He’s got a dirty mouth…A standalone hockey romance from USA TODAY bestselling author Mira Lyn Kelly. “Fun, addictive, and outrageously sexy! Dirty Player brought all the feels and left me panting for more!”~Annika Martin, New York Times bestselling authorIt started as a joke… reunion and nothing more.
But that kiss…
That kiss was no joking matter.
It was hot and wet.
A hands-everywhere, breathless kind of insanity that left us both teetering on the brink.
She’s got rules about guys like me…
Rules I respect the hell out of when they apply to any other pro athlete.
But as they apply to me? Those rules are about to be broken.
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Wonderful, “friends to lovers,” hockey romance
Julia Wesley and Greg Baxter have been friends for 13 years. She has the distinction of being the only girl he was attracted to in high school who refused to date him. For such a gorgeous female whom endless boys and men have longed to date, she has been amazingly adept all these years at making and maintaining platonic friendships with males, most especially Greg, her most long-term and closest male friend. Currently, they have both been living in Chicago for the past several years. Greg is the hotshot center for the Slayers, Chicago’s newest hockey team, and Julia is a rising star as a sideline sports reporter, focusing on the NFL.
Greg has grown tired of casual dating for some time now, and Julia virtually never dates. She believes she absolutely cannot go out with NFL football players, because that would make it harder for her to retain respect in her sexist, male-dominated profession. And such is her concern about not being taken seriously, that she refuses to date any professional athlete of any kind. Unfortunately, she has very little free time and almost never runs into men except through her job, where they all seem to be either professional athletes or in management for football teams. Which means that her opportunities to meet eligible men who aren’t on her forbidden list have been few and far between. And in the unlikely event she eventually stumbles upon a man she could permit herself to date, she lives with her divorced younger sister and her 4-year-old nephew, which would make it awkward to bring a man home with her.
Then, out of the blue, a week before their ten-year high-school reunion, Julia receives a text from Greg with a photo attached of a “contract” between them from their high school yearbook. It states: “Presuming we are both still single, I, Julia Wesley, agree to let Greg Baxter kiss me at our ten-year reunion.”
The whole thing starts as what Julia takes to be merely one more joke between two friends who have a long history of snarky quips between them. But at the reunion, Greg actually holds Julia to her promise. He gently but relentlessly tows her outside, away from the curious crowds at the reunion with their ubiquitous smartphone video cameras, to a classic high-school, make-out hideaway, underneath the football-field bleachers. Once there, he proceeds to kiss Julia with toe-curling expertise, demonstrating to her dismay that the sexual chemistry between them is off the charts. No other kiss she’s ever had can compare.
However, in spite of how much she’d love to repeat that kiss with Greg—and do a whole lot more—Julia orders herself, for the sake of her career, to cool her jets and forget that dangerous kiss ever happened.
Unlike Julia, Greg’s takeaway from their explosive encounter is the exact opposite of backing away. He is convinced that they could have something irreplaceably special together if Julia would just give romance a chance. She is one of the few people he trusts absolutely, is his closest friend, and he’s positive that sex between them would be mind-blowing. It’s an unbeatable combination, and he is determined to find a way to convince her to break her rule, that he’s out of bounds because he’s a professional athlete.
I have read other contemporary romance novels before with a similar premise of a “forbidden romance” between a female sideline reporter and a professional hockey player, but never in combination with a “friends to lovers” angle. The two together creates an original spin for both of these tried-and-true romance tropes, which otherwise might all too easily come off as boringly clichéd. Instead, this is one of the best “friends to lovers” romances I’ve ever read.
As a long-time and very jaded romance reader, it has gotten to the point that a huge percentage of the time I skim through the sex scenes in the romance novels I read, because far too many authors write these scenes without convincingly demonstrating real passion and emotional connection between the protagonists. That absolutely is not the case in this book. The fact that these two have liked, respected and loved each others as friends, long before any sex becomes involved, added to the fact that these two are very attractive individuals, makes the steps they travel, from the initial kiss, through gradual “make out” scenes, to final consummation, an intensely passionate and emotionally fulfilling progression for readers to witness.
My only quibble about this book is that it is written in first-person point of view, present tense, which is not my favorite authorial choice. I personally much prefer the standard, long-time, romance convention of close-third POV and past tense. But, fortunately, this book does offer the other main romance convention of dual POV of both protagonists. It would have been a real loss to not be allowed into Greg’s thoughts, because he is a wonderful hero.
I enjoyed this book so much that I am positive I will re-read it many times in the future, making it what romance fans call a “keeper.”
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 5 stars
Hero: 5 stars
Subcharacters: 5 stars
Romance Plot: 5 stars
Writing: 5 stars
Overall: 5 stars
Love sports romances and this one didn’t disappoint. NFL sideline reporter and and an NHL superstar. Just friends for 13 years until “The Kiss” at the 10 year reunion. The chemistry with these two is off the charts.
I love a good friends to lovers romance story. The book is hilariously funny with great characters that pull you into their story. Julia and Greg have a lot of obstacles to overcome before they get their HEA. Highly recommend.
I love books about hockey players and this one is a good one. High school friends that kept their friendship in tack. The best part is that Greg and Julia really like each other as people. I loved these characters and their story. Hot and steamy with lots of love and feelings.
Yessss and Yessss, I could not get enough of Greg and Julia. I had to finish it so sufficed to say it’s 4:00 in the morning and I’m writing a review. The characters were great at being friends but messed up at being lovers when it counted most they both let each other down. When you realize that the person that you want most in your life is also your friend all problems can be worked out. I thoroughly enjoyed Greg and Julia’s story just as much as I did Hank and Abbey’s story in Hard Crush. I’m going to read Jack and Laurel’s story in Dirty Bad Boy just not right now. Right now I’m going to get a few hours sleep before I have to get up in 2 1/2 hours
Loved this hockey romance! Mira is such a fantastic writer, crafting witty repartee and romantic moments that will leave you smiling and breathless. Highly recommend!
Absolutely loved this book! It’s fun and flirty then there is oh so sexy hockey playing Greg! He and Jules have this wonderful flirty banter thing they do that just makes you laugh. They’ve known each other forever but at their high school reunion that spark that’s always been between them suddenly flares to a full hot flame. One problem – Jules refuses to date athletes. Any athlete! Greg’s up for the challenge though and he plans on doing whatever it takes to change her mind.
I highly recommend this one.
What a wonderful story about how conclusions can lead to misunderstandings that can hurt you deep if you’re not careful.
I love Greg – there is just something about that man that had me reading the entire book in one sitting. I loved how he was patient with Julia when she wanted to keep them on the low even when it irritated him. I loved the way he kept showing her how much he loved her. I know it sounds desperate but I loved that even when she didn’t want to speak to him he kept sending her voice mails talking about his day as if they were still talking like they always did.
As for Julia; I could relate to her on many levels. Being concerned about your reputation is one huge mess let me tell you. It was funny to see how she slowly but surely let Greg in all the while still thinking she can rewind love and return them back to just being friends. Most of all I loved how she handed her creep of a boss.
This story just reminds us why so many of us love second chances in life. My first book by Mira and I’m definitely coming back for more.
***Review requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
Two of my favorite tropes are second chance romance and friends-to-lovers, so Mira is totally rocking my socks off with this series. Round it out with an enemies-to-lovers coming up next and I basically want to worship her. I mean, I pretty much already do anyway, so not much more I have to do to complete my shrine to her.
On to Greg…dirty, dirty Greg. *ahem* Sorry. Rabbit hole.
Right, so Dirty Player. Ten years ago, Greg and Julia made a joking pact that if they were both single at their class reunion, they would kiss. No biggie, because they’ve been best friends for thirteen years, and it’s just a stupid kiss. What harm could possibly come to their easy, flirtatious, super fun friendship?
Well…..turns out that those flirtations have some heat behind them, because one kiss and the sparks ignite into a burning inferno. I’m talking, one minute they’re kissing and the next her leg is hooked around his hip and she’s grabbing for his belt. *fans self* Both being celebrities of sorts, they know better than to get *too* crazy under the bleachers at their old high school. But once you start a fire like that, you won’t be able to control it for long.
I loved this fun and super sexy friends-to-lovers romance! The friendship between Greg and Julia was fun, their banter witty, their respect and support for one another and their respective careers refreshing. They teased one another, but also provided a sounding board for the other when necessary. Their jump from friendship to bedship was an easy one, in the respect that they made sense.
They face obstacles along the way, the main one being Julia’s career and the demands and restrictions placed upon her by her employer. Will their public personas ruin what they’re building? Or will they be able to have their proverbial cake, and eat it too? **You do NOT need to read Hard Crush to read and enjoy Dirty Player, but you should anyway, because hellloooooo hot nerd alert!!**
When friends engage in a little IOU collection, things get downright sexy and swoony!
Greg is a hotshot hockey player who’s been friends with Julia, a sideline reporter, for 13 years, ever since high school. They’ve been good friends, but nothing more, until Greg decides he’s going to collect on a little IOU Julia made back in high school – agreeing to kiss him at their high school reunion. When the time comes for him to collect, it’s all fun and games in front of the rest of the class when he lands a sweet kiss on her cheek. But when he collects in private, that kiss rocks both their worlds, and suddenly their decade long friendship is looking like it just may have the potential to morph into more.
Dirty Player is everything a great friends-to-lovers romance should be. It’s super sexy, emotional and sweet. Greg in particular, is a fabulous character – sweet, cheeky and downright dirty in the way the very best heroes are. His chemistry with Julia is spot on and I was in love with the two of them all the way through and rooting for them to get their HEA.
If you friends-to-lovers romances, or simply just sexy, sweet reads are your thing, I highly recommend you put Dirty Player on your TBR list today!
This is the 2nd book in Mira Lyn Kelly’s Back to You series, though it can be read as a stand alone. Greg & Julia were high school friends & both ended up in the world of sports. Greg is a NHL player & Julia interviews NFL players on the sidelines. Julia has made it a rule to never date an athlete.
Both had been circling each other, so to speak, all through high school but never went for more than friendship as both didn’t want the friendship to possibly end. Julia made a promise, writing in Greg’s yearbook that if they were both single at their high school reunion that they would go together & kiss. That started their relationship.
Swoon…. Loved Greg.
Greg has been waiting for 10 years to collect on the IOU that Julia owes him and it is time for him to collect. It’s one kiss, only one kiss, but it’s a kiss that neither Greg or Julia will forget anytime soon. Greg only has one issue standing in his way and that is Julia don’t date athletes due to her job, so what will happen if they decide on trying out more kisses.
I truly liked Greg and I can understand where Julia was coming from on her no dating athletes, since she works in a mans world. The characters in Dirty Player were great and easy to like and the book was written really well. Definitely a must read.
Fun and swoon-inducing!
Greg and Julia’s chemistry is just amazing! I love their banters and their every dialogue! I am honestly swooning over Greg! It’s such a shame that their story has to end, I want to read more of them!!!
4.5 of 5 stars
Mira Lyn Kelly scores with DIRTY PLAYER the second book in the Back to You series. NFL sideline reporter Julia Bearings, and NHL center Greg Baxter, had an agreement that if they were both single at their ten-year high school reunion, they would kiss. It was an amazing kiss. Unfortunately, Julia has a no-dating professional athletes policy, and Greg has every intension on breaking the rule. This contemporary sports romance takes place in Chicago. It is suitable for adult audiences.
I really enjoyed DIRTY PLAYER. Being a Chicagoan, I like that the story takes place there. Julia and Greg are a cute couple. They have been friends for thirteen years. Their conversations are comfortable and fun. I love their texts. They trust each other, which is important since they are both celebrities. Greg, especially, has had trust issues in his past, which cause some problems for the couple. I like that they both take ownership of their mistakes.
A side note, I love that they were eating Lou Malnati’s pizza. Coincidentally, I was also, eating Lou’s while reading the story. It’s my favorite pizza. They get extra points for good taste.
DIRTY PLAYER is a charming story. It is skillfully written and entertaining. It had a great epilogue. I would love to watch Julia’s show. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
Dirty Player is the second in the ‘Back To You’ series of standalones by Mira Lyn Kelly. We first met Greg in Hard Crush, although we didn’t get to know him that well. But, Dirty Player took care of that.
Yet, again we have a couple who went to high school years together, in fact, it’s the same school as Hank and Abbie attended. Greg was best friends with Hank, Jack and Lawson. Each guy had their own speciality and while Hank’s was technology, Greg’s was hockey. He didn’t have a lot of spare time but what he did he spent with them. Jules was the girl that got away.
But she scribbled a promise in his year book and now, ten years later, it’s time to pay up.
Greg is a star player in the NHL and Julia is a sideline reporter, she doesn’t date athletes, she never has and has no intention of changing that hard and fast rule anytime soon. She and Greg
I loved this book, it was so much fun to read. Greg is a NHL star player and is a super nice guy and very protective of his friend Julia, whom he’s known for over a decade. They met thirteen years ago in high school and have be close ever since. Greg’s always had a thing for Julia but she doesn’t date athletes and he hasn’t always been around for them to have a relationship. But, now he’s back in Chicago and their ten year reunion is coming up. Julia wrote a promise in Greg’s yearbook their senior year and he is ready to call on it. But, before he gets his chance, they are tricked into fulfilling her promise in front of their entire class. Not, how Greg saw it going down.
A kiss isn’t a kiss unless it’s done right and he wants to do it right.
One kiss can’t change the world, or someone’s feeling…
Can it?
This was a super, sexy, romantic and sometimes emotional charged story of second chances at love. The chemistry between Greg and Jules just burned off the pages and I was rooting for them the whole way. Greg was portrayed as a bit of a player in the media, but in reality, he was an all-round good guy. He wanted the best for Jules, and knew that was himself. He just had to prove it.
And prove it he does, with his dirty mouth and kisses and even dirtier actions.
Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes and this one one of the best this year. It was HAWT as he!! but the sexual tension was equally balanced by the fun side they shared. I laughed, I cried a little and finally, I was more than happy with the ending. Now we just have to wait for Jack’s book.
What a fun summer read! Dirty Player is the perfect way to describe Greg. He was quite the dirty talker and dang was he good at it! Just ask Julia. Julia loved dirty Greg. Greg and Julia were friends in high school and meet back up at their 10 year class reunion. There was a promise that Julia made to Greg and after they fulfilled that promise they realized there was an attraction between them. Being in the same industry, sports, Julia needed to keep all appearances above board and she worried how she would be perceived if she dated an athlete. These two were so hot together you could just feel the attraction and knew they were going to go up in flames when they finally got together. And they definitely did not disappoint. I loved Hank (Hard Crush) making an appearance as one of Greg’s friends and Jack helping Greg out when he needed it.
I really loved this book. Greg and Julia were so stinking cute! There is sweetness in this story that I loved – and the steam was perfect! Great characters in a very well written story!
Loved Greg and Julia! This wasn’t a typical sports romance. It wasn’t even a typical second chance romance. Best friends to lovers to something else? You bet!!
Dirty Player (Back to You #2) by Mira Lyn Kelly – It’s a friends to secret lovers hockey/football story! There is a little lull in the middle of the story, but push through because the ending is adorable! Happy Reading!
Dirty Player is a friends-to-lovers story with forbidden-ish vibes.
Greg and Julia have been friends since high-school. Both lead busy lives, but make time for one another when they can. Julia is a sports reporter and Greg is in the NHL. When Greg decides to cash in on the kiss she promised him ten years ago, neither expect to be blown off their feet by the physical and emotional connection they never paid attention to before.
I liked that Greg didn’t spend a lot of time being conflicted when it came to his feelings for Julia. He knew what he wanted and he pursued her. He was certain his future was with her. I felt really bad for Julia (and other women in similar positions). She had to scrutinize every detail of her life before the public could, so that she could keep her professional reputation intact. It shows a lot that she was willing to take a risk on Greg.
This was a quick, sweet read.