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Brooklyn Monarchs #2
Smooth Play
A passion for the game is what it takes to win. But off the court, it takes a different kind of savvy to heat things up. . . He's part problem-solver and dream-maker. There's not a crisis he can't avert. And handling the NBA's most explosive team has put PR ace Troy Marshall at the top of his game. It also gives him a chance to give back to the community. But one determined reporter is messing with his flow. And he'll need way more than skill and charm to win this tempting one-on-one. . .
Andrea Benson's instincts tell her that something major is going on behind-the-scenes with this franchise. And a headline story is the only way she can regain the career and good name she let slip away. But Troy's sincerity is throwing her for an unexpected--and very seductive--loop. Can they trust each other enough to uncover the truth. . .or will too many secrets be their breaking point?
"Sexy, fun, and fast-paced. . .a slam dunk!" --Kate Angell on "Fast Break"
Andrea Benson's instincts tell her that something major is going on behind-the-scenes with this franchise. And a headline story is the only way she can regain the career and good name she let slip away. But Troy's sincerity is throwing her for an unexpected--and very seductive--loop. Can they trust each other enough to uncover the truth. . .or will too many secrets be their breaking point?
"Sexy, fun, and fast-paced. . .a slam dunk!" --Kate Angell on "Fast Break"
ebook
First published January 1, 2012
7 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Regina Hart
21 books46 followersRegina Hart is the contemporary romance pseudonym of award-winning author Patricia Sargeant.
Regina’s contemporary romances feature the franchise members and friends of the Brooklyn Monarchs, a fictitious National Basketball Association team set in Brooklyn, New York.
In addition to Patricia Sargeant’s various pastimes and hobbies, Regina loves football, basketball and track-and-field—college as well as pros. Her favorite teams are the New York Knicks, New York Jets, New York Giants, Syracuse Orangemen and the West Virginia Mountaineers.
Regina and Patricia love chatting with readers. You can contact both at BooksbyPatricia@yahoo.com.
Regina’s contemporary romances feature the franchise members and friends of the Brooklyn Monarchs, a fictitious National Basketball Association team set in Brooklyn, New York.
In addition to Patricia Sargeant’s various pastimes and hobbies, Regina loves football, basketball and track-and-field—college as well as pros. Her favorite teams are the New York Knicks, New York Jets, New York Giants, Syracuse Orangemen and the West Virginia Mountaineers.
Regina and Patricia love chatting with readers. You can contact both at BooksbyPatricia@yahoo.com.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 17, 2011
I really, really liked this book. The main characters were real and three-dimensional and very likable. The romance is sweet and nicely sexy. Ms. Hart's depiction of the members of the basketball team added another layer of flavor to this story. I found myself cheering on the game scenes. I will definitely read more by this author. This is supposed to be a mini-review, so I better stop now.
Overall rating: 4.5/5.0 stars
Reviewed in the January Affaire de Coeur Issue. http://affairedecoeur.com.
Overall rating: 4.5/5.0 stars
Reviewed in the January Affaire de Coeur Issue. http://affairedecoeur.com.
July 14, 2020
Lawd, this book was a struggle. It was just boring. Unlike the first book, it never picked up. I didn't find a single thing enjoyable about it. I just kept watching the timer and wishing for it to be over. I'm not a fan of this author's writing style. She is too rated G and PG-13 for me. But, aside from that, I just didn't like the book. I honestly don't want to read the last book but, my Type A personality won't let me. Here's hoping book three is better.
January 10, 2012
APOOO Rating: 4
Amazon Rating: 4
With Forgiveness Comes Love
Regina Hart returns with Smooth Play, the sequel to her successful debut novel, Fast Break. In Smooth Play, Troy Marshall was the Vice President of Media and Marketing for the New York Monarchs basketball team. It was his job to make sure that the team was portrayed successful in the media as they prepared for the upcoming playoff games. But, the team’s captain, Barron “Bling” Douglas, was creating a lot of bad press on and off the court as also a mysterious blogger. Troy decided to take matters into his own hand. Instead of solving the problems, he created a media frenzy that cost him his job.
Andrea Benson was a reporter for the New York Sports newspaper. She recognized that Bling was in trouble and she wanted to help. Having battled a comeback from one of the biggest media scandals in her career, Andrea knew what Bling was going through. Her problem was getting around Troy. She considered him to be a hazard to her personal and mental health with his stellar good looks and self confidence. Little did she know, in trying to help Bling, she would also help Troy and find love at the same time.
Like her first book, Hart delivered a fast-paced novel inside the world of basketball. The basketball sequences will make readers feel as though they are actually present at a New York Monarchs game. As Troy and Andrea set the course to solve the team’s problems, the reader will also cheer for their budding romance. Unlike the first novel, there was an underlying theme of letting go of the past and building trust. Fans of Regina Hart will enjoy this novel as much as the first.
The uncorrected proof was provided by the publisher for review purposes only.
Priscilla C. Johnson
APOOO BookClub
Amazon Rating: 4
With Forgiveness Comes Love
Regina Hart returns with Smooth Play, the sequel to her successful debut novel, Fast Break. In Smooth Play, Troy Marshall was the Vice President of Media and Marketing for the New York Monarchs basketball team. It was his job to make sure that the team was portrayed successful in the media as they prepared for the upcoming playoff games. But, the team’s captain, Barron “Bling” Douglas, was creating a lot of bad press on and off the court as also a mysterious blogger. Troy decided to take matters into his own hand. Instead of solving the problems, he created a media frenzy that cost him his job.
Andrea Benson was a reporter for the New York Sports newspaper. She recognized that Bling was in trouble and she wanted to help. Having battled a comeback from one of the biggest media scandals in her career, Andrea knew what Bling was going through. Her problem was getting around Troy. She considered him to be a hazard to her personal and mental health with his stellar good looks and self confidence. Little did she know, in trying to help Bling, she would also help Troy and find love at the same time.
Like her first book, Hart delivered a fast-paced novel inside the world of basketball. The basketball sequences will make readers feel as though they are actually present at a New York Monarchs game. As Troy and Andrea set the course to solve the team’s problems, the reader will also cheer for their budding romance. Unlike the first novel, there was an underlying theme of letting go of the past and building trust. Fans of Regina Hart will enjoy this novel as much as the first.
The uncorrected proof was provided by the publisher for review purposes only.
Priscilla C. Johnson
APOOO BookClub
March 29, 2012
Smooth Play is a fantastic novel that shows us many sides to people’s personalities that are both good and bad for their well-being. We witness first-hand how hate, jealousy, fear and hurt can impair one’s future but most importantly how love concurs them all. GREAT READ!!
Regina Hart penned a novel that is full of passion on all fronts listed above. This is the tale of two people, Troy Marshall and Andrea Benson, that could easily be on different sides (so to speak) but in actuality they are not. Troy is the head of PR for the Monarchs, a lower ranking New York NBA team and Andrea is a sport’s reporter for a struggling New York paper, the Sports.
Troy looks upon the media as the enemy and Andrea looks out for the Monarchs as she tells the public the stories about the team even those that some don’t want told. This puts them at odds but the fire between them can’t and won’t be denied, that is until Troy’s unreasonable demands and unfounded accusations tear at the fabric of them both.
This is a fast paced, engaging read that elicits numerous emotions as one dives head first into all of this “passion” and excitement. I truly commend Ms. Hart on the “game parts” as one feels like they are right there, experiencing it all. I give this novel 4 stars and eagerly anticipate the final installment of the series.
Regina Hart penned a novel that is full of passion on all fronts listed above. This is the tale of two people, Troy Marshall and Andrea Benson, that could easily be on different sides (so to speak) but in actuality they are not. Troy is the head of PR for the Monarchs, a lower ranking New York NBA team and Andrea is a sport’s reporter for a struggling New York paper, the Sports.
Troy looks upon the media as the enemy and Andrea looks out for the Monarchs as she tells the public the stories about the team even those that some don’t want told. This puts them at odds but the fire between them can’t and won’t be denied, that is until Troy’s unreasonable demands and unfounded accusations tear at the fabric of them both.
This is a fast paced, engaging read that elicits numerous emotions as one dives head first into all of this “passion” and excitement. I truly commend Ms. Hart on the “game parts” as one feels like they are right there, experiencing it all. I give this novel 4 stars and eagerly anticipate the final installment of the series.
July 24, 2012
Troy Marshall (Vice President of media and marketing) for fictions
basket-ball team does not take it lightly when Andrea Benson (sports
writer) gives a review to the monarchs as they head into the
conference play-offs. Of and on court players are having major issues
and Troy Marshall's job is to make sure the team looks good at all
times. When Troy gets wind that someone in the Monarchs Organization
is throwing negative light to his beloved team he loses all sane
thoughts and does the unthinkable. After calling out a co-owner and
bringing more damage to the team Troy is fired.
Regina Hart turned a sports franchise into a love story and even show
the human side of life by including stories of domestic violence and
the consequences of loving a bully. This story line was unique and a
breath of fresh air for basket-ball fans everywhere. Moral of the
story: If you don't take care of your issues from the past they can
cause harm in your future. This story was based in modern New York
and was so realistic with a new basket-ball team arriving in Brooklyn,
NY in the future. I rated this novel a five for its flawless
portrayal of betrayal and confusion amongst sports with a side of
love on the side between its main characters. And remember what you
do may come back to haunt you "so pack up your fears, and go for it,"
whatever life has for you is for you.
Marilyn Diamond
AAMBC Reviewer
basket-ball team does not take it lightly when Andrea Benson (sports
writer) gives a review to the monarchs as they head into the
conference play-offs. Of and on court players are having major issues
and Troy Marshall's job is to make sure the team looks good at all
times. When Troy gets wind that someone in the Monarchs Organization
is throwing negative light to his beloved team he loses all sane
thoughts and does the unthinkable. After calling out a co-owner and
bringing more damage to the team Troy is fired.
Regina Hart turned a sports franchise into a love story and even show
the human side of life by including stories of domestic violence and
the consequences of loving a bully. This story line was unique and a
breath of fresh air for basket-ball fans everywhere. Moral of the
story: If you don't take care of your issues from the past they can
cause harm in your future. This story was based in modern New York
and was so realistic with a new basket-ball team arriving in Brooklyn,
NY in the future. I rated this novel a five for its flawless
portrayal of betrayal and confusion amongst sports with a side of
love on the side between its main characters. And remember what you
do may come back to haunt you "so pack up your fears, and go for it,"
whatever life has for you is for you.
Marilyn Diamond
AAMBC Reviewer
April 3, 2012
Reviewed By~Tee
Review Copy Provided By~Author
Smooth Play by Regina Hart is the second book in her Brooklyn Monarchs trilogy. I was not disappointed at all in this second book. Ms. Hart did a great job of letting us see how these two characters want to fight their feelings for each other but come together in the end. The lead characters both love what they do for a living, but both have regrets in things they have said and done in the past, but are willing to work on their mistakes. Troy has a hard time letting the past go and is slowly learning to trust again and Andrea has a very big heart, but is leery of herself when she is near Troy. Smooth Play is a perfect title for this romance, for while the main characters have issues with themselves and their potential other, when they need to come together, they do so and work it as a "Smooth Play" - in other words, they work it together as a team, for both each other and the team's. Smooth Play is a must read and I think once you've finished it, you'll find yourself looking for more Regina Hart books, as well as Patricia Sargeant.
Review Copy Provided By~Author
Smooth Play by Regina Hart is the second book in her Brooklyn Monarchs trilogy. I was not disappointed at all in this second book. Ms. Hart did a great job of letting us see how these two characters want to fight their feelings for each other but come together in the end. The lead characters both love what they do for a living, but both have regrets in things they have said and done in the past, but are willing to work on their mistakes. Troy has a hard time letting the past go and is slowly learning to trust again and Andrea has a very big heart, but is leery of herself when she is near Troy. Smooth Play is a perfect title for this romance, for while the main characters have issues with themselves and their potential other, when they need to come together, they do so and work it as a "Smooth Play" - in other words, they work it together as a team, for both each other and the team's. Smooth Play is a must read and I think once you've finished it, you'll find yourself looking for more Regina Hart books, as well as Patricia Sargeant.
June 26, 2012
This was a good read. I really enjoyed the sports commentary in this one as I did in the first book. It really felt like I was listening to Marv Albert and Reggie Miller's commentary on the game it was just that good. The love story between Troy and Andrea I felt was lacking a bit. There was just so much mistrust on Troy's end that their romance did suffer a lot. I did want to read about the more being together, and a bit less about all the issues going on with the Monarch's. With that being said I did like the story and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
February 20, 2012
Regina Hart aka Patricia Sargeant has written a wonderful sports related contemporary series. Smooth Play is the second in this series, following Fast Break and continues this fast paced, action filled story.
Smooth Play is well written and draws you right into the action of the game as well as the private lives of the characters. For a non-sports person like myself, to be enthralled with a book like this is a major miracle. I loved it and recommend it highly!
Smooth Play is well written and draws you right into the action of the game as well as the private lives of the characters. For a non-sports person like myself, to be enthralled with a book like this is a major miracle. I loved it and recommend it highly!
October 14, 2012
I enjoyed this story. Andrea, Jackie, Constance and Faith all strong women in their own way that prop themselves and their friends and the men in their lives up. Forgiveness and learning to forgive is the way to happiness, peace and freedom in life. Andrea made a mistake years ago paid penance and survived. She wanted to help others as a way of paying it forward. Can Troy accept Andrea and trust her enough to let her in. Can Barron accept he has a problem? Read the story to find out.
February 25, 2012
Mistrust drives Troy Marshall. Insecurity drives Andrea Benson, but when the two issues cross each other they have to work together to avoid falling into a deeper hole.
July 11, 2012
Great Book can't wait to read more of her work.. This was a unique love story built around a sports franchise and I enjoyed the plots and twists.
September 23, 2012
Great story can't. wait to read the next one in this series.
January 28, 2013
An okay read. Light, entertaining. Likeable characters.
December 28, 2016
Good series so far.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews