Review: Love Hard – Nalini Singh

*I received a free copy of Love Hard from TKA Distribution via Netgalley. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review, which is honest and unbiased *

Love Hard is the third book in the Play Hard series, and finally, we get to know Jacob Esera better. The aloof, serious, single-dad rugby-player has so much more to him than what he shows the world.
Juliet Nelisi is a blast form his past - his high-school sweetheart's best friend. Bad girl, loyal, abrasive - Jacob thinks she's still the same girl, even if he knows he has changed drastically since then.
The sparks fly between them from the first time they set eyes on each other again, and while a relationship seems to not be what they want, their hearts think differently.

Love Hard is a beautiful, heartfelt story where Jules and Jake meet after several years. Their past animosity is at the fore-front, however, their undeniable chemistry can’t be ignored.

As always, Singh’s writing speaks directly to my heart. Love Hard had all the ingredients for a fantastic romance. Jake and Jules were not friends in high-school. They barely tolerated each other, and made do with barbs and teasing, just to show Callie that they might do an effort for her. When they meet again, the chemistry between them takes them both by surprise. And they also do their very best to ignore it.

Because he’s a single father, Jake is not a typical, famous rugby-player. He’s very private, and he does his job, takes very good care of his daughter, and is there for his family. Jules is a once-bitten twice-shy person, only she’s suffered much more than one bite. Hiding behind an abrasive personality, she almost manages to fool Jake.

Love Hard is filled with feelings. I loved how Jake’s family includes all the people their children care about. All the friendships are deep, and accepting – the way friendships should be. What I loved the most though, is that all the characters are so well fleshed-out. And they have integrity in every sense of the word.

Love Hard also has some wickedly hot scenes between Jake and Jules, and I swear, they were so well done I wanted to jump Jake myself 😉

Jake “GoldenBoy” Esera and Juliet “Band Influence” Nelisi? Nope. Nope. Triple extra nope.

Now here the two were, their devotion so deep and true that Juliet expected to see little cartoon love hearts popping up over their heads.

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2020 New Release Challenge
• Winter COYER 2019-2020

About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.

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