New York Times bestselling author, K. Bromberg, brings you a romance about love, forgiveness, and living every day to the fullest. I know finding and signing a military vet to the agency is a long shot–but it’ll be good press just letting him try out. That’s what I tell my family, rather than admit I can’t get the letter he wrote us five years ago out of my head. But what I tell the bartender … of my head.
But what I tell the bartender in his hometown is a lie. I know veterans protect each other. So I pretend to be a graduate student.
Sparks. Flame. Fire. I accidentally got in too deep.
I didn’t expect to develop feelings for Gunner Camden.
And there’s no way I can admit to my lies now, not without destroying what we share. So I’ll keep faking it.
***
There are two versions of me: before, and after deployment.
Back then I was a screwup kid. I’d lie, cheat, and steal my way out of everything. My only love was baseball.
After I started fighting, I found out there had been another path for me. One that involved my dream. But by then I had seen too much.
The old me was dead, so I put my dreams to rest, too.
Then Chase Kinkade walks into my bar and reminds me that life is meant to live. No regrets.
Fresh. Happy. Hopeful. I can start to see a new dream, with her.
But sometimes things are too good to be true… and dishonesty is the one thing I can’t forgive.
Are you ready to fall for the Kincade sisters and then men who love them in K. Bromberg’s sexy, contemporary, sports romance series? These books can all be read as standalones, but you’ll enjoy reading them as a series!
Hard to Handle (Hunter & Dekker’s story – hockey romance)
Hard to Hold (Rush & Lennox’s story – soccer romance)
Hard to Score (Drew & Brexton’s story – football romance)
Hard to Lose (Gunner & Chase’s story – baseball romance)
Hard to Love (Finn & Stevie’s story)
more
Overall Grade: 4 1/2
“Giving up a dream is like saying you’ve run out of hope.”
K. Bromberg has been quoted as saying that her hero for Hard to Lose, her newest book in her Play Hard series, is one of her favorites. And it’s easy to understand why Gunner meets those standards. This book, the last of the sisters of this series of standalones, has a heroine who self-sabotages in ways that can be absolutely frustrating. Don’t get me wrong. That isn’t a bad thing; it creates an emotional connection to her that is hard to break even when you want throw your Kindle against the wall at her choices. What truly saves you in those moments, though, is Gunner, Bromberg’s hero. He is the preeminent hero: protective, compassionate, masculine, and adoring of the heroine. You cannot help but to love him, even when he has to make the choice to part from Chase. It isn’t a surprise; in fact, as the reader, you will readily raise your hand and yell, “pick me” because he’s just that good.
Hard to Lose is the story of Chase, the youngest sister and daughter. We know, from the earlier books in the series, that each of the girls has struggled with their mother’s death in a variety of ways. It clings to each of them like a shadow causing them to make choices in life to either run from or avoid handling her death. For Chase, she’s used control to protect herself from hurt. Even more, she’s chosen emotionally unobtainable men with whom she engages in temporary relationships because nothing seems permanent after enduring her mother’s death.
One day, her father gives her a letter that had been sent five years prior from a former prospective baseball player, but was lost enroute until now. As she reads the letter, Chase feels a connection to the letter writer, and she endeavors to find out what happened with its author, Ryan Camden. After visiting his hometown, she finds out that he’s now living in Destiny Falls after a stint in the military. Thinking that she might be able to create a PR opportunity with Ryan, she goes to Destiny Falls. Who she finds is Gunner, the owner and bartender of the local bar, FU-Bar. From their meeting, Gunner and Chase are drawn to each other. Gunner distracts her so much that she forgets about Ryan…until it’s unavoidable.
Gunner is struggling with survivor’s guilt after his time in the military. Everything he does in life he does to honor the men he was unable to save: the bar he owns and the volunteer organization that helps children of fallen soldiers. Gunner is the best of men, and he is as drawn to Chase as she is drawn to him. As their journey becomes complicated by Chase’s lies, though, their future together becomes endangered. Is it possible for Gunner to dream again? Or will a life with Chase be “hard to lose?”
The essence of Hard to Lose is in its title. There is quite a bit of loss in this story: a loss of a dream, a loss of a parent, a loss of a friend, and even a loss of hope. Throughout this story, Bromberg uses the love affair between Chase and Gunner to be the catalyst for her message: it’s all right to have hope and to dream new dreams. What Bromberg shows her readers is the necessity to move beyond the fear of hoping and dreaming again. Both Chase and Gunner struggle with overcoming that fear, and Bromberg takes her readers on a delicious emotional journey as they learn to overcome their fears so that they can be together. Bromberg makes you fall in love with her characters, and by the end of the story, it is quite the adorable fest. Honestly, the epilogue of this story will make you swoon.
K. Bromberg’s Hard to Lose definitely has a hero whom you will adore. But she has a heroine who is like many of us: afraid to take a chance on becoming vulnerable with someone else. Chase fights it, and she almost loses. Yet, this is K. Bromberg, and we read in romancelandia, so never fear: happy endings are right around the corner.
This was one of the best book I’ve read in a long time. It gave me all the feels and the military side of the story was so relatable. It is hard to put into words but K put it together so eloquently. I haven’t read any of the other books in the series but definitely be doing it now.
“Love isn’t something you set out to achieve. It’s something that happens unexpectedly.”
Well this story was an absolutely beautiful small town romance! I wasn’t sure what to expect from the youngest Kincade sister, but Chase and Gunner’s love story was sweet, sexy and tugged at my heartstrings. Their banter was fun and flirty, their chemistry and sex was HOT and their cute date nights had me smiling and laughing a lot while reading! But this story held a lot of emotional moments as well, both Gunner and Chase had things that kept them from letting go of the past and moving forward towards love and true happiness.
“Giving up a dream is like saying you’ve run out of hope.”
Gunner is former military and is doing everything he can to pay back the debt he feels he owes to his fellow soldiers that didn’t make it back home. I just wanted to hug and love this man. He was just SO SWEET! While he gave up his dreams of playing baseball, he turned into this amazing man and became a pillar in his community. The moment he meets Chase, it’s like fate intervened showing him that there was more in life for him and that love was in the cards.
Chase is driven and goal focused, not letting love get in the way of achieving success for her families sports management company. Her single mindedness definitely got her in a pickle with her white lie when she first meets Gunner, but relaxing and letting go has her seeing that not every goal needs to be checked off. She had a lot of growth in this book and watching her let herself love and be loved was pure happiness for me!
Side note: I desperately need a story for Nix!
This was by far my favorite book in this series! I didn’t think any of the sisters could beat out Dekk and Hunter for top spot in my heart .
If you love big city girl falls for small town guy romance PLUS a sports and military theme as a cherry on top, you’re going to fall for Chase and Gunner!
I finished this book slowly because I knew immediately I didn’t want to rush through this and I wanted to savor the sweet buildup. I couldn’t even put into words how much I enjoyed this love story, so I had to try and get my thoughts together before writing this review. I have at least 10 quotes I want use and there’s still more that I could add!
“In my head I can hear Dickman’s voice telling me to suck it up. That she’s only hard to lose if I let her be. That life sucks but you’ve got to move on.”
“I sit in my truck and watch the American flags wave in the breeze on the headstones. They’re a sober reminder that I’m alive and this is a blip in the game of life ….” This is great quote. It conveys in a nutshell how strong Gunner is and willing to continue seeing the good in people and life despite all he’s been through.
Chase finally let’s her walls down.. “I’m angry that she’s gone. I hate that I haven’t had a mom for more than half my life. I hate that my dad lost the love of his life…”
There is such eloquent story building to this book (but I’m not surprised since all her books are amazing!). Bromberg tackles some deep and emotional issues with sensitivity, empathy and gives her readers the HEA we love!
Together Chase and Gunner become whole and learn it’s ok to be vulnerable and fun and open to love. “…somehow, our two broken and jagged halves have made one incredible whole.”
“Chase, the only person I want to write my happily ever after with is you.”
I was in danger of concussion by swooning every time Gunner spoke! I mean for real, he is the perfect man!
I haven’t read all the books in this series but the two that I did read certainly were 5 star reads for me!
K. Bromberg is my number 1 when it comes to writing sports romance. Her Driven series has been one of my favorites and I didn’t think that she would be able to top that series but she definitely has with the Play Hard series.
Each female sports agent has gone through some ups and downs but these girls definitely don’t give up. They go for what they want and there’s no stopping them when it comes to getting the athlete to succeed in the sport as well as in their bed.
This book was packed with so much gut-wrenching, emotionally, and heartbreaking moments. What Chase and Gunner went through in life was certainly devastating and having to move on has been hard for both of them. Giving each other a chance has also proven to be a challenge but boy did this book capture me whole.
4.5 Together They Healed Stars
* * * * 1/2 Spoiler Free
Sometimes you can love a story even when it starts off where you personally don’t want it to. I happened to really love the majority of this book…but I would be lying if I didn’t share the one thing that made me annoyed from the start. I hate it when there is a built-in concept of withholding the truth about something, knowing at some point it is really going to suck when it is revealed.
There …I said it. Now I am not revealing anything that wasn’t in the blurb…and it is the undercurrent of part of the book…
But as a testimony to the ability and talent of Ms. Bromberg…Damn, she writes a great book. She takes these two people and makes us care about them, feel for them, and also wish we had someone that great to kiss, hug and do all those other goodies with…
So I am suggesting you get this book, turn a blind eye to the omission part, and dig in for a delightful read. I did and enjoyed it fully.
Hard to Lose, the fourth book in the fantastic Play Hard series, may be the best book in the series to date. Chase and Gunner’s story definitely pulled on my heartstrings and made me feel all the things. K. Bromberg does a great job mixing her flawless storytelling with undeniable character chemistry and emotionally charged and tender moments. I am just so in love with this book
When a long lost letter from a former baseball player turned military vet lands on her desk, Chase Kincade decides to use this opportunity to find him and stir up some good publicity for her company. When she lands in Destiny Falls, she’s charmed by an oh so delicious bartender. Unbeknownst to her, he’s just the man she’s looking for.
Chase has my favorite character arc of all her sisters. The youngest Kincade is a career driven, goal-oriented and competitive sports agent at Kincade Sports Management. When it comes to matters of the heart. She wants no part of the life her sisters found with their significant others. Her views of love and marriage did come off a little cold. However, as the story continues and the connection with Gunner grows you see her walls come down and a less wound Chase comes out. I really enjoyed seeing her let her guard down.
I don’t think it’s possible to love Gunner any more than I do right this second. He is everything you want in a hero. Swoony, caring, devoted and a little broken. He lost so much – family, friends, and his dream – and he carries a world of guilt. Still, he’s determined to live life to the fullest. I fall for a Bromberg hero fairly easily, but I have never loved one of her heroes this deeply. His giant beautiful heart is wildly attractive. Every scene with the kids of fallen soldiers melted me. My heart felt like it was going to explode with all his sincerity and genuine care.
I absolutely love the relationship between Chase and Gunner. Absolutely perfect together. They understood one another. From the first interaction, you just knew they were meant to be. It hurt my heart just as much as it hurt theirs when lies told affected their strong bond.
Book by book, K. Bromberg continues to impress with this incredible series and Hard to Lose is no different. I highly recommend picking up this beautiful, emotional journey especially if you’re a fan of small town, military and/or sports romance.
AMAZING!
STUNNING!!
BEAUTIFUL!!!
K. Bromberg has pulled out all the stops and given me one of the best reads this year. Hard To Lose is just one of those books that gets in deep and wraps around you like the arms of your lover. It’s a romance readers paradise and you’ll never want to leave.
Chase Kincade and Gunner (Ryan) Camden have an undeniable connection from the start. Two very different people from two very different worlds but they click from the first time they meet. The banter, emotion, romance and swoon worthy moments are all there making this a book I fell in love with and devoured with a passion. The build up, chemistry and passion between them is intense and all consuming, and the storyline is amazing and takes hold right from the very first page.
I have loved the different journeys of the Kincade sisters in the Play Hard Series but this book is something special and one I’m sure you will love as much as I have. K Bromberg definitely saved the best till last.
It was a simple letter. A plea for me to take on a new client who hasn’t touched a real baseball field in over three years.
Would it be good publicity to get the Army veteran signed by an MLB team? Or course.
Would it piss my rival and ex-boyfriend off? Definitely.
Would it be devastating to my heart? That was the one thing I never expected.
Gunner. Wow. He was as unexpected as they come. With a name like Gunner, I thought I was meeting a hardened war veteran with nothing to prove. What I found was somebody who touched my heart in places I didn’t know existed.
Chase. Unlucky in relationships, uninterested in love, unsure of her future. She saw a chance to bring publicity to the agency from a long lost letter in the mail. What she found changed her world forever.
This was one of the most honest, vulnerable, gripping storylines I have read in a long while. Gunner is every dream come true and Chase is someone you should want by your side. Both damaged by loss, riddled with grief that will never go away, but realizing what they needed all along was someone to understand and see the beauty beneath the scars. Such a fitting theme as we are all scarred by the loss of life, livelihood, and normalcy we have endured throughout this pandemic. Seeing that there is a chance at a HEA brings such hope in such dark times. Thank you, Kristy, for another amazing love story that brought me tears of sadness and joy!
I love this series from K. Bromberg!
Run, don’t walk to get yourself a copy of Hard to Lose! You don’t want to miss this fantastic friends-to-enemies-to-friends-to-lovers romance between Chase and Gunner!
Hard to Lose is book four in the fantastic Play Hard series—seriously, this series just keeps getting better and better! I know I’ve been dying to see just what happens when Chase finds a man worthy of her love. And wowza, Gunner is that man and more!
There are so many hurdles these two needed to jump over on their way to their happily ever after. But Chase and Gunner—when working together—make it look easy. Okay, well, some things weren’t so easy, but anyway…
I loved Gunner and Chase’s dynamic—they were a perfect balance between loving, fun, smart, sexy, and snarky. They were perfect for each other in all ways in and out of the bedroom. Though some of the best scenes were between Chase and her sisters and her dad. The family dynamic between the Kinkades is lovely and honest.
I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough to see just how things turned out for Chase and Gunner in the end. And I am thrilled there’s a fifth book planned for Finn. Will be fun to see just who puts the man on his butt in the love department.
It was a simple letter. A plea for me to take on a new client who hasn’t touched a real baseball field in over three years.
Would it be good publicity to get the Army veteran signed by an MLB team? Or course.
Would it piss my rival and ex-boyfriend off? Definitely.
Would it be devastating to my heart? That was the one thing I never expected.
Oh wow! This was a fabulous read and by far my fave in the series! I was a military brat, so maybe that extra connection made it even better for me. This was heartbreaking, sweet, funny, with a dash of drama thrown in to keep me very happy. The story jumped right in and held me captive until the very end!
I loved Gunner’s background that helped shape him into becoming the phenomenal person he is now. He’s sweet, funny, charming, compassionate, loyal, and uber-smexy!!! I loved his confidence, but I loved his emotional side even more. Also, the man is so swoony, so you’ve been warned. LOL
Chase is the baby Kincade sister and I loved her independence, determination, compassion, and wit. I loved seeing her fall for Gunner when she isn’t one to normally do relationships.
All in all, this was a wonderful read! Thanks Kristy for this early copy. This is my honest review.
Hard to Lose is the fourth title in the Play Hard Series featuring Chase Kincade the youngest of the Kincade sisters and final to find her happy ever after. This title is a sweet, sexy and emotional story complicated by lies.
Chase is a driven, determined, focused, goal orientated, independent and successful sports agent. When a latter lost in the post lands in her lap, she’s determined to seek out the man who wrote it.
Gunner is a former soldier who is haunted by his past. His backstory is heartbreaking, and he’s an open, honest and big-hearted hero, who you can’t help but love.
This pair of characters are flawed, yet completely endearing. Their banter is witty and clever and their connection undeniable and passionate.
Jeez,
Where to start…
This book was great – superb – actually.
I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. And when it did, it did so in spectacular fashion.
The chemistry that Gunner and Chase had was crystal clear from their first meeting.
What can you expect?
* Ex-military hero with a heart of gold.
* Confident sports agent who thrives on setting and achieving goals.
* Sexual chemistry and magnetic attraction.
* Sweet dates and tender moments.
* ALL THE FEELS.
If that isn’t enough to convince you then: the broken hearts, the bettered hearts, the battered hearts, and the mended hearts make it worth a read.
That ending was super cute (and sweet)!
A solid 4.5 stars
This is the fourth book in The Play Hard series and it is my new favorite. It can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading the series in order so you meet the entire Kinkade family and understand the dynamics at play. Chase is the youngest of the sisters and she is the most driven with a work ethic that seems to lack any type of balance outside of work. Her family is on her case about doing something that is for her and getting a personal life (i.e., finding a man.) Gunner is a veteran who has made peace with his life after his dreams did not pan out the way he wanted but then Chase came barreling into his life. The connection between Chase and Gunner is instantaneous and incendiary; like some invisible string is pulling them together. The more time they spend around each other, the more they begin to fall. However, can a relationship be built on a lie? Overall, this is one emotional storyline with moments that will give you those feel-good vibes. As someone once said, you want to find the person who brings out the best in you and you do not know what you want until it is right in front of you. Chase and Gunner will have you believing in love and falling head over heels with this book.
This story is written to draw out all the emotions. I could not put this book down. Seeing Gunner and Chase coming together; yet Finding themselves.
When life choices are made for you by others it seems like the journey is full of regrets, but sometimes lead you on a path that you were meant to be on. Gunner and Chas’s story reminds me of that journey.
“Sometimes life just happens and you have to jump on the merry-go-round till it’s time to get off.”
Blurb:
New York Times bestselling author, K. Bromberg, brings you a romance about love, forgiveness, and living every day to the fullest.
I know finding and signing a military vet to the agency is a long shot–but it’ll be good press just letting him try out. That’s what I tell my family, rather than admit I can’t get the letter he wrote us five years ago out of my head.
But what I tell the bartender in his hometown is a lie. I know veterans protect each other. So I pretend to be a graduate student.
Sparks. Flame. Fire. I accidentally got in too deep.
I didn’t expect to develop feelings for Gunner Camden.
And there’s no way I can admit to my lies now, not without destroying what we share. So I’ll keep faking it.
***
There are two versions of me: before, and after deployment.
Back then I was a screwup kid. I’d lie, cheat, and steal my way out of everything. My only love was baseball.
After I started fighting, I found out there had been another path for me. One that involved my dream. But by then I had seen too much.
The old me was dead, so I put my dreams to rest, too.
Then Chase Kinkade walks into my bar and reminds me that life is meant to live. No regrets.
Fresh. Happy. Hopeful. I can start to see a new dream, with her.
But sometimes things are too good to be true… and dishonesty is the one thing I can’t forgive.
I have officially found my favorite book by K. Bromberg. Hard to Lose was a unexpected emotional read for me. I found myself crying at the most random times, but I loved it. Chase and Gunner’s story is one that I know will stay with me for so long.
Chase is the youngest of the Kincade sisters. She seems the most closed off to love and is very driven by her career. I love her passion and her confidence. I know that’s what drew Gunner to her immediately. She’s strong and fierce but underneath, she is hurting but keeps that part of her bottled up. Once she arrives in Destiny Falls, looking for the the mysterious writer of the letter that is delivered to her office. When she arrives and meets Gunner, there is instant attraction between these two.
I fell in love with Gunner right away. He’s hurting from his time in the service, although his scars are both on the surface and underneath that always haunt him. The grief that he feels is radiating off him. My heart broke for him, his past in the service and from even before that. Hard to Lose is definitely one of the best books that I’ve read this year so far. Chase gets as real with Gunner as she has with anyone but secrets always have a way of coming out.
Hard to Lose is a must read that I hope everyone reads. It will pull at your heartstrings and never let go.
Omg..I am in love with Gunnar and chase!
This is the 4th book in the Play Hard series and features the youngest sister Chase. Chase has always been the sister who is considered the overachiever and the one who also doesn’t believe in love anymore after her ex broke her heart.
She receives a letter that was delayed 5 years in making it to the office from a baseball player that her father had tried to recruit several years ago stating thanks for the opportunity but it was time for him to give up his dreams. This leads Chase to find the story behind the letter taking her down to Virginia. She walks into a bar in the military town to find answers and discovers Gunnar instead.
Their romance is so sweet… it starts out as just causal knowing she has an expiration date. Oh.. and she’s also been lying to Gunnar as to why she’s in town since she’s been told that the military folks in the town won’t talk to her if they know who she is. Unbeknownst to Chase, Gunnar is actually the guy she’s been searching for since goes by his military nickname instead of his regular name.
When the truth comes out, will the love they’ve found in each other be strong enough to survive?? You’ll have to read the story to find out!!!
I recieved an ARC for my honest review.