Risky Play combines a one night stand (with fake names and all!) with an arrogant sports star to create a story of second chances. Poor Mackenzie is abandoned at the alter (literally) by her fiancee who was her best friend. She is a bit lost after that. She doesn't know who she is any more. She decides a trip to Mexico (what would have been her honeymoon) is just what she needs.
Slade starts off great as a hero. Then he gets hit with a stupid stick. Hard. He said some things that made ME tear up and he wasn't even saying them to me. Mackenzie has just been continually beat up-left at the alter, left after a one night stand, accused of being a stalker...Then to know even her dad didn't take her side?! How could one woman have literally NO ONE in her corner? So, I really needed Slade to bring the grovel extra hard. No dumbass flowers were gonna fix this.
Because Slade said some truly horrific things, I was kind of rooting for Jagger. He knew what she had been through and saw that she needed a friend. He wanted to be more than her friend, but he was the first person in the book I thought actually SAW her as a person. It was probably the one (and only) time I was ever hoping for a love triangle. Slade does grovel so well though...I will admit he won me over, and I am NOT forgiving at all.
Risky Play will appeal to those readers who like the secret identity trope as well as those who like the sports romance aspect! Slade's status as an athlete is a major part of the story, but the actual sport isn't the focus of the book. So, if you like the athlete heroes more than the actual sports, Risky Play is right up your alley!
- POV: dual 1st
- Tears: yes (I think I am extra emotional this week or something!)
- Trope: secret identity, famous
- Triggers: none
- Series/Standalone: stand alone
- Cliffhanger: no
- HEA: yes
The Chase by Elle Kennedy, Lick by Kylie Scott, Overnight Sensation by Sarina Bowen...then you will probably like Risky Play!
See full review on The Book Disciple