Victoria Baldwin is a successful sports agent who always puts work first—unless she’s on vacation. Then it’s all about play. On holiday in Hawaii over Christmas, she meets Alex McConnell, a successful young surfer on the islands for a surfing competition. She couldn’t think of a better vacation fling. But when she meets Ben Reynolds, Alex’s manager, she realizes she wants both men. This could be her hottest holiday ever, and the vacation that changes her life.
Jaci Burton is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of over 85 books. She lives in Oklahoma and when she isn’t on deadline (which is often), she can usually be found wrestling with her uncooperative garden, wrangling her dogs, watching an unhealthy amount of television, or completely losing track of time reading a great book. She’s a total romantic and longs for the happily ever after in every story, which you’ll find in all her books.. Visit her website at www.jaciburton.com for excerpts, book information and contests.
Hot Holiday Nights is book #10.5 in the Play-by-Play series by Jaci Burton. I’ve known for a long time I wanted this book to be part of my Christmas reading this year and I’m so glad I did. It’s my first book by Jaci Burton but definitely won’t be my last.
Victoria Baldwin or Tori is a sports agent, having worked in the sports industry for fifteen years. She works hard, travels constantly. So occasionally she needs some down time to completely relax before she burns out. This Christmas she is at one of her favorite hotel resorts on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. There just happens to be a huge surfing competition going on there at the same time and on her very first morning while out on a run on the beach, she meets pro surfer, Alex McConnell. They instantly click, the attraction intense. Tori would completely be on board with a holiday fling. She’s had them before, they have fun, then go their own ways.
Ben Reynolds is Alex’s manager. When he arrives, there is also a spark between he and Victoria. But Alex met her first so Ben knows she’s off limits. But the more time they spend together, the more intense the chemistry becomes. So maybe they could find a way to make this could work after all?
These three begin a holiday fling but emotions become involved. All three of their lives are crazy with constant traveling and competitions. None of them was planning on getting their hearts involved but it happened anyway. Will they find a way to make it work or will they just walk away?
This was a short read and didn’t really have much to do with Christmas other than that it happened at Christmas time. But still, it was a hot, fun, sexy read and I loved it. These three have put their careers first their entire adult lives and I enjoyed seeing them all grapple with their emotions for the first time.
So if you want a quick, super sexy read to spice up your Christmas reading list, add this one. I’m so glad I did.
I had fun! When a new part of the Play by play series comes out, my decision is simple, I have to read it! But this ... this was completely different from the rest.
For the first time we have hot surfers, threesome and a true erotic! I would summed up this book with "sex&talk" thing. They talk - sometimes these conversations are a little stiff - get to know each and practice deadly hot sex.
Besides, it begins and lasts really nice. She is on vacation in Hawaii, they are involved in a surfing competition, otherwise they simply have fun. From the very beginning I wondered how the author resolve the situation. Without betraying much the ending is unconventional. And actually I like it. I regret that it was only a short story. Hope that we will get even more somewhere on the next book. Really hot story for one evening. Very cool!
I did not really know what's the success of this series for me. But I enjoyed - as always - reading it. Definitely my favorite author.
***Quick Review:***
Series: A short history of the Play by Play series. Grade/Tag Tabs: Sport Romance. Erotic. Release Date: October 20th, 2015. Main characters: Victoria Baldwin is a sports agent. She shows up a little bit in the previous parts. Alex McConnell, hot surfer number one, he is 35 years old. Ben Reynolds, Alex’s manager, former surfer, hot guy number two, aged 45. Victoria's age is between them. Secondary characters: We do not have too many of them. Most of the focus on the main characters. Steamy: Sensitive topic: Love triangle: Cheating: Cliffhanger: HEA:
Next in the series? Yes. Next full-length book Unexpected Rush February 2nd 2016.
Just okay for me. On the written page, things appear hot. But I didn't feel a connection to the characters. I needed more. Maybe more back story/details? I needed a reason to care. I wasn't thrilled with the heroine. The guys were okay, but I don't know how they were going to make their situation work. I've read menage stories before where I could connect with the characters and believe in their relationship, but this one.... Just didn't totally work for me. A lukewarm 3 stars.
This is a series I've loved. The last book was bit average for me and this one, meh. Storyline i didn't feel at all. The sex, of course it was HOT!! But that was kind of it for me. Like i said, love this series but this one just didn't hit the spot for me. Am hoping next book, with the next brother in the new family is back to what her others have been.
I’ve only read one other book in the Play-by-Play series, which was the one prior to this novella. I can assure you that Hot Holiday Nights, as with the rest of the series, can be read as a standalone even though some characters overlap.
This is a novella, but is it ever delicious. What’s cool about this one is it takes place around Christmas, but on a warm Hawaiian beach. No snow in sight. There’s even a surfing contest. Cue sexy surfers!
Victoria is a woman who is confident sexually and isn’t afraid to go for what she wants. Now that’s sexy. Then you have Alex, a younger professional surfer, and Ben the older best friend/manager. Oh man, were these three burning the pages up! That’s right, it’s ménage time, baby. They were all wonderful together, and I don’t mean only in the sack. They had really great chemistry, and I enjoyed the time they got to know each other.
So yeah, Hot Holiday Nights is a yummy, quick read that will warm you up on a cold night.
Sports agent, Victoria Baldwin, is vacationing in Hawaii for Christmas when she hooks up with Alex, a pro-surfer. The relationship is very hot and heated right from the start. They seem to have a quick and easy connection.
When Alex’s agent, Ben Reynolds joins Alex during the a Christmas ran tournament there is definite chemistry that ignites between Ben and Victoria. Although there is an attraction, they seem to build more of a friendship until one night when Alex and Ben agree to offer Victoria a threesome.
The story runs at a fast pace, especially with its novella length. It is more of an insta-love situation, with very hot and heavy at every turn. If you’re looking for a flaming hot read to warm those cold winter nights, Hot Holiday Nights is the book for you.
I received this ARC copy of Hot Holiday Nights From PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication October 20, 2015.
My Rating: 4 Stars
Written by: Jaci Burton Print Length: 139 pages Publisher: InterMix Publication Date: October 20, 2015 Sold by: Penguin Group (USA) LLC Genre: Contemporary Sports Romance
As a sports agent, Victoria Baldwin had met plenty of athletes in her career. However, when she goes to Hawaii for Christmas, she meets pro surfer Alex McConnell and the sparks are immediate. The hot ever-present sun is no match for the amount of heat these two throw off.
Since this is a novella in the Play-By-Play series, I do think that Jaci Burton moves at a very fast pace and this is especially true because this story features the first threesome in the series. So as Victoria and Alex get hot and heavy quick, Burton then throws in Ben Reynolds, Alex's manager into the mix. I thought the chemistry between Ben and Victoria seemed a little more organic and authentic since there was some time to build. However, that is not to say that this entire story is brimming with steam! HOT HOLIDAY NIGHTS is the perfect way to heat up your holidays!
OK, I normally love Burton and this series, but this book didn't work for me on so many levels. I didn't buy the menage relationship, the "I love yous" came WAYYYY too quickly, and it just didn't work for me. I love this series and will absolutely be picking up the next one.
Hot n sweet MFM romance novella about a holiday fling that turns into more. Surprisingly there was also a lot about the sport of surfing - I learnt a lot I didn't know, the author did her research.
I'm late to Jaci Burton's Play by Play series but I am loving it and while Hot Holiday Nights gave me something I wasn't expecting and it was hot only hot but pretty damn delicious. An overworked woman heads to Hawaii for a long break during the Christmas holidays and finds herself enthralled with a younger pro surfer and it quite satisfied, but when his best friend and sponsor shows up the attraction ramps up even more and they decide three is not a crowd.
Sports agent Victoria (Tori) Baldwin has earned her three weeks off and spending them in Oahu is just what she needs to unwind and enjoy her Christmas holidays. I really loved Tori's upfront and honest attitude and the way she approached everything in her life...head on. She didn't play coy, she spoke her mind and she had no problem expressing her interest in a man she was attracted to.
Alex McConnell loves his job. As a professional surfer he enjoys the challenge and the excitement that comes from taking on Mother Nature. There was sweetness about Alex that came through from the start and while there was no doubt he was wickedly sexy and enjoyed the lifestyle of a pro athlete, he was respectful and honest.
The chemistry between these two is evident from the start and they have no issues letting the other one know they are up for some fun while they are there. It was refreshing and honest and really no holds barred especially when they are caught in flagrante delicto by Alex's best friend, Ben Reynolds. Ben is a bit older than Alex, an ex-pro surfer and now runs a very successful business in addition to sponsoring several surfers. The friendship between Alex and Ben was evident as was their admiration for one another and the fact that Victoria appealed to both of them and that she felt the same way cleared the path for them to explore together.
This book was so refreshing in that there was no jealousy, there was no big conflict and there were no games; it was three people figuring out what they want together and going for it understanding that it would take communication and work to get it. Wow, imagine that...ADULTS actually acting like adults.
Sand, surf, sex and three people willing to do whatever it takes to make themselves happy made Hot Holiday Nights pretty damn amazing.
I have GOT read more Jaci Burton! This was my first book by the hugely talented author and I must go back and start this series from the beginning. I think there's a book or two in the middle of this series that I have tagged on my TBR but I really should start in the beginning. I want to eat it all up!
If you want to try out a new author like I did, I always recommend reading a novella by them. You have to be careful how you pick your short stories, though. You don't want one that will spoil a series plot point. And you want one long enough to give you a good idea of a writer's style.
Hot Holiday Nights fit perfectly into my reading "repertoire". It had Christmas vacation getaway appeal, a romantic fling with a hot surfer, and then a story about opening new doors in your life and taking chances when opportunity (and LOVE) plop themselves down into your lap.
Victoria Baldwin is a successful sports agent who works so hard that when she takes a break, she does it big, like Hawaii for three weeks big! While out on the beach, she runs in to Alex, a smart, charming, and talented pro surfer who's on his way to the end of his career. He and Victoria hit it off immediately... well, duh!
But then Ben walks in to the picture. Ben is Alex's manager and I imagined him a bit on the dominating side. He's an older, handsome man, and just as charming as Alex but in a completely opposite way. Alex and Ben are really awesome as best friends because they are so different but have a lot in common.
For such a short novella, Ms. Burton was able to give her characters vulnerability (some more than others) and a thorough story for the reader to get lost in. Of course you have SEX, but that's why you read a story like this, right?
Uh, no? It's for the story? Really? What the heck was I thinking? Threesome... pish...
Hot dayum! Hot Holiday Nights brought the heat! Best way to spend Christmas vacation? A hot holiday fling with one very sexy younger man. How to make it even better? Add his older best friend into the mix.
Whew, boy! I was expecting hot, sexy, fun romance with a little Christmas spirit. I was NOT expecting a menage. But oh it was a nice little treat that rocked so many of my favoritest things. Sports, Christmas, menage, sexy heroes and a strong heroine spending time in an exotic locale. Oh yeah. I was a happy happy reader-girl watching Victoria snag herself a couple hunky surfers during her holiday getaway to Hawaii.
I really loved all of the characters. Victoria is no non-sense sports agent, confident and knows what she wants. Alex, a younger surfer at the top of his game (and a total stud) that's full of life and energy an charm. And Ben, a sports sponsor who's grounded and has that refined sexy older gent thing happening. They all fit nicely together. Had easy repertoire and dynamic chemistry. I loved how they fell into their romance. Spending days at a surf competition where Alex was competing and evenings rocking the sheets. Things definitely get hot and heavy with a nice little menage going on. Yum! But the romance wasn't skimped on much to my delight.
All in all, Hot Holiday Nights was one sexy Christmas fling. It's a light read and perfect for warming up a chilly winter day. It works fine as a stand alone for those who haven't read in the series :)
Hot Holiday Nights was a quick, steamy read. It was packed full of hot scenes and an interesting relationship. Jaci Burton knows how to write sports hotties well.
When Victoria travels to Hawaii for a Christmas vacation, she can't help but catch the eye of Alex, a professional surfer, and Ben, his manager.
Over the vacation things heat up fast and soon feelings are involved. Will this just be a hot fling, or can it turn into something more?
I enjoyed this book. It was a really good addition to the Play-by-Play series. I'm looking forward to read more books in this series in the future! ~ Leah, 4 stars
Extremely sexy story about Victoria on vacation in Hawaii and her hook ups with a surfer and his manager. Not much to it, but if you want to get hot and bothered then this should do it.
Victoria Baldwin, agent and mentor to Liz Riley, is off on a much needed vacation. Tori has always focused on her career, not needing or wanting a man or family in her life. But she takes long vacations to decompress and not burn out on her demanding job.
In Hawaii for three weeks over the Christmas Holiday, she is thrust into the world of competitive surfing when she's meets the top athlete in his field, Alex. Alex is about 10 years younger than Tori and the perfect holiday romance partner. That is until she meets his sponsor and manger, Ben. Tori has never been interested in men her own age, but there's something about Ben she can't deny.
Tori has already started a tryst with Alex and won't switch men at this point. That is until Ben's flirting and at Alex suggestion, they all decide to be together for the holiday. A threesome, is something Tori has only ever dreamt about.
But when both Ben and Alex start having feelings for the woman they share and feel no jealousy towards each other, they know there is something special about Tori and their relationship with her.
It only takes the holiday break for them to all decide this is a once in a lifetime situation that none of them wants to walk away from. And they are willing to do whatever it takes to make their busy lives fit into a relationship. Unorthodox, but a relationship nonetheless.
It was a quick and very HOT read. I liked learning more about Tori and I totally understand her being in business mode even while on vacation. It's hard to turn it off. Loved how they all got to know each other and how Tori wasn't like most women they ran across. Because she was successful in her own right, she wasn't a clinger or needed to use either man to get what she wanted. She was able to just be herself and have them fall for who she was.
I am curious how everyone in her day-to-day life handled her new relationship. I would love to hear Liz's response.
The first threesome in the play by play series! Yippee!! Normally I tend to skip novellas but I'm so glad I read this one. And finally Burton brings a surfer into the mix which was a total plus! I hope we see more surfers in future play by play books!
Victoria is a sports agent we have seen briefly in other books. She works hard to keep her clients happy so when she decides to finally take some time off she heads to Hawaii only to find out that there is a surfing competition being held. While out for a run she meets Alex.
Alex maybe younger then Victoria but he has been around the world. One thing he knows for sure that he has never met a woman like her before. While Alex is waiting on his friend/sponsor Ben, he and Victoria heat things up.
Ben used to be a surfer until he had a career ending accident now he just sponsors others and surfs for fun. While in Hawaii he doesn't expect to meet the one woman who is more then he ever expected.
This novella contains a lot of sex and a whole lot of dirty talk. They all believe it's just a fling until after the holiday but they end up falling in love. I enjoyed how Ben and Alex were all about Victoria in and out of bed. They weren't jealous over each other's relationship with her. For them it just worked.
A part of me wishes this was a full length book because I could see a whole lot more happening but overall I was satisfied. Also there were characters I would love to see again in the future. I hope Whitney and Cade will get there own story. Just hoping!
This was a great read and a wonderful addition to already amazing series. Keep them coming Jaci!!!
Hot Holiday Nights (Play-by-Play #10.5) by Jaci Burton
Victoria Baldwin is a successful sports agent who always puts work first—unless she’s on vacation. Then it’s all about play. On holiday in Hawaii over Christmas, she meets Alex McConnell, a successful young surfer on the islands for a surfing competition. She couldn’t think of a better vacation fling. But when she meets Ben Reynolds, Alex’s manager, she realizes she wants both men. This could be her hottest holiday ever, and the vacation that changes her life.
My Review:
Um. What? I honestly just didn't get this book. It had a good start but once the relationship stuff started I just couldn't stick with it. Maybe its me an the trio sex thing even though the writing was sexy it wasn't for me. I finished the book but I just wasn't convinced of the three way relationship thing or the feelings involved.
Holy cow this book was hot. I never thought after reading previous books in this series that Victoria would find herself in love with these two amazing men. I really liked the age differnce aspect in the book, it gave us older women a leading lady that knew what she wanted and if it was a guy younger than her then why not. But also having Ben who was roughly the same age as Victoria just added to the appeal of this threesome. I look forward to getting little sneak peaks into their lives as the series continues.
This was a good, interesting and quick read. A novella in the Play-by-Play Series, which I recently picked up in book #9 can be read as a standalone. Things that stand out with this series remain the same for this novella: great covers, steamy and hot scenes, heroines that are strong, know what they want and do not apologize for it and heroes that are alpha males but not complete asses and are not only hot but overall great guys! So at first I thought Victoria had to make a choice between Alex and Ben, but apparently, no… she doesn’t. While I wasn’t prepared for a ménage, it wasn’t a turn off or a negative. I enjoyed the story overall. All the characters are well written and as a reader, you’ll like each of them for different reason. However, due to the fact that this is a novella, things happen a bit too fast for me and I mean more the emotional attachments that are form that lead to pretty big decision making events in the end. It all worked out of course (this is a romance and thus a HEA is a must, right?) but the quick “I love you” with all three of them and how no one questioned the fact that all three were okay with way the relationship had develop…. Not one of them …. But other than that… lol…
Again, if you’re in it for the quick read and good story, you’re going to enjoy this novella. Don’t over think it. Otherwise, you’re going to be like me and have that “hmm… seriously, not one of you is going to ask?” LOL.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from PENGUIN GROUP Berkley in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
Hot Holiday Nights is an apt title for this fun, super sexy novella, part of the Play by Play series but easily read as a standalone Christmas treat. It's the story of Victoria, a sports agent on vacation, who meets surfer Alex and his business manager Ben. Alex is a few years younger than Victoria, while Ben is her age, but the attraction to both of them is equal and undeniable. They are both handsome, confident man, in bed and out. What I really liked about the story was that Victoria was a strong and vibrant woman and she had no trouble articulating her sexual desires. She owns her sexuality, isn't ashamed of it, and as a result the sex scenes between first her and Alex, then with Ben added into the mix in some menage scenes were exciting and fun. Both men treated her with equal care and were generous lovers (no alpha male caveman tactics, just equal partnerships). While Alex and Ben have been best friends for a long time, they are not sexually intimate themselves, though they have shared women before. But this is the first time that they have both had strong emotional connections with the same women. And Victoria is equally smitten by both of them. I liked that it has a happy for now ending with a lovely romantic side, and the knowledge that all three will be in it for the long haul. What a nice Christmas present for Victoria! 4 steamy stars.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
Jaci Burton’s characters have a very hot and very, very merry Christmas indeed during a surfing competition and vacation over the holidays in Hawaii. Jaci shows great skill in researching and understanding the sport and gives us just the right amount of relationship, character development and action. At no point did I roll my eyes while reading this very hot and very merry holiday story.
I also liked how she explored the ideas of having confusing feelings in a romantic situation that could turn sticky. I also liked how Tori’s open sexuality doesn’t come across as creepy or so open that it doesn’t mean anything. Tori also takes time to mentor a young sports aficionado in her career and romance goals.
I am not looking for the same experience, but it definitely made me want to pack our bags and hop on a plane to Oahu for a romantic getaway.
This is a great short story and a great last minute treat to send someone who loves a steamy, sort of kinky romance.
Jaci is a go to author for me and this has to be the steamiest Play by Play book out there!
Victoria Baldwin is a super star sports agent. And she's ready for a little bit of R&R for the holidays. What better place to lay low than beautiful Hawaii.
Her first day there she runs into a hot surfer - Alex, who is definitely on her wish list for the holidays! And to her surprise, he seems to be just as in to her as she is with him. Who cares if he's a little younger than her? A little holiday fling seems to be the perfect remedy to some holiday fun. What she never expected was Alex's friend Ben. Ben is Alex's mentor and best friend. He's older, sophisticated and there's a little spark with him that she's never had with an older man.
What's a girl to do?
HOT HOT HOT is all I have to say. This one will definitely having you melting on the spot. The steam factor is through the roof!
This holiday themed novella by Jaci Burton is part of her Play by Play series but you do not need to read the series to enjoy this and although it takes place during the holidays it's not really Christmasy. You can enjoy it during the holidays or any time of the year. Tori is a successful go get em sports agent who finally takes some time off to enjoy herself. She heads off to Hawaii and the beach for a Christmas vacation. She's not into relationships but somehow falls into one with not one guy but two. Alex is the young guy of the two if you call 35 young and Ben is in his 40's Alex is still rocking the competitive surfing scene and Ben a former surfer is his manager. It's fun to watch the three of them navigate a relationship. The sex scenes are more than a little hot and at times seem to dominate the story a little to much. LOVED Ben. Can't pinpoint why but i clicked right on to him. So for some fun super sexy reading this is a great little novella to do the job.
If I see a book by Jaci Burton, I know it will be a winner. The Play by Play series is hot stuff. I was eager to read Hot Holiday Nights. It's a novella, so it did not have the typical character building. Fast moving BUT plenty of sizzle in the holiday themed short.
Sports agent, Victoria Baldwin, is vacationing in Hawaii for Christmas. Needing some relaxation and stress relief she set her sights on Alex, a pro-surfer. Tori and Alex intend to enjoy each other for the holidays.
A surprise encounter with Alex's friend Ben begins to divide her time and attention. Ben is older and wiser, so he's willing to go after what he wants. Tori enjoys their sizzling chemistry and is not ashamed to ask for what she wants. She wants them both! Surf, Sand, and Sex for the holidays with a unique HEA.
I did get the book from Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review. I honestly enjoyed the book and love the series.
Did you know I was so happy that this book is about surfing sports? Only to find my happiness cut short after I read the book blurb. GAHHH I don't like menage/multiple sex partners in romance novel. In erotica no problem, in romance is a no-no to me. It's just not my cup of tea.
December 22/21: I love this novella, so much. Woman goes to Hawaii and ends up with not one, but two hunky surfers. Yummy.
Original: This continues to be one of the hottest xmas novellas I've ever read. Female Sports Agent, on vacation in Hawaii, hooks up with 2 male surfers, one older than her, one younger. Fun sexytimes are had. I keep rereading this one, so that tells you something.
Oh this was like porn, but not great porn. I felt no connection or emotion at all between these characters. I'm sad to say that. I was excited to read this, but felt very let down.