Great combination of humor and sexy.

I am really enjoying Kathy Lyon's Locker Room Diaries and was very excited to see Connor and Gis get their own story. There are a lot of different twist and turns in the plot which kept my attention. While the toad to HEA was rocky I was so happy to see Connor and Gia together at last. I thought it was fun to see the couples from the previous books as secondary characters but the book works well as a stand alone. I'd love to see Connor's sister Cassie get her own story.
I received an advance reader copy via Netgalley.

This book was a sweet fun read. I really loved Gia. She was strong and witty and took no bull. I thought she was the perfect hero in this novel. I loved how she didn't let herself be a doormat or let Connor walk all over her. I wasnt as crazy about Connor. He had so many confusing issues half the time I wanted Gia to stop wasting time with him. However the author was able to redeem him in the end.

Connor desperately tried to fight the feelings he had for Gia. Each time she watched him he lost his tightly knit composure. As a catcher, his knees slowly began to deteriorate. Every time he hunched down or got up he felt the ache that threatens to consume him. Fighting his attraction for Gia becomes a battle he begins to lose each time she is near. The tensions rise between Connor and his sister and trying to hold everything he holds dear close to his heart. Great story line!

I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have become a very quick fan of Kathy Lyons, having read the first two books in this series and now the pleasure of reviewing this one.

First what I love most about this series is that although the characters are intertwined in each story, each book is a complete stand alone. No cheating, no cliffhangers, just HEA, but enough difference in each one to enjoy the new couple. There is only mention of the previous couples, but you could easily start at book three and still enjoy it the same.

As far as the three books in the series, although I truly enjoyed this one, maybe a little less hot and more heartfetl than the last two. Don’t get me wrong the sex scenes are hot, urgent and plentiful, but maybe just a tad repetitive. The next to the last chapter where things come to a conclusion on many things, maybe was a little over dramatic for me. There may be some surprises in there if you don’t see it all coming, just the way that it transpired was a little less realistic than I am used to from this author. Ultimate last chapter, the true conclusion, quickly makes you forget that you may have felt that way with the sweetest and very realistic HEA, leaving more than the main characters as much stronger people.

Will there be more in the series? I hope so, but either way it’s been a great one and highly recommended by me!!

3.5☆

What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Part of a series: Locker Room Diaries
Standalone
HEA

I look forward to reading the other books in this series.

Hard and Fast is sexy and real. Our hero just wants to play baseball and take are of his younger sister. The heroine is a relative newbie to the team and she just wants to succeed in her role and make her team proud. Their chemistry is undeniable, but there is the problem of his crazy older sister who has it out for the woman he’s falling for. Early on, it’s clear that a HEA will be hard won and all the sweeter because of it. I liked it.

I received an ARC of this book, from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

we met connor in sliding home, the veteran player of the indiana bobcats, a 27-year-old catcher with creaky knees. in hard and fast, he's got some serious family drama, his publicist sister, sophia ia a huge b, and his younger sister cassie has a history of mental health problems and he is very protective of her. when the team publicist, gia, who he happened to kiss at a new year's eve party a year ago, asks to spotlight him on some interviews he is wary of the press.

he doesn't want to let people see the fissures of his family life. after years of dealing with his evil sister he doesn't think much of people trying to spin a situation. this disdain seems to reflect on gia, but what he struggles to express is that he is the one who feels unworthy. why would gia lie about him, since he is so worthless. but she hears it as, gia is a worthless liar and how could he ever love her.

once they finally figure out how to communicate things get on the right track, but this is a quick steamy read, and it's nice to see connor get his happily ever after.

**hard and fast will publish on october 8, 2018. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (brazen) in exchange for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

To me a story isn't about just the main characters but the support group as well. I get where the story was going with all the back round noise, however it took too much from the story. Sister Sophia was a bully and an abuser. I wanted Gia and Conner to make it without so much confusion going on around them.

** I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

This is a voluntary review for an arc received.
This is the third book in this series and can be read as a complete stand alone.
Connor Hart is an MLB player, who has many personal issues.
He has a passionate kiss on New Year's Eve with Gia Kubric who is the team's new social media manager.
Gia is smitten with Connor, but doesn't feel that she should get into a relationship with a player.
This story had a lot of back and forth (will they be together or won't they). This story is a quick read.

This is the third book in the Locker Room Diaries. I have been looking forward to Connor's story since book one. The added bonus was finding out more about the Gia, the team's publicist. Connor is the "old" guy on the team at 27. He is the guy that his teammates look to for support and guidance. He is so busy trying to help everyone else that he doesn't have time to deal with his own baggage.

Gia is the newest member of the Bobcat marketing team. She's trying to help Connor, but runs into issues with his sister, Sophia. Sophia should be working with Gia, but she sees her as a threat.

It is a fun, fast read. As a baseball fan I like the attention to detail. This book makes you feel like your a part of the team.

Hard and Fast by Kathy Lyons

Sports contemporary romance, written in first person with alternating chapters between Connor and Gia. Third in the Locker Room Diaries series. Can be read as a standalone.

Poor, confused Connor. He doesn’t understand what he did wrong. Gia is no longer in his arms or bed. So he hides with the team in the locker room hoping to figure it out.
Gia is mad. How can Connor compare her job to what his sister Sophia does? Yes, they are both in marketing as publicists, but spin is in no way the same as outright lies. But she can’t resist his advances. Her body needs override her head when they are together.
Connor needs to figure it out or he is gong to lose it all. He never felt as centered and at ease as when he’s with Gia. Plus it’s the best sex of his life.

In an explosive twist, Connor finally steps up to do the right thing. It’s about time.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. I also purchased a copy to keep.

Connor is the Indianapolis Bobcats who is feeling the effects of his pro career on his 27 year old body. He has been attracted to the team’s publicist Gia for over two years when they shared a kiss before he knew she would be working with the team. He has enough drama going on with his life so the last thing he needs is to get involved with her especially since his own publicist who happens to be his sister has made her feelings about her quite clear.

Gia enjoys her job as the team publicist, but it is not without its challenges. She has been attracted to Connor since they shared their first and only kiss. She knows that she needs to keep her distance but working with him manages to get her heart thumping as well as give her the biggest headache at the same time.

I enjoyed these two together as they both shared difficult pasts and there was no denying the chemistry between them. Gia was both feisty and willing to “take one for the team” but at times Connor needed to not be so loyal to those in his life. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Synopsis:

Pro veteran catcher Connor Hart has his hands full keeping the hot-blooded rookies on his team focused on the ultimate prize—the World Series. Too bad he can’t seem to concentrate on the game himself. Because every time publicist Gia Kubic walks out on the field, his attention goes AWOL, and all he can think about is a New Years’ Eve kiss that should have gone much further…

As the team publicist, it’s Gia’s job to make heartthrobs out of every member of the team, but even she can’t figure out how to make America’s hottest catcher—and her not-so-secret fantasy—smile for the cameras. She’s fighting him, and her libido, at every turn.

Neither of them seems capable of saying no forever. But Connor has a secret, and he knows if he lets the sexy publicist get too close, his whole world could come crashing down...

Each book in the Locker Room Diaries series is STANDALONE:
* Hitting It
* Sliding Home
* Hard and Fast

My Thoughts:

This is the third book in this series and I have read all of them. I still don't care for the first person nature but this is the best one I have read by Kathy Lyons/Jade Lee.
I love the Jade Lee historical Romance novels so I gave these contemporary sports romances a chance.

It seems Conner and Gia have more in common than either of them realizes. Both have somewhat troubled backgrounds though on the surface only Gia's seems that way. Gia was an adopted street kid who found her way to a promising future. Conner lost his parents at a young age and is the middle of three children. His older sister apparently served as parent to her younger siblings but what sort of parent was she really?

Can this couple get past their troubled pasts and come together as a loving and caring couple?
Make sure to read this third book in the series to find out.
This book, although part of a series is easily read as a standalone story.
First person dialog is not a favorite of mine but in this book it did not detract from the plot like the first book did for me.
I gave it 4.5 of 5.0 stars for storyline and character devlopment and a sensual rating of 4 of 5 flames. It contains sizzling intimate scenes so be prepared.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book by invitation from the publisher via Netgalley.
This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

Families are what you make of them!

Indiana Bobcats All –Star Catcher Connor Hart just wants to play baseball and stay away from the promotional part of the game. Team publicist Gia Kubic had to step in to end questions about the calendar that his personal PR sister had taken pictures for without him being aware.

Connor is trying to improve his hitting percentage so he could become a designated hitter and be able to play longer because of the damage to his knees from crouching down while catching. Connor had kissed Gia once and used her picture as a good luck charms before playing but his sister was taking credit for stuff that Gia was doing.

Hard and Fast by Kathy Lyons is the third book in the Locker Room Diaries Series. Hard and Fast has so much more to the story, the reader learns about the whole Connor family and their relationships with each other and their problems. Buy that book because the twist at the end wasn’t was I expected and I was surprised.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

There was lots I enjoyed about this story and some parts that confused me. Connor and Gia definitely don't have an easy path to love. Connor's family history was a little hard to follow at times and Gia was way more forgiving than I would be. I did enjoy it and will try out the other books in the series.

Very enjoyable read! It is seriously sexy with a nice romance at the core of the story. Connor is deliciously yummy and Gia, although slightly meddlesome at times, is a good match for him as he tries to prolong his pro baseball career. I found the characters very likeable and the story believable. The writing is great with a nice easy pace to the story. I would definitely recommend this quick, fun, sexy read to everyone.

Connor the all american pro ball player.. He has it all and is on his way to the world series but his age is starting to catch up to him and his body is not what it used to be along with dealing with is crazy sister who happens to be a his publicist he is losing his battle quick.. The one bright spot in his life is the one woman he cant have, the team publicist Gia. Gia is as infatuated with Connor as he is her but they know they can't be more then co-workers.. When the fight to stay apart no longer works, will it just be for one night or will Gia show him he can be with her and help him get his game back on track?

My first read by this author and loved it. There is some back stories told that I now want to go read their books

This was a good story, I liked Conner, the jury is out on Gia but isn't that the whole point of writing a good story, this is part of a series.

I received a copy from Netgalley and I am voluntarily leaving my own honest opinion

Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for letting me read Hard And Fast by Kathy Lyons for an honest review. All opinions are my own!

My first time reading that author.

This is the first book I've read in the Locker Room Series.
I give it 3.5 stars. I liked it, didn't love it! Enjoyable, a bit slow at first. Good story, good characters, interesting... I just didn't really feel a connection as much as with other books I've read.

Review shared online on NetGalley, Twitter, Goodreads, Amazon when published.

A great fast read I discovered this was the third book in the series and I am now buying book one and two so that tells you how much I enjoyed this story

Connor and Gia shared a kiss abou two years ago but due to life and commitments they never took it any further now Gia has started working at the baseball club and the proximity has brought them back together . There's is a slow build relationship Connor has trouble dealing with the softer side been in a relationship and this isn't helped by people trying to create dramas for them As usual true love will triumph and you get a sweet moment when their nemesis gets their comeuppance Overall this book is a great page turner that will keep you entertained great for all romance readers not just sports romance buffs

i was given a copy of this book but this is true ad honest review.