Hard to Handle, book one in the Play Hard series, an all new series of standalone books by New York Times bestselling author, K. Bromberg, is LIVE!
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Told in the first person. Alternating persons.
#kbromberg #bingeread #secondchanceromance #sportsromance #hockeyromance #enemiestolovers #bookishlove #readromance #bookporn #booklife #bookish #mustreadbook
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for review from Valentine PR and the author. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising".
At first, the request seemed simple—sign a new athlete to the agency.
Then I found out the new athlete was none other than the most wanted man in hockey today: Hunter Maddox
Then I found out the new athlete was none other than the most wanted man in hockey today: Hunter Maddox
Gifted. Sexy. At the top of his game. And the only man who has ever broken my heart.
If signing him will help save our family business, I’ll swallow my pride and do what’s asked.
If signing him will help save our family business, I’ll swallow my pride and do what’s asked.
But when it becomes clear his uncharacteristic antics off the ice are a hint of something deeper, keeping things strictly professional between us becomes more than complicated.
But I know better than to cross that line.
I’ll never date a client. Not even for him.
***
Win the Stanley Cup and do it before time runs out.
Not a small feat, but it’s what’s motivated me since the start of my career.
And time is running out.
Enter Dekker Kincade.
Feisty. Dogged. Damn gorgeous. The one I let get away.
I have no idea why she’s traveling with the team, but hell if resisting her is going to be easy.
But I have a job to do, and I refuse to lose sight of that end game. Even if she confuses me. Even if she sees parts of me I’ve hidden from the world.
I can’t lose focus. Not even for her.
Download today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3glG6vM
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/HardtoHandleKB
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3d3h9TK
Nook: https://bit.ly/2M0Vqjr
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3bZhDZO
Google Play: https://bit.ly/36uLzf8
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2LWC3YW
My Thoughts:
Hunter Maddox is a man with a problem he doesn't know how to fix. He has a lot on his shoulders - pressure most of us can't even imagine. Dekker Kincade isn't above fighting dirty for the greater good. She has a lot riding on her shoulders as well - family business.
This book shows the business side of sports - the side fans don't get to see. You get to see what players deal with once they're away from prying eyes. Some of them put a lot of pressure on themselves to be something for everyone and that can be a lot to live up to.
These two are like a stick of dynamite. But once in a while I think Hunter is more of a lit match. It was fun to watch and see if the stick will light or will it be all sweat and no boom. Maybe the dynamite will turn into more of a firecracker. What a great reason to keep turning the page.
The story's not all heat and passion. There's true human emotion here and that includes sadness and guilt - things that may bring a tear to your eye. Some of those scenes could be tough to read but our author is good that she knows the perfect time to reign that in and get us back to the heat that comes from our main characters. Our author also finds time to put in scenes that may get you to laugh. From beginning to end, you are going to feel something or maybe it will bring back memories - depending on how you connect to the story. That tear I mentioned earlier, may just make an appearance at the happiest moment.
This book shows the business side of sports - the side fans don't get to see. You get to see what players deal with once they're away from prying eyes. Some of them put a lot of pressure on themselves to be something for everyone and that can be a lot to live up to.
These two are like a stick of dynamite. But once in a while I think Hunter is more of a lit match. It was fun to watch and see if the stick will light or will it be all sweat and no boom. Maybe the dynamite will turn into more of a firecracker. What a great reason to keep turning the page.
The story's not all heat and passion. There's true human emotion here and that includes sadness and guilt - things that may bring a tear to your eye. Some of those scenes could be tough to read but our author is good that she knows the perfect time to reign that in and get us back to the heat that comes from our main characters. Our author also finds time to put in scenes that may get you to laugh. From beginning to end, you are going to feel something or maybe it will bring back memories - depending on how you connect to the story. That tear I mentioned earlier, may just make an appearance at the happiest moment.
Excerpt:
I stare at Hunter. At his shirt plastered with sweat and how it clings to his body, despite the chill of the ice his skates are standing on. He has his warm-up pants on and is without a helmet, his hair curling at the ends from the sweat.
And all I see in his eyes is anger I didn’t put there. Or maybe I did. Rejection can do that to a man . . . but there’s something more here. Something I walked in on that doesn’t make sense.
“Don’t give me that look, Kincade,” Hunter mutters as he skates over to the penalty box where his electrolyte drink sits.
“What look?” I ask.
He half laughs, half snorts and meets my gaze across the distance. “Disappointment. Disproval. Disdain. I’m the king of all of them, so save your breath—or in this case—your glare, because it’s not going to work with me.”
“Are we working on emotions that start with the letter D today?” I ask. A hint of my embarrassment and anger over how I acted last night creeps into my voice, but I mask it with sarcasm. “If that’s the case, I’m more than impressed with your answers thus far.”
He clenches his jaw in response and then skates back over to line up more pucks so he can shoot them. And he does, one after another, each shot taken with laser precision and a healthy dose of fury behind it.
He goes through the first ten lined up and then stops to catch his breath.
His talent and skill are undeniable, but so is the beer bottle in my hand.
“Just because you’re the captain and star of this team, doesn’t mean management won’t frown upon this,” I say, unable to let this go.
“Screw the management.”
“No one likes a player who’s hard to handle and honestly, Hunter, you’re becoming hard to handle.”
“No one likes unsolicited advice from someone who has no bearing on his career, either,” he counters, the rebuke stinging but deserved.
The problem is, I do care about him. Doesn’t he get that’s where my hostility stems from?
And only a crazy person would say that, Dekker.
I put my hands up in surrender to both him and my own thoughts. “You know I only want the best for you.” I take a few steps in his direction in the first row of the stands. I’m close enough to catch the hitch of his movement and to see uncertainty flicker in his eyes. It’s almost as if he needs to talk but doesn’t see me as someone he can trust. I hate that. “What is it, Hunter?”
“Nothing. It’s . . . never mind.”
But I see it, and he knows I see it. The question is what do I see, though?
And all I see in his eyes is anger I didn’t put there. Or maybe I did. Rejection can do that to a man . . . but there’s something more here. Something I walked in on that doesn’t make sense.
“Don’t give me that look, Kincade,” Hunter mutters as he skates over to the penalty box where his electrolyte drink sits.
“What look?” I ask.
He half laughs, half snorts and meets my gaze across the distance. “Disappointment. Disproval. Disdain. I’m the king of all of them, so save your breath—or in this case—your glare, because it’s not going to work with me.”
“Are we working on emotions that start with the letter D today?” I ask. A hint of my embarrassment and anger over how I acted last night creeps into my voice, but I mask it with sarcasm. “If that’s the case, I’m more than impressed with your answers thus far.”
He clenches his jaw in response and then skates back over to line up more pucks so he can shoot them. And he does, one after another, each shot taken with laser precision and a healthy dose of fury behind it.
He goes through the first ten lined up and then stops to catch his breath.
His talent and skill are undeniable, but so is the beer bottle in my hand.
“Just because you’re the captain and star of this team, doesn’t mean management won’t frown upon this,” I say, unable to let this go.
“Screw the management.”
“No one likes a player who’s hard to handle and honestly, Hunter, you’re becoming hard to handle.”
“No one likes unsolicited advice from someone who has no bearing on his career, either,” he counters, the rebuke stinging but deserved.
The problem is, I do care about him. Doesn’t he get that’s where my hostility stems from?
And only a crazy person would say that, Dekker.
I put my hands up in surrender to both him and my own thoughts. “You know I only want the best for you.” I take a few steps in his direction in the first row of the stands. I’m close enough to catch the hitch of his movement and to see uncertainty flicker in his eyes. It’s almost as if he needs to talk but doesn’t see me as someone he can trust. I hate that. “What is it, Hunter?”
“Nothing. It’s . . . never mind.”
But I see it, and he knows I see it. The question is what do I see, though?
Meet K. Bromberg:
New York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary romance novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines and damaged heroes who we love to hate but can’t help to love.
A mom of three, she plots her novels in between school runs and soccer practices, more often than not with her laptop in tow and her mind scattered in too many different directions.
Since publishing her first book on a whim in 2013, Kristy has sold over one and a half million copies of her books across eighteen different countries and has landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists over thirty times. Her Driven trilogy (Driven, Fueled, and Crashed) is currently being adapted for film by the streaming platform, Passionflix, with the first movie (Driven) out now.
With her imagination always in overdrive, she is currently scheming, plotting, and swooning over her latest hero. You can find out more about him or chat with Kristy on any of her social media accounts.
Connect with K. Bromberg:
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3daL3pq
Pinterest: https://bit.ly/3c51HoI
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3d74SxD
Twitter: https://bit.ly/3gpnOd1
Bookbub: https://bit.ly/2XvMI21
Website: www.KBromberg.com
Pinterest: https://bit.ly/3c51HoI
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3d74SxD
Twitter: https://bit.ly/3gpnOd1
Bookbub: https://bit.ly/2XvMI21
Website: www.KBromberg.com
Subscribe to her newsletter: http://bit.ly/254MWtI
Hosted By:
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please leave your comments below.