Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Book Review: Beautiful Player (Beautiful Bastard #3) by Christina Lauren

Hanna "Ziggy" Bergstrom is a 24 year old graduate student in New York City and she has completely immersed herself in school and research, leaving little time for a social life. Scratch that; she has zero social life. So her big brother Jensen decides to stage an interventions and tells her she needs to start living. His big plan is for her to contact his best friend Will who lives close by in NYC.

Will Sumner has been a player since he discovered sex as a young teenager. He doesn't think that is a bad thing. His lovers know the score: he is not looking for anything more than just sex and he has multiple lovers scheduled for specific days of the week. (Um, ew!) Lately, however, his arrangements aren't satisfying him like they once did.

When his best friend asks him to help his baby sister get into the social scene, Will is happy to oblige. After all, The Bergstrom's have been like a second family to him. But he is expecting the awkward "Ziggy" that he knew 12 years ago, not the beautiful woman standing in front of him.
While Hanna still finds Will ridiculously attractive all these years later, she knows that he is still a player, so she decided that she is going to learn from him. Learn how to date and maybe even learn what men like in the bedroom. The two soon develop a fun friendship, but it is increasingly difficult for them to keep their hands off each other. For the first time ever, Will wants more from a woman, but Hanna isn't ready to have the "where is this going?" conversation. She knows what Will is like and she is determined not to fall for him. But how long can she avoid the conversation before it backfires?

I absolutely love the Beautiful Bastard series and Beautiful Player was so much fun to read. I did not put this book down until I was finished: it came with me to the bus stop, the grocery store and to various locations throughout my house. Let me be honest about what I love most in these books: the sex is off the charts hot. The authors know how to create really sexy heroes and when I was done with this I started having Will withdrawals. Now he is no Max (Beautiful Stranger), who makes a few appearances with his sexy as hell British accent, but he is a close second. I loved that Will was the first in this couple to realize that what he and Hanna has was special. If only he was better about opening his mouth and saying it to her.

It was as if I'd been plugged into an outlet, every inch of my skin alive and buzzing with heat. I stared down at her: breasts moving with the force of my thrusts, skin sweaty and perfect, angry red bite marks from my teeth all over her neck, shoulders, and jaw. But when I looked up and met her eyes, I lost it. She was staring at me and it was her - Hanna, this girl I saw every morning and fell in love with a little bit more every single time she opened her mouth.

Hanna was funny and down to Earth and I immediately connected with her. I loved that she doesn't hold her tongue around Will and asks whatever is on her mind. It definitely keeps him on his toes and creates a lot of humor and witty innuendo laced banter between the two. There is one scene with a small Jesus statue that is literally laugh out loud hilarious. While physically these two are amazing together, their communication skills leave little to be desired. It was so frustrating watching these two dance around exclusiveness and commitment. Will finally wants a real relationship with just Hanna but Hanna thinks he is still Player Will so she keeps acting aloof which in turn makes Will think she just wants to be friends with benefits. Round and round we go... gah! Will these two finally open their mouths and discuss what they really want and how they truly feel?

Beautiful Stranger is still my favorite book in this series because I love Max, but Beautiful Player and Will are right up there. Once again the duo of Christina Lauren put together a book filled with genuine characters, humor and down and dirty sex. Now I just need to go back and read the novellas so I am all caught up!

Excerpt
"I hate to ask the obvious, but what are you looking at?"

He tilted his head, studying me from a different angle. "Your boobs look different."

"Don't they look awesome?" I took one in each hand. "As you know, Chloe and Sara helped me pick out new bras. Boobs have always been sort of a problem for me."

Will's eyes widened. "Boobs are never a problem for anyone. Ever."

"Says the man without a pair. Boobs are functional. That's it."

He looked at me with genuine fire in his eyes. "Fucking right they are. They get the job done."

I laughed, groaning. "They aren't funcitonal for you, frat boy."

"Wanna bet?"

"See, the problem with boobs is if you have big ones, you can never look thin. You get these burns on your shoulders from bra straps, and your back hurts. And unless you are using them for their intended purpose, they're always in the way."

"In the way of what? My hands? My face? Don't you blaspheme in here." He looked up to the sky. "She didn't mean it, Lord. Promise."

Ignoring him, I said, "That's why I had a reduction when I was twenty-one," which is when his expression morphed into one of horror.

You'd have though I told him I mad an amazing stew from tiny babies and puppy tongues.

"Why on earth would yo do that? That's like God giving you a beautiful gift and you kicking him in the nuts."

I laughed. "God? I thought you were agnostic, science man."

"I am. But if I couold motorboat perfect tits like yours I might be able to find Jesus."

I felt my blush warm my cheeks. "Because Jesus lives in my cleavage?"

Not anymore he doesn't. Your boobs are to small for him t be comfortable in there." he shook his head, and I couldn't stop laughing. "So selfish, Ziggs," he said, grinning so widely that I actually stumbled a little.


Marianna's Rating:


**I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Title: Beautiful Player
Author: Christina Lauren
Series: Beautiful Bastard #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotica
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/book/show/17831614-beautiful-player
Website: www.christinalaurenbooks.com
Twitter: @seeCwrite, @lolashoes
Facebook: www.facebook.com/beautifulbastard

Book Blurb:
When Hanna “Ziggy” Bergstrom moves to New York City for graduate school, Will Sumner thinks his responsibilities to his best friend’s nerdy little sister will be limited to the occasional dinner and check-in. Little does he know that Ziggy is ready to break out of her bookworm academic shell and move more into bombshell territory. Of course she figures the gorgeous womanizing venture capitalist Will is the best person to help mentor her in this new field of study: dating.

Will takes on the challenge with more than a healthy dose of skepticism and humor, but soon finds that Ziggy just needed a tiny push, not a world of change, to reveal a woman every man seems to notice. Soon “Ziggy” is gone and the unfiltered, innocently seductive Hanna Bergstrom is hijacking his dreams, his moods, and even his orderly no-strings-attached dating life—beginning the night his mentoring activities move between the sheets.

Buy:







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37 comments:

  1. I haven't read it yet, but I've heard how great it is!! Plus I also the the title, lol. I'd be super excited to win and read this awesome series. Thank you so much for the chance!

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  2. I haven't read any of these yet. I have heard amazing things about them though and it would be awesome to have all of them so I could read them.

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  3. I loved loved loved Beautiful Bastard. That was my favorite. I have read Beautiful Bitch as well. I want to read the whole series.

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    1. I loved Beautiful Bastard too and then I read Beautiful Stranger and it blew me away. Love Max!

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  4. I love the books cant wait to read the newest one

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  5. I haven't read them yet but I am very excited for a chance to win them. Beautiful Bastard has been on my wish list for awhile now!!! Fingers crossed!!!

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  6. I haven't read this series yet, but they are on my wishlist! I've been waiting anxiously to read them - everything I've heard has been wonderful!
    Thank you so much for this opportunity!

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  7. Love them all! Love the funny, witty, hot writing!

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  8. I haven't yet but I have the first and I can't wait!

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  9. I just loved Beautiful Bastard! So good!

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  10. I haven't read any of these, but I have to say I love the titles!

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  11. I've only read Beautiful stranger and I loved it!

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  13. I've only read Beautiful Bastard and I loved it!! I can't wait to read the rest of the series! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  14. I have not read any books in this series yet, but it is on my to-read list. I want to read this series because I love this genre of book and have read so many great reviews of the books in the series. I also loved the blurbs and excerpts I have read so far, sounds like a sexy thrill ride!

    cguidroz2@cox.net

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  15. I haven't read them yet, but I've heard GREAT things about the series!!

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  16. OMG!!! I LOVED Beautiful Bastard! That book was HAWT!!! Thanks so much for the giveaway!

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  17. I haven't read them yet, but I've heard that they are freaking amazing!

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  18. I haven't read them but would love too.

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  19. I have heard tons, but haven't read them yet. Mostly because they cost more than $2 for ebook (:

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  20. I haven't read any books in the series, yet. They are on my TBR list. I've just heard so many good things about this series, it makes me want to read them. Plus reading the blurbs also has got my interest into the books.

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  21. I read the first two books but not the rest cant wait to read them!! I love the series so far...

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  22. I loved Beautiful Bastard and Beautiful Bombshell are my favorite so far!

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  23. i have all the books in this series ...cant wait to start to read them

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  24. I'm ashamed to say that I haven't read this series yet, but I'm looking forward to reading it. I've heard great things about it and can't wait. Thank you for the amazing giveaway!

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  25. I haven't read this series yet, but I'm excited to because they sound really good - and I've heard such great things!!

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  26. TY!! This is a great giveaway <3

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  27. Beautiful Bastard has been my favorite so far. I loved the story and the characters.

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  28. I haven't read any of them yet...heard good things about them though. AND I LOVE actual BOOKS! like real paper ones :)

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  29. I haven't read them yet but ive heard a lot of great reviews

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  30. I haven't read any of your books but they are in my journal of Too Read Books. I keep track of books I want to read and take it with me to the book store. Your books look very appealing and I would love to win the set in the contest. Good Luck to everyone :)

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  31. I've not read this series yet. I have heard great things about this series and it makes me wanna read them.

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  32. I have not read them as of yet but I have friends that have and told me they were great. One of them is my twin so I know if she liked them I will. Thank you for the chance!!!

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  33. Thank you so much for this giveaway! I have only read the first book, but the rest are on my list to finish by the end of the year!

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  34. I've read Beautiful Bastard and Beautiful Stranger. Bought Beautiful Player and am waiting on Beautiful Bitch and Beautiful Bombshell from the library. I thought Both that I've read were awesome and can't wait to read the rest in the series. I am so looking forward to reading them.

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  35. I haven't read any, because I've been waiting to see how many there will be! I sooo hate waiting between books of a series!
    Thanks so much for the giveaway!

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