ARC Book Review: Kiss Hard by Nalini Singh

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Kiss Hard
Hard Play #4

Author: Nalini Singh
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance | Sports Romance
Released: 05/03/2022
Review Source: ARC | Netgalley

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh brings you a sinfully playful contemporary romance between two sworn enemies turned partners in crime...

Daniel Esera is a young god on the rugby field, a sexy and charming man who's got the world at his feet. There's just one problem: his sudden potent attraction to his number one nemesis--Catie River. No. Just no. Not happening.

Catie River is on her way to Paralympic gold, and she's not about to allow Danny "Hotshot" Esera to derail her plans. Too bad her body isn't cooperating. Even worse? Her heart might be coming along for the ride. No. Nope. Never.

The pair are united in their desire to remain enemies... until a stranger's reckless action threatens both their careers. Now, the only way out for Catie and Danny is to pretend to be in a relationship. How bad can it be? They're adults in full control of their hormones and their hearts. There will be no kissing. No PDA. And definitely no falling in love.

Let the games begin. 

This was my first Nalini Singh book since reading her Psy-Changeling series more than a few years ago and now I have the urge to read her entire backlog of books. Can I afford that? Nope. Will I do it anyways? Absolutely. And you know what? I’ll regret nothing.

Kiss Hard is book #4 in the Hard Play series although it can be read as a standalone - I’ve not read any of the previous novels and I didn’t feel like I was missing anything, I just knew I had to read this because of the enemies to lovers trope.

Daniel and Catie have been enemies for so long it’s all they know, but it doesn’t deter Catie from getting Daniel to safety and looking after him after his drink is drugged. The throughout the book, their relation blossoms from childhood enemies with the petty comments to a loving relationship. Any good enemies to lovers book needs a good transition and it was done really well here - it was such a smooth adjustment.

Nalini really did something here - Catie was a brilliant, inspiration and strong character. As a double amputee training for the Paralympics, it was refreshing to read about a disabled character as there's not many novels which cover disability. I can't speak too much on this as I am not a part of the disability community but from a reader's perspective, it was handled really well - nothing felt overdone or "off".

Kiss Hard is a standalone, contemporary romance and a brilliant addition to the romance genre. The novel is told from a dual POV and has a HEA.

Book Review: Rock Hard by Nalini Singh

Rock Hard
Rock Kiss #2
Author: Nalini Singh
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Released: March 10th 2015
Review Source: TKA Distribution | Netgalley

Wealthy businessman Gabriel Bishop rules the boardroom with the same determination and ruthlessness that made him a rock star on the rugby field. He knows what he wants, and he’ll go after it no-holds-barred.

And what he wants is Charlotte Baird.

Charlotte knows she’s a mouse. Emotionally scarred and painfully shy, she just wants to do her job and remain as invisible as possible. But the new CEO—a brilliant, broad-shouldered T-Rex of a man who growls and storms through the office, leaving carnage in his wake—clearly has other plans. Plans that may be equal parts business and bedroom..

If Charlotte intends to survive this battle of wits and hearts, the mouse will have to learn to wrangle the T-Rex. Game on.

Over the past 6 months Nalini Singh has fast become a favourite author of mine, and her Rock Kiss series is a fantastic addition to her collection of novels.

Have you ever had a craving for a certain type of novel but the craving is never satisfied because after reading a few rocker/famous sportsman they all seem the same? Just one cliché after another. But this series always leaves me happy. Rock Hard had well developed characters, hot scenes, along with emotional ones, and the ride was one I enjoyed following. Oh boy, did I enjoy following it!

Having accidentally missed out reading book 1, I knew I was missing out on something. Don’t get me wrong, all the information was there and there wasn’t actually anything missing, but I felt like I missed out on witnessing the connection between Molly and Charlotte (best friends) because I didn’t read Rock Addiction. So while these are great stand-alone novels, read them as serial. You’ll get so much more enjoyment.

Now on to the good stuff! The whole story...I just loved it. Everything from Charlotte's timid side, then watching her grow into her boots. Gabriel's rugby past and his accomplished present, his dominating presence and attitude which has the whole office calling him a growling T-Rex. I thoroughly enjoyed both characters and their interactions together. There were moments where I smiled like a fool, giggled a little and gasped in shock. Really, I couldn't have asked for more. It had the perfect mixture of real-life issues, heart and soul, and the best kind of romance.

If you're looking for a contemporary romance with awesome characters, and an even better swoon-worthy hero, then grab Rock Hard. You'll be routing for the couple, and it's a novel I highly recommend.

Book Review: Rock Courtship by Nalini Singh

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Rock Courtship
Rock Kiss #1.5
Author: Nalini Singh
Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: September 30th 2014
Review Source: TKA Distribution | NetGalley

What happens when the Gentleman of Rock decides to play dirty?

A drummer for the hottest rock band on the planet, David has a single, powerful weakness: Thea, the band's publicist and the woman who steals his breath away with her every move.

Only problem is, Thea doesn't date clients--or musicians. Emotionally scarred by a cheating ex, she's not about to risk her heart with a man who has groupies buzzing around him like flies. Even if his sexy smile ties her up in knots.

What she doesn't know is that David is a one-woman man...and he's madly in love with her. David's determined to prove he's worth the risk, and willing to court her, step by exquisite step. Thea's about to discover just how long and hard this handsome drummer can play.

This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.

Note: you don’t have to read book 1 in order to understand this novella. I haven’t read the first installment and I understood the storyline perfectly.

David is head over heels for Thea, a beautiful and strong woman who is also the band’s publicist. Thea doesn’t date clients or musicians and the scars from a ex’s betrayal are still running deep. She’s not interested but David isn’t giving in. He wants her and is willing to prove that he’s a risk she should take. 

“He wasn’t going this on a whim or to add a notch to his belt. 

He was gone for her.

Seriously head over heels.”

I love David. How could I not? Classed as the Gentleman of Rock and all. David showed me a different rockstar from what I’ve seen before, but that didn’t make him any less badass. He wasn’t afraid to kick some butt when his manhood was threatened, but his heart and differentiation from the rest of the band stood out, gave him his own identity and he’s the most likable rockstar I’ve ever read. And he had the perfect woman, too. Thea is a strong, kindhearted female with an awesome reputation. You mess with her clients or family and she’ll sink her teeth into you.  I found her admirable. I loved the characters as individuals and together.  At the end of the novel I found myself grinning like an idiot. David and Thea were such a cute couple.

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Click on the book cover to check out the 1st book in the Rock Kiss series.

Rock Addiction

Cover Reveals: Rock Addiction | House of Echoes | The Wicked Will Rise | Captured Love

There have been quite a few cover reveals in the bookish world lately. Here are a few that stand out to us. 

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Rock Addiction

A Rock Kiss Novel #1

Author: Nalini Singh

Release Date: September 9th 2014

Publisher: TKA Distribution 

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh stuns with a sizzling contemporary romance…

A bad boy wrapped in a sexy, muscled, grown-up package might be worth a little risk…

Molly Webster has always followed the rules. After an ugly scandal tore apart her childhood and made her the focus of the media’s harsh spotlight, she vowed to live an ordinary life. No fame. No impropriety. No pain. Then she meets Zachary Fox, a tattooed bad boy rocker with a voice like whiskey and sin, and a touch that could become an addiction.

A one-night stand with the hottest rock star on the planet, that’s all it was meant to be…

Fox promises scorching heat and dangerous pleasure, coaxing Molly to extend their one-night stand into a one-month fling. After that, he’ll be gone forever, his life never again intersecting with her own. Sex and sin and sensual indulgence, all with an expiration date. No ties, no regrets. Too late, Molly realizes it isn’t only her body that’s become addicted to Fox, but her heart…

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House of Echoes

Author: Brendan Duffy

Release Date: April 7th 2015

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Book synopsis coming soon

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The Wicked Will Rise

Dorothy Must Die #2

Author: Danielle Paige

Release Date: March 30th 2015

Publisher: HarperCollins

In this dark, high-octane sequel to the New York Times bestsellingDorothy Must Die, Amy Gumm must do everything in her power to kill Dorothy and free Oz.

To make Oz a free land again, Amy Gumm was given a mission: remove the Tin Woodman’s heart, steal the Scarecrow’s brain, take the Lion’s courage, and then Dorothy must die....

But Dorothy still lives. Now the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked has vanished, and mysterious Princess Ozma might be Amy’s only ally. As Amy learns the truth about her mission, she realizes that she’s only just scratched the surface of Oz’s past—and that Kansas, the home she couldn't wait to leave behind, may also be in danger. In a place where the line between good and evil shifts with just a strong gust of wind, who can Amy trust—and who is really Wicked?

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Captured Love

Author: Juliana Haygert

Release Day: November 1st 2014

It’s been four years since twenty-year-old Jessica Hayes has been home, but when she discovers her father is dying, she must return to her hometown in South Carolina and face her past. Jessica thought patching up her relationship with her father would be her biggest challenge, but when she runs into Ryan Dawson—the catalyst of all her problems—she wonders if coming home was a mistake.

Ryan knows he screwed up. Hell, he paid the price…with interest. But when he runs into his best friend’s little sister, Jessica, he’s reminded that his debt will never truly be paid. He may have turned his life around, but he can’t undo the damage. So, he does what he should have done all those years ago. He stays away from Jessica, and all the other personal demons that still haunt him.

Jessica thought she wanted nothing to with Ryan, but something is different about him and she needs to know why. When she discovers the truth behind his change, she puts her troubles aside and tries to help him. But is putting her heart back in the line of fire worth disrupting her stable life back in Ohio, or will the past repeat itself, leaving her brokenhearted once again?

Book Review: Tangle of Need by Nalini Singh

Tangle of Need
Psy-Changeling #11
Author: Nalini Singh
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Released: May 29th 2012
Review Source: Berkley
Available: Amazon

Summary: (from goodreads) Discover the exhilarating risks of passion in the breathtaking new Psy-Changeling novel by Nalini Singh, the" New York Times" bestselling "alpha author of paranormal romance" ("Booklist")... Adria, wolf changeling and resilient soldier, has made a break with the past--one as unpredictable in love as it was in war. Now comes a new territory, and a devastating new complication: Riaz, a SnowDancer lieutenant already sworn to a desperate woman who belongs to another.
For Riaz, the primal attraction he feels for Adria is a staggering betrayal. For Adria, his dangerous lone-wolf appeal is beyond sexual. It consumes her. It terrifies her. It threatens to undermine everything she has built of her new life. But fighting their wild compulsion toward one another proves a losing battle.
Their coming together is an inferno...and a melding of two wounded souls who promise each other no commitment, no ties, no bonds. Only pleasure. Too late, they realize that they have more to lose than they ever imagined. Drawn into a cataclysmic Psy war that may alter the fate of the world itself, they must make a decision that might just break them both.

I was surprised with this book. The sensual, volatile action packed contents usually expected from Nalini, were overtaken by sweet romance and subdued action for a nice change of pace. 

Adria, after a failed relationship with a submissive partner has return to the den to lick her wounds and immerse herself in the recovery efforts of the pack. Riaz, is a lone wolf that finds the need to get close and relate to his pack once again. He seeks the comfort of the pack after finding out that his mate is in love with someone else and will never be his . The initial rejection and conflicts between their wolfs and human sides, finally turns and grows beyond of what is expected, once they are willing to accept and trust to solve the issues that could break them once again.
Reading the previous books, greatly recommended because they are great, will make it easier to understand the reasons behind the actions and commotion in the Net. We enjoy the relations between our favorite characters, big enfaces in Hawke and Sienna's mating ceremony and flourishing relationship, as well as some of the action that might end in the war they try to avoid, it's a complicated world.

This book besides letting you enjoy romance and perking your curiosity, creates portals for what there is to expect in the coming chapters and what new complication we will encounter. It's a shame we have to wait.

Book Review: Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh

Angels' Blood
Guild Hunter #1
Author: Nalini Singh
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Released: March 3rd 2009
Review Source: PaperBackSwap
Available: Amazon
More Reviews for Nalini Singh HERE

Summary: (from goodreads) Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux knows she is the best- but she does not know if even she is good enough for this job. Hired by the dangerously beautiful archangel Raphael, a being so lethal that no mortal wants his attention, Elena knows failure is not an option—even if the task is impossible. 

Because this time, it's not a wayward vamp she has to track. It's an archangel gone bad.

The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other—and pull her to the razor's edge of passion. Even if the hunt does not destroy her, succumbing to Raphael’s seductive touch just might. For when archangels play, mortals break

Raphael the archangel of New York, was in need of some help locating one of their own, that had gone terribly wrong. They needed someone with a special ability to scent vampires, and Elena was the only and best hunter from the Guild that possessed the gift. Unable to decline the suicidal mission that would probably get her killed and even if she survived surely her attitude and refusal to bow down to anyone would bring her demised presented her as a danger to the people surrounding Raphael. Since the team thought of her as dangerous to the Archangel, the unavoidable attraction between them was not received with open arms, creating a constant power struggle and fight for control. The little changes in him became apparent and their efforts to make the prohibited relationship to work, only made the rest of his special force to worry that he was becoming a little human and she was the catalyst.

Love this fantasy world and plot that Nalini's imagination has created with a cast of characters so interesting in themselves as to make you wish to read more about them all. The story is not for the weak of stomach, a lot of details is given on the violent acts, not as page fillers but to help understand the mind of those committing the acts also know that there are very sensual and sexy descriptive scenes, so be prepared to experience them.

The possibility is opened in this book for the next chapter as well as the introduction to some of the characters that will definitely have a punch on the following books.

Book Review: Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh

Archangel's Kiss
Guild Hunter #2
Author: Nailini Singh
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Released: Febrarry 2nd 2010
Review Source: Paperbackswap
Available: Amazon

Summary: (from goodreads) Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux wakes from a year-long coma to find that she has become an angel-and that her lover, the stunningly dangerous archangel Raphael, likes having her under his control. But almost immediately, Raphael must ready Elena for a flight to Beijing, to attend a ball thrown by the archangel Lijuan. Ancient and without conscience, Lijuan's power lies with the dead. And she has organized the most perfect and most vicious of welcomes for Elena...

Elena has been in an induced healing coma, after being mortally wounded on the previous installment. Raphael's love and refusal to loose her brought, what the archangels call ambrosia and while he was kissing her turned her into an angel. Finally awake after a year, she has to learn fast to be an angel when expected to attend a ball being given in her honor by the oldest of the Archangels. This archangels penchant for the dead, has become a sore point between the Cadre, and is expected that this is not going to be an ordinary ball. In attendance to this ball are those who want her dead, so her ability to defend and project a strong front will be a necessity for her own and Raphael's sake. Since the killing of the roque archangel, the empty position has become a instant power struggle for those who want to fill the void.

 
Elena's special ability becomes necessary once again to help find the one that has been undermining the Archangels against each other and crossed a sacred threshold when one of their child is kidnapped and torture. As expected this only add to the list of those that want her dead at no cost or consequence. During this book we learn more about Raphael's and Elena's past and their constant fear of becoming those they hunt if they loose control, so they pledge to become each other rock when necessary.
Elena's desperate need to learn to fly is not all work related, it is the last step to be able to consummate her love with Raphael and finally become one.

In this world Nalini could be considered the Archangel of the followers of the Guild series, she has a hold on you and you become her captive audience until this story is told and she releases you only until the next one comes along..

Book Review: Archangel's Blade

Archangel's Blade
Guild Hunter #4
Author: Nalini Singh
Pages: 310 Paperback
Reading Level: Adult
Published: September 6th 2011
Review SOurce: Berkley
Available: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / IndieBound

Summary: (from goodreads) Trying to discover the identity of a murder victim brings together the vampire Dmitri and a hunter for the Guild, Honor. And as the gruesome murders continue, a lethal sensuality explodes between them.

*Warning: this book contains sexually explicit material considered only for mature readers*

4th in the series of Guild Hunters. In the fantastic world of Archangels, vampires and Hunters created by Nalini, two broken and ancient souls find each other.

Dimitri, is the vampire in charge of the Seven from the Elite Guard of Archangel Raphael, he is known and feared for being ruthless and unforgiving. He is paired up with a Hunter known as Honor to solve a new problem in Raphael’s territory. Their main mission was to find whom had been making fledglings and killing humans, but while doing this, Dimitri finds out that Honor had been the hunter that was captured an tortured by vampires while he was away on a mission. He now makes it his mission to find each and every one of the perpetrators of this horrific crime. She has to fight the nightmares and fear that are undermining herself worth and undergo a serious healing process. While doing the investigating Honor is able to recognize that deep inside this vampire that everyone fears had undergone a very similar abusive and horrifying event at the time of his turning. Honor becomes the first female that has been able to reach the vestiges of his human side buried deep inside and wake up feelings Dimitri had not felt again after his turning. The development of the events and the unexpected and fulfilling ending is great.

Nalini’s great depiction of the main characters and the introduction of new ones and the intertwining of old supporting characters during the story, makes this a nonstop adventure, sensually charged and supper enjoyable. To read this whole great series is highly recommended, but not necessary to catch up with all the characters. The writer gives enough details and history as reference inside each book.

I am a fan of Nalini’s books and have yet to find one that would be a disappointment to read.

Book Review: Kiss of Snow

Kiss of Snow
Psy-Changeling #10
Author: Nalini Singh
Pages: 400 pgs
Reading Level: Adult
Release Date: May 31st 2011
Review Source: Berkley - Penguin Group
Available: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Google eBooks

Summary: (from goodreads) New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh's exhilarating world of shapeshifters and psychics is "paranormal romance at its best" (Publishers Weekly). Now comes the story of an alpha wolf named Hawke used to getting exactly what he wants--and of the only woman who dares tangle with him.
Since the moment of her defection from the PsyNet and into the SnowDancer wolf pack, Sienna Lauren has had one weakness. Hawke. Alpha and dangerous, he compels her to madness.

Hawke is used to walking alone, having lost the woman who would've been his mate long ago. But Sienna fascinates the primal heart of him, even as he tells himself she is far too young to handle the wild fury of the wolf.

Then Sienna changes the rules and suddenly, there is no more distance, only the most intimate of battles between two people who were never meant to meet. Yet as they strip away each other's secrets in a storm of raw emotion, they must also ready themselves for a far more vicious fight…

A deadly enemy is out to destroy SnowDancer, striking at everything they hold dear, but it is Sienna's darkest secret that may yet savage the pack that is her home…and the alpha who is its heartbeat…

This is the first book I read from the series Psy-Changeling and definitely will not be my last. Nalin Singh has the gift to immerse the readers into the fantasy world she created, where you feel the passion, sorrow, the love and pain of the characters as if you were part of the story .

After the tragedy that almost finished with the wolf pack when Hawke was a teenager, he becomes the alpha wolf of the Snow Dancer pack. With his iron will, fairness and love for the members of his den, he brings them back to the point where they are considered a force to be reckon with and they become once again a target for destruction. Siena a very special and probably the last X-Psy alive is part of a family of Psy that defected and gained refuge with the wolf pack and were accepted as part of their group. Hawke finds himself battling the attraction that both him and his wolf have towards Siena, he feels that she is too fragile and young to be able to accept what he has to offer and resolves to stay away from her. On the other hand she is now a young strong willed women that feels the attraction and its determined to be his mate against all obstacles. They clashed and walls crumble down little by little, taking them in a journey of sensuous, sometimes playful and other times frustrating adventure where they finally become true mates. We are guided through the pack fight for survival and their story is kept as part of the main thread but without detracting from it , there are also blooming relationships in the background that are being formed and probably the subjects of future chapters in the series.

You are given a thorough background recount to help you understand the what’s and how’s of this world and also get the answers to a lot of questions along the way. I have become a fan of the series and liked the fact that you are left very satisfied with the outcome and your imagination is also given tad bits of what is to come. The rest of this series has now jumped to the top of my soon to be read list.