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Play Hard #5
Hard to love
Le 5e et dernier tome de la série sur le sport , dont le héros gagnera l'affection en se rachetant une conduite, met en scène une joueuse de tennis,et raconte la rencontre de deux ennemis jurés.
Finn Anderson, agent de sportifs hors du commun est un homme irrésistiblement séduisant. Pour rendre service à son mentor, il accueille chez lui, une cliente pour la mettre à l'abri d'une campagne médiatique hostile, sans savoir qu'il s'agit de la personne qui avait quitté sa chambre d'hôtel à quatre heures du matin...
Stevie Lancaster, joueuse de tennis américaine en tête du classement, est à deux doigts de gâcher sa carrière.
Finn est la seule personne susceptible de l'aider. va-t-elle pouvoir se battre pour un homme qui certifie qu'il est impossible de l'aimer ?
Finn Anderson, agent de sportifs hors du commun est un homme irrésistiblement séduisant. Pour rendre service à son mentor, il accueille chez lui, une cliente pour la mettre à l'abri d'une campagne médiatique hostile, sans savoir qu'il s'agit de la personne qui avait quitté sa chambre d'hôtel à quatre heures du matin...
Stevie Lancaster, joueuse de tennis américaine en tête du classement, est à deux doigts de gâcher sa carrière.
Finn est la seule personne susceptible de l'aider. va-t-elle pouvoir se battre pour un homme qui certifie qu'il est impossible de l'aimer ?
393 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published February 3, 2022
374 people are currently reading
3378 people want to read
About the author
K. Bromberg
111 books19.4k followersNew York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary romance novels that make you work to get your happily ever after. She likes to write strong heroines and damaged heroes, who we love to hate but can’t help but love.
Since publishing her first book on a whim in 2013, Kristy has sold over two million copies of her books across twenty different countries and has landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists over thirty times.
A mom of three, Kristy finds the only thing harder than finishing the book she’s writing is navigating parenthood during the teenage years (send more wine!). She loves dogs, sports, a good book, and is an expert procrastinator. She lives in Southern California with her family.
Social Media Links:
https://facebook.com/AuthorKBromberg
http://pinterest.com/KBrombergWrites/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/kbromberg13/
twitter: @KBrombergDriven
www.KBromberg.com
Completed Titles:
Series:
The Driven Series
Driven
Fueled
Crashed
Raced
Aced
The Player Duet
The Player
The Catch
Standalones
UnRaveled
Slow Burn
Sweet Ache
Hard Beat
Down Shift
Sweet Cheeks
Sweet Rivalry (novella)
Faking It
Then You Happened
Flirting with 40
Sweet Regret
Everyday Heroes Series
Cuffed
Combust
Cockpit
Control (novella)
Wicked Ways Duet
Resist
Reveal
The Play Hard Series
Hard to Handle
Hard to Hold
Hard to Score
Hard to Lose
Hard to Love
S.I.N. Series
Last Resort
On One Condition
Final Proposal
The Redemption Series
Until You
Full Throttle Series
Off the Grid
On The Edge
Over The Limit
Out of Control
Tangled Hearts Trilogy
Twisted Knight
Threaded Lies
Twined Fates
Since publishing her first book on a whim in 2013, Kristy has sold over two million copies of her books across twenty different countries and has landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists over thirty times.
A mom of three, Kristy finds the only thing harder than finishing the book she’s writing is navigating parenthood during the teenage years (send more wine!). She loves dogs, sports, a good book, and is an expert procrastinator. She lives in Southern California with her family.
Social Media Links:
https://facebook.com/AuthorKBromberg
http://pinterest.com/KBrombergWrites/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/kbromberg13/
twitter: @KBrombergDriven
www.KBromberg.com
Completed Titles:
Series:
The Driven Series
Driven
Fueled
Crashed
Raced
Aced
The Player Duet
The Player
The Catch
Standalones
UnRaveled
Slow Burn
Sweet Ache
Hard Beat
Down Shift
Sweet Cheeks
Sweet Rivalry (novella)
Faking It
Then You Happened
Flirting with 40
Sweet Regret
Everyday Heroes Series
Cuffed
Combust
Cockpit
Control (novella)
Wicked Ways Duet
Resist
Reveal
The Play Hard Series
Hard to Handle
Hard to Hold
Hard to Score
Hard to Lose
Hard to Love
S.I.N. Series
Last Resort
On One Condition
Final Proposal
The Redemption Series
Until You
Full Throttle Series
Off the Grid
On The Edge
Over The Limit
Out of Control
Tangled Hearts Trilogy
Twisted Knight
Threaded Lies
Twined Fates
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 448 reviews
September 10, 2021
I really need to get back to reading K.Bromberg books because it's very clear that I've been missing her work!! I really didn't expect much with this story and I was surprised with how much I enjoyed it.
Stevie Lancaster is a woman that has always been on top of her game. Being one of the most respected and hard working female tennis player in her time, this was a woman who had it all. After the death of her father, everything that Stevie has ever believed in or loved, is suddenly on the back burner for her and she now chooses to spend her time partying and living on the wild side. But when reinforcements are brought in to do damage control to her image and get her back on track, Stevie comes face to face with someone who should've been a distant memory.
Finn Sanderson has always believed in the logic of work hard, player harder. Being the ultimate playboy has it's perks of getting any woman you want but the most important thing to him is his job and keeping his clients happy. When he's asked to take on a new client that's been in the press for all the wrong reasons, he tries to help as much as possible but what he was not expecting was to see the woman who left him speechless from before.
I really enjoyed this one and I liked that the heroine was a famous strong athlete who didn't always have her stuff together. She struggled but she was a fighter and her determination saw her through a lot of things. I just wished that we could've gotten some flashbacks in her younger days and I needed her and Finn to spend more time because as much as I liked them separately, they needed more time together.
If you're a fan of this author, I think you're really going to enjoy this one and you'll be adding much more of her books to your list.
September 13, 2021
4.5 Stars!
(ARC provided by Valentine PR)
Stevie Lancaster is a 24 yr. old gifted athlete from Florida. She's America's Tennis Sweetheart, and has lived her life in front of the cameras. Lately she's getting way too much bad press off the court. Her personal life is falling apart and she's struggling to get back on track. She's been controlled and managed for as long as she can remember, and is tired of all the rules. Worried she's going to sabotage her career being wild and rebellious, her manager calls in someone to help overhaul her image before she ruins everything she's worked so hard for.
Finn Sanderson is a bachelor based in New York, and one of the top sports management agents in the business. He's driven, demanding, competitive and ruthless. Known for straightening out troubled clients and turning things around, he's good at controlling the out of control. This leads him to his latest client. As a favor to his mentor he's agreed to "babysit" an out of control princess who is acting out. She's currently a train wreck and he's being sent in to fix the situation and repair her damaged reputation. Things turn complicated when he realizes they know each other from an unforgettable moment the night before. Finn doesn't do drama or get personal with clients, and needs to keep their relationship professional. She's completely off limits, even though she's a temptation becoming hard to resist.
Stevie needs to be focused on training and her future, but can't deny the pull she feels to her new shadow. Finn is frustrtating, infuriating, arrogant and absolutely gorgeous! He's also so much more than she expected. As real feelings develop will they both find something worth fighting for?
-There's something about him that has me reminding myself to breathe.
-Everything about him reminds me of the taste of his kiss and the feel of his hands on my body. But I don't like him. Not one bit. Or at least I tell myself that.
Hard to Love by K. Bromberg is the fifth book in the Play Hard series. It's an enemies to lovers, sports romance full of undeniable attraction, explosive chemistry and unexpected connections. I loved seeing Finn redeem himself, and finally getting to see his heart! This story had all the drama, emotion, angst, humor, love, sexiness and swoon I was looking for! <333
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/3jSePEQ
(ARC provided by Valentine PR)
Stevie Lancaster is a 24 yr. old gifted athlete from Florida. She's America's Tennis Sweetheart, and has lived her life in front of the cameras. Lately she's getting way too much bad press off the court. Her personal life is falling apart and she's struggling to get back on track. She's been controlled and managed for as long as she can remember, and is tired of all the rules. Worried she's going to sabotage her career being wild and rebellious, her manager calls in someone to help overhaul her image before she ruins everything she's worked so hard for.
Finn Sanderson is a bachelor based in New York, and one of the top sports management agents in the business. He's driven, demanding, competitive and ruthless. Known for straightening out troubled clients and turning things around, he's good at controlling the out of control. This leads him to his latest client. As a favor to his mentor he's agreed to "babysit" an out of control princess who is acting out. She's currently a train wreck and he's being sent in to fix the situation and repair her damaged reputation. Things turn complicated when he realizes they know each other from an unforgettable moment the night before. Finn doesn't do drama or get personal with clients, and needs to keep their relationship professional. She's completely off limits, even though she's a temptation becoming hard to resist.
Stevie needs to be focused on training and her future, but can't deny the pull she feels to her new shadow. Finn is frustrtating, infuriating, arrogant and absolutely gorgeous! He's also so much more than she expected. As real feelings develop will they both find something worth fighting for?
-There's something about him that has me reminding myself to breathe.
-Everything about him reminds me of the taste of his kiss and the feel of his hands on my body. But I don't like him. Not one bit. Or at least I tell myself that.
Hard to Love by K. Bromberg is the fifth book in the Play Hard series. It's an enemies to lovers, sports romance full of undeniable attraction, explosive chemistry and unexpected connections. I loved seeing Finn redeem himself, and finally getting to see his heart! This story had all the drama, emotion, angst, humor, love, sexiness and swoon I was looking for! <333
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/3jSePEQ
September 7, 2021
4 'Cards O' Fun' Stars!
ARC provided via Valentine PR in exchange for an honest review.
Finn Sanderson. You know him if you have read the Play Hard series and you probably hated him at some point (or at several ones lol). Yes, he was the “villain”, the sports agent who was always in the way for the Kincade sisters and a huge manwhore too. Well, he is about the get his world turned upside down and you will love every second of it. We are finally getting to be inside his head and now you’ll understand why he is the way he is and how that changes throughout the book.
So, Hard to Love is the fifth and final installment in K. Bromberg’s Play Hard series and, as I said, it’s the story of Finn Sanderson and Stevie Lancaster. Finn is a very successful sports agent and when his mentor asks for help he doesn’t have a choice. Stevie is at a very difficult point in her life, she just lost her father and her tennis career is affected because of her behavior. Enter Finn, who also happened to be the guy she tried to have a one-night stand last night. What happens when it’s impossible not to mix business with pleasure? Is it really just sex between Finn and Stevie or have they found what they didn’t expect to find?
Everybody deserves to live a little outside of their comfort zone, so why is he challenging me while I’m trying to break outside of mine?
When it comes to K. Bromberg, I pretty much know what I am getting. She is one of my top favorite authors and I know she will deliver every time. So, of course, I knew she would make us fall in love with Finn Sanderson when we all hated him. Finn has layers and layers. He has reasons to be the way he is, reasons that have to do with his family and especially his father. He doesn’t trust women and he is scared to open himself up to Stevie. Same happens with our heroine. She just lost her father, her mentor and her best friend. She is lost herself and she doesn’t know how to go back to everyday life. Finn is about to change that.
“For the record,” he growls. “I wasn’t quitting on you. I was saving you from me.”
I love how Kristy brings these characters to life. They are flawed characters, they are broken in some way or another and it’s not easy for them to trust and give in to the connection between them. But Finn and Stevie are about to realize their chemistry is an unstoppable force. It’s definitely not just about sex (which happens to be fucking hawt), it’s so much more. It’s them finally finding their person and flourishing that connection one step at a time. I am just so glad these two lost characters found their way back to life together.
Jesus fucking Christ.
This woman.
She could drag me to the depths of hell, and I swear to God, I’d follow her.
Therefore, I am rating Hard to Love with 4 STARS because this book brought this series to a wonderful end, giving us an unexpected love story about a character we all thought we knew but didn’t. Finn is so much more than any of us expected and Stevie is definitely his perfect match. I loved these two together, the forbidden aspect of their relationship and how the love grows between them. I cannot wait for people to love this story and to fall in love with the Play Hard series if they haven’t already!
CHECK OUT MY BLOG HERE:
ARC provided via Valentine PR in exchange for an honest review.
Finn Sanderson. You know him if you have read the Play Hard series and you probably hated him at some point (or at several ones lol). Yes, he was the “villain”, the sports agent who was always in the way for the Kincade sisters and a huge manwhore too. Well, he is about the get his world turned upside down and you will love every second of it. We are finally getting to be inside his head and now you’ll understand why he is the way he is and how that changes throughout the book.
So, Hard to Love is the fifth and final installment in K. Bromberg’s Play Hard series and, as I said, it’s the story of Finn Sanderson and Stevie Lancaster. Finn is a very successful sports agent and when his mentor asks for help he doesn’t have a choice. Stevie is at a very difficult point in her life, she just lost her father and her tennis career is affected because of her behavior. Enter Finn, who also happened to be the guy she tried to have a one-night stand last night. What happens when it’s impossible not to mix business with pleasure? Is it really just sex between Finn and Stevie or have they found what they didn’t expect to find?
Everybody deserves to live a little outside of their comfort zone, so why is he challenging me while I’m trying to break outside of mine?
When it comes to K. Bromberg, I pretty much know what I am getting. She is one of my top favorite authors and I know she will deliver every time. So, of course, I knew she would make us fall in love with Finn Sanderson when we all hated him. Finn has layers and layers. He has reasons to be the way he is, reasons that have to do with his family and especially his father. He doesn’t trust women and he is scared to open himself up to Stevie. Same happens with our heroine. She just lost her father, her mentor and her best friend. She is lost herself and she doesn’t know how to go back to everyday life. Finn is about to change that.
“For the record,” he growls. “I wasn’t quitting on you. I was saving you from me.”
I love how Kristy brings these characters to life. They are flawed characters, they are broken in some way or another and it’s not easy for them to trust and give in to the connection between them. But Finn and Stevie are about to realize their chemistry is an unstoppable force. It’s definitely not just about sex (which happens to be fucking hawt), it’s so much more. It’s them finally finding their person and flourishing that connection one step at a time. I am just so glad these two lost characters found their way back to life together.
Jesus fucking Christ.
This woman.
She could drag me to the depths of hell, and I swear to God, I’d follow her.
Therefore, I am rating Hard to Love with 4 STARS because this book brought this series to a wonderful end, giving us an unexpected love story about a character we all thought we knew but didn’t. Finn is so much more than any of us expected and Stevie is definitely his perfect match. I loved these two together, the forbidden aspect of their relationship and how the love grows between them. I cannot wait for people to love this story and to fall in love with the Play Hard series if they haven’t already!
CHECK OUT MY BLOG HERE:
September 4, 2021
4 STARS
I feel like I've been waiting forever for this book!! Finn has been a secondary character that I had loved to hate in books 1-3, and when we finally saw his human side in Hard to Lose, he became a character I couldn't wait to get a book for. Finn is a too handsome for his own good and cocky successful sport agent who has been going head to head with the Kincade sisters for years. And his romantic history with one of them painted him for the one and done player that he is. This is a man that doesn't believe in love and I couldn't wait to see him brought to his knees by the right woman.
I loved being inside Finn's head and seeing what made him into the man and playboy he is today. I also loved finally seeing a female athlete in this series.
Stevie Lancaster is a tennis superstar who's still reeling from the loss of her beloved father. A spitfire and a wildchild in one, she's been spiraling dealing with her grief. A drunken game with her friends lands her in the hotel room of a handsome stranger. And the shock of a lifetime is when that stranger turns out to be the last resort of her agent to bring in the big guns. Finn is there to reel in the wild child and help get her back on track with her sports career.
Man, the banter between these two was...on...point. I was so here for their arguments that were loaded with sexual tension so good I felt I might burst. Stevie is sass personified. She's not afraid to give as good as she gets and boy does she make Finn work for it. The sexual tension and chemistry was *chefs kiss* so good. Like you can practically taste it every single time these two fought. But what I loved most is seeing Finn's soft side come out. I loved seeing how he was there for Stevie in a way no one else could have been. And I loved watching his heart thaw for her.
This was the perfect book to end this series with. Highly recommend for any sports romance fans!
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
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You’re a bully.”
I hate you. I want you. Why does it have to be you?
“And you’re a rebel.”
“Well, aren’t we quite the pair...”
I feel like I've been waiting forever for this book!! Finn has been a secondary character that I had loved to hate in books 1-3, and when we finally saw his human side in Hard to Lose, he became a character I couldn't wait to get a book for. Finn is a too handsome for his own good and cocky successful sport agent who has been going head to head with the Kincade sisters for years. And his romantic history with one of them painted him for the one and done player that he is. This is a man that doesn't believe in love and I couldn't wait to see him brought to his knees by the right woman.
I loved being inside Finn's head and seeing what made him into the man and playboy he is today. I also loved finally seeing a female athlete in this series.
Stevie Lancaster is a tennis superstar who's still reeling from the loss of her beloved father. A spitfire and a wildchild in one, she's been spiraling dealing with her grief. A drunken game with her friends lands her in the hotel room of a handsome stranger. And the shock of a lifetime is when that stranger turns out to be the last resort of her agent to bring in the big guns. Finn is there to reel in the wild child and help get her back on track with her sports career.
Man, the banter between these two was...on...point. I was so here for their arguments that were loaded with sexual tension so good I felt I might burst. Stevie is sass personified. She's not afraid to give as good as she gets and boy does she make Finn work for it. The sexual tension and chemistry was *chefs kiss* so good. Like you can practically taste it every single time these two fought. But what I loved most is seeing Finn's soft side come out. I loved seeing how he was there for Stevie in a way no one else could have been. And I loved watching his heart thaw for her.
This was the perfect book to end this series with. Highly recommend for any sports romance fans!
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
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September 7, 2021
Stevie + Finn.
He's a hugely successful bada§§ sports agent and his new job is a favor for the guy who first gave him a chance in this business.
He's supposed to babysit tennis superstar Stevie.
She's had a rough time since her dad died. She's partying too hard, has been in the press too much for non-tennis related things, et cetera.
Finn is supposed to keep her on track, to get her back to winning games.
And Finn is also the guy she had an almost-half-night-stand with last night! 🤣
LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN...
═════════════════
Finally Finn's book! 🎉
We've been hate-loving him since book #1. 🤣
I really enjoyed reading this. I didn't immediately love-love Stevie though. It took some time to warm up to her. But she's just hiding behind this wild persona. She's hurt and lost and Finn is just the right person for her.
They're so adorable together!
And then they have to live together for two months while Stevie's trying to get ready for the US Open. Adorable! And sexy and sweet. So not the Finn we know!
This was a really cute and slightly heartbreaking love story. It wasn't anything über-new or exciting, it was cute and sexy and we just love Finn!
And I also wouldn't mind seeing this as a sports-rom-com series on Netflix one day! ☺
What bothered me a tiny bit. The blurb. I know it's super hard to write those. But this one is just way too long! I need to read a blurb before I start reading a book - I'm not one of those going-in-blind readers. And while reading this blurb, I almost lost interest in reading the book - way too long!
💜
💜
September 8, 2021
Just throwing this out there, Flynn Ryder, is, without any shadow of a doubt, the sexiest toon ever. Sexier than Hercules, sexier than He-Man, sexier than Captain Phoebus, sexier than John Smith. Also, I think I may have a sexy toon addiction. But who is the sexiest, Flynn or Finn?
I feel like I owe Finn Sanderson a big apology. He was on my shit list. I was team Kincade and no one messes with my girls. But then he explained himself, daddy issues and all that, and I sort of melted a bit. Just a little bit and I started to like him.
Perhaps we could play cards o’ fun together. Or I could play with Stevie Lancaster only I’m not much of a fun kind of girl and the wildest I might get is to sing Billy Joel songs on karaoke. See FUN!
Sad Stevie needed Finn in her life to get her back on the straight and narrow and on the path to win the US open for her dear daddy. And man alive Finn looks good in a shirt and he looks good in board shorts. Almost as good as Flynn Rider. Definitely hotter than the fox in Robin Hood.
I feel like I owe Finn Sanderson a big apology. He was on my shit list. I was team Kincade and no one messes with my girls. But then he explained himself, daddy issues and all that, and I sort of melted a bit. Just a little bit and I started to like him.
Perhaps we could play cards o’ fun together. Or I could play with Stevie Lancaster only I’m not much of a fun kind of girl and the wildest I might get is to sing Billy Joel songs on karaoke. See FUN!
Sad Stevie needed Finn in her life to get her back on the straight and narrow and on the path to win the US open for her dear daddy. And man alive Finn looks good in a shirt and he looks good in board shorts. Almost as good as Flynn Rider. Definitely hotter than the fox in Robin Hood.
September 8, 2021
4.25 'You're My Cards O'Fun' Stars
Boy, oh boy, talk about a redemption story! Never have I thought I could see Finn Sanderson, the 'arch nemesis' of the Kincade sister's with another set of eyes, but hot d@mn if that isn't exactly what Ms. Bromberg did! What a revelation he was, and Stevie... WOW! Tao about a journey of self discovery, passion and LOVE! PERFECT ending for this Play Hard series!!! <3 <3 <3 <3
Boy, oh boy, talk about a redemption story! Never have I thought I could see Finn Sanderson, the 'arch nemesis' of the Kincade sister's with another set of eyes, but hot d@mn if that isn't exactly what Ms. Bromberg did! What a revelation he was, and Stevie... WOW! Tao about a journey of self discovery, passion and LOVE! PERFECT ending for this Play Hard series!!! <3 <3 <3 <3
August 23, 2021
I NEVER thought that I would fall in love hard and fast with a book boyfriend like Finn... but I did and I'm claiming him!!! When you read his story you can't help but feel all the emotions that will make your heart skip a beat and speed up- he'll steal your heart and leave you breathless without regrets.
K. Bromberg has worked her magic and truly redeemed Finn's character in the best ways. Swoon. Sigh. Repeat. Has been my motto and still is.
K. Bromberg has worked her magic and truly redeemed Finn's character in the best ways. Swoon. Sigh. Repeat. Has been my motto and still is.
September 4, 2021
What a beautifully heartbreaking love story this book turned out to be. I wasn't sure what I would get from this book as I've never read a female athlete, sport romance before and it was honestly a refreshing change. Stevie was the star that everyone expected far to much from. And she wasn't for once the woman that straightened out the man. It was Finn that pulled her onto the straight and narrow. Stopping her from ruining her career and life.
Stevie and Finn both helped each other with there problems, fears and hurt from their childhood. The hurt and problems were mostly caused by their parents. This story starts with a game and the turn of a card and it certainly ended that way too. This book is filled with love, fun and passion. It flowed so well, keeping my interest and not wanting the story to end.
This book is a huge recommend from me. This is the second book from K Bromberg I've read. She is quickly becoming an author I would click to read straight away.
September 6, 2021
6 Hearts!
Perfect enemies to lovers romance! Finn stole my heart and the series!
Hard To Love is the fifth book in the Play Hard series by K. Bromberg. I love nothing more than a good enemies to lovers story, but one where the hero has totally redeemed himself and stolen my heart? Yes, please! Finn. My Lord. I loved not liking you. And now I love freaking loving you. You stole the series and you delivered on every one of my expectations. You have a smart mouth and you were kind of a jerk, but you are so sweet and caring on the inside. And you had your reasons. Then here comes Stevie with her sexiness and her equally smart mouth. You know what they way about love and hate. Stevie just doesn’t need someone, she needs Finn. And he shows up. Helps her. Keeps her safe. While they get to know each other in and out of bed, Finn's heart begins to thaw and he thinks maybe what he thought about women and love his entire life is wrong. Stevie didn’t mean to fall for Finn, but she did. It was inevitable. But what happens when she has to leave his safe space? Will Finn follow her or let her go? This is more than a love hate story. It's about letting your guard down and trusting someone. It's about letting yourself feel the pain and move on. It's about embracing the hurt and making new memories. Finn is just delicious. I didn't think I would fall so hard and fast for him, but I did and I'm not even a little sorry. Stevie is the perfect heroine. She's strong, smart, talented and vulnerable. She didn't need Finn to solve all her problems, she just needed time to figure out what she wanted to do with her life and Finn gave her the space to do it. Overall, I loved it! I laughed, cried, got hot and bothered and didn't want it to end. It's my favorite of the series and one of my favorites of Kristy's and I'm not sorry about that either!
Perfect enemies to lovers romance! Finn stole my heart and the series!
Hard To Love is the fifth book in the Play Hard series by K. Bromberg. I love nothing more than a good enemies to lovers story, but one where the hero has totally redeemed himself and stolen my heart? Yes, please! Finn. My Lord. I loved not liking you. And now I love freaking loving you. You stole the series and you delivered on every one of my expectations. You have a smart mouth and you were kind of a jerk, but you are so sweet and caring on the inside. And you had your reasons. Then here comes Stevie with her sexiness and her equally smart mouth. You know what they way about love and hate. Stevie just doesn’t need someone, she needs Finn. And he shows up. Helps her. Keeps her safe. While they get to know each other in and out of bed, Finn's heart begins to thaw and he thinks maybe what he thought about women and love his entire life is wrong. Stevie didn’t mean to fall for Finn, but she did. It was inevitable. But what happens when she has to leave his safe space? Will Finn follow her or let her go? This is more than a love hate story. It's about letting your guard down and trusting someone. It's about letting yourself feel the pain and move on. It's about embracing the hurt and making new memories. Finn is just delicious. I didn't think I would fall so hard and fast for him, but I did and I'm not even a little sorry. Stevie is the perfect heroine. She's strong, smart, talented and vulnerable. She didn't need Finn to solve all her problems, she just needed time to figure out what she wanted to do with her life and Finn gave her the space to do it. Overall, I loved it! I laughed, cried, got hot and bothered and didn't want it to end. It's my favorite of the series and one of my favorites of Kristy's and I'm not sorry about that either!
September 10, 2021
A fabulous ending to this spectacular series! I love these sports romance stories with the terrific Kincade sisters and their nemesis Finn Sanderson. He was such a butthead to the sisters and I wanted to find out if he was redeemable. Well, I’m happy to say that he had his reasons for being awful, mostly. Sad reasons that somewhat explained his resistance to romance and all that comes with relationships. I loved his story with the wonderful Stevie. Everything about her was so good. She’s an outstanding heroine and perfect for the closed off sports agent. Finn is a master at handling out of control athletes but he’s met his match with the tennis star as she decides to sow a few wild oats after a personal loss leaves her spinning. Their journey to love is sweet and just so heart warming as Finn takes care of Stevie and bonds with her over a shared childhood trauma. The beginning of their relationship was a little rough and some of the connection was missing for me but as the story progressed I fell in love with this couple. This story didn’t seemed to have as much heat as the previous stories and left me wanting a little more. Finn and Stevie’s chemistry was up and down and turned hotter as the story progressed. It took a special woman to turn this playboy on his head. I loved that Stevie was all in with her feelings for Finn even if neither one was willing to step out first and say the “L” word. There were similarities between some elements of their romance and one of the Kincade sister’s. A bit of recycling but still a swoon worthy romance with delicious characters. Definitely a standalone read but don’t miss out on the other marvelous stories in this series. I’m sad to see the end of this series and can’t wait for the next one to come from this outstanding author. Her love stories are special and her characters are the best. Loved it! 4.5 stars
September 7, 2021
5 SMOOCHES!
Kristy Bromberg gave her readers some truly memorable, hard won love stories in the Play Hard series of sports romances. The first four books were centered around four sports agent sisters, taking readers into the worlds of professional hockey, soccer, football and baseball. Throughout the series, one side villainous character, Finn Sanderson, kept appearing. He was the kind of character readers love to loathe. At the conclusion of the series, Bromberg announced a surprise fifth book—the redemption of Finn. With four stories to develop some serious animosity towards Finn, I went into this book not liking him all that much – not even wanting to like him. As was the way with the rest of this series, I was drawn right in from the prologue, and it was yet another story I just didn’t want to stop reading.
The heroine, Stevie Lancaster, is a pro-tennis player, and she’s gone a bit off the rails. Finn is hired to reign her in and get her back on track—and she’s not exactly thrilled about it. The banter back and forth between them rivaled the volleys Stevie was known to lob over the net. Witty and sharp, their repartee was its own brand of foreplay. This story took me by surprise in a lot of ways, especially given the fact that I went into it with all kinds of preconceived notions about Finn. I really, really didn’t want to like him. I really didn’t. But that guy, ugh, he got to me, and by the end of this book, I was all in and 100% Team Finn.
A slow burn build to scorching hot, Finn and Stevie’s enemies-to-lovers romance was emotional, engaging and utterly addictive. Full of heart-tugging feels and a firestorm of passion, I simply did not want to put it down. I loved every single word of Hard to Love, and the redemption of Finn Sanderson was a story that took me by surprise at every turn. I went into this book practically hating the hero, but came out the other side adoring him. Five stars from me for Hard to Love by K. Bromberg!
~Danielle Palumbo
Kristy Bromberg gave her readers some truly memorable, hard won love stories in the Play Hard series of sports romances. The first four books were centered around four sports agent sisters, taking readers into the worlds of professional hockey, soccer, football and baseball. Throughout the series, one side villainous character, Finn Sanderson, kept appearing. He was the kind of character readers love to loathe. At the conclusion of the series, Bromberg announced a surprise fifth book—the redemption of Finn. With four stories to develop some serious animosity towards Finn, I went into this book not liking him all that much – not even wanting to like him. As was the way with the rest of this series, I was drawn right in from the prologue, and it was yet another story I just didn’t want to stop reading.
The heroine, Stevie Lancaster, is a pro-tennis player, and she’s gone a bit off the rails. Finn is hired to reign her in and get her back on track—and she’s not exactly thrilled about it. The banter back and forth between them rivaled the volleys Stevie was known to lob over the net. Witty and sharp, their repartee was its own brand of foreplay. This story took me by surprise in a lot of ways, especially given the fact that I went into it with all kinds of preconceived notions about Finn. I really, really didn’t want to like him. I really didn’t. But that guy, ugh, he got to me, and by the end of this book, I was all in and 100% Team Finn.
A slow burn build to scorching hot, Finn and Stevie’s enemies-to-lovers romance was emotional, engaging and utterly addictive. Full of heart-tugging feels and a firestorm of passion, I simply did not want to put it down. I loved every single word of Hard to Love, and the redemption of Finn Sanderson was a story that took me by surprise at every turn. I went into this book practically hating the hero, but came out the other side adoring him. Five stars from me for Hard to Love by K. Bromberg!
~Danielle Palumbo
August 26, 2021
Thank you to Valentine PR for providing this advanced reading copy! This is my first book in the Play Hard series and I really enjoyed it!
The story starts out introducing Finn who has deep-rooted commitment issues because of his dad who instilled the idea that women were untrustworthy ever since Finn's mom left them. As a result, he doesn't do relationships and just sleeps around. During the day, he's a sports agent who works his hardest for his clients and is known to straighten the tough, hard-to-work ones out.
Stevie is one of the best tennis players out there whose dad recently passed away. He was her best friend, her main supporter, and the one who kept pushing her to be the best in tennis and now he's gone. She doesn't know how to deal with her grief so is off causing mayhem and ruining her image of America's sweetheart.
Finn is then called in to work his magic and straighten Stevie out but when they officially meet, they realize that they had shared a hotel night the previous evening.
At first their relationship is pretty turbulent because of Stevie's reckless choices and Finn having to run after her to prevent her face from being on the tabloids in precarious situations. It doesn't help that there is insane chemistry between them that makes them hover on the borderline of love and heart.
I didn't like Finn at the beginning of the book but he slowly grew on me, especially because of the way he slowly melts towards Stevie. I can't even imagine what Stevie is going through but K. Bromberg really makes her feel like someone you can relate to. I especially loved the epilogue. It was so perfect for the two of them and it really showed how far Finn has come!
The story starts out introducing Finn who has deep-rooted commitment issues because of his dad who instilled the idea that women were untrustworthy ever since Finn's mom left them. As a result, he doesn't do relationships and just sleeps around. During the day, he's a sports agent who works his hardest for his clients and is known to straighten the tough, hard-to-work ones out.
Stevie is one of the best tennis players out there whose dad recently passed away. He was her best friend, her main supporter, and the one who kept pushing her to be the best in tennis and now he's gone. She doesn't know how to deal with her grief so is off causing mayhem and ruining her image of America's sweetheart.
Finn is then called in to work his magic and straighten Stevie out but when they officially meet, they realize that they had shared a hotel night the previous evening.
At first their relationship is pretty turbulent because of Stevie's reckless choices and Finn having to run after her to prevent her face from being on the tabloids in precarious situations. It doesn't help that there is insane chemistry between them that makes them hover on the borderline of love and heart.
I didn't like Finn at the beginning of the book but he slowly grew on me, especially because of the way he slowly melts towards Stevie. I can't even imagine what Stevie is going through but K. Bromberg really makes her feel like someone you can relate to. I especially loved the epilogue. It was so perfect for the two of them and it really showed how far Finn has come!
October 16, 2021
The entire Play Hard Series has been fun-to-read and the Kincaid sisters were fantastic characters. Throughout Finn Sanderson has been portrayed as the bad guy. So, imagine how much I was surprised to find myself warming up quickly to the sports agent extraordinaire. I absolutely loved his match-up with Stevie Lancaster, world class tennis champion. Both carried around broken spirits and a bit of a chip on their shoulders, but it all boiled down to the right person at the right time. Together they were irresistible.
As usual, Bromberg brings her A-game. Witty, smart, lovable and steamy without being x-rated -- all rolled into a well-balanced package even with some angst and emotional upheaval. Thankfully, it didn't override the positives, and the ending couldn't have been more perfect.
May 31, 2023
Nie jestem fanem spin-offów głównej serii w trakcie trwania oryginalnej serii (czy to ma sens?) i początkowo w ogóle nie byłam zadowolona, a moje zainteresowanie było dosyć mierne. Ostatecznie w końcu się wciągnęłam i fajnei było poznać historię osoby, która jednak przewijała się przez te cztery tomy i była dosyć istotna. Ale fakt faktem, gdyby ta książka nigdy nie powstała nie odczułabym jej braku, nie oszukujmy się. Plus za postać Stevie, bo bardzo ją polubiłam!
August 19, 2021
Finn Sanderson in the past stories was someone I felt could not be redeemed, but leave it to K. Bromberg to prove me wrong! This story was may favorite of the series. Ms. Bromberg made me fall in love with Finn Sanderson, and that was no easy feat! What a wonderful way to end this series.
August 30, 2021
ARC provided by Valentine PR, this is my first book in the Play Hard series and I really enjoyed it!
Hard to Love by K. Bromberg is the 5th book in the Play Hard Series. In Hard to Lose (Chase Kincaid’s story) we were introduced to Finn Sanderson as her Ex. Even though its an Interconnected series this book could be read as a standalone.
Finn Sanderson is a top sports agent he is one of the most sought after sports agents and he is bad assed, arrogant jerk who is excellent at his job. His mentor “Charlie” who is also more of a father to him than his own father calls out an SOS to help him with an Out of control client Stevie Lancaster. Stevie is a world renowned Tennis star, she has just lost her coach cum father and yet to come to terms with his unexpected death. She has lost her focus since her father’s death and she has become reckless drinking, pole dancing and what not. Finn and Stevie meet for the first time, when one of her friends dare her to have a one night stand which doesn’t happen. However, few days later Charlie introduces her to Finn and you could feel their chemistry coming off the pages. Their relationship is quite turbulent at the beginning but later on, when Stevie’s past comes to haunt her Finn is there for her, standing by her side to support and protect her.
This is a beautiful romantic story and I totally fell in love with both of these hard to love characters. It evoked heart wrenching emotions in me about the relationship she had with her father. I could understand the loss and deep hurt she felt when she lost her father, Finn was just amazing! He was there for her, providing support and understanding her which enabled her to come back to the game. I love tennis, this was an absolutely a wonderfully written book by K. Bromberg.
Hard to Love by K. Bromberg is the 5th book in the Play Hard Series. In Hard to Lose (Chase Kincaid’s story) we were introduced to Finn Sanderson as her Ex. Even though its an Interconnected series this book could be read as a standalone.
Finn Sanderson is a top sports agent he is one of the most sought after sports agents and he is bad assed, arrogant jerk who is excellent at his job. His mentor “Charlie” who is also more of a father to him than his own father calls out an SOS to help him with an Out of control client Stevie Lancaster. Stevie is a world renowned Tennis star, she has just lost her coach cum father and yet to come to terms with his unexpected death. She has lost her focus since her father’s death and she has become reckless drinking, pole dancing and what not. Finn and Stevie meet for the first time, when one of her friends dare her to have a one night stand which doesn’t happen. However, few days later Charlie introduces her to Finn and you could feel their chemistry coming off the pages. Their relationship is quite turbulent at the beginning but later on, when Stevie’s past comes to haunt her Finn is there for her, standing by her side to support and protect her.
This is a beautiful romantic story and I totally fell in love with both of these hard to love characters. It evoked heart wrenching emotions in me about the relationship she had with her father. I could understand the loss and deep hurt she felt when she lost her father, Finn was just amazing! He was there for her, providing support and understanding her which enabled her to come back to the game. I love tennis, this was an absolutely a wonderfully written book by K. Bromberg.
August 30, 2021
On a good day, tennis star Stevie Lancaster is a combination of a tornado, an earthquake, and a hurricane. Grieving the death of her coach/manager father, wild child Stevie has spiraled entirely out of control. Client tamer Finn Sanders has been brought to hold her hand through her goodwill tour to restore her reputation.
Wow, just wow, I was blindsided by Hard to Love. There are so many touching moments in this book with a character that I thought couldn't be convincingly redeemed. Readers saw a glimpse or two of Finn’s heart throughout the series, but Hard to Love shares Finn’s backstory in a way that this very flawed man becomes relatable. Finn and Stevie connect over their troubled family backgrounds. I loved the way Finn "got" Stevie. With an understanding of someone who has been in her shoes, Finn is perfectly imperfect for Stevie.
Stevie and Finn frustrate and infuriate each other, and their chemistry is off the charts hot! So, it is no surprise that the push & pull between them is like watching a long rally in a tennis match between equally skilled opponents where it’s anyone’s guess who will score the point. Their banter is hilariously entertaining!
The ending of this book and its epilogue were absolute perfection!
I’m not ready to say goodbye to this emotional and heartwarming series. Every book has been excellent, and I would have never guessed that Finn’s story would be my favorite.
I received an early copy of this book. I voluntarily left an unbiased, honest review.
Wow, just wow, I was blindsided by Hard to Love. There are so many touching moments in this book with a character that I thought couldn't be convincingly redeemed. Readers saw a glimpse or two of Finn’s heart throughout the series, but Hard to Love shares Finn’s backstory in a way that this very flawed man becomes relatable. Finn and Stevie connect over their troubled family backgrounds. I loved the way Finn "got" Stevie. With an understanding of someone who has been in her shoes, Finn is perfectly imperfect for Stevie.
Stevie and Finn frustrate and infuriate each other, and their chemistry is off the charts hot! So, it is no surprise that the push & pull between them is like watching a long rally in a tennis match between equally skilled opponents where it’s anyone’s guess who will score the point. Their banter is hilariously entertaining!
The ending of this book and its epilogue were absolute perfection!
I’m not ready to say goodbye to this emotional and heartwarming series. Every book has been excellent, and I would have never guessed that Finn’s story would be my favorite.
I received an early copy of this book. I voluntarily left an unbiased, honest review.
August 30, 2021
Will the real Finn Sanderon please step forward? And he does just that in Hard to Love, book five of the Play Hard Series. Finn makes an appearance in each of the books in the series, he has history with the Kincade family and isn't always the gentlemen he should be but business is business, right? There's something about him that makes you want and need to know why he is such a player and so full of himself and on some occasions (quite a lot actually) a real arsehole especially when it comes to women. Can K. Bromberg redeem him and make us fall totally and madly in love with him? Of course, she can!!! Enter Stevie Lancaster. Tennis player at the top of her career. An emotional wreck due to the loss of her father and hellbent on destroying it all if someone doesn't step in and stop her and that someone is Finn Sanderson. He needs to get her back on track and she needs to find her way back to the sport she loves. There's some family drama but not too much. It doesn't get in the way of the romance which is what we're here for and these two are a match made in heaven. We find out about Finn's early life and his family dynamic which explains a lot and we see the real Finn Sanderson and there's a lot to love. It's true what they say, you shouldn't judge a book by its cover because Finn isn't what he appears to be. Stevie and Finn are so easy to love as is Carson Vega, Finn's mentor, and father figure. K. Bromberg has the knack of writing side characters that bring so much to the story that you'd happily read more about them and that's exactly what she did here. She took a side character that readers wanted more of and redeemed him and made him so not hard to love. It's a light, easy-to-read romance that will have you sighing and crying and sighing some more.
September 28, 2021
***4 "Cards O' Fun!!!" stars***
!AVAILABLE!
"You're a bully."
"And you're a rebel."
"Well, aren't we quite the pair!"
The fifth book in the Play Hard series was an addition that I wasn't expecting, but which I totally get excited over it!!!
If you have read the previous books, then you now that Finn Sanderson isn't the good guy there!!! He is the villain who has a rival with the Kincaid sisters after hurting one of them and he is a major manwhore....
But guess what??? In his book, everything are changing!!!!
"Game on, Stevester!!!"
Finn is living his best life!!! He is one of the top sports agents and women are floating on his feet...
So, when his mentor is asking him for a huge favor, even though he doesn't want to get involved, he has no other choice.... But Stevie Lancaster is a woman that's waking up weird feelings inside of him, bad as well as good ones...
"I learned a long time ago not to get personal with clients."
Stevie is a phenomenal tennis player but lately, she had lost her way, and with a good reason...
She is feeling lost and all over the place and she is making bad decisions that are affecting her game and her life...
The last thing that she needs is a cocky sports agent to babysit her, especially when they were about to have an one night stand the previous day...
How can she avoid everyone that is always on her business???
"Big, bad sports agent thinks he can swoop in and save the day."
This was a lovely story...
Of course, Finn wasn't my favorite person in the previous books on the series, but in here, while i got inside his head i realized that Finn was so much more than he was appearing to be...
He had a good heart, even though he had hard ways.... Stevie was making him different and that was scaring him in a way...
"How can you forget a woman like that?"
Stevie was a lost girl with so much strength inside of her... She just needed someone to motivate her to become better and Finn was that for her, even though he was getting on her last nerve... Lust, hatred, annoyance, love was some of the phases that these two got throughout this book and I loved every second of it!!!
Finn and Stevie were so good for each other!!!
"He is definitely a balm to the damaged parts of me."
This series kept me such a pleasant company!!! Every book was a new, wonderful story with its ups and downs and I think that I'm going to miss these guys!!!
This is definitely a MUST series!!! Just go for it!!!
"Damn it, woman, you're my Cards O' Fun, and I want to keep turning them over and experiencing each different one with you..."
**I received an ARC for the exchange of an honest review**
!AVAILABLE!
"You're a bully."
"And you're a rebel."
"Well, aren't we quite the pair!"
The fifth book in the Play Hard series was an addition that I wasn't expecting, but which I totally get excited over it!!!
If you have read the previous books, then you now that Finn Sanderson isn't the good guy there!!! He is the villain who has a rival with the Kincaid sisters after hurting one of them and he is a major manwhore....
But guess what??? In his book, everything are changing!!!!
"Game on, Stevester!!!"
Finn is living his best life!!! He is one of the top sports agents and women are floating on his feet...
So, when his mentor is asking him for a huge favor, even though he doesn't want to get involved, he has no other choice.... But Stevie Lancaster is a woman that's waking up weird feelings inside of him, bad as well as good ones...
"I learned a long time ago not to get personal with clients."
Stevie is a phenomenal tennis player but lately, she had lost her way, and with a good reason...
She is feeling lost and all over the place and she is making bad decisions that are affecting her game and her life...
The last thing that she needs is a cocky sports agent to babysit her, especially when they were about to have an one night stand the previous day...
How can she avoid everyone that is always on her business???
"Big, bad sports agent thinks he can swoop in and save the day."
This was a lovely story...
Of course, Finn wasn't my favorite person in the previous books on the series, but in here, while i got inside his head i realized that Finn was so much more than he was appearing to be...
He had a good heart, even though he had hard ways.... Stevie was making him different and that was scaring him in a way...
"How can you forget a woman like that?"
Stevie was a lost girl with so much strength inside of her... She just needed someone to motivate her to become better and Finn was that for her, even though he was getting on her last nerve... Lust, hatred, annoyance, love was some of the phases that these two got throughout this book and I loved every second of it!!!
Finn and Stevie were so good for each other!!!
"He is definitely a balm to the damaged parts of me."
This series kept me such a pleasant company!!! Every book was a new, wonderful story with its ups and downs and I think that I'm going to miss these guys!!!
This is definitely a MUST series!!! Just go for it!!!
"Damn it, woman, you're my Cards O' Fun, and I want to keep turning them over and experiencing each different one with you..."
**I received an ARC for the exchange of an honest review**
August 30, 2021
Even though Finn Sanderson hasn't been the nicest or best of guys over the course of this series, I'm so glad that K Bromberg wrote a story for Finn, as you knew he just had a story that needed to be told. And she wrote one heck of a story in Hard to Love and just made me fall in love with the agent we've loved to hate!! I was completely sucked into this story right from the start!! And Stevie Lancaster was the perfect match for Finn!!
The banter between these two was excellent - she gave it as good as he did; and the chemistry, was off the charts. From the moment they met, there was just a connection that neither one could ignore, even when they acted like they hated one another. I loved that while Stevie was not as experienced as Finn, she never once held back. She had a bit of a dirty mouth and mind on her that Finn just couldn't resist (ahem.....the desk scene - HOT).
I really enjoyed watching these two fall for each other, even when they said it was just sex. It never is just sex. And the last couple chapters (and epilogue - which was oh so amazing) I just had the biggest smile on my face along with a few tears as Finn and Stevie finally got everything they never knew they wanted - together.
The banter between these two was excellent - she gave it as good as he did; and the chemistry, was off the charts. From the moment they met, there was just a connection that neither one could ignore, even when they acted like they hated one another. I loved that while Stevie was not as experienced as Finn, she never once held back. She had a bit of a dirty mouth and mind on her that Finn just couldn't resist (ahem.....the desk scene - HOT).
I really enjoyed watching these two fall for each other, even when they said it was just sex. It never is just sex. And the last couple chapters (and epilogue - which was oh so amazing) I just had the biggest smile on my face along with a few tears as Finn and Stevie finally got everything they never knew they wanted - together.
August 22, 2021
Just finished Hard to Love and it was hard not to love Finn. He was the jerk who broke Chases heart, he was the villain not the hero. That is until he meets his match in Stevie. They have so much in common they are perfect for each other. Watching him be the good guy I always knew he had in him was one of the best parts of the book. The villain became the hero we wanted to get his happily ever after.
I loved this book so much. I think he became my favourite hero from this series. The way he stepped in and rescued Stevie, both times, made him perfect. The epilogue was perfect and exactly the Finn I knew was behind the bad boy facade he was always showing.
5 star read! The book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone.
I loved this book so much. I think he became my favourite hero from this series. The way he stepped in and rescued Stevie, both times, made him perfect. The epilogue was perfect and exactly the Finn I knew was behind the bad boy facade he was always showing.
5 star read! The book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone.
August 25, 2021
Oh how I have waited for Finn's story and truly fell in love with this Hard to Love man and the feisty Stevie! Full review to follow
September 10, 2021
𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 by K. Bromberg is the 5th book in the 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀. In the 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, we were introduced to 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻, 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰, as the ex-boyfriend of Chase Kincade (𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝗲). 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 can be read as a complete stand-alone. You do not need to read the prior books as Finn doesn't play that big of a role in them.
𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 is a top sports agent. Only in his early 30’s, Finn is one of the most sought-after sports agents in the country He’s money hungry and excellent at his job. He is also He has a reputation of being an arrogant jerk, which he will tell you himself is true. Finn doesn’t trust women and doesn’t want a relationship. Being that he’s so busy, he feels content to live his fast paced and commitment free lifestyle. He’s portrayed as extremely physically attractive, which makes it easy for women to flock to him.
When Finn is called in by his mentor to help him with an “out of control” client, Finn reluctantly agrees.
This book is honestly hard to review, pun intended. From the beginning I was interested in the story. I have been wanting to read about Finn since meeting him in the prior books where he is portrayed as the ruthless rival of the Kincade sisters in their sports management business. I almost feel as though this should be marked as a bully read. I felt that the treatment of the heroine by Finn was insanely harsh. There were moments where I was surprised that Finn couldn’t find one tad bit of empathy. The way he spoke to her was portrayed as a tough love approach. Perhaps this isn’t my thing, but I wanted more for Stevie than the constant criticizing.
Stevie Lancaster is a world-renowned tennis star. She is one of the best in her field. She’s going through extreme grief after the loss of her father. She also has conflicting feeling about her strict childhood and wants to experience the life she never got to enjoy because she was always practicing tennis. She has mixed feelings towards her father but works through them in a beautiful ending for her portion of the story line that I delt with her father’s passing. I liked Stevie’s personality. I agreed with her regarding the fact that she needed to experience partying and other wild experiences. Just as a human being, reading some of the scenes where Finn kept yelling at her hurt MY feelings.
From the moment Finn and Stevie met professionally up until just about 60ish percent there were things I would not be okay with as a woman. First of all, the heroine just lost her father. The fact that Finn kept antagonizing her repeatedly even in moments when she did nothing to him stunned me. I felt really bad for Stevie throughout this novel and even though this is a romance so I knew they’d eventually end up together, I would have reached my breaking point if I were Stevie a long time before she did.
I don’t “love” a bully novel trope but at least if I know I’m going into something where I’m ready for a heroine to be mistreated, I’m not surprised when it happens out of nowhere. At times during this book, I wanted to scream at Finn. It’s definitely enemies to lovers which is my favorite trope when there are huge moments and warm feelings. I didn’t get any of that here.
I found the plot to be predictable, however I did expect more from Finn so that part was a surprise. Overall, it was just okay and while it did have family issues and life lessons, the extreme cruelness of the hero overshadowed that for me.
I am so grateful to have received an ARC from ValentinePR and am leaving my review voluntarily.
𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 is a top sports agent. Only in his early 30’s, Finn is one of the most sought-after sports agents in the country He’s money hungry and excellent at his job. He is also He has a reputation of being an arrogant jerk, which he will tell you himself is true. Finn doesn’t trust women and doesn’t want a relationship. Being that he’s so busy, he feels content to live his fast paced and commitment free lifestyle. He’s portrayed as extremely physically attractive, which makes it easy for women to flock to him.
When Finn is called in by his mentor to help him with an “out of control” client, Finn reluctantly agrees.
This book is honestly hard to review, pun intended. From the beginning I was interested in the story. I have been wanting to read about Finn since meeting him in the prior books where he is portrayed as the ruthless rival of the Kincade sisters in their sports management business. I almost feel as though this should be marked as a bully read. I felt that the treatment of the heroine by Finn was insanely harsh. There were moments where I was surprised that Finn couldn’t find one tad bit of empathy. The way he spoke to her was portrayed as a tough love approach. Perhaps this isn’t my thing, but I wanted more for Stevie than the constant criticizing.
Stevie Lancaster is a world-renowned tennis star. She is one of the best in her field. She’s going through extreme grief after the loss of her father. She also has conflicting feeling about her strict childhood and wants to experience the life she never got to enjoy because she was always practicing tennis. She has mixed feelings towards her father but works through them in a beautiful ending for her portion of the story line that I delt with her father’s passing. I liked Stevie’s personality. I agreed with her regarding the fact that she needed to experience partying and other wild experiences. Just as a human being, reading some of the scenes where Finn kept yelling at her hurt MY feelings.
From the moment Finn and Stevie met professionally up until just about 60ish percent there were things I would not be okay with as a woman. First of all, the heroine just lost her father. The fact that Finn kept antagonizing her repeatedly even in moments when she did nothing to him stunned me. I felt really bad for Stevie throughout this novel and even though this is a romance so I knew they’d eventually end up together, I would have reached my breaking point if I were Stevie a long time before she did.
I don’t “love” a bully novel trope but at least if I know I’m going into something where I’m ready for a heroine to be mistreated, I’m not surprised when it happens out of nowhere. At times during this book, I wanted to scream at Finn. It’s definitely enemies to lovers which is my favorite trope when there are huge moments and warm feelings. I didn’t get any of that here.
I found the plot to be predictable, however I did expect more from Finn so that part was a surprise. Overall, it was just okay and while it did have family issues and life lessons, the extreme cruelness of the hero overshadowed that for me.
I am so grateful to have received an ARC from ValentinePR and am leaving my review voluntarily.
December 31, 2021
** One of my Top 20 of 2021 Picks on www.JeevesReads.com! **
Crackling chemistry from the very first interaction - this couple is absolutely combustible, and watching their cat and mouse game from the sidelines was totally engrossing. I wasn't sure what to expect from this antihero redeemed romance; Finn has been the "villain" throughout this series of interconnected standalones, and his history is somewhat problematic. But it was incredibly easy to fall for him in this. Bromberg is an expert at writing complex characters and unique relationships, with this being another prime example. These two have crazy chemistry, and their combative, lust-filled interactions had me completely hooked. It's a slow emotional burn, leading with the heat before simmering into a heavier, nuanced read.
The story follows Finn, the sports agent that we met in previous books in the Play Hard series (NOT required reading). Let's just say that he's got some damage from his past, and his fight or flight instincts always kick in whenever women want more than sex from him - with flight always winning out. When Finn meets Stevie, she is grieving the loss of her father and acting out in self-destructive ways. There's something about Stevie that draws Finn to her, but his fight or flight instincts have him running scared - and his new role as her "babysitter" doesn't help matters. They're stuck together for the foreseeable future, so Finn is forced to dig deeper with Stevie than he ever has before. Getting to know a woman that he's incredibly attracted to might just be Finn's greatest fear.
I loved the super lusty, enemies to lovers dynamic in this. These two are drawn together by their sizzling chemistry, but neither one is in the right headspace for more. They're both afraid of an emotional connection, and the conflict that ensues had me absolutely glued to the page. I just devoured this. Bromberg excels at writing steamy scenes that bleed intimacy and reveal SO MUCH about the characters, and these two communicate with their bodies in such interesting ways. I actually liked Finn quite a bit; going into this, he was a villain who cheated in past relationships, and I wasn't sure that I was going to like him. That was not an issue. Yes, he was a little harsh at times, but it was easy to understand what was going on inside his head, and the story is that much stronger for it. Finn and Stevie's personalities are what make this such a dynamic, addictive read. My only real complaints are minor ones: there needed to be a longer conversation about Finn's (past, in another relationship) cheating to resolve that storyline, and Stevie's obvious daddy issues made elements of this age gap romance slightly cringey. Neither of those things were significant problems for me. This makes an excellent addition to what has been an outstanding series, and I'm sad to see it go. I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this sexy sports romance.
Crackling chemistry from the very first interaction - this couple is absolutely combustible, and watching their cat and mouse game from the sidelines was totally engrossing. I wasn't sure what to expect from this antihero redeemed romance; Finn has been the "villain" throughout this series of interconnected standalones, and his history is somewhat problematic. But it was incredibly easy to fall for him in this. Bromberg is an expert at writing complex characters and unique relationships, with this being another prime example. These two have crazy chemistry, and their combative, lust-filled interactions had me completely hooked. It's a slow emotional burn, leading with the heat before simmering into a heavier, nuanced read.
The story follows Finn, the sports agent that we met in previous books in the Play Hard series (NOT required reading). Let's just say that he's got some damage from his past, and his fight or flight instincts always kick in whenever women want more than sex from him - with flight always winning out. When Finn meets Stevie, she is grieving the loss of her father and acting out in self-destructive ways. There's something about Stevie that draws Finn to her, but his fight or flight instincts have him running scared - and his new role as her "babysitter" doesn't help matters. They're stuck together for the foreseeable future, so Finn is forced to dig deeper with Stevie than he ever has before. Getting to know a woman that he's incredibly attracted to might just be Finn's greatest fear.
I loved the super lusty, enemies to lovers dynamic in this. These two are drawn together by their sizzling chemistry, but neither one is in the right headspace for more. They're both afraid of an emotional connection, and the conflict that ensues had me absolutely glued to the page. I just devoured this. Bromberg excels at writing steamy scenes that bleed intimacy and reveal SO MUCH about the characters, and these two communicate with their bodies in such interesting ways. I actually liked Finn quite a bit; going into this, he was a villain who cheated in past relationships, and I wasn't sure that I was going to like him. That was not an issue. Yes, he was a little harsh at times, but it was easy to understand what was going on inside his head, and the story is that much stronger for it. Finn and Stevie's personalities are what make this such a dynamic, addictive read. My only real complaints are minor ones: there needed to be a longer conversation about Finn's (past, in another relationship) cheating to resolve that storyline, and Stevie's obvious daddy issues made elements of this age gap romance slightly cringey. Neither of those things were significant problems for me. This makes an excellent addition to what has been an outstanding series, and I'm sad to see it go. I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this sexy sports romance.
August 13, 2023
Very little about this book was "hard to love". I've read and loved all the other books in this series and I was always interested in how Finn's redemption would go (I really disliked him when he was introduced and then he did some sweet and protective things throughout the later books in the series that made me rethink him.). I was happy to receive an early copy of this book.
In this book, we find out more about why he was the way he was with women; the ultimate player, he didn't do relationships. He meets Stevie, a champion tennis player who recently lost her father and is going through a downward spiral. Admittedly, as someone who lost her father in her mid 20s but didn't have the luxury of totally falling apart like she did, part of the story didn't really resonate for me. But her redemption was also so well done and I ended this story absolutely loving both Finn and Stevie (and their banter was so much fun). They had a difficult road, full of tears but also laughs and of course, plenty of steam. This was a fitting end to the series and I'm sad to say goodbye to all the characters in this world!
Audiobook was amazing- love the narrators, loved reliving this story. such a great time!
In this book, we find out more about why he was the way he was with women; the ultimate player, he didn't do relationships. He meets Stevie, a champion tennis player who recently lost her father and is going through a downward spiral. Admittedly, as someone who lost her father in her mid 20s but didn't have the luxury of totally falling apart like she did, part of the story didn't really resonate for me. But her redemption was also so well done and I ended this story absolutely loving both Finn and Stevie (and their banter was so much fun). They had a difficult road, full of tears but also laughs and of course, plenty of steam. This was a fitting end to the series and I'm sad to say goodbye to all the characters in this world!
Audiobook was amazing- love the narrators, loved reliving this story. such a great time!
September 7, 2021
recensione "a cura del blog Libri magnetici" by Meghan
With this last volume the series "Hard to..." it brings us to know a character who in the previous book was not only an unsentimental man but also incapable of any regret.
I have to say, dear Magnetics readers, that I started the reading a little skeptical, also because, unlike usual, in this story Finn is the sports attorney and Steve the athlete who started a journey of self-destruction.
Their meeting is immediately clashing: she has recently lost her father-coach-mentor with whom she had a very strong single-parent relationship and consequently she has not only abandoned training, but also bounces on all social media for insane behavior never had such as wild nights in Las Vegas, in which she only tries to cancel the pain of losing her father.
«But what if I don’t want go back there? What if… what if I dont’ know what to want or how to feel or even where to look for that? I’ve spent my entire life under my dad’s thumb – missing so much of normal life for this incredibile life that I have – is it so wrong to want a little bit of both?.»
At this point Finn enters the scene, who has the ability to deal with champions who have situations similar to his but also because his mentor Carson asked to him: through the relationship with him, we know a different Finn, of which we also understand the total distrust towards women and relationships in general, and that slowly, thanks to the sensitive and particular K. Bromberg’s writing, it makes us re-evaluate and appreciate it.
«Maybe Carson is right – all women aren’t like my mother. Maybe it’s time to call the noise my dad put in my head bullshit. To acknowledge that women shouldn’t be used and discarded. Because Stevie Lancaster is a woman who slhould never be used nor discarded. And that realization scare the fuck out of me.»
And so, deciding to help Stevie creates a strange coexistence / relationship between them that, contrary to what can be guessed, does not speak of their attraction but of what they feel, they feel towards the life they have had, the abandonments, the future, the fear of approaching each other.
Stevie's father has been everything to her and when he realizes that she has become a woman thanks to him, he will also become aware that he can return to play and win: Finn himself will understand that finally leaving behind the influence of his father, can give him the chance to be a better man.
«I don’t think I’ve ever experienced before. For her, battling to be in this moment after everything she went through, and for me, finally putting to rest my dad’s rhetoric that he spent a lifetime trying to make me believe.»
Two protagonists who change strongly over the course of the pages, giving a narrative turn that is not obvious and that keeps you clinging to reading.
A story that talks about how you can start loving, when we least expect it and after a life of solitude, a conclusion with two different characters from the whole series and that confirms the versatility and particular depth of this author.
Five stars.
Con questo ultimo volume la serie “Hard to…” ci porta a conoscere un personaggio che nella storia precedente non era solo un anafettivo ma anche incapace di qualsiasi pentimento.
Devo confessarvi, cari Magnetici, che ho iniziato la lettura un po' scettica, anche perché, a differenza del solito, in questa storia Finn è il procuratore sportivo e Steve l’atleta che ha iniziato un cammino di autodistruzione.
Il loro incontro è subito scontro: lei ha da poco perso il padre-allenatore-mentore con cui aveva un rapporto monogenitoriale fortissimo e di conseguenza ha non solo abbandonato gli allenamenti, ma anche rimbalza su tutti i social per comportamenti dissennati mai avuti quali nottate sfrenate a Las Vegas, in cui cerca solo di annullare il dolore della perdita del padre.
« Ma cosa succede se non voglio tornare lì? E se... cosa succede se non so cosa volere o come sentirmi o anche dove cercarlo? Ho passato tutta la mia vita sotto l’influenza di mio padre – mancandomi così tanto della vita normale per questa vita incredibile che ho – è così sbagliato volere un po 'di entrambi?. »
A questo punto entra in scena Finn, che ha l’abilità di trattare con i campioni che hanno situazioni simili alla sua ma anche perché glielo chiede il suo mentore Carson: attraverso il rapporto con lui, conosciamo un Finn diverso, di cui capiamo anche la diffidenza totale verso le donne e i rapporti in generale, e che pian piano, grazie alla penna sensibile e particola di K. Bromberg, ce lo fa rivalutare ed apprezzare.
«Forse Carson ha ragione, tutte le donne non sono come mia madre. Forse è il momento di definire tutto quello che mio padre mi ha messo in testa solo delle stronzate. Riconoscere che le donne non dovrebbero essere usate e scartate. Perché Stevie Lancaster è una donna che non dovrebbe mai essere usata né scartata. E questa considerazione mi spaventa a morte .»
E così, decidendo di aiutare Stevie si crea tra loro una strana convivenza/rapporto che, contrariamente a quanto si possa intuire, non parla della loro attrazione ma di quello che provano, sentono verso la vita che hanno avuto, gli abbandoni, il futuro, la paura di avvicinarsi l’uno all’altra.
Il padre di Stevie è stato tutto per lei e quando si rende conto che lei è diventata una donna grazie a lui, prenderà anche coscienza di poter tornare a giocare e vincere: Finn stesso capirà che lasciarsi alle spalle finalmente l’influenza di suo padre, gli può dare la possibilità di essere un uomo migliore.
«Non credo di aver mai sperimentato prima una cosa del genere. Per lei, lottando per essere qui, in questo momento dopo tutto quello che ha passato, e per me, mettendo finalmente a tacere la retorica di mio padre, che ha passato una vita a cercare di farmi credere fosse giusta.»
Due protagonisti che cambiano fortemente nel corso delle pagine, dando una svolta narrativa non scontata e che tiene avvinti alla lettura.
Un storia che parla di come si possa iniziare ad amare, quando meno ce lo aspettiamo e dopo una vita di solitudine, una conclusione con due personaggi diversi da tutta la serie e che conferma la versatilità e profondità particolare di quest’autrice.
Cinque petali.
With this last volume the series "Hard to..." it brings us to know a character who in the previous book was not only an unsentimental man but also incapable of any regret.
I have to say, dear Magnetics readers, that I started the reading a little skeptical, also because, unlike usual, in this story Finn is the sports attorney and Steve the athlete who started a journey of self-destruction.
Their meeting is immediately clashing: she has recently lost her father-coach-mentor with whom she had a very strong single-parent relationship and consequently she has not only abandoned training, but also bounces on all social media for insane behavior never had such as wild nights in Las Vegas, in which she only tries to cancel the pain of losing her father.
«But what if I don’t want go back there? What if… what if I dont’ know what to want or how to feel or even where to look for that? I’ve spent my entire life under my dad’s thumb – missing so much of normal life for this incredibile life that I have – is it so wrong to want a little bit of both?.»
At this point Finn enters the scene, who has the ability to deal with champions who have situations similar to his but also because his mentor Carson asked to him: through the relationship with him, we know a different Finn, of which we also understand the total distrust towards women and relationships in general, and that slowly, thanks to the sensitive and particular K. Bromberg’s writing, it makes us re-evaluate and appreciate it.
«Maybe Carson is right – all women aren’t like my mother. Maybe it’s time to call the noise my dad put in my head bullshit. To acknowledge that women shouldn’t be used and discarded. Because Stevie Lancaster is a woman who slhould never be used nor discarded. And that realization scare the fuck out of me.»
And so, deciding to help Stevie creates a strange coexistence / relationship between them that, contrary to what can be guessed, does not speak of their attraction but of what they feel, they feel towards the life they have had, the abandonments, the future, the fear of approaching each other.
Stevie's father has been everything to her and when he realizes that she has become a woman thanks to him, he will also become aware that he can return to play and win: Finn himself will understand that finally leaving behind the influence of his father, can give him the chance to be a better man.
«I don’t think I’ve ever experienced before. For her, battling to be in this moment after everything she went through, and for me, finally putting to rest my dad’s rhetoric that he spent a lifetime trying to make me believe.»
Two protagonists who change strongly over the course of the pages, giving a narrative turn that is not obvious and that keeps you clinging to reading.
A story that talks about how you can start loving, when we least expect it and after a life of solitude, a conclusion with two different characters from the whole series and that confirms the versatility and particular depth of this author.
Five stars.
Con questo ultimo volume la serie “Hard to…” ci porta a conoscere un personaggio che nella storia precedente non era solo un anafettivo ma anche incapace di qualsiasi pentimento.
Devo confessarvi, cari Magnetici, che ho iniziato la lettura un po' scettica, anche perché, a differenza del solito, in questa storia Finn è il procuratore sportivo e Steve l’atleta che ha iniziato un cammino di autodistruzione.
Il loro incontro è subito scontro: lei ha da poco perso il padre-allenatore-mentore con cui aveva un rapporto monogenitoriale fortissimo e di conseguenza ha non solo abbandonato gli allenamenti, ma anche rimbalza su tutti i social per comportamenti dissennati mai avuti quali nottate sfrenate a Las Vegas, in cui cerca solo di annullare il dolore della perdita del padre.
« Ma cosa succede se non voglio tornare lì? E se... cosa succede se non so cosa volere o come sentirmi o anche dove cercarlo? Ho passato tutta la mia vita sotto l’influenza di mio padre – mancandomi così tanto della vita normale per questa vita incredibile che ho – è così sbagliato volere un po 'di entrambi?. »
A questo punto entra in scena Finn, che ha l’abilità di trattare con i campioni che hanno situazioni simili alla sua ma anche perché glielo chiede il suo mentore Carson: attraverso il rapporto con lui, conosciamo un Finn diverso, di cui capiamo anche la diffidenza totale verso le donne e i rapporti in generale, e che pian piano, grazie alla penna sensibile e particola di K. Bromberg, ce lo fa rivalutare ed apprezzare.
«Forse Carson ha ragione, tutte le donne non sono come mia madre. Forse è il momento di definire tutto quello che mio padre mi ha messo in testa solo delle stronzate. Riconoscere che le donne non dovrebbero essere usate e scartate. Perché Stevie Lancaster è una donna che non dovrebbe mai essere usata né scartata. E questa considerazione mi spaventa a morte .»
E così, decidendo di aiutare Stevie si crea tra loro una strana convivenza/rapporto che, contrariamente a quanto si possa intuire, non parla della loro attrazione ma di quello che provano, sentono verso la vita che hanno avuto, gli abbandoni, il futuro, la paura di avvicinarsi l’uno all’altra.
Il padre di Stevie è stato tutto per lei e quando si rende conto che lei è diventata una donna grazie a lui, prenderà anche coscienza di poter tornare a giocare e vincere: Finn stesso capirà che lasciarsi alle spalle finalmente l’influenza di suo padre, gli può dare la possibilità di essere un uomo migliore.
«Non credo di aver mai sperimentato prima una cosa del genere. Per lei, lottando per essere qui, in questo momento dopo tutto quello che ha passato, e per me, mettendo finalmente a tacere la retorica di mio padre, che ha passato una vita a cercare di farmi credere fosse giusta.»
Due protagonisti che cambiano fortemente nel corso delle pagine, dando una svolta narrativa non scontata e che tiene avvinti alla lettura.
Un storia che parla di come si possa iniziare ad amare, quando meno ce lo aspettiamo e dopo una vita di solitudine, una conclusione con due personaggi diversi da tutta la serie e che conferma la versatilità e profondità particolare di quest’autrice.
Cinque petali.
September 7, 2021
Hard to Love is all about Finn and I was ready for it!! He was a bit of a villain in previous books (not really a BAD guy, but not one you think "I would love for him to get his own book") so getting deep into his story was something I was conflicted about. However, because the girls all have their HEA, I was curious about Finn.
First, a different sport!! Stevie is a tennis player! I love the focus on a female athlete in a sport other than soccer. I also love that she is the one with the bad rep. I also love that she is just a woman with pain and heartbreak who hides behind being a good time girl. This is so often a behavior we see in young men, but it made me think of the famous women who have had total breakdowns due to the stress of their lives and being in the spotlight.
Stevie and Finn were great for each other because they understand each other. Neither thinks they are looking for anything serious, either. There is great banter and amazing sexual chemistry. Finn certainly redeems himself and I think even the biggest Finn hater will fall for him. This entire series has been fabulous, and this is no exception!
POV: dual 1st
Tears: no
Trope: famous, athlete, forced proximity
Triggers:
Series/Standalone: stand alone within an interconnected series
Cliffhanger:
HEA:
Fortunate Son by Jay Crownover, Every Time I Fall by Lexi Ryan, Dream Chaser by Kristen Ashley...then you will probably like Hard to Love!
Hard to Love
See full review on The Book Disciple
September 7, 2021
4.5 stars!
Hard to Love is the last book in the Play Hard series and it is fantastic. It’s a new take on the enemies-to-lovers romance between a sports star and her new manager, and I loved it.
Stevie is known as the best female tennis player in the world but her life comes crashing down in a blink of an eye. She’s a heartbroken, hot mess after her dad dies and kind of goes off the rails. She lets her life fall apart while losing her place in the tennis world. Her manager and the person her father trusted most takes action and brings in Finn, a manager known for getting players back on track. Unfortunately, Stevie and Finn have met before and not in a good way. Finn was her one-night stand gone wrong and now he's in charge of her life when she wishes he would just disappear.
This story is so much fun but still brought on the feels. Stevie’s life is tennis and her father. When he dies, she is lost. I felt her pain and I loved that her friends were there for her. They were a hoot together and it helped take her mind off of her loss. However, she can’t ignore that she’s a star tennis player and every day she is letting her rank slip. That’s when Finn comes into the picture.
Finn is a successful manager who knows he can get Stevie back in the game. He is ready to do what needs to be done but Stevie wants nothing to do with him especially after their first encounter.
The banter between these two is fantastic. They bicker and challenge each other, and slowly they start to open up. Finn is there for Stevie and gives her a place to regroup when she needs it most and they start to shift from enemies to friends.
They are undeniably attracted to each other and it makes the sexual tension sky rocket as they try to keep their hand off of each other. However, after the taste from before, they finally give in and it is HOT! Finn doesn’t do relationships and Stevie just needs release, so getting each other out of their systems sounds like a good idea at the time. It back fires though and they just want more.
I loved that Finn’s life gets totally flipped upside down by Stevie and all she brings to his life. They enter into new territory and have a lot to work through if they want to make it work between them. They have a sweet relationship and believe in each other and I was rooting hard for them. There are some ups and downs and also a lot of growth and healing for both of them and I enjoyed their journey. They have an unexpected second chance and I loved it!
I have to add that I was worried how I would like Finn since I didn’t like him much in Hard to Lose but man did I like him in this book! He takes full responsibilities for his past actions and though I am not okay with what he did to Chase, I just have a better understanding of him.
Overall, Hard to Love is another great addition to the series. Finn and Stevie were perfect for each other and I loved how everything unfolded.
*ARC generously provided but the author and Valentine PR*
Hard to Love is the last book in the Play Hard series and it is fantastic. It’s a new take on the enemies-to-lovers romance between a sports star and her new manager, and I loved it.
Stevie is known as the best female tennis player in the world but her life comes crashing down in a blink of an eye. She’s a heartbroken, hot mess after her dad dies and kind of goes off the rails. She lets her life fall apart while losing her place in the tennis world. Her manager and the person her father trusted most takes action and brings in Finn, a manager known for getting players back on track. Unfortunately, Stevie and Finn have met before and not in a good way. Finn was her one-night stand gone wrong and now he's in charge of her life when she wishes he would just disappear.
This story is so much fun but still brought on the feels. Stevie’s life is tennis and her father. When he dies, she is lost. I felt her pain and I loved that her friends were there for her. They were a hoot together and it helped take her mind off of her loss. However, she can’t ignore that she’s a star tennis player and every day she is letting her rank slip. That’s when Finn comes into the picture.
Finn is a successful manager who knows he can get Stevie back in the game. He is ready to do what needs to be done but Stevie wants nothing to do with him especially after their first encounter.
The banter between these two is fantastic. They bicker and challenge each other, and slowly they start to open up. Finn is there for Stevie and gives her a place to regroup when she needs it most and they start to shift from enemies to friends.
They are undeniably attracted to each other and it makes the sexual tension sky rocket as they try to keep their hand off of each other. However, after the taste from before, they finally give in and it is HOT! Finn doesn’t do relationships and Stevie just needs release, so getting each other out of their systems sounds like a good idea at the time. It back fires though and they just want more.
I loved that Finn’s life gets totally flipped upside down by Stevie and all she brings to his life. They enter into new territory and have a lot to work through if they want to make it work between them. They have a sweet relationship and believe in each other and I was rooting hard for them. There are some ups and downs and also a lot of growth and healing for both of them and I enjoyed their journey. They have an unexpected second chance and I loved it!
I have to add that I was worried how I would like Finn since I didn’t like him much in Hard to Lose but man did I like him in this book! He takes full responsibilities for his past actions and though I am not okay with what he did to Chase, I just have a better understanding of him.
Overall, Hard to Love is another great addition to the series. Finn and Stevie were perfect for each other and I loved how everything unfolded.
*ARC generously provided but the author and Valentine PR*
September 5, 2021
Redemption and healing- Hard to Love dishes just that as K Bromberg tackles a character that I just was not sure I could love. Ah Finn- I wasn’t quite sure I could invest in a story about him. To me this was beyond a redemption story- since there are some characters that you’re not sure COULD be redeemed, and I was quite nervous about him. But, the title of this story speaks to the romantic journey to come- because Finn is a bit, well, hard to love. But, worth the effort, and his story charms in the end.
I also loved a bit of the gender swap in the normal “babysitting the wilds star” trope- as Finn, successful sports agent hotshot with a iceberg-sized chip on his shoulder is tasked with getting rebellious, out of control tennis star Stevie under control- a top ranked athlete who is on the verge of destroying her hard won career. A task hard enough for the seemingly selfish, cold, and haughty Finn, but one made even harder by the fact that these two already know each other...biblically. And soon they find each other unexpectedly in close proximity as Stevie tries to regroup- and then we finally get to the heart of these two.
Two characters in the need of some redemption- two characters manifesting parts of themselves that are methods to cope or hide. With Stevie, she won my heart pretty easily. Grieving the loss of her father (who was her trainer, best friend, core family), she’s just self-destructing to avoid confronting the soul-crushing grip of grief. Under the immense pressure of her career and the burden of her loss, she’s lost her meaning and her purpose. And she finds connection, empathy, and care from the place she least expects it- her new handler. Finn was a harder sell for me- thought he redeemed himself, mostly. There are still a few things that are lingering- but we do see a side of him that is compelling and a lot more likable. K Bromberg keeps some of his harder edges, but we finally find out what has led to his less likable visage- the arrogant, narcissistic cutthroat agent we’ve not always liked. K Bromberg doesn’t soften him fully, but she gives him depth and complexity I wasn’t expecting, and he ends up being the partner that Stevie needs. These two pack plenty of heat, but I was surprised by the emotional vulnerability we got from them too. How these two found understanding in one another - once they finally give in to it. It’s a bit slower to get there, but these both have a lot of exterior defense to bust through, and in the end, their story is quite endearing and full of feels I never anticipated in a story about Finn. K Bromberg made me fall for him after all- and even more for his love story with Stevie.
I also loved a bit of the gender swap in the normal “babysitting the wilds star” trope- as Finn, successful sports agent hotshot with a iceberg-sized chip on his shoulder is tasked with getting rebellious, out of control tennis star Stevie under control- a top ranked athlete who is on the verge of destroying her hard won career. A task hard enough for the seemingly selfish, cold, and haughty Finn, but one made even harder by the fact that these two already know each other...biblically. And soon they find each other unexpectedly in close proximity as Stevie tries to regroup- and then we finally get to the heart of these two.
Two characters in the need of some redemption- two characters manifesting parts of themselves that are methods to cope or hide. With Stevie, she won my heart pretty easily. Grieving the loss of her father (who was her trainer, best friend, core family), she’s just self-destructing to avoid confronting the soul-crushing grip of grief. Under the immense pressure of her career and the burden of her loss, she’s lost her meaning and her purpose. And she finds connection, empathy, and care from the place she least expects it- her new handler. Finn was a harder sell for me- thought he redeemed himself, mostly. There are still a few things that are lingering- but we do see a side of him that is compelling and a lot more likable. K Bromberg keeps some of his harder edges, but we finally find out what has led to his less likable visage- the arrogant, narcissistic cutthroat agent we’ve not always liked. K Bromberg doesn’t soften him fully, but she gives him depth and complexity I wasn’t expecting, and he ends up being the partner that Stevie needs. These two pack plenty of heat, but I was surprised by the emotional vulnerability we got from them too. How these two found understanding in one another - once they finally give in to it. It’s a bit slower to get there, but these both have a lot of exterior defense to bust through, and in the end, their story is quite endearing and full of feels I never anticipated in a story about Finn. K Bromberg made me fall for him after all- and even more for his love story with Stevie.
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