What do you think?
Rate this book
Winner Takes All: Rules of the Game / The Name of the Game
Rules of the Game
She had vowed never to mix business with pleasure. But one look into the mesmerizing eyes of Park Jones was all it took for Brooke Gordon. He was utterly desirable and completely off-limits so Parks was going to have to break a few rules to convince her that love wasn't just a game to him,it meant forever...
The Name of the Game
Johanna didn't give her trust easily, especially not to a man who lived in the public eye. So why was Sam appearing nightly in her dreams? The man had a way of slipping past all her defenses, of coaxing her into his arms. He desperately wanted to win this game-when the name of the game was love.
She had vowed never to mix business with pleasure. But one look into the mesmerizing eyes of Park Jones was all it took for Brooke Gordon. He was utterly desirable and completely off-limits so Parks was going to have to break a few rules to convince her that love wasn't just a game to him,it meant forever...
The Name of the Game
Johanna didn't give her trust easily, especially not to a man who lived in the public eye. So why was Sam appearing nightly in her dreams? The man had a way of slipping past all her defenses, of coaxing her into his arms. He desperately wanted to win this game-when the name of the game was love.
537 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
27 people are currently reading
1416 people want to read
About the author
Nora Roberts
1,213 books59.9k followersNora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
October 21, 2010
these were kinda cheesy and outdated. but still a good read. :) weird reading a book where everyone doesnt ahve a cell phone.
September 14, 2020
Enjoyable stories but I have read much better by Ms. Roberts.
November 12, 2024
Both books, originally published in the 1980's, are about production, one about commercials, the other TV shows. The relationships are complicated, get off to a rocky start, and take a while to resolve, but the background in each easily becomes the driving force to continued reading. I took a star off mainly for having the characters drop into bed with each other too often.
May 15, 2021
It gets a little long in the descriptions, but a good read.
January 6, 2013
Nora Roberts is one of my favorite authors. She is excellent at what she does and I don't think anyone could argue otherwise, even if romance novels are not your cup of tea. She has been a bestseller since the '80s and, rightfully so, has gained the title of one of the best romance novelists of all time. But, as I said about William Shakespeare - even the greats can write a few stinkers now and then.
Winner Takes All is a 2 in 1 that contains two stories previously published in the early '80s - the start of Nora Roberts' career. It is with that consideration that I gave this book 2 stars instead of 1. Everyone has to start somewhere I guess.
Rules of the Game (pub. 1984)
1. Brooke Gordon, directs commercials
2. Parks Jones, major league baseball player
3. Endorsement contract puts them together
4. Brooke is immune to his celebrity and impossible to please
5. Parks is drawn to her aloofness and stalks her until she breaks down
6. They do it
7. Brooke won't let go of her independence
8. They fight
9. Brooke has an epiphany that she really loves him
10. They do it again
11. The end
The Name of the Game (pub. 1988)
1. Johanna Patterson, produces daytime game show
2. Sam Weaver, hot famous actor
3. Contract for guest celebrity panelist puts them together
4. Johanna is immune to his celebrity and impossible to please
5. Sam is drawn to her aloofness and stalks her until she breaks down
6. They do it
7. Johanna continually pushes him away because she has 'daddy' issues
8. They fight
9. Johanna has an epiphany that she really loves him and that her issues with 'daddy' don't matter
10. The do it again
11. The end
Now, I understand that not all conflict in a story has to be an outside source. Sometimes just the inner conflict of our own inhibitions is drama enough and can make for a good story. Both of these stories are written very well. Good dialogue, believable characters, beautiful descriptions, knowledgeable subject matter and romantic.
However, towards the middle of the second story I was really tired of the whole inner angst issues. Plus, the men's stalking/won't take no for an answer attitudes became a little irritating. It made them look weak and wishy washy. Maybe it kind of creased me a bit to realize if the roles were reversed, the woman would look like a crazy stalker. I like dominating male roles, but there has to be a limit to how many times he won't accept rejection - if for no other reason than to hang onto some dignity and pride.
And there is a fine line between being aloof and being rude. Sometimes these women were just downright stubborn and rude in reaction to the horrific audacity of these men who are giving them flowers and saying "I love you" - what a tragedy.
I have read many, many Nora Roberts books and again, I attest that she is fantastic. It almost pains me to be negative about anything she writes - but, I'm sorry - this was not one of my favorites.
Sorry, Nora :(
Winner Takes All is a 2 in 1 that contains two stories previously published in the early '80s - the start of Nora Roberts' career. It is with that consideration that I gave this book 2 stars instead of 1. Everyone has to start somewhere I guess.
Rules of the Game (pub. 1984)
1. Brooke Gordon, directs commercials
2. Parks Jones, major league baseball player
3. Endorsement contract puts them together
4. Brooke is immune to his celebrity and impossible to please
5. Parks is drawn to her aloofness and stalks her until she breaks down
6. They do it
7. Brooke won't let go of her independence
8. They fight
9. Brooke has an epiphany that she really loves him
10. They do it again
11. The end
The Name of the Game (pub. 1988)
1. Johanna Patterson, produces daytime game show
2. Sam Weaver, hot famous actor
3. Contract for guest celebrity panelist puts them together
4. Johanna is immune to his celebrity and impossible to please
5. Sam is drawn to her aloofness and stalks her until she breaks down
6. They do it
7. Johanna continually pushes him away because she has 'daddy' issues
8. They fight
9. Johanna has an epiphany that she really loves him and that her issues with 'daddy' don't matter
10. The do it again
11. The end
Now, I understand that not all conflict in a story has to be an outside source. Sometimes just the inner conflict of our own inhibitions is drama enough and can make for a good story. Both of these stories are written very well. Good dialogue, believable characters, beautiful descriptions, knowledgeable subject matter and romantic.
However, towards the middle of the second story I was really tired of the whole inner angst issues. Plus, the men's stalking/won't take no for an answer attitudes became a little irritating. It made them look weak and wishy washy. Maybe it kind of creased me a bit to realize if the roles were reversed, the woman would look like a crazy stalker. I like dominating male roles, but there has to be a limit to how many times he won't accept rejection - if for no other reason than to hang onto some dignity and pride.
And there is a fine line between being aloof and being rude. Sometimes these women were just downright stubborn and rude in reaction to the horrific audacity of these men who are giving them flowers and saying "I love you" - what a tragedy.
I have read many, many Nora Roberts books and again, I attest that she is fantastic. It almost pains me to be negative about anything she writes - but, I'm sorry - this was not one of my favorites.
Sorry, Nora :(
August 26, 2012
See my comment on this book for my review on first story of this book. Think I liked "The name of the game better". The characters are more beliveable. I actually like Sam and hoping he got his happy ending. All in all both stories are enjoyable, but not Nora's best work.
March 17, 2019
This book is actually made up of 2 stories--"Rules of the Game" and "The Name of the Game". I personally enjoyed the 2nd book more than the first.
In the first b00k, Brooke, a director of TV commercials, takes on the job of molding a winning baseball player into an actor in a client's clothes commercials. The story is good but I think things went way too fast in Brooke and Parks's relationship. Brooks had a lot of "baggage" that Parks needed to know about her but he never gave her that phase of their relationship. He knew when he first met her that he wanted her.
In the 2nd book, Johanna is a TV game show producer and Sam, a film actor, is going to be on her show for the first time. Johanna has "baggage" too but she and Sam eventually discuss it and their relationship progresses on a slower tempo than the one in the first book. More my style.
Another good book by Nora Roberts.
In the first b00k, Brooke, a director of TV commercials, takes on the job of molding a winning baseball player into an actor in a client's clothes commercials. The story is good but I think things went way too fast in Brooke and Parks's relationship. Brooks had a lot of "baggage" that Parks needed to know about her but he never gave her that phase of their relationship. He knew when he first met her that he wanted her.
In the 2nd book, Johanna is a TV game show producer and Sam, a film actor, is going to be on her show for the first time. Johanna has "baggage" too but she and Sam eventually discuss it and their relationship progresses on a slower tempo than the one in the first book. More my style.
Another good book by Nora Roberts.
August 29, 2017
Rules of the Game:
This was a lovely story about love. Brooke Gordon tries to never mix her job with pleasure, but, when she meets Parks Jones, a baseball player who wans to be with her, it all changes. Brooke's TV company wants Parks to do a few TV appearances.
Parks repeatedly tries to get Brooke to fall in love with him, but she is very stubborn at first. She eventually falls for him, and they end up getting married at the end of the book.
The Name of the Game:
Johanna doesn't really believe in love, because of what she saw what her parents went through. She works on a television game show. Sam Weaver comes into her life and tries to woo her. Despite her opinion on relationships, she gives Sam a chance.
Johanna's father gets remarried to a woman that his daughter doesn't like
These 2 stories were great!.
This was a lovely story about love. Brooke Gordon tries to never mix her job with pleasure, but, when she meets Parks Jones, a baseball player who wans to be with her, it all changes. Brooke's TV company wants Parks to do a few TV appearances.
Parks repeatedly tries to get Brooke to fall in love with him, but she is very stubborn at first. She eventually falls for him, and they end up getting married at the end of the book.
The Name of the Game:
Johanna doesn't really believe in love, because of what she saw what her parents went through. She works on a television game show. Sam Weaver comes into her life and tries to woo her. Despite her opinion on relationships, she gives Sam a chance.
Johanna's father gets remarried to a woman that his daughter doesn't like
These 2 stories were great!.
March 27, 2021
I was a little worried after reading some of the reviews on here. But I really liked the first story. The chemistry was there, and they seemed like a good match. (not to mention he's a ball player- unfortunately not an Orioles player but we'll let that slide.) The second story I really didn't like until the end when Nora shipped the guy off to my hometown of Baltimore, Maryland. I'm a sucker when Im reading a book and they mention Baltimore (for something other than murder!!) So bonus points for that.
The girls in both stories annoyed the crap out of me, mostly johanna. There's independence and there's just plain mean. Johanna just kept making excuses for why she couldn't let anyone in, and they got old real quick. She was just as toxic as Sam.
The relationship aspects of Brooke and Parks was much better than the other two. Something about Johanna and Sam just really irked me.
The girls in both stories annoyed the crap out of me, mostly johanna. There's independence and there's just plain mean. Johanna just kept making excuses for why she couldn't let anyone in, and they got old real quick. She was just as toxic as Sam.
The relationship aspects of Brooke and Parks was much better than the other two. Something about Johanna and Sam just really irked me.
June 27, 2021
Two full length novels under one cover...both are romances about powerful women and the men they reluctantly love.
The first is Rules of the Game about a director who makes commercials and the baseball player who is to star in them, endorsing a clothing line. It's off-screen that it gets hot and spicy for the pair.
The second is The Name of the Game about a television producer of a game show and the mega-star who comes on the show to promote his upcoming TV mini-series. Johanna is buttoned-down and controlling (and anti-marriage), and Sam is actually a decent Hollywood hunk, but can they navigate their issues to find something special?
The first is Rules of the Game about a director who makes commercials and the baseball player who is to star in them, endorsing a clothing line. It's off-screen that it gets hot and spicy for the pair.
The second is The Name of the Game about a television producer of a game show and the mega-star who comes on the show to promote his upcoming TV mini-series. Johanna is buttoned-down and controlling (and anti-marriage), and Sam is actually a decent Hollywood hunk, but can they navigate their issues to find something special?
July 23, 2022
I just finished Rules of the Game, and I don't think I have it in me to read The Name of the Game.
Parks and Brooke meet, have sex, fight, have sex, fall in love, have sex, fight, get married, fight, fight, and have sex. Notice I did not mention any conversations. Their relationship was obviously sexual, but also violent and manipulative and secretive. Not a recipe for success.
Parks and Brooke meet, have sex, fight, have sex, fall in love, have sex, fight, get married, fight, fight, and have sex. Notice I did not mention any conversations. Their relationship was obviously sexual, but also violent and manipulative and secretive. Not a recipe for success.
January 12, 2025
This book contains 2 of Nora Robert's older books, Rules of the Game & The Name of the Game. These books were originally published in the 1980's so some parts of the stories will seem dated to some readers.
Rules of the Game I enjoyed reading. The characters and the story were fun.
The Name of the Game I didn't enjoy as much. I just never really got there with the characters.
Rules of the Game I enjoyed reading. The characters and the story were fun.
The Name of the Game I didn't enjoy as much. I just never really got there with the characters.
August 9, 2021
I couldn’t even get through the first book. Bored me to sleep. The girl starts out with backbone and caves. 🙄 I finally dumped it. At least I got it at a bargain book store and didn’t pay full price.
June 24, 2024
I prefer her later books, these were just romances. The first one I found boring in places as being an Aussie I don't have an interest in baseball and there was a lot of baseball talk. The second one was better though a bit dated as both these books were written 40 years ago
January 11, 2020
2 great stories. First Nora Roberts book I’ve read. Now I can see why she had so many- readers need to read her material
January 2, 2022
Always love reading a Nora Roberts book when I just want an easy romance to read.
September 20, 2022
This is a love story and I'm not one that's into those sort of stories but to each his own. There was a little baseball thrown in this one so I liked it better than some. LOL
February 7, 2023
I found the first story hard going. It was so involved with Baseball & as someone who has no knowledge of the game I found it hard going. The sacond story was good.
September 8, 2023
Two stories. I read the first, Rules of the Game. Didn't bother with the second. Poor writing. Repetitive phrases.
May 8, 2025
Nette und romantische Geschichten, keine großen Plot-Twists, aber beide Geschichten sind nett, um sich zu beruhigen und zu entspannen
June 3, 2025
Second story was better as I’m not a baseball fan! But the second story was so good. Couldn’t put it down!
September 29, 2025
Similar storyline for both books, go achiever ladies lonely but they finally get the one to love them right. Captivating for both books.
January 10, 2026
Female characters always so stubborn- it gets annoying. Endings always too short.
January 6, 2015
Rules of the Game - 2/5 - Brooke is a seemingly confident and mysterious director of commercials, while Parks is a sexy (rather arrogant) baseball player who is endorsing clothing in her commercials. These two have to figure out how to navigate a relationship when Brooke is the boss and doesn't want a relationship, while Parks doesn't take orders well and very much does want a relationship. This would normally garner the "average" rating of 3 stars. It's fairly well written, the romance is pretty passionate, it's even paced pretty well. It also distinguishes itself by being one of the few romances where there are no silly misunderstandings or even secrets or betrayals that get in the way of the two characters getting together. It simply follows their courtship and falling in love.
The reason this is only a 2-star book for me has to do with "the game." These two play ridiculous mind games with each other. These characters frustrated the hell out of me with their always wanting to be in control and always needing to have things his or her way. It got really irritating that 50% into the book, she's still trying to hold the reins and keep in control and he's still spouting that he makes the rules off camera. It honestly felt like he pressured her into a sexual relationship. How is it romantic or sexy that she's trembling with fear at the thought of starting something with him and falling in love and he's ready to make love to her? I don't find this sort of power play very romantic. And even at 80%, when they've been dating forever, he still admits that he gets angry that he can't have things his way in a relationship. That's a pretty selfish love IMHO.
Name of the Game - 3/5 - I would consider this an average story. Johanna is a game show producer who grew up in Hollywood and is jaded and strong...hiding a very vulnerable, sensitive personality. Sam is an actor who acts as a celebrity guest star on the game show and the attraction is instantaneous. Johanna was frustrating - she was cagey, evasive, lied in order to keep Sam away...all because she was afraid to get hurt. And I really struggled to see why - her reasons didn't seem to make sense to me... Well, they did, but they couldn't account for the sheer strength of her resistance. Sam was a wonderful hero. Unlike other male characters in stories by this author, he had a great (and I do mean great) deal of patience with the heroine. He never felt overly pushy. He did his share of maneuvering, but it felt like he was very careful to give Johanna the space she needed, while still progressing the relationship. And at one point, he even admits to moving forward because he could sense that she needed it...despite her protestations. And even though he seemed to delight in flustering her and even angering her, it didn't seem to have a malicious bent to it (unlike Rules of the Game). No other subplot or secondary romances really. Just the romance and it was just average.
The reason this is only a 2-star book for me has to do with "the game." These two play ridiculous mind games with each other. These characters frustrated the hell out of me with their always wanting to be in control and always needing to have things his or her way. It got really irritating that 50% into the book, she's still trying to hold the reins and keep in control and he's still spouting that he makes the rules off camera. It honestly felt like he pressured her into a sexual relationship. How is it romantic or sexy that she's trembling with fear at the thought of starting something with him and falling in love and he's ready to make love to her? I don't find this sort of power play very romantic. And even at 80%, when they've been dating forever, he still admits that he gets angry that he can't have things his way in a relationship. That's a pretty selfish love IMHO.
Name of the Game - 3/5 - I would consider this an average story. Johanna is a game show producer who grew up in Hollywood and is jaded and strong...hiding a very vulnerable, sensitive personality. Sam is an actor who acts as a celebrity guest star on the game show and the attraction is instantaneous. Johanna was frustrating - she was cagey, evasive, lied in order to keep Sam away...all because she was afraid to get hurt. And I really struggled to see why - her reasons didn't seem to make sense to me... Well, they did, but they couldn't account for the sheer strength of her resistance. Sam was a wonderful hero. Unlike other male characters in stories by this author, he had a great (and I do mean great) deal of patience with the heroine. He never felt overly pushy. He did his share of maneuvering, but it felt like he was very careful to give Johanna the space she needed, while still progressing the relationship. And at one point, he even admits to moving forward because he could sense that she needed it...despite her protestations. And even though he seemed to delight in flustering her and even angering her, it didn't seem to have a malicious bent to it (unlike Rules of the Game). No other subplot or secondary romances really. Just the romance and it was just average.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2017
3.5 stars
October 4, 2012
Winner Takes All by Nora Roberts
2 books in one
Rules of the Game
Brooke Gordon never should've looked twice at Parks Jones. The agency wants him to endorse some clothes so Her and Claire went to the ballgame to do some research and watch him play.
Oh yea he'd be a perfect fit. She had a very bad breakup and wasn't interested in dating and being taken again.
Lovemaking at it's best really makes this a good read along with her job and his job.
Love the wedding gift but when the fire comes will they and their house survive...
.
The Name of the Game
Johanna Patterson is dreaming of Sam Weaver, the actor. She is running the contest show and he's made a deal with her that if he wins the next 2 games, she will have dinner with him. He's very smart.
Love how to get away from the pressures of her job she gardens. Detailed descriptions about the colors and different flowers she has planted and takes care of herself.
Love the places he takes her to that she's never experienced. He's on vacation now but she will be working many hours overtime during the same time. He gave her a gift that she can't resist.
Although he is there for her in every way when her father has a medical emergency, she tells him about her past.
2 books in one
Rules of the Game
Brooke Gordon never should've looked twice at Parks Jones. The agency wants him to endorse some clothes so Her and Claire went to the ballgame to do some research and watch him play.
Oh yea he'd be a perfect fit. She had a very bad breakup and wasn't interested in dating and being taken again.
Lovemaking at it's best really makes this a good read along with her job and his job.
Love the wedding gift but when the fire comes will they and their house survive...
.
The Name of the Game
Johanna Patterson is dreaming of Sam Weaver, the actor. She is running the contest show and he's made a deal with her that if he wins the next 2 games, she will have dinner with him. He's very smart.
Love how to get away from the pressures of her job she gardens. Detailed descriptions about the colors and different flowers she has planted and takes care of herself.
Love the places he takes her to that she's never experienced. He's on vacation now but she will be working many hours overtime during the same time. He gave her a gift that she can't resist.
Although he is there for her in every way when her father has a medical emergency, she tells him about her past.
September 10, 2016
Two (separate, unrelated) stories about women with trust issues and men who are rich and powerful. In both cases the man falls in love with the woman and persuades her to love him back (is that a spoiler? Not for me - once you have read a few Nora Roberts books you know the ending before you start reading.)
Sorry to be so cynical, but I am getting bored with the formula. And wondering how many men there are in the world who are fabulously rich, amazingly good looking, wonderfully successful, with big careers which they put second to their woman, and who are just humble and considerate enough to be adorable. If you read Nora, you will think they lurk at every up-market cocktail party (though they are only there to raise money for orphans because really they think sparkling social events are so shallow and they prefer to cook quiche in their own kitchen.)
Entertainment to some extent, but predictable.
Sorry to be so cynical, but I am getting bored with the formula. And wondering how many men there are in the world who are fabulously rich, amazingly good looking, wonderfully successful, with big careers which they put second to their woman, and who are just humble and considerate enough to be adorable. If you read Nora, you will think they lurk at every up-market cocktail party (though they are only there to raise money for orphans because really they think sparkling social events are so shallow and they prefer to cook quiche in their own kitchen.)
Entertainment to some extent, but predictable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2016
So to be honest I found this book in my building's laundry room and decided to give Nora Roberts a shot. Both of the novellas were written in the 80s, so the approach was very different than the romance novels I'm used to. I loved the driven, independent heroines in both of these novellas. I loved their houses too (I want to move into the house in Rules of the Game). The heroes were good, but definitely in the alpha-hole spectrum. They were definitely the ones driving the relationship and, while there was implied consent in the heroine's POV, there wasn't any asking for consent. There were also some sex scenes that had me confused (in the grass after fleeing a fire??? beside a duck pond???). And one scene in The Name of the Game really bothered me: the heroine has been blowing off the hero and he finally drives to her house and grabs her by the front of the shirt when he finds her to confront her. Not great. That said, I really enjoyed reading this!
February 9, 2017
4,5 estrelas
Mais duas histórias de Nora Roberts, mais duas histórias que me cativaram. E ainda hoje fico abismada com a criatividade da autora em criar novas personagens.
Venham mais livros desta autora!
Mais duas histórias de Nora Roberts, mais duas histórias que me cativaram. E ainda hoje fico abismada com a criatividade da autora em criar novas personagens.
Venham mais livros desta autora!
October 25, 2012
Contains two Nora Roberts novels originally published in the 1980s. Rules of the Game features Brooke Gordon who directs advertising and wants to get into bigger things. Her latest project involves Parks Jones, a baseball hero with a big ego. She's determined not to get involved, he's determined to explore his attraction to her. This is a sweet story, she's got issues and he just deals with them in very great ways. He notices things about her and tries to make her comfortable and when she falters he's there to pick her up. A charming story.
The Name of the Game is about Johanna Patterson who has grown up with show biz and distrusts almost everyone in the game. When Sam Weaver appears on her game show he decides that she would be an interesting person to date, he overcomes her reluctance slowly and with a lot of charm. Another solid romance with some great characters.
The Name of the Game is about Johanna Patterson who has grown up with show biz and distrusts almost everyone in the game. When Sam Weaver appears on her game show he decides that she would be an interesting person to date, he overcomes her reluctance slowly and with a lot of charm. Another solid romance with some great characters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews