A sexy new forbidden romance from #1 NYT Bestselling Author Lauren Blakely about a sports star and the woman who's off limits... 

It should have been a simple play…

She needed a football player to step up and be the star for a charity calendar. I needed a sharp and savvy publicist to manage a brand-new sponsorship deal. I scratched her back. She scratched mine. And oh hell, did Jillian ever drag her nails down my back on one hell of a hot night. Okay fine, it was several hot nights on the road.

Now we’re back in town and it’s time to set the play clock back to when we were simply player and publicist. Given the way the last few years have gone, I can’t risk this deal, so it's hands off for us once again. Trouble is, I want more than than just another night with her.

What’s a guy to do when he's always been most likely to score, but the woman he’s falling for is just out of bounds?

I don't date players.

And I definitely don't sleep with players.

And I absolutely don't fall for a certain player when I get to know him and learn he's more than just sexy -- he's clever, funny and has a heart as big as his . .. well, you get my drift.

But my job is at stake, and I can't afford to lose that as well as my heart. The problem is, I think I've already lost that game.

What's a girl to do when the clock is running out, but the man she's falling for is off limits?

Jones Beckett is sexy, outgoing, flirtatious, and has BIG...hands...and he knows how to use them. He's the star receiver for the Renegades and his career is going well. But his reputation off the field could use a bit of rehab to dispel his party guy, womanizer image. He is need of direction not only from a new agent, but the team's PR Director is also stepping in to help.

Enter PR guru, Jillian Moore. She is beautiful, witty, personable, responsible, and hard working. And Jones has had the hots for her for awhile, but now she is giving him extra time and attention and he is enjoying every second of flirting and tempting her. She has had a crush on him for a long time too, but  is just trying to be professional, keep her head high, and not ogle him while she watches him pose in various states of undress for promo shots. She does not think he would be attracted to her as she looks and acts differently than the football groupies of his past. Neither has a clue that the other is harboring an attraction or feelings for the other, so there is a lot of sexual tension, temptation, and avoidance going on.

Jones is fun, charming, flirty, and a bit dirty, but he also has a big, kind heart. He totally and completely won me over early on and I absolutely adored him. He goes out of his way to help others and support charities. And he knows what he really wants, even if the idea is new to him and he is not sure how to go about getting it. 

But eventually they will get too close for comfort and everything they have kept hidden will spill over on one intense weekend. But what happens when they have to return the real world...the one where a relationship between them is basically forbidden and could risk both of their careers?

This is a story about two likable and good people that have a major conflict that is out of their control. If they sneak around they could jeopardize her job or promotion, and his focus, reputation,  and sponsorships. 

I really liked that this one did not have a lot of unnecessary relationship angst or silly dramas. The conflict came from outside of that. They had real reasons to worry about what being "outed" could do the careers that they have worked hard for and take seriously and it was a risk for each of them.

But eventually it has to come down to priorities and risk vs. rewards. They will have to make a decision about what they can live with and without. This is a funny, sexy, sweet, swoony, forbidden love story told in dual points of view. We really needed both of their voices in this one especially since they kept their feelings hidden for so long. And their personal relationship really evolved so naturally and felt so real. I loved each of their personalities and senses of humor that just shined through during their self talk and personal interactions. They are truly just one of those couples that you want to see overcome any obstacles. 

This can easily be read as a stand alone, but does revisit the Renegades world. I liked getting to know their families and and friends. His brother, Trevor and his team mate, Harlan stood out. I was excited to see the return of a certain Manager and quarterback from Most Valuable Playboy. Her friends, Katie and Lily were also significant in the story. But the character that totally burrowed a place into my  heart was his amazing little superdog, Cletus. What a charmer!

I hope that we see more books in this series. I really want more with the pie-baking, running back Harlan possibly with a certain woman that we have already met. 

Jillian Moore needs a face for her charity calendar idea. Jones Beckett needs to clean up his image to keep sponsors happy. Working together, they each get what they need professionally, but a trip together crosses lines that have them questioning the possibility of more.

They started as friends. As Jillian represents the team’s PR department, she and Jones often work together for media appearances. As they work together, a friendship builds full of fun banter and teasing.

Jillian is going places with her career. She is sharp, has an eye for what she wants, and is not afraid to take risks. Her character has several surprise elements that made her even more unique. She is not just another pretty face. But some of her unique qualities are the same things that keep her from being able to see Jones’s interest in her as more than friendship.

Jones is one of those characters that is easy to love. He works hard on the field, but he also takes care of those around him. He hasn’t forgotten all the sacrifices his parents made to give him the life he has, and now that he has the means, is always looking for ways he can make things easier on them. I fell for him hard and fast, and as he interacted with Jillian more, my infatuation grew.

I loved that Jillian and Jones fought their feelings for each other to avoid messing with the friendship and professional relationships they already had established. I’m a big fan of friends to lovers because I love watching the feelings build before things get overly physical. These two were great flirts and kept things interesting as they began to consider the complications of more.

Lauren Blakely has developed a football team with both a family atmosphere and an edge of competition. These men work together and work hard, but they also play hard off the field. Each man also has his own personality and I love that there are some quirky characters in the bunch.

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.

“Love it,” Christine says emphatically, her lips and that metal hoop in the bottom one the only parts of her face visible since the lens covers the rest. “How about a little tough-guy look now?”

Because tough guys hold footballs in front of their junk.

“This is my best badass pose,” I say, narrowing my eyes and staring at the camera like I’d stare at the secondary of the Miami Mavericks.

“Oh yes, more of that, right, Jillian?” Christine shouts to the other person here in the studio with us.

That person is Jillian, and she hasn’t looked my way since I strolled in here and dropped my drawers. Damn shame.

From her spot leaning against the far wall, the team publicist answers in a crisp, professional tone I know well. “Exactly. We love his tough-guy face.”

She doesn’t even look up from her phone.

I keep working it for Christine, doing my best to make sure my blue eyes will melt whoever is looking at the picture when the magazine hits newsstands and Internet browsers in another few weeks.

It’s an evergreen kind of issue, since the body edition is one of the most popular. Gee, I wonder why. I’ve no doubt this shot of me with a football for my skivvies will quickly surpass the previous most-searched-for image of yours truly—the game-winning catch I made in the end zone in the Super Bowl two years ago.

But, to be fair, there’s another shot of me that’s searched for maybe a tiny bit more. I like to pretend that shot doesn’t exist.

“The camera loves you,” Christine croons as the snap, snap, snap of the lens keeps the rhythm.

“The feeling is entirely mutual,” I say, pursing my lips in an over-the-top kiss.

Christine laughs. “You are my favorite ham in all of sports, Jones. That’ll be a perfect outtake for our website.”

“That’s a brilliant idea,” Jillian chimes in. “Make sure to send me a copy for social, please.”

“Absolutely,” Christine answers.

I sneak a peek at the dark-haired woman by the wall, that silky curtain of sleekness framing her face as she smiles a bright, buoyant, outgoing grin at the photographer then drops her head back down.

Damn.

Jillian Moore is one tough nut to crack.

I’m nearly naked in front of her, and she hasn’t once looked my way.

As the woman behind the lens shoots another photo with my favorite ball covering my favorite balls, Jillian doesn’t even spare another glance. I’m going to need a whole new playbook to get this woman’s attention.

Hands down, my favorite thing in the world is to score. Touchdowns.

Don’t let the fact that I’m the leading pick in the Most Valuable Playboy charity auction fool you. These days, I’m only a player on the field. I’ve kept my pants zipped all season long — and it has been long — because nothing’s more important than leading my team to victory every week. Except maybe escaping from the owner’s handsy-as-hell sister who seems dead set on winning more than a date with me at the auction. 

Enter Violet and a well-placed Hail Mary. 

She’s my best friend’s sister with a smile as sweet as cherry pie and a mind that runs quicker than the 40-yard-dash. After Violet saves the day with the highest bid, I don’t even give her a two-minute warning before I kiss her in front of the whole crowd and then announce that she’s my girlfriend. Which would be fine except my agent tells me the next day that we’ve got to keep up the act while he’s negotiating my contract. 

Violet says she’ll take one for the team and pretend to be mine, but our boyfriend-girlfriend scrimmage quickly turns into a full contact sport. And soon enough, I want this game with her to go into overtime. The problem is — I’ve been riding the bench for years. 

How can a guy like me, who finally has a chance to prove his worth on the field, convince the girl she’s most valuable to his heart?