Playing with Fire: A Bad Boy College Romance

Product Information

Playing with Fire a Novel by Tess Gerristen was a beautiful, fast paced and extremely satisifying read. But hey, maybe an inexperienced hero can be cute, he can be a false whore!!!!! So don’t you go losing your virginity with any other guy moonshine, maybe there is a sunshine out there wanting him and you would suffer if he only realizes he doesn’t want to have sex with her mid thrust at your’s special place. This is historical fiction at its best, it's a fiction story set in the past but with some historical facts and figures to keep the reader educated and interested. This book is SO different from any other book LJ has released. If you’ve never read a book from this author then please, PLEASE at least read this one, it’s a story that shouldn’t be brushed aside as an “I’ll read later” it’s the kind of book that needs to be read now The review above give details about how this book is ridiculous and how the hero is a total irredeemable piece of shit

Pros: The title says it all: Fire. Magic. Romance. Comedy. This book contains lots of great one liners, unexpected occurrences, and a very sexy hero. I never guessed what came next. Partially because I had no idea what was going on...but even that was enjoyable. Light, fluffy, fun writing. Creative characters - I particularly loved Perky. Quinn was a lot of fun, too, though maybe a little too perfect (both "perfect for her" and "perfect in general"). I bought it and didn't care for Bailey's sake. Well, that and he was the perfect snark partner. Playing with fire is such a sweet surprise. It is different, it is fresh, and it's the kind of love story that consumes you.Fire symbolized beauty, fury, and rebirth, she explained. Too bad in my case, it symbolized nothing but my demise." A number of other reviewers here complain that Fleury is an arrogant, self-centered jerk who doesn't actually own up to his mistakes. I didn't get that impression at all-- or rather, I agree that he comes across as an arrogant, self-centered jerk, but he's also an arrogant, self-centered jerk who chose to make himself exceptionally vulnerable and is taking responsibility for (most of) his mistakes, both as part of his own healing process and to serve as a role model to others. It may be that some readers find his arrogance so off-putting that they have a hard time perceiving that such a person could also believe themselves to be responsible for their own actions. But that's what I saw, and I felt that this combination of arrogance and vulnerability made for a compelling and strangely sympathetic character. As events escalated, Julia knew no-one believed her – Rob was a different man, Aunt Val tried to help. But was what was happening something to do with Julia’s past? She knew she had to find answers before it was too late. Her escape to Venice suddenly found her in intense danger – what secret had “Incendio” unleashed? The ancient music seemed to have a life of its own – would she escape its clutches? Would her life ever be the same again? Kudos, Dr. Gerritsen (do you still hold your medical title?) for this novel, which touches the heart and shows you put your all into your writing. I wonder what you have on the horizon to appease your loyal fans. All The Stars for "Playing With Fire"!!! I absolutely loved this book! Major feels! I was still crying during the author's note. I listened to the audio version. Julia Whelan is the narrator of one of the two points of view. She is my absolute favorite narrator. There are two storylines going on in this novel. The historical fiction aspect is a complete 5! The other storyline was a mystery and that was a 4.5 for me. Although I didn't figure the mystery part out so I'm giving this novel in total a 5!

I read this because I had a fabulous holiday in Italy where I read an excellent novel set in WWII Florence which swept me up into a world I didn’t want to leave. When I saw this was set in Italy during the war I thought it might provide a way of prolonging my holiday… Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and NetGalley.) The story alternates between Julia and Lorenzo, the young Jewish violinist who composed “Incendio” during the Nazi occupation of Italy. Sad, evil times, which are described in historical notes at the end of the book. This book was so bizarre. I don't even know how to respond. Do I castrate it for its numerous imperfections? Delight in its hilarity and romantic tension? Shake my head and give up attempting to understand it? Maybe all three? The writing itself was no problem, and the editing was good — I only caught a couple minor typos or grammar issues, less than in many "major house" publications.Playing with Fire is a romance with so much depth and brilliance. I truly bow down to L.J. Shen for giving me a truly sensational book. Meanwhile, Quinn is a long-suffering police chief who works with Gardener as a contractor and keeps trying to let her know that he's interested. And he's got his own things to hide, although that doesn't come out until later in the book. I laughed out loud enough, and was charmed so thoroughly, that I'm giving this all five stars. It's a fragile five stars, though, and if any of those elements don't connect for you, it's unlikely you'll agree. The worldbuilding and creativity romp are dialed up to eleven and if you don't buy in, it's going to be a slog. I bit, though, and was entertained. The title, Playing with Fire, is undoubtedly the most apt title ever. I completely understand why LJ Shen sat on it for what seemed like forever. Even the title evokes feelings and emotions...the most difficult part is that they change, morph, and adapt throughout the book. Just when you think you know...you have no idea.

Michelle, what did you give me? I feel like I just came off a high but if it was from delight or despair I can't say. The story opens with violinist Julia Ansdell purchasing an old music book from an antique shop in Rome. Inside the book, she discovers a loose sheet of paper that has a handwritten waltz by someone named L. Todesco.Lately this author has been a bit hit and miss for me when compared to her earlier works which I loved wholeheartedly to recents which have been just ok for me. But I've still read what she's released. I would like to thank Net Galley and Random House Ballantine books for supplying me with a copy of the latest Tess Gerritsen novel in exchange for an honest review. Well this has to be the gosh-darn weirdest book I can remember reading in some time, and yet I didn't hate it. It’s a small town romance so I can’t stop thinking about small town scandals. Wouldn’t it make the hero the goddess of love if he ended in a sex film with five girls? Uh la la, I’m drooling thinking about what a remarkable stamina he would have

Together Grace and West’s chemistry was completely explosive. From the banter, to the snide remarks, to the kind gestures, to the acceptance and love completely of one another. It was truly beautiful to watch the journey of self discovery, acceptance, and life they went through together and separately. It may seem like I always wax eloquent about LJ heroines but for good reason, and in Grace she may have created a major favorite of mine. Her strength (such an incomplete word) and her resilience are astonishing, as is her grace, in the face of all the crap life keeps throwing at her. It’s made her all bent and wonky, but never broken; just a baby Phoenix waiting to unfurl her wings and rise from the ashes of her imploding life in a burst of brilliant sparks. Grace and West's love story is one of a kind, they stole my heart in the sweetest way possible. LJ nailed the small-town romance. What trope can this woman not write? The writing was bang on, the plot was FANTASTIC and the ending gosh! The sweetest way to kill me. West and Gracie are here to steal hearts y’all.Bailey’s relationships and virgin status - she says that she wanted to make friends and have relationships, but in the eleven years since she left her parents she hasn’t ever had friends or a boyfriend? It seems like she has a good relationship with her boss and Perky seems to like her, but she’s convinced she’s a bitch (mentioned wayyy too many times). Also - it’s very unbelievable that if she wanted to lose her virginity (which we’re lead to believe), that she couldn’t. Also - I hate this trope that the woman needs to be a virgin when she finds her true love - it reeks of purity culture and is a personal pet peeve of mine, especially when the character doesn’t want to be a virgin/isn’t waiting for something particular and is older. Grace is a girl who is a fighter. She had experienced a terrible thing in life, and although it stripped her of self-confidence, it didn’t break her. She may seem timid and unapproachable from a distance, but as soon as you get close to her, you meet a girl full of sass, snark and feistiness. I adored how loving and caring she was, and how she faced her fears and insecurities and became a woman she was supposed to be. I admire her strenght and perseverance.