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Hard Edge
A captivating new standalone romance from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Tess Oliver that's being called a 'must read'.It was strange how when things happened, they almost inevitably happened in giant cloud bursts. Grady's death had started the cloud burst, and it had been pouring rain ever since.KENNAI'd spent half my teenage years dreaming about being that girl, the girl who would finally steal the most elusive heart in town but I'd left that life behind—or so I thought.My life had been feeling pretty damn solid, but somewhere along the way, the ground beneath my feet had softened. And now--now he was there. Like a lightning bolt I never saw coming After years of dreaming, I finally knew what real love felt like, but our relationship was fragile and I feared it would shatter easily.CADENIt seemed she'd never considered the possibility that she was a heartbreaker, that she was the type of girl who could wrap herself around your soul with just her laugh.Tragedy had reunited us. She had always been in my heart. I'd finally found my way back to the girl I loved, and I didn't want anything to get in the way of that. But my life rarely went the way I wanted.Hard Edge is a full-length, standalone novel.Contains mature content. Intended for readers 18+
244 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 6, 2016
224 people are currently reading
527 people want to read
About the author
Tess Oliver
126 books2,454 followersTess Oliver is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Custom Culture series and a large collection of other romances. She is well known for her relatable characters who "become your friends" as you journey with them and for intriguing stories that will have you "devouring her books in just one day". Tess has been featured on USA Today's 'Happy Ever After' site, and in publications including Glamour UK and Elle UK magazines.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
August 19, 2016
3 Stars Good SPOILERS ahead! Be Warned
OK, after my 5 Star read of Hard Core, I wondered how this would follow and for me it fell short of my expectations.
Hmmmm, Caden and Kenna....hmmmmmm, I am truly at a loss. Did I like them, yes, was I in love with them whole heartedly.....no sadly:( Having their story open with 2 sex scenes involving others already was a little bit of a turn off especially when I have to hear Caden gush all over his friends with benefits, Mindy, uhhhhh that I did NOT need to read about! At least, Kenna was having unfulfilled obligatory sex with her man, lol, but still NOT what I wanted to have in my head!
OK, so the HUGE turn-off for me in the story was when the friends with benefits shows up to Caden's house where btw he and Kenna are hanging out at and then when Kenna invites the OW for breakfast...oh HELL NO for me! I give the OW credit as there was no drama, she only wished them the best and could see how much Kenna meant to Caden, etc etc.... but still that was a big fat NO thank you!
Yeah, it ended ok BUT not good enough for me (I wanted MORE) after everything else kinda left a sour taste in my mouth but oh well, you win some, you lose some. This was just an ok read and it's too bad there was potential there BUT it fell quite short for me unfortunately.
OK, after my 5 Star read of Hard Core, I wondered how this would follow and for me it fell short of my expectations.
Hmmmm, Caden and Kenna....hmmmmmm, I am truly at a loss. Did I like them, yes, was I in love with them whole heartedly.....no sadly:( Having their story open with 2 sex scenes involving others already was a little bit of a turn off especially when I have to hear Caden gush all over his friends with benefits, Mindy, uhhhhh that I did NOT need to read about! At least, Kenna was having unfulfilled obligatory sex with her man, lol, but still NOT what I wanted to have in my head!
OK, so the HUGE turn-off for me in the story was when the friends with benefits shows up to Caden's house where btw he and Kenna are hanging out at and then when Kenna invites the OW for breakfast...oh HELL NO for me! I give the OW credit as there was no drama, she only wished them the best and could see how much Kenna meant to Caden, etc etc.... but still that was a big fat NO thank you!
Yeah, it ended ok BUT not good enough for me (I wanted MORE) after everything else kinda left a sour taste in my mouth but oh well, you win some, you lose some. This was just an ok read and it's too bad there was potential there BUT it fell quite short for me unfortunately.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2016
DNF @ 52% I knew I had enough when I read the line, "It was thick, hard, and shiny with nature's lubricant." *rolls eyes* Really? Really. Not a lot of dialogue up to this point. There is no real lead up that hooks the reader before the 2 main peeps hook up. Im not sure I read the same book as the many 5 star reviews. 1.5*scratches head*stars
August 28, 2016
4.5 Kenna and Cade Stars
Tess Oliver is one of those authors whose work I always enjoy. I love her style of writing and she writes beautifully crafted characters. This is no exception.
Kenna and Grady were best friends growing up, but adult lives in different State's meant they didn't see each other that much but the connection was still there. Grady's half brother, Caden, was two years older and had been Kenna's lifelong crush. When Grady is killed suddenly, they both find themselves back in their hometown. Both are broken hearted by their loss but what will happen when secrets are revealed and emotions are high?
This is a nicely paced story with a reasonable amount of angst. Good character development and the story is told in dual pov.
Sweet ending that left me smiling. Tackles serious subject ( bereavement) well. The sad parts are balanced well against some very endearing moments and a good amount of dry humour.
No cheating - at the very start we catch the end of them each being intimate with other people. Kenna is engaged but that comes to a pretty abrupt ending when she connects with Cade again. It clearly was on the outs anyway.
In summary this is a sweet read about two people who are meant for each other. It's about love, loss, family, laughter, tears and discovering how life changes your view of the world when it throws you a huge curveball.
Tess Oliver is one of those authors whose work I always enjoy. I love her style of writing and she writes beautifully crafted characters. This is no exception.
Kenna and Grady were best friends growing up, but adult lives in different State's meant they didn't see each other that much but the connection was still there. Grady's half brother, Caden, was two years older and had been Kenna's lifelong crush. When Grady is killed suddenly, they both find themselves back in their hometown. Both are broken hearted by their loss but what will happen when secrets are revealed and emotions are high?
This is a nicely paced story with a reasonable amount of angst. Good character development and the story is told in dual pov.
Sweet ending that left me smiling. Tackles serious subject ( bereavement) well. The sad parts are balanced well against some very endearing moments and a good amount of dry humour.
No cheating - at the very start we catch the end of them each being intimate with other people. Kenna is engaged but that comes to a pretty abrupt ending when she connects with Cade again. It clearly was on the outs anyway.
In summary this is a sweet read about two people who are meant for each other. It's about love, loss, family, laughter, tears and discovering how life changes your view of the world when it throws you a huge curveball.
August 17, 2016
I admit, I was lured by cover. Finally some nice MAN, not another six pack without face. But about contents.. it wasn't that bad, although it had few moments that were so cliche it ruined whole book to me. I'm talking about the ending. Oh, and we have whole demonizing boyfriend thing... too much demonizing.
The best thing was showing how they deal with loss, the reunions and memories from childhood which followed. That was really nice, and new. I've never came across such topic in novels yet.
Of course things couldn't go smoothly, bc character development ect ect BUT ARE YOU FOR REAL WITH THAT ENDING? Oh, I could really forget about unnecessary explanations which did not put anything into the story, meaningless stream of information. But the ending was the worst.
As much as I loved the scene where Caden rescued Kenna from that bicycle accident, I wondered that their sex scenes would be also romantic...... well at least NICE. yeah. it was so bad i don't even know what should i point out here. uh.
And until now all reviews are 4 or 5 stars? That's fishy. This book really needs more work with editor.
The best thing was showing how they deal with loss, the reunions and memories from childhood which followed. That was really nice, and new. I've never came across such topic in novels yet.
Of course things couldn't go smoothly, bc character development ect ect BUT ARE YOU FOR REAL WITH THAT ENDING? Oh, I could really forget about unnecessary explanations which did not put anything into the story, meaningless stream of information. But the ending was the worst.
As much as I loved the scene where Caden rescued Kenna from that bicycle accident, I wondered that their sex scenes would be also romantic...... well at least NICE. yeah. it was so bad i don't even know what should i point out here. uh.
And until now all reviews are 4 or 5 stars? That's fishy. This book really needs more work with editor.
August 27, 2016
This book has all the things I hate in a book. Big Misunderstanding, OW/OM drama, insta love, man-whore Hero who loves the h so much that he nails every woman in sight, a heroine who is a perfect,beautiful dream-girl but doesn't know it and the ending was just bad.
Sadly, I didn't like this book.
Sadly, I didn't like this book.
August 8, 2016
Tess Oliver never ever disappoints me. This has been yet another delight to read.
Kenna has been friends with Grady and his half brother Caden since childhood. In adult life the three of them have moved on. Kenna lives in New York with her fiancé but still speaks to Grady on a monthly basis and Caden and Grady have always been really close. So when tragedy hits and Grady is killed in an accident on his way back to their home town to meet Caden, both Kenna and Caden are devastated and head back home to the town they grew up in to say their goodbyes. Kenna never knew both Caden and Grady had always been in love with her, Caden never told Grady either as he didn't want to stand in his way. Neither of them knew that Kenna was actually in love with Caden so there have been secrets all round. When Caden sets eyes on Kenna or Trinket as he calls her all the feelings come flooding back and little does he know the feelings mutual so sparks end up flying. Kenna is unhappy in her relationship with her douchebag fiancé so before starting anything with Caden she needs to end it. Can their love survive through guilt over what Grady would have thought or survive through the fact that they have totally different lives away from home?
This book has a little of it all. There are sad teary parts and laugh out loud moments from witty characters. Then there's the smoking hot sex scenes. I do love it when authors create hard, fast wall/anywhere but the bed sex! The chemistry is sizzling between the characters and the writing flows well to suck you in so you never stop reading. I can't wait to see what Tess has in store next for us.
Kenna has been friends with Grady and his half brother Caden since childhood. In adult life the three of them have moved on. Kenna lives in New York with her fiancé but still speaks to Grady on a monthly basis and Caden and Grady have always been really close. So when tragedy hits and Grady is killed in an accident on his way back to their home town to meet Caden, both Kenna and Caden are devastated and head back home to the town they grew up in to say their goodbyes. Kenna never knew both Caden and Grady had always been in love with her, Caden never told Grady either as he didn't want to stand in his way. Neither of them knew that Kenna was actually in love with Caden so there have been secrets all round. When Caden sets eyes on Kenna or Trinket as he calls her all the feelings come flooding back and little does he know the feelings mutual so sparks end up flying. Kenna is unhappy in her relationship with her douchebag fiancé so before starting anything with Caden she needs to end it. Can their love survive through guilt over what Grady would have thought or survive through the fact that they have totally different lives away from home?
This book has a little of it all. There are sad teary parts and laugh out loud moments from witty characters. Then there's the smoking hot sex scenes. I do love it when authors create hard, fast wall/anywhere but the bed sex! The chemistry is sizzling between the characters and the writing flows well to suck you in so you never stop reading. I can't wait to see what Tess has in store next for us.
August 28, 2016
Voilà une bonne romance simple, efficace et bien vue. Tout est là et cela passe même un peu vite, on a envie, à la fin du roman, d’en lire encore plus sur ce couple séduisant et parfaitement assorti. Le thème est assez banal mais abordé d’une façon très intéressante.
En effet, Caden et Kenna sont deux amis d’enfance que la vie a séparés. Kenna est restée très proche du frère de Caden mais lui est parti à l’armée et à son retour, il s’est lancé dans une carrière dans le moto-cross avant qu’un accident ne modifie à nouveau sa vie. Kenna, elle, est partie sur la côte est poursuivre ses études de droit dans une prestigieuse université et y a rencontré son fiancé. Kenna et Caden ne sont pas forcément heureux dans leurs choix de vie et la mort du frère de Caden va tout bouleverser. Kenna va rentrer en Californie, dans sa petite ville de naissance où Caden va lui aussi réapparaître bien évidemment.
http://romance-bluemoon.com/2016/08/h...
August 16, 2016
Loved this book! Its was really sweet. Its about 2 people with a history dating back to childhood. Its about loss and love.
May 29, 2018
Such a sweet, read
Another fantastic read by Tess Oliver!! The loss of her best friend brings Kenna back home, making her question the choices she has made in regards to her professional and personal life. She reconnects with her best friend's brother, Caden. As children, growing up they were all pretty close. And Jenna and Caden provide support and comfort for each other at the difficult time.
This is such a sweet, heartbreaking story, but one that fills you with hope. Definitely five stars!
Another fantastic read by Tess Oliver!! The loss of her best friend brings Kenna back home, making her question the choices she has made in regards to her professional and personal life. She reconnects with her best friend's brother, Caden. As children, growing up they were all pretty close. And Jenna and Caden provide support and comfort for each other at the difficult time.
This is such a sweet, heartbreaking story, but one that fills you with hope. Definitely five stars!
March 12, 2017
Good read
This was a good read. I love stories about best friends to more. The characters were great & loved the writing.
This was a good read. I love stories about best friends to more. The characters were great & loved the writing.
August 14, 2016
Kindly provided with an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review......
Its Tess Oliver peeps.....does anything else need saying ?
This is a standalone and it was phenomenal !!!. It was Kenna and Caden's tale and its just one big emotional glorious roller coaster !!! I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF THE RIDE !!!
Seriously, this author is in a league of her own and I really don't need to write anything more or wax poetic's about her awesomeness......I will say just if you love a well written, gripping read then look no further !!!
Well done Tess and Many thanks For This Opportunity xxx
Later peeps xxxx
Its Tess Oliver peeps.....does anything else need saying ?
This is a standalone and it was phenomenal !!!. It was Kenna and Caden's tale and its just one big emotional glorious roller coaster !!! I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF THE RIDE !!!
Seriously, this author is in a league of her own and I really don't need to write anything more or wax poetic's about her awesomeness......I will say just if you love a well written, gripping read then look no further !!!
Well done Tess and Many thanks For This Opportunity xxx
Later peeps xxxx
September 2, 2016
DNF at 16%. I was intrigued by the first few pages of the book. There was an odd darkness to the chick's relationship with her boyfriend that made me think I was going to read a complex book. Then the chick goes home for a funeral and just falls into the arms of her childhood friend. And that was it. I felt like I'd just read the whole story and I just didn't care anymore.
Now, I realize that there was more to the story and after reading another reviewer's spoilers, I was spot on with dropping this book as I wouldn't have liked it any more.
Oh well. Kindle Unlimited free read for me so no biggie.
Now, I realize that there was more to the story and after reading another reviewer's spoilers, I was spot on with dropping this book as I wouldn't have liked it any more.
Oh well. Kindle Unlimited free read for me so no biggie.
August 31, 2016
When Caden's Brother and Kenna's best friend dies, their worlds come crashing down. Seeing life in a new perspective has both thinking about the changes they want to make in their lives. But Grady's death didn't just bring on life changing plans, but also brought these two back to their childhood and all the feelings they kept hidden from each other.
The story had a sad undertone with hope and friendship mixed in. Their story has so many aspects to it that the author has you wondering how they will jump over these hurdles. the characters reminisce about old times that make you smile. This story definitely gives you the feels.
4 stars
The story had a sad undertone with hope and friendship mixed in. Their story has so many aspects to it that the author has you wondering how they will jump over these hurdles. the characters reminisce about old times that make you smile. This story definitely gives you the feels.
4 stars
August 10, 2016
5+ stars!! Such an emotional story with just enough sexy and exciting to balance it all out. Back in her hometown after the tragic death of her best friend Grady, Kenna comes face to face with her lifelong crush Caden who also happens to be Grady's half brother. Sparks fly and truths are exposed leading to what could be a beautiful relationship. But guilt and life plans may ruin everything if they don't seize the moment. Which is exactly what Caden plans to do.
(I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review)
(I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review)
August 20, 2016
Love and Loss and Love
This is my first book by Tess Oliver but it won't be my last. I'll probably read all she's written before I have my fill.
When three childhood friends are brought together as a result of the death of one of them, feelings of love and love lost surface for all to deal with. While parents struggle with their own life changes, the two remaining friends try to find their way in the world. The road to happiness is tough for the young and the old.
This book earned all five stars on every page. Give it a shot. You'll be glad you did.
This is my first book by Tess Oliver but it won't be my last. I'll probably read all she's written before I have my fill.
When three childhood friends are brought together as a result of the death of one of them, feelings of love and love lost surface for all to deal with. While parents struggle with their own life changes, the two remaining friends try to find their way in the world. The road to happiness is tough for the young and the old.
This book earned all five stars on every page. Give it a shot. You'll be glad you did.
August 21, 2016
No
Nothing about this book did it for me. The way they got together was awkward. Their relationship was awkward. There was a third main character throughout the entire book that we never met Bc he was dead. I didn't like this book at all. The idea of this book is great but it totally missed the mark. There was no angst, no quirky, no funny, and it wasn't steamy. It was totally bland.
Nothing about this book did it for me. The way they got together was awkward. Their relationship was awkward. There was a third main character throughout the entire book that we never met Bc he was dead. I didn't like this book at all. The idea of this book is great but it totally missed the mark. There was no angst, no quirky, no funny, and it wasn't steamy. It was totally bland.
August 19, 2016
4.5 Stars
Tissues ✔️
Laughs ✔️
Steamy ✔️
Fun ✔️
Girl next door ✔️
Bad boy ✔️
Beach house rendezvous ✔️
Grab your favorite drink, and get ready for a fun and fast paced read. I will warn you, you may be needing some tissues.
I was not ready for the intensity
Tissues ✔️
Laughs ✔️
Steamy ✔️
Fun ✔️
Girl next door ✔️
Bad boy ✔️
Beach house rendezvous ✔️
Grab your favorite drink, and get ready for a fun and fast paced read. I will warn you, you may be needing some tissues.
I was not ready for the intensity
January 13, 2017
Couldn't put it down...
From the first page to the last this book kept me intrigued! You are able to connect to the characters, which is always a plus! A tragedy brought them together but together is where they were always meant to be, that pretty much sums up everything!
From the first page to the last this book kept me intrigued! You are able to connect to the characters, which is always a plus! A tragedy brought them together but together is where they were always meant to be, that pretty much sums up everything!
August 29, 2016
Beautiful story of sorrow, love, family, and finding ones path in this wide world. And where a tender, meant-to-be love story comes to life amidst sorrow and sadness.
November 8, 2016
Kenna's dad was my favorite character in this book. He made me giggle out loud a few times. Which made my cat give me weird looks. :op
March 20, 2017
Caden & Kenna's story.
June 3, 2017
Kenna is living the life she thinks she should - finishing up law school, engaged to a handsome and successful attorney, living in New York. But she's not happy and when her childhood best friend dies, she has an excuse to go home and think about what she wants. Kenna and Grady were best friends ever since her family moved in across the street from his. Sometimes his half brother, Caden, would allow them to hang out, and Kenna loved those times 'cuz she had a huge crush on Caden. Now that Grady is gone, she and Caden reconnect and help each other through the grief. Caden has been rudderless since he broke his leg and lost his career as a motocross racer, and his brother dying makes things worse. But Kenna is a bright spot - he's loved her since they were kids. I really enjoyed this story. Of course, it was very sad with Grady's death, but I liked the way Caden and Kenna reconnected with their families and each other to help everyone through their grief.
September 9, 2020
~
*****Possible SPOILERS*****
Absolutely LOVED this standalone by Tess.
It starts off with a drastic tragedy that brings home Kenna and Caden. They were childhood friends along with Caden's brother Grady (therein lays the tragedy). Kenna had a super crush on Caden and Caden was in Love with her but never said anything because he knew about Grady's love for her as well.
Don't want to give too much away, but we go through their up and downs of rediscovering themselves through the unknown dynamics of this new relationship and dealing with the effects of their loss. We also see them rediscovering who they are as individuals, how to be happy within themselves and not what is expected of them.
Thumbs up Tess
*****Possible SPOILERS*****
Absolutely LOVED this standalone by Tess.
It starts off with a drastic tragedy that brings home Kenna and Caden. They were childhood friends along with Caden's brother Grady (therein lays the tragedy). Kenna had a super crush on Caden and Caden was in Love with her but never said anything because he knew about Grady's love for her as well.
Don't want to give too much away, but we go through their up and downs of rediscovering themselves through the unknown dynamics of this new relationship and dealing with the effects of their loss. We also see them rediscovering who they are as individuals, how to be happy within themselves and not what is expected of them.
Thumbs up Tess
May 24, 2017
Kenna and Caden tapped into my heart with their shared loss. I found myself crying a few times during their story. Close to the end Kenna finally learns the truth about Caden’s brother. I had to put the book down to take a breather. I really felt that loss through Kenna.
Tess Oliver delivers an emotional and sweet read with Hard Edge, something I wasn’t expecting but, loved all the same.
I just started Hard Core and can already tell Ledger and Jacy are going to devastate me.
Great Job Tess Oliver! Bring the feels!
Tess Oliver delivers an emotional and sweet read with Hard Edge, something I wasn’t expecting but, loved all the same.
I just started Hard Core and can already tell Ledger and Jacy are going to devastate me.
Great Job Tess Oliver! Bring the feels!
December 10, 2017
Kenna grew up across the street from two step brothers. The obscure age was Grady and the older brother caden. Grady and kenna were the best of friends. Caden was the huge crush kenna secretly swooned over. When Caden went into the army. Kenna moved to New York to be a lawyer with her fiance Jeremy. Whom Jenna has been falling out of love with. So When the horrible death of Grady brings both Kenna and Caden back to their home town. They finally tell each other their true feelings. Can these two work out? Or has their lives gone in different ways that there is no way back? Great read.
January 24, 2024
4 1/2 Stars ... so 5
I saw a review saying this book was awful and a smut trap and that there was no relationship before the spicy started to steam up the pages!
Clearly, this woman who wrote this review was not reading the same book I just did .. the first neked spicy scene didn't happen until halfway through the book! There was plenty of character development and interaction before that happened!
Good book. Sorry, there are some women who are too busy clutching their pearls than to relax and enjoy book.
I saw a review saying this book was awful and a smut trap and that there was no relationship before the spicy started to steam up the pages!
Clearly, this woman who wrote this review was not reading the same book I just did .. the first neked spicy scene didn't happen until halfway through the book! There was plenty of character development and interaction before that happened!
Good book. Sorry, there are some women who are too busy clutching their pearls than to relax and enjoy book.
June 25, 2018
I didn’t expect certain events that occurred and helped me to overlook the fact that the story might not get to a conclusive HEA and at the end I wished it would have after all the heartbreak and turmoil these two main characters went through I would have liked a better and more descriptive conclusion to their love story. Overall a good read!
March 23, 2017
It was not really bad, but it did not sweep me off my feet either. Somehow the story did not move me half as much as I had expected. Perhaps it was the rather unemotional style of writing, although the diaogues were sometimes quite funny and it WAS quite steamy. MC Caden was sexy and cool, but angsty Kenna wasn't the type of heroine I am fond off. I don't begrudge them their HEA in a small town in the middle of nowhere, but this book left me with a lukewarm feeling.
February 15, 2018
Here’s how to book goes:
Two people who have always had feelings for each other finally hook up but then feel guilty and separate only to come back together.
There’s lots of sex and dirty language, but I’m not gonna lie - it was a fun read and great junk food for the brain.
Two people who have always had feelings for each other finally hook up but then feel guilty and separate only to come back together.
There’s lots of sex and dirty language, but I’m not gonna lie - it was a fun read and great junk food for the brain.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews