I received this book for free from Tka Distribution in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Love Hard by Nalini Singh Also in this series: Cherish Hard, Kiss Hard
Series: Hard Play #3
Published by TKA Distribution on March 10, 2020
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Sports
Pages: 320
Format: eARC
Source: Tka Distribution
ISBN: 1977352170
New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh brings you the next sizzling story in her Hard Play contemporary romance series…
Jacob Esera, star rugby player and young single father, has worked hard to create a joyous life for his six-year-old daughter. After the death of his childhood sweetheart soon after their daughter’s birth, all Jake wants is safety and stability. No risks. No wild chances. And especially no Juliet Nelisi, former classmate, scandal magnet, and a woman who is a thorn in his side.
As a lonely teenager, Juliet embraced her bad-girl reputation as a shield against loneliness and rejection. Years later, having kicked a cheating sports-star ex to the curb, she has a prestigious job and loyal friends—and wants nothing to do with sportsmen. The last thing she expects is the fire that ignites between her and the stuffed-shirt golden boy who once loved her best friend.
Straitlaced Jacob Esera versus wild-at-heart Juliet Nelisi? Place your bets.
Love Hard is the third installment in the latest contemporary series by the talented Nalini Singh and I honestly adored this book. I was pretty on the shelf about it beforehand however, it really gobbled my attention up very quickly which I wasn’t expecting as much as it did. I do get nervous around enemies to lover tropes to be honest, I never know the level of angst that will be in the story but boy how on earth do I ever doubt the talent of Nalini Singh? She did a fantastic job in penning this book in such the perfect way.
Our story begins with a wedding of the infamous T-Rex and Mouse (hero and heroine from Rock Hard) and finally we get to see their happy ever after actually happen. But this is where our couple meet up. Jacob has been working hard on his career and raising his daughter on his own ever since his high school sweetheart passed away. Now he is confronted with a ghost of his past, Juliet, who was his late wife’s best friend. And Juliet and Jacob found such irritation in each other until the wedding and sparks fly between them and now they are both having to face feelings and a sexual tension that is new for them as they have always hated each other beforehand. But as they ease their way into this newfound relationship, they both will have to face up to the past to embrace their future…
Love Hard was such a emotion-packed and tension-filled story and I honestly adored every moment of it. I really had such a blast with Jacob and Juliet. The tension between them is quite unique because of the past they are both affiliated with. So you have some sweet emotion filled with this intensity. I really adored seeing Jacob and Juliet find their way to each other. Juliet has a hard time with trust, she has been burned badly and Jacob hasn’t ever really had a firm relationship with another woman until Juliet. So I really enjoyed seeing them come to terms with certain aspects of themselves and find their way into their relationship. There is such an awkwardness between them that was so tender at times, you sense the type of feeling they have for each other, but this is such a new experience for them both so it’s like seeing a bird learning to flap its wings and soar in the sky.
It was such a blast to see some of our old favorite characters and yes I mean the beloved T Rex and Mouse and seriously now I want to re-read their story again because *sigh* I love them. And so delightful to see this family again and their close-knit ties they have to each other. Eager for the youngest brother to have his story now.
Overall I found Love Hard to be a story of unique love, fesity angsty sensuality and a charm to knock your socks off…..
About Nalini Singh
I've been writing as long as I can remember and all of my stories always held a thread of romance (even when I was writing about a prince who could shoot lasers out of his eyes). I love creating unique characters, love giving them happy endings and I even love the voices in my head. There's no other job I would rather be doing. In September 2002, when I got the call that Silhouette Desire wanted to buy my first book, Desert Warrior, it was a dream come true. I hope to continue living the dream until I keel over of old age on my keyboard.
I was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I also spent three years living and working in Japan, during which time I took the chance to travel around Asia. I’m back in New Zealand now, but I’m always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of my travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page (updated every month).
So far, I've worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher and not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency but I call it grist for the writer's mill.
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