A virgin, an athlete, a fake romance, and only one bed in the hotel room.Following rules shot me to the top of my game as an all-star baseball player, and the golden rule is this — don’t hookup with your teammate’s sister.But ask her to be your fake date when you desperately need one for a family wedding? Nothing in the guy code against that. Plus, the flirty, feisty Sierra’s my friend too, so … my friend too, so why the hell not pretend we’re madly in lust for two days in Hawaii?
No hardship in a make believe kiss here, a fake smooch there, as long as we don’t cross any dangerous lines.
Then, the hotel books us into the same suite. Which means she’s showering near me, putting on itty bitty bikinis in the same room, sliding into that king-size bed wearing only a black lace cami.
But I resist…until the night she tells me she’s been waiting for me to be her first. And there’s nothing fake about my desire to say yes, even though that’s definitely against the code. But, maybe only if someone catches feelings? And neither one of us will.
Until I do…
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This book was deliciously sexy and playful. No doubt listeners and readers will fall in love with Chance and Sierra’s story. Everything I love about a Lauren Blakely book is found here. Romance, humor, great banter, flirting with scenes that will leave you breathless because they are absolute fire!
I enjoyed Chance and TJ’s relationship, those brothers cracked me up when they messed with the waiter and of course when TJ has words with Sierra.
I also loved that Sierra is confident enough to know what she wants and is not shy about letting Chance know.
So much sexy flirting between them. It was absolutely 100% swoony! I just loved their friendship and how it evolved.
Vanessa Edwin and Teddy Hamilton were the PERFECT choices for Sierra and Chance.
Also…Tom.. can we talk about the perfection that is Sierra’s cat? So suave and Aaron Shedlock was so good!
Included with this book was a teaser of The Boyfriend Playbook, which sounds like it’s going to be fantastic!
And…a teaser preview of Hopelessly Bromantic with Shane East and Teddy Hamilton. Ohhh that teaser gives you just enough to hook you in. I cannot wait for that one!
A sexy, sweet and swoony sports romance, especially when delivered within a friends-to-lovers storyline, is a surefire way to guarantee that I’m going to be a happy reader. Lauren Blakely knows exactly how to do just that for me, and she’s been killing it with her Rules of Love series. I listened to the audio version of The Virgin Replay, narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Vanessa Edwin, and it was wonderfully produced and expertly performed. A dash forbidden, this playful and passionate sports romance brings together a virgin and an athlete—who are both secretly crushing on the other—in a fake romance with some forced proximity vibes.
I have been looking forward to Sierra and Chance’s story since we were introduced to these characters. Their friendship was fun and flirty, and I couldn’t wait for them to finally act on all that chemistry. I loved Sierra. She’s a driven, ambitious and hardworking owner of a popular bar. She’s focused on building her business, and as such, her love life has been on the back-burner. While she is confident and in her element behind the bar, there was also an innocent, vulnerable side to her, too. Chance, a professional baseball player and her brother’s teammate, has been patronizing her bar and they’ve developed their own friendship which formed a solid foundation for their relationship. There’s a lot of trust and respect—along with some serious sparks—between the two of them, and their easy, natural friendship makes it a no-brainer choice for Chance when he finds himself in need of a date for a destination wedding. As it turns out, this works out well for Sierra who has her own a favor to ask of Chance as well. With their cards on the table, their friendship is quickly engulfed by all of these can’t-keep-my-hands-off-you, crush-turning-to-more kind of feels, and it translated into the kind of feel-good, fire-filled, friends finally falling in love story that I find absolutely addictive.
In general, Lauren Blakely’s romances aren’t known to be particularly angsty or overly dramatic. She pens love stories that are driven not by drama, but maturity, and because of that, they’re always a cover-to-cover, pleasure to read for me. These are the kinds of stories that I’m happy to start and make me happier the more I read. The Virgin Replay is exactly that kind of story, and I was so completely swept up in Sierra and Chance’s romance. Five smooches from me for The Virgin Replay by Lauren Blakely!
~ Danielle Palumbo, Red Cheeks Reads
Here’s the thing, if I’m ever feeling down, and want a novel that’s just going to be up beat and full of positivity, a LB book is just the thing. The Virgin Replay with Sierra and Chance was fun, flirtatious, sexy and endearing.
Chance is a pro ball player, the closing pitcher for the San Francisco Cougars, and he is a team mate of Grant from The Men of Summer series. Grant also happens to be Sierra’s brother, so Chance does not want to break any bro codes lusting after his sister. Sierra is the sole owner of a bar, frequented by the players, where she and Chance have been spending time together in the past year since his divorce. Needing a date to his cousin’s wedding, Chance asks Sierra to head to Hawaii with him as his fake date to ward off any uncomfortable questions from family on how’s he’s doing and moving on. Although, the more time they spend together, the more they can’t part.
I feel Chance and Sierra will be top of everyone’s LB couples. Both handled the situations with maturity and left off the frivolous drama. They were thinkers, and planners but also let a few things happen organically. There is a twist, a brilliant one, which triggers a do-over – a replay of sorts. I couldn’t have been more happy for them. I also loved hearing from Grant and Declan again, even if it was short – an amazing pair. As per all LB epilogues, it was sweet. The bonus second one, funny. There are a few books lined up in the LB universe, and I can’t wait to read about Clementine and Shane as well as TJ and his movie star hero.
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads, so here is my review.
Sierra has a crush on her brother’s teammate Chance. Although he has flirted with her each time he has come into her bar over the last year, he has asked her out yet. She is her own woman, is the owner of her bar, confident, sassy, independent, and wants to give her innocence to Chance.
Chance sees Sierra as the woman she is but he doesn’t want to break the bro-code. He doesn’t believe in dating a teammate’s brother. But when he needs a fake date for a family wedding in Hawaii, Sierra is the first woman to come to mind.
Is it safe for Sierra and Chance to be alone and think nothing will happen between them? Can they spend time together and not end up with one or both broken-hearted?
I loved the others in this series and I really enjoyed Chance and Sierra, they were fun, flirty, heartfelt, friends-to-lovers, chemistry sizzling under the surface, and the story is perfect for Sierra and Chance. And don’t forget the epilogue from Tom the cat.
**Wicked Reads Review Team**
Deliciously sexy, sweet with just the right amount of humor and emotion The Virgin Replay swept me away with Chance and Sierra’s engaging faux romance.
Chance Ashford was not exactly what one would expect a MLB player to be. From his quirky plant loving, kindhearted and all around great nature Chance charmed me from the start. I loved the flirty and all together fun relationship he shared with Sierra. I adored how confident Sierra was and how she wasn’t shy about letting Chance know exactly what she wanted. These two kept me constantly hooked and I couldn’t get enough.
The Virgin Replay was an entertaining, endearing and passion filled read that kept a smile on my face until the last page. Sierra and Chance are definite couple goals and one of my top favorites from this series. After catching up with some of my favorite past characters and intriguing glimpses into new one’s lives I’m eagerly looking forward to the next amazing addition.
The Virgin Replay by Lauren Blakely is 100% hot stuff. Chance is every girls secret wet dream. A stand up one of a kind man with a bod to die for but dirty as sin in the bed. Slam you against the recently closed door, take your mouth like it’s done him wrong and no gentle she might break in the fast and hard moments of pure passion.
Sierra is the perfect bar tender, pour your heart out to, really cares about others kind of woman. Fiercely independent, wildly passionate and fun. Or at least that’s how the gorgeous closer for the cougars sees her. Only problem is teammate bro code. He can 100% not have her. Well…unless it’s fake…then unless it’s mutual nonrelationship fling kinda thing…except five days isn’t enough so…well I must end there but I hope it intrigues you enough to pick it up and read it. It’s the third book in the Rules of Love Series. So good. I loved every passion filled hot as sin moment. I received a free advanced copy to read and review.
Lauren Blakely works romance miracles. I said it. How else do you explain her ability to mesh so many of my favorite romance tropes – there’s just one bed, “forbidden” romance, fake dating, friends to lovers, sports romance – in a story that is heartwarming and passionate. There are a few other tropes I could add to the list, but I don’t want to give away any spoilers. Sierra’s a lingerie loving woman that gets things done. As the owner of The Spotted Zebra, she is always busy with work. It’s her passion, but she has other plans for a different type of passion and she’s set her sights on Chance. Chance is interested, but there are rules about dating a teammate’s sister. As the star closing pitcher for the Cougars, he’s not looking to be the one that disrupts the team’s camarder. Also, he’s not looking for anything serious after a painful, very public divorce.
But oops, these two have amazing chemistry, and everything is so easy between them. A little fake dating-no expectations and no real relationship-that’s all they were after. We know where this is going, right? Of course we do because it’s a romance!!!
It is so much fun to watch Sierra and Chance bend their rules, and then realize they’ve caught feelings. Toss in a secondary cast of characters that I’ve come to know and love from previous stories, and I was a very happy reader.
*I loved the story so much I now own it in audio and ebook format! The narration was, as always, fantastic!
Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Playful, flirty, sexy and so many feels in this Lauren Blakely sports romance. Chance and Sierra’s road to their HEA was built on friendship, respect, and pure magnetism between two people that were just meant to be.
I couldn’t help but fall in love with Chance and Sierra, and their relationship was built on friendship, so you just know that it’s going to be the kind of love that endures. We’ve been able to pick up bits and pieces of Chance and Sierra’s relationship in other LB books, so I knew it would be a great romance in it’s own right. And boy was it. I loved their whole adventure. The humor, the banter, the heat – all on point!
The audio version of the book is phenomenal. I have a serious LB Audio addiction – they never disappoint. Vanessa Edwin and Teddy Hamilton were perfectly cast. Vanessa brings sass for days and so much confidence to Sierra, and Teddy is perfect as a playful, romantic and swoon-worthy guy with such a big heart, fighting a war with himself. And while we’re talking about audio, I’d be remiss if I didn’t say that Lauren Blakely writes the best cats in romance. Aaron Shedlock as Sierra’s cat, Tom, was such a brilliant bit of comic relief that made me smile, and then go back and listen to him again.
Chance is a ball player. And the rule is… you don’t date a teammates sister.
But with the chance of running into his ex wife at a wedding, he asks the one person to be his fake date. His teammate sister Sierra.
Sierra has gotten to know Chance over time since he comes into her bar with her brother and their other teammates. She has decided that she is just going to throw out her request to Chance and see what he says.
So, when they head to a tropical island and are out of sight of others, their friendship develops to more and they want to keep spending time together.
Will they keep their time on the island to just those times?
Lauren Blakely always keeps things interesting. Always makes me want to read more!
Absolutely LOVED Sierra’s and Chance’s story! The connection between these two is Grant, who is Sierra’s brother and Chance’s teammate. There’s no denying the chemistry between them, even if they’ve friend-zoned each other; they’ve got their respective reasons for friend-zoning, but everything changes when she accompanies Chance to a wedding as his fake date. Loved how sexy swoony Chance is with Sierra, and seeing her drop her guard for him was fantastic.
4.5 stars
The Virgin Replay is book 3 in the Rules of Love series and can be read as a standalone although since the characters in all three books are interconnected I suggest reading them all.
There’s no harm in asking a friend to accompany you to a wedding that your ex will be at or is there?
Chase and Sierra become friendly through her establishment. The sparks are subtle at first being that Chase is recently divorced and not looking to put his heart out there again.
But a hotel mistake takes these friends in close quarters at a beautiful destination to the next level.
In true Lauren Blakely fashion we get sparks, steam and fire. A true friends to lovers romance that will keep you engaged with great characters.
4.5 stars w/ a 5 star finish!
So the fake date thing is almost too common a theme, but I should have known that Lauren Blakely would give it some flair. This really was more of a friends-to-lovers romance which I love and the absolutely fantabulous bonus of cameos from my favorite M/M couple – Grant and a little of Declan.
Sierra is sassy and fabulous. I loved her style and she doesn’t shy away from accepting assistance and favors from her friends. I hate when females are martyrs and refuse any help to suffer alone. She was real and fun. Chance is just everything you want from a sexy friend and more. The wronged party of the divorce makes him even more appealing.
The backdrop of The Spotted Zebra was fun and flirty! And the ending swoon-worthy and that epilogue purrfect!!
This was a highly entertaining read and can’t wait for the next one! It’s a real treat seeing beloved characters return and then glimpses into possible future stories.
I voluntarily requested and read an advance reader copy.
Chance and Sierra’s story is a fake date that very quickly turns into more. These two have great chemistry and find it hard to not act on their desire. A great story with lots of heat and steam. Loved it!!
This book gives you all the feels! It was a page turner from the start and couldn’t wait to see how everything would play out for Chance and Sierra. Definitely recommend reading this one.
Chance and Sierra have been dancing around deeper feelings for quite some time now. She’s a hard-working bar owner, and he’s the teammate of her brother, so anything more than friendship is definitely a no go. However, when he needs a date to a wedding, who else would he ask but the gorgeous friend he can’t help but like? But when the fake dating seems to be leading to more than fake, will these two admit to their feelings, or keep it strictly fake and friendship only?
I think what I love most about Chance and Sierra, and most of Lauren’s stories in general, is that the characters are all so likable and real. Sierra and Chance are not only real, but sweethearts, friends first who flirt but never step over that line, until they can’t help themselves. That’s so human nature, something I think we’ve all felt at one time or another, even if we’ve never acted upon it. Chance is the quintessential good guy who’s been hurt, so is guarded but not a jerk. Sierra is equally a good girl with a big heart, but one who rarely does anything but work her tail off. So when given a chance to let go, with the friend she trusts and has strong feelings for, of course she’s there, who wouldn’t be? Lots of heat, more than its fair share of heart, and a wonderful, easy and sweet friendship turned more, this is definitely the kind of friends to lovers story I love best.
The Virgin Replay is about Chance and Sierra, and has the (not best friend, just friend) younger sister’s trope. Sierra owns The Spotted Zebra, a bar that her brother and his hockey team usually frequents. One of those hockey players is Chance, and both he and Sierra feel a sharp connection and attraction for each other. However, Chance was just dragged through the media in a divorce, and Sierra is constantly working to make something of herself following her parent’s neglect and support as she was growing up. There were some heavy themes here, and though they were touched upon, it doesn’t drag into the romance.
Sierra is definitely ready to get to know Chance more, and she has a proposition for him. Chance has one right back for her, and their fake date in Hawaii is the perfect setting for them to see if there’s anything more. I love that it’s very clear Chance is ready to move on and go all in with Sierra, who’s reflective enough to know that she needs to start living (and not just for work), and that her relationships and her future isn’t going to be like her parents. This was a quick and fun addition to the Rules of Love series.
Omgosh ! These two were so cute! They were great friends first which always makes my heart happy. The whole group making appearances in all the books in my opinion is wonderful! The narrators did a fabulous job! Chance and Sierra are a fabulous couple
This was such a cute short read. My only complaint is that their love didn’t take longer to blossom/we didn’t get to see more of it. Chance is jaded from his ex wife and Sierra is brand new to everything with a man? This spells recipe for disaster. Even though they’re both on shaky ground they managed to find their footing and realize how perfect they were for eachother. I actually want more but am totally happy with their ending for now!
Book 3 in the Rules of Love and Chance and Sierra’s story is the perfect addition to the series.
This book is as entertaining as the previous books and honestly I think this is my favourite so far.
Chance has hidden his feeling for Sierra for a while because it would go against the “Bro Code” if he was to date a teammates sister. So will he take a chance and risk upsetting Grant and how does Sierra feel that her brother is the reason she can’t be with the man of her dreams…..
This book ticked all my boxes, I love Chance and I adore Sierra, this story has plenty of witty banter as well as lots of love and loyal friendships it has a wonderful cast of secondary characters who add lots of depth to this story. So if you are looking for the perfect read to escape the works with, look no further than The Virgin Replay.