I love this series by Nalini Singh being from NZ myself. :) As to be expected of one of Nalini's books it is a very believable story with well rounded characters who grow through the story. Nalini's world crafting is well done so the background etc unfolds as part of the story not spoon-feed as a dry paragraph.
If you are looking for a well written romance then this is for you. Is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone though you do lose a bit of background info about the characters.

TRIGGER WARNING: disability, use of prosthesis, alcoholism, mention of someone being drugged, familiar issues and past traumas
“It’s okay to live the screwed up people in our life, Catie.”
“Because you gotta talk it out, Danny, or it will eat you alive”
“Let’s go get fabulous and lie our faces off”
This book was crazy amazing !!!
I absolutely loved it !!!
It’s the first in a series and although you don’t need to read the other three to understand this one, I’d suggest you to read them cause … these stories are just so great !!!
The fluffy but spicy romance between to frenemies - sorry, “nemesis” to lovers , with past traumas, disability and so much love, respect, support and shared strength it made my heart melt !!!!!
And talking about amazing tropes … there was even forced proximity and fake dating!!!! Do I need to tell you more??
I felt their love deep in my bones and whatever they were going through that felt like an insurmountable issue … at the end turned out to be something easily resolved with communication and listening !!!!
Don’t get me wrong the spice was great !!!! I mean Danny made me feel butterflies but there was so much more in this book than just that !!!!
I loved how strong Danny and Catie’s bond was and how much they were there for each other even through the worse struggles !!!
And the family behind it … omg I want to read the other books just because there are some brothers whose story I’m way too much invested into !!!!!
“He was really in trouble, and he was beginning to to think he didn’t want to get out of it”
“He wasn’t good at faking stuff, and right that instant, he was looking at her with all the admiration and need he felt inside”
“This aiga loves, and it sticks together”
“God, the way Danny loved. So openly. So without boundaries”

I have been waiting for the story between Catie and Danny since Cherish Hard, when they were both just teenagers. And it was worth the wait.

Catie has not only lost her legs in an accident when she was young, she is also an amazing and loyal young woman. She pulled herself up and devotes her life to helping others and fulfilling her dream of being a running athlete. Danny is the younger brother of Sailor (from Cherish Hard) and Gabriel (Rock Hard) and he has been Catie's 'nemesis' through childhood and teenage years. Danny is a rugby player like most of his brothers and when he and Catie pretend to be a couple for a while (for reasons) they suddenly realize it is no longer pretend.

Both have their issues and fears to overcome. I loved their story!

Friends and nemesis from childhood turn into something more deep and hot in “Kiss Hard", by Nalini Singh, an emotional story featuring a very sexy and sweet rubgy player and a determined Paralympics athlete.
I liked the main characters, both are vibrant, full of life, driven and generous with their affections.
Danny is really a lovable hero, wholesome, affectionate and sweet, not afraid of showing his emotions.
Catie is more guarded, for but still a generous person.
The process of them turning from friendship and rivalry/antagonism into love was cute and interesting to watch.
There were some strange and weird moments for both in this journey. I really loved how they’re instinctively so protective of each other and how the author wrote their gradual awareness of each other as a lover.
I appreciated the disability representation and how Catie dealt with several challenges and bias so often that it almost became an instinctive reaction.
I liked the setting and Daniel’s secret hobby.
I was expecting to see more of Catie’s preparation for the Olympics and her life and challenges as an athlete.
Some parts seemed a bit juvenile and dragged too much for my taste and while Danny makes for an attractive (inside and out) hero ,reiterating his adorableness became a bit annoying.
Both families have interesting characters but perhaps they had too much pages in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and TKA distributor for this earc

This book was cute! I am huge a fan of frenemies to lovers and this book is definitely did it. I like that the characters already had so much history before the story has started and they just built up on that. I really liked the love and the pain, fears and dreams and how much they share with each other. How they took their time with each other. Just the best.

Everything about this book should have made me love it! But somehow, something was off and I think it’s the writing. It didn’t made me feel all the thing it was trying to make me feel. I also didn’t like how it just ended.

And why was the “drugged drink” plot like was ended just to be completely lost in the background. I don’t know. It could have been a hit but it missed just by a hair

This was a swoon worthy romance. Frenemies…. To lovers but a lovely read. Catie and Danny were so so so good together. A love that will withstand the length of time. I love how the author made a complex character with Catie and her double amputee legs but smoothed the way for finding love despite obstacles. Five huge stars. Love this author and Flove this series!

I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left a review!

Kiss Hard was a sweet and funy story about Danny and Catie who have grown up together and who are frenemies, but more on the friends side of the scale. They have a playful, teasing mocking tone to their relationship where you can't quite tell if they are friends/enemies or if that is all just a cover for the underlying romantic tension they feel. Danny is a professional rugby player and Catie is an amazing sprinter headed to the top of the Paralympics. After she helps him from a disasterous PR nightmare one evening, they enter into a fake relationship to help save his career. Though it takes some convincing, mostly on Catie's part, it is pretty clear from early on how much these two truly belong together.

I absolutely adored Danny and how much he adored Catie. I loved how much he just "got" her. I also enjoyed their back and forth banter and how much they riled each other up, but how much they genuinely cared about each other's happiness. I liked how they were each other's biggest cheerleader. I have not read a lot by this author, but I highly enjoyed reading about a main character who wore prostheses and went on to be an elite athlete. Catie's character was admirable in so many ways. She was fierce, determined, funny, caring, strong and just an overall force.

I found this story to be highly engaging, and just good for my soul and I would definitely recommend it. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Kiss Hard by Nalini Singh (Hard Play #5) 5 stars

It is Daniel and Catie's book and it has been a long time coming. We first meet the Bishop/Esera family in "Rock Hard". However, in terms of timeline, Cherish Hard (Hard Play #1) is set earlier than Rock Hard and that is when we first meet Catie. If you have been reading the series you will be unfazed at the time jumps, if you haven't, you have been missing out on a wonderful series. Go read them immediately. Now Danny and Catie are adults and the teasing and sarcastic quips have been revealed as cover for a slow burning attraction that has been going on for years. I loved this book and am sad that this is probably the last book in this series (at least until the little ones grow up). Nalini Singh gave us a wonderful series filled with great men and women who are easily their equals.

In terms of this particular book, I thought that she bought a thoughtful eye on the lives of high-profile athletes and the power and pitfalls of social media. I adored the support that both families gave the main characters and seeing the entire family brought this series full circle.

Thank you Netgalley and TKA Distribution for this ARC. It was much appreciated.

This book !! It's everything I imagined for Catie and Danny but better <3

This book was a surprise because the fans knew that this book was coming one day but the announcement was made very recently and I must admit, when I found out that I had been lucky enough to have received an ARC I was CRAZY WITH JOY !! I saw the Bishop-Esera family grow and evolve from Charlie and Gabriel (still favorite book <3) until today with the (almost) youngest members of the family !

What I particularly liked :
- Nalini Singh's writing style, always so rich and exotic ! When this author talks about Asia or New Zealand, I always have the impression of being there and vibrating to the rhythm of the descriptions ! Particular crush here for China and Japan descriptions ... And also the clothes (Catie's outfit for the play <3) and the food (I wanted to eat a pastry while reading ><)
- the two main characters delighted me from start to finish !! Having already known them as children, I loved reading about the adults that Danny and Catie have become ... And I loved what they have become !! Very human characters with their weakness and their fear but also their courage and their humor which won me over !!
- the secondary characters who enchanted me just as much as the main characters !! Of course Danny's family that we see again here (special mention for the scene where we have the story behind the photographs of the Wall of Shame =D) but also the friends of Danny and Catie who made me laugh a lot !
(I must admit I'd love books or short stories about them, especially Posey who intrigued me a lot or Vili one of Danny's rugby player friends or Veni one of Catie's friends !)
Special mention for Seraphina much too cute but whose identity I would not spoil =)
- Romance !! Nalini Singh's great talent is to manage to write almost slow-burn romances that make you laugh and vibrate with passion, humor and romanticism ! And that's exactly how I experienced the romance between Danny and Catie : we go from "spicy" friendship (I loved their post on social networks xD), to attraction (I laughed so much when they are both horrified by their attraction xD) to finally reach a love that made me melt (the "pet rock" <3)
- this end !!! I won't say anything more but I LOVED this scene at <spoiler>the Olympics</spoiler> !!

In short, a romance to be devoured without moderation that will delight both long-time fans and regular fans of contemporary romance !

PS2 : to the publisher and Netgalley, thank you so much for the ARC =D

Red hot and romantic, Kiss Hard is another Nalini Singh winner!

When I read the previous book in this series, my hopes were high that Catie and Danny would get a story, so I was overjoyed when I saw the surprise announcement of Kiss Hard featuring these very two characters in a frenemies-to-lovers tale. The story of these two is beautifully told, growing organically as a turn of events has them looking at each other in a new light which ignites the sparks and slowly burns hotter and hotter.

Of course, it's never a sure thing that a story will work for you, but with Nalini that percentage is the highest of any romance author I have read, and she once again delivered. And when I say she delivered, oh boy, did she DELIVER, catapulting this story into a fight for my favorite of the series. (The contest is so close it is undecided as of yet.) I loved every second of it and was sad to reach the too soon, but extremely satisfying, ending.

Humorous, heartwarming, passionate and playful, Kiss Hard is a delightful romance and another highly successful showcase of Nalini's talents that I highly recommend.

Have you ever had this feeling where you feel your heart is so full that it’s going to burst anytime? Yeah, that’s how I’m feeling right now!

No words, this book is just PERFECT! It could never get better than this. Meaning Danny and Catie isn’t going to get a better story than this.

Man, this pair was one dynamic duo. And their connection was something special and…unique! I loved them. Started as relatives then instantly declaring themselves as frenemies even though they were there for each other ALWAYS through the next decade. I loved their media banter and real life banter. Reminded me of Blake lively and Ryan Reynolds.

Another thing I wanted to applaud was the progression of their relationship. Not going to give away anything more, just go and read this book.
The Bishop-Esera clan was as usual wonderful and all of them showed their face in the book, much to my delight.
At times Danny reminded me of Illium. Both of them had such a huge heart.

I’ve never cried reading an epilogue before but in this I was laughing and crying simultaneously.

100 percent recommended.
Safe.

Daniel Esera is on his way to following in his family's footsteps by becoming a big name in the rugby world.

Similarly, Catie River is making a name for herself within the Paralympic circuit.

Daniel and Catie have known each other for years. Catie's sister Isa is married to Danny's brother Sailor. Danny and Catie affectionately consider each other frenemies.

But lately, Danny is seeing something in Catie that he hadn't seen before, and Catie, likewise, is feeling an attraction to Danny that's never been there before.

Before they can really explore what these feelings might mean, both of their careers are on the line when Danny gets caught in a stranger's reckless stunt. In order to stave off the press, they need to pretend to be in a relationship that forces them to confront their feelings and how this affects their dynamic.

It's been a couple of years since we've checked in on the Esera family. This series is one that I may not be highly anticipating, but when it does release and when I do read it, I'm just happier for it. Nalini Singh knows how to pull readers into a story and she knows all about how to make a character connect with a reader.

I just really like the history that's grown between Catie and the Esera family. With her sister married into the family, they really welcomed her into the fold as well, which is great seeing as how Catie's biological mother and father were never present for her, mentally or physically. Catie learned early on that showing love and giving love only ends up hurting you in the process. Still, her parents have been there for her in her hardest moments, such as after the accident that left her a double-amputee. So Danny throws her for a loop. She's attracted to him but is scared to put her trust in another person after so long only relying on herself.

Danny's family dynamic might be better than Catie's, but that doesn't mean he doesn't feel the pressure of what it means to be an Esera. His brothers have paved the way for him to play rugby, but with a whole country watching to see how you stack up against them, it's intimidating and has started to take a toll on the field. Danny needs to get his head back in the game, but Catie is proving to be quite the distraction.

I really enjoyed seeing the different family dynamics highlighted between Danny and Catie, and then kind of how they form their own dynamic that's been influenced by how they grew up. Seeing how their differences influence their careers and how they handle that pressure both good and bad.

Mainly, I love the connection, even though they're supposed to be "frenemies" you can tell they've always had a strong bond with one another and the way it grew into something more felt very natural and organic. Not forced.

The only issue I had was that there seemed to be a lot of conflicts that were only partially seen through. The issue with the stranger that forces Danny and Catie into the fake relationship and the fake relationship itself felt sort of gleamed over at a certain point, moving on to Danny's rising problems on the field and Catie's learning how to trust. I think if more focus/commitment had been made to a couple of the conflicts the story would have been stronger.

As it stands, however, you can never go wrong with anything Nalini Singh writes. This series has been a top-notch romance series. While I think we've made our way through the entire Esera clan, I really can't wait to see where Nalini goes next with her contemporary romances. There are always some great secondary characters that I'd love to see get a chance to shine.

As always, Singh's writing brought me into the story from the very first word, and I have to say, I fell in love with Daniel and Catie from at the start. This feeling only grew stronger as the story unfolded. It was amazing to be back with the Esera clan in New Zealand (and elsewhere in the world!). The youngest boy in his family, Daniel grew up feeling secure in his place in the world. Catie grew up very differently, with parents who never truly cared, or too care of her. Thank goodness she had her older sister to look after her.
Some tough themes were tackled in an amazing way, and I enjoyed the twist on them so much. The fact that Catie and Daniel thought they were each other's nemesis made their falling for each other so, so sweet. The slow burn was well done, and the anticipation almost killed me. Especially because Catie stayed guarded for quite a while before she finally realised that she could truly have the real thing with Daniel.

I have loved all the previous books in the Hard Play series and this latest one did not disappoint at all! Danny Esera, the youngest of the Esera - Bishop men, and his nemesis Catie River start having a fake relationship but the big question is how fake is it really???? With such a great storyline, brilliant supporting characters and romance what is there not to love.? The love, support and ultimately the deep friendship that Catie and Danny have for each other shines through and you just hope that whatever the outcome that will not be lost. Thank you Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op for the ARC.

I enjoyed this, but I think the second half was much better than the first. (The pacing seemed a bit off at the start, and it took me a while to get invested in the characters) Catie and Danny are adorable though, and I thought the way her disability was treated in this was done really sensitively.

Posted on Goodreads.com

Posted 4/11/2022

I don't read many contemporary romance novels but I don't say no to a Nalini Singh novel. This was everything I'd hoped it would be. Funny, hot and heart wrenching. No one write romance like Nalini Singh.

What every woman wants, someone who has her back 100% of the time! A delicious and fun journey from friends ( really) to lovers. Enjoyed the journey I took with them. Also, glimpses into the Paralympic world and the athletes who work so hard. Frankly, you forget they have a significantly harder road to hoe.

Kiss Hard was everything I've been waiting for with Danny's story! I gasped at the first page and was enthralled throughout. This Frenemies to Lovers romance was superb!

Such a powerful love story, I love the frenemies to lovers trope!

Danny Esera is the youngest in the Bishop-Esera family who are rugby royalty in New Zealand. Danny is a phenomenal player himself but feels the pressure of being in his older brothers’ shadows.

Catie River has been around the Bishop-Esera’s most her life thanks to her older sister, Isa, being married to Sailor, one of Danny’s older brothers. Catie is a double amputee and has goals of getting to the Para-Olympics as she is a world renown sprinter.

Catie and Danny have had a snarky sarcastic type relationship, which they both enjoy, since the day they met. When Catie comes to Danny’s rescue in a club and, to the media, it looks like their relationship has gone from frenemies to lovers, they decide to keep the farce going due to the potential sponsorship fallout Catie would endure.

What starts as a joke turns scarily real as both Danny and Catie realize that their frenemies relationship may have been the actual farce all along.

This book was amazing!! Both Danny and Catie had things they needed to grow and get past before they could accept the truth of their relationship. I love the solidity of the Bishop-Esera clan, they have your back 100% no matter what. This story is what real relationships are made from, they had a solid friendship (even though they wouldn’t have called it that) and that friendship progressed naturally into something more. I’m a bit sad to think this series may be done, I would love to see Harlow’s story as I believe he is really the only one left.

*I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader copy of this book.*

Oh man, I was so excited when I found out Nalini Singh was returning to the Bishop-Esera brothers universe, and Kiss Hard did not disappoint! Danny and Catie finally got their HEA and it’s epic. I’m kind of bummed that there aren’t any more brothers because I want more of this NZ rugby universe! Happy sigh.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.