Raw and gritty is the only way to describe this fast moving story by Lori Foster who is well known for her lusty passionate books. GETTING ROWDY is no exception to this rule. But I think it is one of the best Foster stories I've read. No getting around the fact that her characters are so real you feel like they will walk off the page.

GETTING ROWDY is about a bar owner, who is busy reinventing his life and who he is. To the outsider he is a compassionate, fiercely protective, caring brother, and wonderful friend. Quite a contrast to what his appearance would project...that of a handsome, burly, sexy big guy who remains detached. It is easier for Rowdy to keep distant from people, most especially women who persistently throw themselves at him. He is honest in his appraisal of how he treats these women. They are strictly one night stands who scratch an itch and help him escape the nightmares that have plagued him throughout his entire life.

Life was tough, and that is an extreme understatement. Rowdy and his sister Pepper barely made it through to adulthood thanks to the worst example of parents you will see. Rowdy's role was that of protector extraordinaire. As a child he was forced to bear the brunt of physical and emotional punishment in order to keep Pepper safe. But the burning question is who watched out for Rowdy.

When Avery walks into Rowdy's life he can't help his instant attraction to this feisty warm diminutive redhead. Of course he would never act on that attraction. Avery was the bartender at Getting Rowdy and the crowds loved her. Easy to see why. But that didn't make it easy for Rowdy to keep her at arm's length.

Avery came with her own baggage. It became obvious early on that there was much Rowdy didn't know about his bartender. But that actually made it easier to keep his distance. That was until her old life started intruding on her new one. Strange phone calls were putting Avery on edge and anything that bothered Avery -- bothered Rowdy. That's how it was. As hard as Rowdy worked to maintain that distance -- Avery managed to chip away bit by bit until it was evident to all that there was something going on between these two.

Lori Foster presents quite a storyline in GETTING ROWDY. It has everything you would want in a lusty passionate story with just the right amount of intrigue mixed in. just the book to curl up with on a cold winter night.