Playing to Win (A Play-by-Play Novel)

The fourth installment of Jaci Burton's Play-by-Play series, Playing to Win, is worth picking up just to stare at the cover. Fitness model Jed Hill once again lends his "hip dents" or "hip dips" to ignite our imagination of what main character Cole Riley might look like in the flesh. In an interview with About Happy Books, Burton said of Hill's previous appearance on her book The Perfect Play, "Of course, who can deny the appeal of a hot, sweaty guy on the cover of a book, right?"

If you can tear your eyes away from the cover, (or maybe the cover away from the book so you can pin him to your pillowcase) to actually open the book, Cole Riley comes to life. I liked Cole. I didn't always understand how his past produced his current behavior because he was a good guy at heart from a good family. His family seemed to keep him grounded, but he had this apparent need to act out and it didn't feel genuine. Savannah's need to keep a professional distance from Cole made more sense.

Parts of this single-afternoon-read were clearly formulatic, but not in a way which I can really fault. It felt more like I could predict what was coming next just from the pacing of the relationship rather than Burton following a mandated script. I admit it did lack a certain intensity; there is no real major conflict that must be resolved other than the two main characters needing to get over themselves. When it finally does get off the ground, the relationship between Cole and Savannah isn't just steamy, it's creatively steamy. There are few word choices that I could live without, but they were just blips rather than hang-ups for me.
I was pleased that there was some actual football in this tale. I think it's a failing of a book with a defined profession that never appears as a part of the plot when clearly, it's a part of that person's life. Burton does bring on some football. As the wife of a football coach, I could have even handled a little more, maybe even as a point of conflict??? Nevertheless, I'll definitely read the next one. I like this community of characters. It's not necessary to have read the first three books before reading Playing to Win, but readers who have will enjoy seeing characters they know pop up.

My Thoughts:

I think I've completely fallen for both Jaci Burton and her Play By Play series. Melting the Ice sucked me in and I knew I was a goner from that moment on. Reading Cole and Savannah's story hasn't lessened my love for the series. In fact, the more I read, the more I want.

I enjoyed seeing their relationship play out and blossom. Cole is irresistible and completely won me over by the end. It was a wonderful ride watching Savannah get to him--drawing out this new side of him as he brings out new things in her--and seeing the two of them together. Talk about fan yourself kind of moments. Phew!

Playing to Win was completely made of win. Absolutely sexy and has everything a good romance should, making you feel great at the end of it. It's sexy and full of emotion and love. Jaci Burton will never cease to make me want more and more. Bring on the rest of this series! Also... cover? Oh yes.

My Rating: Very Good

Playing to Win by Jaci Burton
Contemporary Romance - Sept. 4th, 2012
4 stars

Playing to Win is the latest in the sports series about hot athletes with tons of charm and super sexy moves.

Football star Cole Riles pays hard and fast with the rules and his life. But this has caused untold headaches for his PR. And if he doesn't straighten up, his career maybe cut severely short! When his agent assigns him a sexy consultant he balks even though he is very attracted to Savannah Brooks. But Savannah is surprise and he finds that she fascinates him and soon he finds he is becoming a one woman man!

While Playing to Win, is part of a series, it can easily be read by itself. I found this a sexy and superbly satisfying read. Cole has tons of devil may care charm but he is so used to having his own way! In contrast, Savannah is the responsible one. She knows what she wants and it is security and a home. Savannah has worked hard to get where she is and doesn't want anything to do with Cole. A man who seems to be born with a silver spoon. Reading these two contrasts in personalities adds a lot of spice to the story and makes it super fun to read. The sparks fly between Savannah and Cole as Cole is set on pursuing Savannah. It was entertaining to read their steamy scenes as Savannah tries to keep her distance from Cole but can't resist his magnetic appeal. I also liked reading as Cole changes his behavior and realizes what is really important to him.

A hot romance where the love of a good and worthy woman really does change the hero!

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

First and foremost, this series absolutely has the hottest covers and I quite enjoy staring at them on my bookshelf! That being said, they are also really great reads! Playing to Win was abso-freakin-lutely HOT! Like smokin hot sex scenes that, seriously, I can't even form a complete sentence right now! Cole is so my current favorite! He starts out as a jackass who pretty much only thinks about himself and has an ego the size of Texas! But of course, by the end he's the perfect guy! **SWOON** I really liked Savannah. She was a strong, independent woman who tried so hard to resist the hotness that is Cole Riley! She so lost that battle by the way! But duh, who wouldn't! The chemistry and sexual tension between these two was off the charts hot! The plot was great, even though there wasn't really a big negative to be overcome. (not sure if that sentence makes sense....) You get what I'm sayin though. While Savannah constantly tried to push Cole away and deny her feelings for him, he didn't give up. The story flowed quite nicely. I really enjoyed catching up with previous characters. I have to say, I loved Liz in this book! She was hilarious! I also enjoyed the sneak peek of the next book about Cole's sister Alicia. Can't wait for that book!

Cole is a great football player but his public persona is in major need of an overhaul, Enter Savannah Brooks. Savannah s job is to teach Cole how to be more media friendly. With the attraction between the two It may not just be Cole who learns a new way of doing things.

For me this was an OK book. It wasn't bad by any means but it just wasn't at the same level as the previous play by play novels. Something was lost in the translation with this one. The attraction and love between Cole and Savannah didn't quite seem realistic. All of the right ingredients are there, it just didn't do it for me. In the middle of reading I had to take a week long break and then come back to this one with fresh expectations.

Savannah was hired to make Cole a better football player and to take down his reputation. Little did she know that the hot football player would steal her heart. She has a horrible past but Cole helps her accept what she has accomplished and shows her love like she has missed her whole life.

Cole and Savannah are both messed up and thus perfect for each other. They aren't messed up so bad that it is tragic, it's just that neither of them have had a serious relationship before. They are a hot couple!

This was my third Jaci Burton book and I really like her. I loved Mick and Tara in book 1, liked Gavin and Liz even more in book 2 - I enjoyed Cole and Savannah's story and like the plot line of Cole needing an image makeover. It gave a good reason for them to spend time together and allow a natural progression of their relationship outside the bedroom.

I look forward to reading more from Jaci Burton.

A nice sport romance read by Ms. Jaci Burton, one of her "Play by Play" series. Listed as erotica though it may not have been as explicit as some of the others in this series; unfortunately l do not remember having read a number of books since and did not review it immediately upon finishing I'm sorry to say. Have six(6) right now to review so I'm not keeping up as I should!

Fourth in the Play-by-Play sports romance series revolving around the Rileys and their friends in St. Louis.

My Take
I really dislike sports, but I really enjoy this series. Burton has a way of putting heart into this with warm family ties and an inside look behind the scenes of the sport she's targeting. In this case, it's football with an exploration of what makes one team trade out a player. It makes a nice break from all the business billionaires running about in the romance genre.

In this one, it got rather tedious as it kept going on and on with Savannah's fears and pulling back while Cole was so defensive! Over and over. It seemed as though the Burton didn't pay as much attention to keeping it even what with some of Cole's stupid moments and the experience I would have expected Savannah to have.

It was funny how terrified Savannah was by the intimacy and it was certainly a new experience for Cole to be on the receiving end of a woman running out the door in the morning.

Still, I did enjoy Savannah's ideas of how to turn him around and Cole is amazingly sensitive and considerate. And I loved the end idea of the foundation.

I understand Cole's reasons for not warming up to his teammates, but he must not have been too warm on his very first team if it's been a problem from the start.

I am kind of surprised that an image consultant, someone who has experience with the media, would believe everything that's printed. She certainly isn't much of a diplomat. Although, then again, Cole is obstreperous from the start!

The Story
Cole Riley's career is teetering on the brink. Oh, he plays well. Really well and his ego reflects it. But his attitude toward his teammates and out of the stadium leaves a lot to be desired. He's only been hired because of favors owed Liz and Mick.

It's Savannah Brooks' job to turn that around. A program he kicks and screams about when she makes him do things he hates. It's another thing completely when they're "dating".

But it's not a one-way lesson...

The Characters
Savannah Brooks is an image consultant hired by the Traders to clean up Cole's bad-boy image. It will entail her hanging around him day in and day out. Getting a feel for the real Cole Riley.

Cole Riley is Mick, Gavin, and Jenna's cousin. And he's blue-chip when it comes to football where he plays wide receiver. It's just that he doesn't think it's anyone's business what he does off the field. Mario Genino is his gay trainer. Jack and Cara Riley are his parents; Alicia is his sister who works in sports medicine for the St. Louis Rivers team (she's up next in Thrown by a Curve).

Elizabeth Darnell, about to be married to Gavin, is his agent (see Changing the Game (Play-by-Play, #2)). And she lays down the ultimatum. Mick, Nathan, and Tyler are mentioned with the very-pregnant Tara and Jenna Rileys having a much larger part to play. (Jenna and Tyler are still remodeling the new karaoke bar (Taking a Shot (Play-by-Play, #3)).

Grant Cassidy is the Traders' quarterback. Jamarcus Davis and Lon Fields are offensive stars. Kenny Lawton is the new rookie. Jay Martin is a tight end. Ted Miller owns the Traders.

Thomas and Selena Rogers are the about-to-be owners of the house the team helped work on.

The Cover
The cover has such an angelic feel with all that white at first glance, but that gorgeous, naked, chest pulls you in and the unlaced pants draws the eye to all those bulging muscles. Mmmm-mmm. The ball held in Cole's hands is a pretty good tip-off that this Play-by-Play is football-oriented.

The title reflects Cole's priority and this boy Plays to Win. No matter what the goal is.

Cole Riley plays football and women with the same intensity as he expects to score any time he holds the ball. Ironically, though the women adore him and the fans recognize his talent, Cole dislikes people. Media types are placed in a special category of intense loathing.

However, his doing whatever the hell he wants places his football career in jeopardy as increasingly he has become persona non grata. Public relations specialist Savannah Brookes is hired to change Cole's image from the centerfold of bad boys. She has doubts about changing his behavior while he has doubts about wanting to change his behavior. As the Southern belle orders the football star around while establishing the no touch infraction, he decides pass interference penalty is worth the cost.

The latest Riley sibling Play-by-Play sports romance (see Changing the Game, The Perfect Play and Taking a Shot) is an engaging tale starring two obstinate protagonists. Part of the gender war fun is the lead couple switching from offense to defense and back when one runs with the ball and the other tries to make the tackle. Readers will enjoy this heated football romance as the two minute drill begins.

Harriet Klausner

Jaci Burton's covers for her Play by Play series, hands down are the best out there. I'm a sucker for a hot man titty cover and Playing to Win, book 4 in the Play by Play series has me seriously drooling. I don't know why, but I haven't read the first 3 books in this series. I should really go back and read them all because I really enjoyed Playing to Win. Each book has a hero involved in a professional sport and the hero of this one is Cole Riley, a recent acquisition for football team, The Traders. Cole is an excellent player, but he has a big problem with the media. He can't stand reporters and the paparazzi and loses his temper around them. Because of this, his coach and the powers at be at The Traders wants Cole to reinvent himself. He needs an image consultant ASAP and that's where Savannah Brooks comes in. She'll reinvent Cole to become a media darling even though Cole is dead set against it. Cole thinks his skill as a football player will save him, but he's in for a surprise because that's not good enough. If he doesn't change and listen to Savannah he may lose his job.

Savannah knows she has her work cut out for her. It's not that Cole is a bad guy at all. He's actually quite sweet, hardworking and dedicated. He might be a bit of a player with the ladies and enjoys partying too much during the off season, but she feels she can transform Cole into something better. She notices right away he distances himself from his co-workers and doesn't have any close friends, except when it comes to his family.

At first Cole and Savannah get off to a rocky start but he comes to accept Savannah's help and allows her to make him over because he's also attracted to her and would like to act on that attraction although she tries her best to keep him at arm's length. But Cole breaks down her defenses and she gives in. The professional relationship between these two soon becomes a hot and heavy affair and Cole is falling for Savannah hard. Savannah starts to care for Cole also but her past make her careful about not for handing her entire heart to Cole to his dismay.

Playing to Win is an enjoyable contemporary romances. If you're a fan of Rachel Gibson's and Jill Shalvis's sport romances but want a bit more steam with what you're reading, you'll love Playing to Win. Cole stole my heart from the moment I met him. He's really a gentleman underneath his at times standoffish behavior. He has a slight anger management issue, but nothing too drastic, and he's very charming when he relaxes and enjoys himself. He has great chemistry with Savannah and these two really heat up the sheets well, especially when they use naughty and spicy language together during their lovemaking.

Both have some emotional and psychological issues that are more glazed over if anything. I couldn't understand why Cole was remote at times with people. Nothing from his past indicates why he should act in such a manner, unlike Savannah. When her past is revealed, it somewhat fell flat for me because it didn't really bring any emotional meat to the story because the relationship between her and Cole had already been established. I felt it was better to have left this out because in the end my enjoyment was seeing how well Cole and Savannah mesh and connect.

Playing to Win was a tasty and sweet read for me with a nice touch of spicy sexiness set in the world of sports. I look forward to the next book in this series and for more delicious Jaci Burton heroes that any female reader can sigh over.

Katiebabs

Another great one in the Play by Play series. This is Cole and Savannah's story. Once you start you just can't put it down until the last page has been turned. Jaci Burton really knows how to get one's attention. Love her books and love those hot bodies on the covers!

I loved the hot & steamy scenes. I loved Cole & Savannah as a couple. I loved Cole he made me laugh. I felt sorry for Savannah. I loved how Cole & Savannah helped each other. I loved the scene between Cole & Alicia. I am so happy for Mick & Tara. I am so happy for Gavin & Liz. I loved the whole Riley family. This was the best series I read since the Chase Brothers. I can't wait until Alicia story comes out.