Review: Game for Anything by Bella Andre

Game for Anything
Author: Bella Andre
Publication: Pocket; Original edition (July 22, 2008)


Description: He's the Super Bowl hero men idolize and women lust after...the bad-boy quarterback with a dangerous edge. But behind his devil-may-care grin, Ty Calhoun hides a desire that only one woman can ever fulfill -- and a memory he can't shake: high school graduation night...and mind-blowing sex with the untouchable girl of his dreams. He would trade every trophy to feel the heat of her sensual, uninhibited lust once more. And he may get that chance...because she's just been hired by the San Francisco Outlaws' new owner to make over Ty's less-than-angelic reputation.


The country's top image consultant, Julie Spencer is a total pro at cleaning up the messes of the rich and famous. Even working with the man who took her virginity and broke her heart ten years ago can't rattle her. Until he touches her again. One caress -- and one very hot kiss -- is all it takes to spark the same knee-quaking electricity, and soon they're mixing business and extreme pleasure. But knowing the danger this bad boy poses to her heart, Julie is determined to keep her distance.


But Ty has a game plan of his own. The more he misbehaves, the more Julie will have to keep tabs on him -- and the more he can give his dream girl some very real thrills, by showing her just how fun it is to be bad. This time around, he's game for anything...especially winning her heart.


My Thoughts: This was a wonderfully touching, feel-good romance. The boy from the wrong side of the tracks with the less than ideal family situation (in this case a father who is an alcoholic who pushes his son to succeed in football) meets the girl from the right side of the tracks with a less than ideal family situation (in this case a mother who is an alcoholic and a father who has serial affairs with young women).


They get together for one wonderful night at high school graduation but misunderstandings separate them the next morning. They never forget the other but circumstances and wildly different lifestyles keep them apart. He is a star quarterback who won the Super Bowl but has an unfortunate public image. She is the head of her own image consulting business having built it up without resorting to her trust fund. She is very reluctant to have anything to do with him but has just moved into a new building and needs the money.


Ty is very eager to get close to Julie again. The chemistry between them is as hot as ever. He knows he wants her to be part of his life though, initially, he thinks an affair will be enough. Julie is reluctant to get involved with him both because it would be bad for business and because she wants to protect her heart.


Gradually, as they spend time together, they learn more about each other and learn that their perceptions of each other were wrong. 


This was a great escape read. It was easy to be swept up by the romance. I recommend it to lovers of romance. I also look forward to adding the next two companion books to my TBR stack. Game for Seduction and Game for Love will soon be taking a place on that stack. I expect them to be equally satisfying.


Just a thought - what do you think of the current trend in romance covers? Do you like seeing great bodies but not heads? I'm not sure what I think. I do know that the cover did encourage me to get the book. And I like being able to picture my own hot guy. In fact, I don't recall that Ty was ever physically described beyond being gorgeous in the book. But in my race to get to the romance I might have just missed it.


Favorite Quote:

"Honestly," he said as he rubbed his thumb against her palm, "I don't need a bunch of contraptions and semi-naked strangers to make sex exciting."


She looked up at him, her blue eyes almost translucent in the sunset's reflection.


He was going to put himself out on the line. He'd just have to pray that she wouldn't take him down. "All I need is you."