Nadia Aiden
ISBN #: 978-1-419-93158-1
Publisher Name: Ellora’s Cave – Taboo Line
Date Released: February 2011
Genre: Erotic Romance/BDSM
Book Format: eBook
Web Link: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9095-play-by-play.aspx

BACK COVER BLURB:

Katherine Higgins is the no-nonsense owner of trendy Las Vegas casino Taboo, and she has a secret. Every night her fantasies are filled with visions of her bodyguard dominating her. Seth Kyoto is Katherine’s no-nonsense bodyguard, and he too has a secret—every night his fantasies are filled with visions of his boss submitting to him.

From the moment Katherine hired Seth, their strong personalities clashed. Underneath their mutual animosity is a simmering attraction neither wants to acknowledge, but they can no longer ignore. And when someone threatens Katherine’s life, Seth is forced to stay close to her, closer than either is comfortable with. While they’re stuck together, two secrets will be revealed and every one of their fantasies fulfilled.

But they each hold one last secret that, if it comes to light, could ultimately tear them apart.

COVER SNARK:

I normally hate Ellora’s Cave covers. I love this one. I think it is because I am so excited to see a sexy non-white on the cover an erotic romance novel, although the heroine from the book description is supposed to be bi-racial (half black). It could just be me, but for this cover, I got a middle eastern, Asian feel.

FIRST LINES:

Katherine took her private elevator down three floors to Joshua’s office, where the hotel security department was located. She figured Seth would be on the ground level talking to the security personnel before he headed home for the day.

However, no matter how much I enjoyed PLAY BY PLAY, it was too simple for me. I wished for more character development and for more angst in their boss/subordinate relationship both in the workplace and in the bedroom (Katherine owns a casino and Seth is her head of security. So she’s the boss at work and he’s the boss in the bedroom). While I enjoyed that Katherine wasn’t the doormat that you usually see in submissive relationships, my happiness was curtailed by wishing for more emotional context in exploring Katherine entering into a submissive relationship with a man who works for her. The emotional turmoil of that was not touched on and it disappointed me.

I also wished for more heat in the bedroom. I’ve read several BDSM novels and I have to say that this is BDSM light. If you’re interested in reading a BDSM novel but was too scared, PLAY BY PLAY would be the perfect novel to get your feet wet. Actually, I find it kind a hard labeling this a BDSM novel except for the hero claiming that he’s a Dom.

Plot wise, I loved that Katherine owned a casino and that she was a take charge type of woman. However, I expected a little more with the stalker plot line. It’s one of my pet peeves when the heroine does something stupid (e.g., running off by themselves when they know someone is stalking them) just for the author to advance the plot. I didn’t see a strong, intelligent woman like Katherine being so stupid. I was also disappointed at how that plot line was resolved. I expected a little more depth.

Overall, PLAY BY PLAY was a light breezy read. If you want something quick and light this would be it.

WHERE PURCHASED:
Received copy from Publisher for review.

RATING: