Playing for Time

Pax #1

by Barbara Bretton

Falling in love was easy
But staying alive is a whole other story . . .

Ryder is an undercover operative for PAX, a worldwide antiterrorist agency that flies beneath the radar

Joanna is a Hollywood makeup artist whose magic turns fantasy into reality on a daily basis

He's a spy looking to come in from the cold
She's a woman who's never had a real home

Sizzling passion . . . heart-stopping danger . . . the ultimate choice . . .

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Ebooks, Romantic Suspense, Suspense

260 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 1987

About the author

Barbara Bretton is the USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of more than 40 books. She currently has over ten million copies in print around the world. Her works have been translated into twelve languages in over twenty countries.

Barbara has been featured in articles in The New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Romantic Times, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Herald News, Home News, Somerset Gazette,among others, and has been interviewed by Independent Network News Television, appeared on the Susan Stamberg Show on NPR, and been featured in an interview with Charles Osgood of WCBS, among others.

Her awards include both Reviewer's Choice and Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times; Gold and Silver certificates from Affaire de Coeur; the RWA Region 1 Golden Leaf; and several sales awards from Bookrak. Ms. Bretton was included in a recent edition of Contemporary Authors.

Barbara loves to spend as much time as possible in Maine with her husband, walking the rocky beaches and dreaming up plots for upcoming books.

Reviews

[Helen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Story abit far fetched & not really all that much romance, a little disappointing.

[Bernadette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by this author and it was quite easy to get into. There were some comical moments with some believable characters which made it a joy to read. There were some aspects that I thought were puzzling for example, a highly stressed actress eating her way through a pack of English muffins (think of those carbs!). Everything then slotted into place when I realised the book was written in the early 1990s. If you're looking for a light entertaining read, this is the book for you.

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was rather like watching paint dry, forty years ago. I just could not finish it.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing really stands out after reading the last page. This is a typical super-spy wanting out of the business, innocent civilian love interest caught up in the middle of an op with older mentor of said spy pulling strings to allow he and his protege to have the best of both worlds in the end.

In other words an okay if not particularly memorable read for me that neither loved nor hated.

[Goddess Of Blah · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author first attempts to set the scene. The hero (can't remember his name) is a James Bond wanna-be with his own personal M (think that dude's name was Alister) are sitting around somewhere posh conducting a boring conversation where the hero begs to retire and Alister/M dude persuades him to stay because he's a top international sleuth or whatever. It basically amounts to a scene where the hero's manly and spy/assassin/whatever attributes are listed.


Anyway, by the end of this tedious litany - we get the gist of it - hero is far too skilled and a deadly assassin spy thingy to be spared. The quintessence of what makes a debonair tough guy. He is also only 34, so he'll get bored. Btw - did I mention he's tall, dark and handsome? Well I suppose that's a superfluous detail - you may have guessed it. Just imagine the most cheesy cliche and you have our hero.


Then we meet the heroine, a beautiful, sweet 32 yo widow with a tragic past (the widow gives it away I guess). She has soft lines surrounding her eyes (glad I avoided the sun and used eye cream from a young age-ish - 25). However, the heroine is so beautiful that wrinkles don't compromise her tremendous beauty.

The heroine is a make up artist. She decides to experiment on herself, using make up to resemble an octogenarian. Its as she's thus made-up when she encounters the hero who mistakens her for an old woman. There's lots of other scenes where there;'s more talking and something about a blind date. And further chit chat and i got bored.

[Georgie-who-is-Sarah-Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, is it a screwball comedy? Is it a can-he-can't-he-commit emotional roller-coaster? Is it a Secret Agency thriller? No, folks, it's a cut & shut.

I'm cross, frankly. I'm cross because I thought I'd found an author to follow (and I haven't). Look - the first half to two-thirds is *excellent*. One of the best opening set ups I've read in this genre - very funny, well-worked out, good characters. I took it around with me and sneaked a few pages wherever I could. Oh, and terrific secondary characters (they almost deserved a story to themselves).

So, why only three stars, and the Cross Reader? Well - just read what happens next.



In a matter of instants, the H (who is, we're told, "completely unable" to give up or share the fact of his secret Secret Agency life) violates all the rules he's lived by to take his girl on a date in a car that broadcasts details of his Secret Life. If that weren't stupid enough, he then finds it easier to fly her across the Atlantic to the Secret Agency's danger site than send her home in a taxi. Suddenly, she's allowed to sit in on Secret Agency's deliberations, saves the day, and join the Secret Agency. He, meanwhile, is able to escape more or less unharmed from falling down cliffs while wrestling with a Baddie with a Bomb. All this in the last few chapters.

How can you write a book that starts so satisfyingly in one genre and then hi-jack it (rather weakly) into another. None of the characterisation makes it through - the H&h just become puppets to be pushed round by the "plot". Sloppy. Result = one cross reader.

[LaFleurBleue · Rating 2 out of 5]

It started ok; there were some very nice moments. But quite a few as well that had me rolling my eyes and examining the ceiling.
The characters were rather nice, though a bit schematic and on the verge of cliché. I rather liked the part of the plot dealing with the apartment building in NYC, the relationships between neighbors and the tentative of the greedy owner to allow for a complete sell of the units, thus trying to push out the few elderly not able to buy theirs.
However I really did not buy the super special agent environment. The virtual agency did not seem real at all - it was called instead of official government bodies, at moment when third parties, especially with employees from different countries, would not be involved in my opinion. The hero's contribution and strength were also not realistic. Well once more I ended up skimming and complaining every time this topic got mentioned, as it just felt totally fake.
And the last events before the ending go overboard. The heroine, being a make-up artist specializing in special effects, managed first to disguise herself as a much older lady, ok, then she disguised herself successfully as her very old neighbor and even later as Princess Diana - for none of the later two, there were any mention of size, bodybulk, bone structure... I do not buy it that a make-up artist, as good as she can be can transform just anybody into anybody else .
I will not read the following in this series.

[Jo-Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Playing For Time has Ryder O'Neil who is a genius and works for a very top secret anti-terrorist agency. When Ryder first meets Joanna Stratton she is testing her skills as a make up artist by making herself appear to be a 70 year old woman. He is very kind to this "elderly" lady which Joanna thinks is a wonderful character trait of his.

I really enjoyed this story right from the beginning and wanted to find out what happened next. There was humor, mystery and romance in Playing For Time. A perfect book for me.

Even though I truely enjoyed this book, there were times that I was confused about Ryder's job. I would have liked more details on what he did and for who.

This is the first book I've read by Barbara Bretton and it was quite easy to get into. I will definitely be reading more of her work.

[Jo Notary]

The only book I have in the series
260p With PAX, the password is danger.
Falling in love was easy
Staying alive? That's a whole other story . . .
Ryder is an undercover operative for PAX, a worldwide antiterrorist agency that flies beneath the radar
Joanna is a Hollywood makeup artist whose magic turns fantasy into reality on a daily basis
He's a spy looking to come in from the cold
She's a woman who's never had a real home

Sizzling passion . . . heart-stopping danger . . . the ultimate choice . . .

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story that engaged. The book itself is old, written during the 1980s or 1990s, and there are moments when it shows. But it does not diminish from the underlying story. There are a few more typos than should be excused, but I assume that is part of the process that turned it into an ebook and none were truly disrupting the flow of the story.

The story itself was exciting and yet also plausible. I'd pass it along.

[Marcella · Rating 2 out of 5]

It started out promising and I enjoyed it, but halfway through the initial plot completely fizzled and the book no longer had any direction. The last part suddenly had a completely different and very cliché plot, as if the book wasn't long enough and after it was finished a part from another book was added.
Very disappointing so I'm glad I got it for free. I'm not interested in reading more by this author.

[Britt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story of Ryder and Joanna, and it was kind if exciting. The only thing that I probably would have an issue with would be some of the grammar and and being descriptive enough. In my opinion I think some scenes could have been described in more detail especially those concerning Ryder's job. Overall it was a good book.

[Sherry Alladin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I simply loved this book. They had humor, mystery and lots of romance. The story line had me glued to it. I could wait to see what happened next. I loved the authors writing style, it completely made the story and characters flow together. I will surely be reading more of her books.

[Petula · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grabbed me straight away. There is all sorts going on . I can't say anything without spoiling it. If you are looking for an entertaining romance this is for you. No graphic sex scenes. Looks like it could be the first in a series. I hope so.

[Elizabeth Trichel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't care for this book. It reminded me of a twisted version of Ms. Doubtfire... for that reason I couldn't buy into the romance. Nothing against the author - I enjoyed the style of writing; the story line just wasn't for me.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the plot of this book, but found too many details and loose ends not resolved. I prefer my romances a little hotter. I thought the main couple lacked some chemistry, although I enjoyed watching them fumble through starting a relationship.

[Chande · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book !! It was written in the 80's a time when there was no cell phones and 9 11 hadn't happened. It took me back to a time that I loved. It wad a great story were to people who have been hurt before find love in each other if they can get past all the lies.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Playing for Time take the reader on an exciting ride. The plot is fast-paced and sufficiently complex; the characters are thoroughly developed; and the writing style is smooth and very effective. I completely enjoyed this read.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this love story.

[Mitzi]

Free Kindle book May 30, 2012.

[Jen_C · Rating 2 out of 5]

High-brow pretentious. Need a thesaurus while reading.

[Lindsey]

Amazon (ebook) freebie 2/13/13

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it!!!! Totally recommend :)

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joanna is a makeup artist and Ryder is an agent of PAX, an organization that is called upon to handle terrorist activity around the world. How can this be? But somehow it works out eventually.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. A bit short as if the ending was rushed... dont know i would have to read other books from Barbara Bretton.

[Diane Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, quick read, and good storyline. Enjoyed the mystery.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved every page. It kept me interested, did not want to put down, but had too several times.

[Helen Stothard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book, a secret agent who wants to quit, an eighty year old ex burlesque dancer and a make up artist who pretends to be her grandmother.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the first two chapters of this book were slow but the story seems to pick up from there. I really did like reading this story.

[Maria Vasquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the good ones


this one caught me by surprise. it had a mixture of romance, humor and suspense.

who says that even when your old ( temporarily ) you cant find romance.