[Blog Tour] The Matchmaker's Playbook

Title: The Matchmaker's Playbook (Wingmen Inc. 1)
Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Release Date: April 5, 2016
Format: e-ARC

Wingman rule number one: don’t fall for a client. After a career-ending accident, former NFL recruit Ian Hunter is back on campus—and he’s ready to get his new game on. As one of the masterminds behind Wingmen, Inc., a successful and secretive word-of-mouth dating service, he’s putting his extensive skills with women to work for the lovelorn. But when Blake Olson requests the services of Wingmen, Inc., Ian may have landed his most hopeless client yet. From her frumpy athletic gear to her unfortunate choice of footwear, Blake is going to need a miracle if she wants to land her crush. At least with a professional matchmaker by her side she has a fighting chance. Ian knows that his advice and a makeover can turn Blake into another successful match. But as Blake begins the transformation from hot mess to smoking’ hot, Ian realizes he’s in danger of breaking his cardinal rule…

Amazon: US | UK | CA | AU

Review

The Matchmaker's Playbook was absolutely brilliant and one of my best reads this year! Rachel Van Dyken took such a unique and fun idea and gave it an all male perspective. Since the mention of this book I have been excited to read a book by Rachel that was in an all male POV. She did this book so much justice! It was better than I expected it to be. Rachel Van Dyken always exceeds my expectations and this book soared right past them! 

Ian and Lex are the ultimate Wingmen. They know it all and want to help women get the man they want. They are perfect at their job and they seem to have the right playbook to help these woman. They have a very high success rate in paring the perfect matches. But soon that might be tested because the woman that ends up needed their services is going to be one of the hardest clients they ever had. She dresses and walks all wrong. This will be Ian's biggest challenge. But the longer it takes for him to figure her out the more he gets to know Blake. Will he break one of his biggest rules for her?

Ian. Hunter. Sigh. This man just had me dyyyying. I absolutely loved Ian. This book is all from his perspective and I LOVED that! This is a rare thing. I haven't read many books with an all male perspective. Sure there are lots of books out there but usually they release after the first book that was the all female POV. But this one is allll male! I thought Rachel was brilliant to do this. The thoughts and the behaviors were all male and it was so refreshing. Especially being inside Ian, and him being a Wingman was very interesting. He was like cupid, but hotter.  

Like all books he has had some issues and he doesn't plan on falling in love, he just wants to help women get the guy and eventually fall in love. But soon this certain little flip-flop wearing girl catches his attention. Their first fun-in is one of my favorite scenes ever! But Blake soon needs help from Ian which is a bad thing because she becomes his client, meaning she is after someone else. This turns out to be one of the most interesting things ever! I got to see the slow build up of Ian starting to crush on Blake but we had no clue what Blake was feeling. I loved that! It let us know that guys do question whether girls care about them. 

Blake was tough and I loved that she kept this great personality about her. She was a fun character because we see too many girly girls out there but Blake was more sporty. I found this fun! Looking at her through a male perspective was exciting. It's like I was noticing her physically. Ian kept mentioning her boobs and her body and I just couldn't help but laugh. This is not something I typically notice in a book but Ian kept mentioning them because of course he's a guy! The humor is another thing that I loved about this book! 

The Matchmaker's Playbook is a quick read because you can't put it down. It is funny and very pleasing! I really enjoyed this book and I recommend it! Seriously read it because it was something that felt new and different. It makes me want more books like this so I really commend Rachel Van Dyken for taking on this challenge and I can't wait for the next Wingmen book!

Meet Lex

Lex "suck my balls" Luther

Every hero needs a villain right? I mean thats how some of the best stories are written, so why not have one in real life? You'd think that being a certified genius would be enough, but for Lex, it isn't, Poly Sci just isn't what it used to be you know? So he seduces women by day and hacks computers by night. 

If Ian is the beauty behind Wingman Inc. then Lex is the brains. 

Only, he's hella hot too. 

Seriously, just ask the two girls currently vying for his attention in bed while he tries to take down the Pentagon. 

Its a tough job, but hey, someones gotta do it! 

Excerpt

“What are you doing in my room?” Her voice was accusatory low, and kind of sexy—if I closed my eyes and thought of it belonging to a different body.

“You mean Gabi’s room?”

“No.” Her nostrils flared. “My room.”

“And you are?” I held out my hand, because I was a gentleman first, a certifiable man-whore second, and because my grandma used to swat my ass every time I introduced myself without a firm handshake.

Her eyes widened as she stared at my naked body.

“Fine,” I said with a half shrug and then stood. “But I literally only have three minutes before Gabi hands me my ass. You want the bed or the floor, since you’re already there?”

And Gabi said I wasn’t charitable enough? Damn, look at me, just ready to hand out orgasms for free.

“What?” New girl’s wide roaming eyes finally lifted to meet mine. Damn, some people charge for that kind of staring. “What are you talking about?”

“Okay, now we’re down to about two and a half minutes. I’m not gonna say it won’t be difficult, but I could probably do something that would at least conjure up a little panting. Maybe a scream or two.”

“Scream?” she said, her eyebrows drawing together. “What are you talking about? And why are you naked?”

“I was looking for clothes before you barged in on me.”

“In my room.”

“Look.” I glanced at my watch. “Now we’re really getting into dangerous territory. I’ve been nicknamed Superman in bed, but I’m not actually sure I can do a repeat of 2014, though I’d love to add another instance to the record books. So if we’re going to do this, you need to hurry up and take at least your shirt off.”

“Are you”—her cheeks reddened—“a stripper for the party?”

Hmm. The idea had merit. I could do a free show, which would make me a saint, considering what I typically charge each client.

“No.” I held out my hand. When she didn’t take it, I took it upon myself to lift her from the floor and onto her feet.

She kicked. She even tried to bite me.

“There we go. A little enthusiasm!”

“Put me down!” She jerked away from me.

I set her away from me and crossed my arms. “Sorry, time’s up. You have ten seconds left, and even I can’t perform a miracle of this”—I pointed at her baggy shirt, baggy shirts, and, holy shit, was she wearing tube socks?—“caliber.” I swallowed. “Just a guess, but were you homeschooled?”

Her face reddened with either embarrassment or anger. “No! And I live here. This is my room!”

“But it’s Gabi’s room.”

“We switched this morning!” She stomped her foot. The girl  was wearing old-school Adidas flip-flops.

They still made those? Huh. It was like seeing a real live T. rex.

“Why are you staring at my feet?”

“They have to be worth a mint by now.” I tapped my chin and continued staring at the ugly rubber flip-flops. “Impressive. Really impressive.”

“Are you even listening to me?” she shrieked. “Put some clothes on and get out of my room. Or don’t put clothes on and just get out of my room. Whichever.”

“Exactly.” I nodded seriously. “I was just about to do that when you tumbled in. Now,” I said slowly, “you say you switched rooms?”

She nodded.

“Which makes Gabi’s room . . . ?”

She pointed down the hall. I had a brief moment of recollection in which Gabi had mentioned something about switching to the smaller room because the two new roommates were going to share.

“Ah, you must be Serena.”

“Blake,” she growled. “Serena’s blonde.”

I’d have bet she was hot too. Serena was a hot-girl name. Blake? It was what you named a girl that you thought was going to be a boy and therefore projected all your boyhood dreams onto her. Ten bucks that her dad had made her play every sport in the book and she was either the product of divorce or single parenting.

“Why are you still standing here . . . naked?” This time she looked away, covering her face with her hands.

 “What’s wrong with being naked? You do know you were born that way, right?”

“Just”—she didn’t look again, but pointed at the door—“go.”

“Your loss.” I laughed. “Could have rocked your world.”

“My world doesn’t need rocking.”

I paused midway through the door and turned back, moving in close, making sure my breath would blow across her neck as I whispered, “Now that’s where you’re wrong, Blake. Every girl needs to allow her world to be rocked, at least once. Or if said rocking is coming from me? Twice.”

ABOUT RACHEL VAN DYKEN

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor. She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers! Want to be kept up to date on new releases? Text MAFIA to 66866! 
You can connect with her on Facebook www.facebook.com/rachelvandyken  or join her fan group Rachel's New Rockin Readers. Her website is www.rachelvandykenauthor.com .

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