Married to the Playboy

Finding Love #2

by Toni Denise

She wants her happy ending. He wants the girl he can’t have. Will fate bring them together?

Kristen likes her life, but she’s not in love with it. She knows there’s something more out there for her but isn’t sure where to look or even if it will make her happy. What she knows for sure is watching her brother marry and begin his happily ever after isn’t helping her feel any better about her life.
Mike, a notorious ladies’ man, is good at keeping his feelings to himself, but that becomes complicated when he sees his best friend’s sister again. Kristen is beautiful, intelligent, and everything he has ever wanted. But when he inadvertently hurts her friend’s feelings, Kristen wants nothing to do with him and his playboy ways.
When a fellow teacher backs out of a school fundraising event, Kristen is forced to pull off the biggest event of the year on her own. A friend announces that Mike and Kristen are getting married in front of the town's biggest gossips and another teacher and they must come up with a way out of it, or make a go of things. Mike sees it as an opportunity to make amends and finally win her over, but is the second-grade teacher ready to trust the Army veteran and his past indiscretions?
Find out in MARRIED TO THE PLAYBOY!

Genres: Novella, Contemporary, Romance, Enemies To Lovers

184 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 21, 2021

About the author

I am an author, an engineer, a wife, and a mother to four kids!

We live in Virginia with our three dogs where we work and stay busy with kid's activities. I enjoy writing and am also an avid reader of both contemporary and historical romance.

Writing is my passion, something that I love to do and always have. My journey to author wasn't straightforward but I am so glad I made it here and I get to share with everyone the stories that I love.

Reviews

[Kirstie]

Was an okay story but not great for me. For the most part I liked the main characters and the steamy scenes were believable and good. The pace and flow were good and I liked the push pull in the beginning of the h making sure the H was serious and not just looking for another conquest. I loved how the H responded to her rebuffs and hesitancy. Maybe this is a continuation from a previous book, but I just didn't get why Beth was such a witch in general (and specifically such a witch to the h), and why she was so fixated on the H. The rift between the H and his parents was never explained and why both of their parents wanted Beth and the H to marry so badly. Add in the wimpy way the H handled interactions with his mother and it just ruined the book for me. His mom would call and tell him how to live his life, he would take the call outside would stay out there for an extended period of time and pout, then come inside and be standoffish with the h. Then he wonders why she pulls back from him? He is a grown man with his own house and job... just doesn't make sense.. Anyway, if there was a decent reason for Beth's behavior and the H wasn't such a wimp after talking to his mother, this book would have been 5 stars for me.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle Quintana]

Lots of drama

This was a cute love story between Mike and Kristen. Mike had been interested in Kristen for awhile. However, Kristen was wary of him because she didn't want to become another notch. He manages to get her to give him a chance. Things get moved along faster when her co-worker Beth starts causing drama. The drama gets worse when Mike's mother involves herself. Mike and Kristen are good together but I didn't like the way their story ended.

[Geraldine Streit]

The story doesn’t make a lot of sens. The characters are way to emotional and the just take live changing decision like you change a shirt.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Angie Barnes]

Toni Denise has written a 5-star book. This is the story of Kristen and Mike. Kristen Kristen is a teacher at Springfield Elementary School and has just been asked to do the end of school play. Beth had volunteered to do it at the beginning of the year but hasn't done any of the work and it is only a month away. Kristen calls her sister-in-law Macy and tells her what just happened and said that she couldn't meet up that night. Macy tells her that she better be there. Kristen wonders why Macy wants her there so badly. She is halfway there when she thinks of the answer, Mike. She doesn't talk to Mike anymore over something he had done and she realized he is a playboy. At Macy's house, Kristen drinks too much and Mike ends up taking her home and staying the night with her, just to make sure she is all right. The next morning, Kristen has a visit from The Pillars and they think that she and Mike are together. Now everyone in town will think that Kristen and Mike are sleeping together. Mike is finally able to find out why Kristen doesn't talk to him. They talk things out and come to an understanding. He asked about the project she just started working on and she tells him it is the end-of-year school play. They talk about what is needed and he offers his help. He needs information she doesn't have so they agree to meet after school the following Monday so that he can get the information he needs. When they meet, Beth gets involved and starts causing trouble. Mike doesn't remember her right off, but she is someone he had slept with in the past and she wants him back. Daniel, Kristen's brother, Macy, and a few other people come over to Kristen's house and catch her and Mike following around. Kristen and Mike are told that he is going to marry Kristen. Kristen is taken to pick out her dress by Macy and The Pillars. Mike starts staying with Kristen after that. Sharron, Mike's mother wants him to get back with Beth since she and Beth's mom are friends. Kristen and Mike talk about things and decide to fake getting married. At school, Beth comes to Kristen's class and tells her that she knows that Kristen and Mike aren't getting married and if they don't then he is fair game. Kristen tells her that he is in a relationship and he isn't fair game. Beth tells her that she and Mike were supposed to be the power couple. He was not supposed to be with someone below their class. Sharron calls Mike and tells him that she is going to be staying at his house since she and Beth's mom got into an argument. Mike gets upset over this since she didn't ask. After he gets off the phone with his mom, he tells her that their plans have just got busted. He tells her what is going on. They decide to go to Vegas for the weekend. Mike makes the arrangements for the trip. When they get to Vegas, Kristen is shocked by the arrangements. They are walking around Vegas and Kristen is thinking that she wants a real marriage with Mike. He knows something is wrong when Krisen grows quiet. He asks "What's wrong?" She tells him nothing. He asks again and she finally tells him that she wants it to be real. After she tells him this, he said "Let's go back to the hotel. She thinks that she has messed up because he doesn't say anything else. When they back to their suite, he tells her to wait for one minute. He comes back and gets down on his knee and shows her a ring and asks her to marry him for real. She tells him yes.
Will things work out for Kristen and Mike?
This was a wonderful book and I would recommend it to anyone.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ann Marie]

'Married to the Playboy' by Toni Denise is the second book in her Finding Love series and tells the story of Kristen, a second grade teacher, and Mike, an Army vet, her brother, Daniel's best friend, and a player. Kirsten's sister-in-law, Macy, keeps trying to set her up with Mike but Kirsten has no intention of letting that happen. At the latest dinner party Kirsten had a little bit too much to drink and Mike brought her home and spent the night in case she needed help. The next morning her nosy neighbors saw his truck at her house and started the rumor that they were finally together. Kirsten didn't need that on top of having to take over the student play because one of her fellow teachers, Beth, decided that she couldn't do it anymore.

Kirsten was tired of dealing with Beth's bad attitude towards her at school. For some reason the woman did not like her and she doesn't know why. However, when Mike says he can help with the play Beth is willing to do anything to help out and get close to him. But Mike has no intention of messing up the chance he finally has with Kirsten. Although there is something about Beth that seems familiar.

Ms. Denise has written an engaging addition to her series. This book has wonderful characters and a compelling storyline. This story is filled with humor, drama, trust issues, snarky exes, sizzling chemistry, and plenty of heat. I enjoyed this book and recommend it to everyone who enjoys a fab story with heart.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jessica S]

This isthr first book I read from this writer, and I'm not disappointed.
Love the easiness with reading this book.
It has some drama, steamy scenes and several tropes into one book. Brother's friend, enemies to lovers, fake relationship all in one book.
It's about Mike a formerly known playboy, who wants to settle down and Kristen a teacher who can't say no when somebody needs help.

Kristen having the worst colleague ever is being coerced(knowing she wouldn't say no) in doing the school play with only one month left to completely organise it (after Beth the terrible bitchy colleague deciding she couldn't do it.)

Kristin's not a fan of Mike, but he volunteers to help with the décors for the play without any charge.
And then the story evolves and the actual drama begins. I love the fact this is a book where the drama isn't used for the characters to not talk about it and make it more difficult for them to overcome things.
After reading this book I saw at the end it's the second one in the series, so I will have to go and read the first one, because want to know more about these characters and hoping David will get his hea too in the next book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Hanna Barker]

This is book number 2 of the Finding Love series and focuses on Mike and Kristen. Kristen is a school teacher who gets tasked with handling the school play when a coworker decides not to do it anymore. She has a month to get everything done since Beth, the coworker, hadn't done anything for the play. Mike ends up being able to help her with the set decor. Mike and Kristen have always liked each other but Kristen had tried to avoid Mike as much as possible because of his playboy reputation. When rumors begin to spread about Mike and Kristen they decide to go with it and make the best of the situation. I loved seeing how when Mike's jealous ex (Beth) and his family start causing trouble for him and Kristen they stuck together and came out on top. I loved Mike and Kristen together and am so glad that he stood up for her every time his family or Beth tried to talk down to Kristen even after they got married. It was so nice seeing a couple strengthen their bond in the face of trouble and not get pulled apart. This was a great book! This was my first read by this author so I am going to have to go back and read book number 1 in the series. Great addition to the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sharon Moritz-rosenthal]

This was my first time reading this author and I really enjoyed this book. It had some kooky moments but I really enjoyed Mike and Kristin and enjoyed their story. Mike has a bit of a crush on Kirsten but she won't even talk to him. However she keeps running into him a her brothers house because he is her brothers friend.

Why? Because Mike is a huge playboy and there are many rumors about him. Kristin is a school teacher and when she gets saddled with a project from her rival teacher, BethM Mike tries helping and when the rival teacher acts like Beth is below her, Mike defends her and they end up in a fake relationship. It turns out Beth is an ex of Mike's and when she gets very psycho, Mike ends up engaged to Kristin.

This was a fun story. I liked Mike and Kristin a lot and I enjoyed watching them fall for each other.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Leanne Bryson]

Mike and Kristen's story is fast paced, steamy, and so so good. Mike has a bit of a reputation as a playboy that is not totally deserved. When he and Kristen have dinner at her sister's house and Kristin has a little too much to drink, so Mike takes her home. There he get's her to bed and stays to make sure she is OK. The next day, 3 matrons of the community known as the Pillars think that she and Mike are together. Soon it's all over town. Mike and Kristen finally talk through some misconceptions and give the relationship a go. This book has a lot of twists and some turns, great chemistry and steam, and was a solid read. I thoroughly enjoyed the read

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Melissa Briggs]

DNF at 54%. I could polish this off quickly with how short it is. But I’d rather not. It’s confusing at times. The FMC is put in charge of the school play and the MMC volunteers to help to win her over. He’s the playboy who’s ready to settle down with the girl he finally decides would be a good person to settle down with. When they don’t sleep together the first few nights, he’s frustrated but can wait. When they finally do get together, it’s just meh for the reader. They somehow end up in a rumor that they’re getting married. The amount of times they say each others name in this book is also annoying. Don’t care enough to finish this.

[Jd]

2.75 stars.
The concept of the story was good. Unfortunately, it seemed a bit rushed. Kristen went from avoiding Mike all year because he was a player to proclaiming her love and week after they called a truce. Beth went from trying to sabotage their relationship and giving up in the blink of an eye.
The book needs more editing. There were some missing transitions. All of a sudden Mike is living with Kristen, but never leaves to get clothes. There were also plenty of typos starting early in the book and continuing throughout.
This book should not have been called Married to the Playboy since they didn't get married until 80% into the book.

[Jeanne Richardson]

This is the 1st book I've read written by Toni Denise; I can’t wait to read more of her books.

This is the 1st book in the Finding Love Series; it is a stand-alone book. The story is about Kristen & Mike; he’s her brother’s best friend but because of his reputation she doesn’t want anything to do with him but when a friend announces they are engaged in front of the town gossips they have to try to figure a way out or make it work.

I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.

[Terri Zumbrook]

3.5 stars. I liked the story. What really held my interest was the conflict that Mike had with his family. I really had to keep reading until it was done to see what happened.

The writing was a little stiff. The story had a lot of loose ends that just seemed to end abruptly. After all is said and done, I would still have chosen it to read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brigitte]

This story has a good storyline and is overall well written. The characters are good, I just wished while reading it that I had read the first book also. I like this kind of series, a small town or siblings or ranch, each story individual but connected through the characters. This story was actually simply said good and I enjoyed very much reading it. So fabulous four stars go to this story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Annie]

I volunteered to read this ARC for an honest review. I enjoyed this story about Mike and Kristen. He's her brother's best friend. She's a young teacher who is dealing with a crappy co worker, Beth, who has it out for her. When past mistakes and misunderstandings are revealed, a friendship takes place. But when Beth causes problems, Mike and Kristen take drastic steps. A feel good after so much drama.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sharon]

This is a cute read with likable characters of Kristen and Mike. A lot of well meaning and not well meanings side characters to add drama.
I really liked how this couple treated each other.
Their friendship to love. How they stood by each other and prioritized the fake to real relationship.
An entertaining read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dominique Englebert]

Surprisingly entertaining story
Some (melo)drama, some LOL moments, a schoolteacher and a playboy, who just maybe is not what he seems, some crazy parents and a crazy ex-fling.
Mix all elements and you get an entertaining book about the tribulations of a relationship where lack of trust and a not-so-deserved reputation of a playboy lead the protagonists to a fake marriage that appears not to be fake at all.

[Marsha]

Funny, emotional, touching

What a great storyline that keeps you turning the pages. I loved Kristen and Mike, but could not figure out Beth and Mike's mother. I enjoyed how Mike stood up for Kristen, but better Kristen stood up for herself instead. I loved how this fits into a few different genres, not just one. Well written, humorous, emotional, and low anguish. Recommended to read

[Jo]

This is a first time reading a book by Toni Denise and I loved it. I loved the storyline and the characters Mike and Kristen. When both Beth and Mike’s mother kept trying to keep them apart I cheered Kristen when she stood up to them. I couldn’t put the book down!! Really a beautiful story and recommend reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rachel]

She's the kind teacher everybody wants to take advantage of.
He's got kind of a reputation.

She has to work on a school play and needs help.
He's there to help and make things right for what he was incorrectly accused of doing.

Can they make things work when they're accused of being married?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Meghan C.]

This was a fun, easy read. I really enjoyed reading about Kristen and Mike’s romance and their family drama. It was entertaining and fun watching Kristen and Mike fall for each other. The story was easy to get into too. I can’t wait to read more books in this series!

[Victoria Wyatt]

3.5 Stars

IT was an enjoyable quick read. Kristen was not as strong of a heroine, as I would have liked her to be. Really did not say no enough for me, girl just say "NO". But still a good read

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Scarlett Artist]

I loved Kristen and Mike’s story. I also love the chemistry between the pair, their verbal banter was highly entertaining & their attraction sizzled. Good plot, fast paced but with enough twists to keep you reading till the end. Rumours spread throughout the town.

[Kimberly]

The book is a good, and enjoyable small town romance read. The story has a good story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Staci]

A good best friends sister military vet playboy story that has these two coming together due to someone saying they were an item and that was all it took to see that these two really do belong together

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marie’s Book Barn Reviews]

Kristen and Mike’s journey is one I’ll keep with me for a long time. I love the Brothers best friend/best friends sister trope and this one did not disappoint. 10/10 recommend

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Angelica Larsson]

I really enjoyed this book. I found the plot interesting and entertaining and the characters wonderful.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Patricia Reynolds]

This was a good read. If you enjoy the sister's best friend trope then you will definitely enjoy this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Maria Cecília]

Couldn’t finish this book. This is rarely an occurrence for me. But this book has so many loose ends that it started making no sense at all! I just quit at 47% and decided to get a better book to read instead. Sorry, didn’t make it for me.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nate]

Mike & Kristen had an entertaining read. Good story flow. I got a copy of the book. And am voluntarily leaving my review.