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San Diego Social Scene #3
Playing Dirty
Playing Dirty has never been this much fun.
Cassie
I’m a career woman. I wear success like a second skin, and I’m rarely satisfied with anything less than the best. This includes my love life. If you want to date me, you better bring your A game because I don’t play with the B team.
The only type of commitment I’m interested in is the one I have with my career. There is no man strong enough to tame me. Bold enough to rattle me. Or confident enough to win my heart. But then again, I have never met a man like Luke Rivas.
Luke
Cassie is one feisty, fiery, demanding woman who has enough confidence to intimidate even the bravest of men. She’s driven, ambitious, and clearly has no interest in anything more than a casual fling.
But here’s the thing. I want her, and once I have her, there will be nothing casual about it.
I will crack through that tough exterior she wears so well and bend her into submission. I’ll make her break every one of her own damn rules just for me. And in order to accomplish just that…
I’m willing to play dirty.
Book 3 in the San Diego Social Scene series can be read as a stand alone. There's no cheating, no cliffhangers, and, of course, a HEA.
Cassie
I’m a career woman. I wear success like a second skin, and I’m rarely satisfied with anything less than the best. This includes my love life. If you want to date me, you better bring your A game because I don’t play with the B team.
The only type of commitment I’m interested in is the one I have with my career. There is no man strong enough to tame me. Bold enough to rattle me. Or confident enough to win my heart. But then again, I have never met a man like Luke Rivas.
Luke
Cassie is one feisty, fiery, demanding woman who has enough confidence to intimidate even the bravest of men. She’s driven, ambitious, and clearly has no interest in anything more than a casual fling.
But here’s the thing. I want her, and once I have her, there will be nothing casual about it.
I will crack through that tough exterior she wears so well and bend her into submission. I’ll make her break every one of her own damn rules just for me. And in order to accomplish just that…
I’m willing to play dirty.
Book 3 in the San Diego Social Scene series can be read as a stand alone. There's no cheating, no cliffhangers, and, of course, a HEA.
448 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 28, 2018
747 people are currently reading
428 people want to read
About the author
Tess Summers
40 books663 followersUSA Today and Amazon best-selling author, Tess Summers is a former business woman and teacher who always loved writing but never seemed to have time to sit down and write a short story, let alone a novel. Now battling MS, her life changed dramatically, and she has finally slowed down enough to start writing all the stories she'd been wanting to tell, including the fun and sexy ones! Married over twenty-five years with three grown children, Tess is a former dog foster mom who ended up failing and adopting them instead. She and her husband (and their six dogs) split their time between the desert of Arizona and the lakes of Michigan, so she's always in a climate that's not too hot and not too cold, but just right!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
October 30, 2022
DNF at 59%🤦♀️
First we get this description, which drew me in:
“I wear success like a second skin, and I’m rarely satisfied with anything less than the best. This includes my love life. If you want to date me, you better bring your A game because I don’t play with the B team.”
Then we get a prologue where Cassie backs that up and shows just how strong and bold she is while on a date with a definite B team player. Unfortunately she loses all of that when she gets with Luke, and becomes a spineless simpering shell of that woman. I had to give up at 59% when it all took a drastic nosedive, and then skimming ahead and seeing spoilers confirmed she never bothers to get her self respect back and he doesn’t miraculously become redeemable. 🤬
I enjoyed this book initially. A sassy strong female lead? Love it. Two devout never-settling-down people falling hard for each other? Sign me up.
What starts as a fling becomes so much more. Unfortunately, Luke doesn’t share that he’s married. 3 years ago, the wife he married because she got pregnant disappeared with all of his possessions and all of his money. After hiring a private investigator to find her, he discovers she is in Mexico and lied about being pregnant. She also refused to sign divorce papers. Why Luke didn’t share this with Cassie, and that he was trying to take care of it, I don’t know. But after asking Cassie to marry him, they come home to find his wife on his doorstep with his son. He then proceeds to tell the wife that Cassie is just a friend, followed by “she is no one, I can get rid of her”. Of course, he says it in Spanish thinking she’ll never know 🙄🙄 Then he tears up the divorce papers and says they need to reconsider 🤬 Cassie takes off and he stays with the family he always wanted. He later actually has the nerve to show up at Cassie‘s apartment expecting forgiveness. He’s determined to give his family a try, but then later says in his internal monologue that Cassie is only mad at him because he has a son and she does not want children. No, D bag. She’s devastated you LIED to her and called her NOTHING. UGHH. I had to quit. They’re both boo hoo-ing over missing the other, but he’s still shacking up with his new wife, who is steady trying to seduce him. And he’s talking to his best friend about sleeping with the wife and pretending it’s Cassie. 🤮 I’m done.
Apparently Cassie is about to find out she’s also pregnant, which makes Luke come running for a night of loving. While still married to his wife, who is living in his home. But then runs back to the wife again. Wtf? Dang girl! Where is your spine? Where is your self respect? Where is that bad as.s. girl from the prologue? I cannot do weak women, I can’t. And she has become the epitome of a weak woman. I feel duped as she was purportedly this strong, professional, one and done, sassy chick. And she is definitely not those things. And frankly, Luke is irredeemable.
First we get this description, which drew me in:
“I wear success like a second skin, and I’m rarely satisfied with anything less than the best. This includes my love life. If you want to date me, you better bring your A game because I don’t play with the B team.”
Then we get a prologue where Cassie backs that up and shows just how strong and bold she is while on a date with a definite B team player. Unfortunately she loses all of that when she gets with Luke, and becomes a spineless simpering shell of that woman. I had to give up at 59% when it all took a drastic nosedive, and then skimming ahead and seeing spoilers confirmed she never bothers to get her self respect back and he doesn’t miraculously become redeemable. 🤬
I enjoyed this book initially. A sassy strong female lead? Love it. Two devout never-settling-down people falling hard for each other? Sign me up.
What starts as a fling becomes so much more. Unfortunately, Luke doesn’t share that he’s married. 3 years ago, the wife he married because she got pregnant disappeared with all of his possessions and all of his money. After hiring a private investigator to find her, he discovers she is in Mexico and lied about being pregnant. She also refused to sign divorce papers. Why Luke didn’t share this with Cassie, and that he was trying to take care of it, I don’t know. But after asking Cassie to marry him, they come home to find his wife on his doorstep with his son. He then proceeds to tell the wife that Cassie is just a friend, followed by “she is no one, I can get rid of her”. Of course, he says it in Spanish thinking she’ll never know 🙄🙄 Then he tears up the divorce papers and says they need to reconsider 🤬 Cassie takes off and he stays with the family he always wanted. He later actually has the nerve to show up at Cassie‘s apartment expecting forgiveness. He’s determined to give his family a try, but then later says in his internal monologue that Cassie is only mad at him because he has a son and she does not want children. No, D bag. She’s devastated you LIED to her and called her NOTHING. UGHH. I had to quit. They’re both boo hoo-ing over missing the other, but he’s still shacking up with his new wife, who is steady trying to seduce him. And he’s talking to his best friend about sleeping with the wife and pretending it’s Cassie. 🤮 I’m done.
Apparently Cassie is about to find out she’s also pregnant, which makes Luke come running for a night of loving. While still married to his wife, who is living in his home. But then runs back to the wife again. Wtf? Dang girl! Where is your spine? Where is your self respect? Where is that bad as.s. girl from the prologue? I cannot do weak women, I can’t. And she has become the epitome of a weak woman. I feel duped as she was purportedly this strong, professional, one and done, sassy chick. And she is definitely not those things. And frankly, Luke is irredeemable.
May 27, 2020
What an .....
What. An. A" "hole. He ghosted her over and over and over. Lied. Said she was no one important. She deserved better, too bad she didn't see it for herself. Then the whole kidnapping thing, I couldn't stop rolling my eyes.
What. An. A" "hole. He ghosted her over and over and over. Lied. Said she was no one important. She deserved better, too bad she didn't see it for herself. Then the whole kidnapping thing, I couldn't stop rolling my eyes.
April 15, 2021
Some spoilers in my review...
It could have been a 3 or maybe even a 4 but I am not into how a few things plaid out.
WTF #1 The interaction with the Ho that was all over him at the bar while he was waiting for Cassie to show from her work party… describes her (even if it was internally to himself) as someone with the most kissable lips he has ever seen. (If you feel this way about someone else, then you clearly do not care about Cassie as much as you think you do). But all his interactions with the ho are forgiven because when he spots Cassie, he then decided to give the Ho her card back? He should have never took the card or let the touching happen regardless of Cassie being present or not.
WTF #2 The wife that cleaned him dry of all material things, money, disappeared to Mexico and lied about her pregnancy, yet all her indiscretions are forgiven because she shows up with a child??? Cassie the woman he just proposed to who had no idea he was ever married let alone had a child, is addressed as a white woman of no importance and is just a friend, divorce papers are ripped, and he says he wants to make it work with his wife and moves her in with her son on the spot?? Let’s his estranged wife touch him sexually, but it never goes anywhere only because he can't get it up? This goes on for months! I kept waiting for the part where someone woke up from a bad dream. How is this idiot a leader of a SWAT team? Pregnant or not, why would any woman in their right mind take a man back after having a front row seat to being treated like that? I almost stopped reading after how that played out.
WTF #3 Simple and to the point. Sleeping with Cassie then running back to his estranged wife to playhouse.
WTF#4 Being kidnapped and was informed she and her child were destined to be sold in a human trafficking ring because of Luke's wife had a connection with the Cartel, which Luke was fully aware of but never told Cassie and she still forgave him.
WTF #5 What happen to the shady estranged wife? Was Luke able to prove she was already married to someone in the cartel at the time of their wedding? Custody? Did she move back to Mexico? Was she punished by people in the cartel for lying about paternity of the little boy? Left us in the dark with all that other than giving us the impression the little boy was living with Cassie and Luke fulltime.
It could have been a 3 or maybe even a 4 but I am not into how a few things plaid out.
WTF #1 The interaction with the Ho that was all over him at the bar while he was waiting for Cassie to show from her work party… describes her (even if it was internally to himself) as someone with the most kissable lips he has ever seen. (If you feel this way about someone else, then you clearly do not care about Cassie as much as you think you do). But all his interactions with the ho are forgiven because when he spots Cassie, he then decided to give the Ho her card back? He should have never took the card or let the touching happen regardless of Cassie being present or not.
WTF #2 The wife that cleaned him dry of all material things, money, disappeared to Mexico and lied about her pregnancy, yet all her indiscretions are forgiven because she shows up with a child??? Cassie the woman he just proposed to who had no idea he was ever married let alone had a child, is addressed as a white woman of no importance and is just a friend, divorce papers are ripped, and he says he wants to make it work with his wife and moves her in with her son on the spot?? Let’s his estranged wife touch him sexually, but it never goes anywhere only because he can't get it up? This goes on for months! I kept waiting for the part where someone woke up from a bad dream. How is this idiot a leader of a SWAT team? Pregnant or not, why would any woman in their right mind take a man back after having a front row seat to being treated like that? I almost stopped reading after how that played out.
WTF #3 Simple and to the point. Sleeping with Cassie then running back to his estranged wife to playhouse.
WTF#4 Being kidnapped and was informed she and her child were destined to be sold in a human trafficking ring because of Luke's wife had a connection with the Cartel, which Luke was fully aware of but never told Cassie and she still forgave him.
WTF #5 What happen to the shady estranged wife? Was Luke able to prove she was already married to someone in the cartel at the time of their wedding? Custody? Did she move back to Mexico? Was she punished by people in the cartel for lying about paternity of the little boy? Left us in the dark with all that other than giving us the impression the little boy was living with Cassie and Luke fulltime.
February 14, 2019
So it starts off a little rough, but the interaction between characters is fairly amusing (even though the emotions & dialogue feel a bit stilted and forced)
It really takes a bad turn when the estranged wife shows up. And then a turn for the worst, when it suddenly attempts to be a thriller, at nearly 80%. Which does not go over well at all, mainly because trying to jam an entirely random plot into less than thirty pages does not work.
This was my first book for this... writer. I was left wondering if Summers writes books with no plan on how the plot resolves. Maybe she somehow wrote a good action romance, and only uses that writing formula? But the "action" was soooo poorly done.
Skim it. It's not worth the time if you've read that far.
In the garbage salad Kindle Unlimited can be, this one is a half rotted onion.
It really takes a bad turn when the estranged wife shows up. And then a turn for the worst, when it suddenly attempts to be a thriller, at nearly 80%. Which does not go over well at all, mainly because trying to jam an entirely random plot into less than thirty pages does not work.
This was my first book for this... writer. I was left wondering if Summers writes books with no plan on how the plot resolves. Maybe she somehow wrote a good action romance, and only uses that writing formula? But the "action" was soooo poorly done.
Skim it. It's not worth the time if you've read that far.
In the garbage salad Kindle Unlimited can be, this one is a half rotted onion.
Want to read
November 9, 2024🎁 Books 1-3 in the Series are FREE on Amazon today (5/20/2020)! 🎁
February 10, 2025
Started off interesting. Then everything went downhill. The MMC turned out to be a lying, cheating douchebag making weak attempts to be less so. The FMC evolved from a strong woman to a doormat. Both leads behaved as if they were starring in a YA novel.
Then, the drama turned into a kidnapping, crappy grade D "mystery" involving a drug cartel. This was literally sprinkled with some stereotyped, semi-racist (on both sides) comments, behaviors, and straight-up craziness. The resolutions are deeply unsatisfying and impossible to believe, even for fiction.
The epilogue is like something from a different book.
This author writes some really bad stuff. Illogical stories with misogynistic, bizarrely structured MMCs and weak, stereotyped FMCs who do little besides cry, whine, beg, and often have surprise pregnancies. I can't figure out if books like these are simply bad, or if they are actually a romantic anguish trope designed to lure readers into a misery loop with no escape. It's headache inducing to think about.
Readers deserve so much more than these awful stories.
Then, the drama turned into a kidnapping, crappy grade D "mystery" involving a drug cartel. This was literally sprinkled with some stereotyped, semi-racist (on both sides) comments, behaviors, and straight-up craziness. The resolutions are deeply unsatisfying and impossible to believe, even for fiction.
The epilogue is like something from a different book.
This author writes some really bad stuff. Illogical stories with misogynistic, bizarrely structured MMCs and weak, stereotyped FMCs who do little besides cry, whine, beg, and often have surprise pregnancies. I can't figure out if books like these are simply bad, or if they are actually a romantic anguish trope designed to lure readers into a misery loop with no escape. It's headache inducing to think about.
Readers deserve so much more than these awful stories.
December 18, 2019
Okay
Potential to be better. Started off reasonably well but fell down about halfway through. Felt it waslonger than it needed to be and some parts were downright silly.
Potential to be better. Started off reasonably well but fell down about halfway through. Felt it waslonger than it needed to be and some parts were downright silly.
June 10, 2025
This book can be read as a standalone and was the second book I read in this series, but I have no recollection of the first one. Not sure why I finished this, though, honestly, it was mainly background for me while doing repetitive tasks.
The male MC was underhanded, manipulative, and wanted to have 4 cakes and eat them too. He wasn’t above telling his new son that the fem MC was gonna be his stepmom and that he was gonna have a little sibling the first time he introduced the kid to the fem MC, who wasn’t even sure she’d want more than co-parenting with him at that point. He also introduced the fem MC’s family to the kid as though they were his family, calling people tia and tio. Not to mention the fact he brought the kid to the fem MC’s ObGyn appointment to begin with when it was obvious he wasn’t invited himself. He obviously didn’t care about potentially messing his kid up emotionally if shit didn’t work out between himself and the fem MC. The kid just found out you were his dad, for fucks sake. And you’re already trying a way to take him away from his mom on top of everything else. For real, wtf is wrong with shared custody? This man has only known this child for a couple months and he said his wife wasn’t a bad mother, so squirt needs her and is understandably attached. So why remove her from his life if it’s not better for the kid? Because it would make his life easier, so he could have his kids and the fem MC too, and I thought that was fucked. Trying to keep his “soon to be ex-wife” in the States in a comfortable home with their child while he pursued a relationship with his other baby momma might not have worked, but he didn’t even try. She felt that he was plotting to take her son away and that’s why she ran in the end. Reassuring her that he would care for her financially and make sure their son had access to both parents might have made her less reactive. But, regardless of all that, the male MC’s reaction to the initial baby momma drama (divide and conquer, but keep my side piece because I control what’s mine) told me what kind of guy he was, and he’s not a male MC I can root for.
But I knew that pretty early on in the story. All he did throughout the books as violate the fem MC’s boundaries. She asked for space, she asked for time, she asked for him to figure his fucking shit out and to stop involving her in a love triangle, and he ignored all of that. It was wild. If I could pick one phrase to describe their relationship from his perspective, it would be “I hear you, but…” I hear you, but this is how our relationship’s gonna go. And the fem MC fed into it, she’s not blameless in this. Because she didn’t smack him down for not respecting her.
Side note, I also hate how he pulled out focused kink play without checking her limits (or interest level) first. God, this guy has an issue with boundaries.
So with me feeling pretty icky about the male MC, naturally I didn’t like the romance, and I thought the kidnapping plot was a way to make the male MC not sound like a COMPLETE creep with the secret wife thing. Cause he was gross for not telling her and he was gross for trying to blame her kicking his dirty ass out of her life on her “not wanting” kids. He literally took what she said in a prior conversation out of fucking context, made it sound worse than it was (she said she didn’t fucking know IF she wanted kids), and threw it in her face, using it as a smokescreen for his fucking shenanigans. If that’s not manipulative as fuck, I don’t know what is… and it’s the bones of a completely toxic relationship. Not sexy. Even on a Tuesday during an orange moon.
And the constant pressuring and emotional manipulation didn’t stop after the kidnapping ended. He was still trying to push her into marrying him before she gave birth and she told him, pretty firmly, “no”. Of course she ended up going back on her word in the end, but I couldn’t help thinking she was catering to his wishes because she’d said no initially for a reason.
The side characters also kept encouraging the fem MC to forgive the male MC during their fall out, and his friends told him to keep harassing her. It was wild. What kind of support system is this?
The male MC was underhanded, manipulative, and wanted to have 4 cakes and eat them too. He wasn’t above telling his new son that the fem MC was gonna be his stepmom and that he was gonna have a little sibling the first time he introduced the kid to the fem MC, who wasn’t even sure she’d want more than co-parenting with him at that point. He also introduced the fem MC’s family to the kid as though they were his family, calling people tia and tio. Not to mention the fact he brought the kid to the fem MC’s ObGyn appointment to begin with when it was obvious he wasn’t invited himself. He obviously didn’t care about potentially messing his kid up emotionally if shit didn’t work out between himself and the fem MC. The kid just found out you were his dad, for fucks sake. And you’re already trying a way to take him away from his mom on top of everything else. For real, wtf is wrong with shared custody? This man has only known this child for a couple months and he said his wife wasn’t a bad mother, so squirt needs her and is understandably attached. So why remove her from his life if it’s not better for the kid? Because it would make his life easier, so he could have his kids and the fem MC too, and I thought that was fucked. Trying to keep his “soon to be ex-wife” in the States in a comfortable home with their child while he pursued a relationship with his other baby momma might not have worked, but he didn’t even try. She felt that he was plotting to take her son away and that’s why she ran in the end. Reassuring her that he would care for her financially and make sure their son had access to both parents might have made her less reactive. But, regardless of all that, the male MC’s reaction to the initial baby momma drama (divide and conquer, but keep my side piece because I control what’s mine) told me what kind of guy he was, and he’s not a male MC I can root for.
But I knew that pretty early on in the story. All he did throughout the books as violate the fem MC’s boundaries. She asked for space, she asked for time, she asked for him to figure his fucking shit out and to stop involving her in a love triangle, and he ignored all of that. It was wild. If I could pick one phrase to describe their relationship from his perspective, it would be “I hear you, but…” I hear you, but this is how our relationship’s gonna go. And the fem MC fed into it, she’s not blameless in this. Because she didn’t smack him down for not respecting her.
Side note, I also hate how he pulled out focused kink play without checking her limits (or interest level) first. God, this guy has an issue with boundaries.
So with me feeling pretty icky about the male MC, naturally I didn’t like the romance, and I thought the kidnapping plot was a way to make the male MC not sound like a COMPLETE creep with the secret wife thing. Cause he was gross for not telling her and he was gross for trying to blame her kicking his dirty ass out of her life on her “not wanting” kids. He literally took what she said in a prior conversation out of fucking context, made it sound worse than it was (she said she didn’t fucking know IF she wanted kids), and threw it in her face, using it as a smokescreen for his fucking shenanigans. If that’s not manipulative as fuck, I don’t know what is… and it’s the bones of a completely toxic relationship. Not sexy. Even on a Tuesday during an orange moon.
And the constant pressuring and emotional manipulation didn’t stop after the kidnapping ended. He was still trying to push her into marrying him before she gave birth and she told him, pretty firmly, “no”. Of course she ended up going back on her word in the end, but I couldn’t help thinking she was catering to his wishes because she’d said no initially for a reason.
The side characters also kept encouraging the fem MC to forgive the male MC during their fall out, and his friends told him to keep harassing her. It was wild. What kind of support system is this?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2018
Twisty
A page turner, pulse pounding with twists and turns I did not see coming! I loved this book! This is the story of Luke Rivas, a SWAT Sergeant, and Cassandra Sullivan, a successful pharmaceutical rep. Luke is Alpha, dogged in his pursuit of Cassie, who is no delicate flower waiting to be claimed. Their chemistry is undeniable, and soon they are madly in love planning a future together. But there are secrets, lies, villains, and peril! Although this is book #3 in a series, you need not read any of the others to get caught up in this book, it reads as a stand alone. You will want to go back and read Cassie’s sister’s story after you read this book, though, it’s wonderful!
A page turner, pulse pounding with twists and turns I did not see coming! I loved this book! This is the story of Luke Rivas, a SWAT Sergeant, and Cassandra Sullivan, a successful pharmaceutical rep. Luke is Alpha, dogged in his pursuit of Cassie, who is no delicate flower waiting to be claimed. Their chemistry is undeniable, and soon they are madly in love planning a future together. But there are secrets, lies, villains, and peril! Although this is book #3 in a series, you need not read any of the others to get caught up in this book, it reads as a stand alone. You will want to go back and read Cassie’s sister’s story after you read this book, though, it’s wonderful!
August 22, 2018
Thank you Tess for another great page turner!!! I love Cassie and Luke and all the twists and turns of the book!! From the moment these two meet I felt the attraction and connection between them. I loved their banter and the way they were so at ease with each other.
Playing Dirty is smoking hot and a whole lot of fun.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I can honestly say I would have paid for this book!! Great job Tess! I love that you use character's from past books as well as from your next book. I can't wait to read Cooper's story - I am also hoping there's a story about Dante!
Playing Dirty is smoking hot and a whole lot of fun.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I can honestly say I would have paid for this book!! Great job Tess! I love that you use character's from past books as well as from your next book. I can't wait to read Cooper's story - I am also hoping there's a story about Dante!
March 24, 2023
A good book 3
Ohhh, Luke!! You frustrate me so.
This was my sentiment all throughout this read (although, admittedly, my language was much more colorful 😀). Luke and Cassie have crazy hot chemistry, and it was fun to see the banter between these two characters.
This series is addictive and easy to connect with. I appreciate the strength of Cassie, and her intolerance for Luke's b.s.. While their situation took longer to deliver the HEA I wanted for them, the path they had to take to get there was creative and entertaining.
I am seriously addicted to this series and these characters. I recommend binge reading this series. It's great.
Ohhh, Luke!! You frustrate me so.
This was my sentiment all throughout this read (although, admittedly, my language was much more colorful 😀). Luke and Cassie have crazy hot chemistry, and it was fun to see the banter between these two characters.
This series is addictive and easy to connect with. I appreciate the strength of Cassie, and her intolerance for Luke's b.s.. While their situation took longer to deliver the HEA I wanted for them, the path they had to take to get there was creative and entertaining.
I am seriously addicted to this series and these characters. I recommend binge reading this series. It's great.
January 11, 2024
**spoilers**
Generally like Tess Summers (especially the Boston Elite series), but HATED this book. As someone who had a relationship with a guy who was married and had a kid and didn't tell me about it, I would never go back to Luke with how he acted. I'm so tired of the stories where the leads are addicted to each other enough to put up with extreme toxic and disrespectful sh*t. Also - for the sake of medical professionals and all women who are struggling to get pregnant while not on birth control, please stop perpetuating the myth that a woman on birth control can get pregnant just because she's having a lot of sex or really good sex. Absolute nonsense.
Generally like Tess Summers (especially the Boston Elite series), but HATED this book. As someone who had a relationship with a guy who was married and had a kid and didn't tell me about it, I would never go back to Luke with how he acted. I'm so tired of the stories where the leads are addicted to each other enough to put up with extreme toxic and disrespectful sh*t. Also - for the sake of medical professionals and all women who are struggling to get pregnant while not on birth control, please stop perpetuating the myth that a woman on birth control can get pregnant just because she's having a lot of sex or really good sex. Absolute nonsense.
August 26, 2018
Twist and turns galore
I enjoyed Playing Dirty the second book I've read In Tess Summers' San Diego Sicial Scene series. I think this book can read well as a stand alone though I enjoyed revisiting with some of the characters from the previous book.
Casdie and Tess are undeniably a couple that belongs together. I loved the banter and the sexual sizzle. Their road to HEA definitely had its share of challenges but it was so worthwhile when they got there. Loved the Epilogue.
I received an advance reader copy of this book.
I enjoyed Playing Dirty the second book I've read In Tess Summers' San Diego Sicial Scene series. I think this book can read well as a stand alone though I enjoyed revisiting with some of the characters from the previous book.
Casdie and Tess are undeniably a couple that belongs together. I loved the banter and the sexual sizzle. Their road to HEA definitely had its share of challenges but it was so worthwhile when they got there. Loved the Epilogue.
I received an advance reader copy of this book.
February 20, 2021
Ok. I am again existing on 4 hours of sleep! This is a 10 hour listen and I couldn't put it down. I was so into these two characters. Their unique relationship. Their dedication to their work. Their resolve to avoid relationships at all cost. Their extreme differences. Their undeniable attraction.
The two narrators performed with perfection. I wish they would have just read their genders' parts. They performed whole chapters so had to do both male and female voices. So there was no voice distinction between each character. A five star story all around!
The two narrators performed with perfection. I wish they would have just read their genders' parts. They performed whole chapters so had to do both male and female voices. So there was no voice distinction between each character. A five star story all around!
August 29, 2018
Wow loved this book. Cassie and Luke story kept me gripped from the start, their chemistry was hot and romantic but Luke kept a secret which made their relationship hard. Unexpected events happen which make Luke fight for his future and all he wants is Cassie and no one is going to stop him in the end. Tess Summers has written an amazing story and look forward to reading more in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced co p y arc.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced co p y arc.
August 31, 2018
This is book three in a series, but can be read as a stand-alone.
The main characters are Luke and Cassandra, and there is plenty of chemistry, intrigue, and action!
It is a meeting-of-equals pairing, as both have strong personalities. Cassandra doesn't do long-term. Luke wants Cassandra to bend to him. Sparks fly, in a good way. There is enough drama in the book to balance the romance and steam, though, so everyone should be happy with this one!
The main characters are Luke and Cassandra, and there is plenty of chemistry, intrigue, and action!
It is a meeting-of-equals pairing, as both have strong personalities. Cassandra doesn't do long-term. Luke wants Cassandra to bend to him. Sparks fly, in a good way. There is enough drama in the book to balance the romance and steam, though, so everyone should be happy with this one!
June 26, 2025
Amazing Read
Okay so this happened to be the first book I've read from the series so I'm definitely going to have to go back and start from the first book, but in all it's an amazing story from start to finish. It's hot and spicy and suspenseful. The intrigue kept me on the edge of my seat. I look forward to reading more from the series and more from the author. Highly recommend reading.
Okay so this happened to be the first book I've read from the series so I'm definitely going to have to go back and start from the first book, but in all it's an amazing story from start to finish. It's hot and spicy and suspenseful. The intrigue kept me on the edge of my seat. I look forward to reading more from the series and more from the author. Highly recommend reading.
September 3, 2018
This is the 3rd book in this series, and can be read as a standalone. Cassie and Luke’s story is well written, and filled with drama, twists, suspense, humour, love, and is an all round captivating and engaging page turner. I was intrigued and hooked throughout, and look forward to read more from this talented author.
October 1, 2018
This is the first time I’ve read a book from Tess Summers and I loved it! This is the third book in the series and can be read as a stand-alone. After reading this book I started reading the series from the beginning and have not been let down! This is a great book I couldn’t put down.
I received a free copy of this book for honest feedback
I received a free copy of this book for honest feedback
April 13, 2019
Good read!
I liked this book. I never would have guessed what was going to happen near the end which made it even more enjoyable. The only thing I didn’t like was the switching between third person talking and the characters point of view, it was confusing and changed even in one paragraph.
I liked this book. I never would have guessed what was going to happen near the end which made it even more enjoyable. The only thing I didn’t like was the switching between third person talking and the characters point of view, it was confusing and changed even in one paragraph.
January 16, 2021
Great. Wonderful
I NEVER give 5 stars. But This is one of the best books I’ve read in awhile and I read a book a day!! Powerful couple. Passion off the charts. Plot twists and turns coming from no where!
I could not put it down. Read it. Can’t wait to read more of her books. ❤️❤️❤️
I NEVER give 5 stars. But This is one of the best books I’ve read in awhile and I read a book a day!! Powerful couple. Passion off the charts. Plot twists and turns coming from no where!
I could not put it down. Read it. Can’t wait to read more of her books. ❤️❤️❤️
August 29, 2018
this book was really good. didnt start out that great but got really good towards the middle. she plays hard to get. he is game for anything she throws his way. he is keeping a big secret that could destroy them.
September 5, 2018
Fun escapes
Your books are enjoyable...fun, sexy, light hearted and romantic all well blended into a perfect story. I have a hard time waiting for the next ‘chapter.’ (Love, The Mrs.)
Your books are enjoyable...fun, sexy, light hearted and romantic all well blended into a perfect story. I have a hard time waiting for the next ‘chapter.’ (Love, The Mrs.)
October 6, 2018
Amazing
This story was absolutely amazing! I love the passion between Luke and Cassie! His love for her was in incredible and I'm happy they never gave up on each other!! I love the happy ending and wish I could know them for real ❤️ another great job Tess!!
This story was absolutely amazing! I love the passion between Luke and Cassie! His love for her was in incredible and I'm happy they never gave up on each other!! I love the happy ending and wish I could know them for real ❤️ another great job Tess!!
October 29, 2019
Well
Like I've said before they keep getting 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥! Both of them being dominate people and yet Cassie submitting to Luke was awesome. Their family was everything. Great book! Can't wait for more!
Like I've said before they keep getting 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥! Both of them being dominate people and yet Cassie submitting to Luke was awesome. Their family was everything. Great book! Can't wait for more!
June 6, 2022
Another great book…
This was another very imaginative book. I love the characters that Ms. Summers gives us this book in the series is the best one so far, however they have all been good and I’m going on to the next one.
This was another very imaginative book. I love the characters that Ms. Summers gives us this book in the series is the best one so far, however they have all been good and I’m going on to the next one.
January 3, 2023
Great book with surprise twists and turns!
Playing Dirty is the third book in the San Diego Social Scene series and so far each book is better than the last. I recommend all of series and get yours today! You won’t be disappointed! 🤩
Playing Dirty is the third book in the San Diego Social Scene series and so far each book is better than the last. I recommend all of series and get yours today! You won’t be disappointed! 🤩
June 23, 2024
Intense parts
I enjoyed the story for the most part. Some intense moments triggered me a little. I was surprised with the ending. I thought that was good way to end it. The back and forth with the " wife" was a bit much. I loved how the 2 dogs got along.
I enjoyed the story for the most part. Some intense moments triggered me a little. I was surprised with the ending. I thought that was good way to end it. The back and forth with the " wife" was a bit much. I loved how the 2 dogs got along.
September 16, 2025
Didn't see that coming....
Oops, I think we just made a baby, ya think! Then Lucas comes into their lives. Kidnapped while pregnant, holy heck! Escape was to easy. Dante, he knew Kenni would come.
Oops, I think we just made a baby, ya think! Then Lucas comes into their lives. Kidnapped while pregnant, holy heck! Escape was to easy. Dante, he knew Kenni would come.
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