HARD TO HOLD (Hard to Play #1) by Katie Rose-a review

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About the book: Release Date September 13, 2016

New Jersey Hurricanes striker Logan Hart lives for the grind of training, the adrenaline of competition, and all the perks of the road—until his ex hands him a baby and tells Logan to raise her on his own. He’s eager to pass this bundle of joy into more capable hands and get back to his hard-playing, hard-partying ways. But when a beautiful, blond drill sergeant of a nanny turns Logan’s life upside down, he sets a new goal: winning her heart.

Isabella Bennett takes pride in teaching the rich and famous how to become loving families. Her no-nonsense style is just what Logan and his crying, copper-haired cutie need. So why can’t she get the image of Logan’s tanned, muscular body out of her head? Isabella’s here to whip a new father into shape, not fall for a sexy ladies’ man. But their chemistry is too tantalizing to ignore, much like the temptation to trust someone with her deepest secrets—and embrace a loving family all her own.

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REVIEW: HARD TO HOLD is the first installment in Katie Rose’s contemporary, adult HARD TO PLAY sport, romance series focusing on the New Jersey Hurricanes professional soccer team. This is strike Logan Hart, and nanny Isabella Bennett. Hard to Play is a spin off from Rose’s Boys of Summer series. You do not have to read the original series to enjoy Hard to Hold.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Logan and Isabella) HARD TO HOLD follows the building relationship between professional soccer player Logan Hart, and his new nanny Isabella Bennett. Days prior to their first meeting Logan comes to face to face with a woman he met one year before- a one-night stand- and the woman hands Logan a three month old child claiming our hero is the dad. As a professional sports player who is on the road more than he is at home, Logan struggles with what to do next and calls his sister Jessica Hart (Boys of Summer #3) for advice. Enter professional nanny Isabella Bennett, and the woman who calls to Logan’s heart. What ensues is the ‘forbidden’ relationship between the nanny and her boss, and Logan’s attempts to locate the mother of his child who all but disappeared within minutes of depositing off her child.

Isabella is a take charge woman; a no-nonsense nanny with a bit of an attitude about work-place romances but a woman with a secret that could break Logan’s heart. Realizing Logan is ill-prepared for a child, our heroine ensures that the child is her first priority, and begins to teach Logan what it is he needs to know about raising a child. Logan is a sexy sports star whose return to America finds him struggling with his new team and their lack of drive and need to win.

The attraction between Isabella and Logan is immediate. The sexual tension is high, and the anxiety about crossing the invisible line runs tight throughout the story. Isabella is fearful of destroying her reputation by having an affair with Logan but Logan is a man determined to win the heart of both Isabella and the young child. The $ex scenes are intimate and seductive. The drama was limited to our heroine’s secrets, and Logan’s search for the truth.

We are introduced to several of Logan’s teammates and coaches, as well as Logan’s extended family and friends including his brothers Coulter and Rory; Isabella’s friends Patty, and Anna McCarthy-a pediatrician. Jessica and Gavin (Boys of Summer #3) cross over for familiarity and cohesion between the two series.

The world building follows Logan’s search for the truth and his struggle as a single father whose career is not conducive to raising a child alone; the romance between our leading couple; and the players and coaches for the New Jersey Hurricanes. I did have a small issue with one particular aspect of the story that was not quite believable and appeared to come out of left field when our heroine took the baby to one of Logan’s games-the ensuing reactions from coaches and management was hard to fathom.

HARD TO HOLD is a sweet but predictable romance; a story about two people brought together by the innocence of a small child caught up in a world where big people play. The premise is enjoyable; the characters are colorful and entertaining; the romance is intimate and provocative. HARD TO HOLD is a great start to a new series by Katie Rose.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy