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Gamers #2

Playing For Her Heart

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A sexy category romance from Entangled's Brazen imprint...

She wanted fantasy. He's about to make it a reality...

Grant Osprey just had the hottest sex of his life. Sure, they were both in costume, and yes, it was anonymous, but he never expected her to bolt in the middle of the night without so much as a good bye, let alone exchanging numbers. Or names. All he's left with are her panties and some seriously X-rated memories...until he meets his business partner's little sister.

Only Chloe Talley isn't the bold, sexy vixen he remembers. And she wants nothing to do with him.

Cosplay is Chloe's only chance to leave her boring, socially awkward world behind. To forget that she's failing at life and can't be with anyone, let alone a single-father like Grant. But the raw hunger between them is undeniable. With him, she can be a misbehaving maid. A sexy call girl for hire. Each scene pushes Chloe beyond her strict boundaries, until Grant demands the one character she can't play.


Herself

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 11, 2015

22 people are currently reading
1063 people want to read

About the author

Megan Erickson

50 books1,844 followers
Megan Erickson is a USA Today bestselling author of romance that sizzles. Her books have a touch of nerd, a dash of humor, and always have a happily ever after. A former journalist, she switched to fiction when she decided she likes writing her own endings better.

She lives in Pennsylvania with her very own nerdy husband and two kids. Although rather fun-sized, she's been told she has a full-sized personality. When Megan isn't writing, she's either lounging with her two cats named after John Hughes characters or... thinking about writing.

For more, visit meganerickson.org

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
Profile Image for Mirjana **DTR - Down to Read**.
1,481 reviews811 followers
March 13, 2017

***2 Stars***

Oh the awkward....so much awkward.

I couldn't get on board with either Chloe or Grant.

Chloe had low self-esteem issues that stemmed from her sister's death, I guess? Or was it before then? I'm not sure because none of it made sense. She loved cos-play and role playing during sex because that was the only time she could let loose. According to her, no one would want to be around the real Chloe...which we never really got to know.

And then there's Grant. When he's doing his role-play with Chloe, he's authoritative and sexy and demanding and a filthy, dirty talker....and then regular Grant is a complete man-child. Putting together the two different sides of Grant didn't work for me.

So when you add together low self-esteem Chloe with man-child dirty talker Grant....well, it made for some really awkward role-playing sex scenes....

Nothing about the role playing was hot to me. It was cliched, tried too hard and neither Chloe nor Grant were believable in them.

And then the cherry on top was a super-duper rushed ending (they barely had any meaningful conversations or even got to know each other in their every day real world, but it's all "I'm falling in love with you").

It pains me to give a Megan Erickson book such a low rating, but when you spend the whole time reading with one look on your face....you gotta be honest with yourself.

I'm going to chuck this one up to a bump in the road because I have loved and adored all of the other books I've read by this author.
Profile Image for Claire.
2,324 reviews738 followers
August 6, 2015
3.5 - "How'd a soldier like you learn to lick a woman like that?" Stars!

The second book in the Gamers series pretty much takes up where its predecessor Changing His Game left off. Except this book focusses on Gamers Magazine owner Grant Osprey, and the woman he meets at a Comic-Con gathering.



This is a book of coincidences and collisions. Grant and Chloe agree on one night, but neither of them really forgets the other, what follows are lots of unplanned meetings and connections between the pair, it is almost as if fate is stepping in and telling them that they should look to be more than just one night…

”Ah, Princess. You sure know how to pay a debt.”

This was an easy-going read, Megan Erickson definitely has a diverse and dirty imagination when it comes to writing some pretty stellar sexy scenes between her couples and I loved Grant’s predilection to spanking pretty much any part of Chloe that he could get his hands on!



My one niggle, and this is my personal tastes and does not detract from me recommending the book at all, is that I am getting a bit bored of the usual familial drama being added to books of this nature now. It seems that in pretty much every one I read nowadays someone is always dealing with unnecessary guilt and feelings of inadequacy over issues they have or had not control over, like all trends its getting a bit overused and played out now for me.

”You wouldn’t want the real me.”

We see a lot of Ethan in this book as well, and I really hope that Megan gives us his story next.

”Take care of my girl.”

ARC generously provided via Entangled, and it was my pleasure to provide the above honest review.
Profile Image for Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾.
2,314 reviews13.7k followers
August 3, 2015
3.5 Stars

He wanted to leave breadcrumbs in their wake to show him the way back. Although something told him, after this night, he might never find his way back to the way things were.


Having absolutely loved Changing His Game, I couldn't wait to get my hands on Grant's book. Something about single dads never fails to draw me right in and Grant's joking and easy-going personality just added to the intrigue. Then there's that sexy nerd appeal of the cosplay (which I never imagined I'd enjoy). Did I happen to mention that Grant also happens to be a very dirty boy? Because that man certainly knows how to get things done in the bedroom.
God, that tongue. What more could he do with that thing? She wondered if he practiced knotting cherry stems. Or maybe he'd worked up to something stronger and could bend paperclips with it.

I loved Grant's character, but unfortunately there was always a little something missing for me in this book to bring it to a solid four stars. It's a fun and sexy read, don't get me wrong, just wasn't as good as the first book for me. Now that may very well be because I'm not a reader that enjoys the mousy kind of heroines, and Chloe, besides her penchant for role-playing (and not just of the cosplay variety) was a mostly forgettable heroine. Aside from that, I never fully developed a connection for Grant and Chloe together. They definitely burn up the sheets together, but I wanted something more. It almost felt like their connection was solidly based on just sex and then had a sudden turn around to something deeper towards the end. It just didn't feel like a natural transition for me, I suppose.

But where Chloe didn't garner much interest for me, her brother Ethan drew me in like a beacon. I love me those broken and broody heroes and man oh man but Ethan fit the bill. I'm absolutely salivating for his book.

I definitely recommend this book for fans of this series. While I may have enjoyed it less than the first book, I still enjoyed it. A perfectly sexy contemporary romance to spend an afternoon with. I'm highly looking forward to the next book.

ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review

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Profile Image for Mónica BQ.
884 reviews136 followers
March 2, 2018
Deleting review because of reasons. They are easy enough to find if you care to.
I'm leaving my original rating and review under a spoiler tag to evidentiate I did read it and the majority of this space is dedicated to the book.

Profile Image for Danielle (Love at First Page).
726 reviews692 followers
December 11, 2015
I am in love with this series! While I am very much a mood reader, I can't even imagine being in a mood where I won't want to read these books. They're that addicting. With the Gamers series I just know I'm going to get my guilty pleasure fix. These books are not-so-pure, sexy fun with hot nerds and the smart women who love them. As my saying goes, you can definitely chock this relationship up to love at first page...

When I opened my email and, lo and behold, found this beauty staring me in the face, I couldn't contain my excitement. You're at work, I told myself. Megan's dirty books cannot be consumed in public. Well, no matter, the file wouldn't open for me on my Kindle, which was some sort of premonition because oh, my God this book was raunchy. Grant certainly gives Austin a run for his money when it comes to bedroom activities. Those scenes are smoking hot... and so refreshingly fun. I was turned on and smiling all at once. That wouldn't be the case if the chemistry between Grant and Chloe wasn't so spot on. They are a great match for each other, especially in bed. There's role playing involved and hidden fantasies come to life, yet things always turn unexpectedly intense, causing deeper feelings to come into play. Really, they can't get enough of each other - neither could I.

Megan always writes such sympathetic characters, too, even if I sometimes want to shake them. I could relate to Chloe's shy personality and her feelings of awkwardness in social situations, but the girl doesn't give herself enough credit. It was frustrating to see her refuse to give Grant a real shot over and over again because she continuously shortchanges herself. Intelligent though she may be, she lets her insecurities and the mess that is her family get in the way of her happiness. What she doesn't see, though, and what I love so much about what Megan does with her character, is how brave she actually is. Role playing - no matter that Chloe is hiding behind her "character" - takes confidence and a willingness to put yourself out there. Chloe needed to realize that she is both the nerdy, capable woman and the woman with an inner vixen. Luckily she has such a willing and compatible partner in Grant, who constantly tries to show her her worth. Grant is one of a kind - a funny single dad, a man who likes to take charge, and someone who isn't afraid to go after what he wants. I love that he never gives up on Chloe and that he does all the chasing. It's super swoony!

Needless to say, I never wanted Playing for Her Heart to end! I'm already dying for the next two books - Ethan's and Chad's - because I know how good they're going to be. Are these books unpredictable with tons of character development? No, but they're not meant to be, and I think the way they're told make them totally unique romance books for me. So far we've had inappropriate gifs, video game shenanigans, wicked role playing fantasies, and even Game of Thrones references. What's next on the nerdy-is-sexy agenda?!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This review can also be found at Love at First Page.
Profile Image for Michelle.
2,103 reviews1,416 followers
August 18, 2015
ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

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Playing For Her Heart by Megan Erickson is the first book that I have read from this author and I have to say that I am quite impressed with this book. I found myself devouring and enjoying this quick sexy hot read with the added touch of gamer geek vibe to help spice things along. And when you toss in a hot single dad, I am sold!!!

Playing for Her Heart is such an easy going book that is full of hot sexy times. There is not one moment where readers are left blushing and begging for more of the ongoing sexual fantasies and cosplay that Grant and Chloe seemed to have a penchant for. Though this book was full of sexy times, I wished the author dove further into the relationship with Grant and Chloe. I just wanted more where we got to see Chloe let Grant into her life and why Grant was so attracted to her beyond the physical aspect. I think their quick sudden deeper connection just threw me off a bit because I didn't get to read any scenes where they opened up to each other emotionally. But other than that, I did enjoy the book. It was a great summer afternoon read!! I hope Ethan's book is next because I am definitely interested in his story and brooding personality.


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Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...Megan Erickson
Profile Image for Megan Erickson.
Author 50 books1,844 followers
Read
July 13, 2015
Grant and Chloe get up to some naughty, nerdy role-playing. I also might have showed my Game of Thrones geekdom in this book. Sorry/not sorry.

Also? This book has one of my favorite end-of-the-book makeup scenes I've ever written. :)

If you want to be notified when this book releases and get up-to-date news on all of my books, you can sign up for my newsletter here. You'll also have the chance to enter exclusive giveaways for my books and others. Thanks!
Profile Image for 1-Click Addict Support Group.
3,749 reviews490 followers
August 9, 2015
Who knew that cosplay, nerds and penetrative testing could be so damn HOT? I mean, I read Changing His Game, so I had an idea that Megan Erickson’s Gamers series was super erotic, but hells bells, it’s been a good 24 hours (and one more book) since I finished Playing For Her Heart and I am STILL worked up…

Chloe Talley uses cosplay as a shield. Hiding her true self behind her character, she’s able to step away from the dorky, awkward, broken girl she normally is, and indulge in a little…fun. Which she does with a handsome stranger, right before fleeing in the middle of the night.

Grant Osprey definitely enjoyed the nameless little vixen that rocked his world and left her knickers in his hotel room, but he never expected to see her again. Certainly not at a business lunch with his best friend. Who introduces her at his little sister…

Chloe is nothing like the sexy, confident character he remembered from their hot night when they meet again, and each new encounter with her hiding behind her costumes brings him closer to falling and her closer to revealing her true self to him. Can he convince her that he wants what’s underneath the fancy dress, or will this only ever be a game?

There’s really not a lot for me to say about this book, aside from the fact that I loved it. It was hot. So, so hot. It was funny. It was charming and sweet and just emotional enough that I was on the edge, but not, you know, bawling like a baby. I loved Grant and Chloe. They were so right together, and whoa, their role-playing was electric! But it’s more than that though. They got each other, even when they were playing. And, reading between the lines, it was easy to see the emotional connection being forged in the midst of All. That. Sex.

It was really great to get to see a little bit from Austin and Marley from book one, and to get a closer look at Ethan, who I am hoping gets his (much needed) HEA sooner rather than later. His connection with his sister, his friendship with Grant, even his relationship with Grant’s daughter all made me fall a little for the scarred, broken Ethan, and just made this book better. Secondary character crush alert! I would be lying if I said I wasn’t pissed off on his behalf about the things happening in his life, and I so want to see someone come along and turn it all around for him. (Maybe me?! *crosses fingers*) I am such a sucker for a good redeeming romance!

I am also a sucker for a best friend’s sister romance, which Playing For Her Heart was. It wasn’t a major plot device, but there was enough of that ‘forbidden’ aspect, and some truly engaging banter/discussion/skirting of the issue happening to keep me happy on that front.

This book was, at its base, a well-written, enjoyable, quick, dirty and fucking awesome book. I can’t say much more than that without falling into gushy, creepy fangirl territory, but just know this: in the time that’s passed since I closed this book, my feelings for it haven’t diminished. If anything, they've grown bigger. And, in the case of my panties, wetter. TMI?? ~ Beth, 5 stars

~~~

Dear Megan Erickson – I had no idea I liked role playing (cosplay, if you will). Thank you for showing me the way. Love Forever, Shelly.

That’s right. Cosplay. Grant Osprey and Chloe Talley are huge nerds. Sweet, sexy, AWESOME nerds. They meet at Comic-Con while dressed as characters in a popular video game and…sparks fly.

I’m not kidding – this book is so hot. There may or may not be permanent burn marks on my Kindle now. Please be warned – your panties are in DANGER while reading this book.

That said, it’s important that you know it’s not just a hot book. It’s sweet and swoony and adorably nerdy. Still reeling after a family tragedy, Chloe is so broken and closed down and afraid to put herself out into the world. Watching how Grant opens her back up is just beautiful; a delight to read.

Grant, himself, has stayed emotionally unattached from women since a one night stand in college left him with an unexpected bundle of joy. He’s drawn to Chloe though, first because he’s unable to ignore their intense chemistry, and then because he’s unable to resist her – the real her that she doesn’t want the world to see. Grant gives Chloe the support and courage that she needs to heal, and Chloe gives Grant a piece of his heart that he didn’t even realize was missing.

I loved watching these two realize that their feelings for each other were more than physical attraction. I loved watching all the ways they kept getting thrown back together, and all the ways they endeared themselves to the other. It’s a super sexy story, yeah. But it’s also a love story, and a really very good one, at that.

As always, Ms. Erickson nails the main story while also creating all kinds of magic in the background. I loved how all the different relationships were portrayed with a sense of authenticity, warmth, and humor. Father/daughter, brother/sister, and the genuine affection and camaraderie among friends – these things all combine to make this story richer and more robust. I walked away feeling like I loved everyone and maybe hoping there’s a book out there that will indulge my growing crush on Ethan. Just…sayin’.

In summary, you need this book in your life! GO! READ IT! ~ Shelly, 5 Nerdgasmic stars
Profile Image for Alyssa.
1,069 reviews856 followers
August 11, 2015
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Playing for Her Heart by Megan Erickson
Book Two of the Gamers series
Publisher: Brazen
Publication Date: August 11, 2015
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Official Summary:

Grant Osprey just had the hottest sex of his life. Sure, they were both in costume, and yes, it was anonymous, but he never expected her to bolt in the middle of the night without so much as a good bye, let alone exchanging numbers. Or names. All he’s left with are her panties and some seriously X-rated memories...until he meets his business partner's little sister.

Only Chloe Talley isn't the bold, sexy vixen he remembers. And she wants nothing to do with him.

Cosplay is Chloe’s only chance to leave her boring, socially awkward world behind. To forget that she’s failing at life and can’t be with anyone, let alone a single-father like Grant. But the raw hunger between them is undeniable. With him, she can be a misbehaving maid. A sexy call girl for hire. Each scene pushes Chloe beyond her strict boundaries, until Grant demands the one character she can't play.

Herself.

What I Liked:

Whew, this book was hot! Steamy, sexy, on fire, whatever you want to call it. I didn't read the first book in the Gamers series, Changing His Game. Apparently, Austin and Marley were a HOT couple. They make some cameo appearances in this novel. Still, even though I didn't read Changing His Game, I am no stranger to Erickson's books, and I KNEW I would love this one!

Grant Osprey loves cosplay - and so does Chloe Talley. The two of them meet at ComicCon in full costume, and a steamy night ensues. But Chloe can't have more than one night, because she doesn't think anyone would want the real Chloe, the computer-loving nerd who is weighed down by guilt, about how her sister died. But when it turns out that Grant is one of her brother's partners in business and best friend, Chloe can't hide. She doesn't want the sexy nights to end but... she doesn't want Grant to know who she really is.

I know next to nothing about cosplay - I recently saw a Try Guys Buzzfeed about the Try Guys' experience with cosplay, and that was when I really started to understand what it was. Yup, I'm not much of a gamer. But I love how well Erickson did her research and/or knows her stuff! She made it easy for people like me to understand feel comfortable in the world of gaming and cosplay. That was a relief because the first scene is literally a bunch of gaming cosplay references, and I was about to panic because I didn't know anything about cosplay!

Chloe is such a likable woman. She and I are different, yet so similar. I could totally relate to her nerdiness, her love of gaming (translated to my love of books and sci-fi), our shared love of dirty romance novels (hehe), and our internal shyness. Although I think she is a little more shy than me. ALTHOUGH when she is in character, girlfriend is a naughty brazen wildcat.

Grant is such a swoony guy! He's thirty-two and ripped, because his fourteen-year-old daughter bakes like Betty Crocker. I'll get to the child bit in a second. Grant is hot and dirty-talking and persistent and dedicated, and continues to give Chloe attention even when she pushes him away. He is sweet and kind, yet steamy and smoldering, just be being a living person. He works hard to keep his company alive with Ethan, and he works hard to be a great single parent. Grant is quite a catch!

USUALLY I don't read books in which one of the love interests has a child already. Not my thing. But it's Megan Erickson... and in any case, I think this plot arc really worked. Sydney is fourteen, not four, which I liked. Grant had a one-night stand his freshman year of college (do the math - he's thirty-two, she's fourteen, makes sense that he was eighteen at the time), and didn't want his partner to have an abortion. So he (and his parents) took care of Sydney until he graduated and was on his feet. Sydney plays a pretty significant role the rising action of this book, which actually really worked!

The romance. The chemistry. The steamy scenes. Holy. Guacamole. Erickson blew me away with the steaminess of this book! The chemistry between Grant and Chloe is off the charts! The first hawt scene was suuuuper fan-your-self/stick-yourself-in-the-freezer hot, and Erickson does not let up throughout the book. Grant knows his way around a woman - and Chloe knows her way around a man! I'm still fanning myself.

The plot is fairly fast-paced - I read this book in one sitting! The book is a bit short, but of course I would want more Grant and Chloe. You'l fly through this one in no time! I love that about Ericksons' books - and Brazen books in general. So fulfilling, enjoyable, and satisfying! You'll always get a HEA, guaranteed. Cue the happy sigh!

What I Did Not Like:

TOO SHORT! I wanted more relationship development, and of course, more steamy scenes. But mostly relationship development. I feel like Grant and Chloe never really "talked" or got to know each other on a personal level (basically any level besides physical). There was ONE TIME when they hashed out feelings, but it was way too close to the climax. Hence why I think this book was a bit short!

Would I Recommend It:

I LOVED this book, and would totally recommend it! All the Brazen-published books are worth reading, because of the steamy romance and satisfying HEA. But there are certain ones that are above and beyond in everything, and this is one of them. So, so good! I will read anything Erickson writes! If you're looking for a quick, steamy romance novel, look no further!

Rating:

4.5 stars -> rounded down to 4 stars (this didn't feel quite like a 5-star novel). This book is definitely worth reading, buying, and rereading! Get to it, romance readers!
Profile Image for nick (the infinite limits of love).
2,120 reviews1,528 followers
August 11, 2015

By now, I think everyone and their mothers know my intense and deep love affair with Megan Erickson's books. This woman's writing turns me into a complete fangirl and I absolutely have no regrets for shoving her books in my friends' faces. The Gamers series is one of Megan Erickson's hottest series to date and I honestly can't get enough of the characters that each of these books feature. When I opened Playing for Her Heart, I heard that teensy voice inside my head that expressed doubt that I would love this one as much as I loved Changing His Game. Clearly, the voice was delusional because Playing for Her Heart was just as sexy and romantic as the previous book.

As someone in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) field, it brings me so much of joy to see female characters working in the same field. For the longest time there has been this notion that smart and nerdy characters aren't sexy in books as they have most often been rendered to jokes in books. I love love love that Megan Erickson has decided to showcase that yes, nerds can be as sexy as anyone else. Chloe, our protagonist, was a smart woman, driven when it came to her career. Every time she discussed her job, her voice would ooze passion. More than the fact that she was a woman in STEM, I loved the fact that she loved what she was doing and got very effervescent when someone asked her about it. While Chloe was undeniably an intelligent heroine, she was also quite vulnerable. After the loss of her sister in a car accident also involving her brother, her family was a complete emotional mess. Their relationship with each other was frayed and Chloe was dealing with the guilt of being the one who is alive. Her older sister was more cherished according to Chloe and she felt deep down that if she had been the one to lose her life in that accident, her sister would have handled the aftermath with her family better. I ached for Chloe as she went through this guilt and sorrow because no one ever deserves to feel that way. She used that as a way to push people away from her and not show her real side. The only time she was ever comfortable was when she was cos-playing.

Grant, himself, was someone I loved since Changing His Game. It wasn't the hardest to fall for this sexy, nerdy, funny and charming single dad. In Playing for Her Heart, we get to know more about him and his past. I loved how loving and caring he was with his daughter, Sydney, and their scenes together were some of the highlights of the book, especially with Sydney constantly mothering him. We also got to see more of Grant's swoony and dirty-talking side, which obviously made me fall harder for him. I already knew that his chemistry with Chloe was going to be off the charts before I read the book, but holy wowzah! It was so much more intense than I expected and these two and their role-playing shenanigans had me fanning myself all throughout the book. Part of me did wish that we had gotten to see more of the emotional side of the relationship a bit earlier or maybe have the book be a bit longer (totally being selfish here). That being said, I was not disappointed when Chloe did finally decide to open up to Grant and let him into her heart. I love that Megan Erickson is able to have these sexy couples still have really have sweet moments between them. It's hard to find that balance when it comes to Brazen books like these. We also get to see more of Ethan, who I was a little iffy about in the first book and I'm curious to read his book soon. This man's story is going to break my heart! I also loved the few glimpses of the couple from Changing His Game. As always, Megan Erickson's writing was excellent and addicting. I was able to finish this one in just a few hours because I couldn't put it down. If you still haven't read Megan Erickson's book, you really should because she's one of those author who continues to impress with every book that she releases.

Playing for Her Heart is for those readers craving a sexy and romantic book to escape from the real world for a little while. This series itself is one of the best Brazen series out there because it's able to balance the steamy scenes nicely with the more sweet sides of a relationship. I have nothing else to say about the Gamers series other than "READ THIS SERIES, PEOPLE!".
Profile Image for Sarah.
3,360 reviews1,235 followers
July 30, 2015
4.5 stars

I absolutely loved Playing for Her Heart, if you're fed up with controlling alpha billionaires and fancy falling for a nerdy hero instead you can't go wrong with Megan Erickson's Gamer series. After really enjoying Changing His Game I was excited when I was offered a review copy of the sequel but I have to admit I wasn't sure if the author would be able to top Austin who is one of my all time favourite nerdy heroes. I'm very happy to say that she managed it and Grant has now sailed into the number one spot.

Chloe is the kind of heroine you can imagine being best friends with, she's incredibly smart, talented and funny but she's also really shy and incredibly awkward in social situations. She doesn't really date and the only time she's really comfortable outside of her home is when she's playing a role which one of the reasons she loves cosplay so much. Dressing as a character gives her a confidence she never normally feels and when she meets Grant at Comic-Con sparks fly between them immediately. Neither of them are looking for a relationship but they're more than happy to indulge in a one night stand and it leads them to some of the hottest sex of their lives.

Grant is a single dad who doesn't have much time for dating, he's happy raising his daughter and settles for the odd fling when she's staying out with friends but his night with Chloe leaves him wanting more. Unfortunately she never even told him her name but that doesn't end up being an issue when he discovers she's his best friend's little sister. Pursuing her may break all kinds of rules of friendship but there is no way he's even going to try resisting temptation.

Chloe and Grant have fantastic chemistry and I think this book was even hotter than the first one, they're both into role play which helps keep things fresh but their connection isn't all about sex and there was definitely a sweet emotional connection between them too. I enjoyed the interactions with Grant's daughter Sydney and it was great seeing Grant break down Chloe's barriers and help her deal with some issues from her past. She was much more skittish about a relationship than he was but he knew she was worth the effort and was willing to fight for her.

I really hope the next book will be about Chloe's brother Ethan, his back story was quite heart breaking and I'd love to see him overcome his demons, but whoever the main characters are any future books in this series will be going straight to the top of my wish list. I love the humour and geeky feel to these books and it doesn't hurt that the sexy times are scorching. Megan Erickson is definitely an author I'm going to be watching out for in the future.
Profile Image for Nikki.
972 reviews257 followers
August 6, 2015
Um more please! This book was fantabulous! I literally read it in mostly one sitting! I couldn't put it down! It was sexy as hell! Hilarious! Great characters who were nerds and I loved them for it! :D The story line was well developed and I was captivated from page one to the end. I haven't read the first in the series yet but I never felt like I was missing anything. It was awesome.


Favorite funny:

“Did you play with Barbies a lot when you were little?” She nodded. “They always ended up naked on the rooftop of my Dream House. Because I had a Skipper, too, and what they did on the rooftop wasn’t appropriate for her little eyes.” His little sex fiend. “Ken’s kind of a hard ideal to live up to, isn’t he?” Chloe scrunched her nose. “Not really. When I take off your pants, I’m much happier at what I see than when I took off Ken’s pants.”
Grant figured he should be grateful about that. “Poor Ken.”
“Poor Barbie,” Chloe muttered.


Poor Barbie indeed....
Profile Image for Simply Love Book Reviews.
7,046 reviews870 followers
August 11, 2015
Slick
's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

4.5 stars

You know how much I love it when a one night stand comes back to bite someone on the butt right? Well in Megan Erickson's Playing For Her Heart this happens in a unique and interesting way when two people attending a ComicCon convention meet and enjoy each other carnally all while staying in the characters they are dressed as for the convention. So when they meet each other again in "real life" they both find themselves trying to deny the passion they feel for one another and figuring out how to move forward. A wee bit nerdy, a bit of family drama and a whole lot sexy I could not put this book down.

Cosplay, it lets anyone assume a character's personality and possibly even act out all their fantasies by being another person if only for a little while. For Chloe Talley it gives her the opportunity to be bold, to be sexy and to forget the mess her life has become following the accident that took her sister's life and left her brother scarred and estranged from their parents. When she sees her perfect man, Breck, the hero to her heroine, Sari, from the game Aric's Revenge at the convention she knows she must have him and once she has she knows she must leave him behind because he'll expect the wild, wonton woman her character allows her to be and not the woman she truly is.

Single father Grant Osprey is devoted to his daughter but when he gets a chance to let loose at comic-con especially as a character from a video game he grabs it. Being left after what was the hottest night of his life Grant feels he has no choice but to forget the woman who turned his life upside down until he happens upon her again and realizes they share a close acquaintance.

From the start this couple had chemistry that was off the charts as they meet again in some unusual and intriguing ways it becomes evident that there is more to them than just the sexy fun they share. Chloe is fighting some demons and isn't dealing with them well but Grant is patient and is determined to prove to Chloe that she is everything he could ever want and more. I loved that while they enjoyed their role playing games, they had to dig deep and reach beyond that part of themselves to truly understand how special the people underneath the costumes and make-up really are. The way this relationship grew took a few interesting turns especially given the fact that they both are involved in other ways with someone important to the other. Finding their way to each other wasn't easy yet getting there was worth all the time and effort because in the end they both realize just how right they are together and along with Grant's daughter, Sydney they make perfect family.

Touching, nerdy and amazingly sexy Playing For Her Heart is another fantastic offering in Megan Erickson's growing body of work and I can't wait to see what she puts out next!

Review copy provided for an honest review.
Profile Image for Mandi.
2,356 reviews733 followers
August 18, 2015
Megan Erickson's Gamers series is more on the nerdy side, and I like that. They are stand alone reads, although supporting characters show up throughout the series. Grant is an owner of Gamer magazine and in his spare time likes to participate in cosplay - where he dresses as a favorite video game character and goes to Comic-Con. When the book opens, he is dressed as a hero from a video game called Arc, and has nailed it.

Our heroine, Chloe, notices his immaculate costume, and can't keep her eyes off of him. She happens to be dressed as the heroine from this game, and has one thing in mind - to get this sexy man into her hotel room. Chloe likes to pretend to be anyone but herself. When she is dressed in cosplay, she has confidence. So in character, they meet, they dine, and they get naked together. They have an amazing night, before Chloe quietly sneaks away.

Later, under a totally random circumstance, Chloe meets her brother, Edward, for dinner, and Edward happens to be coworkers with Grant. When Grant and Chloe see each other at dinner, they are stunned. Grant wants to pursue a relationship with her, but Chloe doesn't have the self-esteem to be "Chloe" with Grant. She continues to pretend to be other people - and while role-playing is fun for Grant for a while, he eventually wants the real Chloe.

This is a very hot, and sexy book. Grant is a naughty beast in bed and Chloe loves every second of it. I did however struggle with the other aspects of the book. Chloe's sister died in a car accident years ago, and Edward (her brother) was driving at the time. The family has never recovered from this. Edward has become a recluse and an extremely over-protective brother over Chloe. Chloe feels guilty that her sister died and wishes it was her instead. Their parents and Edward have a very strained relationship. All of this darkens Chloe and she feels like she can't be herself around Grant. I feel like it's a very heavy issue and something not easily resolved. I don't think there was enough page time in this book to address it all. I feel like Chloe and Edward tried to be fixed in this book, and it was too much.

Also, there is a lot of emphasis on Chloe and Grant role-playing, but not a lot of time with the two of them just alone together. So by the end of the book it felt more like a "happy for now" than a solid, happy ever after.

I enjoy the fact that this series is centered more around nerd things - we need more of that in romance. I love the setting of Comic-Con and that these characters work in the computer/gaming industry. I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first book

Grade: C+
Profile Image for Mandy.
1,560 reviews235 followers
August 3, 2015
Chloe is socially awkward and prefers to dress up as characters from her favorite video games when she wants a hook up. She's into cosplay so that she can be whoever she wants and doesn't have to let anyone in. When she goes to Comic Con and meets a guy also into cosplay, she spends a wild night with him and sneaks out after he falls asleep. Chloe has no plans to ever see him again but has no choice when she finds out he's her brother's business partner.

I enjoyed Chloe and Grant's story. They had great chemistry and when there were together there were some really good steamy scenes. The cosplay was actually pretty hot. There was more to this story than just being gamers and the cosplay. Chloe was struggling with grief from her sisters death and really tried to keep herself hidden. She could be a little frustrating at times. Grant was a single dad and I loved his relationship with his daughter. I really enjoyed this story and I look forward to reading more by this author - hopefully Chloe's brother Ethan will get his own story because he really needs his HEA.

**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
Profile Image for Deserie williams.
606 reviews6 followers
October 3, 2015
May Contain spoilers!!!
3.5 stars. Sexy hot read. Grant and Chloe were funny and cute. love Sydney! Grant and her are cute together. the reason I didn't give it more stars Is because I don't know if he used a condom in college with his one night stand. it's not brought up.also you know he played around but I don't think he was a manwhore. I am curious about Ethan I wonder if we will get a book about him:D

safety gang safe
H And h both have sexual pasts. H Loved the women . it's not talk about to much just little things. in college he had a one night stand which resulted with his daughter Sydney. she is 14 years old. He is a great dad . kept his private life away from her. It was mention he hadn't brought a woman to meet his daughter in years. h likes role playing which I believe she had several ONS . No drama , no OW OM. h does say he is really good with his mouth and ask him were he learned it. he doesn't answer just continues to pleasure her lol. lucky her. it made me wonder but how the story is it didn't bother me much.
thanks for the recommendation Bonnie -Anne:)
Profile Image for Jennifer☠Pher☠.
2,970 reviews274 followers
January 19, 2016
I didn't really like this one. I didn't buy it for one single second. There is no f'n way that Chloe could pull that off. Nope, no way. The two extremes were just too much.

My girl just told me that these books, Brazen I think they are called, are meant to be kind of over the top and I can totally dig that. This one was just over the top, unbelievable and not in the "this is fun" kind of way.

Shame because I love Sydney and would have loved to love this book.

Bring on the boy lovin'!
Profile Image for Stacee.
3,035 reviews758 followers
August 11, 2015
I didn't think anything could top Austin and Marley, but damn if Grant and Chloe don't come close.

I LOVED THESE TWO. I loved Grant and Sydney from the first book and I was beyond excited to get his story. Who knew it would take a quiet, shy girl to nail him down? Chloe is definitely not like the type of female MCs I usually love. She's a serious introvert and maybe a bit socially awkward, but she shines in her own way. The two of them together is like throwing gas on a fire.

Yes, it's a bit predictable. Yes, it's absolutely enjoyable. Yes, I wanted to quote all of the things. I loved everything about it.

If you STILL haven't picked up Megan's books, there's something wrong with you.
Profile Image for Justin Nova.
215 reviews1 follower
January 6, 2016
Chloe really got on my nerves for most of the book and as much as I want to read Ethan's story I doubt I will unless it is m/m. I plan to read Chad and Owen which is book three. (rating: 2.5)
Profile Image for Teresa Mary Rose.
1,301 reviews343 followers
August 28, 2015
More Reviews Here: Readers Live A Thousand Lives

These books are so much fun and I love them. They are so sexy and funny and quirky and such a fresh type of romance. These are not your typical characters and that is probably my favorite thing about these books. They are a great romance, but with characters you won’t find anywhere else.

Chloe is a likable and relatable character. The amount of guilt and pressure she is shouldering because of her family broke my heart. I loved how smart she was and that she excelled in her field. She was just a great character.

I also loved Grant. He was so funny and charming and sweet and I loved how he was with his daughter. He just made me laugh and I loved that. He was so patient with Chloe and I loved that he was willing to chase her.

I also really liked the secondary characters. Grant’s daughter Sydney is awesome and I adore her. Chloe’s brother Ethan is a cranky one, but I definitely really liked him and he surprised me. It was also nice to see Marley and Austin again briefly because I love those two.

All in all, Playing For Her Heart was a fun read and I am really loving this series. The characters are so fun and quirky and I just love that this isn’t your typical romance. Definitely a series to add to your tbr.
Profile Image for Janey.
1,319 reviews
August 11, 2015
Chloe Talley was an introverted, software specialist, who liked nothing better than kicking back in her yoga pants and nerdy tshirt. But when she attended Comic-Con, she made sure her get up correctly portrayed Sari, the enslaved ex-princess, who featured in Aric's Revenge, this year's star attraction.

Grant Osprey was part owner of Gamers magazine, and had just had a new investment partner. Ethan Talley, who had taken over from Austin Rivers, who we met in the first story of this series.

Grant found himself at Comic-Con, dressed as Breck. When he saw a version of Sari, that exceeded his fantasy, he made a play for the fair maiden. Their cosplay fuelled their attraction to one another and subsequently their one night together far outweighed any previous experience, for both of them.

Predictably, Grant and the no-name Sari meet up again at a dinner arranged by the common denominator, Ethan, and reality kicks them both in the guts.

This is a cute, yet steamy read, and both characters are pleasant enough to carry the story well.

ARC provided by Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review..
Profile Image for Resch Reads.
1,209 reviews39 followers
July 4, 2017
Wow, this book was delicious and Grant totally lived up to my expectations from book 1. I knew he was going to be drop dead sexy, but he also turned out to be charming, sweet, caring, loving, and all the things swoon-worthy! Chloe was adorable and I can totally relate to her identity crisis and search for finding herself. It took me till 19% into the book to connect the dots and figure out who Chloe was, I completely blame my lust for Grant on this oversight.

Now lets talk about the story line, it was filled with tantalizingly sexy moments and artfully balanced with building relationships and communication. I loved see how all the secondary characters chip in to help raise Sydney, Grant's daughter. I had so many warm and fuzzy feelings about Sydney's relationships with these men and I love how it paints single fathers in a caring and nurturing light, something that I rarely see in novels.

I also loved seeing Grant and Chloe each growing as characters throughout the story. Grant went from selfish to self-less and Chloe really learned how to speak up, stand up for herself, and face her demons. Together they gave me all the feels, even if at moments Chloe had me wanting to throw my Kindle across the room. I am also still in love with the coder/gaming girl theme...STEM for the win!
Profile Image for Kim.
2,443 reviews
August 8, 2015
Find this review and more at kimberlyfaye reads .

Can we talk about just how much I love this series? (And, literally, everything Megan writes.) But this series!? It speaks to me on so many levels. I love that her heroes and heroines are different than so many of the ones you see in romance books. I love me some nerds. Of course, I also love dirty talkin' heroes, so... bonus points. I love the humor and heart Megan brings to her books and I'm always guaranteed a fair few feels while reading. I got more feels than I expected from Playing with Her Heart, but that's just one of the things I loved most about it.

My god, I loved Grant and Chloe. Like, everything about them. Grant was all kinds of swoony. I've recently come to discover I have a bit of a "thing" for single dads, especially when they're amazing like he is. I adored his relationship with his daughter. They were too cute. When it came to Chloe, however, Grant was passionate and a little bit dirty in that way that makes me weak in the knees. Chloe tugged at my heartstrings just as much as Grant did, but for different reasons. She was vulnerable, used to hiding behind a costume and convinced no one would want boring Chloe. She carried a lot of guilt about the death of her sister, despite having nothing to do with it and her family was a big, complicated mess. My heart just ached for her. She came into her own during this book and it was wonderful.

Grant and Chloe had an unconventional, if hot as hell, start. (High five for smokin' hot cosplay/role playing sexy times!) And, as much as I loved all that, my favorite part was reading as these two got to know each other, opened up and saw each other as more than characters in a sexy role play. I loved Grant's determination to make Chloe see what they could have together and that he really did see her. I liked how Grant's daughter came into play and, hell, even Chloe's moody brother Ethan made me happy in this book.

So yeah, I loved Playing for Her Heart. It gave me all the heat I expect from a Brazen book, but it came with a whole lot of nerdy humor and amazing heart. I read at least 3/4 of it with a huge grin on my face. It made me blush (and wish I had a Grant of my own), laugh and, yes, even cry a little. I was head over heels for the romance and the character growth made my heart happy.

I'm so glad to know this series will continue. I'm definitely not ready to give up these characters and the awesome, sexy, nerdy world they live in. I don't even know whose book is next – I kinda hope it's Ethan – but regardless, I'll be ditching whatever I'm doing the minute I get my hands on it.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Jessica .
848 reviews164 followers
August 11, 2015
4.5/5 stars

I am completely speechless upon finishing this one. This book is Megan's hottest book to date and I am still feeling a bit flushed even afterwards! While I enjoyed the first book in the Gamers series, I really loved this one. I think it had to do with the emphasis on the role-playing between Chloe and Grant. It was so hot to see these two act out their fantasies with one another and being the gamer girl I am, I would have no problem slipping into one of those roles if a sexy guy like Grant came around!

I've been excited for Grant's story and I loved that he was matched up with Ethan's younger sister. The two end up being quite adorable together and wow did they have some serious chemistry! I loved the anonymity these two had in the beginning because it made things that much hotter between them! Megan doesn't hold back with the sexy times in this one and I loved Grant's dirty talking. He was sex on a stick and I just loved him. His devotion to his daughter is also really sweet and I liked seeing them interact with one another as well. He is happy with his life as is and isn't looking for a relationship. One of the things I adored about this book was how willing Grant was to open his eyes to the possibility of more. He doesn't act like the tortured hero who goes on and on about how he can't do 'more' and I loved that about him.

Chloe on the other hand was a bit harder to crack. Her family has endured a tragedy and instead of coming together to deal with their grief, they have splintered apart. Chloe feels the weight of that and my heart broke for her, as her self worth is quite poor. She doesn't feel confident enough to show her true self, which is why she likes to cosplay so much. She uses it as an escape and that boosts her confidence, as she can step away from herself and be anyone she wants. However, the more time Grant and Chloe spend together, the more he wants to see the real her and he finds himself growing tired of the games. Watching Grant help pull Chloe out of her shell was my favorite part, but I love that Chloe realized she was the one who had to do it and that he couldn't be the one to save her so to speak. Megan does a great job of incorporating that realism into her novels and I love it.

I really liked getting to see more of Ethan in this book too, as my heart hurt for him also. I am looking forward to seeing who will be the one to pull him out of his reclusive shell and help him deal with his guilt and open his heart up. This series is a hot one and I definitely recommend if you need some sexy times with a great romance!

*Received a copy of this book via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.*
Profile Image for MaggieReadsRom.
956 reviews117 followers
January 7, 2016
First 5 stars of 2016 as I just loved everything about this book from start to finish!

My first thought after reading the first chapter or two was: Why didn't I read this sooner?! Because OMG I'm in love with Megan Erickson's writing and her Gamers series!

Erickson's awesome writing style combines scorching hot and sexy with humor and emotion. This is my kryptonite! And she did an excellent job of having me go through it all as I could be all hot and bothered on one page and having trouble holding back my tears on the next. And I loved it all.

This book ticked all my 'so sexy' boxes! It had dirty talk, role-playing and even a bit of spanking. In a recent review I commented on missing sexiness, urgency in the sex scenes and this book illustrated exactly what I missed in that other book by giving it to me in spades. It was super sexy yet never crass or over the top. The sex was balanced perfectly with the characterization and emotional side of the story. Well done, Megan Erickson!

I adored the secondary cast as much as the main couple. Of course Austin and Marley (couple from bk 1) were there and I loved seeing them after their HEA.
Sydney is at the top of my fave kids/teenagers in romance novels-list
And Ethan! OMG I want Ethan's story so bad! Physically scarred, emotionally damaged and recluse are magic words to me when it comes to a male character that entices me but I also glimpsed care, dry humor and old school gentleman and that just about did me in.

It's two out of two for Ms Erickson with this series as I loved this second book as much as, if not more than the first book. I love everything about her writing! It is so good I just flew through the book and suddenly I was at the end. I read it in practically one sitting and that's rare for me lately.
Profile Image for Maïwenn B.
309 reviews2 followers
October 11, 2016
3.5 Stars!
Full review now posted!

I liked this book but it wasn’t AMAZING.
Grant and Chloe both agree to have meaningless and nameless sex for one night. From this hot encounter, single dad Grant tries his best to forget about her but when he sees her again, their sizzling attraction comes back full force.

I had a soft spot for Grant, he is awesome as a dad, and is not afraid to lay his feelings on the table. This man was patient and took Chloe ‘s pleasure at heart, wanting her to blossom and stop carrying her family’s burden on her shoulders.
While I liked Grant, Chloe was for me too passive and felt too sorry for herself. I’m sure some people will rally to her but as much as I understood where her insecurities came from it wasn’t founded.

This was a short HOT read, Megan Erickson is definitely talented when it comes to the steam factor and I really enjoyed reading it.
Profile Image for Bette Hansen.
5,073 reviews40 followers
July 31, 2015
After a wild, crazy, and completely anonymous night, Grant Osprey can't get the woman he met at the gamer convention out of his head. Too bad she was gone when he woke. No name, no number, no finding her! Imagine his shock when he meets his new business partners sister. Yep, you guessed it! His very aloof mystery woman. Chloe can't believe her bad luck. The one time she decides to let go and get a little crazy comes back to bite her. It's not that she wouldn't like a little more time with Grant, but that woman he was with wasn't her, not really. That night she was brave, wild, and uninhibited. Everything Chloe isn't!!

This one was a great read. Loved the characters and pace of the story. I would definitely recommend this one.
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