The Good Guy Challenge

By: Lauren Blakely

Narrated by: Stella Hunter, Jason Clarke

Fake real dating the one who got away? Sign me up…

There’s just something about bad boys. Tattoos and leather jackets, am I right? Trouble is, my last boyfriend was a teensy bit too bad and now he’s in prison. Yikes. When my friends challenge me to take a dip in the good guy side of the dating pool, I see their dating bet and I raise it, looking up the guy I crushed on growing up.

With a winning grin and heart of gold, Gabe Clements is now the star receiver for a pro football team. Except, the supposed good guy turns out to be nothing like I imagined. He’s better. He’s growly, possessive, smoldering. And he’s determined too.

At the end of the night, he asks me to be his fake real girlfriend for the rest of the week. Sounds like my kind of dating challenge since he’s a good guy by day, and a very dirty man after dark. I’ll cure my bad boy blues in no time. Well, as long as I don’t fall for Gabe’s big heart too.

©2022 Lauren Blakely Books (P)2023 Lauren Blakely Books

A steamy, sexy and still sweet listen!

Have your ac on and your fire extinguisher at the ready when you start this book!

What’s sexier than a football player with tattoos? One that is a good guy at heart and knows how to take care of his woman in every way. Gave grabbed me from the start! I loved his passion and how secure he was in what he wanted. He never compromises or waivers. Fans of Jason Clarke’s narrations will not be disappointed by his portrayal of Gabe! His sultry voice will make your toes curl!!!

Ellie is new to the city, about to start a new chapter in her life from on screen to behind, not to mention leaving the bad guys in the rear view mirror. Stella Hunter brings a fresh voice to Ellie where you hear the sweet in her character but feel the sexy too! These two together are shear magic!

When these two old friends meet up years later, their chemistry is undeniable. They can both help scratch an itch for each other. He can help her appear to her family that she’s put toxic relationships in the past, and maybe she can help Gabe explore the more adventurous sides of his desires.

These two embark on one week of exciting mornings and delicious nights that will make your toes curl and make you gasp for breath. With each sexy day that passes, these two take you on a roller coaster that you want to ride again and again. At times, what they do and say to each other made me blush! Their connection is fun, flirty, dirty and hotter than the California sun!

GREAT Listen!

Another hit from my favorite author!! You don't have to wait for the heat in this story-the main MC's have a surprising connection throughout the story. This age gap, friends to lovers romance is such a great listen. And Jason Clarke makes a swoon worthy book boyfriend.

5 STARS! Sweet, romantic & seriously sexy fake date sports romance!

The Good Guy Challenge was a Blakely style mash-up of her wonderful contemporary romances and her white hot After Dark series. A fake-dating, MF sports romance, Blakely brought together a couple with a bit of history and an age gap in this sweet and surprisingly spicy story. I listened to the audiobook, and I was positively captivated by Stella Hunter and Jason Clarke’s performances.

Gabe and Ellie have known each for years. Their families were friends and neighbors, Gabe was her childhood babysitter, and unbeknownst to him, he later was teenage Ellie’s secret crush. Fast forward a decade and some change, and Gabe is entering his final year in the NFL, and actress/screenwriter Ellie has just relocated back to California after a horrific breakup to focus on her new project. Her friends have challenged her to date a good guy, and as it turns out, Gabe just happens to be one.

Blakely penned an absolutely addictive story here that was meant to get lost in. Gabe and Ellie’s connection was sincere and authentic, their attraction to each other was electric, and their banter was sassy and witty. While they meshed well everywhere, Gabe and Ellie were especially in sync in the bedroom where their sexy, spontaneous sides really came out to play. Full of heart-revving heat and feel-good emotions, The Good Guy Challenge was full of absolutely everything I love about a Blakely novel. Five smooches from me for The Good Guy Challenge by Lauren Blakely!
~Danielle Palumbo, Red Cheeks Reads

Deliciously dirty fake to forever romance!

Give me all that spice and anything but nice! The Good Guy Challenge by Lauren Blakey was a deliciously dirty fake to forever age gap romance that brought all the HEAT and the SWOON. Seriously, Ellie and Gabe’s instant, fiery hot chemistry never made “bad” feel so “good!” This is book 2 in Lauren’s The Girlfriend Playbook series, and she definitely came to play!

Stella Hunter and Jason Clarke narrate this audiobook, and whew…did these two bring on quite a few blushes with their blazing performances. Stella’s performance of Ellie was fantastically flirty, fun, and alluring. Plus, Stella is spot-on showcasing Ellie’s confidence in the bedroom and in life! Jason brings his signature growly tone to Gabe’s dominant, charismatic, and possessive persona which proves the good guy next door is filled with filthy good intentions. (Yes, please!) I always love when Jason and Stella are paired together because they never fail to bring so much passion to their performances which in turn makes you love the characters even more.

Overall, I LOVED this book. If you are a fan of an age-gap romance with a hot hunky wide receiver, a successful actress turned writer, former teenage crushes, family friends, reconnecting at Gin Joint, Venice Beach, Adirondack chair spice, a cute little dog named Gigi, poker games with the guys, smokin HOT role play steamy scenes (hey there sexy priest), fake dating, lawn croquet, egg nog parties, and a HEA that challenges your heart in all the best ways, then you will love Ellie and Gabe’s fake to forever story. I always look forward to more from Lauren Blakely!

Good can be oh so bad in the best way

Book two in The Dating Games series is full of hotness. This author has brought it all into this book. There is an age gap, naughty fantasies, role-playing, and a cute pup named Gigi that steals the show.

Ellie has dated the worst bad boys and when her last relationship blows up her friends challenge her to date a good guy for a change. She knows just the right guy. Gabe is ten years older than Ellie but she had a teenage crush on this hot, sweet guy and knows he is still that nice guy all these years later. She had no idea about Gabe's bad-boy side until they spend a week pretending to be together and what a week it is.

Gabe's last relationship blew up in a way that made him feel he was damaged. He is a professional football player by day and has dirty fantasies at night and wants a partner that wants the same thing. When he and Ellie get together he has no idea this sweet girl he once knew would be his equal in the bedroom or out. They are perfect together and one week will not be enough.

Jason Clarke and Stella Hunter are amazing to listen to in this book. Jason definitely brings Gabe's naughty side out and Stella is just perfect for Ellie. They were both great.

❤️ CHOCK FULL OF HEAT, HEART & HAPPY FEELS ❤️

This sweet and very sexy listen has all the warmth, friendship and charm we love and expect from this talented author.. and Gabe and Ellie’s chemistry, attraction, heated desires, passion, role play, flirty and fun love story was brought to life by two of Audible’s best. Stella and Jason’s five star narration made the heat, romance and characters come to life in a wonderfully delicious way and added the magic that compels you to keep listening until you’ve very quickly reached the Epilogue.

Worth a credit? Yes, it’s very enjoyable.. and thank you too Jason for the Bonus Irish scene 😉 🥰.

Wowzas! Jason and Stella were on fire!

The Good Guy Challenge is the second book in The Dating Games series by Lauren Blakely. I had no idea when I met Gabe in Two A Day that he was going to give us all the flirty, dirty business but I am here for it! What's better than playing a game you love, hanging out with your buddies and just being a genuinely nice guy? Running into an old friend who's all grown up and gorgeous. Now that she's not too young for him, it's ok for him to take a second look. And a third and fourth. Ellie can't believe her luck is about to change. No more bad boys for her. When she runs into an old crush, who's a good guy, she needs to accept the challenge. She doesn't expect Gabe to be a dirty talking bad boy in the bedroom, but whoa. Please and thank you! The more time they spend together, the more real it gets. Is this just a fun challenge or is it something more? Oh damn! These two almost lit my kindle on fire! Their banter was fun, their sexiness off the charts. I’m still fanning myself! Gabe is so sweet and dirty and fun and one of those book boyfriends you wish were real! Ellie is sweet, sassy and ready for anything Gabe wants. Their history gives them the extra connection and makes it all that much more! I'm loving this series and can't wait for what Lauren has next!

Audio: Holy hotness! Jason Clarke brings the fire with this one! He's the perfect Gabe with his deep, sexy voice. And Stella was freaking fantastic!

The Good Guy Challenge

The premise for this book was awesome!
Being challenged to date someone other than who you're normally used to is kind of a great concept.

Do not let what I just say fool you. This book is SPICY in all the best ways. We have some very spicy and dirty talking scenes and we have some kink which hello YES PLEASE, MORE PLEASE.

What I liked was there was no dramalama if you know me. I am not a fan of breakups and makeups just for the sake of the story. Some stories don’t need it, and this was one of those, it was perfect.

Both the narrators were fantastic in this book, they had just the right voices and tones. Jason’s sexy talk was delicious and Vanessa’s sexy voice hits just right.

A Must Read

5 stars is not enough. Stella Hunter and Jason Clarke are both utterly perfect in this book. One of the dirtiest Lauren Blakely books I've read in a long time (in the absolute best way). This is one that 100% must be done in audio to get the full effect and as always, Lauren's bonus content is on point!!

Steamy!

Yum, this is a very steamy, sexy, and fun book... while still having a sweet romance at the core of the story! It's definitely a must-read! And, as always, the narrators did a phenomenal job!! I also loved all of the bonus materials at the end of the Audible version.