Unexpected Rush

Play by Play #11

by Jaci Burton

In the new Play-By-Play novel by the New York Times bestselling author of All Wound Up, a football hot shot and his best friend’s sister are breaking all the rules.

All the Right Moves
 
For Barrett Cassidy, playing defense for the Tampa Hawks is a dream come true. And now he may have discovered his dream woman. Harmony Evans, once the sweet, gawky teenage sister of his best friend and teammate has grown into a smart, gorgeous woman with moves he finds hard to resist. But he knows he can’t get involved with his best friend’s sister—it’s guy code.
 
Harmony has always gone after what she wants with single-minded determination, from her independence to her education to her career in social work. She never expected her youthful crush on Barrett to develop into something deeper. And she’s not about to let some ridiculous man rules or her brother stand in her way.
 
When the chemistry is this combustible, lines tend to get crossed. And when Barrett and Harmony’s secret gets out, it just might be game over...


From the Trade Paperback edition.

Genres: Romance, Sports, Sports Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Football, Audiobook

348 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 16, 2016

About the author

Jaci Burton is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of over 85 books. She lives in Oklahoma and when she isn’t on deadline (which is often), she can usually be found wrestling with her uncooperative garden, wrangling her dogs, watching an unhealthy amount of television, or completely losing track of time reading a great book. She’s a total romantic and longs for the happily ever after in every story, which you’ll find in all her books.. Visit her website at www.jaciburton.com for excerpts, book information and contests.

Reviews

[Anna's Herding Cats · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.

I'm starting out with the fact that I seriously can't believe I'm giving a Jaci Burton book a 1 star review. I freaking love this series. It's one of my comfort series. But Unexpected Rush did not mesh well with me at all.

The quick of it is that Harmony has just broken up with her boyfriend and she's set her eyes on her brothers best friend and teammate, Barrett. She's had a bit of a crush on him since she was a kid and she's ready to make things happen. He on the other hand is reluctant seeing as how he knows it's going to hurt his relationship with her brother and that relationship means the world to him. And so begins a push and pull game of you know you want it--no I don't--yes you do and I'm gonna prove it.

So what DID work for me....

---> I liked the hero. Barrett is a good guy. He's hard working, loyal & totally someone you could be friends with. He gives back to the community, has good relationships with his family and tries to do what's right.

---> I also really love his family (from previous books) so it was fun getting to spend time with them when they popped in and out of the story.

---> Oh and it's set in Tampa, Florida and I know the area from growing up not far from there. They visited Clearwater too which is somewhere I've been many times. So that was fun.

---> It's also an interracial romance--Barrett is white and Harmony is black. I believe this is the first for the series.

---> The cover is hot!

And what did NOT work for me...

Unfortunately pretty much everything else.

---> Harmony was not the heroine for me. There was a while in the middle where I thought maybe I could get on board but she dashed that at the end. Overall she was both selfish and ridiculous. Everything was about HER wants and desires without thought or care to what that would do to Barrett.

---> My prevailing thought on her behavior was that if a hero behaved like this heroine towards a woman all hell would break loose. She was precariously close to sexual harassment for the first third of the book in my opinion. I'm sure some would just deem her aggressive or assertive in her desires and cheer her on but I found her distasteful. He repeatedly said this isn't something I want to engage in regardless of being attracted to you. She kept pushing including one scene where she stripped down to her undies then got upset when he stopped things after a few minutes.

---> Her brother was over the top protective. Threatening ex boyfriends, nearly attacking a man she was dancing with who tried to put his hands on her butt--and they ALL over reacted to that something fierce which bothered me since it was not a big deal like they were making it out to be, etc.

---> No wonder Barrett didn't want to tell her brother. He was a hothead and irrational. And pointedly told Barrett he wasn't good enough for his sister.

---> I didn't really feel the transitions either. It went from her wanting a relationship with him and him saying I don't want to risk my friendship on something that might not pan out. To them deciding to just make it about sex only (because that's not gonna risk the friendship?) and not telling anyone and then a full out "we're in a relationship" happening pretty much the instant they had sex.

---> The sex scenes were awkward and repetitive with stilted dialogue. There was way too much focus on them telling each other to come, that they were about to come, begging each other to make them come.

---> The editing wasn't all that tight either. There were multiple places where entire thoughts or conversations were repeated right after each other. Not word for word but close enough it had you going okay we JUST went over this.

---> And then the end. When things blew up after Barrett finally did talk to her brother it's HIS fault. Even though he was right from the start about it not going well. But she blames him and he of course has to apologize and grovel. Erms. No.

All in all, while I love Jaci Burton's books and adore the Play-by-Play series, Unexpected Rush was a major miss. This was not the typical writing I expect from Burton. Overall, I do recommend the series but would definitely not recommend starting with this one.

~~notes~~
I usually don't have issues with this series but this one so far my prevailing thought is that if a hero behaved like this heroine towards a woman all hell would break loose. She's precariously close to sexual harassment in my opinion.

[Alyssa · Rating 2 out of 5]

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Unexpected Rush by Jaci Burton
Book Eleven of the Play-By-Play series
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: February 16, 2016
Rating: 2 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Summary (from Goodreads):

In the new Play-By-Play novel by the New York Times bestselling author of All Wound Up, a football hot shot and his best friend’s sister are breaking all the rules.

All the Right Moves

For Barrett Cassidy, playing defense for the Tampa Hawks is a dream come true. And now he may have discovered his dream woman. Harmony Evans, once the sweet, gawky teenage sister of his best friend and teammate has grown into a smart, gorgeous woman with moves he finds hard to resist. But he knows he can’t get involved with his best friend’s sister—it’s guy code.

Harmony has always gone after what she wants with single-minded determination, from her independence to her education to her career in social work. She never expected her youthful crush on Barrett to develop into something deeper. And she’s not about to let some ridiculous man rules or her brother stand in her way.

When the chemistry is this combustible, lines tend to get crossed. And when Barrett and Harmony’s secret gets out, it just might be game over...

What I Liked:

I think this book just wasn't necessarily for me. I love Berkley's books (did you catch my review of Dare To Run by Jen McLaughlin?), and I thought I would enjoy this one. Sports romances are totally my thing! And I love football. And the fall-in-love-with-the-best-friend's-little-sister romance trope. But this book fell a little flat for me.

Harmony has always had a bit of a crush on her older brother's best friend, Barrett. Barrett and Drake are not only best friends, but also defensive linemen on the Tampa Hawks, a professional football team. Barrett knows the bro code better than anyone - do not go near your friend's sister. Even if the attraction and interest is mutual. But Barrett and Harmony can't seem to stay away from each other, bro code or not. If Drake finds out about his sister and his teammate, it might all be over.

At first I was going along with this book, kind of just reading and seeing what would happen next. I wasn't disinterested, but I wasn't necessarily hooked. Still, I was never in danger of not finishing this book, which is always a plus.

I liked the diverse nature of this book! You don't often see interracial couples in romance novels (though it's becoming more prevalent these days than in the past).

Hmmm, I can say that I liked that there was a happy ending? You can't *always* expect that in romance novels, but this one had a happy ending, if not a little cookie-cutter perfect (see below). But a good ending is still a good ending! I'm glad Harmony and Barrett got a HEA. Moving on!

What I Did Not Like:

I don't think I liked Harmony at any point in this book. She doesn't stand up for herself at all! If I had an older brother that literally WENT AFTER my exes, or a man that touched me even slightly inappropriately, I would have already punched my brother in the face. There is no need to act like it's the fourteenth century or something. Harmony "gets mad" at Drake, but she never really makes it clear how much she hates how apes**t crazy he gets.

Which, by the way, was a total turn-off. Drake is the CRAZIEST care of overprotective older brother I have ever encountered. The man is absolutely bats**t crazy. Who goes after his little sister's ex-boyfriend, when the breakup was mutual? Let her fight her battles! You're only babying her further, directly and indirectly!

I didn't necessarily dislike Barrett, but he felt one-dimensional to me. I never loved him or swooned over him or anything. He was a caricature, a mold of your typical sexy male hero in a romance novel. There wasn't anything that made me fall for HIM.

I dislike how hypocritical Harmony is. She doesn't want Drake to know about her attraction to Barrett, but she constantly gets mad at Barrett for him not talking to Drake. Hypocrite much? Also why can't you go talk to him yourself, if it's bothering you so much?

We never really get to see how the attraction plays out initially, before they start hooking up. WHY do they like each other, or are attracted to each other? It's kind of just a once-upon-a-time-wham-bam-two-people-are-attracted kind of thing. Like, the foreplay isn't there. Hopefully I'm explaining myself clearly!

Speaking of foreplay - the steamy scenes were pretty repetitive, sadly. The first time, it was pretty steamy, but then it seemed like the same scene was stuck on repeat. Mix it up, please! Make some of Barrett's fantasies (or Harmony's fantasies) happen!

I just wasn't interested in the story beyond what I was waiting for in terms of Harmony and Barrett's relationship. Like a layer was missing - there was definitely something missing. Maybe there needed to be more football in the book, or something. Family is a huge part of this book, but I found myself not caring about the family aspect. It felt like there were way too many characters and not enough personalization (that's not a word?!) of each character.

The ending was SO overly perfect. It was cookie-cutter perfect in a cheesy, every-hold-hands-and-sing kind of way. I love a good HEA but it felt like there was no work involved, in this HEA! It felt like this book wasn't building up to anything.

I'll stop there! I think this book just wasn't for me.

Would I Recommend It:

I personally can't recommend this book, but maybe fans of the Play-by-Play series will still enjoy this book. I've not read any of Burton's novels before (this is my first), so I can't say if this one was better or worse than hers usually are. I didn't enjoy the book but my issues could be very exclusive to me! I read this book after reading a YA novel, so I don't think it's because I've been reading too much romance novels. I think it was the book, it just wasn't my thing!

Rating:

1.5 stars -> rounded up to 2 stars. I'm sad to see this rating make an appearance, but 3 stars seemed too generous and not at all representative of my dissatisfaction upon finishing this book. I may trying another Burton book in the future, but it's not likely to be one of this series. Again, it could very well just be me and my tastes!

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Play-by-Play series just got even hotter!"

Read this review in its entirety at Fresh Fiction

[-C- · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked reading Play by Play. This was a great romantic read.

“What do you say we christen this nice new house the proper way?”
“Appointment, Barrett.”
“I’d rather not make an appointment with you for sex, Harmony. How about I make you come instead?”

The chemistry between the two main characters was great.

“Maybe Barrett’s just not the one for you.”
“Oh, he was the one, Mama. I love him. That’s why this hurts so much.”

I would have liked a better storyline. I can't really explain it but I feel something missing. I did like it though.

[Carola · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best part of the book was Flynn and Amelia, and that was just a couple of pages.
I didn't like Harmony at all. She was a hypocrite and a cartoon of what a strong woman is. Barrett was slightly better, but too one-dimensional as well.
The change of change the older brother had was not believable at all. Anyways, I hope the next book in the series is about Flynn.

Reread August 2017 - making my way through the whole series again. Still don't like Harmony.

[1-Click Addict Support Group · Rating 3 out of 5]

Football players have balls…

And, of course, they are smart and articulate as well. Handsome, talented, well, you get the picture. It’s not all about the physical though there is a whole lot of that as well! This is a good description of the players on the Tampa Hawks football team, and never more appropriate than for Barrett Cassidy. Barrett is on defense when he is on the field and he has to use every one of those finely-honed skills off the field when Harmony Evans starts looking his way.

Harmony is the little sister of his best friend. He loves Drake like a brother and the Evans family have made him part of their family. Barrett can’t break the bro code by looking at Harmony in any way other than brotherly but it’s going to take everything he has.

Bro code, schmo code. Harmony doesn’t understand why two consenting adults can’t explore a relationship they are both interested in. And she doesn’t let that stand in her way when she decides it’s time to go after what she wants. The heat between her and Barrett is obvious and keeping things quiet doesn’t mean that it doesn’t get loud on occasion.

This was a quiet romance in some ways as the conflict was a psychological one and acted as the elephant in the room in every scene that played out. I liked the characters even if I wanted to shake them here and there. They are obviously successful in their chosen professions and can hold their own within their big, boisterous families, but they seem to be stymied on how to handle their own situation. So much drama when I couldn’t help but feel a heart-to-heart conversation could have resolved it all.

Hunky football players and sexy scenes that this author knows how to spin so well means another solid, if rather unassuming, addition to a series I can’t help coming back to… ~ Diane, 3.5 stars

[Valerie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I adore football in my romance. How can I not love sweaty football players that fall for some lucky girl? Yeah, about that.

So this one fell flat for me. I know, it's totally my kind of book but it just lacked something...something important.

Both characters were just okay. I got the man code thing that was holding Barrett back and I liked that he held to his guns for a while too. I liked that Harmony went after what she wanted despite the resistance. But neither of them felt real to me. Maybe it was the third person writing. Maybe it was the convenience of the whole thing. She didn't think about him until he was there and then then suddenly she's had a crush on him for years. He resisted her until he didn't. Don't ask me what changed it, I have no idea. It just felt too much of a set-up to make the story work. I mean, if he really wanted to resist her, why is he taking her to the beach and renting a hotel room with her?

And then there was her brother. Really, why were these two not together and then hiding their relationship? Because of a punk brother that totally acted like a jerk to Harmony's ex like he had broken her heart when in fact it was a no biggie kind of break-up. He had to be a jerk because the only reason Barrett doesn't go after her is his best friend. Felt contrived.

Because the hero was right about the man code thing and his best friend being ticked off and the heroine was mad at him about it. Say what? Made enough that she broke up with him? Really? Did that just happen? Whatever.

Mostly, I just didn't care. About any of it.

It felt like everything was set-up for the hot sexy scenes. No real story, just backdrop for sex. So if that's what you like, then pick this one up. If you want more story than that, pass on this one.

[Cocktails and Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Cocktails and Books

This is the eleventh book in the Play by Play series and each one is a stand-alone, although all of the characters are loosely connected. This is a charming and sexy story about Barrett Cassidy, an NFL football player. He plays defense for the Tampa Hawks and he finds himself constantly thinking about Harmony, his teammate’s younger sister. Barrett is well aware of the unwritten guy code about staying away from your friend’s sisters and he does his best to keep his distance from Harmony. However, when Harmony helps Barrett decorate his house and they are continually thrown together, he finds it impossible to avoid the strong attraction simmering between them.

I found it easy to like Barrett and Harmony and enjoyed all the sparks flying between them when they are together. Harmony is successful and confident and I was impressed that she is not afraid to go after what she wants. Barrett is a nice guy and I love how he treats Harmony and yet he also worries about upsetting her brother. They try to keep their romance under wraps so Harmony’s brother doesn’t find out and of course, that doesn’t work. Harmony is tired of her brother being so overprotective and I can’t blame her. While it is nice her brother cares about her, she is smart and can make her own decisions about who she wants to date. I thought this story was entertaining, but I have to admit, I did not feel as engaged as I have with some of the other books in this series. I am not sure if it was the story or characters or maybe both, but something was missing for me. I did like the multicultural aspect and Barrett and Harmony have lots of chemistry flowing between them. If you enjoy stories about hot, down to earth, football players and feisty, successful, confident women, you will enjoy this one.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eleven books in and I am still loving this series. I love the Cassidy family and this is Barrett's book. He begins a secret relationship with his best friend Drake's little sister, Harmony. Drake is overprotective where Harmony is concerned and constantly interferes with her love life. Because of this and being afraid of losing his friendship with Drake, Barrett insists on hiding the fact that they are seeing each other. His reasoning is lame and Harmony not having a backbone and going along with it is the only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. Barrett and Harmony are both very likeable characters who are smoking hot together. Barrett's brother Flynn is also featured with a potential future love interest, hopefully he gets the next book. Very enjoyable read. This series continues to make me very happy while reading it.

[Take Me Away To A Great Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unexpected Rush by Jaci Burton
Play by Play, #11
Berkley
Release Date: February 16, 2016
Rating: 3.5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher for providing me with an advance copy for an honest review.

Unexpected Rush is a hot fast paced read. Jaci has a way of making a couple have combustible chemistry. This book was fun, sexy, and sweet. I loved that Harmony knew what she wanted in a man and she is also confident enough in herself to say what she likes. Barrett is strong, sexy and oh so not like most of the men Harmony has dated. He wants to meet the challenges Harmony throws down but is also scared to at the same time.

FULL REVIEW GO TO: http://takemeawaytoagreatread.com/201...

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fans of the Play by Play series won't be disappointed.

[Adria's Musings · Rating 1 out of 5]

Originally posted on Adria's Romance Reviews

* A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review.

So basically Unexpected Rush is a best friend’s younger sibling romance. Barrett is best friends with Harmony’s brother and like all younger sisters, Harmony had a crush on Barrett when they were teens. Now that they’re all grown up the crush has turned into a full blown attraction that Harmony wants to explore but Barrett doesn’t because of the unspoken guy code of not messing with your best friend’s sister.

But Harmony won’t let the attraction go without a fight.



I hate to have to say this but this book had NONE of the charm of the first three or four books in the Play-by-Play series. NONE. ZIP. ZERO. NADA. And I’ll tell you why: It was in big part, the heroine’s fault.

Now I love a heroine who isn’t afraid to pursue what she wants, including a man. I’m all for equal rights especially in the dating world. A woman should ask a guy out, a woman should woo a man once in a while but ONLY if both parties are on the same page and are willing to see where the attraction leads! I’ve got no problem with subtle persuasion on either side but what Harmony did was NOT the single minded determination described in the blurb. She all but molested Barrett in some scenes! Not sexy. Not sexy. At. All. Let me put it this way, I reversed the roles in those scenes and in my mind it was Barrett doing and saying some of the things Harmony did and said and guess what? Total ick factor. So why should it be any different because Harmony was the one doing and saying it?

I also found Harmony to be silly, immature and weak. I mean come on, she’s an adult yet she lets her brother fight her battles for her when they aren’t even battles to be fought. He’s over the top, nutso protective of her and SHE should have put a stop to it. I didn’t buy what Burton was selling when it came to Harmony. Tough, independent woman? Heck no! Harasser of men and hypocrite? Absolutely.

Then there was Barrett. Barrett who honestly could have faded into the background because he wasn’t all that interesting. There wasn’t anything that stood out to me about this guy and I honestly couldn’t pick him out of a lineup of sports romance heroes. Plus if he was attracted to Harmony then I had to question his taste and even his mental state. That woman was just no good.

As a couple Barrett and Harmony went from zero to clothes flying everywhere with literally no in between. There was no development of the romance, heck these two were barely even friends, the only connection they had was through Harmony’s brother yet all of a sudden they’re tossing their clothes off and gettin’ down and dirty. I’m all for some hot sex scenes but I need it to make sense and they didn’t make sense. No transition at all and the scenes started to become repetitive.

Final Verdict: Sadly this Jaci Burton book didn’t work for me either. I don’t know if the series has run its course or not but this is just not working for me anymore. That Harmony… Ugh, just no.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

UNEXPECTED RUSH: Sisters Before Misters?
http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201...

E-Galley provided by publisher for review. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted.

This story is about the best friend's sister (BFS) rule. But, it's also about misplaced, out of control, anger. Harmony's brother is the best friend of the guy Harmony has been attracted to forever. Barret has always been attracted, but you don't mess with your best friend's sister. When said sister wants to be messed with and you have a lot of contact you're sure to have a flag on the play, right? (sorry, the Superbowl was on when I began writing this)

Having only two older sisters, I have no idea what the BFS rule is about. Why would you even be friends with a guy who was not good enough for your sister?

Then, there's the conflict between being with the woman on the sly. I think this trope has been over used, but Burton brings something new to it, namely Harmony's mother's influence and the profound honesty present in Barrett's large, sports-dynast, All-American family.

But, there's also something Burton doesn't address: Drake's irrational, angry, nearly violent, dangerous response when ANY man even looks twice at Harmony. Perhaps the character is just a jerk who is overprotective with his sister, but I think he needs a few words from his mother, and some medical intervention too. For example, early in the book a guy and Harmony break-up, mutually, and he makes Barrett go with him to threaten the guy. The guy was an overly-groomed, self-involved vanity poster boy, but there was no need for Drake to behave as he did. In the light of the violent reactions caused by concussive injury in football players Drake's behavior is a real red flag for this often overlooked issue.

Since the issue is a driving force in the plot I would like to have seen Drake get some help. If it isn't medical, then he is more than a hothead, protective older brother, he may be dangerous.

Otherwise, I think the chemistry between the characters and the way they handle their emotions is hot. Burton writes sex unapologetically, but with respect. I thought Harmony and Drake's Mother was a little cliche. I did enjoy the football/sport family idea though! And I have always liked Barret's family -- they would be the perfect in-laws! I liked that we only learn about race in this story obliquely and it isn't an issue for any of the characters. I was waiting for race to be an issue for the couple, but that was not one of their problems.

How do you feel about this guy rule where you cannot date your friend's sister?

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rhayne's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

Unexpected Rush is book 11 in the Play by Play Series. It’s a forbidden romance story involving Barrett and Harmony. Harmony’s brother, Drake and Berrett are not only best friends, but they play on the same pro football team. It’s unwritten guy rule you never date your friend’s sister, but they finally give in to their attraction and the sparks fly.

As with most stories with this plot, they are a bit predictable. This was no exception. The one thing that separated this from the rest was the additional aspect of them being on the same team. It added a little more dynamic when the relationship was uncovered.

I liked Harmony and Barrett as a couple they had a lot of chemistry together. I do feel as though some of their sex scenes were repetitive. Maybe not the exact act, but the things they said to each other. I found myself skipping over a few just to get on with the story.

My only real complaint with the book was the way Harmony acted towards Barrett once he came clean with her brother. I don’t want to go into a lot of detail and give the story away, but her actions puzzled me a bit. She started this thing with him keeping it a secret from everyone. They just wanted to hook up and have some good times. As feeling added to the mix she understood how her very very over protective brother was going to act when he found out. Once their relationship is out in the open, she gets angry with Barrett. I do think Barrett should have come clean earlier, but she was with him and keeping the secret as well. The story just didn’t work for me through this part.

Overall if you are following this series I think you will enjoy this addition. You will like reading about the Cassidy’s we’ve met in previous books. You will also enjoy reading the teasers about characters we are sure to learn more about in the future.

Review copy provided for an honest review.

[Jess · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF'ing at 10% - the characters already have me saying "whaaaat" with a crazy brother who confronts a man who dared to break up with his sister, the books heroine. The heroine thinks she's "hot as hell and super intelligent" o.....kay. The hero, pretty much the brothers side kick.

I have no desire to see how this unfolds. May be time for me to say goodbye to this series. It's losing steam with each book.

[Dorel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the Play By Play series. I really liked the hot & steamy scenes. I really liked the football scenes. I really liked the ending. This book's story line was okay. Harmony & Barrett's characters were okay. I wish I felt romance between Harmony & Barrett.

[Fredrika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, this one was kind of boring which was a disappointment. The brother, Drake, pissed me off and the two MCs didn’t have strong enough personalities.

[Under the Covers Book Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

As you all know, I'm a huge fan of this series. When a new book comes out I jump at the chance to dive back in and get reacquainted with the guys and girls I have come to care for and love. UNEXPECTED RUSH for some reason wasn't calling to me as much as the others have been. Which was strange because I have this love for the Cassidy family! When I picked it up and started reading it, though, I really liked the beginning. Barrett Cassidy and his best friend's little sister... count me in! But then, as the story progressed, I found myself getting more and more distracted.

Harmony has just been dumped but she's not necessarily heartbroken about it. When she has the opportunity to work with Barrett and help design his new home, her overprotective brother's best friend, teammate and her college crush, she doesn't hold back on seducing him. Barrett comes from a tight knit family and that plays a big role in this book which is one of the things I love about the series and I enjoyed about this book.

I feel like there wasn't much about either Barrett or Harmony that grabbed me and made me want to stick with it. They were just ok and Barrett was even sometimes a bit of a ball-less idiot. So while this was very sexy and it has the Burton stamp of friends and family that I have come to love, the couple themselves never made it into my heart. Sorry! I think maybe in comparison to the last book, this was hotter. Barrett and Harmony have some great chemistry! For me, I was just missing something to make me connect with them as characters that I can't quite put my finger on. Even with all that, it was still an enjoyable read.

I am however dying for more Cassidy books! This is the third book about these hunks and I see maybe Flynn could be next. I do love a good chef story :)

*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Francesca

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[Francesca the Fierce (Under the Covers Book Blog) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars



As you all know, I’m a huge fan of this series. When a new book comes out I jump at the chance to dive back in and get reacquainted with the guys and girls I have come to care for and love. UNEXPECTED RUSH for some reason wasn’t calling to me as much as the others have been. Which was strange because I have this love for the Cassidy family! When I picked it up and started reading it, though, I really liked the beginning. Barrett Cassidy and his best friend’s little sister… count me in! But then, as the story progressed, I found myself getting more and more distracted.

Harmony has just been dumped but she’s not necessarily heartbroken about it. When she has the opportunity to work with Barrett and help design his new home, her overprotective brother’s best friend, teammate and her college crush, she doesn’t hold back on seducing him. Barrett comes from a tight knit family and that plays a big role in this book which is one of the things I love about the series and I enjoyed about this book.

I feel like there wasn’t much about either Barrett or Harmony that grabbed me and made me want to stick with it. They were just ok and Barrett was even sometimes a bit of a ball-less idiot. So while this was very sexy and it has the Burton stamp of friends and family that I have come to love, the couple themselves never made it into my heart. Sorry! I think maybe in comparison to the last book, this was hotter. Barrett and Harmony have some great chemistry! For me, I was just missing something to make me connect with them as characters that I can’t quite put my finger on. Even with all that, it was still an enjoyable read.

I am however dying for more Cassidy books! This is the third book about these hunks and I see maybe Flynn could be next. I do love a good chef story.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

Harmony has just been dumped by her boyfriend of 3 months but she isn't heartbroken. She is confused on why she can't find a good guy who is worthy of her. Trying to gain some insight of the male mind she asks her brothers best friend and teammate Barrett that maybe they should date but Barrett isn't going to let that happen.

Barrett has been noticing Harmony for awhile now but he isn't about to go there with her. He doesn't want to ruin his friend ship with her brother and he definitely doesn't want to hurt her if things go bad but after he hires harmony to redecorate his house the more time he spends with her the harder it becomes to resist her.

I really liked Harmony. She was smart, successful and went after what she wanted. Barrett was hot, loyal and not a player. The relationship between these two starts off real slow but once it got going I was really liking these two together. I thought they really balanced each other out.

One thing that really annoyed me was all the talk about telling her brother that they were seeing one another. I mean it was said so much and they would even talk about it before they had sex. When Barrett knew they were getting into the serious zone he should have just stepped up.

From the beginning of the story you can see how attracted they are to one another and how hard Barrett tries to fight it. It was kind of cute but you could see he was ready to cave at any minute.

Of course in this story Burton wrote some really hot sex scenes and Barrett was definitely a dirty talker. *swoon*

Also in this story we get to know Flynn a little better and meet the woman he will end up with. I'm hoping his book will be next!

As far as the ending goes I wasn't all that happy with how they had there HEA. I was happy he asked her to move in the house she redecorated but I felt the whole proposal wasn't needed. Overall once this book got going I was quickly reminded how much I love this series.

[Elizabeth H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jaci Burton has the hunkiest, sexiest and most stubborn alpha males in her Play-by-Play series. Barrett Cassidy is no exception. Except this time, he’s paired with an equally strong-willed—and stubborn—heroine. Harmony is a strong female who won’t take no for an answer as Barrett hides behind the “guy code,” refusing to go take her out on a date. She finally wears him down and as they both imagined, their chemistry is explosive!

I admit I was worried about Barrett’s book because in previous books, he’s been an irresistible flirt and serial womanizer, not unlike Harmony’s brother Drake. It was nice to see a different side of Barrett.

The couple definitely had a major hurdle that both refused to confront until it was too late. Drake is fiercely protective of his sister and if ANY man even remotely treats her badly, he’s in their faces—quite loudly—and defending his sister. Because of this, Barrett decides to keep his and Harmony’s relationship a secret from everyone, including Drake, his best friend. While this idea sounds good in theory, problems arise as the couple get serious and Harmony doesn’t want to be hidden anymore. What happens if/when Drake finds out? You’ll have to read to find out!

I really enjoyed the book! I thought the characters were great and the love scenes where HAWT! What I really love about this series is the fact that it is family-oriented. Yes, it’s about professional sports athletes, but their friends and families are the glue that holds the story together.

I recommend this and any Jaci Burton book!

***I was gifted an eBook copy from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. All conclusions reached are my own***

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Playing football is a dream that has come to life for Barrett. The team, their families, and the action all play such a vital role in Barrett’s life. He would do nothing to jeopardize any of it. One of the things Barrett treasures is his friendship with Drake. The two friends share their love of the game along with their parties and interest in catching a woman’s eye.

Getting dumped is never fun. For Harmony, it was another slap in the face that she definitely would have rather avoided. Deciding that a little fun in her life was ‘what the doctor ordered’, Harmony looked towards a handsome hunk that she has held a crush on for a long time. The attraction isn’t completely one-sided. Barrett definitely would love to dive into a relationship with Harmony. There is just one problem…..Drake!!

Determined not to break the ‘guy code’, Barrett turns Harmony down. What Barrett didn’t realize is just how hard it is to fight an attraction and stay loyal to your friend. Will Barrett break the ‘guy code’ and give into his feelings towards Harmony? Or will Drake and his over protectiveness chase away any hope of a relationship for these two?


If you have read my reviews before, you know I love Jaci Burton. From her writing style to the amazing sex scenes that are written between the covers. In Unexpected Rush, we find a romance ‘brewing’ between Harmony and Barrett. The plot to this book was really good. The only problem….the predictability. I would have loved things to be a bit more ‘explosive’ since Drake is just an overprotective sibling. Barrett didn’t have much of a ‘fight’ on his hands either. So - for me the build up just fell a little flat.

Don’t get me wrong…I still liked the book!! I will also be waiting (impatiently) for the next book Burton releases!!

[Teri]

Not gonna rate this, I got to around 25% and I am just not feeling it at all. I have read a few Jaci Burton novels that I have enjoyed The Perfect Play Hope Flames but this one is just not working for me.
spoilery, I guess, up to 25%

I do like Barrett a lot, and I could see totally falling in love with him, but I cannot stand Harmony. I find her behavior really disturbing. It doesn't matte someone's reason for telling you no, they don't even need a reason, it doesn't matter if you think it's stupid (in Harmony's case she sees why it is so important to Barrett, but cares more about her own self than she does about him and his friendships and relationship with the family.) I find her to be really selfish and just...awful. I'm all for the push and pull, the we want to , we shouldn't, I want him/her, this is a bad idea, fuck it let's do it anyway, but he is telling her no and she is not listening, that's not hot.

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 2.5 Stars

I don't know what happened! I usually get a solid 4 stars from a Play by Play book, but this one just didn't live up to the rest of the series. I feel like the series is reverting back to book 1 standards.

The Perfect Play had a decent story, but it was a lot of sex with some story. As I progressed through the series, it seemed as though Burton moved further from that erotica line and closer to the erotic romance line. This book felt like it was creeping back to the erotica side with a thin story and lots (LOTs!) of sex.

It was awesome being with the Cassidy family again, and the ending was SO strong, but I was left wanting more.

Overall: Good characters, but not enough story

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[Darcy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was predictable from the start. I did like how Harmony went after Barrett with a goal in mind, to land him. She didn't let him give no for an answer once, or even twice, especially when it was due to her over protective brother, not because he wasn't attracted to her.

It was here that things sort of soured for me. I hated how Barrett then started a relationship with Harmony, but wanted to keep things secret. Harmony deserved more than to be a dirty little secret,especially as hard as she fought to get Barrett's attention.

Of course things blew up with Harmony's family when the relationship came out, of course Harmony's brother was pissed his BFF kept he was dating his sister a secret, even Harmony's mother chimed in with her disappointment.

It was a good thing that Barrett made grand gesture at the end to win everyone over.

[Karen323 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I'm done with this series. Book 1 was amazing, and the next few books after that were really good, then it just kind of went downhill for me. Once it wasn't about the Riley family anymore I became less into it. The plot of this one was kind of dull, and the dialogue was just ... bad. It had its moments, but for me it was kind of lackluster. Oh well.

[Tina "IRead2Escape" · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hotness Rating 3 out of 5

Review to come...

[Lauren at Live Read and Breathe Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Secrets will always blow up in your face stars!

Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Berkley | Penguin Group

It's not a secret that sports romance are one of my guilty pleasures, and the Play by Play series was one of my first sport romance series that got me hooked on this genre.  But at times I think this series may be done.  Sure there are more characters that could be explored but its becoming too predictable, too repetitive, and a bit unforgettable making it done.   I read this book a week ago and I was about to write this review, but it took me quite awhile to bring the characters and story back to the forefront of my mind.  Sadly that makes it fall into the unforgettable side of things since I only read it a week ago.

"Your choice.  But I think it's going to blow up in your face."

Once I finally remembered what the story was about.  I recalled it being pretty decent but too predictable.  Barrett Cassidy is another one who is part of a sports legacy family.  He's one of many brothers who are all professional athletes, as well as a father who was also a pro-athlete.  For the most part they are mainly football players, except for his twin who is a MLB player. 

Barrett's all about family, loyalty and football, so when he starts to fancy his best friend and fellow player's little sister he feels torn.  Now Harmony doesn't care about the bro code or sports code.  She's a strong woman and goes after what she wants.  And Barrett is what she wants.  She pulls no punches with this endeavor, so when she finally wins she should be ecstatic but instead she's let down since Barrett wants to keep their affair a secret.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?  Secrets have a tendency to explode in your face at the worst possible time,  Barrett."  (Fair warning. Too bad he didn't listen to that advice)

We all know keeping secrets is going to blow up in your face.  And blow up it did.  I liked the premise of the story especially since I'm always sweet on stories involving the friend's little sister, but the actual story wasn't quite as good as the idea of the story.  Harmony was strong willed and independent which I usually like but at times she came across is more stubborn than strong.

"You know, I get that you're all female empowered and all that shit, and
I have no doubt you can move mountains on your own.  But it's still
okay to ask for help if you need it." 

Now the sex was hot for these two and I know its fiction but come on, NO ONE orgasms that much. NO ONE!!!! Which makes it more unbelievable than believable at times in that department.  If there was more from this series, would I read it?  Yes, as I'm one of those people who once you start something I need to finish it.  Did I like Barrett and Harmony together?  Yes for the most part.  There a few things that bugged me but otherwise they were good.   Would I read more from this author?  Yes, just because I think this series may be done, doesn't make me dislike the author at all.  Everything has a time and sometimes it run its course.  

 

[Liza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Barrett and Harmony's book! I loved that even though Barrett told Harmony he couldn't get together with her because of the guy code, he totally couldn't stay away from her. Barrett and Harmony had amazing chemistry and I absolutely fell in love with them as a couple. I did think Barrett made a big mistake not being open about this relationship with Harmony in the beginning with her brother, Drake, but also saw the way Drake acted around any of Harmony's dates, so understood Barrett being hesitant.

I also loved getting to spend more time with the Cassidy clan and loved meeting the Evans family. In fact, I now want both Drake and Diane Evans (Drake and Harmony's mom) to get their own books.

[Monique Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. Any kind of taboo works for me. Best friend's little sister is definitely taboo. I enjoyed both characters and how seamlessly they fit together. Excited to see Flynn's HEA soon!