Changing the Game (Play-By-Play, #2)

by Jaci Burton

An erotic new game from the New York Times bestselling author of The Perfect Play.

Sports agent Liz Darnell will do anything to win back her number-one client, baseball pro Gavin Riley. And Gavin's more than ready- especially when Liz is offering herself as part of the bargain. But when love unexpectedly enters the playing field, neither Liz nor Gavin are ready for the biggest game-changer of all.

• ISBN10: 0425242404
• ISBN13: 9780425242407
• Publish Date: 2 August 2011 (first published 1 August 2011)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Penguin USA
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 320
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780425242407

Reviews

[Rowena]

Changing the Game is the second book in Jaci Burton’s Play by Play series and it features Gavin Riley, the hero of the first books brother. Gavin’s heroine is the villain from the first book and I didn’t know how I’d come around where Liz was concerned, knowing what she did to Mick, Tara and Nathan in The Perfect Play but Burton did a great job of redeeming her character in my eyes.

What surprised me was how much I wanted to knee Mick in the balls in this book. We really see him in the eyes of his brother and he was annoying as hell but alls well that ends well because in the end, he turns back into the man everyone loves.

Gavin Riley plays professional baseball in St. Louis and loves his life. He loves the freedom he has to be with whoever he wants, he spends his days training for or playing his favorite sport in the world and his life comes with a lot of perks. He knows that he shouldn’t be attracted to his agent, after the hell she put his brother and family through but he can’t help it. She creeps into his thoughts and he wants her. When she starts avoiding him, Gavin finds the right opportunity to clear the air between them…and maybe dirty up his sheets.

Liz Darnell has been in love with Gavin for years but he’ll never know that. She’s worked really hard at keeping her feelings for her client at bay and now that she royally screwed up with his brother (and her #1 client), she is waiting for Gavin to drop her as an agent just like Mick did. When Gavin corners her for a meeting and then that meeting turns into spending time together knocking boots, Liz is equal parts thrilled and scared to death because what is she going to do when he’s had his fill of her and moves on?

Watching the sparks fly between Gavin and Liz was fun. This wasn’t one of those books where there is major angst and so many things are happening at the same time that the main couple is falling in love. No, this book was simple romance where the story hinged on the reader connecting with the characters and for me, it totally worked. I wanted to read a baseball romance after being completely obsessed with the World Series and a pretty remarkable season from my Dodgers and this book really fit the bill.

Gavin was such a normal younger brother. Not wanting to live in his brother’s spotlight but wanting to shine on his own. I really enjoyed getting to know him and seeing him connect with Liz. I also really enjoyed seeing his own connection with his family. The Rileys were family goals and I loved seeing them again. Don’t get me wrong, there were times when I was right there with his parents and wanted to strangle him for being such a dumbass but he gets it right in the end and Liz’s love for him was strong and I was happy that he was able to make things right with her before it was too late.

Liz was such a strong heroine and getting to know her was great. She was remorseful for her actions in the trouble with Mick and his family and I loved that she learned her lesson and wanted to make things right for everyone involved. She was a damn grown up and handled everything that came her way the same way that I hope I would and I just admired the hell out of her when all was said and done. She was a good person, inside and out and she worked hard and loved deep and I was so happy when she finally got her happy ending because I truly thought she deserved it.

Overall, Burton did a great job of writing Gavin and Liz’s story and I’m low key mad at myself for waiting so long to read this book. It’s a good one and I definitely recommend it if you’re in the mood for a contemporary with a strong romance and a great secondary cast. This will hit you in the feels, I promise.

Grade: 4 out of 5

[Sam@WLABB]

I must say, this series does get better and better with each book. I read book 1, and then listened to book 3, and now I was able to get the audiobook of Changing the Game. I was able to see Burton's stories getting better and better. Again, I am impressed with how much story Burton gets in-between all the sex scenes. I am not an erotica fan, but I this leans more erotic romance, giving me the hot and an actual story. After 3 books, I have grown quite fond the Riley clan. I did find Mick SOOOO annoying in this book, but then again, so did all the characters; therefore, we will assume that was the goal. I loved those glimpses into Liz's past, and also, getting to see her in action mode. Lots of fun, lots of heat, and lots of romance.

[Cocktails and Books]

WHEW! This was a HOT one!!!!

Did everyone read The Perfect Play? No? Run out and get it! You'll want to meet the Riley clan before you get to this one! While Gavin and Liz will make complete sense....the underlying tension between Liz and certain members of the Riley family will not.

Liz Darnell is still, months later, paying for the colossal mistake she made with Mick Riley. So gun shy about losing her most important client, Mick's brother Gavin, she's shied away from him. Not that he's noticed. She's been in love with the man for five years and he's never noticed, so why should this time be any different.

Gavin knew that Liz was still reeling from the loss of his brother as a client, but he couldn't figure out why she was avoiding him. He decides he's had enough and decides to confront her. Under the guise of "needing to talk", Gavin drags Liz back to his place in Florida after a banquet. What was meant to clear the air turned into something much different. One spark of a challenge from Liz and Gavin was all over her and she him. He wasn't sure where any of this was coming from, but he wasn't going to argue with hot sex.

And so with the understanding that they were just "seeing where this goes" during Spring Training, Gavin and Liz embark on a relationship, but neither of them expected anything to come from the sex they were having. Liz continued to keep her true feelings to herself and Gavin continued on his oblivious way. But somewhere along the way, Liz started to matter to Gavin and she felt herself losing more and more of her heart to him.

Of course, the Riley clan figures heavily in the story. Mick is pissed that Gavin and Liz are in a relationship and takes every chance he can get in telling Gavin he's making a huge mistake. While Gavin gets pissed and ignores Mick, he never defends Liz...even when the remarks are made directly to her while he stood there watching.

Neither Liz nor Gavin stepped up in their relationship. They either think the worse of each other or refuse to listen when someone is trying to be honest with them. Both of them realized, almost too late, that they both needed to communicate and listen.

While I'm not a baseball fan (I love, love, love football and hockey), I could learn to appreciate the sport if there was someone like Gavin lurking in the wings. Of course, he'd have to play baseball in worn out jeans and no shirt, but I'd be right there cheering him along!

Can't wait for Taking a Shot (Jenna and Ty's book. He's a hockey player ;-) ).

4.5 Cocktails