Play It Safe

Loved the story between Ivey and Gray the girl from the wrong side of the tracks because her brother was no good and did all kinds of things o keep them apart but love brought hem back . I cried and laughed all Kristen's book are great.

Kristen Ashley is probably one of my favorite authors and I will almost always read her books. I m not saying I hated this one but I definitely didn't love it either. Not because it was horribly written it was sweet but I'm used to a little bit more grit from Kristen Ashley. Also, the plot with Buddy just seemed to fall flat for me. This is a romance pure and simple.

I'm so trying to find the sequel, and I have no doubts it's going to be as amazing as this one is.
it's amazing how people keep coming up with new story lines and how that keeps people from becoming bored with a series!
way to go Kristen for always managing to do that!!!

On many levels I enjoyed this book. But, I have to admit the foul language really detracted from my enjoyment. I'm no prude and use the occasional curse word myself, but this was excessive and distracting. My guess is that the language was meant to help develop the characters persona for the reader. I'll give the author another try. Definitely a talent for a touching story.

I thought the beginning and the end of the book were good but was a bit put off by all details of their sex. Made me think I was reading a cowboy version of Fifty Shades of Grey. Not exactly my favorite type of book.

I'll start this by saying that I read a lot, and when I say a lot that means at least two to three books a day. I read fast, and I read everything. Romance, thriller, classic, sci-fi, fantasy . . . everything. Sometimes I even read the Encyclopedia Britannica just for fun. Yeah, I am a total bibliophile. I love the written word. I mean LOVE it. In all its forms. So, now that you know where I'm coming from let me just say that this author has produced some of the most entertaining, emotionally moving, and just plain awesome to read novels I have ever had the pleasure to set my eyes on. I've read six in the last three days, and I plan on reading all of them before I am through. So far 'Playing it Safe' is my favorite, but they are all exceptional. I've seen some comments on the editing and grammar and so forth. I care not one whit about those things because they are nonexistent in comparison to the stories themselves, and that's what fiction is about. The story. Kristen Ashley has that. In SPADES.
I've read fun. I've read scary. I've read boring, bad, and worse. I've also read life-changing, uplifting, and in-your-face. I've read everything. I don't recommend books because everyone has different tastes, and I read too much variety to offer definitive advice. I recommend Kristen Ashley's books.
There is no way to say this without sounding trite, but here it is nonetheless. Mrs. Ashley, you are a Talented author, and that capital 'T' means something when it comes from me, believe it or not. Salute, and I mean that in all its various forms.

Is there ever a KA book that isn't amazing?
If there is, I've yet to read it.... In this one, we have Ivy...who took off with her brother when one of the men in her life took things too far and they set off together, way too young to fend for themselves, yet somehow doing it by never settling down, but jumping from place to place, hustling and then moving on. Ivy didn't want that though, she longed to settle down and find a place to call home. She wanted to belong somewhere, unfortunately, she felt like she owed her brother...and he never let her forget it.

Then, in a little bity town of Mustang Colorado, it was supposed to be a quick stop to make some money to move on to the next stop, but Ivy finds herself wishing the little diner she stopped at could be more and the people that were so friendly could be people she liked to be around. For once, she was hopeful.... then she meets Grayson Cody.

Now, again, I love all things Kristen Ashley... and one thing she knows how to do WELL, the best even... is hot guys. I've fallen in love with each and everyone one of them, from the Hot Bunch to the Mountain Men to the Mystery Men and all of them in between... but none of them struck me like Grayson Cody. So sweet and patient and understanding. Brought up with the manners of a good Southern boy, he saw something in Ivy that he wanted and he would've been the best thing in the world for her, for the rest of her life.

Unfortuantely, things don't always work out the way they're supposed to... Life happens, petty neighbors and lifetime rivals happen and brother's who can't seem to make it on their own happen, so Gray and Ivy get seperated, by a lot of heartbreaking years. It ain't no secret that I'm a cryer, and Ms. Ashley makes me that way at least a dozen times each book, but man, an Ivy without Gray and a Gray without his Ivy was a tough pill to swallow, especially when we know the how and the why... I was screaming for karmic justice and I was glad the little bit we got, felt like enough... Maybe not with Buddy, but for the most part I was happy with it. I guess I'm a bit more viscious and wanted blood LOL

What I was so happy about was that in the interim of Ivy being away, she had people that cared so much about her. They were the family that she'd needed and always wanted, Lash and Brutus would do anything for Ivy and they proved it time and again for her, gladly. I love how Kat's secondary characters are most of the time just as important as the primary ones and this one was no different.

I cried and laughed and swooned with the rest of ya with this one... What an awesomely heartbreaking and hopeful read. Everyone deserves a Grayson Cody or an Ivy <3
5 undeniable stars from me.

WOW…I’ve had a lot of emotional Kristen Ashley reads in the last year and this one is no exception. Playing it Safe can be read as a total stand-alone even though eventually there will be another book set in this town. This is one of those books I’m going to throw out as a safe bet to dip your toe into the KA pool to see if she’s for you. KA writes about people in small towns so well. There are so many details and she has the way of making you feel like you are part of that town and all the good and bad that comes with it.

Playing it Safe wasn’t a perfect book for me but it had some great things going for it as well as a few things that bothered me but overall the good outweighs the bad.

The Good

Ivey and Gray – It’s hard not to root for them from the beginning. Ivey is a hustler whose only family has convinced her it is all she is good for. When she meets Gray she is completely skittish of him but Gray has a way with taming wild things and it really doesn’t take much time for him to break through some of her walls. I love that Gray was such a good man, he is much less alpha than most of KA’s heroes but he is a total cowboy and good-ole-boy. Ivey on the other had is just so broken and the only thing she has ever wanted in her life is a home and family.

The Town – It is really hard not to fall in love with the setting of the majority of the story and how people in a small town can pull together to help each other out. I loved seeing how everyone felt about this town and instantly realized why somebody just passing through might want to stay.
“I’m Janie,” she introduced herself, stretching out a hand I took and squeezed while she kept talking. “Good place to settle, Mustang.” I let go of her hand and she dropped it but kept going. “Followed a man here, got shot of that man, he got shot of Mustang, thank God. I got the town in the breakup.”

The Overall Love Story – While there is this thing in the middle that was a bit painful, overall the way that Gray and Ivey fell into each other and then figured it all out down the road ripped up my heart a little. It was totally tragic in one sense and my heart hurt along with the characters as something/someone tore them apart.
“I wasn’t experienced enough. I thought I wasn’t…” I shook my head. “I was a pool hustler virgin who you’d given her first kiss at age twenty-two. You were too good for me, I knew it and I figured you figured it out too so you moved on to better.”
“Baby,” he hissed on a near snarl, his eyes narrowing and his arms going super tight. “There was nothin’ better than you.”

There are moments between Ivey and Gray that made my cry but then there were all the other moments that gave me warm fuzzies so the heartache was so worth the payout.

Lash - He was a great character and unusual. I really wasn’t expecting him but I loved his contribution to this story. I really liked his relationship to Ivey and how they cared for each other and took care of each other. It was great that she had such a good person to lean on in the time that she and Gray were apart.

The Bad

Okay so there are a few tropes that sometimes work for me and sometimes don’t. In this instant there was one big on that uber bugged me. While Ivey and Gray are apart (view spoiler) Sure it makes for a good story of depravation and loyalty to a memory but overall it just didn’t work well for me in this particular story.

I also both loved and hated that she had Lash in her life. I understood it and they both had their reasons. I was glad that Gray was so understanding once he understood what their relationship really was but it was difficult to deal with why Ivey had him in her life in the first place.

Overall

This is a good emotional love story with strong roots in family and community.

I gave this audiobook an A- for the story and B+ for the narration at AudioGals.

Narrated by Savannah Richards

I can always count on Kristen Ashley for a satisfying, protective alpha hero romance.Play It Safe, however, turns the typical KA trope on its head, proving that heroines can be protective heroes too! Adding to the enjoyment of this romance is the underlying suspense arc and the complex, interwoven secondary characters which add a whole other layer to this entertaining listen. Moreover, this title is a great one to choose in audio format due to Savannah Richards’ expert narration.

Ivey is used to life on the run. An expert billiards player and people-reader, she’s been wandering from town to town with her brother, never laying roots, just conning or swindling a quick buck here and there. Never stay too long or take too much and no one will come looking for you. Playing it safe worked just fine until the day she finds the small, rancher town of Mustang, Colorado, and a sweet, protective cowboy (with the perfect cowboy name of Grayson Cody) that makes her dream of something she never thought possible for a girl like her: laying down roots. Suspending reality for just a short while, Ivey finds herself in love with not just Grayson but the whole town which makes her feel at home and like she has real family for the first time in her life.

See the full review at AudioGals.

All Ivey ever wanted was to find a place to call home, a place where she belongs, can feel safe, where she maybe even can find love and start a family of her own. And now for the first time in her life she believes she has found that place, in a little town called Mustang, Colorado and in the arms of the handsome cowboy, Grayson Cody. For the first time in her life Ivey is happy, she has a job as a waitress that she loves, she has a little apartment and a handsome boyfriend. She is living the life of her dreams. Gray wants Ivey and he doesn’t hide it from everyone. For a few months they’re very happy. But there are people who aren’t so happy with Gray and Ivey relationship and they will do everything they can to destroy that. And that’s just what they do, they destroy a great love and two lives without remorse or a thought about it. So one night Ivey’s dream about a happily ever after gets taking away from her without her knowing it.

Now, many years later, Ivey has found peace again and a safe place to live. Not with the love of her life but with another great man. But that’s all about to change when she gets a phone call from the past, from someone from the town Mustang. Gray is in trouble and he needs help. Help that only she can give him. But can she help him without losing her heart again? But how can she not help him? Gray was her first and only love. And after all those years, after all that pain, Ivey still loves him with all her heart.

This book was a little different because the first part of the book is about how Ivey and Gray first met and fell in love and I liked that. I really liked it that the book started where their story started. At the first beginning that they see each other. That it wasn’t with flashbacks or comments or through memories, just like Ivey and Gray we started at the beginning of their story. The story wasn’t rushed, what I also liked. Kristen Ashley really took her time telling the story. I was wondering how we would go for that story to the next story (many years later) but with the writer’s writing style that wasn’t a problem. Kristen Ashley knows how to tell a story. I really loved this story and felt the heartbreak when they realized that they have lost seven years through the lies of other people. And like in all Kristen Ashley’ s books the secondary characters were funny and loyal through and through.

I really enjoyed this book.

Ivy led a life of no connections, play it safe, and obey the rules. Until she arrived at Mustang, Colorado. After a decade of being on the run Ivy was tired of running, tired of playing it safe, and tired of obeying the rules. She meets Grayson Cody. No one who looked at them would think they didn't belong together. So they fell in love and just as quickly they fell apart. Years later Ivy learns Grayson is in trouble and rushes to help him only to learn they were betrayed years ago when they parted ways.

I must say I love...no that's not strong enough...LOVE Kristen Ashley. Every title I get my hands on I devour and absolutely adore it. Kristen knows how to write a story that captures the readers attention and doesn't let it go. Ivy and Grayson are two people who meet, fall in love and are ripped apart by circumstances unknown by the other. Betrayed by outside forces cause these two to part and never look back. Until Grayson faces trouble with his ranch so Ivy swoops in to save the day only to find he doesn't want her help. This story caused me to cry, laugh and argue with characters out in public...so I got many curious glances. So to repeat myself because I can...I love Kristen Ashley's work she is so talented and creative I cannot help but absorbed everything she writes!

4.5 Stars

So if you have visited my blog before you know I love, love, love a good Kristen Ashley book. On her website she posts the first few chapters of her books so you can get a feel for it. I had read those first few chapters like lightening and went straight away to get the whole book...but then...it sat...and sat...and sat on my poor overworked kindle. Why you ask? Who in the heck knows! I know that I loved those first few chapters so what took so stinking long? We may never know the answer to the mysteries of how my brain works, but we do know how great this book turned out.

Brief Summary:

Ivey is moving through town after town with her old brother. They stop in Mustang, Colorado and one things leads to another, but they stay awhile. It turns out these siblings have had a hard life and are on the lam. To make money, Ivey hussles pool and Casey (her brother)...well, I'm not quite sure what he thinks he does to contribute. In Mustang is where Ivey meets Grayson Cody. He is a rancher/cowboy and the entire town looks up to him. He does the right thing...always...but you also do NOT want to mess with this good guy rancher/cowboy because he will mess you up! A conspiracy is...conspired and Ivey leaves Mustang and Gray behind for a LONG tragic time. Mustang reaches out to Ivey although they turned they back on her a long time ago and while she is older, wiser and hard as nails, she still does what she can to help knowing she'll get no thanks from Gray for this.

Thoughts:

The first 70% of this book was AWESOME! I loved reading about Gray and Ivey's burgeoning romance and I LOVED reading about their time apart. This is weird, I know, but KA wrote this tragedy so well. I understood exactly how Ivey felt during those seven years. I felt what she felt everytime her little heart took a beating. The only reason why this gets 4.5 stars instead of 5 is that I wish there was a little more danger/drama in the last 30%. It kind of fizzled out for me. I still tore through it because I wanted to see how it ended.

Favorite Quote: (This is Lash talking trash to Buddy Sharp...its great)

"I understand you're a big fish in a small pond," Lash said softly, his deep, cultured voice carrying a more eloquent threat than Buddy could ever hope to pull off. "But I'll explain that if you want to swim in the ocean, you must understand that the ocean is populated by sharks and sharks never sleep."

To read more Kristen Ashley reviews, visit my blog [...]

Kristen Ashley writes the perfect Alpha, or at least perfect to me. They are never these big jerks that do stupid stuff to push the h away. Misunderstandings happen but in such away that it's not stupidly irritating, causing you to think "who FALLS for that crap?!" It's like her H's alpha-ness (is that a word?) is just enough. I also love that the H and h in most of her books are usually old enough that I don't feel creepy in enjoying the H's hotness LOL! She really excels in making you FEEL how in love her H & h are. There are really only a few authors that do that for me and she's one of them.

I've read many of KA's books now and I can't say I've read even one I didn't like. I'm always left with a deeply satisfied feeling when I'm finished with one of her books. This book was no exception. I'd definitely recommend this book and I'm looking forward to hearing what's next in Mustang!

Reviewed by SUZANNE & posted at Under the Covers Book Blog

Kristen may not be the most eloquent writer I have read, she has a unique way of bringing her characters to life with every word she writes till it feels like you are in the hero and/or heroine's head and you just need to buckle up and enjoy the ride.~ Under the Covers

Ivey has lived her life by one golden rule: Play if safe. This means her life on the road involves no ties or connections, just her and her older brother drifting from one town to another making cash, not entirely legally, before they have to move on. But when Ivey hits the town of Mustang, she knows she doesn't want to leave, especially when she meets Grayson Cody, a rancher/cowboy who lives in there. But the road to their happily ever after is fraught with separations, heartbreak and betrayal, will they ever make it?

Kristen Ashley has done it again, another book which I couldn't unglue my eyes from; there is some magic laced in with her words which entices you to read on and on until you hit the final page and are still left wanting more. Although Kristen may not be the most eloquent writer I have read, she has a unique way of bringing her characters to life with every word she writes till it feels like you are in the hero and/or heroine's head and you just need to buckle up and enjoy the ride.

I enjoyed every word of Play it Safe, Ivey and Gray were a great couple and you could feel their connection right from the start and although this didn't quite have the emotional punch that some of her other books has it still have some beautiful moments. What was also fabulous was the cast of secondary characters, as this book (as all Kristen Ashley books are!) was long it gave plenty of time for it to shape up a great cast of background characters who all added to the story.

If you like Kristen Ashley's books you are guaranteed to love this, it has her signature style, with her sexy alpha male and the sweet sassy female who captures his heart. If you haven't read her and are after a sweet romance with plenty of steamy love scenes then I recommend you give this book a try!

I wasn't real sure I'd come to like Ivey......not the way she starts out - her being a pool hustler in partnership with her brother. Once the story unfolds......her history comes out and it's pretty devastating. It's quite plausible that she has gotten to this place in her life because of such a rough upbringing.

Once Grayson Cody (Gray) enters the scene......it's all over for Ivey's heart. She's hooked. So is Gray. When it all falls apart it becomes utterly heartbreaking. Gray is quite the cowboy-type. He's sensitive, but purely alpha-male.

The romance is beautiful. The heartbreak.....even more so and when they're brought back together - kismet. NOT an easy journey either.

The towns-folk are (as usual to a KA novel) very interesting and well written. The bad guys.....just nasty and I'd bet KA had a fine time writing the nasty stuff. It's so fun to read!

Special mention to Lash and "Brutus" - both wonderful characters and turned out to be great friends for Ivey, and Gray. The epilogue was simply wonderful and it's something this reader looks forward to in a KA book and dreads at the same time since it's then the end of that particular story.

So far this is a stand alone and not part of a series and this reader is hoping for more of Mustang! Love the town. Thank you for another wonderful tale, dear authoress!

I had this idea a while ago that the store should allow for awarding a 6th star for a book. I think they should ration them though, only allow a reader to give 1 or 2 books a 6th star and then you're cut off until the following year. I think it would really give added meaning to books awarded that sixth star. If this system was in place, I would definitely give Play it Safe one of those rare 6 stars. This book was amazing.

I've read a lot of Kristen Ashley books, but I am so glad I have a lot more I haven't read to keep me occupied for a while. Her books are awesome. She has such a unique way of writing and drawing you into her characters. She's funny, her characters are interesting, their dialogue is great, but mostly they just suck me right in like quicksand, I literally can't stop reading.

When I started Play it Safe I was actually reading another book but forgot to load it on my reader. I decided to start Play it Safe and then go back to my other book until I finished. It didn't work out that way. I ended up getting so drawn into the story that I couldn't put the book down until I finished, I had to find out what happened between Gray and Ivey.

The beginning of their relationship was so sweet. I felt bad for Ivey and her past and I loved the way Gray handled all that. I absolutely fell in love with him. Then when the drama hit, I needed to know they'd be okay. I was rooting for them to get their happily ever after. All I have to say is Kristen Ashley did not disappoint. If you haven't read Kristen Ashley I definitely recommend you try this book. Then when you love it, and you will, you'll have to start the Rock Chick Series, the Dream Man series, the Burg series, the Colorado Mountain Man series. Well, you get the picture. Seriously, if you like a good love story with different characters, read it.

Wow Kristen Ashley does it again and I can only ask myself why didn't I read this sooner?? Ivey has lived her life alongside her brother Casey playing it safe, making no connections moving from place to place. It's not an easy life, but it's all she's known since she was twelve. Ivey is beautiful, guarded and a bit naive, but not to the bad in the world just to the good. When she and her brother Casey land in Mustang, she instantly feels drawn to the family atmosphere and longs to plant roots there which only intensifies when she meets Grayson Cody-- a hunky, macho cowboy who is also instantly drawn to her. I really liked Ivey life had dealt her a crappy hand and she took it all with great strides- she stood by her brother every time regardless if he deserved it or not. Just as Ivey's life on the road had ended, it was painfully ripped from her and Gray. Life was harsh on Ivey and my heart broke at how can people be so callous to play with the lives of others. Lash and Brutus were amazing- they were true family to Ivey when she needed it the most. Gray is a true alpha cowboy!!!! He knew Ivey was it for him and he wasted no time making it so. Another great story from Kristen Ashley!!!

I seriously can’t even tell you why I write reviews on Kristen Ashley’s books; they are all brilliant, they are all fantastic, and I love each and every one of them. It is just a given any more that everything that flows out of her mind will always be loved by me.

I don’t know that I have ever fallen in love with EVERY character an author has written about like I do with KA. It is unbelievable how clever she is and how wonderful she writes.

Play It Safe was no different. I loved both Ivey and Gray, I loved the side characters (this does not include the ones that we are meant to hate,) and I loved how easy it was for Ivey and Gray to fall for each other and then in seconds, it was torn apart….gets me every time. My favorite part was watching them fight for love, their love for each other, which meant the world to them but kept getting severed by the bad guys, assumptions, and miscommunication.

And like I always say after reading a KA story, Gray was super alpha male that rocked this story more than once.

The heroine was so lovable. I could count in one hand the number of heroine from the book I love. Ivey is sure one of them. I wanted to say she was so lucky but then her past and what went down, you couldn't really say that. But she wasn't unlucky either. It's all mixed. But it's all good.

Thanks to the kindle you get to see how far you're in the book. I got panicked at about 40% when the hero and the heroine were already in love. It made me afraid of what was to come in the rest of the book. And I'm glad I braced myself. Though not enough to prepare to see the amount of time that has lost between them. Gosh. The 'what if' and 'why didn't' hurt so bad.

And Grayson Cody... I wish he was my man, and I his woman.
"Thank you for takin' care of Gran and savin' my land. Pay you back. Not with money, baby, but swear to Christ, by the time you leave this earth, you'll feel I paid you back."

Ga........ xxx

I cannot start a KA book if I have anything else going on, because I will not stop reading. I've made that mistake before and I just have just done it again. This was another riveting reading experience provided by Kristen Ashley. Some people complain about all of the details in her books, but that is what pulls me in and keeps me reading. The details give a startling clear picture of everything going on in the world of her characters. I want more of this world around Mustang, CO. KA mentions a second book at the end of this one. I sure hope it happens.

Kristen Ashley has a way with alpha males. You have to like the pushy, overprotective, possessive man, but Dear Sweet Baby Jesus does she deliver.
I.Love.Gray.
Love the name, love the personality, love the looks, I just fell in love.
What really just absolutely made this book for me, though, was the secondary characters. At first, I loved Janie, then I loved loved loved Lash and Freddie, I could go on with this big huge list of characters that, while obviously not the main characters, all played an important role in the story.
I honestly didn't go into this with very high expectations.
I had read Kristen Ashley's 'Knight' and loved it, which was the only reason why I tried this, but the description and the cover didn't scream AMAZING BOOK to me.
However, this was an amazing book.
I started it at eleven in the afternoon, and read straight to midnight.
Thirteen hours I read, and I just could not convince myself to put it down.
I found myself laughing out loud, crying out loud, cussing out loud and now my family thinks I've gone absolutely insane, but you know what? I'm kind of okay with that, because I just read a freaking fantastic novel.
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend, yes it is definitely worth 3.99, yes, you should stop reading reviews and buy it.
Now.

I've been saving this one for a rainy day. Wow, am I glad it rained today. I loved Ivey and Gray. This book kept me up until 2am reading because I had to know everything. I needed Ivey and Gray to be ok but most of all I wasn't trying to project my expectations on the story I was able to sit back, read and let it all play out. I trust in Kristen Ashley to let me out of the other side feeling satisfied. This story came with a side of heartbreak and lust and it felt SOOOO good. You know those few books that twist you up but not so much that you can't ever believe in the HEA. To read it is to love it. No one writes a better epilogue! Loved it!

Say it dollface..."I love you Gray." ah swoon.

What can I say? I have yet to find a novel by this author I don't love. Every single book is a masterpiece of emotion, from love, lust, friendship and family. I loved Gray. Seriously hot cowboy meets seriously hot, vulnerable girl. Love this book!

Loved this book. And I think the star in this book is Grayson Cody. Just awesome.

The book starts off slow because it is told in Ivey's voice, and therefore, it's slow to know her circumstances and her history. Ivey is 22. She and her 27-year-old brother, Casey, are pool hustlers who drift from town to town. Actually, Ivey is the pool star. Her brother just keeps the hustle going since they are on the run. You don't find out until about halfway through the book, but Casey and Ivey have a mother who is either a prostitute or just acts like one. One day, one of her men attack Ivey, Casey attacks him, and the two hit the road, thinking that Casey killed someone.

When the book starts, 10 years have passed and that's 10 years that Ivey and Casey have lived on the road. In the town of Mustang, CO, she meets the town hero Gray Cody and falls in love.

As you can imagine, Ivey has issues. She has a lot of secrets and walls and because she's lived on the run, she really doesn't have any social skills since she's never had any friends. But Gray is just perfect. Throughout the book, from beginning to end, he is perfect. A later character, Lash, comes close. However, Lash will never be for Ivey, so it's Grady all the way.

I love that Gray is an alpha male all the way. He's a working cowboy who doesn't mind hard work. He's also honest and well-respected by everyone. He looks out for people. He's sexy, he's hot, he's beautiful, and unless you're jealous or envious, you love him. And the cherry on top? He knows how to use his words. He's definitely a guy's guy who knows how to fix and take care of anything. He also knows how to beat the crap out of anyone. But, he knows how to use his words. He doesn't walk out on Ivey during an argument or just grunt at her. In fact, when she doesn't know what to say or how to react because of her stunted development, he does. And their love story, while sad, is beautiful.

The story of Ivey and Gray was so wonderful. I loved their story from first love, to heartbreak, to forever love. I could not put this book down and lost some sleep staying up too late a few nights wanting to get to the next chapter. Great epilogue to finish the story out.

I absolutely loved Grayson & Ivey's story! I'm a sucker for a second chance romance and this one far exceeded my expectations.

I'm really hoping in the future KA will return to Mustang and write Whit's story. This definitely is one of those books that when I finished I felt a piece of my heart left behind.

A 6 star heartbreaking, tear inducing, swooner that left me smiling One of the best epilogues I've read!!!

Where to start?!?!!! This book grabbed hold of me & I couldn't put it down!!! It's a re-read for me for sure. I love all the books I've read by this author & they're all great but I think this may be my favorite! Wow- Grayson is so reach out & grab you that he's my now favorite hero & Ivey is totally awesome too! This book is very emotional and heartbreaking in a couple parts that it just sticks with you. Great job! Totally loved it!!

This book was so good I can't stop thinking about it. I love the charcters, the y are wonderful people-not perfect, but basically good people. The chemistry is off the charts. I loved the story, it's quite long and encompasses a long time period. I literally laughed and cried throughout this book. I loved that the two main characters basically conquered all to end up together and the book still continued so we saw what happened several years after their HEA. I am so sad this book is over, I want to go back and visit Ivey and Gray-trust me you will too.

4 1/2 I love Grey so much stars.

This is another very good story from KA. It is very close to 5 stars. There were just a few things I didn't like, but with that said there were a lot of things I did like. Mainly, Grayson Cody. He was everything a man should be. Hardworking, patient, smart, seriously protective, super hot and more.
"Tell me you love me, Ivey"
"I love you, Grey"
I love that... Happy reading!!

I am a huge fan of Kristen Ashley and "Play It Safe" definitely did not disappoint! I see the other reviews told you about the story, I want you to know how you'll feel reading it! She has you falling in love with her characters, crying, laughing and sighing throughout! Reading is my happy time and being able to read Kristen makes my happy time all the more special! She has become one of my all time favorite authors and I'm so happy to have found her! So thank you Kristen and please keep em coming!

Always wanted me a hot cowboy in faded jeans and c-boy boots... Grayson Cody... I think totally fits the bill... #SeriouslyDrooling

Ok... let me just pull myself together... ok... back to business. I'm becoming a huge fan of Kristen Ashley right now. Two books in 2 days, both by author Kristen Ashley and both totally divine and addictive. Oh Yesssss... very much hooked #KristenAshleyAddict

Read the rest of my review on my blog Coffee, Books & Lipgloss

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If you like Kristen Ashley, then I would recommend it. For the most part, I did like it, I just found the inner dialog a little more repetitive and too detailed. I don't need to know every detail of every outfit she wears throughout the whole book. Still, as usual, KA delivers an emotional story that draws you in and keeps you reading.

As with all of Kristen Ashley's books, I fell completely in love with these characters. At the end of the book she left room to make this a series and I really hope that happens. These characters kept my nose glued to my kindle page after page. Grayson and Ivey go through a lot before they get their HEA but it's one ride you don't want to miss.

I can't even tell you how many times I've reread this book. I think Gray is one of my favorite heroes KA has written - he's a string male character that is very sweet, protective, and respectful - I can't remember getting annoyedvat him at all. I swear I want to recreate the final scene in my own life somehow. I kinda hate that Ivey and her brother never make up, but that happens. Seriously a fun, enjoyable read!

Kristen Ashley is my favorite author, so I naturally love all of her books. I loved this book, the story and the characters, but it wasn't my favorite read by KA. I'm not sure what it was exactly, but it just didn't grab the way Mystery Man or Heaven and Hell did. Still well worth reading!

Grayson Cody, a macho man rancher cowboy who falls for a pool shark Ivey and their story takes a lot of twists and turns. Ivey takes a chance and doesn't play it safe and Gray? He gives her everything but they get played and they are torn apart for seven years.. yes seven years. Great supporting characters and just a great story!

This author is freaking awesome. Each and every one of her books totally ROCK!!! Highly recommend anything written by this author. All of her books are sexy, fun, and totally enjoyable. Each series is well worth the read!!!

I really, really liked this. I've read a few of KA's books now and this one by far is the best one. I loved Gray and Ivey, sweet couple who are perfect for eachother. The sex, as usual with a KA story, was HOT!!! The story was unique and really good.

I highly recommend this!!!

This was a good story that I really liked until about 64% of the book. It kinda fizzled out then because there was no more conflict between Ivey and Gray. It was also weird that Gray's talking style changed from when they first met to years later - it became more gritty, foul, and short sentences. Is that realistic?

There was one thing that really bothered me - I HATED how the author used 'muttered' a lot when someone said something - he muttered, she muttered, etc. That and the endearment 'baby'. Maybe it's just me but using it so much was a turn-off.

** SUMMARY / PLENTY OF SPOILER ALERTS **

Ivey and her older brother Casey travel from town to town pool hustling, thanks to Ivey's talent. Casey is the who drains the cash and cares only for himself. In the town Mustang, Casey lingers because of some women and Ivey meets Grayson Cody who helps her with some bullies. They have a instant attraction the grows into love. Ivey decides to settle in Mustang and get a job which makes Casey very angry since he depends on her.

Some town bullies pay Casey to get Ivey to run away with him, but not before she leaves a note to Gray that she'll be back when the danger is over. But the town bullies clean her place making it look like she skipped town. Three months later she comes back when everyone hangs up the phone on her and she sees Gray with a woman.

Two years later Ivey is the star in a burlesque show in Las Vegas, where one night she sees Gray. He confronts her and calls her a whore.

Five years later, Ivey is retired but manages the club and lives with her gay best friend Lash. She is Lash's beard, and they live together and "sleep" together because of Lash's Mother. One day she gets a call from Janie, a bartender in Mustang, asking for monetary help for Gray who is losing his ranch.

She and Lash go to Mustang, pay Gray's debts. Gray confronts Ivey and they discover they've been played many years ago when she left. Ivey moves back to Mustang and into Gray's house. They realize that Buddy Sharp (the pool bully) is trying to destroy Gray - damaged crops, burned down barn, etc. The last straw is when Buddy finds Ivey's father and brings him to her hoping to use him to hurt her, but her father won't play his game and Buddy is arrested.

The story ends that Gray and Ivey get married, Ivey and her Father build a relationship, Gray and his mother build a relationship, and they have three children.

This was the first audio book I've purchased and I looked forward to listening to it during workouts at the gym. Unfortunately, it was so dumbed down and so out of touch with women in the 21st century. In spite of a pretty decent plot, I got so sick of the condescending male attitudes and repetitious "Doll face" terms of endearment. I stuck with it to the end only to final a glaring example of the author's poverty of the imagination. She describes an article of clothing as "grey with tints of black". What? Grey is a tint of black. Oh, one other thing, an occasional F word is okay, but it permeated the book. There may have been some steamy passionate moments, but it didn't make up for the all the rest. Groan.

And her many books, but this one didn't really do it for me. Could be that I just needed a shorter book, but I'm thinking that the length and the characters of this story just didn't ring true for me.