Dirty Games

Full review appeared on Reader’s Edyn on 11/10/17

Quinn Sheridan has been on a tv show, playing the role of a perky cheerleader for the past 5 years. She has finally broken through to the big screen playing a kick-ass heroine from a video game franchise. But the movie can still replace her before shooting begins, and a knee injury knocked her on her ass for a couple of months, so her defined body isn’t so defined anymore. Now she’s got to work with an egomaniac personal trainer on a private island resort and she isn’t even a little happy about it. Not to mention he’s ridiculously hot and the activity she wants to put her best efforts into do not involve weights or a treadmill. But this movie is make or break and she can’t afford to lose the role (for a lot of reasons) so she better get her head in the game and start kicking ass like the heroine she is about to play.

Luke McLean wants absolutely nothing to do with the Hollywood starlet. If it wasn’t for a personal favor to a very good friend, he would have declined immediately. He’s had his share of spoiled celebrity brats and he got away from it. Now he trains those who are looking to save their lives and don’t give a rip about Hollywood status. He’s supposed to be on vacation, but he’s turned it into a training session instead. He goes into the job knowing exactly what to expect and is floored when he realizes that Quinn is much more than what he had assumed. Worse, his fantasies involving Quinn on the weight bench, in the pool, in his bed … pretty much everywhere won’t stop. Doesn’t help that the temptress seems to want him just as bad. But he doesn’t cross certain boundaries for professional reasons – and he’s sure Quinn is just reacting to the fact that the training has made her completely dependent on him.

This is my second trip to the Tropical Temptation world and I found I really enjoyed myself again. The stories are similar in that the main characters have certain careers and so they are saddled with living a life of certain expectation and people making assumptions about their character. However, they are more than what people think they are. In his case though, Quinn and Luke have certain preconceived ideas about each other that they have to work past. It was pretty funny watching them react to their own incorrect expectations of a Hollywood star and a personal trainer – only to find out they were completely wrong. I’m not real sure how they managed to keep from jumping each other for so long with all of the sexual tension between the, but I was kind of glad they held off for a while – at least until it was inevitable. I have to admit, at one point, I thought they’d get through the whole training session with giving in to their desires, but no sex on the exclusive island isn’t really an option, now is it?

I wouldn’t say these characters were deep, but they each had a well-developed background that explained why they made certain assumptions. Background aside, I would understand said assumptions given their career paths and interaction within those careers. The book contained a few secondary characters, but none really made much of an impression on me. However, I do see how Quinn’s brother could develop into his own story of redemption. Given the right circumstances and the right female lead, he could have one heck of a story. Overall, this was a quick-paced, entertaining read. The characters are spunky and their attraction is palpable. If you are looking for a steamy read to polish off one lazy afternoon, I’d recommend reading this one. Heck, probably the whole series now that I have read two books in the series. All books can be read as a standalone and all are from different authors, so it gives the series a bit of variation. Either way, you won’t be disappointed with an afternoon … or week at the exclusive island.

Kindle version provided by Entangled Publishing/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.