PLAY NICE is Book 1 in L.P. Maxa's Devil's Share contemporary romance series centered on the rock band The Devil's Share. PLAY NICE is a great book for readers who like sensual romances about rockers and who enjoy love stories that have an instant connection develop between the hero and heroine. The goofy and endearing interplay between Lexi and the members of The Devil's Share makes PLAY NICE worth checking out.

Lexi's eyes lock with guitar hero Dash Connor as he's performing onstage. Lexi is there with her friend Amy to see and support Amy's brother, who happens to be the new drummer for Dash's band. I enjoy stories where there is an instant mutual attraction between characters. The romance works because the main characters are easy to like. Lexi is a photographer and an independent woman, as opposed to the groupies and publicity seekers Dash normally attracts. Her sense of humor and level of caring when it comes to his band mates separates her from other women and makes her shine in his eyes. I love how Dash openly adores Lexi and treats her with respect and love. One thing I really like about PLAY NICE is that the conflict in the story is never between Lexi and Dash, but comes from outside sources. The relationship that develops between them is surprisingly tender and super hot at the same time.

The tight-knit relationship that develops between Lexi and Dash's band mates might seem a little unusual and too good to be true, if not for L.P. Maxa's exploration of the other characters. Maxa shows the struggles that the rest of the band have been through, due to family conflicts and the dangers of fame, to account for the strong pull that draws them to Lexi. Her kindness and their eagerness for a sense of stability and family forge a strong unit and this acts as a nice counterpoint to the humor, glitzy excess, and unexpected dangers faced on the road. Reading along, I fell in love with all the characters and look forward to reading the next installment of this Devil's Share series by L.P. Maxa.

PLAY NICE is all at once sexy, fun, and heartwarming. Lexi's connection to Luke and watching Dash try to decipher that connection adds an intriguing and amusing element to the story. Luke and Smith both come off as sympathetic and complex characters I'd like to get to know better in future books. The epilogue puts a satisfying cap on PLAY NICE, while leaving the reader with delicious possibilities for what comes next.

Book Summary

MONEY. FAME. WHISKEY. SEX.

For Dash Conner, lead singer of The Devil’s Share, everything he wanted was his for the asking. Whiskey. Drugs. Money. Sex. But not Lexi Grant. For the first time since he picked up a guitar, a girl was actually demanding he woo her. For a chance with her, Dash would do that and more.

Lexi Grant was no groupie. Just because the biggest rock star in the world smiled at her didn’t mean she had to fall into bed with him—but it was going to be awfully hard to resist that impish smile and those tatted abs. Surely one night of fun wouldn’t hurt anyone.

Unless that night ends with a broken condom.

For Lexi and Dash, that’s just the beginning. Add an overly affectionate pit bull, a missing guitarist, a house full of sorority girls, a junkie ex-bandmate and an extreme aversion to Jäger, and it’s either a recipe for disaster or true love.