A powerful contemporary romance set in the fast-moving world of international modelling.“What’s it like dating one of the most beautiful men in the world? A man whose face is on every magazine and ad campaign?Not as much fun as it sounds, as Anna Scott is about to find out.Retired from rugby at the age of 33, injured and bored, Nick is given the chance to enter the high stakes world of fashion … stakes world of fashion photography as a model.
But behind the glittering façade lies an ugly reality: drugs, alcohol, all the deadly sins, and people willing to sleep their way to the top.
It’s a tough life and tougher on relationships.
Nick needs to learn to navigate the treacherous path quickly or risk losing it all—including the woman who has become his reason for living.
In this glamorous world, there is no room for error. Being a MODEL BOYFRIEND has never been harder.
Can nice guy Nick find his way through, or will he be tempted to risk it all? Because the one thing he despises is failure.
He’s a lot more than a pretty face.”
This story continues where UNDEFEATED left off, although it can also be read as a stand-alone story in its own right.
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Reviewed on behalf of KFF
Model Boyfriend is the follow up to Undefeated, Anna and Nick’s story. It gives you a closer look on the real life behind the glitz and glam of the sports world and modelling. If you haven’t read Undefeated, I would suggest that you read it first so you can get the full background of this pair.
This is the book where you go beyond the happy ever after: this is Anna and Nick’s reality. In Undefeated, the authors gave us the fast paced world of rugby; however, this time we get a deeper insight into the glamorous but tawdry world of modelling. With Nick’s career in rugby closing to an end, his retirement brought up feelings of aimlessness and boredom. Anna’s insecurities rise to the surface again and the antagonist from the previous book makes a vengeful return. How in the world can this couple deal with their relationship when real life sets in?
Although I felt that some parts of the book were slower paced albeit interesting and more about the ins and outs of the fashion world and technical aspects of photography, the tempo picked up when other new characters were thrown into the pot. The authors’ writing style showed cohesiveness and is well written; I felt Nick’s pain when he was at a loss and he struggled in finding an alternative goal, and I shared Anna’s dread when she slowly felt Nick starting to distance himself again. I am glad that Brendan, Anna’s personal assistant and best friend played a bigger part in this book. He was the much needed “lift” in this romantic tale, someone who made me laugh with his outrageous and funny quips. I am so happy that Brendan’s character wasn’t made out to be a caricature of the gay best friend as he deserved more. The authors did him justice in giving us his story and was definitely an added bonus. I totally enjoyed reading about Anna and Nick again and I am sure you will too.
GAH! This book—the angst, the conflicts, the challenges; they bloody well did me in…I loved it!
4.5 Stars – Perfectly captured real life struggles.
The story of Anna and Nick continued. How awesome is that?! I was really excited about this sequel and it did not disappoint. This book was as well-written and detailed as the first one and felt equally as realistic.
The Story:
With Nick’s retirement from rugby ended a big chapter in his life and he has a hard time accepting this change and finding a new purpose. Nick had always been in control with his tight schedule, he knew the ins and outs of his job just to find himself now so very lost and bored at the age of 33. When the door to another world opened for him it brings a lot of adjustment for him and Anna. Will their love survive another rough patch and will Nick be able to save himself from the downward spiral that his life has become?
Thoughts:
The pace was rather slow but I had the feeling as if there was a lot of real life experience in this book and since real life can be slow at times I think it was okay that the story wasn’t rushed. So keep in mind that this is not a fast paced story. But if you’ve read the first book, you’ll probably expect that already.
I liked that the characters showed us their flaws and that they weren’t perfect. Similar to the first book they struggled with common relationship issues and everyday kind of problems that we all face in real life in one way or another. They also still had communication problems which had them unnecessarily doubting each other’s feelings. Doubt, not voicing one’s concern and assuming can lead to dangerous misunderstandings in any kind of relationship and those problems definitely had the characters jumping through hoops.
There were some very sweet and affectionate moments and I even laughed out loud a time or two but the side characters like Brendan really gave the story some pep and the finishing touch.
Although I suppose you could read this book as a standalone, I’d advise to read the first one anyway because it’s were Nick and Anna’s story began and you shouldn’t miss out on it.
I loved this book and really enjoyed reading it though like the first one it was almost like reading a biography instead of fiction. So, you have to decide for yourself if you like that kind of books or not but I’ll make sure to get myself a signed copy of this beauty at the next book signing event. =P
3.5 Stars
Nick Renshaw’s dream of playing rugby for his country in the Premier League World Cup has been fulfilled. But with age comes more injuries, and Nick knows it’s time to retire. But being idle is not Nick’s character, and when an opportunity to pose for a calendar to raise money for charity, Nick’s girlfriend, Dr. Anna Scott, encourages Nick to go for it. But dating the next hottest model isn’t all that Anna thought it would be. Insecurities on both sides cause a strain on their relationship. When an idea to pass time turns into a career opportunity, Anna and Nick must find a way back to each other, and remember to not let their past mistakes come back to haunt them.
Model Boyfriend is a continuation of Nick Renshaw’s career. What started in Undefeated with learning the ends and outs of professional rugby, carries on in Model Boyfriend, where the reader is introduced to the world of being a professional male model. While I enjoyed reading that point of view, I missed the heart and chemistry between Anna and Nick that I loved so much in Undefeated.
Overall, this was a well written and very enjoyable read that I would recommend.
I loved this book because I could totally relate. Nick Renshaw, famous rugby player who had led his team to two World Cups, was now retired and aimless. He had no direction and no purpose. He wandered around in a haze of depression, wanting something to do but nothing came up that gave him a passion for life. Poor Anna was in the sidelines, busy with her blog and her book, and wanting to help but knowing it was not her road to take, but his.
You think you’re prepared for retirement, but you’re really not. It takes time and living your life until the meaning of this next phase of your life comes to you.
The opportunity to model came to Nick and he took it more to alleviate Anna’s concern than because he liked it. We’re introduced to the sleazy world of modeling, where young models are predated, drugs and booze and sex are used to forge sleazy deals, and sexual harassment is the order of the day. It was interesting and eye-opening, not that it was an actual surprise. If it happens to young rock-stars, why not to starting models?
Anna and Nick are in a journey to find their new normal in their new circumstances. Nick is finding his new niche in life, he wants to be the man who Anna needs because she’s his world and he needs to provide her with the support and lifestyle she deserves. Anna feels very insecure; she’s a normal girl and he’s an outstanding athlete now turned hot model. She deals with a lot of insecurities, and what she doesn’t know is that he also was dealing with his own insecurities. Like Anna says in the book, they needed to realize that they were strong together, their “us” was what let them withstand the commotions that fame and an old enemy threw in their way. Anna felt that Nick was always leaving her when he started new endeavors and felt she was not a priority in his life; it took an emergency to clarify Nick on where his priorities are.
This was a great book portraying Nick and Anna’s journey after Nick’s retirement. I loved their devotion to each other and their dedication to make their relation work. As most couples do, lack of communication and mis-communications get relations into trouble and it takes love and determination to make it through. It was an enchanting and enthralling story. Loved to see how Nick and Anna grew as a couple.
Model Boyfriend is a continuation of Nick and Anna’s story so I highly recommend reading Undefeated first so you can truly fall in love with these amazing characters.
Nick, although a high level rugby player, brought to light the conflict and loss of direction I am sure many athletes face. They spend all their life with focus and goals and after having to say goodbye to something that they love, not only are they not surrounded by people that are such a big part of their daily life but they have to find new meaning and direction for their life.
Many sacrifices are made in order to be successful and happy. Sometimes you get both of those together and sometimes you don’t. Anna loves, supports and makes a lot of sacrifices in this story to allow Nick to find his way. She bring to light what family members must go through having someone who they love be away from home for a lot of time.
These struggles are real for many so thank you Stuart Reardon and Jane Harvey-Berrick for sharing the story of these wonderful characters who have done so much with their lives that now they can finally settle down and enjoy the family and friends they love so much.
What a great read! It was wonderful to see the these two characters change and grow. Their story was told in such a great way.
I definitely recommend this book, these authors and this series.
What would you do when you retire at an early age from the sport that has been your life for a long, long time? Happily start a new chapter, or finding it hard to make a new start? Model Boyfriend picks up where Undefeated left off; with a happy Nick and Anna. But Nick’s retirement and him finding a new purpose doesn’t make their lives any easier. I’ve enjoyed this follow-up story very much.
“I feel lost. Like I don’t know who I am, like I don’t know where I fit into this world. What’s my purpose?”
Nick and Anna are happy; living together and engaged, everything they have ever wanted. In his early 30’s, Nick is ready to leave his successful rugby career behind him. Not that he doesn’t love the sport anymore, but rugby is a hard, physical game and he isn’t getting any younger. But retirement and Nick do not mix well. He doesn’t know what to do with his wide-open schedule, feels unsure about the future. Anna is hurting for the man she loves. She sees him struggle, and tries to point him in a new direction, even if it makes her uneasy. Their love is still there of course, but it isn’t as easy as it used to be.
“It wasn’t fair for all the responsibility of his life to weigh on Anna. He was a man and he needed to act like one. He needed to do this on his own terms.”
Nick! Dude! What are you doing! While I understand him to a point, I also wanted to slap him a bit. He really went through a rough period because of his retirement, but he didn’t talk to his Anna about it, about his feelings and his doubts. I really liked Nick in the modeling world. As an outsider he has a totally different view of what’s normal, and the modeling world and its excesses is not okay in his book. I love Anna. She loves Nick so much, and she hates to see him unhappy, without a meaningful purpose. I find her brave for letting Nick find his way back to himself, and to her.
Like Undefeated, most of Model Boyfriend is told from Nick’s manly POV; straight to the point and no flowery nonsense. Model Boyfriend can be read as a standalone, but to get the full picture you should read Undefeated first. Normally I’m not a fan of giving a couple a second book (it can only mean trouble in paradise), but for Nick and Anna it’s working. They have their up and downs in the book, but their love for each other isn’t in question.
“Winning didn’t matter, rugby didn’t matter. What matters is what we have here. I don’t have the fire for it anymore. Here, with you … that’s where I want to be.”
While in Undefeated I followed Nick’s journey in his rugby career, in Model Boyfriend I followed his journey after he retires from the sport because of his various injuries.
His love for the sport makes him really sad and lost after retirement and Anna is not sure how to help her fiance at this time as he closes more and more in his own world by isolating Anna.
But she does not give up easily and does everything in her power to help Nick until something comes up that excites the guy who is modeling.
This career as we know is not easy for anyone and for him too who is new and not accustomed to all the dilemmas inherent in this profession.
After facing several unusual situations, he and Anna will have their love tested again and they will need to find strength for all the newcomers that are still ahead.
I like Jane’s writing and Stuart is very good too , Book 2 was not as exciting as Book 1 but it had several interesting moments and a super cute ending.
I loved the cover and I loved Brendan too who is Anna’s assistant and brings a new strong situation to the book.
4/5 stars
Ok first of all..Stuart Reardon- WOWZA !
Now that the ogle party is dealt with, let’s focus on the story part. Gasp-worthy & in depth look at the modelling world and a fabulous take of it from a male POV. I’ll be honest, I thought male models had it easy. Myths are shattered and often ugly truths exposed in the book. So mouth agape and all, I loved the book.
Its a life-changing moment for any athlete to play his last game and then say goodbye to his field and team. They’ve been living/breathing the sport as long as they can remember and their life has molded around it.
With all the injuries I’ve had, I should be glad it’s my last game, but deep down I’m not. I don’t know what I’m going to do next— midlife crisis here I come. It’s like leaving home again— I’m leaving the comfort of team sport, leaving the lads I’ve grown to call brothers, leaving the commitment, the comradery, the lifestyle, the sense of being a part of something bigger than myself.
The night it all ends, voluntarily or due to injury, retirement brings down the mountain of identity crisis crashing down on the player. His moorings are untied and he drifts. An insightful, informative and behind the scenes look into the life of Rugby Player -Nick Renshaw. He retirs and is now trying to find a motive, an aim to get up in the morning, something to get excited about. I have to be honest here, I went in quite blind. I was expecting a raunchy, smutty description of a high profile lifestyle that I assumed belonged to cover models and pinup models. Boy ! Was I wrong.
whole process of modelling a lot vain and a little ridiculousness.
This book I believe closely resembles Stuart’s own transition from a 16 year rugby career to a successful and famous model life. But I guess, or I’m hoping it’s quite fictionalized. I wouldn’t wish a Molly on my enemies even !!
“It’s slam dunk and Fuck You, Mouldy McKinney!
Struggles, trials, injuries, pockmark self-dignity at times in the search for Destiny.
What happens next?
What defines me?
Who am I?
He’d achieved what he set out to do— there should be no regrets. But it was so damn hard to let go, so hard to unplug.
I’ll never replace this. Rugby is under my skin, it’s in my blood, it flows through my soul.
What am I, who am I, now I no longer have rugby?
It’s itching his soul, flaking his psyche and battering his confidence. Add to this the over supportive fiancee, scandals that don’t seem to die down, an ex whose talons are embedded deep in his life and painful injuries. That all tests their relationship and patience starts to wear thin at times.
The story was so poignant and truthful, I could feel Nick’s frustration and Anna’s desperation.
It was such a departure from the usual sports romance where the Hero has it all and is strutting through life with a sexy heroine in his arms, mouthing smutty dialogues, having sexathons and everything in life is served on a golden platter.
Nope, this book turns the golden picture around and shows you the flip side , hidden life of the players and models and Inner workings.
I loved reading it, I was engrossed into this world Stuart and Jane created. It’s forthright, upfront and candid at most times, which was a breath of fresh air. No false promises or rosy glasses here. Everything is stark and genuine. I wish I had read book 1 first, but I’ll be doing that now. They’re standalone so this one could be read as is.
Also noteworthy is gay element in the storyIt’s s not caricature-like, but people with feelings, that get hurt when taunted and bullied, when closeted and revealed, when abandoned and accepted.
Pick up this book if you want a unique sports romance book, so far away from the generic cookie-cutter books. If nothing, pick it up for Hot Stuart Reardon and if the scenes are as true as I felt them to be, they’ll melt your panties and then your heart
Anna was limp, lying on her side with her thighs pressed together— even her skin seemed in shock with the thoroughness of Nick’s love-making.
There’s hot sex alright, but there’s also soft romance, not the usual “You’re Mine, Come for me” dialogues but heartfelt words that may have been spoken to some very wonderful woman in Stuart’s life. swooooooooooon!
Like Brendan says “A good rogering by the rugby Romeo. I’m totes jelly.”
This book has it all, feelings, emotions, tears, laughter, smiles, pain and ultimately bliss.
4.5 “Nana-Banana” stars
Let me start by saying that this book was not what I was expecting at all. It exceeded my already high expectations by being a solid 5 star story.
This story sort of continues from Undefeated. Nick is a retired Rugby player at the age of 33. Having no meaning of what he should do now, Anna, his fiancé, pushes his toward modelling. Things are not that easy. A blast from his past will come and jeopardize all he’s worked for and possibly threatened his future with Anna.
I read Undefeated and loved it even if rugby’s not my thing. But Model Boyfriend was on an all new level. I was hooked from the very first page and it never let up. I just couldn’t put it down long enough to get some sleep so I’m suffering from insomnia. It was an highly entertaining story that NEVER had a dull moment. There was always something happening that kept me addicted to this story.
I loved these amazing characters that made me feel so much for them. Anna was at times uncertain and had insecurities. Nick was lost and didn’t know what he should next. Together they will find a new meaning. They had chemistry and respect for each other. I felt like I was reading a biography mixed with romance and some drama. Bottomline is this is a must read. It doesn’t hurt when the character Nick looks like the cover.
It could be read as a standalone but for better enjoyment read Undefeated first. But I think the readers could still read it as a standalone. Told in the third person with an HEA . I strongly recommend this story.