New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh brings you the next sizzling story in her Hard Play contemporary romance series… stability. No risks. No wild chances. And especially no Juliet Nelisi, former classmate, scandal magnet, and a woman who is a thorn in his side.
As a lonely teenager, Juliet embraced her bad-girl reputation as a shield against loneliness and rejection. Years later, having kicked a cheating sports-star ex to the curb, she has a prestigious job and loyal friends—and wants nothing to do with sportsmen. The last thing she expects is the fire that ignites between her and the stuffed-shirt golden boy who once loved her best friend.
Straitlaced Jacob Esera versus wild-at-heart Juliet Nelisi? Place your bets.
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I had a little bit of a hard time getting into it but once I did I loved it. But then, I love all Nalini Singh’s books I’ve read. One thing I’ve noticed that I really like is that her heroes might not know they’ve fallen for the heroine at first but once they do they are ALL IN. I like that a lot.
I absolutely loved this one! Jake and Juliette have history going back to high school when Jules was an absolute terror, and, as far as Jake was concerned, a troublemaker. But she was also his girlfriend’s best friend, the girlfriend who had Jake’s daughter when they were both still just kids themselves. But Callie was gone now, victim of a disease that killed her much too soon after Esme’s birth. Jake is now a rugby star, and he and Juliette reconnect when he’s surprised to discover that she’s his partner in his brother Gabe’s wedding party.
Watching the evolution of Juliette and Jake’s relationship as it steadily grows beyond sniping and insults into a mutual respect that blossoms into love is wonderful. Esme is a precocious little girl with such wonderful self-confidence that I loved her role in her father’s life. And, as always with Nalini Singh’s stories, it’s so much fun to get glimpses of familiar people from prior stories. This author writes characters that feel so real it’s as if you’ve met them in person, and Jake and Juliette are an absolutely perfect addition to this series. Can’t want for Danny’s story.
Jacob and Juliet’s story is absolutely charming. I loved how they both started out all bristly towards each other. I loved Jacob’s sweet sensitivity as well as his serious heat and I loved Juliet’s passion, bravery and heart. They both had miles and miles of heart. They also were smart and didn’t fall for many cliched pitfalls. I really appreciated their reasoning and faith in each other.
In addition to Juliet & Jacob, we got to catch up with many other beloved couples as this book starts with Charlie and Gabe’s wedding.
Bottom line, I absolutely loved this book.
I’ve been itching to read a Nalini Singh contemporary romance for quite a while now. She’s one of those authors whose books I always hear other readers rave about, but I’ve not made the effort to really explore for myself. Well, no more! I’m ready to explore. Especially if the others are anything like Love Hard.
There isn’t much that can make walking in the summer heat and humidity enjoyable, but the Love Hard audiobook did just that. I actually looked forward to my daily walks so I could spend more time with Juliet and Jake. I absolutely adored them and this book was flat-out delightful. It could’ve been an angsty and overwhelming story because of their history and the loss of Callie, Juliet’s best friend and Jake’s wife. It wasn’t. It had a series tone at times, but it was also fun, flirty and sexy. Plus it gets all kinds of bonus points for having one of the cutest book kids ever in it. Jake’s daughter Esme was absolutely adorable. The family they formed with each other totally tugged at my heartstrings.
There were a million little things to love about Love Hard. Of course the romance — and smoking hot sexy times — were at the top of my list, but they weren’t the only things I enjoyed. The family dynamic was fantastic. I need to go back and binge the other Eseras’ stories ASAP. Thankfully this book was excellent on audio, so I feel good about bingeing the rest this way.
Another great read from Nalini Singh!
I FINALLY got to read this and I LOVED it! Nalini Singh never fails to deliver a beautiful romance. Jake and Jules were fantastic. Even Esme is adorable and I don’t like kids in my romances usually because most authors can’t pull off likable kids. Nalini Singh can definitely write anything. My only issue was it wasn’t dramatic enough, I guess. Once they were together, they were together. Just once minor injury scare and a HEA. Could have used more drama or angst before the HEA. Still it was an excellent read!
Literally every book Nalini Singh has written entertains me, and makes me fall in love with romance all over again. Her rugby romance here, with a certified DILF is so fun. I enjoyed every moment of this read, from the reformed heroine, to the extended family, to the dad who loves his girls more than anything. A fantastic book!
Great love story without the usual hate leads to love. A strong male character able to pull off sensitive.
You should sooo be tackling LOVE HARD by Nalini Singh! Is there tackling in rugby? I don’t really know, but regardless, grab this book, manhandle it, stroke it, spike it…and I’m mixing up my sexual and sports metaphors. This is what Love Hard does to me! I. Loved. This. Book. The whole Hard Play series is amazing, and Jake and Juliet’s story is another brilliant addition. I may not know rugby, but there are several things I know for certain:
1. Rugby’s hot. And rugby players are hot.
2. I now have another reason besides Hobbiton to visit New Zealand.
3. Nalini Singh can write a single-spaced manifesto on the proper ratio of peanut butter to jelly and I would read it.
4. Enemies to lovers is a brilliant trope for dynamic dialogue, tension-filled interaction, passionate sex and swoony romance.
5. We need more romances with large families as secondary characters because the fun, LOL times are real!
5. Rugby is hot. And rugby players are hot.
Also, what I know? Nalini Singh writes such multi-layered characters and deep emotion that you not only feel like you know them, but you’ve BECOME them. Single-father and star rugby player Jacob Esera lost his childhood sweetheart and the mother of his daughter at a young age. In those years, he’s raised his daughter, has maintained strict discipline over his career, his decisions and his life in order to give her stability and security. When his dead girlfriend’s best friend enters his life again, he’s resistant to the whirlwind that she is. Bold. Mouthy. Vivid and vibrant. And still a pain in his a–er, side. Juliet Nelisi loved Jacob’s former girlfriend. She’d been her best–and only–friend, and the lonely teenager who everyone saw as a wild bad girl cherished that friendship and loyalty. Finally free of a cheating ex, in control of her career and with friends who truly love and accept her, she’s embracing this new life. And it doesn’t include Judgy McJudgerson Jacob. They’ve never gotten along and had nothing in common but the person they both loved. Except now, an unwanted and inconvenient desire ignites between them. And even after giving in, Juliet is still afraid. She wants a lover who will also be a friend, someone who will fearlessly stand beside her. Besides, with her unwarranted reputation as a gold-digging WAG, she will only bring sordid attention to upstanding Jacob, whose nickname is The Saint. Worse, it will reflect on his daughter. But Jacob is determined to show Juliet that she’s not only worthy of someone having her back, but he’s the one to do it.
Peeeeoooplllle. This book slayed me. Jacob and Juliet were fire and sweetness. Everything from the way they sniped at each other to when they started to melt and reveal their hearts, pasts and pain…it was foreplay! And when they came together? Y’all. It’s always the quiet ones, I’m just sayin’… Plus, his daughter, his family and all of the characters from both the Rock Kiss and Hard Play books just made this story not just about romance, but community and the importance of the family we’re born to and the one we create by choice. And all’s I’m saying is I need books about the rugby players, too. Gimmee all the books in the Play Hard series! Love Hard was quintessential Nalini Singh, whether the setting was in New Zealand of futuristic San Francisco. It had wonderful characters, soul-snatching emotion, amazing world-building, delicious passion, the best dialogue and a beautiful romance. Another Nalini Singh hit!
4 1/2 STARS!
Emotionally riveting! With the third book in her Hard Play series, Nalini Singh delights her readers with Jacob’s story in LOVE HARD. With a twist on a frenemies to lovers story, we get to watch a single dad fall for the bad-girl best friend of his former love. It’s emotional, it’s sexy and it’s full of heart!
Star rugby player Jake Esera steals a reader’s heart immediately when we learn his back story. Becoming a single dad as a teenager when his high school sweetheart died unexpectedly, he was left to pick up the pieces with his family by his side.
Juliet Nelisi is easy to like. She was best friends since childhood with Jake’s former love and though they were never close, she respects the way he stepped up and gave their daughter the world after Callie died.
I recommend this book to anyone looking for a sports romance with a whole lot of life around it. Jake and his family are great and the chemistry he has with Juliet is divine. I enjoyed their story a lot.
Love Hard is the third title in the Hard Play series, featuring Juliet and Jacob. Their story is an opposites attract, enemies to lovers romance. Juliet was Jacob’s childhood sweethearts best friend and they constantly butted heads as teens.
Juliet is a strong, resilient, intelligent and hardworking heroine. She’s come a long way from her years as a teen bad girl.
Jacob is a professional rugby player and dotting single father. He’s incredibly sweet, loving, and loyal and will do anything for those he holds dear.
Despite their preconceived notions, they are inexplicably drawn to each other and their chemistry oozes off the page.
Whilst I loved seeing more of the Esera-Bishop clan I didn’t love this title quite as much as Cherish Hard, the first title in the Hard Play series. I loved seeing Gabriel’s wedding and it’s reminded me I need to finish the Rock Kiss series as well.
And I’m officially back on the reviewing business!! Taking the time off reviewing, rekindled my flame for sharing my thoughts with anyone willing to listen!!
I couldn’t have picked a better book to get back into reviewing. “Love Hard” is my first book of March and definitely a favorite! I haven’t read any of the author’s books before, but I’m going to in the future.
I love love love both Jacob and Juliet and especially little Esme! Their story gave me all the feels. It has the perfect amounts of drama, passion and love. Jacob and Juliet may have started as enemies but sparks are flying and they can’t ignore them. Esme made the book that much better with all her antics; such a cutie!! I swooned with how Jacob was treating Juliet and I’m all for the Bishop-Esera clan having her back. It was so good to see Juliet finally having someone on her side!
A really amazing book, I totally recommend it, especially if you like sport romances. What I’m sure is that I want to get to know all the Bishop-Esera family; hopefully soon
If you haven’t read the rest of the Hard Play series, don’t worry. You can jump right in here and not feel like you’ve missed too much… although honestly, you’re probably going to want to go back and read the first two anyway, because this series about the Bishop-Esera brothers is just WONDERFUL. Jake (Jacob) is the third brother and the hero of Love Hard, a rugby player for the New Zealand national side and a single dad to an adorable Plot Moppet. His heroine is Juliet… who he’s known since high school, when they were frenemies. He was straight-laced and she was Trouble, but they had one thing in common, Callie, who was Juliet’s best friend and Jake’s girlfriend (and later the mother of his daughter). Callie’s tragic death a few years before this story opens left them both reeling, but circumstances have kept them from meeting again face to face until now.
Jake Esera is the last man Juliet wants to get involved with, not least because her ex was an international sportsman as well and things Did Not End Well. She’d prefer to stay far, far away from the glare of the limelight, and indeed, there are several scenes here where the couple have to deal with media attention and the pressures it brings to bear on their relationship which feel very realistic. The chemistry between the couple is too strong for them to ignore it but what I really loved was the way they approached the challenges they faced with their eyes wide open, weighing pros and cons and making decisions based on more than just emotions. It was a relationship between two intelligent adults and it felt real, without forced drama, just what people in that situation might well have to deal with.
Jake’s family are absolutely awesome, and I have to admit I hope Nalini Singh doesn’t end this series with the last of the Bishop-Esera brothers, because Jake’s team-mates Leo and Viliame deserve their own stories too (among others!) Five stars for the thoroughly enjoyable contemporary sports romance.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
I’m always so excited to see another story in this contemporary romance series. I got hooked on Nalini Singh when I read the Rock Kiss series and I’m always on the lookout for more.
Jake Esera has 2 priorities — his family and his rugby. He’s a single father, lost his sweetheart in a tragic manner and he’s committed to providing the best he can for his daughter. That means keeping her out of the media spotlight created by his outstanding rugby career. When he reconnects with Juliet, a close friend to his high school sweetheart, he’s attracted to her, but past history makes it difficult for Jacob to act on his desires.
Juliet may have been a wild child in high school, but she’s grown up a lot since then. One thing for sure is that she doesn’t want her tarnished reputation to cause any damage to the Esera family.
I loved the slow rebuilding of relationships in this story and the gentle progression to a real romance between Jake and Juliet. There isn’t a huge amount of conflict here — most of it deals with Juliet and her ex. I absolutely love Jake in this story. He’s the strong silent type, with a heart of gold and when he turns his protective ways on Juliet, she finds something she’s wanted in her life. I liked the simplicity of this story as it puts the spotlight right on the romance of Jake and Juliet. Jake’s daughter couldn’t be any cuter!
I definitely recommend this series, and the Rock Kiss series. The stories are original and have a quiet, heart-touching romantic element that I adore. Love Hard definitely worked for me.
Nalini Singh is as great in writing contemporary romance as she is in the paranormal genre. I loved this book! This is the first book in this series that I’ve read, and it can be read as a standalone, but I have to confess to being super curious now about the two books that went before! I loved Juliet, with her prickly exterior but soft heart, she’s both strong and vulnerable, not a typical heroine at all, but even more likable because of it. I can’t tell you how refreshing it was to read a story about a woman with curves, we need more of those. Or at least, I know I need more such stories. Jacob, dearest Jake, oh what’s not to love about a doting father who does everything in his power to make sure his kid grows up safe and loved? I loved that he recognizes when he’s being overprotective and that he tries so hard to curb that side of himself so as not to clip Esme’s wings. Jules and Jake totally have the opposites attract thing going, and chemistry aplenty, but underneath all that there’s a solid friendship and mutual respect. There’s a lot of emotion in Love Hard, several very moving scenes between Jake and Jules, as they remember Callie, and also once they start to really fall for each other. This is book reminded me why I love reading romance so much, filling me with warmth and a giddy happy glow, ready to face the world again.
I love romance novels with lots of happy tears. This one made me cry an ocean. Jake and Juliet were a great, balanced and grownup couple despite their young age. Both came with package and they had a shared past they needed to work through too. Everything got solved fairly easily, but in a satisfying way. And the entire Bishop-Esera family made me want to be adopted by them. This was perhaps my favourite in the series so far, but there’s one more book to come and I have high hopes for it.
Jacob, his daughter, Esme, and the rest of the Bishop-Esera family were a delight to learn about and/or catch up with, but Juliet was the shining star. I loved her strength, her resilience, and her soft-hearted sweetness, but when she was riled up?! Her sass and fiery nature had me cheering for her all the way!
Now I looooooooooved Jacob and Juliet. Their chemistry started out a little corny, but had plenty of sizzle. And the snarky banter…gah!! I loved that it carried through the entire story. The sexy times…is there anything the Bishop-Esera guys can’t do?! And the feels! I loved that there wasn’t a forced plot, just genuine, heartfelt conversations and vulnerable moments between these two.
And I have to mention Gabriel and Charlie’s wedding! I was super excited for the length, the details, and the lovely shenanigans the happened! That was one heck of a wedding!
Love Hard, the third book in the Love Hard series, is a standalone romance but features a lot of characters from Ms. Singh’s previous books and series. In fact the opening is actually set at the wedding of one of her popular romance couples ( Gabriel and Charlotte from Rock Hard). Here we have , Jacob and Juliet, know each other from high school, probably falls under the frenemies category and their one connection with each other has long passed away. Now, both are older, mature and still frenemies! Love Hard is cute, funny and sexy. This one falls more under the taste of the fans of the series and definitely will appeal to them more. Nevertheless its still a great read!
Ok, so this is my first read by Nalini. I’ve been wanting to read her books for a long time and well since I’m a lover of the best sport in existence, rugby, I figured this was a good place to start. But I hate to say it that I really struggled with this book. Reading in 3rd POV is really hard for me or well I’m just not used to it, so I found myself constantly leaving the story. I definitely want to give her paranormal romance a try.
I don’t know why I couldn’t connect with Juliet and Jake, they ticked every single box that I love when it comes to characters I love to read about. The banter between them was pretty comical especially since they have history.
I did find that Calypso (Jake’s childhood sweetheart/Esme’s mom) kind of overshadowed Juliet and Jake’s relationship. I understood their worries because Calypso was Juliet’s best friend growing up. They constantly referred back to her and it held me back a lot with their story. I just needed more of Jake and Juliet, them being together and just getting some depth with their relationship.
Enjoyable characters all around and some really great character development, but this one didn’t quite work for me.
**AN ARC WAS PROVIDED IN EXCHANGE FOR A REVIEW**
Anyone who knows me knows that I’m not really a contemporary reader as I much prefer a paranormal storyline. This series is one of the few exceptions because I want to be part of the Esera family. The author has created a believable, relatable set of characters that stand so tall in this readers minds eye. I was bowled over by Gabriel and Charlotte, delighted by Sailor and Isa and now felt my heart melt as Jake falls for Juliet.
The couple were at school together but more often than not at loggerheads. The one thing that brought them together was their mutual love for Callie . Juliets best friend was Jake’s girlfriend but fate stepped in and cruelly took Callie away from not only Jake but their tiny baby. Jake grew up fast and put away youthful dreams to be the best provider for his daughter he could be. The playful boy is replaced by the serious man but when Juliet crashes back into his life she brings back passion and colour.
I just adored getting to know this couple and although it’s not exactly action packed it was a credible story as the pair reconnect. Expect sweetness as we get to know little Esme but this whole family is loving, tenacious, stubborn and so protective of each other and that’s exactly what Juliet needs in her life. I thoroughly enjoyed being back in the bosom of the Esera family and look forward to reading Danny’s story soon.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair