Review: Mal's story - major book boyfriend material
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 9, 2014
I adored Mal Ericson in Lick, and my adoration for him sky rocketed in Play. Kylie Scott created an amazing character in the drummer for the popular band, Stage Dive. Mal is a very complicated man who creates a persona as the easy going, fun loving playboy. His one liners and sarcastic rants had me cracking up nonstop in this book. But underneath all of the comedic remarks lies a man who’s hiding some pretty big secrets, and even though he’s not one to show his true colors in front of those he doesn’t know and/or trust, there’s something about Anne Rollins that has him invading her life and not taking no for an answer.Fixer…pleaser…door mat – These are all terms that can be used to describe Play’s heroine. The book starts with Anne’s roommate ditching her because she didn’t have the money to pay Anne back what she owed her. This leaves Anne in a bind because rent is due, and she can’t cover it. I guess you could say that Mal invades Anne’s life at the perfect time. After overhearing Anne’s conversation about her situation, Mal swoops in, moves in, and covers Anne’s rent without her even knowing. Anne soon learns that Mal has ulterior motives for helping her; he needs a pretend girlfriend for reasons that he’s unwilling to share. Reluctantly, Anne agrees because Mal is willing to help her out as well. What follows is a game of pretend boyfriend and girlfriend. The only question is…what happens when their relationship goes from make believe to reality?Mal Ericson – he has to be my favorite book boyfriend of all time! He definitely fits the requirements: he’s a hot as hell rockstar who exudes confidence. He’s both cocky and lovable…controlling and giving. There are so many layers to Mal’s personality that you just have to experience him to see them all. His wit and zingers had me laughing out loud on multiple occasions. But readers also experience Mal’s softer side. The way he takes care of Anne and does all that he can to make her life easier is enduring. There’s a lot more than meets the eye when it comes to this sexy drummer, and readers get to experience it all.Anne Rollins – she’s confident and feisty but is a bit lacking in self esteem. She’s had a rough life and has had to rely on herself for most of it. When Mal blows into her life, she doesn’t know what to expect. She used to have posters of him in her bedroom and now she has the real person living with her and pretending to be into her, which is all a bit overwhelming. But Anne holds her hold with Mal; she doesn’t allow him to walk all over her, and she fights to get past his walls because if there’s one thing about her – she never gives up.I can’t express enough how awesome this book is. It’s a fantastic romantic comedy with brilliant dialogue and superb character development. Kylie Scott is such a talented writer. She doesn’t add fluff to her storylines; all that is included is necessary to move the plot forward. The conversations she crafts fit the moments she creates and boy can she write slapstick comedy! Her Stage Dive series is a definite must read! They are books that readers will read over and over. I can’t wait to see what Ms. Scott has in store for us with Jimmy’s story, Lead. If it’s anything like the previous two stories, it’s going to be amazing!5+ poison apples! (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)