Love and friendship collide before coming full circle. The Playboy Bachelor was nothing like I expected it to be, it was so much more. Bentley and Margot are not fairytale characters. They are real people fighting their way back from the brink. Margot is a woman never comfortable in her own skin. An awkward teen with a love for books and an unrequited crush on a boy she could never claim as her own, she didn't have an easy time. Youth brought her face to face with tragedy. In an instant she lost more than she ever thought possible and closed herself off from the world. Enter the boy she always wanted and the man who toppled her world. Bentley is easy on the eyes and toxic to the heart. One decision destroyed his world. Now he's back to claim what's rightfully his. Can the Playboy Bachelor save the woman he never forgot? My all time favorite Rachel Van Dyken novel.

The Playboy Bachelor by Rachel Van Dyken was both a slow burn and sweet romance. A recluse and playboy who could not be more different, but who have a strong chemistry both try to deny.

The last person Margot McCleery ever wanted to see again was Bentley Wellington. Her once best-friend deserted her when she needed him the most. So when their meddling grandparents force them so spend time together, neither is happy.

Margot’s life changed forever when she was sixteen. Lost and feeling broken, she needed Bentley’s friendship more than ever, but he was nowhere to be seen. Heartbroken, she moved forward without him, but as time went by, Margot became a recluse. Her only company were the romance novels she wrote.

Bentley Wellington lost more than his best friend all those years ago, he lost a part of himself. Now he is known as a playboy who takes nothing seriously. With no direction, he has only been getting by. When he takes part in a charity bachelor auction, he is not prepared for how his life is going to change.

Both hurt and not ready to talk to each other, they take shots at each other constantly. But forced to spend thirty days together, they have no choice but to actually spend time together. Slowly the walls they built begin to crumble. Can they find a way to rebuild what they lost or is it too late?

The Playboy bachelor was both sad and sweet. Both Bentley and Margot carry past demons that hold them back. I loved the characters especially the meddling family members and seeing the connection between Margot and Bentley. This story kept me intrigued as both main characters pushed and pulled between each other.

This is the first time I’ve read this author, and I really loved this book. The hero is so incredibly sexy and yet so emotionally broken, hidden behind his playboy mask. It makes him very interesting and sympathetic, and it made me want to devour the book to find out what had happened to him in his past.

The heroine also is very sympathetic with her tragic backstory and how she’s shut herself away from the world. I really enjoyed seeing her come out of her shell.

The interaction between the two of them is witty and cute, both when they were friends and again when they meet years later. The dialogue is really one of the best parts of this book. It’s snappy and breezy, and sets the tone for the book. There were a couple times when perhaps it was a little too breezy for the topic of conversation, but on a whole I really enjoyed the dialogue.

Also, as the story goes along, it really becomes obvious how perfect the hero is for the heroine and why he’s the only one who can help her to heal.

I did think that the “contract” plot point (I won’t say anymore) was a tiny bit contrived, but I was so interested in seeing these two spend time together that it was easy to ignore. The middle of the book sagged a bit for me, but it picked up for the last third of the book so much that I was turning pages as fast as I could. The emotional and plot rollercoaster of the last part of the book was really great, and the ending is very romantic.

Overall, a sexy, entertaining book.

#BentleyIsMINE

The Playboy Batchelor is a perfect combination of laugh out loud funny with all the feels! ~ Heather, White Hot Reads

There, now that we have that out of the way, we can continue. I.LOVE.THIS.BOOK! AHHHHHH!

The laughs, the feels, and oh the beauty. And who would have thought in a book titled The Playboy Bachelor we would get the trifecta. Bentley & Margot are a match made in playboy heaven. They kept me on my toes and made me want to be a better person.

"Hey baby, wanna race?" <----- BEST.LINE.EVER!

I died.
Laughed so hard.
Wheeze.
Snorted.
Rolled all over the bed.
Dropped my kindle on my nose.

All worth it. Because, “hey baby, wanna race?” #epicline

And I promise to keep a Starbucks cup in my car at all times. In case of emergency.

"Words are just words -empty promises - unless there is action behind them." <---- PERFECTION! I’m not going to lie, this made my heart stop. My breathing ceased here and I felt my blood slow. Because I’ve lived this. This is what happens when you are so lost in your own world that you can’t see the light, love or anything else that others are showing with you. All you know is that the life you are living is the one that you were meant to live, even if it’s dull, gray and broken.

The whole time I was rooting for Margot to let Bentley in.
Because even though he’s been through so much tragedy himself, he rose above it.
Even though the road was long and hard, he made it.

And a secret... my heart was shattered into a million pieces.
Red hot tears burned my face.
And then, the author, put my back together in the best way possible.
So as you can tell from my rambling, this book... oh this book, makes you feel.
It made me feel happy, it made me laugh, and cry, and sob, and smile and cheese and so much more. It made me want!

DNF @ 45%

I did not like this author's writing style at all. It was unpolished and the characters were incredibly annoying. The whole tone of the story felt a little ridiculous. I skimmed through most of it.

The characters talked about the heroine like she was defective and an animal. The hero was an absolute manwhore, rude, and immature. He sleeps with married women like it's no big deal. At one point the heroine pretends she thought the hero was bisexual and it's supposed to be an insult.

You should pass on this one.

This was my first RVD book and certainly won't be my last! Holy cow, the chemistry and banter between Margot and Bentley had me hooked from the start. After multiple tragedies and lost opportunities, the ex-best friends are reunited under duress and shenanigans ensue from there. I cried multiple times during this one, but laughed even more. I loved the journey (even with all the heart-stopping twists) and can't wait to read the next book in the series!

A decade ago, Margot and Bentley were best friends. Teenagers, they loved each other in that way that teens love one another. Purely, yet secretively. Each fears how the other will react if they know the truth about their feelings.

A decade ago, Margot nearly lost her life. She did suffer horrific losses, one of which was Bentley. He failed to be there for her when she needed him most. What she doesn't know is that he, too, suffered. Each feels guilty, each needs the other. Neither will reach out.

Now, ten years later, Margot's mother and Bentley's grandfather decide enough is enough. Using a charity auction, they bring these two would-be lovebirds back together for thirty days.

I know it sounds like this book is nothing but angst and sadness, but it's more than that. It's also hilarious and deliciously hot. Bentley is funny. His one-liners will have you laughing out loud, and the sexy times will have you squeezing your thighs together.

With ten years of pent-up emotions percolating between them, Margot and Bentley fight. A LOT. They argue and argue and argue, with that sexual tension ramping up. Rachel Van Dyken uses these scenes to fill you in on her characters' back stories and to develop their relationship. They can't go from ten years apart to hopping in bed together. They have issues they need to work out, both within themselves and with each other.

At the same time, Van Dyken begins to build Brant's, Bentley's twin brother, story. I suspect Brant will beak out hearts just a bit.

This book is fun and frisky and will give you The Feels. It's my first time reading a Rachel Van Dyken book, and I know it won't be my last.

Rachel has done it again with another hit! The Playboy Bachelor is a fun sexy read that I'd recommend to all of her fans!

The Playboy Bachelor is the second book in Rachel Van Dyken's The Bachelor's of Arizona series and as the series goes on it gets better and better! I can hardly wait to see what she does with the next book in the series!

4.5 star Review of The Playboy Bachelor (The Bachelors of Arizona #2) by Rachel Van Dyken
This is a friends, or should I say ex-friends, to lovers story about Bentley Wellington and Margot McCleery.
As with the first book in the series, there was certainly some extremely funny moments interwoven with some passion and angst.
When their meddling grandparents wreak havoc in their lives, the two ex friends find themselves in a situation they cannot get out of. I was intrigued as to what had occurred to drive such a wedge between Margot and Bentley and was surprised how the story unrolled.
Bentley finally realizes what he has lost with Margot and is determined to not only get their friendship back, but to cross the never before crossed line and become more than friends.
Margot whilst appearing to hate Bentley, really has unresolved feelings for him and it was those feelings that pulled at my heart strings. Can Margot forgive him for leaving her? Or will she remain bitter and buried in her past? At times the banter between them was so funny, whilst the words they both used to hurt one another made me angry and frustrated.
It was great to see them both finally work through their past, not only coming to terms with it but forging a new path together.

It was also good to catch up on Brock and Jane. This story kept me captivated and I cheered so much for Margot and Bentley to get their happily ever after.

High Angst Alert - They had been best friends forever, but it took only one split second and a freak accident to shatter the bonds they had and neither would/could reach out to the other to share their pain. Years have passed, and a charity bachelor auction will force them back together, under one roof for one weekend. Two hearts, deep secrets and a love that was never acknowledged.

Margot was devastated by what she lost that day in the crash that changed her life forever. The one person she wished to see never came, he left her alone in that sterile hospital room and now the last person she ever wanted to darken her doorstep was hers, for a limited time. What level of Hell has she been dropped into? Why would her grandmother bid on one of the hottest man-whores around, the man who crushed Margot’s soul as easily as the crash had crushed her body?

Bentley only allowed himself to be bid on for his brother’s sake. Just goes to prove that no good deed goes unpunished. Years before he lost his best friend, who just disappeared off the face of the earth just when he needed her most. Now he was supposed to be “hers” for a weekend…until he discovered “the catch” his meddling grandfather dangled in his face…a month? A month of Margot? Off-limits Margot? Margot the Ice queen? What happened to the warm girl he could always count on?

Well, Rachel Van Dyken certainly changed up the romance for this Wellington man! A little darker, a little grittier, and a lot more secrets and pain to overcome. Sure, there is that signature Van Dyken humor sprinkled in, but whoa, can you say, “Lack of Communication?” “Wasted time?” Why not add a little, “I’m not reaching out, first….” to this tale of friends to strangers to lovers?
Ms. Van Dyken has created two characters that are so flawed, so deeply hurt and damaged, it is painful to read at times, but and yes, there is a but…I wanted to thrash them both for failing the true friend test when times got tough. That is the sign of an author who breathes life into their characters! But, the senior cupids playing with lives in the background? Priceless!

I received this copy from Forever in exchange for my honest review.

Series: The Bachelors of Arizona - Book 2
Publisher: Forever (April 11, 2017)
Publication Date: April 11, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Print Length: 264 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

I have always loved Rachel Van Dyken and her amazing books! This is the second installment in the Bachelors of Arizona series and I could not get enough of Margot and Bentley. They had outstanding banter, chemistry, friendship and sexual history.

When Margot McCleery sees Bentley Wellington again-her ex-best friend and the poster boy for Hot, Rich Man-Whores everywhere, she is thrown into a whirlwind. Due to the sneaky machinations of her grandmother and his grandfather, Margot and Bentley need to spend time together, But Margot's whiskey-augmented grandmother "buys" Bentley at a charity bachelor auction, and now suddenly he's at her door. Impossibly charming. Impossibly sexy. And still a complete and utter jackass. Bentley's just been coerced by his grandfather to spend the next thirty days charming and romancing the reclusive red-haired beauty who hates him. The woman he abandoned when she needed him the most. But can Bentley convince this prickly woman that he deserves a second chance and is deserving of her trust?

I really loved this novel! It was funny and filled with an amazing hero and a sassy and strong women. I could not get enough! I would like to thank Forever and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. Bravo 4 stars! ~Ratula

This was my third book by Van Dyken, and I was so sure she had gotten better when I read The Cheater... Unfortunately, this was but an improved version of The Bet (with an alternative pairing). Honestly, I'd give it a 2.5.

Margot was involved in an accident, which killed her parents and made her lose one of her legs. Since then, she has become a recluse and lost her best friend. Bentley didn't leave unscarred from the tragedy. Seeing how he couldn't stand the thought of losing Margot, he pulled away and they haven't met ever since. Until the day her grandmother buys a date with him on a charity auction and forces the two to spend a whole weekend together.

Even though I could still see Van Dyken's improvement throughout the years, especially in the dialogues, the book was a long cliche, filled with forced angsting.

I never fully got Bentley's motivation for staying away from Margot, so it was impossible to connect to him. And while I got Margot, her fights with Bentley were so forced, I could never relate to any of the characters.

I'd probably have enjoyed a little more—but just a little— had I not read The Bet. The story was just so similar... I was glad Bentley's brother stayed out of the way here at least. I'd have died of boredom. But really, what's up with Van Dyken and people having long-time crushes with whom they've made a mess so big they don't meet for a decade and then they can't stand each other, even though both feel obviously attracted to one another? Is her every book the same plot?

I didn't read the first in this series and I'm not sure I plan to read the third. It wasn't bad, I liked when Bentley and Margot talked, for example. There were nice jokes. But that was the only positive in the book, while the rest was just more of the same.

I think fans of romance will enjoy this if you've never read anything from the author. This story has some steamy scenes but it's not the focus, nor were they distasteful. It's really a romance, and not New Adult. But, yes, I was disappointed because I know she can do better.

The Playboy Bachelor is a quick and easy read with two former best friends that are forced together and end up having to find a way to navigate through what happened in the past.

Bentley is the typical manwhore. He bottles up his feelings by doing what everyone expects of him which is almost being the one that doesn't have a care in the world and lives his life as a typical rich bachelor. But deep down Bentley has some issues and he masks them.

Margot has shut herself off from the world after a horrific accident where she suffers loss that has left her closing up her heart.

These two haven't seen each other in years and thanks to an auction and some scheming from Bentley grandfather and Margot's grandmother they are forced to spend some time with each other.

There are some tense moments as these two have a battle of words at times hitting below the belt. However the feelings are still there and we get a somewhat funny and sweet romance as these two find that connection that they had all those years ago.

I definitely enjoyed this book and am looking forward to more from this series.

This book had so many catching moments that really made you truly see where the characters were coming from.

You have Margot who is dealing with tremendous guilt over the death of her parents and who continues to struggle dealing with the life impacting injuries from a car accident that changed her life forever years ago. She has essentially become a hermit; not leaving the house unless absolutely necessary and not interacting with anyone.

You have Bentley who on the surface appears to be your typical playboy bachelor: he goes from girl to girl never committing to anyone. Bentley was Margot's best friend until the accident that changed both of their lives forever. You want to hate Bentley for the way he treated Margot, but then you hear his story and your thoughts begin to change.

Margot and Bentley are thrown together by their grandparents, forced to spend time living together for 30 days.

I loved that both characters had a strong background and had their own barriers to overcome.

** ARC received from Netgalley **

Boy, I did not like the main guy in this book. He seemed like a real jerk and it was unclear why the main girl would like him ever. To be fair, I didn't understand the main girl either. So you lost a leg. At this point, it's been years and you're still sad about your lost leg and you need a man to remind you that you can still have a life? I think this book was just not for me.

Margot, a young beautiful, self-conscious, nerdy girl who loves to read romance novels is swooning over best friend Bentley the most handsome and popular boy in school, of course. All it takes is one event to change their course. Margot now a shut in and Bentley a well known womanizer a forced to play nice together for a designated period of time. Can both of them get over their fears, past their own emotional and physical traumas to find love?

I really enjoyed this book, it was a fun, quick, entertaining read.

I have to say first off that this is my first Rachel Van Dyken book and I am happy to say it won’t be my last.

Margot McCleery lost everything in a blink of an eye, her parents, her best friend, and part of her leg. Everything changed which caused the bookworm to become reclusive, but also a successful romance author, which lucky for her didn’t require her to leave her house. Then when her former best friend Bentley Wellington shows up on her doorstep – having been bought at a bachelor auction to be hers for a weekend the anger and hurt feelings that she never really dealt with resurface. Now the boy is a man, a man with a womanizing reputation – a man she is still in love with.

Bentley Wellington lost everything (or so he thought) the day he was told about Margot’s accident. It’s something he never has truly recovered from which has lead him down a path of heavy drinking and lots of women. His grandfather trying to get Bentley into the family business sets him up to stay with Margot not for just a weekend as originally intended but for 30 days. Now Bentley is forced to come to terms with who he really is and want he wants and the impact those choices have made on Margot the girl he still loves.

First, have to say I loved the characters – Bentley and Margot are not cookie cutter rich millionaires who lead perfect lives. Both have had a lot of pain and heartache and need to come to terms with that before they can move forward. The dialog between the two characters was fantastic – along with being told in dual 3rd person POV’s both were so well written. I did feel that somethings were never really fully explained – especially around Bentley and what he knows about Margot’s accident. I thought it was strange that his grandfather and twin brother who both knew the truth never explained why they didn’t say anything. Speaking of twin brother – Brant is another character that we meet who is living in the dark. Loved getting to know him and with the next book in the series about him can’t wait to read it.

All in all, I do recommend The Playboy Bachelor – the characters and love story is so worth the time.

I love Rachel's books and this is another great one! This was a wonderfully emotional read with great depth and endearing characters. It wasn't what I expected but still a great read.