Wicked Games

www.girl-gear #5

by Alison Kent

Wicked Games by Alison Kent released on Oct 14, 2003 is available now for purchase.

Genres: Romance, Harlequin, Harlequin Blaze, Contemporary Romance, Adult, Erotica

256 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2003

About the author

I often read of or hear about authors who knew they were meant to tell stories from the time they left the crib. Me? I didn't decide what I wanted to be when I grew up until I was thirty years old - and then sold my first book at thirty-four. Still, it was obvious that I always knew I was going places.

Like so many other authors, I was a voracious reader from day one, devouring everything from Nancy Drew to My Friend Flicka, which I remember sitting hovered over the heater vent in the kitchen floor to read while my father made his coffee.

I moved on to my mother's Phyllis Whitney, Dorothy Eden, and Mary Stewart gothics before discovering my first true romances written by Lucy Walker and set in the Australian Outback. And then, at last, when I was 18 I found 'The Flame and the Flower'. (My son almost spent his life as Brandon because of that, but I spared him and named him Casey instead!)

Why write romance? Because love stories have always been a major part of the books I've loved. Father Ralph and Meggie Cleary. (I did name my daughter Megan after reading The Thorn Birds! Do you see a trend here?) The aforementioned Brandon Birmingham and Heather Simmons. Wolf Mackenzie and Mary Potter.

Even more so, it's because I love writing romance heroes. The men who sweep both heroines and readers off their feet - not to mention their authors, too!

I've spent several years happily writing action adventure romance for Kensington Brava along with hot and sexy series romances for Harlequin Blaze. Now I'm thrilled to be a launch author for Vows.

Reviews

[Delacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book ok, with likeable H&h. The side love story felt like it was filler and there were many scenes of lovemaking, and with friends, but not enough scenes showing how they are in love or why they would be good togther. I struggled understanding why they didn't take any steps to date each other after the vacation. I also stuggled understanding Doug's drive to be a pee on in another architect firm, when he is already owns a successful firm with his best friend - if he didn't like the increased management role, talk to your partner and find a way to be more hands on. There were some humour in the story but the auction left me feeling uncomfortable for a few different reasons. Overall, an OK story that needed to be fleshed out more everywhere but in the bed room.

[nay ✨]

solid trash romance to soothe the brain after an arduous & trying day of hard work!!!

[LaFleurBleue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I believe this one was my favorite in the series, except the ending was once again so abrupt it left me disappointed. I really liked the content of the secret of what had happened in the Carribean island 18 months before - it really was not something I expected, nor something we read about very often. But it felt right and both characters' reaction was what could be expected from them. The heroine was especially likable, especially in her ability to acknowledge that the wicked game she had started could no longer go on. I liked that she was open both in her communication towards others but as well as regarding herself. For a long while, the hero does not behave as nicely or as honestly, even to himself. I felt slightly cheated by the way his huge conflict was solved so quickly in the end in only 3 lines. And there was potential to make the ending much more dramatic and climatic, with the bidder at the auction trying to make Doug jealous and acknowledge his feelings... Yea I know, otherwise this book would have been longer than the others in the series and that's something Harlequin does not really like. But there could have been so much more.
3.5 stars rounded to 3

[Netanella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually don't rate series-within-a-series romance all that highly, as most of it is pretty convential, if entertaining. But this one knocked my socks off - of course I live in flip-flops in Florida. Great story about an emotionally unavailable man who can't seem to figure out how what he's doing with the girl he loves, but can't admit to it, while telling himself he's moving out of state. The ending was superb - I won't reveal any details. The secondary romance between Izzy and Joseph was awesome as well.

[Diah Didi · Rating 3 out of 5]

My very first blaze

[Storm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my favorite of the gIRL-gEAR series. Kinsey and Doug are so likable...

[Lisa Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reread every 6 months or so.