Love and Other Games 

by Ana Blaze, Melinda Dozier, Aria Kane, and Kara Leigh Miller

My rating: 4/5

DRC provided by author for an honest review

Published: 10.1.2013

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Summary –

LOVE AND OTHER GAMES is a collection of four sexy new adult stories centered around athletes competing in the Winter Games by Ana Blaze, Melinda Dozier, Aria Kane, and Kara Leigh Miller.

Worth More Than Gold by Ana Blaze

Amy Pierce, the klutzy sister and manager of America’s Skating Sweetheart, is used to being invisible. But when a friend drags her to a party near the Olympic Village, Amy catches the eye of a sexy Norwegian ski jumper. It’s a magical night, but an awkward next morning has her running.

Everyone knows Erik Andresen’s best shot at an individual medal was back in 2010, before an injury pulled him from the competition. He’s there for his team, but a hot night and a remarkable final training session have him wondering if a gorgeous good-luck charm could give him another chance at the podium.

With a little bit of luck, these two might have a shot at something worth more than gold.

Trouble with Gold by Melinda Dozier

US snowboarder and notorious prankster, Ty (Trouble) Madsen is only getting a taste of his own medicine when his Olympic teammates shackle him to a fence wearing nothing but his boxers.

Reception and protocol volunteer, Nadia Hoffman, gets up close and personal with the sexy snowboarder to rescue him, but she's not the kind of girl who lets her hormones get in her way. A professional performance could help her land her dream job at Olympics Committee Headquarters, but her new assignment supervising the rambunctious US Snowboarding Team is making that difficult. Can she see behind the snowman in the community center bathroom and into the warm heart of the man everyone calls Trouble?

The Girl behind the Gold by Aria Kane

Greek aerial skier Lia Milonas’s parents are about to lose the family farm. Saving it means medaling and landing a huge sponsor. While her no-nonsense attitude has her well on her way to a medal, it hasn’t won her a place in fans' hearts.

“Come back with a story that will make readers cry, or don’t come back.” This is what Brandon James’ boss told him before he left New York to cover the Winter Games for Moment Magazine. With a wink and a smile, he can charm his way into any invite-only party, but that career-making story is nowhere to be found – until he meets Lia.

The two strike a deal that should get them both what they want - but neither would have guessed they’d also find what they need.

Ice Gold by Kara Leigh Miller

Colton Campbell thrives on the fast paced, adrenaline rushed lifestyle of being an Olympic hockey player.

Despite Brenna Jessup's abhorrence for the games and the athletes, she's hand-picked as the official photographer for the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team.

When a faux pas by Brenna almost costs Colton his career, she owes him. Too bad for her, Colton doesn't want apologies -- he wants retribution! And he knows just how to get it -- and her -- in the process.   (Thanks to GoodReads.com for the summary)

My Thoughts –

I thought all 4 stories were great!   I think they were well written, easy to read and smokin’ hot.  I liked how all of the stories had a tie into each other and you really see where this was happening and how these characters fell for each other.  My favorite 2 stories were Trouble with Gold by Melinda Dozier and The Girl Behind the Gold by Aria Kane.

In Trouble with Gold, Ty and Nadia have an instant attraction to one another.  I mean who would get all hot and bothered by a nearly naked hunky man handcuffed to a railing on a cold, cold night?  I think this is a great start to the e-book and it really set up the rest of the novellas. 

Nadia seemed so sure and determined in the beginning, but realized that she wasn’t really doing what she was doing for herself and also that she wasn’t enjoying life as much as she could.  Ty is always looking for fun and a good time, until Nadia enters the picture and all of a sudden he’s thinking more long term and permanent.  They were a great couple and their shenanigans were entertaining and their love scenes were divine. 

In The Girl Behind the Gold, Lia and Brandon are the stars.  Both of the characters in this story are awesome.  They both have specific agendas at the beginning of the party, but afterwards and the few days that follow, they discover a new focus and exactly what they both were missing in life. 

I like how these characters instantly click with each other.  Lia is the girl at the party that no one talking to and Brandon is the guy who doesn’t belong there to begin with.  They take off, have an adventure looking for the torch and then have a different kind of adventure in Brandon’s hotel room.  Clothing s are thrown from a window, a man in a towel is seen wandering the hotel lobby and a girl finally smiles and does an interview.  Great writing, great couple and overall great story!!

My only issue with the ebook is the font.  I know the writers usually don’t have a choice in this, but the font is horrible and hard to read.