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 is the third book in the Rules of Love Series, a Sports Romance. Chance and Sierra’s romance is sweet, funny, and heartwarming. I liked the humor, the fake (not so fake) relationship, and the formidable characters. Teddy Hamilton and Vanessa Edwin did a fantastic job with the narration. I enjoyed it. This is a great Series!
A divorcee and teammate’s sister both wanting to test the waters of temptation but neither can step up to the plate to approach the other for the one thing they both want most.
Sierra wants nothing more than a one night stand with a guy she likes while
Chance is a man on a mission to get Sierra to be his date for a wedding where his ex wife will also be attending. When the two decide to attend the wedding as fake dates, they would like nothing more for it to be real instead. They both have issues as to why they both will not take things further and are blind to the feelings they already have.
This book gave my goosebumps throughout the whole story and it was one of the best HEA I’ve read so far.
Chance is the closer for the San Francisco Cougars and is at the top of his game. He has a solid group of friends among his teammates and lives by a set of rules, including don’t mess around with teammates’ sisters. But when he needs a fake date for a wedding, Sierra seems to be the perfect person to ask: she’s going to be there anyway, is also single, and as friends there won’t be any funny business.
Sierra has been around ball players all her life. As the sister of a player, her bar has become a bit of a hangout spot for the team. Her dedication to her bar is her world, and she has goals that have her setting all her energy into her business. She noticed her brother’s teammate, and decided he would be the perfect partner to be her first.
I feel like I say this every time I review one of Lauren’s books, but these two were so much fun to read! I loved Sierra’s ability to know her own mind and act on what she wanted. Chance’s personality was just too perfect as he navigated what he thought was a fake date with a friend he found himself wanting to blur lines with. Their mutual crush (unbeknownst to each other) sends an easy no strings situation into that confusing area where expectations and rules bend until they either snap back into place or shift into something real.
This had a perfect blend of sexy, hot steam and fun, witty sweetness. I love the way the characters address the issues that come up and act with a lot of maturity (even if they make knee-jerk missteps along the way).
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Suave, charismatic, heartbreaker. Blakely has dreamed up her hottest book boyfriend yet. The Virgin Replay mixes spicy with sensitive to deliver a ridiculously humorous, irresistibly heartwarming bundle of fun. Chance and Sierra are a combustible combination that blast their way into your heart.
The Virgin Replay is the third book in the Rules of Love series. While we do see characters from previous books, and series, of Blakely’s, you can easily read this book as a stand alone.
Chance Ashford is a closer for the San Francisco Cougars professional baseball team. They are fresh off of a World Series win and so his professional life is going well, but after being married for over a decade, he’s recently gotten a divorce and is finding his way as a newly single guy. Chance is not your typical professional athlete as he’s not a player; he’s extremely loyal.
Sierra Blackwood is the sister of Chance’s teammate Grant and is the owner of The Spotted Zebra bar. She’s been waiting for the right person to come along to be her first, and she believes that Chance is that person. The question is will she have the guts to ask him?
When Chance decides he needs to take a date to his friend’s wedding in Hawaii, he asks Sierra to be that date. Well, his fake date. With both of them harboring feelings for the other, will the “fake” part last long?
I liked the way this story unfolded from the outset. I liked how the friendship between Sierra and Chance continued to grow as they spent more and more time together. When they finally gave in to what they were feeling, the friendship had set them up for success.
This is definitely one worth picking up!
**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title in exchange for an honest review**
This was an easy book to read. If ever there was a role model for young girls Sierra should be it. Smart, strong, and oh so independent. Throw in the fact that she is a 20 something virgin. Holding the vCard and making sure she has her priorities straight. An older brother who plays professional baseball and who brings beautiful specimens into her bar. Oh wait did I forget to mention she is a small business owner too?
This bada$$ girl has an awful lot going for her. And one of those beautiful baseball players is just as driven and he sets his sights on Sierra. Chance seeks her out and he claims her heart all the while trying not to break the bro-code rules. Is it possible? How does this work? Will it work? And oh my goodness Hawaii…wait and Las Vegas? What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas right? Unless it gets posted to Instagram right?
Welcome Sierra, Chance, TJ, Grant into your library and find out what happens…
I have voluntarily left this review.
If you are in the mood for a fun, light-hearted yet steamy story then this is the one for you. What happens when a strong, independent woman gets the chance to hook-up with her brother’s teammate – a gorgeous man who doesn’t believe in dating the sibling of a teammate? Well, she tempts him to break that “bro-code” that’s what.
I enjoyed this one. There was witty banter, steamy scenes, and just the right amount of temptation that makes you root for Sierra and Chance. If you love friends-to-lovers, travel, chemistry between the lead characters, and flirtation that will warm your cheeks, then you will love this one. I would definitely recommend a one-click for this story.
Like all of Lauren Blakely’s books, only read this if you like great characters you’d definitely want to be friends with yourself, witty, flirty fun banter, and sizzling sex scenes. This third book in the Rules of Love series involves a Virgin (Sierra, a bar owner), a pro Athlete (Chance, who was burned in love by his ex-wife), and a friends to lovers story that is just perfect for these two. When Chance needs a fake date to a wedding in Hawaii, who better to ask than his bartending friend. She’s also his teammate’s sister, so of course she’s off limits romance-wise. They can help each other out without catching feelings for each other, right? We all know how this is going to turn out, but getting to their HEA is a ton of fun & I loved this book!
Oh man, these ballers are just amazing in this series, The Rules of Love, by Lauren Blakely. Her newest installment, The Virgin Replay, features Chance Ashford and Sierra Blackwood. The players of the San Francisco Dragons are dropping just like a good slider should as it passes over the plate! Without realizing each other’s feelings, Chance and Sierra have been slowly falling for each other over the past year since Chance’s divorce. The chemistry between these two is scorching. These two characters have been through so much yet they still recognize the spark between them. Will they accept and embrace the feelings or will they fight against it and let forever love slip away? Will Sierra’s first time be everything she desires with the man she is finding to be the one who sets her body on fire? As always, Lauren writes the best between-the-sheets action that can cause a 5 alarm fire!
The narration of the fabulous tale is performed by Teddy Hamilton and Vanessa Edwin with a special appearance from Aaron Shedlock as Tom The Cat. Their voices are smooth, rich, and the story is narrated with such passion that the story feels alive. I highly recommend this story alone with all other Lauren Blakely books. I received an ARC/ALC in exchange for an honest review. *****
If you are looking for a steamy read – look no further. The chemistry and interactions between Sierra and Chance are off the charts.
Sierra and Chance are both crushing on each other but neither seem to know how to take the leap for more. Sierra wants to proposition him to take her virginity and Chance has the notion to have Sierra be his fake girlfriend/date to his cousins wedding. Taken aback, Sierra holds off on asking Chance, thinking he only sees her as a friend. And Chance is afraid to cross a line (the only exists to him) since Sierra is his teammates sister. But once they’re away at the wedding, everything goes out the door. Their energy is all consuming and ready to combust. But will this only be a weekend thing? Or can it possibly turn into more?
Definitely one click this steamy read now.
Another fun, tasty, and sexy times read by Lauren Blakely!!!
We have met Chance and Sierra in some of Lauren’s past books and now it is their turn and I was very excited to read about.
Chance is the closing pitcher for The San Francisco Cougars and received his first World Series ring last year. Baseball is everything, his life line, he does not have time for a relationship nor does he want one. His divorce was final a year ago and good riddance Natasha his ex wife of ten years. Cheating witch…….Now he does not know what to do as his cousin’s wedding is coming up and his ex is in the wedding party. He does not have a date or even a woman he’s dating to invite. Everyone is going to see he has nobody in his life and feel sorry for him as Natasha married the ass she cheated on him with.
Sierra is the proud owner of her own bar the Spotted Zebra in San Francisco. A lot of the local major league players are regulars at her bar mostly thanks to her brother Grant who is a catcher for a local team. One in particular has always caught her eye, and her heart, Chance the tall drink of man closing pitcher. They have been friends for a year now, but she wishes she could have more.
Then he asks her to be his “Fake Date” to his cousin’s and her friends wedding in Hawaii. Maybe this will finally be her chance to cash in her V card with the man she so wants to give it to.
I really enjoyed reading this book. They have so much fun as friends and when it grows into a relationship you are praying this is all going to work as they belong together. AWESOME READ LAUREN!!!!
Virgin Replay is a wonderful friends to lovers, fake relationship, forced proximity, forbidden, sexy baseball player romance loaded with witty banter and delicious sexual tension that ticks all of my boxes! So many excellent quotable moments! In classic Lauren Blakely style, there are a few other tropes thrown in there for good measure. This is book 3 in the Rules of Love series, and I have loved every book so far! Chance and Sierra have a friendship based on mutual trust with common interests, and they are just plain adorable together! Of course, each is secretly lusting after the other, which makes for some great will they/won’t they moments. Sierra is an independent woman focused on her business and determined to stay on track. She is a total bad-ass sex-positive godess who knows exactly what she wants and needs. I was easily swept away with them on their adventures. Chance is a great guy who went through a bad divorce and isn’t looking for a relationship. What could go wrong? He has a deliciously dirty mouth, making for some very steamy scenes you will want to listen to again and again (and again). I love getting lost with LB and these great characters! Listen all the way to the end for the bonus content! Chance’s identical twin brother is the icing on the cake in this story, and I can’t wait to listen to Hopelessly Bromantic, especially based on the bonus snippet.
Teddy Hamilton and Vanessa Edwin are just so good together! They are the perfect choice for Sierra and Chance and deliver excellent performances! Aaron Shedlock narrates the epilogue, which is very clever and well done with yet another aspect to the story…
I received an #AdvancedListenerCopy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This one is my favorite in the series. I liked sexy Chance but I loved the bold Sierra. Not only was she a badass bar owner she was unashamed and bold inexpressive about what she wanted in the bedroom. She’s my kinda woman. I want Clementines story. Until next time y’all happy reading.
First Rule among teammates is not to date their sister, but what if that sister is your friend as well? Chance was married for many years and is now recently divorced so he is guarding his heart. When he needs someone to attend his cousin’s wedding in Hawaii, he asks Sierra to join him. They can pretend to be together and then walk away when they get back, especially because Sierra is the sister to Chance’s teammate Grant. As they enjoy Hawaii this fake relationship starts to become more and more real. Can they make it work or will the bro code be enacted?
I love the banter between these two and they have such an amazing friendship. There is something about them that make you cheer for them when things pick up and want to hit them over the head when they make silly choices. You can feel how true they feel towards the other one which makes this a rare match. Yet when it comes to Lauren’s book you know you are in for amazing characters always. I loved the glimpses to the others in previous books and getting to spend time with these two and dive into who they are.
Sierra is strong and independent. I love that she owns the bar that the team goes to and that she has the best witty banter for them. Chance is reserved and a true gentleman. He holds relationships to a higher standard and fights this connection with everything knowing she is Grant’s sister. I just love these two together.
This book is part of the baseball world created by this author, but it can function completely as a standalone. It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV.
I have really been looking forward to Chance and Sierra. Sparks flew between them even in earlier books. I really appreciated how much they have in common, how comfortable they are with each other, and the friendship they develop. They both have some baggage and trust issues to overcome along the way. There is a lot of heat between them, and I loved Sierra’s confidence as she seized the day. I also loved Chance’s willingness to let Sierra call some of the shots. Together they do some impulsive things that work out for the best. I read this book in pretty much one sitting. I hated to put it down even for a moment. The HEA is sweet and funny. This was an excellent addition to the series, and I look forward to more books focusing on characters introduced here and elsewhere in the series.
I loved this sweet and sexy fake relationship romance! Chance has been going to Sierra’s bar for awhile and they look forward to their friendly, and a bit flirty, banter. But Sierra is focused on growing her business and Chance has rules against hooking up with his teammate’s sister. When he needs a fake date to a wedding in Hawaii, Sierra is the only one he wanted by his side. As they spend time together, their attraction heats up and they are powerless to resist each other. Soon the lines are blurred and it is impossible to tell what is an act and what is real. This was so cute, funny, and sizzling hot!
Narrators Vanessa Edwin and Teddy Hamilton make this story even more sweet and sexy with their flawless performance. Their chemistry as Sierra and Chance is off the charts as they deliver all the witty banter, passion, and emotion beautifully. I really enjoyed this sweet, sexy and swoony romance including the special treat at the end!
The Virgin Replay is the third book in the Rules of Love series by the ever-talented, Lauren Blakely. I am loving this series full of ballplayers and badass babes. You can read each one as standalone but I recommend reading the series since it’s fantastic! And Grant and Declan’s story (Men of Summer series) is also connected. If you have read any other books then you have met Sierra (Grant’s sister) and Chance (Grant’s teammate). I have been waiting for this story and it’s so worth the wait x10.
The bro code. You know, aka the guy code. Don’t touch a friend’s or teammate’s sister, daughter, mom. Hell, even cousin. You don’t want to mess with friendships or chemistry on the field.
Chance never had an issue with this code. He was married to his college love for ten years so he was never tempted to break the code. Any code. But over the last year after a very public divorce, he has been thinking about it. Sierra Blackwood was a temptation. A beautiful, smart, baseball-loving bar owner who make him weak in the knees. The problem? She was his long-time friend and teammate’s little sister. That didn’t mean he couldn’t ask her to be his fake date to a wedding they are both attending anyway, right? That’s not breaking any rules, right? Not like anything is going to happen.
Sierra was married to her bar. It was her baby. She worked hard to get where she was today. She didn’t need a man to keep her happy but that didn’t mean she didn’t have secret crushes or wicked desires. With him. So, when he asked her to be his fake date for a Hawaiian wedding? She couldn’t say no. And she hoped he wouldn’t say no to her question. She knew he was the one she had been waiting for but would he bend the rules for one night? It’s not like they would be a thing. It would be a fling. That’s all. No-strings attached. It’s a win-win really. But, what will happen when they have to go back to reality?
So delicious!! Sexy, passionate, sweet, and filthy. I just love these two. Sierra knows exactly what she wants and Chance is a fabulous listener. I loved their friendship over the series. It was build-up to this. Everything. They are fun, hot, spontaneous, and beautiful. They just did it for me. I can’t wait for the next book!!
Quotes:
We won’t rock the boat either.
We’ll rock the bed instead.
“You like it a little hard? A little dirty?”
Her breath comes in a harsh pant. “I do. I don’t want to be treated like a flower. I want to be treated like a woman. Like a woman who’s not breakable.”
“Kiss me hard. Kiss me ruthless.”
Lauren Blakely has done it again!
When Sierra agrees to attend a family wedding as Chance’s fake date, it promises to be a beautiful destination and a few days away from the hustle and bustle of managing her bar. It also means she’ll get to hangout with her secret crush, and maybe things could change between her and Chance. What Sierra doesn’t know is that Chance has been crushing on her just as long, and he’s nervous about breaking the “bro code” of the team of which Sierra’s brother Grant is a catcher. But Sierra has a secret and Chance just might play a part in unlocking that secret.
So, they decide to give into their attraction to one another—just while they’re fake dating. Chance and Sierra both have baggage that influences how they move forward in relationships. There is some serious heat between these two. Neither is looking for a relationship, so it’s a win-win, right? Of course feelings happen, and that’s when I seriously swooned over Chance and Sierra. Sierra’s badass attitude and love of all things silky and feminine first made me fall in love with her. Now Chance? He’s just a gorgeous package of all kinds of hot on the outside, but he’s just as stunning on the inside. Also, his dirty talking game is seriously on point!
What a beautiful story of strength, love, and finding that right person who has been in your life all along. Vanessa Edwin and Teddy Hamilton beautifully narrate this story. You also get to hear from some of the couples from other books in this series (no spoilers because some of the timelines are parallel and ahead or behind other stories).
**I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.**
The Virgin Replay is the third installment in the Rules of Love series. It can be read as a standalone but reads so much better if you read in the order the author intended. It is even better if you read the Men of Summer series before this series.
Chance is the closing pitcher with the San Francisco Cougars. He has very specific rules on how to life his life. Be a good teammate, be a fantastic closing pitcher and don’t date a teammate’s sister. He’s got the first two with no problem it’s the third he’s having trouble with. Sierra is Grant’s sister. Grant is Chance’s catcher on the Cougars. Sierra own’s the Spotted Zebra a bar that the team’s players frequent often. Sierra and Chance friendly flirt when they are together but Sierra has plans that involve Chance. When they are both invited to a location wedding in Hawaii Chance asks Sierra to be his fake date to show his family and ex-wife he’s finally moved on from the very public divorce. Sierra agrees but the date turns out to be anything but fake.
I loved getting the small glimpse of the characters from Men of Summer. Lauren Blakely definitely hit the ball out of the park with this one. It’s a great friends-to -lovers read. Fun and flirty, and the sexy chemistry comes through with Sierra and Chance.
I can’t wait for TJ’s book! I need to know all about the romance writer!
*Wicked Reads Review Team*
I love everything Lauren Blakely, and The Virgin Replay is up there with her best, add in the fact that her audios really are THE best, (and it just so happened that I listened to the audio version of this story), with Teddy Hamilton – yummy, and Vanessa Edwin, two of my favourites, meant that this book was a real win for me. It had all the romance, all the friendships, the emotional drama, and of course the sexy time. I love a fake romance, oh and let’s also not forget the baseball angle, and the team-mates sister forbidden angle, and the bro-code aspect. All my favourites, and just to truly get my juices going, we’ve added a whole bunch of my favourite characters from previous books in the mix. I was blown away. A fun and highly enjoyable romance. In true ‘gift that keeps giving’ style there was a fun epilogue narrated by Aaron Sherlock, add in a couple of sneak previews with some of my favourite narrators, and I was in audio heaven. Lauren Blakely really is the Queen of Audio.