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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
Originally posted on Three Little Birds Book Blog
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4.5 Stars
A love story that can rival any fairy tale. The Play is a gorgeously moving, sexy, and heartrending love story of two lonely souls who find love when they need it most.
The Play took me across the world to one of my most fantasized about locations, and I fell in love with one of my favorite kinds of men, a sensitive beast, and rooted for my favorite kind of heroine, a risk taker.
I love reading Karina Halle books because I know that I’ll be taken on a journey. Not only a journey to different locales, as her wandering soul loves to write about, but an emotional journey through the growth of dimensional characters. The Play lived up to those expectations and it it had something special as well, an all-encompassing love story that made me truly believe that I was a part of something destined to be. She’s written love stories before, and I’ve believed the connection between all her couples that I’ve read, but Lachlan and Kayla’s was a bar above the rest. They were incomplete pieces of one whole and only with that other person were they fully realized. Is that over the top? Maybe, but this love story was a level of epic that deserves grand statements, because their pull was almost a providence.
I’m sitting here, trying to write a good review but I can’t really get anything cohesive on paper because I wasn’t really wearing my ‘blogger’ hat while I was reading. I was just enjoying the story, and not paying attention to any pros or cons. This is a book that I lived while I was reading it. So here’s a list of everything that I loved:
Lachlan – boy, did I love him. I felt like this was really his story. From the opening scene that broke my heart to pieces, to the last when my heart was battered and bruised, but still beating, Lachlan stole the show. In fact, my heart was beating in his hands, because I’d given it to him. This bent (because he was too strong to be fully broken), romantic, earnest, brute with a heart of gold was everything I want in a romantic hero, and because of Karina Halle’s perfect character development, he was so honest and real that I kept hoping that I’d look up from the page and see him standing in front of me.
Kayla – Lachlan’s perfect counterpart, and her own courageous, brash, flawed, independent self. Kayla had all the traits that I love in a Halle heroine, but the one I loved most was her thirst for adventure and her nerve. Her willingness to take a chance on love and to take a chance on herself, her dreams, was inspirational and admirable. There’s a message that seeps through these contemporary romances of Halle’s and I’m getting it; it might just be time to take a leap of faith.
The story – though predictable at times, it’s simplicity conveyed it’s realness and emphasized the characters and their connection to one another. This was about falling in love, accepting your love, fighting for your love, and having faith in your love. With everything that happens in the plot, the focus is always on love, all kinds of love, and what’s better than that?
The balance – The Play was a great balance of tension, humor, sex, hope, and pain and the emotional ride never leveled off. I thought Halle’s writing was emotive but I could’ve done with a smidgen more angst and history to set of the intense bond that Lachlan and Kayla had after a pretty short period of time. Although, I won’t say it was an insta-love. The circumstances were too intense for it to be termed something so shallow, and the way things played out added to the raging quality of their chemistry. Each impetuous decision was so risky, which added to the strength of their connection.
The sex – holy Jesus! That’s all I’m saying.
Overall I just loved this romance. It’s one of my favorites by this author and one of the best ones I’ve read this year. If you love a love story then I know you’ll love this one.
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Enter to win 1 of 5 ebook copies of The Play, just answer the question at the bottom of this post:
4.5 Stars
A love story that can rival any fairy tale. The Play is a gorgeously moving, sexy, and heartrending love story of two lonely souls who find love when they need it most.
The Play took me across the world to one of my most fantasized about locations, and I fell in love with one of my favorite kinds of men, a sensitive beast, and rooted for my favorite kind of heroine, a risk taker.
I love reading Karina Halle books because I know that I’ll be taken on a journey. Not only a journey to different locales, as her wandering soul loves to write about, but an emotional journey through the growth of dimensional characters. The Play lived up to those expectations and it it had something special as well, an all-encompassing love story that made me truly believe that I was a part of something destined to be. She’s written love stories before, and I’ve believed the connection between all her couples that I’ve read, but Lachlan and Kayla’s was a bar above the rest. They were incomplete pieces of one whole and only with that other person were they fully realized. Is that over the top? Maybe, but this love story was a level of epic that deserves grand statements, because their pull was almost a providence.
I’m sitting here, trying to write a good review but I can’t really get anything cohesive on paper because I wasn’t really wearing my ‘blogger’ hat while I was reading. I was just enjoying the story, and not paying attention to any pros or cons. This is a book that I lived while I was reading it. So here’s a list of everything that I loved:
Lachlan – boy, did I love him. I felt like this was really his story. From the opening scene that broke my heart to pieces, to the last when my heart was battered and bruised, but still beating, Lachlan stole the show. In fact, my heart was beating in his hands, because I’d given it to him. This bent (because he was too strong to be fully broken), romantic, earnest, brute with a heart of gold was everything I want in a romantic hero, and because of Karina Halle’s perfect character development, he was so honest and real that I kept hoping that I’d look up from the page and see him standing in front of me.
Kayla – Lachlan’s perfect counterpart, and her own courageous, brash, flawed, independent self. Kayla had all the traits that I love in a Halle heroine, but the one I loved most was her thirst for adventure and her nerve. Her willingness to take a chance on love and to take a chance on herself, her dreams, was inspirational and admirable. There’s a message that seeps through these contemporary romances of Halle’s and I’m getting it; it might just be time to take a leap of faith.
The story – though predictable at times, it’s simplicity conveyed it’s realness and emphasized the characters and their connection to one another. This was about falling in love, accepting your love, fighting for your love, and having faith in your love. With everything that happens in the plot, the focus is always on love, all kinds of love, and what’s better than that?
The balance – The Play was a great balance of tension, humor, sex, hope, and pain and the emotional ride never leveled off. I thought Halle’s writing was emotive but I could’ve done with a smidgen more angst and history to set of the intense bond that Lachlan and Kayla had after a pretty short period of time. Although, I won’t say it was an insta-love. The circumstances were too intense for it to be termed something so shallow, and the way things played out added to the raging quality of their chemistry. Each impetuous decision was so risky, which added to the strength of their connection.
The sex – holy Jesus! That’s all I’m saying.
Overall I just loved this romance. It’s one of my favorites by this author and one of the best ones I’ve read this year. If you love a love story then I know you’ll love this one.
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DNF 40%
I don't enjoy bioks where theheroine is basiacally a slut- I know it's in right now and fair dos to anyone that is into it but just not my thing. Reason being, I am not built that way and hardly are any women I know. It's usually a case of some underlying problem-but her I am sure that view is not universal.
Secondly Insta-sex is another pet hate. I am not sure these characters knew anything about eachother prior to getting it on and yet it was this earth shattering experience ...again forgive the cynism but really? Sure for a one night stand maybe but as a prelude to love....hmmmm
I don't enjoy bioks where theheroine is basiacally a slut- I know it's in right now and fair dos to anyone that is into it but just not my thing. Reason being, I am not built that way and hardly are any women I know. It's usually a case of some underlying problem-but her I am sure that view is not universal.
Secondly Insta-sex is another pet hate. I am not sure these characters knew anything about eachother prior to getting it on and yet it was this earth shattering experience ...again forgive the cynism but really? Sure for a one night stand maybe but as a prelude to love....hmmmm
Absolutely stunning, emotional and with steamy scenes! I adore Karina's writting and I demand more please!
Another hit
I love me a broken, strong man that finds his true self through the love of a good woman. This story wasn't always easy, but it was always true to itself. The strength and live these two had for each other made weathering the rough patches that much more. I loved Lachlan, Kayla and the dogs. Felt every emotion and heart ache that was placed in front of these two. Addiction and depression are such dark subjects, but are prevalent in so many people's lives. To put a hero in this place and find you still love and want the, to succeed is powerful. Loved it.
I love me a broken, strong man that finds his true self through the love of a good woman. This story wasn't always easy, but it was always true to itself. The strength and live these two had for each other made weathering the rough patches that much more. I loved Lachlan, Kayla and the dogs. Felt every emotion and heart ache that was placed in front of these two. Addiction and depression are such dark subjects, but are prevalent in so many people's lives. To put a hero in this place and find you still love and want the, to succeed is powerful. Loved it.
6 STARS
This is going on my 2015 Best Reads list!
I just bawled my bloody eyes out! GAWD! I'm a terrible mess now. Easily the best contemporary romance KH has delivered since Love in English ... in fact, I think this may have even topped it (hard call since I loved them both so fucking much).
I was expecting sexy. I was expecting playful. I was not expecting gut wrenching, earth shattering and painfully tortured. I was not expecting to be so blown away. I should have been prepared. I really should know to always expect the unexpected from Karina's books. I should just fucking KNOW.
This book was absolute magic.
Lesson learned. I am still recuperating ...
It may take me some time to fully come to my senses & realize that this review isn’t much of a review at all ... But, if you’ve never read a Karina Halle book … THIS IS THE ONE! don’t waste another moment … just get on it!
Order: http://amzn.to/1KEDIZv
*Thank you to the author for an advance copy of this book.
This is going on my 2015 Best Reads list!
I just bawled my bloody eyes out! GAWD! I'm a terrible mess now. Easily the best contemporary romance KH has delivered since Love in English ... in fact, I think this may have even topped it (hard call since I loved them both so fucking much).
I was expecting sexy. I was expecting playful. I was not expecting gut wrenching, earth shattering and painfully tortured. I was not expecting to be so blown away. I should have been prepared. I really should know to always expect the unexpected from Karina's books. I should just fucking KNOW.
This book was absolute magic.
Lesson learned. I am still recuperating ...
It may take me some time to fully come to my senses & realize that this review isn’t much of a review at all ... But, if you’ve never read a Karina Halle book … THIS IS THE ONE! don’t waste another moment … just get on it!
Order: http://amzn.to/1KEDIZv
*Thank you to the author for an advance copy of this book.
The Play ist mein absoluter Liebling in der Being With You-Reihe. Und obwohl dieses Buch schon sehr dick ist, hat es jede einzelne Seite gebraucht.
Die Geschichte war gespickt mit einer Wucht an Emotionen. Es gab nicht nur eine Stelle, an der ich mit den Tränen kämpfen musste.
Die Geschichte war gespickt mit einer Wucht an Emotionen. Es gab nicht nur eine Stelle, an der ich mit den Tränen kämpfen musste.
I am gutted. Completely. My God, y'all. Karina Halle really did me in with this one. It started out all fun and unsuspecting and then BAM! Shit gets real.
The first thing I really want to talk about is how much Karina Halle put dog rescue into this book. It's one of the things that I wish I could spend more money on and I firmly believe in adopting and rescuing your pets versus buying them from a breeder. Karina is even donation $1 from every pre-sale to animal rescue charities and I LOVE that. I knew that I would eventually buy the book, but when I saw that, I decided to pre-order.
The focus on the rescue was such an important part of this book because Lachlan McGregor was rescued as well. I read the blurb for the book. I knew Lachlan had demons and was troubled, but I didn't get how much. The role he plays in this book as a rescuer and in running a rescue foundation is very important. He knows what these dogs are going through. He's been in their position. It seems a bit weird to compare him, this big hulking man, to a dog, but it fits. He understands them.
This book was divided into two parts. The first half was the more fun part. We met Kayla Moore in The Pact and she had more of a presence in The Offer. She's the man-eating best friend of Steph and all she is looking for is fun. But in the beginning of this book, we find that Kayla has sworn off men and sex, taking a vow to end her string of one-night stands. And then she meets Lachlan. And she knows, she just knows, that he would change everything if she was with him. Lachlan doesn't seem to be interested though. At least that's what Kayla thinks. He's extremely quiet and intense and doesn't provide an easy way for Kayla to get to know him.
As a way to help out Bram with his project, Kayla interviews Lachlan. She says the wrong thing and pushes Lachlan away, but she didn't get enough for her article so she asks him for a second interview and he agrees. This second interview is where their relationship turns. You can see Lachlan make more of an effort to not be quiet. He knows that this is important for Bram and he wants to help. After this interview and the article is finished and it runs, we see an easy comfort between Kayla and Lachlan. Then after a music festival, Kayla stays with Lachlan all night as he tries to coax two strays to come to him. That night, Kayla discovers that there is more to Lachlan than she originally thought.
The second half of the book is where we get into the heart-wrenching, dark stuff. Kayla, ever the free spirit (although she's a bit scared and rightfully so), flies to Scotland to spend time with Lachlan. She gets to see him on his turf. How he runs his rescue foundation and how he is at rugby and how is he with his teammates and family. But then she also starts to see the cracks. Those cracks are what Lachlan doesn't really want her to see because he knows they're bad. He's ashamed of them and so he tries to hide that part of himself from Kayla.
Everything about the way Kayla and Lachlan were together was just so real. They had passion in spades. The chemistry between them was undeniable. Lachlan is just that amazingly perfect dirty talking man in bed. The sex was off the charts in this book. Completely! They also had a friendship that I feel is very important in a relationship. They were sweet with each other, but still fun. Then there was the love they had. The love that scared them both that it was almost hard to believe. I could feel it with them. I could tell that their love was there, but it was also there waiting to break them. It was so good.
This book is much longer than the other two in the series...it's basically two books in one...and it is well worth it. You cover some serious topics in this book, but there's plenty of light, fun moments to balance it out.
The first thing I really want to talk about is how much Karina Halle put dog rescue into this book. It's one of the things that I wish I could spend more money on and I firmly believe in adopting and rescuing your pets versus buying them from a breeder. Karina is even donation $1 from every pre-sale to animal rescue charities and I LOVE that. I knew that I would eventually buy the book, but when I saw that, I decided to pre-order.
The focus on the rescue was such an important part of this book because Lachlan McGregor was rescued as well. I read the blurb for the book. I knew Lachlan had demons and was troubled, but I didn't get how much. The role he plays in this book as a rescuer and in running a rescue foundation is very important. He knows what these dogs are going through. He's been in their position. It seems a bit weird to compare him, this big hulking man, to a dog, but it fits. He understands them.
This book was divided into two parts. The first half was the more fun part. We met Kayla Moore in The Pact and she had more of a presence in The Offer. She's the man-eating best friend of Steph and all she is looking for is fun. But in the beginning of this book, we find that Kayla has sworn off men and sex, taking a vow to end her string of one-night stands. And then she meets Lachlan. And she knows, she just knows, that he would change everything if she was with him. Lachlan doesn't seem to be interested though. At least that's what Kayla thinks. He's extremely quiet and intense and doesn't provide an easy way for Kayla to get to know him.
As a way to help out Bram with his project, Kayla interviews Lachlan. She says the wrong thing and pushes Lachlan away, but she didn't get enough for her article so she asks him for a second interview and he agrees. This second interview is where their relationship turns. You can see Lachlan make more of an effort to not be quiet. He knows that this is important for Bram and he wants to help. After this interview and the article is finished and it runs, we see an easy comfort between Kayla and Lachlan. Then after a music festival, Kayla stays with Lachlan all night as he tries to coax two strays to come to him. That night, Kayla discovers that there is more to Lachlan than she originally thought.
The second half of the book is where we get into the heart-wrenching, dark stuff. Kayla, ever the free spirit (although she's a bit scared and rightfully so), flies to Scotland to spend time with Lachlan. She gets to see him on his turf. How he runs his rescue foundation and how he is at rugby and how is he with his teammates and family. But then she also starts to see the cracks. Those cracks are what Lachlan doesn't really want her to see because he knows they're bad. He's ashamed of them and so he tries to hide that part of himself from Kayla.
Everything about the way Kayla and Lachlan were together was just so real. They had passion in spades. The chemistry between them was undeniable. Lachlan is just that amazingly perfect dirty talking man in bed. The sex was off the charts in this book. Completely! They also had a friendship that I feel is very important in a relationship. They were sweet with each other, but still fun. Then there was the love they had. The love that scared them both that it was almost hard to believe. I could feel it with them. I could tell that their love was there, but it was also there waiting to break them. It was so good.
This book is much longer than the other two in the series...it's basically two books in one...and it is well worth it. You cover some serious topics in this book, but there's plenty of light, fun moments to balance it out.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
This book was my favorite out of the whole series. Man, this book made me emotional, but in a good way.
I love Kayla- "I made the decision to abstain from dick." She's funny, a notorious man-eater, pretty much has no filter, opinionated and has no qualms speaking her mind. Love her! I want to be besties with her!
"Why is everyone so surprised when I try and do something nice? It's not like I'm one hundred percent pure evil. Just like forty percent. That's less than half." Hahahaha!
Then in walks Lachlan. Scottish rugby play and animal lover. He's a bit broken, doesn't have a lot to stay and keeps to himself.
"Sometimes...solitude can be blinding."
He stole my heart in this book. Even though he doesn't say a whole lot, what he does say, it's amazing.
"Kayla. That tiny sprite. I kissed her. I fought and I fought and I fought against it. But there was nothing I could do. She's a riptide. I'm just a man without oars." *girly sigh*
These two are just so perfect for each other, they do go through a lot though. The last 30% of the book got this cold dead heart a little farklempt! I'm definitely going to reread this book. It's that wonderful!
I love Kayla- "I made the decision to abstain from dick." She's funny, a notorious man-eater, pretty much has no filter, opinionated and has no qualms speaking her mind. Love her! I want to be besties with her!
"Why is everyone so surprised when I try and do something nice? It's not like I'm one hundred percent pure evil. Just like forty percent. That's less than half." Hahahaha!
Then in walks Lachlan. Scottish rugby play and animal lover. He's a bit broken, doesn't have a lot to stay and keeps to himself.
"Sometimes...solitude can be blinding."
He stole my heart in this book. Even though he doesn't say a whole lot, what he does say, it's amazing.
"Kayla. That tiny sprite. I kissed her. I fought and I fought and I fought against it. But there was nothing I could do. She's a riptide. I'm just a man without oars." *girly sigh*
These two are just so perfect for each other, they do go through a lot though. The last 30% of the book got this cold dead heart a little farklempt! I'm definitely going to reread this book. It's that wonderful!