fallen_for_books30's review against another edition
5.0
My first book by Nalini Singh! The five stars is a clear way of showing that I have become her fan :D
hlizmarie's review against another edition
3.0
This was so much better than the first book in the series. Gabriel Bishop is a famed former rugby player who takes over the company where Charlotte works in order to save it from going under. Charlotte is a woman trying to put her frightening past behind her but in spite of her best efforts she's still hiding. I loved the parts of Charlotte and Gabriel's story that we could see in Molly and Fox's book and couldn't wait to see how Gabriel managed to get past Charlotte's defenses. The story definitely didn't disappoint. Intelligent characters are so appealing and their battle of wits and will is fantastic. Charlotte has a lot to overcome so seeing her spine and spark start to really come out with Gabriel was such fun. Plus due to her issues I didn't get the frustration of too much sex and not enough plot. I'm not sure what to expect from the next book in the series but I'm hopeful it's more like this one than the first one.
duchessrin's review against another edition
5.0
“Ms. Baird, why are you staring at me as if I’m killing baby kittens?”
Gabriel Bishop was a professional rugby player, but after suffering an Achilles tendon injury, he was forced to retire. With his MBA, he decided to venture in business. Everyone thought he was fooling around but after proving that he had skills, he was now a widely known businessman who had a knack of saving a company in a brink of shutting down. He was recently hired as the CEO of Saxon & Archer, another company that was in its bankruptcy.
There he met Charlotte Baird. She was shy and an introvert. But hidden beneath her shapeless suits and prim glasses was an intelligence and competence that Gabriel needed to help him rise the company from its state. He then hired her as his personal assistant, despite her initial protests and timidity. Gabriel was determined to make the woman he saw only in glimpses come out.
A few months later, Charlotte's shyness around Gabriel disappeared. He decided to pursue her. But with Charlotte's past trying to hinder them from moving forward, will there be a happy ending for Charlie-mouse and the T-rex.
Gah, awkward summary again. Whatever.
I LOVED THIS BOOK. And I'm not saying it just because I love Nalini Singh and I adore her Psy-Changeling series. I really love this book.
The progress of the story was just right, it wasn't too fast or too slow; the plot wasn't your typical 'boss falls in love with secretary' type of story; the characters had depth. Basically everything in this story is perfect.
But what I loved most were the characters.
Gabriel Bishop was really magnificent. Dreamy sigh. You know, before I read this story, if you asked me who my favorite book boyfriend was, I would probably give you at least five names because I couldn't decide who to say. Not because I love them all but because none of them had the perfect combination for me. Some were way too possessive, too territorial, too controlling, too intense. But now, I could say it right away, it's Gabriel Bishop and here are some of the reasons why:
• He knows when to apply the macho Neanderthal attitude.
Holding her against him without trapping her in a way that might make her panic, Gabriel tried to temper his rage. Charlotte didn’t need him to be a macho stud right now.
Why is this a big deal for me? Men like Gabriel were very protective of the people they love which might sometimes drive them to be impulsive. When he found out what happened to Charlie, I expected him to be like, "What's the name of that bastard? I'm gonna kill him blahblahblah" but he wasn't. He knew what Charlie needed. Instead of putting himself first, he prioritized Charlie's comfort over his anger ang frustration.
• Gabriel works. I read a lot of stories where heroes held high positions in a company. They could leave work right away or have a lot of free time or something. (I thought that happened when they retired.) They always made it seem that their work was easy when the really it wasn't. Gabriel worked more than twelve hours a day, seven days a week. How he managed that was beyond me.
• He was an athlete then a businessman. As if it wasn't enough that he was athletic, he had to be smart too. You couldn't ask for more.
With Charlotte Baird, I had to give it to her. She was also amazing.
Spoiler
I've always admired women who managed to move on after their abuse.• Charlie proved that you didn't need to be assertive in order to be strong. Despite what happened to her in the past, she didn’t allow that to pull her down, instead she strived to become a better person.
• Even if Charlie was timid, she kept Gabriel on his toes with their banter.
“When did you get so bossy, Ms. Baird?”
“Self-defense against a certain T-Rex.”
• She threw a cupcake at his head. Oh, and did I mention that she also threw an industrial-sized stapler at him too?
I'm pretty sure my review didn't give the book justice on how good it is. *sigh* Up to this moment, it still brings a smile on my face whenever I read from how they started, how Gabriel was really patient with Charlotte, how they were finally together. I know this kind of story is common nowadays but the delivery of this story is perfect for me.
ARC received via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
Find this review and more at Delirious Romances!
give_me_kidrauhl's review against another edition
4.0
TW: both mental and physical abuse (shown in flashbacks), mentions of stalking.
I really liked the book and loved the heroine.
I did think thatwas kind of predictable.
My favorite thing is that even after the MCs get together she's not magically "fixed" by the power of love and that the H gets her to see a therapist.
Safety:
-no virgins
-no cheating
-no separation
-the h pushes the H away a gew times in the beginning, since she's scared of him being physically bigger
-om drama: she tells the H she's dating someone but she's just friends with him
-ow drama: he uses ow to try and get the h jealous (mostly off page, he hasn't been with any of them like the h thinks)
-no epilogue
I really liked the book and loved the heroine.
I did think that
Spoiler
Richard getting out of prisonMy favorite thing is that even after the MCs get together she's not magically "fixed" by the power of love and that the H gets her to see a therapist.
Safety:
-no virgins
-no cheating
-no separation
-the h pushes the H away a gew times in the beginning, since she's scared of him being physically bigger
-om drama: she tells the H she's dating someone but she's just friends with him
-ow drama: he uses ow to try and get the h jealous (mostly off page, he hasn't been with any of them like the h thinks)
-no epilogue
carebear11's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
story_stone's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lindaunconventionalbookworms's review against another edition
5.0
*I received a free ARC of Rock Hard from TKA Distribution via Netgalley in exchange of an honest and unbiased review*
Holy hotness, Batman! Rock Hard is the most deliciously slow-building romance I've had the pleasure to read in a very long time. Six stars!!
This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews
Holy hotness, Batman! Rock Hard is the most deliciously slow-building romance I've had the pleasure to read in a very long time. Six stars!!
This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews
laurenjodi's review against another edition
4.0
Rock Hard
4.5 Stars
Shy and timid, Charlotte Baird wants nothing more than to get through the day without confrontation. But Charlotte's new boss, the brilliant and ruthless Gabriel Bishop, is convinced that beneath her prim and proper façade beats the heart of a passionate and courageous woman. Now, if only he can push the right buttons to get her to lose her inhibitions. So begins the battle of the Mouse vs. the T-Rex!
An absolutely wonderful office romance. Charlotte and Gabriel are very appealing characters with well-developed backstories and their banter is witty and fun.
Charlotte's PTSD is presented very realistically and the manner in which she confronts her demons and emerges from her shell to become a confident and assertive woman is inspiring.
Gabriel's determination and patience when it comes to Charlotte are amazing. There is nothing more swoonworthy than a man who puts aside his own needs and desires for the woman that he loves.
Although it takes time for Gabriel and Charlotte's slow-burn dynamics to progress into physical intimacy, it is well worth the wait as their scenes together are explosive and satisfying.
In sum, an excellent addition to Singh's new contemporary romance series and I'm eager to read the next one.
4.5 Stars
Shy and timid, Charlotte Baird wants nothing more than to get through the day without confrontation. But Charlotte's new boss, the brilliant and ruthless Gabriel Bishop, is convinced that beneath her prim and proper façade beats the heart of a passionate and courageous woman. Now, if only he can push the right buttons to get her to lose her inhibitions. So begins the battle of the Mouse vs. the T-Rex!
An absolutely wonderful office romance. Charlotte and Gabriel are very appealing characters with well-developed backstories and their banter is witty and fun.
Charlotte's PTSD is presented very realistically and the manner in which she confronts her demons and emerges from her shell to become a confident and assertive woman is inspiring.
Gabriel's determination and patience when it comes to Charlotte are amazing. There is nothing more swoonworthy than a man who puts aside his own needs and desires for the woman that he loves.
Although it takes time for Gabriel and Charlotte's slow-burn dynamics to progress into physical intimacy, it is well worth the wait as their scenes together are explosive and satisfying.
In sum, an excellent addition to Singh's new contemporary romance series and I'm eager to read the next one.
booklover_29's review against another edition
3.0
The writing was a bit difficult to get into and didn't really feel any attachment to the characters but overall the plot and the way mental health was handled was great so 3 stars⭐⭐⭐.
diaryofthebookdragon's review against another edition
3.0
Although I disliked [b:Rock Addiction|22839846|Rock Addiction (Rock Kiss, #1)|Nalini Singh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1408109387l/22839846._SX50_.jpg|42396239] very very much, I read the sequel, because I liked the glimpses of the relationship between Charlotte and Gabriel.
Rock Hard did not disappoint. What can I say? I am a sucker for office romance where the heroine stands up for herself.
Rock Hard did not disappoint. What can I say? I am a sucker for office romance where the heroine stands up for herself.