The Playboy Bachelor (The Bachelors of Arizona)

by Rachel Van Dyken

Margot McCleery refuses to let Bentley Wellington weasel his way into her life. After her grandmother bids on him at an auction - and wins - she discovers they're stuck together for thirty days.
In the same house.
Under the same roof.
Eating the same food.
She'd rather push him off a cliff than have anything to do with the notorious playboy. But his smiles start breaking down her defenses, not to mention the compliments, the flowers, the conversations. And since her parents' death he's the only man who's ever looked at her like she wasn't broken.

Bentley Wellington has never wanted for anything. Until now.
His sexual prowess is legendary.
The list of women he's seduced - endless.
So proving himself to his grandfather by cheering up the shy romance novelist Margot McCleery - easy.
At least it should be, but the minute he meets the woman, she sees right through him, and rather than fall for his easy charm, she fights him at every turn. It's going to take more than his playboy ways to win her over, but relying on his heart has never been an option - after all, why rely on something so easily breakable?

• ISBN10: 1455598739
• ISBN13: 9781455598731
• Publish Date: 31 August 2017 (first published 11 April 2017)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Forever
• Format: Paperback (A-Format (178x111 mm))
• Pages: 352
• Language: English

Reviews

[Lynn]

I love going into a new novel blind and this surprise early release by Rachel Van Dyken certainly hit the mark in this second standalone book in The Bachelors of Arizona series.

Margot McCleery is furious when her grandmother informs her she's paid ten thousand dollars in an auction for a handsome date for her. The fact the man is millionaire playboy Bentley Wellington is even worse. Her grandmother has high expectations of romance, but Margot can't feel anything but contempt for the former best friend who abandoned her when she needed him the most.

With his arm twisted around his back by his grandfather, Bentley Wellington has little choice but to go along with the plan that has been hatched for him to prove his worth. If he is to take up the vacant VP of marketing position in the family business, he needs to clean up his tarnished 'man whore' reputation, to make the board of directors accept his grandfather's appointment proposal. Only he has to spend the weekend with his former best friend and he's not sure how he feels about that. He lost her and still misses her but can he make her like himself again?

I was instantly drawn into the narrative as we begin with a throwback to how the protagonists were before their mutual worlds fell apart. The writing is mostly light and humorous, yet times when you can't help but feel sorrow and pity Margot and Bentley; both have issues they need to share, but communication, especially among themselves means constant misunderstandings and presumptions. The supporting cast of characters adds hilarious banter as they plot and connive. Especially the elder folk.

4.5 stars because, a bit too much back and forth, going around in circles happened in what otherwise is a highly entertaining second chance romance novel. I wasn't familiar with this series when I began this book, so I'm looking forward to reading Brock's story whilst waiting for Brant's because Nadine Titus is a woman of intrigue and I want to know more about her and her matchmaking ways.

Overall, it's my favourite Rachel Van Dyken novel I've read.

***arc generously received courtesy of Forever Publishing via NetGalley***