After two years of taking care of her heartbroken father, Evie needs a new start. Leaving the States and following her sister to Australia to work as the personal assistant of rugby star Xavier – The Beast – Stevens seems like the right kind of distraction.Tall, muscled and devilishly handsome, Xavier is the lov’ em and leav’ em kind of guy. He never forgets a girl’s name because he never bothers … bothers to remember it in the first place.
Evie soon realizes that being Xavier’s assistant is a 24/7 job; the man seems unwilling to even set an alarm for himself.
As she watches him move from one woman to the next, Evie is glad that her heart is safe from his attention. After all, she’s a far cry from the size zero models he usually takes to his bed.
But soon being around Xavier doesn’t feel like a job, and seeing him walk around his apartment half naked all the time isn’t helping either. Evie knows that giving in to her attraction will lead to heartbreak, but when Xavier starts treating her as more than just his assistant, resisting his charms seems like an impossible task.
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Evie has dedicated the past two years of her life taking care of her father after her mother’s death. When Fiona, her twin sister, offers her a job as an assistant to the famous rugby player, Xavier Stevens, it’s the perfect opportunity for the sisters to reconnect, and for Evie to get work experience that will help her future marketing career. Xavier is a spoilt superstar, used to women worshiping him. Evie isn’t even into sports, and her curvy figure is often commented on. They challenge each other from the first moment they meet, but soon discover that, despite appearances, they have many things in common! Xavier may appear arrogant and self centered but there are also glimpses of a kind, funny and caring man, that he rarely shows to the outside world! When they are together, they are content being themselves. But Xavier is afraid of being in a relationship and Evie won’t settle for less! A hilarious and entertaining read, Only Work No Play is proof that when it comes to love there are no stereotypes! Evie is witty and independent and doesn’t allow Xavier to walk over her! Xavier finally finds a woman who doesn’t only care about looks and doesn’t play games! They are perfect together!
Evie was discribed as “curvy” so you never knew how much that was. Which was a shame and it made me a little less satisfied with the plus-size representation going on.
Now, I am someone who doesn’t like slow burn as much, unless there are more things happening that would get my attention. I need to be entertained as a reader, if not romance then something else needs to be happening for me to continue with the story.
Only work, no play was a good mix. For the most part it was the exact amount of slow, in order to form some bond/emotional connection between the characters who didn’t know each other before.
However, some parts felt a little fast, but that’s just a personal preference, as I wouldn’t go as fast in some of those situations. It could’ve been because some parts were summarized in a few sentences. Doesn’t mean other parts weren’t detailed though… iykwim
While reading, not going to lie, I started to become curious about Connors and Fiona’s story, I would love to know more!
To sum it up, I loved it, the connection between the characters, the jokes, the laughs, the spice. Yess! It made me feel good, and happy and sometimes sad, and as a plus-size woman I could relate to Evie in many ways. And at the end of the day, if a books makes me feel like this, it’s been worth it for me.
I fell in love with Cora’s mafia books (even though most are filled to the brim with editing mistakes and badly translated – some had more than 30 per book – those should have been fixed and updated or seriously discounted). I hadn’t meant to go on about it here but it’s so frustrating- here is an author who has tremendous potential but sells her books, and makes good money from readers but sends them off in such sloppy shape – she doesn’t seem to care about he ,English speaking readers even though they pay a good price for her books – shame on you! Either way, I had purchased this before I read the mafia books and was looking forward to this book. I understand where she was going and what she was trying to do but it didn’t work. Xavier was just the absolute worst man whore I have ever read and he even carried on like a whore the next night, after being with our heroine. I mean I’ve never read a romance where the H screwed so many different woman – night after night even after he took Evie’s virginity and she had to witness it day after day. Tooooooo much! I also hated how much Evie felt and thought so badly of herself. It was painful. The author wrote she was curvy but the way the author wrote Evie’s character the girl needed serious counselling, every word out of her mouth was how fat she was, how self conscious she was. It didn’t need to be said every page and there was no personal growth. It’s one thing to be self conscious but when a woman feels that bad about herself and the writer gives her no self esteem whatsoever – it was just sad and painful and certainly not a romantic read. It had potential but the author just went in a bad direction and kept going. All in all, a big disappointment
Cora Reilly has officially proven that she can write absolutely ANY romance novel and lure in a large reader group.
Only Work, No Play is a novel about a young woman who moves half way across the world to become an assistant for a famous rugby player after taking care of her heartbroken father for three years. Evie is an unlikely heroine but an amazing one nevertheless. She’s curvier than any runway model and she is very self-conscious but so is every other woman which makes her character so much more relatable.
Xavier is your average athlete. He knows he looks amazing and he uses that to his advantage to land as many girls in his bed as he possibly can. Evie’s twin sister believed Evie will be the perfect assistant to Xavier because he would never want to sleep with her. She’s sadly mistaken.
Only Work, No Play follows an unlikely pair who find commonalities between each other when everyone thought they would be polar opposites. Xavier and Elie are two old-souls waiting to find their perfect match in a world that feels like love no longer exists. Both of them have troubled pasts that make their journey much rockier than it has to be but overcoming those obstacles together makes them a stronger couple.
This novel took me by surprise. I’ve always been a fan of Cora Reilly’s novels but I’ve only ever read her mafia romances and have never ventured into her other genres. I am so glad I read this novel. It doesn’t have all the angst that mafia romances generally have which makes this novel very refreshing. I will say that I didn’t like Xavier’s manwhoring ways but I can understand how it helps to build the story.
Elie is such a relatable person and she really kept me engaged in the story and I wanted her to find her happily-ever-after because she truly deserved it. Her quirky, nerdy ways caught the attention of the last man she ever thought would find her attractive and I loved it. Elie deserves everything wonderful and more.
If you love romance novels that keeps you on your toes and has a kickass heroine, this is the book for you. 5 AMAZING stars.
4 STARS
Only Work, No Play was a well written story with great characters! This book was a sports romance and very different from what I’ve read of Cora Reilly in the past. With that in mind, I still loved her writing style.
I highly recommend reading this book! Only Work, No Play by Cora Reilly is a MUST read and will join the ranks of the BIBLIO-ELITE!!!
I love Cora Reilly. She’s one of my FAVORITE authors EVER!
Im used to her darker stories (check out her mafia books), so I was anxious to see what she’d come up with for this one.
She did not disappoint. Man does Cora know how to write a player. Rugby player and womanizing Xavier finds something in his assistant Evie that draws him to her (and her to him) like a moth to a flame. There were times when I wanted to strangle him. There were times when I wanted to smack her. They drove me crazy at times. I wont lie, there were times I almost gave up on them. Why? Because thats how invested I was! The emotions I felt..UGH! But I knew that Cora would give us a great story.. And I was right.
Love Cora Reilly..and I loved this story. So different from her other novels. I definitely suggest this read!
Loved this book! It was different than her mafia books, but it was just as amazingly written. Hoping she writes more from the Rugby team.
***4 Stars***
As soon as I saw the word ‘Rugby’ my interest was peaked (because rugby is kind of everything) and even before I finished reading the blurb I was making grabby hands at this baby and I ended up really, really enjoying this read. It was sweet, frustrating, swoon worthy and smexy and I ended up falling in love with the characters and wishing there were more words to read.
Xavier and Evie were definitely a pair. Evie, I totally connected with. I got her on so many levels it was kind of scary, but wonderful in the same breath because I could relate to all the crazy going on in her head. But what I ended up adoring about her was that despite how her insecurities affected her she was all kinds of sassy, sweet and down to earth. Xavier, it was easy to want to strangle him at times, OMG soooo easy because he definitely revelled in the manwhore lifestyle. But when he let the facade crack a little, the heart of the man beneath it was pretty golden and it was hard to not end up loving him.
Evie and Xavier’s journey to their HEA was all kinds of slow burn, frustrating and swoon worthy goodness. I loved how through their whole employer/employee situation they got to know each other and became friends without even realizing it. The attraction was there from the start and the chemistry only grew the more they were together until it exploded. Of course things aren’t smooth sailing and there were moments where a good Gibbs smack was definitely needed, but I really liked how everything worked out between them.
This is my first read by the author and I loved it. The writing was engaging, the pace was good and I enjoyed the dual first person POV’s. The story is very character driven and while there will be things that some will not like, I really did end up enjoying how both Xavier and Evie evolved. Nothing happened quickly and there were some things that still simmered a bit beneath the surface, but it all worked for me in the end. But what I loved the most were the characters. They were all well written and real. None of them were perfect, they all had their quirks, I ended up liking them all. So, if you love rugby and slow burn romances with great characters, then this is a definite must read for you!
~ Copy provided by InkSlinger PR & voluntarily reviewed ~
Okay, let me tell you guys this book had it all!
Sport romance
Boss/Assistant
Hot cocky male
Sweet, innocent Heroine
I really wish I could describe this book in a way you would fall as much in love with it as I did!
If you have ever read The wall of Winnipeg and me by Mariana Zapata you will love this book! I get all the same vibes from this book as I did that and that book is one of my all-time favorites!
I love sports romances and I love Boss/assistant relationship and this book had both. Could it be more perfect?
Evie works for the womanizing, self-centered bastard Xavier. But don’t worry she is so not his type so he doesn’t try anything with her…much… He only dates (or maybe dates is to big a word) skinny size zero girls who love her self and her looks more than anything, and that is not Evie. She is no size zero and she doesn’t care how she would rather have a burger and a good beer than water and a salat. So everything should be fine as long as Xavier keeps having his bedroom door working as a swing door.
Evie was the perfect heroine, again she had it all! She was sweet but with attitude, she was innocent but never backed down even if she got embarrassed, she was the perfect mix between a tomboy and a girly girl. And she never made drama out of nothing she sucked it up and owned what she did all the way.
Xavier on the other hand is the typical male athlete who thinks he is gods gift to woman. He was sex on a stick and was stubborn as shit to never change his life no matter what, and I will give it to him nobody changed him!
I received an ARC in return for an honest review. I liked that beginning of the story of this one. The idea of Evie being hired to be Xavier’s assistant. While I felt their sexual tension build, I was confused by her reaction to finally sleeping with him. I don’t think he did anything wrong. I know this is terrible to say but once they got together I was disappointed with how sweet he became. I guess I just really like the bad boy. And that ban! Seriously, what for?
3.5 stars. This book was cute. Xavier is a manwhore rugby player who tosses women aside without second thoughts. It has caused finding and keeping an assistant a problem. Then you have Evie who decides to come from the states for the job. She needs the change and the job. Xavier and Evie find the broken parts and the whole parts of each other fit together. There was a cute moments in this book. I am a fan of Fiona. I wished the book would have grasp Australian aspect. I was glad Xavier and Evie could work past their issues and find there happy ending.
Only Work, No Play by Cora Reilly is a sexy and funny standalone sports romance. It’s a light, low angst and highly entertaining story about a young woman who moves from the States to Australia in order to work for a famous rugby player and notorious womanizer. I loved the forbidden factor in this book since it provided a crackling tension between the hero and heroine and a challenging work environment. Although the slow burn was making me crazy at times I’ve enjoyed the build up and the development of the lead characters and their relationship throughout the book.
Evie has been taking care of her heartbroken father after her mother’s death for years while neglecting her own needs and wants. When her twin sister Fiona suggests for her to come to Australia and start anew with a job as Xavier – The Beast – Stevens’ personal assistant she reluctantly agrees. Her new employer is a tall, muscled and handsome rugby player who is well known for his plethora of one night stands. Evie soon realizes that working for Xavier is a 24/7 job, since he heavily relies on her to organise his whole life and keep him in check. Watching him go through countless beautiful and thin women over time makes Evie glad that she is not his type. All her life she’s been a curvy bookworm who never got any attention from the other sex. Being constantly around Xavier poses a huge problem since she is attracted to him. When he starts treating her as more than just his loyal employee resisting him will be a fruitless venture.
I adored sweet and kind-hearted Evie. She was such a wonderful and relatable heroine. It was so easy to connect with her. I could understand her doubts and insecurities about her body since all women have been through this at least once in their life. I’m not surprised that Xavier fell for her – there was nothing fake or superficial about Evie. She was honest and straightforward, playful and charming. Xavier is a multi-faceted hero who at first appears like your typical jock – ambitious, focused and self-absorbed. His real personality is not at all what he makes the press believe. Xavier is a dutyful son and brother who deeply cares about the people he loves. No wonder that Evie couldn’t protect her heart from his kindness. I enjoyed their good natured banter as well as the sexy times and close intimacy between them.
I highly recommend this amazing story and truly hope that you will give it a fair chance. I’m a huge fan of Ms. Reilly’s fantastic Mafia books and have devoured them all. When Cora announced that she is writing a book in another genre I was very eager to give it a try. I appreciate it when an author strives to give us something new and to explore new paths. She is indeed a very gifted and versatile storyteller who exactly knows how to put you under her magical spell. 5 playful stars!
Only Work, No Play was such an amazing read! I loved discovering another side to Cora Reilly. She will always be my queen of Mafia Books, but boy she can write sports romance too! She’s such a talented and versatile author. But no matter if she writes about jocks like Xavier or Italian American mobsters, she always manages to make me fall in love with them. To be honest, bad boys are my cryptonite! But what makes a book perfect for me is not only a great hero, but a loveable, strong heroine too. And in Only Work, No Play we get both of that!
Evie needs a new start after taking care of her father for two years since her mother’s death. Following her twin sister Fiona to Australia seems like a great idea. There she’s supposed to work as the personal assistant of rugby star Xavier (The Beast) Stevens. Evie is excited about this opportunity, not being aware what she is getting herself into since Xavier is a tall, muscled adonis who never spends more than one night with the same woman and is unwilling to even set an alarm for himself or make his own coffee! As she watches him move from one conquest to the next, Evie is glad that she’s safe from his attention because she’s nothing like the size zero models he usually takes to bed. But when Xavier starts opening up to her and treating her as more than just his assistant, resisting his charms becomes an impossible task…
I absolutely adored Evie! She was smart, curvy and a little bid nerdy. All of her life she’s been criticized for her looks, making her feel insecure about herself. Despite that, she was a strong and determined person with a beautiful heart. I loved her banter with Xavier, especially them discussing Marvel movies. Who would have thought that big, sexy Xavier was a little nerd himself? Both had more in common than they ever thought possible and their chemistry was off the charts! To be honest, Xavier has been a total jerk to her at the beginning, I really wanted to slap him hard! But he redeemed himself and showed us another side of him neither Evie nor I could resist.
A big thumbs up to Cora Reilly’s first attempt at a fluffier, funnier story. She totally nailed this book, making it less about Rugby but more about the characters and their relationship. I really appreciated the fact that the heroine Evie was a curvy one who was not obsessed with sports and dieting. This is why I loved her so much and could easily relate to her. Thank you Cora for that! I truly had a blast reading Only Work, No Play and highly recommend it. 5 stars!
I swear Cora will write anything and pull it off perfectly. Only Work, No Play is not Cora’s usual type book, this book a mix of Romcom/ Sports Romance.
Best part is it was set in Sydney Australia . Yeah I’m an Aussie so this makes me happy lol.
Evie and Xavier are two completely different people. Xavier is a Rugby hero, while Evie is the shy quiet girl.
When she is offered a job to become his assistant, she doesn’t know what she’s really getting into.
I loved the banter between the two, and really enjoyed the story..
GAH!! It’s official. Cora Reilly can write anything she sets her mind to. Only Work, No Play was absolutely amazing! I loved Xavier and Evie so much. They had spitfire banter in spades and were so sexy! I loved their chemistry and connection and could not get enough!!
There aren’t enough words in the dictionary to convey my absolute adoration of Cora Reilly’s work. She writes from the heart and does not pull her punches. Her writing is natural, raw, fiery, heartfelt and honest and I love every word. That is exactly what we received in Only Work, No play when Evie decides to move abroad and become resident Rugby badboy and manwhore Xavier “The Beast” Steven’s personal assistant. But neither of them could have expected the explosive fireworks that would develop between them.
I absolutely loved this story so much! Reilly portrayed Evie as an honest, relatable character with very real insecurities. She and Xavier were sheer opposites at first glance but once you delved deeper, it was very apparent how well meshed these two were. In addition, she was the only person to keep him on his toes and give him the sass that brought him down to his knees. Xavier, likewise was famous for his antics on the field as well as off and always played a (badboy) part for the camera. But beyond that, like Evie, he was devoted to his family, loyal to his friends and inexperienced at love. Their lovestory was neither planned nor expected but was everything they both needed. I sighed and swooned and could not have asked for a better story. I look forward to more from this author in the future! Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula
Only Work, No Play is contemporary sports romance about a rugby player and his new personal assistant. Evie leaves the US and travels to Australia after her twin sister offers her an opportunity to work as a personal assistant to the playboy Xavier. It is more of a babysitting job, because Xavier definitely hasn’t got his life together even though he is an adult. This was a turn-off for me right from the start, he can’t even set his alarm to be get up on time to make it to practice each day. In my opinion if you are an athlete you are at least disciplined enough to do that. I did enjoy the banter between the characters and I liked how their friendship/relationship developed in a slow and steady pace.
Another thing that bothered me after a while was Evie’s insecurities, she really put herself down a lot. I was totally fine with it in the beginning because I totally got where she was coming from, but after a while it just got old. She needed to be reassured the whole life, which made me feel like she was not ready to be in a relationship and needed to work on herself first. Of course a boyfriend can help you, but you need to love yourself first before someone else can love you as well. Furthermore, I thought the ending was rushed, because I didn’t feel like Evie and Xavier grew enough as a couple. I would’ve wanted them to work more on their personal issues. So I wasn’t satisfied with the ending. Overall this was a light and fun romance, and it did keep me entertained until the end.
This book brings us on a journey with Evie. She is starting over after helping pick up the pieces of her father after her mother dies. Her twin has a great idea to help. She travels to Australia to be a personal assistant to a cocky rugby player, and live with Fiona, her twin.
I found the story to be spot on. We have Xavier, the cocky womanizer, and Evie with a lot of self esteem issues. Her innocence is also a true characteristic of her personality. I think the feelings and actions of these characters seem real. I liked the slow pace of the story unfolding.
I felt Evie was sometimes too self conscious, but also true to the character. Fiona was annoying with her constant threats to Xavier. She is actually kind of an embarrassment to Evie. I liked Fiona’s boyfriend Connor. I think he added some much needed support to Evie. This is truly an opposites attract kind of story. I would recommend this book.
this book is different from everything I’ve read about Cora yet and I loved it!
The persongens are captivating and have layers, especially Xavier
I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone looking for a steamy yet romatic book 🙂
*** ARC Received for Honest Review ***
5 Stars
FYI – small spoilers-ish
This is every chunky girl’s dream. The hot guy that literally has every woman he wants becomes your best friend and then more comes. Swoon!
Xavier “The Beast” Stevens is in no way looking to settling down. He has a one time rule and is very happy with it. Unfortunately he can’t keep his own life in order to the point he needs a babysitter to make sure he makes practice on time. Que in Evie. She is awesome. Totally happy with herself and love of carbs and beer. This is a story of unexpected friendship and so much more. This one makes my heart happy. (Review by Terri “Jane”)
* I won an ARC from Facebook but am leaving a voluntary and honest review *
This was my first time reading Cora’s work and I really enjoyed it.
The characters were interesting, the banter was funny as hell and it was steamy.
Evie is amazing. She is witty, kind, bossy (in a good way) and doesn’t put up with any bullshit.
Xavier. I really didn’t like him to begin with, but he grew on me. His cocky and arrogant persona gave way to show a softer side – caring, playful and loving.
It was a light, playful and easy to read story that me feeling warmhearted.
Thank you Cora Reilly for sharing your story with me.