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Philadelphia Patriots #1 included
Play Hard
PLAY HARD: Three sexy sports romances that bring the heat!
Fastball, by V.K. Sykes:
Book one in the USA Today Bestselling series, The Philadelphia Patriots
Baseball reporter Maddie Leclair has spent years chasing her dream job--covering the Philadelphia Patriots major league baseball team. But in order to make it to the top tier of sports reporting, she needs to score an interview with the most private and elusive athlete in baseball, Patriots' superstar Jake Miller.
On the rebound from a devastating injury, the last thing Jake needs is a pushy female reporter distracting him. But one look at Maddie and he finds himself trying for a different kind of play, one that involves bedrooms and not baseball stats. Sleeping together could damage both their careers, and Maddie is all about saying no. But when it comes to the game of love, Jake is playing to win.
Offside, by Juliana Stone:
When hockey phenom Billie-Jo Barker returns home and decides to play in the local Friday night hockey league, all hell breaks loose. Not because Billie's talent is in question, but because Billie is a woman. And though these are modern times, some of the local guys still have a problem letting a girl into their 'men's club.'
Soon, Billie is at the center of a small town battle of the sexes, with everyone choosing sides. Her sisters.The townsfolk.Her friends. And yet, the only person whose opinion she cares about doesn't seem to care much at all. Logan Forest, the man who broke her heart when she was eighteen and the man she now shares the bench with every Friday night.
She's got a lot to prove and though Billie Jo Barker scores on the ice, will this girl ever score with the man of her dreams?
The Proposition, by Jennifer Lyon:
The Proposition is book one of three in The Plus One Chronicles Trilogy.
Rich, sexy and volatile, Sloane Michaels has a dark agenda that keeps his heart on ice. His extreme wealth gives him the control he craves and his skills as an ex UFC fighter the tools he’ll need to extract his ultimate revenge. But when the woman he never believed he’d see again crosses his path, Sloane is caught between the vengeance he needs and a sexual conquest he craves.
Kat Thayne has been in survival mode for six years, hiding behind the sweet creations for her bakery. But when a random carjacking brings her face-to-face with her darkest fears and hottest fantasy, Kat is forced out of hiding and offered a dangerously passionate proposition. One she knows she isn’t strong enough to refuse.
Fastball, by V.K. Sykes:
Book one in the USA Today Bestselling series, The Philadelphia Patriots
Baseball reporter Maddie Leclair has spent years chasing her dream job--covering the Philadelphia Patriots major league baseball team. But in order to make it to the top tier of sports reporting, she needs to score an interview with the most private and elusive athlete in baseball, Patriots' superstar Jake Miller.
On the rebound from a devastating injury, the last thing Jake needs is a pushy female reporter distracting him. But one look at Maddie and he finds himself trying for a different kind of play, one that involves bedrooms and not baseball stats. Sleeping together could damage both their careers, and Maddie is all about saying no. But when it comes to the game of love, Jake is playing to win.
Offside, by Juliana Stone:
When hockey phenom Billie-Jo Barker returns home and decides to play in the local Friday night hockey league, all hell breaks loose. Not because Billie's talent is in question, but because Billie is a woman. And though these are modern times, some of the local guys still have a problem letting a girl into their 'men's club.'
Soon, Billie is at the center of a small town battle of the sexes, with everyone choosing sides. Her sisters.The townsfolk.Her friends. And yet, the only person whose opinion she cares about doesn't seem to care much at all. Logan Forest, the man who broke her heart when she was eighteen and the man she now shares the bench with every Friday night.
She's got a lot to prove and though Billie Jo Barker scores on the ice, will this girl ever score with the man of her dreams?
The Proposition, by Jennifer Lyon:
The Proposition is book one of three in The Plus One Chronicles Trilogy.
Rich, sexy and volatile, Sloane Michaels has a dark agenda that keeps his heart on ice. His extreme wealth gives him the control he craves and his skills as an ex UFC fighter the tools he’ll need to extract his ultimate revenge. But when the woman he never believed he’d see again crosses his path, Sloane is caught between the vengeance he needs and a sexual conquest he craves.
Kat Thayne has been in survival mode for six years, hiding behind the sweet creations for her bakery. But when a random carjacking brings her face-to-face with her darkest fears and hottest fantasy, Kat is forced out of hiding and offered a dangerously passionate proposition. One she knows she isn’t strong enough to refuse.
550 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 10, 2013
80 people are currently reading
932 people want to read
About the author
V.K. Sykes
18 books574 followersV.K. Sykes is really two people - Vanessa Kelly and Randy Sykes, a husband and wife team who write USA Today Bestselling contemporary romance. The second book in their Philadelphia Patriots Series of sports romances won the Kindle Book Review Best Indie Books of 2012 Contest, in the romance category. Vanessa also writes award-winning, Regency-set historical romance for Kensington Zebra under her own name. Her first novel, Mastering the Marquess, hit the shelves in April 2009, and she was subsequently named by Booklist as one of the "new stars of historical romance." In February, V.K. will debut a new contemporary romance series called Seashell Bay, published by Grand Central.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 20, 2014
I was surprised with the third book by Jennifer Lyon. I've already read the second book about hockey and weekday it was a pleasant read (same as the baseball from book1 ) I had to skip bits from it cos it was just too many words. overall, if there is nothing on the to-read list then this is a good fill in
October 9, 2013
Unusually, every story in this set of sports themed stories is very good. All three authors write good plots with characters that draw you in, believable and well thought out story lines, and lots of action. Highly entertaining.
September 23, 2013
Lettura da piena crisi ormonale e stagionale.
Nel senso che è quel periodo dell'anno in cui le giornate (pur belle, su Udine splende il sole e il cielo è terso) si accorciano e questo mi mette una terrificante tristezza esistenziale addosso. No, va bene lo ammetto, la vera ragione è che sono "quei giorni" del mese, e se potessi vivrei di soli zuccheri e cioccolata. Dato che vivere solo di zuccheri e cioccolata mi piacerebbe ma non si può, i glucidi cerco di captarli dalle mie letture.
E comunque costava solo € 0,89 IVA inclusa e ogni scusa è buona e sono fatti miei ecc. ecc.
L'imbarazzante sproloquio di cui sopra per giustificare un acquisto che seppure non orrido (e del resto davvero costa meno di un caffè e sono oltre 500 pagine) certo non è eccelso.
La prima storia è ambientata nel mondo del baseball. Sono tutti bellissimi, onesti, corretti. Il nostro eroe inoltre è ricco e famoso ma ovviamente è pieno di buoni sentimenti. Alla fine si sposano e mettono su famiglia a tempo di record per vivere felici e contenti. Seguono innumerevoli sequel.
La storia di VK Sykes non è male, ed è scritta bene, ma i miei molari sono già a rischio.
La seconda storia è ambientata nel mondo dell'Hockey. Sorpresa sorpresa l'atleta non è il nostro eroe, ma la nostra eroina che è stata giocatrice professionista in una squadra maschile svedese. Una botta di troppo in testa le ha stroncato la carriera ed è dovuta tornare a casa se non con la coda tra le gambe certamente con un futuro incerto davanti a se. Per la serie se si chiude una porta si apre un portone (a me cadrebbe in testa, ma qui siamo in un rosa) a casa incontra l'amore della sua giovinezza, e dopo un bel poche di vicissitudini se lo sposa. Questo, pur con tante (forse troppe) problematiche, è il racconto che mi è piaciuto di più. Gronda melassa come il precedente ma non so per quale motivo lo stile di Juliana Stone mi è piaciuto. Purtroppo il romanzo gronda errori ortografici ed ha una punteggiatura che spero sia stata messa a caso da qualche programma informatico perchè se degli strafalcioni mi sono accorta io, allora sono grossi come una casa. Mi sono dimenticata di dire che la nostra eroina ha ben due gemelle identiche, che saranno le eroine degli inevitabili seguiti, ovviamente. Che poi, l'autrice mi perdoni, ma come si fa a chiamare le proprie protagoniste Billie Jo, Betty Jo e Bobbi Jo? Meno male che le ha fatte bellissime, che altrimenti la vita alle superiori sarebbe stata un inferno per queste tre povere ragazze.
La terza storia è ambientata nel mondo del pugilato (più o meno, il nostro eroe il pugilato se lo è lasciato alle spalle e ora è miliardario grazie a una sfilza di palestre. Del resto se lo gonfiano di pugni ben difficilmente può ammaliare la nostra eroina a suon di sorrisi a 2000 Watt). Qui lo zucchero - oltre che dal racconto - gronda dal mestiere della protagonista che è pasticciera (mah, le pasticciere abbondano nel romance ultimamente. Si vede che sta ossessione per la cucina c'è anche negli USA oltre che qui). Il romanzo, non lunghissimo, è solo la prima parte di una trilogia con gli stessi due protagonisti. Va da se che se pur non malvagio, il racconto non è stato proprio di mio gusto, dato che sul più bello si interrompe su una storia monca. Non è male, come detto, ma credo che acquisterò i seguiti solo se li trovo a prezzo stracciato. Il tono, rispetto agli altri due romanzi è più drammatico e per quello che conta lo trovo scritto benino.
Nel complesso la raccolta non è male, e vale sicuramente i pochi centesimi che l'ho pagata. La parte sentimentale è ok. Quella hot anche, ma secondo me in questa tipologia di romanzi sportivo-sentimentali tutta sta necessità di far rotolare con dovizia di particolari i protagonisti tra le lenzuola non la vedo. Comunque le scene, come da contratto, ci sono. Tutti e tre i racconti soffrono della sindrome degli "issimi" (sono tutti bellissimi, ricchissimi, talentuosissimi, ecc. ecc.) che speravo ci fossimo lasciati alle spalle, ma a quanto pare nel genere non è mai fuori moda.
Tutto considerato, tre stelline.
Nel senso che è quel periodo dell'anno in cui le giornate (pur belle, su Udine splende il sole e il cielo è terso) si accorciano e questo mi mette una terrificante tristezza esistenziale addosso. No, va bene lo ammetto, la vera ragione è che sono "quei giorni" del mese, e se potessi vivrei di soli zuccheri e cioccolata. Dato che vivere solo di zuccheri e cioccolata mi piacerebbe ma non si può, i glucidi cerco di captarli dalle mie letture.
E comunque costava solo € 0,89 IVA inclusa e ogni scusa è buona e sono fatti miei ecc. ecc.
L'imbarazzante sproloquio di cui sopra per giustificare un acquisto che seppure non orrido (e del resto davvero costa meno di un caffè e sono oltre 500 pagine) certo non è eccelso.
La prima storia è ambientata nel mondo del baseball. Sono tutti bellissimi, onesti, corretti. Il nostro eroe inoltre è ricco e famoso ma ovviamente è pieno di buoni sentimenti. Alla fine si sposano e mettono su famiglia a tempo di record per vivere felici e contenti. Seguono innumerevoli sequel.
La storia di VK Sykes non è male, ed è scritta bene, ma i miei molari sono già a rischio.
La seconda storia è ambientata nel mondo dell'Hockey. Sorpresa sorpresa l'atleta non è il nostro eroe, ma la nostra eroina che è stata giocatrice professionista in una squadra maschile svedese. Una botta di troppo in testa le ha stroncato la carriera ed è dovuta tornare a casa se non con la coda tra le gambe certamente con un futuro incerto davanti a se. Per la serie se si chiude una porta si apre un portone (a me cadrebbe in testa, ma qui siamo in un rosa) a casa incontra l'amore della sua giovinezza, e dopo un bel poche di vicissitudini se lo sposa. Questo, pur con tante (forse troppe) problematiche, è il racconto che mi è piaciuto di più. Gronda melassa come il precedente ma non so per quale motivo lo stile di Juliana Stone mi è piaciuto. Purtroppo il romanzo gronda errori ortografici ed ha una punteggiatura che spero sia stata messa a caso da qualche programma informatico perchè se degli strafalcioni mi sono accorta io, allora sono grossi come una casa. Mi sono dimenticata di dire che la nostra eroina ha ben due gemelle identiche, che saranno le eroine degli inevitabili seguiti, ovviamente. Che poi, l'autrice mi perdoni, ma come si fa a chiamare le proprie protagoniste Billie Jo, Betty Jo e Bobbi Jo? Meno male che le ha fatte bellissime, che altrimenti la vita alle superiori sarebbe stata un inferno per queste tre povere ragazze.
La terza storia è ambientata nel mondo del pugilato (più o meno, il nostro eroe il pugilato se lo è lasciato alle spalle e ora è miliardario grazie a una sfilza di palestre. Del resto se lo gonfiano di pugni ben difficilmente può ammaliare la nostra eroina a suon di sorrisi a 2000 Watt). Qui lo zucchero - oltre che dal racconto - gronda dal mestiere della protagonista che è pasticciera (mah, le pasticciere abbondano nel romance ultimamente. Si vede che sta ossessione per la cucina c'è anche negli USA oltre che qui). Il romanzo, non lunghissimo, è solo la prima parte di una trilogia con gli stessi due protagonisti. Va da se che se pur non malvagio, il racconto non è stato proprio di mio gusto, dato che sul più bello si interrompe su una storia monca. Non è male, come detto, ma credo che acquisterò i seguiti solo se li trovo a prezzo stracciato. Il tono, rispetto agli altri due romanzi è più drammatico e per quello che conta lo trovo scritto benino.
Nel complesso la raccolta non è male, e vale sicuramente i pochi centesimi che l'ho pagata. La parte sentimentale è ok. Quella hot anche, ma secondo me in questa tipologia di romanzi sportivo-sentimentali tutta sta necessità di far rotolare con dovizia di particolari i protagonisti tra le lenzuola non la vedo. Comunque le scene, come da contratto, ci sono. Tutti e tre i racconti soffrono della sindrome degli "issimi" (sono tutti bellissimi, ricchissimi, talentuosissimi, ecc. ecc.) che speravo ci fossimo lasciati alle spalle, ma a quanto pare nel genere non è mai fuori moda.
Tutto considerato, tre stelline.
September 15, 2015
I had never read any of these authors before, but I like hockey stories, so I downloaded it. I felt "meh" about Fastball, downloaded the related books by Juliana Stone in The Barker Triplets Boxed Set (still cheaper even though I had book one), and can't wait for the third part of the trilogy to come out by Jennifer Lyon. The description is a little misleading on "three full-length books." The third book, The Proposition, is billed as book one of a trilogy. Most trilogies I read have a definite conclusion at the end of book one, and you can choose to continue to books two and three. This is a warning that The Proposition ends in a cliffhanger, as does book two, Possession. By the end of book two, the two main storylines introduced in book one are still not resolved. It is also worth mentioning that the heat level increases from the first book of the bundle to the last book.
That said, I liked The Proposition a lot. Enough so that I am avidly anticipating the third book. Lyon introduces a couple of very interesting characters in Kat and Sloane. Both are damaged and strong at the same time. Their relationship evolves and the side characters are great. Although the interaction between Kat and Sloan is front and center, the plot involving the incident why Kat has been in survival mode for six years keeps the suspense going.
Juliana Stone's Offside was really good, too. Stone does a wonderful job of getting inside the heads of both Billie Jo and Logan. I like the way she makes internal observations almost like a conversation. It is like they are talking to themselves inside their heads and then the actual conversation interrupts the stream of consciousness. This technique made the book a delight to read and added a lot of humor. I laughed out loud reading one of the locker room scenes. I also liked the way Stone doesn't sugarcoat the down side to real life. People lose their jobs, some people are catty just because they can be, sexism is often accompanied by intimidation, and illness happens and has consequences. This is one of the first romance books I've read where the difficult relationship between sisters is a major plot point. All around a great read with likeable, complicated characters.
Fastball was my least favorite. Maddie and Jake were likeable, but all the angst about the professional predicament was just too weak to carry the story. The suspense and danger at the end seemed tacked on. It took me days to finish the book because it was just plain boring. My advise is to skim through the first book to get to the better books in the bundle.
That said, I liked The Proposition a lot. Enough so that I am avidly anticipating the third book. Lyon introduces a couple of very interesting characters in Kat and Sloane. Both are damaged and strong at the same time. Their relationship evolves and the side characters are great. Although the interaction between Kat and Sloan is front and center, the plot involving the incident why Kat has been in survival mode for six years keeps the suspense going.
Juliana Stone's Offside was really good, too. Stone does a wonderful job of getting inside the heads of both Billie Jo and Logan. I like the way she makes internal observations almost like a conversation. It is like they are talking to themselves inside their heads and then the actual conversation interrupts the stream of consciousness. This technique made the book a delight to read and added a lot of humor. I laughed out loud reading one of the locker room scenes. I also liked the way Stone doesn't sugarcoat the down side to real life. People lose their jobs, some people are catty just because they can be, sexism is often accompanied by intimidation, and illness happens and has consequences. This is one of the first romance books I've read where the difficult relationship between sisters is a major plot point. All around a great read with likeable, complicated characters.
Fastball was my least favorite. Maddie and Jake were likeable, but all the angst about the professional predicament was just too weak to carry the story. The suspense and danger at the end seemed tacked on. It took me days to finish the book because it was just plain boring. My advise is to skim through the first book to get to the better books in the bundle.
April 16, 2014
I managed to pick this collection up at what I considered to be a steal - $.99. I found it very hard to pass up this deal. Am I glad I didn't pass it up? Yes, I am. Mainly because I need to broaden my horizons with new authors (okay new-to-me authors).
Book 1: V.K. Sykes- I've never heard of this author before. I did finish the story. It was enjoyable enough, I guess. Might have liked it more if it wasn't baseball oriented. I'm not a fan of baseball so it was truly hard to get invested in this story. I will more than likely not read the remaining two stories in the trilogy.
Book 2: Juliana Stone- I've heard of this author and have read one of her paranormal romances. I was actually planning on reading more of her books. I enjoyed this story for the most part- hated the triplets' names, but I did read the dedication where apparently the author's aunt had the bad taste to name her kids this. Oh well, not my cup of tea in a name. I liked Logan and Shane. Wasn't all that impressed with the triplets- Billie was okay, Bobbi ugh, and Betty is better off being forgotten.
Will I read the next book in the series? Or the one after? Maybe, but not immediately.
Book 3: Jennifer Lyon- I've heard of and have this read author before. In fact, I'd already read this story and enjoyed it immensely. I read the next two stories in the series.
Overall, at $.99 this is a pretty good collection to get exposure to three authors you have not previously read, or maybe even have heard of.
Book 1: V.K. Sykes- I've never heard of this author before. I did finish the story. It was enjoyable enough, I guess. Might have liked it more if it wasn't baseball oriented. I'm not a fan of baseball so it was truly hard to get invested in this story. I will more than likely not read the remaining two stories in the trilogy.
Book 2: Juliana Stone- I've heard of this author and have read one of her paranormal romances. I was actually planning on reading more of her books. I enjoyed this story for the most part- hated the triplets' names, but I did read the dedication where apparently the author's aunt had the bad taste to name her kids this. Oh well, not my cup of tea in a name. I liked Logan and Shane. Wasn't all that impressed with the triplets- Billie was okay, Bobbi ugh, and Betty is better off being forgotten.
Will I read the next book in the series? Or the one after? Maybe, but not immediately.
Book 3: Jennifer Lyon- I've heard of and have this read author before. In fact, I'd already read this story and enjoyed it immensely. I read the next two stories in the series.
Overall, at $.99 this is a pretty good collection to get exposure to three authors you have not previously read, or maybe even have heard of.
July 26, 2016
Loved this book. All three stories were terrific, though the third is really a teaser, it isn't fully resolved so you have to go out and get the next in the series. The first two stories were very much about sports players, the romance terrific and the characters endearing. I'd actually love to find the next in both of those series, so I guess this collection did it's job. I enjoyed all three!
February 17, 2014
All three books in this bundle are good. The 3rd book is called The Proposition and was really good. Totally left me wanting for more. Has everything you want in a book, humor, suspense, some really hot scenes. I went and got the whole series soon as I was done. Over coming your fears and finding yourself is a beautiful thing. And is portrayed well.
July 19, 2014
The first book in this series was part of a free book I downloaded, I didn't expect much! This turned out to be a great romance read. Complex characters and plot, really hot sex ( am I allowed to say that?), and characters you care about! I just lost my Dad to cancer and there is a character in the book in the final stages of his fight.Reminded me so much of my Dad and his battle...
December 20, 2013
Only read the first two stories, because I saw a review that mentioned you need to purchase two additional books to get the conclusion for the third. No thanks.
Of the two I did read, I vastly preferred the second.
Of the two I did read, I vastly preferred the second.
Want to read
July 13, 2013Bought based on Twitter link @juliana_stone via @season4romance - 99cents - review to come.
November 30, 2013
This is the set that got me started with the entire sets of each individual book. Wasn't disappointed and would highly recommend.
January 6, 2014
3 good reads. From mwa (fast ball) to wow (p.1 plus one trilogy).
Def. worth the buy.
Def. worth the buy.
July 31, 2015
book one, meh, book two, read before and loved, book three was fabulous!
January 17, 2014
Cool collection of sport-themed romance novellas. I especially liked The Proposition, but I'm a huge fan of Jennifer Lyon's.
April 22, 2014
A great mix of three stories of hard playing men and the women the chose to spend their life with. All involve some sort of sport: baseball, hockey, MMA fighting.
August 24, 2014
The firs story was good. The second story I had read before but was still good. I want to read about the other sisters. The third story was hot and I'm looking to the sequels now
June 6, 2015
Great storys
I found these to be great story .even had to get the next parts to the last book. enjoy reading.
I found these to be great story .even had to get the next parts to the last book. enjoy reading.
May 17, 2015
I can't bring myself to finish this book, I read play hard and have not been able to start the next. It took so long to get into and maybe its because I am don't really care for sports.
December 24, 2016
Please see individual stories for review.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews