The Book Girl

From the back of the book:

FOOTBALL PRO MICK RILEY IS AN ALL-STAR BOTH ON THE FIELD AND IN THE BEDROOM. BUT A SEXY, DETERMINEDLY SINGLE MOM JUST MIGHT BE THE ONE TO THROW HIM OFF HIS GAME…

For years Mick has been taking full advantage of the life available to a pro athlete: fame, fortune, and a different girl in every city. But when he meats and beds confident, beautiful event planner Tara Lincoln, he wants much more than the typical one-night stand. Too bad Tara’s not interested in getting to know football’s most notorious playboy any better.

As the single mother of a teenage son, the last thing Tara needs is the jet-set lifestyle of Mick Riley, even though their steamy and passionate one-night stand was unforgettable. Her life is complicated enough without being thrust into the spotlight as Mick’s latest girl du jour. Tara played the game of love once and lost big, and she doesn’t intend to put herself out there again, especially with a heartbreaker like Mick.

But when Mick sets his sights to win, nothing will stop him. And he has the perfect play in mind.

I LOVE MICK!! Everything about him is *almost* perfect. I love the way he immediately puts Tara first and really pays attention to her feelings. One of my favorite parts is when he takes her to the movie premiere. It isn’t about his career or having his picture in the magazines, it is about her having fun and getting to do something unique. Mick does take his career seriously and struggles to find a balance between football and love. That’s why I said he was *almost* perfect – he has some struggles, but he wouldn’t be such a fantastic hero if he didn’t. Tara is a great character too. She is down to earth, but because of her childhood and teenage pregnancy, she doesn’t see herself as someone with who Mick would find something real. I thought her struggle to believe in his love and its consistency was very well done. Tara was written as the type of woman who wouldn’t just blindly leap at the chance to be with a man – even if she loved him. Both characters stayed very consistent to who they were. They both change throughout the book, but it is a natural change. Nathan, Tara’s son, adds so much to the relationship between Mick and Tara. Mick immediately knows how important Nathan is to Tara and respects their bond while trying to form his own with Nathan. Everything about this book is wonderful. I loved the romance and the family aspect of the story. Even though this is an erotic romance, I didn’t feel as if any of the sex scenes were over the top or gratuitous. They all fit the story and were incredibly hot! Ms. Burton really scored a touchdown with THE PERFECT PLAY! (Sorry – I couldn’t help the football pun)

the book girl gives THE PERFECT PLAY a 5/5

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From the back of the book:

WORTH THE WAIT

Ella Tipton is a survivor. In the wake of an attack that nearly left her dead, she has spent each day putting her life back together. Once vibrant and outgoing, she’s needed to reclaim the best parts of who she was while retaining the hard-won lessons. There hasn’t been room for any romantic entanglements, even if she were ready. Still, it doesn’t mean she has to stop sneaking looks at Mister Tall, Dark and Tattooed himself.

Security professional Andrew Copeland isn’t quite sure when his jones for the lovely and decidedly skittish Ella developed. He’s known her for years, has watched her triumph over the pain she’s been dealt. Cope is no stranger to women, but he knows the nervous flush he gets every time he talks to Ella is different from any attraction he’s had in the past. Determined to get Ella to let him in, Cope does the one thing he can think of to get close: he offers her hands-on training in self-defense.

While Ella’s sure Cope is just being nice, the prospect of being able to touch him and gain the tools to push away the last vestiges of her fear is more than she can resist. Soon enough, Cope shows Ella his feelings are far more than friendly, and he reignites something deep inside her. It isn’t long before desire and love turn them both inside out.

I had been waiting for this book for what felt like forever. I tried to wait to read it, but I just couldn’t. I ripped open the package when it was delivered and immediately dived in. Cope is a very complicated character although he doesn’t look it at first glance. I loved how much more we got to know about all of the characters not just Andrew Copeland. (I have to admit I didn’t like when Ella called him Andrew since that’s my sons name. It’s hard to read an erotic romance where the main character has the same name as your 7yo.) Ella has been through so much, but really she is the stronger of the two. She teaches Cope a lot about being himself and letting others see the real him. This series is really about family, both the family you are born with, the family you create, and the friends that are like family. One of my very favorite things about this book was that the characters from both LAID BARE and COMING UNDONE were so important in this book. It really is a continuation from the previous books.

There was one scene in the book that is so fantastically written that I had to write it down and post it to my quote board. In this scene Brody is talking to Cope about love and how scary it can be. Here is the part I love:

“You have to expose yourself, ask someone else for their blood, sweat and tears and give your own. It leaves you laid bare and inside out, Andrew. And that’s what makes it so good. That’s love, man. That’s love and part of what makes it so awesome is the level of real, true intimacy, and the risk you take by opening yourself up that way to someone who has the power to guy you.”

INSIDE OUT is just a fantastic book full of love and family. I absolutely can’t wait for Adrian’s book!

the book girl gives INSIDE OUT a 5/5

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From the back of the book:

“PILLOW TALK” by Maya Banks…Zoe Michaels may be in a committed relationship with her boyfriend, Chase, but there’s no lack of heat between her and her other two roommates, Brody and Tate. after all, the three guys are all firefighters. Then one night, chase reveals his number one fantasy: for Zoe to perform an everything-goes striptease in front of his buddies. A turn-on for them means a turn-on for him. And for Zoe? It proves to be even more, and it opens the door for a secret desire of her own to come true.

“HER FANTASY MEN” by Shayla Black… Kelsy Rena is an enigma. She’s a girlie-girl who’s wild for football, craves action movies, and loves knocking back a cold beer with her three best friends – all male. She’s a puzzle, too, when it comes to sex. These are three hot guys always ready and within reach, but she never seems interested. So who is lucky mystery man satisfying this girl of their secret dreams? The three pals plan to find out. And when they do, they’ll see a side of Kelsey they’ve only dared to fantasize about.

These two stories have two things in common – both are very hot and full of alpha males. ”Pillow Talk” was my favorite of the two stories. I liked that Zoe and Chase were already an established couple. The characters had a connection to each other that was very deep. Chase and Zoe were already in love and the other two were their best friends. There were a few places that I thought went a little too far. The addition of a fifth person was one to many. The way the couple was working to fulfill each others fantasies set the scene for this plot to seem realistic. There was a lot of emotion between all of the members involved in the foursome. (This has nothing to do with this story really, but I loved seeing the characters from one of my favorite Maya Banks books – SEDUCING SIMON)

Shayla Black’s story lacked the emotional that made the Banks’ story great. The three men had nothing in common, other than Kelsey, and they fought a lot. Through most of the story they are trying to top each other and “win” Kelsey. It didn’t feel like love, but lust. Kelsey is wishy-washy and although she says she loves all three men, it seems like more of an excuse to not have to pick one man.

the book girl gives “Pillow Talk” a 4/5 and “Her Fantasy Men” a 2/5

to find the book:

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