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frenchpressbookworm's review
4.0
Kinda loved this one. It was sweet with all kinds of spice. But I seriously loved Eleanor. She was sweet and full of class with a backbone.
Trigger warning.
Loss of a child in this one. It broke my heart.
Trigger warning.
Loss of a child in this one. It broke my heart.
jeannethinks's review
4.0
Oh the best friends little sister... we know she's off limits, but when he doesn't know can you really blame him? Eleanor is the odd duck in the family, completely entranced by 18th century customs and clothing. No surprise that she's a 26 year old virgin. But when she finds herself in a unique situation to rid herself of the pesky v card she's completely on board.
Bodie is a smoking hot elite rugby player. Not to mention wealthy in his own right. He's not looking for a relationship or a one night stand, but Eleanor calls to him from the first moment he sets eyes on her. Captivated by her charm and idiocracies he can't get her out of his mind. Little does he know how life will change.
Bodie is a smoking hot elite rugby player. Not to mention wealthy in his own right. He's not looking for a relationship or a one night stand, but Eleanor calls to him from the first moment he sets eyes on her. Captivated by her charm and idiocracies he can't get her out of his mind. Little does he know how life will change.
nicole_reads_romance's review
4.0
I've really enjoyed the Sydney Smoke series and this one is no exception! Amy Andrews does quirky-sexy so well, and her rugby boys, oh my yes! This story also packs some agonizing heart ache (TW if required in spoiler tags below), as Amy also does so well. Beautiful story, looking forward to the next installments in the Sydney Smoke Rugby series!
TW spoiler (this occurs late in the book, and is non-violent):
TW spoiler (this occurs late in the book, and is non-violent):
Spoiler
TW for miscarriagenixbix_reads's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a sweet & sexy read! I loved the dynamic between Bodie & Eleanor - him the hot sports star & her the weird little sister of a teammate, but they worked so well together. They do face some tough times, but I liked how they ended up together.
witandsin's review against another edition
4.0
4.25 stars - Reviewed for Wit and Sin
A shy, quirky heroine who prefers books to parties. A sexy-as-hell hero with a sweet side. A scorching one night stand that becomes so much more. Put those three ingredients together and you’ve got a recipe for a highly entertaining romance. And when you add in Amy Andrews’s fast-paced style and signature humor then it’s clear to see why I couldn’t resist Playing House.
Eleanor is such a fun heroine. She grew up on a steady diet of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer and is in love with the fashion, manners, and romantic ideals of the nineteenth century. She’s also turned her love of Victorian fashion into a profitable business, which I found to be a delight to read about. Eleanor feels like the ugly duckling of her family, but she’s so much more than the kooky wallflower she sees herself as. Bodie is immediately captivated by Eleanor and I loved that he wasn’t just taken with her looks, but showed interest in what she was passionate about. Bodie grew up with a shark of a father and between that and his cheating ex-fiancée, he’s wary of falling for someone who will turn out to simply want him for his trust fund or his status a rugby star. Eleanor is a breath of fresh air to him in many ways and it’s clear from the outset that one night with her will never be enough. I could melt with how sweet Bodie could be. He may have wealth, privilege, and good looks, but he has worked hard to become successful and he’s got a heart of gold. I was rooting for him and Eleanor to become more than simply lovers because they were such likeable characters.
Eleanor and Bodie’s story is filled with erotic moments, and it’d be remiss of me not to at least mention how hot Playing House is. But what stood out to me were the quieter moments and if I had one (minor) niggle it’d be I wish there were more of them. Bodie and Eleanor are very different, but they complement one another perfectly. I liked watching them learn about each other. And when the two of them are handed a major surprise, I really liked that they handled life’s curveball fairly well. Their road to happily ever after isn’t smooth sailing. Insecurities, pain, and heartbreak made the story feel more real and may have even had me sniffling at one point. But I knew Ms. Andrews wouldn’t let readers down and the ending of Playing House left me with a smile on my face.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A shy, quirky heroine who prefers books to parties. A sexy-as-hell hero with a sweet side. A scorching one night stand that becomes so much more. Put those three ingredients together and you’ve got a recipe for a highly entertaining romance. And when you add in Amy Andrews’s fast-paced style and signature humor then it’s clear to see why I couldn’t resist Playing House.
Eleanor is such a fun heroine. She grew up on a steady diet of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer and is in love with the fashion, manners, and romantic ideals of the nineteenth century. She’s also turned her love of Victorian fashion into a profitable business, which I found to be a delight to read about. Eleanor feels like the ugly duckling of her family, but she’s so much more than the kooky wallflower she sees herself as. Bodie is immediately captivated by Eleanor and I loved that he wasn’t just taken with her looks, but showed interest in what she was passionate about. Bodie grew up with a shark of a father and between that and his cheating ex-fiancée, he’s wary of falling for someone who will turn out to simply want him for his trust fund or his status a rugby star. Eleanor is a breath of fresh air to him in many ways and it’s clear from the outset that one night with her will never be enough. I could melt with how sweet Bodie could be. He may have wealth, privilege, and good looks, but he has worked hard to become successful and he’s got a heart of gold. I was rooting for him and Eleanor to become more than simply lovers because they were such likeable characters.
Eleanor and Bodie’s story is filled with erotic moments, and it’d be remiss of me not to at least mention how hot Playing House is. But what stood out to me were the quieter moments and if I had one (minor) niggle it’d be I wish there were more of them. Bodie and Eleanor are very different, but they complement one another perfectly. I liked watching them learn about each other. And when the two of them are handed a major surprise, I really liked that they handled life’s curveball fairly well. Their road to happily ever after isn’t smooth sailing. Insecurities, pain, and heartbreak made the story feel more real and may have even had me sniffling at one point. But I knew Ms. Andrews wouldn’t let readers down and the ending of Playing House left me with a smile on my face.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
xakyr's review against another edition
3.0
FTC DISCLAIMER: I RECEIVED AN E-ARC FROM THE PUBLISHER THROUGH NET GALLEY. I VOLUNTARILY OFFER MY HONEST REVIEW OF THE BOOK, THOUGH IT IS NOT EXPECTED OF ME! RECEIPT OF THIS BOOK IN THIS MANNER DOES NOT AFFECT MY OPINION OF THE BOOK OR THE CONTENT OF MY REVIEW!
So far, I've enjoyed most of my forays into this series, and this should have been one that I would enjoy as well, but it actually fell a bit flat for me. Thankfully, it was a shorter read, but I was rather disappointed in it.
I loved how quirky Eleanor was, especially with turning that interest and "quirk" into a profitable business. I thought she was a bit rushed in trying to lose her virginity, but I thought it was plausible. However, I agree with other reviewers that her relationship with Ryder seemed non-existent, and there only to make the book fit into certain tropes.
Bodie was a bit harder for me to connect with, because we're given so very little about him. What we are given doesn't make much sense, because it doesn't go into much detail about the situations. I really felt that the book could be expanded here, to give Bodie more depth. However, I really loved his grand gesture at the end of the book!
Parts of their relationship made no sense to me. It seemed to be based on deception and secrecy, which is not a good foundation for any relationship. It moved too quickly for my tastes, even tiwht the little surprise that they had. Speaking of which, the surprise situation was not well explained at all! There really needed to be a discussion about the how of it between Bodie and Eleanor. The tragedy that befell them as a couple seemed to be rather brushed aside as well, making it less believable to me. It really touched a nerve, seeing as how I have been in a similar situation.
All things considered, while it is a shorter addition to the series, it is a decent enough entry as long as you can overlook certain things with it.
So far, I've enjoyed most of my forays into this series, and this should have been one that I would enjoy as well, but it actually fell a bit flat for me. Thankfully, it was a shorter read, but I was rather disappointed in it.
I loved how quirky Eleanor was, especially with turning that interest and "quirk" into a profitable business. I thought she was a bit rushed in trying to lose her virginity, but I thought it was plausible. However, I agree with other reviewers that her relationship with Ryder seemed non-existent, and there only to make the book fit into certain tropes.
Bodie was a bit harder for me to connect with, because we're given so very little about him. What we are given doesn't make much sense, because it doesn't go into much detail about the situations. I really felt that the book could be expanded here, to give Bodie more depth. However, I really loved his grand gesture at the end of the book!
Parts of their relationship made no sense to me. It seemed to be based on deception and secrecy, which is not a good foundation for any relationship. It moved too quickly for my tastes, even tiwht the little surprise that they had. Speaking of which, the surprise situation was not well explained at all! There really needed to be a discussion about the how of it between Bodie and Eleanor. The tragedy that befell them as a couple seemed to be rather brushed aside as well, making it less believable to me. It really touched a nerve, seeing as how I have been in a similar situation.
All things considered, while it is a shorter addition to the series, it is a decent enough entry as long as you can overlook certain things with it.
rose2796's review against another edition
5.0
Inhalt: „Playing for Good“ ist der fünfte Teil der „Hot Sydney Rugby Players“-Reihe. Der neueste Teil der Autorin Amy Andrews ist am29.06.2020 bei be-eBooks by Bastei Lübbe erschienen.
Der erfolgreiche Rugbyspieler der Sydney-Smokes Ryder feiert in seiner Heimat auf dem Land eine große Verlobungsfeier. Seine Familie, Freunde und Kollegen sind alle vereint. Eine Frau fällt unter all den Gästen auf. Sie trägt ein Vintagekleid und steht alleine an der Seite rum. Am liebsten würde sie sich unsichtbar machen und ein gutes Buch lesen. Bodie, ein Kollege und ebenfalls Sydney-Smoke-Spieler, hat sofort ein Auge auf diese ungewöhnliche Frau geworfen. Nach einer gemeinsamen Nacht findet Bodie am nächsten Tag heraus, dass Eleanor die Schwester seines besten Freundes und Teamkollegen Ryder ist.
Nach zwei Monaten Funkstille stehen die beiden sich erneut gegenüber. Bodie stellt fest, dass Eleanor nicht wie die anderen Frauen ist und er um ihre Aufmerksamkeit und Liebe kämpfen muss.
Meinung: Das Cover trifft immer noch nicht so ganz meinen Geschmack. Dafür passt es aber perfekt zu den anderen Covern der Reihe. Bisher habe ich jeden Band der Reihe gelesen und muss sagen, dass ich den Schreibstil der Autorin liebe. Übersetzt wurde die Geschichte von Michaela Link. Es ist flüssig geschrieben und es gibt immer wieder Szenen zum schmunzeln und lachen. Die Geschichte wird aus der dritten Person geschrieben. Ihre Charaktere sind authentisch. Kein Charakter ist wie der andere und das obwohl sie einige in ihrer Reihe eingebaut hat. Eleanor hebt sich deutlich von den bekannten Standartcharakteren, die man oft in diesem Genre findet, ab. Sie liebt das 19. Jahrhundert. Ganz besonders den Modestil. Sie hat ihren eigenen Laden, in dem sie selbstgeschneiderte Kleidungsstücke aus dem vergangenen Jahrhundert verkauft. Sie liebt es Bücher zu lesen und Filme zu schauen, die in dieser Epoche spielen. Im Internet tauscht sie sich mit anderen Begeisterten regelmäßig aus. Sie hat sogar einen eigenen kleinen Blog. Bodie ist fasziniert von dieser Frau und ahnt nicht, dass es sich um die Schwester seines besten Freundes handelt. Im Gegensatz zu Eleanor ist er selbstbewusst und extrovertiert. Er ist es nicht gewohnt um eine Frau kämpfen zu müssen. Besonders nicht um eine Frau, die es gerne altmodisch mag. Alles muss in der richtigen Reihenfolge geschehen. Ich mochte beide Charaktere sehr gerne. Auch war es schön die alten Charaktere wiederzusehen.
Fazit: Mit Eleanor hat die Autorin eine ungewöhnliche Protagonistin geschaffen. Die Geschichte an sich ist nichts Neues, aber durch Eleanor hebt sie sich ein bisschen ab. Die Autorin zeigt, dass sie auch solchen Geschichten ein bisschen mehr Tiefe verleihen kann. Die einzelnen Bücher der Reihen können unabhängig voneinander gelesen werden. Ich kann sie absolut empfehlen, wenn man auf leichte Lektüre steht, wobei dieser Band auch ein bisschen ernster ist.
ACHTUNG SPOILER- UND TRIGGERWARNUNG: Wer ein Problem mit dem Thema Tod und Fehlgeburt hat, sollte die Finger lieber von diesem Buch lassen.
Der erfolgreiche Rugbyspieler der Sydney-Smokes Ryder feiert in seiner Heimat auf dem Land eine große Verlobungsfeier. Seine Familie, Freunde und Kollegen sind alle vereint. Eine Frau fällt unter all den Gästen auf. Sie trägt ein Vintagekleid und steht alleine an der Seite rum. Am liebsten würde sie sich unsichtbar machen und ein gutes Buch lesen. Bodie, ein Kollege und ebenfalls Sydney-Smoke-Spieler, hat sofort ein Auge auf diese ungewöhnliche Frau geworfen. Nach einer gemeinsamen Nacht findet Bodie am nächsten Tag heraus, dass Eleanor die Schwester seines besten Freundes und Teamkollegen Ryder ist.
Nach zwei Monaten Funkstille stehen die beiden sich erneut gegenüber. Bodie stellt fest, dass Eleanor nicht wie die anderen Frauen ist und er um ihre Aufmerksamkeit und Liebe kämpfen muss.
Meinung: Das Cover trifft immer noch nicht so ganz meinen Geschmack. Dafür passt es aber perfekt zu den anderen Covern der Reihe. Bisher habe ich jeden Band der Reihe gelesen und muss sagen, dass ich den Schreibstil der Autorin liebe. Übersetzt wurde die Geschichte von Michaela Link. Es ist flüssig geschrieben und es gibt immer wieder Szenen zum schmunzeln und lachen. Die Geschichte wird aus der dritten Person geschrieben. Ihre Charaktere sind authentisch. Kein Charakter ist wie der andere und das obwohl sie einige in ihrer Reihe eingebaut hat. Eleanor hebt sich deutlich von den bekannten Standartcharakteren, die man oft in diesem Genre findet, ab. Sie liebt das 19. Jahrhundert. Ganz besonders den Modestil. Sie hat ihren eigenen Laden, in dem sie selbstgeschneiderte Kleidungsstücke aus dem vergangenen Jahrhundert verkauft. Sie liebt es Bücher zu lesen und Filme zu schauen, die in dieser Epoche spielen. Im Internet tauscht sie sich mit anderen Begeisterten regelmäßig aus. Sie hat sogar einen eigenen kleinen Blog. Bodie ist fasziniert von dieser Frau und ahnt nicht, dass es sich um die Schwester seines besten Freundes handelt. Im Gegensatz zu Eleanor ist er selbstbewusst und extrovertiert. Er ist es nicht gewohnt um eine Frau kämpfen zu müssen. Besonders nicht um eine Frau, die es gerne altmodisch mag. Alles muss in der richtigen Reihenfolge geschehen. Ich mochte beide Charaktere sehr gerne. Auch war es schön die alten Charaktere wiederzusehen.
Fazit: Mit Eleanor hat die Autorin eine ungewöhnliche Protagonistin geschaffen. Die Geschichte an sich ist nichts Neues, aber durch Eleanor hebt sie sich ein bisschen ab. Die Autorin zeigt, dass sie auch solchen Geschichten ein bisschen mehr Tiefe verleihen kann. Die einzelnen Bücher der Reihen können unabhängig voneinander gelesen werden. Ich kann sie absolut empfehlen, wenn man auf leichte Lektüre steht, wobei dieser Band auch ein bisschen ernster ist.
ACHTUNG SPOILER- UND TRIGGERWARNUNG: Wer ein Problem mit dem Thema Tod und Fehlgeburt hat, sollte die Finger lieber von diesem Buch lassen.
emilyhei's review against another edition
4.0
Eleanor is the quirky sister, she prefers to make gowns that would be a match for any Jane Austin character. When she shows up at her brothers engagement party she meets Bodie who she has a one night stand with. He wants more but when he finds out she is his best friend's sister he hesitates. However when she discovers she is pregnant everything changes. Bodie has wanted to be in Eleanor's life since the day he met her but it is an uphill battle trying to prove to Eleanor he is in their relationship for the long haul.
This was fun but I was a bit surprised by Eleanor. A little bit angsty but overall an entertaining story.
This was fun but I was a bit surprised by Eleanor. A little bit angsty but overall an entertaining story.