{"id":77639,"date":"2025-01-16T09:00:22","date_gmt":"2025-01-16T14:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=77639"},"modified":"2025-01-16T18:48:00","modified_gmt":"2025-01-16T23:48:00","slug":"release-arc-review-reckless-love-the-single-dad-playbook-3-by-willow-aster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=77639","title":{"rendered":"Release & ARC Review: Reckless Love (The Single Dad Playbook, #3) by Willow Aster"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reckless Love by Willow Aster is live!<\/strong><\/h4>\n

This is the most beautiful friends-to-lovers romance! Best friends with lifelong feels for each other finally come together in this chemistry-filled, slow burning, single dad, forbidden love story.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Amazon<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Audible<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Audiobook narrated by Sean Crisden & Angelina Rocca<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

\r\n <\/div><\/div><\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n

Blurb<\/strong><\/h4>\n

A sexy small-town, single dad, friends-to-lovers romance by USA Today bestselling author, Willow Aster<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

I fell in love with Rhodes Archer the night we met thirteen years ago.<\/p>\n

We made a pact that night to never cross the just-friends zone.<\/p>\n

However, Rhodes crossed that line by kissing me recently, and I can\u2019t get over it.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve loved him, ached for him, craved him for years, but I’ve never wanted to ruin what we have.<\/p>\n

And now, when I\u2019m a cheerleader for the Colorado Mustangs and he\u2019s their superstar tight end, we\u2019re not even supposed to be in the same room, let alone be together.<\/p>\n

But, he is everything to me.<\/p>\n

And that includes my godson, Rhodes\u2019 adorable three-year-old son, Levi, who I love as my own.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s impossible to stay away from each other. And I don\u2019t want to when I can still feel his lips on mine and the lingering touches between us.<\/p>\n

The lines have blurred, and rules are being broken\u2026<\/p>\n

I just hope we aren\u2019t being too reckless and break each other\u2019s hearts in the process.<\/p>\n

Reckless Love is book three in The Single Dad Playbook series. Each book can be read as a standalone.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Add to Goodreads<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Review<\/b><\/h4>\n

5 stars!<\/b><\/p>\n

Oh my heart, this is the most beautiful friends-to-lovers romance! Best friends with lifelong feels for each other finally come together in this chemistry-filled, slow burning, single dad, forbidden love story.<\/p>\n

This is the third book in the Single Dad\u2019s Playbook<\/i> series, and it\u2019s my fave so far! Centered around a group of NFL-playing best buds and single dads living in a small town in Colorado, there is character crossover, but you can read this one as a standalone.<\/p>\n

Rhodes is a NFL star and single dad to an adorable three year old, Levi. His best friend since college is Elle, and though they\u2019ve had feelings for each other since they met, they made a pact all those years ago to keep their relationship platonic and free of complications. They\u2019ve stayed the best of friends, always there for each other, and are a hugely significant part of each other\u2019s lives. But Elle is a dancer and she\u2019s gotten a job as a cheerleader for Rhodes\u2019 team \u2013 and there is a strict no-fraternisation rule in place. They\u2019re not even allowed to be in the same room as each other if it\u2019s not work related, and they\u2019re both struggling with missing each other.<\/p>\n

But recently, their relationship has changed \u2013 not only their forced absence from each other\u2019s lives, but something<\/i> happened to make things different between them, and the sexual tension that always simmered has been dialled up to undeniable levels. They realise that they can\u2019t stay away from each other. And when Elle runs into trouble, Rhodes is there for her as always, quietly moving her into his home and setting them up for close proximity and all kinds of epicness.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you think lines might get confusing if we\u2019re together all the time after–\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m. Not. Worried.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy not?\u201d \u2026
\n\u201cI\u2019ve been living with how I feel about you since the night we met.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Oh. My. God. The chemistry between Rhodes and Elle is sensational! I could feel everything that they were feeling – the desperate longing, the mad lust and the intense love they have for each other, and it\u2019s just gorgeous. They both accept that the feelings are there, though they\u2019ve never really spoken about it, and once they had a taste, there\u2019s no going back.<\/p>\n

\u201cWoman, you and I have been participating in the longest foreplay known to man.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cYou know I want to kiss you, right?\u201d
\n\u2026 \u201cYeah, I kind of thought so.\u201d
\nHe stares at me, his hazel eyes glued on me. \u201cWe already know how fucking amazing it would be.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Rhodes has decided that he\u2019s not playing anymore, and the build-up to something more is so freaking good! It\u2019s playful and flirty, teasing and sexy, and there\u2019s so much emotion behind it all. Rhodes puts his heart on the line for his girl, and I loved watching it all unfold.<\/p>\n

I want her to say she\u2019s mine so bad I can taste it. <\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When the shift comes, it\u2019s effortless. All walls are down, and it\u2019s sexy, swoony and heartfelt, and feels so right for these two. We see plenty of them together and happy, and though there is drama for them to deal with, it\u2019s external to everything that is happening between them, and together with the forbidden aspect, it creates an \u201cus against the world\u201d feeling that makes the romance even better.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m in this. I love you, Elle. I\u2019ll take whatever I can get.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Huge shout out here, to Elle. I loved her story as she figures herself out and finds the strength to live her life on her own terms. She has some great character growth which is great to watch, and Rhodes is right there with her, supporting her through all of it.<\/p>\n

The book is written in dual POV, and is mostly set in the present, with glimpses back at key moments of their friendship where they almost<\/i> took things further, but never did. We come to understand their dynamic and the strength of their friendship and their importance in each other\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n

We get to see lots of their extended friend group, and I loved seeing them all again. The guys and the girl friend group are all so close, and the chosen family feels are there. Their actual families also play an important part, and I enjoyed the scenes where we get to see those interactions. And I have to give a shout out to little Levi who is absolutely adorable. His relationship with his dad and with Elle are so sweet, and he\u2019s such a cute addition to the story.<\/p>\n

This is such a gorgeous read. I fell in love with these characters and their story, and can\u2019t wait for more from the series.<\/p>\n

5 stars.<\/p>\n

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author for an honest review.<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Single Dad Playbook<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"\" \u00a0\"\" \u00a0\"\" \u00a0\"\" \u00a0\"\"<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Mad Love (#1) <\/strong>(Weston & Sadie)
\n<\/strong>Review<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

Secret Love (#2) <\/strong>(Henley & Tru)
\n<\/strong>Review<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

Reckless Love (#3) <\/strong>(Rhodes & Elle)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

Wicked Love (#4) <\/strong>(Bowie & Poppy)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

Crazy Love (#5) <\/strong>(Penn & Addy)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

About the Author<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Willow Aster is a\u00a0USA Today\u00a0Bestselling author and lover of anything book-related. She lives in St. Paul, MN with her husband, kids, and rescue dog.<\/p>\n

Connect with Willow:<\/p>\n

Website\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Goodreads\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0\u00a0Amazon\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0\u00a0Facebook\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0\u00a0Facebook Group<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0Instagram\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0\u00a0Twitter\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0\u00a0Tiktok<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0Bookbub\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0\u00a0Pinterest<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Reckless Love by Willow Aster is live! This is the most beautiful friends-to-lovers romance! Best friends with lifelong feels for each other finally come together in this chemistry-filled, slow burning, single dad, forbidden love […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":77355,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","yasr_overall_rating":5,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49,25,9,1036,58,29],"tags":[59,48,1575,1105],"class_list":["post-77639","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feeeeeeels","category-friends-to-lovers","category-romance","category-single-parent","category-sports-star","category-steamy","tag-arc","tag-review","tag-single-dad-playbook","tag-willow-aster"],"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":false,"span_bottom":false},"number_of_votes":0,"sum_votes":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Reckless-Love.jpg?fit=200%2C300&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7gaNL-kcf","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77639","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=77639"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77639\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/77355"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=77639"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=77639"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=77639"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}