Blog Tour: The Virgin Replay: Lauren Blakely
A virgin, an athlete, a fake romance, and only one bed in the hotel room.
Following rules shot me to the top of my game as an all-star baseball player, and the golden rule is this -- don’t hookup with your teammate’s sister.
But ask her to be your fake date when you desperately need one for a family wedding? Nothing in the guy code against that. Plus, the flirty, feisty Sierra’s my friend too, so why the hell not pretend we’re madly in lust for two days in Hawaii?
No hardship in a make believe kiss here, a fake smooch there, as long as we don’t cross any dangerous lines.
Then, the hotel books us into the same suite. Which means she’s showering near me, putting on itty bitty bikinis in the same room, sliding into that king-size bed wearing only a black lace cami.
But I resist...until the night she tells me she’s been waiting for me to be her first. And there’s nothing fake about my desire to say yes, even though that’s definitely against the code. But, maybe only if someone catches feelings? And neither one of us will.
Until I do…
Chance is the star pitcher for the San Francisco Cougars. He is in need of a date for a family wedding in Hawaii and he hatches a plan to ask his friend and teammate's sister, Sierra. Sierra has a bit of a crush on Chance already. But both know the score. There are bro-code and fake date rules. No hanky panky should be had. Just friends making a splash at the wedding so his shrew of the ex and well-meaning family members do not take pity on him.
Chase is the epitome of a good guy. He follows the rules. He cares about other's feelings and needs. He is a people pleaser and wants everyone to like him and be happy. He is kind of adorkable in his attempts at the dating scene. I found him to be endearing, charming, and sexy.
Sierra is her own woman. She seeks out control and likes to be in charge of her own decisions. She is sassy, sarcastic, and owns her own bar. She is untrusting and picky about men. She does not want the hassle and heartbreak of a relationship but wants to finally go all the way in the bedroom.
Temptation. Chemistry. Fire. Camaraderie. Fun.
These two really do like each other. They have great banter, common interests, similar goals, and ethics, and are very devoted to their careers. They have both been burned by relationships and do not want to jump back into one. But the sexual tension is strong with these two and they cannot avoid it or deny it. Paradise and each other are making them come alive. Maybe those rules can be bent since it is a special occasion and neither wants more? Sounds like a solid plan for vacation nookie and then go home friends.
Sometimes rules get bent. Lines get blurred. Feelings emerge. Excitement and impulsivity win over planning and logic. And things can veer off into other directions.
This is a flirty, fun, heartfelt, best-friends-sister, friends-to-lovers, go-a-bit-crazy-on-vacation rom-com. I adored both Chance and Sierra and thought they made such a wonderful match. Sure there are a few complications and they both need to learn to get out of their own way at times.
This is a flirty, fun, heartfelt, best-friends-sister, friends-to-lovers, go-a-bit-crazy-on-vacation rom-com. I adored both Chance and Sierra and thought they made such a wonderful match. Sure there are a few complications and they both need to learn to get out of their own way at times.
I loved getting more with his twin brother, TJ. Their relationship is a special part of the story and really helps define Chance's personality as well. They are different, but also such great supportive siblings. I was excited to get more with her brother, Grant, who I adore. Some of the other baseball guys filter in and out as well. And her girlfriends are spunky (Special shout-outs to Clementine and Rory). I love this crew and series.
Chance is the closer for the San Francisco Cougars and is at the top of his game. He has a solid group of friends among his teammates and lives by a set of rules, including don’t mess around with teammates’ sisters. But when he needs a fake date for a wedding, Sierra seems to be the perfect person to ask: she’s going to be there anyway, is also single, and as friends there won’t be any funny business.
Sierra has been around ball players all her life. As the sister of a player, her bar has become a bit of a hangout spot for the team. Her dedication to her bar is her world, and she has goals that have her setting all her energy into her business. She noticed her brother’s teammate, and decided he would be the perfect partner to be her first.
I feel like I say this every time I review one of Lauren’s books, but these two were so much fun to read! I loved Sierra’s ability to know her own mind and act on what she wanted. Chance’s personality was just too perfect as he navigated what he thought was a fake date with a friend he found himself wanting to blur lines with. Their mutual crush (unbeknownst to each other) sends an easy no strings situation into that confusing area where expectations and rules bend until they either snap back into place or shift into something real.
This had a perfect blend of sexy, hot steam and fun, witty sweetness. I love the way the characters address the issues that come up and act with a lot of maturity (even if they make knee-jerk missteps along the way).
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A sexy, brother's best friend sports romance from # 1 New York Times bestseller Lauren Blakely!
Let me make a few things clear. I didn’t go to the wedding intending to dance with the best man, to dare him to show me a very sexy pic on his phone, or to accidentally kiss him in the hotel elevator after the reception ended.
But you know how it goes. Things just happen at weddings...
The next day, Crosby and I agree to put all those shenanigans behind us. The fun-loving, stupidly gorgeous, all-star baseball player might be my brother’s best friend, but he’s my friend too and has been for years, so it’s easy to move on, especially because I have a high-profile business to run.
But since he’s newly single and I’m always single, it turns out we both desperately need plus ones. We agree to “publicly date” over the next two weeks of galas, parties and events before his baseball season begins.
The only trouble is the more time I spend with Crosby, the more I keep imagining how much I want him to take my V-card.
And when I broach the possibility with Crosby, his answer surprises the hell out of me
Let me make a few things clear. I didn’t go to the wedding intending to dance with the best man, to dare him to show me a very sexy pic on his phone, or to accidentally kiss him in the hotel elevator after the reception ended.
But you know how it goes. Things just happen at weddings...
The next day, Crosby and I agree to put all those shenanigans behind us. The fun-loving, stupidly gorgeous, all-star baseball player might be my brother’s best friend, but he’s my friend too and has been for years, so it’s easy to move on, especially because I have a high-profile business to run.
But since he’s newly single and I’m always single, it turns out we both desperately need plus ones. We agree to “publicly date” over the next two weeks of galas, parties and events before his baseball season begins.
The only trouble is the more time I spend with Crosby, the more I keep imagining how much I want him to take my V-card.
And when I broach the possibility with Crosby, his answer surprises the hell out of me
The Virgin Game Plan
(Rules of Love #2)
(Rules of Love #2)
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A sexy standalone forbidden sports romance from #1 'New York Times' Best-seller Lauren Blakely!
The woman I want is as off-limits as they come.
I had an excuse two years ago when I met her on campus. She interviewed me for a story on major league baseball's rising stars, and we shared a hot, passionate night that ended far too soon, and without a mention of who her father was.
Now I know the innocent but sexy woman I can’t stop thinking about is the coach's daughter.
That means her dad is the guy who determines if I bat fourth in the starting lineup in every game, or ride the bench.
All the more reason to resist alluring, confident, brainy Reese every time I run into the reporter-turned-sports publicist.
That ought to be easy enough, until the time she confesses she's still carrying her V card, and she’s been wanting me to cash it in since the day we met.
Staying away from her is going to be harder than resisting a fastball down the middle.
Especially since I'm pretty sure she's the one who got away, and letting her slip through my fingers again would be a rookie mistake.
A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s sweet, sexy and witty. She also writes red-hot, sexy romance and USA Today bestselling LGBTQ romance.
With fourteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than 100 times, with more than 55 titles on the USA Today Bestsellers list alone. She’s sold more than 4.5 million books. She likes dogs, cake and show tunes, and is the vegetarian at your dinner party.
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