This was a nice and sweet story but I had some issues and in the end, there was nothing memorable about it.

Isa is young woman who longs for a family, looking for a balance between work/time with family/friends. Writing a heroine like her carries the risk of her being seen as a cliche and anti-feminist, yet she didn't read like either to me and I appreciated the effort Nalini Singh took in presenting a heroine like her in contemporary romance. Unfortunately, this is almost all I liked in her. She came off as too perfect, too caring, too much the opposite of her mother (who was the evil business woman absentee mother stereotype incarnate).

Sailor was an interesting hero, younger than Isa, focused on his career, passionate about his work and the people close to him. wants to give her everything she never had. He fell for Isa hard and fast and made it his mission to provide her with everything she was missing in her life and to convince her he is the right one for her. Unfortunately along with his tenderness and care and affection, he came off as too possessive, too protective, too certain she is the one for him. I'm ok with insta/meant-to-be romance in Nalini Singh's shifter series, it makes sense to me re mates but in contemporary it bothers me. His conviction that she is his from the get-go and he just needed to convince her of this fell off on many levels.

A common feature in all of this author's work which I like a lot is the ethnic diversity of her characters. Isa is half-Australian/half-Icelandic and her mixed cultural background was present in the story. I also very much appreciate the variety of family relationships we see in this story, biological and chosen family mix and balance each other.

There were some interesting family/friendship dynamics and the romance was very emotional and intense but none of it made the story stand out from any other contemporary romance out there.

Overall, I prefer Nalini Singh's paranormal romances to her contemporary ones which so far has been a hit or miss for me. I'm open to reading more in this series but I will definitely approach the next books with caution and lower expectations.

3.5 stars
I was really excited to read this book just from the author alone. However, it was not as good as I thought it would be. It was a good story. it just felt like something was missing. It had a lot of cute scenes. It was sweet but still sexy. . I think part of the problem with me was Isa. She was sweet but there something about her that made you roll your eyes. She was the fixer. The glue that held the family together. Her parents abandoned her emotionally. They loved her but were workaholics. She always dreamed that her partner would put her first. Then she meets Sailor. Sailor is the saving grace of this book. He was great. Sweet, sexy, protective and easy going. He probably was the best fit for Isa. He did not give up on her. He kept at her until she fell. I loved his family and his relationship with them. Isa assumed a lot of things about Sailor, her lack of confidence in him was a little annoying. She assumed her would leave her right from the beginning. He was younger than her. She thought he would be immature and not know what he wanted. He was actually more together than she was at times. This is the first book in the series and I would like to see what happens with the other characters in the book. The Bishop boys are a interesting group.

Nalini Singh writing contemporary romance??? THIS IS A GIMME FOR ME! I was so excited to see Cherish Hard pop up on Netgalley because OMG it’s Nalini Singh and it’s a continuation, character wise, of her book Rock Hard (one of my favorite books by Nalini).

Cherish Hard is basically the meet-cute story of Sailor and Ísa, who readers meet already married in Rock Hard. This is their love story and it is a good one. Sailor sees Ísa at a party when he was in high school, just as she was breaking up with her jerk of a boyfriend. He never forgot her so when an unknown redhead approaches him in the parking lot of a school and kisses him, hard, well, he is intrigued. When he learns who the mystery woman is, he realizes that his long held crush hasn’t quite gone away. Sailor is ready to get to know Ísa NOW but Ísa isn’t so sure. She wants to settle down and marry and it seems like Sailor is just starting his business. And it’s true, Sailor has big plans for his garden business. But that doesn’t mean they can’t try, right?

A Nalini Singh love story always makes me happy. Don’t worry if you haven’t read Rock Hard yet. You’ll get caught up instantly in Ísa and Sailor’s love story. It’s not easy for either of them. Ísa is facing family pressure from her mother to be part of their family business, a chain of successful crafting stores. Sailor has always wanted to prove himself better than his father, a man who disappointed the entire family when he up and left Sailor’s mom, taking all her savings in the process. Sailor wants to do anything to show her and the world that he is a better man. His ambition sometimes gets in the way of his romantic interests unfortunately.

I love the romance that blooms between Sailor and Ísa. It is passionate and raw and endearing. From the first moment they officially meet in the story, I was hooked. I know I tend to rave about Nalini Singh books (I am definitely a Nalini stan) but truly, this is a heart-sweeping love story. A top-notch contemporary romance featuring great friendships (Ísa and her longtime best friend, Nayna, are lovely women with a warm and humorous friendship that has shined through thick and thin), intriguing family politics for both Ísa and Sailor, and a growing connection that surpasses anything either has ever felt before.

Cherish Hard just has that special something that romance readers look for. It’s a mind, heart, and text connection that is palpable and well-crafted. Nalini Singh does it again in this book. I adore her Psy/Changeling stories but I must admit, I loved a book set in the contemporary present, with all the problems that men and women are facing when trying to find that special someone. Ísa and Sailor complement each other nicely and I’m so glad I can revisit them in Rock Hard.

Cherish Hard is available now. You don’t want to miss out!

Cute and endearing romance with a hot and steaming connection on the side.

Isa is heir to a successful home crafting empire, making her mother a very powerful and successful businesswoman. Wanting to draw Isa into the business, her mother is ruthless and isn’t beyond using blackmail to pull her in.

Sailor is a landscaper that is working on the local school’s gardens when he is kissed by a wickedly beautiful woman, Isa. Little do they know that their dreams are about to crash in the most unexpected ways making Isa Sailor’s boss and the one standing in the way of his dream of making it big in the landscaping and gardening industry.

Singh rockets the Hard Play series on the romance novel scene with her signature sizzling heat and explosive chemistry that will have her fans swooning in no time flat. Highlighting a riveting, real-life cast of characters that you just won’t want to miss. The perfect balance of steam and humor.
Cherish Hard is a marvelous start to a new must-read for the contemporary romance lover crowd.

I received this copy of Cherish Hard from The Knight Agency. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I was beyond excited to start Cherish Hard by Nalini Singh. I love everything Nalini Singh writes and I basically a huge fan girl where her books are concerned. Cherish Hard marks the beginning of a new series in her contemporary romance series. I was so happy to finally see all the Bishop brothers together and I cannot wait for every single one of them to get their happy ever afters.

So this is the story of Sailor and Isa. Let's start with Sailor. Sailor was the star of the book. He is actually a gardener by profession and he dreams of doing big things. Sailor had a rough childhood with his father leaving them broke and abandoning them. Which makes him even determined to make something of himself. When Sailor meets Isa though he falls head over heels. I have to reiterate that I loved Sailor. He was the perfect alpha male with the right amount of possessiveness and protectiveness. He was a great brother and son.

Then we have Isa. Isa may be one of the sweetest heroines I've read till date. Isa is actually a teacher and she enjoys her job. Isa's mother on the other hand is the CEO of a large craft company and she wants Isa to take over. Isa was such a sweetheart. She was passionate about teaching and all she wanted in life was a steady family to love. She is wildly attracted to Sailor but she doesn't want to get in the way of his dreams.

Nalini Singh does a great job of not falling for cliches in this book. In fact reading about a curvy redhead heroine who is five years older than the hero was such a refreshing change. Sailor and Isa have amazing chemistry and what makes the book is their willingness to make their relationship work. Sailor and Isa were both very mature and two of my favourite characters.

What I love even more about Nalini Singh is how she writes about supporting characters. I adored Isa's bestie Nayna. Nayna and Raj's sub plot was super cute. I loved Sailor's siblings of course and I cannot wait for Jake and Danny's story. All in all if you enjoy contemporary romances I would highly recommend you give Cherish Hard a try. They are vastly different from her paranormals but just as amazing.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

I found myself reading Cherish Hard in the middle of reading yesterday’s book. Not that yesterday’s book wasn’t good and absorbing, but I realized that I was still in the mood for another romance – and Nalini Singh always delivers.

As I got into the book, and we were introduced to the hero’s marvelous family, someone sounded familiar – so I had to check. And OMG it was T-Rex. Sailor’s older brother Gabriel is the absolutely delicious hero of one of my favorite books of the past few years, Rock Hard. So it looks like the Hard Play series is kind of a prequel to the author’s Rock Kiss series.

This is fantastic! Rock Hard was a universal favorite among the Book Pushers. We all wanted more. It looks like we got that more, and with bells on.

But Cherish Hard is not T-Rex’s story. Instead, this is the story of his brother Sailor, and the woman Sailor first meets at 17, and watches in a combination of teenaged lust and adult horror, as her then-boyfriend dumps her, in public, with the nastiest words possible, and she runs out of a party in devastated shock.

Even then, Sailor doesn’t want to let his mystery redhead go. But she gets away before he can break out of the overcrowded room. Which doesn’t stop her from being the fuel for all of his fantasies for six long years.

When they meet again years later, at first neither of them remembers the other. When they finally do, Sailor rushes towards the woman who has fueled his every fantasy, while Isa Rain wants to run far and fast from the man who witnessed her humiliating heartbreak.

But they can’t keep away from each other. Because Sailor has just signed a contract with her-mother-the-dragon to design the landscaping for her company’s new series of organic restaurants. And Isa has just caved into her mother’s blackmail to serve as vice-president of the family crafting business for the summer.

What Isa doesn’t know, but her mother does, is that Isa’s project as VP is to manage the organic restaurant start-up, including Sailor’s contract.

The Dragon Mother believes that one summer of being VP will awaken Isa’s inner dragon and turn her away from her dream of being a teacher. She may also be counting on Isa getting the hot and sexy Sailor out of her system.

The best laid plans of mice, men and dragon mothers often go astray…

Escape Rating A: As much as I squeed about the link between Cherish Hard and Rock Hard, you do not have to read Rock Hard or the Rock Kiss series first. Although they are absolutely marvelous and you might just want to. But the events of Rock Hard occur after Cherish Hard. I’m not quite sure just how long after, and I may treat myself to a re-read to find out, but the stories aren’t really linked. Or at least not yet.

The romance between Isa and Sailor sizzles on every page of Cherish Hard, from Sailor’s reaction to Isa at their first disastrous near-meeting to their second encounter outside her school to their unexpectedly hot relationship the moment they finally do manage to really connect.

At the same time, this is a romance between two people with serious abandonment issues. Issues that they both acknowledge, but have only half worked through, if that. Sailor’s bio-dad left him, his older brother Gabe, and their mother when Sailor was five, after first cleaning out all of the family’s bank accounts, even Gabe and Sailor’s boyhood savings. He’s slime, and Sailor sees the man’s face every time he looks in the mirror.

Sailor has a plan to become a successful businessman, at pretty much any cost, in order to feel like he is not the man his bio-dad was. And he seems to be driven to sacrifice everything to that goal, at least until he falls for Isa.

Isa was abandoned in place. Both her parents are still alive, but neither seems to have any emotional investment in Isa or any of their children, whether separately or together. Isa’s only sources of real support and affection were her grandmother, now deceased, and her best friend. But Isa is determined to give her siblings, her half-sister Catie and her stepbrother Harlow, the grounding and emotional support she never had, no matter what.

She’s 28, and looking for a relationship with a man who will put her first, as no one in her life ever has. Instead, she falls for Sailor, even though she believes he isn’t ready for the kind of commitment she needs, and has admitted that his business comes first, and will for a long time.

They seem to be at an emotional impasse, and the conflict that they have to overcome is to find a way to make it work, because they are both all in whether they are ready to admit that or not.

Watching them find a compromise that gives them both what they really need, and not just what they thought they wanted, is beautiful.

I can’t wait to see how the rest of Sailor’s brothers find their matches, because I already know it’s going to be awesome.

Hm. I liked this one, but I found it slow and lacking overall, and had some issues with a few things with the writing/story along the way. For example, jumping from one POV to another within the span of a page, odd places to end a chapter (mid-mundane conversation) before continuing said conversation the next page on a new chapter, etc.



I talk about this one a bit more on my Whatcha Reading (11/18/17) podcast episode: http://www.tbqsbookpalace.com/2017/11/whatcha-reading-podcast-november-18th.html

I love when authors are able to give me the best of different genre in their book lists. While many readers may know of Nalini Singh from her Paranormal Romance series, I’ve also known her work on the Contemporary Romance side as well. So for me, the best of two worlds that I absolutely love. If you’ve read Ms Singh’s Rock Kiss series then you already are aware of the Bishop brothers. Although Cherish Hard takes place a few years before Rock Hard and begins a brand new series, there is a connection between the two.

Sailor is a man who knows what he wants and isn’t afraid of the hard work needed to reach a goal whether it’s business or personal. Right now he’s determined to get his landscaping business off the ground and successful. What he didn’t count on was running into the elusive woman who captured his attention some time ago and then disappeared. Isa is a woman who knows the ups and downs of being able to do or have anything she desires. She believes in hard work, and not getting anything for nothing. What she’s looking for now is family not business. She’s seen how business can consume a person, and what she wants most is a man to love her for herself and a family of her own. When these two meet again the sparks fly enough to ignite a passion that could make or break either of them… but together they could be magic.

While there is an age difference between Sailor and Isa that’s not what drives the story, it’s more of an indication of them being in different places in life and whether they can find a mutual ground to build on. I really liked this couple. Isa is smart, sassy, knows her own worth and isn’t afraid of the hard choices even though she’d much rather not have to make them, like most of us. Sailor is charming, a bit possessive and certain that he and Isa have a future, but getting to agree on that future is at times an issue. Their romance will be a bumpy road at times. Yet these two people have the common sense to talk to each other, to be adults and work on the things that need working on instead of ignoring them as if they’ll disappear overnight. I liked them individually and they were simply amazing together. I’m hoping that we get glimpses of their future together in the later books in this series. I happen to be a reader who loves to run into couples and get a look at how they’re dong – much like keeping in touch with old friends.

So, now I have an uncontrollable desire to dig out my Rock Kiss books and do a re-read… yeah that’s probably in my near future. I absolutely loved Cherish Hard and I will be keeping an eye out for the rest of this series. I’d recommend this story to any Romance reader who enjoys a well told story, likable characters, realistic situations and some pretty amazing secondary characters as well. Indulge yourself and enjoy.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

CHERISH HARD is the first instalment in Nalini Singh’s contemporary, adult HARD PLAY erotic, romance series-a spin off from the author’s ROCK KISS series. This is twenty three year old landscaper Sailor Bishop, and thirty year old teacher/businesswoman Isalind ‘Isa’ Rain’s story line. CHERISH HARD can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty-you do not have to have read the Rock Kiss series to understand or follow the premise. The timeline of CHERISH HARD takes place several months ( or years) prior to the events of Rock Hard (Rock Kiss #2) where in we were first introduced to Sailor’s older brother Gabriel Bishop.

Told from dual third person point of view (Isa and Sailor) CHERISH HARD follows the building romance between teacher and businesswoman Isa Rain, and professional landscaper Sailor Bishop. Seven years earlier Sailor and Isa’s paths would cross when Isa’s boyfriend publicly humiliated our story line heroine in front of a group of high school and college aged friends. In the ensuing years Sailor has never forgotten the beautiful and heartbroken redheaded young woman that called to his heart-a woman who barely acknowledged his existence or presence. Fast forward to present day wherein Sailor will be hired by the burgeoning and billion dollar ‘Crafty Corners ‘ to redesign and update several properties. Enter Isa Rain, Crafty Corners new VP, shareholder and owner’s daughter, and the woman with whom Sailor will fall in love. What ensues in the building relationship and growing love between Sailor and Isa, and the potential fall-out as Sailor’s plans for the future never took into consideration the desire for family and love.

CHERISH HARD is a story of family and friendship. Isa’s mother and father have been married and divorced so many times she is unable to keep track of the growing numbers but our heroine’s lack of success in the love department is predicated on one man’s tirade that left Isa a shell of her former self. Sailor Bishop has known struggle from an early age including the abandonment by his father, and the battle his mother endured to keep the family fed, and off of the streets. Meeting Isa Rain finds our hero thinking about a future-a future that is in direct conflict with his business outline and plans to expand, but plans that are meant to be redirected when he falls for the woman he met years before. Growing up the privileged daughter of a wealthy businesswoman whose less than stellar track record of unsuccessful marriages meant Isa martyred herself to care for her younger siblings, and a step brother that has all but been ignored by both sides of the family.

The relationship between Isa and Sailor begins when they reconnect with one another in the school parking lot where Isa currently works. Barely recognizing once another their paths will cross several times before either one realizes the who and what of their previous encounter. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense.

We are reintroduced to Sailor’s brother Gabriel (Rock Hard), a professional rugby player; their younger half-brothers Jake and Danny, and parents Alison and Joseph Esera; Isa’s domineering mother and billionaire businesswoman Jacqueline Rain; her half-sister Catie, and step brothers Trevor and Harlow, as well as Isa’s best friend Nayna- a woman who is battling her parents in regards to her future.

CHERISH HARD is a sweet story of romance where the conflict level is low; the angst is limited to dysfunctional fallout; and memories of the past that remained burned in the mind but never to be forgotten. The premise is engaging and inspiring; the characters are dynamic and intelligent; the romance is provocative and impassioned. CHERISH HARD is a charming and wonderful start to a new series by an amazing author.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

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CHAPTERS/INDIGO: (Sandy_At_the_Reading_Cafe) posted

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The hero of this story is Sailor Bishop, who is a younger brother of Gabriel Bishop from Nalini Singh's book, ROCK HARD. CHERISH HARD takes place before ROCK HARD.

CHERISH HARD begins in the past, when both Sailor and Ísa Rain are attending a college party. The party ends in a Cinderella-like manner, with Sailor chasing after a humiliated Ísa, and not knowing her name.

Fast forward seven years. Ísa is now a teacher, who spies a sexy gardener on the grounds of her school. Things get hot and bothered at his truck before he realizes she's the young woman he never forgot. Ísa runs away again.

Thus begins a lighthearted cat and mouse game with a little family drama thrown in. It's a sweet, light read that will put a smile on your face.

Cherish Hard is the perfect title for Ísa and Sailor’s story because they both deserve to be valued and seen as the absolute gifts that they are. They’re hard workers and they have clear objectives for their lives and are willing to put in the time to achieve their goals, both professionally and personally, especially after they realize that the chemistry and attraction between them is not something they can deny.

I love how Nalini Singh develops Sailor’s character, illustrating the good and honest man that he is as well as developing the alpha male he seems to be when it comes to claiming Ísa, even when she misjudges him and tries to run. He’s tenacious in his pursuit of Ísa because he sees the woman she is and he wants to have her light, her smile, her everything in his life forever. Sailor’s a phenomenal book boyfriend because there’s nothing fake about his actions or his words…and let me tell you, Sailor’s sweet and dirty talk would melt any woman’s panties! He’s a genuinely nice guy whose family and friends mean the world to him, and even though Sailor is an imperfect man, he does his best to lead a life that represents the type of man he wants people to view him as and, for the most part, he is successful.

Ísa is an intriguing heroine because she seems to represent the everyday woman – the one who all readers can relate to, at least in some way, because the things that she goes through and her feelings of insecurity are all identifiable situations/feelings of a modern woman. Her family is a bit of a hot mess, partly because both of her parents are self-serving and partly because the whole dynamics with her step parents and siblings always seems to be points of contention as well as the fact that Ísa’s mother has much different aspirations for her daughter than what Ísa wants for herself, and their issues aren’t easily solvable.

Cherish Hard is a low angst, feel good story that proves just how easy it is for the right person to ‘imprint’ or make an impression on someone else’s life, even if there were no words exchanged during their initial sightings. Sailor is the perfect guy for Ísa because his persistence and care are exactly what she needs to open herself up to the possibility of being an ‘us’ when everything she’s wanted in a man is standing right in front of her.

4.5 Poison Apples (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)

I continue my existence as a hardcore Nalinian and also, my participation in the blog tour with the promised review of her newest book, Cherish Hard. It is also starts her newest series, Hard Play, which is kind of a spin-off of her Rock Kiss series. Because we already met Gabriel Bishop, aka The Bishop, aka T-Rex in Rock Hard. And not only met, but also fell in love with him in a way the title describes.

Now, with these books, it is time for his brothers to show us the goods, and let us get to know them better, as they took place in some scenes in their eldest brother's story. First in line is Sailor Bishop. In Rock Hard, we see him with a wife and a daughter in row, so we actually have to go back in time for this one, to see how he got his HEA with Ísa.

It is really a sweet, sexy and funny read, as the author promised. Sexy, because the sparks are there right from the start, and our main couple can't seem to keep their hands - and mouths - off of each other. This way, some scenes are hot like the sun itself. But I think they are all neatly and tastily written, so it doesn't overwhelm the plot. Funny, because there are lines that makes readers laugh, even in some surprising ways, in an otherwise serious context, or simply because the silliness of the young ones. Nalini Singh has a distinct humor sense, and she is not afraid to use it. She gets the know-how, too, which saves the stories from being overwrought and artificial in my eyes. And last, but not least, sweet, because there are not only smexy scenes, but also ones with so much tenderness in them that they are heartmelting.

As a result, the feels are really strong throughout the book, but this time not in a roller-coaster way. It is simply that you can almost experience what the characters feel, how they go from desire and passion to deeper and deeper affection and love - and passion, because that is there until the end and after. As I see, it is a slightly diverse story from the author's latest ones in that it is steamier, with more sensual and sexual scenes than them, and also lighter a bit. I don't say this because there aren't any serious, sad or even dark fates and cases in it, but because of the overall sweetness.

The main couple is really likeable for me. Ísa is a headstrong and caring heroine, who is very relatable in her choices and problems. And Sailor, he is just plainly the best type of heroes - good-looking as much on the inside as on the outside, with enough badness to him that makes us want to have one like him for our own. The way he treats his spitfire redhead is nearly fabular.

They are different in almost every way they can - appearance, background, past, etc. and it causes some hurdles in their road to happiness. But I deliberately use this word, and not some other one like problems. Because Sailor and Ísa actually talk. There are a little bit of drama, but before long, they always talk it out solve their issues together. To be honest, I have to mention here something I didn't like in the story - I think the age gap thing was a little bit overdramatized. But fortunatley, by the time I felt like shouting at Ísa's head, like 'We only speak about five years, for God's sake!', she got over it.

Not only because Sailor is a very mature and determined man for his younger age, the features like his playfulness gave Ísa what I think she desperately needed - times to feel young herself, to step out a little from her caring provider and sustainer role in her family, in which she was since her childhood. I say this while I understand where she came from, whyshe thought that at twentythree, not every man is ready to settle down. But it turns out, the different pasts make ones the perfect mates for others.

The other characters are also well-defined. I have got to mention yet again that I love how Nalini can create complex persons, like Ísa's mom - she is a real Dragon with some very nasty acts, and still she is respectably strtong, and even funny at times.

It was good to see a younger version of the Bishop-Esera clan, with a Gabriel in his rugby-playing time. I liked to read about Nayna and her own cultural and familial problems, including Raj with his lickable abs. I hope we'll be able to read their story sometime in the near future in detail. This stands for Ísa's siblings, mainly Catie, as well. If she is paired with Danny, I won't complain. They, and all the others make this a story that emphasizes important values like family, friends, love, care, and so on.

All in all, I think Nalini Singh is a genius in that she can always pair the right characters together, with the right personalities that complement each other. There are some ideas which seem strange or even wrong at first, but if we trust in Nalini and get to know every important facets of them better, we get a good result.

Cherish Hard was the first book in the Hard Play series and was a wonderful, sweet, and enjoyable book with an amazing hero and a likable heroine.

I'll be honest, Sailor made this book for me. He was the perfect hero without being 100% perfect. He had his flaws but he the way he treated Isa was amazing! He is definitely going to be one of my favorite book boyfriends! I also liked Isa and how she stood up for herself, was their for her siblings but also was able to get past her fears and give Sailor not only a chance but the benefit of the doubt. Once they committed they believed in each other and the relationship. I'm actually not sure about the timeline and how long they knew each other but it didn't feel like instant love and I found them believable together. I also loved that the conflict was so real! I also admired the way it was handled and the resolution at the end.

I also adored both Sailor's family and Isa's siblings. They made wonderful secondary characters who added to the book. Of course Rock Hard about Sailor's older brother is one of my all time favorite contemporary romances so I loved seeing a bit of him before that book takes place.

This was a wonderfully sweet book that hit just the right spot. So if you're looking for a sweet, heart warming yet somewhat light hearted book with a fabulous hero and characters you are rooting for then give this one a chance you won't be disappointed!

Cherish Hard brings us back to the Bishop-Esera family that Nalini Singh readers first fell in love with in Rock Hard, Gabriel Bishop's story and one of my most favorite books of all times. Cherish therefore had a pretty high bar to reach and I was thrilled that it lived up to my every expectation. Gabriel's younger brother Sailor is working hard to make his dream landscaping company a reality. He's also working to prove to himself that he is nothing like the pathetic excuse for a man who fathered him. Isa Rain wants to live a quiet life as an English teacher writing poetry and supporting her younger brother and sister. But she's fought every step of the way by her mother, a shark of a CEO who plans for Isa to take an active interest in her company. Both spend the book fighting their own preconceived notions about themselves and their futures, their plans and where they are willing to be flexible. I especially loved Isa- a smart, creative, and caring woman who refuses to give in to the cold corporate example her parents have set. Instead of believing she is undeserving of love, Isa has vowed that she will come first in her husband's life. She's willing to fight for what she wants and brave enough to take risks with her heart.

Cherish Hard is beautifully written, full of heart, humor, and heat. Sailor and Isa have incredible chemistry on every page, but are just as compelling in scenes with family or friends. Now we just have to wait for the other Bishop boys to grow up a little so they can have their own stories!

A must read for Singh fans and a great book for new readers!

“Are you making any new-year resolutions?” she whispered after the kiss while the fireworks still bloomed and her romantic heart dreamed of kisses into forever.
Expression solemn, Sailor cupped her cheek. “To kiss my Ísalind as much as possible.”

Cherish Hard is a book to be cherished. It’s everything I love, love, LOVE about Nalini Singh, and easily one of my favorite books of 2017.

I knew the moment I first met Gabriel Bishop’s family in Rock Hard that I wanted to more of his charming brothers. And to give readers Sailor and Ísa’s story first was inspired on the part of Ms. Singh. I absolutely loved going back to see how this couple met, courted, fell in love, fought the good fight. Certainly, it made it so new readers could jump right in without missing a beat, but it also made me want to go back and re-read the whole book the sections of Rock Hard with Gabe’s family.

More than that, it served to build a deeper connection between the reader and the entire Bishop-Esera family, meeting them as you do at a younger age. These are such warm characters—rambunctious at times, but loving always. They envelop you, draw you into their world—Sailor and Ísa’s world—effortlessly. It helps, of course, that each and every word, chosen with care and infused with meaning, flowed seamlessly into a sweet and sexy love story. Add to that Ms. Singh’s gift for world-building and this version of New Zealand becomes yet another character supporting the beautiful tale of Sailor and his redhead.

I’d be failing as a reviewer if I forgot to mention how incredibly sexy and charmingly possessive Sailor is. This man—there’s probably a good five swoons to be had per page, in everything from the way he sees his Ísa to the way he talks about his brothers to the way he cares for Ísa’s people. He’s all the things a book boyfriend needs to be and much of the reason I loved this book so damn much.

It all boils down to this: I simultaneously don’t have enough or any words to properly explain that which makes this book is one to add to your end of year Best Of list and one to simply be cherished—and cherished hard.

“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.”

~ FIVE Spitfire STARS ~

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
OMG this was my first Nalini Singh book. It was amazing.
I've heard so many good things about her writing and they were all right.
The book was amazing and very well written.
I really loved the characters, they were so real.
Can't wait to read the second book in this serie.

So Fun, Sweet, & Sexy!! Oh, how I Love Nalini Singh’s style, she always pulls me in, and CHERISH HARD was another fantastic read. I loved everything about it, from the fantastic, interesting characters and their interactions, that were full of light, fun, sweetness and a sizzling chemistry, that is so real it jumped off the page right at me. There were so many fantastic moments between them I couldn’t get enough and never wanted this story to end.
O.M.G. Absolutely fell in love with Sailor Bishop, his sexy sweetness and tenderness melted my heart. Loved, how from the very first scene of them connecting you could tell he was such a genuinely, great guy. So sweet, selfless and sexy. It was simply wonderful how he was there for Isa. The way that he takes care of her, understands her, and gives so much to Isa, he is Sooo! Swoon-Worthy!!
There is definitely more to Isa than meets the eye and I loved her story. She is such a survivor, so giving and caring to everyone around her. But strong, intelligent and independent with a fine business mind. But all she wants and needs, is to find a man, that will love and cherish her, putting her and their family first, always. Is that to much to ask for? Will she find it?
I totally enjoyed the build as everything played out. I adored the fact that it was written in dual POV and I really got to know both of them and feel what they were feeling. These main characters bring out all the feels and I fell in love alongside them. A passionate, lyrical romance that makes your heart soar and that takes your breath away. It really has it all. Grab your copy today and be prepared to fall in love!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sailor Bishop is a 23-year-old man who is much more mature, confident and focused than one would normally expect at this age. His childhood pushed him to be laser focused on his goals. Their biological father abandoned him, his brother Gabe and their mom when the boys were very young. The man they now call dad is actually their step-dad, and there is a tight bond there. Add in their half brothers, and they are a very tight knit family.

Isa Rain is a disappointment to her parents. Rather than follow in their corporate footsteps, she is a teacher and secret author of poetry. Her parents are divorced, and both have had an excessive number of marriages. Because her parents are so focused on their careers, Isa has become a mother figure to her two siblings. She has vowed to make sure they feel loved, protected and cherished, as she never did.

Isa was blindsided and completely humiliated in college by a public break up initiated by her boyfriend. It has shaped all future relationships. Now 28, she is looking to settle down, start a family and create the stability she never had.

Sailor witnessed Isa’s break up in college. He was fascinated by her beauty back then and has thought of her over the years. When he unexpectedly finds himself being kissed by Isa 7 years later, he vows to not let her slip away again. I loved his persistence throughout the book.

These two had obstacles to overcome but did so without the normal hysteria. Gasp! They actually talked things out without unnecessary drama. I enjoyed this author’s writing style and found myself rooting for these two and not wanting to put the book down. However, I did feel the ending was a bit rushed. I wanted more detail on how they got to where they were and what it took to get there.

This is my first book by this author. After reading it, I already want more.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher.

Adorable but emotional contemporary romance

I loved this book. I loved Sailor and Isa, I loved meeting their messy families, I loved that there was no big misunderstanding but there was a big damn declaration of love. There was a great cast of characters and conflict that didn’t rely on a villain. The business ideas were really interesting and I would love to see Sailor’s dream come to life for real.

It’s so refreshing to read a contemporary where the leads actually talk to each other to work through their problems together. There are many roadblocks to Sailor and isa’s love that are mentioned and dealt with – class differences, age differences (though interestingly, no race gap, which I think speaks to the New Zealand setting). The main problem is the one on the cover blurb – different life goals – and its resolution leads to this gem of dialogue that had me swooning:
“I love you, Ísalind Rain. You are the most important part of my dream.”
I don’t want to give away spoilers but that entire conversation had me holding my breath.

If I had one quibble, it would be that there are so many characters, it got a little messy. I wanted dramatis personae, a family tree, and like a hundred other books to see them all get a happy ending, starting with Nayna and Raj. Nalini has created a world full of people who I want to know and I can’t wait to read more.

I received a copy of this story from the author through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cherish Hard by Nalini Singh is a contemporary romance that involves twenty-somethings as they navigate through life and love. The characters, especially the females bring plenty of drama to this story. In fact, so much goes on in their personal lives that it made me glad I had long ago left that phase of my life. As the story progressed the characters showed more mature actions and decisions, making me root for Sailor and Isa in this working man and rich girl scenario. To Isa’s credit she is fighting the poor little rich girl cliché for all she’s worth.

The writing is solid in this purely romance book, yet so very different from the PSY-Changeling Series. It is a testimony to the versatility of the author’s writing to write so well very different types of stories. Overall, Cherish Hard is a fun read that makes you laugh at times, cringe at others while enjoying it all.