Royal Playboy

3.75 stars--ROYAL PLAYBOY is the first instalment in Nana Malone’s contemporary, adult PLAYBOY PRINCE erotic, romance duet focusing on British photographer Xander Chase, and American actress Imani Brooks. Xander and Imani were first introduced in the London Royal series focusing on Xander’s brother Lex.

NOTE: ROYAL PLAYBOY is the re-release of the author’s 2015 LONDON CALLING (Chase Brothers #2) with added, modified and expanded content.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Imani and Xander) following two timelines, ROYAL PLAYBOY follows the fake girlfriend/boyfriend relationship between photographer Xander Chase, and American actress Imani Brooks. Imani is desperate for money having received a call from her sister saying their alcoholic father had not been paying the bills. Researching for an upcoming role, Imani finds herself interviewing a high priced escort that will eventually pull our heroine into the darker side of life where she meets a man who only wants to talk. To Imani’s surprise said man is none other than renowned photographer Xander Chase, the photographer hired to shoot her latest promo pictures for an upcoming show. But all is not well in Xander Chase’s world, and our hero soon discovers he needs a ‘significant other’ in order to impress some potential clients, clients he needs for his journey of revenge. What ensues is the fake girlfriend/fiancé relationship between Imani and Xander that turns into something more, and the potential fall-out a Xander struggles with issues from the past, as Imani’s past is out to destroy her short-lived happiness in the arms of Xander Chase.

The relationship between Xander and Imani begins as a business exchange but Imani struggles with her attraction to Xander Chase. Their one night together results in emotions that neither one expected, emotions that will soon develop into something more. The $ex scenes are intimate and erotic but I struggle with the use of a certain four-letter word in my romance story line-erotic or otherwise.

The colorful secondary and supporting characters include Xander’s brother Alexi, and his girlfriend Abbie -first introduced in the newly renamed LONDON ROYAL series ; Imani’s father, and her sister Ebony; businessman and Xander’s nemesis Alistair McMahon: escort Miriam; director Charles Adams; and Imani’s ex boyfriend Ryan Ellison.

ROYAL PLAYBOY is a quick read; a story of betrayal and revenge; secrets and lies; attraction, relationships and love. The premise is captivating and engaging; the romance is heart breaking and provocative; the characters are broken, desperate, and energetic. Royal Playboy ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned

This is the first book in the Playboy Royal Duet. OMG! Xander and Imani's story is fast paced, intriguing and suspenseful. I love these broken and beautiful characters! The Prologue is breathtaking. The story ends with a cliffhanger, and I can't wait to read the next book in this duet, Playboy's Heart. I need more of Xander and Imani!