Blurb:
Everyone says I’m a bad girl. They’re only partly right—I don’t let fear rule me, and I certainly don’t care what people think. But I draw the line at sleeping with the enemy. As the daughter of Briar’s head hockey coach, I’d be vilified if I hooked up with a player from a rival team.
And that’s who Jake Connelly is. Harvard’s star forward is arrogant, annoying, and too attractive for his own good. But fate is cruel—I require his help to secure a much-coveted internship, and the sexy jerk isn’t making it easy for me.
I need Connelly to be my fake boyfriend.
For every fake date…he wants a real one.
Which means this bad girl is in big trouble. Nothing good can come from sneaking around with Jake Connelly. My father would kill me, my friends will revolt, and my post-college career is on the line. But while it’s getting harder and harder to resist Jake’s oozing sex appeal and cocky grin, I refuse to fall for him.
That’s the one risk I’m not willing to take.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Side Notes:
- Genres: Contemporary Romance, New Adult Fiction
- Highly recommend for 16 years and above
- TW: Alcohol, Drug addiction, Drug use, Loss of loved one (past, mentioned) Miscarriage (past, discussed), Misogyny (challenged), Panic attack, Sex (explicit), Substance abuse, Teen pregnancy
- 2nd book in the Briar U Series
Book Quotes:
- “Friends who say “I love you” every time you part ways are important. Those are the ones you need in your life.”
- “Want to make out some more before we go?” Jake’s tone is boyishly hopeful. “Nope.” His gaze turns devilish. “How about a blowjob?” “Aw, I appreciate the offer, but I don’t have a penis.”
- “A kiss, at its very core, is an emotional experience. Or at least it is for me. Anyone can give me an orgasm, but not everyone can touch my soul. One kiss can make me fall in love with someone.”
- “I am honestly starting to question evolution. We went from cavemen, to homo sapiens, to this incredible society of great minds—Alexander Graham Bell inventing telephones, Steve Jobs inventing…everything. And now we’re devolving. We’ve travelled back to cavemen, only nowadays we call them fuckboys.”
- “Safe drive back to Boston, Connelly. I’ve been told before that the roads get really wet when it’s raining.”
- “Can’t change the past, don’t cry over the present, don’t stress about the future. It’s all pointless, especially regret.”
- “She loops her arms around my neck, wraps her legs around my hips, and clings to me like a monkey, and some happy part of my brain does flips and jumping jacks and fucking triple axels because this is my wife.”
- “Losing is not supposed to crush your confidence. It’s meant to build it.”
- “And then I head toward our little hut without setting her down on her feet. She’s still wrapped around me like ivy, happy and cozy and warm in my arms. Just where she belongs.”
- “And don’t forget… If you mess with me, I mess right back.”
- “Hockey is a game. You’re my life.”
- “So please just tell me how (to make you love me again) … to fix this”
- “We root for each other. We’re good for each other. And I can’t wait to find out what the future holds for us.”
- “Since I met you, you’re all I think about. I’m fucking smitten.”
- “You are such a dumbass, Connelly. You made the biggest mistake of your dumbass life when you broke up with Brenna.” “I know.” “First of all, she’s gorgeous. It’s almost disgusting how gorgeous she is. She’s smart and witty and hilarious and—wait, what do you mean, ‘you know’?”
- “Jonah—you and Vi fuck like bunnies and it’s never affected your performance on the ice. So keep fucking like bunnies for all I care.”
- “Sorry, Daddy.” He snickers mid-bite, a few crumbs flying out of his mouth. He picks up his napkin. “You’re not allowed to call me that in public.” Mischief dances in his green eyes. “Save it for later.”
- “Of course we have chemistry,” she says, her perfect mouth inches from my face. “We both know we have chemistry. There’s never been a single doubt as to whether or not we have chemistry.” She flicks up an eyebrow. “So why don’t you cut this bullshit about needing to find out, and just tell me what you really want.”
- “Oh, Daddy. You’re so strict.” “I’m not your daddy.” His lips curve again. “Though I could be if you want.” “Oh gross. I’m not calling you ‘Daddy’ in bed.”
- “But the man I’m saying them to now? I have faith that he’ll always choose me, always choose us.”
- “There you are, babe,” drawls a familiar voice. “I’m sorry I’m late.”