TITLE: Holiday Games
SERIES #: Play-by-Play Novella #6.5
CHARACTERS: Gavin & Liz Riley
AUTHOR: Jaci Burton
PUBLICATION DATE: November 19, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A Holiday Novella
A Riley wedding is in the works, a Riley Christmas means a house full of family, and baby making is on Liz Riley’s mind. Chasing Gavin around and meeting in dark closets can be fun, but Liz is more than a little determined. Even with family in every corner of the house, Gavin is more than ready to do whatever Liz wants—especially when sex is involved. It’s a Riley family Christmas.
REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts Liz has baby on the brain. Which means she needs to convince her husband that they need to have more sex. But with the holiday’s and a wedding there is not much time. But that is not going stop Liz.
Oh, how I love Jaci Burton’s Play-by-Play series!!!! Since Holiday Games is a novella and don’t want to give too much away just know that it will not disappoint. It was so much fun to read about Gavin & Liz again. I so can’t wait for the next installment in this series.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
TITLE: One Sweet Ride
SERIES: Play By Play #6
CHARACTERS: Gray Preston & Evelyn Hill
AUTHOR: Jaci Burton
PUBLICATION DATE: June 4, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Gray Preston was born into money, but he’s built his racing empire on hard work and muscle. And now that Gray has millions of fans, his senator father sends one of his aides, Evelyn Hill, to elicit Gray’s help in garnering votes for the upcoming national election. Gray wants nothing to do with his estranged father’s campaign, but Evelyn can be pretty persuasive. She’s willing to learn about racing, and maybe even get a little dirty.
Evelyn’s number-one goal is politics, which makes working with Gray difficult, because his only passion is fast cars. As she and Gray spend time together, he teaches her about the sport he loves, and she learns a lot about the man behind the wheel. The more she learns, the more she wants him. But any desire that threatens to derail the carefully laid plans for her future is a dangerous one.
With the passion Gray and Evelyn share running hotter than either imagined, one of them is going to have to compromise, or else run the risk of losing more than their hearts.
REVIEW:
4.5 Stars Jaci really knows how to take oil & vinegar to get a great mix. Gray & Evelyn are so different, yet work so perfectly together.
Gray is the uber hot, race car driving, racing team owner and all around good guy. But Gray does have some serious baggage when it comes to his father. So it is no surprise that he wants nothing to do with the drop dead gorgeous woman that wants him to work with his father. And support his father in his new campaign to become vice president.
Evelyn loves her job, loves politics, loves D.C. and has worked very hard to get where she is at today. So she is not going to let a crabby race car driver stand in her way of helping his father win the VP seat. Oh no, Evelyn is willing to play dirty when it comes to Gray Preston. Evelyn pulls out the dirtiest play in the book, she calls his mom… 🙂
These two are so good together. I loved every stop of their journey. Even the heartbreaking parts. If you have love Jaci’s Play-by-Play books in the past you will fall in love with One Sweet Ride. But never fear. If you are new to the Play-by-Play series (which you really should read all of them 😀 ) One Sweet Ride can easily be read as a stand alone.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
TITLE: Playing To Win
AUTHOR: Jaci Burton
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/04/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Someone’s going to have to let down their guard…
Football star Cole Riley is notorious for doing as he pleases—on the field and off. He parties hard and fights harder, but if he doesn’t clean up his act, his career is over—so Cole reluctantly agrees to work with image makeover consultant Savannah Brooks. He’s not used to being told what to do, especially by some (admittedly hot) Southern belle. As for Savannah, she’s not convinced she can transform this cocky (and aggressively sexy) force of nature. But she’s determined to give it her best shot.
When the sparks start to fly, Savannah lays down the ground rules: no personal complications. If she can turn off the tingle she feels every time Cole gives her a hot stare with his gorgeous baby blues, he can turn off his desire as well. But for two people determined to have it all, a hands-off policy can only last so long before one of them yields.
REVIEW:
Jaci, has done it yet again. She delivers a very hot, yet sweet story of a big bad ass football player that gets his life uprooted by a very determined female. A determined female that has been hired to whip this bad boy football player into shape. But to both of their surprise this chance meeting will change everything for both of them.
Cole Riley is the bad boy of football, the ladies love him, the media loves to hate him and his team mates? Well, they really couldn’t care less about Cole. But Cole is a great football player, but the living in the limelight is playing havoc on his career and his future with his new team.
Savannah is a sweet southern girl with a heart of a lion and an iron fist. She has been hired to whip Cole Riley into shape before the beginning of the season and that is exactly what she plans to do. Only problem is Cole Riley is drop dead gorgeous and Savannah wants him. But Savannah has never mixed business with pleasure.
Never…….
Well until now.
I loved Cole & Savannah. Both are stubborn and determined to live life their way. Both soon learn sometimes there is a better way to do things. And together they learn how to make each others life so much better.
If you have not started Jaci’s Play by Play series you really need too. Theses are great books!! And yes each book can stand alone but I would suggest starting from the beginning so you can get to know all the characters better.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This review is my opinion and not a paid review.
Can you please share with us a little about yourself
Let’s see…Southern girl by birth, Midwesterner by fate, world traveler and semi-professional ex-pat American by luck I own a microbrewery, handle guys who brew and sell beer daily including my own Tap Room staff. I love my day job. But I also love to write.
Have you always wanted to be an author?
Not really, no. I wanted to be a veterinarian for a lot of years, then toyed with med school until I hit organic chemistry and my essential missing math gene made me pick up my minor in English as a major. I’ve worked my entire life in sales, public relations and some non-profit fundraising and wrote everything from press releases to ad copy. Spent 8 fairly lucrative years as a licensed real estate agent, and now, I own a brewery. But I never thought I’d do that either!
What is your most interesting writing quirk?
I can flesh out an entire plot in my head and actually have to do that before I sit and write at the keyboard.
Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
The 2 books that have released this month from Decadent book end the trilogy of stories I wrote for their popular 1NightStand series earlier this year. The Diplomat’s Daughter is the prequel and tells the “forbidden love” story of the Deniz parents—she the daughter of the American Consul General, he the son of servants.
Flower Passage: Tarkan’s Story is the final novella of the series and brings back a very popular but short lived character from the early trilogy.
How did you come with the idea for this story?
I wrote Turkish Delights (the 1st of the trilogy for the 1NightStand series) and quickly concocted the other 2. Each one of about one of the siblings in the Deniz family (see: Diplomat’s Daughter for their parents’ fairly romantic story). When I decided to have one of the family members die in a terrorist attack I sort of knew all along that there would be “more” to that story but not until the family had more or less moved on or at least come to terms with the tragedy of his death.
Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
Sure! What writer doesn’t want to go on (and on…and on) about their projects? I have an entire series as a spin off to my popular Stewart Realty series coming soon and am in the middle of hard edits for a brewery-based romance coming from Ellora’s Cave later this year. I am also going off in a slightly different direction and coming up with a slightly more mainstream/less erotic second chances story about a woman who spent years as an ex-pat trailing spouse and the collapse and re-assembly of her marriage.
Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?
Margaret Atwood—she is my hero. Barring that John Irving, same reason.
Also, Orhan Pamuk, Pulitzer prize winning, Turkish author.
What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
Don’t ever submit anything without a very hard round of critique. It wastes your time and the publishers and costs you credibility.
Can you share with us something off your bucket list.
I want to spend a month in Germany visiting all the famous breweries for like, 2 months. And write a book about starting my brewery business. I’ve saved all the pretty hilarious chains of emails I have shared with my 2 biz partners, our brewer, and now my Bar manager.
What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
I cannot wait to start John Irving’s new book In One Person.
Want to learn more about Liz and her books? You can find her here
Football pro Mick Riley is an all-star, both on the field and in the bedroom. But a sexy, determinedly single mom just might be the one to throw him off his game…
For years Mick has been taking full advantage of the life available to a pro athlete: fame, fortune, and a different girl in every city. But when he meets and beds confident, beautiful event planner Tara Lincoln, he wants much more than the typical one-night stand. Too bad Tara’s not interested in getting to know football’s most notorious playboy any better.
As the single mother of a teenage son, the last thing Tara needs is the jet-set lifestyle of Mick Riley; even though their steamy and passionate one-night stand was unforgettable. Tara’s life is complicated enough without being thrust into the spotlight as Mick’s latest girl du jour. Tara played the game of love once and lost big, and she doesn’t intend to put herself out there again, especially with a heartbreaker like Mick.
But when Mick sets his mind to win, nothing will stop him. And he has the perfect play in mind.
Most people play by the rules. Gavin and Liz aren’t most people…
Win at any cost. That’s always been the mantra of sports agent Liz Darnell. When she carries things too far and risks losing her number-one client, baseball pro Gavin Riley, Liz realizes that she’ll have to work extra innings to win him back. It might not be too much of a stretch. She’s had a thing for this player’s moves since she first laid eyes on him, and by the looks of it, he wants her just as bad.
Gavin’s more than ready—especially when Liz is offering herself as part of the bargain. And as much of her as Gavin wants. For added thrills, he decides to throw a little curve ball Liz’s way to see just how far she’s truly willing to go to keep him as a client. But when love unexpectedly enters the playing field, neither Liz nor Gavin are ready for the biggest game-changer of them all.
If you want to score, you have to get in the game…
The last thing Jenna Riley needs is more sports in her life. While her brothers are off being athletic superstars, she’s stuck running the family’s sports bar, whether she likes it or not. Then in walks pro hockey stud Tyler Anderson. As much as Jenna would like to go to the boards with him, she’s vowed to never fall for a jock—even one as hot as Ty.
Ty, intrigued by the beautiful bar owner, becomes a regular. He senses that Jenna wants to do something more with her life. And as he gains her trust, the passion between them grows, as does Ty’s insistence that Jenna should start living for herself. With his encouragement, Jenna starts to believe it, too…
But first, Jenna has to figure out what she wants, what she needs, who she loves, and if she has the passion and pride to take a shot at having it all—including Ty…
Playing to Win Book Four in the Play-by-Play Series Coming Soon September 4, 2012
Someone’s going to have to let down their guard…
Football star Cole Riley is notorious for doing as he pleases—on the field and off. He parties hard and fights harder, but if he doesn’t clean up his act, his career is over—so Cole reluctantly agrees to work with image makeover consultant Savannah Brooks. He’s not used to being told what to do, especially by some (admittedly hot) southern belle. As for Savannah, she’s not convinced she can transform this cocky (and aggressively sexy) force of nature. But she’s determined to give it her best shot.
When the sparks start to fly, Savannah lays down the ground rules: no personal complications. If she can turn off the tingle she feels every time Cole gives her a hot stare with his gorgeous baby blues, he can turn off his desire as well. But for two people determined to have it all, a hands-off policy can only last so long before one of them yields.
PLAYING TO WIN releases September 4th and is now available for Preorder!
Books-n-Kisses is so excited to have the wonderful Jaci Burton on the blog today. We are talking about her upcoming release Taking a Shot. If you love hot, sweaty sport stars, you will fall in love with Jaci’s Play-by –Play series.
1.Can you please share with us a little about yourself
Jaci: I’m an author of over 50 books, living in the wilds of Oklahoma with my husband and our dogs. I’ve been writing romance for ten years now, and love every day I get to roll out of bed in my pajamas, stumble to the coffee pot and start my day in my slippers and with bad hair. It’s a dream come true!
2.Have you always wanted to be an author?
Jaci: Not always. I wanted to be a teacher, then a nurse, but those were dreams that never quite made it to fruition. I ended up spending many years in corporate health care management while also juggling raising my kids. But I always loved to write, and dabbled here and there with nothing to show for it. It wasn’t until I divorced and married my totally awesome husband, who encouraged me to take my dreams of writing seriously, that it became the full time career I love so much now.
book 1
3.Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
Jaci: Oh, I have so many favorite authors—Nora Roberts, Jill Shalvis, Maya Banks, Julie James, Shannon Stacey, just to name a few. But I’d have to say I was heavily influenced by the historical writers of the 70’s and 80’s who fostered my love of reading—Kathleen Woodiwiss, Rosemary Rogers, Johanna Lindsay, Elizabeth Lowell, and Jude Deveraux, who taught me what romances were all about. Without them I’d have never fallen in love with romances, and would have never wanted to write them.
4.How did you get into writing in this specific genre? Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre?
Jaci: When I first started writing, I released books in a multitude of genres, from contemporary to suspense to fantasy and paranormals, but always came back to contemporary romances, because it’s the genre I love to read the most. And while on occasion I will read in other genres, I plan to stick with writing contemporaries, because it’s the genre I’m the happiest writing.
book 2
5.What are some of your writing rituals?
Jaci: I don’t really have any set rituals. I try to hit a certain word count per day, but sometimes life and other things get in the way and it doesn’t always work out. I generally fly by the seat of my pants, and as long as the book gets done on time, I’m happy.
6.Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
Jaci: Taking A Shot is my current release, and is the third book in my Play-by-Play sports series. It’s about hot sports players and the women they love. Taking A Shot is about Ty Anderson, hockey player for the fictional ST Louis Ice, and Jenna Riley, owner of Riley’s sports bar. Jenna wants nothing to do with sports players since her family is all about sports. But Ty’s determined to show her that they belong together, and his job shouldn’t matter.
7.How did you come with the idea for this story?
book 3
Jaci: I had an idea to do a series about professional sports players, and thought it might be fun to make the books family-centric. So the Riley family was born, with Mick the football player in the first book, The Perfect Play, Gavin the baseball player in the second book, Changing The Game, and though Jenna doesn’t play professional sports, she runs the family sports bar and meets up with Ty the hockey player in Taking A Shot. We extend the Riley family with Cole, a Riley cousin, in Book 4, Playing to Win, which will release in September.
8.Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
Jaci: Right now I’m working on Book 5 of the Play-by-Play series, Thrown By A Curve, which is a baseball story and features Cole’s sister, Alicia.
9.What would you be if you were not an author?
Jaci: Uh….I have no idea. I’d probably still be in corporate life, bored and dissatisfied. 😉
10.What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
Jaci: Right now I have an ARC of Julie James upcoming book, About That Night. Lucky me!
11.Is there anything else you would like to add?
book 4
Jaci: I’m most appreciative of this interview, and I want to thank everyone who has read and loved my Play-by-Play series!
I’d also like to offer up a copy of The Perfect Play, Book 1 in my Play by Play series, or Changing The Game, Book 2 in the Play by Play series. The winner can decide which book they’d like to receiver, and the book can be in either print or Kindle or Nook format, winner’s choice!
If you want to score, you have to get in the game…
The last thing Jenna Riley needs is more sports in her life. While her brothers are off being athletic superstars, she’s stuck running the family’s sports bar, whether she likes it or not. Then in walks pro hockey stud Tyler Anderson. As much as Jenna would like to go to the boards with him, she’s vowed to never fall for a jock—even one as hot as Ty.
Ty, intrigued by the beautiful bar owner, becomes a regular. He senses that Jenna wants to do something more with her life. And as he gains her trust, the passion between them grows, as does Ty’s insistence that Jenna should start living for herself. With his encouragement, Jenna starts to believe it, too…
But first, Jenna has to figure out what she wants, what she needs, who she loves, and if she has the passion and pride to take a shot at having it all—including Ty…
My Thoughts:
Who doesn’t like a hot hockey player?
Not Jenna!!
Jenna is stubborn, way too independent and is about to learn a valuable life lesson. That sometime no matter how many wall you put up there is always someone that can break it down and that no matter how are you try to fight fate she has a way of catching with you.
Ty, is the dreamy, star play on the Ice hockey team. He is ever woman’s fantasy. But the one woman he wants; wants nothing to do with him. But he is out to prove that he is the man for her.
I loved Ty & Jenna. They are so cute and perfect for each other. Ty is so beyond patient with Jenna, yet pushes her all at the same time. At times I really felt that Jenna didn’t deserve Ty, but then other times I realize Ty was exactly what she need in her life. I truly love this story. Love this series. And freakin love the covers of these books.
HUGE thank you to Jaci for letting me read her book early!!!!
I have the Wonderful Patrica Leever and the Very Talented Jaci Burton on the blog today talking about their favorite thing about winter. Ready Ladies? Take it away Patty….
Hidey ho-ho-ho my little snowy love monkeys! I’m here at Book-N-Kisses to share with you my favorite things of winter.
Now, as a born and raised Southern Californian, my scope of winter may be slightly skewed. I know not of this fluffy white stuff called snow or this slippery business known as ice. I’ve heard stories from some of my wonderful friends across these great United States about snow days, ice scrapers and salt trucks. These are concepts that are completely lost on me as I’m still not 100% certain what a salt truck is and/or what it does. And you know what I’m perfectly fine with that. So I guess you could say that one of my favorite things about winter is that I live in Southern California.
However, my most favorite thing (well, things if we are going to get technical) about winter is that every one of my four children were born in winter. They may drive me bonkers on the regular but they are my greatest accomplishment and my greatest love and by far my most favorite things about winter!
Jaci, Please tell the peeps your favorite thing about winter…..
Winter is not typically my favorite season. I’m not a fan of cold weather at all. I love summer. Flip flops and tank tops and riding on the Harley with my husband.
But there are some advantages to winter. First, all the bugs die—especially the flies. I hate flies with the passion of a thousand suns. So in the winter, after a few hard freezes, they’re gone, and I have a few months bug free. Win!
The other thing I love about winter is the food factor. In the summer it’s all about showing skin, so you have to watch what you eat. In the winter, everyone’s bundled up, and we all tend to eat a little more to stay warm. Or at least that’s what we do at my house. I make a lot of chili, stew and chicken and dumplings in the winter. Nothing like a little comfort food on a cold day, is there?
Country singer Riley Jensen would never have returned to her small Missouri hometown if her publicist hadn’t come up with the scheme to tape a Christmas special there. So she never would have known that the man who broke her heart at eighteen—causing her to flee to Nashville—was now a widower with a seven-year-old daughter. Riley has ten years of angst-filled hit songs and Grammy awards to prove she doesn’t need Ethan Kent. But suddenly, she can’t help thinking of all she gave up by running away…
Ethan Kent knew Riley had the talent and the drive to make it as a singer. He also knew she wasn’t going anywhere if she stayed in their nowhere town for him. Then one night and one huge mistake sent her running on the road to fame. Which doesn’t mean he ever stopped loving her…
But with so much separating them, can Riley and Ethan find their way back together one magical country Christmas?
Patrica is offering an e-book of Cat O’Nine Tales and Swagbag
Jaci is offering an e-book of All She Wants for Christmas….
So to enter, Please tell Patty & Jaci your favorite thing about Winter, then head over to the MAIN Winter’s Favorites page (<– Click the link it will take you to the page) to enter.
TITLE: Holiday Games
Can you please share with us a little about yourself
Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?
