Playing for Love at Deep Haven

By: Katy Regnery

Narrated by: Megan Solesski

Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

She was the girl. The only girl. The only girl I ever wanted. The only girl I ever loved. The only girl I could ever love.

And I killed it .I destroyed it. I threw her love away.

For nine years, I've kept the memory of her locked in the deepest corner of my heart...all the while hating myself for what I did to her. To us.

Now, without warning, she's walked back into my life.

I'm covered in tats. She's covered in Polo. I write heavy metal songs. She writes chick-lit. My eyes are angry. Her eyes are sad.

I still long for her with every fiber of my being. But I have no idea if she feels the same.

I guess it's time to find out.

Playing for Love at Deep Haven is a standalone novel.

©2013 Katharine Gilliam Regnery (P)2015 Katharine Gilliam Regnery

Seriously angsty

I really liked the idea and description but the emotions through the story were so full of angst and lacking in humor it was a little hard to swallow.

BEAUTIFUL & BREATHTAKING SCENES OF SECOND CHANCES

Violet and Zach were College sweethearts, they were devoted friends, inseparable and their souls connected on a deep level. But, after one night of bliss when they took each other's virginities, one of them would be left heartbroken and one of them would walk away.... splitting them up for 9 long years.

They both moved on - Violet, a Poet at heart, became an Author and Zack became a pierced and tattooed Rock Songwriter and Musician - they are each under the pressures of deadlines which is when fate steps in and brings them both to Deep Haven where destiny takes over. They're shocked at finding they've got to share the same house with someone an even more shocked when they realise who with because, for 9 years, they've both been haunted by the 'what ifs' and tortured by memories, lost opportunities, regrets and heartache. One of them is angry and one of them is sorry but they both feel the instant connection, sexual pull and intense desire but can they move on from the past.... or will it, or the present, destroy them. Because they seem to be from different world's now but underneath the masks they are the same hurting teenagers that the past once destroyed.

You really feel the tension, heartache, pain, devastation and chemistry between these two lovers as one tries to forgive and learn to trust again while the other tries desperately to rekindle, reignite, revive and rebuild their friendship and, hopefully, their love. Both struggle as they exchange life experiences, look into their past scenes but this time from different POV's and undergo much needed character growth. This is a well written romantic roller-coaster that pulls you right in from the start, sweeps you up in their heartbreaking history as it's hurtfully retold, then awakens when their passion ignites into steamy sex scenes and finally their undying love for each other is slowly uncovered then painstakingly rebuilt and eventually blissfully restored.

Dual POV's, the story is focused around the likeable H/H with just a handful of other characters who were mentioned rather than met and their College relationship was shared with the listener as they recalled scenes from the past in their thoughts rather than in the usual style of flashback chapters. Great narration because Megan managed to pull off a masculine sexy Hero's voice which, IMO, makes all the difference to a listen.

Worth a credit? A powerful heartbreaking and beautiful love story that had wistful romantic poems and song lyrics as well as the main storyline of wasted chances, lost time, misunderstandings, hope, forgiveness, second chances and the unbreakable bond of love.

Pleasantly surprised

I was skeptical about this book, but found it enjoyable. I would recommend this book to others.

4.5 Stars

After We Break (Playing for Love at Deep Haven) by Katy Regnery (Audio Edition)
Narrated by : Megan Solesski

4.5 Stars

Katy Regnery really knows how to write emotion into her story. This book feels enough like real life to give you that powerful connection - with the knowledge that there's going to be a happy ever after, because let's face it, at some points you gotta wonder if it's gonna be there. This is a second chance book. Not one of my favoured plot lines but it was still done well.

I love how Zach just eventually laid it all out there for her, kept telling her and pretty much just hoped to hell she felt the same. I understand why Violet was hesitant to put her feelings out there again… but at one point she had basically told him how she felt (without those using those 3 little words) and then she continued to treat the situation like she hadn't. Which sorta confused me… enough that I had to go back in the book and listen to what had actually been said… to see if I had imagined it. I hadn't.

Aside from that though, this story was well written and enjoyable. The Narrator Megan Solesski, did a good job. Her voice was a bit clipped at times but she was clear and easy to understand. She conveyed the emotions in the book decently, I thought. I would listen to her again.

The first book I read by this author (Never Let You Go) was SO good, that in my eyes I feel she will have a hard time topping it. This book is my third of hers, and while it did not top my favourite one, I have not yet been disappointed! I will keep moving through Regnery’s backlist!

just ok

not a book I would recommend. struggled to finish. wont look for another of her books

Another great book by Katy Regnery

I have read and enjoyed many books by Ms. Regnery. I listened to this book while traveling and this book was a great escape. Ms. Solesski's perfofmance was flawless.

Love will survive

Why haven’t I read this book already, it’s a wonderful story about love and how to welcome love in to your life even if you know it can potential hurt you.

I switch between listening and reading!

I loved this book because
* Great storyline
* No unnecessary descriptions of surroundings
* A good amount of dialogues
* Well described characters
* All the feelings makes me emotional reading it and that’s indication of a good book
* Love scenes that was sweet and hot.
* A hint of secondary characters that has potential to have their own story
* A narrator that manages to make the story really come alive

Conclusión; 5 stars and if you choose whisper sync you have the bonus of not only reading but hearing all the wonderful words.

Pleasant narration!

“I love you forever.”
“You’remy forever, Violet.”
“Yes,” she nodded, pulling his head back down to hers. “I am.”

★¸¸.•*¨*•★Minor spoilers alert★•*¨*•.¸¸★

My tags for this second chance romance novel are…
HEA / Second chance romance/ Musician / Writer / Artist

Writing style: Dual POVs

Cover design: I actually prefer the alternate cover with the photos on it over the Audible cover that features the half-torso Zach with his guitar.

Formats owned read: Kindle e-book and Audible audiobook

Ratings

Overall ★★★☆☆

Megan Solesski’s Performance ★★★½
Her voice was so pleasant 95% of the time, and she had such an elegant style that delighted my ears. It made moments when she vocally varied and toughen up her tone or added a teasing lilt that much more distinctly noticeable. Additionally, she did a great job with the male tone of voice which is always a relief when the narration isn’t done in duet style narration with both a female and a male narrator to alternate gender parts.

Story ★★★☆☆
Previously entitled After We Break, Playing for Love at Deep Haven was a solid contemporary second chance love story between two talented artists with very different upbringings who first met in college at Yale University before abruptly going their separate ways. Their adult story starts 9 years or so after they first met, and we got several flashback moments to learn what went wrong between them originally.

One of my favorite scenes was…
When Zach explained the violet tattoo and why he pushed her away after they slept together in college. That admission led her to admit to herself that she was partly culpable for overwhelming him with her emotional openness. I wished he’d admitted his confusion then and there, but it would’ve been a different novel obviously. I also really respected Zach when he forced a clearing of the air between him and Violet.

“We were kids trying to figure out enormous f------ feelings. And no, I couldn’t handle it. You were the first girl I ever loved, the first person who ever loved me. Forgive me for not recognizing the feeling or knowing what to do with it when it arrived on my doorstep. And yes, I made the biggest mistake of my life when I got freaked-out and ran away. But, god---- it, Vile, I can’t change the past. I wish I could. I wish I hadn't missed out on nine years with you. But we’re here now, aren’t we?” ~Zach

I think I enjoyed their non-combative moments after they committed to giving their young love and ever-present chemistry another go-round more so than the build-up storytelling to get them to that point or the intermittent flare ups thereafter. Understandably, they had issues of distrust, emotional health / style, and cultural differences to overcome and resolve. All this was smartly mixed in with steamy moments and brief teasing to lighten the mood when needed.

I’m a fan of author Katy Regnery’s modern fairy tale inspired romances like her novel Dark Sexy Knight, a top favorite that I’ve reread more than once. But, this love story wasn’t quite my cup of tea, although it had decent exposition and was well-written. This was mostly a case of “it’s me, not you!” I think.

In all honesty, I don’t have a fascination with musicians now that I’m not a teenager. I keep trying to give this celebrity trope category a chance to win me back over. Because it is so hit or miss with me, I limit myself to only reading novels with celebrities or musicians for authors whose storytelling I got hooked on prior to giving their musician trope novels a chance.

Final conclusion: I probably won’t continue with this Enchanted Places series based on my reaction to this one.

Okay

Ugh. I wanted to love this book, and it had all the markers of a fantastic story but there was just so much repetition. Repeated statements and the same sentiments handled over and over and over again. Lyrics and poems stated fully.
Sigh.
I loved Zack, and I thought in many ways Violet was pathetic. At the start I empathized. By the end with the revelation of how things ended I was left feeling... I don't know. It was lacking. So much misery from both of them, and the truth is, she did move on quickly and for a man as vulnerable as Zac, something this self confessed poet and a woman so at ease with her feelings, I feel like she could have understood. She KNEW he was shaky on an emotional setting. I know shew as young and a virgin but I actually think it was cruel of her to insist on telling him how she felt.
I'm glad they got their happy ending. I'm glad things worked out for them, but I was left preferring Violet who at some points lived up to her 'vile' nickname with the way she dithered and moaned and groaned about not being able to say 'I love you'. Even to her mom!!!
Gah. She's not all bad but she rubbed me up the wrong way. They both made mistakes.
If you like second chance romances, then check this out. Just get ready to bash your head against a brick wall at the same time.

A romance that will make you feel every emotion!

My weekend listen, and I could not take my earbuds out. Katy Regnery has another winner in her hands. From the beginning, this story had me captivated. You know the minute Violet and Zach end up at the same house that magic is going to happen. Once we realize they know each other, and the passion they once had, you can only assume they will live happily ever after. Katy takes us through their past at Yale, their individual pasts and their turmoil of the present and future. You cannot help but laugh, cry, smile, love and enjoy every part of this book. I especially loved that both Zach and Violet were involved in the arts. Having them integrate their passions with words and music had to be the most romantic thing ever...and their passion was just HOT!

Megan Solesski provides an wonderful narration. I am looking forward to the second installment(Cora's story?).