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Stargazer #2
Playing Dirty
A public relations expert tries to prevent the breakup of a raucous country band and corral their wild—and very sexy—lead singer in book 2 of the Stargazer Series.
As an expert in public relations crisis management—that is, babysitter to the stars—Sarah Seville just spent nine months in Rio trying to keep rock singer Nine Lives out of jail long enough to record his new album…and barely succeeded. Now she needs a triumphant success so she can keep the Manhattan-based job she loves. Trouble is, her new assignment is to travel to Alabama to prevent the breakup of the raucous country band The Cheatin’ Hearts, headed by sexy Quentin Cox. As she edges closer to Quentin, she discovers layers of secrets. It seems Quentin is taking the spin doctor for a spin.
The Cheatin’ Hearts have stayed on top of the charts two years following three rules. Rule One, no drugs. Rule Two, no sex with other band members. Rule Three, no sex with record company spies. Quentin figures he’d better follow the rules, because he made them. And because if you break a rule, you’re out of the band. But he can’t resist the record company’s beautiful PR agent, and inevitably he breaks Rule Three with hot Sarah Seville. As he falls for her, he finds out that she has plenty of secrets of her own, and one of them comes knocking on her door: what really happened to her in Rio.
As an expert in public relations crisis management—that is, babysitter to the stars—Sarah Seville just spent nine months in Rio trying to keep rock singer Nine Lives out of jail long enough to record his new album…and barely succeeded. Now she needs a triumphant success so she can keep the Manhattan-based job she loves. Trouble is, her new assignment is to travel to Alabama to prevent the breakup of the raucous country band The Cheatin’ Hearts, headed by sexy Quentin Cox. As she edges closer to Quentin, she discovers layers of secrets. It seems Quentin is taking the spin doctor for a spin.
The Cheatin’ Hearts have stayed on top of the charts two years following three rules. Rule One, no drugs. Rule Two, no sex with other band members. Rule Three, no sex with record company spies. Quentin figures he’d better follow the rules, because he made them. And because if you break a rule, you’re out of the band. But he can’t resist the record company’s beautiful PR agent, and inevitably he breaks Rule Three with hot Sarah Seville. As he falls for her, he finds out that she has plenty of secrets of her own, and one of them comes knocking on her door: what really happened to her in Rio.
442 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 29, 2013
13 people are currently reading
1561 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Echols
38 books4,889 followersJennifer Echols was born in Atlanta and grew up in a small town on a beautiful lake in Alabama—a setting that has inspired many of her books. She has written nine romantic novels for young adults, including the comedy MAJOR CRUSH, which won the National Readers’ Choice Award, and the drama GOING TOO FAR, which was a finalist in the RITA, the National Readers’ Choice Award, and the Book Buyer’s Best, and was nominated by the American Library Association as a Best Book for Young Adults. Simon & Schuster will debut her adult romance novels in 2013, with many more teen novels scheduled for the next few years. She lives in Birmingham with her husband and her son.
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May 3, 2017
Also find this review on BookLikes and Don't Stop Readin'
Two words:
Drama Overload.
There was an overflow of emotions in every page of every chapter! Good God! It was WAY too much and the last couple of chapters which were supposed to be climactic turned into a hectic read. I had a scowl on my face which said just get it over with already during the last 50 pages or so.
From the very first meeting between our hero and heroine, there were sparks, tingles, intense attraction and all that lovey-dovey gooey shit which we are so damn tired of reading in every book nowadays.
My thoughts on Playing Dirty are almost similar to what I had about the first book,Star Crossed (Yeah, I went out of my way to read it only to find out that these books aren’t related at all. What a waste.)
I thought the first one had a better story and characters whereas Playing Dirty was just flat-out boring. Wendy, in the first book was interesting, smart and funny but Sarah in this book just tried too hard to behave like a person. There was nothing unique that stood out about her in the book, except her hair maybe. Like Wendy, she was also on the brink of losing her job (and had great hair as well) so she set out to do this last gig to save her career and all she did while working as a PR specialist for the country-band The Cheatin’ Hearts was to lust over Quentin, their lead singer. If getting turned on by the lead singer of a band isn’t one of the biggest clichés ever, then I don’t know what is. (Although, this was a country band, not a rock band so it didn’t fit very well with me.)
She didn’t have any advice to improve band’s status or help them, she used to mention her job once in a while when she got a break from lusssssting over Quentin, otherwise? Nothing. All she did was flirt with him, whine about her previous job-gone-wrong and lead Quentin to the bed then say “We can’t. It would be wrong.”
Sigh.
Not. Again.
I’m tired of this theme.
First, the characters have insta-love but they force themselves not to fall in love because it would be wrong or unethical or against their job policies but they end up having sex anyway.
Well, if you had to do it, why didn’t you do it in the first chapter itself and save us all this trouble, dammit!
There are two major events in this book. First is when Sarah and Quentin check each other out, realise the passionate flames between them, the other is when they put their sexual tension to an end. Everything that happens in-between is messy, complicated and unsurprisingly yawn inducing. The whole band, together, has more problems than the White House. Each one of them has some or the other petty secrets hidden away from each other and not to forget that Quentin keeps lying to Sarah over and over and over again about everything. It is not as much lying as it is hiding things from her but it’s all the same to me. After a few pages I lost track of all the issues they had so I just skipped 60 pages at once. I know, bad on my part, but can you blame me?
The writing was mediocre, I’d say. In the first book the writing came out as very “try-hard”. All the scenes were described with a lot of effort and jokes were somehow pushed in the story to make us feel that what we’re reading is a rom-com. In this book there was less of the try-hard factor and the narration was kept plain and simple, that could probably be because our heroine had a sense of humour of a rock. Contrary to this book, I liked the characters in the first one, despite the passable writing I think Wendy was sketched very well. Another thing about the writing I ought to mention are the sex scenes, or what I would call an attempt to write one. Just so you know, I’m not against steamy scenes but they should be written very well into the story (like the Georgina Kincaid series by Richelle Mead or Fever series by Karen Marie Moning) otherwise they seem like waste of pages, time and effort to me. There were very few such scenes in this book as compared to Star Gazer but they fell flat nonetheless, in my opinion.
The last thing that I’m going to mention is the copious amount of drama thrown in the final chapters. Climactic part should always be concise, fast paced and must show more than tell. But in Playing Dirty, there were just too many things going on at once. Someone’s spilling their secrets, some people are confessing their love for each other, someone is getting love letters one moment and death threats by a stalker the other (Again, what’s with the similarities between 1st and 2nd book?). Ever head of the phrase TOO MUCH? Yeah, that applies here. Half of the problems were being rushed and half were slowed down to a rate that it became frustrating to read. The pacing and the spacing of the storyline was a major drawback here. Every issue was procrastinated in the middle only to reveal it at the end which made things into one huge lump of hodge podge.
So, final verdict – 1.5 to 2 stars because there were shreds of story unlike other books which don’t even deserve to be called “books”. Not recommended to a crowd because I’m sure there are better romantic comedies out there.
*This arc was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and I thank them.
Two words:
Drama Overload.
There was an overflow of emotions in every page of every chapter! Good God! It was WAY too much and the last couple of chapters which were supposed to be climactic turned into a hectic read. I had a scowl on my face which said just get it over with already during the last 50 pages or so.
From the very first meeting between our hero and heroine, there were sparks, tingles, intense attraction and all that lovey-dovey gooey shit which we are so damn tired of reading in every book nowadays.
My thoughts on Playing Dirty are almost similar to what I had about the first book,Star Crossed (Yeah, I went out of my way to read it only to find out that these books aren’t related at all. What a waste.)
I thought the first one had a better story and characters whereas Playing Dirty was just flat-out boring. Wendy, in the first book was interesting, smart and funny but Sarah in this book just tried too hard to behave like a person. There was nothing unique that stood out about her in the book, except her hair maybe. Like Wendy, she was also on the brink of losing her job (and had great hair as well) so she set out to do this last gig to save her career and all she did while working as a PR specialist for the country-band The Cheatin’ Hearts was to lust over Quentin, their lead singer. If getting turned on by the lead singer of a band isn’t one of the biggest clichés ever, then I don’t know what is. (Although, this was a country band, not a rock band so it didn’t fit very well with me.)
She didn’t have any advice to improve band’s status or help them, she used to mention her job once in a while when she got a break from lusssssting over Quentin, otherwise? Nothing. All she did was flirt with him, whine about her previous job-gone-wrong and lead Quentin to the bed then say “We can’t. It would be wrong.”
Sigh.
Not. Again.
I’m tired of this theme.
First, the characters have insta-love but they force themselves not to fall in love because it would be wrong or unethical or against their job policies but they end up having sex anyway.
Well, if you had to do it, why didn’t you do it in the first chapter itself and save us all this trouble, dammit!
There are two major events in this book. First is when Sarah and Quentin check each other out, realise the passionate flames between them, the other is when they put their sexual tension to an end. Everything that happens in-between is messy, complicated and unsurprisingly yawn inducing. The whole band, together, has more problems than the White House. Each one of them has some or the other petty secrets hidden away from each other and not to forget that Quentin keeps lying to Sarah over and over and over again about everything. It is not as much lying as it is hiding things from her but it’s all the same to me. After a few pages I lost track of all the issues they had so I just skipped 60 pages at once. I know, bad on my part, but can you blame me?
The writing was mediocre, I’d say. In the first book the writing came out as very “try-hard”. All the scenes were described with a lot of effort and jokes were somehow pushed in the story to make us feel that what we’re reading is a rom-com. In this book there was less of the try-hard factor and the narration was kept plain and simple, that could probably be because our heroine had a sense of humour of a rock. Contrary to this book, I liked the characters in the first one, despite the passable writing I think Wendy was sketched very well. Another thing about the writing I ought to mention are the sex scenes, or what I would call an attempt to write one. Just so you know, I’m not against steamy scenes but they should be written very well into the story (like the Georgina Kincaid series by Richelle Mead or Fever series by Karen Marie Moning) otherwise they seem like waste of pages, time and effort to me. There were very few such scenes in this book as compared to Star Gazer but they fell flat nonetheless, in my opinion.
The last thing that I’m going to mention is the copious amount of drama thrown in the final chapters. Climactic part should always be concise, fast paced and must show more than tell. But in Playing Dirty, there were just too many things going on at once. Someone’s spilling their secrets, some people are confessing their love for each other, someone is getting love letters one moment and death threats by a stalker the other (Again, what’s with the similarities between 1st and 2nd book?). Ever head of the phrase TOO MUCH? Yeah, that applies here. Half of the problems were being rushed and half were slowed down to a rate that it became frustrating to read. The pacing and the spacing of the storyline was a major drawback here. Every issue was procrastinated in the middle only to reveal it at the end which made things into one huge lump of hodge podge.
So, final verdict – 1.5 to 2 stars because there were shreds of story unlike other books which don’t even deserve to be called “books”. Not recommended to a crowd because I’m sure there are better romantic comedies out there.
*This arc was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and I thank them.
September 22, 2013
I haven't had much luck with Jennifer Echols books lately, but I still had hope - AND this is a sequel to Stargazer, which I gave 3 stars to. Sadly, this book was a huge disappointment for me.
First and foremost, I thought this book was too over the top. There was so much drama in this book, and it was one thing after another. Echols stretched the storyline thin, throwing in every trick she could think of, and it just made me weary overall. Nine Lives, Sarah's history, the band's double-life, Quentin's family past and his health problems. Too much.
Also, the characters were sketchy and ill-defined that I thought they were all bipolar. Now, I understand everyone is playing a role and putting on a different persona, but even when they were their "real selves," I couldn't get a good handle on who they were, so it was really hard to sympathize with any of them.
Speaking of, I could not stand Sarah. I got so tired of the arrogant, self-righteous, know-it-all attitude of hers. She was so sure she had it all figured out. I swear, I wanted to smack her every time she went on and on about Quentin's cocaine addict. Enough already.
And I don't like the basis for Sarah's story was pretty much Wendy's. Kick-butt publicist who made a mistake at her last job, and this would be the one who would make or break her career.
At least with Stargazer, there was a decent plot, likable characters and a few great lines. This one, it was nothing but over-the-top, too dramatic nonsense that left me very frustrated and angry - and not in a good way.
First and foremost, I thought this book was too over the top. There was so much drama in this book, and it was one thing after another. Echols stretched the storyline thin, throwing in every trick she could think of, and it just made me weary overall. Nine Lives, Sarah's history, the band's double-life, Quentin's family past and his health problems. Too much.
Also, the characters were sketchy and ill-defined that I thought they were all bipolar. Now, I understand everyone is playing a role and putting on a different persona, but even when they were their "real selves," I couldn't get a good handle on who they were, so it was really hard to sympathize with any of them.
Speaking of, I could not stand Sarah. I got so tired of the arrogant, self-righteous, know-it-all attitude of hers. She was so sure she had it all figured out. I swear, I wanted to smack her every time she went on and on about Quentin's cocaine addict. Enough already.
And I don't like the basis for Sarah's story was pretty much Wendy's. Kick-butt publicist who made a mistake at her last job, and this would be the one who would make or break her career.
At least with Stargazer, there was a decent plot, likable characters and a few great lines. This one, it was nothing but over-the-top, too dramatic nonsense that left me very frustrated and angry - and not in a good way.
November 1, 2013
I may upgrade this to two stars when I'm not so mad about how awful this was. I liked the first book in this series, but this one is just terrible. It's having a major identity crisis: is it a romcom, suspense, drama? None of those things worked, so it just reads as disjointed. Then the female lead, whose name is Sarah (much to my irritation because Sarahs are smarter than this), is colossally terrible at her job which she keeps calling "public relations," but has zero resemblance to what actual PR people do. She's more like a management consultant, but she's terrible at that too, so whatever. I'm so used to Jennifer Echols writing about competent, challenging female characters and their layered lives that Playing Dirty was nothing less than a massive disappointment.
Edit: Oh, and there's no reason this book should be 448 pages long. There are whorl chapters that simply big down the story and add nothing to the narrative or character development.
Edit: Oh, and there's no reason this book should be 448 pages long. There are whorl chapters that simply big down the story and add nothing to the narrative or character development.
October 12, 2013
I loved the premise of Playing Dirty. Sadly, like many of the books I've read lately, this one didn't live up to my expectation. I don't want to go repeat the blurb here since as you can see, it's already pretty extensive.
Well, liked this book. Parts of it were very enjoyable to read, parts of it were not. There were times when it made me laugh, there were times when it made cringe. Hence, my problem with this book overall.It wasn't consistent. There were portions where I was bored to death and annoyed as hell with the characters.
Another problem for me was this book tried too hard to be everything all at once. It's chick-lit, with a lot romance, a little comedy and there was a little intrigue and suspense thrown in there, too. Now, when done correctly, that shouldn't be a problem, right? Well, the end result with this one is at best choppy. This book is have what I call an book identity crisis.
The dialogue was witty sometimes but sometimes it wasn't. Sarah was likable sometimes but most of the time she wasn't. Although, I must concede that she was a well developed character. Quentin, of course, is the hero that everyone is meant to fall in love with. This time, the author did succeed in making me like Quentin. Like Sarah, he was a complex and well-developed character.
Overall, I liked this well enough. I just wish that I liked it through and through, from the beginning until end, but it wasn't the case. So I will take what I can and enjoy it. I hope you will, too!
An ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Well, liked this book. Parts of it were very enjoyable to read, parts of it were not. There were times when it made me laugh, there were times when it made cringe. Hence, my problem with this book overall.It wasn't consistent. There were portions where I was bored to death and annoyed as hell with the characters.
Another problem for me was this book tried too hard to be everything all at once. It's chick-lit, with a lot romance, a little comedy and there was a little intrigue and suspense thrown in there, too. Now, when done correctly, that shouldn't be a problem, right? Well, the end result with this one is at best choppy. This book is have what I call an book identity crisis.
The dialogue was witty sometimes but sometimes it wasn't. Sarah was likable sometimes but most of the time she wasn't. Although, I must concede that she was a well developed character. Quentin, of course, is the hero that everyone is meant to fall in love with. This time, the author did succeed in making me like Quentin. Like Sarah, he was a complex and well-developed character.
Overall, I liked this well enough. I just wish that I liked it through and through, from the beginning until end, but it wasn't the case. So I will take what I can and enjoy it. I hope you will, too!
An ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 27, 2013
A free ebook copy was provided by the publisher through Netgalley but this has in no way influenced my review.
I don't know if my review will even be considered legit and unbiased since I never did finish reading the whole thing. I'll start with saying that this book is not bad at all. The problem lies however in the writing itself and the way the story was told.
I finished (okay, kinda finished) the book weeks ago and I only decided to write a feedback now 'cause I was hoping that I'll persuade myself to continue reading and get myself wholly interested. Sadly, that was not the case.
I was hooked in the beginning of the book. I always loved a good romantic story and even more so when the plot involves a band and a hot, cocky lead singer.
There were a lot of unknowns from the start and I was just itching to know the mystery behind the characters and their actions. I was very much intrigued. Halfway through the book however, everything just felt off. I didn't feel any connection with any of the characters and I didn't feel the weight of their dilemmas and the emotions that come with them.
Also, I felt like the whole story was just kept on constant loop. Nothing new or remotely exciting happens and the only thing that you'll read about for the most part is the vivid details of the main characters making out. And after a few pages of intense make-out sessions, they'll go about pretending it didn't happen and vowing that they never really liked it in the first place and that it shouldn't happen again. But then it happens again. And again.
I really think that the book had a lot of potential to have become a really good book. It just doesn't have that main ingredient that I believe makes any great book great - the ability to connect to readers and engross them, us, in the story.
The good point? I think that the characters were given personalities that are unique and engaging. They weren't shallow and they had so much going on in their lives that the mystery surrounding them would make you want to know them better.
All in all, this could have been a really good book but everything just fell apart (for me) after the first few chapters.
I don't know if my review will even be considered legit and unbiased since I never did finish reading the whole thing. I'll start with saying that this book is not bad at all. The problem lies however in the writing itself and the way the story was told.
I finished (okay, kinda finished) the book weeks ago and I only decided to write a feedback now 'cause I was hoping that I'll persuade myself to continue reading and get myself wholly interested. Sadly, that was not the case.
I was hooked in the beginning of the book. I always loved a good romantic story and even more so when the plot involves a band and a hot, cocky lead singer.
There were a lot of unknowns from the start and I was just itching to know the mystery behind the characters and their actions. I was very much intrigued. Halfway through the book however, everything just felt off. I didn't feel any connection with any of the characters and I didn't feel the weight of their dilemmas and the emotions that come with them.
Also, I felt like the whole story was just kept on constant loop. Nothing new or remotely exciting happens and the only thing that you'll read about for the most part is the vivid details of the main characters making out. And after a few pages of intense make-out sessions, they'll go about pretending it didn't happen and vowing that they never really liked it in the first place and that it shouldn't happen again. But then it happens again. And again.
I really think that the book had a lot of potential to have become a really good book. It just doesn't have that main ingredient that I believe makes any great book great - the ability to connect to readers and engross them, us, in the story.
The good point? I think that the characters were given personalities that are unique and engaging. They weren't shallow and they had so much going on in their lives that the mystery surrounding them would make you want to know them better.
All in all, this could have been a really good book but everything just fell apart (for me) after the first few chapters.
September 19, 2013
What can I say about this book? I loved it. I was really intrigued by the premise, but I've come across rocker books that had a good premise but then failed to deliver the excitement I was expecting. I am happy to say this isn't one of them. This one more than delivers. First off, I have to say I loved the characters, especially the ones that make up the band - they are one hot mess, but they are so charming and engaging, you can't help but root for them and hope there's a chance everything can work out for them. They all have their secrets - secrets that are tied to the rules of the band - and they kind of stumble around each other, trying to make sure those secrets stay hidden. But since when does that ever happen?
Enter a PR agent with attitude and pink-streaked hair, who will do anything to straighten out these characters and keep the band together - at least until they reach the deadline for the album they owe the studio that hired her to clean up their act. They put on a good show for her, but Sarah is smarter than they expected and it soon becomes a game of who can play who the best. And when Quentin, the leader in all things, and Sarah lock horns, it's all out war - and then some. These two create sparks almost from the beginning, which they fight against even as they put on a show for the rest of the band as part of her plan to keep them together. Another hot mess. Then there's the trouble she left behind in Rio. You just know that's going to come back to haunt her.
All in all, a fun, delightful read.
Enter a PR agent with attitude and pink-streaked hair, who will do anything to straighten out these characters and keep the band together - at least until they reach the deadline for the album they owe the studio that hired her to clean up their act. They put on a good show for her, but Sarah is smarter than they expected and it soon becomes a game of who can play who the best. And when Quentin, the leader in all things, and Sarah lock horns, it's all out war - and then some. These two create sparks almost from the beginning, which they fight against even as they put on a show for the rest of the band as part of her plan to keep them together. Another hot mess. Then there's the trouble she left behind in Rio. You just know that's going to come back to haunt her.
All in all, a fun, delightful read.
February 22, 2015
- - -
Playing Dirty is one of those indulgence books I pick up whenever I want something that's purely fun, full of romance and maybe a little naughty. I read this back in November last year when I'd just finished uni and didn't want to think all that much. This book was just what I needed, and I thoroughly enjoyed it even though it's outrageously over-the-top.
Sarah Seville works of Stargazer PR as a crisis manager who goes around trying to fix the problems of major music stars. Having barely escaped from a dangerous stint in Rio De Janeiro with her previous client, Sarah is sent off to salvage the rocky relationships of a country band called the Cheatin' Hearts so they would finish their latest album on time. The band is full of tension, secrets and has a potential love-triangle happening that's looking to break them up forever. Convinced that the answer to fixing the band's problem is to help the lead singer, Quentin, and his on-again-off-again band member girlfriend return into each other's arms, Sarah decides to be Quentin's latest fling to make her jealous.
Yes, the whole premise of the book is extremely ridiculous. As a PR graduate, I can say that the methods Sarah uses is definitely unprofessional and liable for many, many lawsuits. But hey it's a book and you know what, I quite enjoyed how crazy everything got.
The Cheatin' Hearts may be on the rocks with each other, but it's just a front they put on for the paparazzi. Behind closed doors they're all good friends who look out for each other and abide by three set rules to ensure the band does stay together. Every person is hiding a secret, but they're also dedicated to making their careers work, despite the tumultuous band front they put on. Sarah on the other hand is hiding from her previous client, whose creepiness ended up with him in jail and now he's out for her blood.
I thoroughly enjoyed all the characters in Playing Dirty. They all had their own backstories and Echols has created them realistically. The chemistry between Sarah and Quentin was also sizzling hot and I enjoyed their banter and the denial of their feelings for each other. There was a back-and-forthness in their relationship that fortunately did not annoy me as the story moved along at a nice and fast pace.
As the deadline for the album approached, shit starts going down as all the secrets are revealed. Despite how over-the-top the story is, I still enjoyed the little glimpse into the music PR industry that this book offered.
You don't need to have read the first book in the Stargazer series to follow this story. But fans can expect to see beloved characters return for small cameos. Overall I found this book really fun, I would recommend it for anyone looking for a summery beach read!
Thank you to Pocket Books on Netgalley for providing an ecopy in exchange for an honest review.
January 21, 2015
How much do I love Jennifer Echols - more and more with each book thats how much
Playing Dirty sustains the dynamic of the Stargazer series by combining an amazing romance with a killer thriller. This time it’s Sarah’s turn in the spotlight.
In Star Crossed, Sarah is the sporty, calm, logical voice of reason to Wendy’s snark. Due to personal tribulations Sarah has undergone a dramatic make-over. That idea that you can fake it til you make it, although she doesn’t lose her fitness freak self as much as she thinks she does :) However, it is Sarah’s perceptiveness and ability to read people that is her essence and it really shines through the plot.
I really liked how the narrative examined the role the media plays in the success of bands (in this instance) – you’ve heard the saying no publicity is bad publicity – this turns it on it’s head.
The success of the band hinges on their publicity and the outlandish things they are willing to engineer in order to get it. Image is everything even it is a false image. Appealing to a specific demographic and the attributes that go with it form the basis of their image. Who they are in private is at odds with their public image and therefore, must be protected at all costs. Take Quentin, for example, I adore that he is inherently a geek in wolf’s clothing ;)
Misrepresentation and media misdirection form the basis of the story. The different approaches to public relations and the psychology behind it are touched upon within the plot providing insight and understanding to certain aspects.
The third person narrative is essential in order to control all the different dimensions within the story-line. For me, the elements dealing with identity stood out the most. From Sarah’s make-over to Quentin’s theatrics; who they were on the outside as opposed to who they were on the inside provided much food for thought on how people perceive us and how we perceive ourselves as a result.
Playing Dirty because there are no rules when your heart is at stake ;)
Playing Dirty sustains the dynamic of the Stargazer series by combining an amazing romance with a killer thriller. This time it’s Sarah’s turn in the spotlight.
In Star Crossed, Sarah is the sporty, calm, logical voice of reason to Wendy’s snark. Due to personal tribulations Sarah has undergone a dramatic make-over. That idea that you can fake it til you make it, although she doesn’t lose her fitness freak self as much as she thinks she does :) However, it is Sarah’s perceptiveness and ability to read people that is her essence and it really shines through the plot.
I really liked how the narrative examined the role the media plays in the success of bands (in this instance) – you’ve heard the saying no publicity is bad publicity – this turns it on it’s head.
The success of the band hinges on their publicity and the outlandish things they are willing to engineer in order to get it. Image is everything even it is a false image. Appealing to a specific demographic and the attributes that go with it form the basis of their image. Who they are in private is at odds with their public image and therefore, must be protected at all costs. Take Quentin, for example, I adore that he is inherently a geek in wolf’s clothing ;)
Misrepresentation and media misdirection form the basis of the story. The different approaches to public relations and the psychology behind it are touched upon within the plot providing insight and understanding to certain aspects.
The third person narrative is essential in order to control all the different dimensions within the story-line. For me, the elements dealing with identity stood out the most. From Sarah’s make-over to Quentin’s theatrics; who they were on the outside as opposed to who they were on the inside provided much food for thought on how people perceive us and how we perceive ourselves as a result.
Playing Dirty because there are no rules when your heart is at stake ;)
October 10, 2013
Many secrets. Many lies. So difficult to tell the truth and be heard when one is entangled in all the lies invented!
It is rather amusing to see the information held away from people we love to avoid the worry, to make them suffer, to protect them or not to disappoint them... Lying even with good intensions always led to a disaster. At the end account, secrets gnaw especially the ones that hold them. The truth, even if it hurt, frees by its brutality.
Through a country band and excesses expected in the middle of the music, the reader follows the complicated life led by its members. To avoid problems, they have rules that none is able to follow. All are afraid to admit it for fear of being fired from the band.
Their lies prevent them from being themselves and worse, no one believes them when they say the truth. A fun read while following a vicious circle. Especially with the attraction, real or invented, that cause romantic problems for all members and Sarah included.
The story is light, fun and entertaining but the part with Nine Lives has not charmed me at all. Too much abuse and bad intentions. Sure, Rio brought a bit of drama and suspense to the story, leaving the reader to expect the worst before the happy ending. But I would have preferred a psychopath worthy of a thriller, not a junkie jealous singer who wants to assert its territory by pissing on his rival.
But because the tastes and colors are subjective...You will have to read it to draw your own conclusion...
An amusing story may be a little too focused on the excesses and lies, but I had a good time.
Lucie
http://newbooksonmyselves.blogspot.fr...
It is rather amusing to see the information held away from people we love to avoid the worry, to make them suffer, to protect them or not to disappoint them... Lying even with good intensions always led to a disaster. At the end account, secrets gnaw especially the ones that hold them. The truth, even if it hurt, frees by its brutality.
Through a country band and excesses expected in the middle of the music, the reader follows the complicated life led by its members. To avoid problems, they have rules that none is able to follow. All are afraid to admit it for fear of being fired from the band.
Their lies prevent them from being themselves and worse, no one believes them when they say the truth. A fun read while following a vicious circle. Especially with the attraction, real or invented, that cause romantic problems for all members and Sarah included.
The story is light, fun and entertaining but the part with Nine Lives has not charmed me at all. Too much abuse and bad intentions. Sure, Rio brought a bit of drama and suspense to the story, leaving the reader to expect the worst before the happy ending. But I would have preferred a psychopath worthy of a thriller, not a junkie jealous singer who wants to assert its territory by pissing on his rival.
But because the tastes and colors are subjective...You will have to read it to draw your own conclusion...
An amusing story may be a little too focused on the excesses and lies, but I had a good time.
Lucie
http://newbooksonmyselves.blogspot.fr...
October 24, 2013
Well, I did it again. I took a gamble on another Jennifer Echols book and lost. I feel like I've been burned by the last few of her books that I've tried to read.
I did not read Stargazer #1 and did not feel lost, so the good thing is that this book can stand on its own. The bad news is that I think I have either just reached a certain age, or have had my fill of bullshit. I did not like this story.
At first glance it seemed up my alley. It's about music, the music industry, and falling in love. However, the elaborate web of lies and deceit turned me off almost immediately. And then you have the fact that Sarah and Quentin get locked in the recording room (like you couldn't see that coming from the moment Owen slammed the door) and after spending one drunken night sleeping (yes actually sleeping) with Quentin, Sarah begins to talk about falling for him. Uuuuuugggghh.
And I really must complain here about this Quentin character. I really like him just fine, but the uber-hick front that he shows everyone is just disgusting. And the fact that Sarah thinks this is who he really is at first AND STILL "falls for him"... No. I just cannot get on board with that.
It was a good idea and the author has definite skills, but she should use her powers for good and not evil.
I did not read Stargazer #1 and did not feel lost, so the good thing is that this book can stand on its own. The bad news is that I think I have either just reached a certain age, or have had my fill of bullshit. I did not like this story.
At first glance it seemed up my alley. It's about music, the music industry, and falling in love. However, the elaborate web of lies and deceit turned me off almost immediately. And then you have the fact that Sarah and Quentin get locked in the recording room (like you couldn't see that coming from the moment Owen slammed the door) and after spending one drunken night sleeping (yes actually sleeping) with Quentin, Sarah begins to talk about falling for him. Uuuuuugggghh.
And I really must complain here about this Quentin character. I really like him just fine, but the uber-hick front that he shows everyone is just disgusting. And the fact that Sarah thinks this is who he really is at first AND STILL "falls for him"... No. I just cannot get on board with that.
It was a good idea and the author has definite skills, but she should use her powers for good and not evil.
November 22, 2013
This post was published to BS BOOK REVIEWERS at 9:12:54 AM 11/22/2013
Stargazer Series by Jennifer Echols
Playing Dirty by Jennifer Echols
Stargazer # 2
Playing Dirty is the second installment in Jennifer Echols’ Stargazing series. This is one of my favorite authors and I love her Southern books!
Let me start off by saying that I live in Alabama and not too far from this books setting. Ms. Echols nailed Birmingham from the street names to the Vulcan’s ass! This is the closest “big” city to us and in high school we used to take field trips to the Galleria shopping mall that is mentioned in this book. So the nostalgia in this book makes me love this book. Call it bias if you wish but I immediately fell in love with this one!
OK now to the nitty gritty, the characters in this book were authentic Southern characters from the crashing the party to the problem they have going on. So needless to say, these characters were flawed and likeable and just plain real.
To see the rest of this review click here
September 16, 2013
This was a cute, fast read. I have read some of Echols YA (and love it) so I thought I'd try some of her adult contemporary romance. This book is pretty light, but it's pretty funny in places and very sexy. There was a story arc running through it that felt a bit over the top and unnecessary to me, and led to this dramatic event near the end which felt a bit odd when compared to the rest of the book, but it was still an entertaining read.
This is the second book in the Stargazer series--it's a companion novel, and there are references to a couple of the characters from the first, but I don't think you HAVE to read the first to enjoy the second. Still, one of the characters from the first book was really funny in the small parts she was featured in in Playing Dirty so I'll probably be going back to read that one as well.
This is the second book in the Stargazer series--it's a companion novel, and there are references to a couple of the characters from the first, but I don't think you HAVE to read the first to enjoy the second. Still, one of the characters from the first book was really funny in the small parts she was featured in in Playing Dirty so I'll probably be going back to read that one as well.
November 5, 2013
I couldn't put it down! I was so intrigued with Sarah and Quentin and their story!The connection between Sarah and Quentin can be felt right away and it is hot! When these two were together, there scenes just jumped from the page. I absolutely loved these two together! Very good!!
September 23, 2017
DNF 50%.
This is a sequel to Stargazer, which I liked and gave 4 stars. Sadly, this book was a huge disappointment for me. This only thing i actually liked was the messages from Wendy many of the chapters started with. They were all pretty hilarious.
This is a sequel to Stargazer, which I liked and gave 4 stars. Sadly, this book was a huge disappointment for me. This only thing i actually liked was the messages from Wendy many of the chapters started with. They were all pretty hilarious.
April 28, 2018
Nice little palette cleanser before starting my May TBR.
February 14, 2023
This is a contemporary, steamy romance. While I liked the characters, the plot was a little disjointed.
October 1, 2016
The review is also available on my blog, Bows & Bullets Reviews
Sarah Seville screwed up royally in Rio with crazy rocker Nine Lives. Sure, she kept him concentrating long enough to record his album, but now he's stuck in prison and when he gets out shit's really going to hit the fan. To save her career, she takes on The Cheatin' Hearts, a country group famous not only for their perverted lyrics, but also for their antics. This group is constantly starting fights and hitting the hospital for overdose's. It'll be a miracle if she can pull this off, but she'll try anything to keep her mind off Nine Lives. The Cheatin' Hearts have three golden rules to keep them together: no drugs, no sleeping with other band members, and no sleeping with record company spies. Quentin laid the rules out in the beginning and expects everyone to follow his lead. It's kept the band together and successful for several years now and he isn't willing to risk that, no matter how attracted to Sarah he is. But the longer she stays, the harder he has to fight his urge to seduce her and let all his walls down, a dangerous prospect indeed.
This is moderately better than it's predecessor, but that isn't saying much. It still falls desperately short when measured to Jennifer Echols other works. The best way to describe this novel is one word: DRAMA. The drama contained in just the four members of The Cheatin' Hearts was enough to set me over the edge, then adding Sarah & Quentin's tension-y relationship to it and I was just a bit miffed. I'm not a huge fan of drama. In fact, I like to keep it to a minimum, so you can image how I felt about all the subterfuge between the band, Sarah, and the media circus they create. The "dumb hick" act Quentin is so fond of had me screaming to just fucking stop. Seriously, it's not attractive in the least and no, you'll overly muscled body doesn't compensate. I get you are physically attractive, but dumbing yourself down so the media will "like" you is about as dumb as girls who act brainless to get the guy. It's infuriating.
What's more is he keeps the act up throughout most of the novel, so by then end I feel like he and Sarah don't know each other well enough to profess the feelings they claim to have. How can you love someone you don't know? Sarah, by the way, is just as guilty. After her husband asked for a divorce, she had a massive makeover and has tried to match her new personality to it. But new Sarah and old Sarah are pretty different and it's hard for me to reconcile the two when I've been in her head for half the novel, much less for Quentin who's just been catching what she lets slip on occasion.
The rest of the cast is alternatively annoying or absent. Erin can't seem to settle on whether she wants to be friendly or bitchy. Since the audience knows her and Quentin's "relationship" is bullshit, it's unclear why she plays that card. I mean, I know Sarah expects jealousy, but seriously, just pick a side and stay there. Same with Owen, who obviously hates Sarah intensely one moment and then is friendly the next. And they all blindly follow Quentin's lead. You claim he's genius level intelligent, but we rarely see him back it up because I don't consider engineering the band's publicity as a genius act. I consider it stupid. I get that it's what got you the attention you needed to get a recording contract, but you got it so let the drama go!
The writing was mediocre at best and the plot felt highly predictable. It almost felt like Echols recycled the end of Star Crossed, just changing the bare minimum of details so it would fit here.
It's difficult to express my level of disappointment. This isn't a bad read. It's not great, but it's tolerable and if almost anyone else had written it, I probably would have liked it more. But I know Echols is capable of more. She's one of my favorite contemporary writers and to see her produce this hot mess makes me endlessly sad. Here's hoping.
****Thank you to Pocket Books for providing me with an eARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review****
Sarah Seville screwed up royally in Rio with crazy rocker Nine Lives. Sure, she kept him concentrating long enough to record his album, but now he's stuck in prison and when he gets out shit's really going to hit the fan. To save her career, she takes on The Cheatin' Hearts, a country group famous not only for their perverted lyrics, but also for their antics. This group is constantly starting fights and hitting the hospital for overdose's. It'll be a miracle if she can pull this off, but she'll try anything to keep her mind off Nine Lives. The Cheatin' Hearts have three golden rules to keep them together: no drugs, no sleeping with other band members, and no sleeping with record company spies. Quentin laid the rules out in the beginning and expects everyone to follow his lead. It's kept the band together and successful for several years now and he isn't willing to risk that, no matter how attracted to Sarah he is. But the longer she stays, the harder he has to fight his urge to seduce her and let all his walls down, a dangerous prospect indeed.
This is moderately better than it's predecessor, but that isn't saying much. It still falls desperately short when measured to Jennifer Echols other works. The best way to describe this novel is one word: DRAMA. The drama contained in just the four members of The Cheatin' Hearts was enough to set me over the edge, then adding Sarah & Quentin's tension-y relationship to it and I was just a bit miffed. I'm not a huge fan of drama. In fact, I like to keep it to a minimum, so you can image how I felt about all the subterfuge between the band, Sarah, and the media circus they create. The "dumb hick" act Quentin is so fond of had me screaming to just fucking stop. Seriously, it's not attractive in the least and no, you'll overly muscled body doesn't compensate. I get you are physically attractive, but dumbing yourself down so the media will "like" you is about as dumb as girls who act brainless to get the guy. It's infuriating.
What's more is he keeps the act up throughout most of the novel, so by then end I feel like he and Sarah don't know each other well enough to profess the feelings they claim to have. How can you love someone you don't know? Sarah, by the way, is just as guilty. After her husband asked for a divorce, she had a massive makeover and has tried to match her new personality to it. But new Sarah and old Sarah are pretty different and it's hard for me to reconcile the two when I've been in her head for half the novel, much less for Quentin who's just been catching what she lets slip on occasion.
The rest of the cast is alternatively annoying or absent. Erin can't seem to settle on whether she wants to be friendly or bitchy. Since the audience knows her and Quentin's "relationship" is bullshit, it's unclear why she plays that card. I mean, I know Sarah expects jealousy, but seriously, just pick a side and stay there. Same with Owen, who obviously hates Sarah intensely one moment and then is friendly the next. And they all blindly follow Quentin's lead. You claim he's genius level intelligent, but we rarely see him back it up because I don't consider engineering the band's publicity as a genius act. I consider it stupid. I get that it's what got you the attention you needed to get a recording contract, but you got it so let the drama go!
The writing was mediocre at best and the plot felt highly predictable. It almost felt like Echols recycled the end of Star Crossed, just changing the bare minimum of details so it would fit here.
It's difficult to express my level of disappointment. This isn't a bad read. It's not great, but it's tolerable and if almost anyone else had written it, I probably would have liked it more. But I know Echols is capable of more. She's one of my favorite contemporary writers and to see her produce this hot mess makes me endlessly sad. Here's hoping.
****Thank you to Pocket Books for providing me with an eARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review****
September 30, 2013
Find this review and more on my blog...
I’ve been a big fan of Jennifer Echols’ young adult books for a long time now. Such a Rush is my favorite. I think she writes fantastic contemporary characters with interesting storylines. I was thrilled to learn she was going to begin writing new adult novels. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed both of the books in the Stargazer series.
Sarah, a public relations expert, is charged with keeping the band The Cheatin’ Hearts together. On the surface, it looks like they’re going through a bit of a crisis right now. If you believe the stories in the tabloids, each member of the band is a mess in his or her own way. There’s a Quentin, a cocaine addict, Erin, the woman who cheated on him, Owen, the man she cheated with, and Martin. Martin was the one furthest removed from the limelight. Everyone assumes Quentin has started his destructive behavior because he’s broken-hearted after Erin cheated on him. Sarah’s plan is to get Quentin and Erin back together and keep the band from breaking up. The truth is nowhere near that simple.
As Sarah soon learns, the band members are each keeping their own secrets and they’re not quite the same as the rumors that are circulating. The logic behind their secrets and the plotting and games was quite interesting. I never really knew what was going to happen with the band members. Their lies and secrets were so intertwined it was hard to see where one ended and the next began. The members of the band live by three rules:
Rule #1 – No drugs.
Rule #2 – No sex with other band members.
Rule #3 – No sex with record company spies.
But, like you would expect of any good drama, each of them are breaking a rule. It’s a fun ride finding out who is hiding which secret.
The other thing Sarah has to deal with is her attraction to Quentin. She’s completely conflicted by her feelings. She knows she has to keep things professional, and she’s trying to get him back together with Erin, after all. She’s not trying to land him for herself. He’s attracted to her, too, and they devise a completely flawed plan to get Erin back: despite Rule #3, Quentin and Sarah are going to pretend to be in a relationship. They will make Erin jealous and she’ll come running back. Things don’t exactly work out that way. You’ll have to read for yourself to see the mess they all get themselves in and what the ultimate resolution to all their issues is. Throw in the added drama of the legitimately crazy star Sarah last worked with and this book kept me on my toes the entire time.
Sarah and Quentin had great chemistry. The sexual tension could have been cut with a knife. With their plan to make Erin jealous and the attraction between them, I knew it was only a matter of time before they gave into it. The sexy scenes in this book aren’t quite as over-the-top as most in new adult books are, but they’re still pretty steamy.
I really enjoyed this book. If there’s a third book released in the Stargazer series, you better believe I’ll be reading it.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve been a big fan of Jennifer Echols’ young adult books for a long time now. Such a Rush is my favorite. I think she writes fantastic contemporary characters with interesting storylines. I was thrilled to learn she was going to begin writing new adult novels. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed both of the books in the Stargazer series.
“Sarah got a thrill from figuring out the psychology of famous, creative people and helping them improve their quality of life, but she didn’t enjoy giving tough love. And she definitely wasn’t good at it.”
Sarah, a public relations expert, is charged with keeping the band The Cheatin’ Hearts together. On the surface, it looks like they’re going through a bit of a crisis right now. If you believe the stories in the tabloids, each member of the band is a mess in his or her own way. There’s a Quentin, a cocaine addict, Erin, the woman who cheated on him, Owen, the man she cheated with, and Martin. Martin was the one furthest removed from the limelight. Everyone assumes Quentin has started his destructive behavior because he’s broken-hearted after Erin cheated on him. Sarah’s plan is to get Quentin and Erin back together and keep the band from breaking up. The truth is nowhere near that simple.
As Sarah soon learns, the band members are each keeping their own secrets and they’re not quite the same as the rumors that are circulating. The logic behind their secrets and the plotting and games was quite interesting. I never really knew what was going to happen with the band members. Their lies and secrets were so intertwined it was hard to see where one ended and the next began. The members of the band live by three rules:
Rule #1 – No drugs.
Rule #2 – No sex with other band members.
Rule #3 – No sex with record company spies.
But, like you would expect of any good drama, each of them are breaking a rule. It’s a fun ride finding out who is hiding which secret.
“If only everything were different. If only he wasn’t a coke addict, he wasn’t a stupid hick, she wasn’t trying to keep him together with his band, and she wasn’t contracted to his record company, she would have had the most delightful decision to make: to ho or not to ho.”
The other thing Sarah has to deal with is her attraction to Quentin. She’s completely conflicted by her feelings. She knows she has to keep things professional, and she’s trying to get him back together with Erin, after all. She’s not trying to land him for herself. He’s attracted to her, too, and they devise a completely flawed plan to get Erin back: despite Rule #3, Quentin and Sarah are going to pretend to be in a relationship. They will make Erin jealous and she’ll come running back. Things don’t exactly work out that way. You’ll have to read for yourself to see the mess they all get themselves in and what the ultimate resolution to all their issues is. Throw in the added drama of the legitimately crazy star Sarah last worked with and this book kept me on my toes the entire time.
“Now is when I say that felt fantastic, and I thank my lucky stars I’m such a loose woman.”
Sarah and Quentin had great chemistry. The sexual tension could have been cut with a knife. With their plan to make Erin jealous and the attraction between them, I knew it was only a matter of time before they gave into it. The sexy scenes in this book aren’t quite as over-the-top as most in new adult books are, but they’re still pretty steamy.
I really enjoyed this book. If there’s a third book released in the Stargazer series, you better believe I’ll be reading it.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2020
Meh. I enjoyed the first Stargazer book, but not this one. I figured out what was going on with one of the band members immediately, but it took the main character almost the whole book to figure it out. Also, I was annoyed with the manipulating dishonesty that was a constant with pretty much every character. Adults acting like children - annoying. I finished it though, to see what happened. It was a rare miss from Jennifer Echols.
July 20, 2017
Originally posted at Booklovers For Life
3.5 STARS
It’s been a few days since I finished Playing Dirty, and I’m still not sure how to feel about it. It was my first time reading a book by Jennifer Echols, and while I’m not jumping for joy at the prospect of reading another of her books, I still did enjoy myself while reading Playing Dirty. I wasn’t really impressed with the writing, but I really liked the characters and story.
Well, I didn’t like the characters ALL the time. The first third of the book I didn’t like at all. The writing was all over the place, I couldn’t connect with any of the characters, so I didn’t like any of them, and everything was so hectic and crazy that I couldn’t believe when I started actually enjoying the book. It took me by a huge surprise. I was honestly thinking that this book was going to be a DNF, but then somewhere along the way, I started liking the Sarah and Quentin and the band. They started making me laugh out loud, and endearing themselves to me. Sure, they didn’t act their age at all sometimes, but it made the book all the more interesting.
The story was very… interesting to read. It was like nothing I’d ever read, and that was a great thing. Sarah is a PR expert at Stargazer, and her newest client is the country band The Cheatin’ Hearts. She needs to do well on this job, aka prevent the group from breaking up, because she’d screwed up on her latest job with singer Nine Lives. So Sarah goes to meet The Cheatin’ Hearts, and they’re all a bunch of hicks. They get drunk, they get into brawls, and are basically over-the-top. What Sarah doesn’t know is that all four of the people in The Cheatin’ Hearts, Quentin, Erin, Owen, and Martin, act this way on purpose. It’s all for publicity.
For The Cheatin’ Hearts, they live by three rules. Rule One: no drugs. Rule Two: no sex with other band members. Rule Three: no sex with record company spies. Quentin, the leader of the band, made these rules when they first started the band, and now… he’s in danger of breaking Rule Three. Because when Quentin meets Sarah, he wants her.
Quentin is such a unique main male character. He’s my favorite character of the book. He’s so utterly ridiculous, it’s cute. He’s a major dork and nerd, but he can’t let the public know, otherwise it might tarnish his image of being a badass rockstar. So instead of the world knowing about his allergies and asthma, they think he does cocaine. I laughed so hard every time Quentin spoke, or someone made fun of Quentin, which happens a lot, that he was the main reason why I started liking the book a lot more than I did in the beginning.
Sarah was pretty funny as well. While The Cheatin’ Hearts has its own scheme of trying to get rid of her, she has her own plan to have them stay together as a band and churn out another album. She holds her own against the band’s antics, and with Sarah and the band going head to head, it was so much fun to read.
Quentin and Sarah are absolutely adorable together. They were perfect for each other, and complemented each other so well. And Quentin can be such a sweetheart. He’s always thinking of others first, and then when he falls in love with Sarah, he’s even sweeter with her. He’s still boisterous and crazy, but there’s a sweet side of him no one ever saw before.
I really did end up enjoying Playing Dirty. I was pleasantly surprised to find it so entertaining and laugh-out-loud funny to read.
3.5 STARS! This was a fun, hilarious, if a bit hectic, contemporary romance.
Thanks to the publisher for generously providing me an ARC to review.
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3.5 STARS
It’s been a few days since I finished Playing Dirty, and I’m still not sure how to feel about it. It was my first time reading a book by Jennifer Echols, and while I’m not jumping for joy at the prospect of reading another of her books, I still did enjoy myself while reading Playing Dirty. I wasn’t really impressed with the writing, but I really liked the characters and story.
Well, I didn’t like the characters ALL the time. The first third of the book I didn’t like at all. The writing was all over the place, I couldn’t connect with any of the characters, so I didn’t like any of them, and everything was so hectic and crazy that I couldn’t believe when I started actually enjoying the book. It took me by a huge surprise. I was honestly thinking that this book was going to be a DNF, but then somewhere along the way, I started liking the Sarah and Quentin and the band. They started making me laugh out loud, and endearing themselves to me. Sure, they didn’t act their age at all sometimes, but it made the book all the more interesting.
The story was very… interesting to read. It was like nothing I’d ever read, and that was a great thing. Sarah is a PR expert at Stargazer, and her newest client is the country band The Cheatin’ Hearts. She needs to do well on this job, aka prevent the group from breaking up, because she’d screwed up on her latest job with singer Nine Lives. So Sarah goes to meet The Cheatin’ Hearts, and they’re all a bunch of hicks. They get drunk, they get into brawls, and are basically over-the-top. What Sarah doesn’t know is that all four of the people in The Cheatin’ Hearts, Quentin, Erin, Owen, and Martin, act this way on purpose. It’s all for publicity.
For The Cheatin’ Hearts, they live by three rules. Rule One: no drugs. Rule Two: no sex with other band members. Rule Three: no sex with record company spies. Quentin, the leader of the band, made these rules when they first started the band, and now… he’s in danger of breaking Rule Three. Because when Quentin meets Sarah, he wants her.
Quentin is such a unique main male character. He’s my favorite character of the book. He’s so utterly ridiculous, it’s cute. He’s a major dork and nerd, but he can’t let the public know, otherwise it might tarnish his image of being a badass rockstar. So instead of the world knowing about his allergies and asthma, they think he does cocaine. I laughed so hard every time Quentin spoke, or someone made fun of Quentin, which happens a lot, that he was the main reason why I started liking the book a lot more than I did in the beginning.
Sarah was pretty funny as well. While The Cheatin’ Hearts has its own scheme of trying to get rid of her, she has her own plan to have them stay together as a band and churn out another album. She holds her own against the band’s antics, and with Sarah and the band going head to head, it was so much fun to read.
Quentin and Sarah are absolutely adorable together. They were perfect for each other, and complemented each other so well. And Quentin can be such a sweetheart. He’s always thinking of others first, and then when he falls in love with Sarah, he’s even sweeter with her. He’s still boisterous and crazy, but there’s a sweet side of him no one ever saw before.
I really did end up enjoying Playing Dirty. I was pleasantly surprised to find it so entertaining and laugh-out-loud funny to read.
3.5 STARS! This was a fun, hilarious, if a bit hectic, contemporary romance.
Thanks to the publisher for generously providing me an ARC to review.
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November 11, 2013
3.5/5 stars.
This book was quirky, cute and fun, with some "heavy" elements thrown in. I enjoyed this book, I really did - there were lots of things that I liked about it - but, in the end, I just felt that something was a bit lacking. I haven't read the first book in this series, so I might have been missing some background information/details, but I felt that this book could definitely be read as a standalone.
Sarah is a "PR genius" - she's called into bad situations to help save the day when musicians or other celebrities are off the rails. In this book, Sarah is called in to help prevent the break-up of country music group The Cheatin' Hearts when a love-triangle within the band threatens to break them up. Sarah has also just returned from 9 months in Rio, where she assisted reclusive musician Nine Lives. A situation which has now left her fearful and skittish.
Quentin is the lead singer of the Cheatin' Hearts and the band's unofficial ring leader. The band has a long history of getting themselves into trouble - rumours of drug abuse, love triangles, bar fights on a regular basis and drummer, Owen, even got shot while they were touring in Greece. But, as Sarah soon discovers, there's more to this band than meets the eye and things aren't always as they seem.
From their first meeting, Sarah and Quentin feel an undeniable pull towards each other. They are instantly attracted to one another, but soon they both realize there's so much more than the physical. To Sarah's horror she discovers she actually likes him! And Quentin can't get Sarah out of his head. Over the next 10 days, Sarah and Quentin get to know one another and romance blooms - but they're both hiding so many things from the other. And there are so many issues with the other 3 members of the band. And then Sarah's past comes back with a vengeance. Can Sarah get Cheatin Hearts together in time to complete their new album? Do her and Quentin have a shot at something real?
As I mentioned, I did enjoy this book. I liked Sarah and Quentin's characters. Although I'm not a huge fan of "insta-love" in general, I almost thought it worked in this book given that they were practically living together for the duration of the book. I definitely think it's possible to feel a strong connection with someone in such an intense situation. I also liked the other members of the band - I just wish we got to get to know them a little bit more.
There was a scene which I just loved - the day where the whole group goes to the beach house to unwind. I loved the scene where they are lounging on the dock and then they go out on the boat and jump off the cliff. It was just so nice to see all of the characters in their elements and I loved Sarah's and Quentin's descriptions of the day and the progression of their relationship.
I just thought there was a bit "too much" going on in this book. Everyone just had soooo many issues! Drug abuse, stalking, medical problems, love triangles, pregnancy scares, misunderstandings, daddy issues, etc. There were times I was like "whoa" - this is just too much, and I felt like we went into the realm of totally unbelieveable. I don't want to give away too many specifics, so I'm trying to be vague here. Also, I felt like all of the issues took away from the focus of the dynamic of the band and the problems at hand and at times it was like Sarah completely forgot about what her role was supposed to be until she would randomly blurt out "where's my album?" For someone who was supposed to be so career driven, she wasn't too focussed on this job.
Having said all of that, I would still recommend this book to others.
*Thank you NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This book was quirky, cute and fun, with some "heavy" elements thrown in. I enjoyed this book, I really did - there were lots of things that I liked about it - but, in the end, I just felt that something was a bit lacking. I haven't read the first book in this series, so I might have been missing some background information/details, but I felt that this book could definitely be read as a standalone.
Sarah is a "PR genius" - she's called into bad situations to help save the day when musicians or other celebrities are off the rails. In this book, Sarah is called in to help prevent the break-up of country music group The Cheatin' Hearts when a love-triangle within the band threatens to break them up. Sarah has also just returned from 9 months in Rio, where she assisted reclusive musician Nine Lives. A situation which has now left her fearful and skittish.
Quentin is the lead singer of the Cheatin' Hearts and the band's unofficial ring leader. The band has a long history of getting themselves into trouble - rumours of drug abuse, love triangles, bar fights on a regular basis and drummer, Owen, even got shot while they were touring in Greece. But, as Sarah soon discovers, there's more to this band than meets the eye and things aren't always as they seem.
From their first meeting, Sarah and Quentin feel an undeniable pull towards each other. They are instantly attracted to one another, but soon they both realize there's so much more than the physical. To Sarah's horror she discovers she actually likes him! And Quentin can't get Sarah out of his head. Over the next 10 days, Sarah and Quentin get to know one another and romance blooms - but they're both hiding so many things from the other. And there are so many issues with the other 3 members of the band. And then Sarah's past comes back with a vengeance. Can Sarah get Cheatin Hearts together in time to complete their new album? Do her and Quentin have a shot at something real?
As I mentioned, I did enjoy this book. I liked Sarah and Quentin's characters. Although I'm not a huge fan of "insta-love" in general, I almost thought it worked in this book given that they were practically living together for the duration of the book. I definitely think it's possible to feel a strong connection with someone in such an intense situation. I also liked the other members of the band - I just wish we got to get to know them a little bit more.
There was a scene which I just loved - the day where the whole group goes to the beach house to unwind. I loved the scene where they are lounging on the dock and then they go out on the boat and jump off the cliff. It was just so nice to see all of the characters in their elements and I loved Sarah's and Quentin's descriptions of the day and the progression of their relationship.
I just thought there was a bit "too much" going on in this book. Everyone just had soooo many issues! Drug abuse, stalking, medical problems, love triangles, pregnancy scares, misunderstandings, daddy issues, etc. There were times I was like "whoa" - this is just too much, and I felt like we went into the realm of totally unbelieveable. I don't want to give away too many specifics, so I'm trying to be vague here. Also, I felt like all of the issues took away from the focus of the dynamic of the band and the problems at hand and at times it was like Sarah completely forgot about what her role was supposed to be until she would randomly blurt out "where's my album?" For someone who was supposed to be so career driven, she wasn't too focussed on this job.
Having said all of that, I would still recommend this book to others.
*Thank you NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
October 29, 2013
3.5 stars.
Review originally posted on Rather Be Reading Blog
Talk about blurred lines of the mixing work with pleasure variety and you have yourself Playing Dirty.
Sarah, defeated from a demanding PR task in Rio, is in jeopardy of losing her job. Her last hope (God help us all) is Cheatin’ Hearts, a country band known for their fights, swapping bandmates for romance partners, and drug use. All she needs to do is get their album finished, make sure they are on stage for a Fourth of July performance, and she is in the clear.
As she suspected, it’s just not going to be that easy.
She fully adopts her PR-alter ego, pink highlights, stripper heels, and tons of sex appeal to win over the Quentin, the supposed cocaine addict and leader of the band. If she can just make Quentin’s ex-girlfriend/current fiddle player, Erin, jealous, the two will get back together and certainly keep the band from breaking up. Of course, this plan requires many steamy (sometimes stolen) moments with Quentin, who is just too attractive for his own good.
Something is missing from this equation though. Honesty. It’s pretty much taken a back seat.
Sarah is lying about what happened in Rio. She also would choose sweatpants over hot pants any day. While Quentin and his band learned early on that success is about giving people something to talk about so basically nothing seen in the tabloids is real. Like at all. And while there are glimpses of truth in a few of Sarah and Quentin’s encounters, they keep second guessing themselves, each other, and it all erupts into a huge huge dramatic mess.
Even though so many of the conflicts in Playing Dirty could have been avoided, Sarah and Quentin share some sizzling scenes together (the shower!) and for all of the lying, their characters were super well developed. Sarah has some unresolved issues with her mother and a divorce in the works; Quentin gave up a medical career to pursue singing (he comes from a family of musicians) and his mother’s death made him scared of many things. When they both let their guards down, I really liked watching them get to know each other and bond.
Plus I absolutely loved her friendship with Wendy (the main character from Star Crossed) showcased through some hilarious emails and all the country music making and gossip!
I can’t forget to mention “the scary element”. Echols utilized this subplot in Star Crossed as well. I thought it was unnecessary there, and even more so in Playing Dirty. It caused the end to drag, and just seemed too much with all the situations already unfolding.
Still Playing Dirty has so much of Echol’s signature elements: crazy tension, a hot leading man with a heart, an ambitious female lead, and a great dash of comedy to level out all the drama. (Also: a surprising amount of Star Wars references for the nerdy side in all of us!) I’m still enjoying her venture into adult contemporary romance and I always on the edge of my seat waiting for the next one!
Review originally posted on Rather Be Reading Blog
Talk about blurred lines of the mixing work with pleasure variety and you have yourself Playing Dirty.
Sarah, defeated from a demanding PR task in Rio, is in jeopardy of losing her job. Her last hope (God help us all) is Cheatin’ Hearts, a country band known for their fights, swapping bandmates for romance partners, and drug use. All she needs to do is get their album finished, make sure they are on stage for a Fourth of July performance, and she is in the clear.
As she suspected, it’s just not going to be that easy.
She fully adopts her PR-alter ego, pink highlights, stripper heels, and tons of sex appeal to win over the Quentin, the supposed cocaine addict and leader of the band. If she can just make Quentin’s ex-girlfriend/current fiddle player, Erin, jealous, the two will get back together and certainly keep the band from breaking up. Of course, this plan requires many steamy (sometimes stolen) moments with Quentin, who is just too attractive for his own good.
Something is missing from this equation though. Honesty. It’s pretty much taken a back seat.
Sarah is lying about what happened in Rio. She also would choose sweatpants over hot pants any day. While Quentin and his band learned early on that success is about giving people something to talk about so basically nothing seen in the tabloids is real. Like at all. And while there are glimpses of truth in a few of Sarah and Quentin’s encounters, they keep second guessing themselves, each other, and it all erupts into a huge huge dramatic mess.
Even though so many of the conflicts in Playing Dirty could have been avoided, Sarah and Quentin share some sizzling scenes together (the shower!) and for all of the lying, their characters were super well developed. Sarah has some unresolved issues with her mother and a divorce in the works; Quentin gave up a medical career to pursue singing (he comes from a family of musicians) and his mother’s death made him scared of many things. When they both let their guards down, I really liked watching them get to know each other and bond.
Plus I absolutely loved her friendship with Wendy (the main character from Star Crossed) showcased through some hilarious emails and all the country music making and gossip!
I can’t forget to mention “the scary element”. Echols utilized this subplot in Star Crossed as well. I thought it was unnecessary there, and even more so in Playing Dirty. It caused the end to drag, and just seemed too much with all the situations already unfolding.
Still Playing Dirty has so much of Echol’s signature elements: crazy tension, a hot leading man with a heart, an ambitious female lead, and a great dash of comedy to level out all the drama. (Also: a surprising amount of Star Wars references for the nerdy side in all of us!) I’m still enjoying her venture into adult contemporary romance and I always on the edge of my seat waiting for the next one!
January 3, 2014
NOTE: I received this book via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Thanks!
I've read two books by this author. The one I loved (The Ex Games) and the other came out below average (Love Story). So I thought I'd give her a chance to win my better opinion.
I was surprised.
First, because I was clearly not expecting a HOT New Adult title. And second, because I ended up loving it! I loved the drama, the characters, the complications. It was so well put together, that I couldn't help it - I just had to go on and on until the end.
Sarah works for Stargazer - a company that helps keep music artists/bands on track with their contracts when major drama seems to overwhelm them. One such band is The Cheatin' Hearts. They're a country band that gained huge popularity and became one of the nation's favorites. There's just one problem - they seem to be falling apart. So, Sarah is sent over to make them record an album in time for their Fourth of July concert.
She did not expect to find what she did though. I was impressed by her observant skills, though she got some things completely wrong. But Sarah had a quick wit, a good head on her shoulders and a heart open for real love. She was daring, though she only believed she acted it out. She was pretty, and she had the means to make any man fall head over heels for her. It just had to be the right man.
The band was a curious thing in and of itself. All four members of it, were medically educated. There was a nurse, a doctor and I'm sorry I couldn't remember Erin and Owen's professional credentials. They were an odd bunch with (mostly) no secrets among them. And they had three very important rules set up:
1. No one sleeps with Erin
2. No drugs
3. No sleeping with representatives of the record company
Tough ones, seeing that none of them were being kept. And oh, the rules were being broken secretly.
The Cheatin' Hearts lead singer, Quentin, is rumored to be a drug addict. The truth was completely different, but no one believed him, so he'd decided to go with the flow. Besides his rumored addiction had gotten the band a contract. From then on, Quentin had turned into a band script writer - i.e. he determined what their publicity should entail. Most of the drama that happened around them was just a set up, a plot to make the news, to gain fans, to be popular. I ended up loving his brains :)
Martin was the drummer and the drug addict (on heroin), who was entirely too obvious about his addiction. But what amazed me was that he had his wits about most of the time. Is that possible? I'm not really informed. I liked him though, how cool he was in dangerous situations. How fast to act appropriately when everyone else was dumbstruck. I hope he gets clean in the next book or something.
Owen and Erin had a secret of their own. It was obvious to me and to Sarah. Even before anyone else got the chance to figure out what was going on, she had it resolved.
I guess that's about it. It was a quick, enjoyable read with several hot scenes that had my cheeks flaming. Gah! Too much said.
I've read two books by this author. The one I loved (The Ex Games) and the other came out below average (Love Story). So I thought I'd give her a chance to win my better opinion.
I was surprised.
First, because I was clearly not expecting a HOT New Adult title. And second, because I ended up loving it! I loved the drama, the characters, the complications. It was so well put together, that I couldn't help it - I just had to go on and on until the end.
Sarah works for Stargazer - a company that helps keep music artists/bands on track with their contracts when major drama seems to overwhelm them. One such band is The Cheatin' Hearts. They're a country band that gained huge popularity and became one of the nation's favorites. There's just one problem - they seem to be falling apart. So, Sarah is sent over to make them record an album in time for their Fourth of July concert.
She did not expect to find what she did though. I was impressed by her observant skills, though she got some things completely wrong. But Sarah had a quick wit, a good head on her shoulders and a heart open for real love. She was daring, though she only believed she acted it out. She was pretty, and she had the means to make any man fall head over heels for her. It just had to be the right man.
The band was a curious thing in and of itself. All four members of it, were medically educated. There was a nurse, a doctor and I'm sorry I couldn't remember Erin and Owen's professional credentials. They were an odd bunch with (mostly) no secrets among them. And they had three very important rules set up:
1. No one sleeps with Erin
2. No drugs
3. No sleeping with representatives of the record company
Tough ones, seeing that none of them were being kept. And oh, the rules were being broken secretly.
The Cheatin' Hearts lead singer, Quentin, is rumored to be a drug addict. The truth was completely different, but no one believed him, so he'd decided to go with the flow. Besides his rumored addiction had gotten the band a contract. From then on, Quentin had turned into a band script writer - i.e. he determined what their publicity should entail. Most of the drama that happened around them was just a set up, a plot to make the news, to gain fans, to be popular. I ended up loving his brains :)
Martin was the drummer and the drug addict (on heroin), who was entirely too obvious about his addiction. But what amazed me was that he had his wits about most of the time. Is that possible? I'm not really informed. I liked him though, how cool he was in dangerous situations. How fast to act appropriately when everyone else was dumbstruck. I hope he gets clean in the next book or something.
Owen and Erin had a secret of their own. It was obvious to me and to Sarah. Even before anyone else got the chance to figure out what was going on, she had it resolved.
I guess that's about it. It was a quick, enjoyable read with several hot scenes that had my cheeks flaming. Gah! Too much said.
October 21, 2013
Read the original review here ---> GReads!
As a long time fan of Jennifer Echols' work, it's no doubt I'll read anything this woman publishes. Earlier this year I was introduced to her debut adult fiction, Star Crossed, the first in this series. She proved to handle the complexity and maturity of said drama, keeping in true fashion with her irresistible characters and engaging storyline. She's done it again with the follow up in this series, solidifying her place in adult romance.
Sarah has just gotten out of a bad job, that almost tanked her career as public relations expert at Stargazer. She's been given an opportunity to redeem herself with the south's hottest, and most hard to handle, country sensation The Cheatin' Hearts. Word on the street is they're about to break up, just before their next album is due in the hands of their record company. So Sarah is sent down to Alabama to smooth things over, keep the band from falling a part, and produce an album the record company will be satisfied with.
What Sarah walks into is a mess she wasn't quite expecting. The band has other thoughts on how they're going to handle this pink-haired hard ass from New York City. While scheming their own story to keep Sarah on the fringes of what's really going on, Sarah takes a liking to their lead singer Quentin. He appears to be the coke addict everyone says he is, complete with the hick accent, and zero tolerance for anyone telling him what to do.
From the reader's perspective the narrative is told from both sides of the story, so we see the truth behind Sarah's motives and Quentin's games. Sarah has to get a finished record out of Quentin and his band mates in just ten days, while Quentin and his crew have to keep up the facade they've created just long enough to get the job done. The dynamic between Sarah and Quentin was a lot of fun to read about. They had instant chemistry from the beginning. I really enjoyed the moments when one or the other would slip up and reveal a bit of their true colors.
Fans of Jennifer Echols will be pleased by this next installment in the Stargazer series. I was pleasantly won over by Quentin's character, who actually reminded me a little of a grown-up Adam from Echols' previous work Endless Summer. His humor and boyish charm stole the scene for me, and his ability to sing while playing bass was a nice bonus too! I definitely recommend this book, and since it follows a new storyline, readers don't necessarily have to read these books in order. However we do see glimpses of Wendy and Daniel from the first novel, which was a sweet surprise!
As a long time fan of Jennifer Echols' work, it's no doubt I'll read anything this woman publishes. Earlier this year I was introduced to her debut adult fiction, Star Crossed, the first in this series. She proved to handle the complexity and maturity of said drama, keeping in true fashion with her irresistible characters and engaging storyline. She's done it again with the follow up in this series, solidifying her place in adult romance.
Sarah has just gotten out of a bad job, that almost tanked her career as public relations expert at Stargazer. She's been given an opportunity to redeem herself with the south's hottest, and most hard to handle, country sensation The Cheatin' Hearts. Word on the street is they're about to break up, just before their next album is due in the hands of their record company. So Sarah is sent down to Alabama to smooth things over, keep the band from falling a part, and produce an album the record company will be satisfied with.
What Sarah walks into is a mess she wasn't quite expecting. The band has other thoughts on how they're going to handle this pink-haired hard ass from New York City. While scheming their own story to keep Sarah on the fringes of what's really going on, Sarah takes a liking to their lead singer Quentin. He appears to be the coke addict everyone says he is, complete with the hick accent, and zero tolerance for anyone telling him what to do.
From the reader's perspective the narrative is told from both sides of the story, so we see the truth behind Sarah's motives and Quentin's games. Sarah has to get a finished record out of Quentin and his band mates in just ten days, while Quentin and his crew have to keep up the facade they've created just long enough to get the job done. The dynamic between Sarah and Quentin was a lot of fun to read about. They had instant chemistry from the beginning. I really enjoyed the moments when one or the other would slip up and reveal a bit of their true colors.
Fans of Jennifer Echols will be pleased by this next installment in the Stargazer series. I was pleasantly won over by Quentin's character, who actually reminded me a little of a grown-up Adam from Echols' previous work Endless Summer. His humor and boyish charm stole the scene for me, and his ability to sing while playing bass was a nice bonus too! I definitely recommend this book, and since it follows a new storyline, readers don't necessarily have to read these books in order. However we do see glimpses of Wendy and Daniel from the first novel, which was a sweet surprise!
October 26, 2013
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I received this book after I requested it on Netgalley for an honest review.
When I saw that Jennifer Echols wrote this novel, I had to read it. I always enjoy reading her books and Playing Dirty is not different.
If I’m not mistaken, it’s her second adult romance – the books in this series can be read as stand alone books – and let me tell you, it’s a success. While it took me a little while to warm up to the story and the characters, once I did I couldn’t wait to read more chapters until all the secrets were revealed and played out. For that, the title is fitting!
The whole novel takes place in a short span of time, roughly ten days, so the attraction between the main characters – Sarah and Quentin – is quite fast and my taste is more into slow building kind of attraction so it took a little time to warm up to these characters, but that’s where the author is quite the genius here because the use of the mind games and secrets make it believable and I ended up falling for them all.
But even if I loved this book and the characters – even the secondary ones – I must say that I’m a little disappointed that the whole crazy twist at the end of the novel wasn’t more intense and edgy. I think that it would have deserved a few more scenes to get us, the readers, biting our nails until the end. Please, tell me I’m not the only one or I’m going to think that I’m a blasé reader.
I enjoyed reading these scenes between Sarah and Quentin while they were trying to hide behind another persona and yet unraveling in some little thrilling ways to each other, sometimes without the other really knowing it. It was both sweet and thrilling and it hooked me maybe around 25% or 30% of the Netgalley copy I have.
The chemistry between these two wasn’t always obvious in a way. That’s why I’m not rating it five stars. In this genre, I need to be enthralled, I need to feel the chemistry and here, I couldn’t sometimes. Also, once they opened their eyes, it was “too easy”. I’m picky, I know.
But you know what? There’s one character that has me more interested and it’s a secondary one. Martin. I can’t develop much or else there would be spoilers, but I would LOVE to read his story next.
So yes, this book is great, hot, fun and quite thrilling too and I think you should read it. Is it a book I will remember in a year or so? Probably not, but to tell you the truth, this novel has not that kind of pretence.
In the end, I can affirm again that Jennifer Echols is on my auto-buy list. I always know that I will have a great time with her books – the ones for adults and for teens.
I received this book after I requested it on Netgalley for an honest review.
When I saw that Jennifer Echols wrote this novel, I had to read it. I always enjoy reading her books and Playing Dirty is not different.
If I’m not mistaken, it’s her second adult romance – the books in this series can be read as stand alone books – and let me tell you, it’s a success. While it took me a little while to warm up to the story and the characters, once I did I couldn’t wait to read more chapters until all the secrets were revealed and played out. For that, the title is fitting!
The whole novel takes place in a short span of time, roughly ten days, so the attraction between the main characters – Sarah and Quentin – is quite fast and my taste is more into slow building kind of attraction so it took a little time to warm up to these characters, but that’s where the author is quite the genius here because the use of the mind games and secrets make it believable and I ended up falling for them all.
But even if I loved this book and the characters – even the secondary ones – I must say that I’m a little disappointed that the whole crazy twist at the end of the novel wasn’t more intense and edgy. I think that it would have deserved a few more scenes to get us, the readers, biting our nails until the end. Please, tell me I’m not the only one or I’m going to think that I’m a blasé reader.
I enjoyed reading these scenes between Sarah and Quentin while they were trying to hide behind another persona and yet unraveling in some little thrilling ways to each other, sometimes without the other really knowing it. It was both sweet and thrilling and it hooked me maybe around 25% or 30% of the Netgalley copy I have.
The chemistry between these two wasn’t always obvious in a way. That’s why I’m not rating it five stars. In this genre, I need to be enthralled, I need to feel the chemistry and here, I couldn’t sometimes. Also, once they opened their eyes, it was “too easy”. I’m picky, I know.
But you know what? There’s one character that has me more interested and it’s a secondary one. Martin. I can’t develop much or else there would be spoilers, but I would LOVE to read his story next.
So yes, this book is great, hot, fun and quite thrilling too and I think you should read it. Is it a book I will remember in a year or so? Probably not, but to tell you the truth, this novel has not that kind of pretence.
In the end, I can affirm again that Jennifer Echols is on my auto-buy list. I always know that I will have a great time with her books – the ones for adults and for teens.
December 6, 2013
So, I finished this book and got on GR all ready to gush about how much I loved it.... Then I saw all of these low scoring and dnf reviews. And I was confused. Surely we didn't all read the same book, I thought. So I decided to give it a few days to simmer, thinking I would come back when I had let my thoughts settle a bit.
And I still love this book.
Ok, I'll admit that as soon as I realized that the majority of it was going to be set in Alabama, I was pretty happy. I love anything set in my home state, even though I generally end up disappointed by authors who, in reality, have probably never been here and are writing based on stereotypes. The further I read, the stronger my suspicion that Ms Echols had grown up here (apparently correct based on her bio). The details and obvious fondness for the area came through in her writing. I really appreciated that.
But aside from that, I really liked these characters! Quentin is a total goof ball, and Sarah is trying so hard to be something that just does not come naturally to her. They relationship and interactions were adorable. I also loved the side characters, like Sarahs mother and the band members. Yeah, they didn't have as much page-time, but I thought their personalities came through anyway.
Now I will give those detractors their due, cause when you're right, you're right. The plot and lying and secrets got a bit convoluted and confusing. It seemed to me that from pretty early on Quentin had basically told Sarah most of the truth of how the band was lying to the world, but then he doesn't reveal one particular lie (for no apparent reason) which just ends up making things more complicated than they needed to be. It was weird. There was also a weird moment near the end where I felt Sarah did a total about-face from how her character was written which felt very off.
Overall though, I came away from this book making Happy-Book-Sound, and honestly, there is just nothing better than that. I would say that if you are on the fence about this one, give it a shot. You might be surprised.
Copy courtesy of Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
And I still love this book.
Ok, I'll admit that as soon as I realized that the majority of it was going to be set in Alabama, I was pretty happy. I love anything set in my home state, even though I generally end up disappointed by authors who, in reality, have probably never been here and are writing based on stereotypes. The further I read, the stronger my suspicion that Ms Echols had grown up here (apparently correct based on her bio). The details and obvious fondness for the area came through in her writing. I really appreciated that.
But aside from that, I really liked these characters! Quentin is a total goof ball, and Sarah is trying so hard to be something that just does not come naturally to her. They relationship and interactions were adorable. I also loved the side characters, like Sarahs mother and the band members. Yeah, they didn't have as much page-time, but I thought their personalities came through anyway.
Now I will give those detractors their due, cause when you're right, you're right. The plot and lying and secrets got a bit convoluted and confusing. It seemed to me that from pretty early on Quentin had basically told Sarah most of the truth of how the band was lying to the world, but then he doesn't reveal one particular lie (for no apparent reason) which just ends up making things more complicated than they needed to be. It was weird. There was also a weird moment near the end where I felt Sarah did a total about-face from how her character was written which felt very off.
Overall though, I came away from this book making Happy-Book-Sound, and honestly, there is just nothing better than that. I would say that if you are on the fence about this one, give it a shot. You might be surprised.
Copy courtesy of Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2016
I love Echols’ Young Adult novels. Each time I read one, I fall a little bit more in love. So when I got the chance to read one of her Adult novels, I was excited. For the majority of the novel, I felt it was fantastic. The people have dimension and the plot line is interesting. I could see where things were headed, but I still wanted to read more. The last few chapters were a little heavy on the drama for my tastes, but I still enjoyed the novel as a whole.
Sarah has just returned from South America where she tackled a crazed rock star problem for the PR firm she works for. Despite her success in securing an album from Nine Lives, he still ended up in jail, leaving Sarah's job with the agency in question. With her future on the line, she is given the task of keeping The Cheatin' Hearts, a country band, from breaking up. They must deliver a new record in a week and perform at a 4th of July nationally televised concert. Sarah goes in prepared, but ends up having to change her game at every turn.
The characters that make up the band are interesting and easily held their own. Erin, the female of the group, has a lot more beneath the surface. She puts on a Daisy Duke southern chick act, but it is easy to see that she's not completely that person. That might be a piece of her, but there's a lot more to her. Owen, the drummer, has the reputation of being the sweet, albeit slightly slower, member of the group. But like Erin, it's an act the public buys and wants more of. Martin is the musical genius that isn't as put together as well as everyone thinks. And Quentin is the leader, the one that makes the pop hits and big decisions for the group even while acting like an uneducated hick. They all bring so much to the story that I could easily read a book about each of them.
The romance part of the novel wasn't exactly my cup of tea, in that it moved extremely fast and while it was easy to get caught up in it, it was also easy to remember that this novel takes place in about the span of two weeks. I felt like I could go along with it up until the end of the novel, when I kind of wanted to hit the brakes hard.
Overall, Echols has a good Adult novel. I'm still loving her YA novels more, but the balance between characters and drama in Playing Dirty was good. Once I was sucked into the novel it took a lot to pull me back out and that's enough for me to still be interested in reading whatever Echols publishes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pocket Books for an advanced copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
Sarah has just returned from South America where she tackled a crazed rock star problem for the PR firm she works for. Despite her success in securing an album from Nine Lives, he still ended up in jail, leaving Sarah's job with the agency in question. With her future on the line, she is given the task of keeping The Cheatin' Hearts, a country band, from breaking up. They must deliver a new record in a week and perform at a 4th of July nationally televised concert. Sarah goes in prepared, but ends up having to change her game at every turn.
The characters that make up the band are interesting and easily held their own. Erin, the female of the group, has a lot more beneath the surface. She puts on a Daisy Duke southern chick act, but it is easy to see that she's not completely that person. That might be a piece of her, but there's a lot more to her. Owen, the drummer, has the reputation of being the sweet, albeit slightly slower, member of the group. But like Erin, it's an act the public buys and wants more of. Martin is the musical genius that isn't as put together as well as everyone thinks. And Quentin is the leader, the one that makes the pop hits and big decisions for the group even while acting like an uneducated hick. They all bring so much to the story that I could easily read a book about each of them.
The romance part of the novel wasn't exactly my cup of tea, in that it moved extremely fast and while it was easy to get caught up in it, it was also easy to remember that this novel takes place in about the span of two weeks. I felt like I could go along with it up until the end of the novel, when I kind of wanted to hit the brakes hard.
Overall, Echols has a good Adult novel. I'm still loving her YA novels more, but the balance between characters and drama in Playing Dirty was good. Once I was sucked into the novel it took a lot to pull me back out and that's enough for me to still be interested in reading whatever Echols publishes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pocket Books for an advanced copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
March 7, 2014
Boricuan Bookworms- Book Reviews
Jennifer Echols is always a go-to author whenever I want a romance filled read. Playing Dirty is no different. We meet Sarah, a publicity agent who desperately needs to nail her next assignment if she wants to keep her job. Sarah's new task is to keep Quentin's band together, at least until they finish their new album. What Sarah doesn't expect, is that the band is keeping secrets from her, and she can't help but notice how attractive Quentin is. Falling for Quentin isn't part of the job, but if that's the only way to keep the band together, who is she to say no? Who said playing dirty wasn't complicated?
Despite my 3-star rating, I did genuinely enjoy this book. I was glued to the pages and couldn't put it down until I finished. My problems with this book was that I thought there were too many subplots. I found it difficult to concentrate on one problem, when there were so many going around. Maybe if the book only concentrated on one issue, or fleshed out all the other issues, then it would have been less confusing. There was also this problem where everyone was keeping secrets. I was infuriated with all of them because they couldn't just say what they were thinking and done.
Nevertheless, if you ignored these two issues, the book was actually very good. I had no idea this book wasn't YA, yet that didn't stop me from enjoying it.
Quentin and Sarah are both narrators in this book, and I think their voices were portrayed very well. Quentin genuinely sounded like a guy, which sometimes is difficult to achieve with these kinds of books.
Their romance didn't scream insta-love, it maybe whispered at insta-attraction. Attraction is common, so one really couldn't argue that the romance was bad. I liked their romance. I loved seeing them fall for each other slowly; they were mischievous and playful around each other, which was really cute to see.
I really liked seeing the stories of some of the secondary characters, and can't help but to hope the next book in this series is centered around one of them.
Overall, a great guilty pleasure read that will satisfy those searching for a cute romance.
Rating: 3 stars
Jennifer Echols is always a go-to author whenever I want a romance filled read. Playing Dirty is no different. We meet Sarah, a publicity agent who desperately needs to nail her next assignment if she wants to keep her job. Sarah's new task is to keep Quentin's band together, at least until they finish their new album. What Sarah doesn't expect, is that the band is keeping secrets from her, and she can't help but notice how attractive Quentin is. Falling for Quentin isn't part of the job, but if that's the only way to keep the band together, who is she to say no? Who said playing dirty wasn't complicated?
Despite my 3-star rating, I did genuinely enjoy this book. I was glued to the pages and couldn't put it down until I finished. My problems with this book was that I thought there were too many subplots. I found it difficult to concentrate on one problem, when there were so many going around. Maybe if the book only concentrated on one issue, or fleshed out all the other issues, then it would have been less confusing. There was also this problem where everyone was keeping secrets. I was infuriated with all of them because they couldn't just say what they were thinking and done.
Nevertheless, if you ignored these two issues, the book was actually very good. I had no idea this book wasn't YA, yet that didn't stop me from enjoying it.
Quentin and Sarah are both narrators in this book, and I think their voices were portrayed very well. Quentin genuinely sounded like a guy, which sometimes is difficult to achieve with these kinds of books.
Their romance didn't scream insta-love, it maybe whispered at insta-attraction. Attraction is common, so one really couldn't argue that the romance was bad. I liked their romance. I loved seeing them fall for each other slowly; they were mischievous and playful around each other, which was really cute to see.
I really liked seeing the stories of some of the secondary characters, and can't help but to hope the next book in this series is centered around one of them.
Overall, a great guilty pleasure read that will satisfy those searching for a cute romance.
Rating: 3 stars
Read
April 24, 2015I selected this as part of my 5 Romance Novels At Once! super-fun research project hoping to discover new authors to love. This is my first Jennifer Echols.
Intro/Prologue/Ch 1
Not as good as Jill Shalvis, but already funny and I’m still thinking about it several hours later. The hero and heroine haven’t met yet, but it’s already going off in a direction I didn’t expect. The heroine is a PR agent intending to whip a country band into shape and the hero is the lead singer who has been faking their bad reputation for publicity, but really does have something to hide now…
Ch 2 - p245
Okay, I got really hooked on this one up to now. Now, I'm irritated. Everyone else can see that the hero is a lot more intelligent, articulate, thoughtful than the heroine. She is stuck on all of her initial impressions. She literally thinks, Oh, we'd be great together except I'm so much smarter than him. It is so obvious that there is more going on beneath the surface. Plus, four more things:
I had to put the book down. I'm so irritated. I skipped to the end and I don't think it's going to be redeemed. I think it's going to go in some weird direction about her last job or something. Really irritated. Really.
Intro/Prologue/Ch 1
Not as good as Jill Shalvis, but already funny and I’m still thinking about it several hours later. The hero and heroine haven’t met yet, but it’s already going off in a direction I didn’t expect. The heroine is a PR agent intending to whip a country band into shape and the hero is the lead singer who has been faking their bad reputation for publicity, but really does have something to hide now…
Ch 2 - p245
Okay, I got really hooked on this one up to now. Now, I'm irritated. Everyone else can see that the hero is a lot more intelligent, articulate, thoughtful than the heroine. She is stuck on all of her initial impressions. She literally thinks, Oh, we'd be great together except I'm so much smarter than him. It is so obvious that there is more going on beneath the surface. Plus, four more things:
I had to put the book down. I'm so irritated. I skipped to the end and I don't think it's going to be redeemed. I think it's going to go in some weird direction about her last job or something. Really irritated. Really.
November 7, 2013
This review can also be found at http://www.not-so-literary-heiresses.com.
So I'm finally done with the last class of the last semester of my postgrad program, and thought I'd read a nice, fluffy, romcom-y book to decompress. I chose this new Jennifer Echols release because I remember liking some of her previous books (mostly the YA ones), and with a hot lead singer and a PR hotshot as the main characters, I thought I would like this one for sure. I kept on thinking that for the first couple of chapters, and then...
Confusion. Just a whole lot of confusion. I don't want to hurt my brain further by rehashing specific details of the story, but here's what you need to know: Quentin and the rest of the band members lie to Sarah, then Quentin and Sarah turn around and join forces and lie to the band (or at least Sarah thinks they do), and at the same time the fiddle player and the drummer are lying to the rest of the band while the guitarist lies to everyone and Quentin knows this so he's lying about this too.
Confused yet? All of this lying and counter-lying pretty much happen throughout the whole 448 pages of the book, and most of the lies and the convoluted reasons behind them don't even make sense. Now, the last thing I need after twelve weeks of reading academic journals and textbooks is a romance novel that doesn't make sense. So please excuse me if I'm ranting a bit.
I'm pretty sure I had a scowl on my my face as I read the last half of the book, and by the last 50 pages I didn't really care about what was going to happen, except that oh, the climax featured a really strange bee venom-dosing villain and his minions so I was, like, WTF??!
I'm not rating this with one star because the author doesn't write as badly as some of the authors I've read and given one-star ratings to, and to be fair, the premise of her plot was somewhat interesting, as were some of the characters. But that's all. I'm so upset I that I chose to celebrate the end my self-proclaimed period of serious studying with this book. So I am writing this review at three in the morning to vent a little and maybe give a little warning: if you like books that make sense, this might not be the book for you.
So I'm finally done with the last class of the last semester of my postgrad program, and thought I'd read a nice, fluffy, romcom-y book to decompress. I chose this new Jennifer Echols release because I remember liking some of her previous books (mostly the YA ones), and with a hot lead singer and a PR hotshot as the main characters, I thought I would like this one for sure. I kept on thinking that for the first couple of chapters, and then...
Confusion. Just a whole lot of confusion. I don't want to hurt my brain further by rehashing specific details of the story, but here's what you need to know: Quentin and the rest of the band members lie to Sarah, then Quentin and Sarah turn around and join forces and lie to the band (or at least Sarah thinks they do), and at the same time the fiddle player and the drummer are lying to the rest of the band while the guitarist lies to everyone and Quentin knows this so he's lying about this too.
Confused yet? All of this lying and counter-lying pretty much happen throughout the whole 448 pages of the book, and most of the lies and the convoluted reasons behind them don't even make sense. Now, the last thing I need after twelve weeks of reading academic journals and textbooks is a romance novel that doesn't make sense. So please excuse me if I'm ranting a bit.
I'm pretty sure I had a scowl on my my face as I read the last half of the book, and by the last 50 pages I didn't really care about what was going to happen, except that oh, the climax featured a really strange bee venom-dosing villain and his minions so I was, like, WTF??!
I'm not rating this with one star because the author doesn't write as badly as some of the authors I've read and given one-star ratings to, and to be fair, the premise of her plot was somewhat interesting, as were some of the characters. But that's all. I'm so upset I that I chose to celebrate the end my self-proclaimed period of serious studying with this book. So I am writing this review at three in the morning to vent a little and maybe give a little warning: if you like books that make sense, this might not be the book for you.
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