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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K. Bromberg’s Hard to Handle is a poignant second-chance romance set in the world of professional hockey that’ll take you places you don’t except.
When Dekker Kincaid is sent to convince professional hockey player, Hunter Maddox, to switch sports agencies, she decides to ignore their past romantic entanglement and keep her eye on the prize. Hunter has become increasingly volatile off the ice, and no one quite knows how to handle him. Except for Dekker. As it becomes painfully obvious that their chemistry never went away, they’ll have to figure out what they actually want… in life, and with each other.
This is a great sports romance and a strong start to a new series. I also love the second-chance element, as that is one of my favorite tropes. Dekker and Hunter also have a soft of enemies-to-lovers vibe which I’m totally here for. The narrative arc is surprisingly emotional, as both characters’ past traumas and scars are brought to the fore. It’s a novel that will make you feel all the feels, in the best way possible. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
Dekker co-owns an athlete recruiting agency with her sisters. Dekker’s latest assignment is to recruit a new player from the opposing team. The task will not be easy – the new recruit turned out to be a complicated, sexy, talented hockey star Hunter Maddox, the one and only who broke Dekker’s heart. Dekker is up for the challenge though – business is business, hook line and sinker, right? Except the only one who is sinking deep is Dekker How is it work when Dekker start to travel with the team, eating, sleeping and sharing living space with the hottest man alive? Hunter has only one goal at the moment – win the Stanley Cup. But can he resist the gorgeous, sassy new recruiter? The two has history and you can feel pouring of the pages. Phew, the chemistry and sexual tension is of the chart. I love the relationship development – slow burn, angsts, push and pull. It felt authentic thought given the hero’s past and his journey to heal and redemption. Hunter needed to work out his demons before he can love or be loved. Dekker also built a huge wall and she fought hard, but the heart has a mind of its own and she can’t help but falling for Hunter.
If you love sport romance/second chance romance, you will love this one. But this story got a little deeper though due to Hunter’s complicated past, and his journey to overcome it. Hard to Handle got a little bit of everything – humor, emotional, heartwarming, sizzling second chance romance. Told in dual POV and beautifully written. Awesome start to a new series. Can’t wait for the next sister.
4.5 stars
I read a lot of books. And honestly I love most. I’m very picky about my authors so it’s usually a safe bet I’m gonna like it.
This is hands down one of the best books I’ve read in a long time.
Full out, rip your guts out, owned every part of my heart story. It was fabulous.
Maddox, hockey super star on the edge… lots of baggage. So worth it and more.
Dekker… the agent, but even better than that, this amazingly empathetic individual who definitely sees the man. Not the Hockey God …
I devoured this second chance enemies to lovers, Triumph over tragedies story!
Highly. Highly recommend
K. Bromberg
Enemies to lovers, second chances and sport romance. Hard to handle has it all.
Then there is guilt and grief. Characters who can’t forgive themselves for wrongs they didn’t do.
I’m so glad I was given a chance to read this book.
It was funny and serious. And I must say also a little heartbreaking.
I warm you, that first epilogue will touch your heart! Yes, I needed a tissue.
I loved this book! It was so different from what I’ve been reading and I needed it. I knew Hunter was out of control from his very first chapter. His frustration with everyone was jarring. Dekker loved him even when he was unlovable. Her strength amazed me. I cried at the end. Between the Cup and Hunter’s father. His brother broke my heart. I loved her father and her sisters too. I pictured him with a glimmer sparkling in his eye! He was up to something. I can’t wait to read the others sisters books.
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.
I had this on audiobook and all I can say is WOW, for me there are only a few writers that can make their readers feel the emotions of a character and K.Bromberg is one of them. The story line was addictive and enthralling and I was engulfed in this emotional roller coaster with the characters. The chemistry between the characters was captivating and both narrators did a wonderful job in bringing this book to life. This is an absolutely brilliant read.
This author is a queen of angst and a queen of stubborn characters who refuse to see the light. Hunter and Dekker were together for six months, three years ago. During that time, they enjoyed a friends with benefits relation, since both were allergic to being in a relation. But once Dekker found she was starting to have feelings for Dekker, she broke up with him, all of a sudden. And he, like a dumbass, let her get away. Since they both work in the same business, he as a professional athlete and she as an agent, he had to watch her with other dates, who were a very poor substitute and didn’t give her the fireworks they had together.
When Hunter is having problems with his career and seems to be on the way to an emotional implosion, Dekker’s father, the chief of their agency, send her to recruit him. Hunter’s current agent doesn’t seem to be doing his job right and Dekker knows she can do a much better job. The problem is that when they meet up again, all the feelings, all the chemistry, all the longing is still there. Dekker is torn between her feelings and her obligation to her father and their business.
Hunter is on a downward spiral, and stressed as all get out. He is weighted down with regrets, guilt, a reckless drive towards a goal that he wants to achieve for his brother. He’s constantly under siege by his feelings and by his father who constantly puts him down, criticizes all his plays and compares him to his brother. As I read the book, I felt that Hunter was under siege from all directions; his teammates resented his aggressive play style, his agent kept haranguing him, menacing him if he didn’t perform better, the team owner was considering trading him. And Hunter was on a relentless course to win the cup for his brother. In all this warfare, the only one who gave him peace was Dekker. And they both denied their feelings because of their issues.
This was frustrating! I wanted them to finally open up their heart and their minds to their feelings and together, face their issues. But they kept torturing us readers for a long time, denying themselves and each other the pleasure of their love. This author usually keeps the reader waiting and biting nails for a big while, taking her characters through angsty paces, until we get the aha! moment when they finally realize they can’t live apart. And it’s a winning formula because it makes the whole story, the whole torture, worth the wait and the lost fingernails.
Needless to say, I loved the characters, stubborn as they are, and the story and all the yummy angst. Hated Hunter’s father and mother, who didn’t appreciate the son they had. Very fulfilling read!
I am hooked on this series! This is the first book and I hope that we get the rest of the sisters – and find out what is going on with their dad! After some childhood trauma, Dekker has a strained relationship with her sisters and she shies away from ever getting close to a guy. The one she got closest to was Hunter a few years ago and she ended things as soon as she figured it out. Hunter has a lot on his plate, and a lot of guilt from his childhood and has been living in the shadow of his twin his whole life. When someone starts taking business from the company, Dekker’s dad gives her the task of getting some clients back from their competition – Hunter. Throughout attempting to start a discussion about why she’s traveling with the team, Dekker and Hunter end up falling for each other even though the feelings never really left, and they also help each other to work through what happened to each other in childhood. My heart literally broke for Hunter and his brother and what happened to them, and even more so for Hunter because of the guilt he felt and how he lived his life for his brother. I was so glad that Dekker and Hunter ended up with each other and the suspense of it got me hooked! I cannot wait for this author to continue this series!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
A hot hockey hunk and the woman from his past – I am there! Kristy Bromberg writes romances like no other, full of passion, angst, and emotion. Loved this book!
This was a great read! It had the aspect of enemies-to-lovers mixed with second chances and then throw in some sports, in this case it was hockey. Hard to Handle was a riveting book. I was captivated as I read Hunter and Dekker’s story. There was a mix of everything-sweet, steam, angst, emotions. These two had a lot going on and a lot to work through and I couldn’t wait to see how it all played out. You feel it all as you read. I loved this story and I can’t wait for the rest of the sisters’ books.
Hard to Handle is giving us Dekker & Hunter’s story and what a fabulous start to this series.
Dekker is a feisty, hard working PR . She has worked with the finest athletes and always proven she is a force to be reckoned with . She and her sisters may be working for their dad but he has certainly shown them the ropes and they have taken it and made it their own. The are on the hunt for new additions to add to their roster. These ladies know how to get the job done. When dear old dad breaks down the list she is given Hunter the Hard to Handle man on the ice and her ex.
Hunter is at the top of his game on the ice. On the outside he is fierce, hot headed and works hard but on the inside his demons are eating him away. His family life is slowly breaking him down and it is spilling out on to the ice in his game.
This couple is heat and sizzle they may have been casual but is that really all it was. Yes the passion is still there but deep down they are so much more. I loved the way Dekker found a way to comfort Hunter without smothering him. She knew how much to give and when . It was a beautiful, emotional, sexy second chance for this couple .
~~Michele McMullen ~~
***4,5 “Stick. Skill. Finesse.” stars***
“Make what used to be your curse, now be your blessing.”
It’s impossible to see that K. Bromberg is realising a new book and to not want to read it…
I’m trusting her completely and she never disappoints!!!
This story, the first in a brand new sports romance series was a very promising start.
I loved Hunter and Dekker very much and i can not wait for the rest of the books, which I believe that they had to do with Dekker’s sisters!!!
“My soul knows that love always ends in pain and loneliness.” {Dekker}
“How many days will it be until they see I’m a fraud? Until they realize I’m smoke and mirrors and only trying to live up to the expectations others have of me?” {Hunter}
Dekker is a sports agent and she is working in the family business along with her three sisters and father. Lately, her father is acting strange and he is demanding for them to recruite new big names in the company. Unfortunately for her, she is have to recruit Hunter Maddox, a man that he is very hard to handle nowadays, but a man that Dekker used to now pretty good in physical level three years ago.
A man that he let her go and in a way, he had broken her heart.
“This is Hunter we’re talking about. This is my secret weakness and my silent heartbreak.”
Hunter is an angry man and he’s showing it to the rest of the world. Inside and outside of the ice.
He is the best of the bests, but lately his behavior had started to raise some eyebrows and ruffle some feathers.
The truth is that Hunter is carrying his own cross to bare, and he has just one end goal…
To win the Stanley cup before he will run out of time.
The only problem in this plan is Dekker, a woman that made a great impact on him, but whom had let her go because he thought that he wasn’t deserving her.
“Her presence is torture. It’s showing me something I thought I wanted. Something I forced myself to walk away from because I knew I didn’t deserve her.”
Well, from the moment that these two are meeting again the sparks are starting back to life…
Their ride wasn’t easy, but i liked how they weren’t backing down.
Dekker realized from the very first moment that Hunter’s anger was running deep inside of him and she had to find out what was all this behavior about…
Unfortunately, her work assignement turned into something much personal and for once again her heart start beating wildly for Hunter…
As for Hunter??? This woman was getting under his skin and even though he just wanted to stay focused on his end goal, she was messing up with his head and heart.
“Damn my father for giving me him to recruit. Old feelings are better left dead and buries.”
“All I need is her. She quiets the demons. She sees me -the real me- and that scares the ever-loving shit out of me.”
I loved, loved this couple and this story…
It was a beautiful story, heartwhelming, steamy with some romantic splashes…
I’m a sucker of sports romances and this one was one of the kind…
Honestly, i can not wait for the rest of the books in this series…
If you are into sports romances with a strong and indepented woman and a hot, but troubled hockey player as the lead characters, then this is the book for you!! Go for it!!!
“What am I going to do about it?
Live in the past… or realize I can’t change the past and can only move forward?”
***I received an ARC for the exchange of an honest review***
4.5/5
Hard to Handle is an amazing well written story about love, forgiveness and acceptance. Its a damn well roller coaster of emotions, it will tug your heart and break it then put back together repeatedly. Kristy Bromberg gave us all the possible feels through this book. The characters are portrayed very well. You will fall in love deeply to their story all the way to the end. This is a perfect story of second chances and new beginnings.
Dekker is a a sport agent that was sent by her father to get Hunter Maddox signed a contract with them. But the problem is Hunter and Dekker used to be a casual fling. By that time that they were spent time together.. Dekker realize that she has falling for him that’s why she ended things between them thinking that Hunter won’t feel the same way.
After three years of not seeing each other doesnt change anything the attraction still lingers between them. They both know that there’s more to it, but they are both stubborn to admit it.
Hunter Maddox is a successful Hockey player, all man and cocky he’s the captain of the team and always on the top of his game. But carrying a guilt about his past puts a lot of pressure in him. He became distracted and off during the game.
So instead a mission of convincing Hunter to sign up with them. She done differently, and that mission is to help Hunter get his head on straight, focus on the game and win the Stanley Cup. And of course be the man that has a life to live through.
This book was definitely a great kick start of a series and I can’t wait to read more of Kincade sisters. If you like second chance, friends to lovers sports romance with all the feels.. This book was definitely for you. This is a must read.
This book just about broke me. It’s incredible how guilt can cripple a person. And boy what did it do it to Hunter. It was so hard to read how he tore himself down. Sometimes it’s so easy to believe the negative. It why I loved Dekker so much. Despite her fears she truly wanted him to be the best. Her love and understanding is what made this book such an amazing read.
Don’t you just love it when you rediscover am author?? K. Bromberg needs to be out on my TBR list back again ASAP!! I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to see what happens next in this series.
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
This was a hard one for me to rate, I was going between 3 or 4 stars. The writing itself is good, I had no problem getting into the story, or understanding the characters. My problem was with Hunter and Dekker together. They have history, so I understand the back story and letting the reader know what happened. But, the whole first 50% of the book is them going over and over it. She loved him even though she wasn’t supposed to. He didn’t deserve her, so he’s a d*ck. That’s the whole of their relationship for a long time. Now when they finally make it to coupledom (not sure if that’s a word lol) I like them together. It was just too short of a time out of the whole book for me. This was a first for me from this author, but I definitely want to find out what happens with the next sister =)
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.
Another fantastic 5 star book by K. Bromberg. Hunter is an NHL star that is slowing imploding as he tries to deal with the guilt of his past. Dekker works for her family’s sports agency. Her dad decides they need to fight fire with fire as a rival agent continues to steal their clients. He decides Hunter will be the first they pursue and Dekker is the one to do it. Unfortunately, they have history and she has never gotten over him. Once I go going in this book, I was engrossed and couldn’t put it down. Hunter is a character who you just have to root for as you see the struggles that he has dealt with for years. I also related to Dekker and her struggles to try to tear down some of her walls and take a chance. Definitely worth the read and looking forward to the next sister’s story!
As soon as I read the synopsis for this one I couldn’t wait to read it! I really enjoyed it!
Always love a sports romance but add in a second chance and I’m hooked. Then have Kristy Bromberg write it yes yes yes!!! The emotions wow I love Hunter and Dekker. This story is so much more than their second chance. So beautiful. You’ll love every minute!!!
Falling for someone is never the plan. One day, you just wake up and it’s there in full-freaking, high-definition color.
I’m sad to say I struggled with this book:( I have NEVER struggled like this with a book from K.Bromberg. I have always said I come back to her writing because of her realism that she puts into her stories. The element of relatability for her readers. The deeper message that she always puts within her story, that I just get. I can ALWAYS find a emotional connection within me and the story that makes me love it and the characters. But with HARD TO HANDLE I just struggled to find that connection and that saddens me. I know that not every book is for everyone and this book was just that book for me. There were just too elements that didn’t work for me: second chance, hockey, enemies to lovers, second chance…all those things combined didn’t work for ME with this book. For ME, it was how it all unfolded. I feel the story had such potential, but it just didn’t seem to gel. I tried to overlook the little things that bugged me as I read, but in the end, I just didn’t love this story. The first 50% was too slow paced for me and I was easily pulled away from the book. There was a lot of lust, miscommunication, and internal guilt that drove the story. Once I got passed that first half slump, I did start to enjoy their story for what it was…once they started to breakdown their emotional barriers and communicate with each other, I started to see that spark of a connection, but then it slowed down again for me. It was still missing something. I think that the missing something was the lack of backstory for Dekker and Hunter. My biggest struggle with second chance romance is sometimes there’s a lack of backstory. The reader misses out on the connection building between the main characters. The *BOOM* , this is how and why they work and how they didn’t work. I missed THAT aspect in HARD TO HANDLE. I struggled with feeling THAT connection between Dekker and Hunter because it happened BEFORE this story really takes place. I felt as if I was plopped right in the middle of their story with only small tidbits of their backstory, when they in fact had six months worth of a relationship that I missed out on. I missed out on how their relationship started and grew into what it was and what ultimately ended it for them. Bromberg gave me JUST ENOUGH of their backstory through flashback chapters/scenes to have me understanding that they had a relationship that started out as “benefits only” and morphed into more, but I didn’t read about that progress. I didn’t get to experience their love begin and grow. I didn’t get to read about their struggles with realizing they loved each other but couldn’t be together. Even the characters themselves seemed oblivious to their growing feelings. And then in the present, Hunter spent SO MUCH time angry and guilt ridden, that that overshadowed the possibility of me seeing a deeper connection between him and Dekker. He was so focused on hockey and his ONE goal. She was so focused on figuring out how to help him break free of his self-destructive ways. YES, they cared for each other. YES, they ultimately loved each other in the end. I just don’t know if I believed in the organic growth of that love and that makes me sad.
I will say, HARD TO HANDLE did have the signature emotions that Kristy always brings to the table with her books. I FELT some of the more powerful scenes and I even cried during some scenes between Hunter and his brother. Those scenes I could FEEL the rawness of Hunter’s emotions. I sympathized with him in those scenes. The EMOTION behind Hunter’s thought process was tangible, but those were not the only scenes that I wanted to FEEL. I wanted to feel more between Dekker and Hunter. More love than lust. More than what felt like a deep caring friendship. I just needed MORE of the their love growth that I was missing in this story.
In the end, I am sad that I didn’t connect with this story. I am not saying that YOU won’t connect with it. Hunter and Dekker both have a story that could happen to anyone. They both have internal struggles that could anyone could experience. And maybe their story is something you can relate to and enjoy on a different level than I could. I am curious to see what and who the next book is about. I will be continuing this series regardless of not loving this book. I trust that Bromberg will bring me a story I can connect with in this series.
3 stars
When I pick up a book by K. Bromberg I have certain expectations. I expect the book to be smart, I expect to sigh a few times (in a good way!) and I expect it to be emotional, yet leave me with a smile. I know it sounds like a tall order, but Ms. Bromberg definitely delivers with Hard to Handle.
Hard to Handle is the start of the Play Hard series and it couldn’t have gotten off to a better start. I was invested almost immediately in this story. Dekker and Hunter just have a way of pulling you in and wanting to peel away their layers until you can truly understand them.
These two are smart, sensitive people who have a tough outer shell. I understood where they were coming from; their pasts truly shaped them. I believed in who they were and what they could be for each other. It was incredibly satisfying to watch them fall into each other. Their journey wasn’t perfect, and it was definitely emotional, but it was oh so worth it.
The supporting characters in this book didn’t detract from Hunter and Dekker, or overshadow them. I will definitely say I am excited to delve deeper into some of their stories. Once I was a few chapters in the book just seemed to fly by. I didn’t want it to end, but it didn’t feel rushed either. It just flowed.
This author certainly knows how to tell a story! This story took me on an emotional rollercoaster, but I loved it. I would definitely recommend this book.