Tuesday, 1 March 2016

Blog Stop & Review: Play To Win by Tiffany Snow


The final book in the Risky Business series. 

Who will Sage choose?


Series: The Risky Business Trilogy
Genres: Romantic Suspense, Thriller
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
Publication Date: February 23, 2016


PLAY FAIR . . . OR PLAY TO WIN?

Falling in love with polar-opposite men was an intoxicating ride that nearly ended Sage Reese's life. Now it's time for Sage to decide: Parker, the clean-cut, filthy-rich business magnate . . . or Ryker, the tough-as-nails undercover detective. Her choice? Neither. Because she can't stand the thought of coming between two brothers-in-arms finally trying to repair their friendship.


There might be better ways to wake up than sandwiched between two half-naked men, but if there was, I couldn’t imagine what it would be.
Early morning light filtered through the window blinds as I blinked a few times and debated whether I wanted to move.
We were sleeping spoon-style, all three of us, my front pressed against Ryker’s back with Parker cradling me from behind, his arm slung over my waist. It was warm and cozy and I felt like I never wanted to move.
They were both here, whole and safe. Ryker’s chest rose and fell steadily and I could feel Parker’s breath stir my hair. The terror from my nightmare seemed a world away. I felt safe with both of them looming over me in the bed, and I memorized the feeling. I’d felt unsafe too often lately.
God, what day was it? I’d lost track with all that had happened. It wasn’t like I had to get up for work. Last I’d checked, I was unemployed, thanks to telling my boss—the man currently spooning me— that I’d quit.
Not that I’d had much of a choice. Once you sleep with your boss and tell him you love him, that’s pretty much a Point of No Return right there. Or maybe that point had been when I’d dated (and yes, slept with) his arch frenemy—the man I was currently spooning.
Being hunted by Russian mafia bosses and hit men would turn any girl’s life into a soap opera, right?
Right.
I frowned, not wanting to think about the current disastrous state of my life. At this moment in time, everything was perfect, and I didn’t want to face reality. Not yet.
Unfortunately, reality didn’t feel the same way about me, because no sooner had I thought that than Parker’s arm tightened around me. He snuggled closer, close enough for me to feel that his body was most assuredly not undergoing any lasting side effects from Viktor’s torture, but was most wholeheartedly embracing the morning.
Okay, so I was a red-blooded woman who’d maybe read one too many romance novels, but the thoughts that flashed through my head weren’t of a high standard at that moment. I cursed ethics and morals and all those things that kept me from pressing my lips to Ryker’s naked back and pushing my hips back into Parker’s.
Oh, for a bottle of tequila and an inadequate respect for propriety…
As though he’d heard my thoughts, Ryker stirred, turning onto his back. My hand fluttered for a moment, then settled softly on his chest. His dog tags were tangled about his neck and my gaze wandered over his chest and ab muscles to the white bandage covering the burn.
I thought I should probably get up before I did something colossally stupid. It seemed my hormones wanted to celebrate the fact that we were all alive and well, an urge I heartily seconded but one which I doubted the men would appreciate very much.
Squirming a little, I tried to ease out of the smidge of space I was wedged into without waking either of them.
If you leave me in bed alone with another man, I’ll have to fire you.”
Parker’s murmured words in my ear made me smile in spite of myself.
You can’t fire me. I already quit, remember?”
Yes, but I was hoping you didn’t.”
So much for wishing this didn’t really happen,” Ryker interrupted, cracking his eyes open and slanting a look at me.
Pretend it’s the zombie apocalypse,” I suggested. “We’re huddling for warmth and survival.”
His lips twitched. Then his gaze fell to where Parker’s arm was around me, and even that tiny smile faded entirely.
Yep. Time to cut this short, since it looked like I was the only one already composing a letter to Penthouse Forum in my head.



After reading Playing Dirty, I was undecided as to who Sage would choose. I really like both Parker and Ryker and could imagine her happy with either man. Despite being left heartbroken after Tiffany's last love triangle, I was cautious to form an attachment to either Parker or Ryker and surprised that one guy didn't outshine the other to compete for my affection in this series. In addition, there's the hunch I've had since before the Risky Business series started about which way the series would go, so I've read each book without my gut-feeling clouding my opinion.

It's decision time for Miss Reece, so who will she choose?
To begin with, Sage decides she doesn't want either Parker or Ryker. She hopes the former best friends can rebuild their broken friendship and doesn't want her personal relationship with either guy to hinder any reconciliation. But, best-laid plans somehow manage to become unstuck:

"Ryker had said he wasn't giving up on me, and Parker had told me he loved me."

It quickly became apparent only one guy is in the running to capture Sage's heart and I was a little disappointed that there was no big drama attached to the love triangle. The protagonists all acted like mature adults...no tug-of-war, no big fight or nastiness! I was prepared for heartbreak and tears, but there were none. The pages kept turning as the plot is fast paced and littered with twists...some I foresaw, some I didn't. The writing is impeccable; sexy, suspenseful with fun and humorous dialogue- Classic Tiffany Snow.

Who got the Happy Ever After with Sage? That would be telling but to reassure those that like all threads tied up in a neat bow; both Parker and Ryker are happy...and Sage!

I'm pleased to say my hunch was correct too– yay!

4 stars

***arc generously received courtesy of Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley 




Tiffany attended the University of Missouri – Columbia, attaining two degrees in History and Social Studies Education. After working many years as an instructor and consultant in the Information Technology field, Tiffany now writes full-time.

Tiffany loves to read and has been reading romance novels since she was way too young to read such things. She has an unhealthy obsession for all things Doctor Who, prefers Pepsi to Coke and Absolut to both, thinks men who drink girly cocktails are wusses, has learned to never stop believing in her beloved St. Louis Cardinals, and can recite the entire scripts of When Harry Met Sally and Apollo 13. George Washington is cool, Bon Jovi still rocks the house, and Bruce Willis is the ultimate alpha-male hero.

Married with two wonderful daughters, Tiffany and her family make their home in Kansas City, Missouri, not far from where she was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri.




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