Playing Hard to Get (The Players)

If there’s one thing I can proudly admit to is… I’m not a sports girlie. Don’t know much about sports, but ironically enough I love reading about sports romances! Also who loves seeing when the bookish, cute, quiet girl gets with the popular athlete from the university’s team?? Ummm Hello, ME! Can’t get enough of college romances as well since it makes me reminisce of my college days minus the attractive college athletes I never got to meet on campus (sigh). Anyways, this story was all about Joanna and Know, and how they went from a simple tutoring sessions to so much more! OMG! SO GOOD!Joanna and Knox were the complete opposites to one another, and yet sparks started to form between them. Joanna was the quiet, reserved, intelligent girl who was focused on just doing her thing at school while also living her newly single life as her boyfriend broke up with her. Knox on the other hand was the popular football player that everyone knew and many girls who fling themselves wanting to hook up with the handsome player. All in all, both Joanna and Knox were focused on entirely different things while attending the same university, but one day while walking into the school bookstore where Joanna worked, Knox found himself intrigued by the mysterious bookstore girl. I kind of loved seeing how Joanna wasn’t much of a football fan nor was she obsessed with Knox like majority of everyone else was. For Knox, he was use to living in the lime light, and having everyone adore him, so he was pretty shocked when Joanna was unaffected by his charms and good looks. Joanna obviously recognized that she liked how Knox looked, but she didn’t want to end up with a football player just like her mom did with her dad. With that in mind, it tied back into the title of, “Playing Hard to Get” because, Joanna wasn’t easy to get, and once Knox set his mind on Joanna, he was all in to get her.OH. MY. GOODNESS! The tension between Joanna and Knox was *muah chef’s kiss! From the moment leading up to their first kiss and then the kiss happening, I was internally screaming with joy! Yay! I feel like Knox definitely fell hard first for Joanna especially the way he got all “caveman” whenever he imagined any other guys wanting to approach Joanna or even when Cam said she was pretty, immediately Knox told Cam to back off Joanna. PHEW! Ma’am I had my water on stand by because, I WAS THIRSTY WITH THE WAY KNOX WAS IN THIS BOOK! Just the kissing part alone got my heart rate going.Scratch that, I was pretty much a goner the moment things got… ahem, STEAMY! WOO! If I were to describe the spice in this book, I would just use the exact words that Joanna said to Knox in what she wanted from him which were, “hot and filthy”. Joanna may have come off as quiet and reserved, but girl did she tell Knox EXACTLY WHAT SHE WANTED! YOU GO JO JO! GET THAT BIG D ENERGY! Knox was equally surprised and turned on by Joanna because, again the man was obsessed with her! Just when I thought it was all hot and passionate, Knox and Joanna surprised me again and again, and quite honestly had me all hot and bothered!!!!! OMG!The chemistry between Knox and Joanna was so palpable and electric that while reading there was no question that those two were falling in love. Not to mention, I couldn’t get enough of Knox and Joanna being together. The stamina those two had, as well as the way they explored each other’s bodies was downright sexy, and again I was left breathless! In conclusion, I loved the spice in this book, and the way Monica Murphy wrote the spice in this book was executed with perfection and of course BIG D ENERGY YASSS!I really loved Joanna’s personality and her in general. I felt a kinship with Joanna in that I also love to stay in, get comfy, and spend my day reading! That’s my soul sister right there! Plus just like her, I don’t really care much for sports, but like if I had a man such as, Knox inviting me to his football game then… I could possibly be persuaded to become a full fledged sports fanatic *wink, wink. Joanna had a sweetest to her that was endearing and obviously Knox loved that about her since he was completely obsessed with her. Even the way Joanna took it upon herself to help Knox with his dyslexia, and providing him all the necessary tools to help him in class was sweet.I legitimately devoured this book in a day! Could not stop myself from reading, couldn’t get enough of Joanna and Knox, and all the goodness that was this book! Phew! It was like a marathon, leaving me breathless, thirsty, and hot! I absolutely fell in love with Joanna and Knox. Joanna was like my fellow book loving bff, and I loved how sweet , relatable, and kind she was, but also took the initiative when necessary. Knox truly was the best book boyfriend, and lucky Joanna she got him all to herself! There were so many fantastic scenes in this book that made me swoon and smile, and occasionally laugh like when Knox stumbled upon Joanna’s spicy audio book (IYKYK!) I love sports romances, and this was top tier phenomenal! If I had a man like Knox, you can bet that I’d be at a football game cheering for my man! The spice was chef’s kiss, loved seeing the open communication between Knox and Joanna, and I can’t get over how amazing this story was. The epilogue definitely had teasers to what’ll happen next with Cam and Blair! Overall, fantastic in every way, and I’m never shutting up about this book! I’M IN LOVE!

I’m so happy that I decided to read ‘Playing hard to get’, it was just what I was looking for. A sweet, well written new adult story with no drama and wonderful characters. It was a very pleasant read and I’m looking forward to reading more stories in this new series.This new adult story is about Knox Maguire and Joanna (Jo Jo) Sutton. Both attend the same college but their paths never crossed until their unexpected meeting in the bookstore where Joanne works a few hours now and then. Knox is the popular football player and Joanna is the quiet girl who loves to read and doesn’t like football or going to parties.In recent years, Knox acted like the typical college football player, enjoying the attention of the many girls on campus and partying a lot but lately he’s not feeling it anymore. The stress of college, the pressure of playing great football and the emptiness of one-nightstands is getting to him. He decides to start his last year on college with a sole focus on studying and playing football. He even goes so far (after a conversation with his teammates) to make a vow of celibacy!!! But then he meets Joanna. Joanna just got out of a long-distance relationship with her high school sweetheart Bryan so she starts this college year as a single girl. From their first meeting there is a spark between them but their love story really starts when Knox needs an English tutor and Joanne is the one waiting for him in the library, from that moment it becomes very clear they’re meant to be and that Knox’s vow of celibacy will be broken at one point in the story. The only question remaining is when will ‘it’ happen.I really enjoyed this story. Knox and Joanne were great characters. At first glance they didn’t have much in common, yet there was something between them, a spark that started small but grew bigger and bigger and blossomed into something beautiful during the story.Yes, Knox was a big player in the past (on and off the field) but you could really feel that he was changing and ready for a relationship. He was very patience with Joanna and completely honest with her. He really tried his best to be a good boyfriend. He was a good guy with a kind heart. Joanna was wonderful too, she just got out of a relationship that wasn’t so good for her so she wasn’t looking for a new relationship but she couldn’t resist Knox. From the beginning Joanna trusted Knox and I loved that. And Knox treated her very well, he complimented her a lot which helped build her self-confidence. The banter between them was entertaining and the English lessons in the library were interesting (and steamy at times!). Knox and Jo Jo were a cute couple. I’m so happy that they found each other.‘Playing hard to get’ might be a ‘sweet’ story with no drama but it had some steamy and hot sex scenes in it. The story’s told from both POV’s.The secondary characters were great too, you had Knox’s younger sister Blair, his roommate Cam and Joanna’s roommate Natalie and her colleague in the bookstore Leon. All the characters were loyal and supportive. They were all great friends and I’m looking forward to their stories.(For the readers who read Owen Maguire’s romance story, Knox and Blair are his children. But if you haven’t read that story, there is no need to read that first.)‘Playing hard to get’ is definitely a story that I will reread in the future.

Oh y'all...I'm so completely in love with Knox Maguire and this book! It was just so heartbreakingly beautiful and sexy and so well written.Again I'm in love.That's the review...essentially lolI would one hundred percent read this over again to experience all that is Joanna and Knox. This is every quiet/book girl's fantasy come true in terms that not only does the star football player fall for the quiet and shy girl, but he also listens to her audiobooks. (I died laughing when Cam caught him red handed and he experienced what it was like for us to get caught reading smutty scenes in public.)And Knox wasn't even all that spectacular in that he did over the top things for Joanna. He just did the bare minimum, but that's so hard to find these days. There WAS this one scene when he had Joanna stand in the mirror and say things she loved about her body to get her to see herself the way he saw her, which was plain beautiful.And then when they expressed their love for each other? That scene made me laugh and cry. I was done for.Joanna was also so relatable and I loved reading her. I was glad that she was actually over Bryan and didn't let her past with her father deter her from being with Knox. Although I will say, her father never even came up so why it was a thing I don't know.The missing third act conflict was refreshing. And finally a sports romance where the father of the male protagonist isn't abusive. Instead we have a male heroine who comes from a loving and caring home where his parents are at every home game. I loved that.So thankful that Monica Murphy wrote this! I look forward to reading more of her backlist.

I loved this book. A new to me author, this story delivered everything I needed in a story, keeping me engaged, entertained and shipping hard for Knox and Jo.Hot scenes and deeply romantic elements made this story fulfilling and also introduced a host of side characters i can’t wait to hear more about.Bring on Cam and Blair

Sweet, funny and steamy, thought there isn’t much drama throughout, it is more of the journey of personal growth for each character without having to face any greater adversity other than their own fears, and even then it was pretty mild in that sense. The writing is pretty good and the author did a great job of creating interesting characters that pull you unto the story. This is very much a feel-good book if you want some fun without too much heartache.

He was the football hero and a player of the highest degree until he met Joanne. She ended up tutoring him in English and the pair of them fell in love. This is their story. Good book with a fluid storyline. One of those books it is hard to put down before the end.

Aaawww I love Knox! He is definitely not your typical jock and I love how he keeps discovering his feelings for Jo Jo and how they develop. Brilliant storyline, loveable characters, lots of steam! Cant wait for Camden and Blairs story x

This was my first read by this author and I really enjoyed it. Interesting characters and super hot college sports romance. Definitely looking forward to Cam and Blair's story next... There's something going on there!