Title: JAMES GAMES
Genre: NA Romance
Author: L.A. Rose
Release Date: September 30th, 2014
Synopsis:
Every year, the girls of Phi Delta Chi, Fiona Arlett’s dream sorority, hold a competition.
The prize?
James Reid, king size bar of eye candy and famous actor turned haughty undergrad.
The rules?
No girl but the winner can touch him.
The problem?
Fiona miiight have unknowingly banged his brains out last week.
Losing the competition may mean wearing a chicken suit to the sexiest Halloween costume contest, but she’d rather have feathers up her butt than let the truth out.
Unfortunately, she and James have lots in common and more chemistry than the science wing. Soon they’re sneaking around behind the backs of UCSD’s hottest and most vengeful girls.
If they find out?
Fiona’s screwed.
~
Excerpt:
“Leave,” James repeats. The word sweeps over the boys surrounding me like an icy cold breeze from the asscrack of Antarctica. He’s really got the serial killer vibe going on. Even I have to resist the urge to jump up and run for the hills. I don’t blame my harem for scattering, leaving me sitting exposed and undefended on the counter, at the mercy of James Reid.
I point at him. “You scared away my harem.”
“Those guys were looking at you like you’re a piece of meat.” His tone is thick with disgust.
“Technically I am a piece of meat. Plus bones and stuff. Also, don’t you think that’s a bit hypocritical?”
I expect him to scoff at this, to shrug it off or deny it. Instead he cuts his eyes away from me. “I’m sorry,” he says finally. “I shouldn’t have jump—”
“Jump-started my car for me,” I interrupted loudly, fully aware that Sigrid is straining to listen in on our conversation, even if she is across the room. “You’re right. You should have just let me take it to the shop. Some things should be done by professionals.”
A ghost of a smile traces its way upward from the corners of his lips. It’s the first time I’ve seen him smile, and damn, is it dangerous. I swallow and look away. “Although—even though I know that I shouldn’t have let you near my car, and you’re definitely not coming near it again, you don’t need to apologize. At the time, I really wanted you to jump-start my car.”
My phone buzzes. I glance down. A text from Iris. Think of a better euphemism. You’re not being subtle.
“Did you just say I’m not a professional?” he asks, leaning one-handed on the counter so that his thumb is bare inches away from my thigh. He’s close enough to count the goose pimples that appear on my skin.
“Definitely an amateur,” I smirk.
His hand inches closer. “Why don’t you call me next time your car needs some work done and I’ll show you more of what I’m capable of.”
~
My Review
After reading this author's previous book, Adrian Lessons, which I absolutely loved-I was really looking forward to James Games. I'm still a bit on the fence about this one. It didn't flow quite as well, and there were some points that made it a bit too edgy.
There were plenty of funny spots. One of my favorite lines was "You are a strong, beautiful, independent woman and the fact that you're dressed as a big chicken does not detract from your sex appeal even one bit." Yup, this author does have a way with the funny stuff. And the idea of the story fits well in the college/NA category. I also did like most of the characters. James in particular was my favorite-generally quiet, sexy, and protective while of course having a secret in his past.
I wasn't too fond of the lead female character, Fiona. I found her to be over the top, behaving in an outlandish manner that is just too excessive...and she sure seems full of herself. I realize with her prior background she finds college as the time she can turn into a completely opposite person from the way she had been brought up, but she just seemed a bit TOO much. Thankfully as the story progressed this leveled out a bit, and James definitely helped smooth out a lot of Fiona's rough edges. And I totally agreed with Fiona's viewpoint on the Games, so I was at least able to find some common ground with her.
James' character truly made the whole book for me. He was the perfect flawed but sincerely regretful counterpart to Fiona's craziness. He made the entire book worth reading for me :-)
Overall, I would give this a 3.5 star rating. James' character had a LOT to do with the positive portion of that rating. Fiona's unconventional and slightly grating personality did the opposite for me. But it is a good read, and definitely for the 18+ crowd.
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About the author:
L.A. Rose recently made it out of college alive and with an English degree. She's a habitual beach bum, a cuteness aficionado, and a not-quite-recovered romance addict. She's a big believer in laughter as medicine and steaminess as...more medicine. You can never have enough medicine. James Games is her second New Adult standalone, and her next release, Icy Pretty Love, will be out 11/15/2014.
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