Every year, the girls of Phi Delta Chi, Fiona Arlett’s dream sorority, hold a competition.
The prize?
James Reid, king size bar of eye candy and famous actor turned haughty undergrad.
The rules?
No girl but the winner can touch him.
The problem?
Fiona miiight have unknowingly banged his brains out last week.
Losing the competition may mean wearing a chicken suit to the sexiest Halloween costume contest, but she’d rather have feathers up her butt than let the truth out.
Unfortunately, she and James have lots in common and more chemistry than the science wing. Soon they’re sneaking around behind the backs of UCSD’s hottest and most vengeful girls.
If they find out?
Fiona’s screwed.
~Excerpt~
“Leave,” James repeats. The word sweeps over the boys surrounding me like an icy cold breeze from the asscrack of Antarctica . He’s really got the serial killer vibe going on. Even I have to resist the urge to jump up and run for the hills. I don’t blame my harem for scattering, leaving me sitting exposed and undefended on the counter, at the mercy of James Reid.
I point at him. “You scared away my harem.”
“Those guys were looking at you like you’re a piece of meat.” His tone is thick with disgust.
“Technically I am a piece of meat. Plus bones and stuff. Also, don’t you think that’s a bit hypocritical?”
I expect him to scoff at this, to shrug it off or deny it. Instead he cuts his eyes away from me. “I’m sorry,” he says finally. “I shouldn’t have jump—”
“Jump-started my car for me,” I interrupted loudly, fully aware that Sigrid is straining to listen in on our conversation, even if she is across the room. “You’re right. You should have just let me take it to the shop. Some things should be done by professionals.”
A ghost of a smile traces its way upward from the corners of his lips. It’s the first time I’ve seen him smile, and damn, is it dangerous. I swallow and look away. “Although—even though I know that I shouldn’t have let you near my car, and you’re definitely not coming near it again, you don’t need to apologize. At the time, I really wanted you to jump-start my car.”
My phone buzzes. I glance down. A text from Iris. Think of a better euphemism. You’re not being subtle.
“Did you just say I’m not a professional?” he asks, leaning one-handed on the counter so that his thumb is bare inches away from my thigh. He’s close enough to count the goose pimples that appear on my skin.
“Definitely an amateur,” I smirk.
His hand inches closer. “Why don’t you call me next time your car needs some work done and I’ll show you more of what I’m capable of.”
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4.5 Stars…or an A grade since this is college ;-)
“Excellent weather we’re having, isn’t it? Perfect for nudity.”
Why in the world is this girl Fiona Arlett naked and jumping
out a window? That’s the first thing you have to wonder as the story opens, and
the first impression you get of Fiona.
Fearless…daring…in your face. Fiona is living it up during
her first year at UCSD. She’s pledging a sorority; enjoying the college scene;
and indulging her sexual appetite. Fionna might come off promiscuous at
first, but her upbringing just makes it feel like…well Rumspringa. Her background
is definitely a unique twist.
And there’s quite a few refreshing elements to this story.
For one, Fiona has quite a healthy sense of self-esteem. She doesn’t fret about
her body image or worry she’s isn’t good enough for a celebrity or the elite
upper-classman she associates with. In fact, Fiona says what she thinks and
isn’t intimated easily.
And then there’s James Reid. Turn book back to the front
cover and smile. I don’t know where author L.A. Rose finds her cover men, (see
cover of her first book, Adrian Lesson and you’ll see what I mean there
too) but they make a great mental image when picturing the lead man. James is a former child star, now a senior at UCSD,
and the prize in a yearly contest held by Phi Delta Chi. Hence, the title of
the book.
There’s parties; there’s pranks; there’s drama
without any over-done angst. This book is a lot of fun with witty 1st person
narration from Fiona and an overall feel-good aura. It’s also a coming of
age story so some events cloud fearless Fiona’s perspective for a brief while,
but that’s part of the growth and development within the characters, and both
Fiona and James grow throughout the story. It is also a great lesson in looking
past public personas and getting to know the real person underneath.
Sorority pledging was the furthest thing from my own college
scene, but that didn’t stop me from thoroughly enjoying the story. And I liked the way James and Fiona’s
relationship was a blend of friendship and lust, fitting for their “new adult”
age. Their “forbidden” sneaky escapades were a lot of fun, and James’s big
announcement towards the end was one of my favorite scenes.
Is Fiona’s reputation on the line? Will she escape Sigrid’s
wrath or is she headed for a life of solitude in the desert with a shaved head?
What drove James from all his fan girls’ TV screens? And is he letting something from his Hollywood
past keep him isolated?
~about the author~
L.A. Rose recently made it out of college alive and with an
English degree. She's a habitual beach bum, a cuteness aficionado, and a
not-quite-recovered romance addict. She's a big believer in laughter as
medicine and steaminess as...more medicine. You can never have enough medicine.
James Games is her second New Adult standalone, and her next release, Icy
Pretty Love, will be out 11/15/2014 .
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