Review: Hard to Break (Alpha’s Heart #2) by Bella Jewel
Contemporary Romance
Released: October 13, 2015
St. Martin’s Paperbacks

Reviewed by Sheena

Quinn has spent her whole life working in her dad’s garage, leaving her more comfortable with a carburetor than a curling iron. Her world is turned upside down when her beloved garage is bought by none other than world famous, sexy as sin, custom car builder, Tazen Watts. He’s the one man she can’t stand…even though he makes her hotter than a high performance engine in top gear.

Tazen has no use for Quinn, at least not professionally, and he’s making sure she knows it. But there’s a spark between them that she’s finding hard to ignore. She’s determined to prove her talent is as impressive as her sassy mouth. When she finds out Tazen is hiding a secret that could bring down his career and everyone involved in it, she wonders: is falling for him is going to be work the risk?

Favorite Quote: “Well,” he says, his voice a low, thick husk, “you going to help me, angel, or are you going to stand there and give yourself wet panties checking me out…” “I don’t fuck employees,” he murmurs, staring at my lips. “I’d like to hope not,” I laugh softly.  “They’re all men.”

Feminist fiction done right!  Hard to Break is the second novel in the Alpha’s Heart series and it is a smart balance of snarky quips, sexy liaisons, somber subject matter and all things, I am woman hear me roar.  I am a die hard Bella Jewel reader, however after book one, Hard to Fight, I was a little nervous that this novel would leave me flailing- and not in the OMG way- but in the WTF manner. So glad to report that I absolutely enjoyed my afternoon reading Hard to Break. Heroine, garage owner/mechanic Quinn is spot on. Feminine and strong, bold and ballsy but never over the top and in your face and ball busting that she is off putting.  She has lost her family’s garage due to her irresponsible, alcoholic father and is looking for a way to move forward, saving who she is and what she loves in the process.  I loved that Quinn was the best at what she did in the garage.  Even when Tazen stages a coup and her garage becomes his in one fell swoop, she doe snot back down, but puts up a fight!  Bulldozing her way into Tazen’s business, I giggled and cheered when she showed up the men who were more than happy to pat her on the head and send her skipping down the lane.  And  better, I found no hypocrisy or inconsistencies with her characterization and even when I was a little exasperated with her, I still was proud to have her back.

I’m just about finished when I hear,

“What the fuck?”

I ignore that and do the last adjustments on the connections, and then slide out to see Tazen, Rick, Drasco, Toby and Kellan all staring down at me.  I stand up, slap my spanner into Tazen’s hand and then turn again with a smile.  “You’re welcome.”

Then I walk off, but really I want to skip.  I just showed them all up, and in front of their boss.

Finally.

Tazen is kind of a big lug of a bossy masculine alpha hunk of sex on a stick.  He was not immediately likable.  I did not like how he taunted and condescended to Quinn.  It took some will and foresight for me to come off it and forgive him.  By the time I was on board with him as a hero, Quinn had discovered what we both should have known all along.  Tazen was the shit!  Yes he was kind of a jerk but he was also sensitive to Quinn’s familial plight and wanted to do right by her, even before they hooked up.  He was a good guy, despite his type A exterior.  He was multi faceted, not just a hot prop for the heroine to rub her bub against.  There was depth there and they had a crazy chemistry.

Tazen and Quinn go from adversaries to allies to lovers and at the core is a mutual respect that allows them both to shine together and on their own.  Quinn’s father is in am awful bad way and it was beautiful to see how she leaned on Tazen when he tucked his cocky exterior and offered her his understanding and support.   No stranger to danger, Tazen too is involved in some weird and shady dealings, however, I personally thought his “danger” could have been cut- I had a hard time taking his violent blast from the past bitch of an ex seriously.   But hey, it’s fiction, and I suppose Tazen’s token darkness added a little umph to the plot so I’ll look over the superfluous element of “danger” snort.

I am not a car junkie, but I enjoyed a cool appreciation for the sweet rides described in the story so I can guarantee my reader chicks who dig their cars and overalls will love this!  The garage where everything goes down is just as much a part of the story as the romance and sensuality. This little novel has it all, fast paced plot, romance, a strong but vulnerable heroine, comedy, and even a sex injury! (Hilarious, ok!) Jewel crafted a great story, and is on an upswing in her female-in-a-traditionally-male-role themed series.  Quinn felt like a real girl- not a caricature to fit the thematic mold.   Hard to Break is number two in a short series, however, it stands completely alone.  Cute, brazen and a bit of a thrill, it just works on all cylinders.

Grade: B+

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