Tea Time and Books: Book Blitz & Reviews: Emma Hart's "Playing for Keeps" & "Love Game"

Title: Playing For Keeps

Author: Emma Hart

Blurb:

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Emma Hart, comes the second book in The Game series, and the story everyone wanted after The Love Game…

She's in love with him.
He's trying not to love her.
One night changes everything.

Aston Banks never meant to get close to Megan Harper – not even for that one night. Haunted by a childhood he refuses to face, he knew she could break through every wall he’d ever built and tear them down without even realising she was doing it.

Betraying Braden by starting a relationship with Aston wasn’t on Megan’s to-do list, but the second she sees a glimpse of someone other than the arrogant ass she’s come to know, she can’t walk away.

Aston’s childhood is worse than Megan ever guessed, but as he tries and fails to push her away, it’s clear her love is stronger than the demons that cling to him every day. And now, because of it, he finally has to deal with what he’s buried deep down.

What he doesn’t want to face. What he’s fought against for so long.

And they have to do it all without Braden finding out.

Keeping a relationship secret has never been harder.

Add Playing for Keeps to Goodreads

**This book can be read as a standalone novel, but reading The Love Game (The Game, #1) beforehand is advised.**

Buy Links:

Amazon U.S

Amazon UK:

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

iBooks

Smashwords

My Review:

Sweet, kind & broken Aston Banks *sigh* is haunted by childhood memories he can't shake. Refusing to believe he deserves to be loved, he shuts out the possibility of a relationship. ...........That is until Megan Harper. Although Aston attempts & fails to push her away, he soon realizes Megan's devotion is strong enough to chase his demons away.

Megan is surprised by how deeply Aston's wounds run, but she won't walk away from him. Megan is unwilling to fight the chemistry she & Aston share, even at the cost of loosing her current boyfriend Braden. It was never Megan's intention to cheat on Braden, but she can't deny her heart.......so she & Aston are forced to keep their relationship private. The more time Megan & Aston spend together the harder it becomes to keep their love a secret.

My Thoughts:

Oh this story was so amazing!!! A life lesson of self reliance wrapped in a beautiful & enchanting love story. Although wounded, Aston never felt sorry for himself or whined about his past experiences. I fell in love with him immediately & found myself pulling for him, wanting him to face his fears & feel whole again. Megan's unrelenting faithfulness & respect, was the catalyst that makes Aston want to shatter his loneliness & face his past. This is a must read!!

Excerpt:

ASTON

“You okay?”

I shake my head. “No. Every time. Every fucking time he brings her up. I thought he wouldn’t in front of you, but he did.”

“He has his own pain,” she says softly. “It doesn’t excuse it, but he does. He feels guilty for what happened to you – that he couldn’t stop it.”

My mind reels for a second and I look down at her. “He told you that?”

She nods, letting her hand drop from my back and standing in front of me. I stop.

“You’ve never let him tell you.” She reaches up and cups my face. “He hurts, too, Aston. You both hurt. It’s not something that will go away, but you can’t let it rule your lives. If you let pain rule you you’ll get lost in it.”

“What if I’m already lost?”

“You’re not lost. You’re hiding, but you’re not lost. I won’t let you get lost.”

I let my hands come up and rest on her back, pulling her into me. “What if there’s no map?”

“Then I’ll get lost with you,” she whispers. “I won’t let you let them win, Aston. I won’t let you get sucked in by those demons. I won’t let that happen. I care too much.”

And she does. I can hear it in her voice.

She wraps her arms around my neck, and I hold her to me tighter, our foreheads resting against each other.

“I’ll try, Megs,” I promise. “I can’t say I won’t, but as long as you’re here, I think I’ll be okay.”

“And you’ll talk to your Gramps? Just once?”

“I’ll think about it. How about we just focus on stopping me from getting lost for a bit?”

“You just need a place to aim for, that’s all. You need a place to go to.”

“Go on then.” I smile. “Give me a place.”

“Okay.” She pauses for a second, closing her eyes and chewing her lip.

“I’m waiting…” I tease her.

Her blue eyes open, shocking me with their vitality. “Aim for the moon, because even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”

“I don’t need to aim for the sky. The only star I’ll ever need is standing right in front of me.” I brush my lips over hers. “Maybe the place I need to aim for is nowhere other than where I am right now.”

“Maybe I’d go with you wherever you ended up.”

“Maybe I’d never ask that of you.”

“Maybe you wouldn’t need to ask. Maybe you’ll never need to ask me for anything, because I’ll always be here.”

AND NOW FOR.........

Tittle: Love Games

Author: Emma Hart

BLURB:

His challenge? Make her fall in love with him.

Her challenge? Play the player.

Until life changes the rules of the game.

Maddie Stevens hated Braden Carter on sight. Arrogant, egotistical, and the playboy of the University of California, Berkeley, he's everything her brother Pearce has taught her to despise. So why, when the girls challenge her to play the player, doesn't she say no? She doesn't know either.

Braden wanted fiery little Maddie the second he laid eyes on her - and he'd do anything to have her, hence why he's agreed to make her fall in love with him. After all, it's the only way he'll get what he wants. Sex.

But, as Braden discovers, there's more to the girl from Brooklyn than he ever imagined - and he can't help but care about the broken girl behind those pretty green eyes.

Maddie finds Braden isn't just a walking erection - he actually has feelings. He can be sweet, funny and his good looks don't exactly hurt. That means trouble - but when her brother Pearce turns up in Berkeley begging for her help, she realises Braden and Pearce aren't so alike anymore.

And maybe, just maybe, they're exactly what each other needs.

Add Love Games to Goodreads

Buy Links:

My Review:

OMG!!! You just can't help but fall in love with ALL of Emma's leading men & want to add them to your collection of book boy friends. Branden Carter *sigh*, the sexy player is Emma's newest collector's item. Intelligent, cocky & hell bent on getting Maddie to fall in love with him, Branden hits a snag when he can't help but have real feelings for good girl Maddie Stevens.

Maddie despises Branden. He's everything she's learned to stay away from. So when her friends challenge her to turn Branden's game against him, Maddie surprises herself by being unable to go through with it. Maddie finds herself unable to resist Branden's charms & witty personality. Can this unlikely couple trust each other's feeling as real & stoping playing games?

What I thought:

I loved this story!! Oh I was laughing, sighing & falling in love right along with Maddie & Branden. Emma is a master of love stories. She knows how to grip the reader & never let go. You'll remember these enchanting characters & their unusual but beauitful love story, long after you turn the last page.

About Emma Hart:

By day, New York Times and USA Today bestselling New Adult author Emma Hart dons a cape and calls herself Super Mum to a terrible two year old and growing bump, due September 2013. By night, she drops the cape, pours a glass of juice and writes books.

Emma is working on Top Secret projects she will share with her followers and fans at every available opportunity. Naturally, all Top Secret projects involve a dashingly hot guy who likes to forget to wear a shirt, a sprinkling (or several) of hold-onto-your-panties hot scenes, and a whole lotta love.

She likes to be busy - unless busy involves doing the dishes, but that seems to be when all the ideas come to life.

Where to Stalk Emma:

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

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