Changing the Game by Jaci Burton
Play-by-Play, Book 2
Berkley
Contemporary, Erotic
ISBN: 978-0425242407
Reviewed by Miranda




Gavin Riley is a Major League Baseball star.  He is pretty happy with his life but there is one thing missing: a good woman.  Gavin’s been harboring his attraction to his sports agent, Liz Darnell for quite awhile.  Liz is a go-getting-take-no-prisoners agent.  She’s willing to do whatever she thinks is best to make her clients’ stars.  However, it is possible to go too far, and recently Liz has found herself on the short end of the stick after losing a major client because of her own reckless actions.  Liz finds herself feeling a little bit insecure and racing to secure the clients she still has before they jump ship.  It is imperative that Liz holds on to Gavin as a client, or she may lose her business entirely.  When Gavin comes to her with a wicked proposition, Liz agrees – after all, she has had feelings for Gavin for a while, so acting on them isn’t so tough.  Gavin and Liz may be in more trouble than they bargained for because once you start some things, it’s hard to give them up.  Is it possible for these two to turn a hot fling into an everlasting romance, or will life and family get in the way?

Changing the Game is a superb smash hit!  Jaci Burton does raw, passionate romance like no other!  Changing the Game is an excellent follow-up to the fantastic, The Perfect Play.  I didn’t think it was possible for a book to measure up to the beautiful love affair of Mick and Tara in The Perfect Play, but Ms. Burton has penned a gorgeous second novel that surpasses the first.

I didn’t really care for Elizabeth Darnell in the first book.  She came off as a pushy bitch trying to come between the star couple.  It blows me away how Ms. Burton turned this character into a vulnerable, lovable heroine.  In Changing the Game we get to really look at Liz and find out why she is the way she is.  I loved discovering what drives this character.  I also loved seeing her sensitive side, and I’m so happy that Liz became a character I can root for.

Phew…I’ve never been a baseball fan but Gavin Riley could change that in no time!  Gavin is sexy as hell, charm and charisma drip off him but it’s his vulnerable side that is more of a turn on.  I enjoyed getting a closer look at Gavin and Mick’s brotherly relationship in this book.  Things aren’t always perfect in families, and I felt that the resentment Gavin feels toward Mick is natural.  This is another thing that I love about Ms. Burton’s writing; her characters are honest and emotional.  They don’t always do what you think they should, or behave the way we expect.  Mick, who I loved in The Perfect Play, has a very negative attitude in Changing the Game but I think it’s warranted to a point.  It makes him look like a jerk but I understand it because sometimes, when we feel strongly about something, we can make ourselves look foolish in the process of getting our point across.

Gavin and Liz sizzle in Changing the Game.  These two don’t hide their lustful feelings for one another but they are however reluctant to share when their feelings turn into more than just sex.  The scenes between these two are so hot that I’m surprised I didn’t get burned.  As the reader, I could feel that these two are perfect for each other from the beginning but it takes them awhile to discover how great they could be together.  Get ready for some steamy fun as you take this love roller coaster ride with Gavin and Liz, you won’t be disappointed.  Changing the Game is an extraordinary novel – a definite home run!!