Love Hard

LOVE HARD is the third instalment in Nalini Singh’s contemporary, adult HARD PLAY erotic, romance series focusing on the Bishop-Esera family. This is rugby player and single father Jacob Esera, and businesswoman and Vice-President of Operations and Supply as EE Designs Juliet Nelisi’s story line. LOVE HARD can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. LOVE HARD crosses over with characters from the author’s ROCK KISS series.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Jacob and Juliet) LOVE HARD is an enemies to lovers story line that follows the building relationship between New Zealand rugby player and single father Jacob Esera, and businesswoman Juliet Nelisi. Years earlier, Jacob Esera lost his best friend and the woman he loved just weeks after giving birth to their infant daughter, and in the ensuing time Jacob focused on being the best father he could be but his brother’s wedding brought back his childhood nemesis, and his late-girlfriend’s best friend, Juliet Nelisi, back into his life. What ensues is the building but acrimonious relationship between Juliet and Jacob, and the potential fall-out as Juliet’s ex tries desperately to destroy her life.

Jacob and Juliet were like oil and water, and the only thing they had in common was Juliet’s best friend, and Jacob’s girlfriend Calypso Simpson but a destructive life-style pushed Juliet out of their life. Having married more for security and companionship, Juliet would later divorce after starring in her very own media drama. Jacob Esera’s family has always been there including help in raising his daughter Esme but Jacob, a star rugby player, was lonely, and seeing Juliet Nelisi stirred something deep within our story line hero. Working together on a media campaign would bring Juliet and Jacob closer together, a togetherness that would be made stronger with the addition of Jacob’s six year old daughter Esme.

The relationship between Juliet and Jacob is tempestuous at best with caustic remarks and biting barbs but Jacob never knew the truth about Juliet’s past, a past that would shape the woman she is today. Agreeing to cull the animosity between one another, our couple would slowly succumb to their mutual attraction and slow-building love for one another. The $ex scenes are passionate and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters including Sailor Bishop and Isa Rain (Cherish Hard #1), Gabriel Bishop and Charlotte Baird (Rock Hard /Rock Kiss #2), as well as youngest brother Danny, their parents Allison and Joseph; several of Jacob’s teammates; Juliet’s boss Everett Echert; friends Aroha and Molly; and Juliet’s ex husband Reid Mescall.

LOVE HARD is a story of family, friendship, betrayal, second chances and love. The character driven premise is imaginative and spirited; the characters are clever, sensitive and realistic; the romance is spicy and flirty. LOVE HARD is an animated and intoxicating story by Nalini Singh.

Je suis fan de Nalini Singh et avec ma copine Mylène du blog Les Lectures de Mylène , nous nous envoyons régulièrement les liens pour des blogs tours VO. Quand elle m’a parlé de Hard Play, j’ai postulé directement sans même lire le résumé car je savais que je passerai un excellent moment de lecture. Quelle ne fut pas ma surprise en retrouvant des personnages que j’avais adorés dans une autre saga de Nalini Singh , à savoir Charlotte et Gabriel Bishop. Je me suis régalée avec cette comédie romantique.

Juliet Nelisi est une des demoiselles d’honneur de Charlotte et oui nous allons assister au jour J pour notre couple préféré. J’avais adoré son histoire avec celui qu’on surnommait T Rex et les revoir ainsi que Molly et Fox fut indéniablement un plus. La saga Rock Kiss avait été un coup de coeur et Love Play est le 3ème tome de la saga Hard Play qui nous permet de découvrir les frères Esera qui sont joueurs de rugby. Juliet a été une jeune femme assez perturbatrice au lycée et elle a marqué les esprits. Ses relations avec Jake Esera ont toujours été tendues mais pourtant elle se liera d’amitié avec Callie. Quand elle disparaîtra du jour au lendemain , on imaginera la pire. Juliet est une jeune femme que j’ai adoré découvrir car elle n’a pas sa langue dans sa poche et quand elle aura envie d’émettre une opinion , elle le fera sans passer par quatre chemins. Quand elle va revoir Jacob, les joutes verbales vont vite revenir mais elle apprendra aussi à passer outre ses à priori.

Ils seront donc amenés à se revoir dans divers contextes et donc à cohabiter le temps de quelques soirées. Il sera aussi peut être temps de mettre à plat les rancoeurs pour aller de l’avant. Il est évident que Juliet sera épaulée par cette famille de coeur qui saura l’émouvoir comme jamais dans des moments difficiles. Il est vrai qu’elle n’a pas eu une enfance facile et ses actions au lycée étaient des appels au secours. Elle a épousé Reid Mescall mais on ne peut pas dire qu’il a été le mari parfait. Plus on va le découvrir , plus on va le détester. Il est l’archétype de l’homme qui est prêt à tout pour réussir même à avoir recours aux pires moyens. Juliet va se retrouver dans une spirale infernale et elle sera surprise de l’aide qu’elle va recevoir ( ce qui nous permettra de revoir Thea également) et elle va découvrir des gens aux grands coeurs. Elle pourrait aussi se rapprocher de Jake et je pense qu’ils seront les premiers surpris.

Jacob Esera est un personnage auquel nous allons rapidement nous attacher. C’est un homme bienveillant qui adore sa famille mais surtout qui est un adorable papa pour Esme qui a 6 ans. J’ai adoré leur scène car elle est trop mignonne et apporte un réel plus à l’intrigue. Elle nous permettra à nous lecteur mais surtout à Juliet de découvrir une nouvelle facette chez lui. Il a fait d’Esme sa priorité malgré une carrière de joueur professionnel de rugby des plus prenantes. Avec elle , il sera un papa poule et les événements ont fait que leur lien est indéfectible. Il a aussi porté un amour sans failles à Callie et c’est vraiment beau à voir. Il a assumé toute leur relation et les conséquences qui en ont découlé. Comme Gabriel , il maîtrise son sport mais attention à ne pas laisser des blessures mettre fin avant l’heure à sa carrière. Il a su aussi protéger ses proches des feux des lumières mais surtout des paparazzis et des histoires à dormir debout mais il ne doit pas oublier qu’ils ne sont jamais loin. Sur le terrain, il va tout donner mais nous verrons aussi qu’il est prêt à tout pour protéger ceux qu’il aime. S’il acceptait de voir que Juliet n’est plus celle qu’il croit, une relation intense pourrait naître mais osera t-il faire le grand saut?

Bref, si vous lisez en VO, je ne peux que vous recommander de lire cette romance qui est géniale. J’ai adoré retrouver des personnages que j’avais grandement appréciés dans la saga Rock Kiss et Nalini Singh nous offre une fois de plus une comédie romantique comme on les aime. Si la rancoeur pouvait laisser place à la passion, les étincelles seraient intenses. Nos deux héros vont ils oser franchir le pas?

Love Hard is book 3 in the Hard Play Series but it can certainly be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone, I know this because this is the first book I have read by this author and it certainly won’t be the last. This is a single dad romance with all the feels, it captivated me from the first chapter to the last line and I was left wondering why I hadn’t come across this series or Nalini Singh before now.
This is Jacob Esera and Juliet Nelisi’s story but you can’t write a review without mentioning the adorable Esme who has some classic one liners that only a child could deliver. It’s a romance that relies heavily on family friends and loyalty and it’s soon very apparent this love hate friendship Jake and Juliet share goes a lot deeper. It’s a sweet, emotional story that will leave you wanting more and it certainly left me needing to go back and read the previous books. A strong hero and a heroine who needs a sense of family to belong make this couple easy to love but it’s the story that will really draw you in as you learn about friendships and betrayal, second chances and love, family and loyalty and I really can’t wait to meet the other Esera family members and their partners.

Nalini Singh was a new to me author, whose books I had seen time and time again but had never picked up. The blurb on this one and the cover of the book really drew me in, who doesn’t love the role reversal of a bad girl and a good guy? Though the story wasn’t at all what I was expecting.

Although this is book three in a series, I didn’t feel confused by any of the storyline, and I definitely don’t think you need to have read the previous books, but it may give a better insight into the side characters. It did make me want to read the whole series, so I have since gone back and downloaded the first 2.

I thoroughly enjoyed Julia and Jacobs characters, Julia especially was a fun, sassy, loveable heroine with a tough as nails exterior, but a soft heart on the inside. Hurt by the betrayal of her ex husband, a fame hungry sports star, who used her for his public gain, she vowed never to date a famous sports star again, until a blast from the past appears at the wedding of her best friend. Jacob Esra was Julia’s nemesis at school, dating her childhood best friend who he ended up having a baby girl with before her untimely death just weeks after the birth, there was no love lost between this pair. Roll on years later, Jacob is a famous rugby star and Julia is famous (or rather infamous thanks to her ex) in her own rights and there is a spark between the pair that was never there before. Feeling guilty about her feelings, Julia tries to keep her distance from Jacob, his fame and his adorable little girl, who is also the spitting image of her deceased best friend, but the pull is too great, and this pair can only give in to their feelings.

The word building and the storyline in this book were exceptional, I will now devour the rest of the series and look forward to more. My only teeny tiny negative is that I was expecting Jacob to be a good guy, staying chaste since the lost of his childhood sweetheart and Julia to have slept around, both of which is how the blurb made it sound, but neither was the case, this for me, would’ve added to my love for the story, but at the same time, I still enjoyed where the story did take me.

Love Hard is a deliciously sweet and sexy romance about family and second chances.

Teenage Juliet Nelisi used her loner and bad-girl fame as a barrier. The Juliet the woman has a successful career, good friends and knows to stay away from men who one minute treat her like a queen and the next cheat on her. Especially famous men in the sports world. She never expect the sparks that ignited between her and the goodie two shoes who had been in love with her best friend years before.

After grieving the loss of his childhood sweetheart shortly after their daughter’s birth Jacob Esera focused on his career and raising a happy and healthy child. There was no room for craziness, especially not the kind his former high school classmate caused. But shouldn’t Jacob a.k.a. “Saint” the too proper rugby player have some fun in his life?

If you’re a fan of Nalini Singh you might remember the delicious Gabriel Bishop from Rock Hard. Well, this story starts at his and Charlotte’s wedding where Jacob and Juliet were in the wedding party. I loved getting an update on this couple who I fell for a while back. And even though I was a bit overwhelmed by all the couples I haven’t met in between that story and Love Hard, I did enjoy the sense of unity, loyalty and family.

Jacob and Juliet met when they were young but barely tolerated each other. Reconnecting several years later was easy, not easy. Because even though they had grown into their own, they had preconceived ideas about each other which made the push and pull between them a lot of fun. But as they got to know each other, their connection grew deeper and the attraction was impossible to ignore.

Love Hard is book #3 of the Hard Play series by author Nalini Singh. It a standalone contemporary romance. It’s told from both points of view with a HEA. Sub-genre: sports romance.

It was sweet and steamy, lovely and full of heart-eyes. A feel-good, low-angst, romantic second-chance-at-love story featuring likable and mature adult characters with a dash of cute kid thrown in and loads of family (both blood and found) support.

I have seldom difficulty rating books, but Love Hard is one of those stories that managed to constantly change my opinion. Throughout the book I have gone from rating it three stars, then two, then three, then four. The story had very good potential and in many ways it reached it. It’s just … it got sidetracked a lot with a lack of a better explanation and it made it difficult for me to fully understand and fall in love with it immediately.

The beginning of the story was rough. However, that was not necessarily the book’s fault by any means since I kind of consciously jumped into the middle of this series without having read any of the previous books. Love Hard started with a wedding between Charlotte and Gabriel and went far into detail of how amazing this was, how happy everyone was and how perfectly detailed the whole shebang was. I assume this was an absolute dream start to the book for anyone who have read the previous book, but to me it was very dragged out and a bit too sappy for my taste, probably since I had no emotional attachment the the couple who the wedding was for. It was also very confusing and a lot to take in at once with so many names and characters involved immediately. So to summarize, it was a rough start, but I can only really blame myself for that since I decided to read this without having read the first two books.

One thing though that I feel would not have changed, whether I had read the previous books or not, is the slow introduction to the main characters, Jake and Juliet. Since the first few chapters was so focused on the wedding and the happy couple both the characters were kind of out of the spotlight even though it was their POV. I mean, they did have introductions with who they were, their family ties and their history, but it took a good while for the main characters to catch my interest just because they weren’t the center focus until after the wedding was over and done with.

That’s when I finally started to really get into the book. Jake and Jules had some intriguing and intense interactions before that that I enjoyed, however when they became the sole focus of the book I got a deeper look at both of the characters and a much more compelling build up between them. I am actually quite pleased with the originality to how they knew each other, having not only been nemesis in school but tied together by the same girl who they both tragically lost. That with them coming from such different backgrounds and with polar opposite personalities made it a recipe for a addictive romance. While I felt that their interactions felt a bit off sometimes and the story lost me some places with the whole training and rugby aspect, for the most part I very much enjoyed the story til the end, especially when the attention seeking ex got into the picture.

What Reid did and how it affected Jules was probably what I loved most with Love Hard. Because I like drama in books it drew me in like a moth to a flame. It was also so satisfying seeing how it brought out Jakes protectiveness and brought them closer together as a couple. Although I might have liked there to have been a bit more drama to the whole ordeal I can’t really complain either since it was still so enjoyable and there was so much else making up for the extra drama I missed. Esme being one. I’m not usually much for kids taking room in romance stories but she was a treat, especially her interactions with Juliet. Even that gave the romance something extra, bringing them all together as a family.

One thing I missed though, that would have made the relationship absolutely perfect, was the guilt of Callie. With that I mean that neither one of them showed any guilt over getting with the other when Callie had had such fundamental parts in both their life, being his first love and mother of his child and being Jules best friend. I think it would have strengthened both the realism and the connection in the relationship if they had to work through and struggle with the loss and guilt of moving on with each other and leave Callie in the past. I am not super upset by it though since the book still had so much else to offer.

All in all Love Hard had a lot of beautiful elements to it that I believe draws in a broad audience. There was enemies to lovers, second chance (in a sense), troubled upbringing and finally finding a family, sports theme, widower with a kid, a powerful businesswoman, celebrities and drama. At some point I felt like it might have gone a bit overboard with everything it contained, but for the most part I could get behind most of the themes. It all worked well together and never felt forced or messy. It just flowed naturally throughout the story making it in the end absolutely deserving of four stars.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book was an utter delight! I love this author’s words so much, and this book was no exception.

Jacob Esera is a highly popular rugby star, and a single dad of a 6-year-old girl, Esme. His high school girlfriend got pregnant when they were 18, but shortly after the baby was born, Calypso passed away unexpectedly. So, with the help of his large and supportive family, Jake has raised Esme on his own. After everything that happened, Jake likes to keep things on the straight and narrow, with as few risks as possible. But, he works hard to not stifle his daughter, though he fights the urge to wrap her up and keep her safe constantly. When he runs into an old classmate from high school, the bad girl who was always in detention, in the unexpected setting of his older brother’s wedding, he’s shocked by his attraction to her.

Juliet Nelisi has not had an easy life. She grew up with an aunt who had no use for her, and when she got in trouble one too many times, she was shipped off to Samoa to live with her super strict grandparents to finish high school. She’s never really felt loved, or needed, or a true part of a family, so she fell victim to a lying, manipulative man, and she married young. He was a pro sports star, so her whole life, marriage, and divorce, were in the tabloids, no matter that she didn’t want anything to do with the spotlight. She’s now single, with a great career, and amazing friends. While serving as a bridesmaid for one of her friends, she runs into a blast from the past, and can’t believe how things have changed.

Jules and Jake had an awesome love-hate banter, that turned into surprised flirting, and ended up with them fully falling for each other. I loved their spark of connection, especially when they both were so shocked by it. They really were made for each other, and watching them slowly figure that out was just awesome. They just fit each other, and Jules loved Esme so much too, and vice versa, which was so great.

There were so many fun side characters in this story, especially Jake’s family. If you were a fan of this author’s book Rock Hard, you’ll be as THRILLED as I was to see the couple from that story have their wedding at the beginning of this book! T-Rex and Charlie-mouse FOREVER!! Gabriel, the groom, is Jake’s oldest brother, and it was just lovely and had me happy crying before the 10% mark! Jake really has the best family, and they took Jules in as their own right away.

Jules’ ex-husband Reid was a disgusting pig, and a lying sack. I hated him with the fire of a thousand suns! What a complete douche wizard. The drama that he caused was terrible, and I hated his stupid, lying liar girlfriend too. To be honest my only complaint in this entire book was that I would’ve liked to actually see him getting the punishment for all his nefarious actions!

Overall this story was about 2 very different people learning how to weave their lives together, and trust the connection between them, regardless of what consequences they might face. I loved their love for each other, and for Esme, that sweet little girl. I cannot recommend this book, and this entire series, highly enough. They are just so completely great!

For a story about a single dad falling for his baby mama’s best friend from before she passed, this was surprisingly lower on the angst scale than I expected. I haven’t read the other books in this series so I don’t know how it compares to them, but I found both Jacob and Juliet to be sweet and sincere.

Jacob was fiercely protective, and so was his whole family. Once they care about you, they watch out for you. His daughter was a very loved little girl. Not perfect, just pretty realistic of how a kid her age would be. And Juliet was remembered by Jacob as a trouble maker, but she was just going though stuff when she was younger. Well, now too, but she handles it like the fierce woman she is.

This was sweet and enjoyable. The love scenes were well written and hot, and I’d totally read the other two books already out and the one on the way.

My Thoughts:

Love Hard was an emotional second chance at romance. Jacob Esera was madly in love with high school sweetheart, Callie, and they had a beautiful daughter together. Shortly after Esme’s birth, Callie got bacterial meningitis and passed away. As a single father, and star rugby player, Jacob doesn’t have much time for a social life and dating. All of his time is spent on training, and making the most out of quality time with his daughter, and the rest of the tight-knit Esera family.

Jacob’s life changes the day of his oldest brother, Gabriel’s, wedding to Charlie. He is shocked to see none other than Juliet “Jules” Nelsi, Callie’s high school best friend, and the girl that managed to drive him crazy all those years ago. She has matured into a beautiful woman with lots of curves. When Jacob and Jules interact there is a spark of powerful chemistry, but they still manage to push each other’s buttons. As fate brings these two together, will they manage to break down each other’s walls and take a chance on love?

I loved the characters in this story. Ms. Singh brought their personalities to life, and they were so real, that they could have walked right off of the page. Jacob and Jules were only in there mid-twenties, but life experience had aged them. When they were together you could feel the sparks between them. They were so passionate together, whether they were pushing each other’s buttons, teasing, or getting swept away as they fell madly in love.

I loved how dedicated and loyal Jacob and Jules were. Jacob had known grief, and after that had never gotten close to another woman before. I loved how he was as a father. I swooned at his loving, patient, and sweet interactions with his daughter, who was absolutely adorable! He was such a devoted, dedicated, and loving man, and I fell in love with his character.

Jules had been let down by all of the people in her life before, and had learned to stand on her own two feet without any kind of help or support. She was independent, feisty in a fun way, intelligent, loving, and hard working. I enjoyed Jacob’s pursuit of Jules. He was the kind of person that once he knew what he wanted, nothing could stand in his way. These two together were scorching hot, and adorably sweet to watch!

The Esera family was a wonderful addition to this story. I loved Jacob’s parents; Allison and Joseph, as well as his brothers, Gabriel, Sailor, and Danny. There was a full cast of secondary characters, and even though this story can be read as a standalone, the previous books give insight in to this robust cast. It took me a little while to get all of the characters straight in my head and remember who was who.

The pacing of the story was a little slow at the beginning, picked up in the middle, and flew by with a romantic, sweet, and spectacular end. The characters were the best part of this story, as they were deeply layered, and three-dimensional. I found myself invested in them, and Ms. Singh really has a talent in bringing them to life!

If you are looking for a sweet and sexy second chance romance, that will tug on your emotions, check out,
Love Hard by Nalini Singh.