Meghan Quinn’s JUST FOR THE CAMERAS is the first in a new series, Bay Area Players, about star athletes chosen to help their teams revive their public images. Graydon St. John is a defensive end for the often-losing San Francisco Foghorns assigned to work at the zoo with Maple Baker, flamingo keeper extraordinaire. Graydon and Maple dislike each other immediately, but after Maple posts a picture of the two of them that makes it look like they’re in a relationship, they agree to fake one for the positive PR it brings. It’s not long before the fake relationship brings up real feelings, however, and the two must decide how real they want to be.

I adore this title. I have not read a book over 400 pages in years (because they can’t hold my attention), and I was intimidated and concerned about the 592-page heft of this beauty (seriously…the flamingoes on the sprayed edge are fantastic). Those fears turned out to be unfounded, however, because I was invested from beginning to end. This is a very slow-burning romance, and it is not action packed by any means; however, I was so invested in Maple and Graydon as people both individually and together that everything moves along very quickly.

Speaking of Graydon and Maple as people, I found them both to be interesting characters. Graydon is truly a grump for a big chunk of the book. I love this, though, because I hate when I’m promised a grumpy versus sunshine and the hero is grumpy for barely a chapter or two. He does make Maple cry a few times, but is properly remorseful after. He has some major baggage with his parents that leads to his perpetual rotten mood, and this baggage makes him very real and relatable as a character. I’m a big fan of character having real-world problems like that, and Maple has some of those of her own, namely that her boss wants to close the flamingo exhibit since it is not popular or bringing money into the zoo. Unlike Graydon, however, Maple manages to smile through her concerns. She’s cheerful without being obnoxious, and I appreciate that more than almost anything about her.

What made me smile more than anything else in this story was the text threads between Graydon and the other two men (who play different sports than football), who are also trying to revamp their public images to help their teams: Bennett Brinkman and Oden “OC” O’Connor. OC more or less forces Graydon into friendship, completely against his will. He is just such a happy guy, no matter how many times Graydon tries to push him away, inevitably helping Graydon become the man Maple deserves. Bennett is set up as the hero in the next installment of the series, and I cannot wait to read his story!!

This was my first ever Meghan Quinn, but it will not be my last. I will not only be reading the next in the series, but will also be checking out her backlist! JUST FOR THE CAMERAS is a great title for anyone wanting a real grumpy vs. sunshine title with a hero and heroine who have real- world problems.