This book was so warm, sexy, amazing, entertaining, funny- did I mention sexy!? Nalini Singh does it again and again and again each and every time is a homerun! Love Hard was a remarkable story and it has single dad trope, which is one of my absolute favorites! Jake’s daughter was fantastic and the characters had a truly mature romance that I absolutely enjoy.

This was a bit of a slow start but I did end up enjoying it. This was my first book by Nalini Singh and it will not be my last.

I have seldom difficulty rating books, but Love Hard is one of those stories that managed to constantly change my opinion. Throughout the book I have gone from rating it three stars, then two, then three, then four. The story had very good potential and in many ways it reached it. It’s just ... it got sidetracked a lot with a lack of a better explanation and it made it difficult for me to fully understand and fall in love with it immediately.

The beginning of the story was rough. However, that was not necessarily the book’s fault by any means since I kind of consciously jumped into the middle of this series without having read any of the previous books. Love Hard started with a wedding between Charlotte and Gabriel and went far into detail of how amazing this was, how happy everyone was and how perfectly detailed the whole shebang was. I assume this was an absolute dream start to the book for anyone who have read the previous book, but to me it was very dragged out and a bit too sappy for my taste, probably since I had no emotional attachment the the couple who the wedding was for. It was also very confusing and a lot to take in at once with so many names and characters involved immediately. So to summarize, it was a rough start, but I can only really blame myself for that since I decided to read this without having read the first two books.

One thing though that I feel would not have changed, whether I had read the previous books or not, is the slow introduction to the main characters, Jake and Juliet. Since the first few chapters was so focused on the wedding and the happy couple both the characters were kind of out of the spotlight even though it was their POV. I mean, they did have introductions with who they were, their family ties and their history, but it took a good while for the main characters to catch my interest just because they weren’t the center focus until after the wedding was over and done with.

That’s when I finally started to really get into the book. Jake and Jules had some intriguing and intense interactions before that that I enjoyed, however when they became the sole focus of the book I got a deeper look at both of the characters and a much more compelling build up between them. I am actually quite pleased with the originality to how they knew each other, having not only been nemesis in school but tied together by the same girl who they both tragically lost. That with them coming from such different backgrounds and with polar opposite personalities made it a recipe for a addictive romance. While I felt that their interactions felt a bit off sometimes and the story lost me some places with the whole training and rugby aspect, for the most part I very much enjoyed the story til the end, especially when the attention seeking ex got into the picture.

What Reid did and how it affected Jules was probably what I loved most with Love Hard. Because I like drama in books it drew me in like a moth to a flame. It was also so satisfying seeing how it brought out Jakes protectiveness and brought them closer together as a couple. Although I might have liked there to have been a bit more drama to the whole ordeal I can’t really complain either since it was still so enjoyable and there was so much else making up for the extra drama I missed. Esme being one. I’m not usually much for kids taking room in romance stories but she was a treat, especially her interactions with Juliet. Even that gave the romance something extra, bringing them all together as a family.

One thing I missed though, that would have made the relationship absolutely perfect, was the guilt of Callie. With that I mean that neither one of them showed any guilt over getting with the other when Callie had had such fundamental parts in both their life, being his first love and mother of his child and being Jules best friend. I think it would have strengthened both the realism and the connection in the relationship if they had to work through and struggle with the loss and guilt of moving on with each other and leave Callie in the past. I am not super upset by it though since the book still had so much else to offer.

All in all Love Hard had a lot of beautiful elements to it that I believe draws in a broad audience. There was enemies to lovers, second chance (in a sense), troubled upbringing and finally finding a family, sports theme, widower with a kid, a powerful businesswoman, celebrities and drama. At some point I felt like it might have gone a bit overboard with everything it contained, but for the most part I could get behind most of the themes. It all worked well together and never felt forced or messy. It just flowed naturally throughout the story making it in the end absolutely deserving of four stars.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This New Zealand rugby romance took me by surprise. I didn't love the beginning because wedding scenes just aren't my jam, and there was a LOTTA wedding stuff to get through. But I enjoyed the single father storyline, the heat, and the realistic feel of this romance. Might pick up more in this series, but I'm not rushing to do so. Solid "I liked it."

AHH!! I have loved reading about the Esera brothers and could not wait to read Jake's story. His connection with Juliet was so fiery. I loved their "frenemies" to lovers romance and how sexy it was. It was high in snappy banter, explosive chemistry and very low in angst. This was just an emotionally sweet story full of swoons. I could not get enough. 


Jacob “Golden Boy” Esera and Juliet “Bad Influence” Nelisi have always had a complicated relationship. They were neither friends nor enemies in high school, but they shared a bond in their love and loss over the death of his childhood sweetheart and her bestfriend. But when they cross paths again years later, the rigid and protective Jake has no idea what hits him when the bad girl he knew in school suddenly is all he can think about. 

I LOVED this story. It was sweet and sexy but also emotional. Jake and Juliet both had a lot of feelings and issues to work through but I loved their devotion to each other. Jake was strong and assertive and knew what he wanted. He was there for Juliet and gave her a sense of family and belonging she's always needed. This was a great story! 4.5 stars! ~Ratula 

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.

First, Jake was awesome, but the real star in Love Hard was Juliet. Man did Juliet win me over. Learning her story firmly placed me in her corner and I wanted her to have Jake so badly. She deserved a guy like him after everything she has been through. Add in an adorable little girl and I was a goner.

Jake really was an incredible hero. He is such a good dad and they way he protected Esme was incredibly sweet. When he turned that same protection on Juliet, I wanted to shout with joy for her. Seeing dad and daughter be such an awesome team, adding Juliet to the mix was going to be very important for the author to handle. She knocked it out of the park.

Juliet is one of those characters that is tough on the outside and full of mush on the inside. She has such a huge capacity to love but never had the chance to give that gift. I wanted that for her. More importantly, I wanted that for her with Jake and Esme. What a gem this book turned into.

“Leap with me. Be my wings.” Love Hard by Nalini Singh

4 stars 😍 This is tied along with Rock Hard as my fave so far in this series. So happy I got an arc of this from @netgalley

We have Jake as the next brother to have his own HEA. And what is sweet about this one is that Jake and Juliet go way back, not quite friends but connected because of Esme’s mother. And fate has thrown them in each other’s paths again.

I enjoyed reading about how Jake and Juliet discover how different the other was from school, both of them having to grow up faster than usual. They explore how they fit now, together. Jake’s a great guy, elite athlete, can run for dad of the year. Juliet is prickly, smart, successful in her own right, tough and gentle and someone you want in your inner circle. Both have their own baggage but they make it work.

Jake’s family is the best, one of my fave book families. So of course the other Bishop-Esera brothers and their families were around. And it was great to see Molly and Fox and Thea.

I’d say this is a slow burn and it gets pretty steamy in some places. But that’s all a side note. Overall, it’s a light sweet romantic read.

Like with all of Nalini Singh’s books I took my time with this, not rushing it. And this fave author of mine Nalini Singh doesn’t disappoint.

Thank you so much Independent Publishers Group, TKA Distribution for the arc of this book! I enjoyed it a lot!!

Love Hard is the third volume in the Hard Play series, also the spinoff series to the Rock Kiss series.

I begin this review by a little reminder, the diverse heroes are the brothers of Gabriel Bishop, hero of Rock Hard, second volume of the original series. Concerning the chronology, the first two volumes take place before Gabriel and Charlotte’s story.
As for Love Hard, the story begins where we left Rock Hard and with Gabriel and Charlotte’s wedding. But I can reassure you: if you didn’t read the original series or the first two volumes, you can without trouble read this book. You won’t be lost at all, believe me.

Love Hard features Jacob Esera and Juliet Nelisi. Jacob is Gabriel’s half-brother, with the same mother and a different father.
Juliet lost her parents when she was young and was raised first by her aunt then by her grand-parents. Her education was very strict and she was a rebel in school.

Jacob and Juliet met when they were young because the hero was in love with our heroine’s best friend. From their relationship a little girl was born and Jacob has been raising her alone since his girlfriend’s death. This lost traumatized Jacob to the point that for a long time he didn’t stand not to know what the different members of his family were doing so he kept an eye on their travels.
When the book begins, he’s still afraid of losing them but does a work on himself to avoid showing his angst especially because he wants his daughter to have a normal development.
In spite of her assumed rebel side, Juliet is deeply kind and loyal. She’s just out of a difficult relationship and divorce when she sees our hero again.

The story will talk about the sudden attraction between our heroes, their acceptation of this feeling in spite of their common past and the one who’s not here anymore, the evolution of their feelings and the fact the heroine has a limited trust in men.
We could believe the relationship is a bit shady seeing the links between the heroes, but it’s not the case at all. I really liked their so simple and classical relationship. Of course, those who prefer tension, arguments… will be frustrated but at least you’re warned.

There are not many love scenes but they are well described. Among the secondary characters, there are almost all the couples met in the previous series and volumes, and I loved their interactions and support. Love Hard highlights family, friendship, and the links between father-daughter and parents-children. In fact the relation between Jacob and his daughter is full of a deep love and it’s also an element I loved in this story.
There’s just a single brother and Nalini announces at the end of the book he’s going to have a story. I have a little idea about his heroine but I’m waiting for more information.

To conclude Love Hard is a very beautiful classical contemporary romance I recommend.

Jacob Esera once loved fast cars and dare devil exploits but now he saves all his strategy and moves for the rugby field. Being a single parent to a six year old daughter who lost her teenage mom at birth has sobered up this once fun loving guy. Wild child, Juliet Nelisi is his polar opposite, isn't she?

T-Rex Gabe Bishop and Charlie mouse are two of my favorite characters in this series and while I wasn't sad to see a lot of this book dedicated to their wedding and honeymoon it does take away from Juliet and Jacob's core story which is the only reason I took away one star. Of course Jacob's daughter who's been the center of his universe is adorable, her character definitely steals a lot of the show. Despite all these distractions Jacob and Juliet's sweet emotional love story makes quite the impact, making this possibly one of my favorite contemporary romance stories by Ms. Singh.
Juliet is quite the inspiration having worked her way from a rebel in high school to banishment on a small island, finally finding her turn around in Operations manager in one of the leading designers in New Zealand. Her back story is sad and at the same time inspiring. It's a miracle that she's as well grounded as she is despite her wrong turn with her sleazy first husband who is still trying to sabotage her relationship with Jacob.
It's Jacob who does the 180 from disliking Juliet and the strong influence Juliet had once had on his girlfriend to becoming one of her strongest protectors, surrounding Juliet with his family's love and protection. Gosh even someone with a stone heart would melt and Juliet's is just a marsh mallow. I really enjoyed reading how the two faced their demons to find their happily ever after.
One more Esera left to go! While I'm reading between the lines on his story it definitely should be a feisty romance. Can't wait.

Love Hard is the third installment in the latest contemporary series by the talented Nalini Singh and I honestly adored this book. I was pretty on the shelf about it beforehand however, it really gobbled my attention up very quickly which I wasn’t expecting as much as it did. I do get nervous around enemies to lover tropes to be honest, I never know the level of angst that will be in the story but boy how on earth do I ever doubt the talent of Nalini Singh? She did a fantastic job in penning this book in such the perfect way.

Our story begins with a wedding of the infamous T-Rex and Mouse (hero and heroine from Rock Hard) and finally we get to see their happy ever after actually happen. But this is where our couple meet up. Jacob has been working hard on his career and raising his daughter on his own ever since his high school sweetheart passed away. Now he is confronted with a ghost of his past, Juliet, who was his late wife’s best friend. And Juliet and Jacob found such irritation in each other until the wedding and sparks fly between them and now they are both having to face feelings and a sexual tension that is new for them as they have always hated each other beforehand. But as they ease their way into this newfound relationship, they both will have to face up to the past to embrace their future…

Love Hard was such a emotion-packed and tension-filled story and I honestly adored every moment of it. I really had such a blast with Jacob and Juliet. The tension between them is quite unique because of the past they are both affiliated with. So you have some sweet emotion filled with this intensity. I really adored seeing Jacob and Juliet find their way to each other. Juliet has a hard time with trust, she has been burned badly and Jacob hasn’t ever really had a firm relationship with another woman until Juliet. So I really enjoyed seeing them come to terms with certain aspects of themselves and find their way into their relationship. There is such an awkwardness between them that was so tender at times, you sense the type of feeling they have for each other, but this is such a new experience for them both so it’s like seeing a bird learning to flap its wings and soar in the sky.

It was such a blast to see some of our old favorite characters and yes I mean the beloved T Rex and Mouse and seriously now I want to re-read their story again because *sigh* I love them. And so delightful to see this family again and their close-knit ties they have to each other. Eager for the youngest brother to have his story now.

Overall I found Love Hard to be a story of unique love, fesity angsty sensuality and a charm to knock your socks off…..

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an advance copy of this book.
This was the first time I've read anything by Nalini Singh and I enjoy how she told the story.
Who doesn't love a enemies to lovers trope. This book had funny witty dialog, hot and seamy sex scenes and one heck of a love story.
Jacob Esera, star rugby player and young single father, has worked hard to create a joyous life for his six-year-old daughter. After the death of his childhood sweetheart soon after their daughter’s birth, all Jake wants is safety and stability. No risks. No wild chances. And especially no Juliet Nelisi, former classmate, scandal magnet, and a woman who is a thorn in his side.

As a lonely teenager, Juliet embraced her bad-girl reputation as a shield against loneliness and rejection. Years later, having kicked a cheating sports-star ex to the curb, she has a prestigious job and loyal friends—and wants nothing to do with sportsmen. The last thing she expects is the fire that ignites between her and the stuffed-shirt golden boy who once loved her best friend.

Straitlaced Jacob Esera versus wild-at-heart Juliet Nelisi? Place your bets.

I did however find it difficult in the beginning to follow along with who everyone was , but if you happened to read the 1st and 2nd book of this series you should have no problem.

As much as I adore Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling series, I think I finally have to admit that her contemporaries are not for me. And the way this novel opens made it incredibly difficult to get in to.

The entire first 25% of the novel takes place at a wedding. There are 1) far too many unnecessary wedding details and 2) too many introduced characters, which makes it very difficult for the reader to follow along, especially if they haven't read previous books in the series, or in Nalini Singh's rockstar series.

Because of this, I didn't click with the main characters since the focus is so much on the couple getting married. We really start to get to know the main characters--Jake and Juliet--after the 25% mark, when it's finally about them, but by then it was too late and I didn't care.

It's a really slow novel and with minimal conflict, which isn't always a bad thing. But in this case there wasn't much else saving it from itself. I liked Jake and Juliet's interactions--they were often funny--but it wasn't enough to save this book.

If you enjoyed the author's other books in this series, or her other contemporary works, you'll probably like this too, but I'm afraid I can't recommend it.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Third book of the Esera brothers stories. My fave esera was gabriel , still is but I really really loved jacob. He is a solid man, at first he was a jerk to juliet too judgemental but he quickly forgave himself. Juliet is a complicated character too hard but too soft at the same time. jacob and she is pushing each other buttons all the time :D jacob's tiny little human daughter is a delight.
%25 percent of the book is about gabe and charlotte's wedding. and I think it's a little too much . that part of the book should be a novella or something I wanted to read about their wedding but I felt like jacob and julie's story was cut short because of that.
It was a very very lovely book full of adorableness . My hearth is beating HARD just to thinking about this book. <3

Jacob Esera is a single-dad and a famous member of the All Blacks. On the night of his brother's wedding, a ghost from the past appears. Juliet Nelisi was the best friend of Calypso - Jake's high school girlfriend and the mother of his daughter - who tragically died after Esme was born.

Not only do they have a past that makes their attraction awkward, but they are polar opposites. Jake is ordered, plays by the rules, and lives a life out of the spotlight. Juliet's hard exterior and bad-girl reputation hide a softer side that she rarely lets anyone see. Earning her trust doesn't come easily.

While I liked the dynamic between the two mains, I felt like both of their pasts with Calypso overshadowed the romance for much of the book. I wanted more time for these two to really get to know each other. Three quarters of the book are spent reminiscing about their high school days, so it's hard to invest in their current romance and believe the depth of their love when it didn't seem like it had enough time to breathe.

I love the Esera family, but Gabe's is a hard one to beat!

"Love Hard," Book 3 in Nalini Singh's Hard Play series, is about overcoming pasts, learning how to love, and the true meaning of family. Jacob and Juliet are like oil and water in the beginning of the book. Both were prickly and closed off to each other, characteristics brought on by being in the public eye. Jake lives a very black and white life; his dedication to raising his motherless daughter makes him so. Juliet has a protective armor around herself from past experiences. So when the two are brought together, their personalities clash.

As I read the story, I knew Jake and Jules would end up together, but the sparks and fireworks that went off as their relationship deepened and strengthened and turned into something stable was amazing! The chances they took on each other and together were symbolic and created the turning points to their happily ever after.

Heat Factor: I’m going to resist this...maybe I don’t want to...please put your hands on me
Character Chemistry: He asks her to be his wings!
Plot: Famous single parent meets a sexy former acquaintance
Overall: So satisfying

Every time I was enjoying this book, I thought, “Jake has a New Zealand accent,” and that made everything 1000% better than it already was. If you are already in New Zealand, this might not impress you. I am not, and I very much enjoyed the setting. I mean, Jake is a famous rugby player. How fun is that?

Our protagonists went to high school together and both have Samoan heritage, but their paths diverged sharply before they graduated and it seemed like that was that. AND THEN…

Jacob--Jake--Esera is a famous rugby player. He impregnated his high school girlfriend, who then suddenly and tragically died. He has a wonderful, loving family, but since his girlfriend / daughter’s mother died so unexpectedly and he’s been a single parent his entire adult life (I mean, he’s 24 so we’re not talking a ton of adult life, but let’s not nitpick), he’s extremely cautious and reserved.

Juliet Nelisi is a badass executive who works for a design company. She was the Queen of Detention in high school, so much so that she was sent to her grandparents in Samoa to straighten out her bad behavior. She does not have a wonderful, loving family, but she’s doing just fine, especially since she kicked her deadbeat, cheating, pro-cricket-playing husband to the curb.

This isn’t a second chance romance. These protagonists knew each other in high school, but they were only friendish with each other because Juliet’s best friend was also Jake’s girlfriend. When Juliet was sent away, they mostly forgot about each other. Then Jake’s brother married Juliet’s pastry-making buddy, and WHAM! “Jacob Esera vs. An Aggravated Ghost in Stilettos” (The chapter titles are absolutely delightful.) It’s nice that they have some history, so we’re not having to dive into a brand new relationship, but they still have to realize they didn’t know each other then all that well, and they definitely don’t know each other now.

Singh has crafted a story with enough reasonable drama to keep the tension at the page-turner level while still allowing her protagonists to be emotionally mature adults. I absolutely loved that when Jake asked Juliet questions about her past, she was honest with him. She didn’t necessarily share every single detail, but she also didn’t lie or misdirect like her experience was no big deal. Or like it was something to be ashamed of. There’s a nice combination of both external- and relationship-related pressure points preventing an easy peasy romance.

And when Jake and Juliet talk about the possibility of a relationship, they consider real pressure points, but they don’t automatically discount the possibility of working through them. Juliet got a bad reputation in the sports news world when she was married, and Jake has a squeaky clean image. And she doesn’t want to be back in the tabloids now that she’s moved on with her life, but Jake is so famous that anything about his personal life would be news. Jake also has a daughter to consider, and he doesn’t want to be introducing women into his life if he’s not serious about them. But UGH, the heart wants what it wants! I love a romance with a bit of one-sided courtship. Don’t get me wrong, they try to bang it out before they realize that’s not going to work. (For real though, does that ever actually work? If you’re just burning to get into someone’s pants, is one time ever going to be enough?) But they catch feelings real quick, and Jake decides Juliet is his shortly thereafter. She just has to get on board.

I’ve never read Singh before, so a note on her writing style: It’s a polished confection of verbal delight. Please see chapter titles. I’ll give you another freebie: “Jake Takes Off His Clothes (No Other Enticement Necessary)” There are so many good ones, but they are more fun in context. Anyway, good writing. But Singh does tend to use sentence fragments to evoke a sense of closeness to the feelings or situations that are happening. It’s not frequent and almost not noticeable, but the fact that I did notice it at all was an indicator for me that Singh has a somewhat unique writing style.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

I loved this book. Sexy, sweet, heart-warming, all the things we love best about Nalini's writing.

We know that Jake, our hero, is a single dad to his daughter Esme. Her mother, Callie, died unexpectedly when Esme was a baby. They were high school sweethearts. Jake has grown into a very serious man since that time. He plays rugby professionally and loves fixing cars.

Jules was Callie's best friend in high school and she was sent to Samoa unexpectedly for their final year, so she missed Esme's birth, and Callie's funeral, as she was living with her strict grandparents and didn't have the money to come home. Jules and Jake weren't friends; she thought he had a stick up his butt (and still does as an adult) but recognized he made Callie happy. There's no unrequited love here/feeling they are betraying Callie's memory and it is very clear it was puppy love between Jake and Callie. They never had chance to grow together, for her to know him as a man. Jake and Jules are adults with bruises and losses and responsibilities.

Jules is not the party animal she's been portrayed as in the papers, after her divorce from her cricketer husband (I love that cricket players are the ones that make the tabs in NZ). She works hard is cautious after many people have let her down. And here's solid, dependable Jake who is suddenly sexy?

I love it when the hero is all in and when Jake decides, he is all-in. It's a big deal for Jules to trust and she is safe with Jake, which allows their relationship to grow. I really liked the scene with the ad campaign because Jules stood up for him (not going to spoil that any further) and shows she's got his back. The trust that builds between them is so important to their love story.

I reread this book immediately after reading. Just writing about it makes me want to reread it again! Another winner from Nalini Singh.

Jacob and Juliet have a history. Juliet's best friend was Jacob's girlfriend back in high school and the mother of his child. Tragically she died shortly after giving birth leaving Jacob to raise their daughter. Juliet's family had moved away. Now she's back in Jacob's life. They always rubbed each other the wrong way back then. Juliet was a bit of a wild child. Jacob has a daughter he's raising and will protect at all costs. Juliet isn't that crazy wild girl anymore though. She's all grown up and responsible and a successful business women. They are thrown together at Jake's brothers wedding in which Juliet is a friend of the bride. The first time seeing each other in years. The chemistry is immediate. I enjoyed this book. I've read Rock Hard so i have a bit of the Bishop/Esera family background. I fell in love with the family reading that book so was happy to have them all back in this one. Jacob had a great family to back him but Juliet did not. These two complemented each other with Jacob showing her what family support and unconditional love is and Juliet helps Jacob learn to have fun again and let go a bit. Esme, Jacob's daughter steals the show often. Some of the pacing was a bit off for me and some of the dialog was a bit unnecessary and took me out of the story a some. Still a solid enjoyable and emotional read at times.



Find out more about this series and Nalini Singh here www.nalinisingh.com

The title of this review is Squee Hard. 😛

Unlike most, I became a fan of Nalini Singh through her Rock Kiss series and Rock Hard, Charlie and Gabriel’s story, was my absolute favorite of the 4.5 books (and 4 short stories). So, when I started reading Love Hard, I was giddy with delight at finding the first part to be set during the mouse and her T-Rex’s wedding.

Before I proceed, let me say this. You can read Love Hard as a stand-alone. Don’t. You’ll say there are too many characters. You’ll complain that it takes forever to get going because the wedding dominated the first quarter. Read Rock Hard and Cherish Hard first so you’ll meet and fall in love with the entire Bishop-Esera family. Go!

Okay, now on to Jake and Juliet’s story. It was sweet and steamy, lovely and full of heart-eyes. 😍 A feel-good, low-angst, romantic second-chance-at-love story featuring likable and mature adult characters with a dash of cute kid thrown in and loads of family (both blood and found) support.

This is my first time reading a Nalini Singh book, and I wasn't disappointed. It struck a good balance between drama and romance. What I enjoyed perhaps the most was that it didn't have any of the annoying romance tropes: jealousy, lack of communication, families hating spouses, drama just for the heck of it, etc. Keeping the side characters straight was a struggle - there were a LOT of friends and family included in the book, so a chart or character list may have been helpful to new readers. It is possible to read this book as a stand-alone novel, but I assume I would have had an easier time if I had read the first two books in this series. The first part of the book reads VERY slow, but once you get past the wedding, things pick up.

Jacob Esera is a no-nonsense kind of guy; he takes his duties as a father and a rugby player very seriously. So, when he reconnects with his dead wife's wild childhood friend at his brother's wedding, he is not impressed. Even after all this time, Juliet can still get a rise out of Jacob. But Juliet has grown up: she is a confident, capable woman who makes Jake laugh, plus she adores Jake's daughter, Esme. Will they be able to make their relationship work, despite the fact that they seem like opposites? Of course they will, because this is a romance.