Two commitment-phobes desperate for revenge? Clearly dating each other is the only option.
An ex with a vengeance…
Two years ago, Rose Parson dumped Jax without a word of warning. The breakup was cruel and unusual, but he was just the first of Rose’s victims. Ever since then, Lakeview High’s lead actress had become famous offstage for leaving broken hearts in her wake.
When her … Ever since then, Lakeview High’s lead actress had become famous offstage for leaving broken hearts in her wake.
When her latest conquest offers to pay Jax to make her fall for him so she can get a taste of her own medicine? Of course he says yes. What does he have to lose? It’s not like the diva has a heart to break, and there’s no way he could get hurt by her. Not again. Not in this lifetime. This time he knows better than to fall for an actress…right?
A diva with a plan…
Seriously? Jax thinks he can play her? Ha! Rose is onto him from the start. Jax might have game, but he doesn’t know the first thing about acting. Does it sting that the guy who’s bent on breaking her heart is the one who got away? Maybe just a little. But it’s nothing a little payback can’t solve. He wants to date? She’ll give him the relationship of his dreams…right before ripping his heart out.
Of course, she has rules about that sort of thing. No dating for more than two weeks and never date the same guy twice. She has those rules for a reason, but maybe she can break them just this once to teach the player a lesson. After all, everyone knows the best way to play a player is to beat him at his own game.
But pretending to fall for her first crush all over again? This will take the performance of a lifetime.
A sweet stand-alone high school romance. Check out all the books in The Dangers of Dating a Diva series for the full reading experience.
Kissing the Player – by Maggie Dallen (Book 1)
Kissing the Hero – by Christina Benjamin (Book 2)
Kissing the Debutant – by Michelle MacQueen & Ann Maree Craven (Book 3)
Kissing the Shy Guy – Stephanie Street (Book 4)
more
Dallen is my favorite YA author and this book is another example of her excellent stories. The hero and heroine of this story dated for two weeks early in their sophomore year and have played as if the other no longer existed. What happened is that Rose beat Jax to the draw in dropping him and has since used her high energy and talented acting skills to serially date the boys of her school. Meanwhile, Jax is the ‘player’ able to get a girl for a hookup and then drop her; of course, no one was hurt because they knew he could not be counted on. This story has Jax accept a bet to get Rose to date him for four weeks before he drops her. Jax will get money for his amp and Ryan will get revenge on Rose for breaking up with him. In the course of the next few weeks, Rose and Jax outplay each other and as they make one another miserable, they find out they have much more in common than they dreamed. They wind up helping one another develop better coping mechanisms, without lies and putting up false fronts, being true to themselves, and only acting on stage! They develop a real and lasting relationship!
I debated on giving this book 4 or 5 stars but in the end I had to give it 4.
I read this in one night and didn’t want to put it down. Also didn’t expect to be crying over this book considering I wasn’t sure how I felt about the characters. This book was pretty much an enemies to lovers story that went a little fast.
Rose has two personalities. Her school persona and how she was at home. At school she seemed fake and always seemed happy and flirty. That’s not really how life was for her. I wasn’t sure how I felt about her and how she was towards people.
Jax was cocky and thought he could easily get whatever he wanted. Apparently that was Rose after two years of waiting and it took a BET and him spending more time with her to realize what he lost and what he wanted. I really liked Simone in this story because she was a good friend and a good person even though she didn’t have to be.
There’s definitely character development at the end of this story but I felt that this story was rushed and so were their feelings for each other after everything.
Honestly I am glad that I read these books out of order because this one was not my favorite out of the series and I may have waited to read the rest. I would recommend continuing with this series though because they are good reads.
Delightful, G-rated, YA, enemies-to-lovers romance
Beautiful, charismatic Rose Parson’s unremitting goal, for many years now, has been to become a professional actress. A big step in that direction would be to win the Northeast Regional Scholarship for the Dramatic Arts. The competition is fierce among the vastly talented contestants, but if she manages to win, it would prove to her—and many other professionals who matter—the she is a truly talented actress. Rose is finally eligible to take advantage of this major opportunity because she is a senior in high school. She can’t afford to allow any distractions to get in her way, and the worst possible distraction would be to fall in love with a teenage boy. Not only that, succumbing to love would be a fatal first step along the primrose path of turning into her mother, a five-time-loser trophy wife who, in spite of her appalling track record with men, continues to insist to her daughter that the only rational career goal for a beautiful girl like Rose is to land a rich husband.
Unfortunately, there is a big issue making it a challenge for Rose to avoid turning into her dysfunctional mother’s Mini Me—Rose likes boys. She likes to flirt with them, to date them and, especially, to kiss them. To protect herself from the potential romantic fallout of indulging in this risky pastime, she long ago created an impermeable guardrail around her heart—her two-week rule. She never allows any relationship to last more than two weeks. That way, she and her latest temporary boyfriend can enjoy a little mutual fun and then walk away unscathed. No harm, no foul.
Well, okay, sure, there will occasionally be some alphahole who decides to become offended about Rose’s rule. But that type doesn’t bother her conscience at all. She’s perfectly sure that it can only be his ego that is bruised, since it’s impossible for him not to realize, as she does, that the end of their togetherness is inevitable before it even begins.
Jax Hadley despises Rose Parson. What a player! He has immensely resented her ever since she broke his heart in tenth grade. Yes, technically, he was on the verge of breaking up with her before she beat him to it. But she couldn’t have know that! And the totally unexpected shock of her rejection devastated him. He is positive that Rose has broken countless other hearts over the past two years, as well, because he’s witnessed her casually stringing along, and quickly discarding, guy after guy. It’s always the same shtick. She picks out her latest victim, makes him fall for her with her gorgeousness, magnetism, and skill as an actress to create a romantic illusion, then once she has him thoroughly hooked, she tosses him aside and moves on to her next victim. She never dates the same poor loser twice. And yet every meathead in the school continues to entertain the ridiculous conviction that he will somehow prove to be the exception to her two-week rule. But every single time, Rose proves yet again just how shallow, flakey, and heartless she is.
Rose loathes Jax Hadley. What a player! Ever since their intense but very brief relationship in the tenth grade, he has gone through girls like Kleenex. He uses his handsomeness, wit, and the fact that he’s a talented musician to draw girl after girl to him like iron filings to a magnet. It’s always the same routine. He flirts with his latest conquest, makes out with her, then walks away. Naïve girl after naïve girl has fallen for him over the years, in spite of the fact, or so Rose has heard, that he always coolly informs every girl, who is unfortunate enough to tangle with him, that he doesn’t do relationships. As if that gets him off the hook for being a prize jerk! Not! Every girl he has fleetingly hung out with has inevitably assumed that she’ll be the exception to his no-commitment rule. But every single time, Jax proves yet again just how much of a narcissistic, callous user he is.
Jax and Rose would have been satisfied with abhorring each other from afar until their final year in high school ends, but Jax interrupts their entrenched pattern when he allows himself to be goaded into a dubious bet with Rose’s latest dumpee. If he can finagle Rose into violating her entrenched player pattern by not only becoming the first guy she’s ever given a second chance, but also dating him for an entire month, up to and including attending a school dance with him the following month, Rose’s ex will pay him the princely sum of $500. The combined enticements of easy cash, for a much desired amp for his guitar that he otherwise cannot afford, and the chance to deliver a much deserved comeuppance for Rose, are together too much of a temptation for Jax to resist.
Rose is shocked when Jax, who has ghosted her for the past two years, is suddenly hanging around her, flattering her, and flashing the irresistible dimples that have weakened many a girl’s knees—and spine. But Rose doesn’t trust him an inch, and it doesn’t take her long to figure out his game.
Try to take her for a ride will he? Ha! She’ll show him. He doesn’t know the first thing about acting, and he’s a fool if he thinks he can out-perform a diva extraordinaire like her in a dangerous game where the stakes are nothing less than, who will be the first to break the other’s heart?
This G-rated, romantic comedy offers an adorable version of an ever-green theme of the romance genre, the “reunion romance.” It also provides a cute and welcome twist on another popular romance trope, “the rake and the virgin,” whose G-rated version is, “the player and the virgin.” The twist for the latter in this fun novel is, “player vs. player.” In that regard, the cream of the jest is that both Rose and Jax are comically hypocritical. What each hates about the other is that they are mirrors for each other in their behavior toward the opposite sex. And neither is willing to admit, to themselves or anyone else, that ending their brief, intense romance two years before was a huge, heart-rending mistake.
This book is extremely well written. There is an excellent growth arc, individually and as a couple, for Rose and Jax. And I especially liked that there is a lovely epilogue providing a convincing and heartwarming HEA.
This is the first book in what looks to be a terrific, YA romance series of four books, each by different authors. I can’t wait to read them all, because I am a fan of each of these talented authors.
The Dangers of Dating a Diva series includes:
Kissing the Player by Maggie Dallen (Book 1), release date June 16, 2020
Kissing the Hero by Christina Benjamin (Book 2), release date June 30, 2020
Kissing the Debutante by Michelle MacQueen & Ann Marie Craven (Book 3), release date July 14
Kissing the Shy Guy by Stephanie Street (Book 4), release date July 28, 2020
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 4 stars
Hero: 4 stars
Subcharacters: 4 stars
Romance Plot: 4 stars
Acting Career Plot: 4 stars
Family Drama Plots: 4 stars
Writing: 4 stars
Overall: 4 stars
Rose is a Drama Diva whose goal was to get through high school without any distraction and then become an actress. She’s so determined not to have any distractions in reaching her goal, that she will only date a guy for 2 weeks and then dump them! Jax is in a band and he was one of Rose’s “victims” 2 years prior. Unfortunately for him, he never could get over the fact that she dumped him before he could dump her! Due to a lame bet with Rose’s most recent ex, Jax agrees to try and get her to date him for a month and then dump her! The only problem is both Jax and Rose are in deeper than what they bargained for… Great YA read – the right amount of teen drama, learning trust, and peer pressure!
ONE THRILLING SHOWDOWN, HOEDOWN TREAT!!!
Hatching harpies! Maggie does it up right, not only hitting the motherload, she blasted the vault wide open, pegging every emotion, laying out such nuance, sentiment and passion, fusing this little gem together flawlessly. A churning vortex chocked-full of thrilling mishaps and stunning circumstances, mixing it up and propelling this baby to life beautifully. Coiled, knotted and tightly woven, displaying the explosive ups and agonizing downs, grounding in it’s simplicity and awe inspiring in it’s depth. Bumbling through the trials and tribulations, keeping pace with a slew of shocking twists and wicked turns, testing our characters in ways they could have never anticipated. Crushing the boundaries and pushing the limits, displaying the strong suits and short straws, slamming this baby into overdrive, launching it into a frenzy with a life-changing culmination. Securing the ups and downs, weaving a cocoon so intricately and tight, drawing you deeper into this tangled web. Satisfaction is an understatement, this baby comes packing a punch that’ll bring you to your knees, keeping you riveted and frozen to your seat. The attraction and chemistry sizzles, drawing you deeper until you feel the electrifying hum running rampant through your veins. The characters are complex and genuine with traits and qualities that add depth and realism that blend and flow, transforming into amazing personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and descriptions that feel as though you were transported to ground zero with them. Fantastic job Maggie, thanks for sharing this lil’ fella with us.
(4.5 stars) – Playing the player who’s trying to play you
Jax & Rose both have a thing about avoiding committed relationships. And they each judge the other harshly for it, while telling themselves that – unlike the other – they’re honest with the people they date. – – They’re both deluding themselves.
While the story is flirty & funny, it’s also a little gritty & sad in spots. Not enough to drag the story down, but it’s not fluffy either. The baggage that both of them carry, especially Rose, is heartbreaking at times.
Jax & Rose are likeable, even though some of the things they do aren’t always likeable. So it’s easy to root for them to find a way out of their damaged thinking & do some growing. Together. The ending is truly satisfying!
*Clean romance level: passionate kisses, nothing graphic
*Language: 1 use of d-ck, handful of h-lls
Oh, the drama!
One of my favorite quotes pretty much sums it up:
“I thought love and relationships meant fighting and drama.”
“I *am* drama,” I reminded him, not without a hint of pride.
I really enjoyed this angsty and drama-filled, but also funny and swoon-worthy YA romance! I found Rose to be just as easy to root for as Jax, even though they both kept making… well… not so smart decisions. But where would be the fun for us readers if everything were smooth sailing from page one?
Though, to be honest, Jax’s BFF Simone was the one who really stole my heart (and I now want to read *her* story too!).
Standard Dallen But Enhanced Dallen! With this book, you get a standard Maggie Dallen story – think Hallmark High School – but this time, Dallen has done something I don’t think she has done before – use flashbacks as a regular part of the narrative. I’m not sure if she’s even used the technique before at all, but this is almost certainly the first time she’s used it as a regular part of the story. And she executes it very well indeed, in the standard version of slowly showing the history of how things got to where we know they exist while showing the people involved continuing their lives in the present. Solid story, and I love the experimentation as a writer. Very much recommended.