Billionaire Maxwell Van Harkel is the most eligible bachelor in our small town. He’s gorgeous, sexy, and he’s my best friends brother. That’s why when my best friend invited to spend the winter holidays with her family, I couldn’t say no. I just wanted to see if Max and I would have a connection. It wasn’t like I was planning on seducing him. Though some nights it seemed like he was trying to … seduce me.
Maxwell has a personality that confuses me. Some days I think he wants me as badly as I want him and then other days he acts like I don’t exist. And then there are all the hot women that want him. And sometimes it seems to me that he wants them as well. So I decided to play him at his own game. I decided to ignore him and find someone else. Try and make him jealous and see if I can figure out if he really wants me or not.
Only Maxwell doesn’t react like I thought he would. And while I think I’m in love with him, I come to find out that he’s holding a secret so deep and dark that it might threaten our entire future.
The Bachelor’s Games is a completely rewritten and revised version of The Billionaire’s Games and New Beginnings published under Helen Cooper.
more
Maxwell and Sophie’s story takes us on an emotional ride that we won’t soon forget. Their story is full of secrets, mystery, and manipulations that are so well written that you will just keep turning the page for more. I read this book in the 7 Nights of Sin boxed set which I received as an ARC and highly recommend it.
Maxwell And Sophie’s Steamy Story Is Both Dark And Tender As Maxwell Struggles To Put His Past Behind And Embrace His Love For Sophie!
This book has two parts, each essentially a book in itself. Part one is Sophie’s story. It is almost entirely in her POV. There are three very small sections in other POVs – namely Ella, Mildred (the librarian), and Maxwell’s POVs. Part two represents various POVs. Maxwell and Sophie’s story continues, but this part is plot-driven.
Part one:
Sophie, twenty-two, loves books. She wants to experience the epic love she reads about, to be loved deeply and dominated completely. Although she has a loving aunt and uncle that care for her, it doesn’t erase the pain of becoming an orphan in her youth. Losing her parents had left an emptiness inside that she had worn on her face. But her friendship with Ella Van Harkel has been a godsend. It has been a constant since they met on the first day of boarding school when they were seven. Since then, the Van Harkel family has practically adopted her. Fifteen years later, she and Ella are like sisters. They are about to begin their final semester at Columbia University in New York, and Sophie’s future is uncertain. She lives with Ella for now, though things could easily change after graduation. She has accompanied Ella home during break or over summer for years, and she has many good memories of her visits. But something had happened a year ago that made her reluctant to return, and it is only because of Ella’s insistence that Sophie finds herself returning to the Van Harkel manor once again for Christmas break.
Maxwell Van Harkel, thirty, is not interested in settling down. He doesn’t claim to be a good man. He helps run the family company and goes through women like water. He has no qualms with sending them on their way once he tires of them. But that doesn’t stop Sophie from loving him. She has secretly loved him for years. Although he is so often detached in the last five years, he was once very different with her. He was her confidant, and she could talk to him about anything. But she would rather not see him again than to relive the pain she experienced on her last visit.
Maxwell and Sophie’s story is steeped in uncertainty as they find themselves gravitating toward one another. Maxwell is hot and cold and proves that he is not a good man. Sophie is willing to risk her heart for the love that she desperately wants to experience with Maxwell, but when she overhears some information that points to a troubled and hushed past, she realizes that she doesn’t know him quite as well as she had thought. Despite her age and inexperience relative to Maxwell, Sophie does have limits and self-respect. It is nice to see her stand up for herself when she recognizes she is uncomfortable. Maxwell struggles with his past as he toys with Sophie against his better instincts. He keeps his troubles close to his vest, though, so he is difficult to read. As a result, Sophie is faced with challenges and surprises that threaten to put an end to whatever it is they might have. But innocent as she might be, Sophie’s own dishonesty could end up crushing her dreams.
Part two:
Be ready to have your heart crushed as you begin part two! Maxwell and Sophie were presumably on their way to happily ever after, but Max’s past catches up to him and suddenly nothing is certain. Senator Frank Phillips is one man that Maxwell wants nothing to do with ever again, but Frank seems to be making his way back into Max’s life. Alexis Gold, a woman from Max’s past, keeps reappearing and seems dead set upon causing trouble. Max seeks counseling from the psychiatrist that helped him through his darkest days, and Dr. Spencer listens as Max worries about returning down those dark roads. Sophie and Ella’s friendship had been strained when the truth came out. Lonely and struggling, they each make a new friend. Capri gives Ella hope that she can turn her life around, while Nicholas offers Sophie a friendship that feels carefree and normal in comparison to the drama she has been through with Max. This is no longer just Maxwell and Sophie’s story. The past unravels and the threat is unveiled via the various points of view of most of these characters. The couple earns a very happy ending.
Maxwell and Sophie’s steamy story is both dark and tender as Maxwell struggles to put his past behind and embrace his love for Sophie. The couple has great chemistry. The story is written somewhat unconventionally, shifting its presentation in part two. The plot is complex, particularly in part two. The characters feel real. Maxwell’s transformation is beautiful, and Sophie shows incredible strength as she freely forgives. They both have big hearts. The story is written in third person. The POV in the first part is primarily Sophie’s, and the second part represents many different POV’s. I rate this book four stars.
I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Sophie and Maxwell’s story is a long and tumultuous one. The author has brought together a great story that keeps you anticipating what is going to happen. A great read!!
As we learn that Sophie had loved Max forever and would have done anything to be with him, but she’s riddled with guilt that her best friend Ella will find out. One drink enhanced moment in the dark changes everything. However Max gave me whiplash, I want you, no this is wrong, I want you again. I was ready to smack him. Then dark secrets are revealed and we find out if their love is enough. “Sometimes love isn’t enough”
Sophie has loved Max her whole life but he was so much older than her and her best friends brother, she would write in her diary even time she saw him. Finally she went to visit with his sister Ella and her dreams are finally coming true but Max is so hot and cold she isn’t sure if he is attracted to her or not. Well Sophie gets pregnant and even though Max is happy his associates and ex girlfriend are not so let the games begin. I can’t believe how much Sophie loves Max no matter what he does or has done and the you just keep hoping for a happy ending.
Best friends brother romance about Sophie and Max. Great story and wonderful characters. The chemistry between the two was so great. This story had plenty of secrets, heat, twists and turns and romance that will keep you on the edge of your seats.
I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I loved this story. This is an amazing book that has to be read. I could not put it down until I finished the very last word. It moves along at a very comfortable pace which makes it an enjoyable read as it is not constantly changing pace. The characters are truly interesting and once you start reading about them, you want to know more and then once you do, you feel as though you have known them forever. The story will grab you and you will not be able to put down until you finish the very last word. This has to be read, you will not be sorry that you did.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie’s Book Reports.
Billionaire Maxwell Van Harkel is the most eligible bachelor in our small town. He’s gorgeous, sexy, and he’s my best friends brother. That’s why when my best friend invited me to spend the winter holidays with her family, I couldn’t say no. I just wanted tos ee if Max and I would have a connection. It wasn’t like I was planning on seducing him. Though some nights it seemed like he was tryin to seduce me. Maxwell has a personality that confuses me. Some days I think he wants me as badly as I want him and then other days he acts like I don’t exist. And then there are all the hot women that want him. And sometimes it seems to me that he wants them as well. So Idecided to play him at his own game. I decided to ignore him and find someone else. Try and make jealous and see if I can figure out if he really wants me or not. Only Maxwell doesn’t react like I thought he would. And while I think I’m in love with him, I come to find out tha he’s holding a secret so deep and dark that it might threaten our entire future.
I am a huge fan of best friend’s anything. This is the story of Max and Sophie. Sophie is a twenty two year old who has had it bad for Max for a very long time. He though is her best friends brother and he is the most eligible bachelor in the town they live in. All the women want him and I think he really likes all the attention. Though Max is hiding some major secrets and beleives that he can’t have Sophie. She is forbidden to him. And forbiddens ends up sending him down a dark path. I loved the mystery of the book. All the twists and turns. I liked the characters and the writing. If you like best friends brothers are off limits book then you are going to like this one.
A great best friend’s brother suspense romance! Max and Sophie take you on a ride of suspense, secrets, hot sex, twists and turns and of course, love. I was intrigued from beginning to end. It was hard to tell what was going to happen next. This is one of Ms. Cooper’s best books yet!
Ms. Cooper has written a wonderful best-friend’s brother suspense romance 4+*. I enjoyed the story. The plot was intricate. At some points, I was annoyed by the 22 year old girls, but hey, they’re 22! Maxwell’s behavior was a bit over the top, read, you’ll know why, but it provides the fodder for many things that happen. I really felt bad for Maxwell, and Sophie frustrated me often. I’m curious to see if Ella will get her own story. Very entertaining book!
Another hit by one of my all time favorite authors!! I love the sisters best friend stories and this goes to the top of my list. I couldn’t enough of Sophie and Max and there hot and cold behavior, it hooked me from the very first page and I practically devoured this book! Totally recommend
I really enjoyed this book. It was really intense and had me on pins and needles to find out what Max was hiding from Sophie in the beginning, why he thought he wasn’t good enough for her. I thought it was beautifully written and entertaining. It’s definitely a page turner. Definitely recommend putting this book on your tbr pile. I’d loved to see a book come out about Ella and then we can find out more about Max and Sophie’s baby #2. Read an ARC of this book.
This book has a lot to keep you on the edge of your seat. Max is a bit hard to like in the beginning. His secrets, his past, everything, leaves him with a hard edge. Sophie is this young, nice woman that’s definitely naive. All of the characters are complicated, keeping secrets but mesh well together. Sit down, buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Maxwell and Sophie will have you wanting to pull your hair out! They are both in love with each other but are too afraid to admit to one another because he is her brother’s bff. Their story will keep you on the edge of your seat. It ia a fantastic story that I honestly volunteered to review.