Tag Archives: Gamers

Ask Me to Game by Zoe Forward – Review & Giveaway

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Ask Me to Game by Zoe Forward – Review & Giveaway

 

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo

 

Description:
Emma Duarte just volunteered to be the ultimate badass. She agreed to try out for an elite eGaming team to draw out the criminal mastermind behind the dangerous, illegal underworld of video gaming. The problem? She doesn’t know jack about the game she has to pose as an expert of. Second problem? Michael Harrison, her new brother-in-law and ill-advised one-night stand the night Emma’s sister married Michael’s brother, has been hired to train her.

Michael Harrison loves seeing straitlaced Emma off-kilter. Sure, she rebuffs him every chance she gets, but that just makes it more challenging—and fun. But at the end of the day, the goal is to get her on the Dynasty eGaming team and catch a criminal. Michael already lost his brother to this underworld, and he won’t lose Emma too.

 

 

Review:

Ask Me to Game by Zoe Forward is the 3rd book in her Game Lords series. I have read the first two books in this series, and enjoyed them both.  Ask Me to Game was another wonderful addition to this series, which could be the best one yet.

We get to see all the recurring characters from the first two books, as the story continues to revolve around finding the mysterious Symphis, the evil leader of the Gamelords, who has threatened all of our heroines, if they don’t give him what he wants.  In Ask Me to Game, Emma (Tori’s sister) is our heroine, as well as assistant to Jake and Noah; she is very organized and good at her job. Because the team, working with the FBI, is at its wits end, unable to find out who is Symphis; they decide to enlist Emma to go undercover; she is willing, though unlike Tori and Becca, she is not a gamer.

Michael Harrison, our hero and Noah’s brother, steps up to teach Emma what she needs to do in game tournament, in order to get into the Dynasty e-gaming team and Symphis.  Michael, lost his younger brother because of Symphis, and is determined to make sure Emma is safe.  Michael and Emma find it hard to ignore their attraction to each other, as the chemistry between them is hot; but both try not to succumb to their feelings while they are on the hunt.

What follows is an exciting, suspenseful and fun story. Once again, I am amazed how well Zoe Forward continues to describe the gaming industry, giving us a wonderful insight to that industry.   I loved Michael and Emma together, though due to the circumstances was a slow build romance. It was great to see many of the wonderful recurring characters from the previous books, especially Noah, Jake, Tori, Becca, Quan, Sam, just to name a few. 

The second half of the book upped the tension, with the excitement escalated as Emma found herself threatened by Symphis, but it was a great ending as she and Michael managed to discover the truth.  To tell too much more would be spoilers, and you should read all three books this to enjoy the story.

Ask Me to Game was a fast-paced, fun enjoyable story; wonderful couple, great secondary characters, as well as filled with excitement and suspense

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for Review

 

Award winning author, Zoe Forward is a hopeless romantic who can’t decide between paranormal and contemporary romance. So, she writes both. Her novels have won numerous awards including the Prism, Readers’ Choice Heart of Excellence, Golden Quill, Carolyn Readers Choice Award, and the Booksellers’ Best Award.

When she’s not typing at her laptop, she’s cheering her son on at baseball, chasing after the toddler or cleaning up the newest pet mess from the menagerie that occupies her house. She’s a board-certified veterinarian. You can ask her about your pet’s problem, but be warned she’s into integrative medicine so her answer might involve treatments you’ve never heard of.

She’s madly in love with her globe trotting conservation ecologist husband and she’s happiest when he returns to their home base.

 

 

Zoe Forward is graciously offering a $20 Gift Card to ONE lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

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8. Giveaway open to USA only

9. Giveaway runs from March 5 – 8, 2020

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Leveling the Field (Gamers #4) by Megan Erickson-a review

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LEVELING THE FIELD (Gamers #4) by Megan Erickson-a review

Leveing the field

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 2, 2016

Reclusive magazine exec Ethan Talley is furious when his business partner hires a photographer—a gorgeous photographer who insists on speaking her mind, damn it—to take pictures for an upcoming article. No matter how badly he wants the woman…under him, over him, against the nearest wall…he has reasons for not wanting to be on camera anymore, and his scars are only one of them.

It takes approximately two seconds for Lissa Kingsman to recognize Ethan as the popular YouTube gamer who fell off the planet years ago. But this Ethan is different than the charming man she used to watch, and the crush she had on him then is nothing compared to the way she’s lusting after the brooding man he is today. If sex is all he can give her, fine. Why not use that bearskin rug in her studio for something other than a prop? But she’s determined to put a chink in his armor, no matter how much he resists.

••••••••••••••

REVIEW: LEVELING THE FIELD is the fourth installment in Megan Erickson’s contemporary, adult GAMERS erotic, romance series focusing on the men and women who work for Gamers Magazine and in the gaming industry. This is former YouTube sensation and Gamers co-owner Ethan Talley, and photographer Lissa Kingsman. LEVELING THE FIELD can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Grant is Chloe’s brother (Playing for Her Heart #2).

Told from dual third person perspectives (Lissa and Ethan) LEVELING THE FIELD follows the building relationship between Lissa and Ethan. Ethan is a man who keeps to himself; hides a multitude of physical and emotional scars that have left him a broken shell of a man, and a man whose heart was destroyed with the death of someone close. Enter Lissa Kingsman, a woman whose own emotional scars remain hidden behind the glitter of boudoir photography, and a smile that presents its face to the world. When Lissa’s latest assignment to photograph the reclusive Gamer entrepreneur goes downhill, she is stunned when Ethan makes her an offer she doesn’t want to refuse. What ensues is the friends with benefits relationship between two people whose earlier years met with heartbreak, loss, and grief. Tragedy struck both families: where Ethan has shunned the outside world and the family he once loved, Lissa calls attention to the people who have overcome their scars and obstacles in life.

LEVELING THE FIELD is a storyline that covers a number of issues including accidental death, suicide, gay lovers, interracial relationships, and dysfunctional family heartbreak. All of the previous storyline couples play secondary and supporting roles. We are introduced to Lissa’s parents and her brother Angel, as well as Ethan’s family-long estranged from their only son.

LEVELING THE FIELD is a quick and sexy read. There are moments of heartbreak and presumed betrayal; grief and loss; acceptance and moving forward. The premise is enjoyable; the characters are colorful, animated and fun; the romance is seductive. There is no denying the attraction between our leading couple but some of their interludes felt cold and empty hearted-it is the nature of the beast that only wants $ex with no emotional after thoughts.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Tied to Trouble (Gamers #3) by Megan Erickson-a review

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Tied to Trouble (Gamers #3) by Megan Erickson-a review

Tied to Trouble

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / BAM

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 4, 2015-a review

Between love and hate, there’s a whole lot of trouble…

Chad Lake only showed up at his sister’s party for the free food, but when he spots an uptight nerd at the edge of the crowd, he can’t resist trying to ruffle the guy’s perfect bow tie and impeccable hair. The hottie’s ready for him, though, and in the end, it’s Chad who’s left wide-eyed, his ears still ringing with the filthy things Bow Tie whispered in his ear. No one gets the upper hand on Chad. Ever.

Owen Hawkins has heard all about the cocky Adonis from Chad’s sister—the same sister who holds Owen’s career advancement in her hands. He has every intention of steering clear of the other man…until Chad’s sexy taunts push him too far. There’s something intriguing about Chad, and even though Owen knows that getting tangled up with the infuriating man is trouble, he can’t seem to stay away…

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: TIED TO TROUBLE is the third installment in Megan Erickson’s contemporary, adult GAMERS erotic, romance series. This is bartender Chad Lake, and GAMERS magazine copy editor Owen Hawkins. TIED TO TROUBLE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: TIED TO TROUBLE is a M/M story line with graphic, sexual imagery and text.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Chad and Owen) TIED TO TROUBLE focuses on the building relationship between Chad Lake-Marley Lake’s (Chasing His Game #1) younger brother, and Owen Hawkins-Marley’s coworker at Gamers Magazine. Chad is a twenty seven year old sexy, bad boy who is struggling to find his place in the world. Working as a bartender but hoping for something else, Chad finds himself attracted to his sister’s co-worker Owen Hawkins-a copy editor, eye glass wearing, bow tie wearing nerd who pushes all of Chad’s buttons. What ensues is a push and pull romance between two people who want something more from life and love.

The relationship between Chad and Owen is one of immediate attraction but Chad and Owen are opposites: Chad is the sexy, bad boy; the bartending partier who has failed to follow a successful life path. Owen is a successful copy editor with some issues of low self esteem; a man who believes he is not worthy of a man like Chad. When Chad and Owen are asked to work together on a surprise for Marley, the sexual attraction between our leading couple increases but a lie and a misunderstanding push Owen and Chad in opposite directions-once again. The $ex scenes are erotic, intense and seductive.

All of the previous story line couples play a secondary and supporting role. Part of the story line focuses on Marley and Austin’s (Changing His Game #1) continuing relationship-their future and their love, and Chad and Owen’s connection to their possible

TIED TO TROUBLE has a little bit of everything: $ex and romance; lies and betrayal; forgiveness and fun. The premise is spirited and sexy; the characters are dynamic; the romance is impassioned but there were a couple of questionable moments with Chad’s behavior towards the man that he loved.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Changing His Game by Megan Erickson – a Review

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Changing His Game by Megan Erickson – a Review

 

Changing His GameAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM

Description:
He controls the game, but she’s rewriting all the rules…

Marley Lake is no stranger to awkwardness, but getting caught watching a dirty GIF by the company’s hot new IT guy exceeds even her standards. That is, until she realizes he’s as turned on by it as she is. But with a big promotion on the line, she refuses to let her current dry spell be her downfall. Maybe.

Austin Rivers has no business lusting after the irresistible editor of Gamers Magazine. He’s a secret partner in the business—and technically Marley’s boss. One look at that GIF, though, and he’s ready to install a whole lot more than just software…as long as she never finds out who he really is.

But reality’s not as virtual as it seems, and when Austin’s identity jeopardizes Marley’s promotion, he has to change his game or risk losing the only woman with the cheat code to his heart.

 

Review:

Changing His Game, A Gamers Novel by Megan Erickson is the first book in the incredibly funny, erotic – The Gamers Series.  This book tells the story of Marley Lake, a beautiful, smart, young, head of the copy editing team at Gamers Magazine.  She is well respected and well known in the gaming industry for her knowledge, reviews, and news on new games hitting the market.  While working late one night and on a deadline her computer freezes.  Knowing that she is about to miss her deadline, and almost everyone is gone for the day; she decides to call on IT.  She is patiently waiting for “Cheese Stink Abraham” from IT to arrive only to realize that he has been replaced with dark and brooding Austin Rivers.  While Austin sets out to fix her computer issues she soon remembers that she had forgotten to close out of her Tumblr account.  And the next thing you know he is clicking on that particular internet tab and up pops a hot and steamy GIF.  One that she has spent many times fantasizing over.  Awkward and embarrassed she soon realizes that it may have turned him on just as much as it did her. And with one click of her tab – their worlds would change forever. 

Marley Lake is career driven; detail oriented and has been having a dry spell in the romance department as of late.  But one interaction with the companies hot, new IT guy is not going to dissuade her from working hard and striving for a new job opportunity within her company.  Or will it?   While out one night to see a newly released movie based on a video game, she runs into Austin and the alcove in the movie theater lobby will never be the same.  But can she keep her mind off this co-worker who should be off limits and do what she needs to do to get the promotion she wants. 

Austin Rivers is a secret partner and owner of Gamers Magazine.  When the one woman in the company that should be completely off limits calls for IT help one night, he doesn’t know why, but he decides to go and help her.  From the moment he saw the pornographic GIF on her computer his thoughts are constantly about her.  He can’t seem to think straight or even remotely concentrate on anything work related.  But can he have a relationship with her without her knowing that he is really her boss.  And what will happen when she finds out?  He isn’t sure he wants to risk any of it.  But yet again – he can’t seem to get her out of his head.

I absolutely loved the premise of this book and the book description I read before accepting to review it was hilarious, sexy and quite intriguing.  My first thought was how is this author going to make gaming, cosplay and computer geeks sexy, romantic and erotic?  But I am pleased to say that it was all of that and more.  Much, much more… 

This book was highly erotic, sensual and yet all the while funny and witty.  It is exactly the kind of book that will have you flushed and hot and turning on the AC and laughing and tearing up the next.  It was the perfect mix of eroticism, romance, lust and humor.  I couldn’t wait to turn the page and see what was going to happen next and what Marley was going to do once she found out the truth about Austin.

The characters were real and quite relatable.  I fell for Austin’s nerdy yet dark and brooding personality from the start.  And Marley was hilarious and witty and quite a joy to read.   The sub-character of Marley’s brother Chad added an amazing sibling banter that made me laugh out loud and I could relate to the embarrassment Marley felt at times with his crazy sense of humor.  And just for the record – I am totally rooting for a Chad and Owen book – oh please oh please!!!! I literally found myself yelling at Marley – HELLO – CHAD and OWEN!!!!!   

Austin’s best friend and business partner Grant was warm and funny.  His constant antagonizing of Austin was hilarious and was exactly how a friendship since college would play out in the real world.  I loved the bond that Grant and Austin had for one another and add Grant’s daughter Sydney to the mix and it was complete and total love.

I completely enjoyed the play on words and puns that were rampant throughout this book. All of which made it all the more enjoyable.  If you love gaming, cosplay,  erotica, romance, lust and laughing – this book will be right up your alley.    I will happily continue on with this series. 

Reviewed by Erin

Copy provided by Publisher

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