her time working. When she’s not in the office, she’s preparing for and competing in show jumping events. She is confident, independent, stubborn, and very competitive. Everything seems to be going her way until she has a riding accident and breaks her wrist.

The last thing Ali wants is to miss work over something as minor as a broken wrist. But when she begins to make questionable decisions, she’s forced to take a month-long retreat in Colorado. She’s immediately skeptical of the whole retreat and mandated therapy. It doesn’t help that the ranch just so happens to have plenty of horses while she’s cut off from accessing her work phone and email.

The only bright side to this forced hiatus is the sexy, guy next door, and all-around handy man, Hank. Hank is one of the ranch hands who has a reputation for never dating one of the guests. Ali is immediately attracted to him, but she is awkward and a little unsure around him.

“Staying out of the rain.”
“Oh yeah?” He looked her up and down. “How’s that working out for you?”
She drew her arms around her chest, suddenly extremely conscious of her sopping clothes sticking to her body. “Thank you for your concern, but as I’ve already said, I’m fine.”

While Ali struggles to adjust to her new reality, she finds comfort in Hank. His brand of no-nonsense and solid presence actually challenges and pushes her. He gets through to her in a way that others can’t, but Hank’s own past is a bit of a mystery. They get closer than expected, but the clock continues to tick down on Ali’s time there.

“It’s not my fault if you can’t focus under pressure.” He shrugged innocently. “How did you even make it on the Forbes thirty-under-thirty list with that attitude?”
“For one thing, the men I usually deal with are professional and keep their shirts on.”

The Last Resort is a bit of rollercoaster as the city girl is forced to slow down. R.S. Kovach created an opposites attract romance with strong characters. Ms. Kovach included some colorful and entertaining characters in the guests at the ranch. Overall, the story was enjoyable but the relationship between Hank and Ali could have been further developed and there were a few things left as loose ends. Fans of Fiona Lowe and Cate Cameron will enjoy The Last Resort.
 

Book Info:

Publication: Published March 20th 2017 | Pocket Star |

From the winner of the XOXO Connects flash fiction contest comes a story about an uber-focused executive knocked off her stride by a riding accident and then swept off her feet when she least expects it!

Alejandra Barros doesn’t know the meaning of failure until fate pulls the rug right out from under her Louboutin stilettos.

Board of Directors’ meetings, corporate takeovers, and jet setting around the globe don’t allow for much of a personal life—and even Ali’s limited free time is dedicated to her beloved horses, show jumping at a championship level. When a freak riding accident shatters her wrist and messes with her confidence at work, her boss mandates a month-long hiatus. If she wants to save her career, she has no choice but to go.

Pebble Creek Lodge is not far from Denver, but the high-end retreat might as well be a world away from the frenzied pace of Manhattan. From the moment she arrives, Ali feels so out of place she’s practically ready to skip the whole “required recovery” nonsense and hop on the next plane back to New York. The only thing stopping her is the ranch hand Hank Mathis and his perfectly chiseled abs, which are intriguing and delicious enough to make her linger.

By the time Ali admits she’s in a bit of a funk, not even the moral and physical support of a gorgeous cowboy is enough to bring her back to her old self—especially when the object of her desires is secretly battling his own demons. To get her life back on track, Ali will have to decide what it is she’s really fighting to regain and what it will take to find it—or she’ll risk losing the one thing that could truly make her happy.