Being labelled a player never stopped me from being successful with women. Until I met Truly Harbury.Truly was the first girl who ever turned me down.The first female friend I ever had.And she might just be the first woman I ever fall in love with.When an emergency means she needs my help running her family’s charity, I’m happy to introduce her to the glitz and glamour of the London business … glamour of the London business world—taking her to dinners, coaching her through speeches, zipping up the sexy evening gown I helped her pick out.
The more time we spend together, the more I want to convince her I’m not a man to avoid, that we’re not as unsuited as she believes.
She sees herself as the book-reading, science-loving introvert while I’m the dangerous, outgoing, charmer.
She thinks I love parties and people whereas she prefers pajamas and a takeaway.
What she doesn’t realize is that I like everything about her–the way her smile lights up a room, how her curves light up my imagination, and especially the way her lips taste when coated with tequila.
She’s the first woman I ever fell in love with. I just need to know if she could ever love me too.
A standalone novel.
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3.5 Stars!
International Player is Louise Bay’s latest book offering. It is a nicely written friends to lovers romance that takes place in London. All the characters are interesting, and I enjoyed getting to know them.
Truly and Abigail Harbury are twin sisters and good friends. Abigail is the older twin by only six and a half minutes, and she never fails to poke fun at Truly about it. Together they run a charitable foundation that is near and dear to their hearts. Truly manages the financials and back office details. Abigail is the CEO and the recognized face of the foundation. Although Truly is smart and beautiful, she is an introvert and has very little confidence in herself. So when Abigail is confined to bed-rest for the remainder of her pregnancy, Truly has no choice but to step up and lead. She gets lots of help from an old crush, which evolves into much more.
Noah Jensen is a self-made millionaire with a good heart. Due to a car accident when he was a teenager, he had to relearn to walk. As a result, he constantly challenges himself and prefers to play the field. He tends to focus on the present, rather than the future. Truly was his first female friend and reviving their friendship after four years of distance is a bit daunting. They fall into some familiar grooves which develops into a casual sexual relationship. Casual turns into meaningful and Noah wants Truly to be his forever.
I liked this book and Ms. Bay does a nice job of introducing and developing the characters. Unfortunately, the plot was a bit repetitive at times. Truly and Noah are a unique pair, both in and out of the bedroom. Oveall, this is a solid, sexy read.
Complimentary copy provided.
International Player by Louise Bay is the story of Noah Jensen and Truly Harbury.
Noah is a British Rich Playboy who doesn’t do commitment and the only women that has ever turned him down is his friend Truly. Truly has a crush of Noah her brother in Laws best friend but knows he is to different from her. Truly is a bookworm who is happy at home on the sofa where Noah is always on the go and loves the fast life. So they end up in the friends zone. When Noah went back home they didn’t keep in touch as they should but now he is back. Truly needs his help when Abigail has pregnancy complications which means she must take the lead with the fund raising and she needs someone to help her with the outgoing actives. The more time they spend together brings Noah to start thinking that he might not be able to walk away from Truly.
Enjoyed their story and hope to read more from this author soon.
Before I start my review, I need to say that this is hands down one of the best books Louise has ever written!
Truly’s unrequited crush had all since been forgotten, that is until Noah comes back into her life after 4 years in the US. The last thing Truly needs is a distraction like Noah, but she is helpless to the gravitational pull her old friend unsuspectingly has on her.
Noah never realised how much he missed London until he was back and surrounding himself with his favourite people, realising just how much he’d missed Truly’s friendship. What he wasn’t prepared for was the feelings she stirred up from within him, from her total unawareness of just how beautiful and remarkable she was, to the complete dedication she had to making peoples lives better.
With both of them experiencing unexpected feelings, can they decipher what this means and follow their hearts? Or will their heads rule and leave their friendship potentially in tatters?
I can’t begin to tell you just how much I love this book. International Player reminded me of the astounding talent Louise has at producing the beautiful, emotional and heartwarming stories we love to read so much.
The back story these characters shared gave it more depth, as you knew the feelings and emotions both of them were experiencing came from a foundation of mutual respect and friendship, it wasn’t just some random chance meeting, it was real, raw and honest. The fact that Truly wasn’t your typical Heroine made it even better, as you had no idea what she was going to do next.
Quite simply, this book is Louise Bay at her absolute finest and for me is a top favourite this year!
Congratulations Louise on an absolute blinder! A MASSIVE 5 bright and shiny stars!!!
Louise Bay knows how to write a hot romance and once again she’s nailed it. International Player is a friends to lovers story between Noah and Truly. Noah’s been away from London for a few years conquering the business world and finds himself back and reuniting with some old friends. Truly is a stats and numbers kinda girl that works with her twin sister, Abigail, helping raise money for charities. Abigail has a rapidly approaching due date and after a medical scare, needs Truly to take over the reins of the company. Truly being scared out of her mind and comfort zone receives comfort and encouragement from Noah while he’s between his previous career and the start of something new.
Noah is just what the doctor ordered for Truly and helps her to find her way. And despite Truly doing her best to keep him at arms length, he has a funny way of making his way into them instead. Noah and Truly are fun and you want them to be together. While I was frustrated at times with Truly’s actions and falling into her own insecurities and fears, it comes across as sincere.
Perfect friends to lovers!
Noah and Truly are the cutest couple ever! I loved everything about them! The nerdiness, the neediness, the sexiness. There’s always so much at stake with a friends to lovers relationship, so much to lose. Noah and Truly’s flirtation is compounded by Truly’s sister being married to Noah’s best friend. Awkward dinners loom in their future if they make one misstep! Luckily for us, Louise Bay never fails to give us a very satisfying HEA!
You can never go wrong one clicking a Louise Bay book. As always, a captivating story from beginning to end. I like how you witness the characters growths too. I loved these characters and the journey they took me on. 5 plus Stars! Would definitely recommend:)
I love this author’s writing style and just when I think her books can’t get any better, she writes another one and it outshines the previous ones. This is a sweet and sexy, friends-to-lovers contemporary romance with all the feels — heartwarming, breathtaking and sexy all rolled into one interesting and intriguing plot. I loved geeky Truly instantly — she’s everyone’s best friend and everything I love in a smart, nerdy heroine. And then there’s Noah–Louise couldn’t have written a better counterpart for Truly — swoony, sexy Noah! A thoroughly enjoyable read that you won’t want to put down once you start reading it! 5+ stars!
Another good read by Louise Bay. I wanted to be Truly’s bff. She’s the girl that is gorgeous inside and out and has no clue that she is. She just needed a good hug and a lot more confidence. She was the complete opposite of her out going sister but that’s what made her so likeable. I got a bit frustrated with Noah because in my eyes he took too long to see her, the true her. But when he did it was beautiful to watch their relationship develop and become what it was. It was funny, quirky and swoon worthy all at the same time. Really liked these two together. I always love Louise’s books because of the British accents, can’t ever go wrong with that.
International Player is a charming, slow burn, friends to lovers romance, with great characters who are easy to love.
I appreciated the fact that despite his international player title, Noah didn’t come across as sleazy or arrogant. He’s a guy, a rather kind one actually, who just enjoys the short term, no strings attached kind of relationships. Truly, although resilient, beautiful and smart, lacks faith in herself and her abilities. She’s slightly geeky and living in the self imposed shadow of her marginally older twin sister. For me, there was just a little too much repetition in relation to her self doubt. Ms Bay did a great job of explaining how uncomfortable she was being forced into the limelight, I just personally felt it didn’t need reiterating as often as it was. Nevertheless, I thought Noah was fantastic at encouraging Truly, supporting her and helping her to find that self confidence. I liked the way these two reconnected as friends initially and that although Truly was harbouring a major crush on Noah, it took him a little longer to get with the program. I actually thought these two were perfect for each other. There are a few ups and downs and misunderstandings but on the whole their story is light and fun and fairly drama free.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read, with a plot that was easy to follow. A little slow in the beginning perhaps, once it picked up pace, we got hot chemistry and the scorching love scenes that this author writes so well. A certain scene involving tequila definitely got me all hot and bothered!
International Player is a stand alone book by Louise Bay, it’s not set in any of her other ‘book worlds’, so no old characters pop up.
It’s sweet and sexy, but maybe not quite as intense as some of her older books. I was hooked from the beginning. Noah was not as driven in a work way, but he played hard. Truly was all about work and focused on making her charity the best it could be.
Truly and Noah have known each other since her sister and his best friend married four years ago. Noah hit on Truly then, but she didn’t want to be a notch on his belt. They became firm friends instead until Noah left for New York. But, there was one thing Truly had never admitted to Noah. She was attracted to him, but she wasn’t the type to just hook up. She wanted the whole fairytale.
Noah had never forgotten Truly, but he only dated for a short time before he moved on to another woman. Seeing Truly has new feelings rising inside him but he dismisses them at first. When he starts helping Truly with her family’s charity, he falls under her spell even more.
They decide to have a casual relationship but soon things spiral…
Can the good time guy become the forever man that Truly longs for?
An international player playing for keeps!
4,25 stars
This a friends to lovers book that I super enjoyed to read. Noah and Truly are mind-aligned and, even though they have a lot of differences, they also have so much in common.
Truly is Noah’s best friend’s sister-in-law and they met when her sister and said best friend got married. As usual, Noah flirted with her, but after being turned down, they ended up being great friends, while Truly also tried to contain her crush on him.
Their path went apart for a while, but after a few years they are at the same place again. And she is faced with a lot of pressing changes in her job, Noah steps up to help her.
It was a sexy, sweet and adorable book to read. Their connection was great and they respected each other. Although, I might add that they way he dealt with her anxiety at first bothered me, because her panic was real and she needed help, not a scold.
Also, I love that Truly and Abigail were close, but to be completely honest, there were times where I thought Abi was just condescending. Sure, Truly was shy, selfconscious and she always thought she was the lesser one. But on some level, maybe even without realizing it, Abigail patronized Truly, as if the prospective of Truly not being in her shadow anymore was a bad thing.
It wasn’t a showy thing, because they were really connected, but it annoyed me a little.
But in general, it was so amazing. Even Noah being so dense and slow about realizing his feelings, they were really good together, they had a great bond and they were both so passionate about everything they did.
And their beliefs in the causes they fought for were inspiring.
They were sweet and funny, they were sexy and their chemistry was so good. They understood each other and they brought the best in each other.
They were each other’s lifetime challenge, and it was oh so worth it!
I found this to be a very sweet friends-to-lovers romance. I liked Truly and Noah. The strong pull of attraction, the sparks of chemistry, the held in-check emotions and the slow simmering buildup of passion, quickly had me fully invested in this couple. This would have been five stars but there were a couple things that bothered me. Noah’s attitude towards Truly was somewhat of a turn-off and if they were such BFF’s why were they so out of touch when he was in New York? Still, there was more that I liked about this book, than things I didn’t.
This was a good read that once I got into the story. At first, I thought that the story started out slowly but then it did start to pick up. I liked watching Truly become more confident in herself and step out from behind her twin’s shadow. I also enjoyed watching Noah realize his feelings for her as he came to realizations about himself. The pair with their friends to lovers relationship had chemistry that was off the charts and at the beginning of their story, was palpable at times. The plot of the story started slowly leaving me hoping that the entire book would not be this way but in the end it picked up and progressed well keeping me interested in the story and the characters. Overall, this was a good read that I would recommend to others.
If you like your Hot Romance in the friends-to-lovers variety, Louise Bay delivers just what you want.
Noah and Truly were close friends because she recognized that he was one of those guys who viewed women as challenges, and temporary challenges at that. She stuck him firmly in the friend zone, something helped by him living in New York while she was in England. Now he’s back, though, and that attraction she felt for him–and he for her–begins to feel a little more intense.
You’ll have fun getting to know Noah and Truly, as well as her twin sister Abigail and her husband. You’ll have fun watching Noah and Truly fall for each other, and you will have fun watching Truly come into her own as she emerges from her sister’s shadow. As for the sexy times … well … they are more than fun. They are scorching hot.
This book comes at a perfect time, just when you’re setting up your summer reading. Noah and Truly will keep you good company, whether poolside, on the beach, or indoors during a summer storm.
Yet another excellent story from Louise Bay. I thought at the beginning that I knew how this story would play out, but there were a few twists in its telling and that made for a really enjoyable read.
I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Truly and Noah, they are both such nice people. I loved the rapport they had from the beginning. Truly lacks the confidence of her twin sister, so when she is faced with stepping up for the charity they run, it’s not easy. I really felt for her in these situations.
Noah, well Noah is just lovely. He is kind, gorgeous, very likeable and yes a player, but not of the “I am god’s gift to women” variety. He definitely makes this story one worth reading.
Overall I highly enjoyed this story. It rolls along at a good pace, has great characters and a really good storyline, which I enjoyed from beginning to end.
Oh how I loved this book. Louise has a way of drawing you into the story to where you do not want to put the book down until you are finished. In this book we have the lovely Truly and Noah. The man who never stays still and the numbers geek who doesn’t realize she is more than she thinks. We start with the friendship they’ve had for years until the need arises for them to work together and then watch the sparks fly. Of course our couple each deny the seriousness of the sparks and it’s great to see them finally realize what they have. Great storytelling yet again from one of my favorite authors
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I love Louise Bay’s ability to take me on a journey that I don’t want to end.
I loved Truly’s introverted personality to Noah’s busting confidence. They fitted perfectly together even when Truly wanted nothing more than sex-with-benefits relationship. I loved how Noah slowly understood that he couldn’t live without her any longer and went after what he wanted.
This series keeps getting better and I can’t wait to see what or better yet who we’ll meet next.
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
I have been a fan of Louise Bay for years and have read every book she ever published. I was delighted to read International Player, which is a standalone, and highly recommend it. I am from the U.S., so I especially enjoy books based in London to learn a little more about the culture and diction, etc. In this book, our hero, Noah, is best friends with Rob who is married to Abigail.
Abigail and Truly are twin sisters and during Rob and Abigail’s wedding, as the overview states, Noah did make a pass at Truly which she declined because he was an “ international player” and she didn’t want her heart broken. She offered her friendship instead and that was the beginning of their platonic relationship.
Truly harbored an unrequited crush of her BFF for years, and when Noah moved to New York to start his business venture, they lost touch. Fast forward to the present and Noah moves back to London; they are reunited and from their first glance, their mutual attraction and chemistry are undeniable. Louise writes in such a way that you feel their every desire, all the push and pull, and know exactly what each is thinking as this is told in dual point-of-view.
I felt badly for Truly because she didn’t feel she was worthy of being in a romantic relationship with Noah who was very handsome, well-cultured, and a self-made millionaire. She also knows his relationships don’t last long, and she couldn’t bear to be just a notch on his bedpost, a quality that I admire.
Truly doesn’t have much self-confidence and when she is needed to run and be the face of her family’s foundation, Noah volunteers to help, and she really blossoms and becomes much more poised and confident. One of Noah’s best qualities is how he encourages and supports her. She prefers to remain in the shadows doing what she does best which is working with numbers, but little by little, you see all that she is capable of so much more.
I love many things about these two such as they both enjoy helping others, and both are hardworking, smart, and successful. After spending so much time together they can’t deny their feelings any longer and she propositions him with a “friends with benefits” situation. Through the author’s words, you can see how much they enjoy each other’s company, how much they know about each other, and how much they have in common. I feel these types of people make the best couples because they genuinely like each other. I was routing for these two the entire time!
Even though they get along wonderfully, are so comfortable around one another, trust each other and give each other goose bumps at the slightest touch, they can’t tell each other the truth about how they are feeling. Lots of angst!
I loved all of the ways he showed her how much he cared for her, and how he admired her beauty and her brains. He was totally smitten and repeatedly told her compliments like how she rocked the corporate world and turned heads whenever she walked into a room. That’s why it surprised me how long it took him to realize she was the game changer. His sweet and romantic gestures make reading this romance novel so special. I loved all of their conversations and how they enjoyed so many of the same things and how they complimented one another. If only they would communicate!
Truly doesn’t confide in her twin sister until the very end because she puts her on a pedestal and doesn’t have self-worth. Abigail never made her feel this way, and was very supportive and encouraging. It was Truly’s self-doubt that made her believe a man like Noah wouldn’t want her, and throughout the entire book, he worked on building her confidence. Loved this about him! And when she finally gets the nerve to tell him how she feels, he walks away…again, and all her fears are realized.
I don’t want to give too much away because this is really a wonderful read. It’s just about two people who are best friends who become secret lovers and need a good kick in the pants to realize that they were meant to be. Louise is a gifted writer and I totally trust in her talent. This book will take you on their journey, and by the end you will be smiling ear to ear.
This book is steamy and I am glad she had confidence in her sexuality because these two were explosive when they were together. She just kept him in the friend zone to protect her heart, which made it awkward and confusing for them both. But once he was able to commit, our Noah was all in! This book does have a very touching and memorable HEA and I do encourage you to read it.
God this book was amazing. I absolutely loved Louise’s creative mind. Another homerun. I loved and rooted for Noah & Truly the entire time. Oh so good. I could not stop reading.
This steamy story is about when friends turn to lovers. what happens when one is trying to quash any feeling of chemistry between the two, trying to keep the one-sided hot steamy feelings strictly platonic while the other is starting to see that friend as the smart, hot person they are. it’s a story of a lack of commination for fear of the truth. definitely a recommend.