Love Hard by Nalini Singh is part of the series Hard Play featuring the Bishop Brothers. It is set in New Zealand about brothers who play or played soccer. This story is about Jacob Esera, a young, single father. The love of his life passed away after giving birth to their daughter Eseme. He is absolutely dedicated to this child, which is good. While at his brother Gabriel’s wedding (his story is in the book Rock Hard) he meets his old nemesis from high school (and his lost loves best friend) Juliet, who has grown up very nicely, but is a magnet for the tabloids due to who she was previously married to. Wham, Bam, there is instant attraction between them, but they don’t like it…or do they? Hmm…let’s read and find out!
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book for an honest opinion.

It was really fun to step back into this world, especially since it started with the Charlotte and Gabriel's wedding. As joyful and fun as that was, though, the wedding was a bit over the top for me. I'm pretty private with my emotions, so having a wedding that just kept emphasizing over and over how in love people were and making the whole thing almost too perfect was a bit much for me, especially since the wedding did take up a good chunk of the story. But it was still enjoyable to read, and I did ultimately really like Jake and Juliet's story. It was fun seeing them struggle with their attraction and not knowing what to do with it since they'd hated each other in high school, and I really liked that Jake's relationship with Callie was something they acknowledged but that didn't keep them from being in a relationship with each other now. Plus I love Singh's emphasis on the importance of family, and I just love the Bishop-Esera clan so much and how they came together to support Jake and Jules. This was a great addition to the series, and now I can't wait to get Danny's book!

Ok lady, you did this.


NOT WHAT I EXPECTED, not one bit. But I was most definitely pleasantly surprised.

I loved the hell out of Jake and Juliets story. It's been a hot minute since I've read a romance that felt mature with very little angst and no drama between the hero and heroine and or with any other character that directly effects their relationship. I found them both as characters to be extremely likeable and easily relatable. At first it feels like a frenemies romance because of that tangible tension between Jake and Juliet but that quickly changes when you learn of their history. It almost felt forbidden, except it wasn't. It's funny because in most situations it could easily of become a huge cheese fest but the author wrote their story so organically that everything just felt so right.

The chemistry between both characters is undeniable with chemistry burning bright between them from the beginning of the story. It didn't go the way I thought it would. They both had a lot of things they had to sort through in order for them to work but I feel like they did every single step the right way if ever there was one. I loved that is wasn't rushed for the feel good factor. It's more of a slow burning continuously evolving relationship that was built on all the good stuff making them a solid team.

There is a lot in this story and Nalini did a great job of breaking everything down making me as a reader feel like I knew these characters and was there with them through their journey. The characters have a level of maturity that I honestly haven't ever read in a book before and it blew my mind. The story is seamlessly written and jam packed full of all kinds of sweetness I don't think I'll ever get enough of.

I will definitely be going back to read the first two books in this series and definitely what ever else this author has to offer. I'm definitely a fan now.

This was my first read of Nalini Singh. During last 3 years I saw her books quite often, but they never appeared to be on the top of my tbr list.
I went into this book because I liked the blurb and wanted finally to try a book written by this author.
What I liked. First, the hero wasn’t a playboy. He was a devoted father and, aside his prejudices, a decent man.
Second, the book was taking place in New Zealand. For a language lover like me it was quite a treat: its English and a lot information about the culture that I found fascinating. I really enjoyed insides into everyday’s life in New Zealand.
What I didn’t like, however, was how many times it was repeated (like several times in every chapter!!! ) what a good guy the hero was and what a bad-bad girl was the heroine. I understood that they were the opposites from the first time, reading it on repeat only annoyed me.
The story flow was quite slow for me.
Thanks to the publisher, author and Netgalley for the kindly provided ARC, all opinions are mine.

j'ai adoré le contexte, les personnages, vivre avec eux ces changements dans leur relation et les voir apprendre à connaitre l'autre qui est devenu adulte. Je ne me suis pas ennuyée une seule seconde, j'ai aimé les voir se battre pour ce qui compte pour eux et les voir tout faire pour aller de l'avant. Les personnages secondaires sont eux aussi géniaux et c'est avec énormément de plaisir que j'en ai retrouvé certains ! Les pages se tournent très facilement et on part vivre à l'autre bout du monde une aventure fantastique avec eux ! Un bien beau moment !!

Hot, sexy, Samoan, single father, rugby player. Yes, please! Nalini Singh never disappoints and I’m always here for more of the Bishop brothers. What a family of sexy men!⁠

LOVE HARD is about Jacob Esera. He’s a widower and trying to keep a clean image in the press so that his daughter’s life isn’t affected. Him being attracted to his deceased wife’s best friend, who happens to be a magnet for scandal in the tabloids, wasn’t in the cards but seems to be unavoidable.⁠

Guys, Jacob is sexy! That tall, dark and silent type, a little shy except when you get him in private. Boy, he’s intense! Nalini always writes great heroes and she delivered with this one.⁠

I also love the family feel of this series, especially when we read about the Esera family. I love how they rally around their own and how deep they love. Nothing deters them.⁠

So be sure you pick up this book. You can read it as a standalone, but I recommend also reading the Bishop brothers books which are: ROCK HARD and CHERISH HARD.⁠

4 1/2 STARS!

Emotionally riveting! With the third book in her Hard Play series, Nalini Singh delights her readers with Jacob's story in LOVE HARD. With a twist on a frenemies to lovers story, we get to watch a single dad fall for the bad-girl best friend of his former love. It's emotional, it's sexy and it's full of heart!

Star rugby player Jake Esera steals a reader's heart immediately when we learn his back story. Becoming a single dad as a teenager when his high school sweetheart died unexpectedly, he was left to pick up the pieces with his family by his side.

Juliet Nelisi is easy to like. She was best friends since childhood with Jake's former love and though they were never close, she respects the way he stepped up and gave their daughter the world after Callie died.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a sports romance with a whole lot of life around it. Jake and his family are great and the chemistry he has with Juliet is divine. I enjoyed their story a lot.

Sexy ‘enemies-to-lovers’ romance Love Hard is book three in Nalini Singh’s Hard Play series. This tender love story is thoroughly satisfying from its amusing chapter titles down to the hero’s amply-filled boxer briefs.

When Jacob ‘Jake’ Esera’s high school sweetheart died, he lost his true love and his baby daughter lost her mother. Six years later, Jake is a successful New Zealand rugby player and a doting single parent with one priority – his little girl, Esme. To ensure Esme’s safety and happiness, Jake surrounds himself with supportive family and friends, and maintains a respectable lifestyle that keeps the tabloids at bay. He believes that his stable, closely guarded world is all that he needs. But, Jake’s life changes forever when Juliet ‘Jules’ Nelisi shows up at his brother’s wedding. Jake is none too pleased to discover that Jules, his former high school antagonist, is bridesmaid to his groomsman. When they last saw each other, Jules was a rule-breaking wild child and Jake was a popular play-by-the-rules athlete. Despite the mutual hostility that still exists between them, Jules and Jake are insanely attracted to each other’s gorgeous adult selves, and as the couple learns to let go of their past differences, they form a close friendship. Jake is in awe of the capable, accomplished business professional that Jules has become, and Juliet admires Jack’s transformation into a devoted dad who sometimes trades in his stern resting face for a dazzling smile. With newfound respect comes an unquenchable desire that neither Jules nor Jake are prepared to handle.

The first eight chapters of Love Hard take place during the wedding day festivities of Jake’s older brother, Gabe, a secondary character who was featured in Singh’s Rock Kiss series. While I enjoyed Jules and Jake’s electrifying wedding day reunion, I was exhausted by the lengthy exposition overflowing with ‘character dumps’ and marital euphoria. As soon as Gabe goes on his honeymoon, Jules and Jake’s narrative takes center stage and the pace picks up. The plot complications and conflicts that follow are too quickly and neatly resolved. Either Singh feared exceeding her word count, or she doesn’t like to keep readers in suspended states of anxiety and curiosity for very long.

I have one nitpicky personal complaint to share before moving on to more favorable comments. I am not a fan of Singh’s use of alliteration in selecting her protagonists’ first names - ‘Jacob’ and ‘Juliet.’ Since the lovers are frequently called ‘Jake’ and ‘Jules,’ there are actually four ‘J’ names that refer to the main characters. The resulting ‘brain muddle’ occasionally interrupted my reading flow.

Criticisms aside, Singh is talented at writing sympathetic characters who passionately fall in love with each other. She deftly crafts an affectionate opposites attract relationship between Jules and Jake that tugs at the heartstrings. Jules is fun and sassy, but cynical and wary; Jake is serious and shy, but warm and welcoming. She makes him feel alive; he makes her feel safe. Together, they are a perfect pair. Their shared history adds poignant depth to their intimate connection, and their heady mutual physical attraction leads to steamy, sexual gratification. Speaking of sweet, sweet lovemaking, Singh’s sex scenes are moderately graphic, some are barely on the page, but she is aces at building sexual tension and writing seductive foreplay –  mental, as well as physical.

In short, Love Hard is an enjoyable romance that engages and delights. Sure, the first quarter of the novel is slow and the cast of characters is eight-feet deep, but the loving is just right. If you’re seeking a romance novel that will wrap you in a super soft blanket made of ‘forever love,’ then Nalini Singh’s Love Hard is the book for you.

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Love Hard, the third book in the Love Hard series, is a standalone romance but features a lot of characters from Ms. Singh's previous books and series. In fact the opening is actually set at the wedding of one of her popular romance couples ( Gabriel and Charlotte from Rock Hard). Here we have , Jacob and Juliet, know each other from high school, probably falls under the frenemies category and their one connection with each other has long passed away. Now, both are older, mature and still frenemies! Love Hard is cute, funny and sexy. This one falls more under the taste of the fans of the series and definitely will appeal to them more. Nevertheless its still a great read!

Love Hard is the third title in the Hard Play series, featuring Juliet and Jacob. Their story is an opposites attract, enemies to lovers romance. Juliet was Jacob’s childhood sweethearts best friend and they constantly butted heads as teens.
Juliet is a strong, resilient, intelligent and hardworking heroine. She’s come a long way from her years as a teen bad girl.
Jacob is a professional rugby player and dotting single father. He’s incredibly sweet, loving, and loyal and will do anything for those he holds dear.
Despite their preconceived notions, they are inexplicably drawn to each other and their chemistry oozes off the page.
Whilst I loved seeing more of the Esera-Bishop clan I didn’t love this title quite as much as Cherish Hard, the first title in the Hard Play series. I loved seeing Gabriel’s wedding and it’s reminded me I need to finish the Rock Kiss series as well.

I kept waiting for that one stupid moment that would have me rolling my eyes and throwing the book across the room. That moment I see a lot in romance novels. That moment when lack of communication ruined the whole book but I honestly should've known better because this is Nalini Singh and she's never let me down before. This is the first in this series that I've read but it won't be the last! I need to go back and read the other two books while waiting for Danny's. I loved Jake and Jules so much!

The whole family is just so amazing that I wished I could have a family like that. If you have a big family that you get along with, you are so blessed! I'd give anything to have a family like Jake's. The way everyone just cared for Jules was the greatest thing ever. The trust between them was the best part of the whole book. When shit hit the fan, Jake didn't even question Jules, instead, he went to bat for her and it was the most romantic thing ever.

This book is one of the best romance novels that I've read in a very long time and now I just want to read all the others! No time like the present right? I should also mention that I was given this novel for free in exchange for an honest review. The first time I've been lucky enough to be approved for her work but it's not the first I've read her work, her other books are freaking amazing as well.

Bottom line: I've discovered that one can NEVER go wrong with a Nalini Singh novel.

3 Stars
Nalini Singh is an author I have enjoyed in the past. Her writing style is unique to her. In this particular story, I did have a bit of difficulty getting into it.
That being said, the story had hard and strong plotting.

❤️❤️❤️ out of 5
So unpopular (but my honest opinion as always) I didn’t start to enjoy this book till about halfway through. The beginning really dragged with characters I didn’t know or care about (having started this series with this book) so I couldn’t get invested straight away.

Our hero is a single dad (yum) rugby flayed who is entirely a bit too serious for his own good. Our heroine walks on a way more adventurous side of life, and the two have a serious dislike to love relationship. Our heroine is also the best friend of the hero’s first love who passed tragically.

NS is a fantastic author and the book is well written. I liked both character’s journeys but it took too long for me to become invested in them. I definitely think I should have read the previous books in this series.

This was a cute story but it was not for me. I didn't connect with the characters and the writing style was not my favorite so I can't really recommend this to others.

I received a free ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts are my own.

I’ve been looking forward to reading a Nalini Singh book for so long and was grateful to have received a copy of Love Hard before publication.

My guess is that fans of Nalini and the series will adore this book as the first 25% deals in detail with the wedding of the main characters of the previous book, and, a lot of characters of previous books make an early appearance and continue being part of the story.

As someone new to the series and Nalini, I found this to be two of the reasons I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I’d hoped given the potential of the story. The first quarter felt like a family saga and a massive epilogue to the last book in the series that had hardly anything to do with the romance story of the main characters of Love Hard.

I also frequently found myself baffled at the pacing of the story (it somehow felt too slow at the beginning and way too rushed at the end), and the reasoning of the characters.

While I really liked the romance story and the characters (single dad rugby player and female Vice President!!), their emotional connection and reasoning could have been explored a lot more in depth. I think this book is a missed opportunity for something spectacular.

With so many of my reader friends highly recommending Nalini’s books, I’ll continue looking out for her next book though.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts above are my own.

Playing hard is about doing what you love and realizing sometimes the best things happen when you least expect them. You would think Jake has it all. He’s a star rugby player, has a beautiful little girl, an amazing family but he has his issues that leave him alone sometimes.

Juliet has made some poor choices in life and is doing what she can to live life. Running into Jake again proves to be an interesting ordeal. They knew each other once upon a time but can they handle the fire that occurs when they are together ?

It was a cute book and enjoyable like it a lot.

This was my first Nalini Singh and it definitely won't be my last! I'm a sucker for fantastic family dynamics and the Bishop-Esera clan has all that an more. I VERY quickly added Cherish Hard and Rock Hard to my TBR's - before even finishing Love Hard.

In Love Hard, Jake Esera, the serious, extremely private rugby star and single father of an adorable little girl, and Juliet, the VP of a multi-million dollar lingerie company and "bad girl" who'd been best friends with his high school sweetheart, are reunited after years at his brother's wedding and find love despite believing the other was everything they never wanted.

I loved the dynamic between Jake and Juliet! Even as they sniped at each other, the underlying currents of attraction - and, yes, care - are there from the start. And once they start falling in love? You'd be hard pressed not to fall in love right with them. I also really appreciated that Jake's daughter, Esme, remained a central part of their relationship throughout the entirety of the book; she was never pushed to the side or forgotten, which is exactly what I would expect from Jake and Juliet, who both love her to death.

I definitely recommend Love Hard, and can't wait for Danny's (the fourth brother in the Bishop-Esera clan) HEA.

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

He's a star on the rugby field but Jacob Esera's main focus has always been his family, especially his six-year-old daughter Esme. Jake has been a single father since his childhood sweetheart Callie died not long after Esme was born and it hasn't been easy but with the help of his family he's made it work and become a wonderful father. He's been so focused on Esme that he's forgotten how to unwind and have fun as an adult so when Juliet comes barrelling back into his life she's like a breath of fresh air.

Unlike Jake, Juliet never had the support of her family, in fact the only person she was ever able to rely on was Callie who was her best friend throughout school. Jake and Juliet were like chalk and cheese and never really got along but their love for Callie bonded them until bad girl Juliet was sent to Samoa to live with family. It's been years since they saw each other last and sparks start to fly the moment they meet again but they're both wary about getting into a relationship. Jake is scared to love again because he can't bear the thought of losing someone else while Juliet has been hurt before when her ex betrayed her and is totally off men in general but sports stars in particular. Destiny has a way of throwing them back together though and in the long run neither of them are able to resist temptation.

I absolutely love all of the Bishop-Esera brothers, Gabriel has always been my favourite (and we get to see the T-Rex make an honest woman of his mouse in this book as the story starts with their wedding!) but Jake came very close to topping him. In general I tend to prefer my romances child free but there was something so adorable about Esme that I enjoyed her role in the story. The main thing that kept me hooked was the chemistry between Juliet and Jake though. Their relationship is like throwing a lit match on a can of oil, they're argumentative and often clash but when they're on the same page it's absolutely explosive.

The two of them were seriously hot but there were also some really sweet emotional moments between them. I loved that Callie felt like a part of their story too, she was such an important person in both of their lives and it kind of felt like she was somehow responsible for bringing them together. We get to spend time with the whole clan and I don't think I'll ever get enough of this family. I'm already looking forward to Danny's book and hope we'll get stories for some of the other rugby team members after that. Nalini Singh can do no wrong in my eyes, I'm a paranormal girl at heart so I'll always love the Guild Hunter and Psy-Changeling series but her contemporaries always hit the spot too and leave me with a happy buzz.

I found Jake and Juliet's story heartwarming and fun. They way they circled each other after meeting again after several years was entertaining. I like the way they eased into a relationship, thinking maybe they can get along, then maybe they can be something more. I loved the family support, and how Juliet learned that there are people she can rely on to have her back. Jake's young daughter Esme is a delight, and how Jake protected her very touching. It was great to see them reach their happy ending.
I received an advance readers copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.

Complementary copy given for honest review and opinion.
I stayed up all night on my cruise to read and finish this book. I need more. I can’t wait to read more from this family. Stop what you are doing and fall in love with this family like I have.