Anyone who has been along for the ride as Nalini Singh introduces us to the Bishop-Esera men and the women they love (Rock Hard, Cherish Hard, Love Hard) will enjoy Kiss Hard, where Danny Esera, young rugby star, and Catie River, a professional runner, finally change their relationship status from frenemies to lovers. Anyone new to the series will be hard pressed not to instantly fall in love with this closely knit family and cheer for the youngest brother to get his happy ending.

Danny and Catie have known each other since they were teens and always had the kind of snarking, pranking relationship that best friends or siblings might have. As adults the snark and humor is part of their brand on social media and their fans love the banter that everyone is sure is flirtatious fun. When a situation comes up where they need to pretend to be dating, everyone outside the family buys the act and are happy to cheer the relationship on. But what happens when it becomes more than an act- for both of them?

Fake dating, enforced proximity, enemies to lovers- they may sound like stereotypes that have been done to death but here Singh makes everything fresh and new, and makes you hope for the moment when the heroes are ready to push past their fears and admit they want a real relationship. Catie has been hurt before, learning as a child never to emotionally depend on or reach out to anyone based on an emotionally distant mother and a feckless gambling father. She's not sure how to break down her walls and allow herself to be emotionally vulnerable to anyone outside of her tiny circle, even for Danny. Singh makes you cry for her as she struggles between her new love and her ingrained need to never allow anyone to hurt her. She has plenty of confidence in herself, yet still finds herself wondering if/when Danny will get bored and move on because she learned from her father that this is what men do. I also really loved how emotionally vulnerable Danny could be at times- his worries about living up to his brother's lives and standards, even though no one in the family is pushing him to do so, are something I wouldn't have guessed a confident looking man would have in his head, yet here it is, messing with him even though it shouldn't be an issue. Danny does a great job (or Singh, through Danny) as an example of how everyone needs help once and awhile, and you can only hope more real life examples stand up to help erase the stigma around treating our mental health the way we do physical health.

The chemistry between Danny and Catie are sizzling, even when they don't want it to be there, the emotions leap off the page and wrap around you in the best possible way. A wonderful story of two people battling more than others would expect to find exactly where they need to be, and exactly who they need to be with.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

4.5/5.0

What a lovely, warm, hug of a read! I am not as familiar with Ms. Singh’s contemporary romance as I am of her vast paranormal offerings, so this was a delightful change of pace for me. The writing is just as strong, tight and addicting as any she offers, but the feel of the story is what really sets it apart.

The characters are real, yet unique, Catie had her legs crushed as a child but has risen to become a renowned para-athlete who comes from an extremely wealthy but broken and dysfunctional family. Daniel is a world-class rugby player from a working-class background but with a strong, supportive and extremely loving family. Both are caring and kind people at heart which becomes the rock-solid core of their relationship, even when they struggle to understand the chemistry that zings against their assumptions. Watching both learn and grow as they work to understand each other is a pure joy to read!

Overall, the story itself reads with an easy, sweet relaxation while still imbuing a surprising amount of depth within the nature and character of each page. It doesn’t keep one on the edge of their seat with tensions but rather, wraps them up in all the lovely emotion one despairs to put down!

Kiss Hard is a wonderfully fun and sexy romance about friends, family and learning to love oneself.

Daniel Esera and Catie River have been in each other’s lives since they were young. They’re each other’s nemesis but that doesn’t stop them from caring for one another and when Catie realizes Daniel needs saving, she doesn’t hesitate to help.

They never anticipated that what seemed like a no strings, one-night hookup would require they start fake dating as a way to save their careers. What happens when their forced proximity shatters the thin cover they had over their attraction?

I had missed reading Nalini’s books so much! They’re always swoony, sexy and most of all touching, with wonderful characters and a great plot.

Catie is a great character. She’s a double amputee who’s taken life by the horns. She’s an elite athlete training to go to the Paralympics and a fierce advocate for special needs kids.

Daniel is absolutely swoon worthy. He’s a loving brother, son and uncle, not to mention an incredible rugby player. He’s extremely protective of those he cares for including Catie who he adores and respects in equal measure.

The two of them are such a cute couple! They have great banter and chemistry. They are friends first and their slow burn romance develops with the right amount of tension. I can’t wait to read more of this series!

I have been awaiting this book for what feels like centuries so this was the greatest honor to get an ARC from NetGalley.

That being said, I loved this book. Ioved everything about it. Danny and Catie's relationships was superbly written and the friends to lovers vibe was so strong.

The focus on disabilities and overcoming family issues was well executed and I have no complaints. 100% worth the time.

KISS HARD is the fourth installment of the hard Play series. Since I do enjoy sports romances, this one was right up my alley.

The hero, Daniel, is a rugby god and since we don’t often get to read about this particular sport, I felt like it was an interesting read.

I also enjoyed the fact that Singh shines the spotlight on people of every color, genre, and in this case, she explores the world of the Paralympics. I LOVED this! The heroine, Catie, is a double amputee as well as an athlete. So it was so interesting to read. You don’t come by a heroine as unique as this one, so I love that Singh decided to do this.

If that’s not enough for you to check this out, Singh’s writing is fun and charming in this one. So do yourself a favor and give this book a shot!

First of all huge thanks to netgalley for this copy.
This book deals with family dynamics, friendship, and disability.
Catie really went through it all: her parents divorce, her dad’s irresponsibility, her mother’s coldness, the accident that made her lose her legs, and yet still managed to be a strong woman chasing her dreams.
I loved Danny and Catie’s relationship, how they support each other through everything and their careers.
It’s a cute friends to lovers romance though I have to admit I was bored at times, Thus the 3.5 stars

I really liked this book by Nalini Singh. As an author, she is hit or miss for me. Always excellent writing, but not always a fan of the story. This one had both excellent writing and a wonderful slow but insta love. This book follows Daniel Esera a young god on the rugby field, and his sort of sister by marriage, their siblings are married, Catie River. They have known each other since childhood and have teased and tormented each other from their first meeting, never in a mean spirited way. When Danny is roofied at a bar, Catie happens to be there and realizes what is happening and gets him out of there before any damage can be done to his reputation. This starts a media frenzy that the two of them have become a couple. They decide to fake play along and slow/fast begin to realize they have actual feelings for each other. I loved the way Singh developed their love and really love the way she handled the storyline about Catie's loss of her legs (happened before the book began.) Most of the time, I seem to rush through a book to get to the HEA, but this one I savored every moment of it. Well done!

This book was a fun romance and a beautiful story. It was the last of the brothers and a enemies but not really enemies to lovers story. It was well done and a wonderful contemporary.

A play hard novel

okay, this being my first play hard novel, i would've liked a little more of an introduction to just who catie and danny are in this world. it felt like we just dived right into this world and i have no idea who these people are other than caties relationship with her dad. i needed more of why we should trust these people, why should i care? it just felt like too much was happening too fast before i knew anything about them. these are all questions i was asking in chapter 1: how do they know each other? why are they still in touch after so long? what inner circle? why do they know each other so well now? why are they frenimies? THE DRAMA i felt like i was watching an espisode of greys anatomy there was so much going on and so many different story lines to keep up with. i really feel like i'm missing lots of back story here.

I like how the author writes the characters so personable, i think the struggles are relatable and real. I love the representation!! Catie is not our typical FMC in any way, but especially being a double amputee. It's not something you see often in a romance novel. i also think the author does a great job at sucking you into the story, you want to root for these characters and figure out more about what makes them tick.

I loved the Catie and Danny together! Their banter, the tension, everything! Their chemistry was great and there was the perfect amount of spice. Instead of insta love it felt like truly they began to like each other over time.

Kiss Hard is the fourth book in Nalini Singh’s Hard Play series and while I haven’t read the first books, I will be going back to read them because this book had it all- intense feelings, a super hot couple, family bonds and the right amount of steam!

Rugby star Danny and track star athlete Catie have been frenemies for years- her sister married his brother in a previous book but when Danny is drugged at a club Catie helps him get to the hospital. Their departure is noticed by fans so they come up with a plan for a fake relationship to stop any rumors. Of course, that turns into real feelings, sexy sleepovers, more deep feelings and realizing they are practically perfect for each other.

Danny and Catie are a wonderful couple. He is the right mix of cocky, arrogant, professional athlete and sweet, caring, protective, “Do the Right Thing” guy. I love that he wanted to help Catie not because of her amputated legs but because that was just his personality. When she struggled he wanted to make it better of not because of her limitations but just because that is that a partner does, makes life easier. And he BAKES!!!! I loved Catie’s resiliant attitude, she was going to win at the ParaOlympics, and how she had to overcome her distrust of men after her father didn’t set the best example. These two scorched up my kindle with their chemistry!!

I have to be in the mood for a sports romance because sometimes they can be too technical and way too much about the sports ball game. But this one was a perfect mix of highlighting how they compete at such an extreme level without all the sports lingo. I didn’t feel lost by having not read the previous books, all the characters were fully developed and the story really focused on Danny and Catie with cameos from the family members that served to make me want to read their books!

I would totally recommend Kiss Hard for a fantastic, steamy, can’t put down read!! If you like nemesis to lovers, fake relationships, snowed in, family bonds, a baking hero and a badas$$ heroine, read this boo

I really enjoyed this book!. The characters are very well developed and the story is great. Friends/friemines whichever. It's a great love story. I can't wait to read it again.

Oh man.

I have been obsessively checking on Nalini Singh’s website, to see if there is another book in the Hard Play series since the first book released, several years ago!

I love this series SO MUCH. Imagine my shock/delight when I saw the latest pop up on Netgalley.
Picture me shrieking as I request it, then flapping my hands around like a deranged bird while yelling VICTORY when said request was approved.

Ok, so this series follows the Bishop/Esera fam & co. The family is Rugby royalty as three of the four sons have become star players. This book in particular focuses on Danny (youngest brother) and Catie (younger sister of one of the other brother’s wives). If you have read the other books, you essentially get to witness these two grow up as nemeses.

It all kicks off with a drugged drink leading to a fake relationship that ends in true lerv!

When Catie, double amputee Paralympic trainee and track star, sees Danny, Rugby’s golden boy, acting strangely at a club, she assists him in making it out without his reputation/career being ruined. Since they used the cover of them hooking up to hide the reality of what happened, they must now fake date to save Catie’s reputation/career.

Catie’s disability is never used to garner pity or as a weakness, it is also not ignored. It is understood and respected. She is a strong and independent character that is also kind and feels deeply for those she loves. Danny is a giant teddy bear, seriously, he’s like a golden retriever. Nothing is more important to him than family and friends. He struggles with putting himself first and standing on his own. The relationship between them always felt like a bickering married couple of at least a decade.

The internal struggles of these characters are relatable. The family dynamics were explored expertly. The language just flows and the banter is top notch. You can’t help but root for these kids!

The ending left me with a big stupid smile on my face. I highly recommend this series (or any of the others Nalini Singh writes).

Check it out, when it hits shelves, 5/3/22!

A big thanks to the Publisher & NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

OKAY I CANT BELIEVE IM JUST NOW READING A NALINI SINGH BOOK.

I loved this story. I believe you can now say I’ve officially read my first sports romance.

I loved ABSOLUTELY LOVED the characters. Danny stole my heart but oh my GOD Catie. I’ve never read a story that had a double amputee as the MC and she’s a badass. Inspiring, motivational, trendsetting, EVERYTHING. Them together was so fun. It’s amazing when two characters have known each other from childhood, and of course when they’re enemies to lovers 😉🤌🏼

You guys need to read this book, and probably the Hard Play series overall. Ahhhh!!

Thanks netgalley for this lovely ARC!

Tropes:
Fake dating
Sports romance
Enemies to lovers

Enjoying jumping into the Hard Play series.

Full transparency I did not realize this was part of a larger series when I began reading it, but I didn’t feel confused reading this friends/“frenemies” to lovers story at all so it can be read alone.

Read this if you like:
- friends to lovers
- sports romance
- diverse characters
- complicated families
- happy ending

In addition to the hot chemistry between the two characters, I really liked how Catie’s disability was treated and how Danny’s mental health was too.

The only thing I thought could have been better expanded upon was the “fake-dating” that begins their relationship. It felt unnecessary and wasn’t reenforced by outside forces like an agent or publicist enough to make sense to me.

Overall, getting to know Catie and Danny and their families makes me want to go back and read the previous books in the series.

Book: Kiss Hard
Publish Date: May 3, 2022

Thank you to the author for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Reviewed on behalf of Verve Romance

Oh my. My heart is overflowing, my smile won’t quit, and I feel like I could gush about Kiss Hard for hours. That I love Nalini Singh is no secret—if it was, it’d be the worst kept secret ever—but the way she continues to raise then meet my expectations is something else.

“I know I’m the lucky one here . . . I’m never going to take it for granted.”

Guys, Danny and Catie are perfect. I’ve loved the Bishop-Esera since Charlie took on the T-Rex, and being back with them is almost comforting. It’s the warmth, the support, the kindness, the happiness, and gah— It’s just all the things that make them the ideal family, okay? (Plus, New Zealand is close enough to home to give me the warm fuzzies. Honestly, it’s the “mum” for me.)

Danny is assuredly one of the big-hearted, soft-bellied sons of Alison and Joseph. Well, as soft-bellied as a rugby player with an eight-pack can be . . . His way with Catie, how gently but intensely he loves her, is beautiful. This isn’t a man intimidated by her strength or put off by her aloofness. He sees through her tough outer shell to the woman she is behind the walls she’s erected, and he takes such care with her. Yes, they start out like a pair of bickering frenemies, dedicated to one-upping one another (unless they’re working together to one-up everyone else), but even then, there is a depth of feeling between them that is electric.

Did I mention I could gush about this book for hours? Because I’ve really just touched the surface of all I loved about Kiss Hard. Catie is herself the kind of character I want to alternatively wrap up in a hug, be friends with, and cheer on. Her damage is rooted in a childhood of neglect, and while she protects her heart fiercely, she’s also self-aware enough to know that it’s no way to live. When she found the strength to trust, I cried. But, like, with a smile on my face. Because that moment of bravery was just one of many, and the end result? *Unintelligible sounds of happiness*

I really hope this isn’t the last we’ve seen of this series. While the Bishop-Esera boys are all happily loved up, there are friends who need to find their HEA, and I’d love to be a fly on the wall when that happens.

“She loves you like the sun. Such a love . . . It makes me believe in the stories of happy ever after.”

The fourth of the Hard Play series is less enemies to lovers than irritants to lovers. Daniel and Catie have known one another since their teens thanks to Catie’s half sister marrying one of Danny’s older brothers. There were never any sparks between them, but Catie did spend time at Esera family home for parties and holidays. But when a chance photograph taken of them when Catie helps him out of a nightclub after being drugged, the tabloids go wild. To hide the fact about the drugs they go along with the online narrative. But it seems that there is a spark between them, and prolonged closeness has started a wildfire they are not sure they want to put out.
The story is as sweet as the others in this series and there is a HEA by the end of the book. I liked the story and as usual the author doesn’t disappoint. My only question is what happens next in this universe since I really like how she handles all the family dynamics.

Digital review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley

Sweet romance from talented author Ms. Singh sweeps me off my feet. I devoured this book in one night. This can be read as a standalone. Reading book 1 - Cherish Hard may enhance the reading experience as the female protagonist in this book is Catie River, book 1's little sister to Isa. I loved the first book so much that seeing Catie receive a book of her own brings joy in my life that I didn't know I wanted.

Catie is born to be a runner. Fast for her age, a devasting accident could have ruined her life and destroyed her. Instead, she rises above all obstacles and continues on in her dream to be a competitive runner. I am in awe of women like Catie. Her perseverance is incredible. What I like about this story is how it shows that money does make life easier to those who have physical disadvantages can overcome come them. What Catie receives financially and medically from her mother is priceless, even if her mother's maternal affections is a bit lacking. What makes this story even better is that Catie doesn't take it for granted. She works hard to pay it forward to other children who do not have the advantages she received. I love this underlying desire to do good and be a helper. This is a powerful message that we seem to miss in our real life social media noise. I wish there was more of Catie and her ilk in the world. Or at least they are highlighted more than the crazies we see today.

Catie's life is going well and finding a man is not exactly in her plans. When Daniel, a long time family friend and her childhood archenemy blindsides her, it becomes an interesting match. I laugh at the social media taunts between these two characters. It kind of reminds me of Ryan Renolds and his wife. It's in jest and never malicious. It adds to the spicy chemistry between Catie and Daniel when they get together in their fake romance. As some fake romances sometimes lead to real relationships, this one seems to grow organically. These two are finally at the right place and right time to come together.

This story is filled with heart warming scenes. I loved the family scenes. I loved learning about Catie and how she has to be careful in her life. Learning more about people with artificle limbs is wonderful. I don't know how much research Ms. Singh did to make this story happen. I am estimating a lot and I appreciate it because it gives me a glimpse into a life I didn't know much about. This contemporary romances is more than enemies-to-lovers. It is about family, friends, those who support you, and helping others. Highly recommended to all romance readers. Inspirational!

This books is hot!!!! OOO I didn't know what I was getting into with this one! So I'm not familiar with this series but I love this author. Catie and Danny are super cute and adorable together. This was a fake dating trope which isn't my favorite but I loved the way these two fell in love. I was so invested in these two and their story.

This is my first book by this author. I found this to be only an ok read because I felt there were some things that didn’t jive.

While I liked the characters (I especially liked how Catie, a double amputee, was portrayed as a well balanced character) I felt the antagonism between Danny and her was forced. I liked their interactions better as a romantic couple. I was surprised that the drug incident wasn’t further developed since it was the pivotal point for their relationship. Also, their reasoning to becoming a couple didn’t seem to manifest since they didn’t really go to any functions together with paparazzi in attendance.

Full disclosure - this was a new author to me, so I hadn’t read the previous books in the series. Sometimes, that works out just fine, but I do wish I had read the other books for more context on the characters and their storylines.

Paralympic sprinter Catie and rugby star Danny are childhood nemeses who’ve seen each other through thick and thin. When Catie covers for Danny in a public incident, the media eats up the potential that they might be together. So, they agree to keep up the charade in public, even though they quickly realize that the joke’s on them and their pent-up emotions toward each other. They help each other through professional and personal challenges, and learned how to break down their walls and build a future together.

Even though this was aiming for enemies-to-lovers, their whole “enemy-ship” was prior to the timeline of this book. They were more friends than enemies and just kept talking about how much they didn’t like each other, maybe to keep their enemy sparks alive? I’m usually a sucker for all the tropes in this book (enemies/friends to lovers, fake dating, forced proximity) but this book sort of fell flat to me. It took me forever to get into it, and even though there were some sweet (and spicy) scenes, it wasn’t a story that gripped me emotionally. That said - I think this book may have been more enjoyable if I understood the characters and how their families were intertwined, which I imagine is covered in the previous 3 books.

Thank you Netgalley & Victory Editing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.