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The Perfect Play
by Jaci BurtonSeries: Play by Play #1
Published by Berkley Heat on February 1, 2011
SubGenres: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance
Format: AudioBook, Paperback
Pages: 324
Narrator: Lucy Malone
Length: 8 Hours And 36 Minutes
Source: Library - Libby, Purchased
Audience: 18+/Adult
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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 meets 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. Tara's 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 mind to win, nothing will stop him. And he has the perfect play in mind.
I’ve had The Perfect Play by Jaci Burton on my TBR since its release, and I can’t believe I’m just now reading it. In my opinion, the OG cover with Jed Hill fits what is written in this book more than the illustrated cover. It’s full of spicy scenes that are too hot for an illustrated cover.
This book definitely kept my attention, especially the storyline and spicy content. I loved both characters, especially reading about Mick Riley, a player who isn’t looking for love, falling for event planner Tara during an event she planned for his football team, while Tara is reluctant to be more than a one-night stand with him. I always enjoy stories where the hero falls hard and tries to win over the FMC. Yes, he was originally a player, but he’s willing to change for someone like Tara, and I was rooting for him to win her over, especially when he found out why she was reluctant.
There is a reason Tara is hesitant to give her heart to someone like Mick. She’s been burned before, and she’s also thinking about her teenage son, whom she’s been taking care of for years without any help. I respected Tara’s decision because she was protective of her son getting hurt and her heart getting broken. She truly was a strong character, not only for being a single mom, but for being a business owner too. She was super woman in my opinion, and I loved her character.
What I loved the most in this book is the instant chemistry Mick and Tara have during and after their ONS. These two were explosive together, so I don’t really know how Tara could handle not being with Mick. They both were made for one another.
Now, with any book, there is bound to be drama. Mick has a backstory that is told in the book, but I won’t spoil it. I actually respected him for how he handled what happened to him. The real drama involved someone in his life trying to dictate who he should be with because Tara isn’t someone famous, and I loved how Mick handled this toward the end of the book, especially with what this person did. I’m not sure how I’ll handle reading the second book in this series because the person who tried to ruin Mick and Tara’s relationship in this book is the MC in the second book. This person does make up for it, but I lost respect for what this person did.
I still can’t believe it took me this long to read the first book in the Play by Play series by Jaci Burton. No, this wasn’t my first book from her, either, but now I’m going to read the rest of this series, especially if each book has such amazing storylines and spiciness to it. I’m just glad I have all the OG covers for this series because each cover is HOT, and yes, I’m a reader who prefers the model covers over some of the illustrated covers today being published. (There are some illustrated covers that do fit the contents, though, just not this one.)
Overall, a very hot and entertaining read, and I give it 4.5-stars.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, if you are looking for a spicy football romance where the football player falls for the event planner and will do anything to win her over, then check out The Perfect Play by Jaci Burton. This is the perfect book to read during the summer, and also during the football season, so add it to your TBR right now.
Audiobook Recommendation: If you enjoy listening to your books, I highly recommend the audiobook of this book. I loved narrator Lucy Monroe and how she brought the story and characters to life.
What to Expect:
🏈Sports/Football Romance
🏈One Night Stand
🏈Celebrity Romance
🏈Hero Falls First and Harder
🏈Reluctant Heroine
🏈Spicy AF
A Fave Scene in the Book:
“You dance really well.”
“I took ballet lessons.”
She tilted her head back to search his face, certain he was joking. “You did not.”
“I did. Several of us on the team did. Good for coordination.”
Resisting the laugh that bubbled up in her throat, she said, “Somehow I can’t picture you in tights and a tutu.”
But he did laugh. “We made sure no one with a camera got within miles of the studio.”
About Jaci Burton
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.
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My obsession with reading started over 30+ years ago when I went to my first Scholastic Book Fair and found R.L. Stine's Fear Street series. Later, I came across Anne Rice's novels at my public library when I was fourteen when my obsession with vampires started. I was the girl who preferred to be a vampire over a princess any day. My husband says I would leave him a heartbeat for a vampire that looked like Spike or Angel (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) or Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries. (It's true, though, and he's accepted it.)
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