What do you think?
Rate this book
Heirs of Damon #2
Playing the Playboy
Laurel will do anything to save her Santorini inn from the powerful Damon family, and that includes manipulating Andrew Damon, the man they’ve sent to get her off the property. Andrew might have a reputation for being irresistible to women, but she won’t have any problem resisting him. This is war, after all, and the Damons drew their weapons first.
Andrew has spent most of his life chasing women and wasting time, but he’s determined to do his duty by his family, even if that means ousting an infuriating (and gorgeous) widow from the inn that legally belongs to the Damons. He doesn’t expect to fall for her. And he definitely doesn’t expect to discover that he’s been played.
Andrew has spent most of his life chasing women and wasting time, but he’s determined to do his duty by his family, even if that means ousting an infuriating (and gorgeous) widow from the inn that legally belongs to the Damons. He doesn’t expect to fall for her. And he definitely doesn’t expect to discover that he’s been played.
ebook
First published November 16, 2013
100 people are currently reading
1169 people want to read
About the author
Noelle Adams
140 books2,684 followersNoelle handwrote her first romance novel in a spiral-bound notebook when she was twelve, and she hasn't stopped writing since. She has lived in eight different states and currently resides in Virginia, where she teaches English, reads any book she can get her hands on, and offers tribute to a very spoiled cocker spaniel.
She loves travel, art, history, and ice cream. After spending far too many years of her life in graduate school, she has decided to reorient her priorities and focus on writing contemporary romances.
She loves travel, art, history, and ice cream. After spending far too many years of her life in graduate school, she has decided to reorient her priorities and focus on writing contemporary romances.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
January 15, 2014
3.5 stars
Playing the Playboy was the second book in the Heirs of Damon series centering on Andrew, the carefree “playboy” brother of Harrison. It was a light, sweet, and entertaining romance.
Laurel is prepared for an all out war with the Damon’s when they make a claim to her beloved inn in Santorini. She’s willing to use whatever weapon she has, even if it includes seducing Andrew who is set to arrive and meet with her. Laurel doesn’t realize how affected she’d be by his charismatic and sweet personality, and soon realizes why so many women have fallen for him in spite of his reputation.
Andrew is the Damon brother who has skirted most of the family’s business responsibilities, but with Harrison at odds with their uncle, he must step in and do his share. When he meets Laurel he finds she’s not the gold digger woman he thought she was, marrying someone older just for money. He also discovers that Laurel feels she has a legitimate claim to the inn and after getting to know her, Andrew hopes this is true. He hopes at the very least, they can at least work something out, because he’s come to care about her.
Andrew was a sweetheart, trying to make the best to make a bad situation. He truly didn’t have a malicious bone in his body and was quick to make amends when he was in the wrong. My heart went out to Laurel. Her life had been anything but easy, but she wasn’t one to wallow in self-pity, instead she focused on solutions and worked hard for everything she had.
Their romance was touching. The way Andrew steps up to care for Laurel when she needs it, even when they’re at odds couldn’t help but win everyone over.
“I liked rescuing you then. I’ll be happy to dash to the rescue any time you need it.” His words had been teasing, but as he gazed down at her, a wave of deep desire overwhelmed him. He wanted to rescue her, from anything that might threaten her. He wanted…her.
While I don’t think this held the same charm as the first installment, it had a sweet appeal that drew me right in. Noelle Adams creates characters with layers, depth and likeability, making it easy to connect with Laurel and Andrew, and root for their HEA.
*Quote taken from an uncorrected proof and may change in the final copy.
A copy was provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
You can find this review and more at The Readers Den.
Playing the Playboy was the second book in the Heirs of Damon series centering on Andrew, the carefree “playboy” brother of Harrison. It was a light, sweet, and entertaining romance.
Laurel is prepared for an all out war with the Damon’s when they make a claim to her beloved inn in Santorini. She’s willing to use whatever weapon she has, even if it includes seducing Andrew who is set to arrive and meet with her. Laurel doesn’t realize how affected she’d be by his charismatic and sweet personality, and soon realizes why so many women have fallen for him in spite of his reputation.
Andrew is the Damon brother who has skirted most of the family’s business responsibilities, but with Harrison at odds with their uncle, he must step in and do his share. When he meets Laurel he finds she’s not the gold digger woman he thought she was, marrying someone older just for money. He also discovers that Laurel feels she has a legitimate claim to the inn and after getting to know her, Andrew hopes this is true. He hopes at the very least, they can at least work something out, because he’s come to care about her.
Andrew was a sweetheart, trying to make the best to make a bad situation. He truly didn’t have a malicious bone in his body and was quick to make amends when he was in the wrong. My heart went out to Laurel. Her life had been anything but easy, but she wasn’t one to wallow in self-pity, instead she focused on solutions and worked hard for everything she had.
Their romance was touching. The way Andrew steps up to care for Laurel when she needs it, even when they’re at odds couldn’t help but win everyone over.
“I liked rescuing you then. I’ll be happy to dash to the rescue any time you need it.” His words had been teasing, but as he gazed down at her, a wave of deep desire overwhelmed him. He wanted to rescue her, from anything that might threaten her. He wanted…her.
While I don’t think this held the same charm as the first installment, it had a sweet appeal that drew me right in. Noelle Adams creates characters with layers, depth and likeability, making it easy to connect with Laurel and Andrew, and root for their HEA.
*Quote taken from an uncorrected proof and may change in the final copy.
A copy was provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
You can find this review and more at The Readers Den.
November 21, 2024
4 stars. So good, but the third act drama was a bit much for me. I don’t feel like the conflict felt super resolved, I needed more.
Safe, very little mention of the hero’s playboy past in any concrete way. No om/ow drama, no cheating
Safe, very little mention of the hero’s playboy past in any concrete way. No om/ow drama, no cheating
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2021
Laurel was a great counterpoint to his wild ways. She was dedicated and loyal and a hard worker from sun up to sun down. Her plan went a bit wonky from the moment she had too much help and I couldn’t help but grin as each additional part of the plan took a new direction.
I loved Andrew in the first book so I was excited to get his story. He was attracted to Laurel from the first problem and the more he got to know her, the more he wanted to help her. Watching him lose his philandering ways was great.
While this doesn’t have a lot of angst, I knew this couple were going to have a bit of a confrontation and at that point, my heart was hurting from the riot of emotions it stirred. This is filled with humor, pets, and plenty of steam and I loved every moment of it.
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
I loved Andrew in the first book so I was excited to get his story. He was attracted to Laurel from the first problem and the more he got to know her, the more he wanted to help her. Watching him lose his philandering ways was great.
While this doesn’t have a lot of angst, I knew this couple were going to have a bit of a confrontation and at that point, my heart was hurting from the riot of emotions it stirred. This is filled with humor, pets, and plenty of steam and I loved every moment of it.
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
November 30, 2024
The legalities of who has a claim on the inn make little sense and therefore the plot never added up. Additionally, it doesn’t stand alone all that well; I was relying on my hazy memory of the first book in this series to fill in some of the blanks. However, I did like Laurel and Andrew together, along with the ins and outs of keeping an inn going despite financial difficulties.
Characters: Laurel is a 29 year old white inn manager and widow. She has three German shepherds: Theo, Circe, and Persephone. Andrew is a white billionaire playboy who works for his family’s hotel empire. This is set in Oia, Santorini, Greece.
Content notes: brief workplace sexual harassment, back injury, animal injury (dog jumps off a cliff chasing a bird and hurts his leg), past death of FMC’s husband (heart attack), sexism, classism, past police harassment and corruption (after FMC turned down sheriff’s advances, he faked evidence and arrested her for prostitution), professional ethics violation (FMC enters MMC’s hotel room without permission and packs his things), past poverty, FMC’s husband filed for bankruptcy before he died, FMC was raised by her grandparents (past death of mother, father left after he got her 16 year old mom pregnant), secondary character was in a wheelchair for 13 years, on page sex, alcohol, sex work stigma, FMC is described as “exotic” and looking like Pocahontas (her grandfather was Cherokee), gender essentialist language, ableist language
Characters: Laurel is a 29 year old white inn manager and widow. She has three German shepherds: Theo, Circe, and Persephone. Andrew is a white billionaire playboy who works for his family’s hotel empire. This is set in Oia, Santorini, Greece.
Content notes: brief workplace sexual harassment, back injury, animal injury (dog jumps off a cliff chasing a bird and hurts his leg), past death of FMC’s husband (heart attack), sexism, classism, past police harassment and corruption (after FMC turned down sheriff’s advances, he faked evidence and arrested her for prostitution), professional ethics violation (FMC enters MMC’s hotel room without permission and packs his things), past poverty, FMC’s husband filed for bankruptcy before he died, FMC was raised by her grandparents (past death of mother, father left after he got her 16 year old mom pregnant), secondary character was in a wheelchair for 13 years, on page sex, alcohol, sex work stigma, FMC is described as “exotic” and looking like Pocahontas (her grandfather was Cherokee), gender essentialist language, ableist language
May 23, 2017
While reading this book, I was going for the noncommittal 3 stars.
I had liked Andrew in the first book, he seemed like the incarnation of the term "Playboy". That aloof character fool of charm that you always forgive his failures and mistakes. The eternal teenager.
But I really started to like him when he didn't turn his back in his current failure and tried to finish something to the end for once. Of course the reason for this change was Laurel, the heroine of this book who maybe appears at first like a "Damsel in distress" but she is anything but helpless. And through her courage and pride and do-it-all-by-myself-don't-need-help-thank-you-very-much attitude we see the playboy to transform.
The end deffinetely worths my 4 stars. It was powerfull and emotional and showed what having a big heart means.
I had liked Andrew in the first book, he seemed like the incarnation of the term "Playboy". That aloof character fool of charm that you always forgive his failures and mistakes. The eternal teenager.
But I really started to like him when he didn't turn his back in his current failure and tried to finish something to the end for once. Of course the reason for this change was Laurel, the heroine of this book who maybe appears at first like a "Damsel in distress" but she is anything but helpless. And through her courage and pride and do-it-all-by-myself-don't-need-help-thank-you-very-much attitude we see the playboy to transform.
The end deffinetely worths my 4 stars. It was powerfull and emotional and showed what having a big heart means.
April 25, 2023
3.5
Noelle Adams writing is consistent and helped me get out of my long reading slump.
I really liked the setting in Greece and the characters. There was flashes of typical NA writing tropes that I enjoy- good decent characters, realness to the writing, open communication especially during intimacy etc.
I did not like the convoluted conflict set up, in which the characters who had good communication so far suddenly act out of character. Which made their subsequent reconciliation not believable.
Overall this is not her best but I like visiting her contemporary books- there is a sparse neatness to her writing that I enjoy.
Noelle Adams writing is consistent and helped me get out of my long reading slump.
I really liked the setting in Greece and the characters. There was flashes of typical NA writing tropes that I enjoy- good decent characters, realness to the writing, open communication especially during intimacy etc.
I did not like the convoluted conflict set up, in which the characters who had good communication so far suddenly act out of character. Which made their subsequent reconciliation not believable.
Overall this is not her best but I like visiting her contemporary books- there is a sparse neatness to her writing that I enjoy.
November 29, 2013
PLAYING THE PLAYBOY is the second instalment in Noelle Adams contemporary, adult Heirs of Damon series focusing on the Damon family heirs and their uncle/father Cyrus Damon. This is Andrew and Laurel’s story. Although this is the second in the series, it can be read as a stand alone without too much difficulty. The major players from the first storyline play a small role in PLAYING THE PLAYBOY as the family works together to claim what they believe is rightfully theirs.
The storyline premise focuses on Laurel Greyson and her struggle to keep possession of the Santorini Inn, given to her by her late husband Jerry Grayson as a wedding gift. As the storyline progresses Laurel begins to fall for the man sent to remove her from the premises but in doing so digs herself into a deeper hole by lying about her previous experience and how she came into possession of her late husband’s inn. The Damon family knows that the Santorini Inn belongs to them and it is Andrew’s current assignment that will place him face to face with the woman who will fight him at every step of the eviction.
The relationship between Laurel and Andrew begins under false pretenses but quickly develops into something sexual and sensual. There is an immediate attraction between the couple but the circumstances of their union will become more complicated as the truth about the Inn’s ownership and previous history places an impenetrable wall between our leading couple. When the reality of the situation is finally revealed, Laurel will walk away into an uncertain future and life without the people that she loves.
Noelle Adams continues the story about the Damon men and the situations where Uncle Cyrus will pull the strings as the master puppeteer in a world of corporate acquisitions, financial success and family struggles. Each of the Damon men will play a pivotal role in their uncle’s business ventures as each successive storyline will pull the reader into a world of billionaire dollar take overs and falling in love.
PLAYING THE PLAYBOY is a fast paced storyline about two people pushed together under abnormal circumstances and who will be pulled apart by lies, deceit and a misunderstanding.
Copy supplied by the author.
www.thereadingcafe.com
The storyline premise focuses on Laurel Greyson and her struggle to keep possession of the Santorini Inn, given to her by her late husband Jerry Grayson as a wedding gift. As the storyline progresses Laurel begins to fall for the man sent to remove her from the premises but in doing so digs herself into a deeper hole by lying about her previous experience and how she came into possession of her late husband’s inn. The Damon family knows that the Santorini Inn belongs to them and it is Andrew’s current assignment that will place him face to face with the woman who will fight him at every step of the eviction.
The relationship between Laurel and Andrew begins under false pretenses but quickly develops into something sexual and sensual. There is an immediate attraction between the couple but the circumstances of their union will become more complicated as the truth about the Inn’s ownership and previous history places an impenetrable wall between our leading couple. When the reality of the situation is finally revealed, Laurel will walk away into an uncertain future and life without the people that she loves.
Noelle Adams continues the story about the Damon men and the situations where Uncle Cyrus will pull the strings as the master puppeteer in a world of corporate acquisitions, financial success and family struggles. Each of the Damon men will play a pivotal role in their uncle’s business ventures as each successive storyline will pull the reader into a world of billionaire dollar take overs and falling in love.
PLAYING THE PLAYBOY is a fast paced storyline about two people pushed together under abnormal circumstances and who will be pulled apart by lies, deceit and a misunderstanding.
Copy supplied by the author.
www.thereadingcafe.com
June 14, 2016
I was looking forward to reading what and who Andrew will eventually find.
From the first book, we got a glimpse of Andrew and who doesn't want to read about a playboy being tamed? In the first installment, he was playful and didn't bother restraining any of his actions because he didn't have a lot to answer for, but at the same time we saw that he was a good person deep inside.
In this second installment, we see a more responsible Andrew, who takes a bit of load off Harrison's plate since he is on vacation. In the first part of the book, we still see a glimpse of the playboy persona he had, but he eventually fades into the background once he falls for Laurel.
So what did I love about the book? Andrew and his charms.
What I didn't like about the book? Laurel.
As much as I love independent and strong heroines, I did not like Laurel that much. She is strong physically, does hard work and can be fine by herself. However, she is a mess emotionally which I did not like at all. I did not like the blackmail plan too, which was how the story unfolded, and I did not get it at all. For a woman, she sells herself short and to stoop so low at first with that kind of plan didn't sit right with me.
I think we were also left hanging there at the end when the revelations were already being taken care of one by one. The only problem was her past but they did not really explain much about the land at the end of it. For fighting so much from the beginning for her home, she kind of gave up quickly after they found out about her past.
So I was kinda disappointed with the heroine and it kind of ruined the book. The consolation really was Andrew. I don't get why the book depicts the Damon family bad in the viewpoint of other characters - but they aren't like that at all. They are just like any other family with problems of their own, but just rich. So that kind of boggles my mind still. Anyway, Harrison and Andrew's relationship here was cute also, since they didn't show much brotherly love in the first book.
From the first book, we got a glimpse of Andrew and who doesn't want to read about a playboy being tamed? In the first installment, he was playful and didn't bother restraining any of his actions because he didn't have a lot to answer for, but at the same time we saw that he was a good person deep inside.
In this second installment, we see a more responsible Andrew, who takes a bit of load off Harrison's plate since he is on vacation. In the first part of the book, we still see a glimpse of the playboy persona he had, but he eventually fades into the background once he falls for Laurel.
So what did I love about the book? Andrew and his charms.
What I didn't like about the book? Laurel.
As much as I love independent and strong heroines, I did not like Laurel that much. She is strong physically, does hard work and can be fine by herself. However, she is a mess emotionally which I did not like at all. I did not like the blackmail plan too, which was how the story unfolded, and I did not get it at all. For a woman, she sells herself short and to stoop so low at first with that kind of plan didn't sit right with me.
I think we were also left hanging there at the end when the revelations were already being taken care of one by one. The only problem was her past but they did not really explain much about the land at the end of it. For fighting so much from the beginning for her home, she kind of gave up quickly after they found out about her past.
So I was kinda disappointed with the heroine and it kind of ruined the book. The consolation really was Andrew. I don't get why the book depicts the Damon family bad in the viewpoint of other characters - but they aren't like that at all. They are just like any other family with problems of their own, but just rich. So that kind of boggles my mind still. Anyway, Harrison and Andrew's relationship here was cute also, since they didn't show much brotherly love in the first book.
November 10, 2013
* I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for this honest review *
This is the second book in the Heirs of Damon series. The first was Seducing the Enemy, which was phenomenal. If you haven’t read it yet, I strongly suggest you do. Playing the Playboy is a standalone, so you don’t have to have read Seducing the Enemy to enjoy this one, but I recommend you do, because it is a real can’t-miss book.
Often a second book in a series is a letdown, but not here. The story of Harrison’s brother Andrew and Laurel is a delightfully engrossing novel that is paced perfectly. Now that Harrison has taken a step back from the family business, Andrew has taken a much more active role. His first big project is to address the company’s claimed ownership of a small inn on the Greek island of Santorini. When he arrives he meets Laurel on the side of the road – a damsel in distress (or is she?). Laurel is a widow from West Virginia, who is desperate to keep the inn her husband gave to her as a wedding present. Her desire to hold onto her inn and way of life challenges her morality, as Andrew becomes increasingly irresistible to her by the day.
The characters and locales are so richly described and deeply developed that it was hard to come back to reality once I was finished. I started this book one evening and didn’t go to sleep until 3:30 am - it was that wonderful.
And for fans of Harrison and Marietta, they have a meaty appearance here and play important role in the outcome of Andrew and Laurel’s story. I didn’t think I could love Marietta more after Seducing the Enemy – but I was wrong. She completely rocks. As does Laurel, though in a completely different way.
I am dying for the rest of this series to come out so I can see these wonderful people again!
This is the second book in the Heirs of Damon series. The first was Seducing the Enemy, which was phenomenal. If you haven’t read it yet, I strongly suggest you do. Playing the Playboy is a standalone, so you don’t have to have read Seducing the Enemy to enjoy this one, but I recommend you do, because it is a real can’t-miss book.
Often a second book in a series is a letdown, but not here. The story of Harrison’s brother Andrew and Laurel is a delightfully engrossing novel that is paced perfectly. Now that Harrison has taken a step back from the family business, Andrew has taken a much more active role. His first big project is to address the company’s claimed ownership of a small inn on the Greek island of Santorini. When he arrives he meets Laurel on the side of the road – a damsel in distress (or is she?). Laurel is a widow from West Virginia, who is desperate to keep the inn her husband gave to her as a wedding present. Her desire to hold onto her inn and way of life challenges her morality, as Andrew becomes increasingly irresistible to her by the day.
The characters and locales are so richly described and deeply developed that it was hard to come back to reality once I was finished. I started this book one evening and didn’t go to sleep until 3:30 am - it was that wonderful.
And for fans of Harrison and Marietta, they have a meaty appearance here and play important role in the outcome of Andrew and Laurel’s story. I didn’t think I could love Marietta more after Seducing the Enemy – but I was wrong. She completely rocks. As does Laurel, though in a completely different way.
I am dying for the rest of this series to come out so I can see these wonderful people again!
December 6, 2013
This was fairly typical romance novel. The heroine, Laurel, had a plan to save the inn she owned (or thought she owned) by tricking the guy who was coming to talk business with her. The guy, Andrew, was not what she expected and she ended up falling for him. She felt guilty for her attempt at initially tricking him, but didn't get to come clean about it before he found out. Naturally, Andrew was mad and they broke up. They couldn't stand to be apart and worked things out and ended up together, all happy and in love :)
There were times when I felt this story dragged a bit, and I found myself upset with Laurel a few times cause she kept putting off telling Andrew the truth. I was furious with Harrison (Andrew's brother) for the way he told Andrew what he found out and making Andrew doubt what he and Laurel had. I really would like to go back and read Harrison's story cause I liked Marietta from the few glimpses I got of her in here.
All in all, not a bad read and I'll read more by this author :)
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley
There were times when I felt this story dragged a bit, and I found myself upset with Laurel a few times cause she kept putting off telling Andrew the truth. I was furious with Harrison (Andrew's brother) for the way he told Andrew what he found out and making Andrew doubt what he and Laurel had. I really would like to go back and read Harrison's story cause I liked Marietta from the few glimpses I got of her in here.
All in all, not a bad read and I'll read more by this author :)
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley
May 22, 2014
This was a total deception... I was hopping to read about a sexy business man, not a lazy one.
May 20, 2016
I love this series. Well worth your time to read.
May 29, 2018
Just ok. Both characters were nice, too good to be true, angst didnt last that long...
November 6, 2020
Laurel was trying to keep Andrew from taking her inn from her. Things got messy with the ownership of the inn. Laurel never quit working on the inn and taking care of her three dogs. Laurel was trying to make a better life for herself and when Andrew realized that Laurel wasn't what he thought she would be like he changed his attitude toward her. These two got to know each other and then some things happen to shake the foundation of their relationship. The ending was really sweet and I really enjoyed this book!
October 31, 2020
Playing the Playboy (Heir of Damon Book 2)
The love story of Laurel and Andrew. Laurel known she was the owner of the inn the Damon Company say they own and she was doing everything she can to save her inn. Can she save her inn.
Andrew was sent to Grease to evict Laurel from the inn and proof they own it. When he met Laurel things change. Can he evict Laurel from the inn she believes is her? Great story.
The love story of Laurel and Andrew. Laurel known she was the owner of the inn the Damon Company say they own and she was doing everything she can to save her inn. Can she save her inn.
Andrew was sent to Grease to evict Laurel from the inn and proof they own it. When he met Laurel things change. Can he evict Laurel from the inn she believes is her? Great story.
May 24, 2021
i don’t really understand the crisis. especially when their earlier reluctance seemed to be stemmed around the inn crisis, why couldn’t they get together? it’s just so stupid and dragging. anyway, it all wrapped up okay. although everyone’s reaction to the ultimate conflict was really demure and unsatisfying. like, “oh there’s conflict okay let’s stew for a few days and then get sad and oh okay all is forgiven hooray!”
July 21, 2017
Building a future
Excellent story of a relationship growing into a loving, mature and lifelong relationship. A relationship where their goals and ambitions are the same
k together
Excellent story of a relationship growing into a loving, mature and lifelong relationship. A relationship where their goals and ambitions are the same
k together
May 28, 2024
great story!!
It was getting a little long going back and forth but I really love this series! This series has a lot more story to them compared to Noelle Adams other series! Very good!! Excited for the next book!!
It was getting a little long going back and forth but I really love this series! This series has a lot more story to them compared to Noelle Adams other series! Very good!! Excited for the next book!!
June 4, 2017
😚😊
What a great, quick read! Santorini was a great backdrop to this charming love story. Ii felt as if you were witnessing their romance unfold. Agood beach read!
What a great, quick read! Santorini was a great backdrop to this charming love story. Ii felt as if you were witnessing their romance unfold. Agood beach read!
January 14, 2018
3.5 stars
April 8, 2019
Fun read!!!!
September 10, 2022
Very entertaining
November 4, 2025
Not a fan of the FMC, but really liked the MMC. Overall, enjoying this series.
November 15, 2013
**ARC Provided by Netgalley and Noelle Adams for an honest review**
Laurel owns a little inn in Santorini which the Damon family have now claimed they own. The inn was a gift from her now deceased husband as a wedding present.
Laurel has lived her life knowing she can only rely on herself to keep things going. Even her husband had money problems that he didn't tell her about until it was too late. She has had to bring herself up from the age of 17 where she worked in a strip club to earn money before she was married. She was often looked at and even harassed by the local sheriff as she would not give him a chance.
Andrew Damon is the playboy of the family and they are used to him not completing anything he starts and his relationships only last a few weeks at most. With his brother taking time off to start his fledgling relationship with Marietta Andrew is now in charge with sorting out the inn problem in Santorini.
A day early he has flown to the island where he finds a stemming woman in trouble with her car and two old men arguing. He swiftly dispatches the old men and helps the woman with her flat tire. Her comes from a family with manners after all.
The attraction starts from the moment they see each other, she knows who he is, but not the other way round. She has a plan and starts on it but in the end cannot complete it that day or ever. She has always had trouble flirting.
The next day Andrew goes to meet the lady at the in and finds Laurel there. Not that he knew her name. Laurel is both pleasant and harsh towards him and he finds she works very long hard hours for her business. Not at all the trophy wife he thought her to be. She works so long and hard that she often has back problems.
They both see the truth of the other person, Andrews hidden caring nature and Laurels hard working truthfulness, but they still have to settle the issue of who really owns the inn.
After an accident with one of her dogs and both slipping up in their attraction, they go through all the documents that she has in regards to the inn. They eventually find a document claiming the her late-husbands grandfather had paid off his debts.
A trip to France and his brothers skills soon find out however that the paperwork was forged and therefore the true owner of the inn are the Damons and their company. This leaves Laurel homeless and penniless. Other issues arose in which she does not defend herself and she is a ken back to Santorini to gather her things and leave.
A very upset Andrew goes back to his family home leaving Laurel behind. He can't believe that he had her pegged all wrong, his sense of people has never been wrong before. He ends up going out to the tree house that he had started as a kid and spends the next few days building until he has finished the tree house. Something he knew he would have loved as a child. His brother turns up as he finishes saying her was asked to come back early as he was told Andrew was having a breakdown of some kind.
They have a small chat and Andrew says that he will be finishing the Santorini case. He needs the closure. But his brother also says that perhaps there is a bigger picture and maybe they jumped the gun on what Laurel was really like.
Andrew goes back to the inn and finds Laurel is no longer there, that she has hardly taken anything even clothes and has had to leave the dogs behind for now. He finds her working in a local tavern working double shifts, in pain and no longer smiling. Know-one else sees her pain or that she is unhappy.
He stays at the tavern and stays until her shift is ended then helps her hobble back to her very tiny rented room to rest her back and provide her with painkillers.
The next day in the best suit she has Laurel goes back to the inn and gives Andrew her resume asking if she can apply for the managers position at the hotel. She can't do the tavern work any longer. She tells his the painful truth about her. He takes her round the inn showing her the plans that he has for updating the inn and she sees that he has put in many of the changes that she had told him that she would have liked to do. He has even purchased the noisy properly next door.
But he tells her she cannot be the manager of the inn as he plans to take that position himself. But that he would like her to be his equal, he knows nothing about the daily running of the inn. He plans to stay there and he wants her t be a part of it with him.
Its a sweet books and I'm glad that Andrew found his happiness, but we know by the end of the book that the third book in the series is going to feature on the Damon that is in America and the third Damon cousin.
A good read.
Laurel owns a little inn in Santorini which the Damon family have now claimed they own. The inn was a gift from her now deceased husband as a wedding present.
Laurel has lived her life knowing she can only rely on herself to keep things going. Even her husband had money problems that he didn't tell her about until it was too late. She has had to bring herself up from the age of 17 where she worked in a strip club to earn money before she was married. She was often looked at and even harassed by the local sheriff as she would not give him a chance.
Andrew Damon is the playboy of the family and they are used to him not completing anything he starts and his relationships only last a few weeks at most. With his brother taking time off to start his fledgling relationship with Marietta Andrew is now in charge with sorting out the inn problem in Santorini.
A day early he has flown to the island where he finds a stemming woman in trouble with her car and two old men arguing. He swiftly dispatches the old men and helps the woman with her flat tire. Her comes from a family with manners after all.
The attraction starts from the moment they see each other, she knows who he is, but not the other way round. She has a plan and starts on it but in the end cannot complete it that day or ever. She has always had trouble flirting.
The next day Andrew goes to meet the lady at the in and finds Laurel there. Not that he knew her name. Laurel is both pleasant and harsh towards him and he finds she works very long hard hours for her business. Not at all the trophy wife he thought her to be. She works so long and hard that she often has back problems.
They both see the truth of the other person, Andrews hidden caring nature and Laurels hard working truthfulness, but they still have to settle the issue of who really owns the inn.
After an accident with one of her dogs and both slipping up in their attraction, they go through all the documents that she has in regards to the inn. They eventually find a document claiming the her late-husbands grandfather had paid off his debts.
A trip to France and his brothers skills soon find out however that the paperwork was forged and therefore the true owner of the inn are the Damons and their company. This leaves Laurel homeless and penniless. Other issues arose in which she does not defend herself and she is a ken back to Santorini to gather her things and leave.
A very upset Andrew goes back to his family home leaving Laurel behind. He can't believe that he had her pegged all wrong, his sense of people has never been wrong before. He ends up going out to the tree house that he had started as a kid and spends the next few days building until he has finished the tree house. Something he knew he would have loved as a child. His brother turns up as he finishes saying her was asked to come back early as he was told Andrew was having a breakdown of some kind.
They have a small chat and Andrew says that he will be finishing the Santorini case. He needs the closure. But his brother also says that perhaps there is a bigger picture and maybe they jumped the gun on what Laurel was really like.
Andrew goes back to the inn and finds Laurel is no longer there, that she has hardly taken anything even clothes and has had to leave the dogs behind for now. He finds her working in a local tavern working double shifts, in pain and no longer smiling. Know-one else sees her pain or that she is unhappy.
He stays at the tavern and stays until her shift is ended then helps her hobble back to her very tiny rented room to rest her back and provide her with painkillers.
The next day in the best suit she has Laurel goes back to the inn and gives Andrew her resume asking if she can apply for the managers position at the hotel. She can't do the tavern work any longer. She tells his the painful truth about her. He takes her round the inn showing her the plans that he has for updating the inn and she sees that he has put in many of the changes that she had told him that she would have liked to do. He has even purchased the noisy properly next door.
But he tells her she cannot be the manager of the inn as he plans to take that position himself. But that he would like her to be his equal, he knows nothing about the daily running of the inn. He plans to stay there and he wants her t be a part of it with him.
Its a sweet books and I'm glad that Andrew found his happiness, but we know by the end of the book that the third book in the series is going to feature on the Damon that is in America and the third Damon cousin.
A good read.
February 11, 2014
Rating: 4.5 Stars
A person should never judge a person until the full story is heard. Just because an investigation is done and documents are raised doesn’t mean anything, every situation has an explanation.
This is the second installment of Heirs of Damon series and it was a heart breaking read. Yes I do have to say it was a little slow at the beginning but it was good because Laurel and Andrew were getting to know each other. Only that they were dancing around the big issue the main reason why Andrew was there. They were getting close and they could no longer keep there attraction to each other to themselves; as soon as their lips met it was like fireworks.
Laurel Grayson knows that she is going to have to fight for what she wants; the inn belongs to her and no one is going to take it away from her. She has devised a plan but she can’t go through with it she is not that type of woman. This man in front of her knows nothing about her, knows nothing about what she went through when she was young. Now she needed to find the documents that said made her the owner of the inn.
Andrew Damon is the Damon that needs to go deal with the letting Widow Ms. Grayson know that the inn she believed was hers is not hers but property of Damon Enterprises. Now that Harrison, his brother, was not in speaking terms with their uncle he needed to go deal with this issue. When he got there he was surprised that the owner was the same woman that had run off on him, no woman had ever run off on him.
As they get to know each other, he knows that she did not marry a man 15 years older than her for his money. Laurel was a sweet, compassionate woman but she also is a stubborn hard headed woman that needs control. Then there is Andrew sure he is a player but he is a sweetheart, is warm-hearted, kind and a charmer. Only that their nights of passion didn’t last long because of a misunderstanding. Laurel was able to find the document that she needed in order to keep her inn but things didn’t go the way she thought. Andrew overreacted, assumed things that he shouldn’t have but Laurel also didn’t clear the air so things just weren’t cleared. It was so sad; I couldn’t stop crying because they meant to be together.
The greatest thing about this story was how real it felt. The emotions of not only her but also Andrew, he really showed who he was. Wow, the sparks that they had were felt while I was reading their story. The characters were well developed and the writing was smooth. What mad me fall in love with Andrew has his talent and how a project that he started when his parents died he actually finished. I want to believe that Laurel was able to show him something or maybe teach him something and that brought him to finish building his tree house. The chemistry that they had was sensual, passionate and when they were together it was explosive.
I can’t wait for the next installment in this series. I truly enjoy Ms. Adams writing and her way of getting a moral out to the readers. Laurel and Andrew get their happily ever after in the most spectacular way. Pick this up today you won’t regret it!!!
Thanks to NetGalley who provided me a copy of this ARC for an honest review.
A person should never judge a person until the full story is heard. Just because an investigation is done and documents are raised doesn’t mean anything, every situation has an explanation.
This is the second installment of Heirs of Damon series and it was a heart breaking read. Yes I do have to say it was a little slow at the beginning but it was good because Laurel and Andrew were getting to know each other. Only that they were dancing around the big issue the main reason why Andrew was there. They were getting close and they could no longer keep there attraction to each other to themselves; as soon as their lips met it was like fireworks.
Laurel Grayson knows that she is going to have to fight for what she wants; the inn belongs to her and no one is going to take it away from her. She has devised a plan but she can’t go through with it she is not that type of woman. This man in front of her knows nothing about her, knows nothing about what she went through when she was young. Now she needed to find the documents that said made her the owner of the inn.
Andrew Damon is the Damon that needs to go deal with the letting Widow Ms. Grayson know that the inn she believed was hers is not hers but property of Damon Enterprises. Now that Harrison, his brother, was not in speaking terms with their uncle he needed to go deal with this issue. When he got there he was surprised that the owner was the same woman that had run off on him, no woman had ever run off on him.
As they get to know each other, he knows that she did not marry a man 15 years older than her for his money. Laurel was a sweet, compassionate woman but she also is a stubborn hard headed woman that needs control. Then there is Andrew sure he is a player but he is a sweetheart, is warm-hearted, kind and a charmer. Only that their nights of passion didn’t last long because of a misunderstanding. Laurel was able to find the document that she needed in order to keep her inn but things didn’t go the way she thought. Andrew overreacted, assumed things that he shouldn’t have but Laurel also didn’t clear the air so things just weren’t cleared. It was so sad; I couldn’t stop crying because they meant to be together.
The greatest thing about this story was how real it felt. The emotions of not only her but also Andrew, he really showed who he was. Wow, the sparks that they had were felt while I was reading their story. The characters were well developed and the writing was smooth. What mad me fall in love with Andrew has his talent and how a project that he started when his parents died he actually finished. I want to believe that Laurel was able to show him something or maybe teach him something and that brought him to finish building his tree house. The chemistry that they had was sensual, passionate and when they were together it was explosive.
I can’t wait for the next installment in this series. I truly enjoy Ms. Adams writing and her way of getting a moral out to the readers. Laurel and Andrew get their happily ever after in the most spectacular way. Pick this up today you won’t regret it!!!
Thanks to NetGalley who provided me a copy of this ARC for an honest review.
December 2, 2013
Reviewed @ Enticed by Books
This is turning into one of my to-go, favorite series ever! Like Seducing The Enemy, Playing the Playboy was yet another addicting, super romantic and heartwarming read that made me feel all the feels! I absolutely fell in love with this story the minute I finished the first chapter and I know it sounds very over-exaggerated, but I don't know how else to describe my feelings. It literally felt like the perfect read from the first page, from the romance to the humor to the character connectivity and even the emotionally charged conflict, I have nothing but high praises for this book.
Andrew, better known as the careless, playboy of the Damon family has recently joined his family business and his first task is to take their Greece inn back from the hands of a gold-digger widow who refuses to leave the property. At first, the story seemed more like a damsel in distress sort because of Laurel's plan to trick Andrew into feeling sorry for her, but later on when she couldn't keep up with her pretentious nature and showed her true, strong, fierce woman personality- that's when the story took a turn for the best and became unbelievably exciting and entertaining. The chemistry between Laurel and Andrew was straight up burning hot! I loved the cat and mouse game they played, even though they gave in to the temptation pretty early in the story, they never lost that sparkling connection that drew them closer with every meet. Laurel was very easy to like but it was difficult to grasp and fully understand her background: why did she lie to Andrew about it? Why did she marry the old man? I get that she was attracted to him, but I don't buy the love excuse. There are so many things about Laurel's life that are so iffy and naturally makes us and everyone in the book judgmental about her character. Though I'm glad that Andrew wasn't one of them, he didn't judge her or scrutinize her reasons, he loved her for who she was and stuck by her through tough times. I really admire that quality about him. Even in the end where everything blew out of proportion and Laurel sort of shut down, I loved that Andrew didn't believe everything wrong instantly and waited for her to explain things. In short, I truly loved this couple, they were definitely meant to be.
Playing the Playboy exceeded all my expectation and reminded me once again of my reasons for loving a great, classic romance. Books like this are why I read in the first place, I love my fantasy and paranormal, but at the end of the day, I crave for a heartfelt romance. I don't know how Noelle is going to make the next book better than this one, but I believe with the trend so far, she is going to make it happen and I sure as hell am going to look forward to it!
An early arc was provided through Netgalley for an honest feedback. (Thank You!)
This is turning into one of my to-go, favorite series ever! Like Seducing The Enemy, Playing the Playboy was yet another addicting, super romantic and heartwarming read that made me feel all the feels! I absolutely fell in love with this story the minute I finished the first chapter and I know it sounds very over-exaggerated, but I don't know how else to describe my feelings. It literally felt like the perfect read from the first page, from the romance to the humor to the character connectivity and even the emotionally charged conflict, I have nothing but high praises for this book.
Andrew, better known as the careless, playboy of the Damon family has recently joined his family business and his first task is to take their Greece inn back from the hands of a gold-digger widow who refuses to leave the property. At first, the story seemed more like a damsel in distress sort because of Laurel's plan to trick Andrew into feeling sorry for her, but later on when she couldn't keep up with her pretentious nature and showed her true, strong, fierce woman personality- that's when the story took a turn for the best and became unbelievably exciting and entertaining. The chemistry between Laurel and Andrew was straight up burning hot! I loved the cat and mouse game they played, even though they gave in to the temptation pretty early in the story, they never lost that sparkling connection that drew them closer with every meet. Laurel was very easy to like but it was difficult to grasp and fully understand her background: why did she lie to Andrew about it? Why did she marry the old man? I get that she was attracted to him, but I don't buy the love excuse. There are so many things about Laurel's life that are so iffy and naturally makes us and everyone in the book judgmental about her character. Though I'm glad that Andrew wasn't one of them, he didn't judge her or scrutinize her reasons, he loved her for who she was and stuck by her through tough times. I really admire that quality about him. Even in the end where everything blew out of proportion and Laurel sort of shut down, I loved that Andrew didn't believe everything wrong instantly and waited for her to explain things. In short, I truly loved this couple, they were definitely meant to be.
Playing the Playboy exceeded all my expectation and reminded me once again of my reasons for loving a great, classic romance. Books like this are why I read in the first place, I love my fantasy and paranormal, but at the end of the day, I crave for a heartfelt romance. I don't know how Noelle is going to make the next book better than this one, but I believe with the trend so far, she is going to make it happen and I sure as hell am going to look forward to it!
An early arc was provided through Netgalley for an honest feedback. (Thank You!)
January 2, 2026
In Playing the Playboy we meet Laurel who is in a bad situation; she is a widow who didn’t have the best upbringing, and was managing the bar in a seedy strip joint when she met an older man who she fell in love with. After they married he gave her a hotel in Greece. This was about the only good thing he did for her – over the time of their marriage she lost one illusion after another about him and he ended up bankrupt after his debts caught up with him. Now he is dead and the Damons are saying that her hotel belongs to them. Since Cyrus Damon isn’t speaking to his blue eyed boy Harrison, he’s sent Andrew Damon, a notorious playboy, in his brother’s stead to try and sort out the dispute amicably. Laurel has done her homework on Andrew and, desperate not to lose her home and her livelihood, she has decided on a dishonourable course of action, which is to seduce Andrew, get it caught on CCTV and blackmail him with the evidence.
I really wondered if I could like Laurel at all after an introduction like that but it really is desperation that has brought her to this point and she isn’t anywhere near as heartless as her plan suggests. Andrew ends up staying at the hotel and it brings Laurel some conflict because she keeps feeling like she should be manipulating the situation to her advantage but she genuinely likes Andrew and is very strongly attracted to him. Andrew is similarly conflicted – he really wants to prove his mettle to his uncle and close out this situation advantageously for the company while on the other hand he finds himself believing that Laurel may have been dealt a bad hand here and feeling sympathetic towards her.
Both Andrew and Laurel are likeable protagonists and they fit together very nicely. Both of them feel unworthy to an extent, her because of her background (although she has done nothing wrong, just tried to make the best of the hand that life has dealt her) and him because he doesn’t knuckle down to anything and doesn’t feel respected. She is very bad at allowing people to help her, but she is forced to accept his help on more than one occasion which is good for them both, as she comes to see that she doesn’t need to only rely on herself, and he finds himself in the novel position of having somebody trust in him. This story is set largely on a Greek island and I thought a few times while I read it that it would make an excellent holiday sun-lounger read. It’s a very easy to read romance and I enjoyed it very much. This is book 2 in the Heirs of Damon series and though Harrison and Marietta from Seducing the Enemy play a part in this story you could read this one as stand alone.
Please note, in case you prefer to avoid them, that this book has sex scenes.
Review first posted on Babblings of a Bookworm: http://babblingsofabookworm.blogspot....
I really wondered if I could like Laurel at all after an introduction like that but it really is desperation that has brought her to this point and she isn’t anywhere near as heartless as her plan suggests. Andrew ends up staying at the hotel and it brings Laurel some conflict because she keeps feeling like she should be manipulating the situation to her advantage but she genuinely likes Andrew and is very strongly attracted to him. Andrew is similarly conflicted – he really wants to prove his mettle to his uncle and close out this situation advantageously for the company while on the other hand he finds himself believing that Laurel may have been dealt a bad hand here and feeling sympathetic towards her.
Both Andrew and Laurel are likeable protagonists and they fit together very nicely. Both of them feel unworthy to an extent, her because of her background (although she has done nothing wrong, just tried to make the best of the hand that life has dealt her) and him because he doesn’t knuckle down to anything and doesn’t feel respected. She is very bad at allowing people to help her, but she is forced to accept his help on more than one occasion which is good for them both, as she comes to see that she doesn’t need to only rely on herself, and he finds himself in the novel position of having somebody trust in him. This story is set largely on a Greek island and I thought a few times while I read it that it would make an excellent holiday sun-lounger read. It’s a very easy to read romance and I enjoyed it very much. This is book 2 in the Heirs of Damon series and though Harrison and Marietta from Seducing the Enemy play a part in this story you could read this one as stand alone.
Please note, in case you prefer to avoid them, that this book has sex scenes.
Review first posted on Babblings of a Bookworm: http://babblingsofabookworm.blogspot....
March 10, 2015
This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland
3.5 stars
Playing the Playboy is the second story in the Heirs of Damon series, but the third one I have read. I really enjoyed book three and four and this one was good but just not as good as them. I didn't like Andrew as much as I liked Jonathan and Ben's stories.
Playing the Playboy was a good read, I did enjoy it, but it was just a light read for me. I didn't get as attached to the characters and the storyline was light fun. Laurel is living in Greece running her inn that her deceased husband gave her. She has been doing her best to keep it up and running and she loves living there. Her husband left her with a lot of debt and such so she is trying to keep the one thing she still has - her inn. When the Damon's come after her telling her the inn doesn't belong to her she is determined to fight them for it. After all it is her inn.
The Damon's acquired the inn a while ago, but it has only recently come to their attention that someone else thinks they own it. They have tried to discuss this with Laurel but she is not budging. They send Andrew to Greece to figure everything out and get the whole inn situation taken care off. They just need Laurel out of there as it is their inn.
At first Laurel decides she is going to play dirty and get some stuff to hold over the Damon's heads, but she cannot go through with it. Then she is attracted to Andrew and she really starts to like him as a person. Andrew falls for Laurel as well so things get a bit tricky. After all Andrew doesn't want to see Laurel thrown out with nothing, but he also doesn't want to disappoint his family. He tries to be fair and figure out some way for them both to be happy, but it is hard.
The two of them do work well together and there are some rough patches before they are able to work everything out. Laurel has what looks like a shady past and that causes some issues. I mean she did marry a much older man so that alone was suspect from the beginning. They eventually work it out and it was fun, but I just can't help but think of the other two books and how much more I loved those stories. This one was good, just not as good.
3.5 stars
Playing the Playboy is the second story in the Heirs of Damon series, but the third one I have read. I really enjoyed book three and four and this one was good but just not as good as them. I didn't like Andrew as much as I liked Jonathan and Ben's stories.
Playing the Playboy was a good read, I did enjoy it, but it was just a light read for me. I didn't get as attached to the characters and the storyline was light fun. Laurel is living in Greece running her inn that her deceased husband gave her. She has been doing her best to keep it up and running and she loves living there. Her husband left her with a lot of debt and such so she is trying to keep the one thing she still has - her inn. When the Damon's come after her telling her the inn doesn't belong to her she is determined to fight them for it. After all it is her inn.
The Damon's acquired the inn a while ago, but it has only recently come to their attention that someone else thinks they own it. They have tried to discuss this with Laurel but she is not budging. They send Andrew to Greece to figure everything out and get the whole inn situation taken care off. They just need Laurel out of there as it is their inn.
At first Laurel decides she is going to play dirty and get some stuff to hold over the Damon's heads, but she cannot go through with it. Then she is attracted to Andrew and she really starts to like him as a person. Andrew falls for Laurel as well so things get a bit tricky. After all Andrew doesn't want to see Laurel thrown out with nothing, but he also doesn't want to disappoint his family. He tries to be fair and figure out some way for them both to be happy, but it is hard.
The two of them do work well together and there are some rough patches before they are able to work everything out. Laurel has what looks like a shady past and that causes some issues. I mean she did marry a much older man so that alone was suspect from the beginning. They eventually work it out and it was fun, but I just can't help but think of the other two books and how much more I loved those stories. This one was good, just not as good.
August 29, 2014
I had the pleasure of reading the story of our H/h Andrew and Laurel and they are one hot couple, in exchange for a honest review. Andrew has come to Santorini Greece, a small tropical island, representing his families company to take back the small Inn that Laurel was given by her deceased husband. Laurel has researched this powerful family online and knows she is dealing with the rich playboy who was into extreme sports and serial dating and not the business mongrel the other brothers are. She plans to intice him into a,”Quicky,” before he knows who she is, hoping to compromise his integrity and keep her Inn. Turns out she does not have the stomach for being underhanded, but there is a mutual attraction and chemistry brewing. It appears that love is in the air.
Andrew is ready to step up in the business and leave his philandering ways behind. He has been sent by his uncle to explain that Laurel inherited the property illegally and get her to vacate the property. Laurel tells her story and eventually find the documents to prove she is the rightful owner and Andrew believes her. Once the mongrel brother gets involved, he convinces Andrew that he has been played. Andrew is told that she was once arrested for prostution, worked at a strip club, and of course became the trophy wife of older rich man….He is devasted and when he confronts Laurel she offer nothing but tears. I was all about Team Andrew and Laurel, and then this has to happen…..sighhhh Well the story is not over, and there are many questions left unanswered which I am dying to find my answers to. There are three other nephews so I am sure many more stories to tell and answers to my questions from book l. There are several Hot love scenes, but no kink yet…This series is well worth the read.
*reviewed by Geri
Andrew is ready to step up in the business and leave his philandering ways behind. He has been sent by his uncle to explain that Laurel inherited the property illegally and get her to vacate the property. Laurel tells her story and eventually find the documents to prove she is the rightful owner and Andrew believes her. Once the mongrel brother gets involved, he convinces Andrew that he has been played. Andrew is told that she was once arrested for prostution, worked at a strip club, and of course became the trophy wife of older rich man….He is devasted and when he confronts Laurel she offer nothing but tears. I was all about Team Andrew and Laurel, and then this has to happen…..sighhhh Well the story is not over, and there are many questions left unanswered which I am dying to find my answers to. There are three other nephews so I am sure many more stories to tell and answers to my questions from book l. There are several Hot love scenes, but no kink yet…This series is well worth the read.
*reviewed by Geri
Read
January 11, 2026Kindle Ebook
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews