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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