Playing To Win by Jaci Burton

Someone’s going to have to let down their guard...

Football star Cole Riley is notorious for doing as he pleases—on the field and off. He parties hard and fights harder, but if he doesn’t clean up his act, his career is over—so Cole reluctantly agrees to work with image makeover consultant Savannah Brooks. He’s not used to being told what to do, especially by some (admittedly hot) Southern belle. As for Savannah, she’s not convinced she can transform this cocky (and aggressively sexy) force of nature. But she’s determined to give it her best shot.

When the sparks start to fly, Savannah lays down the ground rules: no personal complications. If she can turn off the tingle she feels every time Cole gives her a hot stare with his gorgeous baby blues, he can turn off his desire as well. But for two people determined to have it all, a hands-off policy can only last so long before one of them yields.


When in doubt what to read next...pick a Jaci Burton read. I have been busy finally getting back to work after being out sick for almost three weeks. That meant catching up with a bijillion work email messages and zero reading time. I changed that this weekend. And what better way to kick off than with a JB read?

It was fun catching up with this series and the Riley clan. Ahh, I love athletes...even if I'm not a big fan of American football. I liked this book enough--sexy, fun, and I got to know another two well-written characters. I got myself smack in the middle of the other characters from the other books in the series. I always love it when I get to revisit with previous characters. Liz was probably my least favorite character in the first book but I definitely loved her in this.

This was another gem from JB. Never mind that I couldn't connect so much to the characters in this book but I didn't have a hard time finishing the book. I thought the story was simple though but with enough depth in the characters to decently carry it along from start to finish. 

Cole was a mystery from the previous earlier books but I was glad to finally have the chance to finally get to know him better. It was great reading about his transformation within the story and I liked it that he really seemed to heed Savannah's advice regarding his image, even if they were engaged in a relationship. I liked that pride didn't seem to play at all whenever they have disagreements and didn't let any quarrel fester. They always managed to talk things out. I think that was what I liked best in this book.


Final verdict: 7/10. Good read.


Play By Play series reviews:
The Perfect Play
Changing The Game
Taking A Shot

Taking A Shot by Jaci Burton

If you want to score, you have to get in the game...

The last thing Jenna Riley needs is more sports in her life. While her brothers are off being athletic superstars, she's stuck running the family's sports bar, whether she likes it or not. Then in walks pro hockey stud Tyler Anderson. As much as Jenna would like to go to the boards with him, she's vowed to never fall for a jock-even one as hot as Ty.

Ty, intrigued by the beautiful bar owner, becomes a regular. He senses that Jenna wants to do something more with her life. And as he gains her trust, the passion between them grows, as does Ty's insistence that Jenna should start living for herself. With his encouragement, Jenna starts to believe it, too...

But first, Jenna has to figure out what she wants, what she needs, who she loves, and if she has the passion and pride to take a shot at having it all-including Ty...


I don't know why but Tyler came out like a brother for me in this book. Yes, he was hot (let's make that cover a guide!) but he just sounded too cute that I really wanted to pinch his cheeks. Like a baby!

So I thought that was going to help me lose interest in the romance aspect of the story. But it kind of added to the appeal because I was rooting for Tyler to come out on top in this story.

When I first met Jenna in the first book of this series, I really didn't know what to make of her character. And I was glad not to make any sort of biases because she turned out to be a great character to read. I personally love sports but a lot of my friends aren't so in reverse, I totally got her predicament in being surrounded by too much of it. Although it started out that she was not going to do anything about it, I loved how she eventually decided to slowly come of her comfort zone. I also liked how Tyler pushed her to really be the person that she was and not to be defined by what was expected of her.

My most favorite part of the book? There wasn't the usual pride that could cause so much drama in the usual stories. When Ty and Jenna had a falling out, there wasn't any childish no-talking-to-each-other part. The willingness to actually talk it out with each other was a good change. Good, good, good.


Final verdict: 8/10. Good read.


Play By Play series reviews:
The Perfect Play
Changing The Game

Changing The Game by Jaci Burton

Most people play by the rules. Gavin and Liz aren't most people...

Win at any cost. That's always been the mantra of sports agent Liz Darnell. When she carries things too far and risks losing her number-one client, baseball pro Gavin Riley, Liz realizes that she'll have to work extra innings to win him back. It might not be too much of a stretch. She's had a thing for this player's moves since she first laid eyes on him, and by the looks of it, he wants her just as bad.

Gavin's more than ready—especially when Liz is offering herself as part of the bargain. And as much of her as Gavin wants. For added thrills, he decides to throw a little curve ball Liz's way to see just how far she's truly willing to go to keep him as a client. But when love unexpectedly enters the playing field, neither Liz nor Gavin are ready for the biggest game-changer of them all.


I enjoyed the first book in this series so much I got on the second one as soon as I could...which was as soon as I ended the last page in the previous one. Ahhh, Jaci Burton, you're killing me with awesomeness here!

I loved this book, too. Once again, mind that you check the cover. Right?!?! And to think that Gavin and Mick were brothers; and then looking at these two covers, I couldn't help but think that these Rileys have some great genes. I want. Ha!

Alright, so the reason I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book was because book one of this series teased me enough. That Elizabeth-Gavin kiss right at the end of that book really got me. ***SPOILER*** I admit, Liz became my least favorite person there for a while after what she did to Mick and Tara but I just knew that if they had a book, it was going to a sizzler.

And JB did not disappointment. This dirty talking was enough to get me--hook, line, and sinker. But it was the fluidity of weaving the sexy parts and melding it comfortably into the more familial side of the story that was making me addicted to this story. There was one hiccup in this book that really irritated me--Gavin's asshole moments. I wanted him to really fight for Liz, and especially to Mick when he really started attacking her verbally. These parts (there was more than one occasion...ugh!) in the book really deflated me and kind of burst my bubble a bit. 

Good thing all was good in the end. I guess they were the necessary evils for the good ending. It didn't mean I had to like it though. Nevertheless, I cannot get enough of this series. But since it is still ongoing, I am trying to go through the books slowly so I don't run out. I'll probably give it a week before I give in and pick up the third book.



Final verdict: 7/10.


Play-By-Play series reviews:
A Perfect Play

The Perfect Play by Jaci Burton

Football pro Mick Riley is an all-star, both on the field and in the bedroom. But a sexy, determinedly single mom just might be the one to throw him off his game...

For years Mick has been taking full advantage of the life available to a pro athlete: fame, fortune, and a different girl in every city. But when he meets and beds confident, beautiful event planner Tara Lincoln, he wants much more than the typical one-night stand. Too bad Tara's not interested in getting to know football's most notorious playboy any better.

As the single mother of a teenage son, the last thing Tara needs is the jet-set lifestyle of Mick Riley; even though their steamy and passionate one-night stand was unforgettable. Tara's life is complicated enough without being thrust into the spotlight as Mick's latest girl du jour. Tara played the game of love once and lost big, and she doesn't intend to put herself out there again, especially with a heartbreaker like Mick.

But when Mick sets his mind to win, nothing will stop him. And he has the perfect play in mind.


I wanted to take a break from all the rockstars I have been reading about lately and what better way to do that than spending time with athletes. I love sports and equally, the sportsmen that come with them. Never mind that this book was about American football...which I am not a fan of. When I talk football, I really meant soccer. (Trivia: Only four countries in the world call the sport soccer while the rest of the world call it football. I agree with the rest of the world.)

This was my first Jaci Burton and I have had this book in my TBR pile for quite some time. Most of the books in the series are in my TBR right now, in fact. I am an easily distracted reader so I guess that explains me delaying starting this series. But also because I really like a series to be done and over with before starting it because I hate having to wait for the succeeding books in it. But just look at that cover. SWEET BABY JEEZUS! I just couldn't say no anymore.

I loved this book. Hey, it just wasn't about the cover! I had fun reading about Mick and Tara. This was probably one of the most fast-paced, easiest reads I had in sometime. I just went through it a snap. Should I mention that I started reading this at 3AM because I woke up that early and couldn't go back to sleep anymore...on a Sunday morning?! 

But I was glad I finally got around to reading this book and starting this series. It was sexy as hell, family-rooted, kinda reminiscent of KP's With Me In Seattle series which I also adored. The dirty talk got me good, too. Phew! *fans self* And despite this, it managed to maintain a serious undertone regarding the Mick's history with alcohol. It was finely incorporated into the story, too. I hope this series stretches enough until Nathan is grown and gets a story of his own--loved this kid!

I guess it goes without saying I have found a new name to add to my (growing) list of favorite authors.


Final verdict: 8/10. Great read.