Lawson’s review of Game for Seduction by Bella Andre
Contemporary erotic romance released by Pocket 9 Sep 08

It’s fall, and during fall I love football. College football mostly (and surprisingly my team is doing surprisingly well this year, so I’ll put in a shameless plug for the Texas Tech Red Raiders, Wreck ‘em TECH!), but pro is good as well, since it’s football. When I got this book, it was a good thing, as it’s romance and football. Win-win situation for me all around, though it isn’t the type of book that I normally read.

The reason it’s not my normal sort of book, is it’s erotic romance, which I don’t see a lot of as I’m the Avon historical chick. I’m not complaining, it’s just a fact. Anyway, the book starts out at a photo shoot during the off-season. Melissa McKnight is representing her father’s firm for it’s best client, wide receiver Dominic DiMarco. Melissa has had a huge lust crush on Dominic for years, but she’s never acted on it thinking that Dominic thinks of her as just a little sister. In trying to get a promotion and her father’s respect, she instead pricks her own ego and goes to a sports star only bar seeking new clients.

Drinking too much Dominic ends up taking her home, where though she’s a bit impaired, she’s not plastered and she takes advantage of the situation. Dominic feels guilty and offers to be her client, instead of her father’s, but Melissa doesn’t want him to apologize or feel guilty. Dominic does because he’s always thought she’s off limits, being his agent’s daughter and his deep dark secret from his past. Dominic can’t keep his hands of Melissa, and they end up doing the deed in several places they shouldn’t.

Melissa has a few image issues, coming from an awkward childhood and a disapproving father, but she had a good head on her shoulders and took her fantasies with Dominic into real life. She was a generally likable character, wanting her independence and even though she couldn’t keep her hands off Dominic, she didn’t want him dominating her life. Dominic did get rather possessive of Melissa rather quickly, but he does have the aha! moment and realize that he shouldn’t be railroading her life.

What didn’t work so well was the resolution with Melissa’s disapproving father at the end, it felt a bit rushed. Also, the deep dark secret that Dominic had been carrying around didn’t seem to be something incredibly horrific or life changing. It’s repeated enough times that when the big revelation does come and the reader finds out about his past, it’s almost a side note, added to have the only little extra kink in the plot. The chemistry, anticipation and sex scenes are smoking hot, and definitely well written.

A good story for smoking hot chemistry, a pretty good love story, realistic characters and a touch of football.

Grade: B

Summary:

The daughter of a powerful sports agent, Melissa McKnight has harbored lust-filled fantasies for Dominic DiMarco ever since she was an awkward teenager, when the San Francisco Outlaws’ gorgeous wide receiver became her father’s superstar client. Now Melissa’s a beautiful, tenacious associate in her father’s firm, and being around to-die-for hard-bodies is all in a day’s work…until tangling with Dominic at a photo shoot blindsides her with passion.

Dominic has built a flawless career by being in control — on and off the field. And despite his intense desire for Melissa, he’s not about to seduce his agent’s daughter — until Melissa stages a power play to break free from her domineering father and winds up at an edgy bar on the wrong side of town. Dominic thinks he’s rescuing the innocent Melissa he met years ago…but one night of sizzling passion reveals a woman with no limits — including a penchant for hot sex in public places. If anyone’s breaking all the rules of seduction, it’s sexy, irresistible Melissa.

But Dominic has a secret from years ago — one that could ruin his sterling reputation and take Melissa along with him. Will his bad-boy past bind them closer together? Or will they crash and burn?

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series: