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Product Details

• Published on: 2007-09-05
• Format: Large Print
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 720 pages

Booklist
'Brown's novels define the term page turner'

Review
Praise for Sandra Brown (: )

'It's a great, entertaining read, with lots of surprising twists and turns, credibly flawed characters and a love affair that's as steamy as a Savannah summer.'

(Lisa Scottoline, Washington Post on RICOCHET )

'Perfectly plotted'

 

(People Magazine )

‘Brown’s novels define the term page turner’

(Booklist )

‘Millions of readers clamour for the compelling novels of Sandra Brown. And no wonder! She fires your imagination with irresistible characters, unexpected plot twists, scandalous secrets . . . so electric you feel the zing’ (Literary Guild )

'If you want romantic suspense that has teeth . . . Sandra Brown is your gal.'

 

(Stephen King )

‘An edge-of-seat thriller that’s full of twists . . . Top stuff!’

(Star )

‘A masterful storyteller, carefully crafting tales that keep readers on the edge of their seats’

(USA Today )

‘Fast fun’

 

(Cosmopolitan )

USA Today
`A masterful storyteller, carefully crafting tales that keep readers on the edge of their seats'

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Customer Reviews

A Disgusting, Unrealistic Story about Unattractive Characters
If you like to read stories about romance, skip this book. If there's any real romance in it (as opposed to coupling), I couldn't find it.

If you like to read stories about interesting characters, skip this book. If there are any interesting characters in it, I couldn't them them.

If you like to read stories about degenerates who want to hurt other people in disgusting ways, this is the book for you. But why would you want to read such a book?

Griff Burkett is a man everyone hates: He was convicted of taking a bribe to lose a professional football game while quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. Having spent his money on fines, women, and good times, he leaves prison totally broke. Who would want to hire him?

He's surprised to find an invitation to meet Foster Speakman, wealthy CEO and owner of high-flying SunSouth Airlines. Speakman makes Burkett a rich offer that Burkett is happy to accept. Within hours, Burkett is out visiting his favorite madam. A little after that, the madam faces some brutal facts . . . Burkett is a marked man who is scheduled to be taken down by Stanley Rodarte, a man who wants to pin a murder on Burkett and recover a fortune in hidden loot.

As Burkett holds up his end of the deal, he's profoundly uncomfortable with his role as in-person sperm donor for Foster Speakman's wife, Laura. As time passes, the circumstances get worse until Burkett finds himself friendless and on the run.

There's a mystery here that is gradually revealed: Why did the Speakmans want Burkett as the father of their child? If that question sustains your interest, you'll probably like this book a lot better than I did.

If you do decide to read this book and don't like it, I suggest you ask yourself how you can use book reviews in the future to select books that will reward you with more reading pleasure.

An enjoyable read from a top author
I bought Play Dirty before I read any of the reviews. I then read the reviews before reading the book and was understandingly apprehensive about the book.

My expectations going into the book (based largely on the reviews) were low and they were quickly blown away.

If you are looking for a romance novel with perfect, lovable heros and heroines then I suggest you go for Mills and Boon. What Sandra Brown has delivered is a grittier story, about real people, in which the romance is just one element. Whilst the basis of the story line isn't her best, the characters are real and honest. I take issue with all the reviewers who have called them unlikeable - I struggle with books where I don't like, or can't empathise with the main characters but I had no problem with Griff and Laura.

I will be buying Sandra Brown's next book. Her books have developed over the years from the lighter weight romance novels into the grittier thrillers that maintain some of the romance without it being the central focus.

Capitalist vices
Diana: Some things are not for sale.
John: Such as?
Diana: Well you can't buy people.
(Quotation from the movie "Indecent Proposal")

This book pulls a switcheroo on the "Indecent Proposal" plotline, where a wealthy man offers a cash-strapped couple one million dollars in exchange for certain favors.

Short Attention Span Summary (SASS):

1. Ex-quarterback Griff Burkett has just been released from prison
2. He's admitted to receiving a payout for influencing the outcome of a game to facilitate some unsavory characters
3. He may also have murdered somebody
4. He's definitely not a nice guy
5. A wealthy businessman is desperately seeking an heir
6. He's confined to a wheelchair
7. His young wife is prepared to go to any length to fulfill his wish
8. The businessman makes Griff an indecent proposal in exchange for a decent cash payment and his silence.
9. Apparently, some people CAN be bought
10. Griff has a dangerous and ruthless enemy who enjoys seeing him suffer
11. Griff suffers
12. Intriguing premise turns absurd, and despite some page-turning action, the ending is rather preposterous

If you can get past the fact that all the major characters in the book are unlikeable, the beginning and middle sections of the book are entertaining, albeit unbelievable and unlikely, but when you get down to the ending, the story unravels untidily while attempting to tie off the loose ends.




Amanda Richards