RELEASE DAY BLITZ, 5 STAR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny (Taking Shots #4) by Cindi Madsen

 

Release Date: May 8, 2017

Confession #1: I used to be a puck bunny, but after a hockey player broke my heart, I gave up all things hockey. Now I'm just focused on finding a way to pass my math class so I can graduate college.

Confession #2: Ryder "Ox" Maddox's deep, sexy voice sends fuzzy tingles through my entire body, and I'm powerless to stop it. Which is a big problem since the hot, surprisingly funny hockey player is my new math tutor.

Confession #3: I can't stop thinking about how ripped Ryder is from all his hockey training, and how fun it'd be to cross lines with him.

Confession #4: I kissed a hockey player and I liked it.

Confession #5: If I'm not careful, I might relapse and fall for Ryder, and then I'll be totally pucked.   

Goodreads

       

Purchase Links

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2oCTV04

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2pojTT8

iBooks: http://apple.co/2pkRD6P

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2p6eqUf

   

My Review

I received an advanced copy of this book with the promise of an honest review. 

Lindsay is a former puck bunny. It's something she wants to forget and has done a some what decent job of putting the past behind her. When she realizes that in order for her to pass her math glass and graduate, she will need to get a math tutor. Of course her math tutor comes in the form of the last person she expects to help her. Ryder happens to be one of those hockey players she is determined to stay away from, but if he has anything to say about it, Lindsay will forget all about that. 

I freaking loved Ryder. He was not only adorable, but I loved how he did not give up on Lindsay. He didn't care about her past and was determined to make Lindsay give him a shot...even if he had to bargain a little. 

“Anyone ever tell you that you’re kind of intense?”

“Says the girl who has a grudge against math, hockey, and, I’m starting to suspect, fun.”

I gasped and a slow smile spread across his face.

“I’m okay with a challenge. As I mentioned, once I set my mind on something…” He looked me up and down and heat licked at my skin, tracing the same path his eyes did. “I think the first order of business will be working on that grudge against math. Then we’ll shift to the one you have against hockey players.” He ran his fingers across his jaw. “I’d suggest starting by working with the very defenseman who wants to help you with math, and I’m pretty sure that’ll naturally solve the one against having fun.”

I lifted my chin. “I do not have a grudge against fun.”I should probably be more offended at his accusation, even if I had sort of forgotten what it was like to go out, no keeping my guard up, and just enjoy the moments as they came. But he’d said it lightly, more teasing, half challenge for sure, and despite how busy he was, he was offering to tutor me in his spare time.

Tutoring I desperately needed.

I didn’t want to have to owe him one. Lines still needed to be drawn, boundaries kept uncrossed. “What do you charge for private tutoring? If we’re not going to the tutoring center—and honestly I’d rather not—it seems like I should pay you. I wouldn’t want to take advantage of you.”

Mischief danced along the curve of his grin.“Feel free to take advantage of me anytime.”

I shook my head. “Walked right into that one.”

“Yes you did. Now, I’m hungry, you’re hungry, and if it makes you feel better, we’ll pretend the diner is the tutoring center and that we’re on the college’s dime.”

An internal debate took place in my head. That there were other tutors in the sea, so I’d find and pay one of them, even if I couldn’t afford it. Or I’d make do with the gruesome twosome in the tutoring center, because my tuition money already paid for that.

They’ll never get me in B range, my brain whispered.I told it to mind its own business, especially since it always took a break whenever Ryder was around, which was partially to blame for me being in this compromising position in the first place.

“How about this?” Ryder asked, obviously reading my hesitation.“For every tutoring session, we do something fun. That’s the payment plan.”

I arched an eyebrow. “And I suppose you get to decide what’s fun?”

“Well, you and fun aren’t acquainted enough for you to do it. Just consider me your intermediary.” I shot him a look and let out an exaggerated sigh, but honestly, it wasn’t a bad deal. I supposed I could afford a little fun. Maybe.

He put his hand on the small of my back. “Now come on, neither of us is getting any younger.”

It hit me that he was at least two years younger than I was, which made me feel like my mom all over again. But when he tilted his head toward the exit and gave me a gentle nudge, I decided it was perfectly acceptable for my math tutor to be younger than me, and for me to go on a few fun, friendly outings with said tutor.

The way my blood rushed to the spot where he’d put his hand? Probably not so acceptable, but I was too hungry and too desperate for math help to turn back now.

And what fun they have! And at first a lot of it is innocent stuff. Nothing sexual. Just two people having a good time together. Ryder knew that if he pushed Lindsay for too much, she would back away all together. So he just charmed his way into her heart (and mine). 

I just loved Lindsay and Ryder as a couple. Sure, there are reasons why they shouldn't be together or why some people think they don't make sense, but thankfully they realize that it doesn't matter what anyone else wants or thinks. And luckily their friends are on board as well. One of my favorite scenes is when everyone is all together, just being college kids and having a good time. Lindsay was hesitant to join their group because of her past, but they let her know right away that just like Ryder, they don't care about that. 

One thing all the books in this series have in common is the big groveling scene. LOVE. IT. Cindi sure knows how to make her men grovel. And just like the book before the one, none of that would even happen without the help of teammates and their girlfriends. They want things to work out almost as much as Ryder and Lindsay do. It's all about teamwork on and off the ice!  

This is another great book by Cindi and a wonderful addition to the series. A must read for those Taking Shots fans. 

Giveaway

$20 Amazon Gift Card

 

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Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b1257f8d51/?

 

 

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author Cindi Madsen sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting, revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she'd be even crazier. She has way too many shoes but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they're sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children.  

Connect with Cindi

Newsletter Sign Up: http://bit.ly/2h4vjrf

Facebook Author Page: http://bit.ly/2hhVKgt

Facebook Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2gDESNk

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Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2hlarv9

 

EXCERPT REVEAL & GIVEAWAY: Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny (Taking Shots #4) by Cindi Madsen

 

Release Date: May 8, 2017

Confession #1: I used to be a puck bunny, but after a hockey player broke my heart, I gave up all things hockey. Now I'm just focused on finding a way to pass my math class so I can graduate college.

Confession #2: Ryder "Ox" Maddox's deep, sexy voice sends fuzzy tingles through my entire body, and I'm powerless to stop it. Which is a big problem since the hot, surprisingly funny hockey player is my new math tutor.

Confession #3: I can't stop thinking about how ripped Ryder is from all his hockey training, and how fun it'd be to cross lines with him.

Confession #4: I kissed a hockey player and I liked it.

Confession #5: If I'm not careful, I might relapse and fall for Ryder, and then I'll be totally pucked.   

Goodreads

     

EXCERPT

I’d shown him my assignment, and Ryder started in on the machines while explaining the rules and concepts, not even needing to look at the book to know what I was talking about, which was kind of amazing.

As he spoke in that deep, tingle-inducing voice of his, I forced myself to focus on my textbook. I even managed two whole problems with very little input from him.

But then I asked him a question about functions, and midway through his explanation I stopped paying attention to the words. Instead, I noticed the way the veins in his arms popped out when he brought the handles of the pec fly machine together, the weight on the pulley system clanking when the weight slid back down. Then I was watching the muscles in his chest flex. My thoughts drifted to what he’d look like out on the ice, and that led to thinking about what he’d look like without his shirt on, those pecs he was working fully on display, and suffice it to say, the math concepts he’d been spouting off between grunting reps got lost somewhere in the hot swirls of lust and ovary implosions.

“Lindsay?” He sat up and wiped his forehead with the bottom of his shirt, and I caught a glimpse of drool-worthy ripped abs.

“Um, sorry.” I glanced down at my notebook, which had a smear of graphite that started as x to the third power before my pencil ran off the edge of the page, leaving a jagged line. “I got lost.”

“At which part?” He switched to the leg machine, adding more weight onto the sides.

The part where you started being too sexy. “I guess the beginning of this problem?”

He paused the movement that was causing the muscles in his thighs to flex and release, flex and release, and straightened. He gave me an inquisitive look that made me think I’d been busted checking him out. “Maybe we should take a break.”

“A break sounds good.” I set aside my textbook and notebook, happy to give up the pretense of doing math.

“Come ‘ere.”

“Why?”

“Because I said so.” His voice was low and more commanding than normal. Which must be why I stepped toward him. I hesitated a foot away, and he whipped out his arm, caught my hand, and pulled me closer.

My heart beat so hard I thought it might burst right out of my chest.

“Were you, or were you not, checking me out?”

“Are you high on testosterone right now?” I asked. He wasn’t usually so straightforward, and I wasn’t sure how to react to this version of Ryder. The confident way he’d called me out and jerked me toward him sent my hormones into overdrive, and set my in-danger-of-falling-for-a-hockey-player sensor on high alert.

“It’s possible.” He tugged my hand, bringing me close enough that my hip bumped his leg. “Now, how about you answer the question?”

“I may have been doing a little ogling.” I lifted my chin. It wasn’t like he didn’t know I was attracted. I’d pretty much laid it out before. “What? Friends can’t ogle their friends?”

“Shit, I hope that’s not a rule, or I’ve been breaking it all fucking morning.”

Purchase Links

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2oCTV04

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Ibooks: http://apple.co/2pkRD6P

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2p6eqUf

   

Giveaway

One ARC for Confession of a Former Puck Bunny and $5 Amazon Gift Card

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b1257f8d31/?

 

 

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author Cindi Madsen sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting, revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she'd be even crazier. She has way too many shoes but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they're sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children.  

Connect with Cindi

Newsletter Sign Up: http://bit.ly/2h4vjrf

Facebook Author Page: http://bit.ly/2hhVKgt

Facebook Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2gDESNk

Goodreads Author Page: http://bit.ly/2h4zDa4

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2h7rPoo

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2hl3sCy

Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2hlarv9

 

COVER REVEAL: Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny (Taking Shots #4) by Cindi Madsen

 

CONFESSIONS OF A FORMER PUCK BUNNY 

Taking Shots #4

Confession #1: I used to be a puck bunny, but after a hockey player broke my heart, I gave up all things hockey. Now I'm just focused on finding a way to pass my math class so I can graduate college.

Confession #2: Ryder "Ox" Maddox's deep, sexy voice sends fuzzy tingles through my entire body, and I'm powerless to stop it. Which is a big problem since the hot, surprisingly funny hockey player is my new math tutor.

Confession #3: I can't stop thinking about how ripped Ryder is from all his hockey training, and how fun it'd be to cross lines with him.

Confession #4: I kissed a hockey player and I liked it.

Confession #5: If I'm not careful, I might relapse and fall for Ryder, and then I'll be totally pucked.

CONFESSIONS OF A FORMER PUCK BUNNY RELEASES MAY 8, 2017!

Preorder: http://amzn.to/2nepQ2U

Cindi Madsen is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and young adult novels. She sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting, revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a pretty new pair, especially if they’re sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music and dancing and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children. 

You can visit Cindi at: www.cindimadsen.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter to get all the up-to-date information on her books. 

Connect with Cindi Madsen

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Rafflecopter Giveaway: Win ebook copies of Getting Lucky Number Seven & Anatomy of a Player by Cindi Madsen!

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RELEASE DAY BLITZ & REVIEW: Crazy Pucking Love (Taking Shots #3) by Cindi Madsen

Crazy Pucking Love (Taking Shots #3)

by Cindi Madsen

Release Date: November 7, 2016

 

Synopsis

I just met the girl of my dreams. Megan Davenport is funny and smart, and she’s as much of an insomniac as I am. She’s also my team captain’s little sister, which I only found out after our passionate kiss. Megan is completely off-limits—her brother makes that very clear—and I know better than to think I can keep a relationship going during hockey season anyway. But that doesn’t mean we can’t be late-night friends, right? The only problem is, love makes you do crazy things, like breaking all the rules.

 

Goodreads

Purchase Links

Amazon ~ http://amzn.to/2fjV75O

Barnes & Noble ~ http://bit.ly/2eog9LR

iBooks ~ http://apple.co/2eJcuew

Kobo ~ http://bit.ly/2eRyTDZ    

   

My Review

I received an advanced copy of this book with the promise of an honest review. 

Eeek! I love the best friend's sister trope. It's just so good! In this book we have Megan, Beck's sister and Beck's teammate Dane. Megan has transferred to Boston College as a way to start over. On one of her first nights there, she goes out and meets Dane. (Their meet cute is AMAZING.) They spend the night together (not in THAT way) and connect in a way that most people never get to experience. They are both thinking that they have met the perfect person and Dane realizes who she is. Beck has given his teammates the "my sister is off limits" speech to everyone and Dane heeds Beck's warning. But Megan is the first person who truly seems to understand him and he can't stop thinking about her. 

Meanwhile, after making a few poor life choices, Megan is trying to get her life back on track and as much as she tries to forget about Beck, she can't. When she's with him, she feels like herself and she genuinely likes him. And I can't really blame her. They were basically perfect for each other. They had lots of sweet moments but there was also this undeniable chemistry that existed between them. There is one scene where they are out with the group and they have to pretend that they aren't together. Hudson plays referee for Dane to keep his loving gazes in check and it was so funny and totally adorable. 

It was so obvious that Dane had it bad for Megan (and vice versa), but between hockey and some stuff going on at home, Dane makes a few bonehead decisions that threaten his newfound happiness. More than one person noticed the positive change in him once he met Megan and in true Taking Shots form, his grovelling scene was an excellent one. 

I just loved this book! It was sweet, funny and totally in line with the rest of the series. And of course we get to see Beck and Lyla as well as Hudson and Whitney. I loved how close Megan was to Lyla and Whitney. They understood what she was going through and at those moments when she needed them, they were there for her. Now bring on Ox's story!  :-)

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author Cindi Madsen sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting, revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she'd be even crazier. She has way too many shoes but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they're sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. 

She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children. Visit her at www.cindimadsen.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter and learn about upcoming releases. 

Cindi is the author of YA books All the Broken Pieces, Cipher, Rift, Resolution, and Demons of the Sun, and adult romances Falling for Her Fiancé, Act Like You Love Me, Resisting the Hero, Cinderella Screwed Me Over and Ready to Wed.  

Connect with Cindi

Newsletter signup: http://bit.ly/2dKsnQE

Facebook Author Page: http://bit.ly/2dGlGPa

Facebook Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2dr1jUj

Goodreads Author Page: http://bit.ly/2dr2jrw

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2ek4TDD

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2dGmkMx

Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2dWFNqX

Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card

 

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Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0cba4250362/?

   

   

   

COVER REVEAL & GIVEAWAY: Crazy Pucking Love (Taking Shots #3) by Cindi Madsen

Release Date: November 7, 2016

I just met the girl of my dreams.

Megan Davenport is funny and smart, and she’s as much of an insomniac as I am. She’s also my team captain’s little sister, which I only found out after our passionate kiss.

Megan is completely off-limits—her brother makes that very clear—and I know better than to think I can keep a relationship going during hockey season anyway. But that doesn’t mean we can’t be late-night friends, right?

The only problem is, love makes you do crazy things, like breaking all the rules. 

Goodreads    

  

Giveaway

$10 Amazon Gift Card & an ARC for Crazy Pucking Love

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0cba4250339/?

   

   

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author Cindi Madsen sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting, revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she'd be even crazier. She has way too many shoes but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they're sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children. Visit her at www.cindimadsen.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter and learn about upcoming releases. Cindi is the author of YA books All the Broken Pieces, Cipher, Rift, Resolution, and Demons of the Sun, and adult romances Falling for Her Fiancé, Act Like You Love Me, Resisting the Hero, Cinderella Screwed Me Over and Ready to Wed.  

Connect with Cindi

Newsletter signup: http://bit.ly/2dKsnQE

Facebook Author Page: http://bit.ly/2dGlGPa

Facebook Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2dr1jUj

Goodreads Author Page: http://bit.ly/2dr2jrw

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2ek4TDD

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2dGmkMx

Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2dWFNqX

 

BLOG PROMO & GIVEAWAY: Anatomy of a Player (Taking Shots #2) by Cindi Madsen

We're celebrating the release of Anatomy of a Player by Cindi Madsen!

Title: Anatomy of a Player

Author: Cindi Madsen 

Age: NewAdult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Entangled

Goodreads

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1JkQEJ6

iBooks: http://apple.co/1nAwqRN

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1P8gfp8

Nook: http://bit.ly/1QoddOH

Google Play: http://bit.ly/1JZLBhi

This bad boy is about to get played…

After getting her heart broken by a player again, Whitney Porter is done with men. She’s focusing on her future career and her first assignment at the college newspaper: Posing as a sports writer for an exposé on the extra perks jocks receive. But Hudson Decker, the bad boy of the hockey team, is about to test her resolve. To keep herself from breaking her no-sex rule with the temptingly tattooed athlete, she decides to use him for a side project: Anatomy of a Player, to help Whitney—and women everywhere—spot a player, learn what makes him tick, and how to avoid falling for one.

With his life spiraling out of control, Hudson Decker’s looking for a distraction. When his teammates bet him that he can’t land the gorgeous but prickly new reporter, he accepts the challenge, boasting he’ll have her in bed by the end of the semester. But Whitney is so much more than Hudson expected, and soon enough, he’s in too deep. The last thing he needs is another complication, but staying away isn’t an option. One thing’s for certain: this girl totally throws him off his game.

EXCERPT

The dinosaurs on the back edge of his desk caught my eye, and I moved over to them. I’d assumed they’d be more toy-like, but while they were plastic, the tiny intricate details were closer to a model or miniature museum exhibit than a toy. I reached for one, then hesitated. “Is it okay if I pick it up?”

Hudson’s forehead crinkled. “Yeah. I’m not super weird about them or anything.”

When I lifted it, though, he said, “Just be careful with the right leg. It came loose in my last move, and I haven’t fixed it yet.” The smile I attempted to smother refused to keep itself on the down low, and a hint of exasperation crept into his expression. “I think the fact that I haven’t fixed it yet proves I’m not super weird about them.” He gave my shoulder a little shove. “I should’ve just let the leg come loose, then you’d feel bad and stop poking fun.”

I pushed him back, a flutter going through me when my hand pressed against his rock-hard arm. “Stop shoving me or you’ll be the one who breaks it.”

After a mini stare-down that only made the butterflies spread from my stomach to my chest, I ran my finger over the rough “skin” of the dinosaur. Then I moved to feel its sharp teeth. Between the fangs and the funky crest thing on its head, it did look pretty badass—not that I’d tell Hudson that. Yet.

“What kind of dinosaur is it?” I asked.

Hudson sat on the edge of the desk and crossed his legs at the ankle, the hurt one on top. “Dilophosaurus.”

“Give me some fun facts.”

He was rather reluctant about it, so I lifted the dinosaur in front of my face and lent my voice to it. “Come on. You know everything about me. Are you seriously going to play dumb to impress a girl?”

Hudson shook his head—and there was even an eye roll—but a grin slowly worked its way across his lips. “They’re early Jurassic Period dinosaurs, they were most likely piscivorous, and—”

“Wait. I don’t know what the piscivorous thing means.”

“That they ate fish. Their teeth aren’t quite big enough for taking down larger prey”—he pointed at the needle-like teeth and then moved his finger up to the holes next to the orange crest on its skull—“and they have retracted nasal openings. Plus they’ve found swim tracks that indicate as much.”

I grinned, and he reached out and pinched my side. “Stop it.”

“Stop what?”

“Looking at me like I’m adorable.” He circled the air between him and the dino. “I’m badass, my dinosaurs are badass.”

I placed my hand on the desk next to his leg and leaned in. “I’ve seen you play hockey. I know all about how badass you are.” He was also adorable, though—especially right now—and I couldn’t resist leaning in and giving him a kiss.

He lifted his hand and cupped my cheek, holding me captive in his gaze for a few seconds before returning his lips to mine. The kiss wasn’t nearly as intense as our first—just a little bit of lips and tongue, without the full-body contact—but it still sent desire thrumming through my veins.

“Okay, so how big is it?” I asked.

“Are we still talking about the dinosaur?”

I gasped, and he laughed, the full deep sound echoing through my chest and sending my pulse off and running again.

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

USA Today Bestselling author Cindi Madsen sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting, revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she'd be even crazier. She has way too many shoes but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they're sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children.

Visit her at www.cindimadsen.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter and learn about upcoming releases.

Cindi is the author of YA books All the Broken Pieces, Cipher, Rift, Resolution, and Demons of the Sun, and adult romances Falling for Her Fiancé, Act Like You Love Me, Resisting the Hero, Cinderella Screwed Me Over and Ready to Wed.

REVIEW TOUR, 4 STAR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Anatomy of a Player (Taking Shots #2) by Cindi Madsen

We're celebrating the release of Anatomy of a Player by Cindi Madsen!

Title: Anatomy of a Player

Author: Cindi Madsen 

Age: NewAdult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Entangled

Goodreads

This bad boy is about to get played…

After getting her heart broken by a player again, Whitney Porter is done with men. She’s focusing on her future career and her first assignment at the college newspaper: Posing as a sports writer for an exposé on the extra perks jocks receive. But Hudson Decker, the bad boy of the hockey team, is about to test her resolve. To keep herself from breaking her no-sex rule with the temptingly tattooed athlete, she decides to use him for a side project: Anatomy of a Player, to help Whitney—and women everywhere—spot a player, learn what makes him tick, and how to avoid falling for one.

With his life spiraling out of control, Hudson Decker’s looking for a distraction. When his teammates bet him that he can’t land the gorgeous but prickly new reporter, he accepts the challenge, boasting he’ll have her in bed by the end of the semester. But Whitney is so much more than Hudson expected, and soon enough, he’s in too deep. The last thing he needs is another complication, but staying away isn’t an option. One thing’s for certain: this girl totally throws him off his game.

My Review

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Whitney's "playdar"is on the fritz. Her most recent boyfriend turned out to be a jerk and she has had it. She swears off men, at least the ones of the player variety, and basically begs for a job on the school newspaper. Her first job is to write an article on how athletes at her school get preferential treatment, as well as cover the hockey team, which is funny because she knows nothing about hockey. Whitney also takes it upon herself to make herself look less attractive because she feels that people will take her more seriously. 

As a member of the school's hockey team, Hudson is one of those people that gets preferential treatment, but personal problems and a heavy course load is stressing him out. When Whitney comes into the locker room after a game looking to interview the team, Hudson finds that he is intrigued by her. He accepts a bet (ugh!) from his teammates and starts on his journey to win Whitney over. 

I liked that Hudson and Whitney were friends at first. They were so comfortable with each other and had a great rapport. 

Once I trusted my voice, I said, “Now you know my nerdy secret. I love documentaries.”

“I can’t really comment on the nerdiness, can I? Because there were conditions against mocking it, and I’m afraid of what you’ll do to me if I cross you.” The teasing tone made it clear how little I scared him.

Too bad I couldn’t exactly say the same about him. He scared me in ways I couldn’t understand, even as I told myself I was controlling this situation by making him part of a study. That I was…

He slipped his fingers between mine, tightening his grip on my hand, and my heart relocated to my throat. Control the situation. Do…something.

I licked my lips. “Everyone’s got at least one nerdy thing about them,” I said, echoing what Lyla had told me. “What’s yours?”

I waited for the denial, or the smirk accompanied by a flirty “Don’t you want to know,” but he said, “Dinosaurs. I know a ridiculous amount about dinosaurs.”

“Really?” I asked, and he nodded, a boyish grin playing on his lips.

“Tell me more.”

“What’s there to tell?” He shrugged a shoulder. “Do you want to know the fastest dinosaur—Ornithomimids. Or that the biggest—well, the one with the most convincing evidence of being the biggest—is the Argeninosaurus?”

A lightness entered my chest, the floaty sensation making it impossible not to be sucked further into Hudson’s magnetic pull.“I did want to know that. So, when did you get hooked on dinosaurs?”

“For Christmas one year, a lady I knew gave me a huge book on them—I was about six or seven. They were big and tough, and I read that book over and over, until I had it memorized. After that, any money I had went to collecting dinosaur books and figurines.”

“Aw, that’s so cute.”

His dark eyebrows drew low over his eyes. “It’s not cute—dinosaurs are not cute. If we were at my place, I’d show you how scary my dinosaurs are—there are sharp teeth involved.”

“Wait,”I said, twisting so I could see his face better but also keep holding his hand. “You’re saying you have dinosaur figurines in your room right now?”

“It’s not like…I didn’t…There’s just one or two on my desk. They’re badass.”

I bit back a smile and nodded. “Got it.”

Whitney tried her bet to resist Hudson and was able to do it, but while she profiled him as a player, Hudson was much more than that. He opens up to her and tells her things that he has never told anyone. He ends up trusting her completely and it ends up backfiring, but not in the way you would think. 

I enjoyed this book, but it was the end that made me love it. Hudson makes a grand gesture that had me swooning all over the place. He may have been a player before he met Whitney, but she helped him realize that he wanted more. 

I love this series so far! We got a little Beck & Lyla (she is Whitney's roommate and Beck is Hudson's teammate) in this book as well as Dane, Hudson's roommate and teammate. The author creates great characters and I look forward to seeing what the author has for us next!

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USA Today Bestselling author Cindi Madsen sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting, revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she'd be even crazier. She has way too many shoes but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they're sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children.

Visit her at www.cindimadsen.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter and learn about upcoming releases.

Cindi is the author of YA books All the Broken Pieces, Cipher, Rift, Resolution, and Demons of the Sun, and adult romances Falling for Her Fiancé, Act Like You Love Me, Resisting the Hero, Cinderella Screwed Me Over and Ready to Wed.