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Alpha's Heart #1
Hard to Fight
Grace is a bounty hunter who wants to be taken seriously, but her boss refuses to believe that a woman can bring down a dangerous criminal. She finally gets a chance to prove herself when she's given the case of a lifetime: capture Raide Knox and bring him to justice.
Raide is a dangerous fugitive on the run...and the sexiest man Grace has ever met. Catching Raide won't be easy. He's not the kind of man to go down without a fight. Raide is more intense and frustrating than any man she's ever had to deal with, and the instantaneous attraction that sparks between them is undeniable. One thing is for sure...it's going to be a case they will never forget.
**Hard To Fight is a full-length standalone romance with a HEA**
247 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 11, 2015
181 people are currently reading
3512 people want to read
About the author
Bella Jewel
103 books7,454 followersHeya!! My name is Bella, I'm a new aussie author and I am as crazy as they come. I'm playful, friendly and always up for a chat so stop on by x
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 418 reviews
August 16, 2015
1.5 Stars
I tried to like this book, really, I did. But the plot had more holes in it than a dead guy from The Godfather. I loved the premise of it, unfortunately when I finished, that was also the only thing about it I liked. For once it wasn't the hot cover the sucked me in (what? Like that hasn't happened to you? Judge not, my judgey friend, judge not), but the synopsis. I love me a badass heroine and it doesn't get any more badass than a female bounty hunter. Unfortunately for me, there was absolutely nothing badass about Grace. The only thing that she managed to do is annoy the ever loving hell out of me.
See Grace is supposed to be sassy. You know she's sassy because she reminds you of it every other bloody paragraph. Nothing like subtlety to drive the point home, right? Sorry Grace, but I think you missed your ship to sassy land, and took a detour there somewhere
So Grace here is a bounty hunter but her boss won't give her the big cases because she's a woman and women are weak and blah blah blah
Finally her big break comes in the shape of big bad and uber sexy Raide, who she happened to have met the night before finding out he's a fugitive and shared some snarky sexual banter with. Raide is wanted for aggravated assault and suspected murder. Grace needs to prove herself so while being on a team of bounty hunters, she's going to go after him herself because...badass. But since Raide is all big and bad she can't bring him in physically. So what's a girl to do? Seduce him, of course. That's a sure way to prove to your boss and team that you're a woman to be reckoned with.
Anyway the rest of the book goes something along the lines of this...
I need to seduce him, but oh my, how do I do that when he doesn't seem interested? I know, I'll stalk him! He goes to a club, I'll go to that club. He goes to a coffee shop, I'll go to that coffee shop. He goes to a gun shop, I'll go to that gun shop...because badass!
What's that? He notices me every single time I follow him because subtlety and subterfuge isn't my strong suit? No worries, because I'll just use my sassy to get me out of it!
Subtle, real subtle there, 007.
Hmm..this seduction business isn't going well. I need to stalk him some more. What's that? HE followed me home twice and I didn't notice it? No worries! I'm still badass. Operation seduction is still on. But I have my limits, there will be no kissing. Damn, I just made out with him! No worries, operation seduction is still on. But I have my limits, there will be no sex. Damn, I just had sex with him. But I think he's innocent. I still need to bring him in though.
Blah blah blah other stuff happens blah blah.
I think I'm falling for him. But now I really believe he's innocent. Screw my job and proving myself, nothing beats good sex. I've known him for a whole month, he's worth it! What's that? We're in danger and being held captive while Raide is severely wounded? What should we do? I know! Have sex!
I mean for fuck's sake! Don't even get me started on the fact that Raide's endearment for her was "lady". And all I can hear in my head as I was reading it was "hey laaaaddyyyy!". Or the fact that after a month of knowing each other she tries to get him to give up his revenge because it's selfish of him to continue with it knowing he's putting himself in danger and she's in his life. All the while she STILL hasn't come clean with him about her motives.
Then there was an additional random POV toward the end and then everything was wrapped up in a pretty little bow to rival a disney fairytale. Suffice it to say this book did not work for me in any way. The characters were flat and I really didn't feel there was much character or relationship development. It was all just meh.
Will I read other books in this series? Maybe? This could have been a total fluke since I've read and enjoyed a few other titles by this author. Unfortunately Hard To Fight was a book I actually had to push myself to finish and then was kicking myself for not DNFing it at 25% as I had originally wanted to. Ah well. You lose some, you win some. I suggest you read it and see what you think. Different strokes for different folks and all that jazz.
ARC courtesy of publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
For more reviews visit
I tried to like this book, really, I did. But the plot had more holes in it than a dead guy from The Godfather. I loved the premise of it, unfortunately when I finished, that was also the only thing about it I liked. For once it wasn't the hot cover the sucked me in (what? Like that hasn't happened to you? Judge not, my judgey friend, judge not), but the synopsis. I love me a badass heroine and it doesn't get any more badass than a female bounty hunter. Unfortunately for me, there was absolutely nothing badass about Grace. The only thing that she managed to do is annoy the ever loving hell out of me.
See Grace is supposed to be sassy. You know she's sassy because she reminds you of it every other bloody paragraph. Nothing like subtlety to drive the point home, right? Sorry Grace, but I think you missed your ship to sassy land, and took a detour there somewhere
So Grace here is a bounty hunter but her boss won't give her the big cases because she's a woman and women are weak and blah blah blah
Finally her big break comes in the shape of big bad and uber sexy Raide, who she happened to have met the night before finding out he's a fugitive and shared some snarky sexual banter with. Raide is wanted for aggravated assault and suspected murder. Grace needs to prove herself so while being on a team of bounty hunters, she's going to go after him herself because...badass. But since Raide is all big and bad she can't bring him in physically. So what's a girl to do? Seduce him, of course. That's a sure way to prove to your boss and team that you're a woman to be reckoned with.
Anyway the rest of the book goes something along the lines of this...
I need to seduce him, but oh my, how do I do that when he doesn't seem interested? I know, I'll stalk him! He goes to a club, I'll go to that club. He goes to a coffee shop, I'll go to that coffee shop. He goes to a gun shop, I'll go to that gun shop...because badass!
What's that? He notices me every single time I follow him because subtlety and subterfuge isn't my strong suit? No worries, because I'll just use my sassy to get me out of it!
Hi there, handsome."
"You following me?"
"I like coffee."
"We done playin' games long enough for you to have one with me?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. I was just here having coffee. What are these games you speak of?"
Subtle, real subtle there, 007.
Hmm..this seduction business isn't going well. I need to stalk him some more. What's that? HE followed me home twice and I didn't notice it? No worries! I'm still badass. Operation seduction is still on. But I have my limits, there will be no kissing. Damn, I just made out with him! No worries, operation seduction is still on. But I have my limits, there will be no sex. Damn, I just had sex with him. But I think he's innocent. I still need to bring him in though.
Blah blah blah other stuff happens blah blah.
I think I'm falling for him. But now I really believe he's innocent. Screw my job and proving myself, nothing beats good sex. I've known him for a whole month, he's worth it! What's that? We're in danger and being held captive while Raide is severely wounded? What should we do? I know! Have sex!
I mean for fuck's sake! Don't even get me started on the fact that Raide's endearment for her was "lady". And all I can hear in my head as I was reading it was "hey laaaaddyyyy!". Or the fact that after a month of knowing each other she tries to get him to give up his revenge because it's selfish of him to continue with it knowing he's putting himself in danger and she's in his life. All the while she STILL hasn't come clean with him about her motives.
Then there was an additional random POV toward the end and then everything was wrapped up in a pretty little bow to rival a disney fairytale. Suffice it to say this book did not work for me in any way. The characters were flat and I really didn't feel there was much character or relationship development. It was all just meh.
Will I read other books in this series? Maybe? This could have been a total fluke since I've read and enjoyed a few other titles by this author. Unfortunately Hard To Fight was a book I actually had to push myself to finish and then was kicking myself for not DNFing it at 25% as I had originally wanted to. Ah well. You lose some, you win some. I suggest you read it and see what you think. Different strokes for different folks and all that jazz.
ARC courtesy of publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
For more reviews visit
July 23, 2016
Straight vodka burns less than telling you what you did was okay.
5 #NoOneDoesRomanceLikeKnox STARS
Gracie and Raide .. ♥
Hard to Fight Bella Jewel
5 #NoOneDoesRomanceLikeKnox STARS
Gracie and Raide .. ♥
Hard to Fight Bella Jewel
July 29, 2015
** 1,5-2 “coincidences, coincid…, coi…” STARS **
“Why me? What drew you to me enough for us to be here?”
“It was the first night I met you and YOU DIDN’T THROW YOURSELF AT ME.”
THE MOST ROMANTIC REASON FOR SOMEONE TO FALL FOR YOU, RIGHT?
Gracie Lou has been working really hard, giving herself fully to her job and trying to prove herself to her colleagues for the last 5 years, going after her father’s footsteps and trying to fill his huge boots. Gracie is –in her own words– “a wild and badass” bounty hunter and after all these years, she is finally assigned to a case as big as she deserves to get!
But a big surprise is waiting for her when she opens up the file of her new dream case: Raide Knox, the man she is supposed to find, who skipped bail on his standing trial for assault and murder, is the same guy that got her pressed against the cold brick wall last night at a bar. The guy that made her knees weak and took her breath away...
Now Gracie has 2 months to seduce Raide Knox and bring him in. That will prove everyone her worth and help her get the chance to expand her carreer. All she has to do is keep her heart protected while doing that…
SO WHAT THE HELL WENT WRONG?
#1 // The frequent use of the words “badass” and “sassy”. Yeah, sure, Gracie is sooooo cool, okay. We get it.
#2 // The fact that Gracie is an incredibly unprofessional and, excuse my language but, SUCKY bounty hunter even after 5 years of training.
First of all, she is soooo freakin' obvious! She follows Raide EVERYWHERE, and she acts like he HAS TO see her in each and every one of them. They come across at every damn night club Raide goes to. They hail the same cabs on the road at the same time. (OMG what a coincidence!) They go into the same GUN SHOP at the same time. (Yes, Gracie assumes going to one is a daily thing for every young lady and wouldn’t look suspicious AT ALL.) They come across even at his favourite coffee shop!
Like all those dumba** moves aren't enough, she does the “following him everywhere” part with her best friend who has no idea about bounty hunting or guns or self-defense!
Oh you think that's the last of her ridiculousness? Oh no, it's not. After years of training, Gracie calls Raide by his first name by accident when he never told it to her before. YES. Yes, she did THAT.
But please be easy on her guys... She is VERY “cool” and “wild” and “badass”, okay? She just can't show it much...
#3 // The fact that Raide is such a poor dumb f*cker.
This is practically the conversation he had with Gracie when he FINALLY got suspicious of all the coincidental meetings:
R: “Are you following me?”
G: “What, no! We just must be from the same circle. God!”
R: “Are you a stalker or something?”
G: “No! I’m not, Jesus, how could you say that?”
R: “Are you a cop?”
G: “Of course not! I’m a waitress that can take down huge dudes and that carries a gun. Believe me!”
R: “Okay then you just must be a lusty loony trying to get my big d*ck. Cool.”
Please, just hush Raide. HUSH! I am really allergic to stupidity and I can already feel my palm itching and my eyelids swelling up.
OVERALL: A huge disappointment. That's all I have to say.
** ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **
July 14, 2015
3.75 LADY STARS
This was my first Bella Jewel book and it was a fun read. Hot, sexy, sassy, fast paced and some great laughs!
Grace and Raide were a whole lot of fun. Raide just exuded confidence and cockiness and Grace really gave as good as she got.
Grace was awesome. A really sassy lady with a whole lot of badass…seriously, a female bounty hunter? Loved it!
And what I also enjoyed was that it was believable. She was in a “man’s” job and while she was good at it, she was realistic in knowing she had limitations due to her size. But what I just loved was her moxy and that she didn’t cower from a challenge. I had a few laughs with Grace's plan to use her "assets" to lure Raide in...
"Say what? This man is testing my nerves. Who doesn't like this dress? Everyone likes this freaking dress!...I am not cut out for this, it's killing my inner badass and maybe my ego."
Raide was so easy to like even though he was this fugitive on the loose, wanted for murder. It was obvious he had a heart and was no cold blooded murdered. There were some real tender moments between Grace and Raide
and also when he spoke about his sister…
I also enjoyed the secondary characters and how they contributed to the story. Absolutely loved Gracie’s father, what a man! I could totally see why Grace followed in his footsteps. Kady and Benny – BFF’s of the H/h – were both a hoot. And Don, Grace’s boss was wonderful as was Vance, Grace’s friend and colleague. I would love a book on Vance.
I hate to nit pick but there was one thing that kept me from giving this a solid 4 stars. The story for the most part was somewhat predictable but the fun, chemistry and banter kept it very entertaining. The one thing that has me scratching my head are some unanswered questions about the bad guy in this whole thing.
Really fun read and looking forward to more Bella Jewel and the next book in the Alpha's Heart series!
**ARC kindly provided by St. Martins Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
For more reviews and blog posts.
This was my first Bella Jewel book and it was a fun read. Hot, sexy, sassy, fast paced and some great laughs!
Grace and Raide were a whole lot of fun. Raide just exuded confidence and cockiness and Grace really gave as good as she got.
Grace was awesome. A really sassy lady with a whole lot of badass…seriously, a female bounty hunter? Loved it!
And what I also enjoyed was that it was believable. She was in a “man’s” job and while she was good at it, she was realistic in knowing she had limitations due to her size. But what I just loved was her moxy and that she didn’t cower from a challenge. I had a few laughs with Grace's plan to use her "assets" to lure Raide in...
"Say what? This man is testing my nerves. Who doesn't like this dress? Everyone likes this freaking dress!...I am not cut out for this, it's killing my inner badass and maybe my ego."
Raide was so easy to like even though he was this fugitive on the loose, wanted for murder. It was obvious he had a heart and was no cold blooded murdered. There were some real tender moments between Grace and Raide
and also when he spoke about his sister…
I also enjoyed the secondary characters and how they contributed to the story. Absolutely loved Gracie’s father, what a man! I could totally see why Grace followed in his footsteps. Kady and Benny – BFF’s of the H/h – were both a hoot. And Don, Grace’s boss was wonderful as was Vance, Grace’s friend and colleague. I would love a book on Vance.
I hate to nit pick but there was one thing that kept me from giving this a solid 4 stars. The story for the most part was somewhat predictable but the fun, chemistry and banter kept it very entertaining. The one thing that has me scratching my head are some unanswered questions about the bad guy in this whole thing.
Really fun read and looking forward to more Bella Jewel and the next book in the Alpha's Heart series!
**ARC kindly provided by St. Martins Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
For more reviews and blog posts.
May 10, 2016
3.5 stars
Grace has been fighting an uphill battle all her life, trying to make her mark as a Bounty Hunter. The only one who believed in her is her Dad, but it didn't stop her mom or sisters knocking her down every time she is near. She finally gets her shot to prove that she is just as capable as any man on her team, all she's gotta do is bring in the big bad Raide Knox. Unfortunately he's double her size, leaving her with her last resort...seduction. Hopefully she doesn't blow it, seduction isn't exactly in her arsenal.
Raide wants revenge, searching the streets looking for the one to lead him to his target. He has no time for is games and distraction, and Grace is all that and then some. It's a dangerous game they play but neither one of them is willing to back down.
All her life she's only ever had one dream, and now that dream has been compromised. And what sucks the most is that there is no way there could ever be a happily ever after...especially since shes the one sent to bring him in.
Hard to Fight is one that your either going to enjoy or roll your eyes at, and lucky for me it's one I enjoyed. Most of it was due to Raide, what can I say I love them big, bad and downright dirty. Grace is one I had a love/hate relationship with, while I loved her feistiness I needed her to stand up and be stronger; sometimes being strong is asking for help. They had an interesting an cat and mouse game, her seduction skills cracked me up and his romance attempts was super sweet and cute in a totally badassy kind of way. This is a standalone insta-attraction read, I would suggest you at least give it a go.
Copy kindly provided by St. Martin's Press, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
***Quotes above are taken from the ARC version of the book and may differ upon publication.
“There’s beauty in everything, lady. You just gotta be willing to see it.”
Grace has been fighting an uphill battle all her life, trying to make her mark as a Bounty Hunter. The only one who believed in her is her Dad, but it didn't stop her mom or sisters knocking her down every time she is near. She finally gets her shot to prove that she is just as capable as any man on her team, all she's gotta do is bring in the big bad Raide Knox. Unfortunately he's double her size, leaving her with her last resort...seduction. Hopefully she doesn't blow it, seduction isn't exactly in her arsenal.
Raide Knox likes them wild and badass, but more than that, he likes a challenge.
Raide wants revenge, searching the streets looking for the one to lead him to his target. He has no time for is games and distraction, and Grace is all that and then some. It's a dangerous game they play but neither one of them is willing to back down.
“We’ve been dancing around each other for nearly a month now. Showin’ up in the same places, flirting, kissing, making a scene. You might not be my woman, but you’re fuckin’ thinking about me as much as I’m thinking about you.”
All her life she's only ever had one dream, and now that dream has been compromised. And what sucks the most is that there is no way there could ever be a happily ever after...especially since shes the one sent to bring him in.
Hard to Fight is one that your either going to enjoy or roll your eyes at, and lucky for me it's one I enjoyed. Most of it was due to Raide, what can I say I love them big, bad and downright dirty. Grace is one I had a love/hate relationship with, while I loved her feistiness I needed her to stand up and be stronger; sometimes being strong is asking for help. They had an interesting an cat and mouse game, her seduction skills cracked me up and his romance attempts was super sweet and cute in a totally badassy kind of way. This is a standalone insta-attraction read, I would suggest you at least give it a go.
Copy kindly provided by St. Martin's Press, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
***Quotes above are taken from the ARC version of the book and may differ upon publication.
September 10, 2015
This is my kind of girl:
And that's why this is definitely my kind of book ;)
Grace is a bounty hunter and a total badass. She's not your girly girl type of woman, she can drop a guy on his ass in a few seconds and shot the gun better then a lot of men but at the same time she's still a woman and if that means crying her eyes out when her heart has been broken then so be it.
She followed on her father's footsteps and became a bounty hunter. Now all she want's to be taken more seriously by her boss and colleagues and finally get a big case...and that finally happens...
When Grace finds out that her "big" case is actually Raide, the most sexy guy she has ever seen and the person she just meet last night she knows that she has to up her game because there's no way she can bring that hunk of a man by using only force. So her new plan involves seducing him...but that sounds easier that it actually is :P
After chasing him for a while she finally catches him but the only place they end up is his bed.
The only problem now is that her heart is involved and Grace has to make a choice: bring Raide in to protect him from making a mistake or leave him to get his revenge. And will Raide be able to forgive her when he finds out the truth?
I have to admit I was a little annoyed by the instalove crap but I adored the characters, the story and Bella Jewel's writing style so much that I just ignored the rest and enjoyed this one :D
Can't wait for the next books in this series because they all have badass heroines and I'm crushing so hard :P But until then you can PRE-ORDER this one and make sure that on August 11 it's on your ebook ;)
*ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
And that's why this is definitely my kind of book ;)
Grace is a bounty hunter and a total badass. She's not your girly girl type of woman, she can drop a guy on his ass in a few seconds and shot the gun better then a lot of men but at the same time she's still a woman and if that means crying her eyes out when her heart has been broken then so be it.
She followed on her father's footsteps and became a bounty hunter. Now all she want's to be taken more seriously by her boss and colleagues and finally get a big case...and that finally happens...
When Grace finds out that her "big" case is actually Raide, the most sexy guy she has ever seen and the person she just meet last night she knows that she has to up her game because there's no way she can bring that hunk of a man by using only force. So her new plan involves seducing him...but that sounds easier that it actually is :P
After chasing him for a while she finally catches him but the only place they end up is his bed.
The only problem now is that her heart is involved and Grace has to make a choice: bring Raide in to protect him from making a mistake or leave him to get his revenge. And will Raide be able to forgive her when he finds out the truth?
I have to admit I was a little annoyed by the instalove crap but I adored the characters, the story and Bella Jewel's writing style so much that I just ignored the rest and enjoyed this one :D
Can't wait for the next books in this series because they all have badass heroines and I'm crushing so hard :P But until then you can PRE-ORDER this one and make sure that on August 11 it's on your ebook ;)
*ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
August 11, 2015
It's LIVE!
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00V...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hard-Fight-Be...
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hard-...
This book kicks ass!
Raide is a wanted man, on the run for murder. Grace is the bounty hunter assigned to his case. She's trying to prove to her co workers that she can handle more than the easy cases and can take down someone as tough as Raide. She may not have the strength that her co workers have, but she has something better. Her plan to seduce Raide into a trap is a good one, only until she's the one seduced.
Hard to Fight was a sweet, funny, crazy good story. I loved the characters and Raide was actually a lot sweeter than I was expecting. I loved the soft side we got to see from him, mixed with his tough personality. Grace was a great character also and I was a little jealous of her! She was so bad ass but not in completely unrealistic ways. Reading about her takedowns as a bounty hunter were both hilarious and intriguing and I would be totally fine with reading a book just about her career as a bounty hunter. I would still need some Raide loving eventually, though!
The story did start out a little slow and I kept rooting for Raide and Grace to finally get together but when it finally happened, oh boy was it good. Ladies, prepare yourself for the hotness that is Raide! Reading this just reminded me why I love Bella Jewel so much. Her books aren't just stories for readers to enjoy, they suck you in and make you a part of them.
ARC kindly provided by St. Martins Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00V...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hard-Fight-Be...
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hard-...
This book kicks ass!
Raide is a wanted man, on the run for murder. Grace is the bounty hunter assigned to his case. She's trying to prove to her co workers that she can handle more than the easy cases and can take down someone as tough as Raide. She may not have the strength that her co workers have, but she has something better. Her plan to seduce Raide into a trap is a good one, only until she's the one seduced.
Hard to Fight was a sweet, funny, crazy good story. I loved the characters and Raide was actually a lot sweeter than I was expecting. I loved the soft side we got to see from him, mixed with his tough personality. Grace was a great character also and I was a little jealous of her! She was so bad ass but not in completely unrealistic ways. Reading about her takedowns as a bounty hunter were both hilarious and intriguing and I would be totally fine with reading a book just about her career as a bounty hunter. I would still need some Raide loving eventually, though!
The story did start out a little slow and I kept rooting for Raide and Grace to finally get together but when it finally happened, oh boy was it good. Ladies, prepare yourself for the hotness that is Raide! Reading this just reminded me why I love Bella Jewel so much. Her books aren't just stories for readers to enjoy, they suck you in and make you a part of them.
ARC kindly provided by St. Martins Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2015
Grace is a woman living in a man’s world, she is a bounty hunter. Despite doing a successful job for years now no one takes her seriously. To them she is a beautiful, petite woman. She is good at her job, but cannot take on larger targets due to being a woman. Her opportunity to finally make a name for herself comes when she is tasked with taking down Raide Knox.
Raide is being charged with murdering his sister and assaulting her boyfriend. He will be her largest target yet both financially and physically. Knowing she has no hope of ever overpowering his massive size she decides to seduce him. In the process, she learns more about Knox and begins falling for him.
This story is seriously so freaking sweet and cute, but also suspenseful. I read this one in a matter of hours. I had my hopes for how things would playout, but I never imagined the anxiety I would feel while reading. I love a story that moves quickly and keeps me engaged, Hard to Fight did both.
This story is super sweet, suspenseful and sexy as hell. I definitely recommend!
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
Raide is being charged with murdering his sister and assaulting her boyfriend. He will be her largest target yet both financially and physically. Knowing she has no hope of ever overpowering his massive size she decides to seduce him. In the process, she learns more about Knox and begins falling for him.
This story is seriously so freaking sweet and cute, but also suspenseful. I read this one in a matter of hours. I had my hopes for how things would playout, but I never imagined the anxiety I would feel while reading. I love a story that moves quickly and keeps me engaged, Hard to Fight did both.
This story is super sweet, suspenseful and sexy as hell. I definitely recommend!
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2017
3.5 Nice!
I've seen Raide before, in a different novel by the same author and I was really curious about him. It didn't disappoint (don't take the 3.5-star review as a bad thing, I just have a weird rating system).
Why no more than 3.5? Well, it was pretty good but not that memorable. You know that fruit you ate a while back that you liked and would want to eat again, but you completely forgot its name? Well, this book is kind of the same, I'll definitely forget the name and the plot, but I'll remember I enjoyed it. That makes a story worth reading, IMHO.
It was cute and fun and exactly what I wanted from this author and from this book: a light, fun read with not an awful plot and maybe interesting characters.
I've seen Raide before, in a different novel by the same author and I was really curious about him. It didn't disappoint (don't take the 3.5-star review as a bad thing, I just have a weird rating system).
Why no more than 3.5? Well, it was pretty good but not that memorable. You know that fruit you ate a while back that you liked and would want to eat again, but you completely forgot its name? Well, this book is kind of the same, I'll definitely forget the name and the plot, but I'll remember I enjoyed it. That makes a story worth reading, IMHO.
It was cute and fun and exactly what I wanted from this author and from this book: a light, fun read with not an awful plot and maybe interesting characters.
August 1, 2015
༺**Complimentary Copy**༺ Provided by the author "Bella Jewel" in exchange for an honest review..Thank you!!
TITLE: Hard to Fight
SERIES: (Alpha's Heart #1)
AUTHOR: Bella Jewel
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
RELEASE DATE: August 11th, 2015
MY RATING: 4 SOLID STARS
A female Bounty Hunter, following in her daddies footsteps and a Fugitive on the run avenging his sisters death
A cat and mouse game of seduction
A slow moving, beautifully written unique story that had my eyes glued to my kindle until that very last word was read..A solid start in the very first series (Alpha's Heart #1)..
Love the start of this, she's been given the job of bringing in an old guy by the name of Cole, a few giggles because he can't believe she is a bounty hunter being a female and all, but thinks he's getting pranked and will be aired live on TV..He's clearly a few sandwiches short of a picnic..
My boss does this on purpose. He gives me the freaking crazy ones because I swear no one else wants them.
Out drinking her sorrows away concerning her job with her best friend Kady, they encounter a female in the alley crying her eyes out because her boyfriend broke up with her..Grace tries her hardest to console her..
You know, men like him are cruel, heartless players because they don’t know how to connect with another human being, except physically. It’s somewhat of a disorder. Perhaps he was dropped on his head as a young child, or perhaps his penis is severely undersized and he was forced to get a penis enhancement due to many sexual let downs…
He’s right behind me, isn’t he?
He’s a big man. Huge, in fact. Like Hercules. And hot. Superhot.This man has demons, all men with faces like his do.
Man he sounds hot, total alpha male attitude, caveman potty mouth on him that will melt even a nuns heart..Even is name sounds all man..
We got a rather large case in last night, we're talking thirty thousand to bring him in, he is standing trial for assault with a deadly weapon and he's also the main suspect for murder.
Raide Knox
Many times I've caught myself giggling like a school girl..Grace is a strong, tough female making her mark within a males world but her stake outs are hilarious..
I'm going to seduce him
You're in places I'm in, takin' the same cab, at my gun shop, at my coffee shop..You're fuckin' stalking me!
Fuck me, he says
I've picked a psycho
He thinks I'm stalking him, crazy and obsessed.
What the fuck did I do to deserve you? I grin.
You skipped bail.
He chuckles low and throaty.
I won’t be doing that again. If they’ve got crazy stalkers like you as bounty hunters.
TITLE: Hard to Fight
SERIES: (Alpha's Heart #1)
AUTHOR: Bella Jewel
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
RELEASE DATE: August 11th, 2015
MY RATING: 4 SOLID STARS
A female Bounty Hunter, following in her daddies footsteps and a Fugitive on the run avenging his sisters death
A cat and mouse game of seduction
A slow moving, beautifully written unique story that had my eyes glued to my kindle until that very last word was read..A solid start in the very first series (Alpha's Heart #1)..
Love the start of this, she's been given the job of bringing in an old guy by the name of Cole, a few giggles because he can't believe she is a bounty hunter being a female and all, but thinks he's getting pranked and will be aired live on TV..He's clearly a few sandwiches short of a picnic..
My boss does this on purpose. He gives me the freaking crazy ones because I swear no one else wants them.
Out drinking her sorrows away concerning her job with her best friend Kady, they encounter a female in the alley crying her eyes out because her boyfriend broke up with her..Grace tries her hardest to console her..
You know, men like him are cruel, heartless players because they don’t know how to connect with another human being, except physically. It’s somewhat of a disorder. Perhaps he was dropped on his head as a young child, or perhaps his penis is severely undersized and he was forced to get a penis enhancement due to many sexual let downs…
He’s right behind me, isn’t he?
He’s a big man. Huge, in fact. Like Hercules. And hot. Superhot.This man has demons, all men with faces like his do.
Man he sounds hot, total alpha male attitude, caveman potty mouth on him that will melt even a nuns heart..Even is name sounds all man..
We got a rather large case in last night, we're talking thirty thousand to bring him in, he is standing trial for assault with a deadly weapon and he's also the main suspect for murder.
Raide Knox
Many times I've caught myself giggling like a school girl..Grace is a strong, tough female making her mark within a males world but her stake outs are hilarious..
I'm going to seduce him
You're in places I'm in, takin' the same cab, at my gun shop, at my coffee shop..You're fuckin' stalking me!
Fuck me, he says
I've picked a psycho
He thinks I'm stalking him, crazy and obsessed.
What the fuck did I do to deserve you? I grin.
You skipped bail.
He chuckles low and throaty.
I won’t be doing that again. If they’ve got crazy stalkers like you as bounty hunters.
July 30, 2015
Beyond 5+ stars
Hard to Fight was PERFECTION! Raide and Grace left me in tears and laughter and made me want to be them...which is what an awesome book should do.
There were many things I really liked about this book. Mostly the characters, Raide and Grace. Great alone, incredible together! I wish I could tell you how much I appreciated the depth of emotion in this story-so unexpected. From the beginning to the end Hard to Fight captured my complete attention. It was fast paced and moved from one exciting scene to the next.
Grace is such a strong and very interesting character that you can't help but love. She’s a great heroine, definitely one of my favorites really. She’s tough and takes everything on full force. I admired her ability to give as good as she got in the face of Raide's domineering attitude. She‘s a bounty hunter, she’s feisty who can fight as well as outsmart her enemies. She’s dedicated, fearless and smart. Plus, hot as hell.
Her new assignment to capture Raide Knox is her chance to finally prove herself to her boss and colleagues.
Raide Knox is a fugitive on the run, and he has got to be one of my favorite heroes. He’s everything you wish for in a man. He’s sexy, domineering, possessive, bad-ass, hot-headed and yet he could be so friggin' sweet at the same time.
I felt the character's angst, anger, frustration and pain, and was sucked into his horrendous plight.
The central highlight of this book for me was the evolving relationship between Raide and Grace. The chemistry of these two is explosive. Raide is all-alpha-male-all-the-time and Grace constantly defies him. They are perfect for each other and they know it. The dynamics of their relationship change when they fall in love with each other. But what if Grace’s target really is innocent? Will Grace put her life on the line to find the truth? Will Raide give her a chance to prove her worth and love? When Raide’s trust is violated, the road to restored harmony presents some unexpected hazards. How much is Grace willing to risk her career and her life?
This book is absolutely compelling and will quickly sweep you into the story until you wrap up the climax and bring the whole narrative to a somewhat satisfying finale.
My favorite scene? Definitely the angry sex scene!!! It was raw, hot, passionate, animalistic, spicy and electrified!!
‘Did any of it mean a damned thing to you?’
‘Of course it did,’ I whisper, trembling. ‘It all meant something to me.’
‘Beautiful fuckin’ liar.’
Then he presses his lips to mine. His kiss isn’t gentle, it’s rough and it’s punishing, but I want it. I want it so badly it burns.
The book had a pulse and a strong heartbeat! It was just incredible. The author’s world-building was impeccable and her characters were brilliant. I love the emotional aspect of this book. It had a mixture of love, heroism, betrayal, anger, erotica, sadness and justice. Great read!!
ARC kindly provided by St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Hard to Fight was PERFECTION! Raide and Grace left me in tears and laughter and made me want to be them...which is what an awesome book should do.
There were many things I really liked about this book. Mostly the characters, Raide and Grace. Great alone, incredible together! I wish I could tell you how much I appreciated the depth of emotion in this story-so unexpected. From the beginning to the end Hard to Fight captured my complete attention. It was fast paced and moved from one exciting scene to the next.
Grace is such a strong and very interesting character that you can't help but love. She’s a great heroine, definitely one of my favorites really. She’s tough and takes everything on full force. I admired her ability to give as good as she got in the face of Raide's domineering attitude. She‘s a bounty hunter, she’s feisty who can fight as well as outsmart her enemies. She’s dedicated, fearless and smart. Plus, hot as hell.
Her new assignment to capture Raide Knox is her chance to finally prove herself to her boss and colleagues.
Raide Knox is a fugitive on the run, and he has got to be one of my favorite heroes. He’s everything you wish for in a man. He’s sexy, domineering, possessive, bad-ass, hot-headed and yet he could be so friggin' sweet at the same time.
I felt the character's angst, anger, frustration and pain, and was sucked into his horrendous plight.
The central highlight of this book for me was the evolving relationship between Raide and Grace. The chemistry of these two is explosive. Raide is all-alpha-male-all-the-time and Grace constantly defies him. They are perfect for each other and they know it. The dynamics of their relationship change when they fall in love with each other. But what if Grace’s target really is innocent? Will Grace put her life on the line to find the truth? Will Raide give her a chance to prove her worth and love? When Raide’s trust is violated, the road to restored harmony presents some unexpected hazards. How much is Grace willing to risk her career and her life?
This book is absolutely compelling and will quickly sweep you into the story until you wrap up the climax and bring the whole narrative to a somewhat satisfying finale.
My favorite scene? Definitely the angry sex scene!!! It was raw, hot, passionate, animalistic, spicy and electrified!!
‘Did any of it mean a damned thing to you?’
‘Of course it did,’ I whisper, trembling. ‘It all meant something to me.’
‘Beautiful fuckin’ liar.’
Then he presses his lips to mine. His kiss isn’t gentle, it’s rough and it’s punishing, but I want it. I want it so badly it burns.
The book had a pulse and a strong heartbeat! It was just incredible. The author’s world-building was impeccable and her characters were brilliant. I love the emotional aspect of this book. It had a mixture of love, heroism, betrayal, anger, erotica, sadness and justice. Great read!!
ARC kindly provided by St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
July 5, 2015
4.25 Sassy Girl Stars!
Hard to Fight is book on in Bella Jewel’s new Alpha’s Heart Series and she started out pretty strong.
I admit the read started out somewhat slow and I was wondering if I was going to truly get into the story or if I was even going to like the characters, then before I knew it I was hooked!
Grace is a female character that is hard not to like. She is female bounty hunter and while she is tough she is also written realistically in that her “hunts/cases” are pretty easy snags in a stereotypical macho setting. She is constantly working to prove herself whether in her field or in her family life. It always seems as if she is the circle in square peg world. It is time for her to prove to everyone that she is more when she lands a new case with a high profile dangerous criminal on the loose!
Of course that dangerous criminal is beyond sexy and of course Grace has already had the pleasure of “running into him” in a dark ally. That meeting hasn’t escaped the mind of Grace or of one mysteriously hot Raide Knox! Bringing in this man may be the hardest thing Grace has ever had to do and she may just end up losing everything along the way!
As previously stated, this read starts out a bit on the slower side. Grace works hard to get close to Raide only to come off as a complete crazy stalker. The best thing about this time was Raide’s hot mouthy demands and want of Grace that will melt the e-reader! This man says “baby” with a sense of authority that is executed perfectly!
Also, Grace’s bounty hunter persona is tough but she is also a bit quirky and therefore her attempts to bring him in were both disastrous and comedic.
I was hoping that something would happen to get out of the awkward back and forth and then BOOM, Raide has enough of the games! Nothing better than an Alpha taking over. When Grace decides to follow her heart and give in the story takes on a life of its own!
Finally, the heat was turned up, the emotions were on edge, and the read consumed me! From tender moments to mouth bruising kisses, Raide and Grace were on fire. In such a small amount of time, everything changes and Bella Jewel brings lust, passion, romance, danger, angst, heartbreak, and redemption.
I am looking forward to the rest of this series from Bella Jewell as she delivered a well written tale with great characters and a perfect blend of heat and sweet!
Hard to Fight is book on in Bella Jewel’s new Alpha’s Heart Series and she started out pretty strong.
I admit the read started out somewhat slow and I was wondering if I was going to truly get into the story or if I was even going to like the characters, then before I knew it I was hooked!
Grace is a female character that is hard not to like. She is female bounty hunter and while she is tough she is also written realistically in that her “hunts/cases” are pretty easy snags in a stereotypical macho setting. She is constantly working to prove herself whether in her field or in her family life. It always seems as if she is the circle in square peg world. It is time for her to prove to everyone that she is more when she lands a new case with a high profile dangerous criminal on the loose!
Of course that dangerous criminal is beyond sexy and of course Grace has already had the pleasure of “running into him” in a dark ally. That meeting hasn’t escaped the mind of Grace or of one mysteriously hot Raide Knox! Bringing in this man may be the hardest thing Grace has ever had to do and she may just end up losing everything along the way!
As previously stated, this read starts out a bit on the slower side. Grace works hard to get close to Raide only to come off as a complete crazy stalker. The best thing about this time was Raide’s hot mouthy demands and want of Grace that will melt the e-reader! This man says “baby” with a sense of authority that is executed perfectly!
Also, Grace’s bounty hunter persona is tough but she is also a bit quirky and therefore her attempts to bring him in were both disastrous and comedic.
I was hoping that something would happen to get out of the awkward back and forth and then BOOM, Raide has enough of the games! Nothing better than an Alpha taking over. When Grace decides to follow her heart and give in the story takes on a life of its own!
Finally, the heat was turned up, the emotions were on edge, and the read consumed me! From tender moments to mouth bruising kisses, Raide and Grace were on fire. In such a small amount of time, everything changes and Bella Jewel brings lust, passion, romance, danger, angst, heartbreak, and redemption.
I am looking forward to the rest of this series from Bella Jewell as she delivered a well written tale with great characters and a perfect blend of heat and sweet!
July 8, 2015
I had such a good time reading this book. Very unique and with a fresh plot-line which i loved, a badass heroine with an adorable set of mannerisms, an awesome father and a dark, sexy and sensitive hero. I need nothing more!
Grace is a bounty hunter. It's not easy for her to find her place and prove herself in such a voracious professional environment, but she manages. She has some great allies on her side, but also many people who try to diminish her value.
When her first big case comes to her she will do anything to catch the fugitive who was assigned to her. Even if it is Raide Knox, the sexy stranger she met at a club, with the enigmatic, animalistic persona.
Raide carries a bunch of secrets, and he tries to set in motion a dangerous plan in order to avenge his sister's death. When he gets involved with Grace everything will change.
I really devoured this one and i can't wait for the next one in the series! I guess Bella Jewel works very well for me, her books are always a solid choice and i enjoy them immensely!
THOUGHTS ABOUT THE BOOK
- Not perfect, but it has a certain quality.
- It's funny, easy, light and with a few suspenseful scenes.
- I loved her father! He rocks.
- I din't like the rest of her family though.
- I loved the sex scene in the cabin, i would only like it to be a little more extensive, because it's so hot and passionate.
- I don't care particularly about the deterministic way everything gets solved. I really enjoy it sometimes when the HEA comes easily. Plotholes and all.
- Vance is a good friend.
ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. Thank you!
Grace is a bounty hunter. It's not easy for her to find her place and prove herself in such a voracious professional environment, but she manages. She has some great allies on her side, but also many people who try to diminish her value.
When her first big case comes to her she will do anything to catch the fugitive who was assigned to her. Even if it is Raide Knox, the sexy stranger she met at a club, with the enigmatic, animalistic persona.
Raide carries a bunch of secrets, and he tries to set in motion a dangerous plan in order to avenge his sister's death. When he gets involved with Grace everything will change.
I really devoured this one and i can't wait for the next one in the series! I guess Bella Jewel works very well for me, her books are always a solid choice and i enjoy them immensely!
THOUGHTS ABOUT THE BOOK
- Not perfect, but it has a certain quality.
- It's funny, easy, light and with a few suspenseful scenes.
- I loved her father! He rocks.
- I din't like the rest of her family though.
- I loved the sex scene in the cabin, i would only like it to be a little more extensive, because it's so hot and passionate.
- I don't care particularly about the deterministic way everything gets solved. I really enjoy it sometimes when the HEA comes easily. Plotholes and all.
- Vance is a good friend.
ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. Thank you!
August 21, 2015
I would do anything 2 get a lil of Raide
Grace doesn't do a normal girlie job she is a really strong girl an as worked so hard 2 get where she is as a bounty hunter an she wants everyone in her job 2 respect her she doesn't want the small jobs anymore she wants something big so when a case comes up that's goin 2 change everything she jumps on only when she sees who it is she is shocked she knows this man it's the sexy guy she meet the nite b4 the guy who she can't get out of her head an know she is the 1 who is goin 2 have 2 bring him an it's goin 2 b 1 hard job 2 bring in the very sexy Raide Knox
Raide is very dark an very sexy he knows what he wants an when he wants it he gets it an Grace as something he wants they start playin these lil games an the sexual tension between them gets hotter an hotter once they both break the tension things start getting steamy an they can't hold anything back any longer they both want each other so bad Grace now's this is wrong but she can't help what she want even if she can lose everything
I luv these 2 characters so much they r great 2gether Raide needs someone who is strong an will take no shit an Grace is that girl she isn't like her other sister she wanted 2 b more like her dad who she totally adores Raide as his own shit goin on an doesn't really need any girl getting in his way he as a plan an needs 2 stick 2 it but whatever pull Grace as its strong so he goes with it
I have 2 say I 've read nearly al of Bella Jewels book an they keep getting better with everything 1 the story r great I can never put them down an this was 1 that I couldn't put down with every page it just got better there was a few moments in this book that gave me a lil lump in my throat but I luv it when I get so into the story I just felt so sorry 4 both characters I recommend this book I enjoyed it loads an can't wait 4 more alpha men u got 2 luv a strong alpha ;) xxx
Grace doesn't do a normal girlie job she is a really strong girl an as worked so hard 2 get where she is as a bounty hunter an she wants everyone in her job 2 respect her she doesn't want the small jobs anymore she wants something big so when a case comes up that's goin 2 change everything she jumps on only when she sees who it is she is shocked she knows this man it's the sexy guy she meet the nite b4 the guy who she can't get out of her head an know she is the 1 who is goin 2 have 2 bring him an it's goin 2 b 1 hard job 2 bring in the very sexy Raide Knox
Raide is very dark an very sexy he knows what he wants an when he wants it he gets it an Grace as something he wants they start playin these lil games an the sexual tension between them gets hotter an hotter once they both break the tension things start getting steamy an they can't hold anything back any longer they both want each other so bad Grace now's this is wrong but she can't help what she want even if she can lose everything
I luv these 2 characters so much they r great 2gether Raide needs someone who is strong an will take no shit an Grace is that girl she isn't like her other sister she wanted 2 b more like her dad who she totally adores Raide as his own shit goin on an doesn't really need any girl getting in his way he as a plan an needs 2 stick 2 it but whatever pull Grace as its strong so he goes with it
I have 2 say I 've read nearly al of Bella Jewels book an they keep getting better with everything 1 the story r great I can never put them down an this was 1 that I couldn't put down with every page it just got better there was a few moments in this book that gave me a lil lump in my throat but I luv it when I get so into the story I just felt so sorry 4 both characters I recommend this book I enjoyed it loads an can't wait 4 more alpha men u got 2 luv a strong alpha ;) xxx
dnf
July 19, 2015**DNF @ 57%**
First of all let me say that i absolutely hate not finishing books, but i soon came to realize that it might be better not finishing a book that doesn't really do it for you than pressuring yourself to just get it over with...
The premise sounded appealing and promising and i was really excited about this one. Gracie, a female bounty hunter, hunting down Raide, a hot and sexy criminal. What's not to like about that???
There were a lot of things that didn't work for me with this book.
First of all i couldn't see the connection that the MCs were supposedly sharing. In fact there was nothing there, no connection, no chemistry, no nothing in my opinion.
Second there were some contradictions with the heroine that annoyed the hell out of me. She desperately wanted to prove herself as a bounty hunter and take on a big case. She was mad with her boss and colleagues because they didn't believe enough in her but when she finally got her big case she immediately starts to doubt if she can pull it off but still gets mad when others are doubting her. So, it's okay for her to doubt herself but it's not okay when everybody else does???
Yeah, i don't get it...
Last but not least her genius plan to catch Raide by seducing him... Gracie, the bad-ass, sassy, female bounty hunter decides that the best plan she can come up with to catch a criminal is by fucking him!?! Yeah, no... If you think you can't do something then man the hell up and admit you can't do it!
Anyway, to wrap things up this book did not work for me but, i don't know, maybe i'm just paying too much attention to detail or have way high expectations from a book...
First of all let me say that i absolutely hate not finishing books, but i soon came to realize that it might be better not finishing a book that doesn't really do it for you than pressuring yourself to just get it over with...
The premise sounded appealing and promising and i was really excited about this one. Gracie, a female bounty hunter, hunting down Raide, a hot and sexy criminal. What's not to like about that???
There were a lot of things that didn't work for me with this book.
First of all i couldn't see the connection that the MCs were supposedly sharing. In fact there was nothing there, no connection, no chemistry, no nothing in my opinion.
Second there were some contradictions with the heroine that annoyed the hell out of me. She desperately wanted to prove herself as a bounty hunter and take on a big case. She was mad with her boss and colleagues because they didn't believe enough in her but when she finally got her big case she immediately starts to doubt if she can pull it off but still gets mad when others are doubting her. So, it's okay for her to doubt herself but it's not okay when everybody else does???
Yeah, i don't get it...
Last but not least her genius plan to catch Raide by seducing him... Gracie, the bad-ass, sassy, female bounty hunter decides that the best plan she can come up with to catch a criminal is by fucking him!?! Yeah, no... If you think you can't do something then man the hell up and admit you can't do it!
Anyway, to wrap things up this book did not work for me but, i don't know, maybe i'm just paying too much attention to detail or have way high expectations from a book...
October 26, 2015
Well, let's begin...
Grace - The Bounty Hunter
Raide - The sexy criminal
Long story short: She needs to find him and take him to the police and do wathever the bounty hunter got to do!
BUT.. when they meet they 'clicked' instantly. There is chemistry, lust and anger!
She thinks the only way to catch him is to.. seduce him!
He wanted her from the first day they met.. he was sexy, arrogant and relentless!
They give in to the pleasure.. unable to hold their feelings any more!
Then there is 'mental slapping' after that because they did the one thing they weren't supposed to..
It turns around that they both got 'jobs' to do and hearts get broken..
*When he talked about his sister and what happened to her.. I cry a little I admit!*
Overall:
I didn't connected with the characters! I didn't felt their love, which was REALLY kind of insta-love! Their banters weren't funny for me..
The heroine was supposed to be badass and sassy but I didn't see any of that, unfortunately! Yes she kicked some butts here and there but beside that she was a little weak heroine for me. She was wayyyyy too close with her friend, Vance ()! I only liked her Dad from her family relatives!
At first I thought I would love the hero, but no suck luck! I liked him but that's it! He was one cocky and stubborn man! Yes, he has his really sweet and romantic moments but other than that I didn't see anything special about him!
The plot was different from the others but it just wasn't my book, I suppose! Maybe it the case.. It-is-not-you-it-is-ME!
Grace - The Bounty Hunter
Raide - The
Long story short: She needs to find him and take him to the police and do wathever the bounty hunter got to do!
BUT.. when they meet they 'clicked' instantly. There is chemistry, lust and anger!
She thinks the only way to catch him is to.. seduce him!
He wanted her from the first day they met.. he was sexy, arrogant and relentless!
They give in to the pleasure.. unable to hold their feelings any more!
Then there is 'mental slapping' after that because they did the one thing they weren't supposed to..
It turns around that they both got 'jobs' to do and hearts get broken..
*When he talked about his sister and what happened to her.. I cry a little I admit!*
Overall:
I didn't connected with the characters! I didn't felt their love, which was REALLY kind of insta-love! Their banters weren't funny for me..
The heroine was supposed to be badass and sassy but I didn't see any of that, unfortunately! Yes she kicked some butts here and there but beside that she was a little weak heroine for me. She was wayyyyy too close with her friend, Vance ()! I only liked her Dad from her family relatives!
At first I thought I would love the hero, but no suck luck! I liked him but that's it! He was one cocky and stubborn man! Yes, he has his really sweet and romantic moments but other than that I didn't see anything special about him!
The plot was different from the others but it just wasn't my book, I suppose! Maybe it the case.. It-is-not-you-it-is-ME!
February 11, 2019
2.5 Stars
I have a rule not to rate books that I DNF before I hit the 50% mark, which doesn’t make much sense if you think about it, because the faster you give up, the worse the book is. But rules are made to be broken, hence 2.5 stars for this one.
This author is usually hit or miss for me (though more often hit than miss) and this was a total miss. OK, maybe not total, but a miss nonetheless.
I didn’t expect a deep, life-altering stuff. I would have picked up Coelho instead. I just wanted to relax my brain and just read without thinking too much after a long, hard day.
But when you start postponing your reading because that metre-high pile of ironing suddenly looks attractive, I think it’s time to call it a day.
Only a few authors can create a hot alpha with just the right dose of a**holery. And Raide didn’t disappoint (or at least not for the first 30% of the book). You know the type, six foot of solid, thick muscle and a face of a dark devil.
However, the heroine... The heroine is exactly the type that usually makes me DNF a book: a borderline annoying klutz (again at least for the first 30% of the book).
But the real reason why I didn’t push myself past 30% mark like I usually do is a series of unbelievable events in the story of which I won't go into detail. Well maybe I'll just mention the fact that this smart wannabe badass, who desperately wants to prove herself in the man’s world, suddenly remembers to acquaint herself with the case and the hero's criminal files after having worked on the said case for days.
Oh and let's not forget the highlight of the book: a Twenty questions game between this kick ass heroine and a dangerous fugitive. Let’s just say it felt like high school all over again.
I have a rule not to rate books that I DNF before I hit the 50% mark, which doesn’t make much sense if you think about it, because the faster you give up, the worse the book is. But rules are made to be broken, hence 2.5 stars for this one.
This author is usually hit or miss for me (though more often hit than miss) and this was a total miss. OK, maybe not total, but a miss nonetheless.
I didn’t expect a deep, life-altering stuff. I would have picked up Coelho instead. I just wanted to relax my brain and just read without thinking too much after a long, hard day.
But when you start postponing your reading because that metre-high pile of ironing suddenly looks attractive, I think it’s time to call it a day.
Only a few authors can create a hot alpha with just the right dose of a**holery. And Raide didn’t disappoint (or at least not for the first 30% of the book). You know the type, six foot of solid, thick muscle and a face of a dark devil.
However, the heroine... The heroine is exactly the type that usually makes me DNF a book: a borderline annoying klutz (again at least for the first 30% of the book).
But the real reason why I didn’t push myself past 30% mark like I usually do is a series of unbelievable events in the story of which I won't go into detail. Well maybe I'll just mention the fact that this smart wannabe badass, who desperately wants to prove herself in the man’s world, suddenly remembers to acquaint herself with the case and the hero's criminal files after having worked on the said case for days.
Oh and let's not forget the highlight of the book: a Twenty questions game between this kick ass heroine and a dangerous fugitive. Let’s just say it felt like high school all over again.
October 5, 2015
Bella Jewel has outdone herself with this magnificent gem of a read! Loved the crap out of it!
August 19, 2015
I will not deny that I love Bella Jewel HARD and her writing wins me over every single time. This one is no different I LOVED Gracie and Raide. I did not want this one to end. I wanted alot more of the two of them. I hope with this series that Bella gives us our these two characters in the next book also. They have to be connected somehow right? So we can get a little more of Gracie and Raide.
Grace is a bounty hunter. YES the main character is a female and she ROCKS!!! Grace gets a case a BIG one, and she is bound and determined to prove that she can handle it. Little does she know her Big case is going to bring out her emotions at every single turn.
Raide has skipped bail. He is evading the police because he is on the hunt for someone. Someone that he feels needs to pay for what he did. Raide will stop at nothing to get his revenge. That is until Grace walks into his life.
“Seduce Raide Knox, prove team wrong, and get chance to expand my career. It all sounds simple, but I have no doubt whatsoever that it won’t be.”
I love how Bella changed things up with this series. She brings us a STRONG female character and yet we still get her alpha man in Raide too. The mix of these two characters was awesome. They were great together.
“There’s beauty in everything, lady. You just gotta be willing to see it.”
Bella gave us a hot set of characters and some steaming hot scenes for sure. We also get lots of action and angst.
I can not wait for the next one in this series Hard To Break!!!!!
Grace is a bounty hunter. YES the main character is a female and she ROCKS!!! Grace gets a case a BIG one, and she is bound and determined to prove that she can handle it. Little does she know her Big case is going to bring out her emotions at every single turn.
Raide has skipped bail. He is evading the police because he is on the hunt for someone. Someone that he feels needs to pay for what he did. Raide will stop at nothing to get his revenge. That is until Grace walks into his life.
“Seduce Raide Knox, prove team wrong, and get chance to expand my career. It all sounds simple, but I have no doubt whatsoever that it won’t be.”
I love how Bella changed things up with this series. She brings us a STRONG female character and yet we still get her alpha man in Raide too. The mix of these two characters was awesome. They were great together.
“There’s beauty in everything, lady. You just gotta be willing to see it.”
Bella gave us a hot set of characters and some steaming hot scenes for sure. We also get lots of action and angst.
I can not wait for the next one in this series Hard To Break!!!!!
August 3, 2015
Review: Surj
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I absolutely adored Bella Jewel's "Hard to Fight." It really did come just at the right time. Some people crave chocolate. But me? I was craving a book that had a rugged, red blooded, hot as hell alpha that swept me off my feet and hallelujah because this author gave me just what I needed. Grace and Raide's story was just brilliant and had all the magical ingredients I love in a good book. It was light hearted and funny, it was swoon worthy and sexy and it had a healthy dose action and drama to keep me on the edge of my seat. But on the flip side, there was also an undercurrent of angst and heart break which came in to play during the second half of the book that definitely kept me on my toes. This really was an emotional rollercoaster ride of a story with soaring highs and plummeting lows and I loved every single bit of it.
The synopsis kinda sums up what "Hard to Fight" was about but I think what really made this book stand out for me were the characters. Grace was one bad ass bounty hunter who was desperate to prove just how good she was at her job in a male dominated industry. People just didn't take her seriously. Her colleagues were waiting for her to fail and half her family thought she'd grow out of her desire to take down baddies and become a real woman... gggrrr. Boy did Grace's mother and sisters make me mad. I wanted to smack them upside the head and make them look at how strong and beautiful Grace really was. I loved her character. In fact I think it would be difficult not to. Grace was a fighter with a strength and determination that was second to none. And on top of that, she was kinda feisty and kick ass with a smart mouth that had me in stitches. Her quick retorts were hilarious. And Raide... boy oh boy was he just the complete package. He was rugged and grizzly and 100% all man. His alpha ways definitely made me go weak at the knees but it was his vulnerability and sensitive side that really made me stand up and take notice. He was a walking, talking contradiction but of the best sort.
Grace and Raide's relationship was a slow builder but then it would be, with the situation each of the characters found themselves in but this made "Hard to Fight" all the more an entertaining read. I loved the game of cat and mouse this couple played. It was sexy as hell and despite it being so wrong and forbidden, it was so damn right. Raide and Grace shared some beautiful, tender moments that I really wasn't expecting but then they also shared some smoking hot scenes that were just ... wow. I love a man that likes to take charge in the bedroom, that knows how to please a woman in the best possible ways and Raide was definitely that man... Grace was one lucky, lucky lady. What that man couldn't do in the bedroom wasn't worth knowing... lol !!! But this connection couldn't last... no way in hell and I couldn't wait for the showdown.
So all in all, "Hard to Fight" was a fab introduction to what looks to be a great series with lead men to die for and hopefully, some more sassy heroines. If you love a book that's fast paced, with a fab and unique story line and with characters you will absolutely love, honestly, pick this one up. You won't be disappointed.
I rated "Hard to Fight" ❤️❤️❤️❤️
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I absolutely adored Bella Jewel's "Hard to Fight." It really did come just at the right time. Some people crave chocolate. But me? I was craving a book that had a rugged, red blooded, hot as hell alpha that swept me off my feet and hallelujah because this author gave me just what I needed. Grace and Raide's story was just brilliant and had all the magical ingredients I love in a good book. It was light hearted and funny, it was swoon worthy and sexy and it had a healthy dose action and drama to keep me on the edge of my seat. But on the flip side, there was also an undercurrent of angst and heart break which came in to play during the second half of the book that definitely kept me on my toes. This really was an emotional rollercoaster ride of a story with soaring highs and plummeting lows and I loved every single bit of it.
He's thinking about me. My heart melts. Bad heart.
The synopsis kinda sums up what "Hard to Fight" was about but I think what really made this book stand out for me were the characters. Grace was one bad ass bounty hunter who was desperate to prove just how good she was at her job in a male dominated industry. People just didn't take her seriously. Her colleagues were waiting for her to fail and half her family thought she'd grow out of her desire to take down baddies and become a real woman... gggrrr. Boy did Grace's mother and sisters make me mad. I wanted to smack them upside the head and make them look at how strong and beautiful Grace really was. I loved her character. In fact I think it would be difficult not to. Grace was a fighter with a strength and determination that was second to none. And on top of that, she was kinda feisty and kick ass with a smart mouth that had me in stitches. Her quick retorts were hilarious. And Raide... boy oh boy was he just the complete package. He was rugged and grizzly and 100% all man. His alpha ways definitely made me go weak at the knees but it was his vulnerability and sensitive side that really made me stand up and take notice. He was a walking, talking contradiction but of the best sort.
"I like games. But there's only so long I play them before I take what I need."
"And what is it you need?" I ask, turning so our lips are millimetres apart.
"Lady," he growls low. "Not even you're that stupid."
Grace and Raide's relationship was a slow builder but then it would be, with the situation each of the characters found themselves in but this made "Hard to Fight" all the more an entertaining read. I loved the game of cat and mouse this couple played. It was sexy as hell and despite it being so wrong and forbidden, it was so damn right. Raide and Grace shared some beautiful, tender moments that I really wasn't expecting but then they also shared some smoking hot scenes that were just ... wow. I love a man that likes to take charge in the bedroom, that knows how to please a woman in the best possible ways and Raide was definitely that man... Grace was one lucky, lucky lady. What that man couldn't do in the bedroom wasn't worth knowing... lol !!! But this connection couldn't last... no way in hell and I couldn't wait for the showdown.
"You fuckin' lied to me. You betrayed me. You made me fuckin' care!"The secondary characters equally played their parts in making this an enjoying, captivating read and I'm really hoping some of them get their own books. Benny maybe and definitely Kady... I could see her getting into all sorts of mischief.
So all in all, "Hard to Fight" was a fab introduction to what looks to be a great series with lead men to die for and hopefully, some more sassy heroines. If you love a book that's fast paced, with a fab and unique story line and with characters you will absolutely love, honestly, pick this one up. You won't be disappointed.
I rated "Hard to Fight" ❤️❤️❤️❤️
"What the fuck did I do to deserve you?" I grin.
"You skipped bail. "
He chuckles low and throaty.
"I won’t be doing that again, if they’ve got crazy stalkers like you as bounty hunters."
June 16, 2017
**** 4.5 Kick Ass Girl Stars ****
Hard to Fight is definitely not a boring book. This has romance, action, and hot sex!
I loved Grace. She's a tough girl rolling with the boys. As a female bounty hunter, she gets assigned a lot of small jobs. All she wants is a chance to show people that she can handle larger assignments.
Her boss hears her pleas and gives her an opportunity. She needs to find Raide and bring him in.
Raide is suspected of killing his sister. He skips bail to find the real killer. Grace knows she's at a physical disadvantage, so she initially plans on seducing him.
"Do you dirty dance with all your cases?"
"Maybe."
The chemistry between the characters is hot. There were also cute and awkwardly funny moments. I'm definitely going to read the other books in the series.
Hard to Fight is definitely not a boring book. This has romance, action, and hot sex!
I loved Grace. She's a tough girl rolling with the boys. As a female bounty hunter, she gets assigned a lot of small jobs. All she wants is a chance to show people that she can handle larger assignments.
Her boss hears her pleas and gives her an opportunity. She needs to find Raide and bring him in.
Raide is suspected of killing his sister. He skips bail to find the real killer. Grace knows she's at a physical disadvantage, so she initially plans on seducing him.
"Do you dirty dance with all your cases?"
"Maybe."
The chemistry between the characters is hot. There were also cute and awkwardly funny moments. I'm definitely going to read the other books in the series.
August 21, 2015
ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review
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Hot alpha male...check!!! Steamy scenes....check!!! An enjoyable story that is filled with humor, a bit of suspense, and romance.. yes to all!!! Hard to Fight by Bella Jewel is the first book in her new series Alpha's Heart.
In this book, Grace is a female bounty hunter who is trying to prove to her co-workers and boss that she can bring in a dangerous criminal. So, she is given the opportunity of lifetime to capture Raide Knox. Well this bounty hunt might not be an easy task for Grace since she finds herself developing deep feelings for Raide. So can Grace turn in Raide when she discovers the truth of why he skipped bail? Is Raide Knox really the dangerous criminal that everyone says he is?
As a fan of Bella Jewel and her books, she never fails to write about her hot alpha males and in Hard to Fight, Raide Knox is total alpha male but what I found discouraging in the book was the heroine, Grace. Grace was supposed to be this tough smart bad ass bounty hunter but I found her to be the opposite. Yes, she acts so tough but when it comes to her sisters and the first half of the book where she is trying to seduce Raide, I may have found her to be the complete opposite. I just couldn't connect with Grace as much as I would have liked especially when it came to doing her job but as far as her personal connection with Raide, I thoroughly enjoyed her trying to heal the broken pieces of Raide's heart. Though I may have not fully liked Grace's character, I enjoyed seeing glimpse of the shattered pieces of Raide's heart being mended with Grace's help and love. Overall, this book was an enjoyable book that is filled with a bit of humor, steam, romance, and an alpha male with a heart of gold!!!!
Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...Bella Jewel
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Hot alpha male...check!!! Steamy scenes....check!!! An enjoyable story that is filled with humor, a bit of suspense, and romance.. yes to all!!! Hard to Fight by Bella Jewel is the first book in her new series Alpha's Heart.
In this book, Grace is a female bounty hunter who is trying to prove to her co-workers and boss that she can bring in a dangerous criminal. So, she is given the opportunity of lifetime to capture Raide Knox. Well this bounty hunt might not be an easy task for Grace since she finds herself developing deep feelings for Raide. So can Grace turn in Raide when she discovers the truth of why he skipped bail? Is Raide Knox really the dangerous criminal that everyone says he is?
As a fan of Bella Jewel and her books, she never fails to write about her hot alpha males and in Hard to Fight, Raide Knox is total alpha male but what I found discouraging in the book was the heroine, Grace. Grace was supposed to be this tough smart bad ass bounty hunter but I found her to be the opposite. Yes, she acts so tough but when it comes to her sisters and the first half of the book where she is trying to seduce Raide, I may have found her to be the complete opposite. I just couldn't connect with Grace as much as I would have liked especially when it came to doing her job but as far as her personal connection with Raide, I thoroughly enjoyed her trying to heal the broken pieces of Raide's heart. Though I may have not fully liked Grace's character, I enjoyed seeing glimpse of the shattered pieces of Raide's heart being mended with Grace's help and love. Overall, this book was an enjoyable book that is filled with a bit of humor, steam, romance, and an alpha male with a heart of gold!!!!
Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...Bella Jewel
September 1, 2016
This was so much fun!!!!
August 11, 2015
“Seduce Raide Knox, prove team wrong, and get chance to expand my career. It all sounds simple, but I have no doubt whatsoever that it won’t be.”
Let’s be honest here and say that not only am I a Bella Jewel newbie but I decided not to read the blurb and go in blind to this book so I had convinced myself that this was a fighter book, a genre I love dearly. I quickly realize that I was completely wrong and while at first I expected to be disappointed I was so immediately sucked into Raide and Grace’s story that I had no time to dwell on my misconceptions.
“Raide Knox doesn’t like women who flaunt themselves in front of him. No, Raide Knox like them wild and badass, but more than that, he likes a challenge.”
Unlike her two beauty queen sisters, Grace takes after her bad ass of a dad and has been working for the past five years to get the males of her field to take her and her skills as a bounty hunter seriously. Finally given her first big chance she must bring in fugitive Raide Knox. Raide is wanted for on some serious and dangerous charges. A connection and sparks fly upon their first meeting and when Grace decides to use their attraction as a way to bring him in she finds she is placing herself in a questionable position that she is not sure she can maneuver out of . . . or if she wants to.
“God. His smile. It’s huge. And wolfish. And sexy as hell.”
Hard To Fight was DYNAMIC! I loved Grace and how she had a tough job and was wild, strong and kinda tom-boyish and yet never did she feel manly to me (a problem I have encountered in other books with similar heroines.) Being who she is not always easy and has alienated her from her mom and sisters and yet she always stays true to herself. Not only is this admirable it is a joy to read. Raide, for his part, was dark, myserious and dangerous but more than all that he was charming and fun and caring when needed. I fell hard for this “Bad Boy” and knew the moment I met him there must be more to his story.
“How the hell am I going to survive when I lose him? And it’s not a matter of “if” in this situation, it’s a matter of “when.”
I am kicking myself currently for taking this long to read a Bella Jewel book and I can promise you that there will be many more in my future. Hard To Fight was an intense roller coaster full of heat, action, forbidden romance and progressive characters. If you love alpha men but want a twist on the typical story than this one is probably perfect for you.
~miranda
Let’s be honest here and say that not only am I a Bella Jewel newbie but I decided not to read the blurb and go in blind to this book so I had convinced myself that this was a fighter book, a genre I love dearly. I quickly realize that I was completely wrong and while at first I expected to be disappointed I was so immediately sucked into Raide and Grace’s story that I had no time to dwell on my misconceptions.
“Raide Knox doesn’t like women who flaunt themselves in front of him. No, Raide Knox like them wild and badass, but more than that, he likes a challenge.”
Unlike her two beauty queen sisters, Grace takes after her bad ass of a dad and has been working for the past five years to get the males of her field to take her and her skills as a bounty hunter seriously. Finally given her first big chance she must bring in fugitive Raide Knox. Raide is wanted for on some serious and dangerous charges. A connection and sparks fly upon their first meeting and when Grace decides to use their attraction as a way to bring him in she finds she is placing herself in a questionable position that she is not sure she can maneuver out of . . . or if she wants to.
“God. His smile. It’s huge. And wolfish. And sexy as hell.”
Hard To Fight was DYNAMIC! I loved Grace and how she had a tough job and was wild, strong and kinda tom-boyish and yet never did she feel manly to me (a problem I have encountered in other books with similar heroines.) Being who she is not always easy and has alienated her from her mom and sisters and yet she always stays true to herself. Not only is this admirable it is a joy to read. Raide, for his part, was dark, myserious and dangerous but more than all that he was charming and fun and caring when needed. I fell hard for this “Bad Boy” and knew the moment I met him there must be more to his story.
“How the hell am I going to survive when I lose him? And it’s not a matter of “if” in this situation, it’s a matter of “when.”
I am kicking myself currently for taking this long to read a Bella Jewel book and I can promise you that there will be many more in my future. Hard To Fight was an intense roller coaster full of heat, action, forbidden romance and progressive characters. If you love alpha men but want a twist on the typical story than this one is probably perfect for you.
~miranda
August 9, 2015
Hard to Fight by Bella Jewel was, in a word, SPECTACULAR! I loved Raide Knox and his brutish personality, and Grace’s badass, bounty hunter ways. Grace unknowingly runs into Raide before she’s assigned to bring him in and the rest is history, as we say.
I love the fast-paced, hard hitting, sexy page turner that is Hard to Fight. Sometimes what appears to be very simple on the surface is really very complex, such as Raide. He may be a hot, hunky, brutish man, but underneath that exterior he is full of feelings and regret. Will Grace fall in love? Will they save each other? Get Hard to Fight now and find out! ~ Heather, 5 stars
~~~
This book blew me away! There was excitement, love, angst, action and it was all written so beautifully. Not once did I roll my eyes at a cheesy saying or cringe at the story line. I loved it all!
I was completely surprised by Hard to Fight. When I received this ARC, I was honestly worried about what I might think. I had read the last two books by this author and wasn't able to give them as many stars as I'd like but this one...this one deserved so much more!
It didn't receive 5 stars only because the ending felt very rushed; I fell in love with these characters and in no way was I wanted the ending to just... end. I wanted to live in their perfect fairy tale for just a little bit longer. ~ Kelly, 4 stars
I love the fast-paced, hard hitting, sexy page turner that is Hard to Fight. Sometimes what appears to be very simple on the surface is really very complex, such as Raide. He may be a hot, hunky, brutish man, but underneath that exterior he is full of feelings and regret. Will Grace fall in love? Will they save each other? Get Hard to Fight now and find out! ~ Heather, 5 stars
~~~
This book blew me away! There was excitement, love, angst, action and it was all written so beautifully. Not once did I roll my eyes at a cheesy saying or cringe at the story line. I loved it all!
I was completely surprised by Hard to Fight. When I received this ARC, I was honestly worried about what I might think. I had read the last two books by this author and wasn't able to give them as many stars as I'd like but this one...this one deserved so much more!
It didn't receive 5 stars only because the ending felt very rushed; I fell in love with these characters and in no way was I wanted the ending to just... end. I wanted to live in their perfect fairy tale for just a little bit longer. ~ Kelly, 4 stars
December 8, 2018
This was almost an excellent read.....
The h is a bounty Hunter ( if you're thinking she's a badass,she is at times but she also sheds a lot of tears and acts like a teen quite a bit)and she's set to track Raide and bring him in. He skipped after being arrested for murdering his sister. She meets him at a club where his ex? girlfriend is crying because he broke up with her via text. The h is sass galore though of course Raide is big and sexy.Next day to her dismay she's finally given her first big case and it's Raide.
Though the initial parts were pretty funny it quickly developed into OTT. While on the hunt for Raide she sees him with OW but no mention of if he had sex with them or, not. Pretty soon these two come head to head and in the blink of an eye they're falling in love. I mean it literally felt like I blinked and there were strong feelings. The book pretty much devolved from there. Immature behavior,shouting matches,crying ,sex, a kidnapping, And ilys soon follow.
Maybe with some more words to really pull this one together I might have rated it higher but this one just felt like entire chapters were missing! This was my first read by this author so I may try another one at a later date.
The h is a bounty Hunter ( if you're thinking she's a badass,she is at times but she also sheds a lot of tears and acts like a teen quite a bit)and she's set to track Raide and bring him in. He skipped after being arrested for murdering his sister. She meets him at a club where his ex? girlfriend is crying because he broke up with her via text. The h is sass galore though of course Raide is big and sexy.Next day to her dismay she's finally given her first big case and it's Raide.
Though the initial parts were pretty funny it quickly developed into OTT. While on the hunt for Raide she sees him with OW but no mention of if he had sex with them or, not. Pretty soon these two come head to head and in the blink of an eye they're falling in love. I mean it literally felt like I blinked and there were strong feelings. The book pretty much devolved from there. Immature behavior,shouting matches,crying ,sex, a kidnapping, And ilys soon follow.
Maybe with some more words to really pull this one together I might have rated it higher but this one just felt like entire chapters were missing! This was my first read by this author so I may try another one at a later date.
July 11, 2015
This review was originally posted on Fifty Shades of Books
0.5 out of 5 Stars - DNF at 40%
*** ARC granted in exchange for an honest review ***
Gracie is a bounty hunter and after years of working on small cases, she finally gets the one big case that could be a big breakthrough for her. Except the guy she's looking after, Raide Knox, is huge - and even though she is a powerhouse herself, she'll never be able to bring him in.
Desperate times call for desperate measures, so she decides to use her charm and her body to lure Raide into her web and turn him in. However, she did not expect Raide to be such a looker, nor did she expect that she would second-guess why she is doing this job in the first place - because Raide is on trial for murder.
What I loved about this book:
Nothing, sorry. Well apart from 1 side character (Vance)
What I felt needed improvement:
The naive main character
The plot
DNF at 40%
I was granted this book as an unsolicited ARC via Netgalley, and since the description sounded enticing, I thought I would just give this a go. But it turns out that this book wasn't for me at all. I wanted to DNF at around 20-25% already but read on since it was an ARC, yet it did nothing to make the book any more interesting to me. Both the storyline and the main character killed it.
I was extremely disappointed at how weak Gracie was: she definitely wasn't the strong heroine she wanted to be. She desperately wants to be a great bounty hunter to honor her father and prove it to her friends and colleagues, but in the end she really, really screws everything up. It starts with how stupidly she deals with a super simple case ("Don't make this hard on me, I just got my nails done.") and ends with her massive screw up around the Raide-case, which could have been a breakthrough for her if she had managed to keep it in her pants. And even before she had her pants down, she was a lousy bounty hunter.
But no, she literally has no more than four 5-minute conversations with him (which are about nothing more than flirting) and just from that - and of course a night of hot sex - she is convinced that he's innocent. But again, as a reader, I did not get that vibe from Raide since apart from finding out how hot is is, I got literally nothing on his personality.
There's this whole insta-love/insta-lust which takes all the plausibility out of the story, and it is very difficult to understand how Gracie can be so smitten with Raide when all she knows is that he is on trial for his sister's murder, and that during each and every interaction they have, he is a complete douchebag.
And my DNF breaking point in this book was when Gracie spent the first night with him, and in the morning, she's breaking down crying (seriously?) because she can't decide whether to call Raide in so she can get her bounty, or to spend more time with him. Nu-uh. That's too much.
I did like Vance's character though. He seemed like a really great guy and I might be tempted into a sequel if he ends up as the main character.
Upcoming author? Need help with a book cover design?
I'm a freelance graphic designer happy to help you out in exchange for a reader's copy. Contact me!
0.5 out of 5 Stars - DNF at 40%
*** ARC granted in exchange for an honest review ***
Gracie is a bounty hunter and after years of working on small cases, she finally gets the one big case that could be a big breakthrough for her. Except the guy she's looking after, Raide Knox, is huge - and even though she is a powerhouse herself, she'll never be able to bring him in.
Desperate times call for desperate measures, so she decides to use her charm and her body to lure Raide into her web and turn him in. However, she did not expect Raide to be such a looker, nor did she expect that she would second-guess why she is doing this job in the first place - because Raide is on trial for murder.
What I loved about this book:
Nothing, sorry. Well apart from 1 side character (Vance)
What I felt needed improvement:
The naive main character
The plot
DNF at 40%
I was granted this book as an unsolicited ARC via Netgalley, and since the description sounded enticing, I thought I would just give this a go. But it turns out that this book wasn't for me at all. I wanted to DNF at around 20-25% already but read on since it was an ARC, yet it did nothing to make the book any more interesting to me. Both the storyline and the main character killed it.
"Some of the best killers are the ones you least suspect. I just have a feeling that there's more to Raide's story than meets the eye."
I was extremely disappointed at how weak Gracie was: she definitely wasn't the strong heroine she wanted to be. She desperately wants to be a great bounty hunter to honor her father and prove it to her friends and colleagues, but in the end she really, really screws everything up. It starts with how stupidly she deals with a super simple case ("Don't make this hard on me, I just got my nails done.") and ends with her massive screw up around the Raide-case, which could have been a breakthrough for her if she had managed to keep it in her pants. And even before she had her pants down, she was a lousy bounty hunter.
But no, she literally has no more than four 5-minute conversations with him (which are about nothing more than flirting) and just from that - and of course a night of hot sex - she is convinced that he's innocent. But again, as a reader, I did not get that vibe from Raide since apart from finding out how hot is is, I got literally nothing on his personality.
"I shouldn't be feeling sorry for a man who is possibly a murderer. Who am I kidding? I know he's not a damn murderer. I don't know how I know this, but I just do."
There's this whole insta-love/insta-lust which takes all the plausibility out of the story, and it is very difficult to understand how Gracie can be so smitten with Raide when all she knows is that he is on trial for his sister's murder, and that during each and every interaction they have, he is a complete douchebag.
And my DNF breaking point in this book was when Gracie spent the first night with him, and in the morning, she's breaking down crying (seriously?) because she can't decide whether to call Raide in so she can get her bounty, or to spend more time with him. Nu-uh. That's too much.
I did like Vance's character though. He seemed like a really great guy and I might be tempted into a sequel if he ends up as the main character.
Upcoming author? Need help with a book cover design?
I'm a freelance graphic designer happy to help you out in exchange for a reader's copy. Contact me!
August 21, 2015
I'm a huge Bella Jewel fan and I have read tons of her books. I gave this one 4 stars but only because we can't do half stars. If it were up to me it would be 3 1/2 stars because it wasn't quite a 4 but wasn't a 3 either. Ugggghghg.........oh well, it is what it is, and well right now it's a 4. I liked the concept that Grace was a bounty hunter and she had to go after Raide for jumping bail. Great.......fine........it's called Alpha's Heart for goodness sakes! He was not that much of an alpha sadly. Don't get me wrong this book was good but it just didn't make it onto my favorites. I didn't connect with the characters as well as I would have liked and the way Grace's family treated her got on my last nerve. The mother and sisters hated her because she wasn't a beauty queen or a girly girly but her father thinks she was the best thing ever. I know that this is the worst book review ever but I am just feeling somewhat disappointed by this one and I have a huge book hangover from the book I read the day before. Nothing ever seems as good when that happens.
July 9, 2015
ARC received for review
Interesting idea. Female bounty hunter following in her dad's footsteps. It was a slower read than I was expecting until it got to almost halfway. Great chemistry between Raine and Gracie. I wanted to smack her Mom and sisters so bad. If she said one more time "I just want a chance to prove myself," I was gonna smack her. I hope that's not the trend of the other two books.
I know the rest of this series it about other female bounty hunters, but I really want to know more about the secondary characters in this one, especially Vance and Benny.
Interesting idea. Female bounty hunter following in her dad's footsteps. It was a slower read than I was expecting until it got to almost halfway. Great chemistry between Raine and Gracie. I wanted to smack her Mom and sisters so bad. If she said one more time "I just want a chance to prove myself," I was gonna smack her. I hope that's not the trend of the other two books.
I know the rest of this series it about other female bounty hunters, but I really want to know more about the secondary characters in this one, especially Vance and Benny.
August 12, 2019
* A review copy was provided by author/publisher via Netgalley *
This book took me a little while to get into, but once I was I had a hard time putting it down.
i haven't read many Bella Jewel books, but the ones I have I have really enjoyed. Hard to Fight is no different. I thought this book was quite an enjoyable read. If you like a strong Alpha Male Hero, you should meet Raide Knox.
This book is filled with action, sex, and thrills, we even got some romance along the way. I thought the storyline was interesting. I haven't read any other book about Bounty Hunters, so I found that fun to read about. I loved watching the love story blossom between Raide and Grace.
I truly love Bella's books that are romantic suspense. This one wasn't as suspenseful as some of the other books I have read, but it still had a lot of action to keep me turning the pages.
I would definitely recommend this book to all readers. It has enough of everything to make all readers enjoy this book.
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This book took me a little while to get into, but once I was I had a hard time putting it down.
i haven't read many Bella Jewel books, but the ones I have I have really enjoyed. Hard to Fight is no different. I thought this book was quite an enjoyable read. If you like a strong Alpha Male Hero, you should meet Raide Knox.
This book is filled with action, sex, and thrills, we even got some romance along the way. I thought the storyline was interesting. I haven't read any other book about Bounty Hunters, so I found that fun to read about. I loved watching the love story blossom between Raide and Grace.
I truly love Bella's books that are romantic suspense. This one wasn't as suspenseful as some of the other books I have read, but it still had a lot of action to keep me turning the pages.
I would definitely recommend this book to all readers. It has enough of everything to make all readers enjoy this book.
Follow Us at :: Book Bitches Blog | Facebook | Twitter
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