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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Hunter is the star captain of the Lumberjacks hockey team who is struggling due to the burdens he carries both personally and professionally. He knows that people are counting on him, but the stress and pressure are taking its toll and resulting in actions that is out of character for him.
With the family’s sports agency business in trouble Dekker needs to sign a high-profile client and the person her Dad wants her to pursue is Hunter. Now she must put their failed personal relationship to the side and keep their relationship strictly professional for the sake of her family however that is easier said than done.
As they spend time together Dekker realizes that there is much more to Hunter than she ever expected and the image he presents to the world is nothing like the man he truly is. The chemistry and connection between them is stronger than ever but will it be enough to help him heal from his past?
Hunter and Dekker couldn’t be more perfect for each other and are both wounded in their own ways. This is an emotion filled story about love, family and healing that will captivate you until the last page. The narrators were a perfect choice for the characters as they made you feel the same emotions that they were feeling.
Book 1 in the Play Hard series. Loved this second chance/enemies to lovers sports romance. Hunter and Dekker were great characters. The chemistry and attraction that was between them was intense and the fact that they didn’t like each other made it even more so. Ms. Bromberg was able to create characters that you rooted for on every page and to have Jacob Morgan and Emma Wilder bring them life was perfect. They took her words and made the characters so real.
AUDIO REVIEW: I really love K. Bromberg books. She writes such fully rounded books that encompass the entire story for characters. Yes, it may come off too long but it isn’t. The story is just full. I think too often we get used to those shorter books that leave some stuff out. With Bromberg, I feel as though I get a bit of it all… a well-thought-out story with tons of sex appeal, some fun and friendship, some family time with sibling squabbles. I love it all and it’s what keeps me coming back to her books time and time again.
Hard to Handle was no different. Hunter and Dekker’s story kept me fully enchanted. I’m not usually big into sports romances, least of all hockey, but again, I didn’t feel like it was too much sports for me. The sports that was added was brilliant and added to the story. Emma Wilder and Jacob Morgan are the best narrators. They brought so much heart to this emotionally charged story that was riddled with humor and love. I couldn’t get enough!
I can’t tell you how much I loved this audiobook. I was all up in my feels. Hunter and Decker stole my heart. And the narrators… wow! They seriously brought this story to life. I laughed, I cried, I swooned. Amazing!
Nola504Nerds Blog
K. Bromberg never disappoints. What an epic second-chance romance! This has everything you want in a good audiobook. Humor, tears of sadness as well as joy, all the feels, unique characters, angst, steamy scenes that make your toes curl, passion, strong and feisty characters, unique story line, an HEA, and perfect narration. This was a cute and funny story with some super-hot scenes. I am 100% invested now and will absolutely be buying the audiobook for the rest of the series. If you aren’t a fan of series, don’t worry, because each book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone. Thank you to Valentine PR for gifting me this great audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Emma Wilder and Jacob Morgan’s voices are perfect for Dekker and Hunter. Dekker is a tough woman with strong work-ethic. But aside from that she’s also caring, kind, patient and understanding. Hunter is talented, driven, and sexy as sin. Emma and Jacob expertly embodied these two, as well as the supporting characters. Their tone, flow, and pacing were spot on as they brought the characters to life. No matter what they narrate, Emma and Jacob always surpass expectations. I highly recommend listening to the audio version of this book to experience this captivating performance.
Hard to Handle wins the Cup with 5 stars to last through all your tomorrows!
4.5 Stars
Dekker Kincade, the oldest sister of four, is sent to recruit professional hockey player, Hunter Maddox, who is also her ex-lover. She has a lot of layers to peel back and figure out on this broody hockey captain, before she can make the deal.
Hunter Maddox, he’s broody and broken. He is convinced he doesn’t deserve to live the life he has, but he won’t let anyone know that. He has walls built high, but they’re slowly crumbling when Dekker makes her way back into his life after walking out on him.
This was my first hockey romance, and I loved it! Hunter and Dekker are perfect. There is such strong chemistry between these two, but their love is slow burn. They have history, and they can’t deny that they affect each other in a way that no one else does. There is such great banter between these two, and their relationship is raw and real. They’re stuck in their ways of thinking, but they soon realize that what they always thought, isn’t the truth, and that allows them to move forward. There were so many emotions that were evoked during this read and my heart hurt so bad for Hunter, his brother, and his relationship with his family. My eyes were so very teary. This story about loss, love, and forgiveness stole my heart. There was a twist I wasn’t expecting, and I am looking forward to the final two books in this series.
I’ve only read one other book by this author before. I enjoyed this one quite a bit. I love sports romance, which this one handled well. But there was all kinds of other story to keep you hooked. I got teared up a couple of times too. Kind of heavy at times, but worth it.
Hard to Handle
The Play Hard Series, Book 1
By: K. Bromberg
Narrated by: Emma Wilder, Jacob Morgan
You can’t go wrong with a K Bromberg book, right? This one is a sports, second chance romance with a broken hero and a story that will rip your heart out and put it back together! I fell in love with this story. When it started out, I was sure it was going to be another easy listen, enjoy the couple’s banter, have their difficulties and work them out. But no, this one is so much more! We meet Hunter Maddox. He is good looking, a top hockey player, well paid and can be with anyone he wants. What could possibly be his problem? Well, we have Dekkar to help find it out! A sports agent, she has come to try and recruit the fantastic player, but the two share a history which just makes it all a little awkward. How awkward? At times, it’s rough. But there is a familiarity and love between these two that is there to find the problem and work through it. Not your ordinary love story, it’s a little angsty, packed with family issues and long term problems that you will find yourself working through right along with the characters. It’s a fantastic story, sure to bring tears to your eyes and love to your heart. Don’t miss this one!
Emma Wilder and Jacob Morgan bring this gem to life. A better casting could not have been made. Wilder tunes into Dekkar and lets us feel every emotion she has. She has a lot to work through and each inflection of her voice let’s us into her heart. For me, this is one of Morgan’s best performances. He has a character with so much to deal with, and he focuses in, giving us each feeling with the nuances in his voice. He made me grab a tissue or two. These two truly enhanced the story and I highly recommend it!
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I wasn’t fully prepared for this emotional journey! Second chance romance is one of my favorite tropes and this delivered in spades. I was overwhelmed with emotion so many times that I fought back tears. Hunter fought everyday to prove he was good enough for his family, to be the son who could fulfill their dreams, but at what cost? He felt like he wasn’t deserving of anything after a tragic accident left his twin brother unable to reach the dreams he had for them both, so he had to do it all himself. He never felt good enough and always had to push himself harder.
Dekker was a hookup from years ago that walked away. She’s also really good at running when things get scary. She’s back now and just might open her heart, if Hunter will be around to fight for it.
These two had so many miscommunications I just wanted to slap them, but it did all work out in the end. It pulled on all of my heartstrings and I fell in love. I will listen to Jacob Morgan narrate anything and he didn’t let me down. He brought forth so much more emotions for me. The audio was fantastic! Thanks to Valentine PR for the audio copy!
I went a little backwards and read the third book in this series first and loved it. So I knew I had to read this book. And this book was just simply beautiful. It was emotional. There were funny parts as well. And there were steamy parts. But the love just stands out. And I’m talking about familial love as well as love between the couple, Hunter and Dekker. Actually, I think it’s a common theme between the 1st and 3rd book in this series (I haven’t read book number 2 but that’s next on my list!) where the couple have to deal with family issues as well as issues as couples. Hunter and his relationship with his family and his twin brother especially broke my heart. Dekker and the relationship with her family made me smile and laugh. Hunter and Dekker as a couple made me swoon and together, they put my heart back together. Really, this series has been beyond what I thought it would be and that’s in the best way possible.
My first listen by K Bromberg. I absolutely loved this story. Dekker is a sports agent & Hunter is a hotshot hockey player. Hunter has lots of emotional pain that he masks with a rough exterior. Hunter & Dekker had a fling. Dekker walked away and Hunter never forgave her for it. Fast forward to 3 years later & Dekker’s dad sends her out on the road to woo Hunter away from his current agent. Sparks begin to fly between the 2 of them. K Bromberg did an amazing job with character development. Both Hunter & Dekker have had trauma that causes them to have so many emotional layers. This book made me very emotional for both characters! I highly suggest you read/listen to Hard To Handle. Amazing Narration by Emma Wilder & Jacob Morgan!
This is my favourite K Bromberg book. This is a second chance, love to hate to love sports romance between Dekker, who works for the family sports agency with her dad and 4 sisters and her ex Hunter, a hot headed NHL star who’s attitude is getting him into trouble on and off the ice.
The push and pull between Dek and Hunter was so on point and they both had demon of their own to battle through together and apart. I just wanted to wrap them both up in a massive hug while also banging their heads together.
This was an emotional rollercoaster
Heartbreaking and beautiful,
Hard to handle is such a touching book that will have you feeling ALL THE FEELS.
Skillfully written, Kristy managed to breath so much life into the story, fully immersing me in the heart ache and hope, hurt and love, making it a struggle to put down even for a moment.
A definite must-read, that’s bound to touch your heart and soul.
5 stars and status report
(Review originally published on TheRogueReviews.com on July, 7, 2020)u2063
Disclaimer: I was provided an advance reader copy by the author in exchange for my unbiased review and opinions.
u2063
(Review originally published on TheRogueReviews.com on July 7, 2020)u2063
An out of control hockey player. A beautiful sports agent. A friend with benefits arrangement that went sour. Searing chemistry that burned them. Hunter has become hard to handle and Dekker has ideas on how to get him under control so his career doesn’t tank. u2063
u2063Hard to Handle is a very emotional read. Depending on what you have going on in the times of COVID, you might need a break or two from this read until you can finish it. u2063
It’s an angsty sports romance, second chance, enemies to lovers rolled into one tornado of feels. This is my second book by this author and it seems like this is her niche. It’s entertaining and well written. u2063
My only question mark came because some of the exact themes from my prior read from this author repeated in this book. It felt a bit formulaic, which I don’t enjoy. However, if you’re down to have your feels stomped on for a little while, Hard to Handle is worth your time.u2063
I listened to the audiobook and it was great! Dekker and Hunter are trying to escape guilt and pain from their pasts…including their previous relationship with each other.
Hunter is a hot shot hockey player and Dekker is a sports agent. Her mission is to sign him to the family agency…but will hurt, love, anger and guilt get in the way?
Highly recommend.
Where do I start with a Kristy Bromberg review? Where do I find the words to describe how amazing she is without sound repetitious? How can I explain to you why she is the best of the best?
Let me start by saying one of my favorite authors has delved into one of my favorite past times…sports. But as always with Kristy there is a twist.
Hard to Handle is the first book in Play Hard, a sports series and what a book it is. But peep this. A sports agency. Owned by a father with four daughters and they all work as sports agents. Yes, girls rule the world. And boy, does daughter #1, Dekker have her work cut out for her.
Hunter Maddox is the bad boy of hockey. He’s good, really good. Actually he’s great, but he has a major attitude problem and a chip on his shoulder as big as my great state of Texas. That chip could be his downfall.
Dekker Kincade is every bit as determined as she is gorgeous. Her resolve to sign Hunter Maddox (at Daddy’s insistence) puts her right in the path of the bad boy and his arrogance.
The interesting thing is these two have a past. She was the one he let get away and he was the one she wanted to stay. But life…yea that thing called life got in the way. Lies, dishonesty, and mistrust set these two on a collision course. Dekker has unresolved family issues, and Dekker needs to prove to her family she can handle this.
Kristy, once again, has given us characters that we root for from the beginning of the story. She has given us characters that we connect with and feel for. That’s one of her greatest talents as an author, she gives us those characters that touch something with our spirit.
I can’t wait for more books in this series, but until they come I will give this one the five plus stars it deserves. But has Kristy never not deserved five stars?
I missed this one when it came out and had a few free days to read so I wanted to read this one before Hard to Hold was released as they are part of a series. I am glad I did, I love the sisters, they are so fun just like sisters should be.
Dekker and her sisters are sports agents and they work at the family business Kincade Sports Management, which seems to be losing clients. Now they need to go out and recruit or steal clients back.
Dekker is sent to recruit Hunter Maddox, the star of the NHL and on the team mostly headed for the Stanley Cup. That is if Hunter can keep his temper in check. Dekker knows something is wrong and she hopes he will open up to her about what is bothering him. He is, after all, the only man who broke her heart.
Hunter “Mad Dog” Maddox has a hard life, although it doesn’t seem like it. But if you were to learn about his life off the ice, you would know why he seems out of sorts. He wonders why Dekker is traveling with the team, she has clients on the team but she has never traveled with them before. Maybe she is looking to recruit someone.
Can Dekker move from the pain of the past and do her job? Will Hunter accept her help? Can he trust her to tell him the truth? Can they have a second chance at love?
I love a second chance romance and when you through in a sports romance, I’m all in. This is a great story that is filled with all the emotions to make you feel like you are on the emotional roller coaster, so sit back and enjoy the ride. I highly recommend it, just keep both hands inside and do not try to exit until the ride stops. I hope you enjoy it too.
This book checked so many of my book boxes. Hockey romance, second chance and enemies to lovers. Dekker and Hunter…two people who excelled in getting in their own way. It prevented them from being honest not only with each other but with themselves. Even three years later when Dekker is tasked with signing the out of control and volatile Hunter to her family’s sports agency, they still had problems not only being honest with themselves but with each other. This journey was both frustrating and intriguing for me. The arc of these characters and their relationship was such a journey. It was a rollercoaster of emotions in the best way. I loved every minute of it. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of this series featuring Dekker’s smart, sassy and strong sisters.
Hunter is a bad boy hockey player that just someone to watch out for him. Dekker is a PR agent that is trying to win him over as a client. He’s a guy that always wins. She is a woman that is feisty and gets her way. It’s an enemies to lovers with a back story that broke my heart. It’s a stand-alone, and another must read from Kristy Bromberg. #hardtohandle #kbromberg #hockeyromance
This book is a book that once you get a little bit into it you cannot put it down. Hunter and Dekkers story was beautiful and heartbreaking for both of them. This whole story was will they won’t they and you won’t want to put it down because it really keeps you on your toes. The problems and guilt they struggle with is real and relatable so much that I honestly was crying towards the end. Absolutely loved this book and cannot wait for the next book in the series!!