Games Women Play

The Game #1

by Zaire Crown

In this fast-moving, gritty debut novel, one woman learns that even the strictest rules are made to be broken…
 
At thirty-seven, Tuesday is eager for a better way of life. That means getting out of the game her gentleman’s club has been fronting. Her all-female “business” team has made a fortune using the club to attract, seduce—and rob—wealthy men. But in addition to being squeezed by a corrupt cop, an unfortunate incident has put Tuesday deep in debt to a ruthless gun dealer and is creating dangerous dissent behind-the-scenes...
 
Tuesday only sees one option. She’ll have to go undercover playing girlfriend to legendary Detroit crime boss Sebastian Caine. But the risky move just might cause her to break her #1 don’t catch feelings. Because things are not what they seem—and neither is Sebastian. Now Tuesday may have to choose between the future she’s always wanted, the team she swore loyalty to, and the money she desperately needs to save her own life…

368 pages, Paperback

First published November 24, 2015

About the author

Zaire Crown began writing in his early twenties, inspired by his love of horror and suspense novels. A native of Michigan, Crown drew on his urban surroundings to write his first novel, infusing it with the suspense that he loves as well as the crime unfolding in his neighborhood.

(source: Amazon)

Reviews

[Red · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disclaimer : I received an ARC of this nook in exchange of a review. so here it is.
I don't particularly like this "hood" sub-genre, mostly because the few I read have always been pretty awful. Games Women Play has a lot of problematic parts, most of them being the over sexualization bordering on fetishization of its female characters (the ad nauseam references of the female lead and other female characters' "thick" in all the right places bodies with tiny tiny waists) and some deep underlying colorism (one secondary character being basically said to be pretty for a dark-skinned girl, while the much overpraised light-skinned heroine's stereotypical green-gray eyes are described over and over and over again). BUT..... I managed to finish reading this one book thanks to the somehow good writing and tight plot. I suspected the end reveal, but the execution was entertaining. I think the end of the story was a bit too much, too neat though. And I am not still buying that THAT guy would fall for (or even just settle for) the heroine. I understand what it supposedly came to is that "game recognized game" or something like that. But no matter how supposedly banging hot and smart and big badass green eyed she was supposed to be I just didn't see the connection. And I never really connected with her, and even thought she gained some points for me at the end, I wasn't especially "rooting" for her. I ended up being way more fascinated by the KS like hero.

[Tia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! The twist and turns in this book were everything. I got over the explicit sex and just became engrossed in the story. What I thought I knew I didn’t. That’s hard to pull off on an avid reader. Even though I know the end this book can easily be a reread and to me that’s a 4+ star book.

[Rosalie Culp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway to review. I started to read this book and my first impulse was to not finish it but I decided to continue. I found that if you could get past the graphic sexual content,violence,strong language and the hard to read slang the characters and plot were well developed and entertaining. There definitely a lot of plot twists I didn't anticipate and was quite surprised by the outcome. Although this is a novel I probably would have not chosen for myself,it is well written and suspenseful.

[Taryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
I received this book through a goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

This book was fast-paced and exciting. It was hard to put down and would make an excellent movie. There were several twists that kept the story interesting from cover to cover. I would have rated it higher except I found a lot of it hard to understand. It contained a lot of slang that I didn't know so it was hard go get into at the beginning. Once I got used to that, it was quite enjoyable.

[Yellagirlgc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
Tuesday Knight was an ex stripper that now owned her own club. But she made her real money setting up & pulling off licks. Money was still low so she was more than ready to pull off a million dollar lick by setting up the infamous Sebastian Caine. Instead she meets Marcus King...
Everyone in this book was lying through their teeth but I never guessed it would turnout the way it did. Zaire Crown is an author I'll read again for sure.

[Ashley Ogbunugafor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't updated my reading here for a while, but I felt as though I really needed to after reading this novel.
I have just completed my first year in college and due to me having to adjust to a new school setting, I had to neglect my love for reading for a while. I made a vow that during my summer break, I would not do so. Anyways, lately, my guilty pleasure has been reading Urban Fiction novels and I came across this one at Walmart the other day and let me tell you guys, I have read a plethora of novels alike, but none of them were ever as suspenseful, exciting, and thrilling as this novel was. This is a MUST READ for those who enjoy reading Urban Fiction as I do. However, due to a common trend I have noticed while reading Urban Fiction novels, I must ask a question.

--------- A BIT OF A SPOILER ALERT ---------------
Why is it that even though the protagonist of these Urban Novels, like this one, lacks morals, integrity, and lives/lived up to the phrase, "lying, cheating, and stealing," there is always a happy ending for that particular protagonist. Does this send the wrong message to those who are reading these novels? Nonetheless, this was a well written novel that is well-deserving of a 5 star rating.

[Vi Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast moving plot with lots of unexpected twists. The reader does a good job with the different characters. His tone and pacing had me on the edge of my seat listening. Tuesday and her girls are always setting men up to trick and rob them. This is truly a disk changer (page turner) as the tables get turned on Tuesday and she becomes the mark.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to this book on Audible. It was included in my Audible membership. I would recommend it to others who love urban fiction.

Please check us at on Facebook at The Shades of Pink Book Club. Thank you,

[Tommy Arvell Burnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Excellent read by this Author. Not to mention all of his other material. If you aren't familiar with Zaire Crown, I recommend that you hurry and get at the least one of his books to quench your thirst for authentic literature.

[Misses Banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Held my attention from beginning to end, funny, drama filled & a little romance all in one. I enjoyed reading it & look forward to future reads by this author.

[Janice Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome READ

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

GOOD AF

[Jennifer Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

***I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.***

2.5 stars

It's not you, it's me.

Overall it was an okay read for me. It was well written, and descriptive (explicit as well), but I couldn't connect with any of the characters. I believe that is more of a "me" problem then the authors fault. I would still recommend it to someone if I believed it was something they'd like, as I said before it's well written and entertaining. Just wasn't for me.

[Gwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Suspenseful, Riveting, and so much more. Such a talented writer that sends the kind on a whirlwind of experiences. I gave this book a low score because of her overuse of profanity. The first few pages turned me off but I continued because I support young talent. She is a masterful storyteller who must temper her use of the "N" word and other degrading language.

[Xondra Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

* Copy via Goodreads First Reads and the Publisher *

I liked it well enough, but if you are offended by strong language, explicit depiction of sex, and violence this would not be a good read for you. As the back cover states this book is gritty.

[Jacqueline Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Games Women Play

I real l y enjoyed this book. It had a lot of action, and I didn't want to put it down. Some parts were unrealistic, but that unusually what keep you wanting more. I hope that there will be a Part 2.

[Cin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would say my true rating is a 3.5. It had a lot of action. I kinda enjoyed reading this book. I received a free ARC from the Goodreads First Reads program.

[zenith Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

Tuesday was tough and smart. This was a good read. I truly enjoyed this book. When you dig one ditch you have to dig two, for your own fall.

[Punkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the ending..

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was just ok for me, thought it would be better