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At first, I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this story. Andi struck me as a bit too much—like she was trying incredibly hard to be different from who she really was. Unfortunately, this made her come off as mean and a bit stuffy, rather than the mysterious and likable character I hoped for. Kevin, however, was an instant favorite. He was charming and kind, but sometimes he felt a little too perfect—almost overly infatuated with Andi.

As I delved deeper into the story, I started to understand Andi's complicated feelings about her relationship with Kevin. By the end, she became more relatable and enjoyable, but there was still a lingering disconnect. Despite Kevin being a wonderful support for her, many aspects of the plot felt underexplored, leaving me wanting more. Overall, while the journey had its ups and downs, I found layers in their relationship that made me curious about their story.

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Hard to Get is the third book in the Big Love from Galway series, centering around Andi, friend of the FMCs of the first two books, and Kevin, new to town MMC. Andi runs the local domestic violence shelter and its associated programs. She comes from a generational history of domestic violence, which has led her to be interested in short liaisons and no entanglements. Kevin was recently dumped by his fiancé former being to “vanilla”. His pain in the aftermath led to his moving from Nebraska to Galway, North Carolina.

Andi and Kevin meet one night at the local bar, hook up, and then Andi goes on her way. They end up connecting in various situations after that night, and begin a platonic friendship. Then they find out their one night stand led to pregnancy.

I will be honest-accidental pregnancy is one of my least-liked plot lines. But I gave this a chance because I like the author’s previous books. It was ok for me. I liked the characters, the shelter plot line was good, the chemistry of the couple was good, and it was nice to see characters from previous books. I appreciate that the pregnancy was noted as happening even with the characters taking responsible precautions, as happens in real life. There was no discussion of options (or the lack there of) other than carrying the pregnancy, which I found a bit disappointing.

Overall, while this kind of story is a tough go for me, I thought it was handled better than some I’ve read. I plan to continue reading the series. Note that there is frank discussion of domestic violence and abuse for those who may have difficulty reading about these topics.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. All opinions are solely my own.

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Thank you Sourcebooks Casablanca for the Net Galley ARC!

This book had me in my feels in the best way. Hard to Get is a small-town romance with deep emotional layers, a swoony cinnamon roll hero, and a plus-size heroine who fully owns who she is, basically everything I love in a romance!

Andi Salazar is a badass, independent woman who’s not here for anyone’s nonsense. She runs a women’s shelter by day and sings sultry jazz numbers at a bar by night, and romance is not exactly on her radar. Then there’s Kevin Mahoney, a math teacher who’s been written off as "too vanilla" by his ex-fiancée. He’s determined to figure out who he really is, and that journey leads him straight to Andi. A steamy one-night stand should’ve been the end of it, but because small-town life means you can’t escape anything, Andi and Kevin keep crossing paths, and let’s just say... the tension is tensioning...As Kevin and Andi are thrown together again and again, their chemistry is undeniable, but so are their walls. Andi doesn’t trust easily, and Kevin has been burned before.

Andi is a curvy heroine who is unapologetically herself, and I loved how the book celebrates that. If you love a soft, patient, determined hero, Kevin will steal your heart. Moher doesn’t shy away from real-life struggles, she addresses domestic abuse, trauma, and self-worth with thoughtful nuance and care. If you love tight-knit communities where everyone knows your business (for better or worse), Galway will feel like home. Hard to Get is an emotional, heartfelt romance with incredible character growth, sizzling chemistry, and a hero who loves with his whole heart. If you’re looking for a romance that’s both steamy and meaningful, this is 100% worth the read!

Trigger Warning: This book deals with heavy topics like domestic abuse and sexual violence. It’s handled thoughtfully, but it’s something to be aware of.

Tropes:
- Curvy Heroine Who Owns It
- Cinnamon Roll Hero
- Small-Town Romance
- Opposites Attract
- One-Night Stand to More
- Slow Burn Goodness
- Found Family
- Emotional Baggage
- Surprise Pregnancy
- Second Chance Love

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I did not like this one at all! There was little to no plot, the spicy scenes were just completely uncomfortable and just all around lacking everything.

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This one is a sweet, slow-burn romance with just enough charm to keep you turning the pages. Andi is fiercely independent and reluctant to let anyone in, while Kevin is the perfect mix of steady and endearing as he tries to rediscover himself. Their dynamic is fun to watch unfold, especially as they navigate the shift from attraction to friendship to something more.

The small-town setting adds warmth, and the emotional depth—especially with Andi’s trust issues—gives the story weight. There a slight twist but still adds a nice layer of drama. If you enjoy heartfelt, character-driven love stories with a Southern touch, this one is for you!

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This story draaaaaged for me. I couldn’t connect with the characters emotionally, I felt detached from the story and the intimacy of the relationship.

The pacing was choppy and all over the place, with attempts at contemporary language that didn’t work for the characters or their personalities.

The spice/dirty talk just cringed me out. I felt like I had to detach from the moment where these characters were intimate because I felt uncomfortable.

I did enjoy the characters and their honesty, connection and chemistry but the rest fell flat for me.

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this is beautiful romance read. its has lighter bits and deeper bits and covers more realistic relationships well.
i felt for Andi and felt she was really relatable. she helps domestic violence survivors and its worth noting that this is something that is mentioned in some detail but definitely in a really well thought out and informed way. this need to help others came about from her own past. and i thought once again this was handled brilliantly. one thing she does to escape is having her singing persona. and shes good at it.
Kevin is our other main character. and swooooon if ever there was one. hes been told hes vanilla, boring. blah blah blah. why pray tell me is it that nice, thoughtful and good men are seen in society as boring? or are encourage by mates and other to go have some fun or get "unboring". but this does lead our Kevin to seeing Andi on stage. and the connection is immediate and continue on.
the characters are brilliant. their connection is amazing. and they both support and adapt to each others need. picking each other up at all the right moments.
Andi has alot to work through. and i liked how Kevin being gentle with and for that was never seen as him "weakening" himself to be sensitive and compassionate.
this is a heartfelt topic and id recomend.
i didnt know its part of a series and so i shall be trying to find the others as soon as.

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I really enjoyed this book. The beginning went kind of fast for me which was unexpected. After that the book had a good pace and I liked watching the characters interact and find each other in a way differently from how they originally met.

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Story dragged and didn’t hold my interest. Writing style was choppy. And the main character trying to use Gen Z language was just awful.

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I love this series SO MUCH!!! This book is no different. I absolutely love Laura’s writing and will read anything she puts out. I’m so grateful to have been able to get an ARC of this book!

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This was such a fun, easy read!
Although I don’t have a similar past to Andi’s, I also have the urge to be so reserved and over protective of my inner world. Andi’s progress and her trusting Kevin eventually healed my heart and gave me hope.

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The character arcs. Dual POV. Trust!!! No third act breakup. So good, so much depth. Standalone but the characters from the earlier books make epic appearances. I have to read the earlier books.

Well thought out, great information for domestic violence. I need to take Krav Maga classes now! Seeing how both Andi and Kevin's past made such an impact on their personality and decisions was interesting to see. I love that Kevin grew into himself, and I love that he knew who he needed to be for Andi. Andi had such an amazing development, and her finally allowing someone into her life was great.

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I had the opportunity to read this book thanks to NetGalley. This was my first book by the author, and I have to say it left a good impression on me. While this is the third book in the series, there weren’t many major spoilers from what I noticed, and all the couples and side characters received brief introductions as the story progressed.

The beginning felt a bit odd to me because there were no immediate explanations or introductions to the main character, Andi, or the town—you’re just thrown right into the middle of things. This made it slightly difficult to understand what was happening in the first chapter, but after that, with the introduction of other characters, this “issue” didn’t persist.

I appreciated that the characters had deeper backstories that actually aligned with their behavior. I felt that Andi was very well-written and an interesting character, but some of her thoughts and actions didn’t sit well with me, which made me dislike her at times. The women’s shelter plot was both meaningful and unique, managing to be educational while still engaging.

Kevin was easily the biggest green flag cinnamon roll I’ve ever read about. He was incredibly polite and considerate of Andi’s feelings while still having opinions of his own. I loved that he had a body-positive mindset (like some of the other characters) and maintained a strong connection with his long-distance family.

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Hard to Get by Laura Moher, published by Sourcebooks Casablanca, is book 3 in the Big Love from Galway Series.
Witty and fun, heartwarming and gives all the feels. A great read, 4,5 stars.

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Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with an ARC of this book.
The story idea was good, but the plot flow did not work for me…
The books talked about many subjects, such as domestic abuse, accidental pregnancy, philophobia, fear of standing out. Maybe that was why I found that there was a lot of information at once but at the same time, no subject was throughly expressed. I also could not really connect with the characters.

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The novel follows Andi Salazar, a fierce advocate for domestic violence survivors, shaped by her own painful past. Music is her escape, and when she takes the stage with a local band, she captures the attention of Kevin Mahoney. Newly arrived in town and recovering from a tough breakup, Kevin is immediately drawn to Andi and wants more than just a fleeting connection. Though she is hesitant to start anything serious, a one-night stand unexpectedly ties them together for much longer than anticipated.

Kevin is a standout hero—patient, devoted, and willing to do whatever it takes to make Andi feel safe. His unwavering support and admiration for her make their relationship all the more compelling. The story tackles heavy themes with sensitivity, so checking the trigger warnings is recommended. Like the previous books in the series, This is an emotional read, blending heartfelt romance with meaningful representation and thoughtful handling of difficult topics.

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Sometimes I want a quieter romance. One with more internal conflict. .
Both of these characters are trying to live their best lives. He needed a fresh start and she’s resigned to being alone.

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This was a great book! The tropes in this book were just what I wanted in a book. I really liked the main characters and their development throughout the book.

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This is a gorgeously well developed, modern love story. It tells the story of two people slowly falling in love in one of the most natural, but perhaps unconventional ways. It illustrates just how valid love is in all its different shapes. Love doesn’t have to take the form that we, as a society, have become accustomed to; often, it can blossom even brighter as a result.

I wouldn’t say this is a light read. It’s short, but it requires digestion.

There’s trauma that the characters work through, both apart and together. There’s resultant suspicion and hesitation that doesn’t always have the obvious answer you as the reader—having seen both sides, may expect. I enjoy that aspect as well. When it comes to people resolution can take time. That’s part of compromise and a natural part of growing together.

I would say this is one of my new favorite books & I am grateful to #NetGalley for providing access to a digital ARC.

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Andi Salazar is a hard-working woman she runs the local women's shelter and a big advocate for domestic violence. She blows off a little steam singing with a local band. She meets Kevin Mahoney the new math teacher and spends a night with him after her last performance with the band.
Kevin is hooked on Andrea the singer, but he meets Andi and is still attracted to her. Andi is not into dating since she has a distrust of men. Kevin has moved to town from Nebraska after his last girlfriend called him to vanilla. Can Kevin and Andi learn to trust each other and have a relationship.

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