There's so much to love about Kiss Hard: the way Nalini Singh plays with gender dynamics, how Catie is this badass Paralympian and how she and other characters navigate her disability, the representation, and the insight into so many rarely-written sports worlds.

However. The backstory gets in the way too much in this book. In another book, that might mean too little backstory, or something nonsensical, but Singh here provides so much context for each character that it's overwhelming. I looked up the previous books in this series multiple times to see if I was missing anything, I wasn't -- there was just so much backstory that didn't seem to serve a purpose, only slow the story down and get in the way of the chemistry between Catie and Danny. After hearing so many times about how they were like siblings, and about their blended family, I actually found myself resisting their coupling.

There's a fun contemporary romance in here, though, with great, thoughtful, representation, but I think it needed some excavating from all the complicated logistics.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I adore Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling series but I her contemporary novels a bit hit or miss for me. Rock Addiction was okay but I loved Rebel Hard. For me Kiss Hard lacked a bit of oomph. I wanted more banter, more jibes, more tension. The fake dating trope is so common these days so for a fake dating novel to stand out, it has to be done really well. Unfortunately, for me Kiss Hard was not that. Perhaps, because I hold Nalini Singh to a higher standard (Last Guard was absolutely brilliant), Kiss Hard just fell a bit flat. Still, even though it was not my favourite Singh novel, it was a good read.

Very thankful that I was able to receive this arc from Netgalley. This was my first time reading a book from Singh but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Although there wasn’t your typical 3rd act misunderstanding, there was definitely a bit of angst in this book. I appreciated it but I also felt the ending was a tad bit anti-climatic. I found the chemistry between Danny and Catie to be believable though and I enjoyed being able to see them go from childhood “enemies” to lovers. Their banter was organic, it was real. I definitely will be reading more of Singh’s books because I enjoyed her writing style and I found it extremely refreshing.

It’s a can’t-put-down romance that had me smiling until the end.

Kiss Hard takes up the story of the youngest Esera brother. Danny leads a charmed life. He has a wonderful and supportive family, and his career is only getting better. He even has a shot at the England national rugby team. But his sponsors require him to keep his reputation squeaky clean and it’s put to the test when someone slips him a drugged drink one evening. Luckily, his nemesis, Catie, is on hand to divert disaster. And when social media has them in a romantic relationship, they decide to go with it, especially since it could be beneficial to both of their careers.

I love Catie. She’s had so much to overcome between her physical disability, her flaky father, her “dragon” mother, and her unconventional childhood. She is level-headed and mature, except for her interactions with Danny. But the snippy banter between them is a lot of fun. She also knows her body’s limits and how to take care of herself.

Both Catie and Danny are very driven and ambitious athletes and they fit well together. They understand the pressures that come with their careers. I love that Danny never treated Catie any different than he would anybody else.

Their relationship developed slowly out of a mutual loathing. Underneath their animosity, they still had a lot of respect for each other and that was a very good place to start from. What I liked most was that they kept trusting each other, no matter what happened. And don’t you just love that cover?

I’ve enjoyed the entire Hard Play series so far. I can definitely recommend it if you like your romance steamy, with steady, strong characters. It’s not necessary to read them in order.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book. Was my first by this author but I'll definitely check out more books! This is one of my favorite tropes (enemies to lovers) if you're looking for a quick read I would recommend this book!

I kinda feel bad that I didn’t like this book as much as it looks like a lot of others did. I like sports romance and freaking adore enemies to lovers so I came into this with such high hopes. Especially since Catie was such a strong character. She is a double amputee that is also a Paralympic and is determined to do things herself. I really liked the fact that the heroine had a disability because it’s something not often seen in a romance novel.

Sadly, the book fell a little flat for me. It wasn’t much of an enemies to lovers book so much as it was an irritating to lovers book. Danny and Catie have known each other since they were young and while they don’t always get along (mainly throw a few barbs at each other), there wasn’t much of an enemies vibe. Maybe more of frenemies? Either way, it just wasn’t there. And it didn’t feel enough like a sports romance to satisfy me. It just wasn’t there in the foreground like one should be to be considered one (or at least for my opinion). The good news is you don’t have to have read the other books to understand this one, but it does bring a little more to the table.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In Kiss Hard, Danny Esera, youngest of the rugby phenoms in the Esera family is having some issues with his game among other things. When he's out at a club one night, his drink is tampered with and he ends up with an overdose in the hospital. Good thing Catie was there to take care of him.

Catie and Danny have a long history together. Both being athletes and competitive, they often spend plenty of time ribbing each other. She calls him her nemesis --and Danny said the same about her, until they are forced together by circumstances after the drugging incident.

Their time together gives them the opportunity to see each other in a different light and that's all it takes for this relationship to bloom. And it's even more cute than it already is when all of the family don't bat an eye that Danny and Catie are together romantically.

Catie does have some trust issues to deal with, and Danny has to make some big and difficult decisions about his career in rugby. I loved how Danny's family rallies around him to help him with the aftermath of the drug incident and with his career decisions. Catie is a lovely character, and it's so very easy to cheer for her in this romance.

Kiss Hard is a sweet, low-conflict, friends-to-lovers romance that I really enjoyed. Danny is just lovely as he realizes the depth of his feelings for Catie, even though she's a little more shy about trusting him completely. They are destined for each other even though everyone knows that but them.

I love this contemporary series from Nalini Singh. Even though most readers may know her as a paranormal author, her contemporary series really rock my world. My only complaint is that I'm usually left wanting more!

Nalini Singh continues the Estra family saga, this time it's the youngest brother Daniel, who ends up involved in a enemy to more than friends romance. Great storyline, and you really get to see the characters develop. Highly recommend the series, and the author.

Again Nalini Singh did not disappoint. Kiss Hard tells a beautiful story of 2 athletes, trying to figure out who they are and who they could be together. As always the characters are rich and dimensional in their characterization and you wouldn't confuse one brother for the other. While I am not disabled myself I loved the representation and I think it was done well, but I leave that judgment up for anyone more qualified on this topic. The only sad thing is that this was to my knowledge currently the last book in the Hard series

This book was PERFECTION! *Chef's Kiss* I loved every minute of the frenemies to lovers awesomeness! This author consistently delivers for me, and somehow I'm still a bit surprised every time.

Daniel Esera is a pro rugby god from a famous rugby family in New Zealand. His game has been struggling a bit lately, but he's trying to fix the issues. When something happens that forces him into a fake relationship with his lifelong friendly nemesis, he is shocked when he starts having very real feelings towards her.

Catie River has competed and fought with Danny since they were teens, when his older brother married her older sister. Catie lost both her legs in an accident when she was a kid. So, she learned to live her life everyday with her prostheses, and she's now a successful Paralympic sprinter. When Danny is in trouble, Catie comes to the rescue, because regardless of their past squabbles, he is one of her people, and NO ONE messes with her people. But she doesn't expect all these pesky feelings to start popping up.

Danny and Catie had chemistry like whoa, whether they were arguing or making out. I loved how close Catie was to Danny's family already, and how comfortable they were together, even with their change in status. They really fit into each other's lives so perfectly, and it was just delicious to watch them figure out that they've belonged together all along.

Some of my favorite tropes are forced proximity and fake relationship, so this story was a perfect fit. I've adored getting to know the Bishop-Esera family, and I hope we'll see more of them somewhere down the road.

I read the first 15%, read four other books, read an addition 5% and still wasn't feeling it so I skimmed the rest of the book. I could not get into this story. I don't. know if it is because it was the fourth in a series or if it was just this book. I wanted to like this book as it's an enemies to lovers book, but the problem was that other than the book constantly saying Daniel and Catie are are rivals / enemies we never actually see. them in conflict with one another. When we meet them Catie saves Daniel and then the two are in a fake relationship that turns real, there wasn't enough lead up with them as enemies to make that seem believable. I might return to this book in the future, but I'm stepping away for now.

3 stars

This was my first book by this author and I didn't dislike it but I don't like it either.
I liked that our FMC has a disability but that it doesn't hold her back. I also liked how the author touched the topic of mental health but I wish it was delved more deeply.
There were some things that rubbed me the wrong way and as we have a MC with a disability I thought it'll be more care about ableist language but there were some lines I didn't appreciate.
There was also fat-shaming and slut shaming here that we're in 2022 so it shouldn't be happening.
Overall although i enjoyed some parts of this, I expected more.

We saw Danny and Catie meet as teens in Cherish Hard. They are siblings to the characters in that book but are now in their mid-20s. Yes, they are still squabbling like nobody's business but they are comfortable in their relationship and they still look out for each other. Which is evident in the opening scene as Catie sees Danny across the floor at a dance club and realizes he doesn't look right. In fact, he looks as though he's been drugged. She's able, with the help of his friend Viliame, to get him to the hospital. Unfortunately, rumors are now flying about them being a couple. See, Danny is a super famous rugby dude and Catie is famous in her own right for competing in the Paralympics and apparently people have been 'shipping them for quite a while.
Lots of deep discussions in this book about expectations, limb loss, parental relationships, and more. Singh is such a delightful writer though that all of these are handled with a deft touch while going from friends to lovers in a fake relationship is a joy to read.

Four and a half stars
This book comes out May 3, 2022
Follows Love Hard
ARC kindly provided by TKA Distribution and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Daniel Esera and Catie River are both sports heroes in their own right. Danny is considered royalty on the rugby field with high expectations and the hopes of a nation on his shoulders. Catie is fighting her way towards a Paralympic gold that is almost within reach. They are sworn frenemies, with a family connection that goes way back and the uncanny ability to get on each others nerves. But when Catie has to step in and save Danny after a stranger drugs him at a local bar, rumors start to circulate that all the tension between the two of them may have just sparked into a full-blown affair. In order to avoid a public relations nightmare that neither can afford they agree to a pretend courtship for just long enough to avoid a scandal. The forced proximity and fake dates soon start to wreck havoc on both Catie and Danny in unexpected ways. Can these two fierce competitors survive this new game their playing with their hearts in tack?

This was a fun contemporary sports novel. Usually these types of books are my jam and while I enjoyed this one, I think I was expecting a little more. There were so many good things about the book in terms of representation and hot topics it maybe felt a little to on-point? Dany and Catie are fun, I respect the journey that both of them go on and truly believe they make each other better and strong. They both had a hard journey individually, I just don't know that I totally bought that they had never thought about each other naked before getting snowed in and forced into a fake relationship...This is the fourth book in the Hard Play series by Singh and can be read as a standalone.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

When it comes to the parent lottery, Catie River struck out big time. Her mom is a business mogul that can’t be bothered with the day-to-day needs of a child. She feels all problems can be solved if you throw enough money at it though. That left Catie in the care of her father, Clive. Clive loved Catie, however he wasn’t someone that could be counted on. He was always off on his next adventure womanizing and gambling. He saw Catie wanting to know where he was when he disappeared as her being too clingy, even if she was just a kid worried sick about him. Growing up with Clive, Catie learned that she couldn’t trust people.

The only constant in Catie’s life, was her big sister, Isa. Isa was the parent that neither of Catie’s true parents could be. And, when Isa married Sailor, he became the only man Catie could trust. He was like a loving big brother to her. And his amazing family welcomed her as well.

Catie always considered Sailor’s youngest brother, Danny, her nemesis though. Even though the two worked really well together when they put their minds to it. They were both competitive so they always paired up to win the family races and were always happy to combine efforts for a good prank. As adults, the two have similar drives. Danny is a star rugby player, like his brothers, and Catie is a paralympic racer. Catie lost both of her legs in an accident when she was younger, but nobody in the Bishop-Esera family has ever treated her as less, including Danny.

Catie was out with friends, when she saw Danny looking out-of-sorts. He was stumbling around like he was drunk, but didn’t smell like alcohol. It appears he had been drugged. She enlisted some help and got him out of there before the media could get wind of it. However, the doctor didn’t want Danny left unattended for the next few days so Catie took him to her place. On top of that, they were getting a big snowstorm to boot. Now she’s stuck with her nemesis, but at least the boy can cook and enjoys baking when he’s stressed! They won’t starve!

However, the cover story Danny’s friend gave for the two leaving the club was that they were going off together to hook-up. Catie is horrified that people actually believe it! And, her agent is even wanting the two to do some joint ad campaigns … as a couple! Danny sees nothing wrong with it. And, it would actually improve his image since he’s never had a serious relationship. The two decide to enter into a fake relationship, with the plan to end it amicably in six months.

However, Danny decides he kind of likes being in a relationship with Catie, and wants to make it real. Catie doesn’t trust people, especially men, and doesn’t think it could work. Can Danny convince her to his way of thinking or is Catie destined to a life alone?

I really loved this story. Danny is my favorite of the brothers so it shouldn’t be that big a surprise. Although I tend to not like, how authors handle characters with disabilities so I was a bit wary of this book. However, I had nothing to fear. Singh handled Catie’s lack of legs beautifully and brought awareness to the situation as well.

I loved how caring and protective Danny was. Although I would have loved him, to have really gotten back at Ward.

The scene with Danny and his dog therapists was cute and funny too.

Danny really did seem to have to do the heavy lifting in the relationship though since Catie didn’t trust people due to her idiot father. So, I was happy when Catie finally started taking on some of that load. The bickering and posturing between these two never gets old either. I know that Catie felt that Danny was her nemesis, but they never seemed that way to me, frenemies seemed more like it.

“—we can explore until we get a little lost.”

“You want to get lost on purpose?” Catie took a fortifying gulp of coffee. “Come on then, let us go horrify ourselves.”

We got to see how well the Bishop-Esera family worked as a unit, again. But I never hate seeing that.

This was definitely my favorite book of the series, and now I’m just sad that the run is over. I hope Singh finds a way to make another intersecting series to this one because I’m not ready for it all to end.

I am a big fan of Nalini Singh and I love her books. I’ve read all the psy-changeling series (my ultimate fav!). But, this is the first non-fantasy romance from her that I’ve read, so I didn’t know what to expect. It is safe to say I LOVED THIS BOOK!

I’m suchhhh a sucker for a sports romance and this certainly exceeded my expectations. I really liked the two main protagonists and their dynamic. It is the perfect frenemies to lovers and their banter is great (always the part I like the best from this trope). Also, I thought it was really refreshing. Although I’ve read lots of sports romance it isn’t usually rugby and I’ve not read one that featured a Paralympian or an amputee. I thought Singh portrayed this really well and Catie is such a great character in general.

Overall, I highly recommend!!

Daniel Esera is the youngest Esera boy and a god on the rugby field, Hes smart, loyal and family orientated, and loves his family and friends with his whole heart, but he has one family member who winds him up the wrong way and has done since she came into his family circle.

Catie River is on her way to Paralympic gold, and she’s not about to allow anything to derail her plans. Catie has had a hard run most of her life but the Esera family has always been that constant presence. Danny has been that typical family Frenamie - their constant bickering and tricks a normal occurrence the family has just accepted, but when someone does something to threaten the Esera tribe, they stand together united, and just because Catie and Danny may desire to continue the status quo, it doesn't mean they won't defend each other when outsiders threaten one of them.
One night threatens both their careers the only way Catie and Danny can stop the press from imploding their lives, is to pretend to be in a relationship...
My Thoughts:
I loved Danny and Catie, both have been mentioned in the previous books about the Esera Rugby Men, and although I am not a sports fan, OKAY...I do support the "All Blacks" as all Kiwis do! But I don't necessary read books based in the sports world, BUT I will read every book Nalini has written as I have devoured each and every book I have ever read that was written by Ms Singh.
Nalini Singh has the skill to write a book about something I thought I had no interest in knowing, but not only does she make the book interesting, she makes me want to know more, I now know about what dedication, perseverance and courage needed to excel in both sport and life with amputation (having signed a form that gave surgeons the permission to cut my arm off if necessary to save my life - I have thought about living with this and am thankful that I am typing with two hands) But Ms Singh brought Catie to life, she was real, her struggles are real, her triumphs real also. I enjoyed her snarky attitude and Danny – he has been on such a straight road, the top star, the good son, the perfect sports icon. But with Catie he’s Just Danny, the boy who treated her like normal, teased her despite her physical difficulties, the guy who ‘pulled her pigtails’ as they were growing up. That past made their romance even sweeter, it was a romance that I devoured in a weekend, and that I will re-read because they felt like friends – these characters, and reading their story made me feel happy about the world when the world isn’t really that great!
If you want a story to uplift you, whisk you away to a new place ( well Aucklands not that far from where I live, but I have no clue about sports that didn’t include a horse!) you will enjoy This book ( well I actually recommend the whole series and any book of Ms Singhs)
Thanks to Netgalley and Nalini and her team for allowing me to read this book, I loved it.

I have never read her books so there are some parts I was confused on like the family aspect but this book had the romance between Catie and Danny and their dynamic together was pretty good. Not cheesy nor cringey and I gave this a 4 star

Catie and Danny are not friends. It's true they have known each other for ages but they love poking each other.
Until one night, when Catie helps Danny in a difficult situation. That leads to spending more time together...
I liked the story although it was too slow in some parts.
I had not read the previous books and I was kind of lost with all the family relationships.

What a great friendenemies story! The shock, the heat, and the undeniable love that is there is so clear that it was a while into the book that there was real seriousness to the relationship. The fake dating pushed these two to the path that will lead them to close space that will blossom their feelings! I love the athletic aspect of the character and how it impacted their relationship. It was fun to read and how these two have grown up together makes it fun for readers to read their past history. We get a sense of their background and how they handle their feelings. I love how strong their feeling are in general and then when its turned on each other it's blazing! I love it. The love scenes were fire but takes a while for the two to read that point but there is a lot of yearning and lusting for each other. The emotional journey was very prominent in the book and I was heartbroken and cheering them on. It was a great read and a favorite in the series!