AN AMAZON TOP 80 BESTSELLERTwo season tickets.One genius idea.Zero interest in a relationship.The plan is simple: a brand new, hot, preferably funny, definitely single male will fill one of those seats for every Bears game at Soldier Field. And I’ll fill the other.I can’t think of a better way to use the season passes I’d bought for my ex-husband. I am a woman of plans, and this one’s foolproof.… for my ex-husband. I am a woman of plans, and this one’s foolproof.
Until Zach Bowen offers to be my practice round.
He’s infuriating. Presumptuous and overbearing. And absolutely, undeniably gorgeous. Any woman with a heartbeat would be attracted to him, and mine picks up speed every time he speaks.
But as I said, I’m a woman of plans — and I’m not backing down on this one.
One night. One game. And then, his time’s up.
He can try to change the rules, but here’s the truth: he can’t win if he’s playing the wrong game.
The Wrong Game is a stand-alone, angsty, enemies-to-lovers sports romance.
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You know at feeling you get when your a few pages into a book and you just know “it” – it being the fact that you are hooked and you won’t be getting much sleep until you finish. Yes, not 5 pages into The Wrong Game and I experienced that tightness in my chest. As soon as I met Gemma and learned of her rule on love and the reason for it knew I’d be reading about a young womens heartache and would experience great sadness on her behalf. I loved and understood her little plan. Her new rule on life and love is troubling, but she meets the most amazing young man, one who may be able to change her mind, although Zach faces an uphill battle as Gemma is stubborn and carries her pain deep.
Kandi Steiner is a preeminent writer of wrongs being made right. She provides Gemma with a bestie that feeds her soul. The relationship between Belle and Gemma is inspiring, giving Gemma a voice of reason. But what really inspired me was Zach Bowen. He’s willing to put his heart out there, to get the girl. He recognizes the uniqueness of his connection with Gemma. These two together are FUN, sweet, and sexy. But remember Gemma is stubborn and her heart hasn’t forgotten the betrayal and pain she’s experienced..
There are moments this story made my heart soar and moments it broke. Almost instantly it became one of my favorites by her, competing against so many other favorites. The writing is clever and thoughtful. As much as it hurt I loved the journey Gemma and Zach shared and I highly recommend The Wrong Game.
If you are a fan of beautifully written emotional and heartfelt romances, Kandi Steiner is the author for you. Even though THE WRONG GAME is one of her lighter reads, it bears Ms. Steiner’s unique brand of storytelling through and through. It’s fun and sexy, maybe even a bit cheesy.
The set-up is quite hilariously fascinating all in itself: Gemma Mancini, who was betrayed in the worst way, set rules for herself to never fall in love again and instead to just have some fun from now on. What better way than taking another man with her to the Chicago Bears games with the tickets she bought for the guy who betrayed her…?
It might have worked, if it weren’t for Zach Bowen, a bartender who overhears her planning all of this and offers to be her trial run. Even though they realize they share a connection much stronger than anticipated, Gemma wants to continue with her original plan, only Zach isn’t that keen on letting that happen…
It’s sweet and charming, light and adorable. The way Zach wants to convince Gemma that one guy can be exactly what she needs – and that this guy is him – was adorable. As was his determination. Around the middle it slowed down a bit, but apart from that I liked everything about the story and its characters.
An entertaining, fun contemporary romance with playful banter and wonderful relatable characters.
5 “BEAR DOWN” Stars
You know those books, the ones where you read the prologue and that’s it, you’re hooked? Well, that’s exactly what happened with The Wrong Game. It captivated me right from the start and I knew without a doubt I was in for an unforgettable journey. And this book was exactly what I needed. It’s like Kandi spoke to my football loving heart. And the fact that she also wrote about my favorite NFL team, Da Bears, well that was just another layer of icing on the cake. I LOVED this book, I loved this book so hard. It was lighter on the angst side, but furthermore it still did in fact have just enough of Kandi’s signature angst-y goodness. The characters in this book were some of my favorite characters Kandi has written. And OMFG, Zach Bowen most certainly stole the show for me. *sigh* All I want to do now is go back and re-read this AH-MAZ-ING book all over again and get lost in all its beauty.
Gemma was a woman that I felt for. Honestly if I were in Gemma’s shoes I don’t know how I would react at what she found out. I think I’d want them to hurt as much as me. For them to feel all the pain I was enduring. But then again I can’t say that in all it’s certainty because quite frankly, I’m not 100% sure if that’s what I’d want. And I commend Gemma for her selflessness because it takes a person with a big heart like hers to do what was extremely hard for her to do. And even though she’s meticulous and makes lists, she did not see this coming, and she most definitely did not see Zach Bowen coming either.
Zach Bowen gets all the freaking stars! This man was every bit charming and selfless. He’s had his own share of heartache, but he’s taken that and grown from it. He is such a good guy. The way he loves his family and especially his younger brother and would do anything and everything for them makes him even more of an amazing man. I loved him, my gosh did I love him. If every man can have just an ounce of Zach in them, the world would be a better place.
Gemma and Zach were meant to be. They needed each other, both needing to learn from the other. Needing to trust and give trust in return. Trusting if they were to fall, the other person would be there to pick them up. Reading Gemma and Zach’s love story brought all the smiles. Their witty banter bringing the laughs. Their bumps in the road bringing the nail biting and heart beating faster than usual. I couldn’t get enough of these two. I loved them, and wanted more, so much more.
Kandi, what can I say? I freaking love you! Each and every book you release just gets better and better. How do you do it? I don’t know, but don’t stop, ever! The Wrong Game is the perfect fall book. Honestly, taking one of my loves, football, and writing a fan-freakin-tastic book revolving around it, hashtag winning! And the fact that you not only had the Bears beating those cheeseheads not once, but twice? You girl are the real MVP! I don’t care if it’s fiction, anytime GB loses is great in my book. Oh, and then you mentioning my Cubs, my favorite baseball team, you’re just making my heart happy. Again, you’ve outdone yourself. Yet another book to add to my favorites list.
A wonderfully written story about an OCD girl and her struggle to learn to trust in love again after a huge betrayal by her first husband and a handsome bartender dealing with his own loves and losses. When the two of them get together, the sparks fly and the air around them combusts from the strong feelings and emotions they share. If you have not read anything by Kandi Steiner, this is definitely a great book to start with. A great rollercoaster ride of a read that you don’t want to miss out on!
This book felt so raw and hurt a lot. I mean, a lot. And for probably the first time ever, I felt like the male and female characters swapped. To borrow a description from the book, Zach was about as tough as a bunny rabbit (but in the best ways possible). I liked it. It was a refreshing departure from the over-the-top alpha males. A real man’s man who was also in touch with his emotions? SIGN ME UP. So of course, on the opposite end of the spectrum was Gemma who was completely shut down. And rightfully so.
So all of that makes you think about how we fall in love – it’s a bit of a game we play. How much do you let the person in? What amount of your brand of crazy do you show them and when? And of course, are you going to be willing to risk it all for the possible reward that this is the right person for you? Falling in love is scary, staying in love takes trust and work. But I think it’s completely worth it with the right person.
My favorite part of this book was Zach. Hands down. I think he was the reason (well, her best friend, too) that we got to see what she had successfully laid dormant for so long. I did find myself with a lingering question, but I think I’ll need to bug Steiner directly on that one.
Fair warning, you’ll get upset and your heart will break at times. But this is what Steiner does best. It’s a great read. Don’t miss the chance to feel all the feels!
This story was such a refreshing change. I love the premise behind it, taking a different date to a football game each week. Zach might be one of the best heroes that I’ve read. I love how romantic and gooshy he is and that he owns it. Zach and Gemma have been through some heartbreak and it left them very vulnerable. Gemma drove me mad sometimes with her vow to never risk heartbreak again but it was understandable at the same time. This book also had one of the best endings that I might have read in any book. 🙂
A happy marriage……it’s the catalyst that drives so many people to hang in there when times are tough. For Gemma – everything in her marriage was a dream come true….until it wasn’t. As the sins of her husband came crashing around Gemma , a new pain was also laid at her feet. A struggle that many would have walked away from considering the circumstances, but Gemma chose to stay until the end. A choice that would shape her view on relationships in the future.
Time passes and Gemma finds herself determined to make the most out of life. With season tickets to the Bears football games in hand, Gemma and her friend Belle come up with a plan to ‘test the waters’. It’s simple if you think about it, every home game gets a new face in the seat beside Gemma. The day will be filled with no attachments and any goes. It should be pretty cut and dry….until Zach Bowen throws a wrench into everything.
Gemma was not prepared for Zach to come barreling into her life. Granted, the hunky bartender definitely captured her attention, but Gemma didn’t want anything more than a night of fun. After all – Zach is the kind of guy that doesn’t exude one night stands. There are lists involved and Gemma doesn’t deviate from those lists. Simple plan…right? Gemma quickly realizes that Zach is more than meets the eye, and he has his sights set on keeping Gemma for the long haul.
The Wrong Game is the latest release by Kandi Steiner, and it’s quite the romance. The premise of this tale is about tainted love, and the effects it has on your future. For Gemma – the way her husband rocked her world is now affecting how she handles thoughts of any type of relationship with someone else. The book was often times witty and full of a great banter between Gemma and Zach.
What the book centers around specifically is closure and a new lease on life. Gemma is on a quest to get some excitement back into her life, but she never knows where things will lead. After all, how can you predict what type of guy shows up when you swipe right?? The Wrong Game is simply put….a great romance that will leave you smiling from the wit, banter, and search that you didn’t realize you were taking to finding love.
I loved this book!! It was such a cute, fun read!! I was hooked from the very first page!
Kandi Steiner writes a book that makes you want to cry and rage all at the same time in just the prologue. Gemma has to start her life all over again and her new motto is don’t fall in love ever again. Zach meets the fabulous woman in his bar and ask to be her practice date to get her back in the saddle again. What starts out as a way to help her quickly turns into a throw out all the rules kind of love.
Reviewed by: Alex L.
I had a hard time reading this book and it was all the heroine’s fault. It had great writing, great pace, and I loved the hero, he’s a wonderful book boyfriend, sensitive and considerate, hot and gorgeous, attentive and fun to be with. Zach Bowen was the total package, what any woman would want. But not Gemma.
Gemma married Carlo, her high school sweetheart, straight out of college. She thought they had a great life together, when she found out he was cheating on her. So after sleuthing and confirming, which entailed following him and finding him with the other woman, she goes and buys a condo, then comes home to tell him off. Except the joke’s on her because he tells her he has cancer and only weeks to live. And what does she do? Shut up, put up with him, and take care of him until his dying breath. WHY???? I can maybe understand taking care of him in his last days, doubtful the other woman was in for that kind of action, but shutting up? He didn’t deserve that consideration and pretty sure that’s why she’s such a basket case the rest of the book.
Gemma is a control freak, needs to make lists of everything, plans everything to the last detail, because she needs to be in control. After the death of her husband, she’s even worse. Her best friend Belle convinced her to use her season pass to the Chicago Bears football games to connect with a man for each weekly game and get her groove on again. Zach was her first tryout, it was a smashing success but he was shot down when he wanted a repeat. Gemma was on this crazy game of never again getting attached to another man. She was unreasonable, stubborn, in denial, and whenever she felt she was losing control, she also went crazy and made stupid decisions. Sometimes she was a great character, I loved her when she was in the football games, because she was a total fan. But she hurt Zach several times, trying to stay in her course of action, which was so wrong in many counts. I found her tiresome at times, adorable in others. The voice of reason was Belle and the heart of the story was Zach, a man who was in touch with his feelings and maybe was too forgiving with Gemma. His life story also had life and death drama but he was more mature handling his drama. At the heart of the story was the love for football, which both characters felt, and that is what gave life and purpose to the plot. The game times were the best parts of this story.
This was the first book that I read by Kandi and it definitely will not be my last.
This book is full of emotion. You see two characters who have lost and sacrificed so much during their life trying to open up and be vulnerable with one another.
Gemma is such a strong but broken character. There is no way I could have handled the situation she went through in the prologue like she did. She was selfless and put everyone else’s needs above her own. The loss of trust and heartache that she endured was very sad and had me wanting to give her a hug from the start.
Zach has experienced his own heartache, but in a different way. He was always put his family above his own self, and he truly is a one of a kind, amazing hero. He honestly was perfect from the first page. I love that he is a romantic and isn’t ashamed to flaunt it!
These two together had a long road to recovery. I loved how Zach never gave up and continued to push even when others would have moved on. He was determined to get the girl and would stop at nothing!
I am all for grand gestures, and Zach’s definitely takes the cake! It was so true to his character and their relationship.
I would truly recommend this book to anyone who loves a romantic, fun filled romance with a bonus of football!!
– An Arc was given in exchange for an honest review.
Kandi Steiner once again delivers a trademark heartfelt and emotional story. I know I’ll get a story that will place a smile on my face, but heavens, Steiner will make me work for it.
THE WRONG GAME was wonderful. Gemma Mancini and Zach Bowen are great characters. The attraction between them is intense but there’s also this deeper, underlying connection that scares them, particularly Gemma, because it means placing their trust and faith in one another; something that’s hard to do given the loss and betrayal they have each faced in their lives.
As difficult as it was at times, I enjoyed Gemma and Zach’s journey. I loved the messages that even with a strong attraction, a relationship does take time and commitment, and for someone like Gemma, who plans her life to the nth degree, that it’s OK to not have all the answers at the start.
Set against a football background, fans of sports romance novels will enjoy this. There is plenty of on field action, as well as many funny moments in the stadium stands as Gemma, a diehard fan, takes her dates to games. Often sports romances involve a player but this one is definitely a tribute to sports fans.
I enjoyed the secondary characters, especially Gemma’s BFF Belle. She is the poster child for #bffgoals. She’s supportive, she’s outrageous, she knows when to listen and when to push you into doing things for your own good.
THE WRONG GAME is the right balance of sweet, sexy, funny and emotional.
The Wrong Game by Kandi Steiner. This is Gemma Mancini and Zach Bowen’s story. I really enjoyed Gemma and Zach’s story. The cover is fantastic too which drew me to this book in the beginning. After reading the prologue I was hooked. Gemma has been hurt in the past and is afraid of being hurt again so she has a plan and relationships are out for her. Well, Zach has a different plan and lots of determination. The banter between Gemma and Zach was so fun plus hot chemistry but there were times I wanted to shake some sense into Gemma. Oh my, Zach is so wonderful but will it be enough to win Gemma over to his plan? A fun and sexy read. FYI, contains mature content. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
4-4,5 stars
This book falls under the sports romance category and I’m huge fan of those; it’s the first one from this author and I really enjoyed reading it. I loved the chemistry between Zach and Gemma and Gemma’s side-kick, Belle, was just hilarious. A great fun romantic read with emotions taking you to highs and lows; one that’s definitely worth the read.
Gemma finds out the secret her husband is having but when he gets sick, she’ll do her best to stand by his side. Now almost a year later, after losing him, the thing he did still haunts her every single day. No matter how hard she tries, she can’t forget what’s happened but when her best friend Belle drags her into a bar and into online dating, she’ll find a way to deal with her past. When she first meets Zach, there’s this easiness between them that makes her feel comfortable and the more they get to know each other, the deeper their connection gets. Even though Gemma still is wearing the scars from within, Zach has been through a lot in his life aswell. Maybe one of the things they have in common will make her trust again. Will Zach succeed in breaking her walls down or will her past prevent her from being loved?…
*** ARC Received for Honest Review ***
4 stars
Kandi, I need more! The love story between Gemma and Zach is incredible. Zach is in this amazingly sweet and hot bartender who literally gave up everything for his family. But is Gemma’s story that totally ruined me. Kandi you NEED to write a novella about the backstory of Gemma and her husband. I have so many questions and about they why’s and how’s he did what he did.
This is the kind of book that lives partially in reality (the ugly part of love) and part in fantasy (the HEA is why we read books, right?). The journey that Gemma makes is incredible. She has to become so vulnerable to even try to open her heart up again.
If you love a really good HEA, like a little bit of sports, and maybe a semi-neurotic/A-type woman, you have to read The Wrong Game! Plus Zach is this puppy-dog perfect man. (Review by Terri “Jane”)
4.5 stars really! This book was so much fun! It started out with a definite emotional back story, but I loved all the humor and was so much in love with Zach. While I totally understood Gemma’s reasons for holding back, and taking a new guy to each game, I definitely was thinking she was making a huge mistake letting him go too soon, at first that is. I mean, after their “practice” game, when he took her home and yeah, did what he did? And was happy to still be tasting her after he left? Wow. I want my own Zach. I loved how persistent Zach was, willing to fight for Gemma. To me the way he kept reaching for her, even after she kept pushing him away was so real. He had that feeling about her. the one that supposedly told him she was the one, from the first time he met her. It was that wonderful fairy tale feeling that everyone wishes they’d get. There were moments in the story that I still got emotional. And then there were parts of the story when Gemma would start to freak out that her friend Belle, or even sometimes Zach himself, were able to help pull her from the brink of her meltdown and push her the right way, or at least off the path of destruction.
The side characters in the story were also a delight. Of course Gemma’s best friend Belle was someone to love. She didn’t have any ulterior motive behind what she suggested for Gemma, other than her care and love for her. She saw what was right for her, and tried to steer her that way, even when it was maybe the opposite of what she’d said in the first place. Zach’s family was wonderful as well. A true, loving family, a hilarious banter between all of them, built from the struggles they’d seen, but also just a real, loving family. One that reminded me of my family at times. Then there was Doc, Zach’s boss. I had a feeling his reason to keep trying to get Zach alone for a “talk” was basically what it was, even though I had suspicions it was for something different than it turned out to be. Then there were the other characters at the Chicago Bears’ football games. Perfect. They were the way I’d imagine season ticket holders might be. Chicago as a setting was one I enjoyed as well, since I love that city and at one time thought it would be somewhere I’d like to move.
The sex was steamy, and started off pretty quickly. In a way that I felt was just right, and set the tone of the story perfectly. Now, my one issue, that kept me from giving a full 5 stars, was how Gemma lost it at the end. I knew the final straw would have something to do with why her ex-mother-in-law was looking for her. And what she got from that final meeting was definitely a punch in the gut. But to me, it should have sent her right to Zach, showed her that she finally had a true love. Once again though, Zach pulled through in a way that made perfect sense to me. He was able to still be rightfully brokenhearted over what Gemma had said and done, but also able to see past that, and know that what he felt for her was really something special and worth fighting for.
This is my first book by Kandi Steiner, and I’m pretty sure it is just the first of many that I will read from her.
Kandi Steiner is the to go kind of author, I see she has a book coming out and I automatically go for it. Truth be told not all storylines will appeal to me. Why the 3 star story.
The characters didn’t call to me. I didn’t connect with them in a deeper level. It was a beautifully written story about football. The storyline was an unique and one that was well thought out. It was a romantic angsty story.
Standalone told in a dual POV with an HEA. I recommend this story, even if it wasn’t for me.
*3-4 Stars*
ARC kindly received in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the characters in this book, although I didn’t connect with them too much. I thought Zach was a really sweet and supportive and swoon worthy male lead. He wasn’t arrogant or rude or any of the things that male leads in romance novels can sometimes be.
Gemma has been through a lot and I could understand her reservations and thoughts about moving forward with her life, and potentially dating someone. Whilst I couldn’t completely connect with her, I could definitely understand it.
I really liked Belle as a secondary character (Gemma’s best friend) and I would definitely love to see her get her own book and HEA.
I also liked the Gemma and Zach were both down to earth characters and just enjoyed spending time together doing simple things such as watching the football, as well as exploring and conquering new things together.
My only really complaint is that I felt this dragged a little too much, but I’ve had a lot going on so that could just be affecting my reading thoughts.
All in all a really sweet read.
3.5s
When I read the synopsis of this book, I wanted in. It just sounded right up my alley. I love sports romances and I do enjoy some angst before the couple reach their HEA. But here’s the thing, it didn’t live up to my expectations from the synopsis to the end product.
The story line in itself was great. I loved the idea of a woman having some fun with a spare football season ticket and inviting a new guy to each home game. What they do after the game is up to her, and more power to her. And that she gets stumped from the first week is funny and sweet. From here it lost me from time to time. I’m a list girl, I make them and tick the items off regularly. I get it. Am I OCD? No, and neither is Gemma, we are both slightly neurotic and pedantic, but we don’t have a medical condition. In saying that, there were times I wanted to kick her butt over the lists and plans but I also wanted to hug her and let her know she’ll get through it. There are a couple of other little things that Gemma did that had me rolling my eyes, but all in all I liked her. I felt for her and I wanted her to be happy. As for Zach, for the most part, I adored him. He was super sweet and a true romantic which is high on my favorite things. It doesn’t have to be all about the grand gestures, which he pulls off, but also the moments spent together and what he says and does for her in private that are just as important. I found it hard to accept his passion for football to the level he was suppose to have. I feel if it was so high, he would have kept it in his life to a degree regardless of circumstances. What I did assimilate to was the connection between the two. They had their ups and downs like every single couple and it felt more absolute and solid once they finally got there.
Let’s clarify a few other things. This is a contemporary romance novel told in dual POV. It is also a Kandi Steiner tale, so it is packed with angst and swooning moments. You have to know that going in because if that’s not your thing, then you will probably hate it. I have seen it classified as a sports romance but I wouldn’t say that. I have also seen it as being an enemies to lovers book, again I didn’t see it that way but I do think it’s a second chance romance. If these are things on your list to read, grab this one.
It might be The Wrong Game but he is the right guy. I can honestly say that I fell for him at the very start. His smile, his personality, and his charm made it so easy to swoon. So wrong game…okay?! The Guy…definitely!!!!
As usual, Kandi Steiner does not allow you to read without feeling something. The Wrong Game will evoke some intense emotions and some serious rage. Like castration with a plastic spork kind of rage. (It’s a thing trust me!) She also made you weak in the knees and smile like a loon. Pepe La Pew would be proud.
Don’t worry about your heart…it’s already Zach’s you just haven’t met him yet.
Reviewed for Sweet Spot Sisterhood