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167th out of 6,881 books
—
6,877 voters
Enemies and Playmates
by
Darcia Helle (Goodreads Author)
When the abused decide to fight back, the abuser's world might just shatter. Lauren Covington's family maintains a grand facade that belies the life they live behind closed doors. Alex Covington, Lauren's father, keeps a tight rein on his family through dominance, abuse, and obsessive control. Consequently, Lauren doesn't believe she could ever trust a man, much less fall...more
ebook, 0 pages
Published
September 14th 2009
by Smashwords, Inc.
(first published June 8th 2009)
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This was a pretty good romance-thriller about a girl finding her man & dealing with her abusive father. The situation was fairly horrifying & logically structured. The hero & heroine were both tough, but very believable. While there is some sex, it wasn't over done nor too explicit. I should probably give the book an extra 1/2 star for that since too many authors succumb to filler sex lately.
If I have any criticism, it's that the fight scenes just didn't work all that well for me. Th...more
If I have any criticism, it's that the fight scenes just didn't work all that well for me. Th...more
Dec 20, 2011
Jen
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
x-read-in-2011,
ebooks-i-own
I am one of those fortunate ones that didn't come from an abusive home. I do have 2 friends that I knew in Jr high and high school who WERE though. I think I can relate to Carrie from this story - the helpful friend who is in the dark about knowing what to do to fix things.
This story was awesome - I really loved it - I've read about "Oh I was abused as a child which is why I turned out this way" in many other books - but this book is first hand information as it all happens right now.
We start...more
This story was awesome - I really loved it - I've read about "Oh I was abused as a child which is why I turned out this way" in many other books - but this book is first hand information as it all happens right now.
We start...more
Mar 04, 2010
Sheri
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-by-good-read-authors,
favorites
Enemies And Playmates (Darcia Helle) is a suspense novel. Lauren Covington should have the perfect life. Her father is a high powered attorney, she lives in a beautiful home and is attending a prestigious university. But her family life is not what it appears to be. Her father is abusive, manipulative and controlling. Lauren is tired of the lies and hiding her family secrets.
Jesse Ryder enters her life. He worked for her father at one time, and knows the truth about Alex Covington. Soon Lauren'...more
Jesse Ryder enters her life. He worked for her father at one time, and knows the truth about Alex Covington. Soon Lauren'...more
Honestly I think the title of this book drew me to it, it was free on Amazon Kindle one day and I thought it (the title) sounded interesting. I do not think I even read the description, but I am so glad that I got it!
In this book we meet Lauren Covington and Jesse Ryder.
Lauren is a collage student and aspiring journalist. Form the out side her family is perfect, a loving mother and father, perfect home, money, everything they could ever want. But Lauren has been living with a dark secret in her...more
There was little to no character development and read more like a screenplay than a novel. There were near emotionless conversations and some really stupid things went on. There were also some very weak minded women in this book! I found it amazing that every single female the character Alex had anything to do with was weak minded and only his daughter finally stood up to him at all.. maybe his wife sometimes.
Then you have the daughter breaking it off with the boyfriend, the boyfriend telling he...more
Then you have the daughter breaking it off with the boyfriend, the boyfriend telling he...more
Got this one as a free read and I love it. This book really surprised me. I wasn't expecting to like. Though my true love in reading books fall to paranormal romance catagory this book just blew me away. This is domestic abuse times 10. Our abuser is a dominating, ruthless, control freak with no heart at all. Our abusee's are one that is sooo angry he is in self destruct mode, one accept the abuse with total blinders on, and one see it all and knows not what to do with it.
This Author give us eac...more
This Author give us eac...more
Jan 02, 2013
Tracy Mcdowell
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
People who love Law and Order, but wish it had more romance
(Review with out Summary)
Enemies and Playmates rides on the coattails of some very cliche concepts, but this is its allure. It is an effortless read- with a predictable end- but is an enjoyable ride.
Look at the title. Helle understands the ringing resonance not only of the actually words- “Enemies” and “Playmates," but their connotations. Like the recent best sellers: Game of Thrones and Fifty Shades of Grey Helle harnesses our attention by artfully threading images of violence, sex and mystery....more
Enemies and Playmates rides on the coattails of some very cliche concepts, but this is its allure. It is an effortless read- with a predictable end- but is an enjoyable ride.
Look at the title. Helle understands the ringing resonance not only of the actually words- “Enemies” and “Playmates," but their connotations. Like the recent best sellers: Game of Thrones and Fifty Shades of Grey Helle harnesses our attention by artfully threading images of violence, sex and mystery....more
Don’t judge a book by its cover rings true in this novel. This is a romance/suspense novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it especially the suspense bit of it. It is very dark. It tells a story about a father who will do anything including harming his very own daughter to maintain his status in society. Alex Covington is a powerful attorney who has links to powerful people in the city. He is revered and put in a pedestal by everyone who does not know the evil side of him and hated by his own family. M...more
this well written story caught my attention from the beginning. But most cant get past the dark side of the story.
A dark corrupt lawyer, physically and emotionally abusive to his family. his image is everything to him. he will do anything to get things to go his way is threatened by a man who cant stand his dishonorable life.
A former cop turned PI is asked to do something shady for a well respected lawyer he refuses and starts to suspect more is going on behind the fancy suits and expensive tast...more
A dark corrupt lawyer, physically and emotionally abusive to his family. his image is everything to him. he will do anything to get things to go his way is threatened by a man who cant stand his dishonorable life.
A former cop turned PI is asked to do something shady for a well respected lawyer he refuses and starts to suspect more is going on behind the fancy suits and expensive tast...more
I have to say, at first the book cover didn't entice me into reading it, but because it was free and the synopsis intrigued me, I downloaded it. it had taken me a while to get round to reading this book as I thought it might be all about sex but I have to say I was drawn into it within the first few pages and it's taken me a few hours to read as I couldn't put it down. It deals with abuse, dominating power ad control and love. I hated Alex from the start- how can a man even think about doing so...more
The story line is fairly good- pacing, plot, character motivation, all decent. Definitely a quick read with a satisfying ending. I read a lot of reviews that said this book was "too dark to finish" I don't agree... while it does deal very bluntly with abuse to the nth degree, I think she does it well and it makes for great dramatic tension within the story... despite the minor flaws its definitely worth the read. However, the one gripe I have with this book are the details. There's a lot of tell...more
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Seriously ... WOW. I've read so many stating this book was dark and only got darker. Okay, yes it's not a topic that should be taken lightly. Darcia, however, made this book more about the air of mystery and finding a solution. There are definitely elements of what went on, but a lot of it use your imagination because it really is just skimmed over, well the details of the abuse were. Alex Covington was pretty much the evil incarnate himself. Wow I just couldn't get over the lengths he went to b...more
As others have mentioned, this book deals with very dark subject matter. Alex Covington is a man obsessed with power. He is violent, sadistic and controlling, in business as well as in play. His daughter Lauren is desperate to get out from under his thumb, but even she has no idea the lengths to which her father will go to keep her boyfriend, private investigator Jesse Ryder, from helping her.
This book is completely unlike anything I usually read. I don't consider this to be romance, although it...more
This book is completely unlike anything I usually read. I don't consider this to be romance, although it...more
Original Post April 14 2012 FANGS, WANDS and FAIRY DUST
For Kindle: 539 KB currently a freebie
Print Length: 309 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace (March 20, 2012)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Contains short and non-graphic sex scenes and domestic violence.
Disclosure: Free on Kindle.
For Kindle: 539 KB currently a freebie
Print Length: 309 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace (March 20, 2012)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Contains short and non-graphic sex scenes and domestic violence.
Disclosure: Free on Kindle.
...more
When the abused decide to fight back, the abuser's world might just shatter.
Lauren Covington's family maintains a grand facade that belies the life they live behind closed doors.
Alex Covington, Lauren's father, keeps a
4.25 out of 5. Wow!! This is a powerful book that may rub some readers raw and some may find that the characters lack backbone to deal with their issues. There also may be some who feel that the abusive dad was singularly non-creative in his abuse. Yet for those of us in the helping professions that have worked with abused spouses and families, this book, unfortunately, rings true on so many levels. Abuse is rightfully called "The Elephant In The Livingroom" and it is so this story. Dealing real...more
When I got this book I was a little hesitant to read it. The subject matter of abuse is touchy. Then there was a romantic story and the cover threw me off so I didn't know what to expect. Well the author did a wonderful job with it. She stuck with the seriousness of the subject matter and didn't play it off like it wasn't there with a bunch of sex scenes. It was written without overly graphic scenes, just enough to give you an idea of what was happening throughout the story. I felt that Ms. Hell...more
I'm not quite sure how I feel about this book yet. I found myself constantly annoyed with both Lauren and Jesse. Their constant "I'm worried about you, don't be worried, I love you, I love you too, I'll tell you later how I got hurt, okay I love you, I love you too, I want him dead, me too, but we can't kill him, oh yeah right"
I just felt like a big majority of the book was random almost-death experiences that they seemed to get out of all okay every single time, no one really hurt. Not badly an...more
I just felt like a big majority of the book was random almost-death experiences that they seemed to get out of all okay every single time, no one really hurt. Not badly an...more
CONS FIRST:
I had a problem with the antagonist being a total "Mary Sue" Villain. He was very one dimensional, whereas with this level of abuse the abuser usually has a whole lot more going on mentally. Given that opinion, I think the story would've been better served if the author had not attempted to use Alex's point of view, or had fleshed him out past his ego and his violence.
Minor issues..
A few typos and grammar errors that might have been caught with one more read-thru.
The difficult task of...more
I had a problem with the antagonist being a total "Mary Sue" Villain. He was very one dimensional, whereas with this level of abuse the abuser usually has a whole lot more going on mentally. Given that opinion, I think the story would've been better served if the author had not attempted to use Alex's point of view, or had fleshed him out past his ego and his violence.
Minor issues..
A few typos and grammar errors that might have been caught with one more read-thru.
The difficult task of...more
Sep 22, 2011
Cindi
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
favorites,
kindle-free
Wow. What a great book! This was a free Kindle read and my luck with those lately hasn't been that great with the exception of maybe one book.
Quick synopsis: Lauren meets Jesse at a club. She has no clue that Jesse works for her dad, Alex. Alex, a high powered attorney, is very abusive to his wife, Lauren, and Lauren's brother, Stephen. To the outside word Alex is an wealthy, upstanding attorney who has the perfect family. Without giving the story away, a lot of things happen that threaten to de...more
Quick synopsis: Lauren meets Jesse at a club. She has no clue that Jesse works for her dad, Alex. Alex, a high powered attorney, is very abusive to his wife, Lauren, and Lauren's brother, Stephen. To the outside word Alex is an wealthy, upstanding attorney who has the perfect family. Without giving the story away, a lot of things happen that threaten to de...more
Aug 14, 2011
Carol MacInnis
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mystery-thriller
Another Darcia Helle thriller "Enemies and Playmates", rates 5 out of 5 stars!
I began reading this book this morning and could not put it down, except when my husband would walk in on me asking where his breakfast and lunch are. (Meals can be such a nuisance!!)
Lauren Covington comes from a family with an abusive father who constantly beats her Mother and belittles her brother and herself. He is a lawyer who has many community ties that has him in the limelight often. He has total obsessive contr...more
I began reading this book this morning and could not put it down, except when my husband would walk in on me asking where his breakfast and lunch are. (Meals can be such a nuisance!!)
Lauren Covington comes from a family with an abusive father who constantly beats her Mother and belittles her brother and herself. He is a lawyer who has many community ties that has him in the limelight often. He has total obsessive contr...more
ENEMIES AND PLAYMATES weaves together the perfect balance of suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat and family drama and romance that grabs you by the heart strings.
Darcia Helle introduces some very difficult subject matter--abuse, adultery, addiction--but the story flows with such simplicity and raw honestly that I didn't find anything too jarring. Although the thread of suspense kept me turning pages, it was the characters that didn't allow me to set the book down.
Alex Covington's pe...more
Darcia Helle introduces some very difficult subject matter--abuse, adultery, addiction--but the story flows with such simplicity and raw honestly that I didn't find anything too jarring. Although the thread of suspense kept me turning pages, it was the characters that didn't allow me to set the book down.
Alex Covington's pe...more
Enemies and Playments is a suspensful thriller with a touch of romance. It will keep you intrigued throughout the entire read, bewildered by events and you have yourself wandering how and why ?
Alex Convington is a successful lawyer, rich, handsome has a beautiful family - loving wife and children and expensive lifestyle. But he is not the man you see. On the outside he wears a mask on the inside he is pure evil and controlling. He is abusive, controlling, demanding and very dangerous if you shou...more
Alex Convington is a successful lawyer, rich, handsome has a beautiful family - loving wife and children and expensive lifestyle. But he is not the man you see. On the outside he wears a mask on the inside he is pure evil and controlling. He is abusive, controlling, demanding and very dangerous if you shou...more
Dec 11, 2010
Alicia
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
my-read-kindle-books,
freebie-e-books
I clicked went through my list of Kindle freebies recently, and decided to make a dent in them. So I chose this book at random. It happened to be a pretty great pick.
Lauren Covington lives in a world where appearances are everything, well, atleast that's what she was taught by her family. They have to keep up appearances, that her father in a #1 dad and #1 husband. Although this is about as far from the truth as you can possibly get. He's an abusive bastard. He beats their mother daily and if e...more
Lauren Covington lives in a world where appearances are everything, well, atleast that's what she was taught by her family. They have to keep up appearances, that her father in a #1 dad and #1 husband. Although this is about as far from the truth as you can possibly get. He's an abusive bastard. He beats their mother daily and if e...more
I confess, I didn't finish this book. Not because of the writing or characters, both of which are well crafted, but because the subject is just too dark. I read for escape. I prefer my books light. Enemies and Playmates is neither. It deals with abuse very frankly.
Lauren Covington's father is a highly successful businessman who shows the world a face of compassion. But to his family, he is brutal, vicious, and unforgiving. Lauren wants to escape, to just live a normal life of a college student,...more
Lauren Covington's father is a highly successful businessman who shows the world a face of compassion. But to his family, he is brutal, vicious, and unforgiving. Lauren wants to escape, to just live a normal life of a college student,...more
Alex Covington, successful lawyer, owner of only the best and most expensive clothing has the respect and admiration of the whole town and then some. His business is thriving, he has the world in his hands, and his image can never be tarnished…or can it?
They say everyone has skeletons in their closets and is hiding something. Can it be true that Alex has this hidden side too…does he have something he wants to keep quiet?
Unfortunately his wife, Kara and children, Stephen and Lauren don’t see the...more
They say everyone has skeletons in their closets and is hiding something. Can it be true that Alex has this hidden side too…does he have something he wants to keep quiet?
Unfortunately his wife, Kara and children, Stephen and Lauren don’t see the...more
Very well written! Interesting, entertaining and overall a great read. I was at first worried about the name and the picture on the cover, but after reading two other books by the author firstNo Justice
and Hit List
I realized that the author simply writes well all the time.
Something else I noticed about this author: she manages to add unpredictable and thrilling turns in all her novels when you at least expect it.
And yes, you kind of know that the two main characters will find their happy e...more
and Hit List
I realized that the author simply writes well all the time. Something else I noticed about this author: she manages to add unpredictable and thrilling turns in all her novels when you at least expect it.
And yes, you kind of know that the two main characters will find their happy e...more
In a recent interview I was asked to note my three favorite authors. I named Nelson DeMille, Robert Crais, and Darcia Helle. After reading Enemies and Playmates, I may have to change the order of those selections.
This is a classic tale of good versus evil. Ms. Helle does a masterful job of crafting characters that the reader truly cares about early on in the plot. The protagonist, Lauren, is a 22 year old woman who has grown up in a household with an abusive father, Alex, who is a lawyer with po...more
This is a classic tale of good versus evil. Ms. Helle does a masterful job of crafting characters that the reader truly cares about early on in the plot. The protagonist, Lauren, is a 22 year old woman who has grown up in a household with an abusive father, Alex, who is a lawyer with po...more
Lauren Covington leads the perfect life, with the perfect parents. They live in the perfect house in the perfect neighborhood with great friends. Perfect. Only it's all a perfectly crafted lie to hide what happens behind closed doors.
Alex Convington, Lauren's father, is a brutal man who rules with an iron fist. He has everyone under his control. His family lives in fear of his wrath. Her mother suffers constant physical abuse at his hand, her brother suffers from severe mental abuse that is lea...more
Alex Convington, Lauren's father, is a brutal man who rules with an iron fist. He has everyone under his control. His family lives in fear of his wrath. Her mother suffers constant physical abuse at his hand, her brother suffers from severe mental abuse that is lea...more
This is not a romance as the cover depicts. I was a little thrown off by the cover and had to read all the reviews before downloading it. I don't really read a lot of romance. I don't mind a sideline of romance, as this has, but I prefer the story to be the main attraction. It's been free on Amazon for a long time and received pretty good reviews, so I finally broke down and picked it up. It's more of a thriller than anything.
The main character, Lauren, has an abusive father who happens to be a...more
The main character, Lauren, has an abusive father who happens to be a...more
Aug 25, 2012
Liberty Ann (SnifferWalkBooks) Ireland
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Contemporary Fiction, Contemporary Romance
When the abused decide to fight back, the abuser's world might just shatter. Lauren Covington's family maintains a grand facade that hides the private abuse they suffer at the hands of her father. Jesse Ryder, a private detective, steps into that world and, in the process, falls in love with Lauren. Together, Lauren and Jesse dodge death and expose the truth behind the facade.
Not sure what I was expecting but this book really took me by surprise and I liked it! The basic storyline takes you thro...more
Not sure what I was expecting but this book really took me by surprise and I liked it! The basic storyline takes you thro...more
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I write because the characters trespassing through my mind leave me no alternative.
Words are my addiction. I love to read; fiction, nonfiction, cereal boxes, ingredient labels. If it has words, I'll read it.
I am originally from Massachusetts and now live in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. I'm married, with 2 sons, a beautiful new granddaughter, and 5 very spoiled animals.
As well as finding me here...more
More about Darcia Helle...
Words are my addiction. I love to read; fiction, nonfiction, cereal boxes, ingredient labels. If it has words, I'll read it.
I am originally from Massachusetts and now live in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. I'm married, with 2 sons, a beautiful new granddaughter, and 5 very spoiled animals.
As well as finding me here...more
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“What's your name?" Jesse asked.
"Go to hell," the man muttered.
"Interesting name. Your mother must have been thrilled with your birth.”
—
8 people liked it
"Go to hell," the man muttered.
"Interesting name. Your mother must have been thrilled with your birth.”
“No, when I was a kid I had big plans.” A hint of playfulness crept into Jesse’s eyes. “I was going to be the next Superman. But my sisters got sick of me stealing their tights and I could never figure the damn things out anyway.”
—
7 people liked it
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