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Play It Safe
Librarian's note: See alternate cover edition with this ASIN here.
No connections. Play it safe. These were the rules Ivey lived her life by.
Until she hit Mustang, Colorado, a perfectly imperfect town where the citizens were welcoming and one of them included the tall, beautiful, macho man rancher cowboy, Grayson Cody.
On the run for a decade, Ivey knew she was supposed to play it safe. But she was tired of being on the run. She wanted a normal. She wanted real. She wanted a home.
And she wanted Grayson Cody.
And Grayson Cody wanted Ivey.
No one who looked at them couldn’t see they belonged together. There was one man in this world for Ivey and one woman in this world for Grayson Cody.
So they fell in love.
But just as quickly as they fell together, they were betrayed and torn apart. Separated for years, Ivey was certain her life would not include her rancher cowboy. Until the town of Mustang reached out to her when Gray was in trouble. Even though she thought he broke her heart, she charged in to help. Then Gray and Ivey discovered they were betrayed and, not only that, Gray had an enemy who would stop at nothing to defeat him.
No connections. Play it safe. These were the rules Ivey lived her life by.
Until she hit Mustang, Colorado, a perfectly imperfect town where the citizens were welcoming and one of them included the tall, beautiful, macho man rancher cowboy, Grayson Cody.
On the run for a decade, Ivey knew she was supposed to play it safe. But she was tired of being on the run. She wanted a normal. She wanted real. She wanted a home.
And she wanted Grayson Cody.
And Grayson Cody wanted Ivey.
No one who looked at them couldn’t see they belonged together. There was one man in this world for Ivey and one woman in this world for Grayson Cody.
So they fell in love.
But just as quickly as they fell together, they were betrayed and torn apart. Separated for years, Ivey was certain her life would not include her rancher cowboy. Until the town of Mustang reached out to her when Gray was in trouble. Even though she thought he broke her heart, she charged in to help. Then Gray and Ivey discovered they were betrayed and, not only that, Gray had an enemy who would stop at nothing to defeat him.
487 pages, ebook
First published January 14, 2012
791 people are currently reading
7228 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Ashley
138 books39.5k followersKristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn't taken her first breath!).
Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.
Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).
Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.
And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.
Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.
Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).
Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.
And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,333 reviews
December 6, 2012
6 stars!!
SQUEEEEE!! SWOON! DREAMY SIGH!.... I SERIOUSLY ADORED THIS BOOK!! WOW!
This book was a heart breaking, heart warming, heart racing, keep-you-up-all-night, have-you-swooning-squeeing-and-declaring-your-undying-love-for-the-hero kind of story. It made me laugh, squee, swoon (a LOT), cry, grin.... everything you could want in a book.
This was my first 6 star (above and beyond) KA read. I was hooked!!! I started it just after midnight and it kept me riveted to it until the sun came up and my iPad died and then after only a few hours of sleep I was wide awake again and finished it. I literally could not tear my eyes away from the story.
I just love a book about a crazy-in-love functional couple where all the drama in the story comes from external sources, not from problems within their relationship and not from any stupidity from the characters.
Basically, Ivey and her older brother Casey come from a really horrible messed up family. When things got really bad and Ivey was attacked, Casey beat up her attacker and they have been on the run every since, going from town to town, hustling people to make ends meet. Its not the life Ivey wants, but its the only life she's known. But she always has to play it safe - never make any connections. But when they pass through the town of Mustang, Ivey meets Grayson Cody - who is a beyond swoony Alpha cowboy rancher. They both feel this pull towards each other but Ivey is wary of making connections. But when she is attacked and Gray steps in to save her and takes her home to keep her safe, it becomes harder and harder to ignore the fact they have something really serious to explore between them.
"You still fallin' in love with me?... 'Cause you know, baby, I'm already gone for you."
Their relationship progresses at a beautiful, intense but not rushed pace. But just when things are starting to seem to good to be true, they are betrayed by someone close to them and an old enemy of Gray's will stop at nothing in order to hurt him.... Separated for many years, their feelings for each other are still as strong as before. And when Ivey gets word that Gray is in trouble, she rushes back to Mustang and as soon as they figure out that they were betrayed, nothing will ever again keep them apart.
"I loved you then. I love you now. I've loved you every day for the past seven years... Every day, every minute, every second."
Grayson Cody. *swoon-drool-sigh* LOVE LOVE LOVED him right from the start. It was instant swoony love. He was another of those PERFECT male characters in my eyes - there is nothing about him I would change. He was a seriously macho man cowboy rancher, but also a hot-as-all-hell Alpha who was kind, oh-so-loving, sweet, thoughtful, confident, oozing natural authority, generous, understanding, with serious do-not-fuck-with-me vibes who was head-over-heals in love with his woman.
Ivey was a delightful heroine. She was never annoying, so insanely loyal to her man, and turned into quite a spitfire by the end of the book.
Ivey and Gray's connection, even from the start, was SO strong and built itself up so beautifully that its so hard to imagine what could ever possibly tear them apart. They were just perfect for each other. And when the betrayal comes, its just so numbing. (Just for your peace of mind, neither of them betrays the other - its again, completely external). The betrayal though is just plain dirty, it rips your heart out and you just can't stop from turning the pages cuz you NEED them back together again.
But their reunion!!!!! Wow! That might have been one of the best reunion scenes I've ever read. It had me squeeing out loud, fanning myself (I did a lot of that this book) and grinning till my cheeks hurt.
"Never before, never since have I felt for any woman, fuck, anyone the way I felt about you. I want that back. I want my girl back."
And the HEAT in this book!! Some of even just their kisses had me breathless and fanning myself. There was lots of steam in this book - really beautiful, intense, HOT bedroom scenes with really deep emotion in them.
This book has a super sweet HEA and a beautiful epilogue as well :)
I can't say how much I adored this book. This is KA at her best. And I just found out, its the first of a series, so... SQUEEEEEE!!!!
How I see Gray and Ivey:
For more of my reviews, visit Aestas Book Blog
SQUEEEEE!! SWOON! DREAMY SIGH!.... I SERIOUSLY ADORED THIS BOOK!! WOW!
This book was a heart breaking, heart warming, heart racing, keep-you-up-all-night, have-you-swooning-squeeing-and-declaring-your-undying-love-for-the-hero kind of story. It made me laugh, squee, swoon (a LOT), cry, grin.... everything you could want in a book.
This was my first 6 star (above and beyond) KA read. I was hooked!!! I started it just after midnight and it kept me riveted to it until the sun came up and my iPad died and then after only a few hours of sleep I was wide awake again and finished it. I literally could not tear my eyes away from the story.
I just love a book about a crazy-in-love functional couple where all the drama in the story comes from external sources, not from problems within their relationship and not from any stupidity from the characters.
Basically, Ivey and her older brother Casey come from a really horrible messed up family. When things got really bad and Ivey was attacked, Casey beat up her attacker and they have been on the run every since, going from town to town, hustling people to make ends meet. Its not the life Ivey wants, but its the only life she's known. But she always has to play it safe - never make any connections. But when they pass through the town of Mustang, Ivey meets Grayson Cody - who is a beyond swoony Alpha cowboy rancher. They both feel this pull towards each other but Ivey is wary of making connections. But when she is attacked and Gray steps in to save her and takes her home to keep her safe, it becomes harder and harder to ignore the fact they have something really serious to explore between them.
"You still fallin' in love with me?... 'Cause you know, baby, I'm already gone for you."
Their relationship progresses at a beautiful, intense but not rushed pace. But just when things are starting to seem to good to be true, they are betrayed by someone close to them and an old enemy of Gray's will stop at nothing in order to hurt him.... Separated for many years, their feelings for each other are still as strong as before. And when Ivey gets word that Gray is in trouble, she rushes back to Mustang and as soon as they figure out that they were betrayed, nothing will ever again keep them apart.
"I loved you then. I love you now. I've loved you every day for the past seven years... Every day, every minute, every second."
Grayson Cody. *swoon-drool-sigh* LOVE LOVE LOVED him right from the start. It was instant swoony love. He was another of those PERFECT male characters in my eyes - there is nothing about him I would change. He was a seriously macho man cowboy rancher, but also a hot-as-all-hell Alpha who was kind, oh-so-loving, sweet, thoughtful, confident, oozing natural authority, generous, understanding, with serious do-not-fuck-with-me vibes who was head-over-heals in love with his woman.
Ivey was a delightful heroine. She was never annoying, so insanely loyal to her man, and turned into quite a spitfire by the end of the book.
Ivey and Gray's connection, even from the start, was SO strong and built itself up so beautifully that its so hard to imagine what could ever possibly tear them apart. They were just perfect for each other. And when the betrayal comes, its just so numbing. (Just for your peace of mind, neither of them betrays the other - its again, completely external). The betrayal though is just plain dirty, it rips your heart out and you just can't stop from turning the pages cuz you NEED them back together again.
But their reunion!!!!! Wow! That might have been one of the best reunion scenes I've ever read. It had me squeeing out loud, fanning myself (I did a lot of that this book) and grinning till my cheeks hurt.
"Never before, never since have I felt for any woman, fuck, anyone the way I felt about you. I want that back. I want my girl back."
And the HEAT in this book!! Some of even just their kisses had me breathless and fanning myself. There was lots of steam in this book - really beautiful, intense, HOT bedroom scenes with really deep emotion in them.
This book has a super sweet HEA and a beautiful epilogue as well :)
I can't say how much I adored this book. This is KA at her best. And I just found out, its the first of a series, so... SQUEEEEEE!!!!
How I see Gray and Ivey:
For more of my reviews, visit Aestas Book Blog
January 2, 2016
Play it Safe is just $0.99 today for kindle!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006...
Okay, I love cowboys, and I love Kristen Ashley’s books, so a Kristen Ashley book with a cowboy hero?? Yeeeehaw!!!!!!!!!! Hell yeah, I loved it!
Play it Safe is heartwarming, heartbreaking, funny, exciting, burn up the pages hot and even though it’s about fifty thousand pages long… it was still too short. There’s a fantastic supporting cast of characters who need their own stories told, but most definitely, both Lash and Freddie. Those guys are all kinds of awesome!
I know I sound like a broken record, but I just can NOT get enough of Kristen Ashley’s writing because even though the writing isn’t perfect, the stories are! And I don’t know about you, but when I sit down with a book, looking for a chance to escape real life, I’m not looking to find it through perfect grammar and punctuation. I’m looking for that escape through characters and story lines that grab hold and don’t let go, and KA delivers. Every. Single. Time!
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If you're a Kristen Ashley addict, or just interested in checking her books, be sure to stop by our Kristen Ashley Addict's Support Group here on Goodreads!
March 9, 2020
4 I'm in love with a cowboy STARS
I'm a broken record. What you are about to read, or maybe in the best case scenario skim over or even more likely ignore altogether, will feel like a repetition of something I said before. Just a fair warning in the spirit of public safety. ;D
Now that we have this out of the way, let me start gushing about how much I love Kristen Ashley, her books and how she just makes my life better every time I get lost in one of her novels.
I was in a bit of a book funk for about two seconds until I remembered starting this gem a few weeks ago before I got sidetracked by some other stuff I needed to finish, but I'm finally here and I really enjoyed Play it Safe. Which is btw a second chance story...my holy grail of romance tropes.
Ivey leads a very unusual life. Together with her brother she is always on the move, from one town to another. Doing what needs to be done to survive. With no skills or work experience whatsoever the two get by with Ivey playing pool like a pro. Take the win and move on. No connections and always playing it safe.
That is until they hit the small town of Mustang. Ivey immediately falls in love with the sweet and quiet place, but once she lays eyes on the handsome cowboy named Grayson Cody her life changes forever.
From the first moment I was in love with every single character. I guess it comes down to the writing, but Ivey as well as Gray felt very well rounded and three dimensional. They are good people who, and the whole town would agree, just belong together.
Ivey is twenty-two years old, and despite the life she was thrown into at a very young age, she is still very innocent and open to the beauty in life. She decides to stay in Mustang and give a real life with a real boyfriend a chance.
Yes, there was insta-attraction and some would say the love thing happened too fast as well, but I didn't really care.
Gray is the ultimate sweet and caring macho man rancher cowboy. <--that's a direct quote from Ivey!
He takes care of his land, his grandmother and has a heart of gold. The moment he lays eyes on Ivey he looks right through who and what she is, but wants her nevertheless.
But things aren't that easy, there is trouble in paradise and through no fault of their own they get seperated for a long time. Question is, can they pick up where they left off when they cross paths again?
As always Miss Ashley brings her descriptive style, but contrary to other books this one is not as excessive and considerably shorter than the rest. The beginning was very lovely and sweet, until it started to drag on a little. I would have loved for the big twist (which is also mentioned in the blurb) a.k.a. the moment Ivey and Gray get separated to occur a bit earlier. But other than that I had very little to complain with this one.
Play it Safe certainly isn't the best KA book I read so far, but it was a wonderful all-is-well-in-the-end chick-flick to escape the world for a second. And there was a porch with a swing. What more does a girl want? Oh, I know. A cowboy!
Yes, it is entirely possible that I have a huge crush on Scott Eastwood right now. Damn, that's a fine looking man.
“I loved you then. I love you now. I’ve loved you every day for seven years.”
I'm a broken record. What you are about to read, or maybe in the best case scenario skim over or even more likely ignore altogether, will feel like a repetition of something I said before. Just a fair warning in the spirit of public safety. ;D
Now that we have this out of the way, let me start gushing about how much I love Kristen Ashley, her books and how she just makes my life better every time I get lost in one of her novels.
I was in a bit of a book funk for about two seconds until I remembered starting this gem a few weeks ago before I got sidetracked by some other stuff I needed to finish, but I'm finally here and I really enjoyed Play it Safe. Which is btw a second chance story...my holy grail of romance tropes.
“Prettiest thing I've ever seen.”
Ivey leads a very unusual life. Together with her brother she is always on the move, from one town to another. Doing what needs to be done to survive. With no skills or work experience whatsoever the two get by with Ivey playing pool like a pro. Take the win and move on. No connections and always playing it safe.
That is until they hit the small town of Mustang. Ivey immediately falls in love with the sweet and quiet place, but once she lays eyes on the handsome cowboy named Grayson Cody her life changes forever.
“How can one day you have next to nothing and then a week and a day later you have everything?”
From the first moment I was in love with every single character. I guess it comes down to the writing, but Ivey as well as Gray felt very well rounded and three dimensional. They are good people who, and the whole town would agree, just belong together.
Ivey is twenty-two years old, and despite the life she was thrown into at a very young age, she is still very innocent and open to the beauty in life. She decides to stay in Mustang and give a real life with a real boyfriend a chance.
Yes, there was insta-attraction and some would say the love thing happened too fast as well, but I didn't really care.
Gray is the ultimate sweet and caring macho man rancher cowboy. <--that's a direct quote from Ivey!
He takes care of his land, his grandmother and has a heart of gold. The moment he lays eyes on Ivey he looks right through who and what she is, but wants her nevertheless.
But things aren't that easy, there is trouble in paradise and through no fault of their own they get seperated for a long time. Question is, can they pick up where they left off when they cross paths again?
“Say you love me, Ivey.”
“I love you, Gray.”
As always Miss Ashley brings her descriptive style, but contrary to other books this one is not as excessive and considerably shorter than the rest. The beginning was very lovely and sweet, until it started to drag on a little. I would have loved for the big twist (which is also mentioned in the blurb) a.k.a. the moment Ivey and Gray get separated to occur a bit earlier. But other than that I had very little to complain with this one.
Play it Safe certainly isn't the best KA book I read so far, but it was a wonderful all-is-well-in-the-end chick-flick to escape the world for a second. And there was a porch with a swing. What more does a girl want? Oh, I know. A cowboy!
Yes, it is entirely possible that I have a huge crush on Scott Eastwood right now. Damn, that's a fine looking man.
November 29, 2013
5 Cowboy Stars!
Twenty two year old Ivey and her brother move around a lot. They go from town to town, do their thing, then they get out. Thats how it works for them. Ivey has her rules...
For the first time in a long time, Ivey can see herself settling down. Growing roots in a place. And a lot of that has to do with Gray.
She is feeling things for Gray she’s never felt before, and he feels them right back.
Just as Gray and Ivey are starting to get in deep, things out of their control tear them apart. For seven years. When they finally are able to reunite, everything has changed. Is it too late for Ivey and Gray to find what they once had, or will they live happily ever after?
Grayson Cody. Alpha male. Rancher. Swoony. Sexy. Protective. Loving. Understanding. Male perfection. As you can probably tell, I adored Grayson.
Ivey. Loyal. Tough. Sweet. Generous. Caring. Feisty.
Both of the main characters were really great, but like most KA books, there were some amazing secondary characters that really stood out.
Ivey and Gray’s connection was instant, but their love grew with time. The two of them together... it was just beautiful.
Sometimes I feel like a broken record when I’m writing a review for a KA book, but I can’t help it. I love her writing, story telling ability, and her alpha men. I laughed, I cried, I swooned, I just loved it. The combination of romance, suspense, humor and steam make for the perfect book for me!
Favorite line-
Twenty two year old Ivey and her brother move around a lot. They go from town to town, do their thing, then they get out. Thats how it works for them. Ivey has her rules...
No connections. Play it safe.When she meets Grayson Cody, things start to change. Grayson has lived in Mustang his entire life. His family owns a ranch (well, it’s his now) and he loves it there. One night, he’s at the local bar and he sees her. Ivey. He’s never seen anything more beautiful. Then she gets into a little trouble with the town’s asshole and Gray helps her out. Ivey is very hesitant to give Gray anything, any information about herself. Circumstances lead to her staying in town a few more days, that turn into a week or so and everything in her life changes.
For the first time in a long time, Ivey can see herself settling down. Growing roots in a place. And a lot of that has to do with Gray.
“How can one day you have next to nothing and then a week and a day later you have everything?”
She is feeling things for Gray she’s never felt before, and he feels them right back.
Just as Gray and Ivey are starting to get in deep, things out of their control tear them apart. For seven years. When they finally are able to reunite, everything has changed. Is it too late for Ivey and Gray to find what they once had, or will they live happily ever after?
Grayson Cody. Alpha male. Rancher. Swoony. Sexy. Protective. Loving. Understanding. Male perfection. As you can probably tell, I adored Grayson.
Ivey. Loyal. Tough. Sweet. Generous. Caring. Feisty.
Both of the main characters were really great, but like most KA books, there were some amazing secondary characters that really stood out.
Ivey and Gray’s connection was instant, but their love grew with time. The two of them together... it was just beautiful.
Sometimes I feel like a broken record when I’m writing a review for a KA book, but I can’t help it. I love her writing, story telling ability, and her alpha men. I laughed, I cried, I swooned, I just loved it. The combination of romance, suspense, humor and steam make for the perfect book for me!
Favorite line-
“Prettiest thing I've ever seen."
"Gray,"
"In that getup, in your jeans and tees, in your bikini on the lawnmower, when I open my eyes in the morning and see you next to me, anytime I see you, that's what I think. First thing that comes to mind. Anytime. Every time.”
February 9, 2015
4 "say you love me" stars.
I ended up really enjoying this one. What's not to like, a sexy cowboy with a dimple! To be honest, I found it dragged a bit in the beginning. I know, KA is known for her descriptions but sometimes less is more.
It wasn't plain sailing for Ivey and Cody. But the fates were in their favour and they found each other again.
Bud was a total dickwad.
Not my favourite KA book but they can't all be five stars.
I ended up really enjoying this one. What's not to like, a sexy cowboy with a dimple! To be honest, I found it dragged a bit in the beginning. I know, KA is known for her descriptions but sometimes less is more.
It wasn't plain sailing for Ivey and Cody. But the fates were in their favour and they found each other again.
Faded jeans. Leather jacket. Scarf. Hands shoved in the pockets of his leather jacket.
"You're the prettiest thing I've ever seen, Ivey."
"How can one day you have next to nothing and then a week and a day later you have everything?"
Bud was a total dickwad.
"Say you love me, Ivey."
"You were my first kiss ..."
Not my favourite KA book but they can't all be five stars.
March 2, 2018
Reread # 832740823759237910248
still amazing!
----------------------------------------------------
This is the first Kristen Ashley book I ever read, therefore it has a special place in my heart.
Reading it a second time after reading other KA books gave me a better perspective on her writing style and character building, so I ended up enjoying it more because I was more comfortable with her unique style of storytelling.
Plus, I am a sucker for second chance romance. Give it a chance everyone, it's a great read (for those who like romance I mean).
still amazing!
----------------------------------------------------
This is the first Kristen Ashley book I ever read, therefore it has a special place in my heart.
Reading it a second time after reading other KA books gave me a better perspective on her writing style and character building, so I ended up enjoying it more because I was more comfortable with her unique style of storytelling.
Plus, I am a sucker for second chance romance. Give it a chance everyone, it's a great read (for those who like romance I mean).
March 3, 2015
Kristen Ashley was the first author that I did binge reading with. My first book was Heaven and Hell which I read back in 2012. From there I jumped into the Colorado Mountain Series and just kept on going. It really is kind of crazy how much I loved her writing. I love how she lures you into her story with little morsels of each character and the plot, gets you hooked then brings on uncertainty that locks you in. But during all this you know she takes good care with everything. That somehow in the end everyone will be where the need to be.
Ivey Bailey and her brother Casey knew how to survive. They had no choice. They only had each other and hustling the game of pool is what they did. Moving from town to town was their life. Ivey has come to live her life by following two simple rules. No connections. Play it safe.
But playing it safe was going to be hard for Ivey to do once she meets Grayson Cody. It wasn’t just one thing that drew her to him. It was everything. He was handsome, he had a voice of confidence, and he showed her he cared. But I think the icing on the Grayson Cody cake was his dimple. ❤
Grayson wasn’t just a beautiful man he was a legend of sorts. The Cody family has been in Mustang for generations. They own and run a Ranch and orchard. The land is beautiful, his home is beautiful and it was all that Ivey has ever wanted.
When Ivey stays in town one day longer than she should have so much changes for her. Things change for Gray too. The night that Gray sees Ivey in a local bar she playing pool with the local cocky guy Bud Sharp. Crossing paths with Bud Sharp was not a good thing but Gray is there to protect Ivey and keep her safe.
Gray didn’t hesitate welcoming Ivey into his home and his life. And for the first time Ivey felt happy and she felt free of the life she had been living. It was finally a chance for her to make a connection and finally settle somewhere she could call home.
Gray thought she was beautiful. She was his dollface. Then it happened. Her new life was turned upside down. She left Grayson but not without leaving a note. She would come back for him. But circumstances surrounding Ivey and Gray become too much for either of them to handle. A separation that has them both growing and changing. One fighting to keep a life together, the other having it all. But both lives are missing the one person they loved.
Time apart has made Ivey a stronger, more confident and beautiful woman. She has people in her life that make her happy but her heart is still broken from not having Gray in it. When something brings her back to Mustang and she sees Gray, once again her life will never be the same.
I loved getting back to an earlier KA book. Grayson and Ivey’s story was sweet, sexy and just all around perfect IMO. Together these two caused my heart to race, break and race again. Grayson was heavenly and Ivey precious.
And KA surrounds these two with awesome secondary characters too. I loved Lash and Brutus. They were funny, loving and pretty entertaining. Grandma Miriam was a bit of a force to reckon and she was a hoot. I loved the relationship she had with Gray. And I can’t forget Cecily. She was quite the bitch and so is Karma. :)
So that’s about it. Sorry for rattling on but I LOVED IT!! If you are a Kristen Ashley fan and haven’t read this one like me, bump it up or add it to your TBR. Don’t miss out on it. :D
Ivey Bailey and her brother Casey knew how to survive. They had no choice. They only had each other and hustling the game of pool is what they did. Moving from town to town was their life. Ivey has come to live her life by following two simple rules. No connections. Play it safe.
But playing it safe was going to be hard for Ivey to do once she meets Grayson Cody. It wasn’t just one thing that drew her to him. It was everything. He was handsome, he had a voice of confidence, and he showed her he cared. But I think the icing on the Grayson Cody cake was his dimple. ❤
Grayson wasn’t just a beautiful man he was a legend of sorts. The Cody family has been in Mustang for generations. They own and run a Ranch and orchard. The land is beautiful, his home is beautiful and it was all that Ivey has ever wanted.
When Ivey stays in town one day longer than she should have so much changes for her. Things change for Gray too. The night that Gray sees Ivey in a local bar she playing pool with the local cocky guy Bud Sharp. Crossing paths with Bud Sharp was not a good thing but Gray is there to protect Ivey and keep her safe.
Gray didn’t hesitate welcoming Ivey into his home and his life. And for the first time Ivey felt happy and she felt free of the life she had been living. It was finally a chance for her to make a connection and finally settle somewhere she could call home.
Gray thought she was beautiful. She was his dollface. Then it happened. Her new life was turned upside down. She left Grayson but not without leaving a note. She would come back for him. But circumstances surrounding Ivey and Gray become too much for either of them to handle. A separation that has them both growing and changing. One fighting to keep a life together, the other having it all. But both lives are missing the one person they loved.
Time apart has made Ivey a stronger, more confident and beautiful woman. She has people in her life that make her happy but her heart is still broken from not having Gray in it. When something brings her back to Mustang and she sees Gray, once again her life will never be the same.
I loved getting back to an earlier KA book. Grayson and Ivey’s story was sweet, sexy and just all around perfect IMO. Together these two caused my heart to race, break and race again. Grayson was heavenly and Ivey precious.
And KA surrounds these two with awesome secondary characters too. I loved Lash and Brutus. They were funny, loving and pretty entertaining. Grandma Miriam was a bit of a force to reckon and she was a hoot. I loved the relationship she had with Gray. And I can’t forget Cecily. She was quite the bitch and so is Karma. :)
So that’s about it. Sorry for rattling on but I LOVED IT!! If you are a Kristen Ashley fan and haven’t read this one like me, bump it up or add it to your TBR. Don’t miss out on it. :D
January 4, 2016
5 “Say You Love Me” Stars.
Ivey is a girl with a bad past just trying to survive. Until one day she stops in the small country town of Mustang and there she meets Gray, the cowboy that will change her life and make her want to create roots for the first time. They fall in love and everything seems to go in the perfect direction.
Until someone that wants Gray out of the way, makes sure they fall apart and succeeds.
Seven years later they are living in different cities and opposite lives. Life changed and they changed with it and with happened between them. Ivey thinks she was betrayed, Gray thinks the same thing. One day Ivey gets a phone call that tells her Gray is in trouble and without hesitating she goes back to the town she once left heartbroken to help him.
When they realize what really happened between them they will make everything to make up for the lost time, but what they don’t know is that the threat is still there. And this time it doesn’t plan on fail.
(I may have been a little overboard with Mr. Eastwood pictures… but look at that face!!! Perfect Gray!)
In case you don’t know… I’m a complete sucker for second chance romances. Add Kristen Ashley, the f*cking romance queen, to the mix and you got a winner. And this book is a winner.
Sexy cowboys, hilarious moments, steamy scenes and some tear-your-hear-apart moments and we have everything we could ever want in a book. As ever, Kristen Ashley managed to create an epic love story that not only made me look like a zombie while reading it, it also left me with a huge hangover that already made me re-read my favorite scenes over again.
If you’re a KA fan, if you like cowboys or, hell… if you just like a really great romance book, this is definitely the book for you.
Rating: 5 Stars.
Characters Development: Gray is the sweetest alpha cowboy ever. He’s really a great guy and it’s so sweet to see how well he treats his grandmother (that is awesome) and how he treats Ivey when he meets her for the first time. Not to mention that he’s a sexy, sexy alpha cowboy and it’s impossible not to love him. Ivey was great as well, she was sassy and I liked how a nice person she was, even with her situation and her past. There was some really good supporting characters, but this is a KA book, so what else is new?
Steam: Hot.
Sensible Subjects:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
Ivey is a girl with a bad past just trying to survive. Until one day she stops in the small country town of Mustang and there she meets Gray, the cowboy that will change her life and make her want to create roots for the first time. They fall in love and everything seems to go in the perfect direction.
Until someone that wants Gray out of the way, makes sure they fall apart and succeeds.
Seven years later they are living in different cities and opposite lives. Life changed and they changed with it and with happened between them. Ivey thinks she was betrayed, Gray thinks the same thing. One day Ivey gets a phone call that tells her Gray is in trouble and without hesitating she goes back to the town she once left heartbroken to help him.
When they realize what really happened between them they will make everything to make up for the lost time, but what they don’t know is that the threat is still there. And this time it doesn’t plan on fail.
(I may have been a little overboard with Mr. Eastwood pictures… but look at that face!!! Perfect Gray!)
In case you don’t know… I’m a complete sucker for second chance romances. Add Kristen Ashley, the f*cking romance queen, to the mix and you got a winner. And this book is a winner.
Sexy cowboys, hilarious moments, steamy scenes and some tear-your-hear-apart moments and we have everything we could ever want in a book. As ever, Kristen Ashley managed to create an epic love story that not only made me look like a zombie while reading it, it also left me with a huge hangover that already made me re-read my favorite scenes over again.
If you’re a KA fan, if you like cowboys or, hell… if you just like a really great romance book, this is definitely the book for you.
Rating: 5 Stars.
Characters Development: Gray is the sweetest alpha cowboy ever. He’s really a great guy and it’s so sweet to see how well he treats his grandmother (that is awesome) and how he treats Ivey when he meets her for the first time. Not to mention that he’s a sexy, sexy alpha cowboy and it’s impossible not to love him. Ivey was great as well, she was sassy and I liked how a nice person she was, even with her situation and her past. There was some really good supporting characters, but this is a KA book, so what else is new?
Steam: Hot.
Sensible Subjects:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
January 16, 2014
Say you love me, Ivey.
I love you, Gray.
I loved this book !!! I reckon I love me some Grayson Cody too ❤️❤️❤️ swoon, serious swoon ! Read this book KA never fails ❤️
March 22, 2014
5 STARS
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Another Kristen Ashley masterpiece of ALPHA perfection!!!!! And it was just what the doctor ordered for my recently book-broken heart. Although, I have to admit there were a few moments there about halfway through where I thought I just might not make it through. Yes… it wasn’t all hearts and flowers… And I was NOT HAPPY.
But, sometimes who we are and who we become depends on those sentinel events that shape our lives, both good and bad, and without them, we can not truly appreciate the joy in life and the gifts we’ve been given.
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Ivey Bailey hadn’t had many gifts in life. In fact, at 22, all she had going for her was her good looks, her honest face and her inability to lose at pool. Yes she could play, and thanks to the guidance of her not so savory brother, Casey, she could hustle. And she was good… really good.
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And they were surviving, her and Casey, traveling the country, never too long in one place… they were ‘playin’ it safe.’ No attachments, ever. That was their rule, and they didn’t waver. And it worked for them… until it didn’t.
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When they arrived in Mustang, Colorado, Ivey and her brother were prepared only for their next hustle. They were not prepared for what they found when they got there. They were not prepared for the charm of the town, and the hospitality that would suck them in. They were only going to stay a day, maybe two. Work their magic, and get gone. Play it safe. But it didn’t work out that way.
And Ivey felt that draw on her. She felt it like she’d never felt it before. And that was even before she laid eyes on him.
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Grayson Cody saw her at the bar. He’d heard about her and her traveling companion in town, up to no good. Things like that travel fast in a small town like Mustang. But he was unprepared. She wasn’t what he’d expected. No hard edges. Not one. She was innocent… he could tell. Maybe just a victim of the company she was keeping. So he thought he’d warn her off. Keep her out of trouble. Get her out of town before she could do damage.
But… the damage was done. He was gone for her already, and he didn’t even know it.
“…the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen.”
And she was feeling it too. Watching him in the bar… from afar, of course. Playin’ it safe as always. But she couldn’t keep her eyes off him. This cowboy was dangerous. He could throw her off her game. For the first time in her life though… she just might not care.
And then he took her back… warned her off, then stood up for her… bled for her. That, she couldn’t ignore. He was feeling that draw too, she could feel it. And she wanted to let it happen. She wanted this all her life. A home, a family, someone to take her back. Offer her a safe place, and a warm smile. A place to let her hair down without looking over her shoulder. She wanted him.
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Because I could handle his beauty. I could handle his smile. I could handle his dimple. I could handle that he looked out for me. I could even handle the gentle, tenderness of his voice and look earlier. But i could not handle his laughter….
Definitely not me giving it to him.
It was the most beautiful thing about him in a long line of beautiful things.
It was deep, it was rich, it was warm, it was engaging and it was the kind of thing you wanted to hear every day, a hundred times a day for the rest of your life.
So she took that chance, and he was everything she’d ever dreamed of and more. And this town, this life was going to be hers… she was determined to make it so.
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“How can one day you have next to nothing and then a week and a day later you have everything?”
But life had other plans… her brother had other plans, and Bud Sharp had other plans. See not only had she caught the eye of Gray, she’d also caught the eye of Gray’s lifelong nemesis. And he was gunning for her, and gunning for Gray, and he would not stop until all was ruined.
And ruins were all that was left of her heart when all was said and done… until it wasn’t.
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“You weren’t just my first lover, Gray, you were my first everything.”
This was such a heartbreaking love story. I went into it totally blind… not knowing what to expect. And I was DEVASTATED by the unfortunate events that these two endured. The love lost… the time lost… the horses lost… TEARS ALL AROUND!!!!
But then it all came back… and it was even better than before. Yes it was different. They were different. They had suffered, both of them. But it made them stronger. It made them appreciate what they’d had, what had been taken from them. So they recaptured it. They secured it. And they protected it with their lives. What didn’t kill them, would make them stronger.
“Wherever you were born and whatever you did, pool hustler, showgirl, tonight, you were a rancher's woman and just like you, when you do somethin', you're the best there is.”
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“There was nothing better than you.” -Gray
Their trials were far from over though. Buddy Sharp wasn’t done throwing his shit around. And he was one mean piece of shit.
But in all of that tragedy, there was also beauty. There was love. There was goodness, and it eventually shined though. This was a fantastic story. It was creative and compelling. I loved the characters. In fact, Grayson Cody has to be one of Kristen Ashley’s most beautiful men.
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I mean I LOVED THIS MAN!!!!! He was hot, sexy as fuck, bossy and head-strong. But he was also sweet, and tender, and he loved his girl with everything he had to give. A total Alpha male work of art!!!!
“I love you, Ivey, and you got a name you gave yourself that means somethin’ to you but I still want you to take mine.”
And then there was the fake gay boyfriend Lash Caldiwell!!!! Every girl should have a Lash. In fact this guy was so fabulous, I wouldn’t have been that upset had things not worked out with Gray. And Brutus too!!! Just totally LOVED these guys.
And I just totally LOVE it all!!!! Even the Epilogue kicked ass!!!! Pure Gold!!!!
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Another Kristen Ashley masterpiece of ALPHA perfection!!!!! And it was just what the doctor ordered for my recently book-broken heart. Although, I have to admit there were a few moments there about halfway through where I thought I just might not make it through. Yes… it wasn’t all hearts and flowers… And I was NOT HAPPY.
But, sometimes who we are and who we become depends on those sentinel events that shape our lives, both good and bad, and without them, we can not truly appreciate the joy in life and the gifts we’ve been given.
Ivey Bailey hadn’t had many gifts in life. In fact, at 22, all she had going for her was her good looks, her honest face and her inability to lose at pool. Yes she could play, and thanks to the guidance of her not so savory brother, Casey, she could hustle. And she was good… really good.
And they were surviving, her and Casey, traveling the country, never too long in one place… they were ‘playin’ it safe.’ No attachments, ever. That was their rule, and they didn’t waver. And it worked for them… until it didn’t.
When they arrived in Mustang, Colorado, Ivey and her brother were prepared only for their next hustle. They were not prepared for what they found when they got there. They were not prepared for the charm of the town, and the hospitality that would suck them in. They were only going to stay a day, maybe two. Work their magic, and get gone. Play it safe. But it didn’t work out that way.
And Ivey felt that draw on her. She felt it like she’d never felt it before. And that was even before she laid eyes on him.
Grayson Cody saw her at the bar. He’d heard about her and her traveling companion in town, up to no good. Things like that travel fast in a small town like Mustang. But he was unprepared. She wasn’t what he’d expected. No hard edges. Not one. She was innocent… he could tell. Maybe just a victim of the company she was keeping. So he thought he’d warn her off. Keep her out of trouble. Get her out of town before she could do damage.
But… the damage was done. He was gone for her already, and he didn’t even know it.
“…the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen.”
And she was feeling it too. Watching him in the bar… from afar, of course. Playin’ it safe as always. But she couldn’t keep her eyes off him. This cowboy was dangerous. He could throw her off her game. For the first time in her life though… she just might not care.
And then he took her back… warned her off, then stood up for her… bled for her. That, she couldn’t ignore. He was feeling that draw too, she could feel it. And she wanted to let it happen. She wanted this all her life. A home, a family, someone to take her back. Offer her a safe place, and a warm smile. A place to let her hair down without looking over her shoulder. She wanted him.
Because I could handle his beauty. I could handle his smile. I could handle his dimple. I could handle that he looked out for me. I could even handle the gentle, tenderness of his voice and look earlier. But i could not handle his laughter….
Definitely not me giving it to him.
It was the most beautiful thing about him in a long line of beautiful things.
It was deep, it was rich, it was warm, it was engaging and it was the kind of thing you wanted to hear every day, a hundred times a day for the rest of your life.
So she took that chance, and he was everything she’d ever dreamed of and more. And this town, this life was going to be hers… she was determined to make it so.
“How can one day you have next to nothing and then a week and a day later you have everything?”
But life had other plans… her brother had other plans, and Bud Sharp had other plans. See not only had she caught the eye of Gray, she’d also caught the eye of Gray’s lifelong nemesis. And he was gunning for her, and gunning for Gray, and he would not stop until all was ruined.
And ruins were all that was left of her heart when all was said and done… until it wasn’t.
“You weren’t just my first lover, Gray, you were my first everything.”
This was such a heartbreaking love story. I went into it totally blind… not knowing what to expect. And I was DEVASTATED by the unfortunate events that these two endured. The love lost… the time lost… the horses lost… TEARS ALL AROUND!!!!
But then it all came back… and it was even better than before. Yes it was different. They were different. They had suffered, both of them. But it made them stronger. It made them appreciate what they’d had, what had been taken from them. So they recaptured it. They secured it. And they protected it with their lives. What didn’t kill them, would make them stronger.
“Wherever you were born and whatever you did, pool hustler, showgirl, tonight, you were a rancher's woman and just like you, when you do somethin', you're the best there is.”
“There was nothing better than you.” -Gray
Their trials were far from over though. Buddy Sharp wasn’t done throwing his shit around. And he was one mean piece of shit.
But in all of that tragedy, there was also beauty. There was love. There was goodness, and it eventually shined though. This was a fantastic story. It was creative and compelling. I loved the characters. In fact, Grayson Cody has to be one of Kristen Ashley’s most beautiful men.
I mean I LOVED THIS MAN!!!!! He was hot, sexy as fuck, bossy and head-strong. But he was also sweet, and tender, and he loved his girl with everything he had to give. A total Alpha male work of art!!!!
“I love you, Ivey, and you got a name you gave yourself that means somethin’ to you but I still want you to take mine.”
And then there was the fake gay boyfriend Lash Caldiwell!!!! Every girl should have a Lash. In fact this guy was so fabulous, I wouldn’t have been that upset had things not worked out with Gray. And Brutus too!!! Just totally LOVED these guys.
And I just totally LOVE it all!!!! Even the Epilogue kicked ass!!!! Pure Gold!!!!
June 28, 2020
3.5 Stars (Originally Read 10/9/2018)
3 Stars (Re-Read 6/28/2020)
Overall Opinion: I saw this as a KA standalone book that I hadn't read before, and I knew I had to get on it! Does it measure up to the standalones in my favorite Colorado Mountain series of hers?! Not quite. It was still enjoyable though. I like the cowboy type story every once in a while, so this also fed that craving. The main characters were likable, the side characters were great, the connection to each other was spot on...but something just felt a little off. I don't even know how to pinpoint it tbh. I just didn't get that feeling that it would go on my mental "to re-read" list that I sometimes get after I finish a book of hers. Didn't hate it, but didn't love it either -- a little better than 3 "just okay" stars for me.
Re-Read Update: This was way too slow for my liking. It had a ton of time jumps and just didn’t hold my attention like I was hoping. I’m dropping my rating to 3 “just okay” stars because overall I just felt kind of meh about it 🤷🏻♀️
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Ivey and Grey's story. Ivey and her brother have spent years moving from town to town, and when she sees Grey for the first time she is considering breaking their "no connections" rule. Grey is also instantly drawn to Ivey and helps her out of a bad situation. When Ivey's brother starts delaying their departure, she doesn't resist too much when Grey starts pursuing her and they fall in love. An event happens that separates them and many years later Ivey is shocked to find out that Grey is in trouble and needs her help. She drops her new life to help him out even though her reception isn't the friendliest. There are some big reveals, some forces against them, some sweet and sexy moments, and a few suspenseful events...and they get a HEA ending.
POV: This was told in Ivey's POV. There are a few parts that focus on a side character in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: Kind of. When they first met things move really quickly with them, but I don't consider it the kind of "instalove" that annoys me.
H rating: 4 stars. Grey. I liked him. He was so sweet with the h but also never lost those alpha tendencies that KA loves to give us.
h rating: 4.5 stars. Ivey. I really liked her. She was tough, smart and super sweet.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed a few tears, but I never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. I do think that the steam didn't seem as good as KA usually writes for some reason.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had a great epilogue with a HEA ending. Classic KA closure here and exactly what I look for! 😊
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
3 Stars (Re-Read 6/28/2020)
Overall Opinion: I saw this as a KA standalone book that I hadn't read before, and I knew I had to get on it! Does it measure up to the standalones in my favorite Colorado Mountain series of hers?! Not quite. It was still enjoyable though. I like the cowboy type story every once in a while, so this also fed that craving. The main characters were likable, the side characters were great, the connection to each other was spot on...but something just felt a little off. I don't even know how to pinpoint it tbh. I just didn't get that feeling that it would go on my mental "to re-read" list that I sometimes get after I finish a book of hers. Didn't hate it, but didn't love it either -- a little better than 3 "just okay" stars for me.
Re-Read Update: This was way too slow for my liking. It had a ton of time jumps and just didn’t hold my attention like I was hoping. I’m dropping my rating to 3 “just okay” stars because overall I just felt kind of meh about it 🤷🏻♀️
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Ivey and Grey's story. Ivey and her brother have spent years moving from town to town, and when she sees Grey for the first time she is considering breaking their "no connections" rule. Grey is also instantly drawn to Ivey and helps her out of a bad situation. When Ivey's brother starts delaying their departure, she doesn't resist too much when Grey starts pursuing her and they fall in love. An event happens that separates them and many years later Ivey is shocked to find out that Grey is in trouble and needs her help. She drops her new life to help him out even though her reception isn't the friendliest. There are some big reveals, some forces against them, some sweet and sexy moments, and a few suspenseful events...and they get a HEA ending.
POV: This was told in Ivey's POV. There are a few parts that focus on a side character in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: Kind of. When they first met things move really quickly with them, but I don't consider it the kind of "instalove" that annoys me.
H rating: 4 stars. Grey. I liked him. He was so sweet with the h but also never lost those alpha tendencies that KA loves to give us.
h rating: 4.5 stars. Ivey. I really liked her. She was tough, smart and super sweet.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed a few tears, but I never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. I do think that the steam didn't seem as good as KA usually writes for some reason.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had a great epilogue with a HEA ending. Classic KA closure here and exactly what I look for! 😊
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
April 15, 2021
3.5 Stars
First of all, can we take a moment to appreciate how breathtaking the cover is? Yes, we can. I wish I was at that place where the photograph was taken.
Secondly, I don’t have a male gay best friend (a pity honestly), so Idk. It could be me being emotionally constipated or alergic to physical affection, but I can’t really picture a straight girl falling asleep spooning her gay male best friend (or him her) every night. It’s a new level of weird I’m not familiar with. Is it not weird? Maybe it’s just me.
Thirdly, this book ruined (or more like it was unfulfilled) my ~protective older brother~ fantasy. That’s because Ivey’s older brother turned out to be an irredeemable piece of scum. I was holding out hope they’d work things out. I also wish the father/daughter relationship with Ivey and Hoot had been explored more or given more screen time.
Fourthly, the cause of the couple’s split was kinda stupid especially considering it break them up and not on good terms for almost A DECADE. It was pretty similar to what happened in Three Wishes actually. Regardless, I liked the rancher/cowboy type romance for the most part and the epilogue or whatever that last chapter was.
Overall, I think the book just spent too much time on things I didn’t care instead of the ones I was curious to know more. I recommend this if you enjoy the Colorado Mountain series.
(Read as an Audiobook)
First of all, can we take a moment to appreciate how breathtaking the cover is? Yes, we can. I wish I was at that place where the photograph was taken.
Secondly, I don’t have a male gay best friend (a pity honestly), so Idk. It could be me being emotionally constipated or alergic to physical affection, but I can’t really picture a straight girl falling asleep spooning her gay male best friend (or him her) every night. It’s a new level of weird I’m not familiar with. Is it not weird? Maybe it’s just me.
Thirdly, this book ruined (or more like it was unfulfilled) my ~protective older brother~ fantasy. That’s because Ivey’s older brother turned out to be an irredeemable piece of scum. I was holding out hope they’d work things out. I also wish the father/daughter relationship with Ivey and Hoot had been explored more or given more screen time.
Fourthly, the cause of the couple’s split was kinda stupid especially considering it break them up and not on good terms for almost A DECADE. It was pretty similar to what happened in Three Wishes actually. Regardless, I liked the rancher/cowboy type romance for the most part and the epilogue or whatever that last chapter was.
Overall, I think the book just spent too much time on things I didn’t care instead of the ones I was curious to know more. I recommend this if you enjoy the Colorado Mountain series.
(Read as an Audiobook)
February 20, 2015
3 1/2 stars
Play It Safe is another great book by Kristen Ashley. The characters are likable and endearing, the plot intriguing, the romance enticing, and, of course, the epilogue fabulous! I did, however, find myself putting this book down often, and I struggled trying to reconnect with the older, more worldly Ivey. Other than that, Play It Safe is a delightful read.
If you're already a Kristen Ashley addict, or interested in checking out her books, be sure to stop by our Kristen Ashley Addict's Support Group here on Goodreads!
Play It Safe is another great book by Kristen Ashley. The characters are likable and endearing, the plot intriguing, the romance enticing, and, of course, the epilogue fabulous! I did, however, find myself putting this book down often, and I struggled trying to reconnect with the older, more worldly Ivey. Other than that, Play It Safe is a delightful read.
If you're already a Kristen Ashley addict, or interested in checking out her books, be sure to stop by our Kristen Ashley Addict's Support Group here on Goodreads!
November 29, 2015
FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED:
You know what happens when you have a craving for a great book, one that you know will rock your socks off, but you feel like giving an ‘oldie’ a chance? You dive into your overflowing list of books to read and aim straight for a Kristen Ashley classic. Stories of second chances are my personal weakness, never failing to engage the ol’ ticker, and this one did not disappoint. In her distinctive and utterly addictive style of storytelling, Ms Ashley delivers another truly compelling, and oh-so romantic love story that made me want to re-read it over and over again.
Ivey Bailey has spent most of her young life on the run from a past that taught her to protect her heart by never forming any attachments. At twenty-two, Ivey has never known the comfort of a home, the thrill of a first love, or the spark of that first kiss, always moving from town to town and never stopping anywhere long enough to connect with anyone. The only permanent fixture in her life has always been her older brother Casey, her protector since she was a child, and now her partner in crime as they travel the country hustling people and never putting down roots anywhere. But from the moment Ivey arrives in the quiet little town of Mustang, Colorado, she knows she would be happy living there forever, especially when a blue-eyed rancher lowers her guard and gives her a taste of what it would feel like to finally belong to someone.
Grayson “Gray” Cody might be Mustang’s favourite son, but life has never been a walk in the park for the young rancher. Groomed since birth to continue his family’s legacy, his future has always been tied to the land that has been passed down through generations of Cody men, and he is determined to continue that tradition by one day raising sons of his own with the same reverence for that land. Ivey might be the prettiest girl Gray’s ever seen in his life, but his immediate attraction to her runs much deeper, recognizing in her eyes the hardships she’s had to endure in life. Their pull is magnetic, visceral, meaningful from the very first touch, and for a brief moment in time, Ivey allows herself to dream of finally having a home, a family, a man who’d love her every single day of his life…until all is taken away from them all too quickly, and all they’ve found in each other is tragically lost once again.
Seven years go by, and while Gray has kept living life just as before, he has never gotten over losing Ivey, or truly understood why she left him in the first place. Ivey, on the other hand, has settled down in a big city and worked hard to put down roots, but her heart still longs for Gray and the promise of a life they could have had together. So when she suddenly hears of Gray’s troubles, she does not hesitate to run to save the man she still loves from losing everything he holds dear. But the last thing she expects to find in Mustang is the knowledge of a betrayal that has cost them seven years of heartbreak. Or that Gray has never stopped loving her either.
A heart-wrenching, and yet truly uplifting second chance romance, this is one of those unforgettable love stories I just knew from the very beginning it would crush me emotionally, and while the tears kept coming…and coming, I never lost faith in Ms Ashley’s extraordinary ability to give us powerful endings that more than make up for all the heartache. It’s a story of a young girl who never had anything, yet all she ever dreamed of having in life was a place to belong to and the love of a good man. And it is a story of a man whose birth right gave him all he ever needed in life, but it is the love of a woman like Ivey that made it all worth fighting for. Whether you have a fondness for second chances at love, or a craving for a heart-warming romance to put your heart through the wringer, look no further because Ivey and Gray’s story will inevitably embed itself into your heart as an all-time favourite.
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“Say you love me, Ivey.”
“I love you, Gray.”
You know what happens when you have a craving for a great book, one that you know will rock your socks off, but you feel like giving an ‘oldie’ a chance? You dive into your overflowing list of books to read and aim straight for a Kristen Ashley classic. Stories of second chances are my personal weakness, never failing to engage the ol’ ticker, and this one did not disappoint. In her distinctive and utterly addictive style of storytelling, Ms Ashley delivers another truly compelling, and oh-so romantic love story that made me want to re-read it over and over again.
“No connections. Play it safe. Still, if I could connect, if I could let go, if I could take a risk, I’d do it with him. In all my wandering, all I’d seen, all the people I’d met, he would be the one I’d smile at and do it without a guard up. He’d be the one I’d want to smile back at me.”
Ivey Bailey has spent most of her young life on the run from a past that taught her to protect her heart by never forming any attachments. At twenty-two, Ivey has never known the comfort of a home, the thrill of a first love, or the spark of that first kiss, always moving from town to town and never stopping anywhere long enough to connect with anyone. The only permanent fixture in her life has always been her older brother Casey, her protector since she was a child, and now her partner in crime as they travel the country hustling people and never putting down roots anywhere. But from the moment Ivey arrives in the quiet little town of Mustang, Colorado, she knows she would be happy living there forever, especially when a blue-eyed rancher lowers her guard and gives her a taste of what it would feel like to finally belong to someone.
“In this town. With him in it. Roots. Connections. Wake up every day and know where you are and go to bed every night knowing you’ll wake up that way. I would love that.”
Grayson “Gray” Cody might be Mustang’s favourite son, but life has never been a walk in the park for the young rancher. Groomed since birth to continue his family’s legacy, his future has always been tied to the land that has been passed down through generations of Cody men, and he is determined to continue that tradition by one day raising sons of his own with the same reverence for that land. Ivey might be the prettiest girl Gray’s ever seen in his life, but his immediate attraction to her runs much deeper, recognizing in her eyes the hardships she’s had to endure in life. Their pull is magnetic, visceral, meaningful from the very first touch, and for a brief moment in time, Ivey allows herself to dream of finally having a home, a family, a man who’d love her every single day of his life…until all is taken away from them all too quickly, and all they’ve found in each other is tragically lost once again.
“You weren’t just my first lover, Gray, you were my first everything.”
Seven years go by, and while Gray has kept living life just as before, he has never gotten over losing Ivey, or truly understood why she left him in the first place. Ivey, on the other hand, has settled down in a big city and worked hard to put down roots, but her heart still longs for Gray and the promise of a life they could have had together. So when she suddenly hears of Gray’s troubles, she does not hesitate to run to save the man she still loves from losing everything he holds dear. But the last thing she expects to find in Mustang is the knowledge of a betrayal that has cost them seven years of heartbreak. Or that Gray has never stopped loving her either.
“I loved you then. I love you now. I’ve loved you every day for seven years.”
A heart-wrenching, and yet truly uplifting second chance romance, this is one of those unforgettable love stories I just knew from the very beginning it would crush me emotionally, and while the tears kept coming…and coming, I never lost faith in Ms Ashley’s extraordinary ability to give us powerful endings that more than make up for all the heartache. It’s a story of a young girl who never had anything, yet all she ever dreamed of having in life was a place to belong to and the love of a good man. And it is a story of a man whose birth right gave him all he ever needed in life, but it is the love of a woman like Ivey that made it all worth fighting for. Whether you have a fondness for second chances at love, or a craving for a heart-warming romance to put your heart through the wringer, look no further because Ivey and Gray’s story will inevitably embed itself into your heart as an all-time favourite.
“There was nothin’ better than you.”
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February 13, 2016
OMG THIS BOOK. W. T. F?!?!!
I hate to do this to a KA book, but it's happening. Fair warning, you should step away from this post. I can't really review this properly. This will be a full on rant. It will include sarcasm and inappropriate comments I'll read later and determine I was crazy for posting live. But I need somewhere to vent and I can't run miles in the middle of the night, so that somewhere is here. Now that that's out of the way, let's begin, shall we?
I can take a big heaping spoonful of bullshit from contemporary romance books. Because romance books.. But, this book asks for a 5 pound bag of bull, which I just can't do. Case in point: our female lead, Ivey.. Ivey was rescued from her deadbeat mother by her loving brother at the tender age of 12. Since then, they survived life by hustling people at pool. Guess who said hustler is? You guessed it. The teen girl is a pool hustler. Queue the eye rolling and manic laughter in 3, 2, 1..
Now, you may be thinking, how did our little teen hustler who was able to infiltrate adult pool places across the country even come to realize she can play? The simple answer is, it's a God given talent. Yes, you read that right. She was born knowing how to work the balls to the right angles and such. Because even though she never went to school, she thinks perhaps she's good at math and stuff. I mean, she can divide in her head and she can remember her exact balance. Sounds like the makings of a mathematician to me! Wait for it, wait for it..
Anyway, fast forward to age 22 and she comes across a small town called Mustang. While visiting the local bar, she sees our male lead and it was love at first sight. You see, she just knew he was the one, but she can't have him. She must run away. She must play it safe. I mean, she's a badass pool hustler and all that.
She ends up hustling the town jerk, and thank God she found 'the one' so quickly her first night there because she needed to be saved and her new man was right there to save her. Turns out, he's the town hero! He is well liked by everyone, except the town jerk, and he's a sexy cowboy. Win, win, right? So she did what any girl would do, she went home with him so that she may stay safe in his house. You know, in case the town jerk comes back to her hotel..
I believe the next day, or perhaps the day after, can't care to recall, they profess their love to each other. Because insta-love and all that.. It's what the cool kids do. When they get around to expressing their love, we find out our 22 year old hustler is a virgin. But let's not stop there. No. No, let's not. She's never even been kissed, my friends. That's right. She's like a virgin virgin.
So what more can a book offer besides a super realistic heroine and insta-love virgins, you ask? How about a big 'ol misunderstanding? Oh you know how I just loveeee those.. Well, we got a big one, folks!
Oh shoot, did I mention the dreaded 'fast forward time syndrome'?? The book goes something like this:
1 month later
3 weeks later
3 years later
4 years later
an hour later
2 minutes later
15 minutes later
2 weeks later
4 weeks later
6 months later
This book is a fast forwarding nightmare, you get me? Right.
Guys, you remember how I told you she was a natural pool shark? Well, when she decides hustling isn't her thing anymore, she finds out she's a natural stripper too! Isn't that great? I. Can't. Stop. Laughing. It's crazy I tell ya!
I will spare you the insta-trust towards her murdering father and end this thing quickly. If you know me at all, you know I never DNF books. I have to stick it out to the end and rate it properly. This is one of the few books I've read where I seriously considered ending my nightmare early and cutting my losses. I am a self professed Kristen Ashley addict and have read over 40 of her books. I will admit, this is a rarity, but I cannot recommend this book.
So why 2 stars instead of 1? Well, I dislike the word hate and it's the part of Amazon's 1 star description, but really I'd have to say the extra star is for the male lead. He can be really sweet. I liked him. His sweetness was wasted on a lame story, but nevertheless his character was likable.
Now, I love lists. I do. So let's make one to wrap up.
1) unrealistic story
2) insta-love
3) fast forward time syndrome
4) misunderstanding
5) virgin
6) best stripper everrrrrr
7) my dad's a murderer, but he can babysit
8) do yourself a favor, skip this book
9) just RUN
Rating Legend:
5 star-loved it
4 star-liked it
3 star-it was okay
2 star-didn't like it
1 star-hated it
I hate to do this to a KA book, but it's happening. Fair warning, you should step away from this post. I can't really review this properly. This will be a full on rant. It will include sarcasm and inappropriate comments I'll read later and determine I was crazy for posting live. But I need somewhere to vent and I can't run miles in the middle of the night, so that somewhere is here. Now that that's out of the way, let's begin, shall we?
I can take a big heaping spoonful of bullshit from contemporary romance books. Because romance books.. But, this book asks for a 5 pound bag of bull, which I just can't do. Case in point: our female lead, Ivey.. Ivey was rescued from her deadbeat mother by her loving brother at the tender age of 12. Since then, they survived life by hustling people at pool. Guess who said hustler is? You guessed it. The teen girl is a pool hustler. Queue the eye rolling and manic laughter in 3, 2, 1..
Now, you may be thinking, how did our little teen hustler who was able to infiltrate adult pool places across the country even come to realize she can play? The simple answer is, it's a God given talent. Yes, you read that right. She was born knowing how to work the balls to the right angles and such. Because even though she never went to school, she thinks perhaps she's good at math and stuff. I mean, she can divide in her head and she can remember her exact balance. Sounds like the makings of a mathematician to me! Wait for it, wait for it..
Anyway, fast forward to age 22 and she comes across a small town called Mustang. While visiting the local bar, she sees our male lead and it was love at first sight. You see, she just knew he was the one, but she can't have him. She must run away. She must play it safe. I mean, she's a badass pool hustler and all that.
She ends up hustling the town jerk, and thank God she found 'the one' so quickly her first night there because she needed to be saved and her new man was right there to save her. Turns out, he's the town hero! He is well liked by everyone, except the town jerk, and he's a sexy cowboy. Win, win, right? So she did what any girl would do, she went home with him so that she may stay safe in his house. You know, in case the town jerk comes back to her hotel..
I believe the next day, or perhaps the day after, can't care to recall, they profess their love to each other. Because insta-love and all that.. It's what the cool kids do. When they get around to expressing their love, we find out our 22 year old hustler is a virgin. But let's not stop there. No. No, let's not. She's never even been kissed, my friends. That's right. She's like a virgin virgin.
So what more can a book offer besides a super realistic heroine and insta-love virgins, you ask? How about a big 'ol misunderstanding? Oh you know how I just loveeee those.. Well, we got a big one, folks!
Oh shoot, did I mention the dreaded 'fast forward time syndrome'?? The book goes something like this:
1 month later
3 weeks later
3 years later
4 years later
an hour later
2 minutes later
15 minutes later
2 weeks later
4 weeks later
6 months later
This book is a fast forwarding nightmare, you get me? Right.
Guys, you remember how I told you she was a natural pool shark? Well, when she decides hustling isn't her thing anymore, she finds out she's a natural stripper too! Isn't that great? I. Can't. Stop. Laughing. It's crazy I tell ya!
I will spare you the insta-trust towards her murdering father and end this thing quickly. If you know me at all, you know I never DNF books. I have to stick it out to the end and rate it properly. This is one of the few books I've read where I seriously considered ending my nightmare early and cutting my losses. I am a self professed Kristen Ashley addict and have read over 40 of her books. I will admit, this is a rarity, but I cannot recommend this book.
So why 2 stars instead of 1? Well, I dislike the word hate and it's the part of Amazon's 1 star description, but really I'd have to say the extra star is for the male lead. He can be really sweet. I liked him. His sweetness was wasted on a lame story, but nevertheless his character was likable.
Now, I love lists. I do. So let's make one to wrap up.
1) unrealistic story
2) insta-love
3) fast forward time syndrome
4) misunderstanding
5) virgin
6) best stripper everrrrrr
7) my dad's a murderer, but he can babysit
8) do yourself a favor, skip this book
9) just RUN
Rating Legend:
5 star-loved it
4 star-liked it
3 star-it was okay
2 star-didn't like it
1 star-hated it
January 4, 2016
Yes I know another Kristen Ashley book. I’m binging on them #sorrynotsorry #youdon’tknowwhatyou’remissing
WOW…I’ve had a lot of emotional Kristen Ashley reads in the last year and this one is no exception. Playing it Safe can be read as a total stand-alone even though eventually there will be another book set in this town. This is one of those books I’m going to throw out as a safe bet to dip your toe into the KA pool to see if she’s for you. KA writes about people in small towns so well. There are so many details and she has the way of making you feel like you are part of that town and all the good and bad that comes with it.
Playing it Safe wasn’t a perfect book for me but it had some great things going for it as well as a few things that bothered me but overall the good outweighs the bad.
The Good
Ivey and Gray – It’s hard not to root for them from the beginning. Ivey is a hustler whose only family has convinced her it is all she is good for. When she meets Gray she is completely skittish of him but Gray has a way with taming wild things and it really doesn’t take much time for him to break through some of her walls. I love that Gray was such a good man, he is much less alpha than most of KA’s heroes but he is a total cowboy and good-ole-boy. Ivey on the other had is just so broken and the only thing she has ever wanted in her life is a home and family.
The Town – It is really hard not to fall in love with the setting of the majority of the story and how people in a small town can pull together to help each other out. I loved seeing how everyone felt about this town and instantly realized why somebody just passing through might want to stay.
The Overall Love Story – While there is this thing in the middle that was a bit painful, overall the way that Gray and Ivey fell into each other and then figured it all out down the road ripped up my heart a little. It was totally tragic in one sense and my heart hurt along with the characters as something/someone tore them apart.
There are moments between Ivey and Gray that made my cry but then there were all the other moments that gave me warm fuzzies so the heartache was so worth the payout.
Lash - He was a great character and unusual. I really wasn’t expecting him but I loved his contribution to this story. I really liked his relationship to Ivey and how they cared for each other and took care of each other. It was great that she had such a good person to lean on in the time that she and Gray were apart.
The Bad
Okay so there are a few tropes that sometimes work for me and sometimes don’t. In this instant there was one big on that uber bugged me. While Ivey and Gray are apart Sure it makes for a good story of depravation and loyalty to a memory but overall it just didn’t work well for me in this particular story.
I also both loved and hated that she had Lash in her life. I understood it and they both had their reasons. I was glad that Gray was so understanding once he understood what their relationship really was but it was difficult to deal with why Ivey had him in her life in the first place.
Overall
This is a good emotional love story with strong roots in family and community.
WOW…I’ve had a lot of emotional Kristen Ashley reads in the last year and this one is no exception. Playing it Safe can be read as a total stand-alone even though eventually there will be another book set in this town. This is one of those books I’m going to throw out as a safe bet to dip your toe into the KA pool to see if she’s for you. KA writes about people in small towns so well. There are so many details and she has the way of making you feel like you are part of that town and all the good and bad that comes with it.
Playing it Safe wasn’t a perfect book for me but it had some great things going for it as well as a few things that bothered me but overall the good outweighs the bad.
The Good
Ivey and Gray – It’s hard not to root for them from the beginning. Ivey is a hustler whose only family has convinced her it is all she is good for. When she meets Gray she is completely skittish of him but Gray has a way with taming wild things and it really doesn’t take much time for him to break through some of her walls. I love that Gray was such a good man, he is much less alpha than most of KA’s heroes but he is a total cowboy and good-ole-boy. Ivey on the other had is just so broken and the only thing she has ever wanted in her life is a home and family.
The Town – It is really hard not to fall in love with the setting of the majority of the story and how people in a small town can pull together to help each other out. I loved seeing how everyone felt about this town and instantly realized why somebody just passing through might want to stay.
“I’m Janie,” she introduced herself, stretching out a hand I took and squeezed while she kept talking. “Good place to settle, Mustang.” I let go of her hand and she dropped it but kept going. “Followed a man here, got shot of that man, he got shot of Mustang, thank God. I got the town in the breakup.”
The Overall Love Story – While there is this thing in the middle that was a bit painful, overall the way that Gray and Ivey fell into each other and then figured it all out down the road ripped up my heart a little. It was totally tragic in one sense and my heart hurt along with the characters as something/someone tore them apart.
“I wasn’t experienced enough. I thought I wasn’t…” I shook my head. “I was a pool hustler virgin who you’d given her first kiss at age twenty-two. You were too good for me, I knew it and I figured you figured it out too so you moved on to better.”
“Baby,” he hissed on a near snarl, his eyes narrowing and his arms going super tight. “There was nothin’ better than you.”
There are moments between Ivey and Gray that made my cry but then there were all the other moments that gave me warm fuzzies so the heartache was so worth the payout.
Lash - He was a great character and unusual. I really wasn’t expecting him but I loved his contribution to this story. I really liked his relationship to Ivey and how they cared for each other and took care of each other. It was great that she had such a good person to lean on in the time that she and Gray were apart.
The Bad
Okay so there are a few tropes that sometimes work for me and sometimes don’t. In this instant there was one big on that uber bugged me. While Ivey and Gray are apart Sure it makes for a good story of depravation and loyalty to a memory but overall it just didn’t work well for me in this particular story.
I also both loved and hated that she had Lash in her life. I understood it and they both had their reasons. I was glad that Gray was so understanding once he understood what their relationship really was but it was difficult to deal with why Ivey had him in her life in the first place.
Overall
This is a good emotional love story with strong roots in family and community.
February 21, 2014
4-4.5 Stars
I simply adored Gray and Ivey's story. A nice story line, with romance, humor, steam, and a little mystery. Both main characters were likable, and in typical KA fashion there are some kickass secondary characters (Lash, Brutus and Booker <3).
Ivey and her brother Casey have been living on the road for a while - making money by hustling pool and moving from town to town. Then she meets Grayson Cody and everything changes.
“How can one day you have next to nothing and then a week and a day later you have everything?”
Finally finding a place she wants to call home. They fall for each other pretty fast and as things progressing they are torn apart. Seven years go by...and they finally learn the truth about what really happened. Things have changed, but has the love they felt for each other? Will they get their happy ending?
"Say you love me, Ivey."
"I love you, Gray."
Gray and Ivey's love story was beautiful. I did think it started a lag a bit towards the end, but overall, I really enjoyed this one <3
January 16, 2012
"I know somethin' led you to that life but I look at you, nothin' hard about you, not your attitude, not your mouth, not your eyes, nothin'. Whatever led you to that life wasn't good but you didn't let it make you hard. There'll come a time when you'll give that to me. And you take your time, Ivey, I'll wait."
I really wanted this story to shine but it didn't.
I think this is the best "quote" of Play it Safe. Recently I said that Kristen put me straight to reader's heaven. I know she does it all the time and I'm sure she will do it again! But with Play it Safe I came back to reality. Rather unpleasantly. It pains me to admit it but my main problem was that I couldn't warm up to the characters. Grayson is totally pale compared to Tate and other wonderful KA heroes and the heroine was too weepy for my liking! Ok, maybe this is my bad; maybe I just didn't feel it. What I was missing really badly were the great dialogs. I couldn't find them. I liked one of the secondary characters, Lash. He's gay and a very caring and protective guy. Other than that, it is just difficult to point out things that I liked.
I didn't like the first half of the story. It fell flat and I was kinda bored. Fortunately it did improve during the second half. However, I caught myself skimming lines and that's not good. I was never really excited, and I never felt this warm and fuzzy feeling in my belly. Good things come to those who wait. Yes, I've waited. I was looking for something special to happen. Obviously, I just couldn't find the KA magic spell this time, and I really hope it'll come back again. Soon.
I really wanted this story to shine but it didn't.
I think this is the best "quote" of Play it Safe. Recently I said that Kristen put me straight to reader's heaven. I know she does it all the time and I'm sure she will do it again! But with Play it Safe I came back to reality. Rather unpleasantly. It pains me to admit it but my main problem was that I couldn't warm up to the characters. Grayson is totally pale compared to Tate and other wonderful KA heroes and the heroine was too weepy for my liking! Ok, maybe this is my bad; maybe I just didn't feel it. What I was missing really badly were the great dialogs. I couldn't find them. I liked one of the secondary characters, Lash. He's gay and a very caring and protective guy. Other than that, it is just difficult to point out things that I liked.
I didn't like the first half of the story. It fell flat and I was kinda bored. Fortunately it did improve during the second half. However, I caught myself skimming lines and that's not good. I was never really excited, and I never felt this warm and fuzzy feeling in my belly. Good things come to those who wait. Yes, I've waited. I was looking for something special to happen. Obviously, I just couldn't find the KA magic spell this time, and I really hope it'll come back again. Soon.
March 2, 2015
****4 Macho Man Rancher Cowboy Stars****
Gray
Gray
November 5, 2015
I'm really annoyed because I was really enjoying this love story and loved the MCs Until:
1) Read that while Ivey was celibate for 7 years people! Gray was busy as all hell being the town manwhore. I'm so fed up with reading this bullshit where the h doesn't have any relationships while the H is a total slutpig who fucks around. Get ANOTHER plotine authors because this one is BULLSHIT!
2) I blame Gray ENTIRELY for the last 4 years they were apart. He walked away. He was more interested in being an asshole to the woman he supposedly loved so much rather than try and talk to her. This turned the tide for me and no matter how he was after, it rankled.
Ivey I loved throughout the story - but I really wish that she had at least one real relationship during those 7 years because SHE EARNED IT!!!! Gray really put me off with his fucking around during this time. Frankly I'm sick & tired of Kristen Ashley's manwhore men ALL of whom ALWAYS fuck around on their women. I'm sick of it, it's not a love story, they're showing ZERO love, loyalty, respect to their women by carrying on like rutting pigs. Frankly anyone that does like it has fucking rocks in their head.
1) Read that while Ivey was celibate for 7 years people! Gray was busy as all hell being the town manwhore. I'm so fed up with reading this bullshit where the h doesn't have any relationships while the H is a total slutpig who fucks around. Get ANOTHER plotine authors because this one is BULLSHIT!
2) I blame Gray ENTIRELY for the last 4 years they were apart. He walked away. He was more interested in being an asshole to the woman he supposedly loved so much rather than try and talk to her. This turned the tide for me and no matter how he was after, it rankled.
Ivey I loved throughout the story - but I really wish that she had at least one real relationship during those 7 years because SHE EARNED IT!!!! Gray really put me off with his fucking around during this time. Frankly I'm sick & tired of Kristen Ashley's manwhore men ALL of whom ALWAYS fuck around on their women. I'm sick of it, it's not a love story, they're showing ZERO love, loyalty, respect to their women by carrying on like rutting pigs. Frankly anyone that does like it has fucking rocks in their head.
June 22, 2016
When you are in a book funk...anxiously waiting for a new release in July...plowing through the freebie/unread file...and still got no reading mojo, who better to scratch the itch that the Queen herself...KA!?
I cannot say Play it Safe is my fave KA read or even that it satisfied me completely, but it did give my itch some minor relief. In KA fashion, I got everything I was expecting: a small Colorado town, a good hearted cowboy with a bossy tone and ramblin' style, a lost gal willing to lay it on the line for some of that KA goodness. Predictable with those "you feel me moments and those "baby" endearments but I really needed this. I was so happy to have been pleasantly surprised to have a fierce go-getter of a lady in the strong and smart Ivey. I love backbone and I love a gal who can give as good as she gets. I hope KA writes a 100 more books with Ivies all around!
I cannot say Play it Safe is my fave KA read or even that it satisfied me completely, but it did give my itch some minor relief. In KA fashion, I got everything I was expecting: a small Colorado town, a good hearted cowboy with a bossy tone and ramblin' style, a lost gal willing to lay it on the line for some of that KA goodness. Predictable with those "you feel me moments and those "baby" endearments but I really needed this. I was so happy to have been pleasantly surprised to have a fierce go-getter of a lady in the strong and smart Ivey. I love backbone and I love a gal who can give as good as she gets. I hope KA writes a 100 more books with Ivies all around!
March 25, 2015
4,5 Stars :)
Well, KA certainly knows how to write emotions. This one was gut wrenching. It starts with the past, we learn about Ivey, what she does for a living and why she keeps everyone out. She meets Grey and they fall in love <3 But beware, this is not a gushy mushy falling in love, through the first half of the book you know what is going to happen ( ) so everything that they do, every beautiful scene, every happy one is just heartbreaking to read cause you know it's gonna get torn to pieces, you just feel it, it's there in the mood of it all. It was very difficult to read.
And the second half, they work it together, and it gets easier <3 I felt really bad for them with all that happened, but I was happy they worked it out :) And I tried, I really tried not to cry, and I made it to the last chapter. Then BAM, that one letter just got the tears rolling :((( The end was kinda blurry XD
Loved it, another great KA :)
Well, KA certainly knows how to write emotions. This one was gut wrenching. It starts with the past, we learn about Ivey, what she does for a living and why she keeps everyone out. She meets Grey and they fall in love <3 But beware, this is not a gushy mushy falling in love, through the first half of the book you know what is going to happen ( ) so everything that they do, every beautiful scene, every happy one is just heartbreaking to read cause you know it's gonna get torn to pieces, you just feel it, it's there in the mood of it all. It was very difficult to read.
And the second half, they work it together, and it gets easier <3 I felt really bad for them with all that happened, but I was happy they worked it out :) And I tried, I really tried not to cry, and I made it to the last chapter. Then BAM, that one letter just got the tears rolling :((( The end was kinda blurry XD
Loved it, another great KA :)
July 24, 2016
Is there anything better than Kristen Ashley's alpha male characters?
NOPE!
Loved it!
NOPE!
Loved it!
November 29, 2014
4.5 Hells Bells stars!
Whenever you dive into a Kristen Ashley book you know you are going to read a beautiful story with a sweet alpha hero, and a heroine you'd want as a friend. Mix in some drama, love, heartache, and humor, and you get a really great read. Play it Safe definitely delivered...yet again for me.
At twenty-two, Ivey Bailey has no roots and nothing to call her own. When she was twelve, she escaped from home with her older brother, Casey. Moving from town to town across the country, they survive on money made from Ivey's keen ability to shoot pool. She is a hustler. Her and her brother live off their instincts and their motto to play it safe.
But Ivey is sick of the game and tired of running. She wants to start a life and stay put.
While in the town of Mustang, Ivey is relaxing at the local bar, having a beer, and yes, shooting pool. All she wants to do is mind her own business and be off the clock, so to speak. So when a group of guys clue in to her skills, one in particular is not taking no for an answer when he wants to play her for money. Needless to say, she cleans the table...twice, and he is not happy about being bested. Thank goodness, a man ( a very sexy one at that) witnessed the whole thing and is not going to let him get away with not paying up.
Grayson Cody has lived in Mustang all his life, but he's never seen such beauty then that of the stranger in town. He knows her game, but he also knows she was not hustling, and knows that this guy is major trouble. He steps in to help her out, but also senses that this is not the end. He is going to protect her, and then he is going to get her to stay.
This only brings us up to the 8% mark! So many things happen after the initial encounter, as do all KA books. I wouldn't possibly go into any more detail, no fun in that. Plus there are so many things going on simultaneously that I can't keep it all straight, and I just finished! :) In this book you will experience betrayal, jealousy, family drama, community, loss, love, and a bossy grandmother. Whew!
Though family and community drama seem to always occur in KA books, I was not expecting the angst when the pair are separated. This element made me enjoy the story even more. Love the angst!
I think Gray landed in my top 5 KA heroes, which says a lot, because they are all great and I've read 20 of her books so far. Even though her heroes are very similar, there was just something about Gray that stood out. The same with Ivey. No KA heroine can top Sylvie from Creed, but I really liked Ivey. She was very innocent, yet badass at the same time. Which I thought was hard to pull off, but she did it well. Or maybe, just maybe, it's been awhile since I read a Kristen Ashley and I would fall for both MC's regardless. *shrugs*
Either way I really enjoyed the story. I had ear to ear smiles during a lot of it, and even had some blurry eyed moments. You really do transport yourself into her work and feel the love. Would have preferred some Gray POV in this. Gotta love that male POV!
Although I feel like I am biased, I loved Play it Safe. There's not much else to say when KA is concerned. Would definitely recommend if you are already a fan.
A small plea to Kristen....
Please, please, please write an m/m book! You would pull it off flawlessly! And what better place to start then with Lash! It'd be perfect!!!
Whenever you dive into a Kristen Ashley book you know you are going to read a beautiful story with a sweet alpha hero, and a heroine you'd want as a friend. Mix in some drama, love, heartache, and humor, and you get a really great read. Play it Safe definitely delivered...yet again for me.
At twenty-two, Ivey Bailey has no roots and nothing to call her own. When she was twelve, she escaped from home with her older brother, Casey. Moving from town to town across the country, they survive on money made from Ivey's keen ability to shoot pool. She is a hustler. Her and her brother live off their instincts and their motto to play it safe.
But Ivey is sick of the game and tired of running. She wants to start a life and stay put.
While in the town of Mustang, Ivey is relaxing at the local bar, having a beer, and yes, shooting pool. All she wants to do is mind her own business and be off the clock, so to speak. So when a group of guys clue in to her skills, one in particular is not taking no for an answer when he wants to play her for money. Needless to say, she cleans the table...twice, and he is not happy about being bested. Thank goodness, a man ( a very sexy one at that) witnessed the whole thing and is not going to let him get away with not paying up.
Grayson Cody has lived in Mustang all his life, but he's never seen such beauty then that of the stranger in town. He knows her game, but he also knows she was not hustling, and knows that this guy is major trouble. He steps in to help her out, but also senses that this is not the end. He is going to protect her, and then he is going to get her to stay.
This only brings us up to the 8% mark! So many things happen after the initial encounter, as do all KA books. I wouldn't possibly go into any more detail, no fun in that. Plus there are so many things going on simultaneously that I can't keep it all straight, and I just finished! :) In this book you will experience betrayal, jealousy, family drama, community, loss, love, and a bossy grandmother. Whew!
Though family and community drama seem to always occur in KA books, I was not expecting the angst when the pair are separated. This element made me enjoy the story even more. Love the angst!
I think Gray landed in my top 5 KA heroes, which says a lot, because they are all great and I've read 20 of her books so far. Even though her heroes are very similar, there was just something about Gray that stood out. The same with Ivey. No KA heroine can top Sylvie from Creed, but I really liked Ivey. She was very innocent, yet badass at the same time. Which I thought was hard to pull off, but she did it well. Or maybe, just maybe, it's been awhile since I read a Kristen Ashley and I would fall for both MC's regardless. *shrugs*
Either way I really enjoyed the story. I had ear to ear smiles during a lot of it, and even had some blurry eyed moments. You really do transport yourself into her work and feel the love. Would have preferred some Gray POV in this. Gotta love that male POV!
Although I feel like I am biased, I loved Play it Safe. There's not much else to say when KA is concerned. Would definitely recommend if you are already a fan.
A small plea to Kristen....
Please, please, please write an m/m book! You would pull it off flawlessly! And what better place to start then with Lash! It'd be perfect!!!
October 6, 2015
I love Play It Safe I give it 10*
Gray and Ivey are one of my favourite KA couples.
Everything they both went through just because of one stupid assclown.
Loved Ivey she was sweet, tough, independent and could take care of herself,
Grayson Cody OMG HOT BOSSY ALPHA loved everything about him from his dimple to his old truck.
Together they are SCORCHING.
Loved the rest of the gang as well especially Lash what a great guy.
Play It Safe is a classic book with everything you expect from KA. A roller coaster of emotions from page 1 to the last page.
Gray and Ivey are one of my favourite KA couples.
Everything they both went through just because of one stupid assclown.
Loved Ivey she was sweet, tough, independent and could take care of herself,
Grayson Cody OMG HOT BOSSY ALPHA loved everything about him from his dimple to his old truck.
Together they are SCORCHING.
Loved the rest of the gang as well especially Lash what a great guy.
Play It Safe is a classic book with everything you expect from KA. A roller coaster of emotions from page 1 to the last page.
Want to read
August 3, 2016
July 27, 2014
Loved it! What an absolute swoon-fest!!!
As much as I love all of Kristen Ashley’s Alphas, I think she has managed to create the perfect man in Grayson Cody who, apart from being gorgeous, loving, sensitive, sweet and protective, has “the best wild west rancher cowboy name in history”. Apparently he also looks amazing in a pair of chaps (nice!). I absolutely loved him. He was such a gentleman, was never over the top with his Alpha-ness, never behaved like a jerk; he was honest and open, and he loved Ivey with everything that he had. SWOON!!!
Ivey is a great heroine - intelligent, intuitive, and desperate for a settled life after being dragged from town to town by her dirt bag brother as a hustler and living a life that she hates. When she claps eyes on Gray she is instantly smitten and, having finally found something that she wants, she is prepared to stand up and fight for it, and I loved that about her.
These two were obviously into each other from the very start and after some very swoony protective manoeuvres from Gray, with Ivey taking care of him in return, Gray makes his move. The beginning of their romance was beautiful to read (including one hot-as-hell first kiss - phew!) and they both fell hard and fast. Obviously perfect for each other, they were honest, functional and crazy in love.
“You still fallin’ in love with me? ... ‘Cause you should know, baby, I’m already gone for you”
(I need to admit right here that when I saw this quote on GR, it’s what made me pick this book up as quickly as I did. Swoon!)
Revelling in all of the swoony love, I couldn’t comprehend what would tear them apart, but thanks to the most evil of evil bad guys, they were betrayed, and it was brutal. But it was also believable, and their actions and all of the resulting fall out was completely understandable! Thankfully the book skims over the years of separation pretty quickly because it’s so awful to read about their heartbreak.
Years later, the chemistry is definitely still there, and when they see each other again and realise that they were betrayed, there was no game playing, they both confessed that they were still in love with each other and they jumped right back in. SQUEEEEEE!!! The resulting reunion was beautifully written and absolutely magic.
“Never before, never since have I felt for any woman, fuck anyone the way I felt about you. I want that back. I want my girl back.”
*sniff sniff*
“Say it.”
“Say what?”
“Order me to tell you I love you.”
The instant the words came out of my mouth, his eyes closed, a shadow of pain crossed his face and he dropped his head to the side of mine.
He remembered.
He missed that too.
*flat out sobbing*
Happily, the book continues on after this and it was awesome watching them stand together to deal with the crap that got thrown their way - especially as Ivey had developed quite the kickass attitude!
KA always does a great job of creating a circle of family and friends for her characters, and she does it again brilliantly here. I particularly loved Lash, Ivey’s uber protective best friend. Their relationship was absolutely gorgeous, and I loved the way that they were there for each other. I also really liked the introduction of a character later in the book (being deliberately vague here to avoid spoilers). Their inclusion into Gray and Ivey’s world was lovely to read.
This was an amazing, beautifully written book. There is lots of emotion, lots of squee moments, lots of steam, a gorgeous HEA and a ridiculously swoony Epilogue. KA at her absolute best! I can’t wait for the series to continue with Whit’s story.
As much as I love all of Kristen Ashley’s Alphas, I think she has managed to create the perfect man in Grayson Cody who, apart from being gorgeous, loving, sensitive, sweet and protective, has “the best wild west rancher cowboy name in history”. Apparently he also looks amazing in a pair of chaps (nice!). I absolutely loved him. He was such a gentleman, was never over the top with his Alpha-ness, never behaved like a jerk; he was honest and open, and he loved Ivey with everything that he had. SWOON!!!
Ivey is a great heroine - intelligent, intuitive, and desperate for a settled life after being dragged from town to town by her dirt bag brother as a hustler and living a life that she hates. When she claps eyes on Gray she is instantly smitten and, having finally found something that she wants, she is prepared to stand up and fight for it, and I loved that about her.
These two were obviously into each other from the very start and after some very swoony protective manoeuvres from Gray, with Ivey taking care of him in return, Gray makes his move. The beginning of their romance was beautiful to read (including one hot-as-hell first kiss - phew!) and they both fell hard and fast. Obviously perfect for each other, they were honest, functional and crazy in love.
“You still fallin’ in love with me? ... ‘Cause you should know, baby, I’m already gone for you”
(I need to admit right here that when I saw this quote on GR, it’s what made me pick this book up as quickly as I did. Swoon!)
Revelling in all of the swoony love, I couldn’t comprehend what would tear them apart, but thanks to the most evil of evil bad guys, they were betrayed, and it was brutal. But it was also believable, and their actions and all of the resulting fall out was completely understandable! Thankfully the book skims over the years of separation pretty quickly because it’s so awful to read about their heartbreak.
Years later, the chemistry is definitely still there, and when they see each other again and realise that they were betrayed, there was no game playing, they both confessed that they were still in love with each other and they jumped right back in. SQUEEEEEE!!! The resulting reunion was beautifully written and absolutely magic.
“Never before, never since have I felt for any woman, fuck anyone the way I felt about you. I want that back. I want my girl back.”
*sniff sniff*
“Say it.”
“Say what?”
“Order me to tell you I love you.”
The instant the words came out of my mouth, his eyes closed, a shadow of pain crossed his face and he dropped his head to the side of mine.
He remembered.
He missed that too.
*flat out sobbing*
Happily, the book continues on after this and it was awesome watching them stand together to deal with the crap that got thrown their way - especially as Ivey had developed quite the kickass attitude!
KA always does a great job of creating a circle of family and friends for her characters, and she does it again brilliantly here. I particularly loved Lash, Ivey’s uber protective best friend. Their relationship was absolutely gorgeous, and I loved the way that they were there for each other. I also really liked the introduction of a character later in the book (being deliberately vague here to avoid spoilers). Their inclusion into Gray and Ivey’s world was lovely to read.
This was an amazing, beautifully written book. There is lots of emotion, lots of squee moments, lots of steam, a gorgeous HEA and a ridiculously swoony Epilogue. KA at her absolute best! I can’t wait for the series to continue with Whit’s story.
October 29, 2012
I know I sound like a broken record, but I love KA books. This was awesome, sweet, heartbreaking and hot! It crushed me when they were pulled apart from each other. Gray was passionate, caring and protective, but he had a quiet strength as well that ran deep. What I really loved is how he didn't give Ivey any grief when she helped him out with the ranch and his grandma (well not much). He totally had enough confidence in himself to not let that get him twisted, and no huge knock down, drag out fight over it. I loved him so much more!!
I loved watching Ivey evolve, And i really really loved how she didn't need to think about what to do to help Gray and Grandma. When she found out what was going on, she immediately took action. No one could stop her, and I really loved how Lash supported her 100%.
I loved this book!!
I loved watching Ivey evolve, And i really really loved how she didn't need to think about what to do to help Gray and Grandma. When she found out what was going on, she immediately took action. No one could stop her, and I really loved how Lash supported her 100%.
I loved this book!!
November 27, 2012
Hells Bells!!!
Grayson Cody, a macho man rancher cowboy who falls for a pool shark Ivey and their story takes a lot of twists and turns. Ivey takes a chance and doesn't play it safe and Gray? He gives her everything but they get played and they are torn apart for seven years.. yes seven years. Great supporting characters and just a great story!
Grayson Cody, a macho man rancher cowboy who falls for a pool shark Ivey and their story takes a lot of twists and turns. Ivey takes a chance and doesn't play it safe and Gray? He gives her everything but they get played and they are torn apart for seven years.. yes seven years. Great supporting characters and just a great story!
March 22, 2025
Just love this woman and her writing style.
Don’t ask me how I’m so into her heroes not using verbs in their sentences, growling and mostly being grumpy bossy males. And her heroines being gritty but into clothes, jewlery and expensive stuff and still resilient and intelligent. And don’t start with all things being the shit and long ass descriptions of everything.
It just… works.
Don’t ask me how I’m so into her heroes not using verbs in their sentences, growling and mostly being grumpy bossy males. And her heroines being gritty but into clothes, jewlery and expensive stuff and still resilient and intelligent. And don’t start with all things being the shit and long ass descriptions of everything.
It just… works.
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