Desperate to Touch

Hard to Love, Book 2

By: W. Winters

Narrated by: Joe Arden, Samantha Cook

Length: 5 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's Summary

From USA Today best-selling author Willow Winters comes a heart-wrenching, edge-of-your-seat, gripping romantic suspense. 

I ran from him, even though my heart knew better.
Love was one thing, but survival another. 

He chose a life of crime. I never wanted any of it; I only wanted him. I left when the danger bled into my life, taking more than I was willing to sacrifice. 

I should have known he'd come for me. Men like him always get what they want. 

The temptation in his eyes, the heat of his touch . . . it's all still there, but his gaze is harsher now and his grasp unrelenting. 

He's not the boy I fell in love with, although pieces of what we once had are still there. I can feel it. I know what he wants from me, and I know it comes with a steep price. I'll pay it though, if for no other reason than to touch him again. Just once more. 

I'll close my eyes and forget about the risks that come with this life and with him. I only hope he doesn't do the same. 

Desperate to Touch is book 2 in a series. Hard to Love must be heard first.

©2019 Willow Winters Publishing LLC (P)2019 Willow Winters Publishing LLC

SIGH.. YET ANOTHER FRUSTRATING CLIFFHANGER

These are two very different people when we meet up again with Seth and Laura.. they are both unable to move on, jaded, hurting and yet still very much drawn to each other.. because, despite Laura’s devastating actions that took a sledgehammer to Seth’s heart, underneath his animosity he still love her.. but he wants to punish her too. And the last thing Laura wants is to get pulled back into Seth’s world of crime and violence.. but slowly, through a love/hate push ‘n pull gritty sexual rollercoaster where Seth pleasures and punishes Laura, she again gets too close.. and, in a suspenseful tension-filled wtf of a climatic scene, gets burned.

As expected, their reunion isn’t all hearts and flowers.. it’s gritty and raw with mixed emotions coming off strong from both of them in each riveting chapter. Secondary characters sneak in, clues mount, revelations hit hard, you don’t know who is good or who is bad and you struggle to make the pieces fit as the well-crafted clues and evil misdirections skilfully drop into your lap. And underneath it all is the same seismic chemistry, ravenous lust, deep craving and hot sex that was in book 1.. but now Seth is in deep with a different criminal gang and he’s a whole new breed of alpha who is constantly in an obsessive, possessive, irrational, confused, frustrated, guilt-ridden black mood. And Laura is equally confused, frustrated and drawn between Seth’s world and her normal, relatively stress-free, world.. and, just as her grip is finally slipping from wanting to ‘play it safe’, the once simmering plot explodes in different cataclysmic directions.. including another gasp-inspiring cliffhanger.

Worth a credit? Yes.. the dual POV narration by Joe and Samantha brings Willow’s well-paced, angsty, suspense-filled words and emotions to life, the plot is everything.. and nothing like I was expecting and the flow doesn’t ebb - it relentlessly intensifies. But come on Willow.. I love your books - however for me, the relentless cliffhangers to suspenseful romances (by you and some other authors) diminishes their impact and epicness because, in between each part, I’ve listed to many other stories. So I lose the intricacies, the heat and the hunger.. the nuisances, desires, drive and placement of each character.. the revelations, clues and suspense.. the gleeful nervous excitement and anticipation.. all of it frustratingly fades after each cliffhanger ending which leaves a jagged disruption in its wake.

This is just what I wanted!!

Ummm, yes!! THAT is exactly what I needed in Desperate to Touch! I needed Laura to stand up to Seth and be real with him. He deserved it and in my mind, she needed to prove herself worth of him. She did. Thank the goodness, did she! I wasn't sure it was possible for me to adore Seth more than I did previously but I did. He was much more open and responsive. Add in Willow Winters action packed, pulse pounding suspense and this book was unstoppable... a locomotive full on. My heart barely made it out with things intact! Mrs. Winters nearly owed me a coffee cup or two!!

Really, Samantha Cook was really able to stretch her vocal chords with the emotions Laura unleshes. I feel like she really got to open up and I just ate this entire audiobook up!! Then, then, we get Joe Arden. He comes in talking all strong and sexy. His emotions were right out there for everyone to hear and fall for. I'm just not sure how you can listen to Joe Arden and not feel the love from his voice.

An intense sequel

Is there more than 5 stars? This is a sequel to Hard to Love and it is better than the first! Willow knows how to hooks us and make us so focused on the story, we forget to breathe. I love second chances, but Laura has so much to get past in order to give love a chance. I do not know if I could be as strong to close my eyes to the past. Seth is strong and determined. These two make the perfect couple. But in typical Willow fashion, no romance is that easy! It may be steamy and sexy, but never easy. Then there is Marcus. We see cameos and hints, but never get a full sense of who he is. Yes, many questions are answered, but just as many secrets are revealed. I love the suspense and intensity of this story. I cannot wait for the next one, as Willow loves to leave us hanging!

Joe Arden and Samantha Cook narrated this sequel. I enjoy when the same narrators are used for a series, The consistency and smooth transaction between books is easy to follow. It also keeps the characters voices, and personalities the same. This is so vital to this story. Seth and Laura have so much going on. There is so many twists and surprises, that it was wonderful to have Seth and Laura as two familiar friends. Mr. Arden and Ms. Cook narrated this story flawlessly. Their narration added to the story and brought it to life. They have complimentary voices that flow together, keeping the story smooth and easy to follow along. This is well worth the listen!

My heart is racing

Omg Willow what have you done to me. I’m on the edge screaming.... noooooooooooo.

Wow ... I feel like I just walked out of the infinity war, devastated and utterly broken. This book, this series has grabbed me by my jugular and it hasn’t let me go. My heart is pounding, my skin is full of goosebumps... What an ending!!! I’m just in shock and so damn angry.

All I want is Seth and a Laura to find a minute of peace but that’s not happening for these two. The narrators Joe and Samantha have hooked me on book crack and I can’t stop listening to them telling me this utterly, devastating story of so much loss.

I so need the next book like my next fix.. Willow you have slayed me with your words... I can’t stop, need more ASAP

Steamy and Emotional

Seth King is all grown up and he is bringing it! The story is intensely emotional and the narrators do a great job portraying this without overdoing it. I enjoy audibles that I have a genuine reaction to and I found myself holding my breath, touching my heart, biting my lip, and even chuckling (although that did not happen often). Mostly I was completely engrossed in the story feeling everything this couple is going through. They have an abundance of heat and love. I long for their happiness!

All-consuming, addictive, unpredictable!

I was fairly new Joe Arden and Samantha Cook narration,
Heard them once or twice before this series. But these two work as Seth and Laura.

Willow was in her element when it came to Seth and Laura. Seth King? Oh man... I don't even know where to begin with him. As always Willow writes a complex, compelling and hot as hell alpha male and a heroine who is strong, independent, and isn’t afraid to speak her mind,


This book picks up where book 1 left off...

if you thought book one knocked you on your butt, well be aware that book two is about to throw you through the wringer... So much more was happening, questions were being answered, yet, even more, secrets were coming in to play, the more answers I got the more I needed answering.. The sexual chemistry between them only heightens in this... The tension, the push and pull, the game of chase between the two of them just intensifies multiple times over. I swear I was breaking into a sweat listening to it!
SO HOT! But there was so much more,... More secrets, more betray, more hurt and pain, more angst,... JUST MORE. SO MUCH MORE.

This was captivating, all-consuming, insanely hot, addictive and unpredictable and left me cursing out the author... Oh, I wanted to say a few things to her... But I know whatever she has up her sleeve next will be worth the wait. Ms. Winters went above and beyond with this... I can feel her passion for this book with each word I listen to. She never disappoints and she didn't disappoint with this bad boy.

really liked it

I couldn't put it down as some parts.. good book, suspense, love story, criminality, prettybgpof

So GOOOD

Such a good series! So much action and angst! Love this book cant wait to start reading the next one in the series!

Oh. My. Gosh!

This series and their cliffhangers are going to kill me! I really love Seth! There is something sexy about his dark and mysterious life. He’s a ruthless killer, but his love for Lara is very poignant.

Joe Arden is perfection! He voices Seth with such passion and authority. One moment he can make Seth sound deadly and the next very compassionate. I wouldn’t want to mess with him.

Samantha Cook is also fantastic as Lara. She even does a good impression of a male voice.

I’m just thankful I don’t have to wait months before the next book. 😬

5 Desperate Stars!!

How does Willow Winters do this to me EVERY time??? I can’t help but get sucked right into her books. Again I did not want to put this book down for one second. Like book one, I read and listen to the audiobook at the same time, and it’s a good thing I did. Any chance I had to enjoy it, I did. At work, in the shower, in the car. You name it, and I was probably reading this book while doing it.

Like I said in my review for Hard to Love Seth and Laura are one of my favorite Willow couples ever! And my love for them was put to the forefront even more in this book.

Anything Seth does or says makes me turn into a puddle of mush. He’s so complex, compelling and SO DAMN HOT 🔥🔥 Like sometimes I just can’t take it. I have to stop reading, compose myself and then get back to reading. Willow KNOWS how to right my kind of alpha male. Possessive, relentless, and ready to do anything to keep Laura safe and where she is. Laura is somehow so much stronger and confident in this book. She’s not afraid to tell you how she feels or to stand up for herself. Their relationship is inevitable to me and cannot be denied, no matter how hard Laura tries to not have feelings for Seth. It is just so hard not to love (see what I did there 😏🤣) him. And the chemistry these too have 😱 Woah (or whoa not sure of the spelling here). Just woah.

I can’t believe how creative and well written all of Willow’s book are. This book is such a great addition to the Cross brothers world. This book knocked me on my ass and had me literally gasping every other chapter. It’s intense, exciting, all consuming, heart pounding and keeps you on your toes. I have NO clue where Willow will take this but I know I won’t be disappointed. The twists and turns are by no means over just yet and I’m so ready to dive into book three!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

mind blowing must read

Desperate to touch is book two in the hard to love series focusing on Seth and Laura's relationship, I experienced this story through audible which was narrated by Joe Arden and Samantha Cook.

The narrators managed to express a rollercoaster of emotions through this audiobook keeping you on the edge of your seat.

With unexpected twists and turns and the unknown, will seth and laura rekindle their relationship or is the hate too strong?

An explosive must read and cant wait to see what's next from this series.

5 Intense Sexy Swoony Stars for Desperate To Touch

Desperate To Touch is book 2 in the Hard To Love series by Willow Winters.
There’s more intensely gripping plot twists; my emotions are running a riot, my heart is doing that thump thump skip thump thing and I’ve been left breathless for more reasons than one... Willow Winters has taken Seth and Laura’s story any level, when I thought it couldn’t get better than Hard To Love, she’s only proved how dynamic and captivating her stories, I’m wholly invested in the series, in the MERCILESS WORLD.
My heart is literally torn in two and I feel like I’ve fell down a rabbit hole I may never escape.

The audio narration is PERFECTION- Joe Arden as Seth King does all kinds of things to my imagination- he delivers Seth’s damaged and domineering character with his sexy, intoxicating and swoony voice.
And, Samantha Cook has an undeniably sweet and sultry voice- she portrays Laura’s beautifully torn and strong willed character with the right balance of emotions that makes live in the moment with her.
Now to wait for Book 3, Tempted To Kiss 💋

5/5 Intense, Sexy, and Swoony STARS for DESPERATE TO TOUCH by W. WINTERS

A fantastic listen!

Loved this! Have been looking forward to this one since I finished listening to Hard To Love. it did not disappoint! Brilliant story, brilliant narrators, great listen!