Cherish Hard

CHERISH HARD was a very enjoyable contemporary romance. The main characters were both strong and vulnerable and gradually getting over difficult childhoods.

Sailor Bishop first saw Isa Rain when he attended a college party - even though he was still only a high schooler - and saw her being humiliated by her boyfriend. He attempted to follow her when she ran out but she wouldn't stop for him.

Seven years later, Isa is an English teacher and Sailor is trying to get his landscaping business onto sound financial footing. Isa's mother runs her own craft empire and is determined to suck Isa in. She succeeds only when she manages to threaten Isa's young brother who wants to intern at the company for the summer.

Isa agrees to be VP for the show more summer. Then her mother puts her in charge of the opening of some organic fast food restaurants and Sailor who is doing the landscaping for them. They are attracted but it seems like their goals won't let them get together.

Sailor is driven to make his business a success no matter how many hours a day he'll have to work; Isa needs a man who will put her first since her parents never did when she was a child.

This story had great characters, a great setting, and a believable romance. I couldn't put it down. show less

This was my first foray into contemporary romance by Nalini Singh! Isa was burned by her fiancé, who like a dog, calls to rub it in that he’s getting married (and makes fun of her weight—jerk.) She works as a teacher, but has a controlling mother who wants her to take over the family company. I liked Isa, and liked Sailor, a landscaper hired to work for the company, as well. This was more of a sweet story, without a lot of drama. Nice if you’re looking for something uncomplicated and light.

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.

DNF at 22% in, specifically because of too little foreshadowing for the apparent reveal at the end of chapter ten, but generally because the female lead is terrible.

There is a lot off about the her, but just to name the most blatant: no one likes the pale-skinned redhead because she's curvy? COME ON. My 81 yr old mom still gets eyed by guys younger than her, try again. She has neglectful parents, but they are blanks, corporate-minded boxes with names, and the siblings situation is still confusing a fifth of the way in? There is no excuse for that.

By now I ought to be on her side and worried for the sibs and angry at her parents. But they don't feel real. Hot gardener is a better character, and I barely know him. How sad is that?

I'd seen this author as I searched for books in my current genre - but didn't know her. Saw her recommended on a list and this was one of 2 of her audiobooks available at my library. Can't believe I'd never heard of her, a New Zealander. A fun read with tender moments that made it a cut above. Loved the New Zealand accents attempted by narrator Justine O. Keef.

Cherish Hard is the first novel in the Hard Play series by Nalini Singh.

Plot:
Ísa dreams of having the kind of stable family she never had growing up. But for that she first needs to find a partner who is just as ready to settle down as she is. The hot gardener working at her school, Sailor, does not fit that bill. Running his own business with ambitious plans for his future and a few years younger than her, he is certainly not the kind of guy she is looking for. And yet, Ísa can’t keep her eyes off him. When fate, or rather Ísa’s CEO mother, forces them to work together, it’s the possibility for Sailor to convince Ísa that he is in it for the long haul – because he is head over heels for her.

Cherish Hard is a fun read, but show more not one of Singh’s best novels, I’d say. I liked both Ísa and Sailor, but I wasn’t as invested in their story as I would have liked – or even expected to be.

Read more on my blog: https://kalafudra.com/2021/04/20/cherish-hard-nalini-singh/ show less

This was a fast easy read. Interesting twist with the woman being a bit older than the guy. I do question a guy being mature enough at 23, but might be my own experience. I'll try the other books in the series if they library gets them in.

Listened to audio narrated by Justine O. Keef. Hated the accent for Isa, liked the aussie and regular narration parts. Sailor first laid eyes on Isa at a college party he snuck into. He was sixteen but loved her on sight. Isa was dumped and humiliated publicly that night. Isa has a funny inner monologue with 'devil Isa'. Fast forward to now, Sailor is the owner of a landscaping business when Isa runs into him again. At first they don't realize how they previously met but it's an instant attraction, these guys sizzle! Isa is a somewhat shy teacher, that has a domineering mother she calls 'Dragon' and tries to make up for her mother's lack by taking care of her siblings, half siblings and step siblings, despite their dysfunctional show more parents. Sailor grew up with a lot of family love and only wants to give Isa the love and support she deserves. They have ups and downs and crazy moments when Isa keeps running away from him in the beginning and him determined to hunt her down and capture her. They end up forced to work together when her mother blackmails her to be VP of her company for the summer and she has to work with Sailor on the company's new restaurant launch. With all that there's even more to their story as well as tantalizing glimpses of her friend's relationship.
For the first part of the book I wasn't sure I was going to like this book, but the book got better and better all the way to the end epilogue. show less