Playing Defense

Playing Defense by Aven Ellis

After a string of bad set-ups and boring dates, Reese Brannon is done with men. She’s focused on her job as a fitness model and blogger. Her life in the city is fun. She’s young. There’s no need to look for a man because she doesn’t want one. Especially when relationships usually end in heartbreak.

Jean-Pierre Rochat—known as JP— is done with women. All this Swiss hockey player has ever wanted is to fall in love, but his relationships never end with a happily ever after. Believing he’s always going to be dealt the friend card, JP is over it. If he’s going to be stuck in the friend zone, he’ll keep things casual for his new endgame.

But will one hot Dallas summer night change everything for Reese and JP?

Because when the two meet again when JP returns for hockey season, Reese finds her attraction to him hasn’t waned since their first meeting. Charming and intelligent, JP is different in all the right ways, but Reese realizes letting him in will make her vulnerable, something that terrifies her. JP never forgot Reese from their initial introduction last winter, and the sparks fly for him even more so the second time. But with Reese, his thoughts are anything but casual . . .

Can JP and Reese let their guards down to take a chance on love? Or will this simply be a game of playing defense?**

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

They always say when you're not actively searching for love it'll find you every time. Reese was done dating, she was going to focus on her job and blog and spend time with her friends! Most of her friends are married or engaged to hockey stars. She's met JP but she hadn't had a chance to actually talk to him. One chance encounter at a burger joint after a modeling job leads to more than she was looking for and maybe more than she wanted. JP is sweet and smart. He wants more than a hookup, he wants it all and so he's fine with her suggestion that they are just friends.

JP wants to fall in love, he wants a real relationship but all he ever finds are crazies. Women that move too fast and some that think he moves too fast.   He happens to be at the same burger joint as Reese and while he thinks they could have more, he's good with just being friends for now.

These two were just effortless, they clicked. Both were a bit gunshy and I'm not saying that it was all roses and puppies but I just loved them together. The way this author writes its just so easy to fall in love with the characters. I feel like I'm in the story! Reese was strong and took care of herself but sometimes it's hard to let others take care of you. JP likes doing things for people so it's hard for him to understand Reese not wanting all the attention or needing him to buy her affection. They learn to love the little things with each other. I seriously can't wait for more of Aven's words. She's awesome. If you read any of her books you'll agree and if you leave a review it'd show you care!

**Goodreads summary