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
This was my most anticipated read from the Play Hard series and definitely my favorite story. Like always Bromberg delivers a swoon worthy hero and an incredible, sharp and fierce heroine.
A day after I finished and I’m still thinking of all the romantic times Chase and Gunner had together. I still feel all ooey gooey inside over this couple. From that first encounter where sparks flew to the moment they finally accepted how incredibly and deeply they love one another. I just “ sigh”! I love a good sport romance with feels and this one definitely delivered.
“ ’ , , .”
Chase Kincade is the youngest sister of the KSM family. She is strong, determined, driven, sharp and has a no bullshit attitude. She knows what she wants and isn’t afraid of getting it. She was hurt badly at love in the past and made her more determined to not succumb to an all consuming love.
Gunner is my new book boyfriend obsession. This man, this incredible man will melt your undies ladies and I’m not taking about his passionate approach only. I’m talking about his heart, his kindness, his give it all to others attitude. His selflessness and the way his treats Chase. Every bit of him was a dream. His past hurts so much but is that past that made him the incredible man he is now.
“ ’ . ’ .”
I’m not gonna tell you more about the story because I want you guys to discover this couple and their journey to HEA as I did. Just know that this is a story I will be reading yet again and definitely looking forward to have in audiobook so I can have Gunner talking sweet and sexy to me.
Thank you to Valentine PR and the author for my advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.
I wasn’t too sure of Chase before this story. I didn’t get a definite feel for her in the previous books, except that she is the youngest and was cheated on by Finn. I don’t think Chase knows what she wants. She seems to be at a crossroads in her life and not sure she wants the husband/babies like her sisters.
When a five year old no thank you letter from a baseball prospect turned military veteran lands on her desk, she is intrigued. Chase wants to find this mysterious man and generate some good press for Kincade Sports Management. In her searching for Ryan Camden, Chase finds Gunner in a small town in Virginia called Destiny Falls and she is instantly drawn to him. When their short term relationship becomes something more, Chase learns something about Gunner that could have done more harm than good in her search for Ryan.
This is another enjoyable installment of this series. I really liked the military veteran aspect of this book. Gunner is still dealing with the aftermath of his time there and guilt over surviving and losing his “brothers.” He is a genuinely good person and I was rooting for him and Chase.
I’ve been seeing some redemption of Finn’s character in these last two books and I am so excited that this series will be continuing with his story next!
Wow! This book was AMAZING. It was seriously captivating and I didn’t want to leave Chase’s and Gunner’s world! She was the sister that had goals and didn’t let one best her. The letter that set everything off wasn’t going to deter her from her mission. Chase didn’t let men or anyone get in her way. She was a love ’em and leave ’em kind of gal and she wasn’t sure why this story took such a hold of her but she was bound and determined to try. In walks Gunner. She certainly wasn’t expecting such a good guy! Can we say SWOONY?! I adored Gunner! He was a noble man and was trying to right wrongs in his life. As Chase got to know him, she realized he was the real deal. Only things weren’t as they seemed. I couldn’t read this book fast enough and I was lost in ALL. THE. FEELS. Please don’t let this book pass you by. You won’t be disappointed by this FANTASTIC read!
4.5 ‘Dance in the rain with me’ Stars!
ARC provided via Valentine PR in exchange for an honest review.
Chase Kincade is next in K. Bromberg’s Play Hard series and I have to say (at the start) I was not as curious about her as with the other Kincade sisters. She was not about love and all about work. But now, after reading her emotional love story with Gunner, I am so happy she cracked her shell and found her happy ever after. And who better than a sexy veteran turned bar owner (who very sadly lost his baseball dream) to sweetly give Chase everything she didn’t know she needed. I was all over it from start to finish!
Hard to Lose is the fourth installment in Kristy’s Play Hard series and it focuses on the youngest Kincade sister. Chase is a business woman who is all about achieving her goals as a sports agent. She doesn’t have time for hearts and flowers. She has seen her three sisters settle and fall in love and she believes she doesn’t need that. Suddenly though she receives a letter from Ryan Camden, who sent it from the war zone years ago after losing his dream of becoming a professional baseball player. Now she is decided to find him, feeling a strange connection to this man she doesn’t know. Enter Gunner, who also happens to be the Ryan she is looking for (but she doesn’t know that). He is a sweetheart, he is gorgeous, and a man who is still suffering the consequences of war. Sparks fly and this relationship becomes so much more than either of them expected.
She’s heaven.
She’s hell.
She’s the temptation I can’t resist and the torture I willingly put myself through, so I can watch her come undone before I get mine.
Oh man.. I am a sucker for stories that are full of emotions and, in my opinion, K. Bromberg is one of the best at love stories that bring all these feels. I was not surprised this series continues to be amazing in that aspect and everything else it brings. I loved how Hard to Lose’s plot developed and the old/new crew of characters it has. Chase is just as wonderful as the rest of the Kincade sisters, a woman following her dreams, loving her incredible family and finally also finding her much deserved happiness. Gunner. Oh God, Gunner.. I LOVED HIM. He is the sweetest man, with a side of cocky and a heart of gold after everything he’s gone through, he is such an outstanding hero and the perfect match for Chase. I loved their banter, their burning chemistry and the unexpected but unstoppable emotional connection between them. This novel was such a pleasure to read and a wonderful addition to the series.
“We’re the only ones who can write our own story. Chase, the only person I want to write my happily ever after is with you.”
Therefore, I am rating Hard to Lose with 4.5 STARS because I loved this roller coaster of emotions from start to finish. I loved Chase and Gunner, as individuals and as a couple. I loved the sexual tension and the explosive chemistry. And I loved how their relationship turned into so much more. I am so glad these two souls found each other, healed together and found their happiness. It was very much deserved! And you want to know what else I am happy about? That this is not the last book in the series!! We are also getting Finn’s story and I am SO excited about it. I am sure Kristy will find the perfect woman who will change his ways forever. This series is SO WORTH IT!
By far this was my favorite book in this series. I enjoyed them all, but there was something about this story that tugged at my heart. Sports agent Chase Kincaide is going through the motions of life. Her sisters are all settling down and starting families and she is feeling alone. When she finds a letter that was sent to her father from a baseball prospect years ago. Something about this letter grabs her and she is determined to find the author. Ryan “Gunner” Camden returns from the service with a huge amount of guilt. He tries to make everything right for the families of his friends that didn’t make it back. When he meets Chase there is an instant attraction. As these two loners begin a relationship, they soon realize what has been missing in their lives. An unintentional lie rips them apart, but is it enough to keep these two separated. This story was a heartbreaker and mended it along they way. I loved how genuine Chase and Gunner were. Such an amazing book!
Gunnar and Chase – Instant flirtation, instant attraction, refusing to give into feelings, a strong independent woman and a soldier that will melt your heart.
Chase has a purpose for her business trip and is determined to help her company shine. However, a white lie turns into more white lies and then Chase was in too deep to confess to the truth.
Gunnar is an amazing man with a heart of gold but his nightmares haunt him and he cannot forget the day that changed his life. He’s working hard to make things right, taking care of people, living his life and defiantly not looking for a relationship.
After their initial meeting, Gunnar and Chase start spending time together and learning about each other…but both are hiding something. Gunnar is more forthcoming but Chase continues her “deception” and knows she’s in trouble. They both are falling for each other but will the deception and secrets tear them apart.
I really loved this story, the main characters and the surrounding cast. This is a story filled with love, hurt, forgiveness and acceptance.
I requested an arc and I’m proving my honest review.
The fourth book in the Play Hard series is a mix of sports and military romance.
Chase is the youngest of the Kincade sisters. As the baby, she always felt she had to prove her worth and her strength. She is very goal oriented and doesn’t do love or relationships. Her only serious relationship was with Finn Sanderson, the villain of this series, and he cheated on her and broke her heart.
She comes across a 5 year old letter from a baseball prospect, Ryan Camden, now a war veteran and she sets out to find him and maybe gain some media attention by helping him in some way. At the beginning of the book she is selfish and self-centered.
But instead of Ryan, she meets Gunner, a war hero, running the local bar in Ryan’s small military town and helping kids from military families.
Their connection is instant although insta-lovey. Gunner is an amazing guy, with PTSD and a sad, abusive past. I liked him a lot. He was forced to give up on his dream of becoming a pro and join the military in circumstances out of his control.
Will Chase get over her relationship fobia? Will Gunner and Chase be able to find their happiness?
Unlike the other books that are a commentary on the difficult task of navigating the sports world as a woman, this book focuses on Gunner’s experience. It takes a look at abuse and at the military experience. At how war changes people in unexpected ways and how the impact is not just on veterans but also their families.
Well I have a new K. Bromberg favorite….Hard to Lose. I’m just completely blown away by all of the emotions I felt reading this book.
This is the last story of the Kincade sisters…..Chase Kincade. She’s the baby of the family. She’s independent, strong and has no time for attachments or love. That all changes when she meets former baseball phenom and decorated army vet Ryan “Gunner” Camden. Ugh, Gunner’s story broke my heart!! But they were just what each other needed. I loved watching their story unfold and I hated getting to the end but oh boy what a perfect HEA!
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.
(Small town romance, military romance, sports romance)
In Hard to Lose we have Gunner, who is such a great book boyfriend. Then you have Chase, who I personally was somewhat indifferent to, who had good intentions. In their story you will find all the elements that give you a great read, the highs, the lows, sweetness, laughs and all the feels.
The reason that Gunner and Chase are brought together is unique as they are and I was captivated by the storyline. As I continued to read, I was, at times, disturbed by Chase’s actions or should I say, inactions, to inform Gunner of the specifics of their meeting. In the end, it was all brought together with an exceptional HEA.
K. Bromberg’s writing was magnificent with a captivating storyline and marvelous characters. The fourth in a series, it was my first book and can be read as a standalone. I highly recommend.
Reading this story I knew I would be in for some heartbreak, but this book brought out all the feels. Chase is determined to find the man who turned down playing for the MLB, but when she finds him she puts on a fake persona. Gunner was a different man before the military then he was after and when he meets Chase he is immediately drawn to her. They build a wonderful relationship together, but when it’s premised on a lie he will have to decide if he can forgive. I had to keep reading to find out how their story would end and I was glad I did. It’s beautifully written and flows effortlessly.
***5 “FUBAR!!!” stars***
“Love isn’t something you set out to achieve.
It’s something that happens unexpectedly.”
Is it possible for every addition in the “Play Hard” series to be even better than the previous one???
Yes, it really is.
I love so much K. Bromberg’s writing. Every book of hers had depth and it’s filling me with so much emotion that it makes it impossibly hard to let go of these characters and their stories.
If you haven’t tried this series yet, you have to fix it immediately.
These books are sports romances at their finest and everyone has to experience them…
“The best relationships are the ones you never saw coming.”
It had finally come Chase’s turn to shine, the youngest of the Kincade bunch.
Chase is a woman driven by ambition. She just wants to succeed in more and more things among of her sisters who lately had been sidetracked by men. She doesn’t need a man in order to be on the top. After all, their plan had started with a man that hurt her in the past…
What she doesn’t expect is to receive a long lost letter from a soldier who used to be a baseball player in his youth and her interest is picking up…
“Maybe I’m curious about this man who’s close to me in age and who felt so strongly about his duty that he gave up his dream to fullfill it.”
Now, she wants desperately to find that man for an unknown reason, but with the explanation that he will bring a good press to their agency….
So, she is going into a netflix town who is called “Destiny Falls’ in order to succeed another of her goals.
What she isn’t expecting was love to knock into her door in the form of an ex military barman… and the lies that she has told him might be able destroy everything that is happening between them…
“I hate myself for deceiving him, and I hate myself even more for not allowing this to be anything more than it is.”
Gunner’s life changed the day that he was forced to let go of his dream and join army.
He used to be a wild kid, and with a good reason, but life was cruel with him.
Baseball was his only refugee, but he had to bury it in order to survive in a war that wasn’t his to fight.
Nowadays, he is running a bar dedicated to his fallen brothers and he is exhausting himself doing amazing thing for the others in order for the nightmare and the survivor guilt to stay at bay…
What he isn’t expecting is for Chase Kincade to get into his bar and turn his life upside down.
“The woman is fucking incredible. Does she know that? See that? Does she have any idea that she is knocking me on my ass just as surprisingly too?”
OMG!!! How I loved this couple!!! It might be my most favorite in this series. Or maybe not! LOL!!!
This couple was slightly different than the previous three.
Gunner wasn’t an athlete anymore and he had a heavy load upon his shoulder. His past was hunting him… But he was a true hero, not only on war, but in life as well… The life he was doing was touching a sensitive chorde inside my heart. He was an amazing creature and he deserved the world. I was so sad that he had to let go baseball. I really was. But i think he had found his purpose in this earth and he was amazing in what he was doing…
“I’ve been advised to let old dreams go. To accept that life has changed forever.”
Chase was driven by ambition, but it took a change of scenery to realize that there were more in this life than your ambition.
A small town, a handful of kids and a tortured man made her discover her true self. A woman that was still hurting by her mother’s loss and a woman that was needing love to be happy.
Yep, she had lied, but I can totally understand how she let a little sparkle of lie to become a wild fire… But in Destine Falls, with a fascinating man by her side, she realized the meaning of life and it was so wonderful to witness something like that.
“Sometimes it’s easier to be who you really are when you step outside of your daily grind and everything there holding you in its normal place.”
I loved Gunner and Chase, as I loved and all the previous Kincade sisters and their men…
And when I’ve read at the end that the author is about to write a book about Finn, I was over the moon… Yeah, I know. He is the bad man in here, but still, I’m very intrigued by him…
So bring it on, Kritsty!!!
“You live in a black and white world, sweetie. It’s okay to fight for the one who adds color to it.”
**I received an ARC for the exchange of an honest reivew**
What a beautiful and heart-warming way to end this series. I absolutely didn’t see this story coming to be honest, and probably that’s why it hit me harder than I was expecting. It was the cherry on the cake and the best of all four IMO.
It was so emotional in typical K. Bromberg fashion with the damaged hero with a golden heart and the strong heroine trying to find her real purpose. That was a perfect match made in book heaven.
Gunner was such a selfless, troubled man, that I fell in love with from his first smile and witty line. He had his demons from the past and was trying to live his life making up for his past mistakes. But with every new scene, every new chapter read, my heart was irrevocably stolen by this remarkable man Kristy created, because he was definitely too good to be true.
And then we have Chase – a bit cocky, independent, confident but at the same without a clear goal for herself and her personal life. It was a journey for self-discovery for her. Going in the small town and being the outsider, but she won them all over with her outgoing personality and open attitude to new challenges.
They were both completely different but in fact they were like two pieces that made a whole. “…somehow, our two broken and jagged halves made one incredible whole.”
They fit together and they complemented each other on so many levels. And I loved how each one overcome their fears and turned into a better version of themselves with the support of the other.
The story was beautifully written and K Bromberg once again took me on a journey colored with every single emotion out there – the sweet romance, the hot passion, the military throwbacks, the gut-wrenching drama, the overwhelming guilt, the unvoluntary deceit, the subsequent fear, the inner struggle, the heartbreaking pain, the longed forgiveness and all that gathered in one story. At the end it was all wrapped beautifully with the touching epilogue picturing all four sisters and their families that I happened to grow so attached to while reading this series. It was such an emotional ride reading the story of each sister. But I have to say Gunner and Chase were definitely my very favorite of all.
And I’m so glad it’s not the end of this world though and we’ll see Fynn’s story soon. I can’t wait.
5 stars! One of my top favorites of 2021!
My favorite book in the series! I was about 20% in when I knew this book would be 5 stars. Do you know when was the last time I felt this way about a book I wasn’t even halfway through? I can’t remember. It’s been that long!
Most of the times, I am nitpicking small things I feel could’ve been better. But with this story I found myself shutting that part out of my brain and simply enjoying Chase and Gunner’s story. Their witty banter, their beautiful yet broken souls, their flaws, and their fierce love. Seriously my favorite couple in the series so far! They complimented each other perfectly.
I won’t go into the plot- just read it. I don’t hype what I don’t love. I sure wasn’t expecting to cry as much as I did. My heart was hurting in some parts, but I couldn’t stop reading it.
This entire series has been good, but Kristy saved the best for the last sister. I’m definitely excited about Finn’s book. I can’t wait to see how Kristy redeems him.
Honestly one of the best books I have ever read! Ok, I love the Kincade sisters but Chase was perfectly perfect! GUNNER was EVERYTHING! You know when you have such a book hangover you can’t read something else quickly after because nothing compares to the last book???? THIS WILL DO THAT FOR YOU! THIS IS ONE OF THOSE BOOKS! Must read, one-click-go!
Hard to Lose by K. Bromberg is the 4 book in the Play Hard series and is the story about the youngest sister Chase. After her bad romantic story with Finn the guy who you have meet if you have read the previous books and all the sisters dislike, she decide to not let another man in her life so her focus is just the sport agency and nothing else. Except until her sisters start finding their HEA and they start asking her about when she is going to start dating again and that there is more in life that work. Thats when she start planning a PR strategy to put the agency in the eye of the media and for that she needs to find a veteran who when he was young wanted to play baseball, but thanks to his stepdad he lost that opportunity. Chase plan is to find that guy and try to have him play a professional game or do a game for veterans something that can interest of the media. But what she never thought was once she was in the little small town that this guy lives she will find a really hot and nice bartender who will have his eyes on her since the first night and will show her that they can have something more than just sex.
But not everything will be easy because Chase is not telling this guy (Gunner) who she really is or what is her job and the reason she is in that small town! when Chase finds out that Gunner is the same veteran she is looking for, she decide to keep with the white lies because she knows once he knows the true everything between them will end. And she doesnt want that because she is starting to have feelings for her. But when everything looks perfect for them secrets are out and Gunner and Chase we will need to fight for each other if they really want to have their HEA.
This book was so good! it has everything, romance, drama and sexy moments, i love the chemistry between Gunner and Chase so much! and OMG at the end i didnt see that coming about one more book in this series!!!!
Hard to Lose is officially my favourite book of the Playing Hard series! I didn’t think that Lennox and Rush would be knocked off the top spot but they really have. Hard to Lose has a small town romance vibe, with a whole lot of angst and a phenomenal connection between Hero and heroine.
What I loved about this book was the ease the writing had, it flowed beautifully and I got lost amongst the pages. Gunner and Chase seem happy to take what they need from each other while they have the time. There was a freedom to their connection yet a feeling that these two are fated to find one another.
Gunner is a man who has experienced and lost so much, the way his barriers fall and he opens up to Chase made him endearing. He has such strength and a huge heart but a wicked sense of humour and his passion is what is undeniably sexy about him. Chase is an independent woman but I think she was lost without ever realising she was wandering; just going through the motions. Gunner changes everything for her, he gives her a new perspective, a new zest for life, something she can’t leave behind. Yet she knows she has to if her secrets don’t drive her away first.
Hard to Lose ticked all the boxes a stand out romance book should. Character connection, a plot that keeps the story moving along, romance and all the moments that make your heart flutter Gah! the dance in the rain *heart eyes*, angst oh the angst as you see Chase fall deeper into her own deception. Then comes the heartbreak and Kristy made me hurt with this one, like it genuinely stung and one moment in articular felt like a punch to the gut.
This book is absolutely a must read for anyone that wants a real feel romance that truly focuses on the couple. Props to Kristy for keeping this one focused, Gunner and Chase’s story is all them, no outside drama, no plot elements that creep in, the drama and the angst is all their own making, it comes from the Hero and the heroine and I loved that she really explored these characters and their relationship in this way, it kept the book pure and an true pleasure to read.
5 No Regrets Stars! This one is most definitely my favorite of this series. Gunner will sweep you off your feet. He is totally swoon worthy and sexy as all get out! Gunner and Chase’s chemistry is off the charts scorching hot and their journey will have you feeling all the FEELS! Prepare for a roller coaster ride of emotions in this phenomenal read.
I was debating on how to rate this book after reading and to say I’m blown away is an understatement. I just really couldn’t put my finger on something in the story that made me feel the way I felt about both characters. We’ve been on a journey with the Kincade sisters along this series but think this one is my favorite! The way you feel the emotion running through you while reading and it also resonates with you. Brilliant read and definitely a fav’ of 2021 for me!
Chase has been a whirlwind for years but when a letter arrives on her desk, she is determined to find the soldier that has written it years ago. Now she’s on sort of a goose chase to find Ryan and it brings her to a small military town with no real expectations. She didn’t think to find a man that turns her world upside down from the first meet. With her undercover search for Ryan, she and Gunner become closer with each passing day and it gets harder to deny her feelings, even when it all started with a lie. Gunner has been through so much and tries to move on from his past although that’s easier said than done. When he first meets Chase, there’s an undeniable pull between them and he just can’t seem to stay away from her. Even though he knows she’s only there for a small period of time, their bond grows stronger each day. But Chase is hiding a secret and when he find out the real truth why she’s there, both will have to make a choice on whether or not they will fight for what they’ve found… Will true love find a way in the end or will the lies tear them apart?…
In romance books, the male character is always the hero. With hard to lose, Gunner is an actual hero, a humble one at that. He’s a war hero who managed to save 5 lives one day at war. To read his story, not told by him but one of the guys he saved, it almost had me in tears (I’m not that much of a crier when it comes to reading but this was a huge, heartfelt moment!)
Kristy is damn good at writing a troubled hero with a troubled past, Colton in Driven is a perfect example of that. Gunner has a troubled past and the fact that he’s found the one person who can make him forget about his troubled past in Chase makes my heart swell. Gunner is fabulous on his own, but pair him with Chase and these two are now my all time favourite couple, not only in Kristy’s books but in all books. Chase is not your typical heroine and I immediately fell in love with her. I want to be her, and not just because she gets to be with Gunner, but because she has this give no f*ck attitude that I love. I want to be her best friend!
Chase and Gunner are two peas in a pod, this is even quoted in the book as something Gunner says to Chase. They share a connection that not many people do, the loss of someone, they both don’t let people in, afraid to let someone get close, don’t want to fall for someone or have someone fall for them and end up leaving them in some form or another. I love a book that has characters who are one in the same emotional wise. It’s not often you find a heroine who is strong and independent but also has no interest in finding love or starting a family. Work is her family, literally and figuratively and it’s one of the characteristics I love the most about Chase, that and how she’s not afraid to Speak her mind. The later is a characteristic I wish I had.
This book was amazing. Gunner is one of the good ones, a man I hope more men are like. There wasn’t a damn thing I didn’t enjoy about this book and now I’m in one hell of a book hangover. I’m so glad that I took my time with book, savoured every word. It’s my all time favourite book of Kristy’s now. 5+++ star read, 5 stars just isn’t enough!