Hard Bargain

by Haley Pierce

He wants to show her how hard it can really get.

TOM:
I’m loaded and can get any girl I want.
But relationships are bullsh**t.
I’ve been burned before - big time.
I’ll never let that happen again.

When I see that young curvy girl get up on stage
At the county fair and announce that her virginity is
for auction I’m intrigued.
I know it’s a terrible idea in this small town,
but my hard d**k is telling me otherwise.

She’s a good girl but not for long.
She doesn’t know what she’s in for with me.
Her V-card is all mine.

NICOLE:
I hate this place.
My dad is a filthy liar and I need to get out.
To escape this sh*thole town and everyone in it,
I’m willing to sell everything of value to the highest bidder -
and I mean everything.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Adult, Contemporary Romance

ebook

Published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[C Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't expect to like this story but it was a breath of fresh air.

Welcome to a small town where everyone knows everyone, and everyone is at everyone's business. I just thought this was about auctioning off someone's virginity but it's a whole lot more.

There's depression and betrayal, moral righteousness which was hypocritical for Nicole's father, and forgiveness.

I liked how the story developed and there was a twist that surprised me. It's a short story but it had depth the way I read it and I'm about the ending.

[Krisz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a hard time rating this book.
There were a few things I didn't like but those were mostly personality flaws and behaviour of the characters. I think the concept was rather interesting, even if a bit over the top, but somehow the religious aspects were what threw me off course and made me feel quite uncomfortable. The characters weren't neither here nor there, I can't say I connected with them on any level.
Nicole had her hands full with the people surrounded her though. His father hypocrisy had no limits and was just disgusting. Add to that a best friend who was trying to ride the waves Nicole stirred as a get-out-of-town and start-over-your-life card for herself. Yeah, I'm glad Nicole stepped out of either of their shadows and found a third option for herself. That was the only thing stroked a positive chord for me.
The writing was allright, only this story wasn't one for me.

[Judith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was in two minds about this book. I find Nicole's reaction to her bereavement and her father's hypocrisy so unbelievable. There are many reasons why auctioning a girl's virginity had been the subject in several novels but I never imagined that it would be to teach her father about duplicity and the value of marriage vows. I found the almost dormant attraction of our main characters, Nicole and Tom towards each other quite charming. Tom's struggle in deciding whether to bid or not, endearing and I was hoping that he will find happiness even though he is the last person to believe he will meet someone. Tom is the highest bidder for being gifted Nicole's virginity but he wants to date Nicole, rather than rush in to claim his prize. Along comes the father, a total hypocrite with a lot of bible bashing, trying to guilt-trip his daughter. I wonder if someone's devotion to God would be translated to such measures that Nicole exhibits? It isn't the devotion I find strange but the sudden 180 degree changes of heart. On the one hand, Nicole auctions her virginity on the other she returns to wearing Amish-type modest clothing and being totally absorbed in the scripture and back again almost without progression. Her father's character I found totally repulsive. Nicole has a big enough heart to forgive her father and they are trying to rebuild their relationship. Tom on the other hand is a level headed, rather sad, lonely guy who deserves the happy ending he eventually gets during Nicole's final realisation of what she wants and needs.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing felt a bit juvenile, with a bit of whiplash between being "godly" and porn-like. The actual steamy scenes were late in book and not at all realistic for a virgin with no prior experience. The scenes also felt more sexual than actually sexy. Also a lot of overwrought emotion, and not enough development. She is a pastor's daughter, reeling after the death of her mother & realization her pastor father was having an affair with the church organist as her mother lay dying. She decides to hang out with her slutty friend and auction off her virginity to escape her small town. This is not done in a sophisticated or sexy way- she creates a website and announced it at the county fair. And then seems surprised that the town is judging her.🙄 The guy is a liner cowboy (who was previously left at the altar) she has been delivering groceries to for awhile. Odd statements about him wanting to spank her periodically (which does not happen, no BDSM in book), but otherwise rather wholesome for buying a virgin. Just a confusing jumble, where book couldn't seem to decide if it wanted to be a naughty fantasy (indication at start of book) or wholesome discussion of the place sex can have in a godly relationship. Was almost like the author felt guilty about where it was going, and switched direction midstream.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is short, fast paced and an easy read. I read this book in one sitting. Although I liked this book in parts, I didn’t love it.
I found this book long winded in parts. I wasn’t gripped by this story but I liked the ending. I liked that Nicole got her happily ever after.
I liked to but Tom but I wanted to see some personality from him. I liked Nicole and Tom together, there was no chemistry between them but they suited one another.
I thought Nicole’s father was a massive hypocrite. He cheated on his dying wife for years yet judged everyone around him. He called Nicole’s friends and love interest sinners yet he was a sinner. He was a pastor. He knew what he was doing wrong yet he preached non-freaking stop.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick read about Nicole and Tom who are from a small town where everyone knows everyones business. Tom is a cowboy who thought his one true love has come and gone from his life. Nicole’s dad is the local minister and is found cheating on his dying wife while she fights her illness. Nicole is has been a good girl her entire life and is beyond herself and ends up auctioning her virginity at the fair to the highest bidder and plans on leaving town once done. Tom wins the bid by a long shot and wants to date Nicole prior to taking her virginity and they end up with feelings for one another and navigate on fighting for a real chance together! I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Patricia Kieffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard Bargain by Haley Pierce
Nicole is a good girl. She was raised that by her parents until her father started having an affair and her mom found out she had cancer. When her mom passes away she finds a way to make money so she can leave town. Tom is the cowboy who has a ranch that Nicole deliver groceries to his house. He loves to watch her but has been hurt in the past so he has never asked her out. I love this story. I couldn't put this book down. This story has a lot of twist and turns. I highly recommend this book. I received an ARC and have voluntarily left a review. This is my honest opinion.

[Romaine Heart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicole was the sweetest, purest woman in the small town of Texas. Afterall, her father was a pastor. She cared for her dying mother. You couldn't ask for a better daughter....Until....her father's secret was exposed. Hurt and devasted she did the unthinkable. She put her virginity up for auction.
Tom has been lonely and hurt since Mandy left him at the altar and moved forward without him. He knew Nicole. He thought about bidding on her but....
A beautifully written romance that will touch your heart.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicole, a preacher's daughter decided to auction off her virginity when she discovered that her father had always cheated on her mother. She did it for enough money to get as far away as she could. Tom was a local rancher. He bid on her and wanted to keep her for himself. Well written, unique plot, and a good read. I liked how their feelings developed. I recommend Haley Pierce's Hard Bargain.

[Pontiki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Strange religious aspect, but thankfully not the focus.

Nicole decides to auction off her virginity, and Tom, lonely on his farm, doesn't want her to make a mistake and end up with some jerk. So, he bids on her himself.

The premise is interesting, their relationship progress is fun, but I wish Nicole's hypocritical father got more of what he deserved. I also could have done without her going back to her religion, although that's probably realistic.

An OK read.

[Andrea Kollmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredible story. When Nicole's whole world is turned upside down between the death of her mother and her father's sinful lies, she goes against her entire belief and auctions her virginity to the highest bidder. What turns out to be a financial way out of what she knows, she falls in love and learns that she will be okay. And learning to stand up to her father and forgive him. This is a really good story. I hope there will be an epilogue to this romantic story. I loved it!!!

[Christina Montminy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure about the mix of Bible & sex in this book it made this book an increasingly different read. I understand the idea behind this book but the deliberate turn away from ones values in the church isn't that easy. I didn't care for the father's(pastor) role in this book with his spouting his sinners & devil lines & his scripture verse when he was the biggest sinner of all. I was kind of left with a what the heck feeling when I got done reading this.

[Marie-Pier Deshaies · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read, but a little too sweet... the beginning is a teen destroyed that is drinking, having fun with her friend and auctioning her virginity. She’s finally close to a real teenager. And there is a solitary man trying to live. Probably the no spoiler at all was a little deceiving... But I read it quick and it was good.

[Dianne Frost · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little novella. I received it free after signing up for the authors mailing list and felt that it was a great little freebie for what it’s worth. I usually like a little more realism in my romance (i am the minority with this i know) but i felt that this story was the perfect kind of over the top. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deciding shes been a virgin to long Nicole puts her virginity up for auction. Is suprised when the winner turns out to be one of her customers that she visits weekly to deliver groceries too. It takes a rather slow burn to get going a deranged father to interfere and the rest is history.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Paola · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story is short and readable. Is not bad but not good either, the problem here is that there is none. This is basically a story about a girl that wants to have sex and her excuse is that her father cheated and what better way to get what she wants but to go to the carnival, get on the stage and have people offer her money, just to prove a point.

[Korkoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Love In The Midst Of Chaos -
This was a very well written novella, that had me glued tinge pages right from the beginning. I absolutely enjoyed reading every minute of the story and I know you will enjoy reading it too. This is the first book I have read from this author and I will definitely be reading more.

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn’t a bad read. The feeling Tom
Has for Nicole and Nicole has for Tom
Got separated when he bid on her. It confused things. Did it help she had her friend is her ear about the whole situation. Some parts of the story i didn’t like but the rest of it made up for it

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review for honest review. Nicole a pastures daughter is now upset ,so she goes to auction off her virginity Tom can't believe what's she's doing and has to protect her. What a beautiful love story with a message in it.

[Tammy G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard Bargain was a first time author read that was a decent read. I found the premise of auctioning off your virginity a tad unrealistic, but the relationship between the two main characters was sweet. This was a quick read and fairly steamy as well. Happy Reading!!!

[Charity · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story wasn't for me. I don't like to mix religion and sex together, especially when it bashes and spits in the face of the other. The story was boring, over the top, cheesy, and had the religious aspect that I did not care for.

[Linda Reece · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short....not enough

[Cheryl Graham-Petit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard Bargain is a short, steamy, fast-paced story with a unique storyline, family drama, obstacles, some humor, and a HEA.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Trinita Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Completely unique situation, I fell in love with the characters!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely amazing. Can't wait to read more from this author. 5 stars!

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy erotica Batman!

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily leaving a arc review for this book..

Well, it's starting out with her being his grocery deliverer and then auctioned off her virginity to falling in love...

[Marbea Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't think would have much meaning into it. The book gave alot of insights, not just about sex, but religion, and what's really words of God.

[Izzy Hix · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It stretched me a bit with the religious aspects but I understand that some people view "christians" this way. I loved the love story though.

[Destiny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first time I’ve ever read anything from this particular author and I was really impressed with the book. Can not wait to read what’s next.