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21st out of 38 books
—
900 voters
Play It Safe
by
Kristen Ashley (Goodreads Author)
No connections. Play it safe. These were the rules Ivey lived her life by.
Until she hit Mustang, Colorado, a perfectly imperfect town where the citizens were welcoming and one of them included the tall, beautiful, macho man rancher cowboy, Grayson Cody.
On the run for a decade, Ivey knew she was supposed to play it safe. But she was tired of being on the run. She wanted a n...more
Until she hit Mustang, Colorado, a perfectly imperfect town where the citizens were welcoming and one of them included the tall, beautiful, macho man rancher cowboy, Grayson Cody.
On the run for a decade, Ivey knew she was supposed to play it safe. But she was tired of being on the run. She wanted a n...more
Kindle Edition, 368 pages
Published
January 2012
by Smashwords
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“Say you love me, Ivey.”
“I love you, Gray.”
I am not going to write a review for Play it Safe because this is an older KA book and there are a lot of reviews out there already.
IT'S KA.
IT WAS AWESOME.
ENOUGH SAID.
Grayson:
Ivey:
“Prettiest thing I've ever seen."
"Gray,"
"In that getup, in your jeans and tees, in your bikini on the lawnmower, when I open my eyes in the morning and see you next to me, anytime I see you, that's what I think. First thing that comes to mind. Anytime. Every time.”
Okay, I love cowboys, and I love Kristen Ashley’s books, so a Kristen Ashley book with a cowboy hero?? Yeeeehaw!!!!!!!!!! Hell yeah, I loved it!
Play it Safe is heartwarming, heartbreaking, funny, exciting, burn up the pages hot and even though it’s about fifty thousand pages long… it was still too short. There’s a fantastic supporting cast of characters who need their own stories told, but most definitely, both Lash and Freddie. Those guys are all kinds of awesome!
I know I sound like a broken r...more
46 likes · like · see review
6 stars!!
SQUEEEEE!! SWOON! DREAMY SIGH!.... I SERIOUSLY ADORED THIS BOOK!! WOW!
This book was a heart breaking, heart warming, heart racing, keep-you-up-all-night, have-you-swooning-squeeing-and-declaring-your-undying-love-for-the-hero kind of story. It made me laugh, squee, swoon (a LOT), cry, grin.... everything you could want in a book.
This was my first 6 star (above and beyond) KA read. I was hooked!!! I started it just after midnight and it kept me riveted to it until the sun came up an...more
SQUEEEEE!! SWOON! DREAMY SIGH!.... I SERIOUSLY ADORED THIS BOOK!! WOW!
This book was a heart breaking, heart warming, heart racing, keep-you-up-all-night, have-you-swooning-squeeing-and-declaring-your-undying-love-for-the-hero kind of story. It made me laugh, squee, swoon (a LOT), cry, grin.... everything you could want in a book.
This was my first 6 star (above and beyond) KA read. I was hooked!!! I started it just after midnight and it kept me riveted to it until the sun came up an...more
40 likes · like · see review
"You still fallin' in love with me?"
I stared, my cheeks now getting warm and opened my mouth to answer affirmative when he went on.
"'Cause you should know, baby, I'm already gone for you."
When twenty-two year-old Ivey Bailey rolls into Mustang, Colorado she's found a place to call home for the first time in her life. Her mantra 'Play It Safe' means no connections, no roots, keep moving. Ivey and her older brother Casey have been on the run for ten years. Casey has been looking out for Ivey since...more
19 likes · like · see review
3 1/2 stars
Play It Safe is another great book by Kristen Ashley. The characters are likable and endearing, the plot intriguing, the romance enticing, and, of course, the epilogue fabulous! I did, however, find myself putting this book down often, and I struggled trying to reconnect with the older, more worldly Ivey. Other than that, Play It Safe is a delightful read.
If you're already a Kristen Ashley addict, or interested in checking out her books, be sure to stop by our Kristen Ashley Addict's...more
Play It Safe is another great book by Kristen Ashley. The characters are likable and endearing, the plot intriguing, the romance enticing, and, of course, the epilogue fabulous! I did, however, find myself putting this book down often, and I struggled trying to reconnect with the older, more worldly Ivey. Other than that, Play It Safe is a delightful read.
If you're already a Kristen Ashley addict, or interested in checking out her books, be sure to stop by our Kristen Ashley Addict's...more
17 likes · like · see review
I know I sound like a broken record, but I love KA books. This was awesome, sweet, heartbreaking and hot! It crushed me when they were pulled apart from each other. Gray was passionate, caring and protective, but he had a quiet strength as well that ran deep. What I really loved is how he didn't give Ivey any grief when she helped him out with the ranch and his grandma (well not much). He totally had enough confidence in himself to not let that get him twisted, and no huge knock down, drag out f...more
14 likes · like · see review
Revised
This book has been lurking around in my mind all weekend. Confined to my bed with the terrible stomach flu and being too sick to even read, it came to me that my rating of 3.5 stars was due more to comparing this book to others I've read by KA. Stepping back and viewing it on it's own merit it is easily 4 star read for me.
There were elements about this story that I loved. And yet, there were parts that slowed and didn't hold my attention.. From the very first chapter, I was intrigued and...more
This book has been lurking around in my mind all weekend. Confined to my bed with the terrible stomach flu and being too sick to even read, it came to me that my rating of 3.5 stars was due more to comparing this book to others I've read by KA. Stepping back and viewing it on it's own merit it is easily 4 star read for me.
There were elements about this story that I loved. And yet, there were parts that slowed and didn't hold my attention.. From the very first chapter, I was intrigued and...more
11 likes · like · see review
Oct 20, 2012
Dorsey aka Wrath Lover
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
EVERYONE!!
Shelves:
kristen_ashley
Needed a KA fix for my withdrawals so I am rereading this one (I think this is the only KA book that I've read just once and it's been awhile).
** Just as good 2nd time around!! Love the epilogue!!
** Just as good 2nd time around!! Love the epilogue!!
9 likes · like · see review
Loved it! What an absolute swoon-fest!!!
As much as I love all of Kristen Ashley’s Alphas, I think she has managed to create the perfect man in Grayson Cody who, apart from being gorgeous, loving, sensitive, sweet and protective, has “the best wild west rancher cowboy name in history”. Apparently he also looks amazing in a pair of chaps (nice!). I absolutely loved him. He was such a gentleman, was never over the top with his Alpha-ness, never behaved like a jerk; he was honest and open, and he lo...more
As much as I love all of Kristen Ashley’s Alphas, I think she has managed to create the perfect man in Grayson Cody who, apart from being gorgeous, loving, sensitive, sweet and protective, has “the best wild west rancher cowboy name in history”. Apparently he also looks amazing in a pair of chaps (nice!). I absolutely loved him. He was such a gentleman, was never over the top with his Alpha-ness, never behaved like a jerk; he was honest and open, and he lo...more
6 likes · like · see review
4 stars.
(I've had a rough 24 hours so this will be short and sweet.)
I loved it. There were some areas where I struggled; but the melancholy, the emotion, the fabulous writing outweighed the slow moving bits. However the slow moving bits did create a bit of a barrier between me and Ivey. This meant at times I couldn't identify with her "voice" which led to me feeling disembodied from her.
Once we hit around 45% though it was all systems go with Gray and Ivey being forced apart, Ivey's devastation...more
(I've had a rough 24 hours so this will be short and sweet.)
I loved it. There were some areas where I struggled; but the melancholy, the emotion, the fabulous writing outweighed the slow moving bits. However the slow moving bits did create a bit of a barrier between me and Ivey. This meant at times I couldn't identify with her "voice" which led to me feeling disembodied from her.
Once we hit around 45% though it was all systems go with Gray and Ivey being forced apart, Ivey's devastation...more
10 likes · like · see review
*****5 Stars*****
"No Connections, Play It Safe"
That was the motto 22 year old Ivey Bailey lived by. On the road with her brother since she was 12 she took up playing pool and she could really kick ass at it. Making hustles was their gig now it brought in some cash so the pair went from town to town hustling to make ends meet making sure not to hit the same town twice. Play it safe and NO connections!
That is until they rolled into Mustang, CO and she caught a glimpse of a very hot "Macho Ranche...more
"No Connections, Play It Safe"
That was the motto 22 year old Ivey Bailey lived by. On the road with her brother since she was 12 she took up playing pool and she could really kick ass at it. Making hustles was their gig now it brought in some cash so the pair went from town to town hustling to make ends meet making sure not to hit the same town twice. Play it safe and NO connections!
That is until they rolled into Mustang, CO and she caught a glimpse of a very hot "Macho Ranche...more
4 likes · like · see review
Nov 27, 2012
Jennifer Kyle
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
kristen-ashley
Hells Bells!!!
Grayson Cody, a macho man rancher cowboy who falls for a pool shark Ivey and their story takes a lot of twists and turns. Ivey takes a chance and doesn't play it safe and Gray? He gives her everything but they get played and they are torn apart for seven years.. yes seven years. Great supporting characters and just a great story!
Grayson Cody, a macho man rancher cowboy who falls for a pool shark Ivey and their story takes a lot of twists and turns. Ivey takes a chance and doesn't play it safe and Gray? He gives her everything but they get played and they are torn apart for seven years.. yes seven years. Great supporting characters and just a great story!
Well it's been a few days since I finished this book and I still can't stop thinking about it.
I absolutely loved this book.
Gray and Ivey are really wonderful characters that I just adored. I really connected with both of them and I laughed, cried and at times my heart broke for these two and their forced separation.
My stomach was in knots during parts of this book and I had to ring a bookclub gal pal (thanks Sali) to get me through during a certain part of the book. I was that emotional.
Kristen...more
I absolutely loved this book.
Gray and Ivey are really wonderful characters that I just adored. I really connected with both of them and I laughed, cried and at times my heart broke for these two and their forced separation.
My stomach was in knots during parts of this book and I had to ring a bookclub gal pal (thanks Sali) to get me through during a certain part of the book. I was that emotional.
Kristen...more
4 likes · like · see review
Gray/Ivey have a great beginning in their younger years until her jerk of a brother interferes in their relationship to his own selfish interests. Thank goodness the gigantic misunderstanding didn't last more than a chapter or two before Gray/Ivey were reunited even though 7 years have transpired. I despise pages and pages of lengthy separations. Ivey's life did take a bit of an unusual path during this 7 year separation that I found a bit odd given her background. Not sure that I cared for that...more
5 likes · like · see review
I'm seriously getting ready to put Kristen Ashley at my Top 5 Authors of all time. If it hadn't of been for this website, I would have never known a thing about her. Kristen has a way of getting you into one of her stories and then there's no hope - you're stuck.
The story of Ivey & Gray was for lack of a better word - fantastic. Gray was sexy and sweet and Ivey was even better. The drama, the love, the romance, the scary parts, the good parts, all of it was great. There were parts of this s...more
The story of Ivey & Gray was for lack of a better word - fantastic. Gray was sexy and sweet and Ivey was even better. The drama, the love, the romance, the scary parts, the good parts, all of it was great. There were parts of this s...more
2 likes · like · see review
Always wanted me a hot cowboy in faded jeans and c-boy boots... Grayson Cody... I think totally fits the bill... #SeriouslyDrooling
Ok... let me just pull myself together... ok... back to business. I'm becoming a huge fan of Kristen Ashley right now. Two books in 2 days, both by author Kristen Ashley and both totally divine and addictive. Oh Yesssss... very much hooked #KristenAshleyAddict
Ok... let me just pull myself together... ok... back to business. I'm becoming a huge fan of Kristen Ashley right now. Two books in 2 days, both by author Kristen Ashley and both totally divine and addictive. Oh Yesssss... very much hooked #KristenAshleyAddict
This book started out slow for me. I just didn't get the romance between Ivey and Gray at the start, there was something off with it. I did love the town and the quirky people. Once Ivey met Lash, things picked up for me. I loved Lash, mostly for his feelings towards Ivey, at that point in their lives they were just what the other needed. Then when you add Brutus in, the trio couldn't be any more perfect.
I liked that when push came to shove that Ivey put away her bad feelings and did a good thin...more
I liked that when push came to shove that Ivey put away her bad feelings and did a good thin...more
Jul 18, 2012
Amber
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
KA fans and all romance fans in general
Shelves:
alpha-heros,
bad-reputation,
beautiful-heroine,
betrayed,
big-on-family,
con-artist,
endings-that-leave-you-satisfied,
erotic-adult,
fated-mates,
favorite-heroes,
favorites,
gifted-heroine-hero,
heart-wrenching,
heroine-i-loved,
mountain-man,
possessive-and-obsessive,
rape-d-or-abused,
romance,
traumatic-past,
villan-obsessed-with-hero-heroine,
western
Oh hot damn. Seriously. Ugh, where do i start. Maybe with saying that i LOVED this book. honestly, loved is an understatement. it has everything an amazing romance novel should have and what kristen ashley never fails to bring to her stories. A drool-worthy, sexy, dependable, strong, possessive hero who makes a beautiful, gentle, caring, and sassy heroine feel protected and strong even when the world is trying to beat them down. throw in a little betrayal, heartbreak, a sweet town with side ch...more
Epic. Masterful and absolutely breathtaking. This kind of storytelling makes me have hope for good reading in the future and that it'll keep coming.
This story has it in spades, the characters so wonderfully fleshed out that I couldn't help savor each and every nuance exposed by Kristen Ashley's wonderful depictions. She seriously needs to start writing more like this and less of her Rock Chick series, which, while a fun romp to read - can linger a bit distastefully in one's mouth like a maratho...more
This story has it in spades, the characters so wonderfully fleshed out that I couldn't help savor each and every nuance exposed by Kristen Ashley's wonderful depictions. She seriously needs to start writing more like this and less of her Rock Chick series, which, while a fun romp to read - can linger a bit distastefully in one's mouth like a maratho...more
Talk about PERFECTION baby!
Kristen Ashley offers you nothing BUT the best ROMANCE with the perfect blend of THRILL and STEAM .
This book was a heavy read but WAY WAY WAY worth it! The characaters connected in an undeniably sweet and beautiful way. Their conversation was never dull. The HERO is smoking hot .
'I loved you then. I love you now. I’ve loved you every day for seven years.... '
Cody can be terribly sweet you can't help but fall and squeel like a love-strucked teen-ager. Seriously,...more
Kristen Ashley offers you nothing BUT the best ROMANCE with the perfect blend of THRILL and STEAM .
This book was a heavy read but WAY WAY WAY worth it! The characaters connected in an undeniably sweet and beautiful way. Their conversation was never dull. The HERO is smoking hot .
'I loved you then. I love you now. I’ve loved you every day for seven years.... '
Cody can be terribly sweet you can't help but fall and squeel like a love-strucked teen-ager. Seriously,...more
I'm not sure what happened to this book, I loved the first say 60% of it and then, and then it just went to shit.
I haven't finished this book, simply because I'm not masochistic and have no desire to start the new year off in a painful fashion.
As I said I really like the first part of this book, the story was quite good and the characters weren't too bad although I can't say that I loved Gray. He really didn't do it for me. I'm not sure where the part was that was supposed to make me think he wa...more
I haven't finished this book, simply because I'm not masochistic and have no desire to start the new year off in a painful fashion.
As I said I really like the first part of this book, the story was quite good and the characters weren't too bad although I can't say that I loved Gray. He really didn't do it for me. I'm not sure where the part was that was supposed to make me think he wa...more
I absolutely ADORED this book. Loved it so much, I couldn't put it down so I had to stay up till nearly 4am to finish it. Play it Safe is the story of Ivey and Gray. Ivey and her brother Casey are on the run. For years they've been travelling from town to town, earning money through Ivey's skill at pool. When they reach the town of Mustang, the life Ivey has known since she was 12 suddenly changes. For the first time in ten years she wants to put down roots. And it's all because of Gray. Their s...more
4-4.5 stars
'Play It Safe' was, for me, a very emotional story. Like some other Kristen Ashley books, this is a "second-chance-at-love" story where the hero and heroine, due to unfortunate circumstances not under their control, spend years apart before reuniting.
What's different about 'Play It Safe' is that, unlike in 'For You' and 'Fairytale Come Alive' where the story essentially begins after a 20 year hiatus, we actually get Ivey and Gray's story before separation, some bits during their year...more
'Play It Safe' was, for me, a very emotional story. Like some other Kristen Ashley books, this is a "second-chance-at-love" story where the hero and heroine, due to unfortunate circumstances not under their control, spend years apart before reuniting.
What's different about 'Play It Safe' is that, unlike in 'For You' and 'Fairytale Come Alive' where the story essentially begins after a 20 year hiatus, we actually get Ivey and Gray's story before separation, some bits during their year...more
8 likes · like · see review
I sort of feel like a broken record by repeating that this is another fantastic story by Kristen Ashley. Play It Safe tells the story of a young drifter, Ivey and the man that would turn her world around, Grayson Cody. As I have said in a lot of my book reviews on Kristen Ashley, when she gives you a plot twist, she doesn't go easy. By far, this twist, which happened a bit earlier than "normal", was the most dramatic for me. And, as I've already stated, it is really hard to put her stories down....more
2 likes · like · see review
Jan 16, 2012
Baba ♥♥♥ Marcus, Tyler, Tate, Dan, Ty, & Hunter
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Shelves:
kristen-ashley
"I know somethin' led you to that life but I look at you, nothin' hard about you, not your attitude, not your mouth, not your eyes, nothin'. Whatever led you to that life wasn't good but you didn't let it make you hard. There'll come a time when you'll give that to me. And you take your time, Ivey, I'll wait."
I really wanted this story to shine but it didn't.
I think this is the best "quote" of Play it Safe. Recently I said that Kristen put me straight to reader's heaven. I know she does it all t...more
I really wanted this story to shine but it didn't.
I think this is the best "quote" of Play it Safe. Recently I said that Kristen put me straight to reader's heaven. I know she does it all t...more
19 likes · like · see review
In the first 1/3 of the book, the characters stole my heart and in the last 2/3, the story stole my attention...I absolutely Loved the book and I LOVED Ivey and Gray, I thought they were one of the sweetest and plain nicest couple ever! There were many characters in this book and I thought every character was 3-dimensional, had a distinct personality, and was awesome in their role.
The story starts off with a 22 year old sweet, self-conscious,and beautiful Ivey who has been constantly on the move...more
The story starts off with a 22 year old sweet, self-conscious,and beautiful Ivey who has been constantly on the move...more
I thought this book started off great. Halfway thru it lost me and after that it was dragging and had way to many random occurrences happening. ***SPOILERS****I Was really enjoying the instant connection between Ivey And gray and I liked that she finally was ready to settle down. I liked her history and story. But 7 years is entirely too long to be without each other after what they'd become. If she really loved him then she should have confronted him 3 months later when she saw him. And the fac...more
Ok, this is what it's like for me to read a Kristen Ashley book apparently: At the beginning... "Ugh, I don't think I'm going to like this because it's too country/biker/whatever." A little later... "Hmmm, ok this is picking up." A little later more... "I like." At the end... "Wow, glad this all came together because now I feel good and want to smile. I need to read another book by her."
I always start these books thinking I won't like them mostly because they just don't feel like they're my thi...more
I always start these books thinking I won't like them mostly because they just don't feel like they're my thi...more
Holy smokes, I FINALLY finished this one. It took me DAYS, and not because I didn't have the time to finish it, because I did, it's just that the ending 40% or so dragged on so so long I even decided to do some LSAT studying instead of finishing up this book.
I actually zoomed through the first portion of this book. What started out as a 5 star book to me dropped to 3 stars midway and finally concluded at 2 stars. I don't know. Maybe it was the focus of this story or the way it was told but it ju...more
I actually zoomed through the first portion of this book. What started out as a 5 star book to me dropped to 3 stars midway and finally concluded at 2 stars. I don't know. Maybe it was the focus of this story or the way it was told but it ju...more
3 likes · like · see review
Surprisingly this wasn't my favorite read from Ms. Ashley. But it was still a good read.
Characters:
Gray...cowboy, patient and all around good guy who does the right things.
Ivey...pool hustler who had a crappy childhood, therefore she's been on the road with her brother Casey for 10 years.
They meet, she wants him but knows she can't have him. They get together and it was a great 4 months for them until Ivey ups and leaves with brother for 7 years. Gray finds her in Vegas as a showgirl, he gets...more
Characters:
Gray...cowboy, patient and all around good guy who does the right things.
Ivey...pool hustler who had a crappy childhood, therefore she's been on the road with her brother Casey for 10 years.
They meet, she wants him but knows she can't have him. They get together and it was a great 4 months for them until Ivey ups and leaves with brother for 7 years. Gray finds her in Vegas as a showgirl, he gets...more
4 likes · like · see review
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kristen Ashley Ad...: Play it Safe (Stand Alone) | 55 | 471 | May 24, 2013 05:16pm | |
| Kristen Ashley Ad...: Play It Safe 2/1/13 | 20 | 129 | Feb 11, 2013 08:36am |
Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn't taken her first breath!).
Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends a...more
More about Kristen Ashley...
Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends a...more
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“You still fallin’ in love with me?... ‘Cause you should know, baby, I’m already gone for you”
—
33 people liked it
“I loved you then. I love you now. I’ve loved you every day for seven years.”
—
21 people liked it
More quotes…
May 18, 2013 06:05am
LOL! ;)
May 18, 2013 07:59am