New York Times bestselling author K. Bromberg is back with an all new second-chance, standalone hockey romance.
At first, the request seemed simple—sign a new athlete to the agency.
Then I found out the new athlete was none other than the most wanted man in hockey today: Hunter Maddox
Gifted. Sexy. At the top of his game. And the only man who has ever broken my heart.
If signing him will help … has ever broken my heart.
If signing him will help save our family business, I’ll swallow my pride and do what’s asked.
But when it becomes clear his uncharacteristic antics off the ice are a hint of something deeper, keeping things strictly professional between us becomes more than complicated. But I know better than to cross that line.
I’ll never date a client. Not even for him.
***
Win the Stanley Cup and do it before time runs out.
Not a small feat, but it’s what’s motivated me since the start of my career.
And time is running out.
Enter Dekker Kincade.
Feisty. Dogged. Damn gorgeous. The one I let get away.
I have no idea why she’s traveling with the team, but hell if resisting her is going to be easy.
But I have a job to do, and I refuse to lose sight of that end game. Even if she confuses me. Even if she sees parts of me I’ve hidden from the world.
I can’t lose focus. Not even for her.
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Amazing and unpredictable story with an HEA
I can’t believe I’m about to say this….
Can’t
Believe
It!!
Y’all…if you have read Bromberg’s first series..you know who Colton is…right?? Well just let me say he has always been my first love. Lol
But….Y’all…..
I have fallen for Hunter Maddox!!!
Gahhh dang..you just wait ladies…are y’all ready to meet this….
Cocky Hockey god
This damaged alpha
This OMG let me turn down the air conditioner cuz I’m about to spontaneously combust hottie!! Dayummn Colton just met his match in Hunter Maddox….I love him!!! LOVED HIM I’m telling y’all!! Lol
I’m such a sucker for a good ole sports read and Hard To Handle checked off all my boxes!!!
There is so much ANGST and that lovely slow burn you get while reading Bromberg’s books that we crave from her. I can not wait for y’all to read- I just finished a few hours ago and truthfully I want to start all over and read again…I think I need to slow down and savor it this time around..haha
Of course you will also fall in love with Dekker. I Loved everything about her… she sure could stand her ground with this cocky god for sure..She put him in his place a time or two..I wanted to be her!! lol
Make sure y’all go one click on release day and when your done reading..come tell me who your new book boyfriend is!! Hehe
5..”I gotta new favorite book boyfriend” Stars!!!
Thank you for writing K. Bromberg..can’t wait for your next release!!
You know it takes a lot for me to say I like the start of this series as much as I like the Driven series. What!?!? Hunter and Dekker have that irresistible chemistry and history together. You could feel her desire to help him when he was hurting at all costs. My heart broke for Hunter and his personal tragedy he was living through. This story made me feel and root for the characters to overcome their obstacles and I was heavily invested in their healing and happiness. Such a good book that kept me riveted to the pages from beginning to end. I can’t wait for more of the Kincade sisters!!!
Hockey romance from Kristy Bromberg? YES and PLEASE! This emotional, sexy as heck sports romance will keep you glued to your ereader to the very last page!
Damaged alpha alert! K Bromberg has a new second chance sports romance out just in time for summer.
Hard to Handle is a sexy and emotionally charged standalone romance between a feisty sports agent and the only man who has ever broken her heart, hockey phenom Hunter Maddox.
No one writes damaged, cocky, alphas like K. Bromberg!!
Hard to Handle is a second chance sports romance between a feisty sports agent and the only man who has ever broken her heart, hockey phenom Hunter Maddox.
Don’t miss this sexy and emotionally charged standalone summer read!!
AVAILABLE NOW
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I just want to give Hunter a huge hug and tell the young man in him it will be okay and the adult man you can’t live in the past. There is so much depth. Alot of hurt and anger within but in the end it’s Dekker who helps him see everything for what it is. She is his light. Truly loved this story.
ARC received for an honest review
Oooy it has been a while since we have had a new K Bromberg story, and man oh man I have missed hockey this year so, so much
And Ms Bromberg has killed two birds with one stone with Hard To Handle. Hunter is just adorable. There is stuff going on in his life that he doesn’t share but it is noticed.
Dekker is the one that got away, who is back in his life, and making his life hell. Or heaven. Or a bit of both.
I love a second chance story, and I read, wanting our lovelies to get together. But sheesh Dekker, I wanted to slap some sense into that head of yours.
There was a lot of back and forth between Hunter and Dekker – maybe a bit too much for my liking. Some of it could have been cut out and it would have been just as good – to me anyway.
Hard to Handle was sweet and sexy, with a dose of heavier emotion thrown in too.
There are three more Kincade sisters, so I am looking forward to learning more about this family in the future.
4.5 Stars
KMS – Kincade Sports Managment.
That’s widowed dad-boss Kenyon Kincade and his four daughters.
And daddy needs his girls to save the company – or something.
First up is Dekker.
She’s sent off to sign hockey legend Hunter Maddox.
Little problem?! They used to have a thing a few years back …
Let the fun times begin …
WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH DEKKER & HUNTER?
WILL THERE BE A HAPPY END?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT
Well, that was cute.
I really enjoyed reading this.
Poor Hunter is going through something. We don’t yet know what is wrong with him and his family. But something is happening or happened and it’s not good for his career. And his current agent is not really helping. Let’s hope Dekker will be able to find out what’s wrong.
And of course we finally want that HEA for them too.
Really adorable. And heartbreaking.
Lots of hockey. Lots of family drama. Lots of fighting and making up.
It was maybe a bit too much of that back and forth. The book could’ve been a hundred pages shorter and nothing would be missing.
But it was a really fun and sexy and emotional sports romance!
Can’t wait to read the other books!
It has been quite some time since I picked up a K. Bromberg novel and I now find myself questioning my sanity. I absolutely loved everything about this story – The characters, the storyline, the writing, the emotions….. everything! I am desperate to devour more of this author’s words and will no doubt once I do, be kicking myself for not doing so sooner.
This story is so much more than your typical sports romance and I was hooked from the very first chapter. Dekker and Hunter have a history which they certainly cannot ignore. The sexual chemistry between them is undeniable and I absolutely loved witnessing their interactions too. They are perfect for each other, but they both have enough emotional baggage to ensure that they keep their hearts guarded which I feared would stop them admitting their feelings for each other.
Dekker is an incredible person who I admire immensely. She’s strong, feisty, loyal, fun, hardworking and caring. I loved seeing Dekk with her family. She is the eldest of four daughters and although they are all so different personality wise, I could see the incredible bond that they share. I am looking forward to the others having their own stories published, the next book being later this year.
I fell in love with Hunter almost immediately. He’s so much more than a talented and sexy hockey player. His story broke my heart multiple times and although we witnessed him struggle, I admired the strength and determination that he showed repeatedly.
Hard to Handle is a must read. It will definitely tick the boxes of readers who enjoy second chance, enemies to lovers and sports romance stories. I am going to find it hard to let Dekker and Hunter go to be honest, but I am hopeful that we will see more of them when her sister’s stories are available for us to read.
Hard To Handle This Book Ending…
In one sentence: This book is a game-winning goal for me!
Hunter is a hockey star. But something is off with his game both on and off the ice. And it’s starting to affect not only his game but the respect of his teammates.
Dekker is a sports agent working for her father’s sports management firm along with her three sisters. He tasks her with luring Hunter away from his current agent, Finn Sanderson. But can she recruit him before he self-destructs on the ice?
Without giving this book’s plot away, this book is so worth the read. Dekker is hard on the outside and a normal woman on the inside. She’s so multidimensional and realistic. And don’t get me going on Hunter. He’s such a hot lovable mess. You’ll be pulling for Hunter both on and off the ice (although there will be a couple of moments when you want to reach on in there and shake him by the shoulders and go really man?) as soon as I did. I give it five stars, five pucks, and five tennis balls.
5 Stick, Skill, Finesse Stars!!! This is so much more than a sports romance. Hunter and Dekker’s second chance, sprinkled with enemies to lovers storyline grabs you from page one and you’ll struggle to put it down. Their banter is on fire and their chemistry is electric. I love how Decker is a strong woman and HUNTER is so sexy, cocky and you can’t help but fall for him. Prepare for ALL THE FEELS! Absolutely worth the read!
One hell of a release. A must read, for anyone who believes in pure and true happiness. This book is pure perfection. When I say Kristy knocks it out of the arena, I mean she knocks it out!!!! Where does one start with magic. Let’s start with Hunter, gosh he is dreamy. A man that is delt a crap hand, living a life with guilt and no one to love him finds his true match in Dekker. The strength and growth Hunter fines is inspiring for anyone. He’s a true man that anyone would be proud of. Hunter is a hero in so many ways. Dekker is pure perfection!! A take charge, feisty women willing to do all she can for her family and herself. The relationship Dekker has with her dad is true love. I love all his wise words of wisdoms Dekker’s dad has for his daughter. The magic between Hunter and Dekker is amazing the push and pull. The ups and downs. The sexual tension, that leaves you wanting more and giving you all you need at the same time. The way Dekker steps up for herself and the man she loves. This book made you feel like you were on this ride with them. The characters pulled you in, making you feel what they felt. This was one of my favorite Kristy books. I cant wait to read about the other sister. Amazing job!!!
Ya’ll, I am in love. This was my first ever book by K. Bromberg and I fell completely and over the top in love with her writing. This story was amazing. The dialogue was top notch. I found myself smiling because of Dekker’s sassiness, laughing at their witty banter, and tearing up during the emotional parts. It holds all the elements. It also combines many tropes into one fantastic book – sports romance, enemies to lovers, and second chance. Hunter is a grade A a**hole sometimes but there is just something about him that I still loved. Their back and forth made the book. Ahhhhhhhh! I will quickly be trying to find more titles by K. Bromberg and will definitely be reading more in this series. It looks like all 4 sisters will get a book. I’m also learning to love sports romances 🙂
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Hockey. Grief. Sex. Love?
Hunter Maddox is captain of his pro hockey team but he certainly hasn’t been acting like it recently. Family issues have him angry and confused.
Dekker Kincade is a hotshot athlete agent trying to build up her family’s portfolio. Her father asks her to recruit the one man she can’t bear to desire again.
The history between Hunter & Dekker is red hot but when your heart starts to get involved (again) it gets dangerous. How can she recruit him for their agency while keeping an safe distance? How can he ignore the fact that she’s always around even though she claims she not back for another romp in the sack? How can she fix his broken when he won’t open up to her because that would involve feelings?
Without giving too much away, there were some hot moments but there were so many tears. Hunter is way more complicated than he seems and Dekker has a softer side that she likes to keep hidden to remain professional. But when these two collide there’s bound to be sparks. I love the depth of these characters. I felt the disappointment, guilt, and pain right along with them. This was a very multi-dimensional storyline and it was so well done. I think with any sport themed story you’ll find that the actual sport is just there for the background but it was incorporated into the storyline so well I’m glad you chose that sport for this. GOAL!
If you like emotional stories about hockey players and sports agents, then this is the book for you. Hard To Handle wrenches out feelings from page one. You’ll fall in love with Hunter and Dekker and their story. Bring the tissues!
Wow!! Five emotional stars!! It was like a rising crescendo!! The intensity grew and grew, until it turned explosive! Phenomenal story!! K. Bromberg blew me away with Hard To Handle!!
K. Bromberg delivers a truly emotional and passionate second-chance romance in Hard to Handle, the first book in the Play Hard series of sports romances. Centered on four sports agent sisters, this first book dives into the world of professional hockey with the eldest sister, Dekker Kincade, and NHL bad-boy, Hunter Maddox. This story pulled me in from the first page and was the kind of story I didn’t want to stop reading—and get mad when you have to put it down. Bromberg did an amazing job pacing this story to build the emotion and lay the groundwork of Dekker and Hunter’s complicated history.
This story was intense in every sense of the word, and Bromberg sets that stage from the start. Hunter, a gifted and talented hockey player, is overwhelmed with guilt, anger and exhaustion, a combination that manifests itself as the angry, hostile, volatile player he’s become. His story is devastating, and it seems that nearly every person in his life wants, needs or demands something from him. Years of burying his fury and remorse have left him guarded and perpetually on the defensive. My heart broke for this man and the constant pain that a regular part of his day-to-day existence.
Dekker had her own difficult history that has left her emotionally jaded and closed off—especially when it comes to matters of the heart. She learned her lesson about heartbreak the first go-round with Hunter, and there was no way she was going to allow herself to go down that road again. The problem was the chemistry between them was just as fiery now as it was then, the attraction is still there, and like it or not, the heart wants what the heart wants. But more than that, Dekker knows this man, and she can see his pain, and while she doesn’t understand it, she wants to and more than that, she wants to alleviate it. The problem is that she also wants something from Hunter, too.
Full of heart, burning with heat and passion, and I simply couldn’t put Hard to Handle down. I felt all the feels and sobbed so many tears while I devoured it. I loved these characters, I loved their story, and Kristy gutted me with the depth of emotion in Dekker and Hunter’s love story. Five stars from me for Hard to Handle by K. Bromberg!
~Danielle Palumbo, Red Cheeks Reads
Hard to Handle was a heart-trembling sports, enemies-to-lovers and second chance romance. Hunter’s and Dekker’s story packed quite an emotional punch and had such feels and heart to it.
Hunter Maddox is a damaged alpha with so much on his shoulders and resting heavy on his heart and soul. The more I got to know him, the more I wanted to shower him with love. There were times I wanted to literally shake him but even then I could not hate him. Because beneath his anger and frustrations was a playful, witty, and skilled Hunter that just needed to find himself.
Dekker Kincade is an amazing agent who can give as good as she gets. I loved that she can stand her own in a workplace that is mainly dominated by men. Despite her own fears, I also loved how resilient she was without coming off as a doormat. Knowing just when to push and when to give.
The chemistry and sexual tension between the two were fiery. It was fantastic seeing how their physical compatibility morph into something deeper. They fought and fought, spitting jabs that stung but they needed one another. It was those angry moments that were the catalyst in breaking down the walls around their heart. And in the end, it was all worth it.
I’m so frickin happy that Hunter and Dekker found each other and so excited for the rest of the series.
Stories like this is why I love K Bromberg’s books. Hard To Handle has everything I want in a romance book, the broken athlete, the fierce heroine who’s trying to help him professionally and personally. It’s a slow burn that makes me turn the pages as quickly as possible and waiting for the next lines from the narrators to see what’s next. The story keeps my mind going, I cry buckets when Dekker talks to Hunter’s dad. Excellent book, can’t wait to read more of the Kincaid sisters.