The Virgin Replay

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! I really liked both Sierra and Chance and felt their chemistry right from the start. Their sweet and emotional story is filled with close friends and family who are fun, and totally supportive. But it is the engaging, heartfelt and swoony romance that captured my heart.

3.75 stars--THE VIRGIN REPLAY is the third instalment in Lauren Blakely’s contemporary, adult RULES OF LOVE erotic romanced series-a cross over with the author’s MEN OF SUMMER series. This is closing pitcher Chance Ashford, and twenty-five year old, bar owner Sierra Blackwood’s story line. THE VIRGIN REPLAY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Sierra is the sister of Grant Blackwood (Men of Summer). Some of the events of THE VIRGIN REPLAY cross over with some of the events of ALL IN WITH HIM (Men of Summer 3) Told from dual first person perspectives (Chance and Sierra) THE VIRGIN REPLAY follows the building romance and relationship between closing pitcher Chance Ashford, and twenty-five year old, bar owner Sierra Blackwood. For close to a year, Sierra Blackwood and Chance Ashford have been dancing around one another with neither one taking the steps to move forward but a mutual friend’s, destination wedding finds Chance asking Sierra to be his ‘fake’ plus one, a fake relationship that will turn into something more. From a few days in Hawaii, to a couple nights in Vegas, Sierra and Chance moving quickly from fake to real, so real that what happens in Vegas went out for the world to see. What ensues is the fake but building romance and relationship between Chance and Sierra, and the potential fall-out as Chance’s bro-code/teammate code is about to be questioned. Chance Ashford is Sierra’s brother’s teammate and as such, struggles with the unwritten bro-code wherein teammates do not date one another’s exes, sisters, or brothers but Chance’s attraction to Sierra is equally met by Sierra’s attraction to Chance, and their fake weekend quickly turns into something more. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. WE are introduced to Chance’s twin brother TJ, bride and groom Blake and Trish, Chance’s ex Natasha, as well as Sierra’s friend Clementine, and her brother Grant, and his fiancé Gavin. THE VIRGIN REPLAY is a sports romance story of attraction, secrets, lies and love, family and friendships. The fast paced premise is flirty and fun; the romance is seductive and sexy; the characters are energetic and charismatic.

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!