Playing Dirty by Amy Andrews – a Review

Playing Dirty by Amy Andrews – a Review

 

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Description:
Sydney Smoke star recruit Kyle Leighton can’t believe the best sex of his life was just a one-night stand. He didn’t even know her name… Until she shows up at the locker room two weeks later and he connects the dots.

Val King. Oh shit.

Coach has one hard and fast rule: Never, ever date (much less f*ck ten ways to Sunday) his daughter. And not only did Kyle break that rule, but he wants to break it over and over again. In the shower. Against a wall. On every flat surface in his home.

 


Review;

Playing Dirty by Amy Andrews is the 6th instalment in her Sydney Smoke Rugby series.  I have to say this is only the 2nd book in this series that I’ve read, but I’m really enjoying this series.  Needless to say I’ve got the other books stockpiled for future reads.

Playing Dirty is a fast paced, charming, witty and steamy romantic adventure between Kyle and Val.  I loved these two from the get go, and enjoyed their journey to their HEA.  Val is a saucy, headstrong female lead who knows what she wants and decides she’s not going to be afraid to go for it regardless of her father’s rules where his players are concerned.  Kyle is your typical hot shot rugby player, but he’s fallen for the coach’s daughter and career be damned if that’s what it comes down to when it come’s to Val for him.  Kyle is a sexy, strong, charming, knows what he wants kinda guy.  He’s pretty much sex on a stick and knows how to keep his woman happy both outside and inside the bedroom.  Kyle and Val hit if off from the start and their scenes are fun, flirty, and steamy as all get out.  There’s never a dull moment between these two. 

Even though it’s a fast read I never found their story rushed or the chemistry between these two characters pushed on the reader.  It flowed from beginning to end at a good pace and let the reader really get to know both Val and Kyle.  We got to learn a lot of back story on both characters in a short amount of time that only helped to move their story along and give the reader a better understanding of both characters and why Val’s father is the way he is with Val. Her back story and her father’s is a sad one, but it was nice to see how Kyle played a role in helping to re-connect father and daughter and see Val’s father change his rule about dating the coach’s daughter where Kyle is concerned.  Those scenes between Kyle and Val’s dad were emotionally charged but well played out. Kudo’s to Amy for writing such meaningful scenes.  In the end when Kyle is trying his damnedest to win Amy back is just downright funny.  The way Miss Andrews describes Kyle as a hippy Jesus type camped out in the park across the street from her backery had me laughing out loud and I could so picture that description in my head.  Watching Kyle prove to Val that he really does love her and would give up his rugby career in a heartbeat to be with her were touching and real. 

I couldn’t have asked for a better ending to a fun, yet emotional adventure in romance and sports.  I can’t wait to read the next instalment and go back to read the first few in the series. 

Until next time, happy reading everyone!!

Reviewed by Marcie

Copy provided by Publisher

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Playing Dirty by C.L. Parker-a review

Playing Dirty (Monkey Business Trio #1) by C.L. Parker-a review

Playing Dirty

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For fans of Bared to You and Beautiful Bastard comes the start of an irresistible new erotic romance series in which competition is the ultimate seduction.

Shaw Matthews plays to win, and he intends to snag a coveted partnership at San Diego’s hottest sports agency by signing America’s top athlete. Only one woman stands in his way: rival agent Cassidy Whalen. But eliminating the competition will be Shaw’s pleasure when he concocts an ingenious plan to seduce Cassidy and show the beautiful ballbreaker who’s the better man for the job. That is, until Cassidy turns the tables—and their steamy encounters start breaking all the rules.

Cassidy has worked hard to make it in a man’s cutthroat arena, and she isn’t going down without a fight, not even against the six-two alpha hunk whose rock-hard body awakens desires she’s never known before. As Cassidy shares night after night of unending passion with Shaw, the game begins to change. Now Cassidy stands to lose everything—unless a fiery contest of wills can become a winning proposition for two people who keep raising the stakes.

Playing Dirty is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

REVIEW

5 out of 5 for this reader folks!

SMOKIN’ HOT, TOE CURLING, YUMMILICIOUS! Yup …. just a few words to describe this hot hot read.

Playing Dirty by C.L. Parker is the first book in her Monkey Business Trio series and what a fantastic start. If you like erotica, sports and a two strong willed leads that are fuelled by that fine line of love and hate, then you will adore this book.

Shaw Matthews and Cassidy Whalen are two sport agents that have been pitted against each other to win a partnership within their agency. Both are worthy of this position, are excellent at what they do and have been advised to break the rules to sign the latest hot ticket player in the sports world. They also can’t stand each other, which makes this battle that much more bitter sweet.

Shaw is fierce and will go to all extremes to get this contract, including seducing his nemesis. Cassidy has had to battle up hill her entire career just because of her sex alone, so she sure isn’t going to lose this contract on account of a sexist pig who she believes has had everything handed to him on a silver platter. She may have to pull the one card she has never pulled … her sex appeal.

These two collide, go head to head and toe to toe, one up another and ultimately land in each others bed (or car, plane, wall .. you get the picture .. LOL) . Between these sheets the storm is as turbulent and possessive as are their verbal and strategic fights and before they know it, many lines are blurred and the real prize just may not be the coveted contract.

I seriously loved these two characters and I am admittedly a sucker for a fierce hot battle. C.L. Parker delivers realistic scenes (in my world at least ..WINK), characters and a clear lesson that what you see isn’t always what you get. Many other characters were introduced and given their own little side stories that just added to the heat, humour and story development. The reader is left on a cliffhanger begging her to hurry up and release the next book.

If you love the dirty talk, breaking rules and harsh truth in your books, then check this one out for sure!

HAPPY READING!

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Rachel T

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Running Hot / Playing Dirty (Bad Boys Undercover .5 & 1) by HelenKay Dimon-a review

PLAYING DIRTY (Bad Boys Undercover #1) by HelenKay Dimon-a review

Playing Dirty

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 27, 2015

As an elite Alliance agent—the joint undercover operation of MI6, the British Secret Intelligence Service, and the CIA—Ford Decker lives for the adrenaline. But when he befriends sexy property manager Shay Alexander in hopes of finding her cousin, a known national security threat, Ford crosses the line, getting to know her better . . . in bed.

After being burned by her last relationship, Shay wants to take things slow. Yet she can’t keep her hands off the drop-dead gorgeous hottie who’s moved into her apartment building. So when Ford’s identity as an undercover agent is exposed, his betrayal cuts deep. Shay never wants to see him again, but Ford can’t let her go, not when her life is still in danger. He will sacrifice everything to protect her, then be prepared to walk away from the only woman he’s ever loved, even if it breaks him.

•••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: 4.25 stars–PLAYING DIRTY is the first full length installment in HelenKay Dimon’s new contemporary adult Bad Boys Undercover action, suspense romance series focusing on an elite group of former CIA and MI6 operatives known as Alliance. This is agent Ford Decker and property manager Shay Alexander’s storyline

The storyline follows Ford’s building relationship with Shay. Undercover as an IT tech and Shay’s newest apartment resident, Ford Decker weaves a seductive trail in the hope of uncovering the whereabouts of Shay’s industrious cousin-a man suspected in the latest terrorist threat against the USA. While Ford seduces his way into Shay’s life and her bed, his team of elite Alliance agents are on the hunt for anything that will lead the Team back to Shay’s cousin. With National security at risk, Ford is willing to risk everything including his relationship with Shay-one that he knows will be destroyed when the truth about his latest assignment is revealed.

The relationship between Shay and Ford is highly sexualized, erotic and energetic but it is a relationship that was not authorized and has not been condoned by the people in charge. Everyone knows that Ford has lost his heart to the undercover mark, and there are concerns that Ford will not be able to complete the investigation and his assignment should Shay’s life be threatened.

The secondary and supporting characters include Ford’s team of operatives-all former CIA and MI6 agents whose specialties make for some dangerous friends and comrades. We also see a little more of CIA operative Ward Bennett and the love of his life Tasha Gregory whose story was told in the introductory novella RUNNING HOT (December 2014).

The world building follows the actions and military like precision of the Alliance Team whose working dynamics are compromised when one of their own turns traitor. From hidden cameras to secret warehouses, back room negotiations and hidden trackers, the men and women of the Alliance Team know their way around negotiations, terrorist threats and take downs.

HelenKay Dimon does another amazing job of introducing the players, the stakes and the behind the scenes struggles of an elite group of warriors who risk their lives to keep the world a safer place.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Edelweiss

Reviewed by Sandy

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RUNNING HOT
(Bad Boys Undercover .5)
by HelenKay Dimon

Amazon.com / Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

Running HotABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 16, 2014

HelenKay Dimon kicks off her hot new romantic suspense series, Bad Boys Undercover, featuring the fierce men of Alliance—and the only women capable of taming their hearts.

Camped out at a resort bar in Fiji, CIA operative Ward Bennett may look like he’s on vacation but he’s really deep undercover, hunting a dictator on the run. Ward may be on the job, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t time for the sexy female bartender. That is, until she drugs him.

When Tasha Gregory discovers the hottie on the barstool isn’t who he pretends to be, her MI6 training kicks into gear, and she has no choice but to take him out. Problem is, Ward’s not an easy man to put down for long. More than once, his interference almost blows her surveillance operation—and her ability to keep her heart to herself.

As the situation heats up, these two must decide whether they can trust one another—and quick. Working together might just make everyone safer, but getting close enough for comfort … might just get them killed.

•••••••••

REVIEW: RUNNING HOT is the introductory novella in HelenKay Dimon’s adult contemporary Bad Boys Undercover action, suspense, romance series. This is CIA operative Ward Bennett and MI6 agent Tasha Gregory’s storyline.

The storyline follows Ward and Tasha’s undercover assignments in Fiji. Neither is aware that other is deep undercover or that they are looking for the same evil dictator whose attempting to amass a stash of military grade weapons. What ensues is Tasha’s take down of Ward; his decision to merge information with Tasha; and their pursuit of a man who is accumulating a horde of illegal weapons and machinery. Enter fellow CIA agent Ford who aids Tasha and Ward in their search for a missing MI6 operative; add some less than cooperative gun-toting assassins whose idea of fun is torture and mutilation; and you have yourself a recipe for disaster.

RUNNING HOT is a predictable, quick and easy introductory read; an action packed story of suspense and romance. I did have some issues with the writing style-as though I was being told a story and not invited in-especially during the action and fight sequences which came across as stilted and cold-almost choreographed. Our couple take a few minutes to ‘discover’ one another’s deepest secrets which mark the beginnings of a permanent relationship-one that will result in the formation of a new Black Ops Team known as Alliance-the merging of former CIA and MI6 agents whose assignments are dangerous and deadly.

Reviewed by Sandy

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