Changing Constantinou's Game - Jennifer Hayward
Harlequin Presents
Harlequin, 2014
ISBN: 9870373132775
My rating
From the back cover:
"One kiss couldn't hurt, could it?
Alexios Constantinou is notorious for his lethal charm, so when the exquisite Isabel Peters is—literally—dropped into his lap during a hellish elevator ride, he doesn't waste the opportunity! With tensions sky-high after their near-death experience, an insatiable desire ignites between them, and all bets are off.
But when Alex discovers that reporter Isabel's next story is him, he's furious…yet determined to use it to his advantage. He's calling the shots, but the closer Isabel gets, the closer she comes to discovering his carefully concealed secret. Now, with everything at stake, he'll need a whole new game plan…"
This is only Jennifer Hayward's fourth book, but is crafted so beautifully you would think it's her fortieth! I really enjoy books that start with a bang, and this one certainly does. Hero and heroine stuck together in a broken elevator (or 'lift' to us brits!)... what else would you want but some sizzle.
I liked that Jen immediately showed her character's flaws, I felt I could understand them and their motivations straight away. Izzie, as a heroine, is rather insecure and a bit lost as to where her life is going. I think that in today's world this is something we can all relate to. And Alex is the typical distrustful, closed book of a hero. The two are a perfect combination.
The actual plot is really interesting too. I loved reading all the inner conflict the hero and heroine had over whether to do what they think is right, or do what their hearts tell them to do. Neither of them would budge and inch over control, which makes for some great push/pull tension.
The hero and heroine feel very real and that is what I love. I enjoyed the rather rash jumping to conclusions by the the hero and the almost constant second guessing from the heroine. When they are together there is plenty of passion, as well as some lovely tenderness.
Finding out that life doesn't always go the way you planned is the theme here, and it is really quite special to read, and very emotional too. Reading romance is all about fantasy and escapism, but that doesn't mean it can't have a splash of reality involved. Jen, in my opinion, has managed this perfectly.
Highly recommended.
I liked that Jen immediately showed her character's flaws, I felt I could understand them and their motivations straight away. Izzie, as a heroine, is rather insecure and a bit lost as to where her life is going. I think that in today's world this is something we can all relate to. And Alex is the typical distrustful, closed book of a hero. The two are a perfect combination.
The actual plot is really interesting too. I loved reading all the inner conflict the hero and heroine had over whether to do what they think is right, or do what their hearts tell them to do. Neither of them would budge and inch over control, which makes for some great push/pull tension.
The hero and heroine feel very real and that is what I love. I enjoyed the rather rash jumping to conclusions by the the hero and the almost constant second guessing from the heroine. When they are together there is plenty of passion, as well as some lovely tenderness.
Finding out that life doesn't always go the way you planned is the theme here, and it is really quite special to read, and very emotional too. Reading romance is all about fantasy and escapism, but that doesn't mean it can't have a splash of reality involved. Jen, in my opinion, has managed this perfectly.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to Jen for kindly providing me with a copy of this fantastic book.
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