A woman who's down on her luck finds a job, and unexpected romance, in this sports-fueled tale of opposites attracting. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Fashionista’s Playbook by Candi Scott, along with getting my impressions of it, then learn even more about this emotionally engaging book by visiting the other sites hosting this tour. In honor of this first installment in the Jersey Chasers series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $50 Amazon GC too!
The door to the New York fashion world shut firmly in her face, Moriah Stanhope’s only option seems to be to return to her small-town home as a failure. At least, she would go home in disgrace, but her car was just repossessed. In front of the hottest guy she’s ever seen.
Travis Madera is supposed to hire an assistant. One with qualifications and experience. Someone who won’t be starstruck by the fact he’s a professional football player. But he never could resist a damsel in distress, especially one with all those curves.Moriah’s been humiliated in front of guys like Travis before. But as his assistant, she has access to every moment of his day-to-day life, so surely she can stay ahead of any potential problems.
Until the past comes rushing into the present.
EXCERPT:
“You’re kidding, right?” I sat straight on the leather sofa and gaped at Moriah.
She was grinning, a big cheesing smile that would have turned me on had what she was telling me not been so ridiculous. “Indeed not.”
Damn it. She wasn’t supposed to find humor in my misery.
“I thought you were Team Madera.” I scowled. There was no way this was happening to me. A large chunk of my masculine pride rebelled, and I recoiled as she stepped closer.
Moriah’s giggle was vibrant, rich, and made my groin twitch.
“I am, Travis. But the production company will pay more money if you wear the Speedo—plus, your female fans will be thoroughly impressed.” She pinched each end of a tiny, bright red men’s bikini, stretched it out, and wiggled from side to side with it.
She was taunting me. And despite my horror, I liked it.
Everything stopped, and I fixated on her face. Those flirty lips were plump, ripe. As were other parts of her, I was betting. Things I shouldn’t think about, especially not now and not about her.
She was better than that.
I shouldn’t have hired such a sexy assistant. I’d have been better off with a doting grandma type. A maternal old lady that folded clothes. Definitely not a woman I’d fantasize about wearing one of my jerseys and nothing else.
“Being objectified for cash feels wrong.”
The disdain that dripped from her sizzled all around us. “And yet men have been doing it to women for decades.”
“Fair point. But I’m an athlete, not a model. Hell, I’m covered in ink—not exactly Speedo material there.” I leaned back on the couch. Arguing with her was fun, even if I was going to lose. I’d film for Shark Week, if nothing more than to out-Speedo Gronkowski.
Moriah snorted. “I think the ink is part of the appeal. Women love it—nothing screams bad boy like tattoos.”
She turned away, but not before something like embarrassment flashed in her eyes and darkened her cheeks.
God, I wanted to make her blush like that when she was naked under me. “You like inked up guys, Mariposa?’ I sure the hell hoped so.
She was grinning, a big cheesing smile that would have turned me on had what she was telling me not been so ridiculous. “Indeed not.”
Damn it. She wasn’t supposed to find humor in my misery.
“I thought you were Team Madera.” I scowled. There was no way this was happening to me. A large chunk of my masculine pride rebelled, and I recoiled as she stepped closer.
Moriah’s giggle was vibrant, rich, and made my groin twitch.
“I am, Travis. But the production company will pay more money if you wear the Speedo—plus, your female fans will be thoroughly impressed.” She pinched each end of a tiny, bright red men’s bikini, stretched it out, and wiggled from side to side with it.
She was taunting me. And despite my horror, I liked it.
Everything stopped, and I fixated on her face. Those flirty lips were plump, ripe. As were other parts of her, I was betting. Things I shouldn’t think about, especially not now and not about her.
She was better than that.
I shouldn’t have hired such a sexy assistant. I’d have been better off with a doting grandma type. A maternal old lady that folded clothes. Definitely not a woman I’d fantasize about wearing one of my jerseys and nothing else.
“Being objectified for cash feels wrong.”
The disdain that dripped from her sizzled all around us. “And yet men have been doing it to women for decades.”
“Fair point. But I’m an athlete, not a model. Hell, I’m covered in ink—not exactly Speedo material there.” I leaned back on the couch. Arguing with her was fun, even if I was going to lose. I’d film for Shark Week, if nothing more than to out-Speedo Gronkowski.
Moriah snorted. “I think the ink is part of the appeal. Women love it—nothing screams bad boy like tattoos.”
She turned away, but not before something like embarrassment flashed in her eyes and darkened her cheeks.
God, I wanted to make her blush like that when she was naked under me. “You like inked up guys, Mariposa?’ I sure the hell hoped so.
BUY AT AMAZON here.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
From the very start, this book pulls you into the past. A past of mean girls, hurtful words and judgements by those who think they're better than you. Moriah Stanhope knows all too well how hurtful words can be as a larger sized young lady and those feelings still haunt her today. These feelings of negativity, leveled by her own sister and the rest of the clique, led to a life of distancing herself from her family and her hometown. When a string of bad luck leads her back home though, the past comes rushing back to leave Moriah questioning every decision once again.
Moriah's lone bright spot is being given a job as assistant to sexy football player Travis Madera, a man with a painful past of his own. As a boy, he and his brother Vincent were left to fend for themselves with Vincent sacrificing his freedom so Travis could succeed in football. Their mutual pain binds them together as friends early on before they jump on the rollercoaster of love in a relationship full of ups and downs courtesy of Vincent and Moriah's sister's constant negativity.
There's a lot to like about this book! The heroine is perfectly imperfect as a plus-sized girl teeming with insecurities, while the hero had a tough childhood that's left him doing all he can to help those he cares about. The journey to HEA isn't easy for this pair though and I was sometimes frustrated by the constant ups and downs, the negativity that Moriah was so quick to believe. It caused unnecessary drama and dragged the book down. Despite that issue, along with a storyline seen many times before, this was still a satisfying story. The romance itself was sensual with a slow burn that pulled me in completely. I enjoyed Moriah and Travis together and cheered them on through their emotional growth and their finally making themselves a priority. The secondary characters were a compelling assortment who brought out both good and bad feelings in me and I look forward to seeing one or two of them as the series progresses.
My rating for this is a B+
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
Candi Scott is the spicy contemporary pen name for award winning author of Two Hearts, One Stone and the Arkadia Fast Series, Leslie Scott. She has been writing stories for as long as she can remember. The happier the ending, the better. Currently, she lives and writes amidst her own happily ever after with her soul mate, son, and domestic zoo.
**********GIVEAWAY*******
Thank you so much for featuring this book today!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for hosting my book on your tour and even more for the review, I appreciate every word. <3
ReplyDelete