The Perfect Play by Jaci Burton (Play by Play #1)
Contemporary Romance
February 1, 2011
Paperback, 299 Pages
Berkley Heat
Reviewed by Mandi
Tara Lincoln is an event planner and owner of The Right Touch. By chance, she lands the summer party of the NFL team the San Francisco Sabers. The party is a complete success and it is here she meets the Sabers star quarterback, Mick Riley. Mick is usually seen with an actress or model draped across his arm, so Tara is shocked when he takes interest in her. He makes her dance with him, and later invites her up to his hotel room.
Mick is tired of his agent Liz throwing beautiful women his way. He wants someone who is not after his money or fame – and when he sees Tara he instinctively knows she is “normal.” She interests him and he really just wants to get to know her. Being extremely physically attracted to her doesn’t hurt either.
Although they are perfect in bed together, real life always throws in more complications. Tara is a single mom, raising a teenager. It has always just been Tara and Nathan and she is not used to putting herself or anyone else first. Mick is known everywhere, and that fame is hard to deal with. Convincing Tara this is not a casual fling will be tough for Mick to do.
First let’s all just stare at the cover for The Perfect Play. Sexy, yes? Jaci Burton has been hit with the cover of all covers. I honestly don’t know if I could pass this book up if I saw it sitting on the shelves. *wipes drool*
I had a tough start with this book. Mick and Tara meet right at the start of the book, and they had never met before. By page ten, Tara states:
The more time she spent with him, the more she liked him. Dammit. Why couldn’t he be an arrogant son of a bitch, full of himself and talking of nothing by his career and his stats? It would be so much easier to walk away from him if he was self-absorbed. But not only was he gorgeous, he was also funny and was interested in her and her career, and she liked spending time with him.”
So Tara knows all this about him by page TEN? Someone she meets on page FOUR. I just don’t think this is a realistic mind set someone would have after just meeting someone. How does she know all of this already? She wouldn’t. And then he takes her up to his hotel room and tells her he is not there to seduce her just to talk and get to know her. Which of course leads to sex. He comes off very pushy to start. Not arrogant as in – hey I’m famous and rich. But arrogant that Tara would naturally choose to be with him. He also assumes from the beginning that Tara is not out for his money or fame. Again, that night that he meets her. Which to me made it less believable.
So yes, I had a really hard time connecting with Mick at the beginning. But as I continued reading, after a few chapters I felt like the characters calmed down and their relationship took a much nicer turn. I enjoyed Tara’s conflict within herself. She has lived her life always so worried about her son, that just because she meets Mick and does develop feelings for him that doesn’t change who she is. She is still the worried mother. There is one particular scene towards the end where Nathan is used as a ploy, and Tara is hurt by this. And I think this is a great scene because it shows, no matter how much she cares for Mick, Nathan is still the most important thing in her life. She learns to accept other important people, but it really stays true to her character.
I really enjoyed the pages spent with Mick back home in St. Louis with his family. This is where I feel we get to meet the real Mick and where the story definitely picks up. Tara is able to see the other side of Mick, the one not playing football or posing for pictures. His brother Gavin and his agent Liz all have some nice scenes as well.
One thing I find no fault with are the sex scenes. Yes, look at that cover again – Jaci Burton writes very, very hot smex and the scenes are quite plentiful in this book. The smex scenes do that cover quite proud.
I ended up liking this book, it just took me a little while to get there. I believe the next book is about Mick’s brother and baseball star Gavin, and I am very much looking forward to his story.
Rating: C+
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I felt the same way. I really struggled with the way Mick and Tara both just "knew" the other was perfect. I also struggled with the obstacles Tara threw up that weren't really obstacles. But it was a sexy read, and I also came to care about the characters in the end.
I am really glad that she does the cover proud.
I have to tell you that if I had to vote on the most hot, most sexy and amazing male body on a cover right now, it is this cover hands down. This guy's butt. (*&^%$!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the review!
I have never read a book by her, but I do hear she writes great smexing ;)
Holly, yes definitely a sexy read and at the end I believed in their relationship. Just took me awhile to get there.
Pamela – It is one of the best covers!
Blodeuedd – Her sex scenes are really well done. A little dirty – how I like it ;) LOL
Dammit.
I just order the book on HARDBACK from because, let's face it, with a cover like that, who gives a shit what the story is about. LOL
J/K
Not really.
Thanks for sharing your honest thoughts. Sometimes you just need a book about hot smex, yanno?
I struggle with the rush to romance scenario. Sometimes it just doesn't work. Good thing there's a nice cover to look at. :) I still think I'll give this one a try.
I've been hearing great things about this author-but I have a hard time connecting w/single moms in books, but I do love football so I might have to give this one a try. Great review!
Here is the exact words that came out of my mouth after scrolling down and seeing the Cover…Um, HELLOOOOOOOOOOO…then I proceeded to pick up my notebook and pen and write down this book even before reading your review.
With that being said, it's sad to see the first part of the book was hard to believe but overall I see that you enjoyed it, I will be going to the store and buying this just so I can stare at the cover…am I weird for that?!?!?!?! LOL.
Wow. What a cover! I will probably have to check the book out anyway, just so I can see it in person. Or leave it in strategic areas where the hubs is most likely to see it… ;-)
Missie – I think you will like this one..I had a hard time with first half but at the end I can look back and say I liked it :) (and of course the hot smex never ever hurts!)
FV – I hope you do!
Colette – I think the single mom aspect is presented well.
Deanna – hell no! If I saw this book in the store I would definitely buy it. I hope you enjoy!
Cait – LOLOLOL
OMG that cover!!! Am hoping to pick it up this weekend :) I'm reading a book now where the "get together" happened pretty darn quick – it happens I guess…
Yes, that cover. ZOMG! I'm still sitting on the fence over this one though… Your little 'meeting on page 4 and knowing on page 10' had me giggling out loud. Nice review.
I'll be the first to admit buying a book because of a hot cover. Lauren Dane's Insatiable was pretty gorgeous too and Pamela Clare has Jed Hill on the cover of her next book Breaking Point. I was waiting till your review to decide on getting this new series by Jaci. Loved her Wild Riders. My jury is still out! Thanks for the honest reivew.
Great review Mandi. This is on my TBR list – I can't wait to see the faces of the librarians when I go to pick this book up!
The…'I know you're perfect for me' is…frustrating. I love the slow development of a relationship. Still going to give this a go though :)
And I love the cover!
Shame that the book didn't quite live up to that cover… Regardless, I think I want this book sitting on my shelf, just so I can pull it down and appreciate the view. YOWZA, hubba-hubba!
Great, honest review.
Patti – I hope you enjoy!
Julie – The assumption they know all about each other didn't fit right in my opinion. But eventually I believed in their romance :)
Lisa – Covers are very important. While I def go by reviews to make book buying decisions, how can you not pick up hot books like this when browsing? By the end of the book I liked their relationship, just took awhile to get there.
Orannia – looking forward to your thoughts!
Danielle – It does look mighty fine sitting on my shelf ;)
Great review Mandi. I felt the same way about a lot of stuff. This one just didn't quite live up to the hype that I had hoped! :(
Great review Mandi. I felt the same way about a lot of stuff. This one just didn't quite live up to the hype that I had hoped! :(
I love that cover so much. Great review Mandi. I skimmed it since I will be reading it myself but I'm sure it was fabulous. :)