‘Hard Play’ is a riff on the Maya Banks KGI series so if you like MB KGI books, you will love ‘Hard Play’ by Sheryl Nantus.
The story line is simple-- Jesse's in trouble. She has been trying to take down a bad mobster and was really close to doing it before she was captured. She ended up setting up with her best friend a code in case something happened to her and if she didn’t check in with her by a certain time, her BFF would notify certain people and that would get her help. Help that can only come from a Brotherhood that bend rules to get things done.
Dylan is the leader of the Delta Force Brotherhood. When Jesse’s BFF shows up , shows him a picture of her and explained the situation, he knew he has to be the one to step in and find her. Dylan finds her but something happens that requires even more of his help, otherwise Jesse’s life is forfeit in even more ways than just her breathing. Now Dylan has a new mission. Clearing Jesse's name...along with keeping her safe.
This is a simple story- with just a few twists and turns. I enjoyed the chemistry between Jesse and Dylan and also enjoyed the secondary characters in this book. I cannot wait for more in future books. I wonder who gets the next book—Trey, Finn, Ace??? I also hope to see Dylan and Jesse back as well.

My rating: 4.0 stars ****
"I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

The story starts when Lisa goes to the Devil's Playground Night Club where she's been told there are people who will listen to her report of her best friend's disappearance. Her best friend is Jessie Lyon, an ex-cop and now a private investigator who is seeking evidence to convict a mobster, Edward Molodavi, who seems to have half the police force in his pay, keeping his image squeaky clean even though she knows it was him who had her father shot.

The Brotherhood are a team of largely ex-military, led by Dylan McCourt. The Night club is their source of regular income and also a front behind which they work. Together they work to right wrongs, not as restrained as official law enforcement agencies are. These are the ones who rescue daughters trapped in cults, victims of kidnappers and so much more - but all on the quiet, seeking safe resolutions but not publicity or notoriety whilst they do so. When Dylan sees a photo of Jessie, he's shocked at his own reaction. He has to get her safely back then see how things go between them.

This is an action packed thriller with so many suspense filled twists and turns it is a real page turner, a totally enthralling read. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, immersing in the scenarios and routing for the brilliantly portrayed characters. It is great to read of a truly feisty, determined and resourceful female lead like Jessie. I really hope this is the start to a new series - I'd love to read about other members of the brotherhood and find out what happens between Ace and Lisa!

Many thanks to the publishers who gifted me a copy of this novel via NetGalley, with no obligation. I have chosen to read and review this novel and this is my honest opinion.

Hard Play is action packed from page 1 for sure! Dylan is an ex-military guy who runs an underground band of brothers that operate beside the law. Not mercenaries, not private security, but more like saviors for those in need that the police can't or won't help. Jessie is an ex-cop turned PI who is out to make the man responsible for her father's death pay. That man? The head of a Las Vegas crime family, Edward Molodavi. Her plan goes awry and she is captured, held, and punished in an effort for Molodavi to determine what she knows and who she works for. Thankfully, Dylan and his "Brotherhood" rescue her. That is only the beginning though. Molodavi puts a price on her head and suddenly Jessie finds herself in deep. Dylan is not going to let her put herself in danger alone though.

The action is non stop and it really will keep you reading. The constant danger and fast paced nature of this type of story makes Hard Play a great read if you like romantic suspense. What didn't work for me was the romance. Dylan and Jessie are likable and it wasn't anything about them as characters. But, there is some insta-love here that just felt...off. I am not even sure what exactly it was that didn't click for me, but these two just didn't feel authentic. It didn't totally ruin the story for me; the action and danger were certainly enough to keep me reading.

If you like a romance with action and drama, then this book is for you! Hard play is well written and easy to read. The story is thought out and without holes. There is nothing not to like about Hard Play.

Jessie is an ex cop with a score to settle. I loved her confidence and she was the driving force of the story. The usually self sufficient woman who is able to hold her own, Jessie meets Dylan when she needs help. The leader of "The Brotherhood", Dylan is drawn into Jessie's quest. The pair have a chemistry that leads to hot sex, but emotions are involved, which is not what either counted on.

I really enjoyed Hard Play, it was more than just hot guys and good sex. However, there are plenty of Alpha Hunks introduced in this book, who are begging to get their story told! I hope the author is quick to release another book with these characters, as I for one will be waiting impatiently for another installment.

With a bar doing a roaring trade as a cover, a brotherhood of ex-military men tries to make the world a better place on their own terms as ‘Hard Play’ opens with the rescue of a woman hell bent on revenge. But she is not who she seems when a video feed forces her to prove her innocence all around her.

‘Hard Play’ runs on the fuel that drives most romantic suspense books and thus, isn’t very much a deviation from this tried-and-tested formula: a search for the bad guys (who do get their comeuppance), the emphasis on getting injustice righted, clearing names and fighting for the oppressed—accompanied by a ton of fast-moving scenes with loads of action in them. Throw in the kind of gritty James Bond-esque (though not always believable) explosive chemistry between the protagonists who somehow always manage to find time to do the sweaty-dirty and the book’s pretty much made, although the HEA isn’t assured up until the end.

In some ways, the book didn’t surprise me at all, yet the story’s easy to go down enough and I was nonetheless entertained going through the paces of classic romantic suspense here, especially with strong characters that do stick out from the pages. Dylan McCourt and Jessie Lyon spearhead the series and they’re likeable and sensible enough, though once again, stereotypical of this genre, minus (thankfully) the shenanigans that tend to pop out unexpectedly when conflict is created for conflict’s sake.

‘Hard Play’ is my very first book by Sheryl Nantus and whether it really bears comparison to authors like Maya Banks—as proudly touted by the blurb—isn’t something I think I’m qualified to agree or disagree with quite yet, because there’s always something about the first book in the series that makes me cautious but somewhat optimistic. All it took were a few lines detailing the secrets that other members of the brotherhood were keeping (yet to be uncovered) and the bait is thrown out for the sequels in this series.

A complete and total lover of Maya Banks' KGI series, I immediately wanted this book. I mean, if you're going to compare it in a blurb, I'll give it a shot. I'm happy I took the leap. I think that this is a pretty good start to a series (even though it's not listed as one) and can see each one of these men getting their own story. Which I'd be more than happy to read.

Jesse's in trouble. She's been working undercover to take down a mobster and was seconds away from collecting everything she needed before she was captured. Thank goodness she set up a signal with her BFF because now that she hasn't "checked in" for a few days, her friend is trying to find her. But she needs help. Help that can only come from a Brotherhood that bend rules to get things done.

Dylan is the leader of the Delta Force Brotherhood. The moment Jesse's friend showed him a picture of her and explained the situation, he knew he had to step in to help find her. And now that he's rescued her, he's not so sure he's ready to walk away. I guess it's serendipitous that Jesse's captor doctors a video, implicating Jesse as a murderer. Now Dylan has a new mission. Clearing Jesse's name...along with keeping her safe.

The story line is simple with a few twists and turns to keep us involved and interested. Since the chemistry is instant between the two, it was easy to "get it out of the way" and focus on the real story which was obtaining the evidence to take down this mobster. In between the planning and executing, we're lucky enough to meet the rest of the Brotherhood, falling a little harder for each one of them. Like I stated earlier, this was a pretty good start to a series I'm looking forward to continuing. Hmmm, I wonder who's next??? Ace, Finn, Trey? Crossing my fingers for an Ace/Lisa...just sayin'...

reviewed by Chris

I LOVED this book! It was suspensful and sexy. Dylan is a strong character and didn't have any weaknesses really until he sees a picture of Jessie. Now that PI is under his skin and she is driving him nuts! She is so awesome because she is not a wilting flower. She knows what she needs to do and does it. Even when she knows it will make Dylan's head explode. The other guys in the Brotherhood are equally awesome and I can not wait to get to know them in future books. The writing was highly descriptive. I had no problem picturing each scene. The characters were well rounded. The plot was exciting. I hated putting this book down. I just can not wait for more!

This author was new to me, but I'm glad I found her! The suspense, drama & action are what really drew me into this book. I lost attention a few times, but I managed to pick back up after a little break. Dylan & Jessie are perfect & I loved the way the were together. Definitely worth a read!

This is the first book I've read by Sheryl Nantus but after reading this one I will be looking for more! This one is action packed from the very first page and it keeps going to the very last page. I simply couldn't put it down. A band of former Delta Force teammates have come together in a brotherhood to help people in need that have no other place to turn for help. The case they take in this book will put all their strengths to the test. Thinking it is a mere extraction case that should be a quick in and out was Dylan McCort's first mistake. Thinking he could resist the very tempting Jessie Lyon was his second.

The writing, characters, and storyline in this book make it a must read. I highly recommend it.

Hard Play is the first book I have read by Sheryl Nantus but it definitely won’t be my last!! With its action, suspense and great character dynamics this is sure to be a favorite with readers. I really enjoyed Dylan and Jess and look forward to reading more by this author.

I will be reading more books in this series! I almost didn't pick it up because crime families are not my favorite tropes. Instead, we met the members of the Brotherhood, who have a great sense of family and a very intriguing payment method - in favors. Great action and fun characters. Not at all focused on the mobsters, but on Jessie crusade to avenge her father's death.

**I received a copy of The Blind Bet from Entangled Publishing and Net Galley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review**

The Blind Bet by Sheryl Nantus is a wonderful story with action and the sense of family that each of the men of Delta Force Brotherhood they help those who need help when everyone has said no. I hope that they will be a series because I'd love to read Ace and Lisa's book!

Dylan McCort runs the Devil's Playground night club in Las Vegas but he and his former Delta Force teammates run the Delta Force Brotherhood a quiet group of men who help those who have nowhere else to turn. They keep it on the down low collecting favors from those who they've helped to be called in when needed. But when Lisa Boudreau arrives at the club needing help to find her best friend, Jessie who has missed several check ins on her current case. Dylan and the Brotherhood take the case to find her, but what he doesn't know is the case she's working on will go deep into a well known Mob family in Las Vegas. While on the run, Jessie and Dylan soon find out that their feelings for each other run deeper than anything they've experienced before.

Jessie Lyon,a former Las Vegas detective now turned private investigator, has gone missing and her best friend Lisa has tried to get help to find her but no one will help. See she left the LVPD with some bad feelings but their are also dirty cops who are on the payroll of Edward Molodavi. All she wants is justice for the death of her father and to take down the man who ordered him killed. Little does she know that The Brotherhood is willing to help her take the well known mob boss down. She has has something he wants and if he has to kill to get it, well what's another body buried in the dessert?

I loved the suspense, action and camaraderie of the men of The Brotherhood who help out each other without hesitation even though their may be nothing in return except a favor to be called in when needed. I wish I could give the book more than 5 stars because its a fantastic story worth more stars.

I enjoyed this book. Action packed, left you interested. Jessie was a badass and her Dylan were awesome together. Story kept you on your toes, wondering what is next and chemistry was hot. Loved the brotherhood and what they did for people, and what they represented, can't wait to read more from them.