Cole shook his head. "Women and love and marriage and weddings and babies? I remember when all we could think about was sports. And getting laid."

"Not this guy. I like my life just the way it is."

Playing to Win is a  love story that follows a hard to love football star Cole Riley and his image consultant Savannah Brooks. Cole Riley may be a charming, well built, good looking and successful NFL football player, yet despite his success he's often traded to other teams due to his tumultuous relationships with those around him. However, the only one surprised by the need for an image coach is, yes you guessed it Cole Riley. Surprisingly he's reluctant to confide in his new consultant except to tell her that he has no need for her services since he has yet to admit he has a problem. I mean let's face the facts, when the media is out to portray you in a negative light and the paparazzi takes pictures of you causing fights and scenes.....right?....Errrrr well according to Cole Riley, that is until Savannah Brooks opens his eyes to not only his degrading and self deprecating behavior but his accomplishments as well.

Slowly these two start to not only become professionals working together they become friends before they become lovers. These two instantly have an attraction to one another yet, they're both stubborn to give into their passion and carnal desires. Cole is unwilling to settle with only one woman when it's quite obvious that being gorgeous, rich and an NFL football player he can have his pick of any woman or "fan" he chooses, but his heart wants to follow a southerner named Savannah. Whereas Savannah has true feelings for Cole, but she's hesitant to expose herself and become vulnerable to him at the risk of jeopardizing her career she has devoted her adult life to success in her profession while her personal life suffers. 

He straightened, then his lips curved in a hint of a smug smile. "And that's what I'd do with a woman I was out on a date with, peaches. Except it wouldn't end there. " He turned and got into his car, started up the engine, and pulled away. Savannah opened the door, the cold of the air conditioning inside doing nothing to quell the blast of heat burning inside her body.

No, it definitely wouldn't have ended there.
Not if they'd been on a real date.
Not if he really belonged to her.

I was expecting explosive sex, and fiery passion between this sultry image consultant and her reluctant bad boy football star but unfortunately I felt Playing to Win was lacking in those categories. It was a good read, yet I found myself a bit bored at times as the plot moved slower than I had anticipated at times. I hate to say it, but I wanted more sex scenes and scorching erotica sex and I was left yearning for more kink or even maybe perhaps more of an engaging storyline however this one fell a bit short for me. I liked it, I didn't love it, the sex was steamy, yet not enough and perhaps maybe I'm in the minority and another reader will love it. Upon my completion of reading Playing to Win I was left feeling ambivalent as to whether I would recommend this book to any readers, but it definitely had its likable moments, and I do recommend it for fans of Jaci Burton. 

"Your cock is beautiful.," she said.
"It's not beautiful. It's tough and manly."


P.s. Look at this cover....Isn't it beyond drool worthy? 

3.5 Stars

ARC provided for review by Penguin


Review also on my blog click to enter my giveaway until midnight September 11th 2012 Miss Vain's Paranormal Fantasy