Review originally posted in March of 2015 on Fiction Vixen by Angela.

Rock Hard by Nalini Singh
Rock Kiss #2
Contemporary Romance
March 10, 2015- Self Published

Most romance readers are quite familiar with Nalini Singh’s paranormal series’. The Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter books are must-read, favorites of both Jen and I and we anxiously await each one. Last year Ms. Singh announced that she was also working on contemporary romances featuring the rock band, Schoolboy Choir. I will admit I was just a little bit excited. I may or may not fist pumped when the first book hit my Kindle. Rock Addiction was sexy. Seriously sexy. I was kind of taken aback by the level of sexy, but I was all in and have a lot of trust in this author so I was looking forward to what came next. I actually enjoyed the David and Thea’s novella, Rock Courtship, even more than it’s predecessor and when I found out the next book would feature Charlie and T-Rex I was stoked.

Taking a slight detour from the sex, drugs and rock and roll scene, Ms. Singh hits her stride with the third book in the Rock Kiss series by telling the story of rugby player turned boardroom shark, Gabriel Bishop and the shy, traumatized woman who becomes his PA, Charlotte Baird. T-Rex and Charlie. Gabriel has a gift for rescuing failing companies and earns his nickname by walking into the company Charlie works for and cleaning house. He instantly recognizes Charlie’s intelligence and work ethic and quickly promotes her to be his personal assistant, despite the fear that practically radiates from her when ever they are in the same room.

Charlie has good reason to be standoffish and fearful. After having lived through the type of horror that would break down even the strongest of women, she is taking it one day at a time and finally reclaiming her independence. Gabriel pushes her to the limit with his out of control work schedule and crazy demands, but she slowly learns to deal with her boss. She might throw the occasional muffin at his head, but who could blame her really? Gabriel sees the real Charlie and like everything else in his life, makes the decision to go after what he wants. And he wants her very badly. He is just going to have to take slower steps and be patient. Especially when she finally opens up about her past.

Let me just say, if you guys are looking for a new hero to swoon over, you can stop right here. Gabriel Bishop reminds me why I fell in love with romance. He’s confidant and capable and headstrong, while showing exactly what it means to be an alpha male. The tenderness and care he takes with Charlie is simply breathtaking. He proves to be just the type of man a woman fighting her way back to a feeling of safety and security needs. He backs off when she needs him to and pushes forward when she demands it. He cares deeply for her and it shows in every scene and with every move he makes to build her up.

Charlie is stronger than she realizes and I loved watching her reclaim herself. She transforms herself from the scared mouse at the beginning to a tamer of billionaire T-Rexes by the end. Seriously guys, I adored her. There is no insta-love here, Ms. Singh progresses her and Gabriel’s romance at just the right pace and I appreciated the fact that these two had to work hard to be together. Yes, their romance was sexy, but the sexiest thing about it was how the trust and affection built slowly and believably to where by the end I was rooting for this couple to overcome every obstacle to be together.

Even if you didn’t particularly love the first book in this series, you do not want to miss picking this one up. It was really that good. I can’t recommend it enough. Final Grade-A

Favorite Quote:

“What if we do this and it destroys all the healing you’ve done so far?”

“I’m not that weak.” She stabbed the buttons on the microwave, set it to humming. “If I fall, I’ll pick myself back up.”

“I don’t want you to fall!” he roared.