Getting Played by Emma Chase was such a delightful read, and it’s now available on all retailers!
A magnificent new romance by New York Times bestselling author Emma Chase.
Dean Walker is all about keeping life simple. He’s effortlessly talented and intelligent—spending his summers playing drums in the local band and the rest of the year teaching high school in the same Jersey town where he grew up. He likes his love life simple too, enjoying the commitment-free hook-ups his good looks and sexy charm have always made oh so easy.
Then he meets Lainey Burrows. And his simple, easy life gets turned upside down.
One wild one-night stand was all it was ever supposed to be, so Lainey is shocked when she discovers that her sizzling summer fling is also her son’s new math teacher. But that’s nothing compared to the most unexpected twist of all—their hot hook-up left Lainey knocked up, and now they’re about to become parents. Together.
What ensues is an addictive, insatiable, sweet and tender romance that won’t be simple, but it will be more than worth the fight.
A stand-alone, contemporary romance.
Emma Chase’s romances are always such a delight, and I am just loving her Getting Some Series! Getting Played is the second standalone, and Dean and Lainey’s story was full of witty and laugh out loud moments and so incredibly sweet and heartwarming to boot!
Dean and Lainey’s characters were both so fun and relatable!
I really enjoyed Lainey’s role as a lifestyle blogger with her Life with Lainey series and her fun household cleaning, refinishing, and decorating tips. She had such an open quality about her, and I really loved her appreciation of all things big and small. Although Lainey definitely had some curveballs thrown her way over the years, she had such an optimistic outlook and was the type to always turn a basketful of lemons into lemonade!
‘It’s all surprising – every moment. Life can be a bitch… but she’s never boring.’
As a drummer, teacher, and coach, Dean was endearing and truly full of heart. He had such charisma and caring nature with his students and always took the time to understand and nurture those around him. Dean was also really funny, and I loved that he was so honest and didn’t try to sugarcoat his past man-whoring ways. Honestly, he was a really swoon-worthy and stand up guy!
‘My grandson is like a bowl of cake batter, Lainey. All the ingredients are there, just waiting for the right flame to come along. Once he’s done cooking, he’s going to be an exquisite piece of cake. I’m old – I know these things. You just wait and see.’
Together Dean and Lainey’s passion was just combustible! I loved their respect for each other, and although their relationship wasn’t necessarily easy, they just fit so perfectly. Their romance just seemed so natural, and I really enjoyed that it wasn’t overly angsty either.
‘His voice is warm and rough – like heated sand brushing slowly over your skin. And he’s got an aura around him- the cocky, vibrant kind – that sucks in every woman within a ten-foot radius, like a hot alien tractor beam.’
Chase did such a wonderful job with Dean and Lainey’s romance, and her witty humor and creative storyline captured my feelings and made for such an enjoyable read. She always adds little nuances like music into her stories that make them feel so fun and relatable. Hell, I could even relate to Dean’s situation with his cat Lucy or ‘Lucifer’, since I also have one of my own. And don’t forget the prairie voles and that damn audiobook with its determination in playing when its least appropriate – this has happened so many times to me that I could just not hold back my laughter!
I also want to mention how much I loved the secondary characters in the story as well, including Lainey’s son Jason, Dean’s Grams and her ‘Gray Army’, Lainey’s family, and of course, it was also great to see Garrett and Callie from the previous book Getting Schooled. Their relationships and small-town family feel were fantastic, and the way the town came together to support Dean and Lainey was really touching!
Getting Played was such a delightful and heart-warming read, and I highly recommend checking out this series if you are looking for all-around fun and feel-good romances!
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Download your copy of Getting Played today!
Dean
I find Lainey in the living room—standing on a ladder, with those long, toned legs peeking out from itty bitty cotton black shorts and a power drill in her hand, while Bruce Springsteen sings “I’m Goin’ Down” from a speaker in the corner.
And, dear God—the things I could do to her on that ladder.
Wonderful, filthy things that instantly make my heart pound and my cock throb. She’s the perfect height for me to just walk over there and put my mouth between her legs. I picture it, see it in my mind—the way she’d grip my hair and pant my name, arch her back and writhe against my face . . .
But then I catch sight of the small bump of her stomach, and reality smacks me in the head. I think about the baby—and how making Lainey lose her mind three feet off the ground wouldn’t be the safest option. My protective instinct overrides the desire to get freaky on the ladder.
“Hey, Dean.” She sets the drill on the ledge and picks up a beeping light green rectangle, running it along the wall.
“What are you doing up there?” I ask.
I don’t have a decorative bone in my body, but the room looks good—with light gray walls and navy corduroy covered couches, reclaimed wood tables and a dozen different-sized candles filling the white-washed brick fireplace. It’s clean and simple but warm, the kind of place you’d look forward to coming back to every day.
“I’m going to hang up those boards.” Lainey gestures to three square planks, with ornamental arrows burned black into the wood. “I just want to make sure this stud-finder works.”
“If you’re looking for a stud,” I wink, “I’m standing right in front of you.”
“Ha-ha. I’ll keep that in mind.”
She turns back to the wall, reaching up over her head and stretching onto her tippy toes on the narrow step. I move under the ladder to catch her if she goes ass over end, and a stab of terror slices through me at the thought that Lainey would still be doing this if I wasn’t here. Alone. Without Jason even in the room in case something went terribly wrong.
What the hell is up with that?
“I read that you’re not supposed to reach above your head when you’re pregnant.”
“That’s just an old wives’ tale.”
I wrap my hands around her hips, holding her steady.
“Maybe the old wives knew what they were talking about. Come on, come down.”
Slowly, Lainey lowers her arms and turns in my hands. I lift her off the ladder by her hips, tilting my head back and holding her above me for a moment, before sliding her slowly down. And the feel of her softness rubbing against me, the friction—it’s fantastic.
When her feet are on the ground, I dip my head and our faces are just millimeters apart. Close enough to count the sprinkle of cute, light freckles that dust the bridge of her nose.
“That’s better,” I say softly, taking the stud-finder out of her hands. “I’ll do it.”
“Okay.” Lainey’s tongue peeks out, wetting her bottom lip. “Thanks.”
Like I said . . . fucking killing me.
***
New York Times bestselling author Emma Chase writes contemporary romance novels known for their clever banter, emotional, and sexy, swoonworthy moments. Her books have been translated into over twenty languages around the world.
Emma lives in New Jersey with her amazing husband, two spirited children, and two adorable, but badly behaved dogs. She has a long-standing love/hate relationship with caffeine.
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DG Book Blog 
I really, really want to read this one. I need to suck it up and buy it already! I want the happy feelings you got from reading it.
I really hope you do – it was very sweet! Loved the first one too if you haven’t gotten a chance to read it as well. I’m going to get caught up on your posts over the weekend…As usual, I’m a bad, bad, bad blogger!
You are not! You’re just busy! 🙂
Wonderful review, DG💜 I’m an Emma Chase fan!
Thanks Jonetta! She’s pretty easy to review, her books are always just so fun and happy! ❤️
I’m back to tell you I ADORED this book! It’s one of my faves by her now!
YAY! I’m so glad to hear!! Did you read the first one too?
Yes! I liked this one even better.
I love these characters and the town and just really everything about it!
Me, too! I want a next book soon.