Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Love Game
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S): Wells, Maggie
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.maggie-wells.com/
CITY:
STATE: AR
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
| C control no.: | no2014116349 |
|---|---|
| LCCN Permalink: | https://lccn.loc.gov/no2014116349 |
| HEADING: | Ethridge, Margaret |
| 000 | 00745nz a2200157n 450 |
| 001 | 9646665 |
| 005 | 20140903073613.0 |
| 008 | 140902n| azannaabn |a aaa c |
| 010 | __ |a no2014116349 |
| 035 | __ |a (OCoLC)oca09950895 |
| 040 | __ |a OkU |b eng |e rda |c OkU |
| 100 | 1_ |a Ethridge, Margaret |
| 375 | __ |a female |
| 500 | 1_ |w nnnc |a Wells, Maggie |c (Erotic romance writer) |
| 663 | __ |a Works by this author are identified by the name used in the item. For a listing of other names used by this author, search also under: |b Wells, Maggie (Erotic romance writer) |
| 670 | __ |a Wells written, Sept. 2, 2014: |b header (erotic literature and romance) book list (romance titles by Margaret Ethridge; erotic romance titles by Maggie Wells) |u http://maggie-wells.com/book-list/ |
PERSONAL
Female.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Erotic romance writer.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Margaret Ethridge, also known as Maggie Wells, writes erotic, feminist, and sex-positive romance novels. She is a mild-mannered married lady by day who at night writes naughty books and claims she is the product of a charming rogue and shameless flirt. She has written several romance series including “Worth the Wait,” “Love Games,” “Coastal Heat,” and “Play Dates.”
Paramour
Ethridge’s 2011 book, Paramour, involves a love triangle between Camellia Stafford, who has returned home to bury her father; Bradley Mitchum, the handsome neighbor and business executive; and Frank DeLuca, the ghost who lives in Cam’s childhood bedroom trapped in the light fixture over her bed. Frank died from a gunshot during a robbery more than twenty years ago. As a ghost, he can turn his light on and off and physically touch Cam but doesn’t feel anything when he does. He has loved Cam her entire life. Knowing Frank was there the whole time, she loves him, too. But Bradley is generous, charming, and alive. As she confronts her feelings for the often cranky Frank, Cam learns that Bradley has ghosts in his past as well.
A reviewer on the Smart Bitches Trashy Books website had difficulty with some of the book’s descriptive language, Cam’s waffling about having sex with Frank and Brad, and the voyeuristic nature of Frank’s spirit in the bedroom while Cam and Brad are having sex. The reviewer said: “There are some moments of clever writing strength within the story. The author attempted to focus on the concept of the heart, with physical and emotional elements present through each character.” In addition, “the men in the story are much better developed, and they both deserved better than Cam….I can’t figure out if Cam is selfish or just ridiculous with the short term memory of a goldfish.” However, acknowledging the scorching passion between a woman and a ghost, a writer online at Romancing the Book declared: “A great book that packs a punch” and one that would make readers want to flick on the lights trying to find their own Frank.
Play Dates
Writing as Maggie Wells, Ethridge published Play Dates, which features single father Colm Cleary who finds love during his son Aiden’s play dates. Colm lost his wife right after childbirth and is a devoted father to Aiden. With dating the last thing on his mind, after seeing the gorgeous Monica Rayburn on the playground with her young daughter, he might make an exception. Monica agrees to a grown up date with Colm, but is afraid to confess that the little girl she was with was her niece. Monica is a committed career woman who doesn’t do kids. Other than heated sex, does Monica have anything in common with the family-focused Colm?
“This book had a fair amount of humor in it and it worked for me,” according to a writer on the Smexy Books website. However, because after their physical relationship, the characters fall in love too quickly, the writer added: “It felt a bit rushed to me. I wanted a little more of them exploring an out of the bedroom relationship so I could truly believe in their love story.”
Love Games
Love Games is the first book in the “Love Games” erotic contemporary series written under the name Maggie Wells. Kate Snyder is the formidable women’s basketball coach at Wolcott University who is more than miffed when the school hires the highly-paid and scandal-ridden coach Danny McMillan to spruce up the football team. Kate is afraid his antics may overshadow the hard work and notoriety she’s put into women’s sports. Every chance she gets, she engages in verbal tussles with McMillan. The school, however, loves the publicity over their feud. Soon the attraction works its way into the bedroom. With her delightful gossipy girlfriends side characters and mastery of the slow-burn romantic buildup, Wells “scores big with a perfectly paced and gutsy romance that takes the push-pull heat of competitive flirtation to the max,” according to a writer in Publishers Weekly.
“Wells writes from the heart and has created two remarkable main characters that are unique and realistic,” said Patti Loveday online at Fresh Fiction. Loveday also noted that the book takes the reader on a wild ride where the stakes to finding love are high. A reviewer on the Guilty Pleasures Book Review website liked the many layers of the story, praising the book for “A hero with something to prove, a heroine who just wants the respect and paycheck she deserves for what she’s produced, a reporter with a grudge, a morality clause, and friends who go the extra mile.” As to the sports background of the story, “even though sports had a strong presence in this romance, it added a level of depth and interest to the story that I wasn’t expecting,” according to a writer online at Harlequin Junkie.
Play for Keeps
The next book in the “Love Game” series is Play for Keeps. Wolcott University Athletics department public relations spokeswoman Millie Jensen is working overtime trying to contain the media firestorm over the affair between basketball coach Tyrell Ransom’s soon-to-be ex-wife and one of his NBA-bound players. Dodging reporters and trying to whip his team into shape to win upcoming games, Ransom is sidelined by his attraction to Millie, who sweeps in wearing her leopard-print cape to save the day.
A Publishers Weekly reviewer said that while the chemistry between the interracial lead characters is strong, “The final plot twist jumps to lifelong commitment without stopping to build a real relationship.” A writer online at Daily Waffle liked how Wells develops fully realized women and how the book is sassy, smart, and fun. The writer said: “It is a joy to read a truly adult heroine with an established career, who isn’t afraid to be herself and says so. Millie isn’t afraid to articulate what she wants.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Publishers Weekly, January 1, 2018, review of Love Game, p. 44.
ONLINE
Daily Waffle, http://dailywaffle.com/(April 3, 2018), review of Play for Keeps.
Fresh Fiction, http://freshfiction.com/ (February 12, 2018), Patti Loveday, review of Love Game.
Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews, http://www.guiltypleasuresbookreviews.com/ (February 6, 2018), review of Love Game.
Harlequin Junkie, http://harlequinjunkie.com/(February 25, 2018 ), review of Love Game.
Romancing the Book, http://romancing-the-book.com/ (October 1, 2011), review of Paramour.
Smart Bitches Trashy Books, http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/ (March 9, 2011), SB Sarah, review of Paramour.
Smexy Books, http://smexybooks.com/ (October 19, 2017), review of Play Dates.
By day, Margaret Ethridge/Maggie Wells is buried in spreadsheets. At night she pens tales of people tangling up the sheets. This author of feminist, sex-positive romance is the product of a charming rogue and a shameless flirt. Trust us, you only have to scratch the surface of this mild-mannered married lady to find a naughty streak a mile wide.
Represented by Sara Megibow – KT Literary
Contact Maggie: maggiewells1@gmail.com
Join my reader group The Margaritas!
Meet Maggie in person at:
Romance Writers of America Literacy Signing
Denver, CO – July 21, 2018
Raves and Reviews:
Play for Keeps (April 2018 – Sourcebooks Casablanca)
“…their passion explodes into satisfying encounters rich with pure enjoyment amid gentle power plays and smart, hot banter.” ~ Publishers Weekly
“Play for Keeps is entertaining, heartbreaking, and sexy. Maggie Wells provides drama, angst, conflict, humor, and plenty of heat.” ~ Harlequin Junkie
“I enjoyed this story, the way that the characters knew each other, had established a friendship before the romance began. I also enjoyed reading about older characters, people who have experienced the good and bad that life has thrown at them and are still willing to give love a chance.” ~ Wicked Reads
“I loved the fact that Millie, the heroine, is over 40 and in shape but not tiny and waif-like. I liked her take-charge attitude, and adored her relationship with her two BFFs, Kate and Avery.” ~ On Books and Quilts
“Talk about your emotional roller-coaster rides… this was a thrilling, sexy, entertaining and engaging romantic journey of finding love in when you least expect it.” ~ Amazon Reviewer
” Ty and Millie were great and that kiss was OFF THE CHARTS.” ~ Amazon Reviewer
“While part of me will always be my 16- and 26-year-old selves, the rest of me says, thank you, Maggie Wells for writing romance heroines over 40, especially ones who don’t have children. We aren’t ingenues, but we aren’t dead yet.” ~ The DailyWaffle
“I love how real Millie is. Completely without filler or filter. But she’s not without fear. That’s why Ty is the perfect match for her because he’s conquered the fear of failure–his failure as a professional basketball player and his failure in marriage, and he still keeps trying to get it right.” ~ Amazon Reviewer
Love Game (February 2018 – Sourcebooks Casablanca)
Debut author Wells scores big with a perfectly paced and gutsy romance that takes the push-pull heat of competitive flirtation to the max. Kate Snyder, a “feminine but formidable” women’s basketball coach, is determined to defend the successful sports empire she’s built at Wolcott University. She fears being overshadowed by the high-priced hiring of scandal-ridden hottie Danny McMillan to rescue their failing men’s football team. The friction in Kate and Danny’s public fights, laden with “so much chemistry, there’s been talk of handing out hazmat suits,” is a publicity boon, but their private relationship may butt up against the morality clause of Danny’s contract. Wells masters the slow-burn buildup, giving each lead a steamy solo scene before even getting them together, and transfers their fierce banter smoothly from the school hallways into the bedroom. The boldness with which this power couple takes on the workplace issue as a team displays egalitarian and mutually supportive strength too rarely seen in heterosexual romance. A side plot focusing on family drama is weaker, but Kate’s two gossipy, feminist girlfriends are delightful and well positioned to be the next leads in the series. This is a very impressive debut sure to garner an instant following for Wells. (Feb.)
~ Publishers Weekly STARRED review
“Wells earns an A-plus, however, for creating a power couple that fully embodies being grown-up, intelligent adults who fall madly in love.” ~ BookPage Rising Stars of Romance
“Love Game is a tale that feminists will rejoice over. A modern read for a modern world.” ~ Romantically Inclined blog
“…any woman who loves a smart, driven, dedicated, take-no-prisoners heroine, will love Kate Snyder. She puts the “hero” in heroine as she fights for her job, her players, women’s sports, and the love of her life.” ~ A-Loved It! from That’s What I’m Talking About blog
“I know it is early in 2018, but I can already tell you Love Game will be one of my favorite reads this year, it is that good!” ~ Purest Delight 5 stars ~ Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
“I asked to review “Love Game” on a whim and ended up delighted that it broke out of stereotypes and presented a strong heroine along with a hero who relishes her for that strength. She also kept her agency in the face of so many who either dismissed it or would have asked her to diminish her worth.” Recommended read ~ Dear Author
Play Dates (October 2017 ~ Lyrical Press/Kensington)
“A playful, fun, and sexy romance I loved Play Dates!” ~ D at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
“I will definitely be looking too read Mike’s book; Easy Bake Lovin’ due for release in March 18.” ~ Amazon reviewer
“I just loved Colm he was such a great dad to his son Aiden and they were so damn cute together you cannot help but love them.” ~ Amazon reviewer
“Maggie Wells did not disappoint. She writes great characters, dialogue and plots. I loved seeing how Monica and Colm got together in spite of the baggage they both carried. ” ~ Amazon reviewer
A Bolt From the Blue (April 2017 ~ Lyrical Press/Kensington)
“A Bolt from the Blue is brilliantly woven from beginning to end, filled with compelling characters who light up the pages with humor and honesty. I loved every minute of it!” ~ Amazon review, 5 stars
“…combines a satisfying mix of sweet and sexy to the couples that she writes about, and she never fails to make me laugh and cry in the span of a single book. My chief complaint is typically: MORE!” ~ Amazon review
“Loved the relationship between Mick and his daughter. And the two sisters’ relationship? That is something I could relate to. A place, situation, and characters I loved spending time with.” – Amazon review, 5 stars
Love & Rockets (November 2016 ~ Lyrical Press/Kensington)
“A Maggie Wells hero has chinks in his armor, a source of vulnerability that makes him human (one of my favorite aspects of the author’s storytelling). Her heroines, on the other hand, wear pride and independence like a badge and struggle to admit when they need help.” ~ Epilogue Book Blog
“Love & Rockets is sweet, charming, and entertaining. Maggie Wells weaved in great banter and featured strong friendships.” ~ 5 stars – Harlequin Junkie
“This was a sweet & sexy read……” ~ Amazon Review
“This will be a story I’ll read again and again!” ~ Amazon Review
A Will and A Way (July 2016 ~ Lyrical Press/Kensington)
“The dance between these two is nothing short of fun, feisty, and flaming hot.” ~ Epilogue Book Blog
“Siiiiigh. I’ll be reading this one again and again!” ~ 5 star Amazon review
Flip This Love (April 2016 ~ Lyrical Shine/Kensington)
“Flip This Love by Maggie Wells strikes the perfect balance between smart and steamy. Add in two truly likeable main characters, as witty and accomplished as they are outwardly attractive, and we’ve got another winner on our hands from the Coastal Heat series.” ~ Epilogue Book Blog
“For those readers that enjoy second chances and southern romances, Flip This Love might be a good fit for you!” ~ Harlequin Junkie
“Harley, Harley, Harley how to describe him well he’s sweet, but at the same time he could be a smarta**” ~ Andrewsheath, 5 star Amazon review
“Before I say anything else, I need to confess that I’m hopelessly in love with Harley Cade. There. I said it.” ~ Julie, 5 star Amazon review
Play for Keeps
Publishers Weekly.
265.8 (Feb. 19, 2018): p62. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2018 PWxyz, LLC http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Play for Keeps
Maggie Wells. Sourcebooks Casablanca,
$7.99 mass market (352p) ISBN 978-1-49265152-9
Wells's second Love Games erotic contemporary (after Love Game) scores with the sex but falters with the romance. Wolcott University's public relations head, Millie Jensen, indulges her mutual attraction with men's basketball coach Tyrell Ransom after his wife leaves him for one of his superstar players. Their relationship starts with a long-distance burn as Ty waits in Reno, Nev., to get his divorce papers settled; when lie returns to Wolcott's unspecified Midwest location, their passion explodes into satisfying encounters rich with pure enjoyment amid gentle power plays and smart, hot banter. Millie and Ty's situation seems perfect until Millie's hang-ups about remaining independent get in the way. Millie's gal pals, introduced in the first book, are entertaining; the interracial aspect of the leads' midlife connection (she's white, he's black) is unmistakably present but low-key; and the chemistry is strong. However, the uneven pacing of the central conflict undermines the romantic thread. The final plot twist jumps to lifelong commitment without stopping to build a real relationship, leaving readers with an unwelcome sense that the protagonists' happiness won't be forever. Agent: Sara Megibow, KT Literary. (Apr.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Play for Keeps." Publishers Weekly, 19 Feb. 2018, p. 62. Book Review Index Plus,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A529357542/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=6dc8c055. Accessed 4 June 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A529357542
1 of 2 6/3/18, 11:37 PM
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
Love Game
Publishers Weekly.
265.1 (Jan. 1, 2018): p44. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2018 PWxyz, LLC http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
* Love Game
Maggie Wells. Sourcebooks Casablanca, $7.99 mass market (384p) ISBN 978-1-4926-5149-9
Debut author Wells scores big with a perfectly paced and gutsy romance that takes the push-pull heat of competitive flirtation to the max. Kate Snyder, a "feminine but formidable" women's basketball coach, is determined to defend the successful sports empire she's built at Wolcott University. She fears being overshadowed by the high-priced hiring of scandal-ridden hottie Danny McMillan to rescue their failing men's football team. The friction in Kate and Danny's public fights, laden with "so much chemistry, there's been talk of handing out hazmat suits," is a publicity boon, but their private relationship may butt up against the morality clause of Danny's contract. Wells masters the slow-burn buildup, giving each lead a steamy solo scene before even getting them together, and transfers their fierce banter smoothly from the school hallways into the bedroom. The boldness with which this power couple takes on the workplace issue as a team displays egalitarian and mutually supportive strength too rarely seen in heterosexual romance. A side plot focusing on family drama is weaker, but Kate's two gossipy, feminist girlfriends are delightful and well positioned to be the next leads in the series. This is a very impressive debut sure to garner an instant following for Wells. (Feb.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Love Game." Publishers Weekly, 1 Jan. 2018, p. 44. Book Review Index Plus,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A522124988/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=a6a82ec3. Accessed 4 June 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A522124988
2 of 2 6/3/18, 11:37 PM
Review: Paramour by Margaret Ethridge
Posted on October 1, 2011 by Romancing the Book Reviews
Paramour by Margaret Ethridge
Release Date: December 31, 2010
Publisher: Turquosie Morning Press
Page Count: 178
Source: ebook provided by publisher
Two men: one living, one dead, and both vying for her love. Camellia Stafford has never been alone in her room. For twenty years, she’s been engaged in a fierce power struggle with her bedroom’s previous tenant, Frank DeLuca, the ghost trapped in the light fixture above her bed. Caustic and cranky, Frank has one soft spot—Cam. Over the years, their feelings for one another have evolved from grudging friendship to an enduring love that burns white-hot until Frank puts his feelings for Cam on ice. When she suffers the loss of her beloved father, Cam returns home to say good-bye, and confront her feelings for Frank. She finds an unexpected shoulder to lean on in neighbor, Bradley Mitchum. Cam falls hard and fast for the handsome ad man’s charming smile and passion-ate nature, but Brad’s easy-going exterior masks a steely backbone tempered by adversity. Now Cam must choose— Is her heart strong enough to determine which dream could lead to a love that will last a lifetime?
Review: The blurb from this book gives you so much information. Before reading this book, I had only read one other book that was considered “romance” with a ghost in it. So, I kinda took this book as a challenge. Because there is NO WAY a second book of this type, could be hot . . right? I was so wrong. This book was scorching. I picked it up and found myself unable to put it down. I honestly do not want to give a single piece of this story away. So let me say this: this book is going to have you seeing ghost in a whole new light. No more translucent, sheet covered, chain carrying, hovering in the air beings. We’re talking Mohawk sporting, black nails, with rocker band t-shirts . . you know, the type your mother warned you about?!
A great book that packs a punch and when you finish, you may just find yourself flicking on the lights trying to find your own Frank.
ook Review
Paramour by Margaret Ethridge
by SB Sarah · Mar 9, 2011 at 12:23 pm · View all 64 comments
D
Title: Paramour
Author: Margaret Ethridge
Publication Info: Turquoise Morning Press 2011
ISBN: 9781935817383
Genre: Paranormal
Paramour Cover This book came to my attention based on a reader recommendation. I’ve been trying to figure out how to approach this review since I finished the book this weekend and immediately said out loud and on Twitter, “You have got to be fucking kidding me.”
When I look at a small press book, I think about whether I’d buy another book from them, if the book I read is indicative of the quality of the books the press plans to produce in the future. Based upon this book, I am not impressed with the quality of the editing or the press itself. But the story and the concept were enough to keep me reading, and I wanted to finish it because I wanted to know how it ended – I cared enough to want to see the resolution, in other words. But when I got to the ending, I was far from satisfied, and am not impressed with the author or the decision to end the book in this manner.
The opening of the story focuses on the painful death of Frank, whose ghost is attempting to touch or reach his mother in the first scene. The description of Frank’s pain and desperation was enough to make me want to download and read the book.
Plot summary ahoy!
Camilla, better known as “Cam,” returns to her childhood home because of the sudden and somewhat untimely death of her father from a heart attack. When she arrives, a neighbor thrusts a tuna noodle casserole into her hands, and Cam stumbles numbly into her father’s house, confused and grieving. Tuna noodle hits the floor, she leaves the mess on the kitchen tile, and heads upstairs to bed where she turns on the light fixture on the wall above her pillow and POOF! Out pops Frank, the ghost who has haunted that light fixture since his own death several years before.
Cam and Frank grew up together, somewhat. There is some indication that Cam controls Frank’s age, or the age he appears to be. In flashbacks to Cam’s childhood told from Frank’s point of view, he’s startled to see how young he is. Later, Frank portrays his age and appearance from the night he died. Frank can also physically touch Cam, and most objects in the room, but he doesn’t feel anything when he does. He can turn his own light fixture house on and off, thereby controlling his own apparition – but if he tries to get to second base with Cam, he can’t feel a thing.
Cam is fixated on Frank – and asks him to be her first kiss (he refuses, setting of the first of a few periods of time where they don’t speak) and her first sexual experience (same result – with a longer time of not speaking) – but when she returns home to grieve and pack up her father’s house, Frank isn’t the only person she’s ready to bang.
Cue triangle!
Brad, her former neighbor from across the street, bought his parents’ house when they put it on the market, so he lives in the house he grew up in. Brad has nursed a childhood crush on Cam since high school. When he sees her car and hears the news from tuna noodle neighbor that Cam’s dad died, he decides that it’s time he spoke up about how he feels about her. And when Cam sees the now hot-and-tan-and-sexy-and-dedicated-to-yard-work Brad, who mows many lawns in the neighborhood including her own, she’s equally attracted and ready to act on that attraction faster than Brad can rip the pull cord on his mower. The rest of the story focuses on the tension between Frank and Cam, and Cam and Brad in a somewhat-ghostly and very confusing tangle.
Before I get to my reaction to the story, there were a number of things that distracted the hell out of me that I blame squarely on the editing. Things like repeated phrases and words.
“Her brain clicked into gear when she spotted the familiar blue flowers of a vintage Corning Ware casserole dish. She reached for the door handle and began to unfold herself from the driver’s seat.”
A few lines later:
“A wide strip of masking tape with “KELLY” written in neat block letters stuck to the bottom of the dish. Something in her brain clicked, and she paused to question the wisdom of putting masking tape into a three hundred and fifty degree oven for thirty minutes.”
Is the main character secretly a robot? And does a brain clicking sound like my furnace’s burner ignition?
Another example: if any character at any time is holding a beer, they will scrape or pick at the edge of the label with their thumbnail. Count on it. In fact, drink beer when it happens. It’ll dull the confusion of what happens later. Further, Cam has this nervous habit that’s remarked upon repeatedly: she rubs the edge of her thumbnail over the pad of her index finger, and nearly identical phrases are used to describe it multiple times. It’s distracting and repetitive and so bothersome.
Furthermore, I had a TON of consistency-based questions, both about the world building or mythology of Frank’s haunting, and about Cam’s character. For example, Frank can touch just about anything in Cam’s bedroom (which long ago used to be his bedroom) but he can’t touch the journals and diaries where Cam records details of their conversations ostensibly so she won’t forget anything he’s said. He can’t touch those books as much as he’d like to, and there’s no sufficient explanation for that, or any exploration of why he’s haunting a light fixture to begin with. It’s just an accepted feature of the house: for sale, 3br, 2.1 bath bungalow, lily garden of exceptional quality, EIK, W/D, new roof, ghost in bedroom light fixture. There’s no questioning of WHY Frank is there, or whether Cam or Frank would like him to no longer haunt a wall sconce. She’s very unalarmed by the presence of a ghost on her bed, both as a child or as an adult, and even after long periods of not speaking to him, she’s still trying to jump his ghostly bones.
Sometimes in the course of the story, Cam seems not to be able to recall Frank in the least. She bounces out of bed one morning, chases after hot lawnmowing Brad in her yard, despite trying to get on base with Frank the night before. Yet it’s never explained how that connection of memory works, and the ending makes that even more confusing. I think I’m meant to understand that Cam thinks her interactions with Frank are a dream, but in flashbacks she dresses seductively for him on more than one occasion – indicating that some degree of conscious preparation was involved before she turned on the light. She had to get the sexy nightgown from somewhere, presumably shopping with him in mind – but that’s never explained. She has very emotional scenes with Frank, begging him to kiss her, begging him divest her of her pesky virginity, and yet despite tears and serious feelings of rejection she doesn’t really seem to remember him unless she’s in bed, and possibly horny.
Then comes a scene that had me twitching.
By the time Cam finally convinced Brad to take her upstairs and get funky in her room, Cam has gone back and forth between Brad and Frank trying to get someone to do her already. Really. It’s unappealing, to say the least. But then Cam and Brad get busy on Cam’s bed, and I’m thinking Oh, no, please don’t turn on the light. Oh, no. And of course Brad turns on the light, and POOF! Out pops Frank to watch them do it, providing color commentary and remarking on the entire event while Cam can hear him and see him standing over her while Brad does the deed. I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP. Ghostly voyeur menage, I have read some. That was more than enough for me.
Then there’s the ending. I try very hard not to reveal the ending of a story, but in this case it is so off the wall that I can’t not talk about it, especially since it affected my overall grade of the book. Hence, hear ye, there be spoilers. Highlight the text if you want to read them.
At the end of the story, Cam has packed up her father’s home for sale, and moved in with Brad across the street. They’re now engaged. Frank has somehow erased himself from Cam’s memory. But on the day of the open house, she walks through the house with a screwdriver, and turns on the light so ghosty Frank can pop out. He does. She tells him she is engaged, then indicates she’s planning to unscrew the light fixture from the wall, saying, “Don’t you want to come with us?” thereby ensuring that Frank can watch them screw for his eternity.
ETA: I owe y’all a big apology. I’m sorry. The spoiler tag was miscued so the above paragraph was visible. I apologize profusely. Totally my error.
There are some moments of clever writing strength within the story. The author attempted to focus on the concept of the heart, with physical and emotional elements present through each character, mirroring their losses in ways that all focus on the human heart. Frank was shot in the heart, and his ghost has a dark hole in his chest that bothers him at varying moments, depending on his sexual or emotional proximity to Cam. Brad also is affected physically and emotionally by his own heart, the details of which are revealed later in the story. Cam is grieving for her father and feels that pain in her own chest. Well, sort of – she’s easily distracted from her grief by her own hornypants, and not in a sex-affirms-life type of way. Cam is easily distracted most of the time. In just about every damn scene, in fact. I can’t figure out if Cam is selfish or just ridiculous with the short term memory of a goldfish.
Ultimately the men in the story are much better developed, and they both deserved better than Cam. There are some clever scenes with Brad and his older sister, and with Brad and Cam nervously talking over one another (though the dialogue tags are overly frequent and make these scenes confusing) on their first dates. There was great potential in the premise and in the opening pages. But by the end, I thought this book was a hot mess. It could have been a much stronger story had there not been distracting repeated words, some truly bizarre moments of bad prose, and inconsistencies in the mythology of the story. But because of the giant WTF of the ending, I was more pissed off than curious, and that ultimately affected my grade of this book.
Paramour is available in print from Amazon as well as for the Kindle, for the nook at BN.com, and in print as well. It is also available at AllRomance.
REVIEW: Love Game by Maggie Wells
Posted February 25th, 2018 by Sara @HarlequinJunkie in Blog, Contemporary Romance, HJ Recommends, Review / 2 comments
HJ_Recommends
Love Game by Maggie Wells: National Championship winner as an undergrad player and later a coach for Wolcott University, not to mention her time in the WNBA, Kate is a legend at the university and throughout her town. Now she wants the recognition from the school that she’s earned. But stealing the spotlight from her work, is the washed-up and scandal-ridden football coach Danny.
Danny took the fall for unethical recruiting practices a few years back at his old coaching position, and now he’s finally getting the chance to redeem himself – even if it is at a second-rate football school. But before he has a chance to prove his worth, he meets Kate, a woman who leaves him speechless.
What begins as antagonism, turns into a spotlight when the media can’t get enough of their chemistry. And that soon turns into bedroom antics. But Danny has a morality clause – so what does he choose? A woman who’s shaken him to his core, or the redemption he’s longed for for so long.
I really liked LOVE GAME. Danny and Kate definitely had sparks between them, and they fit well. Both champions, both powerful and confident, and both fighters in the best way. They are, no doubt, a match made in heaven.
And even though sports had a strong presence in this romance, it added a level of depth and interest to the story that I wasn’t expecting. My one issue would be that they fell too quickly for one another. It felt like suddenly they were in love, and I really wanted more development between them before we got to that point.
However, even so, this story was fully of life and engaging story lines. I highly recommend LOVE GAME for any romance who loves a sports romance – or just wants a strong as hell heroine to root for.
Book Info:
Publication: February 6, 2018 | Sourcebooks Casablanca | Love Games #1
Kate Snyder scored her first national championship in her undergrad days at Wolcott University, and now she’s a coaching legend. The last thing she wants is to work beside a washed-up coach escaping scandal, but the University hands her Danny McMillan.
Danny was hoping his transition at Wolcott University would go smoothly, but clashing with snarky Kate has made things difficult. Even as she finally lightens up towards him, a local reporter can’t get enough of their verbal fireworks on camera. What the cameras don’t know is that the sparks are even hotter behind the scenes…
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REVIEW: Play for Keeps by Maggie Wells
Posted April 10th, 2018 by Sara @HarlequinJunkie in Blog, Contemporary Romance, Review / 4 comments
Play for Keeps by Maggie Wells: Tyrell never thought he would be in the middle of a scandal like this. His basketball career didn’t reach the heights he expected, but he’s been enjoying the career change to coaching. He’s super tall, sexy, charming, and loyal. Unfortunately, his wife is not so loyal and seemingly documented her affairs on social media with various athletes including members of Ty’s team.
Millie is a strong-willed, independent, and savvy PR guru. She’s determined to get Ty (and the university) through this scandal as best she can. She likes to be in control and she’s great at spinning situations, but Ty is different. She’s been attracted to him since he started with the school and just his presence can throw her off her game.
While Ty never wanted his marriage to end this way, he’s also relieved to have Millie by his side. He knows he can put himself and his career in her very capable hands. He’s also enjoying spending more time with her so he can get closer to her.
“I’m calling you trouble.”
Millie beamed up at him. “Well, I think we both know you’re probably right.”
“I’m feeling the need to try to teach you a lesson.”
Finely arched brows rose. “You can try.”
Ty enjoys how Millie challenges him and makes him work for her. They definitely get to know each other much better while he’s waiting for his divorce to be finalized and that’s when the games begin. Both like to be in control, so it’s a fun battle for the upper hand while the anticipation builds.
“Yes.” She bit the word off hard, incensed that he seemed to be questioning her right to feel this way. “Yes, I’m angry.” She tipped her chin up a notch. “What of it?”
Ty smiled as he pushed away and rose to his full height. But not a happy smile. The gleam of it glinted with a steely, sharp edge. “Nothing. I’m glad I’m not the only one.”
Play for Keeps is entertaining, heartbreaking, and sexy. Maggie Wells provides drama, angst, conflict, humor, and plenty of heat. Ms. Wells created a strong cast of characters. Play for Keeps can be read as a standalone in the Love Games series. Fans of Stefanie London and Kelly Elliott will enjoy Play for Keeps.
Book Info:
Publication: April 3rd 2018 | Sourcebooks Casablanca | Love Games #2
Mixing business and pleasure is a dangerous game…
Tyrell Ransom, the new men’s basketball coach, is ready to whip his team into shape and start winning some games. But when compromising photos of his soon-to-be-ex-wife with one of his players go viral, everything comes crashing down. With reporters thick on the ground, Ty and his team need some serious damage control―now.
When public relations guru Millie Jenkins arrives in her leopard-print cape to save the day, things really heat up… Soon they’re going to have to work double time to keep their white-hot chemistry out of the headlines.
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Play for Keeps (Love Games #2) by Maggie Wells | 4 star review
Play for Keeps is Sassy, Smart and So Much Fun.
ARC provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley
I probably should have reviewed Maggie Wells’ Love Game and Play for Keeps together, but I couldn’t wait. Both reads in the Love Games series are incredibly satisfying in different ways. Set in and around Wolcott University, they feature heroines over the age of 40 who have put career first and are totally happy with that decision. Their first tries at marriage didn’t work out, but they’re not looking to net new husbands.
In Play for Keeps, Millie Jensen is the publicist and spokesperson for Wolcott University Athletics. Like many PR people (I speak from experience), she likes to anticipate every possible outcome and control the variables as much as possible. She’s logical, practical, and certainly not a romantic. It’s what’s helped her build a successful career.
Wolcott men’s basketball coach Ty Ransom just handed her another potential media debacle to manage. His wife just left him for one of the NBA-bound players on his team and she’s spreading it all over social media. Millie goes to Ty’s place to intervene before he can talk to any reporters while he drowns his sorrows in a bottle. And that’s when something scotch-fueled sparks between them. Ty’s separation is so new even in these early pages I was yelling, “Girl, don’t be the rebound!” Either way, Millie certainly isn’t going to get involved with someone who’s still married, even if it’s a technicality.
While you recognize the men in her stories, Wells excels at developing fully realized women. Divorced herself, Millie is a no-nonsense, call-the-shots kind of gal. She [says she] doesn’t do romance and she certainly doesn’t believe in the happily ever after. It’s such delicious foreshadowing that it’s extra fun to watch these two dance around and eventually come together. Ty is a man who loves to love (it’s the one strike I have against him), and he’s all too ready to fall into something new. You might even see it as insta-love. Millie keeps him at arms length, even after they’ve gotten involved.
In Love Game, the first book in the series, Kate’s first priority was her career. Love life was secondary. Play for Keeps is more traditional, but layered with role reversals. Millie is six years older than Ty. She’s the one who doesn’t want an official relationship. She’s totally fine with just sex. Conveniently, it’s an easy way to keep Ty from getting too close.
The usual progression in romance is the two main characters meet, hook up, fall in love, get married and have (or adopt) kids. While Play for Keeps hits on some of these elements, the how it gets there is part of what makes it so fun.
It is a joy to read a truly adult heroine with an established career, who isn’t afraid to be herself and says so. Millie isn’t afraid to articulate what she wants. She’s surrounded by a couple of like-minded friends who call her on her BS. It actually feels refreshing to read a heroine who’s lived a little, who’s taken what life threw at her, and come out on the other side wiser for it.
Play for Keeps is sassy, smart and so much fun. While part of me will always be my 16- and 26-year-old selves, the rest of me says, thank you, Maggie Wells for writing romance heroines over 40, especially ones who don’t have children. We aren’t ingenues, but we aren’t dead yet.
Play for Keeps is out now. Get it on Amazon | iBooks | The Ripped Bodice
Review: Play Dates by Maggie Wells
October 19, 2017 By Kini Leave a Comment
Play Dates by Maggie Wells
Play Dates #1
Contemporary Romance
October 3, 2017
Lyrical Shine
Reviewed by Kini
Favorite Quote:
He yelped when she yanked, pulling his hair until she could look him in the eye. “Come.” One word and the woman completely unraveled him. Biting his lip, he closed his eyes and emptied every bit of loneliness and longing built up over the week into her.
I stumbled upon this author earlier this year when I joined a Facebook group for Seasoned Romance, aka romance that features characters over 40. I don’t think either MC in this book were over 40, possibly in their 30’s, but I don’t recall it being stated, in case that matters to you. What mainly had me interested in this book was that the hero is a single father. I think we see a lot of single moms in romance, so this was something a little different.
The hero, Colm, is raising his son Aiden alone after Aiden’s mother died right after giving birth. Aiden has been his primary focus for six years and as a result hasn’t dated. When he meets Monica at the park they have instant attraction and he asks her out. Colm is a great dad to Aiden, he is the type of dad that doesn’t mind that his son’s favorite toys is a princess.
Monica is at the park with her niece and she spies the “Saturdaddies”. The group of women mistakenly think these guys are part time dads, but when she meets Colm, she learns he is in fact a full time dad. When they first meet, Colm wrongly assumes that the little girl with Monica is her daughter. She tries to correct him, but it doesn’t work.
Colm is very family focused and because of this, thinks that Monica will also understand the plight of the single parent and he asks her out. Monica decides since this is going to be a one and done situation, she isn’t going to correct his assumption. They go out but fast forward to the sexy times. I didn’t do a page count, but I felt like this sex scenes were pretty long and detailed, but not too graphic. For a non-erotic romance, I thought the scenes were lengthy and it felt different, in a good way.
This book had a fair amount of humor in it and it worked for me. Monica is reluctant to enter into a relationship with Colm but I never really understood why. There was no big or traumatic event or breakup in her past or anything else, so I didn’t quite get her hang ups. The first half of the book is heavy on the physical relationship and then quickly the MCs are in disagreement and then love. It felt a bit rushed to me. I wanted a little more of them exploring an out of the bedroom relationship so I could truly believe in their love story. Looking at the description it comes in at 160 pages, so no wonder it felt like something was left out.
The author definitely sets the stage for future books in this series, with Colm’s two best friends also being single, full time dads. I liked Monica, for the most part, she knows who she is and what she wants. She isn’t perfect, but flawed. I did believe in their story, I just wanted more. I will definitely check out any future books in this story. I also want to mention that Amazon seems to have this tagged under Romance >Inspirational, that is not correct. There is sex on the page. And lots of it. Don’t let Amazon’s weird tags scare you away. This book is heavy on sex and humor, but just a smidge shy of actual story.
Grade: C
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Love Game
Maggie Wells
Reviewed by Patti Loveday
Posted February 12, 2018
Romance Sports
LOVE GAME is the first book in the Love Games book series by Maggie Wells. This incredible romance novel has a unique and creative theme with a background focused on sports. A realistic and lifelike take on what happens when a college isn't happy about their coaches dating. LOVE GAME takes you on a wild ride where the stakes to find love are high, and careers could be destroyed.
Wells writes from the heart and has created two remarkable main characters that are unique and realistic. Kate has spent her whole life determined to reach her goals. She is the winner of many awards and has achieved many of the goals she has set. However, you would never know it by her salary. Danny is an attractive coach who manages to mess everything up with a college student romance. Now his friend has hired him to coach the college football team. A team that has never won any awards.
When Danny and Kate first meet it is pretty much an instant attraction. Wells uses creative and descriptive writing to draw you into the heated chemistry between these two. Page after page this heated attraction grows stronger and stronger until one day the walls come crashing down. When their true feelings are out in the open, will they survive the turmoil of not being allowed to date a coworker? LOVE GAME is a remarkable love story that is sure to capture your heart and leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling. While there is a sports theme, it does not overpower this steamy romantic read. Overall, the perfect read for anyone who loves a good romance novel.
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SUMMARY
She's earned her position
Kate Snyder is at the top of her game. She scored her first national championship at Wolcott University in her undergrad days, and now she's the coaching legend of the #1 college women's basketball team. No one knows the meaning of the phrase "work your way up" better than Kate. So when the university hires a football coach trying to escape scandal―paying him a lot more than she earns―Kate is more than annoyed.
He just sailed into his
Danny McMillan had hoped for a smooth transition at Wolcott, but the fiery Coach Snyder made that impossible. Every time he and Kate are in a room together, snark and sparks fly. Danny gets her frustration, but her pay grade isn't his problem, right? When Kate and Danny finally see eye to eye, their sparks turn into something even hotter...and they need to figure out if this is more than just a game.
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Slick’s Review – Love Game (Love Games #1) by Maggie Wells
Feb 6
DiDi
If you want to read a feel good story, one that shows a woman can be tough and even a bit of a ball buster without being shrew and bitchy, then you do not want to miss Love Game. I know it is early in 2018, but I can already tell you Love Game will be one of my favorite reads this year, it is that good! ~ Slick, Guilty Pleasures
Blurb:
Kate Snyder scored her first national championship in her undergrad days at Wolcott University, and now she’s a coaching legend. The last thing she wants is to work beside a washed-up coach escaping scandal, but the University hands her Danny McMillan.
Danny was hoping his transition at Wolcott University would go smoothly, but clashing with snarky Kate has made things difficult. Even as she finally lightens up towards him, a local reporter can’t get enough of their verbal fireworks on camera. What the cameras don’t know is that the sparks are even hotter behind the scenes…
Sometimes it is hard to know where to begin with a review when you love a book as much as I did Love Game by Maggie Wells. A hero with something to prove, a heroine who just wants the respect and paycheck she deserves for what she’s produced, a reporter with a grudge, a morality clause, and friends who go the extra mile all made Love Game an excellent story.
For years Coach Kate Snyder has proven herself as an athlete, an Olympic champion, and as coach to three Division I title championships. She loves coaching at her alma mater Wolcott University and would love to stay there provided they are willing to show her the money in her contract negotiations.
Following a scandal that rocked his coaching career, Danny McMillan is thankful to be back coaching at a Division I school even if it’s for a football team that hasn’t won a game in forever. He knows he has a lot to prove, he knows it is going to be difficult, he just didn’t realize that part of the job would be finally realizing that winning isn’t everything; it’s the love of the game especially when that game is love.
OMG people, this book!! First off Kate, damn we need more heroines like Kate both in fiction and real life. This woman is formidable in so many ways; she loves her job, one she takes very seriously including mentoring young athletes, she loves the game and remembers the joy of playing it, she respects other athletes (well her dislike of baseball was troubling to my baseball soul, but I let it go), she refuses to let others devalue her accomplishments just because she is a woman, she demands respect, but can take the heat as well as dish it out, and most of all she is loyal to those she cares about. I may have a wee bit of a woman crush on Kate!
It would have been easy to see Danny as a player and someone who was use to breaking the rules and getting away with it, but Ms. Wells crafted his character so well it was easy to sympathize with him and the events that got him in trouble. I’m not saying he was completely innocent, but I am saying the blame didn’t lie solely at his feet but being a head coach he took it. What I loved most about Danny was he wasn’t put off by Kate’s commanding personality (in reality I think it turned him on) and he supported her fully. That’s not to say they didn’t have some differences of opinion on things, but that lively sparring kept things oh so interesting and fun.
I loved the layers to this story, the way Danny’s past made their relationship difficult, the way he accepted it and the way Kate fought so they could have everything they wanted. Danny was happy to have Kate, but Kate…damn, she wanted it all and she aimed to get it.
If you want to read a feel good story, one that shows a woman can be tough and even a bit of a ball buster without being shrew and bitchy, then you do not want to miss Love Game. I know it is early in 2018, but I can already tell you Love Game will be one of my favorite reads this year, it is that good!