***5 Stars***


#fangirldown #fangirldown

This isn’t even a hangover situation. This is pure, unadulterated book happiness.

I swear my cheeks hurt from all the stupid, dopey grinning I was doing while reading this baby.

I not only got an amazing second chance at love/frenemies to lovers/single parent romance, but got to spend time with a whole bunch of characters I adore and got to meet more that have me crossing my toes that the author has something up her sleeves for them in the future because I simply need more of them all.

I ADORED Jacob and Juliette. ADORED. Jake is, simply put, a really good man. He obliterated my ovaries anytime he was with his adorable daughter, Esme, but it was how protective he was with those he called his own that had me all kinds of twitterpated. Jules is a force to be reckoned with. This woman owns all that she is and isn’t afraid to speak her mind ~ whether it be snarky or sweet ~ she gives as good as she gets, and then some.

I thoroughly enjoyed Jake and Jules journey to their HEA. Their bantering/sniping at each other was a lot of fun and the chemistry between them was HAWT ~ OMG HAWT!. But what I truly enjoyed was watching as they came to terms with their shared past and started to see each other for who they truly were. While they are opposites in quite a few ways, they have the same core of honor, loyalty and compassion that made it so easy to see how they could be so much more.

Ever since meeting the Bishop-Esera clan in Rock Hard I’ve been hooked. The love these people have for each other makes my heart all kinds of happy, and getting to see how they all rally around each other is simple goodness ~ and this book is chock full of that goodness. Esme and Emmeline were absolutely adorable! And I loved catching up with the Bishop-Esera clan and those they call family. There were also some surprise appearances in this one that made my heart all kinds of happy, and a bunch of new characters that I’m crossing my toes will get their own books/novellas/shorts in the newsletter in the future, but I’m all kinds of excited for Danny’s book and cannot wait to see him brought to his knees!

hi my name is kristen and i am a nalini singh addict
i need all the nalini singh in my life
HOW does she do paranormal and contemporary SO WELL??? not to mention the brilliance that was A Madness of Sunshine? like, i'm in awe.

there's just so much i loved about this book - and this series. i adore jake's family. i love the other characters. i wanted to hug juliet. esme was adorable. i loved the story, the pacing was perfect and i love that there wasn't any stupid miscommunication/conflict. it all flowed so well and made all the sense. so much so that i wasn't checking the percentage and was at the end before i knew it.

this was honestly just the sweetest freaking thing. i loved jules and jake together. i loved their banter, their chemistry, how they treated one another, how they balanced one another was perfect... it was sweet, funny, adorable and steamy to boot.

i loved how strong jules was, i so felt all the feelings with her and realising she had her people/tribe even if she didn't have any blood relations. and the way she felt with jake's family welcoming her. i just loved these two together and watching their relationship grow just squeezed my cold, dead heart..

that epilogue was adorable. i really really hope that danny's book is set in a few years so we can see more of juliet and jake further down the line in their lives together.

i saw another review that mentioned this was her first nalini singh contemporary and didn't like the wedding in the beginning... this is why we read series in order friends!! jk, but to me, i adored that, because i got to see all the characters i already knew and loved!

at the end of this book, i just had this... warm, comfortable feeling like i was snug in my bed with all my blankets and cats surrounding me (actually, that's exactly where i was, but the book made me feel that way too) and that, my friends, is exactly why i read romance.

Y'all. There is no way that I can be objective about this book because my love for the Bishop-Esera family is like, basically the equivalent of my love of my own family, whom I love. In a valiant attempt to set that aside, I still think that this book was basically perfect.

Jake is a single father because his high school girlfriend died not long after giving birth. He is also a star rugby player and he couldn't manage all that he has without the help of his family. When he re-meets Juliet because she's a bridesmaid at Gabriel and Charlotte's wedding (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), it's like he reverts back to his high school self. Juliet was Callie's best friend but she and Jake have always had this antagonistic relationship and they fall back into that while also being incredibly attracted to one another.

This entire book is basically Jake showing how to love hard and to care for and provide for a partner without trying to take over who they are as an independent person. It's also about Juliet recognizing the people she already has in her life and letting down her guard enough to trust in Jake. I love the way Esme is a central character in the book because I think single parent romances where the child isn't involved are incredibly unrealistic. This book is soft and had me tearing up because I was so happy. I mean, it literally starts with one of my favorite couples of all time getting married. How was I supposed to survive without crying?

I do want to warn that there's a few paragraphs where the heteronormativity jumps out while Jake is thinking about Esme and her future partner and keeps mentioning boys. While this doesn't affect my rating I did want to flag that in case it would harm anyone. At the same time, Juliet's beloved boss and his partner do exist as part of the story and so there is some rep in here for non-straight couples/people.

I'm already dying to know more about Danny's story and this one isn't even actually out yet!!

CWs: a really terrible ex (Juliet) (though not physically abusive), talk of death/grief

3.5 stars

My sister begged me to nab an early copy of Nalini Singh's latest romance featuring her cast of rugby stars in New Zeeland, and I found myself pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this family sports romance.

Pacing: ★★★
Romance: ★★★★
Enjoyment: ★★★★

Love Hard comes out on March 10, 2020!

Now, I know I just said my sister begged me to request this and read it on her behalf, but I was also a bit intrigued myself. Nalini Singh is the author of one of my favorite paranormal romance series, Guild Hunter, as well as her first mystery/thriller, A Madness of Sunshine. So I knew I was a fan of her romances, and of her writing in general.

But, let's be honest, this series was less intriguing to me—because it's about sports. And I don't really do sports. At all.

So say "I told you so," sister of mine, because I really enjoyed Love Hard.

Jake has no time for fun or acting his age. He's an all-star rugby player in a family of all-star players, and his commitment to his family and to his young daughter, Esme, is the sole focus of his life. After losing his childhood sweetheart, Callie, shortly after the birth of their daughter, Jake has grown up cautious and overprotective.

Juliet's never had a proper family upbringing. Peddled around from family member to family member as a kid left her with scars, and the only saving grace was her best friend, Callie. When Callie passed away, Juliet forgot about Callie's jock boyfriend, Jake, and started making her way in the world—with a few notable bumps in the road, including a nasty ex-husband.

When these two former acquaintances meet at a wedding, what will they do with these brand new sparks?

I thought Love Hard was cute, to the point, and filled with warm fuzzy feelings (and some other, well, feelings too). Jake and Juliet's banter and chemistry was front and center for the entire story. I really enjoyed listening to their banter, and in particular I thought their semi "enemies to lovers" mixed with second chance vibes worked extremely well in this context. I loved how they were both respectful and honest, and miscommunication was NOT used as a plot device.

However, I did struggle quite a bit with the general pacing. Love Hard didn't take place over multiple months or a long time span, but it felt like it anyway given the copious time spent on paragraphs of explanation of the past, backstory, and internal monologue. In fact, at a few points in the story I forgot that I was still in the same scene as dozens of pages later, we were still there! This might not necessarily be a negative for some readers—the descriptions and backstory added quite a bit of character depth—but for my taste in romance, I prefer dialogue-driven scenes with lots of movement in plot.

Overall, another winner from Nalini Singh—and a steamy one too. (Wink wink!)

Thank you to Independent Publishers Group via NetGalley for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

As someone who’s been a fan of the Bishop-Esera clan back from the beginning (with Charlie- mouse and T-Rex) I was super excited to read about Jacob Esera’s story. Having become a dad at an early age after the tragic death of his childhood sweetheart Jacob is super serious, let’s just say almost no fun but his life becomes a whirlwind when he reunited with his childhood nemesis at his brother’s wedding. Juliet has always been misunderstood. Dealing with a rough childhood she learned to put on a brave face and let her wild side free but this little rebel has grown up to be strong and independent. Recently divorced from a famous sports star the last thing she wants is to be involved with another one, especially given Jacob’s strait laced reputation but love has a way of making new plans. As the two learn more about each other the become a great team, helping to balance out each other and bring out their good sides. There’s plenty of heat and humor in this story with lots of tender moments, especially with Jake’s daughter. It was also nice to see many familiar characters. You don’t have to read the previous brothers books or know a lot about rugby, which Jake plays, but those that do will appreciate seeing more detail about the previous characters lives. I love this series and this author. 5 stars must read. I received an arc copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

For the life of me, I couldn't get into this book. From page one I struggled with it until it because a DNF for me. And that is just my opinion.

This was a great book. I really liked getting to know a character that we didn't have a ton of information about. The back story was wonderful and I loved the relationship that already existed between the characters as well as the one that developed throughout the story, The was a great addition to the series.

Somehow, after being on my radar forever, and knowing about all the great reviews, this is my first book by Nalini Singh. I loved it. I loved Jacob and Juliet, I loved their banter and could really relate to their internal struggles. Her family issues particularly hit home with me. Their common link, his late wife was Juliet's best friend, could have gone wrong in many ways, but was handled just right. I loved the entire world of this book and how all characters, big and small, had well-defined personalities. Now, I have a lot of catching up to do because I want to get my hands on every book by this author! I will start with Gabe and Charlie, because I loved their wedding in this book, but I really, really want to read them all.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Details:
- 18+
- Hard Play series book 3
- Contemporary Romance
- Addictively Good Reading


Nalini Singh's writing makes my heart hurt in such a good way.
Whether it's paranormal romance, a little mystery thriller or contemporary romance, when I finish reading a Nalini Singh book my heart aches just a little and all I want to do is dive back into whatever book I've just finished reading.

It was only a few hours ago that I finished reading Love Hard the third book in the Hard Play series which is a contemporary romance spin-off of Nalini Singh's Rock Kiss series and now that I've finished reading it, I've got such a longing to stay immersed in the world that I'm about to start a re-read of the Rock Kiss series which will probably lead into a series re-read of the Hard Play series.

Love Hard is a steamy, sweet romance with characters whose chemistry sizzle off the pages.
From his first appearance in Rock Hard ( Rock Kiss book 2), Jacob Ezera is a character that I've wanted to know more about and in the first book in the Hard Play series, Cherish Hard readers got to learn a little about his past but in Love Hard readers will get an in depth look into Jacob's character and learn all about the woman he is so powerfully drawn to, Juliet Nelisi.

Honestly, I'd love to write more about the book but...I also really want to get started on my re-read of the Rock Kiss series so I'll write more about it after my next re-read.

For all those people trying to decide whether to read the book, go out and grab yourself a copy and happy reading. Believe me, you won't regret it and prepare to buy every book that Nalini Singh writes because once you read one, you have to read them all.

In conclusion, I want to thank Nalini Singh for writing yet another incredible book that I couldn't put down.

I eagerly waited for this addition to Singh's contemporary romance series and I was not disappointed! I adore the dyndmic of the Esera family, the strength and decency of the characters, the humor and the growth the main characters show. Each new book to Singh's intertwined series' has drawn me further into this world. Although it can be read as a stand-alone story, it is worth going back and following the Rock Kiss and the Hard Play storylines from the beginning.

OMG, I absolutely and completely adore Jake!!! This book was everything I hoped it would be from the first time Jake walked onto the page.
He is strong, sexy, and protective - totally swoonworthy. Seeing him with Esme and Jules is just fabulous. Doesn’t mean he isn’t also a man aka an idiot at times. I loved the tension between him and Jules and the way they so perfectly complement each other.
If you read one contemporary romance this year make it Love Hard!
I now have to go and re-read Gabe and Charlotte’s story - seeing their fabulous wedding was wonderful!

OMG, another instant favourite. I love the Esera clan and all their ladies - but Jacob is a special kind of hero. His patience and forethought makes him the kind of steady and loyal partner that melts hearts, while being steamy enough to sigh over. I was worried about the "superstar single Dad" angle when I started - a lot of romances use the kids as a catalyst for drama and I hate that …. Jake earned my heart by being smart enough to care for his daughter AND his woman, without putting himself in a situation where he had to choose. Imagine, a man that plans. A man that you can rely on having everyone's backs and not letting you down. Loyalty and smarts and underwear-model hots!! SWOON! Juliet as well - she knows the reputation she's accidentally fallen into and is selfless enough to worry over Esme and the impact on Jake's career. She had a hard shell and a squishy heart and Ms Singh wrote her perfectly - a toughie with bite, looking to find that guy who wouldn't let her down. A career woman who (through hard times) learned her worth and owned it. Everyone in this story was endearing and empathetic and I was sad when it was over. I'm so looking forward to Danny's book - but hopefully his won't be the last? Mei? Ahora? I love these ladies and their leading men!!

Is it hot in here? I feel like it's hot in here... That was me, while reading Love Hard, because oh my goodness, that was HOT!
I loved Jake and Jules, and how they were both afraid to even hope. The way they thought they despised each other, but have that incredible chemistry that was right there from the beginning.
Singh's writing was extremely well done as usual, and I loved how all the characters from this contemporary series were present for parts of Jake and Jules' story.
Also, I loved that the rugby was so present! Both my daughters have started playing rugby this year, and my oldest's boyfriend is a rugby-player too. And just after I had finished reading, they asked me if I understood any of the rules, and I could finally say yes.

Jacob Esera is a single dad and rugby player. The mother of his daughter died from a sudden illness when they were both still teenagers, since then he's become even more serious and protective.

His polar opposite is Juliet Nelisi, a former class mate and BFF to his dead girlfriend, she was wild and bad and the two of them have never liked each other. Brought together by the marriage of his brother and her friend the barbs are flying but underneath there is an unwelcome attraction.

This hit so many of my favourite tropes: sports-romance; single parent romance; enemies to lovers; New Zealand rugby players; bad girl and good boy ... the list goes on.

It wasn't all plain sailing, I haven't read the previous books in this series, or the Rock Kiss series from which I believe this is a spin -off, consequently I felt I was in character overload at the start of the book as couple after couple are introduced as if I should know who they were (and of course I expect I would do if I had read the other books). Also, there seemed to be a lot of thigh clenching every time Juliet sees Jake which was not only monotonous but also slightly yucky. Anyway, I persevered and honestly once the wedding was over the book settled down into a charming, sexy romance.

I loved Jake, such a great dad, brother, family man, rugby player and all-round good guy. Juliet was the ying to his yang, she's had a hard life, an orphan brought up by an aunt and then strict grandparents, she's come out of a relationship with a New Zealand cricketer which put her in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. She's envious of Jake's large and warm family.

Overall, I loved this book and now I'm going back to read the previous books in the series.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

This novel will definitely work better for readers familiar with the Rock Kiss series and the previous two stories in this series. The first 25% of the novel concerns Charlotte and Gabriel's wedding, where the hero and heroine of this book (Jacob and Juliet) meet again, after having gone to high school together. The wedding brings many many characters from earlier instalments together so the reader can catch up with them and their romances. A family tree would have been handy.

The writing is very much more telling than showing in places, with the narrator explaining in minute detail the state of mind of the protagonists. My other quibble is that it did seem a little weird/icky when Jacob and Juliet discussed Jacob's teenage relationship with the now dead Calypso, who had been Juliet's best friend back in high school.

Other than that... I enjoyed this novel, which was a quick read. Esme, Jacob and Calypso's daughter, was a fairly realistically drawn child. I appreciated the fact that Jacob and Juliet dealt with obstacles to their relationship in a mature and co-operative way - no big misunderstandings. The New Zealand setting was perhaps not as strong as I thought it was going to be, apart from the obsession with rugby.

I like the story of Jake and Jules, it was not a "usual one" and in a way, even the Insta-Love was justified because they have known each other since forever. I appreciate knowing a little bit more about New Zeland and the world of rugby also. Looking forward to Denny`s story!

La storia di Jake e Jules mi é piaciuta, perché le premesse non erano le solite e anche se, in un certo senso il loro é stato un amore molto "rapido", in qualche modo era giustificato dal fatto che si conoscessero "da sempre". Inoltre la vita in Auckland é interessante cosí come la Nuova Zelanda e il mondo del Rugby, che ignoro quasi completamente. Non vedo l'ora che esca la storia di Denny!

THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not really a contemporary reader as I much prefer a paranormal storyline. This series is one of the few exceptions because I want to be part of the Esera family. The author has created a believable, relatable set of characters that stand so tall in this readers minds eye. I was bowled over by Gabriel and Charlotte, delighted by Sailor and Isa and now felt my heart melt as Jake falls for Juliet.
The couple were at school together but more often than not at loggerheads. The one thing that brought them together was their mutual love for Callie . Juliets best friend was Jake's girlfriend but fate stepped in and cruelly took Callie away from not only Jake but their tiny baby. Jake grew up fast and put away youthful dreams to be the best provider for his daughter he could be. The playful boy is replaced by the serious man but when Juliet crashes back into his life she brings back passion and colour.
I just adored getting to know this couple and although it's not exactly action packed it was a credible story as the pair reconnect. Expect sweetness as we get to know little Esme but this whole family is loving, tenacious, stubborn and so protective of each other and that's exactly what Juliet needs in her life. I thoroughly enjoyed being back in the bosom of the Esera family and look forward to reading Danny's story soon.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

I am not sure Nalini Singh could write a bad book if she tried. I absolutely adored this and adore the Bishop-Esera clan. It also makes me want to move to New Zealand.

Jake and Juliet go way back - back to when she was the best friend of the girl he loved. Juliet was a wild child and trouble maker. Jake, as he still is, is a play-by-the-rules good guy who puts family first. Jake had a daughter with Juliet's best friend Callie just before she died of a meningitis infection. That loss deeply colored Jake's life. He is a very capable single dad, but also extremely protective of his daughter. He doesn't party, he doesn't have flings or one night stands, he is solid and serious in all things. Juliet's life hasn't been an easy one - but she is very smart and has truly raised herself up by her bootstraps. Even following a nasty divorce with a cricket star, she keeps going and keeps her face towards the sun.

Reading this book it is really easy to forget that that both Jake and Juliet are only 24.

Juliet is definitely prickly - but she isn't mean or cruel. She is just tough - and fiercely loyal to her friends and chosen family. As the Bishop-Esera clan embraces her, you can see she is going to be one of their fiercest protectors.

I loved reading about Jake and Juliet and watching their relationship blossom. Jake is definitely one of the good ones and so is Juliet.

Loved this.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.

I am obsessed with Nalini Singh's contemporary romance books. Seriously all her books are fantastic, but this series has a special place in my heart. And that is simply because of the Bishop-Esera clan. Obsessed with these rugby boys. It started with Rock Hard with Gabriel and Charlotte's story. Then later we got Sailor Isa. And now finally Jake and Juliet. Rock Hard will probably always be my favorite. I've read it so many times and it is just one book that I can't let go of. But this book!! Love Hard is just a smidge from tying with it. It was that good. It is definitely a favorite of mine. Jake and Juliet's story was just so sweet and raw and emotional. We've seen glimpses of Jake in Gabe and Sailor's stories, but now he has his own. And with what you knew about Jake, losing his first love and having to raise his daughter when he was a teenager, you can't help but love him and want to know how he gets his happily ever after. Then there is Juliet, who is not only friends with Charlotte but was best friends with Jake's first love when they were teenagers. And after years of not seeing one another, fate brings them together in a way they were never ever like before. Their "enemies" to friends to lovers relationship was one that done very nicely. It wasn't rushed, it felt real and made sense. Their banter was witty and just overall hilarious. I couldn't wait to see what happened next. Just an overall great story. Plus the fact that we finally got Charlotte and Gabriel's wedding! Amazing and a moment we have been waiting for. Like I said, overall great book. And now we have one more brother to go! Bring on Danny's story!



I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was another great book by Nalini Singh! It was well written, funny, emotional, with great characters and so much love in many different forms. At one point, it looked like there might be a "big misunderstanding" but Nalini never fails to make her characters fight for each other - in other words, I shouldn't have been worried. This is one my favorite books in this series, and I've enjoyed them all so that's saying a lot!