Hard to Hold

The Play Hard Series, Book 2

By: K. Bromberg

Narrated by: Shane East, Vanessa Edwin

Length: 9 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author K. Bromberg is back with a heartfelt stand-alone romance and a new hero to steal your heart....

Lennox:

The contract with Major League Soccer was supposed to help repair my damaged reputation. Then I discovered that I’d made a deal with the devil: The player I’m supposed to recruit is none other than the bad-boy star Premier League footballer Rush McKenzie.

British. Tattooed. Sexy. A man currently at the center of a huge scandal.

The goal? To convince him to stay in the States.

But what’s wrong with a little fun in the meantime? No strings. No sweet nothings. Just a way to pass the time while we’re both struggling to prove our true selves to the world.

If someone found out our relationship was anything more than professional, it would only serve to prove all our critics right.

Rush:

I never should have agreed to take the fall. But I did, and I’m a man of my word.

Even if it means risking everything I’ve worked for.

The only bright side is Lennox Kincade.

Gorgeous. Defiant. Rumor-tainted. Totally off-limits.

Sharing a house with the gorgeous sports agent should have been a fun distraction from the turmoil. Someone to help pass the time while the tensions back home die down.

But what started as nothing ends up as something I never saw coming.

©2020 K. Bromberg (P)2020 K. Bromberg

not in correct order

The prologue was at the end of the book instead of the beginning like it's written to be.

I enjoyed it!

I enjoyed listening to this book. The narrators did an excellent job. I was very much entertained.

Thrilling!!!

The story is so intriguing. This book draws you in and you forget that its being narrated. The narrators are just so good. I can't wait to read/listen to all of these books in the series.

Loving this series

I am new to K. Bromberg books and loving her style with this series. Some of the reviews on the first book were brutal. Glad I did not follow along with those opinions and gave this series a chance. Emotion, humor, drama, and a story that kept my attention, with a beautiful happy ever after ending: what more can you want? Looking forward to the 3rd Kincaid sister’s story.

Great Soccer Romance with a delicious Brit

“He’s the one who quiets my restlessness.” Review: This is Book 2 in the Play Hard series. It focuses on Lennox, who is the 2nd youngest Kincade sister. Lennox is the former beauty queen turned sports agent. She is good at what she does, but needs a break. Rush is a star Footballer from Liverpool at the top of his game. He heads to California to hide out in hopes of a scandal blowing over. Lennox and Rush have the best first meeting. Can you say hot?🥵 They are both staying at their mutual friend Johnny's house to escape their lives. There is an instant attraction between the two of them. Lennox is determined not to get involved with Rush though. She wants to prove to herself and everyone else that she is a hardworking professional that doesn't use her looks to get what she wants. After all, she has a job to do. Rush of course believes it's no ones business what they do. The chemistry between these two and pull to each other was undeniable. These two were so hot together and I loved them. They are both not as they seem and their walls are built high. Together they see inside each other and start to brake them down. Rush is incredible, loyal and always trying to do the right thing. His story touched my heart. I got emotional as I listened to all that brought him to where he is today. Lennox and Rush were perfect for each other. Their HEA made me swoon. I loved the update on Hunter and Dekker. I hope Johnny gets his own book. He was an amazing best friend to Lennox and kept me laughing! I listened to the audiobook by Shane East and Vanessa Edwin. Vanessa was new for me, but she did an excellent job. They both did a great job and were perfect for their characters.

Loved Rush and Lennox!

K. Bromberg has written another heartfelt, sexy, and passionate story! I love that this series revolves around strong, independent female sports agents, that all happen to be sisters. This is book 2 in the Play Hard series, and we get Lennox's story.

Lennox and Rush's story is full of ups and downs. I love how K. writes Rush's character as a sort of "what you see on the outside is different than what is on the inside." In an athlete's world public image is everything, and Rush's character is all about integrity. I admire that quality in a person. Lennox tends to run when she gets anxious, which is something all the females in these stories struggle with. (A lot that has to do with how they handle the death of their mother.) When these two characters get together, all the spark is there!

Shane East and Vanessa Edwin narrate this audio, and their voices are quite decadent together. Shane's performance of Rush conveys all of his anxiety, passion, and pain. Vanessa is the perfect Lennox, and her male British accent is spot on.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. These are considered stand alones, but it may help to listen in order. I'm looking forward to more in this series.

Loved the book and the narrators were superb!

I loved this story. K Bromberg never disappoints and this book was hard to put down! For this book, I highly recommend listening to the audiobook. The narration really brings the story to life!

Rush and Lennox

When Liverpool FC star Rush McKenzie gets involved in a major scandal in which he allegedly slept with his captain's wife, he - at the advice of his agent - shuts up and flees to LA to lay low and wait for things to quiet down as these things usually do. He'll stay at his friend Johnny's LA house until the coast is clear and his contract is renewed. He's betting on his agent to fight for him. Good luck with that.

Also fleeing to LA from NY and her family's meddling ways is Lennox Kincade. She takes a job for the Soccer League and they are expecting her to convince Rush to stay stateside and promote the league. She also promised her family that she will "steal" Rush from his obnoxious agent who's been badmouthing her left and right. The last thing she expected was to find Rush staying at her best friend's. What neither of them expected was to like each other so much. He's a potential client and therefore off-limits, especially if Lennox wants to get rid of the false reputation she is getting because of the rumors being spread about her - that she only signs up big clients because she sleeps with them. She's incredibly attracted to Rush and he to her, but she can't tell him what is going on because it will affect his career and his relationship with his agent in a delicate time. But they can't seem to stay away from each other... 

We're back with the Kincade sister and Lennox is having a really bad time. Her self-confidence is pretty low and she can't believe people actually think the rumors are true. She's a little annoying at times with her refusal to believe her family wants what's best for her and it only gets her into more trouble. Rush is that wonderful tatted bad boy who came from nothing and has the heart of gold that no one seems to see or care. When they get together sparks, fly in the best possible way. You will root for Rush when you know who he really is and it's not what the public thinks. 

It's a nice "forbidden romance" with a lot of family dynamics thrown in. Nice addition to the series! 

Narration: Who better to play a footy player than Shane East? Vanessa Edwin is amazing too, as she also has to tackle an accent! 

Possible triggers: death of a parent; homelessness; hunger; poverty; harassment 

Another sexy hit for K. Bromberg!

A beautifully painful burn. K. Bromberg does it again. The captivating romance that keeps the readers from putting the book down!!! Loved it and can't wait for her next story!

I’m a fan!

The second book in the Play Hard series, Hard to Hold was a favorite for me. Rush is a super sexy, amazingly talented soccer (football) star and all-around stand-up guy with integrity for days who falls for the tough as nails, go-for-broke, beautiful wandering soul and sports agent Lennox. The storyline was compelling, thought provoking, and realistic while including super steamy scenes and well developed characters. Shane East and Vanessa Edwin are a new favorite power couple of narration for me and their performance was spot on. Heading straight to the next in the series.