Hard to Handle (Play Hard, #1)

by K. Bromberg

New York Times bestselling author K. Bromberg is back with an all new second-chance, standalone hockey romance.

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
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.
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.

• ISBN10: 1942832257
• ISBN13: 9781942832256
• Publish Date: 30 June 2020
• Publish Status: Unknown
• Imprint: Jkb Publishing LLC
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 360
• Language: English

Reviews

[Canadian Girl Book Blog]

            

Dekker is a sports agent for her family's company, Kincade Sports Management, and her father has informed her and her sisters that they need to step up and take on more responsibility. Dekker's dad tells her that she needs to lock up Hunter Maddox as their newest client to help keep their company alive. She does not want to go after the league's most hard to handle player and her ex-fling. Hunter Maddox is one of the best in the league and has been struggling lately due to issues he is keeping close to the chest. With his agent threatening to drop him and his time to win the Stanley Cup is running out Hunter knows that he needs to get his back into the game. That is until a ghost from his past walks through the door after disappearing three years prior. With Dekker back in the picture, Hunter is now more than ever determined not to lose focus.

                             

Hard to Handle is an edge of your seat, enemies to lovers, second chance hockey romance. This was a great beginning to the new Play Hard series by K. Bromberg which focuses on four sisters and their family sports management business. The chemistry between Hunter and Dekker is undeniable and they both have feisty personalities which cause them to clash with each other that makes for the perfect enemies to lovers, second chance story. I love a good sports romance and this one did not disappoint. This was my first K. Bromberg novel and will not be my last as I can not wait for the continuation of this series.

*ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review*

                             

              

                             

      
           

[thebookdisciple]

Hard to Handle combines second chance romance with an emotional punch. Hunter is a hockey God, but he is cracking under all the pressure and responsibility. Dekker has been tasked with landing him as a client for her family's sports management firm, despite their steamy past. No problem, right?

Hunter's backstory is heartbreaking and every time he got a message from his family, I wanted to take the phone and smash it. He is 32 and so close to having all his dreams come true. But, they aren't really HIS dreams. He feels like he MUST be successful because it's his fault that his brother can't be. His survivor's guilt (even though his brother is alive) is profound and is starting to affect every aspect of his life. His current agent is a real douche canoe too.

Dekker walked away from Hunter years ago because she didn't want to risk her heart. She knew she was falling for him and that scared the crap out of her. It hurt her that he let her walk away though. She can see there is something major going on with Hunter and genuinely cares about him. He is determined to shut everyone out though, so she has a tough road ahead of her if she is going to save him from self destruction.

Readers will find themselves rooting for Dekker to be brave, for Hunter to accept her support, and for him to find joy in hockey again. Hard to Handle delivers an unexpected emotional punch in the best possible ways.  Bromberg always writes such defining backstories for her characters you can't help but FEEL while reading.

 

•   POV: dual 1st


•   Tears: a few


•   Trope: second chance romance, hockey


•   Triggers: Hunter's brother is a paraplegic due to an accident for which Hunter feels responsible. His health is declining during the story.


•   Series/Standalone: stand alone (but I am excited to get Dekker's sisters' books!)


•   Cliffhanger: no


•   HEA: yes

Sure Shot by Sarina Bowen, Hawke by Sawyer Bennett, Anatomy of a Player by Cindi Madsen, Shot on Gold Jaci Burton...then you will probably like Hard to Handle!

 

Hard To Handle

 See full review on The Book Disciple

[Romance Schmomance]

Bromberg, second chance AND a sports romance ... that's a win for me! I have always enjoyed Bromberg's books, so I knew I would enjoy this one immensely. It's still a light-hearted read, but it does pack in the emotions.

With second chance romance being my favorite to read, I was eager to see their journey back to one another. Being around each other all the time was definitely unavoidable since Dekker lands Hunter as her client with her family's sports management company.

If a book ticks all the boxes for you, I recommend this one! I can't wait to read the rest of this series.