You know who I adore? Lauren Blakely. The fact that each new book she releases is just as amazing (if not better) than the last never ceases to amaze me. What makes it even better is that she writes books that I LOVE to read: sweet, sexy, and swoon-worthy romances that are impossible to put down once you get started. Her latest release, Most Valuable Playboy, is another must-read, cleverly combining several of my favorite tropes into one immensely entertaining story that somehow manages to be both ridiculously adorable and jaw-droppingly erotic. Fair warning for when you read Most Valuable Playboy: cheeks will be set aflame, ovaries will explode, and you'll have a newfound appreciation for the sport of football (or at least a certain fictional quarterback).
Told through an all-male POV that gives the book a lighthearted, playful feel, Most Valuable Playboy is a story about two friends who blur the line between friendship and something more when a mutually beneficial arrangement takes their relationship to a more intimate level. After finally getting the chance to be the starting quarterback for his professional football team, Cooper Armstrong is determined to finish the season with a winning record and secure his place on the team. To do so, he needs a bit of assistance from Violet Pierson, his best friend’s younger sister and new pretend girlfriend. The only thing is…the feelings that start to develop between them aren’t exactly pretend.
From the characters to the storyline to the writing, everything about Most Valuable Playboy is insanely addictive. We have Cooper, a hero who’s the textbook definition of a dreamboat – genuinely kind, gentlemanly, and confident without being overly cocky. Then we have our heroine, Violet, who’s effortlessly cool, funny, and witty. Together, they have an easygoing, flirty banter along with off-the-charts chemistry. The combination results in several pretty darn steamy love scenes filled with dirty talk. So. Much. Dirty talk. *sighs*
What I love most about Most Valuable Playboy is that it encompasses the best of all the tropes it references: the forbidden feel of the best friend's little sister relationship, the intimate, relaxed familiarity of being friends before lovers, and that pulse-pounding anticipation of the moment when a pretend romance has the potential to develop into something real. It's a heart-meltingly sweet, slow-burning romance with plenty of steam that'll have you alternating between giggling like a schoolgirl and fanning your flushed cheeks. Most importantly, it’s the start of a new series following the men of the Renegades football team, which means a new cast of characters to fall head over heels in love with and being introduced to new faces in the hopes that they'll be next in line to get their happy ending.
*complimentary copy provided by author for an honest review