Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Playing for Her Heart by Megan Erickson - Review


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Signed Print Copy of
PLAYING FOR HER HEART
(US ONLY)



Author: Megan Erickson
Publication Date: 11 August, 2015 
Publisher: Entangled Brazen
Series:  Gamers Series, book 2
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Age Recommendation: 18 and up
Rating: 5 Stars
~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ 


Book Description:


Grant Osprey just had the hottest sex of his life. Sure, they were both in costume, and yes, it was anonymous, but he never expected her to bolt in the middle of the night without so much as a good bye, let alone exchanging numbers. Or names. All he’s left with are her panties and some seriously X-rated memories...until he meets his business partner's little sister.

Only Chloe Talley isn't the bold, sexy vixen he remembers. And she wants nothing to do with him.

Cosplay is Chloe’s only chance to leave her boring, socially awkward world behind. To forget that she’s failing at life and can’t be with anyone, let alone a single-father like Grant. But the raw hunger between them is undeniable. With him, she can be a misbehaving maid. A sexy call girl for hire. Each scene pushes Chloe beyond her strict boundaries, until Grant demands the one character she can't play.

Herself.


My Review:

I have mentioned this a few times in passing since finishing (heck I think I mentioned it when I was only 5% into the eARC) Playing for Her Heart, but I want Chloe as my cosplay BFF and it's a damn good thing I am done having little ones because I am pretty certain Grant Osprey made my ovaries explode!

(Gratuitous Chris Pratt Moment)

You know, like how I feel right about now.  Siiiighhhhhh!

  Ok, ten minutes of staring at that picture later let's get back to the Megan Erickson's fabulous couple and this Geektastic story.

Chloe Tally, otherwise known as my new BFF, is a woman who has taken the world on her shoulders, she carries the guilt of not being able to carry her family through a difficult time, she's shy, geeky, awkward, and definitely broken, but when she can immerse herself into cosplay and become an entirely different person she's free.  Free from all the constraints life has placed on her, free from all the worry and self doubt, she's free to be whoever she wants to be and that gives her the power she feels she doesn't have in everyday life.

Grant, have mercy on my soul...Grant.  I had no idea what laid under this business mogul's suit and tie.


(we all now have that Justin Timberlake song running through our heads don't we....oh was it just me?  Sorry about that, ha)

Grant has got to be the sexiest single dad I have ever read about. And I have to say as much as Chloe drags the poor guy through the ringer, he sticks in there and that makes me love him even more.  I adore his relationship with his daughter and his friends.  He's the kind of guy you just want to be around because he makes everyone feel safe and happy and he gives 100% of himself in everything he does...EVERYTHING!

A chance meeting at ComicCon brings these two together for one of the hottest scenes I have read in a long time.  When Chloe runs, Grant figures he's missed out on a lust filled weekend, but what he never expects is to find out his cosplay siren is the little sister of his friend and business partner, Ethan, and she is nothing like the outgoing Sari (cosplay character) he met at ComicCon.

This book is S.T.E.A.M.Y, STEAMY people.  I think Megan Erickson brought out the big (BIG) gun(s) this time around.  I have always enjoyed her swoon-worthy reads but wow, she *ahem* nailed this one when it comes to the interludes between Grant and Chloe.  Don't let that fool you though, this book is about so much more than those fan yourself moments.  There is a fabulous story here about a woman learning to love herself, a family healing from tragedy, a man learning to fight for what he wants, and another man starting to learn to accept the life in front of him instead of the one behind him.  I loved that we got to see a bit more of Austin and Marley, of Grant's awesome teenage daughter, Sydney (is it too much to ask that my girls turn out like her?), and Ethan.

Ethan. Ethan needs his own book, maybe his own series.  I have to say I fell hard for two guys in this book but Grant's now taken and Ethan is still out there waiting for the right girl.  Ethan, I think that girl could be me, just don't tell my husband.  *wink*  Talk about the brooding hot guy that you just want to fix and comfort.  He more than anyone so far in the series needs the HEA and I am thinking he could find it with a spirited red-headed taurus...just saying.  Haha.

In the end this is just a great book with fantastic characters.  Grant and Chloe are perfect for one another.  Grant has the patience needed to let Chloe find her own voice away from role playing, he's strong enough to stand with her as she fumbles through finding out who she is and learning that who she is is more amazing than who she can pretend to be.  Chloe gives Grant a freedom he hasn't felt before and she gives him a bit of peace he didn't realize he had been missing.  She is stronger than she realizes, braver than she thinks, and as I am sure Grant would tell her, perfect just the way she is.  I loved that message from the book.  While being able to step outside of yourself for a time (as in Cosplay) is fun and a bit thrilling, we are all perfect just the way we are and we have to have faith in ourselves and faith in those that love us because they love us just as we are!

This is a fantastic edition to Megan's Gamer series. Fans of Megan Erickson will definitely want to get there hands on it.  If you love a STEAMY contemporary romance you want this book.  If you are a fan of Geeky hot guys and Geeky beautiful girls you want this book.  If you love your heroine's sassy, brave, intelligent, a bit snarky, sweet, and fun you want this (heck you want the whole series) book.  This is a fast paced read that you will want to finish front to back with out stopping.

~ HAPPY READING ~









Megan worked as a journalist covering real-life dramas before she decided she liked writing her own endings better and switched to fiction.
She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids and two cats. When she's not tapping away on her laptop, she's probably listening to the characters in her head who won't stop talking.










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2 comments:

  1. Hysterical Review! Thank you so much for hosting!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for having me along, I loved this story...if you couldn't tell :-)

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