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Play Makers Shorts #1
Play by Play
Former college football star Jake Dublin’s wildly popular sports blog also details his personal life. And lately it’s all about Sophie, the pretty young woman who just moved into his apartment building. His readers know her only as “Elevator Girl,” and they’re all rooting for Jake to score.
The blog posts and banter with his followers are all in good fun, and he fully intends to come clean with the woman he’s wooing and wowing. That is, until she confides that she grew up in a house full of jocks and even dated a few. Her verdict? Never again!
Jake knows he needs to confess. But somewhere along the line he fell in love with Sophie and can’t stand the thought of losing her. So he procrastinates, and blogs, and digs himself deeper into a hole, until it all leads to a showdown that’s so nail-biting, not even the best play-by-play guy could ever have seen it coming.
The blog posts and banter with his followers are all in good fun, and he fully intends to come clean with the woman he’s wooing and wowing. That is, until she confides that she grew up in a house full of jocks and even dated a few. Her verdict? Never again!
Jake knows he needs to confess. But somewhere along the line he fell in love with Sophie and can’t stand the thought of losing her. So he procrastinates, and blogs, and digs himself deeper into a hole, until it all leads to a showdown that’s so nail-biting, not even the best play-by-play guy could ever have seen it coming.
85 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 9, 2013
19 people are currently reading
632 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
January 15, 2015
2 - Unsurprising Stars.
I think it is always best to keep your expectations manageable when it comes to reading novellas; any author is going to struggle to give the reader any major depth or development to a story or it's characters in a book that is 80 odd pages long.
Kate Donovan’s first installment in the Play Makers series sets the scene well, and offers a little cute ‘behind closed doors’ romance on the side. I liked Jake and Sophie ‘Elevator Girl’ pretty well, and the fact that as a reader we know their stories well before either character truly does, made it easy to follow along! Sports-Blogger falls for Sports-Hater!
This is a pretty quick read and a sweet story, and I really liked the inclusion of the blog posts to the mix.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
I think it is always best to keep your expectations manageable when it comes to reading novellas; any author is going to struggle to give the reader any major depth or development to a story or it's characters in a book that is 80 odd pages long.
Kate Donovan’s first installment in the Play Makers series sets the scene well, and offers a little cute ‘behind closed doors’ romance on the side. I liked Jake and Sophie ‘Elevator Girl’ pretty well, and the fact that as a reader we know their stories well before either character truly does, made it easy to follow along! Sports-Blogger falls for Sports-Hater!
This is a pretty quick read and a sweet story, and I really liked the inclusion of the blog posts to the mix.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
September 17, 2013
3.5 Stars
This was a sweet little novella. Jake meets Sophie in the elevator at their apartment complex. Sophie is just moving in and Jake wants to ask her out. Jake is a sports blogger and starts blogging about their meet in the elevator and Sophie is dubbed Elevator Girl.
Sophie wants nothing to do with any jocks. She has lived with them her whole life and dated some and she has had enough. Once she and Jake start talking and going on runs, she tells him this and therefore he avoids telling her that he used to play football until an injury halted his career. He continues to blog about their dates and keeps saying he is going to come clean but never does until its too late.
Although there were no actual love scenes, there was a lot of sweetness between Jake and Sophie. This was just a nice little feel good story plus the blog posts from Jake were pretty funny.
*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
This was a sweet little novella. Jake meets Sophie in the elevator at their apartment complex. Sophie is just moving in and Jake wants to ask her out. Jake is a sports blogger and starts blogging about their meet in the elevator and Sophie is dubbed Elevator Girl.
Sophie wants nothing to do with any jocks. She has lived with them her whole life and dated some and she has had enough. Once she and Jake start talking and going on runs, she tells him this and therefore he avoids telling her that he used to play football until an injury halted his career. He continues to blog about their dates and keeps saying he is going to come clean but never does until its too late.
Although there were no actual love scenes, there was a lot of sweetness between Jake and Sophie. This was just a nice little feel good story plus the blog posts from Jake were pretty funny.
*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
September 15, 2013
My reaction when I finished!
Not my cup of sports romance. The cover is really hot and the blurb sounded good. However when I read it I kept waiting for the story and the romance to start.... and then it was over.
My first issue is that the "romance" or lack thereof, stopped at the bedroom door. If you are going to categorize this as a romance and have a half naked guy on the cover, I want to actually read about the characters falling in love and how they feel about each other and I want all the sexy, dirty, details. I want bodies pushed up against doors and groping because they can't control themselves around each other. I want grinding body parts and multiple orgasms. I want to be in bed with the characters and I want to feel what they are feeling. Otherwise, this should have been categorized as a young adult. I would let my 14 year old daughter read this.
Another problem I have is with Sophie. I was fine with her until... until she found out what Jakes real last name was and she was like "oh, its cool. We've only known each other for like a week and I totally don't think you're a creeper or serial killer". But when she finds out he's a sports writer... OH EM GEE! That is betrayal on a nuclear level. This is relationship ending stuff folks! Seriously, get some real issues to be upset about.
Maybe I didn't like it because I was expecting "romance" and got "young adult" instead? Also, let me be clear... I don't hate anything a I read. I can never hate the written word. But I can not like things and I didn't like this for me.
Overall... this short, 85 page novella did not work for me. But that is just my opinion. However, if you are looking for a cute, G rated, young adult, "sports related" romance then you might give this a try. Looks like its $.99 on Amazon right now and I really think this should be a free read. Well anyway, because I want the sexy stuff, I personally wouldn't waist money on this.
I received a copy of this book from Kate Donovan via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Not my cup of sports romance. The cover is really hot and the blurb sounded good. However when I read it I kept waiting for the story and the romance to start.... and then it was over.
My first issue is that the "romance" or lack thereof, stopped at the bedroom door. If you are going to categorize this as a romance and have a half naked guy on the cover, I want to actually read about the characters falling in love and how they feel about each other and I want all the sexy, dirty, details. I want bodies pushed up against doors and groping because they can't control themselves around each other. I want grinding body parts and multiple orgasms. I want to be in bed with the characters and I want to feel what they are feeling. Otherwise, this should have been categorized as a young adult. I would let my 14 year old daughter read this.
Another problem I have is with Sophie. I was fine with her until... until she found out what Jakes real last name was and she was like "oh, its cool. We've only known each other for like a week and I totally don't think you're a creeper or serial killer". But when she finds out he's a sports writer... OH EM GEE! That is betrayal on a nuclear level. This is relationship ending stuff folks! Seriously, get some real issues to be upset about.
Maybe I didn't like it because I was expecting "romance" and got "young adult" instead? Also, let me be clear... I don't hate anything a I read. I can never hate the written word. But I can not like things and I didn't like this for me.
Overall... this short, 85 page novella did not work for me. But that is just my opinion. However, if you are looking for a cute, G rated, young adult, "sports related" romance then you might give this a try. Looks like its $.99 on Amazon right now and I really think this should be a free read. Well anyway, because I want the sexy stuff, I personally wouldn't waist money on this.
I received a copy of this book from Kate Donovan via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 18, 2013
I wasn’t sure about this one going in. It started off with several “blog entries”, and I saw myself hating this book real fast. However, it is incredibly rare for me to give up on a book this early in the game, so I kept on reading.
After a few “blog entries” the book changed to tell the story from a third person’s point of view, alternating between the two main characters. Every now and then a new “blog entry” pops up, breaking up the pace, and even though it might sound like a bad thing, it actually works!
Jake is the ex-jock with a blog where he writes about things that are important to him and about American Football. He doesn’t take himself too seriously, and is generally both a funny and a fun guy.
Sophie is the new girl in the building, and is Jake’s latest obsession. He falls heads over heels for her, and is anxious to get to know her. But Sophie, even though she likes Jake, recently got out of a bad relationship, and decides to make Jake work for it before making her mind up about him. And work he does!
A lot of hilarity ensues and you can’t help but feel a little sorry for the guy. He manages to murk up the waters quite a bit, and his trying to find a way out is amusing. But as all stories go, it ends with a happy ending.
The story feels a little rushed towards the end. It would have benefited from an extra chapter or two, that would fill in some of the blanks you’re left with. This is why I’m docking half a star. One thing I found quite strange, is that the author fades to black every time the characters get hot and heavy. It is the first sports romance I’ve read that does this. I can’t decide if I like it or not.
Review can also be found at From the Bottom of a Frappe.
I received this book as an e-galley from Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.
After a few “blog entries” the book changed to tell the story from a third person’s point of view, alternating between the two main characters. Every now and then a new “blog entry” pops up, breaking up the pace, and even though it might sound like a bad thing, it actually works!
Jake is the ex-jock with a blog where he writes about things that are important to him and about American Football. He doesn’t take himself too seriously, and is generally both a funny and a fun guy.
Sophie is the new girl in the building, and is Jake’s latest obsession. He falls heads over heels for her, and is anxious to get to know her. But Sophie, even though she likes Jake, recently got out of a bad relationship, and decides to make Jake work for it before making her mind up about him. And work he does!
A lot of hilarity ensues and you can’t help but feel a little sorry for the guy. He manages to murk up the waters quite a bit, and his trying to find a way out is amusing. But as all stories go, it ends with a happy ending.
The story feels a little rushed towards the end. It would have benefited from an extra chapter or two, that would fill in some of the blanks you’re left with. This is why I’m docking half a star. One thing I found quite strange, is that the author fades to black every time the characters get hot and heavy. It is the first sports romance I’ve read that does this. I can’t decide if I like it or not.
Review can also be found at From the Bottom of a Frappe.
I received this book as an e-galley from Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.
September 16, 2013
This was somewhat disappointing yet also a cute short 'in-between' read. Disappointing because 1. The sexy times were very fade to black and with that hot cover I was anticipating much more :( 2. The mc's fell in love after knowing each other a few weeks, which can sometimes be done ok but in this case it was too fast for my liking. Other than those two (mega) issues, it was a cute and funny short romance to read before I start a longer book. I really liked Jake's blog entries! Those were my favorite parts. Even though this one wasn't a major hit for me, I liked the author's writing style and will be checking into her other stuff! :)
September 14, 2013
This was a fun, short little read! I really enjoyed when Jake was writing his sports blog and the comments! They had me cracking up at some points! As he runs on about sports and Elevator girl, as he refers to his new neighbor, while he attempts to win her over before she finds out who he is.
I have not read any of the other books in this series but if they are at all as fun as this short novella I will have to check them out!
***This book was provided to me by Netgalley!
I have not read any of the other books in this series but if they are at all as fun as this short novella I will have to check them out!
***This book was provided to me by Netgalley!
January 13, 2016
This started off ok but became quite tiresome for me.
The storyline got buried quite a lot with stuff we didn't need to know and tbh I don't like either of the main characters.
He's a jock, she hates jocks, she doesn't know he's a jock, they date, now he has to tell her but obviously doesn't and bla bla bla. I wasn't even curious to know how it panned out. She went from keeping him at arms length to saying they r perfect together after one date! Nope and nope
The storyline got buried quite a lot with stuff we didn't need to know and tbh I don't like either of the main characters.
He's a jock, she hates jocks, she doesn't know he's a jock, they date, now he has to tell her but obviously doesn't and bla bla bla. I wasn't even curious to know how it panned out. She went from keeping him at arms length to saying they r perfect together after one date! Nope and nope
September 30, 2013
Despite the very lusty cover the steam in this book is low. This is fine with me as at its heart this book is a sweet romance about a nice guy and a nice girl finding love with some wit and football thrown in. I really like the break of man hos and overly feisty ladies.
The book is charming but the opening is rough. I don't care for the hero much as first even though he is funny in his blog posts. There is just something off putting in how he discusses his past relationships. The book needs to spend a bit less time on sports and thinking about the relationship and have more couple time to really hold my interest.
Never the less, the concept of the book is fun and I will be on the look out for other books in this series and by this writer.
I was given this book for my honest review. So, there you have it.
Merged review:
Play by Play (Play Makers #1) Review Former college football star Jake Dublin’s wildly popular sports blog also details his personal life. And lately it’s all about Sophie, the pretty young woman who just moved into his apartment building. His readers know her only as “Elevator Girl,” and they’re all rooting for Jake to score.The blog posts and banter with his followers are all in good fun, and he fully intends to come clean with the woman he’s wooing and wowing. That is, until she confides that she grew up in a house full of jocks and even dated a few. Her verdict? Never again!Jake knows he needs to confess. But somewhere along the line he fell in love with Sophie and can’t stand the thought of losing her. So he procrastinates, and blogs, and digs himself deeper into a hole, until it all leads to a showdown that’s so nail-biting, not even the best play-by-play guy could ever have seen it coming
Review
Despite the very lusty cover the steam in this book is low. This is fine with me as at its heart this book is a sweet romance about a nice guy and a nice girl finding love with some wit and football thrown in. I really like the break of man hos and overly feisty ladies.
The book is charming but the opening is rough. I don't care for the hero much as first even though he is funny in his blog posts. There is just something off putting in how he discusses his past relationships.
The book needs to spend a bit less time on sports and thinking about the relationship and have more couple time to really hold my interest.
Never the less, the concept of the book is fun and I will be on the look out for other books in this series and by this writer.
I was given this book for my honest review. So, there you have it.
The book is charming but the opening is rough. I don't care for the hero much as first even though he is funny in his blog posts. There is just something off putting in how he discusses his past relationships. The book needs to spend a bit less time on sports and thinking about the relationship and have more couple time to really hold my interest.
Never the less, the concept of the book is fun and I will be on the look out for other books in this series and by this writer.
I was given this book for my honest review. So, there you have it.
Merged review:
Play by Play (Play Makers #1) Review Former college football star Jake Dublin’s wildly popular sports blog also details his personal life. And lately it’s all about Sophie, the pretty young woman who just moved into his apartment building. His readers know her only as “Elevator Girl,” and they’re all rooting for Jake to score.The blog posts and banter with his followers are all in good fun, and he fully intends to come clean with the woman he’s wooing and wowing. That is, until she confides that she grew up in a house full of jocks and even dated a few. Her verdict? Never again!Jake knows he needs to confess. But somewhere along the line he fell in love with Sophie and can’t stand the thought of losing her. So he procrastinates, and blogs, and digs himself deeper into a hole, until it all leads to a showdown that’s so nail-biting, not even the best play-by-play guy could ever have seen it coming
Review
Despite the very lusty cover the steam in this book is low. This is fine with me as at its heart this book is a sweet romance about a nice guy and a nice girl finding love with some wit and football thrown in. I really like the break of man hos and overly feisty ladies.
The book is charming but the opening is rough. I don't care for the hero much as first even though he is funny in his blog posts. There is just something off putting in how he discusses his past relationships.
The book needs to spend a bit less time on sports and thinking about the relationship and have more couple time to really hold my interest.
Never the less, the concept of the book is fun and I will be on the look out for other books in this series and by this writer.
I was given this book for my honest review. So, there you have it.
December 7, 2014
**Review copy provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
I could have sworn I'd read something by Kate Donovan at some point before, but Goodreads tells me no. This is a novella (my Kindle says the story ends on page 65 of 86) that's fairly nicely put together - surprising, as novellas are usually a hard sell for me. It doesn't feel too long, or too short, though I do wish I had gotten to know Sophie, the heroine, a bit better.
For the most part Sophie just came off as a very talkative person - almost to the point of being a nervous talker. The contrivance of Jake not telling her was nearly as much her fault as it was his. At some point he should have just taken her shoulders and said it, but honestly, she should have stopped interrupting him and saying he could tell her later, too! After a while, I have to admit, it got old and I just wanted it to come out.
Of course, eventually it does; in the worst way possible. That heads into spoilery territory so I'll leave it there. Onto our hero...
Jake is adorable! I loved him from the start. He's got this great sense of humor that comes through in his thoughts and writings. His blog posts were lots of fun to read, and the comments were just as much. Another surprise for me, because I usually don't like tactics like that in books. Also, though there's a lot of suggestion, everything fades to black.
Again, color me surprised, because I liked it that way. It fit the story that was being told. I like when authors tell the story as it's meant to be told.
Play by Play is a cute, funny - made me laugh-out-loud more than once - and sweet romance. Kate Donovan has definitely put herself on my radar with this quick, fun book. I'll be looking for more from her. Apparently, there's actually a sequel that was just released - a full length novel - Playing for Keeps. I think I'll go grab it.
I could have sworn I'd read something by Kate Donovan at some point before, but Goodreads tells me no. This is a novella (my Kindle says the story ends on page 65 of 86) that's fairly nicely put together - surprising, as novellas are usually a hard sell for me. It doesn't feel too long, or too short, though I do wish I had gotten to know Sophie, the heroine, a bit better.
For the most part Sophie just came off as a very talkative person - almost to the point of being a nervous talker. The contrivance of Jake not telling her was nearly as much her fault as it was his. At some point he should have just taken her shoulders and said it, but honestly, she should have stopped interrupting him and saying he could tell her later, too! After a while, I have to admit, it got old and I just wanted it to come out.
Of course, eventually it does; in the worst way possible. That heads into spoilery territory so I'll leave it there. Onto our hero...
Jake is adorable! I loved him from the start. He's got this great sense of humor that comes through in his thoughts and writings. His blog posts were lots of fun to read, and the comments were just as much. Another surprise for me, because I usually don't like tactics like that in books. Also, though there's a lot of suggestion, everything fades to black.
Again, color me surprised, because I liked it that way. It fit the story that was being told. I like when authors tell the story as it's meant to be told.
Play by Play is a cute, funny - made me laugh-out-loud more than once - and sweet romance. Kate Donovan has definitely put herself on my radar with this quick, fun book. I'll be looking for more from her. Apparently, there's actually a sequel that was just released - a full length novel - Playing for Keeps. I think I'll go grab it.
October 21, 2013
ARC given by NetGalley for honest review.
Jake Dublin is a sports writer, and ex Notre Dame football player. After getting hurt during a game, he had to pack it in as a football player, but continued to share his love for sports. Jake was married for six years and divorced for two and no girlfriends since his ex wife. Their marriage was so painful that he just couldn't bear going through something like that again. He will always love her, but they both know they shouldn't have gotten married so young.
Sophie James is a lawyer, and just moved into the building Jake lives in. She had a bad break up, and had to move away to escape her stalker, and sports fanatic ex boyfriend, Daniel. So needless to say she doesn't want a guy into sports let alone anything new, until she runs into Jake in the elevator one day.
Jake met a woman that he just couldn't get out of his head. So what does he do? He starts to write about her in his sports blog and stalks the parking garage in hopes to bump into her again. With no success, he starts to lose hope until one day, he runs into her again in the elevator.
Sophie can not stop thinking about Jake, and she hasn't seen him recently. In hopes of discussing this further she calls her bestie Marcie. Well Marcie is totally against Sophie dating because of her past, so that was no help. She finally ran into Jake, and gave him her business card so that they can set up a time to jogging together.
After finding out she doesn't want a guy that's interested in sports, Jake decides to not say anything right away. Will this cause problems? Can they make it work? Will their pasts break them?
This was a short read but I enjoyed at least 90% of it. Lol I give this book 4 stars because I just couldn't get the hang of the blogging as chapters, but after the first couple chapters I was hooked. I like Sophie because although she wants to stay away, she still follows her heart. I like Jake because he refuses to give up at all costs. This is safe for anyone over 16 for sure.
Jake Dublin is a sports writer, and ex Notre Dame football player. After getting hurt during a game, he had to pack it in as a football player, but continued to share his love for sports. Jake was married for six years and divorced for two and no girlfriends since his ex wife. Their marriage was so painful that he just couldn't bear going through something like that again. He will always love her, but they both know they shouldn't have gotten married so young.
Sophie James is a lawyer, and just moved into the building Jake lives in. She had a bad break up, and had to move away to escape her stalker, and sports fanatic ex boyfriend, Daniel. So needless to say she doesn't want a guy into sports let alone anything new, until she runs into Jake in the elevator one day.
Jake met a woman that he just couldn't get out of his head. So what does he do? He starts to write about her in his sports blog and stalks the parking garage in hopes to bump into her again. With no success, he starts to lose hope until one day, he runs into her again in the elevator.
Sophie can not stop thinking about Jake, and she hasn't seen him recently. In hopes of discussing this further she calls her bestie Marcie. Well Marcie is totally against Sophie dating because of her past, so that was no help. She finally ran into Jake, and gave him her business card so that they can set up a time to jogging together.
After finding out she doesn't want a guy that's interested in sports, Jake decides to not say anything right away. Will this cause problems? Can they make it work? Will their pasts break them?
This was a short read but I enjoyed at least 90% of it. Lol I give this book 4 stars because I just couldn't get the hang of the blogging as chapters, but after the first couple chapters I was hooked. I like Sophie because although she wants to stay away, she still follows her heart. I like Jake because he refuses to give up at all costs. This is safe for anyone over 16 for sure.
October 3, 2013
Play by Play is about an outspoken, good looking, ex football player turned sports blogger named Jake that meets a new tenant in his building’s elevator.
No woman has been able to turn Jake’s head lately until “elevator girl” comes along. Only problem is, his charm isn’t exactly making her panties melt. What’s a guy to do? He blogs about her!! They eventually become friends, date, fall in love and live happily ever after!
Great story right?? WRONG!! Sometimes something sounds like it's a good idea, but it doesn’t exactly turn out as well as you had envisioned!
Well, it sounded like it could have been a good story. I’d love to read that book! Could have been really cute too, but sadly it wasn’t. It was pretty much a cheesy, early 90s after school sitcom.
Jake- “Man, you’re perfect. You know that?”
Sophie- “We’re perfect. Together. Oh Jake!” ... that was their first date!?
It was verylame tame, aside from just a couple of curse words.. God forbid! It mentioned flirting and making out.. when? I missed it.
Pretty anticlimactic and predictable struggle(his with the lying, hers with the “I don’t want a jock.. I do want a jock!”) followed by an unbelievable and unrealistic ending. He gets the girl, his dream job and everything he’s ever wanted! And they lived happily ever after!
I didn’t care for Sophie’s character at all and overall, the book was entirely too silly for me.
*I received an arc provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
No woman has been able to turn Jake’s head lately until “elevator girl” comes along. Only problem is, his charm isn’t exactly making her panties melt. What’s a guy to do? He blogs about her!! They eventually become friends, date, fall in love and live happily ever after!
Great story right?? WRONG!! Sometimes something sounds like it's a good idea, but it doesn’t exactly turn out as well as you had envisioned!
Well, it sounded like it could have been a good story. I’d love to read that book! Could have been really cute too, but sadly it wasn’t. It was pretty much a cheesy, early 90s after school sitcom.
Jake- “Man, you’re perfect. You know that?”
Sophie- “We’re perfect. Together. Oh Jake!” ... that was their first date!?
It was very
Pretty anticlimactic and predictable struggle(his with the lying, hers with the “I don’t want a jock.. I do want a jock!”) followed by an unbelievable and unrealistic ending. He gets the girl, his dream job and everything he’s ever wanted! And they lived happily ever after!
I didn’t care for Sophie’s character at all and overall, the book was entirely too silly for me.
*I received an arc provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
September 14, 2013
Play by Play is a short, cute read about a sports writer/columnist/blogger Jake that meets the girl of his dreams in his condo’s elevator. Unfortunately for Jake, he learns that “elevator girl”, AKA Sophie, has a strong aversion to dating sports fans, athletes, etc. Even more unfortunate, he learns this AFTER he becomes enamored of her. He doesn’t want to risk losing her by telling her the truth about this job and his sports loving ways, so he conveniently leaves out telling Sophie the whole truth about who he is and what he does for a living. All the while, readers of Jake's sports column are given a first row seat to the developing relationship after Jake introduces Sophie on the blog after their initial meeting in the elevator. Apparently, even sports enthusiast like a little romance here and there.
While Play by Play is definitely not the normal type of romance I read (I consider this more chick-lit then the normal steamy smut I favor) it was a very cute read. Throughout the book Jake would provide his football commentary in his column, then give his blog readers a brief (usually funny) update on what was new with him and “elevator girl”. I loved reading the responses his readers sent in and the advice they gave. Using his column and reader’s replies was a very cute and charming way for this story to be told. I couldn’t help think this book would make a very cute Hollywood Movie. I would recommend this book to readers that enjoy short, cute, rated G romances especially if you appreciate a sports themed background.
Thanks in advance to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 22, 2013
Usually, I stay far, far away from novellas. There are so few authors who can write a satisfying romance in so few pages. Understandably. I mean, there is a lot of ground to cover, from the meet cute to the (supposed) HEA. However, I thought that Donovan did quite a nice job with Play by Play
I'll admit that I am a sucker for sports roms, but there is one thing that they must get right, or else they annoy me the entire way through: sports lingo. The author must be able to speak with language of the sport. If they can't, it's just better for everyone if they stay away because they make themselves look ignorant of their material. That being said, and as a pretty fanatic baseball and college football fan, I want to say "Thank You" to Kate Donovan for not making my eyes twitch.
Jake is the most adorable sports blogger I could imagine. His posts were both hilarious and realistic. Donovan even leaves in the comments section which was interesting to read as well, and added a plot component near the end. The story wasn't rushed, nor was it so full of sex that there was no room for plot. In fact, there is no sex, not on-page anyway.
I walked away wanting to read more from this series, assuming that the future books will be flushed out stories, not vignettes. If you like your sports-ball and romance in one package, this is a good book/author to try out.
ARC courtesy of Beyond the Page Publishing, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'll admit that I am a sucker for sports roms, but there is one thing that they must get right, or else they annoy me the entire way through: sports lingo. The author must be able to speak with language of the sport. If they can't, it's just better for everyone if they stay away because they make themselves look ignorant of their material. That being said, and as a pretty fanatic baseball and college football fan, I want to say "Thank You" to Kate Donovan for not making my eyes twitch.
Jake is the most adorable sports blogger I could imagine. His posts were both hilarious and realistic. Donovan even leaves in the comments section which was interesting to read as well, and added a plot component near the end. The story wasn't rushed, nor was it so full of sex that there was no room for plot. In fact, there is no sex, not on-page anyway.
I walked away wanting to read more from this series, assuming that the future books will be flushed out stories, not vignettes. If you like your sports-ball and romance in one package, this is a good book/author to try out.
ARC courtesy of Beyond the Page Publishing, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 27, 2013
My Review:
This is a very short novella, but I really and truly enjoyed it. It only took around an hour to read and I found myself enchanted by the story and this author's voice.
This is the story of Jake...he's an online blogger who has a sports blog. There are several chapters in the novella that are straight blog posts from his blog...and the comments from his readers. I found that these were my favorite chapters in the book. They were sweet and the chatting among the comments was awesome and definitely entertaining.
The twist at the end of the story completely caught me by surprise, but then it all made so much sense. Plain and simple...I liked this story. I liked the characters. I liked the premise. And I loved the humor. The blog posts were fun and humorous. The relationship was great...with fun, snappy dialogue... even with the threat of the secrets hanging over the two of them, I enjoyed it.
I immediately went and bought another book by this author after finishing this one and will definitely be watching for more from her. I'm especially hopeful that there are more to come in this sports series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This is a very short novella, but I really and truly enjoyed it. It only took around an hour to read and I found myself enchanted by the story and this author's voice.
This is the story of Jake...he's an online blogger who has a sports blog. There are several chapters in the novella that are straight blog posts from his blog...and the comments from his readers. I found that these were my favorite chapters in the book. They were sweet and the chatting among the comments was awesome and definitely entertaining.
The twist at the end of the story completely caught me by surprise, but then it all made so much sense. Plain and simple...I liked this story. I liked the characters. I liked the premise. And I loved the humor. The blog posts were fun and humorous. The relationship was great...with fun, snappy dialogue... even with the threat of the secrets hanging over the two of them, I enjoyed it.
I immediately went and bought another book by this author after finishing this one and will definitely be watching for more from her. I'm especially hopeful that there are more to come in this sports series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
November 14, 2013
Sophie James
Jake Dublin
I really loved the concept of seeing part of Jake's story through his blog and his interactions with the people who leave comments there. Talk about a dream come true. Sophie's happiness with her relationship really shown through which was great after the things she's gone through in the past. Enough with my gushy happy rambling: this was a really good story. Entertaining and very cute. I hope to see more of Jake and Sophie as this series continues. 4 Stars
Jake Dublin
I really loved the concept of seeing part of Jake's story through his blog and his interactions with the people who leave comments there. Talk about a dream come true. Sophie's happiness with her relationship really shown through which was great after the things she's gone through in the past. Enough with my gushy happy rambling: this was a really good story. Entertaining and very cute. I hope to see more of Jake and Sophie as this series continues. 4 Stars
October 19, 2014
While a little to short, I really enjoyed this one. While the romance was a bit rushed it was still believable. I enjoyed that most of Jake's chapters were blog posts with comments. It was a fun quick read and I hope we get more in this series and hopefully a bit longer.
This book was provided by they Author/Publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.
This book was provided by they Author/Publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.
September 18, 2013
http://ripeforreader.blogspot.ca/2013...
Sure, Jake Dublin is a bit of a jock, or at least he used to be back when he was still actually playing football. After his injury sidelined him, he found a different way to express his athleticism....in a blog. A very popular blog in fact, that allowed him to spout his opinions on all kinds of current sports news and other random flotsam. His readers were always happy to comment or exchange good natured insults with him...... it was all part of the fun.
Lately Jake's blog has started showing mention of an 'elevator girl'. A new neighbour who moved into his building, by the name of Sophie, who seems to have Jake tied in knots and chomping at the bit. Jake is looking to his readers for guidance on how to get her to go out with him, since 'elevator girl' appears to be a little resistant.
Sophie has recently moved on from a relationship that did not have a very happy ending, and she really shouldn't be in a hurry to start something with someone new. Especially a neighbour!! But that Jake guy is so much fun, and so persistent. Sophie eventually gives in to a date when she finds out that apparently Jake is not all that interested in sports, which is a good thing. The last thing Sophie wants is another sports jock, she grew up with them and is sick of coming in second to whatever sport is on TV.
When Jake hears about Sophie's aversion to sports lovers, he knows he will have to come clean about his work at some point, but he doesn't quite know how. So of course, being a guy and trusting his blog buddies by now, he blogs about his dilemma and receives all different kinds of advice. Knowing this will not help his cause in the long run, he is determined to confess all during their weekend away, but then during an unexpected visit from her very unexpected family members, Jake finds himself firmly and thoroughly sacked, before the play even leaves his hand. He ends up at home, alone, without the girl and is wondering if his game is really over or whether he will have a chance for a re-play.
*****
Super cute and clever short read!!
I so enjoyed the style in which this book was written. With Jake being the main protagonist, his blog was being used as part of the narration of the story, which made the read so much more interesting and quite hilarious at times, given the comments of the various 'blog-readers'. I really loved that concept. It made a fairly short read, very fresh and interesting.
The entire tone of the story was an upbeat one......no angst to be found anywhere. We don't get a very close look at the individual characters, the book is not a character study by any stretch of the word, but we get enough to be enamoured with them. They are quirky, fun, but not outrageously so, I can still see them as real people. Jake is a doll, a bit dense......in a typical 'DUH' male fashion, so not stupid, just not thinking on all cylinders. Sophie is a bit indecisive.....'I shouldn't but I wanna', when it comes to dating Jake, so she goes for it anyway, just like a girl. In that sense predictable, BUT there was an interesting twist at the end, that allowed a much more insightful aspect to both of their characters to shine through. That was a nice surprise.
The cover is a bit misleading, you'd expect a hot steamy read, which it is not. I honestly did not have a clear picture of what to expect, but I certainly was not disappointed at all.
✨A smart, funny and loveable romantic morsel!!✨
**ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Beyond The Page Publishing in return for an honest review.**
Sure, Jake Dublin is a bit of a jock, or at least he used to be back when he was still actually playing football. After his injury sidelined him, he found a different way to express his athleticism....in a blog. A very popular blog in fact, that allowed him to spout his opinions on all kinds of current sports news and other random flotsam. His readers were always happy to comment or exchange good natured insults with him...... it was all part of the fun.
Lately Jake's blog has started showing mention of an 'elevator girl'. A new neighbour who moved into his building, by the name of Sophie, who seems to have Jake tied in knots and chomping at the bit. Jake is looking to his readers for guidance on how to get her to go out with him, since 'elevator girl' appears to be a little resistant.
Sophie has recently moved on from a relationship that did not have a very happy ending, and she really shouldn't be in a hurry to start something with someone new. Especially a neighbour!! But that Jake guy is so much fun, and so persistent. Sophie eventually gives in to a date when she finds out that apparently Jake is not all that interested in sports, which is a good thing. The last thing Sophie wants is another sports jock, she grew up with them and is sick of coming in second to whatever sport is on TV.
When Jake hears about Sophie's aversion to sports lovers, he knows he will have to come clean about his work at some point, but he doesn't quite know how. So of course, being a guy and trusting his blog buddies by now, he blogs about his dilemma and receives all different kinds of advice. Knowing this will not help his cause in the long run, he is determined to confess all during their weekend away, but then during an unexpected visit from her very unexpected family members, Jake finds himself firmly and thoroughly sacked, before the play even leaves his hand. He ends up at home, alone, without the girl and is wondering if his game is really over or whether he will have a chance for a re-play.
*****
Super cute and clever short read!!
I so enjoyed the style in which this book was written. With Jake being the main protagonist, his blog was being used as part of the narration of the story, which made the read so much more interesting and quite hilarious at times, given the comments of the various 'blog-readers'. I really loved that concept. It made a fairly short read, very fresh and interesting.
The entire tone of the story was an upbeat one......no angst to be found anywhere. We don't get a very close look at the individual characters, the book is not a character study by any stretch of the word, but we get enough to be enamoured with them. They are quirky, fun, but not outrageously so, I can still see them as real people. Jake is a doll, a bit dense......in a typical 'DUH' male fashion, so not stupid, just not thinking on all cylinders. Sophie is a bit indecisive.....'I shouldn't but I wanna', when it comes to dating Jake, so she goes for it anyway, just like a girl. In that sense predictable, BUT there was an interesting twist at the end, that allowed a much more insightful aspect to both of their characters to shine through. That was a nice surprise.
The cover is a bit misleading, you'd expect a hot steamy read, which it is not. I honestly did not have a clear picture of what to expect, but I certainly was not disappointed at all.
✨A smart, funny and loveable romantic morsel!!✨
**ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Beyond The Page Publishing in return for an honest review.**
December 6, 2013
Hotness Rating 2 out of 5
4.5 Stars
Play by Play is the first book in the Play Makers series by Kate Donovan and it was hilarious. I thoroughly enjoyed this short story between a sports blogger and the woman he is trying to gain attention from.
Jake Dublin has gained quite a name for himself through his sports blog. He gives his honest opinion of the game and it's players through witty banter and humor. But, lately he's veered off course a bit. It all started with one little comment about the new girl moving into his apartment building and how he was attracted to her. It was all downhill from there. His followers made comments and would ask for updates and he would share. Nothing disrespectful and he would never give names,just elevator girl, but he was pretty sure if she were to find out she wouldn't appreciate the play by play of his woo-ing her being put out there for the world to see.
Sophie is starting her life on a different note. She was raised in a houseful of jocks and is so over that life. She still loves her family, but she sure doesn't want to come home to it every night. That's why Jake is perfect for her. He works for a newspaper and never talks about football and cancels dates so that he doesn't miss a game. She resisted at first, but she's glad now that she gave him a chance. He's funny and witty and seems almost too good to be true. That is until she takes him to a football game and her family recognizes him and reveals his little secret.
I seriously recommend this book to anyone who loves sports or just loves a book with fun, witty banter. The sports part is in no way technical or overwhelming, it's just fun to read how Jake gives his take on certain subjects. I would love to find a blog like his. The comments that his followers would make and his self deprecating responses would make me laugh out loud. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series and see how it measures up to this one.
Thank you to NetGalley.com for the loan of this book in exchange for my honest review.
4.5 Stars
Play by Play is the first book in the Play Makers series by Kate Donovan and it was hilarious. I thoroughly enjoyed this short story between a sports blogger and the woman he is trying to gain attention from.
Jake Dublin has gained quite a name for himself through his sports blog. He gives his honest opinion of the game and it's players through witty banter and humor. But, lately he's veered off course a bit. It all started with one little comment about the new girl moving into his apartment building and how he was attracted to her. It was all downhill from there. His followers made comments and would ask for updates and he would share. Nothing disrespectful and he would never give names,just elevator girl, but he was pretty sure if she were to find out she wouldn't appreciate the play by play of his woo-ing her being put out there for the world to see.
Sophie is starting her life on a different note. She was raised in a houseful of jocks and is so over that life. She still loves her family, but she sure doesn't want to come home to it every night. That's why Jake is perfect for her. He works for a newspaper and never talks about football and cancels dates so that he doesn't miss a game. She resisted at first, but she's glad now that she gave him a chance. He's funny and witty and seems almost too good to be true. That is until she takes him to a football game and her family recognizes him and reveals his little secret.
I seriously recommend this book to anyone who loves sports or just loves a book with fun, witty banter. The sports part is in no way technical or overwhelming, it's just fun to read how Jake gives his take on certain subjects. I would love to find a blog like his. The comments that his followers would make and his self deprecating responses would make me laugh out loud. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series and see how it measures up to this one.
Thank you to NetGalley.com for the loan of this book in exchange for my honest review.
December 24, 2013
This was a very cute story about Jake Dublin who writes a sports blog. One day he is riding the elevator at his apartment complex and rides it with one of the newest tenets to the building. It is love at first sight.
He asks if she needs help she says “How sweet of him for asking, but no.” Then, she gets off two floors before him. He is so taken by her beauty and by the instant emotional pull he felt toward her he writes about her on his blog. His followers respond.
Then, he hangs out in the parking garage to run into her again. Which he writes about, which is pretty funny and creepy at the same time. Which his followers tell him too. This time he gets her card and he tries to ask her out but she says no. She does say that she jogs at the park on Tues. and Thurs. if he is interested. Now “Elevator Girl” as he is calling her on the blog is a regular discussion topic. His following gets bigger so does their relationship.
On small problem she says she doesn’t want to date guys that are all about sports 24/7. “Houston we might have a problem.” What does Jake do now?
Sophie James is a Lawyer who has just moved to the area after having to leave a job she was with straight from college. The reason being there was a guy who was one a boyfriend that got a little too pushy and clingy. Basically was stalking her so she moved. Not to worry her cousin handled the situation, you see after she lost her parents she went to live with her uncle and male cousins.
This is where the no sports 24/7 comes in. They were a big sports family and never anything but sports all the time. So, she wants nothings to do with it. She wants someone who will think of her 24/7 now not sports. She thinks she has it with Jake until one big event and then hell breaks loose. This is just one sweet and funny read. I know you will enjoy it too. Provided by netgalley.com
He asks if she needs help she says “How sweet of him for asking, but no.” Then, she gets off two floors before him. He is so taken by her beauty and by the instant emotional pull he felt toward her he writes about her on his blog. His followers respond.
Then, he hangs out in the parking garage to run into her again. Which he writes about, which is pretty funny and creepy at the same time. Which his followers tell him too. This time he gets her card and he tries to ask her out but she says no. She does say that she jogs at the park on Tues. and Thurs. if he is interested. Now “Elevator Girl” as he is calling her on the blog is a regular discussion topic. His following gets bigger so does their relationship.
On small problem she says she doesn’t want to date guys that are all about sports 24/7. “Houston we might have a problem.” What does Jake do now?
Sophie James is a Lawyer who has just moved to the area after having to leave a job she was with straight from college. The reason being there was a guy who was one a boyfriend that got a little too pushy and clingy. Basically was stalking her so she moved. Not to worry her cousin handled the situation, you see after she lost her parents she went to live with her uncle and male cousins.
This is where the no sports 24/7 comes in. They were a big sports family and never anything but sports all the time. So, she wants nothings to do with it. She wants someone who will think of her 24/7 now not sports. She thinks she has it with Jake until one big event and then hell breaks loose. This is just one sweet and funny read. I know you will enjoy it too. Provided by netgalley.com
April 6, 2014
3 1/2 stars rounded to 4
I reviewed this at MustReadBooksOrDie with my friend Shelley!
Court: So, first and foremost I must point out that I am an objectifier and I totally judged and chose this book based on the cover. I admit it. I should probably join a support group for my doing this and it not always panning out for me, but by the end of these meager 85 pages I did enjoy this one. Shel: Yes. The cover was a definite pleasure to see.
Court: Jake is funny. Really really funny, and as a blogger I found those parts to be some of the best. They were engaging, and I could imagine this guy really writing down this stuff about his 'elevator girl' and then being scared to death of her finding out about it. That was very original and the reason I stuck with the story. Shel: This is definitely Jake's story to tell; he's the most developed character. I like him: he's funny and smart and kind. He seems to know, even as he's messing up, just the right way to handle things.
Shel: Their relationship...didn't work out quite so well for me...and brought my rating down a bit. Some of the things they say to each other are *yes, I rolled my eyes* corny...and they moved at the speed of light. BUT I did have to step back and remember...this is a novella...and it's supposed to be fun. There is no way they can start where they did and not fly by some things in this story...so okay. After my little pep talk, I felt better. Shel: Yes, it's a rapidly moving story and has ton of novel potential. The banter and his character, alone, make it something I wish could've been more developed. But overall, it was still a pleasing read.
Court: So Play by Play in ten words or less: Sports/Jake-centric, humor, over-the-top, sexy-lite fun.
Courtney: 3 1/2 Stars Shelley: 3 1/2 Stars
I reviewed this at MustReadBooksOrDie with my friend Shelley!
Court: So, first and foremost I must point out that I am an objectifier and I totally judged and chose this book based on the cover. I admit it. I should probably join a support group for my doing this and it not always panning out for me, but by the end of these meager 85 pages I did enjoy this one. Shel: Yes. The cover was a definite pleasure to see.
Court: Jake is funny. Really really funny, and as a blogger I found those parts to be some of the best. They were engaging, and I could imagine this guy really writing down this stuff about his 'elevator girl' and then being scared to death of her finding out about it. That was very original and the reason I stuck with the story. Shel: This is definitely Jake's story to tell; he's the most developed character. I like him: he's funny and smart and kind. He seems to know, even as he's messing up, just the right way to handle things.
Shel: Their relationship...didn't work out quite so well for me...and brought my rating down a bit. Some of the things they say to each other are *yes, I rolled my eyes* corny...and they moved at the speed of light. BUT I did have to step back and remember...this is a novella...and it's supposed to be fun. There is no way they can start where they did and not fly by some things in this story...so okay. After my little pep talk, I felt better. Shel: Yes, it's a rapidly moving story and has ton of novel potential. The banter and his character, alone, make it something I wish could've been more developed. But overall, it was still a pleasing read.
Court: So Play by Play in ten words or less: Sports/Jake-centric, humor, over-the-top, sexy-lite fun.
Courtney: 3 1/2 Stars Shelley: 3 1/2 Stars
November 22, 2013
Play by Play a sweet read for anyone that wants a good light hearted romance.
Jake Dublin is runs a popular sports blog. The blog is very popular as he provides great commentary on what’s going on in all the sports fields. As a former college football player this is away for him to stay in a field he loves though he can’t play anymore because of an injury. One day on his way home in runs into a new tenant he dubs “elevator girl”. He finds are really cute and starts journaling his interactions with her on his blog.
Sophie moves into her new apartment and is looking to finally be on her own. One day she runs into Jake in the elevator and she is instantly attracted to him. She has sworn off dating a jock…she wants a nice guy that has no interest in sports. What Sophie gets is a nice guy…she just doesn’t know that he is a jock. What happens when she finds out?
Jake is an all-around nice guy with a little arrogance thrown in. I found that he had a great sense of humor and I really enjoyed that about him. I felt for Jake as things progress in their relationship and he realizes that he has to tell her soon about whom he really is. He is afraid that she will leave him because he is a jock…so I can understand his reluctance to tell her. Sophie worked for him, you could tell she was really liked him. I felt bad for her once she realized that he is a jock, what she wasn’t looking for. Thank goodness she came to her sense and gave him another chance.
I found this book to be a very quick read. It was a different takes on romance as if relied heavily on Jake’s blog and the comments from his readers. I thought it was a nice touch…very funny at times.
I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
Jake Dublin is runs a popular sports blog. The blog is very popular as he provides great commentary on what’s going on in all the sports fields. As a former college football player this is away for him to stay in a field he loves though he can’t play anymore because of an injury. One day on his way home in runs into a new tenant he dubs “elevator girl”. He finds are really cute and starts journaling his interactions with her on his blog.
Sophie moves into her new apartment and is looking to finally be on her own. One day she runs into Jake in the elevator and she is instantly attracted to him. She has sworn off dating a jock…she wants a nice guy that has no interest in sports. What Sophie gets is a nice guy…she just doesn’t know that he is a jock. What happens when she finds out?
Jake is an all-around nice guy with a little arrogance thrown in. I found that he had a great sense of humor and I really enjoyed that about him. I felt for Jake as things progress in their relationship and he realizes that he has to tell her soon about whom he really is. He is afraid that she will leave him because he is a jock…so I can understand his reluctance to tell her. Sophie worked for him, you could tell she was really liked him. I felt bad for her once she realized that he is a jock, what she wasn’t looking for. Thank goodness she came to her sense and gave him another chance.
I found this book to be a very quick read. It was a different takes on romance as if relied heavily on Jake’s blog and the comments from his readers. I thought it was a nice touch…very funny at times.
I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
September 23, 2013
Play by Play was a super short novella with a really original premise. It only took about an hour to read because I was thoroughly engrossed in the story and I couldn't wait to find out what happened!
Jake is an ex-jock who loves sports so much that he even blogs about it. One day, Jake meets Sophie in the elevator of his apartment building. While Sophie is friendly, she firmly blows off Jake's advances. Jake is perplexed by the cold shoulder and ends up blogging about Sophie, calling her 'elevator girl'. Soon, Jake's readers are invested in his 'relationship' and start giving him advice.
Unfortunately, Jake doesn't come clean with Sophie about how into sports he is, and Sophie has given up on stupid jocks who only live for their sports. This secret creates a huge dilemma for Jake because he believes that if he tells Sophie, he will lose her. Jake manages to make a mess of things, but he is able to blog about it with a sense of humor that I enjoyed. The big question is how will Sophie react when she finally finds out about Jake's sports blog and 'elevator girl'?
Because this is a novella, there really is no character development. It's a fast moving story filled with blog posts and sweet dates. I liked Jake and Sophie as individuals and as a couple. I could see how their relationship really had the potential to be something great. I really enjoyed this book and I found it highly entertaining. Despite the cover, this is not a steamy romance book. Any time things got heated the author did the 'fade to black' maneuver. Overall, this was a cute and charming sports/romance book that was a quick and easy read.
Jake is an ex-jock who loves sports so much that he even blogs about it. One day, Jake meets Sophie in the elevator of his apartment building. While Sophie is friendly, she firmly blows off Jake's advances. Jake is perplexed by the cold shoulder and ends up blogging about Sophie, calling her 'elevator girl'. Soon, Jake's readers are invested in his 'relationship' and start giving him advice.
Unfortunately, Jake doesn't come clean with Sophie about how into sports he is, and Sophie has given up on stupid jocks who only live for their sports. This secret creates a huge dilemma for Jake because he believes that if he tells Sophie, he will lose her. Jake manages to make a mess of things, but he is able to blog about it with a sense of humor that I enjoyed. The big question is how will Sophie react when she finally finds out about Jake's sports blog and 'elevator girl'?
Because this is a novella, there really is no character development. It's a fast moving story filled with blog posts and sweet dates. I liked Jake and Sophie as individuals and as a couple. I could see how their relationship really had the potential to be something great. I really enjoyed this book and I found it highly entertaining. Despite the cover, this is not a steamy romance book. Any time things got heated the author did the 'fade to black' maneuver. Overall, this was a cute and charming sports/romance book that was a quick and easy read.
October 10, 2013
Slick‘s review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
Review copy provided for an honest review
3 STARS
This was a cute story that was plagued by uneven writing; at times it was eloquent and smart and other times it was cartoonish and unnecessarily juvenile. It is short story and it is more of a sweet romance than steamy one but I did enjoy it.
Jake Dublin is a sports columnist and popular sports blogger. When he meets a woman moving in to his building, he’s immediately intrigued and so he writes about her on his blog deeming her Elevator Girl. He shares with his readers his trials and tribulations and successes with her but when he starts dating Sophie (aka Elevator Girl) he doesn’t come clean about what he does or what he’s written.
Sophie has moved across the state to get away from an office romance gone bad so the last thing she wants is to date someone in her building. But Jake, is charming and he seems perfect based her criteria. But as things heat up, she begins to wonder how he’ll handle her macho sports riddled family.
I really loved Jake in fact his blog posts were probably my favorite part of this story. I loved his interactions with his fans and his view on life in general. Sophie was okay, I didn’t love her the way I did Jake but I didn’t hate her either. I enjoyed the way their relationship began and although it moved at a rapid pace because of the length of the book I was okay with it.
Overall, I liked Play by Play but I would have liked it more had it been longer with the characters flushed out more and the writing cleaned up.
Review copy provided for an honest review
3 STARS
This was a cute story that was plagued by uneven writing; at times it was eloquent and smart and other times it was cartoonish and unnecessarily juvenile. It is short story and it is more of a sweet romance than steamy one but I did enjoy it.
Jake Dublin is a sports columnist and popular sports blogger. When he meets a woman moving in to his building, he’s immediately intrigued and so he writes about her on his blog deeming her Elevator Girl. He shares with his readers his trials and tribulations and successes with her but when he starts dating Sophie (aka Elevator Girl) he doesn’t come clean about what he does or what he’s written.
Sophie has moved across the state to get away from an office romance gone bad so the last thing she wants is to date someone in her building. But Jake, is charming and he seems perfect based her criteria. But as things heat up, she begins to wonder how he’ll handle her macho sports riddled family.
I really loved Jake in fact his blog posts were probably my favorite part of this story. I loved his interactions with his fans and his view on life in general. Sophie was okay, I didn’t love her the way I did Jake but I didn’t hate her either. I enjoyed the way their relationship began and although it moved at a rapid pace because of the length of the book I was okay with it.
Overall, I liked Play by Play but I would have liked it more had it been longer with the characters flushed out more and the writing cleaned up.
October 15, 2013
I enjoyed this book. It was a bit short, and sports oriented, but it was easy to read. I liked the characters. I liked the story and how it was told. It was unique and interesting.
Jake, our hero, is a sportswriter and an avid blogger. He meets Sophie in the elevator just as she is moving in to his building. Of course, he comes onto her, but she shoots him down. Sparks are flying though, and they are both intrigued. Jake is intrigued enough to make mention of "Elevator Girl" on his blog. Things take off from there and soon everyone is interested in his relationship. Jake is a persistent fellow and he and Sophie get to know each other. They have more in common than they know, though Jake is dismayed to learn that Sophie really isn't into jocks. See .... she grew up in a sports family. She dated jocks and things didn't work out. So .... she he makes a big mistake. He doesn't tell her about his job or the blog. They continue to grow closer and they are feeling the love vibe. Meanwhile, Jake continues posting things about "Elevator Girl" on the blog. It's all in good fun. But Jake is hiding things and it eventually blows up in his face. And yeah, Sophie has been keeping a little secret of her own. It's all one big mess and one wonders if Jake can fix it.
I enjoyed this book. But the continuous blogs were kinda disconcerting to me. The romance was cute and the characters were easy to like. I liked the story. I would recommend it as a light read. I do look forward to reading more from this author.
September 25, 2013
4 stars for this novella
Jake Dublin is a sports writer and a blogger. He loves sports. He is not one of these arm chair quarterbacks though; he has experience to go with his comments. Jake was a star football player for Notre Dame until an injury ended his dreams. Now he is content to write his columns and his blog. Then one day he sees her, Elevator Girl; the most beautiful woman he has ever seen seems to be moving into his building.
I like sports, and I especially enjoy watching football on television (yes I happen to be a big Notre Dame fan) and the plot of a sports blogger finding a new relationship I found refreshing. Jake I like a lot. I liked his whit, and I found the blog posts entertaining. Sophie’s apprehension of dating a sports guy was understandable. Since this is told mainly from Jake’s POV we don’t learn many of Sophie’s thoughts. There are times I would have enjoyed to know what she was thinking; especially at their conflict. Both characters kept “secrets” and I found it implausible that they would keep them that long without talking. In the end there was a heartwarming satisfying ending
If like sports and sports talk and you want a light short read that will entertain you, this is the novella to pick up. This is my first book or novella by Kate Donovan and I don’t plan on it being my last.
I receive this novella from the publisher via NetGalley for my honest review.
Jake Dublin is a sports writer and a blogger. He loves sports. He is not one of these arm chair quarterbacks though; he has experience to go with his comments. Jake was a star football player for Notre Dame until an injury ended his dreams. Now he is content to write his columns and his blog. Then one day he sees her, Elevator Girl; the most beautiful woman he has ever seen seems to be moving into his building.
I like sports, and I especially enjoy watching football on television (yes I happen to be a big Notre Dame fan) and the plot of a sports blogger finding a new relationship I found refreshing. Jake I like a lot. I liked his whit, and I found the blog posts entertaining. Sophie’s apprehension of dating a sports guy was understandable. Since this is told mainly from Jake’s POV we don’t learn many of Sophie’s thoughts. There are times I would have enjoyed to know what she was thinking; especially at their conflict. Both characters kept “secrets” and I found it implausible that they would keep them that long without talking. In the end there was a heartwarming satisfying ending
If like sports and sports talk and you want a light short read that will entertain you, this is the novella to pick up. This is my first book or novella by Kate Donovan and I don’t plan on it being my last.
I receive this novella from the publisher via NetGalley for my honest review.
October 3, 2013
I'm not really into sports but I like reading romances about them because they always seem more interesting in books then in real life. Jake Dublin is a former football player who after an accident was left with nothing but his opinions, so he put it to good use and because a sports columnist and sports blogger. He has an opinion about everything never without something to say or talk about until he is rendered speechless by the cute new girl in the elevator. (If I met Jake in an elevator I would totally fall in love too.) Sophie Jones has had it with jocks, with her whole family into sports and ex-boyfriends loving sports more then her she has sworn off jocks. Moving away from home she is all set to start over. But when the guy hot guy in the elevator asks her out she is positive he is perfect because her turned down getting together at the local sport bar. She even confesses to him that she likes him because his disinterest in sports. Jake has dug himself into a hole he knows he has to confess the truth and all his followers on his blog agree but every time he tries something comes up and he chickens out. Jake only hopes that when the shit hits the fan she can forgive him. I really enjoyed this story it was short and sweet but still you still managed to connect with the characters and the blog segments with the comments is hysterical. Sports fan or not it was a light and easy read threat left me smiling.
October 12, 2013
I'm a big fan of sports romances and with a cover like that how could I not read this book? I really enjoyed this story, short as it is. A couple of things made it unique - the hero is not a football player, but a sports writer and the entire story is told mostly from his point of view. I really liked getting Jake's POV. His blog posts were cute and his thoughts and interactions with the commenters were quite fun - And that's saying a lot since I usually find reading characters texts and diary/blog entries really annoying. What's funny is that if this story was told exclusively from Sophie's POV, I probably would have found Jake to be a jerk. For a woman with a stalker-ish, abusive ex in her past, having the exploits of Elevator Girl posted on a fairly popular website would be really disturbing. Fortunately, Jake was a good guy and he came off as genuinely guilty about not telling Sophie the whole story.
Unfortunately, since this was a novella, the relationship was very quickly developed with a really quick resolution. It would have been nice to see just a little bit more from these characters. Sophie's family seemed like an interesting group and it would have been nice to see a bit more of them. In general, Sophie suffered as a character due to a lack of development. We were able to get decent insight into Jake from his blog posts, but Sophie was just rather generic and boring. Overall, though, I liked the story and would like to read more from this author.
Unfortunately, since this was a novella, the relationship was very quickly developed with a really quick resolution. It would have been nice to see just a little bit more from these characters. Sophie's family seemed like an interesting group and it would have been nice to see a bit more of them. In general, Sophie suffered as a character due to a lack of development. We were able to get decent insight into Jake from his blog posts, but Sophie was just rather generic and boring. Overall, though, I liked the story and would like to read more from this author.
November 2, 2013
I enjoyed this book. It was like a short story. Had a mixture of what felt like journal (blog posts) along with the story. I enjoyed Jake. He was hot and covered in muscles. He had me laughing a few times. His posts were cute. I loved the way he wrote about Elevator Girl (EG) on his blog. Sophie (EG) was also cute and sweet. She was new to the building and met Jake in an elevator. Their first encounter that started the blogging about EG.
Not much to really say without giving the book away. I think the way they met was cute. The way it played out was pretty sweet but also felt rushed. I get that you have to get the relationship out before the story was over but saying he was going to propose by date 3 and telling her he loved her by date 4 (the dates were only on Saturday) had me thinking yeah right.. The way she was every time he said they needed to talk had me laughing. No girl in her right mind would do what she did when told by the guy she is dating that he has to tell her something. Needless to say that something bit him in the ass later on.
This was a quick read and despite the little things with the relationship, I really enjoyed it. The ending was sweet (even if I expected a little more fight between them when they saw each other again). The two were cute together and seemed to have a good chemistry. I would recommend this for anyone looking for a quick and smooth read with a few laughs.
Not much to really say without giving the book away. I think the way they met was cute. The way it played out was pretty sweet but also felt rushed. I get that you have to get the relationship out before the story was over but saying he was going to propose by date 3 and telling her he loved her by date 4 (the dates were only on Saturday) had me thinking yeah right.. The way she was every time he said they needed to talk had me laughing. No girl in her right mind would do what she did when told by the guy she is dating that he has to tell her something. Needless to say that something bit him in the ass later on.
This was a quick read and despite the little things with the relationship, I really enjoyed it. The ending was sweet (even if I expected a little more fight between them when they saw each other again). The two were cute together and seemed to have a good chemistry. I would recommend this for anyone looking for a quick and smooth read with a few laughs.
November 19, 2013
Arc given by netgalley for an honest review....,
First and foremost, I'm not crazy into sports, but I am crazy into hot guys on the cover......soooooo I jumped on this one :-)
This was a novella, so (me being the crazy reader I am) steamrolled this one in just a few hours. It might've been difficult, but it was so fast-paced and easy to read. It was cute and funny and interesting and it had me within the first couple pages. Needless to say, I stick with my theory about hot guys on covers giving a good indication of the book quality. Long story short, I liked this a lot. I'd give it more than 4 stars, but I like my stories a little hotter. This was def PG at the highest.
Jake, a former college football player turned sportswriter after an injury, meets a girl moving into his building and writes about her in his sports blog. He doesn't reveal her name, just refers to her as elevator girl. As their interactions continue, he keeps his audience appraised and ends up getting a ratings boost because of it. As they end up in a relationship, he realizes that he needs to fess up but she makes it difficult with her comments about not dating jocks and other similar comments as well as other time issues. He ends up falling hard and gets outted by none other than her family (jocks and major sports people).
As this is the first in a series, I can tell you that I'll def be reading the next.
First and foremost, I'm not crazy into sports, but I am crazy into hot guys on the cover......soooooo I jumped on this one :-)
This was a novella, so (me being the crazy reader I am) steamrolled this one in just a few hours. It might've been difficult, but it was so fast-paced and easy to read. It was cute and funny and interesting and it had me within the first couple pages. Needless to say, I stick with my theory about hot guys on covers giving a good indication of the book quality. Long story short, I liked this a lot. I'd give it more than 4 stars, but I like my stories a little hotter. This was def PG at the highest.
Jake, a former college football player turned sportswriter after an injury, meets a girl moving into his building and writes about her in his sports blog. He doesn't reveal her name, just refers to her as elevator girl. As their interactions continue, he keeps his audience appraised and ends up getting a ratings boost because of it. As they end up in a relationship, he realizes that he needs to fess up but she makes it difficult with her comments about not dating jocks and other similar comments as well as other time issues. He ends up falling hard and gets outted by none other than her family (jocks and major sports people).
As this is the first in a series, I can tell you that I'll def be reading the next.
September 26, 2013
I received Play by Play from Netgally and the publisher for an honest review.
2.5 stars
Cute Novella with sweet HEA and No nasty cliff hanger so popular these days! A PG read so don't judge just on the cover.
I have never been a fan of excessive emails or texts as part of a "dialogue" in a book. In such a short story, the blog posts turned out to be such a large part of the overall story.
Jake Dublin is a former football player turned writer. He's writing a sports column and blog. Jake is surprised by the hot new neighbor in his building, and doesn't get her name. In a random post, he mentions elevator girl on his blog.
Sophie James is a lawyer that's moved to town to escape a bad breakup and start a new job. Against her better judgment, she likes her hunky new neighbor. She's looking for anything but a jock. Jake must do some fancy footwork to keep "EG" from learning the truth.
It's a cute story idea. Short and Sweet...and PG. Cover and blurb may lead some us to think it's a bit more of a steamy romance like Jaci Burton Play by Play series. Needs a more wholesome romancy cover instead of the half naked hottie. Felt a bit like a new adult genre.
2.5 stars
Cute Novella with sweet HEA and No nasty cliff hanger so popular these days! A PG read so don't judge just on the cover.
I have never been a fan of excessive emails or texts as part of a "dialogue" in a book. In such a short story, the blog posts turned out to be such a large part of the overall story.
Jake Dublin is a former football player turned writer. He's writing a sports column and blog. Jake is surprised by the hot new neighbor in his building, and doesn't get her name. In a random post, he mentions elevator girl on his blog.
Sophie James is a lawyer that's moved to town to escape a bad breakup and start a new job. Against her better judgment, she likes her hunky new neighbor. She's looking for anything but a jock. Jake must do some fancy footwork to keep "EG" from learning the truth.
It's a cute story idea. Short and Sweet...and PG. Cover and blurb may lead some us to think it's a bit more of a steamy romance like Jaci Burton Play by Play series. Needs a more wholesome romancy cover instead of the half naked hottie. Felt a bit like a new adult genre.
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