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The Wrong Game
Two season tickets.
One genius idea.
Zero interest in a relationship.
The plan is simple: a brand new, hot, preferably funny, definitely single male will fill one of those seats for every Bears game at Soldier Field. And I’ll fill the other.
I can’t think of a better way to use the season passes I’d bought for my ex-husband. I am a woman of plans, and this one’s foolproof.
Until Zach Bowen offers to be my practice round.
He’s infuriating. Presumptuous and overbearing. And absolutely, undeniably gorgeous. Any woman with a heartbeat would be attracted to him, and mine picks up speed every time he speaks.
But as I said, I’m a woman of plans — and I’m not backing down on this one.
One night. One game. And then, his time’s up.
He can try to change the rules, but here’s the truth: he can’t win if he’s playing the wrong game.
The Wrong Game is a stand-alone, angsty, enemies-to-lovers sports romance.
One genius idea.
Zero interest in a relationship.
The plan is simple: a brand new, hot, preferably funny, definitely single male will fill one of those seats for every Bears game at Soldier Field. And I’ll fill the other.
I can’t think of a better way to use the season passes I’d bought for my ex-husband. I am a woman of plans, and this one’s foolproof.
Until Zach Bowen offers to be my practice round.
He’s infuriating. Presumptuous and overbearing. And absolutely, undeniably gorgeous. Any woman with a heartbeat would be attracted to him, and mine picks up speed every time he speaks.
But as I said, I’m a woman of plans — and I’m not backing down on this one.
One night. One game. And then, his time’s up.
He can try to change the rules, but here’s the truth: he can’t win if he’s playing the wrong game.
The Wrong Game is a stand-alone, angsty, enemies-to-lovers sports romance.
393 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 16, 2018
About the author
Kandi Steiner
62 books12.3k followersKandi Steiner is a #1 Amazon Bestselling Author and whiskey connoisseur living in Tennessee. Best known for writing “emotional rollercoaster” stories, she loves bringing flawed characters to life and writing about real, raw romance — in all its forms. No two Kandi Steiner books are the same, and if you’re a lover of angsty, emotional, and inspirational reads, she’s your gal.
An alumna of the University of Central Florida, Kandi graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Advertising/PR with a minor in Women’s Studies. Her love for writing started at the ripe age of 10, and in 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.”
She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a die hard hopeless romantic, and likes to highlight all the challenges of love as well as the triumphs.
When Kandi isn’t writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, planning her next adventure, or pole dancing (yes, you read that right). She enjoys live music, traveling, hiking, yoga, playing with her fur babies and soaking up the sweetness of life.
CONNECT WITH KANDI:
➜ NEWSLETTER: kandisteiner.com/newsletter
➜ FACEBOOK: facebook.com/kandisteiner
➜ FACEBOOK READER GROUP (Kandiland): facebook.com/groups/kandilandks
➜ INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/kandisteiner
➜ TIKTOK: tiktok.com/@authorkandisteiner
➜ TWITTER: twitter.com/kandisteiner
➜ PINTEREST: pinterest.com/authorkandisteiner
➜ WEBSITE: www.kandisteiner.com
Kandi Steiner may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events” tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future:
➜ www.kandisteiner.com/events
An alumna of the University of Central Florida, Kandi graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Advertising/PR with a minor in Women’s Studies. Her love for writing started at the ripe age of 10, and in 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.”
She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a die hard hopeless romantic, and likes to highlight all the challenges of love as well as the triumphs.
When Kandi isn’t writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, planning her next adventure, or pole dancing (yes, you read that right). She enjoys live music, traveling, hiking, yoga, playing with her fur babies and soaking up the sweetness of life.
CONNECT WITH KANDI:
➜ NEWSLETTER: kandisteiner.com/newsletter
➜ FACEBOOK: facebook.com/kandisteiner
➜ FACEBOOK READER GROUP (Kandiland): facebook.com/groups/kandilandks
➜ INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/kandisteiner
➜ TIKTOK: tiktok.com/@authorkandisteiner
➜ TWITTER: twitter.com/kandisteiner
➜ PINTEREST: pinterest.com/authorkandisteiner
➜ WEBSITE: www.kandisteiner.com
Kandi Steiner may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events” tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future:
➜ www.kandisteiner.com/events
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,764 reviews
October 25, 2018
4.25 stars!!!
The Wrong Game is a adorable and fun read that was emotional enough to give me all the feels! I loved Gemma and Zach! Kandi’s writing is fantastic as always and I loved the original spin she put on this sports romance.
Gemma is someone who lives for lists and rules and plans. She has suffered a loss and with that loss she was burned in the worst way. Ever since then she’s decided to stick to her plans, to stick to the one rule she’s given herself.
Gemma is a huge fan of the Chicago Bears and has season tickets. To make things interesting, Gemma’s friend talks her in to talking a ‘date’ to each game. A different guy to each one, just for fun, to see how it goes. No feelings involved, just a good time. Then she meets Zach. Zach volunteers to be her ‘practice guy’ for the first game.
Zach was the absolute best. He saw something in Gemma. He knows she has reservations about love, but he’s determined to break through her barriers. If anyone could do it, it would be him. He just doesn’t realize what he’s up against.
Zach was super swoony and Gemma was strong yet vulnerable. I loved them together. Their chemistry was off the charts hot. And it wasn’t just that. I loved their back and forth banner and their connection. Plus, Gemma’s bestie Belle was hilarious as well as Micah, Zach’s brother. He was a hoot.
This story made me laugh out loud, was sweet, sexy, emotional, and a tad bit angsty. Overall it was a great read and the PERFECT book for fall! Highly recommended to lovers of sports romance!
The Wrong Game is a adorable and fun read that was emotional enough to give me all the feels! I loved Gemma and Zach! Kandi’s writing is fantastic as always and I loved the original spin she put on this sports romance.
Gemma is someone who lives for lists and rules and plans. She has suffered a loss and with that loss she was burned in the worst way. Ever since then she’s decided to stick to her plans, to stick to the one rule she’s given herself.
I made one simple plan, with one simple rule. Never fall in love again. It was more than just a plan, more than just a goal. It was a promise. And it was one I vowed to keep.
Gemma is a huge fan of the Chicago Bears and has season tickets. To make things interesting, Gemma’s friend talks her in to talking a ‘date’ to each game. A different guy to each one, just for fun, to see how it goes. No feelings involved, just a good time. Then she meets Zach. Zach volunteers to be her ‘practice guy’ for the first game.
Zach was the absolute best. He saw something in Gemma. He knows she has reservations about love, but he’s determined to break through her barriers. If anyone could do it, it would be him. He just doesn’t realize what he’s up against.
Zach was super swoony and Gemma was strong yet vulnerable. I loved them together. Their chemistry was off the charts hot. And it wasn’t just that. I loved their back and forth banner and their connection. Plus, Gemma’s bestie Belle was hilarious as well as Micah, Zach’s brother. He was a hoot.
This story made me laugh out loud, was sweet, sexy, emotional, and a tad bit angsty. Overall it was a great read and the PERFECT book for fall! Highly recommended to lovers of sports romance!
“I love when you do that,” he whispered.
“Do what?”
“Exist.”
October 18, 2018
*
Read more of my reviews at Whoo Gives A Hoot
*
The Wrong Game has got to be one of Kandi Steiner's best books to date and that is saying a lot because every single one of her books have been INCREDIBLE! This was a sexy, sweet and hilariously intriguing story that had be captivated from beginning to end. The prologue drew me right in, but it was the storyline that kept me engaged and had me wanted more as I found myself devouring chapter after chapter. There was so much to adore about this story, but I have got to say that the characters were who really won me over. I freaking loved everything about Gemma and Zach, who were absolutely made for each other. Zach was the perfect match for Gemma because he was able to pull her out of her comfort zone and get her to try new things, even when they scared her, which happened more times than not. Their chemistry was off the charts HOT and their romance sizzled right off the pages. My heart felt the BURN for sure!
Kandi Steiner's writing is phenomenal and it amazes me the amount of creativity she puts into every one of her beautifully captivating stories. This story made my heart soar and I was swooning from the moment Gemma and Zach first laid eyes on each other. Readers you are going to want to one-click this beyond AMAZING story right NOW! Trust me! You will not regret a single second.
The Wrong Game has got to be one of Kandi Steiner's best books to date and that is saying a lot because every single one of her books have been INCREDIBLE! This was a sexy, sweet and hilariously intriguing story that had be captivated from beginning to end. The prologue drew me right in, but it was the storyline that kept me engaged and had me wanted more as I found myself devouring chapter after chapter. There was so much to adore about this story, but I have got to say that the characters were who really won me over. I freaking loved everything about Gemma and Zach, who were absolutely made for each other. Zach was the perfect match for Gemma because he was able to pull her out of her comfort zone and get her to try new things, even when they scared her, which happened more times than not. Their chemistry was off the charts HOT and their romance sizzled right off the pages. My heart felt the BURN for sure!
Kandi Steiner's writing is phenomenal and it amazes me the amount of creativity she puts into every one of her beautifully captivating stories. This story made my heart soar and I was swooning from the moment Gemma and Zach first laid eyes on each other. Readers you are going to want to one-click this beyond AMAZING story right NOW! Trust me! You will not regret a single second.
February 6, 2021
I feel like I just got stupider. Or maybe I mean that I proved that I'm stupider than I had guessed by letting myself get as far as I did in this stupid story (77% if you're wondering). The thing is, it was clear right from the start that this was going to have a severe case of stupids and I let myself hope that the author wasn't going to wallow in it. Hint: she did. She wallowed like a wallowing wallower on Wallow Day.
The thing is, Zach is just awesome. He's my favorite kind of leading man—the strong, caring guy who lives to take care of the people he loves. He's insightful and giving and patient and I just enjoyed spending time with him.
Gemma doesn't deserve him. But then, Gemma isn't an actual person so it doesn't matter. The thing is that the only conflict in the entire story is Gemma equating all men with her louse of a husband. It's really too bad he died because I'd like to see him eaten by spiders. Like he is in my head, right now. Look, here's the kind of guy he is. This is a spoiler because this doesn't happen until the last quarter and it sets up the dark moment and made me so mad I want Gemma to fall off a cliff into molten lava infested by crocodiles (lava-proof crocodiles, obv.). Anyway, this is a guy who, on his deathbed, mind, . And not only is it a contrivance to bury that turd like a floppy turdmine for her to stumble over at the exact moment to spin this stupid story out another quarter with a manufactured dark moment, but the event itself is so absurd, so laughable, that any sane person hearing of it would go, "oh, that guy is a complete turdnugget." What they would not do, even a little bit is what Gemma does and equate all men to that blithering snotrag.
And that Gemma would equate Zach to the execrable Carlos makes her unworthy of him. Or of any actual adult, really. I don't care how much repressed pain and shame and grief she is feeling, equating that excrescence to Zach makes her unworthy. Or, you know, an authorial invention with no real substance because seriously, are there actual people who would do this?!? Follow-up question: would you want people who do this in your life?
So I'm out. One star. And I really wish authors wouldn't try to sell us on heroines who equate all men to their worst experiences. Someone said recently that if you equate all of a group to their worst members, then that pretty much guarantees that you are likely the worst member of the groups you belong to. I'm starting to think that they might be right.
The thing is, Zach is just awesome. He's my favorite kind of leading man—the strong, caring guy who lives to take care of the people he loves. He's insightful and giving and patient and I just enjoyed spending time with him.
Gemma doesn't deserve him. But then, Gemma isn't an actual person so it doesn't matter. The thing is that the only conflict in the entire story is Gemma equating all men with her louse of a husband. It's really too bad he died because I'd like to see him eaten by spiders. Like he is in my head, right now. Look, here's the kind of guy he is. This is a spoiler because this doesn't happen until the last quarter and it sets up the dark moment and made me so mad I want Gemma to fall off a cliff into molten lava infested by crocodiles (lava-proof crocodiles, obv.). Anyway, this is a guy who, on his deathbed, mind, . And not only is it a contrivance to bury that turd like a floppy turdmine for her to stumble over at the exact moment to spin this stupid story out another quarter with a manufactured dark moment, but the event itself is so absurd, so laughable, that any sane person hearing of it would go, "oh, that guy is a complete turdnugget." What they would not do, even a little bit is what Gemma does and equate all men to that blithering snotrag.
And that Gemma would equate Zach to the execrable Carlos makes her unworthy of him. Or of any actual adult, really. I don't care how much repressed pain and shame and grief she is feeling, equating that excrescence to Zach makes her unworthy. Or, you know, an authorial invention with no real substance because seriously, are there actual people who would do this?!? Follow-up question: would you want people who do this in your life?
So I'm out. One star. And I really wish authors wouldn't try to sell us on heroines who equate all men to their worst experiences. Someone said recently that if you equate all of a group to their worst members, then that pretty much guarantees that you are likely the worst member of the groups you belong to. I'm starting to think that they might be right.
October 19, 2018
Love me a good ole love story that gives you the good feels of getting a second chance at love, the right way!!
Gemma Mancini has been hurt, she's had the ultimate betrayal played on her. She's made it her goal and also set rules for herself that doesn't allow her to fall in love again. So she sets her sights on dating, lots of dating, so she can get a lot of interaction and to begin living again after having her heart broken and shattered. So, first up is a trial run to her game, a game starting with Zach Bowen. What she doesn't expect is to have a connection with the very first person she starts with. Yet, she doesn't stop there. Oh no. This story kept my attention and I loved following along to the game that Gemma & Zach play. It ends sweetly and predictably, but I still loved it!!
Gemma Mancini has been hurt, she's had the ultimate betrayal played on her. She's made it her goal and also set rules for herself that doesn't allow her to fall in love again. So she sets her sights on dating, lots of dating, so she can get a lot of interaction and to begin living again after having her heart broken and shattered. So, first up is a trial run to her game, a game starting with Zach Bowen. What she doesn't expect is to have a connection with the very first person she starts with. Yet, she doesn't stop there. Oh no. This story kept my attention and I loved following along to the game that Gemma & Zach play. It ends sweetly and predictably, but I still loved it!!
October 15, 2018
MY REVIEW: can also be found on my blog:
➽ KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
THE WRONG GAME: Is a full length, stand alone romance novel by Kandi Stenier. Spoken in ‘Dual Perspectives.’ In this we meet Gemma & Zack
Straight away we jump into the 'Prologue' which kick started all the feels, it’s where we’re first introduced to twenty-nine year old Gemma who lives life to plan, a bit OCD when it comes to her lists, but sometimes plans don’t go accordingly and she finds herself alone in the world never wanting to date or get attached to another man again. I didn't want to fall in love. I didn't need a man to survive. Because the one man that was mean't to be her forever turned out to be anything but.
Zack is the hot sexy guy who served Gemma and her best friend when they frequented the bar he bartends at. Over hearing a sniper of their conversation gets him on the fast track of becoming her first guinea pig at a Bears game.
➜ Take a different guy to every game, don't get attached, have fun without having to risk getting hurt.
When Gemma first laid eyes on Zack: His shoulders were broad and rounded, his waist narrow, t-shirt sitting on the belt of his jeans in a way that made my next swallow harder to accomplish. And when my eyes fell to his ass, perfectly rounded in a pair of dark denim jeans that fell in just the right way off his hips..Well. Let's just say I wanted a better look at the front. And the side, And all angles. Maybe I really am ready to get laid
Gemma's rules, one date, one game, no attachments, but what happens when Zack doesn't play by the rules? One date wasn't enough. He wanted more. But trying to get her to break down her walls seemed near on impossible.
The chemistry between these two ripped up the pages, and stole my heart along the way. Zack made the perfect bookboyfriend, with all his swoony moments, sexy moments, agnst moments made for the perfect read on a wet cold Sunday.
December 13, 2018
2 stars + 1 star for the hero's family 'history'
The book has some strong and emotional moments. Family values - my favourite part of it.
Apart from some 'small' things this story was safe.
A hero, who wasn't afraid to show his emotions - we don't have a lot of such males in romance, unfortunately.
Better people than me can surely overlook all those 'small' issues. It's a shame I couldn't.
!!!Possible spoilers!!!
I liked the idea of a man chasing a woman and fighting for her affection.
And I had zero problem with her pushing away.
It was not my ussue with this story,
....
but
the number of people, they used and bashed during their games.
H kissed h in front of the OM/her date.
She dumped her other date to leave with H -> so her bff took care of that man by spending a night with him. But it was ok, coz this bff pretended to be on the date with the H to make h jealous. Very mature! Applause! 🙄
All OMs were either dumb or ugly or disgusting or or or -> and no one was ashamed to share these 'facts' with the others. As I said - nigh level of maturity! 👶
Heroine's bff - really?! Was this character 'punished' for liking casual sex by being portrayed as a paradigm of failed lobotomy?! Belle had huge chances (in my eyes) to become a good side character, but she was ruined every time she opened her pretty mouth. What frustrated me the most - her whining about her being pretending cool and be desperately alone. Why can a woman enjoy single life and own it? Ups, I almost forgot it's romancilandia rules. Sorry!!! 🙄
I'm not a virgin and not a prude (I know it's hard to believe 😂, but whatever) - as long as both partners are fine with the 'procedure', it's all great -> me cool!
But.... still.... this one 👇 made me 'slightly uncomfortable':
Their 2nd sexual encounter after coming home from the game at a stadium.
No shower, no bath, definitely no body cleaning in any form!
He went down on her and *I quote from the book*
He ate her ass/he licked her asshole.
And then slammed his mouth on hers.
??? 😖 ???
After the above scene, him (later in the story) grabbing her pigtails and tugging them with firm grip during practicing doggy style, didn't even make me flinch (coz a firm grip on hair, folks).
Sweet epilogue.
Anyway.
The book had potential and some good stuff... but not quite my gem 😵
The book has some strong and emotional moments. Family values - my favourite part of it.
Apart from some 'small' things this story was safe.
A hero, who wasn't afraid to show his emotions - we don't have a lot of such males in romance, unfortunately.
Better people than me can surely overlook all those 'small' issues. It's a shame I couldn't.
!!!Possible spoilers!!!
I liked the idea of a man chasing a woman and fighting for her affection.
And I had zero problem with her pushing away.
It was not my ussue with this story,
....
but
the number of people, they used and bashed during their games.
H kissed h in front of the OM/her date.
She dumped her other date to leave with H -> so her bff took care of that man by spending a night with him. But it was ok, coz this bff pretended to be on the date with the H to make h jealous. Very mature! Applause! 🙄
All OMs were either dumb or ugly or disgusting or or or -> and no one was ashamed to share these 'facts' with the others. As I said - nigh level of maturity! 👶
Heroine's bff - really?! Was this character 'punished' for liking casual sex by being portrayed as a paradigm of failed lobotomy?! Belle had huge chances (in my eyes) to become a good side character, but she was ruined every time she opened her pretty mouth. What frustrated me the most - her whining about her being pretending cool and be desperately alone. Why can a woman enjoy single life and own it? Ups, I almost forgot it's romancilandia rules. Sorry!!! 🙄
I'm not a virgin and not a prude (I know it's hard to believe 😂, but whatever) - as long as both partners are fine with the 'procedure', it's all great -> me cool!
But.... still.... this one 👇 made me 'slightly uncomfortable':
Their 2nd sexual encounter after coming home from the game at a stadium.
No shower, no bath, definitely no body cleaning in any form!
He went down on her and *I quote from the book*
He ate her ass/he licked her asshole.
And then slammed his mouth on hers.
??? 😖 ???
After the above scene, him (later in the story) grabbing her pigtails and tugging them with firm grip during practicing doggy style, didn't even make me flinch (coz a firm grip on hair, folks).
Sweet epilogue.
Anyway.
The book had potential and some good stuff... but not quite my gem 😵
November 13, 2018
3 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was an okay read. I didn't love it, but I also didn't hate it. I am a football fan, and I am always looking for a football theme romance during football season -- so this hit the spot for me there. I just had some issues with the h pushing away a little too much for my liking. I also would've liked a little more of a concrete ending for the couple. There were also some points in their development of feelings that felt skimmed over or even time jumped that I would've liked a little more attention paid to in order for me to feel their connection more. Otherwise, I really enjoyed the H and I think he made the book for me!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Gemma and Zach's story. Gemma is mourning the loss of her marriage and her best friend comes up with the idea that she uses her season tickets to the NFL Bears to take a new date to and hook up after every game. Zach works as a bartender at the bar where they came up with the idea and suggests that Gemma use him as a practice round, and they go to the first game together. Gemma isn't ready for more than one night, but Zach isn't ready to give her up yet and starts heavily pursuing her. There is a lot of past baggage they have to work through, some sweet moments, and some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
POV: This alternated between Gemma and Zach's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Alright. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well for the most part, but I did have some issues with some skipped scenes/time jump choices the author made (see above).
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H rating: 4.5 stars. Zach. I really liked him. He was sensitive, but also alpha when he needed to be. Great H!
h rating: 2.5 stars. Gemma. While I understood her damage and felt bad for her, I also struggled with how she pushed the H away. I think it's mainly because I liked him so much.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull:Yes!
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: Not between mcs
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had what I would call a HFN ending, but I'm sure other readers would be fine calling this a HEA . I wanted a farther glimpse into their future with maybe them having a family of their own and more about the H's career, but (again) this is probably me just being greedy.
Safety: This one should be either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences.
Overall Opinion: This was an okay read. I didn't love it, but I also didn't hate it. I am a football fan, and I am always looking for a football theme romance during football season -- so this hit the spot for me there. I just had some issues with the h pushing away a little too much for my liking. I also would've liked a little more of a concrete ending for the couple. There were also some points in their development of feelings that felt skimmed over or even time jumped that I would've liked a little more attention paid to in order for me to feel their connection more. Otherwise, I really enjoyed the H and I think he made the book for me!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Gemma and Zach's story. Gemma is mourning the loss of her marriage and her best friend comes up with the idea that she uses her season tickets to the NFL Bears to take a new date to and hook up after every game. Zach works as a bartender at the bar where they came up with the idea and suggests that Gemma use him as a practice round, and they go to the first game together. Gemma isn't ready for more than one night, but Zach isn't ready to give her up yet and starts heavily pursuing her. There is a lot of past baggage they have to work through, some sweet moments, and some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
POV: This alternated between Gemma and Zach's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Alright. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well for the most part, but I did have some issues with some skipped scenes/time jump choices the author made (see above).
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H rating: 4.5 stars. Zach. I really liked him. He was sensitive, but also alpha when he needed to be. Great H!
h rating: 2.5 stars. Gemma. While I understood her damage and felt bad for her, I also struggled with how she pushed the H away. I think it's mainly because I liked him so much.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull:Yes!
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: Not between mcs
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had what I would call a HFN ending, but I'm sure other readers would be fine calling this a HEA . I wanted a farther glimpse into their future with maybe them having a family of their own and more about the H's career, but (again) this is probably me just being greedy.
Safety: This one should be either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences.
April 16, 2022
4.5 When Wrong Is So Right Stars
* * * * 1/2 Spoiler Free
How many times do you wish the guy in the story would just open up and talk to his "person". Where you wish he would tell her what he is thinking and be willing to take that risk...Would it take away from his Macho Appeal...would he lose his man-card...Well, if done right, all it does is make the guy sexier...
Kandi Steiner took this deep reader's desire and ran with it. She created a man who could make any woman's panties melt, have all the goods to deliver on that promise, and have him in touch with his feelings and able to communicate them...
What...Did she create a Unicorn Man...
Well, sort of...because Zach was all that and bag of chips, too.
Zach came from a family that functioned with real communication. They talked about their feelings without shame. They had experienced real life with death risks and came out the other end. All of them had sacrificed for the good of the family and were stronger for it. But it did make for a reality check and understand the hurts the heart experienced was something to steer clear of in the future... it hurt too much.
Gemma thought she had had it all...a love which would last, a forever love. A man who would never look at another, who made her feel like his princess and she felt her life was set. Then she discovered it was all a lie.
She saw with her own eyes his betrayal...
She made her plan, made the list of how to proceed...
She had her new residence ready to go...
The confrontation was set...
Then fate took Gemma's well-laid plans and shot them all to hell...Gemma was confronted with a decision to make and then lived it till the end. Now she is on her own, does have her one solid rock in her bestie and boss. Having her girlfriend supporting and looking out for her has been everything. It has been a trying time for Gemma. She has slowly been coming out of the hurt haze and is now being encouraged to get out there by her bestie.
Gemma does have the means to make a dent in her emotional life. She had bought season passes for the Bears. Gemma is a true blue Bears fan. She was introduced to them by her beloved grandfather for he was the one who primarily raised her. He taught her how to be strong, caring, and able to handle everyday challenges. He taught her to set a goal, figure out a plan, and make it happen to completion. He was her family.
You may have heard the cliche of the "shoemaker's kid never has any shoes," well, Gemma was a product of parents who put together a book about childrearing and then became absentee parents to her. She hardly ever saw them. They never practiced anything they preached.
So here is Gemma with her Chicago Bears season passes which she had bought to enjoy with her ex-husband. Her bestie is trying to get Gemma out there and takes her to the local sports bar to break her funk. When they sit down at the bar, both Gemma and Zach the bartender, catch a look at each other. A little spark passes. Gemma listens to what her friend suggests, a way to enjoy the Bears game, a new man each home game, and a plan to have the control Gemma needs. Before Gemma realizes it, her friend has set up her profile on a dating app and makes it live with a provocative description.
Zach hears what her friend said what the definition was... totally not the case, and comes over to educate Gemma what her profile is offering. This leads to conversation, banter, flirting and Zach offering himself up as a test candidate for Gemma's Football Game Plan. Gemma wants to take a different guy to each home game, no repeats- leaving her in control of her life.
Yet, she is scared and Zach offers to be her test subject. He understands she hasn't dated in forever, that control is everything and she needs to get over the hurdle of getting out there. Zach actually relates in his own private way. He had his whole life figured out. He was deadly talented, a future football Hall of Famer. He was scouted by all the college teams and was on his way with a full scholarship ride. Then things happened in his family he couldn't ignore. He had choices to make and he chose what was best for the family. No more football, which revealed his longtime high school sweetheart was in it only for the promise of football fame...not him. Zach knows the pain and hasn't been interested in relationships either.
Gemma decides to take Zach up on his offer...making sure he knows she is in charge. Both kidding themselves there was no real interest...They go to the game, it goes really great, the attraction is real mixed with the mutual love of the Bears. Zach is drunk on Gemma; a woman who actually loves football for real! Gemma loves what she sees, feels so comfortable yet tingly when she is with him.
She takes him back to her place and Oh, My My!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gemma gets scared of how much she is liking Zach and feels she must take back the sense control of her feelings. Zach wants more and Gemma shuts him down. Well, Zach understands her need for control. He backs away yet also wants to explore more with Gemma. She thinks all of this is a game and Zach has never let a game get the best of him...
He decides he is in for the long haul...let the games begin.
This was a delight. Kandi Steiner gave us a strong, sexy man who had no problem delivering on everything a bedpartner would want plus adds the unusual ability to be in touch with his internal feelings. He is able to talk directly to his love interest and say what he thinks. He is willing to put it all out there because his life lessons have shown him, time is fleeting and your life matters. A very sexy mixture. Do not be confused, he is all Guy...May I have one of him, please ❤️💕❤️💕❤️
Gemma is a woman finding herself. Control has always been her safety net. She thought she had it all and was shown it to be a lie. She feels foolish to love and is terrified to give into Zach and take a chance. It is the way these two help each other through these hurdles which capture our hearts.
A very worthwhile read with these two main characters and many more secondary characters to complete the joy of the story.
The Wrong Game
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Right Player
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * * 1/2 Spoiler Free
How many times do you wish the guy in the story would just open up and talk to his "person". Where you wish he would tell her what he is thinking and be willing to take that risk...Would it take away from his Macho Appeal...would he lose his man-card...Well, if done right, all it does is make the guy sexier...
Kandi Steiner took this deep reader's desire and ran with it. She created a man who could make any woman's panties melt, have all the goods to deliver on that promise, and have him in touch with his feelings and able to communicate them...
What...Did she create a Unicorn Man...
Well, sort of...because Zach was all that and bag of chips, too.
Zach came from a family that functioned with real communication. They talked about their feelings without shame. They had experienced real life with death risks and came out the other end. All of them had sacrificed for the good of the family and were stronger for it. But it did make for a reality check and understand the hurts the heart experienced was something to steer clear of in the future... it hurt too much.
Gemma thought she had had it all...a love which would last, a forever love. A man who would never look at another, who made her feel like his princess and she felt her life was set. Then she discovered it was all a lie.
She saw with her own eyes his betrayal...
She made her plan, made the list of how to proceed...
She had her new residence ready to go...
The confrontation was set...
Then fate took Gemma's well-laid plans and shot them all to hell...Gemma was confronted with a decision to make and then lived it till the end. Now she is on her own, does have her one solid rock in her bestie and boss. Having her girlfriend supporting and looking out for her has been everything. It has been a trying time for Gemma. She has slowly been coming out of the hurt haze and is now being encouraged to get out there by her bestie.
Gemma does have the means to make a dent in her emotional life. She had bought season passes for the Bears. Gemma is a true blue Bears fan. She was introduced to them by her beloved grandfather for he was the one who primarily raised her. He taught her how to be strong, caring, and able to handle everyday challenges. He taught her to set a goal, figure out a plan, and make it happen to completion. He was her family.
You may have heard the cliche of the "shoemaker's kid never has any shoes," well, Gemma was a product of parents who put together a book about childrearing and then became absentee parents to her. She hardly ever saw them. They never practiced anything they preached.
So here is Gemma with her Chicago Bears season passes which she had bought to enjoy with her ex-husband. Her bestie is trying to get Gemma out there and takes her to the local sports bar to break her funk. When they sit down at the bar, both Gemma and Zach the bartender, catch a look at each other. A little spark passes. Gemma listens to what her friend suggests, a way to enjoy the Bears game, a new man each home game, and a plan to have the control Gemma needs. Before Gemma realizes it, her friend has set up her profile on a dating app and makes it live with a provocative description.
Zach hears what her friend said what the definition was... totally not the case, and comes over to educate Gemma what her profile is offering. This leads to conversation, banter, flirting and Zach offering himself up as a test candidate for Gemma's Football Game Plan. Gemma wants to take a different guy to each home game, no repeats- leaving her in control of her life.
Yet, she is scared and Zach offers to be her test subject. He understands she hasn't dated in forever, that control is everything and she needs to get over the hurdle of getting out there. Zach actually relates in his own private way. He had his whole life figured out. He was deadly talented, a future football Hall of Famer. He was scouted by all the college teams and was on his way with a full scholarship ride. Then things happened in his family he couldn't ignore. He had choices to make and he chose what was best for the family. No more football, which revealed his longtime high school sweetheart was in it only for the promise of football fame...not him. Zach knows the pain and hasn't been interested in relationships either.
Gemma decides to take Zach up on his offer...making sure he knows she is in charge. Both kidding themselves there was no real interest...They go to the game, it goes really great, the attraction is real mixed with the mutual love of the Bears. Zach is drunk on Gemma; a woman who actually loves football for real! Gemma loves what she sees, feels so comfortable yet tingly when she is with him.
She takes him back to her place and Oh, My My!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gemma gets scared of how much she is liking Zach and feels she must take back the sense control of her feelings. Zach wants more and Gemma shuts him down. Well, Zach understands her need for control. He backs away yet also wants to explore more with Gemma. She thinks all of this is a game and Zach has never let a game get the best of him...
He decides he is in for the long haul...let the games begin.
This was a delight. Kandi Steiner gave us a strong, sexy man who had no problem delivering on everything a bedpartner would want plus adds the unusual ability to be in touch with his internal feelings. He is able to talk directly to his love interest and say what he thinks. He is willing to put it all out there because his life lessons have shown him, time is fleeting and your life matters. A very sexy mixture. Do not be confused, he is all Guy...May I have one of him, please ❤️💕❤️💕❤️
Gemma is a woman finding herself. Control has always been her safety net. She thought she had it all and was shown it to be a lie. She feels foolish to love and is terrified to give into Zach and take a chance. It is the way these two help each other through these hurdles which capture our hearts.
A very worthwhile read with these two main characters and many more secondary characters to complete the joy of the story.
The Wrong Gamehttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Right Playerhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
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March 31, 2021
R A T I N G: 4 stars to The Wrong Game! ★ ★ ★ ★
“Look at me.”
She shook her head.
“Gemma,” I laughed her name, tilting her chin up with my knuckle. “Look at me.”
When she finally did, it was the way a little girl looks at a closet door opening on its own in the dark. It was like I was every monster, every deep-rooted fear she’d ever known standing in front of her for the first time.’
‘There were a million words in those coffee eyes of his, a thousand reasons to smile — but there was a bit of fear, too. And it was his fear that somehow brought comfort to me. He was taking a risk, too.’
➤ Anxiety/ OCD rep
➤ An impressive, enveloping narration
➤ A brave heroine and a hero I need in my own life
➤ Flawed characters who deserve to be the stars in their own story
➤ A tender-hearted hero who isn’t your typical all-encompassing alpha but who I’d never trade with perhaps even the most alluring of dominants. He’s built with heart and emotion.
➤ An author with a talent for scripting meaningful and full-hearted prose.
➤ An acknowledgments page that has to be one of my favourites
➤ A prologue that demands a reader’s attention on the spot
➤ After reading, one might feel the enthusiastic need to immerse oneself in the art of sports watching.
➤ And please, let us all rise and melt into the guilt-free pleasure of public declarations! Just hand me a pair of rose coloured shades and I’ll happily wear them so long as I get to bear witness to a romantic declaration, cheesy or otherwise.
“The choice is yours,” she said, her eyes finding my dad again, although she spoke right to me. “Hold on, or let her fall.”
Written with the full heart of an author who holds faith by the flaws and fortune, the blemishes and bliss of a worthwhile love story. Characters are the souls of any story for me. It’s no secret. My passion always sits with them. And any author who shows me they care about the people who populate their pages is one that I want to read from. This isn’t a book that boasts scorching seduction - it’s a slow ripple of challenge with a sweet and bitter bite. An author who carefully, engagingly illustrates the two sides of love - its chilly challenges and warm embraces.
My heart brewed with cracks, my gut splintered with nerves, my stomach dropped with sadness and my eyes were damp too many times from reading a sorrowful prologue that rigorously prepares you, in no uncertain terms, that Gemma’s fight is not going to be easy and puts into perspective her OCD-wired brain. Written with just the right words, that struck all the vulnerable part of me, this introduction liquified the membrane of the heart, and I understood that Gemma had every reason to avoid love because her reasons were heartbreakingly real, both born from her anxious mind and wounded heart.
Love can change its face and its name. Gemma Mancini learned this when the weight of her world collapsed onto her, into her, around her - long reaching and far too deep to recover from. She stopped doing what had the potential to untie her inhibitions and pledged to annihilate the potential uncertainties that could unanchor her. She eliminated love all together.
Anxiety fills her life with scrutiny, and once, tragedy made it inconsolable. She dropped her rose-tinted glasses long ago and she’s desperate and committed to staying away from anything that resembles love or romance. Plans are her preservation guide and the upper hand lends the condition for her emotional survival. Her heart has sundered the ability to give and named its price - so much love was lost but no more will be gained.
At her best friend Belle’s insistence, Gemma agrees to a good old-fashioned no strings tryst through the football season. Enjoy her favourite sport, good beer, great atmosphere, the group solidarity of fans who love the shared experience of camaraderie and celebration... and some adult company to fill her nights. Control might prove a saviour but Zach Bowen might just be her knight in blue and orange armour. But…Master plans are infallible. A plan set in stone is a plan of well-oiled conviction. How can you win when you’re playing the wrong game? Zach Bowen has it in him to foil her plans...
L E T _ T H E _ G A M E S _ B E G I N !
‘The Wrong Game’ was a memorable debut - not for the author as this isn’t a first release, but for me, because this was my first Kandi Steiner novel. I’ve since learned that Steiner gives a veritable, original voice to romance. I loved the characters, who were written with flaws and significance. There is a weight to this story. A lot of weight, if I’m honest.
That fragile organ that sits squarely in the centre of my chest? It is one that needs to be stroked, stoked and nurtured. It does not thrive under emotional strain or heartache. This isn’t the mournful tale it could have quite easily have been, but there are times when it is very sad and I wanted, needed more laughs. Full disclosure: I was already a bit emotionally vulnerable so this may have impacted my reading experience. There is laughter. There is fun, angst sweetness and lightheartedness but I think this story needed more because after a certain point, all fun and games cease to a halt and it becomes a bit…bittersweet.
I was in tune with both Zach’s and Gemma’s characters. I wanted Zach to be the happiest man on earth and I wanted Gemma to find that with him - easier said than done but that’s what makes this story. Every time Gemma brought up her ex, I felt how much she had been wronged and I felt the explicit pain of having such a betrayal unanswered for. It’s a bit of a rarity to read a male protagonist who has a healthy, savoury relationship with his own feelings. This was definitely a refreshing tonic for me because Zach’s character was the type of character who had an open discourse with his feelings and he never felt ashamed for having them. A great fit for Gemma who isn’t great with sorting through her own coffin of toil. For me though, I wanted to see how they both would navigate this in terms of the future - how she would deal with avoidance and they both would deal with finding themselves as individuals a bit more.
Sport is the backdrop of the story but the real headliner is the game of attraction and refusal between Zach and Gemma. Every lad or lady needs a Zach Bowen. I’d take his brand of love and affinity for romantic declarations any day. Excluding the latter parts of the story where I feel that he loses a bit of himself, he was a dream from start to finish. I do think the relationship development needs more work, but aside from that we have two protagonists teeming with a wealth of heart and pain, which is why this story is imbued with the same thing.
This book has a different temperature, set to a different dial, and very much in tune with the heart of character flaws and the challenges of stepping into the soil of love. I love the way the writer paints a potent picture. I love even more how Kandi Steiner drafts a story because she bestows shards of her heart within the seams of her characters’ pockets. Great navigation and great representation. I could feel Kandi Steiner’s passion for love stories. Romance is great escapism, it’s one of the reasons this genre is a true favourite. But this book? It’s a bit more than that - it’s great escapism that merges with the real challenges of a sincere love story.
You can’t win a game when a plan is set in stone. More than that, you can’t win when the fire of love will always have the kindle to burn. He hopes to take every page from his parents’ playbook to emulate the love he one day wants. She once bought into the complacency of safety. Patterns repeat themselves, in life and love. Re-order the equation and matters of the heart are in safe hands. Sometimes you need someone to put in the fight so you can find your own. And sometimes you need a well-meaning friend to show you what you really need - to brave that basement.
Anxiety demands a list of plans and certain outcomes, the future can be micromanaged if we control It. This story gives voice to an unsteady and unanchored trust in faith. That faith being enough to hinge those fissures is permission enough to breath bonelessly while being insecure in love. A slow, anxious dance of doubt. Heartfelt. Sometimes raw. But a truly meaningful article of faith. Kandi Steiner isn’t a diamond in the rough. She’s a sharpened, overlooked gemstone.
A unique, heart-blessed standout in a genre where many books summit the same salted wave.
“Our past has a funny way of becoming part of who we are in the future, and I think that’s the way it’s meant to be. Without the scars, without the pain, we wouldn’t be able to appreciate the times when everything is magical — the days when life is absolute bliss. And trust me when I say that every day I’ve spent with you has been just that — magic.”
Trigger Warning: Frequent mention of terminal cancer (past tense) and also infantile cancer. Past infidelity. Some swearing and sex scenes.
Some odds and ends/ Things I didn’t like/ Things I did…
1) I think it would have been a great idea to add therapy into Gemma’s story. It’s clear that she has elements of PTSD entwined with her anxiety. I also kind of wanted to see Zach maybe taking a step toward playing sport again, even just for fun.
2) I love a steamy sex scene, but what I love more about this couple is that their relationship touches on a lot more than just sex.
3) I wanted more attention on the couple’s development. After both Zach and Gemma decide to be exclusive to each other, their pacing as a couple was slow, which is understandable as that’s the pace purposefully set. But it did find that their relationship was a bit underdeveloped.
4) First part of the book is more fleshed out and enjoyable than the second. It becomes a tad more depressing.
5) Great side characters - loved Zach’s family as familial dynamics are a favourite and I love Gemma’s bestie, Belle. She’s intrusive in the best way.
6) Love that Zach is tender with his feelings and not ashamed to have them.
7) What I love about the anxiety rep is that Gemma’s character didn’t conform to her anxiety’s opposite for the sake of a blissful conciliation. Life with any brand of an anxious disposition can be very treacherous. It just doesn’t go away. It’s a quirk that becomes part of the temperament. As an anxiety sufferer I know the struggle. I like that the author doesn’t gloss over Gemma’s - her brawl bleeds into her bond with Zach and any matter that involves a lack of control, I.e. matters of the heart.
9) A big thank you to Belle the bestie for injecting this story with a good dose of much needed, and my favourite, dirty humour. Thank goodness for characters with dirty mouths ;)
F A V O U R I T E - Q U O T E S
“Look at me.”
She shook her head.
“Gemma,” I laughed her name, tilting her chin up with my knuckle. “Look at me.”
When she finally did, it was the way a little girl looks at a closet door opening on its own in the dark. It was like I was every monster, every deep-rooted fear she’d ever known standing in front of her for the first time.’
‘There were a million words in those coffee eyes of his, a thousand reasons to smile — but there was a bit of fear, too. And it was his fear that somehow brought comfort to me. He was taking a risk, too.’
➤ Anxiety/ OCD rep
➤ An impressive, enveloping narration
➤ A brave heroine and a hero I need in my own life
➤ Flawed characters who deserve to be the stars in their own story
➤ A tender-hearted hero who isn’t your typical all-encompassing alpha but who I’d never trade with perhaps even the most alluring of dominants. He’s built with heart and emotion.
➤ An author with a talent for scripting meaningful and full-hearted prose.
➤ An acknowledgments page that has to be one of my favourites
➤ A prologue that demands a reader’s attention on the spot
➤ After reading, one might feel the enthusiastic need to immerse oneself in the art of sports watching.
➤ And please, let us all rise and melt into the guilt-free pleasure of public declarations! Just hand me a pair of rose coloured shades and I’ll happily wear them so long as I get to bear witness to a romantic declaration, cheesy or otherwise.
“The choice is yours,” she said, her eyes finding my dad again, although she spoke right to me. “Hold on, or let her fall.”
Written with the full heart of an author who holds faith by the flaws and fortune, the blemishes and bliss of a worthwhile love story. Characters are the souls of any story for me. It’s no secret. My passion always sits with them. And any author who shows me they care about the people who populate their pages is one that I want to read from. This isn’t a book that boasts scorching seduction - it’s a slow ripple of challenge with a sweet and bitter bite. An author who carefully, engagingly illustrates the two sides of love - its chilly challenges and warm embraces.
My heart brewed with cracks, my gut splintered with nerves, my stomach dropped with sadness and my eyes were damp too many times from reading a sorrowful prologue that rigorously prepares you, in no uncertain terms, that Gemma’s fight is not going to be easy and puts into perspective her OCD-wired brain. Written with just the right words, that struck all the vulnerable part of me, this introduction liquified the membrane of the heart, and I understood that Gemma had every reason to avoid love because her reasons were heartbreakingly real, both born from her anxious mind and wounded heart.
Love can change its face and its name. Gemma Mancini learned this when the weight of her world collapsed onto her, into her, around her - long reaching and far too deep to recover from. She stopped doing what had the potential to untie her inhibitions and pledged to annihilate the potential uncertainties that could unanchor her. She eliminated love all together.
Anxiety fills her life with scrutiny, and once, tragedy made it inconsolable. She dropped her rose-tinted glasses long ago and she’s desperate and committed to staying away from anything that resembles love or romance. Plans are her preservation guide and the upper hand lends the condition for her emotional survival. Her heart has sundered the ability to give and named its price - so much love was lost but no more will be gained.
At her best friend Belle’s insistence, Gemma agrees to a good old-fashioned no strings tryst through the football season. Enjoy her favourite sport, good beer, great atmosphere, the group solidarity of fans who love the shared experience of camaraderie and celebration... and some adult company to fill her nights. Control might prove a saviour but Zach Bowen might just be her knight in blue and orange armour. But…Master plans are infallible. A plan set in stone is a plan of well-oiled conviction. How can you win when you’re playing the wrong game? Zach Bowen has it in him to foil her plans...
L E T _ T H E _ G A M E S _ B E G I N !
‘The Wrong Game’ was a memorable debut - not for the author as this isn’t a first release, but for me, because this was my first Kandi Steiner novel. I’ve since learned that Steiner gives a veritable, original voice to romance. I loved the characters, who were written with flaws and significance. There is a weight to this story. A lot of weight, if I’m honest.
That fragile organ that sits squarely in the centre of my chest? It is one that needs to be stroked, stoked and nurtured. It does not thrive under emotional strain or heartache. This isn’t the mournful tale it could have quite easily have been, but there are times when it is very sad and I wanted, needed more laughs. Full disclosure: I was already a bit emotionally vulnerable so this may have impacted my reading experience. There is laughter. There is fun, angst sweetness and lightheartedness but I think this story needed more because after a certain point, all fun and games cease to a halt and it becomes a bit…bittersweet.
I was in tune with both Zach’s and Gemma’s characters. I wanted Zach to be the happiest man on earth and I wanted Gemma to find that with him - easier said than done but that’s what makes this story. Every time Gemma brought up her ex, I felt how much she had been wronged and I felt the explicit pain of having such a betrayal unanswered for. It’s a bit of a rarity to read a male protagonist who has a healthy, savoury relationship with his own feelings. This was definitely a refreshing tonic for me because Zach’s character was the type of character who had an open discourse with his feelings and he never felt ashamed for having them. A great fit for Gemma who isn’t great with sorting through her own coffin of toil. For me though, I wanted to see how they both would navigate this in terms of the future - how she would deal with avoidance and they both would deal with finding themselves as individuals a bit more.
Sport is the backdrop of the story but the real headliner is the game of attraction and refusal between Zach and Gemma. Every lad or lady needs a Zach Bowen. I’d take his brand of love and affinity for romantic declarations any day. Excluding the latter parts of the story where I feel that he loses a bit of himself, he was a dream from start to finish. I do think the relationship development needs more work, but aside from that we have two protagonists teeming with a wealth of heart and pain, which is why this story is imbued with the same thing.
This book has a different temperature, set to a different dial, and very much in tune with the heart of character flaws and the challenges of stepping into the soil of love. I love the way the writer paints a potent picture. I love even more how Kandi Steiner drafts a story because she bestows shards of her heart within the seams of her characters’ pockets. Great navigation and great representation. I could feel Kandi Steiner’s passion for love stories. Romance is great escapism, it’s one of the reasons this genre is a true favourite. But this book? It’s a bit more than that - it’s great escapism that merges with the real challenges of a sincere love story.
You can’t win a game when a plan is set in stone. More than that, you can’t win when the fire of love will always have the kindle to burn. He hopes to take every page from his parents’ playbook to emulate the love he one day wants. She once bought into the complacency of safety. Patterns repeat themselves, in life and love. Re-order the equation and matters of the heart are in safe hands. Sometimes you need someone to put in the fight so you can find your own. And sometimes you need a well-meaning friend to show you what you really need - to brave that basement.
Anxiety demands a list of plans and certain outcomes, the future can be micromanaged if we control It. This story gives voice to an unsteady and unanchored trust in faith. That faith being enough to hinge those fissures is permission enough to breath bonelessly while being insecure in love. A slow, anxious dance of doubt. Heartfelt. Sometimes raw. But a truly meaningful article of faith. Kandi Steiner isn’t a diamond in the rough. She’s a sharpened, overlooked gemstone.
A unique, heart-blessed standout in a genre where many books summit the same salted wave.
“Our past has a funny way of becoming part of who we are in the future, and I think that’s the way it’s meant to be. Without the scars, without the pain, we wouldn’t be able to appreciate the times when everything is magical — the days when life is absolute bliss. And trust me when I say that every day I’ve spent with you has been just that — magic.”
Trigger Warning: Frequent mention of terminal cancer (past tense) and also infantile cancer. Past infidelity. Some swearing and sex scenes.
Some odds and ends/ Things I didn’t like/ Things I did…
1) I think it would have been a great idea to add therapy into Gemma’s story. It’s clear that she has elements of PTSD entwined with her anxiety. I also kind of wanted to see Zach maybe taking a step toward playing sport again, even just for fun.
2) I love a steamy sex scene, but what I love more about this couple is that their relationship touches on a lot more than just sex.
3) I wanted more attention on the couple’s development. After both Zach and Gemma decide to be exclusive to each other, their pacing as a couple was slow, which is understandable as that’s the pace purposefully set. But it did find that their relationship was a bit underdeveloped.
4) First part of the book is more fleshed out and enjoyable than the second. It becomes a tad more depressing.
5) Great side characters - loved Zach’s family as familial dynamics are a favourite and I love Gemma’s bestie, Belle. She’s intrusive in the best way.
6) Love that Zach is tender with his feelings and not ashamed to have them.
7) What I love about the anxiety rep is that Gemma’s character didn’t conform to her anxiety’s opposite for the sake of a blissful conciliation. Life with any brand of an anxious disposition can be very treacherous. It just doesn’t go away. It’s a quirk that becomes part of the temperament. As an anxiety sufferer I know the struggle. I like that the author doesn’t gloss over Gemma’s - her brawl bleeds into her bond with Zach and any matter that involves a lack of control, I.e. matters of the heart.
9) A big thank you to Belle the bestie for injecting this story with a good dose of much needed, and my favourite, dirty humour. Thank goodness for characters with dirty mouths ;)
F A V O U R I T E - Q U O T E S
March 2, 2019
OMG, this was one of the most torturous reading experiences ever!
I wanted to DNF it but then I wanted to see if the hero would come to his senses but nope, he still loved this girl who hurt him repeatedly and pushed him away for so many times.
*********************************************
Well, the book is a torture and a long one. For 328 pages long, the same vicious cycle repeats itself:
He begs her to give them a chance.
She says no.
He begs some more.
She says yes.
She tries for a while.
Then she freaks out and pushes him away
She says she will meet other guys for one-night stands.
She says she doesn’t want relationship or commitment.
He tries to talk her out of it.
He does things to win her back.
He wins her back.
Then she freaks out again, pushes him away again.
WASH.RINSE.REPEAT.
Honestly, I need to copy-paste the above routine for a great many times so that it could fill in 328 pages because nothing else happens really. It is so annoying, so frustrating and extremely boring! It sucked all the life energy out of my soul.
I didn’t like the characters at all. Especially, I wanted to strangle the heroine for her unreasonable behavior and her childish temper tantrums. She has OCD and she is a control freak and when she feels out of control, she pushes people away. Well, I have my kind of OCD so who am I to judge but God, she was a character impossible to love and why the hero wanted her so much is still a mystery to me. Other than being beautiful and sexy, her character was a total turn-off. She carried being annoying to a whole new level.
I was also pissed at the hero, too. He was always too forgiving, too soft and way too sensitive for a man. She rejects him repeatedly but he still runs after her. I like men who can show their feelings and pursue the women they want but man, have some pride! Look, she is sitting on another guy's lap just to prove that she doesn't want you so leave her be! What's so special about her???!!! Nothing! But he is like a child who is obsessed about a stupid ball, all the while crying for it, "Gimme that ball, gimme that ball!!!" And that's why, whatever she does and however much she hurts him, when she snaps her fingers, he runs to her! Pathetic! All in all, not my type of guy! I hate pathetic heroes as much as I hate pathetic heroines because I believe that if someone doesn't treat you well, you should treat them the way they deserve, not beg for their love.
And as a side note, his hot dog suit was a total turn-off for me.
*********************************************
Well, you may wonder why all the push? Here's the answer to it.
Once, she had a happy marriage and she loved her husband. Her husband also loved her so much. To her and everyone else, it seemed like she had the perfect marriage and the perfect husband.
But one day she discovers that he was cheating on her. She decides to end her marriage and on the day she was going to tell him that she knew he was cheating, he says he was dying of cancer. And this idiot heroine decides not to tell him that she knew he was cheating on her and she stays with him until he dies.
Oh no, that’s a big NO! The other woman should have looked after his cheating as*! Call me heartless but I would never ever stay with him and bury my hurt feelings in my heart just because he was dying. He could have died with the other woman by his side.
And the as*wipe writes a letter to all the people he loved and you should just read the letters he wrote to the two women in his life: his wife and his mistress…
You should read them and maybe then you will, (like me), think that he deserved the attention or affection of neither his wife nor his mistress at all! The bastard could have died alone!
And so Gemma - being the idiot she is - believes that every other guy will be just like her husband so all along the book we have to read her “fear of commitment and love” again and again.
I would have hurt less having pulled one of my teeth out, I guess.
*********************************************
And one more thing… This boring book that didn’t make me feel at all doesn’t feel like written by Kandi Steiner at all… Nope, not at all!
Is this the same writer who wrote “A letter to Whiskey?”
*********************************************
Safety:
Do you still want to read this book and wonder if it is safe?
Well, your torture, so you decide; just let me give you the safety details.
Well, he is totally loyal to her, no cheating, no OW drama but she tries to hook up with other guys although she doesn't go further than some kisses and groping, or acts like sitting on a guy's lap etc.
Writing
- Dual point of view:
The story is told by annoying stupid characters whose inner monologues will make you suicidal.
- Didn't make me feel:
There is no chemistry or passion between them that can explain why the hero would be hell-bent on dating a woman who hurts him repeatedly
- Awfully boring and dragging:
Watching a plant grow would be more satisfying
I wanted to DNF it but then I wanted to see if the hero would come to his senses but nope, he still loved this girl who hurt him repeatedly and pushed him away for so many times.
*********************************************
Well, the book is a torture and a long one. For 328 pages long, the same vicious cycle repeats itself:
He begs her to give them a chance.
She says no.
He begs some more.
She says yes.
She tries for a while.
Then she freaks out and pushes him away
She says she will meet other guys for one-night stands.
She says she doesn’t want relationship or commitment.
He tries to talk her out of it.
He does things to win her back.
He wins her back.
Then she freaks out again, pushes him away again.
WASH.RINSE.REPEAT.
Honestly, I need to copy-paste the above routine for a great many times so that it could fill in 328 pages because nothing else happens really. It is so annoying, so frustrating and extremely boring! It sucked all the life energy out of my soul.
I didn’t like the characters at all. Especially, I wanted to strangle the heroine for her unreasonable behavior and her childish temper tantrums. She has OCD and she is a control freak and when she feels out of control, she pushes people away. Well, I have my kind of OCD so who am I to judge but God, she was a character impossible to love and why the hero wanted her so much is still a mystery to me. Other than being beautiful and sexy, her character was a total turn-off. She carried being annoying to a whole new level.
I was also pissed at the hero, too. He was always too forgiving, too soft and way too sensitive for a man. She rejects him repeatedly but he still runs after her. I like men who can show their feelings and pursue the women they want but man, have some pride! Look, she is sitting on another guy's lap just to prove that she doesn't want you so leave her be! What's so special about her???!!! Nothing! But he is like a child who is obsessed about a stupid ball, all the while crying for it, "Gimme that ball, gimme that ball!!!" And that's why, whatever she does and however much she hurts him, when she snaps her fingers, he runs to her! Pathetic! All in all, not my type of guy! I hate pathetic heroes as much as I hate pathetic heroines because I believe that if someone doesn't treat you well, you should treat them the way they deserve, not beg for their love.
And as a side note, his hot dog suit was a total turn-off for me.
*********************************************
Well, you may wonder why all the push? Here's the answer to it.
Once, she had a happy marriage and she loved her husband. Her husband also loved her so much. To her and everyone else, it seemed like she had the perfect marriage and the perfect husband.
But one day she discovers that he was cheating on her. She decides to end her marriage and on the day she was going to tell him that she knew he was cheating, he says he was dying of cancer. And this idiot heroine decides not to tell him that she knew he was cheating on her and she stays with him until he dies.
Oh no, that’s a big NO! The other woman should have looked after his cheating as*! Call me heartless but I would never ever stay with him and bury my hurt feelings in my heart just because he was dying. He could have died with the other woman by his side.
And the as*wipe writes a letter to all the people he loved and you should just read the letters he wrote to the two women in his life: his wife and his mistress…
You should read them and maybe then you will, (like me), think that he deserved the attention or affection of neither his wife nor his mistress at all! The bastard could have died alone!
And so Gemma - being the idiot she is - believes that every other guy will be just like her husband so all along the book we have to read her “fear of commitment and love” again and again.
I would have hurt less having pulled one of my teeth out, I guess.
*********************************************
And one more thing… This boring book that didn’t make me feel at all doesn’t feel like written by Kandi Steiner at all… Nope, not at all!
Is this the same writer who wrote “A letter to Whiskey?”
*********************************************
Safety:
Do you still want to read this book and wonder if it is safe?
Well, your torture, so you decide; just let me give you the safety details.
Well, he is totally loyal to her, no cheating, no OW drama but she tries to hook up with other guys although she doesn't go further than some kisses and groping, or acts like sitting on a guy's lap etc.
Writing
- Dual point of view:
The story is told by annoying stupid characters whose inner monologues will make you suicidal.
- Didn't make me feel:
There is no chemistry or passion between them that can explain why the hero would be hell-bent on dating a woman who hurts him repeatedly
- Awfully boring and dragging:
Watching a plant grow would be more satisfying
October 18, 2018
Live amazon https://www.amazon.com/Wrong-Game-Spo...
5 stars
What a lovely story, it has all the things I love in a good romance.My heart was aching, I was swooning and melting and I was emotional too.I had so many feelings while I was reading it.
Gemma and Zach stole my heart.I loved them so much.Gamma is strong and sweet.Zach is amazing, he is exactly the guy I want!! He is so swoon worthy!
The Wrong Game is a sweet, intense and emotional read.Kandi Steiner touched me with her words and I was connected to the characters.
5 stars
What a lovely story, it has all the things I love in a good romance.My heart was aching, I was swooning and melting and I was emotional too.I had so many feelings while I was reading it.
Gemma and Zach stole my heart.I loved them so much.Gamma is strong and sweet.Zach is amazing, he is exactly the guy I want!! He is so swoon worthy!
The Wrong Game is a sweet, intense and emotional read.Kandi Steiner touched me with her words and I was connected to the characters.
Read
October 17, 2018𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 (𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥��𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝)!
➔ amzn.to/2ylJpPc
The Wrong Game
NOW LIVE!
🏈 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐘 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄?! 🏈
✓ Sports Romance
✓ Football
✓ Fall Vibes
✓ Enemies-to-Lovers
✓ Based in Chicago
✓ Angsty AF
✓ Sexy AF
✓ SOON AF ;)
Here's a Goodreads EXCLUSIVE sneak peek inside. (pre-edits, subject to change)
Make sure to add to your TBR!
------------------------------------------
“Music!” she said loudly, snapping her fingers. Her dark hair swung over her shoulders as she pranced over to a large speaker in the corner of the room. “I should put on music. What do you like to listen to? Here, I can just put on… this.”
She tapped something on her phone, and a slow, sexy beat filled the room. When the first verse started, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Let’s Get It On by Marvin Gaye.
Her eyes went wide, and she glanced at me over one shoulder. “Oh God, this is too much, isn’t it? It’s too cliche.”
She clicked through her phone as I took another sip of my wine, watching her with a smile.
“I should have made a playlist. God, why did I not think of making a playlist?”
She was still talking to herself when I set my wine on the counter, crossing the room to where she stood. I traced the lines of her slender neck, her back, the hair she pulled over one shoulder as she shook her head.
“Probably because I have no idea what to put on a playlist for this sort of thing,” she murmured to herself, still playing on her phone.
“What sort of thing?” I whispered into the back of her neck.
She jumped a little as my hands slipped around her hips from the back, pulling her flush against me. Every muscle in her body was stiff, her breath caught between an inhale and an exhale.
“Uh… this… um…” she swallowed, still holding her phone, still stiff as a board in my arms. “Oh, God.”
“Such a religious woman,” I teased.
“Oh, God.”
I laughed, spinning her in my arms until she was facing me. I took her phone from her hands, set it on top of the speaker, and slipped my hands into the back pockets of her jean shorts. Then, I settled my gaze on hers.
“Hey,” I said, searching those endless green eyes of hers.
The way the low light of her lamps were reflected in them, I could see just the faintest hint of blue swirled around the pupils. But she couldn’t hold my gaze, looking at my chest or the floor, instead.
“Look at me.”
She shook her head.
“Gemma,” I laughed her name, tilting her chin up with my knuckle. “Look at me.”
When she finally did, it was the way a little girl looks at a closet door opening on its own in the dark. It was like I was every monster, every deep-rooted fear she’d ever known standing in front of her for the first time.
“Take a breath,” I said, and I started with a deep inhale, her mirroring me. “Now, let it out.”
She blew out a breath, and her shoulders slumped with it, her head hitting my shoulder. She let out a soft groan, shaking her head before lifting it to meet my gaze again.
“I’m sorry,” she said on a sigh. “I just… I’ve never done this before. In theory, it seems so easy, but now that we’re here…”
“It’s scary.”
She smiled. “So, so scary.”
“If it helps, I’m a little scared, too.”
Her eyes doubled at that. “You?” She laughed. “You don’t seem scared at all.”
“I am,” I said, and I pulled one hand from her back pocket and held it between us. “See? I’m even shaking a little.”
She eyed my trembling hand, then swatted it away, pushing my chest. “You’re faking it.”
I smirked. “Okay, maybe I’m not shaking,” I said, wrapping her in my arms and pulling her flush against me. Her breath caught, eyes flicking to my lips. “But I am nervous.”
“Why?”
I chuckled. “Have you seen you?” Her eyes met mine then. “You’re beautiful, Gemma. You may be nervous because it’s been a while for you, but even if you’d just done this yesterday, you’d still feel what you’re feeling right now. And you know what?” I shrugged. “It’s kind of the best part.”
“Feeling like I need to throw up is the best part of tonight?” She scrunched her nose. “You’re not really selling it, here.”
I fought a smile, lifting her chin again, until our lips were just inches apart. “No, feeling excited.” I swallowed, searching her eyes before my gaze landed on those full lips of hers I’d been dying to taste. “You’re shaking because you want to touch me, because you want me to touch you. It’s that rush of having someone’s hands on your body, someone new, someone who makes your heart race and your breath shallow.”
As if on cue, she let out a soft, shallow breath. “I don’t know how to do this,” she confessed, voice just above a whisper.
“Let me show you.”
➔ amzn.to/2ylJpPc
The Wrong Game
NOW LIVE!
🏈 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐘 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄?! 🏈
✓ Sports Romance
✓ Football
✓ Fall Vibes
✓ Enemies-to-Lovers
✓ Based in Chicago
✓ Angsty AF
✓ Sexy AF
✓ SOON AF ;)
Here's a Goodreads EXCLUSIVE sneak peek inside. (pre-edits, subject to change)
Make sure to add to your TBR!
------------------------------------------
“Music!” she said loudly, snapping her fingers. Her dark hair swung over her shoulders as she pranced over to a large speaker in the corner of the room. “I should put on music. What do you like to listen to? Here, I can just put on… this.”
She tapped something on her phone, and a slow, sexy beat filled the room. When the first verse started, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Let’s Get It On by Marvin Gaye.
Her eyes went wide, and she glanced at me over one shoulder. “Oh God, this is too much, isn’t it? It’s too cliche.”
She clicked through her phone as I took another sip of my wine, watching her with a smile.
“I should have made a playlist. God, why did I not think of making a playlist?”
She was still talking to herself when I set my wine on the counter, crossing the room to where she stood. I traced the lines of her slender neck, her back, the hair she pulled over one shoulder as she shook her head.
“Probably because I have no idea what to put on a playlist for this sort of thing,” she murmured to herself, still playing on her phone.
“What sort of thing?” I whispered into the back of her neck.
She jumped a little as my hands slipped around her hips from the back, pulling her flush against me. Every muscle in her body was stiff, her breath caught between an inhale and an exhale.
“Uh… this… um…” she swallowed, still holding her phone, still stiff as a board in my arms. “Oh, God.”
“Such a religious woman,” I teased.
“Oh, God.”
I laughed, spinning her in my arms until she was facing me. I took her phone from her hands, set it on top of the speaker, and slipped my hands into the back pockets of her jean shorts. Then, I settled my gaze on hers.
“Hey,” I said, searching those endless green eyes of hers.
The way the low light of her lamps were reflected in them, I could see just the faintest hint of blue swirled around the pupils. But she couldn’t hold my gaze, looking at my chest or the floor, instead.
“Look at me.”
She shook her head.
“Gemma,” I laughed her name, tilting her chin up with my knuckle. “Look at me.”
When she finally did, it was the way a little girl looks at a closet door opening on its own in the dark. It was like I was every monster, every deep-rooted fear she’d ever known standing in front of her for the first time.
“Take a breath,” I said, and I started with a deep inhale, her mirroring me. “Now, let it out.”
She blew out a breath, and her shoulders slumped with it, her head hitting my shoulder. She let out a soft groan, shaking her head before lifting it to meet my gaze again.
“I’m sorry,” she said on a sigh. “I just… I’ve never done this before. In theory, it seems so easy, but now that we’re here…”
“It’s scary.”
She smiled. “So, so scary.”
“If it helps, I’m a little scared, too.”
Her eyes doubled at that. “You?” She laughed. “You don’t seem scared at all.”
“I am,” I said, and I pulled one hand from her back pocket and held it between us. “See? I’m even shaking a little.”
She eyed my trembling hand, then swatted it away, pushing my chest. “You’re faking it.”
I smirked. “Okay, maybe I’m not shaking,” I said, wrapping her in my arms and pulling her flush against me. Her breath caught, eyes flicking to my lips. “But I am nervous.”
“Why?”
I chuckled. “Have you seen you?” Her eyes met mine then. “You’re beautiful, Gemma. You may be nervous because it’s been a while for you, but even if you’d just done this yesterday, you’d still feel what you’re feeling right now. And you know what?” I shrugged. “It’s kind of the best part.”
“Feeling like I need to throw up is the best part of tonight?” She scrunched her nose. “You’re not really selling it, here.”
I fought a smile, lifting her chin again, until our lips were just inches apart. “No, feeling excited.” I swallowed, searching her eyes before my gaze landed on those full lips of hers I’d been dying to taste. “You’re shaking because you want to touch me, because you want me to touch you. It’s that rush of having someone’s hands on your body, someone new, someone who makes your heart race and your breath shallow.”
As if on cue, she let out a soft, shallow breath. “I don’t know how to do this,” she confessed, voice just above a whisper.
“Let me show you.”
October 20, 2018
4 Stars!
(ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR)
Gemma Mancini is a newly single 29 yr. old woman living in Chicago who needs a fresh start. She's had a long year after the life she built fell apart. The last man she let close had destroyed all her faith in men, so she vowed only to depend on herself. To avoid heartbreak at all costs she had to be in control. She wasn't ready to date or be in a relationship, but maybe she could have some feelings-free fun without getting hurt. She has season passes to the Chicago Bears home games and comes up with a plan to have a new single guy fill the extra seat each game. She's lonely and this is her way of putting herself out there a bit. She meets a gorgeous guy before the first game who offers to be her practice round since she seems nervous. She accepts, and then he tries to change all her rules.
Zach Bowen meets the stunning Italian beauty Gemma and wants a chance to get to know her better. Problem is she's dead set on sticking to her rules. He knows she likes him too, and he's willing to be patient. She was a challenge, but something about her was different. He had a plan of his own, and no intention of giving up.
Gemma is scared to trust, and is letting her past dictate the present. Zach took her out of her comfort zone, and made her feel out of control. She swore she'd never fall in love again, but he somehow found a way to her heart when she thought she had nothing left to give. He makes her happy, but she's terrified, and keeps trying to talk herself out of what she's feeling. Will she face her fears and try again? Stop focusing on the past, and focus on the future?
-There was something about his eyes, about the kind of heat that swept over me with that gaze.
-I wanted to know more about him. I wanted to know everything.
-“You’re shaking because you want to touch me, because you want me to touch you. It’s that rush of having someone’s hands on your body, someone new, someone who makes your heart race and your breath shallow.”
-I wasn’t done with Gemma. I was far from it. And maybe she didn’t want to admit it, but she was far from done with me, too.
This was a fabulous sports romance full of angst and red hot chemistry that reminds us that in matters of the heart, there are no guarantees. To have great love you must always risk your heart. I loved Zach Bowen! He has such a pure beautiful heart. He lives life in the moment, and and to the fullest. He takes chances, and goes after what he wants. And on top of all that he's hot as hell! I really enjoyed this emotional story that also made me laugh. Another fantastic book by Kandi Steiner!
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/2J6FtWF
(ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR)
Gemma Mancini is a newly single 29 yr. old woman living in Chicago who needs a fresh start. She's had a long year after the life she built fell apart. The last man she let close had destroyed all her faith in men, so she vowed only to depend on herself. To avoid heartbreak at all costs she had to be in control. She wasn't ready to date or be in a relationship, but maybe she could have some feelings-free fun without getting hurt. She has season passes to the Chicago Bears home games and comes up with a plan to have a new single guy fill the extra seat each game. She's lonely and this is her way of putting herself out there a bit. She meets a gorgeous guy before the first game who offers to be her practice round since she seems nervous. She accepts, and then he tries to change all her rules.
Zach Bowen meets the stunning Italian beauty Gemma and wants a chance to get to know her better. Problem is she's dead set on sticking to her rules. He knows she likes him too, and he's willing to be patient. She was a challenge, but something about her was different. He had a plan of his own, and no intention of giving up.
Gemma is scared to trust, and is letting her past dictate the present. Zach took her out of her comfort zone, and made her feel out of control. She swore she'd never fall in love again, but he somehow found a way to her heart when she thought she had nothing left to give. He makes her happy, but she's terrified, and keeps trying to talk herself out of what she's feeling. Will she face her fears and try again? Stop focusing on the past, and focus on the future?
-There was something about his eyes, about the kind of heat that swept over me with that gaze.
-I wanted to know more about him. I wanted to know everything.
-“You’re shaking because you want to touch me, because you want me to touch you. It’s that rush of having someone’s hands on your body, someone new, someone who makes your heart race and your breath shallow.”
-I wasn’t done with Gemma. I was far from it. And maybe she didn’t want to admit it, but she was far from done with me, too.
This was a fabulous sports romance full of angst and red hot chemistry that reminds us that in matters of the heart, there are no guarantees. To have great love you must always risk your heart. I loved Zach Bowen! He has such a pure beautiful heart. He lives life in the moment, and and to the fullest. He takes chances, and goes after what he wants. And on top of all that he's hot as hell! I really enjoyed this emotional story that also made me laugh. Another fantastic book by Kandi Steiner!
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/2J6FtWF
September 13, 2021
I thought I had her figured out. It was the classic “girl who’s been hurt and is afraid of love” scenario. I’d seen it in a hundred romantic comedies, and I was ready to step in and play my part as the hero, ready to peel back her layers slowly, to gain her trust and her heart—should we make it that far.Gemma Mancini is still grieving the death of her husband, in part because she learned he was dying the day she found out he was cheating on her, and she swallowed her feelings and stayed with him rather than start her healing process by divorcing him. But Gemma has a plan. Rather than trust or love a man again, she’s going to use her Chicago Bears season tickets to have a string of one-date-only hookups. Her plan that lasts precisely one game, because she meets Zach Bowen, an equally broken-hearted bartender.
Is there any question what’s going to happen here? No. Are Gemma and Zach realistic characters? Not really. She’s basically the Cool Girl as famously described in Gone Girl: beautiful, fun, sexy, low maintenance, and vulnerable without realizing that she’s beautiful, fun, and sexy. Meanwhile, Zach is built like a Greek god but he’s safe, thoughtful, kind, and devoted to his family. But they’re both cute characters, and especially cute together. Round the plot out with the rom-com trademarked sassy best friend, Belle, a lot of banter, a small amount of drama, and a grand gesture or two, and the story works.
Now if a person wanted to dig deep, they might have a couple of questions. What does it say about the feminist, sex-positive plan devised by Gemma and Belle that Gemma only actually hooks up with Zach? Why is it that, while we shown Zach being a very … let’s say generous partner, Gemma is never shown … let’s say returning the favors? Doing onto others as you want them to do onto you?
But never mind all that. Are you ready for some football? I mean, are you ready for a bit more football than you’d expect in a romance novel? Then I would suggest you check out the surprisingly cute The Wrong Game.
October 6, 2018
This book is *everything* I wanted this fall.
The prologue knocked all the air out of my lungs (I mean, it IS a Kandi Steiner book, after all). The opening was brilliant. The premise set me up for all the angst Kandi delivers, but in a light, comedic setting that had me D Y I N G for these two characters to fall in love and have a million babies already.
Gemma is broken, trying to move on in the best way she knows how--with the help of an iron will and a death grip on the sheet of paper she's written her plan on. But Zach doesn't give a sh!t about that list. Because he knows she's different, that she's special. That she should be his.
And he intends to get her.
Get ready for all the fun, all the football, all the feels. Five fangirl stars!!
The prologue knocked all the air out of my lungs (I mean, it IS a Kandi Steiner book, after all). The opening was brilliant. The premise set me up for all the angst Kandi delivers, but in a light, comedic setting that had me D Y I N G for these two characters to fall in love and have a million babies already.
Gemma is broken, trying to move on in the best way she knows how--with the help of an iron will and a death grip on the sheet of paper she's written her plan on. But Zach doesn't give a sh!t about that list. Because he knows she's different, that she's special. That she should be his.
And he intends to get her.
Get ready for all the fun, all the football, all the feels. Five fangirl stars!!
October 18, 2018
“Gemma was worth fighting for. And I was all in.”
Wow! I absolutely loved The Wrong Game. Kandi Steiner’s writing is simply poetic genius; all of her stories have the ability to make me feel every emotion thinkable. She is a true storyteller and I always look forward to her newest release. The Wrong Game is a captivating and fun sports romance that I would definitely categorise as a must read.
Gemma is a super organised person who lives her life by lists and plans. Even to the point where she plans out conversations she is going to have, what she is going to say, what they are going to say and the repercussions of said conversation. Gemma has suffered immense pain and loss and my heart literally broke for her. I wondered whilst reading how I would ever overcome what Gemma’s been through? I had no answers, except for like Gemma I would always and forever stick to my plan and never deviate.
“I made one simple plan, with one simple rule. Never fall in love again. It was more than just a plan, more than just a goal. It was a promise. And it was one I vowed to keep.”
Gemma’s best friend Belle thinks she can come up with the perfect solution to help her friend. She needs to get laid and Belle knows the perfect way. With Belle’s suggestion she will soon become every living and breathing hot blooded male’s perfect date; a free pass to the football with a beautiful woman. No attachments and no feelings involved; a different guy for each home game of the Chicago Bears. Maybe through these dates she just might be able to forget about her loss and heartbreak for a while and have some much deserved fun.
Zach, who is a bartender at the sports bar, overhears Belle trying to convince Gemma take a risk and have a little fun. Zach can think of nothing better than to volunteer to be her first date to the football. Zach is instantly drawn to Gemma from the first moment he lays eyes on her and the fact she loves football is every guys dream girl.
“I wondered what the hell I could say to her to get her to see me – really see me – before she walked out of that bar.”
I absolutely loved Zach; he was so caring, sincere and positively adorable. He knows Gemma hides behind the giant wall she has built in order to protect her heart, but he is determined to break through her shield, piece by piece.
I loved the relationship between Gemma and Zach. It was hot as hell, they had great chemistry and the tension was just the right amount to keep me invested. I loved their interactions and witty banter, it was hilarious and they just made for the perfect literary couple.
“I had surrendered to my feelings for him, backing down on a plan I was so hell bent on sticking with. And now, I was no longer in control.
That both excited and terrified me.”
The Wrong Game was an absolutely joy and privilege to read. It was sweet, sexy, hilarious, yet emotional in parts. If you love your slightly angsty sports romances then you need to look no further because Gemma and Zach’s journey is sure to melt your heart.
October 28, 2018
REVIEW: 2 STARS
Book slump? sigh Maybe? I don't know, but I do know that I am struggling with this one, so please understand I mean no disrespect with this review. I feel like I was completely misled, to be honest. I am not necessarily mad, but more like sad, shocked...and yes, let down by this book. I was promised an angsty sports romance. That is not what I got with this one. Like, at all? Yeah, at all. I didn't make it out of the prologue without having to breathe through an eye roll....and it kinda went downhill from there. I do know that some things were going on while she was writing this book, so I can only imagine it affected her emotionally while it was written, because this isn't the Kandi I know and love and have read and heavily, easily recommended.
This is what I was promised in this book:
✓ Sports Romance
✓ Football
✓ Fall Vibes
✓ Enemies-to-Lovers
✓ Based in Chicago
✓ Angsty AF
✓ Sexy AF
I will basically touch on these points and why I felt this wasn't what was promised, because I was really upset about the actual content of this book and the way it all came together, but I am not going to break down the book like I normally would because this is clearly a me thing....again. The only things I can say for sure that were delivered for me was the Fall Vibes, Based in Chicago and Football. I know, I sound upset. Sorry, but I guess I am more sad than anything else.
First of all, there wasn't ANY angst. None. Not the signature, climb the walls, gut-wrenching, stomach clenching angst that I know Kandi can give me. She's one of my favorites. I mean, I call her my Guru of Angst. Unfortunately, it was all aggravation for me and zero angst. It was frustration with Gemma and head-shaking wonder with Zach with how far he bent over backwards for her - for. no. reason. I don't say that lightly because Kandi has written some of my favorite angsty books of all time. All. Time. Let that sink in. She can write angst like NO other and I will easily admit that. Unfortunately, with this one, it felt like a long fall off a short cliff.
Sports Romance, to me, indicates a player of a sport is one of the main characters....or there is a sport job somewhere. This is most likely my error and my misunderstanding because it was sports-centric, so we were at the stadium and watched a lot of football in this one. So if that classifies it as a sports romance, I can roll with it I suppose. The hero played in high school and was apparently good enough for the pros but life stepped in the way, but there wasn't anyone in any sports per se. I would actually classify it as a contemporary romance.
And I am not sure where the enemies to lovers tag comes in. I don't understand this classification, because they weren't enemies. Not by any means. SHE had issues and SHE pushed him away due to HER insecurities, but it was not an enemies thing at all. At. All. The biggest let down for me was the CrAzY that was her heroine. I just couldn't with her and her "special brand of anxiety", because apparently we get to classify our anxiety now. I think that was the single biggest turnoff for me, after her list-writing, abnormally weird denial she had. Or it was just weird. But it definitely wasn't normal.
I know there was some funny parts to this book because I did chuckle a time or two. And I did enjoy the buildup we originally got with Gemma and Zach, because you could feel that immediate attraction and the bond they quickly formed. Zach was a freaking angel. A sweetheart and you could argue that he is what book boyfriends are made of. But dangit...he turned into mush and a doormat because he was apologizing for her issues after the whole 'letter debacle' that they went through. I didn't get it and I was really rather upset at the turn of events that led them down the path taken. I know that is a big thing for me because I like my men strong, and I love when they fight for the woman that makes their world turn, but I don't like when they are made to feel like something is their fault when it most definitely is NOT. I just didn't like Gemma or the way she treated him, and I hated the way she made him feel as if this was his fault just because he was a man. Literally.
When you have an author the caliber of Kandi Steiner, one that has written one of my favorite, angstiest, nail biting books everrr, saying she has written an angsty, sport romance, I knew to expect angsty and I knew it was gonna be good. Well, I don't know what happened here, but the angsty in this one was not angst at all. It was anger inducing frustration. It was a "special brand" of annoying is what it was. I am so upset at how this one turned out, but I am glad I am in the minority on this one. This was a purchased book, so there won't be a giveaway for this one. I am very sad about this book...it kinda broke my heart a little bit, but I'm thankful that this was clearly just a me thing based on her reviews and ratings. You may love it....just as many others have, but this one fell short for me.
Blark....
~BEE
AA Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/2ERCWkJ
Book slump? sigh Maybe? I don't know, but I do know that I am struggling with this one, so please understand I mean no disrespect with this review. I feel like I was completely misled, to be honest. I am not necessarily mad, but more like sad, shocked...and yes, let down by this book. I was promised an angsty sports romance. That is not what I got with this one. Like, at all? Yeah, at all. I didn't make it out of the prologue without having to breathe through an eye roll....and it kinda went downhill from there. I do know that some things were going on while she was writing this book, so I can only imagine it affected her emotionally while it was written, because this isn't the Kandi I know and love and have read and heavily, easily recommended.
This is what I was promised in this book:
✓ Sports Romance
✓ Football
✓ Fall Vibes
✓ Enemies-to-Lovers
✓ Based in Chicago
✓ Angsty AF
✓ Sexy AF
I will basically touch on these points and why I felt this wasn't what was promised, because I was really upset about the actual content of this book and the way it all came together, but I am not going to break down the book like I normally would because this is clearly a me thing....again. The only things I can say for sure that were delivered for me was the Fall Vibes, Based in Chicago and Football. I know, I sound upset. Sorry, but I guess I am more sad than anything else.
First of all, there wasn't ANY angst. None. Not the signature, climb the walls, gut-wrenching, stomach clenching angst that I know Kandi can give me. She's one of my favorites. I mean, I call her my Guru of Angst. Unfortunately, it was all aggravation for me and zero angst. It was frustration with Gemma and head-shaking wonder with Zach with how far he bent over backwards for her - for. no. reason. I don't say that lightly because Kandi has written some of my favorite angsty books of all time. All. Time. Let that sink in. She can write angst like NO other and I will easily admit that. Unfortunately, with this one, it felt like a long fall off a short cliff.
Sports Romance, to me, indicates a player of a sport is one of the main characters....or there is a sport job somewhere. This is most likely my error and my misunderstanding because it was sports-centric, so we were at the stadium and watched a lot of football in this one. So if that classifies it as a sports romance, I can roll with it I suppose. The hero played in high school and was apparently good enough for the pros but life stepped in the way, but there wasn't anyone in any sports per se. I would actually classify it as a contemporary romance.
And I am not sure where the enemies to lovers tag comes in. I don't understand this classification, because they weren't enemies. Not by any means. SHE had issues and SHE pushed him away due to HER insecurities, but it was not an enemies thing at all. At. All. The biggest let down for me was the CrAzY that was her heroine. I just couldn't with her and her "special brand of anxiety", because apparently we get to classify our anxiety now. I think that was the single biggest turnoff for me, after her list-writing, abnormally weird denial she had. Or it was just weird. But it definitely wasn't normal.
I know there was some funny parts to this book because I did chuckle a time or two. And I did enjoy the buildup we originally got with Gemma and Zach, because you could feel that immediate attraction and the bond they quickly formed. Zach was a freaking angel. A sweetheart and you could argue that he is what book boyfriends are made of. But dangit...he turned into mush and a doormat because he was apologizing for her issues after the whole 'letter debacle' that they went through. I didn't get it and I was really rather upset at the turn of events that led them down the path taken. I know that is a big thing for me because I like my men strong, and I love when they fight for the woman that makes their world turn, but I don't like when they are made to feel like something is their fault when it most definitely is NOT. I just didn't like Gemma or the way she treated him, and I hated the way she made him feel as if this was his fault just because he was a man. Literally.
When you have an author the caliber of Kandi Steiner, one that has written one of my favorite, angstiest, nail biting books everrr, saying she has written an angsty, sport romance, I knew to expect angsty and I knew it was gonna be good. Well, I don't know what happened here, but the angsty in this one was not angst at all. It was anger inducing frustration. It was a "special brand" of annoying is what it was. I am so upset at how this one turned out, but I am glad I am in the minority on this one. This was a purchased book, so there won't be a giveaway for this one. I am very sad about this book...it kinda broke my heart a little bit, but I'm thankful that this was clearly just a me thing based on her reviews and ratings. You may love it....just as many others have, but this one fell short for me.
Blark....
~BEE
AA Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/2ERCWkJ
July 12, 2022
4.25⭐️ A super cute and quick read. It is kind of insta lovey but nonetheless the characters are super likable so you will get over the insta love fast. Loved Zach and Gemma so much 🫶🏻 Can’t wait for Belle’s book next!
"I love when you do that," he whispered.
"Do what?"
"Exist.”
"I love when you do that," he whispered.
"Do what?"
"Exist.”
Read
April 5, 2021DNF at 47%.
Some characters are in some serious need of finding out what a psychologist is...
Girly, I get that you had some issues, but you should resolve them instead of stringing along a poor guy to then push him away again and again when you freak out by the slightest inconvenience.
Thank God tomorrow Abby Jimenez and Sarah Hogle release new books because I cannot deal with more dnf books 😭😩😭😩
Some characters are in some serious need of finding out what a psychologist is...
Girly, I get that you had some issues, but you should resolve them instead of stringing along a poor guy to then push him away again and again when you freak out by the slightest inconvenience.
Thank God tomorrow Abby Jimenez and Sarah Hogle release new books because I cannot deal with more dnf books 😭😩😭😩
October 13, 2018
I adored this book and devoured it in one sitting. Gemma is a smart, sexy and cute character and I loved the dynamic between her and Zach. I enjoyed spending time with them. I loved the football theme, the story idea was pretty good…the entire book is hugely addictive. I could NOT put it down. I can only compliment the author on the characters and dialogues. Funny and sad, loving and romantic.
I really enjoyed this book and if you’re looking for a sport contemporary romance that is all fluffy, very sexy and nice and will make you smile, then this definitely should be your choice of book!
In short:
Hero 5/5 | Heroine 4/5 | Plot (Point, Originality) 5/5 | Writing Style 4/5 | Steam 5/5 | Romance 4/5 | Angst-Suspense 3/5 | Darkness 2/5 | Humor 4/5 | Secondary Characters 5/5 | Drama-Conflict 4/5 | Mystery 0/5 | Twists 4/5 | Pacing Fast | Action 3/5
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book and if you’re looking for a sport contemporary romance that is all fluffy, very sexy and nice and will make you smile, then this definitely should be your choice of book!
In short:
Hero 5/5 | Heroine 4/5 | Plot (Point, Originality) 5/5 | Writing Style 4/5 | Steam 5/5 | Romance 4/5 | Angst-Suspense 3/5 | Darkness 2/5 | Humor 4/5 | Secondary Characters 5/5 | Drama-Conflict 4/5 | Mystery 0/5 | Twists 4/5 | Pacing Fast | Action 3/5
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
November 5, 2018
4 ⭐'s
"This time, I want the real thing. No more practice. Let's play for keeps."
I always enjoy Kandi Steiner's books and this one was no exception. Gemma and Zach meet when Gemma is going through a transitional stage in her life. She's trying to move on from a very painful ordeal and her best friend, Belle, comes up with the idea of picking different guys to go with her to football games and then hooking up. Of course, they are discussing this in a bar and naturally Zach is the bartender.
He offers himself up as a practice date and things go way beyond amazing but Gemma needs control in her life and that control is sticking with her plan, not going on another date with Zach.
He is determined and doesn't make things easy for Gemma. Things are stepped up a notch when Belle hatches a plan.
I really enjoyed these two even if it was different with Zach being sensitive and maybe a little more Beta than I'm used to. And the football aspect made the story even better. Go Hot Dog and His Girl!
"This time, I want the real thing. No more practice. Let's play for keeps."
I always enjoy Kandi Steiner's books and this one was no exception. Gemma and Zach meet when Gemma is going through a transitional stage in her life. She's trying to move on from a very painful ordeal and her best friend, Belle, comes up with the idea of picking different guys to go with her to football games and then hooking up. Of course, they are discussing this in a bar and naturally Zach is the bartender.
He offers himself up as a practice date and things go way beyond amazing but Gemma needs control in her life and that control is sticking with her plan, not going on another date with Zach.
He is determined and doesn't make things easy for Gemma. Things are stepped up a notch when Belle hatches a plan.
I really enjoyed these two even if it was different with Zach being sensitive and maybe a little more Beta than I'm used to. And the football aspect made the story even better. Go Hot Dog and His Girl!
October 17, 2018
4.5 stars
"It was as if those eyes knew me, like we were playing a game and he was three moves ahead."
One thing you have to know before reading this book is, that Kandi Steiner is one of the girls who feel everything. If this author is not new to you, you know this by now. And because she feels everything, she has this amazingly talent to write books like The Wrong Game.
"She was like a Rubik's Cube in a blind man's hand - impossible to figure out. And yet I was the blind man determined to try."
Believe me if I say, this book has truly everything a romance readers heart wishes for. It has easy lovable characters with great development. Characters like you and me with feelings that get transported through an awesome writing right into your bones. It also has fun and is entertaining, it has depth and is pretty fascinating. It's a slow burn on a very high level.
"I can't walk away from you. Not yet. Maybe not ever."
Zach and Gemma, both early marked by life, left with wounds they yet have to learn how to heal. They, their feelings and struggles feel real. Like right out of the real life. And even though there seems to be a kind of insta-attraction, they don't act on it. They try to work it out. I really loved that about this book. Zach and Gemma worked so well together it was a pleasure to follow their story.
And yes, Gemma's bestie Belle is totally worth to mention. She's a stunning friend, a soulmate like my own best friend. I can't tell you how important this is in life!
"We were in it together, no matter what was to come, and we would fight for the win. For each other. Until the last whistle blew."
The Wrong Game is a fantastic emotional ride, that you definitely don't want to miss out on!
"It was as if those eyes knew me, like we were playing a game and he was three moves ahead."
One thing you have to know before reading this book is, that Kandi Steiner is one of the girls who feel everything. If this author is not new to you, you know this by now. And because she feels everything, she has this amazingly talent to write books like The Wrong Game.
"She was like a Rubik's Cube in a blind man's hand - impossible to figure out. And yet I was the blind man determined to try."
Believe me if I say, this book has truly everything a romance readers heart wishes for. It has easy lovable characters with great development. Characters like you and me with feelings that get transported through an awesome writing right into your bones. It also has fun and is entertaining, it has depth and is pretty fascinating. It's a slow burn on a very high level.
"I can't walk away from you. Not yet. Maybe not ever."
Zach and Gemma, both early marked by life, left with wounds they yet have to learn how to heal. They, their feelings and struggles feel real. Like right out of the real life. And even though there seems to be a kind of insta-attraction, they don't act on it. They try to work it out. I really loved that about this book. Zach and Gemma worked so well together it was a pleasure to follow their story.
And yes, Gemma's bestie Belle is totally worth to mention. She's a stunning friend, a soulmate like my own best friend. I can't tell you how important this is in life!
"We were in it together, no matter what was to come, and we would fight for the win. For each other. Until the last whistle blew."
The Wrong Game is a fantastic emotional ride, that you definitely don't want to miss out on!
May 18, 2022
I really enjoyed this read! Was super hooked by chapter one which is always a good sign. It had such a cute premise and I’m always a sucker for a good guy falls first story where he chases her… gets all possessive and jealous and doesn’t give up even when she pushes him away.
I’m also a huge fan of seeing OCD and anxiety rep in books… especially when it’s written in a way I can personally relate to… so that aspect made me really connect to Gemma. Plus I love a good damaged hero/heroine and enjoyed seeing how they both came with their own baggage.
The first 50% or so was very 5 star feeling but then I found myself getting a little bored here and there with the whole push/pull while she navigated what she wanted… plus it did have an ending breakup moment (which I don’t love, but made a lot of sense for the story) followed by two really big grand gestures (which were pretty cute)
So overall, I’m really happy I read it and definitely would recommend it.
I’m also a huge fan of seeing OCD and anxiety rep in books… especially when it’s written in a way I can personally relate to… so that aspect made me really connect to Gemma. Plus I love a good damaged hero/heroine and enjoyed seeing how they both came with their own baggage.
The first 50% or so was very 5 star feeling but then I found myself getting a little bored here and there with the whole push/pull while she navigated what she wanted… plus it did have an ending breakup moment (which I don’t love, but made a lot of sense for the story) followed by two really big grand gestures (which were pretty cute)
So overall, I’m really happy I read it and definitely would recommend it.
July 23, 2022
I looved this book! It’s really hard to find a great romantic contemporary book and this checked every box! The writing is fantastic! Dialogue, secondary characters all so wonderful! The MCs were perfection, loved their povs and Zach was the hottest cinnamon roll I’ve read in a while! I will definitely be reading more from this author!
October 18, 2018
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book*
5 “BEAR DOWN” Stars
You know those books, the ones where you read the prologue and that’s it, you’re hooked? Well, that’s exactly what happened with The Wrong Game. It captivated me right from the start and I knew without a doubt I was in for an unforgettable journey. And this book was exactly what I needed. It’s like Kandi spoke to my football loving heart. And the fact that she also wrote about my favorite NFL team, Da Bears, well that was just another layer of icing on the cake. I LOVED this book, I loved this book so hard. It was lighter on the angst side, but furthermore it still did in fact have just enough of Kandi’s signature angst-y goodness. The characters in this book were some of my favorite characters Kandi has written. And OMFG, Zach Bowen most certainly stole the show for me. *sigh* All I want to do now is go back and re-read this AH-MAZ-ING book all over again and get lost in all its beauty.
Gemma was a woman that I felt for. Honestly if I were in Gemma’s shoes I don’t know how I would react at what she found out. I think I’d want them to hurt as much as me. For them to feel all the pain I was enduring. But then again I can’t say that in all it’s certainty because quite frankly, I’m not 100% sure if that’s what I’d want. And I commend Gemma for her selflessness because it takes a person with a big heart like hers to do what was extremely hard for her to do. And even though she's meticulous and makes lists, she did not see this coming, and she most definitely did not see Zach Bowen coming either.
Zach Bowen gets all the freaking stars! This man was every bit charming and selfless. He's had his own share of heartache, but he's taken that and grown from it. He is such a good guy. The way he loves his family and especially his younger brother and would do anything and everything for them makes him even more of an amazing man. I loved him, my gosh did I love him. If every man can have just an ounce of Zach in them, the world would be a better place.
Gemma and Zach were meant to be. They needed each other, both needing to learn from the other. Needing to trust and give trust in return. Trusting if they were to fall, the other person would be there to pick them up. Reading Gemma and Zach's love story brought all the smiles. Their witty banter bringing the laughs. Their bumps in the road bringing the nail biting and heart beating faster than usual. I couldn't get enough of these two. I loved them, and wanted more, so much more.
Kandi, what can I say? I freaking love you! Each and every book you release just gets better and better. How do you do it? I don't know, but don't stop, ever! The Wrong Game is the perfect fall book. Honestly, taking one of my loves, football, and writing a fan-freakin-tastic book revolving around it, hashtag winning! And the fact that you not only had the Bears beating those cheeseheads not once, but twice? You girl are the real MVP! I don't care if it's fiction, anytime GB loses is great in my book. Oh, and then you mentioning my Cubs, my favorite baseball team, you're just making my heart happy. Again, you've outdone yourself. Yet another book to add to my favorites list.
5 “BEAR DOWN” Stars
You know those books, the ones where you read the prologue and that’s it, you’re hooked? Well, that’s exactly what happened with The Wrong Game. It captivated me right from the start and I knew without a doubt I was in for an unforgettable journey. And this book was exactly what I needed. It’s like Kandi spoke to my football loving heart. And the fact that she also wrote about my favorite NFL team, Da Bears, well that was just another layer of icing on the cake. I LOVED this book, I loved this book so hard. It was lighter on the angst side, but furthermore it still did in fact have just enough of Kandi’s signature angst-y goodness. The characters in this book were some of my favorite characters Kandi has written. And OMFG, Zach Bowen most certainly stole the show for me. *sigh* All I want to do now is go back and re-read this AH-MAZ-ING book all over again and get lost in all its beauty.
Gemma was a woman that I felt for. Honestly if I were in Gemma’s shoes I don’t know how I would react at what she found out. I think I’d want them to hurt as much as me. For them to feel all the pain I was enduring. But then again I can’t say that in all it’s certainty because quite frankly, I’m not 100% sure if that’s what I’d want. And I commend Gemma for her selflessness because it takes a person with a big heart like hers to do what was extremely hard for her to do. And even though she's meticulous and makes lists, she did not see this coming, and she most definitely did not see Zach Bowen coming either.
Zach Bowen gets all the freaking stars! This man was every bit charming and selfless. He's had his own share of heartache, but he's taken that and grown from it. He is such a good guy. The way he loves his family and especially his younger brother and would do anything and everything for them makes him even more of an amazing man. I loved him, my gosh did I love him. If every man can have just an ounce of Zach in them, the world would be a better place.
Gemma and Zach were meant to be. They needed each other, both needing to learn from the other. Needing to trust and give trust in return. Trusting if they were to fall, the other person would be there to pick them up. Reading Gemma and Zach's love story brought all the smiles. Their witty banter bringing the laughs. Their bumps in the road bringing the nail biting and heart beating faster than usual. I couldn't get enough of these two. I loved them, and wanted more, so much more.
Kandi, what can I say? I freaking love you! Each and every book you release just gets better and better. How do you do it? I don't know, but don't stop, ever! The Wrong Game is the perfect fall book. Honestly, taking one of my loves, football, and writing a fan-freakin-tastic book revolving around it, hashtag winning! And the fact that you not only had the Bears beating those cheeseheads not once, but twice? You girl are the real MVP! I don't care if it's fiction, anytime GB loses is great in my book. Oh, and then you mentioning my Cubs, my favorite baseball team, you're just making my heart happy. Again, you've outdone yourself. Yet another book to add to my favorites list.
October 21, 2018
It's no secret that Kandi Steiner is an auto-buy author for me. After reading some heavy emotional books for her past two releases, I was so excited for a fun football romance from her!
When Gemma was betrayed in the worst way possible by a man, she has no idea how she'll ever open her heart again. So with the Chicago Bears season tickets she bought the man who betrayed her, Gemma is determined to meet a new man every week to bring to the game with her. But when Zach Bowen, a hot bartender who overhears her planning with her best friend, offers to be her practice round, he is both infuriating and undeniably charming. Gemma tries to continue with her plan, but Zach won't let her go that easily.
I will say, the prologue of this book hits you in the gut and I was not expecting that. After we get past Gemma's hurt, though, and into her plan to date around during football season, this book turned into the fun contemporary that the synopsis promised it to be. The romance was so adorable and Zach was just so charming. I loved how determined he was to show Gemma she could choose just one guy to be with and that that guys was him. As a football fan, I loved their time at games together and the whole football atmosphere that came alive in this book.
While this romance was fun and cute, I felt like the story did drag a bit around the middle and I wanted something more to grab my attention. Nothing really important or exciting happened during the middle that made me have that obsession with the book that I had at the beginning. It was just a sweet story with two people who had been hurt in the past learning to trust and love again.
If you want a fun contemporary full of football, hotdogs, and romance, The Wrong Game is the book for you. Gemma's character was so relatable and you won't be able to help but swoon over Zach's character. It's safe to say that Kandi Steiner knows how to deliver a good romance and you have to pick up The Wrong Game!
When Gemma was betrayed in the worst way possible by a man, she has no idea how she'll ever open her heart again. So with the Chicago Bears season tickets she bought the man who betrayed her, Gemma is determined to meet a new man every week to bring to the game with her. But when Zach Bowen, a hot bartender who overhears her planning with her best friend, offers to be her practice round, he is both infuriating and undeniably charming. Gemma tries to continue with her plan, but Zach won't let her go that easily.
I will say, the prologue of this book hits you in the gut and I was not expecting that. After we get past Gemma's hurt, though, and into her plan to date around during football season, this book turned into the fun contemporary that the synopsis promised it to be. The romance was so adorable and Zach was just so charming. I loved how determined he was to show Gemma she could choose just one guy to be with and that that guys was him. As a football fan, I loved their time at games together and the whole football atmosphere that came alive in this book.
While this romance was fun and cute, I felt like the story did drag a bit around the middle and I wanted something more to grab my attention. Nothing really important or exciting happened during the middle that made me have that obsession with the book that I had at the beginning. It was just a sweet story with two people who had been hurt in the past learning to trust and love again.
If you want a fun contemporary full of football, hotdogs, and romance, The Wrong Game is the book for you. Gemma's character was so relatable and you won't be able to help but swoon over Zach's character. It's safe to say that Kandi Steiner knows how to deliver a good romance and you have to pick up The Wrong Game!
October 6, 2022
I hesitated when the story started because the prologue was sad and dark. Gemma finds out her husband has been cheating on her. And when she goes to tell him that she's leaving he finds out that he has terminal cancer. At this point, Gemma is by his side until the end. She never reveals to anyone that she knows he's cheating on her. (after he passes she confides in her best friend, Belle)
When we get to chapter one the story lightens up. Gemma had bought her husband -at the time- season passes to the Chicago Bears games. Now, she has these two tickets and no one to go with her. Belle and her come up with a plan where she’ll take a different guy for each game. She’ll find these men on a dating app. Zach overheard them while he was working the bar and was insentient that he be the first date so Gemma can practice.
THE WRONG GAME
● Gemma (29/30) & Zach (30ish)
● works with her friend / bartender
● widow
● 2 season tickets to Chicago Bears game
● G- finding dates to go with her to the game
● G- wants to take a new guy for each game
● Zach stole a kiss when Gemma was at the game with a date (Jumbotron)
● the proposal at the end was the chef’s kiss
● sports romance (from the fans pov)
● enemies to lovers
● standalone
“This was what I loved about football — not just the sport, but the players, the fandom. Nothing stopped us. It didn’t matter what the score was, or how impossible the odds were. Until that last whistle blew, we would be there, on our feet, fighting for the win. I grabbed Zach’s hand, squeezing it as our eyes met. And that’s when I realized that it was the same for us. We were in it together, no matter what was to come, and we would fight for the win. For each other. Until the last whistle blew.”
When we get to chapter one the story lightens up. Gemma had bought her husband -at the time- season passes to the Chicago Bears games. Now, she has these two tickets and no one to go with her. Belle and her come up with a plan where she’ll take a different guy for each game. She’ll find these men on a dating app. Zach overheard them while he was working the bar and was insentient that he be the first date so Gemma can practice.
THE WRONG GAME
● Gemma (29/30) & Zach (30ish)
● works with her friend / bartender
● widow
● 2 season tickets to Chicago Bears game
● G- finding dates to go with her to the game
● G- wants to take a new guy for each game
● Zach stole a kiss when Gemma was at the game with a date (Jumbotron)
● the proposal at the end was the chef’s kiss
● sports romance (from the fans pov)
● enemies to lovers
● standalone
“This was what I loved about football — not just the sport, but the players, the fandom. Nothing stopped us. It didn’t matter what the score was, or how impossible the odds were. Until that last whistle blew, we would be there, on our feet, fighting for the win. I grabbed Zach’s hand, squeezing it as our eyes met. And that’s when I realized that it was the same for us. We were in it together, no matter what was to come, and we would fight for the win. For each other. Until the last whistle blew.”
Audiobook source: Hoopla
Narrator: Virginia Rose & Nelson Hobbs
Length: 10H 47M
October 26, 2018
4.5 stars!
Wow what a great book. I love pretty much all Kandi Steiner books, and this one was no different. Great characters, angsty scenes, fun dialogue and a moving, realistic story. I also found the heat level in this one was higher than most of her previous books, with a few verrrry steamy scenes. Overall I loved it!
Wow what a great book. I love pretty much all Kandi Steiner books, and this one was no different. Great characters, angsty scenes, fun dialogue and a moving, realistic story. I also found the heat level in this one was higher than most of her previous books, with a few verrrry steamy scenes. Overall I loved it!
July 13, 2022
Recensione in Review Party sulla mia pagina Bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf8sM28Mw...
Gemma aveva un abbonamento che le permetteva di assistere al campionato dei Bears, la squadra di football di cui era tifosa, con ben due posti in prima fila.
Ma la persona con cui avrebbe dovuto assistere alla partita non poteva più accompagnarla. Dunque per non sprecare il posto che altrimenti sarebbe rimasto vuoto, decise di offrirlo ad un perfetto sconosciuto. Ma avrebbe dovuto meritarselo.
🖋️Il gioco sbagliato è uno sport romance divertente e dai toni leggeri, infatti tutto il romanzo è intriso di sano umorismo.
Una commedia romantica che prevede anche delle parti drammatiche, che risultano a mio avviso poco sviluppate e di conseguenza non appesantiscono la lettura.
I dialoghi sono vivaci per cui il libro risulta scorrevole e veloce, perfetto da fare rilassati in spiaggia.
I personaggi sono complessi ma ben caratterizzati, e soprattutto per quanto riguarda il loro passato, l’autrice ha saputo tracciare approfonditamente i tratti distintivi di ognuno.
🖋️Gemma è stata ferita sul piano sentimentale e per proteggere il suo cuore da future delusioni ha deciso di pianificare la sua vita in ogni aspetto.
Era più di un piano il suo, anche più di un obiettivo. Era una promessa che avrebbe fatto il possibile mantenere anche perché la regola che aveva stabilito era unica e semplice: non innamorarsi mai più.
Riuscirà Zach, un uomo affascinante e adorabile, sempre attento ai bisogni della sua famiglia e amico fedele e affidabile, a far breccia nel suo cuore e abbattere quei muri che Gemma, con determinazione, ha innalzato a protezione?
Non resta che leggere il romanzo per scoprirlo.
*Ringrazio l’autrice per la copia fornita
Gemma aveva un abbonamento che le permetteva di assistere al campionato dei Bears, la squadra di football di cui era tifosa, con ben due posti in prima fila.
Ma la persona con cui avrebbe dovuto assistere alla partita non poteva più accompagnarla. Dunque per non sprecare il posto che altrimenti sarebbe rimasto vuoto, decise di offrirlo ad un perfetto sconosciuto. Ma avrebbe dovuto meritarselo.
🖋️Il gioco sbagliato è uno sport romance divertente e dai toni leggeri, infatti tutto il romanzo è intriso di sano umorismo.
Una commedia romantica che prevede anche delle parti drammatiche, che risultano a mio avviso poco sviluppate e di conseguenza non appesantiscono la lettura.
I dialoghi sono vivaci per cui il libro risulta scorrevole e veloce, perfetto da fare rilassati in spiaggia.
I personaggi sono complessi ma ben caratterizzati, e soprattutto per quanto riguarda il loro passato, l’autrice ha saputo tracciare approfonditamente i tratti distintivi di ognuno.
🖋️Gemma è stata ferita sul piano sentimentale e per proteggere il suo cuore da future delusioni ha deciso di pianificare la sua vita in ogni aspetto.
Era più di un piano il suo, anche più di un obiettivo. Era una promessa che avrebbe fatto il possibile mantenere anche perché la regola che aveva stabilito era unica e semplice: non innamorarsi mai più.
Riuscirà Zach, un uomo affascinante e adorabile, sempre attento ai bisogni della sua famiglia e amico fedele e affidabile, a far breccia nel suo cuore e abbattere quei muri che Gemma, con determinazione, ha innalzato a protezione?
Non resta che leggere il romanzo per scoprirlo.
*Ringrazio l’autrice per la copia fornita
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