Deep Inside

Going Deep #3

by Virna DePaul

NFL publicist Ruby O’Brien did her best to stay away from Alec, the cocky and talented tight end of the Savannah Bootleggers. Then for a brief moment, he breaks through but less than twenty-four hours later, he’s engaged to someone else. Lesson learned. Two months later, Alec’s single again, acting like a publicity nightmare and requiring up-close supervision. Now Ruby has to help Alec fix his bad boy reputation, even as she protects her heart. Can Alex convince Ruby that, sometimes, scoring in love means risking it all? And will Ruby accept that she’s not second best, but the only woman Alec wants? For a lifetime. Get ready to fall hard for the ultimate bad boy turned good. You'll swoon for this steamy series by a New York Times bestselling author!

Genres: Sports, Football

201 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 9, 2018

About the author

A former prosecutor, Virna DePaul writes "heat, heart, & HEA" for Harlequin and Random House. She is also a bestselling Indie author, with Bedding The Wrong Brother being a top 100 contemporary romance on Amazon with over 150 5* reviews. www.virnadepaul.com

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first time I have read this author and it won’t be my last. This is the third story in the Going Deep series about the Savannah Bootleggers football team. It can be read as a standalone.

Ruby O’Brien is a publicist. She works for O’Brien PR firm, her father Phil’s company. Ruby has been exposed to and loved football all her life growing up as the daughter of a PR great. Ruby was given the job as publicist for the Savannah Bootleggers’ football team. She loves her job even though there are days it’s very trying with the antics of some of the men on the team. One in particular, Alec LeBrun. Ruby has had a crush on Alec from the first time she met him and who wouldn’t. He’s handsome, charming and he is the best at his game. The only problem is Ruby can’t get involved with any member of the organization. She would lose her job and her reputation. But sometimes the heart wants what the heart wants.

Alec LeBrun has had a tough time in life, being raised by a single mother, but with her love and support he succeeded in his dream of playing pro football. He has a reputation as a lady’s man, womanizer that recently just went through a scandal with a breakup, engagement and then breaking that engagement all within two months. Alec is private and wanted to keep this mess to himself and out of the public. He knows he has been out of control and knows he has to get it under control. He just needs Ruby. It was love at first sight for Alec. Ruby is smart, professional, gorgeous and he wants her. He has wanted her longer than she even realizes. He was after her for months to go out with him. Then one night she relents and it’s a night that neither can forget. Ruby realizes there is more to Alec then she ever realized.

I am going to leave it right there. There is a lot that goes down between Ruby and Alec and there are hurdles. There are meddling ex-girlfriends, difficult bosses, demanding father’s and a love that touches both of them. Alec has a lot to prove and he has got to make Ruby believe that his feelings are real.

This was a quick and easy read. No angst. It’s sweet, sexy and oh so good. I liked it so much, I went back and bought books one and two in the series.

ARC kindly provided by Wordsmith Publicity for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

***AVAILABLE NOW - FULL REVIEW ***

4 Romantic CROWNS

If you are looking for a light and fun romance with some heat inducing romps, then Deep Inside is the book for you.

I absolutely loved Alec. He is the perfect hero, seriously perfect. I don’t know that there was really one flaw or imperfection. He is sweet and kind, and chases the heroine with complete devotion. He really is the anti traditional sports hero.

Ruby is the anti-relationship factor in this couple, creating an interesting role reversal. She has insecurities and tries to protect herself, but overall she is another highly like-able character.

The story is fun and sexy, but there is no deviation from the expect plot. It all goes according to plan. The only thing I expected was a bigger climax, and I think the events left me a tad disappointed. I wanted something more dramatic. Overall, though, Deep Inside is a great read.

Fun. Sexy. Highly entertaining. Deep Inside is another great read from Virna DePaul.
———
ARC received in exchange for an honest review

[Tracy *To the point Reviews* · Rating 1 out of 5]

Can't believe i read this. But let it be know known I skimmed through most of it.


Here goes my impressions. sweet predictable story with a heroine who lacks a whole lot of personality. A hero who is two dimensional at best, and a setting that lacks any traits of everyday life.

Childish dialogue and lots of redundant inner thoughts, especially from the heroine.

[Isha Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harmless fun leads to risky business as Alex and Ruby break all the rules of love. Deep Inside is as smart as it is sexy. Ruby has her head on straight and her heart locked away, until temptation steps up to the line in the form of a smart alecky playboy with the best of intentions, but a knack for finding himself in sticky situations. Whether on the field or off the clock and dealing with the real world, Ms. DePaul keeps readers guessing and hearts racing as she heads right into a touchdown.

[Jeanne Jabour · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Going series tells the stories of 4 professional football players from the Savannah Bootleggers football team, and each can be read as a standalone novel.
The third book, Deep Inside, is about the team’s tight end and reputed skirt chaser, Alec, who repeatedly tries to convince Ruby, the team’s very professional, by-the-book publicist, to go on a date with him. Ruby, who is head-over-heels for Alec but too fearful of damaging her career by breaking the non-dating the players rule, finally relents, much to her surprise, and they have a night to remember forever! Then things get complicated when Alec suddenly has a fiancé! Not to give away too much more of the twists and turns, Alec breaks up with his fiancé, but Ruby thinks he still loves his ex, and fights against the feelings she has for Alec. As one of the signature touches I look for from this author, she gives flesh and heart to Alec’s life by showing the reader his difficult childhood and his residual scars. This story, like the others in this series, are a lovely combination of heat, heart, angst, characters deeply in love, and subtle witticisms. You won’t put the book down until the very last page!
The four books in this series are among my favorites. As talented as Ms. DePaul is in really knowing how to heat up a room and steam the windows, she is equally facile at showing true and abiding love, heart-felt emotions, situations so funny that your belly hurts from laughing, and relationships so complex that no one escapes without deep, emotional wounds! The series is the total package – not too much technical football information, or subjects so depressing you can’t find your way out. It has just the right mix of sex, banter, attraction, chemistry, sex (did I already mention that), love and angst to keep you reading late into the night!

[Jackie Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars for Deep Inside, Book 3 in the Going Deep Series. This may be book 3 but it can certainly be read as a stand-alone and this is Ruby and Alex’s story.
What happens when a NFL publicist who lives by some very strick rules crosses that line and ends up mixing business with pleasure......
Ruby’s number one rule is don’t get involved with the football players you are representing, the problem is she has crushed on Alex, tight end of the Savannah Bootleggers for ever and every time he asks her out it gets just a little bit harder to turn him down, her only saving grace is he is engaged to someone else and that is definitely a line she will not cross, but what will happen when she finds out he is no longer engaged and what will happen when one of the coaches catches them in a hot and steamy kiss in the locker room, how will she spin this story.......
I love this series and I love this couple who are both strong, they know what they want and in the end will do what they need to so they can be together, two characters who are passionate about their careers as well as their relationships make this the perfect love story. Looking forward to more from Virna DePaul and this series of stand-alones.

[Christina Montminy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say that I think this book was my favourite so far. I’ve loved Alec throughout the series & was looking forward to his book. He was cocky, sexy & definitely sweet & he was determined to make Ruby his. Straight laced, always business Ruby was Alec’s publicist & tried to keep things all business even though she’s had a major crush on him since she first met him. When Alec finally got a yes out of her for a date, his life changed unexpectedly & Ruby wasn’t going to be a part of it. But things have a way of working out & Alec found his way to Ruby again. Life has a way of repeating itself & moves in strange ways but this time it’s what Alec wants only he can’t make Ruby see the truth. As with books 1 & 2 in this series this book had major heat but I think it was the fact that it had been love at first sight & first meet for Alec & how hard he worked to win Ruby’s love that made this book stand out more for me. I love author Virna DePaul’s storytelling, she brings you on a wonderful journey while doing it. Definitely recommend this book & series to read. Thank you to Virna DePaul for gifting me this book for an honest review.

[2kasmom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book #3, in the Going Deep series. This book can be read as a standalone novel. To avoid spoilers, and to understand the series better, I recommend reading this in order.

Alec is bent on destruction. Ruby will lose her job if she cannot gain control of what is happening with him. As his publicist, she must help him get back on track - or it is both a future in peril.

Ruby has always wanted Alec, even thought she would take her chances with him. The choice to date a client is always a slippery slope, so she decides it is best to stay away. With the attraction gaining sparks - can they learn to bridge the gap before its too late?

This story was a sexy heat right from the get go. The characters gain development that is moving the story along at a good pace. I like the banter. Such a great addition to the series.


***This early copy was given in exchange for an honest review only.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 3 out of 5]

My opinion is split pretty much right down the middle with this book. The plot wasn’t anything unexpected, but it was fun to read. I quite liked Alec. He’s got a bit of the jock alpha-hole about him and yet there’s a noble gentlemanly streak about him that I don’t usually find with characters of his mould. Ruby drove me completely batty. She’s supposed to be this smart, capable PR exec, but she mostly comes across as a neurotic mess. The ending is everything adorable, I just felt like it took a lot of work to get there.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Booksprout as part of the box set.

[Anima · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guess not all football players aren't dumb, Alec proves that to Ruby. Being a publicist to rowdy athletes can be trying but Ruby has earned much respect and a few catcalls. Getting involved with clients is a big no-no but the heart is willing to break the rules. Alec needs to prove his undying love to Ruby, but fumbles a bit getting a TD. DePaul can always be counted on for a heat filled romance with plenty of action in bed and out of. Two equally strong characters with passion for their careers and relationships made it a loving story. Part of a series it can definitely be read separately, the other characters make brief appearances but have no baring on the story. I received an early copy and voluntarily wrote my unbiased review.

[Virna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could not get into the story of this book. I lost interest before the end.