Cherish Hard

Sailor is a landscaper building his business from the ground up while putting his younger siblings through college. When he spots teacher Ísa at a local bar, he recognizes her as the woman who caught his eye years ago at a university party. Ísa Snow balances her teaching career with helping run her mother's restaurant business. Her past relationships have made her wary of getting involved with someone new, especially a younger man. Yet Sailor's determination to pursue her begins to break down her defenses. Their developing relationship faces obstacles from family obligations, career pressures, and their age difference. Both must navigate their personal responsibilities while exploring their growing connection. The story explores themes of family duty, second chances, and how past experiences shape approaches to love and trust. It presents contrasts between obligations to others and the courage to pursue personal happiness.

Readers highlight the authenticity of the New Zealand setting and the chemistry between main characters Ísa and Sailor. Many note the refreshing portrayal of a male gardener/landscaper hero and praise the family dynamics, particularly Sailor's relationship with his siblings. Positive reviews focus on: - Development of the romance without manufactured drama - Cultural representation of Samoan and Indian heritage - Realistic portrayal of small business ownership Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in the middle sections - Some found Ísa's character too reserved - Several mention wanting more conflict or stakes Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (7,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (500+ ratings) BookBub: 4.3/5 (900+ ratings) "The perfect balance of sweet and steamy" appears frequently in reviews. Multiple readers noted appreciating that both leads had clear goals and careers outside the romance. Some readers mentioned struggling with the timeline jumping between past and present in early chapters.

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💝 Though this is the first book in the Hard Play series, it's actually connected to Nalini Singh's Rock Kiss series through shared characters and settings in New Zealand 🌺 The hero, Ísa Rain, is a teacher who writes romance novels in her spare time—a fitting meta-reference since the book itself is a romance 🏉 The story features elements of rugby culture, as the hero Sailor Bishop comes from a family deeply involved in New Zealand's national sport 📚 Author Nalini Singh wrote this contemporary romance as a departure from her usual paranormal and urban fantasy works, for which she's better known 🗺️ The book showcases authentic New Zealand locations and culture, drawing from Singh's own background as a New Zealand author of Indian descent