The Player

By: J. R. Ward

Narrated by: Emily Beresford

Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

Ruthless might as well be Gray Bennett’s middle name. When the renowned Washington, D.C. insider talks, powerful people listen. But Gray hasn’t come home to Saranac Lake to play politics. Or play at all. A tragedy has shaken the unshakable Gray Bennett to his hardened core.

And so has the most unlikely of women.

The mousy redhead who used to run around the Moorehouse B and B - the one he never noticed - is now all fiery hair and lush curves. But sweet Joy Moorehouse is too innocent for a cynic like him. So Gray won’t let himself lay a hand on her…until the night he can no longer resist the woman she has become. That’s when he discovers a secret that leaves him gasping for breath - and wanting more.

©2012 J. R. Ward (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“[A] sumptuous mix of danger and romance.” ( Booklist on Crave)

Good story

Most of the other reviews seem to have been written over a year ago so maybe that's why I ran into no issues with the audio book switching stories in the middle of the recording.

I enjoyed this story but felt the narrarator was a little inexperienced. Her male voices are pretty good but every sentence seemed to be spoken with an exclamation mark after it. She seemed more relaxed with the 2nd half of the book.
All in all worth the money I spent.

I love the author, but this narrator is terrible!

Would you try another book from J. R. Ward and/or Emily Beresford?

I don't know if I would have loved this book, but I just could NOT listen to this narrator! Her voice is absolutely horrendous, her speech is slow, her enunciation overly drawn out, and it is all done with a monotone delivery that made me lose interest in listening in the first five minutes! I have listened to every book available from J.R. Ward, and have thoroughly enjoyed all of them. Several I have listened to more than once, because they were so entertaining. I know l will continue to buy this author, because I truly enjoy her writing style, and her ability to draw you into another world with her descriptive narratives, but as for this book, I may have to buy a printed copy and read it myself.I feel if I could return this book and get my credit back, I would.

book is to my opinion unfinished

Would you be willing to try another one of Emily Beresford’s performances?

emily beresford's performance is okay shame about the book

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

the book starts well but ends leaving the listener feeling cheated that there is more but the author could not be bothered end it right.

Any additional comments?

not worth buying even the though it starts promising it ends suddenly

Waste a credit on this let along pay for it

What would have made The Player better?

A better storey line and People that I felt something for.

Would you ever listen to anything by J.R. Ward again?

I love J.R ward and have read every thing she has done, but was really let down by this book

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Fine

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Boredom indifferent

DO NOT ORDER

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

First would need to hear complete book to determine any star ...incomplete it's a zero

How could the performance have been better?

A complete book ... though reader could also be improved

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

W/o a complete book, cannot say

Any additional comments?

Audible has only supplied 2/3 of the book then suddenly switches to another book. You are left hanging after listening to what might be a good book .... why wasn't this found before listing it...why hasn't it been taken off yet. All purchasers should get money back plus book credits

it is quite disconcerting as well as a waste of time to listen, get involved then suddenly hear an entirely different story and wonder what happened .... going back and forth trying to find the original book continuation.

I am extremely disappointed with Audible...very poor quality and customer service!!!!! I called and they were willing to refund purchase but said couldn't do anything else. Don'the t they realize aggravation in listening to part of a book then be left hanging. Finally plus question on how this happened, I was given a small $ credit but IMO anyone who bought this book in good faith and went thru the aggravation plus wasted time searching should get at least a free credit ..actually even two ... Believe me, it was very disturbing listening to a book while sick so as to occupy mind and wham...story disappears and I'm going back and forth trying to find the story with no luck

Well Audible, are you going to take this book off list and give fairer compensation to customers who were so put out?????

The Player NO!

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

OMG! It as very cliche and the ending made me wanna throw my phone across the room!

Has The Player turned you off from other books in this genre?

no

What aspect of Emily Beresford’s performance would you have changed?

nothing. She was ok

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Player?

the ending!!!!

Two different stories combined in 2nd part

What would have made The Player better?

Please re-do the 2nd part of The Player. In the middle of the 2nd part, the story abruptly stops and continues with part of Susan Mallory's latest book which was posted on the same date.

2 separate stories/narrators in Pt. 2 - MISTAKE!

I love JR Ward, and was enjoying this story when Chapter 7 on Part Two ended - and Chapter 8 began with a different narrator, different characters, time period, story, etc. The rest of Part Two is obviously been mistakenly combined with another story. I have called, and the call center indicated it will be corrected - I hope soon, and I would like to download the correct part or get my money back. Would really like to see how the story ends, though.
That being said, if you like the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, be warned that this is a comtemporary romance, not at all like the BDB series.

DRAB !!

Would you try another book from J. R. Ward and/or Emily Beresford?

I have listened to many JRW books but this one was sorely lacking. No UMPH, No PIZZAZ, Nothing to get the heart pounding, the blood rushing or the chilly bumps raising, As far as EB's narration, well, I think she really tried, did ok and I don't know how many books she has narrated but maybe she'll get more emphasis in her voice and get better at her male voices with more practice.

What was most disappointing about J. R. Ward’s story?

It was just overall DRAB.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Emily Beresford?

Not sure, but I am beginning to believe that after having listened to many, many, many of Brilliance Audio's audio versions of some pretty good books that they don't know how to match narrator with author & story and are doing authors a disservice by their lack.

You can't finish it - part two isn't there!

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Part two isn't there so I do not know!

What was most disappointing about J. R. Ward’s story?

Part two is not there!

How could the performance have been better?

Part two could have been included!