Pretty Little Player

Julie Kenner

Dec 2018 · Blackwell-Lyon Book 2 · Martini & Olive

About this eBook

Bedroom games are fine … but I need a woman who won’t play with my heart. 

After years in the military, I’ve faced down a lot of things, and there’s not much I shy away from. Except relationships. Because when you catch your wife in bed with another man, that tends to sour even the most hardened man against women.

When I was hired to keep surveillance on a woman with a checkered past, I went into the job anticipating the worst. But what I found was a woman who turned my head. Who made my blood heat and my body burn. A woman who made me feel alive again. 

A woman who was nothing like what I expected, but everything I wanted. A woman who, it turned out, needed my protection.  And wanted my touch.

And as the world fell out from under us, and everything I thought I knew shifted, there was only one reality I could hold onto—that the more I got to know her, the more I wanted her. 

But if I’m going to make her mine, I’ll have to not only keep her safe, I’ll have to prove to her that I’ve conquered my own fears and doubts. That I’m done looking into the past, and that all I want is a future—with her.

Ratings and reviews

"Even though I know she's some other man's girl - even though I know that she's a Vivien and not a Mona - every second with Gracie is like a bite from a warm cookie. Sweet and delicious and just a little bit bad for me. And you know what? At this point, I don't even care." I think I'm in love with Cayden Lyon. I just wanted to hug him all the way through this story. So, ladies, I know you're going to feel the same way, so I'm just staking my claim now. Back off. In fact, I'm going to go ahead and claim all the men of Blackwell-Lyon Security! Cayden Lyon has a bleak outlook on love and relationships. I mean, after coming home from deployment only to find your wife with another man, who wouldn't be a little soured? Just to prove his point, he's handled countless PI cases for clients suspecting their significant other is cheating. More often than not, they probably are. But his latest case will put his theories to the test when he has to do more than just observe from a distance or take some incriminating pictures. No, he'll have to get up close and personal with this one. He expects to find out she's just like all the others - just like Vivien. What he doesn't expect is to fall for her in the process. Is Gracie really the cheater his client has painted her to be, or is there more to his story than he's let on? When Gracie's life is threatened, will Cayden be able to protect her? He just found her - he can't lose her now. I loved this story!! My heart broke for Cayden and his jaded outlook on finding a happy ever after. As I said earlier, I just wanted to reach inside the story and hug him. But, that eye patch? Gah! So HOT! I adored Gracie! She's strong and confident, and I loved that she carried a little extra padding. Some of us do too, and it was nice to see the "average" woman depicted, and sexy too! This was a great follow up to Lovely Little Liar and I can't wait to read Connor's story next!!!

Cayden and Gracie's story is sexy, hot, and romantic with some suspense and mystery thrown in. This was a quick read for me because I totally enjoyed Cayden and Gracie's story. Cayden is totally gun shy of any kind of relationship and has real trust issues, but meeting Gracie changes everything for him. They meet while Cayden is investigating Gracie, but he soon learns his client isn't being truthful about his relationship with her. Gracie shows him he can trust and love again after a few bumps along the way. I loved the ending and I cannot wait for the next book!

This series, like the Man of the Month series, takes place in good old Austin, TX and is an extension of the Stark universe. This was a hard book to put down because it flowed really well and a great story. However, I did find the plot summary provided to reveal a little too much. If it hadn't revealed what it did, I would have gotten more out of the plot twist and given this review five stars. Cayden is a total bad ass (ex military) and Gracie (plus size model) is a take no BS type of girl. He let's his past get in the way, and she has too much respect for herself to bend to his insecurities. I wish we had gotten a little more back story on Cayden's character, but enough is given to understand his character, I just wanted more. Also I would have liked a little more sexy times, but with shorter books from this author, this is the norm, but the foreplay is still top notch.

About the author

Julie Kenner, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author (aka J. Kenner and J.K. Beck) has published over forty novels and short stories in a variety of genres. Kenner is a two-time RITA finalist, the winner of Romantic Times' Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Contemporary Paranormal of 2001, the winner of the Reviewers International Organization's award for best romantic suspense of 2004 and best paranormal of 2005, and the winner of the National Readers' Choice Award for best mainstream book of 2005. Kenner writes a range of stories including sexy and quirky romances, young adult novels, chick lit suspense and paranormal mommy lit. Her foray into the latter, Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom as Julie Kenner, is in development as a feature film with 1492 Pictures. She is also the author of the Stark Trilogy which includes the titles Release Me, Claim Me, and Complete Me as J. Kenner, is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.