3 hunky French athletes. 3 passionate women who fall under their spell. 3 hot and tender love stories.BOOK 1: PLAYING WITH FIREEmbroiderer Uma is all kinds of wrong for single dad Zach.She’s his son’s nanny, still chaste at 23… and falling in love with him. In short, she’s completely off-limits. And just as completely irresistible. BOOK 2: PLAYING FOR KEEPSEx-player Isabelle takes a job as a … PLAYING FOR KEEPS
Ex-player Isabelle takes a job as a publicist for a Paris water-polo team.
That means she must face amnesiac coach Lucas, the jerk who broke her heart six years ago.
But Lucas is a brand-new man after his head trauma.
He has no idea why Isabelle is avoiding him — or why he is so drawn to her.
BOOK 3: PLAYING DIRTY
In his pimply teens, Julien was led on, played and publicly humiliated by Noemi.
Now a heartthrob and a sports star, he craves revenge.
Even as he still craves Noemi.
If you like single dad romances, revenge plots filled with angst and passion, and heartwarming second chance novels, you’ll love the PLAYING TO WIN box set!
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The single dad. The broken soul. The man with out a past. Playing to Win deliveries meaningful tales of love, courage and maturity. Although I enjoyed Zach and Uma’s whirlwind into love, it was Lucas and Isabelle and Julien and Noemi that spoke to my heart. Lucas and Noemi were given the most precious of gifts, but pride and youth nearly destroyed their happily ever after. Isabelle and Julien have a tough road ahead of them as learn how to forgive the people that hurt them. Told from the viewpoint of the characters, each story makes good on the drama. However it’s the moments of vulnerability that bring hope and emotion to these stories of redemption and healing.
Playing With Fire: An enjoyable sports romance, Zach is attracted to a much younger Uma who is his son’s au pair. She is off limits for all sorts of reasons, not least of which she works for him. However, the appeal is undeniable and when the unlikely pair reach a point of no return, they find that the connection between goes much deeper than they first thought. Apart from the difference in age and cultures, Zach and Uma have a number of obstacles to overcome. I loved both Zach and Uma’s characters and I felt the sizzle all the way through the book.
Playing for Keeps: A second chance romance, only he doesn’t know it! Lucas is battling to deal with his past life after suffering a debilitating attack that leaves him with amnesia. He knows that both Isabelle and Angela hold keys to his past, but neither of them are talking. Despite what he has been told, Angela no longer holds Lucas’ attention, but Isabelle fascinates him and draws him in. However, Isabelle is avoiding him and he realises that he has done something to wound her, but with amnesia blocking his recall, he cannot make amends. Bit by bit the truth starts to emerge making Lucas angry both with the perpetrator of the crime against him, and at himself for his deplorable actions towards Isabelle. I loved the pull of attraction between Lucas and Isabelle and the way in which Lucas refused to give up on the possibility of a relationship with her. This is a well written romance that tugs at the heart strings.
Playing Dirty: Although this is second chances romance, I found the book to be terribly sad. Whilst I understand why Julien took revenge on Noemi, I was nevertheless uncomfortable with the form that it took. The story made me realise again that we judge the circumstances of our youth, both our own actions and those of others, through the eyes of an adult. However, as young adults people are still immature and unfortunately act irresponsibly. I was glad that both Julien and Noemi came to their senses, but the story left me feeling slightly depressed.
Although this box set is part of a series and there are a number of characters that also appear in other books, each story is a standalone and has a happy ending. I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.
I recently read these three very enjoyable (free advance copies) books and the following are my unbiased reviews for each. They are stand-alones with interwoven stories and I am happy to recommend this series as great reading entertainment.
1. Playing with Fire
This is Zack and Uma’s story. She is a virgin and moves in to au pair for him and look after his son who is an epileptic. Zack is the captain of a pro Polo Water Team.
Of course there is a very cute kid in this story – Zack’s son and Uma grows to love him dearly.
Zack and Uma have an affair and its almost too late when he finally plucks up the courage to tell her he loves her and this story does have a happily ever after in it. Thank goodness!
It is written in the usual Alix Nichols style and is a short story but fast paced.
There are some heart wrenching scenes in it, some very romantic as well as some very funny ones and all in all I am quite happy to recommend it.
2. Playing for Keeps
This is Lucas and Isabelle’s story and tells of the uncertainties and blanks in Lucas’ memories due to amnesia caused by a blow to the head.
Have the two of them really only always just been ‘friends’? This is what he is trying desperately to find out because he just can’t remember anything from before and now finds that he has such a strong attraction to her.
Family and friends try to fill in the blanks for him but this second-hand knowledge doesn’t satisfy him and he tries to jog his memories by asking questions of everyone.
This story has heart, it has feeling, it has emotions and it has love in abundance and is well written and very easy to read and follow.
I am very happy to recommend it.
3. Playing Dirty
The story idea is good and the telling of it is also ok.
It is about revenge and payback and had me laughing at times and sad at others because of the very absurd and strange thoughts that were going through Julien’s head about Noemi. It is a second chance romance that shows just how cruel teenagers can sometimes be. It is also lusty and romantic and I found it a very enjoyable read.