Cute and wholesome... But fell a little flat.

Nalini Singh's contemporaries seem to be hit or miss for me, some I enjoy and some just skate by in the "it's fine" realm. This was the case of the latter and I'm a little disappointed because we've been waiting for Danny and Catie for such a long time. They always had such a fun dynamic growing up, but they never really were enemies, so this had a friends to lovers feel to it more than anything.

My main issue was that the story just couldn't decide which way to go. We start out with a roofie incident which then goes nowhere really, then we jump to fake dating that is never really fake, and then it's long distance relationship which we also jump over. Nothing gets explored deeper, nothing generates a true conflict, and it just ends up being this surface level mess. The happy end doesn't feel earned, not really. And it's not like this was a short book so I don't even know what happened in all those pages that took the space up.

If you're already invested in the series, by all means it's worth reading but I don't feel like this can really stand on its own. It was certainly good to read about a paralympic athlete heroine who's as cool as Catie, and the family scenes with all the relatives in it, but overall, this was a pretty forgettable experience.

Juhu! Endlich habe ich mal wieder ein Buch gelesen, das mich über weite Teile begeistern und emotional berühren konnte. Nach Wochen des Frusts ist meine Durststrecke endlich beendet!

“Kiss Hard” ist ein zeitgenössischer Liebesroman, der mich von der ersten Szene an eingefangen hat. Mein Interesse am Geschehen und vor allen den beiden Hauptcharakteren war von Beginn an vorhanden. Auch war das Knistern zwischen Catie und Danny für mich sofort klar zu spüren.

Dementsprechend habe ich die ersten Dreiviertel des Romans auch wirklich sehr gerne gelesen. Ich hatte beim Lesen oft ein Lächeln auf den Lippen und eine gute Zeit.

Nalini Singhs Schreibstil ist angenehm, locker und führt einen unaufgeregt durch die Geschichte. Mich auf den Schreibstil einzulassen fiel mir sehr leicht.

Catie und Danny waren mir sympathisch und zugleich fand ich sie faszinierend. Da sie vielschichtig präsentiert wurden, konnte ich sie mir gut als richtige Personen vorstellen und habe mein Interesse an ihnen im Verlauf des Romans auch nicht verloren. Ihre Liebesgeschichte wirkte auf mich überzeugend und herzerwärmend, ich habe sie auf ihrem Weg von “frenemies” zu Liebenden gerne begleitet.

Auf den letzten gut 30 Seiten war für mich die Luft aus der Geschichte etwas raus. Ich hätte gut auf den Fokus auf Caties Vater verzichten können. Ich es schade, dass sie ihm nicht mal klar die Grenzen aufgezeigt hat und ihm z.B. bei seinem unangekündigten Auftauchen abends (gut 21 Uhr) mal hat auflaufen lassen. Ihr merkt, ich fand Caties Vater höchst unsympathisch und war kein Fan von den Szenen mit ihm.

Deswegen war für mich das Ende des Romans auch etwas schwächer als der Rest. Ein schönes Leseerlebnis hatte ich insgesamt trotzdem. 🖤🖤🖤🖤1/4

Für wen?

Wer schöne sports romances und generell Liebesromane mit vielschichtigen Charakteren mag, der sollte sich das Buch mal näher anschauen. Der Roman sollte sich gut ohne Vorwissen um die anderen Teile der Reihe lesen lassen.

"I do, you know. Love you. To the stars and into outer space. We just fit, princess."
"Yes, hotshot, we do. I love you, too. Right into outer space."

Kiss Hard is a fantastically fun and heartfelt sports romance centred on rugby player, Danny and Paralympic sprinter, Catie. The pair have been frenemies since childhood, but find themselves in need of faking a relationship to maintain their images. When they finally give into their feelings, things start to get a little complicated.

Danny is a hot national rugby player who secretly loves to cook and bake. SWOON. I loved him and his relationship with Catie. He knew her intrinsically and was always protecting her, in big and small ways. I also enjoyed where the story took him. Catie was such a strong and complex character too. She didn't have the most stable childhood due to her neglectful father and a mother nicknamed the Dragon, so underneath that tough exterior was a vulnerable woman with a heart of gold. She struggled to believe Danny was committed to their relationship but soon realised: "that's what Danny felt like, she realised with a lump in her throat. Home."

As they were childhood frenemies, the pair were instantly comfortable around each other, which meant the banter was unparalleled! "By being adorable and charming and frying your brain cells?" This banter, coupled with the obvious sexual tension, lead to some steamy open-door scenes. I also just have to say how much I appreciated the fact there was no third act break-up between this pair. While they had rocky moments, they remained committed to each other and this just made me love the book even more.

The cherry on top of the cake was of course the cast of supporting characters. This was my first book in the Hard Play series (so yes, I can confirm it can be read as a standalone), but by the end, you will immediately want to read every other preceding book. If you like sports romances, fake dating or childhood frenemies to lovers, I highly recommend reading Kiss Hard.

Thank you so so much to TKA Distribution and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Ohhhh I love me a bit of Nalini Singh’s New Zealand rugby romance. My favourite is still Gabriel (Rock Hard), but all his brothers are shaping up nicely! Danny is particularly sweet. And Catie is just straight up a badass character.

Storyline: Catie has always counted Danny as her nemesis. Their childhood pranks on each other are legendary. But when Danny suddenly needs Catie’s help she will do everything she can, because it turns out they are not nemesis … seems like they both have a massive crush on each other.

Such a simple storyline, but so amazingly well written. I got invested in this couple within the first chapter. That takes skills. I also loved that they both are so ingrained into family (who wouldn’t be if you were part of the Bishop family), which also means that nearly every couple from the series so far makes an appearance. Loooooooved that!!!

FINAL DECISION: Absolutely lovely story. Lacks high drama but instead is about two people navigating a new relationship with one another. I adored Daniel and Catie and am amazed that Singh was able to develop a completely different type of relationship in the Esera family. Highly recommend.

THE STORY: Daniel, the youngest of the Esera clan, is -- of course -- amazing at rugby and is ready to make his own name apart from his brothers. Catie River has been around the Esera family for years (she is the sister of Ina from CHERISH HARD). Through their teenage years and continuing to today, Daniel and Catie have a "frenemies" relationship. When Daniel's profession and reputation are threatened, Catie agrees to a temporary fake relationship to distract the public. The time the two begin to spend with one another, however, begins to bring forth emotions for one another neither expected to deal with for one another.

OPINION: I loved this book which somewhat surprised me because I had expected more plot in the story. Instead, this is really a character book with two people who thought they knew one another really well discovering love for one another.

Daniel is simply adorable. He is so caring of Catie that I am not surprised that she falls for him. He understands her limits and her independence and yet is supportive. His problems felt realistic and something that the youngest child in a family of overachievers has to confront. Singh walks a careful line between making Daniel strong and yet at the same time making him vulnerable and uncertain. I loved him and was not surprised that Catie could not resist him.

Catie had incredible depth and complexity in her character. I thought that Singh handled the issues involving Catie being a paralympic athlete and what being a double amputee means for a young woman involved in a romance and sexual relationship. I thought that every moment here was done with sensitivity and yet Catie is never a "victim". She has agency and her physical condition is only one part of her.

Daniel and Catie were sweet and yet really, really hot together. I especially appreciated that the two talked through and worked through their difficulties. There wasn't a lot of drama between them because they talked things out, were mature about their needs and desires and just acted like thinking adults.

I finished this book feeling very satisfied and with complete faith that these two are perfect for one another. I simply was amazed that Singh was able to navigate this story without the normal drama one might expect from a contemporary romance.

WORTH MENTIONING: There are some small updates for readers of the series about the other couples who make appearances.

CONNECTED BOOKS: KISS HARD is the fourth book in the Hard Play series. The romance here is self-contained and thus it can be read as a standalone. The series, however, deals with the Bishop family and thus other characters and couples from the series make appearances here.

STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars.

NOTE: I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley in order to prepare a review. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

Daniel Esera has it all; he is young, sexy and great at playing rugby. Yet when his drink is spiked at an event, the one person who steps in for him is his nemesis, Catie River. Catie is also a rising star, firmly on track to attend the Paralympics, where she aims to win gold. So when she finds herself agreeing to pretend that she and Daniel are in a relationship in order to save his career, she is determined that this will be exactly that – pretend. Yet as they find themselves spending more and more time together, they both realise how they may have misjudged each other. But is that enough for a successful, long-term relationship?
Whilst this is the first book that I have read by this author, I found it a stand-alone novel. I really enjoyed this romance with all the battles that both Daniel and Catie faced. The background story definitely helped gauge their perspective of relationships, but I did find at the start, that they weren’t really enemies which the term nemesis suggest. Their lives were interwoven due to family and may have felt some rivalry, which better explained their initial feelings for each other. The issues faced by Catie, being a double amputee were thoughtfully expressed and interwoven into the romance with Daniel and her past experiences. Her self-confidence was very inspiring as was her acceptance of her disability.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and TKA Distribution. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I absolutely adore the Bishop-Esera clan, and I'm absolutely bereft now that the series has come to an end with the baby of the family, Danny, falling for his childhood nemesis, Catie. The fact that Catie is the younger sister of Isa who captured the heart of Danny's brother Sailor in the first book, Cherish Hard, is just *chef's kiss*. However, I have to add that my absolute favorite Bishop-Esera hero will always and forever be Gabriefl (Rock Hard), long live the T-rex and his mouse. The deliciousness of these men:

So it was with 100% delight that I began Catie and Danny's story, and now it is with 150% bittersweet nostalgia that I say goodbye to the Bishop-Esera clan. Because, as cute and fresh and young as their story is, Danny and Catie's story was overshadowed, for me, by the thought that this is the last of this rowdy, loving, footy-playing clan. Even seeing peeks of Gabriel, Jake, and Sailor weren't enough to assauge the heartbreak of saying goodbye.

This was the most interesting take on frenemies-to-lovers I've read in a long time. Danny and Catie don't hate each other; instead they live to challenge and taunt the other. And now thanks to a bad near incident in a bar, the popular rugby star and inspiring paralympic double-amputee athlete have to play nice for the public... and for the first time, each other. To witness them discovering the incredible attraction and chemistry between them, despite their best efforts to remain competitive frenemies, was simply adorable.

Nalini Singh's lovely, nuanced writing brings humor and heat beautifully. This was a great finale for anyone who is a fan of the Bishop-Esera men, friends to lovers stories, sport romances, and most of all, stories featuring love of family. Dear Nalini Singh, please consider having Alison and Joseph adopt a few more rugby players! The worst part of this romance was saying goodbye.

3 ⭐️
1.5 🌶

First of all, I've been waiting a HOT MINUTE for the last of the Esera clan to settle down, so I was so stoked to be able to read this.
Second, I froth Nalini Singh so much! I still remember the first time I read one of her books; I was in 9th Grade and a friend gave me Book 1 of the Psy-Changeling Series. Since then, she's become one of my favourite authors.

About Kiss Hard: it's a cute, feel-good, sports romance that follows Daniel, who is one of the greatest NZ/worldwide rugby players, and Catie, a double-amputee, track star and Paralympian.

From the start, they've got great chemistry and get along well given they mostly grew up together. However, they love to label the other as their nemeses, so this story is basically about them recognising they've got romantic feelings for each other, and working to balance their careers with the possibility of a relationship.

The reason I love this series so much is because I love the Samoan representation. Not many people are aware of what a Samoan is nor of Samoan culture/custom, but it feels special to have a huge author write about your own country. The concept of family is integral for many Samoans, so this aspect was what I loved the most throughout the series. Not only this, but the way most of the Esera clan had rugby as a huge part of their life, was what made it all real.

For many Samoans (and Pacific Islanders), rugby is a sport that provides opportunities and income for families. Samoa is a developing country, so if a family member is drafted for the national team or has an opportunity to travel overseas to be a part of a rugby club, these are achievements to be proud of. And I loved that this series not only stressed the importance of family, but also the reality of rugby being an important component of being a Samoan.

But also, Catie. I love how she embraces her body and I admire the fierce determination she has. She has such a lovely personality and a great appreciation for the skills, talents and dreams of others.

Both Daniel and Catie are well-written protagonists, and their personalities really showcase their humility and kindness.

I've given 3 stars because the mentioning of them being enemies felt too repetitive throughout the book, and the plot felt a bit too rushed that I didn't get to fully connect with Danny and Catie's relationship.

However, it was written beautifully and is a great conclusion for the Esera brothers. The lessons in this series will remain in my heart, and if I've taken anything away from Kiss Hard, it's to never give up, always get back up, and "determination and skill are determination and skill regardless of the field chosen."

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley co-op for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own, and written voluntarily (not being held hostage lol).

[Published on Goodreads (02/05/22)]

This was such a sweet love story. Strange to say that because this started out as frenemies, however there was never any dislike between the two.

To me, Catie and Danny actually starts out with a sibling like relationship. I know that sounds weird since they end up together, but these two have known each other since they were kids. They were thrown together a lot due to Sailor and Isa's relationship (book one of the series), and it just didn't start out with an option to a romantic relationship due to their age. They have a history of that young relationship where they pranked each other constantly and that just bled into their adult relationship.

By the time it got to where Catie and Danny could take their relationship in a different direction, it just didn't seem like an option...until they have to fake it for the media. When that happens, it like a whole new world opened up. You really get to see such a sweet, beautiful reltionship bloom right before your eyes.

I'm usually one who prefer the alpha male and while Danny is that, he also pulled off the ultimate sweet boyfriend. He was protective, he was very thoughtful to Catie and everything that would impact her. I could actually see how easily it would have been for her to break his heart.

Catie has learned very early that she has very few she can trust in her life. It makes it harder for her to truly believe what is developing between her and Danny as real. He's exactly what she needs after everything she has been through. I really just adored this couple and I think the author did their change in relationship right. Beautiful couple!

The third person perspective doesn't do the story any favors here, because I actually really loved the foundation of the book, but I always felt like I was watching it happen from a distance. There are some GREAT elements to the story, including tons of history between these childhood rivals turned present day frenemies, a sweetheart of a hero, and a super sassy heroine who doesn't let the fact that she's a double amputee slow her down. It's a little bit fake relationship and a whole lot friends to lovers, with one shift in their dynamic bringing these two together. Danny is kind of adorable, and I loved how steady he was every step of the way. It just felt so internalized, like I wasn't truly experiencing the love story come together. I'd love to be able to rate this higher because of all the good stuff going on, but it missed too many marks along the way.

The story follows Danny and Catie, two people who have been in each other's lives for years. Catie has always considered Danny to be her nemesis, though their bickering in present day sometimes feels more like friends - though she'd never admit that. When Danny is slipped a drug at a bar and he has a close call, Catie agrees to provide cover for the rugby star so that the press doesn't spin the story. They start up a fake relationship that feels more real than anticipated, and it's not long before these frenemies start to wonder if their newfound feelings are mutual. But starting up something new with a sports star who attracts women like magnets is a scary prospect for a woman who has always been left behind.

I've been meaning to check out Singh's work for awhile now, and I'm so glad that I did - even if this wasn't a total win for me. There are so many great concepts explored in the story, and I loved the complexity of it. I also had no trouble jumping right into the series, though there are quite a few characters involved. The heart of the story focuses on Danny and Catie's evolving relationship, and I found them both very easy to like. Catie makes such a strong heroine, and I loved her fire paired with Danny's sweetness. That's why I'm disappointed that the writing didn't work for me completely. The internalization was the major issue for me - I felt disconnected and sometimes bored by the pace of the story, and I couldn't get caught up in the swoons. If third person is your preference, then chances are that this will go a little smoother for you, but it always felt like there was distance between Danny and Catie. I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this frenemies to lovers romance.

I love this entire series so freaking much. This book was such a fantastic installment.

The Bishop-Esera family is everything to me. Okay? This series has been a hit after a hit for me as a reader and I think that is due in large part to the fact that I <b>love</b> community in books <b>and</b> I adore seeing character's grow <b>together</b>. This particular installment? <i>Kiss Hard</i> gives us Danny and Catie, characters we've known since <i>Cherish Hard</i> and now they're both professional athletes, who are each dealing with things in their own way. They're also frenemies, which is just utterly delightful. Their banter is fantastic. The way they would do anything for one another <em>even</em> whilst disliking one another is just a beautiful dynamic. Honestly, this book just presented such a unique relationship dynamic that I really want to know if there are more books with it? Because I think this is the first time I've read a relationship like this.

Oh! And there's fake dating! I love fake dating. And then there is secret relationship, which I also tend to love. Basically, this book is soft with the right amount of internal angst I require to sustain the romantic tension and it presented me with such a glorious happily ever after that I cannot even begin to express my joy. And speaking of expressing joy: every single Charlotte and/or Gabriel snippet in here had me <b>squealing</b> and making just generally odd noises of ecstasy that it's honestly such a good thing I live alone. This book had me sneaking pages every chance I could get. Like, when I say I loved it, y'all, I <b>mean</b> it. Also, the ending!! What an epilogue!

Thanks to Netgalley for the e-ARC!

KH by N. Singh, published by Victoria Publishing, is book four in this series.
For best reading experience I recommend to read the books in order. There are lots of characters I had to get acquainted to.
This is Danny and Catie's story. Complex, fast paced, literally unputdownable I read the book, cover to cover in one sitting.
I recommend the book and the series, both are delightful to read, highly entertaining.

Included as a top pick in bimonthly May New Releases post, which highlights and promotes upcoming releases of the month (link attached)

First off, I have to admit that before reading this book, I had not read all of the previous books in this series. However I didn’t need to have read them all to understand, follow along and really enjoy this book.
Second, this book was amazing, and I have since gone back and read the whole series, but this book is my fave.
I absolutely loved the frenemy relationship between Catie and Daniel and how it’s clearly more friends than enemy as they have unwritten rules and code of how far they can go and what lines they know not to cross with each other, and ultimately know they can rely on the other to support them when needed.
Seeing them grow closer together, the banter and chemistry, it was just beautiful to watch their already intriguing relationship turn into love.
There was so much to love about this book - the characters, the story, the sports elements, the really interesting details on Catie’s prostheses that I loved learning about.
All in in, a fantastic book that I loved and would definitely recommend!

Can you cross the line between friends & lovers with no consequences? Catie knows that she needs to help Danny as the press with paint a different story to what really happened at the club. Someone drugged him and he would have lost his rugby career without her stepping in. But now everything is messed up as everyone believes that they are in a relationship but can they really play this game? They both know what is at stake and Catie knows that Danny has the most to lose.
The public see Danny as the boy that had nothing and had to work so hard to prove himself whereas Catie comes from money but she had to work just as hard to learn to walk again without her legs. But she knows that she will be the loser if the truth comes out so why is she willing to do this?
When things start changing between them they both need to decide if they this is what they want.
A good read. Love seeing New Zealand in her books. I liked Catie as she is a strong willed young woman who is still very vulnerable. She has had to overcome so much but she has been very lucky that her mother was willing to pay for everything but Catie has always been very wary about taking too much. Danny really gets her and he just wants the best for Catie and he is so much more than just a handsome rugby player.
Thank you Netgalley & Nalini Singh for the ARC copy. This is my voluntary review.

Kiss Hard is the fourth novel in the Hard Play series and the third novel I have read by Nalini Singh. Let me just say that Nalini’s novels just keep getting better and better and have been exceeding all my expectations! The books in the Hard Play series have been beautifully written, full of tension and wonderful characters that I cannot seem to get enough of! Nalini Singh has definitely become a go-to author for me and I cannot wait for future novels!

Daniel Esera and Catie River have been nemeses for as long as they could remember. However, that doesn’t stop Catie from looking after Daniel “Hotshot” Esera after a stranger roofies his drink, endangering his life and career. Catie and Daniel agree to fake a relationship in public as a way to save their careers. Can they pull off this arrangement? What happens if they start developing an attraction for the other?

Kiss Hard had me swooning from the start! Catie River is so admirable and strong, she is one of my favorite heroines of all time. She is a double-amputee and has been ever since she was a child. She embraces her body and doesn't let anything get in the way of her being a successful professional athlete. She is incredibly funny and caring to those around her. I truly love and respect Catie for how she is towards Daniel. Even though he is her nemesis, she has never said a bad thing about him. In fact, she said that he was the best man she has met and always has positive things to say about him. Her banter with Daniel has been the best banter I’ve read! Their interactions and conversations had me feeling giddy and their texts had me laughing! They had a lot of chemistry, and there was a lot of tension!

Daniel is wonderful! He is loving and caring, especially when it comes to family and those he loves. He is kind and always respectful. He knows how to carry himself in a way that makes everyone be in awe of him. Honestly, Daniel is just a teddy bear that makes you want to jump in the book to hug him. He is the baby of the family and he feels like a lot has been handed to him instead of earning it himself. Even though he works incredibly hard, we do see him struggle a bit with who he is. It felt very real and incredible to see his character development. No matter what he’s going through, we see that he is always there for Catie and that had me clutching my heart!

Catie and Daniel are an incredible couple, they are the cutest together! The slow-burn aspect of the book definitely adds a lot of tension, but it also builds their friendship! One thing I love about novels is when the love interests are friends and understand each other on all levels, and that is what we get with Catie and Daniel! The trust and love they have for each other are beautiful! They are best friends, they are lovers, and they have one of the best love stories!

This is an incredible novel and I would definitely recommend it to everyone who loves enemies to friends-with-benefits to lovers romance with the perfect amount of spice!

Thank you Netgalley and TKA Distribution for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Kiss Hard is the fourth book in Hard Play contemporary romance series by Nalini Singh about four rugby playing brothers, and it’s my favourite. Danny and Catie were well matched in temperament and current situation as athletes at the top of their game. Catie being a double amputee was handled well from a drama point of view (no idea if it was true to life). They were fun to be around, and the hot scenes were good. There wasn’t any huge drama or heartbreak, but plenty of opportunities to heal, especially for Catie who had great trust issues. I shed many tears. I hope this isn’t the last of the series, even though there are no more Bishop-Esera brothers left.

As much as I really wanted to love this and I was looking forward to it, I really don’t think it was for me. While I liked the idea and the relationship build up, I just couldn’t love it. Whether it was the fact that it was written in 3rd person or the writing style itself, I don’t know, but it just wasn’t the book for me.

Despite me not liking it, you should read it anyway, because it could be just the book for you!
Three stars from me, but it could be five from you!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley. To be honest, I was not sure what to make of this book when I started it. I've read this series from the beginning, and in my head, Catie and Danny were still teenagers. But, since I would probably read a phone book written by Nalini Singh, I went for it, and I'm glad I did.
The primary conflict of this book is set up in the prologue, so you pretty much know what needs to happen to get to that tasty HEA. Otherwise, this book is about nice people who are great to each other, and just need to take some time to figure their stuff out. And that's fantastic. I love the characters, I love their family, and they each put in the work to be the best version of themselves. This book is sweet, spicy, and will make you crave cookies like they are the elixir of life.

This story is fabulous on so many levels.
First, the Esera Brothers are hot and each of their stories has been balanced. Second, dealing with the double amputee and the ongoing daily issues was eye opening. And lastly, frenemies to lovers, super fun trope.
Daniel Esera, the sexy baby of the family is a kick tale rugby player living in the shadow of giants from his family. He's ready to grow and be his own person. Catie River has learned to rely on herself and opening up and letting people in is not in her wheelhouse. She's been focused on her goals and being the best runner out there. But when faced with a public relations issue she decides to fake her way to a relationship with Daniel. They've known each other for years and their families are close, they can totally pull this off. So much more than they bargained for and time may prove they may just be the best thing ever