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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
Lachlan was hot as hell and I learned too late he was modeled after Tom Hardy but it makes so much sense. I surprisingly didn’t start skimming the sex scenes until the last five chapters meaning the 163739273 times they fucked before then I fully read and would just like to say I am very proud of myself.
A lottttt of the Asian comments were very weird.
This was overall a cute time.
A lottttt of the Asian comments were very weird.
This was overall a cute time.
Holy cow. Yes!
I've gone reading the McGregor books in order (even though they're all stand alone spin-offs of each other) and in all honesty I feel like Karina Halle's writing has gotten better and better with each book. The Play being my favorite so far.
In The Play we dive right into Lachlan's story. For those that don't know who this is, Lachlan is Bram and Linden's cousin (from The Pact and The Offer). What I like about how this book started is that we're introduced to a frightened 5 yr old Lachlan and we're immediately thrust into one of the most heart wrenching situations you could possibly imagine. We then fast forward and meet him as the hot as hell Scottish-tattooed-rugby player whose beautiful green eyes hold a dark, dark past. Throughout the years Lachlan has tried to better his life (from what, is something that we go discovering as we read) and when his cousin Bram asks him for help with his non-profit housing organization Lachlan doesn't even hesitate. He comes to San Francisco to help out as best he can and in the process he meets Kayla Moore.
Yes this is an adult romance (with incredible sex scenes) but it's also so much more. This is a story about pain, love, loss, fear and growth. A story about taking chances. You can't help but want to understand Lachlan the more you read about him. Karina Halle fully had my attention the entire time with this read.
This book is written from the POV of both main characters which as always, speeds up the reading process for me. There were some parts toward the end where the characters did some self reflecting that took a little long, but overall the read is pretty smooth and fast. Recommended to 17+ due to sexual content.
I've gone reading the McGregor books in order (even though they're all stand alone spin-offs of each other) and in all honesty I feel like Karina Halle's writing has gotten better and better with each book. The Play being my favorite so far.
In The Play we dive right into Lachlan's story. For those that don't know who this is, Lachlan is Bram and Linden's cousin (from The Pact and The Offer). What I like about how this book started is that we're introduced to a frightened 5 yr old Lachlan and we're immediately thrust into one of the most heart wrenching situations you could possibly imagine. We then fast forward and meet him as the hot as hell Scottish-tattooed-rugby player whose beautiful green eyes hold a dark, dark past. Throughout the years Lachlan has tried to better his life (from what, is something that we go discovering as we read) and when his cousin Bram asks him for help with his non-profit housing organization Lachlan doesn't even hesitate. He comes to San Francisco to help out as best he can and in the process he meets Kayla Moore.
Yes this is an adult romance (with incredible sex scenes) but it's also so much more. This is a story about pain, love, loss, fear and growth. A story about taking chances. You can't help but want to understand Lachlan the more you read about him. Karina Halle fully had my attention the entire time with this read.
This book is written from the POV of both main characters which as always, speeds up the reading process for me. There were some parts toward the end where the characters did some self reflecting that took a little long, but overall the read is pretty smooth and fast. Recommended to 17+ due to sexual content.
medium-paced
The blurb of this book made it sound so good, which is why I picked it up but ever since the beginning, I could only feel that whatever was between Kayla & Lachlan was nothing but lust. There was definitely tension between them but I just couldn't feel the chemistry. And the revelation about Lachlan being an addict just shocked me. Kayla wasn't a likeable main characters either. She was whiny, jealous and impulsive. The story was also very slow and nothing much happened other than them sleeping together. I skimmed through lots of those scenes and I feel like I wasted my time on this book. It was definitely not my cup of tea.
3.5-3.75 stars. This was a good book. This was the story of Kayla and Lachlan. Kayla is friends with Lachlan's cousins' girlfriends. She meets Lachlan, who is visiting from Scotland for work, and is immediately attracted to him. Lachlan is the strong silent type and is a professional rugby player with a sad childhood past that he keeps a secret from most everyone. Kayla is a strong, sexy reporter, who is not normally interested in relationships, except for one night stands. But she feels a connection to Lachlan that is different than anything she has felt before. Since he is only in town for a short while, they begin a short affair. But neither of them are ready to let it go when Lachlan goes back to Scotland. Kayla decides to take a chance on love and go home with him to see where things go. But Lachlan has secrets and he doesn't really know how to be in a relationship, which adds more pressure on him to not screw up. The hard times keep coming for both of them. Will they crack under the pressure or can they survive together?
I really liked Kayla and Lachlan together when they were happy. I was rooting for them to overcome the tough hurdles they had to so that they could come out on the other side together. But when Lachlan was at his lowest point, it was hard to read. I understood how Kayla felt and why she reacted the way she did.
The story was different and interesting and writing is very good. The only reason I did not rate it higher was that, overall, much of the book was very depressing and sad. I felt very bad for Kayla and Lachlan. This book tackles some seriously heavy subjects (drug and alcohol addiction, death of a parent, child abuse, etc.). It was hard to feel hope for the characters' futures when they have so much to overcome. And even the times when they are happy, sprinkled throughout the tough times, had a feeling of doom because you knew more tough times were coming. I just have a hard time reading about such depressing subjects over the majority of the book, without a lot of lightness to balance it out. After I finished reading this book, I felt like I had been put through an emotional ringer.
I really liked Kayla and Lachlan together when they were happy. I was rooting for them to overcome the tough hurdles they had to so that they could come out on the other side together. But when Lachlan was at his lowest point, it was hard to read. I understood how Kayla felt and why she reacted the way she did.
The story was different and interesting and writing is very good. The only reason I did not rate it higher was that, overall, much of the book was very depressing and sad. I felt very bad for Kayla and Lachlan. This book tackles some seriously heavy subjects (drug and alcohol addiction, death of a parent, child abuse, etc.). It was hard to feel hope for the characters' futures when they have so much to overcome. And even the times when they are happy, sprinkled throughout the tough times, had a feeling of doom because you knew more tough times were coming. I just have a hard time reading about such depressing subjects over the majority of the book, without a lot of lightness to balance it out. After I finished reading this book, I felt like I had been put through an emotional ringer.
Her best one yet
I've read a number of Karina Halle's books, but none of them have gotten me like this one. It was so beautiful and heartbreaking and just perfect, I can't find enough good words to say how amazing this book was. Hands down my favorite from her so far.
I've read a number of Karina Halle's books, but none of them have gotten me like this one. It was so beautiful and heartbreaking and just perfect, I can't find enough good words to say how amazing this book was. Hands down my favorite from her so far.
Beastly love
This is the first book I have read from this author and I can not wait to read all the others. This story is fast moving with so many feels. What happens when two broken souls come together? Lachlan and Kayla have the sexual attraction but can they get through all their demons to be together? To find out you must read this!
This is the first book I have read from this author and I can not wait to read all the others. This story is fast moving with so many feels. What happens when two broken souls come together? Lachlan and Kayla have the sexual attraction but can they get through all their demons to be together? To find out you must read this!
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Beautiful, sweet, fun, sexy, hot, intense, heartbreaking, gut wrenching, amazing. These are what come to mind after finishing this beautiful story. I loved every second. I am also positive that this is the first time an acknowledgements section has made me cry. I highly recommend this book and the rest of the series.
I’ve been trying to write this review for about few days now, trying to put into words how heartfelt, how incredibly steamy, how absolutely heartbreaking, how genuinely funny this book really is. I am almost positive my words fall short of the beautiful array of emotions evoked, but the time has come and here I go…
From the beginning of the prologue tugs your heart-strings for this wounded huge beast of a Scottish Rugby player. The connection with Lachlan just gets stronger from there. He is a mountain of a man, a man of few words, a loyal friend/family member, a protector, defender, savior to lost, stray, or abandoned dogs, and a beautiful man who brings single-minded intensity to everything he does, says and feels. Just under the surface of this incredible man is a wounded man with a past that he has worked to overcome and make himself a better person.
We met Kayla in The Pact and Offer, she is now the 5th wheel in her group of paired off friends and she can’t help but feel a little jealous and want what they have. She always comes off as crass, a man-eater, and free-spirited, but it was always hinted that there was more than meets the eye. I glimpsed it in the way that she helped Nicola when she needed it and is always there for her friends.
From the moment big beautiful rugby playing Lachlan walks in to the pub, all things change and the electricity felt in the air from here on out between Kayla and Lachlan is palpable through the pages.
It is not only a love story of a broken beast of a man and a beautiful spitfire willing to take a risk, but also has another story within. The story of the stray dogs and doing anything to keep them alive and adoptable. It was so beautiful how he cared for and selflessly helped the dogs.
There are so many beautiful stories contained in these pages, it makes for one hell of a fantastic book. There is a story of wanting something just out of reach, and believing you aren’t worth it. A story of pain because of a past that won’t stay in the past. A story of loves so deep they are bound by blood. A story of family. A story of friendship, love and laughter.
It was also a story full of risks. Risks they took to be with each other and the risks they took for themselves. They got found happiness and got lost in each other, but in their happiness, they found their pain. Through their pain they found themselves as individuals, and as individuals they figured out how to be together.
Ultimately it is a beautiful story of two damaged souls, who find something incredible together, and fight like hell to keep it.
Review orignially posted at: https://amandajbailey.wordpress.com/2015/11/06/the-play-by-karina-halle-review/
I’ve been trying to write this review for about few days now, trying to put into words how heartfelt, how incredibly steamy, how absolutely heartbreaking, how genuinely funny this book really is. I am almost positive my words fall short of the beautiful array of emotions evoked, but the time has come and here I go…
From the beginning of the prologue tugs your heart-strings for this wounded huge beast of a Scottish Rugby player. The connection with Lachlan just gets stronger from there. He is a mountain of a man, a man of few words, a loyal friend/family member, a protector, defender, savior to lost, stray, or abandoned dogs, and a beautiful man who brings single-minded intensity to everything he does, says and feels. Just under the surface of this incredible man is a wounded man with a past that he has worked to overcome and make himself a better person.
We met Kayla in The Pact and Offer, she is now the 5th wheel in her group of paired off friends and she can’t help but feel a little jealous and want what they have. She always comes off as crass, a man-eater, and free-spirited, but it was always hinted that there was more than meets the eye. I glimpsed it in the way that she helped Nicola when she needed it and is always there for her friends.
From the moment big beautiful rugby playing Lachlan walks in to the pub, all things change and the electricity felt in the air from here on out between Kayla and Lachlan is palpable through the pages.
It is not only a love story of a broken beast of a man and a beautiful spitfire willing to take a risk, but also has another story within. The story of the stray dogs and doing anything to keep them alive and adoptable. It was so beautiful how he cared for and selflessly helped the dogs.
There are so many beautiful stories contained in these pages, it makes for one hell of a fantastic book. There is a story of wanting something just out of reach, and believing you aren’t worth it. A story of pain because of a past that won’t stay in the past. A story of loves so deep they are bound by blood. A story of family. A story of friendship, love and laughter.
It was also a story full of risks. Risks they took to be with each other and the risks they took for themselves. They got found happiness and got lost in each other, but in their happiness, they found their pain. Through their pain they found themselves as individuals, and as individuals they figured out how to be together.
Ultimately it is a beautiful story of two damaged souls, who find something incredible together, and fight like hell to keep it.
Review orignially posted at: https://amandajbailey.wordpress.com/2015/11/06/the-play-by-karina-halle-review/
I really liked the first part of this. Kayla as a character was really interesting and I think she had a compelling voice as a narrator. Lachlan was a catch too considering I love the strong and silent romantic heroes. He also wasn’t an over the top playboy which I was super pleased to see. I found the side couples annoying, Steph and Linden in particular so I know I won’t be reading their books. The second part kind of fell off to me. I kind of felt like this was way too long and I get myself skim reading until the end. However, the strong beginning and fun characters was what bumped this up to a 4 star to me. Karina Halle’s writing is amazing as usual though!
This is a story about finding other people who don’t really belong, about finding ourselves in them 🖤
It should be forbidden to write a prologue like that. It gutted me, shattered my heart and broke my soul 😭
I wasn’t prepared AT ALL for the devastation this book brought me. Neither was I prepared for the hope and faith I had for this love story 🥹✨
Kayla and Lachlan are my favorite couple so far in the McGregor series and they deserved their HEA! I was rooting for them so hard 🌱
All this to say: this book was amazing ✨ but it deals with heavy topics so be sure to check the TW ⚠️
“In the light of day, I can see all your cracks and your darkness and your flaws and I fall in love with it all. And I hope you can fall in love with everything that I am, all that lurks in my dark, all that shines in my light. I want you to love every little piece of me, because it all belong to you.”