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Hands Off #2
Player's Challenge
Footballer Devin Spencer is a bad boy in need of handling. Notorious for his off-field exploits, he’s pushed one too many buttons, and even his agent has washed his hands of him. If he doesn’t straighten up his act, the Champions League goalie could face his last days on the pitch.
Gemma Clarke is at the top of her game. She’s a sports agent with a bright future. The only dark spot? The recent addition of her former lover, Devin Spencer, to her client roster.
A decade ago their passionate love affair abruptly ended when Croydon F.C.’s development team came calling. Now Devin’s back, the chemistry between them is hotter than ever, and he's out to prove they belong together by any means necessary.
***This book contains a fair share of adult situations, and graphic language***
NOTE: Player's Challenge was previously published in the USA Today bestselling boxed set, Tall, Dark & Alpha, which is no longer in publication. This edition has been re-edited and expanded with an additional 15,000 words.
Gemma Clarke is at the top of her game. She’s a sports agent with a bright future. The only dark spot? The recent addition of her former lover, Devin Spencer, to her client roster.
A decade ago their passionate love affair abruptly ended when Croydon F.C.’s development team came calling. Now Devin’s back, the chemistry between them is hotter than ever, and he's out to prove they belong together by any means necessary.
***This book contains a fair share of adult situations, and graphic language***
NOTE: Player's Challenge was previously published in the USA Today bestselling boxed set, Tall, Dark & Alpha, which is no longer in publication. This edition has been re-edited and expanded with an additional 15,000 words.
179 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 6, 2015
15 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
About the author
Koko Brown
21 books303 followersKoko Brown is the pseudonym for a quintessential erotic romance junkie who once read over 200 Zebra Club novels the summer before her senior year in high school.
Koko’s writing career began at the tender age of nine when she self-published and distributed a newspaper to her fellow classmates. Unfortunately, her grade school school principal didn’t appreciate the competition and put her out of business after one best-selling issue.
Undaunted, Koko continued to write and read everything she could get her hands on. She honed her writing skills as a staff writer on her college’s newspaper, writing obituaries for the local newspaper, and teaching English to high school students.
One day while daydreaming in bed, Koko came up with the idea for her first erotic manuscript. Taking a hiatus from teaching, she had enough time on her hands to flesh out the story in two short weeks. A week later, she cleaned it up, then sent it to Ellora’s Cave during the Christmas holiday. By January she heard from one of their editors and by March (and many revisions) she signed a contract for her vampire novel Charmed.
Calling the east coast of Florida home, this multipublished author of interracial erotic romance loves to travel, shop in thrift stores, ride motorcycles, renovate houses, and volunteering.
Koko’s writing career began at the tender age of nine when she self-published and distributed a newspaper to her fellow classmates. Unfortunately, her grade school school principal didn’t appreciate the competition and put her out of business after one best-selling issue.
Undaunted, Koko continued to write and read everything she could get her hands on. She honed her writing skills as a staff writer on her college’s newspaper, writing obituaries for the local newspaper, and teaching English to high school students.
One day while daydreaming in bed, Koko came up with the idea for her first erotic manuscript. Taking a hiatus from teaching, she had enough time on her hands to flesh out the story in two short weeks. A week later, she cleaned it up, then sent it to Ellora’s Cave during the Christmas holiday. By January she heard from one of their editors and by March (and many revisions) she signed a contract for her vampire novel Charmed.
Calling the east coast of Florida home, this multipublished author of interracial erotic romance loves to travel, shop in thrift stores, ride motorcycles, renovate houses, and volunteering.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
no-dnf-zzz-avoid
October 23, 2015DNF.
H left h and had many long-term relationships with supermodels and award winning actresses while heart-broken h is celibate - for 10 years!!!
Well F&@! you authors !!!! What makes you think this cr*p is romantic??!!!
H left h and had many long-term relationships with supermodels and award winning actresses while heart-broken h is celibate - for 10 years!!!
Well F&@! you authors !!!! What makes you think this cr*p is romantic??!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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February 23, 2017I spaced this book off after I DNF'd it last year. I was annoyed by the heroine but I tried to stick with it because it was clear he was crazy about her. Then, I realized he'd been so in love with her he spent the past decade looking for her in other women's beds. Once I realized I quickly returned this and got my money back. Koko Brown has been on my borrow before you buy list ever since, lol.
September 25, 2015
***3.5 stars***
This was a sweet second chance romance. Devin and Gemma were childhood friends who became lovers until Devin left. Of course when he left home he broke Gemma heart and broke her trust. He had his reasons for leaving but he's been regretting leaving her ever since. Fast forward 8 years and they're meeting again. Devin needs an sports agent to clean up his image and guess what, Gemma is an agent...
I enjoyed this story very much. Gemma and Devin were good together. I believed their love story and loved watching them finding their way back to each other. Gemma had to let go of the past and look towards her future. She had to realize she can have the man and her career. Devin had to fight Gemma and her doubts. He also had to prove to Gemma that he was for real and that he wasn't leaving again. Hot sex scenes, great chemistry and a nice ending.
This was a sweet second chance romance. Devin and Gemma were childhood friends who became lovers until Devin left. Of course when he left home he broke Gemma heart and broke her trust. He had his reasons for leaving but he's been regretting leaving her ever since. Fast forward 8 years and they're meeting again. Devin needs an sports agent to clean up his image and guess what, Gemma is an agent...
I enjoyed this story very much. Gemma and Devin were good together. I believed their love story and loved watching them finding their way back to each other. Gemma had to let go of the past and look towards her future. She had to realize she can have the man and her career. Devin had to fight Gemma and her doubts. He also had to prove to Gemma that he was for real and that he wasn't leaving again. Hot sex scenes, great chemistry and a nice ending.
September 20, 2015
OK, I like KoKo Brown's work, and I loved her Player's Ultimatum book. So, I expected Player's Challenge to be as good but I was very disappointed. Gemma, a PR specialist, was hired to improve a bad boy soccer star's image. The bad boy, Devin, knows her. She and Devin had once been high school loves in a relationship that ended abruptly, and they neither fully got over each other. The book is about his pursuit of her and her resistance.
Devin is likeable but his character is poorly developed. On the other hand, Gemma is indecisive, childish, and in a constant state of self doubt. Really, the primary reason that she has for not giving in and accepting the love of her life is the nonfraternization clause in her employment contract?! She is successful in her field and could get another job.
Next, she can't have a relationship with him because he'll get bored and move on. Really?! Devin confesses his undying love, spent 8 years thinking only about her after their high school romance ended, kept in touch with her parents, and put his career at risk to chase after her. Yep, Gemma's doubts and trust issues became boring very quickly.
There were a few places where the banter between Gemma and Devin was interesting but those spots were too few to keep this book interesting. Mostly, Gemma pouted and ran and stopped talking to Devin when issues arose between them.
Paolo and Yvonne, from Player's Ultimatum, make a brief appearance to help drive the storyline but their characters were underutilized and underdeveloped. Paolo having a bigger presence and a friendship with Devin could have opened more possibilities for a good story.
Devin is likeable but his character is poorly developed. On the other hand, Gemma is indecisive, childish, and in a constant state of self doubt. Really, the primary reason that she has for not giving in and accepting the love of her life is the nonfraternization clause in her employment contract?! She is successful in her field and could get another job.
Next, she can't have a relationship with him because he'll get bored and move on. Really?! Devin confesses his undying love, spent 8 years thinking only about her after their high school romance ended, kept in touch with her parents, and put his career at risk to chase after her. Yep, Gemma's doubts and trust issues became boring very quickly.
There were a few places where the banter between Gemma and Devin was interesting but those spots were too few to keep this book interesting. Mostly, Gemma pouted and ran and stopped talking to Devin when issues arose between them.
Paolo and Yvonne, from Player's Ultimatum, make a brief appearance to help drive the storyline but their characters were underutilized and underdeveloped. Paolo having a bigger presence and a friendship with Devin could have opened more possibilities for a good story.
can-never-read
October 23, 2015Self note:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
May 31, 2019
This is the second story of the Hands Off series by Koko Brown and while it was a decent story, there was a little bit more contrived opposition than the first story. This is the story of Gemma and Devin. They were high school sweethearts until Devin broke Gemma's heart without a backwards glance to procure a spot as a top notch goalie on England's premiere team. He is in a bit of a bind and needs a makeover. Gemma is a sports agent and is hired to help Devin clean up his act. It's so obvious that these two belonged together that it was harder to write their story and the conflict behind it. It was obvious that Devin loved Gemma and she, him and time didn't diminish that. Once or twice Gemma may have been justified in her reaction but some things were blown out of proportion and it didn't make sense for her to get so upset over what she did in my opinion. I continued to read the story because I liked the characters and wanted to see my happy ending of them being together. I just didn't need for it to take as long as it did to get there. :)
May 7, 2017
Loved it
I really enjoyed this book and I got to see Yvonne and Paolo, absolutely great. I loved Devin and Gemma...a great pair..I want more.
I really enjoyed this book and I got to see Yvonne and Paolo, absolutely great. I loved Devin and Gemma...a great pair..I want more.
June 16, 2020
Excellent second book in the series!
December 1, 2023
Loved it.
August 17, 2016
Whereas, Devin Spencer’s reputation as the Champions League goalie is legendary, his personal status leaves a lot to be desired. On more than one occasion, Devin’s off-field disreputable activities have shined a bad light on him. So much so, that he needs a sports agent to revamp his persona or he can kiss his career goodbye.
Gemma Clarke is an up and coming sports agent who is good at her job. All is well until her former lover, Devin Spencer, is added to her client roster. Determined to prove that she can keep things strictly business between them, Gemma sets out to restore Devin’s image in the soccer world.
After reading the first book in this series, I was a little leery of diving into Player’s Challenge. I am glad to say that I am happy that I did. I so love second chance type storylines. The plot is a sincere love affair that could no longer be denied by Devin and Gemma and with a little begrudging added in to spice things up. It has the right amount of excitement, humor, emotions, and sex encounters to keep one turning page after page to see how the saga would unfold. Koko Brown has redeemed herself with book two in the Hands Off series.
Reviewed by Nikita Steele for Joyfully Reviewed
Link: http://bit.ly/2bwHT0F
Gemma Clarke is an up and coming sports agent who is good at her job. All is well until her former lover, Devin Spencer, is added to her client roster. Determined to prove that she can keep things strictly business between them, Gemma sets out to restore Devin’s image in the soccer world.
After reading the first book in this series, I was a little leery of diving into Player’s Challenge. I am glad to say that I am happy that I did. I so love second chance type storylines. The plot is a sincere love affair that could no longer be denied by Devin and Gemma and with a little begrudging added in to spice things up. It has the right amount of excitement, humor, emotions, and sex encounters to keep one turning page after page to see how the saga would unfold. Koko Brown has redeemed herself with book two in the Hands Off series.
Reviewed by Nikita Steele for Joyfully Reviewed
Link: http://bit.ly/2bwHT0F
February 4, 2016
The good: First of all, soccer players. I mean, come on. Aside from that, and despite the cliche of the heroine being a top-notch sports agent, the characters are completely likable. The sports hero isn't a jerk and the heroine isn't flighty and shallow. I'm not saying that the characters were extremely layered, but the approach to the characters was a bit more nuanced than other romance novels I've read lately. The romance is interracial, so I was worried about when Gemma's Jamaican parents show up. Turns out they aren't used as a comic backdrop or prop but instead have good relationships with both characters. Another plus, the sex was happy, varied, and fun.
The bad: Turns out what I like in a romance is the get-to-know-you bits. I love banter and that whole figuring out process. I don't like it as much when the main characters already know each other and the sizzle is already in process. In this book, when the main characters reunite, their chemistry from their previous relationship just automatically starts up again. No banter, no slow burn. Boo.
If not for that, this would have been an easy four star. Glad I discovered this author and will try others by her!
The bad: Turns out what I like in a romance is the get-to-know-you bits. I love banter and that whole figuring out process. I don't like it as much when the main characters already know each other and the sizzle is already in process. In this book, when the main characters reunite, their chemistry from their previous relationship just automatically starts up again. No banter, no slow burn. Boo.
If not for that, this would have been an easy four star. Glad I discovered this author and will try others by her!
September 6, 2016
Another Great Book
This was another great book in the series, it was great to see Yvonne and Paolo make an appearance also to see what they've been up to as well. This book about Gemma and Devin was and adventurous read. To see the lengths Devin has gone to win his highschool love back, has you wishing for your own athlete who looks at you the same way. Gemma certainly doesn't make it easy for Devin and makes him work for it and rightly so. I'm very excited to read the next book in the series and to see which player Koko is going to feature next.
This was another great book in the series, it was great to see Yvonne and Paolo make an appearance also to see what they've been up to as well. This book about Gemma and Devin was and adventurous read. To see the lengths Devin has gone to win his highschool love back, has you wishing for your own athlete who looks at you the same way. Gemma certainly doesn't make it easy for Devin and makes him work for it and rightly so. I'm very excited to read the next book in the series and to see which player Koko is going to feature next.
April 25, 2016
I really liked Player's Ultimatum, but Player's Challenge read like a throwaway book. No character development, no real plot, noticeable gaps in what little plot there was, unfinished interactions between characters, and I ended up having no investment in the main couple. I didn't care about them because readers don't get to develop a relationship with them that would make you care. Stick to the first book and just skip this one.
September 22, 2015
I read the sample and was hooked. I downloaded the book, I couldn't get enough of it. I happily finished reading it in the same day I brought it. It captured my attention from the start. This is my first time reading something from the author, and I already got another one of her books on my wish list. I love when a book leaves me wanting more.
October 16, 2015
The H was amazing. He was super sexy, jealous, possessive, and protective. He was completely obsessed with the h throughout the story. The h ruined the story. She was annoying and sometimes just stupid.
September 23, 2015
Loved it
Good story. Romantic and happy feeling book. I thought their relationship was cute and there were times that I laughed out loud.
Good story. Romantic and happy feeling book. I thought their relationship was cute and there were times that I laughed out loud.
September 23, 2015
Not Bad
This story had some unusual ups and downs. First she's so in love and then your all but playing hard to get.....I loved the characters. Not Bad at all
This story had some unusual ups and downs. First she's so in love and then your all but playing hard to get.....I loved the characters. Not Bad at all
October 16, 2015
Enjoyed
This is a sweet love story, the female character was a bit annoying but I enjoyed this storyline. Not 5 stars but entertaining.
This is a sweet love story, the female character was a bit annoying but I enjoyed this storyline. Not 5 stars but entertaining.
November 6, 2015
Worth The Wait!!
I have been reading romance books since I was 9 years old, I'm now in my 50+
I have been reading romance books since I was 9 years old, I'm now in my 50+
November 11, 2016
Loved it. I actually read this book several times. Can't seem to find anything close to it.
September 14, 2015
I liked the book but Gemma got really annoying throughout the book.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews