No More Playas

September 19, 2005
After realizing the error of his philandering ways, reformed badboy and bestselling author Dr. Lance Montgomery returns to win back the love of scorned beauty Asia Fowler in Jackson's zesty, steamy sequel to The Playa's Handbook
. Everyone in Lance's life has commitment on the brain: best buddies Phillip McKenna and Marcus Lowery plan to marry the women in their lives, and Asia, the girl who got away, now finds herself halfheartedly engaged to humanitarian relief doctor Sean Crews, igniting a vicious rivalry between the men. A series of carefully orchestrated "chance" encounters gives Lance the chance to dare embittered Asia to test their attraction, but she resists, appealing to sister Claire and literary agent Melissa for moral support. Of course, these ladies will hatch their own plan to get Lance and Asia back together. Meanwhile, Lance's sister, Carrie, a childhood runaway, wrestles with both a blackmail scheme and her unbridled passion for Connor Hargrove, a flirty, commitment-phobic investigator on the case. Though the story's tropical-island flavored conclusion is overwhelmingly apparent right from the start, this won't deter readers from becoming absorbed in the interpersonal fireworks and sultry melodrama that has become Jackson's forte.

November 1, 2005
This latest from prolific writer Jackson ("The Playa's Handbook" ) features two playboys who reform their ways when they meet two special women who turn their heads and lead them to the altar.

Copyright 2005 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2005
After " The Playa's Handbook" (2004) made Lance Montgomery the man with the rules for staying single and carefree, he finally meets his match in Dr. Asia Fowler. Their initial encounter is as adversaries, but Asia and Lance cannot seem to get over one another. Asia is still reeling from the hurt and humiliation she felt when Lance tested her vow of celibacy. Afterward, Lance realizes he is in love and sets out to win Asia's affection. He has a bigger challenge than her anger, however; Asia is engaged to her ex-boyfriend's brother, Dr. Sean Crews, who has been in love with Asia since his brother introduced her to the family. Meanwhile, Lance's sister Carrie is blackmailed but afraid to let her brothers know because she does not want to harm their professional images. She hires Connor to help uncover the identity of her blackmailer and finds that after many years of avoiding men and relationships, she feels tense in Connor's company. Lance and Carrie both learn some lessons about love and trust.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)