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Play by Play #2
Changing the Game
Most people play by the rules. Gavin and Liz aren't most people...
Win at any cost. That's always been the mantra of sports agent Liz Darnell. When she carries things too far and risks losing her number-one client, baseball pro Gavin Riley, Liz realizes that she'll have to work extra innings to win him back. It might not be too much of a stretch. She's had a thing for this player's moves since she first laid eyes on him, and by the looks of it, he wants her just as bad.
Gavin's more than ready—especially when Liz is offering herself as part of the bargain. And as much of her as Gavin wants. For added thrills, he decides to throw a little curve ball Liz's way to see just how far she's truly willing to go to keep him as a client. But when love unexpectedly enters the playing field, neither Liz nor Gavin are ready for the biggest game-changer of them all.
Win at any cost. That's always been the mantra of sports agent Liz Darnell. When she carries things too far and risks losing her number-one client, baseball pro Gavin Riley, Liz realizes that she'll have to work extra innings to win him back. It might not be too much of a stretch. She's had a thing for this player's moves since she first laid eyes on him, and by the looks of it, he wants her just as bad.
Gavin's more than ready—especially when Liz is offering herself as part of the bargain. And as much of her as Gavin wants. For added thrills, he decides to throw a little curve ball Liz's way to see just how far she's truly willing to go to keep him as a client. But when love unexpectedly enters the playing field, neither Liz nor Gavin are ready for the biggest game-changer of them all.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2011
344 people are currently reading
10417 people want to read
About the author
Jaci Burton
162 books8,294 followersJaci Burton is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of over 85 books. She lives in Oklahoma and when she isn’t on deadline (which is often), she can usually be found wrestling with her uncooperative garden, wrangling her dogs, watching an unhealthy amount of television, or completely losing track of time reading a great book. She’s a total romantic and longs for the happily ever after in every story, which you’ll find in all her books.. Visit her website at www.jaciburton.com for excerpts, book information and contests.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,148 reviews
November 13, 2014
4 ½ stars – Contemporary/Sports Erotic Romance
Thoughts Before Reading
NOT that I'm complaining at all about the masculine perfection of this cover 'cause HELLO, just look at those mouthwateringly yummy shoulders and biceps...GRRR! But, don't baseball players usually have a little more junk in their trunk and thicker thighs? I think I have an obligation to read this (as purely scientific study of course) to find out. *naughty grin*
Thoughts After Reading
After careful review and scientific analysis, I have determined that this cover model, albeit delicious in his own right, isn’t a totally adequate representation for the studtastic hotness that is Gavin Riley.
Allow me to offer some additional...ahem...visual demonstrations.
Gavin thinking about Liz:
Gavin fresh from the shower after a grueling game:
Gavin lazing around in jeans:
I really enjoyed this, although not quite as much as The Perfect Play. Gavin and Liz are seriously smokin’ hot together and scorch the sheets, the balcony, the shower, the floor, the couch, the kitchen counter, and just about any and every surface they touch. Gavin is yummy of course, but I was surprised by how much I ended up liking and rooting for Liz after her outright display of utter bitchiness in The Perfect Play. The author does a good job explaining her hidden insecurity and vulnerability and making her into a sympathetic heroine. Mick was a total d*ck, no pun intended, to Gavin and Liz and tried his best to tear them apart. Luckily he eventually came around because otherwise I was going to have to pummel him, which would have been a damn shame considering how much I loved him in The Perfect Play. 4 ½ stars!
Thoughts Before Reading
NOT that I'm complaining at all about the masculine perfection of this cover 'cause HELLO, just look at those mouthwateringly yummy shoulders and biceps...GRRR! But, don't baseball players usually have a little more junk in their trunk and thicker thighs? I think I have an obligation to read this (as purely scientific study of course) to find out. *naughty grin*
Thoughts After Reading
After careful review and scientific analysis, I have determined that this cover model, albeit delicious in his own right, isn’t a totally adequate representation for the studtastic hotness that is Gavin Riley.
Allow me to offer some additional...ahem...visual demonstrations.
Gavin thinking about Liz:
Gavin fresh from the shower after a grueling game:
Gavin lazing around in jeans:
I really enjoyed this, although not quite as much as The Perfect Play. Gavin and Liz are seriously smokin’ hot together and scorch the sheets, the balcony, the shower, the floor, the couch, the kitchen counter, and just about any and every surface they touch. Gavin is yummy of course, but I was surprised by how much I ended up liking and rooting for Liz after her outright display of utter bitchiness in The Perfect Play. The author does a good job explaining her hidden insecurity and vulnerability and making her into a sympathetic heroine. Mick was a total d*ck, no pun intended, to Gavin and Liz and tried his best to tear them apart. Luckily he eventually came around because otherwise I was going to have to pummel him, which would have been a damn shame considering how much I loved him in The Perfect Play. 4 ½ stars!
July 10, 2013
4 Steamy Stars
Changing the Game is the second book in Jaci Burton's Play by Play series.
I was apprehensive about this book. I wasn't sure Ms. Burton could take an unlikable character, Elizabeth Darnell, from The Perfect Play, and make her not only likable, but also the next heroine in the series. I needn't have worried. Ms. Burton exceeded my expectations.
I enjoyed reading this book. Just like in The Perfect the Play, the characters were richly developed, engaging, and lovable. Well, almost all the characters. I liked Gavin's and Liz's characters. Their relationship, though at times frustrating, was spicy, humorous, and touching. I'm not always a fan of "friends to lovers" plots, but this book worked for me. The author stayed away from the typical cliche scenarios commonly found in these type of books.
This is very steamy and explicitly erotic book. In fact, the fist part of the story is pretty much one big sex scene without much plot development. However, that soon changes once Gavin realizes his feelings for Liz. After that, we are treated to an erotic love story full of passion and romance.
I also felt the sex scenes improved in this book. It didn't feel like the hero and heroine were starring in some low budget porno with cringe worthy lines. The added emotion and tenderness helped me feel the love and connection between the main characters. And that's what I want in a love scene.
My only issue with the book was Mick's character. His behavior was awful during most of the story. I understand why he acted the way he did, and felt he had a right to be upset, but I didn't like his vindictive attitude towards Liz. Luckily, by the end of the book, he more than redeemed himself.
All in all, I enjoyed this story. If you're not sensitive to explicit erotica, then I highly recommend this book.
Changing the Game is the second book in Jaci Burton's Play by Play series.
I was apprehensive about this book. I wasn't sure Ms. Burton could take an unlikable character, Elizabeth Darnell, from The Perfect Play, and make her not only likable, but also the next heroine in the series. I needn't have worried. Ms. Burton exceeded my expectations.
I enjoyed reading this book. Just like in The Perfect the Play, the characters were richly developed, engaging, and lovable. Well, almost all the characters. I liked Gavin's and Liz's characters. Their relationship, though at times frustrating, was spicy, humorous, and touching. I'm not always a fan of "friends to lovers" plots, but this book worked for me. The author stayed away from the typical cliche scenarios commonly found in these type of books.
This is very steamy and explicitly erotic book. In fact, the fist part of the story is pretty much one big sex scene without much plot development. However, that soon changes once Gavin realizes his feelings for Liz. After that, we are treated to an erotic love story full of passion and romance.
I also felt the sex scenes improved in this book. It didn't feel like the hero and heroine were starring in some low budget porno with cringe worthy lines. The added emotion and tenderness helped me feel the love and connection between the main characters. And that's what I want in a love scene.
My only issue with the book was Mick's character. His behavior was awful during most of the story. I understand why he acted the way he did, and felt he had a right to be upset, but I didn't like his vindictive attitude towards Liz. Luckily, by the end of the book, he more than redeemed himself.
All in all, I enjoyed this story. If you're not sensitive to explicit erotica, then I highly recommend this book.
August 1, 2011
Question: Could Jaci Burton top her fabulous sports romance, The Perfect Play with her latest, Changing the Game? Ohh, it was good, it was close...but unfortunately it fell just a tad short of 5 stars for me.
JB had an uphill battle with this one, mostly because she had to make a very unlikable character from the previous book (sports agent Elizabeth Darnell) into a likable one. But I'm happy (and a bit surprised) to say that I think she accomplished that. She gave the tough, independent career woman Liz a decent backstory that explained why she acted the way she does. A young Liz saw first hand what a controlling man (her parent's miserable marriage) could do to a woman's spirit and she vowed that no man would ever have control over her (or her heart). Liz had a tough shell around her heart, and the only man who could possibly crack it was the man she had secretly loved for years, her client, 1st baseman for the St. Louis River, Gavin Riley.
Gavin...
Now Gavin never thought of Liz in a romantic way--she was his agent, period, and Gavin didn't believe in mixing business with pleasure (no matter how attractive he thought the beautiful redhead was). But ever since a vulnerable Liz kissed him after being fired by his superstar pro football player brother Mick (after Liz interfered in his love life), Gavin has been thinking about her. Liz has been avoiding Gavin, worrying (and expecting) that he will fire her too. Gavin has no intention of firing her, he's his own man with his own mind, but wants Liz to stop avoiding him, so he corners her during a spring training banquet in Florida. They have some things to talk about..
Liz...
Oh yowza! Gavin and Liz go waaay beyond talking at his Florida beach house. Liz knows this is wrong, to surrender to the commanding-in-the bedroom Gavin. She thinks Gavin is not about to commit to her, he likes his play-the-field lifestyle too much and will surely dump her when he tires of her. The only thing she can do to avoid getting hurt is keep it light, and don't ever reveal to Gavin her true feelings for him. But what if Gavin starts to want more from Liz than just a no strings affair? Will his family (namely his brother Mick who still hasn't forgiven Liz) make things difficult for them to have a relationship? Does Gavin even know what he wants? He's never been in love before--will he recognize his feelings for Liz as love?
This book starts out pretty hot and heavy. Gavin and Liz jump right into an affair, and JB leaves no detail unwritten. Verry steamy. But I thought this book started to get good once we learned a little more about Liz's background, and got her POV. I started to understand her, and forgave her for being such a b**** in the previous book. I enjoyed the relationship she shared with two of the Rivers' wives (Shawnelle and Haley)--they had some funny conversations and got into some trouble together. It was nice to see Liz have some female friends.
I also appreciated that JB gave Liz an unlikely career--that of a sports agent. I think I learned a thing or two about agents, and how hard Liz must have worked to achieve success at a young age (32).
What really surprised me in this book was how unlikable JB made Mick! Mick became the villain--trying to get between Gavin and Liz's relationship at every turn! Sometimes I just wanted to haul off and slap him! I was so glad when Liz finally told him off, but I wish Gavin would've had the guts to do it instead...
Jaci Burton also sets up her next book in this series quite nicely, when Liz becomes the agent for a St. Louis Ice hockey star, Tyler Anderson. Tyler and his reluctant future heroine (Mick and Gavin's sister, ) share a couple of conversations--looks like Tyler's going to have his work cut out for him.
So all in all, a pretty good book. I loved watching Gavin fall in love with Liz. Plenty of heat, likable characters, some nice family dynamics (got a few tears in my eyes when one of the Rileys faced a medical crisis, and Gavin leaned heavily on Liz), and a kind-of-corny, but cute ending, when Gavin finally gets his head out of his a** and recognizes his feelings. A very entertaining read. A solid 4-4 1/2 stars.
Warning: This book contains explicit sex (both oral and one anal scene) and graphic language. Not for the faint of heart.
JB had an uphill battle with this one, mostly because she had to make a very unlikable character from the previous book (sports agent Elizabeth Darnell) into a likable one. But I'm happy (and a bit surprised) to say that I think she accomplished that. She gave the tough, independent career woman Liz a decent backstory that explained why she acted the way she does. A young Liz saw first hand what a controlling man (her parent's miserable marriage) could do to a woman's spirit and she vowed that no man would ever have control over her (or her heart). Liz had a tough shell around her heart, and the only man who could possibly crack it was the man she had secretly loved for years, her client, 1st baseman for the St. Louis River, Gavin Riley.
Gavin...
Now Gavin never thought of Liz in a romantic way--she was his agent, period, and Gavin didn't believe in mixing business with pleasure (no matter how attractive he thought the beautiful redhead was). But ever since a vulnerable Liz kissed him after being fired by his superstar pro football player brother Mick (after Liz interfered in his love life), Gavin has been thinking about her. Liz has been avoiding Gavin, worrying (and expecting) that he will fire her too. Gavin has no intention of firing her, he's his own man with his own mind, but wants Liz to stop avoiding him, so he corners her during a spring training banquet in Florida. They have some things to talk about..
Liz...
Oh yowza! Gavin and Liz go waaay beyond talking at his Florida beach house. Liz knows this is wrong, to surrender to the commanding-in-the bedroom Gavin. She thinks Gavin is not about to commit to her, he likes his play-the-field lifestyle too much and will surely dump her when he tires of her. The only thing she can do to avoid getting hurt is keep it light, and don't ever reveal to Gavin her true feelings for him. But what if Gavin starts to want more from Liz than just a no strings affair? Will his family (namely his brother Mick who still hasn't forgiven Liz) make things difficult for them to have a relationship? Does Gavin even know what he wants? He's never been in love before--will he recognize his feelings for Liz as love?
This book starts out pretty hot and heavy. Gavin and Liz jump right into an affair, and JB leaves no detail unwritten. Verry steamy. But I thought this book started to get good once we learned a little more about Liz's background, and got her POV. I started to understand her, and forgave her for being such a b**** in the previous book. I enjoyed the relationship she shared with two of the Rivers' wives (Shawnelle and Haley)--they had some funny conversations and got into some trouble together. It was nice to see Liz have some female friends.
I also appreciated that JB gave Liz an unlikely career--that of a sports agent. I think I learned a thing or two about agents, and how hard Liz must have worked to achieve success at a young age (32).
What really surprised me in this book was how unlikable JB made Mick! Mick became the villain--trying to get between Gavin and Liz's relationship at every turn! Sometimes I just wanted to haul off and slap him! I was so glad when Liz finally told him off, but I wish Gavin would've had the guts to do it instead...
Jaci Burton also sets up her next book in this series quite nicely, when Liz becomes the agent for a St. Louis Ice hockey star, Tyler Anderson. Tyler and his reluctant future heroine (Mick and Gavin's sister, ) share a couple of conversations--looks like Tyler's going to have his work cut out for him.
So all in all, a pretty good book. I loved watching Gavin fall in love with Liz. Plenty of heat, likable characters, some nice family dynamics (got a few tears in my eyes when one of the Rileys faced a medical crisis, and Gavin leaned heavily on Liz), and a kind-of-corny, but cute ending, when Gavin finally gets his head out of his a** and recognizes his feelings. A very entertaining read. A solid 4-4 1/2 stars.
Warning: This book contains explicit sex (both oral and one anal scene) and graphic language. Not for the faint of heart.
May 22, 2021
2.5-3 Got better as it went along then declined again stars
This book is the second book in the Play by Play series, and it features the younger brother of the H in book 1. While you don't have to the previous book to enjoy this one, there are recurring characters, and there was a major incident that led to the situation the h finds herself in at the start of this story. If you haven't read book 1, this review will contain a slight spoiler.
Elizabeth Darnell is one of the top agents in professional sports. She is always dressed to impress; her hair is perfectly coiffed; she is always dressed to the nines; and she always finds the best PR opportunities for her clients. But one of her attempts to make her #1 client, Mick Riley, more marketable majorly backfired, and he fired her. Now she is worried that his younger brother, a man she has been secretly in love with for 5 years, will dump her in a sign of familial solidarity.
Gavin Riley knows Liz has been avoiding him because she thinks he is going to fire him... or maybe it is because of the kiss she planted on him before she walked away after his big brother canned her. Though he is most definitely aware of Liz as a woman, he has never blurred the line between business and pleasure, but he might just make an exception in her case. When he corners her at an event and convinces her to come back to his place to talk, Liz is certain she is going to lose Gavin as a client and a friend, but Gavin has other ideas... and they involve finding out if the kiss was a fluke or maybe worth further exploring. But what will happen if Gavin brings Liz to family events where Mick has made it clear she is not welcomed? Can Liz keep her feelings in check and indulge in a sex-only arrangement with the only man she has ever loved? And will Gavin, a confirmed bachelor, give up his bachelor lifestyle for the spirited and unpredictable woman that has captured his attention much longer than any other ever has?
What I liked:
--- This book wasn't nearly as cheesy as the first book, so that was much improved
--- It seemed like this was going to be just a bunch of sex (& there was a lot of sex!), but the story developed further as it went along
--- Yummy steamy goodness, early & often
What I didn't like as much:
--- While there was a lot of nookie, the story dragged in several places for me - it easily could have been half the length of this book and would have worked better
--- Elizabeth's character went from super standoffish to a melted puddle in a couple of pages... seemed a little off and inconsistent with who she was in book 1 and even the start of this book; also pick a name for her --- she was Elizabeth, Liz, Lizzie.... Ugh.
--- Unnecessary angst - just when I thought the book was getting better, there was some stupid miscommunication issue and an idiot man moment that derailed the book for several chapters - just talk, people!
--- Confirmed bachelor that cherishes his privacy
Overall, I liked the couple and the steamy goodness, but the story dragged in places and the characters didn't stay true to themselves which just didn't quite make it believable for me.
Plot --- 2.5/5
Main Characters --- 3/5
Supporting Cast --- 3/5
Steam Level* --- 4.5/5 (everything but involving another person)
Violence --- nothing graphic
Language --- yep
POV --- 3rd
*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild (nothing descriptive); 2/5 - 3rd base action/1 home run; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere (a couple of full-on steamy scenes); 4/5 - yes please! (erotica territory); 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all
This book is the second book in the Play by Play series, and it features the younger brother of the H in book 1. While you don't have to the previous book to enjoy this one, there are recurring characters, and there was a major incident that led to the situation the h finds herself in at the start of this story. If you haven't read book 1, this review will contain a slight spoiler.
Elizabeth Darnell is one of the top agents in professional sports. She is always dressed to impress; her hair is perfectly coiffed; she is always dressed to the nines; and she always finds the best PR opportunities for her clients. But one of her attempts to make her #1 client, Mick Riley, more marketable majorly backfired, and he fired her. Now she is worried that his younger brother, a man she has been secretly in love with for 5 years, will dump her in a sign of familial solidarity.
Gavin Riley knows Liz has been avoiding him because she thinks he is going to fire him... or maybe it is because of the kiss she planted on him before she walked away after his big brother canned her. Though he is most definitely aware of Liz as a woman, he has never blurred the line between business and pleasure, but he might just make an exception in her case. When he corners her at an event and convinces her to come back to his place to talk, Liz is certain she is going to lose Gavin as a client and a friend, but Gavin has other ideas... and they involve finding out if the kiss was a fluke or maybe worth further exploring. But what will happen if Gavin brings Liz to family events where Mick has made it clear she is not welcomed? Can Liz keep her feelings in check and indulge in a sex-only arrangement with the only man she has ever loved? And will Gavin, a confirmed bachelor, give up his bachelor lifestyle for the spirited and unpredictable woman that has captured his attention much longer than any other ever has?
What I liked:
--- This book wasn't nearly as cheesy as the first book, so that was much improved
--- It seemed like this was going to be just a bunch of sex (& there was a lot of sex!), but the story developed further as it went along
--- Yummy steamy goodness, early & often
What I didn't like as much:
--- While there was a lot of nookie, the story dragged in several places for me - it easily could have been half the length of this book and would have worked better
--- Elizabeth's character went from super standoffish to a melted puddle in a couple of pages... seemed a little off and inconsistent with who she was in book 1 and even the start of this book; also pick a name for her --- she was Elizabeth, Liz, Lizzie.... Ugh.
--- Unnecessary angst - just when I thought the book was getting better, there was some stupid miscommunication issue and an idiot man moment that derailed the book for several chapters - just talk, people!
--- Confirmed bachelor that cherishes his privacy
Overall, I liked the couple and the steamy goodness, but the story dragged in places and the characters didn't stay true to themselves which just didn't quite make it believable for me.
Plot --- 2.5/5
Main Characters --- 3/5
Supporting Cast --- 3/5
Steam Level* --- 4.5/5 (everything but involving another person)
Violence --- nothing graphic
Language --- yep
POV --- 3rd
*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild (nothing descriptive); 2/5 - 3rd base action/1 home run; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere (a couple of full-on steamy scenes); 4/5 - yes please! (erotica territory); 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all
November 13, 2024
2.5 stars rounded up for now
I knew going in that i wasn’t gonna love this book, but nostalgia hit me and I wanted to see it through 😒. Sometimes, we just need to listen to our gut 🙄 but I didn’t completely hate this, so there’s that 🤷🏻♀️.
Gavin (29) is very VERY loose (😒🙄) and is an amazing professional baseball player. Many covet him, and a lot of this has to do with his agent, Elizabeth/Liz (32/33) who does whatever she can to get him the deals he needs to get. That ALSO includes her throwing women at him so that he can be seen in the public eye 🙄 all in the name of giving him some PR 😐.
At the end of book 1, Liz was fired by Gavin’s professional football player because of her interference in his love life 😬. So now Liz’s dealing with the aftermath of that and fears Gavin wants to do the same 😅.
But Gavin doesn’t want to do that 👀. He saw how vulnerable she can be after her colossal mistake, and that when he realized she’s not as cold as she makes herself out to be.
So when he invites her to his place, it’s not to fire her 👀 it’s to see where this attraction between them can go 👀.
And because Liz has been in love with him for years, she caves in 😉.
If only he knew how much she’s actually wanted him…
What I liked:
—the 🔥 scenes. There were A LOOOOOOT. First scene happens by like 8% 😅 and it continues all the way til the last chapter 😅. Lots of and lots of 🔥🥵💦🫠😉🔥💦 going on
—Gavin’s mouth 😅. Dirty in all ways 😅
—his alphaness and command in the bedroom 😮💨 and Liz ate it up 🔥
—Gavin trying to get to know Liz more even though she was closed off 😅. I’ll give him points for trying ❤️ she was a hard nut to crack 😬 and he’s persistent AF
—the side characters ❤️. Of course I loved seeing the MCs from book 1 and I’m excited to read the next books too 👀
—Gavin’s parents 🫶 i loved them both ❤️
—Liz growing somewhat of a backbone when the third act breaks up happens 👏🏻. I was still very bitter and wanted to smaaaaack Gavin, but hey… at least she didn’t cave right away
—the mild OMD 😈. I love me a JP H… he needs to realize his woman could find a new man EASILY 💅. Yes. It wasn’t a serious scene, but still 🤣
—the harsh realities of life ☹️. Ufff. I felt myself getting emotional, but luckily, there was light at the end of the tunnel (and a surgery that helped save him life ❤️)
—Liz making new friends and having her found-family support her 🫶
What irritated the FFFFFF outta me:
—Liz pining over Gavin while he had a revolving door of women, some of which she threw at him 🥴😑. This made every 🔥 scene less appealing to me 🥴
—Liz not being with anyone for two years before the book begins 😐. Whyyyyyy!?!?!?!
Seriously. WHYYYYYYYY?!?! 🤦🏻♀️🙄 there’s NOOOO reason for her not to ALSO be playing the field like loosey goosey Gavin over there, so why doesn’t she 😐. He certainly isn’t giving her the time of day because he’s too busy with women and enjoying the perks of being a professional baseball player, so why the h is she not doing the same 😒. He doesn’t know how she feels, and she’s not telling him, so girl. Go play 🤷🏻♀️. What. T F are you doing Liz?🤦🏻♀️
—when he asks her how long it’s been for her and she asks him back, HE. DOESNT. ANSWER!!!! I was so 🤬. Girl. Don’t answer him!!! He straight up ignored your question just because some edging was going on 🙄. I wish we had an ACTUAL answer 😐. Here, he has the power because he has the info from you but you don’t from him 😒. So annnnnoying 😑. Your lady garden can take a break while you get some answers 😒
—the scene where she dances with the other women to make him feel jealous/or turned on 😐🙄. Again. Whyyyyy?!?! 🤦🏻♀️
—a better grovel 😒. Look. I was already aaaaangry at the premise, but come on 😐. He made you feel like Isssshhh Liz. Just because he publicly apologies in front of 45,000 people doesn’t make it better for me 🙄. So what? He needs to grovel more 🤣🤷🏻♀️ (yessss. I’m PETTTY AAAAFFFFF 🤣)
Overall, it was okay… I knew it was gonna be a meh book for me (because of what bothers ME). Maybe I just needed to be in a better mood 🤣
⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating/sharing/owd*
-parent who suffers heart attack
-unloving parents/misogyny
-mild OMD- there’s a scene where OM flirts with the h knowing the H is watching to cause him to get jealous
-condoms/then none/both are clean/h is on bc
-no virgins/manwhore H/the h hasn’t been with anyone for two years 🙄/the H is a well-known manwhore
I knew going in that i wasn’t gonna love this book, but nostalgia hit me and I wanted to see it through 😒. Sometimes, we just need to listen to our gut 🙄 but I didn’t completely hate this, so there’s that 🤷🏻♀️.
Gavin (29) is very VERY loose (😒🙄) and is an amazing professional baseball player. Many covet him, and a lot of this has to do with his agent, Elizabeth/Liz (32/33) who does whatever she can to get him the deals he needs to get. That ALSO includes her throwing women at him so that he can be seen in the public eye 🙄 all in the name of giving him some PR 😐.
At the end of book 1, Liz was fired by Gavin’s professional football player because of her interference in his love life 😬. So now Liz’s dealing with the aftermath of that and fears Gavin wants to do the same 😅.
But Gavin doesn’t want to do that 👀. He saw how vulnerable she can be after her colossal mistake, and that when he realized she’s not as cold as she makes herself out to be.
So when he invites her to his place, it’s not to fire her 👀 it’s to see where this attraction between them can go 👀.
And because Liz has been in love with him for years, she caves in 😉.
If only he knew how much she’s actually wanted him…
What I liked:
—the 🔥 scenes. There were A LOOOOOOT. First scene happens by like 8% 😅 and it continues all the way til the last chapter 😅. Lots of and lots of 🔥🥵💦🫠😉🔥💦 going on
—Gavin’s mouth 😅. Dirty in all ways 😅
—his alphaness and command in the bedroom 😮💨 and Liz ate it up 🔥
—Gavin trying to get to know Liz more even though she was closed off 😅. I’ll give him points for trying ❤️ she was a hard nut to crack 😬 and he’s persistent AF
—the side characters ❤️. Of course I loved seeing the MCs from book 1 and I’m excited to read the next books too 👀
—Gavin’s parents 🫶 i loved them both ❤️
—Liz growing somewhat of a backbone when the third act breaks up happens 👏🏻. I was still very bitter and wanted to smaaaaack Gavin, but hey… at least she didn’t cave right away
—the mild OMD 😈. I love me a JP H… he needs to realize his woman could find a new man EASILY 💅. Yes. It wasn’t a serious scene, but still 🤣
—the harsh realities of life ☹️. Ufff. I felt myself getting emotional, but luckily, there was light at the end of the tunnel (and a surgery that helped save him life ❤️)
—Liz making new friends and having her found-family support her 🫶
What irritated the FFFFFF outta me:
—Liz pining over Gavin while he had a revolving door of women, some of which she threw at him 🥴😑. This made every 🔥 scene less appealing to me 🥴
—Liz not being with anyone for two years before the book begins 😐. Whyyyyyy!?!?!?!
Seriously. WHYYYYYYYY?!?! 🤦🏻♀️🙄 there’s NOOOO reason for her not to ALSO be playing the field like loosey goosey Gavin over there, so why doesn’t she 😐. He certainly isn’t giving her the time of day because he’s too busy with women and enjoying the perks of being a professional baseball player, so why the h is she not doing the same 😒. He doesn’t know how she feels, and she’s not telling him, so girl. Go play 🤷🏻♀️. What. T F are you doing Liz?🤦🏻♀️
—when he asks her how long it’s been for her and she asks him back, HE. DOESNT. ANSWER!!!! I was so 🤬. Girl. Don’t answer him!!! He straight up ignored your question just because some edging was going on 🙄. I wish we had an ACTUAL answer 😐. Here, he has the power because he has the info from you but you don’t from him 😒. So annnnnoying 😑. Your lady garden can take a break while you get some answers 😒
—the scene where she dances with the other women to make him feel jealous/or turned on 😐🙄. Again. Whyyyyy?!?! 🤦🏻♀️
—a better grovel 😒. Look. I was already aaaaangry at the premise, but come on 😐. He made you feel like Isssshhh Liz. Just because he publicly apologies in front of 45,000 people doesn’t make it better for me 🙄. So what? He needs to grovel more 🤣🤷🏻♀️ (yessss. I’m PETTTY AAAAFFFFF 🤣)
Overall, it was okay… I knew it was gonna be a meh book for me (because of what bothers ME). Maybe I just needed to be in a better mood 🤣
⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating/sharing/owd*
-parent who suffers heart attack
-unloving parents/misogyny
-mild OMD- there’s a scene where OM flirts with the h knowing the H is watching to cause him to get jealous
-condoms/then none/both are clean/h is on bc
-no virgins/manwhore H/the h hasn’t been with anyone for two years 🙄/the H is a well-known manwhore
September 3, 2011
Let us take a moment to appreciate the deliciousness that is this cover.
*droolsappreciates*
As much as I loved Mick's story, his brother Gavin's was not as good as it should have been. The plot was weak and the characters were flat for the first half of the book. It was definitely steamy & the end was good but I was disappointed. 3.5 stars
I am however still really looking forward Jenna's story with the super sexy & flirty, Tyler!
Also, again with the COVER!!!
*clicks to appreciate*
*
As much as I loved Mick's story, his brother Gavin's was not as good as it should have been. The plot was weak and the characters were flat for the first half of the book. It was definitely steamy & the end was good but I was disappointed. 3.5 stars
I am however still really looking forward Jenna's story with the super sexy & flirty, Tyler!
Also, again with the COVER!!!
*clicks to appreciate*
February 8, 2017
Un poco mejor que el primero, pero sigue siendo un libro para pasar el rato y ya.
February 24, 2016
Man I love this cover...makes my mouth water. It was good. A lot of sexin and not enough story meat.
July 25, 2018
I had never read a Jaci Burton book before, but I knew two things: she writes sports romance, and she is a very popular author. I do get the appeal - Changing the Game was a fun and sexy read, but that was about it. And sometimes that is all you need.
Liz was my kind of heroine. A smart and ambitious professional, she dedicated herself to her career as a sports agent. But that dedication came at the expense of relationships and, on occasion, a conscience. Oh, and she is in love with her client, the very "single and mingling" baseball star, Gavin.
Liz was apparently somewhat villainous in the first book in the series, which I skipped (cue certain Goodreads friends shaking their heads in dismay). But I'm all about women being able to make mistakes and find redemption, especially since men get that opportunity all the damn time. That said, a lot – and I mean a lot– of potential character and relationship development time gets the shaft (wink, wink) for sexy times. Changing the Game was better than the average erotic romance in terms of highlighting internal conflict, forging a connection outside of the bedroom, and incorporating enjoyable supporting characters, but it wasn't a deep dive or intellectually simulating by ANY means. And while Gavin had a hot body and a deliciously dirty mouth, he wavered between "I want her, I need her" to "I'm not in love, I'm not interested in a relationship." It made me scratch my head, and I wondered why Liz loved him so much. He pulled a massively assholey move near the end, but his grovel was a hit.
There were a few questionable things peppered throughout the story (like women grinding together to arouse men, which made my eyes roll 360 degrees in my head), but I mostly found Changing the Game a light and likeable enough read. I needed an escape, and it provided one.
Read for SBTB July - September 2018 Quarterly Challenge: A book that features baseball.
Liz was my kind of heroine. A smart and ambitious professional, she dedicated herself to her career as a sports agent. But that dedication came at the expense of relationships and, on occasion, a conscience. Oh, and she is in love with her client, the very "single and mingling" baseball star, Gavin.
Liz was apparently somewhat villainous in the first book in the series, which I skipped (cue certain Goodreads friends shaking their heads in dismay). But I'm all about women being able to make mistakes and find redemption, especially since men get that opportunity all the damn time. That said, a lot – and I mean a lot– of potential character and relationship development time gets the shaft (wink, wink) for sexy times. Changing the Game was better than the average erotic romance in terms of highlighting internal conflict, forging a connection outside of the bedroom, and incorporating enjoyable supporting characters, but it wasn't a deep dive or intellectually simulating by ANY means. And while Gavin had a hot body and a deliciously dirty mouth, he wavered between "I want her, I need her" to "I'm not in love, I'm not interested in a relationship." It made me scratch my head, and I wondered why Liz loved him so much. He pulled a massively assholey move near the end, but his grovel was a hit.
There were a few questionable things peppered throughout the story (like women grinding together to arouse men, which made my eyes roll 360 degrees in my head), but I mostly found Changing the Game a light and likeable enough read. I needed an escape, and it provided one.
Read for SBTB July - September 2018 Quarterly Challenge: A book that features baseball.
April 2, 2017
3.4 Fiery STARS
So I read this back in 2014, but for some reason I wanted to go back to it, so here I am doing a proper review this time.
So first things first, I haven’t read book 1. Not the first time I read this series, not now. For some reason I just never was interested into read the first book, and since they are basically standole where you just meet the characters in the previous book, is not too bad. I was just really interested in this couple, and besides reading some reviews to get the basics of book 1, I didn´t feel like I missed that much.
So basically this is what the story is about. Elizabeth is a fierceless and bossy sports agent. She is really focused on getting the job done and giving the athletes the best deals, she knows what she wants and goes get it. In the previous book, she was also the agent of Gavin’s brother, Mick, but she acted poorly as an agent meddling into Mick’s love life and hurting people, which ultimately got her fired. She realized she did wrong and apologized, but it was too little too late and her friendship plus business relationship with Mick was broken.
Now, Liz has been avoiding the Riley family, and especially Gavin, because she feels she lost the space she had in their life given how she acted before. Gavin plays in the Mayor League Baseball, he has had Liz as an agent for years and he is now tired at how Liz is acting, thinking it´s because she fears that he will fire her too.
So, what will start as Gavin forcing Elizabeth to face him about her avoidence, will end with a hot encounter that will lead them to share more than a bed, and ultimately, face the feelings they have for each other.
So this is basically lots of porn without plot (not really surprised since this is erotica), completely trash, but exactly what I needed now. I didn’t like it as much this time around, because I found the writing to be too simple that didn’t give life entirely to the characters, and the plot was really rushed and cliche at the end plus had scenes that felt forced and out of character; and lastly, I didn´t feel there was much character development. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it as a reread, but had to lower my rating because 4 stars was too high in my opinion, to this story that has no real depth, but lots of sexy scenes and ridiculous banter.
Liz has always had this façade about herself of being indifferent to things, she doesn’t show emotions or insecurities. She is known by being ruthless and a hawk about the athletes she works for, business-minded and with this cold exterior that is affected by being in a supposedly all male territory since she is a sport agent; but the truth is, that she feels all the same.
She was sassy, stubborn and had a fiery temperament, but one of the things I didn’t like about this book was how easy was for Gavin to boss her around. I don’t care she’s been in love with him for years, her personality was pushed aside like nothing in some scenes at the beginning of the book, and that was disappointing.
Gavin is a total alpha-male. He is bossy and happy with his life as what it is, great career and full of fun with parties and women with no strings attached. But after starting this arrangement with Liz, him wanting her in his bed has less to do with Liz’s body, but for who she is. But I do have to say that he was a total jerk at the end, which didn't help his cause at all.
I like this two together, that´s what drove me the first time around to read this book. Their chemistry and overall relationship is fun and hot. The last part of the book was rushed in terms of their relationship tbh, but oh well. I like the fact that Liz and Gavin had known each other for a long time, and Liz is even considered a part of the family, spending holidays with Gavin’s family. Like I said, this two were at it like 89% of the book, which I gotta admit, the sex scenes were really hot; but this at the same time, it just stole strenght to make this characters more developed.
Overall, it´s a fast light read, with good steamy scenes and likeable characters. I wanted something I could read fast and not have to think to much about it, and I gotta admit THAT COVER is hot hot hot; and I think I got what I was looking for so I´m happy.
I think if you feel in the need of a sports erotica book, you could check this one.
"Sometimes your world falls apart. And it’s okay for you to let people in and let them see you crumble."
So I read this back in 2014, but for some reason I wanted to go back to it, so here I am doing a proper review this time.
So first things first, I haven’t read book 1. Not the first time I read this series, not now. For some reason I just never was interested into read the first book, and since they are basically standole where you just meet the characters in the previous book, is not too bad. I was just really interested in this couple, and besides reading some reviews to get the basics of book 1, I didn´t feel like I missed that much.
So basically this is what the story is about. Elizabeth is a fierceless and bossy sports agent. She is really focused on getting the job done and giving the athletes the best deals, she knows what she wants and goes get it. In the previous book, she was also the agent of Gavin’s brother, Mick, but she acted poorly as an agent meddling into Mick’s love life and hurting people, which ultimately got her fired. She realized she did wrong and apologized, but it was too little too late and her friendship plus business relationship with Mick was broken.
Now, Liz has been avoiding the Riley family, and especially Gavin, because she feels she lost the space she had in their life given how she acted before. Gavin plays in the Mayor League Baseball, he has had Liz as an agent for years and he is now tired at how Liz is acting, thinking it´s because she fears that he will fire her too.
So, what will start as Gavin forcing Elizabeth to face him about her avoidence, will end with a hot encounter that will lead them to share more than a bed, and ultimately, face the feelings they have for each other.
So this is basically lots of porn without plot (not really surprised since this is erotica), completely trash, but exactly what I needed now. I didn’t like it as much this time around, because I found the writing to be too simple that didn’t give life entirely to the characters, and the plot was really rushed and cliche at the end plus had scenes that felt forced and out of character; and lastly, I didn´t feel there was much character development. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it as a reread, but had to lower my rating because 4 stars was too high in my opinion, to this story that has no real depth, but lots of sexy scenes and ridiculous banter.
“Loving someone gave them power over you, and she wasn't ready to do that just yet.”
Liz has always had this façade about herself of being indifferent to things, she doesn’t show emotions or insecurities. She is known by being ruthless and a hawk about the athletes she works for, business-minded and with this cold exterior that is affected by being in a supposedly all male territory since she is a sport agent; but the truth is, that she feels all the same.
She was sassy, stubborn and had a fiery temperament, but one of the things I didn’t like about this book was how easy was for Gavin to boss her around. I don’t care she’s been in love with him for years, her personality was pushed aside like nothing in some scenes at the beginning of the book, and that was disappointing.
Gavin is a total alpha-male. He is bossy and happy with his life as what it is, great career and full of fun with parties and women with no strings attached. But after starting this arrangement with Liz, him wanting her in his bed has less to do with Liz’s body, but for who she is. But I do have to say that he was a total jerk at the end, which didn't help his cause at all.
“I think you’re worth fighting for, Elizabeth. Even if I’m fighting you for you.”
I like this two together, that´s what drove me the first time around to read this book. Their chemistry and overall relationship is fun and hot. The last part of the book was rushed in terms of their relationship tbh, but oh well. I like the fact that Liz and Gavin had known each other for a long time, and Liz is even considered a part of the family, spending holidays with Gavin’s family. Like I said, this two were at it like 89% of the book, which I gotta admit, the sex scenes were really hot; but this at the same time, it just stole strenght to make this characters more developed.
Overall, it´s a fast light read, with good steamy scenes and likeable characters. I wanted something I could read fast and not have to think to much about it, and I gotta admit THAT COVER is hot hot hot; and I think I got what I was looking for so I´m happy.
I think if you feel in the need of a sports erotica book, you could check this one.
June 3, 2015
เซ็กส์ซีน เซ็กส์ซีน แล้วก็...เซ็กซ์ซีนเต็มไปหมดเลย ซ้ำไปซ้ำมาตลอด ส่วนพลอตเรื่องก็เบาไปหน่อย แทบจะไม่มีอะไรเป็นชิ้นเป็นอันเลย นอกจากความร้อนแรงของเนื้อเรื่อง(ที่เราว่ามันก็เท่าๆกับเล่มก่อนหน้าแหละ) สำหรับคาแรคเตอร์ของนางเอกในเล่มนี้ อย่างที่เราบอกไปว่าเธอไม่ชอบหน้าเธอตั้งแต่เล่มที่แล้ว พอมาถึงเล่มนี้...เราก็ยังไม่ค่อยชอบเธออยู่ดี 555 เพราะผู้แต่งไม่ได้พยายามกู้หน้าเธอในเล่มนี้อย่างที่ควรเท่าไรนัก เราเลยรู้สึกว่ามันอาจจะไม่ยุติธรรมต่อนางเอก ถ้าเราตัดสินนางเพราะการกระทำจากเล่มที่แล้ว ดังนั้นเราจึงต้องทำเป็นลืมๆการกระทำของเธอไปก่อน และพยายามเอ็นจอยกับตัวตนของเธอในเล่มนี้แทน
ไม่รู้เป็นเพราะสวรรค์แกล้งหรืออะไร เราอ่านฉากเกี่ยวกับการแข่งขันเบสบอลในเล่มนี้ไม่รู้เรื่องเลย คืออาจจะเป็นเพราะว่าเราไม่ค่อยสนใจที่จะดูการแข่งขันเบสบอลทางทีวีเท่าไรนัก (เวลาเจอทีไรนี่เปลี่ยนช่องหนีตลอด 555) พอมาอ่าน Changing The Game บอกเลยว่าศัพท์เฉพาะค่อนข้างเยอะ และผู้แต่งก็ไม่มีการอธิบายกฎกติกาให้หรอกนะ เพราะเราคิดว่าไม่มีความจำเป็นที่จะมานั่งพล่ามกติกาหลายสิบหน้าแน่ๆ และอีกอย่างเบอร์ตันคงเชื่อว่าคนที่มาอ่านนิยายเล่มนี้คงไม่มีพวกที่อยากลองของ(แบบเรา)โดยการมาอ่านนิยายแนวกีฬาเบสบอลโดยที่ไม่มีความรู้พื้นฐานมาก่อนหรอกมั้ง(?) ดังนั้นเธอจึงพ่นไฟเต็มที่ เราอ่านไปนี่ตาเหลือกไป พอสะดุดเจอคำว่า Won อ่อ ! ถึงรู้ว่าทีมพระเอกชนะแล้ว 555
เราอ่านทุกคำทุกประโยคนะ แต่ต้องกวาดตาผ่านแบบเร็วๆ เพราะเนื้อเรื่องมันไม่ค่อยมีอะไรอ่ะ ทุกอย่างมันก็เหมือนกับเล่มที่แล้วหมดแหละ คาแรคเตอร์พระเอกก็ไม่ได้ต่างอะไรกับมิคในเล่มที่แล้วมากนัก ซึ่งเราออกจะชอบมิคมากกว่าเกวินด้วยซ้ำ ปมความสัมพันธ์ก็มาขมวดเอาตอนหน้าท้ายๆ จึงไม่แปลกใจที่ตลอดเรื่องทั้งเรื่องเรารู้สึกว่าความสัมพันธ์ของทั้งคู่ราบเรียบเป็นเส้นตรง ไม่ค่อยหวานเท่าไร แต่อย่างที่บอกไปว่าเซ็กส์ซีนเยอะมาก (อ่านไปเยอะๆจนแทบจะท่องได้อยู่แล้ว 555) พอตอนท้ายๆเราเลยรู้สึกว่าเนื้อเรื่องมันรวบรัดมากๆ กำลังนั่งหลับๆตื่นๆโยกไปเยกมาอยู่บนเก้าอี้ รู้ตัวอีกที...อ้าว ! จบแล้วหรอ 5555
เราไม่ได้คิดไปเองใช่มั้ยว่าจังหวะในการเล่าเรื่องแทบจะก็อปมาจากเล่มที่แล้วเป๊ะๆเลย โดยเฉพาะเลิฟซีนนั่นแหละ Ctrl+C & Ctrl+V ใช่มั้ย บอกมา 555
ไม่รู้เป็นเพราะสวรรค์แกล้งหรืออะไร เราอ่านฉากเกี่ยวกับการแข่งขันเบสบอลในเล่มนี้ไม่รู้เรื่องเลย คืออาจจะเป็นเพราะว่าเราไม่ค่อยสนใจที่จะดูการแข่งขันเบสบอลทางทีวีเท่าไรนัก (เวลาเจอทีไรนี่เปลี่ยนช่องหนีตลอด 555) พอมาอ่าน Changing The Game บอกเลยว่าศัพท์เฉพาะค่อนข้างเยอะ และผู้แต่งก็ไม่มีการอธิบายกฎกติกาให้หรอกนะ เพราะเราคิดว่าไม่มีความจำเป็นที่จะมานั่งพล่ามกติกาหลายสิบหน้าแน่ๆ และอีกอย่างเบอร์ตันคงเชื่อว่าคนที่มาอ่านนิยายเล่มนี้คงไม่มีพวกที่อยากลองของ(แบบเรา)โดยการมาอ่านนิยายแนวกีฬาเบสบอลโดยที่ไม่มีความรู้พื้นฐานมาก่อนหรอกมั้ง(?) ดังนั้นเธอจึงพ่นไฟเต็มที่ เราอ่านไปนี่ตาเหลือกไป พอสะดุดเจอคำว่า Won อ่อ ! ถึงรู้ว่าทีมพระเอกชนะแล้ว 555
เราอ่านทุกคำทุกประโยคนะ แต่ต้องกวาดตาผ่านแบบเร็วๆ เพราะเนื้อเรื่องมันไม่ค่อยมีอะไรอ่ะ ทุกอย่างมันก็เหมือนกับเล่มที่แล้วหมดแหละ คาแรคเตอร์พระเอกก็ไม่ได้ต่างอะไรกับมิคในเล่มที่แล้วมากนัก ซึ่งเราออกจะชอบมิคมากกว่าเกวินด้วยซ้ำ ปมความสัมพันธ์ก็มาขมวดเอาตอนหน้าท้ายๆ จึงไม่แปลกใจที่ตลอดเรื่องทั้งเรื่องเรารู้สึกว่าความสัมพันธ์ของทั้งคู่ราบเรียบเป็นเส้นตรง ไม่ค่อยหวานเท่าไร แต่อย่างที่บอกไปว่าเซ็กส์ซีนเยอะมาก (อ่านไปเยอะๆจนแทบจะท่องได้อยู่แล้ว 555) พอตอนท้ายๆเราเลยรู้สึกว่าเนื้อเรื่องมันรวบรัดมากๆ กำลังนั่งหลับๆตื่นๆโยกไปเยกมาอยู่บนเก้าอี้ รู้ตัวอีกที...อ้าว ! จบแล้วหรอ 5555
เราไม่ได้คิดไปเองใช่มั้ยว่าจังหวะในการเล่าเรื่องแทบจะก็อปมาจากเล่มที่แล้วเป๊ะๆเลย โดยเฉพาะเลิฟซีนนั่นแหละ Ctrl+C & Ctrl+V ใช่มั้ย บอกมา 555
March 6, 2016
Muuuuuuch better than the previous one! At least as far as the "sizzle" is concerned. There was history between the characters and something implied to build on.
A quick and sexy read for fans of contemporary romantic erotica. And fans of St. Louis sports :-)
A quick and sexy read for fans of contemporary romantic erotica. And fans of St. Louis sports :-)
March 28, 2019
Read this long time ago. One of my first sport series after starting to read more romance in general. Will forever remember Jaci Burton's books for that reason.
And these covers are a peace of art...
And these covers are a peace of art...
August 13, 2011
Once again the cover is hot and I knew that I would be moving this book to the top of my TBR list because I was drooling and sports guys are my thing. As I began the book I was having similar feelings that I did with book 1, The Perfect Play, basically a good, hot read with lots of sex, but the story didn't overwhelm and engage me as I had hoped it would. Changing the Game might have started that way, but its momentum built into a page turner that had a lot more depth with some emotional moments that brought a few tears to my eyes and some side stories/conflicts with Gavin's family that made this a really good story. There was still tons of sex scenes and they were hot, but after the first 6 or so I had to skim a little (not complaining though too much is better than too little especially with all the "happy endings" Gavin and Liz were were giving each other)... and lots of dirty talk, but it worked really well and fit Gavin and Liz's personalities perfectly.
This was probably more than a 4 star read for me once I got partially into the book and it even had an angle I don't usually see in my romance series.
August 9, 2011
Jaci and I have been friends a long time, which means I’ve read a lot of Jaci Burton books, and I think Changing The Game is my new favorite. I’ll be honest: I wasn’t sure how Jaci was going to redeem Liz after The Perfect Play, but I love her. And Gavin is so delicious.
If you’re looking for an erotic romance that’s the perfect blend of steamy, toe-curling sex and deeply emotional, happy-sigh-worthy romance, Changing the Game is your book.
If you’re looking for an erotic romance that’s the perfect blend of steamy, toe-curling sex and deeply emotional, happy-sigh-worthy romance, Changing the Game is your book.
June 29, 2015
Entretenido, pero nada más. Para ser erótica es algo más que una sucesión de escenas de sexo. Pero siempre echo de menos que no se profundicen más ciertos aspectos en los que la autora pasa de puntillas, ya que sí, la historia gira alrededor de la atracción sexual de dos personas
July 28, 2011
“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways…” This quote from Elizabeth Barrett Browning is so fitting for how I felt after reading Jaci Burton’s newest addition to her Play by Play series, Changing the Game. Simply put, I LOVED it! In fact I think it is the best Contemporary Erotic Romance I’ve read this year. I have mad love for Gavin and Liz…like, if I had to actually make a list of the things I love about the book, we would be here for a long, long time. I pretty much loved everything about it with one exception. It’s one of those books that you can’t wait to tell your romance reading friends about how great it was, and that they just HAVE to read it. At least it was for me, which is why you are about to witness my gush fest for Jaci Burton and Changing the Game.
Gavin is a sexy playboy baseball player at the top of his game. He loves pretty much everything about his life. He loves playing baseball. And would actually play for free if he had to just to be a part of a game he loves. That is the thing about Gavin that is so endearing, when he loves, he loves deeply and passionately. He loves his family, he loves his career, and he loves his life. He’s carefree and fun loving….in the way that only a person who is comfortable with himself can truly be, yet he’s also determined, and focused, and committed. And my book loving friends…he cooks…in the kitchen….and is really really good at it (among other things…I think you can read between the lines here).
Liz is just as driven as Gavin is, but for very different reasons. She’s a big player in the world of sports agents but unlike Gavin where everything comes naturally for him, like he’s blessed by the Gods or something, Liz has had to fight to prove to her colleagues in her male dominated profession that she deserves to be there. She’s professional and is often referred to as a “shark” because of her aggressive and ruthless representation of her clients. People see her as cold hearted, and in case of Gavin’s brother Mick, a manipulative b*@ch who is willing to stop at nothing to line her pockets at anyone’s expense.
And while Liz has her faults, deep down she is a woman who has a desperate need for control and independence. She is a person who is always on the outside looking in, who is in love with a man who sees her as a predator, colleague and friend…and she is lost. She’s lost her way in her life because of her dogged pursuit of success, and fears that giving in to the love that she feels for Gavin will ultimately mean losing control of her life...and losing control is not an option for Liz.
Her world is starting to crumble around her and she has no one to turn to, or to blame….except for her career; the one thing that she’s always been certain of. She’s lost her highest profile client, Gavin’s quarterback Brother Mick, who was also one of her few friends, and fears that because of that she will also lose Gavin. Her life is her work, and she defines herself and measures her worth by her success. Her work is safety, security and fills the voids in her life, which she has purposefully orchestrated. She doesn’t really have friends, and very rarely takes a lover…especially since she has been secretly in love with Gavin for years. But one night, with the fear of losing everything she holds dear, she gives in to her desire for Gavin when he sees her as more than his sexy agent, but also as a sexy woman. And that is when it really begins to get good *smile*
One of the things that I loved most about Changing the Game was the characters. They are rich and multidimensional. And not only Liz and Gavin, but also all of Gavin’s family members. Ms. Burton’s writing style makes you feel like you are a part of the Riley family in all of it’s loving, meddling, touching ways. But I most especially loved Liz and Gavin and their struggles to eventually admit their love to each other. It is not an easy path for them. Liz has to learn to trust in love, and that love can be caring, as well as allowing her the freedom to be who she wants to be….and trust me when I say this is unbelievably hard for her for many reasons. One of which is Gavin himself. And Gavin, God love him, he is such a guy, but a really really good one who struggles with his feelings for Liz and their complicated relationship, which is an anomaly for him since everything usually comes so easily and naturally.
Then we have the love scenes, which are numerous, exceptionally sensual, erotic and hot (and yes it‘s necessary to use all of those words to even begin to describe them). It’s been a while since I’ve read a book that I felt that the love scenes were so integral in illustrating the relationship between the hero and the heroine. The loves scenes at the beginning of the book are full of lust and passion as Gavin and Liz give in to their desires, but through the course of the book they evolve into a man and woman falling in love, yet fighting those passions and making mistakes, and at the same time desperately trying to each find their way to a happy ending. This was an emotional read for me and my heart really went out to Liz, which I know may surprise some of you who got to know her character in The Perfect Play. I have to say that Ms. Burton truly made a heroine out of a difficult character to sympathize with, and that is no easy feat.
The one exception to my complete and utter love for Changing the Game is the fact that this book never really explains what Liz did to Mick, Tara and Nathan in The Perfect Play that caused Mick to break all ties with her. Liz’s actions in the previous book plays a very large part in her motivations in Changing the Game, as well as in Gavin’s family dynamics, and even some of his reactions. It’s referenced over and over and every time I thought I was finally going to find out what she had done, but that never happened. This wouldn’t have been a big deal if only I had read The Perfect Play before reading Changing the Game, but I didn’t so I was left wondering almost from the very beginning of Changing The Game what she did that was so bad to cause her possible downfall. It’s the only thing that I wish would have been different about this book because I don’t think you can fully appreciate Liz’s character without knowing who she was before. I actually contemplated stopping reading Changing the Game in order to read The Perfect Play (in the TBR) so I could answer that burning question that was always at the back of my mind, but I was so wrapped up in Gavin and Liz’s story that I just couldn’t leave them until the end. Needless to say I read The Perfect Play right afterward so I now know, but I wish it would have been explained in some way in Changing the Game. That would have made Changing the Game perfect.
I began this review with a quote so I think it only fitting that I wrap it up with one as well. However, this one is specific to the book since it is on the cover of Changing the Game. Now most of the time I am wary of cover quotes, because usually you just can’t trust them, but Maya Banks is quoted as saying “Jaci Burton’s stories are full of heat and heart.” And honestly, truer words have never been spoken because Changing the Game is exactly that…full of heart and heat. Jaci Burton definitely brings the heat in this steamy, seductive, and emotionally stirring romance. I LOVED it! In fact, Changing the Game might very well be my favorite romance that she has written to date (but I do reserve the right to alter this opinion when Taking a Shot is released next year). It doesn’t get much better than this my friends. And for those of you who are wary about a romance revolving around sports, I urge you to give Changing the Game a try because in my opinion the sports aspect plays a very small part in the story compared to the personal and emotional journeys Gavin and Liz take. Be prepared to see me mention Changing the Game again because I can guarantee you it will be making my Favorites list for 2011 at the end of the year.
Ratings:
Overall: 4.75 (some serious mad love for this book that was this close to being perfect in my opinion)
Sensuality level: 4.50 (hot doesn't even begin to describe this book, but even though the love scenes are explicit they aren't gratuitous. It earned a 4.5 for the shear number of love scenes and also an instance of anal sex, but otherwise it's kink free)
This book was reviewed for Seductive Musings blog and an ARC of the book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Gavin is a sexy playboy baseball player at the top of his game. He loves pretty much everything about his life. He loves playing baseball. And would actually play for free if he had to just to be a part of a game he loves. That is the thing about Gavin that is so endearing, when he loves, he loves deeply and passionately. He loves his family, he loves his career, and he loves his life. He’s carefree and fun loving….in the way that only a person who is comfortable with himself can truly be, yet he’s also determined, and focused, and committed. And my book loving friends…he cooks…in the kitchen….and is really really good at it (among other things…I think you can read between the lines here).
Liz is just as driven as Gavin is, but for very different reasons. She’s a big player in the world of sports agents but unlike Gavin where everything comes naturally for him, like he’s blessed by the Gods or something, Liz has had to fight to prove to her colleagues in her male dominated profession that she deserves to be there. She’s professional and is often referred to as a “shark” because of her aggressive and ruthless representation of her clients. People see her as cold hearted, and in case of Gavin’s brother Mick, a manipulative b*@ch who is willing to stop at nothing to line her pockets at anyone’s expense.
And while Liz has her faults, deep down she is a woman who has a desperate need for control and independence. She is a person who is always on the outside looking in, who is in love with a man who sees her as a predator, colleague and friend…and she is lost. She’s lost her way in her life because of her dogged pursuit of success, and fears that giving in to the love that she feels for Gavin will ultimately mean losing control of her life...and losing control is not an option for Liz.
Her world is starting to crumble around her and she has no one to turn to, or to blame….except for her career; the one thing that she’s always been certain of. She’s lost her highest profile client, Gavin’s quarterback Brother Mick, who was also one of her few friends, and fears that because of that she will also lose Gavin. Her life is her work, and she defines herself and measures her worth by her success. Her work is safety, security and fills the voids in her life, which she has purposefully orchestrated. She doesn’t really have friends, and very rarely takes a lover…especially since she has been secretly in love with Gavin for years. But one night, with the fear of losing everything she holds dear, she gives in to her desire for Gavin when he sees her as more than his sexy agent, but also as a sexy woman. And that is when it really begins to get good *smile*
One of the things that I loved most about Changing the Game was the characters. They are rich and multidimensional. And not only Liz and Gavin, but also all of Gavin’s family members. Ms. Burton’s writing style makes you feel like you are a part of the Riley family in all of it’s loving, meddling, touching ways. But I most especially loved Liz and Gavin and their struggles to eventually admit their love to each other. It is not an easy path for them. Liz has to learn to trust in love, and that love can be caring, as well as allowing her the freedom to be who she wants to be….and trust me when I say this is unbelievably hard for her for many reasons. One of which is Gavin himself. And Gavin, God love him, he is such a guy, but a really really good one who struggles with his feelings for Liz and their complicated relationship, which is an anomaly for him since everything usually comes so easily and naturally.
Then we have the love scenes, which are numerous, exceptionally sensual, erotic and hot (and yes it‘s necessary to use all of those words to even begin to describe them). It’s been a while since I’ve read a book that I felt that the love scenes were so integral in illustrating the relationship between the hero and the heroine. The loves scenes at the beginning of the book are full of lust and passion as Gavin and Liz give in to their desires, but through the course of the book they evolve into a man and woman falling in love, yet fighting those passions and making mistakes, and at the same time desperately trying to each find their way to a happy ending. This was an emotional read for me and my heart really went out to Liz, which I know may surprise some of you who got to know her character in The Perfect Play. I have to say that Ms. Burton truly made a heroine out of a difficult character to sympathize with, and that is no easy feat.
The one exception to my complete and utter love for Changing the Game is the fact that this book never really explains what Liz did to Mick, Tara and Nathan in The Perfect Play that caused Mick to break all ties with her. Liz’s actions in the previous book plays a very large part in her motivations in Changing the Game, as well as in Gavin’s family dynamics, and even some of his reactions. It’s referenced over and over and every time I thought I was finally going to find out what she had done, but that never happened. This wouldn’t have been a big deal if only I had read The Perfect Play before reading Changing the Game, but I didn’t so I was left wondering almost from the very beginning of Changing The Game what she did that was so bad to cause her possible downfall. It’s the only thing that I wish would have been different about this book because I don’t think you can fully appreciate Liz’s character without knowing who she was before. I actually contemplated stopping reading Changing the Game in order to read The Perfect Play (in the TBR) so I could answer that burning question that was always at the back of my mind, but I was so wrapped up in Gavin and Liz’s story that I just couldn’t leave them until the end. Needless to say I read The Perfect Play right afterward so I now know, but I wish it would have been explained in some way in Changing the Game. That would have made Changing the Game perfect.
I began this review with a quote so I think it only fitting that I wrap it up with one as well. However, this one is specific to the book since it is on the cover of Changing the Game. Now most of the time I am wary of cover quotes, because usually you just can’t trust them, but Maya Banks is quoted as saying “Jaci Burton’s stories are full of heat and heart.” And honestly, truer words have never been spoken because Changing the Game is exactly that…full of heart and heat. Jaci Burton definitely brings the heat in this steamy, seductive, and emotionally stirring romance. I LOVED it! In fact, Changing the Game might very well be my favorite romance that she has written to date (but I do reserve the right to alter this opinion when Taking a Shot is released next year). It doesn’t get much better than this my friends. And for those of you who are wary about a romance revolving around sports, I urge you to give Changing the Game a try because in my opinion the sports aspect plays a very small part in the story compared to the personal and emotional journeys Gavin and Liz take. Be prepared to see me mention Changing the Game again because I can guarantee you it will be making my Favorites list for 2011 at the end of the year.
Ratings:
Overall: 4.75 (some serious mad love for this book that was this close to being perfect in my opinion)
Sensuality level: 4.50 (hot doesn't even begin to describe this book, but even though the love scenes are explicit they aren't gratuitous. It earned a 4.5 for the shear number of love scenes and also an instance of anal sex, but otherwise it's kink free)
This book was reviewed for Seductive Musings blog and an ARC of the book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
March 16, 2015
Historia sencilla. La pareja protagonista es una maravilla y eso que odie, mucho a Liz en el primer libro, por lo que hizo a Tara y a su hijo.
El que me ha cabreado mucho es Mick, el hermano del protagonista y pareja de Tara. ¡Que cabezón! Vale, Liz cometió un error, pero ha pedido perdón un montón de veces. ¡Superalo ya, y pasa página!
Y Gavin es un encanto, aunque a veces se deja influenciar por personas que tiene alrededor.
Tengo ganas de leer el siguiente, que si mi olfato no me falla, tendrá de protagonista a Jenna y a cierto jugador de hockey...
El que me ha cabreado mucho es Mick, el hermano del protagonista y pareja de Tara. ¡Que cabezón! Vale, Liz cometió un error, pero ha pedido perdón un montón de veces. ¡Superalo ya, y pasa página!
Y Gavin es un encanto, aunque a veces se deja influenciar por personas que tiene alrededor.
Tengo ganas de leer el siguiente, que si mi olfato no me falla, tendrá de protagonista a Jenna y a cierto jugador de hockey...
November 19, 2015
Same as book 1: Storyline - 3 stars Hotness Factor - 5+++ Stars! This series is all about the sex so far. I'm not feeling the connection between the couples just yet.
September 16, 2015
This review was posted at Under The Covers
WOW! I devoured this book! It must've been all the excitement and anticipation, or maybe just the fact that for the first 50% - 60% the chemistry and raw sensuality between Liz and Gavin was just amazing! Of course, there's the sinful cover to consider too, which I kept picturing every time I read about Gavin.
I definetely shouldn't have started the book in the morning BEFORE going to work and then reading DURING LUNCH. You do not want to have your co-workers wondering why you're biting your lip and making weird noises. But Gavin just had me in a bad state all day.
I *think* Gavin is my favorite Riley brother. He is just amazing, as I said before... He.Is.A.GOD!!! Oh so talented, creative, daring.... *sigh* There was nothing I wanted more than to have his attentions and to be his goddess! He truly made Liz feel special from the beginning. I liked that! I didn't think for one second that he ever treated her as a one-night stand, or a fling.
Now, that being said, he was a little immature about some things throughout the story, but he's entitled, he's only 29!
I came to understand some of where Elizabeth came from, however, I don't think that part of the story was developed much, there was only one conversation where she truly opened up and the way it was built up before I thought it would be a little more dramatic. However, she has had a rough life, she's amazing for having come so far and being so successful on her own. But she is also very insecure, and a lot of that shows up in this book. She has to protect herself before someone else has a chance of hurting her.
Talk about FIREWORKS between these two!!! Scorching hot!!! Favorite scenes that deserve to be mentioned and you'll just have to wait and read the book to get the details: the scene at the restaurant *THUD*, the scene on his porch overlooking the beach *DOUBLE THUD*, at his St. Louis house the first time he saw her after Florida *MELTING*
Now all that out of the way (and you should absolutely read this book for that alone!) I had the same problem with this book than I did with the first one. After a certain point after half way through I was a little bored.
Ms. Burton has managed to write the sweetest, most perfect guys for this series (along with THE HOTTEST covers), and sometimes when they are OH SO PERFECT and everything is roses it can be a bit tedious. Ha! I can't believe I just said that.
The honorable asshole mention in this book goes out to Mick Riley. I understand why he had a problem with Liz. Yes, what she did to him, Tara and Nathan was messed up. But what he did (and kept doing) to her was more hurtful.
And the cutie alert!!!!!!! OMG I was melting for Ty from the moment he first came on the story. I can tell his book will be a complete panty melter. Even if when he met Jenna he said she wasn't his type because he liked women with bigger boobs.
The ending was excellent! Gavin redeemed himself 100% and I think my heart skipped a beat along with Lizzie's.
WOW! I devoured this book! It must've been all the excitement and anticipation, or maybe just the fact that for the first 50% - 60% the chemistry and raw sensuality between Liz and Gavin was just amazing! Of course, there's the sinful cover to consider too, which I kept picturing every time I read about Gavin.
I definetely shouldn't have started the book in the morning BEFORE going to work and then reading DURING LUNCH. You do not want to have your co-workers wondering why you're biting your lip and making weird noises. But Gavin just had me in a bad state all day.
I *think* Gavin is my favorite Riley brother. He is just amazing, as I said before... He.Is.A.GOD!!! Oh so talented, creative, daring.... *sigh* There was nothing I wanted more than to have his attentions and to be his goddess! He truly made Liz feel special from the beginning. I liked that! I didn't think for one second that he ever treated her as a one-night stand, or a fling.
Now, that being said, he was a little immature about some things throughout the story, but he's entitled, he's only 29!
I came to understand some of where Elizabeth came from, however, I don't think that part of the story was developed much, there was only one conversation where she truly opened up and the way it was built up before I thought it would be a little more dramatic. However, she has had a rough life, she's amazing for having come so far and being so successful on her own. But she is also very insecure, and a lot of that shows up in this book. She has to protect herself before someone else has a chance of hurting her.
Talk about FIREWORKS between these two!!! Scorching hot!!! Favorite scenes that deserve to be mentioned and you'll just have to wait and read the book to get the details: the scene at the restaurant *THUD*, the scene on his porch overlooking the beach *DOUBLE THUD*, at his St. Louis house the first time he saw her after Florida *MELTING*
Now all that out of the way (and you should absolutely read this book for that alone!) I had the same problem with this book than I did with the first one. After a certain point after half way through I was a little bored.
Ms. Burton has managed to write the sweetest, most perfect guys for this series (along with THE HOTTEST covers), and sometimes when they are OH SO PERFECT and everything is roses it can be a bit tedious. Ha! I can't believe I just said that.
The honorable asshole mention in this book goes out to Mick Riley. I understand why he had a problem with Liz. Yes, what she did to him, Tara and Nathan was messed up. But what he did (and kept doing) to her was more hurtful.
And the cutie alert!!!!!!! OMG I was melting for Ty from the moment he first came on the story. I can tell his book will be a complete panty melter. Even if when he met Jenna he said she wasn't his type because he liked women with bigger boobs.
The ending was excellent! Gavin redeemed himself 100% and I think my heart skipped a beat along with Lizzie's.
Read
July 18, 2024I didn’t mind that the first 15% of the book was wall-to-wall banging, but the writing was not good, the baseball sections were laughable, and the hero has a goatee. NEXT
July 26, 2017
“Honey, love is always complicated. If it was easy, there’d be no fun when you win at the end.”
Ok… so I do realize that I’ve been reading this series way out of order. I started off with book 8 (Straddling the Line) and now here I am back at book 2, Changing the Game. I didn’t particularly think this series was anything worth writing home about after I read Straddling the Line so I went into Changing the Game with pretty low expectations. I’m happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised by how much better Changing the Game was than I was expecting it to be. I felt like It cleared up the issues I had with Straddling the Line such as having uninspired dialogue and a lackluster plot. Changing the Game had good dialogue, developed characters, and a decent plot. I guess I just happened to start the series off with the one novel Jaci Burton must have phoned in.
“I think you’re worth fighting for, Elizabeth. Even if I’m fighting you for you.”
I genuinely rooted for both Elizabeth and Gavin. They were great characters. There were a lot context clues about the events of the previous book where Elizabeth was apparently the worst person ever. So, I think I’m fortunate to have started off with Changing the Game because if I had read about how awful she used to be I may have had a really hard time warming up to her. As it is, I went in fresh and I really loved Elizabeth. She was snarky and driven and I thought she made an overall great romantic lead. Gavin is a great counterpoint for her. He seems to respect smart independent women and he was respectful of her as well as a dynamo between the sheets. I will point out that towards the end of the book Gavin does turn into a major asshole idiot for a while. This isn’t necessarily uncommon in contemporary romance and I was expecting the monkey wrench to be thrown into their relationship so I wasn’t terribly surprised to see bad behavior. However, Gavin said something one pretty terrible thing and I wanted to leap into the book and slap him. Not cool, bro! But everything turns out for the best and he redeemed himself.
Ok… let’s talk about the smut in Changing the Game for a minute. Holy smokes was this filled with smutty delights! Seriously… this book was probably 60% fucking. I’m not saying that like it’s a bad thing since I felt that the sex scenes actually helped to further the plot rather than just existing for the sake of smut. In the beginning, Gavin and Liz are filled with excitement of new found lust and as the story progresses they begin to show more and more vulnerability with each other. The sex scenes become much more meaningful as the couple begins to fall in love and it was great to see that progression. Also it was pretty hot. Obviously…
Changing the Game was a pretty decent contemporary romance. It had likeable characters, excellent smut, and a plausible plot. Gavin can come be my book boyfriend any day… so long as he doesn’t say anything cruel and make me want to slap him again. I’m definitely intrigued to see what all the strife was in book 1 and I was introduced to Jenna (Gavin’s sister) and Ty (a hockey player client of Liz) and I seriously want to read their story. Jenna is so awesome from just the little bit I got from her in this Changing the Game. She’s sarcastic and independent while Ty seems like a trickster. So they’re basically my favorite kinds of romantic leads. I’m definitely going to try to fill in the gaps I have in this series. I only hope they stay on par with Changing the Game rather than reverting to the disappointment I felt with Straddling the Line.
** buddy read with Sian
June 28, 2017
I'm all over the place with my feelings about this book. (well from 2.5 to 3.5)
It was my second Jaci Burton, and I enjoyed the first. I do feel like these have a better level of maturity than most sports romances, and I've grown to enjoy the family dynamic quite a bit.
Also, the sex in this book was very very delicious. I added one star because of that.
That Gavin saw through Elizabeth's tough exterior I loved. He was clearly interested in her, his straight dirty talk was yummy, but what I didn't quite buy was his reluctance to admit he was in love. Or even in like. He seemed to clearly understand that he had deep affection from the get go.
While his issues were different from Mick's, they aren't as compelling (in ways), and I cannot say that I can distinguish the heroes in the two books. Her heroines are unique, however. In the same turn, Tara's and Elizabeth's reluctance are very similar and manifests for two different reasons in the same way.
I'll continue to read this series. I mean I really enjoyed the hot scenes enough to see if the characters start to seem more developed and unique in the future books. If it continues to feel like setting and sports get swapped out along with hero/heroines names, I'll begin passing on Jaci Burton books.
And that star I added for great sexy times...I take away for goatees. You've been warned, authors.
It was my second Jaci Burton, and I enjoyed the first. I do feel like these have a better level of maturity than most sports romances, and I've grown to enjoy the family dynamic quite a bit.
Also, the sex in this book was very very delicious. I added one star because of that.
That Gavin saw through Elizabeth's tough exterior I loved. He was clearly interested in her, his straight dirty talk was yummy, but what I didn't quite buy was his reluctance to admit he was in love. Or even in like. He seemed to clearly understand that he had deep affection from the get go.
While his issues were different from Mick's, they aren't as compelling (in ways), and I cannot say that I can distinguish the heroes in the two books. Her heroines are unique, however. In the same turn, Tara's and Elizabeth's reluctance are very similar and manifests for two different reasons in the same way.
I'll continue to read this series. I mean I really enjoyed the hot scenes enough to see if the characters start to seem more developed and unique in the future books. If it continues to feel like setting and sports get swapped out along with hero/heroines names, I'll begin passing on Jaci Burton books.
And that star I added for great sexy times...I take away for goatees. You've been warned, authors.
August 4, 2011
Jaci Burton hit this one out of the park!!!
GOOOOOD GAWD Gavin is one of the sexiest men I have read about. He goes up there with Cord McKay from Lorelei James' Rough Rider series, and from me that is saying alot.
Because of her actions in The Perfect Play, I didn't think I could like Liz, but JB pulled it off and made me understand her actions and totally like Liz.
The smexing was uber hot and some of the best I've read =)
Changing The Game is up there with Chasin' Eight as one of my favorite reads of the summer.
GOOOOOD GAWD Gavin is one of the sexiest men I have read about. He goes up there with Cord McKay from Lorelei James' Rough Rider series, and from me that is saying alot.
Because of her actions in The Perfect Play, I didn't think I could like Liz, but JB pulled it off and made me understand her actions and totally like Liz.
The smexing was uber hot and some of the best I've read =)
Changing The Game is up there with Chasin' Eight as one of my favorite reads of the summer.
March 5, 2015
3 stelline e mezzo!
Amo i romance con i personaggi sportivi, e anche come scrive questa autrice... Peccato che abbia dovuto mettere tutte quelle trombate inutili! Un po' va bene, le apprezzo, ma così sono decisamente troppe! Ha perso una stellina solo per l'eccesso di eros.
Amo i romance con i personaggi sportivi, e anche come scrive questa autrice... Peccato che abbia dovuto mettere tutte quelle trombate inutili! Un po' va bene, le apprezzo, ma così sono decisamente troppe! Ha perso una stellina solo per l'eccesso di eros.
May 13, 2011
I didn't like this quite as well as I liked the first, but only because the first few chapters were a bit rocky for me. I thought there was a bit more setup and reminder of what happened in the last book right off, and I would have liked to not have that all at once in the first chapter. I also felt a bit distanced from the characters for awhile, and I wondered if it was a byproduct of their distance from each other.
However, I absolutely loved the conflict of the last third of the book. Loved. I thought the conflict between them was so delicious and I wanted to see a whole lot of groveling! (I won't tell you who the groveling should have been from or whether we got it, I don't want to spoil it).
Because of my love of the conflict (did I say delicious?), I'm going with 4 stars, though if Goodreads gave me the option for half stars, I think I'd give it 3 1/2 since the beginning didn't gel for me.
I'm totally looking forward to book 3. The hockey book!
However, I absolutely loved the conflict of the last third of the book. Loved. I thought the conflict between them was so delicious and I wanted to see a whole lot of groveling! (I won't tell you who the groveling should have been from or whether we got it, I don't want to spoil it).
Because of my love of the conflict (did I say delicious?), I'm going with 4 stars, though if Goodreads gave me the option for half stars, I think I'd give it 3 1/2 since the beginning didn't gel for me.
I'm totally looking forward to book 3. The hockey book!
October 17, 2016
http://www.leersinlimites.com/2016/09...
Si algo es evidente es que este libro no es para todos. Aunque no creo que llegue al punto de la erótica (tal vez porque leí libros de este género que eran más del estilo sexo porque sí y no considero que este entre en ese saco), sí que tiene una gran cantidad de páginas con contenido sexual.
Dejando ese aspecto de lado, me gustó más que el primero, por los protagonistas y por la relación tan complicada que tienen. En el primer libro todo fue más sencillo, más tradicional. En este caso partimos de dos personajes de los cuales ya tenemos una idea en la mente, y los vamos redescubriendo poco a poco.
Si algo es evidente es que este libro no es para todos. Aunque no creo que llegue al punto de la erótica (tal vez porque leí libros de este género que eran más del estilo sexo porque sí y no considero que este entre en ese saco), sí que tiene una gran cantidad de páginas con contenido sexual.
Dejando ese aspecto de lado, me gustó más que el primero, por los protagonistas y por la relación tan complicada que tienen. En el primer libro todo fue más sencillo, más tradicional. En este caso partimos de dos personajes de los cuales ya tenemos una idea en la mente, y los vamos redescubriendo poco a poco.
August 4, 2011
Probably 4 or 4.5 stars but I rounded up because of all the smokin hot sex!! Wow.
Good story but the situation with Mick got old pretty fast you'd think he wouldn't hold such a grudge and be such an ass. I really liked Gavin and Elizabeth even though Gavin basically had to be hit over the head to realize how he and Liz actually felt. Took him a while but he got there.
Can't wait for the next book. I've really liked Jenna so far. And mix her tattoos and piercings with a cocky as hell and super hot hockey player...I'm in!!
Good story but the situation with Mick got old pretty fast you'd think he wouldn't hold such a grudge and be such an ass. I really liked Gavin and Elizabeth even though Gavin basically had to be hit over the head to realize how he and Liz actually felt. Took him a while but he got there.
Can't wait for the next book. I've really liked Jenna so far. And mix her tattoos and piercings with a cocky as hell and super hot hockey player...I'm in!!
January 29, 2018
Well....
That was quite the read...
I read the first book in the series, The Perfect Play and thought the same thing.
Lots, and I mean LOTS of... um... yeah...
This one literally started out just BOINK! BOINK! BOINK BOINK BOINK!
I mean honestly.... like JACK RABBITS! I nearly closed it and moved on... Seemed kind of depressing that !!
But I stuck it out through the first fourboinkers chapters, and it did get better. The characters actually started having personalities conversations interaction lives outside the bedroom (or living room, balcony, kitchen, restaurant, (insert location here) )! Which definitely improved the book to my mind.
I mean hey, I read romances. I love them. And there are sex scenes. And verbiage. And sometimes it's pretty stinkin' hot.
As filterless and raunchy as I can be, even I was like
But I found, by the time Elizabeth left Florida that I was fully invested in the story and actually liked both her character and Gavins. I enjoyed their dialog, liked the supporting characters Shawnelle, Haley, Jenna, Ty and Dedrick. I even liked the continued conflict that Mick (from Perfect Play) put on the MCs. It did turn out good and I do want to read the next book, Taking a Shot which stars my favorite Riley sibling, Jenna and the new hotness, Ty. I'm hoping for a little meat to the story....
And by 'meat', I don't just mean....
That was quite the read...
I read the first book in the series, The Perfect Play and thought the same thing.
Lots, and I mean LOTS of... um... yeah...
This one literally started out just BOINK! BOINK! BOINK BOINK BOINK!
I mean honestly.... like JACK RABBITS! I nearly closed it and moved on... Seemed kind of depressing that !!
But I stuck it out through the first four
I mean hey, I read romances. I love them. And there are sex scenes. And verbiage. And sometimes it's pretty stinkin' hot.
As filterless and raunchy as I can be, even I was like
But I found, by the time Elizabeth left Florida that I was fully invested in the story and actually liked both her character and Gavins. I enjoyed their dialog, liked the supporting characters Shawnelle, Haley, Jenna, Ty and Dedrick. I even liked the continued conflict that Mick (from Perfect Play) put on the MCs. It did turn out good and I do want to read the next book, Taking a Shot which stars my favorite Riley sibling, Jenna and the new hotness, Ty. I'm hoping for a little meat to the story....
And by 'meat', I don't just mean....
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