What do you think?
Rate this book
Gibbons Gold Digger Novel #2
The Player & the Game
Stephanie Gibbons has finally hit the jackpot. Her new sugar daddy, Isaac, is loaded and treating her in high style. When he proposes, Stephanie is sure she’s set for life—until she finds her bank account empty, Isaac gone, and a strange—but very attractive—man following her.
Sexy P.I. Keith Hendricks has been tracking Isaac all along the eastern seaboard—where the con man has left behind a trail of heartbroken, swindled women. But when Keith confronts Stephanie, he’s not sure if she’s Isaac’s accomplice—or his next victim. The only thing that’s certain is his overwhelming attraction to her. And when Stephanie joins him on the hunt for Isaac, neither can ignore the sparks. Soon Stephanie is wondering whether true love is worth its weight in gold...
Sexy P.I. Keith Hendricks has been tracking Isaac all along the eastern seaboard—where the con man has left behind a trail of heartbroken, swindled women. But when Keith confronts Stephanie, he’s not sure if she’s Isaac’s accomplice—or his next victim. The only thing that’s certain is his overwhelming attraction to her. And when Stephanie joins him on the hunt for Isaac, neither can ignore the sparks. Soon Stephanie is wondering whether true love is worth its weight in gold...
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
13 people are currently reading
413 people want to read
About the author
Shelly Ellis
16 books377 followersShelly Ellis is a NAACP Image Award-nominated women's fiction/romance author and creator of the Gibbons Gold Digger and Chesterton Scandal series. Her fiction writing career began when she became one of four finalists in a First-Time Writers Contest when she was 19 years old. The prize was a publishing contract and having her first short-story romance appear in an anthology. She has since published ten novels and was a finalist for 2015 NAACP Image Award in the Literary Fiction Category, a three-time finalist for the African American Literary Award in the romance category (2012, 2016, and 2017), and a finalist for the 2015 RT Reviewers' Choice Award in Multicultural Romance category.
She is married and lives in Prince George's County, Maryland with her husband and their daughter. Visit her at her web site www.shellyellisbooks.com.
She is married and lives in Prince George's County, Maryland with her husband and their daughter. Visit her at her web site www.shellyellisbooks.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 18, 2016
This story just shows money can't buy you happiness! I really enjoyed it & was glad Stephanie and Keith found their happily ever after. Isaac got what he deserved.
January 18, 2018
This book was a fun read….
After reading the first book and hearing the Gibbons family history of being cons, it was surprising to read that one of the sisters Stephanie got a taste of Karma. She just so happen to approach the PI Keith whom she thought was following her. But he has been tracking her “boyfriend” Isaac. Stephanie hires the PI to look for her ex-boyfriend as well. Although there is attraction there, there were some rifts between them as they went on the journey to look for Isaac the con man. Stephanie was a handful but PI Keith stole a deeper heart’s desires. On this journey, she really falls for the PI. We see that Stephanie wants real love just like most women. It’s not all about the money! The PI also shows her that real men can provide in so many ways that she never expected.
I can’t wait to read the rest of the series to see what comes of the other sisters!!
After reading the first book and hearing the Gibbons family history of being cons, it was surprising to read that one of the sisters Stephanie got a taste of Karma. She just so happen to approach the PI Keith whom she thought was following her. But he has been tracking her “boyfriend” Isaac. Stephanie hires the PI to look for her ex-boyfriend as well. Although there is attraction there, there were some rifts between them as they went on the journey to look for Isaac the con man. Stephanie was a handful but PI Keith stole a deeper heart’s desires. On this journey, she really falls for the PI. We see that Stephanie wants real love just like most women. It’s not all about the money! The PI also shows her that real men can provide in so many ways that she never expected.
I can’t wait to read the rest of the series to see what comes of the other sisters!!
July 19, 2013
This book was amazing.
It's not too much in any way. It was a perfect mixture of romance, mystery, and comedy.
Stephanie's transformation from a prissy spoiled princess to an actual human being was absolutely believable and I had no trouble follow this story through every twist and turn. I found myself frustrated with Keith more than once, and frustrated with the misunderstandings between these two characters. All I wanted was for them to realize what was actually happening, instead of being so headstrong that the truth just passed them by. But if that happened, I guess there wouldn't be a story, now would there?
Altogether I loved this book. I haven't read the first one, but I want to read it now, definitely. This series could be read all in a row, or they could be read as stand-alones.
I am very happy I recieved this book through First-reads. It was great!
It's not too much in any way. It was a perfect mixture of romance, mystery, and comedy.
Stephanie's transformation from a prissy spoiled princess to an actual human being was absolutely believable and I had no trouble follow this story through every twist and turn. I found myself frustrated with Keith more than once, and frustrated with the misunderstandings between these two characters. All I wanted was for them to realize what was actually happening, instead of being so headstrong that the truth just passed them by. But if that happened, I guess there wouldn't be a story, now would there?
Altogether I loved this book. I haven't read the first one, but I want to read it now, definitely. This series could be read all in a row, or they could be read as stand-alones.
I am very happy I recieved this book through First-reads. It was great!
May 28, 2016
A FUN and entertaining read...Stephanie is about to encounter a bit of Karma...her so called fiance turns out to be a conman who steals her money...but Stephanie is NOT one to take this loss sitting down...she hires a private investigator named Keith Hendricks and they embark on a thrilling; yet a bit unrealistic ride to get her funds back and apprehend her ex-fiance...I ENJOY watching the second Gibbons' sister fall HARD for a blue-collar guy...the antics of Stephanie and Keith keep me LOL and thoroughly ENGAGED throughout...DEFINITELY looking forward to reading about the fall of the next Gibbons' sister.
September 10, 2013
I didn't get to read the 1st one yet but well done. It had romance but a little drama, a little sappy at times but had some comedy. It was cute.
October 7, 2013
This was a good The first book was better though
October 7, 2017
What Comes Around Goes Around
This is the second book of A Gibbons Gold Digger series. I was surprised to see one of the Gibbons sisters Stephanie being con out of her life savings. This something her mother, sisters and Stephanie do is con wealthy men out of there money.
There were a lot of emotions in this storyline where I laughed, was surprised and felt sad for the characters.
I recommend this series to read. I am ready to read the next book to see what happens with Cynthia and her daughter Clarissa. Will history repeat itself?
Cassandra H.
This is the second book of A Gibbons Gold Digger series. I was surprised to see one of the Gibbons sisters Stephanie being con out of her life savings. This something her mother, sisters and Stephanie do is con wealthy men out of there money.
There were a lot of emotions in this storyline where I laughed, was surprised and felt sad for the characters.
I recommend this series to read. I am ready to read the next book to see what happens with Cynthia and her daughter Clarissa. Will history repeat itself?
Cassandra H.
October 15, 2017
Stephanie's gold digging ways were put to a halt when new men stepped on the scene. It was exactly what she needed to curve her exploitable ways. Her journey was quite an interesting one & ended better that I anticipated. As 2 of the sisters stories have been shared, I found those books enjoyable reads & I'm looking forward to reading about the others.
July 18, 2019
These Gibbon sisters are turning out to be some pretty goofy gold diggers. I was expecting more drama after reading The Chesterton series. Issac was the most interesting character in this book and I feel like a lot more drama could’ve been added surrounding his character.
January 6, 2022
A good read. I thought after the first book I would be bored with the next book in the series because I enjoyed the main character in first one. It did not disappoint! There was always something going on to keep me engaged.
March 8, 2022
Great read. Love the way Stephanie didn’t let her past upbringing stop her from following her heart. Love trumps greed.
November 29, 2013
In the second installment of the Gibbons Gold Diggers series, The Player and the Game by Shelly Ellis, Stephanie Gibbons just may have been beaten at her own game. Stephanie believes her new beau, Isaac is made of money since he treats her with nothing but the best. So, when Isaac proposes, Stephanie is all for it and can’t wait to plan her wedding until…
Stephanie tries to use the atm and is faced with a problem. She goes to her back to clear matters and finds out that she is broke. Stephanie is confused since she knows her account had funds. After a little investigating, Stephanie comes to the realization that Isaac had robbed her blind. Stephanie is furious and determined to find Isaac and her money. Stephanie can’t do this alone so who can she ask to help?
In walks an attractive man by the name of Keith Hendricks. Keith is a private investigator working for a woman who has been duped by Isaac. When he meets Stephanie to ask her some questions there is an instant attraction. The only problem is Stephanie wants to hire Keith too and will not take no for an answer. Will Keith listen to his conscience or will he give into his attraction?
The Player and the Game was an entertaining book about a bossy woman and a stubborn man. Stephanie is determined while Keith holds his ground. The back and forth between these two was comical. Both tried to ignore their attraction which made the story more entertaining. The adventure that surrounds these characters was exciting and will have readers turning the pages.
This book was provided by the author for review purposes.
Teresa Beasley
A&RBC Reviews
Stephanie tries to use the atm and is faced with a problem. She goes to her back to clear matters and finds out that she is broke. Stephanie is confused since she knows her account had funds. After a little investigating, Stephanie comes to the realization that Isaac had robbed her blind. Stephanie is furious and determined to find Isaac and her money. Stephanie can’t do this alone so who can she ask to help?
In walks an attractive man by the name of Keith Hendricks. Keith is a private investigator working for a woman who has been duped by Isaac. When he meets Stephanie to ask her some questions there is an instant attraction. The only problem is Stephanie wants to hire Keith too and will not take no for an answer. Will Keith listen to his conscience or will he give into his attraction?
The Player and the Game was an entertaining book about a bossy woman and a stubborn man. Stephanie is determined while Keith holds his ground. The back and forth between these two was comical. Both tried to ignore their attraction which made the story more entertaining. The adventure that surrounds these characters was exciting and will have readers turning the pages.
This book was provided by the author for review purposes.
Teresa Beasley
A&RBC Reviews
September 11, 2013
I recently received a Goodreads first-reads copy of The Player & the Game by Shelly Ellis. This is book 2 in the author's Gibbons Gold Digger series. Although I had not previously read book 1 in the series, I did not find it affected my enjoyment of this book. Stephanie Gibbons has a new man in her life who gives her everything she wants - he treats her like a queen and buys her expensive things. Her new man, Isaac, is a con man, however. He empties her bank account and skips town. She finds out from a man who's been following her (P.I. Keith Hendricks) that Isaac has a history of conning women. Stephanie hires Keith to find Isaac so she can recover her money. Keith thinks Stephanie is as bad as Isaac, though, because his research shows that she uses men to get what she wants. Stephanie develops real feelings for Keith, but he thinks he's being played. The two fight their feelings for each other while they attempt to find Isaac. This book has a happy ending, and I enjoyed the read. The author told a fun and engaging story and I finished the book quite quickly.
August 3, 2016
Stephanie Gibbons and the rest of her sisters have been raised by their mother to be gold diggers. Stephanie thinks that she has found her next meal ticket but then all of a sudden the tables get turned and she finds herself broke and alone. Her situation causes her to join forces with Keith, the PI who has been tracking her ex-boyfriend for a client that he swindled in the past. Stephanie and Keith sense that there is an attraction between them but they try to not act on it. This causes some rifts between them while they try to find Stephanie’s ex-boyfriend. In the end, the passion between them becomes just too strong and they give in to it. In the end, Stephanie gets more than what she bargained for. I like this series and I am looking forward to learning more about the rest of the family.
January 12, 2014
I still like the fact that this author allows for women who have questionable past to find love and the men that love them love them unconditionally knowing about their past. So often women have to be perfect for men to want to love them, but this is different and I really have enjoyed reading about this kind of love.
November 22, 2016
Good read!
Stephanie was a real piece of work lol but I definitely enjoyed the book. I'm slowly becoming obsessed with this Gibbons family and their never ending drama. Can't wait to read about Dawn's story and I assume hear a little more about Cynthia since she's the only sister we haven't talked about much.
Stephanie was a real piece of work lol but I definitely enjoyed the book. I'm slowly becoming obsessed with this Gibbons family and their never ending drama. Can't wait to read about Dawn's story and I assume hear a little more about Cynthia since she's the only sister we haven't talked about much.
October 10, 2013
Read a few chapters, but just not an attention grabber.
January 7, 2014
it was an okay book
May 28, 2014
Amazing Amazing Amazing
Wanted to keep reading
Fairytales can come true, you can find love where you least expect it.
Wanted to keep reading
Fairytales can come true, you can find love where you least expect it.
July 28, 2014
I liked this book. And also a very good series. Can't wait to read number 3.
August 10, 2014
I can't wait to read more of her books! It had me laughing out loud and wondering how it would end. Although the outcome was predictable,I couldn't put it down.
March 25, 2015
Stephanie was a piece a work, until Private Investigator Keith Hendricks came a long and capture her heart.
July 19, 2015
Loved it!!!
December 1, 2015
I liked
August 26, 2015
Good read, a page turner.
Read
July 14, 2016Awesome! :)
January 30, 2017
A quick read, fun....
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews