Playing Dirty (Stargazer, #2) by Jennifer Echols

Oct 10, 2013 Anushka rated it it was ok

Shelves: chick-lit, contemporary

Also find this review on BookLikes and Don't Stop Readin'

Two words:
Drama Overload.

There was an overflow of emotions in every page of every chapter! Good God! It was WAY too much and the last couple of chapters which were supposed to be climactic turned into a hectic read. I had a scowl on my face which said just get it over with already during the last 50 pages or so.

From the very first meeting between our hero and heroine, there were sparks, tingles, intense attraction and all that lovey-d ...more

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Sep 14, 2013 Katy rated it did not like it

I haven't had much luck with Jennifer Echols books lately, but I still had hope - AND this is a sequel to Stargazer, which I gave 3 stars to. Sadly, this book was a huge disappointment for me.

First and foremost, I thought this book was too over the top. There was so much drama in this book, and it was one thing after another. Echols stretched the storyline thin, throwing in every trick she could think of, and it just made me weary overall. Nine Lives, Sarah's history, the band's double-life, Que ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Mar 08, 2013 Sarah rated it did not like it

I may upgrade this to two stars when I'm not so mad about how awful this was. I liked the first book in this series, but this one is just terrible. It's having a major identity crisis: is it a romcom, suspense, drama? None of those things worked, so it just reads as disjointed. Then the female lead, whose name is Sarah (much to my irritation because Sarahs are smarter than this), is colossally terrible at her job which she keeps calling "public relations," but has zero resemblance to what actual ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Sep 30, 2013 Geri Reads rated it liked it · review of another edition

I loved the premise of Playing Dirty. Sadly, like many of the books I've read lately, this one didn't live up to my expectation. I don't want to go repeat the blurb here since as you can see, it's already pretty extensive.

Well, liked this book. Parts of it were very enjoyable to read, parts of it were not. There were times when it made me laugh, there were times when it made cringe. Hence, my problem with this book overall.It wasn't consistent. There were portions where I was bored to death and ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Oct 27, 2013 diana rated it it was ok

A free ebook copy was provided by the publisher through Netgalley but this has in no way influenced my review.

I don't know if my review will even be considered legit and unbiased since I never did finish reading the whole thing. I'll start with saying that this book is not bad at all. The problem lies however in the writing itself and the way the story was told.
I finished (okay, kinda finished) the book weeks ago and I only decided to write a feedback now 'cause I was hoping that I'll persuade m A free ebook copy was provided by the publisher through Netgalley but this has in no way influenced my review.

I don't know if my review will even be considered legit and unbiased since I never did finish reading the whole thing. I'll start with saying that this book is not bad at all. The problem lies however in the writing itself and the way the story was told.
I finished (okay, kinda finished) the book weeks ago and I only decided to write a feedback now 'cause I was hoping that I'll persuade myself to continue reading and get myself wholly interested. Sadly, that was not the case.

I was hooked in the beginning of the book. I always loved a good romantic story and even more so when the plot involves a band and a hot, cocky lead singer.
There were a lot of unknowns from the start and I was just itching to know the mystery behind the characters and their actions. I was very much intrigued. Halfway through the book however, everything just felt off. I didn't feel any connection with any of the characters and I didn't feel the weight of their dilemmas and the emotions that come with them.
Also, I felt like the whole story was just kept on constant loop. Nothing new or remotely exciting happens and the only thing that you'll read about for the most part is the vivid details of the main characters making out. And after a few pages of intense make-out sessions, they'll go about pretending it didn't happen and vowing that they never really liked it in the first place and that it shouldn't happen again. But then it happens again. And again.

I really think that the book had a lot of potential to have become a really good book. It just doesn't have that main ingredient that I believe makes any great book great - the ability to connect to readers and engross them, us, in the story.
The good point? I think that the characters were given personalities that are unique and engaging. They weren't shallow and they had so much going on in their lives that the mystery surrounding them would make you want to know them better.

All in all, this could have been a really good book but everything just fell apart (for me) after the first few chapters. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Sep 19, 2013 Margay rated it it was amazing

What can I say about this book? I loved it. I was really intrigued by the premise, but I've come across rocker books that had a good premise but then failed to deliver the excitement I was expecting. I am happy to say this isn't one of them. This one more than delivers. First off, I have to say I loved the characters, especially the ones that make up the band - they are one hot mess, but they are so charming and engaging, you can't help but root for them and hope there's a chance everything can ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Nov 27, 2014 Joy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, chick-lit, 2014-goodreads-challenge, adult-fiction

- - -

Playing Dirty is one of those indulgence books I pick up whenever I want something that's purely fun, full of romance and maybe a little naughty. I read this back in November last year when I'd just finished uni and didn't want to think all that much. This book was just what I needed, and I thoroughly enjoyed it even though it's outrageously over-the-top.

Sarah Seville works of Stargazer PR as a crisis manager who goes around trying to fix the problems of major music stars. Having barel

- - -

Playing Dirty is one of those indulgence books I pick up whenever I want something that's purely fun, full of romance and maybe a little naughty. I read this back in November last year when I'd just finished uni and didn't want to think all that much. This book was just what I needed, and I thoroughly enjoyed it even though it's outrageously over-the-top.

Sarah Seville works of Stargazer PR as a crisis manager who goes around trying to fix the problems of major music stars. Having barely escaped from a dangerous stint in Rio De Janeiro with her previous client, Sarah is sent off to salvage the rocky relationships of a country band called the Cheatin' Hearts so they would finish their latest album on time. The band is full of tension, secrets and has a potential love-triangle happening that's looking to break them up forever. Convinced that the answer to fixing the band's problem is to help the lead singer, Quentin, and his on-again-off-again band member girlfriend return into each other's arms, Sarah decides to be Quentin's latest fling to make her jealous.

Yes, the whole premise of the book is extremely ridiculous. As a PR graduate, I can say that the methods Sarah uses is definitely unprofessional and liable for many, many lawsuits. But hey it's a book and you know what, I quite enjoyed how crazy everything got.

The Cheatin' Hearts may be on the rocks with each other, but it's just a front they put on for the paparazzi. Behind closed doors they're all good friends who look out for each other and abide by three set rules to ensure the band does stay together. Every person is hiding a secret, but they're also dedicated to making their careers work, despite the tumultuous band front they put on. Sarah on the other hand is hiding from her previous client, whose creepiness ended up with him in jail and now he's out for her blood.

I thoroughly enjoyed all the characters in Playing Dirty. They all had their own backstories and Echols has created them realistically. The chemistry between Sarah and Quentin was also sizzling hot and I enjoyed their banter and the denial of their feelings for each other. There was a back-and-forthness in their relationship that fortunately did not annoy me as the story moved along at a nice and fast pace.

As the deadline for the album approached, shit starts going down as all the secrets are revealed. Despite how over-the-top the story is, I still enjoyed the little glimpse into the music PR industry that this book offered.

You don't need to have read the first book in the Stargazer series to follow this story. But fans can expect to see beloved characters return for small cameos. Overall I found this book really fun, I would recommend it for anyone looking for a summery beach read!

Thank you to Pocket Books on Netgalley for providing an ecopy in exchange for an honest review.

...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Oct 09, 2013 Emma rated it really liked it

How much do I love Jennifer Echols - more and more with each book thats how much

Playing Dirty sustains the dynamic of the Stargazer series by combining an amazing romance with a killer thriller. This time it’s Sarah’s turn in the spotlight.

In Star Crossed, Sarah is the sporty, calm, logical voice of reason to Wendy’s snark. Due to personal tribulations Sarah has undergone a dramatic make-over. That idea that you can fake it til you make it, although she doesn’t lose her fitness freak self as muc How much do I love Jennifer Echols - more and more with each book thats how much

Playing Dirty sustains the dynamic of the Stargazer series by combining an amazing romance with a killer thriller. This time it’s Sarah’s turn in the spotlight.

In Star Crossed, Sarah is the sporty, calm, logical voice of reason to Wendy’s snark. Due to personal tribulations Sarah has undergone a dramatic make-over. That idea that you can fake it til you make it, although she doesn’t lose her fitness freak self as much as she thinks she does :) However, it is Sarah’s perceptiveness and ability to read people that is her essence and it really shines through the plot.

I really liked how the narrative examined the role the media plays in the success of bands (in this instance) – you’ve heard the saying no publicity is bad publicity – this turns it on it’s head.

The success of the band hinges on their publicity and the outlandish things they are willing to engineer in order to get it. Image is everything even it is a false image. Appealing to a specific demographic and the attributes that go with it form the basis of their image. Who they are in private is at odds with their public image and therefore, must be protected at all costs. Take Quentin, for example, I adore that he is inherently a geek in wolf’s clothing ;)

Misrepresentation and media misdirection form the basis of the story. The different approaches to public relations and the psychology behind it are touched upon within the plot providing insight and understanding to certain aspects.

The third person narrative is essential in order to control all the different dimensions within the story-line. For me, the elements dealing with identity stood out the most. From Sarah’s make-over to Quentin’s theatrics; who they were on the outside as opposed to who they were on the inside provided much food for thought on how people perceive us and how we perceive ourselves as a result.

Playing Dirty because there are no rules when your heart is at stake ;) ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Oct 09, 2013 Lucie Paris rated it liked it

Many secrets. Many lies. So difficult to tell the truth and be heard when one is entangled in all the lies invented!

It is rather amusing to see the information held away from people we love to avoid the worry, to make them suffer, to protect them or not to disappoint them... Lying even with good intensions always led to a disaster. At the end account, secrets gnaw especially the ones that hold them. The truth, even if it hurt, frees by its brutality.

Through a country band and excesses expected i ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Nov 27, 2012 Lori (Ficwishes) rated it it was ok

Well, I did it again. I took a gamble on another Jennifer Echols book and lost. I feel like I've been burned by the last few of her books that I've tried to read.

I did not read Stargazer #1 and did not feel lost, so the good thing is that this book can stand on its own. The bad news is that I think I have either just reached a certain age, or have had my fill of bullshit. I did not like this story.

At first glance it seemed up my alley. It's about music, the music industry, and falling in love. H ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Nov 22, 2013 Becca ~BS BOOK REVIEWERS~ rated it really liked it

This post was published to BS BOOK REVIEWERS at 9:12:54 AM 11/22/2013
Stargazer Series by Jennifer Echols

Playing Dirty by Jennifer Echols
Stargazer # 2

Playing Dirty is the second installment in Jennifer Echols’ Stargazing series. This is one of my favorite authors and I love her Southern books!
Let me start off by saying that I live in Alabama and not too far from this books setting. Ms. Echols nailed Birmingham from the street names to the Vulcan’s ass! This is the closest “big” city to us and in ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Sep 15, 2013 Heather rated it really liked it

This was a cute, fast read. I have read some of Echols YA (and love it) so I thought I'd try some of her adult contemporary romance. This book is pretty light, but it's pretty funny in places and very sexy. There was a story arc running through it that felt a bit over the top and unnecessary to me, and led to this dramatic event near the end which felt a bit odd when compared to the rest of the book, but it was still an entertaining read.

This is the second book in the Stargazer series--it's a c ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Oct 31, 2013 Claudia rated it really liked it

Shelves: galley

I couldn't put it down! I was so intrigued with Sarah and Quentin and their story!The connection between Sarah and Quentin can be felt right away and it is hot! When these two were together, there scenes just jumped from the page. I absolutely loved these two together! Very good!! ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Dec 04, 2016 TSN ☮ rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: did-not-finish, 2016

DNF 50%.
This is a sequel to Stargazer, which I liked and gave 4 stars. Sadly, this book was a huge disappointment for me. This only thing i actually liked was the messages from Wendy many of the chapters started with. They were all pretty hilarious.

flag Like · see review

Apr 27, 2018 Katie rated it really liked it

Nice little palette cleanser before starting my May TBR.

flag Like · see review

Sep 10, 2013 Tabitha (Bows & Bullets Reviews) rated it liked it

Shelves: reviewed

The review is also available on my blog, Bows & Bullets Reviews

Sarah Seville screwed up royally in Rio with crazy rocker Nine Lives. Sure, she kept him concentrating long enough to record his album, but now he's stuck in prison and when he gets out shit's really going to hit the fan. To save her career, she takes on The Cheatin' Hearts, a country group famous not only for their perverted lyrics, but also for their antics. This group is constantly starting fights and hitting the hospital for over The review is also available on my blog, Bows & Bullets Reviews

Sarah Seville screwed up royally in Rio with crazy rocker Nine Lives. Sure, she kept him concentrating long enough to record his album, but now he's stuck in prison and when he gets out shit's really going to hit the fan. To save her career, she takes on The Cheatin' Hearts, a country group famous not only for their perverted lyrics, but also for their antics. This group is constantly starting fights and hitting the hospital for overdose's. It'll be a miracle if she can pull this off, but she'll try anything to keep her mind off Nine Lives. The Cheatin' Hearts have three golden rules to keep them together: no drugs, no sleeping with other band members, and no sleeping with record company spies. Quentin laid the rules out in the beginning and expects everyone to follow his lead. It's kept the band together and successful for several years now and he isn't willing to risk that, no matter how attracted to Sarah he is. But the longer she stays, the harder he has to fight his urge to seduce her and let all his walls down, a dangerous prospect indeed.

This is moderately better than it's predecessor, but that isn't saying much. It still falls desperately short when measured to Jennifer Echols other works. The best way to describe this novel is one word: DRAMA. The drama contained in just the four members of The Cheatin' Hearts was enough to set me over the edge, then adding Sarah & Quentin's tension-y relationship to it and I was just a bit miffed. I'm not a huge fan of drama. In fact, I like to keep it to a minimum, so you can image how I felt about all the subterfuge between the band, Sarah, and the media circus they create. The "dumb hick" act Quentin is so fond of had me screaming to just fucking stop. Seriously, it's not attractive in the least and no, you'll overly muscled body doesn't compensate. I get you are physically attractive, but dumbing yourself down so the media will "like" you is about as dumb as girls who act brainless to get the guy. It's infuriating.

What's more is he keeps the act up throughout most of the novel, so by then end I feel like he and Sarah don't know each other well enough to profess the feelings they claim to have. How can you love someone you don't know? Sarah, by the way, is just as guilty. After her husband asked for a divorce, she had a massive makeover and has tried to match her new personality to it. But new Sarah and old Sarah are pretty different and it's hard for me to reconcile the two when I've been in her head for half the novel, much less for Quentin who's just been catching what she lets slip on occasion.

The rest of the cast is alternatively annoying or absent. Erin can't seem to settle on whether she wants to be friendly or bitchy. Since the audience knows her and Quentin's "relationship" is bullshit, it's unclear why she plays that card. I mean, I know Sarah expects jealousy, but seriously, just pick a side and stay there. Same with Owen, who obviously hates Sarah intensely one moment and then is friendly the next. And they all blindly follow Quentin's lead. You claim he's genius level intelligent, but we rarely see him back it up because I don't consider engineering the band's publicity as a genius act. I consider it stupid. I get that it's what got you the attention you needed to get a recording contract, but you got it so let the drama go!

The writing was mediocre at best and the plot felt highly predictable. (view spoiler) It almost felt like Echols recycled the end of Star Crossed, just changing the bare minimum of details so it would fit here.

It's difficult to express my level of disappointment. This isn't a bad read. It's not great, but it's tolerable and if almost anyone else had written it, I probably would have liked it more. But I know Echols is capable of more. She's one of my favorite contemporary writers and to see her produce this hot mess makes me endlessly sad. Here's hoping.

****Thank you to Pocket Books for providing me with an eARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review****

Tabitha's signature

...more

flag Like · see review

Apr 13, 2013 Kim rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, edelweiss, new-adult, reviewed, read-in-2013

Find this review and more on my blog...

I’ve been a big fan of Jennifer Echols’ young adult books for a long time now. Such a Rush is my favorite. I think she writes fantastic contemporary characters with interesting storylines. I was thrilled to learn she was going to begin writing new adult novels. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed both of the books in the Stargazer series.

“Sarah got a thrill from figuring out the psychology of famous, creative people and helping them improve their q

...more

flag Like · see review

May 10, 2020 Emily rated it it was ok

Meh. I enjoyed the first Stargazer book, but not this one. I figured out what was going on with one of the band members immediately, but it took the main character almost the whole book to figure it out. Also, I was annoyed with the manipulating dishonesty that was a constant with pretty much every character. Adults acting like children - annoying. I finished it though, to see what happened. It was a rare miss from Jennifer Echols.

flag Like · see review

Oct 04, 2013 Lacey (laceybooklovers) rated it liked it

Shelves: review-copy, adult, arc, blog-review, contemporary-romance, made-me-laugh, rock-stars

Originally posted at Booklovers For Life

3.5 STARS

It’s been a few days since I finished Playing Dirty, and I’m still not sure how to feel about it. It was my first time reading a book by Jennifer Echols, and while I’m not jumping for joy at the prospect of reading another of her books, I still did enjoy myself while reading Playing Dirty. I wasn’t really impressed with the writing, but I really liked the characters and story.

Well, I didn’t like the characters ALL the time. The first third of the ...more

flag Like · see review

Nov 07, 2013 Rachel rated it liked it

3.5/5 stars.

This book was quirky, cute and fun, with some "heavy" elements thrown in. I enjoyed this book, I really did - there were lots of things that I liked about it - but, in the end, I just felt that something was a bit lacking. I haven't read the first book in this series, so I might have been missing some background information/details, but I felt that this book could definitely be read as a standalone.

Sarah is a "PR genius" - she's called into bad situations to help save the day when mu 3.5/5 stars.

This book was quirky, cute and fun, with some "heavy" elements thrown in. I enjoyed this book, I really did - there were lots of things that I liked about it - but, in the end, I just felt that something was a bit lacking. I haven't read the first book in this series, so I might have been missing some background information/details, but I felt that this book could definitely be read as a standalone.

Sarah is a "PR genius" - she's called into bad situations to help save the day when musicians or other celebrities are off the rails. In this book, Sarah is called in to help prevent the break-up of country music group The Cheatin' Hearts when a love-triangle within the band threatens to break them up. Sarah has also just returned from 9 months in Rio, where she assisted reclusive musician Nine Lives. A situation which has now left her fearful and skittish.

Quentin is the lead singer of the Cheatin' Hearts and the band's unofficial ring leader. The band has a long history of getting themselves into trouble - rumours of drug abuse, love triangles, bar fights on a regular basis and drummer, Owen, even got shot while they were touring in Greece. But, as Sarah soon discovers, there's more to this band than meets the eye and things aren't always as they seem.

From their first meeting, Sarah and Quentin feel an undeniable pull towards each other. They are instantly attracted to one another, but soon they both realize there's so much more than the physical. To Sarah's horror she discovers she actually likes him! And Quentin can't get Sarah out of his head. Over the next 10 days, Sarah and Quentin get to know one another and romance blooms - but they're both hiding so many things from the other. And there are so many issues with the other 3 members of the band. And then Sarah's past comes back with a vengeance. Can Sarah get Cheatin Hearts together in time to complete their new album? Do her and Quentin have a shot at something real?

As I mentioned, I did enjoy this book. I liked Sarah and Quentin's characters. Although I'm not a huge fan of "insta-love" in general, I almost thought it worked in this book given that they were practically living together for the duration of the book. I definitely think it's possible to feel a strong connection with someone in such an intense situation. I also liked the other members of the band - I just wish we got to get to know them a little bit more.

There was a scene which I just loved - the day where the whole group goes to the beach house to unwind. I loved the scene where they are lounging on the dock and then they go out on the boat and jump off the cliff. It was just so nice to see all of the characters in their elements and I loved Sarah's and Quentin's descriptions of the day and the progression of their relationship.

I just thought there was a bit "too much" going on in this book. Everyone just had soooo many issues! Drug abuse, stalking, medical problems, love triangles, pregnancy scares, misunderstandings, daddy issues, etc. There were times I was like "whoa" - this is just too much, and I felt like we went into the realm of totally unbelieveable. I don't want to give away too many specifics, so I'm trying to be vague here. Also, I felt like all of the issues took away from the focus of the dynamic of the band and the problems at hand and at times it was like Sarah completely forgot about what her role was supposed to be until she would randomly blurt out "where's my album?" For someone who was supposed to be so career driven, she wasn't too focussed on this job.

Having said all of that, I would still recommend this book to others.

*Thank you NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! ...more

flag Like · see review

Jan 16, 2013 Estelle rated it liked it

Shelves: 2013-new-releases, contemp-fiction

3.5 stars.

Review originally posted on Rather Be Reading Blog

Talk about blurred lines of the mixing work with pleasure variety and you have yourself Playing Dirty.

Sarah, defeated from a demanding PR task in Rio, is in jeopardy of losing her job. Her last hope (God help us all) is Cheatin’ Hearts, a country band known for their fights, swapping bandmates for romance partners, and drug use. All she needs to do is get their album finished, make sure they are on stage for a Fourth of July performance 3.5 stars.

Review originally posted on Rather Be Reading Blog

Talk about blurred lines of the mixing work with pleasure variety and you have yourself Playing Dirty.

Sarah, defeated from a demanding PR task in Rio, is in jeopardy of losing her job. Her last hope (God help us all) is Cheatin’ Hearts, a country band known for their fights, swapping bandmates for romance partners, and drug use. All she needs to do is get their album finished, make sure they are on stage for a Fourth of July performance, and she is in the clear.

As she suspected, it’s just not going to be that easy.

She fully adopts her PR-alter ego, pink highlights, stripper heels, and tons of sex appeal to win over the Quentin, the supposed cocaine addict and leader of the band. If she can just make Quentin’s ex-girlfriend/current fiddle player, Erin, jealous, the two will get back together and certainly keep the band from breaking up. Of course, this plan requires many steamy (sometimes stolen) moments with Quentin, who is just too attractive for his own good.

Something is missing from this equation though. Honesty. It’s pretty much taken a back seat.

Sarah is lying about what happened in Rio. She also would choose sweatpants over hot pants any day. While Quentin and his band learned early on that success is about giving people something to talk about so basically nothing seen in the tabloids is real. Like at all. And while there are glimpses of truth in a few of Sarah and Quentin’s encounters, they keep second guessing themselves, each other, and it all erupts into a huge huge dramatic mess.

Even though so many of the conflicts in Playing Dirty could have been avoided, Sarah and Quentin share some sizzling scenes together (the shower!) and for all of the lying, their characters were super well developed. Sarah has some unresolved issues with her mother and a divorce in the works; Quentin gave up a medical career to pursue singing (he comes from a family of musicians) and his mother’s death made him scared of many things. When they both let their guards down, I really liked watching them get to know each other and bond.

Plus I absolutely loved her friendship with Wendy (the main character from Star Crossed) showcased through some hilarious emails and all the country music making and gossip!

I can’t forget to mention “the scary element”. Echols utilized this subplot in Star Crossed as well. I thought it was unnecessary there, and even more so in Playing Dirty. It caused the end to drag, and just seemed too much with all the situations already unfolding.

Still Playing Dirty has so much of Echol’s signature elements: crazy tension, a hot leading man with a heart, an ambitious female lead, and a great dash of comedy to level out all the drama. (Also: a surprising amount of Star Wars references for the nerdy side in all of us!) I’m still enjoying her venture into adult contemporary romance and I always on the edge of my seat waiting for the next one! ...more

flag Like · see review

Dec 11, 2013 Vanya D. rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2013, netgalley, contemporary-new-adult

NOTE: I received this book via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Thanks!

I've read two books by this author. The one I loved (The Ex Games) and the other came out below average (Love Story). So I thought I'd give her a chance to win my better opinion.

I was surprised.

First, because I was clearly not expecting a HOT New Adult title. And second, because I ended up loving it! I loved the drama, the characters, the complications. It was so well put together, that I couldn't help it - I just ...more

flag Like · see review

Jan 24, 2013 Ginger at GReadsBooks rated it really liked it

Shelves: to-read-2013, adult-contemporary, edelweiss

Read the original review here ---> GReads!

As a long time fan of Jennifer Echols' work, it's no doubt I'll read anything this woman publishes. Earlier this year I was introduced to her debut adult fiction, Star Crossed, the first in this series. She proved to handle the complexity and maturity of said drama, keeping in true fashion with her irresistible characters and engaging storyline. She's done it again with the follow up in this series, solidifying her place in adult romance.

Sarah has just g Read the original review here ---> GReads!

As a long time fan of Jennifer Echols' work, it's no doubt I'll read anything this woman publishes. Earlier this year I was introduced to her debut adult fiction, Star Crossed, the first in this series. She proved to handle the complexity and maturity of said drama, keeping in true fashion with her irresistible characters and engaging storyline. She's done it again with the follow up in this series, solidifying her place in adult romance.

Sarah has just gotten out of a bad job, that almost tanked her career as public relations expert at Stargazer. She's been given an opportunity to redeem herself with the south's hottest, and most hard to handle, country sensation The Cheatin' Hearts. Word on the street is they're about to break up, just before their next album is due in the hands of their record company. So Sarah is sent down to Alabama to smooth things over, keep the band from falling a part, and produce an album the record company will be satisfied with.

What Sarah walks into is a mess she wasn't quite expecting. The band has other thoughts on how they're going to handle this pink-haired hard ass from New York City. While scheming their own story to keep Sarah on the fringes of what's really going on, Sarah takes a liking to their lead singer Quentin. He appears to be the coke addict everyone says he is, complete with the hick accent, and zero tolerance for anyone telling him what to do.

From the reader's perspective the narrative is told from both sides of the story, so we see the truth behind Sarah's motives and Quentin's games. Sarah has to get a finished record out of Quentin and his band mates in just ten days, while Quentin and his crew have to keep up the facade they've created just long enough to get the job done. The dynamic between Sarah and Quentin was a lot of fun to read about. They had instant chemistry from the beginning. I really enjoyed the moments when one or the other would slip up and reveal a bit of their true colors.

Fans of Jennifer Echols will be pleased by this next installment in the Stargazer series. I was pleasantly won over by Quentin's character, who actually reminded me a little of a grown-up Adam from Echols' previous work Endless Summer. His humor and boyish charm stole the scene for me, and his ability to sing while playing bass was a nice bonus too! I definitely recommend this book, and since it follows a new storyline, readers don't necessarily have to read these books in order. However we do see glimpses of Wendy and Daniel from the first novel, which was a sweet surprise!
...more

flag Like · see review

Oct 26, 2013 Hot Stuff Book Reviews rated it really liked it

Shelves: adult, contemporary, favorite-authors, english

http://hotstuffbookreviews.wordpress....

I received this book after I requested it on Netgalley for an honest review.

When I saw that Jennifer Echols wrote this novel, I had to read it. I always enjoy reading her books and Playing Dirty is not different.

If I’m not mistaken, it’s her second adult romance – the books in this series can be read as stand alone books – and let me tell you, it’s a success. While it took me a little while to warm up to the story and the characters, once I did I couldn’t ...more

flag Like · see review

Nov 18, 2013 Killian rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

So, I finished this book and got on GR all ready to gush about how much I loved it.... Then I saw all of these low scoring and dnf reviews. And I was confused. Surely we didn't all read the same book, I thought. So I decided to give it a few days to simmer, thinking I would come back when I had let my thoughts settle a bit.

And I still love this book.

Ok, I'll admit that as soon as I realized that the majority of it was going to be set in Alabama, I was pretty happy. I love anything set in my home So, I finished this book and got on GR all ready to gush about how much I loved it.... Then I saw all of these low scoring and dnf reviews. And I was confused. Surely we didn't all read the same book, I thought. So I decided to give it a few days to simmer, thinking I would come back when I had let my thoughts settle a bit.

And I still love this book.

Ok, I'll admit that as soon as I realized that the majority of it was going to be set in Alabama, I was pretty happy. I love anything set in my home state, even though I generally end up disappointed by authors who, in reality, have probably never been here and are writing based on stereotypes. The further I read, the stronger my suspicion that Ms Echols had grown up here (apparently correct based on her bio). The details and obvious fondness for the area came through in her writing. I really appreciated that.

But aside from that, I really liked these characters! Quentin is a total goof ball, and Sarah is trying so hard to be something that just does not come naturally to her. They relationship and interactions were adorable. I also loved the side characters, like Sarahs mother and the band members. Yeah, they didn't have as much page-time, but I thought their personalities came through anyway.

Now I will give those detractors their due, cause when you're right, you're right. The plot and lying and secrets got a bit convoluted and confusing. It seemed to me that from pretty early on Quentin had basically told Sarah most of the truth of how the band was lying to the world, but then he doesn't reveal one particular lie (for no apparent reason) which just ends up making things more complicated than they needed to be. (view spoiler) It was weird. There was also a weird moment near the end where I felt Sarah did a total about-face from how her character was written which felt very off. (view spoiler)

Overall though, I came away from this book making Happy-Book-Sound, and honestly, there is just nothing better than that. I would say that if you are on the fence about this one, give it a shot. You might be surprised.

Copy courtesy of Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more

flag Like · see review

Nov 20, 2013 Brittany Rehage rated it liked it · review of another edition

I love Echols’ Young Adult novels. Each time I read one, I fall a little bit more in love. So when I got the chance to read one of her Adult novels, I was excited. For the majority of the novel, I felt it was fantastic. The people have dimension and the plot line is interesting. I could see where things were headed, but I still wanted to read more. The last few chapters were a little heavy on the drama for my tastes, but I still enjoyed the novel as a whole.

Sarah has just returned from South Ame I love Echols’ Young Adult novels. Each time I read one, I fall a little bit more in love. So when I got the chance to read one of her Adult novels, I was excited. For the majority of the novel, I felt it was fantastic. The people have dimension and the plot line is interesting. I could see where things were headed, but I still wanted to read more. The last few chapters were a little heavy on the drama for my tastes, but I still enjoyed the novel as a whole.

Sarah has just returned from South America where she tackled a crazed rock star problem for the PR firm she works for. Despite her success in securing an album from Nine Lives, he still ended up in jail, leaving Sarah's job with the agency in question. With her future on the line, she is given the task of keeping The Cheatin' Hearts, a country band, from breaking up. They must deliver a new record in a week and perform at a 4th of July nationally televised concert. Sarah goes in prepared, but ends up having to change her game at every turn.

The characters that make up the band are interesting and easily held their own. Erin, the female of the group, has a lot more beneath the surface. She puts on a Daisy Duke southern chick act, but it is easy to see that she's not completely that person. That might be a piece of her, but there's a lot more to her. Owen, the drummer, has the reputation of being the sweet, albeit slightly slower, member of the group. But like Erin, it's an act the public buys and wants more of. Martin is the musical genius that isn't as put together as well as everyone thinks. And Quentin is the leader, the one that makes the pop hits and big decisions for the group even while acting like an uneducated hick. They all bring so much to the story that I could easily read a book about each of them.

The romance part of the novel wasn't exactly my cup of tea, in that it moved extremely fast and while it was easy to get caught up in it, it was also easy to remember that this novel takes place in about the span of two weeks. I felt like I could go along with it up until the end of the novel, when I kind of wanted to hit the brakes hard.

Overall, Echols has a good Adult novel. I'm still loving her YA novels more, but the balance between characters and drama in Playing Dirty was good. Once I was sucked into the novel it took a lot to pull me back out and that's enough for me to still be interested in reading whatever Echols publishes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pocket Books for an advanced copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review. ...more

flag Like · see review

Dec 01, 2013 Amy rated it it was ok

So right after I finished reading Star Crossed, I picked up this one, which is part of Echols' Stargazer series. And .... let's just say I wish I'd stopped with Star Crossed.

We met Sarah in Star Crossed; she works with Wendy at a New York PR business, specializing in helping hapless stars. Now she gets her own story, and it is not nearly as entertaining as Wendy's.

Sarah has recently returned from a hellish assignment in South America with music star Nine Lives, who apparently threatened her lif ...more

flag Like · see review

Feb 01, 2014 Marianne (Boricuan Bookworms) rated it liked it

Shelves: netgalley, 2014-tbr-challenge

Boricuan Bookworms- Book Reviews

Jennifer Echols is always a go-to author whenever I want a romance filled read. Playing Dirty is no different. We meet Sarah, a publicity agent who desperately needs to nail her next assignment if she wants to keep her job. Sarah's new task is to keep Quentin's band together, at least until they finish their new album. What Sarah doesn't expect, is that the band is keeping secrets from her, and she can't help but notice how attractive Quentin is. Falling for Qu Boricuan Bookworms- Book Reviews

Jennifer Echols is always a go-to author whenever I want a romance filled read. Playing Dirty is no different. We meet Sarah, a publicity agent who desperately needs to nail her next assignment if she wants to keep her job. Sarah's new task is to keep Quentin's band together, at least until they finish their new album. What Sarah doesn't expect, is that the band is keeping secrets from her, and she can't help but notice how attractive Quentin is. Falling for Quentin isn't part of the job, but if that's the only way to keep the band together, who is she to say no? Who said playing dirty wasn't complicated?

Despite my 3-star rating, I did genuinely enjoy this book. I was glued to the pages and couldn't put it down until I finished. My problems with this book was that I thought there were too many subplots. I found it difficult to concentrate on one problem, when there were so many going around. Maybe if the book only concentrated on one issue, or fleshed out all the other issues, then it would have been less confusing. There was also this problem where everyone was keeping secrets. I was infuriated with all of them because they couldn't just say what they were thinking and done.

Nevertheless, if you ignored these two issues, the book was actually very good. I had no idea this book wasn't YA, yet that didn't stop me from enjoying it.

Quentin and Sarah are both narrators in this book, and I think their voices were portrayed very well. Quentin genuinely sounded like a guy, which sometimes is difficult to achieve with these kinds of books.

Their romance didn't scream insta-love, it maybe whispered at insta-attraction. Attraction is common, so one really couldn't argue that the romance was bad. I liked their romance. I loved seeing them fall for each other slowly; they were mischievous and playful around each other, which was really cute to see.

I really liked seeing the stories of some of the secondary characters, and can't help but to hope the next book in this series is centered around one of them.

Overall, a great guilty pleasure read that will satisfy those searching for a cute romance.

Rating: 3 stars ...more

flag Like · see review

Feb 22, 2015 Wendy Clark added it

Shelves: dnf

I selected this as part of my 5 Romance Novels At Once! super-fun research project hoping to discover new authors to love. This is my first Jennifer Echols.

Intro/Prologue/Ch 1

Not as good as Jill Shalvis, but already funny and I’m still thinking about it several hours later. The hero and heroine haven’t met yet, but it’s already going off in a direction I didn’t expect. The heroine is a PR agent intending to whip a country band into shape and the hero is the lead singer who has been faking their I selected this as part of my 5 Romance Novels At Once! super-fun research project hoping to discover new authors to love. This is my first Jennifer Echols.

Intro/Prologue/Ch 1

Not as good as Jill Shalvis, but already funny and I’m still thinking about it several hours later. The hero and heroine haven’t met yet, but it’s already going off in a direction I didn’t expect. The heroine is a PR agent intending to whip a country band into shape and the hero is the lead singer who has been faking their bad reputation for publicity, but really does have something to hide now…

Ch 2 - p245

Okay, I got really hooked on this one up to now. Now, I'm irritated. Everyone else can see that the hero is a lot more intelligent, articulate, thoughtful than the heroine. She is stuck on all of her initial impressions. She literally thinks, Oh, we'd be great together except I'm so much smarter than him. It is so obvious that there is more going on beneath the surface. Plus, four more things: (view spoiler)

I had to put the book down. I'm so irritated. I skipped to the end and I don't think it's going to be redeemed. I think it's going to go in some weird direction about her last job or something. Really irritated. Really. ...more

flag Like · see review

Nov 06, 2013 Dia rated it did not like it

This review can also be found at http://www.not-so-literary-heiresses.com.

So I'm finally done with the last class of the last semester of my postgrad program, and thought I'd read a nice, fluffy, romcom-y book to decompress. I chose this new Jennifer Echols release because I remember liking some of her previous books (mostly the YA ones), and with a hot lead singer and a PR hotshot as the main characters, I thought I would like this one for sure. I kept on thinking that for the first couple of c This review can also be found at http://www.not-so-literary-heiresses.com.

So I'm finally done with the last class of the last semester of my postgrad program, and thought I'd read a nice, fluffy, romcom-y book to decompress. I chose this new Jennifer Echols release because I remember liking some of her previous books (mostly the YA ones), and with a hot lead singer and a PR hotshot as the main characters, I thought I would like this one for sure. I kept on thinking that for the first couple of chapters, and then...

Confusion. Just a whole lot of confusion. I don't want to hurt my brain further by rehashing specific details of the story, but here's what you need to know: Quentin and the rest of the band members lie to Sarah, then Quentin and Sarah turn around and join forces and lie to the band (or at least Sarah thinks they do), and at the same time the fiddle player and the drummer are lying to the rest of the band while the guitarist lies to everyone and Quentin knows this so he's lying about this too.

Confused yet? All of this lying and counter-lying pretty much happen throughout the whole 448 pages of the book, and most of the lies and the convoluted reasons behind them don't even make sense. Now, the last thing I need after twelve weeks of reading academic journals and textbooks is a romance novel that doesn't make sense. So please excuse me if I'm ranting a bit.

I'm pretty sure I had a scowl on my my face as I read the last half of the book, and by the last 50 pages I didn't really care about what was going to happen, except that oh, the climax featured a really strange bee venom-dosing villain and his minions so I was, like, WTF??!

I'm not rating this with one star because the author doesn't write as badly as some of the authors I've read and given one-star ratings to, and to be fair, the premise of her plot was somewhat interesting, as were some of the characters. But that's all. I'm so upset I that I chose to celebrate the end my self-proclaimed period of serious studying with this book. So I am writing this review at three in the morning to vent a little and maybe give a little warning: if you like books that make sense, this might not be the book for you. ...more

flag Like · see review