Changing the Game (Play-by-Play Series #2)

One of the Best Romances of 2011!

Gavin is a sexy playboy baseball player at the top of his game. He loves pretty much everything about his life. He loves playing baseball. And would actually play for free if he had to just to be a part of a game he loves. That is the thing about Gavin that is so endearing, when he loves, he loves deeply and passionately. He loves his family, he loves his career, and he loves his life. He's carefree and fun loving..in the way that only a person who is comfortable with himself can truly be, yet he's also determined, focused, and committed.

Liz is just as driven as Gavin is, but for very different reasons. She's a big player in the world of sports agents but unlike Gavin where everything comes naturally for him, like he's blessed by the Gods or something, Liz has had to fight to prove to her colleagues in her male dominated profession that she deserves to be there. She's professional and is often referred to as a "shark" because of her aggressive and ruthless representation of her clients. People see her as cold hearted, and in case of Gavin's brother Mick, a manipulative b*@ch who is willing to stop at nothing to line her pockets at anyone's expense. And while Liz has her faults, deep down she is a woman who has a desperate need for control and independence. She is a person who is always on the outside looking in, who is in love with a man who sees her as a predator, colleague and friend.and she is lost. She's lost her way in her life because of her dogged pursuit of success, and fears that giving in to the love that she feels for Gavin will ultimately mean losing control of her life...and losing control is not an option for Liz.

One of the things that I loved most about Changing the Game was the characters. They are rich and multidimensional. And not only Liz and Gavin, but also all of Gavin's family members. Ms. Burton's writing style makes you feel like you are a part of the Riley family in all of it's loving, meddling, touching ways. But I most especially loved Liz and Gavin and their struggles to eventually admit their love to each other. It is not an easy path for them. Liz has to learn to trust in love, and that love can be caring, as well as allowing her the freedom to be who she wants to be..and trust me when I say this is unbelievably hard for her for many reasons. One of which is Gavin himself. And Gavin, God love him, he is such a guy, but a really really good one who struggles with his feelings for Liz and their complicated relationship, which is an anomaly for him since everything usually, comes so easily and naturally. This was an emotional read for me and my heart really went out to Liz, which I know may surprise some of you who got to know her character in The Perfect Play. I have to say that Ms. Burton truly made a heroine out of a difficult character to sympathize with and that is no easy feat.

Jaci Burton definitely brings the heat in this steamy, seductive, and emotionally stirring romance. Simply put, I LOVED it! In fact I think it is the best Contemporary Erotic Romance I've read this year. And for those of you who are wary about a romance revolving around sports, I urge you to give Changing the Game a try because in my opinion the sports aspect plays a very small part in the story compared to the personal and emotional journeys Gavin and Liz take.

Ratings:
Overall: 4.75
Sensuality level: 4.50

12 out of 12 people found this review helpful.

Good summer ready by the pool

It was a good romance book with hot characters

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Wow

I love Jaci Burton's books and this one was a homerun!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

You don't want to miss this, believe me!

And she has done it again. Jaci Burton, I mean. Don't ask me how but at the end of the first book Elizabeth Darnell was top of my list "Despicable and horrible people" and believe me, she had earned that place. How was Jaci Burton going to transform her into the heroine of her second book?!?!?! I couldn't believe she was going to be able to... But she did it, oh boy she did it.

The last thing we knew about Elizabeth Darnell was that she was fired by Mick Riley (main character of the first book) after she used her girlfriend's son, Nathan, to promote him in a really cruel way. So yes, I was happy when he fired her.
But she didn't lose a client, she lost one of her best friends and his family that had been like a family for her during years... especially Gavin, Mick's little brother and her secret crush for at least 4 years.
And what did she do when Mick fired her? The only thing her mind could think of: give Gavin a kiss before he fired her following his brother's steps. And this is were everything begins because after that kiss Gavin's POV about Liz changed completely. During years she was nothing but his manager, tossing beautiful women to his arms and promoting him like no one else could but after she kissed him he saw her as a woman for the first time.

Even Gavin had to admit, despite the fact that Liz was bossy, stubborn, impertinent and... well, herself, she was also a gorgeous and sexy woman. And that woman was hiding from him afraid of losing another client. What could he do is she was avoiding him at all cost and not returning his calls?!

Obviously he had to catch her with her guard down and seduce her until she would scream for him to take her.

But it wasn't going to be that easy since what began like a "not strings attached" thing developed into something they didn't understand: a relationship. And with a family tragedy coming their way they had to take the decision really soon...

In a personal note: if you are looking for a sexy, funny, amazing and HOT read this is your book. Well, the first book in the series is amazing too so, why don't you buy both of them? Seriously guys, you are going to love them. The covers are to die for, the characters are well developed and you will want to read the third book (coming out next year). Why? Because is about Jenna, Mick and Gavin's little sister, and Tyler Anderson, one heck of a sexy and hot hockey player... *already daydreaming about him*

Don't forget to prepare the fan, ladies, because just like the first one this book is going to make you sweat, trust me ;)

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Great Read!

I really enjoyed this book too. I look forward to reading the 3rd in the series.

highly recommend

great continuation of the play by play series

Exceptional. There is nothing about this story that I didn't lo

Exceptional.
There is nothing about this story that I didn't love.

Love this book!

Great story. Very very sexy

I gave all the other books in this series 5 stars. I could only

I gave all the other books in this series 5 stars. I could only muster up 4 for this one. Something was missing. It started out as sex and then the story just got eaten up with all the sex. Dont get me wrong I read these books first for a good story line second for the great steamy scenes. This story just got a bit lost. This series is a must read because of the realness and great story, believe it or not and the family values, which is why the third is a knock it out of the park for me. Loved it. So keep bringing them and I will keep reading them.

Read it.

I'm going to keep this simple. Good story (helps if you read the 1st book for character backrounds), great sex scenes and a fun read.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Nice

Nice and a some sexy charecters too

Best book I've read in a long time!!!!

This book made you laugh, cry and sigh at the same time. Glad to finally read a book where all of the main characters were flawed and had insecurities that we could all relate too. The only downside to this trilogy is that they didn't have more siblings to write about.

THE COVER SAYS IT ALL

BUT THE STORY GIVES YA MORE...

Fabulous!

This is an amazing book, Book 2 in the series. I can't deciede whether I like the first one or this one. I cant wait for Jenna's story in Book 3 in March 2012. I wasn't a fan of Liz in Playing The Game, but I loved her in this one and didn't too much care for Mick! Would greatly recommend this series! I'll definalely be reading them again.

Loved it

Loved it! Can't wait for more from Jaci Burton.

WOW!

First book from Jaci Burton and I can assure you that it won't be the last! Waiting for the third one next year !

LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!

Absolutely loved it!!!! This series is sooooo good!!! The characters are wonderful and the scenes are steamy!! Definitely a must read!!! Can't wait for book 3 in the series!!!

Loved It!

They say women can be catty!.....Brother dearest! Enjoyed the steamy romance.

Second Book is Better

Just finished Changing the Game and enjoyed it more than the first book of the series. Only about half as many "f" words and it improved the story a lot from my point of view. I found the emphasis on sports managing very interesting and admired Liz as a person very much. It is always refreshing to see someone rise from ordinary or less and become a player on the big stage. Loved the family dynamics in this sports driven family. A beautiful love story woven into a complicated real world and I think anyone interested in sports (especially baseball) would enjoy this book a lot. My second book by Jaci Burton and I will absolutely read the third book in the series when it is available. For sports enthusiasts check out the wonderful books by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Her Chicago Stars series (football) is fantastic.

A super sexy addition to the Play-by-Play series

Last year, The Perfect Play was exactly the kind of book I needed to read at exactly the right moment. When I discovered Changing the Game featured Elizabeth "Liz" Darnell, the antagonist of The Perfect Play, I was very skeptical on how Ms. Burton could redeem Liz.

Oh ye of little faith.

Ms. Burton does an excellent job making Liz Darnell human, feminine, and most importantly, apologetic (sometimes beyond the necessary realm of apologies).

We learn a lot about what makes Liz tick, how she's been in love with Gavin for years, though she hotly denies it when confronted, and how devoted she is to operating a successful agency. An evening that starts out as sex only quickly escalates into something more between Gavin and Liz, but Gavin's brother and Liz's former client Mick is always around to cast a negative shadow on the situation.

Changing the Game is a book about mistakes and how one makes amends after said mistakes. Neither Liz nor Gavin are perfect -- we learned Liz's big mistake in The Perfect Play and Gavin makes one here -- but they are most certainly human and completely in love with one another. Changing the Game is a super sexy addition to the Play-by-Play series with more at its heart than just a romance.