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Playing the Game
ASIN B007BUD1VC moved to this edition.
Playing the Game: About more than a ball
Can a woman bring down a legend by distracting him from his game?
Since her disastrous marriage ended, Roxanne Monet has sworn off serious relationships with men. She has more important things to worry about, like no money, no job and accusations of murdering her wealthy husband. But when she meets superstar Barry Dennis and he challenges her to a game of seduction, she decides to play ball. When the game turns serious, she unintentionally exposes the legend to be a flawed man.
Barry Dennis picked the wrong woman to play games with when he decides to flirt with the enigmatic Roxanne. Being the best takes all he has. He can’t afford to let anything or anyone interfere with his first and only priority--Basketball. But as the attraction between them heats up, he finds himself losing sight of his life’s game plan.
While the sports world’s microscope is trained on Barry’s game and the media hounds Roxanne about her husband’s mysterious death, the stakes are ratcheted up even higher when Barry’s young daughter, Lindy is injured. Roxanne gives Lindy the attention she needs while Barry struggles to cope with the demands of his new priorities.
Can Roxanne rely on Barry to do more than play ball? She takes the risk and gives him the last thing she owns--her heart.
Playing the Game: About more than a ball
Can a woman bring down a legend by distracting him from his game?
Since her disastrous marriage ended, Roxanne Monet has sworn off serious relationships with men. She has more important things to worry about, like no money, no job and accusations of murdering her wealthy husband. But when she meets superstar Barry Dennis and he challenges her to a game of seduction, she decides to play ball. When the game turns serious, she unintentionally exposes the legend to be a flawed man.
Barry Dennis picked the wrong woman to play games with when he decides to flirt with the enigmatic Roxanne. Being the best takes all he has. He can’t afford to let anything or anyone interfere with his first and only priority--Basketball. But as the attraction between them heats up, he finds himself losing sight of his life’s game plan.
While the sports world’s microscope is trained on Barry’s game and the media hounds Roxanne about her husband’s mysterious death, the stakes are ratcheted up even higher when Barry’s young daughter, Lindy is injured. Roxanne gives Lindy the attention she needs while Barry struggles to cope with the demands of his new priorities.
Can Roxanne rely on Barry to do more than play ball? She takes the risk and gives him the last thing she owns--her heart.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 20, 2012
44 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 7, 2012
With “Playing the Game” you’ll find a winning sports-themed romance with an extra bounce! It scores extra points for its fast-paced storyline filled with a touch of well-written mystery, family tragedy, and a whole lot of sizzling chemistry between two flawed and extremely strong-willed characters.
Roxanne Monet was a hit with me from the first. After the death of her husband, she faces financial ruin and the possibility of being charged with murder. She’s a multi-faceted personality and nobody has a more positive attitude in the face of doom. One moment she’ll drive you crazy with her shallow and materialistic ways, and in the next moment, you’ll be shouting out praises for her charitable and kind-hearted ways.
Barry Dennis was a harder pill to swallow and not an easy hero to place my faith in. I had a hard time dealing with his attitude toward parenting and especially after his young daughter sustains life-threatening injuries. His full focus is on basketball and nothing else seems to matter. He appeared so cold and calculating. But sometimes we don’t see or understand all the ins and outs of one’s life.
When Roxanne and Barry meet at a party, sparks fly and they agree to a mutual and noncommital sexual relationship. Neither expected or wanted the intense attraction that claimed both of them. Sometimes the unexpected gets the upper hand and nothing can change the outcome.
Slam dunk for new-to-me-author Stephanie Queen! There’s more than one game being played on the pages of this gem and readers will find themselves totally immersed until the buzzer signals end of game.
Roxanne Monet was a hit with me from the first. After the death of her husband, she faces financial ruin and the possibility of being charged with murder. She’s a multi-faceted personality and nobody has a more positive attitude in the face of doom. One moment she’ll drive you crazy with her shallow and materialistic ways, and in the next moment, you’ll be shouting out praises for her charitable and kind-hearted ways.
Barry Dennis was a harder pill to swallow and not an easy hero to place my faith in. I had a hard time dealing with his attitude toward parenting and especially after his young daughter sustains life-threatening injuries. His full focus is on basketball and nothing else seems to matter. He appeared so cold and calculating. But sometimes we don’t see or understand all the ins and outs of one’s life.
When Roxanne and Barry meet at a party, sparks fly and they agree to a mutual and noncommital sexual relationship. Neither expected or wanted the intense attraction that claimed both of them. Sometimes the unexpected gets the upper hand and nothing can change the outcome.
Slam dunk for new-to-me-author Stephanie Queen! There’s more than one game being played on the pages of this gem and readers will find themselves totally immersed until the buzzer signals end of game.
September 21, 2013
Playing the Game, and the characters are great at playing it, September 21, 2013
By Jo Smith
This review is from: Playing the Game (Kindle Edition)
Roxanne is beautiful, successful in her career, adored by most. She had it all except a husband she passionately loved. Oh, she had a husband she liked and was rich beyond dreams. She didn't think she needed passion to make a good marriage since he was wildly in love with her. But when she found she was wrong and filed for divorcee her life became a chaotic nightmare. Suddenly her career, finances, and mother=in-law were causing horrific legal problems and she lost her job. A strange man she met at one of the glamorous parties she managed threw her into the passion she always wanted, except he was a totally focus and dedicated highly sports personality who was raised to be the best in the world at his sport, basketball. He had no interest in what she offered. At a time when both face a life changing, horrible event they both must make a decision that will effect their future in all ways. Queen has put her creativity to work and it is to our pleasure that the end product is so fantastic. She has successfully wound all of life's emotions into a story you will find hard to put down or forget after you finish the book.
By Jo Smith
This review is from: Playing the Game (Kindle Edition)
Roxanne is beautiful, successful in her career, adored by most. She had it all except a husband she passionately loved. Oh, she had a husband she liked and was rich beyond dreams. She didn't think she needed passion to make a good marriage since he was wildly in love with her. But when she found she was wrong and filed for divorcee her life became a chaotic nightmare. Suddenly her career, finances, and mother=in-law were causing horrific legal problems and she lost her job. A strange man she met at one of the glamorous parties she managed threw her into the passion she always wanted, except he was a totally focus and dedicated highly sports personality who was raised to be the best in the world at his sport, basketball. He had no interest in what she offered. At a time when both face a life changing, horrible event they both must make a decision that will effect their future in all ways. Queen has put her creativity to work and it is to our pleasure that the end product is so fantastic. She has successfully wound all of life's emotions into a story you will find hard to put down or forget after you finish the book.
August 14, 2014
Getting your mind in the game, or interest in this book, will be extremely easy and excitingly enjoyable!
Read full review in the 2012 September issue of InD’tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2012 September issue of InD’tale Magazine.
September 12, 2019
This book was a struggle for me to read and I could not even get through it. I was dying in the 2nd chapter but pushed through to about 50% and then finally just gave up. The main characters were not likable at all, the whole time I was having trouble seeing the point of things that they were doing, and I lost interest early on. Also, a lot of it did not make sense. Roxy seemed to not care about hurting her own career or Barry's. It also made no sense that she said she was going to give everything that her husband left her back to his family but she was still living in the house and fighting for it. Then she complained constantly about not having any money yet she was driving a corvette, buying new dresses for galas, etc. She also has no problem using other people to get what she wants. Then there is Barry who openly admits that his career is more important than his young daughter, even after her mother dies in a fire and she is badly burned. He barely even visits her in the hospital but gets annoyed that her step father does. It was all just so annoying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2019
The Game is everything!
There are different games in life. When you are too vulnerable, the game is everything. Barry Dennis’ game is basketball and he is an icon for the fans. Roxanne Monet’s game is control so her heart is safe. All she has left after the death of her husband, his vindictive mother trying to prove she murdered him, no money, no job, and no reputation is her mission to save the hospital research program for seriously burned children and her game.
Neither Barry nor Roxanne wants a serious relationship but whenever they are together, it becomes a game of seduction. Roxanne needs Barry’s fame to raise funds for the hospital but he has no room for anything in his life besides his sports career, not even his daughter.
The storyline is deep and often dark; the characters emotionally flawed yet searching for a different future. There were times that the intrigue and drama were almost too much for me but that only shows the writing skill of the author.
There are different games in life. When you are too vulnerable, the game is everything. Barry Dennis’ game is basketball and he is an icon for the fans. Roxanne Monet’s game is control so her heart is safe. All she has left after the death of her husband, his vindictive mother trying to prove she murdered him, no money, no job, and no reputation is her mission to save the hospital research program for seriously burned children and her game.
Neither Barry nor Roxanne wants a serious relationship but whenever they are together, it becomes a game of seduction. Roxanne needs Barry’s fame to raise funds for the hospital but he has no room for anything in his life besides his sports career, not even his daughter.
The storyline is deep and often dark; the characters emotionally flawed yet searching for a different future. There were times that the intrigue and drama were almost too much for me but that only shows the writing skill of the author.
September 11, 2019
Beautiful dramatic story
It is a beautiful hot romance, very well written, with beautiful and good characters, but with a tense story and a bit heavy parts sometimes because the heroin's past weighs throughout the story, because of the relentless trying from her ex-mother-in-law to have her sentenced for the death of her son.
Roxanne, divorced, meets Barry a basketball player, but she gegins this relationship with caution, even backing away, because her ex-husband is dead and many around her thinks she would have killed him, including her ex-mother-in-law. Barry helps her to discover another point of view in his way of life because he has a little girl, but the pressures and events are such that their relationship is fragile.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
It is a beautiful hot romance, very well written, with beautiful and good characters, but with a tense story and a bit heavy parts sometimes because the heroin's past weighs throughout the story, because of the relentless trying from her ex-mother-in-law to have her sentenced for the death of her son.
Roxanne, divorced, meets Barry a basketball player, but she gegins this relationship with caution, even backing away, because her ex-husband is dead and many around her thinks she would have killed him, including her ex-mother-in-law. Barry helps her to discover another point of view in his way of life because he has a little girl, but the pressures and events are such that their relationship is fragile.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
November 14, 2019
Intense
Playing the Game is an intense and gripping tale of the lives of two flawed individuals. Both Roxy and Barry have made mistakes in their past and need to grow up and deal with the challenges they face. Whilst I enjoyed the depth of the plot and the drama, I did find it a rather heavy read and wished that there was more happiness or pleasant times. Due to the nature of their relationship, I didn't really feel an emotional connection to either of the characters nor any true chemistry. It was only at the very end of the book (last chapter) that these two overcame their obstacles and started a meaningful relationship. Despite that, it was still a well written book.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Playing the Game is an intense and gripping tale of the lives of two flawed individuals. Both Roxy and Barry have made mistakes in their past and need to grow up and deal with the challenges they face. Whilst I enjoyed the depth of the plot and the drama, I did find it a rather heavy read and wished that there was more happiness or pleasant times. Due to the nature of their relationship, I didn't really feel an emotional connection to either of the characters nor any true chemistry. It was only at the very end of the book (last chapter) that these two overcame their obstacles and started a meaningful relationship. Despite that, it was still a well written book.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 17, 2019
Roxanne has a lot going on in her life. Her husband has recently committed suicide, but her mother in law is determined to pin Roxanne for murder. Roxanne has lost her job at the TV station. Her other job, raising money for a research unit at a Boston hospital is threatened. She meets a very sexy basketball star who is focused on basketball - and a hot relationship with Roxanne. Figure in a bunch more twists and this story gets complicated.
The book is well written and the story line is complex. I enjoyed the book and would recommend it for mature audiences.
The book is well written and the story line is complex. I enjoyed the book and would recommend it for mature audiences.
May 10, 2024
Roxanne Money was accused of murdering her ex-husband by his mother. She was a reporter and lost her job until she arranged an interview with Brian Dennis who played football which resulted in her getting her job back. After, she inherits money through a will, her former mother-in-law hires someone to find more evidence of her quilt. She is arrested and Brian puts up her bail. Her detectives find her former boyfriend and get him to come and testify. But, the detective the mil hired brings evidence that clears her name.
This is a very well written romance and is worth reading
This is a very well written romance and is worth reading
July 13, 2019
This is a wonderful romance that fans of the genre will love. Put this one at the top of your TBR list as it's not to be missed. The author is one of my favorites and my "go to" author for a yummy romance.
March 10, 2022
not for me
Sluggishly slow and to be honest neither character had much going for them. Too much going on within the story and have to confess I skimmed most of it.
Sluggishly slow and to be honest neither character had much going for them. Too much going on within the story and have to confess I skimmed most of it.
September 16, 2019
I got this book for my honest review from Hidden Gem.
I could not get into this book. I was able to read it to 50% and I had to put it down as it was so hard to read and get through. I just felt like it was dragging on and the characters felt flat. I couldn't see how they were going to progress or even see the story-line in this book.
I could not get into this book. I was able to read it to 50% and I had to put it down as it was so hard to read and get through. I just felt like it was dragging on and the characters felt flat. I couldn't see how they were going to progress or even see the story-line in this book.
March 15, 2012
This book was sooo much more than I thought it was going to be with very complex characters and a storyline that keeps you interested up until the very last page.
Roxanne Monet is trying to redefine herself after the death of her husband. Problem is, her mother-in-law is convinced she's a money grubbing, gold digging killer and has made it her personal mission to prove Roxanne killed her son. While Roxanne deals with that, she also has to deal with the fact that she is broke, recently fired from her job and trying to make sure her volunteer work at the local hospital nets the money needed for the research department with breakthroughs in treating burn victims. And let's not mention the men who Roxanne tries to be friends with but they want something so much more from her.
Enter Barry Dennis.
Barry is the star of the Boston Celtics and lives for basketball. Everything else in his life, including his daughter, comes a distant second. When he meets Roxanne at a charity event he starts engaging her in a little game of seduction cat and mouse. When they spend a weekend together, Barry discovers that when he's with Roxanne he tends to forget about everything except for her. That is unacceptable in his book and he does this dance with Roxanne where he pulls her in and then pushes her away.
Barry and Roxanne were characters that I found myself throughly frustrated with one minute and wanting to help through their issues the next. The game they played with each other was a bit of a turn off, but had enough to it where you could see that they truly cared about each other even though they didn't want to go down that path. Add into the mix Lindy, Barry's daughter, and you knew you wanted these two to fight for one another.
I loved the storyline with Roxanne's ex-husband and his family going after her. It's amazing the lengths people will go to in order to preserve their memory of a loved one.
An equally frustrating and entertaining story that will have you flipping pages wondering if you're going to be mad at what happens in the next paragraph or enjoying whatever mess Roxanne and Barry find themselves in next.
Roxanne Monet is trying to redefine herself after the death of her husband. Problem is, her mother-in-law is convinced she's a money grubbing, gold digging killer and has made it her personal mission to prove Roxanne killed her son. While Roxanne deals with that, she also has to deal with the fact that she is broke, recently fired from her job and trying to make sure her volunteer work at the local hospital nets the money needed for the research department with breakthroughs in treating burn victims. And let's not mention the men who Roxanne tries to be friends with but they want something so much more from her.
Enter Barry Dennis.
Barry is the star of the Boston Celtics and lives for basketball. Everything else in his life, including his daughter, comes a distant second. When he meets Roxanne at a charity event he starts engaging her in a little game of seduction cat and mouse. When they spend a weekend together, Barry discovers that when he's with Roxanne he tends to forget about everything except for her. That is unacceptable in his book and he does this dance with Roxanne where he pulls her in and then pushes her away.
Barry and Roxanne were characters that I found myself throughly frustrated with one minute and wanting to help through their issues the next. The game they played with each other was a bit of a turn off, but had enough to it where you could see that they truly cared about each other even though they didn't want to go down that path. Add into the mix Lindy, Barry's daughter, and you knew you wanted these two to fight for one another.
I loved the storyline with Roxanne's ex-husband and his family going after her. It's amazing the lengths people will go to in order to preserve their memory of a loved one.
An equally frustrating and entertaining story that will have you flipping pages wondering if you're going to be mad at what happens in the next paragraph or enjoying whatever mess Roxanne and Barry find themselves in next.
October 18, 2012
This is a really good romance verging on chilit. Queen obviously did research into the subjects she used in her story and I admire that in an author. If their we're errors in the information they aren't any I think the average reader will notice. Roxanne and Daniel were neither looking for a long term relationship so their romance starts as little more than sex. They both have plenty of baggage and things only get more complicated as the story progresses. There are moments when you have to wonder if these two will ever find their way to a HEA.
While I love that Queen did fantastic research I personally would like to have gotten a little more in depth emotions between the two leads. Daniel is a jerk and is pretty open about his opinions. He obviously has redeeming qualities but he is hard to completely love through the majority of the book. And Roxanne while likeable has some moments where you really want to slap some since into her. In the end I think both characters are multi dimensional. The only thing missing was the deeper connection between the two.
There was one thing I was really pleased with how Queen chose to deal with
I wasn't thrilled with the handling of
While I love that Queen did fantastic research I personally would like to have gotten a little more in depth emotions between the two leads. Daniel is a jerk and is pretty open about his opinions. He obviously has redeeming qualities but he is hard to completely love through the majority of the book. And Roxanne while likeable has some moments where you really want to slap some since into her. In the end I think both characters are multi dimensional. The only thing missing was the deeper connection between the two.
There was one thing I was really pleased with how Queen chose to deal with
I wasn't thrilled with the handling of
September 7, 2012
I believed I added this to my TBR because the hero is a big-shot basketball player and I like sport romances. I know I started reading it on my e-reader because the cover confused me and I thought it was a sci-fic type romance.
I'm tempted not to rate this one because this was not my cup of tea. There was a lot of angst and flawed characters. Both the hero and heroine came off as majorly selfish. I rather want Jane L of Dear Author to read this now, just to get her take on the last courtroom scene. I just can't buy that it would actually happen in reality or that it would be a legitimate defense. However, there were few typos and, for the most part, the writing was decent.
The heck with it, I'm giving it three stars because I genuinely don't think I'd be alone in finding the main couple difficult to like. The hero makes you question at times if he even loves his daughter and the heroine uses men, although she never sets out to do so with bad intentions. In addition, while there was interesting bits about how the press can impact public opinion in relation to sport figures & other celebrities, there was a lot of talk about basketball, but not a lot of playing.
In conclusion, if you are looking for a more angsty book that is light on the romance with 'real' people, this is a book for you. Otherwise, try Ellen Hartman's The Long Shot.
I'm tempted not to rate this one because this was not my cup of tea. There was a lot of angst and flawed characters. Both the hero and heroine came off as majorly selfish. I rather want Jane L of Dear Author to read this now, just to get her take on the last courtroom scene. I just can't buy that it would actually happen in reality or that it would be a legitimate defense. However, there were few typos and, for the most part, the writing was decent.
The heck with it, I'm giving it three stars because I genuinely don't think I'd be alone in finding the main couple difficult to like. The hero makes you question at times if he even loves his daughter and the heroine uses men, although she never sets out to do so with bad intentions. In addition, while there was interesting bits about how the press can impact public opinion in relation to sport figures & other celebrities, there was a lot of talk about basketball, but not a lot of playing.
In conclusion, if you are looking for a more angsty book that is light on the romance with 'real' people, this is a book for you. Otherwise, try Ellen Hartman's The Long Shot.
July 16, 2012
I definitely like the theme of this story: a recent widow faced with an overbearing mother-in-law, who wants Roxanne to not inherit her dead husband's wealth, but wants her accused of murdering her son. Roxanne demands she is innocent, but her current life reflects no sadness of her husband's death. Roxanne, also called Roxie, is not a character one can like easily. She comes on to a famous basketball player, Barry, who has life's treasures out of balance. Barry is arrogant, used to doing things his way, where Roxie is pushy and wants things HER way. There is not much humor as the games they play are too much like two table tennis players who can't play the game well enough--neither really win. Each one comes up short in each other's eyes. In my opinion, the game playing was too much of a diversion from the great story intended. Did I like Barry and Roxy in the end? Not really; I'm not sure they can respect each other enough. But the third party of importance in this story certainly could get the attention of both. A good novel that could be just a wee bit shortened. But hang in there to the very end. Surprise!
August 1, 2013
Playing the game was a exciting read of twist and turns.
The characters were full of personality that jumped off the page and into my mind easily. Barry with his devotion and tunnel vision to his career of basketball made him a strong male character. Roxanne's devotion to the children at the hospital brought warmth to her character where the sexual manipulation she used to get men to donate to her cause made her a bit wicked. The other characters, the best friends, doctor, housekeeper and the evil mother-in-law were also brought to life in this story as Roxanne and Barry.
I loved the twist and turns to each of their lives and the way they fought through each one. I don't want to give anything away to anyone who has not read this book. I highly recommend this story. If you like a good strong storyline, sexy romantic scenes and great characters definitely read this book by Stephanie Queen.
The characters were full of personality that jumped off the page and into my mind easily. Barry with his devotion and tunnel vision to his career of basketball made him a strong male character. Roxanne's devotion to the children at the hospital brought warmth to her character where the sexual manipulation she used to get men to donate to her cause made her a bit wicked. The other characters, the best friends, doctor, housekeeper and the evil mother-in-law were also brought to life in this story as Roxanne and Barry.
I loved the twist and turns to each of their lives and the way they fought through each one. I don't want to give anything away to anyone who has not read this book. I highly recommend this story. If you like a good strong storyline, sexy romantic scenes and great characters definitely read this book by Stephanie Queen.
June 16, 2012
Good summer read. Provocative but has a good love story. A lot of back and forth with the characters and sensual. The main characters include a divorced professional ball player who suddenly finds himself responsible for his young daughter after the loss of his ex-wife and a young woman who finds herself accused of the death of her husband by his grieving mother. Two good stories weaved together by a tumultuous relationship between he two characters.
October 11, 2012
I really couldn't put it down... I kept reading and reading and reading and reading, I couldn't wait til the end to see what was going to happen! But it took a while to get there because there was a lot of "back and forth" and I had to go back a couple of times because i got lost, but I REALLY LIKED THE STORY. All that said, I would read more from Ms. Queen... and have her in my favorites, waiting for a new book!
February 17, 2013
I struggled my way through this book. I kept wanting to read what would happen next, but then I'd get sick of the "game" Rox and Barry would play. I also didn't care for the way Rox pretty much used everyone in her life. I finished the book but already deleted from my device; no way I'd read it again.
April 26, 2012
Better than I ever anticipated. Roller coaster story and romance kept me intrigued all the way through. Could have used a bit more sexual detail, but the chemistry was undeniable.
April 28, 2012
I really liked the book. I turned out to be more than just a romance book.
January 17, 2013
Nice book but a little long and drawn out.
January 29, 2013
Surprising little EBook filled with love, hate intrigue and sex. A death and a vindictive mother-in-law is also thrown into the mix.
April 13, 2015
It started out a little slow but towards the end; I couldn't put it down. I am happy I finished this book.
July 2, 2016
I enjoyed this entertaining story about a basketball star who only has room in his life for basketball, until he meets a woman he can't forget.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews