Tempting the Player (Gamble Brothers #2) by J. Lynn

Tempting the Player (Gamble Brothers #2)
By: J. Lynn
Nook Edition, 533 pages
Published: October 23, 2012 
By: Entangled Publishing, LLC (Brazen)
Source: Purchased
Mature Content: 18 and Up

Goodreads Summary:

Chad Gamble, all-star pitcher for the Nationals, is one of the best players on—and off—the field. And right now, the notorious bad boy wants Bridget Rodgers. But with her lush curves and snappy comebacks, the feisty redhead is the kind of woman a man wants to settle down with…and that’s the last thing Chad needs.

When the paparazzi catch them in a compromising position, Chad’s manager issues an ultimatum: clean up his act or kiss his multi-million dollar contract goodbye. To save his career, his meddling publicist says he'll have to convince everyone Bridget isn’t just his flavor of the week, but his girlfriend.

Being blackmailed into a fake relationship with Chad Gamble isn’t easy, especially when the sizzling physical attraction between them is undeniable. With a month to go on their arranged pretense, it's going to take every ounce of willpower they have not to fall into bed together...or in love.


My Thoughts:


Wow, I just finished this book and I have a huge smile on my face! There is no doubt that J. Lynn, a pseudonym for Jennifer L. Armentrout, is an extremely talented author. What stood out most to me was the believability of the story that the author created. She masterfully crafted characters that are real. They have flaws, and are very realistic, which makes them appealing. 



Chad is the steamy sexy bachelor, who happens to be a baseball player for the Washington Nationals. He has a huge ego, women fall all over him and try to get his attention constantly. I loved the snarky banter between Chad and Bridget, and how she put him in his place whenever he made egotistical comments about himself. Bridget is honest and outspoken in that she often speaks what's on her mind. She is a strong female character, and doesn't fall all over Chad like all of the other women. She is independent, has her own career, and makes her own money. She could care less that Chad is a ball player and financially well off. She works at the Smithsonian as Maddie's executive assistant who is with Chase, Chad's younger brother. (Maddie and Chase are the main characters in Tempting the Bridesmaid, the first book in the Gamble brothers series.) Bridget has an eccentric sense of style, which had me alternating between gasping in horror and laughing out loud. Chad has been attracted to many women in his life, but he's never been intrigued by one. However, Bridget is a game changer. She intrigues him and fills him with desire. After these two meet for the first time they both can't stop thinking about each other. Circumstances bring them back together, and the more they see each other, the more their feelings and desires consume them. 

J. Lynn writes the steamiest, most descriptive love scenes. She constructs the smallest interaction, like a kiss on the neck, and makes it extremely sexy. Her writing transported me into the story. I was able to visualize the expertly written scenes, as if I was watching a movie in my head. Yet, she wasn't too descriptive to the point where I got bored. I savored each word, sentence, and page that I read. 



The bottom line is that I would definitely recommend this book. You can't help but fall in love with Chad, the lost and misunderstood playboy with a heart. He is a great example of how real love can transform a person by making them want to be better for the person that they love. This is a quick, light, feel good read that will have you smiling and laughing throughout the entire book. There is only one point where I cried, and it was a beautiful part of the story that had me shedding sad and happy tears at the same time. I give Tempting the Player 4 Steamy Tropical Flowers!  It will be a welcome addition to any library and will have you rereading it when you want a bookish escape!

Escape in a book,

 

                                      

Purchase At:                  *Amazon (Kindle)          *Barnes and Noble (Nook)