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Rock Hard

Book 2 in the series:Rock Kiss

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In 'Rock Hard' by Nalini Singh, the story revolves around the relationship between the shy and traumatized Charlotte Baird and the dominant and determined businessman Gabriel Bishop. The book delves into themes of healing, growth, and trust as Charlotte navigates her past trauma while working as Gabriel's personal assistant. The writing style is described as engaging, humorous, and emotionally impactful, with well-developed characters and a realistic portrayal of a blossoming romance amidst personal struggles.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed; Gabriel is a commanding alpha male, while Charlotte evolves from timid to assertive, showcasing significant growth.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is engaging, with vivid descriptions, humor, and clever chapter titles that enhance character development.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around Gabriel, a CEO, and Charlotte, his assistant, who has a traumatic past. Their initial confrontation ignites a dynamic that evolves into a deep, emotionally charged romance.

Setting:

The setting is a modern corporate environment in New Zealand, which influences the dynamics between characters.

Pacing:

The pacing is slow but intentional, focusing on character development before leading to romantic intensity.
Pushing back from her desk after shutting down her computer, she stretched to loosen up the kinks, then decided to visit the restroom before heading out to catch the 6:15 bus home. It was a good bet i...

Notes:

Gabriel Bishop is a former rugby player turned ruthless CEO.
Charlotte Baird, known as 'Mouse', struggles with trauma from an abusive relationship.
Their relationship begins with Charlotte throwing a stapler at Gabriel, which sets a humorous tone.
Gabriel nicknames himself 'T Rex' due to his dominating personality and physical presence.
Charlotte is smart but initially appears timid and reserved, hiding her intelligence beneath baggy clothing.
The story showcases character growth, particularly Charlotte learning to stand up for herself.
Gabriel's protectiveness and determination to help Charlotte confront her fears is a key theme.
The book is set in New Zealand and involves corporate dynamics and personal healing.
The chemistry between the characters is both intense and slow-burning, with steamy moments strategically placed.
There are themes of mental health, including anxiety and PTSD, realistically depicted in Charlotte's character.
The cover features a striking visual with a strong male lead, enhancing its appeal.
The novel is the second in the 'Rock Kiss' series but can be read as a standalone.
Readers appreciate the depth and emotional resonance of the characters' journeys.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The narrative includes high content warnings for themes of past abuse, trauma, and emotional distress experienced by the heroine.

Has Romance?

The romance element is a central focus of the book, with significant development throughout.

From The Publisher:

In New York Times Bestselling author Nalini Singh's newest contemporary romance, passion ignites between a gorgeous, sinfully sexy man who built himself up from nothing and a shy woman who has a terrible secret in her past...

Wealthy businessman Gabriel Bishop rules the boardroom with the same determination and ruthlessness that made him a rock star on the rugby field. He knows what he wants, and he'll go after it no-holds-barred.

And what he wants is Charlotte Baird.

Charlotte knows she's a mouse. Emotionally scarred and painfully shy, she just wants to do her job and remain as invisible as possible. But the new CEO-a brilliant, broad-shouldered T-Rex of a man who growls and storms through the office, leaving carnage in his wake-clearly has other plans. Plans that may be equal parts business and bedroom.

If Charlotte intends to survive this battle of wits and hearts, the mouse will have to learn to wrangle the T-Rex. Game on.

Ratings (21)

Incredible (2)
Loved It (6)
Liked It (9)
It Was OK (4)

Reader Stats (69):

Read It (24)
Want To Read (26)
Not Interested (19)

3 comment(s)

Loved It
4 months

(3.5 stars)

 
Loved It
5 months

Fair warning right up front: the heroine was the victim of horrible abuse. It doesn't happen in the current timeline of the story, but you do get some of it in flashbacks.

I really liked it. I thought it was a beautifully done, fair story about a woman overcoming a horrific past, and a glorious, patient, delicious man who loves and supports her.

I was also glad that

Richard's reappearance was so brief. He shows up, they beat his ass, he leaves. No more abuse, no more torture. Because it was a more compelling book to see Charlotte make progress, rather than the horrible back-slide that would have triggered. It was a brief moment of solid closure, and it didn't derail Gabriel and Charlotte's story.

 
Incredible
1 year

realistic treatment of the difficulty of getting over traumatic experiences

 

About the Author:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter series Nalini Singh usually writes about hot shapeshifters and dangerous angels. This time around, she decided to write about a gorgeous rugby player turned brilliant CEO. If you're seeing a theme here, you're not wrong. Nalini lives and works in beautiful New Zealand, and is passionate about writing. If you'd like to explore the Rock Kiss series further, or if you'd like to try out her other books, you can find lots of excerpts on her website: www.nalinisingh.com. Slave to Sensation is the first book in the Psy-Changeling series, while Angels' Blood is the first book in the Guild Hunter series. The website also features special behind-the-scenes material from all her series.

 
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