Name: Lover of Romance 's review of Games of the Heart by Kristen Ashley
Item: Games of the Heart
Rating: 4
Author: Lover of Romance

Kristen Ashley

From the balcony of his house, Mike Haines can see the quiet, commonplace beauty of the Holliday farm. But what he remembers is the little sister of his high school girlfriend, Dusty who grew up there. As a teen, Dusty had gone off the rails but when she was a kid, she was sweet, she was funny and she had a special bond with Mike. But after high school, she took off and Mike never saw her again. Then tragedy strikes Dusty’s family, she comes back into town and Mike thinks she hasn't changed back to the sweet, funny girl he knew but instead continued to be selfish and thoughtless, leaving her family alone to deal with their mourning. So he seeks her out and confronts her in an effort to understand what went wrong and to force her to sort herself out. He finds out quickly he’s wrong about Dusty Holliday. Very wrong. And right after Mike discovers that, the bond they had years before snaps back into place in ways he would never suspect. But Mike Haines had a bad marriage then he played games of the heart for a good woman. And lost. In order to protect himself and his kids, he’s cautious, he’s careful to read the signs and he’s not interested in finding a woman he has to fix. Then he learns what happened to Dusty and he thinks she needs to be fixed. He swings, he misses and in this new game of hearts, for Dusty, Mike just got strike three.

Games of the Heart

Juliana M

Lover of Romance 

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

Ever since we saw the wonderful male character "Mike Haines" in one of the previous books in the series, I have been eager to read his story. And in his story we see something so profound and beautiful in the type of story that he definitely deserves. I am beyond thrilled that KA decided to do a book featuring him and in my opinion this is the BEST book of the series so far. I have really struggled with this series more than any of her other books (they just for me, are super difficult to get into in the beginning) but Games of the Heart? Definitely NOT!! This book was a breeze, and had the similar feels that I have experienced in many of KA's other works. So I was beyond happy with this book and this story swept me away.

So "Games of the Heart" is a story of long lost friends who are once reunited once again. Mike and Dusty were th closest of friends once in high school. Dusty was viewed as the "odd ball" of the town and even in her family, but Mike saw the true genuine heart of Dusty and that she was "gold" but then she left town and Mike never heard from her but then disaster strikes the family, and she returns home once again. When her sister spins lies about her, Mike is furious and goes to Dusty to confront her and hotel room smexy fun flares between the two as the truth is unveiled and the true heart of Dusty is revealed in the loss of losing her brother with whom she adored. Even though Dusty lives "not close" Dusty and Mike are determined to see where their relationship can go but there will be deception that will put a hold on their romance and it will take the family and Mike working together to confront the one who wants to destroy everything and the legacy Dusty's brother left behind.

Games of the Heart is a story that I was so drawn into and it definitely kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through. Definitely one of the easiest close to "600 pages" reads because I just swept through this book so quickly and it was such fun to experience. I actually LOVE how long Kristen Ashley's works actually are. Most cases you can't get enough and that is a rarety among romance this length. There is such a sense of normalcy in her work that is so relatable to reality in some respects and I love it. The romance that builds between Mike and Dusty is so warm and refreshing, it has a fresh feel to its level of emotion and the tension that builds within the plot line. Mike is such a wonderful alpha male---of course, KA writes the most delectable alpha males, and Mike is the one you would want to marry. I love his support and love of Dusty but also demands respect and care too. He sets those healthy boundaries that I love seeing within KA novels ---and one we need more in romance.

Overall I found Games of the Heart to be a true delight of endearing love, strong family bonds and the courage to fight for what is right!!







The Promise is a story that I just had to read and I am so glad that I was able to immerse myself into this book over the weekend. There is something so unique in the books that KA delivers, her voice that is portrayed in the writing is delectable in every way. And I was completely ready for the story of "The Promise" we were introduced to this wonderful family in Cal and Vi's book and I have to say I was tempted to skip over "Games of the Heart" to read this one because I adore ITALIAN families, there is something so entertaining and energetic about their connections to each other. One that if you love family bonds, is definitely something that you NEED in your life.

The Promise is a story that you NEED to read previous books in the series or there is a certain detail you will be so confused on. But the story starts off with a gunshot wound that our heroine has suffered while trying to save her friend. And now she has the Bianchi family all over her for it and she thought they were done with her. Seven years previous she lost her boyfriend, a man she loved that turned into a man she barely recognized and is the brother of Benny Bianchi and there were some hard feelings blasted toward her and she left the family but now they are back in her life, wanting to make amends and start anew. Frankie has always loved the Bianchi family, but she is still hurt over their rejection but especially from one man....Benny. He wants to redeem himself towards her, but Frankie is closed off for more than just the rejection and pain---and Benny is determined to dig deeper and find the genuine soul that resides in Frankie's heart--but it will take patience, love and fighting to do so--but the promise of it will be worth the work for it.

The Promise is quite different but the GROVELING is epic, so if you love a good groveling/redeemable story, than you definitely need to check out this book for sure.  I love seeing the determination in our hero to find his way to Frankie's heart no matter the work he needs to put into it, because he sees her as "worth" it, no matter the cost. But I also love how he doesn't just let her run over him either, he sets the boundaries and gives his all to the relationship. Frankie has her own growing to do in the story. She has to find her path and her way to the Bianchi family and into Benny's heart. She has many unresolved issues from her past, and never had what Benny had growing up. So she has to learn how to build a healthy relationship with no experience of it except her interactions with friends and the Bianchi family. But we see such growth in her character in coming to this realization.

Overall I found The Promise to be a gratifying read that had me in tears from the depths of emotion that we feel within this story here....definitely worth its weight in gold!

Samantha Emery

This is a beautiful beautiful love story!

Or two actually!

Mike and Dusty 

and

Reece and Fin!

Love it!

Although, must say, I find it hard to connect to Dusty and found her a bit annoying. But, is it Dusty herself (who I found rolling my eyes at a few times, since she was so bloody perfect!!) or the fact that I have had this issue with KA heroines in the past, and Dusty came at the end of a massive months long re read of a few KA series?

Once again, a woman, with no experience in a "mother" role, comes in like the fecking Child Rearing Guru Wonder Woman, and can bake 10 layer cakes, decorate, advise, be fecking brilliant and awesome, while the birth mother/ex-wife is a cow! Although, the ex wife here is not as bad as other KA ex wives, but that is because we had Dusty's sister being the bitch of all bitches for no real reason.

I love KA books, really love them, but I am way way over that!

So, after my rant, I shall just finish by putting down some of my favourite parts of this book. (although my absolute favourite parts were any part with Fin and Reece! They stole my heart!)


  Mike did not, until that moment know The 'Burg's high school hierarchy. But at that moment he knew Finley Holliday, even as a junior, reigned as king.
And his eyes going directly to Reesee then his feet taking him there meant he'd just declared in front of thirty plus kids who he intended to make his queen.
"Fuck," he muttered under his breath and heard Dusty chuckle but he didn't take his eyes off his daughter who tipped her head back and he saw her lips form the word "Hey," to which Fin's lips formed the word "Hey" back. Then Fin reached out and grabbed his girl's hand for a quick squeeze before he let it go.
Christ, no crowns were in evidence but still Mike knew Fin just performed a coronation.

***********

"I'm falling in love with you, Mike Haines.".....
"Angel, you're already gone."
I blinked and asked, "Sorry?"
"....You fell with a kiss. I know, honey, because I was right there with you."

************


Oh and I loved the scenes with Mike, Cal, Colt, Merry and Sully when they were gossiping about Mike and Dusty, then with all of them and the addition of Layne, Ryker, Devin and Rivera in Tanner's office and arguing about cake!

Still 5 stars even after a re read, even with my faint dislike of Dusty and her "greatness" but that might not just be her (although it so is - ugh) but she comes at the end of a long run of bloody "perfect" KA step mothers!

Juliana M &
Games of the Heart by Kristen Ashley

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Games of the Heart by Kristen Ashley