Fair Play

Diamond #1

by Janna Shay

Forced to live a clandestine life, Danielle "Dani" Jordon believes she has found a safe haven in Las Vegas until she meets devastatingly handsome casino owner Jace Diamond. With his compelling sexual magnetism and mind-numbing kisses, Dani finds her world turned upside-down. Resisting the most compelling man she has ever met proves to be a task Dani doesn’t have the strength to fight.

Inexplicably drawn to her, Jace embarks on a relentless pursuit to make Dani his. It isn’t long before he finds himself totally in love, but can he convince Dani that she belongs with him?

Trapped in her life of deceit, Dani is afraid to admit her love for Jace or believe in a life without fear. Can Dani take the chance and trust Jace to provide the sanctuary she so desperately needs, or will that trust lead to the exposure of her secrets and destroy her life?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, New Adult

250 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2012

About the author

Writer of contemporary romance and romantic suspense.
Editor at Jules Faulkner Publishing, LLC.
Professional Reviewer with InD'tale Magazine.

FAIR PLAY, the first novel in my Diamond series is available at Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.


Blogs - http://jannashay.wordpress.com/
http://jannashay.blogspot.com/

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/JannaShayAuthor

http://www.romancenovelcenter.com/jan...

Reviews

[Laura Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have so much to tell you. I had such a good time reading FAIR PLAY! This story starts out hot and gets hotter and hotter. The sexual and emotional radar pings frequently.

Dani is enjoying some time alone at the rooftop pool. Her new job as a waitress at the Diamond Hotel & Casino starts soon. She drifts off to sleep under the warm touch of the sun.

In her dream, cool hands linger on her skin, caressing her body. She awakens slowly, her eyes focusing on a man’s muscular legs standing next to her. Her gaze moves upward to lock on a pair of hazel eyes looking into hers.

Jace noticed Dani lying by the pool and went over to meet the new waitress for his casino. As he got closer, he took his time admiring her body, slim and shapely with curves in all the right places. He couldn’t resist touching her silky skin.

Dani sat up but continued to lock eyes with the handsome man before her, returning his smile. As his eyes travel downward and lock onto her body, Dani is mortified to realize her top was still on the lounger and her breasts were bare to his gaze.

A primal, sexual attraction pulls them to each other, and if not for the distant sound of a door shutting, they may have given in to their desires. Both are left wondering what had happened. Things had almost gotten out of control.

Dani is embarrassed and quickly turns defensive, spurning his comments that she had responded as willing as he did. She makes a quick exit.

What Dani doesn’t know is, Jace is the owner of the casino and her new boss and he is not done with her yet. His pursuit of Dani is relentless, his alpha male attraction to her (not paranormal) sends his blood racing whenever she is near.

Let me give you a taste so you’ll see what I am talking about!

Jace watched Dani until she left his office. There was a latent sensuality about her that was intriguing and pulled at him. It wasn’t just her body, although he’d have to be dead not to appreciate it. She was intelligent, principled, and had a temper. He liked a woman with spirit, and had every intention of pursuing her on a personal level. She may not admit it, but he knew she was interested in him. “Until the next time.”

Dani was having troubles of her own. Her body hums when Jace is near. She can’t have a relationship with her boss. She needs this job, and knows it’s always bad to mix business with pleasure. Still, her body betrays her at each encounter, pulling her towards him. She vows to keep this strictly professional. But Jace will not be denied.

“You can lie to yourself all you want, but there’s something between us, even if you won’t admit it. Ignoring it isn’t going to make it go away.”

This is just a small tease of what you are in store for. This hot and cold romance is full of steamy, sensual encounters and fiery dialogue. Whenever these two get together it is fireworks!



I can’t wait for you to read about Jace’s plan to break down Dani’s denials. It is so devilishly sexy and charming. I laughed in delight. I want me a Jace!

There is more to this story than just romance. Dani has a secret. A big one, that keeps her on the move. All the more reason to not get involved with Jace, despite her growing emotional attachment to him. Her secret, if revealed, could land her in jail. So, no relationships allowed. She is truly caught between a rock and a hard place.

I really like Dani. She is strong-willed and intelligent, but still has her insecurities. That makes her very real for me. I can relate to her fears of falling in love and forming a commitment. Aren’t we all afraid to have our heart crushed. She is also not afraid to tell it like it is and gives as good as she gets and this makes for some fun, laugh out loud moments. She also discovers her own sexuality and I liked how her confidence grew in the bedroom.

Jace. Oh Wow! He has this sarcastic wit which is a big turn on for me. Nothing sexier! I can just see his lips curve into that sardonic smile. And his tenderness with Dani makes your limbs weak. He can really set your head and heart spinning.

Set in Las Vegas, the city of all that glitters, FAIR PLAY sparkles like a diamond. With lots of entertaining characters and laugh out loud moments along with Dani’s mysterious past, this book will keep you rapt and eager to continue.

Janna really knows how to write erotic, pulse racing, beyond the bedroom door sexual romance. Spicing it up with some mystery and comedy. The pace of the story is fast and fun to follow, and her placement of pivotal scenes is right on. A few small typos, but nothing that breaks the flow of your reading.

[Ann Montclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mix together two strong and lonely people, add secrets, pour in a sexy location, and turn up the heat: FAIR PLAY delivers. Janna Shay writes well, tells a great story, and amps up the sensuality. This story takes on the cliche "All's fair in love and war." Dani and Jace, the protagonists, are completely unprepared for the torrent of emotions that come with instant attraction. They can't play fair when it comes to love. It's a battle of wills and a very sensual ride. Read it!

[Alexis *Reality Bites*]

FREE TODAY 8-29-13 on Amazon
LINK: http://amzn.com/B007ZTKOR8

[Anita Kingsberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hi, I'm Anita Kingsberry

I thought this was a thrilling an sensual novel to read. I enjoyed the relationship between Jace and Dani. I enjoyed their sexy teasing game they play with each other throughout the story. I loved that the story took place in Sin City, Las Vegas. I really felt badly for Dani’s situation she was in when she ran away from home. This novel had it’s touching moments that made me cry and love scenes were hot.

The story begins when Dani moves to Las Vegas and starts working at a casino. She meets the owner of the Diamond Casino, Jace Diamond. They quickly fall in love with each other. Jace wants forever and Dani feels she can’t offer forever due to her dark past. He discovers what happened to her in her past. Her past comes back for vengeance and vows to destroy her.

In opinion the story needs more sex scenes, maybe a little more raunchiness. I understand that this is a romance and not erotica. I would recommend this novel to people who enjoy soft and sensual romances with intrigue and danger added to the mix. This novel is a Good Read.

[Liv Rancourt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise of this book is awesome: a young woman on the run ends up in the arms of the hottest man on the planet. In Vegas. Really, what’s not to like? And for the most part, I gotta say Ms. Shay pulls it off. Sin City sparkles, her opening scene has to be measured in centigrade because it’s too hot for Fahrenheit, and Dani and Jace have real chemistry.

My main quibble with this piece is that in the first half, I could have used more detail around Dani’s secret past. I knew there was something that could destroy her relationship with Jace, but there’s so little information about it and so much emphasis on the romance that I forgot about the suspense angle the blurb had promised. As a result, when the suspense picks up, the story ends up feeling a bit disjointed.

Overall, though, it’s an enjoyable ride, with lots of fun naughty bits and a postlude that shows a snippet of what their happily-ever-after looks like. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right? So if you can’t afford the price of a plane ticket, Fair Play might well be the next best thing.

[Kym Grosso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dani is running to escape her past when she takes a job as a cocktail waitress at a Las Vegas hotel. Jace, the handsome hotel owner, is captivated by Dani from the first time he meets her. Soon after, they share a steamy poolside kiss. But little does Dani know that the man she just kissed and left at the pool is her new boss.

Jace continues to pursue Dani, and they soon find it impossible not to give into their passion. Despite loving Jace, Dani does not want to commit, knowing that she may soon need to run again from her troubled past.

This book is full of twists, so I don’t want to spoil the story, but needless to say, this book is a wonderful romance and very suspenseful. I loved the hot chemistry between Dani and Jace...makes me want to go to Vegas!

This story is very well written and a must read for romance lovers!

[Julía Bade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark secrets are dancing on the outskirts of spicy romance and true love in Janna Shay's novel, Fair Play. I loved the connection between Jace and Dani that was instant from their first meeting at the casino pool, a scene that will take you by surprise and which basically sets the pace for the electric charge that follows the entire storyline. I truly loved the conversation and the growth of their relationship. The end is just the action sequence needed to top off the happily ever after for two people who need and deserve it. Great story and I highly recommend it.

[J.R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was such a great ride and I very much enjoyed the voices Janna gave her characters. I swooned over Jace, the wealthy casino owner who doesn't know how to take no for an answer and love love loved the plot twist Janna threw in there in the 2nd half of this book. The growth of the relationship between these two was fun to read and the way Janna tied everything together in the end was fantastic. Terrific story telling and just an all around highly enjoyable read. Looking forward to more from this woman.

[Katy Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miss Shay, you left me in smiles! The only negative thing I can say about Dani is I didn't like that her body remained the same as it had been before childbirth (TWO childbirths)! :) Seriously, this book starts out quite hot. Typically, I tend to sway toward sweeter, more plot driven stories, BUT Fair Play became just that. Stick with it! Soon, I was enthralled and quite impressed. Especially with the hero, Jace. Quite enthralled and impressed, actually. ;)

[Libby Mercer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Janna Shay's intimate scenes are hotter than hot and she opens with a sexy dream sequence that is actually a reality! Dani is a fascinating character and Janna keeps us intrigued and wondering about her past until all is revealed. There were some great plot twists and a nail-biting ending. Switching to the creepy bad guy's POV was effective in pulling us into the suspense. And then of course there's the chemistry between her and the hero, Jace. Seriously scorching. A fabulous read!

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5/5.0

In “Fair Play” the simmering heat of the Nevada desert and the lights and excitement of Las Vegas come alive and become a stunning background to extreme passion. However, behind the heat, there was just air, no substance.

Read full review in the 2013 July/August double issue of InD’tale Magazine.

[Lorie Glowania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dani comes to Vegas to work a a waitress and meets Jace Diamond who runs the Casino. Sparks fly but Dani doesn't want to mix business with pleasure but deep down it goes further then that. Dani has a secret and she has to learn to trust Jace. Will she be able to escape her past or will it come back to haunt her. Enjoyed this story very much the writing keeps you hooked

[AngelinaT · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely wonderful story! It was a gripping story right from the first page. It had suspense, romance and will leave you on the edge of your seat. You won't be able to put it down until you are done. The characters were all lovable and I enjoyed every word of it!

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read. Thanks Janna:)

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book on a 5 hour car trip. That's how amazing it was. Good day.

[Jules Batemen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was soooo good!

[Denise Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOT, HOT, HOT!!! Great job. We need more from this author...please. denise bailey

[M.L. Woolley]

This sounds like a really good read! I am looking forward to reading it soon-

[kukku b · Rating 2 out of 5]

The impassionate kisses and dramatic speeches do absolutely nothing to make the book a good read. Cliches heaped together to form a dismal read. Two stars because the formula could have been saved with a better writing

[Dana Delamar · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I picked up this book, I'd somehow gotten it in my head that it was romantic suspense. Turns out it was a contemporary romance with a suspense subplot, which is fine, but it led me to be a little impatient to get to the suspense part until I realized that I'd misjudged the genre. So bear the genre in mind when you read the book!

There's lots of hot and heavy chemistry between the leads, Dani and Jace. Jace owns the casino where Dani gets a job. She's on the run, and doesn't intend to get involved with anyone, but she can't deny her attraction to Jace, and he's a man who's used to not being denied anything. However, she tries her hardest to pretend that he doesn't affect her. Naturally, this intrigues Jace, and he pursues her all the harder until he wins her... but that when things get tougher for the two of them.

I won't give away any spoilers, but I had some difficulties with Dani's character until her big secret was revealed. She comes across as rather immature at times, and the reasons why aren't clear until you know what happened to her. If there had been some hints earlier about the nature of the trauma Dani had suffered, it would have helped me understand her better earlier in the book. Once I learned what happened, the lightbulb came on and her behavior and reactions made more sense.

I also think that poor Jace was a little too understanding at times and didn't press her for information when she was flying off the handle. Yes, he's very attracted to her and falls for her, but there's a limit to the amount of drama someone should have to put up with. Dani overreacts (though, so does Jace at times) and is extremely insecure, and that gets wearing. Why Jace didn't press her harder and earlier for information, I don't know.

There's also the matter of how the heck did Dani live for seven years on the run? I think that part of the story could have been quite interesting, particularly given Dani's age (especially at the start) and her lack of resources, but Jace never asks and Dani never tells. I can only imagine that she could have gotten into all sorts of jams during that time, and might have done some things to be ashamed of or to regret (instead of the incident that set her on the run, which she worries that Jace won't understand, when it was quite clear that she did the right thing, and I can't see anyone condemning her for it).

These issues aside, I really got into the book once Dani's past comes back to haunt her. The villain was quite creepy, and I was very uneasy until his character was defeated. When Dani was in his clutches, I kept worrying about what would happen to her. Well done!

Overall, a nice beach read--lots of sparks, fun banter, and chills. Plenty to keep you turning the pages!

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fair Play was a good book. Dani goes to work at a casino in Vegas . She's been running for several years and is convinced that because of something that happened in her past, the police are after her. The owner, Jace is attracted to her the moment he sees her. He's is relentless in his pursuit, and they finally begin dating after he's able to get Dani to see the chemistry between them isn't going away. There are secrets, there are some truths that come out and there's also a stalker involved in this romance.

I really liked Jace's character. He's a hot honorable man and he knows he wants Dani. I personally didn't care for Dani's character much. She's fairly immature and instead of confronting a disagreement head on, she's cowardly and runs. Jace is beyond patient with her and proves even more how great a guy he is. There's one incident in particular where when Jace asks to explain, she refuses to listen, assuming she's right, and causes an unnecessary conflict that could have been avoided had she stayed and listened. Immature. In her defense, she has trouble trusting, but she still should have just talked to him.

The big secret that Dani is hiding is kinda bad, but not major enough for her to keep telling Jace that she's got to leave and he'll hate her if he finds out.

Some of the secondary characters were good. Dani's best friend was a great person and the other workers at the casino were all nice. I didn't care for Dani's dad much. He wasn't a part of her life growing up but then tries to strong arm Jace into marrying her. You'd think he'd just be happy to be a part of Dani's life. But being the kind upstanding guy he is, Jace takes it in stride.

Overall, I liked Jace so much, that I was able to overlook my dislike for Dani and enjoy the story. Obviously from other reviews my thoughts on her are not the same as other readers, so please remember this is just my personal opinion. It's a good book that others will enjoy.

[Delta · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Danielle (Dani) Jordan was running away from trouble and tragedy when she started working at the Diamond Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Jace Diamond, owner of the casino, was determined to have Danielle from the time he saw her sunbathing at the hotel's pool. Fireworks spark between the two and a stormy relationship ensues. When a stalker from Danielle's past suddenly appears, Dani's happiness and her life are threatened. Will Jace and Dani trust one another to confront the threat together, or will they continue to have doubts about each other?

Although the plot of Fair Play is interesting, much of the book belabored the contrived conflict between Jace and Dani as Dani initially fought her attraction to Jace and then wrote him off without giving him a chance to explain himself when she suspected him of being unfaithful. The fighting-attraction-misunderstanding conflict is a little over used and annoying in my opinion, but might have worked more if the characters were better developed.

The book starts with an opening scene that sets up the mutual attraction between Dani and Jace. After that the plot dragged so slowly that I almost quit reading 25 percent into the book. Once the real action kicked in that involves the threat from Dani's past, the plot was engaging enough that I finished the book. The action and pace at the ending redeems the story.

[Jinx · Rating 3 out of 5]

A casino owner, and his employee fall in love, Jace Diamond is successful and handsome, he meets Dani by the pool on her first day and they share an explosive encounter... little does Dani know Jace is her new boss... it's lust at first sight and the two of them fight the temptation, but Dani's secretive past keeps her from committing fully to Jace and a future with him... her past comes back to haunt her and Jace stands by her... and eventually we get a HEA.

This book frustrated me, it promised so much, and the story line was good... but the characters were poorly developed and lacked conviction in their portrayal. Reading this was like eating that cake that looks great but is bland and tasteless. Jace should have wanted to fuck her senseless and rock her world not want to make love to her... it's supposed to be lust induced sparks flying... Making love comes later when they've known each other for a while... and meeting her parents should have been such an emotional moment but reading their reunion felt like that awkward hand shake meeting of long lost cousins.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ it was an ok read.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens in Vegas . . . sizzles!

Janna Shay’s book, Fair Play, set in Sin City doesn’t disappoint, sizzling from the first chapter to the last, with lots of twists and turns that keep the plot moving. I fell in love with Dani and Jace even as they fell in love with one another. Dani is seeking respite from life on the run, and Jace is just the kind of guy who can offer that respite – strong alpha-male with a sensitive side – my kind of hero. And the chemistry between Dani and Jace starts with a scorching flash of heat then simmers down to a rolling boil.

The end satisfies the need for happily-ever-after in a big way, giving you a glimpse of their life after “The End.” If you enjoy a sexy, fun, fast-paced read, I definitely recommend picking up Fair Play.

[Jyoti Achameesing · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fair play is the story between a handsome casino owner Jace and his new employee Dani. The passionate scenes creates a true bonding couple . However Dani refuses to commit herself as her past is dark and risky according to het. However Jace manages to convince her & eventually she reunites with her parents. Her dreams comes when she get married to her lover. Unfortunately drama folds in as her mother is kidnapped by her step father. The epilogue is really touchy with Dani & Jace having been married for past 7 years with two children Nicholas and Cassi.

[Bobbi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought the author left out a lot of detail that would've helped make this story better. There were a few times the detail was so good I could visualize the characters and the setting, but then there were some that left me scratching my head in wonder. The timeline of events could've been spelled out a little more instead guessing that it had been a number of weeks ince they returned from Chicago or that it took more than one day to find the perfect dress.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fair Play

So after reading about this book on Facebook on one of the book reviewer blogs, I purchased the book and started it over the weekend. I found the sentences to be very short, the conversations between the two main characters to be, not so realistic.
I almost quit reading it about 1/2 way through but the story picked up again and I was able to finish it.
I know it is only a story, but who could live for years and not know that your mom is still alive?

[Helen Stothard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay but it didn't grab me as I'd expected it would. There were a couple of twists and turns that caught me out in a good way, but I just didn't feel the relationship between Dani and Jace rang true, the male characters in the book were a tad domineering and I didn't take to them at all. If it was a movie it would be a made for TV movie rather than a blockbuster at the cinema.

[Cristi · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the premise of the story was good the writing style was very very adolescent. We can only have ignited passion so much... oh his kiss ignited my passion. I kissed him to ignite his passion. Our passion was ignited and our coming together was ethereal....
Nothing in this book drew me into the story.

[J.C. Mells · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not terrible - it was just not my cup of tea. If you are into romances with uncontrollable passion and searing looks etc., then definitely give this one a go. Please note that 2 stars on Goodreads means the book was OK.