Nalini Singh writes the most wholesome contemporaries. Her romances make my heart race and swoon every time, and Cherish Hard was no different. This is the first book in a new series, that is connected to Rock Hard from her rock star series. I was so happy when I heard Nalini was writing more contemporary romances and just adored Isa and Sailor's romance! These two are the sweetest characters and made for a wonderful couple. I also love that Isa is the older woman in this relationship and the more hesitant one. I love a good determined, pursuing hero. If you ever wanted to read more adorable contemporary romances from Nalini Singh, this is a must read!

Nalini Singh can do no wrong in my eyes and I'm so glad to have read Sailor and Isa's story. It's one of making tough decisions and coming up with great compromises to have a full life. This one has it all - humor, love, loyalty, family, and an HEA you can believe!

I have a confession to make, I tried reading a book a couple of years back by Nalini Singh because so many of my friends loved her work, but the book had way too much angst for me and so I never picked up another book by her. When I read the synopsis for Cherish Hard, I decided it was time to give this author so many hold in high esteem another chance and I’m glad I did. Cherish Hard was a beautifully crafted love story and I loved that despite the contrast in the two main character’s lives they were perfect for one another, they encouraged one another, they listened to each other, and more than that they both valued love and family. I loved this book with all my heart.

Neglected by her parents most of her life Isalinda Rain is at a point in her life where she is ready to find a man she can spend her life with; one who understands her need to have room in her home for her seventeen year old step-brother and her thirteen year old half sister if need be, one that will commit to making her and their family a priority and not an afterthought. Excited that her first year of teaching is behind her and the adult classes she is teaching in the summer, Isa is mesmerized by the half dressed landscaper outside her classroom window and when she approaches him in the parking lot the intense chemistry between them is hard to ignore, but realizing his work is more important to him than anything Isa flees, only to run into him again.

Sailor Bishop can’t believe when he runs into the beautiful redhead that has haunted him for seven years in the parking lot of a job. When she flees from him twice, he is determined to get her attention, he just doesn’t expect to see her picture in the office of the CEO of a company he will be providing with his landscape services. Scars of being abandoned by his father at age 5, Sailor is determined to make his fledgling landscape business a success even if he has to work sun up to sun down seven days a week. Realizing Isa has issues stemming from her absentee parents during her childhood, Sailor worries that his determination to succeed might drive Isa away.

Isa was such a strong character and despite the way she was brought up, she had a heart of gold for her siblings and those she cared for. Her relationship with her mother was a bit unusual, but I appreciated that during this book, they both began to admire one another and gain better understanding between them. I understood her worries about Sailor and how much time he needed to devote to his business, but it was easy to see she also admired his work ethic and the way he made her feel. I do think seeing Sailor with his family helped her understand how important those relationships were to him.

For such a young man, Sailor was smart and determined and I loved that he was easily intimidated by strong women. I admired the fact that he was willing to work hard to get what he wanted out of life and didn’t want to depend on anyone else for help. I loved that he immediately realized that Isa was a natural born caregiver, but no one took care of her and he was willing to step up and do the job. The gratitude he had for his step-father who he considered is real father showed that he understood what a good man looked like and he strove to make both of his parents proud every day.

Their relationship wasn’t always easy, but their communication skills helped them work through the tough times without a lot of drama or angst. They complimented one another in every way and showed time and time again they weren’t going to let the tough times get to them. This was a busy book with a lot going on but not once did I feel the relationship between Sailor and Isa got lost; everything else in this book revolved around this couple.

From the minute I started Cherish Hard until I finished it, I was completely caught up in this story and I found it impossible to put down.

This book is beautiful. Isa is so relatable as a heroine and I could totally fall in love with Sailor. I love everything Nalini Singh writes but Cherish Hard is just so sweet and beautiful!

This book was a great romance for me on the emotional level. Sailor and Isa were good characters, interesting, emotionally scarred yet strong, people. Seeing them fall in love was heartwarming, sometimes even special. Where Nalini Singh's new work didn't come together for me was in the sex scenes. After she's written so very many, it must be hard to try to keep them spicy and powerful.

For some reason I didn’t read this book when it first came out. I thought it was part of the Rock Kiss series, which I didn’t have any desire to read at the time. So I skipped it. Holly, Rowena, and I started discussing it and they enlightened me that it was not part of Rock Kiss, so I gave it a try. It wasn’t my favorite Nalini Singh book. It’s honestly one of those books that I didn’t have very many feelings about one way or another.

Ísa Rain first sets eyes on Sailor Bishop where she teaches poetry. For some reason or another, she decides to walk up to a complete stranger and kiss him. It could have been for a variety of reasons. She feels that her love life is in stasis. She thinks she’s frigid. She wants some action. Or all of the above. Anyhow, Sailor doesn’t object. What man would? Before he can do anything, she takes off. His landscaping job at her school isn’t complete, so he’s sure he’ll see the sexy redhead again.

The thing is, he’s actually seen Ísa before, when he was a teenager. He was just in high school when he was dragged to a college party. One of his friends friend dumped Ísa is the most humiliating of ways and Sailor was witness to it all. When she ran off in tears, Sailor ran after her but she wouldn’t stop. For seven years he hasn’t forgotten her and he can’t believe his luck when she picks him to kiss. He only knows that he’s not going to let her go a second time.

Ísa does have a say in that however, and she’s not sure what she’s feeling. Sailor is everything she’s ever wanted in a man. Except for the fact that he doesn’t put her first. She can clearly see that he is falling in love with her, as she is with him. Still, he wants to get his business off the ground and that supersedes everything in his life. Including her. Ísa accepts that she will never come first in anyones life. It’s just a fact.

That was very sad to me. Ísa just didn’t think much of herself. After the way her parents treated her growing up, she really didn’t have a reason to. They both loved her, but they would forget her too. They would be there if she needed them for something, but they weren’t there day to day. Ísa was just sad. A sad woman. Sailor eventually pulls through which was really heartening to read. The problem with this book is that I just didn’t really get invested in these characters. Which is a bummer to me.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

*~~*ARC kindly provided to me for an honest review *~~*

- Review to come

Review originally posted on my blog with added content on Mikku-chan / A world full of words

Nalini gives us another hot Bishop brother, and even though we met this couple in Rock Hard, I loved learning how Isa and Sailor fell in love. They are hot from their first meeting, and it is an awesome first kiss. Sailor and Isa have a great push-pull relationship, they both know what they want for the future and are blindsided by how much they need and want each other. Sailor is also funny in his interactions with Isa as he breaks down her walls and falls in love with her. I laughed at his antics to stay in her life, he could be sweet and annoyingly alpha at times, but in the end, I found another Bishop man to love.

I was so thrilled to get a chance to return to the wonderful rich and amazing world of Ms. Singh’s home country in this amazing story that is a spin-off of one of my favorite series. When I finally started the book—I admit I pushed it as long as possible so I could stretch the anticipation—I was hooked immediately. The sexy characters, steamy storyline and sweet sensuality that Ísa develops as she comes out of her shell makes me so happy I got a chance to enjoy reading this one. Sailor has worked all his life to meet his goals and knows no other way than going full out to get what he wants, so when he decides he wants Ísa, after she blows his mind on their first encounter then runs away, there is no doubt she’ll be his. Ísa wants nothing more from life than to be normal; her family might be one of the richest in the country, but she doesn’t want that life, even though her mother keeps pulling her back into it. When she meets Sailor she throws all caution to the wind and decides that she’s going to go after something she wants more than anything for once. But as past and present collide, forcing them to work together and find a way to deal with their new relationship, Ísa and Sailor both have to decide just what their priorities in life are and what comprises they will make for their love. Ísa was an interesting character to get to know; her insecurities and doubts were tempered with a fiery spirit and mama-bear protectiveness, making her a perfectly rounded character that I loved to read about. Once she allowed herself to open her heart to Sailor she had to deal with the chance he would break her heart, but knew the only way to find out if they had anything special was the truly give him a chance. Sailor was an awesome guy that I would love to find in real life. He has real determination to make something of himself and doesn’t just sit around waiting for good things to happen to him, instead grabbing life as it comes and turning it into opportunities. The chemistry between these two was explosive from the very beginning and I definitely needed a cold shower more than once during this story, so I suggest lots of cold water and a cool pool when reading this one. I am hoping this series continues or that we get another contemporary series from Ms. Singh, because though I do honestly LOVE her Psy-Changling series with all my heart, she also excels with these contemporary works and I want more of them. If you love a good hot story that leads to a love you know will last until the end of their days, Cherish Hard is just the book for you I guarantee it.

I am a huge fan of the author and was so excited to see a new series come from her, This book was so much fun super relatable and romantic and just everything you come to expect from such a first-class writer as Miss Singh.

who really stood out to me is Sailor Bishop. He shone like a bright star in the night lordy this man was everything and more amazing!!! Swoony, I loved him so much. And Tthe way that he treated Ísa was simply wonderful I wish all men were like him.

This is a lovely story about two likable, loyal people who almost accidentally fall in love. There is definitely lust at first sight and an adorable meet-cute. The heroine is running scared from her feelings but the hero is determined to prove to the sexy redhead that they are meant to be. But he does it by listening to the heroine's feelings and fears and showing her patience, kindness and a determination and respect for her. He doesn't push and I loved that about him. I can't wait to read more about his brothers when they get their own stories.

Cherish Hard was a good story about a rich woman and a poor man (for a change!) who come together in the strangest of circumstances and find themselves falling in love.

As always, Nalini Singh's characters are strong in their own right. Isalind an independent and caring poet; Sailor a independent and hard working gardener.

Both have lived through difficulties in their early years and have come through it stronger and wiser.

Cherish Hard is a lovely story of finding love when you thought it was lost. Of finding The One when you thought it was never yours to find.

The story though a standard novel size seemed to go much faster than it should have but that is how I read every Nalini book. They're fast paced, witty and full of drama. These characters were sassy and smart - Yes Sailor too!

The secondary characters played off against the main characters perfectly and it was a good insight into the Bishop-Esera clan and how they do things.

Overall, a classic contemporary romance with the classic Nalini Singh flair.

3.75 His Redhead Stars

Ísalind "Ísa" Rain has bright red hair and pale skin. She's looking for true love in a relationship. She's never had unconditional love. Her parents were too busy running their empires and plotting world domination to think too much about Ísa, or her siblings. Younger sister Catie, who was actually Ísa's half sister as they had different fathers, and seventeen year old Harlow, her step brother who was basically left to Ísa to care for after his father's short marriage to Ísa and Catie's mother. Both of Harlow's parents went off to have relationships and families with other people only to leave Harlow on his own. Harlow loved and wanted to follow in the footsteps of Ísa's mother Jacqueline Rain, though her mother had NO mothering instincts at all. She still was the only one to show Harlow any interest.

Ísa is a school teacher and poet. When she spies the grounds gardener at her school, there's something about him that feels familiar. She isn't able to put her finger on it until they are skinny dipping at a party and he utters the same words she heard a young man yell to her on the night of the worst humiliation of her life.

Thinking he's friends with the guy who humiliated her, she runs off. Sailor doesn't know why the woman of his dreams keeps running away from him. She did this seven years ago. He's not letting her get away again. It's not until Sailor is in Jacqueline's office and see's a picture of Ísa, that he finally has a name for the girl of his dreams. So when Jacqueline blackmails Ísa into becoming her VP (at least for the summer) and puts them together to work on a project for her company, Ísa can't fight Sailor's charm and determination.

They both have to struggle with their past familial pains to make room for what could be in their futures.

This was a sweet story. Also the first time I've read this author. I've read some of the other reviews and I know this ties into another series, but you don't have to read the other series to get into this book. Though I liked the story enough, I just didn't love it. I can't really put my finger on it. Nothing was wrong with it. Though I did get the book from NetGalley, I also listened to the audiobook at the same time. I think that may have been a factor. I didn't like that the narrator spoke in Americanized English when speaking the expositions, but when speaking the dialogue used the Australian accent for Sailor and a slight Icelandic accents for Ísa. I don't think it would have been so bad if the book had been narrated by a man and a woman or that they just used one of the two accents to narrate the book. It just felt all over the place. I probably would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't listened to it.

But I did like it enough to read more from this author at another time.

This next installment/spin off for the Rock kiss series was a shoe in. A great read from beginning to end. I loved seeing more of Sailor's family, which we were introduced to in Rock Hard. I am dying to read more about the Bishop/Esera clan!

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

*Beware of Spoilers*

Ísa Rain is the daughter of two successful business moguls. Her parents were successful in business, but not so much in relationships. They divorced and both have married several times since. The two were so focused on their own business ventures as Ísa was growing up that they didn’t have time for her, and left the staff to take care of her. Now that Ísa is all grown up, she makes her siblings (from her parents other marriages) a priority, to make sure they never have to feel the way she did growing up. And, her mother uses Ísa’s love for her siblings to get what she wants, which is how Ísa finds herself as temporary Vice President at her mother’s company for the summer.

Sailor Bishop may have the perfect family now, but it wasn’t always that way. When Sailor was five years old, his biological father ran out on his mom, brother, and him, cleaning out the family’s bank accounts as he went. It left his mother struggling to feed her kids and keep a roof over their heads since she had nothing to pay her bills with. They were even evicted from the only home they had ever known shortly after their abandonment. She struggled as a single mom until she met her husband and the only man Sailor will ever refer to as his dad. He is the man that Sailor strives to be. His parents have also added two more boys to their brood since their marriage, brothers that Sailor loves with all his heart.

Sailor is focused on his landscaping business. He has a plan on how to grow his company and he’s determined to do it all on his own, not wanting to be like the man that sired him that only took from people. He’s managed to convince Jacqueline Rain, owner of Crafty Corners, to contract him to do the landscaping for their new organic fast food restaurants she’s opening. He just never expected her daughter, the sexy redhead that’s haunted his fantasies for the last seven years, to be in charge of the project. Now he has to work closely with Ísa, something he doesn’t mind in the least.

Once Ísa finally lets her guard down she quickly falls in love with her sexy gardener, even though she knows he will end up breaking her heart.

“Cupping his face, Ísa kissed him with wild affection. “Thank you for caring.”

He rolled his eyes. “That’s like thanking me for breathing.” She was his; of course he’d care for her and those who were important to her.”

Sailor is focused on his business, which means, in the end, that Ísa will be his last priority. Her biggest fear in the world is to relive her childhood and be pushed aside for more important things like she was as a kid. But, when Sailor smiles at her, all her fears melt away, for a little while anyway.

“A relationship between us would never work,” Ísa blurted out, terrified of how fast she was falling for this gorgeous, driven man. The way he’d been with Catie, it was exactly how she’d imagined the man of her dreams would be with her baby sister. Comfortable, affectionate, amazing.

Catie was already half in love with him.

Just like Ísa.

“Why not?” he asked with a black scowl. “Are you still hung up on the age thing?”

“You’re twenty-three. I’m ready to settle down, have a child, build a life with someone.”

Tipping up her chin, he pressed his nose to hers. “Yeah? And who’s this perfect man you’re going to dump me for?” It was a growl of sound.

Ísa scowled back at him. “I haven’t met him yet.”

“So you’re dumping me for an imaginary man?”

“You’re deliberately misunderstanding.” She glared. “How am I supposed to find him when I’m with you?”

A shrug. “I don’t care. I’m not going to cooperate in your dump-Sailor-for-an-imaginary-man scheme.”

“You’re infuriating.” Fisting her hands in his hair, she kissed him, releasing all her fear, all her need, all her worry.

His hands powerful and warm at her hips, he pulled her up against the hard length of his body and met her tongue lash for lash.

Heart pounding when it was over, she broke the kiss–and he said, “Want to hear my suggestion?”

“No.” She folded her arms and drew her eyebrows together.

“Too bad.” A kiss on the nose again, the affectionate act smashing her walls to tiny fragments. “I say we don’t run, we don’t hide. We try. No laughter in his expression now, only a passionate tenderness. “I’m no poet, Ísa. I can’t give you fancy words. But I know what we have is special. It’s worth a fight.”

Sailor is on cloud nine. He knows that Ísa is the girl for him. Things are also going according to plan on the business front until he’s unable to get the loan he needs. He can still get his company to where he wants it to be, but it will mean a lot of extra work, and less time with Ísa. Can the two of them make a relationship work, when to reach Sailor’s dreams, Isla will have to face her biggest nightmare?

First off, let me say one thing … I. LOVE. SAILOR. I want to run off with him and have his fictional babies. I love what a good person he is, his moral ethics, how much he loves his family (and Ísa). I also really adore his teasing to his brothers, Ísa, Isa’s siblings, and how he even pokes fun at himself! He is the kind of guy you would want to be friends with in real life.

“Hands off.” Sailor pointed a finger at his troublemaking brother. “I may not be able to take you down in a fair fight, but I can spike your beer with laxatives.”

Ísa is a really good person too. Knowing her struggles with her parents, she goes above and beyond to be the emotional stability her siblings need when she knows their parents are incapable of such things. She truly is the glue that keeps them together and the oil that keeps their family machine running.

I also truly loved Ísa’s best friend, Nayna, complete with her own relationship struggles. I really hope that she and Raj end up with their own book, even though the series is supposed to be centered around Sailor and his brothers.

“Tell me you got back at him.”

“Are you kidding? I smiled like the perfect Indian princess, asked him one sugar or two and put in seven. You should’ve seen his face when he had to choke it down or risk insulting my entire family.” Total evil satisfaction in her tone.”

This series intersects with Singh’s Rock Kiss series. Rock Hard is about Sailor’s brother, Gabriel, and is the second book of both series. I always thought that one seemed out of place in the Rock Kiss franchise considering that neither Gabriel nor his love interest had anything to do with the rock stars in the series. So, being a part of this series, makes much more sense to me.

As you can tell by my lengthy review, I really enjoyed this book. I can’t wait for the next book in the series to come out so I can get lost in this world once again and probably fall in love with another fictional hunk!

“After blowing out the candle in one puff once the song was over, she took a careful bite. He waited for her to spit it back out, but she actually swallowed, then took a second bite. “Try it,” she said around the mouthful. “It’s pretty good.”

Sailor figured she was pulling his leg, but it was her birthday after all. He took a bite. And felt his eyes widen. “I’m a culinary genius.” Actually, the cake was chewy and dense, but there was no salt instead of sugar, which, in his book made this a win.

But even better was seeing Ísa smile with open happiness.”

And considering how Ísa always expected the relationship to fail, and Sailor always has to convince her to just try … I feel this song is perfect for this book. Meant to Be by Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia line.

One night at a college party, 16-year-old Sailor Bishop sees a gorgeous red-haired woman get her heart broken in full view of all the partygoers. She makes a lasting impression on Sailor, and he never forgets her. So much so that years later when he sees her at the school where she's teaching, he's instantly enamored of the gorgeous woman who grabs him and kisses him, then runs away. But, she's not gone forever, as he keeps running into her, and he finally manages to ID her when he has a meeting with her mother at a company for whom he's trying to set up a partnership with his landscaping business.

While I appreciate the premise of Cherish Hard, and how sweet and sexy and absolutely determined to be his own man and to achieve his business goals that Sailor is, Isa drove me nuts. Her inner musings are just plain ridiculous and her natterings on are cringeworthy. The fact that she had her own alter ego, which she had to call upon way too often, called Devil, Isa is just...eyerollingly silly. Her whole character is just silly and not worthy of Sailor. I think, had Sailor had a heroine equal to him, I would have been able to rate Cherish Hard 4 stars, but the way it's written, with Isa being so utterly annoying, I just couldn't rate it higher than 2 stars. I definitely do not recommend it. However, the Bishop clan intrigued me enough that I plan on reading Sailor's brother Gabriel's story (Rock Hard).

I was so excited to hear that Nalini Singh was writing a book about Sailor Bishop, Rock Hard was far away my favorite of her Rock Kiss series, and this book didn't let me down. It follows Sailor and Isa from when they first meet at a party to when they finally (years later) hook up. While the book was about Sailor, it was really Isa that captured my attention. She's half-Icelandic and, aside from historical Viking romances, I've not come across a romance heroine with that background. Both she and Sailor are struggling with being able to devote themselves to any sort of romantic relationship due to the past actions of their parents. The issues and the personal drives/motives they've developed based on those parents seemed very believable and I found myself wondering just how it was going to work. Would they talk it out? Would Isa cave? Would Sailor walk away from his dream?

Once again, Nalini Singh has given us a book that I found I could not put down until I knew that all the characters would be all right. Word of advice, don't start this book if you have to be up early the next day.

Sailor Bishop is determined that nothing will get in the way of him and having a successful landscaping business. While on a job one day, he has a very hot meeting with a mysterious woman. When he keeps running in to her, he’s determined to sway her over to his way of thinking.
This was an ok book. Unfortunately I had a problem with the main female character Isa. She was very wishy washy and it tended to get on my nerves. I did really like Sailor, though, which helped make up for it. The story itself wasn’t bad.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

Cherish Hard was another wonderful story from Nalini Singh. Ms. Singh became an autobuy author for me from the moment I read my very first book in Guild Hunter series. I found I've fallen in love with her contemporary romances every bit as much as I love her paranormal romances.

I adored both Sailor and Ísa from the moment we met them both. I loved that Ísa rebounds and becomes so much stronger after she is treated so badly by an ex-boyfriend. I also loved that Sailor wanted to beat up the jerk from the moment he was so very terrible to Isa. I thought it was so sweet that Sailor recognized Ísa as soon as he saw her again.

Ísa is such a special characters. She is way stronger than the sees herself and is truly the glue that holds her family together. I loved she became even stronger once Sailor was in her life and thought his influence only made her fight for what she wanted for herself and her siblings even more.

The chemistry between Ísa and Sailor was pretty strong from the moment she approached Sailor at her school. I loved the fact that she made the first move, even if it was because she didn't realize she would see Sailor again. The seemed to get each other really well even before they moved their working relationship to a more intimate one, and I really thought it helped them to be such a strong couple when there really could have been so many thing that could have kept them apart.


Cherish Hard was a good start to the Hard Play series. I enjoyed the romance between Ísa and Sailor very much. I look forward to spending more time with Ísa, Sailor, and their friends and family in future books.

Rating: 4 stars (B+)

Sailor saw her across a crowded room and slowly watched in horror the events that unfolded. He spent years wondering what happened to the red haired suductress. He never imagined he would see her again. This time, things are going to be different. He’s not letting her go and will do anything he can to keep her by his side. Beautifully written and reminds you that life sometimes will give you everything you ever wanted.