Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Playboy for Hire
AUTHOR: Spencer Spears
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 370 pages
RELEASE DATE: November 21, 2024
BLURB:
Rule #1: Don’t fall for your client.
Ryder: This shouldn’t be that hard. As the resident playboy at Heartbreakers Anonymous, I’ll be your perfect wedding date, but I keep it strictly professional. And I’m straight, so it’s not like I’m interested in Quinn, my first gay client.
Rule #2. Don’t crash your client’s other dates.
No matter how nerdy and adorable Quinn is. No matter how much he could use the confidence boost. No matter how badly I want to see him again. But it’s so damn hard to keep myself away.
Rule #3: Don’t sleep over at Quinn’s house.
Whoops.
Rule #4: Don’t crawl into his bed at night.
Too late.
Rule #5: Don’t kiss him, and discover you’re not as straight as you think.
Umm, about that…
Rule #6: Definitely don’t sleep with him.
So…
Rule #7: Whatever you do, don’t fall in love.
These are the rules I’m supposed to live by. But Quinn turns everything upside down. I swore off dating years ago, but he makes me yearn for something more. He doesn’t believe I want him. How can I convince him my feelings are real? Finding our happily ever after won’t be easy. Luckily, I’ve got a rule of my own:
If you do fall in love with your client, don’t ever let him go.
REVIEW:
Ryder is a date for hire and Quinn is a man in need of a date for his grandparents anniversary party. His great aunt Thea has the idea to have him hire a date and it’s through her and her best friend at the Senior Living Center who find Ryder’s company. Ryder likes Quinn right away but he can see that the guy has misgivings. He’s focused on the fact that he has a birthmark on his face and this has clouded his entire perception of self. At the party, Quinn gets really stiff when his cousin Julie ends up getting engaged to some guy – Brandon – who Quinn has clearly been trying to avoid all evening. Ryder does his best to make things better and he kisses Quinn in an attempt to diffuse things. The Quinn stalks off.
Ryder seeks him out later because he thinks he’s stepped over the line and wants to apologize if he did. He tells Quinn he’d like for them to be friends. Quinn is mad at the way Ryder acts and sort of gives him the cold shoulder. But then he relents. They end up – after a few missteps – in deciding to be friends. Except that Ryder can’t stop thinking about the kiss. Then he rescues Quinn from a terrible date and admits the truth. So he asks for more 
They continue a sort of push/pull relationship and Quinn s still questioning what Ryder really wants. Ryder has had bad luck in relationships and turns out his self-esteem is in the garbage too. For totally different reasons. He doesn’t think he’s good enough for anything but a good time. They are both quite wrong thankfully
I enjoyed this one! Both Ryder and Quinn have HUGE self-esteem issues. We get to see what Quinn’s issues are immediately. He’s been dumped by a guy who kept him a secret and then was cheating on him. Thankfully because this story is told from alternating POVs, we finally find out why Ryder is so down on himself quite a ways into this story. His family is a nightmare and he is concerned about his future after he graduated from college. He’s not getting any encouragement or support frankly from anyone but his roommates/coworkers. But he and Quinn struggle for a while trying to figure out what they are to each other. Ryder’s bi-awakening is kind of a non-issue for him really but Quinn is quite suspicious after being mistreated by his ex who clearly was just messing around and had NO plans to ever come out. Most of the story is these two guys trying to figure out what they want – both in life and from each other. There are some angsty moments but also some humor! The elders in this story are a hoot! Ryder’s roommates are good guys. If you are into fake relationships that lead to an HEA, this one might be for you Recommended.
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RATING: 
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