This is a debut novel...and it's a HELL of a debut. Seriously, Hard was unputdownable; I started at midnight and stopped at 2am when I could keep my eyes open any longer, only to pick it back up the minute I was awake and read to the conclusion. I'm exhausted now but I. Regret. Nothing.
Cassie doesn't need a man like Ryder Cole in her life. She's got secrets to run from, and the tattooed ex-fighter is simply too sexy to be anything but a distraction from getting her life back on track.
But Ryder could be the one to help save her, if only her secrets and his illegal business don't tear them apart.
Right, well, I think I made it clear in my opener that I loved this book. Really loved it. In actual fact. FLOVED it. Why? Because Ryder was deliciously hot and Alpha, but not an over-the-top asshole. Because Cassie was sassy and fun, despite being a little frustrating with her secret keeping. And because the story was well-paced, well-formed and well-written. Oh, and sexy-as-fuck. Did I mention that?
The tension, sexual and otherwise, was spot-on in Hard. I was anxious about what (or who...) was coming. I was invested in the story from the start (I thought Cassie and Ryder's meet-cute was excellent), and stayed that way to the rewarding end. And I was hot for these characters; there was something about the tabooness of their relationship that really got me going. Oooh, I so wanted them to get their HEA.
I'm really excited and interested to see what Eve Jagger does next. There are several secondary characters that have serious potential and I'm hoping we'll be reading about them in the none-too-distant future. Until then, I'd better catch up on some sleep... ~ Beth, 5 stars
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Wow, I am not even sure how to start this review, other than YES!!!!! I loved the characters, the story, the struggles, the emotions, and the sex!
Cassie is a no nonsense kind of girl. She gives as good as she takes, and she is real. All qualities that seem to be hard to find in a book these days. Her loyalty to family is above all else, and she will do anything to protect them.
Ryder is HOT. He is dominant and fierce, and did I mention HOT?!?!?! When Cassie refuses to back down, he knows he is done for, but in a great sheets-on-fire kind of way.
The story is one that most won’t be able to empathize with, but it is written in a way that it is still relatable. I loved how well the story flowed and sucked you in. For me, the first two chapters were a little slow and tough to get into, but then after that…. BAM! ~ Devlynn, 4.5 stars
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Sexy. Alpha.Tattooed.Ex-fighter.
Sign. Me. Up.
Ryder Cole is crazy hot. He’s the man in charge, king of the nightclub scene and owner of an illegal fighting operation. When he kicks in a door to collect on a $10,000 debt, he wasn’t expecting a firecracker in the form of Cassie McEntire to turn his world upside down. The spark between these two is hot and they have an easy banter that I really enjoyed.
I felt like the pacing was a little quick on this. Ryder showed his soft underbelly quickly and I would have enjoyed having him fleshed out a little more. He’s wounded, but tough. He quit fighting because of a woman but we never really get the story behind that. I feel like that would have explained why he was the way he was, and given some depth to his character. We get a lot of time devoted to Cassie’s past and issues and we see how her mistakes impact Ryder. Their issues get wrapped up tidily (I love a good happily ever after), but without any real insight into Ryder’s world. He’s a sexy bastard and I want to know what made him that way! More Ryder, please! I’m greedy!
That said, I did really enjoy these two as a couple. Cassie is smart and sassy and Ryder is just hot, hot, hot! Definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for a quick, easy, fighter read. ~ Shelly, 4 stars