Is this jar jar era deliberately difficult?

Until 50, JKCK lead is better than JKL. Try JKCK, Mara, JKL, and 2 of Mace, Qi'ra, Chewpio, or CLS depending on how often you can land debuffs like speed down and whether blind would be useful against an AoE. Mara hits like a truck once you get enough out of turn attacks to stack her offense.

Winterpaw is right on two fronts... Jedi Knight Cal Kestes needs to be in the Leader slot, and Mara Jade hits harder the more attacks out of turn your team has performed.  I can't confirm or deny the teams that Winterpaw suggested as I haven't tried them yet, but I recommend listening to them.  On the front of whether this Era is harder or not... I don't think so.  I think the hardest part is that Mara Jade Skywalker has been such a long awaited character that more people than usual are buying shard packs as fast as they can.  Maybe it is, though.  I saved up enough Kyber Crystals to purchase three shard packs to upgrade her to four stars... and that helped with the Era Currency Event.  God bless.

- GodIsOnTheMove 

I agree it is much harder. I thought they said that starting with the last era for Rotta that it would be easier to level up. I am sitting at 47 and can’t seem to get any higher.

Nothing jumps out as harder. I think people running full, leveled up teams (or Rotta) the last few weeks in Coliseum has made people forget what its like when you only have 1 new Era toon at low levels. 

Mara is definitely one of the hardest hitters of the available units. As mentioned by the nice people below, use JKCK lead. On JKCK's turn use windmill and have Mara assist every time. Every time a Jedi assists, her big special hits harder. 

Read the kits :)

My totally FTP account has MJ at only level 28, so looks like you are doing alright :)