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Gamer Girls #2
Challenge Accepted
Nothing will get in her way. Not even him.
The last thing Riley needs in her life is a man. Especially not one who thinks he's better than her. With her neon dreads, a few tattoos, and a chip on her shoulder the size of the draft horses she loves so much, Riley insists she doesn't care about anyone's opinion but her own. She just didn't expect this guy to be so…
Sexy? Understanding? Amazing!
And yes, Void is everything she's ever wanted. He's also her competition, and if she wants to save the family farm, she can't get distracted by his ripped body, sultry smile, or those sweet words that are quickly destroying the anger that got her this far. Everyone else may be playing a game, but Riley?
She's playing for keeps.
He just wasn't the challenge she thought she'd accepted.
The Gamer Girls series features strong women and the men who love them. Contains graphic language and situations that are suitable for a mature audience. This book is a standalone novel which moves forward a larger story. TRIGGER WARNING: discussions of rape and assault, domestic violence, addiction, suicidal tendencies, phobias, bullying, cyber harassment, violence, and more.
The last thing Riley needs in her life is a man. Especially not one who thinks he's better than her. With her neon dreads, a few tattoos, and a chip on her shoulder the size of the draft horses she loves so much, Riley insists she doesn't care about anyone's opinion but her own. She just didn't expect this guy to be so…
Sexy? Understanding? Amazing!
And yes, Void is everything she's ever wanted. He's also her competition, and if she wants to save the family farm, she can't get distracted by his ripped body, sultry smile, or those sweet words that are quickly destroying the anger that got her this far. Everyone else may be playing a game, but Riley?
She's playing for keeps.
He just wasn't the challenge she thought she'd accepted.
The Gamer Girls series features strong women and the men who love them. Contains graphic language and situations that are suitable for a mature audience. This book is a standalone novel which moves forward a larger story. TRIGGER WARNING: discussions of rape and assault, domestic violence, addiction, suicidal tendencies, phobias, bullying, cyber harassment, violence, and more.
409 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 4, 2016
338 people are currently reading
308 people want to read
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November 1, 2017
I have a lot I want to say, but I have no idea where to start. The first problem is genre categorization. It's kind of a romance, and a strong one at that. But much of the plot revolves around two other strong storylines and they drive the majority of the conflict/action. So it's not purely romance. The professional video gaming plot is most similar to a sports story though without the underdog elements most of those contain. Riley is trying to break into professional FPS gaming knowing that it's a confirmed boys-club and having bounced off the darker side of that some years before. And then there's her horse farm where she breeds Shire horses (think Clydesdales) and faces antagonism there for being both young and female. This part reads more action/thriller than not, though weakly so, at best.
So I think I'll break this out on genre lines with the pieces and then wrap with how they worked together.
My entre into the story was easily the romance aspects. I'm primarily a romance reader, so that makes sense. And this romance is absolutely fantastic. If you read my updates, you'll see that I was concerned about this because it culminates very early. From about a third in, it's clear that they respect and admire one another and you can see that they'll be a nearly perfect couple. Hadley does an outstanding job building this relationship naturally and putting it on the page well-enough that you can see how they'll do together and why they're drawn together and will make such an outstanding team. Since it culminates early, many authors will give the relationship setbacks to keep up the tension and build further conflict there. Hadley had other irons on the fire, so she didn't need to do that. .
Riley's fight against the horse breeding establishment is the story's weakest plot. It works, but only because we only get the surface details and don't have to deal much with the personalities on the other side. So you have villains with one-dimensional motivations bringing pain to Riley and her farm. This isn't a bad thing, but it isn't complex or terribly interesting beyond the trials it brings to Riley and her friends.
Breaking into the professional gamer circuit is by far the largest plot and the most complex. The biggest weakness of this storyline is that Hadley clearly has an agenda of encouraging and supporting both the sport and giving women more and better access to it. Hadley has clearly spent a lot of time in that sub-culture because her depictions are spot-on and multi-layered. She stacks the deck in a couple ways, but I think the story works as she intends, even so*. I'm not exactly an outsider on that conflict in real life, so I'm not sure how this aspect will play with actual outsiders. I'm more of an "MMO" gamer than an FPSer but I know the arguments and am familiar with the conflicts and culture so I'm an automatically sympathetic reader. A brave aspect of Hadley's presentation here is how she depicts the smack-talk unflinchingly (including its sexualized aspects) even as she shows why its an aspect of the game that is important to the players. She takes the opportunity to show how Riley deals with those aspects of the game and in doing so gives an excellent template for any girl gamers who want to break into that arena—much as Riley herself is supposedly doing in the story. It's clear that this is something Hadley has considered deeply and that this is the culmination of her meditations.
One aspect that really shines for the gaming parts is that Hadley has real skill in depicting the in-game action in the way it would be experienced by a top gamer. That means she kept the action up even as she depicts how much thought and analysis has to happen to play at that level. This is a great accomplishment because as in any fight scene, you have to be both very detailed and yet keep the pace up to be engaging. That's hard and Hadley managed to make it look easy.
Anyway, the gaming is a strong polemic and probably didactic as well. As I say above, I'm not an outsider so I'm not sure how this would come across for others. I think she managed to make it interesting and avoid the pitfalls of agendized writing. But I could easily be wrong about that.
So did this work as a whole story? The relationship alone would have kept me interested watching Riley and Logan work as a team to overcome all opposition. Some of that is competence porn as both are highly competent competitors in multiple arenas and very capable both intellectually and emotionally. The gaming aspects that drove the majority of the plot were entertaining and exciting (both in and out of game). It all comes together in a way that isn't wholly organic, however, and that will hurt the experience for some readers, I think. The farm plot is a little too much obviously there to show how the gaming sub-culture (like any other sub-culture, really) will unify around a threat to one of its own.
My final thought is that I really, really want to give this five stars. I was riveted, I cared deeply about the characters, and the story held my attention in a vice-like grip (even though I took my time to enjoy it at a slower pace). I think the fact I only really worry what others will think about me giving something so transparently agenda-driven five stars gives me all the answer I need for how I should really rank it. So yeah, this is rated based on my personal engagement and I make no claims for the experience of others who might be swayed by that rating. If you take it up, then I really hope you enjoy it as much as I have (but won't hold it against you if you don't).
A note about Steamy: There are four or five (maybe six?) explicit sex scenes. And they're pretty intense. And both Riley and Logan are very much outside the mainstream in many ways and one of those ways is a taste for kinky sex-play. Neither is shy and both are self-confident competitors who are as much into the chase as they are the culmination. Putting this on the high side of my steam tolerance, though not quite outside it.
* The two ways Hadley stacks the deck:
- all the top gamers shown are essentially egalitarian and truly interested in "best person wins" and don't really care whether the player is male or female. This isn't completely unrealistic as you don't hit that level of ability without being all about proving it on the field (because you have to shed comfortable illusions if you really care enough to get that good).
- Logan acts as something of an author-insert for reasoned arguments that can be backed by studies of the subject. He doesn't cite the studies, but I recognized some of the executive summaries I've read before. And no, Hadley isn't as clumsy as that sounds. I'm just saying that he's very reasoned and pretty much any given statement will be backed by studies if you look for them.
So I think I'll break this out on genre lines with the pieces and then wrap with how they worked together.
My entre into the story was easily the romance aspects. I'm primarily a romance reader, so that makes sense. And this romance is absolutely fantastic. If you read my updates, you'll see that I was concerned about this because it culminates very early. From about a third in, it's clear that they respect and admire one another and you can see that they'll be a nearly perfect couple. Hadley does an outstanding job building this relationship naturally and putting it on the page well-enough that you can see how they'll do together and why they're drawn together and will make such an outstanding team. Since it culminates early, many authors will give the relationship setbacks to keep up the tension and build further conflict there. Hadley had other irons on the fire, so she didn't need to do that. .
Riley's fight against the horse breeding establishment is the story's weakest plot. It works, but only because we only get the surface details and don't have to deal much with the personalities on the other side. So you have villains with one-dimensional motivations bringing pain to Riley and her farm. This isn't a bad thing, but it isn't complex or terribly interesting beyond the trials it brings to Riley and her friends.
Breaking into the professional gamer circuit is by far the largest plot and the most complex. The biggest weakness of this storyline is that Hadley clearly has an agenda of encouraging and supporting both the sport and giving women more and better access to it. Hadley has clearly spent a lot of time in that sub-culture because her depictions are spot-on and multi-layered. She stacks the deck in a couple ways, but I think the story works as she intends, even so*. I'm not exactly an outsider on that conflict in real life, so I'm not sure how this aspect will play with actual outsiders. I'm more of an "MMO" gamer than an FPSer but I know the arguments and am familiar with the conflicts and culture so I'm an automatically sympathetic reader. A brave aspect of Hadley's presentation here is how she depicts the smack-talk unflinchingly (including its sexualized aspects) even as she shows why its an aspect of the game that is important to the players. She takes the opportunity to show how Riley deals with those aspects of the game and in doing so gives an excellent template for any girl gamers who want to break into that arena—much as Riley herself is supposedly doing in the story. It's clear that this is something Hadley has considered deeply and that this is the culmination of her meditations.
One aspect that really shines for the gaming parts is that Hadley has real skill in depicting the in-game action in the way it would be experienced by a top gamer. That means she kept the action up even as she depicts how much thought and analysis has to happen to play at that level. This is a great accomplishment because as in any fight scene, you have to be both very detailed and yet keep the pace up to be engaging. That's hard and Hadley managed to make it look easy.
Anyway, the gaming is a strong polemic and probably didactic as well. As I say above, I'm not an outsider so I'm not sure how this would come across for others. I think she managed to make it interesting and avoid the pitfalls of agendized writing. But I could easily be wrong about that.
So did this work as a whole story? The relationship alone would have kept me interested watching Riley and Logan work as a team to overcome all opposition. Some of that is competence porn as both are highly competent competitors in multiple arenas and very capable both intellectually and emotionally. The gaming aspects that drove the majority of the plot were entertaining and exciting (both in and out of game). It all comes together in a way that isn't wholly organic, however, and that will hurt the experience for some readers, I think. The farm plot is a little too much obviously there to show how the gaming sub-culture (like any other sub-culture, really) will unify around a threat to one of its own.
My final thought is that I really, really want to give this five stars. I was riveted, I cared deeply about the characters, and the story held my attention in a vice-like grip (even though I took my time to enjoy it at a slower pace). I think the fact I only really worry what others will think about me giving something so transparently agenda-driven five stars gives me all the answer I need for how I should really rank it. So yeah, this is rated based on my personal engagement and I make no claims for the experience of others who might be swayed by that rating. If you take it up, then I really hope you enjoy it as much as I have (but won't hold it against you if you don't).
A note about Steamy: There are four or five (maybe six?) explicit sex scenes. And they're pretty intense. And both Riley and Logan are very much outside the mainstream in many ways and one of those ways is a taste for kinky sex-play. Neither is shy and both are self-confident competitors who are as much into the chase as they are the culmination. Putting this on the high side of my steam tolerance, though not quite outside it.
* The two ways Hadley stacks the deck:
- all the top gamers shown are essentially egalitarian and truly interested in "best person wins" and don't really care whether the player is male or female. This isn't completely unrealistic as you don't hit that level of ability without being all about proving it on the field (because you have to shed comfortable illusions if you really care enough to get that good).
- Logan acts as something of an author-insert for reasoned arguments that can be backed by studies of the subject. He doesn't cite the studies, but I recognized some of the executive summaries I've read before. And no, Hadley isn't as clumsy as that sounds. I'm just saying that he's very reasoned and pretty much any given statement will be backed by studies if you look for them.
June 12, 2022
Okay, I want talk more about the rest of this series. I don't feel confident doing them all solo because I ended up binge reading these. While Flawed focuses on game devs, the rest of the series actually focuses on pro-gamers and the.. investigation sparked from the first book. Another tie into the first book is that the game they are playing is created by Dez's team.
The rest of the series focuses on a different ragtag family that slowly comes together and really centers around Riley. Riley is the best, although sometimes sharing that title with her romantic interest: Void. Now their romance? Adorable. I loved them so, so much. Riley is also.... she's a force. I adore her and her strength. She was initially bullied out of gaming, but she's back because she needs the money and exposure for her horses. What??? YES! Gaming is the main focus, but there are horses!
All the books focus on a different aspect of gaming though, but they all end up as gamers of some type -- mostly pro, but some are casual. There are also location hosts, convention hosts, FBI agents trying to get in, etc. There are a lot of positive moments and I love the banter, but each book does have it's own trigger warnings, so please check the synopsis before reading. There is also a lot of underage drinking which I don't approve of. That being said this is one of the best found family series I've read in my life. So positive, so there for each other, and so diverse -- so they aren't just the same age or the same type of people. The one thing that they have in common is that they game and they are good, kind people.
I'm not a FPS player, I'm not an MMO player -- I don't like playing with others and letting them down, but this series??? It has me curious about gaming conventions, it has me curious about what online gaming is like and if it is worth trying to learn how to play.
This is an addicting series, one I'm sure to buy in the future, and I can't wait to see where they go with it because I am not ready to be done with it.
Oh, yeah these are romances (even if book 3 focuses on Riley & Void again, it is cute seeing them as an established couple), and I loved them all, thought all the couples went well together, but I appreciated how there is an overarching story and real life for them to navigate through.
The rest of the series focuses on a different ragtag family that slowly comes together and really centers around Riley. Riley is the best, although sometimes sharing that title with her romantic interest: Void. Now their romance? Adorable. I loved them so, so much. Riley is also.... she's a force. I adore her and her strength. She was initially bullied out of gaming, but she's back because she needs the money and exposure for her horses. What??? YES! Gaming is the main focus, but there are horses!
All the books focus on a different aspect of gaming though, but they all end up as gamers of some type -- mostly pro, but some are casual. There are also location hosts, convention hosts, FBI agents trying to get in, etc. There are a lot of positive moments and I love the banter, but each book does have it's own trigger warnings, so please check the synopsis before reading. There is also a lot of underage drinking which I don't approve of. That being said this is one of the best found family series I've read in my life. So positive, so there for each other, and so diverse -- so they aren't just the same age or the same type of people. The one thing that they have in common is that they game and they are good, kind people.
I'm not a FPS player, I'm not an MMO player -- I don't like playing with others and letting them down, but this series??? It has me curious about gaming conventions, it has me curious about what online gaming is like and if it is worth trying to learn how to play.
This is an addicting series, one I'm sure to buy in the future, and I can't wait to see where they go with it because I am not ready to be done with it.
Oh, yeah these are romances (even if book 3 focuses on Riley & Void again, it is cute seeing them as an established couple), and I loved them all, thought all the couples went well together, but I appreciated how there is an overarching story and real life for them to navigate through.
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August 18, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (8/18/2019)! 🎁
May 21, 2016
I received an advanced reading copy in an exchange for an honest review.
Let me start off by saying that I am not a gamer and have never really understood the need to play games, as my favorite past time has always been curling up with a book. I was hesitant to read this book because of the subject matter but after reading One More Day by Auryn Hadley, I just knew I had to take the plunge and give this collaboration with author Kitty Cox a try as well. Now that I’ve read Challenge Accepted and experienced Riley and the mysterious “Void’s” story, my view point on gaming has changed and I am ready to be pulled back into this fictional world that is riddled with virtual bullets and game play along with beautiful majestic horses.
Riley or “QQ” as she is known in the gaming world has been left to run the family horse farm after her parents tragic death and has been struggling financially to keep their dream alive. Riley may wear manure covered boots during the day and love every minute with her horses, but she also sits behind a computer every night giving the guys a run for their money in the first person shooter, “Eternal Combat”, and enjoys taking the gaming world by storm. When circumstances bring her to a local gaming tournament with her sights on winning some contracts to save the farm, the last thing she considered was running into the sexy Void and being his next target in both the virtual and real world. Riley is a heroine after my own heart, she knows what she wants and she goes after it and fights against gender bias to prove her worth in both worlds that she loves. She is fierce, loyal, intelligent, and beautiful from her rainbow colored dreads right down to her boots and I immediately had a girl crush. Whether she was handling a massive horse or kicking ass in the virtual world she does it with style and grace that is all hers.
“Void” is all intense, intelligent yumminess that I just couldn’t wait for Riley to devour… or should I say for him to devour her. He is perfect match for Riley in every way and treats her as an equal yet was still commanding enough to set my heart a flutter. Auryn has a special talent for creating heroes that are not all alpha male but sensitive enough to cherish their woman, have a take charge attitude, and just enough confidence to keep our panties in a twist with none of the over the top arrogance. Alphas eat your heart out because Void has it all and is on a mission straight for Riley’s heart and body. I could tell you so much more about Void but he is a gift of mystery for the reader to unwrap during the telling of the story.
Auryn Hadley and Kitty Cox bring the gaming world to life in an off the charts hot love story that at times makes you feel like you can smell the hay or see the computer graphics on a computer in front of you. They take a subject matter that most women do not understand and gives us a new appreciation for the past time that many professional men and women alike use for both stress relief and downright fun. Let Riley and Void drag you into a world where regal horses and gamers are equally loved. I cannot wait to read more about these sexy men and women that spend their nights talking smack and taking out their aggression on the computer screen and show their loyalty and heart outside the game. I highly recommend Challenge Accepted for a perception changing story that will have you falling in love equally with the virtual world and those who command it.
Let me start off by saying that I am not a gamer and have never really understood the need to play games, as my favorite past time has always been curling up with a book. I was hesitant to read this book because of the subject matter but after reading One More Day by Auryn Hadley, I just knew I had to take the plunge and give this collaboration with author Kitty Cox a try as well. Now that I’ve read Challenge Accepted and experienced Riley and the mysterious “Void’s” story, my view point on gaming has changed and I am ready to be pulled back into this fictional world that is riddled with virtual bullets and game play along with beautiful majestic horses.
Riley or “QQ” as she is known in the gaming world has been left to run the family horse farm after her parents tragic death and has been struggling financially to keep their dream alive. Riley may wear manure covered boots during the day and love every minute with her horses, but she also sits behind a computer every night giving the guys a run for their money in the first person shooter, “Eternal Combat”, and enjoys taking the gaming world by storm. When circumstances bring her to a local gaming tournament with her sights on winning some contracts to save the farm, the last thing she considered was running into the sexy Void and being his next target in both the virtual and real world. Riley is a heroine after my own heart, she knows what she wants and she goes after it and fights against gender bias to prove her worth in both worlds that she loves. She is fierce, loyal, intelligent, and beautiful from her rainbow colored dreads right down to her boots and I immediately had a girl crush. Whether she was handling a massive horse or kicking ass in the virtual world she does it with style and grace that is all hers.
“Void” is all intense, intelligent yumminess that I just couldn’t wait for Riley to devour… or should I say for him to devour her. He is perfect match for Riley in every way and treats her as an equal yet was still commanding enough to set my heart a flutter. Auryn has a special talent for creating heroes that are not all alpha male but sensitive enough to cherish their woman, have a take charge attitude, and just enough confidence to keep our panties in a twist with none of the over the top arrogance. Alphas eat your heart out because Void has it all and is on a mission straight for Riley’s heart and body. I could tell you so much more about Void but he is a gift of mystery for the reader to unwrap during the telling of the story.
Auryn Hadley and Kitty Cox bring the gaming world to life in an off the charts hot love story that at times makes you feel like you can smell the hay or see the computer graphics on a computer in front of you. They take a subject matter that most women do not understand and gives us a new appreciation for the past time that many professional men and women alike use for both stress relief and downright fun. Let Riley and Void drag you into a world where regal horses and gamers are equally loved. I cannot wait to read more about these sexy men and women that spend their nights talking smack and taking out their aggression on the computer screen and show their loyalty and heart outside the game. I highly recommend Challenge Accepted for a perception changing story that will have you falling in love equally with the virtual world and those who command it.
September 29, 2024
This book left me a little confused. But apart from this I really liked this book. My favorite book of the series is still Flawed. But where Flawed has really heavy topics, this was not as dark as the other. There are assaults on animals, houses and stuff like that, and it's bad enough. But no good person gets harmed but there are bad persons who get beaten (physically and in gaming).
Riley is a though FMC. She has already gone through so much, when we meet her. There are also great side characters Gamers and other people.
I need to start a cheat sheet, because there are so many names to memorise. I met some of the characters, when I read Shades of Troubles series. But at least the first Gamer Girls book are before Shades of Trouble takes place.
I'm recommending this one whenever I can.
Edit 2024:
I felt like rereading Gamer Girls. I really forgot, how long this books are but they are so worth it. I love this series.
Riley is a though FMC. She has already gone through so much, when we meet her. There are also great side characters Gamers and other people.
I need to start a cheat sheet, because there are so many names to memorise. I met some of the characters, when I read Shades of Troubles series. But at least the first Gamer Girls book are before Shades of Trouble takes place.
I'm recommending this one whenever I can.
Edit 2024:
I felt like rereading Gamer Girls. I really forgot, how long this books are but they are so worth it. I love this series.
January 6, 2020
Great book, this girls are so amazing, no whinny pretty flower!
They just kick ass and take names!!!
They just kick ass and take names!!!
May 11, 2020
Mini-Review:
I loved that 'Challenge accepted' was a catch phrase used within the story. That was great. The character build for Riley didn't work for me. This book was fun but it felt like I was reading a story planner vs a story. Mostly good plot plan but not as engaging to read. It didn't have the heart and drive like Flawed.
I really liked that R & L are regular people falling in love. That got trashed a bit towards the end and deflated my enjoyment of the characters. Like, I am my own worst critic and thrash myself beyond anyone else can when I am worried or make mistakes. You don't have to feel like an outsider to have issues. I thought the book was going in that direction and then it went back to "cheer for the small niche" parade. Don't get me wrong. I like the variety of issues that the series is talking about. One of the points of the story is that all kinds of people are gamers. That is completely true and a real thing. I thought this installment was going to show off a love story about a regular girl with lots of skill & guts. Then they made her into whatever "not normal" label and love story. Meh. It kind of feels like there were two different stories mashed up together and they didn't quite fit.
Here's the thing, normal is whatever you do every day and don't think about twice. It's special to other people for whatever reason. I'm smart and talented. Cool. I don't go around thinking that I'm super amazing and everything I touch turns into gold. Sure it's nice to get recognition once in a while but I only care about the ones that mean it vs insincere commentary. I rarely think about who I am and what I do as being "amazing" but I know I'm good at what I do. If that makes me seem like my life is cool, that's nice. To me, it's normal.
A part of that meaning is woven into the two books of the series I have read and I like that. But the books also stress "not belonging" a lot and stress the usual pointers about why a person doesn't fit in. I don't mind social commentary and politics in books as long as they fit the story but I'm not a fan of the politics having a stronger pull than the story being told.
That's what it is. The characters and plot felt like a platform for political/social commentary vs a good story with points about them. I didn't care for that.
Loved:
- 70% of the romance between Riley & Logan
- Details from #1 being layered onto in #2
- Gamer & Horse Love
Meh:
- Dreads are cool but it didn't fit Riley.
- Anger/Fear Suicide Rant Scene: It felt like a gimmick vs real.
- Enjoyed most of the game play chat but action scenes came across as boring & vague fog.
I loved that 'Challenge accepted' was a catch phrase used within the story. That was great. The character build for Riley didn't work for me. This book was fun but it felt like I was reading a story planner vs a story. Mostly good plot plan but not as engaging to read. It didn't have the heart and drive like Flawed.
I really liked that R & L are regular people falling in love. That got trashed a bit towards the end and deflated my enjoyment of the characters. Like, I am my own worst critic and thrash myself beyond anyone else can when I am worried or make mistakes. You don't have to feel like an outsider to have issues. I thought the book was going in that direction and then it went back to "cheer for the small niche" parade. Don't get me wrong. I like the variety of issues that the series is talking about. One of the points of the story is that all kinds of people are gamers. That is completely true and a real thing. I thought this installment was going to show off a love story about a regular girl with lots of skill & guts. Then they made her into whatever "not normal" label and love story. Meh. It kind of feels like there were two different stories mashed up together and they didn't quite fit.
Here's the thing, normal is whatever you do every day and don't think about twice. It's special to other people for whatever reason. I'm smart and talented. Cool. I don't go around thinking that I'm super amazing and everything I touch turns into gold. Sure it's nice to get recognition once in a while but I only care about the ones that mean it vs insincere commentary. I rarely think about who I am and what I do as being "amazing" but I know I'm good at what I do. If that makes me seem like my life is cool, that's nice. To me, it's normal.
A part of that meaning is woven into the two books of the series I have read and I like that. But the books also stress "not belonging" a lot and stress the usual pointers about why a person doesn't fit in. I don't mind social commentary and politics in books as long as they fit the story but I'm not a fan of the politics having a stronger pull than the story being told.
That's what it is. The characters and plot felt like a platform for political/social commentary vs a good story with points about them. I didn't care for that.
Loved:
- 70% of the romance between Riley & Logan
- Details from #1 being layered onto in #2
- Gamer & Horse Love
Meh:
- Dreads are cool but it didn't fit Riley.
- Anger/Fear Suicide Rant Scene: It felt like a gimmick vs real.
- Enjoyed most of the game play chat but action scenes came across as boring & vague fog.
January 15, 2019
So, the second in the Gamer Girl Series was an absolute delight.
Our girl QQ is driven by the need to succeed in a much more physical premise in more than just one type off game. She's making strides in both the gaming and the equine community. Our asshat but honestly dangerous villians, the King's of Gaming, are further shown to be everywhere. Its disturbing and terrifying in its honest depiction of the way such people pollute the world.
Anyway, this books takes place shortly after the first where we all know that Jason is waging his quiet war and trying to find the enemy. We meet and fall madly in love with the sweetheart that is Void - who is enamored with Q.
I really enjoy the way the Auryn Hadley and Kitty Cox use their skills to show use the different sides of the proverbial coin here. We see hints of the twisted, malevolent organisation we know as the Gaming Kings but the focus is more on how average people can either contribute to the destruction of their peers or build them up, serving as defenders and friends with no expectation of reward.
Riley is in-your-face strength with her soft spot being the acceptance and respect of those she holds dear. Logan is just as driven to succeed in two professional worlds he's making strides in but he's looking for someone who accepts him as he is. Watch these two forces of nature collide and then ease into complementing each other is so much fun. Although not as internally shredding as book 1 in the series, it's just as unique and involved. Logan and Rile not only challenge each other, they fit in a way that smooths the rough edges from each and really do make the ultimate power couple.
Once again these two authors work seamlessly together to create not just our MCs but an intricate, intriguing community of people that are all so assorted and interesting. Also hot, so friggin many levels of sexiness. (Fans self)
Thanks for writing.
Our girl QQ is driven by the need to succeed in a much more physical premise in more than just one type off game. She's making strides in both the gaming and the equine community. Our asshat but honestly dangerous villians, the King's of Gaming, are further shown to be everywhere. Its disturbing and terrifying in its honest depiction of the way such people pollute the world.
Anyway, this books takes place shortly after the first where we all know that Jason is waging his quiet war and trying to find the enemy. We meet and fall madly in love with the sweetheart that is Void - who is enamored with Q.
I really enjoy the way the Auryn Hadley and Kitty Cox use their skills to show use the different sides of the proverbial coin here. We see hints of the twisted, malevolent organisation we know as the Gaming Kings but the focus is more on how average people can either contribute to the destruction of their peers or build them up, serving as defenders and friends with no expectation of reward.
Riley is in-your-face strength with her soft spot being the acceptance and respect of those she holds dear. Logan is just as driven to succeed in two professional worlds he's making strides in but he's looking for someone who accepts him as he is. Watch these two forces of nature collide and then ease into complementing each other is so much fun. Although not as internally shredding as book 1 in the series, it's just as unique and involved. Logan and Rile not only challenge each other, they fit in a way that smooths the rough edges from each and really do make the ultimate power couple.
Once again these two authors work seamlessly together to create not just our MCs but an intricate, intriguing community of people that are all so assorted and interesting. Also hot, so friggin many levels of sexiness. (Fans self)
Thanks for writing.
November 26, 2020
So while I liked the book the N word usage needs to be rethought
First let me address what I titled this before I dive into the book.
In the setting we have an old town country cowboy calling a Black lawyer the N word. This I could maybe would need to be written, however, it could have been written in such a way without the full word. It definitely made me uncomfortable. The second usage came when the H quoted the Black Layer, Mike, and said the entire word. I don’t think this one was necessary. I think it could have been said without saying the full word. Later though they exchange the full word to saying N word. Still I think at least the second usage should be relooked at.
Now the book as a whole is great. I actually expected something a bit dark like from Destiny’s book, but this wasn’t it. Think of your favorite Sports Romance books and exchange sports for gaming. This is what you have. It’s a really sweet story. There is nothing wrong with Logan that I’ve seen. He’s perfect.
I still liked the book, but I wish there was a bit more confrontation. Nothing happened with the farm after the initial attack. Like we weren’t there. We also only went to only two of the tournaments. I just wish we had a bit more depth. Apparently a lot of things happen off page because suddenly Riley would be talking about something and saying what happened previously. Not my most favorite.
Surprisingly there were a number of typos. This is surprising to me due to the quality of Hadley’s other works I’ve read.
I got the snippet for the next book and it has me intrigued as well. Even though this one has some issues I still plan to read the next one. Not all books will be my favorite.
First let me address what I titled this before I dive into the book.
In the setting we have an old town country cowboy calling a Black lawyer the N word. This I could maybe would need to be written, however, it could have been written in such a way without the full word. It definitely made me uncomfortable. The second usage came when the H quoted the Black Layer, Mike, and said the entire word. I don’t think this one was necessary. I think it could have been said without saying the full word. Later though they exchange the full word to saying N word. Still I think at least the second usage should be relooked at.
Now the book as a whole is great. I actually expected something a bit dark like from Destiny’s book, but this wasn’t it. Think of your favorite Sports Romance books and exchange sports for gaming. This is what you have. It’s a really sweet story. There is nothing wrong with Logan that I’ve seen. He’s perfect.
I still liked the book, but I wish there was a bit more confrontation. Nothing happened with the farm after the initial attack. Like we weren’t there. We also only went to only two of the tournaments. I just wish we had a bit more depth. Apparently a lot of things happen off page because suddenly Riley would be talking about something and saying what happened previously. Not my most favorite.
Surprisingly there were a number of typos. This is surprising to me due to the quality of Hadley’s other works I’ve read.
I got the snippet for the next book and it has me intrigued as well. Even though this one has some issues I still plan to read the next one. Not all books will be my favorite.
July 6, 2023
I’m a little obsessed with this series…
September 6, 2018
2.5 stars
I wish I hadn't accepted this challenge. I was reading a book every 2-3 days on average for the last few months but I got stuck on this for 2 weeks. The characters just don't seem that realistic to me. Life changing events like Riley telling Kitty she is bringing home a new brother to live with them is met with nothing but "Fuck yeah!". No actual concerns real people would have having someone move in they don't know. There were quite a few examples like this.
Logon / Void was especially annoying to me. He was like a lump of clay that was moulded to anything Riley wanted, he had no backbone.
Also you never had any doubt that the relationship would work out as no disagreements were ever raised and any possible conflicts were solved by them automatically agreeing on everything. The part were Logan casually tells Riley he has had a vasectomy and never wants kids with no possible chance she may no feel the same. I pretty sure that discussion would be carried out with a little bit more timidity and earlier in the relationship as they were planning on moving in together, here it is just a throw away couple of lines.
The amount of gushing of how awesome Riley is was also tiresome. It outnumbers the attacks against her so much that to me it seemed to trivialise here previous assertions that so many were against her. I would have preferred alot more respectful indifference from more male characters. Although she got some respect for her gaming she still seems like she was just turned into a gaming pin-up.
I wish I hadn't accepted this challenge. I was reading a book every 2-3 days on average for the last few months but I got stuck on this for 2 weeks. The characters just don't seem that realistic to me. Life changing events like Riley telling Kitty she is bringing home a new brother to live with them is met with nothing but "Fuck yeah!". No actual concerns real people would have having someone move in they don't know. There were quite a few examples like this.
Logon / Void was especially annoying to me. He was like a lump of clay that was moulded to anything Riley wanted, he had no backbone.
Also you never had any doubt that the relationship would work out as no disagreements were ever raised and any possible conflicts were solved by them automatically agreeing on everything. The part were Logan casually tells Riley he has had a vasectomy and never wants kids with no possible chance she may no feel the same. I pretty sure that discussion would be carried out with a little bit more timidity and earlier in the relationship as they were planning on moving in together, here it is just a throw away couple of lines.
The amount of gushing of how awesome Riley is was also tiresome. It outnumbers the attacks against her so much that to me it seemed to trivialise here previous assertions that so many were against her. I would have preferred alot more respectful indifference from more male characters. Although she got some respect for her gaming she still seems like she was just turned into a gaming pin-up.
November 5, 2019
GOD DAMN!
better then the last, I might come back and do a full review later but my initial reaction is this was awesome!! Found myself grinning throughout all of it. I wish I had a gaming set up and knew some good games to play. I play xbox and really like that but Pc sounds like a whole world thats awesome. maybe someday when some money comes around. or unless someone wants to magically buy me a sweet set up I wouldnt be mad ;)
anyways this series is awesome and I liked how there was a hint at one character who I think was in the last book. I need the next one asap!!
better then the last, I might come back and do a full review later but my initial reaction is this was awesome!! Found myself grinning throughout all of it. I wish I had a gaming set up and knew some good games to play. I play xbox and really like that but Pc sounds like a whole world thats awesome. maybe someday when some money comes around. or unless someone wants to magically buy me a sweet set up I wouldnt be mad ;)
anyways this series is awesome and I liked how there was a hint at one character who I think was in the last book. I need the next one asap!!
October 23, 2018
Another well written book by Miss Hadley! Fantastic characters, interesting story line, great ending, it's got everything. And this is coming from someone who had zero interest in the gaming concept and zero knowledge of horses. Every world Auryn creates, she does in a way that's relatable and understandable.
June 3, 2016
Wow!
I would love to be part of that world.
*Sigh*
One thing tho...don't start this unless you have lots of free time ahead of you.
(and you can either get this on KU or buy it for .99 (even tho it's worth far more than that))
OH! And Shire Horses!! Look em up
I would love to be part of that world.
*Sigh*
One thing tho...don't start this unless you have lots of free time ahead of you.
(and you can either get this on KU or buy it for .99 (even tho it's worth far more than that))
OH! And Shire Horses!! Look em up
January 6, 2019
Dude!
This ish is so real, it hits hard. I flove this series so much. Logan and Riley are the freaking cutest. Loved their love. Can't wait to see what comes next for the Gamer Girls.
This ish is so real, it hits hard. I flove this series so much. Logan and Riley are the freaking cutest. Loved their love. Can't wait to see what comes next for the Gamer Girls.
March 24, 2019
A bit disappointed
I loved the first book in this series and had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately the storyline was not nearly as complex or intense. Not sure I’ll read the next one. Well written and edited.
I loved the first book in this series and had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately the storyline was not nearly as complex or intense. Not sure I’ll read the next one. Well written and edited.
November 15, 2021
Gaming is fun!
The last book (Flawed) gave me insight into being a game developer and this book took me into the heart of first person shooter tournament play. It's exciting reading about battles both in game and in real life. This book covers the same misogynist views some have toward "girl gamers" like in the previous book, but also how women still aren't accepted as equals in other male dominated enterprises. In this book it was in raising horses.
Some other thoughts I had were about my gaming experiences with men and how they were more aggressive towards me than they were against each other. Like it was such a low blow for a woman to beat them. My experience contrasts against Riley's (in the book), where everyone thinks the boys are taking it easy on her because she's a girl. Guess it goes to show that no matter the approach, some men are threatened by women being better than them at something considered "masculine". It would be nice to set everyone straight. Yeah, physically I can't compete with a man on most things (my biology and genetics), but if it's about strategy and brain power? I can hang.
Love this series, though it makes me want to read less and game more. Oops.
The last book (Flawed) gave me insight into being a game developer and this book took me into the heart of first person shooter tournament play. It's exciting reading about battles both in game and in real life. This book covers the same misogynist views some have toward "girl gamers" like in the previous book, but also how women still aren't accepted as equals in other male dominated enterprises. In this book it was in raising horses.
Some other thoughts I had were about my gaming experiences with men and how they were more aggressive towards me than they were against each other. Like it was such a low blow for a woman to beat them. My experience contrasts against Riley's (in the book), where everyone thinks the boys are taking it easy on her because she's a girl. Guess it goes to show that no matter the approach, some men are threatened by women being better than them at something considered "masculine". It would be nice to set everyone straight. Yeah, physically I can't compete with a man on most things (my biology and genetics), but if it's about strategy and brain power? I can hang.
Love this series, though it makes me want to read less and game more. Oops.
July 30, 2025
This is a brief review of the series - these books are sequential in the larger story line, but I started with #2 and had no problem. Later they are more tied together and though the authors do a good job of introducing character back-stories in each book, by books 3 and 4 a reader really needs to have covered all the character threads.
I enjoyed learning about the gaming culture - from what little I DO know this sounds authentic in how gaming works, and felt 'true' regarding the independent culture that is cultivated to be a space for those who don't find their 'tribe' in IRL (in real life). I get this because I and my chosen family and friends have all had to work to find our places in a world that doesn't 'get' a lot about who we are. The themes of "Found Family", empowerment and acting on one's conscience are emphasized all through the series and are a key to it's dramatic arc.
I would recommend this series to anyone who wants to see/hear about more diversity in our world and how the rights for many to be who they are without discrimination and even violence are under attack. There are some really good discussions about what acceptance means and how individuals can take actions to support those who aren't like them (by gender, race, culture or interests).
In some ways the storyline is simplistic, a little melodramatic, but no more than a cozy mystery where a village of a couple thousand people has a dead body every other month. And unfortunately the problems encountered by anyone 'marginalized' in our society are more acute than ever, and more relevant that the ubiquitous serial killers present in every other mystery suspense book.
I enjoyed learning about the gaming culture - from what little I DO know this sounds authentic in how gaming works, and felt 'true' regarding the independent culture that is cultivated to be a space for those who don't find their 'tribe' in IRL (in real life). I get this because I and my chosen family and friends have all had to work to find our places in a world that doesn't 'get' a lot about who we are. The themes of "Found Family", empowerment and acting on one's conscience are emphasized all through the series and are a key to it's dramatic arc.
I would recommend this series to anyone who wants to see/hear about more diversity in our world and how the rights for many to be who they are without discrimination and even violence are under attack. There are some really good discussions about what acceptance means and how individuals can take actions to support those who aren't like them (by gender, race, culture or interests).
In some ways the storyline is simplistic, a little melodramatic, but no more than a cozy mystery where a village of a couple thousand people has a dead body every other month. And unfortunately the problems encountered by anyone 'marginalized' in our society are more acute than ever, and more relevant that the ubiquitous serial killers present in every other mystery suspense book.
February 7, 2020
Great book 2!
I enjoyed the new characters and the cross over. The plot was interesting and the romance was hot. I feel like this is building up to be a great series.
I enjoyed the new characters and the cross over. The plot was interesting and the romance was hot. I feel like this is building up to be a great series.
February 24, 2019
Gaming is life
QQ, real life name Riley, has been kicked and stomped on. Not just by her horses, either. Life has been rough. Her parents were killed in a car accident that also tool out the 3 top horses on the farm, she was left holding a sinking horse business and taking care of her foster sister. She's also battling men, everywhere. They don't like her running a business, they don't like her skills in the gaming world. She's barely holding the farm afloat, but so close to making a bit break into professional gaming. The only problem is she's good, and good looking. They say she's being babied, or screwing her way up the ranks. The other problem is, her top competitor? Yeah, she can't touch or it all falls apart. She needs the games to support the farm, but can she pass up the chance to see if Void could be the one guy who can actually fit in her crazy life?
Spoilers ahead!
It has taken me a long time to read this book. As much as I loved Flawed, it was brutal. Trigger warnings galore, folks. If you haven't read the first, you could still read this one and comprehend it. There's only a few references to a handful of characters. But if you do, be warned, there's a severe sexual assault. It leaves the main female character damaged. There's some unwanted gropes in this book but nothing like what happened to Destiny in book one. But, it was the reason it took me so long to pick up this one. I love Auryn, but my past and that book left me in a bad place for a while. Even though it was the most amazing story. A lot of pain, a little twisted but just amazing. But, anyways, back to book 2 lol. . Riley is a trash talking, take no sh*t, ball buster of a woman. Her past, both with her family and in the gaming world, made her tough. Not brittle, but strong and a lot hard. I love the way this story unfolds. She kicks butt, flirts hard, fights dirty and doesn't give up. She has a breakdown but pulls through. Void is awesome. He doesn't stifle her. He loves her fierceness. He reveres it. He doesn't ask her to change, just to make room for him in her life. The friends they have and make make the perfect compliment and, while they are currently background characters, I really hope to see them in their own stories. So, if book one seems daunting, it's ok. Pick up here with book 2. If you do decide to brave book 1, have tissues. Lots of tissues. And a friend ready to hold your hand. Or join Auryn's Facebook group. We have a support community there. Because while she's an amazing author, she goes right for the feels lol. Like a freaking laser scope.
QQ, real life name Riley, has been kicked and stomped on. Not just by her horses, either. Life has been rough. Her parents were killed in a car accident that also tool out the 3 top horses on the farm, she was left holding a sinking horse business and taking care of her foster sister. She's also battling men, everywhere. They don't like her running a business, they don't like her skills in the gaming world. She's barely holding the farm afloat, but so close to making a bit break into professional gaming. The only problem is she's good, and good looking. They say she's being babied, or screwing her way up the ranks. The other problem is, her top competitor? Yeah, she can't touch or it all falls apart. She needs the games to support the farm, but can she pass up the chance to see if Void could be the one guy who can actually fit in her crazy life?
Spoilers ahead!
It has taken me a long time to read this book. As much as I loved Flawed, it was brutal. Trigger warnings galore, folks. If you haven't read the first, you could still read this one and comprehend it. There's only a few references to a handful of characters. But if you do, be warned, there's a severe sexual assault. It leaves the main female character damaged. There's some unwanted gropes in this book but nothing like what happened to Destiny in book one. But, it was the reason it took me so long to pick up this one. I love Auryn, but my past and that book left me in a bad place for a while. Even though it was the most amazing story. A lot of pain, a little twisted but just amazing. But, anyways, back to book 2 lol. . Riley is a trash talking, take no sh*t, ball buster of a woman. Her past, both with her family and in the gaming world, made her tough. Not brittle, but strong and a lot hard. I love the way this story unfolds. She kicks butt, flirts hard, fights dirty and doesn't give up. She has a breakdown but pulls through. Void is awesome. He doesn't stifle her. He loves her fierceness. He reveres it. He doesn't ask her to change, just to make room for him in her life. The friends they have and make make the perfect compliment and, while they are currently background characters, I really hope to see them in their own stories. So, if book one seems daunting, it's ok. Pick up here with book 2. If you do decide to brave book 1, have tissues. Lots of tissues. And a friend ready to hold your hand. Or join Auryn's Facebook group. We have a support community there. Because while she's an amazing author, she goes right for the feels lol. Like a freaking laser scope.
February 2, 2019
Like the first book, I read and re-read this through Kindle Unlimited. Also, like the first book, I had no problems relating to the story or the people, even though I wouldn’t be considered a gamer. Though, where the first book was more technical (coding and making games), this book is about actual gaming.
Seemingly, this book seems like it’s a standalone compared to the first. It’s in the same “universe,” and you hear about characters from the first story, but they aren’t in this story. The ties become much more apparent in the third book in the series, though.
This book is about Riley, and, like the first book, it’s about her being a female in a predominantly male gaming world. Where there is still commentary about men who don’t think women should be in gaming, this book also gives more voice to the men who don’t care who’s behind the screen. They just want to know that the person they are gaming with can hold their own. And of course, there’s her personal relationship with Logan and where he fits into the gaming world, her world, and helping her overcome some of those issues, whether she wants him toor not. While there is one main hero in the book, Riley is also mainly surrounded by guys, and while she doesn’t technically have a harem, there are a whole lot of guys that help her out. To be honest, this book does make me want to get into gaming (again, more, I’m not really sure which it is in my case?), because, for all gaming gets a bad reputation for being violent, etc, this story is a fantastic reminder that gaming is a great leveller. It doesn’t matter who is behind the screen, everyone is on the same playing field until they are willing to put in the work - man, woman, young, old, or any sexual persuasion. People can be whoever they really are, regardless of what real life may mean. It’s a very different book from the first one in the series, but no less brilliant. It’s entertaining and sexy (definitely fast burn), and 100% worth the read.
Seemingly, this book seems like it’s a standalone compared to the first. It’s in the same “universe,” and you hear about characters from the first story, but they aren’t in this story. The ties become much more apparent in the third book in the series, though.
This book is about Riley, and, like the first book, it’s about her being a female in a predominantly male gaming world. Where there is still commentary about men who don’t think women should be in gaming, this book also gives more voice to the men who don’t care who’s behind the screen. They just want to know that the person they are gaming with can hold their own. And of course, there’s her personal relationship with Logan and where he fits into the gaming world, her world, and helping her overcome some of those issues, whether she wants him toor not. While there is one main hero in the book, Riley is also mainly surrounded by guys, and while she doesn’t technically have a harem, there are a whole lot of guys that help her out. To be honest, this book does make me want to get into gaming (again, more, I’m not really sure which it is in my case?), because, for all gaming gets a bad reputation for being violent, etc, this story is a fantastic reminder that gaming is a great leveller. It doesn’t matter who is behind the screen, everyone is on the same playing field until they are willing to put in the work - man, woman, young, old, or any sexual persuasion. People can be whoever they really are, regardless of what real life may mean. It’s a very different book from the first one in the series, but no less brilliant. It’s entertaining and sexy (definitely fast burn), and 100% worth the read.
May 8, 2023
Loved this book!!
I loved Riley and her love for her farm and animals. Loved how strong she was, and that after being knocked down she came back fighting and better than ever.
Loved Void and how supportive he was of Riley. He didn't let little things get in the way of her proving herself and paving the way for more female gamers.
So many great secondary characters that I want more of - Kitty, Knock, Cynister, Murder, Flipz, Dreadknot and co. Great second family.
Can't wait for more in this series!!
I loved Riley and her love for her farm and animals. Loved how strong she was, and that after being knocked down she came back fighting and better than ever.
Loved Void and how supportive he was of Riley. He didn't let little things get in the way of her proving herself and paving the way for more female gamers.
So many great secondary characters that I want more of - Kitty, Knock, Cynister, Murder, Flipz, Dreadknot and co. Great second family.
Can't wait for more in this series!!
July 7, 2022
M/F Contemporary
Logan/Riley Void/QQ
Riley is so strong. I love her style of playing FPS and that she wasn't afraid to be the only girl in the room playing on a professional level. I also love that she loves and breeds horses. Logan was amazing, too. Loved the challenge of a female who could keep up and understood his passion for playtime. Knock is an adorable little brother, Murder, Dread, and Psych are also awesome characters. Watching Riley get the gamer contracts and earn her place in the gaming world was super cool.
Logan/Riley Void/QQ
Riley is so strong. I love her style of playing FPS and that she wasn't afraid to be the only girl in the room playing on a professional level. I also love that she loves and breeds horses. Logan was amazing, too. Loved the challenge of a female who could keep up and understood his passion for playtime. Knock is an adorable little brother, Murder, Dread, and Psych are also awesome characters. Watching Riley get the gamer contracts and earn her place in the gaming world was super cool.
July 17, 2023
Great Read
A perception changing story that will have you falling in love equally with the virtual world and those who command it. I absolutely adored the actual gaming. The banter between the players, the action, the camaraderie... I love the characters: Riley is so badass and caring. Logan was a surprise, I didn't expect to love him so much, he's so genuinely sweet and seriously imperfectly perfect. Kitty is great, I hope she gets her own book. Knock is too adorable. On to book three.
A perception changing story that will have you falling in love equally with the virtual world and those who command it. I absolutely adored the actual gaming. The banter between the players, the action, the camaraderie... I love the characters: Riley is so badass and caring. Logan was a surprise, I didn't expect to love him so much, he's so genuinely sweet and seriously imperfectly perfect. Kitty is great, I hope she gets her own book. Knock is too adorable. On to book three.
October 26, 2025
Riley is a woman trying to make her way in two male dominated fields - gaming and horse breeding. She is not made welcome in either. Yet, she doesnt let that stop her and instead uses their hate of ehr as fuel to keep going.
She is in desperate need of cash to keep her family horse breeding farm afloat. She doesn't have time for romance but Logan makes her hear him out. This is a rare great example of a healthy relationship. Both Logan and Riley have their own fulfilling lives with responsibilities, difficulties and issues. A romance is a nice topping that adds to their individual full lives and doesnt completely eclipse it. Neither expects the other to change overly much. they just want to spend time together when their demanding schedules allow. I really loved all the discussions they had around this and how they both set boundaries and expectations clearly early on to avoid any confusion or wasting the others time.
Their relationship developed authentically, if a little quickly, but it just felt like two adults who both knew what they wanted and had finally found it. I dont really connect to the gaming world so liked the addition of the horses. I liked the dinner with Logans dad scene as it showed that Riley is not the only one with issues in her life. Logan is not perfect (too often the men in romance are presented as perfect having all their lives together and then helping the FMC sort through their issues. This is not realistic)
My only gripe with this book is that it all wrapped up a bit too nicely and quickly at the end. It felt like there should have been more story at the end like more real consequences for Riley from the horsing world.
Excited to continue this series
She is in desperate need of cash to keep her family horse breeding farm afloat. She doesn't have time for romance but Logan makes her hear him out. This is a rare great example of a healthy relationship. Both Logan and Riley have their own fulfilling lives with responsibilities, difficulties and issues. A romance is a nice topping that adds to their individual full lives and doesnt completely eclipse it. Neither expects the other to change overly much. they just want to spend time together when their demanding schedules allow. I really loved all the discussions they had around this and how they both set boundaries and expectations clearly early on to avoid any confusion or wasting the others time.
Their relationship developed authentically, if a little quickly, but it just felt like two adults who both knew what they wanted and had finally found it. I dont really connect to the gaming world so liked the addition of the horses. I liked the dinner with Logans dad scene as it showed that Riley is not the only one with issues in her life. Logan is not perfect (too often the men in romance are presented as perfect having all their lives together and then helping the FMC sort through their issues. This is not realistic)
My only gripe with this book is that it all wrapped up a bit too nicely and quickly at the end. It felt like there should have been more story at the end like more real consequences for Riley from the horsing world.
Excited to continue this series
April 15, 2018
She's even better than Lara Croft!
Received a free copy via book Booktasters for an honest review.
Wow, wow and wow again .....I seriously enjoyed this!!! Challenge Accepted where do I start....Riley Andrews, no parents, younger sister and a stable of Shire horses their mother loved. During the day she lovingly cares for ~21 one ton animals but at night she become QQ the gamer. The gaming industry thinks QQ is a bloke and that is how Riley wants to keep it. 10 years previously she was known as CareBare and was ripped apart by the bigotry of the industry who accused her of bed hopping her way to the top. Rumors stick and there was nothing she could do except withdraw and reinvent herself.
Between Kitty, her sister and herself they make just enough to enable the farm to tick over by showing the shires and selling stock. Riley has taken these gentle giants from just farm labour into driving, riding and showing horses. But someone in the community is trying to shut their Shire stables starting with rumors about the bloodline, house break-ins and going as far as to assault her horses.
Meantime on the gaming circuit Riley has a breakthrough and with the guidance of Void a fellow gamer she finally gains sponsorship - but as she succeeds with the gaming industry the farm takes yet another hit.
Riley for the first time in her life discovers what it is not to be judged for her looks, to find the gaming community that once put her down is suddenly at her back and helping to uncover just who it is that wants her to fail.
I see that a prequel 0.5 and and book 2 are promised..... they will be added to my to read list!!
Received a free copy via book Booktasters for an honest review.
Wow, wow and wow again .....I seriously enjoyed this!!! Challenge Accepted where do I start....Riley Andrews, no parents, younger sister and a stable of Shire horses their mother loved. During the day she lovingly cares for ~21 one ton animals but at night she become QQ the gamer. The gaming industry thinks QQ is a bloke and that is how Riley wants to keep it. 10 years previously she was known as CareBare and was ripped apart by the bigotry of the industry who accused her of bed hopping her way to the top. Rumors stick and there was nothing she could do except withdraw and reinvent herself.
Between Kitty, her sister and herself they make just enough to enable the farm to tick over by showing the shires and selling stock. Riley has taken these gentle giants from just farm labour into driving, riding and showing horses. But someone in the community is trying to shut their Shire stables starting with rumors about the bloodline, house break-ins and going as far as to assault her horses.
Meantime on the gaming circuit Riley has a breakthrough and with the guidance of Void a fellow gamer she finally gains sponsorship - but as she succeeds with the gaming industry the farm takes yet another hit.
Riley for the first time in her life discovers what it is not to be judged for her looks, to find the gaming community that once put her down is suddenly at her back and helping to uncover just who it is that wants her to fail.
I see that a prequel 0.5 and and book 2 are promised..... they will be added to my to read list!!
September 18, 2021
Wow I just realized I have been flying through these books so fast that I completely forgot to write reviews. I am literally starting 5 of 7!!
Book two introduced us to Riley. I adore Riley she is feisty, alternative, bad ass, yet completely open, chill, and is the mom of the group. She's the champion Dez needs, that all the girl gamers need. It is suggested that these books can be read as stand alones but I feel anyone who does that is seriously cheating themselves of an amazing on going story line.
Full disclosure this might feel like a spoiler but it's really not. The way these character's are described leaves a lot to the imagination. I pictured Riley aka QQ as a white girl with dreads. Umm NO that's not right. LATER in the series more info is dropped that changed her appearance into Zoe Kravitz in my mind!! Knowing that now made so many other things fall into place. So yeah, I'm letting you know now so you aren't a bit confused with the HATE like I was.
Void is super understanding and chill. Reminds me of Lucas from the Hades series by Tate James (just putting that out there for anyone else who fell in love with him and want more of that confident, sexy swag with alpha vibes that stands beside his woman not in the lead) So yeah, Void love him and his dynamic with Riley.
Kitty doesn't get a lot of exposure in this book and since I want to review them all I won't dwell to much in this one. I will simply say she's a free spirit, smart, supportive, and a hetero lifemate to Riley.
This was a good love story. It wasn't as emotionally devastating as the first book. Thankfully Riley's issues are centered around hateful words and harassments. Don't get me wrong, she's dealt with a lot of shit but nothing like Dez.
It's a good read and series. Keep going!!!
Book two introduced us to Riley. I adore Riley she is feisty, alternative, bad ass, yet completely open, chill, and is the mom of the group. She's the champion Dez needs, that all the girl gamers need. It is suggested that these books can be read as stand alones but I feel anyone who does that is seriously cheating themselves of an amazing on going story line.
Full disclosure this might feel like a spoiler but it's really not. The way these character's are described leaves a lot to the imagination. I pictured Riley aka QQ as a white girl with dreads. Umm NO that's not right. LATER in the series more info is dropped that changed her appearance into Zoe Kravitz in my mind!! Knowing that now made so many other things fall into place. So yeah, I'm letting you know now so you aren't a bit confused with the HATE like I was.
Void is super understanding and chill. Reminds me of Lucas from the Hades series by Tate James (just putting that out there for anyone else who fell in love with him and want more of that confident, sexy swag with alpha vibes that stands beside his woman not in the lead) So yeah, Void love him and his dynamic with Riley.
Kitty doesn't get a lot of exposure in this book and since I want to review them all I won't dwell to much in this one. I will simply say she's a free spirit, smart, supportive, and a hetero lifemate to Riley.
This was a good love story. It wasn't as emotionally devastating as the first book. Thankfully Riley's issues are centered around hateful words and harassments. Don't get me wrong, she's dealt with a lot of shit but nothing like Dez.
It's a good read and series. Keep going!!!
January 7, 2018
I am not and never was interested in gaming, and I read this book because of Auryn Hadley (I am a huge fan of her other books). While I enjoyed the first book in this series (Flawed), this one was a tough nut to crack. I found creating a game much more interesting (and maybe better explained or details of it little less relevant to the plot) than actually playing the game. Therefore Challenge Accepted was not as enjoyable as Flawed.
Void/Logan was too perfect. Like seriously, guy had no flaws. The same could be said about Riley, although she was less so polished but still in my eyes not enough to be shocking.
Now you could ask why the 5 stars. Firstly, because of great writing. Love, love, love the writing style.
Secondly, because of the plot. Here again I could not but compare with Flawed. This time the 'problem' did not seem as serious and that actually made me think about how to me (a woman) discrimination and sexism is so much a norm that even in books I do not notice it as a huge conflict. So basically, we need more books like this one. More stories about real life situations where a heroine cannot get her dream but does not conform and tries again. Where sexism is simply unacceptable. Where a woman can be one of the guys and get the respect and recognition that is due. Maybe, just maybe, such book will help you to raise questions and think about it more. And that is how the world can be changed...
Void/Logan was too perfect. Like seriously, guy had no flaws. The same could be said about Riley, although she was less so polished but still in my eyes not enough to be shocking.
Now you could ask why the 5 stars. Firstly, because of great writing. Love, love, love the writing style.
Secondly, because of the plot. Here again I could not but compare with Flawed. This time the 'problem' did not seem as serious and that actually made me think about how to me (a woman) discrimination and sexism is so much a norm that even in books I do not notice it as a huge conflict. So basically, we need more books like this one. More stories about real life situations where a heroine cannot get her dream but does not conform and tries again. Where sexism is simply unacceptable. Where a woman can be one of the guys and get the respect and recognition that is due. Maybe, just maybe, such book will help you to raise questions and think about it more. And that is how the world can be changed...
August 22, 2019
Another hit to blow me away.
I admitted reading Flawed and the trigger warning at the beginning,I had a little bit of anxiety while starting to read read Challenge Accepted. I was waiting for the same evil men to take her down like they did Dez. This book wasn't a conclusion from Flawed and both books are a stand alone with a common theme. The love story was awesome! The friendships were awesome. The evil people and thriller aspect was still there, but not as bad as Flawed was, this one was a bit tamer. I'm not a gamer, but was able to enjoy that part and cheered all the protective men helping to make gaming safer for women. I'm excited to see where the third book goes. There is a hint of more thriller aspect, but more love, good friends, friends that end up being family and all of us being flawed and unique. I have really enjoyed book 1&2, and am on to the final book!!! I'm sure I won't be able to put it down either. I really wish there were Audible versions of this trilogy so I didn't have to put it down!
I admitted reading Flawed and the trigger warning at the beginning,I had a little bit of anxiety while starting to read read Challenge Accepted. I was waiting for the same evil men to take her down like they did Dez. This book wasn't a conclusion from Flawed and both books are a stand alone with a common theme. The love story was awesome! The friendships were awesome. The evil people and thriller aspect was still there, but not as bad as Flawed was, this one was a bit tamer. I'm not a gamer, but was able to enjoy that part and cheered all the protective men helping to make gaming safer for women. I'm excited to see where the third book goes. There is a hint of more thriller aspect, but more love, good friends, friends that end up being family and all of us being flawed and unique. I have really enjoyed book 1&2, and am on to the final book!!! I'm sure I won't be able to put it down either. I really wish there were Audible versions of this trilogy so I didn't have to put it down!
March 7, 2020
Not my usual
I didn't even touch a computer until collage. So 'gaming', isn't even close to my comfort zone. My first game was pong, lol! But my son's and their friends play. Some more than others. So I do get the attraction for them(younger generation and different exposures). Horses, on the other hand, I Do get. Was raised on a farm and showed cattle semi professionally. We had horses and did a few horse shows, but 'showing' is very time consuming and cutthroat, as was shown pretty aptly in the book. And yes, there are crazy people in every profession. Some more off the deep end than others.
I really enjoyed the writers ability to blend these two worlds so well and still throw in some romance. Again, it's probably more "modern " type romance than what I used to read as a young woman, but I enjoy reading a lot of different genres. So thought I'd try a more modern take on an old genre. Gotta say. You definitely got the goods girl! Keep up the good work!
I didn't even touch a computer until collage. So 'gaming', isn't even close to my comfort zone. My first game was pong, lol! But my son's and their friends play. Some more than others. So I do get the attraction for them(younger generation and different exposures). Horses, on the other hand, I Do get. Was raised on a farm and showed cattle semi professionally. We had horses and did a few horse shows, but 'showing' is very time consuming and cutthroat, as was shown pretty aptly in the book. And yes, there are crazy people in every profession. Some more off the deep end than others.
I really enjoyed the writers ability to blend these two worlds so well and still throw in some romance. Again, it's probably more "modern " type romance than what I used to read as a young woman, but I enjoy reading a lot of different genres. So thought I'd try a more modern take on an old genre. Gotta say. You definitely got the goods girl! Keep up the good work!
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