DON’T GAME ME (The Game Lords Book 2) by Zoe Forward
is the second romantic suspense in The Game Lords series. I have been anxiously
waiting to see what Symphis would do next to try to destroy NJ Legacy and its
owners and I was not disappointed. The characters are all involved in the world
of video gaming, creating and programming video games and I am not, but the
romance and suspense plot are the focus of the story and kept me intrigued and turning
the pages.
Becca Harrison is a brilliant programmer. She took a job in
California to separate herself from her brother, Noah and his best friend, Jake
who created NJ Legacy together and made it one of the premier gaming companies.
When Becca becomes involved with an illegal gaming consortium, they blackmail
her into using her new spy program to steal financial information from her
brother’s company.
Becca is to return home to attend Noah and Tori’s wedding
and Symphis has demanded she do anything necessary to get close to her brother’s
business partner, Jake to get the financial information she needs to destroy NJ
Legacy. Becca has always secretly wanted Jake, but if she does what Symphis
wants she knows she will only have one night with Jake.
Jake Allen has a reputation. He is a rich, brilliant
businessman, but he only does one-night stands with beautiful women. When Becca
returns home and asks Jake to be her wedding hook-up, he does not know what to
do. He has secretly always wanted Becca, but he has been afraid of his past and
of losing his best friend and the rest of the Harrison family if he crossed the
line with Becca.
Becca and Jake have an attraction that neither can ignore,
but Becca’s plans to protect her family leave no room for a future with Jake.
I enjoyed this second story in the series as much as the first. I felt the threat level was heightened even more in this book and the surprise twist involving Symphis in the end made me even more anxious for the next book in the series. Becca and Jake’s romance is hot and intense as they learn to trust in each other and reveal their secrets and fears. The sex scenes were explicit and yet tender as Jake was especially responsive to Becca’s insecurities. I did feel a bit irritated at times when Becca held too much back from Jake (and the reader) in regards to her actual actions and plans with the NSA and FBI and they were only revealed after the fact. It was great to reconnect with the characters from book 1 and it is best to read the books in order to follow the overall story arc that ties them all together.
Overall, this is another fast-paced, suspense filled romance
in The Game Lords series and I will be waiting to see if Michael is the next
Harrison pulled into Symphis’ nefarious plan.
The last thing MI6 agent Eli Morgan expected was Pleiades witch Avery Donovan showing up to “rescue” him. Turns out she’s his biggest threat when an unexpected love spell hits them. Now he can’t keep his hands off the woman he vowed never to touch.
But something evil fights to posses Eli’s soul. The only one who can truly save him is his soulmate. Can’t be Avery. What they feel is spell-induced. Or is it?
ONE NIGHT WITH A WITCH (Keepers of the Veil Book 5) by Zoe
Forward is a new paranormal romance novella in the Keepers of the Veil series. This
is a fast, entertaining read to finally bring two soulmates together. This
novella can be read as a standalone, but I feel it is better read in order with
the other books in this series due to the character crossover and the author’s
world-building.
Avery Donovan is one of the seven Pleiades. She can see and speak
to ghosts. Avery has loved Eli her entire life, but due to a tarot reading, she
believes he is the soulmate destined for her sister. For years they have been
there for each other since the death of her parents and sister as they fight
their mutual attraction. Avery has been told that Eli is in trouble in Paris
and she has to be there to save him.
Eli Morgan is an MI6 agent and a druid protector of the Pleiades. While on a mission in Paris, Eli is shocked when Avery shows up and says she is there to save him. Believing that a love spell has been cast, Eli finally gives in and he and Avery come together physically for the first time.
When he sends Avery away to safety, an evil spirit enters
Eli’s body and fights to posse his soul. Now the only one who can save him and
stop his destruction is his true soulmate. Was it a spell that brought them together
for only one night, or is Avery truly the only one for him to save his soul?
This was the first Keepers of the Veil book that I have
read. I will definitely be going back to read them from the beginning. Even
without all of the world-building leading up to this novella, I could figure
out what was happening and not be lost, but I had questions. I would also like
to read more of Avery and Eli’s interactions prior to this story. This is a
fast read that kept me turning the pages to find out if and how Eli would be
saved. The sex is explicit but not drawn out or gratuitous. This is an exciting
witchy world that is definitely worth the read.
***
About Zoe:
Award winning author Zoe Forward is a hopeless romantic who can’t decide between paranormal and contemporary romance. So, she writes both. Her novels have won numerous awards including the Prism, Readers’ Choice Heart of Excellence, Golden Quill, Carolyn Readers Choice Award, and the Booksellers’ Best Award.
When she’s not typing at her laptop, she’s cheering her son on at baseball, chasing the toddler or cleaning up the newest pet mess from the menagerie that occupies her house. She’s a small animal veterinarian caring for a wide range of furry creatures, although there has been the occasional hermit crab.
She’s madly in love with her globe trotting conservation ecologist husband who plans to save all the big cats on the planet, and she’s happiest when he returns to their home base.
Today’s Feature Post/Bog Tour and Book Review is for the first book in a new romantic suspense series with a unique plot setting – the world of on-line gaming.
OFF HER GAME (The Game Lords Book 1) by Zoe Forward is a unique suspense plot which will continue to arc over more books in this series, but the romance is a complete HEA in each book. Below you will find the book description, my book review, author social media links and a Rafflecopter giveaway.
You will enjoy this new romantic suspense series whether you are a on-line gamer or not and as always good luck on the Rafflecopter giveaway!
Tori Duarte’s big dreams to be a video game designer…well, they haven’t panned out. And a girl’s gotta eat. Enter: the Stadium, a secretive video game gambling ring. As a world ranked eGamer, winning should be cake. Until it’s not. Gambling debts suck her in deep.
A chance encounter with the media shy, ridiculously handsome video game CEO Noah Harrison offers her a way out. The deal: 1) Assist the FBI to catch the underworld eGaming kingpin (doable but dangerous). 2) Keep the FBI connection secret by pretending to date Noah (not optional but keeping it PG is problematic).
Noah’s never been more attracted to a woman in his life. Maybe because he’s never been the focus of anyone as sexy, smart, and badass as Tori. But while the dates are fake, the threat to Tori’s life is real. What neither expected was an explosive chemistry that’s more than convincing—it’s sizzling. Falling for each other is the most dangerous thing they could do…
OFF HER GAME (The Game Lords Book 1) by Zoe Forward is the
first book in a new romantic suspense series set in the unique world of on-line
gaming. The suspense plot was very intriguing and keeps the pages turning. The
romance has a gamer nerd turned hot hunk game creator, rich CEO still being a
nerd in personal situations in a fake relationship with a feisty, sexy female
gamer, game creator.
Tori Duarte is ranked as one of the top female gamers in the
country. She attended MIT, she can program and code and she has a video game
she is trying to sell. She also has a big chip on her shoulder because of the gender
bias in the gaming world. When she needs help with money, she gets involved in
a secretive on-line video gambling ring called the Stadium. The game is rigged
and she just keeps getting further and further in debt.
CEO Noah Harrison is co-owner of a major gaming company. He
is set up on a chance meeting with Tori. He lost his brother to the Stadium and
is now helping with an FBI sting. He wants Tori’s help to stop them from
killing more people and bring them to justice. They will pretend to date to
cover for the FBI.
Tori and Noah play at dating, but with the sparks flying
between them, could this lead to more? As they are caught up with this dangerous
cyber-criminal, the stakes continue to rise. Can Tori get out of the Stadium to
have a real relationship?
Tori and Noah were an interesting pairing. The shy CEO who is inept with women, but can sure turn it on and take control during sex with the snarky, but insecure gamer girl. When they were together it was really hot, but I felt the author pulled them apart too frequently. There was too much insecurity coming from such a supposedly smart and talented heroine. The sex scenes were explicit, but not over the top. All of the secondary characters were well fleshed out and I am looking forward to seeing how the author continues on with their stories, also. I did like the twist during a very well written suspense plot when the heroine faced the kingpin without the hero at her side. Overall, I loved the suspense plot and that the Stadium plot will arc over future books with this book having a complete HEA romance.
I can recommend this first book in this new series and I am
looking forward to reading more.
***
About Zoe:
Award winning author Zoe Forward is a hopeless romantic who can’t decide between paranormal and contemporary romance. So, she writes both. Her novels have won numerous awards including the Prism, Readers’ Choice Heart of Excellence, Golden Quill, Carolyn Readers Choice Award, and the Booksellers’ Best Award.
When she’s not typing at her laptop, she’s cheering her son on at baseball, chasing the toddler or cleaning up the newest pet mess from the menagerie that occupies her house. She’s a small animal veterinarian caring for a wide range of furry creatures, although there has been the occasional hermit crab.
She’s madly in love with her globe trotting conservation ecologist husband who plans to save all the big cats on the planet, and she’s happiest when he returns to their home base.
