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Changing Constantinou's Game

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One kiss couldn't hurt, could it?

Alexios Constantinou is notorious for his lethal charm, so when the exquisite Isabel Peters is--literally--dropped into his lap during a hellish elevator ride, he doesn't waste the opportunity! With tensions sky-high after their near-death experience, an insatiable desire ignites between them, and all bets are off.

But when Alex discovers that reporter Isabel's next story is him, he's furious...yet determined to use it to his advantage. He's calling the shots, but the closer Isabel gets, the closer she comes to discovering his carefully concealed secret. Now, with everything at stake, he'll need a whole new game plan....

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

26 people are currently reading
436 people want to read

About the author

Jennifer Hayward

279 books219 followers
Jennifer Hayward has been a fan of romance since filching her sister’s novels to escape her teenage angst. Her career in journalism and PR, including years of working alongside powerful, charismatic CEOs and traveling the world, has provided perfect fodder for the fast-paced, sexy stories she likes to write—always with a touch of humor.

Since her debut in 2013, as the winner of Harlequin’s So You Think You Can Write global writing contest, she’s written over eighteen titles and sold over two million copies of her books to readers in 31 countries, in 25 languages. A native of Canada’s East Coast, Jennifer lives in picturesque Nova Scotia with her husband and son.

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5 stars
60 (28%)
4 stars
70 (33%)
3 stars
47 (22%)
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22 (10%)
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11 (5%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
Profile Image for Alex is The Romance Fox.
1,461 reviews1,242 followers
October 1, 2014
This is the 2nd book that I have read by this author and I liked it a lot more than the 1st.
One reason – the two protagonists. Not the archetypical Mills & Boon couple.

Isabel Peters, a Manhattan TV journalist, is such a likeable heroine. Even when she’s feeling that her life is in limbo and despite her insecurities, fears and flaws, she does not give up on her dreams and hopes. She’s not afraid to take chances and prepared to face her fears and overcome them.

Leandros Alexios Constantinou..billionaire, ex football star -love his name – is not the usual domineering, take charge alpha male…he’s an alpha with heart. He actually listens to the heroine for a change.

In London on the trail of the elusive Constantinou, needing to get an exclusive interview from him, which will get her promoted to her dream TV newscaster job.

Fate steps in!!! Stranded for hours in an elevator with the most gorgeous man she’s ever met, she takes a chance, grabs the moment….
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All right." He laid his fork down with a deliberate movement and pushed his plate away. "Let's talk about what happened."

Gladly. She took another sip of her wine to fortify herself and set the glass down.

"That kiss shouldn't have happened."

She was ready for that one. "Why not?

"I'm much more experienced than you, Isabel. I'm not interested in relationships, in fact mine never last longer than a few months, and the women I date are well aware of that."

"So?"

He did a double take at the belligerent note in her voice. "You're also probably still in shock from what happened today."

"I'm absolutely fine," she countered. "In fact I feel like I have more clarity right now than I've ever had in my life."




But what happens, after they spend one night of passion and discover who each other is?

I loved the flow of the story and the development of the characters as they both fight their pasts and obstacles. Taking a chance, Believing in your feelings and that nothing is impossible.

The interaction and dialogue between Isabel (no, no Izzie for me…I hate that nickname!) are really great.

She shook her head. "I'm not looking for a relationship, Alex." A husky laugh escaped her. "In fact, that's the last thing I need right now."

His eyes narrowed. "Then what are you looking for?"

"I don't want to live with any more regrets."

He shook his head, a wry smile curving his lips. "You're twenty-five, Isabel. How many regrets can you have?"

She took a deep breath, meeting his gaze head-on. "I will regret it if I walk away from tonight without exploring the attraction that's between us."

A muscle jumped in his jaw. He sat there completely silent, staring at her. "I'm not sure you know what you're doing."

She shook her head. "I know exactly what I'm doing."

Awesome settings….my favs….Alexious view of London from his Canary Wharf penthouse  photo view-tower-bridge-shard-london-magnificent-river-thames-33201085_zps2949826f.jpg
and his Malibu home…that view…never mind that…that pool….
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Emotional, sizzling chemistry, intense, great plot….those are just some of the things that worked for me.
I am definitely going to be reading more from this author.
Profile Image for Desere.
758 reviews78 followers
June 5, 2014
Jennifer Hayward is back !! This time she takes us the wild ride of a passionate romance between Alex and Isabel.

It starts off when Isabel is trying to corner the current main feature of the story of the century, it will take her for community journalism straight to news anchor. The problem is that her main star Leandros Alexios Constantinou ( isn't that one of the sexiest names ever?) avoids the press like one would the flu. Fate however plays them both a different set of cards, as they end up being trapped together in a elevator for hours.

The catch ? Isabel thinks the sexy strangers name is Alex and he thinks her to be a communications expert, and that's all they both need to know because all Isabel wants is to fall into his arms for one magical night and Alex, well he recons he can spare a couple of hours with a beautiful woman coming undone in his arms and then walk away, no harm, no foul just pleasure for them both.

One week later and they are thrown back together as Isabel 's boss demands the interview to happen and happen immediately , but what will Alex do when he finds out Isabel's real identity and how will Isabel get herself out of this mess and still make it to the news anchor 's chair?

It's no secret that am a major fan of Jennifer's work so of course I was eagerly awaiting this book from the moment I heard it was in the works, and my oh my was the wait worth it in so many wonderful ways. The book was full of fun , fresh and new awesomeness.

I adored Alex, he does not take no for an answer and plays to win, making him even more sexy than I ever thought a ex-quarter back could ever be. I am use to the powerful, rich business type of hero's, whom I adore very much, but Alex being ex -sporty turned business had a whole other level of hotness that melted my bones. It showed him as always on the move, playing the game as one would in any sports setting and not the usual type of let's see what the deal will bring if we turn the table this way kind of thing. This made Alex a really refreshing hero and I could not get enough of the man. He was kind, sweet, gentle, funny, sexy as hell and combined with a powerful master-fullness he was just plain lethal! Through his deep dark secrets the author showed that even the biggest of stars out there are human just like the rest of us, and judging them can and will break them. Think before you idolize someone.

The character of Isabel was pretty darn cool. This woman had guts and spunk and was not afraid to try anything and everything to get a story done, yes she does back off here and there, but only to the point when she knows she's been cornered and there is no way forward. But just like Alex, Isabel was a different kind of heroine than the ones I am use to , she felt more modern and fun , more real and alive somehow, and I thought every moment of it a pure joy to read. Through the character of Isabel the author showed we can have all the courage we want to get what we think we want, but the truth is when we have it, will it actually mean anything if we had to sacrifice our dignity to gain it?

I am taking away a message of we may think we're in control of our lives and can control everything that happens, write it down and watch it play out exactly as we planned, the truth is there is no such thing as control over anything in life. We cannot say who we are going to fall in love with, or if we are going to get to the business goals we set out in life to achieve. The best thing to do is handle it all as a game, with challenges that can either work in our favor or go the other way, as long as we keep playing the game in order to know we gave it the best shot.

I highly recommend this read for all fans who love a romance with a fun upbeat, emotionally packed, passionate blow me away heat and a super sexy story of a new chance at life

5/5 star review
" They're about to change up the rules of the game, and the results are electrifying! "
Profile Image for Rebecca.
464 reviews55 followers
August 7, 2014
4.5 Stars

This is only Jennifer Hayward's fourth book, but is crafted so beautifully you would think it's her fortieth! I really enjoy books that start with a bang, and this one certainly does. Hero and heroine stuck together in a broken elevator (or 'lift' to us brits!)... what else would you want but some sizzle.

I liked that Jen immediately showed her character's flaws, I felt I could understand them and their motivations straight away. Izzie, as a heroine, is rather insecure and a bit lost as to where her life is going. I think that in today's world this is something we can all relate to. And Alex is the typical distrustful, closed book of a hero. The two are a perfect combination.

The actual plot is really interesting too. I loved reading all the inner conflict the hero and heroine had over whether to do what they think is right, or do what their hearts tell them to do. Neither of them would budge and inch over control, which makes for some great push/pull tension.

The hero and heroine feel very real and that is what I love. I enjoyed the rather rash jumping to conclusions by the the hero and the almost constant second guessing from the heroine. When they are together there is plenty of passion, as well as some lovely tenderness.

Finding out that life doesn't always go the way you planned is the theme here, and it is really quite special to read, and very emotional too. Reading romance is all about fantasy and escapism, but that doesn't mean it can't have a splash of reality involved. Jen, in my opinion, has managed this perfectly.

Highly recommended.

Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
124 reviews
August 5, 2014
I'm fast becoming a fan of Jennifer Hayward. I have not been disappointed with any of her HP's I've read to date, this one being on the list.

Izzy and Alex have an affair after getting stuck together in an elevator and what was supposed to be one night turns into something a lot more that gets complicated with her being a reporter and him turning out to be her next story. The real lesson here though was about trust and how it can either make or break a relationship; and for Izzy learning that taking a risk, opening your heart to people even if it means they can hurt you, is very worth it. Also, it was nice to have Alex admit he was wrong and apologize (too many HP's have the heroine grovelling even after it's been made clear how the hero has been a complete jerk and really should be swallowing that humble pie). Also the football theme was different from your typical HP. Great read all around. I like that the heroines in Miss Hayward's books are sharp AND smart, combined with good looks.
Profile Image for Louisa P.
38 reviews
August 20, 2014
I loved the latest from Hayward, one of the best Moderns I've read in ages. Izzie was a great heroine with flaws and vulnerabilities that struck me as real and Alexios was just.... Sighworthy. A perfect blend of arrogance and charm but with a vulnerable core that made me melt. Great holiday read lounging by the pool.
Profile Image for Judith.
1,364 reviews30 followers
August 1, 2014
The story starts out with Izzie, a budding journalist who is determined to track down Alexios Constantinou. Too bad she doesn’t realize the man she is tracking down for a story is the same one who is keeping her from succumbing to her fear of elevators as they are stranded for hours. After their elevator ordeal Alex and Izzie spend one night, without regrets, with each other. But is one night ever enough? What happens when they realizes exactly who each other is?

There are many reasons why I love Hayward’s writing, but the best is probably the amount of emotions and scenes she can pack into Harlequin’s standard 189 pages. I said it from the beginning and I will say it again, Hayward could easily turn her stories into full on novels.

Another bonus for me is the fact that the characters deviate from the typical Harlequin couple. Alex is not a bully – yes, he is a little stubborn and quick to jump to conclusions, but he isn’t the typical alpha dominating male that is so typically seen in HP (Harlequin Presents). Izzie is different because she has a backbone and she knows what she wants. Together these two characters come together and fall beautifully in love. Yes, there are some difficult obstacles, but they overcome them like a true couple would.

Changing Constantinou's Game will be out in September so be sure to get your hands on it before it flies off the shelves!
Profile Image for Ann.
15 reviews3 followers
September 6, 2014
In Changing Constantinou’s Game, Manhattan TV reporter Isabel Peters and elusive billionaire Alexios Constantinou are literally thrown together in an elevator accident that sees it – and them – wedged between the floors of a London skyscraper.
Their attraction is immediate but they’re hesitant. He’s fighting for his business reputation while she’s fighting for his story – and a coveted anchor job. But he’s livid when he discovers she’s a reporter, which threatens the intimacy they’ve managed to build.
Their pasts are rife with many issues they must work through before they can truly believe what they have is real. Trusting one another is their ultimate revelation.
These are two tremendous characters with foibles, strengths and weaknesses that make Changing Constantinou’s Game a wonderful read.
Profile Image for Paula Legate.
Author 17 books25 followers
September 27, 2014
I really enjoyed this story. I loved how the book started out. The hero, and Heroine met in a elevator. They had plenty of time to get to know one another as the elevator was stuck, and they had to wait for help. Lizzy was terrified of elevators, but didn't have time to take the stairs. She had a plane to catch. Just her luck to get on the one broken elevator in all of London. I loved how Alex was there to calm he down throughout the ordeal. The sparks of passion that started in that little metal box, continued to burn throughout the book. I really enjoyed the plot. Some of it I guessed before it happened. Being able to guess what was to come didn't take away from the book. Both the hero and heroine were characters that I could relate too, they seemed like every day, down to earth, people.
Profile Image for Toni Davids.
52 reviews
November 4, 2014
I read and rated this back in September and it seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth. I only just noticed since I have just read Hayward's latest, The Magnate's Manifesto, which is awesome by the way. But back to Isabel & Alexios. Hayward's voice is blazing in this one and the feel reminded me of her debut which is still one of my favourite Presents of last year. It had steamy chemistry and heaps of emotion and more than enough feeling to keep my interest heightened throughout. Very good read. 4.5 *
Profile Image for Catherine.
15 reviews
October 13, 2014
Dare I say it … I used to dismiss Harlequin novels, but then I found Jennifer Hayward's Campo brother series and now I'm hooked.

I've now read Changing Constaninou's Game and it didn't disappoint. It has the perfect combination of relatable characters with realistic issues and of healthy dose of steamy love scenes.

Thank you Harlequin for finding writers like Jennifer Hayward. I'm definitely going to keep reading her books.
Profile Image for Lupita Figueroa BookLoverRomantic.
436 reviews36 followers
November 8, 2015
Una protagonista boba. Aunque él dijera en todo momento que ella tenía coraje, a mí me pareció simple. Se fueron a la cama la primera noche... Y aunque he leído esto en muchas novelas, aquí no hubo realismo, no me creí nada. Algunas escenas lindas, pero la verdad es que terminé la historia por mera curiosidad.
Profile Image for Susan in Perthshire.
2,207 reviews115 followers
March 13, 2020
A new author for me but definitely one I will follow. A modern take on a traditional trop and it is so well handled. Great characters - Alex and Izzie - who seem real and behave like proper adults do, great locations and superb dialogue. Loved it. 4.5 stars.
900 reviews2 followers
August 3, 2021
Really enjoyed this story. Isabel is a very interesting character. I liked the storyline and characters, ending could have been lengthened.
Profile Image for Jules cressall.
144 reviews16 followers
August 24, 2014
Wow!! CHANGING COSTANTINOU’S GAME by Jennifer Hayward starts out with a BANG or should I say a loud thump!! Our elusive millionaire, Alex gets trapped in an elevator with Izzie, our tenacious reporter. Neither knows who the other is, so this trapped confinement lets them lower their guards. Alex discovers that Izzie keeps a drugstore in her purse (who doesn’t?) and her love of “smutty novels”. She makes him smile, due to her quirkiness and genuine fear of elevators. What starts out as a near death experience develops into a night of “no strings attached”!!

Wait, you didn’t think things would be that easy? Alex figures out that Izzie was sent to interview him and he feels betrayed. Both characters have major trust issues and while Izzie sits on her story, things still get complicated. This is a story of ambition, hidden secrets and most of all building trust. This novel does not follow a predictable format. There are many surprises along the way!

I have not read any of Jennifer’s other novels, but I am a new fan. Her writing is effortless and her characters soon wrap you around their fingers. Both characters are so endearing in different ways and their relationship is hot! This novel is a must read for the contemporary romance lover! I have to admit, I even shed a few happy tears at the end! Enjoy!
2 reviews
July 30, 2014

There is nothing better than a romance seeded by chance.  The best things in life always often arise from chance encounters or twists in an otherwise routine work week.  This is how the novels female lead Izzie first encounters ex-athlete Alex Constantinou.  From a personal perspective he was her an unintended goal.  But business is business as we all know.  Alex as it turns out, was also the  target of her first journalistic break and potential career maker. A cover story built on a man that NYC sports fans had once loved and now respected as a force in the fast paced world of computer gaming.  We all crave that once in a lifetime white-hot tryst with someone we consider out of our league.  The story line is soft and flows like water.  Most notable was the way in which Hayward delivers intensity chapter to chapter . An account of passion rich with tension that not only sustains momentum but actually builds right through to the last paragraph !  My favourite from her to date.
Profile Image for Reads by Starburst.
321 reviews17 followers
September 18, 2014
I loved how so many things are packed in only 192 pages and how well they come together. The story was action packed from the star until the end and everything was a must read.
The characters are realistic and deal with relatable problems. I could easily adore and understand both of them very well. Isabel is a strong heroine who is independent and has a set plan. She is confident but deep down has her own securities just like anybody else. I loved her because she was not a perfect or straightforward character. I can’t classify her into a sweet or a feisty heroine because she was more realistic and believable. Alex is a sexy Italian hero who does not fail to impress. He has his own set of imperfections and has trouble trusting people easily.Read More
2 reviews
August 3, 2014
I really enjoyed the DeCampo characters from Hayward's first three books, so I wasn't sure how I wanted to meet anyone else. Turns out I like Izzie and Alex even more! I love the storyline and how real the characters are. After chapter one, I couldn't put it down. Hayward is incredibly adept at setting the scene, so you feel like you're right there and at moving the story along at just the right pace...so you get the right blend of anticipation and satisfaction. Next time I'm just going to trust Hayward, she'll always tell a story you'll want hear.
Profile Image for Nicola Davidson.
Author 38 books726 followers
March 19, 2016
I think Jennifer Hayward might be my new favourite HMB author. This is the second book of hers I have read (the other being The Magnate's Manifesto) and I love how she writes smart, meaty, realistic plots. Izzie the reporter and Alex the ex footballer businessman had some drama, some angst, but not forced, and not easily resolved. The sex scenes felt slightly underdone, but that's a minor niggle.

Enjoyable read!
8 reviews
August 19, 2014
I love the realism in Jennifer's stories. Real life characters with real life relationship issues. Never a dull read, always hold my interest. Changing Constantino's Game was a fun read. Despite their great physical attraction would Izzie and Alex have the honesty, courage, compassion and integrity needed to see them through their trials, I wondered. A good read!
Profile Image for Lisa Weaver.
Author 7 books40 followers
September 27, 2014
A scorching hot hero? Check. A heroine you'd want as your BFF? Check. Sizzling chemistry and a scintillating plot? Well that's a check times ten!

Changing Constantinou's Game is a fabulously decadent read. Jennifer Hayward draws the reader in from page one, and keeps layering the intensity and emotion of Alex and Isabel's romance until it reaches its heart warming conclusion.
Profile Image for Maddy Matos.
947 reviews10 followers
January 1, 2016
I loved loved loved this book! Alex and Iz were perfect together, they had great chemistry. They were both broken or had issues but together they made each other perfect. You might wonder why I look so long to finish this book when I usually read a new book every two day, but I just didn't want this book to end!!! Yes that's sick but it's a truth. I recommend this book highly.
Profile Image for Harlequin Books.
18.4k reviews2,806 followers
Read
January 12, 2016
"Hayward’s expressive narrative expertly tells this drama-rich romance. The mistakes and redemptions in the relationship are genuine, and the love scenes are a sensual feast" (RT Book Reviews, 4 stars).
7 reviews
October 8, 2014
Love it

the characters are well developed. you keep holding your breath waiting to see what gonna happen next. I also loved that the H wasn't a total jerk to the h, he was a pure alpha but knew when to ask for forgiveness.
Profile Image for Jess.
3,590 reviews5 followers
May 14, 2015
I liked this less than I hoped too, but something about it just didn't click the way I wanted it to. In theory, I should have been very into it, because career woman, cities, not overly alpha, but it just wasn't there for me. I still dig Jennifer Hayward's Presents plots, though. They are rad.
Profile Image for Victoria Parker.
Author 59 books58 followers
August 2, 2014
Another smashing hit by the writing talent that is Hayward! Review to come...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews

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