{"id":78565,"date":"2025-04-10T08:18:52","date_gmt":"2025-04-10T12:18:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=78565"},"modified":"2025-04-10T09:46:47","modified_gmt":"2025-04-10T13:46:47","slug":"release-arc-review-wicked-love-single-dad-playbook-4-by-willow-aster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=78565","title":{"rendered":"Release & ARC Review: Wicked Love (Single Dad Playbook, #4) by Willow Aster"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

The fourth book in the Single Dads Playbook<\/i> series, this is a beautifully romantic grumpy\/sunshine, single dad, surprise pregnancy story. It has all the feeling and build-up of a slow burn romance, and the heartwarming emotion of a broody tough guy falling really freaking hard. It\u2019s a sweet and sexy feel-good read, and I loved it.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

Narrated by JF Harding and Samantha Brentmoor with special guest Lily D. Moore<\/p>\n

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

I fell in love with his little girl first.<\/strong><\/p>\n

From the moment nine-year-old Becca Fox and I hugged, it was like we\u2019d known each other forever. Precocious, sweet, and kind, I just knew this little girl was exceptional. Her dad, though? Not so much.<\/p>\n

Bowie Fox checks every box in the looks department\u2014rugged, intense, and the kind of man who makes you forget how to breathe\u2014but his personality? About as warm as a snowstorm.<\/p>\n

That is, until we\u2019re seated together at his best friend’s wedding, and then\u2026we dance.<\/p>\n

For hours.<\/p>\n

Beneath that gruff and hard exterior, I catch glimpses of a man who wants to let loose and enjoy life.<\/p>\n

After the wedding, when a hotel mixup leaves me without a room and stranded in Landmark Mountain, Bowie invites me to stay in his room. In his bed.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s innocent at first. Until it\u2019s not. A sizzling one-night stand for the books. Then I wake up alone and when I see him at breakfast, he is as distant as ever.<\/p>\n

Bowie lets me know his life revolves around Becca, his teammates, and football. He makes it perfectly clear that there is no room for anyone else\u2014especially the bubbly coach of his daughter.<\/p>\n

As much as our paths keep crossing, I know the broody linebacker isn\u2019t ever planning on falling for me, but when I find out I am pregnant\u2014I wonder,\u00a0Can he fall for us?<\/em><\/p>\n

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

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Review<\/strong><\/h4>\n

4 stars<\/b><\/p>\n

The fourth book in the Single Dads Playbook<\/i> series, this is a beautifully romantic grumpy\/sunshine, single dad, surprise pregnancy story. It has all the feeling and build-up of a slow burn romance, and the heartwarming emotion of a broody tough guy falling really freaking hard. It\u2019s a sweet and sexy feel-good read, and I loved it.<\/p>\n

Bowie is an NFL star and one of a group of football players and best friends who have settled together in a small town. He is gruff and quiet, showing little emotion, but the man is an absolute marshmallow for his eight year old daughter, Becca. Becca has Down syndrome, and her mother is not in the picture, and Bowie is protective and adoring of his little girl. He has his daughter, his friends and his career, and has no intention of bringing anybody else into his little circle. Becca and his friends have other ideas though.<\/p>\n

Poppy is a sweetheart, and from the moment she and Becca meet, they are both completely smitten with each other. She\u2019s also growing close to the wives and girlfriends of Bowie\u2019s friends, so she\u2019s constantly in the orbit of the big broody man that she\u2019s crushing on madly, but he wants nothing to do with her. Which is embarrassing, because their friends seem intent on setting them up. When they are seated next to each other at a wedding and end up spending the whole evening together, it culminates in a steamy hook up, and it looks like things are about to change\u2026 until Bowie runs.<\/p>\n

It’s a frustrating situation for both of them. Bowie is feeling things he never wanted to feel, he\u2019s terrified and is determined to keep his distance, and while Poppy longs for something real with Bowie, she knows he\u2019s not interested so she tries to respect that and stay away. But Becca and their undeniable chemistry keeps pulling them back together, and I loved watching them both fall so helplessly.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrust me. It may not have been obvious, but I am so into you.\u201d
\nMy face flames and I lift a shoulder, pretending to be oh-so-chill when inside, my heart is shimmying all over the place. \u201cIt seems like you\u2019re into me about twenty percent of the time.\u201d
\nHe shakes his head and points at his face. \u201cResting dick face\u2026it means nothing.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When Poppy discovers that she\u2019s pregnant from their night together, it adds to the intensity of all that is happening between them, and I was SO on board with it all! Watching the reluctant, grumpy hero open his heart and show his soft, vulnerable side is absolutely gorgeous.<\/p>\n

\u201cPoppy,\u201d he says huskily. \u201cWhat are you doing to me?\u201d
\n\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d
\n\u201cHow are you doing this? You\u2019re burrowing into me like a persistent whisper I can\u2019t stop hearing,\u201d he breathes, his voice taut with emotion. \u201cYour goodness is,\u201d his forehead rests against mine, the warmth of his breath fanning across my cheek, \u201cconsuming me. Your beauty. Your gentleness with Becca. The way you feel in my arms.\u201d \u2026 \u201cI can\u2019t think straight when I\u2019m near you, and I can\u2019t think straight when I\u2019m not.\u201d
\n\u2026 \u201cI\u2019m terrified,\u201d he admits. His gaze drops to my mouth, then rises again, locking on my eyes. \u201cAnd I don\u2019t want it to stop.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I do love a surprise pregnancy book, and what I especially loved about this book is that it\u2019s not just the pregnancy that brings them together. The feelings are already there, and they had found their way to each other, the baby just brings extra emotion, intensity and excitement as we wait for the big reveal and their reactions, and is the cherry on top of this beautiful love story.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no unnecessary drama, no stupid behaviour, and no third act breakup. We see these two find their way to each other and stay that way, and the latter part of this book reads like a glorious epilogue as we see them living their happy ending, with all of the key moments that romance junkies like me crave.<\/p>\n

The rest of the boys, and their girls, are a big part of the story, encouraging Bowie and Poppy together, having their backs without question, and being their supportive, yet playful selves. I loved the group chats and the teasing, and loved seeing them all happy and together.<\/p>\n

This is another gorgeous read from Willow Aster. She can be relied upon to bring the swoon and leave me with a big smile on my face, and I loved this one.<\/p>\n

4 stars.<\/p>\n

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

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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

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

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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

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

  Wicked Love by Willow Aster is live! The fourth book in the Single Dads Playbook series, this is a beautifully romantic grumpy\/sunshine, single dad, surprise pregnancy story. It has all the feeling and build-up […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":78212,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","yasr_overall_rating":4,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,1036,58,29],"tags":[59,48,1575,1105],"class_list":["post-78565","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","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\/2025\/03\/Wicked-Love.jpg?fit=200%2C300&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7gaNL-krb","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78565","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=78565"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78565\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/78212"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=78565"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=78565"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=78565"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}