I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to everyone.

Mark Bennett took over the responsibility for running the family ranch after his father unexpectedly passed away. He’s learnt to keep his emotions hidden after his former girlfriend reacted in horror to his needs. Now he keeps himself to himself despite being attracted to the events planner organising his brother’s wedding. Katelyn Johnson has run away from a boring existence and wants to spread her wings including pursuing her interest in the enigmatic cowboy. Definitely steamy. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have been looking forward to the next Bennett Boys book since I finished Buck Wild. I was even more excited when I found out it was Mark’s story, the oldest Bennett brother.
Mark is one sexy rancher, not to mention the man is a mystery with a kinky side. What isn’t to love about that? Katelyn is the new event planner in town, she moved there to get away from her beige life. Will she be able to find a little color in her life after meeting Mark?
I loved Katelyn and Mark so much. He was able to slowly let down his guard with her, though she kind of forced a friendship upon him, but he also couldn’t stay away from her. Katelyn wanted to get to know everything about Mark, the good, the bad and the ugly. I love how they tried to be friends, because the movie and pizza dates were adorable, the constant texting and phone calls. Not something I would ever expect Mark to do after first meeting him.
This story was HOT HOT HOT HOT. I know it would be but this one took it to the extreme, seriously, I was slightly jealous of Katelyn. Of course, there was more of James and Sophie (who I still love), Luke, and everyone’s favorite Mama. I can’t wait for the third book in this series.

This is the second book in the Bennett brothers series and the eldest brother marks book and Katelyn, Katelyn is a big city girl who is an event planner Mark is running the Bennett ranch. Katelyn is in town to hold the wedding of a superstar rodeo champ marks younger brother! This book was really hot! And the storyline was ok, I absolutely loved the first book but this one was just ok for me! I'm not sure if I'm just burnt out on cowboy romance or if i just didn't like this one as much? It's definitely worth reading and I do recommend it but it wasn't one of my favorite! Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!

Wow! This girl doesn't want "beige" in her life after reading Mark's story. It was interesting to see Mark struggle with having a relationship. The author did a great job with this since most of the time it is the women who has fears about relationships. Katelyn has her own fears but overcomes them to get what she wants and let me tell you it is not "beige" she is looking for. This book can be read as a standalone but I want to read about the other brothers, they are intriguing and I want to know their story.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for review. This story is at the core about finding someone to love who accepts all of you and loves you not despite but in spite of all your truths. I loved Katelyn as a heroine and how she was taking charge of her life and doing what she loves. Realizing her settling for a “beige” life and wanting more is something a lot of people can relate to, I think. Mark was this tough, hard man who due to a bad relationship thought of himself as a monster. I loved these two finding themselves in each other and falling truly in love.

I very much enjoyed this book. For a large part of this book I was thinking “there’s not as much sexy times as I expected” but then BAM it finally started. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline and the sex added to the story and didn’t detract. If you’re not into dirty talking alpha males this may not be your cup of tea but if you do... this was a great read!

Mark is so sweet. He cares about Katelyn so much that he's extra careful not to hurt her or scare her. Until she stands up to him and pretty much tells him, show me what you've got. I love this about her.
Riding Hard, had me hot and bothered throughout.

Katelyn Johnson just moved to her dream job as an event planner, and her first job is planning the wedding of rodeo superstar James Bennett (who's the hero of the first book in the series). She meets Mark Bennett when he comes to pay the deposit for the wedding, and they spark instantly.

Their relationship is strained, because Mark is stoic and always in control of his feelings. They go from strangers to friends, to more, but all the while Mark is holding back, because he's been burned before. Can Katelyn plan this wedding, and open up Mark's shell?



3/5 STARS

-- spoilers ahead --



It took me a minute to get into the book; there was more telling than showing (Mark jokes around with his brothers, but you're told that the banter is banter because they're brothers, which was redundant), and ALSO, how are you try to tell me that pineapple isn't amazing on pizza?

There was a good attempt of depth for the secondary characters, and I can see how it can line up for more books and novellas. (There's a third brother) Everyone had a good personality that I feel like I could pick up, but for the most part, it was only about Katelyn and Mark. (Maybe I should've read the first book first, the brothers kept getting confused to me)

Insofar as the sex scenes, they were steamy and probably considered kinky (I'm a weird judge of that at this point). It was nice to be able to read about a hero who wasn't 100% sexually confident, it broke from the normal a bit.

PS Is Boise really the city? I'm not from the north, but it seems like that's not exactly a big city.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

Mark Bennett is a man of few words. As the oldest son, Mark takes his responsibility of the family ranch seriously. But he also has his desires he has kept hidden knowing that no woman around could help him fulfill. When he meets Katelyn he is instantly attracted to her but knows she would never go for what he wants to do to her. But Katelyn may not be the sweet little thing he thinks she is and may just bring some color to both their lives.
A great book in the Bennett Boys series by Lauren Landish.

Great winter read to warm you up and make you root for romance and a happy ending. This is a great story where you know where the ending is headed but it doesn't stop you from being invested in the characters and there are a few little surprises thrown in as well!

I recently read the first book in this series and really enjoyed it, so I was looking forward to this book releasing! I then saw this book on Netgally, so requested a copy and started reading as soon as I was accepted! I was really looking forward to this book because of who the main male character was going to be! After reading this book, I can say that I loved it a lot! I didn't think that I was going to enjoy it as much as the first book, but I did! The plot developed at the perfect pace and it kept me hooked the whole way through! I actually had to force myself to put it down or else I wouldn't have moved from my chair all day lol! There was plenty of romance in the plot and the romance allowed for a few seriously hot scenes between the two main characters! These scenes were definitely hotter than I was expecting lol! The ending of this book was also left at the perfect place for the characters! The characters were also amazing and made this book even better! Mark was the main male character, and he was a secondary character in the first book, so I was excited to read his story! Mark was seriously hot in this book and I loved him a lot! I do wish that he had more confidence when it came to his love interest though! He held back so much, but then he told his story and it helped me understand! He did come a long way in this book and it was easy to see that he had deep feelings for his love interest! Katelyn was the main female character and love interest of Mark! Katelyn was such a sweetheart in this book! I liked her as soon as I started to read her chapters and I connected with her all the way through this book! Katelyn was also very patient with Mark in a way and she didn't push him, even though she had feelings for him and wanted to be in a relationship with him! Katelyn also worked hard and she had a really good job! I loved that this book was written from both Mark and Katelyn's point of views! I was expecting it to be because the first book was written from both characters point of views, so I'm really happy that this book was too! It helped me connect and understand Mark and Katelyn more, especially as it took them a while to become a couple! It allowed for more things to happen in the plot too because the characters didn't spend every moment of the book together and had their own jobs and situations going on! I now can't wait to read the next book in this series! There's still one more brother to have his story told, so I'm assuming that the next book is going to be his book! I'm excited to read it and I can't find any information on a release date, but I assume that it'll probably be closer to the end of the year or maybe the beginning of next year! I can't wait to read it regardless and check out this author's other books! The cover for this book is also seriously hot! It would definitely draw me to the book and it definitely suits the book! The cover model is also the perfect Mark and gives off the gruff vibe that he does in the book! Big thank you to Lauren, Montlake Romance, and Netgalley for an ARC of Riding Hard!

This was a good follow up to the first book in the series. You don't need to read the first but you get a little bit more background if you do.I loved how the relationship between Katelyn and Mark developed throughout the story. I couldn't put it down.

This is the second book in the series and I always recommend starting from the first book. This is Mark's book the oldest of the Bennetts. He is seriously attracted to newcomer Katelyn who is also the wedding coordinator for Sophie and James wedding. And even though he is attracted to her he is fighting it because he has so much on his shoulders and doesn't feel a woman would want to do deal with the hours that he devotes to the farm. Katelyn is starting over, new job, new town and now new friends, she had a comfortable steady boyfriend for over 10 years but it was blah relationship and now she has this chemistry and spark with Mark who is seriously hot, but for some reason he is fighting this attraction but Katelyn is determined to change his mind and go after what she wants. They do not have a seamless road but everything worth it is worth fighting for..Enjoy!

2.5 stars
I was given an ARC of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.
This is the second of the Bennett Brothers series that centers around oldest brother Mark. Mark is running the ranch after his father’s death. He has a reputation as a stoic jerk, and doesn’t date much. He meets Katelyn, the local resort event coordinator, when paying for his younger brother’s wedding. There is an instant attraction for both of them, but Mark resists because he feels he doesn’t deserve someone like Katelyn. This book didn’t really do it for me. Mark was really whiny and angsty. I didn’t understand why Katelyn was so enamored with him. Also, this was basically a cowboy 50 Shades of Grey, not my type of book.

Awesome title!

Well if you weren't in love with the strong and silent type from book one of this series, aka MARK, you definitely will be after reading Riding Hard!

So what did I like about this book... all of it! First, let's just focus on the Bennett family and ranch. We have 3 hot cowboys carrying on a family business after the death of their father. Mama Lou is amazing and every woman's dream for a mother-in-law. If you get her fried chicken recipe then you've made it with this family.

Now Mark seems broody, quiet, gruff. But there is so much more to him that he hides out of fear of rejection, so he keeps people at arm's length, especially women.

Katelyn is the new events coordinator at the town resort and tasked with James and Sophie's wedding. She's left behind a bland and boring life she hopes to find herself in her new life.

When Mark and Katelyn have a run in there's instant chemistry. I loved the sexual tension and the fact that this wasn't an easy romance, but one that took tons of work, fight, blood, sweat and tears. I loved Katelyn fighting and Mark vulnerable.

There is no "I", "you" with this couple but a complete US.

Loved the story and can't wait to see what's in store for Lucas.

Book 2 in the Bennett Boys Ranch series and, WOW! These brothers are just adorable. Following on from the sweet story of James and Sophie in book 1, book 2 follows Mark Bennett, the eldest and most responsible brother who is in charge of the ranch. In fact he lives and breaths the ranch. He doesn’t have the time or the inclination to have a relationship, been there, done that, got the t-shirt. Then, BAM, along comes Katelyn Johnson. Katelyn is the new events planner at the resort where his brother is getting married. Mark and Katelyn’s romance is by no means insta love, but there’s definitely a spark. However, Mark is harbouring a deep dark secret and in order to keep it under wraps he distances himself from the feisty blonde who he can’t seem to get out of his head. Katelyn is the perfect match for Mark, she’s persistent without being too pushy, she knows what she wants, and she’s not going to settle for anything less. A wonderful story, I was hooked from the get-go, I love the characters in this series, the story kept me entertained throughout, oh, and let’s not forget how smokin’ hot some of the scenes were, blush-worthy to say the least. I am so looking forward to book 3. All these books can be read as standalones, but personally, I wouldn’t want to miss out on any of those Bennett boys. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest review.

ARC received for review

I thought Mark's book would be last, but I am so glad I didn't have to wait for it. He was all hard and just a little kinky, okay, maybe more than a little. Newcomer to town Katelyn is tired of beige, and wins Mark over. Her life will never be beige again.

The story of Mark and Katelyn. I haven't read the first book in this series, but I don't think it mattered.

Katelyn is new in town, and is an events planner - one of the first of these is the wedding of Mark's brother.

It is not long since Katelyn ended her relationship, so she isn't looking for love, but her and Mark can't keep away from each other. They both have issues and secrets holding them back, particularly Mark, so they need to be honest with each other.

RIDING HARD by Lauren Landish is a wild ride! Complete with demanding, alpha cowboy and the new girl in town, discovering her true self. A family of three brothers working together and finding love. A must read five star book!

I really enjoyed the character of Katelyn. She was a woman who didn't settle for anything. She realized that she was just coasting in life and as she calls it everything was just beige. She needed and wanted more color in her life so she moved, got a new job and dumped her boring boyfriend. In her move she meets a man who definitely adds more color to her life.

Mark is a man who has a lot of responsibilities. Because of this and also his deep secret, he decides that staying a bachelor is the right move for him. All of that comes into question when he meets Katelyn. This woman calls to him in a way to can't describe.

I loved the relationship between these two. Mark's ex had done a number on him and because of this he become a shell of the man he use to be. While I can understand his need of being cautious given his desires in the bedroom, it broke my heart that he just decided to give up and think there wasn't a woman out there who could handle it. I'm happy that Katelyn didn't let him run away and forced him to accept who he was and what he liked and that she was the woman for him.