Taking a Shot (A Play-by-Play Novel) [Paperback]

Jaci Burton (Author)

Book Description

Release date: March 6, 2012 | Series: A Play-by-Play Novel (Book 3)

If you want to score, you have to get in the game...

The last thing Jenna Riley needs is more sports in her life. While her brothers are off being athletic superstars, she's stuck running the family's sports bar, whether she likes it or not. Then in walks pro hockey stud Tyler Anderson. As much as Jenna would like to go to the boards with him, she's vowed to never fall for a jock-even one as hot as Ty.

Ty, intrigued by the beautiful bar owner, becomes a regular. He senses that Jenna wants to do something more with her life. And as he gains her trust, the passion between them grows, as does Ty's insistence that Jenna should start living for herself. With his encouragement, Jenna starts to believe it, too...

But first, Jenna has to figure out what she wants, what she needs, who she loves, and if she has the passion and pride to take a shot at having it all-including Ty...

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Jaci Burton's stories are full of heat and heart." ---Maya Banks

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

About the Author

Jaci Burton is the New York Times bestselling author of Changing the Game.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade; 1 edition (March 6, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9780425245521
• ISBN-13: 978-0425245521
• ASIN: 0425245527
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (79 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #99,047 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jaci Burton is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling, award winning author of over 50 books. She lives in Oklahoma and spends a fair amount of time on the back of her husband's Harley, where she often gets lost plotting her next story as the warm (and sometimes cold) breeze whips her face. She loves gardening, reality television, is a sucker for romantic comedies, and completely loses track of time when reading a great book. She's a total romantic and longs for the happily ever after in every story, which you'll find in all her books.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#64 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Erotica

#64 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Erotica

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Hot sex, no conflict. March 10, 2012

By Sarah Jones

Format:Kindle Edition

I have enjoyed Jaci Burton's books in the past...I really liked the second book in the series, Changing the Game (A Play-by-Play Novel), and thought Elizabeth's character arc was really strong. I have come not to expect much in the way of serious plot or emotional angst in Burton's books, but they're entertaining and sexy, so I preordered Taking a Shot. This book takes a lack of conflict to a new level. Sure...the sex is hot, but the characters are totally uninteresting. The heroine's "problem" with the hero was that he plays sports, and so do her brothers. Meh. That's not a problem. A problem is being hurt by a sports figure in the past or something. In this case, it was honestly that she was secretly into music and not sports. I found myself thinking: What? Who cares? he's attractive and funny and your family loves him, so what is the problem? And that's just the thing. There wasn't a problem. I got to 20 pages from the end and realized that I had never once cared whether these two really ended up together--in part because there was never any doubt that they would.

The sex is hot, so it gets 2 stars, but that's the last time I spend 9.99 on a Burton book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun, but not the best in the series... March 15, 2012

By BamaGal

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

3.5 Stars. I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the first two. I liked Jenna, and I loved Ty; but I wasn't completely sold on the two of them together or their romance.

Jenna was the kind of 'left out' sibling in her family. The guys sports achievements and careers seemed to always come ahead of her needs. She winds up running the family bar after her Dad's heart attack. Ty was an absolute dream. He was was very attentive to her, and put her first. He liked Jenna from the very beginning; and was always interested in her wants and needs. Unfortunately, Jenna only wanted a sexual affair with Ty, and that's where the story broke down for me. It was all sex, almost all the time, right up until the end and the (finally) I Love You's. The sex scenes were hot, but didn't grab me or move me; probably because the relationship didn't move forward for the longest time. It was sex with no sense of commitment. For a long time, it was just two people hooking up for sex, and that's not sexy (or romantic) to me. I need to feel like it meant more between them and didn't get that until near the end of the book. The real 'relationship' didn't begin to develop until the last quarter of the story.

It was great to see everyone from the first two books, and hear what there was going on for them in their lives. Gavin and Liza are still going strong; and Tara and Mick's wedding scene was very nice. I like the attention to family in this series; and the warmth of the familial relationships. It was a pretty good read, but just not great. Since this family has run out of sports figures to have romances, Burton is moving on to the cousins. Next up is the Riley's cousin Cole in com/Playing-Win-Play-Play-Novel/dp/042524783X">Playing to Win (A Play-by-Play Novel), another pro football player. Read more ›

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars taking a shot November 14, 2012

By Sirena

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I love this series! Read them all. Great stories and am so highly anticipating the next one that I've preordered it!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Jenna who has given up most of her life for those she loves but when finally given the chance to live her dreams is afraid March 6, 2012

By Bookaholics Reviewer

Format:Paperback

Taking a Shot by Jaci Burton
Contemporary Romance -March 6th, 2012
4 ˝ stars

Taking a Shot, is the third book in the author' Play by Play series. This series is about the Riley sports a family who own a sports bar.

Ty Anderson is a star hockey player who has his sights set on the lovely Jenna Riley. Jenna is managing her family sports bar since her father's heart attack. Ironically, she knows everything about sports and is surrounded by hunky men everyday but wants nothing to do with men in sports! Jenna is also tired of working at the bar but feels obligated to hold the cherished family bar together since her father's heart attack. She has put her dreams of writing and singing music on hold. So when a handsome and cocky jock name Ty makes moves on her she wants nothing to do with him! Even if he is so sexy she can't stop thinking of him. But Ty didn't become a star without a lot of determination and hard work. And he wants Jenna and knows she is attracted to him! Will they find a sweet and passionate love but will Jenna's fears prevent them from having a happily ever after?

This was a very moving story. Ty is the perfect hero. Kind, compassionate and sexy! He tries to really understand Jenna and wants all of her including her insecurities. Ty has had a hard early life and was able to transform his life in to a successful career. He wants Jenna but not at the cost of her dreams. He is surprised when he discovers that Jenna wants a life outside of sports and tries to encourage and help her. But Jenna is wary and afraid to open herself up to more disappointment.... The reader can't but help but sympathize with Jenna who has given up most of her life for those she loves but when finally given the chance to live her dreams is afraid to take the jump for fear of further disappointments. This is a book about taking chances and having the courage to open yourself up to true love.

A heartfelt and tender romance that contemporary romances will love!

Reviewed by Steph form the Bookaholics Romance Book Club Read more ›

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Good ideas/Poorly executed March 21, 2012

By Miranda L. Nelson

Format:Kindle Edition

This book had way too much sex and not enough plot. The characters banged it out right away, so there was no time for sexual tension to build or for me to become invested. I did really enjoy the fact that the female character had a teenage son and that the male character was in recovery. These are super interesting and rarely seen plot points. The story had good bones, but it didn't quite come together. Same fight over and over again. Sex solves everything. I chose this book because I saw that it was one in a series, but now I have no interest in reading the other books. Disappointing.