Book Review for Daring the Player by Robin Covington

She’s nothing but trouble…and he can’t resist.

Raised by a pro football legend, Miami Thunder wide receiver Rep Grissom has a career most would envy. A toxic marriage with a party girl almost put him on the sidelines, but now he keeps his head down and makes the moves on the field that leave younger players in his dust. Now all he has to do is maintain the status quo and he’s guaranteed a lucrative new contract at an age when most guys are retiring.
Lola Corbin is used to leaving all the big boys in her rearview mirror. The lead singer in the worlds biggest rock band she fills up arenas and closes down the clubs but with the group on the brink of breaking apart her future is uncertain. Years spent on the road has left her with nothing at home except platinum records on the walls, an empty fridge and a cold bed. For the first time, she’s looking for something and someone beyond the spotlight.
When Lola’s first night in her condo ends with Rep breaking up a fight he realizes that temptation has moved in next door. Lola doesn’t usually go for the strong and serious types, but the more she sees of her neighbor, the more she wants. When a thank you dinner turns into dancing and a hot tryst in the back of the club their attraction cannot be denied. But when Lola-induced trouble results in a front-page-career-ending spectacle the player must decide if he’s going to be as daring with his heart as he is on the field.

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Ms. Covington's latest release takes us into the world of sports and romance created by Carly Phillips in her Dare to Love series through the appearance of team owner Ian Dare and his friendship with star player Rep Grissom.  It's a successful pairing as the co-mingling of these two worlds is seamlessly done in this fast-paced and sexy romp between two people living in the spotlight while trying to be themselves in a burgeoning relationship constantly under scrutiny.

Rep's entire life has been about football as his father was an icon of the sport.  In the waning years of a successful career he's desperate to keep his reputation clean as he wants his final contract signing to be his biggest.  He's currently considered the sport's Golden Boy but not so long ago he was a target for the paparazzi as the implosion of his marriage to his college sweetheart became ugly and turned him into a bad boy.  He's now reformed, living the life of a monk and rarely going out as he doesn't want his heart and soul to get broken again.  His willpower is put to the test though when a sexy songstress moves in next door with lots of personal baggage that this white knight can't help but want to rescue her from.  Before he can blink the two of them are burning up the sheets in numerous scorching encounters that put him on the front page once again and put his football career in jeopardy.  From the very first moment we see Rep rushing to Lola's defense with no regard for his own safety we know theirs is going to be a rocky and fiery romance.  Despite her chaotic lifestyle Rep's drawn to her.  As they grow closer he gets caught up in her problems too which leads to a moment that tarnishes his heroic persona and forces him to make amends in a truly Grand Gesture that left me sighing.  Rep is sexy and values honesty, but was quick to jump to conclusions.  He's also a caring man who would move heaven and earth to make the woman he loves happy and I became thoroughly enamored of him.

Lola's future is just as uncertain as Rep's as the bandmates who feel more like family are going through changes.  While some are no longer interested in music, one has a drug addiction that's out of control and putting her in danger while leaving her emotionally and physically battered.  She too wants to spread her musical wings but for now she just wants peace and quiet.  What she gets though is a sexy next door neighbor with a savior complex that she quickly becomes obsessed with getting into her bed.  She uses all the flirting techniques she knows but it's her real persona behind the rocker facade that wins him over and sets them on a path of getting to know each other away from the spotlight.  Lola is a vibrant and strong-willed woman loyal to her bandmates despite how much pain it causes her.  She and Rep are similar in many ways with a sexual connection that crackles in anticipation of their next sexual encounter and I thoroughly enjoyed watching their sweet and sensual path to HEA.

This was a quick and immensely satisfying read with only a small heartbreaking hiccup, dealt with in a romantic and heartwarming way, to mar the journey to HEA.  Rep and Lola are a likable couple with loneliness that's palpable at the start of the story as their fame kept them from finding true happiness and their uncertain futures exaccerbated that.  Their finding each other felt right from the moment Rep barged through Lola's front door and had me cheering for them from that moment on.  The flow of this story kept me engaged with its perfect balance of scorching sex and deep-seated emotional talks that allowed for character and couple growth that kept me invested in their HEA.  While there's a small cast of memorable secondary characters that amped up the emotional turmoil and put the main couple at adds, it's Rep and Lola that are the heart and soul of this story.  Ultimately, while it's short on word count this story is long on sex and romance and is another winner for Ms. Covington and for those looking for a little afternoon delight.

My rating for this is an A-

*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.