Scan barcode
k8readstoday's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
hannah109's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
gabbysreading's review against another edition
4.0
Finn Sanderson has one hell of a redemption story!!
Hard to Love, the fifth and final book in the Play Hard series is a red hot, enemies to lovers sports romance that brought the fire, the feels and the passion. I really enjoyed this book. Forced proximity is one of my favorite tropes. I live for all the tension that it provides and I'm thrilled to say that Finn and Stevie didn't disappoint in that department.
I admit, it took me a bit to get into this story. While Finn and Stevie had chemistry right off the bat, I wasn’t meshing with their personalities. The combative back and forth became a little too much to start. I also may have let my negative feelings towards Finn cloud my judgment. - He was the egotistical, conceited jerk that broke Chase's heart. - As the story continued and as they shared more personal experiences, I couldn’t help but really adore these characters.
Finn, especially, won me over. Under that toughness you need in a sports agent, is a genuinely good man. Swoon-worthy even. There were moments when I had to put my kindle down because I was so overwhelmed by his sweetness.
As for Stevie, my heart hurt for her. After the passing of her father, she was lost. Understandably acting out to mask the grief. I felt her vulnerability. Her father was her everything - her sole parent, her coach, her best friend. She showed great strength as she battled back to be the top tennis player that she was.
The Play Hard series may be my favorite series to date from K. Bromberg. I’m bummed it’s over. If you haven’t started these books, now is your chance to binge. I highly recommend it.
Hard to Love, the fifth and final book in the Play Hard series is a red hot, enemies to lovers sports romance that brought the fire, the feels and the passion. I really enjoyed this book. Forced proximity is one of my favorite tropes. I live for all the tension that it provides and I'm thrilled to say that Finn and Stevie didn't disappoint in that department.
I admit, it took me a bit to get into this story. While Finn and Stevie had chemistry right off the bat, I wasn’t meshing with their personalities. The combative back and forth became a little too much to start. I also may have let my negative feelings towards Finn cloud my judgment. - He was the egotistical, conceited jerk that broke Chase's heart. - As the story continued and as they shared more personal experiences, I couldn’t help but really adore these characters.
Finn, especially, won me over. Under that toughness you need in a sports agent, is a genuinely good man. Swoon-worthy even. There were moments when I had to put my kindle down because I was so overwhelmed by his sweetness.
As for Stevie, my heart hurt for her. After the passing of her father, she was lost. Understandably acting out to mask the grief. I felt her vulnerability. Her father was her everything - her sole parent, her coach, her best friend. She showed great strength as she battled back to be the top tennis player that she was.
The Play Hard series may be my favorite series to date from K. Bromberg. I’m bummed it’s over. If you haven’t started these books, now is your chance to binge. I highly recommend it.
romancebookloverinseattle's review against another edition
5.0
Stevie is a top ranked female tennis player but has been off her game since losing her father. She is struggling to find her way, and losing herself to all kinds of trouble in the process.
Finn a sports agent known for dealing well with difficult clients. He has been called on by his mentor to take on Stevie and from their first meeting the sparks fly in both good and bad ways.
This is an enemies to lovers, sports romance with a ton of heat that nearly burns up the pages. Their story is fun and intense - Stevie is adrift and Finn has been raised to believe in the mantra that all women leave and to guard your heart so finding their way with their push and pull interactions, and hot chemistry makes for a fantastic read.
I received an Advance Reader Copy and have voluntarily left an honest review.
Finn a sports agent known for dealing well with difficult clients. He has been called on by his mentor to take on Stevie and from their first meeting the sparks fly in both good and bad ways.
This is an enemies to lovers, sports romance with a ton of heat that nearly burns up the pages. Their story is fun and intense - Stevie is adrift and Finn has been raised to believe in the mantra that all women leave and to guard your heart so finding their way with their push and pull interactions, and hot chemistry makes for a fantastic read.
I received an Advance Reader Copy and have voluntarily left an honest review.
nicki_theoverflowingbookcase's review against another edition
4.0
Finally Finn gets his story. Throughout the series Finn was the one character that we all loved to hate but when we finally get his backstory our understanding turns to admiration for him. Throw him together with Stevie a tennis pro that needs a firm hand but a soft heart to get over the hurdles her life has throw at her makes for a beautiful storyline of hope. Can two broken people come together to make each other feel whole? In true K. Bromberg style the characters and plot are top notch and the reader takes so much away once the book is complete. A perfect ending to a fabulous series.
fsmeurinne's review against another edition
5.0
This is Finn's story and I was so excited to read it. I really liked Stevie, she was different yet perfect for Finn. I love a good-written redeeming story and this checked the marks, I love the whole series, and this book was no exception, I love that the author chose Tennis as part of the story, it was a refresher. You need to read all the stories.
Blog |BookBub | Amazon |Audible |Instagram |Twitter |Facebook |TikTok |YouTube |Pinterest |Tumblr |Bookstore
Blog |BookBub | Amazon |Audible |Instagram |Twitter |Facebook |TikTok |YouTube |Pinterest |Tumblr |Bookstore
jamie_w's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a cute quick read. I was glad to finally have a love story for Finn. Naturally he would have to be an ass to Stevie but I’m glad she was that way right back to him. They were so good together even when they didn’t want or need to be. They brought our the best in each other and their way to love was sweet rather than stressful.
read_on_reader's review against another edition
4.0
In previous books of this series not too many people were fans of Finn, but I found that I liked his cocky attitude because there just had to be more to it. Growing up he didn’t have the best homelife and his father was borderline if not just plain cruel to him. Finn’s father wanted him to be the best at sports and pushed him in ways a parent shouldn’t but one chance meeting with Carson has Finn considering other options when it comes to sports. This leads Finn to becoming a high-profile sports agent and now he owes Carson a favor. The favor comes in the form of a tennis super star who is doing everything in her power to destroy her life and career. Stevie is the best at her sport but when her father passes away, she spirals out of control getting a taste of freedom while also chasing away the grief. While some readers may have a hard time liking Finn, for me it took a while for me to tolerate Stevie. I get that she was grieving and never had the freedom she does now, but she was childish, behaved poorly, made a lot of bad decisions, while letting her friends talk her into anything. Finn is sent to help clean up her image and get her back on track to where she should be, but she treated him awful he should have given up (well I would have but not Finn because he’s determined). They both clash like oil and water, both stubborn and Stevie was so immature at times it was frustrating. She kept saying her business was hers only not anyone else’s yet she kept flaunting around like she was a regular person not a famous athlete, so yea her business was out there for anyone to see. It took me a little bit to warm up to her and when she finally lowered her guard to show us her vulnerability I started to come around and enjoy her character. The more these two open to each other we learn about their pasts, families, and they start to form a bond. Ultimately, I really did enjoy this book not only because of Finn but the growth that Stevie showed us and the love that neither wants but found.
maferg01's review
5.0
I have loved this entire series, and I was so excited when I heard Finn was going to get a story. His book was worth the wait and just the story that his character needed. In the series, he is neither villain or hero, but a charismatic character who is ruthless in business. You like and hate him but by the end of the 4th book of the series, I found myself actually liking the guy quite a bit.
His story begins with his mentor calling in a favor, which he feels he must agree to. He flies to Vegas and the night before his business meeting to meet a troubled tennis star, he picks up a woman in the hotel bar. The night does not go as planned and the next morning, he comes face to face with his one-night stand. Stevie – still struggling with the death of her father who had been her coach, agent, and mentor – is combative and spiraling out of control. Their meeting begins their rocky working relationship. He doesn’t coddle her and she fights back against what she should do to maintain her career. This story is a yummy slow burn with both of them fighting against their mutual attraction.
Their situation changes in a flash, and Stevie calls Finn for help. From this point, their relationship takes a dramatic turn and the story becomes super sweet. I really enjoyed the glimpses of Finn’s past, which explains so much about him. At first I found Stevie to be quite immature for a 24 year-old and a touch obnoxious. However, once she starts to process the events that happen in her life, you empathize with her and she becomes a great character. I really enjoyed the middle of the book, then found myself racing once I hit the last third. The ending had me all warm and fuzzy with so many touching details and sweet moments. It was just what I needed on a lazy weekend day. This was the perfect story to round out the Play Hard series which I loved so much.
His story begins with his mentor calling in a favor, which he feels he must agree to. He flies to Vegas and the night before his business meeting to meet a troubled tennis star, he picks up a woman in the hotel bar. The night does not go as planned and the next morning, he comes face to face with his one-night stand. Stevie – still struggling with the death of her father who had been her coach, agent, and mentor – is combative and spiraling out of control. Their meeting begins their rocky working relationship. He doesn’t coddle her and she fights back against what she should do to maintain her career. This story is a yummy slow burn with both of them fighting against their mutual attraction.
Their situation changes in a flash, and Stevie calls Finn for help. From this point, their relationship takes a dramatic turn and the story becomes super sweet. I really enjoyed the glimpses of Finn’s past, which explains so much about him. At first I found Stevie to be quite immature for a 24 year-old and a touch obnoxious. However, once she starts to process the events that happen in her life, you empathize with her and she becomes a great character. I really enjoyed the middle of the book, then found myself racing once I hit the last third. The ending had me all warm and fuzzy with so many touching details and sweet moments. It was just what I needed on a lazy weekend day. This was the perfect story to round out the Play Hard series which I loved so much.