Overall Grade: A- / B+
Tropes: bodyguard romance; forbidden relationship; new adult romance; former celebrity; grump/sunshine
Rebecca Jenshak’s Tempting the Player is my favorite of her Campus Wallflowers series. I believe it has a lot to do with its ability to wrap up a beloved series while potentially launching a new one. Even more, Jenshak has drawn Jane and Hendrick in such a way that they grab your attention from the start of their story. I was obsessed with Hendrick’s want to protect Jane from an outside threat. His grumpy, closed-off exterior was unraveled with Jenshak’s deft pacing. His story is particularly heartfelt as he navigates re-entering his family after a time away, a situation fraught with angry feelings and worry over his leaving again. Jenshak uses Jane’s need for protection as the perfect catalyst for Hendrick’s reconciliation with his brothers.
Jane’s story arc is the foundation of Tempting the Player, as she must navigate an outside threat, the renewed attention of fans, and a hold on the normalcy of life she’s created since starting at Valley U. The suspense portion of Jenshak’s story is no surprise, even though Jenshak tries to put us off the trail with other characters. Even though I was able to figure out the person threatening Jane, Jenshak shows her skill as a seasoned romance writer in the navigation of Hendrick and Jane’s burgeoning forbidden relationship. Their chemistry and attraction are easy distractions in her story.
Lastly, I absolutely loved Hendrick’s brothers, and I’m hoping there are future stories for this motley crew of “lost boys” – there is no better term for them. Jenshak has crafted them in such a way that makes them intriguing, specifically his brothers, Knox and Archer. You’ll find me downloading these stories, if Rebecca Jenshak decides to write them.
Tempting the Player is a beautiful end to this series of female friends. Yes, it keeps us at Valley U longer, and it entwines itself with Jenshak’s beloved hockey and football teams. But this sweet sentence near the end of the book, “a few weeks later, four wallflowers gather in the living room of their off-campus house,” brought feelings of nostalgia and felt like an homage to the oft-mentioned Pride and Prejudice (from this series) and Little Women. There is nothing better to read than four friends who support and love each other through the ups and downs of falling in love.
In love and romance,
Professor A
Professor Romance 