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Love Games #2
Play for Keeps
Mixing business and pleasure is a dangerous game...
Tyrell Ransom, the new men's basketball coach, is ready to whip his team into shape and start winning some games. But when compromising photos of his soon-to-be-ex-wife with one of his players go viral, everything comes crashing down. With reporters thick on the ground, Ty and his team need some serious damage control―now.
When public relations guru Millie Jensen arrives in her leopard-print cape to save the day, things really heat up... Soon they're going to have to work double time to keep their white-hot chemistry out of the headlines.
Tyrell Ransom, the new men's basketball coach, is ready to whip his team into shape and start winning some games. But when compromising photos of his soon-to-be-ex-wife with one of his players go viral, everything comes crashing down. With reporters thick on the ground, Ty and his team need some serious damage control―now.
When public relations guru Millie Jensen arrives in her leopard-print cape to save the day, things really heat up... Soon they're going to have to work double time to keep their white-hot chemistry out of the headlines.
331 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 3, 2018
38 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Wells
117 books427 followersSign up for Maggie's Reader Group here: http://bit.ly/maggiemail
By day, Maggie Wells is buried in spreadsheets, but at night she pens tales of people tangling sheets or tangled up in intrigue. The product of a charming rogue and a shameless flirt, this mild-mannered married lady has a naughty streak a mile wide.
You can find her online at http://www.maggie-wells.com
Instagram @maggiewells1
Twitter https://twitter.com/Maggie_Wells1
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMaggie...
Follow Maggie:
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amazon.com/author/maggiewells
By day, Maggie Wells is buried in spreadsheets, but at night she pens tales of people tangling sheets or tangled up in intrigue. The product of a charming rogue and a shameless flirt, this mild-mannered married lady has a naughty streak a mile wide.
You can find her online at http://www.maggie-wells.com
Instagram @maggiewells1
Twitter https://twitter.com/Maggie_Wells1
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMaggie...
Follow Maggie:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maggi...
amazon.com/author/maggiewells
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
did-not-finish
November 10, 2019Yeah, I only made it 8% more and I can't do this. They want different things and the author has sufficiently convinced me they can't make it work, to the point where I'm not interested in seeing how she turns it around. Go with god and have casual sex with other men, Millie. Stop stringing Ty along.
DNF.
DNF.
Read
October 15, 2018Millie and Ty are two complicated grown-ups in love. Their relationship is messy. Their chemistry scorches each page. Delicious brain candy.
March 6, 2018
How in the world did Wells, pull off a character that plays games with love and me feeling sorry for them? Throughout the book Millie does just that, as if she's 20 something and not 40 something. But I get the why of it so I won't hold it against her. Ty on the other hand is sigh worthy. Even the way that he handles his divorce is worth an applaud. I would have liked to see an epilogue, but maybe we'll get to see what happens in book three.
March 27, 2018
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
This is the second book in the series - and is an excellent follow on to Love Games, but would be good as a standalone too. We did find out quite a lot about the two leads in the first book, but there is enough here to give us a fantastic romance.
Millie is a mystery wrapped up in an animal print enigma, but Ty is a man who is prepared to go the distance. There has been chemistry since the first time they met, but with him being married, neither would act upon it. However now that divorce is in his future, there is a chance that they may just explore what makes each other tick. Millie's past has made her wary (understatement of the year!) but it is very difficult not to love her along with Ty. I love it when she, Kate and Avery get together - they are just really great fun friends.
Ty has a lot to deal with in this installment, from betrayal to hope. There is such great attention to detail in the book, and of things that both matter and will stick with me for a long time. For example him counting down how many times he can rely in his knees in a jump ... little sob from me at that point. He is such a totally caring, reliable and centred man, that he has to win the day (and the lady).
There is a lot going on in the book. It is funny, sad, moving and sexy, along with a good dose of college sports issues and politics thrown in. I definitely recommend this book to you as a fabulous read. Thank you Ms Wells, and I look forward to the next installment!
This is the second book in the series - and is an excellent follow on to Love Games, but would be good as a standalone too. We did find out quite a lot about the two leads in the first book, but there is enough here to give us a fantastic romance.
Millie is a mystery wrapped up in an animal print enigma, but Ty is a man who is prepared to go the distance. There has been chemistry since the first time they met, but with him being married, neither would act upon it. However now that divorce is in his future, there is a chance that they may just explore what makes each other tick. Millie's past has made her wary (understatement of the year!) but it is very difficult not to love her along with Ty. I love it when she, Kate and Avery get together - they are just really great fun friends.
Ty has a lot to deal with in this installment, from betrayal to hope. There is such great attention to detail in the book, and of things that both matter and will stick with me for a long time. For example him counting down how many times he can rely in his knees in a jump ... little sob from me at that point. He is such a totally caring, reliable and centred man, that he has to win the day (and the lady).
There is a lot going on in the book. It is funny, sad, moving and sexy, along with a good dose of college sports issues and politics thrown in. I definitely recommend this book to you as a fabulous read. Thank you Ms Wells, and I look forward to the next installment!
March 27, 2018
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
I loved the first book in this series but this one doesn’t work quite as well for me. I think the difference is Millie and Kate. I loved the fiercely competitive coach and I struggled to like the character whose fashion and beauty obsession makes her blur into every other chick-lit heroine. Millie is tough and she is a survivor but she is too girly for me and she’d be more convincing as a 25 year old than she is as a 45 year old.
Ty is wonderful but I struggled with parts of his story. I hate the way his ex-wife is villainised as a gold-digger while he gets sympathy for choosing a much younger trophy wife and not a life partner. After the uplifting feminist messages in the first book, I was dismayed by the slut-shaming undertones in this second story.
Ty and Millie are fun together and there are some sweet moments here. For me, there were too many mind games and too much miscommunication for two middle aged adult professionals. I also missed the sport and the competition that I loved in the the first book.
Finally - why is there a white guy on the cover? Ty was black when he was first introduced in Love Game - and I’m pretty sure he stays that way.
I loved the first book in this series but this one doesn’t work quite as well for me. I think the difference is Millie and Kate. I loved the fiercely competitive coach and I struggled to like the character whose fashion and beauty obsession makes her blur into every other chick-lit heroine. Millie is tough and she is a survivor but she is too girly for me and she’d be more convincing as a 25 year old than she is as a 45 year old.
Ty is wonderful but I struggled with parts of his story. I hate the way his ex-wife is villainised as a gold-digger while he gets sympathy for choosing a much younger trophy wife and not a life partner. After the uplifting feminist messages in the first book, I was dismayed by the slut-shaming undertones in this second story.
Ty and Millie are fun together and there are some sweet moments here. For me, there were too many mind games and too much miscommunication for two middle aged adult professionals. I also missed the sport and the competition that I loved in the the first book.
Finally - why is there a white guy on the cover? Ty was black when he was first introduced in Love Game - and I’m pretty sure he stays that way.
March 26, 2018
Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) I liked Ty and I liked the fact that before he acted on his attraction to Millie he waited until he was divorced. And, his wife was a character, boy...Millie is the pr person who is working on fixing the image that Ty's wife left showing her with another player. Again, I liked Ty but I was really not crazy about Millie, I found her to be annoying. I do not think that I will continue with the series.
March 17, 2018
I don't even know where to start with this one. I loved this book. It's a roller coaster ride of emotions that had me all over the place, which is pretty hard to do.
Ty Ransom is head basketball coach for a college, quiet and gentle man who is now thrust into the press because his wife has left him very publicly for one of his star players and went pro, leaving the college as well. Millie's job is to run interference and keep the public face of the sports department at the college. She's bright, charming, thinks quick on her feet and the ultimate problem solver. She takes Ty's hand through the fall out of his public nightmare, quickly decides to divorce and moves to Nevada for the required 6 weeks to get his divorce. She got what she wanted, he got the walk away.
There are some interesting insights from Ty you get when you read the story and you'll want to read this one. Ty has always had a thing for Millie. Obviously unable to act on it while married, and Millie won't allow anything until his divorce is final, the two grow closer until he's got those papers in his hand. The tables turn and the bed sheets burn as soon as he does. Millie is a tremendous tease and the banter between the two of them is great, but Millie also sends some gad awful mixed messages to Ty, always in some preemptive mode. I got a little frustrated with her at times with that, so did Ty.
Their relationship continues, one step forward ten back as Millie tosses out rules she makes up as she's going. She's so obvious but I really felt bad for Ty. The poor guy really cared about her and after what he'd just been through here he is getting his chain yanked but yet another woman. Ty is at loss ends but then makes up a few rules on his own. I have to say I felt like at times she treated him like a dog on a leash! Frustrating as all get out.
When a tremendous bomb gets dropped and man I didn't see that coming, it makes Ty take a step back and reevaluate things, Millie ever the problem solver guides Ty through what he needs to do first off and then Ty decides he needs so time away from Millie. Tables turned. Millie's all sixes and sevens finally admitting she loves Ty and will do what she needs to do and leans on her friends for support. I can't say much more because I can't spoil this part of the book. But it'll blindside you the way it did me.
My only beef with the book was the end. Since I can't come out with the deets, I'm only going to say it was too quick, tidy, I would have liked an epilogue and left some loose ends. Too many for this girl.
All in all a great read though.
***arc from NetGalley and publisher for an honest review**
Ty Ransom is head basketball coach for a college, quiet and gentle man who is now thrust into the press because his wife has left him very publicly for one of his star players and went pro, leaving the college as well. Millie's job is to run interference and keep the public face of the sports department at the college. She's bright, charming, thinks quick on her feet and the ultimate problem solver. She takes Ty's hand through the fall out of his public nightmare, quickly decides to divorce and moves to Nevada for the required 6 weeks to get his divorce. She got what she wanted, he got the walk away.
There are some interesting insights from Ty you get when you read the story and you'll want to read this one. Ty has always had a thing for Millie. Obviously unable to act on it while married, and Millie won't allow anything until his divorce is final, the two grow closer until he's got those papers in his hand. The tables turn and the bed sheets burn as soon as he does. Millie is a tremendous tease and the banter between the two of them is great, but Millie also sends some gad awful mixed messages to Ty, always in some preemptive mode. I got a little frustrated with her at times with that, so did Ty.
Their relationship continues, one step forward ten back as Millie tosses out rules she makes up as she's going. She's so obvious but I really felt bad for Ty. The poor guy really cared about her and after what he'd just been through here he is getting his chain yanked but yet another woman. Ty is at loss ends but then makes up a few rules on his own. I have to say I felt like at times she treated him like a dog on a leash! Frustrating as all get out.
When a tremendous bomb gets dropped and man I didn't see that coming, it makes Ty take a step back and reevaluate things, Millie ever the problem solver guides Ty through what he needs to do first off and then Ty decides he needs so time away from Millie. Tables turned. Millie's all sixes and sevens finally admitting she loves Ty and will do what she needs to do and leans on her friends for support. I can't say much more because I can't spoil this part of the book. But it'll blindside you the way it did me.
My only beef with the book was the end. Since I can't come out with the deets, I'm only going to say it was too quick, tidy, I would have liked an epilogue and left some loose ends. Too many for this girl.
All in all a great read though.
***arc from NetGalley and publisher for an honest review**
April 19, 2018
Reviewed on my blog, Becky on Books, on 4/14/18.
There was a lot to like in Play for Keeps, my first--but definitely not my last!--book from Ms. Wells.
I loved the fact that Millie, the heroine, is over 40 and in shape but not tiny and waif-like. I liked her take-charge attitude, and adored her relationship with her two BFFs, Kate and Avery. I loved, loved, loved Ty as a hero, and applaud his determination not to start anything with Millie until things were legally and finally ended with his ex. Together the two of them have great chemistry, and there were a whole lot of quotes--between Ty and Millie as well as secondary characters--that I highlighted just because. Book one in the series ( Love Game ) went on my TBR before I was halfway done with this one, and I'll be stalking the series page regularly to find out when (surely it's not if...?) Avery's getting a book.
But...
Millie's attitude about relationships Drove. Me. Crazy. We do get an explanation for it--eventually--and it did become somewhat more understandable from that point on, but still. I wasn't 100% sure I wanted Ty to keep holding on at that point, especially with what happened next with his situation. The book ended well and I was happy for how it ended (though can you say abrupt? There had better be a whole lot of Ty and Millie showing up in the next series book, or I'm going to feel cheated) but I'm still not entirely convinced that events up to that point had really given Millie enough to work through her issues and hangups to really allow her to achieve an HEA with Ty.
Still, there was more to like than not with this one...let the stalking of the series page begin!
(Side note/complaint--since I hadn't read the first book in the series, the heroine's throwaway comment at maybe 60% that revealed that the hero is a POC came as a surprise--what is up with that cover? A tan and/or scruffy face aren't cutting it, people! This tendency is getting old...
Rating: 4 stars / B
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
There was a lot to like in Play for Keeps, my first--but definitely not my last!--book from Ms. Wells.
I loved the fact that Millie, the heroine, is over 40 and in shape but not tiny and waif-like. I liked her take-charge attitude, and adored her relationship with her two BFFs, Kate and Avery. I loved, loved, loved Ty as a hero, and applaud his determination not to start anything with Millie until things were legally and finally ended with his ex. Together the two of them have great chemistry, and there were a whole lot of quotes--between Ty and Millie as well as secondary characters--that I highlighted just because. Book one in the series ( Love Game ) went on my TBR before I was halfway done with this one, and I'll be stalking the series page regularly to find out when (surely it's not if...?) Avery's getting a book.
But...
Millie's attitude about relationships Drove. Me. Crazy. We do get an explanation for it--eventually--and it did become somewhat more understandable from that point on, but still. I wasn't 100% sure I wanted Ty to keep holding on at that point, especially with what happened next with his situation. The book ended well and I was happy for how it ended (though can you say abrupt? There had better be a whole lot of Ty and Millie showing up in the next series book, or I'm going to feel cheated) but I'm still not entirely convinced that events up to that point had really given Millie enough to work through her issues and hangups to really allow her to achieve an HEA with Ty.
Still, there was more to like than not with this one...let the stalking of the series page begin!
(Side note/complaint--since I hadn't read the first book in the series, the heroine's throwaway comment at maybe 60% that revealed that the hero is a POC came as a surprise--what is up with that cover? A tan and/or scruffy face aren't cutting it, people! This tendency is getting old...
Rating: 4 stars / B
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
April 9, 2018
This is the second book in the series and you have Ty Ransom going through a break up with his much younger wife. She left him for not only a younger man but one of his former players, who had just been drafted in the NBA. Now Millie shows up at his house first wanting to do damage control, and second to make sure he is still alive. There is an attraction between the two of them but she tells him he is still married. As the story goes along you get a look into both of their lives and how their past have shaped their future. For she is fearful of a relationship and believes she cannot give him what he would want a family for having cancer when she was younger and though she is a survivor she also built a wall around her for protection. It is up to Ty to try and break through that if possible but he will definitely need all of the tools he can get his hands on. At times Millie is a bit much, but I keep going back to one little at the beginning of the book, she was raised by a Marine Corps Master Sargent, this is where she gets her toughness from. It just is, it is also her way of coming up with her crazy rules that even she knows are only to protect her from getting close and to always have an exit plan. There is nothing wrong with for if you are in a fight she is someone you want in your corner, but don’t make her your enemy. I actually got her and I’m a guy. Other than it being the off season for basketball this was a good book, and you got to know Avery the wacky professor who actually was funny at times. Overall a good book with a few different twists towards the end to keep it going. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
March 22, 2018
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Millie has had a thing for Ty Ransom since he became the head basketball coach at Wolcott. She just couldn't act on it with him being a married man. When rumors of his wife's extra-marital affairs began to surface, she quietly cataloged. As the PR person for the athletic department, her job is to manage flow of information coming from the University about its its coaches and players and to turn any bad press into good press.
As Ty slowly gets his feet back under him after his painful and public break-up, he realizes that he's not all devastated about the end of his marriage. He'd known for a while that his marriage was on life support, had a feeling that Mari was seeing other guys, he just didn't realize it was one of his players and that she was documenting it on social media.
Millie wants Ty, and Ty wants Millie. The problem is that Millie has set an end date on their relationship without consulting him. Ty doesn't understand why Millie is dead set on keeping this casual especially since this is anything but casual to him.
I enjoyed this story, the way that the characters knew each other, had established a friendship before the romance began. I also enjoyed reading about older characters, people who have experienced the good and bad that life has thrown at them and are still willing to give love a chance.
~~Wicked Reads Review Team~~
Millie has had a thing for Ty Ransom since he became the head basketball coach at Wolcott. She just couldn't act on it with him being a married man. When rumors of his wife's extra-marital affairs began to surface, she quietly cataloged. As the PR person for the athletic department, her job is to manage flow of information coming from the University about its its coaches and players and to turn any bad press into good press.
As Ty slowly gets his feet back under him after his painful and public break-up, he realizes that he's not all devastated about the end of his marriage. He'd known for a while that his marriage was on life support, had a feeling that Mari was seeing other guys, he just didn't realize it was one of his players and that she was documenting it on social media.
Millie wants Ty, and Ty wants Millie. The problem is that Millie has set an end date on their relationship without consulting him. Ty doesn't understand why Millie is dead set on keeping this casual especially since this is anything but casual to him.
I enjoyed this story, the way that the characters knew each other, had established a friendship before the romance began. I also enjoyed reading about older characters, people who have experienced the good and bad that life has thrown at them and are still willing to give love a chance.
~~Wicked Reads Review Team~~
March 7, 2018
This book has got a very determined lead heroine in Millie. She knows what she wants and even when Ty threatens to break down the barriers that she's lived by, she forges on, seeking to be in control of love and her situation.
It's got a great start and here, unlike most romance novels, Millie swoops in to save Ty from making a mess of his life after his young beautiful wife leaves him for an upcoming young athlete.
It's got the drama and the talk that the two have to get a rise out of each other. If you're into a steamy romance where the characters make no apologies for what they want to do, then this is up your radar. Thanks NetGalley for the eARC.
It's got a great start and here, unlike most romance novels, Millie swoops in to save Ty from making a mess of his life after his young beautiful wife leaves him for an upcoming young athlete.
It's got the drama and the talk that the two have to get a rise out of each other. If you're into a steamy romance where the characters make no apologies for what they want to do, then this is up your radar. Thanks NetGalley for the eARC.
August 27, 2018
I'm lowkey beating myself up for not reading this sooner because it was So Good. I finished it in one sitting because I just couldn't stop! This book is basically made for me: it has age gap (6 years) with an older heroine (YES), and it features older characters (both H/h are in their 40s).
Ty's marriage just imploded. His wife cheated on him with a (young) player on his team (Ty's a university basketball coach), it went viral and made him the laughing stock of the nation. I really, really feel bad for Ty because he's such a sweetheart. He just wants to do his job and be left alone, but unfortunately people are more interested in the sordid details of his wife's affair and his failed pro career. Millie is a PR director sent in to save the day and do damage control. She's smart and wise, and both Ty and I are in awe of her.
Millie is a tough nut. She's been burned before, and she's very comfortable with her single life and successful career, so she's really not looking for a relationship even though she likes Ty very much. Been there, done that, no, thanks. She kind of annoyed me a little because sometimes it seems like she's stringing Ty along, and I cheered when Ty called out on her BS. I also love her friendship with Kate and Avery.
I love Ty a lot. *adds another Ty to my fav hero list after KA's Ty Walker* Even after everything's that happened to him, he's still brave enough to take another chance on love and pursue Millie. He's such a good man, and he's so soft too. I love how he never stops trying, be it with Millie or with basketball. I also love that he apologizes easily; he got called out a few times by Millie re: things he unconsciously did, and he said sorry immediately.
I love Ty and Millie together, they're just meant to be. I'm a sucker for relationships where the hero and heroine flirt with and make each other laugh all the time. Their relationship is so easy, I'm a fan. They are also unafraid of confronting each other with their dissatisfactions, I love clear commmunication in a relationship.
Overall, it's an entertaining read. I'm hoping for an Avery book next, she deserves her own HEA.
E-ARC is received thanks to the publisher via Netgalley.
Ty's marriage just imploded. His wife cheated on him with a (young) player on his team (Ty's a university basketball coach), it went viral and made him the laughing stock of the nation. I really, really feel bad for Ty because he's such a sweetheart. He just wants to do his job and be left alone, but unfortunately people are more interested in the sordid details of his wife's affair and his failed pro career. Millie is a PR director sent in to save the day and do damage control. She's smart and wise, and both Ty and I are in awe of her.
Millie is a tough nut. She's been burned before, and she's very comfortable with her single life and successful career, so she's really not looking for a relationship even though she likes Ty very much. Been there, done that, no, thanks. She kind of annoyed me a little because sometimes it seems like she's stringing Ty along, and I cheered when Ty called out on her BS. I also love her friendship with Kate and Avery.
I love Ty a lot. *adds another Ty to my fav hero list after KA's Ty Walker* Even after everything's that happened to him, he's still brave enough to take another chance on love and pursue Millie. He's such a good man, and he's so soft too. I love how he never stops trying, be it with Millie or with basketball. I also love that he apologizes easily; he got called out a few times by Millie re: things he unconsciously did, and he said sorry immediately.
I love Ty and Millie together, they're just meant to be. I'm a sucker for relationships where the hero and heroine flirt with and make each other laugh all the time. Their relationship is so easy, I'm a fan. They are also unafraid of confronting each other with their dissatisfactions, I love clear commmunication in a relationship.
Overall, it's an entertaining read. I'm hoping for an Avery book next, she deserves her own HEA.
E-ARC is received thanks to the publisher via Netgalley.
April 4, 2018
This book started out promising, but soon became bogged down in lots of unnecessary dialogue and scenes. I loved that the two main characters were older, and their banter was really amusing. But after a while it just seemed as if things were being drawn out too much. And the twist the author threw in didn’t thrill me, nor did the abrupt ending. It felt like something was missing, a short epilogue at least. All in all, it was a good premise that fell flat.
April 5, 2018
Check out our
Play for Keeps
post on Wicked Reads.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
Millie has had a thing for Ty Ransom since he became the head basketball coach at Wolcott. She just couldn't act on it with him being a married man. When rumors of his wife's extramarital affairs began to surface, she quietly cataloged. As the PR person for the athletic department, her job is to manage flow of information coming from the University about its coaches and players and to turn any bad press into good press.
As Ty slowly gets his feet back under him after his painful and public breakup, he realizes that he's not all that devastated about the end of his marriage. He'd known for a while that his marriage was on life support, had a feeling that Mari was seeing other guys, he just didn't realize it was one of his players and that she was documenting it on social media.
Millie wants Ty, and Ty wants Millie. The problem is that Millie has set an end date on their relationship without consulting him. Ty doesn't understand why Millie is dead set on keeping this casual, especially since this is anything but casual to him.
I enjoyed this story, the way that the characters knew each other, had established a friendship before the romance began. I also enjoyed reading about older characters, people who have experienced the good and bad that life has thrown at them and are still willing to give love a chance.
Sarah – ☆☆☆
I loved the first book in this series but this one doesn’t work quite as well for me. I think the difference is Millie and Kate. I loved the fiercely competitive coach and I struggled to like the character whose fashion and beauty obsession makes her blur into every other chick-lit heroine. Millie is tough and she is a survivor, but she is too girly for me and she’d be more convincing as a 25 year old than she is as a 45 year old.
Ty is wonderful but I struggled with parts of his story. I hate the way his ex-wife is villainised as a gold-digger while he gets sympathy for choosing a much younger trophy wife and not a life partner. After the uplifting feminist messages in the first book, I was dismayed by the slut-shaming undertones in this second story.
Ty and Millie are fun together and there are some sweet moments here. For me, there were too many mind games and too much miscommunication for two middle aged adult professionals. I also missed the sport and the competition that I loved in the first book.
Finally, why is there a white guy on the cover? Ty was black when he was first introduced in Love Game – and I’m pretty sure he stays that way.
Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series – and is an excellent follow on to Love Games, but would be good as a standalone too. We did find out quite a lot about the two leads in the first book, but there is enough here to give us a fantastic romance.
Millie is a mystery wrapped up in an animal-print enigma, but Ty is a man who is prepared to go the distance. There has been chemistry since the first time they met, but with him being married, neither would act upon it. However, now that divorce is in his future, there is a chance that they may just explore what makes each other tick. Millie's past has made her wary (understatement of the year!) but it is very difficult not to love her along with Ty. I love it when she, Kate, and Avery get together – they are just really great fun friends.
Ty has a lot to deal with in this installment, from betrayal to hope. There is such great attention to detail in the book, and of things that both matter and will stick with me for a long time. For example, him counting down how many times he can rely on his knees in a jump... little sob from me at that point. He is such a totally caring, reliable, and centred man, that he has to win the day (and the lady).
There is a lot going on in the book. It is funny, sad, moving, and sexy, along with a good dose of college sports issues and politics thrown in. I definitely recommend this book to you as a fabulous read. Thank you, Ms. Wells, and I look forward to the next installment!
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
Millie has had a thing for Ty Ransom since he became the head basketball coach at Wolcott. She just couldn't act on it with him being a married man. When rumors of his wife's extramarital affairs began to surface, she quietly cataloged. As the PR person for the athletic department, her job is to manage flow of information coming from the University about its coaches and players and to turn any bad press into good press.
As Ty slowly gets his feet back under him after his painful and public breakup, he realizes that he's not all that devastated about the end of his marriage. He'd known for a while that his marriage was on life support, had a feeling that Mari was seeing other guys, he just didn't realize it was one of his players and that she was documenting it on social media.
Millie wants Ty, and Ty wants Millie. The problem is that Millie has set an end date on their relationship without consulting him. Ty doesn't understand why Millie is dead set on keeping this casual, especially since this is anything but casual to him.
I enjoyed this story, the way that the characters knew each other, had established a friendship before the romance began. I also enjoyed reading about older characters, people who have experienced the good and bad that life has thrown at them and are still willing to give love a chance.
Sarah – ☆☆☆
I loved the first book in this series but this one doesn’t work quite as well for me. I think the difference is Millie and Kate. I loved the fiercely competitive coach and I struggled to like the character whose fashion and beauty obsession makes her blur into every other chick-lit heroine. Millie is tough and she is a survivor, but she is too girly for me and she’d be more convincing as a 25 year old than she is as a 45 year old.
Ty is wonderful but I struggled with parts of his story. I hate the way his ex-wife is villainised as a gold-digger while he gets sympathy for choosing a much younger trophy wife and not a life partner. After the uplifting feminist messages in the first book, I was dismayed by the slut-shaming undertones in this second story.
Ty and Millie are fun together and there are some sweet moments here. For me, there were too many mind games and too much miscommunication for two middle aged adult professionals. I also missed the sport and the competition that I loved in the first book.
Finally, why is there a white guy on the cover? Ty was black when he was first introduced in Love Game – and I’m pretty sure he stays that way.
Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series – and is an excellent follow on to Love Games, but would be good as a standalone too. We did find out quite a lot about the two leads in the first book, but there is enough here to give us a fantastic romance.
Millie is a mystery wrapped up in an animal-print enigma, but Ty is a man who is prepared to go the distance. There has been chemistry since the first time they met, but with him being married, neither would act upon it. However, now that divorce is in his future, there is a chance that they may just explore what makes each other tick. Millie's past has made her wary (understatement of the year!) but it is very difficult not to love her along with Ty. I love it when she, Kate, and Avery get together – they are just really great fun friends.
Ty has a lot to deal with in this installment, from betrayal to hope. There is such great attention to detail in the book, and of things that both matter and will stick with me for a long time. For example, him counting down how many times he can rely on his knees in a jump... little sob from me at that point. He is such a totally caring, reliable, and centred man, that he has to win the day (and the lady).
There is a lot going on in the book. It is funny, sad, moving, and sexy, along with a good dose of college sports issues and politics thrown in. I definitely recommend this book to you as a fabulous read. Thank you, Ms. Wells, and I look forward to the next installment!
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
April 22, 2018
Ty and Millie's story isn't your typical romance, but it's one that will stay with me long after I put the book down.
I first fell in love with Millie Jenkins during Love Game, the ballsy media maven who knows how to spin any story to her best advantage. The only trouble is, her next big spin involves Ty Ransom's unraveling marriage...the man who, up till now, has been off-limits. She goes to him the night his whole world comes crashing down, ready to step in and fix things, because that's what she does.
They get to know each other much more intimately while he's sorting through the destruction of his life and she's helping him piece it back together. They're careful not to cross too many lines before his divorce is finalized, though the sexual tension is off the charts.
'He rose from the chair, slowly unfolding all seventy-seven and a half inches of his lean, muscular frame with the grace of a man who was certain of the gifts God had given him.'
I love how real Millie is. Completely without filler or filter. But she's not without fear. That's why Ty is the perfect match for her because he's conquered the fear of failure--his failure as a professional basketball player and his failure in marriage, and he still keeps trying to get it right.
'Vertically, they were as mismatched as a gym sock and a thigh-high stocking. Horizontally, they were a perfect fit.'
Millie's the one who wants no strings, and Ty wants everything he's been missing up till now. He wants it all with the right person. Thankfully, Kate and Avery, Millie's trusted friends (and two of my favourite characters in the book), knock some sense into her and help her to realize that she's passing up on a chance at happiness with an amazing guy, something that many women will never get.
'Millie Jenkins wore the lean and hungry look of a woman who’d given up trusting in love but hadn’t quite let go of believing in it.'
Just as she's finally ready to open herself up to the possibility of more with Ty, his ex drops a bombshell that sends them both reeling. But Millie comes through again with a calm, cool head, keeping him focused, and they sort things out. Together.
“I might talk a good game, but I haven’t been able to back it up. No matter what I say, I keep running right back to you.”
I really enjoyed this book and how it kept me guessing, how it made me think, and how the end reflected the beginning. The hero and heroine carved out their own unique HEA despite the obstacles that stood in their way, proving that there's no right or wrong way to find your own happiness.
I first fell in love with Millie Jenkins during Love Game, the ballsy media maven who knows how to spin any story to her best advantage. The only trouble is, her next big spin involves Ty Ransom's unraveling marriage...the man who, up till now, has been off-limits. She goes to him the night his whole world comes crashing down, ready to step in and fix things, because that's what she does.
They get to know each other much more intimately while he's sorting through the destruction of his life and she's helping him piece it back together. They're careful not to cross too many lines before his divorce is finalized, though the sexual tension is off the charts.
'He rose from the chair, slowly unfolding all seventy-seven and a half inches of his lean, muscular frame with the grace of a man who was certain of the gifts God had given him.'
I love how real Millie is. Completely without filler or filter. But she's not without fear. That's why Ty is the perfect match for her because he's conquered the fear of failure--his failure as a professional basketball player and his failure in marriage, and he still keeps trying to get it right.
'Vertically, they were as mismatched as a gym sock and a thigh-high stocking. Horizontally, they were a perfect fit.'
Millie's the one who wants no strings, and Ty wants everything he's been missing up till now. He wants it all with the right person. Thankfully, Kate and Avery, Millie's trusted friends (and two of my favourite characters in the book), knock some sense into her and help her to realize that she's passing up on a chance at happiness with an amazing guy, something that many women will never get.
'Millie Jenkins wore the lean and hungry look of a woman who’d given up trusting in love but hadn’t quite let go of believing in it.'
Just as she's finally ready to open herself up to the possibility of more with Ty, his ex drops a bombshell that sends them both reeling. But Millie comes through again with a calm, cool head, keeping him focused, and they sort things out. Together.
“I might talk a good game, but I haven’t been able to back it up. No matter what I say, I keep running right back to you.”
I really enjoyed this book and how it kept me guessing, how it made me think, and how the end reflected the beginning. The hero and heroine carved out their own unique HEA despite the obstacles that stood in their way, proving that there's no right or wrong way to find your own happiness.
May 15, 2018
2 stars
Synopsis: Tyrell is the men's basketball coach who was hired to bring the college up to conference standards. Unfortunately, his star basketball player declared for the draft, and his wife declared for the star basketball player. Even though Ty is not the cause of the PR nightmare, he is the one that reporters are focused on.
Millie, who is the college athletic division Public Relations department, works on making sure that Ty doesn't do anything more damaging to the college, or his career.
When sparks fly between Millie and Ty, Ty heads to Nevada for a quickie divorce, and Millie tries to tempt Ty into a fling. When Ty returns, Millie knows that whatever they start has no future, and is determined to have everything on her terms.
What I liked: the premise. This had the potential to be really good: wronged husband, sparks have flown since Ty and Millie met when he first started working at the college, two strong willed main characters; it just fell flat. I liked the friendship between Millie and her besties, and that Millie is really good at her job, as is Ty. I also liked that there wasn't a big deal made about the fact that Millie and Ty don't have the same skin color, it's just two people who are attracted to one another.
What I didn't like: oh, boy. This was very insta-love, in spite of the fact that we are told that Ty and Millie had sparks from when they first met 2 years ago when Ty first started his job as coach. The fact was that they didn't do more than talk (thank goodness) until after Ty's wife was photographed in a compromising position with his player, so they didn't actually start getting to know one another until then. And then Millie wants to have sex with Ty before his divorce comes through, even though that is not what Ty wants. They did get to know one another over the phone while Ty was in Nevada, a little, but everything just happened so fast. Millie was so determined to not have a relationship that she couldn't see anything else. I also felt as though overcoming Millie's reluctance to actually have a relationship was enough of an obstacle for them to overcome as a couple without throwing in surprises.
Overall impression: Millie did not seem like she was in her 40s; she was pretty immature in the fact that she ran away rather than talk about things. Told in 3rd person POV, alternating between Millie and Ty.
*I received a copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Tyrell is the men's basketball coach who was hired to bring the college up to conference standards. Unfortunately, his star basketball player declared for the draft, and his wife declared for the star basketball player. Even though Ty is not the cause of the PR nightmare, he is the one that reporters are focused on.
Millie, who is the college athletic division Public Relations department, works on making sure that Ty doesn't do anything more damaging to the college, or his career.
When sparks fly between Millie and Ty, Ty heads to Nevada for a quickie divorce, and Millie tries to tempt Ty into a fling. When Ty returns, Millie knows that whatever they start has no future, and is determined to have everything on her terms.
What I liked: the premise. This had the potential to be really good: wronged husband, sparks have flown since Ty and Millie met when he first started working at the college, two strong willed main characters; it just fell flat. I liked the friendship between Millie and her besties, and that Millie is really good at her job, as is Ty. I also liked that there wasn't a big deal made about the fact that Millie and Ty don't have the same skin color, it's just two people who are attracted to one another.
What I didn't like: oh, boy. This was very insta-love, in spite of the fact that we are told that Ty and Millie had sparks from when they first met 2 years ago when Ty first started his job as coach. The fact was that they didn't do more than talk (thank goodness) until after Ty's wife was photographed in a compromising position with his player, so they didn't actually start getting to know one another until then. And then Millie wants to have sex with Ty before his divorce comes through, even though that is not what Ty wants. They did get to know one another over the phone while Ty was in Nevada, a little, but everything just happened so fast. Millie was so determined to not have a relationship that she couldn't see anything else. I also felt as though overcoming Millie's reluctance to actually have a relationship was enough of an obstacle for them to overcome as a couple without throwing in surprises.
Overall impression: Millie did not seem like she was in her 40s; she was pretty immature in the fact that she ran away rather than talk about things. Told in 3rd person POV, alternating between Millie and Ty.
*I received a copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 4, 2018
This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.
This was an engaging story line from when Ty finds out hisi wife left him for one of the players that Ty coaches at Wolcott. Millie comes to his rescue to keep him from making a worse mess after making some negative comments.
While they are both attracted to each other, they don't want to get involved while Ty is getting his divorce in Reno. I was a little disappointed when Millie changed her stance on no sex until his divorce is complete to ready to take him up to her hotel room.
I liked Millie at first but then she got so weird with these games that she was trying to get Ty to play that I really started to dislike her. I loved when Avery really let her have it and made Millie look at what she was really like ad it was not good!
I have not read any previous book so maybe this is answered in that but there really was not a good description of what Ty looked like, there were mentions of his getting a little gray in his hair, he was in good physical shape, and had amber colored eyes but I don't remember any mention of the color of his hair! There is a confusing comment about how he was tan under his beard and then Millie made a comment about how she never thought to wonder if an African American would tan. What is confusing is that the cover of the book looks like a Caucasian man so was that just an idle comment out of the blue or was it about Ty?
There is also two times that Millie mentions her ex-husband, and the first time she talks about John and the second time, she mentions David.
I really liked Millie at the end when she would not let Ty go when he thought with all the problems he was going through in his life. I hope that in future books we will know more about this situation as it really is a potential disaster with Mari expecting Ty's baby. It is not your perfect HEA but more realistic situation.
This was an engaging story line from when Ty finds out hisi wife left him for one of the players that Ty coaches at Wolcott. Millie comes to his rescue to keep him from making a worse mess after making some negative comments.
While they are both attracted to each other, they don't want to get involved while Ty is getting his divorce in Reno. I was a little disappointed when Millie changed her stance on no sex until his divorce is complete to ready to take him up to her hotel room.
I liked Millie at first but then she got so weird with these games that she was trying to get Ty to play that I really started to dislike her. I loved when Avery really let her have it and made Millie look at what she was really like ad it was not good!
I have not read any previous book so maybe this is answered in that but there really was not a good description of what Ty looked like, there were mentions of his getting a little gray in his hair, he was in good physical shape, and had amber colored eyes but I don't remember any mention of the color of his hair! There is a confusing comment about how he was tan under his beard and then Millie made a comment about how she never thought to wonder if an African American would tan. What is confusing is that the cover of the book looks like a Caucasian man so was that just an idle comment out of the blue or was it about Ty?
There is also two times that Millie mentions her ex-husband, and the first time she talks about John and the second time, she mentions David.
I really liked Millie at the end when she would not let Ty go when he thought with all the problems he was going through in his life. I hope that in future books we will know more about this situation as it really is a potential disaster with Mari expecting Ty's baby. It is not your perfect HEA but more realistic situation.
April 4, 2018
Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf
Play For Keeps leaves me in an odd place. While there were parts of the story that I enjoyed, there were also parts that kept me from being fully engaged with this couple. Mainly Millie kept this story from falling into the loved it slot for me. Ty is a strong man, he’s been handed a crappy situation that he’s trying to fight his way out of. He has an attraction that is strong and could be very good for both himself and Millie once all the dust falls and settles from his divorce. I liked Ty. I could understand where he was coming from. Unfortunately, Millie did not do that same thing for me. Frankly, Millie is her own worst enemy. And while she does come to her senses eventually, I’ve been bombarded by her rules and attitude for too long to believe in her changes by the end of the story.
For me, Play For Keeps falls into the “it’s a good book” category. I think there are readers who will love Ty and Millie’s romance. I didn’t love it or hate it, I simply got tired of Millie’s attitude and stopped caring one way or the other. In order for me to care what happens to characters I’ve got to have something to hold on to that I like about them… I couldn’t find that with Millie. I wish I could have but sometimes it simply doesn’t happen.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
Play For Keeps leaves me in an odd place. While there were parts of the story that I enjoyed, there were also parts that kept me from being fully engaged with this couple. Mainly Millie kept this story from falling into the loved it slot for me. Ty is a strong man, he’s been handed a crappy situation that he’s trying to fight his way out of. He has an attraction that is strong and could be very good for both himself and Millie once all the dust falls and settles from his divorce. I liked Ty. I could understand where he was coming from. Unfortunately, Millie did not do that same thing for me. Frankly, Millie is her own worst enemy. And while she does come to her senses eventually, I’ve been bombarded by her rules and attitude for too long to believe in her changes by the end of the story.
For me, Play For Keeps falls into the “it’s a good book” category. I think there are readers who will love Ty and Millie’s romance. I didn’t love it or hate it, I simply got tired of Millie’s attitude and stopped caring one way or the other. In order for me to care what happens to characters I’ve got to have something to hold on to that I like about them… I couldn’t find that with Millie. I wish I could have but sometimes it simply doesn’t happen.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
May 2, 2018
I loved this book and I loved Ty and Millie. I am kicking myself for not having discovered Maggie Wells earlier. The consolation being that now I have found her, there are more books for me to read.
Ty, a college basketball coach is under pressure to lead a winning team, and if that’s not enough, he is left humiliated and reeling after his wife leaves him for one of his players. As the university PR guru, it’s Millie’s job to put a positive spin on this potential disaster. Being a strong and resourceful woman, the job is easy but her feelings towards Ty are something she struggles to control. When Ty sets his sights on Millie, her ability to keep her distance is further eroded.
I thought Ty and Millie were well suited as a couple. There is plenty of attraction and heat (the heat!!) between them but what I most appreciated was their communication. They opened up to one another, peeling back their layers and exposing vulnerabilities. They did clash, but their honesty even while arguing was refreshing to read. I really enjoyed going on this journey with them.
If you’re worried about cheating, there is none. My one wish was that we knew more about Millie’s past, and what we do discover I wish was mentioned earlier. Her past greatly impacts how she lives her life today but we were teased throughout the book with only drips of information.
The secondary characters provide the levity needed to balance this book and I loved Avery. I really hope she gets her own book because she is quite a “character”.
Ty, a college basketball coach is under pressure to lead a winning team, and if that’s not enough, he is left humiliated and reeling after his wife leaves him for one of his players. As the university PR guru, it’s Millie’s job to put a positive spin on this potential disaster. Being a strong and resourceful woman, the job is easy but her feelings towards Ty are something she struggles to control. When Ty sets his sights on Millie, her ability to keep her distance is further eroded.
I thought Ty and Millie were well suited as a couple. There is plenty of attraction and heat (the heat!!) between them but what I most appreciated was their communication. They opened up to one another, peeling back their layers and exposing vulnerabilities. They did clash, but their honesty even while arguing was refreshing to read. I really enjoyed going on this journey with them.
If you’re worried about cheating, there is none. My one wish was that we knew more about Millie’s past, and what we do discover I wish was mentioned earlier. Her past greatly impacts how she lives her life today but we were teased throughout the book with only drips of information.
The secondary characters provide the levity needed to balance this book and I loved Avery. I really hope she gets her own book because she is quite a “character”.
July 27, 2023
I enjoyed the relationship between Millie and her two girlfriends. One of the girlfriends I remembered from another novel in this series, two coaches trying to keep their jobs and fighting an overwhelming attraction to each other.
This is a sensuous novel, and Millie and Tyrell really heat up the sheets. It all starts as a 'friends with benefits' type of relationship, but we all know what happens to relationships like this in Romanceland, right?
If only Millie's reason for putting a limit on the sex with Tyrell had been more believable. For me, she put too much faith in her arbitrary deadline than paying attention to her feelings growing for Tyrell, and how he started treating her with more affection. Having a few lousy relationships in one's life is no reason to stubbornly hang on to a 'never again' vow. Then, the first wife comes back on the scene to try to get more money from Tyrell. Instead of being suspicious of the woman's actions and trying to fight for the man she'd fallen in love with, Millie used the development as an excuse to back out of the relationship.
I wanted more of a heartrending reason for Millie to avoid the truth of her feelings for Tyrell, accept that Tyrell was in love with her, and together they could solve any obstacle that comes their way. But the solutions and ending came too rushed, as if it was tacked on.
I liked Millie and I wanted to know more about what made her tick. The love scenes were very well done, but I felt learning about characters, motivations needed more attention.
This is a sensuous novel, and Millie and Tyrell really heat up the sheets. It all starts as a 'friends with benefits' type of relationship, but we all know what happens to relationships like this in Romanceland, right?
If only Millie's reason for putting a limit on the sex with Tyrell had been more believable. For me, she put too much faith in her arbitrary deadline than paying attention to her feelings growing for Tyrell, and how he started treating her with more affection. Having a few lousy relationships in one's life is no reason to stubbornly hang on to a 'never again' vow. Then, the first wife comes back on the scene to try to get more money from Tyrell. Instead of being suspicious of the woman's actions and trying to fight for the man she'd fallen in love with, Millie used the development as an excuse to back out of the relationship.
I wanted more of a heartrending reason for Millie to avoid the truth of her feelings for Tyrell, accept that Tyrell was in love with her, and together they could solve any obstacle that comes their way. But the solutions and ending came too rushed, as if it was tacked on.
I liked Millie and I wanted to know more about what made her tick. The love scenes were very well done, but I felt learning about characters, motivations needed more attention.
April 15, 2018
I just never liked Ty or Millie enough to root for them. Disappointing, but true.
Yes, Ty did right by Millie. He waited until he was divorced to really get involved with her. He also really tried to make Millie the center of his world. But at the end of the day, he pulled away from her just as much as she pulled away from him. Millie, on the other hand, seemed like she never knew what she wanted; sometimes she wanted a relationship with Ty but just as much she didn't want a relationship with him. The whole book was like a giant game of chicken and it didn't settle well with me.
A lot of the back and forth of the book came from the fact that Ty was married when the book began, though he quickly followed through on a divorce. However, even when the divorce is complete his wife (ex-wife) never truly left the picture. So there was always Ty, Millie, and Mari all mixed up together, as opposed to just Ty and Millie. After the ink dries on the divorce papers Mari still is with Ty and Millie, tainting their feelings about one another, becoming a frequent topic of conversation, and in the end, the big dark moment comes courtesy of Mari. There is an internal struggle that fuels the dark moment as well, but the event that spurs those internal conflicts is all Mari-driven.
I wanted to like this one. Maggie Wells is a new-to-me-author that I've heard great things about. Play for Keeps, sadly though, only earns 2.5 stars from me.
Yes, Ty did right by Millie. He waited until he was divorced to really get involved with her. He also really tried to make Millie the center of his world. But at the end of the day, he pulled away from her just as much as she pulled away from him. Millie, on the other hand, seemed like she never knew what she wanted; sometimes she wanted a relationship with Ty but just as much she didn't want a relationship with him. The whole book was like a giant game of chicken and it didn't settle well with me.
A lot of the back and forth of the book came from the fact that Ty was married when the book began, though he quickly followed through on a divorce. However, even when the divorce is complete his wife (ex-wife) never truly left the picture. So there was always Ty, Millie, and Mari all mixed up together, as opposed to just Ty and Millie. After the ink dries on the divorce papers Mari still is with Ty and Millie, tainting their feelings about one another, becoming a frequent topic of conversation, and in the end, the big dark moment comes courtesy of Mari. There is an internal struggle that fuels the dark moment as well, but the event that spurs those internal conflicts is all Mari-driven.
I wanted to like this one. Maggie Wells is a new-to-me-author that I've heard great things about. Play for Keeps, sadly though, only earns 2.5 stars from me.
March 29, 2018
Play for Keeps is my first Maggie Wells book. Within the story of Ty and Millie’s relationship there were numerous sub stories.
The story of Millie’s history with men and how it causes her to put a “time limit” on each relationship so she doesn’t get hurt and knows when to walk away was odd. I had a hard time connecting with Millie. She was in charge, all the time, and didn’t bend to fit into Ty’s life. She pushed and pushed and pushed at him and I felt her lucky that he didn’t just give up on her to move on with her life. I will say that I liked that when she was in your corner there was nothing she wouldn’t do to help you out.
Ty’s story of his ex-wife was typical. Marries a young, cute college girl…he gets older… she finds a younger guy. This time the younger guy was one of her husband’s basketball players. There are a couple other twists to their story but it was the typical story. I was not surprised by much with Ty. Other than his willingness to put up with Millie’s attitude he was the normal ex-husband.
I wanted to get into this story, I wanted to connect to the characters but I just couldn’t do it. This story was also pretty erotic, which is okay, but it wasn’t what I was looking for.
As with every book there are people who will love this book, I just wasn’t that person.
September 12, 2021
I enjoyed this book. It's the story of Ty Random a former professional basketball player and now head coach of the university team. When Ty's wife leaves him for one of his players he needs help with the media frenzy. Enter Millie Jenkins, public relations dynamo, and perfect person to help him weather the storm.
Even though Ty's marriage has been on rocky ground for a long time and his attraction to Millie is strong (which is mutual), Ty is a stand up kind of guy who would never act on those feelings until he was free and clear.
Once his divorce is finalized and the dust has settled Millie and Ty are able to act on that attraction. The chemistry is off the charts. Millie and Ty sizzle together, but there is only one catch, Millie is not into long term. I loved that Millie was her own person that knows what she wants, which is absolutely fine but I had a bit of an issue with her push and pull. I thought she was a bit unfair to Ty at times.
I do know that Millie is there for Ty and the same can be said for Ty. They have each other's backs. They are friends, lovers, and they have mutual respect for each other.
On a side note. I also enjoy the friendships between the three women, Millie, Kate, and Avery. Kate and Avery were not shy in telling Millie what she may not neccessarily want to hear. But true friends don't sugarcoat things.
Even though Ty's marriage has been on rocky ground for a long time and his attraction to Millie is strong (which is mutual), Ty is a stand up kind of guy who would never act on those feelings until he was free and clear.
Once his divorce is finalized and the dust has settled Millie and Ty are able to act on that attraction. The chemistry is off the charts. Millie and Ty sizzle together, but there is only one catch, Millie is not into long term. I loved that Millie was her own person that knows what she wants, which is absolutely fine but I had a bit of an issue with her push and pull. I thought she was a bit unfair to Ty at times.
I do know that Millie is there for Ty and the same can be said for Ty. They have each other's backs. They are friends, lovers, and they have mutual respect for each other.
On a side note. I also enjoy the friendships between the three women, Millie, Kate, and Avery. Kate and Avery were not shy in telling Millie what she may not neccessarily want to hear. But true friends don't sugarcoat things.
September 1, 2018
He’s a sexy basketball coach who used to be a player and the next big thing. Unfortunately, an injury put an end to his meteoric rise. Mostly all he has to show for his short career as a player is a cheating, snake of a wife who was only in it for the fame. His wife leaves him for his student, a star athlete who quits school to enter the NBA draft. The heroine of the story is the University’s PR guru who has mutual lusting for said coach. While his ex-wife post pictures to social media to further drag him through the mud, he and the guru begin a damage control media tour. That’s when the romance really begins, everything before this point is prologue.
This is a very entertaining read and sexy for sure. My only warning is that this feels more like a HFN, instead of a HEA, especially because we know the ex is a train wreck who is sure to employ copious amounts of blackmail and manipulation before all is said and done.
I received an ARC of this book, from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This is a very entertaining read and sexy for sure. My only warning is that this feels more like a HFN, instead of a HEA, especially because we know the ex is a train wreck who is sure to employ copious amounts of blackmail and manipulation before all is said and done.
I received an ARC of this book, from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.
June 14, 2018
Not bad
Millie and Ty, the university media mavens and the basketball coach, get their story in the second book of the series. Although I enjoyed parts of this story, I never felt Millie come into focus as a character. She plays games with someone who is trying to love her and then when he's in trouble she flips. Surely anyone who was a messed up as she was would struggle harder than it appeared for a HEA. I felt like I would have traded some of the sex scenes for some plot and character development. I also agree with an earlier reviewer who complains about the slut shaming Ty's ex wife. It is hard to get away with this sort of character in today's world. I felt like Wells made her over the tlop bad, to try to avoid that, but it just served to either make the character unbelievable or to call Ty's judgement into question. All in all maybe 3.5 stars. I am looking forward to the final one, but perhaps more sport, more adult problems and hopefully not a caricature of a feminism.
Millie and Ty, the university media mavens and the basketball coach, get their story in the second book of the series. Although I enjoyed parts of this story, I never felt Millie come into focus as a character. She plays games with someone who is trying to love her and then when he's in trouble she flips. Surely anyone who was a messed up as she was would struggle harder than it appeared for a HEA. I felt like I would have traded some of the sex scenes for some plot and character development. I also agree with an earlier reviewer who complains about the slut shaming Ty's ex wife. It is hard to get away with this sort of character in today's world. I felt like Wells made her over the tlop bad, to try to avoid that, but it just served to either make the character unbelievable or to call Ty's judgement into question. All in all maybe 3.5 stars. I am looking forward to the final one, but perhaps more sport, more adult problems and hopefully not a caricature of a feminism.
May 21, 2018
I love the way the three friends in this series of books defend and uphold each other. They have a feisty and no-holds-barred gang. They know when to push and irritate and when to hold and soothe. Favorite lines, from Avery: "He's in the dark, and you're in denial...You want my advice, Millie? Stop being a girl and act like a woman." She goes on to say that Millie needs to take her chance at happiness or insult everyone else who's been waiting to get that very thing. These 3 are awesome together and I enjoy their give-and-take. (Their pop culture discussion in the later part of the book was everything. I may have picked up a couple of new nicknames to use.)
April 1, 2018
Excellent read! It's very well written with some pretty amazing characters. There is an easy flow to the story that keeps you turning the pages.
Ty Ransom is a quiet hardworking basketball head coach that is suddenly thrown big time into the public eye. His wife, well ex-wife now, has some racy photos go viral throwing Ty's world into a spin. Public relations specialist Millie Jenkins is charged with cleaning up Ty's image. A little hard to do when the white hot chemistry between them is threatening to consume them.
Definitely a book I recommend.
Ty Ransom is a quiet hardworking basketball head coach that is suddenly thrown big time into the public eye. His wife, well ex-wife now, has some racy photos go viral throwing Ty's world into a spin. Public relations specialist Millie Jenkins is charged with cleaning up Ty's image. A little hard to do when the white hot chemistry between them is threatening to consume them.
Definitely a book I recommend.
April 5, 2018
Talk about your emotional roller-coaster rides... this was a thrilling, sexy, entertaining and engaging romantic journey of finding love in when you least expect it.
Tyrell Ransom is sexy, strong, charming and the new men's basketball coach in need of some quick PR damage control thanks to his soon to be ex-wife. Millie Jenkins is just the sassy, sexy, fast talking PR guru to save the day. However she puts his heart at risk all at the same time.. their chemistry is explosive and hard to contain. Enjoyed this crazy wild emotional journey.
Tyrell Ransom is sexy, strong, charming and the new men's basketball coach in need of some quick PR damage control thanks to his soon to be ex-wife. Millie Jenkins is just the sassy, sexy, fast talking PR guru to save the day. However she puts his heart at risk all at the same time.. their chemistry is explosive and hard to contain. Enjoyed this crazy wild emotional journey.
May 24, 2018
I loved the first book in the series so I expected to enjoy this one just as much. Didn't happen. Ty was great. Enjoyed his character immensely. Millie, not so much. I enjoyed her at the start of the book and then it went downhill from there. You have feelings for someone for years and when you're finally free to act on them you play phone tag and 'you just assumed' games? I was frustrated reading from that point forward that I didn't care if they had their happily ever after. I wanted one for Ty but eh on Millie. I would still be interested in Avery's story if it is written.
March 8, 2018
What a strong woman we have here. She knows how to handle situations and get what she wants. Even the age difference didn't bothered me much. This was my first Maggie Wells book and that was good. I'll definitely checked out her other selections.
This ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review that is all my own.
This ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review that is all my own.
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