Hard to Break

Denver Kodiaks #3

by Piper Lawson

My teammate’s little sister is all I’ve ever wanted. Now I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her.

I’ve loved her in secret for years. I kept her safe from the sidelines, even though I knew better.

Everyone knows me as the good times guy, the player with a million dollar smile. Never taking anything too seriously.

Except for her.

She’s my end game. I’d sacrifice anything for Brooke, but my choices risk my team and the future of the Denver Kodiaks.

The past never forgets and I’m about to play for my life.

The world might count me out, but I won’t go down without a fight. I have my team at my back and the girl of my dreams on the line.

Everyone’s going to learn I’m hard to break.

Hard to Break is a pro basketball romance with banter, spice, and all the swoony vibes! It’s the third and final book in the Denver Kodiaks series. Miles and Brooke’s addictive story begins in Hard to Fake and continues in Hard to Take.



TROPES

teammate’s little sister
brother’s best friend
fake dating
pro athlete hero
cinnamon roll hero
he’d do anything for her
sassy heroine
college crush
only one bed

Genres: Sports Romance, Romance, Sports, Friends To Lovers, Audiobook, Basketball, Forced Proximity

306 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 26, 2024

About the author

Piper Lawson is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of smart, steamy romance! She writes about women who follow their dreams (even the scary ones), best friends who know your dirty secrets (and love you anyway), and complex heroes you’ll fall hard for (especially after talking with them). Brains or brawn? She’ll never make you choose. Piper lives in Canada with her tall, dark and brilliant husband. She believes peanut butter is a protein, rose gold is a neutral, and love is ALWAYS the answer.

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Books by Piper Lawson:

DENVER KODIAKS SERIES

Hard to Fake
Hard to Take
Hard to Break
Rookie Season

KING OF THE COURT SERIES

Game Changer
Shot Taker
Play Maker
Game Day

WICKED SERIES

Good Girl
Bad Girl
Wicked Girl
Forever Wicked

RIVALS SERIES

A Love Song for Liars
A Love Song for Rebels
A Love Song for Dreamers
A Love Song for Always

ENEMIES SERIES

Beautiful Enemy
Beautiful Sins
Beautiful Ruin
Beautiful Salvation

OFF-LIMITS SERIES

Crave
Collide
Claim
Tempt

TRAVESTY SERIES

Schooled
Stripped
Sealed
Styled
Satisfaction

PLAY SERIES

PLAY
NSFW
RISE

MODERN ROMANCE SERIES

Easy Love
Bad Love
Twisted Love

Reviews

[Piper Lawson]

Available now!

Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and Kobo!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3WU2QZS
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3YJO1LY
Nook: https://bit.ly/4dRXjtF
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3CFjMNf
Google Play: https://bit.ly/3MdgdzB

Listen today!
Audible: http://bit.ly/3VKyNUl
Amazon: http://bit.ly/4pRq4gK
Apple: http://bit.ly/42WSAUo
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/3KxdCmk
Spotify: http://bit.ly/4mFZKn5
Chirp: http://bit.ly/42R7viY

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3yKlZFH

Start the Denver Kodiak series now with Hard to Fake!
https://bit.ly/3WJmCr6

[sashenka 🖤]

Why is there more blurb in the reviews than in the actual book description?

[Cait Ireen | caitireenreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5

Following another cliffhanger lite from Hard to Take, we’re eager to find out the fallout from Miles’ actions and how it will affect his and Brooke’s relationship. Currently on thin ice, Miles is dealing with the Kodiaks figuring out how to deal with their star player in trouble… and how trouble keeps seeming to follow Miles around. This trouble puts himself, the team and Brooke in jeopardy. Will Miles be able to make it back from his fall from grace?

So exciting to be able to read the last of Brooke and Miles’ story, especially after my heart was a little broken after Hard to Take! The challenges of this story were also hurtin’ my heart, but I continued to love the journey. Have no fear - Waffles is STILL the hero of this book too! I loved the ending and have loved reading this series. And no spoilers, but I was definitely evil cackling in the end!

Tropes in this story:
✨Sports romance
✨Brother’s best friend & teammate
✨Secret relationship
✨Forced proximity
✨HEA

I received an Advanced Reading Copy of this book via ValentinePR and Piper Lawson but my review is all my own.

[Clara Mei 🍪🎧 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was entertaning, but i disliked the characters behaviours at some points of the plot

[Aleesha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listen, I'm not going to say this story was good. But out of the three book in this series - it's probably the best. Mostly because there's an actual plot and the stakes are higher.

Where it falls flat for me is that the consequences of all of this devious stuff going on aren't really proportional.

What do you mean Miles gets in trouble for fighting, then gets roofied and there's talk of "well he takes drugs" and THEN drugs are found in his locker and THEN he goes to a party and gets wasted...and he still has a brand deal? He's still playing on his the All-Star team? He's still got his spot on his regular team? This all happens within the span of a couple months before ANYBODY puts the events together and realizes that someone's trying to sabotage him.

And somehow...SOMEHOW it's not immediately obvious who that saboteur could be even though this book OPENS with the fall out from the fight between Miles and Kevin.

The fact that no one even suspects until the proof is HANDED to Brooke 90% of the way through the story grated on the nerves.

How is it you can let this douchebag threaten Brooke the ENTIRE book, and not even a thought crosses anybody's mind that he's the one behind all this garbage? COME ON.

Part of the issue is that Brooke and Miles don't really seem as solid in this book as they did in books 1 and 2. The spice even falls off a bit as they separate in the middle and only get back together in time to solve the mystery surrounding the sabotage. You'd think in a book called "hard to break" we wouldn't see the couple split for any reason...

Things get wrapped up in a nice, neat, tidy little bow. But it's almost too easy and too neat at the end. The fact that Kevin doesn't end up in PRISON for starters. What do you mean his punishment is talking to college kids about the slippery slope of cheating to get ahead???????? What kind of punishment even IS that?! Sure, it's humiliating, I guess. But the drug charges ALONE should have put him behind bars. I haven't even touched on the FRAUD him and his family's law firm are responsible for. Why not give us the satisfaction of seeing this slimy little weasel locked up? Why not commit to justice! So annoyed.

And the whole reason Kevin went after Miles? There are these mysterious photos on Miles' phone, apparently, that Kevin wanted to get a hold of. He never does - but also, the photos never come out...so they don't even really serve any purpose in taking Kevin down. Pointless.

There's also the fact that Brooke's politician mother KNEW what kind of slimy turd Kevin was - the fact that he ruined her daughter's reputation back in college by planting drugs in her room and cheating on her (a fact she admits to Brooke so nonchalantly it's as if she's discussing the weather!) but for 3 whole books she's been pushing her daughter at this man, making her interact with him, even suggesting he'd be a more appropriate partner for her than Miles.

All because it'd make HER CAMPAIGN look better.

Excuse me?

So politicians are slimy and corrupt even in books, I guess.

Sure, she comes around and helps Brooke out, kind of, at the end. But an apology for treating her daughter like ass for YEARS because she's afraid it'll hurt her campaign? Thrusting her into the position of entertaining a man who's at best deceitful, but potentially also dangerous? Unforgivable.

Brooke isn't my favorite person in this story, either. Once the brand deal she had in book 2 goes sideways, because she confronted them about their mistreatment of smaller influencers, she sort of waffles between 2 or three unpaid, almost-jobs and it's not until the very last chapter and epilogue that we even see her decide on what she's going to do with her life.

Meaning for at least this entire book, this girl's been NOTHING but a love interest for the MMC who's going through it. I'm so used to these kinds of contemporary romances being focused on the female lead that this felt weird.

This book just didn't feel like it committed to the plot it added in. In a lot of ways this could have gotten REALLY bad for both Miles and Brooke - and it never REALLY did. It felt like missed opportunity after missed opportunity.

Still, at least it had direction - unlike book 2.

[Alyson Antaramian · Rating 5 out of 5]

“What if relationships don’t make people better or worse, they just show more of who you are?”
•
OH PIPER LAWSON😭 this series has a special place in my heart forever. this book was the perfect, sweet wrap up of this series. Miles & Brooke got the best possible happy ending that they fully deserved. I LOVED how we got to see them truly grow together in this relationship!! From fake dating to scandals to being scrutinized by the public…they DESERVED this ending.
Can we just talk about Miles Garrett for a second bc WHAT. A. MAN. He truly loved & supported Brooke just as much as she did him throughout this entire series. His character development was off the charts good. I’m a Kodashian 4 life bc I’ll never stop thinking about this series or Miles Garrett! 😭

[Naomi (aplace_inthesun) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Hard to Break we see Brooke and Miles fighting for their relationship, and Miles career - so the stakes are incredibly high. Both are feeling the pressure for different reasons - Brooke in relation to the expectations of her family, and Miles in ensuring his career continues to provide care for his grandmother. But lurking (as lurkers do) in the background is Brooke’s ex Kevin who wants to see Brooke and Mile suffer.

This final instalment is more tumultuous in terms of the Kevin, Brooke and Miles dynamic. It focuses on Brooke and Miles ability to support one another, there being a few ‘thin’ times, as referred to when considering ‘through thick and thin’. Miles is an incredibly soft, cinnamon roll type MMC (the aggravation shown at times being at odds with his character) and Brooke is slowly morphing into the woman she wants to be.

This was a great final book (book 3) to this series. It leaves the reader comfortable with this couple and their future.

Thanks to Valentine PR and the author for the opportunity to read an early digital copy.

[Claire Ingledew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Been waiting for the last part of Brooke and Miles’s story Hard to break was a fantastic read and a great ending to there story.

Miles character i didn’t think i could love him anymore but this book took it even further, Brooke loved how she grew in this book, both stronger now.

Can’t forget the bond the Kodiaks have it’s great having them appear right throughout.

One of my favourite parts is when the horrible Kevin get what he deserves

Loved this book along with the other 2 hoping Jay gets a book next 🙏

[Giselle Chiavaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to Break
Book 3 of the Denver Kodiaks
By: Piper Lawson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
🏀Brother’s best friend
🏀Roommates
🏀Pro athlete hero
🏀He’s always wanted her
🏀Cinnamon roll hero
🏀Sassy heroine
🏀College crush
🏀Secret dating

Brooke and Miles relationship was tested time and time again in this book.  Not going to lie didn’t think they were going to catch a break. Brooke unwavering support and trust in miles is what every relationship needs.  Seeing them come together and fight for themselves and their career and relationships was amazing loved the book.  So happy with the ending.

I’m kind of interested in Jay and Chloe book I wonder what happened in their relationship. Piper Lawson will that be the next book in the Denver Kodiaks?

“Because winning a championship is hard but running it back is harder. To the Kodiaks family.”

[B. C. Booklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

The dramatic conclusion of my favorite basketball star's story is finally here! Piper Lawson's Hard to Break is book three in her Denver Kodiak's series and I couldn't love these characters more. Miles is one swoonyworthy leading man, a talented athlete with a sweet heart of gold and the life of any party. Brooke is that special kind of friend- ready at a moments notice to lend a hand to someone in need. She's smart and passionate about reaching her career goals on her own, without any favors given. I just loved everything about her and Miles together, as friends and more, from day one.

Miles life has revolved around basketball forever, but without his fiesty little Grams taking him in as a kid, he wouldn't be where he is now. The tender way he watches out for her is enough to melt every heart three states away! His success on the court is what keeps her living in comfort, so he's out there every day, trying to prove himself as a leader on and off the court. The Kodiaks have set their sights a repeat championship, so he doesn't need any trouble right now, but it finds him anyway- someone behind the scenes is out to ruin him. Yikes, the twists are piling up!

I love the found family vibe that surrounds this meant to be couple. The heartwarming friendships, the team spirt- it's infectious and intense, but with tons of good natured jabs tossed in. It's just fun hanging out with them all, and cheering them on as they play to win.

I don't think I've ever read a book by Piper Lawson that hasn't given me ALL the best feels- tons of witty banter, romance with delicious spiciness and the most sigh-worthy happy endings a reader like me could hope for. Miles and Brooke's story had all that, plus a ton of dramatic, suspenseful moments, their own special blend of flirty fun, a silly dog named Waffles, blazing hot chemistry and that awful schemer who finally got exactly what they deserved.

This cinnamon roll hero and his beautiful, sassy princess have risen to the top spot in the team Kodiak world, a slam dunk for me. Their hearts have been secretly beating for each other for a very long time, but now their sparkling romance has turned into a special kind of love story that's etched itself onto my heart forever.

"Together, we're ready for anything."

♡ I was given an early copy to read and this is my honest review of it.♡

[Trish- Late Knight Luna Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been so invested in Miles and Brooke’s story and I got the ending I wanted for them. “Hard to Break” is a steamy, emotional and amazing conclusion to the three book series.

Picking up right where they left off, Brooke and Miles are together and invested in their future. Miles is all in with her and getting the Kodiaks to the championship. Brooke is still trying to get her career going without any help from her family or Miles. But there is something or someone that is lurking behind the scenes and they are focused on ruining Brooke and Miles’ future on and off the court.

I loved the development of this story and I’m so happy for Brooke and Miles. Brooke is someone that I loved from the beginning and it only grew as the story went on. She’s caring, smart and will do anything to help/protect her friends. She was always on Miles’ side and was his biggest supporter in all aspects of his life. Miles is a swoony, genuine and one my favorite book boyfriends from this year. He’s a great teammate and will always help his team in any way he can. I loved how close he was with his grandmother and made sure she was safe and cared for. Brooke and Miles had amazing chemistry and it grew stronger as the story went on. I loved how they went from friends and progressed so naturally into more. The plot twist of who was coming after them and the lengths the person went to go after them was one I didn’t see coming. And how they got them back had me cheering for them. The ending was sweet and perfect for them.

[Sarah~Book Obsession Confessions · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 STARS
This is the third and final book in this trilogy, they must be read in order.
Brooke and Miles are finally really together as a couple and of course things get even tougher for this extremely likable couple.
They’ve already faced so much, this was a really emotional and intense story that put them, their relationship and me through the wringer.
They go through big personal struggles that made me feel so much sympathy for them, there is so much unfairness and judgment aimed at them.
I love that they still share great banter, they adore each other and support one another.
I love that the Kodiak basketball players, games and their camaraderie were a bigger part than in the previous books. I loved it, it’s a favorite aspect of sports romance for me.
I love the way things play out between Miles and Brooke’s brother, Miles best friend and teammate. It made me extremely happy to see them repair their friendship.
I love the characters growth, that’s what I do love about a trilogy, we get to see the ups and downs more and it’s so satisfying when they show personal improvement and maturity like these characters did.
This is such a great book that made me feel all warm and sappy. This couple deserves the biggest happily ever after, I love the way the story plays out. I love this couples chemistry, playfulness and devotion to each other. What a fantastic end to this great trilogy!


*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are entirely mine. Thank you so much for the arc!*

[Ashley Arsenault · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 3 in the Denver Kodiaks series.
Book 1 Hard to Fake and Book 2 Hard to Take both ended on a cliffhanger so I was anxiously awaiting the ARC for hard to break!

This 3 book connecting series follows Miles and Brooke.

Miles is a pro basketball player, his best friend and teammate is Jay, who is also the older brother of Brooke.

This series has some amazing tropes!
• collage crush
•fake dating
•forced proximity/ roommates
•cinnamon roll hero
•brothers best friend
•best friends little sister
• sassy heroine
•he’s always wanted her

I absolutely adored Miles and Brooke’s story. I love when a man has secretly pined for the FMC.

Each book ended with a cliffhanger that you couldn’t wait to continue on (unfortunately I had read all 3 as ARCs and had to wait for the next one 🤣)

The challenges that Miles and Brooke had faced, the character growth with the MMC, his absolutely adoring love for his Grams ❤️

The trials and tribulations of the characters, following their love story and seeing where piper lawson took them was a journey I enjoyed!

I am very curious about Jay and Chloe 🤔 do they have a book?! Or will they?! I hope so 😍

Thank you valentine PR and piper lawson for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the ending of Hard to Take, I was extremely invested in finding out what happened next! Hard to Break delivered all the drama, romance, and tension we could want. 

At the beginning of this three-book series, we focused on the troubles Brooke was going through in her life, but in Hard to Break, the odds were stacked against Miles, and it was time to see the outcome. 

It was so upsetting seeing Miles, who is truly a cinnamon roll MMC through and through, be questioned and have his character dragged through the mud. This not only affected his career but also started causing tension between him and Brooke. Both of them began to blame themselves, which led to a lot of stress in their relationship. 

With that being said, we still got a lot of amazing moments between the two of them. Since the beginning, I have loved their banter with each other. We've seen that Brooke can be hard on herself sometimes, and Miles is just the perfect balance for her. Their relationship is so sweet and tender, but they also have their heated moments, too🤭

The drama that kept being thrown at us throughout this book had me hooked (and so annoyed with a specific character😒). The author did a great job at wrapping it all up by the end!  

Something I want to mention specifically is the team dynamic in this one. I absolutely adored getting to see Miles interact with the team and connect with Jay. I feel like we got to see a bit more of the Kodiak's in this series than in the King of the Court series. 

Overall, this was a fantastic ending to Brooke and Miles's story. The Denver Kodiaks series does have to be read in order because they all follow the same couple, but the fast pacing, gripping writing, and interesting characters make for such fun reads. I highly recommend everyone go pick this series up, starting with Hard to Fake! 

*thank you to Piper Lawson and Valentine PR for the arc!*

[Evita Paizanou · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hard to Break (Denver Kodiaks #3)
by Piper Lawson

🌟 5/5 stars — Intense, emotional, and sizzling: my favorite kind of sports romance.

This third Kodiaks installment raises the stakes with a love story that’s just as passionate as it is complicated. Piper Lawson once again nails the balance between steamy romance, sharp banter, and characters who feel so real you can’t help but root for them.

Without spoiling too much, Hard to Break gives us a hero and heroine who are both fighting battles — personal, professional, and emotional — and finding strength in each other even when it seems impossible. I loved how much vulnerability and heart this book had, layered right alongside the spice and the hockey-world drama.

The chemistry? Off the charts. But what really made this one stand out was the character growth — the way both leads confronted fears and old wounds to make their relationship work. It’s raw, it’s messy, but it’s exactly the kind of romance payoff I crave.

💭 Final Thoughts:
Hard to Break might be my favorite Kodiaks book yet. Steamy, heartfelt, and perfectly paced — a knockout sports romance series that left me immediately reaching for the next one.

[Abigail K · Rating 3 out of 5]

The conclusion of Miles and Brooke’s story! I'm so glad to see how these two ended together, especially after they had a very difficult journey with so many roadblocks and obstacles that kept popping up. This book was chock-full of challenges for this couple, and it felt like one thing after another. It was a very engaging and climactic finale to this series.

I will admit, this one was a little harder to get into than the rest of the series I thought. It just felt like so many things kept happening it was frosting. Despite this, the end was still so satisfying and I'm so glad to see Brooke and Miles get their HEA!

I will that admit, there was a lot that went on in this book, and it moved fast. In some ways, this is a plus, and in some ways, it took away from the story. Just my observation.

A great basketball romance trilogy if you are looking for one! Thank you to Valentine Pr and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Sarah Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nail biting finale.

Book 3 of the Denver Kodiaks trilogy definitely had me sitting on the edge of my seat, biting my nails, fretfully, yet gleefully, turning the pages as it all unfolded. Miles and Brooke make magic together, and when they are apart all is not right in the world. Their story brought plenty of steam and swoon, tenderness and tension, chemistry and camaraderie, and while there are many difficult moments for the pair in this final instalment, Piper looks after us and beautifully weaves it all together to bring a satisfying and special conclusion to Miles and Brooke's epic love story. I'm sad to have reached the end of their story but am hopeful there is more to come from this fabulous and fascinating world Piper has created.

I was lucky to receive an early copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Ada’s Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ I received this book as an ARC for my honest review✨

Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a perfect way to wrap up Miles and Brooke’s story and the Denver Kodiaks trilogy! If I could change one thing, it would be to combine all three books into one longer novel. Each book was pretty short, and by the time I reached the final one, the pacing slowed down a bit. I think it would’ve been more satisfying to binge the whole story in one go. That said, I’m really glad I stuck with it. I had so much fun following their journey from start to finish, and the conclusion was totally worth it!

Miles is such a sweetheart—like a total cinnamon roll hero. He’s always looking out for Brooke, and honestly, every time he did something caring, I swooned. Brooke really came into her own since the first book, and it was amazing to see her grow—both personally and in her relationship with Miles. While I did wish she had stood by him more in some moments to show a united front, in the end, I think it was something they both needed to strengthen their relationship and move forward together.

The drama in this one was next level. Miles is dealing with his basketball career, sponsorships, and of course, his future with Brooke all hanging by a thread. I felt for him the whole time, especially with all the secrets from the past that came to light. It was heartbreaking at times, but it really made the two of them stronger. And I loved the basketball stuff—I'm not even a big fan of the sport, but I got so invested in how things were going to play out for Miles and the team.

This book definitely had more suspense than the others, with a little mystery thrown in, and I couldn’t stop reading until I found out how it all ended. It was a bit predictable at times, but still a fun ride.

[Cam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't really love the slight turn that Miles started to take towards the middle of the book, but he came through in the end. His character was quite wholesome in the first two books so it felt a little weird with how he was behaving. There was one part where he was already dealing with the suspension but then he goes to party anyways and drinks a ton of alcohol, after saying that he was going to cut off alcohol and be a "model athlete" in order to bounce back I feel like Miles and Brooke weren't as strong together in this one and I really wish they were more of a team while trying to get through everything and I would have liked to see it being handled differently. At one point, it felt like there was almost too much happening but in the end, I was still satisfied with the happy ending. There were still some cute moments between them at the end.

[Daphne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to Break is the perfect conclusion to Brooke and Miles’ story, and I couldn’t have asked for a more satisfying ending. Piper Lawson masterfully blends sizzling chemistry, heartfelt emotion, and sharp banter into a story that had me hooked from page one.

Miles is the ultimate cinnamon-roll hero—kind, loyal, and utterly devoted to Brooke. The way he would move mountains for her tugged at my heartstrings over and over again. Their dynamic is electric, with plenty of witty exchanges and tension that never lets up.

Just when I thought I had a handle on the plot, Piper kept the twists coming. Each one added depth and excitement, making it impossible to put the book down. I devoured it all in one sitting and didn’t want it to end.

And speaking of endings, while Brooke and Miles’ journey felt complete, I’m definitely crossing my fingers (and toes!) that Jay gets his story next. There’s so much potential there, and I’m not ready to leave this world just yet.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great ending to Mile's and Brooke's story. Their story is not perfect and there is a lot to overcome. At times I wondered how it was going to work out for them but that's what makes every love story great. Miles and Brooke are great together, truly making each other a better person.

[ashley 🎀 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well im addicted to this 😂😂😂

I listened in one sitting… I NEEDED to get to the HEA! It was worth it and soooo fun that this was in 3 parts!!!

All 3 books have had a twist to them and I really enjoyed them all! This one was a little extra special because you get a fun twist and the ending you hope for!!

Piper kills it every time, can’t wait for more from her!

[Stacey's Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️

The nail biting finale of the Denver Kodiak series is finally here!! Desperate to stay out of trouble, Miles seems like he is being sabotaged every step of the way. But, who would do that? 🤔

This series is very enjoyable. Forever rooting for Brooke && Miles! Their love is so special 🥰 Also, seeing Brooke's mom finally come around was such a sweet way to come full circle 🥺

[H.B. Jasick · Rating 3 out of 5]

We finally get to the end of the story and everything wraps up into a neat little bow. I enjoyed these characters, and the story was pretty decent.

[Books I Flove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I didn’t see this coming!!

But, let’s start at the beginning — or at the end of book as this is exactly where this book continues.
Miles is in a bit of trouble and continues to stay or get in even more trouble. Brooke has a hard time adjusting and it’s her wellbeing at stake.
This book is as good as book 1 & 2, if not even slightly better! It’s thrilling as well, and I couldn’t put it down. I was hooked and tried to find out the in’s and out’s!
It’s full of love, friendship and support, from the team, their friends and family!

𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠.

Absolutely loved it!!



I kindly received an arc and voluntarily left a review!

[Breanna | bookish.bree on bookstagram · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet ending to this trilogy for Miles & Brooke.

I really loved seeing their relationship progress and how they tackled the challenges that being in the public eye brought them.

If you’re looking for an easy read sports romance series with a HEA then this one is for you! All books in this series are out and available now!

Thanks to Valentine PR & Piper Lawson for the chance to read this one early in exchange for an honest review.

[Lacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simone Lewis and Tim Paige narrate Piper Lawson’s Hard to Break in alternating first-person, dual POV. This last book in Miles and Brooke’s romance picks up where Hard to Take’s cliffhanger left off, with the fallout from Miles’ fight with Brooke’s college ex. Brooke and Miles are settling into their romantic/sexual relationship, which they’ve yet to define. Miles is having the best season of his basketball career, with lucrative sponsorships and opportunities. Secretly loving and longing for Brooke for years, he’s protected and kept his teammate/best friend’s sister safe. Brooke is Miles’ endgame—all he’s ever wanted. So, he’ll sacrifice anything for Brooke and do whatever it takes to keep her safe and in his life. But Miles’ choice to do so puts his career, team, and the future of the Denver Kodiaks at risk. Worst of all, they may put the most important person and relationship in his life at risk, too.

Lewis and Paige’s animated narration drew me into Lawson’s multilayered romance, keeping me listening as the audiobook flew by. Their narration fits Brooke and Miles and expresses their personalities and emotional highs and lows. Lewis and Paige use pacing, intonation, inflection, and emotion to differentiate between the characters to give them distinct voices that reveal their personalities, feelings, quirks, and states of mind. I love Paige’s narration/voice for Brooke and Lewis’ for Miles most. Paige’s narration/voice for Miles fits his character, teammates, and other men. His narration for his grandmother and the women characters is also nicely done. While Lewis’s narration for Brooke makes her sound a little older than I expect, she portrays the personality and cultured speech patterns/voice her mother pressures her to present to the world. Her narration/voice for Miles’ teammates, her father, and other men is very well done. Lewis’ narration/voice for her mother is superb, as well as for her friends. Lewis totally becomes Brooke’s calculating, cruel, and fake ex-boyfriend. Paige and Lewis’ narration shines most in the emotional, humorous, and steamy scenes, expressing their characters’ emotional turmoil, passion, chemistry, intimacy, sensations, desire, and love.

A gifted basketball player, Miles is sweet, thoughtful, caring, accepting, trustworthy, and reliable. Miles has a lot on his plate, but he keeps his vulnerability and stress hidden. Taking care of his grandmother, playing basketball at a high level, supporting his team and leading them to a championship, trying to land sponsorships, and navigating his new romantic relationship with Brooke is overwhelming for Miles. Now, the fight has drawn negative attention to the team. While he regrets that it’s negatively affecting the team, and he’s the team’s peacekeeper, he doesn’t regret protecting the most important person in his life. Miles doesn’t have any other choice but to keep trying to be his best for the people in his life. Brooke–the best part of his life–makes him feel accepted and wanted. She makes Miles want to be better for her and his team. Miles’ team–that trusts and accepts him–and playing basketball (his job) is who he is.

A sweet, kind, caring, thoughtful, and supportive social media influencer, Brooke is in a period of transition and self-discovery. It’s always been important to her to present the perfect facade–to be put together, perfect–so she can control the narrative. Brooke cares about contributing to a cause that’s bigger than herself. Though Brooke loves her new life with Miles, she wants to pay her own way. She’s still trying to find a job that will pay all her bills. Brooke doesn’t like leaving herself exposed. Because she trusts Miles, she can let down her guard with him and be herself. People, especially men, treated her as disposable before Miles. Instead of fading away, her college crush on Miles has deepened into love. Brooke feels guilty that she might be negatively affecting Miles’ life and career at the worst time because of her past and baggage with her college ex. While helping her friend and other social media influencers achieve their dreams, Brooke discovers her gifts and what she’s meant to be doing with her life.

Lewis and Paige’s narration complements Lawson’s storytelling and reflects the varied personalities/characters of Miles, Brooke, and the people in their lives. Lawson draws you in with her lively, down-to-earth writing and storytelling style, and vivid, detailed, descriptive writing that features colorful, hilarious, and natural-sounding dialogue. She uses her complex, relatable, likable, and fallible characters’ senses and interactions to add depth to her world-building, plot development, and Miles and Brooke’s snarky banter and humorous, sweet, sexy, steamy, and intimate interactions and love scenes.

Hard to Break is an angsty, steamy, humorous, sexy, emotional, and fast-paced romance recommended for forced proximity, friends-to-lovers, teammate’s little sister, brother’s best friend, fake dating, pro athlete hero, cinnamon roll hero, he’d do anything for her, sassy heroine, college crush, only one bed, sports romance, basketball fans.

3.75 stars

Thanks to Piper Lawson Books and Valentine PR for the ARC.

[Maddie (Bookaholic_Dreamer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/4.5 ⭐️

Author Piper Lawson has us jumping into the last instalment within Denver Kodiak series.
Miles and Brooke have us picking right up from the end of book two; Hard to Take, with the finale to their story in Hard to Break.

The journey of Hard to Take was nothing in comparison to Hard to Break, considering the even more bumpier ride that Miles and Brooke found themselves navigating through. Both as individuals and as a couple.
More so for Miles, when you took into account the trouble he found himself in from the drama that led to certain situations and events to arise.
This caused not only issues for himself, but the Kodiak team and Brooke too, as his connection to them had them being apart of it too. Even if it was unknowingly and unwillingly.
Ultimately creating quite the continuation of an intriguing, developing storyline filled with stress, causing major tension, alongside highs and lows of emotions.

Seeing the hits Miles faced, alongside the mystery behind the plot twists author Piper dropped along the way definitely were surprising to say the least. Having not seen it coming, making me all the more entranced.
It led to me turning each and every page turn that much more faster, wanting to see the direction author Piper would take it. And how it would all eventually play out for Miles, as well as Brooke given their relationship that linked them together.

From all that Miles and Brooke facedown in Hard to Fake and Hard to Take to now in Hard to Break, it made for quite the journey when it came to their character development.
The changes and growth become louder and clearer with each book. Particularly in the finale, considering how far Miles and Brooke had come by the end with the actions they took, courtesy of all that they had faced and learnt from within the paces they found themselves being put through yet again.
Only this time on a bigger scale, testing their relationship too simultaneously.

Although Miles and Brooke’s relationship had been through ups and downs and highs and lows.
Hard to Break showcased its major strain with being put to the test. But this time even more harder than before, seeing as there was even more outside interference being encountered for the couple.
However even with that, author Piper reminded us again why Miles and Brooke are the real deal and meant to be endgame.
Despite the pain they found themselves facing due to troubles, it wasn’t enough to break their connection and the chemistry they shared. And the proof was in the pudding, seeing the Sexy, Hot, steamy scenes shared between the couple. Proving their electrifying chemistry was very much real, alive and sparkling.

The combination of the ongoing steady moving narrative, further and deeper character development, the continuation of Miles and Brooke’s expanding relationship within an entertaining yet emotional storyline.
Was it any wonder Hard to Break made for a great and enjoyable finale to not only Miles and Brooke’s overall story, but to the Denver Kodiak series.
A job well done to author Piper Lawson!



*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to Break by Piper Lawson is the perfect, sweet, and satisfying conclusion to the beloved Denver Kodiaks series. Brilliantly narrated by Simone Lewis and Tim Paige, this final installment in Miles and Brooke's journey gives this well-deserving couple the epic happy ending they earned, and I'm officially a Kodashian!

This book is filled with all the banter, spice, and swoony vibes a reader could ask for. It plunges right back into the action where the previous book left off, throwing Miles Garrett and Brooke into an even bumpier, more intensely challenging ride than they faced in Hard to Fake or Hard to Take. The drama is set from the start: Miles, who has secretly loved his teammate's little sister for years, knows she is his endgame, but his choices now risk his team and the future of the Kodiaks. He is about to play for his life, determined that everyone will learn he is hard to break.

Piper Lawson truly is a queen of emotional storytelling, and the journey they face in Hard to Break is nothing short of an emotional rollercoaster. The plot features major external conflict, particularly for Miles, as he finds himself navigating serious drama that not only threatens his relationship with Brooke but also the future of his team. The book is thrilling; I couldn't put it down. The mystery behind the plot twists keeps you on the edge of your seat, making you desperate to find out the in's and out's. Seeing the intense hits Miles faces and the surprising direction the story takes had me turning pages faster than ever, wanting to see how the author would resolve the mounting tension.

This series has a special place in my heart, and Miles & Brooke got the best possible happy ending they fully deserved. We get to see them truly grow together in this relationship. From fake dating and public scandals to facing down outside interference, they found their "forever" despite the bumps in the road. Miles Garrett is truly what a man! His character development throughout the series is off the charts. He loved and supported Brooke just as much as she did him, fighting for her and for the life they built. The unwavering love, friendship, and support they receive from the team, friends, and family highlight the beautiful theme: "Together, we’re ready for anything." Their relationship is the real deal and absolutely endgame. The painful strain they face is not enough to break their connection, and the sexy, hot, steamy scenes are constant proof that their electrifying chemistry is very much alive and sparkling.

The combination of the ongoing, steady narrative, satisfying character development, and the continuation of Miles and Brooke’s expanding relationship makes Hard to Break an incredibly enjoyable and perfect finale to the Denver Kodiaks series. This series is one of my favorites. Thank you, Piper Lawson.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Peggy M · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 ,5 stars

I received an ARC of this book and this is my voluntarily, honest review of it.

The ‘Denver Kodiaks’ trilogy tells the love story of Brooke and Miles. ‘Hard to break’ is the third and final book in this trilogy.

The second story ended in a way that left me very worried about Miles’ career. And I was right to worry! The Kodiaks’ management wasn’t happy with Miles’ involvement in a fight outside the Kodiaks arena in front of fans. But they weren’t the only ones to comment on this. There were also many negative reactions to the incident on social media. This puts pressure not only on Miles but also on Brooke and their new relationship.
Miles and Brooke have a lot of stake. Miles and his team do their best to win the championship again but it’s not all going great. They often have to fight for each point. Brooke is looking for a new job but she’s unsure in which direction to look. Both Miles and Brooke do their best but it isn’t easy. Fortunately, they can count on their friends and family to support them in difficult times. And they will need the support because some surprising and unpleasant situations will happen.

Just like in the two previous stories, we also get both POV’s in this story. Brooke and Miles have both really grown since the first book. They have become more mature and you can feel that in their relationship too. While Brooke was a good friend and person in the beginning, she was mostly focused on her socials and her influencer job. In this story she finds another job that suits her perfectly and in which she helps other people to make their dreams come true.
We got to know Miles as a funny guy, always ready for a joke and some fun, but in this trilogy we got to see different sides of him. He can be very insecure but he doesn’t show it. Miles also has a caring side, he takes good care of his grandmother and loves her very much. He also likes to surprise Brooke with small and big things. He is a great boyfriend. In this story their new relationship is tested in different ways. They supported each other in different ways but there was also a moment where Brooke did something that I wasn’t sure was a good decision. (I’m still not sure if it was the right thing to do.) But they cared deeply for the other, they were best friends and lovers.

It was wonderful to see everyone again, Nova & Clay, Rookie, Jay & Chloe, Rookie and Atlas. One of the things I enjoy about these stories is the deep friendship between all these different people.

I like this writer her stories. I just wonder if every love story really needs to be a trilogy? I’m sure that some readers will say ‘yes’. For me personally, I would say no.