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bookloverchelle's review
4.0
Another great read from HelenKay Dimon in the Games People Play series. Matthias is determined to find out what happened to his half brother, who is really behind his murder, and Kayla is his only lead. For years Kayla has been running from her past, from whoever killed her friends and apparently wants to kill her as well. She's hidden herself but somehow Matthias was able to find her. Before she's able to run again he convinces her to take a stand and attempt to find out who's been after her for so many years. As they attempt to uncover the truth behind the murders, Matthias past is revealed and Kayla is no longer sure who she can trust. Can she find forgiveness and open herself up to a chance at happiness and stability? Fun, sexy, and suspenseful. Can't wait to continue the series!
**HelenKay is a personal friend, take this review however you chose**
**HelenKay is a personal friend, take this review however you chose**
pgchuis's review
3.0
I was disappointed with this book after loving "The Fixer" so much. Here Matthias (a less likeable version of Wren) tracks down Kayla (a much less likeable version of Emery), who is suspiciously the sole survivor of a mass killing seven years ago. Matthias spends the first third of the novel observing Kayla as she works as a waitress while ordering lots of coffee, and it is very boring and a strange tactic, if you ask me. Soon convinced that Kayla had no part in the murders of her housemates, Matthias protects her when she is stalked/burgled, and one thing leads to another.
One thing leads to another while Matthias and Kayla lie/withhold the truth about their pasts from each other until almost the last chapter, which made me uncomfortable. Also, the pattern of their relationship was very, very reminiscent of "The Fixer" - parts almost felt lifted from the first book. I think we were supposed to take the explanation of what happened to Kayla's friends and what she did about it in our stride and say "good on you", but again, it made me uncomfortable.
Hoping the third instalment is a return to form.
One thing leads to another while Matthias and Kayla lie/withhold the truth about their pasts from each other until almost the last chapter, which made me uncomfortable. Also, the pattern of their relationship was very, very reminiscent of "The Fixer" - parts almost felt lifted from the first book. I think we were supposed to take the explanation of what happened to Kayla's friends and what she did about it in our stride and say "good on you", but again, it made me uncomfortable.
Hoping the third instalment is a return to form.
bandherbooks's review
3.0
Matthias, a ridiculously rich, handsome, powerful, and secretive man who is connected with the same agency as Book 1 in this series, is hired to track down the sole-survivor of a college massacre that left his half-brother dead.
Kayla, now a waitress with a new name, has been on the run since the massacre. People believe she may have killed all of her roommates, but she was cleared, legally at least. She's suspicious of the delicious hottie in the suit who claims to be in town for 'business,' so out of place in the greasy spoon cafe she works at, but is also tempted by his interest in her.
As the cat and mouse game between them grows, so does their attraction. Matthias finally comes clean, but the true reason he was hired to find her threatens to hurt them both.
I like these books, but I find the heroes to be a bit too similar. Appearance, mannerism, and all very taciturn. The heroines are what makes these fun.
Kayla, now a waitress with a new name, has been on the run since the massacre. People believe she may have killed all of her roommates, but she was cleared, legally at least. She's suspicious of the delicious hottie in the suit who claims to be in town for 'business,' so out of place in the greasy spoon cafe she works at, but is also tempted by his interest in her.
As the cat and mouse game between them grows, so does their attraction. Matthias finally comes clean, but the true reason he was hired to find her threatens to hurt them both.
I like these books, but I find the heroes to be a bit too similar. Appearance, mannerism, and all very taciturn. The heroines are what makes these fun.
tiggerreads's review
4.0
It had been a while since I read the first one, but that didn't lessen my enjoyment of this book. Watching Kayla and Matthias dance around each other was fun. It was interesting to try to figure out what the secrets were. I had some ideas about the answers that were revealed. I liked how Kayla and Matthias' relationship progressed.
martasrsly's review
3.0
From 4 to 3 starts, only because I've read the next novel in the series (and the novella) and liked them better than this one.
Kayla Roy was the only one that survived the massacre that happened to her friends while she was in the shower. That was more than a decade ago and she has been hiding ever since, changing her name, her job and the place she lives in. And that was fine. Until she met Matthias Clarke. Matthias, who was tasked with finding her by his birth mother who gave him up to the foster care system. His mother is sure that Kayla was the one responsible for Matthias' little brother death - she was the only one to survive after all.
Matthias is going to find Kayla, check if she is the real murderer. But things get complicated when there is an electric attraction between these two and somebody wants Kayla dead.
I would have liked the book more if the main hero was just better. Better written, more fleshed out. Kayla was definitely the star of the book (along with all the secondary characters) but Matthias was just... there. If there was one word I would describe him it would be "meh". Kinda forgettable duded.
I like Kayla, liked how she thought and that she was a survivor. Her secret was a surprise and not in the good way, but it was plausible.
Overall, a good and a quick read, but definitely the weakest book of the series.
Kayla Roy was the only one that survived the massacre that happened to her friends while she was in the shower. That was more than a decade ago and she has been hiding ever since, changing her name, her job and the place she lives in. And that was fine. Until she met Matthias Clarke. Matthias, who was tasked with finding her by his birth mother who gave him up to the foster care system. His mother is sure that Kayla was the one responsible for Matthias' little brother death - she was the only one to survive after all.
Matthias is going to find Kayla, check if she is the real murderer. But things get complicated when there is an electric attraction between these two and somebody wants Kayla dead.
I would have liked the book more if the main hero was just better. Better written, more fleshed out. Kayla was definitely the star of the book (along with all the secondary characters) but Matthias was just... there. If there was one word I would describe him it would be "meh". Kinda forgettable duded.
I like Kayla, liked how she thought and that she was a survivor. Her secret was a surprise and not in the good way, but it was plausible.
Overall, a good and a quick read, but definitely the weakest book of the series.
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