Playing It Cool

Amy Andrews — 2016

Score one for the curvy girls. Harper Nugent might have a little extra junk in her trunk, but her stepbrother calling her out on it is the last straw... When rugby hottie, Dexter Blake, witnesses the insult, he surprises Harper by asking her out. In front of her dumbass brother. Score! Of course, she knows it’s not for reals, but Dex won’t take no for an answer. Dexter Blake’s life revolves around rugby with one hard and fast rule: no women. Sure, his left hand is getting a workout, but he's focused on his career for now. Then he overhears an asshat reporter belittle the curvy chick he'd been secretly ogling. What's a guy to do but ask her out? It’s just a little revenge against a poser, and then he'll get his head back in the game. But the date is better than either expected. So is the next one. And the next. And the heat between them...sizzles their clothes right off. Suddenly, this fake relationship is feeling all too real... Each book in the Sydney Smoke Rugby series is STANDALONE: * Playing By Her Rules * Playing It Cool * Playing the Player * Playing With Forever * Playing House * Playing Dirty

Reviews

Linda Träff Karlsson@lindablomma

Feb 18, 2022

READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. There are spoilers in here. I was angry at both of them for most of the book and especially near the end. I just CAN'T stand women who forgive men who's used them because they are horny and just "can't say no". HAVE SOM FUCKING PRIDE and value yourself over the validation of men. Sure Harper is a bit overweight and unsure of herself because of it so of course having a hot man lusting over her will be a confidence boost that's most welcome, but honestly.. I was screaming at her for not sticking to her word when he was being a dick who only used her for sex. She wanted to think that she wasn't expecting anything more out of the relationship other than being friends with benefits but it was obvious from the start that she was catching feelings for him and it made me so utterly angry that she didn't value herself enough to stand by her word and end it after he broke her heart. Of course I want a happy ending, (view spoiler)[ but she kept saying no and that she knew that she's worth more than being a booty call in her head but at the same time giving in to him the same second that he's looking at her because he's giving her attention. NO. I can't have it. (hide spoiler)] Women are being so conditioned by society into believing that their worth is dependent on the interest or appreciation of a man, and I HATE it, and the MC giving in to temptation is just proving how weak she is which also isn't a good trait but it isn't necessarily her fault. And that's not even taking into consideration how he fetishized her curves in a way that made her uncomfortable. I love that he appreciates her but honestly, it was creepy and in his end speech (IN PUBLIC no less) he really only spoke about how much he loves her curves. She's more than her appearance and sure, it's great that he loves it, but he also loved how comfortable he was with her etc and why not just point that out instead? The book was SO focused on her weight and we need to normalize the fact that many women are not model-thin, but don't fetishize thick thighs and a certain weight. Prove that you love the WOMAN behind the body. (view spoiler)[ The "hero" was a douche and in his speech just MINUTES after he realizes that he loves her (after behaving like a caveman and just using her for sex) HE PROPOSES? IN PUBLIC? WHEN THEY HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN IN A RELATIONSHIP. And just a FEW minutes before he insulted her for wearing a revealing dress. NO. And she should NEVER have said yes after he's been a fucking douche? She's worth much more than that. (hide spoiler)] This should be my cue to stop reading romance novels because they always disappoint me.