LOVE HARD (Hard Play #3) by Nalini Singh- review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date Mach 10 2020

Jacob Esera, star rugby player and young single father, has worked hard to create a joyous life for his six-year-old daughter. After the death of his childhood sweetheart soon after their daughter’s birth, all Jake wants is safety and 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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REVIEW: 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.

Previous Reviews and Reading Order

HARD PLAY series
Cherish Hard
The Rebel Hard
Love hard

ROCK KISS series
Rock Addiction
Rock Hard
Rock Courtship
Rock Redemption
Rock Wedding

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy