Book Review: Playing Dirty by Jennifer Echols

NOTE: I received this book via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Thanks!

I've read two books by this author. The one I loved (The Ex Games) and the other came out below average (Love Story). So I thought I'd give her a chance to win my better opinion.

I was surprised.

First, because I was clearly not expecting a HOT New Adult title. And second, because I ended up loving it! I loved the drama, the characters, the complications. It was so well put together, that I couldn't help it - I just had to go on and on until the end.

Sarah works for Stargazer - a company that helps keep music artists/bands on track with their contracts when major drama seems to overwhelm them. One such band is The Cheatin' Hearts. They're a country band that gained huge popularity and became one of the nation's favorites. There's just one problem - they seem to be falling apart. So, Sarah is sent over to make them record an album in time for their Fourth of July concert.

She did not expect to find what she did though. I was impressed by her observant skills, though she got some things completely wrong. But Sarah had a quick wit, a good head on her shoulders and a heart open for real love. She was daring, though she only believed she acted it out. She was pretty, and she had the means to make any man fall head over heels for her. It just had to be the right man.

The band was a curious thing in and of itself. All four members of it, were medically educated. There was a nurse, a doctor and I'm sorry I couldn't remember Erin and Owen's professional credentials. They were an odd bunch with (mostly) no secrets among them. And they had three very important rules set up:
1. No one sleeps with Erin
2. No drugs
3. No sleeping with representatives of the record company

Tough ones, seeing that none of them were being kept. And oh, the rules were being broken secretly.

The Cheatin' Hearts lead singer, Quentin, is rumored to be a drug addict. The truth was completely different, but no one believed him, so he'd decided to go with the flow. Besides his rumored addiction had gotten the band a contract. From then on, Quentin had turned into a band script writer - i.e. he determined what their publicity should entail. Most of the drama that happened around them was just a set up, a plot to make the news, to gain fans, to be popular. I ended up loving his brains :)

Martin was the drummer and the drug addict (on heroin), who was entirely too obvious about his addiction. But what amazed me was that he had his wits about most of the time. Is that possible? I'm not really informed. I liked him though, how cool he was in dangerous situations. How fast to act appropriately when everyone else was dumbstruck. I hope he gets clean in the next book or something.

Owen and Erin had a secret of their own. It was obvious to me and to Sarah. Even before anyone else got the chance to figure out what was going on, she had it resolved.

I guess that's about it. It was a quick, enjoyable read with several hot scenes that had my cheeks flaming. Gah! Too much said.

My rating is