Playing Dirty *Susan Anderson*

Publishing Date: June 26, 2011
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Sisterhood Diaries
ISBN: 978-1-4592-0892-6
List Price: $3.59
Sensuality Rating: PG-13

At the end of senior year  it finally happened. Ava Spencer finally lost her virginity, and to none other than handsome, bad boy Cade Gallari. She was so happy, until she heard it was all a bet; he was offered two hundred bucks to sleep with, "the fat girl." The bastard jerk didn't like her at all.
          Years later, Cade is back from LA and he wants to film a documentary in Miss Agnes, and the girls really need the money. They reluctantly agree and Ava is asked to play concierge for the film crew. For that amount of money, who wouldn't?  As time passes, its become harder and harder for Ava and Cade to stay at arms length. Even after the first humiliating experience with Cade, there is still a sizzling attraction between the two just waiting to get out.
           Ava definitely doesn't want to trust him again and get her heartbroken a second time. Can she forgive him and get past all of her weight insecurities? Or will the past come between them and ruin any chance for a happily-ever-after?
          Playing Dirty was a joy to read. The plot was a bit cliched (but that's not necessarily a bad thing): unpopular girl falls for the bad boy, bad boy breaks her heart and she has a hard time trusting men again, yada yada yada. But, thankfully, the setting and the twists ans surprises Anderson throws in makes up for the unoriginality in the couple.
          Susan grabbed my attention with this contemporary. Ava, the curvy, but outstandingly gorgeous girl that seems to not understand her own worth. Her insecurities remind me of mine (the weight insecurities). Susan teaches us that there is know reason everyone should strive to be a size 2, when a size 12 is just as great.
          Cade is in no way, shape or form a perfect man. Heck, he was a jerk in high school. Playing Dirty shows how people can change from who they were as kids.
          This novel is an spectacular work of romance that gives us romantics the love story we crave and the life lesson we need. It shows us readers that anyone can fall in love, not just perfect fictional characters, because there are no perfect real-world people. This love story is a great example of how the weight you are has nothing to do with your human worth.
          Anyways...Who would I recommend this to? Any person, really. Everyone could use a lesson in humility. But this novel is great for any of us struggling with weight insecurities (like me), or just someone who wants to try out a new contemporary with a happy ending.