Boroughs Publishing Group
Featuring: Dylan Lawson; Smith James
185 pages ISBN: 0152423478 EAN: 2940152423471 Kindle: B0170HI10G e-Book Add to Wish List
PLAY DIRTY is Book 2 in L.P. Maxa's Devil's Share series. PLAY DIRTY is very much a character-driven story and the characters are all three-dimensional. The rock stars in PLAY DIRTY talk and act like you would expect young guys to -- sometimes silly, sometimes disgusting, and sometimes surprisingly sweet. Even though this series follows a rock band on tour, the mismatched bandmates and women who are pulled into their orbit are very much a family. The love and support the Devil's Share family gives each other makes this series stand out from other rock star-themed romances.
Having bad boy rocker Smith James tell part of PLAY DIRTY from his perspective makes all the difference in this romance. Smith is a flawed hero and a man trying to beat drug addiction and conquer his demons when it comes to his abusive family. Smith goes on an emotional journey of self-discovery in PLAY DIRTY and I enjoyed watching the character evolve. Dylan is the nurse who soothes his spirit even as she inflames his libido. I like that Dylan is a strong enough woman to stand by Smith and support him without enabling him, while also being compassionate enough to take a chance on him.
Even though PLAY DIRTY tackles the heavy theme of drug addiction, the focus is on the burgeoning relationship between Smith and Dylan. The tentative and flirty beginning is sweet and lays the groundwork for the hot and heavy times ahead. Even though they don't know each other for very long before things get romantic, their relationship does change gradually, and the intimacy and sexual tension builds throughout PLAY DIRTY. I love that Smith and Dylan talk, and get to know and like each other before things become sexual. L.P. Maxa does a superb job of creating chemistry between Dylan and Smith and building the intensity of their passion for each other. The quiet moments of talking and cuddling balances the super sexy ones.
PLAY DIRTY is dirty sexy fun that satisfies. PLAY DIRTY will make you laugh at the antics of this group of friends and cheer for their victories. Smith's surprise at falling for Dylan is amusing and endearing. I look forward to the next L.P. Maxa book. I am desperate to see quiet drummer hottie Luke get a happily ever after of his own.
As bassist of the Devilβs Share, Smith James revels in
being the ultimate bad boy,
until he meets a good girlβ¦who likes it dirty.
PILLS. PAIN. LOSS. LOVE.
Smith James doesnβt need drugs. He just likes them a
whole
lot. And as bassist for
the Devilβs Share, they are easy to come by. So are the
women. With a steady supply
of both he doesnβt have to think too hard about his past.
But when a beautiful
physicianβs assistant joins the tour, Smith canβt help
but
wantβ¦more.
After watching her high school boyfriend OD, there is no
way Dylan Lawson is going to
fall for a rock star with a tenuous hold on sobriety, no
matter how sexy his New
Orleans drawl. Sheβs been hired to do one job: monitor
the
health of the lead
singerβs girlfriend and her unborn baby. But once Smith
flashes that sweet,
vulnerable smile, Dylan canβt help but wantβ¦more.
And more is what theyβll get. Love on tour is never
simple,
and with a music festival
in Smithβs hometown, a place heβs avoided for years, near
his illiterate, abusive,
meth-addled father, Smith is one bad night away from a
relapse. But with her heart
already lost, Dylan is willing to do whatever is
necessary
to save himβeven play a
little dirty.
EXCERPT
The bathroom door opened and Dylan stepped out, wearing
nothing but a towel around her body with her long dark
hair piled on top of her head. There were still water
droplets running down her skin from her shower. Holy
fuck, the desire to lick them off was so strong I took a
step towards her.
βYouβre back.β Dylan looked from me to the door, almost
like she was surprised to see me.
βYeah, the reporters were crazyβ¦took me a little while to
push my way through. Dash was right to hire more
securityβ¦β I let my words trail off. The sight of her in
her towel was making my brain short circuit. βWere you
going to bed?β
She gripped her towel tighter and nodded her head. βYeah,
Iβ¦I figured you guys would be out lateβ¦Soβ¦β
This was ridiculous. We both seem nervous and unsure of
what to say. Plus, Iβm sure the sexual tension coming off
my body was making her uncomfortable as fuck. I glanced
towards the bathroom again. My pills were so close, I
could take two and down half a bottle of whiskey and then
I wouldnβt feel anything until morning.
Dylan cleared her throat. βAre you okay? You just look a
littleβ¦do you feel okay?β
Yep, my mask slipped and she saw it right away. βI feel
great.β I smiled, probably too big to be real. βJust
tired after the show. It takes a lot of energy to look
that good up there.β I winked, for added affect.
She nodded, slowly. βYeah, Iβm sure it doesβ¦β She shifted
her weight from one foot to the other. βAre you, uh, I
mean, are you going to sleep?β
I could say yes, I should say yes. I should just go take
a shower and take some pills and climb into my bunk. I
wouldnβt need to fake a smile; I wouldnβt need to pretend
to be okay. I could just fall apart in my bed, all by
myself. It might be a mistake, but for some reason, the
need to be next to her seemed to outweigh my need for
numbness. βNo. I was, uh, why donβt you go put on some
clothes and we can watch a movie.β
She eyed me with her head cocked to the side, like she
couldnβt figure out if I was joking or not.
I raised an eyebrow. βOr you could just stand there in
your towel and keep staring at me. Iβm enjoying the
view.β I added another wink.
It must be the wink that did her in because she rolled
her eyes and nodded her head. βYeah, okay. Just let me
change real quickly.β She grabbed some clothes and went
back into the bathroom.
βOh for fucks sake, that was the most uncomfortable
conversation Iβve ever had to sit through! Youβve been
stuttering since Dylan walked out of the bathroom.β Luke
sat up and ran his fingers through his hair.
βAwww, Sleeping Beauty decided to wake up?β I went with
sarcasm, when all I really wanted to do was grab him by
the shirt and send him flying out the room. I wanted
Dylan all to myself.
βHow could I sleep through that awkward as fuck
exchange?β He got up and cracked his neck to either side.
βSince when do you have a hard time talking to girls?β
I shrugged. I didnβt want to answer him honestly; since
the girl I was talking to was Dylan.
βIβm going to bed. I hope for your sake, your skills
return before she thinks youβve had a stroke.β
When she came out a second later all the air left my
lungs. She was wearing some loose black pants that looked
softer than silk and hung dangerously low on her hips
with a tight white tank top that made her skin look more
tan than olive. Her hair was still a mess on top of her
head, and most of her makeup was gone. But I had never in
my life seen anyone more beautiful. And it was in that
moment that I knew, without a doubt, that a quick roll in
hay wasnβt going to get this girl out of my system.
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