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Hard Knocks
274 pages, Paperback
Published July 5, 2026
About the author
Matt Mememaro
39 books170 followersHailing from the enchanting landscapes of Australia, Matt Mememaro is a distinguished fantasy author who has recently ventured into the realms of romfantasy, seamlessly blending magic with matters of the heart.
Immersed in the rich tapestry of Australian culture, Matt's upbringing instilled in him a deep appreciation for the mystical and the extraordinary. This fascination with the fantastical, coupled with a love for storytelling, laid the foundation for his journey into the world of fantasy literature.
As Matt Mememaro ventures into the uncharted territories of romfantasy, he brings his signature blend of magic, adventure, and heartwarming romance to captivate readers. His works transport audiences from the sun-kissed landscapes of Australia to realms where love and magic intertwine, creating a literary experience that is as enchanting as the author himself.
Click "FOLLOW" to be notified about new releases, or follow Matt on his social media outlets.
Immersed in the rich tapestry of Australian culture, Matt's upbringing instilled in him a deep appreciation for the mystical and the extraordinary. This fascination with the fantastical, coupled with a love for storytelling, laid the foundation for his journey into the world of fantasy literature.
As Matt Mememaro ventures into the uncharted territories of romfantasy, he brings his signature blend of magic, adventure, and heartwarming romance to captivate readers. His works transport audiences from the sun-kissed landscapes of Australia to realms where love and magic intertwine, creating a literary experience that is as enchanting as the author himself.
Click "FOLLOW" to be notified about new releases, or follow Matt on his social media outlets.
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 9, 2026
I was truly excited to read this book and to experience a fresh setting for me. Muay Thai is almost a character in itself here, which was a nice change from my familiar ice hockey reads.
Unfortunately, while the setting was well developed the characters did not feel as fully realised. For me, some important conversations were missing before the relationship became intimate particularly around sexual health and safety. The complete absence of any discussion of safer sex was a significant red flag for me. This may simply reflect how this particular couple behaves but because the character development felt somewhat shallow, I did not have enough insight into them to know whether those omissions were intentional or just unexplored.
I was also somewhat distracted by continuity issues in the storytelling, particularly around movement and physical positioning within scenes. At times the action did not flow logically from one moment to the next, which pulled me out of the story. There was also the sudden revelation of a character's accent (definitely a "where did that come from?" moment).
There were also a number of editorial issues, including typos and incomplete sentences. Once these began to recur I found myself looking for them rather than staying with the story.
There is a LOT of potential here, do not get me wrong, particularly in the setting and the use of Muay Thai and MMA. The lack of character depth and repeated continuity and editorial issues made it difficult for me to fully connect with the book.
Unfortunately, while the setting was well developed the characters did not feel as fully realised. For me, some important conversations were missing before the relationship became intimate particularly around sexual health and safety. The complete absence of any discussion of safer sex was a significant red flag for me. This may simply reflect how this particular couple behaves but because the character development felt somewhat shallow, I did not have enough insight into them to know whether those omissions were intentional or just unexplored.
I was also somewhat distracted by continuity issues in the storytelling, particularly around movement and physical positioning within scenes. At times the action did not flow logically from one moment to the next, which pulled me out of the story. There was also the sudden revelation of a character's accent (definitely a "where did that come from?" moment).
There were also a number of editorial issues, including typos and incomplete sentences. Once these began to recur I found myself looking for them rather than staying with the story.
There is a LOT of potential here, do not get me wrong, particularly in the setting and the use of Muay Thai and MMA. The lack of character depth and repeated continuity and editorial issues made it difficult for me to fully connect with the book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I recieved an advance readers copy of this book prior to publication.
I love sport romances, and spicy romance, so I knew that this book would be something I’d enjoy. It was a nice quick read, only has 289 pages, so got straight into the story. It’s recovering Mui Tuay boxer & physiotherapist trope. He’s a smart mouth champion, desperate to get back into the ring and she’s a high flying physio who is NOT going to put up with his antics.
The spice didn’t happen till around 50% of the book, so there was a bit of slow-burn build up, but it did pay off big style, and the yearning from our MMC (Cain) is real, it’s worth the wait. There’s a lot of witty banter between Caine & Alicia which is also very entertaining.
Overall, it’s fast paced, good descriptive writing with enough spice, but by no means is the story overwhelmed or overshadowed by it. If you enjoy sports romance, definitely check this out, it’s a great read!
I love sport romances, and spicy romance, so I knew that this book would be something I’d enjoy. It was a nice quick read, only has 289 pages, so got straight into the story. It’s recovering Mui Tuay boxer & physiotherapist trope. He’s a smart mouth champion, desperate to get back into the ring and she’s a high flying physio who is NOT going to put up with his antics.
The spice didn’t happen till around 50% of the book, so there was a bit of slow-burn build up, but it did pay off big style, and the yearning from our MMC (Cain) is real, it’s worth the wait. There’s a lot of witty banter between Caine & Alicia which is also very entertaining.
Overall, it’s fast paced, good descriptive writing with enough spice, but by no means is the story overwhelmed or overshadowed by it. If you enjoy sports romance, definitely check this out, it’s a great read!
August 16, 2026
Such a wonderful book. I enjoyed the humor and banter in this book very much. Especially felt I got well educated on the sport itself and was able to keep up. Of course you know I had to cheer for the MMC. This is a story of the MMC Cain and his journey of recovery with the help of his beautiful physio Alicia. How the lines blurred and it became so much more than a professional relationship. This book was well executed. Didn’t expect that spicy scene at the gym, had me so giddy and flustered. Can’t wait to see what else Matt and M.A. come up with.
Rating:
4.5 ⭐️
3.5 🌶️
Rating:
4.5 ⭐️
3.5 🌶️
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a quick read for me. I love the slow burn and the way this book was written!
Definitely a great read, make sure to pick it up!
Definitely a great read, make sure to pick it up!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews