laurenjodi's review against another edition
3.0
Changing the Game
3.5 Stars
Quickie Review
Better that book #1.
Gavin and Liz have the emotional connection that was missing in Mick and Tara's book. There are some cheesy moments interwoven but overall their romance is sweet and engaging without too much angst.
One small nitpick is that Mick is a complete jerk and the book is missing a scene where Gavin puts him in his place perhaps with a well aimed punch in the kisser.
Jenna and Ty's book is next.
3.5 Stars
Quickie Review
Better that book #1.
Gavin and Liz have the emotional connection that was missing in Mick and Tara's book. There are some cheesy moments interwoven but overall their romance is sweet and engaging without too much angst.
One small nitpick is that Mick is a complete jerk and the book is missing a scene where Gavin puts him in his place perhaps with a well aimed punch in the kisser.
Jenna and Ty's book is next.
geo_ix's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars, due to personal preference. I don't particularly think that this held as much depth in the romance as the first book did, until way after 50% of the book was over. I swear every chapter at the start just seemed to be sex. And lots of weirdly awkward dirty talk. I just don't feel that when you dirty talk, you talk in short sentences like most books write it lately. Maybe they do, but all guys lately seem to talk the same like "suck it" "so good" "going to come" like, if that's all they say half the time, the only sentences, it just seems like they're barking out random lines all the time. Seems weird to me, but maybe I've just never experienced that and all these writers have? I don't know, must be as nearly every guy's talking lines consist of just that. short, extremely short sentences, and not much talking. Dunno, just weird to me!
diaryofthebookdragon's review against another edition
2.0
I read [b:The Perfect Play|8341567|The Perfect Play (Play by Play, #1)|Jaci Burton|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1301853642s/8341567.jpg|13039143], first book Play by Play by Jaci Burton a year ago. It was highly recommended by hot-contemporary-romance-loving friend, but sadly it did not really rock my boat. Frankly all I remember from that book is that I did not like descriptions of sex scenes (and there is a lot of sex in these books) and that I was not sure if I will ever read the next book in series.
Well as it happens [b:Changing the Game|8192391|Changing the Game (Play by Play, #2)|Jaci Burton|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1311703254s/8192391.jpg|13039189] fit the requirements for one Goodreads challenge, so I convicted myself it-was-not-that-bad-maybe-i-should-give-it-another-chance-blah-blah-blah.
Also this book had a Liz, bad-ass money-grabbing sport agent as main heroine - I was looking forward to reading a romance where heroine will not whine/cry/etc. most of the book. Well, guess what. Bad-ass Liz turned to a mushy whining pile of childhood-daddy-issues and i-love-him-what-should-i-do drama. So disappointed how that turned out.
Gavin, sexy baseball player (her love interest) was handsome and stupidly pig-headed when women are concerned (as most of sport related heroes in contemporary romance).
So nothing new here, just a pile of usual cliches.
Maybe this book deserved 3 stars, the writing is not really bad. But as I said, since 50% (if not more) of this book are explicit sex scenes description which I skimmed since they felt boring and repetitive - I am giving it 2 stars (not-for-me). In fact, I think that only thing I skimmed faster were chapters with Levin's philosophical musings and descriptions in [b:Anna Karenina|15823480|Anna Karenina|Leo Tolstoy|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1352422904s/15823480.jpg|2507928].
My rating: 2.5 in other words MEH
Well as it happens [b:Changing the Game|8192391|Changing the Game (Play by Play, #2)|Jaci Burton|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1311703254s/8192391.jpg|13039189] fit the requirements for one Goodreads challenge, so I convicted myself it-was-not-that-bad-maybe-i-should-give-it-another-chance-blah-blah-blah.
Also this book had a Liz, bad-ass money-grabbing sport agent as main heroine - I was looking forward to reading a romance where heroine will not whine/cry/etc. most of the book. Well, guess what. Bad-ass Liz turned to a mushy whining pile of childhood-daddy-issues and i-love-him-what-should-i-do drama. So disappointed how that turned out.
Gavin, sexy baseball player (her love interest) was handsome and stupidly pig-headed when women are concerned (as most of sport related heroes in contemporary romance).
So nothing new here, just a pile of usual cliches.
Maybe this book deserved 3 stars, the writing is not really bad. But as I said, since 50% (if not more) of this book are explicit sex scenes description which I skimmed since they felt boring and repetitive - I am giving it 2 stars (not-for-me). In fact, I think that only thing I skimmed faster were chapters with Levin's philosophical musings and descriptions in [b:Anna Karenina|15823480|Anna Karenina|Leo Tolstoy|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1352422904s/15823480.jpg|2507928].
My rating: 2.5 in other words MEH
cancourtneyread's review against another edition
2.0
In whose fucking mind is it okay to charge $12.99 for a FUCKING E-BOOK!! Wanted to read this one but now I'm marking it on my never reading ever shelf. So ridiculous. Can't believe someone thinks its okay to charge that much...
sten89's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
thegeekyblogger's review against another edition
4.0
Bought for Myself
Overall Rating 4.5
Character Rating 4.5
Story Rating 4.5
Hot/Sizzle Rating: Off the Charts
NOTE: I read both Play by Play books this past week and have to say I am slightly disappointed I have to wait on the next one! They were that good!
What I Loved: Liz, which after what she pulled in The Perfect Play I was slightly surprised. She grabbed my heart though and at one point I seriously wanted kick Mick in the shins for how he was treating her. Gavin was an awesome match for Liz. He was strong and stood toe-to-toe with her when she was getting scared. Again, I love the Riley clan (except for Mick who slid to just likable status) and think they really make these books stand out. The smexiness was steaming hot!
What I Liked: There were times I outright disliked Mick during this book but by the end he made it back into my "like" category. I understood the mad because of what happened to him. However because of his personal history, I thought he took the grudge to far and was to unforgiving. In a way, I hope he learned a valuable lesson from how things came to a head in the end.
Complaints: None! I really wish the new book, Taking a Shot, was coming out sooner!
Why I Gave it a 4.5: I liked this one just a smidge more that The Perfect Play! Both are excellent reads :)
Overall Rating 4.5
Character Rating 4.5
Story Rating 4.5
Hot/Sizzle Rating: Off the Charts
NOTE: I read both Play by Play books this past week and have to say I am slightly disappointed I have to wait on the next one! They were that good!
What I Loved: Liz, which after what she pulled in The Perfect Play I was slightly surprised. She grabbed my heart though and at one point I seriously wanted kick Mick in the shins for how he was treating her. Gavin was an awesome match for Liz. He was strong and stood toe-to-toe with her when she was getting scared. Again, I love the Riley clan (except for Mick who slid to just likable status) and think they really make these books stand out. The smexiness was steaming hot!
What I Liked: There were times I outright disliked Mick during this book but by the end he made it back into my "like" category. I understood the mad because of what happened to him. However because of his personal history, I thought he took the grudge to far and was to unforgiving. In a way, I hope he learned a valuable lesson from how things came to a head in the end.
Complaints: None! I really wish the new book, Taking a Shot, was coming out sooner!
Why I Gave it a 4.5: I liked this one just a smidge more that The Perfect Play! Both are excellent reads :)
faustin2nd's review against another edition
5.0
I totally enjoyed this book. Liz and Gavin were real and the relationship grew so beautifully...I was rooting for them to work through their issues and be together.
There was perfect blend of hot sex and tender, believable love. My favorite kind of romance. I didn't understand most of the baseball speak but the rest of the book? Awesome.
There was perfect blend of hot sex and tender, believable love. My favorite kind of romance. I didn't understand most of the baseball speak but the rest of the book? Awesome.
elliefufu's review against another edition
5.0
Much better then the first in the series. I loved Gavin and really liked Elizabeth which was surprising considering I couldn't stand her in the first book. I love the sports theme and love the Rileys and can't wait for Jenna's book next.
goaskalix's review against another edition
4.0
Not sure what I thought of this book; I've got all kinds of confusion going on right now.
On the one hand, as with the first in the series, the characters, plot, and balance of smut, angst, and action was excellent... but I was really, really put off by how much of a gihugic douchebag Mick was for legitimately 90% of this story. He was such an awesome character in the first book, and while yes, there was cause for him to be a meddling dick, it dragged on and on and on for so damned long that now I find myself looking back at the first book and wondering why I enjoyed his character so much when he's such a childish, whiny, instigating baby.
That aside; a great book with great characters, and I'm so looking forward to Ty's book!
On the one hand, as with the first in the series, the characters, plot, and balance of smut, angst, and action was excellent... but I was really, really put off by how much of a gihugic douchebag Mick was for legitimately 90% of this story. He was such an awesome character in the first book, and while yes, there was cause for him to be a meddling dick, it dragged on and on and on for so damned long that now I find myself looking back at the first book and wondering why I enjoyed his character so much when he's such a childish, whiny, instigating baby.
That aside; a great book with great characters, and I'm so looking forward to Ty's book!
djacknurse's review against another edition
4.0
I put this off because I couldn't stand Liz in the first book. I really enjoyed this one while feeling the extra time between books was smart. I had forgotten the events of the first book which made this one more enjoyable. Elizabeth was more human....Gavin was HOT!!!