Nalini Singh is one of my all-time favourite authors. I've read her paranormal series, but I don't know why I never got around to read her contemporary ones. Well, I'm so glad that I finally did because Kiss Hard was amazing! I'm starting this series with this book (I know, I'll get to the previous ones soon!) and I was so in love with Catie and Danny's story. It was inclusive and talked about topics that not many romance novels cover—disability and men getting roofied.

Catie and Danny have known each other for years as their siblings are married, and for years they have been enemies. Danny is one of the most popular rugby players, and Catie is one of the best runner in the Paralympic team. When Danny gets roofied while out in a club, Catie takes care of him. And when a snow storm leaves them cooped up in the house together for a couple of days, they start to see each other differently. It doesn't help that the public thinks that they are a couple after photos of Danny and Catie leaving a club together went viral. To help both of their careers, they decide to fake the relationship with the help of their families, but then the line between fake and real starts to become blurry.

The two of them love so hard and it made me all warm inside to see how they work to keep their love. Their lives are not a fairytale... they have struggles and issues they need to address before they can fully accept their feelings for each other, and that just made it seems even more real. Now I can't wait to read the other books in the series.

Nalini’s contemporaries always feel like a hug in book form. She takes the same sweeping romance from her paranormal books, and applies it to real world couples. I thought Danny and Catie made so much sense together - I reread the rest of the series before this one, and seeing their friendship/rivalry grow was a delight. I don’t know much about the world of amputees and Paralympic athletes but it seemed written with care. I enjoyed this book a lot as an ARC, and can’t wait to read it in its final form!

This was an enjoyable read! Despite the fact that there were moments where the story moved too slowly and the chemistry between the MCs was not as intense as I would have liked..
However, I love the frenemies-to-lovers trope and thought that the way their relationship progressed was believable and so sweet. I also loved the treatment of Catie's disability and discussion regarding the pressure that athletes face in having meet standards and expectations.

3.5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and TKA Distribution for generously providing this ARC for review!

I absolutely loved Kiss Hard by Nalini Singh! Catie and Danny's story! Finally! The easter eggs have been there since the first book Cherish Hard when Catie first meets Danny and he treats her like any other teenage boy treats any other teenage girl.

Kiss Hard has it all! Nemeses to lovers. Fake dating. That moment where people who've known each other for years finally get the tingles for each other.

Catie and Danny's love story is so very wonderful. To watch them learn each other's needs, trust each other, and love each other, it's very special.

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

The first I’ve read by this author and the first in this series. I absolutely loved the storyline ‘enemies to lovers’ i loved that it broached some topics that these kind of romances usually steer clear from.

Cant wait to read more by this author

Kiss Hard was the sweetest love story and it featured all my favorite tropes. Fake dating, frenemies to lovers, forced proximity and a cinnamon roll hero.

Danny and Catie are elite athletes and frenemies who have known each other since they were teenagers - Catie's sister married Danny's brother. They bicker constantly, but it's all in good fun and they genuinely care about one another. After an unfortunate incident at a night club, they decide to pretend to be in a relationship to keep away ugly rumors and to the benefit of both of their reputations.

I adored every single page of Danny and Catie's story. It was obvious from the start that these two were crazy for one another. Danny was so soft for Catie and the most adorably hot Rugby hero. Catie loved Danny but was so very afraid of getting her heart broken after a lifetime of letdowns by the people who were supposed to love her unconditionally. Watching these two figure out that there was nothing fake about their feelings for one another was delightful. Danny's love for Catie was so patient and he gave her the time and space for her to finally learn to trust in Danny's love for her. Swoon worthy all around.

Kiss Hard was another perfect romance because no one does romance like Nalini Singh. I loved catching up with the Bishop-Esera family, especially my forever favorites Gabriel and Charlie, and I hope we get more of the Hard Play series.

I simply loved this romance so much!
Catie and Danny are so cute and adorable together. I just loved every moment of their time together and couldn’t get enough!

This is the fourth book of the Hard Play series, and it’s my second favorite of Nalini Singh’s contemporary romances (Rebel Hard is favorite, and there is nothing that can beat it in my opinion).

This book is such a joy to read, I can’t wait to read it again as soon as it releases.

Arc generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review

Absolutely Adorable!!

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. This is not my first Nalini Singh, but despite that, it was my first in this series. I loved it.

Daniel Esera and Catie Rivers are the best frenemies ever.

Daniel Esera is a sexy hotshot Rugby Player on and off the field. Catie Rivers is a Paralympic medalist that works hard. Their lives are already intertwined by family and growing up together they have been each other's nemesis for a long they both can remember. But when a stranger’s reckless action threatens their careers, they cook up a fake relationship to help them get by…and romance ensues.

I loved their banter! The story was great, the spice was just right, and Danny and Catie are an awesome couple.

Since I haven’t read the rest of the series, I’m now going to have to backtrack and start at number one. No, you do not need to read the series, but if book 4 is this good why deny myself 3 other great stories.

Super good!! This is the 4th book in the Hard Play series and it's Danny Esera turn. Danny Esera is a super star hot Rugby player and his nemesis is Catie Rivers who is a double amputee that competes professionally in track for the Paralympics. They have grown up together as Catie's sister is married to one of Danny's brothers. A situation occurs while they have to pretend being a couple and the romance slowly develops as they both open their eyes to their feeling for each other. I loved the book. I really enjoys seeing their romance blossom and watch them both struggle with self esteem issues. You can read as a stand alone. Once you read you will be going back to read all the others in the series. Nalini Singh is a fantastic author and I read everything see writes. Highly, Highly recommend.

I received this book for my honest review from Netgalley.

First of all thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy, I rarely read sport books but recently I started a paranormal book with the same author and I really liked her style so I decided to begin with the Hard play series.

This book was amazing. I had a great time reading it, the only regret I have is that I really should have read the other books in the series first, don't get me wrong it was easy to understand and I didn’t get lost in what was going on or anything like that, but I probably would have had a better time if I had read them in order, there are a couple of what seem to be inside jokes that well... regrets.

My favorite things about this book are that; it was funny, had great characters and really touching messages. Personally I enjoyed very much the flow of the story, sometimes in books I find parts where the author gets a bit too repetitive or there are a lot of descriptions telling me that certain character is this or that way when there are not actions that actually show it, for me that means I have to take a break from the book before I get annoyed with it, THAT was not the case with this book, it caught my attention from begging to end which is almost always something that tells me I have found a new favourite author.

The thing I found most interesting about the book was the particular situation the female principal character finds herself in, I haven’t really read any books that deal with this topic, so I confess I am not sure how accurate it was represented, but I really admire the author for writing about it and reminding all of us readers that there are people out there that live this everyday and it could happen to anyone and that wouldn't make you any less, like I said, good messages.

So, I really recommend this book and hope if you chose to read it, whoever you are, you have as a great time reading it as I did as for me I am going to go read the first book in the series, like I should have.

We KNEW it! - that was probably what every faithful fan of this series thought when they saw that our beloved pair of frenemies was going to have their own book. And guess what? It was totally worth the wait! The tension, the sizzle... oh, my! Cathy is now an unstoppable young athlete, Danny is a hot young rugby pro, and their snarky ways are a well-known fact. I absolutely love their humor, how they interact and understand each other with only one word, one look! And they live their lives next to each other, until the faithful day everything changes... Both have their own problems and struggles, but let's be honest: is there anything more invincible than a daughter of the Dragon and a member of the Bishop-Esera clan? Just read this book to find the delicious (although quite obvious) answer to this question!

3.5 stars

From time to time I'd venture into Nalini Singh's contemporary word outside of her Psy-changeling series for a breath of fresh air. 'Kiss Hard' is one of those times and as always, I find myself taken aback--in a good way--at the threads of warmth that always shoot through her family-type romance stories, where snarky humour and familial cosiness (though this might be an Antipodean style of writing, perhaps?) seem key to her contemporary series.

That 'Kiss Hard' was pitched as an enemies-to-lovers type story was one that sunk me well and good. But Danny Esera and Catie Rivers aren't exactly enemies; they're more frenemies who have grown up together and like taking pot shots at each other while always being in each other's corner instead of hostile foes hell bent on total destruction as I'd expected (and honestly, hoped for).

That relationship hasn't and shouldn't change given how comfortable they both are with throwing shade at each other at every given opportunity, god forbid really, until a compromising event makes the both of them look at each other in a different light.

Even as frenemies, their chemistry sizzles; as lovers, it's taken a notch higher in a slow-burn that starts by fake-dating and undeniable mutual attraction. Still, I think the standout here really is Singh's bold portrayal of Catie and her disability--an elite athlete who's also a double-amputee--written in a manner so well-balanced that she'd never felt like a character that was over-compensating or self-pitying in any way. It's also for this reason that I felt more for Catie more than Danny who seems a little more of a stereotypical player with a heart for people he calls his own.

Family ties take equal priority in their low-angst drama in getting together, though the inclusion of so many secondary characters (who also have stories of their own) can be a distraction at times. They are the checks and counterbalances in Catie/Danny's growing relationship, yet also the anchor that grounds them both in reality. It isn't necessary to read the rest of the books in this series, though the strong ties written about here and the years that flow between these books seem to suggest that you might actually need to for a complete picture of the Bishop/Esera clan. Feel-good vibes are aplenty, interspersed with some sober reality bits, and if you like written-in-the-stars-type of stories, 'Kiss Hard' carries that tinge of kismet of two people who are meant to be.

I have a ridiculous amount of love for the Hard Play series. That love only seems to grow with every new release. Kiss Hard is already my favorite book of 2022 and I can't imagine anything else topping it. Well, perhaps, Nalini Singh's next Psy-Changeling book might!

From the very moment Catie rescues Danny after a stranger roofies his drink, I knew I was going to love this couple. Their relationship blossoms from childhood nemeses to a gentle and loving one. That transition is handled realistically and it's really quite a joy to read. At its core, Kiss Hard is a book about two truly kind people finding companionship and a deep love with each other.

If you've read this series, then you already know Danny Esera, the youngest of the Bishop-Esera family. He is all grown up here and is a successful rugby player. Danny is this big gentle rugby-playing bear of a hero and I could not have loved him more. He's got the biggest heart, something that Catie points out several times throughout the book, and we really do get to see his kindness shine through. As someone who comes from a family of high-achievers, Danny has felt pressure to live up to his family's name.

I found the exploration of family dynamics through Danny's character fascinating. There's a lot of love and support among the Bishop-Eseras but as the baby of the family, Danny has always had someone take care of him. It's to the point where he's had someone come to his rescue anytime he's needed it. Though that's not inherently a bad trait for a family to have, Danny does reflect on how maybe it has affected his independence a little bit. We do get to eventually see him go out into the world and be by himself where he can't be rescued by his family and it's exactly the growth he needs. Honestly, to me, it just made him all the perfect.

Catie, herself, is also an incredible protagonist. She's a double-amputee training for the Paralympics and is hardworking, passionate, and goal-driven. While Danny is more open with his love and feelings, Catie is more reserved. The prologue nicely sets up why she has this hard armor around herself so it's easy to sympathize with her. She's felt neglected a lot by both of her parents. While her mother has provided for her financially, she hasn't always been emotionally there for Catie. Meanwhile, her dad has a gambling problem and has often disappeared on Catie without as much as a text. So, she's afraid to be loved and to love. That's not to say that she's not loving, she just shows it in more subtle ways.

Catie is the second character I've read from Nalini Singh who has a disability - she lost both of her legs following an accident when she was young. While I can't speak to the representation as I don't belong to the disability community, from my perspective, it was written quite naturally and with care. It's never used by anyone in the book to demean/infantilize her character nor to pity her. It's a big part of her character as there are passages of her taking care of her prosthetics (and even a scene when her prosthetics fail her), so it's not something that's ignored either. If an author were to write disability representation, this is how it should be done: with all the respect and authenticity the topic deserves.

When they come together as a couple, as a result of being snowed-in and of having to fake-date for a bit, Catie and Danny's relationship is perfection. They've grown up around each other's families since Danny's brother is married to Catie's sister, and they've had a mildly antagonistic relationship going on. Their new situation forces them to fully acknowledge that they are both wonderful people and that they belong together. Every aspect of their relationship from the way they communicated with each other to the hot-and-heavy sex scenes, pleased me. Nalini Singh knows how to write the type of romances that has you swooning every step of the way. Simply put, she writes the kind of deep romance books I want to read. Catie and Danny will certainly have to go to my all-time favorite OTPs list (along with the rest of the couples in the series).

Alright, I think I've spoken quite enough about Kiss Hard. If you love contemporary romance that's all about LOVE, you need to add this book to your TBRs. You won't regret it. Meanwhile, I'll be shoving this gem in all my friends' faces.

Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing for an arc of this title.

As a reader of Nalini Singh's paranormal titles, I knew that jumping in at book four of her Hard Play series wouldn't be an issue, and what a charming place to jump in.

Nalini Singh has a knack for creating characters that feel genuine. This is no exception. We have Danny, a sporting superstar in his home country NZ (WHERE I LIVE!), who's been in the nation's spotlight since he was a teenager, and we have paralympic champion Caitie, a double amputee, with a feckless father, an absent mother, and emotional baggage out the wazoo.

Years ago, Caitie's older sister found her love story with Danny's older brother, and the two of them became entwined in each other's lives. It was aggravation at first sight. Years of pranks, teasing, and generally prodding and provoking each other comes to a head when events force them to create new rules for their relationship.

I have no way of knowing how accurately (or poorly) written the portions of the story dealing with Caitlin's daily challenges are, so I can't offer insight there, all I can do is be pleased she gets a passionate love story.

Beyond the obvious love story, this is also a story about trust, about fear, about family, and about friendship. I would urge any reader of contemporary romance to give Nalini Singh a try.

Now I'm going to have to go back and pick up the other stories in the Hard Play series!

9/10 (rounded down for Goodreads)

Thanks NetGalley, Victoria Books and Ms. Singh for the Advanced Review copy!
I have been waiting for this book for quite a while and I must say , it came out all of a sudden. It is the story about the youngest Esera brother, Danny and his nemesis Catie. They have grown up bickering and annoying each other. Yet when it mattered the most, they supported each other. The story begins with Danny being drugged by a stranger and Catie coming to his rescue. Though Danny recovers fast and lodges a complaint against the crime, the paparazzi misinterpret the situation and ends up starting a rumour that Danny and Catie are a pair. In the beginning, they have no other option but to go with the flow and pretend to be a couple. But things began to change as they both realise that they were more than nemesis and that they rather find each other endearing.
What I have always loved about Ms. Singh's romances is that she manages to address issues which many romance books don't. Catie's abandonment issues and difficulty in trusting men(that stems from her father) and Danny's insecurity of living in the shadow of his successful brothers are tackled with care. It doesn't come across as a caricature and rather adds layers to the character as well as to the story. I particularly liked the term "misery olympics" and the thing Catie said about each having their own pain and one must not belittle other's or one's own tragedies and traumas.
When it came to romance and chemistry, Danny and Catie were fire on pages. So if anyone is looking for good old romance, Kiss Hard would not disappoint you.
In the end, I read the book in a single day and it was a time well-enjoyed.

This is such an enjoyable book. Nalini always writes such sweet love stories with heroes that are protective without being overbearing and strong heroines. She's also amazing at writing diverse reads that feel so natural, with this book having both a male of color and a disabled woman as the two romantic leads. The story is about Catie River and Daniel Esera, who've been teased as a potential couple in the books involving their families. Catie's sister is married to Jacob's brother so the two have been in each other's lives for ten years, since they were 14. They have a bit of a rivalry with each other, but one that is built on respect and playful teasing. One night while at a club, someone slips Danny a drugged drink and Catie takes care of him, which leads to rumors of them being a couple. They decide that it is better for both of their careers if they play along. Fans of fake dating will really love this one!

Seeing their relationship grow was a delight, and the author did a great job of exploring their insecurities. That being said, reading about them constantly having a "tingle" they didn't want after interacting with each other did get a little old after a while, and I wish that we had gotten more into Danny's emotional journey after he got drugged in a bar. It was a storyline that would just randomly come up now and then (like when it was recommended he'd go to therapy), it felt poorly developed.

I will say that this is a book where it helps a lot to have read the previous books about the Bishop/Esera family. One, they are all very present in this book and part of what makes the story so enjoyable is knowing all of the characters and their backstory. Two, a lot of the backstory between Catie and Danny is in those stories. They often refer to each other as their nemesis but in the book you wouldn't pick up on it, as the beginning of their attraction to each other picks up pretty quickly. Third, Danny's insecurities in comparison to his family is listed (and what each brother does is mentioned) but again, it's more meaningful if you know what is going on with everyone.

Oh its such a joy to be back in this world with it's hunky, protective, loving males and the women who they certainly work very hard at chasing ! Danny and Catie have grown up together, played together and yet their constant teasing, bickering and generally winding each other up means they are more frenemies than allies ! So when they decide to pretend to be in a relationship both are totally shocked to discover that the person who is their friendly nemesis is actually one who makes their mouth dry and their pulse pound !
This comment is not a criticism because I honestly loved this book but initially I did struggle a bit to see the couple as adults and not adolescents. I think that's because we get snippets of their shenanigans and antics growing up and obviously both are younger siblings to heroes we've previously swooned over. However that being said the romance had a realistic pace which totally convinced me that they were actually grown up enough to see each other as people and not just playmates .
I got everything I've been used to from this series, loving male lead, fun times, passion too but most of all love. There's genuine emotion written on these pages and issues tackled that would scare most authors but Ms. Singh does it with heart and aplomb. A joy to read and an ending to bring a tear to the eye of this admittedly hopeless romantic !
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

I have never been more excited to get an ARC. The new book in a series that is truly great? Yup, I read this all in one night. I'm reading it again now because it was that good. Did I also pre-order this? Again, yes. Give Nalini Singh all my money.

Having read the previous books, there was plenty of foreshadowing for this romance but this book definitely delivered. I loved the rapport between Catie and Danny, and the way they supported each other even while they were "nemeses". Plus fake dating? Yes, please.

This definitely measured up to the previous books in the series and it was nice to see the Bishop-Eseras again in all their happy and supportive glory.

This will become, like all the rest of the series, a comfort re-read.

This is my first Nalini Singh (unbelievable, right?) and I would like to thank the author and publisher for the ARC.
I loved the story in itself. I loved the disability rep. Catie and Danny are nemeses, and have been for a long time. Their lives overlap for having been family friends forever and I think her sister being married to her brother? Honestly, there were so many family members, I felt like I needed a proper chart to figure out who's who.
Anyway, I really liked how they were at odds with each other, but not in a bad way. I think the author did a real good job representing that relationship - they were not hurtful to each other despite being nemeses. I loved that them exploring their new relationship did not end their usual teasing banter and burns. This book has some really tender moments, some that will hit you right in the feels.
However, it might be only me, but I felt that the author went into many tangents throughout the scenes. I haven't read her before, maybe this is her writing style? I'm not sure if I'm a fan of it. But that's a personal preference.

Kiss Hard is the latest installment in Nalini Singh’s Hard Play series and focuses on the youngest brother, Danny, and his love interest, Catie. They’ve been each other’s nemesis for years as they had a rivalry growing up together, but when Danny gets drugged in a club, Catie is there to get him safely to the hospital and then to her apartment where they get snowed in. The media catches wind of them being together and adds more pressure on them to at least fake a relationship, but the line between love and nemeses is thin indeed, and how much of their relationship has been on the wrong side of it?

Kiss Hard had some major issues with pacing and plot. For one thing, if readers take this book as a standalone, nothing of Danny and Catie’s rivalry is shown. They call each other nemeses, but that’s not in the first part of the book, nor is it really in the flashbacks as most of them focus on the sweet parts of their childhoods together and not on any conflict between them. What the characters vocally perceive of their relationship is not shown to the readers.

Next, Danny gets drugged at the club in the first chapter, and the main reaction of the characters around Danny is “Talk to a therapist; don’t sit on this and let it fester.” Great advice, but two or three characters say it in a short period of time, repeating it even though Danny isn’t arguing. Readers don’t really see or hear any disagreement from him on this point, so the repetition is a bit much. After readers hear about his virtual appointment with the therapist (it’s not really shown), the drugging is not mentioned again until the epilogue. It doesn’t act as an overarching plot point.

Neither does the media pressure. The supposed reason Catie and Danny start to fake a relationship is because a rumor started to cover-up the drugging got out of control. The media is throwing them together and will vilify Catie if it turns out to be a one-night stand or if she dumps Danny and ‘breaks his heart.’ Supposedly this relationship is for the media, but…there’s no media. At least, readers don’t hear about the rumors or any media attention after they attend Leon’s play. No word even from Catie and Danny’s publicists, and it’s their job to care.

Danny’s job is professional rugby, and from the start readers are told that his playing is going downhill. Most of the setup makes it seem like Danny knows what the problem is (an injury or illness, perhaps?), and it turns out to be burnout which may or may not be a surprise to Danny, but it wasn’t a point of angst for readers.

Feeling of inferiority to his brothers also seemed to bother Danny when it came to his after-rugby-retirement dreams of becoming a baker, but they didn’t get resolved.

Lastly, Catie’s relationship hang-ups. Are they that Danny has been a bit of a player in the past, even though she just said she knows he’ll stay true to his eventual partner? Or are they that Catie is afraid she has a grinch heart and will not love him as he deserves? She doesn’t stick to either reason, and readers will believe neither. She’s just not ready to commit and is throwing random smokescreens.

While I normally like Nalini Singh’s writing and especially her romances, Kiss Hard was a mess. Too many threads were tangled and dropped, and the emotional impact of this romance novel was pretty low. Scenes that would have been better seen were only mentioned in passing, and some were so passing that readers might forget to figure out what they go to. I cannot recommend this one.