christie72 's review for:

Playing By The Rules by Monica Murphy

5.0

lighthearted relaxing

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I know I sound like a broken record, but Monica Murphy has struck gold again with Cam and Blair’s story!!! I fell really hard for Jo and Knox in the first book, but I fell just as equally hard for Knox’s little sister and best friend!

Blair has had a crush on Knox’s best friend, Cam, since she first met him when she was just a teenager. Now, that she has transferred to their college, she has decided to show him what a woman she has grown into and see if she can finally get his attention! As she soon discovers, she has all of his attention, but Cam “plays by the rules,” she is a forbidden fruit. Knox has threatened every team member that she is OFF LIMITS! This book is full of angst, steam, major chemistry, and tension!!!!

Murphy never disappoints in creating multi-faceted and complicated characters. Unlike Knox’s somewhat cockiness, Cam has a very quiet confidence about him in some ways. In other ways, he isn’t so confident. He has always had the desire to belong and feel loved. That is why he loves his team and his relationship with the Maguire family. He doesn’t want to lose that, so that is why he tries so hard to resist Blair. He also likes to maintain control, and of course, she completely upends all of that. He also had times where he really doubted himself.  At times, I was frustrated with him because he couldn’t see what was right in front of his face, a good woman who understood, accepted him, and loved him! 

Blair was a cutie pie! I wanted her to be my BFF! Like Camden, she wanted to have control over things happening in her life too. However, her relationship with him was full of uncertainties and that really began taking a toll on her. She was growing tired of being his secret. She had an incredible patience with him, and I’m not sure I would have left the door opened for him as long as she did, but her patience is what I loved about her. 

Thankfully, she and Cam do a great deal of maturing by the end of the book, and I really liked the people they grew into. Speaking of characters, it was wonderful seeing Knox and Jo again, as well as Natalie, Ace, and Knox and Blair’s little sister, Ruby. As Murphy does in all her books, she gave us a little taste of her upcoming book…it will be about Ace and Ruby! YAY! Monica Murphy, can I say that I really hope Natalie gets her own HEA too!!! 

Over the years, Murphy has created this wonderful, wonderful family. It never gets old, and each character is different and unique! I’m so very excited to get my hands on her next book! If you like your books with crackling chemistry, angst, tension, spice, and some really sweet and swoonworthy moments, give Monica Murphy’s books a try! You won’t be disappointed!!!!