This is the third book in the Big Love From Galway series and I always enjoy interconnected books where previous characters are still a part of the story. This book had some deep themes, but I think it was done well overall. The accidental pregnancy trope is not my favorite, but again it wasn’t done badly. I do feel like the ending was rushed and the epilogue wasn’t really what I wanted. My only other main complaint is how many times the word big was used to describe Andi. It just got excessive and took away from the more complimentary descriptions. Overall I enjoyed the book and read it quickly. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Hard to Get is a feel good, sweet romance between a new-to-town teacher and the manager of a woman's shelter. There were a lot of things to love about this: the awareness of the male character interacting with folks in the shelter as well as kids at the school, the intriguing manager who has boundaries galore, and the minor characters that swing in and out of the story.

I didn't realise that this book is actually part of a series, but I had no problem hoping in and enjoying this installment. Overall, both main characters were beautifully written, and I loved Kevin so much! He was just so much fun and sweet and I was rooting for him the entire time!

Overall, the book was beautiful and lovely without being too heavy, which was impressive in my opinion considering Andi is a manager of a woman's shelter. I'm not the biggest fan of an accidental pregnancy trope, but this story was still done well and Kevin was always supportive of Andi and her choices. My one gripe of the whole book is the baby's name. No spoilers, but it was a little silly.

4.5

Such a good book. Besides a swoony romance, this also delved into some harder topics that affects so many families. Domestic abuse and grape.

Andi is a director of a woman’s shelter. We get some insights into what this entails on a deeper level due to her job and dedication to it. She has never had a relationship as she has never been able to fully trust men. Also her Gram instilled in her the knowledge that Salazar women are cursed when it comes to love. Enter newcomer to the town Kevin. The greenest of green flags. After a one and done hook- up he falls pretty hard for Andi.

I loved their journey through friendship to becoming each others person. Kevin gave Andi the love and support and most of all patience that she needed. For her part Andi helped Kevin tone down his people pleaser personality and to learn to stand up for himself.

This book surpassed my expectations and it will be one I think about for a while.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the arc and this is my honest review.

Hard to Get by Laura Moher is the third book in her Big Love from Galway series. It is due to be published on March 11, 2025 and if you enjoyed the previous books in the series, this books will not let you down. It can certainly be read on its own, but the interactions with the other characters take on more meaning when you know the backstory.

This book follows Andi and Kevin who have a lot of chemistry on their initial meeting, but Andi is very resistant to starting a relationship because of her past. This book has a number of tropes that would put some off, but done in a way that is not annoying. I would suggest reading the trigger warnings that are mentioned in the beginning because this book does deal with some heavy subject matter.

As with the other books in the series, this was an emotional read. I liked Andi and Kevin's dynamic, and all the appearances of the characters from Curves For Days and What She's Having. I really appreciate this book and the series as a whole for the representation and sensitive portrayal of some thorny subjects.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley for making this book available for early review. I'm really glad I was able to read it and recommend it to anyone who likes an emotional romance.

this book was a nice easy curvy romance, and i usually am pretty picky about it but i think it was done decently well here! and i liked just how close you kinda feel to the characters, they are very likable and definitely made this book super quick.

now, do i think it necessarily wowed me? not so much, but i also am not the biggest fan of accidental pregnancy, so i dont think its more a matter of not liking the book, but just not feeling as invested in the storyline as i would hope. i definitely had a good time nonetheless, and i just love a curvy woman getting loved up on as we deserve!


thank you so much sourcebooks casablanca for the arc in exchange for my honest review!!

Hard to Get was quick read filled with spice and great banter, but I think I would have enjoyed this more without the accidental pregnancy lol

Overall: 3.5
Spice: 2

This is the 3rd book in the series about this amazing town that continues to show up for everyone. Regardless of if you were born and raised there or ended up, they're by chance. As with the other books in the series the FMC finds her voice and decides to use it for good. In the midst she finds the love her life and a little surprise she didn't know she needed or even wanted. I love the all the positively in the book and series. With the current state of the world this book and series continues to give you the hope we so desperately need.

Hard to Get is book 3 in the Big Love from Galway series and it is fantastic!

I fell in love with Andi and Kev straight away. Laura Moher has a way of making you feel everything her characters do. You are sucked into their world and you don't ever want to leave. They are complicated characters with complicated lives and somehow they've all found each other. Every character, not just the main characters, have twists and turns in their lives and you root for all of them.

This novel has some content warnings for domestic violence themes and a few others so make sure you check those before you dive in if that's something you need to do, but everything is handled with such care and honesty.

While this is book 3 in the series, you don't have to read these books in order. (but if you don't you'll have a couple of spoilers) I recommend all three books, as they all sit proudly on my bookshelves. Laura Moher is an instant buy author for me, and I know she will be for you, too!

⭐⭐⭐⭐/🌶️🌶️ Hard To Get by Laura Moher is book 3 in the Big Love From Galway series. It is about Kevin, who is new teacher in town, and Andi, who runs a women and children's shelter, is an advocate for DV/SA survivors, and moonlights as a voluptuous night club singer. Kevin meets Andi during one of her shows and can't stop thinking about her from that moment on. But Andi doesn't do relationships, so Kevin settles for friendship, because that's better than not getting to be in her presence. Andi is a complex character with a tragic backstory, but Kevin isn't exactly all sunshine and roses either. I loved seeing their relationship evolve, and watching as the layers to their characters are revealed throughout the pages. Their story covers some sensitive topics really well. It will pull at your heartstrings, make you laugh, and even has some spice, too. 😉

🌸He falls first
🌸Accidental pregnancy
🌸Nerdy, Golden retriever MMC
🌸Strong, independent, Curvy, Mature FMC
🌸Diverse characters

rtc! I need a little bit of time to think about what to write here so I will update this over the next couple days to get all my thoughts as neatly as possible.

I’ve generally really enjoyed this series and the excellent found family and romance Moher writes. Hard To Get is about Andi, the director of the town’s battered women’s shelter, with her own baggage filled past. Andi and Kevin have a steamy one night stand until Andi turns up pregnant a few weeks later and they embark on building a friendship together. I thought the pacing of this book was a little off and I wanted more development of both characters but especially Kevin. I wanted to see Andi be more open and honest to really buy their partnership as well.

I voluntarily read a gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This book had me feeling like I was back in time falling in love with my husband while also not believing that he was truly this wonderful guy that wanted to protect and help me thrive in whatever I wanted to do in life because of the trauma of bad men in my family. I was able to fully step into the shoes of the FMC, Andi and feel all her doubts but also see the true intentions and feelings of the MMC, Kevin from his POV. It took me through an array of emotions throughout the whole story. I was feeling the butterflies and I couldn't handle it! I was rooting for this cinnamon roll MMC till the end! It was such a wonderful romance that felt authentic and realistic to how some women feel about men nowadays.

Andi's work at the local women's shelter keeps her fulfilled, but with her close friends coupled up sometimes the need to let loose is overwhelming. Kevin, unceremoniously dumped by his fiancée for being too boring, has moved halfway across the country to start a new life but feels lonely away from his family. This book is the third in a series, I've actually read the first book and really enjoyed it but I haven't read the second book. The story jumps right in without a lot of explanation or exposition, but it wasn't hard to follow and I think this would work okay as a standalone. Characters from previous books play a heavy role but a lot is explained and I didn't feel lost. There are dual 1st-person POVs, which I always appreciate. Pay attention to content warnings, there are definitely deeper themes in this story. Nice messaging about venturing out of your comfort zone but also learning to trust yourself and accept who you are. Flawed but very likeable main characters and I enjoyed Andi and Kevin, both apart and together. The body positivity is very present in this book, which is always welcome. This is an open-door romance.

I have some thoughts about a few iffy plot points that detracted from my overall enjoyment, but they're spoilers and are clearly marked at the end of this review. I did struggle with how to rate this one. Based on my feelings about the plot points I initially thought maybe I wasn't the right audience for this book, which I always try not to let impact a rating. But as the story went on I realized that it was actually some of the author's choices that were affecting my overall enjoyment. I really liked Andi and Kevin, but I just couldn't get past some of the plot devices used. I will read this author again, though: her characterizations are very good and she makes you care about the characters, and her writing style is engaging. I ultimately gave this book 3 stars but it's really closer to 3.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing an eARC of this book, this has been my objective review.



***SPOILERS***
As noted above, I had some issues with some plot points. I know I should be suspending disbelief, but I find it hard to believe that this very smart women who works at a domestic violence shelter and is otherwise ultra-cautious is willing to get in some guy's car and go to his apartment with him, a guy she *just* met. Forget about the risk of having sex with this unknown person, my bigger issue is that she freely allowed herself to be transported to a second location, in his car. She knows all the ways this could end badly, right? Then she flip-flops for the bulk of the rest of the book, agonizing whether or not to trust him. And unfortunately, that event happening at the beginning of the book set a tone of mild frustration for me for the rest of the book. Also, the unexpected pregnancy felt like an unnecessary plot device. They both had enough insecurity to cause barriers to their happiness, as evidenced by the push-pull they just couldn't seem to help. But adding in a surprise baby felt like a cheatsy-doodle hack to get them together, baby as forced proximity I guess. And finally, while I understand why Andi is hesitant about trusting men, I'm not a huge fan of relationship tests and that one felt immature and unkind. Did I miss where anyone ever explained to Kevin what was going on and actually apologized to him?
***END SPOILERS***

I have not quite read a book ever like this! It was so entertaining from start to finish. It was just wonderfully done! Loved the characters.

Hard to Get by Laura Moher is a curvy heroine, small-town, contemporary romance and the third book in the Big Love from Galway series. Having adored the first two books (both five-star reads for me), I was excited to dive into this one. While it didn’t quite hit the same highs as the previous instalments, it was still a heartfelt and thought-provoking read.

First, a note of caution: this book deals with strong themes of domestic violence, so it’s worth checking the trigger warnings before starting.

The story begins with Andie and Kevin having an explosive one-night stand, after which Andie insists they not see each other again. Her decision is rooted in her personal experiences, her work at a domestic violence shelter, and her grandmother’s ingrained warnings about untrustworthy men. Andie has built walls, and she’s sticking to her anti-relationship rules.

Then there’s Kevin. Oh, Kevin. He’s the ultimate cinnamon-roll hero—kind, patient, and endlessly respectful. He’s a maths teacher, and despite Andie’s resistance, their work brings them back into each other’s lives. Kevin clearly sees Andie’s beauty and strength and wants nothing more than to be with her, but he respects her boundaries and plays the long game. Honestly, if I could mass-produce Kevins in a lab, I absolutely would. He’s the best.

Andie, on the other hand, is a deeply layered character. Her pain and cautiousness make her reticent, and while I completely understood her perspective, there were moments where I wanted to nudge her out of her own head. Her struggles also have an impact on Kevin, which makes their dynamic feel real but occasionally heavy.

One of the standout aspects of the book is how it handles domestic violence. The story doesn’t shy away from the devastating impact it has on individuals and communities, and those moments were both powerful and necessary. That said, these themes also made the story feel heavier compared to the previous books, which had more humour and light-hearted moments.

From an editorial standpoint, I noticed a small continuity issue: Kevin and Andie text each other after their one-night stand but then later exchange numbers again after a meal. It’s a minor detail, but worth noting for the editing process. Not sure if I missed an important detail here.

Structurally, the dual perspectives were both a strength and a challenge. Seeing Kevin’s point of view made me adore him even more and added depth to their relationship, but it also meant we always knew he was a safe and trustworthy guy, which made Andie’s extreme caution occasionally feel like it slowed the story down.

The book wraps up beautifully, and it was lovely to see characters from the previous instalments make appearances and influence Andie’s journey. While this wasn’t my favourite of the series, it was still a lovely story, and I adore Laura Moher’s writing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

4⭐️
🌶3

Ok y'all, i didn't think I would enjoy a surprise pregnancy trope. But here we are giving a 4⭐️ review! Andi and Kevin are such a sweet match and watching them grow together on the page was truly wonderful. Kevin is 100% a golden retriever personality, while Andi is reserved (especially in relationships) due to her past tragedies.

After a steamy one night stand, Andi and Kevin find out one night is going to turn into forever when SURPRISE, said one night stand ends up with Andi pregnant. Seeing Kevin be so patient in kind while working to earn Andi's trust was also great. So many authors like to gloss over past trauma and just write the characters into getting over it crazy fast with no after effects. Seeing an MC actually WORK through their trauma was very refreshing.

I love the little community the author has built in this series and definitely recommend it!

TW: Domestic violence (off page), Death (off page)

4.5 stars! I really enjoyed this! I am one of the seemingly few who is a big fan of the surprise pregnancy/accidental pregnancy trope, and I thought it was really well done in this book. Kevin is such a big sweetheart and exactly what Andi needed in a partner. I love when we really get to see how each person in the relationship helps the other to grow. The only thing I wish was that we (the audience) would have known Andi’s background (and all of the reasons behind why she was so cautious) earlier, instead of finding out when Kevin found out. I think I would have viewed a lot of the beginning of the book in a different way had I known. Overall great read!

I'm so happy Laura Moher wrote a surprise pregnancy romance! One of my all time favorite tropes.

Andi Salazar spends her days advocating tirelessly for survivors of domestic violence after her own traumatic upbringing. Every once in a while though, she is able to let loose joining a local band on stage and belting her heart out. Enter Kevin Mahoney who takes one look at Andi on stage and is an absolute gonner. New in town after a difficult breakup, Kevin wants everything with Andi right away. He'll take whatever she can give him though, even if it's a one night stand. Weeks later though, these two learn they'll be tied to one another for quite a bit longer.

The green flags coming from Kevin were incredible. He will do whatever it takes to earn Andi's trust and make her feel safe. This golden retriever hero is just so in awe of Andi and I loved every second of it.

On another note, the community Moher has created in Galway is one of the best friend groups in Romance. They are protective and would do anything for one of their own. This latest installment is such a great addition to this awesome series!

TW: Domestic violence (not on page, but in FMCs past)

I think this is my favourite by Laura Moher so far! The slow-burn was amazing, I loved how they took the time to build their relationship and also fully trust the other (for the FMC), the healing and the hurt/comfort were perfectly written.

TWs - domestic abuse faced by women and children (including descriptions of extreme cases / death due to domestic abuse), gun violence on page (one scene, by a domestic violence victim's ex/stalker)

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

I really wanted to like this, but it fell a bit short for me. First, I found much of the dialogue clunky and unrealistic. The story deals with some heavy themes, but I didn't feel any of them were given the depth they deserved. The characters' story lines weren't developed fully, making it difficult to connect to the characters and therefore the story.
I appreciate the author's willingness to tackle a tough subject matter. I also commend the author on doing a good job making this a true interconnected standalone. I have not read any of the others in this series, but I didn't feel out of the loop or unaware. It was clear there were some stories that came before but nothing that impeded being able to understand this third in the series.
Overall, it was a very average romance read for me. I feel if the characters would have been better developed and the story given some more depth I could have enjoyed it more.