Game for Trouble

By: Karen Erickson

Narrated by: Holly B. Goe, Douglas Berger

Length: 5 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

He'll play dirty to get what he wants....

Willow Cavanaugh would be happy if she never saw cocky football star Nick Hamilton again. Sure, their fling was the hottest she'd had, but he's way too much of a playboy to settle down with one woman. Plus, she's got her heart set on a piece of real estate for her catering business - and Nick owns that property. Nick may be at the top of his game, but all he wants is a second chance with Willow. When he offers to sell her his commercial space if she agrees to a series of dates with him, their chemistry is so scintillating that jumping back into bed seems like an inevitability. But Willow's decided all's fair in sex and blackmail. Little does she know, Nick's playing to win - and she's the prize.

He'll play dirty to get what he wants....

Willow Cavanaugh would be happy if she never saw cocky football star Nick Hamilton again. Sure, their fling was the hottest she'd had, but he's way too much of a playboy to settle down with one woman. Plus, she's got her heart set on a piece of real estate for her catering business - and Nick owns that property. Nick may be at the top of his game, but all he wants is a second chance with Willow. When he offers to sell her his commercial space if she agrees to a series of dates with him, their chemistry is so scintillating that jumping back into bed seems like an inevitability. But Willow's decided all's fair in sex and blackmail. Little does she know, Nick's playing to win - and she's the prize.

©2013 Karen Erickson (P)2014 Audible Inc.

A Little Blackmail Never Hurt Anyone

Game for Trouble is the perfect title for Willow and Nick’s book because when they reconnect after Nick left her when they were younger, he causes nothing but distress for her by blackmailing himself back into her life and forcing her to go on 8 dates with him in order to get the building that she needs for her burgeoning business. But the true concern in their relationship is that both Willow and Nick feel too much for each other and the reasons why Nick left all those years ago is something that might destroy any progress he makes with her, if she ever does truly allow him back into her life and her bed.

I can’t blame Willow for her fears and frustrations at the game she thinks Nick’s playing with her. Her feelings for him are intense and the hurt she felt after he broke her heart is not something she can easily get past. She agrees to Nick’s proposition because she’s desperate for the space for her catering company, but she refuses to allow him back into her heart…but he definitely knows how to wear Willow down.

Nick may be a superstar football player, but he’s over the kind of lifestyle that comes with it; he wants Willow back and regrets how things played out with her but he also knew he never had a chance to make it work back then but he sure as hell plans to take what he wants now, even if it means playing dirty and forcing himself on the stubborn woman he wants.

The banter between Willow and Nick throughout the text illustrates how much they’re into each other as well as how easily they get on each other’s nerves. They both seem to overanalyze everything, especially Willow, but it’s hard to let go of the hurt from their past relationship. Getting both of their POVs allows readers to truly understand what’s going through their heads as they try to cautiously move forward and get what they want. The issues between them are never truly discussed until close to the end of the story, which creates quite a bit of angst throughout the text and has both Willow and Nick questioning everything about their relationship.

Game For Trouble is a sexy, quick second chance love story that is definitely worth the read.

Audio Insight

I love listening to books that use both the male/female perspective. It adds to the depth of understanding for me as the listener because it allows both characters to be represented and clearly characterized throughout the reading. Both narrators in Game For Trouble embody their characters’ emotions and jumbled up brains extremely well, which makes the text an enjoyable audio experience.

A complimentary audio copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

4 poison apples (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)

Nick is some trouble I'd like to get into!!!

A sweet, sexy, second chance romance! Willow and Nick are great together! They spent a steamy hot, passionate summer together when they were younger, but Nick ends up breaking her heart saying it's not going to work between them and leaves. 6 years later, Nick is back and willing to do anything to get Willow back including blackmail! Willow is guarded and wants nothing to do with Nick after he broke her heart but for her to get her business up and running, she has to make a deal with Nick in order to lease the space he owns. He doesn't play fair and their attitudes clash together igniting sparks even hotter then before but will Nick have what it takes to win Willow's heart?

4.5 Finding Love Again Stars

If you could sum up Game for Trouble in three words, what would they be?

Sweet, Short and Easy

What other book might you compare Game for Trouble to and why?

Any light book with a finding love again story-line. Some example authors are: Jackie Barbosa, Amanda Usen, Gina Gordon, Nina Croft, Seleste deLaney

Which scene was your favorite?

I liked when Nick propositions Willow. I loved how he used the dates to get Willow back. It was really cute.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I think Game for Trouble was just all-around sweet and entertaining. I liked this one a bit more than Game for Marriage. I really enjoyed the dual POV’s and I loved the banter between Nick and Willow.

Any additional comments?

Full Review:

4 Finding Love Again Stars

Game for Trouble is a standalone and is the second book in the Game for It series.
This is Willow and Nick’s story.

Nick and Willow dated a long time ago. It was a fairy tale romance. They were both young and carefree. Willow was a teenager and was so in love with Nick. She comes from a wealthy family and wanted to be with Nick. One day Nick breaks it off from Willow and never looked back.

Years later, Willow is trying to make it on her own, without her father’s connects. She needs prime rental space for her business. Nick owns the building. He’s willing to give Willow a discount if she agrees to his terms.

Nick wants 8 dates with Willow. If Willow agrees to the 8 dates then she can get the rental space for her business. Nick wants Willow back. He knows Willow will never give him a second chance, so he wants to use the dates to change her mind.
Willow agrees to the proposition.

Don’t you love the story-line?! I love long-lost love, finding-each-other-again, kind of storylines. I love the banter between Willow and Nick. I loved that Willow doesn’t want anything to do with Nick. I agree with Willow because Nick BROKE her heart. She cares for him still, but there’s a lot of pain.

We don’t know the reason why Nick breaks it off with Willow but he regrets it big time. Now, he’s successful and can have anything he wants, including women, but the one he wants doesn’t want him. Nick is pulling all the stops in wooing Willow.

I liked how Nick goes after Willow. I liked how he still has lingering feelings and feels remorseful on how everything ended. Willow tries hard to push Nick away, but of course Nick makes it hard. Slowly secrets are revealed and it creates a little angst.

It’s an overall, sweet, short and easy read. If you are a fan of the series you will not be disappointed.

AUDIO

This is my second audio book in the series. I LOVED the change in this one. This one is written from both POV and I LOVE listening to male narrators. I feel like it gave a little more something to the story. Nick’s POV rounded everything together and it just made the story so much more. I loved the female narrator. I found her voice young, sweet and a little sassy. I think the male and female voice narrators were the perfect paring.

A copy was kindly provided.