I am a huge fan of the sports romance trope, as well as author Naima Simone. Scoring With the Wrong Twin is Ms. Simone's latest book, and it the love story between an application developer and a professional football player. Both main characters are interesting, exciting and hot.

Sophia Cruz and Giovanna Cruz are identical twin sisters. Both are beautiful and smart. However, growing up Sophia was a nerd and was picked on relentlessly. Giovanna was popular and outgoing, the complete opposite of Sophia. Giovanna is a model and has been asked to walk the runway in Milan. Since she is already scheduled for a promotional shoot, Sophia reluctantly agrees to take her sister's place just this one time. Footballer Zephirin Black is in the photo shoot as well, and he and Sophia share a lustful attraction. After much hemming and hawing, they both agree to a very temporary, sex only relationship. They fall into lust and love, and all the while Zeph believes Sophia to be Giovanna. Their relationship gives Sophia the strength to stand up for herself in the workplace.

I liked this story and how the author evolved Sophia's character into a strong, independent woman. Sophia and Zeph are a fun couple and their sexy times are steamy. The plot was repetitive at times and I would have enjoyed it more as a novella. Overall, a solid read.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

When her twin asks her for a huge favor, how can Sophia Cruz possibly say no. But when she gets to the modelling gig and finds she has to partner up with football player Zephirin Black, Sophia never imagined she'd find love at the one place where she has to pull off her best fake-it-till-you-make-it moment, so her sister doesn't lose the career she loves. Yet, when the photo shoot is over and Zephirin asks her out, Sophia knows it's a bad idea, especially when she's keeping a huge secret. Will the secret Sophia's keeping be her downfall, or will she get a shot at happy ever after with her Mr. Right?

Ms. Simone is such a talented author, and this book again proves she's a master in writing super hot romances with incredible main and secondary characters; enthralling dialogue that hooked this reader right from the moment I began reading and held me completely captivated till the very end; and a fast-paced storyline where the hero and heroine face some very tough obstacles to be together. However, it was from the moment the hero and heroine come face-to-face for the first time where this story got very, very interesting, as Sophia is determined to keep her secret, but can't help being intrigued by Zephirin. Will she explore the intense chemistry the pair have or run because of her secret?

Both the main characters are relatable, likeable and have fascinating back stories that had me reading quickly determined to discover whether Sophia would open up to Zephirin about her secret or will her keeping it to herself backfire and ruin her relationship with the hero. Moreover, the heroine is resilient and courageous in doing what she does for her sister, considering she's not the adventurous type and would rather be home with a good book or her computer. I also liked that she would do anything for her twin sister, even though she's absolutely worried she won't be capable of pulling off what her sister is asking of her, despite the fact that their twins. Really, it's an absolute struggle that had me sympathizing with the heroine. However, what I liked most of all about Sophia is that she took a chance on the hero, even knowing that it was a bad idea and could ruin things for her sister, if someone discovered the truth. Will someone discover the sisters' deception?

While the hero, he's been through a lot in his past and it's understandable why he finds it hard to trust after what his ex did that could have cost him everything he's worked so hard for. Yet, in saying that, I loved his confidence, charm and his determination to win the heroine over, because she's the first woman to capture his attention the way she does in a long time. Will Sophia be able to adhere to the one thing Zephirin expects of her, if she agrees to his proposition? Certainly, honesty is the best policy. Will Sophia open up to the hero about her past and her secret? Yet, what I liked most of all about the hero is the loving relationship he has with his Gran. Certainly, she has some great advice for him at the right moment.

Overall, Ms. Simone has delivered an utterly incredible read in this first book of her WAGS series where the chemistry between this couple was off-the-charts; the romance full of exquisite heat and passion that had me hoping for the best for this couple; and the ending had me loving the lengths the hero was willing to go to in order to win Sophia back, especially since the hero's plan helps the heroine so much when it comes to her career. However, it was the epilogue that wrapped this story up nicely, because Sophia and Zephirin so deserve the happiness they've found together. I would recommend Scoring with the Wrong Twin by Naima Simone, if you enjoy mistaken identity trope or books by authors Cathryn Fox, Stefanie London, Nina Croft and Amy Andrews.

Scoring with the Wrong Twin, by Naima Simone is a passionate contemporary romance story.

Sophia Cruz believes that she is shy and awkward, especially compared to her supermodel twin sister. Even though they are identical twins, Sophia and Giovanna are quite different. Also, Sophia is a computer programmer struggling at her job, due to her horrible boss. When Giovanna overbooks two modeling jobs, she convinces Sophia to model in her place, which is when she meets him.

Zephirin Black, a famous pro football player, is captivated by Sophia. Due to meeting at the modeling shoot, Zephirin thinks Sophia is her twin sister, Giovanna. Even though Zephirin and Sophia are wildly attracted to each other, they limit their interaction to only a one-night stand.

Zephirin decides that he wants more of a relationship and tracks down Sophia, who he still thinks is Giovanna. Of course, there's a lot of drama with switching places. Plus, Zephirin has a history of women (particularly an ex-girlfriend) lying to him about serious issues, so he's adamantly against any hint of lying. Sophia and Zephirin have a lot to sort out in their individual lives, as well as their potential relationship.

Scoring with the Wrong Twin is geared towards those who prefer amorous contemporary romance books.


Note: I received this book from NetGalley, which is a program designed for bloggers to write book reviews in exchange for books, yet the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Shy, awkward Sophia Cruz has a hard time telling her vivacious identical twin “no.” But when her sister begs her to swap places for a modeling shoot, she caves … again. Then Zephirin Black walks onto the set. The brooding, aloof, and gorgeous tight end for the Washington Warriors. But she can keep it professional… She has to. Because the adorkable Cruz twin has no luck with guys once they compare her to her sister.

After a bad break-up, Zeph hasn’t been big on second chances—and even less with trust. But he finds himself giving please-call-me-by-my-middle-name-Sophia both. The woman he’d dismissed as a spoiled cover model is different from the first time he met her. Quirkier. Funnier. Definitely sexier. What started as one night turns into another…and another…and another…

Still, Sophia can’t go on keeping her secret from him. But telling Zeph the truth will mean losing him for good.

Review:

What a great story of mistaken identity and the love that grows off that mistake.

I loved that Sophia is a geeky, awkward twin. Who has not dreamed about having a twin and switching places??? I know I did as a kid. That the premise is around this and then incorporates professional athletics was a great idea. Zeph is great too, having been burned before he still puts himself out there for Sophia. Of course, it all comes to a head when Zeph learns the truth and these two must work out the real people they are.

I have read Ms. Simone before and like her other books, this one is very well-written, with interesting characters and a story premise that draws you in. This is the first book in a new series, so if you read it now you won't miss out on anything.

This adult, sexy version is perfect if you like romance with heart and good ol' sexy times.

4Stars
*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book provided by the publisher.*

Scoring With the Wrong Twin is the first book in the new WAGS (Wives and Girlfriends) series by Naima Simone, and the whole series promises to be a steamy page-turner. Our current and future heroes are members of the Washington Warriors football enterprise and the best of friends. This hot bunch surely turns heads where ever they congregate, and I certainly wouldn't mind the cold and rain of Seattle if I had the chance to snag one of these warriors.

Zepherin Black is 6'6", 280lbs, and looks like Shemar Moore with a shaved head. I think I could just stop right there and all of you would be half in love with Zeph. He's also a Louisiana boy with close ties to his grandmama in New Orleans. At 28 years old, Zeph has been in the game for six years and is serving as the tight end for the Washington Warriors. Besides being sex on a stick, Zeph is charitable, driven and he loves real hard. I really liked Zeph. He wasn't dark and broody, but a bad relationship in his past made him somewhat vulnerable and his number one rule these days is that he demands honesty. Zeph has been burned by so many deceitful people in the past that he has a hard time trusting these days, and its given him a bit of a chip on his shoulder. I would have no problem helping him chisel that chip right off to get to the loyal hard-loving man underneath.

Sophia Cruz is not your typical heroine. She has blue-tipped hair, tattoos, piercings, and a serious love for 80s movies. Sophia is a self-professed geek and develops apps for a living. She also has a twin sister and Sophia has always been the less desirable sister. She is carrying some baggage and self-esteem issues from being bullied as a teenager, and she didn't seem to realize how beautiful she was. I liked Sophia's character. We see her struggling with deception and morality in the story, and I sympathized with her plight.

The couple meet during a photoshoot where Zeph thinks that Sophia is her twin sister (the supermodel) and she does not correct his assumption. The chemistry between the two is off the charts and things get hot and heavy fairly quickly. What was supposed to be a casual one-night thing gets stretched out and the lie only gets more complicated the longer Sophia lets it go. Normally I loathe deception in my romances, but this one didn't bother me for some reason. Sophia was not lying to Zeph for personal gain, and she was actually being herself with him, so I think that helped. However, given Zeph's one demand (honesty, always), you know that things have the potential to explode. And this couple was already explosive together (chemistry-wise).

Only one thing bothered me in this story and that was one small scene. Naima - how in the heck with the height of our two characters can that girl fit in the floorboard of that SUV to do what she did??? She had to be a serious contortionist... and I may or may not have had to go out and look at my own SUV to see if *that* would really be possible with a 6'6" hero and 5'11" heroine. LOL

If you like sports romance or contemporary romance in general, I think you will like Scoring With the Wrong Twin. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this story that I received from the publisher, Entangled.

4.5 stars

This is the first book I have read by Ms. Simone and I am hooked. From the beginning I was hooked. Sophia is the geeky twin to up and coming model Giovanna. She is convinced by Giovanna to stand in as her for her modeling shoot, what could go wrong especially considering they are identical. Giovanna is the “beautiful” twin in Sophia’s eyes whilst she perceives herself as plain and chubby twin. In comes Zephirin Black the tight end for the Warriors. Zeph has sworn off women after his break up with his ex-girlfriend having been lied to by her. He’s met Giovanna previously but she is different in this time around. Sophia is really attracted to Zeph so she agrees to, after initially rejected his advances, to embark on a one night stand with him. Will Zeph reject Sophia when the truth comes out?

A page-turner for sure, I couldn’t put this book down. I especially liked how her characters were so relatable, I mean come on, who wouldn’t want a twin to swap places with.

** I voluntarily read an ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review **

I read this book and absolutely loved it. Zephirin Black (Zeph) is a football player that has trust issues and Sophia Cruz is a computer geek but she takes her sisters place as a model. What Sophia didn’t expect was to hit it off with Zeph and even though they agreed that it was going to a one night only thing, they both want more. Can they really have more since they have lies between them.
This is a great story that I could not put down and Naima Simone did not disappoint.

Great character and storyline development kept me totally hooked throughout the entire book! This book was hard to put down!

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

Loved reading about the instant chemistry between Sophia and Zephirin, but you just know that she could not keep her identity a secret and boy that was going to be a big deal in their non-relationship!

It was great when Sophia finally got the courage to confront her boss and then later to tell Zephirin that it really didn't matter that she lied, because he was just waiting for something to happen and he could walk away.

Zephirin's granny was so great and really loved her! It was also a great way for Zephirin to apologize the Sophia, and show that he believed in her. When she read the list of all the people who supported her, it was hard not to get emotional!

I sure hope that the end of the book was setting up future books as Zephirin's friends sound like a great group and there are some good stories there!

I love it when my New Year reading experience starts on an awesome note. And I have to say that I absolutely loved this book. I got excited about reading it right from the very first page.

Full review on website. See link.

It's HOT and Hilarious!!  Naime Simone is a romance author who knows how to write a story with sizzle and sass. In her new steamy series, WAGS ( Wives and Girlfriends of Sport Stars), it's pure titillation. She writes dialogue that you can relate to. I can picture myself talking with my sister in the same fashion.
In Scoring With The Wrong Twin, we meet Sophia Cruz, twin to upcoming Supermodel Giovanni .  Sophia is the opposite of her identical sister. A self proclaimed geek in the app development world, she is creative with a rebellious streak. Zephirin Black is the six-six grid-iron alpha hunk whose rock hard body and sexy mouth awakens desires she's never known before.  Their attraction is immediate and intense.
Quite different from the first time Zeph met Giovanni. As Sophia's one night stand becomes more nights of unending passion with Zeph, their no-strings sex begins to change. As they continue to explore what they can offer one another, Zeph realizes Giovanni -call -me-Sophia is unlike anyone he's ever met. Now Sophia stands to lose everything.
If you like quirky characters with a dash of humor you’ll love this first installment. It's steamy with explicit erotic encounters and will make readers eager for more dirty and crackling HOT stories. The dialogue is well written with relatable characters. A swoon-worthy romance with an epic HEA I highly recommend !!

sophia has always been the "ugly" one when compared to her model identical twin. she's curvier and nerdier and has piercings and an edgy look that is more punk than mainstream. but when giovanna begs sophia to take her place at a calendar shoot so she can go to a show in milan, she begrudgingly agrees.

she doesn't know that she will be paired with zephirin black, the league's hottest tight end. and she had no clue that the explosion of chemistry between them would be something mutual. and even worse, she has no way to be honest with him about her identity because she refuses to screw things up with her sister. if only zeph didn't have massive trust issues and have a thing about honesty.

sophia tries to keep things professional. and when that doesn't work she tries to keep it to one night. and then when she can't stay away she figures she might as well hold on to every moment she can before it blows up in her face.

and zeph will need to work out if everything was a lie or not. and he'll need to decide whether or not all lies are unforgivable. because sophia never asked him for anything he wasn't already prepared to give. and letting her go after she burrowed her way into his heart doesn't feel like the right choice. scoring with the wrong twin sets up the conflict these two will face perfectly. the pull of their chemistry is undeniable and even though you know that the other shoe is going to drop and ruin everything you can't help but hope they manage to pull it all together before it does. and you get why they make the decisions they do and why they react the way they do. it's all realistic and well-done and oh-so-enjoyable.

**scoring with the wrong twin will publish on january 15, 2018. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (brazen) in exchange for my honest review.

Scoring With the Wrong Twin by Naima Simone was a nice surprise. It was a sweet and charming romance with great characters.

Sophia Cruz loves her twin sister, Giovanna, but has always felt less than her beautiful, model sister. Even so, there isn’t anything she would not do for her. Their bond is strong, and they love each other very much. Which is how she finds herself pretending to be her sister on a modeling shoot. But she never expected her response to Zephirin Black. It is instant and strong.

Zeph is the tight end for the Washington Warriors and after a bad relationship, he does not trust easy. But when he meets Giovanna at the shoot, she affects him in a way he never expected. He wants her. Instead of the cold model he expected, he finds her enticing.

Sophia tries and fight off the attraction she feels for Zeph. She knows it’s wrong, but for once, she wants to indulge. What could it hurt, right? One time and she will walk away. But one-night turns to me and now she is stuck. How can she tell him the truth? Either way, all she can see is losing him.

I loved Scoring With the Wrong Twin. We see Sophia come into herself and the chemistry between Sophia and Zeph is off the charts. I loved the characters and story so much. I especially love when I find a new to me author that I cannot wait to read more off!

Dwelling in the shadows is no way to live. With an overpowering twin and a sense of self that is less than ideal, Sophia has spent her life dreaming of breaking free, but not quite sure how. When this timid wallflower gets roped into an awkward situation, her world starts to look up. Zeph is all the things she's never wanted, yet now can't see herself living without. Sophia has self-esteem issues, Zeph has trust issues and the secret she hides could implode what they've started to build together. Scoring with the Wrong Twin is a tempestuous romance with a powerful message of self image and second chances.

5 Star Review Scoring With The Wrong Twin by Naima Simone

Naima Simone is a new author to me and I have to ask myself why that is. This was a relatively quick read but one that ticked all the boxes for me.

Sophia Cruz is the shy and geeky identical twin of Giovanna, a successful up and coming model. When her sister convinces her to substitute for her at a modelling shoot, Sophia has no idea that it will change her life in ways she has never imagined. Giovanna has always been the beautiful twin, whilst Sophia was often bullied at school and overlooked as the plain , overweight twin.

Attending the shoot Sophia meets and is immediately attracted to Zephirin Black, a tall, gorgeous tight end for the Washington Warriors. Zeph isn’t looking for romance after being badly burnt by his ex girlfriend he has sworn to never trust a woman again, especially if he finds out they have lied to him. However he too is attracted to “Giovanna”, a woman he has met before but who seems so different this time. Sophia is shocked at how beautiful she feels in the photo shoot and decides after initially rejecting Zeph, to jump into a one night stand.

Zeph has no idea that Sophia is posing as Giovanna and she is terrified when their one night stand, turns into more and more. What will Zeph do when he finds out that it is Sophia and not Giovanna who has captured his attention? Will he forgive her or walk away?

I loved Zeph and Sophia, both separately and together and so wanted them to get their happily ever after. Their chemistry was off the charts and I loved Zeph’s love and devotion for the grandmother who raised him. The characters were relatable and not only was it a spicy read it was also funny.

This book had me gripped from the first chapter and I couldn’t put it down, reading in one sitting.

I will definitely be reading more from Naima Simone.

An advanced reader copy was graciously provided by the author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 sexy sizzling stars

Edgy, sizzling, amazing, hot…..none of these words do justice to Naima Simone’s brilliant newest book, Scoring with the Wrong Twin! From the minute Sophia Cruz, a twin to her fabulous model sister, Giovanna, takes her place for a modeling shoot and meets the incredibly handsome Zephirin Black, a tight end for the Washington Warriors football team, sexual chemistry and tension between these two is so HOT it makes the reader want to drop the book!

Sophia is the “lesser” twin, or so she thinks so when she compares herself to her elegant and sophisticated twin, Giovanna. As a top model, Giovanna seems to have it all. Something her sister, Sophia admires and longs for herself. Struggling in her job, wanting more recognition, easily manipulated by the people around her (sorry that does include Giovanna), Sophia struggles with herself. It all changes though when Giovanna pleads to Sophia to pretend to be her and take her place for a photo shoot because Giovanna has committed to another shoot half way around the world. She can’t be in two places at the same time, so Sophia agrees. When she meets Zephirin Black, her counterpart in the photo shoot, sparks begin to fly. This is where Sophia’s journey begins. It’s not only a story of romance and hot sizzling sex, but a journey of self-discovery, gaining confidence and learning to be comfortable and confident in your own self.

This story is wonderfully entertaining and a contemporary romance that is a terrific read. It starts a little slow, but really takes off the minute Sophia and Zephirin meet and from that point on I could not put this book down. I don’t know if this will be part of a series or not, but there were a number of supporting characters so I hope so. I’d love to read more about them and find out where Sophia and Zephirin are in the future!

Smart and well written Scoring With the Wrong Twin put me through an emotional wringer. There were times I wanted to smack Sophia and Zephirin. I really liked these characters and wanted them to find happiness but they were determined to take the hard route and drag me along for the ride. If hunky heroes and nerdy girls work for you you will love this story.

SOPHIA is a strong character right from the first page. I’m glad the story was about her and not her stuck up model sister. Zeph took me a little to warm up to but once he started showing his sweet side i feel hard for his character. I loved how the author didnt make either one of them perfect. After all life isnt perfect.
Poor Fi gets pulled deeper in the relationship with Zephirin and doesnt start a chance at protecting her heart against him. She struggles every time she sees him with the truth of who she is. My heart absoluelty shattered when he made a promise to her that HE broke. Sophia doesn’t undertstand her value. To her she is ugly, unwanted, and not worthy of love. Zeph on the other hand is damaged beyond help and doesnt even notice it until Sophie points it out. This book will have you riding the roller coaster of emotion. It is well worth the read. I CAN’T wait to read more.

This book was unexpectedly sweet. It depicts the many insecurities of those that live in the limelight well. I did feel that her sister was taking undue advantage of her but at the same time, it gave Sophie a chance to truly revel in the side of her that shook her confidence the most.

From start to finish this book just isn't for me. This is a fact of it being ME and not the book.