Playing It Cool

Four and a half ruckin' stars!!! So, I was underwhelmed by the first book in this series, Playing by Her Rules - see my review here - but I do love Amy Andrews so I requested this second book in the series. Wow, am I glad I did. Harper Nugent is a tall, very curvy girl. Her step-brother Chuck Nugent is a sports presenter and an all-round ass. When he humiliates her in front some of the Sydney Smoke rugby players Dexter Blake feels obliged to intervene, both because Chuck is obnoxious and because Harper has the sort of curves that make his mouth water. What starts out as a fake platonic relationship to annoy Chuck soons morphs into something explosive, but Dex doesn't have long left to prove himself as a rugby player and he doesn't have time for anything but his career. Well that's not going to end well is it? I just loved everything about this book. What this book had (in my opinion) that the first book didn't was a hero who really, truly, LIKED the heroine. From the very start Dex is 110% clear that he likes Harper, he fantasises about her (even in her painting overalls), he thinks she is lush from head to toe. Dex may be my new book boyfriend. He also likes kids, plays computer games and looks great in a suit, swoon! I was going to say my only complaint was that it felt short enough to be a novella, but after consulting Amazon I see that it is actually LONGER than the first book, which I'll be honest dragged for me. So basically I devoured this book in one day (whilst also working a full day AND going out for lunch) because I loved it that much. And I get the impression that Amy Andrews enjoyed writing this too. There's just a lightness of touch and a sheer joy in the writing that shines through. With references to Notting Hill and great dialogue this was great from start to finish. Oh, and can I just say that I thought Harper's response to Dex's meltdown when he was late to practice was awesome. She kicked butt, took names and handed him his sorry ass. I leave you with one of my favourite Dex lines (that can get past the Amazon censors): "Oh, yes." He nodded. "She's exactly my type. I'm completely smitten. But please," he said, leaning in conspiratorially, encouraging both Chuck and Andrea to lean in, too. "Don't say anything to her, because I'm pretty sure she's just using me for sex." I just can't wait for the next book, may have to resort to re-reading this one! I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Harper Nugent had always hoped that she and her stepbrother Chuck would be the best of friends. But when said stepbrother is a narcissistic, self-serving jerk, buddyhood is out of the question. When Chuck insults Harper within hearing of rugby god Dexter Blake, himself a fan of girls with plenty of bass to go with their treble, Dex comes riding to the rescue with a plan to show all the haters just where they can go. PLAYING IT COOL by author Amy Andrews is just the sort of book that I love, full of charm, fun, and yep, plenty of sexy time. I mean, hello, Australian rugby player? Yes, please! And I absolutely adore Harper, she of the bootylicious backside. She is a poster child for a positive self-image, blessed as she is with a figure that, while not necessarily beautiful by society's standards, is more than perfect for the hot sports star. "In front of the four hundred people here tonight...and the hundreds and thousands of people who will see this on their television and the millions more who will see it the second someone here uploads the video they're taking right now to Facebook...I want you to know how sexy you are." There is plenty of the usual back and forth, the 'does he really like me, can I take him seriously, what will our friends say' from Harper, and the 'how does she not know how hot she is, her brother is a jerk, let's give them something to talk about' from Dex, but it all comes together beautifully to bring these two exactly where they're supposed to be, which is living life on their terms, and to heck with anyone else. The best friend, the teammates, the horrid stepfamily, all work together to make PLAYING IT COOL one of the most enjoyable romantic comedies I've had the pleasure of reading lately. If you're looking for a book guaranteed to make you smile, all while keeping you fanning yourself, I highly recommend this read, and happily give it 4.5 'big girls and their hot hunky men are awesome' stars. I will definitely be reading more by this author, and look forward to the next book in this series.

Dex Blake, superstar rugby player has no time for relationships, he doesn’t even date much. One day, after a game, he was staring at this dark-haired Jessica Rabbit lookalike, when he heard a very much disliked sports journalist insulting her. The hottie is Harper Nugent, gorgeous but not sylph-like, and the bully is her step-brother Chuck. Dex can hardly stand it, especially since he was trying to figure out how he could get a date with the stunning woman, even though Dex thinks she’s the relationship type, while he’s not. Upon seeing her humiliated publicly, Dex asks her out, and to his consternation, she is not enthused. Women fall at his feet all the time, and the one he fancies just about says no to him! Still he gives her his phone number and manages to get hers. But Harper has noticed some teammates of his smiling and finger-pointing, she figures Dex wants to win a bet, but if she accepts, she’ll get back at her stepbrother. Why not, if only for one date, at least, she’ll at least get some sort of revenge against Chuck! PLAYING IT COOL is exactly why I love Amy Andrews! Irreverent, funny, great characters, hilarious banter; it’s all there. I really liked that Harper has an unusual occupation: she’s an artist, a painter, more precisely a muralist. I love that both Dex and Harper are physically “imperfect” – which makes them perfect for me! PLAYING IT COOL sparkles, pops and shines, and when Dex and Harper get up close and very personal, well, fireworks abound! Ms. Andrews depicts so well the torture of being a plus-sized woman in this body-conscious society, the needless pain it causes. Harper and Dex face some difficult times as well, in spite of their having such glorious sex. He is so career-oriented, he denies himself what’s right in front of him; he’s a wonderful man, but his childhood makes him too stubborn for his own good, and he behaves like an idiot sometimes; she has issues with her size and finds it difficult that a man like him wants her, but why not for more than sex? But what a splendid couple they are, so real that you cannot help for Dex to see the light and cheer for Harper! And Amy Andrews writes the heck out of it! Dex and Harper are an explosive combination, and PLAYING IT COOL is a fantastic book! Do not miss it! I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.